I wear corrective lenses.  I've had contacts since I was in 7th grade.

Just calculated and I have inserted and removed contacts in my eyes for the last 6,000 days.  In a row.

I know my eyes, I know how to use contacts, I know what works for me (-5.75 in both eyes).

I'm pretty darn good at it now.

So my question is...

WHY do I need to pay an optometrist every year for an exam in order to be able to purchase the contact lenses that I need?

WHY???

I can buy a million different products without a prescription that are so much more dangerous than contacts.  Sure, at first you need to get an exam, but after a while, its just ridiculous that I keep paying some guy every year to tell me something I ALREADY KNOW.

You know what I think?  Optometrists have good lobbyists.

What Love Really Means

I really like this e-mail that came from the Gary Chapman 5 Love Languages e-newsletter.  Young men and ladies should be taught this.  "Love" is not that thing you fall in and out of, or those euphoric feelings when you 're first dating someone.  Once you make that committment, love is a way of life.


What Love Really Means


Explore the foundation

When couples come to me for pre-marital counseling, I sometimes ask: "Why do you want to get married?" They always seem to give me the big reason; and the big reason is always the same. What do they say? "We love each other." Then I ask a very unfair question: "Tell me, What do you mean by that?" There is silence. Then, one will say, "Oh... you know!"

I guess maybe I do know. I think they are talking about a euphoric emotion that makes them oblivious to reality. They are the happiest they have ever been. What they don't know is that the euphoric feelings will last for two years and then they must find another foundation for marriage. Wouldn't it be better to explore that foundation before they get married?

What is love?

One definition says, "Love is the feeling that you feel when you feel a feeling like you've never felt before." If that is your definition of love, I can tell you, that kind of love will never lead you to a life-long marriage. The euphoric feels are temporary. It is interesting that in Eph. 5:25 husbands are commanded to love their wives. If the intense feelings of love were permanent, why would God command a husband to love his wife?

The fact is, they are not permanent and love is not a feeling, but an attitude, with appropriate behavior. Love is the attitude which says, "I'm married to you, so what can I do to help you? Love is choosing to be kind, and supportive. Is that your attitude?

Love as a way of life

Most people get married based on love. However their concept of love often focuses on feelings. I read one definition which said, "Love is a four-letter word composed of two consonants, L and V; two vowels, O and E; and two fools, you and me." There is some truth to that, and fools often make poor decisions.

In the Bible, love is not a euphoric feeling, but a way of life. In Titus chapter two the older women are instructed to teach the young wives to love their husbands. This implies that love can be learned. It is not something that happens to you. It is something you choose. Once you choose to love, then you look for appropriate ways to express it. This kind of love will lead you to a life-long productive marriage.

Learning to love

"I don't love her anymore." How many times have I heard that in my office! What is that supposed to mean? Usually, it means that he has lost the euphoric feelings he had for her when they got married. And that their differences have emerged and ended in arguments. The fact is, everyone loses the euphoric feelings. They usually last for only two years.

Then, we must learn to love. We must choose to treat each other with respect. We must listen to differences of opinion and try to find a solution. We must learn to work together as a team; using our differences for the benefit of the team. This attitude is commanded by God.

Love that makes marriage enjoyable

Would you like to know what love looks like in a marriage? Then, turn to I Corinthians chapter 13. Listen to these words: "Love is patient and kind; is not arrogant or rude; It does not insist on it's own way; it is not resentful; Love does not bring up past failures, but chooses to forgive." Does this describe your attitude and treatment of your spouse?

This is the kind of love that makes for happy marriages. Love focuses on meeting the needs of the spouse; helping them succeed; listening to their thoughts and feelings. In short, it is giving your life away for your spouse. That is precisely what Christ did for us, and it is what husbands are instructed to do for their wives. Love is powerful.

http://www.5lovelanguages.com/

Don't Break or Throw Away That New-Fangled Light Bulb

Gee whiz - I didn't realize how hazardous these new-fangled energy-efficient light bulbs are.  Did you know they have mercury in them?  And if you drop and break them, you 're never supposed to sweep or vaccuum it up?  And you're supposed to get people/pets out of the area?

I haven't seen any recycling programs in my area for the bulbs, but I don't think we want to throw them in the trash when they burn out.  Hmmm.

http://www.epa.gov/mercury/spills/index.htm#whatnever

"Hope doesn't put food on our table"

The Waxman-Markey Cap and Trade Bill, as passed in the House (currently being considered in Senate) would DEVASTATE my community, AND unnecessarily increase the prices that every single American pays for energy (gasoline, electricity, groceries, and everything else that fluctuates with the price of energy).

We need everybody to let our senators know: Waxman-Markey has it wrong! Reject Waxman-Markey and come up with something that addresses climate change without crippling the economy of the heartland!

http://www.eldoradonews.com/Blog/2009/07/21/lowery-testifies-before-congress-today/

http://www.arkansansagainstcapandtrade.com/

Here's your Chance...

