Results of a 50% tax Rate on the Rich...

Speaking of Obama's plan to tax the rich, in reality, the United Kingdom did exactly what Obama and the thieving Democrats propose to do here — pass a surtax on high-income earners.  In the UK, their new tax rate of 50% took effect at the beginning of the year. When it was passed, it was thought that the new tax would raise a billion pounds in extra revenue each month.  That is what was expected.  So, how did that work out?  Well, it is a fact that tax revenues have dropped by more than £500 million.

The self-assessment returns from January, which is when most income tax is paid by the better-off, were eagerly awaited by the Treasury and government ministers. It was expected that those returns would provide the first evidence of the success of the 50% rate.  It was the anniversary of the first year following the introduction of the rate.  However, the rate was not the success which they expected. What was expected to boost tax revenues from self-assessment by more than £1 billion, instead led to a loss of revenue.

The UK Treasury received £10.35 billion in income tax payments from those paying by self-assessment, a drop of £509 million compared with January 2011. Most other taxes produced higher revenues over the same period.

Senior sources said that the first official figures indicated that there had been “ maneuvering” by well-off Britons to avoid the new higher rate. The figures will add to pressure on the Coalition to drop the levy amid fears it is forcing entrepreneurs to relocate abroad.  Gee, that's a surprise... NOT!

The same will occur here.  Those with the means will reallocate their monies where they will be untouched.  And, the bulk of the increases will come from those small businesses and families that make less than $300,000 a year.  These people who will be hit are upper middle class.  They are not rich...  They are not Obama's buddies in the entertainment industry.  They are mom & pop operations.

The proposed increases, especially when combined with the taxes & penalties mandated by Obamacare, will lead to layoffs, business closures, etc.  It is bad for people, bad for business, and, most of all, very bad for the USA.

Political Ramblings

I'm very upset.  Our country is in trouble and I really don't care what side of the aisle one is on, we're in trouble.

While I'm not happy with the results of the election, I'm even more upset with the people - post election.  The tolerance that this country is known for is MIA (missing in action) and the least tolerant of the citizens appear to reside in the Democratic party, the winning political party.  Here's a for instance....

Because of my deep & abiding belief that this country, this "ship of state" being in dire distress, which is bad enough that it may cause the "ship of state" to sink, I've decided to fly our flag with the union down...  a clear sign of distress that any military person will recognize.  It isn't being done in protest and it is being done with the utmost respect for our country & our flag.  This country is in trouble and is in danger.  It is in danger from enemies, foreign and domestic.  It is in danger of going off a cliff to economic ruin.  It is in danger of being torn apart by political ideologues.  That is why I'm flying the flag with the union down.

Well, those who disagree, who believe that all is happy and well... that the Democrats in Congress and their Messiah, Barrack Hussein Obama, will lead them to the "Promised Land" of peace & prosperity... of "equality"...  to the "Promised Land" of Marx, who stated,

"From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs."  

Here is Marx's quote in it's entirety...

     "In a higher phase of communist society, after the enslaving subordination of the individual to the division of labor, and therewith also the antithesis between mental and physical labor, has vanished; after labor has become not only a means of life but life's prime want; after the productive forces have also increased with the all-around development of the individual, and all the springs of co-operative wealth flow more abundantly -- only then then can the narrow horizon of bourgeois right be crossed in its entirety and society inscribe on its banners: From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs!

    I have dealt more at length with the "undiminished" proceeds of labor, on the one hand, and with "equal right" and "fair distribution", on the other, in order to show what a crime it is to attempt, on the one hand, to force on our Party again, as dogmas, ideas which in a certain period had some meaning but have now become obsolete verbal rubbish, while again perverting, on the other, the realistic outlook, which it cost so much effort to instill into the Party but which has now taken root in it, by means of ideological nonsense about right and other trash so common among the democrats and French socialists.

     Quite apart from the analysis so far given, it was in general a mistake to make a fuss about so-called distribution and put the principal stress on it.

