I keep hearing my conservative friends talk about the conspiracy that some new world order is being brought about and has secretly been in work for decades by the liberal 1%.
After listening to this, I can’t help but think – there’s your new world order taking shape … and it’s frightening 😳😬
Just something I was thinking about …
My mother-in-law, who is 76, and her boyfriend are Trump supporters. When we talk about it, and I ask her why on earth she would even consider voting for him, she always says because this country has a lot of problems and change is needed, and that Hillary would be four more years like the last eight. In her opinion, nothing would change.
I’ve been unemployed for three years, and something needs to change soon – but that doesn’t mean I should kill myself, become a prostitute, or start ripping people off to elicit change. Change often needs to be thoughtful. This isn’t like taking a different route home from the grocery store.
I’ve got so much to say about change and the last eight years and other things, but for today . . . in the spirit of One-Liner Wednesday, I will keep it brief. Thanks Linda – lately I haven’t written much for various reasons, but I always think about this prompt you provide 🙂
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that our president gave an amazingly energizing, genuine, insightful, hopeful, and positive speech tonight. Unfortunately, those who needed to hear it the most probably weren’t listening.
OH – and Trump’s treasonous comment made at the news conference in Doral, Fla. More to come on that – I’d love to find a video that actually showed the faces in the audience as he made those comments. A picture of his kids slapping their foreheads at that moment that crap tumbled out of his mouth would be priceless! 🙂
More soon . . .
Just something I was thinking about . . .
Hello my Blog Buds! I hope you have all been doing well, here so close to the end of May. The end of May already – I am amazed how quickly this year has flown by. I had so many goals for this year, and so far, I am no where near meeting any of them! I’m working on that, though some days are better than others.
I have been busy, back hot and heavy on the job hunt. I am always looking, but sometimes take a break from the all out full-time job of searching. I have a couple of really good leads, with people who know me well pulling for me – so I am quite hopeful. But, I was in this position in March, and nothing came of it, as another friend who is 10 years younger received the offer. (The interview had gone well, I had much more experience in the role than she did, and agreed to the lower salary they mentioned right up front. The person leaving that position, due to a promotion, even recommended me for the job.) I AM NOT GIVING UP, even if I’m not counted!!!
Today I made pineapple marmalade for the first time. It tastes great, but hope it gels properly, as marmalade usually takes a little time to set up. Fixing to make some more apple butter, and some blueberry jam, in the next week or so. Then I will have enough to rent a space again – this time at one of the farmers markets, as we have many around my area. [YEAH, I know . . . Fixing to, you know I’m from the south, though I smiled at how incorrect it was when I typed it. 😉 ]
Oh Lordy, the upcoming election . . . I am truly absolutely shocked and amazed and confused and frightened and apprehensive, and I could go on and on and on. Let’s be honest, NONE of the candidates from the beginning were the best choices – BUT no one else stepped up. And the issues and possible solutions are endless. Also, I can genuinely understand where some of these people are coming from, the depth of their discontent and disparity. I even get their differences of opinion. I also realize the sense of greed and lust and power and control others approach these matters with. What a dichotomy . . .
The government and others in power and control of our lives have let us down often. It seems much of their time and effort is spent furthering their own agendas, not the American peoples’. In doing so, “the powers that be” have eroded this country’s greatness and ability to be the best by eroding the basic security and self-esteem of so many that have worked so hard for it. We don’t all want to be rich, but we would like to make enough to survive and have a little extra, and to know that in our elderly years we won’t be homeless, or dependent on others. You know be reasonably comfortable.
I do know the world is different than it was when I was growing up – often to survive or succeed you talked tough and made few compromises. Once you kicked ass a few times and proved you could hold your own, you had it made and no one messed with you anymore. BUT, the world is smaller now, and larger all at the same time. Mindsets and tactics have changed, and everything is faster. Information about almost anything you want to know is available and on overload. Balances are delicate – you can’t bulldog your way through the china shop. We have to change the way we approach some things for this country to prosper and out-maneuver, or we’ll die – our democracy as we know it.
