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