GEE OOH PEE

Boehner & McConnel, nuff said.

Can Republicans get their excuses right?   Did Romney lose his bid for the presidency because Obama  had the best ground game in the history of elections.  Pooh!!!!  (Although Obama did have a spectacular, record setting, ground game.)  And, Romney did not lose because Obama was a better speaker. Pooh, pooh!!!  Who don't know that?  (Yes, Obama was also superior to Romney in every conceivable way.   Except, in the Wall Street tactic, con game, you know, screwing people out of money for personal gain and in this case, their vote.)
No, Romney did not lose because of these or the countless  other reasons being considered by the pundits, or being spewed out by the GOP alibies (see pic) and those who spent hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars.  Or, Citizens United, or no Citizens United. 
And, he did not lose because someone made a video of him, which showed him just being Romney.  Everybody knew him for who  he was.  They know he kept large amounts of money  in foreign banks.  And they know the purpose for using foreign banks, is avoiding sending information to the IRS.   That's what foreign bank accounts are for, isn't it?  And, we all know  him as someone whose pets love him.  (Except at vacation time.)  And many of us saw him win that primary between a group who could not even make a casting list of characters, for a 'B' movie.  You see, in this election , almost all the republican voters, in the those states where the GOP could make laws designed to simulate a poll tax, specifically to  keep Democrats from voting, they voted.. The ones in the heavily GOP areas, they all did vote. So Rove & Co. did get they're money's worth. And of course, only the man upstairs knows how many absentee ballots, in GOP controlled red states were discarded, lost, or stolen. And as for how many computers were rigged or hacked . . . . .it boggles the mind. What else could explain the sheriff's election in Arizona. This guy's name will be on every list of phsycos banned from owning a gun. And the hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars spent, I'm telling you, it did work. All the racists voted. All the haters voted. All the bigots and their ilk, they voted.  That is the real reason they thought they would win the election.




They stayed and stayed and stayed and voted !!!

And that was what the GOP spent their money to make happen.  It happened. 
But, at the same time the uninformed people, the ones who usually don't vote or can't find time to vote . . . you know, voters who are turned off, or for whom voting is a chore, or those who don't let politics interfere with their sports, or their TV addiction.  For them the stink was so strong they could not wait to get in line to vote for Obama..
That was the miscalculation the GOP made.  Thanks to their tactics, as never before, to most of us, the value of each vote was discovered. 

Santa, 2012

New Gale, another wonderful memory.

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Evidently Santa thought I was a very good boy all year, which according to me means, I didn't have too much fun.  But I did get some stuff and one of my best presents ever.  And, like those coming from me, not to early, it came a little late.  The night of the day after Christmas . . and my present, it was a dream.  So real, of an evening like so many in my life.
When I dream it usually has a lot of weird atuff and if it doesn't, I usually wake at the wrong time.  Not this dream.  I  never had one that was complete like this.  So vivid, and waking from it seemed so natural it was only after I reached over, ready to say something to Rae, when I realized it wasn't real. So why was this dream my best ever present?  Because now, like all the many memories I still have, it  too is in my memory bank.

Venus

 

Venus was at the Key Biscayne Tennis Center during the girl's 14 and under Jr.  Orange Bowl tournament.  So I spoke to her and asked her if she would take a picture with me.  Venus being Venus said yes.  She did not remember me, but I'm sure she remembered an incident that happened many years ago at Flamingo Park, former home of the Orange bowl Jr. 16s & 18s Tournaments.  Its where I first met her and Serena and her father.

HGK & Venus

School buses came that day from all over Dade county, full of kids to see the tennis stars. They jammed the parking lots and adjoining spaces.  The kids were now out of the buses and were all over the stadium.  Some were even in stadium seats, all of them waiting to see the new star of the tennis world, Venus.  Venus and sister Serena and daddy Williams were getting ready to hold an exhibition on Stadium Court.  This new tennis star, with her amazing athleticism was  winning tournament after tournament and with her effervescent personality she captured the media world.  She took over women's tennis and the sports world could not get enough of her.  And she handled it all, like . . . Venus.  How is that,  you ask? 
Well, the exhibition was getting started, Venus, with sister Serena and Dad on the clay court were warming up.  They had hit one or two balls when, as it can only do on Miami Beach, without warning, a downpour soaked everything.  I started helping shepherd the kids to the media building stairway. The stairs were in the rear and led to the second floor of the long media building.  At this time it was empty of the TV cameras which sent images around the world of  palm trees and the semis and the finals of the world's number one Jr. Tennis tournament, the Orange Bowl.  But at this moment it was just a very large room with a table or two against a wall and an odd chair or so.
After helping make sure there were no wandering stray kids I went up the stairs and I saw what my memory calls up now,. The kids were all sitting in a  huge crowd on the floor.  They surrounded Venus who was at the far end sitting on what I think was her tennis racket bag. There was a kid sitting on each side of her lap, snugly under each arm.  Everyone was singing.  On the floor behind Venus was a boom box with twin speakers blaring out a song, and Venus was leading, singing loudly with all the kids.  They all seemed to know the song.  I remember wishing I knew the song so I could join in.

