Thomas Leath

Americans Have Had Enough

2013-10-16T13:52:00.001-05:00

It's no surprise that 60% of Americans think we should throw out the entire Congress. I would actually expect that number to rise in the coming weeks. Our so called political leaders, if you can call them that, have worked extremely hard to earn this type of sentiment. It's been decades in the making and likely not to change anytime soon.

In good conscience it would be very difficult for me to associate myself today with either one of the two major parties. If I had to choose it would come down to the one that is the lesser of two evils. One thing I know for sure is that we've got a group of individuals in Congress, many of which forgot long ago why they were elected. I do not know of one member that truly has the will much less the charisma to be a bipartisan consensus builder. Democrats and Republicans have become experts at spouting their own party dictated political talking points, and are unwilling to do anything but blame each other for the dire problems we have.

John F. Kennedy said in his 1961 Inaugural Address, "So Let us begin anew -- remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us." There's not on single member of Congress that's exempt from what amounts to a blatant failure to live up to the expectations we justly placed in them when we made the decision to send them to Washington. Those words President Kennedy spoke in 1961 hold even more truth today.

The time for blame must come to an end. Whether they realize it or not, our Congressman have pushed this country and its Constitution to the brink of doing irreparable damage to the very foundation of what once made this nation the most unique in all the world. We no longer have the time for the never ending hypocrisy and political rhetoric that somehow seems to causally manifest into false hope that somehow tomorrow is going to be miraculously different. It took decades for Congress to become the dysfunctional, hyper partisan institution it is today. It's an institution that has been corrupted by anger, self serving emotional power and greed, made up of an overwhelming majority of individuals too weak to do the job we elected them to do.

In this new media/social media era, we've got a group of individuals representing us, many of which haven't had an original thought in years, trying to convince us that they know what's best. They function like a group of robots that receive their daily marching orders and then have their helpless staff members send out the same old material to their weary, disheartened constituents. We're tired of sending people to Washington that say they'll be different, that we hope will be different, yet ultimately end up being just another part of the problem, incapable of offering real solutions.

There are many of us that may not like certain parts of Obamacare, but it is the law of the land. It's one thing for the Republican Party to prove a point, it's an entirely different thing to perpetuate an ongoing government shutdown in an economy that has in reality never moved completely out of recession. If the Affordable Care Act does in fact pull the hinges completely off of our economy as many have said, the Republicans would have one heck of a platform to run on in 2014. Instead they'd rather show Americans that in spite of what they'd like us to think, when it's all said and done, their motivations are no different than the Democrats. They would foolishly rather keep posturing politically over doing what's best for the country. If Speaker Boehner had any control over the fractured party he's presiding over, he'd of held a press conference a week ago on the heals of Senator Cruz's filibuster, and told the American people that while he and his Republican colleagues believe funding Obamacare will have tragic consequences, the party is not willing to put the country through a prolonged shutdown that could further harm our economy, and further dissuade confidence. We did the best we could, he should have said, but now it's time to move on for the good of the country. Had he of done that, it would have been a win for the Republican Party. That potential win in my opinion has turned into a major loss.

Today, it's more than clear that the American people have had enough. We don't trust Washington and all it stands for. That goes for both Democrats and Republicans. This country has an overwhelming amount of very real, very serious problems that should unite our elected officials and encourage them to put aside the divisiveness that for decades they have been unable to get beyond. We are not too big to fail. No entity or government is too big too fail. We've seen mega financial institutions fail in the last few years and we've seen countries on the verge of failing. We are rapidly approaching $17 trillion dollars in debt. Our individual share of that debt is nearly $53,000.00 per American, yet the chuckleheads in Washington want to argue about Obamacare. No matter how you cut it, we've been cooking the books in this country for far too long. I know it, you know it, and we have no choice but to make sure Washington knows it. It's time for Congress to get back to conducting the people's business, or go home and stay home.

When Do We Stop Taking the High Road?

2013-04-16T15:11:00.001-05:00

As I rushed home to watch the tragic events unfold in Boston, my inner being was filled with emotions that that felt familiar. It wasn't till I turned on the television, and goose bumps filled my body that I realized I hadn't felt those same feelings since September 11, 2001.

Yesterday, we were blatantly reminded of the fact that no matter whether internal or external, there are those who wish to do what they can to shatter what America stands for. The majority of them are sick individuals that do not share the values we possess or remotely identify with the freedoms we hold sacred, yet we as a nation have done a poor job of reminding anyone, much less ourselves of this. Those who seek to destroy us are becoming more and more aware that our moments of genuine unity are fewer and farther between, and our politicians spend most of their time ripping our nation apart at the seams.

Friends, we have seen this before, all to recent in our Nation's brief history. The scars of 911 should be be forever etched in the forefront of our minds, and the minds of those too young to remember. While our politicians briefly unified for the good of the country on that day, they quickly fell back into their oh so familiar ways of partisan bickering and divisiveness. To those who seek to destroy us, they are once again able to mock the unbecoming value we place on the threats they have yet to purvey, knowing that our vigilance will be short lived, and soon we will resume the internal turmoil that continues to destroy the very fabric of our founding.

Many have said today that the goodness that exists among us us will always conquer the few that seek to destroy us. While this may be true, the more we continue to divide ourselves, the more we allow our politicians to let politics to divide us, the sooner we again will face those fearless monsters that that will do what they can to use our own hypocrisy to divide us once again.

We must find a way to bypass our own chaos within that those who attacked us are so fervently ready to exploit. They see it, we all as Americans should see it, yet we continue to believe we can fool the world while we briefly join together to mourn the loss of our own. When terrorists do what they did yesterday, and attempt to destroy our existence, we must never hesitate, we must never waiver, and we must always be consistent in our response when it comes to their demise.

