Presidential History

From a Friend on Facebook (I hope he doesn’t mind…)

The first president I remember led the allied forces in Europe to victory in WWII. He cautioned us against the military industrial complex. He built the American highway system to enable American to defend itself.

The second gave his life for America. He read seven newspapers at breakfast every day. He led our race to the moon vs. the then USSR and we won it because in part of his vision for America. He battled religious bigotry and won.

The third got the voting rights act passed. He escalated the Viet Nam War. A war that killed 50,000 Americans of my generation

The fourth was a criminal who escalated the Viet Nam War. A war that killed untold women and children.

The fifth was appointed and he was a bit clumsy.

The sixth became a thoughtful world citizen these past 37 years. He gave us The CAFE standards that are fleet-wide averages that must be achieved by each automaker for its car and truck fleet, each year, since 1978. These standards were intended to roughly double the average fuel economy of the new car fleet to 27.5 mpg by model year (MY) 1985. He put solar panels on the White House roof.

The seventh closed the mental institutions and broke the back of organized labor. He canceled the CAFE standards. He dismantled the solar panels on the White House roof. His action led to the attempted dismantling of the American middle class. He raised taxes several times.

The eighth was a good man who did the right thing, he raised taxes, though it cost him a second term as president.

The ninth squandered his opportunity. He was a brilliant speaker with unrealized potential. He squander our countries potential for his own personal interests.

The tenth was easily led and himself led us poorly into wars we did not need against a non existent fabricated threat. He cost the lives of so many and for what?

The eleventh brought some of us hope while igniting hatred by others. He reinstated the CAFE standards. The program covered car model year 2012 to model year 2016 and ultimately required an average fuel economy standard of 35.5 miles per US gallon (6.63 L/100 km; 42.6 mpg‑imp) in 2016(of 39 miles per gallon for cars and 30 mpg for trucks), a jump from the 2009 average for all vehicles of 25 miles per gallon. He battle racial bigotry and won.

The twelfth doesn’t read. He doesn’t focus. He is absurdity and vanity. He is attempting to dismantle everything in his sight including CAFE standards, the EPA, the list is endless. The stock market loves him. He makes rich people richer.

He makes me appreciate even more that we have Pope Francis.

Replacement Theory

There are some people who are fundamentally habitual in their nature.  These folks tend to repeat, focus on, become addicted to a behavior of one kind or another and they, then, tend not to let go.

There are other folks who are much less habitual but I am not talking about them now.

Habit driven people will latch on to some behavior or object and “work it to death” in one manner or another. Reading books and newspapers; eating either anything or some particular type of food or individual food like Potato Chips, Ice Cream, Coffee (better be Starbucks!!??), playing games on line (much more recent but still a repetitive obsession).

These habitual people are almost OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)!

My Replacement Theory suggests that Habit Driven people have a choice to replace one addictive behavior or substance for another but CANNOT stop themselves from being repetitive.  So, the choice they are typically faced with, when they realize they are this type of person, is to choose between Ice Cream (if that is their current obsession) and Oatmeal; On Line Games versus Chess (on a physical board) with a friend; Coffee instead of Booze, for examples.

If there were only two types of people: Habitual and Not so Much: Which would you be?

bgbg

Common Sense Bill of Rights (from eMail)

This is probably the best e-mail I’ve seen in a long, long time. The following has been attributed to Lewis Napper, a Jackson, Mississippi computer programmer. He didn’t expect his essay — a tart 10-point list of “rights” Americans don’t have — to become an Internet legend.
——————————————————————————————–
NEW PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION

We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great- grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights.’

ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to  a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone — not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of dummies, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we’re just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don’t be surprised if the rest of us want to see you get the blue juice.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don’t be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won’t have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful.

ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don’t care where you came from, English is our language. Learn it!

Lastly

ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country’s history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, sorry if you are uncomfortable with it.

If you agree, share this with a friend. No, you don’t have to, and nothing tragic will befall you if you don’t. I just think it’s about time common sense is allowed to flourish. Sensible people of the United States must speak out because if you do not, who will?

Trump’s War

The question isn’t whether we will have a war instigated by Mr. Trump but When and with Whom?

This post is brief because I want to have a conversation with whoever is willing to share your thoughts on whether you think he will Tweet us or insult someone without thinking into a war: With Whom and about What.

Please let me know if you, too, are concerned about this possibility.

Thanx, bgbg

Dear Mr. Trump

I am not a pundit.  I am not a “politico”.  I am a US Citizen who voted in our recent (2016) Presidential Election.

Mr. Trump (I refuse to call you President):  You are NOT a politician and many of us thought that could be a good thing but it turns out that you are an Egotist, a Narcissist, a Misogynist and a power hungry maniac unsuitable to be a President, certainly not for MY America.

As a citizen who had the opportunity to vote for you, I can tell you that I am glad I did NOT, and

 

YOU ARE FIRED!

 

Get out my my White House.  Get out of my Country.  Get out of my sight!

