Hi Everyone:
I know that I have written about politicians a lot, but it is what they do that makes my blood boil. New York State is still in a financial mess. The bottom line is this: not enough money coming in compared with how much money is going out. It doesn't matter whether a Republican or a Democrat is Governor because the crazy spending of both parties is about the same.
For the fiscal year 2010-2011 NYS will probably be in the hole somewhere around 7-9 billion dollars. This country is still in the great recession as far as I am concerned and obviously so is NYS. So what did the NYS Governor do? He submitted his budget of 134 billion dollars. What is asinine is that his budget includes an increase in spending by some 700 million dollars. WHAT??? During a recession, a state that is hurting financially should not and should never increase spending. To try to offset the huge budget deficit, Governor Paterson wants to increase taxes and fees again, just like last year. When your citizens are hurting financially, you just can not keep increasing taxes and fees each year. Where does it all end? When we are all broke? A solution(s) must be found ASAP!
In the past, Governor's have always approved a lot of one shot-in-the-arm money infusions. All of that has now caught up with the state. If Governor Paterson or any of the other elected officials had an ounce of common sense they would see that the solution is right in front of their noses. Through all the years that were supposedly good, the size of NYS's government has grown and grown and grown. Again that happened with both Republicans and Democrats in the Governor's mansion. The first step towards stemming the tide of this financial mess is to decrease the size of government. It just doesn't make any sense to keep the same level of state employees during times of decifits. It is high time for layoffs. I know that people will think that during a recession, more layoffs will only hurt the economy even more. Well, NYS can no longer afford to have so many employees, period. The elected officials must rethink everything including how many employees must be laid off to help make the state solvent.
The increasing of taxes and fees must stop immediately or there will be no more residents. Why don't the elected officials see what needs and has to be done? The answer is simple, they want to be re-elected and that is it. I have said it before, if the elected officials can't get their fiscal house in order then it is time to boot them out the door. For once, politics as usual must end and fiscal responsibility must take over with a healthy dose of common sense.
Til next week.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Haiti and RL and PR
Hi Everyone,
The earthquake that occurred this past week in Haiti has been the worst calamity that could have happened to this terribly poor nation. I believe that Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Haiti already had a weak government and not enough money to help its own citizens by itself; but this earthquake has left the country in almost total devastation. It is refreshing to see so many people, companies, not-for-profit organizations and the Red Cross etc. from around the world, but especially from this country, donate money and their time to actually go to Haiti to help. I am sure it will be years if not a decade or longer for Haiti to fully recover. But for Americans to help out monetarily during this great recession is amazing and uplifting.
What wasn't so amazing to me, during this past week were the comments made by 2 public figures who you would think would know better, but wait.................probably don't! The first comment was made by Pat Robertson. He said that the earthquake in Haiti was the result of a "pact with the devil". You've got to be kidding me! Even if PR really believes that statement, I don't think that it was an appropriate thing to say. If what PR said was absolutely true and everyone believed him, it would then appear to mean that no one should help the victims, because they brought this on themselves. God was just punishing them for making the pact. What complete BS! It is obvious that PR has no common sense. Using common sense could help him avoid saying such stupid things. But I don't think that will happen until he sees the light.
The second comment was made by Rush Limbaugh. Actually he made two. In his infinite wisdom, RL said that the Obama administration would benefit politically from the disaster in Haiti because they would "use this to burnish their credibility with the black community in both light skinned and dark skinned black communities in this country. It's made to order for them."
Again, WHAT???!!! Why is everything political with this guy? Not only is this a political comment but it is also a racist comment, in my book. Why did RL bring race into an effort to help people in desperate need? This has nothing to do with race. But he doesn't see it that way. He wants the present administration to fail and will say and probably do anything to try to accomplish that. Haiti is so devastated that there is no politics involved by this administration, but rather a humanitarian effort on a herculean level from human beings trying to help human beings ASAP. I am not sure why RL has to say such stupid things, but he continues to do it and probably will continue.
