Why?

I  woke up at 6:30AM to see a news report on my twitter feed from a peep that a man had entered a dance club in Orlando with Guns and shot patrons and took hostages. What followed was a tale of horror, hatred and death. If it had not be for the quick thinking of Police officers who had been hired to guard the club and the well trained Orlando SWAT team more lives of the 350 or so that were in the club that early morning  would have died. So far 50 deaths have been documented and still others wounded.  The other key factor in saving lives was social media in which victims trapped inside tweeted out to people they needed help and warned others to run away and stay away,

I can't tell you how heavy is my heart for the tragic loss of life. I have been quite frankly so overwhelmed by grief over these souls that now can not have the fullness of time and love .

It has been clear that this misguided man's actions may have it's roots in mental illness possibly brought on by steroid use known for causing abnormal aggressive behavior as was suggested by a former wife of 4 months. It has been suggested by the man's father that he did not like individuals that were of the LGBT community and this most probably may also been a part of his intentions for this shooting.

His local Mosque can not figure out why the shooter would do something like this.

I believe God will not be mocked.  He is the author of each individuals lifespan and when men try to be God and go out killing his children before their time I venture to say his life will be sacrificed. And sadly this troubled, misguided man was shot and killed by Orlando's SWAT as they broke through a wall in the club to rescue trapped patrons.

And still I am grieved beyond what I can bear for the lives lost in the state I call home.  I have worked in broadcasting for many years and some of the time I worked in Orlando. Orlando which had been a tiny town before Walt Disney came is a big city now. But in many ways like a lot of big towns in Florida it still has that small town feel and when something like this happens every resident in Florida feels the loss.  Many come from someplace else and we cling together to comfort one another and try to make sense why something like this could happen in our state.

The comments I hear from visitors to our state for the first time is how friendly and helpful everyone is and it is true.  I remember many times out and about having some difficulty or another and dozens would offer to help.  I still experience this all the time.  So when something like this happens I can hardly handle the grief I feel. 

My family ran a full service gas station in a tiny little town then in Tampa Bay. My father and grandfather who had experienced various forms of discrimination in their home town were determined to operate a business that was open to all and no one would be treated any different than anyone else. And no one was.  We were known as the place to come.  We also had a large and loyal LGBT client base as a result of our business practices. Every customer became a member of our family.  When I grew older and pursued work outside the family business I had a culture shock that the world was not like the world my family had created. It has been something I to this day have trouble accepting this reality and it has been my lifelong mission to make the world I live in like the world I grew up in under the roof of that corner full service gas station where love abound and hugs were free.

I want to extend my personal sympathy to all who lost loved ones to this tragedy and I pray God will give you comfort and peace. Please know that so many fellow Americans share your grief and praying for you as I write. Much Love and Peace. FRG

Capitalism Bad Boy?

"Unchecked Capitalism" has been recently coined as the cause of all the ills of the world including the other hot term "Climate Change."  So let's first define "Capitalism." 

an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

synonyms:

free enterprise, private enterprise, the free market; enterprise culture "the capitalism of emerging nations"

                                                                                                                                               

In countries that have tried the alternative like Russia and China people lived in poverty and prosecution.  China has been the biggest violators of unhealthy manufacturing work conditions as well as creator of hazardous impacts on the environment.  Rebellion was the result and now both countries are allowing workers to develop product and industry by and for their own profit. 76% of the people in China believe they are better off in a free market economy. Today the Shanghai Stock Exchange is the third largest in the world through market capitalization. We Americans as the biggest importer are influencing China in product safety and worker safety. China is also a huge importer of raw materials. Materials we can supply. China is basing their monetary system on gold. Sound familiar.  Soon they will be one of the biggest importers of consumer goods.

 

Some of the inequality that people perceive in industry salary and wages are due to two things.  Most large companies are publically traded and therefore without a regular 10% increase in value investment capital shrinks and sustainability of said company dwindles. Investors include the average joe who has a  401k plan.  The biggest expense most companies have is employees and therefore an area which most work to reduce by automation, reductions in salary and benefits. Overregulation and taxation can also move a company to closure. 

 

Even small businesses in American have a difficult time surviving.

