Elder President Bush

Glad to see that the elder President Bush is out of intensive care and doing much better!

Gun Buybacks - Who Benefits?

They are talking about gun buybacks on the news. When the government does one of these buy backs whether it be local government or larger, where do these guns go? Whose hands do they end up in, and who ends up armed with them? Lots of groups are eager to disarm the peaceful innocent public. What life do these guns live after leaving the hands of the peaceful?

Facebook's $1 Fee

Facebook will be testing a new plan to make money by charging $1 to send a message to non friends.
I will have two plans of action. I will either friend them or I will post a message on my own page asking anyone who knows them to please have them email me off the facebook grid. It's not the price, it's the principal of the thing. I don't like charges added because someone didn't have a good business model in place. Just my two cents...

Walmart baking supplies

Walmart's baking aisle is minus molasses. Why? Because it is next to the maple syrup. I would have thought it belonged with Vanilla and Kayro Syrup, but no...Next to Aunt Jemima.
Continue with your day. And thank me the next time you need Molasses and now know where to find it...at least at Walmart.

Hackers Finally Did Something Right!

Hackers are seldom congratulated, but let me be among the first to congratulate "Anonymous" for hacking the website of the Westboro Baptist Church.

The WBC recently announced that they would picket the funerals of the kindergarteners who were killed in the Newtown massacre stating that God sent the shooter to teach them a lesson. Who a lesson? God does not kill innocent children to get even with people who don't even know them. If you notice, the WBC pickets everyone but the people they are apparently against, or are they simply against everyone?

 By hacking their website and putting out their personal information online anonymous "Outed" the members of the WBC, putting their personal information online. These people should have been stopped long ago. Free speech is one thing, but they are constantly practicing slander and defamation of character. Those two things are both illegal but no one has prosecuted any member of the WBC for constantly practicing both. Hopefully Anonymous will dog this group the way they dog the innocents of the world.

Some Days Just Call For A Mud Mask

Today is one of those days when a mud mask seems like a good idea. Not sure why. The reason is clear as...well...mud.

Westboro Baptist Church

Does it surprise anyone that the Westboro Baptist Church is claiming they will picket the funerals of the kindergarten children killed in the Newtown massacre? The Westboro members are not Christians, they are nothing but low lifes. They are the extremists of the holier than thou. These people should be stripped of the Baptist title and the use of the claim of being a church.

Spending a few minutes reading their "beliefs" makes you think David Koresh (Branch Davidian Cult) was fairly normal by comparison. The Westboro group clearly hates everyone who is not one of them. They are a discrace to the human race.

School Gunman in Connecticut

It's a horrible story unfolding in Newtown Connecticut, and you can read the emerging details everywhere. As it's unfolding those who are for strict government gun control are shouting for more control of our guns. The fact is that if the teachers were allowed to carry guns to school there may have been far less dead today. The crazies will get guns any way they need to. It's the individuals who are restricted that are prevented from intervening in sad situations like the one in Connecticut.

Links to stories about the shootings in Newtown

http://gma.yahoo.com/childrens-terror-newtown-massacre-192100426--abc-news-topstories.html?cache=clear

http://news.yahoo.com/official-gunmans-nj-brother-cooperating-230221516.html

Harry Belefonte and His Advice

Harry Belafonte’s Advice to Obama: Imprison Opposition “Like a Third World Dictator”

The video going around the internet of Harry Belefonte's comments are a disturbing look at how some of Obama's backers feel. Belefonte is a man who has enjoyed the freedoms that America holds for it's citizens. For him to suggest we revert to third world behavoir is anti - American as it goes against everything America as a nation strives for both for itself and others. What has caused Belefonte to become so very vile in his thoughts? As a person of wealth in America (his estimated wealth is approximately $28 Million) why would he suggest we lower ourselves to third world behavior? Is that where we are headed with the mind set of Obama's supporters? As a well spoken man you would have thought he would have something intelligent to say, Instead he throws question on his mindset. Some have said it's his age. That is an excuse unless an illness is involved. As an older man of wealth and status in America he should be greatful for a country where he was free to build his business and his career. As a young child I remember hearing Harry Belefonte's name and seeing him perform. He always seemed like a person to look up to. Now I feel bad that someone who was so well treated by America has turned on it and it's freedoms.

