Thanks for the funny photo LadyGator

A commentary on America as a whole.

This post is going to be long and convoluted, and twisting, and probably with lots of tangential stuff to go along with it, but you don't have to know Calculus to be able to understand it on the surface level. In the end, it is me complaining about a problem I had today. Not an earth shattering issue or anything like that, but still it affected me. It will end up costing me money that I didn't know I was going to be spending today when I woke up. This post is Just Like Calculus itself, a long and messy way to talk about an outcome in Math, Except this is a long and messy way to talk about one little thing that happened to me towards the end of the day. Much like they use Calculus to figure out how Commercial airliners flying into one hundred plus story buildings causes them to collapse, or why a heat shield on a space shuttle needs to stay on the actual shuttle itself, This post is about that. It is a a commentary on America, both good and bad, but more importantly it is a commentary on Miami Hurricane Football, Gas prices in America, and the overall ingenuity of overcoming obstacles. You will certainly be able to understand the words, and then the sentences, and even the paragraphs, but in the end I don't know if it ties together or not, just like Calculus is math, but not math that normal people use. This post is a bunch of letters and sentences that probably doesn't make any sense either, except maybe to me.

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Because I opened this post with a metaphor about Calculus and confusion, I have A tangential thought about me and calculus. Which is also a true story. A story I have told to some people before, so if you heard it from my mouth, now you can read it in my blog.

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I am a College Graduate. I have a Degree in Business Management. Part of the requirements to get that degree was to pass Calculus. I went to an accredited University in America. I earned a Bachelors in Business Management, in which one of the requirements was to get at least A "C" in Calculus, and I did that.

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At no time in my life, including now, but more importantly then, when I earned that "C", have I ever understood Calculus. Also, I did not Cheat to get that "C" in Calculus. I passed Calculus because I knew that I had to, in order to reach my goal of earning a College Degree in Business Management, and calculus was just some bullshit that I had to jump through to get it. This is something I am proud of and speaks to the American way itself. (Bill pats himself on the back)

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Here is how I did it. First I had to take an uncredited remedial Algebra course in order to get into Algebra 2, which I did, and then in Algebra 2, and following that, Geometry and all that other math stuff, they gave me college credits.

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I got "C's" but I sort of understood large portions of algebra and normal math and stuff, or at least some of it. I can actually do some algebra to this day. I was Just like a student is supposed to be. Get a class, listen to the professors, do the homework, figure it out blah blah blah. After all that, I had finally qualified myself to take Calculus, which, as I said before, I wasn't doing because I gave a shit, but because it was a requirement.

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I took that class, and then just before the deadline to drop it, and not have it reflect on my grades, I dumped that stupid thing and went skiing most of the rest of that semester on the Fridays. (Calculus met Mon,Tues, Thurs and Fridays, all my other classes were Mon thru Thurs, it just made better sense to have three day weekends which is another reason Calculus sucked.) Good for me, because I was failing it miserably, even though I went to every class and tried to do the homework and stuff. I was failing it when I dropped it. Then the next semester I took it again, and again failing it just before the deadline, I dropped it. The following semester, I took it again, and you can probably see the pattern. I dropped it again. (I can ski narrow ass double black diamonds with moguls though, not many Florida boys can do that and I thank Calculus class for that ability of mine.)

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Then on the fourth time I took the class, I had an A going into the drop deadline and I did NOT drop it. I had that "A" because I kept all my notes from all the other times, and maybe some of it absorbed into my skin or something. I studied the answers, and even though the questions weren't necessarily the same, I had been through it enough, that the tests I had taken up until the drop deadline were similar enough. I knew more about what the answers were then the actual math underlying it, that I ended up having that "A", but I didn't know how the hell it worked at all.

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So for the last half of that semester I was like Jimmy Johnson winning his third Nextel Cup, I just had to ride out the lead, finish the second semester tests, and not wreck the ride or fail to finish. I could make "f"s , They just couldn't be really bad "F's". Jimmy Johnson just had to come in 36th or better at Homestead to win his third Cup. Basically he had to not wreck, and I had to have "good "f"s'", they had to be the kind of "f"s that are almost "d"s, They had to be the kind of "f"'s' from a made for T.V. after school special. "f"s' that yes,,,,, they are street thugs, but, you know, good hearted street thugs, and I would do it. I hired a tutor, and I studied, and I paid attention and I made the Best "f"s I knew how, and in the end, I got a "C" and that is how I passed Calculus without understanding any of it. Also the Tutor I hired, she was hot, but nothing ever happened, other then doing Math at the Library. That's my Calculus story.

