Here's what I'm seeing. Losing $1 Trillion yesterday on the stockmarket for the most part is on paper. In reality the market could swing and people could still recover from that. However, with the $700 Billion bailout, you and I both know that money will be permanently gone from the people. When it gets mixed into the general fund, and parceled out to the Acorn fund, etc., it will NEVER be given back to the Americans. If it is, it will be doled out in tax credits, and the people will never share in that "return" equally.
It's the long load road that government leads us down, invest in your employer's retirement plan, invest in 401 plans, put monies into 529 College Savings plans...and yet when we follow all the advice, we get rewarded with the potential loss of all of it, because someone wasn't minding the store, and stockholder profits became more important that making sound business decisions.
Then somewhere buried in the news yesterday was the story that the government gave General Motors a chunk of money also. Man the corporate greed just doesn't stop. Some corporations that have been pandering to the stockholders greed just need to fail. Exorbitant bonuses "earned" from cooking the books, should make them criminals not government awardees (like it's a prize for screwing up).
Fourtogo - retirement going down the tank - pup will have to eat Old Roy in retirement.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Handbag Planet Launch - Free Handbag GiveAway
I've been invited to join this contest! It’s completely free! Check it out. Here’s what it says:
Handbag Planet is almost here. To celebrate the October 15, 2008 launch, we are giving away a free handbag every hour for 24 hours on the day of the launch. Our high fashion, trendy handbags are inspired by popular designer brands and priced between $30 and $80.
Here’s my personal choice, if I win this contest:
Yup, you can select the handbag you would like to win - just in case. Continue reading ‘Win A Free Handbag!’
Want To Know The Secret To Making Mashed Potatoes Really Quick?
If you do, just look for this product in your frozen food section next to the Ore Ida French Fries and Hash Brown Potatoes. Ore-Ida Steam n' Mash.
Making homemade tasting mashed potatoes is now easier than ever. You just microwave steam the fresh frozen potato chunks in the product bag for 10 minutes, pour out into a bowl, mash with your potato masher, add your favorite mashed potato add in (butter, half and half or cream, salt pepper, sour cream, bacon, cheese, chives). The possibilities are endless.
The Daughter - queen of mashed potatoes, who considered bagged dry mashed potatoes as okay for her - loves the new Steam n" Mash potatoes. There are currently manufacturer coupons available for $1.00 off per bag.
Also available is Ore-Ida New Steam n" Mash Sweet Potatoes.
Thanksgiving Dinner just got easier.
Our Fourtogo Family gives this product * * * * * stars (easy, tasty, economical, flavorful, fast)
Friday, September 26, 2008
Friday Night Debate or Family Feud
Well with the Obama McCain debate being a questionable go for tonight, looks like our fourtogo family faces another night of family feud, Disney channel movies, and bad Chinese food from the drive through place down the street.
I was really wanting to watch the WFF political match up. Boy that John McCain...is he just scared that the younger witted Barack will lull him into saying something. Maybe the debate will lull John to sleep.
I realize it's so close to election day now that neither of the four candidates want to make a misstep, and the debates are going to be so carefully scripted and staged and have so many rules they won't be a real debate anyway, but I think the Americans want to hear from them now - on this day - at this time when our whole country's financial structure is endangered, we see our retirement monies going to the wind, and most of all we see real patriotic people, those who pay their bills, their mortgage payments (even when we're over our head), and work everyday to pay taxes. None of us are going to get a free ride on the bailout express. While people who "bailed" on their mortgage obligations and contributed to this mess get out from under their obligations, and likely won't even get a blip on the credit history from it.
Read my lips (credit Nixon) - the new American Revolution is coming. The grumblings are deep in grassroot efforts right now, but the grass is growing
I was really wanting to watch the WFF political match up. Boy that John McCain...is he just scared that the younger witted Barack will lull him into saying something. Maybe the debate will lull John to sleep.
I realize it's so close to election day now that neither of the four candidates want to make a misstep, and the debates are going to be so carefully scripted and staged and have so many rules they won't be a real debate anyway, but I think the Americans want to hear from them now - on this day - at this time when our whole country's financial structure is endangered, we see our retirement monies going to the wind, and most of all we see real patriotic people, those who pay their bills, their mortgage payments (even when we're over our head), and work everyday to pay taxes. None of us are going to get a free ride on the bailout express. While people who "bailed" on their mortgage obligations and contributed to this mess get out from under their obligations, and likely won't even get a blip on the credit history from it.
Read my lips (credit Nixon) - the new American Revolution is coming. The grumblings are deep in grassroot efforts right now, but the grass is growing
Monday, September 22, 2008
I'm NOT WILLING To Pay My Share This Time!
