The Tomball Blogger - Jesse C Smith Jr

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Weekly Digest Bulletin Inbox x

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:02:00 +0000

CRIME-STOPPERS AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFER REWARD FOR INFORMATION ON GUN STORE BURGLARIES

274 Guns Stolen in Recent Burglaries

HOUSTON – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Crime Stoppers of Houston and local law enforcement agencies announce today a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons responsible for eight burglaries at Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) in the Houston area.

In the last six weeks approximately 274 firearms were stolen from eight burglaries. ATF is requesting the public’s assistance in recovering these firearms to prevent their use in violent crimes, said Gary Orchowski,ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Field Division. ATF is working with Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 4, Houston Police Department, FBI, Brazos County Sheriff’s Office and West Columbia Police Department to investigate these burglaries.

The burglaries in question are listed below:

Cypress Jewelry and Loan (12-2-11), 11133 Huffmeister, Cypress, TX, 37 firearms stolen, ATF and Harris Co Pct 4.
Great Texas Gun Company (12-17-11), 6951 State Highway 21 East, Bryan, TX, 80 firearms stolen, ATF and Brazos County SO. (Reward previously offered.)
Fiesta Pawn (12-24-11), 12726 North Freeway, Houston, Texas 77060, no firearms, Harris County SO, ATF.
People's Pawn (1-4-12), 11431 North Freeway, Houston, Texas, 10 firearms and electronics, ATF and Houston PD.
Amex Pawn (1-4-12), 12303 Veteran's Memorial, Houston, Texas, 131 firearms stolen, ATF and HCSO.
JJ Enterprise Sporting Goods (1-7-12), 505 E. Brazos Ave, West Columbia, Texas (Brazoria County), 16 firearms stolen, ATF and West Columbia PD.
Value Pawn (1-12-12), 10790 W. FM 1960, Houston, Texas, 77064, no firearms but other items, ATF and Harris County Pct 4.
Jet Pawn (1-14-12), 6135 FM 2920, Spring, Texas 77379, 3 suspects arrested during attempt, ATF, HCSO, Harris County Pct 4.

Anyone with information on these burglaries is encouraged to contact:

Crime Stoppers of Houston at (713) 222-TIPS (8477)

www.stopcriminals.org

ATF at (800) ATF GUNS or 800-283-4867

Tipsters will remain anonymous and can be eligible for up to $5,000 for arrest and charging/conviction of persons responsible for these crimes.

ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating firearms crimes and regulating the firearms industry. More information on ATF can be found at www.atf.gov.

###

108 Stores with Senior Discounts

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:26:00 +0000

108 Stores with Senior Discounts Print This Out Restaurants

Arby’s: 10% off (55+)
Ben & Jerry’s: 10% off (60+)
Bennigan’s: discount varies by location
Bob’s Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
Boston Market: 10% off (65+)
Burger King: 10% off (60+)
Captain D’s Seafood: discount varies on location (62+)
Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)
Chili’s: 10% off (55+)
CiCi’s Pizz
Applebee’s: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+)
a: 10% off (60+)
Culver’s: 10% off (60+)
Denny’s: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)
Dunkin’ Donuts: 10% off or free coffee (55+)
Einstein’s Bagels: 10% off baker’s dozen of bagels (60+)
Fuddrucker’s: 10% off any senior platter (55+)
Gatti’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
Hardee’s: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)
IHOP: 10% off (55+)
Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)
KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+)
Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+)
Long John Silver’s: various discounts at participating locations (55+)
McDonald’s: discounts on coffee everyday (55+)
Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
Shoney’s: 10% off
Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
Steak ‘n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday (50+)
Subway: 10% off (60+)
Sweet Tomatoes 10% off (62+)
Taco Bell: 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)
TCBY: 10% off (55+)
Tea Room Cafe: 10% off (50+)
Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)
Wendy’s: 10% off (55+)
White Castle: 10% off (62+)

Retail and Apparel

Banana Republic: 10% off (50+)
Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month (50+)
Belk’s: 15% off first Tuesday of every month (55+)
Big Lots: 10% off
Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount days (55+)
C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
Clarks: 10% off (62+)
Dress Barn: 10% off (55+)
Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kmart: 20% off (50+)
Kohl’s: 15% off (60+)
Modell’s Sporting Goods: 10% off
Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions
Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday (55+)
The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off (55+)
Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month (55+)

Grocery

Albertson’s: 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+)
American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday (50+)
Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)
Food Lion: 6% off every Monday (60+)
Fry’s Supermarket: free Fry’s VIP Club Membership & 10% off every Monday (55+)
Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)
Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday (50+)
Publix: 5% off every Wednesday (55+)
Rogers Marketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)
Uncle Guiseppe’s Marketplace: 5% off (62+)

