sorry for the delays

Okay everyone, I wanted to make a general post regarding my lack of updates. Yes I know I should be on here more than I am, but with the NHL playoffs going on and my full time job needing more of me I've had less time to hear the news of the day and what all the goings on are in the world. However hopefully soon I can get back to a somewhat normal existence. Just wanted to update y'all on that so no one started to worry about me.

the blame game

First off let me appolgize for my absence here as of late, however as some of you might know I work/volunteer at my church and last Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we had a guest speaker so needless to say I was happy I had Thursday off to rest lol. Now on to the topic of today's post...

Okay, so let me start off by telling you I've been into game shows my whole life. During summer and winter breaks growing up I would get up at 8am and start off with The All New Let's Make A Deal, and it'd end with The Price Is Right at 11am. So I know a little something about games. However, the blame game is one that really ticks me off.

I have a regular day-job like almost everyone in america. I love the fact I can do a job, and make money doing it. I wish my pay was directly proportional with the quality job I do, but that's another story.

The company I work for is going through some financial difficulties, as are most companies in america it seems.  Now are all these american companies in that dire straits financially or not is beyond me; I'm too honest of a person to be deceptive, especially with money.

Most of the people I work with are die-hard democrats (I don't think we should hold that against them though) who are ready to blame anyone when something doesn't go their way. Case in point, recently we were slated to potentially receive $20 million to keep our service running, despite the voting public voting against a tax that would have gone to our company to keep our service up and running. Unfortunately, that $20 million was voted down and taken off the table as a possibility. Then they modified it to be $12 million; not what we wanted but it's something right? Well needless to say everyone was already counting the money in the account being as they were so sure it was going to be approved, until yep you guessed it.... rejected again. 

What was everyone's reaction..... "maybe our [acting CEO] (named removed to keep anonymity) will learn those Republicans aren't helpful if it helps the public." Well now let's look at the situation here regarding this: The whole country is worried about economic downturns and watching were every penny goes and you're going to ask for 20 million, then 12 million and say once the 12 is passed the other 8 will be on it's way; you bash Republicans on a whole when the acting CEO is a registered Republican, and the only two state congressmen supportive of the funds are both Republicans, one of who will receive no direct benefit from it, the other will receive the least benefit from it of anyone who receives the service. Granted the rest of the districts who would benefit from the service almost all have Democratic leaders in place, but where was their support of the funds? Only 3 people went to the state capital to campaign for the company to get all this money, all 3 of whom being Republicans. Now how can someone really blame the whole party, when it was only that party working to get the money for this company in the first place. 

Am I saying it's wrong to be a Democrat? no, just like it's not anymore right to be a Republican. What I'm saying is look at the whole situation and see what's going on, instead of just placing instant blame on the group that you don't side with. Secondly, instead of looking for who's to blame, try looking towards the solution instead. If we look at who's to blame, we end up taking our focus off who is capable of providing us the ability to receive the solution. Getting stuck at the "blame game" also keeps you from being able to see past the problem and it subsequently gives you a sense of hopelessness because then you have to blame someone else for what you've put yourself in. 

So let's review, we learned to check to see who's for and against you before you start placing blame; before you begin to blame look to see who's the solution instead and keep your focus on the solution instead of who's at fault. More often than not, the person that's going to help you get your solution isn't the same person that's at fault for the situation.

That's all I have for now..

I just don't get it I guess

I'm sure this'll sound like a re-posting to some, but for real; why is it if a company is failing, they ask for funds to stay in business? Why can't someone provide good service, be it serving my dinner at the restaurant or drive-thru of my choosing in a timely and happy manner, fixing my furnace when it's 95 degrees outside and I need the A/C or when it's 20 degrees and I need the heat. Both of which are good things, and one is neither more important than the other, however, the unhappy serviceman/woman who comes to fix my furnace does not get my repeat business when my furnace needs cleaning or future service due to the service person's attitude about having to fix it the first time, so I take my business to a competitor of theirs and they provide all my services with a smile and handshake. 

Isn't that the ultimate stimulus package available? Repeat business. The ultimate advertising, word of mouth, both positive and negative. When I first had a car and had the freedom to get whatever junk food I wanted for dinner at night, I started visiting a local Jack-in-the-box. Wouldn't you know it my car overheats in the drive-thru and I pull into a parking spot and eat my dinner. What I didn't expect was the Manager on duty, Jessica B. (yes I remember her name) to come out and ask if I was okay and how my food was. Needless to say I was a lil shocked, but it made me confident in returning to that location. Again the following week my car overheated again in the drive-thru and again I pulled into a parking spot and ate my food and she came out to check on me. 

Needless to say, I frequented that particular Jack-In-The-Box on a regular basis, anywhere between 1-3 times a week. Jessica and I built up a certain "relationship" as manager/customer over a period of time. When she informed me she had been talked to regarding "her staff's" performance and if it didn't improve, she would be let go. Well, unfortunately there was no improvement, and she was let go. I went back a couple of times, and got horrible service, not to mention, I didn't even get the food I ordered 2 of the 3 times, so uummm, yeah I didn't go back to that location again. Instead I drive an extra 2 miles, and I go to a Jack-In-The-Box that has a friend of mine working there (that I was unaware of until I saw her) and I get happy people at the drive-thru and the food that I ordered. 

