YES I KNOW, I GET A LITTLE FAR FETCHED AT TIMES. So, how about this for a novel idea. Back East, in New York and other areas they have several feet of snow. And they are trucking it somewhere and dumping it. And hoping they can get the snow moved soon enough to prevent flooding. Well, load this snow in to refrigerated rail cars and bring it West to drought stricken areas in California and other areas in the Western States that could benefit from a lot of that snow. Or put it in the airplanes that dump slurry on forest fires and bring it West and dump it on said drought stricken areas. Solves the flooding problem in the East and helps a little bit with the drought in the West. America used to think out of the box like that. Now, towns will be flooded away while the Environmental Impact Statement is being written. Oh Well, on to the next Novel idea.
The Royals are coming. As in the Duke and Duchess, AKA William and Kate. They will visit the United States next year. And the members of the press that will cover this event have been told that they need to dress better than they currently do. Well, Duh. What a novel idea. Dress decently to go to work. Who would have thought that this would be an issue. Just dress nicely every day when you go to work and then you won't have to be told to dress for certain events.
And finally, while I am on the subject of dressing. I didn't watch the music awards show last night, but did see the news clips of it this morning. If these "Stars" are so good and selling so much "music" and apparently making a lot of money, then one would think they could afford clothes that would cover them. So many of them are performing on the stage in front of people as to be obscene. Even a lot of the Country Stars of current times seem to think that pants with holes in them and shirts that almost aren't are the thing to wear. What happened to wearing good clothes to perform. Bands of the past wore, for lack of a better term, uniforms of matching shirts and pants and boots and were proud to be called by whatever the band name was. Now, it seems that they just show up in whatever is handy when they get dressed. And I don't like it.
AND THAT'S THE NOVEL VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Monday, November 24, 2014
Friday, November 21, 2014
WHO DID THE COUNTING
HOW MANY ARE THERE, REALLY? Yes, I am talking about those who are in the country illegally. President Obama last night used his pen and his phone to grant amnesty to 5 million undocumented residents. That, according to the news, is 5 million out of the 11 million who are here in the country, undocumented. So, I repeat the question. Who did the counting? If they are "undocumented", as in, there is no paper work on them to show that they are even here, how do "they" know how many there are. Now, I know there are many in the country without documentation who are hard workers, law abiding people. And because they are, perhaps they should be given the amnesty the President says they will have. But the President also said that criminals and terrorists would be deported. Who counted them. And if they were available to be counted, why weren't they detained and deported then, not now with the announcement of the President.
Now, having said all that, I have a couple of uneducated comments to add to this subject, before moving on. I admit I am not the most educated person in the U.S. of A on immigration laws. But I do believe there is a process to come into the U.S. of A. legally and documented. An expensive way, perhaps, but a way, never the less. And to grant amnesty to those who are here illegally, ahead of those who are trying to get here legally, or who are already here and working toward legal residency or even citizenship is like a blow to them.
My final comment on the subject, at least for this post, is this. If what the President did last night is legal, then congress needs to work with him and, if necessary, pass legislation to accommodate his edict. Make it legal and work with it. If, on the other hand, what he did last night was not legal for him to do, then what he did needs to be undone by the congress and then legislation written in a manner that is fair and equal to all. Surely members of congress have their own pens and phones. Use them.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Now, having said all that, I have a couple of uneducated comments to add to this subject, before moving on. I admit I am not the most educated person in the U.S. of A on immigration laws. But I do believe there is a process to come into the U.S. of A. legally and documented. An expensive way, perhaps, but a way, never the less. And to grant amnesty to those who are here illegally, ahead of those who are trying to get here legally, or who are already here and working toward legal residency or even citizenship is like a blow to them.
My final comment on the subject, at least for this post, is this. If what the President did last night is legal, then congress needs to work with him and, if necessary, pass legislation to accommodate his edict. Make it legal and work with it. If, on the other hand, what he did last night was not legal for him to do, then what he did needs to be undone by the congress and then legislation written in a manner that is fair and equal to all. Surely members of congress have their own pens and phones. Use them.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
WHO REALLY LIKES THIS?
