I started thinking about why I like country music and doing this show so much, and here's what I came up with, y'all.

"I like country music because it's about the things in life that really matter. It ain't about braggin' about how you're gonna mess somebody up, or how somebody ain't respectin' ya. It's about love, family, friends -- with a few beers, a cheap woman and a two-timin' man thrown in for spice. It doesn't take political sides, even with things as ugly as war. Instead, it celebrates the brave men and women who go to fight 'em, the price they pay to do it and the longin' we have for them to return home to the ones that they love.

"It's about kids and how there ain't nothin' like 'em. I get tired of hearin' about how bad kids are today, because there are a lot of great kids out there that just need somebody to love 'em and believe in 'em. Country folks love their kids and they will jack you up if you try to mess with 'em!

"People in country music don't forget the people that allow them to do what they do for a livin'. They sign autographs and they take pictures with the fans because they know without 'em most of us entertainers would be gettin' a lot dirtier in the course of our workday. We are thankful that people want to hear the songs and the jokes that we write. Country music doesn't have to be politically correct. We sing about God because we believe in Him. We are not trying to offend anybody, but the evidence that we have seen of Him in our small little lives trumps your opinion about whether or not He exists.

"We love country music because it touches us where we live. It's about mommas, and when they were hot, and when they are unappreciated, and when they were dyin'. It's about daddies and the difficulties they have sometimes at tellin' the people that they work so hard to protect and provide for how they feel about 'em.

"Country music is about new love and it's about old love. It's about gettin' drunk and gettin' sober. It's about leavin' and it's about comin' home. It's real music sung by real people for real people, the people that make up the backbone of this country. You can call us rednecks if you want. We're not offended, 'cause we know what we're all about. We get up and go to work, we get up and go to church, and we get up and go to war when necessary.

"All we ask for is a few songs to carry us along the way, and that's why I love this show, because it ain't some self-important Hollywood hype with the winners determined by somebody else. On this show, you decide who goes home with a trophy and you get to dance and sing along with the people that bring you the songs of your life."

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:nUdbtGs2zm8J:www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1821089/posts+jeff+foxworthy+god&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us

I WROTE THIS  MARCH 18, 2006 WHILE I WAS WORKING IN BATON ROUGE.  I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD PUT IT HERE.

I was out for a nice ride around Baton Rouge this evening. I went by the Dealer in Denham Springs, CALMES MOTORSPORTS. It was a nice shop, not flashy. They had maybe 10 vics and maybe as many each of Suzukis and Kawas.

There was a black woman there with her 15 yo daughter. The mom was looking at buying a cruiser. She was looking at a 250 Suzi and a 650 Suzi. I butted in and asked her if she had taken the MSF course. She was going to but hadn't yet.

I related the story of Etta starting with the Savage and graduating to an 800 Suzi then to her 01 SC. She was taller than Etta and I suggested she sit on the Vegas too. She really liked it. Both the salesman and I recommended she wait until she takes her class, then decide what bike to buy. I told her I had never been in that dealership before, but they seemed like a good place to shop. She thought I worked there.

So I drove west over the Mississippi and enjoyed the cool late afternoon weather.

I get within 1/2 mile of my hotel, so I stop to fill up. I get on the street, I am in the right hand lane of a 3 lane one way boulevard. I only go about a block, so I couldn't have been going more than 30? Anyway, a cop walks across the road from the left lane, stopping traffic as he does. The middle lane has a moving truck in it, so I can't see him and he can't see me....until I am right on top of the guy.

So all I see as I come to the front of the truck is a cop walking right out in front of me as I am going 30 mph.

So instinctively I grab the front brake, move slightly to the right...and slip right into a wide joint in the road running parallel to my direction of travel. My tires lose traction...and I go down on my left side.

Luckily I have a crash bar. It bent back, driving the spring-loaded floorboards, but not hurting them. The left turnsignal is bent back. Will need to replace, I think.

I hit the ground pretty dang hard, scraped the skin off my left elbow and my left knee (through the bluejeans). My left elbow, knee and hip are pretty sore. And the thumb on my right hand is sprained. My head hit the street, but I had that shorty helmet on, so it was ok. It did come off though.

SO the guy helps me up, asks if I need an ambulance, I pick up my bike and 2 cops help me push it off the side.

I am just sitting there shaking my head, initially a bit pissed with the cop. He is a young guy, recently out of the military. He says he would never have stepped out in front of me. I said yeah, but *I* don't know that!!

Anyway, hell I am on the cops side, most always. Turns out he is from my Dad's home town and he could pronounce my last name!

It's ok, but I am going to be one sore SOB tomorrow. Hell, I couldn't lift my leg high enough to shift with the floorboards up so high.

I think I am going to drink a bit.

 Here is the order of the solution:

1. Seal the border....NUMBER 1.

2. Set up a foolproof ID. Tell me if I am wrong: In Texas my drivers license has my name and my PICTURE. I believe the cops can pull this up on computer while I am pulled over. The DPS also has my thumbprint.  if the the guy they have stopped is not me or my twin brother...they KNOW there is a fake ID. Why wouldn't this system work?

