Ham on my way!

After thinking about it for about three years, I finally joined the world of smart phones. 

For Christmas, I got an iPhone 5 and I was so looking forward to meeting Siri!

After experimenting for a while, I thought if I entered settings for the United Kingdom, maybe Siri would speak with an English Accent.

It sort of worked, but then he (it was a male voice) had a hard time understanding me. 

I voice texted my husband to say I was "on my way".
What it wrote was "Ham on my way".
I sent it anyway. 

My husband sent back "And Eggs?"

Fermented Vegetables

I've been reading about the health benefits of fermented vegetables.  Here's how to make them: 

• Chop or grate your chosen vegetables into tiny pieces. The smaller they are the more readily they will release their liquids and faster they will culture.
• Mix all vegetables in a large bowl.
• Use the salt liberally while mixing, to taste. A quart of sauerkraut will have at least 1 to 3 Tbsp of salt.
• As you are mixing the vegetables you will find liquid is being released.
• Pour the liquid and the vegetables into a jar.
• Press down to release any air bubbles and to submerge the vegetables completely.

Large cabbage leaves can be rolled and pressed down on top to keep the vegetables submerged. A weight such as a smaller jar filled with water can be placed on top. Cover with a cloth to keep insects out. Or simply cap the jar once the vegetables are submerged (without adding the weight). Open the jar daily to release the pressure and to taste your kraut.

The vegetables should be kept at room temperature for at least 4 to 7 days. The warmer it is the faster they will culture. Some people culture their vegetables for weeks to months. Once you like the way they taste place the jar in the refrigerator where it should keep indefinitely.


Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/

You know you're a liberal when...

• You know that GOTV has nothing to do with television

• "I got this" is a favorite quote

• You know Obama was born in Hawaii, but doubt that Trump's hair is real

• You think that millionaire's don't need a tax break because when you at look what they spent on PAC donations, surely they have a bit of extra cash around

• and last but not least,

• You don't drink the red cool-aid, you prefer blue power aid!

Congrats to everyone that worked hard on this campaign!


Please feel free to add to the list...

When you're having trouble deciding who to vote for

This is a previously published post, but still viable today...
Our country is facing numerous problems.  It’s up to us to send the best qualified people to help solve them, but sometimes that's hard to determine, so here's a checklist that I hope will help.

 5 things to look for in a candidate (and why they are important)

• ·             Education/Intellect
• ·         Work Ethic/Accomplishments
• ·         Problem solving capacity and ideas
• ·         Perspective
• ·         Integrity

Why these?

Education/Intellect -- Think of it this way: would you work with an investment advisor who wasn’t educated and who didn’t understand basic economics?  Or a doctor that quoted cliches and generalities?  The problems we face are complex; we need representatives that can understand them.

Work Ethic/Accomplishments -- has the candidate accomplished anything for the good of others?  Did they put themselves through school or was everything handed to them?

Problem solving capacity and ideas-- can the candidate appreciate the multiple facets of an issue?  Have they put forth actual solutions they want to work on?  Would they reach “across the aisle” and work with the opposition to get a better solution or just sit back and vote “no”?  

Perspective -- It’s a global world, whether we like it or not.  Can the candidate appreciate the impact other countries actions have on us (and our on them?) Do they understand and respect other cultures?  

Integrity -- Do they pay their taxes and obey the laws?  How do they run their campaign?  Do they take responsibility and explain their voting record?   How many special interest groups are big donors to their campaigns?  How much PAC money is being contributed?

Scoring:  For each positive attribute the candidate has, they get one point.  If they have a negative attribute (for example, they are running a smear campaign) give them minus one.

 If you feel an attribute is very positive, give them two points if you like. 

You might be surprised how your scorecard totals come out.  If you find this helpful, please add a comment.

Where to find information:  do an Internet search for voter information, league of women voters, and/or board of elections.  You can also visit individual candidates’ sites.

In my area, there are many judges that are elected.  The judges, and county commissioners, are elected officials that many voters really don’t have good information about, yet make decisions with impact!  It’s worth your time to look these up before voting. 

Hey, What's the Deal with Health Reform?

Pete, a friend of mine, who is a CEO of a small company, was complaining.

“We’ve just received a notice that our health premiums are going up 20%.  I don’t think we can absorb this -- now the employees are going to have to pay more.  Health reform has been a disaster!”

I understand his concern and imagine he’s got his hands full with strategic plans, budgets and balance sheets, so there isn’t time to research health reform.

So I’ve done some research and can assure him that his increase isn’t due to the health reform law.

•            First, most of the reforms haven’t kicked in yet, they are scheduled to be phased in.  2014 is a big year where we’ll see major changes.

•           But good things are in effect – one is the provision that health insurers spend at least 80% of premium on medical costs.  I don’t know what carrier he’s dealing with, but some of the big names can do this, some are not that efficient.   They've been forced to  look hard at their administrative costs and not just pass them along to the customer.

•          Creation of ACO’s (Accountable Care Organizations) are enabled by the law.  These begin to address costs by rewarding for outcomes, not by the test.  They deliver better care at lower costs.  These are new and their effects will be greater as they grow in popularity.

So, Pete, this may not make you feel any better about that stiff increase, but don’t blame health care reform. 

It will take time,  it could be improved (hopefully it will) as we see what works best, but it is a step in the right direction of doing something about spiraling healthcare costs. 

There are many articles on this, let me know if you'd like the links. 

all the best,

Tracy

A "do nothing"?

My next door neighbor said he wouldn't vote for President Obama because he is a "do nothing."

True, he's had a hard time getting Congress to pass anything -- a hard task when many of them admit their main objective is to make sure the President doesn't get re-elected. 

It's like putting lead weights on a racehorse.

But here's the short list of what he has been able to do, even with this handicap:

• Ended the war in Iraq
• Winding down the war in Afghanistan 
• Focused on the people who attacked us on 9/11  -  Osama bin Laden is gone
• Cut taxes for middle class families
• Kept student loan rates low 
• Raised our standing among our allies

And there's more -- he's been a hard working President!

Bumper stickers I’d like to see

Happiness is a choice

Chose Happiness

I'm peddling as fast as I can!