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Jobs

 workers

The modus operandi of vulture capital companies does NOT include creating jobs.  Except, when adding a few jobs would help increase vulture profits.  Like when hiring high profile people, because their names are attractive to propective investors.  
When vultures take over a company the only object is for them to make money, and fast.  And if the company itself makes or loses money, that action is by default..  Now, a money only investment is an entirely different procedure.  Here they purchase stock or bonds, like most investors, but they are in a position to get inside information or, they can trade favors with like companies or they can do stuff to influence the share price.  For the most part it requires no personal involvement.  So this is not even close to vulture investments, where the cross-hairs are only on making money by manipulation. Once a targeted company fits a pattern or blue print for sucking money out, all the red lights turns green. Full speed ahead.
For example, General Moters. Why were there no dollars in private investment money available for GM when they needed it.  When  Romney and Bain and like companies, who are always looking to make money, were approached to invest in the floundering GM it was easy for them to decline because they did not see anything viable for their bloodsucking, quick money making abilities.  To be fair, neither did most, if not all, of the private investment community.  GM was not seen as an investment opportunity, even using any of their creative tactics.  Believe me, if they saw any fast buck opportunity they would have jumped on it.  There is no accusation here, its just factual.
In normal times, they would have welcomed and competed for the chance to sell new GM securities.  Because GM's financial health, good or bad, would not stop them.   Just the name GM meant they would have  little difficulty selling GM investment stuff, regardless of its business condition.  You see, most investment transactions make money salesman  from commissions.  And to sell investments requires good stories on why you should part with your investment money.  And when buying a newly issued investment instrument the underwriter charges a higher than standard commission amount.  So, its what  they want to do. They make money by selling GM or other investment stuff and even those mortgage backed bonds which turned out to be crap.  Crap that they created.  When our venerated rating companies stamped those real estate (crap) bonds as triple A, (AAA),  get out of the way, where's the phone?  Invest in U.S. real estate was the spiel of the day. Moody's and Standard & Poors have never been held accountable for making this dubious rating in the first place and then not removing the AAA status fast when they knew the value of the bonds were deteriorating.  To me the  rating companies were culpable.

Vulture companies rarely if ever risk their own money without the ability to easily shift the risk to other investors.  And usually  their own customers, who get all the risk, as secondary investors.. When I was a neophyte investor I would have jumped at the chance to be a secondary investor. . When a regular Bain customer made an investment in a secondary or a  new stock adjustment offering, for them to make profits was normal, and losses if any were not as big as profits and did not occur often.  So their customers  were also eager.  For a perfect example, go to your computer and Google; Baxter, Bain Capital. And read the NY Times article.
And they are not alone among professional investment companies who make money by the above method.   BUT, in the middle and late 2000's, times were not normal.  Being used to milking their customers, making lots of commissions and etc., even on crap, no, there were no funds available for GM in the private sector.  Zero. Its what Wall Street had become.
So how could Obama justify putting the US Government on the hook, so to speak?  Well, its all in the point of view. Obama was looking at the reestablishing of our wrecked economy.  He saw how a favorable result and future for GM would help the economy of the country. Was it a good bet?  With that objective, Obama thought it was.  His good luck was his uncanny selection of  Ed Whitacre, the former head of A,T&T.  Its laughable when people like Romney, and Santorum and former GM people say any one of many could have presided over the turnaround.
To most investors throughout this country, an investment is a risk.    A Bond investment, no matter its rating, is a risk. A mutual fund is a risk. Woe to the investor who does not factor in risk when making a decision.  But, it takes a smart investor to recognize opportunity and not be afraid of the potential risk to make the most of it.

In 2008, I was for Hilary.  When Obama became the  Democratic candidate, the Miami Beach Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club had David Lawrence Jr., former publisher of the Miami Herald, as the guest speaker.  We spoke after the meeting and he said to me,
"Howard, I've met a lot of politicians and I can tell you, in my opinion, Obama's sincerity of purpose can not be challenged.  For a president, or even when you need  a top executive in business for that matter, when you have someone who is unusually well informed, very intelligent and sincere, what more can you ask?"   That did it for me.

To me, as president everything Obama has done personifies that statement from David Lawrence.

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Two Wheeler

 

Ah, 12 years old.
In Philadelphia at 60th Street and Market Street there was the Cross Keys movie theater.  When the theater announced that they were to have a yoyo contest, I began to save my pennies toward  the 20 cent admission price. My usual method of going to the movies was to join with a coupla other kids who, together, would accumulate enough money for one ticket.  We took turns on who would buy the ticket and then after going in, would open an exit door (just enough so it could be opened from the outside) for the rest of us. But I wasn't going to take a chance on our usual scheme because I wanted to win that bicycle.  The thought of owning my own bicycle, wow.  I can still remember the excitement.    The contest was over a 9 week period. Each week, for 8 weeks one winner would be selected to compete in the 9th week for the prize. The 2nd place prize was roller skates.  Roller skates?  I had roller skates.  Ohhhh man, I kept dreaming of that bicycle.
Each weekly contest had 8 yoyo tricks. The names of the tricks were;
1. Vertical half loop.  2. Vertical full loop. 3. Sleep.  4. Round the world.
I don't remember 2 of them but they were just as easy as the first four and the last two were, Walk the dog and Rock the cradle which I had no trouble with.  When you missed a trick, after any try, you were out, and the contest continued until only one contestant was left.  And this week, I won.  I don't remember much else of that first contest.
Since it was only the third week I had to wait for five more weekly contests. My head was so full of me going all over the place on my new bicycle, I don't know how I got through the wait.  Talk about forever.  But finally the big day came and I did not have to buy a ticket to get in.

