http://www.legacy.com/herald/Guestbook.asp?Page=GuestBook&PersonID=18138641
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Outrageous Hurricane Katrina Fraud
Unused FEMA Trailers are the tip of the fraud iceberg!!!
$2 BILLION Dollars in fraud!
That's $2,000 Million Dollars
I just got my Florida Windstorm insurance bill.....I can't believe how high the rates are....It is ridiculous that the people that can't / don't pay for insurance...can get everything paid for by the federal government....It really makes you think....Why pay insurance?
Read the entire NY Times article......
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/27/washington/27katrina.html?ex=1151985600&en=94142ea1ee48b0e8&ei=5065&partner=MYWAY
Vancouver, my new favorite city!!!
Just got back from the Seattle - Alaska Cruise...We had a great time in Seattle, visited Pike's Fish Market, the original Starbuck's, got to see Barry Bonds strike out a few times at a Mariner game (Andy has awesome seats), and played lots of poker at my favorite hole-in-the-wall casino called the "Drift on Inn".
After the cruise, Hui and I decided to visit Vacouver, British Columbia.....Maybe because we had perfect clear and cool weather everything seemed clean and nice...but let me tell you...Vancouver is AWESOME!!! Great restaurants, easy to get around the city, a great casino, and friendly people.....I might have found a new summer hide-away to get out of the Florida Summer heat?
Friday, June 02, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Summer Cruise - Alaska
For the past few years, a group of my (Metzler) cousins have been discussing a special celebration for our 50th birthday for me, Anne, Laura, Noreen, Julie, Amy....not to mention my family and friends Dana Newman, Pete Lanaris, Chris Bomeisl, Andy Wiegand....
The big year is here...and we are celbrating the BIG 50 with a summer cruise to Alaska....JUNE 11 - 18th......
Over (30) Family and Friends have already booked the trip.....We leave and return from Seattle.....and I can't wait to get out of Dodge City.
For more details and cruise updates visit...... http://summercruise.blogspot.com/
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Who killed the Electric Car?
I paid $3.39/gallon yesterday....this gas sign is already looking like the "Good ole days"
Gas will be $4/gallon...are you prepared or are you driving a gas guzzler?
The world economy will be affected.
Middle East fighting will not end.
http://www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectriccar/
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Monday, May 22, 2006
Hurricane "Fraud" Season
MIAMI (Reuters) - The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season will be very active, with up to 10 hurricanes, although not as busy as record-breaking 2005, when Hurricane Katrina and several monster storms slammed into the United States, the U.S. government's top climate agency said on Monday.
"For the 2006 North Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA is predicting 13 to 16 named storms, with eight to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which four to six could become 'major' hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher," said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration......I predict no Hurricane Force storm hits South Florida this year!!!
Hype and Hysteria ....This week is "tax-free" for all hurricane supplies...Generators, batteries, flashlights, etc...Our state leaders, in an effort to prepare us for Hurricane season decided to give a tax break for flashlights...instead of addressing the real problem of INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND FRAUD
The politicians get wined and dined by insurance lobbyists...the insurance companies make a fortune on premiums.....and the people get screwed.
I would like to know how much FEMA and insurance companies lose to fraud? Instead of legislatures fighting over the "Flashlight Tax"....they should be concentrating on Insurance and FEMA Fraud.
2006 Hurricane Names
Alberto
Beryl
Chris
Debby
Ernesto
Florence
Gordon
Helene
Isaac
Joyce
Kirk
Leslie
Michael
Nadine
Oscar
Patty
Rafael
Sandy
Tony
Valerie
William
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Homeland Security - Government Rip-off
As of May 1, 2006, Badge Express is the #1 independent HID Security ID Card distributor in the world! Congratulations to the team...George, Pete, Al, Janice, and Jack...you guys are kicking some serious ass!
www.badgeexpress.com
Badge Express is one of the world's leading experts on Security ID Card Technologies...so when the US government decided to investigate new Universal ID cards for US citizens (for TSA, airline screening, maritime, transportation) did they call us? NO!
Instead, Congress decided to pay "consultants", and pay-off lobbyist, and pay-off political contributors.....If you want to read something really disgusting and rotten about our political system...hit the NY Times article link below....a real disgrace!
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/14/washington/14rogers.html?ex=1148184000&en=b579ebd94b9b4d4b&ei=5070&emc=eta1
Monday, May 15, 2006
Friday, May 12, 2006
Let's hit'em while we still got muscle!