I (and the American people) should want to know exactly what Pres. Bush said to Congress in that 'private meeting" last week, and why the U.S. was "four days from total financial disaster". What was said that "scared" the Congress so solidly? Could it be perhaps that one (or more) of the countries that hold most of that resold bad debt and bundled mortgage loans (China, Russia, Japan, United Arab Emirates, etc.) was going to call in their loans? Isn't that the goal of these countries to take America down? What better way to do it than to undermine our financial structure.
Since the taxpayers are taking on all the bad debt, don't we have a right to know why was so urgent and what the "four day meltdown" was really about. Maybe we would be more supportive if we really knew what was going on.
Oh wait -- No we don't have a right because Government always does what's best for us taxpayers, and the citizens' teeth have all been ground down so we can't complain.
Since the taxpayers are taking on all the bad debt, don't we have a right to know why was so urgent and what the "four day meltdown" was really about. Maybe we would be more supportive if we really knew what was going on.
Oh wait -- No we don't have a right because Government always does what's best for us taxpayers, and the citizens' teeth have all been ground down so we can't complain.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Our Beach Property Needs a Buyer, Broker, Investor, Speculator
Well here it is the end of summer and our condo at North Myrtle Beach is still for sale. As are many other condos along the Coastal Carolinas. If you are looking for affordable beach property --think to the future. This is absolutely the best time ever to pick up a vacation place right on the beach.
Property values will self correct and your bargain can appreciate $50,000 again to 2007 values in no time at all.
Here's the info on our property.
Our Condo In No. Myrtle Beach, SC
Property values will self correct and your bargain can appreciate $50,000 again to 2007 values in no time at all.
Here's the info on our property.
Our Condo In No. Myrtle Beach, SC
Is For Sale By Owner
Cherry Grove Beach
5709 North Ocean Boulevard, Unit #201
Reduced to only $185,000 (Reduced from 240,000) or Bring Firm Offer
For more information please go to
owners.com, search property I.D. WTJ2055
And MLS ID: 821273
5709 North Ocean Boulevard, Unit #201
Reduced to only $185,000 (Reduced from 240,000) or Bring Firm Offer
For more information please go to
owners.com, search property I.D. WTJ2055
And MLS ID: 821273
Thursday, September 18, 2008
News and Observer Newspaper In Raleigh, NC Gives More Than Daily News
In my Cary News (a once a week subsidiary of News and Observer), I found a DVD titled "Obsession - Radical Muslim's War Against the West". I thought that odd, and my first thought was that the delivery service must have independently inserted it in the package, and that the N&O needed to know. At 8:30 when I got through to someone at the paper, when I explained the purpose of my call, the lady on the other end got very cold and stilted.
She informed me that the N&O had included that DVD in their Saturday papers throughout their regular newspaper distribution, along with an article explaining the DVD. I said I was a little bit surprised, and asked if it was a paid advertising. She said it was. I said I didn't know how the DVD would be accepted in this Bible Belt community and ended my call.
Obsession is a film about the threat of Radical Islam to Western Civilization. Using unique footage from Arab television, it reveals an "insider's view" of the hatred the Radicals are teaching, their incitement of global jihad and their goal of world domination. The film also traces the parallels between the Nazi movement of World War II, the Radicals of today, and the Western world's response to both threats. To learn more about this controversial movie go to www.obsessionthemovie.com
The blog bytes about this movie goes from hating the content, that it incites hatred against all Muslims, thanking the company for bringing this movie to Christians attention. What it really says is the DVD's content incites more fear and hatred against Muslims.
It is reported that this movie distribution at this time was no accident, and possibly politically motivated. Several blogs noted this DVD was distributed in election "Swing" states, and from the printed distribution list on the DVD backer ad, that does seem to be somewhat true. Was someone purposely trying to tie Barack Hussein Obama name with this Radical Muslim name to influence voting outcome in those states? I would not be surprised.
What an odd thing for a mid-sized newspaper to accept paid advertising in. Well the N&O paper is part of the big McClatchy conglomerate who has fallen on hard times, laid off or dismissed thousands of employees and is near buyout and becoming defunct. What a huge surprise they would accept any advertising dollars, even when the distribution of that ad has cost them subscriptions and readership and credibility.
The world does not need one more reason to hate, be suspicious, denounce people, or any more religious strife, or groups trying to incite same through a general population.
Fourtogo - can't we all just get along! Centuries of religious wars and political wars say no way!