My own two wheeler??

All 8 of us contestants were on stage, the rules were explained, and the contest started.  There was only one change and it excited me greatly. When we got to 4 contestants, the tie breaker was loop the loops. But as it  happened, after the 4th run-through of  the tricks, only 2 were left, me and a kid I knew.  Oh man oh man.  I could do 4 times as many loop the loops as him. My best was 50 or more, but this guy, he had to struggle to reach 15.  The secret was to unwind the string before starting because each loop the loop would make one tighter wind in the string.  But you didn't want to unwind too much because it would make the string too loose..
The theater guy was talking and talking, to build the suspense when I realized he was saying my name, saying I was to go first.  It crashed through my reverie of bicycle riding and I walked to within three feet of the edge of stage to begin.  I took one unwind the string practice toss, to warm up, and then zipped my yoyo toward the audience.  It traveled horizontally until it reached the end of the string, . . . . . and then. . . . .
the string broke..

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Dogs on cars . .and some humor.

Google says. , , Romney put his dog in a cage on top of his car for a 12 hour auto trip?  WHAT???
Google says . . ., Romney likes to fire people?  WHAT???
Google says . . .Romney supports GOP attempts to cheat voters out of their right to vote.  Unless they are GOP voters.  WHAT???

If you think I'm making this stuff up, google these items .
Then watch and hear him on utube !!  And then watch and hear hear him again on utube, saying the exact opposite!! WHAT ???
Some humor is needed here.



Colbert

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On  his 11:30 PM TV program, Stephen Colbert said,

"The Republicans have accused Obama of trying to break up the Republican party."
He then said,
"Sure, the Republicans were having a party, and when the black guy arrived, the party broke up."

Cheating!!!

Congratulations Mitt, on securing the GOP nomination to be president. First I want to say I watch CSPAN and some news channels, I even watch a little Fox news. And I read the Economist, a few newspapers and I watch utube and other stuff on my computer. So, I see and hear things, you know, like that time a reporter responded to an answer of yours,  he said your answer to his question was not backed up by any facts. And then you 'acknowledged you knew that' and said, "Sauce for the goose."  When I saw a replay of the interview, it got me thinking, 'sauce for the goose?' Wait a minute,  you are running for president of the most powerful country in the world and you are proud of being a man of Faith.  Surely you have been taught that if someone does something illegal or immoral, like cheating or lying, that is not a license or excuse for you to do the same thing.  Did the adults who loved you as a child mess up?  Don't you know your wife and children can see and hear what you say when you're on the tube??  Look at this.

Ask me anything.

Here you are in 2007 holding an "Ask Mitt Anything" session in Ames, Iowa. Sorry I missed it. Should I suppose the people in Ames were allowed to ask questions on how you pay taxes, or about secret off-shore bank accounts? Or the process you use to make money?   Or, was all that stuff considered off limits? Like it is now? 
And what about your pet dog the one you put on the top of your car.  You put the family pet in a cage on the top of your car? And you kept him there for the entire 12 hour trip?  By the way that is some smart dog. It must have been a shock to him when he realized you didn't consider him a part of the Romney clan. Surely you knew he wanted to ride inside with the rest of the family.  When he got sick and dumped a good loose poop on the car, you got just what you deserved.

I also heard you on utube advising kids to get more money from their parents. You know, for college tuition or other college stuff.  You know, so they wouldn't cost the country money for guaranteeing loans.
What in hell is that??  

How bout the job-losing parents who got caught in the debris when you were setting earnings records for Bain.  Did you ever think of them? At the very least Mitt, I don't think you should continue to take credit for the success of Dade International. That is a bit much.
Ok, I'll grant you that borrowing $30 million and getting control of the  Dade was not easy stuff to do.   From Dade's point of view you were more than incompetent.   You and I know why you sold off the assets of a company well positioned in a viable industry?  And I heard you say how you liked firing people. And shoot, I know having fun is part of the game. But firing people is fun?
So when you wound up in the bankruptcy court with a very viable tech company and a leader in medical technology, why were you surprised the creditors were upset. They were losing their investment in Dade while you were the envy of the Wall Street Vultures' Club? And when they said they were going to sue you and bring charges of criminal fraud and personal enrichment against you?  Woo Ooo.  Good move giving back all of your remaining stock and other interests in Dade International including over $50 million Dollars.  Settling was a good idea.  For sure you would not look good, I mean reading in the Wall Street Journal, "Romney and Bain charged with fraud, and personal enrichment and stuff" . . . . .Woo Oooo. . . . .