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But then today I saw this:
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That is a true Gas Price in America. a buckninetyfiveandninetenths. look, I did well in college in my Economics classes and understand supply and demand and capitalism in general, but when I saw this today I was shocked enough that I took the time to get the camera out and take a picture of it, then I siphoned out all the $2. 27 a gallon gas that I already had in my car just so I could have some of this nectar of the Middle East. ....Okay, I didn't really do that part, but I had used up all the $2.27 stuff in the millions of miles I drove today, and after I filled my tank with this buckninetyfiveandninetenths stuff, I swear to goodness my car had some more swagger. Kind of like the University of Miami had, till they went in to see those Engineers from Georgia Tech tonight, every single one of those Rambling Wreck players probably clearly understand Calculus. They won't let you in to Georgia Tech without a clear understanding of Calculus, even if you can bench 490 and run a 4.3 forty. That's a damn Engineering school, and calculus evidently has something to do with engineering, and they beat down the Hurricanes tonight.

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I am betting No one on the Georgia Tech Football team can ski skinny ass double black diamond mogul infested mountains though, And Hurricane Football? That reminds me of Auburn Football. They are basically the same thing. Kind of lackluster, wondering who they are, except Miami Football has Palm trees and hot ass coeds and Auburn Football has toilet paper on oak trees. Other then that, same thing. Which brings me to this:

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After filling up my American made automobile with the Middle Eastern supplied gasoline, I went to the next job. Many of you know my job is as an Insurance Adjuster. I look at damaged property, and write estimates, interpret insurance policies, do a little tiny bit of Algebra but mostly the math I do is addition and subtraction with a little bit of multiplication. All stuff I am capable of. I use tools to do this, including a software estimating program, Calculators, Cameras, Measuring Lasers, My ladder, etc. Well today, After my car filled up on all its swagger, and then I drove it to the last home of the day thinking about the possibility of the University of Miami actually winning the ACC, while simultaneously thinking of a couple of women that I know, and the overall joy of another day almost done earning the mighty American dollar, I had a tragic thing happen. I fell off my ladder. The same ladder that you can read about over in my side bar as one of my favorite posts. It wasn't my fault though, It was the ladder. It broke. Somewhere some ladder Engineer knows how to ski really well, but he doesn't understand engineering and at the heart of Engineering he probably doesn't understand Calculus. Which, Is okay for me. Not so much for the people that engineer ladders. In the end the 32 cents a gallon that I saved from my normal gasoline consumption, times about the ten Gallons I bought? That savings is not going to get me a new ladder, and its not going to get The Hurricanes a shot at the ACC championship. Ultimately my broken super ladder not only makes me sad because its going to cost me about $300 bucks to replace it, but it makes me question Engineers as a whole. Those guys should have similar Stories to mine in passing English, or History, Psychology, Economics etc. But how can you make a ladder that is supposed to hold up to a 300 pound guy, and a little skinny 245 pound dude crushes it? (and to all you that dont know me, it is a SVELTE 245 with Mostly Muscle from my body building days and just a little tiny bit of a belly) --- Shame on all the engineers that are really good skiiers.

Metaphorical treadmill

The Billster is Running on a Metaphorical treadmill. This is a fancy treadmill with all types of rules. Rule 1, You have to run at a 6 minute mile pace. Rule 2, its a marathon and not just one mile. It is day in and day out. if you walk for 30 seconds at a 14 minute mile pace that means you have to double time the other five minutes and thirty seconds to be able to keep the six minute mile pace. --- If you dont make the six minute mile pace, then the next thing that happens is everyone that is counting on me to keep this pace will get mad at me for not being able to do it. I will suffer if I dont, and I will suffer when I do, because lets face it, Running that fast for that long just hurts. .... its a brutal conundrum so I just run and run and run..... Also sometimes I think maybe the treadmill is going to break down which will cause me to not be able to make the six minute mile pace, and again not making it is unacceptable even if its not because of my efforts. Even if the treadmill I am riding breaks down.