     Any distribution whatever of the means of consumption is only a consequence of the distribution of the conditions of production themselves. The latter distribution, however, is a feature of the mode of production itself. The capitalist mode of production, for example, rests on the fact that the material conditions of production are in the hands of non-workers in the form of property in capital and land, while the masses are only owners of the personal condition of production, of labor power. If the elements of production are so distributed, then the present-day distribution of the means of consumption results automatically. If the material conditions of production are the co-operative property of the workers themselves, then there likewise results a distribution of the means of consumption different from the present one. Vulgar socialism (and from it in turn a section of the democrats) has taken over from the bourgeois economists the consideration and treatment of distribution as independent of the mode of production and hence the presentation of socialism as turning principally on distribution. After the real relation has long been made clear, why retrogress again?" 1

To me, that sure sounds like Obama's "redistribution of wealth"2.

It seems that the citizens of the greatest nation in the world have elected a Marxist to a 2nd term as President. This is something that many of us in this nation suspected. After all, he nationalized several companies in the auto industry.  To counter the argument that the nation doesn't own General Motors anymore, it does.  As of November 2012, the "American taxpayers still own a 26 percent stake in G.M., the company is finding it tough to change its image as “Government Motors.”" 3

That New York Times article was preceded by an article in the Wall Street Journal dated Sept 19, 2012 which stated, "The government's authority over GM today isn't concentrated in the 500 million shares it still owns, which amount to a hefty but not controlling 26.5% ownership stake..." 4

What other Marxist tendencies does the current fearless leader have?  Well, the basic principles of Marxism are:

1. materialist interpretation of history: how history is a product of struggles between the social classes such as the rich versus the middle class and the poor
2. critique of capitalism: an economic minority (rich) control and manipulate the economic majority (middle class & poor)
3. adovcacy of proletarian revolution: to overcome the challenges faced by a working class, they need to start a revolution and gain political power (support of the Occupy movement, the "War on Women", etc.)

Yep...  The descriptions fit...  We are now living with a Marxist occupying the White House.

Nice going....

My Military Men

At this time, so close to Veteran's Day, I want to thank and to acknowledge the sacrifices made by members of my family, who served in the armed forces during World War 2, Korea, and VietNam.

My Dad

GM3c George Miller Jr
US Navy World War II

My mom's youngest brother, my uncle

PVT Thomas E. Struhar
US ARMY WORLD WAR II, KOREA

My husband, Rob Summerhill

Weapons Training (Rob is closest to camera)

Many thanks to all of our men & women in uniform, past & present.  May God bless you all.

---

Interesting Videos of Obama's Speeches

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge3aGJfDSg4  (redistribution of wealth)

http://youtu.be/IUfo-RxkXA8   (Obama on "Fairness")

---

1. Marx, Karl (1875), Critique of the Gotha Program (http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1875/gotha/ch01.htm) 
2. 
3. New York Times, November 12, 2012; Business Day (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/general_motors_corporation/index.html)
4. Wall Street Journal, September 19, 2012; Ed Whitacre: Time for 'Government Motors' to Hit the Road.  (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444165804578006330477733900.html)

Summerhill Stitchery

Summerhill Stitchery has been up & running now for over a year.  In that time, I've made some pretty good strides with the business.

For the first time ever, anywhere, I entered my crochet work in a State Fair.  All those years I did crochet in Maryland, I never made a Fair entry.  This year, I said, "Why not?"  Yeppers... We had an entry in the 2012 New Mexico State Fair.  After scanning the online Rules Booklet, I decided to enter four items.

The first was a double thread, blue ripple stitch afghan which met the size restrictions (60" x 84", excluding fringe). I am particularly proud of this particular afghan as it is very luxurious and very cozy.  On Zibbet.com, it was described as follows...

