First Post of 2012

There seems to be some issue with Google and there new terms of use policy. A few fellow bloggers are talking about dumping Blogger and moving over here. I moved to Blogger because I saw so many folks using Blogger. So for now I think I will post two blogs until I decide  what to do.

Oh Hell NO !!

So it seems that the Orange County Florida tax collector is 95 years old and makes $135,000.00 a year. Get that old fart out of office and cut the pay. He is never around anymore, but says “I make the big decisions and sign all the paperwork.” Screw you old man, Time to retire and let someone else do the job.   ( I just may make this a regular feature, Oh Hell NO!!)

Here is the story..

OrlandoSentinel.com
Tax Collector Wood, 95, cuts his work schedule, but defends job

By David Damron, Orlando Sentinel
8:18 PM EDT, August 27, 2011
When Orange County Tax Collector Earl K. Wood ran for re-election in 2008, he conceded that at age 92, he wasn’t spending much time in the office anymore. He said he was earning his $153,082 annual salary mostly by promoting tax-office services at public appearances. But lately even that kind of work has tapered off. When a citizens panel met during the summer to decide whether to do away with his office, 95-year-old Wood was a no-show. Wood has proudly defended his position for many of his 46 years in office, but this year he sent his second-in-command.

Wood downplayed his absence in a recent interview with the Orlando Sentinel, citing schedule conflicts and adding that he feared the issue would turn personal because of his advanced age. “I haven’t shirked my duties,” he said. “I’ve signed all the papers, made all the big decisions.” Wood said he has been slowed somewhat by health issues, but for now, he hasn’t decided whether to run again next year. If he does and wins, Wood could be 100 years old at the end of another four-year term.
“It’s all based on who runs and, you know, my health at that time,” Wood said. Wood has one of the best-known political names in the county. That’s partly because his office handles property taxes and vehicle-tag renewals, so many voters end up scrawling his name on at least one check every year. As for his public duties, Wood doesn’t keep a calendar or any type of record of appointments, but he says he tries to make it into one of his offices three times a week.

His new top lieutenant, Kelly Goodwin, provided a list where her own schedule involved time with Wood, and the result was 17 overlapping encounters since April. It included about a dozen manager and staff meetings, plus a retirement party and an employee picnic. It also revealed that Wood attended former Orlando Mayor Carl Langford’s funeral and another meeting with Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs on budget issues.
But it was his absence in the fight over his office that surprised some people. In May, Wood was slated to speak to the Charter Review Commission, a panel that is considering various issues to put to voters on next year’s ballot. The consolidation of Wood’s office, along with other constitutional officers such as the Clerk of Circuit Court and Property Appraiser’s Office, is a subject that often comes up when the charter panel convenes every four years.
But Wood didn’t attend the charter panel’s meeting. And in July, when he was slated to appear again, he instead sent an eight-page memo of responses to previously submitted questions sent by board member Angel de la Portilla. “I was expecting him to be there, and I didn’t want to ambush him,” de la Portilla said. “I was a bit surprised he wasn’t there. “In August, a group of charter board members met to discuss the consolidation of constitutional officers’ duties again, and it was Goodwin who appeared before them, not Wood.

De la Portilla said that the charter panel decided not to give voters the option of consolidating Wood’s office because the savings to taxpayers would be too small to justify the effort. The uncertainty of Wood’s own political future, though, has already prompted two political unknowns to file paperwork to run against him next year. And the name of former Orange Mayor Rich Crotty also regularly surfaces as someone who might be interested in the position.
That speculation grew after Crotty’s longtime executive assistant, Jan Trauger, recently started working in Wood’s office. But Crotty said he’s focused on his own consulting business, although he has not ruled out future public service. Wood said he’s confident he can win another election because residents like the job he’s done. “I know two [tax] collectors who got elected in a wheelchair,” said Wood, who uses one himself to help get around. “The public is very smart. They know my record, and they know me.”

Rock n Roll so far this week

Well this has been an interesting week so far, we have had several earthquakes here in the US, Alaska, Colorado, & Virginia all had their world rocked. Damaged was reported in several areas of D.C. Those of us who live on the East Coast have been watching Hurricane Irene make its way towards the Southeast US. While we have not seen huge crowds make a run on supplies, we did pick up some extra supplies.

Publix has cases of bottled water on sale 2 get 1 free. My wife and I along with our two oldest sons were talking about stocking up on extra supplies. My boys were all for it. While on the way over to the grocery store, I told them about my resent interest in “prepping” . They are all for it. I was not sure what the reaction would be, but I am happy none the less. So now the threat of the hurricane has passed us here in Florida, I am still going to press on with prepping and getting the family involved.

I did tell the kids that they could have some of the bottled water, please don’t drink it all. I want to save at lest 2 cases. We had already begone to save milk jugs to be filled with water and frozen, plus several empty soda bottles. The plan was to put the frozen gallon jugs in the fridge and use the soda bottles to keep the frozen items frozen or at lest cold.

I have several blogs that I read often, but I have not figured out yet how to link theirs to mine. I also hope to add photos soon. I am still very new to both blogging and prepping.

