Dear America,

Imported from Detroit.

Fabulous...and my favorite of the Super Bowl commercials...after perfect narration setting the scene, we get EMINEM singing Lose Yourself  ...never never let it go...once in a lifetime...
and popping out of a new car.

It also  just so happens to be the song in my I-pod that kicks in at about 16 minutes into my run, and just when I need it most.  The rhythm pumps me over the hump and gives me that last gasp of motivation to finish.

So I finally got what his name was all about -- at least, I'm assuming so -- never said I was always quick on the uptake...not that I spent much time wondering, but the imagination finally figured it out -- like an M&M, he is chocolate on the inside.  how brilliant is he... the white boy now famous for breaking the rapper glass ceiling with his melodies and lyrics.

But it wasn't so much the song that got me, it was the message; in classic American style, appealing to the history and breakthroughs of our automobile legacy and from where it all comes -- at the very end arriving at the line "Imported from Detroit."  

The new era of Chrysler begins... and well done.

"it's the hottest fires that make the heart of steel...add hard work and conviction...that's our story...don't know what we're capable of...just as much about where it's from as who it's for..."

America, the story of us.

Makes me wanna buy a Chrysler.

The thing is, you can't fake authentic  -- it just doesn't work that way.  Which takes me to the pre-game interview with O'Reilly and Obama, O&O.

Get out your pad of paper and take down the talking points...

" [Egypt] 

Universal values... 

not going  to go back to what it was...

want freedom...

transition...now...

make sure all groups get together...

meaningful...

can't force...what happens...

we can say..time is now...

making the change...

long time partner...

Muslim Brotherhood...

is one faction...well organized

...strains...anti-U.S....no doubt about it...

here's what we know...

educators and civil society...

come to the table...

representative government...

[new subject, health care] 

judge in Florida was wrong...

what I don't want to do...re-litigate...

if you have ideas...

win the future...

[new subject, moving to center] 

I'm the same guy."  

while he flat out denies he is all about redistributing the wealth...

[going against American statute 1776, cannot multiply wealth by dividing it]

okay.  whatever.  if you say so.

Much like the State of the Union address, he speaks to us in campaign mode, relying on worn out rhetoric to make his point...and as we tune out ...we make our way over to the bean dip and maybe grab another beer. One of the most lackluster O'Reilly interviews I've ever seen.

But lets just look at what he had to work with, within only about a fifteen minute time frame.  Within the first two years of this presidency, Obama has led the nation and ---

• leveled the Oil and Gas Industry, stifling all new drilling and energy innovation (unless of course it's green, and then, only by playing favorites, and going against our founding principles of competition, putting unfair and illegal government subsidies in place); 
• completely dismantled the health insurance industry, forcing regulatory changes that immediately affect our household bottom line -- while his entire H.C.legislation is ultimately set to turn what was a highly successful health care system into a government takeover, costing the tax payers billions in unfunded, unconstitutional liabilities; 
• destroyed relations with Israel -- and now, with Egypt about to be handed over to the radicalized Muslim Brotherhood, his administration has created the very conditions, the unintended consequences, giving way to a third world war, jeopardizing everything we know and love;  
• after spending $865 billion in stimulus, in order to keep the unemployment below 8%, to "create or save" jobs -- he has, to date, grown the federal government by 25%;  
• at every move, created an unfavorable environment towards small business and the Chamber of Commerce -- having his first meeting with the Chamber just today;  
• discredited the grassroots of the Tea Party in the U.S. and yet, somehow, he has fully embraced the 'democracy in action' in the streets of Egypt;   
• jumped to conclusions in the case of the white police officer and Professor Gates -- yet hesitated in the case of Nadal Malik Hasan at Fort Hood; 
• didn't speak up on behalf of Iran's protesters, but sent an entourage to Egypt to have a sit down; 
• he took weeks to get a grip on the Gulf Oil spill disaster, turning international help away... after also claiming to be "in charge since day one"; 
• added 3.5 trillion dollars to our national debt -- and currently running 1.5 trillion dollar deficits, operating the federal government without a budget, and weeks away from raising our debt ceiling only because we have created a system that no longer values living within our means, with a special assist going out to Congress...
• added hundreds of regulations and levels of bureaucracy into a system already overrun  

And this just seems to be the top ten, or is it eleven, that come to mind.

The thing is, I'm not sure we can make it for another two; even though it may be clear to some people that he wants to act with a free enterprising, innovative spirit, when it gets down to it, he just has no idea how -- he wasn't designed for such -- his software doesn't match up with the American hardware; he thinks he stands synonymous with Detroit, when in fact, he is looking more like he is made in China, Indonesia... or would it be Kenya or Honolulu?  really doesn't matter.

