Today a cloud fell on my head.  That is the way is described "fog" to my grandson. I found that this was the easiest way to explain it.  Sometime we adults try to make thing too difficult.  Our political system can be manipulated by our fancy language.  Most people agree when they should disagree because they don't understand. People can get very confusing when they try to interpret the Bible.  Many seem to think that there is a secret language in the Bible that needs to be interpreted. It is no wonder that many people turn away from the Bible because it seem to contradict itself. Some feel that the Bible needs to be update for today's world.  What was a sin back then, is not a sin today. Any of the don'ts can be made into "can do".  I have read the Bible from beginning to end many time and the real verse that stands out to me the most are The Two Greatest Commandments, Love God, and your neighbor as yourself.  That second one is impossible.  Just think about it. Once you get a handle on these two, everything else fits right in.

People in the United States amaze me.  If they are a Republican, they don't want government to control things.  If you are a Democrat, you don't want business to run everything.  It says somewhere the phrase "We, the people." It doesn't say we the party, or we the business, or we the rich, or we the poor.  FREEDOM.    This is freedom to do business, freedom to get dumped on, freedom to blame someone else.  Freedom to elect a person and not a party. Freedom to tell a "white Lie" about a political foe and not be held up to it. Freedom to starve the people who need help, freedom to step on someone else to get to the top. Freedom to take away other peoples freedom. Freedom to go to war for profit.  Freedom to turn your back on other people suffering. Freedom to do nothing and have other people pay for it. Freedom to vote stupid or smart.  It's about freedom.  Why then does both Parties want to take away your freedom.  Why does these parties tell "little white lies" to steal your vote? Why do both parties take large amounts of money from businesses to steal your vote?  Your political system is run by big money if you vote Democrat or Republican, facts are facts.  Money talks and bullshit walks, but we continue to be lead like sheep to the slaughter. Why? FREEDOM. Prices will continue to rise. Why? FREEDOM. The poor and sick will continue to be ignored for the profit of big business. Why? FREEDOM.  Our children will continue to dies in foreign countries for profit. Why?FREEDOM . God will play less and less a part in our country. Why? Freedom.  Yes, both parties want your freedom.  To them it is all or nothing, evil or good, sour or sweet etc...... Rush Limbaugh said it best, "There is no place for fence sitters."
I look at our government and our political system and what do I see.  I see a large wall, representing our government, covered with sticky notes, which are changes to that system.  The sticky notes are attached to the wall, attached to other sticky note, and some have even fallen to the ground.  The wall is being held up by the sticky notes.  Standing in front of that wall is a democrat and a republican, attaching more notes.  That wall could also be our school system, our health care system, or anything else that we  the people should have a right to change, but don't.  We continue to have our elected party leaders attach more sticky notes.  That is all they can do, that is what you elected them to do.  This is all that they are qualified to do.  Their qualification were their party association, their looks, and how well they come across. Congratulations people, you have elected exactly what the party gave you. A well spoken sticky note writer, but he is the best that money can buy.

I loved my Hyundai 2001 xg300 until the front end collapsed just before going on the highway. My wife and my daughter who is 9 months pregnant were in the car.  If this had happened on the highway the results would have been a lot worse.  The front end collapsed, broke the the axle and a whole bunch of other stuff in the front end.  The right front wheel was pushed into the wheel well and bent up the front quarter panel so that the passenger side door is hard to open. The transmission is also having problems.  Betten Hyundai in Muskegon Michigan says that the front axle is most likely broken as well as other damage.My wife and I are on a fixed income, we are both on disability(SSI) and do not have extra money.  We also watch a grandson six days of the week and need transportation as this is our only car. The car is part of a recall and I have already talked to Gary at Ext 54348. Without even looking at it, Betten has said that we will most likely have to pay for the extra damage.  I don't even know for sure how much damage was done to the frame as well as the sub frame and even if this can be repaired. Right now I have a million worries and questions and few answers

This is the email I sent to Hyundai and I will continue to correspond until the problem is taken care of properly.