Storage Wars Fake? Yuuup!

According to Dave Hester from Storage Wars those in charge have been faking a lot of the finds in the different storage units. Good for Mr. Hester! As a viewer it has felt fake for some time and I am glad to see him calling out this "Reality" TV as a fake!
A&E TV claims there is no faking on the show, but seriously, are we supposed to believe that? I don't! I'm with Dave Hester on this one! YUUUP!

Jimmy Hoffa

Jimmy Hoffa warns of Civil War in the wake of the Right To Work bill passage in Michigan. Is that a threat? We have to stop the big business of Union bullying for the survival of our nations economic infrastructure. The unions were once a needed entity and their original mission noble, but as OSHA and other regulatory factors took care of workplace problems the Unions goals shifted to that of a power grab both economically and politically. Unions are standing in the way of American prosperity and until they have their power diminished we as a nation will have trouble with economic prosperity.

Not THAT Buffett

I just saw the headline "Buffett Joins Soros in Effort to Raise Taxes on Estates..." My first thought was "What is Jimmy Buffett doing hanging around with George Soros?!?" Sometimes my mind wanders from the political...

Anti Union Vote In Michigan - Good For America

Thank you to the Michigan Legislature for voting in Right To Work. It's a good day for America. Unions have become too powerful and to political to be good for the American worker. Unions no longer look out for the worker's welfare but now look for all the perks they can squeeze out of an employer and are tied too closely to political happenings accross the country.

We have OSHA to keep the work place safe. We have general laws to make wages fair. We do not need unions to bully the American business owner. Unions are no longer relevant, they are bullies and a puppet of the political parties they partner with. The sooner unions are dismantled the sooner more jobs come back to America, and the political field becomes less cloked in back room favors.
Again, Thank you Michigan!

Doomsday Preppers

The other night (in the middle of the night no less) I watched three episodes back to back of "Doomsday Preppers." In one sense I found it interesting, and somewhat helpful. Some of the information would be helpful in just about any emergency situaton. We all should be prepared for disruptions in food transport or electricity, etc. What struck me odd was how obscure some of these senarios were that seemed to monopolize the thoughts of some of the preppers. People actually moved because of a fear of rising water tables...they lived inland. Another person on the east coast is obsessed with a volcano that may erupt in the next 10,000 years...out west. I understand fears...for years I was sure my death would come (at any moment) by Spontaneous Human Combustion, but it seems that they should also be prepping for more general disasters...flooding...terror attacks...electric grid interruption on a national scale. I mean, while I was certain my demise would be SHC I still looked both ways crossing the street.

Dear Barbra Streisand - Don't go Gaga!

I know this basically unknown blogger will be laughed at for saying this, but you can't possibly be serious about casting Lady Gaga in the remake of GYPSY! She may have millions of fans, but she does not have "it." Anyone who has really watched her will notice how she does not have the command a real star does. She is always looking for approval with her eyes. She does not have actual "Star Quality" she has followers who buy into her mediocre talent and meat dresses. Gypsy deserves better and as a director you have done better. Yentl and The Prince Of Tides were great movies. Don't stray from that realm.

Walmart Dressing Room Mirrors

It was a realization that should have made sense long before this, but I finally realized that Walmart must order mirrors for their dressing rooms that enhance the appearance of those using them. It's a no brainer really, but it hit me tonight. As I walked into the dressing room I thought I looked good. Then I realized I did NOT look that good before leaving the house only an hour earlier. Either I had lost about eight pounds in the hour between leaving my house and going into the Walmart dressing room or they were using appearance enhancing mirrors. My metablolism is not that fast...it must be the mirrors.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah

It used to be that if you said Happy Holidays you meant Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and for some Hanukkah. Then we started to worry about offending different groups. Growing up there was never an issue, Christmas and Hanukkah were celebrated side by side and there was never a problem or akwardness. So to end this post, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

Egyptian Protests

From AP:

CAIRO - Tens of thousands of Egyptians massed in Cairo Tuesday for a march to the presidential palace to protest the assumption by the nation's Islamist president of nearly unrestricted powers and a draft constitution hurriedly adopted by his allies.

