Remedial Math...

So I'm watching Jay Leno and the Tonight Show last night and President Obama was on. Because I was angry with myself I decided to punish myself by making me watch. At one point Leno asked the Prez questions pulled from Facebook and the audience. One question was, "When you help your daughters with their homework what subject gives you the most trouble?" Obama's answer was, "Math. When my daughter's were younger I had no problem. I was good up to about 7th grade. Now my oldest daughter is a freshman in high school and quite frankly, I'm lost".
Wow. Now perhaps it's just me, but when I keep hearing him say "The math just doesn't work" when criticisng Romney's economic plan perhaps it's because he has a remedial 7th grade math education.

 Yesterday Donald Trump offered $5 million to the charity of Obama's choice if he would release his passport and college transcripts. Of course Obama declined, for usually when someone works so hard to hide something there's usually something to hide. But now I wonder, did Obama not take him up on it because he's so poor in math and would have to ask for help counting the money?

I think even a remedial 7th grade math education should be able to grasp the concept of expanding the base to raise revenues.  Perhaps Mitt Romney needs to give him a visual aide:
Obama- 45% of 1,000,000 = $450,000 in tax revenue.
Expand the base by lowering taxes and giving business an incentive to invest and spend-
Romney- 20% of 10,000,000 = $2,000,000.

Mr President, based on an economic model where the base is expanded you would receive over 4x the revenue with less than half the tax rate. It's called Economic Growth.
Food for thought...

Spam Responses...

I've decided to answer some of this repeating spam mail that I get via my blog...

Dear Cheap Auto Insurance,
Thank you for your concern over the possibility of my over-paying for my auto insurance. Your concern is touching. I know I don't pay the absolute cheapest for my insurance, but I like the service of both my provider and my agent. I think I'm going to stay put. Regards.

Dear Credit Score Time;
I do agree that 550 is a low credit score, and I appreciate your concern that mine might have changed. Rest assured, I do pay attention to my credit score and it hasn't drop below 800 in years. And an FYI, that's a GREAT credit score. Feel free to focus your attentions on someone who needs it.

Dear Amy,
Thank you for sending me a link to your "pics". I think I'd better pass though, for my girlfriend might be upset if I were to peruse them. And for the record, I have no clue who you are or why you would want to degrade yourself by sending your pics to a stranger. Would you like me to send you some links that offer help for people with moral issues and no self esteem? Let me know...

Dear Ms. Carman L. LaPointe,
I am so sorry to hear about your devestating terminal desease. I'm touched that you would trust me with distributing your wealth while allowing me such a generous percentage. However, I'm not sure my banker is quite so trusting and recommends that you just add me to your banking accounts and send me your personal information so that I can access your accounts and distribute your wealth per your desires. I await your personal information...

Dear Blue Sky Auto Loans,
Thanks for the offer of a car loan for less than 3% despite the possibility of me having bad credit. Good news for you- my credit is excellent. Bad news for you- I don't need a car loan from you because my credit is excellent. Perhaps if my credit goes in the toilet I'll give you a shout...

Dear Match.com, Christian Singles, and SpeedDate Singles,
I really appreciate your interest in me as a single guy in my area. Although your interest is very flattering if I were to take you up on your offer it could create a real problem for my relationship with the wonderful woman I am currently seeing. Perhaps if I screw up my life again and lose this one I'll need your services, but for now I have to take a pass...

Dear Bed Bugs,
Thanks for your infestation warning. Here's a suggestion- clean your homes better! Mine is fine.

Dear Natasha,
I'm glad you got your Russian Brides webcam up and going, and are willing to share it with me, but I am not interested in a Russian Bride. Quite honestly, I remember those pictures of Russian women from the 50's Olympics and am frankly scared to death of Russian women. Go 'Roids!

Thanks to all who didn't get a mention, though you continue to fill my spam folder with your ceaseless offers... Perhaps one day I will have a brain fart and actually click on your link, and then, who knows?
Food for thought...

Listen Your Way to a Better Relationship...

I was watching a few minutes of "Two and a Half Men" last night, as I was surfing between ballgames, and noticed that the guest star, a young girl whose name I don't recall, talked incessently. No one could get a word in edgewise when she was talking. This morning, as I recalled that memory, I was again impacted by the thought that people love to be listened to, yet there are so few people who really know how to listen from their heart...

Listening is an art- the giving of one's full attention to another, taking in theire words, their tone, their body language without some part of our mind formulating responses and wanting to interupt, to interject... Listening without judgement is a lost art. But learning to listen from the heart has dual impact- listening and feeling listened to promotes intimacy and closer relationship. And who today doesn't want better relationships? Begin by becoming a better listener...
Food for thought...

The Company We Keep...

I've heard several people lately talk of problems they've encountered mainly from being in the wrong company. If there's one truth I've learned in life is that stupid rubs off. Hang around with stupid people and stupid will rub off on you. Now, perhaps you think you're stronger than that, smarter than to fall prey to stupid. I have a good friend who deals with people, often people in trouble, in his profession and often has commented, "You just can't fix stupid". My friend, if you dip your toe in the pool of stupid you will get wet. You can't help it.

Just like water flowing between two containers seeks to level out so do relationships seek a level ground. Some people find themselves in relationships where they feel energized, or empowered by the other, striving to do better, to become better. On the other side of that relationship that person must "dumb down" to more cohesively bond or communicate with the other. Dumbing down can lead to stupid actions...

Now I'm not saying that we should not be in relationship with others mentally / socially / emotionally less fortunate than ourselves, I'm just saying that all our relationships should not fall into that category. We need to be in relationships that also inspire us, as well as relationships with others who are in a similar place as us, for those can also challenge us. We need to be balanced...
Food for thought...