Obama talks health care -- and praises GOP rival Romney - The Oval: Tracking the Obama presidency

Obama talks health care -- and praises GOP rival Romney - The Oval: Tracking the Obama presidency

I already thought Mitt Romney would be a poor choice for the Republican candidate for President. The fact that President Obama is showing any kind of support for Mr. Romney or his Health Plan, does not give me any reason to change my mind.

The fact is, the RNC really doesn't have any outstanding candidates to get behind. Last election, I was hoping Mike Huckabee would get the nomination because his stand on the moral issues, and his conservative outlook. But the fact that he did so poorly overall, doesn't bode well for him having a chance next time around. Ron Paul might stand a chance, but I don't really think he has the charisma to carry general public.

I would really like to see a president and a legislature that would work together to restore our country's financial stability. I would also like to see something done to bring back jobs to America. As far as all the talk about entitlements, I don't know what the answer is, but I firmly believer we would do better to stop spending all our tax dollars on being the World's Police. That would save billions!

I'm no genius, and I don't have all the answers, but I do know that the change Americans voted for in the Presidential Election, is not the kind of change we want or need. As far as who to vote for the next time, I just don't see anyone coming to the forefront that is going to excite anyone , just yet. Time will tell.

'Toning' shoes a stretch for some, not others | The Columbus Dispatch

'Toning' shoes a stretch for some, not others | The Columbus Dispatch

The link above is an article about toning shoes, and whether or not they actually "shape you up" as some of the ads proclaim. I recently bought a pair of the rocker bottom type shoes from Payless. I had been suffering for some time with constant foot pain from plantar fasciitis. Withing 3 days, all my pain was gone. Once I realized how much the shoes were helping me, I went back to payless and bought two more pairs.

I walk an hour a day, over and above my normal everyday walking that I do at work. I've been doing this every day without fail, since January 1st. I do not care whether these shoes are shaping up my butt or calves. I just care that my feet don't hurt! I highly recommend that you try some of these shoes. They are great. If the Champion brand (Payless) works that well, I'm sure the other look-alikes probably do to. I am sold on this type of shoe!

Borders files for bankruptcy, to close 200 stores | Reuters

Borders files for bankruptcy, to close 200 stores | Reuters

I was sad to hear about Border's Bookstore's financial problems. Growing up in Bedford, Indiana, my only experience with bookstores was from when there was a small nook in the now defunct Stone City Mall, called Waldenbooks (Actually owned by Borders, as it happens). There are still plenty of Waldenbook store I suppose, but in my opinion they are not bookstores in the truest sense of the word.

I still remember going into the Borders in Bloomington. I walked into the front doors, and the smell of books overwhelmed me. Books, hundreds of books, maybe even thousands of them. Books were everywhere! Not only that, but you could sit in chairs and read! Not the little hard wooden chairs like the ones at the library, but big wide overstuffed chairs that were so big and so comfortable that you could take a nap in one of them. And a couple of people were! People were perusing books and magazines and nobody was rushing them or asking if they planned to buy something. I'd never dreamed of such a place! Now 200 or more of them are closing.

I know that filing bankruptcy does not mean going out of business. Most times when a business files for bankruptcy, it saves them from failing in the long run. Still, 200 stores is a lot of stores, and who know how many lives it will change. People will lose jobs. Many will not find another, and those who do may never find a job that they will like half so well if they are indeed lovers of books.

Of course I've probably helped them along on the road to bankruptcy. I haven't been in a bookstore for a long time. It's too easy to go on Amazon.com or another web site, and order a book to be delivered right to my front door. Nonetheless, there's nothing like going to a real bookstore. My next day off from work, I think I'll just go up to the big city and experience a real bookstore again, before it is too late.

Higher Gas Prices Ahead

Suez Canal Company workers protest as they began an open-ended strike in front of the company's headquarters in Ismailia City, Egypt,Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011. The canal stayed open as everal hundred workers demonstrated, demanding the resignation of their immediate boss Admiral Ahmed Fadel, the chairman of the Suez Canal Authority. Workers also wanted a pay rise and social equality.(AP Photo)

---

Another development of the situation in Egypt. A tremendous amount of the world's oil comes through the Suez Canal. The canal is open right now, but if this continues, speculators are going to drive the per barrel price of oil up, exponentially. We all know what high oil prices have done to the ecomony. I don't know about the rest of you, but it's already costing me a fortune just to go to work and return home each week. I hope that the people of Egypt succeed in getting Mr. Mubarak out of office soon, and that they are able to gain their freedom. They've been suppressed too long.

Update on Egypt

My friend Debbie, whose son is in Cairo, sent me this url.  Her son informs her that things are not as bad as what the media is painting them to be, and this article seems to support that view.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2011/02/07/2011-02-07_muslims_turn_out_in_mass.html

      Protests in Egypt not as intense today.

I guess my questions yesterday about the Egyptian economy are partially being answered. Banks opened for awhile today, though withdrawal amounts were limited (especially for foreigners). Local businesses and the government are urging people to come back to work, and a number of people have.  The protesters are still in the streets, but they have been milder today in spite of a couple of incidents.

I just wonder where this is all going to end. I can't see any scenario that will end up being beneficial to the United States. Guess time will tell.

I'm wondering about the economic impact of the ongoing protests in Egypt. If these folks are out in the streets everday, how are they bringing in money for food, utilities, etc.?. What about the financial loss to businesses? Just wondering.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

Started my workday of witnessing yet another argument between coworkers.  I'm a pretty laid back guy, and I don't like personal confrontation, whether or not I am personally involved, or just having to witness it between others.

There is no law that I know of that  requires you to like your coworkers, but it makes for a better workday for all, if everyone acts like an adult and performs their duty in a professional manner. It is hard on all workers there, when the rest know that two of them are going to go head to head at least once during the workday. Really makes you dread showing up for work.

Really? Could we just please make an effort to get along???