So some good business men removed your board and put in a new board of directors, and also put a little more money into the company?    Maybe one of them should go into politics. What followed sure makes you look stupid for a guy who loves off shore bank accounts and is supposed to know what he is doing. . Lets see..
Remember when you were there just like the new guys,  you had the same chance, and you were in complete control. You knew Dade International better than anyone. You knew it was one of the largest companies in the world in their field. You helped make it that way with stock manipulations so the stock would be more attractive when you sold half of your stock.  Ok good you made more than $300 million. But new people now in charge used a little business sense, and got the company going again.  And after 4 years sold it to Siemans.
For what? $7 Billion?
HOW much?
7 Billion. How many employees did they fire?
They HIRED over 6000?.
Oh . . .Mitt. . I mean if you had the foresight and the ability to do that or even if you had not given up your remaining interest, you could have made more than $2 Billion.
Did you lose some of that high regard you had from the vultures? I mean I saw the picture Wall Street. I bet you could have played the lead better than Michael Douglas by just being Willard Mitt Romney. When I heard you on utube, when you actually took credit for the Dade International success? Saying, if you hadn't brought the company to the sheriff's door, the new company leaders would never have gotten a chance to run Dade International. Oh geeze. Well, I haven't heard anyone say you don't have chutzpa.

And Mitt, I'm with you here. Putting this on the off limits question list was absolutely right. I mean, its downright embarrassing. You are right to try to hide it, you know, like the money in the foreign accounts.

I'm sorry Mitt, outside of putting the dog on top of the car, this is you at your worst. Even with people who don't understand this stuff.  Yep the best way to handle it is, you know, by telling the Obama people to quit making accusations against your business record. You better keep saying that on other stuff too. Maybe enough people won’t catch on.

And using Rove ideas to cheat people of their vote. Which is more fun, Mitt? Cheating people out of their right to vote, or firing them?  I got fired once when I was a kid. I felt so bad. But getting fired so some Wall Streeter could hide money in foreign banks? Wooo Ooo.  And this guy Rove never met a hater, or bigot, or racist who would vote for a Democrat. That's why it’s so important to remind that group to vote, you know by making those inane jokes... Good Rovian strategy. But, maybe openly lying and cheating and putting your money in off shore accounts is the way to go. Just tell the suckers to take your word for it. You got away with that in Massachusetts. Maybe it will work again. Are you winning there now?

One more question, why would a person put his money in another country's bank anyway. I mean its complicated and most people who don't understand this stuff say the answer is easy. To cheat Uncle Sam and the IRS. And I was going to ask you what you think, but, after all those utubes, with you saying either side and then next day saying the opposite, you know . . . .flop flop, flippity flop. Some years ago the IRS put that little box at the bottom of your tax return. It asks you to put a check mark in that box if you have an off shore account. And then after the IRS caught a few cheaters, (did you get caught?) they offered amnesty on penalties if you owned up and paid the tax you owed . . . like you know, on the money in those accounts, which you have so many of.

A United States senator says you have cheated on your income-taxes some years. People are even saying Will, that you did fess up to the IRS, and you don't want anyone to know it. I'm not going press you on this question because I think you said it was one of those off limit ones.

By the way, I thought of one more question. This is the last one. I promise. If you are in a spot, with no cash money in your pocket,  how do you get to the ATM of  an off shore bank account?  


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Letter to governor Scott, Florida





