A ROBIN'S WINTER - More Family Kindle Books "LIVE"

This book, in the style of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, spins the life and times of a lad who grew up in a hamlet on Saginaw Bay. Born and raised in Linwood, Michigan, Richard La Flamme was a loyal, patriotic 'Linwoodite' who lived there his entire life.

Richard is my brother-in-law, m wife Carole's brother. Carole and I decided to publish his book in 2001.

Richard began writing his book one-winter evening in 1994, sitting in his favorite easy chair in front of the living room fireplace. He never married. It was important he leave behind something tangible.Rich reminisces about his early life, his "buddies," his family, his relatives, Boy Scouts, Military service, volunteerism and his travels.

He decided on the title A ROBIN'S WINTER because he related to the hearty robin that refused to leave his nest during harsh cruel winters, who loyally stayed behind instead of migrating to warmer climates. Wherever he traveled, Rich always returned to his nest by the bay ... Where he remained happy and content all the days of his life. He passed away in 1999 not seeing his book in print but family members picked up on his desire to leave something behind and published the book in 2001 ... as he wrote it.

Larry & Carole Beighey books are now available on Kindle

WHAT WOULD THOMAS JEFFERSON SAY

John F. Kennedy held a dinner in the white House for a group of the brightest minds in the nation at that time. He made this statement:
"This is perhaps the assembly of the most intelligence ever to gather at one time in the White House with the exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." ... Thomas Jefferson

"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world." ... Thomas Jefferson

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." ... Thomas Jefferson

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." ... Thomas Jefferson

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." ... Thomas Jefferson

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." ... Thomas Jefferson

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." ... Thomas Jefferson

"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical." ... Thomas Jefferson

HERE WE GO AGAIN ... WILL WE EVER LEARN

I was the Energy Czar for a Fortune 300 company during the Energy Crisis in the Mid-70's ... We drilled over 50 gas wells for our own manufacturing plants ... We even built our own "gathering system" to collect the gas from the wells to our plants only to have the government "confiscate" our gas when natural gas was being rationed.

There was no shortage ... It was a 'P....g Contest" between John Dingell and his congress and the Oil & Gas companies. They shut down plants all over the country ... Who lost? ... The American working family.

My company had over 10,000 people laid off while our government played 'political games"

Now it is the same thing ... We need an Energy Plan and it shouldn't be some partisan issue that gets pushed around for over 35 years. In the mid-seventies we didn't even have an Energy Dept. Now look at it!

I think we should vote them all out or at the least ask each congressman where he stands on energy.

Hell yes I am mad ... Where is the outrage ... We need to take our country back ... This November is a good time to start.

STRESS

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, 'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem.. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'
He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, the burden will become increasingly heavy: and we won't be able to carry on. '

'As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again... When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down: don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.' So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:
* Just accept that, some days, you're the pigeon: and, some days, you're the statue.
* Always keep your words soft and sweet - just in case you have to eat them.
* Always wear stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be "recalled" by their maker.
* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, It was probably worth it.
* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.
* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
* The second mouse gets the cheese.
* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
* You may be only one person in the world, But you may also be the world to one person.
* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp; some are pretty; and some are dull. Some have weird names; and all are different colors; but they all have to live in the same box.
*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.


My wife. Carole, sent me this article about stress and then added this memory

[Guess I must be happy because I love detours and new scenery I have never seen. Guess maybe, it's because I don't get out much anymore and when one is from Linwood, MI. whose parents entertained their kids by taking them to the corner to watch the traffic go by on US 23 or to count the deer passing by during deer season ... or your mother took you on the tour of Tower Road and Elevater Road to watch the pickles and sugar beets growing ... detours are AMAZING!] (but somehow, wherever Mother took us, she made it seem like a wonderful adventure ... though we had been on the same ride a hundred times ... and we never tired of her historical tour. We could imagine everything through her eyes ... and glory in it. Oh gosh, would I give most anything to take another tour on those ole gravel roads with my mother and sisters.) -Carole Beighey
Have a wonderful day and know that someone has thought about you today.
I did ...

MID-TERM ELECTIONS

What is with all this talk about Liberal, Conservative, Moderate Right, Moderate Left and "Tea Party"? To me it is very confusing and still doesn't define the candidates.



What I would like to see is a simple chart that lists all the "Key" Issues and where each canidate stands on each issue and where you stand on each "Key" Issue. This is an easy way to "find" the candidate that best fits your requirements and comes the closest to "getting your vote."



