So since I rarely post anything on this blog, it's bound to be important. As some people know we are in the final stages for a federal law enforcement job. This job requires that we jump through many hoops, the most recent being a medical physical. I left the house at 5am to drive into Phoenix for my 6:30 appt., which was actually at 7am. I'm the first and things are moving along quite well. I finally see the Dr. and asked him about some of the questions on the form I was confused about about namely one that requires that I list every time I was a patient in a hospital and with that, why, the address, and the Dr's name who treated me. I thinking this was rather ridiculous, so I asked him what they meant by that and he in his very surly personally said
Doc: "well read the question"
Josh: I was born in a hospital should I list that?
Doc: Hey listen it's the gov't you can say what you want it's your job.
The other question I struggled with was "Have you ever been treated by anybody for anything in the last 20 years for other than a minor illness".... again my same inquiry was met with his same surliness.
Well once all the question were answered he then began the final phase...incredibly sophisticated medical exam. What I mean by this is that he touched my cheeks, my feet, my wrist, he told me to squeeze his finger, etc... (really 8 years of school.......?????) So I played his games until.....
Doc: Stand up
Josh: (stood up)
Doc: The last two parts of the exam are a hernia check and a rectal exam
Josh: (eyes like dinner plates)
Josh: (thinking to himself) why on earth do they keep these places at negative 47 degrees Celsius?
Doc: First I am going to yada, yada, yada, you are going to rest your arms on the bed.
Josh: (Thinking to himself) Shouldn't you buy me dinner first?
Doc: Turn your head
Josh: cough cough
Doc: Turn around
Josh: (hearing the theme music for Darth Vader, slowly turns around)
Doc: Blah blah blah....(excitedly and somewhat like a teacher answering a question) and there it is!
Josh: (thinking) And there it is....really? You know Doc I didn't make this appointment because the other day I was bored and wanted to find my prostate and couldn't
Doc: Here are some things to clean up the nurse will be right in
Josh: (thinking) Could you have her wait just a minute I need to gather my thoughts
So while I am not 40 years old yet I feel that I am part of a very prestigious fraternity and as such I think that it is important to document for posterities sake.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Why?
This will be a short post because I feel that it only warrants a short answer. Any answer of length would be equally ignorant of the topic....just an FYI.
First, let me acknowledge that this topic is universal to parties; however, particularly it does say something about a certain party that cannot be said about the other.
On the front page of Yahoo! this mornings...yes I know hard core journalism at it's finest... there is a tag line that says:
"Gold Rush: Dems launch Operation Rushbo"...it's purpose to demonize the republican party.
Can I just ask Why? What is in it for the democrats? They control the House, Senate, and President. They can essentially institute any policy they deem necessary yet, they are spending time, efforts, and energy on creating another label for a beaten down, no leadership, no identity party. Why?
I simple answer is that they really have no solutions. If it were me and I had all power and I had good ideas, wouldn't I be better served in acting upon my ideas, which I feel are superior, and thus showing that I have better ideas. The truth of the matter is that Democrats currently do not trust the people that elected them and as such are taking many of their GOD given abilities namely choice away from them.
I understand that there is an equal amount of political rhetoric; however, when the Republicans controlled all, they went to work.
Well some much for the let's work together.
PS: At first I gave President Obama credit that he was smart and as such he could surround himself with smart people. But it is very un-nerving to me that many of his appointments were number 3 and 4 on the list. Which is ironic in that, that tells me that obviously EVERYONE on the democratic list is much more capable than ANY republican which is just absolutely garbage. If he really wanted change and bi-partisanship then maybe after his first picks failed he should've looked across the party line. So much for change....but I guess I still Hope for it.
First, let me acknowledge that this topic is universal to parties; however, particularly it does say something about a certain party that cannot be said about the other.
On the front page of Yahoo! this mornings...yes I know hard core journalism at it's finest... there is a tag line that says:
"Gold Rush: Dems launch Operation Rushbo"...it's purpose to demonize the republican party.
Can I just ask Why? What is in it for the democrats? They control the House, Senate, and President. They can essentially institute any policy they deem necessary yet, they are spending time, efforts, and energy on creating another label for a beaten down, no leadership, no identity party. Why?
I simple answer is that they really have no solutions. If it were me and I had all power and I had good ideas, wouldn't I be better served in acting upon my ideas, which I feel are superior, and thus showing that I have better ideas. The truth of the matter is that Democrats currently do not trust the people that elected them and as such are taking many of their GOD given abilities namely choice away from them.
I understand that there is an equal amount of political rhetoric; however, when the Republicans controlled all, they went to work.
Well some much for the let's work together.
