Who I am and why I do this

My real name is Dave but online I go by Spiney.  Why Spiney?  Well the last few years and much of my future has been defined by a big change brought on by 3 back surgeries and (1) neck surgery.  I have 4 levels of my lower back or Lumbar fused together with donor bone and held together with plates and screws. I have the same done to 2 levels of my neck or cervical spine.  So I am very aware of my spine 24 x 7.

I must give credit to Conan O’Brien, or actually one of his writers Pierre Bernard for the “Recliner of Rage” tagline. I use that because most of this will be written from my New La-Z-Boy recliner, I wore the old one out after 10 years, or my bed. That is where unfortunately I spend the majority of my days.

Because of this I am unable to work a job or better yet, run my own business like I did for 15 years full time and another business for about 8 years part time. So I have a lot of time on my hands.  I’m in chronic pain and have serious sleep issues so the time I have can be an hour here, there, or mostly in the middle of the night when pain and insomnia are my pals. I’m an info junkie.  always have been, but today there are so many more sources.  The Net, cable news, NPR, XM, BBC, a slew of monthly magazines, Borders when I can get there, and the occasional newspaper.  I also watch The History Channel, History International, the cable channel owned by Al Gore and Steve Jobs: Current, the Science and Discovery channels. Yes I do interact with humans when possible, but I don’t get out much, so it’s mostly my Wife and family. Oh I also moderate a Neck and Back Pain Yahoo group.

What I hope to accomplish here is to say the things I would say to people if there were intelligent people to discuss this with.  Things I yell at the TV about, or talk my wife, or cat, or who ever will listen. I hope someone reads this and I encourage response. Thanks for listening, Spiney

Beware of the second coming of the Government Stimulus!

The economy hasn’t looked as rosy as the President had hoped it would by now. The $870 Billion Dollar Stimulus package that had to be pushed through without being read was supposed to save 3 million jobs, or maybe even create new jobs. But the results have not been what was promised. For one thing there were supposed to be mostly “Shovel Ready” projects out there that would immediately create jobs and help turn around the economy. So the Stimulus Package was pushed through and signed in record time, because we would all suffer if it wasn’t. Well here we are 4 almost 5 months later. The latest Jobs report had the number of unemployed greater than expected. That pushed the national average to 9.5%. In several areas including California, Michigan, and Nevada it’s much higher. Some areas are as high as 19%. We’ve seen Chrysler and GM bailed out, only to go into the Bankruptcy we were told we were avoiding by bailing them out to the tune of over 25 Billion dollars. So now the President and his key economic advisers are starting to drop hints that we may need a second stimulus. If you ask me it was in the plan all along. There should be No talk of a second stimulus at this time. The President himself agrees that only 10% of the 1st stimulus has been spent and put into action. So why would we even be talking about putting America further into debt with a second. Give the first one time to take effect. If something is holding up the money or the jobs, then treat it like a wartime effort, find out what’s in the way and get around it. But PLEASE DO NOT put us deeper in debt just for the sake of doing something. I ask anyone who reads this to please watch the news, read the papers, and let your representatives know you do not want to put your country, yourself, and your kids further in debt. This will only make the USA weaker in the world, put us more in debt to the Chinese, and raise your taxes through the stratosphere. It is time to take away the government Credit Cards. What do you think?

Please let me know. Thanks, Spiney

A call for the Republicans to get more conservative by a 22 year old

I wanted to share this video from a 22 year old who writes a Blog I follow called “The Humble Libertarian”

He created a very interesting YouTube video calling for the Republicans to get back to their Conservative roots.

By that he means; Those values are the values of our Founding Fathers- limited government, strict Constitutionalism, and emphasis on individual liberty.

Please watch and enjoy this video.  He’s not your Father’s Conservative!

Wes Messamore’s YouTube Video

Ban the plastic shopping bag

I think it is time to ban the plastic shopping bag. I’m not a green freak but I do my part. As I travel around the largest percentage of trash I see on the roadside, in the woods, and today on the beach are damn plastic shopping bags. The type they give you at convenience stores and everywhere else. While driving down the highway they are everywhere, hanging from trees and on the roadside. I’m always quick to say I don’t need a bag if it’s for one or two items. At the grocery store we now use the cloth bags. I bought about 10 or more, they are only 99 cents.