Remember, there is little chance that a candidate is coming to agree with all your "Key" Issues. Also, the candidates do not like to be "locked" into an issue as it doesn't give them any "wiggle room" if they get elected.




Candidates don't always tell it straight and take positions that they have no intention of ever keeping after they are elected. Remember President Obama's promises to have the most transparent administration ever; Vote on no bill until people have had a chance to read it; and, Not have any "lobbists" in positions in his administration.



You have to sift thru all the promises and "drive by" media reporting to find the candidate that best fits your "Key" Issues.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

My wife is a remarkable person. What she has accomplished at this point in her life makes any of my accomplishments pale in comparison.

Her first husband died the day after Christmas, leaving her with four children, ages two to nine. She was 30! Besides her own grief, she still had to cope with explaining the loss of their father to these four small children. They just couldn’t understand what had happened to their father. When was he coming back?

While vacationing at her brother’s lake cabin in Michigan’s northern woods, she watched a mother raccoon and her babies feeding nightly at the stump outside the kitchen window. The idea came to write her story through the eyes of animals, believing it would be less painful for children to relate to their loss.

Carole had a dream about writing but could never imagine how she would find the time, especially after marrying me and having two more children … six children under the age of 11.

It was a great idea, but when would she ever find the time?

One Saturday afternoon, I told her that I was going to take the six kids out for about three or four hours and that she should do whatever she wanted.

When I returned home, I found that she had sat down at a typewriter (there were few personal computers in those days) and had written 30 pages of her book, The Waddodles of Hollow Lake. That was 31 years ago.

By sneaking a few minutes here or there – or staying up half the night after everyone had gone to bed – she typed away.

In 1986, we bought a personal computer and after a few quick lessons, Carole learned how to use a simple word processor. Soon, she was proficient in using the computer and had moved up to the most advanced word processors.

That was 1500 type-written pages ago.

She has now had five books published in the series, The Waddodles of Hollow Lake, and has written enough draft material for 2or 3 more books. (www.waddodles.com)

What started out as a dream has turned into a reality! It just proves the point that if you set your mind to something, you can find a way to get it accomplished, despite difficult odds and situations.

Remember to “follow your dreams” and as Theodore Waddodle, one of the raccoons in Carole’s books says, “Always look forward, never behind.”

MOTHERS DAY MEMORIES

I HAVE SPECIAL MEMORIES OF MY MOTHER ON THIS SPECIAL DAY ... NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT I DON'T THINK OF HER ... I MISS YOU MOM

MOTHERS

For those who are lucky to still be blessed with your Mom this is beautiful ... For those who aren't, this is even more beautiful

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said, "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning."

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, and taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike and reminded them to feed the dog and do their homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.

"Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms, and the children said,"Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary.But at all times she said to the children, A little patience and weare there."So the children climbed, and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms. And with this, she gave them strength to face the world.

Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all, Unconditional love.

And when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage.

And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children."And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers.

One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill, they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them."

And the children said, " You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence."

Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning.Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she’s crystallized in every teardrop.

A mother shows every emotion... happiness,sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow...and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life. She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take.She's your first love; your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space...........not even death!

MY THOUHTS ON MOTHER'S DAY

Because Carole and I didn't get married until we were 32, I never dreamed we would have 40 years of marriage [in 2010], especially when you look at the longevity in both our parent's “life lines.”

As I grow older, my love for my Wife and Family grow stronger & stronger ... I have always loved my wife and family very much but, I was like many men that thought my total obligation was to provide a livelihood for my wife and family. I thought that was my only role. I thought my wife would do the rest ... After all I was working hard ... Traveling all the time ... What did she expect from me? Boy, was I wrong!

I remember one week when in an unfinished house [Mt Vista, Pennsylvania], Pregnant with Daughter, Anne, she had Business Dinner parties at home for 5 couples on two successive nights ... She stained wood, finished trim and doors ... Had Family sit down full course meals including desert every night ... Did the cleanup ... Slept for only 4 hours every night ... Writing the Waddodles pre-teen books [Five [5] are in print] … I could go on and on ... Literally, she did everything for the family and me ... I provided the money ... What did she expect from me? Boy was I wrong!

It was a long, slow "learning curve" for me but, I finally "get it."

One night, on one of our frequent "couch dates" ... Having a picnic, rubbing Carole’s feet and watching a DVD ... We watched "Fireproof," [Made by the people who made Facing the Giants] a Christen movie about a troubled marriage] ... We both ended up crying I guess because we could "relate."

