A FEW COMMENTS WITH THE TITLE IN MIND. On the assumption that you have watched the news lately, on a somewhat regular basis, you no doubt have seen that there have been some invasions into the White House. One invader making it actually inside the building. Also, I am sure, you are aware that the President has declared an amnesty for some 5 million people who are in the country illegally, making it easier to get the documentation to stay here and go to work. Legally. I am also assuming that you are aware that the U.S. Government has spent millions building a high fence along portions of the U.S and Mexico border. And a final news item. The U.S. government now wants to build a higher fence around the White House, to keep invaders from, well, invading. So, what is the point of all this? Well, with tongue in cheek, I will tell you.
By declaring amnesty to all those mentioned people, they can now act as consultants with the White House fence builders on just the type of fence that needs to be built, since they have experience crossing fences to, well, invade a foreign country. Guess there is a method to the madness.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Friday, December 19, 2014
Thursday, December 11, 2014
WHO READS ANY MORE
DOES NO ONE READ ANY MORE? I guess they really do. But not books. Not real books, any way. Why do I say that? Well, Ima gonna tell you. After all, that is the purpose of this post. So, a little back ground information.
Keeping in mind the religion I have posted that I am a part of, I read a lot of books written and published by the leaders of the Church. I buy these books at a Church book store. Some of these stores are church owned and some are privately owned.
I also read other books. Westerns, mysteries, action novels and such thing. I buy these books at a bookseller bookstore. OK, now that I have given that little bit of back ground information, I will get on with the purpose of this post. Which may take less time than the back ground did. Guess we will see when I finally write The End to this post. Or however I end it.
The Church owned book store where I buy books is called Deseret Books. There was another store called Seagull Books that was bought by Deseret Books some time back. The Deseret Book store in Albuquerque, NM closed down a year or so back for lack of interest. Or lack of customers or something like that. A private owned book store that sold church books in a little town in South East Arizona closed down. Don't know why, but probably for the same reason.
And for the other books I read, Borders closed down some time back and Barnes and Noble seem to not have a lot of the books that I am under the impression is being published. And good old Wal Mart, that spacious building up on the hill in our town, that used to have two long racks with books on both sides, now has one medium rack with a few books on one side and a few magazines on the other. Very few of the books of the type I read and hardly any magazines my wife or I read.
So, I log on to Amazon.com and look for books I read. Lo and behold most of them are there, but a lot of them or just in an electronic version. ELECTRONIC!!! Who wants to read a book as it comes streaming by on cyber space. Oh! I guess a lot of people, cause that seems to be the way that is going. But, well, what happens if you just move a little bit just as the punch line at the end of a chapter come streaming by and you miss it? What happens if the battery goes dead on the electronic gismo just as the hero pulls his gun and the villain shoots him cause your battery is dead. Your hero might just end up that way also. All because of a dead battery. Or you just changed position on the couch, or wherever you do your reading. Well, I guess that is the way, or the wave, of the future. I just feel sorry for those who will not get to actually hold a book, lay it down for a while and come back to find the hero still has a chance to pull his gun and save the fair maiden, even though you haven't pickup up the book for a few days. Yep, give me a real book to read any time, and let the cyber waves just float on by on the clouds.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Keeping in mind the religion I have posted that I am a part of, I read a lot of books written and published by the leaders of the Church. I buy these books at a Church book store. Some of these stores are church owned and some are privately owned.
I also read other books. Westerns, mysteries, action novels and such thing. I buy these books at a bookseller bookstore. OK, now that I have given that little bit of back ground information, I will get on with the purpose of this post. Which may take less time than the back ground did. Guess we will see when I finally write The End to this post. Or however I end it.
The Church owned book store where I buy books is called Deseret Books. There was another store called Seagull Books that was bought by Deseret Books some time back. The Deseret Book store in Albuquerque, NM closed down a year or so back for lack of interest. Or lack of customers or something like that. A private owned book store that sold church books in a little town in South East Arizona closed down. Don't know why, but probably for the same reason.
