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freshening the foyer - finale

Morning sunshines! I hope you all had a great weekend. I have a long overdue update on the entry for you. So let's jump in, shall we?

To jog your memory, here is where I left the space back in June. Yes, I said June. (read parts 1 and 2 of the entry makeover here and here)


We all agreed at the time that the placeholder mirror wasn't doing anyone any favors and it didn't really add anything. I'm trying me best to be a thoughtful and slow caretaker of this little house and wait for the right thing rather than just buying the closest thing. I looked on Craigslist, thrift stores and antique shops and found a big fat nothing.


Then I went on vacation and made a stop in one of my favorite antique stores in Sarasota. And this little gem was just waiting for me in the corner. A cool shape and the right size to not dwarf the bench or the narrow wall where it would sit. The man at the shop told me he had just bought it at an estate sale at the oldest house in Sarasota (which is why he hadn't hung it up yet) but he is also quite a shyster so who knows what the real story is.

At any rate it is the same store I got my coffee table and one of the raspberry dressers in my living room from, and I like that I get so many of my orphans from the same spot.

I've drifted off topic..where was I? Ah yes, the mirror. So the paint job on the mirror was not in good shape and it wasn't the right color. So I sprayed it black and bam - I'm calling this entry done.


I had originally wanted to add some sconces to either side of the mirror but all the ones I liked were too wide for the space. Then my genius mother suggested we go to a shop we are lucky enough to have downtown that sells nothing but vintage china.


We found this great pattern with all the colors of the entry and the living room. Love that pattern and that woman.





Feels good to have that wrapped up.

Have you held out for the right piece before? Has it taken forever to find something to fit in a spot in your house? Want to borrow my mom for her problem-solving skills? She's good.

Let Them Eat Cake


Click to enlarge.

August 2, 2013
SNAP Benefits Will Be Cut for All Participants in November 2013

These cuts will likely cause hardship for some SNAP participants, who will include 22 million children in 2014 (10 million of whom live in “deep poverty,” with family incomes below half of the poverty line) and 9 million people who are elderly or have a serious disability. Cutting these households’ benefits will reduce their ability to purchase food. This cut will be the equivalent of taking away 21 meals per month for a family of four, or 16 meals for a family of three, based on calculations using the $1.70 to $2 per meal provided for in the Thrifty Food Plan.

The future's so bright, I gotta wear night vision goggles.

See Also:
NO BREAD TODAY: My future's so bright, I gotta wear night vision goggles.

Source Data:
BLS: Consumer Prices

America Hates Obamacare ... J. D. Longstreet

America Hates Obamacare   ...   J. D. Longstreet
America Hates Obamacare
The Democrats OWN Obamacare
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
**************
Vladimir Lenin: "Socialized Medicine is the Keystone to the Arch of the Socialist State."
 ***********************
Socialized medicine (Obamacare) may seem like a good thing to you; unless you are sick, even less so if you are chronically ill.

We have been warning of the dangers, and the short comings, of socialized medicine for a very long time and now we have had it rammed down our throats by the democrats.  Remember -- NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR OBAMACARE!  Nary a one!

Given a choice between healthcare run by the government and keeping my private insurance and paying the premiums and going to see the doctor I want to see, and not some civil servant working for the government healthcare system, I’ll take the latter any day. In fact, the choice for me is a “no-brainer.”

Since 1965 I have been hospitalized over 80 times. I have had numerous surgeries and I must see a doctor every four to six weeks of my life. See, I KNOW the value of a good healthcare system and I know, first hand, the value of having a doctor, in whom I have confidence, treating me. I know what it means to have a rapport with your physician.  That, alone, is tremendously important when you are chronically ill.
 
Unlike a lot of folks, when I think of nationalized healthcare, I perceive a threat to my life.  I have no doubt that the introduction of socialized healthcare (Obamacare) in the US will shorten my life and bring it to a termination much sooner than currently expected.  In fact, I have no doubt about it.  There are millions of Americans, just like me, who will have their lives shortened by Obamacare.