While the good in this country far outweighs the bad, we cannot pretend that pure unadulterated evil does not exists in this world. It does exist and it will not be satisfied till we are destroyed. It's up to us all as Americans to do what we can to make sure that never happens and to realize that there are times when we don't have to take the high road.

Politics 101 From Comic-Con

2012-07-24T14:07:00.000-05:00

Every year around this time hundreds of thousands of loyal fans come together for America's largest Geek Fest, San Diego Comic-Con. It makes no difference whether your democrat or republican, conservative or liberal, loyal fans of all types come together to share their love of pop culture and everything it entails. Clearly the camaraderie that develops year after year is one of the many reasons for SDCC's continued growth and success.

In the spirit of Comic-Con it's time for our elected officials to put aside their partisan political differences and do what we elected them to do. They must find the will to work together and do what's best for the constituents they represent. I know, what a novel idea. The blame game must come to an end. It's time to retire the talking points, put differing ideologies aside, and work together to pull America out of what quite possibly may be the greatest pending economic collapse in history.

We no longer have time for backbiting and infighting. We've cooked the books in this country for far too long and without making serious, difficult changes, we are destined to see tougher days ahead. We cannot spend our way into prosperity any more than we can tax our way there. Politicians must put aside their partisan differences and work together for the greater good of all of us. Clearly what they've been doing and continue to do is not working. They are more worried about getting re-elected than doing what's best for the country. We have reached an economic boiling point, and have no more room for divisiveness and political posturing.

As a wise politician once told me, there is no political liability in being honest. It's time for the Americans we elected to represent us to stop pandering to special interest groups, stop allowing campaign contributions to dictate their priorities, and more importantly, LEAD. A lot of politicians are followers these days and obviously that's not working out too well for any of us. As a wise Vulcan once said, we all deserve the opportunity to live long and prosper. If members of congress are unwilling to do what it takes to right our path, then please get the heck out of the way and let us vote for someone who can.

Supplying Dose of Realism

2012-07-04T15:34:00.001-05:00

As printed in “The Waco Tribune Herald”, February 2, 2008, Guest Column by Thomas Leath
Two weeks ago in one of the financial newspapers one so-called economist said we weren’t in danger of a recession. I thought to myself: This so-called economist is in fact an idiot. I’m no economist. I am a very informed American who doesn’t appreciate my government not being honest with me about the state of our economic affairs.

The government is bailing out Americans who were stupid enough to buy houses they couldn’t afford, Oil is near $100 per barrel. Gold is approaching $1,000 per ounce. Foreclosures are at an all time high and climbing. The Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates repeatedly since September. Unemployment numbers are rising.

Don’t throw water on my back and tell me it’s raining. This country has major problems. The world has major problems. We are headed for a global recession and things are going to become progressively worse. That’s not pessimism my friends. That’s realism.

China’s appetite for oil rises progressively. The U.S. government talks about becoming less dependent on oil. But the petroleum industry lobby contributes millions and millions of dollars to the pockets of our elected officials. Let’s be real. That’s not going to change anytime soon. It sounds good on the campaign trail, but it’s all talk. China is but one of many examples of how other economies can wreak havoc on our own.

As with life, our country is putting off dealing with the tough issues like energy conservation as long as it can. I’m afraid that’s not going to work out well for us. Challenging days are most certainly ahead. A dose of realism would serve us well as we look to an uncertain future.

______________________

Unfortunately much of my wording was edited. (I really hate that.) Another advantage of blogging your own material on your own site. Regardless, I think I was on to something!

What Obama Should Propose, but Won't

2011-09-08T17:43:00.000-05:00

It doesn't take a rocket scientist or an economist to figure out that our hubris filled president is going to ask for billions more in spending tonight. You'd think by now he'd of figured out that we can't spend ourselves into job creation any more than we can spend ourselves out of a recession! There's no doubt in my mind that he's come up with another rob Peter to pay Paul scenario that will be less of a job creator than the near trillion dollar stimulus plan that was hobbled together a few months after he took office.

It's not complicated Mr. President. We are in a worldwide economic recession like we've never seen in history. Your liberal ideology and labor union loving mindset will not create jobs. Your massive slashing of the defense budget will not create jobs. The American Jobs Act you are going to share with us tonight will in no way pull this economy back from the brink. A jobs bill that calls for hundreds of billions of dollars in new spending, no matter how you slice it up, will not right our fettered path. Desperate times call for bold, decisive, confidence building measures. This is a concept you are most certainly not familiar with Mr. Obama, but you should surround yourself with those who are.

Tonight, you should offer to all but eliminate cumbersome payroll taxes over the next 12 to 24 months. You should put a freeze on capital gains taxes over the next two years. You should encourage confidence in business owners of all sizes by instituting a moratorium on the time frame companies are allowed to write off capital expenditures, decreasing this from many years to a few years. Furthermore you should lower the corporate tax rate to at least 20% and immediately initiate a bridge building effort to bring America's greatest companies corporate headquarters back home. We should be ashamed that many of them would rather be based out of a p.o. box in Ireland rather than America due to our overly excessive corporate tax rate. You must move to do away with job crushing regulations, many of which you initiated, that are stymying business growth to the brink of disaster. Last but not least Mr. President, you should also announce an across the board spending freeze for the next 36 to 48 months that applies to the federal government. It won't balance the budget, but it's a start. Every quarter we should re-evaluate these initiatives and make adjustment where needed.

