I'm not a fan of reality TV but I was bored earlier this week and happened to stumble across Dancing with the Stars. It was actually fun to watch. I loved that Cloris Leachman was on there and it looked like she was having a blast! She may not be the best dancer but who cares?! She is 82 and she was doing the Salsa! Go Cloris!
Then my sister sent this clip to me. I about wet my pants because I was laughing so hard.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Please explain
Finally posting a picture from the Homecoming parade last week. Here's my niece and her friend (who is also most awesome.) My dad is riding shotgun and smiling like a kid in a candy store. And of course, Jim is driving.
I went to the Homecoming game last Friday night too. We won - by a lot. Enough said. I felt bad for the other team - seriously. But they never really gave up, which was awesome.
And reminds me of the little old man that I see jogging through the neighborhood every morning while I'm sitting here working (or updating my blog.) When I say he's a little old man - I mean it. He's no taller than me, and he's thin, and he doesn't really jog or run, but shuffles along at a really fast pace. I have no idea how old he is - but he's out there every morning. When I see him, I always think *wow! I hope I'm that active when I'm older.* And then I feel guilty for sitting on my butt in front of the computer.
Totally different subject - but can someone enlighten me on this economics question? This past July, gas was $147 per barrel and we paid $3.85 per gallon on July 12. Now, gas has fallen to $86 per barrel and gas prices here are $3.19. Can someone please explain how prices can fall 40% per barrel, but the price at the pump only comes down 17%????? Or maybe someone can explain how the price can jump 30 cents overnight when there is a PREDICTION of a tropical storm in the gulf, but then it takes months for the price to drop back down after the PREDICTED storm does NOT happen.
And seriously - did no one notice that the whole mortgage/financial crisis started coming to a head at about the same time that fuel costs started skyrocketing? I won't go into my whole soapbox theory on this one - but think it through logically and you'll see where I'm coming from. Expenses go up, tight budget, decrease other spending, impacts other businesses/employees, loss of jobs/income, then loss of homes. (in a nutshell) Meanwhile, oil companies continue to post record breaking profits and taxpayers bail out AIG so they can send their executives on a half-million dollar trip to the spa.
Which brings me to the coolest and most creative idea ever. I have no idea where this idea came from because I got it from Jim in an email - but it makes a hell of a lot of sense to me. It was titled:
The Bob Economic Recovery Plan
"Hi All. I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG. Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend. To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S.Citizens 18+. Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.. So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend. Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let's assume a tax rate of 30%. Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam. But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife has $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads.
Put away money for college - it'll be there.
Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car - create jobs.
Invest in the market - capital drives growth.
Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves.
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else.
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( 'vote buy' ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President. If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG - liquidate it. Sell off its parts. Let American General go back to being American General. Sell off the real estate. Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up. Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't. Sure it's a crazy idea that can 'never work.' But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!
How do you spell Economic Boom? I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to
use the $85 Billion We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or
in Washington DC. And remember, The Bob plan only really costs $59.5 Billion
because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam. Ahhh...I feel
so much better getting that off my chest.
Kindest personal regards,
Bob T. J. Birkenmeier
A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic "
I LOVE this plan. Crazy thing is that I believe it would work.
I went to the Homecoming game last Friday night too. We won - by a lot. Enough said. I felt bad for the other team - seriously. But they never really gave up, which was awesome.
And reminds me of the little old man that I see jogging through the neighborhood every morning while I'm sitting here working (or updating my blog.) When I say he's a little old man - I mean it. He's no taller than me, and he's thin, and he doesn't really jog or run, but shuffles along at a really fast pace. I have no idea how old he is - but he's out there every morning. When I see him, I always think *wow! I hope I'm that active when I'm older.* And then I feel guilty for sitting on my butt in front of the computer.
Totally different subject - but can someone enlighten me on this economics question? This past July, gas was $147 per barrel and we paid $3.85 per gallon on July 12. Now, gas has fallen to $86 per barrel and gas prices here are $3.19. Can someone please explain how prices can fall 40% per barrel, but the price at the pump only comes down 17%????? Or maybe someone can explain how the price can jump 30 cents overnight when there is a PREDICTION of a tropical storm in the gulf, but then it takes months for the price to drop back down after the PREDICTED storm does NOT happen.