Travel

Alaska Airlines: 10% off (65+)
Alamo: up to 25% off for AARP members
American Airlines: various discounts for 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Amtrak: 15% off (62+)
Avis: up to 25% off for AARP members
Best Western: 10% off (55+)
Budget Rental Cars: 10% off; up to 20% off for AARP members (50+)
Cambria Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Clarion: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Continental Airlines: no initiation fee for Continental Presidents Club & special fares for select destinations
Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off (50+)
Econo Lodge: 20%-30% off (60+)
Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members
Greyhound: 5% off (62+)
Hampton Inns & Suites: 10% off when booked 72 hours in advance
Hertz: up t0 25% off for AARP members
Holiday Inn: 10%-30% off depending on location (62+)
Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)
InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)
Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler’s Discount (50+); 20%-30% off (60+)
Marriott Hotels: 15% off (62+)
Motel 6: 10% off (60+)
Myrtle Beach Resort: 10% off (55+)
National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members
Quality Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Sleep Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50 and up
United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
U.S. Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)

Activities & Entertainment

AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+)
Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)
Busch Gardens Tampa: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off
U.S. National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services including camping (62+)
Regal Cinemas: 30% off
Ripley’s Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket (55+)
SeaWorld Orlando: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)

Cell Phone Discounts

AT&T: Special Senior Nation 200 Plan $29.99/month (65+)
Jitterbug: $10/month cell phone service (50+)
Verizon Wireless: Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus Plan $29.99/month (65+)

*Check out our Secret Cell Phone Discounts to view all cell phone discounts available to you!
Miscellaneous

Great Clips: $3 off hair cuts (60+)
Super Cuts: $2 off haircuts (60+)

Since many senior discounts are not advertised to the public, our advice to men and women over 55 is to ALWAYS ask a sales associate if that store provides a senior discount. That way, you can be sure to get the most bang for you buck.
Looking for a printable version of our list of discounts for seniors? We’ve got you covered! Click this link to view, then just hit “Print” in your browser:108 Stores with Senior Discounts (PDF, 141 KB)

Tomball Police Department

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:02:00 +0000

Officer Juan Barrera and K-9 Hektor passed their Narcotics Training on Friday, January 27, 2012. We look forward to seeing them on our streets soon!

Obama allows hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with ties to Hamas to resettle in the United States

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:01:00 +0000

Things are changing quickly!!! We must stop all immigration and foreign Aid must be limited to our allies.

HB 1388 PASSED
Subject: Fw: HB 1388 PASSED
IN GOD WE TRUSTHow long will it be before our Commander in Chief's family dons
their robes, Turbans, and Burkas?
What's next before the Muslims take over?
HB 1388 PASSED
You just spent $20,000,000 to move members/supporters of Hamas

a terrorist organization, to the United States ; housing, food,
transportation,the whole enchilada.Whether you are an Obama fan, or not, EVERYONE IN THE U.S. Needs to know....
H.R. 1388 was passed, behind our backs. You may want to
read about it...
It wasn't mentioned on the news... Just went by on the

ticker tape at the bottom of the CNN screen.
Obama funds $20M in tax payer dollars to immigrate Hamas

Refugees to the USA . This is the news
that did not, and will not, make the headlines.

By executive order, President BarackM
Obama has ordered the expenditure of $20.3 million in
"migration assistance" to the Palestinian refugees
and "conflict victims" in Gaza ..
The "presidential determination" (ain't that nice?) which allows
hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with ties to Hamas
to resettle in the United States , was signed and appears
in the Federal Register.
Few on Capitol Hill, or in the media, took note that the order

provides a free ticket complete with housing, transportation and
food allowances to individuals who have displayed their
overwhelming support to the Islamic Resistance Movement
(Hamas) in the parliamentary election of January 2006.
Now we learn that he is allowing thousands of Palestinian

refuges to move to, and live in, the US
at American taxpayer expense.These important,
and insightful, issues are being "lost" in the blinding
bail-outs and "stimulation" packages. Doubtful?
To verify this for yourself:
www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2009-02-04-E9-2488

YOU MUST PASS THIS ON... AMERICA NEEDS TO KNOW...

Friends, WE are losing our country at a rapid pace

Journey

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:44:00 +0000

Journey

I think I might need to read this every morning and remember to count my blessings every day. Have a good day everyone!

Read quietly then send it back on its journey

To realize
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to
A premature baby.

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:

LOSE ONE.

