Monthly Archives: September 2023

It’s not What You Save

Posted in Advertising by
Daily writing prompt
Share a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life.
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Many times when I was a young lad, I would read an add about how much the savings would be to buy this that or the other thing. Finally, I was told, it’s not what you save, but what you pay.

There is a corollary to that. The more savings they advertise, the more the expensive the product. For instance if they advertise a $1000 savings on a diamond ring, the cost is likely more than the ring they advertise a savings of $100.

In other words, if I were to buy both, chances are that I would pay much more for ring that I’d save the thousand on. Naturally, if you want the more expensive ring, it is up to you. But know that will be paying more.

As I pick up a circular and I see the advertisement of a $50 savings, it makes me wonder how much it was marked up before the ad. And, of course, my assumption is that the more the savings the more it was marked up.

Regardless, the bottom line, as the businessmen like to say, it is the price. How much am I going to have to pay to change the ownership of the product. Everything else is simply a distraction.

Very frequently, I find I cannot afford the savings. Other times, it’s just more than I want to pay. Finally, sometimes, I know of other places that sell the same product for less, in which case, the savings is really not a savings at all.

A General Sort of Reply

Posted in Food by
Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite types of foods?
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I did think this one over for a while and came to the conclusion that I can only answer in generalities. Mostly, I do not like most fancy food. If someone else is paying the bill, I still would not order lobster and steak. I rarely order steak. Mostly I prefer the simple foods. A hamburger or chili-dog will make me happy. I will be happy with chicken or turkey, especially with dressing.

This subject does remind me of an instant about 4 years ago. I was in a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant at the buffet. As I plopped a large helping of mashed potatoes on my plate, I spoke to myself, “I could make a whole meal out of mashed potatoes and gravy.”

Some woman behind me was obviously eavesdropping on the little conversation I was having with myself because she spoke enthusiastically, “So could I.”

Of course, no matter what, everyone knows gravy does make everything taste better. However, I never tasted any chicken gravy better than the at chicken restaurant at Knott’s Berry Farm. It is but one of many things I left in California I wish I could have brought with me.

When I was stationed for a while in Japan, I discovered I like fried rice. I didn’t know that before. it is something of a torture now. My wife flat does not like it so I seldom get a chance to eat it now. When I do get a chance, I overdo it and then I am uncomfortable for a while.

There is a restaurant in Southaven that generally has Turkey and dressing just before and a little after the holidays. Almost every time I go in there I complain to the management that it is not year-round. I don’t understand it. All they do is laugh at me.

I must admit that I like most pork based food, bacon, sausage, ham, etc. I don’t know why, but here lately I don’t eat much of it anymore. Generally, when I eat breakfast out, I do order sausage but I can’t remember having any other pork products for a while.

I am not a fan of hot food. You put just a little pepper in something and I’d just as soon not have anything to do with it. Oddly, I do like Mexican food… Americanized as I explain to most waiters in Mexican restaurants. They smile and seem to know exactly what I mean, even in the restaurants that advertise genuine Mexican food.

Actually, I like a lot of McDonald’s food, especially for breakfast. It just is I’m tired of being ignored. I do like Big Macs but I do not like waiting 15 minutes for them. Oddly, I really like their cheeseburgers, but they seem to have little or no regard for the customers that want to come in and sit at a table.

The question also reminds me of when the Israelites ate manna in the wilderness and became tired of it and started complaining. The first time I heard the story, I told myself, I would never have complained about it. As I get older I realize I spoke without thinking. I suspect I would have been as bad or worse than the rest. It does seem to be a human tendency.

At any rate, regardless of what we eat, we do need to remember it is all provided by God and we need to thank Him for it. Also, it certainly doesn’t hurt to thank those in the restaurants who make our food. I try to and it generally surprises them. They don’t expect it. I can’t help but think it does make them feel a little better. Oddly, it makes me feel better too.

Making Up the Rules Along the Way

Posted in Christian values, Salvation, Truth by

During the 1200s, the Catholic church decided to make rule change. It was all official. It was decided at the Second Council of Lyon. Henceforth, people would be able to help their dead relatives by prayer and by alms.

So, if that favorite great aunt might not have been good enough to go to heaven, a person could give money to the church and then that grate aunt could go onto heaven, that is of course after the church received the proper sum.

It’s not biblical. The Catholic church made it up. While it had no affect on those who already died, it has brought a huge success to the Catholic church. Have you ever noticed the large number of huge Catholic cathedrals throughout Europe? Can you imagine the materials that went into their making, let alone the labor? Mostly built after the 1200s mind you.

Don’t get me wrong. We should have nice buildings for worship. However, the monies to build them should never be coerced. To be sure, the cathedrals are dens of thieves. The money was obtained through false teachings and totally for the power, profit and the benefit of the church.

It is convenient when a religion can make the rules along the way. In this case, it not only misled people but it also drove people from real Christianity. How many times have you heard someone say they would not go to a church because they are a bunch of hypocrites? Guess what? When it comes down to it, at least with some segments of the Catholic church, I certainly agree.

Down through the centuries, history is full of so-called preachers who are full of themselves. They make their fortunes off Christianity. And, of course, they believe not what they, themselves teach. In every state, in every major city, there are those who claim to be, but are not true ambassadors of Christ.

One of the ways you can spot them is that they love to make the rules along the way. If what they teach is not biblical, they are liars and likely thieves making their ill gotten gains off the hopes of others.