In the coastal city of Alexandria, some 10,000 opponents of President Mohammed Morsi gathered in the center of the country's second largest metropolis. They chanted slogans against the Egyptian leader and his Muslim Brotherhood.
Read the rest of the article

A word to the protestors in EGYPT:
Keep marching and fighting. There are many hoping you prevail.

A word to the spectators in the USA:
Pay attention. This situation is closer than you think.

Walmart And What I Saw There - Part 2

Large woman in a motorized cart, rather unkempt, wearing a t-shirt made to look like a shirt that someone working a concert event would wear...The shirt said "No Booze Beyond This Point, hand it all over to me."
I wanted to go up to the woman and inform her I wasn't buying it and no one else would either, but then I thought if she had just started shopping the cart would have fresh batteries and perhaps she could catch me if I ran from her. Plus, there was an equally large man with her who looked like he could make me sorry for ever bringing up the shirt to the woman in the first place.

Duck Dynasty

Seeing an advertisement for the "Duck Dynasty Christmas Special" made me wonder who watches Duck Dynasty. It's obviously scripted and not well "acted." Are there some people out there that are actually fooled by this show? Sometimes I really miss the days of "Network Television."

Text Messages - A Milestone in Messaging

On December 3, 1992 the first text message was sent and received and consisted of two words: "Merry Christmas." Today most people spend far more time texting on their cell phone than actually talking verbally.
I remember the first time I was offered a text plan with my cell phone package I asked "Why?" It wasn't something I ever thought I would want to use. I had a cell phone to call people and I had email. Was I wrong! I use my smart phone for everything, but most of all for texting. I text a lot, as much for work as socializing. In closing there are two thoughts to leave you with: Don't text while driving, and Merry Christmas.

Walmart And What I Saw There - Part 1

This will be a continuing series...to infinity perhaps.
One of the things that jump out at you are the large number of Walmart shoppers using the motorized shopping carts. The carts are great for those who have trouble getting around because of injury or illness but it's irritating to see the large number of people who are simply too fat and lazy to be bothered with walking. Don't they see that this behavoir of driving around lazily is a prime example of what has caused them to become so obese in the first place?

Who tries harder?

I recently saw a quote that stated "women who want equality with men aren't aiming high enough." I can agree with that, but for the most part, the comparison is apples and oranges.
Two very different types of thinkers. The argument could go on forever. Are women equal? Not always, but that being said it's not always unequal to a woman's disadvantage.

Dirty Girl Mud Run - Not That Helpful To Their Charities

Those thinking some of the $60 - $70 fee they are paying to participate in a Dirty Girl mud run is going to charity are correct. A whopping $1.50 - $1.75 will be going to help those with breast cancer. Well some of that small amount will. THAT is how much is going to the charity. Any overhead the charity has will come out of that amount. The organizers of  the Dirty Girl Mud Runs are not in and of themselves a charity. They are a company who organizes the events. They take in large registration fees from people who are under the assumption they are helping a charity. Unlike the American Cancer Society, Dirty Girl is not primarily into helping breast cancer survivors. For Dirty Girl self profit comes first. This can still add up to some money. For every 1000 who participate in the event the charity grosses $1500 - $2000. But  that is a far cry from the $ 6000 - $7000 it first appears is being made. Check you charity events girls, not all of them really are.

Missing Mexicans Will Turn Up In USA - Opinion

The following news article from the Washington Post States that 25,000 mexican families have gone missing in the last six years. The article suggests they disappeared at the hands of the drug cartel. If that's the case we should be strengthening our borders and making sure we don't allow the US south to become another Mexico.

 Personally 25,000 missing sounds less like drug cartel activity and more like illegal immigrants coming in to the US. It is not as if those crossing the borders illegally are going to leave a note saying where they have gone.

The Twinkie, The Stage Deli, Where Will It End?

The Twinkie, The Stage Deli, Where Will It End?