The origin of this letter is unknown,
But it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on.

Remember....

Hold on tight to the ones you love!

Newsmax Report on cost of government

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:22:00 +0000

Reform our Government Or Lose Our Freedom.

Last year Americans Worked Till Aug. 12 to Pay for Government

"Cost of Government Day" fell on Aug. 12 this year, meaning the average American worked until that date to pay for government spending and regulations.
Each year, Americans for Tax Reform publishes its Cost of Government Day (COGD) report, and this year the organization calculated that Americans on average worked 224 days to pay for local, state, and federal government spending and regulations.
This year marks the third straight year that COGD has come in August. Prior to the Obama administration, the latest it had ever fallen was July 21.
"Americans have lost 29 days of the calendar year thanks to Obama's overspending and regulatory zeal," the report states.
The average American worked 103 days this year to pay for the cost of federal spending, and 44 days to pay off state and local government spending.
In addition, Americans worked 77 days to pay for total federal, state, and local regulations.
The report also measures varying government burdens in each state to determine its COGD. As in past years, taxpayers in Connecticut must work the most days to pay for government spending and regulation, 253, and the COGD there is Sept. 10. In New Jersey, taxpayers must work 249 days, and in New York, 242 days.
Taxpayers in Mississippi labored "only" until July 19 to pay off their burden of government, a total of 200 days, while taxpayers in Tennessee worked 201 days, and in South Carolina, 204 days.
This year's overall COGD "comes only two days earlier than last year's revised date of Aug. 14," according to a statement from Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist and Mattie Corrao, executive director of the Center for Fiscal Accountability.
"This small step towards an earlier Cost of Government Day is likely temporary. The coming implementation of regulatory behemoths that will also cause federal spending to skyrocket augurs a dismal future for taxpayers.
"The implementation of the Dodd-Frank financial regulatory overhaul, coupled with adjudication of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, portend far later COGDs in the future."
However, on a more hopeful note, the authors add: "The discussion of the government's overspending problem has shifted from billions to trillions — a significant step toward coming to terms with the country's fiscal recklessness."

MEDICARE PREMIUM INCREASE

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:10:00 +0000

Look carefully at the 2014 rate compared to the 2013 rate. For those
of you who are on Medicare, read the following. It's short, but
important and you probably haven't heard about it in the Mainstream
News:

"The per person Medicare Insurance Premium will increase from the
present Monthly Fee of

$96.40, rising to:

$104.20 in 2012

$120.20 in 2013

And

$247.00 in 2014."

These are Provisions incorporated in the Obamacare Legislation,

www.texassecurityandinvestigations.com

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

This domain is for sale! If you wish to make an offer, please contact JesseCSmithJr@TexasDomainSales.com

Quote from Thomas Jefferson

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:27:00 +0000

Indian Belief by Rumer Godden

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:54:00 +0000

There is an Indian Belief that everyone is in a house of four rooms: A physical, a mental, an emotional and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room everyday, even if only to keep it aired, we are not complete."

-- Rumer Godden

Holly Jacobs Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:58:00 +0000

Two of Holly Jacob's dogs enjoying some buddy heat on a chilly night!

NDAA and SOPA 2 more ways we lose our FREEDOM

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:39:00 +0000

The two most important issues in America right now are the NDAA (just signed by Obama) and SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act, a way for the government to take down any websites it does not like). The battle rages on over SOPA, and if SOPA passes, it will mean the end of NaturalNews and all "alternative" news websites.

Just so you know, we are all fighting for our basic liberties here. Obama has betrayed the nation, but he is also awakening the nation to the simple truth that Big Government is the enemy of freedom. If we do not correct these injustices, soon the internet will be "cleansed" of all "non-compliant" websites like NaturalNews, and your Republic will be lost forever.

Welcome to 2012, huh? What a way for Obama to usher it in: You are all now enemies of the state!

NaturalNews Insider Alert ( www.NaturalNews.com ) email newsletter
(Unsubscribe instructions at bottom)

Dear NaturalNews readers,

While America was out partying last night, drinking it up and celebrating the end of 2011, Obama quietly signed the NDAA, the National Defense Authorization Act, which nullifies the Bill of Rights and declares America to be a "battleground" in which all American citizens can be arrested, imprisoned, tortured and even killed with no due process.

You don't even have to be charged with a crime. Now, thanks to Obama, the military can simply "disappear" you.

"President Obama's action today is a blight on his legacy because he will forever be known as the president who signed indefinite detention without charge or trial into law," said Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

With this signing, Obama has cemented his position as the most traitorous U.S. President in history, not merely violating his promise to close Guantanamo Bay and end the military's secret prisons, but actually expanding the power of those secret prisons over ALL Americans!