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I am talking about finding another treadmill but even thats hard. the new treadmill is in a city about 5 hours away and getting off this treadmill to go see the man about that treadmill is an effort in itself.

A summary post of missed blogging days

There goes a whole week without me posting in my blog. Doubt anyone missed me, however I did notice I still got about 15 hits from unique different computers, even today, which is 7 days after not putting up anything. Thanks for checking in! Normally when I am posting day to day it is around 100 or so, or Somewhere in that vicinity.

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Bottom line is this, Since I last posted I have been working my ass off and just have not made the time to come here and write stupid stuff like I normally do.

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As Summary, That job I posted about on the 11th, they called me back and want a second interview. I have discussed this with them and we set it up, but then they called back today and wanted to reschedule. They said a guy they wanted me to see would be there on Wednesday and Thursday so I set it up for this Thursday, but then they called me back today and said, oops sorry, has to be tomorrow, so I told them I was busy. Its like I am a woman and they are a guy and I am playing hard to get. Seriously thats not what it is, I have a schedule and stuff planned for tomorrow already.

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Anyhow I want the job, but only if it pays the right money and It is not yet appropriate to ask about that. The time to discuss money is when they offer the job. I already have a job and even though this one would be easier to do, it would also need to pay as much or maybe even a little more, either way. I want it, but dont need it and that is the best way to be when negotiating.

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I also had a couple of other friends tell me about a job I think I could probably get and live in Gainesville again, but I ran the math and it wouldnt work. The fact is, it would be something I would love to do, but initially it would not be enough dollars to pay all the stuff I have to pay because of my prior ability to screw my life up.

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I could have gone to the Dolphins Raiders game, but I chose to work on Sunday instead. That sucked. Then, I did work but not as much as I should have.

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I met a woman this past week and I think she likes me but I didnt follow through because I suck.

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I am pretty sure she was flirting with me , but I liked her so much, the rejection that I anticipated was not worth the chance. Normally in bars and stuff I dont think like that at all. I just dont care, but in this situation The fear got me. I am going to meet up with her again though soon and will build my courage, and she will gun me down then, or she wont. Hoping she doesnt gun me down.

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The Ducks in Weston Florida are a lot nicer then the ducks in Gainesville.

While working in the field in Weston today I ran across this fella.

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This Duck looks almost exactly like the bully duck from Gainesville, but he was in Weston Florida and he didn't attack me at all. I think Weston Florida Ducks are more suburban and less likely to attack, I was ready though, and would have not run this time if he tried anything at all, I would have stood in and just got my licks in until he backed down or I was a man that got beat up by a duck. Right now My duck fighting record is 0-0 -1. I am like Donovan McNab and didnt know you could tie a duck fight but went out and did it in my first Duck fight ever.

Bill the Jockey or Bill the groomsman: A metaphor

Had a day without fighting any ducks, so that was good.
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Drove a billion miles though and met with some guys about riding a horse. I dont think, that they think I am the right jockey, although they did not say that directly in the interview. It is just a feeling, based upon the way the thing ended. So who knows, maybe they will call me in a few days and offer me a ride. We talked about stuff I know about and we talked about riding that horse. I told them about the horse I used to ride, and they questioned why I dont ride that one anymore. I explained the dismounting, and the stable job that I have now. Bottom line is that the reason I dont ride horses anymore, and instead, work in the stable grooming them is because of my own stupidity.
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Here is the thing though, my grooming of the horses is as profitable as riding them was, or at least almost, and I have my dignity in tact so that is good. I work for my money and I earn it, and sometimes I enjoy just brushing the beast down instead of worrying about how she runs.
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Duck fights in Gainesville

Saturday morning I punched a duck, right in his little duck sternum.
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The hotel I am staying at was sold out of the newspaper, but fortunately there is a shell station just down the road. My Daughter was still asleep and my son was playing webkins on the computer. I told them where I was going, and that I would be right back.

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Between the hotel we are staying at, and the shell station, there is a pond with ducks. I was on my journey to secure knowledge and black ink on white paper, minding my own business when a duck attacked me. He just bull rushed into my calves. It startled me and taking from ancient DNA within my very soul, I did the first of two things when confronted with evil. I ran. At first I didn't understand what was going on but as I looked back while running, I saw the duck come off the ground and start flying after me. It was quite a bizarre situation. I turned around as the duck was chasing me down, and then when he got close enough, and before he landed on my head and did god knows what he was going to do, I did the second thing that is programmed into my DNA. I fought back. I punched him in his little duck sternum.

