Steve Hoffacker's Active Rain Blog

Wordless Wednesday - "Thank You"

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:18:52 -0600

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Members Are Missing Out

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:55:17 -0600

As bloggers, we have our followers and regular readers. Occasionally someone will stumble onto our blogs - we like that. We like for our blogs to be seen by as wide an audience as possible. Enter the re-blog.

At first, I wasn't sure about this, but I've had several of my posts reblogged and I've able to share others' posts on my site. The beauty of this is that I can help you share a great message, and you can do the same.

Now, the issue, at least twice in the past week I found a post that I wanted to share and I couldn't. The member had not marked it for re-blogging.

When you create a post, it is seen by so many people. If it happens to be re-blogged, it is seen by even more people. Google sees it more than once also.

If you want the maximum exposure for your post, check the box for re-blogging. Enable other members to share your message.

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Motivational Monday - "Nourishment"

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:29:07 -0600

We don't like getting wet when we are trying to stay dry, but trying to live without rain is like trying to live without sunshine. Both are vital. Rain brings nourishment and growth.

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Speechless Sundays - "Purple For Fall"

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:41:25 -0600

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Silent Saturday - "Busy, Busy, Busy"

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:53:06 -0600

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Hard To Fight City Hall

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:19:35 -0600

Today, will be historic either way.

Speaker Pelosi is planning a vote on the health care bill in the House. This is an unusual Saturday session, but unusual measures call for unusual measures. How often is it that a few elected elitists attempt to change the basic fiber of America - and may actually get away with it (for now)?

Let's see, Pelosi is for its passage, Obama is for it, Hoyer and most of the other leading Democrats are for it, the AMA is for it (for now), the unions are for it, the AARP is for it. On the surface, this looks impressive.

The flip side is that none of the House Republicans are for it and aren't expected to cast a single vote for it. Also, the majority of Americans are against it.

In summary, Big Government and Big Unions want it. The average citizen does not want it. Result, we may get it anyway because we really don't know what's good for us.

Of course, it could fail to pass. That would really be historic and worthy of a celebration.

Never forget that the 2010 election season has begun. I expect to see many new faces a year from now. In fact, I'm counting on it.

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The Cash For Clunkers Numbers Are In, And It’s Not Pretty

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:19:02 -0600

John reports on just one of the great American giveaway programs. No more.

Via John Mulkey, Housing Guru (TheHousingGuru.com):

An article today in the Wall Street Journal reported that the per car cost of the additional sales generated by the Cash For Clunkers program was approximately $24,000 per car. Wow! Perhaps it would have been better if we just gave each of the participants a car. We could have given them an American car, which would certainly have made a difference to the American auto industry.

Why bother with setting up a cumbersome program that stimulates foreign auto sales and costs enough to give the cars away. And the argument that we removed a greater number of older, polluting vehicles from the road, while correct, is difficult to justify, considering the cost. The realities of the program are that it was an artificial, temporary, and costly stimulus that failed to create a lasting effect in the industry. And now that it appears that the First Time Buyer Tax Credit will be extended, I can’t wait to see its final cost.

The Housing Guru: The one source for all your housing questions

Friday's Fotos - "Cypress Hammock"

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:56:41 -0600

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Do The Math

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:30:00 -0600

The Pelosi/Obama health care bill is in trouble - as well it should be.

Not one Republican in the House supports it or will vote for it (so they say).

The majority of Americans don't want this passed.

For all of their talk about insuring every eligible American citizen (excluding illegal aliens at this point), the bill still fails to cover 4%, with just 96% coverage.

The bill is still 10 votes short of passage as of this afternoon.

The enormity of the expense for this bill cannot even be calculated but exceeds a trillion dollars - and likely several trillion dollars.

And the pressure to pass this unwanted (and unconstitutional) measure is so great by the House leadership that the House and the President are working on a Saturday (can you believe it?) to try to get it passed - even though the Senate has said it will next year before they get around to it. I know I've asked this before, but what's the rush?

It just doesn't add up. Let's forget the whole thing - Republican bill and Democratic bill. Better luck after the 2010 elections.

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Thankful Thursdays - "More Fall Colors"

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:13:00 -0600

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How's That Again?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:01:05 -0600

A few things in the news today are real head-scratchers. Here are three.

