What is new in our lives? I don’t care for when a red truck rams our bedroom wall. I am really tired of packing and unpacking. Hopefully, this last one was the last time.

What have I been doing all this time? I’ve been really busy getting more information to write about. There are joys of painting, carpet laying, more medical information to share on things like HIPAA, other medical things that make you scratch your head, funny kid stuff, amazement at the lack of common sense in some, and other general stuff.

Also, you know who your friends are during tough times. Those who are cruel or fake being nice really bare their fangs and attack even more. Those who are buang or walay batasan really show it.

Other things I have done is developed a dislike of the Bee Bomb plant. It is a pretty but evil plant. Speaking of plants, we now have enough space indoors to have plants everywhere inside. I may not be able to enjoy the warmth of the Philippines here but having a tropical jungle indoors is close enough for me. More lucky bamboo and papaya plant please haha!

You’ll get some photos of those in the future to track how they grow. You’ll also be seeing other samples of my photography collection. If you are looking for personal photos of my family and I, you won’t find them. Gotta stay away from paparazzi haha feeling noh?

I know some of you are wanting more personal details of my life. So I’ll give you more inside information right now.

I’m still no closer to being 6 feet tall. I still have black hair. I now live in a place that is colder. Anyone who tells me global warming is true is going to get a virtual kick in the rear to wake them up. Letsugas, It’s going to snow tomorrow!! It isn’t even the middle of October yet!

Oh, you probably wanted even more details than that. Well, I will share them with you. Are you ready? Okay, here it is…

Call me at home. If you don’t have my phone number, then there is a reason for that.

If you really, really, really want a phone number to call, then give a call to this number (323-281-9412) and I’ll get back to you.

Ahh life is beautiful! Enjoy your weekend!

Live well and make it a great day,

Anah

The foreclosures and the pain is not stopping any time soon. It will get worse and the prices of homes have to keep on dropping. The first wave of foreclosures were the speculators who invested in housing in hopes of getting their money back. When the spiral down started, they were left holding the bill and defaulted. The second wave are those who were given loans they never should have been given. We can thank the USA federal government for screwing it up. But now is the Coming 3rd Wave of Foreclosures. What are they? The third wave are the victims of the rapidly growing unemployment issue.

Currently, the USA unemployment rate is considered to be 9.4% on the conservative side. As this article delves into, a more realistic number is 16.4% when everything is factored in. I have seen or heard of many hard hit in this area between my two jobs (one virtual, one at the office). They just can’t pay all the bills. To make matters worse, the mixed and chaotic messages coming out of Washington D.C. are paralyzing the business field. Businesses have to plan for the future through yearly budgets and long term projections. They can’t when threats are of increasing taxes, greater burdens of health care coverage costs, and the lethal Cap & Trade. Quite simply, they have to err on the side of caution to maintain a profit margin. That means terminating employees or not expanding. Sure a few companies are expanding but many are forced to shrink or sit in a wait and see pattern.

One thing that has to be pointed out is the likely 4th wave of foreclosures if the Cap & Trade massive tax increase goes through. Some reports say it will cost each household $3,000 to $8,000 more each year because of the increased costs of everything. Also remember, tax credits do not equal cash in pocket. What it will do is push many couples or household living on the financial edge over the edge despite their employment status.

This doesn’t cover America’s Retirement Crisis that is getting worse with all of this government intervention into the private sector. Those investors that are demeaned by the President and media are often those in charge of the pension plans for companies or public servants. Combine that with the looming Baby Boomer retirements and subsequent downsizing of their homes and you have the making for a major housing mess.

What do I recommend? Be like a wise businessperson. Wait until all of the insanity settles before making a move. We are. I’ll leave you with one more point to ponder. It is based on the Law of Supply & Demand and the excessive spending in the USA of the last 20 years.

Many consumers have figured out a basic principle in money management. Don’t spend more than you have. Live within your means. For too long, many in the USA lived life by digging in debt. It is time to pay the bills. The nation will be better when the politicians figure that out as well.

Thanks for reading!