Authenticity cannot be faked, while it remains to be the root problem of this presidency -- legitimacy doesn't come neatly packaged in sound bites and talking points when it comes to real world solutions and relationship; it is deeper, truer and more meaningful than that. 

True American ideals and philosophy is something we are born with -- while it used to be ingrained into the heart and soul of our education, our society, and our culture, taught naturally and organically, perpetuating a system rich in diversity, melting into one body, and steeped within an exceptional, majestic history, thereby allowing our future to run wild with possibilities.  You teach it by living it in every way, not just for show, not just for the sale, not just to win elections -- it has to be real.

Sadly, this president simply doesn't have the real factor, the It factor, the true American spirit factor -- the never never let it go...once in a lifetime...for all time...never never ...forgetting.... where we came from.

He is an impostor through and through and currently reigns in the limelight of fooling the world -- with plenty of props, of course.

Make it a Good Day, G

and here's to Detroit making a  great comeback.  Motor on Motor city.  God Speed.

Dear America,

"Without carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, there would be no organic molecules synthesized by plants. The less carbon dioxide there is in the atmosphere, the fewer organic molecules synthesized by plants. All animals depend on plants to synthesize essential organic molecules. Without the organic molecules synthesized by plants, the animal world could not exist. Without plants, there would be no biosphere. Several million years ago, a disaster struck the terrestrial biosphere: there was a drastic reduction in the percentage of CO2 in the atmosphere. The flowering plants evolved to be most efficient when the percentage of CO2 in the atmosphere was about 1,000 parts per million. But the percentage had dropped to a mere 200 parts per million. Plants tried to adapt by evolving a new, more efficient way of using the little remaining CO2."

We adapt to our surroundings.

Plants do it.

Birds do it.

Even fish and people do it.

It's all part of the master plan, designed by the grace of God, and has been the M.O. of life here on planet Earth for centuries...no, to use the terminology of Al Gore, for millions and millions of years, only this time it is actually true.

The excerpt in quotations above came from:
In Praise of CO2: 'Earth is the Greenest its been in Decades, Perhaps in Centuries'

Written by Marc Morano
http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/blog_watch/co2_praise.html

...it came with about ten other articles just like it in my G mail this morning via the handsome and ever so diligent patriot papa of mine xx

A motherload of reading material -- including links to the infamous emails out of the CRU of East Anglia -- if you venture through the Science and Public Policy domain, preferably starting with their blog page @ http://sppiblog.org/ , you will find your mouth watering over an overwhelming amount of tasty little tidbits detailing opposition to the rather suspect aroma coming out of Copenhagen.

All it is, really, is food for thought -- something that isn't on the mainstream menu of offerings -- nothing to be afraid of.  Sometimes trying something new can be a bit scary; it's not what everybody else is eating...it looks funny, smells different, and just by name alone, makes the mind take a step back and go ew.  Sometimes it calls for you to be a wee bit more adventurous to step out of the normal epicurean boundaries; while other times, we have no choice -- it's all that remains back in the kitchen.

While the plant world is gasping for air, being force-fed another lesson on evolution in order to survive, this era of political correctness and the science of global warming brings a whole new understanding to the meaning of plant food.  After perusing the halls of Science and Policy, makes me want to run out and get a bag of Miracle Grow® right now; my poor babies on the deck are out there, making do, without so much as a decent dose of CO2 to feed their weary souls.

And if nothing else, I will be talking to them now more than ever --  there's always that.

We left off on Friday whispering in your children's ears with a sweet nothing or an endearing something; blessing them on their way off to school at the very start of their day -- a day out there, in the real world, without you.

As most of you know, occasionally G likes to catch Joel Olsteen on Sunday Mornings - - and in a world where there are no accidents, yesterday's message was all about "Speaking the Blessing"!   And exactly that, he showered us with a message of life, faith and victory -- that Divine Providence endures, prevails and ultimately triumphs in our world when we speak in ways that lift us up and provide nourishment and strength to our young, to the downtrodden, to the weary, to a nation hungering for something more.

Remembering back to the day the unemployment figures for November were announced, I stopped then, as I do today, recollecting the tone and words chosen, the slight drop was "unexpected". 

Unexpected?  really?  Is that the mindset we are going to choose?

Given we -- correction, they (the Fed) -- spent $787 Billion on a STIMULUS Plan, don't you think it would come along with a side order of EXPECTATION?

