Daily news sites

One note before we get started - I am lucky enough to participate in the Take Two series over at designPost today. Make sure to check it out here.

We are at the half way point people! (click here if you missed week 1 or 2) And what am I still doing? Painting. I am sure you are as sick of here about my painting as I am of actually painting. But we are in the home stretch, so stick with me. I promise good things.

Last week we were left with a nice bright, white room and a primed staircase.


But those of you who know me know I can't leave a room white for long. I am, after all, a color girl. Enter those mystery stripes I mentioned on the inspiration board.


The painter's tape came out and I got to work on one of my very favorite "I want to do that some day" pins, a painted stair runner.


And I can't leave the stairs all alone so I thought some stripes on the floor would be fun too.


The floors were simple to tape out. I just measured the length of the room, randomly choose a width for each stripe by eyeballing what 'looked good' and then divided the width out by the total length. Easy peasy.


The stairs were a bit trickier. These stairs, along with everything else in my charming old home, are not level. In fact, I think if you tried to put a level on these stairs you would actually be able to hear laughter coming from the treads. So trying to measure would just result in a trip to the sanitarium. So I trusted those eye balls of mine.


Using the same Porch and Floor paint from Sherwin-Williams, I painted the navy stripes. I went one shade lighter than the navy I used on the girls' dresser. And thanks to excellent paint, the floor only needed two coats. It helps to watch Orange is the New Black while you paint floors, in case you were wondering.

As for the stairs,


they need a little clean up but for the most part I am thrilled. My eyeballing would have been perfect if I hadn't decided to make the skinny lines just a tad bit thicker. I didn't overlap my tape perfectly on the left there, so mamma has some touching up to do. No worries.

And one word of caution if you are thinking of painting stairs: unless you have multiple stairwells in your house leading from one floor to the next, this is a task that can cause some grumpy tenants. When you look at those cute pictures on Pinterest you forget that said stairs need to dry for long periods of time, aka you can't walk on them. Laundry is then sitting, waiting, unable to be reached as though it is on a deserted island. And some people can't go downstairs and watch sporting events on their big TVs and they find this frustrating. Which some other people don't really get because the couch isn't down there anyway. But I digress. Also, painting stairs can cause you to contort your body in weird Cirque du Soleil ways. Just an FYI.


The floor stripes however didn't give me an once of trouble and they look just like I wanted them to. Look at those straight lines! Raise the roof with me people. This picture is right before I put a coat of sealer on so the floor now has just the slightest glow, a happy floor glow.

And in other news, I found the perfect rugs to go on this smashing floor. Some of the outdoor variety and some of the vintage flavor.


A sneak peak.

And one last update,


this is happening.

So I'm moving forward. I also found a few things for the room and am currently in the middle of a fabric do-over conundrum. I'll keep you posted.

What can we cross off the list this week?
- Rip up gross carpet (floor and stairs) and replace flooring
- Paint and plank walls and bookshelves
- Recover estate sale chairs
- Create some sort of art station for the girls
- Paint chairs and table
- Repair and paint coffee table
- Create toy storage that doesn't involve the words 'pink' or 'plastic'
- Get some art on those walls
- Find rugs
- New Lighting

The following chart shows the 12-month moving average of annualized production and nonsupervisory scientific research and development services employee hours worked per capita.


Click to enlarge.

Science is even harder when the funding dries up.

October 15, 2013
US Government Shutdown Forces Closure of Antarctica Research Stations




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

Belgium government law enforcement officials pretended to be a movie group interested  in doing a documentary about the Somalian pirate kingpin.

Click to enlarge.

Eight sigma events are totally sustainable. Don't let the naysayers tell you different.

This is not investment advice. It has been infused with sarcasm for your viewing pleasure though.

Source Data:
St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart

The following chart shows the 12-month moving average of annualized production and nonsupervisory apparel (nondurable goods) employee hours worked per capita.


Click to enlarge.



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

I'm over at Living Savvy today talking about what I love to do each and every fall to put our house in the autumn mood. Check it out here.

