Turn Out the Lights!

" The party's over."

Don Meredith made this Willie Nelson song popular back on MNF.

Well, the Summer of 2015 is over.

School starts for everyone on Monday.

Even I sort of had jumps and jerks the last few mornings. I've started getting up at 5am, like I did for years and years when I was teaching...as I always thought, " Gotta open the place up." " Gotta make coffee." And I did for years.

Yesterday, several school buses rolled by, drivers learning their new routes, or driving an old one getting ready.

By now, most teachers have their rooms ready. I know elem. teachers have to decorate their rooms, and in high school, well, giving us a stick of chalk and get out of the way.

I wonder if I'll wake up Monday morning and shout " ISMS!"

Have a good year folks.

Market Drop 8/21/2015

So, the stock market has dropped anyplace from -250 to -332 today.

Oil is down, almost to $39 and some change.

I hate to tell you, it is China. Unfortunately, this is a global market. There are 1.3 billion Chinese and they are driving the world economy right now.

They markets are down and the Chinese government is artificially propping up their market to keep it from dropping even farther. That is something the American government will not and cannot do. ( illegal)

To make matters worse, the Chinese have devalued their money in an attempt to control capital outlays....

As China's economic miracle unwinds, rich domestic investors are tempted to take their money overseas.

By devaluing its currency, China's central bank makes doing this a lot more expensive and so the country can keep hold of its wealth more easily. That's the plan at least.

Once again, the Chinese economy is sick, and we are catching a cold. I'm not going to be shocked if China devalues their money another 10%.

Hang in there. Don't panic if you're in the market. Remember, long term...

My concern right now is oil and to a perhaps a greater extent, natural gas. N- gas maybe over produced. If so, it might really hurt Shell and Chevron. Those two are about to overproduce gas for the demand.

Keep an eye on this mess. Once again, teacher retirement is invested heavily in oil stocks, so I am concerned there....

I Get More Ugly Mail!!!

I think I may need to get run another purge on Facebook.

In response to yesterday's blog on sex and people getting into trouble for sex, I received what amounted to a scathing private message.

It was in defense of Josh Duggar.

It seems they wanted to defend Duggar, that " he was be persecuted because he was a Christian...you're an idiot..." And it continue on.

This PM was sent before Josh Duggar issued a press release about his Ashley Madison account....it seems, the account was true.

Have I received an apology from the person who sent the message? Of course not. And I don't expect them to do so. They have to save face.

I frequent several sites in which there are many of us who are what is called "done."

One is full of professionals. Doctors, lawyers, professors, business people, former clergy...I actually feel funny when I post there, that somehow, I am not up to this bunch's standards, and they have accepted me as one of the group is a miracle...

A member from Scotland posted this yesterday. ( He's still mad at me because we didn't stop by his house for a cuppa when we were there. We just did not have time)

"What is happening is that an underground church is gradually being created. We’re seeing growing persecution, in other words, of those seeking to follow the risen Jesus rather than a man-made sock-puppet of controlled theology. But here that persecution comes, not from the state, but from within the professing church itself. The closest historical analogue I can think of is not the pre-reformation church of Rome but the creation of imperial Christianity when the Roman empire adopted, and thence inevitably took control of, the church."

And he's right. Today's church ain't cutting it for a bunch of us. And we are being persecuted for not being members.

It's funny, if you look at history, things just do not change.

Okay, I Throw a Fit

I understand if you need help with a Lone Star Card.

Espcially if you have kids or if you are getting older.

That said....

Today, I go to the local dollar store and get behind a woman who I know was pushing 300+ pounds with well, 4 hefty blonde-headed kids. Being nice calling them hefty.

They check out with stuff I consider good for children, eggs, sausage, milk, bread, orange juice. Looked like good breakfast items to me...and then, 7 bags of potato chips,( including a couple of the new Lay's biscuit and gravy) 3 bags of candy... big bags, 2 bags of Chips-ahoy. And before they're even paid for, the kids are tearing open the bags of chips. One dropped chips all over the place and she takes a swing at him and misses.( I understand getting a bag of chips, or cookies for the kids, but multiples?)

Then, once the cashier gets all the stuff checked, and the lady has placed all her items in her basket ( she'd gotten some other non-food items, she starts to dig through her purse. She can't find her card. She digs,and digs, and frickin' digs. )

She finally finds it after she pours everything out of her purse. On the check out roller dealie. And then, after this, she is short a considerable amount. ( has to pay for the non-Lone Star items.)