The current migration of Mexicans and Central Americans to the United States is one of the largest diasporas in modern history, experts say. Unfortunately, our political "leaders", are so busy lining their pockets, they have left this "hot potato" issue alone too long. Now it is a huge mess that no one wants to deal with.
Roughly 10 percent of Mexico's population of about 107 million is now living in the United States, estimates show. About 15 percent of Mexico's labor force is working in the United States. One in every 7 Mexican workers migrates to the United States. We are being invaded!
Health care is a big issue with illegal immigrants. In 1970, Illegal immigrants accounted for 6% of all births in the US. Today they account for almost 30%.
In California, almost half the prison population is made up of illegal immigrants .... most of them for drugs and violent crimes.
The burden of labor enforcement has fallen on the Employer and the IRS. Employers are supposed to check work documents or get fined for hiring illegals....Problem solved! If the employer doesn't catch the illegal, undocumented worker, surely the IRS would catch it!
We are supposed to be a nation of laws! Laws that conveniently get ignored when it is in the best interest of the economy or the politicians in power.
Our country is a nation of immigrants .... their courage to leave their country for the hope of building a better life.... Embeds a strong work ethic that is the backbone of our economy. We need immigration to keep competitive in the world economy. We also need immigrants because our baby boomer generation is getting older...we need new, younger workers to fill the huge labor vacuum.
Building a wall is a stupid waste of money....kicking them out is ludicrous.
We need rational policies. We do not need hysteria and racism. We need a policy that is fair to all immigrants. A policy that doesn't favor Mexican immigrants over Hatians. Or Chinese immigrants over Russians. A policy that encourages orderly immigration and deals with the 12-15 million immigrants that have entered the US illegally and undocumented over the past 20 years.
Finally, we need leadership that deals with the root cause of illegal border crossing...a corrupt and ineffective Mexican Government led by President Fox.
My solution is taken out of the George W. Bush playbook.....I say we go to war with Mexico, overthrow the Fox government (like we did in Iraq). Let the Mexican people form a new government...and then we should send Haliburton to Mexico and spend billions of dollars to build Mexico back. All the new jobs and prosperity would reverse immigration....and we'd have millions of Mexicans moving back to a free and prosperous Mexico!
I hope no one thinks I am serious when I write this stuff at 3am..........
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Mother's Day - Gift Suggestion?
Looking for a gift for Mother’s Day or for that special female in your life? What a great gift for a mom that has cleaned Play-Doh from carpet, laundry, and forced the "wierd" neighbor kid from eating it!
For the first time that fresh-out-of the can, eau-de-PLAY-DOH scent is available for fun, highly-creative people who seek a whimsical scent reminiscent of their childhood. As part of our year-long celebration of the beloved modeling compound's 50th birthday, PLAY-DOH compound's distinctive aroma will be available in a limited-edition 1-ounce spray bottle.
Retailers such as Ultra Cosmetics and Urban Outfitters will carry the PLAY-DOH fragrance for an approximate retail price of $19. Childhood memories last forever, but the PLAY-DOH perfume is only available through the end of the year.
Check out http://www.hasbro.com/playdoh/default.cfm?page=50thbday for this perfume and for blasts from the past.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Friday, May 05, 2006
Perfect Weather (again)!
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Happy Cinco de Mayo
Let's take this special day to celebrate diversity and the struggle of poor starving people that have struggled with oppressive governements that attempt to reach our land of opportunity.
Let's take this special day to evaluate how our lives have been enriched by the proud people that have made it to America...have started a new life....and are chasing the same dreams our parents, grandparents, or great grandparents came here for.
Freedom is ringing, and they are answering...
Justice is impartial, and they are amazed...
Opportunity is around every corner, and they appreciate it...
Let's not reject this moment in time, but embrace it, and learn from it.
As US citizens, we have the right to vote and change our political leaders...but over half our citizens choose not to vote!
If you are not happy with the current imigration situation...Get off your ass and do something....quit whinning about it....You have a choice...You can sit back in your big comfortable chair, and turn FOX News on, and let the hysteria drive you crazy....or you can make a decision to take control....and either enjoy the rich diverse melting pot of America.....or Vote!...or drink a few Corona's and have a Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Monday, May 01, 2006
JFK - Oil Crisis - Conspiracy?
Here is a wacky conspiracy theory that presents another motive for the murder of President Kennedy, money and power.
Was JFK killed to stop him from building the Passamaquoddy Dam at the border of Maine and Canada?