 

Companies if they want to survive will follow trends in the desires and needs of the consumer.  Just look at food in the grocery stores. You can find Organic, Gluten Free, Grass Fed, Free Range, Cage Free, and the list goes on.  We are a free market and the consumer directs the producers.  Companies have moved to social media to stay in touch with their consumers to further hone their products. New jobs have been created for social media managers and analysts.

 

America's form of capitalism is far from unchecked.  The market is regulated by government regulations and taxes and by consumers themselves.  Workers themselves determine their salaries by whom they choose to work for, education aspirations, personal choices, and their own consumerism.  We are the captains of our future. Self determination is the hallmark of our Republic.  If it seems unfair to you, change what you are doing. Start your own business. That's America.

 

Wars usually are about envy and greed. People who aren't fortunate enough to be in a free society suffer and are envious and move others in their situation to blame others for their fate and seek to steal, kill and destroy said people thru War and Violence.  If people are able to work freely for everything they need they are less likely to start War for fear of loosing that which they have worked so hard.

 

As far as climate change and global warning. There are industries that depend on this to be true. It's not. Never has been. Key politicos like Al Gore are heavily invested in solar, wind and other boondoggles that are subsidized by u the taxpayer. Working with foreign oil suppliers they artificially raised the cost of traditional fuels.  This cut into their market and now foreign oil suppliers fought back by lowering prices. Remember the so called gas shortages of the 70's. We as voters need to send a message and need to educate our leaders that this climate change and global warming propaganda doesn't fly. I loved it when Kasich said we have to be good managers of our resources but we have to really look at what is reasonable and proper. He gets it.

 

Check out this http://www.newsmax.com/Finance/MKTNews/Global-Warming-climate-change/2014/11/17/id/607827/

 

 

The only capitalism our government doesn't seem to check anymore is monopolies. They seem to not enforce the antitrust laws on the books because they have heavily invested in or have be supported by said companies. This is something we citizens should keep track of with our elected officials. 

 

Greed and envy are the roots of the ill in the world not capitalism. Love of money is the cause.  Money can help in the right hands and harm in the wrong hands. Thus the check of antitrust laws. And ultimately what directs our hearts is the love of God.  If we love God we seek to emulate him and if we emulate him the whole world is a more peaceful place.

 

 

 

 

Super Tuesday

The press is telling folks who is going to be the next general election candidates.  They tell folks it will be Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.  For me having investigated these candidates I will for the first time not participate in voting in the general election if that is the result.  Yes, me.  I don't think there is a real choice here and BOTH candidates will bring down our Republic.  I don't want to be one of the people to pull THAT trigger.  With that in mind, I share with you my thoughts about the primary and my the action to take for you consider.

To be president requires more than insane obsession for power, money and fame.  It requires more than surface knowledge or singular points of view.  To be president is to be a selfless servant. Kasich when asked who was his favorite President he said "George Washington because he didn't want the job.  He believed in doing his job and then going back home."  I would have to agree with that choice.

John Kasich was for most of his life a career politician. He took a ten year break working in banking and other activities and gained perspectives from the private sector that he said made him a better leader than he had been.  Ohio has thrived with Kasich in the driver's seat.  I like Kasich very much. He is the best of career politicians who understands he is a public servant and facilitator of the people he represents. Like a boss of a successful company he gets folks of diverse areas to work together for sensible and creative solutions to tough problems that benefits all. He has a balanced personality and a quiet but firm captain with a good moral compass.  I think he'd make a great president.

Marco Rubio is the son of hard working Cuban immigrants.  A boot strap kid who came up the hard way with a quest to pay back the country that gave him the opportunity to thrive.  As a Floridian I benefited from Rubio's years in our Florida Government and I voted for him when he desired to go to Washington.  He is the little engine that could and in a blockaded Democrat controlled legislature he decided to go around rather than thru and work from inside out.  He knew that his desires would have to come piece by piece and that approach probably would not be well received by his hard line supporters.  But they look through a glass darkly.  By being on the inside like the hired help he would be able to see the process and how he might be a positive influence and gain access and respect from hostile appoinents into modifying what originally was a completely far left filled bill. He has boundless energy and drive to preserve the Republic and help his fellow citizens to thrive.  He cherishes freedom.  I think he'd be a great VP.He could step up to lead the country if something happened to the president and perform seamlessly. And, when 8 years are up he would run successfully for the presidency.

