A Bedtime Tale for Modern Times...

( I don't take credit for this, but merely wish to pass it along. The author is a Dr. Rossi, somewhere in Florida.... wtr )


"Once upon a time there was a very happy couple. Their names were Freedom and Capitalism. They married and had many wonderful children. Their names were Independence, Self-worth, Hard Work, Dignity, Charity, Faith and Hope. They all lived happily for many years and the children respected their parents and loved them both very much.

But Freedom and Capitalism later had several naughty children; very naughty. They weren't so respectful and never appreciated their parents. Their names were Wealth Envy, Environmentalism, Animal Rights Activism, Racism, Feminism,and Liberalism. These evil children blamed their parents for everything and hated their parents, Freedom and Capitalism.

In fact, these unappreciative children began to despise their parents since they didn't realize their parents gave them everything they had and didn't realize that they wouldn't even exist without their parents. They hated their parents so much, they began to plot with their neighbors to kill their parents and to keep their home.

Their neighbors' names were Socialism and Communism, who on the outside were a very lovely couple, but inside they were very, very ugly. They and their children, whose names were Despair, Poverty, Suffering, and Repression had been welcomed into every neighborhood they had lived in. But then thrown out after years of suffering and the loss of many lives.

So late one night in total darkness (because Socialism and Communism did everything in darkness and away from the light of the truth,) while everyone was asleep, Wealth Envy, Environmentalism, Feminism, and Animal Rights, with the help of their younger obnoxious brother, Hollywood, disguised Socialism and Communism and all went into the house of Freedom and Capitalism. It wasn't hard because the two parents, Freedom and Capitalism, always left their gates and their door open for everyone. Wealth led the way because he knew the house oh, so well. The evil children led Socialism and Communism throughout the house, one room at a time. And one at a time they killed Hard Work, then Dignity, then Independence, Self-worth, Charity and Faith.

They finally found the room of Freedom and Capitalism and killed them as well. It wasn't hard to do, since Freedom and Capitalism always left their door unlocked and open for everyone. Only Hope survived. Hope survived hiding in the closet. She ran out during the ensuing celebration. After Socialism and Communism moved in, things went well for a while but then they decided they didn't like Freedom and Capitalism's evil children, either. They wanted their own children to have the rooms in their new house. So late one night in total darkness (because Socialism and Communism did everything in darkness and away from the light of the truth,) they sent their children to kill Freedom and Capitalism's remaining evil children.

Poverty and Suffering killed Environmentalism and Animal Rights first, for they were so hungry, they had to kill all the animals for food and the trees for their wood. And besides, why should animals have rights if people don't? Hopelessness killed Liberalism. Then Poverty, Suffering, and Repression killed Feminism. And Hollywood, the young obnoxious son of Freedom and Capitalism, was also killed. Finally, Wealth Envy, who led the attack on his parents, died at the hands of Poverty since there was nothing left to envy.

So Socialism and Communism and their children, Poverty, Despair, Hopelessness, Suffering, and Repression lived in the once beautiful home of Freedom and Capitalism which was now in great disrepair and they all lived sadly ever after.

All that was left of the family of Freedom and Capitalism was Hope who was quietly hiding in the woods."

The Economy, from a Local Perspective

On Saturday, Nov. 1st, I was tallying up the sales numbers here at the store for October.
October was good. October showed a big increase. Every month since opening in July we have had an upward trend.

Business was good.

Judging from that Saturday and the following Monday, it looked like we were on our way to an even better November... and then Election Day.

Not a single customer!

I didn't get too alarmed-I had seen the same kind of thing during our local Election Day back in August. Biz was very light on that day. But it bounced back the next day. So maybe it was just a local thing.
The next day I had one customer. Bought a pack of smokes.
Thursday was just as bad. By Friday I was wondering if I should even bother with opening the store that day!

