Time to get off the sofa....

Do you read biographies? If not, it is high time you do...or at least watch some on the Biography channel.

Watching or reading a Biography does not mean you wish to live your life vicariously through someone else who has "made it " big enough to warrant a biography. No, it is far more important than that. After wading through a few biographies you will find that there is a very strong theme that runs through most of them. It is that theme that we should be looking for, and seeking an understanding of that can be adapted to our own lives and our own success.

If you want to know how to become a rock star, read rock star biographies. A businessman? Read biographies. A great teacher...biographies. Every possible success can be found in Biographies.

And don't forget the old adage, do not reinvent the wheel. If you want to be successful, copy what successful people have done.

OK..so I like biographies. But why do I find them so interesting?

Lets take a quick look at one person who has seen success....Danny DeVito.

Now Danny was the youngest of 3 children, having two sisters 16 years and 10 years older than him. (Maybe a change of life baby?) He was basically raised by his sisters, and went to work as a hair stylist in his sisters salon.

He was very good at it and was much in demand from the customers. His sister suggested he learn cosmetology and he decided that was a good idea, so looked for a make-up school. The only one was with an acting school and he had to qualify as an actor to do the classes in film makeup.

He liked acting so much that he went full time to acting school. He got a role in a small play where he met someone who would be significant in his career. That person was Michael Douglas, and they shared an apartment in New York until Michael Douglas got the gig with Streets of San Francisco. (Even though Douglas was in California he still sent his share of the rent back to DeVito who was still in New York.)

DeVito got his first break when he got a role in the Oscar winning move, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, with Jack Nicholson. Danny really expected that the amazing success and critical acclaim of this movie and his role would launch his career, but it was not to be. His career languished for many years, with the occasional bit parts and little else. His stature was an issue for him and he was even told that "nobody wants a 5"0" character actor".

At the age of 34 his career really started with a starring role in the TV show, Taxi. His stature and agressive New York style made him a very appealing character in a show with many stars. When Taxi finished its run after 4 or 5 years, DeVito was again unemployed with a career that appeared to be going nowhere.

But he refused to give up. He wanted to be more than just an actor. He also wanted to be a director and a producer. Michael Douglas was a significant part of the next step in his career. Wanting to produce a movie, Douglas got together with DeVito and did Romancing the Stone, such a huge hit that it was followed with Crown of the Nile. DeVito had really arrived now, and strung together a list of hits including his directorial debut in Throw Momma from the Train.

DeVito around this time was looking at Producing more movies and saw a film by a young relatively unknown director that he found so appealing that he paid the director $900k for the rights to produce the next movie that director was planning. The film that struck DeVito so much that he handed over $900k sight unseen for the next project, was Reservoir Dogs by the relatively unknown Quentin Tarrantino. His next movie, Pulp Fiction was a huge success, produced by DeVito's company.

OK. So, DeVito started as a hairdresser and become a multimillionaire film producer. Did he stop there? No.

He has now gone back to his roots and turned full circle to once again starring in a TV show, "It's always sunny in Philadelphia."

So what can we learn from this short biography of DeVito?

1. stature is more about who you are than how you look. At 5 foot tall DeVito lacks physical stature, but makes it up in ability, determinatioon, and creativity. Never think you can't do something because you are too tall, too short, to heavy, too light, too dark, too white, too bald etc etc. The only people who think that are those willing to live by other people's rules. Live by your own and you never know how you can change the world.

2. every person you meet is a possible ally for you. Never assume that the person you are talking too is not someone who can help you in the future. Treat everyone as if they are important to you, as a person first, and then that will usually come back to help you in the future. Treat someone like crap, and it will usually come back to bite you in the ass when you are not looking! DeVito struck a friendship with Douglas when both were struggling poverty stricken young actors. That friendship paid off big time.

3. from humble beginnings, great things can emerge. DeVito was a hair stylist. His sister gave him the confidence and encouragement to succeed. Just as auctioneers are fond of saying, it does not matter where you start...it is where you finish that counts.

So get off that couch, stop finding excuses, and go be who you want to be.

.....devereaux

Going Galt....

Disgust.

That is the only word I can find right now.

For the last several weeks I have been thinking very carefully about what this blog should be doing for the coming 4 years…and as I watch the Liar-in-Chief and his machinations in the White House, as I watch his lies, his deceptions and his attacks on the Constitution I am thankful that at least conservatives hold the House and can put up a fight against this crap.

And then I understood.

The House has no more interest in stopping the march toward tyranny than I have in living in North Korea.

We hear the obligatory bleat from Boehner as he finds a way to increase the debt limit.

We hear the conservatives say that by doing this we can regroup and reduce spending next time around.