I HAVE DEBATED FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT USING THIS SUBJECT: Actually abusing this subject would be more like what I am going to do. I have thought long and hard, well, long, any way, about how to address this issue. Even now, I will probably get it wrong. Having given you that warning, read on, or not. The subject is HOA'S.
Don't know what that is? Count yourself lucky, then. For any one who does not know what HOA stands for I will just advise you that it means people running how you live. AKA as a Home Owners Association. Depending on where you live the rules will be different but the premise is the same. WE HAVE RULES AND YOU WILL OBEY THEM. They dictate how and what color you can paint your house. What you can and cannot plant in the yard. How many cars you can have and where you can park them. And you actually pay this association to tell you what you can and cannot do. My wife and I pay $77.00 a month to our HOA. In some cities these fees run in the hundreds of dollars a month. And there was a recent item on the news about an HOA telling a man he had to remove some stickers from is car. There have been many instances of the HOA fining homeowners for putting up a flagpole and flying an American flag.
We have rules also, like no dogs running loose ( they do run loose any way ) No noisy vehicles or other noise that is irritating to the neighbors (Mostly allowed to by the HOA powers that be ) but if you get behind on your dues your water is turned off till you pay up. I don't know what other HOA'S do when dues are in arrears, but I know that many of them levy fines against the home owners for rules violations.
Makes me wonder what makes these people know more than I do about how I should live. On a final note, I will say this; Some of these rules do keep the neighbor hood cleaner and the property values up. At least that is what it is supposed to do. Still, the Ditch ank is looking better every day.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Don't know what that is? Count yourself lucky, then. For any one who does not know what HOA stands for I will just advise you that it means people running how you live. AKA as a Home Owners Association. Depending on where you live the rules will be different but the premise is the same. WE HAVE RULES AND YOU WILL OBEY THEM. They dictate how and what color you can paint your house. What you can and cannot plant in the yard. How many cars you can have and where you can park them. And you actually pay this association to tell you what you can and cannot do. My wife and I pay $77.00 a month to our HOA. In some cities these fees run in the hundreds of dollars a month. And there was a recent item on the news about an HOA telling a man he had to remove some stickers from is car. There have been many instances of the HOA fining homeowners for putting up a flagpole and flying an American flag.
We have rules also, like no dogs running loose ( they do run loose any way ) No noisy vehicles or other noise that is irritating to the neighbors (Mostly allowed to by the HOA powers that be ) but if you get behind on your dues your water is turned off till you pay up. I don't know what other HOA'S do when dues are in arrears, but I know that many of them levy fines against the home owners for rules violations.
Makes me wonder what makes these people know more than I do about how I should live. On a final note, I will say this; Some of these rules do keep the neighbor hood cleaner and the property values up. At least that is what it is supposed to do. Still, the Ditch ank is looking better every day.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Monday, November 10, 2014
THE DAY I STARTED WEARING PANTY HOSE
NOW, DID THAT TITLE CATCH YOUR ATTENTION? When I started this blog a few years ago, I stated that I would not be posting personal things, but would be posting my uneducated opinion of the things going on around me. However, I have posted personal things about myself from time to time and today will be no different. Well, I guess it will be different from those things going on around me.
Back in September I posted that I had caught a Staph Infection. And the resulting medication and a few of the things that went on because of that infection. After taking the prescribed drugs for 2 weeks, It seemed that the infection had not completely gone away. My leg still had a light red to pinkish ring around the lower part above the ankle and it swelled up really bad. I mean, really bad. So a week ago I returned to the Dr. to see what she thought about it. She sent in prescription for 2 more weeks of meds and then told me not to take them for a while, but to go to a medical supply business that is here in town and get me some panty hose. Actually, they are the support kind of hose that squeezes your legs like a passionate lover.
