Single Parent Quote

"The worst day with my children easily beats the best day without them!"

Single Parent Quote

Winston!!!!

I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly.     - Winston Churchhill

Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. - Winston Churchhill

Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.   - Winston Churchhill

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.   - Winston Churchhill

If you're going through hell, keep going. - Winston Churchhill

Never, never, never give up.   - Winston Churchhill

We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.  - Winston Churchhill

A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality.  - Winston Churchhill

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. - Winston Churchhill

An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.  - Winston Churchhill

Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.  - Winston Churchhill

However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.  - Winston Churchhill

I am easily satisfied with the very best.   - Winston Churchhill

I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.  - Winston Churchhill

If you have ten thousand regulations you destroy all respect for the law.  - Winston Churchhill

Winston!!!!

Bumper sticker logic

See picture and yes I love Reagan.

Bumper sticker logic

A picture is worth a thousand words

...and a picture with words is even more valuable.

A picture is worth a thousand words

How many statue of Liberties are there? You sure?

Happy Birthday to Lady Liberty in the U.S. and she is looking good at 125 years old.  But how old are her sister(s)?  Not sure, but I just learned that their are actually 3 statues and all this time I only thought there were 2.  No big surprise given that I'm a product of the public education system.

Fun Facts on the Statue of Liberty:

She stands at the entrance of New York harbor . . . a 151-foot statue of a  woman holding a book and a torch on-high. "Liberty Enlightening the  World" was a gift of  friendship from the people of France to the United States to commemorate the 100th anniversary of American indepen-dence.  Her American name is the 'Statue of Liberty' and she adorns not only New York's harbor, but also Swan Ally Island in the Seine River in Paris and also Paris' Luxembourg Gardens.  

Yes, there are three Lady Liberties!   They are all symbols of friendship, freedom and peace between the US and France. 

How many statue of Liberties are there? You sure?

John F. Kennedy is missed!

What is the American dream?  To own a house, free healthcare, destroy the rich?  I thought is was simply Liberty.

JFK apparently thought so as well.

"Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today, at home, and around the world.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty."

                      -John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy is missed!

Constitution course for the family

Separation of Church and State is not in our constitution, yet many chant this and even our courts have made rulings citing Separation of Church and State.  What else is put in the public space that actually has nothing to do with the Constitution of the United States?  Now you can find out, thanks to the folks at Hillsdale College providing a free online course.

Here's a fun, free course you can do with the whole family.  Do you know what the constitution actually says?  Can you teach your children about it?  It's not like they are teaching this in our schools anymore, so it's up to you.

Register here:
http://constitution.hillsdale.edu/

Constitution course for the family

Global diversity and our kids

Recently Yum Brands, Inc., which owns KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell, was pointed out to me.  Apparently Yum Brands feels so strongly about Global Diversity and Inclusion that they have an official position titled, "Sr. Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion".  Everyone wants to be included and diversity or variety is a good thing...right?.

From Yum Brands website:
"We are also increasing the representation of African Americans, Hispanics, and women among our key talent/decision makers, and growing the pipeline of diversity in our mid-level manager ranks.

James Fripp
Yum! Brands Sr. Director of
Global Diversity and Inclusion"

Hmmm, funny when you take a lot of the initiatives being promoted lately like tax the rich and global diversity and apply it to your children's classroom the results are often appalling.  Picture your kids class during an exam and based on historical trends and skin color, you award who in the class gets an A, B, or C.  Makes a whole lot of sense, well okay not really, but why is this same logic being pushed by a major corporation?  If this global diversity and inclusion does make sense, why not cover the spectrum?  What about including the Irish, Italian, Scottish, and Middle Eastern?  Then again wouldn't it be easier for those promoting this global diversity and inclusion to just call this what it appears to be, "NO WHITE MALES".  You can change James title to, "Sr. Director of Global Get Whitey and Exclusion".

What kind of world are we leaving to our children when we have programs that give special consideration to those based on skin color and/or gender?  Not a good one and I'll be skipping Pizza Hut from now on and I sure hope Domino's doesn't follow suit.

See page

http://www.yum.com/responsibility/diversity.asp

Global diversity and our kids

How can you best discourage your kids success?

Tax the rich...again?  I've posted before that I think this type of thinking is just hateful, pure and simple.  It's most basic element is that those who wish to tax the rich want to take from someone else for their own selfish reasons.  Enough said.