Even though RL brought politics and racism into the relief effort, it is his second comment that may actually hurt the relief effort. RL, obviously in a club of his own, said that "Americans should not donate to Haitian relief because, we've already donated to Haiti.....it's called the U.S. Income Tax." Congratulations RL. Probably because of your stupid and idiotic comment, I am sure there are lots of your "followers" who will not donate any money. I hope that makes him sleep better at night, knowing that there are tens of thousands of victims who are in desperate need of; food, water, medical care and housing and now there will be less money, then if those "followers" had donated.
People who have jobs that allow them to speak to the general public should use that pulpit wisely and not to abuse it, which is what I interpret their comments to be. I have a friend who thinks "RL is one of the smartest people in the world." I try to keep an open mind about things, but if smart people make such stupid comments again and again and again, it makes me wonder.................how smart can they really be? I previously wrote about RL on my 4/5/09 blog. It is apparent that nothing has changed with him.
Shame on both PR and RL for their totally insensitive, incorrect and outrageously stupid comments. Smart people learn from their mistakes, so as to not repeat them. But these two clowns will never learn. I think that they should learn some common sense to help them think twice before they speak once.
Common sense rules and stupidity drools!
Til next week.
The earthquake that occurred this past week in Haiti has been the worst calamity that could have happened to this terribly poor nation. I believe that Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Haiti already had a weak government and not enough money to help its own citizens by itself; but this earthquake has left the country in almost total devastation. It is refreshing to see so many people, companies, not-for-profit organizations and the Red Cross etc. from around the world, but especially from this country, donate money and their time to actually go to Haiti to help. I am sure it will be years if not a decade or longer for Haiti to fully recover. But for Americans to help out monetarily during this great recession is amazing and uplifting.
What wasn't so amazing to me, during this past week were the comments made by 2 public figures who you would think would know better, but wait.................probably don't! The first comment was made by Pat Robertson. He said that the earthquake in Haiti was the result of a "pact with the devil". You've got to be kidding me! Even if PR really believes that statement, I don't think that it was an appropriate thing to say. If what PR said was absolutely true and everyone believed him, it would then appear to mean that no one should help the victims, because they brought this on themselves. God was just punishing them for making the pact. What complete BS! It is obvious that PR has no common sense. Using common sense could help him avoid saying such stupid things. But I don't think that will happen until he sees the light.
The second comment was made by Rush Limbaugh. Actually he made two. In his infinite wisdom, RL said that the Obama administration would benefit politically from the disaster in Haiti because they would "use this to burnish their credibility with the black community in both light skinned and dark skinned black communities in this country. It's made to order for them."
Again, WHAT???!!! Why is everything political with this guy? Not only is this a political comment but it is also a racist comment, in my book. Why did RL bring race into an effort to help people in desperate need? This has nothing to do with race. But he doesn't see it that way. He wants the present administration to fail and will say and probably do anything to try to accomplish that. Haiti is so devastated that there is no politics involved by this administration, but rather a humanitarian effort on a herculean level from human beings trying to help human beings ASAP. I am not sure why RL has to say such stupid things, but he continues to do it and probably will continue.
Even though RL brought politics and racism into the relief effort, it is his second comment that may actually hurt the relief effort. RL, obviously in a club of his own, said that "Americans should not donate to Haitian relief because, we've already donated to Haiti.....it's called the U.S. Income Tax." Congratulations RL. Probably because of your stupid and idiotic comment, I am sure there are lots of your "followers" who will not donate any money. I hope that makes him sleep better at night, knowing that there are tens of thousands of victims who are in desperate need of; food, water, medical care and housing and now there will be less money, then if those "followers" had donated.
People who have jobs that allow them to speak to the general public should use that pulpit wisely and not to abuse it, which is what I interpret their comments to be. I have a friend who thinks "RL is one of the smartest people in the world." I try to keep an open mind about things, but if smart people make such stupid comments again and again and again, it makes me wonder.................how smart can they really be? I previously wrote about RL on my 4/5/09 blog. It is apparent that nothing has changed with him.
Shame on both PR and RL for their totally insensitive, incorrect and outrageously stupid comments. Smart people learn from their mistakes, so as to not repeat them. But these two clowns will never learn. I think that they should learn some common sense to help them think twice before they speak once.
Common sense rules and stupidity drools!