I think they should pick a date and outlaw plastic bags. Other countries have already. Require everyone to bring their own cloth bag, box like they do at Sam’s Club or something. If you don’t do that, then you buy another bag. Eventually you’ll get wise and bring a bag. The plastic ones are useless. Two 2 liters and they break open.

There is a downhill race buy the local supermarkets, in our area Giant, Weis & Redners to see who can make the thinnest, cheapest bag. Redners wins hands down. They truly suck. I think in the interim instead of giving you a rebate if you bring a cloth bag, they should charge a premium of say 50 cents per bag for each plastic bag you use. Do you still use plastic bags? If you agree or disagree, please comment. I would like to know what YOU think.  Spiney

Saturn made small well built cars and GM is closing the plant WTF?

Saturn was a spin off of GM started around 1990. They specifically built a brand new state of the art plant, away from Detroit in Tennessee. From day one they were to be a different kind of car company. They made very well built cars, cars with Hi-Tech Polymer bodies that were light-weight, didn’t dent, didn’t rust. They looked good and got good gas mileage. It was GM’s way to build a Japanese car in America by an American company. They also sold them differently. There was a no haggle price tag on the car. You paid the price on the car without the sales weenie tricks. The showrooms were bright, futuristic, and you could eat off the floor of the service bays. I know all this because I was so impressed by them when my fiance now Wife’s car was stolen I told her to take a look at Saturn. She was all set to buy another Japanese car because she loved her Mazda that was stolen. She went, without me and bought a beautiful 1992 Saturn SC 2 door sports coupe. It was sharp, responsive, solid, and got great gas mileage. It would go well over a hundred yet get as much as 37 miles to the gallon with it’s 4 cylinder DOHC Fuel Injected engine and 5 speed. We sure got our monies worth out of that car. She paid about $13,000 brand new. $3000 less than the comparable Toyota or Mazda she looked at. We owned it for 13 years racking up over 135,000 miles. It never had a major breakdown. Cost of ownership was low. We sold it because we outgrew it, it was small. Because of the plastic body it looked as good on the outside when we sold it as the day she bought it. We got $750 for it and the couple who bought it was thrilled. My Brother in law bought his Saturn 4 door sedan from his sister for $700.00 He has now run it up to over 175,000 miles. Regularly gets over 35mpg on the highway and loves it. and he is a Car Fanatic. The point to all this is Saturn was and is building the kind of cars that the Government says GM needs to build to survive. They have a full line now from their small cars, to bigger sedans, small SUV’s, and even Sports Car . Plus they sell a flex fuel and a hybrid. So I was shocked to see GM is closing them on November 9th. What sense does that make? And if they weren’t selling then what kind of little green econobox will GM make in Detroit that will sell? I just don’t get it. If you do, please write and explain it to me, I’d love to understand. Thanks, Spiney

The Russian state newspaper Pravda declares Capitalism Dead

The State Newspaper of Russia Pravda declared that Capitalism had died with a whimper.  They beat us at our own game without firing a shot. Joining in the frey our old buddy Hugo Chavez of Venezuela also declared that Capitalism is dead.  Here is the English transaction of the Pravda story:

It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people.

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True, the situation has been well prepared on and off for the past century, especially the past twenty years. The initial testing grounds was conducted upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was. But we Russians would not just roll over and give up our freedoms and our souls, no matter how much money Wall Street poured into the fists of the Marxists.

Those lessons were taken and used to properly prepare the American populace for the surrender of their freedoms and souls, to the whims of their elites and betters.

First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather then the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas then the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their “right” to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us about our rights and about our “democracy”. Pride blind the foolish.

Then their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different “branches and denominations” were for the most part little more then Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the “winning” side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. Their flocks may complain, but when explained that they would be on the “winning” side, their flocks were ever so quick to reject Christ in hopes for earthly power. Even our Holy Orthodox churches are scandalously liberalized in America.

The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record setting, not just in America’s short history but in the world. If this keeps up for more then another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe.