She has to write a check.

In the process, she screws up and has to start over.

By now, there are 5 other people in line, and another checker finally shows up, looks at me and says, " can I get you sir?"

I literally sprint over and check out.

When I leave with my items, she's still trying to write a check.

You know, this "I don't give a shit about anyone but myself has got to stop." Espcially when you're already having to live off the system.

Okay, rant off.

SEX! SEX SEX!

No, this is not what you think.

Be careful folks when you hero "worship."

Be they media stars, religious figures, football players...

Yesterday, two folks in the public eye got into trouble due to sex.

First Jared Fogel.

Fogel was the long time Subway spokesperson. He had literally dieted himself into a million dollar contract.

He had lost 200lbs eating Subway sandwiches and walking.

Yesterday, he pled guilty to having sex with underage girls and trading underage pornography.

The world was his oyster. He was one of the luckiest persons on the face of the earth, and he blew it.

Second Josh Duggar.

The Duggars were heroes in the Christian world. And Josh had parlayed that into a lobbying career in Washington D.C.

He originally had gotten into the trouble for molesting underage girls when he was a youth....well, you can sort of forgive him for that, sort of, if the family had not swept the incident under the rug.

Yesterday, it seems Josh had been trying to have affairs on the Ashley Madison site. ( He's married with 4 kids)

He's paid $1000 to the site.

And what was his job as a lobbyist? To stop gay marriage.

What did Jesus say in Matthew 7:3? "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? "

Be careful who you listen to folks....worry about yourself. It's YOU that has to make it to the next level.

Gov. Abbott Going to Hell?

So, this past weekend, the Governor of Texas, Gregg Abbott wrote on his Facebook that Saturday was the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The day she was taken to heaven at the end of her life.

Abbott and his family are Catholic.

This day is celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The response to this posting by Gov. Abbott was met was some pretty ugly remarks.

People came out of the ' wood-works' attacking his being Catholic.

He was called an " Idol worshiper." And honestly, many people were upset when they found out he was Catholic.

Is this 2015? Or are we going to fight wars like they did in 17th Century Europe over Protestant vs. Catholic?

This is America. Do we not have freedom to worship as we see fit? You know, I thought we might be past this, but, I think this religious " hatred " might be coming back.

These same people called for America to become a Christian nation.....which form? There are 20,000 different denominations in America alone. If we decided to switch to a theocracy, we would change into a Mess just like they have in the Middle East. People would be blowing up other people...over religion....

Disclaimer, I have close fiends and family who are Roman Catholic, I fully expect them to " make it" and they fully expect me to " make it."

BTW- there are 10,000,000 Texans who do not belong to any church. The largest church membership in Texas is Catholic with 4,700,000.

Son of a ......

I got old.

I was just in high school, hell, college....

I amazed at how fast the time has went by.

I think I deserve a treat for living this long....there ain't no Blue Bell, but Adams has a new pecan pie ice cream. Think I may try some....and maybe some cookies.....hope I don't go into some sort of diabetic shock.

Once again, the old adage...." if I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. "

Kind of a Serious Blog

You may or may not believe this, but I try to keep up with you. And it's sort of hard sometimes. I taught 3500-4000 kids in my career.

I espcially want to hear if you need prayer, thoughts....

I know it is odd coming from me, but I pray more than you think. Often about some of y'all. Even though, I cuss, fuss, and throw things, I am pretty religious.

Today, I just learned about an accident in which a former student of mine was pretty seriously injured.

Please, don't assume I know. Send me a PM. An email. A text. Even if I hear about it ten times, that's okay.

You Know, You Never Know About Folks....

You know, we just do not know about folks.

The story about the 16 year old who was shot breaking into the home at 2:30am makes me think this.

The story is the 16 year old was wearing a bandana or some sort of mask when he broke in.

I am not blaming the homeowner. I would have done the same thing. I would have been scared out of my wits.

The teen's family is upset about the shooting, and families always will be.

That said, I am reminded of a story of a student I had at another district in the Houston area. I had a student arrested in class by DPS, sheriff and local police.

It seems the young man had shot and killed a woman while burgling her home the evening before.

The boy was very active in the school's Christian groups and was even president of the local Youth for Christ.

His father, a local minister, had to resign and leave the area.

The boy is still in state prison.

Then, this morning, one of ABC News' lead stories was about a high school senior at one the most prestigious schools in America, St. Paul's in New Hampshire being tried for raping a freshman girl.

