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I have been tuning in to the Democratic National Convention the last few nights. I didn’t blog about it because nothing really caught my interest until tonight. John Kerry and Bill Clinton both gave speeches, but they weren’t just speeches, they summed up eight years under Bush. Clinton said that we went from record surpluses to an exploding national debt, while Kerry gave a speech that if he had given four years ago, we might not be voting for Obama at all, we might be voting Kerry for a second term.

I have never shied away from the fact that I believe Barrack Obama is the best man for the job. Even when people tell me he is inexperienced, if we look at the experience then George Bush should have made a better president than Bill Clinton. The fact is that he doesn’t, and it isn’t just based on experience that we should look for, it is who the person chooses to have around him and take advice from should be what we take into consideration. Obama knew he was down on foreign policy, so he picked a Vice Presidential Candidate that could help him out with that, Joe Biden. He has said numerous times that while he may not have Hillary Clinton as the Vice President, he would ask Bill Clinton in a heartbeat if he could, to be his VP.

Now I realize that some may ask, if it is who you surround yourself with then doesn’t that mean Obama is a racist since his pastor was from and Obama attended a black seperatist church? My thoughts on this are simple. How can you be racist against a race that your mother and your uncle are a part of? When half of you is part of this race? I realize that it doesn’t excuse him from going to a black separatist church and following Reverend Wright’s teachings, but if you are half black and half white then wouldn’t you feel mixed up in a world where things seem to be just black and white and you don’t fit in anywhere? If we hold this church against him, then we need to hold it against Oprah Winfrey too, who went to the same church for a time.

Obama has a good start, with the Clinton’s fully behind him and Biden by his side, maybe he will play the Clinton card more than Gore did in 2000 so that we can finally gain control of the country again. I am going to close this entry with a quote from John Kerry tonight. Again I say that four years ago had he made such a powerful speech maybe he would be up for reelection, but the sad fact is that we lost then and if we loose again I am leaving this country because there would be no hope for it.

“Years ago when we protested a war, people would weigh in against us saying, “My country, right or wrong.” Our answer? Absolutely, my country, right or wrong. When right, keep it right. When wrong, make it right. Sometimes loving your country demands you must tell the truth to power.”

I have always thought that all stores should accespt credit cards. I understand that they loose money everytime they charge a card, but at the same time they could also charge more for charging, like they did in the old days. I understand that having a merchant account can cost money, but there are ways to get a free merchant account. Imagine a small business taking processing credit cards, simply because they can afford it and it gives convenience to their customers.

I know that if I ever owned a business that required a store front then I would want to be able to accept credit cards. I know that I never have cash on me, and going to an ATM that charges a fee can be annoying, but if you raise the prices to cover the cost of the charge, or even just charge a $2.00 fee when using a card would be more then sufficient fee for convenience. How many times do you have enough cash on you? Personally I prefer charge over cash, I don’t handle cash with what I do, everything goes through electronically so having cash for me personally is a pain since I need to go to an ATM, so if I ran a store why wouldn’t I have a credit card machine, especially if I can get a free merchant account?

I went back and forth today with a conservative know it all who just pissed me off. I am going to post what she said and my responses to her.

Her:

why would obama pick hilary? theres so many reasons why he wouldn’t. first lets start off with the fact that hilary wouldn’t want to be second to obama; the clintons already speculated obama wouldn’t win the presidency so hilary wouldn’t want to hurt her chances of running again. Obama wouldn’t pick hilary cause bringing her on board cancels out the ” change DC ” crap he wants to do..

sorry i can’t be friends to a liberal… when you consider liking your country and joining capitalism come talk to me…

Me:

Hillary would be perfect for the change, 2 minorities as the executive branch of the government. Capitalism is crap, why have a government at all, why not just make it where the person with the most money runs the country. If that were the case then we’d have Bill Gates as president. You seem to be against socialism, I take it to assume that since your against it so much you don’t use any socialist ideas like the post office or school? This country is shit and it needs the socialistic aspects to get it on track. Without a government healthcare system you are denying people their basic rights, life. Wire tapping denies the people of liberty, and without a public education you deny them the pursuit of happiness. You want to deny American citizens of the principals that founded this country, you should be ashamed.

Her:

To start, Biden has been the 6th longest sitting senator in the senate, so BOZO where is the change?Capitalism is the best and only way, After all what do think drove Henry Ford, to make the first car, or the Wright Brothers to design and fly the first airplane or man to walk on the moon. Or the eradication of Small Pox or Polio from the face of the earth. Expalin why Africa seeks the help of the US when EBOLI or Aids is a problem over there, I’m tired of you socialist idiots thinking that working class people should have to support these things, example BONO from U2 thinks the US should support Africa with more money for Aids, What about his money I bet he has more than you and I combined. (Really think about it.) But yet your not smart enough to even comprhened that, and if you Hate America,
MOVE OUT. Proven fact socialized healthcare Russia, France , United Kingdom, Canada and Cuba dosesn’t work. Example look Castro, he had to have doctors flown in from spain to take care of his intestines.

So Dumb ass, you just vote for Barrack HUSSEIN Obama and don’t forget Democrats vote on Wednesday!