Til next week.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Hi Everyone:
Today's blog is bit off the beaten path for me. Today I just need to vent my frustration on the meteorologists, (weather forecasters).
Last month, 12/19/09 to be exact, we were warned about a huge storm, that had crossed the country and was going to hit us. Where we live, we were suppose to get between 12-16" of snow. Now to be fair, the meteorologists did say that if the storm veers to the east, we may not get as much snow. Well we got about 3-4". I guess the storm veered east. Even though we did not get a lot of snow, there were a lot of places that really got socked.
This morning, while watching a Sunday news program, the meteorologists said that, where we live, we should expect occasional snow flurries. That was at about 8:00 am. Then right on cue, the snow flurries started. Within 30 minutes, the flurries started to accumulate. Then it snowed and snowed and snowed and snowed and then it snowed some more. By 5:00 pm we so far have about 6" of snow. But guess what? It hasn't stopped snowing yet. The snow is coming down a lot lighter but damn it, it is still snowing. What the ....? For a predicted occasional snow flurry, it certainly has become a full day snow storm with occasional white out conditions with the wind giving a helping hand.
Now I can fully understand that the unpredictable mother nature moved our first so called big (at least for us) storm, to the east and not hitting us hard. That makes sense, because they could see it coming on their Doppler weather systems. They watched the storm travel across the country for days and they had two paths that the storm could take in our area. Obviously, path B worked to our advantage. Mother nature was rightfully blamed for the weakness of the storm that left us with minor snow. So my question about today's forecasted occasional flurries is this... did they turn off their Doppler systems today for repairs or to save electricity, or were they asleep or what? I mean, how could they have missed not seeing this storm, which is now about 9 hours old. Isn't it big enough to see? lol!
I have always said that the perfect job would be a weather person. Why? Because it doesn't matter if you are wrong. You can always blame it on mother nature and your boss will believe you. The weather person just has to look good for TV or sound good for radio. lol
Til next week.
Today's blog is bit off the beaten path for me. Today I just need to vent my frustration on the meteorologists, (weather forecasters).
Last month, 12/19/09 to be exact, we were warned about a huge storm, that had crossed the country and was going to hit us. Where we live, we were suppose to get between 12-16" of snow. Now to be fair, the meteorologists did say that if the storm veers to the east, we may not get as much snow. Well we got about 3-4". I guess the storm veered east. Even though we did not get a lot of snow, there were a lot of places that really got socked.
This morning, while watching a Sunday news program, the meteorologists said that, where we live, we should expect occasional snow flurries. That was at about 8:00 am. Then right on cue, the snow flurries started. Within 30 minutes, the flurries started to accumulate. Then it snowed and snowed and snowed and snowed and then it snowed some more. By 5:00 pm we so far have about 6" of snow. But guess what? It hasn't stopped snowing yet. The snow is coming down a lot lighter but damn it, it is still snowing. What the ....? For a predicted occasional snow flurry, it certainly has become a full day snow storm with occasional white out conditions with the wind giving a helping hand.
Now I can fully understand that the unpredictable mother nature moved our first so called big (at least for us) storm, to the east and not hitting us hard. That makes sense, because they could see it coming on their Doppler weather systems. They watched the storm travel across the country for days and they had two paths that the storm could take in our area. Obviously, path B worked to our advantage. Mother nature was rightfully blamed for the weakness of the storm that left us with minor snow. So my question about today's forecasted occasional flurries is this... did they turn off their Doppler systems today for repairs or to save electricity, or were they asleep or what? I mean, how could they have missed not seeing this storm, which is now about 9 hours old. Isn't it big enough to see? lol!