Albert Einstein defined insanity by doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. Again, I submit to you that we cannot spend our way into job creation any more than we can spend our way out of the dire economic straights we're in. We must, you must put special interest groups aside. You can in no way in good consciousness continue for example, to put the interests of labor unions above the greater good of We the People of the United States of America. These types of favoritism and cronyism must stop. We do not have the luxury, you do not have the luxury of continuing to play the blame game. We are all on the same boat, many of us hurting, starving for change and real, genuine leadership. Maybe, just maybe you haver it within you to bring us back from the brink. My heart tells me that you will go down by far, as the worst president in history. As I've said many times, you are without question the biggest marketing fraud perpetrated on the American people in Presidential campaign history. I doubt very seriously I will hearing any rhetoric from you tonight that changes my mind.

Good luck tonight Mr. President. Your gonna need it!

AT&T, T-Mobile Merger BAD for Consumers

2011-05-28T18:02:00.007-05:00

The proposed AT&T, T-Mobile merger simply put, is bad for consumers.

My first initial thoughts about AT&T acquiring T-Mobile brings back vivid monopoly memories of the 1980's. Before deregulation, for many of us AT&T (formerly Southwestern Bell) was the only residential phone service game in town. If your mind ever erred with regard to that fact, their arrogant and many times rude customer service representatives would be more than happy to remind you.

At the end of last year we were once again seeing a less friendly, less customer oriented AT&T. Not only have they dropped in recent customer surveys, but we've seen glimpses of them becoming more controlling in regards to how they deal with customers. For example, AT&T was one of the first wireless providers to decide to do away with unlimited data plans. To make things worse, for those of us that have grandfathered unlimited data plans and use too much data, well, they've got a solution for that too. If Ma Bell doesn't like the amount of data your consuming, they reserve the right to "Throttle" the speed in which your mobile device uses data. In other words, even though your paying for unlimited data, use to much and we'll force you to use less. Can you imagine how emboldened AT&T will become should they be allowed to acquire T-Mobile? I can, and there's just nothing positive about it.

Wireless providers including Verizon and Metro PCS seem to be somewhat neutral on the merger, while Sprint is firmly against it. Verizon and Metro are clearly under the assumption that should the merger be approved they will both benefit from AT&T having to divest itself of assets these two will surely want to acquire to better their own networks. The problem is that this doesn't necessarily benefit us. As far as I'm concerned the increased use of multi-band phones and roaming agreements between T-Mobile and AT&T would benefit consumers much more than a full blown merger.

AT&T has proven by their past actions that when there is less competition, they are more likely to try and put the screws to their customers. This is a commonsensical fact. In this case fewer carriers is not better. In the technological age we live in, mobile phone technology is changing at an ever increasing pace. AT&T and T-Mobile are the only GSM carries in the United States. Since GSM is the standard for worldwide mobile phone communication technology, I shudder to think what will happen if AT&T becomes the only provider here in the U.S. T-Mobile serves a great purpose in as much it helps keep both AT&T and Verizon in check when it comes to pricing structure. With the merger yet to go through, both Verizon and AT&T are already modifying their data plans to create potentially explosive costs. You can bet your last dollar that more will indeed become less bang for the buck for the consumer should this merger be approved.

You may click here to be redirected to the FCC's comment board to weigh in with your opinion. Comment numbers 11-65.

Not my Father's Congress

2011-04-19T22:25:00.007-05:00

For 12 years my late father served as an impassioned, loyal public servant as a member of The United States House of Representatives. He did so purely for the love of country and the constituents he had the chance to represent. Although not in ideological agreement with many of those he served with, Marvin Leath was able to forge relationships that transcended party affiliations. Leath's Law of Loyalty was based on finding common ground, rising above purely political differences to serve the greater good. He did this by developing political relationships that were not defined by campaign contributions from special interests or careless demagoguery from political opposition. There was no other possible way a small town conservative banker from Waco, Texas could have had the personal relationships he had with the likes of Chuck Schumer, Barney Frank, Charlie Rangel, Ron Dellums, Barbara Boxer, just to name a few. In his day, in his time, his philosophy was life is nothing but relationships. In fact, when he retired, political scholar Norman Ornstein called him,"A Bridge Between the Parties." He's the only politician in history I know of that retired with a 96% approval rating and name recognition of 98%. That's a fact.

The Congressman once said,"Well, relationships--I learned--I think I was about six years old that relationships--human relationships are what makes the world go round. It's not that youto get to know somebody or be nice to somebody just so you can get something out of them. It's just that if I don't know you or you don't know me, neither one of us can influence each other about anything, because we don't have the respect or the trust or the understanding." Further more he said,"I've spent my entire life making relationships, which means that if you've got those kind of relationships, your fortunate enough that you can pick up the telephone and do more in five minutes than some people can in six months because they dont 'have the relationships. They don't--and not only do people have to know you, they have to trust you."(From the Oral Memoirs of James Marvin Leath, Baylor Institute of Oral History, 2001)

Where has my father's vision for America gone I often wonder? Sure, I speak of him often, but that aside to this day he's the best, most effective politician I've ever known. Sadly, our governing bodies have seemingly turned into entities that care more about the fight than they do about what's best for our country. They rely more on high priced consultants to create their views rather than the people that elected them. Political talking points, often filled with half truths and innuendo have taken the place of remembering why they were elected in the first place. Walking the middle and political correctness have taken the place of creating policy based on what's just and right. As dad used to say, there's not one degree of political risk in being honest with those you serve. Well, today there's a lot of dishonesty and heck of a lot of political liability that goes along with it. There's no working together, no real bipartisanship. Today America has a government none of us should be too proud of. The road we're headed down cannot be navigated by the tools we're using. Today members of opposite parties are simply unable despite their disagreements, able to agree on how to govern. The ways in which our elected representatives are choosing to navigate our government is not working. Without change it is doomed to fail and that my friends benefits none of us.

Life's Beautiful Moments...