I hear the democrats laughing their asses off as they watch the GOP disintegrate in front of their very eyes.

Their mocking is loud and clear as the President suddenly becomes a keen shooter…the White House propagating that lie by taking a picture of his highness holding a shotgun as only a person who has never shot a shotgun in his life could.

And meanwhile every possible move is being made to restrict our 2^nd amendment rights.

While the Conservatives in Congress find a way to appoint John Kerry as Secretary of State…notwithstanding his dishonor of the State in the past. How soon we forget that this excuse for a man threw his medals away…or just pretended…either way he is a disgrace to this Nation and has no right to be anointed Secretary of State. Just another liar. And yet, with nary a question he marches to his new role and states “I have big heels to fill”…well, John Kerry, you better come out of the closet, put on your pumps and start selling America down the Muslim Brotherhood path. ‘Cause if you don’t, there are plenty of Obama disciples in the wings who will do that for him…best watch your back and do his will lest you become just another useful idiot discarded in the street, having to learn to dance in those pumps and fishnets just to make a living!

Over these last few weeks I have struggled to understand how America has reached this point.

And frankly, I have no idea. 

Education? Maybe.

 Intimidation? Definitely. 

The “have nots” outnumbering the “haves”? Certainly.

But none of this explains the absolute lack of backbone shown by conservative politicians. None of this accounts for the total lack of political savvy within the minds of conservatives in Congress. None of this accounts for the cowardice, poor judgment, and lack of knowledge displayed by those we have elected to represent us.

And therein lays the problem.

These are the men and women we have chosen to represent us…and we have selected fools and cowards (not necessarily in that order).

There is no doubt in my mind that we get the government we deserve…but to think that we have elected a bunch of Lilly-livered pathetic, inarticulate and scared little children as the men and women we hope will stand up for us is insane.

We are the problem…we elected children to fight liars and egomaniacs. Why would we expect anything different to what we have?

And so I am disgusted.

For once it is not with Obama…he is exactly who 51% of the population voted for, and while I immensely dislike the person, he is who he is by nature. I hate what he has done to the Office…and he will one day answer for the irreparable damage he and his followers, his disciples, have done to this country…but that will not be anytime soon.

No, I am disgusted with the conservatives in this country who continue to elect a core of intellectually and morally bankrupt pretenders to Congress. People who secretly harbor white man’s guilt and love Obama on the throne. They are scared of being called racists…and are terrified of the union thugs.

They no longer know what is right, nor if it is even worth fighting for…the only survival they know is to put on the Nike’s and run as fast as they can when Obama says “Boo!”.

Disgust!

So what can we do?

Well…I for one, am ashamed of the people of this country. I am tired of fighting an overwhelming force of evil. My wounds run deep…my faith in the conservatives in this country is sorely shaken.

I no longer feel qualified to be a part of the charge to rightness, let alone a leader.

I need to regroup…to step away…to accept that this battle is lost and to determine how the war can be won. Being involved on a daily basis does not allow me to see the big picture. Being consumed by doubt, anguish, and yes, fears for the future of this country, does not a leader make.

And so I am letting go for now. Call it going Galt if you will.

I am stepping away. I am licking my wounds to fight another day.

So what will I be doing?

I will be doing what Obama hates most…I will be making money. I will be preparing for the safety of my family. I will not be caught unawares if the shit hits the fan.

Yes, I am arming myself. I am ensuring adequate supplies of guns and ammunition and food and water are available at all times.

I hope I won’t need them.

And I will continue to write…perhaps not here on this blog, although I may from time to time. Certainly not as regularly as I have done.

I will ration my media. Very little news, very little politics will enter my home.

I am becoming the hermit who cares not for the world outside. We have made our choices and now have to live with them as best we can. Life is too short to spend in grief. I am going to live mine by choice…my choice.

Perhaps in doing this I will become the very thing that Obama fears most….a free man.

Perhaps we should all do the same.

…..devereaux

Newsflash! Devereaux supports Obama!

Well…it seems to have happened.

All my friends warned me that if I keep watching politics it would eventually happen. Leftists have been convinced for years that I would one day see the light…a future I could not only not imagine, but one that would turn my stomach to goop and send me running to the nearest bathroom so I could expel it!

Even my enemies warned me that one day it would happen.

Well…it seems that that long awaited day has arrived.

Before I go any further, are there any volunteers out there who are willing to take a short trip to hell to see if it has frozen over?  I saw an advertisement on TV the other night that clearly showed a pig flying, so it appears that weird things are happening.

And the weirdest of them all?

I found something that I and President Obama agree on!

No way?

Yep. Way.

So what is this amazing thing?