I have always said that the perfect job would be a weather person. Why? Because it doesn't matter if you are wrong. You can always blame it on mother nature and your boss will believe you. The weather person just has to look good for TV or sound good for radio. lol
Til next week.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Spitefulness and a Lack of Common Sense
Hi Everyone:
I'm pretty sure that most of this country has heard about the 5 year old case of David Goldman and his son Shawn. I will give a brief history of this long and convoluted story:
In 2004, David's then wife took their 4 year old to Brazil for a 2 week vacation. Instead of returning to their home in Tinton Falls, New Jersey she remained in Brazil and divorced David. She then married a very powerful Brazilian attorney and got pregnant. Unfortunately, she died during child birth. During this entire time David's attorney was unable to win the return of Shawn to his father. It wasn't until about 12 -16 months ago that David was first allowed to visit with his son (in Brazil) with court approved supervision present. David was able to win a number of legal proceedings but the step dad's powerful legal team always figured out a way to keep Shawn in Brazil. And keep him they did. The step dad and the maternal grandparents managed to keep Shawn in Brazil for an incredible 5 years.
What is even more incredible is the fact that the Brazilian family's defense (in the recent court proceedings) was that it would be harmful to remove Shawn from his present environment. They stated that he had now been with them for 5 years and the step dad is now his family where he should remain. David never gave up and finally won this week, when a Brazilian Supreme Court Justice ruled that Shawn had to be returned to his father within 48 hours. The court then gave the step dad 2 options of how to meet at the court: either come in through the more secured back entrance or enter through the front door. The step dad opted for the front door entrance and paraded Shawn through all the photographers and news people. It was a sad site to watch. David and Shawn then were reunited and were almost immediately motorcaded, with 2 police escorts, to the airport where a private jet, rented by NBC news, flew them back to Florida, where I believe they are still.
What an incredible story to say the least. Why it took 5 years to finally have the definitive court ruling that the son should (rightfully) be returned to his biological father and to not remain with his step dad, who is obviously no blood relation, boggles the mind. As I mentioned before, the step dad is a high powered attorney, most likely with high powered attorney/judge friends who helped him try to do the unthinkable. That is to get full custody of his stepson. The step dad knew how to work the Brazilian system and to prolong any decision. To me, it is obvious that the step dad was acting out of spite alone. He had no right to get full custody of Shawn. If the decision from the Supreme court had gone the other way, that would have been tantamount to legalizing child abduction. That would have been an absurd decision.
It is also painfully obvious to me that the step dad and the maternal family had not used any common sense at all in trying to resolve the issue. I know that heartstrings were being pulled (from both sides) but, I think that the maternal family also did not want to lose a part of the daughter that they lost. But the biological father had to win this without a doubt. Not only was the decision the correct legal decision, but it was also the correct common sense decision.
Til next week.
I'm pretty sure that most of this country has heard about the 5 year old case of David Goldman and his son Shawn. I will give a brief history of this long and convoluted story:
In 2004, David's then wife took their 4 year old to Brazil for a 2 week vacation. Instead of returning to their home in Tinton Falls, New Jersey she remained in Brazil and divorced David. She then married a very powerful Brazilian attorney and got pregnant. Unfortunately, she died during child birth. During this entire time David's attorney was unable to win the return of Shawn to his father. It wasn't until about 12 -16 months ago that David was first allowed to visit with his son (in Brazil) with court approved supervision present. David was able to win a number of legal proceedings but the step dad's powerful legal team always figured out a way to keep Shawn in Brazil. And keep him they did. The step dad and the maternal grandparents managed to keep Shawn in Brazil for an incredible 5 years.
What is even more incredible is the fact that the Brazilian family's defense (in the recent court proceedings) was that it would be harmful to remove Shawn from his present environment. They stated that he had now been with them for 5 years and the step dad is now his family where he should remain. David never gave up and finally won this week, when a Brazilian Supreme Court Justice ruled that Shawn had to be returned to his father within 48 hours. The court then gave the step dad 2 options of how to meet at the court: either come in through the more secured back entrance or enter through the front door. The step dad opted for the front door entrance and paraded Shawn through all the photographers and news people. It was a sad site to watch. David and Shawn then were reunited and were almost immediately motorcaded, with 2 police escorts, to the airport where a private jet, rented by NBC news, flew them back to Florida, where I believe they are still.
What an incredible story to say the least. Why it took 5 years to finally have the definitive court ruling that the son should (rightfully) be returned to his biological father and to not remain with his step dad, who is obviously no blood relation, boggles the mind. As I mentioned before, the step dad is a high powered attorney, most likely with high powered attorney/judge friends who helped him try to do the unthinkable. That is to get full custody of his stepson. The step dad knew how to work the Brazilian system and to prolong any decision. To me, it is obvious that the step dad was acting out of spite alone. He had no right to get full custody of Shawn. If the decision from the Supreme court had gone the other way, that would have been tantamount to legalizing child abduction. That would have been an absurd decision.
