Electronic hugs. C U on the net. Distance. I don't like it! I need to talk.

So I'm writing you for some teenager advice.

The gift of my life is constantly engaged in electronic warfare. Soon his fingers may be one giant callus.

How do we show them to embrace communication - person to person, soul to soul, face to human face, sharing experience to real life experiences?

Recalling my teenage experience (no I’m not that old -a very young 45) and how perfect that was HA! Today's tween's and teens process of communication is so different and complex. Not bad, just dangerously different. Where is the human touch?

The difference I see is a new form of socialization; an electron socialization.

The pressures of this new form of socialization to me is a new electronic existentialism. In other words: communication face to face will soon be secondary or a luxury. Very foreign and uncomfortable, even a forbiden social behavior.

Human interaction on a personal face to face basis is becoming no longer necessary. The electronic pathway to discussion is cheaper, easy and faster: but still - it drives me nuts.

Note: I do however, love the web camera! It gives me a small but important sense of connectivity or link to the my human element.

The millennium generation lives in a bubble surrounded by electrons and subliminal images of reality. Right? No.

They'll be alright!
They love the earth and hate what is happening to it.
They are for peace and against aggression and war.
They are very angry with the economic mess they are left with. Doesn't that sound vaguely famililar?

Let's get together and talk about it OK?

Text me later or I'll be in the chat room at 8; email me and I'll check my schedule; I can't talk now, can we IM later?

Am I the only one that feels like we are slowly inching away from transferring our senses to a computer..funny that you are reading this on one.

WHAT A HYPOCRITE! Me that is.

When we put our angels to bed we think they are sleeping in a dreamy abyss. Truth is they're texting a friend or watching the latest you tube download.

How do you control it, change the behavior, or at least diminish this electronic addiction? I want them to experience life on a visceral level as well as a cerebral one. Can they really reach out and touch someone? I hope they never stop.

I would love to hear from any experienced parental units.

Respond by email please...I might be on a web conference or in a very busy chat environment.

What to do……

am I just paranoid....I don't know. Artist- Green Day

Today the polls were tightening up. People are not giving up on either party:

That's GOOD NEWS!!!

But, over the past several months I have been troubled and I thought I should tell you why.

I'm really nervous about Barack Obama getting into the White House. There I said it!

Why?

1. Too many radical and dangerous leaders (Castro [Cuba], Chavez [Venezuela], Ahmadinejad [Iran]) around the world prefer him in the White House.

2. His associations with anti-American radical hate groups and domestic terrorist (Rashid Khalidi[a PLO activist], Bill Ayers [former leader of The Weather Underground and Author: "Prairie Fire: The Politics of Revolutionary Anti-Imperialism."] is just plain scary.

3. His Pastor in Chicago for more than a decade was the Reverend Jeremiah Right. Obama claims he was never in Church when this guy went off on America and our government.
So; this "tiger" only shows his strips when Barack Obama wasn't there? Are they serious? He (Obama) said that Right was like an Uncle to him. Now I understand being around an Uncle who you have serious disagreements with as A CHILD! After all, your there because your Parents say you have to be. But, as an adult! You can choose to leave! He choose to listen to this stuff for more than 10 YEARS! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ-3VG3ush0

If these are just coincidences, why is John McCain void of such coincidences?
If the mainstream Media is so heavily on Barack’s side; why aren't they finding tons of stuff to fowl McCain's campaign? I mean; where's the dirt?

How is this "dirt" so easily found about Barack Obama and his (very close) associations with these people. This guy is young! How can you have so many unfortunate associations in less than 20 professional years?
I would think you would have to chase these type of relationships...they don't just show up at your doorstep!

Why is it so accepted and brushed aside?

What did George Bush and the republicans do to the media? Why are they so so anti Republican? EVERYONE IN THE WORLD WAS FOOLED BY THE W.M.D. ISSUE. Check the U.N. records since 1991!