The boy ambition was to go to Harvard Divinity School.( You go there to become a minister.)

No, you never know about folks.

If you have a teen, this might be a teaching moment.

KFC Just Doesn't Get It.....

So, KFC has replaced the perverted Col. Sanders with another questionable replacement.

Norm MacDonald, who I actually like as an actor will now play the legendary Col. Harland Sanders.

MacDonald is not from the South, hell, he's not even an American. He's from Canada.

I am wondering how this will play out. It has got to be better than the Col. Sanders, who I am sure was on the sex- offenders list.

The real question is this.....why can't they get a Southerner to play a Southerner? You know, we already speak the lingo and have the accent.

Blue Bell Back...But Not to Beaumont Area?

So, there will be a four part return of Blue Bell ice cream to the State of Texas.

However, the Beaumont-Pt. Arthur area is NOT in the first phase of distribution.

Here are phases II-IV

Phase Two: North central Texas and southern Oklahoma

Phase Three: Southwest Texas and central Oklahoma

Phase Four: The majority of Texas and southern Louisiana.

Let me read this correctly....We might be in Phase IV.

Here's a map of Phase I. To start around Aug. 31. ( Will this national nightmare ever end?)

Bigfoot! In Sabine River Bottom?

Not OUR Sabine River bottom, however, who knows what's running around in the bottoms of Newton County.

This story is out of Panola County, North of here.

Story is a hunter sees a Bigfoot creature kill a full grown hog. The hunter is in a stand with a rifle, and doesn't shoot the creature.

Now, for years, I have heard stories, legends of a man like creature living in Deep East Texas.

There is supposedly one or two near our family farm in Northeast Texas. There are scary stories told by the old timers, and I'll be honest, there are areas I won't go to on our farm on foot without a firearm. ( not just bigfoots, but bobcats, coyotes, and other critters that also walk on two legs. Espcially during deer season...)

I have family members who swear they have seen a creature when they were traveling in Arkansas, and in Arkansas, who knows what it was. ( these are not family members to make stuff up....they saw something, don't know what, but it spooked them.)

All I know is, I don't go outside much without a shirt on....

Getting Married? Not Getting Married? Wish I could Get Married?

I have received three questions, requests, over the last few weeks over the lack of local judges to marry folks.

This of course stems from the Supreme Court's decision to allow gays to marry.

It is a pure "political" move and in truth, I really can't same I blame them.

The local judges have been put into a " no win" situation. To make their constituents happy, they have stopped all marriages. Gay, straight, whatever.

This basically leaves the marriage business to the local clergy and if you want a civil, not religious wedding, where does it leave you? And guess what, there's a bunch of folks who are just not religious...and local pastors generally won't marry folks outside of the parishioners...

Church folks, this may make you upset, unhappy, whatever, the people outside of the church are growing. Rapidly.

You can blame the devil, the internet, the church and its now lack of missionary spirit, again, whatever, it is growing. I am guessing there are three or four people in Jasper and Orange Counties who stay home for every one who attend church....including the writer of this blog. Sorry, just nothing left at the denomination I grew up in for me. ( But this is another blog.)

I seriously have though about re-frocking myself through one of those online ordination ministries, and doing weddings. Free for folks I like. ( Texas is pretty liberal about marriage. We still have very liberal "Common Law" marriage. I have a friend I literally love to death who is married in this manner, and both me and the State of Texas consider their marriage as legit as one performed by Bishop Guillory at St. Anthony's Cathedral in downtown Beaumont.)

Oh, don't worry about me going to hell for re-frocking myself. If I make it, it'll be just like you, on a technicality.

Colder Than Normal Winter?

So, the Old Farmer's Almanac has predicted a " colder than normal" winter.

After last week, I think we'd all welcome some sort of relief. 102F in SE Texas? Too damn hot.

Here's the deal folks, I like cold weather. But then at some point, I decide " enough is enough." And want it to warm up.

Sure, I think it'd be 'cool' if one time in my life it snowed on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day. ( We came close in 1980s, it snowed Dec. 23rd, not much, but it snowed.)

I've also sat in the backyard on Christmas Day because it was a warm sunny day.

Trouble is, don't nobody know.

I watch both the " Aggie weather-guessers" during the week, and both those guys do not know, they just guess what tomorrow's weather will be.

I swear they use chicken bones, a dart board, the phase of the moon, just like some unnamed school districts use to figure GPAs, to guess the forecast.

