Victory - But Remain Vigilant

My entry on March 12 expressed my concern about this administration and Congress weakening national security and eroding benefits for military personnel and veterans. Shortly after my premonition, the Obama administration proposed billing veterans' health insurance for care they receive through the Veterans Administration (VA) for service-connected injuries and illnesses. Every Veterans' and military service organization objected to this proposal; some met with the President.

The first word was that their meeting made no impact on the proposal. However, it was later announced that this proposal has been dropped. This was probably the result of concerned citizens making contact with both Congress and the administration.

It is probably not over, though. This excerpt from an e-mail comes from Captain Ike Puzon, Director of Legislative Affairs for the Naval Reserve Association:

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The most disturbing issues surrounding this event... is that the proposal seems to be a bargaining chip for Veterans and military members to accept or agree to other pending (and unknown) budget cuts. When asked about what the 'savings' would go toward, if anything in VA health care, the White House answer was more disturbing - 'we don't know, we'll get you that information.' Many believe that the President may still move forward with the 3^rdparty billing plan and use the saving for other health care initiatives or other mandatory spending programs unknown to us at this time. It is reported from those that attended the meeting... that there was a clear lack of knowledge of how this would affect veterans and veterans' groups, and that the President did not want to hear the argument about 'moral and governmental obligations to wounded veterans that would be compromised by this initiative, if implemented.'

We urge you to write your Congressional delegation in opposition to 3^rd Party billing of Veterans care, and in opposition to any fee increases to military members' health care systems. (3/20/2009)

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It is extremely troubling when the proposal to erode veterans' benefits originates from our Commander-in-Chief. Every American who is concerned about our national security and benefits for military personnel and veterans must remain vigilant... very vigilant.

Ignorant

Yes, that is the descriptive term used by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to describe the President of the United States of America. President Obama's crime in this instance? To accuse Chavez of "exporting terrorism" and being an obstacle to progress in the region. "At least one could say, 'poor ignorant person,'" Chavez shared over the air last week.

One of the liberal utopian dreams during the past few years has been that once the Bush administration was done, we could settle down to a nice, cozy peace with all of these brutal tyrants. I guess we have moved up Chavez's food chain. Our President is no longer "the devil;" he is merely "ignorant."

I suppose that President Obama will be looking for a bigger olive branch. Lucky us.

The Obama Teleprompter

All right, folks. You have to check this blog out. The American spirit of innovation is not done in yet.

Barack Obama's Teleprompter Blog.

Enjoy.

Conservatives Right - As Usual

Well, well, well. Along with other conservatives, Rush Limbaugh revealed how Sen. Dodd and other members of Congress were quite aware of the upcoming contractual bonus issue at AIG, along with the revelation of the "Dodd amendment." Sen. Dodd rejected these "accusations" and told the American public that some "unknown" person or group changed the wording to his amendment prior to the vote. Yet, he still voted for the stimulus bill in spite of the "changes."

So now try out this headline: "Sen. Dodd admits adding bonus provision to stimulus package." (FOX News, 3/18/09)

Yet, conservatism & conservatives are bad for America. My, my, my. I guess they are: they keep tripping up liberals with truth.

Remember: How to anger a conservative - tell her a lie. How to anger a liberal - tell him the truth.

Tyranny - or - Politicans Gone Wilder

The political response to the AIG bonus issue concerns me greatly. First, neither our politicians nor Big Media is reporting the affair accurately. That, of course, is no surprise, but it does greatly influence the way that the normal American forms opinions, conclusions, and solutions. There are virtually no comments that even though these are "bonuses," they are contractual obligations that AIG entered into. Neither are our great and wonderful INVESTIGATIVE journalists informing the public that the politicians who rushed the stimulus (re: bailout) bills through their hallowed halls of Congress already knew and approved this.

