Sabtu, 30 April 2011

My Friend Hoppy


There is a wonderful place in Cornville, Arizona, called Connections, which is a non-profit horse ranch that specializes in helping challenged men, women, boys and girls with the loving therapy that only learning about horses can give. I have seen the Connections Equine Therapy Program in action and the results are truly amazing!

While at Connections, my wife and I met Hoppy and Leslie Mennenger, who were also volunteers. Hoppy looked like Wild Bill Hickok with his long pony tail and goatee, but talked with a heavy New York accent. I immediately liked Hoppy and through the years we have all stayed friends. While Hoppy and my wife spend many hours volunteering at Connections, I have devoted most of my time writing murder mysteries and part-time consulting, while Leslie has become totally involved in a greeting card career.

Hoppy had seen my Harley-Davidson Road King many times and always said he wanted to start riding again, but could never bring himself to take the plunge. After I sold my Road King and was not riding, he started talking about buying a horse and keeping it at Connections. I, in turn, bought a Harley V-Rod and sent Hoppy a picture. He relayed a message through my wife that now he really wanted to start riding a Harley. I decided to call Hoppy and find out if he was serious. He was not only serious, but asked me if I knew where he could find a good used V-Rod. Just so happened that I did know and that there was a beautiful 2006 for sale at Buddy Stubbs in Phoenix, where I had found mine.

After calling the store and confirming that the 2006 V-Rod was still available, Hoppy and I jumped in his truck and headed for Phoenix. He put a deposit on the bike so they could install a windscreen and some other cool stuff on his bike and we headed back home with Hoppy talking a mile a minute about how he was finally going to be a Harley dude once he picked up his bike the following weekend. It was then that I learned he had never been in a Harley store, let alone ever ridden one. After over twenty years of not riding anything but a small Honda, he was now going to learn why so many men and women are hooked by the Harley-Davidson bug.

Well, today is the day and my wife, Hoppy and I are heading to Phoenix to pick up Hoppy’s new (to him) bike. We were looking forward to traveling with Leslie also, but she was already committed to another project with her passion, which is Sendoutcards. The plan was for Hoppy to ride his V-Rod back to Sedona, but there is a severe wind advisory out today so we will trailer it back to his house. While in Phoenix and after we pick up the bike, the three of us will go back home via El Encanto Mexican Restaurant in Cave Creek. We might as well kill two snakes with the same stone. Harleys and great Mexican food – the only way to go!

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Jumat, 29 April 2011

Queef Bubbles

What the heck are queef bubbles? I can’t keep up with the younger generation’s terminology. I have heard of soap bubbles, lava bubbles, queer bubbles, and I even knew a lady once named Bubbles, but that’s another story.

What does it mean when someone says, “Up your Queef bubble” or “Up yours, Queef bubble” or “suck on my Queef bubble, butt head” or “Queef this, bubblehead?” I just don’t get it – when I was younger, we just got right to the point and said, “Hey man, that’s cool…right on!” The words were simple, to the point and understandable even while spoken in a maze of blue smoke.

Oh, well, I guess I will just continue to play like I understand what’s going on during my Facebook forays. Click like and carry on in “older than dirt” fashion….

I’m just saying,

Mittster

PS: OMG...I just Googled Queef Bubble! I shouldn't post this blog now, but I can't help myself.

Kamis, 28 April 2011

The face of Jesus


I am not one to see visions or apparitions and certainly not a face in stone. What I discovered sitting on the desert floor looking up at me during one of my meteorite searches astounded me. I was at least a mile from any road and the only sounds were from birds and the warm desert wind. I looked at the rock in amazement from several angles and at different distances. The face seemed to be looking at me with the agony of a man crucified. A sudden calm and warmth covered my whole body as the realization dawned on me that I was looking into the face of Jesus Christ!

I knelt down in reverence and recited the Lord’s Prayer aloud. How could I be feeling the power of Divine Love and Peace by looking into the eyes of a face drawn on stone by the power of nature? I had never felt such peace and love until that late afternoon in the warm, setting Quartzsite, Arizona, sun in late January 2011.

I, of course, wanted to pick up the stone and take it back to town and show it to my wife. Hesitating, I wondered if it would be sacrilegious. A voice said to me inside my brain, “Would it be better that the stone lay here in the desert another two thousand years inspiring no one?” I thought, good point, as I picked up the stone and placed it reverently in my knap sac.

While walking almost a mile back to my truck, one thought kept spinning in my head. What am I to do with this stone? I had seen many such artifacts publicized in newspapers and on television, and each time, I thought it ridiculous. Why do people flock to such obvious fake images? Now it was my turn to understand that faith can indeed move mountains and that there is religious value to these images. After all, I too had had a profound religious experience when I saw the stone. But, how do I share the experience with others without ridicule? What if no one sees the image in the same way I did? I decided to keep the face of Christ a secret, even from my wife.

