tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323512442024-03-13T14:47:09.353-05:00Papa Frank"Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike." -- Theodore RooseveltPapa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.comBlogger395125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-57852264243426171242011-01-13T01:24:00.001-06:002011-01-13T01:25:23.744-06:00Just In CaseJust in case ANYONE in the blogmosphere still remembers me I am alive. ;0)Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-47172891778753054602010-01-18T09:12:00.001-06:002010-01-18T09:12:58.857-06:00Rest in Peace Dr. King<object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MgZYlTpRoRc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MgZYlTpRoRc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object>Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-57014342407136614472009-12-21T20:30:00.002-06:002009-12-21T20:30:56.040-06:00New Court Ruling<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2-ANp-qWNcFoUF3ci7G8IJGMArfy107zrVdPBt3Ek7G0R1h3w2S-NU1o7sJKTye8l8myM7hSiiGbj9fffkhyphenhyphenVJkOaKF2tBRbUKa_MgIM18twA9xP16EL_9L_oyZoyumtG0CmuQ/s1600-h/burger+king.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 385px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2-ANp-qWNcFoUF3ci7G8IJGMArfy107zrVdPBt3Ek7G0R1h3w2S-NU1o7sJKTye8l8myM7hSiiGbj9fffkhyphenhyphenVJkOaKF2tBRbUKa_MgIM18twA9xP16EL_9L_oyZoyumtG0CmuQ/s400/burger+king.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417882345203700898" /></a><br />This just in from CNN..The Supreme Court has ruled there can't be a Nativity Scene in the United States Capital this Christmas season. Not for any religious reason. They simply have not been able to find Three Wise Men in Washington. The search for a Virgin continues. There wasn't any problem, however, finding enough asses to fill the stable.Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-69146420045935646372009-12-01T20:44:00.002-06:002009-12-01T20:45:57.200-06:00Wisdom of a Common Man<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOq73NG8IS8gwMal4J8UZNDzkOuwBDJ0_G4nlcq6cr4BFWxMUcXJmJlGLw1YFtbEO3sXbfllye-x9HeUVT-PS6RbgRwPiQW3TEe_dMh2L3smeSwknc-cM1_ACWqaARt33qtvVFfA/s1600-h/will-rogers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOq73NG8IS8gwMal4J8UZNDzkOuwBDJ0_G4nlcq6cr4BFWxMUcXJmJlGLw1YFtbEO3sXbfllye-x9HeUVT-PS6RbgRwPiQW3TEe_dMh2L3smeSwknc-cM1_ACWqaARt33qtvVFfA/s400/will-rogers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410464578937134354" /></a><br /> "Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip." -- Will RogersPapa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-3169450491615270942009-11-17T20:30:00.000-06:002009-11-17T20:31:23.922-06:00It's About That Time Again!!!<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xIX2OUETAfY&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xIX2OUETAfY&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-64901159492734145552009-11-11T16:56:00.002-06:002009-11-11T16:59:15.546-06:00Thank You<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QuEEw11sdJBMaGCP3dOrI6mQP9TU4_BEe5fWxtzJogeM-x37SINnMBrs9MVzMR6QAT7dW6DA83pi75gTB_nEHi4L5F5AnqZkfzU_8hyphenhyphenCDxTs4P6_-cnv_XCDzOyKk6UcwGRAiQ/s1600-h/VeteransDay2007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QuEEw11sdJBMaGCP3dOrI6mQP9TU4_BEe5fWxtzJogeM-x37SINnMBrs9MVzMR6QAT7dW6DA83pi75gTB_nEHi4L5F5AnqZkfzU_8hyphenhyphenCDxTs4P6_-cnv_XCDzOyKk6UcwGRAiQ/s400/VeteransDay2007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402984460096824930" /></a><br />American troops are the strongest, bravest, and best anywhere in the world. They have never been afraid to meet any foe on any field of battle anywhere. I am humbled by the amazing sacrifices these people and their families have made for our country in general and for my family and I specifically. Thank you very much to all who have served or are serving.Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-7329748374466922542009-10-11T20:08:00.005-05:002009-10-12T16:27:12.417-05:00For My Friend Z<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEJ9oDGozBPTEE2qlv6yrQgv3SRMZ0pXtC6zQ2PD-rihZhFh83sVHSZw_nkkKVLfoa9B94UI6ndarynJsDkYyOGKiD1970zW70lqIEbL_WZIsRb0SXQlcVEz4av0ygC_l_9fNpw/s1600-h/paradise.