2010-10-08T11:14:00.003-05:00

As many of you know I was in Washington, D.C. this past weekend for my 25th high school reunion. On Saturday afternoon I made my way down to Washington Harbor to meet one of my very best friends, Erik Todd Dellums. As I was walking along the waterfront I noticed a beautiful boat with many people having an incredible time. These folks all just happened to be African American.-As I walked by for the second time I decided to say hello and comment on mow much fun they were clearly having.-I said,"Hey, you guys look like your having an incredible time! Don't you need a token white boy on the boat just to even things out?!-They all seemed stunned for a second, but quickly said something to the effect of,"Get your butt on the boat!!-For the next 5 hours I had one of the best times of my life with a group of people I'd never crossed paths with before.-Now, I have just short of a dozen new friends.-The point of this story is simple: No matter how much politicians and special interests may try to divide us, good people will always find good people.-This diverse group welcomed me into a private birthday party for one of their close friends and treated me like they'd known me for a lifetime.-What an incredible moment in time I will not soon forget.

Unbridled Arrogance

2010-09-17T11:05:00.005-05:00

The Republican Party has at its feet, one of the biggest opportunities before them in modern day political history. In spite of themselves and numerous out of touch party leaders, and because of a Democratic party in absolute disarray, the Republican party is poised for a landslide come November.

The apathy, and I think, genuine disgust at status quo politics has the potential to hurt any politician this election cycle with a (D) in front of his name. It will make no difference how much pork you've brought home to your state or district, or how many hands you shake, or babies you kiss, you might as well start packing your bags and looking for that cushy lobbyist job, because come November, your gonna to be out of a job.

You see, in 2008 the American people voted for hope and change, or at least that's what they thought they were voting for. In 2010 they've come to realize they were conned.-The biggest marketing fraud in American presidential election history was perpetrated upon them when many voted for Barack Obama. Now, the jig is up. Say what you will, say what you want, but the facts are very clear. In spite of what he said, Obama has been nothing but a divider, not a uniter. He has allowed Nancy Pelosi and her weak hearted minions to rape and pillage the economic livelihood of Americans.- This man's solution to everything is to spend more money. More good money after bad. Behind every act this president and congress have taken has been an ulterior motive based on arrogance, self centeredness, and 100% pure unadulterated partisanship. In short, one failed plan after another. To date, I've heard of only one democratic member that has the political balls to ask Pelosi to step down. This is the weakest group of individuals I've seen serving in the House of Representative in my lifetime. My father, the late Congressman Marvin Leath is most certainly rolling over in his grave.-To not vote this woman down as speaker is unconscionable. She is the cancer at the core of what's wrong with our political system.

I do not speak these words loosely or callously, with biased disdain for the Democratic party. I speak these words to any member of congress or elected official who refuses to stand up and do what's right for America. We've been cooking the books in this nation for far too long. Now, the time has come to right our ship that is America. She's taking on massive amounts of water and without change of epic proportion, she will surely sink. We can no longer mortgage future generations with massive debt and uncontrollable spending. We can no longer be the worlds policeman and never ending bank account that keeps on giving without anything in return.

Change never comes easy. It takes a strong individual to not become consumed with the unrelenting arrogance and inside the beltway mentality present in so many politicians today. It takes a deep, passionate love for this nation that cannot be embraced or understood by many of today's elected officials. After all, that is why we call it "Public Service". We must elect individuals that are willing to serve and do not have the desire to be career politicians, but politicians who are willing to contribute to sound fiscal and social policy.- Leaders that are not bound by the strings of special interest, and above all are unwilling to compromise when it comes to the values set fourth by the founders and spelled out in the constitution.

The political game playing must be over. Our politicians can no longer play Russian roulette with the livelihoods of the American people. Not being 100% truthful is no longer an option.-Reciting nothing but your parties talking points is no longer an option.-If you don't have the intelligence on your own, to create an inkling of prophetic vision for where this nation needs to go, find a new job, because the American people are poised to terminate you from this one very soon.

The Blackberry Torch Burns Weak

2010-09-15T11:17:00.010-05:00

I should have realized early on that if AT&T had something to do with with the development of the Blackberry Torch (9800) it was destined to be fatally flawed.-The folks at AT&T you see, could screw up a one car funeral.-I spent 28 days with the new Blackberry and although there were moments of brilliance, for the most part the phone bombs, big!

Rumor has it the Torch was in development for three years, which impacts the fact that the phone is so bad, much, much more. It's been no secret that OS 6 has been in development for several years. Since that's the case, why would RIM release it with more bugs than the first generation iPhone?!-This phone had the potential to be great, but instead it's guaranteed to frustrate you more and more with each passing day. Not fixed are the persistent tower switching issues that started with the introduction of the 3G Bold. This was the first incredibly annoying problem that caused me to switch phone loyalties in the first place. In layman's terms the phone can't make up its mind whether it wants to grab hold of a 3G cell or an EDGE cell, thus causing dropped calls for the consumer.-The iPhone at one point had this problem, but was fixed with one brief software update.-No such luck with the Torch.-Several years later and this simple problem of telling the phone which type of tower to prefer is still not fixed.-What a load of crap!

With each passing day the phone seemed to become slower and slower, with more faults being revealed. Every time I took the phone out of standby it would take as long as five seconds for me to be able to navigate to where I wanted to go. It was as if the phone locked up. I began to find myself powering the phone off and on more often, and even taking the battery out to try and fix the problem. To no avail, my hopes of once again becoming a loyal Blackberry user were not meant to be. I'm appalled and offended that RIM and AT&T would think for a second that this phone, with all it's giant flaws and imperfections, would fool anybody! Common sense would dictate that if the software your using is so archaic that it's not capable of evolving to where it needs be in the future you might consider finding a new software platform to operate your phone.-Android comes to mind.-It's not quite there yet, but in a year or so it will be.