PS: At first I gave President Obama credit that he was smart and as such he could surround himself with smart people. But it is very un-nerving to me that many of his appointments were number 3 and 4 on the list. Which is ironic in that, that tells me that obviously EVERYONE on the democratic list is much more capable than ANY republican which is just absolutely garbage. If he really wanted change and bi-partisanship then maybe after his first picks failed he should've looked across the party line. So much for change....but I guess I still Hope for it.
Friday, February 27, 2009
From the GOAT to the goat
The term GOAT (Greatest of All Time) is typically given to Muhammad Ali. In the bible those who are disobedient and degenerate are liken to a goat and found on the left hand side of Christ and as such will not regain glory.
My Version
Like Tom Brokaw I too believe that there was/is a generation of Americans who deserve to be called the “greatest generation”, unfortunately it is not mine nor that of my parents, but of their parents who when faced with adversity simply took on the chin, got up and dusted themselves off and created something bigger, something better, something worthy of the sacrifices of the previous 160 years.
My generation that of my parents are the black sheep or the goat, of American history. We’ve only known ease, comfort, and prosperity. Yes, we have had opportunities to grow but unlike the greatest generation who took it on the chin, we’ve simply applied a healthy dose of bag-bam and enough band-aids to create a mummy.
Cynics never contribute, so here is my contribution…..
I truly hope the economy blows up! I hope is some fashion that we are transported back to the 1950’s, which figures would indicate that in real terms we are close to those post WWII levels. I hope that the baby boomers loose everything….sorry mom and dad! Why? Because I hope that I am called upon to take care of my family. I want things to slow down. I want people to save and live frugally. I do not want to live in the American Façade anymore.
Do not make the mistake that I am calling for an end of capitalism. I am simply calling for responsibility.
So from the goats to the GOATS, I’m sorry. But this is what I will do. I will save money and not rely on the government (my neighbors) to provide me my retirement. I will eat leftovers. I will grow a garden. I will take care of my vehicle for more than 3 years. I will make do with less. I will spend more nights with my family building forts and playing board games. I will pick up trash. I will conserve.
My Version
Like Tom Brokaw I too believe that there was/is a generation of Americans who deserve to be called the “greatest generation”, unfortunately it is not mine nor that of my parents, but of their parents who when faced with adversity simply took on the chin, got up and dusted themselves off and created something bigger, something better, something worthy of the sacrifices of the previous 160 years.
My generation that of my parents are the black sheep or the goat, of American history. We’ve only known ease, comfort, and prosperity. Yes, we have had opportunities to grow but unlike the greatest generation who took it on the chin, we’ve simply applied a healthy dose of bag-bam and enough band-aids to create a mummy.
Cynics never contribute, so here is my contribution…..
I truly hope the economy blows up! I hope is some fashion that we are transported back to the 1950’s, which figures would indicate that in real terms we are close to those post WWII levels. I hope that the baby boomers loose everything….sorry mom and dad! Why? Because I hope that I am called upon to take care of my family. I want things to slow down. I want people to save and live frugally. I do not want to live in the American Façade anymore.
Do not make the mistake that I am calling for an end of capitalism. I am simply calling for responsibility.
So from the goats to the GOATS, I’m sorry. But this is what I will do. I will save money and not rely on the government (my neighbors) to provide me my retirement. I will eat leftovers. I will grow a garden. I will take care of my vehicle for more than 3 years. I will make do with less. I will spend more nights with my family building forts and playing board games. I will pick up trash. I will conserve.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Show Me......More........ Money ............
President Obama is striving to raise the minimum wage to $9.5 an hour. Really? Why reward mediocrity? What possible benefit does that give anyone? What happened to helping the middle class? You see, the rising of input prices is going to increase the costs of goods not only for the poor but for the middle class. By raising the prices of goods Pres. Obama has just lowered effectively the distinguishing line of middle class. Thank Pres. for helping me to become poor.
Recent history shows that the Pres. will offer another bailout, which is the equivalent to saying
"sorry i screwed up the first time, i would like to make it up to you by giving you a bunch of money and screw over your decedents...let's eat and run and stick them with the bill".
Would anyone really do that? Imagine these bailouts are no different than a family going to dinner. The husband wife and older children getting in the car and leaving a 5 year old to foot the bill.
I am so tired of politicians and particularly democrats not thinking. A democrat will tell you that forest fire needs to be left alone because it is good for the forest. Yet they will not let the economy have it's own forest fire. Don't they understand that a recession is good the economy it forces us to think differently, to create, to expand, and to grow. And this type of logic just about typifies every democrat is policy by saying... "it's ok to do it here but not here". Democrats are not standard bearer's but bearer's of moral relevancy. How can people not have a standard?