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEJ9oDGozBPTEE2qlv6yrQgv3SRMZ0pXtC6zQ2PD-rihZhFh83sVHSZw_nkkKVLfoa9B94UI6ndarynJsDkYyOGKiD1970zW70lqIEbL_WZIsRb0SXQlcVEz4av0ygC_l_9fNpw/s400/paradise.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391514361314018930" /></a><br /><br />My thoughts and prayers are with you.Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-76600495761171463192009-10-10T14:37:00.000-05:002009-10-10T14:38:31.628-05:00SNL May Be On To Something Here<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YT5Kl38fSVY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YT5Kl38fSVY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-71011732102706836732009-10-09T17:14:00.003-05:002009-10-09T17:17:42.060-05:00Newsflash<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjil4NuramVDjmVZ94hWFKgE7zSJlpLrO2m5qcDMsdy5eLktQY4W87lzzVLSOf-3P7k0qbmOJ7v8z2RYTInAl9p_pKBrm-8jg6E1R-kw-9V0R86NwwpbVmH0BTDqklls1ccH_JFOQ/s1600-h/obamabong.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjil4NuramVDjmVZ94hWFKgE7zSJlpLrO2m5qcDMsdy5eLktQY4W87lzzVLSOf-3P7k0qbmOJ7v8z2RYTInAl9p_pKBrm-8jg6E1R-kw-9V0R86NwwpbVmH0BTDqklls1ccH_JFOQ/s400/obamabong.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390727889520583586" /></a><br />This just in: Obama has just been named the winner of Survivor, So You Think You Can Dance, America's Got Talent, American Idol (I can see their point on that one), the Master's golf tournament, the Indy 500, the Preakness, and was given more gold medals than Michael Phelps. Phelps and Obama are now going to have a summit and share a bong on the Whitehouse lawn to reconcile.Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-32764776500168826352009-10-03T00:56:00.002-05:002009-10-03T00:57:47.914-05:00Just For A Laugh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE56d65Gq2GZVtln-F1WbtLyUrcLtGfPGRM7KI2KRQe4BYwuUzjv9aUzojQqQ5qf2pW_qC4JT-PDBec7C7X1xJW-UkaKZIG0szMRBmBznMbwLFmYgpFg175ZgJo2kP5hKpCoywEg/s1600-h/obamaolympic.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE56d65Gq2GZVtln-F1WbtLyUrcLtGfPGRM7KI2KRQe4BYwuUzjv9aUzojQqQ5qf2pW_qC4JT-PDBec7C7X1xJW-UkaKZIG0szMRBmBznMbwLFmYgpFg175ZgJo2kP5hKpCoywEg/s400/obamaolympic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388248885818601154" /></a>Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-45824271814306442662009-10-02T20:22:00.000-05:002009-10-02T20:23:01.512-05:00Just In Case You've Grown Complacent<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SQcJ9tPvy-4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SQcJ9tPvy-4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-7272534502120045712009-09-16T22:29:00.003-05:002009-09-16T22:31:11.657-05:00Common Ground<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/L7KMdAaaOy8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/L7KMdAaaOy8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />It seems that Papa Frank and Obama have finally found some common ground. When asked about Kanye West's latest outburst of idiocy Obama made the poignant observation that Kanye West is a jackass. For a small moment here I am proud of you Mr. President.Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-87083071638094914452009-09-04T16:30:00.000-05:002009-09-04T16:31:24.730-05:00I Am Proud Of Our School DistrictThe Belton School District has received a number of inquiries regarding its plans for President Obama’s address to students on Sept. 8. In light of those inquiries, we have adopted the following plans.<br /> <br />The Belton School District will observe a normal school schedule on Sept. 8. No classrooms will view President Obama’s address live. The administration will view and tape the president’s address to American school children. The tape may be used in the future as a curriculum resource in appropriate classes. In that event, parents will be notified by teachers if they plan to use the tape in class. Parents may elect to remove their child during the viewing and discussion of the president’s talk. Students not participating will be assigned an alternative learning activity to cover the class objective for that day.