It is time to impeach this President and all those who voted for this freedom-crushing legislation. Read my urgent story today on the NDAA and the nullification of the Bill of Rights:
http://www.naturalnews.com/034537_NDAA_Bill_of_Rights_Obama.html

With your help, NaturalNews achieved significant health freedom victories in 2011. Here's a compilation of what we were able to achieve in just one year thanks to the First Amendment (which is now under assault by SOPA, of course):
http://www.naturalnews.com/034531_achievements_2011_Health_Ranger.html

Funny Email

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 09:04:00 +0000

Feds' War on Religion by Chuck Norris

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:32:00 +0000

Feds' War on Religion

By Chuck Norris | December 27, 2011 | 22:04

Last week, I documented more than a dozen ways in which, in just the past six months, the Obama administration is trampling on the religious liberties of America's finest military service members. (If you haven't read Part 1, you can find it here.)

I am very disappointed by the dissolution of religious liberties in the U.S. military. Times have sadly and radically changed since my father served in World War II, since I served four years in the Air Force and since my two brothers, Wieland and Aaron, served in the Army in Vietnam. (My brother Wieland paid the ultimate price there in the line of duty.)

I thank God that I served in the Air Force during a time in which moral absolutes and a deep reverence for God pervaded culture, especially the military. No service member was ashamed or afraid to express his faith in God or his Christian beliefs. In fact, the very thought that service members would somehow have to protect or defend their Christian faith would have seemed ludicrous.

Remember that it was only a few short decades ago when a commander in chief spoke passionately about his Christian faith. President Ronald Reagan said this before the lighting of the national Christmas tree Dec. 16, 1982: "In this holiday season, we celebrate the birthday of one who, for almost 2,000 years, has been a greater influence on humankind than all the rulers, all the scholars, all the armies and all the navies that ever marched or sailed, all put together. ... It's also a holy day, the birthday of the Prince of Peace, a day when 'God so loved the world' that he sent us his only begotten son to assure forgiveness of our sins."

The First Amendment secures our total religious rights and liberties: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The American Civil Liberties Union and like-minded groups, such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation, are not preserving First Amendment rights; they are perverting the meaning of the establishment clause (which was to prevent the creation of a national church like the Church of England) and denying the free exercise clause (which preserves our right to worship as we want, privately and publicly). Both clauses were intended to safeguard religious liberty, not to circumscribe the practicing of religion. The Framers were seeking to guarantee a freedom of religion, not a freedom from it.

I respect all religions but adhere to one. I believe what Benjamin Rush -- a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a member of the presidential administrations of Adams, Jefferson and Madison -- wrote: "Such is my veneration for every religion that reveals the attributes of the Deity, or a future state of rewards and punishments, that I had rather see the opinions of Confucius or Mohammed inculcated upon our youth than see them grow up wholly devoid of a system of religious principles. But the religion I mean to recommend in this place is that of the New Testament."

And in so doing, I believe in the collection of beliefs stated almost poetically in the Apostles' Creed: "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the grave. The third day, he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from where he will come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian church; the fellowship of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and eternal life. Amen."

Any questions?

No Christmas hesitations here. My family celebrates Christ in Christmas; that 2,000 years ago, God sent a savior, named Jesus, born to die for the sins of mankind; that whoever believes in him will have eternal life, which I chose to do decades ago at a Billy Graham crusade in Los Angeles.

Friends, now is not the time in the history of our republic to be sheepish about our patriotism or religious convictions, as so many of our leaders are. Now is the time to demonstrate with boldness in what and whom we believe. That is the type of leader and president that we need in America's future.

We need more God-fearing men and women like those portrayed in "Courageous," the inspiring film about everyday heroes that also was expanded into a best-selling novel by my friend and prolific author Randy Alcorn (http://www.epm.org). In the novel, one character speaks for many of us and challenges the rest: "But there are some men who, regardless of the mistakes we've made in the past, regardless of what our fathers did not do for us, will give the strength of our arms and the rest of our days to loving God with all that we are and to teaching our children to do the same. And whenever possible, to love and mentor others who have no father in their lives but who desperately need help and direction. We are inviting any man whose heart is willing and courageous to join us."

Whatever your religious persuasion, don't be ashamed of it. And don't hesitate to let others know where you stand, respectfully speaking. Freedom of speech and religious liberty are your First Amendment rights. This is America. And that's one of the things that still make us a great nation. In God we trust.