The skies opened up again with another storm front passing through over the weekend;  for me, rain feels like a blessing every time.  But I gotta share my girl's latest rendition of our baby BooBoo's world when confronted with having to go outside on a rainy day -- she says in her squeaky and quirky BooBoo voice "I don't like tinkling in the rain, mama, makes me feel like the world is tinkling on me." Out of the mouths of babes, the both of them; her interpretation of a moment according to a dog's world made me laugh. 

Attitude is everything, isn't it.

After World War II, we had no trouble as a country -- filling up with great expectation -- the nation rebuilding into the industrious, economic, free enterprise giant that soon became renowned throughout the world.  Our spirit, our faith, our love of country was everywhere and often.  Similar to the days dating back to The Revolutionary War and even The Civil War, we the people united in a common cause, a cause that was greater than our own, and from which we grew stronger as a nation for it.

The thing is, as a nation, history proves we have been pretty good with "speaking the blessing".

When we speak with victory as our cornerstone, we grow smarter, stronger, leaner, meaner and rise to the occasion with great expectation. Whether we are on the side of God or if God is on our side, our belief system and government was constructed to be so intertwined with our faith --  so full of life and victory and blessings -- there was never room for any doubt. 

Nothing of value fell to the level of "unexpected" -- that is just not how we were made -- that kind of thought is simply not in us.

But today, it's like we are living in a new age of diminishing America's greatness; and if we aren't careful, this pandering to the lowest common denominator may ruin us.

It used to be when we went into war -- we spoke with winning words, bringing down the enemy and bringing home the troops in victory.  When we went to market -- we handpicked words that enlivened the spirit of competition, sparked innovation, allowing every person the pursuit of a piece of the American pie.  When we went to school -- we debated, we challenged thought, we taught the importance of all opinions, all experience, all scientific discovery and had at our fingertips a library illuminating a world of literature, the real and the make believe, to reinforce it.

Everything inspired us. Nothing discouraged us.  We walked our talk and talked our walk -- and all blessings that sprung forth were not only expected, but were affirmed by our words...Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done to name a few. Going down in defeat just didn't stand a chance, ever.

As Americans, we are born and raised to speak the blessing naturally and without cause for regret, worry or concern --  words of prosperity and all that is good and right and sound is supposed to slip off our tongue effortlessly and seamlessly from one to another; as if we live in perpetual victory -- like fields of little flowers we stand tall with our face to the sun -- vibrant, united and proud.

Today, as we sit uncomfortable and country-challenged, it requires us to be even more diligent, more in tune, to what words we choose.  In as much as G finds it difficult to embrace the ideology and methods pouring out of Washington these days, as an American, trusting in our inherent ability to evolve and make the best of things goes without saying.  This too shall pass and we shall rise and be all the better for it, right?

There are scientists who believe we are suffocating the environment with not enough good clean CO2 for our plants to breathe; oh sure, they'll adapt, but wouldn't it be nice to look at the big picture, not just the snapshot through the lens of an inconvenient bias, and come to making changes intelligently, with sound business practice, and with good reason -- stand tall and keep your face to the sun.

There are preachers who believe America's best days are here, and stand so forward thinking they look beyond the sun,  reminding us of the one, true Source and Everlasting Light -- whispering a message of hope and faith in our ear -- stand tall and keep your face to the sun.

There are fathers and mothers speaking the blessing from life experiences and lessons of the ages -- all we have to do is stop and give a listen -- stand tall and keep your face to the sun.

Our discussions of the last week have been all about what gains our attention, what words we choose, and went so far as to dare to question where we are being led; as parents and as true patriots, our vigilance must always be on guard.

How do we remain steadfast in living a life of great expectation and all the while mindful of what we may be losing along the way?  Are we making a better America or is she getting caught up in the redistribution and reinvention of a global agenda -- leveling America off with the rest of the world?

Is that what we get for creating a world, in attitude and invention,  living the American dream -- a dream generations of immigrants flocked to this land to find -- and ultimately pass on to their children with great pride and thanksgiving?

Is that the kind of unexpected gratitude we gain from the United Nations -- for being there all along the way, doing whatever it takes, whether we could afford it or not, standing as the beacon of hope, leading and never following --  now being reduced to some kind of evil Imperialistic giant, being force-fed to evolve into a new global economy at the loss of our own?

Don't we have a law against that?


and as a mom,
what do our babies get out of that?

Make it a Good Day, G

oh my little babies...
 shhhh, stand tall and keep your face to the sun.