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This dropped him to the ground and I again ran. I don't want to really admit it here, but evidently one right jab from the billster was not enough to make the Duck think about his actions. After punching him I ran again, and I guess as he gathered his senses it took awhile but he once again pursued me, all the way to the shell station. I went in to the store and that duck was just standing out by the curb waiting for me. He is a Duck bully.

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I told the cashier what happened and at first she didn't believe me but soon I convinced her and she gave me a piece of hotdog bread. As I walked back out of the shell station on my way back the duck started waddling after me like he wasn't finished attacking me. This was when I threw down the bread crumbs and saved myself from further duck fighting.

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True story ....

The 332 to the 352

Doing the 332 to the 352 today. Except I am gonna add a little to it today to once again see what happens when you leave oil on a hot stove and then fall asleep.
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About a month ago I ragged out my front bumper on a curb and a week ago I did it again, and now My ride rolls with a bit of duct tape holding the bumper together. I bought a special pretty green color duct tape to represent, well, to represent nothing , but it does stand out more then the silver. Never saw green duct tape and as it cost the same price as the silver, I figured why not treat myself. I am worth it!
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Don't do that with ketchup though, I once bought a bottle of that stuff when it first came out because they said it tasted exactly like normal ketchup and I suppose it did, but looking at your hotdog with that Green ketchup draped all over it will flick a neuron in your brain that something is just flat out WRONG. Kid you not, Threw the bottle away after that. Luckily my brain is okay with different colored duct tape.
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Also, Spellcheck is telling me that hotdog is not one word. I disagree and have left it in that way. To hell with spellcheck. What if the person who programmed that thing can't spell himself?

A Shout out to Mr. Peter Buckley

Reading this weeks Sports Illustrated, I came across this nugget. A British Boxer, Peter Buckley, had his last fight this past Friday, which he won. It was his 300th and final fight. He finished his career with a record of 32-256-12. Before he won his last fight, he had a string of 88 straight bouts that he had lost or drawn. Talk about a tough way to make a living. Boxing in general, but then getting your ass kicked that much for that long? Wow!
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The guy he beat up has only been in two fights. Both against Buckley. His record? 0-1-1. Don't think that guy is going to last another 298.
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So the staff here at STUFFYOUTHINKYOUNEED is giving a shout out to Mr. Buckley. You sir have persevered.
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Getting up and grinding it out to make a living is one key to being successful.

O'bama's Acceptance Speach was moving.

That was an awesome thing to watch and be a part of last night.
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We elected the 44th president of the United States on November 4th, and although the guy I voted for did not win, as a U.S. Citizen, it warms my heart that we did it the way we always do. We did it the right way, without bloodshed. The cynic in me discounts politicians as a whole, This one in particular, because of his beliefs regarding what is best for my money, but the American in me, the patriot in me, was truly moved.

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It makes me proud that we elected a black man to the highest office in the land, when less then a 143 years ago he would have been a slave. That is a testament to his aura, but also to us as a country.

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I was moved by Senator McCain's concession speech. It was eloquent, it was dignified and it was excellent in its tone and its message.

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I was more moved and more impressed by President Elect O'bama's speech. It was also all those things that McCain's speech was, but it was more. It was legendary. The man has some Charisma and he may be the finest speaker I have ever seen. That was a unifying speech that spoke to everyone. It spoke to his supporters, His family, and his daughters are going to get a puppy. It spoke to his opponents, It spoke to the terrorist and to the world. It spoke to me. It was a bunch of words, but those words had power. They had power because of what they meant, but also because of who was saying them.

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They had power because more people voted in this election then any other election in the history of America and that happened because of him. I believe the man is a leader, though I question some of the places he wants to lead us, I don't doubt that he will do what he thinks is best and the force of his charisma will help him do that.

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I didn't vote for him because the main issues I struggle with and have my whole life is financial, and I believe his intentions are to make that struggle harder on me, but I do believe that he will make stuff happen one way or the other.

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He said it first, He is our president. Even those of us who did not vote for him. He is our guy now. He is the leader of the greatest country in the World and he is MY President also.

