Thursday's Ramblings

Well, I was paging through the paper over lunch (fresh-baked cinnamon bread, and a glass of cold whole milk) and noticed two news items that I just had to talk about.

The first is the blurb about Leona Helmsley's will. She left two grandchildren in the cold, for "reasons that are known to them" and favored her brother and two other grandchildren with tidy sums of money - in the millions.

To add insult to injury, she left a twelve million dollar trust for her dog. $12,000,000.00. To take care of a dog. At the outside, the dog will live about fifteen years, if it's not too old or too big now. That's well over a million a year, considering she probably left the trust with a method of generating interest as it went.

So, she who has all this money and a really sour disposition from what I've seen, can't find it in her heart to forgive her own children but will take care of a dog for more than it's natural lifespan. Lovely.

A house without the Lord is a cold place indeed.

The second item reveals that a panel of professional second-guessers (my guess is that they hired the 9-11 panel, since they weren't doing anything) says that the officials at Virginia Tech didn't do enough to warn the students of the shooting by Seung-Hui Cho, and that the university did not intervene in Cho's mental health issues.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this the "police state" that the libs would have us all believe the current administration is trying to force on us all?

Isn't knocking on dorm room doors, or calling the dorm phones, the kind of intrusion that these college students are protesting against, at the behest of their oh-so-enlightened professors?

Isn't stepping in and intervening on someone's behalf the sort of "draconian measures" that the feel-goods would have us think is the aim of the Christian right?

The liberals cannot have it both ways - they have to choose.

Choose either total interference by a big-brother like entity, or accept that life has many twist and turns and no one, except the Good Lord above, knows when you will be leaving this earth.

Choose either knowing one another well enough to be able to pass on information quickly and efficiently or be surprised by the occurrences that develop.

One thing you don't have a choice about - time travel is not possible, so going back to "fix" a blown call, or "do-over" a missed sign, is not possible.

However, to mitigate most of these issues, we all have to take a very important step - the one that a lot of us "Right Wing Christian Conservatives" have already taken - act responsibly, and take responsibility for your actions.

I know, it's a radical and, to most liberals, FOREIGN concept, but one that is imperative if this country wishes to remain at the forefront of civilization.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

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Wednesday Update

Hello, faithful reader(s)!

Yes, I am still running for President. I need your help, though - if you live in a state, and you believe in what I am doing, please, please, please (i'm begging, here!) consider volunteering your time to be either a member of the electoral college for your state (so I can meet the requirements of that state) or someone who circulates petitions to get my name on the state ballot.

Either one would be very helpful, and I'm not promising a Cabinet level position or anything, but I will do everything I can to recognize everyone's efforts at the appropriate time. Also - if anyone out there is willing, please chat me up with your local media contacts - have them contact me directly for interviews. (how many "professional" candidates are willing to say that?)

I'm also starting a business, called casework by cary, inc. I do custom wood work, little projects, big projects, custom projects, whatever - as long as it has to do with wood. Yes, it's an old medium, but I really can't think of anything better to use to create, enjoy and pass down an heirloom quality piece. Right now I am honing my skills on the wood lathe, with a "Memory Stick" - a profile of a loved one cut into a candlestick holder. It's difficult to describe, so when I have one perfected I will post pictures.

I'm also spending a lot of quality time with my "campaign manager," MEG. Those of you who were paying attention a couple of times know her real name; her mother, The Most Beautiful Woman in the World, has requested that I remove mention of her given name for privacy's sake. TMBWitW says that enough attention will be given to us when I am elected - or even before, with newspaper, radio, and television interviews. Honestly, I think I have a voice for TV and a face for radio. Keep that in mind when you suggest interviews...

I'm also putting on the big push, getting through the narrative portion of "The Wisconsin Cartters" over here. I just put up chapter fourteen - go check it out!

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008

Monday Campign Notes - 8-27-2007

It has been a while since I last issued a "Monday Campaign Note" – something that was mentioned to me yesterday while talking with Douglas Gibbs. On the bright side, I was able to spend almost an hour in conversation with someone who had the same Christian-based world-view that I do, which was most enjoyable. Thanks, Doug.

Oh, yeah – campaign stuff.

The reason for Doug’s call is that he needed to bump me from my scheduled September 1, 2007 appearance on his Blog Talk Radio Show for a very interesting guest. I told him that anytime he has a guest that needs a slot that I was scheduled for, please feel free – I’m very flexible, and it is his show. But especially, if the guest is one that can maybe expose some more of the mindset that we are fighting against in this World War on Terror.