The last issue I'm going to discuss, the one that really burns me up, is the fact that RIM, knowing they were coming out with a major software upgrade, apparently did not expeditiously enough make it available to developers. One of my favorite applications for a number of years is Viigo.-Viigo is a great, customizable app for keeping up with news. For those of you that don't know, RIM bought Viigo earlier this year and in spite of that had no Viigo app ready for their new OS.-I think that says it all! It's no secret RIM is a small company, but I think it's long overdue for them to step up hiring if they intend to be a player in the big money smart phone business.

Foe now, don't buy a Torch. If you do, I can almost guarantee, you too will be returning it.

My Roatan

2010-08-23T11:27:00.040-05:00

Roatan Honduras is without a doubt one of the most beautiful, unrefined travel destinations God ever created. Located in the Western Caribbean, a mere 30 miles off the coast of mainland Honduras and a short two hour and twenty minute flight from Houston, Roatan's future is undoubtedly bright.-My 25th trip to Roatan has been no less special than my first. The friendships I've forged over the last four years are stronger than ever and the island I've grown to love has proved to be quite resilient in spite of last years political drama. Keep in mind when visiting Roatan that most of the activity on the island takes place geographically center, west. The east side although incredibly beautiful, is for the most part, undeveloped. West Bay and West End are the most notable areas on the island and the two areas that offer the most lodging and dining choices. There are however, several gems out east.

Getting There

My only choice for direct travel to Roatan is Continental Airlines. Continental was one of the first airlines to believe in the future of Roatan and the first major U.S. based airline to fly non-stop there. I've flown other airlines and taken other routes, but I always come back to my friends at Continental. Not only are their planes the newest but their entire staff understands the true meaning of customer service. You may also reach Roatan via Delta Airlines out of Atlanta or New York and American via Miami. You may also fly Continental via San Pedro Sula, Honduras. There you connect to a usually non-air conditioned twin engine puddle jumper and Roatan will be the second stop. The tickets are substantially cheaper, but for some it will be a real nail biter.

Where to Stay

Compared to the ease of my air travel decision, lodging takes a bit more thought. With no American flagships yet to take up residence on the island, cost and quality are all over the map. For the die hard diver there's Anthony's Key, or Fantasy Island and for the luxury traveler theirs Infinity Bay. Anthony's Key is one of the oldest resort on the island and is geared towards the die hard diver. Fantasy Island, also one of the oldest resorts on the island is in much need of a facelift, but die hard divers love it. Infinity Bay on the other hand, is the finest, newest resort destination that lies on the gorgeous West Bay Beach. With full size kitchens and all the amenities, these condos offer all the comforts of home. Now offering a 50% room discount for a limited time, Infinity Bay is an easy choice. The condos at Infinity are also for sale, but act quickly, there are less than two dozen left! (Contact my good friend Tommy Bauer for info! roatantom@yahoo.com) -Also on West Bay Beach, BananaramaDive. I've stayed there well over a dozen times and for the diver or non-diver there are activities for all ages. They are a Padi Five Star Dive Center.-Also on West Bay Beach, Foster's West Bay, another lodging spot I can recommend with confidence. -There are also numerous places to stay in West End. Here you'll find a more densely populated area with its unpaved roads, multiple dive outfits, and numerous bars and restaurants. If you decide the vibe in West End is more of what your looking for, you might want to check out both Casa Calico and Sueno del Mar Diving Resort. -I would suggest that you utilize the wealth of information and reviews at www.tripadvisor.com to further educate yourself and read reviews about lodging options on Roatan.

Renting a Car

Should you decide to rent a car while on the island, Coral Rent a Car is my only choice. Ive tried almost all of them over the last four years and these guys definitively know how to take care of business. While most all of the rental agencies on the island put a pre-authorization hold that may be up to 5 times of your total estimated rental charges. Coral typically only takes up $500 of your credit line. This type of customer service comes in extremely handy when your trying to travel on a budget. Coral is extremely conscientious of your vacation schedule and offers both pickup and delivery service to your desired location. Local: 8800.8801 or 9643.8178

Eats and Drinks

Dining choices on the island are many, and you will find multiple restaurants that have similar menus. Vintage Pearl, tucked away in the center of West Bay Beach is the only true fine dining restaurant on the island. Offering a prix fixed menu that includes three courses, averaging between $35 to $40 depending on your entree, Vintage Pearl is a must try dining experience. This little restaurant offers disciplined cooking not often seen in such a laid back paradise.-Recently bringing in a new chef, the food at Infinity Bay is better than ever. For those of you without a rental car, Mangiamo Market and Deli, a short walk from West Bay Beach, serves up some of the best deli sandwiches you'll ever have and cooks breakfast sure to please the pickiest eater.-The Blue Marlin in West End is a clean but rustic, open air, on the water dining experience that I also highly recommend. You can enjoy freshly caught twin lobster tails for $29, or the very tasty chicken fried rice for $19. The conch balls are must have appetizer. Foster's West End is another one of my favorite places to dine. With a fresh facelift and new management, Foster's offers great food and beautiful ocean views that will make your meal all the better. The pulled pork sandwich is a must. Also in West End, The Dive Bar and Grill. They may very well serve the best calamari I've ever had.-Tong's Thai in West End offers up some of the finest Thai food you'll have anywhere. The menu is a bit pricey by island standards, but the food makes up for it.-One of my all time favorite places in West End is Sundowners. It's one of the best bars in the world for catching a good sunset. Aaron also serves up some good eats. -Travel on the main road east to French Harbor and you can have the pleasure of dining at one of the newest most hidden gems on the island, The Deck Cafe. Don't let the humble atmosphere fool you, Gary Wanless serves up several items that would rival the best fine dining restaurants in the world. The Pumpkin Soup blew my taste buds out of the water and the home made veggie spring rolls were better than those of P.F. Changs in the states. You may also choose from several unique salads, seafood, tasty sandwiches and several stir fry items. The Deck Cafe has definitely made it into my top five ding establishments on the island. Also in French Harbor with a diverse menu and atmosphere is Gio's Restaurant. -While your on this side of the island make sure you travel a few minutes further east to Eldon's Supermarket. Those of us used to the large grocery stores in the states will feel quite at home here. Be sure to take advantage of the nice selection of imported cheeses, deli meets, wine and liquor selection while your there.-Should you make it this far east more than once on your trip, spend another 45 minutes making your way to Jonesville Bight. Here you'll find one of the most storied restaurants on the island. The Hole in the Wall, only accessible by boat is famous for their Friday and Sunday BBQ. For under $30 till its gone, all you can eat prime beef filet, lobster, shrimp, and all the trimmings.-For those of you that enjoy sushi, I highly suggest a brief fishing trip from West Bay Beach where your likely to catch a yellow fin or black fin tuna. An hour of fishing will cost you under $100.00.-Be sure and take your soy sauce on the boat with you, cause it doesn't get any fresher than that!