Chi-Coms seek to Cripple America
Red Chinese Seek To Replace US As World Leader
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
*****************

Some time ago I write a piece entitled:  "If Not America — Who?" http://insightonfreedom.blogspot.com/2012/10/if-not-america-who-j-d-longstreet.html

In that commentary I said:  "What is so wrong with the US that we can’t lead the world? What is so wrong with the US that some Americans think France is better? Or Germany, or… oh, well — you get the picture.

If they espoused such beliefs in the now defunct old Soviet Union, they’d be snatched out of their beds in the middle of the night and whisked away to a state run mental Institution until they were better — and “re-educated”.

Look.  The US has its problems. There is no denying that — and we don’t. But we don’t sweep them under the rug, either. We deal with them — right out in the open — for the world to see.


Now comes China, our communist enemy, ready to slid into the spot left open at the top when US President Obama decided to drag America down to the level of the other mediocre countries on the globe in his quest to "fundamentally change" America into just another socialist dung heap.

This past Sunday, on their official news agency, Xinhua, China said the world should consider "de-Americanising" while US politicians grapple with how to reopen our shuttered government and avoid a potentially disastrous default on our debt.

Here's the quote: "As US politicians of both political parties (fail to find a) viable deal to bring normality to the body politic they brag about, it is perhaps a good time for the befuddled world to start considering building a de-Americanised world,"  SOURCE:  http://news.yahoo.com/americanised-world-needed-us-shutdown-china-media-053014967.html


The Article in Xinhua went on to say:  "Such alarming days when the destinies of others are in the hands of a hypocritical nation have to be terminated.

"A new world order should be put in place, according to which all nations, big or small, poor or rich, can have their key interests respected and protected on an equal footing."

Please remember -- this is China, COMMUNIST China, THE "Chi-Coms," referring to the US as "hypocritical!"  Jeez! 

The Chi-coms' commentary continues: "Instead of honouring its duties as a responsible leading power, a self-serving Washington has abused its superpower status and introduced even more chaos into the world by shifting financial risks overseas," but equally stoked "regional tensions amid territorial disputes, and fighting unwarranted wars under the cover of outright lies" the commentary said, referring to Iraq."  SOURCE:   http://news.yahoo.com/americanised-world-needed-us-shutdown-china-media-053014967.html


(By the way:  China is the biggest foreign holder of US Treasury bonds, worth a total of $1.28 trillion according to the US government.  Now -- who's hypocritical???)

In the spirit of full disclosure, there is no love lost between me and the Red Chinese.   My family shed blood fighting the "Yellow Horde," as they were known back in the 1950's, in Korea.  A cousin was captured and rotted in one of their despised prison camps existing on bits of food, such as potato peelings, and anything else he could find in the garbage pit of the camp.

So, NO.  I'm not inclined to offer the benefit of the doubt to the Chi-Coms -- anytime, anywhere.

And, of course, China took the opportunity to beat the drum for a new world reserve currency instead of the US dollar. China wants a new international reserve currency created to replace the dominant US dollar.

Look.  The bottom line is this:  China HATES the US and will take every opportunity to cripple the US.  Unfortunately, we have the worst bunch of national leaders the country has had in a very long time and they have made us vulnerable to attack from our enemies such as China, and Russia, AND the Islamofascists from around the world.  

Understand:  If a  new international reserve currency IS created -- it will turn the US into a 3rd world country overnight. Our economy will tank almost instantly. The Great Depression of the 1930's will look like a "boom era" compared to the depression we will experience.  It must not be allowed to happen.


Do you begin to understand why this scribe so hates socialism?  Since the US decided to seriously dip a toe into socialism, with Obama and his "redistribution of the wealth," the heart has been effectively ripped out of America.  America has been practically brought to her knees -- and we have only TASTED socialism!

