Luke Spencer's Hate Blog

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

New Blog - A Year Ago

SAW 20100727.

This is a post from my WordPress blog Stay A While, along with the comments. I decided to duplicate my WordPress blog posts (along with all comments) on Blogger for posterity. Also because I lost my WordPress password and haven't been able to recover my account. So I just copied everything over and changed the publish dates. Anyway, enjoy.

Subjects: I'm sick, Incorrect Compound Word Usage, Misspellings.

One year ago today!

I have turned into writing about only politics. That is not what I intended, but what seems to interest people. Up until my surgery, I posted many things. Food, cars, space, politics, and commentary. Now, it's mainly commentary. I suppose that's because it's easier.

Below is a re-post of my first post. Peruse the archives to see what kind of ride it has been.

Thank you all for your interest, especially rockync, my first reader and still reading (I think).

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I just started this blog today, July 27, 2009.

I call it "Stay A While" for no real reason, but I hope you will.

I like many things.

Politics is fine, but there are so many other things in life I find more interesting. I am a moderate. I like President Obama, but not all his policies. I do not want this blog to be a place where fights and name calling over politics is the main offering. It’s probably inevitable to have disagreements, and although I am not a prude, vulgarity and personal attacks will not be allowed on this blog.

I like sports, but at my age watching is the way I participate. I will not bore you with my past athletic glories, but I did have them.

I like cars, especially antique cars. You will see me post pictures and my dreams of owning a great classic car.

I love music of all kinds, but I guess I'm a little old to appreciate Rap, or Hip Hop. I listen to a lot of classical, Rock, Jazz, and Blues. I love the big band sound. I grew up with Folk music. I might consider putting a "play list" on this blog, but not right away.

I have a primitive computer set up. I am a dial up customer and rarely download videos, it just takes to long. I cannot download music. Photographs post fine, and you will see those. I do not have call waiting and my friends know enough to email me when they get a busy signal. I always check my email (hint).

I like going to antique shops and second hand stores. I stay away from the big malls. I am a frugal person, or as my family says, CHEAP. I cut coupons, buy on sale pretty much exclusively, two for one deals, I’ll eat anything so I buy what’s on sale. I'm proud that my cable is $9.99 a month. My phone is $25.00 a month. My electric bill is below $80.00 a month.

I have been into photography for 50 years and actually worked in the profession for a few years. This blog will not be a photo blog, but occasionally I will post some of my photo's.

I read dry stuff like History, Biography's, Poetry, Science. I will post poems once in a while.

I like space and the NASA program. That’s space fact, not fiction. I track the Hubble telescope. As soon as I get this blog together, you will find links to space projects and the Hubble.

I like movies, old and new. Movies of all kinds, but comedies are my favorite.

I do not have a green thumb, and over the years have given up on growing inside, or outside flowers. I plant shrubs.

Well that's enough. This blog will change daily, as I get it to what I want.

I will gladly add your site as a link, or you can add yourself as one of my followers.

Feel free to comment. I am not judgmental, but will delete pointless vulgarity. That does not mean you cannot use a bad word once in a while. I'm old enough to not be shocked and you do not have to agree with me to state you honest thoughts. I will post my honest thoughts, and do not mean to offend anyone.

4 Responses.

01. July 27, 2010 at 7:22 pm.

tnlib: I'm glad you reprinted this super first posting. I enjoy and don't enjoy everything listed except science, space and finances. Don't care for "background" music on blogs. But I love to plant. And no, this is not a proposal. : ) What a neat post.

02. July 27, 2010 at 8:05 pm.

Sue: Yes Tom it's so nice to read this first post and learn more about you. Congrats on your first year and I hope you have many more wonderful years here with us talking politics! BTW, I love antique and junk shops too! I was telling Leslie I painted 14 pieces of furniture this month, most came from fleamarkets, and antique/junk shops! Thats how I decorate my country home, its warm and inviting to have old things from times past.

03. July 28, 2010 at 9:35 am.

TOM 3136: Thanks,I think I'll have to go back to more non-political posts. What's going on drives me crazy, but repeating myself about the same things, is driving me crazy. There is nothing I can do if people want to believe, follow, and vote for the likes of Bachmann, Palin, stc. I'll have to live with the fact that if their thinking becomes majority and law – well I could hit the streets even at my age.

04. July 28, 2010 at 5:40 pm.

tnlib: You could always do a little of this and a little of that. I don't think we have to be limited to one or two things and you have such a wide range of interests to pluck from you should never run out of ideas.I keep a little notebook where I note ideas that strike at any given moment. The only problem is keeping up with the little book.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

We Have All Gone Crazy

SAW 20100121.

Subject:

I know I have. I even got reconciliation and majority vote mixed up on a blog comment tonight. My excuse is the medication, what's yours? The sudden turn of the attitude of this blog probably has something to do with the medication, but more to do with exasperation.

In 2006 and 2008 the country drastically changed the ruling political power in national government. That meant a new President and dozens of elected Congressional seats. A big change of power in Washington.

Last night one State elected a Republican Senator (a seat held by a Democrat for over 54 years) and this supposedly means the intent of the voters of the 2006 and 2008 elections is now null and void? The President and the agenda he ran on just a year ago, is no longer valid to Americans? Americans no longer want health care insurance reform? Hogwash!

Americans like a good sniping and a good trashing, especially against authority. Are you watching Conan to see what new insults he has against NBC? Do we like to hear about the sexual peccadilloes of politicians? Don't we love to hear how the higher ups in society have fallen? Do we fight City Hall, even though we know it’s a losing proposition? Do we cheer for the guy that does take on City Hall? We love to trash VIPs. We listen when we hear our employers and bosses being trashed.

Revenge is a dish best served cold, which means there is not often a lot of thought put into the consequences of our actions. But, hey, we love to get that shot in.

So the voters of Massachusetts (under the national light) decided to give their government a shot. Upset about the President's admittedly (admitted by me) flawed health care bill, they stuck it in the eye of the politicians.