Now that to me is an example of proper stimulus. I didn't get the service which appeals to me enough to return as a customer.... so I go somewhere else. Now yes I understand I'm going to the same chain, but not that location. Same with my grocery store. I drive an extra 2 miles to go to a cleaner store, even though it's the same store chain, the cleanliness of it has me sold. Same with the Wal-Mart. I refuse to go to the Wal-Mart that's right down the street from me, so instead I drive probably an extra idk, 10 miles to go to a Wal-Mart I like. 

Why can't our companies accept lack of clients as a sign maybe they're doing something wrong? I understand with the whole Auto-bailouts there's many reasons for it, however, the average car should last a person 10 years total (roughly speaking). My car is a 2002 so I should expect it to last until 2012, anything longer than that, is gravy to me. However with the care I give it, even just the simple things like getting the oil changed every 3000 miles, my car should last me at least 200,000 miles if not more. So I will not be buying a car out of necessity in the near future. I would venture to guess a lot of people are in that same scenario too,  they feel what's wrong with my car so why get another? 

It really angers me that companies feel they need to be saved after having bad business practices for so long that it's finally able to be seen by anyone with a tv and they just want some money to throw at the problem while never doing anything about the cause of the storm. When Jesus and the disciples were in the boat when the storm came, what did Jesus do first after he was waken up from his sleep? Did he stop the waves??? Nope sure didn't, he first stopped what was causing the waves, the wind. Then after he stopped the wind, that's when he stopped the waves. If he had stopped the waves first, the wind would have continued to another batch of waves would have come. How does this relate.... Well if the companies applying for the "bailouts" haven't changed the business models which have landed them in this situation, what's another $800,000,000,000 going to do for them? Nothing but prolong the suffering and misery. What am I looking for out of all this? I just want companies to get back to their roots, honoring the people who keep their business running, not the CEO, CFO, COO, or any other 3 letter title, but the people who bring themselves into their stores and spend their hard earned money and say, yes I value your business and I want to see you continue. That's really what it's about. If you have happy customers, they'll keep coming back. But if you let a few too many unhappy customers go, you'll even lose your die-hard customers too.

That's all I have for now.

multiple thoughts here

Okay well first off I'd like to say.. this is my first post while being on my "new-to-me" PowerBook G4, and I've loved every minute of it. I got a deal on it from a website so I'm not gonna complain at all. 

Speaking of complaining....

I have a lil bit of a bone to pick with CNN and their idea of a "journalist". I've taken journalism classes, and I was even on the school newspaper staff my senior year, so this isn't my first entrance into the world of journalism. Specifically, Susan Roesgen and her reporting from the Chicago area Tea Party from Wednesday afternoon. As a representative of the news media she should have held some integrity and inquired to the reason for people's attendance to the tea parties. Instead she found someone who appeared to be the most ticked off person there, and when she asked him his reasoning for attending, she began to recite back the Obama idea for the solution to the financial problems hitting this country currently. Instead of asking a few people there and at least getting 2 or 3 answers, she got one, and she began to debate him. Why does the news media feel the need to shut down a totally logical side of the argument, and restate the liberal solution for the problems of america currently. 

She mentioned to him Obama's bill signing allowed for Illinois citizens to get a $400 tax credit. When Bush signed his stimulus bill into action I received $600 which went right into the bank and then I have to spend it on having my wisdom teeth removed, so yeah that lasted a little while. Now how long do you think that $400 is going to last? Yep, that's right, about 2/3 the time. What's $400 anyways? I pay that much each paycheck in Payroll taxes (that's twice a month by the way). I would rather only have to pay $200 each paycheck and have the other $200 to go and stimulate the economy in my own unique way to keep the stores open I want. Which in my case would be the Mac Store to get some new programs for my new laptop or maybe some clothes. 

But I'm tired so I'm gonna keep this one short so I'll leave y'all with a phrase I saw many times at my local area tea party. Spread my work ethic, not my money. Basically, we'd be more willing to give people money if they're working, and I'd be willing to pay more if they work smart, as opposed to just giving out a check every week. 

Until Next time.....

Wow Wow Wow

My grandfather picked up a gun to go fight in WWII, my dad was drafted into Vietnam and picked up a gun there, all to fight for our freedoms we enjoy today. I lucked out, I had to pick up a flag and go stand with 9,999 fellow St. Louisians who agree we're being majorly over-taxed.

Need I say it again, Wow. OMG the tea party was awesome. Never before have I ever felt so good about myself about doing something for a group. Yeah I know I'm only one person and my vote doesn't count, but when you combine my vote with the 10 thousand or so people around me and by golly, we can make a difference. 

I am totally excited about all of this. This is truly a time for those who hold strong to the conservative values we've grown to love about this country, to stand up and make your voice heard.

This is just a little "snapshot" of the St. Louis Tea Party:

                  

Now I will admit, I did get there a little bit late, but I started getting messages that the crowds where getting there almost 2 hours early. This is obviously not an "isolated" thing anymore.

