Be careful out there--Friday 13th

“It is a beautiful and delightful sight to behold the body of the Moon.” ― Galileo Galilei,

 The Starry Messenger, Venice 1610: "From Doubt to Astonishment"

Some Trivia:  It's Friday 13th and it's also a Full Moon. The last time this event occurred was in Oct. 13, 2000.

The Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, says an estimated 17 to 21 million people in the United States are affected by a fear of Friday 13th. It is estimated that it costs the American economy approximately $800- $900 million because people won't travel on this day.

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.

~ Buddha

"A child miseducated, is a child lost"

Heaven knows, we spend plenty on educating our kids. The latest report card has come out and it ain't pretty.

Only about one-quarter are performing proficiently or better in math and just 4 in 10 in reading. And they're not improving. When I was a kid, I thought everyone was smarter than I.  They excelled in academics and we didn't have computers. Kids read.  They went to the library all of the time and they studied.  Game playing and extra-curricular activities were allowed when and if you did your three hour homework assignments every night and your report card was good.

It makes you wonder if it's because a large percentage of these failing students come from "entitlement" families.  "Don't worry, the government will take care of you from cradle to grave," and those parents who don't take the time to help their children get ahead. The report reinforces concerns that large numbers of today's students are unprepared for either college or the workplace. Pretty scary as China and Russia move ahead and we are being treated with no respect across the globe other than for our borrowed money as we dish it out for everything imaginable excepting for protecting Americans who are protecting us.

"We're seventh in literacy, 27th in math, 22nd in science, 49th in life expectancy, 178th in infant mortality, third in median household income, No. 4 in labor force, and No. 4 in exports. ... So when you ask what makes us the greatest country in the world, I don't know what the f*** you're talking about," said Aaron Sorkin. These statistics should worry everyone.

See the starting salaries for PB County teachers

"A child miseducated is a child lost." John F. Kennedy

Quote of the Day - Sir William Gladstone

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“Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender mercies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high ideals.”

~ Sir William Gladstone

Washington Post's top 10 Political Quotes for 2012

Below is the Washington Post's top ten political quotes of 2012. Go to their web site and read why, in their opinion, these quotes were chosen as the best of the best.

10. “By the end of my second term, we will have the first permanent base on the moon, and it will be American.” – Newt Gingrich

9. “I wish they weren’t called the ’Bush tax cuts.’ If they’re called some other body’s tax cuts, they’re probably less likely to be raised.” – George W. Bush

8. “(Florida Gov.) Rick Scott doesn’t seem to have any political skills at all. I’d give him a ‘B’ for governing. I’d give him an ‘A’ for strangeness.” – Former Florida GOP chairman Tom Slade

7. “Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and restart all over again.” – Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom

6. “Rick, I’ll tell you what. Ten thousand bucks? Ten thousand dollar bet?” — Romney

5. “There are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there. If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that.” – Obama

4. “What do you want me to tell Romney? I can’t tell him to do that. I can’t tell him to do that to himself. You’re crazy. You’re absolutely crazy. You’re getting as bad as Biden.” – Clint Eastwood, talking to an empty chair at the GOP convention

3. “It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” – Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.)

2. “Osama bin Laden is dead, and General Motors is alive.” – Vice President Biden

1. “There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it.” – Romney

Quotes from the past - Thomas Jefferson

"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed."

-- Thomas Jefferson


"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks."

-- Thomas Jefferson (1785)

Of course, back in 1785 muskets didn't have a rifled barrel which spun the bullet to make it stay in course. Moreover, the bullets or shots were round pieces of lead, which if they got to a spin, could taper off to any direction. Experts say that the force of the gunpowder probably gave them 20 feet in a fairly straight line. 200 ft would have been just sheer luck.

Muskets were used during the war and for hunting. We didn't have that many people living here back then (less than 3 million in 1785) and they didn't go out and kill people for the hell of it. Drugs were not on the scene and crazed people were rare. I am not convinced that our forefathers would not consider revisiting the 2nd Amendment in today's violent world.

Your Voice

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"Never believe that a small group of people can't change the world… Indeed, they are the only ones who do."

~  Margaret Meade

I really like this quote that I just grabbed from Original Save Our Beach, Inc., a political action committee in Deerfield Beach and our friend, Bett Willett, who is a Co-President of that PAC. I especially like the acronym:  oSOB. It is catchy and clever and right in your face.

Your Voice is important. Join the Respectful Planning PAC Facebook page today. Let's hear what you have to say about respectful heights in our downtown.

Happy Easter Lillies

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin and yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these," said Jesus The Christ in his Sermon on the Mount.