Ted Cruz is a strident evangelical legislator.  His ambitions are fueled by his desire to restore a Judeo Christian approach to current legislation.  The Romans initially also saw the value of government based on Jewish codes of governess and based their government on those values.  They prospered initially and became the major player in the world spreading their influence throughout the known world at the time.  It was not until they had deviated from this form of government that they fell into decay and disappeared. Ted is an uncompromising force of nature and someone I am grateful is in our legislature.  There has to be someone there who can spot the flaws in logic and reason in legislation that comes through the portals of the legislative body and is willing to be persistent and resolved to stop it and convince the opposition of their folly.  He has to have a firm grip on confidence and  be unafraid to be friendless.  Often when you don't go along with the crowd you stand alone.  This is Ted's strength.  At this point I think we still need him in the legislature. This is where all law begins.  I don't believe in line item Vetoes. Eliminating that option forces the legislature to stop passing massive legislation in one bill.  This eliminates Socialism and forces lawmakers to deal with issues individually and one at a time.  The Health care issues could have been addressed comprehensively with 5 to 10 targeted bills and we would have solved these problems a long time ago without punitive taxes and government overstepping.  I believe this is what Ted is all about in his activities in the legislature.

I think voters should not let the press or polls with only samplings influence you how to vote.  The press loves Trump and have given him more free air time than any other candidate because he is colorful and a rating booster.  They have created a media monster. A monster I know they will regret as he kills their 1st amendment rights. He doesn't like bad press. No con man does.  He like Obama has never been vetted by the media because that would be like killing the golden goose.  Trump is a skilled media mogul.  Take a look at this revealing and thoughtful piece on the subject. 

http://www.salon.com/2016/02/01/donald_trump_is_a_fraud_report_confirms_the_billionaires_presidential_bid_is_a_long_and_calculated_con_job/

I know you the reader like me do not like being manipulated into how to think.

For Hillary running against a self proclaimed Socialist was a given to guarantee Hillary would look more moderate and level headed than she really behaves.  In other words if you place a 20 year old car that's been well taken care of next to a brand new BMW that has been in a crash you'll choose the older car. 

Hillary is a skilled and polished speaker when reading a well prepared speech that promises every thing and pushes the buttons of her target audiences.  The pointed speech convinces devotees  that Hillary understands their pain and really cares about them. Who does that sound like I wonder?
Hillary has a long well documented history of criminal activity and incompetency and far left Social Marxist tendencies with Elitist ideals that the "People" are too stupid to decide for themselves.  The number of disgusted Obama voters in both African American and White voter blocks blindly following her, sorta proves her point.  The definition of insanity.... The part that bothers me the most ,if God forbid she is elected, she like Obama during her tenure will make it impossible for other women who are qualified and needed to ever be elected president again. Obama has made it equally impossible for persons of color to be elected.  I have hear more than one individual state that they wouldn't even consider Dr. Carson because of his color.  I am sadden and angry by this unfortunate result.

Dr. Carson, a great patriot, man of faith and great medical mind and doctor has stated that if the results of Super Tuesday are not good for him he most likely will consider dropping out.  What we do have in him I think is a strong desire to serve his country and I believe he would entertain an offer to be a part of a conservative cabinet.  I could see him as a dynamic Surgeon General or head of Health and Human Services.

I hope before you vote in your primaries you will take the time to thoughtfully consider ALL the candidates equally.  Look at their work history, their past and present, look at their character and do the fruits of their labor benefit them or others, do they talk the talk AND walk the walk, do they have a criminal background and who are their close business and personal friends. Find out what to believe and not what you ALREADY believe.  LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.  We are at a crossroads.  Pray for God to guide you and give you supernatural discernment as you make your decision.  All wisdom comes from God.

You know my thoughts and I pray you take this extra time before Super Tuesday to take another look at your choice.

I pray that God gives us the leader that we need and not the one we deserve.

Random Thoughts

The narrowing Republican field, the heated competition between a Socialist and a Social Marxist, the Super Bowl, Beyoncé, Feminism, Birth Control and Wine, and are Drug and Alcohol addictions diseases?

