Show Your Support...

Xerox is sending printed cards of thanks to our troops in Iraq.  No matter how you may feel about this war, supporting our troops should be our #1 priority.

Please take a moment to pick out a card and send it to a soldier serving our country so far away from home. 

http://www.letssaythanks.com

From the Lets say thanks website:

"The mission of Let's Say Thanks is to provide a way for individuals across the country to recognize U.S. troops stationed overseas. By submitting a message through this site you have the opportunity to send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women.

The postcards, depicting patriotic scenes and hometown images, were selected from a pool of entries from children across the country.

All you have to do is click on your favorite design and either select the message that best expresses your sentiment or draft a personal note. The postcards are then printed on the Xerox iGen3^® Digital Production Press and mailed in care packages by military support organization Give2TheTroops^®.

Xerox is committed to helping people across the nation express their gratitude to our troops overseas. The launch of this program is aimed at reminding them how much Americans appreciate their service."

God Bless

Taxes -- Think you pay enough now, wait...

If the richest tycoons on Wall Street get their way, you'll face a significant tax hike this year so they can buy another tropical island. Sound fair?

Here's the deal: An obscure provision called the "alternative minimum tax" is going to end up raising taxes for tens of millions of middle-class households—maybe even yours—unless Congress acts quickly.

Democrats want to cancel this tax increase for the middle class—and pay for the shortfall by closing a massive new loophole that's allowing the richest investors on Wall Street to pay lower tax rates than you or I do.

I signed a petition urging Congress to close this tax loophole. Can you add your name to the petition at this link?

http://pol.moveon.org/loopholecalc/?r_by=11644-1574355-dpWFAd&rc=comment_paste

To see how much more you'll pay, try the calculator.  My personal taxes will go up nearly $2000.00!

 

God Bless

The pot calling the kettle black...

Hello, Kettle, it's me, Pot!

Is the President joking about democracy?  According to CNN.com, "President Bush on Monday urged Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf to sever his links with the military and reinstate civilian rule. Bush said he recognized the threat Musharraf faces from extremists but said the emergency measures 'undermine democracy.' "

President Bush is just being funny, right?  I mean, he's used terrorist threats as a reason to wiretap US citizens without a warrant.  He's suspended our rights (with help from Congress) via the Patriot Act, but he thinks someone else reacting to a threat undermines democracy?  I'm confused.

No matter how you take away a person's rights, you undermine democracy.  It doesn't matter if you're the President of Pakistan or the President of the United States -- democracy suffers.

It's just sadder when the country who is the most democratic does it.

God Bless

Nothing like taking your sweet time...

Back in 1950, Corporal Clem Boody was listed as missing in action.  In 1953, he was presumed dead.  In 1954, his family was notified that he had been awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.  Finally, his family has received the medal.

Why in the world does it take this long to award a medal to a serviceman's family?  Haven't they suffered enough?

It's just a shame how we treat our veterans and their families in this country.  We collectively ask a lot of our servicemen and women, but we sure don't give a lot back -- and when we do, we take our sweet time.

God Bless

 

Here's the copy of the article from CNN.com:

Richardson presents Purple Heart, touts negotiation skills

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) – At a campaign stop in Des Moines Monday, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson presented a Purple Heart medal to the niece of Corporal Clem Boody, who was listed as Missing in Action while serving in North Korea in 1950.

Richardson said Boody's niece told him the family was notified back in 1954 that Boody had been posthumously awarded a Purple Heart but that the family had never received it.

"I'm very proud to say that the plea made by the family of Corporal Boody has been answered."

Richardson thanked a member of his staff who, he said, was vital in securing the award.

Boody was presumed dead in 1953, but it wasn't until 2007 that his remains were identified.

The Democratic presidential candidate said he'd been negotiating with the North Koreans "for many years" to collect the remains of nearly 8100 servicemen from the Korean War but that he didn't want to turn that part of the story into political exploitation.

"I also realized at the time that I was a candidate for president," Richardson said, "and that it was important that an event like this, the return of remains, should not be politicized."

 

McDonald's on Lathrop & 21st...

I'm sure I'm setting myself up for some sort of ridicule, but this really bugged me.  If you were in the new McDonald's on Lathrop & 21st in Racine last Friday night, you saw what happened.

I saw a sign that the McRibs were back.  Now, these happen to be my favorite McDonald sandwich and I wanted one for dinner.  Last Friday night, Cheryl and I walked over to the McDonald's and place our order. 

When we walk up, there's five employees standing around staring at the floor, like it's doing tricks or something.  It takes five minutes for one of them to notice that they have customers, even though we're the only ones standing there.

Then, we place our order as a here order.  You know, so no bagging our stuff.  We're going to eat in the resturant.  Well, it feels like it takes forever for three sandwiches, two fries and two apple pies.  They don't have to get our drinks, since we ordered sodas and served ourselves.  Cheryl goes and finds a booth, while I wait for our order.  Another lady walked up and it took another five minutes for someone to notice her.  I know because I was still standing there waiting for my order.  

When I get the order, the gal puts it in two bags.  I said to her that this wasn't a to go order and her answer:  "It doesn't matter."  Yes, it does matter.  I ordered an order that doesn't require bags and you've just wasted two.  It's obvious to me that this kid doesn't care if she does a good job or not.

When I get the order to the table, there's no sauce on the McRib.  Now, I know it's not going to look like the picture, but they could make an effort to come close.  Nope, not this McDonald's.

Well, it was a bad work week and since I'm all ready mad at this McDonald's for the last order screw up, I just lost it.  But, I didn't swear.  I get no apology, just three "new" sandwiches.

So, if you live in Racine, steer clear of that McDonald's.  It looks pretty, but the service is awful.

God Bless

   

Alex Talks

The boys were here last weekend to celebrate Halloween. We took them to the Milwaukee Public Museum, which is becoming a tradition. Anyway, while they were here, Alex was quite the talker, so I'm posting this video of him saying my dad's name.

Hope you enjoy!

God Bless

Happy B-Day!

Just want to send a big birthday wish to my favorite son-in-law, Dustin!

Happy Birthday, Dustin!