<br /> <br />The tape of President Obama’s address will be available for parent check-out in every school library. Parents may check out the tape for home viewing with their children. If a group of parents would like to view the tape together with their children they may make arrangements to use a school library for that purpose.Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-46153128542068251962009-09-02T22:39:00.002-05:002009-09-02T22:42:33.220-05:00The Indoctrination Begins September 8th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkckHmLOe1jhZv3xFjONYuxIqaOQcMAW3wdz8C2IfyIkmNk07XUCu-J4s4WLdblodw24_LiWZ42zBBBKJUhsAAjKEIVzUbNe8aRqW6_jfVV6KKtI-WgdguYL76dKaGs2bDr1baWA/s1600-h/obama_youth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkckHmLOe1jhZv3xFjONYuxIqaOQcMAW3wdz8C2IfyIkmNk07XUCu-J4s4WLdblodw24_LiWZ42zBBBKJUhsAAjKEIVzUbNe8aRqW6_jfVV6KKtI-WgdguYL76dKaGs2bDr1baWA/s400/obama_youth.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377081465775860562" /></a><br />Menu of Classroom Activities<br />President Obama’s Address to Students Across America <br />(PreK-6)<br /><br />Produced by Teaching Ambassador Fellows, U.S. Department of Education<br /><br />September 8, 2009<br /><br />Before the Speech<br />• Teachers can build background knowledge about the President of the United States and his speech by reading books about presidents and Barack Obama. Teachers could motivate students by asking the following questions:<br />Who is the President of the United States?<br />What do you think it takes to be president?<br />To whom do you think the president is going to be speaking?<br />Why do you think he wants to speak to you?<br />What do you think he will say to you?<br />• Teachers can ask students to imagine that they are delivering a speech to all of the students in the United States. <br />If you were the president, what would you tell students? <br />What can students do to help in our schools? <br />Teachers can chart ideas about what students would say.<br />• Why is it important that we listen to the president and other elected officials, like the mayor, senators, members of congress, or the governor? Why is what they say important?<br />During the Speech<br />• As the president speaks, teachers can ask students to write down key ideas or phrases that are important or personally meaningful. Students could use a note-taking graphic organizer such as a “cluster web;” or, students could record their thoughts on sticky notes. Younger children could draw pictures and write as appropriate. As students listen to the speech, they could think about the following: <br />What is the president trying to tell me?<br />What is the president asking me to do?<br />What new ideas and actions is the president challenging me to think about?<br />• Students could record important parts of the speech where the president is asking them to do something. Students might think about the following: <br />What specific job is he asking me to do? <br />Is he asking anything of anyone else? <br />Teachers? Principals? Parents? The American people?<br />• Students could record questions they have while he is speaking and then discuss them after the speech. Younger children may need to dictate their questions.<br /><br />After the Speech<br />• Teachers could ask students to share the ideas they recorded, exchange sticky notes, or place notes on a butcher-paper poster in the classroom to discuss main ideas from the speech, such as citizenship, personal responsibility, and civic duty.<br />• Students could discuss their responses to the following questions:<br />What do you think the president wants us to do?<br />Does the speech make you want to do anything?<br />Are we able to do what President Obama is asking of us?<br />What would you like to tell the president?<br /><br />Extension of the Speech<br /><br /> Teachers could extend learning by having students:<br />• Create posters of their goals. Posters could be formatted in quadrants, puzzle pieces, or trails marked with the following labels: personal, academic, community, and country. Each area could be labeled with three steps for achieving goals in that area. It might make sense to focus first on personal and academic goals so that community and country goals can be more readily created.