For the last couple of weeks been following the strange big top performance in Washington. Holy Cow what a bunch of self serving, ego inflated, power hungry people we elected to help us as a Nation.
What a mistake we must have made. It does not seem most follow what they hear from their constituents over their "spring break". It seems the only guide being used relates to the ability to beat on their chest and grunt, "look what I did." Who cares what you did if it does not represent what the people who elected you want.
Then we hear the, "it's for the people", give me a break they would not know the "people" if they stumbled over one unless they had a lobbyist name tag on their chest. Possibly they might notice if the name tag said, Democrat or Republican.
The sum of what is happening is captured in a recent article I wrote entitled, We the People of the United States of America - The Arrogance of Congress. It seems we must endure this circus until it can be undone starting in 2010 and thereafter.
That off my chest it's time to find a new bike to ride.
T. C. Simon
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
The Black & White of it All - Motorcycles
Taxes, Health Care, Energy Bill, Stimulus Plan, on and on and on the politico's go with their partisan politics. Let's leave that and go where real people live, on a motorcycle.
Recently I have written a number of articles on motorcycle riding and in most mention the National Motorcycle Safety Foundation in one way or another. People can learn to ride a motorcycle without attending any training. It happens everyday. In some places you have to pay to attend classes, in others states it is free. In either case it will get you up to speed by a plan not by an accident.
I attended MSF training when I started riding many years ago and frankly though the instructions were good, the training complete it was like drinking from a fire hose with the volume of information coming your way. Chance would have it about 12 years later I attended these classes again with a lady friend who wanted to learn to ride. During that session I gained so much more from the experience than I did the first time.
It is easier to understand, to see beyond the words and exercises in understanding the intent than as a newbie. All I can say is it does not matter if you are a new rider or experienced you will gain valuable skills and information from the sessions.
When you are on a bike the world around you is open to all your senses without filters. That is in part what makes riding a wonderful experience. Even in this wonderful world some rain must fall. When it rains your choices are to stay out of the rain or ride regardless of the wet streets.
Someone once told me that if you don't learn to ride in the rain you won't ride much. This is especially true if you like to tour on a motorcycle. Rain gear is part of your equipment much as helmet or boots. There are some things to do, some things not to do when riding in the rain. Learn them and follow them and all will be well and you will be safe. We will discuss this more at another time.
T. C. Simon
Recently I have written a number of articles on motorcycle riding and in most mention the National Motorcycle Safety Foundation in one way or another. People can learn to ride a motorcycle without attending any training. It happens everyday. In some places you have to pay to attend classes, in others states it is free. In either case it will get you up to speed by a plan not by an accident.
I attended MSF training when I started riding many years ago and frankly though the instructions were good, the training complete it was like drinking from a fire hose with the volume of information coming your way. Chance would have it about 12 years later I attended these classes again with a lady friend who wanted to learn to ride. During that session I gained so much more from the experience than I did the first time.
It is easier to understand, to see beyond the words and exercises in understanding the intent than as a newbie. All I can say is it does not matter if you are a new rider or experienced you will gain valuable skills and information from the sessions.
When you are on a bike the world around you is open to all your senses without filters. That is in part what makes riding a wonderful experience. Even in this wonderful world some rain must fall. When it rains your choices are to stay out of the rain or ride regardless of the wet streets.
Someone once told me that if you don't learn to ride in the rain you won't ride much. This is especially true if you like to tour on a motorcycle. Rain gear is part of your equipment much as helmet or boots. There are some things to do, some things not to do when riding in the rain. Learn them and follow them and all will be well and you will be safe. We will discuss this more at another time.
T. C. Simon
Sunday, July 5, 2009
The Black & White of It All -Unemployment Crisis
Last week the unemployment report stated that the unemployment rate reached 9.5%, totaling 12.5 million people out of work. It was with interest I waited to hear the President address the problem hopefully to provide direction to resolve the crisis. What I, what we all heard was support for the House Energy Bill as a long term solution to unemployment.
Disappointment would be a mild reaction to this approach. Some feel the stimulus bill is a salvation of the problem. Unfortunately neither will solve this problem quickly, adequately. The way the money is being used it may never contribute to a solution.
It is further amazing that none of our leaders in either party has reach to the one segment of our economy that could help fix the problem with a solid base, not wishful thinking, and do so quickly.
Based on 2004 census data there are 5,197,440 small business owners in the US employing from 1 - 99 employees, totals 41,837,901 employees. The following are current unemployment facts:
Since we usually carry a 4% unemployment rate the current total is 5.5% over our norm.
This brings the potential of people to enter the workforce at 7,236,842 million.
Current small business employee count is 8 employees on average.
Placing unemployed in the small business workforce would add 1.3 employees to each small business operation.
Cost would be $180,921,050,000 at $25,000 per, Stimulus Package is $787,000,000,000.