If he wins (cross fingers-NO): will an Obama Presidency change the ideals and fabric of our nation? A nation built with bricks of law and principles.

I may be a little paranoid here but, I’m afraid the day will come when this “change” will turn to revenge and serious separatism.

So many “dangerous” leaders throughout history and mostly during hard economic and uncertain times, have proclaimed the same “change” word and the "follow me for a better future”. It seems to be the mantra for politics. That guy made your life miserable and spent all your money; he sucks...I can make you happy and rich...vote for me!

What will we become? Have we become too comfortable and complacent?

How many of us forgot 7 years ago.

Did you volunteer to help during Katrina or did you just figure the Government would take care of the problem!

We, all of us, have lost the purpose and ideals that this government was formed on in the first place:
To protect the rights of the individual and limit government in our daily lives.

Today, everyone has this "big brother" understanding and acceptance of our government. From the local Board of Trustees to the US Congress: the accepted dogma is:
BIG GOVERNMENT FIRST, THE LITTLE PEOPLE - SECOND.

Think about it. Who is the average person most afraid of? Remember what your Father told you: "only 2 things in life are certain: death and taxes:

Oh yea...now I remember. Be afraid...be very afraid.

Is this purposed "change" really all that progressive? Or, is my (yours too) fear of change delivered through a shroud?

I don’t know folks. I've never felt such a high level of uncertainty in any political contest.

Is it just me?

Passion radiates

I received two really good responses to the last blog of mine.
These friends of mine are highly educated and passionate about their beliefs and dreams for this nation. I responded this way:

WOW!
This is why we live in the greatest country of all.
Where individuals can engage in open and healthy debate. Then, just like that, shake hands and move forward with the work of a nation.

After next Tuesday, the debate will be over for another three years. One of these bright, capable and compassionate men will occupy the corner office on Pennsylvania Avenue.
The election will be complete and we will join together as Americans and support our new President and VP.

Diane mentioned our traditional media sources - TV, Print, Radio: many times skewed and more often, motivated by bias and the almighty dollar.
I believe that perception and reality are as transparent as the screen from which it projects. Absorb the commentary, take a moment to wonder and question; do your homework and form an opinion that works for you. It’s supposed to be opinions not forced doctrine.

Everyone deals with daily struggles and obstacles to happiness. What is your opinion? Yours should be answered with deep thought, qualified discovery and the most important: self evaluation. It is obvious to me that Bob and Diana are people of great conviction and reflection and should be revered and respected. You both represent the highest tier in educated voters. I wish I could say the same for a majority of the electorate.

Whatever happens, I know we can agree: Peace for this land. Never ending tolerance, responsible stewardship and blind compassion from its leaders.

Take Good care,

Ron

Lies and truth in the details

One of my best friends in the world recently sent this to me. Thanks Billy! I had not spoken with him for over 15 years...just lost touch. He married one of my favorite persons. All three of us graduated high school together. They have two beautiful daughters and live very happily on the west coast.
I'm so happy we have reconnected. Hold on tight...never loosen that grip.
Thanks to Facebook and Linkedin. You guys rock!


Please read this carefully...absorb the statistics and please pass in on.



I DID NOT WRITE THE FOLLOWING.


That's me...over there>

We only have one week to tell people the truth!!!

It makes you wonder ...... This email comes in three parts....Make sure you read all three parts!

Part 1

In just one year. Remember the election in 2006?Thought you might like to read the following:

A little over two years ago:

1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3) The unemployment rate was 4.5%.


Since voting in a Democratic Congress in 2006 we have seen:

1) Consumer confidence plummet;
2) The cost of regular gasoline soar to over $4.10 a gallon;
3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase);
4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate (stock and mutual fund losses);
5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars;
6) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
7) Food prices skyrocketing over 30%.



In 1 year.America voted for change in 2006, and we got it!


Remember it's Congress that makes law - not the President.


He has to work with what's handed to him.