At this point, I’m just waiting to see what happens when the game of “52 Pick-Up” is over, and the last card falls to the floor. I will vote, and we’ll see what shakes out . . .
[That’s not to say I won’t write any other political thoughts, because I might!]
I doubt my backyard owls will return this year. The city has been doing sewage upgrades in my neighborhood, and they have been quite busy back in my little alcove, where one of the mains is located, even storing one of their small bobcat diggers back there for the last several weeks. All that noise and activity I’m sure will eliminate my little area as a suitable home. I’m pretty sad about that, as I enjoyed the little glimpses of them I was blessed to have.
After spending most of the day online looking for jobs, I have to take a break from the computer screen, so I have not been able to keep up with all of you lately; I am slowly, but surely, trying to visit you all! I miss you and what you share ❤ I’ll be coming around to visit soon. 🙂
Just some things I’ve been thinking about . . .
The Democratic Debate was lively tonight. I think Bernie did a good job overall. I think Hillary is getting a bit nervous, with Bernie snapping at her heals.
The commentators stated after the debate that “Hillary cleaned Bernie’s clock,” on the gun control question. I mentioned to my husband that I agree with Bernie’s decision to vote against holding gun makers and dealers responsible, as long as they did the appropriate background checks. What no one has mentioned is WHO does these background checks? Using that thought process, shouldn’t they be held liable as well, if a background check came back approved on someone who later committed a crime?
I believe in Texas background checks are performed by the Texas Department of Public Safety, though I am not sure on that. For all I know, that work is contracted out to some third party, in my state, as well as others. The point is, it’s really no different than if a drunk driver kills someone and has a floorboard full of empty Budweiser bottles – it’s doubtful that Budweiser would be sued, or be held responsible. If someone stabs someone with a Buck knife, no one would try to sue the knife company.
You can still walk into any gun show in Texas and sell your weapons with no background check, or exchange of any paperwork, with anyone who is willing to pay the price you are asking. Anyone who happens to have paid the ticket price to get into the gun show and has cash in their pocket. And how many crimes are committed with stolen guns? (No, I have not had a chance to actually research the numbers on this.)
Anyway – it seems like the audience was giving Bernie some good feedback, from what I could tell.
Changing topics, about a month ago I had a job interview, in my industry, for a job I have a great reputation for doing sucessfully. The position was being vacated by an old friend and colleague, who gave me an excellent recommendation. The interview went really well. I found out, via FaceBook, that I did not get the position, but another friend and colleague was offered the job instead. She is about ten years my junior. Though I wasn’t super jazzed about going back to a place I feel sucked my soul out, and it was also for over a third less than I what I used to make doing the same job – I won’t lie, the snub hurt. I need the money, I need the benefits, I need something to do with my time – I am getting so unfocused, and feel that I am adrift. BUT, I will keep looking!
Last, but certainly not least, it’s tax time in the U.S. It’s no secret that my husband and I have been surviving on our 401K money for over the last two years. So, let me be a little more frank – after our standard deductions, our taxable income this year was $29, 252. My taxes, and penalties for keeping my bills paid – surviving on about a third of what we are used to making – was close to $10,000. Oh yes, I did the math, our tax rate was 32.8%.
I could be wrong, but I doubt any millionaire, or billionaire, paid 32.8% of their income in taxes – but I bet a shit ton of them paid as much as, or more than, I paid to their accountants to ensure they did not pay that high of a percentage in taxes due to all the loopholes the rich have at their disposal. To me, that is a crime . . .
On a side note – my dad’s 76th birthday is coming up, and he is a staunch Republican. I bought him a Feel the Bern coffee mug, so he could start his days thinking about his “bleeding heart Liberal” (in his opinion) daughter. And I can’t wait to wear my Bernie Sanders T-shirt 🙂
Just some things I’ve been thinking about . . .