Voters in the State of Florida have been hearing reports that our Governor is calling for and signing new laws to cheat some people out of their right to vote. I keep hoping this isn't true but it does make me wonder how he comes up with this shit. Stuff like having people pee in bottles, I'm still wondering how a women, who has to go, can pee into a bottle? I mean, suppose the line to the John is long? Did the guv consider this? A guy just needs a corner or a screen and a bottle. If a woman has to go this could potentially be worse than a traffic tie up on I 95. Good thing some Republicans realized the guv was bonkers on this one. Or maybe he became governor so he could decide who is and who isn't an American. Wow, what a feeling of power  And the guv gets to put people on a list?  Double wow.. The guv thinks he is the Government. Just ask him. And,  putting people on a list? Where did I hear that before? Wait a minute. I just thought of a possible solution.   Just make a list of those Un-American people living in OUR country, you know, low income or foreigners who just came here to get their kids schooling and a decent way of life. Like all the people who came here since we started the country.  Its different now.  But, wait a minute.  Don't include those who came here and who are qualified for Medicare or Medicaid. I mean after all, your company, you know, the one that helped you to accumulate enough money to spend millions in your campaign for governor. Congratulations.  Its one of the biggest health care providers in the country.  I am not saying any of those 'less than Americans' that joined his company, and allowed themselves to be used for over billing and, you know, doing fraudulent shit to get money from Medicaid.  They didn't know they were doing that.  Do you think the guv is proud of the amount of fines his company paid?   I mean it is the largest penalty ever assessed against a company for Medicare and/or Medicaid fraud. 
Looking at it from that stand point. you know being CEO of a company making enough money to pay a billion and a half dollar fine, just for committing a little fraud and other shit.  Wow! I wonder if that's in the top ten of accomplishments for CEO's.  And, peeing into a bottle should be a snap.    And here is a question, do you think companies who make their money that way could be still doing it?  I mean that's a big fine.  Don't they think they have to make it back somehow.  Just making regular profits from operating legally, that might be too slow.  So, hey guv, if you care about our State's bottom line, here's a thought, one you should know better than anybody. Why not have all companies convicted of fraud and over billing Medicaid and Medicare, checked out, say every 3 or 6 months, for about five years after they pay their fines.  Just to make sure they forgot how to do that stuff.  You know they did come up with some pretty imaginative stuff to steal from the government.  Maybe they still know other stuff they haven't used yet., You know, like stuff the regulators haven't seen yet.   I mean over billing and fraud was so easy and it was right down their alley. 
And I wonder did any of those guys who thought up that stuff get fired?  Did you find out who they were? And what did they do with the money? And, are any of them working for the state now? 
The guv wouldn't have crooks working for him, would he?  Maybe it was one them who came up with the pee in a bottle bull poop.  And guv if you think hard, you  might come up with enough savings to Medicaid to enable Florida to sign up for the new federal government's Medicaid proposals. If you did that, think of the all the people you could help. And the other companies, like yours, in the health care business. (the non-cheating ones, if there are any) they too might benefit. Or you could have a list of those 'less than American types' who swear a mothers oath to vote Republican.  Comon guv, take a page out of Grover's book    (Oh horse poop, I used to know a dog named Grover and it makes me sick to  think of a dog on top of a car for a 12 hour trip.)   Where was I, oh yeah.   
And those voting lists . . . . You could purge that list from the list of those who have dark skin or talk with an accent.  They certainly are not entitled to vote. What gall.   Huh. Oh my goodness.  Here is another good idea.  Man this is terrific. 
Make them all tell you where they work, and then we could let Romney or the next candidate for president fire them.  I heard him say how much he loves to fire people.  Making dogs sick is just a warm up for him.  And I read about how you said most of the low incomers were druggies anyway. I mean the ones you want to pee into bottles.  We use that list again and again.  And save money and  . . . . Shit, you might just zap them. Who is going to complain?  They're probably all dems anyway. Except we have to be careful about some special druggies, you know, like Rush, you don't want to offend that guy.  But Rush, he ain't a resident of Florida, and now that I think about it, you cant insult him. No way. He makes too much money. You know, all that lying horse poop and stupid stuff that comes out of the radio when he is on.  He does this shit on purpose.  For money that guy would say anything. Even a Governor ain't safe.  But, you might get some good ideas from him on who should have the right to vote and who should not. Like,  for  sure give all the WASP's a secret password or whatever so they can be sure they ain't on no list.  For those who don't know what a WASP is, from a voting standpoint,  you're a gonner.
I have another question guv.  In your opinion.  Which is harder? Cheating government agencies like Medicaid or Medicare out of money or passing laws to  cheat some law abiding citizens out of their right to vote ?
If you have your way Florida is gonna go Republican in the presidential election as sure as taking the fifth 75 times can help you avoid a criminal indictment. 

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NBA CHAMPIONS !!!!!!!

    WHO is that guy in the back??

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Polls

Yes . .No. . Yes. . No. . Yes. . . .

A recent poll shows a good percentage of the military favors President Obama.  Uh oh, this reminded me of the Bush vs Gore shame in Florida.  If you remember, during the investigation of improprieties it was discovered that two poll workers, who were entrusted with counting absentee ballots, were in a room, alone with the ballots, and admitted signing unsigned absentee ballots from the military, but . . . only if they were for Bush.  This blatant, total disregard for ethics during the  presidential election, was down right disgusting. It stills bugs me that, to my knowledge, the two ballot counters  were never separated, never offered immunity, and never separately asked this question, ."What else did you do while you were alone with all those ballots?"  (Does anyone believe 2 guys, who admit signing only unsigned Republican ballots and not Democrat ballots, didn't do anything else to any of the other absentee ballots?)
With all the practice they have had it will be easier for the Republicans this time. If the polls show Obama with a  majority of military voters favoring him, they can just lose them, like Bush's military records. 
Or they can do some other creative shit.  Like the Florida governor. Is this guy ready to take more 5th amendments in case its illegal to do what he is doing.  Taking the 5th 75 times means he has had plenty of practice.  Now as governor he's using new onerous and obviously restrictive voting procedures to reduce the numbers of potential democratic voters.  And he's arrogant about it.
Ask him how does he feel about HCA'S  illegally getting gazillions from the government (Medicare & Medicaid)? Ask him?  Go ahead ask him.  Morality?  What the hell is that?  How the hell is he able to look at himself in a mirror? 
Hey gov, I have another question or two bothering me about those pee bottles.  Does the State have any left overs? And if we do, are they all the same kind?  Or do women need special bottles to pee into?
The guvs' a piece of work.  If he gets his way Florida is going Republican come hell or high water.

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Pinocchios galore!!!

Its the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth

College students, do you want a guaranteed million dollar political career?.  Simple. Just 3 steps.

1. Major in Lying.

2. Run for office as a Republican.

3. Buy a rubber stamp with you signature on it..

 This does not mean ALL politicians don't tell listeners what they will do. And then  not do it,  You don't need a college course for that. Just big balls. It does mean you have to go in front of people, even nationally, and on TV and then, lie like hell. Even though you know nearly 90% of the people watching or listening know you are lying.  Just watch Mitt or 'Joe the Plumber' on Youtube.  The youtubes  are still available.

There once was a plumber named Joe,

Who learned to say stuff, not so.

Got very good at that game!!

And, tho others think its a shame . . .

With the GOP . . . . its a go!