Yesterday as my car came to a stop,(2001 Hyundai cx300) the right front collapsed.  I had it towed into a local (Muskegon Michigan), Hyundai service center and found out it was because of a recall

NHTSA Recall Campaign Number: 09V124000

Component: SUSPENSION

Details: HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 188,282 MY 2001-2004 SONATA AND MY 2001-2004 XG300 AND XG350 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT APPLIED IN THESE JURISDICTIONS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS MAY RESULT IN PROGRESSIVE, INTERNAL CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME ON THEVEHICLES, AND MAY RESULT IN THINNING OR PERFORATION OF THE SUB-FRAME STEEL. THE CORROSION IS FREQUENTLY VISIBLE AND OFTEN DISCOVERED DURING INSPECTION OR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND OWNERS MAY ALSO HEAR NOISES OR NOTICE TIRE MISALIGNMENT AND STEERING PULL. IF THESE SIGNALS ARE UNDETECTED OR UNHEEDED, THE CORROSION MAY PROGRESS AND THE FORWARD MOUNTING OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY DETACH FROM THE SUB-FRAME.

Consequence: IF THAT HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE MAY LOSE DRIVE POWER TO THE WHEELS, AND THE FRONT WHEEL MAY MAKE CONTACT WITH THE FENDER OR WHEEL WELL, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Corrective Action: DEALERS WILL MEASURE THE THICKNESS OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME AND INSPECT THE FRONT SUB-FRAME FOR CORROSION DAMAGE AND, IF NECESSARY, THE FRONT SUB-FRAME WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW SUB-FRAME THAT INCORPORATES ADDITIONAL HOLES IN THE UPPER AND LOWER PANELS. IF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME DOES NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT, THE DEALER WILL ADD DRAINAGE HOLES TO THE SUB-FRAME AND WILL TREAT THE SUB-FRAME WITH RUST-PROOFING MATERIAL TO STOP THE CORROSION PROCESS. THIS PROCEDURE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT             1-800-633-5151      .

Units Potentially Affected: 188282

Recall Initiated By: ODI

Today I talked with these people

Talked with Hyundai Customer Service and they informed me that everything would be covered. There supposedly a class action suit and all damages will be covered. I then took all the information (Hyundai were very helpful) and gave that information to Betten Hyundai along with the case number, class action number, and the representative that I talked to along with his Id number. Betten was trying to tell me that they would only cover the repair of the defective part, but not the damage it caused. They were going to try to charge me for the front axle ball joints and the damage to the front quarter panel. I will be updating my story everyday to tell how well this is covered. It will either be great press or a story that appears on the news. My wife and my pregnant daughter were in the car when this happened and we were just planning on going on the highway. At 70 MPH you might have been just reading the obituaries and how I lost control of the car. I hope I won't need a write in campaign, but if I do , I am counting on all of you.

Mama's, don't let your children grow up to be President.

Lets see, we have the Miss America, Mrs America, Miss universe and thousands of other competitions. They even have contest for babies, children, singers, animals, entertainers and the all in one competition called the run for President of the United States. What  all these have in common is that anyone can win.  There is no test......wait......the beauty contest are restricted to Women, and humans can't compete in animal contests but I'm not sure about animals running for President.  Three men running for President are named Newt, Mitt, and Barrack. It sounds like Doris Day calling her dogs.

There are people out there that want welfare recipients to take a urine test, but no one wants an intelligence test for those running for the highest office in the land.  The Republican don't want their money going to the poor, just to those running for public office. The Democrats don't want big money to influence government unless it is supporting their election process. 

How can a person running for president , be opposed to hate crime, and run the hate ads like those in the Florida primary. I guess white lies are ok if you are running for president..

Let's talk about teachers.  My son is a teacher.  He now teaches in a private school in Japan.  The jobs were not available here in the states.  People and politicians are asking teachers to take a cut in pay and benefits to keep the school going.  In neighboring Muskegon Heights, they are looking at being taken over by the state because they are millions on dollars in the red. They have privatized many parts, and asked the teachers for a twenty percent price cut, plus more. This has made it a political hot button that both side cannot win.  Until priorities are put in place like properly funding schools up front, this will continue to be a problem. Until we consolidate the school systems to get the most for the money, it will continue to be a problem. Until we pay teachers according to their abilities and not their location, this will continue to be a problem.  When our schools once again become safe, we will continue to have problems. When politicians act on the problem and stop making this a soapbox, we will continue with the problems. 