From The New York Post:
They’ve served their last pastrami sandwich.
The iconic Stage Deli closed its doors for the last time at midnight on Thursday, ending 75 years of serving up overstuffed sandwiches named for celebrities such as Mel Brooks, Derek Jeter and Adam Sandler.
“It was a shock to me when I came in and saw it,” said Dennis Howard, 71, a manager of the Carnegie Deli, a friendly competitor a block south on Seventh Avenue. “They had the best location in the world.”
The deli was shuttered last night, but a handwritten sign on the door said: “Thanks for 75 years.”
Stage Deli owners could not be reached for comment.
The loss of the New York landmark left fans hungry for more.
“I used to go on Saturdays between shows with another colleague, and they let me have a half sandwich. It was my favorite,” said Manuel Levine, 79, of Manhattan.

Fiscal Cliff: A Real Problem Or Part Of The Overall Plan?

To keep people diverted from the real issue it's important to keep them focused anywhere but the main . The Fiscal Cliff is a real problem, but is it the most important?
What happened to our world while Al Gore was playing "the sky is falling" with his global warming? There are underlying issues that stand to make the United States, founded on Christian principals, unrecognizable. Those of us who are generational Americans are losing our grasp on America as it falls into the hands of those who do not embrace it or what it stands for but only want to commandeer it for what they can destroy within it's borders.

Tourtured Puppies And Kittens

This couple was indicted for torturing and killing puppies and kittens. That is not enough. Laws need to be stricter. They should be put to death in the same manner. If you attack the innocent you are capable of harming anything. 
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/11/crush-video-indictment/

Postal Service Still May Need To Eliminate Saturday Delivery

The postal service is once again thinking of eliminating Saturday mail delivery in an effort to stop it's massive losses. I question how this will help if the major problem is paying for employees medical insurance. It may eliminate a day's wages but unless it cuts many to part time, it will have little effect on the cost of health insurance, right?

Instead of making more people under employed (if that's what it will do), why not charge more for junk mail? Junk mail is still big business for the companies that send it. Up the cost a little and make a bigger profit from it. Also, what happened to the days when postal employees walked their entire route? Have them walk instead of dragging their vehicle along with them (parking it every few blocks as many do now) and they won't need a health club membership.

I think business people will see no Saturday delivery as nothing more than a reason to use other methods of delivery be it electronic or private carrier. In a world of "Want it NOW" waiting an extra day is not an option for success.

#My2k Spaghetti and Marinara Sauce

You know the hashtag My2k that the president wants us to use to say how we all want the Bush era tax cuts extended? Well, I think we should all respond with something like: #My2k Spaghetti and Marinara Sauce or #My2k Bedroom Slippers. It's a fun way of not falling in line and allowing social media to be used as a way to dictate to us what we should be thinking. It's the principle of the thing. I mean #My2k It's the principal of the thing.

Atmospheric River A New Weather Catch Phrase

Today the headlines are talking about an Atmospheric River about to hit the West Coast. Anyone ever heard of it before? It seems that every few years there is a new catch phrase for a weather related event. It's as if this event has never occured before, and it has. You have to wonder if this fancy name is just away for Weather forcasters to get a bigger number of viewers following them, or an easier way for them to hashtag the event on twitter. It's an interesting name for lots of stationary rain over a several day period. Yes, Atmospheric River is much more catchy.
Whatever you call it the event has the potential to be very distructive with lots of flooding. Here is hoping it's not.

Atmospheric River

Angus T. Jones Apologizes - Sort Of

Angus T Jones has stated he didn't mean to show disrespect to anyone associated with Two And A Half Men, but still basically thinks it's filth and people shouldn't watch it. So there you have it, what is sure to be an interesting year fulfilling the remaining season on his contract.

US Military A Victim Of Fiscal Cliff Talks?

As a nation the US must keep a strong military presence, even if it's never used. As a person we all have things we almost never need; insurance, guns for protection, Smoke detectors, home security systems. We have them in case we need them. How many people with guns for home protection have never had them out of the holster except for target practice at a shooting range? Most of them. That's a good thing, but an even better thing is that they have the gun and are prepared to use it for their own safety.
As a nation we have to have the same preparedness. It would be great if our military never had to use their weapons. It would be horrible to have an untrained, unprepared military. If America ever comes under attack we must be prepared. The less prepared we are the more our enemies will see we are vulnerable. Why would anyone looking out for The United States put us in harms way by cutting spending to the military?
It's a question that seriously needs to be asked. And not put away until a satifactory answer is received.