Quote of the Day........'My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it.' -- Barack Obama


Part 2:

Taxes...Whether Democrat or a Republican you will find these statistics enlightening and amazing. www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/151.HTML














Taxes under CLINTON-1999 Taxes under BUSH-2008

Single earning: Single earning:
30K - taxed $ 4,500 30K - taxed- $8,400
50K - taxed $ 14,000 50K - taxed $ 12,500
75K - taxed $ 23,250 75K - taxed $ 18,750

Married earning: Married earning:
60K - taxed $ 16,800 60K - taxed $ 9,000
75K - taxed $ 21,000 75K - taxed $ 18,750
125K - taxed $ 38,750 125K ? taxed $ 31,250

Barack Obama promises to return to the higher tax rates if elected.
It is amazing how many people that fall into the categories above think Bush is screwing them and Bill Clinton was the greatest President ever.
If elected, Barack Obama has already promised that he will repeal the Bush tax cuts, and amazingly, a good portion of the people that fall into the categories above can't wait for it to happen. This is like the movie The Sting with Paul Newman; you scam somebody out of some money and they don't even know what happened.

PART 3:

You think the war in Iraq is costing us too much? Read this: Boy, am I confused. I have been hammered with the propaganda that it is the Iraq war and the war on terror that is bankrupting us. I now find that to be RIDICULOUS. Read on... I hope the following 14 reasons are forwarded over and over again until they are read so many times that the reader gets sick of reading them. I have included the URL's for verification of all the following facts.

1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year by state governments. Verify at: http://tinyurl.com/zob77

2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens. Verify at: http://www.cis..org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html

3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens. Verify at: http://www.cis..org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html

4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English! Verify at: http://transcripts.CNN.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.0.HTML



5. $17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies. Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html

6. $3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens. Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html

7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens. Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html

8. $90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare & social services by the American taxpayers.
Verify at: http://premium.cnn.com/TRANSCIPTS/0610/29/ldt.01.html

9. $200 Billion Dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens. Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html


10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that's two and a half times that of white non-illegal aliens. In particular, their children, are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the US.
Verify at: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/12/ldt.01.html

11. During the year of 2005 there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our Southern Border also, as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from Terrorist Countries. Millions of pounds of drugs, cocaine, meth, heroin and marijuana, crossed into the U. S from the Southern border. Verify at: Homeland Security Report: http://tinyurl.com/t9sht

12. The National Policy Institute, 'estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period.
Verify at: http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/pdf/deportation.pdf

13. In 2006 illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances back to their countries of origin.
Verify at: http://www.rense.com/general75/niht.htm

14. 'The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration? : Nearly One Million Sex Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants In The United States. Verify at: http://www.drdsk.com/articleshtml

The total cost is a whopping $338.3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

It's me again...Ron

Seriously: PASS THIS ON! Tell as many people as you can.
Let me know what you think.
CYA

Weekend paradoxies

This weekend was very interesting.

Friday night was an amazing step in my personal journey. My bride and I went to see Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman in Cincinnati. These two men have accomplished so much professionally and yet the success they have is nothing in comparison to the rewards they will receive later. I witnessed in the audience a transformation of faith and spirit. These amazing voices showed such vulnerability and humility. It is an experience I will never forget; great guys, inspirational message.

Now Saturday was a tad less memorable. I recruited my boys for a bit a fall cleanup in the yard.

As my youngest and I were putting leafs into the wheel barrel, my neighbor behind our property came charging the fence. Her body language showed that this was not going to be a conversation filled with pleasantries.

She asked what were my intentions with the pile of leafs on the curb at the side of my property .

I said, I saw a sign at the end of the development announcing that Mason (our quasi town) had scheduled a debris pick up this week.

Here's the weird part: I have a Mason address, my kids attend Mason schools, however, due to annexation some years past, the majority of our lot is in Deerfield Township. Four feet on the back of our lot is in Mason. Although we do not pay the small income tax to Mason; we do pay our taxes to Warren County which pays Mason. Silly huh?