Given to me by my dear friend, Barbara Jean--the flowers embody joy, hope and life. It serves as a beautiful reminder that Easter is a time for rejoicing and celebrating.

Quote for Easter - Rick Warren

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Quote for Easter

“When He paid for our sins on the cross, the veil in the temple that symbolized our separation from God was split from top to bottom, indicating that direct access to God was once again available.”

Rick Warren

Remembering Harry - The Buck Stops Here

"My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference."

~President Harry Truman

Today is President's Day where we honor George Washington, the Father of our Country. Some States like to throw in Abraham Lincoln. But this day should be for all past and present Presidents of the United States. So, today, I am taking this opportunity in remembering Harry.

Harry Truman was a different kind of President. The average citizen could relate to him as he could see through the "bull" and he pulled no punches. As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food. There wasn't this "politically correct" mantra back then. He thought it and he would state his opinion as "the buck stopped with him." No one got on his case about what he thought. Free speech actually was allowed and people were not quite so nasty. There was no such thing as attack ads. Everyone had pride and love for country and respected one another as far as the law had dictated.

He probably made as many, or more important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the other 32 Presidents preceding him. One of the important decisions was to form the Truman Committee that fought waste and management during World War II thus saving $15 billion and thousands of lives. Although civil rights law did not come into effect until well after his presidency, he started the way with his To Secure the Rights act in 1947 which ended discrimination in federal employment in 1950. He did a lot for civil rights.

When he left the presidency, he was back to being a man of simple means and retired with no expectations of making money off his fame nor did he want any, unlike most politicians today who become wealthy once they serve. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on how he lived his life after he left the White House in 1952--a simple, principled man.

• Other than his time at the White House, he lived his entire life in the same house in Independence, Missouri, the only asset he had when he died. The house was an inheritance from his wife Bess' mother and father.

• His income was a U.S. Army pension estimated at $13,507.72 a year. He was a Army Major and then a Colonel in the Reserves
  

• He paid for his own postage stamps and no longer had any staff. Congress granted him an allowance. Later he received a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year.

• He had no secret service detail once he retired

• When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, "You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale."

• Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, "I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise."

Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency or other held offices resulting in untold wealth. Rick Santorum is taking heat for making money and capitalizing over the fact he was a Senator. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale and one politician was sent to federal prison.

Sources: Wikipedia & Unknown

Quote from the Past - David Allan Highet - Think Big

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Think Big!

~David Allan Highet, former National Cabinet Minister, New Zealand

This was a phrase for an economic strategy sponsored by the Prime Minister of New Zealand Robert Muldoon (1975-1984) and his New Zealand National Party government in the early 1980s.

No, Greg Rice didn't coin this phrase but look what he has achieved by believing it.

I'm not talking about the big stumbles and the poor decisions of the past that have cost us big-time. I am not talking about big political egos that have us momentarily dysfunctional. I am using the expression now as a reminder to all those who are focused on the immediate rather than the long-term. In order to achieve great things, you have to think and dream big. You have to believe.

We did that in Lake Worth when we built our own Reverse Osmosis plant, and we can continue to do that. We did it when we finally decided to re-build our Casino. Planning & Zoning continues to believe it as it designs our City, keeping its small town feel and uniqueness. We are on our way and in a few more years you will see the difference from the plans that have been formulated, implemented and are being achieved to make our city sustainable, desirable and a city that will attract more and more tourism, businesses and homeowners.

We have invested in our future. We've got it. We're on our way. We're thinking big.

Saving American Democracy

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Laurence McNamara recently sent me a quote:

" It is necessary that laws should be passed to prohibit the use of corporate funds directly or indirectly for political purposes; it is still more necessary that such laws should be thoroughly enforced."

~Theodore Roosevelt

Bernie Sanders says, "Corporations should not be allowed to spend unlimited, undisclosed sums of money to influence political campaigns." "If you or someone you love is a corporation, do not sign this http://sanders.senate.gov/savingdemocracy," Stephen Colbert tweeted after Bernie Sanders was a guest on his show.

More than 175,000 people have now signed the petition backing Bernie's constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's infamous ruling two years ago this month.

Memorable Quote - Scott Maxwell

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Why I simply love politicians:

From the December 6, 2011 meeting.

Vice Mayor Maxwell said that it was unfortunate that his request to terminate the City Manager had placed the Mayor in a position to make a fast decision. It was an uncomfortable way to conduct business; however, it had to be done in the public. He apologized to the Mayor and other Commissioners for placing them in this position.