Thank you

The BEST Advice

HAPPINESS IS HOME MADE

LIVE SIMPLY, LOVE DEEPLY, SPEAK KINDLY

SMILE, ITS GOOD FOR THE HEART

ENJOY GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD, AND GOOD TIMES

PROCRASTINATE NOW AND PANIC LATER

DOGS WELCOME, CHILDREN MUST BE LEASHED

SIT LONG, TALK MUCH, LAUGH OFTEN

THING BIG, BUT RELISH SMALL PLEASURES

WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A HOLE, STOP DIGGING

SARCASM IS APPRECIATED

REDUCE, REUSE, AND ALWAYS RECYCLE

The BUFFETT Rule (email)

The BUFFETT Rule  Pass on to at least 20 people if you agree

We must support this – pass it on and let’s see if these idiots understand what people pressure is all about.

Salary of retired US Presidents .. . . . .. . . . . .. . $180,000 FOR LIFE

Salary of House/Senate members .. . . . .. .. . . $174,000 FOR LIFE This is stupid

Salary of Speaker of the House .. . . . .. . . . ….. $223,500 FOR LIFE This is really stupid

Salary of Majority / Minority Leaders . . .. . . . $193,400 FOR LIFE Ditto last line

Average Salary of a teacher . . .. . . . .. . . . . .. …..$40,065

Average Salary of a deployed Soldier . . .. . . …. $38,000

I think we found where the cuts should be made! If you agree pass it on, as I just did.

Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling:

“I could end the deficit in five minutes,” he told CNBC. “You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election”.

The 26th Amendment  ( granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds )  took only three months and eight days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971 – before computers, e-mail, cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven  ( 7 )  took one  ( 1 ) year or less to become the law of the land – all because of public pressure.

Warren Buffett is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise.

In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of 2017

1. No Tenure / No Pension.  A Congressman / woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they’re out of office.

2. Congress  ( past, present, & future )  participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 3/1/17. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.

Congress made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and go back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people, then it will only take three days for most people  ( in the U.S. )  to receive the message. Don’t you think it’s time?

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!

The Internet of Things and Your Car

Use the car’s remote access to unlock the doors and get into the driver’s seat.

Mount your cell phone on a device that has sensors to let it and your Car know that there is a GPS capable cell phone in the mount.

Activate your GPS system and ask it to Navigate to an address it has driven to and from before this event.

The Phone and its mount are connected to a Self Driving system in your car so it immediately reaches out to the vehicle’s sensors to determine where it is, where a roadway is in reference to the car’s location and direction and determines the best path to your requested address.

These systems determine that your car is facing your garage door and will need to back out into the street in order to start its journey. It starts the engine, selects Reverse and “reads” the rear facing sensors for obstructions and drives backwards toward the end of your driveway.

Another vehicle is driving passed your driveway and sends a notice to any other nearby self driving system (yours in this case) to let it know that it is driving by and it senses NO other traffic in its vicinity.

Your car waits for this other vehicle to pass and then proceeds to back out and orient itself to begin driving forward to its selected location.

Your car then proceeds to drive the 45 to 60 minute drive to take your nine year old Son to his Grand Mother’s house!

What would you like the Internet to do for your today?

Drones and Shotguns

Drones are coming to their own recently and will become even more pervasive in the near future.

Imagine a time when 30 to 50 pound packages will be carried by a drone from its Shipping / Warehouse Location to your front door. These drones will have systems that allow them to use a GPS Navigation app to lead them along their delivery paths. This “self driving / flying” system will have to stay below the altitudes set aside for Helicopters and Airplanes; it will have to have collision avoidance systems for Bridges, Buildings / Homes, Telephone Poles, other Drones, etc.

They will also need cell phone capabilities to notify local police and the Shipping Company whenever an “interruption” in the deliver attempt has occurred: collision, insufficient fuel to delivery and/or return to its Warehouse, etc.

And, it will probably need to be able to react if and when someone decides to take a “pot shot” at it while in the air. The “pot shot” response system will probably need to do several things very quickly:

1. Drop approximately half the distance to the ground to get out of the way of another shot
2. Send notices (txt, voice mail, other) to the local police about the weapon firing; the Shipping Company of the thwarted delivery attempt, the Package Recipient of the re-scheduled delivery
3. Move laterally to another flight path returning to the warehouse
4. Proceed to a return flight path back to the warehouse whether or not it has already delivered the package

All of this UNLESS it has already been shot down.

How soon do you think we will have this sort of capability?

What would you like the Internet of Things to do for you today?

bgbg

And for my next trick…

The American People elected a new President on November 8th 2016.  The rumors and speculations about WHY they chose this one instead of the other candidate have only just begun.

Some may say that is because the Silent Majority decided that they finally had a non-political choice and have been waiting for the chance to tell the Life Time Politicians that they have been fed up but had no other real choice until this year.  Some could say that they distrusted the Democratic choice so much that they would be willing to vote for ANY one else.  Others may decide that is because they hoped that a real CHANGE might be better than one just in promises.

Regardless of the speculations, we are now faced with quite another struggle: How do we tame the beast we elected?  How do we control the strength we may have given this man as  our Commander in Chief along with a more favorable Congress and Senate.

Since enough of us have voted in favor of this President-Elect, I think we must now follow up that vote with active involvement in the execution of his office and not just go back “under the covers” to the waiting world of that “Silent Majority”.

What do YOU THINK?