As the field of candidates staying in the race for Republican presidential offering I hope the vitriol of the supporters doesn't turn ugly and folks concentrate on the issues rather than making issues out of rumors and lies.  I know it's important to be confident and act like a winner.  But folks, don't have an inflated view of yourself.  Sometimes the slightly less than slick pocket protector kid that carries a briefcase and has a school picture haircut is the one who leads the guys in the concentration camp out to freedom.   Beware of slick Willies that throw money around who want the job because all the other things they've be striving for have lost there luster.  This is the last hurrah before they die.  Consider the guys that have waited until the country is finally ready to hear the truth, the hard choices and sacrifices they will need to make a free and independent country again.

Hillary and Bernie.  Sounds like a failed sitcom. Hillary she's a unlikable woman living in a sham marriage.  She is trying bond with a daughter raised by nannies. She thought she would finally get to be leader of a big country.  Bernie an lovable old radical grouch who keeps trying to legalize pot for his Glaucoma and still thinks he's eighteen and tax payer revenue should be everyone's sugar Daddy.  Watch how they back and forth until both of them join forces and become co presidential running mates.


Super Bowl losers can either be sore losers or masters at being good sports.  Getting pouty and taking your ball home makes me wonder if the fellow is getting over paid.  The Denver quarterback let credit be given to whom credit was due and that was Denver's defense.  I could tell he did not feel he had much to do with the win.  I think he sees the writing on the wall.  Best to go out on a high note and share your knowledge with the next gen.

Madeline Albright made the comment that there would be a special kind of hell for  women who did not support a fellow woman like Hillary for Pres.  What?  I have know women like Hillary who wouldn't think twice about throwing another woman under the bus if it would benefit them or fulfill some need for vengeance.  Woman have a history of being far more violent and corruptible than men.  I have worked in all female operations and all male operations.  The female operations were not pleasant.  I have found more help and encouragement from men throughout my career than women.  The few women friends that I bonded with were those like myself that did not want special treatment and strived only to be twice as good as others to achieve advancement.  Excellence breeds  success. We also shared the respect for motherhood and homemaking and tried to help those that were required by economics or situation to balance both.  If woman are voted in just because they are a woman and they are a dismal failure it makes it very hard for a talented qualified woman to ever be elected for that position again.  I experienced that when interviewing for a job where previous women performed poorly.  The questions I was asked...  When I heard a special Sunday night talk show guest (a lead news anchor from Fox) say the same thing I was cheering.  Don't vote for someone because they look like you.  Vote for the best person for the job.

The government health folks are advising woman to not drink alcohol if they are not on birth control because alcohol of any kind can harm a baby even at it's start.  Now I'm all for no alcohol for woman and not harming babies.  But is this really what this is about?  Do you think it's more about more woman on the pill and zero population control in the less desirables?

I was watching a forum on addictions at a church that Cruz attended in the Shire.  He related a story about a sibling I think who was an addict and how he tried to help her and take care of her son and then he related how his Dad was an alcoholic and how he had already left one family because of it and how he left his second family.  Then he related how his dad had moved back to Texas from Canada and was invited to church.  Long story short his dad had been saved, stopped drinking and rejoined his family. His dad became a pastor. 

Cruz and others, parents of addicts in particular, mentioned how hard it was to get proper treatment or finding the right treatment.  In this day and age of the internet it hard to imagine that information is hard to find. One man from a faith based program hit the nail on the head that it is a spiritual problem and without God there is no rehab.  Thus the higher success of the 12 step program.  People have to hit rock bottom to be successful at being helped and without God you will not have the power to overcome the addiction.  In God's infinite wisdom he left his holy spirit to provide you the resolve and strength to resist the physical addiction, selfish desires, and the lure of old scratch and stop the self destruction. Then and only then will addicts succeed.  You can't kidnap someone and force them into rehab and expect success.  I've seen it personally time and time again.  God has to be in the mix and you the addict have to really seriously want it. And if you don't want it ask God for help to give you the serious desire to quit.

As a teen I never drank or smoked.  Real different than my friends.  They respected me and never pressured me.  I was blessed with  great parents and a loving home and so I had no need to self medicate. As a diabetic it wasn't a good idea.  Later in my twenties I did try adult beverages like wine, beer, hard liquor mixed drinks. I liked  the flavor and I soon could see that the alcoholism that had plagued my mother's biological father and my father's paternal grandfather could be in me.  That desire.  Sins of the father. I even got real drunk at a party at home. You know blackout in your own puke. I was lucky with the diabetes I didn't die. So I asked God to take the desire from me.  And he did.  I still have an occasional NA beer or NA glass of wine. The real stuff just doesn't taste good to me.  Isn't that neat? I never did like feeling out of control and I definitely did not want to die.