Apply the same screwed up hateful tax the rich logic to kids and what do you have?  Well yes more hate directed at kids.  Technically tax the rich hate speech is already directed at kids, since I'm sure some rich people have kids.  I have not seen any scientific data to confirm this, but I'm pretty sure some rich people have kids.  I digress.

Taxing the rich is punishing success.  So if we were to teach the next generation this type of gloriously screwed up way of thinking what are some ways to do this.  As I've posted before we could take away points from their grades and give the points to kids who are failing a particular subject.  That's bound to teach kids to study and work hard, oops I meant that will discourage them from trying.   I won't go on with this crap.

All you tax the rich haters out there; what are some ways you recommend discouraging/punishing/taxing kids?

How can you best discourage your kids success?

SAT scores since the 70's

SAT scores since the 70's have continually declined.  When was the department of education founded?  Coincidence?

SAT scores since the 70's

Never Forget 9-11-2001

The loud roar from that day saying, "Never Forget", has been dulled over time.  It's up to you and me to Never Forget and to pass on the knowledge of that day to the next generation.  Appeasement, Apathy, or Denial are not welcome in remembering why we are at war.  Funny to me when I hear that we have been at war for 10 years today, but to think this would entail a big lie.  Our enemy has been at war with us long before that September day, it's only been the last 10 years that we finally woke up enough to realize it.
Today is a day to celebrate.  Celebrate the courage of those who stepped forward, "Let's Roll".  Celebrate the courage of the countless youth who signed a contract payable with their lives to serve in our armed forces.  Celebrate the courage and honor of our countless soldiers who have paid the ultimate price in our fight against Islamic Extremist Terrorists.  Celebrate the glimpse we got of ourselves as a nation, the out pouring of love and unity.  Celebrate the prayers and unlimited faith in God the masses showed that day.  For on that day we were all Americans united and we can be that America again, but I hope without the attacks to jolt us into seeing what is most important.
Never Forget 9-11-2001

Never Forget 9-11-2001

What is Labor Day?

What is Labor Day?  Every holiday I try and spend some time with my children to cover the history and intent of the currently observed holiday.  Christmas-check, Thanksgiving-check, Easter-Check, Veterans-check, Memorial-check, July 4th-check, Halloween-check, Labor Day-what in the hell is this one?  I really have no idea what or why on earth we have Labor Day other than it's the last big weekend signalling the end of summer and back to the school grind.

I'm now heartbroken to learn that Labor Day is really Union Day, no thanks to President Grover Cleveland.  Figures that the holiday was put in place to appease unions.  Before all you union people get your panties in a wad and start calling me.  There was a day and time for unions, but I believe that day ended many decades ago.  I have many family members in various unions, but all the solid God loving hard working union people I know are not in the union by choice.  Rather their chosen profession required them to be a part of the union, if unions are so great wouldn't it be completely voluntary?

Given the revelation of this Socialist holiday, how about we rename it...... Happy Entrepreneur Day, Happy Founders Day, Happy Small Business Day, Happy American Getting Things Done Day, Happy Innovation Day, Happy American Exceptional-ism Day, Happy You Can Do It Day.  Pretty much anything that means the exact opposite of unions would be a great move.  

What is Labor Day? (from the questionable; Wikipedia)

The first big Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, by the Communist Central Labor Union of New York. It was first proposed by Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor in May 1882.

Oregon was the first state to make it a holiday in 1887. By the time it became a federal holiday in 1894, thirty states officially celebrated Labor Day. Following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland reconciled with the labor movement. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.  The September date originally chosen by the CLU of New York and observed by many of the nation's trade unions for the past several years was selected rather than the more widespread International Worker's Day because Cleveland was concerned that observance of the latter would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair, which it had been observed to commemorate.  All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the territories have made it a statutory holiday.

The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday: A street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations", followed by a festival for the workers and their families. This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civil significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The holiday is often regarded as a day of rest and parties. Speeches or political demonstrations are more low-key than May 1 Labor Day celebrations in most countries, although events held by labor organizations often feature political themes and appearances by candidates for office, especially in election years.  Forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water sports, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel before the end of summer recess. Similarly, some teenagers and young adults view it as the last weekend for parties before returning to school, although school starting times now vary.

What is Labor Day?  It seems to be a holiday to celebrate everything America is not.

What is Labor Day?