Nevertheless, it IS here. 

The start-up problems with Obamacare are, I suspect, diverting attention away from what's really going on.

Look. Obamacare is going to fail.   I know, I know.  But I assure you, it is not just wishful thinking on my part. 

Obamacare was designed to fail.  It MUST fail for the complete program of socialized medicine in America to be established.

It was hoped that Obamacare, like a drug, would addict enough Americans that when it crashes there will be a ready made demand for a national healthcare system of some kind to replace it. 

The replacement?  A single payer national healthcare system.  That is the second part of the assault on American's healthcare.

Under a single-payer system, everyone in the country would have health coverage provided by the government, and private insurance largely would cease to exist. Like Medicare, the government would act as the insurer; doctors and hospitals would operate privately, receiving payments from public funds under such a nationalized health insurance system. SOURCE:  http://www.factcheck.org/2009/12/public-option-vs-single-payer/

A single payer healthcare system is what the socialist in the Democratic Party REALLY want.

I came across an excellent article entitled: "The Myths of Single-Payer Health Care" by David Hogberg that I recommend you read.  You'll find it at:  http://www.freemarketcure.com/singlepayermyths.php#1

In his article Mr. Hogberg explains:  " Everyone in a single-payer system has health insurance, not necessarily health care.

While the government in a single-payer system will pay for everyone's health care, it limits the access to health care. In a single-payer system, citizens often believe that "the government" is paying for their health care. When people perceive that someone else is paying for something, they tend to over-use it. In a single-payer health care system, people over-use health care. This puts strain on government health care budgets, and to contain costs governments must ration care.

Governments in a single-payer system ration care using waiting lists for surgery and diagnostic procedures and by canceling surgeries. As the Canadian Supreme Court said upon ruling unconstitutional a Quebec law that banned private health care, "access to a waiting list is not access to health care."
  SOURCE:  http://www.freemarketcure.com/singlepayermyths.php#1

Just as predicted, Obamacare is a Frankenstein monster and growing uglier every day of its continued existence.  Already, it is taking a toll on the democrats.  The President's approval rating is down, at this writing, to 37% and expected to fall even more.

Democrats claim Obamacare is "settled Law."  I would remind you that Prohibition was settled law, as well.   It took us thirteen years to rid ourselves of that albatross. But we did it.  And -- we can do it again.

In the meantime, the one political party making an attempt to save America from the excesses of Obamacare is being savaged by Americans for shutting down the government in an attempt rescue America from Obamacare.

At the moment the GOP is being creamed -- but-- I have a hunch that when the smoke settles we are going to see a resurgent GOP as the American electorate FINALLY understands that all this pain was brought to them by the Democratic Party and ONLY the Democratic Party. 

In a little over a year, Americans will be going to the polls again.  By that time, they should be well -- and truly -- fed up with Obamacare and those who foisted it off on them.  If the GOP has any spirit left, it will do everything in its power to remind the electorate that the Republican Party stands ready to rid America of the plague of Obamacare. 

This will be a two-step solution.  Three years hence, the GOP should put forth a conservative candidate, not a moderate, not a RINO, but a CONSERVATIVE candidate for President to have any chance, at all, against Hillary Clinton.

As we said above, it took thirteen years to repeal Prohibition.  If the GOP can win in the next two elections they can overturn Obamacare in less time.  If not, it will take considerably longer and inflict far more pain on the American people.

Recent polls show that over 80% of Americans are dissatisfied with the way the government is governing the country.  Congressional approval is down to only 5%. History teaches us that things happen when Americans get mad -- and they/we are outraged.

In almost 240 years America has had numerous threats to her freedom and liberties. But we have never had a more dangerous threat than Obamacare.

We MUST remove this threat to our once great nation.

© J. D. Longstreet

Restoring the Prosperity of the Roman Empire

The following chart shows the 12-month moving average of annualized production and nonsupervisory coal mining employee minutes worked per capita.


Click to enlarge.

We seem determined to restore the prosperity of the Roman Empire one year at a time. Coal mining jobs for the win!