The stone has been lying on a tray with other desert rocks on our front porch for almost three months now. I placed the image toward a sun screen so that no one could see it until I could reconcile my mixed feelings about showing it to others. This Easter, as I sat on the front porch waiting for sunrise – I again said the Lord’s Prayer out loud and the answer I was seeking about the stone was revealed to me. It doesn’t matter what others may or may not see. It doesn’t matter what people say or do not say about the stone. What matters is that surely someone will recognize the image as I did and that is enough. If even only one person sees the face of Jesus Christ and is able to have a profound spiritual healing like I did, that is enough. Who am I to pretend that the stone does not exist and keep the face of Jesus secret? I was blessed that day in the desert and now I hope you can also be blessed….

Mitt Winstead

Rabu, 27 April 2011

Man's Second Best Friend


This is just a short blog to remind all of us that the health of earth’s animal kingdom is a reflection of the health of humankind, and that cruelty to animals of any kind is unacceptable human behavior.

Be kind to an animal today and kindness will be bestowed upon you tenfold in return….

Write on,

Mittster

Selasa, 26 April 2011

Skull and Bones


I couldn’t figure out why Harley-Davidson started putting skull and bones on all their bike accessories. After some research, the reason became apparent. As a murder mystery writer and Harley rider, the skull and bones have much significance, but it never occurred to me that there could also be a “booty call” connection.

My wife has always objected to any Harley stuff with skulls attached to it until I bought my V-Rod a few weeks ago. Low and behold when we got home she presented me with a Buddy Stubb's skull and bones T-shirt! I doubt she knew about the real connotation or my T-shirt would have been a traditional bike picture with no connotation what-so-ever.

Too late now, darling, I have it and I am wearing it! Of course, my reasoning is to tie murder mystery writing in with Harleys so I can sell my books while riding in motorcycle rallies. A little “booty” watching along the way surely can’t hurt. It keeps the eyes in good shape, but – Look, but don’t touch is another connotation I also understand well….

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Senin, 25 April 2011

Rubber to the Asphalt


I hear the sound of Harleys on the road again. That’s a sure sign that spring has sprung and that it’s time to put the rubber on the asphalt. Sometimes it seems like winter will last forever and this winter is no exception. We have already been riding in most of Arizona, but after looking at weather reports throughout the nation, it appears winter is holding on in some places like a passenger on a V-Rod! It won’t be long though and everyone will be riding the roads of the most beautiful country on earth.

I know most riders are like bears out of hibernation when winter is over and they want to jump on their scooters and start riding. But, hold up a minute; we need to check our bikes out and make sure everything is in good running order for that first ride. Most of us know this and don’t need to be told, but there are newbie riders out there who could use the advice. After all, I remember when I first started riding and my impatient state of mind was only overshadowed by my lack of experience. Someone helped me along and for that I am grateful.


__Make sure your headlights, taillights, turn signals, horn and brake lights are working properly.

__Check all fluid levels (fuel, oil, hydraulic, coolant) and make sure they are at the proper levels or adequate for the ride.

__Inspect for loose spokes, if applicable, wheel alignment and play, and your tires for wear and proper inflation.

__If your bike is chain driven, check it for proper tension. Rule of thumb is about 3/4 inch of free play.

__Make sure your side stand and center stand will remain in the up position while riding.

__Periodically inspect your engine area and frame for loose bolts and fasteners. Remember to tighten to manufacture specifications.

__Check your throttle for smooth travel and no sticking. Refer to your owner's manual if lubrication is required.

__Check your clutch and brake levers for smooth operation. Lubricate and adjust according to owner's manual specifications.

__Check your clutch, throttle, and brake cables (if applicable). Lubricate or replace as recommended.

__Check your front and rear brakes for proper operation, brake pads and shoes for proper thickness, and rotors and drums for smooth surfaces.

__Don't forget to check your battery for proper fluid levels and terminals for corrosion.


Now you are ready for that first ride of the season. If it’s a new bike, take time to familiarize yourself with the location of all the controls. The best way to do that is to go on a day trip. One last thing – alcohol and/or drugs have no place on our highways. You can be the coolest dude or dudette on the planet without getting high while riding. Being stupid can get you and your riding companions dead!

Saddle up, it’s time to ride….

Mittster

Sabtu, 23 April 2011

What Easter Means to Me

I freely admit to being a spiritual person, but not particularly religious. I abhor religions that try and force damnation and hell on someone just because they don’t believe in a particular religion.

I do believe in Jesus of Nazareth, just as I believe in all the great prophets. Christianity can be your stairway to your God, just as other religions can be separate stairways to other people’s God. It’s not a question of right or wrong, but of which stairway you choose to climb.

