How to feel good...

Here is a perspective on the fiscal cliff they plan on plunging into... The people impacted will be working people who pay taxes. The old and forty-seven living off govt won't see a thing. Working people will see a hit day one in their paychecks automatically, but the others monthly checks will remain the same, because the cuts are generic to programs and not specific. The feds will just run a bigger deficit. Sometimes I wish I could use cognitive discord to feel good about what you voted for.

Lost my handgun...

...box.  I lost the box my new handgun came in, and that bothers me because it is where the spare clip is located.  Don't worry, I know exactly where the handgun itself is and the ammo too, just can't locate the box.

So it's off to WalMart to purchase a handgun case.  Also purchase targets and more ammo so that I can visit the Eagle 1 firing range later this afternoon.  I need lots of target practice based on the results on my last visit.

FWIW: this little facebook type post is on the blog because I have way too many fb "friends" who would go ballistic based on keywords "Gun," "Target Practice" and "WalMart".  Just keeping peace in the community in more ways that one.

Leading

There is one side that refuses to allow entitlement cuts.  We have the other side that refuses to allow tax increases.  If we had a leader, he would lead to a solution.  Instead all we get is a campaign to sock it to the "rich".

The Prez is not Cool

Let's face it, the president is not cool.  C'mon, he still uses a Blackberry.  He would move to Apple, except that Steve Jobs insulted him by making Barack personally call to make the appointment and then Jobs told him to cut out the crap.  And Barry can't go to Android because they are just not cool, not at all, way too common for the enlightened.  So his personal grudge against Jobs and his vanity wins out and he still uses a Blackberry.

Orange Rhubarb Nut Bread Recipe

The rhubarb is in season and this very tart plant is wonderful mixed with sweets.  This Orange Rhubarb loaf recipe comes from Sonya Goergen thru Taste of Home magazine years ago.  Just add a dab of butter warm or cold, it's a great treat.

• 1/3 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups a/p flour
• 1-1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp gr. ginger
• 1/4 tsp gr. nutmeg
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 cup chopped rhubarb
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 2 tsp orange zest

Cream the butter and sugar then add the eggs one at a time and vanilla until blended.  Separately combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ginger, nutmeg.  Combine wet and dry until mix in orange juice until mixed.  Fold in rhubarb, almonds and zest.  Pour into 9x5 or 8x8 greased pan.  Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes, ready when a toothpick comes out clean.

$30 Each

According to the data, the U.S spends $30 for every single living human being on the planet Earth. How in the hell can we be spending that much money! From wsj.com:

It is a new record. And not a pretty one.

The federal government says it spent $369.37 billion in the month of March alone, or about $1,190 per each American man, woman and child. Laid end-to-end as dollar bills, the mind-boggling sum would stretch about 1,435 times around the Earth.

More important: To fund such lavish spending, the average Americans paid only $550 in taxes. Covering just half a month's spending with tax receipts is, of course, totally unsustainable. So it is a good thing that, unlike other high-deficit countries such as Spain, foreigners still seem happy to bankroll the U.S.

Spread across the 6.7 billion non-American residents of planet Earth, Uncle Sam's monthly revenue shortfall comes to a mere $30 a person. But the numbers quickly add up. During its entire history through the year 2000, the U.S. took on gross debt of $5.6 trillion. In little over a decade since then, it is set to add nearly twice that. By the government's own estimate, this year will end with a grand total of $14.7 trillion.
Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page C12

A version of this article appeared April 12, 2012, on page C12 in some U.S. editions of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Overheard.

Raleigh MaidPro Service is not Trustworthy

Seems that MaidPro in Raleigh is a poorly run division. They offered a GroupOn discount for a home cleaning, but then refuse to provide the service or even to allow for scheduling. When a purchaser of their GroupOn offer contacted them, he was told to call a "special" number to schedule those, but that number does not work, and return calls to the main number go unanswered and no call back.

Seems to me that if you sell a service, you should honor that sale. If not, it should be reported to the BBB, and have blog postings so people can evaluate them. Any company that plays ethics in this manner is not someone I would invite into my home when I am not there.

I've had maid services, been ripped off too, and that was from companies where I personally knew the franchise owners and trusted them completely. If the owners of MaidPro in Raleigh run a disreputable service, and practice avoidance of customer complaints, and do not honor their commitments, there is no way in hell I would ever trust them to enter my personal space.