Don't let the naysayers get you down with all their talk of newfangled automated processes and the rolling over of the 2nd order polynomial trend line in blue. Coal is where the jobs of the future will be. We'll mine it all by hand if need be, just to keep the employment reports looking good.

History of coal mining

In Roman Britain, the Romans were exploiting all major coalfields (save those of North and South Staffordshire) by the late 2nd century AD.

The Fed would never allow this modern and financially innovative economy to fizzle yet again. You can take that to the bank. No, sir. Recessions are a thing of the distant past, much like the explosive growth in coal mining employment. Just gotta keep the faith!

Despair.com: Potential

As a bright-eyed kid, you once harbored dreams of a future in space. But face it, the only moon you’ll ever step foot on will belong to passed-out, drunken, former bright-eyed aspiring astronaut losers who are, unfortunately for you, your peers. Nice going, Buzz!

See Also:
Sarcasm Disclaimer
Trend Line Disclaimer

Source Data:
BLS: Employment
St. Louis Fed: Population

Juarez Charged For 4-year-old Castillo's Felony Murder

Conrado Juarez

Police say mother and family never reported Castillo missing.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 13, 2013

Manhattan, New York - On Saturday, Conrado Juarez, 52, of Bronx was arraigned and charged with felony murder for the 1991 homicide of Anjelica Castillo, 4, who for 22 years was only known as "Baby Hope." Juarez pleaded not guilty,  but had confessed to cold case homicide investigators that he sexually assaulted Castillo and then smothered her to death.
New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly announced that Juarez had been arrested on Saturday in Manhattan for the Castillo murder, whose nude body was found inside a cooler along the Henry Hudson Parkway on July 23, 1991. Castillo whose identity was unknown at the time was buried as "Baby Hope" 22 years ago.
"Public outreach, forensic investigation and old-fashioned pavement pounding led detectives to Juarez," said Police Commissioner Kelly, who was joined by the original case detective Jerry Giorgio (retired) and Chief Joseph Reznick, then a lieutenant who delivered Baby Hope's eulogy.
Her remains were identified through DNA last week, which identified her mother. A tip from a woman who says, another woman had told the woman that her sister might have been killed. She called police who later contacted the woman who thought her sister had been killed. Police were able to do a DNA test on Castillo's mother and a positive match came back. The DNA results in the Baby Hope case finally led police to her family.
Castillo's mother was out of the country at the time of her murder and didn't have custody when the child disappeared. Her two daughters including Castillo were in the care of her father and a relative. One daughter remained alive and Castillo went missing, but she was never reported missing by the family, according to police. 
The mother told police that she kept quiet for many years because she was afraid of her husband. The father is now being sought by police for questioning.
Juarez who is Castillo's cousin confessed that he murdered Castillo after sexually assaulting her and smothering her.
Her body showed signs of sexual abuse, malnourishment and being beaten while bound when she was found. Juarez's sister, Balvina Juarez-Ramirez of Astoria, Queens was also implicated in the homicide. She took care of Castillo, which Ramirez was her father's cousin.
Juarez met Castillo through Ramirez, his sister who is now decreased. Ramirez came up with the idea to put Castillo's body in a mini-cooler and then disposed of it, according Juarez.
They took a cab and then got rid of the cooler near the Hudson river. Some construction workers found the cooler after they smelled a foul odor coming from an area they were working at and then called police.
Detectives working in the case in 1991 donated money to buy her a head stone, which will now include Castillo's name.