It was weird. It was like this whole area of the county went into lock down. Even my regulars, who always stopped in on their way to work just kept driving by and never stopping. Maybe the shock was just too great. Maybe the natives were hunkering down, fearing the worst after the election. I had never seen this neighborhood so quiet and dead. It was creepy and unsettling.
I always had a slight drop in biz towards the end of the month. The last week of a month being the slowest. But this was the first part of the month. This wasn't right. Something was afoot.
It was bad enough to make me reconsider my plans for deer season, or at least scale them back some.

This slow to none existent biz continued into this week. By Wednesday it was slowly picking back up. But folks weren't much in a chatty mood- just pay for their goods and split. And more than one had put something back, after pondering it for a moment. Like that can of tomatoes or candy bar was gonna break 'em. Strange. I think I was seeing fear, or at the very least worry of uncertainty.

Finally, by this past Friday it appeared that the shock had wore off. Friday was a good day.
Today is opening day for rifle deer season. I'm up bright and early and will be opening for biz extra early with hot coffee and assorted pastries and sausage biscuits for the hunters. I've stocked up on freezer paper and other incidentals essential for deer cabins, I have plenty of bagged ice on hand for their coolers. Now we wait and see.
A good week during deer season will make up for that freaky "Obama Effect".
And we really need a good week!

Was it shock? Was it fear and worry that led to my worst week ever, sales wise? Dunno. Just throwing this out there.
Now, I'm off to open the store...and hope for a good day.

I for one, Welcome our alien overlords...

Well, now that we've handed the car keys to the drunk teenagers, looks like the head squirrel is itching to take the nation out for a joy ride-ahhh, ain't this cute?:

Obama to Use Executive Orders for Immediate Impact

("Hey! What's this button do?!"....Coool!)

"WASHINGTON – President-elect Obama plans to use his executive powers to make an immediate impact when he takes office, perhaps reversing Bush administration policies on stem cell research and domestic drilling for oil and natural gas.

John Podesta, Obama's transition chief, said Sunday Obama is reviewing President Bush's executive orders on those issues and others as he works to undo policies enacted during eight years of Republican rule. He said the president can use such orders to move quickly on his own.

"There's a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action, and I think we'll see the president do that," Podesta said. "I think that he feels like he has a real mandate for change. We need to get off the course that the Bush administration has set."-----------

"Obama's advantage of course is he'll have the House and the Senate working with him, and that makes it easier," said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond. "But even then, having an immediate impact is very difficult to do because the machinery of government doesn't move that quickly."

Presidents long have used executive orders to impose policy and set priorities. One of Bush's first acts was to reinstate full abortion restrictions on U.S. overseas aid. The restrictions were first ordered by President Reagan and the first President Bush followed suit. President Clinton lifted them soon after he occupied the Oval Office and it wouldn't be surprising if Obama did the same.

Executive orders "have the power of law and they can cover just about anything," Tobias said in a telephone interview."


Y'know, this past week I've been reading stuff like this, and the only thing that comes to mind is the old Richard Pryor bit about the old men in his neighborhood talking about the Hard Times- a patch of years so bad, they didn't even give them numbers-just called them Hard Times!

I fear we will be looking back at the Carter years with a certain fondness after this guy.

AN AMERICAN CREED

(Note from WTR: My fellow conservatives in exile, please feel free to swipe this and post. Let this be our guidepost and encouragement as the nation stumbles blindly into Change.)

An American Creed

I Do Not Choose to Be a Common Man

It is my right to be uncommon—if I can.

I seek opportunity—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.


I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia.


I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.


It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.”

*By Dean Alfange


*Originally published in This Week Magazine. Later printed in The Reader’s Digest, October 1952 and January 1954.

The Honorable Dean Alfange was an American statesman born December 2, 1899, in Constantinople (now Istanbul). He was raised in upstate New York. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and attended Hamilton College, graduating in the class of 1922.

WTFBBQOMG!!1111111111????///

So what are y'all doing on the last day of life as we know it?

I'll go and open up my store as usual. My locals will come and go as they buy their chews, pop, smokes, the odd bag of chips and half gallons of milk. I'm sure there will be some comments about the events of this day.