This Sunday morning I am waiting for dawn so I can sit on the front porch and watch the sunrise. I will certainly remember the meaning of the arisen Christ and what his resurrection means to millions of people the world over. I love the concept of Jesus and the beauty of Easter. At the same time, I will give thanks to my God for all the blessing bestowed upon our family and community, regardless of religious beliefs.

I wish the world peace, harmony, happiness and Divine Love on this Easter Day. Without Divine Love, all else is meaningless.

Write on,

Mittster

What’s in a Name?

Have you ever Googled your own name just for fun? I know it’s kind of egotistical and silly, but fun nevertheless. I tried it and was astounded at what I found. Everything that I have attempted in my short writing career is there in black and white. My books, blogs, correspondence, Twitter, Facebook…twenty pages of everything about Mitt Winstead! How in the world did this happen? I didn’t plan it and I certainly didn’t expect it.

You can’t even Google Mitt Romney without finding my name there also. In fact, poor Mitt R. comes in a pale second to this Mitt. Maybe I should run for president…it’s about time we get someone poor in the White House. I’ve got it; I’ll run on the Poor Platform as an Independent! Who better to represent the poor middle class than a poor, unknown, middle class author? I have the integrity, energy and intelligence, so why not run? Oh, wait a minute – I don’t have the money, good looks, or charm. Crap, I don’t have the attributes that get people elected to public office. Too bad, I would have made a good president. Just as well, my dad always told me that people who work for the government are just the losers who couldn't make it in the private sector. It appears that may be so.

I am actually quite proud of what I found on Google. All my long hours of writing and promoting have not been in vain. Now if I could just get the world news broadcasters to do a piece on “Google Mitt Winstead.” I could become a celeb overnight and make millions. What a minute; I could do an ugly hair comb over, go to charm school and become a running mate for “The Donald.” Vice-President is good enough for me. A man has to know his limitations!

Write on,

Mittster

Jumat, 22 April 2011

Get a Rope!


Today is Friday. All working Americans know it’s Friday; this announcement is for all the illegal aliens milking America dry who can’t read or speak English…. Get a rope!

California is a Mecca for undocumented workers with children receiving free education, health care and subsistence…. Get a rope!

California is also a Mecca for handing out driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants…. Get a rope!

In case you haven’t noticed, our treasured public lands are being trashed and now posted as unsafe for Americans because of drug mules and illegal immigrants entering our country by cover of darkness…. Get a rope!

Also, in case you haven’t noticed, getting the illegal vote is priority number one for a certain political party (Democrats)…. Get a rope!

Our government stands by sucking their thumbs while illegal immigrants turn our flag up-side-down under the Mexican flag during protests in total disrespect of our country while on our soil…. Get a rope!

During these well-organized parades, protesters carried signs threatening our police officers with deadly violence if they interfered…. Get another rope!

Why is it that the media covers these protests with zeal, but hardly anything is said about a rancher who was shot and killed in southern Arizona by illegal aliens while on his own property?…. Get a rope!

How is it that another southern Arizona rancher was found guilty of holding a group of illegal immigrants found on his private property against their will? They were there illegally, for God’s sake…. Get a rope!

Landlords in Phoenix, Arizona, knowingly rent houses to mules that need a place to keep their captive illegal immigrants until even more money can be extorted from their families in South America or until they can sell the women into prostitution…. Get a rope!

You do understand that if we build a wall to keep the illegal immigrants out, drug smuggling would also stop. Maybe some of the billions and billions of illegal drug dollars are being passed out to corrupt officials on our side of the border to make sure that the wall never gets built…. Get more ropes!

There, I have said what millions of Americans are thinking, but are afraid to say because it is politically incorrect. I figure if illegals are able to exploit our Constitution and say what they please because of freedom of speech in our country, how much better protected I must be. Of course, the term “Get a rope” does not mean to literally get a rope and hang someone. That would be illegal!

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Kamis, 21 April 2011

Why I Like The Donald

I like The Donald because he has the chutzpa to wear the most hideous hair style. His posture is; if you don’t like it – don’t look!

I like The Donald because no matter what his hair looks like, he always dresses sharp, but not too conventional.

I like The Donald because he manages to always come out smelling like a rose. How many times have the newspapers reported him going broke and it was not so?

I like The Donald’s taste in women. If you don’t like them, too bad – you just have to look anyway!

I like The Donald because he can take what he dishes out. Just ask his ex-wives.

I like The Donald because he says what he means and means what he says, I think. I know the rest of the candidates don’t do either.

I like The Donald because he knows how to build things right. Shoddy workmanship is not tolerated.

I like The Donald because if you screw up big time, you get fired big time.

Mostly, I like The Donald because he is real. Not even Washington D.C. would faze him. After all, he has been through it all and still manages to shake up his world on a daily basis. We need his kind of business sense in Washington. It’s time to get a real person back in the White House.