She informed me that the N&O had included that DVD in their Saturday papers throughout their regular newspaper distribution, along with an article explaining the DVD. I said I was a little bit surprised, and asked if it was a paid advertising. She said it was. I said I didn't know how the DVD would be accepted in this Bible Belt community and ended my call.
(Excerpt from Dhimmi Watch 9-13-08) "Controversial film on Islam delivered nationwide, by Yonat Shimron for the the Raleigh News & Observer, September 13:
Bundled in home-delivered editions of The News & Observer today is a paid insert featuring a controversial DVD on Islam that has stirred anger nationwide.Anger among who?The documentary, "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West," features scenes of Muslim children being encouraged to become suicide bombers, interspersed with those of Nazi rallies. The two-year-old film was produced by Raphael Shore, a Canadian who lives in Israel, and was directed by Wayne Kopping of South Africa.
When no traditional distributors picked it up, the film was screened on college campuses. This month, it is being distributed in more than 70 newspapers across the nation, including two other McClatchy newspapers, The Charlotte Observer and The Miami Herald.
"There is no greater threat than radical Islam," said Gregory Ross, spokesman for the Clarion Fund, a New-York based nonprofit organization that is paying newspapers to distribute the DVD. "It needs to be pushed to the forefront of the political discussion." (End of Excerpt)
Obsession is a film about the threat of Radical Islam to Western Civilization. Using unique footage from Arab television, it reveals an "insider's view" of the hatred the Radicals are teaching, their incitement of global jihad and their goal of world domination. The film also traces the parallels between the Nazi movement of World War II, the Radicals of today, and the Western world's response to both threats. To learn more about this controversial movie go to www.obsessionthemovie.com
The blog bytes about this movie goes from hating the content, that it incites hatred against all Muslims, thanking the company for bringing this movie to Christians attention. What it really says is the DVD's content incites more fear and hatred against Muslims.
It is reported that this movie distribution at this time was no accident, and possibly politically motivated. Several blogs noted this DVD was distributed in election "Swing" states, and from the printed distribution list on the DVD backer ad, that does seem to be somewhat true. Was someone purposely trying to tie Barack Hussein Obama name with this Radical Muslim name to influence voting outcome in those states? I would not be surprised.
What an odd thing for a mid-sized newspaper to accept paid advertising in. Well the N&O paper is part of the big McClatchy conglomerate who has fallen on hard times, laid off or dismissed thousands of employees and is near buyout and becoming defunct. What a huge surprise they would accept any advertising dollars, even when the distribution of that ad has cost them subscriptions and readership and credibility.
The world does not need one more reason to hate, be suspicious, denounce people, or any more religious strife, or groups trying to incite same through a general population.
Fourtogo - can't we all just get along! Centuries of religious wars and political wars say no way!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Gas Price Gouging Because of Ike
Thanks media outlets for this news story. My question is why did gas stations start raising prices at 40-50 cents a gallon BEFORE Ike even went on land on Sat. Prices in RTP area of NC increased from $3.69 to $3.99 or $4.07 in one afternoon. Pie Pantry convenience stores as well as others were limiting purchases to 10 gallons, and the first raindrop had not even fallen. NC Attorney General Roy Cooper says he has received 1,000 complaints, and will investigate stations for gouging. The nationwide weekend frenzy was so ridiculous.
Maybe there should be a 5-day mandatory federal government imposed waiting period after the hurricane, flood, tornado, snow storm, light showers, flat tire (seems everything is a perceived gas increase opportunity/emergency). During those 5 days, prices could not be increased except as allowed by the government after assessment of the actual need for an increase to be passed on.
Now this might actually be a good Federal Law that makes sense for the people and will prevent gouging at all.
Observation: Why does gas go up in $.10, $.20 and lately $.50 increments, and only goes down in $.01 to .03 cent increments? With the price of a barrel of crude down to $100, gas in the United States should self correct to around $3.00 a gallon. A local Shell gas station on Chatham Street in Cary, NC still showed $4.07 on Sunday afternoon.
Four to Go - Not Going Too Far Until Gas Prices Drop!
Maybe there should be a 5-day mandatory federal government imposed waiting period after the hurricane, flood, tornado, snow storm, light showers, flat tire (seems everything is a perceived gas increase opportunity/emergency). During those 5 days, prices could not be increased except as allowed by the government after assessment of the actual need for an increase to be passed on.
Now this might actually be a good Federal Law that makes sense for the people and will prevent gouging at all.
Observation: Why does gas go up in $.10, $.20 and lately $.50 increments, and only goes down in $.01 to .03 cent increments? With the price of a barrel of crude down to $100, gas in the United States should self correct to around $3.00 a gallon. A local Shell gas station on Chatham Street in Cary, NC still showed $4.07 on Sunday afternoon.
