Today, I picked up copies of three books by Ernest Hemingway at the Recycled Book Store on the square in Denton. I got The Old Man and the Sea, To Have and To Have Not, and A Farewell to Arms. I am ashamed to say that I have never read Hemingway. I have read alot of classic literature, to be sure, but nothing by him. I am somewhat familiar with his work through reading literary critiques and essays about him.
I was told, by a writing instructor that I took a class from a few years ago, that my writing style was like his. I took this a serious compliment.
I will read these books and see for myself.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
"Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream"
Last year, I read a book entitled "Nickeled and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich. If you haven't read it, it is the story of her experimental attempt at living on minimum wage jobs. The different chapters or sections deal with the different jobs that she tried to live on, such as working for Merry Maids or Walmart. I found the book very depressing in the picture of hopelessness that it painted for uneducated people. I almost took the entire story as a piece of liberal propoganda to get decision makers to funnel more taxpayer dollars to the "poor".
This link is an article about a man named Adam Shepard who left home with the clothes on his back, a gym bag, and $25. His goal was to have an apartment, a car, and $2500 in the bank by the end of the first year. Although he was a college graduate, he hid this fact from prospective employers. The upshot is that, by the time he ended the experiment after only 10 months (he had to leave due to a serious illness in his family). When he went home, he had an apartment, a pickup truck, and $5000 dollars in the bank.
The title on the blog entry is the title of Shepard's book about his adventure. I will get a copy of the book. I find this message very uplifting. There are many people out there who may not do well in college, but they are highly motivated to care for themselves and not sponge off of the American taxpayers or charitable organizations. Of course, there are those who are happy to let someone else pick up the tab. There are also those who cannot, either through physical disability, mental disability, or old age, take care of themselves in this manner. Those people need help.
I want to thank my son for passing this information to me.
This link is an article about a man named Adam Shepard who left home with the clothes on his back, a gym bag, and $25. His goal was to have an apartment, a car, and $2500 in the bank by the end of the first year. Although he was a college graduate, he hid this fact from prospective employers. The upshot is that, by the time he ended the experiment after only 10 months (he had to leave due to a serious illness in his family). When he went home, he had an apartment, a pickup truck, and $5000 dollars in the bank.
The title on the blog entry is the title of Shepard's book about his adventure. I will get a copy of the book. I find this message very uplifting. There are many people out there who may not do well in college, but they are highly motivated to care for themselves and not sponge off of the American taxpayers or charitable organizations. Of course, there are those who are happy to let someone else pick up the tab. There are also those who cannot, either through physical disability, mental disability, or old age, take care of themselves in this manner. Those people need help.
I want to thank my son for passing this information to me.
Monday, February 11, 2008
This is a Hill-Billy
This is so stupid that it's hillarious...or should I say "Hillaryous"?
Thanks to one of my readers for emailing this to me.
It's all in good fun.
Monday, January 28, 2008
The State of the Union Address for 2008
I just finished listening the President's State of the Union address for 2008. It was a clear speech that spelled out specific bullet points. If you were paying attention to the TV coverage, you got a very good idea of who are the friends of you, the American people, and who are your enemies. By enemies, I mean people who would sacrifice the good of the majority of the people for the benefit of a small group or to forward their own interests.I am specifically referring to the part of the speech where the President was discussing the Economic Stimulus Plan designed to put money back in our pockets. When he discussed the need to put the economy in the hands of the consumer, he first talked about the tax rebate that he is trying to pass for immediate relief. Next, he moved into imploring Congress not to let taxes increase and to work to leave the money of the American consumer in their own pockets. On each point, the Republicans stood and cheered about the thought of taxes not being increased or even being reduced eventually. However the Democrats tried as hard as they could to sit and not applaud. I told my wife, "Do you see the ones sitting down when he talks about letting us keep our money? They are the ones that want more of your money. They want a bigger piece of your paycheck."
I couldn't believe the brazenness of the ones showing so dramatically how strongly and passionately they wanted to increase taxes and take more of our money.
Another point was where the President was demanding a reduction in earmark and entitlement spending. Again, the tax-happy democrats sat like statues while the Republicans stood and cheered at the prospect of less spending in favor of small groups to leave more for the common good and protection of America.