Thinning down the junk

It is amazing how quickly the junk can accumulate. This April, we will have been in this house 5 years. We have had as much as 6 people living here, and at times, just down to the two of us. I finally have myself an office, my daughter and her son live in one bedroom, the den and the living room need updating. The house just got new siding and new windows. This takes time because we got no money. All of our furniture is used, but comfortable. We, my wife and I, are both on disability and fight hard to make ends meet. Our unexpected health problems drained our retirement and we were "legally" conned out of our last house which was almost paid for. The reason I bring this up is that I tend to hang on to things longer then usually in hopes that I can re use it. This is nothing like the TV show "hoarders", but we do have a lot of stuff. Our children have not fully moved out. My son and his wife are in Japan, so we are storing their stuff, my one daughter and her husband are living in an apartment so they are space deprived, and my youngest daughter and her son live 80% of the time with us. You might think that I am complaining, but I am not. Our kids payed for our trip to Japan,and because my grandson lives with us, we had our house de leaded and new windows put in. A very good friend gave us a used baby grand piano, and SSI has kept us from being in the gutter. We get to watch our grandson grow up, and look forward to the birth of our 3rd grandchild. I just get frustrated at times that I can't get things done right away. Through it all, God has been great to us, bit I digress from the point. What junk do I keep and what do I need to throw out, how do I save up for newer furniture for the living room, how to re do the kitchen and the two baths, plus do the need repairs on the car, and need a new roof. I guess I can reuse the junk.

This winter season has been really strange. In October and November, Liz and I were in Japan where the weather was beautiful for most part. Since we have returned in December, we have only had a few snow storms and the temp has been around freezing, mostly above freezing. We are way below our average for snow fall and well above normal for temperature.
Yesterday, Tom Izzo (basketball coach @ Michigan State University) recorded his 400th victory. This is one of the class acts of all sports. I would love to sit and talk basketball with this guy more then anyone else. The minute I think that I have figured him out, something new comes to light. He is refreshing everytime to see him.
Joe Paterno will be laid to rest today. I met Joe and talked with him about 20 years ago. The company I was working with had invited the coach to give a motivational speach. So many good things he did for college football to have it all end with one glaring mistake of ommission. I wish to remember him in the 15 min. or so that him and I talked alone.
My Detroit Tigers have beefed up their lineup for a run at the world series. I have enjoyed watching them play. The Detroit Piston, I have not watched at all this year. My reasons, other then that they are really bad, is that Pro Basketball went on strike against its fans, and now I am returning the favor. The Detroit Lions had a great year and are building for the future and are fun to watch. The Detroit Redwings (hockey) are also doing good, but I'm not a hockey fan. With all this said, college sports have been more entertaining this year.

Why do we as Americans want to make things so complicated. The computer age was suppose to make things so easier for us, but instead it has made it more complicated and a lot more expensive.
1- Our elections would truely mean something if the elections were held on a weekend.
2- Each person running for an office must post their corporate sponsors.
3- The President be given a line item veto power.
4- You must be a citizen of this country if you want a say so over here.
5- Fines for deceptive advertising.
6- No small print, or disclaimers.

How is that for Simple?

My first posting from Tokyo Japan. Liz and I arrived last week Tuesday after about 14 hours of flight time. Don and Akiko met us at the airport in Norita. I was about to find out what jet lag is all about. During this week we have toured Tokyo, met Akiko's father for lunch, ate sushi at an automated sushi bar, and walked far more then I have walked in years. Tokyo is so busy, so beautiful, and so confusing for this humble peasant from Muskegon Michigan. These people drive on the opposite side of the road, and their steering wheels are where the passenger should be. Everything is orderly chaos. The men all dress the same, as well as do the women. Individuality is definitely something only found in the states. With all this order, crime seems very low. They leave stuff right out in the open with no fear of theft. Their dogs are well trained pure breds, and their cat are ferrel. Their stores are always packed and there is more then enough sales people. Their police and ambulances stop at the red lights while on a call.
Japan state run health care seems to be a well oiled machine that work much better then our Republicans would tell us. In other words, the republicans are lying . These observations are only from one week here, and I plan on learning a whole bunch more. As Akiko delivers her baby I will write more about their health care system that requires the mom to stay 6 days in the hospital before going home.