Stay safe, stay alert, and keep prepping.

BTS…Back To School

Today is the first day of school. Youngest children are in 8th and 11th. Both are now home schooling. Why you may ask? So they can learn in ENGLISH and not have to worry about teachers speaking to them in another language. Plus we did not have to buy school uniforms. While they did not cost a lot, I still did not have to buy them this year.

Both are taking classes online.

Have a great week…………Rob

 

This is America, and we speak English !!

This is America and in America we speak ENGLISH. When I was 11 years old my family moved to California. In 6^th grade they teach Spanish to all students. When I was in Jr. High and High school I did not have to take it. Thank god. Some years ago I was working at a company that was using Mexican temps. to build play ground equipment. Every time the company had a meeting they had to have someone translate so the temps knew what was going on.

Today we live in Central Florida. That is a nightmare. There is so many people of Latin decent I don’t feel I live in America and more. (Florida used to be seniors living in retirement.) They drive with there music loud, windows down on the cars. Openly speak Spanish and they think we should too. Even is school 3 of my kids had teachers teach class in Spanish. One had the nerve to ask my oldest daughter why she did not speak Spanish. Her reply “Why we don’t speak Spanish”.

I have read other blogs and this is a growing problem. THIS IS AMERICA AND WE SPEAK ENGLISH. My fore fathers and mothers came from Norway, Sweden, and Ireland. They had to learn ENGLISH to get jobs. Why should we learn Spanish? We had a German family in my Grandma’s neighborhood who learned ENGLISH, because that is what they had to do.

If I went to Asia, Russia or any other country I should learn there language. They do the same when they come here. BUT why should we learn Spanish? Many companies are now requiring employees to read, write and speak ENGLISH. Why too many people have issues following directions. I have heard of 2 Spanish speaking people taking a drivers test, so one can get a drivers license. I call this cheating.

THIS IS AMERICA AND WE SPEAK ENGLISH.

J-1 Visa Program takes away American Jobs.

Foreign students working at a candy warehouse protested conditions and pay Thursday, chanting on Chocolate Avenue under streetlights shaped like Hershey’s Kisses, arguing that they were employed under the guise of a cultural exchange but toil away in what amounts to a sweets sweatshop. The State Department said it was investigating.
“The Department of State takes its responsibilities for administering the J-1 Visa Program seriously,” spokesman Mark Toner said. “It is our responsibility to ensure that all J-1 visa participants are accorded their rights under all provisions of the Summer Work Travel program.” They are among more than 100,000 college students who come to the U.S. each year on J-1 visas, which supply resorts and other businesses with cheap seasonal labor as part of a program aimed at fostering cultural understanding.
More than 100 students gathered in touristy downtown Hershey, home to the nation’s second-largest candy maker, complaining of hard physical labor, steep pay deductions for rent that often left them with little spending money, and no cultural enrichment. They said their concerns were met with threats of deportation.
“We have no money, we have no time and we have no power,” said Yana Brenzey, a 19-year-old journalism student from Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine.
She said she had no idea that she would be lifting 40-pound boxes or netting only about $200 a week when she began working in early May at the warehouse run by Westerville, Ohio-based Exel Inc.
“Somebody has been circulating a letter that they will get several thousand dollars back if they protest and be a part of this movement,” said CEO Rick Anaya. “We have not gotten any cooperation from the kids. Somebody is promising them a lot of money in order to participate in this protest.”
The walkout is in its second day. On Wednesday, about 150 people picketed outside the warehouse several miles away in a protest organized by the National Guestworker Alliance. Three people were arrested: Pennsylvania AFL-CIO president Rick Bloomingdale and two other organized labor officials.
I say we end this program as it is taking away jobs that could go to Americans. Once again its the Unions pulling crap. They should be working on ending this program not getting these ” students” to protest working conditions.

Flash Mob, What would you do?

Everyone has been talking about all the Flash Mobs running crazy here in the U.S. and other parts of the world. This is what I would do, move away from the area. If you can safely exit the store or area some other way.  Head to the Rest Rooms, Fitting Room, or Emergency Exit.  Out of sight out of mind. Than call 9-11. I know the MSM says if you see action call us. Hell no get your ass and your family away.

If I am at home or my rally point, and if its me or them, they are going down like the U.S. Marines in a fire fight.

REMEMBER STAY ALERT, STAY SAFE.

Hind Sight is Always 20/20

Isn’t hind sight great? I finally woke up and smelled the coffee brewing. It is about dam time. You think I would have gotten a clue years ago? September 11^th 2001 knocked the US down to its knees. We were all shocked. Do you remember where you were that morning? I do like it happened 10 min ago. I was on my way to work, my wife was dropping me off so she could have the car. I was less than 5 min. from work when all hell broke lose. When we got to work I told my wife you go straight home and call me just as soon as you get home. Make sure the kids are OK at school and find out what is going on.