Obama has been getting grief over his lack of consideration for race and gender when selecting candidates for his cabinet. Yep…he has decided that neither race nor gender is a good indication of ability. THIS IS WHAT I AGREE WITH.

Unfortunately my agreement seems to stop there.

You see Obama has gone further and determined that neither race nor gender NOR ability is important for his candidates. He is an equal opportunity recruiter of incompetence…but his doting fans are critical of his sexist and  racist agenda.

After all…he has just selected four white guys to be his Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Treasury Secretary and head of the CIA.

“Where are the women?” the women scream.

“Where are the blacks?” the blacks scream.

“Where are the Latino’s?” the Latinos scream.

And the stupidest comments of all?

The makeup of Obama’s cabinet should look like America. It should represent the diversity of which America is so proud.

So, that got me to thinking….if incompetence is a pre-requisite for appointment, well, there are a number of things that can be done to assure that the US government looks like America.

Just a little side trip here…for those of you who doubt that incompetence is a pre-requisite….just take a look at Holder, Sebelius, Solis, Chu and Napolitano to name a few.

So, in the spirit of enlightenment that creates a Cabinet that looks like America I have come up with a simple plan of action.

This Obama guy is all about fairness…so my plan builds that into account. It also acknowledges that elections have consequences…so the makeup of the Cabinet must reflect the makeup of the voters that elected the president. Therefore we can ignore anything about people who voted for Romney.

Let’s see what we can find out Obama voters:-

It will be too time consuming to actually do the research but since this is merely an example of “how” my plan would work, estimates are fine…

1.       Blacks – Obama got 93%

2.       Latino – Obama got 71%

3.       Young voters – 60%

4.       Women – 53%

5.       Jews – 69%

Now we have to make some assumptions for the purposes of explanation.

Let’s assume that Obama’s voters look like this:-

Blacks 15%

Latinos 12%

Women 15%

White men 10%

Students/young people 45%

Old white guys 1%

Others 2%

Remember these are merely an example of what the Obama numbers MAY look like.

SO…lets get back to diversity.

If government was being fair…then Obama’s cabinet should comprise the identical breakdown as his voting base.

We need a new government department…perhaps called “The Department Truth and Diversity in Political Appointments”. This cabinet position will be tasked with ensuring that the Presidential appointments to his cabinet match the same diversity as his voters. (A big advantage is that billions of dollars will be needed to fund this department…and it will employ thousands if not millions of people to conduct exit interviews of all voters so that it can statistically calculate the diversity program at each election cycle.

After all…we must be fair with all government actions.

The Department of Truth and Diversity in Political Appointments is tasked with ensuring the correct diversity.

For instance…there are currently 16 Cabinet level departments.

According to the numbers above the heads of these departments MUST be:-

15% Black (2)

12% Latino (2)

15% Women (2)

10% White men (2)

45% young people/students (7)

1% Old white guys (0)

2% Others (0)

So that comes up to 15….of course a black female student falls into three categories, thus leaving two extra spaces on the roster!

If this was instituted maybe we could get a cabinet that looks something like this?

Secretary of State – someone who is good at international stuff, enjoys travel and can be looked up to on the international stage….ummm….how about Beyonce? She fits those requirements and fills one of the black slots perfectly. Also much easier to look at than that piece of crap we currently have!

Secretary of Agriculture – someone with knowledge of food and where to get it, and how to use it…Rosie O’Donnel is the natural choice…and ticks off one of the women’s slots.

Secretary of Energy – a no brainer…Matt Damon – gets the Hollywood folks on Board and fills the white man slot.

Secretary of Education – not a hard one….just go down to the unemployment lines and recruit anybody with a liberal arts degree to fill the slot .

You see how it will work?

Of course, there are many MANY departments and agencies that have to be treated in the same way…and then the employment within those agencies have to be diversity checked too.

And then we get to the real dilemma…so far, The Department of Truth and Diversity in Political Appointments has an easy job…but what about Congress? Surely Congress should also represent the diversity of America…we need to somehow examine the voters preferences and disbar people that do not meet the diversity criteria….but what do we do to be fair?

This is sticky…so I think the Department of Truth and Diversity in Political Appointments should be given broad powers to prevent the appointment of any elected official in congress if his or her appointment would mean the balance of diversity in each house of Congress is not maintained. In the even that an elected official be blocked by the Department, they have the power to appoint someone of their choosing to fill the vacancy and ensure diversity balance is maintained.

The Head of the Department of Truth and Diversity in Political Appointments is a cabinet level position and therefore appointed by the President.

Elections have consequences!

So, Mr. President, your refusal to allow race or gender to have any impact on your selection of incompetent folk to your cabinet is a good thing.

About the only good thing I have seen to date from you.

But I forgot one thing…

How could I forget this?