The Bright Side


bittersweet colours, fall colors, Zara, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Meredith Wendell, Express, prints, animal print, COLORS, yellow, street style,

bittersweet colours, fall colors, Zara, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Meredith Wendell, Express, prints, animal print, COLORS, yellow, street style,
bittersweet colours, fall colors, Zara, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Meredith Wendell, Express, prints, animal print, COLORS, yellow, street style,
bittersweet colours, fall colors, Zara, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Meredith Wendell, Express, prints, animal print, COLORS, yellow, street style,
bittersweet colours, fall colors, Zara, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Meredith Wendell, Express, prints, animal print, COLORS, yellow, street style,
bittersweet colours, fall colors, Zara, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Meredith Wendell, Express, prints, animal print, COLORS, yellow, street style,
bittersweet colours, fall colors, Zara, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Meredith Wendell, Express, prints, animal print, COLORS, yellow, street style,
bittersweet colours, fall colors, Zara, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Meredith Wendell, Express, prints, animal print, COLORS, yellow, street style,


Another outfit that involves a summery piece: this pair of 3.1 Phillip Lim bermuda shorts that I bought from NY during NYFW. I couldn't wait until Spring and the weather encouraged me even more to wear them now in a harmonious blue-mustard combination.





                                                                                     Coat: Zara/ option Here and Here
                                                                                     Sweater: Express/ I also love this one Here
                                                                                     Bermuda Pants: 3.1 Phillip Lim/ option Here and Here
                                                                                     Bag: c/o Meredith Wendell/ Here
                                                                                     Shoes: Shoemint/ option Here and Here
                                                                                     Sunglasses: Ralph Lauren





Baby Hope Remains Identified And Suspect Arrested For 1991 Homicide

Original Baby Hope investigators Chief Reznick (navy) and retired Detective Jerry Giorgio with Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly announced the arrest of Conrado Juarez for the Baby Hope homicide case . Photo courtesy of NYPD

DNA and tip led to her killer after 22 years.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 12, 2013

Bronx, New York - New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly announced that Conrado Juarez, 52, was arrested on Saturday in Manhattan for the 1991 brutal homicide of Anjelica Castillo, 4, whose nude body was found inside a cooler along the Henry Hudson Parkway on July 23, 1991. Castillo was buried as Baby Hope 22 years ago.
"Public outreach, forensic investigation and old-fashioned pavement pounding led detectives to Juarez," said Police Commissioner Kelly, who was joined by the original case detective Jerry Giorgio (retired) and Chief Joseph Reznick, then a lieutenant who delivered Baby Hope's eulogy.
Her remains were identified through DNA last week, which identified her mother. A tip from a woman who says, another woman had told her that Baby Hope was her sister. She called police and the tip led police to do a DNA test on Castillo's mother and solving the Baby Hope cold case.
Castillo's mother was out of the country at the time when the child disappeared. Her two daughters including Castillo was left in the care of her father and a relative. One daughter later came back to the mother and Castillo went missing, according to police. 
The mother told police that she kept quiet for many years because she was afraid of her husband. The father is now being sought by police for questioning.
Juarez who is Castillo's cousin confessed that he murdered Castillo after sexually assaulting her and smothering her.
Her body showed signs of sexual abuse, malnourished and being beaten while bound when she was found. Juarez's sister, Balbema Ramirez of Astoria, Queens was also implicated in the homicide. She took care of Castillo. 
Juarez met Castillo through his sister who is now decreased. Ramirez came up with the idea to put Castillo in a mini-cooler and then disposed of it, according Juarez.
They took a cab and then got rid of the cooler near the Hudson river.

Conrado Juarez arraigned in a Manhattan Criminal Court on Saturday.

Our Rose-Colored Economy

The following chart shows the 12-month moving average of annualized production and nonsupervisory florist employee minutes worked per capita.


Click to enlarge.

The Fed can lead consumers to flowers, but it can't make them buy. The linear trend in blue ended in 2001. It has been replaced with an exponential decay trend in red. Let's zoom in for a closer look.


Click to enlarge.

It would very much appear that the monetary placebo is wearing off again. Note that annualized florist employment minutes per capita are rolling over (as also seen in late 2000 and late 2007).

August 9, 2013
Has Twig Snapped in Wellesley?

Are they on vacation? There was no note on the door mentioning such a thing and besides, Twig’s web site points out that they are closed only two days per year, and a plain old Thursday in July isn’t one of them.