The past few days I've been pondering the weirdness of all this, on a personal level.
3 weeks ago I got a notice from AIG, letting me know that they would be canceling my car insurance. The letter explained that they would no longer be insuring people with only one car. A week later AIG was all over the financial news. I almost felt personally responsible.

Then there was the collapse of Wa Mu. Wa Mu is one of 3 credit cards I have. I liked it because of the delightfully low interest on it (something like 7 percent) I used it rarely, but wisely. My next favorite was my Chase card, but it had a 9 percent rate and a modest limit. Funny how Chase ate Wa Mu. Now my question is: What happens with my Wa Mu card? And if it transforms into a Chase card, will I still have the bitchen interest rate or will it bump up to my other Chase card rate? (but really, after today will it really matter?)

And now,we have Citi getting weird. Again, that is my 3rd card I own. I NEVER use that one. But out of the 3 cards-that one has the most insane limit. 25,000 bucks!
But for reason I don't fully understand it carries a obscene rate: 23%. I've never been late on it, so it's not a penalty rate. So naturally, I don't use it. 3 times I have called them and threatened to cancel the card and all 3 times they have begged me not to and as a carrot they lower the rate on it, one time to 3 PERCENT! But that only lasts for about 3 months and then they jack it right back up. Can't figure it out. Maybe they're in trouble because I never use it.

Naw. We're in this mess because the crapweasels in congress have been planning this for years. Back when they greenlighted banks to become investment houses and investment houses to become banks was when I got worried...oh, yeah...that's a GREAT IDEA!

GOD HELP US, ALL.

Missouri Prosecutors, Sheriffs 'Target Anyone Who Lies' About Barack Obama

I had to come out of my self imposed hibernation to bring this to everyone's attention:

Missouri Prosecutors, Sheriffs 'Target Anyone Who Lies' About Barack Obama

A St. Louis television station reports — their words — "The Barack Obama campaign is asking Missouri law enforcement to target anyone who lies or runs a misleading TV ad during the presidential campaign."

Prosecutors and sheriffs from across Missouri are joining "The Barack Obama Truth Squad."

They mention Jennifer Joyce, St. Louis Circuit Attorney and Bob McCullough, prosecutor for St. Louis County in Missouri.

The reporter says, "They will be reminding voters that Barack Obama is a Christian who wants to cut taxes for anyone making less than $250,000 a year."

While the report never quite comes out and says that anyone running an ad saying those things would be subject to prosecution, that certainly is the message implied.
( More at National Review, Online)

I dare these pinheaded, mind numbed squints whose salaries are paid BY US, the citizens of the grand state of Missouri, the "Show Me" state, to just try that crap around here...where all the normal people live.
And now on to my political ad:

Barry Husein Obama is a big fat poopyhead!
He is a coward, a Marxist, and as much a "christian" as my dog.
Anyone who buys into his tripe is an ig'nert booger eatin' moron.
Again, I repeat: Obama is a big fat lying whining MUSLIM by decent poopyhead.


"I'm WTR, and I approve this message."

NOW COME AND GET ME, COPPERS!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, that's right...these pansies won't dare go south of the I-44 corridor- we have all the guns here!

MAJOR UPDATE, SUNDAY EVENING
Our Gov. has released a scathing, no holds barred statement concerning the shinanigans: (Clare? Are ya ears burnin'??!!)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Saturday, September 27, 2008 Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290 Gov. Blunt Statement on Obama Campaign’s Abusive Use of Missouri Law Enforcement

Gov. Blunt Statement on Obama Campaign’s Abusive Use of Missouri Law Enforcement

JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Matt Blunt today issued the following statement on news reports that have exposed plans by U.S. Senator Barack Obama to use Missouri law enforcement to threaten and intimidate his critics.

“St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Bob McCulloch, St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, Jefferson County Sheriff Glenn Boyer, and Obama and the leader of his Missouri campaign Senator Claire McCaskill have attached the stench of police state tactics to the Obama-Biden campaign.

“What Senator Obama and his helpers are doing is scandalous beyond words, the party that claims to be the party of Thomas Jefferson is abusing the justice system and offices of public trust to silence political criticism with threats of prosecution and criminal punishment.