Gee, thanks, Vice Mayor. I will accept your apology at any time you care to give it. I would also like to have you give the rest of the public your reasons for doing this. So far, no reasons have been given other than you were just "uncomfortable."

Shiny Objects - Cute and Catchy

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Commissioner Scott Maxwell coined the phrase which he attributes to some local politicians who, in his opinion, concentrate on the non-essentials. Is he right or is this just more cute but catchy political mumbo jumbo?

If we want to do the right thing in Lake Worth, this Commission should start immediately by cutting waste and stopping all unnecessary spending. End the creation of more shiny Boards and sunset some that we now have. If we can't trust our highly paid employees to make the right decisions, then hire some that we can trust who have the qualifications and the integrity necessary for Lake Worth who can think independently. We don't need people grabbing the cash, many times in the millions, without detailed line item explanations on the Financials, which we never get. Cut out the free lunch. The Commission would all do this IF they were all sincere about eliminating shiny objects and such. They would scrutinize those monthly Financials like there was no tomorrow and demand a Budget that is easy to navigate.

They can start with our Utility that obviously charges us way more than necessary otherwise we would not be able to get $10,000,000 (that's MILLION folks) transferred from it to the operating account to run the City. This is no shiny object matter. Service and efficiency should matter here but as Randy Schultz said this morning while writing on another matter, "Profit is the worst possible motive when it comes to public policy." According to experts, there are many unneeded millions in the Electric Plan that do not and should not be spent. Get to the bottom of those.

The electric rate calculator that was circulated by the Utility Department is just not computing for me. Now that IS something that they can correct without spending shiny objects.

Thought for the Day

There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation.

One is by the sword. The other is by debt.

~John Adams 1826

Quote - Charles Percy Snow

"No one is fit to be trusted with power. . . . No one. . . . Any man who has lived at all knows the follies and wickedness he's capable of. If he does not know it, he is not fit to govern others. And if he does know it, he knows also that neither he nor any man ought to be allowed to decide a single human fate."

~Sir Charles Percy Snow (1905 - 1980)

Quote - Clarie Sargent

"I think it's about time we voted for senators with breasts. After all, we've been voting for boobs long enough."

~Clarie Sargent, Arizona senatorial candidate

Don't get on my case; I didn't say it but remember it when you vote on Tuesday. Rachel Waterman will be the 2nd female mayor of Lake Worth.

Quote from the Past - Dumb Wars

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"Even if the country has a tyrant, and even if that tyrant is butchering his own people, if the country poses no imminent threat to the United States or to his neighbors, then getting involved amounts to a dumb war."

~Barack Obama

Now you would assume that he is talking about Libya. That was said in 2002 by the then-State Senator Barack Obama about George Bush's Iraq war.

For all Obama supporters and truth-seekers:
(quote attributed to him but unproven because there is no longer a tape or a transcript. I hope now everyone can sleep at night) Did he say it? That's for you to decide.

Quotes from Stanton Review

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• Varela: I have a gut feeling that there are signs of big problems in the future. He then tells the City Manager to "Communicate and tell people that it will be okay...people fear change."
  

• McVoy: Varela wants someone who is a Mother figure to tell people that all is okay.

• Golden: It's easier to throw rocks at a train than to drive the train.

• Mulvehill: Look at the glass as half full rather than half empty.

• Maxwell: I did not have enough time to get the matrix in on time because Susan Stanton did not use the right format.

Tom Ramiccio says he wants to be Mayor of Lake Worth

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"I'll be a big contender."

~Tom Ramiccio

Tom Ramiccio told the PB Post that he will be running for Mayor of Lake Worth. "Ramiccio has written a five-part plan to revitalize the city that recommends hiring an internal auditor, creating new sources of revenue and stimulating economic development. Ramiccio said he wants to consider "all options" to reduce the city's electric rates, including selling the city's electric utility." Read about it HERE.

He told me weeks ago that he had a "lot of support."

After suing The Palm Beach Post and Commissioner Suzanne Mulvehill, blaming her for his termination at the Chamber, he wants to set his record straight by running again and winning. One thing that we can conclude from observing him at city commission meetings and his public speaking is that Ramiccio holds the present government and city manager in low esteem.

At the end of all of this he might be uttering Rocky Balboa's words:
"I coulda been a contender.”

Quote of the Day

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“I’m not going to pass a growth management bill. A freshman Democrat isn’t going to pass a school reform bill in the state of Florida. What I’ve tried to do is look at smaller issues that I think have some worth.”

~Jeff Clemens

Read Freshman PB County Rep finds a way to get noticed