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Something for those in Decatur Co. to think about

I stumbled upon this from someone I know in the area and I think it is very important to the SWGA area.

Think about our farmers, McCain is against farm subsidies,

Want it from the horse's mouth? 

the very thing that keeps our farmers in business today. Take away agriculture in Decatur County and you have a ton of unemployed people, worthless land, etc.

Also, think about the tax breaks that Sen. Obama wants like this:

* 9000 people in Decatur County have earned income
* Let's say 8500 have income less than $250,000 * The average wage is $25,000
* According to Sen. Obama's tax plan, this tax bracket would create almost $900 more in income per person for this average wage
* That's $7,650,000 in extra money that will almost certainly be spent in our community
* Considering the ripple effect multiple, the amount of times that money changes hands in one community, normally around three and you are creating almost $23,000,000 in extra spending in our community
* This is over twice the amount that would be put into the pockets of those who make over $250,000 per year
* This money will be used to buy insurance, dental work, guns, cars, and real estate.

Really, Sen. Obama's tax plan will help rural America, where 98% of people don't make anywhere near $250,000 per year.

Hello foot, meet mouth

Watch CBS Videos Online

Sarah Palin, you are an asset to your party....I mean mine

Having been preoccupied with other things lately I have not been keeping my regular attention to politics as I usually do.  The press got a hold of the fact that Palin charged the state ~$43,000 for 312 nights spent in her own home "charging a per diem allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business."  That should ruffle my feathers, but for some reason this issue hasn't really urked me.  Maybe that is because I've begun to get use to the fact that our leaders don't hang out in Washington as much as we'd like to think.  The difference I guess is that at least Bush didn't bill the tax payers for that time.  I don't think he could though, even if he wanted to, so maybe that is an unfair comparison.  Regardless, it didn't really bother me.  I'm sure I'd be quite upset if I were a resident of Alaska though.

I didn't miss the flub she made to Charles Gibson a few days ago that (to me) made her look inexperienced and green around the ears.  To me, when she realizes her mistake, she starts throwing the political words out left and right and you can just see her backpeddling trying to bring it all together.  I enjoyed how calm and collective Gibson was, but he knew he had gold on his hands by that time and didn't want to ruin it.  Also, notice her posture.  I think it is safe to say she too, knew that she was out of her boundries as for as what she was qualified to speak about.  And I think her bulldog behavior on how to have "all options on the table" should be cause for concern.  McCain is no spring chicken. If elected, she is a heartbeat away from being leader of this nation.  LEADER, not #2, #3, or #4.  All would answer to her.  If you are republican, how can you be ok with this lady being VP?  She reminds me of Dan Qualye by her inexperience, but then again, he was VP.  Now I'm scaring myself again...

Here is a video from SNL last night that pretty much sums up my thoughts on her and her Tina Fey glasses.

EDIT:  The Huffington Post puts it much better here.  Also, they have a second video on National Security Credentials = Energy Independence?!?!

EDIT2:  I just need to watch this whole interview because it seems like she doesn't have a clue about much of anything EXCEPT HOW TO CUT THINGS, what things you ask, who knows, she doesn't, "but we've got to" says Palin.

Ah!!!! the glory that is the RNC

I don't get into the conventions.  It just seems like everyone cheers for things that should be common sense.  And while the president is a role that I respect, I do not put him on the level of deity.  These are people, just like us.  They may have more opportunities in life than others, but they eat and breathe the same air and food (sometimes) that we do.

I think the audience at these things border on lunatics.  I understand that they are supposed to rally the parties, but it just seems so scripted that it is hard to see their excitement for anything more than fanaticism.  I could also be severely jaded...

I watched someone get interviewed that was asked the question, "Why do you support Sarah Palin?"  Her answer?  "Because she believes in America."  I'm sorry, but doesn't cut it for me.

And then I saw the group from Texas (I assume it was Texas because they were all wearing straw cowboy hats) do some chant where they would take their caps off and point them in the air (or towards something) and then put it back on their head.  They repeated this for quite a while.

When I was a kid we'd go to tractor pulls.  They were fun.....AND LOUD!  We'd watch big trucks with big wheels jump 6 cars at a time.  There were multiple events as well.  You'd have locals bring their trucks in and they would hook them to a trailer that had a certain weight on it that as you drove with it attached the weight would move forward making it more difficult for the truck to move.  The drivers had to make it to a certain mark to qualify.  We'd eat nachos and cheese and it was a blast!  What I remember most about those times (oh yes, I went to more than one) was the chants we'd do when we were there.  One side would yell "FORD" and the other side would yell "CHEVY".  I was also about 11 years old.  

I have become quite a fan of Jon Stewart.  His cynicism really comes through in his show and it is something that I relate to.  A lot of times we (or maybe I) feel like the US is going to hell in a hand basket it is nice to be able to laugh about what idiots some of those we've elected truly are.

Settled, now what?

I don't know anyone who reads this who doesn't know what is going on with us.  We got here on August 1 and are getting used to things over here.  We have a new blog that Lisa contributes to as well and can be found here.  