Look, we all went to bed thinking Rita was going ashore down Southwest of Houston. We saw how that worked out.

I know at this point we all want it to be cooler. We want " football weather."

Hang in there folks, it will get cooler....

You Know, Sometimes I Hate You People....

Actually, I don't ...however.

You know, it's hard to keep on my weight maintenance program reading Facebook.

Chocolate cakes....Turtle Chocolate cakes.....

14 types of coconut pie.

19 kinds of Nanner pudding.

Ev Hatch posted a crab pie that looks like 2900 calories a slice.

And those of you who post the photos of the 22 cows you are barbecueing for supper.

( Speaking of calories, did you see that JJ Watt eats 9000 calories a day To maintain his weight? )

And today, someone who knows I love pecan pie, sent me an article about M&Ms coming out with pecan pie flavored M&Ms for the Fall.

Sometimes I hate you folks...

http://www.ajc.com/news/lifestyles/food-cooking/mms-releases-new-fall-flavor-pecan-pie/nnKKW/

Some People Need a Good Killing.

So, today Connecticut has decide to spare the life of all the people they have on death row.

Including the two men who killed and raped the wife and then raped both the 17 year old daughter and 11 year old daughter of Dr. William Petit of that state...

Then after murdering the wife and daughters, they set the bodies on fire, in an attempt to cover up evidence.

I'm am sorry, there are people who need a good killing.

The Connecticut Supreme Court did away with the death penalty because it was the "decent thing to do.."

Where was decency when these guys were raping and murdering?

These guys can get visits from their family, be able to attend college, celebrate holidays....something the Petit daughters will never enjoy.

I am sorry, but from time to time, the death penalty needs to be carried out.

I know there were people in the Texas Christian community who were upset when then Gov. George Bush did not commute the death sentence of Karla Faye Tucker after she " found Jesus " on death row...never mind she helped "finish off" a dying man with a pickaxe and then killed a woman with that same pickaxe. ( A lot of people think it was a death row conversion, to keep get her sentence changed to life in prison.)

Once again, it makes you wonder...just what the courts are thinking?

34

Today is my 34th Anniversary of marrying the love of my life, Debbie.

I am sure for her it has been a rodeo.

Being married to me is...well, different. Kerry Don Thomas is a different breed of animal, and those of you who read the blog know this. Just when she thinks she knows what's in my mind, I surprise her.

I am hoping I can make it another 16. That way we can call it an even 50......at least 50 is my goal. ( I'll be 73...if I make it that long it'll be a miracle out of scripture. )

Thank you for putting up with me Deborah.

I Can't Figure It OUT....

I am telling you the U.S., heck, the world's economy is not in good shape.

Sure, the Dow is up a little today, but everything else is pretty much down. ( Including the long term U.S. Stock Market.)

Then I look at oil and it is down $1.20 to $ 42 a barrel. It may go below $ 42 by the close of market. CNBC and Fox Business both keep flashing the oil price, FBN has it big on its' channel. ( and here's a questionable new item, gasoline prices in the Upper Midwest have risen due to a processing plant problem in that region....and the plant is owned by BP.....huh? Makes you wonder?)

China is in bad shape, Brazil is in bad shape, Argentina is in bad shape....

And the thing is, most economic news is bad...

Folks, it is concerning.

Oil is now below $42....

I am thinking about putting my money in mayonnaise jars and bury them under the pit bull's house....

Again, and I Hate to Do This So Soon...Please Read

In the next month you will hear a great deal of gloom and doom.

The earth is to once again " End" in the month of September.....next month....

It's all over the internet.

It's all over AM radio.

It's all over Shortwave radio. ( Art Bell, the ghosts are in the kitchen, bigfoot is screwing my wife, UFOs are landing on the South Lawn of the White House is back. He's on several AM, FM and SW radio stations.)

The theories include...

-There is a Messianic Jewish Rabbi who is saying there will be a total collapse of the financial markets of the US.

- The government is going to reveal that there is life from other planets actually visiting the earth....and the Vatican and the Catholic Church is supporting the revelation..( The Catholic Church for years has said they do not have a problem baptizing little green men.)

- Then there is the 4 blood moon theory. John Hagee the pastor in San Antonio has been saying for a while now that the earth is ending or there will be turmoil due to the 4th blood moon....which is in September.

