Mark's Views, Perhaps — from behind my eyeballs
Somebody shot my good ole friend from way back when. Or maybe he shot himself. Even so, he’s not looking so bad. Really well, in fact.
But a cane?! He’s using a cane? 😯
Seriously, though, SRS, I hope things are looking up for you and your distinguished spouse.
Amen.
Just so you know, I have three clunkers. All of them have over 200,000 miles on them. And two have over 300,000!
I’d take $3000 for any of them.
(I think I would, that is. I suppose the best way to test that is for you to make me an honest offer! 
)
If I were to have the opportunity to do so, should I participate in the government’s cash for clunkers program?
A so-called “cash for clunkers” measure approved by the US Congress could help reignite sluggish auto sales, although the overall impact may be modest, analysts and industry officials said.
[…]
The bill will provide up to 4,500 dollars in incentives to consumers who trade in certain fuel-hungry vehicles for autos which consume less fuel.
Edmunds.com, an automotive research firm, estimates that the measure will spark relatively modest sales — probably less than the 250,000 estimated — and would only provide an incentive for a small number of car owners whose vehicles are worth less than 4,500 dollars.
“Most qualifying ‘clunkers’ are at least 10 years old. Their owners are either not looking for an increased car payment or cannot afford to purchase a new vehicle, which averages nearly 30,000 dollars,” an Edmunds.com report said.
[…]
To qualify, the vehicle traded in must have a fuel economy rating of 18 miles (29 kilometers) per gallon (3.8 liters) and be in drivable condition. The new car must offer at least 22 miles (35 kilometers) per gallon.
So…does new mean brand new?
Or could I take the government’s (that is, your) $4500 for my 1983 Chevy van and use it for a new-to-me rig (say a Chevy Suburban) even if it’s five years old?
I got up around 5:15 this morning — that would be roughly an hour and a half ago.
And there — exiting the spare bedroom — were our oldest and their oldest.
They were heading home to Madras! (Her husband is likely out in field already.)
Our oldest — aka LaVay — was the last to bed last night and the first up this morning. After a big day yesterday which included picking and doing up strawberries.
How does she do it?!
Now she’s driving home…probably going by Mt Hood as I type. (She’s probably got about an hour to go.)
Oh, I mentioned seeing them exiting the bedroom. LaVay had already taken their second oldest out to their vehicle. And while she escorted their practically-sleep-walking oldest, she carried two others — their youngest and their truly-youngest.
She’s due in late September, as I recall.
You go, girl!
At the end of my print reading earlier this morning:
And from my online reading:
“I’m holding one more broken piece from the edifice of pride I’ve tended around my ego….” —Tony Woodlief
“The mistake he sometimes made was in attempting to mandate others to be like him….” —Marvin Olasky
“Came away grateful despite all his sadness and torments….” (Olasky still writing about Calvin)
“Uh. . . what exactly does it mean if an oven is self-cleaning?” —Matt Smucker
What has you reflecting?
What do you do when you discover the hard way that someone you should have been able to trust had a dagger up his sleeve…waiting for your back to be turned?
(Figuratively, of course.)
How do you respond to someone who deals nicely with you to your face…but easily deals treacherously with you otherwise?
😥
More importantly, is it news that the average American cares about?
And even more important than that, do you care about this?
The National Security Agency is facing renewed scrutiny over the extent of its domestic surveillance program, with critics in Congress saying its recent intercepts of the private telephone calls and e-mail messages of Americans are broader than previously acknowledged, current and former officials said.
Then there’s this later in the story:
it is unavoidable that some innocent discussions of Americans will be examined.
Do you mind if something you say or write is examined?
How about anything?
How about everything?
“Oh be careful little tongue…. Oh be careful little hands….”
Yeah, that’s part of a children’s song that I and you would be wise to follow.
Look, I’m no gullible neophyte, OK? Maybe what I’m linking to is a set of shams.
But the idea of using Twitter this way is fascinating to me.
That was allegedly taken in Iran. (Click for larger image.)
And here are links to two Twitter-ers claiming to be in Iran: Change_for_Iran and persiankiwi.
May the Lord keep His people. And use them as lights in the night.
HT: WorldMagBlog