Brauts and Mac and Cheese Pizza

Dear Citizens:
I chatted with an old friend the other day about the budget problems within his home state.
We were stationed together forty years ago in the military and still keep in touch.
When we talked he was joking about the situation i.e. lawmakers leaving the state, no compromise from the Governor, school closed.
My friend was worked into the family business as vice president after his service time and now is the president of his Corporation.  While growing up he had all the benefits of, if not wealthy, a well connected upper middle class family.
He supports the newly elected government in his state.
The one problem that crops up from time to time, still, is his total disregard for opinions that differ from his. Because we were his friends we would laugh off his pronouncements in the old days.
Now, the union members, even the teachers, protesting his state budget are "thugs".
Minority politicians are now Damn Dems.  

"We have taken 50% of our population off the Fed income tax system, thus they don’t have a clue of taxation economics." He told me,  "I wanted to ask if it were just Union workers, teachers and Damn Dems (those gravy trainers) that got off from paying fed taxes."...If so I wanted in on it. I have been a union member, a teacher and a Damn Dem at one time or other but I still pay taxes.

"Teachers make a good living," he insisted.

After working out the figures a starting teacher, now, makes and my friend and I in 1970 made about the same in monies.

Of course we got free health care. 

Be well

A journeyman citizen

Post Options

Happy new Year '11

Well Dear Citizens
We are back and we have health care.
Don't let anyone take it from you.

Recently into law

1.No child can be denied insurance coverage because of a preexisting condition. 

2.Coverage can no longer be canceled when the policyholder gets sick. 

3.Insurance companies can no longer impose annual or lifetime limits on payments for care. 

4.Adult children can remain on their parents' policies until they turn 26. 

5.Policyholders cannot be charged extra for seeking urgent care at an emergency room that is not in the insurance company's approved network of providers.

Last Saturday into law

1.Insurance companies spend a certain percentage of the premiums they collect on care.

2.A discount on prescription drugs for some seniors covered by Medicare.

3. Seniors get free screening for cancer and other diseases.

And so far-- no grandparents have died from death panel rulings.

Be Well, we will talk soon

A Journeyman Citizen

Mars hoax

Dear Citizens

This just in from NASA

August 25, 2010:  It spreads, it mutates, it refuses to die.

For the seventh year in a row, the Mars Hoax is infecting email boxes around the world. Passed from one reader to another, the message states that on August 27th Mars will approach Earth and swell to the size of a full Moon. "NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN," the email declares--always in caps.

News flash: It's not true.

Here are the facts. On August 27, 2010, Mars will be 314 million km from Earth, about as far away as it can get. Mars will shine in the western sky after sunset like a tiny red star of ordinary brightness. If you didn't know it was there, you probably wouldn't notice.

Be well 

Journeyman Martian

Dog Daze

My Dear Citizens:
Finally the dog days of summer are over.  The romans were right.  All goes a bit nutty during this time.  Here are just a few of the silly things that I observed.  I am sure you have noted more.
1. Some Muslims want to build an exercise and cultural center in lower Manhattan.  Not a big issue before this summer--now all Republicans or, so it seems, have gone ballistic, 1st Amendment not withstanding,  about the issue and want the center banned.
The usual cast of characters have gone off the rails about this issue.
2. Dr. Laura, the radio advice lady, was naughty to a caller on the radio.  The usual cast of characters have gone off the rails about this issue too.

3.  Franklin Graham said "I think the president's problem is that he was born a Muslim, his father was a Muslim. The seed of Islam is passed through the father like the seed of Judaism is passed through the mother. He was born a Muslim, his father gave him an Islamic name,"


4. The summer heat causes old spam dressed in new packaging to reappear on your computer.  Same old political and religious diatribes beginning with "Now is the time to take back our country, continuing with a message usually about prayer, attributed falsely to Gandhi, Paul Harvey, or Andy Rooney, and always ending with a picture of soldiers praying and the admonition to "pass this on to eleven of your closest friends".  See how many friends you have after doing that!

All in the town were still asleep,
When the sun came up with a shout and a leap.
In the lonely streets unseen by man,
A little dog danced. And the day began.

Be well

A Journeyman

happy 4th

Dear Citizens
It has been some time since we have met.
Today a fragment of a letter from John Adams to his wife Abigail.
"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."


The second day of July was when Congress voted to separate itself from Great Britain.
We now celebrate the 4th--when the explanation of that separation .was voted on.
Said explanation is known as the Declaration of Independence.


Be well


a Journeyman

A Problem?

 Dear Citizens:

Is the General in trouble or not ?

Uniform Code of Military Justice:  888 Article 88 — Contempt Toward Officials:

Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

Be well

V for Vindictiveness

Dear Citizens
Confederate History month is finally over in the Ol' Dominion but not forgotten.  As long as we celebrate those golden-eras that weren't quite as shiny as we dream them we will be stuck watching the repeats.  Time moves on.
A few new thoughts for the Lusty month of May.
The Virginia A. G. is becoming P. C. --  Yes, our boy Ken has passed out lapel buttons of the great seal of Virginia that feature a  breast plate on the Amazon warrior.

(That small change got the attention of the person she is standing on.)
The Republican Governors Association is sponsoring a new web-site that equates the government with Guy Fawkes and the movie "V".  The web-site is so mean spirited that you will have to look it up on your own.
The timing is not exactly right to bring out their hate filled Video while asking for aid from the same government during this BP oil crisis.
And then there is the Toyota in Time Square.  Bet you a dime to a donut the perpetrator of that would agree with the Governor's Video.
But there is some good news--
I watched 75+ " i " generation teens package 10,000 meals last Saturday for Stop Hunger Now.
"And a child will lead them."
Be well
A Journeyman