2011-02-27
2011-02-26
I think I've seen this shirt before!
It's certainly his favorite. I think it's cute how kids (mine included) get stuck on certain clothes. Like Andy and his favorite sock... :)
2011-02-25
2011-02-24
A nice shower!
White fluffy got a bath in the washer. Now they're giggling hysterically, watching her bouncing all over the dryer.
2011-02-23
Fair trade?
Puleeeeeze! make sure you don't print this e-mail unless you really need to... I mean, come on. Consider your environmental responsibilities!
The Message
I really like The Message translation of the Bible. It gives a fresh perspective to familiar passages. This was part of my reading today. The yellow highlights were some if the ones I liked.
Our society is so good at giving rewards to those who do the worst the best...
2011-02-22
More parenting moments...
2. I used to reign supreme in my family as the champion at first shooter person games. Nobody could touch me... That was until this weekend. Something clicked and all of a sudden Andy can routinely wipe the floor with me. If I'm lucky, he only beats me by a few points. On the unlucky games, he skunks me 200 to ZERO! He's a machine! I win maybe one out of ten. Well, at least he's having fun. I better be practicing some more...
2011-02-20
Now THAT's a fit...
The lighter colored paneling running vertical in the lower right is an existing wall... "Measure twice, cut once". ;)
This was the first fitting.
Dr. Seuss...
Not exactly a complimentary name... But, if the shoe fits... At least I KNOW the washer and dryer aren't going ANYWHERE!
Think before you buy...
I planned my laundry room base before I bought anything or made the first cut. I bought a box of 50 lag bolts. This is a picture of the leftovers. :)
2011-02-19
2011-02-18
2011-02-17
The Damage
From our friend Ruth S. King comes a chart which all of us should read and absorb, sobering though it may be:
| January 2009 | Today | % chg | Source | |
| Avg. retail price/gallon gas in U.S. | $1.83 | $3.104 | 69.6% | 1 |
| Crude oil, European Brent (barrel) | $43.48 | $99.02 | 127.7% | 2 |
| Crude oil, West TX Inter. (barrel) | $38.74 | $91.38 | 135.9% | 2 |
| Gold: London (per troy oz.) | $853.25 | $1,369.50 | 60.5% | 2 |
| Corn, No.2 yellow, Central IL | $3.56 | $6.33 | 78.1% | 2 |
| Soybeans, No. 1 yellow, IL | $9.66 | $13.75 | 42.3% | 2 |
| Sugar, cane, raw, world, lb. fob | $13.37 | $35.39 | 164.7% | 2 |
| Unemployment rate, non-farm, overall | 7.6% | 9.4% | 23.7% | 3 |
| Unemployment rate, blacks | 12.6% | 15.8% | 25.4% | 3 |
| Number of unemployed | 11,616,000 | 14,485,000 | 24.7% | 3 |
| Number of fed. employees, ex. military (curr = 12/10 prelim) | 2,779,000 | 2,840,000 | 2.2% | 3 |
| Real median household income (2008 v 2009) | $50,112 | $49,777 | -0.7% | 4 |
| Number of food stamp recipients (curr = 10/10) | 31,983,716 | 43,200,878 | 35.1% | 5 |
| Number of unemployment benefit recipients (curr = 12/10) | 7,526,598 | 9,193,838 | 22.2% | 6 |
| Number of long-term unemployed | 2,600,000 | 6,400,000 | 146.2% | 3 |
| Poverty rate, individuals (2008 v 2009) | 13.2% | 14.3% | 8.3% | 4 |
| People in poverty in U.S. (2008 v 2009) | 39,800,000 | 43,600,000 | 9.5% | 4 |
| U.S. rank in Economic Freedom World Rankings | 5 | 9 | n/a | 10 |
| Present Situation Index (curr = 12/10) | 29.9 | 23.5 | -21.4% | 11 |
| Failed banks (curr = 2010 + 2011 to date) | 140 | 164 | 17.1% | 12 |
| U.S. dollar versus Japanese yen exchange rate | 89.76 | 82.03 | -8.6% | 2 |
| U.S. money supply, M1, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim) | 1,575.1 | 1,865.7 | 18.4% | 13 |
| U.S. money supply, M2, in billions (curr = 12/10 prelim) | 8,310.9 | 8,852.3 | 6.5% | 13 |
| National debt, in trillions | $10.627 | $14.052 | 32.2% | 14 |
Just take this last item: In the last two years we have accumulated national debt at a rate more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our entire nation’s history. Over 27 times as fast! Metaphorically, speaking, if you are driving in the right lane doing 65 MPH and a car rockets past you in the left lane 27 times faster . . . it would be doing 1,755 MPH!
(1) U.S. Energy Information Administration; (2) Wall Street Journal; (3) Bureau of Labor Statistics; (4) Census Bureau; (5) USDA; (6) U.S. Dept. of Labor; (7) FHFA; (8) Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller; (9) RealtyTrac; (10) Heritage Foundation and WSJ; (11) The Conference Board; (12) FDIC; (13) Federal Reserve; (14) U.S. Treasury
2011-02-16
2011-02-15
Tony sent the boys a bribe...
He sent them a cookie decorating kit.
He thinks we're planning a prank as payback... He's right!
He tried to recruit the boys. This was their reply...