"The rewards of this unforgettable throw are twofold. Zigzags in shades of deep marine blue, ocean blue, and Caribbean blue combined with a lavish woven-in fringe offer soothing comfort and timeless elegance. This is a warm, luxurious throw worked in two strands of yarn. I can see someone sitting on the ocean's beach, wrapped in this watching the sunset with a Mai-Tai in hand." 

Ocean Swells Ripple Afghan, 3 Shades of Blue

The 2nd item I entered was a square afghan (measures 54" x 54") that was done for a woman in Virginia, who graciously allowed me to use it as a Fair entry.  My notes on this afghan during its construction were,

"It's one of those that looked like a great idea until you start working it. What a pain! For every row I stitch, 2 rows need to be torn out. Grrr.... The original thought was to offer this particular piece, in addition to the dark red, in green and blue. Nope... ain't happening! This is going to be the one & only!

The afghan is being worked in 2 strands of yarn. It will be quite warm when completed and it will be the proper size for a sofa throw. All yarn in this particular piece is USA made."

Double Thread, Southwestern Afghan

The woman for whom this afghan was made, purchased a different one.  This one is now available for sale on Zibbet.com.

The 3rd entry was a light & lacy neck scarf or muffler made with a high quality, German yarn - SMC Aventica in the shade called "Sunset".  I fell in love with the yarn when I spied it at a local store, Edgewood Yarns & Fibers.  It's a sweet yarn to work with and I'm planning on eventually buying enough of it to do a ruana.  It's a wool & acrylic blend.  I really, really like it.

Autumn Roses Scarf 

The final entry that I selected was done as I was walking out the door. Really...

Mesh Beret, 100% Acrylic

 LOL...  I've always heard that everything happens for a reason and I truly believe this more & more the longer I'm around.  Anyway, as I was going out the door, I realized I had forgotten my phone.  I'd left in on the table on which my crochet work is sorted.  Sitting there next to the phone was a mesh beret done in autumn colors.  I looked at it and thought, "Oh...  what the heck...  might as well make it four entries."  Snatching it up, out the door I went, heading to the Fairgrounds bright & early on a Wednesday morning to make my entries.

Entries could only be made on that one Wednesday and only between the hours of 8am and 3pm.

State Fair Tag

The entry process is pretty straightforward. One fills out a form, which requires a category number (available in the rules booklet) and a description, such as "ripple afghan," for each item. It also requires your name, address, etc. and an entry number.  The entry number is assigned at the Fairgrounds and comes on a two piece yellow tag, which also needs to be filled out with your name and some other stuff.

After the tag is attached to your entry, the entry taker tears off the tag stub, attaches it to the carbon copy of the official entry form, and gives them to you.  You are told the day that you can retrieve your entries and to bring the stubs or you will be unable to retrieve your items. When I got home, those stubs were prominently placed on the front of the refrigerator with a magnet that has a clamp! Did not want to lose those babies!

Competitors are not be present for the entry judging and no one notifies you if you win.  You have to go to the Fair sometime during its two week run & check for yourself to see if you did anything.

The first day of the Fair, I snuck in through a hole in the fence and ran to the Home Arts Building. I could not spend a lot of time there as Rob & I were leaving the next morning for a long weekend in Ventura, CA.  But, I wanted to know if I won anything!

Walking through the exhibits, an older woman started walking with me.  She chronically complained about none of her entries winning anything other than a 2nd or 3rd place ribbon.  "My afghans ALWAYS win!  My dolls ALWAYS win!" Sigh...  you get the idea.  I mentioned to her that I was a first time entry and I'd be absolutely DELIGHTED if I got a 4th place ribbon.  After all....  look at all the lovely work that was submitted!  Some of the work was so exceptional and even after all the years that I've been doing crochet, I fully expected to not do anything.

I had to search for the entries because most of them were bunched in with lots of other items.  The blue afghan was the first to be found....

Double Thread Blue Ripple Afghan

As you can see....  No ribbon.  That's fine because the ribbon went to an outstanding afghan, which I did not get a photo of. The brown, orange & white ripple afghan next to it in the picture above took a 4th place ribbon and the purple one above it took a 2nd place ribbon. Both were lovely!