It is also painfully obvious to me that the step dad and the maternal family had not used any common sense at all in trying to resolve the issue. I know that heartstrings were being pulled (from both sides) but, I think that the maternal family also did not want to lose a part of the daughter that they lost. But the biological father had to win this without a doubt. Not only was the decision the correct legal decision, but it was also the correct common sense decision.
Til next week.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Stupidity or Lack of Common Sense or a Lack of Morality
Hi Everyone:
The past few weeks has been an unbelievable eye opener for most of the world. It just goes to show you that even a world class athlete,who just won the athlete of the decade award, can do really stupid things without thinking of the consequences. Of course I am talking about the now infamous Tiger Woods.
I am not even sure if Tiger ever thought there would be any consequences. Supposedly, to date, 14 women have come forward to say they had a sexual relationship with him while he was married. I am also not sure if the 14 women are telling the truth. But, if there are 14 who have come forward so far, could there be more? Are there more? What really irritates me about Tiger's indiscretions (his own words), who has been married for 5 years to a beautiful woman who bore his 2 children, is that 1) he had sexual relations with women while married, 2) he thought because of his wealth and fame he could do it, 3) he thought he would be able to keep it a secret and get away with it and finally 4) according to some of the women, he didn't even use any protection. He has now most likely ruined his marriage but more importantly, he may have put his wife at risk for any number of std's. What was Tiger thinking? Obviously, he wasn't.
Was this stupidity on Tiger's part? Absolutely! Was it that he lacks morality? Absolutely! Was it that he has a lack of common sense? Again, absolutely. But, if you really think about it, if Tiger had an ounce of common sense, he would have never gotten himself into this situation in the first place. Common sense would have dictated to him that any extramarital affair was wrong and he shouldn't do it. But do it he did again and again and again etc. I have read that he even paid some of the women $5,000 to $10,000 per month to keep quiet. That certainly didn't work.
Of course extramarital affairs happen in "regular peoples" marriages but when it occurs to the rich and famous it makes front page news and then the story takes on a life of its own. How Tiger thought that he could have these affairs with not one but multiple women and that the secret would be kept is astounding to me. Obviously he is a great golfer and no one can take that away from him. But, this sorted tale(s) will always have people thinking differently about him and that will never end. What a legacy to leave. I do feel sorry his wife Elin and his 2 children for they did nothing wrong and they will now have to live with the problems Tiger imposed on them.
Common sense rules and stupidity drools.
Til next week.
The past few weeks has been an unbelievable eye opener for most of the world. It just goes to show you that even a world class athlete,who just won the athlete of the decade award, can do really stupid things without thinking of the consequences. Of course I am talking about the now infamous Tiger Woods.
I am not even sure if Tiger ever thought there would be any consequences. Supposedly, to date, 14 women have come forward to say they had a sexual relationship with him while he was married. I am also not sure if the 14 women are telling the truth. But, if there are 14 who have come forward so far, could there be more? Are there more? What really irritates me about Tiger's indiscretions (his own words), who has been married for 5 years to a beautiful woman who bore his 2 children, is that 1) he had sexual relations with women while married, 2) he thought because of his wealth and fame he could do it, 3) he thought he would be able to keep it a secret and get away with it and finally 4) according to some of the women, he didn't even use any protection. He has now most likely ruined his marriage but more importantly, he may have put his wife at risk for any number of std's. What was Tiger thinking? Obviously, he wasn't.
Was this stupidity on Tiger's part? Absolutely! Was it that he lacks morality? Absolutely! Was it that he has a lack of common sense? Again, absolutely. But, if you really think about it, if Tiger had an ounce of common sense, he would have never gotten himself into this situation in the first place. Common sense would have dictated to him that any extramarital affair was wrong and he shouldn't do it. But do it he did again and again and again etc. I have read that he even paid some of the women $5,000 to $10,000 per month to keep quiet. That certainly didn't work.