Massachusetts voted for Obama in 2008 knowing and supporting his agenda, including his health care reform promises. Of course, those promises were not what the bill ended up being. I mean, what the Hell, they were not getting what they wanted anyways; and what they did get was a stereotype of dirty political deals, so it didn’t really matter who won the election and it was a good opportunity to give a shot to those self serving bastards in the Congress. No problem, and unless Mr. Brown turns out to be a better politician than he sounds like; he too will be ousted in 2016.

This was an anti vote. Anti Washington, anti Obama health care, anti horrible democrat candidate, anti Republicans doing nothing, anti politicians, anti anything to do with politics. And why not. What have any of these of political crooks done for citizens lately?

Yet, we only have ourselves to blame. Are we crazy? We vote for politicians that pander for our vote by saying they will not raise our taxes, and then wonder why we are bankrupt. We reelect politicians that are caught stealing, lying, having sexual affairs, getting paid for their votes, giving us stupid outright lies for explanations, and whatever crap they think we will swallow, then we do swallow it and reelect them. We allow the most vile speech without speaking out against those haters we should have left behind decades ago. You know the old saying, if you keep doing the same thing and get the same failing results...

We go ga ga over some politician thinking he has the answer to all our problems like he is some kind of political messiah, and when he does not solve all our problems within a year, we dump on him.

Forget all the bullshit from politicians and use a little common sense. Have a little sales resistance. Use some critical thinking. Do you really think these power hungry, selfish, egotistical people care about you? Are you sure someone who thinks differently than you wants to destroy America? Is your neighbor your enemy? Is the opposition party America’s enemy, or is Bin Laden our enemy?

I think we are crazy. We are blowing up the greatest country the World has ever known, mistakes and all.

5 Responses.

01. January 21, 2010 at 2:31 am.

Rational Nation USA: "We vote for politicians that pander for our vote by saying they will not raise our taxes, and then wonder why we are bankrupt". Anybody ever hear of living within ones means? The government sure hasn't for a very long time. Quite possibly reflective of the liberal political mindset. Who knows, who cares? Two choices; cut all unnecessary spending, military and domestic. Get rid of the porkulus earmarks and special interests. Get some meaningful campaign reform going…Or just raise taxes, and raise taxes, and raise taxes... Perhaps the day will come, but I doubt it, when the electorate figures it out and thus the politicians (government) will no longer be able to scam the public. Government is but a necessary evil, and power corrupts while absolute power corrupts absolutely. Wake up time everybody.

02. January 21, 2010 at 10:50 am.

Cincinnati Rick: insert comment here.

03. January 21, 2010 at 2:19 pm.

TOM 5704: RN, It all comes down to spending. We have proven to ourselves that higher taxes does not inhibit growth. See my "Mondale was right" post. After WW II we were building the greatest middle class, growth was great, yet, we were taxing ourselves at 70% or more. We had little debt. "Anybody ever hear of living within ones means? The government sure hasn't for a very long time. Quite possibly reflective of the liberal political mindset". Given the last 30 year History of trillion dollar deficits, when the Executive and Legislative were controlled a majority of the time by Republicans, I cannot agree that over spending is a liberal mindset. The only dip in the growth of the national debt since 1983, happened when Clinton was President. It's simple Math Republicans blew it. They increased spending, while cutting taxes. Republicans still hold today, to a tax cut philosophy, while our debt continues to rise. This is financial madness. What services do we want our government to provide, and how much are we willing to pay for those services. Simple outline, hard decisions. Cincinnati Rick, I have no clue what your comment has to do with this post, except to prove that you are a troll. I read your comment at Pam's blog. You are an idiot troll.

04. January 21, 2010 at 11:50 pm.

Pamela D. Hart: Rational: Kudos to everything you wrote! Tom: You're back on track! Great post! Are you sure someone who thinks differently than you wants to destroy America? That is what I've been trying to get across to "some" people. Differing opinions DON'T signify being Un-American or Unpatriotic, it indicates they are DIFFERENT! Do we like to hear about the sexual peccadilloes of politicians? Don't we love to hear how the higher ups in society have fallen?Personally, Tom, no, I don't like to hear about any of that. It not only makes me sick to my stomach; it also doesn't make ME feel any better; any bigger; or give me any more "power". It would be much better if our politicians just towed the line and did the right thing. It seems, though, that some people like this type of behavior, maybe it makes "some" feel better about themselves. I guess the old saying: Misery loves company is truer than we thought. I think the Brown vote was a vote based on impatience and fear. We are in a recession and unemployment is high and the light at the tunnel is a train for some. People don’t seem to realize that we didn't get into this mess over-night so it's going to take time to get out. But as I said, we're an impatient people, so what do we do? We vote. Brown said the "right" things and it made a lot of people "feel" better. But if things don't change, he'll be out on his butt too. Also, if Republicans don't get down to business they won't win come November. There are a lot of "cocky" right-wingers out there right now and I don't see that as a good thing. Republicans/Conservatives need to stay focused and remember how they lost "power" the last time and fix those mistakes. Those who don't learn from history are bound to repeat it...

05. January 22, 2010 at 3:49 am.

TOM 5704: Pamela, The comments on your present post shows it goes way beyond cocky. The hate (especially for the President) is visceral, thick, and deep. I only hope that does not reflect a high percentage of the views of the country, or even Republicans.From what I hear on the airwaves, it is a reflection of a high number of Republicans. That helps nothing, and only makes the problem worse. Since many of them comment as anonymous, or fake names, no blogs (what some call trolls) they seem to be ashamed to express those extreme views as themselves. It's never (for me) been a matter of differing opinions, it's a matter of actions based on convictions. The Republicans have been acting against their own stated principles and hurting the country. They have been doing this for so long, I can only conclude that they have been intentionally lying. That is inexcusable, especially given the harm they have caused to the country.

Compound Word Errors: over spending (overspending).