I "hope and pray" that every husband and wife have a "Date Night" together and watch your "Wedding Tape" ... Then watch "Fireproof" [Fireproof was the biggest-grossing indie movie of 2008.]

"Fireproof" is the story of a firefighter who after seven years of marriage to his wife , is seeing their relationship fail. His father challenges his son to commit to a 40-day test called, "The Love Dare." ...

The 40 day "Love Dare," is making a daily commitment to our love and marriage ...


The Firefighter starts it, and, after several weeks on it, becomes frustrated with having his efforts rejected. He needs to save his marriage. Thru faith he continues on ... unsure if it's too late to "fireproof" his marriage.

If you can relate ... Take the "40 day Love Test." In this day and age it is easy to just give up ... But there is so much at stake it is worth the extra time and effort to make it work. Carole and I grew up in an age when divorce was not an option. we certainly had our ups and downs but we "persevered." ... Our Love and Marriage endured.

On this Mother's Day, I can reflect on my wife and family ... I told Carole yesterday that she was and is the "perfect" Wife and Mother ... I couldn't ask for anything more ... It took me 32 years to find her but I found the "needle in the haystack."

Yes, I got her a card, flowers and a box of candy but my "Love" is the best gift I can give.

Carole ... I Love You ... Forever, Forever [Engraved in her Wedding Band]

Her is one “40 Day Love Test” … Get a Journal, write in it everyday. LETS GET STARTED. Here are the challenges in a nutshell:
1. Demonstrate patience and say nothing negative to your spouse.
2. Do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.
3. Buy your spouse something that says, "I was thinking of you today."
4. Contact your spouse with no agenda other than asking how he or she is doing and if there is anything you could do for them.
5. Ask your spouse to tell you three things that cause him or her to be uncomfortable or irritated simply to gain their perspective.
6. Make a list of areas where you need to add margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life.
7. Get two sheets of paper. On the first, write out positive things about your spouse. Then do the same with negative things on the second. Place both sheets in a secret place. At some point during the remainder of the day, pick a positive attribute from the first list and thank your spouse for having this characteristic.
8. Take yesterday's list of negative attributes and discreetly burn it. Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he or she recently enjoyed.
9. Think of a specific way to greet your spouse that reflects your love for them.
10. Do something out of the ordinary today for your spouse.
11. Choose a gesture that says, "I cherish you" and do it with a smile.
12. Willingly choose to give in to an area of disagreement between you and your spouse and tell them you are putting their preference first.
13. Talk with your spouse about establishing healthy rules of engagement and resolve to abide by them when the next disagreement occurs.
14. Purposefully neglect an activity you would normally do so you can spend quality time with your spouse.
15. Choose a way to show honor and respect to your spouse that is above your normal routine.
16. Hope for three specific areas where you desire to help in your spouse's life and in your marriage.
17. Determine to guard your mate's secrets and hope for them.
18. Prepare a special dinner at home, just for the two of you and focus this time on getting to know your spouse better in areas you've rarely talked about.
19. Look back over the dares from previous days and assess your need to change your heart to love. Ask yourself to show you where you stand and hope for the strength and grace to settle your eternal destination.
20. Dare to trust yourself, believe in yourself and know that you have the power to change.
21. Be intentional about making a time to conflict over your actions and understand them.
22. Say to your spouse in words similar to these, "I love you. Period. I choose to love you even if you don't love me in return."
23. Remove any addiction or influence that's stealing your affections and turning your heart away from your spouse.
24. Identify every object of lust in your life and remove it.
25. Whatever you haven't forgiven in your mate, forgive it today. Say from your heart, "I choose to forgive."
26. Take time to reflect on your areas of wrongdoing.
27. Think of one area where your spouse has told you you're expecting too much, and tell them you're sorry for being so hard on them about it.
28. Recognize one of the greatest needs in your spouse's life. Whether the need is big or small, purpose to do what you can to meet the need.
29. Hope for your spouse and for their needs. When you see them, say "I love you," then express love to them in some tangible way. Thank yourself and the world for the privilege of loving this one special person.
30. Isolate one area of division in your marriage, and think about it and wish it gets better.
31. Confess a "leaving" issue to your spouse, and resolve to make it right.
32. Try to initiate sex with your husband or wife in a way that honors what they have told you (or implied to you) about what they need from you sexually.
33. Let your spouse know you desire to include them in your upcoming decisions, and that you need their perspective and counsel.
34. Find a specific, recent example when your spouse demonstrated good character and commend them for this.
35. Find a marriage mentor.
36. Commit to making yourself happy every day.
37. Ask your spouse if you can discuss your hopes regularly together.
38. Ask yourself what your mate would want if it was obtainable and then wish for it.
39. Spend time in personal thought, then write a letter of commitment and resolve to your spouse.
40. Write out a renewal of your vows and place them in your home.

