A NOTE OF APPRECIATION

I read that the federal deficit is $482 billion dollars. As a footnote to that story, one will find
that the Iraq-Afghanistan war cost is not included. Add at least 150 billion. Note also that he housing bailout is to cost ( conservatively ) 300 billion. This begins to sound like a real deficit
of almost 1 TRILLION bucks.

Our wonderful congress continues adding additional and expensive programs. For example:
World wide aid for aids ; billions ( but very little for heart disease and cancer ). Thank you, congress. We thank you for all the porky earmarks which accompany each legislative bill. Thanks again , congress, for being so generous with our and our grandchildren's money. We also admire your generous offer to bail out the real estate borrowers and lenders. How great for you to be taking a one month vacation while not doing anything about the energy crisis. Lastly, our appreciation for the unfunded expenses forced onto our evil corporations. They seem to be making obscene profits, a situation which can easily be corrected by more taxes and regulations.

Anf finally, my thanks go also to the President for using his veto power so sparingly and allowing the congressional garbage to become law.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Mother nature can be cruel. Think of the poor farmers here in south Texas. The cotton and sorghum crops had barely survived for a month without a drop of rain. Harvest time came
accompanied by 5 or more inches of rain. Adios crops for this year. So guess what.
The price of food and clothing will go up. Surprise , Surprise .

Back to congress bashing. It seems they are about to take off for their summer vacation. Almost nothing good was accomplished but they did pass some lousy stuff, mostly new spending ideas. Gasoline price still hovers about $4.00 a gallon.
I do blame our Democrats for blocking any useful legislation but they had help from the Republicans. Isn't it too bad that we don't have term limitations on some of the old, professional politicians. Three of four terms in the house and one or two in the senate should be enough. Somehow, 95% of the incumbents seem to get re-elected no matter how lousy they are.

There are moments when being a parent can be nerve wracking. One of the worst times is when the children get their first car. Off they go, fresh out of driver training with their new license, fearless, daring, and completely inexperienced.
Most of them survive and some even become good drivers but it takes time and usually a few accidents for this to happen.

Isn't it too bad that our US auto companies are in such trouble. They finally have started making excellent and attractive vehicles, equal in quality to all other auto companies. Now they are losing their shirts due to excessive labor concessions from way back when they were more prosperous. They have the product right but may very well go bankrupt

Drill Now

Hannity is pushing a petition called "drill now". I accesed it by asking simply for
drill now petition. It was really simple. He has about 1 million so far and I added my vote.
You can do the same. It takes about no time at all. If you think this is a good idea, please add
your 2 cents. What do you think of the idea ?

BOGGLE

U can C that eye have fried my brain. Eye have bin playing two
much boggle and am righting like this all the thyme.

Yew knead knot respond 2 this hear note. Eye no their is knot
much 2 say.

Paid programming on TV

Although I have never bought things advertised on the paid programs I admit some of the items look interesting. " Not sold in stores" is a red flag. That might translate into " If you see this trash in stores, you won't buy it ".
While rummaging among out stuff we came up with a mango cutter. Where it came from I cannot tell. Some well meaning relative, friend or other admirer, knowing our love of the mango may have sent it to us . I don't believe this item was ever sold in stores. It does seem to be well made. "Only $19.95. Act now and we will send you not one but two at no additional cost".
It just doesn't work. It mostly squashed the mango and had great difficulty penetrating the skin. My suggestion: Beware of the paid TV programs.

THINGS ARE'NT LOOKING SO GOOD

Today's stock market may be a harbinger of things to come.(Dow down about 400 points)
Crude up about $10.00 a barrel. This is ominous.

It begins to seem that there is not enough crude being produced to supply the demand. Even a slight shortfall can ( and will )cause wild speculation and ever increasing prices.

The air transport business is about to be ruined. The price of flying must go up and few of us will be able to afford to fly. Gasoline and diesel are likely to go through the roof. Think like $8.oo or $10.00 a gallon (pretty soon). The auto industry will take a terrible blow. Our wonderful Boeing Co. will have trouble selling aircraft. Prices of food and goods will skyrocket as the dollar sinks even further in value.

In short - The US and maybe the world will sink into a terrible depression and I cannot see how we or they will ever recover.

Blame? Lets put lots of it on our congress.Their inaction over the last 10 or 15 years is unbelievable. Right now oil is the problem. The solution stares us in the face. You and I know what should have been done. Now it may be too late.