Live Well and make it a great day,

Anah

I am not one bit impressed. I am actually rather in awe of the pathetic display by those over this fossil:

The fossil is an impressive fossil from the standpoint of how complete it is. The real debate going on is how the fossil will be classified by scientists. Those proclaiming it to be “The Missing Link” say it is a lemur-monkey. Others say it is just a kind of lemur. What is disclosed is this lemur is an immature female. In human years, it would be the equivalent of a 6 year old. This lemur is projected to be about 9 months old before it got squished like Scrat in the opening of Ice Age. However, lemurs do not mature until 2.5 to 3 years of age.

Here is the greatest problem these brilliant scientists have overlooked. All they have is a dead animal. There is no proof the animal had offspring much less offspring that were different from it. No one was there to observe it. No observation means the first step of science has not been met. But the observation that this is an immature female carries with it an even bigger whammy. Even if evolution could be true (easily disproven), we know this dead animal didn’t get old enough to have kids. No offspring means the line ended when this little lady got squished. This can’t possibly be any kind of a “missing link.” They’ll need a different mature skeleton to even try to make an argument. Even then, it is impossible to determine if the dead animal had kids much less kids different than itself.

The best question that I can see that comes out of this is based on the lemur itself. It was found in Germany. Most lemurs are found on Madagascar and the surrounding islands. What was it doing in Germany?

I think I can try to guess at that with the same skill level as these so-called scientists. I think she tried to escape from the antics of King Julian.

Who am I to say all of this? I’m just someone who isn’t dumbstruck enough by a science fiction story to be able to understand 2+2 still equals 4.

Recorded history only goes back 5000 years. Before that, we have no recordings of any observations. Step one of the scientific method is observation. No one was there to observe this lemur getting squished. If they were, they didn’t write it down on something we found. Science ended before this pure speculation began.

Still don’t like what I wrote? Then please answer this question: What is the difference between Science and Science Fiction?

So what the heck are all of them?

An Arborist is a person who has been trained to take care of plants and trees. In the Philippines, this is just part of life in the provinces. You learn how to tend to the plants and trees from others who have the knowledge. But as I asked around, there is much more to the certification than just information.

But first, what is Ornamental Plant Health Care? What is an Ornamental Plant? These are the very pretty plants that really make a garden stand out or catch the eye inside a place in the USA. However, the easiest way of describing many of these plants to the average Filipino is simple. What is exotic in the USA is a common plant or flower that goes in the wild or roadside in the Philippines. So don’t take the local plants for granted, here people take classes on how to keep our wildflowers alive.

So what is Aerial Tree Pruning and Aerial Tree Removal Rigging? The first one is simply trimming the branches on a tree. The second one is setting up and taking down the stuff that can get you high enough to trim the branches. Literally, you have to be trained in Wisconsin to pull this off. In the Philippines, we have a much simpler system. Get a ladder or climb the tree with an axe, machete, and / or a saw and trim. If you are not strong enough, agile enough, or have enough endurance, you get help and then trim. You always need ground support.

So what is an Arborist and why is it a certification? Literally, you have to be certified to trim trees and cut them down in Wisconsin. Why? Because the government felt too many people died in accidents related to trimming trees or cutting them down, they felt they needed to protect the people from their poor decision making and general clumsiness. So of course, they have to make cutting a tree more difficult.

What the Philippines has in abundance on this topic is common sense. If you can’t do it, you get help. If you can’t do it, do it anyways, and get hurt, you should have known better.

Live Well and make it a great day!

Anah

And You Thought You Had a Bad Day? — Watch this Incredibly Inspiring Video

No matter who you are, there are moments when you will feel the world is too much — days when you want to pull up the covers and half-sleep in bed until nightfall.

This is normal. It’s an integral part of building anything remarkable, whether a business, a relationship, or a life. Expanding your sphere of comfort and abilities comes with a cost: repeated self-doubt.

The above video may put things in perspective. In your moments of self-doubt, watch it and meditate on all of the things you’ve done that you once considering impossible.

Get back up. Bigger and better things are waiting for you.