Me:

First off, I never said Biden was change, Biden won every debate in the primaries, Obama is the change Biden is the experience behind the change. Yes he may be in the senate for a long time but that is why he is second and not first. Fuck the other countries, we need to deal with America first and cut off the other countries, let NATO and the UN take a more active role. How much money did mommy and daddy have growing up anyway that makes you think so narrow mindedly?

Her:

Mr. Intelligent;
If Biden won every debate, why wasn’t he selected as the
Democrat nominee? There is no change in Obama only Bull Shit, do you think that putting the proper amount of air in your tires, should be the energy policy of the US, after all you just watch and see when china starts drilling off the coast of cuba, when they have major oil spill who will clean it up,Do you really think china will? after all they put lead in kids toys, or poision our pets with wheat glutten from china.
And as fact I come from blue collar working class white trash just as you, but the differnece betweeen you and I, I WORKED my Life to get what I have. I didn’t rely on the government to give me handouts such as healthcare, etc.
And by the way do really want Obama and the govenment in charge of your healthcare? After all look at how Social security and medicare, are already handle. You take care and remember it isn’t so hard to leave the U.S. after all you think the grass is greener in socilist countries be a real man and do it.
Your true red blooded american friend

Me:

First off, I never said Biden was change, Biden won every debate in the primaries, Obama is the change Biden is the experience behind the change. Yes he may be in the senate for a long time but that is why he is second and not first. Fuck the other countries, we need to deal with America first and cut off the other countries, let NATO and the UN take a more active role. How much money did mommy and daddy have growing up anyway that makes you think so narrow mindedly?

Her:

The right to bare arms was put in the constitution to stand up to our government. We should have used it when going into Iraq. We should use it to change Social Security and the healthcare system. You say your a true blooded American but on the Statue of Liberty does it not say give us your tired, your poor, your weak, why should we take and help people from other countries when we won’t help our own?

The question asked to Obama was how can I as an individual cut down on the gas used. What Obama responded was true, proper air pressure can. What he should have said was if you get everyone out of the goddamn SUVs and into compact cars it would lower the prices as well, but air pressure can help one man save on gas.

I don’t rely on the government, I don’t even rely on a job, I rely on myself to make the money. The corporate America is a joke, 5 days vacation after being at a company for 3 years? That is bullshit and you know it. It should too be regulated as any full time employee gets a week a year off and unlimited sick days, like other countries.

Her:

whats stopping ya?your wasting time arguing when you could be IMPROVING your life right now instead of complaining in a socialist country SUch as russia and cuba, they would love a man of your intelligence because you seem to know it all. I’m sure CHINA would love to have a guy like you! Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, take care moron!

I hate people like her, so narrowminded, don’t believe the government should help the people out. She contradicted herself so many times, saying shit like capitalism is the way to go yet seeingly okay with the fact that America helps out other countries financially, if America was truly capitalist we wouldn’t do that, we would help those who paid us the most. I wish the conservative bitches and assholes would ask themselves if George Bush, Dick Cheney, and John Mccain really represent them and the America they want to live in.

Obama picked Biden to be his Vice Presidential candidate (or should I say Vice President since Mccain will never be my president?) You picked Biden over Clinton? Hillary was exactly what the campaign was, change. She had the change and she had the experience, and she had her husband, who got us out of trouble after the first Bush. Now I don’t know if Biden will necessarily help Obama in the polls, but I don’t think that he could hurt him much either, after all Biden has experience, so the Mccain ads of Obama has no experience can be thwarted by his second in command does. I think that Obama might still find room for Hillary or Bill in his cabinet or on his campaign, I am just not sure as what yet.

Nothing beats New York City. Living in New York is great because I can easily take a bus or a train in the city like the old times. If I wanted to, I could even drive, it’s only about two hours away without traffic. Something that I am hoping we can do this year, depending on money, is going see the Rockefeller Christmas Tree during Christmas time, and also seeing the store displays. I went to New York a few times during Christmas a few years ago, I saw A Christmas Carol on Broadway, saw the Rockafeller Tree Lighting, and also strolled along Macey’s and the other stores to check out the window displays.

That kind of stuff isn’t on the New York tours, but it is still part of the city, and when it is too cold to visit the Statue of Liberty, then that is the next best thing. I haven’t been to most of the sights in the city. I have gone to a few museums, but never went to the World Trade Center, or the Empire State Building. I never saw the Statue of Liberty, though I have seen the Liberty Science Center. I think one of the next sights I have to check out is the Madame Tussauds wax museum. I have seen some pictures of it online and it looks amazing. I would love to have my picture taken with the wax figures.

Krissy doesn’t really like the city so I have been looking at online travel guides so I can maybe convince her to come into it one day with me and maybe we can go to a museum or something. I know she loves art museums so maybe her being at the Metropolitan Museum of Art will inspire her. The travel guide I was looking at is part of TrustedTours, and you can win a $150 Magellan’s Gift Certificate by signing up for their newsletter. They have good guides, and if you can get something for nothing, then why not take the chance and sign up?

Where did my cash go
Why do I have all these bills
What shall I to do?