THE BEIGHEY-TRUMAN-BORING-DUBOIS CONNECTION

There is an old proverb that says, “You are only two [2] people away from knowing anyone in the world.” I know it is probably not true but it is amazing when you talk to people how you interconnect with them.

I just finished watching the four [4] hour mini-series on PBS about Harry Truman. He was quite a man … A simple man with no college education who failed many times in his life … He failed as a farmer … Failed as a Haberdasher filing for Bankruptcy when he was thirty-seven [37]. Married the one and only girl in his life, Bess Wallace. His mother-in-law never thought he was good enough for her Bess even when he was President of the United States.

I am old enough to remember that nobody liked him and his approval ratings were in the 20’s … 22-23% … the lowest of any president … ever.

Slowly, people have come to respect him and he is now considered one of our “best” Presidents.
He came a long way and earned the respect of the people … He spoke what he felt and thought and earned the title “Give’m Hell Harry.” Who can forget the sign on his desk “The Buck Stops Here.”


BEIGHEY – TRUMAN CONNECTION

My connection to Harry Truman was through my grandfather Clifford Beighey, who himself was a Haberdasher with a Haberdashery on 1012 Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington DC. Thr building has been torn down to make way for a high-rise Office Building.

Clifford and my grandmother lived Several miles up the road on Connecticut Avenue in a very nice apartment at 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW, Apt 604. In 1996, the apartment building was still there and looks the same.

What follows is an account as told to me by my Grandfather … It is slightly different than the account on the PBS Documentary.

“The Vice-President, Harry Truman, and Bess lived in an Apartment across the street from us on Connecticut Avenue … they had no Secret Service and no car or driver.

I would go to the bus stop to ride the bus down to my store and waiting at the stop would be Harry Truman. He would get on the bus with me reading his newspaper as he made his way to his office. I knew who he was but even though we exchanged courtesies we never had long conversations on the bus trip.

One night during the summer, I awoke during the early hours of the morning and it was so bright outside you would have thought it was daylight.

There were floodlights and police everywhere … I had no idea what was going on but found out later that day that President Franklin D. Roosevelt had died and Harry Truman was the President of the United States and he was now entitled to Secret Service Protection.”

After only a little over 80 days in office the little man from Missouri with the wire-rimmed glasses was thrust into the biggest job in the land … President of the United States.




THE BORING-DUBOIS, PA CONNECTION

One of the Secret Service assigned to protect President Truman was Floyd Boring.

Floyd Murray Boring, grew up in DuBois, Pennsylvania and graduated from what was Sandy Township High School before it merged with

DuBois High School. He spent nearly five years as a Pennsylvania State Policeman after graduating from high school. He entered the Secret Service in November 1943 and joined the White House protective detail in March 1944.

I believe he grew up in and around the Dixon Avenue area of Sandy Township.

Little is heard about Floyd “Toad” Boring in an around DuBois but he had one of the most interesting careers of anyone from DuBois, PA.

Floyd M. Boring, guarded five presidents … Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson.

Mr. Boring was with President Franklin D Roosevelt when he died at Warm Springs, Ga., in 1945, and accompanied his body to the funeral at Hyde Park, N.Y.

He was not with President Kennedy's Secret Service detail in Dallas when Kennedy was assassinated (That said, Mr. Boring played a pivotal role in the security planning of JFK's fatal trip to Dallas, as he was in charge of the advance arrangements, according to the research of Secret Service expert Vince Palamara.)

Boring’s involvement with President Truman was his most famous assignment.

On the afternoon of Nov. 1, 1950, Truman was taking a nap at Blair House, where he was living while the White House, across Pennsylvania Avenue, was being renovated. Mr. Boring was stationed outside Blair House with several uniformed White House guards, while two Secret Service agents were posted inside.