I can honestly admit I never was ever ashamed of my country. In fact I was quite proud, and even applauded the fact we were able to look past someone's race and vote a black man president (something I didn't believe america would do). Today though, I saw over-taxed St. Louis citizens come together, not for a politician promising lower taxes, but for each other, standing shoulder to shoulder, sign to sign, for form a single solid voice to come out of St. Louis with a resounding "enough already". 

I'm still just beaming over this, I have this feeling of accomplishment, and a feeling that this is only the beginning of what's to come. Maybe, just maybe, we'll get a true representative in Washington (at this point I'd take Missouri personally).

Tax Day is here

Well yes here it is again, another wonderful April here in St. Louis, the home of rain, rain, and snow in April. Every April 15th, everyone needs to have their taxes in, because we all need to do our part to help this fine country out, and give them more of our money. 

Now I'm sure some of you out there are like me and you've had your taxes done for a while now and are just waiting on the checks (if you're entitled to receive anything back) or you're one of the really lucky ones who already has their money back. In either case you've done your duty to the Government so they can find another failing company to bailout, or another pig swine project to pump money into (http://www.foxbusiness.com/video-search/m/22101313/power-rankings-pork-book.htm  here's the proof on that one, along with a couple others). 

However, this April 15th, calls on something a little bit different. Tea parties will be held all across the USA calling for an end to constant spending, decreased taxing, and more general overall responsibility from our elected members of Congress, not to mention the President and Vice-President.

I personally, am very excited to be attending the St. Louis Tea Party. I get invigorated just thinking about it and the whole aspect of being active on the team instead of being the armchair Monday morning quarterback. I made a commitment to myself, that whomever was elected to office of President I would do what I could to "hold their feet to the fire" for what they did in office, *rubs hands together in anticipation* and here's my first action on that. I can't believe it's happened so soon into his presidency, but being involved is so awesome to me I can't describe it. 

Then I read about the speech President Obama gave today at Georgetown University. He compared our economy to the parable given by Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount. Then he refers to the foundation of our economy being 5 pillars. Now, wait just a minute. I took all the world history classes in high school and one in college, and Jesus, Sermon on the Mount, yes very good, play up the Christian aspect, show the people you know the Bible; 5 Pillars????? Wait a second, I know where I heard that before, ahhh yes, the 5 Pillars of Islam. Why can the MSM look at that speech and say "wow how inspirational was that? And did you hear him reference his Christian faith with the story of the Sermon on the Mount?" but yet they conveniently by-pass the whole 5 pillars comment? Why can't he just tell it straight, "Yes I am of Muslim faith" or "Yes, I am of Christian faith" really now, why play the american people like we're flippin idiots? Some of us are capable of seeing through this because either we've been educated enough during school, or we're actively involved in either Christianity or Islam (personally Christianity for me, but I learned about Islam in school). Personally, I don't care which one he is, JUST TELL US ALREADY. 

You'd think we could see the signs when he can't produce a birth certificate, has slipped up in interviews when speaking about his "faith", and then this latest debacle. 

Needless to say, as a tax payer I'm frustrated at all the spending, and as a Christian I'm ticked he's playing sides like this.

More tomorrow when I report LIVE from the St. Louis, Missouri Tea Party.

East... errr Resurrection Sunday

Sorry everyone, but I know it's common place for everyone to say Happy Easter, but I'm sorry I'm bitter I guess or jaded, and I don't accept the term "Easter" for this holiday. Easter started out as a pegan fertility celebration, being Christian (as if you couldn't tell from the other posts) I don't recognize pegan celebrations. Instead let's call this weekend what it is, Resurrection Weekend. Whether you believe in Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, or you stick to the strict, 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the earth, in the end it all ends up the same. Jesus rose from the grave to sit at the right hand side of God, not to mention bazillions of people came out of the woodwork to go to church today all dressed in lavender, periwinkle, or some other very girly color, and looked macho doing it, since this is the only weekend a guy can get away with it. (I know I couldn't on any other weekend, or weekday)

But also on a positive note this weekend, 3 of the 4 pirates were sniped outta their boat where they were holding the american captain prisoner and he is now relaxing with his family. My only question is why'd they wait so long? They coulda done this the day after it happened and been done with it. Oh well, I guess we'll never find out cause it all turned out good in the end.

Christmas is only 8 months 16 days away

Really that means nothing, I just don't want to have one of the same basic Easter post titles that everyone else has. 

This week is Holy Week, and today is Holy Thursday. While I'm not Catholic I do understand many in America are and most everyone in my hometown is (or so it seems). Now I don't hate Catholics, I just don't get it. However, I know many do (or pretend to) and that's all fine by me. Just be real about it. 

But for those of us that aren't Catholic, do you leave your fellow people alone while they practice their Catholic faith? 

While on my way to lunch, a co-worker and I passed a guy who was on his knees praying (what religion he was practicing, I don't know, doesn't pertain specifically to the point of the story) and my co-worker who was driving yelled out the window "Get off your knees" then proceeded to speak down about him because he was "begging to a God who is non-existent because that's all praying is, is just begging".  While I shouldn't be surprised at such actions from an atheist who also proclaims to be a communist, it still bothered me more than normal. 