That is a haiku that I wrote to describe my money problems. I have no idea when I will get some Debt relief, though I believe I will have more control over things once September starts. Between the site opening up, more clients want things from me, and Krissy working, plus I don’t suspect I will need to put money in my car, I should have some more cash that I can get out of debt quicker than I have been, while maybe having a few amenities that I have gone without, like books and high definition television. Having more green to go around will hopefully mean more fun too, taking days off, going out playing minigolf, finally getting our stuff up here so I can play XBox, anything at this point will be a major improvement, especially if it isn’t traking a huge chunk out of the budget.

Since I am hoping everything will lead to more money come September, I doubt I will need any kind of Debt help, or Debt consolidation. I am not against them for people who absolutely need them, but I don’t think that I need them now, and hopefully I will never need those kinds of services. Ever since I took that Bills IQ test, I have been focused on getting things paid off and trying to make a plan for that and for saving money for retirement. Hopefully it all pans out the way I want.

I can’t believe that it is that time of year to tell everyone about the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk. This year alone, more than 200,000 people from all across the United States will be walking for Alzheimer Awareness.

Did you know that every 71 seconds, someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease? Did you know that Golden Girls favorite, Estelle Getty had it? Based on interviews with other members of the cast, they would visit her and she wouldn’t even recognize any of them, or even know she was on a show called the Golden Girls. How would you feel if someone you cared about didn’t even remember who you were? What if they were to die due to them not remembering you? Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death. I can’t imagine having someone I love not remember me and then shortly after dying from the same disease. I am not one to push causes onto people, but I think this one is worth pushing.

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I like smelling things that some people may consider odd, or even dangerous. I sniff Sharpie markers, and I will linger around a gas station longer than needed, just to get the aroma. Nothing beats the smell of fresh cut grass though, that has to be my favorite smell, and it is all natural. I don’t want to do the work to get the smell, so that is why when I was in Delaware, whenever the landscapers would come I would go out and take deep breaths so I could smell the grass in all its worth. I wonder if people who do landscaping in orange county are the same way. I also wonder if orange county landscaping is a big industry with all the rich people in California, and if any of them go outside to smell the grass after it is first cut.

I have come to the realization that just because Bush has been a horrible president that doesn’t mean we will have a democratic one for the next four years. See Obama is scarey, he is a black man who people believe to be a Muslim, which just isn’t true. Mccain is personable, someone you’d probably want to be friends with, but he is definitely not the kind of guy you want as president. So now you have these 2 people who no one really wants as president (in theory), so who do you vote for? Well considering Mccain is probably going to die of natural causes in the white house, and Obama will probably be assassinated because of all the racism still in this country, the choice comes down to the Vice President. Rumors are that we may know one of them by the end of the week, so let’s keep our eyes out and then maybe we will have a clear winner in the election long before November (even though Obama has been ahead on every poll taken).

Krissy has been working the last few days so I have had the place to myself. I still can’t seem to get work done during the day, I tend to save it for night, but it is still nice having the place to myself. Since she has my car I am limited with where I can go, but I am told I can make it to the library fairly quickly on foot. I might go there after I get my license changed to New York, this way I can get books and have something to read, instead of just watching television. I want to get Stephen Colbert’s I am America and So Can You, but I need to get some bills up here before I can get a library card.

I love New Jersey, I hated it when I lived there, but not living there for over two years, you realize how much stuff there is to do there that other states don’t have. NJ has the most 24 hour diners than any other state, no matter where you are in NJ, at 2 AM you can get a plate of cheese fries, or even a full meal. Also nothing beats NJ in the summer.

Nothing beats going down the shore in NJ. I mean if you live there you can go down for a day trip, or even if you have the cash you can rent a beach house for a few days or all summer if you can. NJ is a great place for a family beach vacation, Bellmar, Point Pleasant, are great, but Wildwood is the most popular among the southern New Jersians, probably because they have the amusement park.

New Jersey amusement parks are also in a league of their own. A lot of the beaches have amusement parks, but Wild Wood is the one of choice when it comes to the southern crowd or even when going on a vacation. I am not sure what it is, but I just know a lot of people prefer Wild Wood over Seaside Heights or Point Pleasant, I guess maybe they have a bigger park, or it is more family oriented.

The economy is horrible right now. Some people blame Bill Clinton, others blame George W. Bush. I think everyone knows who I blame, but putting blame will not help out the economy. I actually don’t think anything can help the economy until the next administration takes office. Even though we cannot do anything to help the economy, there are things that can help us with the economic strain that we feel.

I think the most common and easiest thing that people can do to help with the lightness of their pockets is by clipping and using coupons. Whether you use them at the grocery store, or use them online, they can save you hundreds of dollars a month if you are persistent enough with them. While going to newspapers will help you with the grocery store, it won’t really help you when you are trying to shop online.

When shopping online try Savings, they have a lot of great coupons for sites like New Egg and KMart. Overstock, which also has some incredible deals also provides coupons and discounts at the site, so an Overstock coupon can save you tons of money on items that are already well below what you would pay in a store, which can definitely help when it comes to back to school shopping, or office supplies, or even redecorating your home.