Diving and Snorkeling

For the die hard divers here to take advantage of the world's second largest barrier reef system, you will not be disappointed. There are diving companies here for those of you who prefer diving with large groups and there are smaller more specialized outfits that offer a more personalized approach. Whatever dive vibe your looking for, your sure to find it on Roatan. I've dove with West End Divers in West End and BananaramaDive in West Bay. No complaints. I've also heard good things about Atlantic Sea Divers.-If your not the diving type, no worries, a few feet from West Bay Beach you'll find some of the best snorkeling in the world.

Championship Golf

For the die hard golfer who'd like a course with never ending beauty, the Pete Dye designed, Black Pearl at Pristine Bay Resort not only offers one of a kind home sights, and top notch privacy, but a course that's sure to challenge the most skilled golfer. The master planned Pristine Bay sits on 405 pristine acres. The views will take your breath away. Under construction, a beautiful boutique five star hotel, and spa. With approximately 50 acres of forest area, Pristine Bay's eco-reserve is a sanctuary to natures most beautiful flora and fauna. As their website states, Pristine Bay really does captures the essence of Roatan. Chief Operations Officer Luis Toriello and his team have once again outdone themselves. Please feel free to contact me directly if you'd like more information on Pristine Bay.

Real Estate

Roatan has many incredible options available when it comes to real estate investment. Whether your looking for raw land, condominiums, houses, or lots to build on, Roatan's real estate market has something for everyone. The real estate investment opportunities there are what first brought me to the island. With a 4% cap on capital gains and title insurance from American based companies, buying property here makes sense. Quite simply, you can't go wrong buying property on a beautiful island.-Do yourself a favor though and spend enough time on the island to get the information your going to need to make a wise purchase. Educating yourself leaves a lot less room for bad decision making.-Don't sign on with the first real estate agent you meet and make sure you use an attorney that more than one person deems reputable. In general, my experience has been that a reputable real estate companies on the island will be able to offer you all the services you'll need to handle your current and long term real estate needs. Those services will include helping you with incorporation if need be, paying your annual property taxes and even keeping and eye on your property if your an absentee owner. -Feel free to contact me directly and I'll be happy to let you know who I trusted when I bought my property.

Final Thoughts...

Roatan might not be for everyone. I say this because of the many high maintenance travelers I know that would expect a Grand Cayman type experience. In many ways The Bay Islands are in their infancy as far as development goes. There are no Kirk Freeports on Roatan.-No Rolex watches for sale and no deals on fine china. On Roatan you'll have to be satisfied with small, locally owned gift shops and independently owned restaurants. If your one of those people that can't sit still long enough to appreciate the incredible beauty that surrounds you, then Roatan might not be for you.-Although fast paced change is inevitable, for myself and those like minded, we hope the allure of the islands never changes. The vibe one gets almost immediately when visiting Roatan for the first time is one of raw, untouched, majestic beauty that projects a feeling of instant relaxation and tranquility. The Bay Islands in my opinion, have character that is unmatched as far as idyllic Caribbean destinations go. Make the decision to fly to Roatan. I'm betting like me, you'll return time and time again.

**I do not work for any of the businesses or Continental Airlines that I've talked about above, nor am I receiving any type of compensation.-My comments are based on my own personal experiences and will hopefully make your trip to Roatan more enjoyable.

All photos were taken by Thomas Leath

AT&T Iphone 4 Mayhem

2010-06-15T13:21:00.002-05:00

You might think that after three previous iPhone launches AT&T would have streamlined their online ordering system so that it could handle massive amounts of traffic. Well, guess what? The iPhone 4 pre-launch is filled with just as much mayhem and confusion as launch one was. Perhaps even More.

Within minutes of adding the iPhone 4 to its online store this morning, AT&T's website slowed to a crawl. Within an hour you could forget about pre-ordering your iPhone 4. The system load was so bad that it brought their entire system to a standstill. Within their retail stores the overload was so bad that it crippled their operating system and left them unable to assist customers. Forget ordering an iPhone 4, store representatives could not even open new accounts for non iPhone loyalists. A source told me that by noon a company wide email had bent sent out instructing stores to immediately STOP taking iPhone 4 orders. Are you kidding me?!

I've been an AT&T customer for many years, so let's cut to the chase. There is absolutely no excuse for the powers at be at AT&T to be so incredibly unprepared for the launch of the fourth iPhone. This is not their first rodeo! They have had years to reprise, revamp, upgrade, check and re-check their systems to make sure the chaos and mayhem that ensued today never happened. Today, AT&T screwed the pooch, big time! They brought business in their stores to a standstill, and the very online systems that should have been in place to ease the burden of the retail stores, failed. The result in my opinion should be considered a catastrophic failure of organization and planning and should result in numerous forced job losses at the highest levels. There is no discernible excuse for this, to say the least, system implosion. They have cost themselves many sales today and have endeared themselves no one, least of all the loyal customers that have been putting up with their repeated failures and shortcomings for years and years.