Take for instance the Mormons, Church of the Latter Day Saints. They had a really neat rule. The men could marry 4 wives, some married more. Great for the men, not so much for the women. It’s just not biblical. They made it up. They liked the new rule so they decided to adopt it. Well, nowadays, they claim to have removed their really neat rule, but some still live by it. Nonetheless, they have decided to adopt the Book of Mormon over the Bible, even though it is constantly being changed and revised.

One of the most horrid rules ever invented by any of these so-called churches is that you must do something aside from having faith in Jesus Christ to go to have eternal life. If any church, no matter who it is that is preacher tells you that you must do A, B or C it is a false teaching and comes from Satan. This is especially true if they say you must give money or possessions to that organization.

Read John 3:16 and 17

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Not only is Jesus the only one who can save you, only He has the authority. He will not allow anyone or anything to usurp His authority nor will He allow anything or anyone to be given the credit for that which He and He alone has done.

If anyone tells you anything else, they are trying to change the rules along the way, likely for their purpose.

It has been said that John 3:16 is the Gospel in a nutshell and I’d have to say it at the least comes close to it. However, might I add, it is a direct quote from Jesus, though interpreted from the Aramaic that Jesus spoke. If anyone speaks contrary to these words, he is calling Jesus a liar.

Aspartame Phobia

Posted in Advertising, experience by

It seems every now and then some expert comes up and says that we should ban aspartame. In the meantime, we ought not use it. It is dangerous.

I have taken note, it does cause problems for some, usually headaches. I have known a few folks who can’t use it. I guess there are other reasons.

On the other hand, diet sodas are one of the few things I can really enjoy nowadays. I have been drinking diet soda since they came out with aspartame and I have felt no ill affects. Maybe one day I will, but not yet.

I really do believe that some folks just have too much time on their hands trying to spoil things for others. I don’t know. Maybe they work for some conglomerate representing sugar. I have news for them. Sugar is bad for me too. I’m diabetic. If I get too much sugar, I have real problems. I know. It’s happened to me. Better for me to drink diet drinks rather than send my sugar through the roof… and I am sure I am far from being alone.

It does sort of remind me of a dietary expert on TV I saw one time. She was in favor of never eating processed food. The host of the show asked her, “If I put a round steak through a grinder, does that make it a processed food?”

Without hesitation, she replied, “Yes.” Never even tried to explain it.

Some of these experts need to find something useful to do. Let’s face it, if I take that same round steak and put it on a grill whole, then it is processed. Yes, and there are some who think char-broiling meat can cause cancer.

I don’t buy that. Jesus made fish on an open fire for the disciples. If there was something wrong with that, I suspect he would have baked it. Certainly better than eating it raw. You can pick up all sorts of diseases eating things raw. Some have actually died from it.

Bottom line. If they don’t want to use aspartame, no one is twisting their arm. No one will hold a gun to their head. They don’t have to. However, I bet they will start having second thoughts when they start pushing 300 or 350 on the scale.

One small hint for the experts, it is a whole lot easier keeping that 5 pounds off than it is to lose it.

Absolutely Not!

Posted in Uncategorized by
Daily writing prompt
Do you see yourself as a leader?
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It is one of the bigger things I learned while in the Marines. I would make a very poor leader. In fact, I did make a bad leader.

It takes a special person to deal with subordinates and I am not one of those people. Try as I might, I failed miserably. Every since I left the Marines, I have made it a point to avoid positions with authority. It doesn’t pay nearly as much but it worked out better for me and those I worked for.

Finishing the Job

Posted in Socialists, Unions by

I guess it was around the 1970s and 80s. Maybe some during the 90s that the Unions halfway turned Detroit into a ghost town. They drove the price of the cars up so much that people started buying imported cars. Ironically, many of those folks making the Fords, Chevrolets and Plymouths bought VWs, Datsuns and Toyotas.

GM and Chrysler were bailed out by the feds. Ford barely scrapped by. American made auto sales plummeted. The automakers had to lay off many of those building the cars. Lacking any other form of employment, a whole bunch of folks left town. In many cases, just abandoning their houses.

Now, it would appear that the unions decided to finish the job. Five or six more years of strikes and guess what. The only folks left in Detroit will be those working for the government. With no tax-base, we’re looking at just the mayor and aldermen being left behind.

One nice thing about that. They will have their choice of houses, won’t they?

One hint to one and all. Some think the purpose of a corporation is to provide jobs. Actually, their primary purpose is to make money. If they don’t, they will simply go away. In this case, maybe it would be a good idea for the management to just close the doors and go somewhere else. I just might keep from prolonging the agony.

Want to Stop Crime

Posted in Uncategorized by
  1. Stop drug abuse. Truth be told drugs are involved in close to half of all crimes: murder, robery, auto accidents. I am sure there are some I left out.
  2. Close the border. We have enough criminals already. We have no need importing any. We have no need of more illegal drugs. We certainly have no need to import any terrorists.
  3. When criminals are caught, put them in the big house. If they aren’t on the streets, that makes the streets safer.
  4. Permit prayer back in schools.
  5. Teach respect. This applies to parents as well as school teachers. This means respect of law, enforcement personnel and other people. I learned to wait in line when I was in school. Obviously, some have not. Many think of themselves as special. They need not wait their turn, they are oblivious to common courtesy and stop signs are for the other guy.

If any of this angers you, it very likely applies to you.