On 3/17/09, Rush Limbaugh commented, "Sen. Chris Dodd wants to tax AIG retention bonuses at 90%, but Dodd added 'an exception for contractually obligated bonuses' into the stimulus bill! Once again, we have the real architects of this disaster acting like innocent bystanders who had no idea this was coming. We're being played for suckers with this populist assault to distract from Obama's poll numbers." I am well aware that Rush can be disliked for many reasons, but if you are trying to decide whether to believe Rush or our elected officials, keep a few things in mind... (1) Rush makes his living by claiming to be accurate and truthful. If he is not, he can be exposed by the evidence. Most of the time, those opposing Rush attempt to harm his character instead of refuting his evidence. Since Rush's enemies are out to destroy him, I am certain that they would not overlook introducing evidence that clearly refutes him. If such evidence is not presented, it makes me think that it does not exist. (2) While he may or may not influence people, Rush has no power to impose (legislate) his will upon others. Our politicans do, and as a result, they are also susceptible to questionable, if not corrupt, influence. It is beneficial for them to keep such influences secret or, if exposed, to mislead the public about it. (3) Take any political issue that has been discussed by Rush over the life of his program. Compare the known facts that eventually came out with Rush's public comments and any politician's public comments. Who stands up as the more truthful and accurate? I'm not suggesting that anyone adore or idolize Rush; just suggesting that when facing an issue such as this, you consider the track record of those involved.

Back to the AIG issue. More on the "Dodd amendment" can be read at newsmax. Sen. Dodd is now claiming that his amendment was changed in committee, although no one is "able" to tell the Senator or the public who made the changes. Which leads us to ask Sen. Dodd and ALL of our other Congresspeople, "Did you vote for this stimulus bill without reading it? Why did you do such a thing?"

Second, the political response concerns me gretatly. This is the really insiduous, frightening part. Our Congresspeople now believe that they are justified to target specific citizens, determine that they have been paid too much, and pass legislation - that means, make it law! - that their compensation be taxed at a rate of 100%!!! According to those behind this proposed legislation, the reality that the compensation received by employees of AIG are contractual retention bonuses means nothing. A nearly exact quote by a Senator I heard last night discussing this is that contracts can, and should, be broken. This completely overturns any concept of the rule of law upon which America was founded and upon which America has thrived. This is tyranny!!!

Now you and I know full well that hardly anyone is going to feel sorry for multi-millionaire AIG executives to lose a few assetts, especially in the economic troubles we face. Almost everyone, if not everyone, interviewed by Big Media, will cheer their Congresspeople and BHO for this "bold" move to punish millionaire executives. They are, of course, the bad guys in our nation. So why go out on a limb and take an unpopular stand of appearing to support AIG executives?

Bear in mind that during the presidential campaign, the definition of "rich" was not millions; it was specified as income of $250,000. In fact, at various times and places in the campaign, the figure cited was even less. Still, that's quite a bit more money than most of us make, so why be troubled? Make the "wealthy" redistribute their "wealth."

I am troubled because not only individuals are targeted. Businesses are targeted, and even small businesses are going to have revenues exceeding $250,000. Higher tax rates mean higher prices of goods and services. This translates into a "tax hike" for everyone regardless of income level. It also probably means less hiring or more layoffs by business. But our government has learned to manipulate populist sentiment, target specific citizens and sectors, and pass legislation that imposes harsh tax rates. This is tyranny!!!

I am troubled because our government determines that contracts are meaningless if they stand in the way of political agenda. Think about, for instance, those 401(k)'s and traditional IRA's and Roth IRA's and any other legitimate tax sheltered plans that currently exist. Private citizens contract with their government to follow specified contractual obligations in order to receive favorable tax treatment. Did you catch the word "contract" in use here? Wait a minute, our government has declared that contracts can be voided if they interfere with political agenda. So when our federal government is later strapped for cash more than it is now, what is to prevent them from shrugging their shoulders and declaring, "What contract? That contract is meaningless to us because we need your money. So we will tax it at any rate we deem sufficient, even up to 100%!" Given the precedent now being set, what is to prevent this scenario from happening? This is tyranny!!!

If this does not get your attention, you are comatose. If you disbelieve the logical extensions I have made from the present issue, you are not paying attention to reality. This is happening right now. Never before have I witnessed our government - the people's government, remember? - specifically target American citizens and businesses to this extent in order to destroy them. Targeted: AIG executives; the coal industry (and by default, the electric utility industry); private aviation; the "wealthy" (as variably defined on any given day); banks; responsible and successful citizens and businesses; national security; veterans; our free market economy; and the American Constitution. I welcome any additions to this list.