So is addiction to drugs and or alcohol a disease?  I think they classify it that way for insurance coverage.  And like disease, addictions can destroy health and kill the body.  But unlike disease it is not something a pill or medicine or surgery or even mental health counseling can heal.  As Christ told the guys when they came to him about someone they could not heal.  He said that the one they were trying to help could only be helped by prayer and fasting.  In other words he had an illness of the spirit. 

I met a man who had died for 28 minutes and he told me about his out of body experience. While he was in spirit Jesus joined him and they flew into a bar and he watched men and women drinking at the bar and he also saw humans like himself in spirit standing next to the drinkers grabbing at the drinks in frustration.  As soon as someone would pass out the spirit would jump inside the living person and drink.  The man asked Jesus what this was all about.  And Jesus told him remember what I said about be not attached to things of this earth?  Scary Uh? In other words alcohol was the most important thing in their life while on earth.

So I think that calling addiction a disease can be comforting to loved ones because it suggests there is a medical cure for this problem.  But addictions are a far more serious and many times need more spiritual redress.  God did not leave us without a solution.  Even our desire for healing can be provided by the compassionate gift of his very special spirit. His strength of will becomes ours.  It's about that putting on the full armor of God. You can do anything with God.  His specialty is making beautiful things out of what others have rejected.  He is the first recycler. Start your morning not with the thought of taking your next drink or next hit but what adventure or mission he has for you today.  And take it one day at a time.  You will be so busy you will forget about your addiction. I've been living in the moment my whole life and it's never been dull. When people ask me what my plans are I never have answer. But I know what's ahead will be my next greatest adventure yet. And God will be kicking me in the butt to do it.

And a last word to the candidates of faith.  God said be of good cheer if men hate you for they hated me.  His own people rejected him.  I pray that we the people are better at recognizing a Godly savior for this dysfunctional Republic before its too late. 

I Smell a Rat by Eli Gordon

This sent in by my buddy Joe

 

 

This fellow is an Historian who offers an accurate assessment of the root
of the problem the world faces today and likely well into the future.
     (It would be good to get this on the editorial page of the major newspapers.)

  Syria has had a civil war for almost 5 YEARS.     Why all the 
refugees" NOW and why so all of a SUDDEN and why in such VAST NUMBERS?

With an Honors degree in History and a lifelong student of the subject, I
smell a rat.

This is a highly organized, well oiled, mobilized invasion by Muslims and
Jihadists into the Western World. It's been in their plan for a long time.
Momar Gadhafi predicted and explicitly stated that Muslim domination of
Europe would happen without a conventional war and he said it 30 years
ago. 95% of these economic "refugees" many who have cell-phones are men
between the fighting ages of 20 and 40. Very few women and children from
everything I've seen.

Odd that the 5 wealthiest Arab States including Saudi Arabia, Qatar,
Bahrain and Kuwait are taking "no refugees" and feel quite self-righteous
about it. No guilt what so ever? They are even laughing at us for doing
so.

  Ask yourself, why would Germany Belgium, Holland, France, Sweden and
others want to destroy their own cultures from within? It doesn't make any
sense? If this keeps up Europe will be burning daily within a very short
few years if not months. Civil war in the streets between civilizations.
Muslims vs Kafirs, that is to say, everyone who is not a Muslim.

Unfortunately, the reality is that Muslims are just not like any other
immigrants. They don't want to assimilate, they want to set up separate
enclaves and implement Sharia Law. Another problem is that while the
civilized West rightly abhors violence, conversely Muslims daily display
their love of violence. They live it and embrace it. In many Muslim
countries public beheadings and stoning to death for adultery for example.

It's a part of their culture precisely because, dare I say it, Islam is a
death cult.

Islam is a supremacist, totalitarian, bigoted, fascist political ideology
masquerading as a religion. It literally means "submission".
The Quran MANDATES death for blasphamy, for adultery, for apostasy, for
family honour, for being gay, Jewish or a Kafir as well as ten other
"crimes" many not even considered to be so in the West. Death for drinking
alcohol or taking illegal drugs for example.

Why let in vast numbers of these brainwashed people especially men of that
age when past experience has already demonstrated the tragedy, not to
mention the financial, social, and political costs of rampant
multiculturalism in Europe. Ordinary citizens are against this immigration
but strangely, their governments are not?

