JUST SOME POSTS

The national anthem, the "Star Spangled Banner", has gotten a lot of attention of late. Regardless of our personal feelings about it, I would venture that as close to 100% as can be have heard it and most have stood and sung along; some with hand over heart, some in salute, and some texting on their cell phones. My thoughts lately have been with how many have thought about the lyrics. How they came about and what they actually say. In 1812 the United States declared war on the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland (the UK). This was the first declaration of war for a young nation. The prevailing sentiment was that the UK had to be forced to support and respect the sovereignty of the young USA. (NOTE: The following is an accurate but gross over-simplification of the times - it is NOT meant to be a defining history of the beginnings of the War of 1812, just a primer for those interested and maybe uninformed AND, if you do not care to read the history - scroll down to ...

The blog that I wrote when my wife was diagnosed with the fatal illness Multiple System Atrophy is now available in a book of the same title. I took the blog posts "as is" and added commentary and thoughts. It is available in the Kindle store if you are looking for an e-book. FYI, there is a Kindle app available for almost every tablet, phone, or computer if you so desire. The book is only $3.99 and a portion of any profit will go towards MSA research. If you prefer a "real" book, by the time you read this it should be available on Amazon for $19.99. Please consider purchasing one, even if it is just to make a donation to MSA research! Let all your friends and family know as well!! thanks, Scott

Well I have not posted since right before Christmas when the Christmas poem came to me. We (the collective we) were lamenting about goings on in far off lands and learning new ways to disrespect each other. Now we are back to one of the tried and true ways - fighting over gun control. Before I get into it let me let you give you some facts about me - I do not own any guns. I have never watched Fox news (except for switching between them and MSNBC and PBS on election night - I enjoy the contrast). I have voted for Democrats and Republican over my voting years. I try to get to facts instead of emotions on issues that are very inflammatory, like gun control. There has been another school shooting by a crazed individual with a gun; no THE gun, that all the world's troubles have been attached to; the AR-15. (AR-15-style is more correct, as actual AR-15s - trademark name owned by Colt - are a small part of the market as every rifle manufacturer makes a variant) This rifle is a semi-aut...

Just Days Before Christmas Twas a few days before Christmas and all through the land, People were losing their minds over a new tax plan. Their concern is too much money Might remain with the rich. Not even sure who gets what, they decide just to bitch. Of course, when people are asked who the rich might be Basically, they say, “anyone that has more money than me”. Our worries of government and taxes and such, really don’t help advance mankind much. To concern ourselves with where capitals might be In some faraway land that we’ll probably never see. Is a waste of our efforts, And can cost us our minds. We should just try to be more understanding and kind. We can help one another not elected people on a hill. No matter the rhetoric or passage of a bill. Tis the season to be jolly, And to love one another. To treat all we meet like a sister or brother. Kindness is not made by legislatures afar. But comes from our hearts And...

I have written a few posts throughout the history of this blog about taxes. With all the talk (and hyperbole) about the "Republican tax plan" working its way through Congress now, I felt compelled to do another. I do recommend and ask that if you care about this subject that you go back a few posts and read a series of three posts where I investigated and reported on tax cuts and their effect on tax revenues. There are three posts. The first is: http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2017/06/death-and-taxes-ok-just-taxes.html  Then the next two follow consecutively. Since I know most of you probably will not - the quick and dirty bottom-line is every time that tax cuts have been instituted they have paid for themselves. I even included a spreadsheet with the data if you care to review it yourself. If you have read many of these posts you know I have some "lessons" and truths that I am trying to get across to the readers. The idiotic games being played in Washington (...

I just corrected a gross mistake here on the number of auto deaths. I am not sure what happened, but I had the number very wrong on the high side. I truly try to check these things with two sources prior to publishing, but I do make mistakes. I found this myself in reading some older posts for background for another. My apologies. SP 8/29/18 I wanted to comment on one of the most controversial and widely discussed topics today - gun control/gun violence. Especially with two heinous acts within a span of about a month, this is top of mind and discussions. I just wanted to put some perspective on these events, as well as bring up some points and questions. I am not trying to dismiss the tragedy or horror of these killings ; just trying to have a rational discussion (which is always difficult when concerning an inherently irrational subject). First let's get into the perspective part: As horrific and seemingly common these "mass shootings" are - in reality they are st...

I was going to start with my "lessons", but I will end with them instead. As I realize some (if not most) people do not want to learn or feel "preached at" and will tune out, I will start with the "meat" of what I wanted to say. I have written about a plethora of subjects here. I can tell you that yes, my opinions are represented, (hey, my blog, my forum, my opinions) however I do try to clearly distinguish pure opinion from facts whenever possible. I can also tell you that I try very, very hard to base my opinions on fact. One of the benefits of our modern, connected age is the access to almost unlimited data. From when I was a child (not of ancient times, but years ago) where a trip to the library was needed for extensive study on a subject, or using an encyclopedia that was outdated on contemporary subjects once it was printed; we have at our fingertips data to rival the greatest libraries and museums in the world. I do a LOT of research in coming up ...