- Finally, there are a group of so-called " rogue astronomers" and so called cosmic experts who are claiming an asteroid with hit the earth at the end of September....the asteroid will hit near Puerto Rico and wipe out most of the east coast with a tidal wave, including the Texas Gulf coast.

Don't get all stirred up.

Once again, no one knows the time, even the Angels in heaven.

Trouble is, I have never seen people more unhappy than they are in this country. We are so unhappy in this nation, I would not be shocked if the uneasy civility we have in America ended.

Let's face it, there's underlying mistrust and while it has always been there, it is starting to bubble to the top.

Just look at changes going on in the nation. And people on both sides are not happy.

So, stuff to be aware of over the month. Don't panic, but be aware.

Kicking 92 Yr. Old Woman Out of Church for Non-Tithing...

So, a church in Georgia has kicked a woman, 92 year old woman, out of church for not giving her tithe.

The sad part is the woman was sick, not attending church, and no one from the pastor to church staff to deacons, checked on the poor lady to have known.

And then at 92, I think I would have given her some slack.

This money and church, this money and church.

Jesus was all over money and the church.

The sad part is the atheists are having a field day on this topic, on their site.

It's time for me to write on the tithe again isn't it?

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/08/12/church-kicks-out-92-year-old-woman-for-not-tithing/

Man, How Much Would You Give Me To Do This???

Today is supposed to be the so-called " General Assembly" at the Buna ISD.

I am tempted to go there for the morning assembly, dress to the nines, coat, bow-tie, penny loafers, dress very prep, and do one of the following three things...

- Go to the morning meeting, fix myself a cup of coffee, grab a couple of doughnuts and leave.

- Go the meeting, get the coffee and doughnuts, and go over and kiss Mrs. Darling....smack on the mouth...and leave...

- Go to the meeting, get the coffee and doughnuts and as I leave, shoot the finger at people I don't care for....

Trouble is I have been out so long 1/2 the faculty and staff won't know who I am, and with the weight loss, a bunch of old timers might not know me either...

I go a doctor's appointment this morning, so it won't happen.

Might be for the best. I don't feel like a free ride in the back of a sheriff's car to Jasper.

I Knew I Should Have Failed You in Economics.

There is a meme going around concerning the Obama administration spending $360 million dollars to promote Obamacare.

Then the meme says that there are only 317 million Americans. It would be easier just to give us all a million dollars.

No, do the math.

The government would actually only be giving us $1.13.....

I knew I should have failed more of you in economics.

Dumbass....smh

If Anyone Wants to Know, or Was Curious

Our son has moved back in with us.

It has been an interesting month. He's been out of the house since 2006.

He pretty much has lived on his own since he graduated from high school, and went to college.

As many of you know, he lived in S. Korea for a year, South Texas for a year, and was in Jasper for a couple of years.

He was in Jasper working 70-80 hours a week, Saturday's and Sunday's at school, for basically $3000 a yr. more than the regular teacher and asked himself, " can I do this for another 35 years?" ( and the district he was in would have kept him probably for those years.)

As he said, he had no social life, no free time, the possibility of finding an age appropriate girlfriend or someone to date was slim. ( Say what you want, by age 25, most girls in this area are married, and the district he taught at had no single ladies.)

So, he asked to move home and go back to school.

Say what you want, Lamar is a value. So much cheaper than Texas or A&M.

He's taking science classes. Perhaps go into the medical field of some sort.( Looking hard at that.) At worse, get a science and math certificate and if you got a math cert, you can move anyplace in the state.

So, if anyone was curious, he's home...and in truth, it's been sort of nice.

This Week.....

The inservice period for teachers start this week. My understanding is the first couple of days are technology and some other waste of a day.

The " General Assembly " for Buna ISD I understand is on Wednesday.

This past week, the Washington Post published an article saying that research has finally discovered what us teachers have known for years. Inservice is a waste of time and money. Literally, billions of tax dollars a year are spent by schools on the latest, greatest way to educate the kids. Five years from now, it'll be some new tripe some college professor has dreamed up.

Don't nobody learn nothing....it's bullshit if they tell you they do....

I'm telling you it's a racket. People who can't teach, can't be decent administrators, wind up doing workshops, for serious coin....and you're paying for them...big damn tax money

I said for years when I was still in the classroom, I'd rather have the kids in the room than sit in a workshop. I loved teaching. I hated workshops. I'd rather pull my toenails out with pliers.... Looking back on my last years in classroom, I wish I would have gotten my doctor to write me a note, and used up those state personal days I wound up giving back. He would have. He knows how bad professional workshops are.