Now where does this leave this blog?  I'm not sure myself.  I'm currently leaning towards my personal interests.  Probably really geeky things that don't interest most, but we'll see.  I'll probably post some about politics and how republicans have it all wrong and Obama is going to turn water into wine.  Who knows, the possibilities are endless!  I may not post at all for 2 years...

Sad

I used to work for the SWGRL or Southwest Georgia Regional Library (for those on the outside).  I can say that while you aren't going to retire a rich man by working there, coming home and feeling like you've made a difference is priceless.  There are many stories (as there usually are when dealing with the public) that I remind myself of from time to time. 

One involves this girl I knew that would come in with her family, or rather her mother and grandmother.  I became friends with all of them, as I did with most people who would come in and not give me attitude or try to steal or perform any other unlawful act.  The family even went so far as to give me a Christmas card during the holiday season.  I think the reason they were so nice to me is that the granddaughter who was (I believe) 15 years old, obviously had a crush on me.  She was a sweet girl too, very straight and to the point.  I could never put my finger on what was wrong with her, but she had some sort of disability.  It wasn't the kind you could see on the surface.  While I can't say she always came in to use the library for what it was there for, she didn't cause trouble and when the three of them would come in, and they usually came together or not at all, she was pleasant to be around.  I will never forget what she told me one day, or rather asked me; "Gene, are you being have?"  That cracks me up to this day and I use that line from time to time, although no one usually gets it and for good reason.

I was stopping by the office in Bainbridge to go to the beach for July 4, and I paused for traffic on Shotwell Street.  While waiting for cars to pass, I happened to look over to my right and noticed 2 people walking on the sidewalk.  It took me a few seconds to realize it was the girl and her grandmother, and I'm sure they were returning from the library.  After it came to me who they were I smiled at her.  She looked back, but with a scowl that needed no explanation of her emotions.  I don't believe she recognized me.  It has been over 3 years since she has seen me or heard from me.  But what saddens me is that the girl (who can't be over 18) is now pregnant.  Here is a girl who doesn't have the capacity to make decisions for herself, and she has become pregnant.  Who will raise this child?  The girl didn't have the capacity to work a job, she has a mental disability, so who does it fall back on?  The mother and grandmother were financially able.  How did this girl put herself in a situation where she could get pregnant?  So many questions...

Milkshake

If you are over the age of.....say 35, you probably won't get this, but maybe you will.  I got a chuckle

Milkshake

Awesome Awesome Awesome

An old band from the 80s called White Lion, I was looking for some artwork and found this video.  I don't know what is more rad, the cliche head whip at the beginning or when he go back to the drum set to grab some flowers to sing a love song.  Oh man this is bad...  Not worth watching more than 30 seconds.  I apologize for the time you will never get back after watching this because I'm sure you'll be mad.

Catch up

What has been up with me lately.

January:  We went to Portland OR and visited/stayed with my old friend Jeremy Russell and his GF Anna.  We had a blast and they were the most excellent of hosts and hostesses.  Jeremy took time off from work to show us around town and sample some of the locally-brewed beers.  We also went snow skiing, which was Lisa's first time and my first time snow boarding.  It was also my last.  I went down 1 slope and was completely wet and possibly had a mild concussion by the time I got to the bottom.  It was a humbling experience to say the least.  Very fun trip, we hope to be back soon... 

02-09-08_1738

April:  We went to NYC.  It was my first time and Lisa wanted to show me what I'd been missing.  Suprisingly I did not feel claustrophobic.  We had dinner at the Carnagie Deli and I had a Reuben that was the size of my plate(awesome).  We went to Times Square, Rocafeller Center, Central Park(saw Spike Lee), went to Ground Zero, went shopping in China Town, took a tour of the city on a double decker bus, went to the Metropolitan Museum, got to see Wicked, which is my most favorite of musicals now. My friend Joe catch the spice train from Boston and came up and stayed with us.  We partied like rock stars in Greenwich Village until about 3am.  We did a tour of bars and I decided to play something from the jukebox.  I chose a song off the first Strokes album and one from the first Peal Jam album (I was feelin old school).  It was playing some song and as soon as I put in my songs it stopped the current song and started playing my song.  Well, I quickly found out that NYC and the Strokes don't mix (at least not at this bar) and I was booed by everyone in the bar.  Lisa and Joe turned around and walked away leaving me to the dogs.  I've uploaded pictures in my Google Web Album (link on top right of this page) and video to Youtube.

IMG_3443

We had a friend of Lisa's from college and her husband and their children come up last weekend.  We took them to the farm to show the animals to their daughter.  I made the fainting goat faint, got stuck and had to run and get the tractor to pull us out, just a typical day at the farm.

I've been really busy with work since February due to a seed program that we are rolling out to about 10 of our company-owned buying points.  I had to drive to SC 2 days after we got back from NYC and I got sick due to the weather changing.  We had a Passover Sader last night which lasted about 5 hours.  They are very relaxing and very reflective.  Today I took the dogs for a 2 hour walk around the greenway.  Now, I plan on finishing this blog, cleaning up around the house, and opening a bottle of red wine as the sun sets.