So I watched the debates this last week, both of them. Did you?
I missed one of the Democratic debates, and chose not to watch the December Republican debate, but what I have seen is that the overall tone of the Democratic debates have been far more civilized and respectful than the Republican debates. All that testosterone on one stage maybe, I don’t know, but the Republicans seem to talk less about the topics at hand – the problems in this country and HOW they would alleviate them – and more about themselves and each other.
Hillary Clinton was on Jimmy Fallon last week. He mentioned something about her watching the Republican debates, and taking a shot every time they said her name – she laughed and said she wouldn’t “make it past the first half hour.” I noticed they did say her name A LOT. Shit, I would’ve been drunk if I’d a been playing that game – really.
It was a good interview.
After watching the debates, I could say so much, but let me just mention a few random thoughts . . .
The Republican debate is almost always a debacle at worst, a circus at best – and this one was no exception. Donald Trump was all over Ted Cruz and they argued back and forth many times. The moderators completely lost control of the event. Marco Rubio referred to it as Court TV – I suspect it was worse.
Several times Trump mentioned that we must repeal and replace Obamacare. Replace it with what? He never said, and I don’t think they ever asked. Couldn’t believe one of the questions was is Hillary Clinton an enabler of sexual misconduct. WTF kind of question is that in this context and setting?
About half way in, there was talk between them about how they shouldn’t be tearing each other apart – great, I agree, but I don’t want to be part of that discussion. Them treating each other respectfully should’ve been a given – so not sure why we would waste precious time discussing that, either. OH wait, maybe because they don’t really have any answers, or answers that most of us would like, agree with, or understand in the context of our problems.
John Kasich mentioned the 50+ year old unemployment problem, but I’m not sure retraining us is necessarily the answer, though that could be helpful in some instances. Our jobs didn’t go away and we didn’t become incapable of doing them with the same vigor. The insurance companies don’t want to cover us.
Christie cracked me up when he said he is kicking President Obama out of the White House this fall. We all know this is Obama’s last term, he has to leave no matter which party wins. And contrary to Christie’s belief, Obama hasn’t “brainwashed” me against guns, nor do I feel he is trying to take them from me. No one will . . .
Rubio vehemently said criminals do not get guns from gun shows. I disagree, and I know how easy it would be for them to do it. I’ve seen exactly how it works. I can show him, too. He also called the EPA the Employee Prevention Agency. Of course, I bet he has never lived too near a toxic waste site, or an EPA Superfund site, though they are way more common than you think. I’m sure he hasn’t had his whole neighborhood bulldozed and perimeter fenced with security guards. I have, and all that entails. This is why we need health and safety regulation, because we are still finding and cleaning up the irresponsibility of the past.
I’m not sure any of them actually get it or understand it . . . the real issues, I mean.
NONE of them think Bernie Sanders is a viable candidate! Kasich even laughed about it, saying no one will vote for Bernie – he’s not an issue. That may sneak up and bite them in the ass.
The Democratic debate was lively. Sanders mentioned the heroin epidemic and how the pharmaceutical companies are also to blame. Well of course they are – after decades of addicting people to their Vicodin and Oxycontin and when the laws abruptly changed to make these drugs mostly unavailable to all the addicts they have grown to spike their profits. Shame on you . . . and I saw the heroin epidemic coming, but that’s a story for another day.
Sanders said we need to stand up to corrupt insurance and pharmaceutical companies – that it’s time to end Congress being owned by big money, and get back to Congress meeting the needs of the people. Clinton didn’t touch that too much.
It was enlightening to know that Clinton makes a large sum of money from Goldman Sachs for speaking events. O’Malley didn’t get much talk time – Hillary is definitely noticing Bernie now . . .