“It was a beautiful day, about 80 degrees outside,” Mr. Boring recalled in a 1988 interview for the Truman Library. Mr. Boring had been teasing one of the uniformed guards, Leslie Coffelt. “I was kidding him about getting a new set of glasses,” Mr. Boring said. “I wanted to find out if he had gotten the glasses to look at the girls.”

Moments later, at 2:20 p.m., two men approached Blair House and opened fire with pistols, trying to shoot their way inside and assassinate Truman to further the cause of independence for Puerto Rico.

Mr. Boring, drawing his .38-caliber Colt pistol, known as a Detective’s Special, fired a bullet through the hat of one of the gunmen, Oscar Collazo, grazing his scalp. Mr. Collazo was also shot in the chest, and bullets grazed his nose and an ear. He was captured at the entrance to Blair House as Mr. Boring kicked his pistol away from his side.

Griselio Torresola, the other gunman, shot Mr. Coffelt, who killed him with return fire. Mr. Coffelt died of his wounds hours later. Two other White House policemen were wounded.

When the shooting stopped, Mr. Boring went up to see Truman and, as Mr. Boring recalled it, “He said, ‘What the hell is going on down there?’ ”

Mr. Boring later said that in addition to firing the shot that grazed Mr. Collazo’s head, he thought he had fired the bullet that hit Mr. Collazo in the chest. But in their book “American Gunfight” (Simon & Schuster, 2005), Stephen Hunter and John Bainbridge Jr. wrote that the bullet may have been fired by a White House policeman, Joseph Davidson, and ricocheted off an iron fence before hitting Mr. Collazo.

Mr. Collazo, the surviving gunman, was imprisoned until 1979, when he returned to Puerto Rico, where he died in 1994 at 80.

While guarding Truman, Mr. Boring also dealt with a frightening moment on the Potomac River one day when Truman struggled while swimming off his yacht, the Williamsburg.

Truman was not a good swimmer, Mr. Boring said in his oral history interview, and when he got into the water he started to struggle. Seeing his plight, and with others panicking around him, Mr. Boring threw Truman a life preserver and helped pull him in.

In the mid-1960s, Mr. Boring visited Truman at Independence, Mo., and found that Truman remembered him. “He said, ‘You’re the guy that saved my life, twice.

Floyd Boring retired in 1967 and entered private security work.

Floyd “Toad” Boring died on February 7, 2008 at the age of 92.

So, there is the connection … Larry Beighey to Clifford Beighey to President Harry S. Truman to Floyd Boring to DuBois, Pennsylvania … My Hometown.

A REAGAN CONSERVATIVE?

I have always admired and respected President Ronald Reagan since I heard him speak on TV for Barry Goldwater in 1964 ... He seemed so clear what he believed in ... His unwavering principles.

What is A Reagan Conservative?

I have always been fond of Reagan’s triad model of conservatism, wherein the stool is held up by the three legs of values, national defense, and free markets.

The 3 legs of a Reagan Conservative are:


SOCIAL ISSUES ................... VALUES
ECONOMIC ISSUES ................. FREE MARKETS
NATIONAL DEFENSE ISSUES .........MUSCULAR DEFENSE

People who conform to these principles are called Reagan Conservatives ...

Reagan set out to cut income taxes, to reduce the Federal Budget, to increase defense spending, and to deregulate U.S. business.

Reagan's economic plans were built on a theory called supply-side economics. This theory asserts that when taxes are cut, the money that is put back into the economy stimulates the production of more goods and services, thereby increasing jobs, with the result that more taxes are generated than were cut at the beginning of the process.

I would consider myself to be a Reagan Conservative.

BOOGIE WOOGIE

I just thought this was so good I had to pass it on. Does it bring back memories for any of you?

"THE MORE YOU PRACTICE THE LUCKER YOU GET"

One of the professional golfers on the PGA tour said, ”The more you practice, the luckier you get" ... this is so true in any endeavor.

Many times you have heard it said when playing golf, “if that ball would've just been six inches more to the right it would have rolled up to the pin instead of dropping into the sand trap. Of course, the person who practices more gets what we would call the “lucky bounce” but it is really not luck. It is more than likely the constant recurring practice that people do.

You can be the smartest person but if you can’t sell your ideas you are not likely to get ahead.

I have always felt the Speech was one of the most important classes in college … Dale Carnegie is also a great way to learn the art of “public speaking.

For several years, a friend of mine paid for ten high school students to attend the Dale Carnegie Program. He is a very successful businessman and realized the value of public speaking and wanted to pass it on to others. What a nice way to help young people.