If you don't celebrate a standard holiday that everyone in America celebrates, I don't care, I don't agree with it, but I don't care if you don't celebrate it with me. Just don't flaunt it that you're superior to me because you don't answer to a "higher power" (aka God), and really by all means don't demean someone because they have a faith and trust in God. 

If you do claim to be an atheist, you therefore have no belief in God because atheism is the belief in there not being a God. Therefore, why don't you as an atheist volunteer to work Easter Sunday to serve Easter "after church" brunch to me and my family. Why don't you volunteer to work Christmas day at Denny's in the event we burn the Turkey. Truth be told, because most self-proclaimed "atheists" actually do celebrate Easter and Christmas with their family. They do the Easter egg hunts and the Christmas trees (they just conveniently leave out that whole Jesus thing, but how much does that really play into the whole holiday?). And they have the audacity to call church-going, Bible believing Christians hypocrites because we'll occasionally sin. Ohhhh and another thing, if you truly believe there is no God, then I want all of you to quit using the phrase God d@mnit, immediately!!!! First it just shows a total lack of class and respect on your part, but secondly the very nature of the statement is there is a God who is able to do such a thing, but by your atheism beliefs you claim there isn't a God at all. 

After seeing the reactions to some of the employees at the company I work for, its easy to see why it's going the direction it is. They've gotten away from the basic roots of the country, based rich in Judeao-Christian principles and welcome and embrace anyone with a different background to be able to flaunt their "diversity" to the community. 

While I'm all for diversity (I jokingly say my church is 49.5% white, 49.5% black, and then there's Josh, tell me that's not some diversity to a group of Bible believing people all to gather every weekend), there is one thing that ranks a step above diversity when it's job related.......... QUALIFICATION FOR THE JOB. I don't care if the whole company is nothing but green haired, yellow eyed, purple people, so long as they're the highest qualified people for the job that applied. I would feel more confidant about all companies if I knew they hired based on qualifications over having a very minute section of the population represented. 

Who's to blame.......

Over the past couple of days I've seen stories on how Glen Beck is the driving force behind a person's drive to end up killing 3 police officers based on the belief the Government (to be read Obama) is out to get his guns. 

While it's no secret Obama is very anti-guns, and could quite possibly enact more gun restrictions/regulations/laws in the next 4 years. I don't believe he's out to get my guns, but I do feel the restrictions that will be placed on them will make the purpose for owning certain guns no longer valid. 

What people fail to remember, it's not the law abiding citizens that are the one's to worry about, as they're the one's who'll actually abide by any new laws the Obama administration would create. It's the criminals that wouldn't be following the laws, owning guns otherwise deemed illegal, and willing to use their gun(s) as a first choice, instead of a last resort.

I can't count the number of people I know who own guns, and have never had to use it in an aggressive manner against another person. The reason for that. They know other methods of working with people than through brute force with a weapon. Those people to my knowledge have only drawn their gun either while in training classes or while on the shooting ranges. 

If you know, walking into a place, you're the only one with a gun you'll have way more confidence when you demand they fill that bag with all their money and valuables, since all you'll have to do is show your gun, and all it goes into your bag. But if you don't know who has a gun and who doesn't, you might not be so bold in your asking of their money out of the fear they might have a gun as well, or worse yet, a bigger, more powerful gun than you. That's why major gun restrictions are a bad thing, it allows the criminals to know off the bat they have the difference maker, even if they just have a little 5 shot revolver because they'll know their adversary will be unarmed. 

I think if people understood the reasons for owning a gun, instead of just saying "oh guns kill people" I think more people would be willing to allow more free gun ownership in this country, which at one time was a right people cared about, not tried to take away. (see Amendment 2 to the United States Constitution) 

What has this world come to?

I'm sure there are others who have experienced this, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I've seen in movies about "the good ole days" when it was common for the town to all go to one of the churches on Sunday, and nothing would open until all the services were finished. Or even in the Simpsons, everyone in town goes to Reverend Lovejoy's church. So how is it that today, say, 50 years later, you mention to someone about going to church with them, they either ho-hum around saying no, or they literally run away? 

How has this country gotten so far away from it's founding that Sunday is just as busy as any of the other 6 days a week for business, a day for pre-game football shows, and sleeping in. I even know someone who every week attends a Catholic Mass (I don't think we should hold that against her though), and yet wants to remove God from everything but her Sunday morning mass (almost called it a service, whoops, Catholics have Mass lol). If you attend church every week, send your child to a private Catholic school, why wouldn't you want God to play a more impactful role in your everyday life? 

Now I understand the atheists I work with being all scardy-cat like cause they don't believe God exists, yet, but these are current church goers that are getting all bent outta shape. 

It's weird, weekly church goer, believes in the Bible, yet, is okay with abortion, yet, "Thou shall not kill." is plainly written in the Bible which they claim to believe. And I know sometimes people screw up and they make a mistake, but oops, I didn't know this abortion would kill someone just doesn't fly with me too well. 