Obviously, these were some of the little things that caught my attention, and sometimes little things are telling. I figured you have already heard all about the major points. Oh yeah – Saturday Night Live had fun with the Republican debate this last Saturday as well. I tried to find a link, but none are posted yet. That’s the one thing I LOVE about election season – Saturday Night Live’s (and other comedians’) parodies!
Oh, and what about those New York values . . . {shaking my head, laughing!}
Just something I was thinking about . . .
Also part of Just Jot It January – check it out over on Linda G. Hill’s blog.
Happy New Year!
It’s been awhile . . .
I’ve been paying little attention to the news in the last few months, but you just can’t escape the shit.
I missed half of the second Democratic Debate, since I had no idea it was on, a major network station at that. Not sure how that happened other than maybe they did a poor job of promoting it, especially on a Saturday night right before Christmas.
I recorded the third Republican Debate, but just deleted it without watching it. Wasn’t up for being entertained. Seems like I heard a few governments have said they will ban Trump from coming to their countries, and that Cruz may have been born in Canada. But, I have done no real research on those tidbits.
Western Illinois University has a history of predicting the winner of the presidential elections. Guess who they predicted the winner will be – Bernie Sanders . . .
Yep – feeling the Bern!! Time will tell . . .
Heard about the Syrian refuges they arrested in Texas and California for being terrorists. Pretty much exactly what so many feared.
I read in our local paper that gas prices are causing many layoffs in the oil and gas industry, but they followed that statement saying that with raw materials so cheap, the refineries are doing well, by buying in bulk now while prices are low, making their profit margins larger. So in the end, the oil and gas (refineries) company stock holders and CEOs probably aren’t taking that big of a hit. Just the middle class who lost their jobs – most likely a bunch of people in my age group.
Had a lot of company in December, at different times all spread out. It was good to see family we haven’t seen in some time.
Caught up with a few of my blog buds today. Enjoyed that immensely!
Anyway, thought it would be nice to contribute to Just Jot it January, over at Linda G. Hill’s blog. Hope it isn’t my only contribution 😉
Just some things I’ve been thinking about it . . .
I have to start by saying that for the most part, I love my state. It’s big, beautiful, friendly, and where I have lived most of my life. Texans do have a particular mindset, and believe themselves to be independent and rebellious in nature. Having said that, the politics can be mind-blowing — really. And sometimes, I can’t help but think how sheep-like so many of these Texans are — not rebellious and independent as they seem to think.
Reading the paper a few weeks back, it was brought to my attention that in the midst of all the important things going on right now, the Texas Legislature may reconsider HB619. This bill caps the sales taxes on boats and yachts costing more than $250,000, to no more than $15,625. It would also eliminate sales taxes on boats sold to buyers from out of state.
Seriously . . . ???
Apparently, the Texas Gulf Coast yachting industry and associated jobs are ailing. I wonder if that has anything to do with all the unemployed younger baby boomers who should still be working . . .
I’m certainly confused on how that helps the industry as a whole, if they are enticing out of state buyers who will pay no taxes or any other boat-related costs in this state, other than enough fuel to sail away. Again, economics is not my strong suit, to say the least!
I’m sorry, but in my book, if you can afford a boat or yacht that costs more than $250,000, as well as the maintenance, slip, and fuel costs, well than you can probably afford to pay the full amount of the taxes. Y’all let me know if I am being too tough here . . . yeah that was meant to be facetious 😉
.jpg "https://i0.wp.com/www.charterworld.com/images/user/Heesen%20Motor%20Yacht%20Quinta%20Essential(2).jpg")
I never cease to be amazed at the gall of my state’s government and the entitlements of the top one percent. Do y’all ever feel this way?
So far the bill was defeated, thank goodness – clear minds prevail for now.