Not much work got done that day. The office manager just happened to have a TV in her office so we spent all day watching TV, getting the latest information. It was slow the rest of the week. You know the rest. Fast forward. In 2007 my family decided that we would relocate to the warmth of Florida for health reasons. But lately we have begun to rethink our choice. With all that has been going on around the world. What with Egypt and the rest of the Mideast. I was thinking they want the Freedoms we enjoy here.

But as their fighting is dragging on and hearing of the killing of citizens for no reason other than speaking up, I begin to really open my eyes. Last week with all the troubles in the UK, I thought can that happen here? Some people I know emailed me and said yes they believe it could and will happen here. As I have stated here and so have many others is other blogs, When is the Federal Government going to wake up and see what they have done to our country.

Hind sight is great. Flash back to the early 1980’s. A wise man (Captain USAF RES.) and I became friends. We spoke often about the military. He first spoke with me about being a prepper.  In a way I have been but not on the scale I should have been. Is it too late? I don’t think so. But it will take me some time to get my crap together. The money we spent moving to Florida should have been spent getting ready.

We were living in a rural setting an hour west of downtown Metropolis. I hear that dam alarm going off, a little voice is talking to me. “We screwed up, we need to get back home.” Home for my family is back up North, back in snow country. At this point I want to be someplace that I can get got of town, when SHTF. A relative has land on a lake. So water will not be a problem.  It will take sometime 8 to 9 months before we can return, but WE SHALL RETURN.

Getting back to being a prepper, we do stock up on food, but not to the scale we should. We go major grocery shopping once a month. We have been doing this for sometime. Thinking back my grandparents did this. They had a pantry full of food, a freezer down in the basement with food in it. My in laws have a summer home there they too had food stored and a freezer. They (in laws) did it because they live in a small community, pop 200. But during the summer the resorts nearby were full all summer. So they would shop in the “City” for a large part of their food. Buying bread, milk, eggs, etc. locally.

There are several reasons to return home. For one, closer to family, closer to rural America, less people with attitudes, and rudeness. A large percentage of the population speaks ENGLISH. Lower unemployment. A whole lot more quite, and cooler nights. It will be cold soon there and snow. That’s ok. I just don’t like the cold.

So I will continue to plan our move back home, and work on stocking up and preparing for what lies ahead.

ELECTION 2012 IS COMING

I am for everything…..public school need immunization and health checks for children ….. and fathers need to step up more and mothers need to be more willing to pick the RIGHT man for a daddy instead of any man will do….. God bless our nation and its leaders…..

ONE Flag, ONE Language, ONE Nation Under God!

ELECTION 2012 IS COMING A Nation of Sheep Breeds a Government of Wolves! I’M 100% for PASSING THIS ON!!! Let’s Take a Stand!!!

Obama: Gone!

Borders: Closed!

Language: English only!

Culture: Constitution, and the Bill of Rights!

Drug Free: Mandatory Drug Screening before Welfare!

NO freebies to: Non-Citizens! We the people are coming! ! !

What will you do?

Are you tired of “CHANGE ?”

I have been reading just about any prepper blog I can find. Some are good, some you wonder are we living in the same world. Many seem to being “selling” the same product or peddling a book.  I guess its right when they say don’t believe everything you read.

I know one thing for sure, the “CHANGE” that we were promised if we elected “HIM” has happened.  Are we better off, Not me or my family. I have been out of work for close to 20 months. Things “CHANGED” all right. Our military is stretched thin. The Dems. want to spend money we don’t have. OK, so they say we need more taxes, so we have more money to spend.  You tax the U.S. more, so now we have less to spend. But wait there’s more…We still have money to spend, we can’t have that, tax them more. The Republican’s want to cut taxes. I am OK with that. You give me more money to spend and I will spend it.

Common sense (well to me anyways), if you raise prices or taxes, that gives everyone less money to spend.  If the Oil Companies are making record profits than the prices they charge is too high. I know everyone wants to be rich, but at what price. Gold at $1,800 an once. Great, but who can afford to buy it. Maybe the Federal Government should have kept our money tied to the Gold Standard like it used to be. Than our money would buy us more?

All I know is I am very tired of this “CHANGE” that he promised the U.S.  I too want “CHANGE”, CHANGE IT BACK. Pack your bags big boy cause you are leaving on a jet plane, and you wont be back again. Too all of you who voted for “HIM” gee thanks, are you better off ?

Come on people pull your heads out of your ass, get off your booze and drugs, Lets get our shit together and make this country great again!!  To you Terrorists, instead of raising money to KILL US, how about using that money to make your people healthy, wealthy and wise. Build better schools, build hospitals, and roads. You don’t want U.S. there then don’t come over here. To the other country’s if you want our money than pull you head out of your ass and quit lying to U.S. and stabbing us in the back. To our leaders, keep our money here. SCREW Them and quit SCREWING us. Instead of Foreign Aid, how about U.S. Aid. Keep the money here.

I so enjoy calling customer service and talking to someone who can’t speak ENGLISH. OH and to all you people here, you are in my county speak my language. Why should I learn to speak Spanish or another language. YOU LIVE IN AMERICA, WE SPEAK ENGLISH. We also read it and write it.

GOD BLESS US, AND GOD BLESS THE U.S.A