Happy New Year 2009!

Today is the last day of 2008. This year:

My son got married and joined the Navy.
My daughter got accepted into the University of Illinois.
I reconnected with several of my friends on Myspace and Facebook.
Tom and I enjoyed our vacation to Texas to see our daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.
We went to a NASCAR race in Michigan.
I was proud to hear of my oldest son's involvement in AFRICOM.
I prayed for Haiti everyday.
I turned 50.
I found several ancesters for my family history book.
My grandma (mothers mother) died and went to Heaven.
I didn't change jobs.
My little sister stayed the night at our house.
My other sister bought yet another house.
I planted 4 trees and an English garden on my farm.
I prayed for those who are not as lucky as I am.

Best wishes to you and yours in 2009.

V

McCain winning in Straw Poll

I am a huge CNN fan, but recently I've been so dissapointed in their lop-sided views. If you will look back you will see I've been a Clinton supporter, and then said I was voting for Obama "just because" but I've changed my mind. I am voting for McCain. Todays Staw Poll on AOL confirms there are many others who are tired of hearing Obama talk.
http://news.aol.com/political-machine/straw-poll/

English is not my second language

One of my favorite things to do when I don't feel like working is going to blogspot and just clicking "next blog". There is something about taking my chances when it comes to reading new blogs! Boy oh boy, don't I live dangerously!

While enjoying the "next blog" I began to feel like I lived in this little tiny fish bowl. I of course speak English (well most of the time) and it feels like about 9 out of 10 blogs are in another language.

My first five blogs today. In no specific order of course... because they are the "next blog":

really cool pictures

more really cool pictures

cool designs

some fish pictures

A journal from some guy. Barack "World Obama: Questions

After surfing around the net I began to wonder, just how many people in the world speak English, Dutch, Japanese

Well according to EnglishEnglish.com

Mandarin Chinese (837,000,000)
English (370,000,000)
Spanish (300,000,000)
Bengali (189,000,000)
Hindi/Urdu (182,000,000)
Arabic (174,950,000)
Portuguese (170,000,000)
Russian (170,000,000)
Japanese (125,000,000)
German (98,000,000)
Javanese (79,000,000)
French (75,000,000)

One out of five people can speak English to some level of competence.

They also tell me that: More than 80% of home pages on the Web are in English, while the next greatest, German, has only 4.5% and Japanese 3.1%.

My "next blog" statistics didn't pan out to equal that! Infact in 5 only one was in English!

Makes me wonder about Ebonics? You know, words like
"ama do it" for “I’m going to do it.”

How about "Pennatuckey"? Yes, that's a language. It's a language my friend speaks. He's from Pennsylvania.

An example. "Yea, when my lips get sore I like that stuff... climax."

Umm... you mean carmex?

What ever language you speak it's fun!

I'm free, I'm free, I'm free!

On Tuesday 9/02/08 I got to do something that most middle income workers can't do, I paid off my mortgage! Can you share the excitement with me and think about how much I am going to enjoy not owing anyone any money??? No more thinking about when the house payments are due!

I am so proud!

My house payment has been my greatest monthly cost since I was twenty two years old. I've spent 28 years every month, single, married, divorced, happy, sad, rich(er), poorer, crazy and crying....wondering if I was going to be able to pay my house payment.

Now, because I don't have that monthly mortgage looming over me, I can finally pursue a new career.

I'm going to put that monthly payment in the bank, at least until I can do my homework and figure out where to make more than .7% interest. Wow! Cool! Now my attention can be spent on figuring out how to make money with my money!

Maybe I could retire early? Most likely not. But you will find me smiling because I know I am one of the very few in the world who own their home free and clear!

Well, well, well.... John McCain you did it!

(CNN) -- Sen. John McCain has picked Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, a senior McCain campaign official told CNN on Friday.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, seen in a February photo, will be John McCain's running mate, sources say.

Palin, 44, who's in her first term as governor, is a pioneering figure in Alaska, the first woman and the youngest person to hold the state's top political job.
She catapulted to the post with a strong reputation as a political outsider, forged during her stint in local politics. She was mayor and a council member of the small town of Wasila and was chairman of the state Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which regulates Alaska's oil and gas resources, in 2003 and 2004.
The conservative Palin defeated two so-called political insiders to win the governor's job -- incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski in the GOP primary and former two-term Democratic Gov. Tony Knowles in the 2006 general election.
Palin made her name in part by backing tough ethical standards for politicians. During the first legislative session after her election, her administration passed a state ethics law overhaul.
Palin's term has not been without controversy. A legislative investigation is looking into allegations that Palin fired Alaska's public safety commissioner because he refused to fire the governor's former brother-in-law, a state trooper.
Palin acknowledged that a member of her staff made a call to a trooper in which the staffer suggested he was speaking for the governor.
Candidates 'Revealed'
See who the presidential candidates really are in two back-to-back documentaries. Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 7 p.m. ET

Palin has admitted that the call could be interpreted as pressure to fire state trooper Mike Wooten, who was locked in a child-custody battle with Palin's sister.
"I am truly disappointed and disturbed to learn that a member of this administration contacted the Department of Public Safety regarding Trooper Wooten," Palin said. "At no time did I authorize any member of my staff to do so."
Palin suspended the staffer who made the call.
Palin has focused on energy and natural resources policy during her short stint in office, and she is known for her support of drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, a position opposed by McCain but supported by many grass-roots Republicans.