Of course extramarital affairs happen in "regular peoples" marriages but when it occurs to the rich and famous it makes front page news and then the story takes on a life of its own. How Tiger thought that he could have these affairs with not one but multiple women and that the secret would be kept is astounding to me. Obviously he is a great golfer and no one can take that away from him. But, this sorted tale(s) will always have people thinking differently about him and that will never end. What a legacy to leave. I do feel sorry his wife Elin and his 2 children for they did nothing wrong and they will now have to live with the problems Tiger imposed on them.
Common sense rules and stupidity drools.
Til next week.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Are Drivers This Stupid or Just Lack Any Common Sense
Hi Everyone:
Today, my wife and I went out to buy our Christmas tree. For the first time ever, the very first tree we saw we bought. Another first was to set it in the stand inside. Usually there is a delay between purchasing it and setting it up, but not today. Next on our agenda was to go back out to try to finish our Christmas shopping. When we left our house a light rain started. We weren't to concerned since the weather forecast called for temps in the 40's with light rain.
My wife's car has an outside temperature gauge on the dash. I noticed that the temp was fluctuating between 31 and 33 degrees but we continued. We drove on Route 6 west so that we could go to a local mall. We stopped at a store and then continued west towards the mall. As we came to a traffic light that was located on top of a hill traffic stopped about 1/2 mile from the light. We noticed about 7 or 8 cars turning around and headed back towards the direction that we came from. My wife and I looked at each other and decided that the roads were getting icy so we too turned around and headed for home. As we got into a town called Mahopac, traffic was at a standstill. We discussed which road was the best way to get back home. By the best way, I mean the roads with the least amount of hills, which we decided we needed to avoid. After being stopped at the same place for 15 minutes or so, I got out of the car so I could try to see if there were any accidents up ahead. I didn't see any accidents and there were only about 7 cars in front of us. When I got out of the car there was enough ice on the road that I could skate on the road with my sneakers on. The first car, of the seven was stopped in the lane and apparently didn't want to go down a relatively steep hill. We decided to wait it out since the best way home was the direction in which we were heading. As we waited, there were numerous 4 wheel drive/ all wheel drive vehicles that couldn't wait and they drove in the oncoming traffic lane to pass the 8 cars that were waiting for a salt truck in order to continue.
I have owned 2 types of 4wd/awd vehicles. My first being a true 4wd with a posi front and a posi rear end. That means that at any given time when in 4wd, there was power to all 4 wheels simultaneously. My second one was an awd vehicle that had limited slip differentials on the front and rear ends. That means that at any given time there are only two wheels with power, one in the front and one in the rear. What I've learned about both these kinds of vehicles is that you may be able to go forward easier/faster then non 4wd/awd vehicles but they don't stop any easier or quicker. If anything it takes them longer since they are almost always heavier then regular vehicles.
As we watched these 4wd/awd vehicles pass us in the wrong lane, we were wondering what was so important and what their big hurry was since the roads were getting worse. After a total of about 40 minutes a salt truck finally appeared on the opposite side and was trying to salt both sides of the road at the same time. I pulled the car over to the right shoulder to let the salter do a better job on our lane. The cars ahead of us started forward. I turned on the emergency flashers and also started forward. We continued about 3-4 miles at about 10 to 12 miles/hour and then we saw it. A 4wd pick-up truck had gone down a hill at a speed to fast for the conditions of the road and hit a telephone pole dead center on the grille. The pole snapped in half leaving the cross member dangling in the air still attached to the wires. The truck looked totalled to me.
As soon as I saw the accident I wondered why any driver, but especially drivers of heavier 4wd/awd vehicles don't drive at a slower speed when road conditions were as bad as they were at the time. It is apparent that people without common sense are not the best drivers, especially when the weather is bad. As I previously mentioned in one of my earliest blogs, common sense should be taught in high schools or colleges but now I believe that common sense should also be taught to new drivers so that they can become better drivers.
Common sense rules and fast driving in bad weather drools.
Til next week.
