When Reality Strikes!

The media, apparently still in love with President Obama, now recasts Mr. Obama’s policy shifts as “pragmatism” and being “unafraid to disappoint supporters.” News flash: Reality Bites. Reality struck the Obama administration squarely in the jaw. If Mr. Obama intended to keep the promises he made during the campaign, the real issues and impact of [...]

Government! Agghh!

Stimulus checks are being sent out by the government this week. A New York t.v. station is reporting that the government sees, or at least pays, dead people. How? How is the government mailing stimulus checks to dead people? Are we still paying social security to these dead people? No wonder Social Security is running [...]

News Flash: We’ll never see Social Security Money

Since the age of 25, I have understood that the money I pay into social security will NEVER be returned to me despite the sales pitch that it’s an investment. The Obama administration reported dire numbers yesterday about the funding of both social security and medicare. Surprise! No, it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. [...]

The New Vogue Style: Frugality

Apparently name brand businesses reduced costs on their chic products to bring lower priced quality products. Why did this take so long? People, like me, stopped paying in excess of $2 per cup of regular coffee in favor of making coffee at home and Starbucks lowers the price. Who knew? I spend less than $6 [...]

Service Industry?

As the economy tanks, people working in the service industry start to believe that tips are an entitlement. Quite frankly, a tip or gratuity is not part of the payment required when eating out. Lately, the service I’ve received at chain restaurants has been hit or miss. Best I can tell, the restaurants create the [...]

Needed: Good Sense

Ladies and Gentlemen:
Many commentators have asked “What caused this economic crisis?” My answer: people abandoned their good sense and ability to conserve for get rich quick schemes and the hope of living beyond their means.
At this point, the question shifts to how do we fix this problem? In reality, no one truly knows. A spending [...]

Can’t Believe It

Let us all give thanks that Paris Hilton is not old enough to run for president. For those not in the know, the Constitution written by a bunch of old, dead guys who wore powdered wigs requires that the President be at least 35 years old.
I must say she poses a totally plausible resolution to [...]

Proverbial Gloves are Off

Finally, the 2008 Election is getting interesting. A month before Labor Day and McCain has called Obama on the carpet for being a “rockstar,” Obama now whines about the low blow, McCain replies by notifying the world that Obama “played the race card.” Sweet.
Can’t wait to see who draws the first real injury. Although it [...]

Saving the World (one oil well at the time)

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, yesterday proclaimed (based on news reports) that she would prevent a vote on any legislation related increased domestic oil drilling. She said she’s going to save the world. Really? What Congress decides or doesn’t decide will SAVE THE WORLD?
Pelosi can’t even get 435 people in her [...]

A Year Without “Made in China” by Sara Bongiorni

This book is not one that I would have chosen without prompting. Well written and interesting it was a quick read during my vacation. Bongiorni chronicles the “advice”, support, non-support and familial challenges faced during a year without purchasing, as best the family could, products from China. The challenge posed by the author on her [...]