But why would someone literally run from God? Could it be they're not willing to make the drive? Could it be they know someone weird in a church already? Or is it they're not willing to face up to the fact there's someone who's more capable, more powerful, more forgiving, and more loving than they are?

I don't know, why do you run?

You make how much????

One of my pet peeves that I've recently realized is how some people can absolutely hate our country's setup for Government, and yet they're idea of a perfect utopian society involves a Government that has failed very quickly in every other country it's existed in.

I've been getting told recently that Communism is the only true government that works, on a basis of, it provides everything to the citizens. Okay, while it may do that, it also doesn't report how much all the people working in that country made on a whole, in fact it shorts that number so the actual amount paid isn't as much, but not to mention, the health care and education in those countries sucked, majorly.

Personally, I love our country and I love everything about it. I love the fact our country has evolved enough to elect a black president (contrary to what I thought before the election, I personally had McCain winning it based on the fact I didn't think there would be enough americans that could honestly vote for a black man). I love the fact our country allows you to write and publish and speak anything you wish, as long as it doesn't slander or libel anyone or their character. I love the ability to own a gun if I so desire to defend my home. I love having my due process in a court of law, and my ability to "plead the 5th". 

What I don't like is someone who's sole idea of a better government is one that provides everything to you. I can remember a time when people would say, "Hey, everyone, come quick! Look at what I did!" Now all anyone wants to say is "Hey, Government official, come quick! I need this, and that! Now gimme!" Why can't I bust my butt at work, make my agreed upon salary, spend my money judiciously, and be able to say, "See that new truck? Yep, that's mine, and get this, I paid CASH for it!" That's one of my major goals in life is to buy a fairly expensive vehicle with all cash. And just because I can. I don't want to be told that because I work this kind of job and I would normally make this much money I'm only eligible to get these cars.  

I also don't like the idea of free college either. I know plenty of people that busted their butts working and saving and going to school, all to get a better job later on in life. Why should the next generation be allowed to float their way through years of college when some of us were lucky to make it through 4 years of high school, much less college. Kids today coast through high school too much as it is, give them the ability to get free college too, and my word, imagine all the slackers in the world after that. America's idea of what's suitable for children has vastly changed since my days in school. Maybe we need to have the teachers be able to use a ruler to smack the hands of the disruptive kids in the class. I'm sure that'll fix some of the kids, and keep the unnecessary disruptions to a minimum. The kids in the class isn't the whole problem either, what about the required classes to graduate deal, and the curriculum these kids have to go through. Some of them are all ready learning about how Obama is america's greatest president (c'mon it's been like a couple of months). So needless to say, some of our kids are getting shafted in their education. If the government has full control of the education system as in a true communist country, then there'd be no private schools and therefore no alternative to what the government wants you to learn (scared much). 

Now how many of us were told growing up, if you study hard and graduate college you'll increase your chances to make more money in life? Probably most of us, I know I was, and I did, I'm just waiting on that whole "more money" to come around. If the government has control of everything, then they subsequently have control over how much you make regardless of how much schooling you have. So in theory, a high school drop out could make more than a person with a masters or doctorate doing the same job even!!!! Another reason why I like America, here we get paid for the job we have and the job we do. Sometimes it's more the job we have than the job we do, but that doesn't negate our ability to make more. It just means that company pays a salary based off title, and not performance. Are there professions that should probably make more money, of course. Are there professions that make too much (cough A-Rod cough), yeah, but that's the beauty of this country; where else can someone sign a contract worth almost a billion dollars to play a game?? Only in america. 

I personally am going to look forward to the day when I can say, yes I have a 6 or 7 figure income because I do a 6 or 7 figure job. I think this country needs either a good swift kick in the pants or some of the strongest smelling salts known to man to finally wake this place up and get it on course to take responsibility for what we've done as individuals and as a group.

More later, I'm sure

About my raise...

lol, Yes that's the running joke where I work cause 4 of the past 5 years there haven't been any raises (granted I've only been there for 2 possible raises and I'm 1 and 1 lol). 

But in all seriousness, when did salaries get so bloated? There was a period of time when people would bust their butts to get $10/hr. Now I understand prices of everything have increased over time, and therefore incomes have had to increase and that little thing called inflation, But I mean for real, c'mon people, 30 years ago gas was less than a dollar a gallon. In September/October 2008 gas peaked at $4.00/gallon, some places were at almost 5 a gallon. 

Now I understand some increase over the last 30 years, but really, I don't think incomes have increased that much. Believe me I wish they would have. I mean how long did it take for them to increase the minimum wage to $6.55 nationally, about half the states (27 of 50) have state regulations that are higher than the federal $6.55 and only 5 states have no minimum wage regulation, and 6 states are still lower (but law mandates employees get the higher of the two wages). In 1979 the minimum wage was raised to $2.90, so by my math (granted I'm a conservative and a college graduate so my numbers might be a little bit off from yours) that's a 2.25 times increase in the minimum wage compared with a 6.25 times increase in the gas prices. Now granted I know gas prices have since come down from that astronomical high but still, they should have never gotten that high in the first place. So incomes over the same 30 year period were increased at 1/3 the rate overall. 