This is tyranny!!!

Politicians Gone Wild

Politicians from both parties (D & R) are going wild lately. Most, it seems, believe that they should be dabbling into the personal affairs of business and private citizens - including calls for death. Sen. Grassley (R-IA) offers this recommendation: "I suggest, you know, obviously, maybe they [AIG executives] ought to be removed... But I would suggest the first thing that would make me feel a little bit better toward them if they'd follow the Japanese example and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say, I'm sorry, and then either do one of two things: resign or go commit suicide. And in the case of the Japanese, they usually commit suicide before they make any apology."

In the same article, President Obama lambasted them for "recklessness and greed."

Uhhh.... who keeps giving them tons of money so that they do not have to face any consequences for their actions? A free market economy will not allow AIG "recklessness and greed" to prevail. Indeed, it is unlikely that it would have gotten to this point because subprime loans would not have been politically imposed upon responsible business in the first place.

Hey, politicians going wild, this is all a logical consequence of the moral relativism you have been imposing on Americans for decades now. To use a popularized figure of speech, your chickens are just coming home to roost.

Enablers

AIG executives keep on ignoring public relations as they anger the public by authorizing bonuses after taking bailout money. Well, what do we expect when a society decides to replace "nature's law" with moral relativism?

Uh... who has been enabling these arrogant brutes by pumping money into their boardrooms?

A free market would inevitably correct these deficiencies, but free market principles are not part of the arsenal being used by this administration in its "war" on the economy.

Military & Veteran Alert

For some reason, I have recently been thinking about the impact that the more radical liberal agendas might have on national security and benefits for military personnel and veterans. In spite of their earlier "we support our troops smokescreen," those on the left have typically tipped their hands concerning their opinions about the U.S. Armed Forces. In his infamous essay "Some People Push Back: On the Justice of Roosting Chickens," Ward Churchill wrote that American and coalition force action against the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait was "a performance worthy of the nazis during the early months of their drive into Russia." Even though they both have prior military service, Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) have made several extremely demeaning remarks against American men and women in uniform over the past few years. In a recent Chicago Tribune editorial (reprinted in the Kokomo Tribune, 2/9/09, p. A5), "Former Sen. George McGovern said recently that Obama should reconsider a U.S. military buildup in Afghanistan. He said the president should call a five-year 'time out' on war and bolster efforts to feed children in poor countries."

With these kinds of opinions and pressures from the left, I have been wondering: How long will it be before our national security capabilities are threatened? How long will it be before bills are introduced that will strip military personnel and veterans of their benefits because they are nothing but "baby killers," "nazis," and "criminals" and therefore not eligible for support from American citizens?

Whether my premonitions are divinely inspired or not, my latest copy of Naval Reserve Association News (3/2009, Vol. 56 No. 3) indicates that some dark storm clouds are already on the horizon. ADM Casey Coane, National Executive Director, writes, "Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) has called for a twenty-five percent reduction in defense spending. The President has apparently asked the Services to tell him what a ten percent cut would do to them." [emphasis added] (p. 4) CAPT Ike Puzon, Director of Legislation, reports, "We have received numerous inquiries about a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report. Many have claimed that TRICARE for Life (TFL) is at risk... We are concerned with legislation that might affect military health readiness and deny earned health benefits." (p. 9) Included in CAPT Puzon's report is the reality that the current Congress has the all-time lowest percentage of members who have served, or serve, in the U.S. military. On the positive side, Rep. Chet Edwards (D-TX) has reintroduced The Military Retirees' Health Care Protection Act as a preemptive strike against the Defense Department attempt to raise deductibles, copayments, and enrollment fees for TFL. (p. 13)

When bills are introduced that will cripple American national security capabilities and weaken or eliminate military and veteran benefits, how will your Senators and Representatives vote? How much longer will Americans continue to elect politicians who favor the dangerous anti-American policies of the radical left?