Recent history shows that the Pres. will offer another bailout, which is the equivalent to saying
"sorry i screwed up the first time, i would like to make it up to you by giving you a bunch of money and screw over your decedents...let's eat and run and stick them with the bill".
Would anyone really do that? Imagine these bailouts are no different than a family going to dinner. The husband wife and older children getting in the car and leaving a 5 year old to foot the bill.
I am so tired of politicians and particularly democrats not thinking. A democrat will tell you that forest fire needs to be left alone because it is good for the forest. Yet they will not let the economy have it's own forest fire. Don't they understand that a recession is good the economy it forces us to think differently, to create, to expand, and to grow. And this type of logic just about typifies every democrat is policy by saying... "it's ok to do it here but not here". Democrats are not standard bearer's but bearer's of moral relevancy. How can people not have a standard?
Monday, January 26, 2009
Show Me the Money............
No I am attempting to quote another awful Tom Cruise movie (it all went down hill after Top Gun) I am merely asking a question. Where is the money going to come from? Foreign investors predominately, which is equivalent economically speaking to say that our trade deficit will increase.
I do not claim to be an economist; however, my limited knowledge tells me that there is no difference in being trapped by "foreign oil" or trapped by "foreign debt holders", either way we are trapped. So where is President Obama's $825 billion dollars coming from? Please keep in mind that with every fiscal injection there is a multiplier effect. Example, Government gives a bank $10, I receive a loan for $9 and I buy a car for $5. How much money was injected into the economy? For simplicity sake, more than $10, just look at the money trail. As such, when the government says that we are going to inject $825 it is probably more equivalent to $2-3 trillion in real dollars. Our GDP, is $12 trillion....that means that to get our economy kick started we needed to get a credit card and charge nearly 20%.
Lets make this example hit home, you make $60k a year...not bad. Because of economic times you go out and get a credit card to maintain your lifestyle. You'll charge nearly $20k on credit. Does that sound like a good idea? Or would a better idea reevaluate your finances and do without?
Ultimately, the irony is this predominately Democrats happen to be social conversationalist (I know that is a generalization but it's pretty true). When a forest fire starts, a conversationalist/Democrat will say just let it burn it is good for the forest, and they are very correct. But, when an economic forest fire happens they want every water plane and truck, every able bodied man and women to pitch in and stop the fire. Economic forest fires (recession/depression) are good for an economy. They force change, improvement, efficiency, and a better quality of life in the long-term. That sounds like a double standard.
Do you want another double standard? How about how Democrats complain about a "climate" problem and always mention or legacy blah blah blah, but yet are more than willing eat now and stick their grandchildren with the bill (republicans can do this as well...I know). So I want to thank those ignorant of issues that will truly affect posterity. Last time I checked, I couldn't buy a loaf of bread with a good O-zone...
I do not claim to be an economist; however, my limited knowledge tells me that there is no difference in being trapped by "foreign oil" or trapped by "foreign debt holders", either way we are trapped. So where is President Obama's $825 billion dollars coming from? Please keep in mind that with every fiscal injection there is a multiplier effect. Example, Government gives a bank $10, I receive a loan for $9 and I buy a car for $5. How much money was injected into the economy? For simplicity sake, more than $10, just look at the money trail. As such, when the government says that we are going to inject $825 it is probably more equivalent to $2-3 trillion in real dollars. Our GDP, is $12 trillion....that means that to get our economy kick started we needed to get a credit card and charge nearly 20%.
Lets make this example hit home, you make $60k a year...not bad. Because of economic times you go out and get a credit card to maintain your lifestyle. You'll charge nearly $20k on credit. Does that sound like a good idea? Or would a better idea reevaluate your finances and do without?
Ultimately, the irony is this predominately Democrats happen to be social conversationalist (I know that is a generalization but it's pretty true). When a forest fire starts, a conversationalist/Democrat will say just let it burn it is good for the forest, and they are very correct. But, when an economic forest fire happens they want every water plane and truck, every able bodied man and women to pitch in and stop the fire. Economic forest fires (recession/depression) are good for an economy. They force change, improvement, efficiency, and a better quality of life in the long-term. That sounds like a double standard.
Do you want another double standard? How about how Democrats complain about a "climate" problem and always mention or legacy blah blah blah, but yet are more than willing eat now and stick their grandchildren with the bill (republicans can do this as well...I know). So I want to thank those ignorant of issues that will truly affect posterity. Last time I checked, I couldn't buy a loaf of bread with a good O-zone...
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Electronics and Why?