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Comment Policy

SAW 20100119.

Subject: Hate! I'm a dead man living on borrowed time.

It has been alleged (by lying pigs) that my comment policy is hypocritical.

That is not true, it is my comment policy and I do not put up with the shit and biases found on other blogs.

I do not get enjoyment out of watching the sparks fly between comments, just to build comment counts. Nor do I delete comments based on bias, or friendship.

Nor do I have ads, that make me more money on each visit to my blog, therefore motivating me to have a high comment count, and motivating me to encourage the filth people love.

It does cut my comment count, but then unlike others, that is not the goal of my writing, or my blog. So, from now on my comment section is open to all. So, all you lying pigs, have a field day. Enjoy the garbage you create. Enjoy the incivility you claim you do not create.

If you read my "New Years Day" post, you know I won't be around long anyways. Although, the hospice people told me, that as long as I can work on a computer, I will have a computer in my room.

This is not the end of this blog. I will post as long as I can.

It is the end of filtering the filthy, lying, pigs and their supposition that they are truthful, honest, unbiased, sincere, serious people.

Anonymous comments are allowed. I would miss to many filthy comments, if I did not allow anonymous comments, as that is the pigs main way of identifying themselves.

Be warned, if you do not want to be attacked, do not comment here, or at least do it anonymously so other pigs cannot backtrack to your blog and attack you there. I have removed all links to other blogs, as that is also a favorite way that pigs attack. You might want to remove youselves from my favorites list.

Have at it pigs, backstabbers, two-faced morons. Show me your intellectual and personal courage. Give it your best shot. I know you won't let me down.

10 Responses.

01. January 19, 2010 at 4:15 pm.

TRUTH 101: When necessary, I have no problem swearing, defaming and pigging Tom. I won't lie on purpose though. I hope you're with us a long time Brother.

02. January 19, 2010 at 4:31 pm.

TOM 5704: This should be cathartic in a good way. I have always laughed at the so called "decent" people who practice "their" version of civility. I have always laughed at the anonymous ass holes. I have always laughed at the spite and high school antics of supposed serious people. I need to vent the anger I have about my situation. This is the way it's going to be, if I get tired of it, I will stop blogging. The idea that they want to kick a dying man, only proves the dark side of humanity I know is the truth, but I tried to stay away from. In venting my anger about my situation, I may become a little nasty myself.

03. January 19, 2010 at 5:06 pm.

TomCat: Tom, this is the first I was aware of your illess. You will be missed when that time comes. With your permission I will continue comment with the respect you and your blog are due.

04. January 19, 2010 at 5:53 pm.

Sue: Bless your sweet heart Tom! If any of those hateful trolls wanna fuck with you, you just send 'em my way, I'll rip 'em a new one!!!

05. January 19, 2010 at 9:59 pm.

rockync: TOM – you can run this blog any way you see fit. I read that bullshit critism of your comment policy. Fuck 'em, hit that delete button! I believe in surrounding yourself with positive energy and I'm a practitioner of meditation as a healing art as well as for spiritual edification. I wish you to be here blogging with us a long time.

06. January 19, 2010 at 10:51 pm.

TAO: Tom, I think you are a GREAT human being! I have to admit that I have some personal issues dealing with the fact that you will not be around long... But while I do not comment much I do read your blog daily... and now I offer my services to you and I know you can depend on Truth…we both can give as well as we get! As they love to say on conservative blogs "...we got your back..." So go kick some ass and live your life the way you want to... Those of you who respect and admire your decentness will always be there for you!

07. January 19, 2010 at 11:50 pm.

Pamela D. Hart: Dear Tom, I'm sorry you are going through such a difficult time. I had no idea you were having such trouble with trolls. I, as you're aware, have had more than my share of problems with them. As of my first post of 2010 I've deleted more comments than I can count. The trolls don't seem to get the hint, however, because they keep coming back with "new" names, as if I don't know it's the same people. Such precious time wasted on anger and hatred. I can't figure them out, and I'm not going to waste my time trying. Yesterday I did indulge and let loose on a few trolls because I was berated on my blog for something I had done on a completely different blog! I wasn't feeling well. I suffer from chronic migraines and was experiencing great pain. When that happens, I normally don’t blog as I'm not in a good mood. Needless to say, I was a bit snippy with the trolls but, truth be told, I got some gratification. I doubt I'll "indulge" again, as it's not my style, but for those few briefs moments, it was a bit therapeutic. It could be for you too, who knows. You've always been so kind and respectful to me and for that I am grateful. I feel very bad that you are being treated poorly because I don't believe you deserve such treatment. And as Tao mentioned a common Conservative phrase, "I'll have your back". As I like and respect you very much. My heart goes out to you, Tom, and I wish there was something I could do. If so, please don't hesitate to let me know.

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Compound Word Errors: ass holes (assholes).

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Financial Addiction

SAW 20100102.

Subject: I'm a dead man.

I am unusual. I never had a credit card, until I was 43. I did not need one then, except there were things I could not do, even if I paid cash – like rent a car.

I paid cash for my home, my truck, all my purchases, and of course, I had no credit rating, or credit report history. That became a problem. So I got 3 credit cards and made minor purchases on all of them. Then I took out a $5,000.00 loan, with my truck as collateral, just to have and build a credit rating.

It worked. Soon I had an American Express card, with no limit. I was getting all sorts of solicitation to sign up for more cards, and to take out new loans from different banks. That was the first blast of never ending offers to extend my credit and my debt. I must have ended up on every mailing list in the country.

I pay my balances off in full every month. I do not pay interest, or fees. I have been aware for decades that the average American is in deep debt. I astounded friends and family when I disclosed my buying habits, and even more when I told them I had no debt.

Since I was a kid, I had cash in my pocket, and if I did not have enough cash for a purchase I would go get more cash, or not buy. I only had a savings account. I opened a checking account just to pay by mail, my bills. I know, this sounds way to simple, to the point of being, not so smart. The older I got, the more cash I carried. Spontaneous purchases were limited to cash in pocket, which grew to a few hundred dollars.