I encourage you to take action before it's too late. (1) Let your Senators and Representatives know that you are opposed to any bills that erode America's national security capabilities and benefits for military personnel and veterans. (2) Share this article with other military personnel, veterans, families, friends, and others who do not want to see a weakened America or military personnel and veterans robbed of their rightfully hard-earned benefits. Thanks for your help!

My Letter

Here is my letter to my Congressmen and President:

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“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
– The 10th Amendment to the Constitution

I find it deeply troubling that so many of my elected officials in the executive and legislative branches of government are working intently to violate the 10th Amendment. All of you have taken an oath of office and have stated to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. How can we be a nation of laws if the supreme law of the land, our Constitution, is ignored?

I still believe in the 10th Amendment, as well as the entire U.S. Constitution, and respectfully ask that you represent me by adhering to our vital founding document.


Sincerely,

*****

I encourage you to send your own. Use as much or as little of my text as you want. Sadly, our elected officials these days need a strong reminder about the source of government from we, the people.

Tax Time Again

Once again, Americans are burdened with tax preparation. Each year's tax law changes seem to bring new complications. Read "Keeping Track of Your Basis" in IRS Pub 564, the instructions for the tax treatment of mutual funds. It should be more straightforward than this.

Or consider this year that the market turmoil caused your mutual fund to generate capital gains distributions. This means that you have an additional tax liability. But say that the economic downturn required that you sell an assett like a car. Of course you lost money on it. But you cannot use that loss to offset your other gains because you cannot claim losses on consumer goods. However, in the unlikely event that you made money selling a car or some other consumer item, you are supposed to include the income on your tax return. How's that for a fair system?

So, once again, I invite any interested citizen to consider the proposals of Americans for Fair Taxation (known as the Fair Tax). If nothing else, it would eliminate the complications that we can all do without.

Tenth Amendment

America's Tea Party (re: the movement started by Rick Santelli's challenge to President Obama's economic policies) is calling for Americans to contact their Representatives to remind them of the 10th Amendment (one of the Bill of Rights) to the Constitution.

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Thomas Jefferson described the Tenth Amendment as “the foundation of the Constitution” and added, “to take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specially drawn … is to take possession of a boundless field of power, no longer susceptible of any definition.”

Our token leaders continue to redefine and expand their unconstitutional bounds of power. We cannot be a “Nation of Laws” if the supreme law, the Constitution, is ignored. In honor of the 10th Amendment, we Americans can send our representatives in every level of government a simple reminder on March 10th by sending the following e-mail:

Dear Representative [NAME]

This is a friendly reminder that I still believe in the 10th Amendment. Please represent me.

Thank you,
[NAME]

Or, if you have really had ENOUGH, personalize your message.

>>>FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE HERE <<<

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
– The 10th Amendment to the Constitution

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Consider contacting your Representatives, including the President, and asking them why they are overstepping their constitutional boundaries. Of course, if you have a Representative who is actually fighting for our constitutional protections, take the time to thank him or her.

As far as human institutions go, our Founders established a brilliant form of government. They recognized the dangers of allowing government to expand beyond the control of its citizens. We need to remind ourselves of this and, in turn, remind our elected officials.

Obama's Secret proposal to Balance the Budget

From my brother, Douglas...

"I think Obama has a secret initiative to balance the budget without congressional action.

He's going to keep nominating secretaries until they've all paid their back taxes. Brilliant!!!!"

:-)



(Photo: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner)

Administration Being Tested

Remember when V.P. nominee Biden said something weird about an Obama administration being tested? Wonder if he meant something like this...

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SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea vowed Tuesday to punish U.S. and South Korean "warmongers" after the American military said it would go ahead with annual joint exercises that Pyongyang calls an invasion rehearsal. ("N. Korea Vows to Punish U.S., S. Korea 'Warmongers'")

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U.S. - S. Korea joint military exercises are held regularly. This time, though, North Korea carries on as if it is an act of war. The historical truth is that the only invasion initiating a war in Korea thus far has come from the north.

Tyrants love weakness. Hope President Obama is ready for his tests.

March Madness

I wrote in my last post that I was looking for some good news. I think I have found some.