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Selasa, 19 April 2011

Relax Like a Cat

"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life. Music and cats." ~ Albert Schweitzer ~

















































Of all the things I could have written a blog about today, this seemed the only way to stay away from all of the negative crap we are bombarded with from dawn to dawn.

Write on,

V-Rod Mittster

Senin, 18 April 2011

It can happen to you!


A good friend of mine has a PSA count of 180. Normal is one through four; anything higher is cause for concern. 180 is cause for great concern. Let’s back track a little. What is a PSA count? PSA or Prostate-Specific Antigen is the measurement of a prostate protein that can indicate (along with a rectal examination) whether a prostate gland has the possibility of being cancerous. Only a biopsy can confirm or deny the cancer’s existence.

There is raging controversy over the accuracy of PSA testing and which treatment program is the most effective if cancer cells are detected. One thing is certain; prostate cancer can kill you in a horrible way, which is also true of most cancers human beings suffer. Remember the movie Don’t Mess with the Zohan, starring Adam Sandler? Well, there should be a movie called, Don’t Mess with the Prostate Cancer, starring all men over fifty!

I don’t mean to make light of this subject, but, honestly, I need to find humor in the situation concerning my friend because I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000 and elected to have it removed after a PSA number of 7.5 was detected and the gland was swollen. After the operation, my PSA was .01, but unfortunately it started to rise and I elected to submit to radiation therapy. After two weeks of intense therapy, my PSA had dropped to .001 and has stayed there ever since. I know I must die of something, but it won’t be from prostate cancer!

The secret of my success was early detection and that is the key. The rule of thumb is have your prostate checked yearly when you reach the age of fifty. If your family has a prostate cancer history, have it checked much earlier. Please don’t procrastinate; get a physical and make sure you are cancer free. Live to have fun yet another day!

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Jumat, 15 April 2011

Sustainable Lifestyles


Living with less does not mean we are living less; it simply means we are learning to live within our means. This includes the capability of the planet to sustain our population which is fast outstripping food and energy supplies. I see us going back to a gentler and more serene time when stress was not the leading cause of discord and strife among families.

Call me an idealist or whatever, but take a few moments, stand back and look at your life. If the super-recession has caused you to make do with less, then this is an opportunity to understand that life can be so much more rewarding and happier when you and your loved ones start working together to fulfill your daily needs. This process has a tendency to bring family and friends together in more meaningful ways than if everyone has more than they need and scatter into the wind, only meeting for brief hellos and good-byes.

Did you ever have a situation where you were extremely happy even though you had little extra money and worked very hard to put beans on the table? Times were tough, but times were also good because you appreciated the little things and didn’t worry about the next door neighbor’s new car because your car was paid for and still running good. I know I had those times and unfortunately I didn’t appreciate them. I wanted more money, more prestige, more – more – and more. I actually ended up with less, until I learned that comfortable was better than luxurious and being conservative was not a personality flaw.

I am not saying that this super-recession is all good; we need to grow as a nation and compete in a world market. All I am saying is that conserving our natural resources and living a modest life have maximum rewards. Driving less and walking more is good for your health. We are never too old to ride a bicycle (that’s why they make three-wheelers) to the corner store for that gallon of milk and loaf of bread, instead of firing up the gas hog. Shopping with coupons is so much fun for me that I want to go shopping with my wife. I feel like we are getting even for all the times shopping was an unnecessary extravaganza and we zeroed in on the most expensive items due to advertizing hype. Not any more, baby – let’s see how much money we can save at Bashas’!

Living a modest life can be fun and exciting, knowing that you are doing your part in conserving precious natural resources and leaving a sustainable planet for our children. Unfortunately, we cannot predict what the rest of the world will do, but we can do what is right for our country and set the example. This process takes place in our households and expands to more and more homes through that example. Being happy and smiling is extremely contagious. I guarantee an epidemic of laughter will take over our amazing country, and life will be so much better for all of us.

Write on,

Mittster

Kamis, 14 April 2011

It’s That Roswell Crap Again!


I had a dream last night that I was taken from my bed to an alien spacecraft where they performed rather horrific scientific experiments on my body. The alien creatures were nasty looking, big headed bastards with huge eyes and tiny mouths. Their skin looked like old shoe leather and even though they were short in stature, they were extremely strong for their size.

After they were finished probing my body with strange and painful equipment, they stood back, and I swear, there were smiles on their ugly, tiny mouths. The grins were ominous in nature and I feared the worst was yet to come.

As I struggled with my restraints to get free, another taller creature entered the room. This alien was close to six feet tall and appeared to be female, sort of. It came close to the table and looked down at my shaking, naked body and smiled a wicked grin. Oh, my God, tell me it isn’t so – it was taking its clothes off!

I had read about possible cross breeding with aliens, but I thought it was nonsense. As the creature started to climb up on the table, I awoke to find my wife shaking me violently, saying, “Wake up, Mitt, you’re having a nightmare! I swear this is the last time you are watching science fiction horror movies before going to sleep.”