Next…

Most Amazing Rendition of Stand By Me You Have Ever Heard

From the award-winning documentary, “Playing For Change: Peace Through Music,” comes the first of many “songs around the world” being released independently. This amazing version of “Stand by Me” brought a smile to my face, and I hope it will do the same for you.

Watch it from beginning to end—you won’t regret it. This cover of Stand By Me was recorded by completely unknown artists in a street virtual studio all around the world!

It all started with a base track—vocals and guitar—recorded on the streets of Santa Monica, California, by a street musician named Roger Ridley. The base track was then taken to New Orleans, Louisiana, where Grandpa Elliott—a blind singer from the French Quarter—added vocals and harmonica while listening to Ridley’s base track on headphones. In the same city, Washboard Chaz’s added metal percussions.

From there, it just gets better and better: The producers took the resulting mix all through Europe, Africa, and South America, adding new tracks with multiple instruments and vocals, which were assembled into this final final version — all done with a simple laptop and some microphones. Amazing!

Thank you,

Anah

credits from edmunds.com

I know, I know. It has been a long time since I last updated my blog. Have I given up on my blog? Nope. What has been going on? Keep reading.

1. I’m really sick of moving. But after a long, drawn out distance move that is highly beneficial we are down to unpacking the last box. If you are curious as to what “highly beneficial” means, email (nyo ak0) me directly.

2. I have successfully defeated an evil virus that infected my computer. However, the cure was as bad as the disease and I lost access to all programs that had Microsoft in the title. Given the age of the computer and additional tech issues, it was time to upgrade.

3. I finally have this new computer up and running with everything needed for blogging and daily life.

4. I hope winter has finally ended and spring has begun.

5. I will be disabling comments on my blog as the ignorant trolls and spammers have returned.

6. I have given the new occupants of the White House enough time to show what we can expect. My assessment is Barack and Michelle are making Ferdinand and Imelda, along with Gloria, look like the most superior national leaders in the history of the world.

7. My assessment of the current batch in the US Congress is they are doing an excellent job of making the current Philippine legislature look like the equivalent of Senators of Rome when the empire was at its peak.

8. If you are a troll who doesn’t understand that comparison, you might want to brush up on your world history and current world events from the perspectives of others and not just your little world as defined by you. Degrees are not required to read and learn. But then I might be overestimating the reading comprehension of trolls as evidenced by the posts the are trying to leave.

9. Here is a concept for those trolls to chew on. Try reading the US Constitution and the words of the Founding Fathers, particularly James Madison who is the author of it. Try focusing on Article 1, Sections 8 & 9 and the 10th Amendment. From there you will find that the bailouts and the “stimulus” bills are not within the power of the US Congress to authorize and spend money on.

Translation: If the State of Virginia wants to build a transit system in Norfolk, Virginia, then it is up to the government of Virginia to generate the funds for such projects for Virginia. It isn’t the responsibility of Hawaii, Alaska, or Wisconsin to fund it from a loan against the future earnings of our children for your selfish wants. Also, if you want to try and justify a rationale for you, the citizen, being derelict in your duties of holding your elected officials responsible for their oath of office which is to support and defend the Constitution, it won’t work on me. Selfishness is one of the core causes of many problems in the USA. How do I know this stuff about USA History? My daughter’s 2nd grade curriculum is the answer. This isn’t rocket science.

10. Declaring that I am prejudiced, biased, racist, or need American Values, demonstrates a profound lack of knowledge of the English language and logic. All you are saying is the 4-yr-old playground logic of “I’m right, you’re wrong because I said so. If you don’t agree with me, then you are bad.” i.e. You are trying to be a bully. I kick bullies where it counts. Do I have a “bias” or a “prejudice”? Yes, I do. I expect the elected officials to honor their oath of office and support the Rule of Law and not the whims and feelings of the mood of the day. The Laws, those enforcing them, and those obeying them should be relatively easy to predict and follow. What they shouldn’t resemble is a woman during PMS yelling at her hubby for chocolate one moment and mango encrusted tilapiang isda (fish) the next.