Someone or some organization is pulling some strings here is what I see.
Is this invasion part of the New World Order's plan to depopulate the
planet? Maybe there's not even any such an organization but it's all over
U-tube and other social media.

The major media are implicit in selling gullible citizens of the West the
righteousness of the "refugees" cause and openly siding against Western
culture. One drowned child's picture in the right places sparks outrage
and sympathy world wide for the movement and resettlement of vast numbers
of Muslims.

However the implementation of Sharia Law, No Go Zone ghettos in most
countries in Europe and Muslim rape gangs go unreported. In radical
Islamist countries honour killings, beheadings, stoning's, cutting off
limbs, whipping and torture, paedophilia, child bride marriages, rape and
misogyny go unreported DAILY and are dismissed as culturally ingrained.

Where is the indignity and the outrage over people doing this every day to
their own populations? Yet a staged picture a drowned baby on a beach
sparks a world outcry?

Muslim birth-rates are 8 children per family while Europeans average 1.4.
When these current millions bring in their multiple wives, children and
extended families 85% of whom live on state benefits (England's
experience) you can multiply their number by at least 10x, maybe 20x or
even more.

By 2050 Europe will be Muslim dominated just by demographics alone.
When their numbers are sufficient they will legally vote in their own kind
and then Sharia Law.

Europe as we know it will be lost forever. Two thousand years of
civilization will be destroyed by the same fanatical bearded, bigoted,
brutal, boneheaded, belligerent bastards who are now slaughtering their
own kind and blowing up ancient and irreplaceable world heritage
buildings, monuments, books, manuscripts and other historically
significant art treasures in Iraq, Syria and other conquered territories.

Last Minute Christmas Giftbuyers Guide

How many of us have been frantically trying to take care of Christmas gift buying at the last minute for whatever reason and really want to do right by your loved ones?  First of all Christmas is about the ultimate gift we all received and that was the opportunity to join the biggest family on earth and that is the family of God. So in that spirit here are a few ideas that you may not have thought of...

Time.  We all have received from time to time a home made gift ticket of one of those you are entitled to from a loved one or friend.  But think about it.  Today time is a precious and in short supply thing for most people.  Think about what you can do to help someone you know with time.  How about making a favorite one dish meal and gifting it to a harried homemaker or an infirm relative as a holiday gift.  Offering to take a family member's car for an oil change, gas up and tire air fill up at your expense.  Offering to babysit for a couple to have a date night. Be a "Merry Maid" and offer to do vacuuming, floor cleaning, ironing, laundry, window washing etc.  Offer to act as an Uber driver for a house bound relative or friend. 

Comfort and treat gifts.  These are gifts you can often find at your local drug store.  Walgreens and CVS have really embraced their inner Santa and these are great places to find these sorts of things.  Walgreens will be open Christmas day.  Fragrances, spa baskets, slippers, robes, soft throws, electric blankets, small heaters, wines, scented candles and decorative scent dispensers, massagers, decadent gift chocolates etc. *Note drug stores are really fabulous for every gift need including great toys, contents for gift baskets like snacks, Candy and Gift cards.  New pairs of sunglasses, readers, lens cleaner.  How about hair bands, fancy hair clips, hairbrushes etc.  Small appliances, Camera's, burner phones, Air time for phones, Gas cards, As Seen on TV items.  The small personal groomers, Vege processors, etc.

Remember when you were a little kid and you made that ashtray or handprint for someone? Well, how about writing an original song, drawing or painting a beautiful picture, writing a personal poem, writing a story or fairytale?