Well, long story short, they just don't get it. The boneheads in upper management at AT&T clearly do not know the first thing about customer service or the incompetency in which "WE" the customer view many of their operational decisions. They must become intimately familiar and learn what the term 'Customer Loyalty" means. The iPhone will forever not be their meal ticket. When that day comes and Apple is loyal no more, AT&T may possibly drop to the lowest customer retention rate of all U.S. wireless carriers. For that, they will have only themselves to blame.

Health Care Reform NO Matter What

2010-02-28T14:51:00.024-06:00

The quest and planning of extreme health care reform by the democrats has now been in full force since long before President Obama took office. Through one misstep after another, no matter what the cost to America, the democratic party is determined to force through dramatic reform that somehow keeps in line with their legislative agenda. The President has made it clear that he will use a process called reconciliation, if need be. Although republicans used reconciliation numerous times over the last decade, this will be the first time a president has used the rule to enact such a massive program that has created so much divisiveness throughout our country.

Most Americans agree that our health care system has numerous issues that need to be addressed. We have problems and shortcomings going back decades that need to be refined, fixed, modernized, or done away with all together. We desperately need to fix our broken, often unfair and sometimes discriminatory health care system. Sadly, the democrats unrelenting, arrogant approach is going to get them much less than they could have, had they just been willing to put first things first. That would have meant putting America first and staying focused on real economic growth, something the democrats up to now have not been willing to do.

Let's try and put this absolute debacle created by the democratic party in perspective. In 2008, then candidate Obama promised to be a leader, a uniter, not one to stand back and let others do his bidding for him. Today, the facts are that he has done the polar opposite of this, since being elected. He has allowed Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to have a free-for-all when it's come to HIS legislative policy initiatives. Their hubris has created political divisiveness that may very well cost the president a great majority of his legislative agenda and re-election in 2012. Again, as previously stated in my blog of January 18th, by allowing Pelosi and Reid to be his unbridled mouthpiece, the president has lost much of the respect he worked so hard to get.

Can you see where I'm headed here? It's arguable that the president's stimulus package has not worked, our economy is in shambles. Well over 50 million Americans are not collecting a paycheck and Americans continue to lose their jobs. We are headed for another round of mortgage defaults. Small business owners are not able to get loans to save their businesses despite the president's continued assurances that funds are available. The meager tax breaks the democrats are offering will not be enough to spur hiring that leads to long term job creation. We have yet to acknowledge the upcoming crisis in the commercial loan sector that has the potential to dwarf residential loan failures by trillions of dollars. Additionally, we have yet to deal with the reality that more than 500 banks could possibly fail this year.

In spite of all the economic issues we are currently dealing with and the eminent ones yet to be dealt with, the democratic party is determined to put health care reform above lasting economic reform, with careless disregard. They do this being well aware that they are prolonging real economic recovery and in the process jeopardizing their own political futures. This makes no sense politically and there's nothing whatsoever commonsensical about it. I would equate this line of thinking to walking off a cliff without being pushed. It's political suicide.

Many of my friends that lean left believe if the democrats don't pass something, their losses in November will be far worse. I personally believe either way they are damned if they do, damned if they don't. They have only themselves to blame for this. The American people fully expected and believed they elected a president who would put them first, put jobs first. As I've stated many times before, the man voted for and the man as president have turned out to be two entirely different people. Quite sinply, Barack Obama was the biggest marketing fraud perpetrated on the American people in presidential campaign history. Show me I'm wrong, please...

That Love Thing

2010-01-31T21:23:00.007-06:00

What the heck is love? It seems to be different for all of us. Wars have been fought over it and empires lost because of it. For me it was much different at 21 than it was at 40. Most everything I thought love was at 16 was much different at 26 and so on. People love each other for different, sometimes inexplicable reasons. Sometimes for all the wrong reasons.

At 42, single and never married, my parameters for a possible mate are night and day from what they were 20 years ago. Did I in my wildest dreams think I'd be single at 42? In a word, NO. I could have certainly married the wrong person, more than once. That's easy. I've seen my friends do it over and over again. Nope, I'm resound to the fact that marriage is in God's time not my time. This approach takes a great deal of the pressure off and really keeps me from wondering if my singleness is definite.

I would have to say that I enjoyed love much more at 40 than I did at 21. Why is that you might ask? Well, first of all I was a train wreck at 21. I wasn't even close to being ready to settle down then, much less in the financial position to take care of a wife. Heck, I'd a screwed up a one car funeral at 21! My concept of love was all out of whack too. Physical appearance often took precedence over personality, unless cup size was considered personality! I was self centered and it was all about me, and then some!

Don't get me wrong, love isn't necessarily easier at 40. It's tough at any age, and it never gets any easier along the way. The older we get the more baggage we sometimes accumulate and this in itself can rip a relationship to shreds. Being hurt never gets easier to deal with either. If it does I'd suggest you spend some time with a good counselor. It can get real old pulling around a steamer trunk full of baggage. It's very tiresome too! None of us are so perfect we couldn't use a little therapy from time to time. A little brain overhaul is sometimes just what the body needs. You see, I learned a long time ago that if my heart isn't emotionally available, the most amazing woman in the world could set down right in front of me and she'd look no different than any other woman. That's a bad place to be.