Peeing on a tree quote

One of my early blog posts involved an incident that left me scatching my head.  Working from home I see my son in the backyard peeing on the fence.  Upon asking my son why he was peeing on the fence, he replied, "Well, I peed on the tree and I figured the fence needed some pee too.". 

I couldn't argue with kid logic this powerful....  I hope he's not peeing on a tree at his school right now though.  Just a great parenting moment.

Peeing on a tree quote

Rest In Peace Brother!

Navy Seal Jon Tumilson's "man's best friend  "Hawkeye" led the funeral profession into the gym and then laid in front of his master during the service. Tear jerking. 
Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Rest In Peace Brother!

Are student loans the next bubble?

Many would argue that higher education in this country is the best in the world. France has some of the best culinary schools, and Oxford and Cambridge have rivaling histories of literary renown, but only in the United States will you find comparable culinary and literary prowess as well as thousands of virtually every other topic one could imagine -- only to the United States do more than half a million students come every year to study.

Here's a question or two for you:  If our public K-12 educational system is such a mess, then how do we have world class leading higher education?  Is higher education only the best because the universities and colleges claim it to be?  Do our top colleges and universities actually suck?

Then add in the ever increasing crushing debt burden upon our students: Student Loans.  Is it time to rethink not only what college, but how students go about getting a college degree?  I would say yes.

According to a recent study by the college board, I am in plenty of good (or was in unlucky) company as almost one-out-of-five graduates with bachelor degrees will not be able to make payments on the average undergraduate loan debt, which now stands at a whopping $30,500 before interest. If that’s not disheartening enough, consider that for the first time ever, student loan debt now outranks credit card debt.

Can you believe that Americans now have accrued more debt by pursuing higher education that by using credit cards.  To be exact – $805.9 billion in federal student loans outstanding and $237.3 billion in outstanding private student loans. The news is even more troubling for both the African American and Latino communities, who borrow disproportionately to pay for private nonprofit or for-profit college than a public four-year college.

Do parents need to save and pay more or is it time to completely rethink higher education?  Do I even bring up how much of our tax dollars are used to fund higher education, thus we are paying twice and condemning our children to monster student loans. 

Are student loans the next bubble?

Law school students sue their law school (Way too funny)

I guess this law school taught their students a bit too well, since they graduated and promptly sued the school.  You can't make this stuff up.  Hahaha


Watch Video:
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Law_Students_Sue_New_York-127640498.html

Law school students sue their law school (Way too funny)

Mom of the year!!!!

In this age of political correctness, I'll throw my two cents in on the Government feeling up our children this way. "Hey dirtbags, keep your hands off our children!".  What am I talking about?  A Nashville mom stands up to the TSA to protect her daughter.

Mom takes on TSA, read story:
http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/07/13/mom-arrested-for-yelling-at-tsa-over-daughters-patdown/

Mom of the year!!!!

Tax the evil rich!!!!

What

When did hate become so popular?  Tax the rich, also known as take/steal/confiscate, and give it to another person is alive and well.  Unfortunately.  Funny that taxing the rich doesn't seem to necessarily go to another, but rather it disappears into a big sucking black hole called government spending.  Why don't we just give "the poor" the freedom to take from the rich directly.  It would be great and just imagine someone driving a car you like and being able to go whack them over the head and steal it.  Did I say steal?  I meant to say tax it from them.  See a house you like, well just give "the poor" the "right" to go kick in the front door and confiscate the home.  Did I say confiscate?  I meant to say tax if from them.  Well you get the idea....

To get our kids on board with this type of thinking we should make all children who get A's, B's, and C's in school "give" points to any kids with F's.  We can call it taxing the evil smart kids.

Or we could just move to a flat tax system that treats all of us equal..is that hateful?....

Tax the evil rich!!!!

Notable Quote

I wish it were possible to obtain a single amendment to our Constitution. I would be willing to depend on that alone for the reduction of the administration of our government to the genuine principles of its Constitution; I mean an additional article, taking from the federal government the power of borrowing. -Thomas Jefferson

Notable Quote

Too shocking for adults, but it's taught to 3rd graders

I love that the school board doesn't like the language used, but the mom is literally reading from her kids 3rd grade text book. If the language is inappropriate for a school board meeting, wouldn't someone think it would be inappropriate for 3rd graders? How did this text book get into the classroom?

Too shocking for adults, but it's taught to 3rd graders