3. Require every ILLEGAL within 90 days (or you pick the length) to get one of these ID's...which would ONLY be available across the border...at US Consolates in the country of origin. At that time they can be given temporary worker permits.

4. NOW, you can begin having heavy fines for any employer who hires someone who doesn't have a valid ID.

5. NO citizenship for these ILLEGALS now with ID's EVER. If you wish to become a citizen you follow the normal path. Why do I say NO citizenship? Because THEN, these guys will no longer be a cheap labor force. they will be legals and will want state jobs in air conditioning with benefits...like everyone else. Then we will need 12 million MORE new illegals to do the cheap labor.

I apologize for being a couple of days late with this, but I hadnever sen this prayer before this week, so I thought I would share it:

 My Fellow Americans:

Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen.

Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944

 Step 1. Close the Border

Step 2. Really…close it.

Step 3. We mean it, damn it. Close the frigging border.

Step 4. No…that doesn't mean more sensors. It means a fence. We are really serious.

Step 5. What is it with you guys? Close the goddam border, you assholes!

Step 6. OK here is the deal. If you don't close it, we are not going to give money to your campaign.

Step 7. Ahhh…listening now? CLOSE the BORDER.

Step 7. Are you frigging deaf? Close the Border, or WE ARE NOT VOTING FOR YOU!

Step 8. Yes, I AM considering a third party.

Step 9. OK, we warned you.

Step 10. Nice to meet you, Sir. How is it being the new junior Senator?

 Design Philosophy

I am an engineer.  I design BIG air conditioning and heating and ventilation systems.  I have worked for almost 30 years on major projects. During that time I worked up a list of goals of our mechanical systems trying to get good value for the client’s money.

Some of these may or may not apply to all situations, but I thought it might be worthy of discussion.

Systems shall be as follows:

To satisfy our responsibility to the public:
1. Safe – protecting and not endangering the public or the users of these systems and meeting both the letter and spirit of applicable codes and standards

To get a buildable project:
2a. Functional – meeting the operational needs of the users
2b. Affordable – within the budgetary limits of the user’s project

To provide a project that the user can afford to operate:
3a. Maintainable – incorporating easy maintenance to assure long life
3b. Energy efficient – meeting or exceeding the applicable codes and standards
3c. Reliable - robust in design allowing operation with minimal necessary maintenance

To provide a project that will function properly long term:
4a. Flexible – providing for long term possible needs of the user
4b. Long lasting – operating not only reliably and with minimum maintenance, but for many years, giving good value to the users dollar

To interest ourselves:
5. Innovative – as long as it enhances the value to the user and does not detract from the other listed items

MAragorn's Chicken and Sausage Gumbo Recipe

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup cooking oil
• 4 cups chopped onion
• 2 cup chopped green and / or red bell pepper
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 6 to 8 green onions, finely chopped
• 3 tbsp File' Gumbo
• 2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
• 1-1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or to taste
• 2 tbsp minced garlic
• 4 cups warm chicken broth
• 4 cups hot water
• 2 pound smoked sausage
• 2 pounds chicken breasts

PREPARATION:

In an iron skillet, combine flour and oil to make a roux; mix well. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring constantly, about 8 to 12 minutes or until mixture turns a light red-brown. Be careful not to burn. Set aside.

Cut the sausage into ¼” to ½” lengths.

In the iron skillet, saute sausage, onions, green and red bell peppers, and celery in butter for approximately 10 minutes; Grill or broil the chicken breasts until done. Shred the breasts.

Place flour and oil mixture in pot. Stir in all remaining ingredients except rice. Use chicken broth and enough water to cover the ingredients 1” deep. Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours. Add water as it cooks to maintain the 1” depth. Meanwhile, cook rice according to package directions. Serve gumbo over hot cooked rice with vinegar-pepper type pepper sauce (not Louisiana hot sauce or Tobasco).

 

I feel like Andy Rooney.

I remember when I first began to drive. The absolute lowest price I ever saw for gas was 19 cents per gallon during what used to be called a “gas war” sometime in the late 1960’s.. Typically the price was more like 22 cents per gallon. But let us use 20 cents per gallon as a nice round figure.

Gas is running about $3.20 per gallon today. WOW! That sounds horrible! That is 16 times as high as it was about 40 years ago!

If you do the math (and I did) an increase of 16 x over a 40 year period means about a 7.2 % rate of increase per year. Huh? Yep, that is the amazing power of compound interest. But remember about 75 cents of that $3.20 is taxes. Take the taxes out and the rate of increase drops to 6.5 %. Hmmmmm.

Now I am not an economist, but doing some internet research, I calculated that the rate of inflation for the last 40 years is about 4.6 %. In comparison, the price of a first class stamp has risen at a 4.9 % rate and a Hershey candy bar has risen at a 7.6% rate. And let’s not even THINK about the cost of bottled water!

Remember that during that same 40 year period, all of these events have also happened:

1. The oil depletion allowance was eliminated by Congress. This used to be a tax break that acknowledged that there is a depleting amount of oil under the ground. No longer do the oil companies get this tax break.