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Two



Juan,Victor,Paul,HGK
Back row: Herman,Aquilas,Anthony

His real name was Juan but I called him Two because at the park there were a couple of other Juans.
"Why are you doing that Howard?"
"What do you mean, why am I doing this?"
"Well I  heard Richard trying to get Robert to do it for him and now you're doing it?"
"So?"
"Well, Richard would never do it for you."
"Two, are you saying you want me to be like Richard?"


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Whores or Pimps ?

I have a question for J. R. McCulloch, (1789-1864)  the first professor of political economy of the University College London. He astonishingly, wrote this,180 years ago;  

Principle, and her Pimp

Taxation of Income Impractical
"The tax would fall with its full weight upon men of integrity, while the millionaire of “easy virtue” would well nigh escape it altogether. It would, in fact, be a tax on honesty, and a bounty on perjury and fraud; and, if carried to any considerable height—to such a height as to render it a prominent source of income—it would undoubtedly generate the most barefaced prostitution of principle, and would do much to obliterate that nice sense of honour which is the very foundation of national probity and virtue."   
(Economist 04/28/2012 and Wikipeida)

My question is, "If you were alive today would this mean you think the Governor of Florida, most of the candidates for president and a great many similar politicians and/or wealthy people on Wall Street, etc., are prostitutes?  And if you do, would this mean that  the oil industry,and all the other companies who are able to obscenely flourish in our democracy by avoiding paying taxes, that they should care  more for our country?  Or, do you think all of the above, along with their lobbyists . . . . . we should just shove them into a category of pimps?

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New Cancer Treatment

Targeted nanoparticles show success in clinical trials  Targeting Lung, Breast, Prostate and other tumors.

Tiny particles designed to home in on cancer cells achieve tumor shrinkage at lower doses than traditional chemotherapy.

 

An artist's rendering of BIND-014.
Image: Digizyme, Inc.



In the study, which appears April 4 in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the researchers demonstrate the particles’ ability to target a receptor found on cancer cells and accumulate at tumor sites. The particles were also shown to be safe and effective: Many of the patients’ tumors shrank as a result of the treatment, even when they received lower doses than those usually administered.

This information is from the MIT information services. 
To read the full article, click link below;
  http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/cancer-particle-0404.html

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Old PIB (Pee ina Bottle) wrong again???

One of the early acts of the governor of Florida was to refuse federal money intended for a study on the  use and development of a rapid transit train.  In this case, from Tampa to Orlando, and for a continuation to Miami..  When former governor Charlie Christ was confronted with a similar rapid transit plan he said,

Wrong kind of bullets.

  ”We are very excited about the potential for passenger rail service in the state. We believe these projects will enhance the transportation choices of our growing resident and visitor populations.”  Both These guys,  governors, both these guys Republicans, so what gives?  Why the difference?
It now appears that the Florida East coast Railway Co, a private company,. is in a feasibility study for rapid transit between Miami and Orlando. They say they own or have access to existing rail lines which are available and which makes  going forward very likely.  Old PIB (pee ina bottle) Scott seems to be whistling his own tune which indicates he doesn't know what the purpose of being a governor is. 
We don't need the governor  to use his position to tell us how to run our lives, or intrude into our privacy, or collect our body waste, (at government expense), or consider ways to keep voters from voting,  These are things Republicans say they are against. With their mouths..
What PIB may need is a surgical procedure to put his mouth on the same side of his head as his ass. That way the the horse poop can be coming out of the same side as the regular poop..

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Splatt !!!!

Listen all men.  You better watch this.  Forget losing jobs and sending jobs overseas.   The richest 1% will not need us at all  in the future.  And as soon as robots can sync with automatic lawn mowers Romney won't even have to hire illegals to cut  the  grass on the lawn at his home..

Incredible

Maybe women wont need us either. They already can make babies from a lab dish, and once they can train these robots to take the garbage out, that's it.. 



So hurry up, we must organize before its too late.  Lay in a supply of fly swatters and good luck. . . . .  This is all about how the  latest drones were born,  Don't click the link if you don't want to see the first step in a future without men.
Fascinating.
http://www.ted.com/talks/vijay_kumar_robots_that_fly_and_cooperate.html

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Immigration

A high School senior named Daniela Peleaz, came to this country at age 4 with her parents.  She lived here since then and at age 18, is Valedictorian at North Miami High School.  So far she has been accepted for admission by Yale University.  And now a federal judge has ruled she should be returned to Columbia. 



Hugo, at Beach Hi meeting.

On February 12, 2011, I wrote a post about Hugo.  Unfortunately, in Hugo's case, the immigration ruling came months after Hugo graduated.  At the time he was employed by the Nieman Marcus Department Store near Miami Beach,

This is a repost.