I had a reputation of being a good public speaker and people may have the opinion that I was just a “natural” … Far from it … I worked very hard at becoming a good speaker.

I would make a “detailed” outline of what I want to say and get it burned into my mind. Then I would stand in front of a mirror and practice, practice and practice … working on delivery, posture and gestures. For example, did you know?

If you are standing behind a podium and you step around to the side and rest your elbow on the podium you are signaling your closeness to the audience?
Don’t chew gum.
Don’t have car keys or jingling things in your pocket.
Don’t stand with your legs crossed.
Don’t point your finger at people.

These are just a few quick things I learned … There are many more. The important point is practice

Another great tip is to “role play.” I have mentioned that one of my first jobs was at Eddie Levine’s Men’s Store. When I would finish with my daily chores, Eddie would give me one-on-one sales training by role-playing with me. Some times he would be a nice customer … Sometimes he would be a difficult customer all the time showing me “the ropes” of Selling.


One of the executives of Brockway, Inc. was going to testify in front of a House Committee … He spent hours “role playing” … answering “hostle” and “friendly” questions he may be asked. It helped him prepare to answer questions in a high stress situation.

One person that continues to impress me with his public speaking is Newt Gingrich. He normally speaks “off the cuff” or with a few cryptic notes. My daughter, Anne, worked for him for over twelve years and as far as I know only once did he write a speech … the day he was sworn in as Speaker of the House. He is an amazing speaker … No pun intended.

A side story … Few people know that Newt Gingrich is a speed-reader … The first afternoon that our daughter Anne was with him, He was traveling to some rallies in his District … During that time he read a book and 2 newspapers … He has written over 300 Book Reviews for Amazon.com … He is a prolific reader with great retention.

The day he was being sworn in as Speaker, He called up to Anne and asked her to call over to the Archives and have them look up a quote … He wanted to get it just right. It was from Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. He said, “It goes something like this … It is about 1/4 of the way into the book … About 2/3 of the way down a left hand page … The last sentence in the paragraph.”

Sure enough, they found it and Anne took it down to Newt. He was in the Ceremonial Room off the House Chamber … Newt was sitting their alone at Thomas Jefferson’s Desk.
Anne said it was “A Kodak Moment.”

I am sure you have heard the saying, “practice makes perfect." ... Well, we know there are such things as a lucky bounce but more often than not it is a result of many hours of repetitive practice. “The more you practice the luckier you get."

COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOR

As I reach the “sunset years,” I have become increasingly aware of the effect compulsive behavior has had on my family and friends.

I am certainly not a prude and did my share of drinking when I was “sowing my wild oats” and I kept it up until I got married. Fortunately, Carole and I steadily decreased our alcohol consumption to the point that we are now “social” drinkers. At no time did we drink at home by ourselves or allow our children to drink at home except for a small glass of wine or champagne on a holiday.

I had four really close friends in my life … “Best Man” type of friends. Alcohol has taken three of them at ages 40, 59, and 65. One was a lawyer; one a CPA; one owned an insurance firm. All were married and two had children. Two ended up divorced and one ended up in a homeless shelter.

There are many other forms of compulsive behavior besides alcohol … gambling, drugs, stealing, and eating disorders … and on and on and on.

I mention this to point out that compulsive behavior picks on all types and has a devastating affect on individuals and their families and friends. No amount of talking, financial support or intervention by family or friends helped these individuals.

It is important to watch for signs of compulsive behavior and give these individuals love, support and help to fight their obsessive actions.

DRILL BABY DRILL

THIS IS "DROP" 29, IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME, FROM A DROP IN THE BUCKET ... IT WAS WRITTEN IN 2006 ... 4 YEARS AGO ... IT IS WORTH INCLUDING HERE AS LITTLE, IF NOTHING, HAS BEEN DONE BY THE GOVERNMENT IN OVER FOUR [4] YEARS.

If You Build It, They Will Come

Serving as my company’s Energy Czar during the 1970’s energy crisis, I gained some extensive experience in the energy field. In my opinion, during that period, the consumer got caught up in a battle between the government and the energy companies. They said there was a shortage of fossil fuels; but, surprisingly, when the price of oil got high enough, there was no longer a shortage.

There are several long-term energy areas – such as solar, wind, corn alcohol, etc. – that are research-intensive and expensive but give promise as long-term solutions.

For years, I have felt that there was some middle ground for energy growth. These would include drilling in the ANWR fields of Alaska and off the coast of Florida. But in my opinion, the one that has the greatest potential is nuclear power.