Now that I'm sick, I am putting everything on the cards and paying only the minimum payments. The death insurance will pay the balances, after I'm gone. Except now the credit card companies have put limits on my accounts. Depending on how long I stick around, I will have to go back to cash, debit card, or check only.

The people's addiction to buy now pay later, has the average family in credit card debt between 10-20 thousand dollars, that usually does not include a home mortgage, or car payment. We do the same with our federal spending habits. We charge everything, somehow expecting to pay later. Now, the debt is so big, we cannot pay it. We got used to just printing more money, but that won't work anymore either. hyper inflation will be a whole lot less fun, than the mess we are in now.

It's time to get back to cash. Balanced budgets only. Start paying off our debt, which means a percentage of income goes to the debt. Is this going to be hard? You bet it is! The pain is payback, for our greedy, lazy, dumb spending habits. To simple, or to hard?

3 Responses.

01. January 2, 2010 at 7:07 pm.

rockync: When I was younger, we ran up our debt and paid the price.Since then, we have lived in much the same way you have with very little debt. I keep several credit cards but pay them off each month. I live with less because I can not because I must. It is amazing all the things I DON'T miss. I also realized some time ago that people and our government was living way beyond their means and knew something would give eventually. I had no idea it would be this bad. Maybe we will learn from this.

02. January 3, 2010 at 10:50 am.

TAO: I live in the first home I bought in 1989 and it is good enough. I drive a car that I purchased new in 2000 and I love that car. I have friends who live in gated communities (which make no sense to me because the gate only covers the road and then its a bunch of trees) I almost stopped sending Christmas cards out because it was impossible keeping up with all the changes in addresses…I see people I know and I also have a good idea how much they make and I just want to shake my head in disbelief... since when has juggling become a form of financial management?Of course they think I am the weird one because I relish the old and comfortable over the new…

03. January 3, 2010 at 1:24 pm.

Tom 5704: Hi TAO, How are things? When I see someone pay for a fifty cent pack of gum with a charge card, I cringe. When I see the government pay for a war – off budget, I cringe. When I see capitalism lowered to the level of a "magic money" process, I know we have lost our way. When I see the leading political power in the country claim tax cuts are the only way to build economic growth (when we are already multi-trillion dollars in debt) I know we are in deep trouble. Since people seem to think it's ok to run their private finances in debt, I guess they accept that it's also ok for government to do the same thing.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year

SAW 20091231.

Subject: I'm a dead man.

I'm taking a lesson from my Republican friends. They know how to forget reality ever happened.

I'm going to forget 2009 ever happened. For me, 2009 was (as the Queen would say) "annus horribilis". Part of what happened in 2009, means I won't be around long in 2010. Funny how life unfolds. Maybe not so funny, all the crazy ways people try to stop it from occurring. Certainly not so funny, how little people seem to cherish life, or how poorly they treat their fellow human beings.

I read in the Wall Street Journal yesterday, that there will be a one time, one year (2010) only ban on estate taxes. That could mean doubling the estate left to your family. So of course (as the article goes on) family members are trying to decide if they should pull the plug on Grandma, or Grandpa this year, instead of letting them remain peacefully in an unconscious state. Death and taxes? Please find more meaning in life, than that.

Some religious people, who believe in everlasting spirit, seem to want that to happen prematurely. I happen to believe in "Dust to Dust". If I am wrong, I will find out. If I am wrong, will I be aware of my Earthly experience? I won't be taking anyone with me, nor did I take anyone while I was here. The height of insanity, is to think I have a right, or duty to take someone out, as long as I'm going. It is totally correct to get them, before they get you.

If wrong, I had always envisioned a "Defending Your Life" type of process. Defeating fear, in all its forms, does improve the condition of the spirit of life. That of course, is only a reflection of the limitations of my human mental capabilities, but then so is God belief. When humans can believe that religious adherence is not necessary to achieve a higher level of a better human experience, maybe then killing in the name of religion will stop. I won't hold my last breath.

I started blogging because that was one thing I could physically do. I found it engaging and enlightening. It certainly did reflect the human experience from good, to bad, and everything in between. Anonymity seems to give people the freedom to speak. Like a quiet, shy person opens up, with a little help from a mind altering substance. Express whatever your mind is comfortable with, but neglect to improve your mind.

Thanks to all those (even the bad) who laid that experience at my feet.

I wish you a Happy New Year, whatever that means to you.

5 Responses.

01. December 31, 2009 at 9:22 pm.

TAO: happy New Years Tom... It has been a sheer delight to have made your acquaintance.

02. December 31, 2009 at 9:25 pm.

Sue: HAPPY NEW YEAR TOM!!!!

03. December 31, 2009 at 11:46 pm.

rockync: And I wish you a happy new year ~ whatever that means to you!

04. January 1, 2010 at 1:59 am.

Tom 5704: Thank you Tao,I know what you write is correct, because few are listening. That's usually the way it goes. Sue, Happy New Year! Keep supporting your President. He needs your voice, and things are going to get worse for him. Rockync, Thank you. It means nothing for me. I hope the meaning for you, is surpassed by what actually happens.

05. January 1, 2010 at 10:37 am.

rockync: Actually, Tom, I don't get excited about the change over and usually go to bed before the ball drops and all that nonsense. But the one thing I always do New Year's Day is I have my Dad and his family over for dinner. I cook him all his favorite foods (Czech) because my step mother doesn't know those recipes. It's a nice day to wind down, eat, laugh and enjoy each others' company. Not a bad way to kick off a new year.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Take Me To Your Leader

SAW 20091201.

This is a post from my Wordpress blog Stay A While, along with the comments. I decided to duplicate my Wordpress blog comments (along with all comments) on Blogger for posterity. Also because I lost my Wordpress password and haven't been able to recover my account. So I just copied everything over and changed the publish dates. Anyway, enjoy.

