Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween!!!

Tis the season for pumpkins and colored leaves, costumes and candy, tricks and treats.

Unfortunately, we don't get many tick-or-treaters at our house, so we're going over to visit with some friends, Barb & Vicki, to "man the house" while they walk their kids around the neighborhood. We've spent Halloween with them for several years now, carving pumpkins and playing with the kids. It's a lot of fun!

Halloween was one of my dad's favorite holidays. As a kid I remember him decorating the garage with ghosts (soccer balls, volleyballs, kick balls, etc covered with white sheets and tied to wire coat hangers), black lights, and scary Halloween music. Kids would have to come through the scary garage to get their treats. He'd always encourage the parents to come in with their kids and he'd be ready with an overhead light in case the kids were too scared. He used to get a real kick out of the whole thing. I enjoy those memories!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Halloween! Be safe with all the ghosts and goblins out there... and in case you need a few pumpkin carving ideas, here are a few of ours, and my mom-in-law's, from years past.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

One Week From Today....

It's fantastic to realize we're only one week from electing a new president. Few other elections have there been candidates with such clear cut opposite views on how to get the country back on track. Many states are offering early voting through the end of this week and reports state that one third of the country is taking advantage of this opportunity and the push for mail in ballots is reaching record numbers. It's very exciting!

Most folks know who they're voting for and have been rooting on their preferred candidate with unwavering enthusiasm. I am one of them. And once each contender chose his running mate... the person that will take over if something happens to him... I knew for sure that I had made the right choice.

If you are still on the fence, there are several websites that help clarify and give details on both sides. As well, there are sites that quiz you to see which candidate you agree with more. One week from today... we'll choose a new President. I, for one, am very excited!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Barack Obama in Denver


Today was a great day in Denver!
Presidential Nominee Barack Obama was in the city for a large rally at Civic Center Park. Well over 100,000 supporters showed up to cheer on the next President hopeful.

Motivating the crowd to cast their votes early was the focus of this assembly. With Obama leading in the poles of this battleground state of Colorado, Barack is closer to getting our 9 electoral votes and this country is one step closer getting back on track.

Here are a couple pictures of the event.
There are only 9 days to go!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Great American Beer Festival 2008

Happy GABF Day!! This is something we look forward to every year!

Today is the day we get to enjoy the lagers, ales, wheats, ambers, and more of approximately 500 breweries serving one-ounce tastings of the different beers each brewery has to present. Some have a mere two beers for tasting while others have ten. Because we're members of the American Brewers Association, we get to go to the "members only" session today. It's going to be a good day at the Great American Beer Festival!! If you enjoy tasting a variety of beer, I'd highly recommend coming with us next year! We'll let you know about our favorites!

To quote our friends at Dry Dock Brewery...
Four Ingredients... Infinite Possibilities!

Friday, October 3, 2008

Government Bail Out

I received this email from a friend of mine and I thought I'd pass it on! It's an email written by "Jerry"... I don't know who "Jerry" is, but I like his thinking...

I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.
Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a We Deserve It Dividend.

To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bona fide U.S. Citizens 18+. Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up.

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00.

My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a We Deserve It Dividend.

Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let's assume a tax rate of 30%. Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam. But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife has $595,000.00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads
Put away money for college - it'll be there
Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car - create jobs
Invest in the market - capital drives growth
Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves Enable
Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President. (Although that's something!)
If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG liquidate it!. Sell off its parts.
Let American General go back to being American General.
Sell off the real estate.
Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.

Sure it's a crazy idea that can 'never work.'

But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion We Deserve It Dividend more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC. And remember, this plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

Kindest personal regards,
Jerry