Her biography on the state governor's Web site says one of the two major pieces of legislation passed during her first legislative session was a competitive process to construct a gas pipeline.
Palin started Alaska's Petroleum Systems Integrity Office, an oversight and maintenance agency for the state's oil and gas equipment, facilities and infrastructure. She created the Climate Change Subcabinet that would forge a climate change strategy, according to the Web site.
At present, Palin chairs the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, a multistate panel "that promotes the conservation and efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting health, safety and the environment," the biography says.
She has been named chair of the National Governors Association's Natural Resources Committee. That panel is focused on legislation to ensure that federal policies take state priorities into account in agriculture, energy, environmental protection and natural resource management.
She is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and takes part in two of Alaska's popular pastimes -- fishing and hunting.
The governor's biography said Palin's other priorities have been "education and workforce development, public health and safety, and transportation and infrastructure development."
The biography touts other achievements during her time as governor -- the investment of $5 billion in state savings, overhaul of educational funding and implementation of a program to help low-income elderly Alaskans.
Born in Idaho, she is a longtime Alaskan and a Protestant. Her biography said she arrived in Alaska in 1964, "when her parents came to teach school in Skagway."
She graduated from Wasila High School in 1982 and received a bachelor of science degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho in 1987.
Her husband is Todd Palin, an oil production operator on Alaska's North Slope. They have five children, including a son who enlisted in the Army last year.
Congressional Quarterly notes Sarah Palin's other past occupations, including commercial fishing company owner, outdoor recreational equipment company owner and sports reporter.
Palin also made an unsuccessful run for lieutenant governor in 2002, Congressional Quarterly said.

Revolt!

Spartacus in Italy, English peasants in England, Peter the Great in Russia, Toussaint L'Ouverture in Haiti, John Brown in the United States and 18 million Hillary supporters.

The words of Victor Hugo resonates with the 18 million supporters.

"Let America know and ponder on this: there is something more frightening than Cain killing Abel, and that is Washington killing Spartacus."

William Greider says, “Symbolism matters, especially if the symbols resonate with the larger message”

There are delegates who still want to cast ballots for Hillary Rodham Clinton during the nominating roll call Wednesday evening, there are people who expect their delegates to cast their ballot for Hillary.

18 million voters are saying:

"These men are all talk. What we need is action - action!"

What happens next? We shall see...

Language Game

Have some fun! See if you can tell where these people are from!

Want to feel like you live in a fish bowl? Give this cute game a try!

Aha well... didn't do so good on that one? Give another continent a try!

Still not so good? Let's get simpler. Come on Americans! You should get this one!

Wow.... aren't doing so well are you??

Here.... much easier.

Well, I bet you feel good about yourself now don't you?

One final game for today. It's the easiest of them all. All you have to do is think.

Now, whether you played any of these games or not... I want you to think...

Is life a game? Is a game play? Or are you playing the game of life?

Life is like a game it requires rules for the guidance of the players and for a method to end disputes thus preventing fights. Games requires intelligent thought and planning and a sound strategy which will help you to win.

Like games or play every move we make today determines the path we will take tomorrow.

Galatians 6:7 Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Good gosh almighty... you are always wondering where I'm going with this stuff aren't you?

Well I wanted to give you some rules for the "Game of Life" There has to be rules and limitations! Because in games we always want to win. For a game to exist, there must be conflict and the possibility of winning or losing, or at least of something of value being at stake. (Isn't that the same definition of WAR?)

In some play/games there are clear goals (get to the end first) and clear rules (without dropping the egg).
-BUT-
In some play/games there are no goals (swinging on a swing) and no rules(go as fast as you want or as slow as you want).

Which game are you playing? The one with goals and rules or the one with no goals and no rules?

Can't have it both ways... or can you?

When you are fighting there are no rules. When there is something of value at stake to win or loose... all bets are off. Don't expect anyone who is fighting to follow the rules.


How are you going to play the game?