Dr. Seuss 2011: I do not like this Uncle Sam, I do not like his health care scam. I do not like these dirty crooks, or how they lie and cook the books. I do not like when Congress steals, I do not like their secret deals. I do not like ex-speaker Nan, I do not like this 'YES WE CAN'..I do not like this spending spree, I'm smart, I know that nothing's free. I do not like their smug replies, when I complain about their lies. I do not like this kind of hope. I do not like it. Nope, nope, nope!

Save us from ourselves

I have enjoyed the last month or so just listening to the parties and their effort to raise the debt ceiling. They look like a bunch of blind monkeys looking to follow someone. Any positive move for economy would lose political power. The rich pay too much or too little, the poor are feeding of the hardworking Americans, the retired people are supporting the whole system with their retirement money, Social security is in trouble, and for some reason we are spending more then we take in, and it's all someone Else's fault. Well......I believe its the system that is at fault, not everyone else.
The fix is very simple.......stop spending more then we make. Our representatives, the people we elect into office need to use their brain. Instead they keep signing billions of dollars of pork while yelling ,"Save us from ourselves". Here is a good start, put down the pen. If any bills have pork, don't sign.
Social security is fine. It needs some fixes, but it is the strongest unit we have in the USA. Money has be used from this fund to help everyone else and was never meant to be drawn on for any other debt. It is an insurance fund that we pay into it for retirement and disability. That is what insurance does. We pay into it to be able to receive if needed.
Many people believe that eliminating unemployment,food stamps, and other forms of help will balance the budget. They want to kick these people into the streets with no new jobs in the market. This would be disastrous. Why not use these people who are collecting money and are able to work, give them local jobs. This has worked before.

I am confussed. The republicans want to cut our social security, tax our retierment, take away our voice via the unions, cut social programs like medicaid and food assistance. Let's see, those who are disabled and too old to work will have to find work in a market where there are no jobs. After big business was given bail outs and tax breaks, they turn around and ship jobs abroad, and raise prices on good and service and make huge profits. By raising prices, less people can afford their products, so they lay off more people...... Middle class and lower. You have to be more educated to get better jobs, but the cost of college education continues to rise out of reach. Grade school and high school education is being cut and no corrections being made.........wait....they are using China's business model. China is in the proccess of weeding out their poor people and infirmed people. China has sponsored the building of cities where the poor use to live, employing them to build it, and then pricing it too high for them to buy it.

When August 3 come around and there is no SSI checks, you will know that they have once again raided your Social Security again. Home forclosure will be on the rise again but that won't hurt the rich. Food lines will reach around the country, but the rich will eat just fine. They earned it.

.

Happy fathers day to my dad. He has been gone for a while now, but he still lives on in my heart. Happy fathers day to my son Don. His first child is not due for a few months, but I believe that he is a father. Happy fathers day to my son in law Chris. He is a great fathers to Vinny. Happy fathers day to Sean (tieson). Tieson is my "grand dog".
I have had the pleasure of being a father to many, my own kids, and those that I have adopted or friened.
Most of all is my Happy Fathers Day to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God, every ones father, he who is both loved and hated, and still give his unconditional love to all. To all the fathers out there, happy fathers day. May you continue to love your children unconditionally.

blessed are the meek...............
or
the squeaky wheel get the grease.

Have I become a grumpy old man or have I just decided to play the system? There are so many positive thing in life to rejoice over, I feel bad when I complain about something. This week the trash men forgot to pick up my trash. Usually it is half full, but this time it was stuffed to the top. They must have driven by our house at least a dozen times. I put the trash out the night before so they can't say that it wasn't out there on time. Our driveway is on the side street and sometimes they skip it because it is not in front of the house. Do I bitch, or shut my mouth and see if I can smash the trash down, compact it for this weeks waste?

I've changed my title and hopefully some better topics. The picture is my wife, my grandson, my dog, and me. I like to blog to keep my mind active. I am a christian who does not know all the answers. I also do not believe that just because something is published, it is true. I also believe that memorizing the bible will not make me a better christian. I love a good sermon when it comes from the heart, not from quotes from someone elses book. I love my wife, my kids and their spouses, and my only grandson. I can truely say that I hate no one. I hate it when people confuse democracy with capitalism. I love the four seasons of the year that Michigan offers. I love my cardiologist who keeps my heart beating. I love my wife who keeps loving me. I love the house we own and never want to move. I hate white lies, big lies, and all types of spinning. I will gladly share my faith with you, but when it come to that final day and you are standing before God, you are on your own. There are too many experts in the world and I might just write a book on how to screw things up. Everyone else seems to write books on how to do things right. Finally, I can read the "muskegon chronicle" from begining to end in less then 10 minutes. I do not speed read.