Four to Go - Not Going Too Far Until Gas Prices Drop!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Freckles Update - Frecks Turns 6 Months
The Youngest of the Four To Go ClanFrecks our cocker boy turned 6 months old last week. I can only say he is somewhat calmer than when we brought him home. We'd been to six weeks of Puppy Kindergarten at Town and Country Animal Hospital, and Freck now goes one day a week to Doggie Daycare there so he can "socialize" (smell butts, and chew each other), while getting to romp on the playground equipment and swim in the pond. He comes home totally worn out.
The oldest two members of the Four To Go Clan had another wedding anniversary, which is good if one is keeping an abaccus - the beads are stacking up together really fast.
The Anniversary CoupleAnd, the Daughter turned 10 the last week of August.
Daughter is Big 10!
Daughter is Big 10!It's be an eventful two weeks here at Southern Living. I think we get a two week reprieve before the birthdays start again. Whew!
I hope you all enjoy the photos....Four to Go going lots of places this Sunday Afternoon.
Fourtogo - Peace Out!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Dog Daze of the First of the "ber" Months!
It's the first 'ber" month Septem"ber". My plants in my pots are dying, the trees are turning, the evenings are coming earlier, and at this time of year I'm always ready to get Summer over and out.
I'm bored with the 2008 Election, every blogger and scraper has dug up most of the dirt to be found, and the Obama Lipstick on a Pig remark yesterday and all the media spin doctors talking all day and all night about just that remark put me over the edge. (Now if Obama would have correctly used Sarah Palin's phrase from her acceptance speech, it would have been You Can Put Lipstick on a Soccer Mom - she never said pig). So all this was totally taken out of any context that should have insulted anyone, especially Sarah and John Boy.
These are truly the Dog Daze of Summer. By the last "ber" month, December we will have elected a new President and Vice President, celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas and finished out 2008 and along with it the primaries and elections. I don't love the next 3 "ber" months, but Septem"ber" is a great month to slow down a little, take cooler evening walks, and read a few new books.
Four-to-go Lazin in the Dog Daze!
I'm bored with the 2008 Election, every blogger and scraper has dug up most of the dirt to be found, and the Obama Lipstick on a Pig remark yesterday and all the media spin doctors talking all day and all night about just that remark put me over the edge. (Now if Obama would have correctly used Sarah Palin's phrase from her acceptance speech, it would have been You Can Put Lipstick on a Soccer Mom - she never said pig). So all this was totally taken out of any context that should have insulted anyone, especially Sarah and John Boy.
These are truly the Dog Daze of Summer. By the last "ber" month, December we will have elected a new President and Vice President, celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas and finished out 2008 and along with it the primaries and elections. I don't love the next 3 "ber" months, but Septem"ber" is a great month to slow down a little, take cooler evening walks, and read a few new books.
Four-to-go Lazin in the Dog Daze!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
CNN Special The Candidates Revealed
Late night Saturday night is not usually too interesting, but last night channel surfing proved to be very enlightening. CNN is running a Revealed special featuring both Presidential candidates, which will be following during the week by both Vice Presidential candidates.
I watched McCain Revealed last night at 11:00, which really "revealed" more about the young McCain, the arrogant (not my words), not following the rules (again not my words) fighter pilot, who by his own admission pushed the edge of the envelope more than once before and after his capture by the Vietnamese
His rapid rise within the Republican party is also detailed. It further addressed his first marriage to Carol (which is not often mentioned by the media), his cheating on her when she was no longer the swimsuit model he married, following a horrific accident while he was a POW at the Hanoi Hilton complex. His chance meeting with Cindy McCain, who just happened to be a beautiful, 17-year younger woman, and rich, rich, rich. Again, all this shows he was indeed a maverick, a rule breaker, and a quite handsome, used to getting his way, arrogant man.
Now inspite of a few schools of hard knocks, he's done all right by himself. I'm older, and have met men like this all my life. They seldom change with aging, although some may mellow a tad after the school of hard knocks lessons. I believe he is still used to getting his way, still willing to win a war at all costs (he actually states that in the documentary), and still well connected within his political party (although all do not love him there - again not my words).
The Obama story which followed was much less dramatic, I believe he came from humbler beginnings. He had a step father that was more a role model than his own father. He had grandparents that saw to his educational requirements to succeed as a black/white man.
He's been married to the same woman, loves his girls, went to his own school of hard knocks as a black man. He is not known as a maverick (not a good word to be in my books), and is more physically and mentally fit to be our next president (in a side by side comparison - mine- of him and McCain).