Did Angus T Jones just Apply for Unemployment?

Angus T. Jones who has played the role of Jake Harper on Two And A Half Men for the last nine years (so since he was about ten) has reportedly given an interview where he claims the show is filth and wants people to stop watching it. I agree the show is filth but is it his good sense, his firm religious beliefs, over the top religious beliefs, or a hoax that have caused these comments? If he truly feels that way why did he sign a contract the last time it was optioned? How long did he sign on for at the last re-up, and if his statements are real has he violated some part of his contract by bashing the show. These are the questions that should be asked by the news media instead of doing fluff pieces about his comments. Is there no one who does investigative journalism anymore? Even on a Hollywood fluff piece?

Internet Milking Craze - Something Einstein Probably Didn't do

Don't ask me how, but I stumbled across an article on the Internet Milking Craze, which is students posting pictures of each other or themselves pouring milk over each other or themselves. Apparently it started in Newcastle, England and has replaced such other stupid stunts as Planking. The Craze is now taking on a new life in the US. I have to wonder if this sort of behavoir is one of the reasons we are not the global powerhouse we once were. With the internet you can have people doing absolutely foolish things and thanks to facebook at least a dozen or so facebook friends will tell you how brilliant you are even if you are actually a dolt and are doing something like participating in the Internet Milking Craze.

Puck from Real World Jailed - Some Things Are Just Expected

This morning one of the trending headlines was "Puck from Real World Jailed." One of the cast members early in the show's run, Puck was at best obnoxious, and it comes as no surprise that he ends up in jail. Reading the article it turns out this is not his first run in with the law. Go figure.
More on Puck

Larry Hagman

Larry Hagman, creator of one of the most famous of all love to hate characters JR Ewing, passed away at the age of 81 after a battle with cancer. Family and Friends including Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy were reportedly by his side. The passing of a legend: Larry Hagman Obituary Linda Gray Leads Tribute

Capital Holiday Parade Cancellation Announced At The Eleventh Hour

In the last few hours it was finally announced that the Capital Holiday Parade has indeed been canceled. This from their website. We are very sad to announce that the Capital Holiday Parade has been canceled due to lack of funding to pay for District of Columbia city services. We are a small non-profit 501(c)3 organization with a goal to promote music education and performing arts throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area and across the United States. We knocked on every door and left no stone unturned for financial support and we were just unable to secure funding for what we know would have been a great event to kick off the holiday season here in Washington, DC. All tickets purchased on our website as well as through our partner Living Social will be refunded immediately. A HUGE THANKS goes out to the Washington Examiner and their staff members: Mitch, Deanna, Tiffany and Marilu for all of their support. Please continue to support the Washington Examiner and their efforts to inform the Washington Metropolitan Area of important news and information in the community. This is truly the best source of information in the metropolitan area and a company that cares about the community. We offer a sincere heartfelt "thank you" to all that volunteered and offered their time to try and make the Capital Holiday Parade a success. It is our hope that you and your families will have a wonderful holiday season. Warm Regards, Capital Holiday Parade Staff .

Capital Parade in Washington DC is it Canceled or Not?

As rumors are floating lightly that the Capital Holiday Parade in Washington DC has been canceled it is strangely quiet on the internet. No announcement from the organizers and no one talking about it on twitter. Is it a hoax that some participants were told it was canceled? Is it canceled and no one has picked up on the fact? Will there be a rush of people trying to get their money back tomorrow? This is the first year for the Capital Holiday Parade. Did they not have all their ducks in a row? Why are the organizers not doing last minute promotion? Hello? Parade Organizers? What's going on?

Barack Obama Coins

Just saw an advertisement for Barack Obama Coins. They are $1.00 coins and are selling at two for $10.00. How ironic - Always costing people more than he is worth to them.