(As a way to promote patriotism, courage and the continued support for our troops, my wife, Gena, and I are inviting everyone to join us Jan. 7 for the premiere of the documentary "Answering the Call," about my trips to Iraq during the war to encourage the troops. You can get tickets via http://www.KickStartKids.org. We hope to see you there!)

Get Ready For A Obama-Clinton Presidential Ticket

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:13:00 +0000

ROBERT REICH: Get Ready For A Obama-Clinton Presidential Ticket

My political prediction for 2012 (based on absolutely no inside information): Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden swap places. Biden becomes Secretary of State — a position he’s apparently coveted for years. And Hillary Clinton, Vice President. So the Democratic ticket for 2012 is Obama-Clinton.
Why do I say this? Because Obama needs to stir the passions and enthusiasms of a Democratic base that’s been disillusioned with his cave-ins to regressive Republicans. Hillary Clinton on the ticket can do that.
Moreover, the economy won’t be in superb shape in the months leading up to Election Day. Indeed, if the European debt crisis grows worse and if China’s economy continues to slow, there’s a better than even chance we’ll be back in a recession. Clinton would help deflect attention from the bad economy and put it on foreign policy, where she and Obama have shined.
The deal would also make Clinton the obvious Democratic presidential candidate in 2016 — offering the Democrats a shot at twelve (or more) years in the White House, something the Republicans had with Ronald Reagan and the first George Bush but which the Democrats haven’t had since FDR. Twelve years gives the party in power a chance to reshape the Supreme Court as well as put an indelible stamp on America.
According to the latest Gallup poll, the duo are this year’s most admired man and woman This marks the fourth consecutive win for Obama while Clinton has been the most admired woman in each of the last 10 years. She’s topped the list 16 times since 1993, exceeding the record held by former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who topped the list 13 times.
Obama-Clinton in 2012. It’s a natural.

US lawmakers get richer as voters struggle

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:39:00 +0000

The wealth gap between members of Congress and ordinary Americans is growing larger, with nearly half of all lawmakers now worth more than one million dollars, according to US media reports Tuesday.
US lawmakers are increasingly likely to be multimillionaires and are on average nine times richer than the other Americans, according to data made available to the New York Times and Washington Post.
The papers reported figures from the Center for Responsive Politics that showed the median net worth of a member of Congress stood at $913,000 and is climbing, compared to $100,000 and falling for the rest of the population.
Amid protests against the country's wealthy elite that have seen many US cities "occupied" by demonstrators, it appears elected many elected representatives make up the "one percent."
Among the richest is Republican representative from California, Darrell Issa.
According to separate figures from the Center for Responsive Politics' released in November, Issa was worth $195 to $700 million last year, his fortune coming from his car alarms business.
Texas Republican Representative Michael McCaul and Democratic Senators John Kerry, Mark Warner and Herb Kohl were also among the most wealthy.
According to the Washington Post, members of the House of Representatives were worth an average of $725,000 in 2009 compared to $280,000 in 1984, adjusted for inflation. Those figures do not include home equity.
Their wealth stands in stark contrast to the economic fate of most Americans, who have seen their value shrink over the last two decades.
Over the same period American families saw their average wealth drop from $20,600 to $20,500, also inflation-adjusted and not including home equity.
The reasons for the gap are far from clear, although many point to the cost of running for office being a deterrent to the poor, and also lawmakers being able to profit from market-moving knowledge.
"I am sure that there are multiple reasons for it," Alan Ziobrowski -- a professor at Georgia State University -- told AFP.
Ziobrowski, who has studied how lawmakers' stock investments have faired, said "the situation is pretty straight forward" with regard market-generated wealth.
"You have got a Congress which is preoccupied with three things, with regulation of industries; they are preoccupied with taxes and they are preoccupied with the federal budget. Any one of those things can have an absolutely profound impact on stock price."
"They know about them before anyone else does and that certainly leaves them in a position that they can take advantage."
But that also gives rise to suspicious that the game might be rigged: "That is the underlying ethical question... when they do cast a vote are they casting it for their constituents, or are they casting on behalf of their portfolio? Unless you look in their head, there is no way of knowing."

http://www.higherawareness.com/

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:58:00 +0000

This Is a Great Site to Follow and Subscribe To

http://www.higherawareness.com/

BIG TROUBLES AHEAD...Wake Up

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 02:37:00 +0000

Out Of Control

I don't normally like to read long-ish posts, but this is an eye-opener for me. You can read it, ignore it, delete it, or whatever, but I feel it is that very self-centeredness and personal apathy that has gotten us in the shape we are in today. Whether you agree or disagree, I thought this was important and conclusive enough to post it for you! Jesse C Smith Jr Blog Editor.