As a side note – it’s pretty scary when Donald Trump is the current leader in the polls for Republican nominee. I can’t wait for the debates 🙂 I don’t think there’s a decent candidate coming from this state – they are all crazy, narrow-minded, single-focused zealots. Bat-shit crazy, I tell you 😉
I often question why I still live in this state – but then I remember all my family and lifetime friends I am surrounded by. I took off over 25 years ago living in the Ozarks for a few years, but we came back and times are different now. Most specifically – there are grandchildren ❤
Anyway, just something I was thinking about . . .
(Wow – there’s been some changes on the WP format – I have been away too long!)
When we go to the grocery store to shop for our food, typically we have over 47,000 products to choose from. Do you have any idea where some of this food comes from, how it’s made, who’s controlling it, who’s making the profits, and who’s overseeing the safety? I’ve been hearing rumblings that were quite disturbing for years, but lately, it’s hard to get away from the “rumors” with so many different ways for people to communicate.
Regarding grocery store produce, since there are no seasons anymore, fruit is usually picked before it’s ripe, ripened later with ethylene gas. And just what is ethylene gas?
After doing some research, I have discovered that the way we eat, meaning the way our food is grown, has changed a lot in the last 50 years, more so than in other time frame of our history. I have tried to ensure I have done valid research, on this subject in particular, because it affects my family, my grandkids, me, and you and yours.
I am old enough to remember that when I was growing up autism was rare. I knew no one with it. I knew a lot of kids and I was the only one I knew with asthma, which my mother also had from the time she was a little girl. There was no ADD or ADHD, and a good percentage of children were not on prescription medication. It is no longer that way.
From early on, I wanted to raise a few livestock of my own, and have my own garden, and buy other essentials in their natural state from my neighbors. I almost made that dream happen. See, I was paying attention to what was going on long before I even realized it.
As I began to really pay attention to what I was serving my family, I noticed that in tracing food back to its origins, that most of it was not grown or raised on farms, but produced in factories, factories that from the outside look like farms, but are anything but when you begin to understand how they operate as large assembly lines and/or scientific experiments.
Just as some have said about our communication and media sources becoming too sanitized distributing the same messages via a very small group of owners with specific interests being dangerous (another topic for another day), so too is our food supply.
Much of the food found on the shelves of the average grocery store is made and controlled by a small group of multi-national corporations – from the seed to the end product. Technically, a handful of companies are controlling our food system in the United States – what we eat and how it’s produced.
Big pharma and corporate chemical companies, with their genetically modified experimental commodities, are threaded thick through this food tapestry. And you might be surprised at the number of people who work back and forth between these corporations and government regulatory agencies over the years – I know I was.
Though food is absolutely necessary to our survival, don’t ever kid yourself, IT IS BIG BUSINESS and it is not about sustaining the population and its health, it is about PROFIT, pure and simple.
Stay tuned if your interested, as I have more to say on this subject, just don’t want to make this post too long.
Anyway, just something I’ve been thinking about, for quite some time now . . .
So my last post got me to thinking about Tupperware®. I love Tupperware® and have many pieces I bought years ago from a party I had. I even have a couple of very old pieces from my grandmas, back from the late 1940s and 1950s. After World War II, Earl Tupper modified his factory machines to mold raw polyethylene (developed for weapons use) into food containers – using a paint can as inspiration for the tight-fitting lids. Originally, Tupperware® was made in the Massachusetts’ plastics industrial complex.
I emailed them last week, using the “Contact Us” link on their website, inquiring about where their products are manufactured. Several emails went back and forth, and I must admit they were very prompt with their responses. I was told that Tupperware® products are made all over the world – Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Portugal, France, Belgium, Greece, India, China, Korea, Japan and United States.
I was assured of their continued history of high quality and design and “all Tupperware® products meet all applicable laws and regulations for product safety in each country they are made.” I’m not sure what that means exactly. Do they mean that all countries manufacture products that meet all U.S. laws and regulations regarding health safety, or are they different in different countries? Pretty sure it was stated that way on their website, too.