And seriously - did no one notice that the whole mortgage/financial crisis started coming to a head at about the same time that fuel costs started skyrocketing? I won't go into my whole soapbox theory on this one - but think it through logically and you'll see where I'm coming from. Expenses go up, tight budget, decrease other spending, impacts other businesses/employees, loss of jobs/income, then loss of homes. (in a nutshell) Meanwhile, oil companies continue to post record breaking profits and taxpayers bail out AIG so they can send their executives on a half-million dollar trip to the spa.
Which brings me to the coolest and most creative idea ever. I have no idea where this idea came from because I got it from Jim in an email - but it makes a hell of a lot of sense to me. It was titled:
The Bob Economic Recovery Plan
"Hi All. I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG. Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend. To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S.Citizens 18+. Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.. So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend. Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let's assume a tax rate of 30%. Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam. But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife has $595,000.00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads.
Put away money for college - it'll be there.
Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car - create jobs.
Invest in the market - capital drives growth.
Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves.
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else.
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.
If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( 'vote buy' ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President. If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG - liquidate it. Sell off its parts. Let American General go back to being American General. Sell off the real estate. Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up. Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't. Sure it's a crazy idea that can 'never work.' But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!
How do you spell Economic Boom? I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to
use the $85 Billion We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or
in Washington DC. And remember, The Bob plan only really costs $59.5 Billion
because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam. Ahhh...I feel
so much better getting that off my chest.
Kindest personal regards,
Bob T. J. Birkenmeier
A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic "
I LOVE this plan. Crazy thing is that I believe it would work.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Cool Cars
Went to the Fireball Run thing last night. It was extremely cool. In a nutshell, it's an awareness event for Missing and Exploited Children. Each 'race' team sponsers a missing child and hands out flyers along the way. They traverse the United States, promoting awareness and handing out flyers. The cars they travel in are designed to attract attention and are just plain fun. For example - the "Back to the Future" styled car:
Yes, even the interior was like the car in the movie. It was incredible! Lots of other cool cars and a very unique and fun way to help find missing kids.
The event was held at the Bentley St. Louis dealership and of course, I had to take some photos. My favorite was this new lambo - it's matte black (not shiny) and looks like a Batman car:
I told Caleb it could be his graduation present (if I win the lottery.)
They also had a very sweet Triumph motorcycle:
It was parked next to a Harley. Then there was the really cool Oldsmobile.
And the Ford GT:
And so many other cool cars that I wanted to drive. I kept hearing this little voice in my head all night - it was singing "zoom zoom zoom."
Yes, even the interior was like the car in the movie. It was incredible! Lots of other cool cars and a very unique and fun way to help find missing kids.
The event was held at the Bentley St. Louis dealership and of course, I had to take some photos. My favorite was this new lambo - it's matte black (not shiny) and looks like a Batman car:
I told Caleb it could be his graduation present (if I win the lottery.)
They also had a very sweet Triumph motorcycle:
It was parked next to a Harley. Then there was the really cool Oldsmobile.
And the Ford GT:
And so many other cool cars that I wanted to drive. I kept hearing this little voice in my head all night - it was singing "zoom zoom zoom."
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Visual aids
Adding some photos today - to go with my past two weekends.
Here's mom on her birthday:
And here's Jim and Dad having fun with the dueling tree:
This is the corn maze crew:
Nephew Hayden hiding in the corn:
Going to a car thing tonight called the Fireball Run. The kids should get a kick out of checking out the cool cars and I'll have fun taking pictures. Tomorrow is the Homecoming event and I should have pictures to post on Friday. In the mean time - check out the sticky note experiments that Small Town Mom linked up. I agree with her - I could blow the office budget having fun like that!
Here's mom on her birthday:
And here's Jim and Dad having fun with the dueling tree:
This is the corn maze crew:
Nephew Hayden hiding in the corn:
Going to a car thing tonight called the Fireball Run. The kids should get a kick out of checking out the cool cars and I'll have fun taking pictures. Tomorrow is the Homecoming event and I should have pictures to post on Friday. In the mean time - check out the sticky note experiments that Small Town Mom linked up. I agree with her - I could blow the office budget having fun like that!
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