“This abuse of the law for intimidation insults the most sacred principles and ideals of Jefferson. I can think of nothing more offensive to Jefferson’s thinking than using the power of the state to deprive Americans of their civil rights. The only conceivable purpose of Messrs. McCulloch, Obama and the others is to frighten people away from expressing themselves, to chill free and open debate, to suppress support and donations to conservative organizations targeted by this anti-civil rights, to strangle criticism of Mr. Obama, to suppress ads about his support of higher taxes, and to choke out criticism on television, radio, the Internet, blogs, e-mail and daily conversation about the election.

“Barack Obama needs to grow up. Leftist blogs and others in the press constantly say false things about me and my family. Usually, we ignore false and scurrilous accusations because the purveyors have no credibility. When necessary, we refute them. Enlisting Missouri law enforcement to intimidate people and kill free debate is reminiscent of the Sedition Acts - not a free society.”

WOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOO!
Spread the word, y'all!

Details You Wished You Didn't Know (local news)

...And in this case it would be knowing first hand what a murder victim's last meal was.

A 20 oz Dr. Pepper and some honey roasted peanuts.

Less than 30 minutes later after this trio had stopped in at my store for sodas and snacks the guy was dead.

I think it's fair to say I'm seriously creeped out by this.
Everyone around here knows that Hitchcock has a legendary hot temper, but...damn!

There Goes the Neighborhood.... ; )

At long last after nearly 22 years of enduring less than neighborly neighbors of all kinds (running from just not sociable, to down right peculiar, to out and out weasely ig'nert white trash with money) down here in the holler, patience has paid off.

The lil' house next to me has been sold (once again!) and the folks moved in last week.
So far we are hitting it off wonderfully.

They aren't strangers to country life, having lived in rural settings on and off for years. This recent move brought about by suburbia encroaching on their last place of residence, they sought yet another 'out in the middle of nowhere' place they could live without bothersome city folk. They came to the right place.

The couple is about my age, maybe just a wee bit younger, so we have that in common. She's ex-military, he's, well, uh, I dunno. He has had a wealth of life experiences, let's just say. Either way, he's a very likable, jovial guy-actually he reminds me of my Bill, personality-wise. It's nice. He's a biker-type. (and I mean that in a good way-if I have to explain...you'd never understand.)

Even all our dogs get along! That is important for me. Mine are only on a leash if they're going to the vet, would have hated to start doing that any time we ventured out for just a walk down the road.

They have big plans for this spot of land they have bought. (cash, no loan.)I honestly don't know where the money comes from, since all the proposed improvements are major money-lots of remodeling, landscaping, new storage/barns built, etc. Their plans sound wonderful if they can pull it off. I don't care. It's just refreshing to have people next door that I and my younguns feel instantly comfortable with!

Yesterday I spent a few hours chatting with them in the shade of the walnut tree in their yard, yeah, the store was open, but from my spot in the yard I could see whenever customers pulled in and would excuse myself and trot over to the store.
The day before they had got a delivery of a huge black piece of furniture-couldn't tell right off if it was just an impressive chest of drawers or a gun safe. Once the guys began to load it into the house I could tell. Yep, gun safe. A bigg'un, too and very nice.
So today's task for the hubby was to get all their firearms cleaned and inspected and fill the safe. The wife and I gabbed away as he broke down and meticulously cleaned a neverending array of rifles, handguns, shotguns and all manner of implements of destruction. The wife would interrupt our conversation now and then to indicate which one was hers- her gran'pa's .45, the 20 gauge she got as an anniversary present and so on with a story about each one. As soon as he finished up a few, off he go and bring out another 3 or so rifle cases and/or bags and start the process all over. It literally took most of the day! From about 10 a.m. to around 4 p.m. I didn't bother to ask exactly how many guns they actually had. I wasn't any of my business. But I was impressed.

In a delightfully weird way, I suddenly feel A LOT safer if the sh*t should ever hit the fan around here.

Yep, I think we're gonna get along just fine...