Stimulus would still have $606,078,950,000 to spend how they wish and do with it what they do now, whatever that is. What they would not have to do is waste money on unemployment's payments.
There are multiple benefits to providing a job to the unemployed for their own pride and confidence then to the economy. Today we give people money and they save it or pay debt, they do not stimulate the economy due to fear of the future.
Provide them a job and confidence returns that there really is a future and it becomes easier to spend some of their money. We then actually do stimulate the economy at a very low cost compared to the current program.
There are obvious criteria, rules and how to's for such an approach but surely some smart people in our government can develop such. Assuming there are smart people in government desiring to fix a problem instead of benefiting from it.
More on the Black & White of this subject later.
T. C. Simon
Disappointment would be a mild reaction to this approach. Some feel the stimulus bill is a salvation of the problem. Unfortunately neither will solve this problem quickly, adequately. The way the money is being used it may never contribute to a solution.
It is further amazing that none of our leaders in either party has reach to the one segment of our economy that could help fix the problem with a solid base, not wishful thinking, and do so quickly.
Based on 2004 census data there are 5,197,440 small business owners in the US employing from 1 - 99 employees, totals 41,837,901 employees. The following are current unemployment facts:
Since we usually carry a 4% unemployment rate the current total is 5.5% over our norm.
This brings the potential of people to enter the workforce at 7,236,842 million.
Current small business employee count is 8 employees on average.
Placing unemployed in the small business workforce would add 1.3 employees to each small business operation.
Cost would be $180,921,050,000 at $25,000 per, Stimulus Package is $787,000,000,000.
Stimulus would still have $606,078,950,000 to spend how they wish and do with it what they do now, whatever that is. What they would not have to do is waste money on unemployment's payments.
There are multiple benefits to providing a job to the unemployed for their own pride and confidence then to the economy. Today we give people money and they save it or pay debt, they do not stimulate the economy due to fear of the future.
Provide them a job and confidence returns that there really is a future and it becomes easier to spend some of their money. We then actually do stimulate the economy at a very low cost compared to the current program.
There are obvious criteria, rules and how to's for such an approach but surely some smart people in our government can develop such. Assuming there are smart people in government desiring to fix a problem instead of benefiting from it.
More on the Black & White of this subject later.
T. C. Simon
Sunday, June 21, 2009
The Black and White of It All
In spite of all the news swirling around our heads today we still have lives to lead and part of that activity is doing the things that let us live. For me part of living is doing the things I enjoy and sharing those things.
Shortly an article will surface on the 5 Most Significant Events in Becoming a Private Pilot which is a high level, narrow view of the steps I took to have the government say I could fly a plane. That was a long process enjoyed better now then when it was happening but also containing nuggets of gold along the way.
Additionally, a brief look at How Do I Learn to Ride a Motorcycle is in the works focusing on a few main concepts important to safely operate a bike. Not a word about helmets in this article, maybe later.
If you have any thoughts about topics you would like posted here for discussion please feel free to bring those up. We will give them a go.
Shortly an article will surface on the 5 Most Significant Events in Becoming a Private Pilot which is a high level, narrow view of the steps I took to have the government say I could fly a plane. That was a long process enjoyed better now then when it was happening but also containing nuggets of gold along the way.
Additionally, a brief look at How Do I Learn to Ride a Motorcycle is in the works focusing on a few main concepts important to safely operate a bike. Not a word about helmets in this article, maybe later.
If you have any thoughts about topics you would like posted here for discussion please feel free to bring those up. We will give them a go.
Monday, June 15, 2009
The Black and White of it All
We will spend time discussing topics of interest to me or if you have some let's get into those as well.
I am still rumbling around on the GM and UAW failure leading to the bankruptcy of General Motors. My original thoughts are available on the blog link to the article, "Magic, Pixie Dust and the Mirror of Truth" at IdeaMarketers. That article started the thought process but just did not take the parallel to our current situation far enough.
The in process article, "What's the Black and White of it All" takes this symbolic gesture a step further as we examine the similarities of the GM/UAW debacle and our current national programs and our debt. Is the same path trod by the two adversaries in this bankruptcy being joined by two new adversaries? Let's get to the Black and White of it all.
T. C. Simon
I am still rumbling around on the GM and UAW failure leading to the bankruptcy of General Motors. My original thoughts are available on the blog link to the article, "Magic, Pixie Dust and the Mirror of Truth" at IdeaMarketers. That article started the thought process but just did not take the parallel to our current situation far enough.
The in process article, "What's the Black and White of it All" takes this symbolic gesture a step further as we examine the similarities of the GM/UAW debacle and our current national programs and our debt. Is the same path trod by the two adversaries in this bankruptcy being joined by two new adversaries? Let's get to the Black and White of it all.
T. C. Simon
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