So, I’ve been rescheduled. Won’t you give a listen and call in? Details are in the rescheduled link.

Immigration - what a tempest!

I received an e-mail from NumbersUSA regarding the current crop of Career Politicians and their cough"stance"cough on the flow of legal immigrant workers to be hired by US companies, in order to depress the level of wages these companies need to pay. After the illegal invader issue, this is going to be a hot button topic. At least, it should be. By increasing the numbers of legal immigrants that are being brought in to specifically fill jobs that otherwise would go to a citizen at a higher (read: more fair) pay rate, the overall level of wages will be depressed, causing our economy to continue to spiral downward toward the class split that the economists and liberal think is best for this nation.

I am not against legal immigration. I’m all for it. But not to flood the work market with lower-earning workers to bring the overall wage level down. That’s just counter-productive. There is a fine line between paying a competitive wage and not finding enough workers for your business. I’m no expert, but I believe that if a business can pay a wage that will draw workers to it, even in competition with other, more highly skilled positions, then that business will be successful. A company that is more interested in paying it’s owner or CEO more than Midas ever saw deserves to have labor problems, and even face the market truth of "Be Competitive or Be Forgotten." Actually, that’s something I just made up. But it does have a ring of truth, doesn’t it?

But, this campaign needs help. Lots of help. Each state where I will be a write-in candidate needs me to file with them the names of electors from that state. The electors will travel to the electoral college after the November 2008 election, and cast their vote for me as the candidate. Travel is reimbursed, if that makes a difference. Then there are the states that don’t accept write-in candidates for the office of President. My name needs to appear on the ballot on those states. I will need, besides electors, people willing to circulate and file petitions for my name to appear on the ballot.

All of these positions would be on a volunteer basis. As mentioned, travel to the electoral college would be reimbursed.

This campaign is running on word of mouth and no expenditures – and no contributions are being solicited. If enough volunteers can get together and cause a grass-roots swelling happen, then Cary Cartter can be elected President of the United States in November 2008.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

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Friday - Every Week, Just Like Clockwork

It's Friday. You know what to do.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

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Economist-Trashing

Last week, I promised I would talk about (read: make fun of) economists in the hopes of getting a rise out of a book-bound non-realist.

This morning's paper brought the easiest target to me.

There is an article (I don't know how long the link will be good; azcentral seems to not like being linked) that talks about the length a particular zinc-supply company has gone to ensure a couple of things: that the penny is still used, and that the mint continues to use zinc as the core for the pennies.

The company, Jarden Zinc Products, has paid lobbyists to kill bills relevant to their industry - one, in 2006, that would have made the penny extinct (legislation that would have rounded transactions to the nearest nickel) and now they are lobbying against the ability of the United States Mint itself to decide what materials to use in the minting of coins, in order to best keep costs down (it currently costs 1.7 cents to make a brand new penny, and nearly 10 cents to make a nickel). This would, in effect, cause Jarden to lose their number one customer. According to the article, Jarden has been paid more than $170 million dollars between 2004 and 2006 under a contract with the United States Mint. Also according to the article, the change in legislation would save the American taxpayer $100 million annually.

This is, in my opinion, a clear case of the greater good being usurped for a special interest. Going back to a pure supply-an-demand model, a single zinc supplier is being kept alive (or at least highly profitable) by law, rather than by market forces. If the legislation passes, and the Mint is allowed to choose the materials, then the free market would drive the costs, not an ironclad contract.

This is an example of Common Sense being allowed to drive a need instead of a network of backroom deals. This is, in the end, how I would urge the entire government to do business - by best price, not best friends.

In other news, papers have been filed for the creation of casework by cary, inc., a custom-woodworks firm. Finally, a boss I can't disagree with and that I can have a reasoned discussion with when he makes a boneheaded mistake.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

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Friday!

Go here. Buy a shirt, wear it on Fridays, and declare your support for the troops.

Today, I have on my "Lightning Sharp" polo - I'm going to be out and about, doing some final collecting on the delivery contract. Paul's right - I should wear a jacket with these things when I'm elected. That will really look sharp. Sues, I may need to order a few more of these shirts in about a year and a half.

I've come to realize that with a child as young as MEG (7 months and 1 week, thanks for asking. She's a real cutey. I'll get some pics up soon.) my posting is going to be sporadic. I had quite a few great ideas over the last few days, but I couldn't get in here and get them "on paper" so to speak, since MEG likes to help with the keyboard action.