Subject: Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin.

Two new polls report that former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh are the most powerful conservatives in the country. According to a 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair survey, 26 percent of Americans rate Limbaugh as the most influential conservative voice, followed by Fox News host Glenn Beck at 11 percent. In a Washington Post poll, a plurality of Republicans say Palin best reflects their "party's core values", and they would vote for her "if the presidential nomination battle were held today". Two people who don't fare as well in the Post poll are George W. Bush and Dick Cheney:

Just 1 percent pick George W. Bush as the best reflection of the party's principles, and only a single person in the poll cites former vice president Richard B. Cheney. About seven in 10 say Bush bears at least "some" of the blame for the party's problems.

The Post surveyed 804 "Republicans and Republican-leaning nonpartisans" for its sample. Palin is particularly popular amongst the "loyal followers of Limbaugh and Beck". "Overall, 18 percent of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents cited her as the person most representative of the party's core values. ... Among those who regularly listen to Limbaugh, however, Palin was cited by 48 percent, and among Beck's viewers, it was 35 percent, far surpassing others".

3 Responses.

01. December 1, 2009 at 8:44 am.

Tao: Yes, yes all of the Republican Party's issues can be laid at the feet of Bush/Cheney…except they tend to forget that Beck/Fox News/Limbaugh were once loyalists.But now they have moved on to Palin…Nothing like the "American Idol" model of how to run a political party...

02. December 1, 2009 at 4:12 pm.

Tom-5704: Hi TAO,Thanks for stopping by. I hope you find my blog a respite from the names you get called on other blogs. I read the thread at Oracular Opinion. If these are the leaders the Republicans choose to lead their party, they are in deep dodo. They will lose even if President Obama can't lower unemployment, passes a bad health care bill, ramps up the war in Afghanistan, gives more money to the banks, or any other action the liberals are unhappy about.So what do your employees want for Christmas dinner? Pop Tarts? Just a joke.

03. December 2, 2009 at 7:45 am.

TAO: Personally, I think the whole right wing of America is not conservative as much as they are a bunch of angry malcontents…They feel they have lost control of their lives and they want leadership that gives them a sense that someone is in control. Christmas at the plant will be a afternoon of snacks, punch and gift exchange. THAT is one tradition that will not change. I think Thanksgiving gets clobbered because of Black Friday and now Cyber Monday.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving Eve Day

SAW 20091126.

Subject: Fictional personal story.

I had a lot on my list to do yesterday. I knew it was going to be a busy, hectic day. It has been raining all night. A cold rain. I heard the weather report before I went to bed last night. The rain is supposed to turn to snow in the afternoon. So I thought I would get an early start and be home before the snow came. The streets and the stores were busy.

First stop, the bank of course. On my way to the grocery store, my truck died in the middle of a busy street, in a heavy, cold rain. It was something electrical. A young guy in a beat up old junker stopped, came to my window, and told me to pop the hood. I got out and checked under the hood with him.

It was pouring out, and we both got drenched in minutes. My alternator was bad. There was an auto shop just two blocks away, but the truck would have to be pushed, or towed with no power steering, or brakes. The guy got a tow chain out of his trunk and hooked the vehicles together. We were both soaked by then, and the rain started to turn to snow.

Towing my truck two blocks was harder than I thought it would be. We got to the auto parts store, they had no service bays. The clerk at the store said since I did not live to far away, if I charged my battery maybe I could get back to my garage and get towed to a service garage from there.

So I went back out in the snow storm and disconnected my battery, carried it into the store and had it charged. Then I carried the battery back out in the storm and reconnected it. I turned off everything electrical including the heat and lights, and drove off. My house was five blocks away.

I made it back to my house. I had to get out and open the garage door, and just then the vehicle died again. I pushed the truck into the garage.

I called a service garage to set up a time to have a new alternator put in. I figured I would be without transportation for the Holiday weekend. It's been three hours since I first left on my mission of errands, and I was totally wet and cold.

The service garage guy said he could fix it today. It would take about an hour to put in a new alternator, and the towing would be free. I could not pass that up, as much as I wanted to just hit the shower and start a fire.

So I went back out in the storm, pushed my truck out of the garage and waited for the tow truck. The tow truck showed up five minutes later. We got to the service garage and they started on the job immediately. In 40 minutes my truck was fixed and running great. Minus 250 bucks, I headed home.

I gave up on finishing the errands and went straight home It has now been six hours since I left home to do my errands. The whole incident was a bummer, but I thought I was lucky to get the truck fixed the same day.

It was snowing very hard on my drive back to home. When I walked in the house, the first thing I did was to light a fire in the fireplace. I stripped in front of the fire and headed to the shower. That hot shower felt so good. I put on a bathrobe, started the tea kettle, and put two chicken breasts in the oven to roast.

5 Responses.

01. November 26, 2009 at 7:41 am.

Shaw Kenawe: Great story, Tom.Great example of why I often give thanks: I'm thankful for the essential goodness in people.How could we not feel this way when Anne Frank, herself, wrote in the diary she kept while she and her family hid from the Nazis in an attic in Amsterdam:"In spite of everything, I really believe people are really good at heart."Happy Thanksgiving to you, and to your good Samaritan, Jeff.

02. November 26, 2009 at 2:10 pm.

Pamela D. Hart: Wow, Tom, you were very lucky that "Jeff" stopped to help you. It's nice to know there are still good people in the world! We just had some "car" woes. Both of our vehicles had issues. My jeep needed a battery; our truck needed $1,000 worth of work! Thankfully we weren't stranded either time!Let's see, Thanksgiving Eve, I just blogged and waited for my Dad to come over. He stayed the night as he is having dinner with us today. My Mom is in San Diego with my sister. I'll miss seeing my Mom, but my sister is lonely as her husband is currenly on the USS Nemitz and will be on it for the next 6 months. She needs family with her, too, and my Mom decided to stay with her this year. Our Thanksgiving dinners are normally large because my Mom usually does most of the cooking. We are kinda scattered this year. But it all worked out and we'll get together for Christmas. After dinner tonight we're going to play some board games and I even got instant lottery tickets for prizes. My Dad, husband and youngest son are VERY competitive. So, it should be a lot of fun! And the lottery tickets will make it even more interesting! I hope your day is very happy, Tom. Enjoy.