Why is it that everything we need to pay for, be it electric bill, gas bill, water bill, etc all increases significantly before our wages are increased at all. (do you feel it coming yet? I do, but then again I'm the writer of this aren't I?) Earlier today a bill was passed that will effectively increase our electric bill by as much as 40%, when it's all ready tough enough to pay the bills every month, they go and do something like this. Now I'm sure we'll go on struggling along, tightening our collective belts at home, and begging for any and all the overtime we can physically work to help make the ends meet, and it'll be 2 years or more before the ability to receive a raise is given due to the company's financials. I know the company needs more money, so does everyone, but no one's paying more. Maybe if our pay was based on effectiveness and efficiency then people would notice a significant difference in their pay that is directly representational of the effort they put forth, and how much they care about their job. Hey, wait a minute, that sounds like having a personal responsibility for your job. Wow 3 references in 4 posts (3 for 3 if you don't include that horrific news update I had to post to vent a little bit), maybe I'm on to something there. 

Either way, companies are saying they're not making enough money, so they're charging more for their services, and employees aren't being paid anymore and they're having to pay more for objects and services they need because they companies aren't making enough to stay afloat. At what point will someone grab the bull by the horns and say "ENOUGH ALREADY, we can't keep doing this." It's funny, we all love a good shopping spree, especially when it's on the store's dime; or if you buy items for your company, the companies credit card; but when it's your credit card, you think 2 or 3 times before you finally let the cashier swipe your card. It's never fun making that large 4 or 5 figure purchase (unless you're filthy rich, in which case please e-mail me and let me know what intrigues you enough to read my posts), however sometimes it's mandatory. 

I'm sure there's more I just can't get it organized at the present time, got too much stuff on my mind that's getting me all confuzzled. More later I'm sure.

It's amazing

As I was watching Hannity this evening, I saw a "breaking news" report. Now I'm thinking, what could possibly be happening this late at night, then I go, oh this must be a recorded show they forgot to take this out of. Now I only wish that was the case.

A 5 year old girl was DECAPITATED AT HER BIRTHDAY PARTY BY HER 23 YEAR OLD BROTHER. Another sister who is 17 was also stabbed by this "thing" (I can't really call him a person, cause my word who does that to their sister). It was the 9 year old sister's call that got police there to end the situation. 

Here's that story: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,511340,00.html

The next situation was just as stupid. A man in his 40's goes into an old-folks home and starts shooting people in there, even residents in wheelchairs aged 72-92 according to the report, killing 8, 7 residents and a nurse. 

Nursing home story: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,511330,00.html

Yeah, I got nothing after that

But how do I.....

No I'm not going to ask for help or assistance from my readers, at least not yet. I wouldn't want to infringe on our friendship so soon after meeting all of you. However I'm sure that's how a lot of questions are begun when speaking to your supervisor, right? You're inquiring about how they, the person who ultimately gives you a positive or negative review every period (mine is "yearly"), and in most cases single-handedly responsible for your ultimate raises or firing, want you do perform a certain task. 

I'm sure every supervisor would love to have a staff of employees that get to work on time, do their job effectively and efficiently (see previous post regarding personal responsibility, take note this is the second reference to that post in as many entries). Unfortunately, I doubt any supervisor has a staff like that. However if an employee has a question about how the supervisor would like their job performed, you would think that question would be readily answered. Now I can hear the questions pouring in all ready, "but what about the employee that 'just doesn't get it'?" I understand there are people like that, you can even buy them a clue, and gift wrap it with big silver bow, give it to them and say, I just thought you'd like this, and they'll still "just not get it". However I believe these people are only 1 per office at the most (I would like to think). Hopefully, if you're reading this, you don't fall into that category, instead you fit the group that seems every time they need to talk to their supervisor, regardless the reason, there always seems to be someone else in there discussing what little Johnny did last night or how cute your new family puppy is. Now while personally I don't have a problem with having a working relationship with a supervisor, there is a line that needs to be kept. While at work, work comes first, personal stuff second unless you're at lunch, on break, or it's not during 'on the clock' hours. I'm not saying no personal time at all while at work, because if you go off the absolute, I'm guilty of doing personal things, texts, e-mail, etc. but I don't let it negatively effect my work output. And my personal things I do at work don't hinder other's ability to do their job either. In fact, I'm willing to bet most of my co-workers couldn't tell you how often or how much I text at work, because, well they just don't care cause they don't notice it effecting my work or theirs (mainly theirs though). 

In my opinion (which I'm entitled to by the way in case anyone was going to be certain to tell me otherwise), if you let your personal activities negatively effect your work performance, you're stupid because you know it'll get you fired. But when you effect someone else's job performance, that's a line that just shouldn't be crossed, cause now you're making me look incompetent. For the past little while I've been needing to inform my supervisor of my current progress on a project and the possibility of meeting a deadline on it. Sure enough, every time I think about it, I look over and either there's someone in there, chit-chatting away or they're not there. *shakes head in disbelief* I'm sure at least one of you out there in cyber-land can sympathize and know exactly of what I speak. 