These past two weeks have been the most breath taking of all. First came the announcement of a planned redesign of the American Byzantine tax system, by the very thieves who used it to bankroll their thefts, loses and swindles of hundreds of billions of dollars. These make our Russian oligarchs look little more then ordinary street thugs, in comparison. Yes, the Americans have beat our own thieves in the shear volumes. Should we congratulate them?

Well what do you think?  Have we traded away the Capitalistic system that made our country great for government bailouts. Instead of digging in and making it right ourselves we turned to our government to help us. But with that help you give up freedom, and indebt yourself and your children for the next 50 years to pay off that quick little bailout. Wake up little sheep before we all have tags on our ears or brands on our ass making us property of the USG. Is that what you really want? Do you realize how far and fast we have fallen in such a short time. I long for Bill, Hillary and Monica. Those were the best of times.  Tell me what you think Spiney.

Do you keep spending when your broke? Our Government does by the billions!

In an interview with C-span over the Memorial Day weekend President Obama stated the obvious America is Broke.

Steve Scully of C-Span asked the President the following:    “SCULLY: You know the numbers, $1.7 trillion debt, a national deficit of $11 trillion. At what point do we run out of money?”  President Obama answered “Well we are there right now.” If this is the case and it is why do we wake up everyday to new proposals for another $30 billion for a bankrupt GM, $10-11 Trillion for National Healthcare. When your broke should you not cut back on spending instead of digging yourself in deeper?  Makes sense to me.  And how will we pay for all this new spending? More taxes for everyone.  Yes even though the President campaigned with a promise that only persons making over $250K a year would see tax increases, and the masses would see tax reductions, we are all in for huge increases in taxes. They have proposed a whole bunch of new taxes to pay for health care.  1st they want to tax food that’s bad for us starting with soda. Most all of us drink soda. I certainly do everyday though for me its been all diet for about 10 years and caffeine free for about 2.  There will be a new tax on every can & bottle of soda.  Then the whopper a VAT or Value Added Tax on everything that is sold.  this is basically a national sales tax on top of the sales tax your state or city already imposes. they are talking around 20-25%.  So if an when this passes in PA which already has a 6% sales tax a $150 I-pod will set you back $189 based on a 20% VAT. There’s change you can believe in.  They also want to tax health care benefits provided by your employer for the first time ever. So there will be less in your paycheck to buy the more expensive things you still need and want. Now this will really help an ailing economy. Let’s see you’ll have less take home pay to buy things with. So you’ll be less inclined to buy things, especially since they now cost at least 20% more. So we buy less, this slows down the economy, the Government gets less tax income, more people lose their jobs because we can’t afford to buy things. Yeah that will work.  But at least your get FREE health care! Wake up people nothing is free.  This Free health care may be the most expensive Free thing you ever got to the point where it bankrupts our country. Think about it, and please respond and tell me what You Think.  Thanks, Spiney

Recruitment officer killed, other seriously wounded by radical terrorist in Arkansas

A 23-year-old convert to Islam with “political and religious motives” killed a soldier just out of basic training and wounded another in a targeted attack on a military recruiting center in Arkansas, police said.

This person was supposedly being watched as a suspected terrorist. Obviously he was not being watched close enough. Now two young patriots have been killed not on the battlefield but right here in the United States. Oh they are already playing this down as not being a terrorist attack, but what else do you call it.

So do we really want to bring the prisoners from Gitmo onto US soil. And maybe release many of them here too. Is that a real smart idea? If they are not imminent threats and have been held wrongfully, then re-patriot them to their home country. Pay them restitution and give them all the apologies etc they deserve. But don’t let them lose in the US especially after they are legitimately pissed off for being imprisoned. And those who we caught on the battlefield who are real terrorist or enemy combatants. They have already declared Jihad against the US. They must be kept prisoner. To let them loose is just asking for them to kill a soldier or private citizen, or thousands of them like in 9/11.
You don’t set someone loose who has declared their will is to kill as many Americans as possible. Unless you are a total idiot. And if you feel a need to let them loose, here’s an idea, let them come live with you if you trust them so much.