I am telling you, retirement is great.

On a better note for the week. The Perseid Meteor Shower is suppose to be really good this year. The morning of Aug. 13th, 80 meteors an hour can be seen. ( according to NASA, now watch it be a flop.) I may hit the floor early to look...

It's Okay to Kill Women.....for Not " Putting Out?"

So, ISIS has started to kill women who refuse sex with them.

19 at one time.

When I first read the article, it was on a site with a questionable background....Then, I saw it was the lead story in the Daily Mail out of England. ( The Daily Mail is an actual newspaper. I bought a couple copies when I was in the UK.)

The Mail even posted a list of prices you could buy women for....In other words, sex slaves. Including, females between the age of 1-9. All of these women were taken as " spoils" when a town was captured.

The women who died decided it was better to die than to spend their lives as a sex toy.

This is being ignored by the U.S. Media. I do not know why. Maybe they are afraid we will get so stirred up we will insist that our military does something.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3186229/ISIS-executes-19-girls-refusing-sex-fighters-envoy-reveals-sex-slaves-peddled-like-barrels-petrol.html

I am Pretty Worried...and Actually, You Should Be Too...

This morning on CNBC, former Reagan Chief of OMB David Stockman was discussing why the stock market was going to fall, just like the Chinese stock market has in the last few weeks.

I agree with Stockman.

"But I would like to add that low interest rates have led to debt financing of overproduction in many industries but especially mining which includes oil, and retail where stores have borrowed heavily to build inventory on government and media promises that the economy was improving when it wasn't.( Look for Sears and JC Penny to go bottom up...Best Buy? Walmart shut stores?)

The media hype and government misrepresentations have also led to increases in margin buying which makes any downturn much more severe.

GDP for instance was revised down in each of the previous three years in order to make the current GDP appear to grow.( Blame the damn government on this) This lie concerning the state of the economy to prop up a failed president and a failed administration continues,( and the GOP held Congress is to be blamed too.) and it will lead to much destruction of wealth as corporate revenue and earnings continue to fall and as bankruptcies in the Texas/ N. Dakota oil patch, mining,( You want to see a disaster, look at the coal mines, they are all broke) and retail sector arising from dropping prices accelerate.

This is the same scenario that existed in the farm sector in the 1920's where debt financed overproduction led to rapid decline in food prices.

Farmers could not make enough money to pay back their loans causing thousands of banks to fail. Assets including stocks were sold to pay debt and raise liquidity leading to the 80% decline in the 1929 stock market crash.

The same is happening now in the Oil, mining and retail sectors and it will lead to bank failures and a collapse in equity prices. This scenario is described in the book "God and Wealth The Rise and Fall of Nations"(Nicholas Georgalis.) The economic similarities are remarkably the same then and now and the results will be the same. ( 1929)"

Then, this morning, it was reported that 93, 770,000 Americans are NOT in the work force. The biggest in the history of America. This is basically 1/3 of all adults of working age, out of work....this doesn't include retired folks, or folks, who have just given up looking for a job.

Folks, I am concerned. Very concerned about the economy. I watch the business channels every damn day....and I can't see what is propping up the economy? Look, I can't see why food prices are so high? We are getting rooked there. The corn, wheat, markets are in free fall. ( they're up today, but long term, they're down)

Them D*mn Mexicans....

So, the big issue this year is immigration and the amount of immigrants crossing the border into the U.S.

And I will agree, there needs to be something done about the rift-raft crossing the border into the U.S. ( And there needs to be some way to get rid of drug runners, the outlaws, the felons...and build a wall? They built a massive fence in Calais, France at the Chunnel to keep the illegals out. The illegals have torn the fence down...and the cops are there pepper spraying them...and they keep coming..)

But the question remains....how many actual U.S. Citizens are willing to do the work that they are now performing?

As many of you know, my family owns property in what is actual farming country. These are people who own dairy farms, have huge chicken operations, actually grow things such as wheat.

They can't get people in this country to work for them....and they pay above minimum wage.

The work they do is nasty, hot ( or cold depending on the season) work. The work is often 12-14 hours a day. ( Them cows are milked twice a day, everyday, 7 days a week. The cows don't take Sunday or Thanksgiving or Christmas off.)

They have tried to get high school kids in the summer to work for them, and this is a school Buna's size. The kids may last 2-4 weeks, and drag up. Work 7 days a week, and high school kids tend to quit....likewise, people with family do the same. Want to go to the kids football games, want to spend time with the family....they won't work 7 days...)