Singing Horses

I am sure you are wondering WHY I would blog about singing horses. Click on the picture below and see what you think. This web site has been bookmarked in my favorite folder for years. Everytime I need something to smile about I visit this page. I don't know who the owners are, but they should get some sort of prize for making people smile. Click on the horses with your mouse. Each of them sing a different tune. You can make one sing and the other be quite. It's a HAPPY web site. Enjoy!
V

I'm sorry...

by: v
I am not usually so cynical as my last post. I must have been having one of those hormonal swing days!
Today, I'm just plain emotional. On my way to work this morning I heard that some guy got 5 years in prison for not paying child support.

During my research I found the criminal statutes for non-payment of child support.

In Illinois if a person willfully refuses to provide support for longer than 6 months or arrears greater than $5000 it is a CLASS A MISDEMEANOR with the penalty of 1 YR AND/OR $2,500. IF- (1) 2ND OR MORE CONVICTION;(2) LEAVE STATE TO AVOID PAYMENT & PAYMENT UNPAID FOR 6 MONTHS OR ARREARS $10,000; OR(3) PAYMENT UNPAID FOR A YEAR OR(4) ARREARS $20,000 OR GREATER it is considered a Class 4 felony and you may be penalized for 3 YRS AND/OR $25,000
IL ST CH 750 s. 16/15; 730 s. 5/5-8-1; 730 s. 5/5-8-3;730 s. 5/5-9-1

From Illinois.gov
When signing Senate Bill 19, Ryan created the Non-Support Punishment Act to join efforts by other states and the federal government making non-support of dependents a felony. This law enhances federal and state law enforcement efforts, and puts more "teeth" in Illinois' child support law by establishing criminal penalties, Ryan explained.

In addition, Senate Bill 19 addresses loopholes in current law concerning the suspension of driver's licenses and professional licenses. The court can seek revocation or suspension on driver's licenses, professional licenses, or occupational licenses if the person is convicted of a violation of being more than 60 days behind in support payment. The bill includes additional provisions for prosecution and penalties.

This author wonders if it's a good idea to take a person's job away from them by putting them in jail, or taking their drivers licenses, professional licenses or occupational licenses. Isn't this a little counter productive? Take the persons ability to drive to work or their job away from them and expect them to pay child support?

I just don't know how to solve this problem. I guess it's a good thing I don't have to! I looked at the Illinois Deadbeat Parents page There are pictures of people and how much they owe and where their last payment was.

I found Dead Beat Parents Suck story after story of parents not paying child support.

On the Lake County Deadbeat page there are names with the words "Captured" beside them.

Bruce Walker, executive coordinator at the District Attorney's Council in
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma points out some different categories of deadbeat parents.

Remarried Supporter. A large percentage of deadbeat dads are remarried and are supporting several step-children or biological children from a second marriage.

Men in Poverty. Many deadbeat dads are homeless, and an even greater percentage are poor.

Fathers Helping Mothers

Fathers Paying Child Support

Men with actual custody

Men who can't find their children

Fathers who love their kids, but won't work for them

Child-support resistors

He does a good job pointing out that not all deadbeat parents are just deadbeats.

Stephen Baskerville does an even better job helping to understand deadbeat parents.

Read Child Support Casualt - Oppressed Men Find a Final Solution

I paid child support. Not for very long, but I did pay child support. My oldest had graduated from high school and wanted to go to college. She had been living with her father. I took him to court and asked the judge to have him help her pay for college. Our son who also had been living with him was a couple years younger. My (then husband)had taken me to court and asked for custody of them. Because I was young and dumb and had a rotten attorney, I just said yes to the custody. I didn't have any money to fight and my lawyer didn't tell me I didn't have to say yes, that my ex would have to SHOW good reason to take my children from me. He didn't show any reason, there was no reason. There has never been a reason. But anyway... The lawyer told her father to pay for 1/2 of the semester. He also told me to pay 1/2 of the semester. Additionally, he ordered me to pay child support for my son who was "taken" by his father!

That's fine, my son lives with his father I should pay child support, even if I didn't understand my rights at the time of the custody request. I paid my child support. I also paid 1/2 of the semester. He paid $500. He worked for Commonwealth Edison at the nuclear plant making 4 times as much as I was making. I managed to live on my $7.00 an hour plus pay child support and 1/2 of the fees for a semester.

Fast forward a few years, he was fired from Commonwealth Edison for "unknown" reasons. Divorced the woman he left me for, is now on disability and plays golf on a daily basis.

Maybe if I hadn't paid my child support. I would be on one of those pages and no one would know the circumstances which surrounded my "dead beat" parent actions.

Oh, by the way. The judge who ordered this was made to step down from the bench for "questionable actions" with an inmate.

True story.

As grandma always said, "What comes around goes around."