She has a point,

Mittster

Rabu, 13 April 2011

Charley Reese

This really is a great article. It sums things up so clearly....

“Charley Reese is retiring. This is his last column for the Orlando Sentinel. Many will miss this southern gentleman…. He had a great run and we are all better off for it. Farewell, Mr. Reese, and thank you. Charley Reese has been a journalist for 49 years.

Be sure to read the Tax List at the end.

The article below is completely neutral, not anti-republican or democrat…. Charlie Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, has hit the nail directly on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us every day. It's a short but good read. Worth the time and worth remembering!”

555 PEOPLE--By Charlie Reese

“Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them..

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 555 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but PRIVATE, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 555 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? The leader of the majority party. That person fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to. (SCORE ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS!)

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 555 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 555 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 555 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red…

If the Army and Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it's because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan ...

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 555 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 555 people and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power..

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees...

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Be sure to read all the way to the end:
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he's fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid...
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
Taxes drove me
to my doom...'
When he's gone,
Do not relax,
It’s time to apply
The inheritance tax..

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened?
Can you spell 'politicians?'”

“I hope this goes around THE USA at least 555 times!!! YOU can help it get there!!!

GO AHEAD - - - BE AN AMERICAN!!!”

OUR SHADOW MAN


This was written by retired FBI S/A Charles Walsh of the Boston, MA office. His specialty was forensic crime scene reconstruction and, in retirement, is now a "forensic consultant". Walsh is very concerned over the hood-winked news media...who never sought out Obama's background. He asks a simple question: who is Barack Obama?

"You know, as I look back and think about the Presidents that I lived through; I recall something that always happened. People that knew them through their lives were always presented to us in some sort of news or entertainment format.

JFK - When he ran and after elected we saw countless instances of friends from college, the Navy, etc that told stories of their experiences with him.

LBJ - I still remember stories from people that knew him when he was a school teacher and in the Navy.

Nixon - Stories from high school classmates about the quirky and surprisingly humorous kid. Oh by the way, also served in the Navy.

Carter - Annapolis grad, lots of people from Americus, Georgia telling stories of the peanut farmer's kid.

Reagan - People from Illinois & from California... Went to USC. Countless pictures.

Bush I - Played baseball at Yale. Shot down in Pacific. All sorts of people had stories.

Clinton - Picture of him from high school shaking JFK's hand. All kinds of Rednecks from Arkansas with stories.

Bush II - The Dems drug up all sorts of pictures of him drinking in college. Personal history is an open book.
Does this Make You Wonder?

Ever wonder why no one ever came forward from President Obama's past saying they knew him, attended school with him, was his friend, etc.? Not one person has ever come forward from his past.

This should really be a cause for great concern. To those who voted for him, you may have elected an unqualified, inexperienced shadow man. Reminds me of The Manchurian Candidate.....

Let's face it. As insignificant as we all are ... someone whom we went to school with remembers our name or face ... someone remembers we were the clown or the dork or the brain or the quiet one or the bully or something about us.

George Stephanopoulos of ABC News said the same thing during the 2008 campaign. He questions why no one has acknowledged the president was in their classroom or ate in the same cafeteria or made impromptu speeches on campus. Stephanopoulos also was a classmate of Obama at Columbia -- the class of 1984. He says he never saw him there and never had a single class with him.

While he is such a great orator, why doesn't anyone in Obama's college class remember him? And, why won't he allow Columbia to release his records?

NOT ONLY ALL OF THIS BUT LET'S START WITH HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATES. YES, THAT'S PLURAL AND ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN PROVEN FAKE BY LAWYERS TRYING TO FIND HIS REAL ONE WHICH IS PROBABLY HIDDEN WITH EVERYTHING ELSE OF HIS.

Looking for evidence of Obama's past, Fox News contacted 400 Columbia University students from the period when Obama claims to have been there, but none remembered him. Wayne Allyn Root was, like Obama, a political science major at Columbia who also graduated in 1983. In 2008, Root says of Obama, "I don't know a single person at Columbia that knew him, and they all know me. I don't have a classmate who ever knew Barack Obama at Columbia. EVER!

Nobody recalls him. Root adds that he was also, like Obama, "Class of ’83 political science, pre-law" and says, "You don't get more exact or closer than that." Never met him in my life, don't know anyone who ever met him. At the class reunion, our 20th reunion five years ago, who was asked to be the speaker of the class? Me. No one ever heard of Barack! And five years ago, nobody even knew who he was.

The guy who writes the class notes, who's kind of the, as we say in New York, the macho who knows everybody, has yet to find a person, a human who ever met him." NOTE: Root graduated as Valedictorian from his high school, Thornton-Donovan School, and then graduated from Columbia University in 1983 as a Political Science major in the same class that Barack Hussein Obama was supposed to have been in.