11. Now trolls – Here is your reading comprehension test. Feel free to leave comments.

Salamat po sa pag basa,

Anah

I have been told twice that “You are in America, so you should adopt American values.” However, they never define what those values are. So that is my challenge to any natural-born citizen of the USA. What are the supposed values of a citizen of the USA? (Guess this means Obama is ruled out from answering the question.)

What I will readily agree with is any immigrant should adapt to the primary language of the country they are moving too. The USA speaks English. It is incredibly arrogant to expect the natural-born citizens to speak the language of someone else when it is the choice of the immigrant to go to that nation. I am an ESL. I also work at a call center and I find it incredibly rude for a caller to demand “I want Spanish.” I work in a company that speaks English. The company is in the USA that speaks English. If you want to do business with us, speak English. If I went to Quebec or France, I would have to adapt to speaking French. If I went to Mexico or Spain, then I’m speaking Spanish.

I will also readily agree that a person needs to adapt to environmental issues, the laws, and the general culture of the area you have chosen to live in. Again, it is arrogant to expect others who live there to bend to your desires. As the immigrant whether it is from another nation or another city, you adapt to the cultural norms, don’t move there, or shut your mouth. What are the norms of the general culture? You obey the traffic laws, you be kind to others as they are to you, courtesy on the road, in the stores, etc. But none of this is any different than if I was visiting a friend’s house. Their house, their rules and I respect them or don’t visit.

But when you visit your friend’s house, you do not automatically change your values that define who you are to match the values of your friend. So what does moving to a different country have to do with changing your values? I ask this question..

“whose values are the example of “American values?”

Am I supposed to change my values to match those of a Democrat, Independent, or Republican? Should they match the values of Lance Armstrong, Brett Favre, or Michael Jordan? Am I supposed to use Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Ronald Reagan, or Bill Clinton as my role model?

Am I supposed to have a sound work ethic devoted to expecting to earn my wage or have a belief I should sit on my rear at home and be paid by others so I can count the number of hairs in my armpit? Whose values am I supposed to have? I would assume those, who say that ignorant line, believe I should adapt to their values as to what they think is right.

If that is the case, then I have yet another question. Why should I adopt their values as mine as opposed to adopting my husband’s values? I married him, not those spewing such ignorant babble. If one of those types of individuals is reading this, I will refer you to the Bill of No Rights, Article II.

“ARTICLE II — You do not have the right to never be offended.”

Translation: This country is based on freedom. It means freedom for everyone, not just you. If you do not like what I write, you have several choices. You can choose to never visit my website again, don’t read what I’m writing, or the best one is if you are getting upset about what I’m writing – Get a life and join the real world. Heck, try knitting. I hear it can be relaxing.

Until that time, values are what define each of us as individuals. My values say that I should be respectful and honor my parents and parent-in-laws and not tolerate garbage from others. I will work hard for my family, my parents, and my parent-in-laws. I will not be an uneducated, lazy, ignorant, professional couch potato aka loser.

Always remember this old “American value” – “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” At least that is what most children were taught.

Thanks for reading,

Anah

Shortly after class, an economics student approaches his economics professor and says, “I don’t understand this stimulus bill. Can you explain it to me?”

The professor replied, “I don’t have any time to explain it at my office, but if you come over to my house on Saturday and help me with my weekend project, I’ll be glad to explain it to you.” The student agreed.

At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the professor’s house. The professor stated that the weekend project involved his backyard pool.

They both went out back to the pool, and the professor handed the student a bucket. Demonstrating with his own bucket, the professor said, “First, go over to the deep end, and fill your bucket with as much water as you can.” The student did as he was instructed.

The professor then continued, “Follow me over to the shallow end, and then dump all the water from your bucket into it.” The student was naturally confused, but did as he was told.

The professor then explained they were going to do this many more times, and began walking back to the deep end of the pool.

The confused student asked, “Excuse me, but why are we doing this?” The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to make the shallow end much deeper.

The student didn’t think the economics professor was serious, but figured that he would find out the real story soon enough.

