Well, dream no longer:
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This rules out all of the current Democrats, I believe, and most of the Republicans. It does leave an opening for Lou Dobbs.
]]>We should not be accepting their crap. "Made in China" should be the kiss of death for all products sold in the U.S.
]]>Well, dream no longer:
It appears the Chinese manufacturing industry's modus operandi is to take pictures of stuff other countries produce, and then make Chinese stuff that looks just like it. Without worrying about what's underneath. This is a relatively harmless practice when it involves gravel or even "Welcome" mats for the front porch. It's not so great for pharmaceuticals or car tires.
Or barbecues, which just breaks my heart.
Those of you who really, REALLY need to move on in your regular travels around the blogosphere may recall that seemingly glorious day two years ago when we acquired the most wonderful barbecue of all, which had us teetering on the brink of idolatry.
Well, last week after dinner, when the barbecue had cooled off we closed it up and put the cover on, as we always do. Later that night, like around 2:00 am, I was letting the puppy out and happened to put my hand on the barbecue, and it was warm. Turns out, the left side burner had managed to re-light itself and would in fact not turn off. I frantically reached below and turned off the propane tank valve, breathed a sigh of relief that I had happened to go outside and touch the grill before our house burned down, and then cursed the Chinese at the top of my lungs.
That's the Surefire Sonoma Grill from Costco, folks. It only cost $499 while comparable U.S.-built models would run well over $1000. And as an added bonus it will eventually blow up your house. Frankly, I would not buy any of the Chinese-made grills at Costco or anywhere else. In fact, I strongly recommend that we all make an effort to avoid buying ANY Chinese-made crap anywhere in the world. (See below for more background information on Chinese made crap.)
To kick off this important movement, I propose the following "Buy American" themed attire, which is all U.S. made, and gently chides the Chinese for their dangerous, donkey-sucking industries.
When 'Made in China' is a warning
Tainted toothpaste seized in Connecticut
China vs. Vermont: A Toy Story
Thomas Tank Engine Toy Recall Angers Parents
U.S. orders recall of more Chinese products
Tires Are Latest Chinese Recall in U.S.
Pet Food Deaths: FDA Blocks Gluten from China
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Terrorist operations are active in the U.S. and are being operated/financed in Michigan. U.S. citizens need to understand there are people trained and prepared to carry our suicide missions in the U.S. and nothing is off limits. Churches, malls, and even the schools our children attend are not off limits to suicide bombers. It is only a relatively short time before the U.S. will begin seeing suicide terrorist missions.
Sort of causes a twinge during that next visit to Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, or any other retail store in America. But when our diplomats meet with their diplomats, everyone bows to each other. Can't just shoot them all in the head. Pity.
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I should have seen a doctor sooner, but couldn't. At first I was afraid I had the same thing that killed my father so young, and I couldn't face that. Couldn't even admit it. By the time I'd figured out I probably had some kind of hyperthyroid disease (thanks WebMD!), we were in the middle of changing our family health insurance. In the meantime, I dropped down to 116 lbs. I'm 5'10", people. At that height, doctors will tell you that 116 lbs is "not good."As soon as the new insurance kicked in, I went to see my GP. When the blood work came back, hyperthyroidism was as obvious as a kick to the crotch. Let's look at the numbers.
If you have a thyroid count anywhere above 180, then you are sick. To rephrase, if your thyroid level is at 181, then you have a problem. On November 17, my blood thyroid was 1,480. Yeah, that's over eight times the maximum healthy level. Then it got worse.
When the fragility of existence sneaks up on those who are older, we who feel we have not gone far beyond the halfway point can take solace in the fact there is plenty of time left. When our peers are so afflicted the solace falls away.
It is a thin thread that keeps each of us above water.
]]>Andy's business is multi-level marketing of Xango, which is juice from the mangosteen fruit. His radio ads are ear-catching, thus my interest and probably everyone else's. We've received a pretty substantial amount of traffic and comments as a result; of the latter, I think it's been divided pretty evenly between the pro- and anti-Andy factions. Andy himself has dropped in a few times, and I personally was impressed with him. He makes no excuses for his business model, a business model which I happen to find puzzling because I am not a salesman.
It all started with a throwaway joke line that brought dozens of google hits per day. After many months of watching the stats - all the poor folks who came here looking for real information and finding a stupid joke - I was beset by an uncharacteristic spell of conscience and decided to do some actual research to provide some useful information for our visitors.
The first real post was this one, which also happened to evoke the Mother of All Andy Willoughby Comment Threads.
My semi-serious investigation began here, and a very good discussion follows, including a visit by Andy himself.
Andy checked in with us again here, for a friendly back-and-forth. A good discussion follows.
More comments from Andy here and here.
The discussion got a bit more heated here.
Reader Bruce just posted this comment on another forum.
The most recent post brought this comment:
Thank you for the work you are doing. There are many women needing to make extra money for their families that fall prey to rats and vultures. Keep your eagle eyes open--- protect them. You are needed, wanted and loved for your good works.
The more critical point is this: MLM presents something of a Rorschach test. If you go into it expecting magic or with the unrealistic idea it offers easy money, you could be in for a very rude surprise. Especially if you have a lot of eggs in the basket. Sales is hard, and the radiation-referral model of MLM is very hard if you are not committed to constantly working the system and getting new people involved, and particularly if the product you happen to have signed on to sell is not a viable, worthwhile product.
Mary Kay has been very good to a lot of salespeople because it is a valuable product and there are a lot of women in the world who might buy it. Tupperware was the same type of deal for decades. You may not be able to say the same thing about all the products typically marketed via a "downline." Tea tree oil, vitamins, kitchen products and, yes, Xango may or may not be as viable.
If you are naturally inclined toward sales, and you believe in the product, Andy Willoughby's Three Step Plan may be as valid a source of income as any. If you don't have the mindset nor faith in mangosteen, it could be a real waste of time and money. The many links in the complete thread present a bunch of resources you can use to research the product if you wish.
Happy New Year and, if it be your destiny, happy selling.
]]>In the absence of comments here the past month, reader Bruce has posted a response here.
For a full catch up on our various Andy Willoughby discussions, please spend some time in this thread.
I'll do an update/recap on everything new on the Willoughby topic soon. Thanks for bearing with me the past month.
]]>2006 has been some year. Instapundit has a great round up of reactions to and information about the execution of Saddam Hussein - just go over there and scroll down.
And MonkeyWatch has ... well, you know what MonkeyWatch has. It's always pretty interesting, and this week has been no exception.
More later - happy new year!
]]>Here is some background.
In 2001, Murtha announced the creation of Scialabba's nonprofit agency for the disabled in Johnstown, Pa. The next year, with Scialabba still on his staff, Murtha secured a half-million dollars for the group, the Pennsylvania Association for Individuals With Disabilities (PAID), and put another $150,000 in the pipeline for 2003, according to appropriations committee records and former committee aides. Since then, the group has helped hundreds of disabled people find work.But the group serves another function as well. PAID has become a gathering point for defense contractors and lobbyists with business before Murtha's defense appropriations subcommittee, and for Pennsylvania businesses and universities that have thrived on federal money obtained by Murtha.
This should be interesting.
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