A person can be convicted of a crime for lying to the White House, yet the White House systematically lies to us, midleads, spins, and advances its own agenda. Why the double standard? And why the inanimate "White House" rather a specific person?

In the recent "Cash for Clunkers" program - which was disasyerous in so many ways - the most common vehicle traded-in was the Ford F-150, and the people trading those trucks in were just upgrading and purchasing a new F-150. That certainly helped the economy. Ford was doing OK anyway.

Rep. John Larsen (Democrat from Connecticut and the 4th ranking member in the House) was interviewed on TV about the Health Care bill. He mentioned several concepts that he considers important in the bill, yet every single one that he raised is directly contradicted by the language in the bill. Nevertheless, he promises passage of the bill this weekend. Maybe he should actually read the bill, but there's probably not time before the vote tomorrow night or Saturday.

Oh, add a 4th. The President actually was consulted for his approval to allow a special Saturday session of Congress to vote on his bill. You mean the House members might have to work on Saturday? By the way, what ever happened to separation of powers?

Americans, Active Rainers, entrepreneurs, patriots, it's time we all question inconsistencies and excesses like this and put a stop to it. We deserve better.

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"House Call" Tommorow

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:09:06 -0600

This is exciting! Rep. Michelle Bachman of Minnesota has issued a call for all Americans to show up at noon tomorrow on the steps at the west entrance to the Capitol. I surely wish that I could be there. What a show of force it will be. Thank you for arranging this, Michelle.

This meeting has two major purposes as far as I am concerned: (1) to show Nancy Pelosi that her strongarm tactics are not welcome or appreciated, and (2) that we as Americans do not want and will not accept passage of the Pelosi health care bill.

The timing is necessarily condensed because Pelosi has determined that the bill will be put to a vote on Friday or Saturday.

Suppose they gave a vote and nobody came.

If you're in Washington tomorrow, drop by at noon. Should be a great time.

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Wordless Wednesday - "Golden Bougainvillea"

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:12:00 -0600

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Spending Our Way To The Poor House

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:48:28 -0600

This Congress has no fiscal restraint. Budget, fiduciary, fiscal responsibility, and stewardship are terms just not included in the official Congressional glossary.

Nancy Pelosi is trying to schedule a vote on the House's version of the Health Care Bill - the 1,990 page monster (HR 3962). The short title of this bill - and the only thing short or small about this bill - is "Affordable Health Care for America Act." By the way, how about the amount of paper, ink or toner, and labor it took to manufacture this monstrosity?

The preamble to the bill states that it is proposed "to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes."

Only two things are wrong with this premise: (1) all American don't want health care - aside from the fact that it's not the government's responsibilty to provide it anyway, and (2) it can't be "affordable."

Isn't it interesting how something that is projected to cost well over $1,000,000,000,000 - and typically such government programs are off by a factor of 10 or more - can be called "affordable."

This is both laughable and regretable that our Congress is so out of touch with the American public that it is totally insensitive to any type of fiscal restraint and Constitutionally guaranteed personal liberties.

Stop this bill, and stop the power grab and erosion of our rights. Then vote against every incumbent who dares support this or some of the many other riduculous programs (cap and trade, cash for clunkers, TARP, stimulus, omnibus, card check, net neutrality). Actually, vote them all out.

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Shouldn't Charity Begin At Home?

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:52:36 -0600

With the recent developments in Afghanistan and the fact that there will be no runoff elections, Karzai retains the Presidency of his country - as if this was ever in doubt.

President Obama remains unflappable in his desire to take his time on deciding on more troops, however. His Press Secretary Gibbs announced that the canceled election would have no effect on Obama's decision and that it would be announced "in the coming weeks."

Aside from this just being disasterous to troop morale and public support of the war - not to mention the prosecution of the war and potential impact on the outcome, the President seems more concerned with political issues in that country.

He vowed to help the Afghan government clean up corruption. Don't we have need of that here? Shouldn't charity begin at home?

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Motivational Monday - "Journey"

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:53:30 -0600

The journey to the top of the mountain begins from where we are. Sometimes the path is well-marked at the beginning. Sometimes it is less clear and we have to forge our own way.

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There Goes That Excuse

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:23:37 -0600

President Obama has been wrestling with the war in Afghanistan - his war - for months. It won't go away. Over two months ago he received an assessment that he had requested from his top commander, General McChrystal. He didn't embrace it, it didn't enact it, he didn't dismiss it. He didn't do anything except procrastinate.

