SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

LAUGH FOR THE DAY

THIS IS GOING TO COST YOU!

Next week, the Obama administration is planning to unveil a climate action plan that it intends to implement without legislative approval. It’s a creative approach to governing, not unlike other executive actions President Obama has taken to bypass Congress. 

When lawmakers refused to pass cap-and-trade legislation, Obama announced there was more than one way to skin the cat. Through climate plans, executive orders and regulatory action, he directed his agencies to find ways to curb the country’s carbon dioxide output and commit to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. 

Leading the charge, unsurprisingly, is the Environmental Protection Agency, which will release its carbon-dioxide regulations for existing power plants on Monday. The plan will drive up energy prices for American families and businesses without making a dent in global temperatures. 

Our infographic explains what it means for jobs, incomes and the states hurt most.  To view the inforgraphic in a larger format - click here.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

LAUGH FOR THE DAY!

LAUGH FOR THE DAY

ANIMAL PRAYER

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY DAY

Dear Readers:

Ever have a day that you just know is going to remain in your memory forever as one of those "Gee, I am glad I am alive" day?  Today was just such a day.  Let me tell you about it.

First, my day started at 7:00 AM, which is unusual for a Saturday.  However, we had to get up and going since this was the day that our grandson was graduating from high school.  His high school, which is 35 miles away from our home, was holding the graduation on the football field, and we wanted to get their early so we could find a seat.  

As my husband and I were on the road to the high school, we talked about how our grandson had turned out to be such a wonderful person, and how he had to overcome some not so happy moments in his life.  He possesses a maturity that even some adults fail to ever reach.  Also, he managed to receive an academic scholarship to his university of choice, and knows what direction he wants to go on his career path. 

As, we sat in the stands with the morning breeze and May sunlight beaming, we watched him walk across the green field...tall, proud, confident, and I thought 'I hope he remembers this when life produces the challenges that I know will lay ahead and that he draws strength from this remembrance to continue his path'.  

Next, on our day's agenda, was to attend an afternoon wedding of a close friend.  It was held at a beautiful historic inn, outside in their garden, with the couple saying their vows in a flower filled gazebo.  It was beautiful and poignant.  Something about a wedding to remind one of their own vows so many years ago.  

Finally, on our way home, my husband suggested we go home and take our 1966 Covair Corsa convertible (red with white top) and go to dinner.  "WOW", I thought, "What a way to end a perfect day!"  So, once home, we jumped into the Covair and off we went, with the CD player on full blast playing rock and roll!  Can life get any better?  I don't think so.    

MAXINE WOULD BE PROUD!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!

A STORY WORTH READING

It will take just 60 seconds to read this and change your thinking..

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room.  One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end.  They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation..

Every afternoon, when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.  The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake.  Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by.  Although the other man could not hear the band -he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days, weeks and months passed.  One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep.  She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window.  The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed.  It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.  

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.  She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.  Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.  If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

'Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present .'

Admiral's Commencement Speech: 10 LIFE'S LESSONS FROM SEAL TRAINING

 
Dear Readers:

All I can say is WOW!  I wish this was the speech at all commencements.

Admiral William McRaven’s May 2014 Commencement speech at the University of Texas at Austin.

WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T DO JUST BEFORE YOU GET MARRIED!

OOPS! Doesn't cover it!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

NEED A LITTLE SYMPATHY? HERE IS MAXINE TO GIVE IT TO YOU.

WHAT CAN I SAY, SHE'S MY HERO!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!

LAUGH FOR THE WEEK - BE AFRAID - BE VERY AFRAID!

RECIPE FOR THE MONTH - HERB BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE AND HELEN'S FRENCH DRESSING

Dear Readers:

Due to my many food allergies and the desire to get away from prepared foods, I thought I would direct my creative talents to salad dressings.  One of my allergies is garlic, so I have been working on recipes that contain garlic and changing them so they still taste good without the garlic being added.  I find that many of the recipes that I have converted this way actually taste better.  You are able to taste the other herbs in the dish.  I am concluding the garlic can be somewhat of a "herb thug" when it comes to recipes.  

So, try my Herb Balsamic Vinaigrette and Helen's French Dressing.  Just in time for all of the fresh salad fixings soon to come to market. 

Don't forget to check out the coupon web pages posted this week on my web page to see if there is any that can be used for the  ingredients.

• For Coupons.com - Click - HERE
• For RedPlum - Click HERE 
• For Hopster - Click HERE
• For CellFire - Click HERE
• For SavingStar eGrocery Coupons - Click HERE

For those new to my web, this recipe page can be found by clicking on the words 'Current Recipes' in the upper left hand corner of the page.  To find older recipes, click on the  'Archived Recipes' pages (5).  

If you would like to receive an email from me when I post a recipe, notify me at hjcouponlady30@gmail.com and I will place you on my list.  As stated in my privacy policy, I do not share email information with other parties.