Look at the map of Deerfield Township and our property sits on a island surrounded by Mason. It's ridiculous, I have been fighting this situation since we arrived.

Getting back to the story:

Please understand that our properties are no less that a 1/2 acre which is more than enough room for all to live comfortably.

With Mason trucks picking up debris this week; I thought, as any rational person would: cool I put them out on the Mason side of the property. She didn't see it that way and informed me (in her condescending tone) that I was wrong on all counts. She professed: "You don't live in Mason!" Then she added: "Leaving your yard trimmings and leafs at the end of your driveway is really tacky Ron!". With her proclamation delivered: she just stormed away.

TACKY????

I guess she put me in my place. It must have been hard for her to have to:

1. Leave her castle in Mason.

2. To have to actually converse with someone from Deerfield Township. Considering my home cost less than hers! Not true! Look it up!

First of all: I was not about to get into a confrontation with her with my 9 year old right next to me. Add to that, I have so much history with this couple that having it out now was neither appropriate or very decent of me. Be the bigger person Right?

Well, enough is enough - as they say.

For 25 years since I purchased my first home, NEVER, have I had a bad relationship with a any neighbor. In fact, I would argue that we have an excellent history as neighbors. This couple, I believe, have a bazaar understanding of community living. Compromise and understanding are the keys to successful social habitation. They seem to think, or believe, that they have a right to protest and complain about every thing with in ear-shot or assisted by high powered binoculars.

I have done everything I can to accommodate their lifestyle needs.

1. Our dog would get out of the yard: I reinforced the fencing.

2. Forth of July fireworks made them uncomfortable: I moved our display to a neighbors.

3. Our dogs waste was causing them discomfort: I move the refuge spot and now I bag.

4. Our music was too loud on a Halloween Saturday night party: they called the police...the officer said that he sat outside for sometime and heard very little. He went on to ask "which neighbor did you not invite". A few days later; we went over to their home to ask why would the call the police on our party? She said the noise woke up the baby and then the baby would not go back to sleep! REALLY! Babies don't sleep when you want them to? Fascinating! Call the Pediatrician, alert the researchers.

AND NOW THIS - LEAFS...SERIOUSLY! Numerous neighbors say I should blow the leafs and dog poop towards the end of MY property and leave (get-it) it there.

Yesterday, I borrowed a friends truck and we hauled the debris away.

I know, I caved. Once again the peace maker...STUPID!!!

So, I have decided not to let this continue. I will write about it; get it out of my system and the next time I see either of them approach my fence say with conviction: GET OFF OF MY PROPERTY AND PEACE BE WITH YOU!

Adding insult to injury...

I thought I would start today's notes with a bit of history.

Many years ago I had reconstructive surgery on my right shoulder-twice!

Due to numerous sports injuries and when I was 13, a 1973 Fleetwood Cadillac (no, not that one) ran over me when my family was camping in the mountains of Colorado...a story for another time. Any way, last year about this time, I fell ,strained or threw something...I don't know it just hurt.

I went to see Super Doc - Timothy Linker, MD (513-701-5510); my family physician and Sports Medicine specialist. After numerous test, Cortisone shots and months of pain meds, It was decided that I have surgery. That was on September 12th of this year. It has been a loooooong and very painful recovery. In fact the story continues...I will fill you in later. What happened this morning just made me mad! I woke up around 12:30am, 2am and 3am last night to a sneeze-fest with a dry throat and cough. Just as I was starting to feel ready to get back into the swing of things!

I know that I am not alone when it comes to hating the common cold. The trips to the pharmacy, tissue piles, the aches and frustration and making the introductory "please excuse my voice, I have a bit of a cold". It's not that it is anything close to say: chemo or open heart surgery, it's just a pain in the neck! I personally have made it my goal top take the Zicam http://www.zicam.com/products challenge: 2 sprays up the nose every 4 hours. Let's see if this really does the job! Any other remidies you can suggest would be helpful!