It's no secret to my close friends that I come from a very dysfunctional family. We fooled a lot of people for a lot of years, but sooner or later it all fell apart. That's just life, unless your willing to do what it takes to break that cycle. That's when one decides to get real and feel your feelings. For many men this can be the hardest thing they ever attempt to do. It's a real gut check. Many of the most financially successful men I know have yet to learn how to feel their feelings and be emotionally available for their wives. I'm here to tell you guys, there is nothing wrong with a man having a tender heart. You are not less of a man, or somehow weak. Don't get me wrong, it's not always easy being a masculine man and having a tender heart. It requires knowing your inner self, inner child, and not having fear when it comes to letting a woman know who you are. You can only mask who you are for so long. Your only long term choice in having a successful love relationship is to keep it real. She will find out who the real you is sooner or later.

The Christian Bible says some really good things about love. Over the years those words have become much more of a barometer in my love life. The Bible says that a man and a woman are better together. For me that says that a whole is better than a half. Two halves make a whole. We are better together. The Bible also says love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, is not proud. It is not rude, and not easily angered. And one of the most important things for me is that love keeps no record of wrongs. Love always protects, always trusts, hopes, and perseveres. Love never fails. In short, Love is a lot to live up to.

We've all had friends that have been in love like 47 times. The wind blows a certain way and they're in love. That's not love. I think this boils down to liking the concept of love, and having to have it, but never really knowing what it is. For some people it's due to issues not dealt with in ones life. Love becomes a way to postpone the locked up pain a person is inevitably going to have to deal with one day, one way or another. This type of pattern only serves as a way to avoid dealing with unresolved issues in your own heart. Sadly, the pain will force you to deal with these issues sooner or later. Money and fame are two other factors that can help you put it on the back burner for many years, but one day you will wake up and wonder just how much you've missed out on, realize how much of life you've let pass you by.

I'm far from having all the answers, but I love to get philosophical about love. Because when it's right, for all the right reasons, and all the stars are in alignment, there is nothing better than love. It brings a type of joy to my life that is more special than I can imagine. And for some of us that were robbed of our joy during much of our childhood, it's all the more special.

Myself, I've only been in love a handful of times. The last time was several years ago. I thought without question she was the one. Sadly, I think timing and circumstance were less than perfect and put us quite a bit behind the eight ball. That timing thing will get you every time if your not careful. This aside, she was such a blessing to my life. When I was with her it seemed like time stopped. She could walk in the room and I'd light up like a Christmas tree. I was a better person with her in my life. She reminded me of what's most important in this world.-We were better together.

For most couples love is constantly changing as time goes by. My mother told me a number of years ago that after many years of marriage not to expect to have that crazy romantic love you feel for one another early on in a love relationship. I've always thought what a shame that would be. At the same time age has taught me the importance of a strong friendship when your in love. There has got to be a connection between two people that connects their hearts in a way that is timeless. It's fairly clear to me that this is one of the only things that will get you through the tough times. Couples use sex, money, other people to try and keep love alive. Sure, those types of things will work for a while, but you are only fooling yourself. They will not keep you together.

When its right, what's better than love? Is there any feeling in life that can take the place of the joy in your heart that genuine love brings? I don't think so. As convoluted as people sometimes let love become, when our mind, body and spirit are unencumbered and our hearts are emotionally available, there truly is nothing more amazing than being able to say, I Love You.

The Self Destruction of a Mandate

2010-01-18T19:45:00.004-06:00

During the presidential campaign of 2008 one of then candidate Obama’s biggest mandates was health care reform. Today, on the one-year anniversary of his presidency it threatens to all but destroy his credibility and his political agenda. The greatest marketing of a political candidate in history has left him unable to measure up to the image created. The hope and change mandate that took him to the White House, a central theme of his campaign has been redefined as: Is this the hope and change you were looking for?

In modern political history I cannot remember a time where democrats and republicans have been so polarized.-A time when their disdain for one another took precedence over the greater good for America.-A time when one party was willing to push their own agenda NO matter the cost or damage they would bring to their political future.

We as Americans are not against reforming the health care system. We are against the back room deals and underhanded dealings that have led to health care reform being maliciously shoved down our throats. We are frustrated by a President that has let his minions, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid run amuck with arrogance and disdain, far from what the American people expect from their elected public servants.

Our nation’s economy is by far the most pressing issue facing the American people today, not health care reform. With real unemployment estimates over 17%, foreclosures still at all time highs, and the threat of a commercial real estate collapse looming on the horizon, Americans are extremely resentful of this deception filled game the democratic party has decided to play.

I don’t know about you, but I’m fairly sure the cost benefit analysis for any reasonable democrat should have dictated some time ago that it’s time to change course. Our approach isn’t working comes to mind. Instead, the President agrees to special exemptions for union members, the House and Senate are trying to find a way to pass health care reform should Brown win in Massachusetts tomorrow. They’ll do this by convincing the house to accept the senate version or postpone as long as they can Brown being sworn in. Political suicide in my mind. Again, these are the same back door dealings that have led the democrats down the road to Brown on the verge of winning Kennedy’s cherished senate seat to begin with.

I firmly believe if the President would have taken the leadership role he should have, the democrats would be in a much stronger position going into the November elections. All he had to do is come out and tell the American people he was pulling the plug on health care reform. He’s pulling the plug because it’s too important to not get it right, and because there’s nothing more pressing in the foreseeable future than the economy. Had he of taken this sort of leadership position, I think the American people would have responded by lifting the President’s approval numbers 20 points over night. It would give him back much of his lost political capital. After all, he was elected to be a leader, not a follower.

Sadly, for all involved, this group of democrats does not understand what one of their own once said: There is no political liability in being honest. They will stay THEIR course. It will cost them Massachusetts and will be the beginning of the quickest modern day political reversal we’ve ever seen, to be followed by major losses in November. President Obama in all likelihood will reach lame duck status quicker than any president before him. Members of his own party will begin to distance themselves from him. The course of his presidency will be forever changed. Not quite the hope and change mandate that got him elected, and it certainly won't keep him in the White House.