Here is the rest of the story. My heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to the families and friends of these brave patriots cut down in their prime. The story is credited to ABC and FoxNews

The suspect, Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad, reportedly had been under investigation by an FBI joint terrorism task force after he traveled to Yemen and was arrested there for using a Somali passport. The probe was in its early stages and based on Muhammad’s trip to Yemen, according to ABC News.

While there, Muhammad — a U.S. citizen from Memphis who is a convert to Islam and was previously known as Carlos Bledsoe — studied jihad with an Islamic scholar, Jihadwatch.org reported.

Muhammad told authorities that he approached the recruiting center in Little Rock by car on Monday and started shooting at two soldiers in uniform, according to a police report.

The two soldiers who were shot had completed basic training within the past two weeks and were not regular recruiters

William Long, 23, died, and Quinton Ezeagwula, 18, was wounded and in stable condition, according to Thomas.

Police said an assault rifle and other weapons were found in Muhammad’s car when he was arrested.

A Chrysler dealer has his dealership taken from him. Please read

I had this e-mail forwarded to me today from a friend.  As I read it I got very upset. But being responsible before I forwarded to all my friends and posted it here on my blog I called the dealership to confirm it was true. I spoke to their receptionist. She told me unfortunately it is true. I told her I was very sorry to hear that and I would do what I could to get the word out. And also ask people to contact their representatives to ask how this could happen in America.  So please take the time to read this plea from a fellow American who is having his livelihood stolen from him, with help from the United States Government.
Letter from a Dodge dealer

My name is George C. Joseph. I am the sole owner of Sunshine
Dodge-Isuzu, a family owned and operated business in
Melbourne, Florida. My family bought and paid for this
automobile franchise 35 years ago in 1974. I am the second
generation to manage this business.

We currently employ 50+ people and before the economic
slowdown we employed over 70 local people. We are active in
the community and the local chamber of commerce. We deal
with several dozen local vendors on a day to day basis and
many more during a month. All depend on our business for
part of their livelihood. We are financially strong with
great respect in the market place and community. We have
strong local presence and stability.

I work every day the store is open, nine to ten hours a
day. I know most of our customers and all our employees.
Sunshine Dodge is my life.

On Thursday, May 14, 2009 I was notified that my Dodge
franchise, that we purchased, will be taken away from my
family on June 9, 2009 without compensation and given
to another dealer at no cost to them. My new vehicle
inventory consists of 125 vehicles with a financed balance
of 3 million dollars. This inventory becomes impossible to
sell with no factory incentives beyond June 9, 2009.
Without the Dodge franchise we can no longer sell a new
Dodge as “new,” nor will we be able to do any
warranty service work. Additionally, my Dodge parts
inventory, (approximately $300,000.) is virtually worthless
without the ability to perform warranty service. There is no
offer from Chrysler to buy back the vehicles or parts
inventory.

Our facility was recently totally renovated at
Chrysler’s insistence, incurring a multi-million dollar
debt in the form of a mortgage at Sun Trust Bank.

HOW IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAN THIS HAPPEN?

THIS IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS NOT A GOVERNMENT ENTITY

This is beyond imagination! My business is being stolen
from me through NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. We did NOTHING wrong.

This atrocity will most likely force my family into
bankruptcy. This will also cause our 50+ employees to be
unemployed. How will they provide for their families? This
is a total economic disaster.

HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN IN A FREE MARKET ECONOMY IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA?

I beseech your help, and look forward to your reply. Thank
you.

Sincerely,

George C. Joseph
President &Owner

Sunshine Dodge-Isuzu

Please think about what is happening here. This is the kind of thing that happens in communist and fascist countries, not in the United States. What happens to this man today could happen to you, your employer, your family tomorrow unless people stand up and say No More.  Think about it.  What’s your take on this? Spiney