And for the other books I read, Borders closed down some time back and Barnes and Noble seem to not have a lot of the books that I am under the impression is being published. And good old Wal Mart, that spacious building up on the hill in our town, that used to have two long racks with books on both sides, now has one medium rack with a few books on one side and a few magazines on the other. Very few of the books of the type I read and hardly any magazines my wife or I read.
So, I log on to Amazon.com and look for books I read. Lo and behold most of them are there, but a lot of them or just in an electronic version. ELECTRONIC!!! Who wants to read a book as it comes streaming by on cyber space. Oh! I guess a lot of people, cause that seems to be the way that is going. But, well, what happens if you just move a little bit just as the punch line at the end of a chapter come streaming by and you miss it? What happens if the battery goes dead on the electronic gismo just as the hero pulls his gun and the villain shoots him cause your battery is dead. Your hero might just end up that way also. All because of a dead battery. Or you just changed position on the couch, or wherever you do your reading. Well, I guess that is the way, or the wave, of the future. I just feel sorry for those who will not get to actually hold a book, lay it down for a while and come back to find the hero still has a chance to pull his gun and save the fair maiden, even though you haven't pickup up the book for a few days. Yep, give me a real book to read any time, and let the cyber waves just float on by on the clouds.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Friday, December 5, 2014
TROUBLE
THIS COULD SO GET A PERSON IN TROUBLE: How much money do you spend at Christmas time? No, don't answer that. At least on this post. Just think about it. And what is the reason you spend that much? Do you spend a lot on personal gifts for yourself? for family members? for friends? Or do you keep the spending down. on spite of the cry's of the merchants who claim to need the Christmas sales in order to make a profit for the year? Now, before I continue on with this post, I want to clarify here that we do some of our shopping online at a well known shopping channel. And for the most part we are satisfied with the purchases we make. Having said that, I will continue.
Watching said shopping channel, they often put items on "easy Pay" for just two, or three or even up to six payments of just $18.00 a month, or $9.00 a month or $20.00 a month or, well, you get the picture. And they say you buy for the mailman, the dog walker and the garbage man and the UPS driver and a variety of neighbors. Then there is friends and family and on and on.
Don't get the wrong idea. I like Christmas. I like the idea of gift giving, where possible. But to purchase all these gifts for all these people probably isn't necessary, unless you have a relationship with them that is more than just that they come by once or twice a week and pick up your garbage.
And while $14.00 a month for a few months is not a large amount, if you purchased all these items on Easy Pay, these small amounts will add up to a large amount, quickly, and the next thing you know you are in trouble. Probably serious trouble.
So, I know a lot of people, maybe most people, are responsible enough not to do that, but so many are not, and as a result find themselves in trouble.
I suggest that we all try to bring back the main purpose of Christmas and the celebration for what it is. MERRY CHRISTMAS should not be a financial drain on families, but a true feeling of the Spirit of Christ. Happy Holidays may be politically correct, but they will not be happy if you spend the next year trying to pay off the Christmas gifts from last year,only to repeat it.
So, say Merry Christmas. The holiday would not even be in existence if not for the birth of Christ. Have a happy holiday, but wish people a Merry Christmas and stay out of financial trouble.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Watching said shopping channel, they often put items on "easy Pay" for just two, or three or even up to six payments of just $18.00 a month, or $9.00 a month or $20.00 a month or, well, you get the picture. And they say you buy for the mailman, the dog walker and the garbage man and the UPS driver and a variety of neighbors. Then there is friends and family and on and on.
Don't get the wrong idea. I like Christmas. I like the idea of gift giving, where possible. But to purchase all these gifts for all these people probably isn't necessary, unless you have a relationship with them that is more than just that they come by once or twice a week and pick up your garbage.
And while $14.00 a month for a few months is not a large amount, if you purchased all these items on Easy Pay, these small amounts will add up to a large amount, quickly, and the next thing you know you are in trouble. Probably serious trouble.