I am about to offend a fair number of people; however, I could not care less. At lunch today I enter the men's restroom urinal. I proceeded to do my business. Another individual approached the urinal next to me and out of the corner of my eye; I saw that he was fooling with his Blackberry....really?!? Now obviously, many thoughts are running through my head: (1) no body is that damn important that they cannot go pee with checking mail, (2) the whole benefit of email is that people can give you a message when you are away (i.e. peeing), (3) he must not need two hands like me (how sad).
This has not been my first experience with electronics in places they shouldn't be. I first discovered my annoyance with the iPod while at college. Students were paying for an education; however, were sitting in class with the iPod in their ears. It gets better.... There were other students who at the close of class immediately put their ear phones in so that they could enjoy a minute and a half of some song while they walked to their next class. It gets better... a dumbass punk skater 18 yr. old at ASU was looking for something in a convenience store line, I had some trouble getting by him and politely said "excuse me" I received no response. Loader and a bit more firmly I said "excuse me", still no response. At this time I moved my position to get with in his sight at which time I mouthed "excuse me" he then pointed to his ears, with his iPod unremoved and said "I can't hear you". At this point I had lost it... I then informed the young man that we were having a miscommunication and proceeded to be on my way. He might have heard me say, "Dumbass that's because you have your ear phones in, (with a slight shove) shithead".
Worst of all some time ago while my wife and I were at dinner I saw a young man with his iPod in his ears and his PSP in his hands while his family was enjoying the evening. I pointed this maladjusted child to my wife and informed her that should one of our children try this I would destroy EVERY piece of electronic equipment our child owned and would well "blow my bloody lid".
So what? Well the so what is that these wonderful marvels are ruining communication abilities in our children. We are a generation away from people who are without feeling people they only know how to associate with those things without feeling. This is a sad sad situation.
So keep your phone in your damn pocket while you pee. Take your ear phones out when someone takes to you.
This has not been my first experience with electronics in places they shouldn't be. I first discovered my annoyance with the iPod while at college. Students were paying for an education; however, were sitting in class with the iPod in their ears. It gets better.... There were other students who at the close of class immediately put their ear phones in so that they could enjoy a minute and a half of some song while they walked to their next class. It gets better... a dumbass punk skater 18 yr. old at ASU was looking for something in a convenience store line, I had some trouble getting by him and politely said "excuse me" I received no response. Loader and a bit more firmly I said "excuse me", still no response. At this time I moved my position to get with in his sight at which time I mouthed "excuse me" he then pointed to his ears, with his iPod unremoved and said "I can't hear you". At this point I had lost it... I then informed the young man that we were having a miscommunication and proceeded to be on my way. He might have heard me say, "Dumbass that's because you have your ear phones in, (with a slight shove) shithead".
Worst of all some time ago while my wife and I were at dinner I saw a young man with his iPod in his ears and his PSP in his hands while his family was enjoying the evening. I pointed this maladjusted child to my wife and informed her that should one of our children try this I would destroy EVERY piece of electronic equipment our child owned and would well "blow my bloody lid".
So what? Well the so what is that these wonderful marvels are ruining communication abilities in our children. We are a generation away from people who are without feeling people they only know how to associate with those things without feeling. This is a sad sad situation.
So keep your phone in your damn pocket while you pee. Take your ear phones out when someone takes to you.
Paying Attention
For awhile now, work has been slow. I attempt to study more tax law; however, I find that every 10 minutes or so I am circling between Google Finance, ESPN, & the local paper. Is tax law that boring that it can only be consumed in 10 minute intervals? Not really...but I definitely have a problem.
On the radio this morning the talk show host said something very profound. I did not catch the context nor the aftermath because it hit me like a ton of bricks. He said (and I paraphrase) that "successful people are successful because they can focus". And here I am only able to focus in 10 minute intervals. Yes, I understand that "success" is a broad term...congratulations for the stating the obvious. But the fact remains that I no am aware that my success here at work is well nonexistent partly because I can't focus. I can't focus because I feel no urgency nor motivation. It's not because I was abused as a child, it's not because I have ADD, and its not because I smoked pot. It is simply because I don't want it bad enough. But I think I do now, why because I have recognized (or remembered) that there is a connection between focus and success.
On the radio this morning the talk show host said something very profound. I did not catch the context nor the aftermath because it hit me like a ton of bricks. He said (and I paraphrase) that "successful people are successful because they can focus". And here I am only able to focus in 10 minute intervals. Yes, I understand that "success" is a broad term...congratulations for the stating the obvious. But the fact remains that I no am aware that my success here at work is well nonexistent partly because I can't focus. I can't focus because I feel no urgency nor motivation. It's not because I was abused as a child, it's not because I have ADD, and its not because I smoked pot. It is simply because I don't want it bad enough. But I think I do now, why because I have recognized (or remembered) that there is a connection between focus and success.
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