August 11, 2013
Wellesley florist Twig files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy

Twig, the fancy floral shop at 50 Central St., that we reported earlier this week had mysteriously shut its doors, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Florist - Starting a Florist Business

Do you think now is a good time to start up a wedding flowers business? Do you think the market is oversaturated yet? Regarding oversaturation, with the heavy encouragement to be a stay-at-home mother or father, I have noticed people are looking for ways to "control" their work weeks. Jobs such as floral design may seem to be a nice way to supplement a family income. What I have noticed is that they quickly realize that the hours are taxing; there is no such thing as 9-to-5. Do I believe that there is oversaturation? Yes. Yet it's quickly thinned as soon as it begins.

Emphasis added (in red).

This is not investment advice. If it was investment advice, I might suggest that there were probably better times in all of recorded history to start a florist business. I'd probably also mention that about the only thing rose-colored about this economy long-term is the glasses.

Source Data:
BLS: Employment
St. Louis Fed: Population

2013 Retail Christmas Outlook

The following chart shows the 12-month moving average of annualized production and nonsupervisory employee hours worked per capita in sporting goods stores, women's clothing stores, and hobby, toys, and game stores. I'm attempting to track an old school Christmas gift theme (a little something for everyone).


Click to enlarge.

Been there, done that

To have experienced the topic under discussion, to the point of boredom or complacency.

Needless to say, I'm not optimistic. This is not investment advice.

Source Data:
BLS: Employment
St. Louis Fed: Population

Jalapa Díaz Clinic Director Facing Termination For Failing To Help Indigenous Pregnant Mother

Margarito Andrés Velásquez, Sabino Salvador and Irma López Aurelio

Photos courtesy of Eloy Pacheco López/Facebook

Mexican congressional action seeks sanctions against those responsible for not providing medical attention to indigenous mother who gave birth on a grassy lawn outside a clinic and the termination of the clinic director.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 12, 2013

San Felipe Jalapa de Díaz, Oaxaca, Mexico - On Friday, Marlene Aldeco Reyes, the president of Public Health Commission has asked Germán Tenorio Vasconcelos, the Oaxaca Secretary of Health to terminate Doctor Adrián René Cruz Cabrera, the head of the Jalapa Díaz Clinic, a nurse named Juliana and a social worker who failed to provide medical attention to an indigenous mother while in labor and giving birth. Reyes stated, that what happend to Irma López Aurelio, 28, shouldn't happen again to any other woman in labor or giving birth, Voz21 dot mx reported.
Dr. Cabrera has been suspended pending a state and federal investigation concerning the failure to provide immediate medical attention to López Aurelio.
Last Wednesday, López Aurelio, told Voz21 dot mx that she "gave birth like an animal and could have died." Her ordeal while giving birth at an outdoor clinic grassy yard after she was refused medical attention for two hours on October 2 has triggered a state and federal investigation in the Oaxacan state.
A photo of López Aurelio was taken on October 2, giving live birth at a grassy outdoor section of a clinic at the municipality of San Felipe Jalapa de Díaz went viral on the Internet and Spanish language media. López Aurelio an indigenous Mazatecan woman and her husband who don't speak Spanish went to a clinic looking for help because she was about to give birth. She apparently couldn't find any medical attention, because a nurse was trying to tell her she wasn't ready to give birth. Just before 7:30 a.m., López Aurelio went outside and her water broke. 
López Aurelio and her husband, Margarito Andrés Velásquez while outside the clinic grounds in a grassy section, she gave birth to a baby boy, who she named Sabino Salvador. She named him Sabino for his grandfather and Salvador because his birth has launched an investigation and action to provide medical attention to other women needing medical attention while giving birth, López Aurelio told Voz21.
López Aurelio was later charged $30 dollars for the medical attention and medicine that she received afterwards, according to Televisa. 
López Aurelio while giving birth began to scream and her agony attracted other people and Eloy Pacheco López who then took photos of the actual birth and gave them to a reporter. He also posted them on his Facebook page and wrote that López Aurelio had been waiting for two hours for medical attention and was given none.
Silva Flores, the Mayor of the town and other witnesses of the incident told media sources that the medical personnel for Doctor Adrián René Cruz Cabrera at the clinic are known to refuse service to women in need when they about to give birth. 
Mayor Flores also cited another incident, on July 18, when Christina López Durán was also denied service when she was about to give birth.
The refusal to give medical aid to the women raised questions and criticism of the mexican government and its medical practices towards indigenous people. But, Germán Tenorio Vasconcelos, the Oaxaca Secretary of Health justified the outdoor birth because a lack of hospital personnel at night. Last Wednesday, Vasconcelos in a public statement apologized to López Aurelio and her family for the failure of the clinic personnel to render medical attention. He said, that an investigation is underway to determine,  if López Aurelio was discriminated or her rights were violated.
López Aurelio and her son were hospitalized minutes afterwards on the same day, according to the Office of the Secretary of Health, which now says, they have made changes so this type of situations don't happen again and women can get care during giving birth in Oaxaca.
An investigation has been launched to determine, if the personnel at the clinic violated López Aurelio's rights. The López Aurelio family members confirmed that they will filed a complaint with an arbitrator for the Oaxaca Medical Commission.