Representative John Lowery Jr., Chairman of the Citizens Against Cap and Trade, has called a press conference tomorrow, Wednesday, July 8 at 11 am on the east side of the Union County Courthouse.

Lion Oil's Vice President, Steve Cousins, and others will talk about the regional economic impact of the Cap and Trade bill. Please spread the word and take 30 minutes out of your day Wednesday to learn more about what this bill would mean for our community.

Have you completed my poll (see right side of page)?

And become a Facebook fan!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Arkansans-Against-Cap-and-Trade/99941029230

The Gloves Are Off

While America enjoyed Friday evening watching transformers in the movie theater, or going out to dinner, or watching Michael Jackson coverage on every channel, they should have been watching Congress because our country is being transformed. Right in front of our eyes and nobody's watching. The house is snuck in a vote last night -- the 1,500 page Waxman Markey climate change bill.

The Cap and Trade bill passed in the House late last night (219 for, 212 against).

What is Cap and Trade/Waxman-Markey? It is a scheme that places a maximum on allowable emissions in the US and rachets that emissions cap down from 2012 through 2050 to just 17% of 2005 levels. Sounds nice right? Wrong. Because US companies are having to pay for all these emissions, and how to they pay for them? They pass the cost on to YOU and ME through our electricity bills, gasoline and diesel purchases, and everything else we buy that is impacted by those costs - which is everything we buy. This will devastate America. Just one example, El Dorado's local refinery, Lion Oil, has already said that it will have to close its doors and layoff its 1,200 employees if this legislation passes.

The next move for this bill is the Senate. Obama is taking his gloves off, saying that everyone who speaks out against this bill is "misinformed" and pressuring the Senate to pass it. How can little ole us go up against that? Well, each of us have 2 Senators that HAVE to listen to us - but we HAVE TO TALK TO THEM so they know that we don't want them to support this bill!

Call, write, visit, twitter, and facebook your 2 Senators and let them know we want a climate change bill that will really make a difference without further crippling the American economy.

Don't know how to say it? Go to http://www.fuel-america.com/ and click the Take Action link to have a letter generated for your representatives that you can edit (or not) and send by e-mail.

Cap and Trade Bill Bad for Arkansas

Good article in the El Dorado News Times today.
Ross: Industries could be hit hard if bill becomes law
By: John Worthen - El Dorado News Times

Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., on Thursday said that industries in El Dorado and Union County could be hit particularly hard if a proposed climate change bill aimed at reducing carbon emissions becomes law. In an e-mailed statement sent out to news media in the Fourth Congressional District, Ross said that although he agrees that carbon emissions must be reduced, he can’t support the bill in its present form because of its potential to devastate his district’s economy.

“El Dorado could be hit particularly hard if this bill passes, as it is home to Murphy Oil and Lion Oil,” Ross said in the release. “I was proud to welcome Steve Cousins, vice president of refining for Lion, to testify this week before Congress where he argued that if this bill passes in its current form, the El Dorado refinery would be forced to close its doors within a year and lay off 1,200 local workers.”

Highlights from the article:

• Under the cap-and-trade plan that is part of the bill, total carbon-dioxide emissions from large sources, such as power plants and factories, must be reduced by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 and by 83 percent by 2050.  American manufacturers must pay to emit carbon dioxide.
• Arkansas is among a group of states that stands to suffer a 1.5 percent decline in jobs by 2030 if the legislation becomes law.
• Ross voted against the bill in committee, despite lobbying efforts and phone calls he received from Speaker Pelosi and President Obama.
• While other states have an abundance of renewable energy in the forms of solar and wind, southern Arkansas does not. Instead, our area has vast amounts of biomass that under this bill’s current definition cannot be fully utilized. It also refuses to allow our state’s existing hydro and nuclear power to count toward the proposed federally-mandated renewable electricity standard.
• These limitations stand to increase the price we all pay for energy while limiting the ability of our foresters and farmers to have a leading role in producing American-made energy.
• We must be very careful in passing any climate change legislation to ensure that we do not enact policies that close our local facilities and ship our jobs and carbon dioxide emissions overseas.
• The reality is that between now and 2040, 97 percent of new carbon emissions will not be produced from the United States or Europe, but rather from places like China, India, and the Middle East.
  

Full Article: http://www.eldoradonews.com/news/localnews/2009/06/12/ross-industries-could-be-hit-hard-if-bil-33.php

This is too important to watch from the sideline - let your representatives know where you stand - www.Fuel-America.com

TAKE ACTION TODAY on Credit Card Companies

Write to Your Senators Today and Tell Them to SUPPORT the Durbin/Bond Consumer Discount and Fee Transparency Amendment.

House bill H.R. 627, the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act will be brought to the Senate floor early this week. This is the consumer bill that recently passed the House. Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Kit Bond (R-MO) will offer an amendment to increase transparency of credit card fees, and allow merchants to offer a wider array of discounts to consumers.