Finally, I wonder of the hypocrisy of Nancy Pelosi has any bounds. If so, there was no evidence of such boundaries in sight. I watched her smile and shake the President's hand as I listened the liberal CBS commentators quote her comments such as "poor baby, even his own party has abandoned him" regarding the President. I want to leave you with a fact that illustrates the motivation and hypocrisy of that woman. Recently, Congress voted to increase the minimum wage for workers. The increase was effective for all workers except the fish cannery workers in American Samoa. You know the brands: Starkist and Chicken of the Sea. Both of those companies are subsidiaries of Del Monte, which is based in San Fransisco. San Francisco is in Speaker Pelosi's district. She used her clout to save a company in her district from the increased production expense of a higher minimum wage. Apparently, she is in favor of deciding what employers should pay workers unless it affects her wealthy constituents.
CBS had some guy who claimed to be some kind of historian to comment on the Address and President Bush's legacy. I had to get up and leave because the guy was such a buffoon and clearly so biased against President Bush, that he could not fairly evaluate the Address.
It is difficult to assess his legacy of the future. The best thing he did for our country, to my thinking, is to protect us from further attacks and to do the best he could to strengthen our nation's defenses. He did a great deal to mend the damage done by the Slick Willy's administration. We have people working now to stop further attacks and to keep the Taliban and Al Quaeda on the run.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Denton County Commissioner, Precinct 1
Commissioner White's people just came to the front door of my house. The guy had to walk by a couple of Hugh Coleman for Commissioner signs to get to my door. I hope the guy possessed sufficient awareness to know that Coleman is running against Cynthia White. He asked me if I was aware of Commissioner White's accomplishments. I told him that I knew Commissioner White.
The brochure he handed me is kind of interesting. The majority of information as to her qualifications have to do with her being a personal trainer, a singer in a garage band, and that she writes columns. The last column of hers that I read had to do with her battle with breast cancer. Anyone doing battle with that horrible disease has my respect and prayers for strength and healing.
However, being a personal trainer, garage band singer, and cancer patient hardly qualifies one to lead or even manage a government the size of Denton County's.
Hugh Coleman is an attorney who has actually worked to advise Denton County department heads, including the Sheriff, and representing the interests of Denton County in state and federal court.
Let us not forget the futile expense that Judge Horn and Commissioner White have given the taxpayers in their Quixotic quest to continue losing litigation against Tarrant County over the boundary dispute. We lost! Let's move on. We can move on by electing a new commissioner in precinct 1.
My problem with her and Judge Horn are the fact that they consistently are willing to sacrifice the well-being of county employees in order to squeeze funds into their pet projects. In my opinion, most of those projects are not as important as taking care of the people who do the work for the county government.
Hugh Coleman is a former county employee who has, like me, felt the sting of being overlooked by the holders of the county purse strings. I think he understands the priorities of good county government.
The brochure he handed me is kind of interesting. The majority of information as to her qualifications have to do with her being a personal trainer, a singer in a garage band, and that she writes columns. The last column of hers that I read had to do with her battle with breast cancer. Anyone doing battle with that horrible disease has my respect and prayers for strength and healing.
However, being a personal trainer, garage band singer, and cancer patient hardly qualifies one to lead or even manage a government the size of Denton County's.
Hugh Coleman is an attorney who has actually worked to advise Denton County department heads, including the Sheriff, and representing the interests of Denton County in state and federal court.
Let us not forget the futile expense that Judge Horn and Commissioner White have given the taxpayers in their Quixotic quest to continue losing litigation against Tarrant County over the boundary dispute. We lost! Let's move on. We can move on by electing a new commissioner in precinct 1.
My problem with her and Judge Horn are the fact that they consistently are willing to sacrifice the well-being of county employees in order to squeeze funds into their pet projects. In my opinion, most of those projects are not as important as taking care of the people who do the work for the county government.
Hugh Coleman is a former county employee who has, like me, felt the sting of being overlooked by the holders of the county purse strings. I think he understands the priorities of good county government.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Sharapova Wins Aussie Open
It is over. Sharapova wins 7-5, 5-3.
Excellent game by two hard hitters.
I really thought Ivanovich had Sharapova on the ropes in the first set. She had break point and ended up losing the game on a missed drop shot. After that Sharapove regained control and took care of business.
Great tennis is fun to watch.
Excellent game by two hard hitters.
I really thought Ivanovich had Sharapova on the ropes in the first set. She had break point and ended up losing the game on a missed drop shot. After that Sharapove regained control and took care of business.
Great tennis is fun to watch.
Australian Open Women's Championship Match
Ana Ivanovich
Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovich are playing for the Australian Open Championship right now on ESPN2. I will stay with it as long as I can. I am a tennis fan, but the current guys are kind of boring. Federer always wins. Agassi finally retired. Roddick is a big baby. This match is very good. Two really, really good players going at each other. I used to play this game alot before I hurt my knees. I miss it.
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