Obama's photograph does not appear in the school's yearbook and Obama consistently declines requests to talk about his years at Columbia, provide school records, or provide the name of any former classmates or friends while at Columbia.

Some other interesting questions....
Why was Obama's law license inactivated in 2002? Why was Michelle's law license inactivated by Court Order?

It is circulating that according to the U.S. Census, there is only one Barack Obama in the whole United States, but 27 Social Security numbers and over 80 aliases for the same. The Social Security number he uses now originated in Connecticut where he is never reported to have lived.

No wonder all his records are sealed!

Somewhere, someone knew him in school...before he "reorganized" Chicago & burst upon the scene at the 2004 Democratic Convention & made us all swoon with his charm, poise & speaking pizzazz.


Maybe someday, someone will actually remember and the truth shall emerge!"

Selasa, 12 April 2011

OMG….

I saw bright stars early this morning. Sounds like a stupid statement, but because of light and smoke pollution there are nights when you can only see the very brightest stars from the Verde Valley in Arizona. I maintain that when we can no longer see stars from earth, the human race will become extinct.

I don’t necessarily mean extinct like the dinosaurs; what I mean is dead emotionally and spiritually. Viewing the heavens has been part of mans growth from the very beginning of time. They (the stars) have sparked our imaginations and given impetus to our spiritual growth down through the ages.

I remember growing up in southern California and seeing beautiful, bright stars clear down to the horizon. The sight never ceased to amaze me and I always felt small and insignificant, but at the same time the Milky Way always inspired me and made me feel close to my God. Without this inspiration, the human race will truly lose the most compelling proof that there is something vastly more important and mighty than our egos make us out to be.

I don’t fear the end of the Mayan calendar, Nostradamus or Armageddon. There are a million ways for life to end and end it must – that is the way of things. What I fear is losing my humanity before I pass on. My hope is we can all look up at billions of bright stars in the universe as we prepare to leave our beautiful blue planet.

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Senin, 11 April 2011

Welcome to the 21st Century


Whoever said you can’t teach old dogs new tricks has never ridden a Harley-Davidson VRSCA. This old dog is now riding the first water cooled bike made by Harley. The V-Rod was offered up in 2002, but at the time I was still “old school” and riding a Twin Cam 88 Road King. I didn’t pay too much attention to the hype and went on about my business.

In 2005, I test drove a silver anniversary model 2003 VRSCA at KA Cycles in Cottonwood, Arizona. I was impressed with the ease of shifting and the smoothness of the lighter, rocket fast V-Rod, but, alas, I was still old school to the core. The ride left a lasting impression on me though, as did the looks of the bike. It reminded me of a Café racer, but still distinctly Harley-Davidson.

In 2010, I did the unthinkable and sold my Road King to help finance Evil in the Mirror and Day Stalker, two murder mysteries I had written and published. I missed my King, but was very excited to see my books on Amazon.com. Although my timing was lousy because we fell into the deepest recession since the Great Depression, I was determined to continue authoring and started my third novel, The Phoenix Code.

As fate would have it, I have returned to construction and started earning more money again. Now is the time to get back on a Harley. My decision to look for a V-Rod was one of common sense. I was tired of air-cooled bikes that didn’t much care for the hot Arizona sun, and they protested by pinging loudly if I let them idle too long in 100 plus degree heat. You could cook a full course meal on the engine! No such problem with the V-Rod; that is if I remember to check the water. The other issue is weight. I was also tired of man handling 750 pounds of road hog and welcomed the idea of only having to handle 575 pounds with a very low center of gravity. I also realize that my long hauls all over America are finished and that I don’t need a lot of storage space anymore.

I have found a perfect low mileage, “pristine silver,” Anniversary Model V-Rod at the best motorcycle store on the planet, Buddy Stubb’s Harley-Davidson in Phoenix, Arizona. I jumped at the chance to grab it up before someone else bought it. The V-Rod is truly is a cruiser on steroids and perfect for the short charity runs we have in northern Arizona. My first ride is for the Humane Society of Sedona, Arizona, in May. I look forward to riding with all my motorcycle friends again and at the same time supporting our favorite charities. Life is good….

I’m just saying, “I’m back,”

Mittster

Sabtu, 09 April 2011

Jails and Nursing Homes


Here's the way it should be:

"Let's put the seniors in jail and the criminals in nursing homes.

This would correct two things in one motion:

Seniors would have access to showers, hobbies and walks.

They would receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical
treatment and wheelchairs, etc.

They would receive money instead of having to pay it out.

They would have constant video monitoring, so they would be helped instantly...if they fell or needed assistance.

Bedding would be washed twice a week and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.

A guard would check on them every 20 minutes.

All meals and snacks would be brought to them.

They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.

They would have access to a library, weight/fitness room, spiritual counseling, a pool and education...and free admission to in-house concerts by nationally-recognized entertainment artists.