Rapid commercialization of tidal power would eliminate the need for oil in power production in ten years. JFK made a brilliant speech in Augusta Maine in 1959. He foretold the energy crisis of today and he promised to build the dam if he was elected President. He kept that promise and began immediately after his election to implement the building of the dam.
On July 16 1963 John Kennedy stood in the Rose Garden of the White House and in a speech of four minutes announced the completion of the study for the dam and requested the acceleration of the negotiations with the Canadians. On October 19 1963 Kennedy flew over the site of the Dam. On October 22, Kennedy's under secretary of the interior, Kenneth Holum in a speech to the AFL CIO in Boston emphasized the President"s '"'double under scored interest in the building of the dam.'"
The dam was quashed after Kennedy"s death. To hear this cloistered speech of JFK"'"s visit www.33139.com
The producer of the internet television show, 33139.com, about South Beach, has the speech in the '"'Permanent Gallery'"' of the site. She is from the area of Maine where the dam was to be built, but discovered JFK"'"s efforts by chance. While we were all kept busy chasing after shadowy Cuban and Mafia figures, we should have been looking north to Maine . . . and across the border to Canada …. to Catholic Quebec"'"s secessionist"'"s successful attempts to nationalize the power industry that ran concurrent with the catholic Kennedy"'"s efforts to build and run the dam through the Department of the Interior.
Charles de Gaulle built A SIMILAR DAM AT THE SAME TIME Kennedy laid plans for Quoddy; both Kennedy and De Gaulle planned more dams. De Gaulle completed his; however, after the attempted assassination on his person, he never built the rest of the dams. Today the La Rance tidal dam in France, and one built simultaneously in Russia, are still in service supplying electricity from a free source to millions of people.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Right Side of the Brain?
Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, the right half of your brain is better developed than most people.
If you find the man between 3 seconds and 1 minute, the right half of your brain is developed normally.
If you find the man between 1 minute and 3 minutes, then the right half of your brain is functioning slowly and you need to eat more protein.
If you have not found the man after 3 minutes, the advice is to look for more of this type of exercise to make that part of the brain stronger!!!
And, yes, the man is really there!!!
Globalization
Question: What is the truest definition of Globalization?
Answer: Princess Diana's death.
Question: How come?
Answer: An English princess with an Egyptian boyfriend crashes in a French tunnel, driving a German car with a Dutch engine, driven by a Belgian who was drunk on Scottish whisky, (check the bottle before you change the spelling) followed closely by Italian Paparazzi, on Japanese motorcycles; treated by an American doctor, using Brazilian medicines.
This was written by an Englishman, using Bill Gates's technology, and you're probably reading this on your computer, that uses Taiwanese chips, and a Korean monitor, assembled by Bangladeshi workers in a Singapore plant, transported by Indian lorry-drivers, hijacked by Indonesians, unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen, and trucked to you by Mexican illegals.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
A very costly buzz
Ricky Williams will probably never wear a Miami Dolphin uniform again...after being suspended today for the 2006 season for failing a FOURTH drug test....What a shame and waste of a gifted talent.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Saturday, April 15, 2006
April 15, 2006
The tax day I will never forget.........
I found this interesting article about taxes....hope you enjoy it!
Tax Freedom Day arrives on Wednesday, April 26th this year. That's when we stop working for the government and start working for ourselves. For the average worker, all of the earnings of the first 116 days go to pay taxes to the federal, state and local governments. Starting April 27th, we are free -- at last -- to take care of our own family's needs.
The 2006 report, published this month by the non-partisan Tax Foundation of Washington, D.C., chronicles America's tax burden. According to the report, the federal tax burden has been reduced by seven days since the end of the Clinton administration when Tax Freedom Day did not arrive until May 3rd. During the Clinton years (1992-2000), the tax burden grew sharply by 12 days despite Clinton's promise that "the era of big government is over." However, Tax Freedom Day falls three days later than it did last year and ten days later than in 2004, even with the absence of tax increases.
Our progressive tax system drives more and more Americans into higher tax brackets each year. Strong economic growth, posted at 6.5 percent from 2004-2005 produced more wealth for Americans, and with that, more taxes for Uncle Sam. Due to our progressive tax system, your taxes increase even if your buying power does not!
Taxes still take nearly 32 percent of a worker's gross income......
21 percent for federal taxes and 11 percent for state and local.