Tonight, my cold and I..... and my wife of course; are off to a concert downtown at the Aronoff Center for the Performing Arts in Cincinnati. We are seeing Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman. We have been fans of Steven's since our oldest Lucas was born ; he's now 13. Even if you have no need for inspirational music in your life, this guy really gets ya. Give him a try at www.stevencurtischapman.com and tell me what you think.

This is all the time I have for this blog today. I need to get back to the job search.

Tell me what you think...cya

The Stock Market today

I had lunch with my wife and a friend today at Casadorez in Mason. [It was very good!]
We discussed the stock market and the housing market and why this bad turn in the markets had to happen.
I've been lending to businesses for nearly 15 years and was recently the Senior Commercial Lender here in Cincinnati. When I took the job in 2005 my initial instructions where to remove anything that had to do with the previous owners and to get a handle on the loan portfolio. The job of due diligence on my part and that of the staff was tedious to say the least. Documents missing in every file, missing credit evaluation records, etc. it was a mess! Loans where made that would make the rookie credit analyst stop and ask some serious questions. These loans where done because: rates were high, property values were high and appraisals were easily accommodating. When I reported the delinquencies and the condition of these loans to headquarters I was told to get them refinanced somewhere else or stay closely "on top of them" so that we wouldn't had a failing portfolio. I was told by a Senior Credit Officer when I took the job that the acquisition of this "thrift-bank" was the worst he had ever seen.
I was left to clean up the mess while trying to build a new commercial lending platform. A few months in to the job, auditors came in and notified the bank that they were looking to downgrade 25% of this newly acquired mess. So for the next 4 months I worked to mitigate, refinance, sell and litigate these horrible credits.
The mess we're in today was predicted! Whenever my family would go to visit my wife's family in South Florida, I was and still am, amazed at how high the prices of properties have gone up. The reasons vary but one is that the speculation market was out of control!
The construction of high rises in downtown Miami was crazy. I would laugh out loud and tell friends of how the now highest building in Miami was an empty condo and hotel. [Still is! The Four Seasons Tower on Brickell]. I did say years earlier: this must correct itself. These markets in Florida, California and Arizona cannot support this outrageous growth.
Example: My Brother and Sister-in-law bought a beautiful 4 bedroom, 3 bath home in western Dade County 3 years ago. The purchase price was around $300K. A little over a year later their neighbor was selling the very same home as theirs for $700K plus! Mortgage and real estate brokers were calling, leaving cards and presenting mock proposals at their door!
Only problem for my in-laws was they could never sell; because every piece of property in Florida was going upjust as rapidly as theirs. They were smart and stayed. Tens of thousands, cashed out on their new found equity riches. They bought very expensive cars, boats, second homes, jewelry and went on shopping sprees. They traveled, bought season tickets to the Heat games and Broadway shows...it was insane! Some, traded in that equity for much bigger, more expensive homes. That was the biggest mistake of all! Lenders couldn't push they money in to their purses fast enough. They couldn't close the loans fast enough. They couldn't close two at once...but, I'm sure they tried. They too were getting very rich!
Once, a lender of mine, informed me that an appraiser that he worked with, would get him an appraisal at the number we needed! In other words: If the borrower wanted $400K and we could only lend maybe $350K: the appraisal would come in at $500K or 80%: what every we needed. Didn't matter the price...I was appalled and that lender was subsequently let go.
This was happening all over South Florida and the rest of the country.
The market place had to correct this greed; and it is. Only thing, some believe that the government can fix it: it cannot. There must be sacrifices and casualties of this greed. People should and will loose homes (not primary homes but second and third homes), lenders will fail and investors will bail. We will be OK only if everyone bites the proverbial bullet and stands down. It's time to rest.
Today, I said at lunch that the market is going down to 8,000 before it turns North. It will be a slow recovery but, we will recover...........This afternoon it closed at 8,579!
Tomorrow is another day.....right?
What do you think?