Enjoy!

MAXINE'S PHILOSOPHY ON 'WHY THINGS HAPPEN'

THIS IS MY HUSBAND AND HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD COMPUTERS

THE PICTURE SAYS IT ALL:

CHOCOLATE LOVERS UNITE !!!!! THIS IS OUR BANNER

A FALCON NESTING IN A TREE (THIS IS A JOKE, FOLKS)

Dear Readers:

I received this email from and friend and wanted to share...

"I've received many remarkable nature photographs over the years, but this photo of a nesting Falcon is perhaps the most remarkable Nature shot that I've ever seen.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  Nature is truly breath-taking!

I've sent this to most of my older friends.  The younger ones probably never see a falcon and wouldn't recognize it.  To see the picture, click on the link below."

http://i.imgur.com/YW6Fufm.jpg 

WORDS OF WISDOM ABOUT MEN AND WOMEN FROM MAXINE

ELEPHANT AND DOG - BUBBLES AND BELLA BEST FRIENDS

Click and just enjoy!

LAUGH FOR THE DAY - MAXINE'S VIEWS ABOUT MARRIAGE

NEW HEALTHCARE LAW IS NOT HIPPA COMPLIANT

Dear Readers:

You know that little paper you sign almost every time you go to the doctor's office about keeping your medical records private - you know, the one called HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).  In fact, you may have received such notices in the mail from different medical care type companies assuring you that they are HIPPA compliant.

Well, it has come to light that the new Healthcare Law ISN'T  - listen to the video.  The link is below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N54gSI4Aft0

WELL, IT'S EARTH DAY - HERE ARE SOME MYTHS...

THIS IS FROM THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION:

"Good news for Earth Day: We can boost energy production and economic growth without harming the environment!

Thanks to years of empty promises from the Left, politicians in Congress and the White House have installed all sorts of harmful policies that block energy production, jobs, and economic growth. But those policies have shown themselves to be counterproductive—they don’t deliver the benefits liberals promised, and they hurt Americans.

Here are two examples that may surprise you.

1. An oil pipeline is environmentally safe.

The Keystone XL pipeline, which President Obama just delayed again, has received an environmental green light multiple times—from this administration.

State Department impact reports have concluded “that the pipeline, a Canada-based project to deliver up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day to Gulf Coast refineries, would pose no significant environmental risk and would not contribute substantially to carbon dioxide emissions,” says Nicolas Loris, Heritage’s Herbert and Joyce Morgan Fellow.

Loris also notes that the project “has bipartisan support, the backing of several unions, and approval from former energy and interior secretaries.”

The pipeline would bring jobs and would help provide additional oil supply. “With high economic benefits and minimal environmental impact, this project should be a no-brainer,” Loris says. But elections seem to be a problem for Keystone. After a promise to decide the pipeline’s fate by 2011, President Obama postponed the project through the 2012 election—and this latest delay pushes a decision past the midterms.

2. Biofuels are not better for the environment.
Here’s another case where central planners promised they knew what was best for us—and it’s not working out. In fact, it’s costing us.

A new study out this week concluded that biofuels aren’t the “clean” alternative to gasoline that advocates promised. In fact, producing biofuels can release more greenhouse gases than using gasoline.

It’s been known for years that biofuels aren’t as environmentally friendly as we were first told. Heritage’s Loris wrote last year that “After accounting for land-use conversion, the use of fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides, as well as the fossil fuels used for production and distribution, biofuel production is quite carbon-intensive.”

Even if unintended, the consequences of mandating ethanol production and use in gasoline have been disastrous. Loris reports:

The mandate promised less dependence on foreign oil, lower fuel prices, and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Instead of delivering on these promises, the mandate delivered concentrated benefits to politically connected producers and higher costs to America’s energy consumers.

Whether it’s blocking helpful developments or mandating harmful ones, the government isn’t getting environmental policy right. That’s why The Heritage Foundation’s American Conservation Ethic includes the principle that the most successful environmental policies come from liberty.

WORKING WOMAN'S IDEA OF THE PERFECT JOB

TAX DAY - A COMMENTARY

Dear Readers:

Once again, my Representative, Dr. Phil Roe,  from Tennessee with common sense suggestions:

Tuesday was Tax Day, the deadline for filing your taxes with the Internal Revenue Service. Earlier this week, a recent Gallup poll found that 52 percent of Americans say the amount they have to pay in federal income tax is too high.  Still, I believe the president and some Democrats in Congress seem to think the only way to get our $492 billion budget deficit under control is to raise taxes.

According to the Tax Foundation, this year’s Tax Freedom Day falls on April 21^st, three days later than last year.  This means that 100 percent of the money earned by American workers during the first 111 days of the year, from January 1^st to April 21^st goes toward taxes.  I don’t think we should ask anyone to pay more until the government is a better steward of tax dollars.