<br />• Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals. Teachers would collect and redistribute these letters at an appropriate later date to enable students to monitor their progress.<br />• Write goals on colored index cards or precut designs to post around the classroom.<br />• Interview one another and share goals with the class to create a supportive community.<br />• Participate in school-wide incentive programs or contests for those students who achieve their goals.<br />• Write about their goals in a variety of genres, such as poems, songs, and personal essays.<br />• Create artistic projects based on the themes of their goals.<br />• Graph individual progress toward goals.Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-77675400753642682822009-08-26T17:12:00.003-05:002009-08-26T17:13:30.417-05:00Rest in Peace Mary Jo Kopechne<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyP_CHsv0j-xKlytKFvwP7XUQ82qTw9OypKIT8-Vf151m32d4hlZbugc9fBRHkb9ZF7GTzQdugXskqk7hpaGvSk_fwfzMkifuKZacEe4EyfI65yRSdK17F0torkbQYrRkWgRwMQ/s1600-h/mary_jo_kopechne_42.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyP_CHsv0j-xKlytKFvwP7XUQ82qTw9OypKIT8-Vf151m32d4hlZbugc9fBRHkb9ZF7GTzQdugXskqk7hpaGvSk_fwfzMkifuKZacEe4EyfI65yRSdK17F0torkbQYrRkWgRwMQ/s400/mary_jo_kopechne_42.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374399086111874994" /></a>Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-51833545168878575322009-08-23T19:47:00.002-05:002009-08-23T20:37:48.315-05:00What's It To Ya?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AxA5FJMZwIkhmQL894sMJD8zZ4RM5RDtyEfO0WRXIDilv6aUELjWyHhjKDDz0FTYYMO0-OaRwtMhaufhIq_You2Js47x_lfWoIWvnY1Lkd5FpiwwVL81xu_Pn36aBi4yv0zLYg/s1600-h/blazinglybeautiful.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AxA5FJMZwIkhmQL894sMJD8zZ4RM5RDtyEfO0WRXIDilv6aUELjWyHhjKDDz0FTYYMO0-OaRwtMhaufhIq_You2Js47x_lfWoIWvnY1Lkd5FpiwwVL81xu_Pn36aBi4yv0zLYg/s400/blazinglybeautiful.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373338492398316738" /></a><br />My family and I visited a new church this morning. The pastor there used a phrase in passing that stuck out to me. He said that something was a "blazingly beautiful experience." Those that have been around here for quite some time might recall that beauty is something that I hold dear. In fact I am in a never ending pursuit of the beautiful. Beauty is something that has not been talked about much on this blog lately and that is something that I am going to change. In that vein, I would like to ponder here what a "blazingly beautiful experience" would be to me. Beautiful is the word here that stands out to most and can be defined as: "delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration." Though this is the most commonly used word in the phrase it is also perhaps the toughest to nail down. By it's own definition it is the essence of subjectivity. So I say: why try? <br /><br />What have I experienced that I would classify as blazingly beautiful? As with the pastor, the first thing that comes to mind is my experience as a child where I chose to place my life in the hands of an Almighty God. That experience is etched on my mind and is one that I will take with me as long as I have breath. The moment I stood with my wife in front of a large group of friends and family and professed my love for her and my desire to forever join my life with hers. That was a blazingly beautiful experience. The morning that I watched as my twin girls were brought into this world and I held them in my arms and stared at their beautiful faces and held their tiny fingers in my seemingly gigantic hands. That was a blazingly beautiful experience. These are earth shattering and life changing experiences. Easy to see how they could be blazingly beautiful. However, I would offer that the majority of blazingly beautiful experiences in my life are very quiet and unassuming. Things that may be easily passed over by an onlooker. Yet to me they are times of magnitude. Standing in my plain white sheet "ghost" costume as a child waiting to take my first breath of cold Michigan air and mutter the words "trick or treat." My father taking the time to walk around the neighborhood and just talk with me as a child. My mother laying me on her lap in the car and gently breathing warm air in my ear to soothe the pain of an earache. Staying up all night with my wife on accident. Sleeping in my chair while holding my daughters. Watching a child at that very moment when they "get it" and learn something. Sitting in the woods holding a gun and watching intently for anything through the mist of warm breath and cold air. A perfect meal. A sunset shared with my family. And a thousand things in between all these events. <br /><br />What do you find to be a blazingly beautiful experience?Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-28931636230131599002009-08-09T16:39:00.003-05:002009-08-09T16:40:21.947-05:00Obamacare - The Reality Of It<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuTfBJdMFR82lfPEOFbNTU5vchyxxId6OZmZt5Sx8S6qrTH8k5oQ0VOJKeQTSOQ5AdfyW8rpvL7J1qfEhQZm2XWhyIbrXp-DQ3ochhO7M7LPrMtxhjjLCJUKIhdyN_W1doQWJDA/s1600-h/obamacare.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuTfBJdMFR82lfPEOFbNTU5vchyxxId6OZmZt5Sx8S6qrTH8k5oQ0VOJKeQTSOQ5AdfyW8rpvL7J1qfEhQZm2XWhyIbrXp-DQ3ochhO7M7LPrMtxhjjLCJUKIhdyN_W1doQWJDA/s400/obamacare.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368082099855226930" /></a>Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-41581379083838426232009-08-06T18:44:00.002-05:002009-08-06T18:45:53.595-05:00Any Thoughts?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGW0CWR9EGSPxsJIJInp1IBWGEgEKZ8oY0eLVN-aqzYhNIdgjUG7l2aHKz8S9Oxg2Xt3avC5OxkyWjrq9via96T__opmnN2fRD4SUs07anLF1WGDK1wbOYZpd6by88wOWwinkl4w/s1600-h/joker2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGW0CWR9EGSPxsJIJInp1IBWGEgEKZ8oY0eLVN-aqzYhNIdgjUG7l2aHKz8S9Oxg2Xt3avC5OxkyWjrq9via96T__opmnN2fRD4SUs07anLF1WGDK1wbOYZpd6by88wOWwinkl4w/s400/joker2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367001212040231522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyxA2JhNqEfmUnV6Bz9sjgx_FaDQJh_c-CS2lNnQ8YZpbqe99nXcQT8qzH4PvjVko7ebS2jMmoYFc1OVOHnWWSUM6Acn2smRqlhj65RXmBy15xDU5WCWyhWLmA3DYqlstkhqBrg/s1600-h/joker1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyxA2JhNqEfmUnV6Bz9sjgx_FaDQJh_c-CS2lNnQ8YZpbqe99nXcQT8qzH4PvjVko7ebS2jMmoYFc1OVOHnWWSUM6Acn2smRqlhj65RXmBy15xDU5WCWyhWLmA3DYqlstkhqBrg/s400/joker1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367001205356261890" /></a>Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-12887369294715805292009-08-04T17:06:00.003-05:002009-08-04T17:12:02.087-05:00Happy Birthday???<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgcUJ-vzje4X73uNSoQLF2LVqScH_GcjWWstNayDvhyuyLQ39PJu71mEiVhIrwjpr2lV_0HUwGdfBh-r1P1lJWOyTNOJcIN4QKCprs56FtqjOma5_447eU4dOhSMXTXmkSttIOg/s1600-h/question-mark1a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgcUJ-vzje4X73uNSoQLF2LVqScH_GcjWWstNayDvhyuyLQ39PJu71mEiVhIrwjpr2lV_0HUwGdfBh-r1P1lJWOyTNOJcIN4QKCprs56FtqjOma5_447eU4dOhSMXTXmkSttIOg/s400/question-mark1a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366234851809521234" /></a><br />I would like to wish our President a happy birthday today. Of course, since his birth certificate is still as elusive as Bigfoot we don't really know how old he is or if today is even his birthday at all. So Happy Birthday Mr. President.........maybe.Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-84877854516138340772009-07-30T17:42:00.003-05:002009-07-30T17:50:13.475-05:00Red Stripe, Blue Moon, and the White House<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFlQd-1XnnWwV2NJ5F03GaJE_aq5DGxT3jyQFKRBInz6cjo1EbT5ct6ZeFYJx8iFLU16EQfYMY9GY4dOF-twiOP2g7MkXg6UaymQp3-J0dzrqLiq9QeipYunEI0p95F2pa_CiMQ/s1600-h/beersummit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 209px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFlQd-1XnnWwV2NJ5F03GaJE_aq5DGxT3jyQFKRBInz6cjo1EbT5ct6ZeFYJx8iFLU16EQfYMY9GY4dOF-twiOP2g7MkXg6UaymQp3-J0dzrqLiq9QeipYunEI0p95F2pa_CiMQ/s400/beersummit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364388325710009298" /></a><br />How many beers does it take to solve a dispute falsely labeled a race issue? If you find yourself in a dispute maybe you too can go drinking with the President of the free world. We'll just call it diplomacy for dummies (or drunks).Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-56734253931299297472009-07-29T18:31:00.002-05:002009-07-29T18:50:06.080-05:00Car Allowance Rebate System<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAFTgEUQckjf4Jkg5wGP2p-O48xtY-SbF1H7uZ3_bYMTnt4_WqxmxR3-7mMRSZZqrETvowp24k1LVyzYEcKjoFyLNNPC7WHbAXre9DsIz1ZttqLnmE1H4cCMdTtJNixJ6HzI-5w/s1600-h/CashForClunkers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAFTgEUQckjf4Jkg5wGP2p-O48xtY-SbF1H7uZ3_bYMTnt4_WqxmxR3-7mMRSZZqrETvowp24k1LVyzYEcKjoFyLNNPC7WHbAXre9DsIz1ZttqLnmE1H4cCMdTtJNixJ6HzI-5w/s400/CashForClunkers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364033609264438962" /></a><br />First things first folks. My apologies for my disappearance. I offer no excuses just a simple apology. I'll try not to be gone so long in the future. Now on to the new post.....<br /><br />By now you have certainly heard of the "cash for clunkers" legislation (or as it is actually called the Car Allowance Rebate System.) I have been saying for a long time now that the best way to help the American car companies was not to just hand them billions of dollars but to instead give that money to citizens in the form of a rebate for buying new cars. That way your money goes twice as far since you have helped the common consumer as well as got the needed revenue into the hands of the car companies. Not only that but you helped them while increasing their sales and not just "bailed them out" but did nothing to help the real problem which is the fact that they were not selling cars. Enter the new CARS legislation. This program would appear to be doing exactly what I thought would be a better idea. One little problem. The legislation and the program is not focused on helping the American car companies or you and I for that matter. Instead the main focus of the program is on continuing the agenda of so-called environmentalists. The government does not care if one single American car is bought. They only care that we get more fuel efficient vehicles on the road no matter who they come from. Here's a little excerpt from their FAQ section:<br /><br />"I don't drive an American car but I would like to trade in my old car for a newer, more fuel efficient one. Is this program only for American cars?<br />No. You may trade in or buy a domestic or a foreign vehicle."<br /><br />I hope the other countries of the world are grateful for our continued pursuit of minding their interest and not our own.Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-56069113307103857442009-07-03T23:59:00.002-05:002009-07-04T00:09:12.634-05:00Sweet Land of Liberty<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ovJYzg7wLq_EtFaVvm1g25nRRve99fwWhh0ULZQkUPUtyy6ea2eIkURknZb3M5jHnDVJnVgxkh9h8__d2jcSqIC8KHXrT-9xFIZniRGp4BgT-kUQQ9QwbjZpOhPQey2FWDGX2g/s1600-h/flagbarn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ovJYzg7wLq_EtFaVvm1g25nRRve99fwWhh0ULZQkUPUtyy6ea2eIkURknZb3M5jHnDVJnVgxkh9h8__d2jcSqIC8KHXrT-9xFIZniRGp4BgT-kUQQ9QwbjZpOhPQey2FWDGX2g/s400/flagbarn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354467638800460642" /></a><br /> My country,' tis of thee, <br /> sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing; <br /> land where my fathers died, <br /> land of the pilgrims' pride, <br /> from every mountainside let freedom ring! <br /><br /> My native country, thee, <br /> land of the noble free, thy name I love; <br /> I love thy rocks and rills, <br /> thy woods and templed hills; <br /> my heart with rapture thrills, like that above. <br /><br /> Let music swell the breeze, <br /> and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song; <br /> let mortal tongues awake; <br /> let all that breathe partake; <br /> let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong. <br /><br /> Our fathers' God, to thee, <br /> author of liberty, to thee we sing; <br /> long may our land be bright <br /> with freedom's holy light; <br /> protect us by thy might, great God, our King.Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-56590161673164377942009-07-02T23:38:00.001-05:002009-07-02T23:51:21.740-05:00God is Great...Beer is Good...and People are Crazy<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jv3ujzEC6jg&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jv3ujzEC6jg&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-13187146414008900362009-07-01T17:36:00.003-05:002009-07-01T18:07:12.685-05:00Moron of the Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Vy5ZW31FyJWsKfuPoyTwoC33nGLgqdTiQTrPBJbNa8Cjyu6h8OVHZ7n18stU-xZLkYi_EwSZ-C3JCwdTdewfJhSHAZWcxANBlzbtA9i8x4NtFg7smCDHH6_qMZioF8t9Bv7hiQ/s1600-h/moron.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Vy5ZW31FyJWsKfuPoyTwoC33nGLgqdTiQTrPBJbNa8Cjyu6h8OVHZ7n18stU-xZLkYi_EwSZ-C3JCwdTdewfJhSHAZWcxANBlzbtA9i8x4NtFg7smCDHH6_qMZioF8t9Bv7hiQ/s400/moron.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353626488309226594" /></a><br />I would like to award the Moron of the Day award to Rudy Clay, the mayor of Gary, Indiana. In his bid to persuade the Jackson family to bury Michael Jackson in Gary, Indiana he offered the following:<br /><br /> "I believe that his body will lie in state in Gary, Indiana. Now, it may not happen, but I believe it will." He added it will be: "a memorial that's fit for the prince of peace and a memorial that's fit for Gary, Indiana's favorite son, the greatest entertainer that ever lived."<br /><br />I would like to inform the mayor of Gary, Indiana that the title of Prince of Peace is already taken. Unless, of course, he would like to push the person to whom that title belongs off His throne. You, sir, are a moron. Not a very good week for mayors. SHEESH!!!Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32351244.post-48933867812690498782009-06-28T10:57:00.002-05:002009-06-28T11:00:38.755-05:00Coup in Honduras<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGic2l6aHlgMbBiCUmD7h_QYdKpmP9sk725vdutf4ZloFymeUCH35j25DKz-L8IlOKBA495eZU1mxZIuGRK6ShcVR33jidUzPHWAX_xMQ71j58IHm7LNhCVeIDRz9Hniz5iFkl0A/s1600-h/honduras-map.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGic2l6aHlgMbBiCUmD7h_QYdKpmP9sk725vdutf4ZloFymeUCH35j25DKz-L8IlOKBA495eZU1mxZIuGRK6ShcVR33jidUzPHWAX_xMQ71j58IHm7LNhCVeIDRz9Hniz5iFkl0A/s400/honduras-map.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352408994747197522" /></a><br />Caracas, Venezuela, 28 June 2009. The democratically elected President of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya, has been abducted by the local Air Force from the government Palace at Tegucigalpa early this morning. The kidnapping took place on the very same day Honudurans would vote over a referendum call for a Constituent Assembly. Such political initiative caused opposition at some conservative cadress and the destitution of the Chief of the Honduran Army Romeo Vásquez Velásquez. The ongoing coup has been fueled by military sectors that opposed the attempt to change presidential terms by a Constittutional reform. Zelaya was initially supported by conservatives but then rejected once his government followed a left leaning agenda and established close ties with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and joined ALBA. Pro government supporters of President Manuel Zelaya have been protesting at the presidential palace and confronted military personnel. Power supply has been disrupted. Radio Station are unable to broadcast on the current crisis. Opposition led Honduran channel 11 has been broadcasting cartoons instead of reporting on the coup. The local governmental TV station - Channel 8 -has halted its transmission. Very few private stations are reoporting on the ongoing coup. Only two days ago, OAS had expressed concern over ottempts to ovewrthorow the democratically elected government in Honduras. During a Telesur interview with Hector Zelaya, son of the ousted President, unconfirmed information suggested the Head of State was taken out of the country. It is believed Zelaya is at Costa Rica or Guatemala. All other Minister- except Honduran Foreing Secretay Patricia Rodas- had been abducted too.Papa Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544402123543832168noreply@blogger.com4