A Great Yardstick Quote

Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected. - Steve Jobs
I had never heard this quote before. It can apply to so many situations.

Hewlett Packard - Rude Customer Service Karma?

About four years ago I purchased an HP laptop. It was assembled from features listed on their site (Pick and choose options). It started malfunctioning not long after I started using it. I contacted the company and was told while there was a recall underway mine was not included (apparently because of the difference in serial numbers due to the online configuring). No amount of talking to them did any good, even when I showed documented behavoir of the laptop that was identical to the recall problem. The laptop was useless for what I needed it for so I put it away and purchased a cheap Acer - It was all I could afford and really couldn't afford that but needed it for work, etc.
Many months later I got the HP laptop out and rebooted it just to see what would happen. I get a message that the laptop is under recall. I immediately call the company only to be told the recall is no longer valid. I explaind the whole story of what happened previously and was told that it was too bad, and that it was my fault for not insisting they open "a ticket" on the problem. I argued politely but firmly that it was HP that was at fault. The man finally said "we will fix it." I said, "Really? You will?" He replied, "Yes, just send us the laptop and $289.00" He was rather smug. I said I was currently using an ACER laptop that was half the cost of my HP and that before I sent them any money to repair the faulty HP laptop I would add $50 to the $289 and buy another ACER. As a side note, my cheap acer is STILL working well. He continued to give me attitude and said it was not their fault I missed the recall (even though I tried to tell them of the problem initially). I finally said, just forget it, and that thanks to their customer service I would NEVER buy another HP product. I told him he was rude and he worked for a sham of a company and I could hardly wait to see HP go down in flames because it wouldn't last with customer service like I had been shown. At the time the company was still a top company. Today, I sit writing on my trusty ACER and watching HEWLETT PACKARD as a company suffer a major meltdown. I would like to think I am just that powerful, but actually, It's just simple Customer Service Karma. Muwahaha!

The Wax Vac

I understand being careful using a q-tip when cleaning your ears, but a vacum for ears really doesn't sound any safe. If it's strong enough to pull our wax and water in your ears wouldn't it also be strong enough to damage your ear drum?

Make Sure You Copy The Taliban On That

You have to appreciate technology that can allow the Taliban to trip them selves up without any chase or pressure. Apparently a Taliban memmber used the CC option instead of the BCC when sending an email. Oops.

Sometimes SNL is Still Relevant

Weekend Update should be a larger portion of SNL. It has almost alway been one of the best segments of the show. It could be sponsored by little chocolate donuts and the bass O Matic 76, along with Mainway Toys. Aww...I said "Little Chocolate Donuts" Which makes me think of Hostess products Which makes me sad, relatively speaking. On the upside it will be VERY interesting to see Saturday Night Live's take on the whole Bakers' Union murder of all those innocent Twinkies.

You know it's coming

Right now someone is writing a script called The Twinkie Murder Files: Greed of the Unions.

Hostess Closing, Twinkie Lovers Sad

Hostess, the company that makes TWINKIES, DING DONGS, HO HO's and WONDER BREAD has now laid off 18,000.00 workers and will be closing, and liquidating.

This From The Company Website, Hostessbrands.com:

Hostess Brands is Closed.
We are sorry to announce that Hostess Brands, Inc. has been forced by a Bakers Union strike to shut down all operations and sell all company assets. For more information, go to hostessbrands.info. Thank you for all of your loyalty and support over the years.