Washington doesn’t have a revenue problem-- Washington has a spending problem -- and raising taxes won’t curb our spending addiction.  Instead of debating whether or not we should raise taxes, we should instead focus on simplifying our tax code by closing loopholes; lowering taxes on individuals, families and businesses; and making it easier to file.  It takes the average American 13 hours to comply with the tax code.  Did you know that if you were to add the hours spent by every American taxpayer filing their taxes it would equal roughly 6.1 billion hours each year?

There is nothing fair about the federal government taking between 30 and 40 percent of your income, especially on top of all the other taxes you pay – like sales taxes, gas taxes, and state and local taxes.  Tax Day is a timely reminder that instead of increasing taxes, we should reform the tax code and pass legislation that will help small businesses to grow and let individuals and families keep more of what they earn.

Earlier this year, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp unveiled a draft blueprint for tax reform. Chairman Camp’s draft needs to be debated and further refined, but  reforming our tax code like this will help grow our economy, create jobs, increase wages and lower the tax burden on hardworking families.

There is no shortage of good ideas for tax reform.  For instance, we could use Tennessee as a model for tax reform, which is why I am a cosponsor of H.R. 25, the Fair Tax Act of 2013. The Fair Tax Act – which eliminates the income tax, payroll tax and estates tax and replaces it with a national sales tax – isn't just about taxes; it is about freedom, jobs, smaller government and the economy. It is about returning power to the people and finally finding a way to ensure America's economic growth.  It is about reining in the IRS and stripping the federal government of the opportunity to dig deeper and deeper in the American people's personal pocketbooks.

We need to put a stop to the outrageous government spending that has turned into outrageous government taxing.  Congress needs to fix the broken tax system and allow our workers and families to keep more of what they earn and save - while giving entrepreneurs and small businesses incentives to grow.  These are the best ways to stimulate the economy.

 

HAVE A PARENT THAT IS ON MEDICARE, OR ARE YOU CURRENTLY ON MEDICARE? YOU WILL WANT TO READ THIS!

Dear Readers:

Yes, I am on medicare and I am greatly concerned about what is happening.  Below is just one of many articles that I have read, telephone calls I've listened to, and letters from physicians I've read expressing concern over the impact the new healthcare law.  

 

Obamacare Focus Will be on the Controversial Independent Payment Advisory Board in the Coming Months

Posted 04/18/2014 |  (From AMAC)

 

Can we trust the promise that the IPAB will not ration health care for senior citizens?

by John Grimaldi

WASHINGTON, DC, Apr 18 – There’s been little news in recent months about the Obamacare provision that creates an Independent Payment Advisory Board. “This, despite the extraordinary powers the IPAB would have over the delivery of health care services to Americans,” according to senior citizen advocate Dan Weber.

Weber, who is president of the Association of Mature American Citizens, noted that the White House has yet to nominate members of the IPAB. “Perhaps it’s because the pervasive and intrusive nature of the board would be exposed at a time when liberals can ill afford such disclosure. They’d be hard pressed to defend the so-called Death Panel come the November mid-term elections,” he said.

“Remember the promise that you could keep your doctor under Obamacare. Can we trust the promise that the IPAB will not ration health care for senior citizens?”

But, Weber, added it will be difficult to keep the panel and its extraordinary authority under wraps when Sylvia Mathews Burwell, who has been nominated to become the next Health and Human Services Secretary. She’ll undergo scrutiny in the Senate before she can be confirmed and the IPAB will be a topic of discussion, he pointed out.

“She could duck the issue, but it will be difficult for her to ignore the fact that along with becoming the new Secretary, she will also become the first and only member of the IPAB and that makes her appointment highly controversial.”
In a recent article published by Forbes, health care expert Michael Cannon wrote that “Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, if the Senate does not confirm any nominees to the Act’s 15-member Independent Payment Advisory Board, then all of the Board’s powers fall to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.”

Cannon is director of health policy studies at Cato Institute highly regarded as an expert on the Affordable Care Act. As he put it: “IPAB’s unelected members will have effectively unfettered power to impose taxes and ration care for all Americans, whether the government pays their medical bills or not.”

It’s a timely topic considering the fact that in June oral arguments will be heard by the 9th Circuit Court in a high profile law suit focused on the legitimacy of the IPAB. The plaintiff in the case, the Goldwater Institute, makes what it calls “the strongest legal challenge to date in Coons v. Geithner by arguing the federal health care law exceeds the powers of Congress and violates individual rights as well as violates the Separation of Powers doctrine.”

Weber said he believes the lawsuit could have a “chilling” impact on the future of Obamacare. “It is focused on the IPAB calling the panel ‘an unconstitutional delegation of Congressional powers.’ And it will bring attention to how liberal elitists can easily use the law to control the lives of each and every one of us.”