Only 20% of the U.S. energy supply is nuclear and there have not been any new plants put in operation since 1979 – over twenty-five years ago. In fact, a nuclear power plant has been built in the Northeastern area of the United States and has NEVER been turned on.

Are there dangers? Of course … but don’t the rewards far outweigh the risks?

Worldwide, as of May 2005, there are 439 nuclear energy reactors in operation and 137 under construction, planned or proposed. Of the 137, NONE are in the United States.

So where are they?

France: 78% of the French energy supply is nuclear, with 59 reactors in operation.

China: 15 reactors operational with 31 in the works.

Russia: 17 nuclear reactors operating, generating 17% of Russian energy usage; they have another 13 underway or planned.
Japan: 25% of their power is generated from 54 operating reactors, and they have another 14 in their future.

South Korea: 20 nuclear generation plants producing 40% of their requirements; another 8 planned.

England and Canada: These two nations have more reactors per capita than the U.S., with 40 plants in operation and 5 under construction or planned.

What do these countries know that we in the U.S. don’t?

With the right regulations and controls, nuclear power can be our shortest path to achieving a self-sufficient energy level that will greatly reduce our dependency on imported oil.

Surprisingly, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil will increase the oil supply and decrease the price of the imported oil … The Arab sheiks need the money … Supply and Demand wins again.

THE 4 F'S

Freedom, Faith, Friends and Family! These are my 4 F’s.

I first heard President George H. W. Bush (Bush 41) talk about them at a motivational seminar in Atlanta, Georgia shortly after he left office in the early nineties. I adopted the 4 F’s and use them to help guide me.

FREEDOM
In our hectic, day-to-day lives we seldom if ever take the time to think about and give thanks for our freedom. As I am writing this we are engaged in “The War on Terrorism.” The terrorists want to deny us our freedoms just like they did on 9/11. I don’t think we want to give up our hard earned sovereignty like women’s rights, voting, free expression and freedom of speech. It is a battle we must endure and win … “Don’t tread on us.”

FAITH
I feel it is so important to have faith in some higher level being. You must have beliefs and convictions to help get through our day-to-day lives. Isn’t it great that we have freedom of religion to be able to openly pray and meditate for our personal guidance.

FRIENDS
I have always said that you can count yourself lucky if you have more friends than you can count on one hand. I am talking about “Best Man” type of friends. These are the friends that will be there for you no matter what … a friend you can talk to for advice and counseling in strictest confidence … a friend that will help you financially if you find yourself in great need … a friend that will tell you straight even though it may affect your friendship.

I count myself lucky that I had four such friends. Unfortunately, I have lost three of them at early ages and the fourth was in a terrible automobile accident that left him less than 100%. He, too, recently died. My friends were there for me when I needed them and I think I served them well when they needed me.

FAMILY
The last F is for family. I saved it for last because I feel it is so important. When things are at a low level and you are most in need you can always turn to your family unit. We have always told our children that no one loves you like your spouse and your family. You can always count on your kin in a time of need.

As I have mentioned, it pleases my wife and I that our children’s best friends are their brothers and sisters. It makes us happy that our immediate and extended families are so close and caring for each other. Our door is always open to our family group as their doors are always open to us.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

My wife is a remarkable person. What she has accomplished at this point in her life makes any of my accomplishments pale in comparison.
Her first husband died the day after Christmas, leaving her with four children, ages two to nine. She was 30! Besides her own grief, she still had to cope with explaining the loss of their father to these four small children. They just couldn’t understand what had happened to their father. When was he coming back?
While vacationing at her brother’s lake cabin in Michigan’s northern woods, she watched a mother raccoon and her babies feeding nightly at the stump outside the kitchen window. The idea came to write her stories through the eyes of animals, believing it would be less painful for children to relate to their loss.
Carole had a dream about writing but could never imagine how she would find the time, especially after marrying me and having two more children … six children under the age of 11.
It was a great idea, but when would she ever find the time?
One Saturday afternoon, I told her that I was going to take the six kids out for about three or four hours and that she should do whatever she wanted.
When I returned home, I found that she had sat down at a typewriter (there were few personal computers in those days) and had written 30 pages of her book, The Waddodles of Hollow Lake. That was 31 years ago.
By sneaking a few minutes here or there – or staying up half the night after everyone had gone to bed – she typed away.
In 1986, we bought a personal computer and after a few quick lessons, Carole learned how to use a simple word processor. Soon, she was proficient in using the computer and had moved up to the most advanced word processors.
That was 1500 type-written pages ago.
She has now had two books published in the series, The Waddodles of Hollow Lake, and has written enough draft material for 5 or 6 books. (http://www.waddodles.com/) [UPDATE: FIVE BOOKS IN THE SERIES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AND 3 MORE ARE READY IN DRAFT FORM ... IN ADDITION A 500 RECIPE FAMILY COOKBOOK, MIMI AND ME, HAS BEEN RELEASED]
What started out as a dream has turned into a reality! It just proves the point that if you set your mind to something, you can find a way to get it accomplished, despite difficult odds and situations.
Remember to “follow your dreams” and as Theodore Waddodle, one of the raccoons in Carole’s books says, “Always look forward, never behind.”