So, I know a lot of people, maybe most people, are responsible enough not to do that, but so many are not, and as a result find themselves in trouble.
I suggest that we all try to bring back the main purpose of Christmas and the celebration for what it is. MERRY CHRISTMAS should not be a financial drain on families, but a true feeling of the Spirit of Christ. Happy Holidays may be politically correct, but they will not be happy if you spend the next year trying to pay off the Christmas gifts from last year,only to repeat it.
So, say Merry Christmas. The holiday would not even be in existence if not for the birth of Christ. Have a happy holiday, but wish people a Merry Christmas and stay out of financial trouble.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
WHERE'S THE SENSE
I'M SURE THE TITLE GIVES THIS POST AWAY. But I will offer a few comments any way. Several months ago a young black teen was killed by a white vigilante man. The man's claim was that he was defending himself. He was found not guilty. He has since been divorced, left by a girl friend and in trouble with the law several times. So far as I know, the black teen was only guilty of walking home. Was there more to the story than the news reported. I'm sure there was, but we, the public, will never know for sure. But as far as I'm concerned, the white guy is the bad guy.
Now, fast forward to Ferguson, Mo. A police officer responded to a call and was assaulted by a young black boy who was seen on video robbing a convenience store. The cop shot the black boy in self defense. And a jury found the cop innocent of any wrong doing. When that verdict came down, the boy friend of the boy's mother screamed Burn this ***** down. And they did. Where was the sense in that?
And a few months back, a black man was breaking the law in New York and in resisting the police, he was taken down and died. Were the police brutal? Maybe, but probably not. He was breaking the law and he was resisting arrest. Now, protesters are gathering in New York and probably other places as well, too, well, protest. And where is the sense in that?
And why doesn't the news focus on the fact that these individuals were breaking the law and the police were responding to that, and as a result the offender was taken down and subsequently died. Do I know all the facts in each of these cases? No, I don't. But I do know that these acts and verdicts are not a reason to loot and burn. And it is noteworthy that a lot of prominent, working Black people are speaking out against those who are taking part in these violent acts.
Now, lest someone who actually reads this drivel thinks I am against Black people, I am not. I have Black family members and friends who are Black. Good friends and good people. And there are many people of all other races of people, who are committing acts of violence. And some of them are even police officers, though their numbers are few. And the neighborhood where my wife and I live is getting to be a place of people who have little regard for the rules, or for the property of other people. But we watch, and we survive.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Now, fast forward to Ferguson, Mo. A police officer responded to a call and was assaulted by a young black boy who was seen on video robbing a convenience store. The cop shot the black boy in self defense. And a jury found the cop innocent of any wrong doing. When that verdict came down, the boy friend of the boy's mother screamed Burn this ***** down. And they did. Where was the sense in that?
And a few months back, a black man was breaking the law in New York and in resisting the police, he was taken down and died. Were the police brutal? Maybe, but probably not. He was breaking the law and he was resisting arrest. Now, protesters are gathering in New York and probably other places as well, too, well, protest. And where is the sense in that?
And why doesn't the news focus on the fact that these individuals were breaking the law and the police were responding to that, and as a result the offender was taken down and subsequently died. Do I know all the facts in each of these cases? No, I don't. But I do know that these acts and verdicts are not a reason to loot and burn. And it is noteworthy that a lot of prominent, working Black people are speaking out against those who are taking part in these violent acts.
Now, lest someone who actually reads this drivel thinks I am against Black people, I am not. I have Black family members and friends who are Black. Good friends and good people. And there are many people of all other races of people, who are committing acts of violence. And some of them are even police officers, though their numbers are few. And the neighborhood where my wife and I live is getting to be a place of people who have little regard for the rules, or for the property of other people. But we watch, and we survive.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK
Monday, November 24, 2014
A NOVEL IDEA
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
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
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
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