Though their home office is in Orlando, Florida, their Customer Care Center is located in Mexico City. You know I asked, and I asked because I could tell from the way the email was composed. Again – that shit just pisses me off, though they were – again – prompt and most informative and polite. But their English writing skills weren’t great. Kind of scares me when big corporations don’t find good clear concise written communication important.
A Google search turned up a WP blog that stated “the Tupperware® factory in the United States is located in Hemmingway, South Carolina.” Debra Todd Jordan, a Tupperware® consultant, went on to say, “Each plant makes the items that are indigenous to their region.” So, if that’s correct, I can get on board with that – if nothing else saves on shipping and props up the economies using the products. Unfortunately, how those corporate taxes are handled I probably would not agree with.
Anyway, since I didn’t have my fingers in enough pies this week, I had to research this 😉 I am a glutton for punishment lately. Just thought I’d share what I found out. I haven’t bought any lately, but read in my research that now they are not marked with where they are made, just the Tupperware® mark. Where our medicines come from is next on my agenda – after . . .
Still working NaNoWriMo . . . still behind, but continuing to work it. I may not meet my goal, but damn it, I will be further along in this story than I have been. I posted a couple of snippets from the novel on my other blog, in the event you are interested in this type of reading. It is very different from this blog – that’s why I have more than one, my interests are varied, random, eclectic for sure. My novel is fiction, with a little romance thrown in, more a story of life and how it plays out sometimes. There’s a lot of dialog. If you check it out, please leave me some feedback. I value and respect all of your opinions as writers in general. Having said that – don’t make me cry now 😉
All of a sudden I have a bunch of people wanting apple butter and this week blackberries are on sale for 88-cents a six-ounce container, so I have a few orders I have to fill this week. Doesn’t make much money, but brings in a little cash and I enjoy doing it. (Though my hands aren’t as good as they used to be and when you make this shit – if you’re doing it right, you’re gonna get burned LOL – seriously! Looking forward to that blackberry jam, though!!)
Listening to this right now – I find this to be good writing music sometimes, depending on my mood . . . plus it’s raining and the wind’s kicking, and the windchimes are singing – n~i~c~e.
Also, trying to keep up with y’all, slowly but surely 😉 I’m definitely becoming a binge reader, seemly stalking sites 🙂
Just some things I was thinking about ☮☮☮
[POSTSCRIPT – OH NO, the video I linked to has been removed . . . that’s never happened to me before. I hope I didnt just get added to some LIST somewhere, ya know what I mean 😉 I’m going to look for another link, but in case I don’t find one, the music was the soundtrack to the movie “Rush” from 1992, mostly instrumentals by Eric Clapton. Soulful, contemplative music for sure!]
One of the topics on my agenda lately has been this case in Dallas where two men were wrongly accused and convicted spending 15 years behind bars. The Innocence Project worked the case and proved their innocence via DNA evidence. The two men, Dennis Lee Allen and Stanley Orson Mozee, were released from prison Oct. 28.
I know that unfortunately innocent people end up in prison more often then we think. This is why the Innocence Project’s work is so important. I would so love to work for them!
What I find troubling is that Dallas has had more than 30 convictions overturned in the last 10 years, freeing these men after they served years in prison for crimes they didn’t commit.
I realize they try 1000s of cases a year, maybe more, but this number just seems a bit high to me. Am I the only one troubled by that number? I want to do some more research on this when I get some extra time.
NaNoWriMo update: Oh my gosh – I am still at it. Shocked the shit out of me, for sure. So far 13,764 words in, with only 36,236 to go 😉 Fixing to try and work an hour or so tonight. It’s been a busy day! I need to play a little catch-up here, too – family stuff has been calling me away the last few days.
I am way behind on my blog reading, so if I haven’t hit your posts lately, I am planning to catch up soon! Hope you are all doing well!
Just some things I was thinking about . . .
Just something I was thinking about . . . 