The next entry to be stumbled upon was the Southwestern item. Again, no ribbon but that's OK.  The blue one to its right took something. I really liked the texture and design of that blue one.

Double Thread Multicolor Afghan

The hardest ones to find were the scarf & the beret.  I went through looking in each of the display cases, two & three times each.  Finally, I spied the scarf!  I thought they'd lost it!  I found it in a display case with crochet toys?  Oh well...  Whatever...  I found it and was absolutely delighted that it took a ribbon!  I was on cloud nine!  I got a ribbon and it was a 2nd place ribbon!  Wahoo!!!

Lacy Muffler - Autumn Roses

The last item to be found was the beret. When it was found, I did not see anything attached to it and mentioned that to the woman standing next to me.  She took a look and said, "Hon...  you got a blue ribbon."

What?  A blue ribbon???  I took a harder look and finally saw the ribbon hiding behind the entry tag! You can see in the picture how the ribbon is hiding.  I started blubbering I was so happy & proud of my entry!

Autumn Colors Mesh Beret

I could now go to CA and not wonder how my items did.

When I picked up the entries, I looked to see if there were any comments written on the backs of the tag and found, much to my delight, a comment on the beret's tag.  It was a very short comment but one which was very appreciated.  The comment was, "Great Job!".

Thank you to whomever wrote that short and sweet comment.

Please feel free to visit Summerhill Stitchery on Zibbet or on FaceBook to get more frequent updates!

Decisions... decisions...

Today, I came to a decision.  It's been more than 2 years since I lost my job and nothing worthwhile has presented itself.  I'm very happy that my dear husband, Rob, has a good job and that the home front can be maintained on his salary alone.  However....

I like to think that I'm a bit more frugal than some people, but I truly do know better.  Even so, I can no longer justify keeping the DM Greyhounds website (http://www.dmgreyhounds.net), so...  I'm letting it go.  I'm not going to renew it.  That is the decision that I came to and now I have to come up with something else to promote my greyhounds and their accomplishments.

Any suggestions?  I was thinking about a blog, but, really, I have difficulty in making posts to this one, let alone another one!  I may just add the dog stuff into this blog, but...  that just doesn't feel right.  Oh well...

Ta ta for now!

Elaine @ DM Greyhounds

Since I like to take my dogs out running on the mesa, it helps to be able to see them a long distance away. I  have been putting hot pink coursing blankets on them, but I worry about them getting overheated on warmer days. So... I borrowed an idea from bird hunters who shoot over dogs - a hunter orange collar!

Glory Sporting a Hunter Orange Collar

It took me about 2 days, off & on, to crochet up this particular collar.  It measures 14" off the dog, but it stretches thanks to the ribbing.  Not only does it fit Glory's neck, but it expands to fit her much larger brother's neck, which measures about 16"!

I love that it can fit both of these necks, especially Nampa's as he is harder to see out on the mesa. That brindling really, really blends in well.  It's natural camouflage!

These collars will be offered on Summerhill Stitchery's webstore at Zibbet.com.  In addition to hunter orange, they will be offered in hot pink. If anyone is interested, I'll also make them in as a set in red & white for lure coursing with the NLCC (National Lure Coursing Club) group.  They'll be custom made to fit your dog's neck. So, in addition to greyhounds, I can make them also for whippets, saluki, borzoi, etc.

Please visit Summerhill Stitchery on Zibbet or on Facebook!

New Crochet Project

About a month ago, I started work on a new afghan project. It's a lovely afghan and the pattern sounded so easy... and quick...  It has been everything BUT!

Striped Afghan in Wine, Buff & Multi

The afghan is only about 1/3 the way completed and, in fact, in the picture you can see the yarn hanging off it. I think I'll love it, when it is done, but right now, this afghan & I definitely have a 'love-hate' relationship.  I alternately love it and then, when I'm working on it, I hate it. I find that for every row I do, I'm ripping out two rows because the count is off, the edges don't line up, I've dropped a stitch... Anyway, I'm sure you all get the picture.