2. OPEC was formed, meaning that the US and the oil companies have to deal with a political group of foreigners that set the price of crude.

3. My understanding is there has not been a new US refinery built in 35 years or so. I would suggest that our domestic use of petroleum has increased pretty dramatically over that period.

4. The EPA has forced dozens if not hundreds of designer gasoline blends on the oil companies. Gasoline made for use in Chicago won’t work in New York, for example. Remember Katrina? EPA regulations wouldn’t let gas from other areas of the country be shipped into the Southeast. Additionally, there are different blends for different seasons of the year! All this means that there are huge inefficiencies when the refiners have to switch from one to another.

5. How about the nationalization of oil company facilities in the Middle East, in Africa, and recently in Venezuela and I believe in Russia.

6. The environmentalists have worked as hard as possible to keep the oil IN the ground off the US coasts, in Alaska, etc. Additionally, they have WORKED to make gasoline as expensive as possible.

7. Don’t forget that you are paying something like 75 cents per gallon of taxes on a gallon of gasoline.

8. Let’s not forget the huge increases in use of oil around the world, especially in China and India.

9. Gasoline prices in the US are still ½ to 1/3 of what they are in Europe.

Now it seems to me, that taking all this into account, the price of gasoline is not so unreasonably high. In fact, it seems to me that the oil companies have worked pretty efficiently in keeping prices as low as they are today.

I am just glad that I do not have to drive my car on bottled water.

 

The Democrat Congress wants to push through a bill, ironically called “the Fairness Doctrine”. This will effectively eliminate Talk Radio, which is their goal.

Liberals cannot stand the fact that conservatives listen to talk radio. Liberals, of course, control television, cable, most newspapers, movies, most magazines and radio OTHER than talk radio. But because liberals are so devoid of ideas, they simply cannot get a toe-hold in talk radio. Neither the hosts nor the audience can hold nor express a coherent thought, so they turn to hip-hop for their social discussions.

But that leaves talk radio to conservatives, and that messes up the liberal political agenda. Note the derailing of the disastrous Comprehensive Immigration Bill. That was accomplished because of information available ONLY through talk radio. If talk radio was not functioning, you might be speaking Spanish already.

What the Fairness Doctrine would require is that for every hour of conservative talk, there would have to be 1 hour of liberal talk. Since NOONE listens to liberal talk, this would be a huge money loser for radio stations. They would simply eliminate ALL talk radio and go back to playing hip-hop.

The nominal goal is to provide a forum for all views. But that is ludicrous, for as I noted liberals control ALL other media, including the 90+ % that is NOT talk radio.

This will become the REAL push for the Democrat Congress.

I urge you to write your Senators and Representative about this issue, saying defeat the Fairness Doctrine.

1. Contact your Senators and Congressman. Tell them in no uncertain terms that this is a “make or break” issue for you. Tell them to work to defeat this issue.

2. How to contact your Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

3. Look up your + $ Zip Code: http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp

4. How to contact your US Representative: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

5. After you verify who your US Representative is, you can find their phone numbers here: http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:iNuj_a3zK8UJ:www.house.gov/MemberWWW.html+how+to+contact+your+US+Representative&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us

I urge each of you to write AND call your Senators AND your US Representative about this issue. I will be sending this to everyone on my email address list. I urge you to do this also.

 I am sick and tired of the argument that illegal aliens do primarily
work that Americans won’t do.  Here is the logic that shows the lie in
that statement.

Americans ARE perhaps unwilling to do jobs AT THE WAGES EMPLOYERS
WISH TO PAY.  For example, not many will pick lettuce for $5 per hour. 
But Americans will line up to pick lettuce for $500 per
hour…including ME!  There is SOME balance point where wages will overcome the
resistance to doing just about any job.  But this balance point is held at an
artificially low level by bringing in illegal workers who will work at
a wage well below what Americans would willingly do.  Remove the
artificial influence of illegal alien wages and a true economic balance will
be found.  Indeed, the price of lettuce will go up.  But the government
has no obligation to keep prices low, and an argument could be made
that they have an obligation to keep their hands off and let the market
find a natural balance.  Somewhere between $5 / hour and $500 / hour and
$1 / head and $100 / head a balance point will be found.

The advantages of eliminating or at least minimizing the crime, health
costs, education costs, etc. due to illegal aliens AND the virtual
elimination of many social services costs because of a rise in wages for LEGAL
Americans will more than outweigh the increase in costs.

One VERY negative impact on society of the artificially low
wage level, particularly in agricultural work, is that the incentive to
invent machines to eliminate this stoop labor is minimized.  Look at
the mechanical cotton picker.  It became economically viable around 1948
ONLY BECAUSE the availability of cheap labor (SLAVE LABOR) was
eliminated by the Civil War.  If slave labor was still available, no one would
have invested in this new technology.

The technology is just not workable and / or economically viable today
for much agricultural work.  But at a labor cost of 2X, or 3X or 10X it
WILL become economically attractive to invent and sell those machines.

When this happens there will truly be a second emancipation of
agricultural workers of all colors. America will move forward in abundance,
continuing to lead the world in agricultural output through the next
century.