I thought I would take a moment to put all these budget numbers into easily digestible perspective.

Last year the  US took in $2.381 trillion estimated Total revenue.  We spent $3.552 trillion estimated total.

In other words we spent %149.18 more than we took in.

I'll use these numbers for below since this years numbers are not in yet. They are close ( Read more... )

Today let us all remember our veterans are NOT heroes, they are victims. Victims of poverty, education, lack of good opportunities where  they live, government, propaganda and most of all war.

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The topic of if I see someone as a unicorn or if I (and my partner) are chasing unicorns has come up a few times this year.  The suggestion always brings my defenses way up, yet can make me proud when there is (or the possibility of) a unicorn in my stable as well.  An interesting juxtaposition to both want and shun the same thing.  I thought I ( Read more... )

I recently met someone IRL who keeps a food blog.

http://www.fullgastronomictilt.com/

This has me thinking more about my food tastes and my deep-rooted love of food and cooking.

So my question to you all is what is a central core part of your cooking?  Some special ingredient or spice you can’t live without, or always use? Some special ( Read more... )

K and I went to the Herb fest at the farmers market this weekend and loaded up on plants. I got two flats of flowers to brighten up the front of the houses. I also got two flats of vegetables for a vegetable and herb (mostly mint and basil) garden between the two houses. To add to my edible and flowering shrub collection I got some blueberry, and ( Read more... )

Swine Flu, oh yea does that ring a bell.
I remember being a little bratty kid the last time the country was caught up in the swine
flu scare.  A quick google says that was 1976.
http://www.capitalcentury.com/1976.html
My memory was I was older than that then, but perhaps not. I remember the long lines
for the "mandatory" swine flue vaccine.  And I ( Read more... )

Went to the Grey Eagle with K and a mutual friend last night so see Custard Pie, a Led Zeppelin tribute band, featuring Woody Wood, who is a an Asheville guitar superstar. Watch for this rising star he is pretty amazing.  It felt so good to get lost in the music again and let the music move me. It has been to long since I was last in that place ( Read more... )

I came home from work today in a rather melancholy mood.


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Kelly made a picture collage of our property in the spring. I think most of these pictures were  taken about 4 years go when when we first moved in so some things are a bit different today.  I thought I would post it so you can see some of what our property looks like.

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Today was the first time to fire up of a new product I am designing at work. Over 500 parts and as far as I can tell I didn't make any big mistakes..... yet.  I powered it up, loaded the initial firmware, no Magic Blue Smoke let out, all power supplies look good. Product is 90% working out of the shoot with the first non debugged firmware.

Dam I'm ( Read more... )