In case any of you are wondering, yes I finally got a hold of my supervisor, and we discussed everything that needs to be done (all on the same date nonetheless), and my supervisor inquired what I need to do to complete a certain task as they were under the impression all I had to do anymore was click a button and the new system would take care of everything. Now I wished I had been told of such a button as that would have taken a load off my mind as I was dreading that task all week cause I know it's a bear to deal with, especially with all the information that gets accumulated in a month. I told my supervisor I knew management was discussing the possibility of this "button" working, maybe, but I hadn't been told it was going to work at all, and was under the assumption I should just keep doing everything as it has been done before to ensure the data is available.

I'm not one to bash or criticize management all the time, but management does need to communicate with their employees to ensure they're fully informed of all current proceedings, especially with so many companies "downsizing" or "consolidating" due to the economy. I'm one of these employees you just don't worry about. I come in, I know what I have to do that day, and I do it, then I leave. No one bothers me, no one questions my job, or my ability to do my job. But when time from my days are taken due to training on how to send an e-mail (not a joke, I spent 3 hours learning how to e-mail, paid by the company and people wonder why the company doesn't have money), and the systems locking up, that ultimately backs my work up, because that's time out of my day I can't work on my job. I expect to be able to meet with my supervisor in a timely manner and and give him a heads-up, that hey, due to these circumstances I may not meet this deadline for these projects; what priority do you want me to have? Sounds reasonable right? Yeah, but apparently little Johnny's t-ball game still gets preference to my job performance. 

Okay, so what's the purpose of this "rant" you're asking, right? Well, either that or you think I'm just another disgruntled employee. I'll let you know, I wouldn't use the word "disgruntled", I'd say, "stunned." Why stunned you ask? Stunned this can go on, stunned a supervisor would allow such a vast waste of their and another employee's time. And finally stunned that a supervisor wouldn't notice someone he doesn't have much interaction with is walking by a lot and peeking around the corner to see if they're busy or not, and not making a point to see what's up. 

Yeah, that's my post for tonight.

I must have missed this memo

Okay so I must be a little late in getting this, but when did we become a society of "help me or else"? Never in my life have I ever seen so many people adopt this mindset with regards to others around them. It actually scares me more than anything else because who's to say I won't agree with the crazy standing in front of me saying "help my cause or else" and when I kindly reject he pulls out a Glock and potentially try to end my life for not helping his cause. (for the record this isn't an anti-guns, anti-second amendment post just fyi) I realize that's an extreme example, however with the direction people have turned in this world, it wouldn't surprise me in the least.

There's a company in my hometown that had a possible funding on the November 2008 ballot, it ended up failing by only a few votes so no additional funding. So in retaliation, the company is now cutting back the services it provides while shaking their finger and the citizens saying, you should have passed it (inside note there was a separate vote for the city proper citizens and county citizens, city passed it overwhelmingly, county was the Nov 2008 vote). The most amazing part of it, the employees of the company are saying, once the voters see what a difference we make in the community, they'll vote it in next time around. So they're counting on the citizens who are about to be burned when the company makes its cutbacks to come back in larger numbers when it comes time to decide as a city if they want to support giving them more money. The kicker on the cutbacks this company is doing is they're cutting services that are used regularly so as to make the impact of the cutbacks further felt instead of trying to do as the rest of America is currently doing and cinching our belts and "sucking it in" trying to make sure ends meet at the end of the month. So in other words, the bridge needs repairs, so instead of both of us doing them, one side does what they can, and only part of the other side comes out, when they see only part of the other side came to help, they burn the bridge down, then come back saying, hey if you really want that bridge back just get us this funding and we'll rebuild the whole bridge. (if you followed that I'm sure you're in the minority but congratulations you're officially inside my head, hold on tight and enjoy the ride lol) Call me crazy but I'd rather keep a bridge that needs some work but still functions just adjust the rules or requirements for using the bridge so those that need it still have it available. But no, they decided to just take it out, I mean no sense in it being there if it's not able to be used at full capacity right? (makes confused look). 

Now I realize for some it sounds like some coded message, and if that's the case for you, I apologize however, I do want to keep some anonymity with those involved and I hope you understand. 