There is still a ton of work to be done on this one... It's taking F-O-R-E-V-E-R...  It's a long term project.

Close Up of Stitching

It is a double strand afghan, meaning two strands of yarn are used throughout. At this time, I've no idea as to what it will measure, simply because I cannot find my tape measure. My dear hubby probably took it to measure something. He does that, ya know.  Anyway, it will be suitable in size to use as a sofa throw and it will be very warm.

All of my stuff can be found for sale on the site, Zibbet, and also on FaceBook at Summerhill Stitchery. Swing on by and give me a "Like"!

A Good Cause...

Back after the destructive earthquake that struck Haiti, we sent donations to organizations helping the Haitians. This country is shockingly poor! Mostly because of the years of dictatorship and the corruption associated with their various government leaders. The Summerhills think this is a wonderful thing to support - school books for Haitian children!

Please help keep this project in the #1 position by voting for it. Thanks!

http://jumo-organizations.maker.good.is/projects/book-bank-haiti

Twitter This...

Well, I just started Twitter accounts for myself and for Summerhill Stitchery.  Just what I need - more time on the computer....  Oh joy...

Our dear momma dog, Abbey Lou, has had some health issues recently. An ultrasound showed enlarged ovaries so she was spayed about 9 days ago. I'm happy to say that she seems to be doing well.  However, she still isn't eating the way we are used to seeing Abbey eat.  Abbey has never met any kind of food that she doesn't like.  Seriously, this gal eats pickles & oranges!  However, now she seems to have gotten a bit finicky, like Morris the Cat.  While I can coerce her into eating 9-Lives Cat Food (like Morris), she much prefers my steak!

Kibble?  Dog food?  Her nose turns up at the idea.  She may never return to the Abbey Lou we knew prior to her surgery.  At least, not when it comes to food!

Summerhill Stitchery

I've been unemployed now, outside the home, for going onto 2 years. It's amazing how stressful unemployment can be.  I can honestly say, however, if another hospital called me and asked me to work for them, I'd not only decline the offer....  I'd RUN!  I can hear that scene now from Monty Python's Search for the Holy Grail....

"Run away! Run away!"

Anyway, as I was sitting in my rocking chair, crocheting a baby blanket for a former co-worker, the rusty gears in my brain started grinding away.  The thought that they generated was, "I wonder if I could sell hand crafted, crochet items?"  At that moment, a "new job" for me was born - Summerhill Stitchery!

There is a precedent for Summerhill Stitchery.  Way back in the late 1970's, early 1980's I used to crochet items such as Christmas ornaments, wedding favors, and other stuff to sell at craft fairs in and around Baltimore. Back then, my lace snowflakes were always a big hit as were my lacy neck scarves.  So, to keep me occupied and to, hopefully, bring in some extra cash, I am once again 'hooking away', making lacy scarves, afghans, dish cloths and other hand crafted crochet items.  All items are made by me with materials that are "Made in the USA".  I once again feel productive.

In addition to the Zibbet Store, I've a Summerhill Stitchery page on Facebook.

If you feel so inclined, please visit Summerhill Stitchery!

Spring Ahead; Fall Behind...

Ugh...  Today is the day that the clocks moved forward.  As I sit here typing this, I want to apologize ahead of tiem for any typing and/or grammatical errors.  Losing an hour of sleep is not conducive to my being correct in a lot of things. After all... I'm operating in a sleep deprived mode.  I so love my sleep...

My personal belief is that Daylight Savings Time needs to go away. Whatever purpose it originally had is long gone. The only thing it does is make people grumpy and it raises one's risk of having a heart attack in the days immediately following.  Other consequences of getting up an hour earlier due to DST are: more car accidents are reported the Monday following, more accidents in the workplace, increased weight, higher blood pressure, and less productivity. So, why does the gov't stick with it? What benefit arises from it?