A tennis pupil of mine since he was 12, Raz, who now played  played #1 (tennis) for Miami Beach Hi. introduced me to Hugo.  Hugo asked would I help him with tennis.  Which I did.  He heard about the ‘Dwight’s Computers for Kids’ program, volunteered to help, and we became friends.  Hugo had a torturous schedule.  After school he came to practice tennis and then went to his apartment to change.  At 5:30 he went to work at a Chinese restaurant delivering call in orders and what ever else needed to be done.   After that he parked cars for a valet service at a hotel..  Every day. On weekends he also helped his girlfriend sell sandwiches from a pushcart and after work at the restaurant he valet(ed  until  3 in the morning.  He picked up and delivered 'day old' bread for the Sunday congregation at his church.  With computers from Dwight's Kids program he set up a lab at his and other churches in Dade County.  He never refused to help anyone.  His use of time amazed his teachers at school who used him for odd jobs which he did willingly and when he graduated a friend recommended him for the job he was vacating for college.  Everyone at school knew and loved Hugo. Anyway, the job, asst. mgr. of the shoe department at Macys.  A few weeks later the shoe dept. mgr. of another store, closer to his apartment, offered him a similar job as his assistant.  He said 'yes' and  gave 2 week notice.  He asked his new boss if he could sell shoes during his 'extra' time.  Soon he became #2  in shoe sales. With commission and salary his income soared to almost $1,000.00 a week. he was only months out of high school.  Unbelievable. 





Hugo, delivering computer for kids.

He had a 'Students green card" but wanted permanent residency so he hired a lawyer on a high floor in a downtown Miami building.  He asked me to accompany him to the hearing.  On the floor of the hearing I met a friend who asked what I was doing there and when I told him he asked the judge's name.  Hearing the name he then said, "If he’s a friend, get him out of here right now. Say he’s sick or whatever."  I tried. His lawyer did not know anything negative about the judge.  Hugo was so excited he wanted the hearing now. 
The judge refused his request and ruled he had to return to Columbia.  The manager of the store, one of this country’s most prestigious chains, his boss’s boss, offered to help "in any way I can” 

(Two years later his application for a tourist visa was refused because of the ‘denial’ for permanent residency.) Everytime I think of it, it makes me laugh with tears. We threw Hugo out of the country.  I still find it hard to believe.

In Columbia with the help of a tennis scholarship he graduated from college.
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Howard

 

 

Who ARE these three guys with Howard??

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ANSWERS???



and the answer is . . . . .

Saturday.  At the Pizza Bar eating pizza in front of a big TV.  There is a sports interview on the TV, its before the game ..  The TV Sound is turned down.  But you can hear the music from the Pizza Bar CD..   On the TV two players are sitting with big flash cards in their laps.. The MC asks a question, then the player holds up a card that says, 'Me.'   The MC asks another question, player holds up card says, 'E. Johnson.'  People are jumping up and applauding after each card answer and it continues like this until all the flash cards are gone.  Wow, this is neat.   I don't know the questions, couldn't hear them, but it doesn't matter.  Its hits me.  As I get older people stop asking me questions anyway.  So, if I don't have to know the  questions, my brain has more room for answers. Makes me feel sorry for all those volumes of the encyclopedia in my bookcase.   But how great this is!
Watching the TV Republican primary debates has helped me figure it out.  The only time these clowns tell the truth is when they are talking about one another. When I was younger I worked for an Insurance Company and attended the annual convention.  The featured speaker, George Fields, was 1 or 2 in sales, in the country.  George had finished his remarks and his rear was just about to hit the chair.  Throughout his message was, how important sincerity was to his overall sales' results.  While the applause was still building,  George, rose up, retook the mike and added.  "and besides, if they don't think you're sincere,  they won't sign on the dotted line."  This made the intensity of the ovation reach a staggering crescendo. I hadn't listened too closely because I knew his 'sincerity'.
Until I heard the Republican responder to Obama's Jan-2012 State of the Union address I thought all  thinking people, with even small amounts of brains,  had left the Republican party, and no longer call themselves conservative.  Or maybe they joined the Independents, or the Libertarians or maybe just became apolitical   But back to the speaker and the response line he used,  about . . .'all people in this country are either wealthy or becoming wealthy'  made me think he must of heard the president's address, which made him hopeful for our future and it sounded like he was going to vote for him...


GOP Voting Instrument

But realistically, Republicans think their base voters are like dope addicts. They can't kick the  habit.  So why bother them with factual truths?.  That's why, even late in life, you can hear a senior citizen say to his/her Republican representative, 'now take care of my Social Security for me,'  or  'protect my medicare for me' or . . . .    Social Security and Medicare? Democrats had to fight Republicans like hell to make Social Security and Medicare a reality.  Right from the start and the fight still goes on.  They have never stopped the fight.against Social Security since the early 1930s and against Medicare since the mid 1960s.. And here is this senior woman saying to a Republican about what makes her fearful for her future,and the Republican's mouth saying that he will be sure to take care of it for her, when in reality he is just a rubber stamp GOP voter in congress, Watching the debates, I noticed something frightening for our country.  The Republicans who want to be our president are LIARS.  In debate after debate.   Lying all the time.  And they  know everybody watching knows.  And they know the other contenders for the nomination to be president are kying too.  What!!!  It use to be unusual for politicians to lie to the people without apologizing when they got caught.  But these Republicans don't even care, they know all TV viewers can see and hear them lying.  In a world of GOPers like these, nobody would even notice Pinocchio's nose.