Maybe it's just me and maybe I'm just tired of playing these games with people because they didn't support my idea, so now I must get them back, or they're not the same style as me so we have to go get them before they get us. I remember back in middle school we had a program called RAPP which was Resolving All Problems Peacefully, and it was designed to get people who had differences (usually some kind of physical conflict) to talk it out and explain to the other why they disliked this aspect of the other person and what made them react so crazily. Where's the RAPP for America at? Where do those who oppose what's going on go to get to express why they feel so strongly against it. Where's the forum for the taxpayers, who helped out A.I.G. when they were "too big to allow to fail",  to express their disapproval of A.I.G. receiving all that bonus money and I know people who have worked for years and not gotten a bonus, nor have there been raises at one particular company 4 of the last 5 years. But not only that, where's the forum for people to ask, why or how is a company able to become "too big to allow to fail"? I say if a company gets as big as A.I.G. did and fails, there's a very logical reason for it: someone in the company was not working to their full 100% efficiency. (see yesterday's blog entry) Just as your home every few years needs to be checked for efficiency, so do companies. If your windows are allowing too much air through the window sill, guess what, time for new windows that will probably end up saving you on your heating and cooling bills because of their increased efficiency. Wait a minute, you mean something with a higher efficiency rating can save me money?? Same with your car; at optimum efficiency your car can get 25 miles per gallon of gas, but in reality with stop and go traffic and sitting at stop lights, and just "real use" you only got 22.5 miles per gallon when you first got it. But now that car is 7 years old and if you are given a running 60 mph start you'll get 20 miles per gallon on the highway, normal conditions you're getting anywhere between 15-18 miles per gallon. What's changed? The efficiency of the parts inside. Imagine if everyone at your company worked at even just 90% efficiency what a difference that'd make to most companies. 

Well that's my rant for tonight, more tomorrow I'm sure.

What ever happened to.....

Now I realize that some of you are going to come here thinking I'm going to talk about long lost TV shows, bands, or even media personalities. But no, not today and not here (at least not currently). What ever happened to personal responsibility. 

Why is it that people now-a-days feel no sense of responsibility for their actions? Go have random sex with people and end up pregnant or get someone pregnant, and abortion or deny deny deny, and you're off the hook (unless Maury proves, "You are the father"). Live a decadent life of excess (food, alcohol, drugs, etc) and there's surgeries, and by-passes, therapy, and the ever popular, my parents didn't love me enough when I was growing up. And that's just the most popular excuses that you hear of all the time. 

Now I'll admit, I'm guilty of taking in some excesses of food, and one of my fav's good old fashioned American Coca-Cola, and nothing is better washed down by a Coke than a nice fat juicy BBQed hamburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, mustard and the occasional mayo as well, but c'mon people, lets use our head a little bit here. 

When your boss or supervisor says your shift starts at 8, that doesn't mean 8:15 or 8:10 or even 8:01, it means 8:00. If you come in at 7:59, great you have a minute to breathe before starting, but if you do a job that's 8am-5pm that doesn't mean 8:35am-4:55pm (factor in an hour for lunch).  It's called having a responsibility to your job and meeting it, for yourself.

Now on to the big fish. I think by now we understand that Obama The Magnificent (or does he go by The Great now I keep on forgetting, next he'll be a symbol and known as the politician formerly known as Obama) inherited a deficit, but does that give him a pass to spend at free will. When the money gets tight at home, you're not going out for steak every night, or even lobster. You're probably going to be shopping at discount stores and staying in every night. Which is what we as a country need to be doing currently, becoming penny-pinching, stretching every dollar as far as it'll go (as if it were made on silly putty). It's rather irritating to see the massive spending being proposed under this administration. Yes all of this can be placed back to my overall theme "Personal Responsibility." 

If this administration what's to be successful, they need to focus on being the best they can be, and calling on everyone to work at 100%, 100% of the time. If I as an employee work at 40%, 100% of the time, it's noticeable; and the company's overall bottom lines will suffer and I will be fired promptly without a second thought because my employer will bring in someone who will A) be grateful for a job and B) work their butt off to meet all the goals and deadlines so as to not be fired.  Again, personal responsibility to perform to the best of your ability, all of the time.  I understand sometimes you might be "under the weather" (personally I'm dealing with some harsh seasonal allergies right now) so I am sympathetic and can understand a slacking in output due to that, but to operate at 90% normally and to allow something like a "bug" to knock you down to 60% production, that's unacceptable, broken bone probably, a slight bug, no way.  Again, Personal Responsibility.

Health is a topic that hits home a little hard for me.  Being someone who's dealt with food and seasonal allergies all my life, my mom having back problems as long as I can remember, and my dad passing in 2007 from a heart attack; personal health is something that is not to be taken lightly. Aside from my personal experiences, my job has me "working" with those who need regular medical attention. Personally, I've spent the better part of 2 and a half years working with preventative medicine to keep my health in the best shape possible to prevent future medical bills from necessary procedures due to a lack of responsibility now. Oooh a tie-in. Yes I know you're thinking, "wait you said you like having a fat burger with a coke earlier", why yes I did, but I don't have them for lunch and dinner everyday. In fact, I'm currently in the process of correcting a less than ideal diet I've had over the past few years and begun a workout regimen to improve my overall health. So as everyone can blatantly see here, yes even I have things to work on in my life, and I am currently taking steps to improve my health, because I intend to live to a ripe old age, but the only way I can is if I have personal responsibility to my health now. 

Even the Bible says in Proverbs 16:3 "Commit your works to the Lord". Now any Bible believing person would not under any circumstances give less than 100% of one's ability to the Lord. If there's one entity that I would definitely give a full effort towards, it'd be the Lord. Does that mean only the Lord's work get 100%, nope it says commit YOUR works, so whatever you put your hands to should only be done at 100% performance, as if you were going to turn it in to God himself. Kinda scary to think about isn't it?

More to come..... trust me