Here's an idea for a new holiday tale for kids with magic. Tell your kids that you have a interesting story to share.  Tell  your kids that money was really short this year and by the time you got to a store you didn't have much money and you begged the store owner for any candy that he could sell you.  He ended up taking pity on you and decided to  just give you some odds and ends of candy that had come out of busted bags of candy and a few sample boxes of candy because he was closing up.  Show them a few Hersey kisses, a miniature Hershey bar, a sample size box of Whitman's, a tiny candy cane, a couple of M and M s and a few gold wrap coins etc.   Then tell them you were walking down the street pretty sad and spotted a portly man with a white beard wearing a white t shirt and red pants walking what he thought was a small horse carrying an empty red sack and a medium size plastic bag.  As he approached closer you realized that it was a reindeer. The reindeer stopped and did his business on a grassy patch near the sidewalk and the man bent down slipping he big plastic bag over his hand and picked up the rather large deposit left by the reindeer.  Well you had to go over and talk to the man. So you did and opening with what a responsible fellow he was for cleaning up after his reindeer. The man smiled and laughed. "Well, it's a given when you have Reindeer.  The jolly man asked him why he looked so sad and he told him his tale and how he hated to disappoint his kids.  The man was very sympathetic and said "I hate to hear of any child being disappointed on Christmas."  He handed his red bag to you and told you when you get home to take the bag and put the candy in the bag and put it in a dark small closet and then have all the children say his name three times and then take the bag out of the closet and open it up.  I asked him what his name was and he said "Kris Kringle."  I said, "Really?"  And he said,"Yes." so here we go kids.  Put the candy in the bag and place in a small closet.  You have stashed of course an identical bag filled with the following identical items  but in the gigantic size.  After saying the name three times  grab the filled bag and close the closet door.  Hold the bag noting how heavy it is and slowly open the bag and peer in the bag looking shocked and  amazed and slowly pull out the gigantic size candies one at a time.  Ah a Christmas Miracle. The little ones are gonna love it and the older ones will love the wonder of your story.  You can find these giant size candies at drugstores, Target and specialty candy stores.

You see, think love, you will be inspired.  There are all kinds of things you can do to put magic in the season.  Think popcorn amania, Air poppers are back in vogue, dig out the old one or pick one up at a thrift shop or drug store and pick up a bulk bag of popcorn kernels. Sprinkle with different flavors out of your cupboard or frig etc.  Dollar store challenge.  Challenge family and friends to spend only a dollar and compete to see who selects the best gift in a secret Santa.  Decorate small table top trees and bring them to folks in hospitals and nursing homes and shut ins. Get those dollar sample sized candies or treats to leave on the desk of those folks you come in contact with at work just to say you're appreciated and don't sign them.  Tons of stuff.

Are you a collector?  Consider gifting some of your stuff to folks that desire or appreciate the stuff.  Things like toys, trinkets, fan boy stuff.  Antique small items.  There's no better feeling.  Instead of giving dollar bills to kids considered silver dollars or dimes, or American currency that is newer but in less common usage like Sacagawea or Susan B Anthony coins  and two dollar bills etc.

Older but back in vogue clothing, bags and costume jewelry.  Thrift stores, your own closet and the like are great sources for these kinds of things.  This is a great place to put together a dress up trunk for young kids for play pretend opportunities.

 How about a making a bracelet with little personal to the person trinkets on it from a craft store. Or a wallet or pair of moccasins.

The Dollar tree is great for fixins for creating a decorative wreath or arrangement.

 AAA members.  Don't forget AAA travel offices have their own gift shop areas with all kinds of great things.  Pick up  a new map and travel guide for your state to give to a traveler in your circle along with a single membership.

Hospitals have great gift shops and often mark things down at the end of the year.  Some even sell clever gift baskets and items for a new baby.

Certain restaurant chains have gift shops like the popular Cracker Barrel.

The grocery store.  I love to pick up a holiday themed reusable bag and fill with store baked goods, crackers, cheeses, summer sausages, imported specialty cookies like Pims , teas and coffee variety packs, dryed soup bags, Hot chocolate mixes, specialty breads, boxes of Little Debbie specialty holiday cakes (they are delicious),Nonni's Biscotti, Nuts, wine, spreadable cheeses, think goodies. They also sell toys, bags of cotton candy, books, knives etc. 

Speaking of knives so many people I know have the dullest beat up collection of knives in their kitchen.  Consider gifting them an electric knife sharpener or a set of new knives or both. An a electric knife and good cutting board with juice groove for those that like to entertain.

Hardware store and Airports are a great place to get that great gift. International airports often feature mini malls. Get your gal pal her own tool set.  Sometimes you find pink sets that no fellow will borrow.  Office Supply stores always have a gift area.  Consider giving large boxes of good quality pens or multipack scissors, mini sewing kits. New year calendars and monthly planners.(Dollar tree has these things of lessor quality for a dollar and everybody needs them). The public library.  Ours has a wonderful used book store and a art gallery with art for sale. Used book stores and thrift stores are great sources for coffee table books, cook books.  Thrift stores for vintage records, fine china, tea cups, art, and vintage Christmas ornaments.