Arizona and Hawaii do not participate in Daylight Savings Time. I think it's time we get smart and join them.

I bid you adieu...  I'm going back to sleep.

Grey2K Lies

I started following a new blog today - Grey2K Lies.

It is eye-opening. In reading some of the Grey2K Board Members comments, which are highlighted on a couple of pages, I feel absolutely sullied, like I've been touched by something very, very dirty... something evil.  One Board Member, Karyn Zoldan of Arizona, commented about the Skechers commercial during the Super Bowl:

"Middle class, educated white people don't go to bet on the dogs. That is Skecher's and TGP's (Tucson Greyhound Park) wet dream."

What a bigoted & racist thing to say!  It's disgusting! This is a BOARD MEMBER for a group that touts itself as a tax exempt charity???  Uhm...  I think the IRS needs to look into that status post haste!

It gets better, actually much worse...  This same BOARD MEMBER, Karyn Zoldan, comments about the turn out pens at TGP - "It looks like Auschwitz..."

That is so.... so....  to compare a greyhound kennel to the Nazi extermination camp, where people suffered horrific treatment, where millions of people died...  It's just so over the top that I am sick to my stomach. However, that should show you just how sick these animal rights activists are.  All of them should be shut up on an island somewhere far, far away from people. Preferably, that island would hold some type of animal threat to them and then they would see their "animal rights" in action!  I would, however, feel sorry for the animals there.

Disgusting...  Vile... evil people....

Just so y'all know, the Grey2K Lies blog can be found at: http://grey2klies.blogspot.com.

Ugh....

Grey 2K Strikes Again

People have asked me, how can you love greyhounds and NOT SUPPORT Grey2K. I've told them because Grey2K does nothing for the dogs. They are a political action group... lobbyists. Well, Grey2K has given me other reasons to not support them... reasons that are despicable. Recently a Grey2K BOD member commented, "Middle class, educated, white people don't go to bet on the dogs". That comment leads me to believe that the BOD member believes that betting on dog races is an activity that is engaged in by either the poor, the uneducated, and/or minorities, but not "middle class, educated, white people." Very, very distasteful...

However, that same BOD member followed up with this gem, which is most insensitive, most distasteful, and very vile. She compares dogs being crated as follows, "it looks like Auschwitz". It makes me want to get sick. It trivializes the millions of deaths, the attempted extermination of not only the Jewish people, but also of the Roma and anyone who opposed the Nazi regime: the Poles, Slavs, and POWs, just to end a sport that they do not like. How vile can they get? How low can they go?

Disgusting!

Gosh... It's Been A Year....

Time sure does fly when you're having fun!  I've been thinking that I needed to post a post to the blog.  I did NOT realize that it's been more than a year since I've posted!  EEK!!!!!

I am sorry that I've been remiss in keeping everyone up to date.  Facebook is very seductive and that's where I've been spending most of my time, when I'm not doing crochet.  So...  let me bring y'all up to date!

Last February for my birthday, I went to California with Banner to compete in the NOFCA Grand Course. He did OK...  finishing 3rd in the Greyhound Breed coursing and advancing on to Finals.  In Finals, he did not finish in the points, but he did finish.  He took home the honors for High Scoring ORC (oval race champion)!  Woo Hoo!

Following the Grand Course, I gave him a well earned rest, not bringing him out on the coursing field until this past October or November. He ran well, picking up some more coursing points towards either his LCM or LCX. I don't remember if it was an ASFA or AKC event in which he ran.

Summer was spent being lazy.  Nothing interesting at all...

In either Sept or Oct, my friend Laurel got a puppy from Gail Burnham - Ellie aka L.E.  She's a pistol and she's keeping the boys on their toes! She does NOT have an off button.  Both boys are in the best shape that they've been in in a very long time.

All else are doing well....