I'll continue to watch this documentary - to see what I can learn about Palin and Biden. Please tune into CNN or go to CNN.com to see when this program will rerun.
Four To Go - The Election Is Going To The Dogs!!!
I watched McCain Revealed last night at 11:00, which really "revealed" more about the young McCain, the arrogant (not my words), not following the rules (again not my words) fighter pilot, who by his own admission pushed the edge of the envelope more than once before and after his capture by the Vietnamese
His rapid rise within the Republican party is also detailed. It further addressed his first marriage to Carol (which is not often mentioned by the media), his cheating on her when she was no longer the swimsuit model he married, following a horrific accident while he was a POW at the Hanoi Hilton complex. His chance meeting with Cindy McCain, who just happened to be a beautiful, 17-year younger woman, and rich, rich, rich. Again, all this shows he was indeed a maverick, a rule breaker, and a quite handsome, used to getting his way, arrogant man.
Now inspite of a few schools of hard knocks, he's done all right by himself. I'm older, and have met men like this all my life. They seldom change with aging, although some may mellow a tad after the school of hard knocks lessons. I believe he is still used to getting his way, still willing to win a war at all costs (he actually states that in the documentary), and still well connected within his political party (although all do not love him there - again not my words).
The Obama story which followed was much less dramatic, I believe he came from humbler beginnings. He had a step father that was more a role model than his own father. He had grandparents that saw to his educational requirements to succeed as a black/white man.
He's been married to the same woman, loves his girls, went to his own school of hard knocks as a black man. He is not known as a maverick (not a good word to be in my books), and is more physically and mentally fit to be our next president (in a side by side comparison - mine- of him and McCain).
I'll continue to watch this documentary - to see what I can learn about Palin and Biden. Please tune into CNN or go to CNN.com to see when this program will rerun.
Four To Go - The Election Is Going To The Dogs!!!
Friday, September 5, 2008
2008 Elections
I'm glad to have survived another primary and convention season. I have watched much of both elections. I've watched the TV and listened to the radio talkheads, and haven't really learned anything new about McCain or Obama. Certainly I learned more that I needed to know about Sarah Palin and her family. I think Sarah is a young, strong, capable, intelligent and confident woman. As a bit of a fashionista myself, I love her business dress and her great hair updo.
I wonder if I would have made the decision to accept the second most powerful job in the U.S. knowing the family challenges our family would have, not to mention the media and social network (blogs) flogging and dragging my children through the media madness. Maybe I would have chosen not to accept to protect my cubs, or maybe like Sarah I would have charged the enemy, knowing another opportunity to serve as Vice President is an offer that may never come along again.
I do think that a shot gun wedding at 17 is a huge mistake for Bristol and Levi. Statistics show a large percent of pregnancy forced weddings fail within 2 years. Lives and dreams get ruined, and more than likely a grandparent ends up fully or partly raising the babies.
I do think a young girl (woman) should be able to make one of those hard choices regarding her own pregnancy. There are many babies that are kept because religious beliefs, or family or friends talk a young woman into keeping a baby, or a woman (girl) thinks that baby will give her love and affection. Sometimes as in the case of Baby Calee in Florida, when the grandmother rather forced the mother to keep that baby, it all ends badly when that child gets in the way of mother's partying and friends.
Elections, news, hurricanes, recession - the stuff that fills our brains, tries our morals, and keeps folks up and night.
Four to go - peace out!
I wonder if I would have made the decision to accept the second most powerful job in the U.S. knowing the family challenges our family would have, not to mention the media and social network (blogs) flogging and dragging my children through the media madness. Maybe I would have chosen not to accept to protect my cubs, or maybe like Sarah I would have charged the enemy, knowing another opportunity to serve as Vice President is an offer that may never come along again.
I do think that a shot gun wedding at 17 is a huge mistake for Bristol and Levi. Statistics show a large percent of pregnancy forced weddings fail within 2 years. Lives and dreams get ruined, and more than likely a grandparent ends up fully or partly raising the babies.
I do think a young girl (woman) should be able to make one of those hard choices regarding her own pregnancy. There are many babies that are kept because religious beliefs, or family or friends talk a young woman into keeping a baby, or a woman (girl) thinks that baby will give her love and affection. Sometimes as in the case of Baby Calee in Florida, when the grandmother rather forced the mother to keep that baby, it all ends badly when that child gets in the way of mother's partying and friends.
Elections, news, hurricanes, recession - the stuff that fills our brains, tries our morals, and keeps folks up and night.
Four to go - peace out!
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