Help the McMahons, please! (Not)

by: V

Last night there was a storm in northern Illinois and I couldn't sleep. I got up and turned the TV on to CNN. The day before I had seen an advertisement for the Larry King interview with Ed McMahon. The snippet said something about possible foreclosure. I missed that show but had thought about it a couple of times during the day. Wondering just how that could happen and since it was the middle of the night and it was on, I sat down and watched the interview. I thought I would re-write the interview. More accurately than was portrayed on Larry King's CNN show.

During the show McMahon said: There's a lot of people who have problems and I'm hoping that this will help them help themselves. That's what my plan is. Of course I want them all to look at my life and see how I've made millions of dollars and how well I've done saving for my old age. I've hired advisers and they are my saving grace.

His wife Pamela, sat beside McMahon with teary eyes. Oh boo hoo... At one time during the interview she mentioned something like- We've been married for a long time.... and booo hooo... I've never owned a house before I married Ed.... and booo hooo....and people think we have a lot more than we do... and booo hooo.... oh and the listing for our poor little homestead states: "The master suite, with his and hers baths and closets, overlooks the yard and sweeping canyon." Ahh, ahh, I just can't bear to loose our little home.

Oh my and my poor decrepit husband, he's 85-and hasn't been able to work since he broke his neck 18 months ago. Boo... hoo...

I just cant believe we're only $644,000 behind in payments and the mortgage was only $4.8 million dollars... booo...hoo...and I just can't understand how this happened...

McMahon chimes in- the toxic mold in the house has been cured. We got $7.2 million, but we had nine lawyers and they took all of our money. But I want to say, it's not buyer beware. Just because our dog is dead don't worry, the mold is gone. Trust me on that.

But again, I've always spent more money than I've made. I've been a womanizer and thought I could do no wrong. I've been divorced a couple of times and of course the economy played a big role in the foreclosure notices. You can plainly see how we are not at fault for any of this mess.

Pamela follows with: You know, we always like to take care of our friends. We've had a champagne budget and of course we like to wine and dine our friends. Impressing people with false information has always been our modes operands.

This just can't be true. People are saying that it's our own fault. I just don't' believe it. I'm not a gold digger. Ohhh....boooo.... hoooo.... I just can't sleep at night and poor Ed, what will he do if he looses his home?

Well Mr. McMahon and Pamela, this author would like to say - I'll loose sleep tonight over the housing crunch but it won't be because people like you who have lived the high life, who have over extended themselves, who live in a six-bedroom, five-bathroom, 7,000-square-foot house, who believe that you are unaccountable to anyone one, who thinks that the government should help you.

It will be for the mothers and fathers of this country who work every day for minimum wage of $7.50 an hour, who pay their bills on time, don't buy a bigger house than they can afford and who don't drive BMW's, Hummers and have 10 dogs!

Someone, please come to the McMahons rescue. (Not)

Super delegates CAN change their mind

Super delegates CAN change their mind. Just ask Kevin Rodriguez.

The Wall Street Journal reports: “One thing about super delegates is they can change their minds,” Clinton told reporters in the aisle of the plane. “With us in the front of the cabin is a super delegate who went from me to Sen. Obama and now is back with me, in the course of, you know, a matter of weeks.” A campaign spokeswoman later informed the cabin that the super delegate she was referring to is Kevin Rodriguez, a DNC member from the Virgin Islands, who was accompanying her on the flight from San Juan. The campaign had previously announced his support. “I think it’s only now that we're finishing these contests that people are going to actually reflect on who is our stronger candidate. And I believe I am. And I'm going to make that case,” Clinton said.

She sure is - making that case. As I see it...the longer Clinton stays in the race the greater chances she will have for the public to see that she is the stronger candidate. Every night when I turn on the TV, the news is telling us a bit more about the other candidates and much of it is not good. Clinton's life is an open book. She's been in the public eye for years.

This election is not over. As much as I believe there will be more super delegates who change their mind. The logic of having super delegates determine who will be our next candidate is just ludicrous! Let's go with the popular vote. Change this system! It may have worked in the past, but it is not working to well today. Get rid of delegates and super delegates. Count OUR votes!

Da-da-da-da! Someone to the rescue!

The United States will ship 20 million dollars worth of food to Haiti 30,000 tons of rice beans and vegetable oil.

Brazilian government is donating US$ 200,000 worth of food.

Miami-Dade County collects emergency food for the people of Haiti.

Miami 10th Haitian Compas Festival will hold food drive.

Wonderful and hooray for those who are stepping up to the plate, but herein lies the problem:

Twenty years ago Haiti produced 95 percent of the rice that its people consumed; today it imports from the U.S. 80 percent of that product.

Is it possible, MAYBE the United States, Brazil, Miami and all those who are really interested in helping could find a way to purchase the food locally?

A look at that question later...

Today

What is on my mind today? That is what this blog will consider. Any who are interested may contact me at Vickisvision@gmail.com