Protesters Shut Down The Arizona Federal Operation Streamline ICE Court

Photos: Facebook

Nineteen protesters taken into custody for chaining themselves into the rims of Operation Streamline Court ICE buses, federal court fences and blocking ICE buses.

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 11, 2013

Tucson, Arizona - On Friday, at least nineteen Not1More protesters were taken into custody for blocking ICE buses on an I-10 off ramp on Fontage and 18th St. by chaining themselves to tire rims and immobilizing several buses full of undocumented immigrants that were enroute to an ICE federal court. More then a half dozen of Not1More protesters also chained themselves to a fence at the Tucson federal court number 6, according to reports posted by Facebook users in the area.
The protesters in a three and a half hour long peaceful protest forced the federal Operation Streamline Court (OSC) session for Friday to close for the first time in six years and suspended its mass group convictions of about 80 to 100 undocumented immigrants on weekends. An OSC judge quickly convicts and sentences a mass group of detainees at the same time from 30 to 130 days in jail and then they're transferred to private prisons avoiding an immediate removal of the immigrants. After they complete their sentences, then they are removed from the U.S.
"They are lined up in shackles and rapidly tried as a group to prison terms before eventually being expelled from the country. The Tucson court convicts an average of 80-100 people every weekday in its sessions," the National Day Laborer Organizing Network reported.
The OSC process is unconstitutional and violates the due process of each individual detained by ICE, according to protesters and immigrant rights activists.
Today's protest coincided with this week's stop the mass deportations events nationally and the push to pass an immigration reform bill march and rally in Washington, D.C. where eight U.S. Representatives were taken into custody.

Our Well-Grounded Economy

The following chart shows production and nonsupervisory employee hours worked in long-distance general  freight trucking by hours worked in air transportation.


Click to enlarge.

Expectation:

Bald Eagle with Fish (Yathin S Krishnappa)


Realization:

Pygoscelis papua (Stan Shebs)


Source Data:
BLS: Employment

Good Ole Days .. J. D. Longstreet

Good Ole Days   ..   J. D. Longstreet
Good Ole Days
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
********************

 An old friend and I were conversing recently and reminiscing about the world we grew up in as opposed to the world we actually live in today. It is something “old-timers” like us have been doing since the dawn of time.

We were comparing the price of gasoline where he lives as opposed to the price for the same gasoline here, where I live, on the edge of a coastal resort area.

We live in neighboring states, but here in NC we have one of the highest state gasoline taxes in the United States.  Add to that the proximity of that resort area and I, unfortunately, fall into one of those pricing zones set up for the tourist trade. As a result, the price for gasoline is consistently higher where I live than where he lives… substantially higher.  

Of course, we began comparing the price of gasoline today to what we paid for it as teen-agers.  There is no comparison.  Regular gasoline was 13 cents a gallon and high test was 15 cents per gallon.  Really expensive gas was 17 cents a gallon for regular and 19 cents a gallon for high test – and that was beforegas wars.  Then it was not unheard of to pay 11 and 12 cents for a gallon of regular gasoline. 

