Good Morning and welcome to Friday!

The big talk yesterday was about jobs. The government is trying to find a way to spur job growth. People out on the street need jobs.
If we can't work, how will the economy ever get better?
The problem is, at least the view from this corner of the world, is companies have found out they can survive with less workers.
Those who have jobs are happy to have them and take on increased workload to keep the job. Companies make money by cutting salaries, health care, people.
Now, an expert I know says job growth is always the final thing to come back after a recession. Hopefully, that can happen quicker.
People need to work. Companies need to see they are a part of the community and need to let people work.
For the most part, workers want to get the job done. They want to do the best they possibly can to not only survive with a paycheck but get a sense of accomplishment.
All the talk is great, but until there is some kind of forceful push for hiring, the circle will continue.
It needs to happen now.

Good Morning and welcome to another interesting weekday!

Word out today is the Philadelphia Museum of Art is cutting staff. Word yesterday was major retailers (Target, Macys) saw sales fall so short of what was needed they are considering more cuts. Newspaper companies are in bankruptcy court. The auto industry is still falling like a rock even though the government gave them some free cash. AIG, which got $150 billion in government bailout money, wants more to stay afloat.
Meanwhile, we all go day-to-day hoping the sky doesn't fall, trying to find a solution that might not be there right now.
Then again, it might.
Here are a couple of ideas:
1. Start a community. Maybe those long-haired, freaky people of the '60s had a better idea. Get a bunch of people together, find a farm, grow your own food and live sustaining yourself. Here's one option: The Gaia Yoga Gardens in Hawaii.
2. Join a Monastery. All you have to do is study the teachings of Buddha. Find a monastery you like. Knock on the door. Sure, you have to give all this stuff up, but it might be peaceful.
Then again, maybe not:


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Good Morning and here's hoping your car started this morning!

Read this story this morning about how beer sales were down in the third quarter this year. The brewer of Miller is blaming the economy. Orders fell 'unexpectedly' at then end of 2008.
Maybe it could have something to do with taste. Now that there are seemingly limitless choices in the beer store, why settle for something like Miller or Miller Lite or Coors or Budweiser or any other cookie-cutter beer.
Hey, if we barely have enough money to pay the bills, buying junk beer is the last thing on the list. Thanks to the economy, maybe we are starting to get a little more picky.
Why waste the money on colored water like Coors Light when you can get a case of Guinness for a few bucks more. Leave the Corona in the case and pick up some Dos Equis Amber for the same price and get more taste.
Beer, wine or any other 'adult beverage' is a little treat we can give to ourselves. If it doesn't taste good, what's the point? Just fill the glass with water, add some yellow food coloring and call it Bud Light.
Better yet, grab the case of Sam Adams and enjoy.
Or just enjoy one of the best beer commercials in history:


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Good Morning and welcome back to November!

So, we got through another weekend virtually unscathed, although that's probably not going to be the same for very long. It appears we are heading down roads not seen for 80 years.
Hopefully, everything can be pulled back to some sense of normalcy, but, we'll have to wait until February, at least, to see.
Back in 10th grade, I had a teacher who's idea was to install a new president the day after an election. His argument was a lame-duck President (and a lame-duck Congress) won't really help the country.
Was he ahead of his time. Well, it sure looks like it now. Not that a new administration would be able to create a miracle turnaround, but, really, can it get any worse. We are bombarded day after day, hour after hour, with bad news about the economy. There are layoffs, foreclosures, more layoffs, 401(k)s going down the toilet and we have an administration under no push to get things done.
No matter what people want to believe, there isn't a Messiah out there ready to step in. Still, we need to get new ideas out there to see if they work. If not, adjust, but something has to give.
Or does it?


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Good Morning Delaware County and all the ships at sea!

Sometimes, people amaze me.
Just when you think you know something, it gets shot out of the water.
Case in point, Saturday morning.
Spent the morning watching a couple of Cub Scouts attempt to sell popcorn, their annual fundraiser. The money helps fund some of the things during the year like camping trips, hikes, you know, those kind of scout things.
Anyway, with all the bad news floating around about the economy, I didn't have much hope heading into Saturday morning. Hey, most people are just trying to keep their heads above water for the basic things. Those basic things don't always include fundraising popcorn.
Still, lo and behold, people helped out. They engaged the sellers in conversation. They purchased some of the popcorn. They brought smiles to the parents of those selling.
Sure, there are always those curmudgeons who just ignore everything and give nasty looks. Those, though, were few and far between. Even if people couldn't help out, they were friendly.
In a world where more and more depressing news hits us every day, sometimes, it's good to have your faith in humanity renewed.
By the way, even popcorn can be funny:

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

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Good Morning and get that rain gear ready!

So, has there ever been a more blatantly bad political move than the one pulled by John McCain yesterday.
Now, truth be told, I am still a bit undecided on the November election. We need to move away from the current administration, but I'm not sure which candidate is the better one right now. And, no, I'm not voting for the vice president, so those candidates don't matter.
What exactly is McCain going to do when he 'suspends his campaign' and goes back to Washington, strong arm the rest of Congress? Maybe he'll give them the short-arm, thumb's up and tell them to keep up the good work.
Look, neither McCain or Democrat Barack Obama are on the committee working on this ridiculous buyout plan. The only thing happening here is not a 'suspension of the campaign,' but a political move to bolster poll numbers.
Here's an idea, let's here from both candidates on how they would fix the mess. Everything else is just more rhetoric.
By the by, I still can't believe that the only way to save the economy is to give a small amount of people more money while the rest of us sharpen pencils.
Why do I get the feeling our President is just trying to take care of his buddies.
"Fellow citizens, we must not let this happen."
By the way, the more things change the more they stay the same:


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