The world should understand that only half the American electorate supports the path of socialism Obama has placed the US upon.  America is split right down the middle.
Let’s be clear here. If the US does not survive as a constitutional republic the world, as we know it, will cease to exist. Europe will most certainly return to its former iteration as a bloody battlefield. The Middle East, already in flames, will tear itself apart. Africa will spiral right back into a black hole. Russia and Asia will be locked in mortal combat for hegemony of that region, South America will … well, WHO KNOWS what will happen to our southern neighbors? And Mexico? Well, Mexico seems to have forgotten — they SOLD us the land they are trying so hard to re-populate today. Anyway, you get the idea.

America has rushed to help her neighbors, all over this planet, when they are threatened. She respond to world disasters all the time. It is to the US that all eyes turn for leadership…especially when they are in trouble.

But -- when America is in trouble, she gets the boot of the world in her face, as so many of the nations she has helped over the decades gleefully kick her while she's down.

Among those nations receiving help from the US has been, of course, China.  (Take a look at some of the US posters to help China in WWII at:  http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/military-history/us-posters-help-china-wwii-1561.html )

OK.  WE can argue that US help went to the Nationalist Chinese and NOT the Communist Chinese.  They were still Chinese trying to save themselves from a Japanese invasion.  A great deal of American blood was spilled in China and Burma during those terrible years. But, HEY, that was seventy some years ago - ancient history -- and who cares about history today, huh?


Well, history teaches us a lot of things and its lesson today is this:  If the US does not soon get its act together and claw its way back to the top if the heap, the world is going to go up in flames.

There is an old expression:  "When the cat's away, the mice will play."  After Obama locked the "Big Cat" up, the rats have been wreaking havoc around the globe.  Methinks its past time to let the cat out.

© J. D. Longstreet

When I choose to wear a casual outfit I always make sure to add an element surprise or an accessory in a very bold color to spice up the entire outfit. Todays look is the best example!
A navy outfit with a burst of red and some "wild" print from my shoes make this casual outfit a not so ordinary one, don't you think?




                                                                             Sweater: 3.1Phillip Lim for Target/ Here
                                                                             Jeans: American Eagle/ similar Here and Here
                                                                             Shoes: Deena & Ozzy( old)/ option Here, Here and Here 
                                                             Bag: 3.1Phillip Lim/ similar Here 
                                                                             Sunglasses: Ralph Lauren/ Here
                                                                           

Jesse Alba

October 14, 2013
Macy's to open on Thanksgiving for the first time

I'm in Macy's at least once a week telling them that they better @#$%ing well have those doors open by 8pm on Thanksgiving Day if they know what's good for them. @#$% their workers! If I'm there, then they @#$%ing need to be there too!


Excellent! I also gave them a serious ultimatum that I wasn't going to buy a @#$ @#$% @#$%ing thing unless they kept those @#$%ing doors open for at least 24 hours. I was extremely polite about it I assure you, although I did have a few choice words for the store manager.


Excellent. It's nice to see Corporate America bend to the will of the people for a change. This is no time to be @#$%ing around with my holiday season. I want to go from my dinner table directly to their cash register. Sleep's for @#$%ing losers! It's the only way I can enjoy all that the holiday season has to offer. It starts with the slow digestion of the turkey dinner and ends with an all-night shopping spree. There's just no @#$%ing way I can @#$%ing wait until Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful. They should be @#$%ing thankful that they are giving me exactly what I repeatedly demanded.

Don't just assume that all the @#$% within this post is profanity. This is a sarcasm report. It can be whatever you want it to be. It might even be references to Candy Mountain goodness. Who knows! ;)

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


Click to enlarge.



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

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


Click to enlarge.

Optimists might point to this chart as proof that a new age of prosperity is upon us. Collection agencies are no longer needed! Hurray!

Pessimists might point to this chart as yet another "sure thing" employment growth story that ended with an exponential trend failure.

See Also:
Idiom: Squeeze blood out of a turnip

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

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.

Click to enlarge.

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


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
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

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


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


See Also:
Sarcasm Disclaimer
Trend Line Disclaimer

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