When you went out to purchase a car, you didn’t buy a car that got the best gas mileage – you bought a car you actually wanted!  They had lots of steel and lots of chrome.  Cars of that age had character unlike these generic models that are so similar you can’t tell who made the cussed thing without getting a good look at the trademark on the hood or trunk lid. 


We both remembered the early gas pumps.  They had five-gallon glass containers on top.  There were manually operated.  They had no electric pumps inside them.  YOU pumped five gallons of gas from the underground tanks up into that glass container atop the pump with a pump handle.  Then you placed the nozzle of the hose into your gas tank and gravity transported the gas from the glass container to the tank of your car.  You could only pump five gallons at a time. If you wanted more, that meant you had to repeat the process. 

It was quite an experience when it was raining or sleeting – or worse. A dollar’s worth of gasoline would last you all week!

A teenager on a date could have a ball on five dollars -- and still have money in his pocket when he got home.

A hamburger was 15 cents and a coke was a five to seven cents, depending upon whether we were in North Carolina or South Carolina.  Since we lived right on the border we were then, and remain today, as much at home in one state as the other.

NOBODY, in their wildest dreams, ever thought gasoline would sell for three to four dollars, and more, per gallon.  NOBODY.  It was inconceivable … period.  This was America and such things just did not happen.

But it did happen -- all because we were not paying attention.  We trusted our government to do what was right for America… not what was politically correct.  Suddenly there was something called the Environmental Protection Agency, and something else called the Department of Energy -- and by that time -- we were well and truly had! We were then, and we are now, sitting on a sea of oil.  Yet, our government will not allow us to knock holes in the dirt and suck it out.

We have oil containing rock and oil containing sand and we have vast deposits of oil just off our coasts -- in our own territorial waters.  It’s just sitting there while we pay through the nose for oil we have to purchase from countries that hate us even after we debase ourselves just for the privilege of buying their oil. 

What kind of government does that to its people?  Answer:  The kind of government we have in Washington, DC.

See, back in the good ole days, we made a terrible mistake.  We trusted our government.  Now that we KNOW better -- it is too late.

Or is it?

If, as some are suggesting, we are about to have a global financial collapse, we’ll get a “do over.”  It won’t be pretty and it is going to hurt like the dickens, but if there is a bright side to an economic apocalypse, it may be that we will get a chance to clean our government of the socialists, Marxists, progressives, and left-wing liberals that spent us into this mess. 

Some say the Good Ole Days were not all that good.  Having lived in both I can tell you the Good Ole Days beat the heck out of the mess we live in today!


J. D. Longstreet

Sotelo, "El Piolin" To Air His SiriusXM Radio Show

Eddie Sotelo, "El Piolin"

Next week El Piolin will begin transmitting his Spanish language radio program on SiriusXM via satellite. 

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 11, 2013

Los Angeles, CA - On October 18, Eddie Sotelo, aka, "El Piolin" will begin transmitting his Spanish language radio show on SiriusXM. The El Piolin live radio show will be heard on channel 147 from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (Pacific), Monday thru Friday.
Fans could listen to his program for free until February 15 online at siriusxm.com or with the SiriusXM App., according to Sotelo.
Sotelo will be inducted to the National Radio Hall of Fame next November 2013, according to his Facebook page.