Only since 1992 have Americans paid more for government programs than they spend on food, clothing, and medical care combined. For the amount of money we pay in taxes, government should already be able to provide universal health coverage and feed and clothe us as well. For every eight hour day we work, 2 hours and 32 minutes of our work goes to pay taxes. About 41 of those minutes go to pay for Social Security and Medicare. In contrast, the savings of the average American is reflected by a value of negative two minutes of work.
At the state level, tax freedom day varies from state to state. California has the 9th highest taxes with Tax Freedom delayed until April 30th. Virginia places 20th in the race for the highest tax rate even though Tax Freedom day arrives on April 24th, two days before the national average.
From the birth of the nation in 1776 until the early 1930s, government spending at the federal level never exceeded three percent of national income except during times of war. In 1913, when the Sixteenth Amendment allowed the federal government to tax income directly on individuals, tax freedom day arrived as early as January 20th!
The total effective tax rate did not permanently surpass 10 percent until FDR's New Deal legislation in 1930. Total taxes passed 25 percent during the Great Society Programs during the 1960's. The effective tax rate is currently at 30 percent. Put another way, in 1900, taxes took $1 of every $12 of earnings from American workers; in 1950, taxes took $1 of every $4; today they take $1 of every $3. If you add the costs of complying with regulations, the cost of government to society is over 50 percent. Imagine the economic boom if the other half of worker's labor were set free!
Economist Arthur Laffer recognized the law of diminishing returns applies to tax rates as well. According to Laffer, there comes a point beyond which increased taxation actually yields fewer tax dollars being collected. For example, a 100 percent tax rate would drive commerce into the ground, resulting in zero taxes being collected. Many economists believe we are already well beyond that point for the most Americans. In other words, tax cuts would actually result in increased economic growth and more taxes being collected.
Presidents Kennedy and Reagan understood the Laffer Curve well. The 1964, Kennedy tax cuts reduced the top tax rate from 91 percent to 70 percent and to the surprise of many, tax revenues increased. Seventeen years later, Reagan tax cuts reduced the top marginal rate from 70 percent to 50 percent. Revenues soared again. Between 1980 and 1997 the share of federal income taxes paid by the top one percent rose from 19 percent to 33 percent. The share of tax paid by the top 25 percent of taxpayers increased their share from 73 percent to 82 percent. The Laffer Curve works. Give the wealthy a tax break and they end up shouldering an even greater share of the tax burden.
In addition to federal, state and local taxes, the current deficit spending policy is a hidden force taxing wealth by devaluing the dollar. In our deficit spending government, money is constantly being printed to fulfill the government's debt obligations. However, printing money devalues all existing savings stored in dollars. Dollars become less valuable. Over time, the purchasing power of the dollar decreases in direct proportion to the number of dollars created to fund the federal deficit. This in itself is a form of taxation. Due to our progressive tax system, Uncle Sam actually collects more taxes as inflation rises. If your pay is adjusted each year to keep up with inflation, the dollar figure you make increases, but your net purchasing power remains unchanged. However, inflation may actually drive you into a higher tax bracket despite the fact that your buying power has not increased! The amount of value that the dollar has lost can only be measured using something else, which is assumed to have held its value constant. Since the beginning of 2002, the U.S. Dollar has dropped 25 percent against a broad index of foreign currencies. Currencies are subject to fluctuations of their own, but gold and silver are not. Since 2002, the dollar has dropped 48 percent against gold. That's a 48 percent tax in less than three years, and it has been a tax on total wealth stored in dollars, not simply on income.
The good news is your financial freedom does not depend on any one politician's successes or failures. Since the government has its own financial troubles, it is more important that you begin by getting your personal financial house in order. The decisions under your control have the greatest impact on your financial well-being. Government solutions for individual problems never work well. You can best help government by not contributing to a culture of entitlement. Demanding that Uncle Sam pay for your college education, health care, prescription drug coverage, and retirement income will only cost you more.
The price for big government solutions is ever-distant tax freedom day and half-baked results. France's finance minister under Louis XIV said it best, "The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing." We joke about taxes to relieve our stress, but there are serious issues at stake. We need to watch the erosion of personal freedoms. We need to ask what limits our country can support without cooking the goose that laid the golden egg of our economy.
If you enjoyed this article....you can subscribe to a weekly newsletter by John Marotta that has more money advice....cool stuff!
http://www.emarotta.com/
Read....Learn.....get yourself out of debt!
Great book....Andrew Tobias...The only Investment Guide you will ever Need
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
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