My take on the American Idol outcome for 2009

Well there seems to be some outrage over Adam Lambert not winning the title 2009 American Idol.  Here is my take on it, for what it’s worth. They are both very good in their own different way.  Kris is a good singer / musician who will do well.  Adam is an incredible entertainer / singer who will go the way of Daughtry and be a smashing success. As the past has proven you need not be the title winner to do well, and just getting the title does not guarantee success. The have been winners who are hardly ever heard from again. Reuben may be the velvet teddy bear but he’s not been a commercial success. Clay Aiken came in as number 2 and has been a commercial success ever since. He may not be on the radio everyday, but he has a strong following and sells out personal appearances. The original Idol Kelly Clarkson has been a Star since winning and Justin who? fell into the abyss. I got to see Kelly with Reba McEntire last summer. She was incredible. Clive Davis may not have liked “My December” but it became a Gold Album for her.  The “Somewhere over the Rainbow Girl” , Kathryn McPhee, got over there and has not been heard from since. Then you have standouts like Ms. Jennifer Hudson and incredible breakout stars like  Carrie Underwood.  And who knew Kellie Pickler would have a career. Not winning will probably be the best thing ever to happen to Adam, just like it was for Daughtry. Even more than Daughtry, Adam got the publicity and exposure to ride it out all the way to the end. He got the car, he Will have a contract, and he wont be confined to the box that is the Idol and have to sing the dreadful song. Kara having written many hit pop songs, I expected we would finally get a decent song.  With all the Millions if not Billions by now that Idol, 19 entertainment makes by now you think they could buy a hit song.  Back to Adam. He may end up being THE Most Successful Idol Contestant Ever.  He can sing, he has commanding stage presence, he can do Broadway, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see him in film. You can’t say that of many other Idols.  He has great Crossover potential. His songs are already The Most Downloaded on Itunes of any Idol this Season.  He could release “Mad World” tomorrow and it would be a Radio Hit, and has the potential for a very cool Video. My Mother-in-law who is 68 just melts we she hears that song and sees him in his trench coat. She said she hasn’t been this excited about a singer since Elvis died. So he has a pretty broad fan base. So don’t cry for Adam. Now to Kris, I’m glad he got the title.  He worked very very hard, and came up from behind like an underdog horse in the derby. Plus he seems like a genuine nice guy. He too will do very well. The biggest problem for him will be the strain it will put on his still new marriage. Seems just like they forgot, Adam wasn’t batting for their team, all the Tweenster girls who voted Kris in overlooked he’s still a newlywed. Having once been an early something newlywed, all those hours apart can be brutal. I waited 7 years to marry my high school sweetheart, and working 80 hour weeks, killed our marriage after just one year. I hope and pray that Kris and his wife have a strong relationship. He will have girls throwing themselves at him for a long time. Finally Gokey & Allison will get the recording contracts they deserve, as will a few of the others from season 8. I felt that Allison didn’t have a fair chance since Tween Girls are the majority of voters running up their cell bills. She has an incredible voice for a 17 year old girl. We have not seen the last of her.  And Gokey deserves success.  Not because he’s a widower, but because he has talent, pulled himself up from a devastating blow, and kept winning with class all the way.  And yes because of his convictions and acts, he has God on his side. I have tickets to see the tour in Reading PA on Sept 8th. If summers got to end, that’s a beautiful consolation prize to look forward to. Dave

Senator Arlen Specter switches parties, big surprise?

Today the news shows announced it as a bombshell, and a big surprise that PA Senator Arlen Specter switched from being a lifetime republican to the democratic party. This is no big surprise. This is a senator finally being honest. as one of only three republicans who voted for the $849 billion dollar stimulus package senator Specter has often sided with the democratic party. He has won so many times because in the general election he gets votes not only from the republicans but also from many democrats. He switched parties because by his own admission he would not win the PA primary election if he ran as a republican because so many republicans are mad at his stimulus vote, and he has strong opposition in challenger Pat Toomey. This does tip the balance of power even more to a filibuster proof majority for the democrats in congress, but since senator Specter voted with the democrats most of the time, it’s no real loss. What do you think? Spiney

Ps I do want to add that I do commend and look up to Senater Specter for fighting and beating cancer twice, and continuing to work, the whole time. Especially since he was in his 60’s and late 70’s at the time. He is now 80 years old. I can’t say that many people would have the fight and the drive to fight cancer, go through Chemo, and show up to work and vote almost 100% of the time. You have to give him kudo’s for that, he is a fighter.