The Way I See ItBy cj pollickSummertime … And The Beach Is Very Busy - Lets face it, we have it all . . . boating, fishing, shelling, sunbathing, biking, tennis, golf, Lowry Park Zoo, Busch Gardens, Disney, Sea World, etc., lots of great restaurants, both casual and upscale. Enjoy! Rubio Receives Endorsement - Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee endorsed former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio for the US Senate. On This Day - On this day in 1950 the Korean War began with North Korean troops crossing the 38th parallel to attack South Korea. Ironically, it is the same North Korea that is testing space-age nuclear weapons reflecting its military strength in eastern Asia. Obama Wants More Government Healthcare, But At What Price - Two trillion tax dollars---three trillion tax dollars--four trillion tax dollars are some of the numbers being tossed around by economists to fund President Obama's national healthcare ideas. Where would this money come from? asked several Democrats and Republicans in Washington questioning the cost of such a national fund. Higher tax rates and more restrictions on the manner in which healthcare is delivered in America. Supporters of a remodeled healthcare system in America have also stated that perhaps we should emulate the Canadian healthcare system, to which Canadian Shana Holmes recently explained to a Congressional Committee, "If I relied on the government (health plan), I'd be dead!" Holmes continued to explain to the US Congressional Committee, "Don't put politicians and bureaucrats between patients and doctors." In Canada, Holmes was asked to wait for several months before she could have major surgery. Holmes instead went to Mayo Clinic in the US and had the much needed surgery within three weeks. Without a doubt, America has the best healthcare system. Could healthcare costs be controlled and made more manageable? That, say some politicians in Washington, is where the White House should be focusing their attention. Healthcare for everyone in America? Yes, a great idea. Yes, a great idea. How can we afford to pay for those items without adding more socialism in our already expanding federal government? Florida Graduation Rate Falls To New Low - Just when our local school board asked for tax increases to help fund our educational system, a new report places the graduation rate for Florida high school students among the lowest in the nation. Only 57.5% of Florida high school students graduate on schedule. In 2006 this graduation rate was 71% in Florida. The nations graduation rate? 69.2%. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Cal.) Says, "Call Me Senator" - When Brig. General Michael Walsh was asked to report to a Senate Committee about certain military issues, he was asked a question by Sen. Barbara Boxer. Brig. General Walsh in standard military manner relied, "Ma'am".... To which Boxer quickly interrupted the General and said, "Call me senator and not Ma'am." Some folks thought the left-wing feminist from California was kidding, but she was serious. Boxer does not like the word Ma'am in favor of her anointed title of senator. The General respectfully recomposed himself and continued to respond to the question using the word "senator." Big deal? Not really. Most military people are trained to use the words "sir" and "ma'am" as a sign of respect. Sen. Boxer made much to do about nothing. Democrats Move To Increase Their Expense Budget - Yes, it seems like only yesterday that Democrats in Congress were criticizing Republicans for wasteful spending. However, the Democrats have been in charge of Congress for the past few years and have been spending taxpayer funds faster than ... Republicans. Recently, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and friends decided to increase the expense budget for all Congressional Representatives by 8%. Even though we are in deep recession, wasteful spending habits in Washington have not abated. Add to this cost increase another cost for health care in Washington for our federal employees (which includes Congress) and, yes, they are exempting the same federal employees from the proposed Kennedy Healthcare Bill for the rest of America. Roger Federer And Rod Laver - While tennis fans across the globe are saying that Roger Federer is the best tennis player of all-time, there are some older folks that still remember that Rod Laver (for years) was not allowed to play in many of tennis' top tournaments (during his prime tennis years). Would Rod Laver have won some of those major tennis tournaments? Yes, he might have won most of them. Nevertheless, Laver played the cards in which he was dealt and never complained. On the other hand, Roger Federer is one amazing tennis champion and if tennis great Pete Sampras says he is the best-ever, then ... the way I see it, Federer is the best. The competition today is better than ever and Federer has proven to be a great champion, same for Rafael Nadal (who is currently number one ranked.) Back to Rod Laver. We remember the left forearm of "Rocket" Rod Laver when it was compared to heavy weight boxing champion Rocky Marciano's -- Laver's was larger! Yes, top-spin hitters of today would be impressed to see Laver's forehand topspin shots he hit back in the old days; and remember, Laver was playing with a wooden tennis racquet with little, if any, high-tech racquet/string enhancements. Best ever? Probably Federer, but each tennis era had its best and Rod Laver was the best of his era. Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! you, too? Thought I was the only one." - C.S. Lewis |