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CHANGES ARE COMING...
1. The Post Office. Get ready to imagine a world without the post office. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive. Most of your mail every day is junk mail and bills.

2. The Check. Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away with checks by 2018. It costs the financial system billions of dollars a year to process checks. Plastic cards and online transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the check. This plays right into the death of the post office. If you never d paid your bills by mail and never received them by mail, the post office would absolutely go out of business.

3. The Newspaper. The younger generation simply doesn't read the newspaper. They certainly don't subscribe to a daily delivered print edition. That may go the way of the milkman and the laundry man. As for reading the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in mobile Internet devices and e-readers has caused all the newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with Apple, Amazon, and the major cell phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services.

4. The Book. You say you will never give up the physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages. I said the same thing about downloading music from iTunes. I wanted my hard copy CD. But I quickly changed my mind when I discovered that I could get albums for half the price without ever leaving home to get the latest music. The same thing will happen with books. You can browse a bookstore online and even read a preview chapter before you buy. And the price is less than half that of a real book. And think of the convenience! Once you start flicking your fingers on the screen instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the story, can't wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you're holding a gadget instead of a book.

5. The Land Line Telephone. Unless you have a large family and make a lot of local calls, you don't need it anymore. Most people keep it simply because they've always had it. But you are paying double charges for that extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes.

6. Music. This is one of the saddest parts of the change story. The music industry is dying a slow death. Not just because of illegal downloading. It's the lack of innovative new music being given a chance to get to the people who would like to hear it. Greed and corruption is the problem. The record labels and the radio conglomerates are simply self-destructing. Over 40% of the music purchased today is "catalog items," meaning traditional music that the public is familiar with. Older established artists. This is also true on the live concert circuit. To explore this fascinating and disturbing topic further, check out the book, "Appetite for Self-Destruction" by Steve Knopper, and the video documentary, "Before the Music Dies."

7. Television. Revenues to the networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. And they're playing games and doing lots of other things that take up the time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to lower than the lowest common denominator. Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I say good riddance to most of it. It's time for the cable companies to be put out of our misery. Let the people choose what they want to watch online and through Netflix.

8. The "Things" That You Own. Many of the very possessions that we used to own are still in our lives, but we may not actually own them in the future. They may simply reside in "the cloud." Today your computer has a hard drive and you store your pictures, music, movies, and documents. Your software is on a CD or DVD, and you can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all finishing up their latest "cloud services." That means that when you turn on a computer, the Internet will be built into the operating system. So, Windows, Google, and the Mac OS will be tied straight into the Internet. If you click an icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you save something, it will be saved to the cloud. And you may pay a monthly subscription fee to the cloud provider.
In this virtual world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. That's the good news. But, will you actually own any of this "stuff" or will it all be able to disappear at any moment in a big "Poof?" Will most of the things in our lives be disposable and whimsical? It makes you want to run to the closet and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case and pull out the insert.

9. Privacy. If there ever was a concept that we can look back on nostalgically, it would be privacy. That's gone. It's been gone for a long time anyway. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7, "They" know who you are and where you are, right down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street View. If you buy something, your habit is put into a zillion profiles, and your ads will change to reflect those habits. And "They" will try to get you to buy something else. Again and again.
All we will have that can't be changed are Memories.

10. Facts About The Deindustrialization Of America That Will Blow Your Mind
The United States is rapidly becoming the very first "post-industrial" nation on the globe. All great economic empires eventually become fat and lazy and squander the great wealth that their forefathers have left them, but the pace at which America is accomplishing this is absolutely amazing. It was America that was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. It was America that showed the world how to mass produce everything from automobiles to televisions to airplanes. It was the great American manufacturing base that crushed Germany and Japan in World War II.

But now we are witnessing the deindustrialization of America .. Tens of thousands of factories have left the United States in the past decade alone. Millions upon millions of manufacturing jobs have been lost in the same time period. The United States has become a nation that consumes everything in sight and yet produces increasingly little. Do you know what our biggest export is today? Waste paper. Yes, trash is the number one thing that we ship out to the rest of the world as we voraciously blow our money on whatever the rest of the world wants to sell to us. The United States has become bloated and spoiled and our economy is now just a shadow of what it once was. Once upon a time America could literally out produce the rest of the world combined. Today that is no longer true, but Americans sure do consume more than anyone else in the world. If the de-industrialization of America continues at this current pace, what possible kind of a future are we going to be leaving to our children

Any great nation throughout history has been great at making things. So if the United States continues to allow its manufacturing base to erode at a staggering pace how in the world can the U.S. continue to consider itself to be a great nation? We have created the biggest debt bubble in the history of the world in an effort to maintain a very high standard of living, but the current state of affairs is not anywhere close to sustainable. Every single month America goes into more debt and every single month America gets poorer.