How does the Department of Truth and Diversity in Political Appointments deal with the two major groups that swung this last election for Obama?

The illegal immigrant is clearly a problem…as estimates are difficult to obtain of their numbers. To be on the safe side the Department may have to ensure the President goes down to the local Home Depot and recruits Jose while he waits for a day labor job….he can Secretary of Homeland Security! That solves that problem.

The other group is the dead…even harder to be fair to.

Let me see…

I would gladly buy Obama a one way ticket to…the place he is carrying America in his hand-basket…perhaps while there he could count the voters….

On second thoughts…does it really matter? His current cabinet is brain dead already…

So there you have it.

For once Obama got it right….if he didn’t the Department of Fairness and Diversity in Political Appointments would be visiting a polling booth near you and making sure that illegals and dead folk have a say!

Stupid is….

…..devereaux

Ignorance...way to go America.

Ignorance – “lack of knowledge, information, or education; the state of being ignorant”.

Wake up America!

You have chosen to elect ignorance as your salvation. You have chosen ignorance as your leader. You have determined that a life of ignorance is more valuable than a life pursuing knowledge.

There is no other explanation for the stupidity of the last couple of months.

You elected a man as President who has absolutely no interest in what is best for the country. He neither knows nor cares.

You have elected a Congress that has absolutely no interest in steering the country forward (with a few exceptions)…a Congress that cares only about their re-election prospects.

Other explanations could include lunacy, insanity, greed and selfishness…but I find it hard to believe that so many people would fall into one of those categories (although it is clear that greed and selfishness played a big role in the last election cycle. After all, one candidate promised jobs, while the other promised free gifts. One suggested working for a living while the other said he would look after you. One has a record of job creation while the other has never created a job in his life. And many people said…why should I work for a living? I will vote for the guy that doesn’t want me to work!

They don’t know his name, nor did they care. They just wanted more phones, more unemployment checks and more freebies.

But not everyone who voted for the piece of crap in the Whitehouse today falls into that category.

Many are educated…may have degrees…many are not ill-informed. So why did they vote for Obama?

Ignorance!

You see ignorance is not just a result of being uneducated. It is also the result of poor education…or the result of a planned dumbing down of the population.

You think I am over-reaching?

How about this…

The Common Core standards are an effort to nationalize the standards and assessments upon which every public school in America would base its curriculum. The Obama administration has poured billions of dollars into the effort via federal “Race to the Top” grants. Under the guise of Standardizing education, they are in fact dumbing down the students.

How?

English teachers are being told that 50 percent of their course material must be derived from “informational texts.” (Actually, the informational text requirement starts at a “mere” 25 percent of reading material for kindergarteners. It rises to 70 percent for high school seniors.)

Among recommended “informational texts” on the national standards list we find The Federal Reserve Bank’s “FedViews,” “The Evolution of the Grocery Bag,” and “Health Care Costs in McAllen, Texas.” And, roll over “For Whom the Bell Tolls” it’s time to make way for that GSA classic: “Executive Order 13423: Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management.”

If you have ever read any of these documents you will know that they are not exactly what one would define as literary classics. There is nothing like government publications to redefine the meaning of words, make up new words, and totally misrepresent the truth in every way imaginable.

And the plot usually sucks, the narrative is less than creative and any dialogue is completely irrelevant.

Government publications, or information texts, as they are now described, offer nothing of the creativity or wordsmithing of classic literature.

And this is considered the gold standard for education?

The Obama administration has invested millions of your dollars to promote the use of government propaganda as a replacement for classic literature.

If you are having trouble believing this disgrace, simply Google “Common Core Standards” and you will find more research material than I want to read!

So…starting with the children we not only dumb them down by not concentrating on classic literature in English classes but we are encouraged to indoctrinate them with government double speak!

No wonder we have a generational issue with ignorance.

And the sad but complete truth is that both Democrat and Republican administrations are to blame.

On the economic front we pass a bill that not only raises the tax rate on individuals earning over $400k ($450 for families) but include enough pork to more than use all the increased tax revenues. 

This is how the Republicans decide we should resolve the financial cliff issue?

The Republicans have become the party of bend over and take whatever is coming…when the bell rings turn around!

I can’t wait for the next round of serious negotiations over the debt limit.

The only question that remains in my mind is whether it takes until the 11^th hour for the Republicans to wave the white flag…or whether they will just save everyone a whole lot of anguish and just roll over now.

As far as I am concerned, the American people deserve better than the farce the Republicans are giving them….it is not even entertaining or good theater!

But then again….we will always get the Government we deserve.

And when ignorant people vote, we get ignorant government.

Stupid is…..

And there is plenty to go around.

…..devereaux