Question Number One
What makes gas prices go up?
Answer
Any holiday (ground hog day is included), all weekends, and on everyones birthday. That's all.
Question Number two
Do we have an unlimited supply of oil?
Answer number two
Ask the oil companies. They are the experts in this.
Question number two revisted in a different way
Does a balloon full of air have an unlimited supply when you take air out but don't put air in?
Answer number two
Ask big business, they know all the answers.
Final question
Do we live in a democracy?
Final answer
Ask Oil and big business, they know all the answers.

WE SOLD OUR SOUL TO THE COMPANY STORE

Why am I so damn happy?

Someone asked me a few days ago If I was happy with my life. After fumbling for the right words, I came out with a not so convincing "Yes". I have now had a couple of days to think about it, and now my answer is "Hell yes". I am happy with my life, the life that God has blessed me with. Ever since I had my first heart attack I have wondered if I was happy. My wife and I live on disability, our retirement savings have been swindled away, we continue to fight health problems but God has blessed us in so many ways that I am happy with life.
Next year my wife and I will have been happily married 30 years. We have three wonderful children, their spouse, and one grand child that make us happy. We were not able to give them the silver spoon, so they each have to define their own lives. They have not resorted to lives of crime to support themselves, but are pulling themselves up. We as parents and grandparent can do what we can to help them, love them, and for that we are happy.
For 40 years I played piano in church, sang and directed choirs, and contributed my musical talents. This year I have had the chance to step back a watch. I am happy. For years I have served as elder, deacon, and volunteer leader of sundays schools, youth groups, and have seen the best and the worst that the church has to offer. Now I get a chance to sit back, and I am happy.
My wife and I have support other peoples children, in some cases helped raise them, and still have some of them call us Mom and Dad and for that I am happy.
My wife and I both have Jesus Christ as our lord and savior and we hope that we can share our joy with everyone.
Another reason I am happy come from the bible. In todays word of greed and capitalism these words are of great comfort.
"Love God, and your neighbor as yourself", and "It is easier for a camel to fit thru the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven".
When my day comes, and I stand before my maker, naked, no wealth or jewelry, my life opened up for everyone to see, and God looks at me and says "Don, How are you?". My response with be, "Lord, I am happy, My treasures of love for others I lay at your feet, and I feel great".
The next time you see a funeral for a rich man, take note of the Uhaul at the end. That also is not fitting thru the eye of a needle.

Will someone please explain to me how we have changed from a democratic society to a purely capitalistic society. The government, which is suppose to be of the people" is not run by the democratic proccess, but by capitalistic reasons. Democracy is suppose to allow capitalism, but the people need to keep capitalism in check. Now, capitalism allows democracy to exist, but in a much narrow definition. We now have the right to say we don't like it, but our other choice is" if you don't like it go somewhere else."
Since when has the "government" become some evil entity? Since capitalism is run uncontrolled, have people forgotten that the government is suppose to be of the people. Once again, capitalist don't like the part where the majority of the people have the choice, it's called voting. When capitalism replaces democracy it has become evil.
We need to defend domocracy and what it stand for. The rights of the people, not just the rich, not just the poor, not just the educated, not just the healthy, not just the sick, but for the rights of Americans as a whole.

Number 10
Life is sexually transmitted.

Number 9
Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Number 8
Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny.
If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich!

Number 7
Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day, teach a person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.

Number 6
Some people are like a Slinky ...
not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.

Number 5
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals, dying of nothing.

Number 4
All of us could take a lesson from the weather.
It pays no attention to criticism.

Number 3
Why does a slight tax increase cost you $200.00,
and a substantial tax cut saves you $30.00?

Number 2
In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

And The Number 1 Thought
Life is like a jar of Jalapeno peppers;
what you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.

- - - and as someone recently said to me:
"Don't worry about old age; it doesn't last long."