HOSTESS BRANDS TO WIND DOWN COMPANY AFTER BCTGM UNION STRIKE CRIPPLES OPERATIONS Friday, November 16, 2012 at 7:00AM Irving, TX – November 16, 2012 – Hostess Brands Inc. today announced that it is winding down operations and has filed a motion with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court seeking permission to close its business and sell its assets, including its iconic brands and facilities. Bakery operations have been suspended at all plants. Delivery of products will continue and Hostess Brands retail stores will remain open for several days in order to sell already-baked products.
€ The Board of Directors authorized the wind down of Hostess Brands to preserve and maximize the value of the estate after one of the Company’s largest unions, the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM), initiated a nationwide strike that crippled the Company’s ability to produce and deliver products at multiple facilities.
On Nov. 12, Hostess Brands permanently closed three plants as a result of the work stoppage. On Nov. 14, the Company announced it would be forced to liquidate if sufficient employees did not return to work to restore normal operations by 5 p.m., EST p.m., Nov. 15. The Company determined on the night of Nov. 15 that an insufficient number of employees had returned to work to enable the restoration of normal operations.
The BCTGM in September rejected a last, best and final offer from Hostess Brands designed to lower costs so that the Company could attract new financing and emerge from Chapter 11. Hostess Brands then received Court authority on Oct. 3 to unilaterally impose changes to the BCTGM’s collective bargaining agreements.
Hostess Brands is unprofitable under its current cost structure, much of which is determined by union wages and pension costs. The offer to the BCTGM included wage, benefit and work rule concessions but also gave Hostess Brands’ 12 unions a 25 percent ownership stake in the company, representation on its Board of Directors and $100 million in reorganized Hostess Brands’ debt.
“We deeply regret the necessity of today’s decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike,” said Gregory F. Rayburn, chief executive officer. “Hostess Brands will move promptly to lay off most of its 18,500-member workforce and focus on selling its assets to the highest bidders.”
In addition to dozens of baking and distribution facilities around the country, Hostess Brands will sell its popular brands, including Hostess®, Drakes® and Dolly Madison®, which make iconic cake products such as Twinkies®, CupCakes, Ding Dongs®, Ho Ho’s®, Sno Balls® and Donettes®. Bread brands to be sold include Wonder®, Nature’s Pride ®, Merita®, Home Pride®, Butternut®, and Beefsteak®, among others.
The wind down means the closure of 33 bakeries, 565 distribution centers, approximately 5,500 delivery routes and 570 bakery outlet stores throughout the United States.
The Company said its debtor-in-possession lenders have agreed to allow the Company to continue to have access to the $75 million financing facility put in place at the start of the bankruptcy cases to fund the sale and wind down process, subject to U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval.
The Company’s motion asks the Court for authority to continue to pay employees whose services are required during the wind-down period.
For employees whose jobs will be eliminated, additional information can be found at hostessbrands.info . The website also contains information for customers and vendors. Most employees who lose their jobs should be eligible for government-provided unemployment benefits.

Late Night TV

Once again I find myself watching a crime drama on late night TV. This habit may be part of the reason I don't sleep well when I do actually go to bed. LAW & ORDER and CRIMINAL MINDS are usually the worst when it comes to helping insomnia win. Of course if those shows don't happen to be on there is usually a show like THE FIRST 48 which documents a real crime situation, always a murder it seems. I would be tempted to stop watching these shows, but STORAGE WARS seems to have the same effect and any of the above would be less disturbing than any episode of DAVID LETTERMAN.

Twinkies Don't Go!

Because of a dispute with workers Hostess, the company that makes Twinkies and other snacks may liquidate forever taking away another childhood favorite from millions. It's once again a union playing havoc with an entity of the USA. Hostess Twinkies are part of Americana. It is time to take up the cause! Break the Unions! Give us an assurance of many Twinkie filled years to come!

The weather riddle

If the people in the North and East can hardly wait for warm weather to return what do the people in California and Florida wait for? You almost never hear people waiting for the cold, snow and ice. Already counting down to warm weather here.

Preppers

Although I think they are a bit excessive, I really think I would get along pretty well with most of the people on Doomsday Preppers. I'm not sure though, that watching the show right before bedtime is a good idea. I'm thinking these people are Republicans. They all seem pretty level headed and know this country is in trouble in many ways. They are not blaming anyone person or group they just think things are going to get worse. I'm sure this show will be renewed for at least three or four more years. Let's how this is stuff that is never needed, however it doesn't seem as far fetched as it did four or five years ago. I hope they have deydrated chocolate in case I decide to become a prepper. I was never "Preppie" in high school, maybe this is my chance.

A Conflicting Thought

It is probably not a good sign when you think of starting a health and fitness blog while deciding weather or not you want to finish the ice cream currently in the freezer. Ice cream could be considered a health food. Well, maybe not a health food. How about a less harmful food than fire eating? Did I mention it's low fat ice cream?