The people in the chicken industry pay fairly well, especially in the slaughter operation....but 40 hours a week of pulling chicken guts is a smelly, nasty job.

You want one of these jobs? I can hook you...now if I get you a position cutting chicken gizzards up, don't quit after 6 weeks because all you smell now 7 days a week 24 hours a day is chicken giblets...if I get you the job, now don't quit in a week, because I'll get on this blog name you, and tell what a sorry ass individual you are...

The complaints about immigration have been around since this was America....

In the 1840s it was the damn Irish. ( Remember I taught you NINA? No Irish Need Apply.) They just KNEW the death of this country would be the damn Irish.( Damn Mick bastards....wait...)

Then it was the Chinese.

Then it was the Italians.( The racist slang WOP came from the Italians coming to the USA without papers....WITH OUT PAPERS...WOP was written on their cards when they entered.)

It reminds me of the " South Park" episode in which a group of workers are all upset because " They're taking our JERBS!"

I know the mantra now is stop immigration , but in reality, it is not. Mr. Trump knows it is not. He's saying the right things now...he's playing politics.

Excited! Or Maybe Not?

So, I know some of you are all excited about the two, yes, two Republican debates later today.

One at 4pm with the " also rans" in the GOP including former Texas Governor Rick Perry, and actually, this is the bunch you may need to watch, they are so desperate, they might say anything.

And the " Group of 10" front runners who are all hoping to get their message out there for the populous. This debate is at 8pm.

Both are on Fox News.

I may or may not watch. It is months before the first primary. Months.

This ain't my first rodeo.

The highlights will be all on tomorrow's news....and C-SPAN will replay it 30 times if I really want to see it.

As an old German general once said, "I'm too old a bunny to get excited about this...."

I Know You Do.....and You Need To...

At Nanny Faye's funeral this week, it was mentioned in passing the fact so many of us now carry firearms.

It's sad, but it is true. I keep a firearm in vehicles. There are parts of Beaumont, Pt Arthur, Orange, hell, Vidor, hell, Nederland....I wouldn't go into now on a bet. And I worked in what is now a scary part of Beaumont for the longest and never had a bit of trouble....And I often had Class II Narcotics in the vehicle....but that was the '70s.

I often worry about my in-laws in PNG. My mother-in-law refuses to have a firearm in the house. Never mind her oldest grandson literally grew up with an Ak47 in his closet. ( And yes, it was ready to rock-n-roll) She's afraid the g-kids will get ahold of it....well, lessons need to be taught about guns, and if they want, I will teach them...and put in a safe place.( the g-kids are all old enough to know about guns...)

Look, my 84 year old mother carries a .38 special wherever she goes now. ( and her youngest g-kids are really young, and they know to respect firearms. Then, they are my brother's kids, and grew up around firearms, and were taught...)

PNG is not what it once was. They have Ms-13 Gang members just blocks away in Nederland.

It's sad, but in this day in age, we have to be armed.

A suggestion. If you leave a gun in your truck, car, SUV, lock it at the house. In the last 48 hours they have had three pistols stolen from unlocked vehicles in Orange. Don't think it can't happen in Buna or Vidor, or wherever you live.

102? 104?

So the two Aggie " weather -guessers" on Channels 6 and 12 are saying it could be either 102F or 104F depending on the station you are watching, on Tuesday of next week.

Whew...

I heard from my brother out in Llano Sunday and they were expecting 106-107F Thursday and Friday of this week. ( I wonder what they'll have next Tuesday?)

Try and stay cool folks. Check on older folks. Drink lots of water. Be careful. 102-104F with the humidity is a killer.

I do not look forward to the next few days.

What on Earth Happened?????

Man, is it just me, but is Summer blowing by or what?

Next week, teachers start back with that insipid in-service.( seriously, WTH can they tell a teacher with ten or more years experience? And if you want the answer, it's nothing...or if it's some they must know, it shouldn't take over thirty damn minutes.)

( I tell you what shocks me, I start being retired for my fifth school year....and the farther I get away from it, the more I go, " damn, I did the right thing."...school was killing me. Seriously. I am in the best shape in years.)

The kids go back to school.... In less than three weeks.

Football practice has started for high school. The NFL teams are all in training. The first pro pre-season game is Saturday. Yes, this Saturday.

I know it will be 100F later this week.....but Summer is starting to wind down....