So what happens when the debt bubble pops?

The de-industrialization of the United States should be a top concern for every man, woman and child in the country. But sadly, most Americans do not have any idea what is going on around them.

For people like that, take this article and print it out and hand it to them. Perhaps what they will read below will shock them badly enough to awaken them from their slumber.

The following are 19 facts about the de-industrialization of America that will blow your mind....

#1 The United States has lost approximately 42,400 factories since 2001. About 75 percent of those factories employed over 500 people when they were still in operation.

#2 Dell Inc., one of America 's largest manufacturers of computers, has announced plans to dramatically expand its operations in China with an investment of over $100 billion over the next decade.

#3 Dell has announced that it will be closing its last large U.S. manufacturing facility in Winston-Salem , North Carolina in November. Approximately 900 jobs will be lost.

#4 In 2008, 1.2 billion cell phones were sold worldwide. So how many of them were manufactured inside the United States ? Zero.

#5 According to a new study conducted by the Economic Policy Institute, if the U.S. trade deficit with China continues to increase at its current rate, the U.S. economy will lose over half a million jobs this year alone.

#6 As of the end of July, the U. S. Trade deficit with China has risen 18 percent compared to the same time period a year ago.

#7 The United States has lost a total of about 5.5 million manufacturing jobs since October 2000.

#8 According to Tax Notes, between 1999 and 2008 employment at the foreign affiliates of U.S. parent companies increased an astounding 30 percent to 10.1 million. During that exact same time period, U.S.employment at American multinational corporations declined 8 percent to 21.1 million.

#9 In 1959, manufacturing represented 28 percent of U.S. economic output. In 2008, it represented 11.5 percent.

#10 Ford Motor Company recently announced the closure of a factory that produces the Ford Ranger in St. Paul , Minnesota . Approximately 750 good paying middle class jobs are going to be lost because making Ford Rangers in Minnesota does not fit in with Ford's new "global" manufacturing strategy.

#11 As of the end of 2009, less than 12 million Americans worked in manufacturing. The last time less than 12 million Americans were employed in manufacturing was in 1941.

#12 In the United States today, consumption accounts for 70 percent of GDP. Of this 70 percent, over half is spent on services.

#13 The United States has lost a whopping 32 percent of its manufacturing jobs since the year 2000.

#14 In 2001, the United States ranked fourth in the world in per capita broadband Internet use. Today it ranks 15th.

#15 Manufacturing employment in the U.S. computer industry is actually lower in 2010 than it was in 1975.

#16 Printed circuit boards are used in tens of thousands of different products. Asia now produces 84 percent of them worldwide.

#17 The United States spends approximately $3.90 on Chinese goods for every $1 that the Chinese spend on goods from the United States .

#18 One prominent economist is projecting that the Chinese economy will be three times larger than the U.S. economy by the year 2040.

#19 The U.S. Census Bureau says that 43.6 million Americans are now living in poverty and according to them that is the highest number of poor Americans in the 51 years that records have been kept.

#20 Morallity has eroded significantly in the last 60 years.

So how many tens of thousands more factories do we need to lose before we do something about it?

How many millions more Americans are going to become unemployed before we all admit that we have a very, very serious problem on our hands?

How many more trillions of dollars are going to leave the country before we realize that we are losing wealth at a pace that is killing our economy?

How many once great manufacturing cities are going to become rotting war zones, like Detroit , before we understand that we are committing national economic suicide?

The de-industrialization of America is a national crisis. It needs to be treated like one.

If you disagree with this article, I have a direct challenge for you. If anyone can explain how a de-industrialized America has any kind of viable economic future, please do so.

America is in deep, deep trouble folks. It is time to wake up!!

In God we Trust and Follow

Good Quotes

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:25:00 +0000

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."

-- Albert Einstein

“Just as our eyes need light in order to see, our minds need ideas in order to conceive.”

-- Napoleon Hill

Gringo's Mexican Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:39:00 +0000

This is a great Tex-Mex Restaurant located at 27030 Northwest Freeway

Working in the Garden Tomball Garden Club

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:50:00 +0000

We'll be harvesting and replanting this Tuesday(Dec 6) beginning at 9am.
come join us!
Phoebe Lake
Garden Manager
281 660 6071

Backyard Habitat Attracts National Recognition(Repost)

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:23:00 +0000

A Tomball homeowner with a talent for landscaping and love for wildlife has earned national and statewide recognition for his one acre home site that attracts a variety of birds,butterflies and other animals while helping to protect the local environment.