Simple clothing, like shoes, slippers, pj’s, and legal aid would be free, upon request.

There would be private, secure rooms provided for all with an outdoor exercise yard complete with gardens.

Each senior would have a P.C., T.V., phone and radio in their room, at no cost.

They would receive daily phone calls.

There would be a board of directors to hear any complaints and the ACLU would fight for their rights and protection.

The guards would have a code of conduct to follow, with attorneys available, at no charge, to protect the seniors and their families from abuse or neglect.

As for the criminals:

They would receive cold food.

They would be left alone and unsupervised.

They would receive showers once a week and suffer from horrible bed sores.

They would live in tiny rooms, for which they would have to pay $5,000 per month.

They would have no hope of ever getting out."

“Sounds like justice to me!"

Write on,

Mittster

Jumat, 08 April 2011

Accentuate the Positive


I truly admire the youth of our great country. Everywhere I go the positive side of life is being demonstrated by the tenacity and attitudes of our young people. While baby boomers and senior folks are worrying and fretting over current events around the world, the younger generations are working hard and trying to change the things that caused the problems in the first place.

It’s refreshing to know that young, idealistic men and women are replacing the old, senile, life-time politicians who are still the power brokers in our country. None too soon, I might add. Look at Senator Gabrielle Gifford, who was shot in Tucson, Arizona, recently. No one thought she could survive, let alone recover from her head wound. Her courage and determination to return to work are inspiring to say the least. I can’t wait for her to return to office; she is the kind of person we need representing Arizona in the Senate.

I am not saying that our older politicians are all senile and/or corrupt. Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona is a perfect example of what is meant by “public servant.” Her battle to secure the border with Mexico is unpopular to some, but critical for the economical stability of Arizona. She is not only butting heads with a minority illegal immigrant movement, but also with the Federal Government who refuses to enforce immigration laws that are on the books. There is no doubt in any thinking mind that this has to do with votes and that in itself is despicable. Furthermore, I find it unbelievable that we are fighting in Libya, where we have no national interests, while Mexican drug cartels are killing American citizens on both sides of the border. It’s time to enforce a “no fly zone” in America!

Our younger generation proves to me that there is still hope for our country and the world as a whole. Do we need to adapt to changing political, economical and environmental landscapes? Yes, but human beings are all about change. That’s how we got here in the first place. We can adapt and continue to strive for changes that can and will resolve the dilemmas we face on our beautiful, blue planet Earth.

Write on,

Kamis, 07 April 2011

I Feel a V-Rod Coming On


After I sold my Harley-Davidson “Road King” to help finance the publishing of my second murder mystery, Day Stalker, I found myself sucked into the no riding void of self-pity and depression. It seemed everywhere I looked, someone was riding a Harley, and while they were feeling good and looking good, I just hung my head in shame and rejection.

All my riding buds and buddettes have ridden off into the sunset while shaking their heads wondering how I could have sold my beautiful Harley touring bike. Sometimes I wondered the same thing, until I let my mind wrap around the fact that I have written and published two murder mystery novels that are five-star rated on Amazon.com. How many of my riding friends can say that? This fact may not be like riding a motorcycle, but it sure is exciting in its own right!

A funny thing happened to me on the way to my computer last month. I landed a construction consultant job and the position could very well be fulltime and salaried in the near future. This was better than I could have ever dreamed; after all, construction work in Arizona was non-existent. When this opportunity presented itself, I jumped on it like a frog on a bug and instantly unretired myself, yet again, from the industry I had spent so many years learning. When in doubt, do what you know best, and that is exactly what I am now doing.

Suddenly, owning another Harley seems within my reach. No more expensive, heavy touring bikes for the Mittster. I dream of a used 2003 Anniversary Model, Harley-Davidson (water cooled) V-Rod. I test drove one about five years ago and knew then that if I ever decided to stop the long hauls, the V-Rod would be my choice for just cruising the short trips.

It's official; I am going to Buddy Stubbs this Sunday to pict up my V-Rod! I’m sure glad I didn’t sell my riding duds and boots. The Mittster will be, once again, riding into the sunset!

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Rabu, 06 April 2011

Killer Books

I present Evil in the Mirror and Day Stalker to you with pride and amazement. The amazement part is because they are my first novels written after a full career in an unrelated field. Sometimes humorous, but most times not, my novels are honest pathways into the minds of serial killers, rapists and perverts. Surely, I must be all those things to be able to write the murder mysteries that gush out of my brain. After all, most say, “You are one sick puppy, Mittster.” To those people who say it and/or think it because they are too polite to say it, I say, “Thank you very much – that’s the nicest thing that has been said to me this year.”