I guess this is good news, anyway. It's March madness time! Well, I suppose you could apply that to college basketball tournaments, but March is also college spring break time. And reports tell us that "The party goes on. Despite economy, college students plan spring break trips." (Kokomo Tribune, 2/22/09, D5). Bookings for pleasure and volunteer service destinations remain strong. I guess this qualifies as good news.

Oh, and it has been sunny here with warmer temps predicted. Happy days know no bounds.

We Keep Doing It To Ourselves

I wish that I could pass on some good news. If anyone has any, don't be shy; post it. Maybe it's just gray skies and a return to colder temperatures that has me a bit gloomy today. Or... maybe it's what "we" keep doing to ourselves.

I listened to a local news report last night reporting that research keeps showing that healthy lifestyles curb cancer. That's the good news. Who wants cancer? As you no doubt already know, healthy lifestyle includes eating more fruits, vegetables, and such and staying physically active (otherwise known as exercise). Certainly not bad things to do. I think that there is enough evidence to convince anyone paying attention that better eating and activity choices generally lead to better health. That's fine.

But easily discernible in the report is the not-so-good news. Researchers, medical professionals, and cancer survivors (those in this report anyway) indicate that this should be a "government concern." Of course. No individual can take informative data like this and choose to apply it to his/her personal life. We need a government to step in and make us do the "right" things. Some of the comments I recall: government needs to provide biking & hiking trails; abolish advertising of sweet foods & drinks to children; making healthy foods more affordable; government take on this problem like they did tobacco.

Obvious conclusions... Americans (some) have disconnected themselves from all reality. We have been a great nation because we have demanded liberty. Now we want to surrender that hard-fought liberty to the nanny state. Dining establishments can serve salads and fruits and such because they are good for us. No more burgers and fries and shakes and soft drinks. We cannot take care of ourselves; we are helpless. We are fallible people, so we must trust our elected politicians - also fallible people - to save us from our self-destructive behaviors.

How is this going to be stopped?

The Speech

Here we go again: President Obama lauded for another speech. If his speeches were really as useful as some indicate, we would be the most secure and prosperous people in the world right now. In perhaps the most lucid part of its report, the AP article I have in my hands right now reads, "Thinking longer term, Obama said in a speech lacking many specifics and devoid of initiatives that both political parties must give up favored programs while uniting behind his campaign promises to build better schools, expand health care coverage and move the nation to 'greener' fuel use." ( Associated Press, "Upbeat Obama says U.S. will revive past 'reckoning,'" Kokomo Tribune, 2/25/09, p. A10)

The article also notes that President Obama summoned "politicians and public alike to shoulder responsibility for hard choices and shared sacrifice." (p. A1) I am fed up with having politicians calling me to sacrifice for the suffering and misery they have caused. On top of that, the sacrifice I am supposed to make is for the purpose of allowing them to perpetuate the problems they created! And they refuse to stop their destructive behavior!

So what are the "hard choices?" According to the few plans that President Obama has actually specified, they work out to taking the fruits of responsible, successful Americans, pouring them into the money pit that is our federal government, and maybe doling a bit out to our neighbors who failed to plan for economic hardship. I am not mean-spirited about this. I have always believed that people can do anything they want (legally) with the money they earn. Along with that right comes responsibility, though. Now then my government calls on me to sacrifice so that others do not have to bear the consequences of their choices. How is that supposed to revive a nation?

Well, that's the speech. More government gone wild.

Missed It By a Bunch

Back to the markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) broke below its November low, so is now searching for new support. Not all averages have followed suit, but there is severe testing to see if the previous lows hold as support.

The sad, sad uncertainty is that no one in the markets is able to offer much of any clues about the coming economic landscape. Regardless of market swings, stock prices are ultimately driven by earnings. Consequently, analysts inside and outside specific corporations issue earnings guidelines and predictions. In this uncertain environment, some big bellwethers - Microsoft & others - have suspended issuing earnings guidance because they have no idea how this economy and political responses will affect them. As a result, investors and traders cannot estimate fair value and future value.