Then he convened his security advisors. On Friday he met with the Joint Chiefs.

All of this feet-dragging and posturing was to buy him time until after the Afghanistan runoff elections. Oh, but wait. They have been called off. That's right. The opposition pulled out because of the idea of too much corruption and fraud in the election process, and Karzai then canceled the election.

So now we are right back to where we were in August except that Obama has no more excuses.

The President has vowed to stay in Afghanistan but doesn't like talking about victory. This country has lived through one Vietnam.

Make the decision already. You can't please everyone.

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Speechless Sundays - "Mighty"

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:01:48 -0600

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The Rules For Learning Have Changed

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:31:02 -0500

Lou Ludwig has given us a succinct message for the current times and the near future.

Via Lou Ludwig CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC, e-PRO, (Ludwig & Associates):

Motivational Power Quote

The Rules For Learning Have Changed

"The illiterate of 21^st century

will not be those can not

read and write but

those who cannot

learn, unlearn and relearn."

Alvin Loffler



As I see it. . . . . . . .

The rules for learning have changed.

The achiever of the new millennium will have the ability to unlearn the all the rules that no longer apply.

They will discard old methods that are no longer relevant to create success and will seek new methods.

The success person will make a commitment to continuous and measurable improvement. They will learn new methods and strategies required to succeed.

In order to succeed we have to unlearn the old ineffective skills, and relearn the new effective method and strategies that will propel us to the next level of success.

®2009, Lou Ludwig, Sales and Management Consultant Executive Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Silent Saturday - "Happy Halloween"

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:09:14 -0500

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Friday's Fotos - "Almost Time"

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:04:48 -0500

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Happy Anniversary, Internet - It Could Be Your Last

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:25:10 -0500

We tend to think of the internet as being relatively new. Most of us have a recollection of it sometime in the mid-90s. However, it hides its age quite well.

Today is the 40th anniversary of the first internet connection. Imagine that!

On Oct. 29, 1969, the host computer at UCLA (University of California-Los Angeles) was connected to a sister computer at Stanford University. And the internet was born.

Over the past 40 years we have seen AOL, Prodigy, CompuServ, dial-up, blogging, 1200 baud modems progressing to 56K, ISPs come and go, Netscape, IE, Mozilla, Apple, Google, Yahoo, Ask (from Ask Jeeves), MSN, smartphones, wifi, and so much more.

Most recently we have seen the creation and rise of social networks such as Twitter, MySpace, Craigslist, Trulia, Zillow, Linked In, Plaxo, Naymz, Facebook, and so much more. Of course, Active Rain!

So, celebrate the 40th anniversary of the internet, but also shed a tear that this may be last year of the the free market internet system as we have seen it grow and develop.

Our government wants to take control of and run the internet - of course only in this country. They have a proposal they are advancing called "net neutrality" that they want to subsidize the availability of DSL connections universally. This will ruin connection speeds as well as our choices.

Since when is the price of internet service so egregious that it has to be free to whoever doesn't have it - and even those who don't want it? And that it has to be in every home?

That is the first step - and another in "leveling the playing field." The second is control of advertising and free speech over the internet. That seems to be the government's motive in this.

How about another 40 years or so of a free market system? Don't be blindsided or distracted by this "net neutrality" ploy. Keep the government out of this.

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Misplaced Pride

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:34:40 -0500

Nancy Pelosi unveiled her party's "solution" to health care reform this morning. She is taking great pride in producing this tome - a whopping 2,000 pages. On the surface this is ludicrous and just plain unplausible - regardless of its contents.

At any rate. the Democrats - apparently without allowing any Republican input - crafted this weighty document, and it includes the government option just as Pelosi promised it would.

She boasts that they listened to the American people in drafting this - laughable, if but for that one inclusion alone.

No, Ms. Pelosi, you should not be proud, You should be ashamed at the misuse of power. The Constitution does not give the Congress the power to demand that people subscribe to health care, that you offer it, or even that you consider such a concept. Then you have the fiscal irresponsibilty to propose such a bill.

I'm outraged, and I'm ashamed for you.

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Thankful Thursdays - "Fall Colors"

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:24:31 -0500

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Wordless Wednesday - "Windows Into The Tropics"

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:36:28 -0500

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