I tire of trying to explain that my books are fiction, it’s simply imagination, and don’t shoot the messenger. Murder mystery readers are, for the most part, sick puppies in their own right. It’s nice to know I am not alone. I too like a good “who done it”; after all, reading is how I became a writer in the first place. I just wanted to write something different that was also a page turner and thought provoking. If the reviews are any indication, I have done just that. I say these things about myself mainly because if I don’t, no one else will. Tooting your own horn works well in the author business because ego is part of the engine that drives the writing machine.

We writers are constantly trying to gain approval from our reading public. To my fellow sickoids who have read my books and responded with knee-jerk reactions, whether good or bad – I thank you. I also thank the folks who read my blogs and seem to want more. Perhaps someday I will rise to the status of “Best Seller,” but in the meantime, if you have any friends in the mental health field, you might ask them to read my books. I am sure they will gain physiological insight and wonder why in the hell I am not on death row in San Quentin Prison. Sometimes, I wonder the same thing....

Write on,

Mittster

Selasa, 05 April 2011

Tiger’s Blood Anyone?

If Lindsay Lohan is trying to keep up with the Charlie Sheen, she needs to suck on a bottle of pure tiger’s Blood three times a day for at least a year if she ever hopes to catch up. Another thing Ms. Lohan, steeling stuff is a fool’s game. Ya don’t see Charlie ripping off retailers now do you.

You could also take some lessons from the Sheen Think Tank. I was skeptical at first because I just knew he was heading for a date with Phill Specter in prison with his behavior. Now that CBS is in negotiations trying to get Charlie back on the Two and a Half Men TV sitcom, it appears that the tank is really thinking.

I would kill to have his following on Twitter, Facebook and God only knows where else. He makes more money selling T-shirts in a month than we do working our butts off for a whole year. I didn’t really like the round table think tank group drinking gallons of coffee and smoking cigarettes like Mad Hatters, but you can’t argue with success. Maybe you really do need to act crazy to make your competitors go insane! I don’t know about you, but I could really feel the energy in that group – tiger’s blood you think?

I just knew Charlie had to be a tweaker, but I may have been way off base. Just because someone says that they are smarter than the whole show business group combined and can prove it, doesn’t mean they are crazy or doing drugs. Still, maybe, he is doing drugs, stoned crazy, super smart and still beating the Hollywood moguls at their own game! It could be that Sheen is an alien and just enjoying his visit here on earth; who knows? All I know is that he seems to be winning the war against the power people and I like that allot. God knows we mere mortals would like a little of that action.

I truly thought that Charlie Sheen had gone over the edge and was heading for a train wreck. Well, if what he is doing is a train wreck, I want to be in one too. I can’t remember even one actor ever sticking it to the Hollywood establishment like he is doing. Charlie is more popular now than ever before and it says volumes about his fans. I wonder if his think tank can help me become a bestselling author. I would even be willing drink coffee, act crazy and chug-a-lug tiger’s blood, but the cigarettes and whatevers are out!

OMG, I just saw the news piece on Charlie’s first live show in Detroit. It appears he blew it big time, and any chance that this blog could make sense is dashed. Crap – it turns out that Charlie Sheen is just a mere mortal after all. Oh, well…back to the drawing board. Move over Specter, Sheen is coming to share your cell…. Yikes!

I’m just saying,

Mittster

Jumat, 01 April 2011

Puzzled at Puzzles

This is what puzzles me – why do wives ask husbands for the answers to crossword puzzle questions in the evening while their men are trying to watch TV? In my case, it always happens when I am watching South Park. Anyone who watches this program understands that the plots are very complicated and concentration is the key to understanding the humor. Since my wife is lying on the same bed as I, she surely must know the plot and why Butters is wearing a super hero costume.

I just don’t get it; how many times must I say, “Sorry, darling, I don’t know what the slang term is for butt crack,” or “Sorry, darling, I don’t know what the word is for husbands who watch dumb-ass TV programs.” At least I thought that is what she asked. Wait a minute; are these questions digs to keep me from enhancing my brain with good TV programming? I soon forget the questions and go back to the devil trying to have a Halloween party in South Park. After South Park, I turn the channel to Reno 911, as the wife starts another puzzle and the verbal digs start over again.

What’s the deal with crossword puzzles anyway? Why would anyone wrack their brain with trivia crap that means nothing in the real world? It makes more sense to me that I watch a gay guy on roller skates in tight, and I mean tight, shorts while putting moves on carhop customers during work. It helps knowing whom to avoid if I ever go to a carhop in the future. This is the kind of stuff that has meaning in the real world.

Oh crap, wifey is looking over at me again. Not another stupid question if you please. “Darling, what are you watching now?” she says with a devious smile. I look up at the TV and there is a home improvement program on. “How in the hell did this get on?” I ask perplexed. She replies, “I turned the channel two hours ago while you were sleeping, moron.” She starts to laugh uncontrollably as I get up to use the bathroom and then go to the couch to spend the night.
I don’t have to take this abuse!

I’m just saying,

Mittster