Weight update - I've plateaued at about 197. Can't seem to drop anymore right now, but I'm hoping the fact that I've quit drinking soda again (note - watch for Coka-Cola to restate a quarterly profit soon) will help me break past that and keep dropping.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

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Minimum Wage

Should we raise the minimum wage?

Legislation has been passed here in the state of Arizona to raise the state minimum wage.

Federally, they are considering the same thing.

I am not in favor of raising the minimum wage. People say that by raising the minimum wage, we are giving a "raise" to people who are working for minimum wage. I say we are enabling the people who are working for minimum wage to stay working for minimum wage.

Minimum wage, or entry level, positions are just that - entry level. If you are still working for minimum wage six months after you have started a job, then something needs to change. Your job, your employer, your drive - something.

Liberals are all for raising the minimum wage - it allows their main allies and bestest of friends, the illegal immigrants (invaders) to keep a low profile. If the minimum wage is not raised, and border laws are enforced, then perhaps the youth of the United States would be empowered to get that entry level position that an illegal has been camping in for the last five years. A combination of no increase and enforcement would drive the illegal invaders back where they came from, opening up a whole need for fresh recruits to fill the positions that "No American will do." This vacuum of people to fill these positions would (gasp!) force some liberals to actually work hard labor for the first time in their lives, since they would no longer be needed to extol the virtues of having illegals do these jobs, and besides, how many doom-saying economists does this country need, anyway?

Once a young person of United States citizenry is hired at a minimum wage job, then reality kicks in rather quickly and they develop the motivation needed to further their station in life - which is, after all, the basis for fulfilling the American Dream.

Next week - I'll chat about economics again - see if I can get another rise out of some book-bound economist who has never held a real job in their life.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

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Interesting

I saw this a while back, and thought MEG would enjoy the action. She was fascinated.

Polish Digital Clock

By the way, it is accurate.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

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Friday - Are You Wearing Red?

Go here. Buy a shirt, wear it on Fridays, and declare your support for the troops.

Yes, I am wearing my "Rolling Thunder" red shirt. I must say, I look very presidential in this. I may make this my official public appearance garb, with maybe a tasteful jacket over it for more formal gatherings.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008

Rules Without Enforcement = $$$

I have mentioned on occasion the fallacy of having rules (or laws) without enforcing them. At one time, I was on the verge about ranting how Congress (opposite of Progress) was enacting new laws, but not making provisions for enforcing them.

A perfect example has popped up in my own backyard. Actually, it's in the street, but you get the idea.

Missouri Avenue, an arterial between 75th Ave. and 67th Ave. here in Glendale, has a speed limit of 25 miles per hour. This is a residential street, with houses, a park, and an elementary school located along the right of way. The police presence here is abysmal, at best. I have seen patrol cars enforcing the speed limit twice in the seven years I have traveled this stretch of Missouri Avenue.

About a month ago, there were survey hoses stretched across the street. My guess is they were seeing what the average speed was. Since most of the people traveling that stretch of road know there aren't any policemen enforcing the 25MPH sepp limit, the average speed was probably up around 40. I have been passed on that street many times, usually because I am traveling the speed limit and the ones passing me are much more important and need to get where they are going.

Two weeks ago, markings appeared on the pavement. Two lines, curb to curb, with the letters "H M P" spray painted between. This tells me the city, in it's infinite wisdom, has decided that instead of enforcing the speed limit, it is going to force everyone to slow down to 20 MPH to go over these speed humps. Based on the model of the exiting speed humps on 73rd Ave., these speed humps will be state-of-the-art, with emergency vehicle breaks in the middle. That's right, the speed humps will stretch curb to curb, except there will be two breaks the width of a vehicle centered in the middle for firetrucks and ambulances to not be hindered.

One problem: the speeders, who have not been held responsible for breaking the speed limit, will now feel that they can use the EV breaks for themselves. And they will, based on the model of 73rd Ave.

To review: The law-abiding drivers will be slowed down below the 25 MPH limit to negotiate the humps. The law-breaking drivers, who are speeding, will cross the center line to use the emergency vehicle breaks and continue speeding.

I feel so much safer already.

Because the city will not (or cannot) enforce the speed limit, it is forcing itself to spend money on installing speed humps that are not really speed humps so much as slalom courses. The speeders will still speed, and the non-speeders will be slowed down. Money spent, no revenue from the speeders held accountable for breaking the law, and more inconvenience for the rest of us.

Good move, Glendale Arizona!

I believe the first thing that needs to happen is a moratorium be put into place regarding any new law that proposes to "beef up" an existing law. Enforcement of the existing law must be proven for a six month period, and, if the problem has not improved, then the stiffer law may be introduced.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

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