CAPITAL GAINS

I think I understand the taxation on Capital Gains and Corporate Dividends. It is double taxation. The Federal Income Tax code taxes a corporation’s profits at the Corporate Tax Rate before any dividends are paid. When the corporation pays dividends to its stockholders, the stockholders dividends are again taxed. This is double taxation.
It is true that the elimination of the dividend tax would benefit the wealthiest taxpayers. However, a recent article in the USA Today newspaper indicates that 52 percent of the households paying taxes now own corporate stocks; so, the elimination of the tax on taxpayers’ dividends would decrease the taxes and increase the disposable income for a majority of the taxpayers. The wealthiest taxpayers will receive a much greater reduction in their income tax than a middle class taxpayer.
What I don’t understand and don’t see mentioned in any news broadcast or newspaper article is what the wealthiest taxpayers would do with the reduction in
income tax they receive from the elimination of the taxation on dividends. What will they do with the increase in disposable income they receive?
It only makes sense that one of two things will happen with the increase in disposable income that taxpayers have realized:
• Taxpayers will spend the additional disposal income to buy goods and services from stores and companies. This rise in demand should increase the sales and profit of companies, hopefully generating additional capital investment and creating jobs.
• If the taxpayers do not spend the additional disposable income on goods and services, they are certainly not going to “hide the money under the mattress.” They will reinvest the increased disposable income in stocks, bonds and/or CD's, creating more investment dollars for corporations producing goods and services
or for banks to loan to individuals.
In both cases, the money supply for goods and services in corporations and banks is going to increase, allowing them to increase capital investments and/or loans, creating more jobs and increasing the company's profits, allowing them to increase dividends.
It has been proven that this type of “trickle-down” economics will stimulate the economy by creating more capital investment, which will increase wages and jobs, thus improving individuals’ disposable and/or investment income.
As Ronald Reagan stated so eloquently, “The government does not create jobs and improve the economy by higher taxation. It is private enterprise, through capital investment, that increases corporate profits and increases jobs and individuals’ disposable income having the greatest impact on the economy.” (See “Economic Growth.”)

Economic Growth

This "drop" was written many years ago but I just had to "dust it off." I certainly was not in favor of the Stimulus Bill that was going to immediately create "shovel ready" jobs. Unfortunately, it is creating jobs in the government sector which are paid for out of our taxes and are not lasting.

I am writing this Drop in the Bucket on June 7, 2004, as we are remembering the passing of one of our greatest presidents, Ronald Reagan.

I was very impressed with a quote that Ronald Reagan made that I have not yet seen on the TV or newspapers as they remember Reagan with wall-to-wall coverage of his legacy. I was so moved by the message that I had it blown up and framed … it hung in our company conference room for many years during the 90’s and now hangs in my private office.

To me, Reagan captured the difference between the government and the private sector in one concise paragraph – it speaks for itself and I will include it here as it was said and printed.

• 
  
  “Economic growth is created by people who produce things. The more that’s produced to meet increasing demand, the more new jobs and services are created in turn. Other than short-term make-work projects, the government does not create jobs; the private sector does. How? By investing in new plants and equipment, and by researching and developing new products. And how does the private sector do all that? By having enough corporate profits to reinvest and enough incentives to make such expenditures desirable.”

I think he got it right … how about you?

11 Lessons They don't Tell You in School

I received this from my High School Classmate ... Billie

This should be posted in every school! Love him or hate him, he sure hits the nail on the head with this!

Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

• Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!
• Rule 2: The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
• Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice! -president with a car phone until you earn both.
• Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.
• Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.
• Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.
• Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.
• Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
• Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.
• Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.
• Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.