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and announces that the property of Jesse C Smith Jr. located in Tomball, Texas is now recognized as an official Certified Wildlife Habitat site. This achievement contributes to the organization's goal of certifying 100,000 sites by the end of 2007. The property now attracts a variety of birds and butterflies on their annual migration. The use of many different bird feeders, fruit bearing trees,and watering stations allows Smith to observe many species of butterflies, hummingbirds,hawks,owls and other birds. One pair of Red Tailed hawks have taken up permanent residence for over 10 years, raising their young each year.
Habitat restoration is critical in urban and suburban settings where commercial and residential development encroaches on natural wildlife areas. In addition to providing for wildlife, a certified habitat conserves our natural resources by reducing or eliminating the need for fertilizer,pesticides, and the burning of fossil fuels used in mowing. More information about gardening for wildlife is available at www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife or at 800-822-9919.

01/26/2008 The recent cold fronts have brought a hugh migration to the feeders. I have three grain feeders, one large and two small. The small ones are lasting about three hours. My yard is covered with birds.

11-15-2011- We have been named a Texas Wildscapes by Texas Parks and Wildlife

PATTY MYERS response to Alan Simpson Senator from Wyoming

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 06:41:00 +0000

We the people must take back our government by voting these Crooks out. Make all politicians live under the same laws we do.

Alan Simpson, Senator from Wyoming, calls senior citizens the Greediest Generation as he compared "Social Security" to a Milk Cow with 310 million teats.

Here's a response in a letter from PATTY MYERS in Wyoming ... I think she is a little ticked off! She also tells it like it is!
"Hey Alan, let's get a few things straight..

1. As a career politician, you have been on the public dole for FIFTY YEARS.

2. I have been paying Social Security taxes for 48 YEARS (since I was 15 years old. I am now 63).

3 My Social Security payments, and those of millions of other Americans, were safely tucked away in an interest bearing account for decades until you political pukes decided to raid the account and give OUR money to a bunch of zero ambition losers in return for votes, thus bankrupting the system and turning Social Security into a Ponzi scheme that would have made Bernie Madoff proud..

4. Recently, just like Lucy & Charlie Brown, you and your ilk pulled the proverbial football away from millions of American seniors nearing retirement and moved the goalposts for full retirement from age 65 to age 67. NOW, you and your shill commission is proposing to move the goalposts YET AGAIN.

5. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying into Medicare from Day One, and now you morons propose to change the rules of the game. Why? Because you idiots mismanaged other parts of the economy to such an extent that you need to steal money from Medicare to pay the bills.

6. I, and millions of other Americans, have been paying income taxes our entire lives, and now you propose to increase our taxes yet again. Why? Because you incompetent bastards spent our money so profligately that you just kept on spending even after you ran out of money. Now, you come to the American taxpayers and say you need more to pay off YOUR debt.
To add insult to injury, you label us "greedy" for calling "bullshit" on your incompetence. Well, Captain Bullshit, I have a few questions for YOU.

1. How much money have you earned from the American taxpayers during your pathetic 50-year political career?

2. At what age did you retire from your pathetic political career, and how much are you receiving in annual retirement benefits from the American taxpayers?

3. How much do you pay for YOUR government provided health insurance?

4. What cuts in YOUR retirement and healthcare benefits are you proposing in your disgusting deficit reduction proposal, or, as usual, have you exempted yourself and your political cronies?

It is you, Captain Bullshit, and your political co-conspirators called Congress who are the "greedy" ones. It is you and your fellow nutcases who have bankrupted America and stolen the American dream from millions of loyal, patriotic taxpayers. And for what? Votes. That's right, sir. You and yours have bankrupted America for the sole purpose of advancing your pathetic political careers. You know it, we know it, and you know that we know it.

And you can take that to the bank, you miserable son of a bitch.

Thistle

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 04:04:00 +0000

Thistle, a photo by Jesse C Smith Jr on Flickr.

Good Macro Shot

Mr Earl Gilliams Funeral

noreply@blogger.com (Jesse C Smith Jr) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 23:24:00 +0000

Add caption

It was a great scene to see 1000's of people showing their respect to a great person. He never let his celebrity status show. WHAT A GREAT MAN.

The Tomball Blogger - Jesse C Smith Jr

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Thistle

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