03. November 26, 2009 at 3:16 pm.

Tom: I want to thank Jeff H. again for helping me out!Shaw,Happy Thanksgiving!Yes, Life is all about other people and their basic goodness. I have been the beneficiary of peoples help many times, and I have tried to help people where and when I can.I'm new to this blog World and sometimes I wonder if people are still nice to each other, but everyday I am shown that they are.I understand (reading some of your blog archives) that it has been a tough year for you and your family. I hope this day finds reflection of the good family times, for you and your family.Life is for the living and living should be a positive experience, even if you have to force yourself sometimes.Pamela,Happy Thanksgiving!I also come from a competitive family of brothers (no girls-poor Mom). In that sense, what are the rules for splitting the possible lottery winnings?I'm sure your Mom would rather have everyone together. I think she knew your sister needed her company at this time.My parents have both passed on and my brothers are scattered all over the country. We have not had the big family get together, for many years. I thought many times I would not miss those, but I do.So with Mom gone, are you cooking?I'm cooking and watching the dog show (love dogs) while I blog this. It's snowing hear again today. Just right for a Winter Holiday.While the boys are arguing over a game, call your Mom and sister. They will enjoy hearing the commotion in the background.We as Americans are creating quite a commotion amongst ourselves. Lets hope as we enter the Christmas season, that it will be a loving family type commotion, not an angry family splitting type of argument.For both of you, blogging seems to bring a lot of anger to your blogs. Minds are not easily changed, neither are personalities. The best you can do, is what you two already do, lead by example. Maybe, just maybe, it will rub off on some of the hard cases.

04. November 27, 2009 at 12:57 pm.

rockync: Great story and I hope you had a good Thanksgiving after all that!

05. November 27, 2009 at 4:39 pm.

Tom: Hi Rockny,Yes, it was a nice quiet day with good food.I hope your day was what you wanted.Today I slept in, and I do not go shopping on Black Friday. Another quiet day.The Sun is finally shining today. The snow should be gone by Sunset.Everyone, have a nice weekend.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

IT’S BEEN A WHILE

SAW 20091014.

Subject: I am sick.

I'm Back.

That's right, I'm back.

I used to post everyday, then nothing for over 6 weeks. Sorry.

There is a good reason, but I'm not into writing about my depressing, boring medical problems. Suffice it to say that I never saw the tunnel of white light.

Besides, my idea of Heaven is this car and no speed limits.

Nice to see the world of politics is as it was before I took my little trip, ridiculous.

I did not expect Rush to become a "nice" guy in 6 weeks. Let him have his NFL team, and be glad he's not financially supporting a Little League Baseball team.

Neither did I expect President Obama to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Did I miss something?

I will try to post on a regular basis, but that depends on a lot of things. Blogging is one of the things I can do. Sit, type, read, and spew my questionable thinking.

Speaking of questionable thinking... the Health Care Bill from the Finance Committee could only have come from the mind of an overpaid Health Care lobbyist. The industry gets millions of new (forced to buy) customers and the rest of us get a raise in our insurance premiums. I advise buying stock in Health Care Corporations.

0 Responses.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

WOODSTOCK – 40 Years Ago

SAW 20090816.

Subject: Music.

Woodstock 1969 Performance Lineup

Day One: Friday, August 15 1969.

Richie Havens

1. Minstrel From Gault
2. High Flyin' Bird
3. I Can’t Make It Anymore
4. With A Little Help
5. Strawberry Fields For Ever
6. Hey Jude
7. I Had A Woman
8. Handsome Johnny
9. Freedom

Sweetwater

1. Motherless Child
2. Look Out
3. For Pete's Sake
4. Day Song
5. What’s Wrong
6. Crystal Spider
7. Two Worlds
8. Why Oh Why

Bert Sommer

1. Jennifer
2. The Road To Travel
3. I wondered where you'd be
4. She's Gone
5. Things Are Going My Way
6. And When It's Over
7. Jeanette
8. America (first standing ovation at Woodstock)
9. A Note That Read
10. Smile

Tim Hardin

1. Misty Roses
2. If I Were A Carpenter

Ravi Shankar

1. Raga Puriya-Dhanashri / Gat In Sawarital
2. Tabla Solo In Jhaptal
3. Raga Manj Kmahaj / Alap Jor / Dhun In Kaharwa Tal / Medium & Fast Gat In Teental

Melanie

1. Beautiful People
2. Birthday Of The Sun

Arlo Guthrie

1. Coming Into Los Angeles
2. Walking Down The Line
3. Amazing Grace

Joan Baez

1. Joe Hill
2. Sweet Sir Galahad
3. Drug Store Truck Driving Man
4. Swing Low Sweet Chariot
5. We Shall Overcome

Day Two: Saturday, August 16 1969

Quill

1. Waitin' For You

Country Joe McDonald

1. I Find Myself Missing You

2. Rockin' All Around The World
3. Flyin' High All Over The World
4. Seen A Rocket
5. Fish Cheer / I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixing-To-Die-Rag

John B. Sebastian

1. How Have You Been
2. Rainbows All Over Your Blues
3. I Had A Dream
4. Darlin’ Be Home Soon
5. Younger Generation

Keef Hartley Band

1. Believe In You
2. Rock Me Baby
3. Leavin' Trunk/Halfbreed/Just To Cry/And Sinnin' For You

Santana

1. Persuasion
2. Savor
3. Soul Sacrifice
4. Fried Neckbones

Incredible String Band

1. Catty Come
2. This Moment Is Different
3. When You Find Out Who You Are

Canned Heat

1. I'm Her Man
2. Going Up the Country
3. A Change Is Gonna Come
4. Leaving This Town
5. The Bear Talks
6. Let's Work Together
7. Too Many Drivers at the Wheel
8. I Know My Baby
9. Woodstock Boogie
10. On the Road Again