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I know that in the future he will make decisions that impact my life and I do fear some of those decisions will be negative. He is the boss now and he is running my country. Be Wise Mr. Obama, and be true to your word, Listen to those of us that disagree with your policies but don't just listen, hear us as well.

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Good Luck President Elect O'bama

A year ago today

A year ago yesterday, a friend of mine got married. A year ago today, the Dallas Cowboys played the New England Patriots in a regular season football game that the Patriots won. A year ago today I lived in a tiny little shack in Gainesville Florida. A year ago today My Mom died. A year ago today I cried a little bit.

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Its hard to believe that a full year has gone by now. Time really does fly. In that time I have moved to Miami, Got divorced, Have had to borrow money to make normal monthly bills on more then one occasion, and have travelled back to Gainesville every third weekend to see my kids. I have made one new friend here in Miami so far, and a few acquaintances. I have worked in this City and area, and have lived here for almost a full year now.

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It seems like it is getting easier, but it is lonely, and it is different. I like living in a big city, Not as much as I liked living in Gainesville, but still, its a new thing for me and I think I am adjusting well. Its hard being slightly shy of 1/6th of a dad (35 days of weekends and 21 days in the summer and spring break, means I see my kids about 56 days of the year. which is almost two months, hence 1/6th dad) but I am even getting used to that.

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Overall its been 365 days since last November 4th and lots of living has gone on for me, My mom, not so much, although listening to some of the zen stuff that I do, there is a possibility that spirit goes on. It is just energy, I think, Maybe, who knows. Anyways Mom, I miss you and hope whatever happens after you are dead is a good thing.

Quick somebody watch my still

I need Somebody to watch my still, while I go into town to Vote.... To paraphrase Jimmy Buffet.
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Hope he doesn't win, but I think it is beyond cool that a black man is on that ticket. We have come a long way as a nation

A good thing Mr. O'bama said

Reality is that Senator O'Bama will Probably be the next President of the United States.
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I think that is a mistake, but I have resigned myself to that probability. I am going to do my part by voting against him. (I will vote for McCain, but again, Just the lesser of two evils, so I think of it more as voting against O'bama then For McCain.)
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HOWEVER -- at half time of tonight's Monday Night Football Game, Mr. O'bama said something that I did enjoy hearing. He said that we need a College Football Playoff system. AMEN Mr. O'bama, AMEN... It will suck if he is the president, and I know he didn't say that he would get us a system, just that he thinks we need one. I don't think the President of the United States can make it happen, however, it is a powerful position and his saying so may, or could have some kind of an influence on that whole thing. So Mr. Obama, while you are busy taking all our money to "redistribute it" At least talk about that some more. I have been thinking that same thing for as long as I can remember. Bring me that Joy Mr. O'bama, PLEASE. Before we vote you out in 2012 at least get that done.

Gators are good

The Florida Gator Football team is pretty good. Love watching me some blowouts.
Hope when its late in the game we rub it in on em a little bit because of last year.

Another E-mail I recently received

- Another E-mail that I received.
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Subject: Fellow Business Owners
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Fellow Business Owners: As a Business owner who employs 70 people, I have resigned myself to the fact that Barack Obama, will be our next President, and that my Taxes and Fees, will go up in a BIG way. To compensate for these increases, I figure, that the customer will have to see an increase in my fees to them of about, 8%. I will also have to lay off six of my employees. This really bothered me as I believe we are family here and I didn't know how to choose who will have to go.

So, this is what I did. I strolled thru the parking lot and found, eight Obama bumper stickers on my employees cars. I have decided these folks will be the first to be laid off. I can't think of another fair way to approach this problem. If you have a better idea, let me know.

I am sending this letter to all business owners that I know.(Unsigned)

Happiness because of an Ice Spewer thingy

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One of my favorite things of all time is my Refrigerator Ice spewer thingy. That's right, it has come to this for the billster. My freezer door has a little opening in it and you can put a cup in there and push the lever, and voila, Ice gets crushed and shot down into my cup! It is so much easier then opening the door and reaching in and actually grabbing the ice to put in the cup.
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Sometimes I get Ice just to get it, because its so cool! A little wasteful in the sense that I may have just put some Ice in a cup but didn't really want or need Ice, just needed to have it plop in the cup.
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I don't think its normal to like something as simple as this like I do, but I can't help myself Its just cool.