And I guess they are not really panty hose, cause I just have to wear it on the swelling up leg and it ends about half way up on the thigh. But, it does keep the swelling down. Just like she said it should. Guess I'll continue to wear these nylon's for a period of time. Or, since I wear only one, is it just nylon. Singular.
And just to end this missive on a note that was stated in the title, I once worked for a manly man, a hunter and out doors type, who said he had found that the best thing to wear when he went hunting in the cold fall weather was pantyhose. Said you could laugh at him if you wanted too, but while you were laughing, he was warm. Think I am about as close as I will actually get to wearing panty hose, though.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Back in September I posted that I had caught a Staph Infection. And the resulting medication and a few of the things that went on because of that infection. After taking the prescribed drugs for 2 weeks, It seemed that the infection had not completely gone away. My leg still had a light red to pinkish ring around the lower part above the ankle and it swelled up really bad. I mean, really bad. So a week ago I returned to the Dr. to see what she thought about it. She sent in prescription for 2 more weeks of meds and then told me not to take them for a while, but to go to a medical supply business that is here in town and get me some panty hose. Actually, they are the support kind of hose that squeezes your legs like a passionate lover.
And I guess they are not really panty hose, cause I just have to wear it on the swelling up leg and it ends about half way up on the thigh. But, it does keep the swelling down. Just like she said it should. Guess I'll continue to wear these nylon's for a period of time. Or, since I wear only one, is it just nylon. Singular.
And just to end this missive on a note that was stated in the title, I once worked for a manly man, a hunter and out doors type, who said he had found that the best thing to wear when he went hunting in the cold fall weather was pantyhose. Said you could laugh at him if you wanted too, but while you were laughing, he was warm. Think I am about as close as I will actually get to wearing panty hose, though.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
NO MORE POLITICAL ADS
WELL FOR A FEW DAYS, ANY WAY; until the fight begins for the 2016 elections. So, I have a few thoughts and comments to make about the election that just ended yesterday. As usual, they are scattered and probably not well thought out or researched, but then if they were, they wouldn't be the uneducated opinion of a ditch bank dweller. So for what it may be worth, here we go.
1. Well, the republicans won the majority in the Senate for the first time in 8 years. Wow, 8 years. Not a long time in the overall scheme of things. So, the balance of power shifts to the Republicans. Took it away from the Democrats? Not really. Took it away from the people, actually. I am a Republican and have been eve since I was old enough to vote back in the day dirt was invented. But I have never voted an all Republican ticket and I did not this time either. My problem with this shift in power is that it just means that the Republican tics will be getting more of the blood than the Democrats. The people will suffer, but maybe in a different way. Just once, I would like to hear a tic, or a congress full of tics, actually be concerned about the people. I have known a few over the past decades, both local and national and they usually never get reelected.
2. What does this mean for the remaining two years for President Obama. Well, don't know, yet. But I do know this. I have said in the past and I will say again, I did not vote for him either time and I would not again if that were to ever come up. However, I will say this. My wife has a facebook page and I lurk there from time to time. And I see all these headlines about the Pres or his wife that are negative. As in Did you hear what they said, or Did you see what they did. And I have to ask, what did they do or say. Well, Occasionally I will click on these clips and what the headline said and what the article said are usually different. While I am not a fan of the President and really not a fan of his wife, I do not like the type of misleading articles about them, or any one else in the tic game. Or a religion or a business or any thing else, for that matter. If you have something to say, say it true and give credit where it is due, even if it hurts. Or don't say any thing.