Grateful Dead

1. St. Stephen
2. Mama Tried
3. Dark Star / High Time
4. Turn On Your Lovelight

Leslie West & Mountain

1. Blood Of The Sun
2. Stormy Monday
3. Theme From An Imaginary Western
4. Long Red
5. For Yasgur's Farm
6. You And Me
7. Waiting To Take You Away
8. Dreams Of Milk And Honey
9. Blind Man
10. Blue Suede Shoes
11. Southbound Train

Creedence Clearwater Revival

1. Born On The Bayou
2. Green River
3. Ninety-Nine And A Half
4. Commotion
5. Bootleg
6. Bad Moon Rising
7. Proud Mary
8. I Put A Spell On You
9. Night Time Is The Right Time
10. Keep On Choogin'
11. Suzy Q

Janis Joplin

1. Raise Your Hand
2. As Good As You've Been To This World
3. To Love Somebody
4. Summertime
5. Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)
6. Kosmic Blues
7. Can't Turn You Loose
8. Work Me Lord
9. Piece Of My Heart
10. Ball and Chain

Sly & The Family Stone

1. M'Lady
2. Sing A Simple Song
3. You Can Make It If You Try
4. Stand!
5. Love City
6. Dance To The Music
7. Music Lover
8. I Want To Take You Higher

The Who

1. Heaven And Hell
2. I Can't Explain
3. It's A Boy
4. 1921
5. Amazing Journey
6. Sparks
7. Eyesight To The Blind
8. Cristmas
9. Tommie Can You Hear Me
10. Acid Queen
11. Pinball Wizard
12. Abbie Hoffmann Incident
13. Fiddle About
14. There’s A Doctor I've Found
15. Go To The Mirror Boy
16. Smash The Mirror
17. I'm Free
18. Tommy’s Holiday Camp
19. We’re Not Gonna Take It
20. See Me Feel Me
21. Summertime Blues
22. Shakin' All Over
23. My Generation
24. Naked Eye

Jefferson Airplane

1. The Other Side Of This Life
2. Plastic Fantastic Lover
3. Volunteers
4. Saturday Afternoon / Won't You Try
5. Eskimo Blue Day
6. Uncle Sam's Blues
7. Somebody To Love
8. White Rabbit

Day Three: Sunday, August 17 1969

Joe Cocker

1. Delta Lady
2. Some Things Goin' On
3. Let’s Go Get Stoned
4. I Shall Be Released
5. With A Little Help From My Friends

Country Joe & The Fish

1. Barry's Caviar Dream
2. Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine
3. Rock And Soul Music
4. Thing Called Love
5. Love Machine
6. Fish Cheer / I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixing-To-Die-Rag

Ten Years After

1. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
2. I Can't Keep From Crying Sometimes
3. I May Be Wrong, But I Won’t Be Wrong Always
4. I'm Going Home

The Band

1. Chest Fever
2. Don't Do It
3. Tears Of Rage
4. We Can Talk About It Now
5. Long Black Veil
6. Don't Ya Tell Henry
7. Ain't No More Cane on the Brazos
8. Wheels On Fire
9. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
10. The Weight

Johnny Winter

1. More And More
2. I Love You Baby More Than You Ever Know
3. Spinning Wheel
4. I Stand Accused
5. Something Coming On

Blood Sweat And Tears

1. Mean Town Blues

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

1. Suite Judy Blue Eyes
2. Blackbird
3. Helplessly Hoping
4. Guinnevere
5. Marrakesh Express
6. 4 + 20
7. Mr Soul
8. Wonderin'
9. You Don't Have To Cry
10. Pre-Road Downs
11. Long Time Gone
12. Bluebird Revisited
13. Sea Of Madness
14. Wooden Ships
15. Find The Cost Of Freedom
16. 49 Bye-Byes

Day Four: Monday, August 18 1969

Paul Butterfield Blues Band

1. Everything's Gonna Be Alright
2. Driftin'
3. Born Under A Bad Sign
4. All My Love Comin' Through To You
5. Love March

Sha Na Na

1. Na Na Theme
2. Jakety Jak
3. Teen Angel
4. Jailhouse Rock
5. Wipe Out
6. Who Wrote The Book Of Love
7. Duke Of Earl
8. At The Hop
9. Na Na Theme

Jimi Hendrix

1. Message To Love
2. Getting My Heart Back Together Again
3. Spanish Castle Magic
4. Red House
5. Master Mind
6. Here Comes Your Lover Man
7. Foxy Lady
8. Beginning
9. Izabella
10. Gypsy Woman
11. Fire
12. Voodoo Child (Slight Return) / Stepping Stone
13. Star Spangled Banner
14. Purple Haze
15. Woodstock Improvisation / Villanova Junction
16. Hey Joe

There were almost 500,000 people there. There was a shortage of food, water, and toilets, but no one got hurt and there were no fights reported. There was some bad acid and people did get sick. There was a huge traffic jam. As you just read, the performers were the best.

Just a month after man had landed on the Moon. The Vietnam war protests were at their height. The bloody riots at the Chicago Democratic National convention were just a year before, and so were the murders of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Nixon was President, but Watergate was in the future, so were the killings at Kent State.

Some of the bands that declined the invitation to play at Woodstock were: The Doors, Led Zepplin, Jethro Tull, The Byrds, Bob Dylan, The Moody Blues, Joni Mitchell, and Tommy James and the Shondells.