When You're Half Right

I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three. - Elayne Boosler
Sometimes you just can't deny a great idea.

Responsibility

If you take responsibility for yourself you will develop a hunger to accomplish your dreams. - Les Brown This is what American's need to strive for, not be handed everything. Responsibility gets you everywhere, Socialism gets you a lazy nation and leads to communism.

Angry Birds and Star Wars

I'm wondering how much I won't understand about the latest Angry Birds becase I have never seen a Star Wars film. There I said it. Not that I don't want to, I just never have. I don't know how I have survived all these years without seeing one. May the force be with me, I guess.

Way To Go Einstein

“If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.” ― Albert Einstein Yes, but if you are explaining it to a 30 year old in terms for a six year old stop it. Don't always make it so easy people don't have to think. As we require less and less thinking we end up with more and more stupid people.

Mayo

Several of us agreed the other night that we really have to try the vanilla pudding in a mayonaise jar gag. I think we should do it someplace with a crowed. Maybe at a parade or restaurant. Someplace where people would stare and wonder about our sanity. On another note that Allstate commercial where everyone talks with the spokesman's deep voice, I don't see the cutness anymore. It's actually just a tad creepy.

I was going to post about the financial situation the country is in, but then I decided to write about something happy. Puppies. Puppies are cute. So are kitties. And I like chocolate. There is my happiness post for today. Damn economy. Grr.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. -Helen Keller As an added thought It's important for people today to remember that if we are to be anyone of importance or impact we must put forth an effort. Laziness and loafing is an act of a weak person in general. We all have days of slacking but overall we must put forth an effort to make a difference.

Writers Block Or The Great Writer

I've often thought I should make myself post in a blog every day, but if I did would I end up with a string of posts that said, Writers Block #2193? It's just like Snoopy on his dog house. "It...It was...It was a dark and stormy night." I think I'll try to write a story sometime using the whole "Great Writer" Segment from Peanuts.

Looking At The Facts

Recently at the Pittsburgh Zoo a parent puts their kid on top of a railing above wild animals and when the child falls into the pen and is mauled to death the endangered wild animal is killed and the zoo is shut down until further notice. Wake Up - The Parent was negligent. Not the Zoo, Not the Wild Animals. The Parent. The railing was there for a reason. If the parent had been more responsible their child would still be alive and the engangered wild animal would not have been killed for following it's instinct.

Technology Is Great, But!

As do many Americans I love my smart phone and laptop. They are an important part of work and recreation. The problem comes when as a recreation they also become our only source of exercise. Although having nimble texting fingers is a good atribute it is not, no matter how many texts you send a day, a form of exercise. As a nation with more and more literally at our fingertips it is important to remember that exercise needs to be a part of our lives. Keeping a healthy weight is important for health. While hip and knee replacements are sometimes needed by people of any weight it is more often that those who are obese are more likely to need these replacements due to the added strain on the joints they were born with. Take a texting break and go for a walk.

Lazy Americans - Let's Hope They Are Too Lazy To Vote

Neighbors in a rental house nearby were joking that if the wife leaves the husband and children make sure she leaves the access card. These are obama supporters who never work, have never attempted to work, and because they are living off the government are able to sit on their backsides and eat all day becoming obese and in turn become a burden to the system do to health problems. I am tired of supporting this type of pathectic behavoir. This same woman was saying on facebook that she had atummy ache and if it didn't go away in an hour or two she was going to the ER for treatment. An unecessary trip to be sure. Our nation cannot afford another Obama term. The lazy people of the nation are fast driving this nation to a socialist end. We need someone like Romney who supports business developement, not socialist, government dependent sloths who's votes can be purchased by an access card.

Facebook is "Ticking" Me Off

After getting everyone used to the ticker on facebook, it has just vanished. Poof. No more Ticker. Really facebook? Why do you keep messing around with stuff? And stop telling me to like things. As a side note...Attention facebook advertisers! I purposely DO NOT purchase items that have annoyingly interrupted my facbook experience. As a matter of fact I avoid them like the plague! Well, maybe not THAT strongly. But I will not buy your product.