Specifically, the Consumer Discount and Fee Transparency Amendment:
(1) updates current law, which permits merchants to provide discounts for consumers who pay by cash or check instead of credit card, by permitting merchants to also discount for debit cards or lower-fee credit cards; and
(2) directs the Federal Reserve Board to gather and publish information on interchange fees, other credit card fees, and the rules governing them.

In addition, it strengthens existing laws to clarify that card companies cannot penalize retailers for 1) offering discounts; 2) the way in which they display the discounts; or 3) for directing consumers toward a discount payment option.

HR 627 draws a line in favor of consumers by banning most retroactive rate increases on existing balances (except where the card holder is thirty days late in making payment) and increasing notification of any interest rate hikes going forward to foty-five days. It also stops the annoying tricks and traps that cost card holders money: due-date gimmicks, misallocation of payments on balances with different interest rates, double-cycle billing; and it bans issuance of cards to minors.

The bill is expected to come to the floor this afternoon and debate and amendments will continue throughout the week. The Durbin/Bond amendment could come up as early as today - please send your U.S. Senators an e-mail by clicking here:
http://www.ga.murphyoilcorp.com/issue_alert.asp?g=murphyoil&issue=creditcard&parent=MURPHYOIL

A!

I made an A in my economics course! Alright!!

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Economic Overload

My MBA project on the Economic Meltdown is due Tuesday night (I'm in a group w/2 other people). We'll submit our paper (23+ pages) and give a presentation on the financial crisis: how we got here, and how to fix it. MUCH easier said than done - just ask Tim Geitner.

After Tuesday, I don't want to hear ANYTHING ELSE about the economy, or the recession, or Obama's plan to save us all. I'm all economied out!

Be Afraid

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville on Tuesday confirmed reports that it was laying off workers at its northwest Arkansas headquarters in an effort to increase operational efficiencies and cut costs.

http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article.aspx?aID=112294.54928.124439

This is mind numbing.  11,616,000 PEOPLE IN THE U.S. ARE WITHOUT JOBS AS OF JANUARY  That's compared t 7.6 Million the same month last year.  Do you personally know anyone impacted by this?

HUGE SALE!!!!!!

Unless you live in a cave, you know that the stock market has taken a huge dive since mid-2008.  I can only look at my 401K balance with one eye open right now - scary!  But I can't IMAGINE stopping contributing some of each of my paychecks to it.  

A recent survey from TD AMERITRADE finds that 35% of Americans have cut back the amount they're contributing to their retirement plans — and, get this, 63% have stopped adding any new money at all.  

Are you KIDDING ME?  

That's like someone who loves cashmere sweaters saying they're going to stop buying them because the price went down.  And if you sell your stocks, etc. right now - that's the equivalent of selling your $100 cashmere sweater for $50.  What???  Bad move, people. You're going to regret that in the future.  I'm getting a HUGE discount on every investment I make in my 401K right now!  Same stock(s) - cheaper price.  It's such a rush!!!!

This is a great article to read to better understand what's going on, and how it affects your investing...

http://finance.yahoo.com/focus-retirement/article/106502/The-Move-You-Are-Going-to-Regret?mod=retirement-preparation

Finances: When two become one

Came across an interesting article on handling finances after getting married.  I remember dealing with this when Jason and I graduated and actually had a little money to put in the bank.  After some trial and error, we came up with a plan that works best for us.

Seems as if there is a spender and a saver in every marriage.  What about you?  Was it a challenge to figure out the finances of the marriage (joint or separate checking, who pays the bills, etc) or was it very simple?

http://simplystated.realsimple.com/life/2009/01/separate-but-eq.html

I Voted Today

I'm done! Now, if only there were a switch on my television to tell all the commercials that I have already voted and all the ads would stop. But, alas.

I was told it's best to vote early in the morning, as the lines just get longer as the day goes on. Took me about 10 minutes.

Don't Let Anything stop you from voting

When will it be a moral and political good for the Arkansas government to go into the gambling business?

When will it be a moral and political good to place any foster or adoptive child with gay couples?

Never, is my answer. Not this year. Not next year. Not 10 years from now. Not 50 years from now. Never.

As Arkansas closes in on Election Day, the issues are tightening up. It's going to come down to which registered voters will make going to the polls a priority.

Lottery proponents are counting on those of us who have rejected lotteries at least 5 times in my lifetime to have grown weary of the battle, to give up. Groups that have embraced political correctness on gay parenting are hoping that finally, you have too.

Please, with all I can ask you, don't give up. Don't EVER give up on your convictions because of weariness. If we do that, it is only a matter of time before we lose every fight. We have to resolve to fight bad policy every time it comes, and support good policy every time it comes, for as long as it comes.

Early voting begins this coming Monday, October 20th and ends Tuesday, Nov. 4th. Please vote FOR ACT 1, The Arkansas Adoption and Foster Care Act and AGAINST AMENDMENT 3, the State-run lotteries amendment.

Your kids and grandkids need you to stay in the fight.

Don't let anything stop you from voting.

Sincerely,

Jerry Cox
Family Council President
www.familycouncilactioncommittee.com