3. OK, what does the election mean for 2016. Well, here is my uneducated prediction. IF and I repeat IF the Republican house and senate really turn the economy around and improve the job market and reduce the unemployment numbers and make things better in the next two years, a good strong Republican will win the presidency in 2016. IF, and I repeat IF, things continue as they have been doing, and there is gridlock and fussing in Washington and nothing improves, the voters will turn on the Republicans and Hillary will win in 2016. OK, so she hasn't announced that she is running, but I am predicting that she will, maybe and I will not vote for her. I may vote for a good strong Democrat for President, if there is one in the running. Will just wait and see. In the meantime
THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
1. Well, the republicans won the majority in the Senate for the first time in 8 years. Wow, 8 years. Not a long time in the overall scheme of things. So, the balance of power shifts to the Republicans. Took it away from the Democrats? Not really. Took it away from the people, actually. I am a Republican and have been eve since I was old enough to vote back in the day dirt was invented. But I have never voted an all Republican ticket and I did not this time either. My problem with this shift in power is that it just means that the Republican tics will be getting more of the blood than the Democrats. The people will suffer, but maybe in a different way. Just once, I would like to hear a tic, or a congress full of tics, actually be concerned about the people. I have known a few over the past decades, both local and national and they usually never get reelected.
2. What does this mean for the remaining two years for President Obama. Well, don't know, yet. But I do know this. I have said in the past and I will say again, I did not vote for him either time and I would not again if that were to ever come up. However, I will say this. My wife has a facebook page and I lurk there from time to time. And I see all these headlines about the Pres or his wife that are negative. As in Did you hear what they said, or Did you see what they did. And I have to ask, what did they do or say. Well, Occasionally I will click on these clips and what the headline said and what the article said are usually different. While I am not a fan of the President and really not a fan of his wife, I do not like the type of misleading articles about them, or any one else in the tic game. Or a religion or a business or any thing else, for that matter. If you have something to say, say it true and give credit where it is due, even if it hurts. Or don't say any thing.
3. OK, what does the election mean for 2016. Well, here is my uneducated prediction. IF and I repeat IF the Republican house and senate really turn the economy around and improve the job market and reduce the unemployment numbers and make things better in the next two years, a good strong Republican will win the presidency in 2016. IF, and I repeat IF, things continue as they have been doing, and there is gridlock and fussing in Washington and nothing improves, the voters will turn on the Republicans and Hillary will win in 2016. OK, so she hasn't announced that she is running, but I am predicting that she will, maybe and I will not vote for her. I may vote for a good strong Democrat for President, if there is one in the running. Will just wait and see. In the meantime
THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Saturday, November 1, 2014
DO YOU KNOW
THE MEANING OF HALLOWEEN? The really true meaning? You did? Well, good for you. But for those of us that really didn't, here it is. Well, kinda. It seems that the powers that wish they were think the Halloween celebration started in the Celtic speaking countries. Ireland and Scotland. And it is a Christian celebration. It has been called, even in this day and time "The Day of the Dead." And that is what it celebrates. The dead. To start with, people would light candles in honor of their relatives who had passed away. Gradually, over time, Halloween evolved in to whatever it is today. While it is still often called the day of the dead, many of us probably didn't know why. And if we chose to make a guess, it would probably miss the mark. However, a few decades back, in the 50's, the 1950's that is, Halloween was celebrated much as it is today. We went trick or treating and got home to a cache of candy, or home made cookies or home made pop corn balls. And the older kids among us would do more tricking that treating. But while the tricks were annoying to those so tricked, they were rarely destructive or malicious. Yes, there was some of that, but not much. Mostly just an irritant to the recipient. Like a wagon taken apart and reassembled on top of the school house. Or the family pig that received a dose of pink paint across it's back. Or soap smeared on the house or car windows. And the occasional out house tipped over. That didn't really go over very well, especially if the owner was inside at the time. Well, the trick didn't go over very well, but the our house did. Or the time an owner of such an edifice moved his out house forward a few feet and when the tricksters came up behind it to tip it over, it wasn't in place and they were the recipients of the trick. Ewww. Glad I wasn't in on that one. Literally. And costumes were in vogue, also. But, over time, some things have changed. I haven't seen any tricks in the little place where I reside for several years, and those coming around asking for treats do wear costumes that resemble characters from such Frozen and Scream. I know that cause I ask and they told me. But I have to wonder; just how many of the adults accompanying the young ones have even the slightest clue what the holiday is even about. If not, perhaps a little research is in order. AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
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