Today, my wife and I went out to buy our Christmas tree. For the first time ever, the very first tree we saw we bought. Another first was to set it in the stand inside. Usually there is a delay between purchasing it and setting it up, but not today. Next on our agenda was to go back out to try to finish our Christmas shopping. When we left our house a light rain started. We weren't to concerned since the weather forecast called for temps in the 40's with light rain.
My wife's car has an outside temperature gauge on the dash. I noticed that the temp was fluctuating between 31 and 33 degrees but we continued. We drove on Route 6 west so that we could go to a local mall. We stopped at a store and then continued west towards the mall. As we came to a traffic light that was located on top of a hill traffic stopped about 1/2 mile from the light. We noticed about 7 or 8 cars turning around and headed back towards the direction that we came from. My wife and I looked at each other and decided that the roads were getting icy so we too turned around and headed for home. As we got into a town called Mahopac, traffic was at a standstill. We discussed which road was the best way to get back home. By the best way, I mean the roads with the least amount of hills, which we decided we needed to avoid. After being stopped at the same place for 15 minutes or so, I got out of the car so I could try to see if there were any accidents up ahead. I didn't see any accidents and there were only about 7 cars in front of us. When I got out of the car there was enough ice on the road that I could skate on the road with my sneakers on. The first car, of the seven was stopped in the lane and apparently didn't want to go down a relatively steep hill. We decided to wait it out since the best way home was the direction in which we were heading. As we waited, there were numerous 4 wheel drive/ all wheel drive vehicles that couldn't wait and they drove in the oncoming traffic lane to pass the 8 cars that were waiting for a salt truck in order to continue.
I have owned 2 types of 4wd/awd vehicles. My first being a true 4wd with a posi front and a posi rear end. That means that at any given time when in 4wd, there was power to all 4 wheels simultaneously. My second one was an awd vehicle that had limited slip differentials on the front and rear ends. That means that at any given time there are only two wheels with power, one in the front and one in the rear. What I've learned about both these kinds of vehicles is that you may be able to go forward easier/faster then non 4wd/awd vehicles but they don't stop any easier or quicker. If anything it takes them longer since they are almost always heavier then regular vehicles.
As we watched these 4wd/awd vehicles pass us in the wrong lane, we were wondering what was so important and what their big hurry was since the roads were getting worse. After a total of about 40 minutes a salt truck finally appeared on the opposite side and was trying to salt both sides of the road at the same time. I pulled the car over to the right shoulder to let the salter do a better job on our lane. The cars ahead of us started forward. I turned on the emergency flashers and also started forward. We continued about 3-4 miles at about 10 to 12 miles/hour and then we saw it. A 4wd pick-up truck had gone down a hill at a speed to fast for the conditions of the road and hit a telephone pole dead center on the grille. The pole snapped in half leaving the cross member dangling in the air still attached to the wires. The truck looked totalled to me.
As soon as I saw the accident I wondered why any driver, but especially drivers of heavier 4wd/awd vehicles don't drive at a slower speed when road conditions were as bad as they were at the time. It is apparent that people without common sense are not the best drivers, especially when the weather is bad. As I previously mentioned in one of my earliest blogs, common sense should be taught in high schools or colleges but now I believe that common sense should also be taught to new drivers so that they can become better drivers.
Common sense rules and fast driving in bad weather drools.
Til next week.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Out of Touch With Reality
Hi Everyone:
I might be wrong (most probably not), but aren't we still in a recession? Not just any old recession but the great recession? With unemployment now topping 10% in this country and most companies still reeling from lower consumer spending, this recession has a ways to go before the economy becomes healthy again. I say these things because in and around Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties you wouldn't know that we are still in a recession. Now what am I talking about?
I am totally amazed and extremely bewildered about what some of the towns, villages and cities in the above counties, located in New York state, have submitted for their annual budgets. Some of the budgets for their next fiscal year appear, no make that absolutely are out of touch with reality. I have read reports of property tax increases of up to 18%?! While the majority of people are tightening their belts and spending less due to either the higher costs of almost everything or a lay off in the family which translates into less weekly income; there are a lot of municipalities who are increasing their spending, not decreasing. What the hell!!!!!!!!!!!