This administration and Congress have made sure that this is a political, not market, recovery. In fact, they eschew the messages that the markets are giving them. So expect a lot of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets until the uncertainty clears. Oh, and don't expect any clarity to emerge from the President's great orations. His speeches got him elected, but now he has to provide substance. That does not appear to be his strong point.

U.S. Manufacturing

B.H. Obama won the presidential election, but I am having a hard time telling it from his continual stump speeches. He keeps needing, for whatever reasons, to tell Americans about the crises we face, and that without liberal Democrat's constant meddling, we are doomed. To top this off, he has Big Media readily trumpeting his cause.

Except every once in a while, Big Media messes up and forgets its role as the liberal Democrat department of propaganda. In my Sunday, 2/22/2009, copy of the Kokomo Tribune, I ran across the AP article "What do we make? U.S. remains world's leading manufacturer."

What is this? We are not falling off the economic precipice with only the Obama arm to grab on to? Cites the article, "The U.S. by far remains the world's leading manufacturer by value of goods produced."

Isn't this good news? Isn't this positive and hopeful? So why hasn't Washington shared this reality? I suspect it is because that it suggests that we might not need as much Obamanomics as we are going to be forced to take. And as president, BHO seems to be unwilling to consider alternatives to his massive non-stimulus pork bill.

Don't you just love the change, hope, and unity that the Obama administration is delivering?

Era of Irresponsibility

I am making the formal declaration that America - and the world - has entered the Era of Irresponsibility. This did not occur overnight; it has been building for a long, long time. Therefore, there are good reasons why others may say that this era began at some earlier time. I'm not going to quibble too much over such things. For me, I mark the first day of the era of irresponsibility as February, Friday 13th, 2009.

It was on that Friday 13th that I happened to read an article in a paper I usually do not see: USA Today. The article on page B1, "World's efforts trail USA's" (by David J. Lynch), is a brief about the "stimulus" spending of USA and China compared to the rest of the world. Contained near the end of the article was this short, salient paragraph: "But if countries that accumulated sizable financial reserves in recent years, such as Germany and Middle Eastern oil producers, don't do more, they will face a backlash, says Adam Posen of the Peterson Institute for International Economics."

Face a backlash for practicing fiscal responsibility? This is the predictable result of liberal policies that rob both nations and individuals of any reason to act responsibly. All Americans who have been living responsibly for many years, many because they made conscious choices to sacrifice for a better future, are being punished. Those who overspent and did not save and paid no mind at all to improving their lives through education, experience, and personal excellance are being rewarded at the expense of responsible people. Everything that the government is doing rewards bad behavior. Acting fiscally responsible has become the moral hazard. Given this logic, what reason does any rational person have to continue making sacrifices for their personal and familiy's success? You earn it; you save it; and your government will take it to reward those who have made poor choice after poor choice.

This extends far beyond economics; liberalism has also bankrupted moral, ethical, and spiritual responsibility. It has been demanded that America provide billions upon billions of relief to alleviate suffering in third world nations. This has been done for so long, it is a way of life. At the same time, the same governments receiving our free money reject any requirements that they improve their own accountability to their citizens. They have been allowed to continue to practice unabated totalitarianism; moreover, they express openly outright hatred toward America for even suggesting that their people live free.

Liberal collectivism has done the same thing nationally. Successful businesses and individuals are required upon threat of fine and imprisonment to subsidize the consequences of poor fiscal, moral, ethical, and spiritual choices of others while having zero ability to change the negative, irresponsible behaviors. This is not compassion; it is extortion.

Led in large part by the recently passed stimulus bill and other proposals being imposed upon us by our President and Congress, our nation and our world have formally and institutionally ushered in the Era of Irresponsibility. This is not going to be a pretty picture.

Apology

I apologize for not keeping up with my blog.

I especially apologize to those who have this blog as a link on their own site.

I haven't intended to be so lax, but I have been keeping up with a number issues. And, I admit, I have gone through periods of "down" times where I have had to work through some unmotivation.

I don't know how consistent I'll be - this, after all, is a past time & hobby - and it is secondary to my responsibilities. But I could be doing better. And I'll try.

So, again, my apology.