However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end and the deep end, the student began to become worried that his economics professor had gone mad. The student finally replied, “All we’re doing is wasting valuable time and effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this process is all over, everything will be at the same level it was before, so all you’ll really have accomplished is the destruction of what could have been truly productive action!”

The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile, “Congratulations. You now understand the stimulus bill.”

Thank you,

Anah

The government went on a large spending spree promising retirement incomes and health care to the people for the sake of buying votes. (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid) Then they proceeded to take all of the money from those programs as they didn’t know how to stay within a budget. It didn’t take too long before an entire generation and more did the same thing.

Many individuals in the USA started off their adult life with a student loan. Before that debt is paid, additional bills were added on by running up credit card debt. They get out of college and get their first job and a car loan. When they get married, there are 2 student loans, 2 car loans, and 2-5 credit card debts. So the obvious thing is to get a house with a home loan and a boat with a boat loan. Then to afford the runaway spending, they get a second mortgage on their house for yet another loan. They didn’t notice they were up to their eyeballs in debt.

To make certain everyone had a “fair shake”, the government required all banks go give home loans to those who had no ambition in life, made little for income, and had a track record of not paying their bills. Then they made laws making certain the banks and the mortgage industry couldn’t lower the prices to what the market said they were worth. The banks and the government continued down this foolish path and sold these soon to be bad debts and spread the dumb ideas around to hurt the global economy.

Now, those who had a tendency to not pay their bills didn’t pay their bills when the cost of gas spiked. Due to the geniuses in Congress, they made food more expensive so they could “reduce pollution” when all they did was make it worse. The rest who are in debt up to their eyeballs have now woken up and realized they can’t continue living like that. With companies cutting back so they can survive, people have to cut back to survive as you don’t know when your company is going to get hit.

So what does the “Stimulus” do? About 90% of it is Congress and the President taking the taxpayers’ dollars from this generation and future generations and giving it to their supporters. They are only stimulating their control on power. The remaining portion will make few if any jobs.

If you listen to the media, the government and the media think the “stimulus” will get the citizens spending again. They keep repeating the same phrase. Spend more!! Spend more!! (Katie Couric on tonight’s news broadcast.) The taxpayers are broke. We have to focus on survival because Congress can’t stop spending our money. (Somehow they think $13 a week will get people to buy $20,000 cars and $1000 digital TVs.)

All they are doing is repeating the steps that led to the Great Depression. This is why we study history. We do so to not repeat the bad choices. Government control of economies ALWAYS fails, but you can’t teach the idiots in control that. And they wonder why they have approval ratings reaching single digits.

This is just a summary of all that I’ve written about over the years in the Health & Wealth category. It is painfully obvious to anyone who works hard and tries to pay their bills. But don’t take my word for it. Try these guys regarding the TARP bailout and the so-called “stimulus.”

For some background information, try It Will Get Worse and Stimulus Spelled Out.

The long form of my comments on this “Stimulus” is included in 3 parts below.

No matter what country you may live in, you have likely heard about how the new President and the Democrat controlled Congress was going to save the world and solve all of the world’s problems from the economic issues, environmental issues, and more.

The media is bragging about the $ billion dollar “economic stimulus” that is supposedly needed immediately for the purposes of “saving jobs and saving America’s economy.” They talk non-stop about how it will create jobs for all of the infrastructure projects.

Either they are clueless or lying. Read the bill yourself. The safe conclusion is they aren’t total morons and the President, Congress, and most of the American media is lying through their teeth. It is $1.1-$3.27 trillion dollars and counting in utterly useless spending.

Total amount that can be argued as economic stimulus:
$20 billion for business tax cuts
$40 billion for broadband and electric grid development, airports and clean water projects (better if done by private sector)
$30 billion for roads and bridges,
$9 billion for public transit and
$1 billion for inter-city rail

Add that up and it tops out at $90-$100 billion. (*Note: None of those projects would even start for 3+ years realistically.) So what about the remaining $719 (or whatever the number ends up) billion then?