When economic times are good, municipalities spend our hard earned money like there is no tomorrow. Local governments grew and grew and grew with no end in sight and the end result were property tax increases that never ended. There were always people who rightfully complained about the tax increases but their voices went unheard when the increases were approved and implemented anyway. Now when economic times are hard, very hard, there are unbelievably, municipalities who are spending money, (again our money), like there is no recession. To them it is damn the torpedoes and full steam ahead no matter what. The elected officials have stated every so called reason under the sun as to why the property taxes need to be increased. What I didn't read was about was their cutting costs or saving money any way they could. They don't like layoffs because it is political suicide. Local governments are out of touch with reality and have been for so long that a lot of people seem to be immune to it and don't speak up in any way including voting out the bums who just don't get it. In my area, I was amazed to see the majority of elected officials re-elected again last month. If they didn't get it prior to the elections, what makes people believe that they get it now. Well it is apparent that those same idiots don't get it and are going down that same path of higher property taxes.
New York state has a long standing problem of forcing its residents out of the state to any place with much lower taxes. I'm sure a lot of you have read about NYS's budget problems which seem to be endless, but the problem really starts at the local level and those elected morons seem to have no conscience to the pain they inflict by raising taxes, both financially and physically. I say physically because there are numerous people who cut back on their medications and food so they are able to pay their taxes and remain in their homes.
As I have stated so many, many times before in my blog, politicians just don't seem to have any common sense what so ever and they don't seem to care. If they weren't voted out of office last month what are we to do? Move out of state I guess!
When will this insanity of higher taxes end? Will politicians ever hear the voices of their constituents? Or will this stupidity continue adinfinitum?
Common Sense rules and higher property taxes drool!
Til next
I might be wrong (most probably not), but aren't we still in a recession? Not just any old recession but the great recession? With unemployment now topping 10% in this country and most companies still reeling from lower consumer spending, this recession has a ways to go before the economy becomes healthy again. I say these things because in and around Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties you wouldn't know that we are still in a recession. Now what am I talking about?
I am totally amazed and extremely bewildered about what some of the towns, villages and cities in the above counties, located in New York state, have submitted for their annual budgets. Some of the budgets for their next fiscal year appear, no make that absolutely are out of touch with reality. I have read reports of property tax increases of up to 18%?! While the majority of people are tightening their belts and spending less due to either the higher costs of almost everything or a lay off in the family which translates into less weekly income; there are a lot of municipalities who are increasing their spending, not decreasing. What the hell!!!!!!!!!!!
When economic times are good, municipalities spend our hard earned money like there is no tomorrow. Local governments grew and grew and grew with no end in sight and the end result were property tax increases that never ended. There were always people who rightfully complained about the tax increases but their voices went unheard when the increases were approved and implemented anyway. Now when economic times are hard, very hard, there are unbelievably, municipalities who are spending money, (again our money), like there is no recession. To them it is damn the torpedoes and full steam ahead no matter what. The elected officials have stated every so called reason under the sun as to why the property taxes need to be increased. What I didn't read was about was their cutting costs or saving money any way they could. They don't like layoffs because it is political suicide. Local governments are out of touch with reality and have been for so long that a lot of people seem to be immune to it and don't speak up in any way including voting out the bums who just don't get it. In my area, I was amazed to see the majority of elected officials re-elected again last month. If they didn't get it prior to the elections, what makes people believe that they get it now. Well it is apparent that those same idiots don't get it and are going down that same path of higher property taxes.
New York state has a long standing problem of forcing its residents out of the state to any place with much lower taxes. I'm sure a lot of you have read about NYS's budget problems which seem to be endless, but the problem really starts at the local level and those elected morons seem to have no conscience to the pain they inflict by raising taxes, both financially and physically. I say physically because there are numerous people who cut back on their medications and food so they are able to pay their taxes and remain in their homes.
As I have stated so many, many times before in my blog, politicians just don't seem to have any common sense what so ever and they don't seem to care. If they weren't voted out of office last month what are we to do? Move out of state I guess!
When will this insanity of higher taxes end? Will politicians ever hear the voices of their constituents? Or will this stupidity continue adinfinitum?
Common Sense rules and higher property taxes drool!
Til next
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