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Gambling

 

A winner

My best friend since we were in high school,  God love him, Jerry, loved to play cards, and playing black jack was one of  his favorites.  He also loved his boat which he kept docked at the summer home he and his wife Delores had just outside of Atlantic City..  Weekends he was always on his boat or in the casino.  Don't ask me why but I  never got seasick when I went sailing with him.  Anyway after the gambling issue won, he couldn't be happier.  And he lost so much money, when Rae and I went to Atlantic City to visit them, the casino sent a limo to pick us up at the Philadelphia airport, and transport us the 60 miles to Atlantic City.  Then they put us up at one of the hotels, in the best accommodations, and fed us the finest food.  All 'comped' as they called it.  Meaning, no cost to me.  Like the a junkets thay used to run from Miami to Vegas.  I always refused to go on them.  But this was Jerry.  Rae kept asking, "Are you sure we're  not paying for any of this?"

I did pay for my sub sandwiches (I had two) from the Whitehouse.  Subs do not taste the same in Miami because the water, used to make the bread, is different, so it can't  be baked to taste the same way it does back East.. And the water in Atlantic City is perfect for making sub (or Hero) rolls. If the water in Miami is soft then up there its hard and vice versa. And the Whitehouse in Atlantic City is greatly responsible for that reputation because they make the best steak and cheese or submarine sandwiches using bread baked at the Atlantic City Bakery..  If you ever go to Atlantic City, make sure you get one.  But the rest of my expenses were paid by the casino because Jerry was such a good customer (ahem, sucker) and lost so much money..

The Donald
(The wig is ready for flight.).

Anyway, about a year or so after that trip, during one of my regular calls to Jerry,  he tells me Trump Tower is going to open in a coupla weeks.  And then in a later call, he tells he went to the Trump Tower 'opening'  and they 'threw him out.'   "You're kidding?" I say.  He's laughing,  "Nope.  I was playing black jack and I was up $4,800.00.   This guy comes over and says, Get all of your chips and follow me to the cashier."  I cash in my chips and he escorts me to the front door and says, "We have your picture, don't come back.  You're not welcome here."

I couldn't stop laughing. but Jerry, he's like a kid, he is boasting.  I say "I think the Donald should get out of the gambling business.  He's in over his head."

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BONANZA ! ! !

What a fantastic time for a politician to be in the Florida legislature.

Its a dream come true. . There are so many lobbyists with bulging pockets on both sides of the gambling issue its manna from heaven.
When I was a kid I asked my father why the circus didn't stay in town for more days?   He explained that the money taken out of the community by the circus, did  not return, and the only thing that took more money out of a community, was gambling.  Its one of the reasons I was on the 'NO' Casinos Speakers Bureau the last time we had a gambling issue in Florida.  At that time I was pretty confident we would prevail. And we did. But now, I think more gambling is inevitable. Especially now when no one can accuse Florida voters of voting their best interests.  Here, the voters do stuff their own way, which is usually listen to the politicians who spends the most money. .   And any candidate who can push the right religious or bias button can get so many votes its usually enough to tip the scales, and they win, regardless of his/her qualification.  At the moment Republicans have the upper  hand.  If  Florida Republicans  found out a Democrat, running for dogcatcher, had taken the 5th in a minor matter, they would have a field day rubbing his nose in it.  On the other hand if he was Republican and had taken the 5th 75 times in a billion dollar fraud matter, maybe involving stealing from Medicare and Medicaid they would elect him governor.  So, who knows?
The fact that Nevada is suffering financially from the amount of money being sucked out of their economy is not even a factor. And Las Vegas?   Not the ideal place to raise a family.   And Atlantic City?  It was a dump to live in before gambling , and today?  Still a dump. 


All the glowing promises, to upgrade the living conditions in Atlantic City, were made to garner votes, just political rhetoric.  They can get the senior citizens, who overwhelming support Social Security, to vote for a Republican when Republicans have NEVER, from its beginning, supported Social Security.  Just feed them coffee and doughnuts and smile.

At the time, in Atlantic City there where very few high rise apartment buildings, mostly populated by senior citizens.  One was located where Atlantic City meets Ventnor, it was fairly new and just off the boardwalk.    During the election it was a hot spot for volunteers and almost all of the residents became workers in the campaign.  After the election they danced and sang on the boardwalk. . ."We won, We won."  The joy lasted a couple of days. Then  . . . . .
 Reality.  A resident of the building, who's lease was up at the end of the month, received a notice, her lease would only be renewed on a month - to month basis.  The building was now going to become a condo. . . . . . . .
As for employees, they were mostly imported from Vegas and other places.
And neighborhood improvement?   What the hell is that?  Not in Atlantic City.  And like Social Security, when politicians are.talking to seniors, they say they are for it, but when they  vote, well . . . . .  And this is Florida.  Our gov thinks peeing in a bottle is necessary and the State should pay for buying the bottles and testing the pee.  Hey gov,, can't you figure out how to charge this stuff  to Medicaid or Medicare?.

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Be fair Lord

The following is the twit to the Almighty, by Steve Johnson who dropped what would have been the winning pass in the Buffalo vs Pittsburg football game on Sunday 11/28/10, well over 2 years ago, but too good not to post again:

 

"I PRAISE YOU 24/7 ! ! ! ! ! !  

AND THIS IS HOW YOU DO ME ! ! ! ! !   

YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS? ? ?  

HOW? ? ? ! ! !  

I'LL NEVER FORGET THIS ! !  

EVER ! ! !   THX THO..."

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