One of the Tortures of Childhood

Remember This?

ENTITLEMENTS -- BALANCING THE BUDGET

The word entitlement is used to describe something that is yours, something you own, something you have a right to.

Isn't it odd that this word, entitlement, has come to mean "charity, welfare" something given to freeloaders. You know, social security freeloaders.

As I recall, and I do recall it correctly, I have been paying in to Social Security since I was 15 years old. Not only me, but my employer also paid in an equal amount. That totaled about 15% of my income, gross income, before taxes income. This was not just me, it was every earner, and it was not by choice.

So, let's see. If I averaged $30K over my working life, that's about $220,500 earnings. The fed collected about $4,500 each year to pay for my security in my old age. Well, they invested my $4,500 each year to pay for my security in my old age.

Now, about that investment. If they invested for me at 5%, after 49 years I should have an investment account worth $892,919.98.

If I took out only 3% per year, I would receive $26,787.60 per year and it would last better than 30 years (until you're 95 if you retire at age 65) and that's with no interest paid on that final amount on deposit!

If I bought an annuity and it paid 4% per year, I'd have a lifetime income of $2,976.40 per month.

The folks inWashington have pulled off a bigger Ponzi scheme than Bernie Madhoff ever dreamed of.

Entitlement, charity, welfare, handout, my foot. I paid cash for my social security insurance!!!! Just because they borrowed or stole the money, doesn't make my benefits some kind of charity or handout!!

Anybody Sick of the "Occupy Anything but a Job" Movement?

Oh Yeah, This Is Progress!

What's It Gonna Take To Get Happy?

STROKE --WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

During a party, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. (they offered to call ambulance) While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm , Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the party . Had anyone known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Neurologist says that if a stroke victim can be diagnosed and to the doctor within 3 hours their prognosis is excellent. RECOGNIZING A STROKE Doctors say you can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions. S = SMILE. Ask the individual to smile.

T = TALK. Ask the person to speak a simple sentence. "It's a nice day today." R = Ask the person to RAISE both arms. If the person has any trouble performing any of these tasks, Call 911.

This guy needs a date with a drone. What an idiot!

Afghan president draws criticism after saying his country would stand 'beside Pakistan' in the event of a war with U.S.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDY

WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE A HORNED FROG??

AMANDA KNOX FREED IN ITALY

THE MORAL TO THIS STORY?

SUMMER SEMESTER IN ITALY MAY WIND UP AS A FOUR YEAR, NO EXPENSES PAID SOJOURN IN AN ITALIAN JAIL.

PROVO TABERNACLE TEMPLE

Is this fabulous or what? We were worried that the Provo Tabernacle might not be restored. Well, for everyone who was watching conference this morning we know it will be, to the max. This is without doubt the absolute best outcome for such a wonderful building.

Heidi, Michael, Michael 9-30-11

I have no permission to post these pictures but they were on my FB and only one person looks at my blog so Rebecca, these are for you.

Christian in Kigali, Rwanda -- 27 September 2011 -- iChat

GOD BLESS OUR SOLDIERS

MY FRIEND, AARON LEE, POSTED THIS ITEM ON HIS FACEBOOK TODAY. HE IS ONE OF THE KIDS FROM NAVAJO, ACTUALLY CRYSTAL, NEW MEXICO. WHAT A NICE, SWEET GUY HE WAS AT NAVAJO PINE HIGH SCHOOL. ALWAYS A HAPPY FACE, ALWAYS A POSITIVE OUTLOOK. LATER, HE WAS ALSO A TENDER LOVING HUSBAND, AND NOW THE SWEETEST FATHER YOU EVER SAW. HE IS IN THE MARINE CORP AND IS GETTING READY TO GO BACK TO AFGHANISTAN.

THIS TIME HE LEAVES NOT ONLY HIS WIFE, ASHLEY, BUT ALSO THEIR LITTLE GIRL, TEAGANN.

SOMETIMES WHEN I WAS DOWN ON THE REZ, IT FELT LIKE THAT PLACE WAS SURELY THE END OF THE EARTH. DURING ALL THAT TIME I GOT TO KNOW SOME REALLY FABULOUS CHILDREN AND THEY HAVE BECOME REALLY FABULOUS ADULTS. THIS YOUNG MAN, AARON LEE IS ONE OF THOSE GUYS. HE HAS A FULL LIFE RIGHT HERE AT HOME WHERE HE IS COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY. HE CHOOSES TO GIVE GREAT CHUNKS OF HIS LIFE TO ALL OF US, TO OUR COUNTRY. I JUST WANT TO GIVE AARON AND ASHLEY LEE A THANK YOU AND MY GRATITUDE FOR BEING SUCH EXCELLENT PEOPLE AND FOR THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE TO OUR COUNTRY.

Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution

Judy Blackmon and I drove down to Richfield to pick up 4 oak chairs I found on a public access auction. They were being sold by the school district. They match my round oak table. I bid $10 each and won. You can't start driving in rural Utah without some prowling around. We found Glenwood, a tiny, nearly dead town east of Richfield. This great little ZCMI building was still standing there, closed of course. What a little sweetheart!

The May Co. purchased ZCMI in 1999 and converted it into Meier & Frank. In 2006, Federated Department Stores bought May Co., and Utah's Meier & Frank stores — became Macy's.

Grace and Hudson August 2011

Check Em Out

TAMMIE CAME TO VISIT

JULY 24 2011

CHRISTIAN CAME HOME FROM AFRICA TODAY

Have You Seen These Pictures Of Phoenix

Massive dust storm sweeps through Phoenix area

I Love This Country

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☻/ღ˚ •。* ♥ ˚ ˚✰˚ ˛★* 。 ღ˛° 。* °♥ ˚ • ★ *˚ .ღ 。
/▌*˛˚ღ •˚ HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE! ˚ ✰* ★
/ \ ˚. ★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˚ღ。* ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★ღ ˚ 。✰ •* ˚ ♥"

I Love This Country

Mormon Tabernacle Choir Forms Flash Mob At Historic Williamsburg

Mormon Tabernacle Choir forms flash mob at historical site

Click the "Mormon Tabernacle Choir..." to see very cool video.

This Is What Gifted Looks Like

Some people recognize gifts in their children some do not. Here is a gifted child. The challenge to the parents of such a child is to enable the gift without crushing it or the child.

Click on the "Which hand should I hold the baton in" line.

Which hand should I hold the baton in?

Irene Bentley Munselle Stevens June 1, 1914

Happy Birthday Mother! You are 97 years old today.

Hey Rebecca, I decided to send your flowers to Mother! They are very beautiful.

Memorial Day, It's Snowing in Utah

It's Snowing at Snowbird

Stephanie and her family went to Otter Creek to fish this weekend but it was snowing and blowing so they left and went to Pine Valley. It was snowing there too. They gave up and came home.

Snowbird says they will be open for skiing on Fridays until July 4 if they still have snow.

We had rain all day in Provo and it snowed at all the area resorts all day.

All these pictures were taken today at Snowbird. It snowed most of the day.

I wonder if Brian Head is still open.

That darn global warming is just hell, isn't it!

Clearing the Disaster in the Garage

This first picture shows a lot of progress but no one can see it but me.

Worked hard at it yesterday.

This is the progress after today. Still tons to do.

Historical Graffiti