3 Responses.

01. August 14, 2009 at 11:39 pm.

Jennifer: As I was not even a thought in my parents head back then it was really neat reading this post. Although I recognize some of the bands, and some of the songs, most of them are completely foreign to me. I sometimes imagine what it would have been like back then. If I could have really let loose and let the music and whatever else happened to catch my fancy take over and just let go. Maybe it was just the time or maybe it was the person, I'm not sure. I actually went to a Christian version of Woodstock called Creation. (minus the drugs and nudity) Camping and listening to music, meeting other people. I imagine it was quite different then the real thing though.

02. August 15, 2009 at 12:35 am.

Tom-5704: Hi Jennifer, OH yes, quite different. Woodstock was the stereotype of "sex, drugs, and rock and roll". Were your parents part of that back then?It was the time. Many who you would not think would, did get into it. Lessons learned, that's why I think the boomers have gone along with the war on drugs for 30 years, even though they brought it to the culture in a massive, popular way. Same with sex and stopping unwed pregnancies. How's it going? How can you have two boys and still be up so late? Are you not dead on your feet at the end of a day?

03. August 19, 2009 at 8:39 am.

TRUTH 101: I never heard an original Woodstock album that didn't have skips through a third of the songs. I guess they tried to put too much on the vinyl. My family was on Guam during this time but my older sister and brother made Dad go back to the states so they could be a part of all this.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Mustard Marinated Grilled Steak

SAW 20090812.

Subject: Food.

The Steak

Choose a good steak for grilling. A cut with medium marbling is best. Trim off excess fat. Fat should be about 1/8th of an inch. Fat adds to the taste, but to much fat will just make fire flares while grilling. The steak should be 1 and 1/2 inch thick to 2 inches thick. This will allow for good outside blackening while the inside remains pink and juicy.

I prefer a New York Strip steak, but this recipe is great for any beef steak; T-bone, Porterhouse, Sirloin, etc. This marinade is especially good for tenderizing cheaper cuts.

The Recipe

I got this recipe from my father. He got it from a chef in New York. Mustard marinades for beef are nothing new. This is a simple recipe, that tenderizes beef while giving a great taste.

The mustard, salt, and wine vinegar work together to break down the marbling, making for a tender "butter knife" steak.

Mustard Marinade for Grilled Steak

4 ounces (1/2 cup) of plain salad mustard.

1-1/2 ounce of Red Wine Vinegar.

2-tablespoons of table salt.

Stir ingredients together.

Spread on steak and pierce with a fork.

Flip the steak over and repeat – marinate both sides.

Let steaks marinade at room temp for 5 hours.

This amount should cover one large (2-4lbs) steak, or two smaller steaks. Multiply recipe for more, or bigger steaks.

Another one of my favorites, is an Eye of the Round roast in this marinade, over night in the refrigerator. Grilled to medium rare, and sliced thin.

Grilling

You don't have to, but I use Hickory wood chips in the grill to add flavor. Soak the wood chips in water for about 2 hours before adding to the grill. Add them just before you put the steaks on the grill. Spread them around the out side of the hot coals.

Whatever grill you use, it is better to have a cover. A cover will help put out flare ups and smoke the steaks.

Try to use as little starter fluid as possible. Remove the grill grate before squirting the starter fluid, so not to have the fluid on the grate. Let the fluid soak into the coals for a few minutes, then lite the coals, and put the grate back on.

Then wash the Mustard marinade off the steaks.

The coals should take about 30 minutes until they are white ashed and fully afire. If needed, shake the grill lightly to evenly spread the hot coals. Add your water soaked Hickory chips to the hot coals, around the edges of the coals, not in the middle of the coals.

Put the steaks on the grill and allow the fat to start dripping on the coals and fire to start blackening the meat a little, about 3 minutes.

Put the cover on about 30 seconds to kill the flames and smoke the steaks.

Remove the cover, turn the steaks over and do another 3 minutes for the other side of the steak.

If the flames are to high, or to many, just put the cover on to put them out.

Turn the steaks back over again, this time reversing the grate position to get the cross look, for about 2 minutes.

Turn the steaks again to match the cross look, for another 2 minutes.

The cover use, is on and off. To kill flames and smoke the steaks.

By this time the steaks should be done to medium rare, have a nice outside blackening and a pink inside.

Adjust time to your preference of rare, medium, or well done. I do not advise a no pink juice, well done steak. You can cut into the steak on the grill to check the level of rareness, be careful of flames.

If you like a rare steak, let the flames hit the meat longer to get the blackening effect. Reverse for a well done steak. This will take experience to get it just the way you like it.

Let the steak sit a few minutes. It will retain its juice better if you don't cut into it immediately.

One of the signs of a good steak, is how it tastes cold the next day.

I have grilled, smoked, used the spit, on every kind of meat store bought, or wild. From whole turkeys, to pigs, lamb, kabobs, etc.

If you have questions, ask me.

Enjoy.

3 Responses.

01. August 12, 2009 at 4:35 pm.

Shaw Kenawe: Yum. Well one delicious recipe deserves another.I used to have a cooking blog and another blog name "Isabella di Pesto". Here's an easy recipe.

02. August 12, 2009 at 6:23 pm.

Tom 5704: Hi Shaw, I'm impressed.Many good recipes on that blog. Thanks. As typically male, I know about meats, grilling, smoking, etc., not so much about baking, deserts, etc. I have a great recipe for a chicken-wild rice hot dish. I'll post it some day.I noticed you must have stopped and just do political blogging now.I have my political opinions, but I'm not as astute at it as you, Pam, Jennifer, James, and the others. I'll speak my mind and probably get eaten alive by more informed bloggers, but I'm not shy.

03. August 12, 2009 at 6:39 pm.

Shaw Kenawe: What's great about your participation is that you keep it decent. That is missing from so much of our blogs and our blogging discussions. I'm glad you're a blogger. I gave up my recipe blog because I was so intimidated by other cooking blogs, and I felt they were doing a much, much better job.

Spelling Error: deserts (desserts).

Compound Word Errors: over night (overnight), out side (outside).