Clashing Plaids

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bittersweet colours, Plaid trend, COLORS, fall colors, esprit, Joe fresh, vintage, Shoemint, street style, prints,clashing plaids
bittersweet colours, Plaid trend, COLORS, fall colors, esprit, Joe fresh, vintage, Shoemint, street style, prints,clashing plaids
bittersweet colours, Plaid trend, COLORS, fall colors, esprit, Joe fresh, vintage, Shoemint, street style, prints,clashing plaids
bittersweet colours, Plaid trend, COLORS, fall colors, esprit, Joe fresh, vintage, Shoemint, street style, prints,clashing plaids
bittersweet colours, Plaid trend, COLORS, fall colors, esprit, Joe fresh, vintage, Shoemint, street style, prints,clashing plaids
bittersweet colours, Plaid trend, COLORS, fall colors, esprit, Joe fresh, vintage, Shoemint, street style, prints,clashing plaids
bittersweet colours, Plaid trend, COLORS, fall colors, esprit, Joe fresh, vintage, Shoemint, street style, prints,clashing plaids
bittersweet colours, Plaid trend, COLORS, fall colors, esprit, Joe fresh, vintage, Shoemint, street style, prints,clashing plaids
bittersweet colours, Plaid trend, COLORS, fall colors, esprit, Joe fresh, vintage, Shoemint, street style, prints,clashing plaids
bittersweet colours, Plaid trend, COLORS, fall colors, esprit, Joe fresh, vintage, Shoemint, street style, prints,clashing plaids
bittersweet colours, Plaid trend, COLORS, fall colors, esprit, Joe fresh, vintage, Shoemint, street style, prints,clashing plaids



I like to call this look "Pattern Blocking" after one of my Pinterest board, where I like to collect all kind of outfits with mixed prints. Even though this print is almost the same on both skirt and shirt, it still delivers a bold impact and for sure the colors are having a good input in this -blocking - result!




                                                                                   Shirt: vintage/ option Here and Here 
                                                                                   Skirt: Esprit/ similar style Here and Here 
                                                                                   Shoes: Shoemint/ great option Here 
                                                                                   Bag: Joe Fresh/ similar style Here and Here 
                                                                                   Necklace: c/o Arthur and Livingston/ Here
                                                                                   Sunglasses: Ralph Lauren/ Here





fess up friday - etsy stalker

Etsy. Just the word makes my heart pitter patter. Whenever I have something that I need to do but would rather put off (laundry, dishes, etc.) I go on Etsy for awhile instead. It's a much better use of time in my opinion.

"Big deal Elizabeth, everybody loves Etsy." I hear you, but here is my fess up - I have 17 pages of  saved Items I Love. It is a sickness people. I try to go in and periodically clean the list up, but whenever I do that it usually ends up growing. There is just too much awesome in one place. I can't stop myself.

Here are some of my favorites, in no particular order...
AriannaBelle - she's a sponsor of LBD for a good reason - she makes hella good pillows. Her style is always spot on and her work impeccable. She has her own store here, but you can also find her on Etsy.


Gypsya - They cover all the bases - pillows, throws, rugs and even jewelry. Very boho chic and very reasonably priced.


Meet Me in Philadelphia - I love Ashley's blog and now I can buy her stuff. Her collection is as eclectic as her house and she's got a mix of made and found things. I've got my eyes on those lucite napkin rings, so hands off people.


Mister Pillow - Vintage rugs to die for and pillows made out of vintage rugs to die for. Enough said.


Janet Hill Studio - I am a big fan of Janet Hill's work and it is my mission to have a gallery wall of her work. Her colors just sing to me and I love her traditional subject matter with a twist.


The Pink Pagoda - As a long time fan of Jennifer's blog and her store, I've gotten to enjoy a few of her prints and I've got several more on my Christmas list. (I pick really good sponsors, don't I?!) Her Merchant Man and Wife have a prominent spot in my living room and I always get compliments on them.


Soigne - A joint venture by Erin and Charmaine gives us all a chance to buy those things we wish we could find at estate sales and antique shops. Their collection is envious and they are always adding to the pot. Be sure to follow them on Instagram (Erin / Charmaine) to get a first look at pieces as they come in.


Kerry Steele - Kerry creates custom pieces that are museum worthy. Her work makes me feel like a big, grownup girl. It makes me want to have a big white wall where I can spotlight her work. And if you read her blog like I do, then you know she's a pretty cool chick on top of her talent. Not fair.


What Etsy shops are your favorite? What do you look for most on Etsy? (I'm a pillows fool myself) And how do you pronounce it? (At-see or Et-say)