A Friendly Reminder...

Rachel's been off on vacation, New Orleans, Panama, Fiji, the South of France, Tibet, Hawaii, Jamaica, Quebec, Peru....

So, she's not been around to remind me....

And in the last few days, I have had a number of adds to the Facebook. I promised myself I wouldn't let my page get this many friends again....and to be honest, I really don't want to run a purge....

So instead, we'll remind folks of the " Rachel Rule."

The blog is my own ideas.

Sometimes you'll love it.

Sometimes you'll hate it.

Sometimes you'll think I lost my mind.

You and actually I never know what I am going to write about.

Once again, it is a " beware" situation when you read the blog.

Again, I thank you for reading.

It's Me...Still....

I went to Nannie Faye's funeral this morning, and well, not everyone recognized me.

It is one of two things...either you've gotten too damn highfalutin to speak to me, and that's okay...fuck you and the clap dripping jackass you rode in on.....or...

I am a third smaller and don't look like well, the old me. ( That's what I really think.)

I was told today that I didn't " Sound like Mr. Thomas."

That's probably true. The combination of weight loss has probably changed my voice....plus, I no longer project like I did in the class...I have not taught, well, coming up on starting 5 years.

But, don't be shy. I will be more and glad to see you. Won't bore you with stories, won't remind you of what you did in school....unless you bring it up...

BTW- This morning, it was good to see many of you.

Topless Wimmens.....

Well, I debated writing on this, and I got a really ugly letter this weekend from someone, so I figured, "well, I'm already in trouble....."

So, in Canada, specifically, in the province of Ontario, there was a huge rally of topless women who want to protest three women bicycle riders who were stopped by the police, well for riding their bikes, without shirt....or under attire on.

Hundreds of women turned out.

And like an idiot, I go to a actual news source to read the story. ( okay, while I read about 200 news stories a day, this one peaked by curiosity.) And sure enough, the site had topless wimmens. And they were not ugly wimmens. Anything to drive clicks for advertisers.

It turns out the women bicycle riders were cute.

The trouble is, since 1996 it has been legal for wimmens in Ontario to go around topless.

The cop, just played ignorance of the law......yes sir, he was just wanting to look at some breasteses.

I know, technically in Texas, wimmens can go topless, and down at " The Zoo" and in spots on the lakes near Austin, there were ladies going without tops.

Trouble is, teenage boys, hell, 50 something year old mens can't handle it.

Fighting Ronda Rousey

So, the hottest fighter in the MMA, UFC world is a female, Ronda Rousey. Right now, she is on a string of wins, all in under a minute.

Saturday night, she knocked out her opponent in 34 seconds.

At 135lbs, she is the best in the world. Maybe in any other weight division.

Like many of you, I suffer from insomnia, mostly from back pain.

So, last night, I got to listening to the ' skip' on an AM station. ( Skip is where a 50,000 watt station is able to broadcast over a frequency with no other stations broadcasting on that frequency at night, and the station can be heard in most states either side of the Rockies Mountains. The Rockies block AM stations.....the station last night is out of far South Texas.)

The two idiots on the South Texas station got to talking about Rousey.

Both decided that it would be more interesting if she started to fight males at 135lbs.

Trouble is, what man in their right damn mind would want to get his arm broken or brains knocked out for Rousey.

The two " nit-wits" decided that to make it a pay per view winner, the guy fighting Rousey would've able to " spend the night" with her....if he wins. ( I am sure in the deep dark recess of these idiots mind there is the " fantasy." )

Once again, it makes you wonder what the hell guys were thinking.

The fight for one would have to take place in some third world country, like Paraguay or Uzbekistan where the government would actually let the lunacy take place.

The really sad part is, the PPV for a fight like this would be out the roof. ( The old Roman " bread and circuses.")

And in the end, if Rousey would agree, do you really think she'd let the guy even come close to winning? She'd beat the guys brains out.....and then break both his arms....

The Chinese Spying on Beaumont?

So, NBC was listing the major areas that the Chinese Government was spying on the USA through " hack attacks."

And Beaumont, Texas was one of the major areas to spy on in America.

Of course it is.

There are major refineries in this area and in a time of war they'd love to be able to shut down Exxon-Mobil, DuPont, Huntsman, Motiva, Valero etc....

What'd you think they'd be spying on us for?

To find out our recipe for armadillo gumbo or what pick-up truck is the easiest to drive while high on meth?