Think logo items.  Like beverages like Coke, Pepsi and couple that with a holiday package of the products.  Folks love that.

Don't overlook pawnshops.

I hope I have helped you get your brain to brainstorm and remember it's not the size of the gift but the size of your heart.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.







 

Pro Choice

The far left press as well some of the conservative press are having a field day with the huge number of conservatives who have stepped forward to run for the office of President.  Why?  I thought folks were all about pro choice? 

I am encouraged to see so many willing to get into the fray and swim thru the piranha waters of the Amazonian ivy league media who view conservatives like Weight Watchers at a Sara Lee sponsored buffet.  We all know that over time many will drop out.  But, with this many folks getting the conservative messages out when the legislative and party GOP are all but silent this can be a good thing.

The Donald preaches economic freedom and restoring the Republic. This is a good message. His foot and mouth disease is a good thing too. People will tune in just to see what goofy thing he says next and in turn listen to the general message.  There is no such thing as bad publicity.  And a broken clock is right twice a day.

We have a cornucopia of candidates with even a gifted Doctor in the house.  Governors and legislators, preachers and businessman all with great track records for hard work and common sense solutions.

Whomever rises to the top of electability I think should announce their running mate immediately and appointments of fellow candidates for positions in the cabinet for their specific expertise.  Be up front early and don't play games.

This election is not about "CHANGE" it's about "RESTORATION OF THE REPUBLIC." It's about reducing this plague of government in the people's lives.  It's about ending programs that cost more and more of our meager paychecks with less and less in return and resulting in destruction of the American way of life.

Talking points should be about what this election is about.   It's about doing away with ALL taxes at the state and federal level except a ten percent state and a ten percent federal sales tax on everything except RX, Food and Fuel. In this way if the country prospers so do the public works.  This is the motivation for the beltway boys much like CEOs salaries are linked with profits.  This guarantees everyone pays some taxes based on their ability to purchase.  Without income, property, and capital gains taxes you will finally own your businesses, your land and profits from savings and investing.

It's about restoring the founder's intent for the Federal government's primary duty.  The only thing the federal government should be in charge of is public defense. The American armed forces coupled with an international service that includes a marriage of FBI and CIA combined.

It's about reestablishing states responsibilities instead of having assorted duties thrust upon them by the Federal government.   State governments should only be in charge of is police, fire and parks and recreation centers. Operation of utilities, roads, signage, waste water and drainage, trash pick up and disposal among other government job works should be privatized on bid. Competition drives costs down and makes the people into job creators instead of dependents. 

When a church gets so big it finds it hard to operate they often break into smaller satellite neighborhood churches. This smaller churches are more manageable  and cheaper to run.  Smaller church congregations participate more when they know if something needs done they have to step up to the plate.

It's about getting the governments out of the education business and allowing parents to choose the appropriate private education pathway .  This makes parents participate because it costs them directly.  No parent wants a dependent grown child living at home with no prospects.  Parents will be compelled to participate in education and child rearing at birth thru young adulthood.  No longer will they expect the state to train up their child.  And frankly none of us should. 

I am reminded of stories about incredibly poor parents living in the streets of Mumbai whose main goal is to assist their children in gaining a good education.  Their dream is to have the next generation better than the last.  Their children share this dream and work hard with their parents and teachers.

Public schools as they are currently designed are simply warehouses bound by antiquated protocols that no longer apply and they are too unwieldy to make even minor adjustments.  One size does not fit all.  We need to care about our children enough to educate them in the best way possible and equip them for the world that is left behind.

And finally it's about Freedom.  REAL FREEDOM.  Whenever a people are enslaved to their leaders thru excessive and progressive taxation we are no more free than the serfs working the land of a King. We are managed thru FEAR.  It's time to grow a pair and fight for REAL FREEDOM.  A government job should no longer be the most secure job in the country.

So folks the more the merrier on the podium the first few months of the debate season.  The more voices the better.  Don't fret, a clear choice always filters thru and quite frankly the Democrat alternative is far more scary because all they offer is more of the same failed government policies we have been suffering thru for far too long.  The best conservatives offer is the focused will for Resurrection and Restoration of the Republic.