This week, Obama’s top lawyer will join the U. S. Chamber of Commerce in urging the Supreme Court to strike down an Arizona law that goes after employers who hire illegal workers. The administration also seeks to void a part of the states law that tells employers they must check the  federal government’s E-Verify data base to make sure their new hires are authorized to work in the United States. And we have already told the Arizona police department not to check drivers license for illegals…..I get so flustered with this crap….Why go to all the trouble down on the border of trying to keep the illegals out? Whats the purpose? The lawbreakers get through our only line of defense and then they are 1st class citizens, above the law, able to get welfare and social security?  Our Border Patrol people must feel like fools going through the motion of keeping illegals out, huh? Why bother? …. What the heck are we thinking?…Maybe I should rephase that, do we have anyone who can think? …I’m sorry folks but  we deserve to go broke….Pete

I am posting this picture of my Dad and Brother again. Dec. 7th is Sam’s birthday. He passed away Dec. 27, 2008.  I don’t have a later picture of him on my computer so this picture is all that is available. Anyway, I always have a perfect picture of him in my heart, so this is for you the reader anyway. I really miss visiting with my brother and going to Alabama to see him from time to time. Anyway, I just wanted to remember him and honor him on this his birthday….I still miss you, Sambo…. (a click on the picture will enlarge it.)

Jerry Pacheco wrote a very good article titled, “A New Kind of War Convulsing Mexico” in todays Business Outlook. In that article he states, “….the results of the Mexican Revolution are still a work in progress. In 2010, Mexico ranks as the 14th largest economy in the world and a major exporter of its products around the globe……Today, the country openly welcomes foreign companies, and the precious foreign investment and jobs they bring…. As to the further changes made in Mexico he also states, “As has been the case since the Mexican independence movement of 1810, every one-hundred years that passes brings turmoil to Mexico and 2010 is no exception. Rather than a war being fought for freedom, democracy and self-rule, the current drug wars are based in money and power…. And we can all agree with that…. Then Mr. Pacheco comes to the real meat of the problem…”While it can be argued that the Mexican economy has modernized since the revolution, two key factors which are critical in the success of any stable country have remained antiquated–functional and efficient educational and legal systems…A weak educational system has the effect of guaranteeing no chance for the improvement of the quality of life for millions of Mexicans.” …Well, said Mr. Pacheco, well said…..and America is paying for the lack of education and legal systems in Mexico today….One way we could help ourselves is to send thousands of peace corp volunteers into Mexico to teach the children, develop the middle class and help form an effective and ethical legal system….Our southern border will continue to be porous as long as there are only “the peons and the rich” in Mexico….Meanwhile, with our economy, the peons continue to steadily grow in  America….

Well you start getting old and looking up friends, especially old friends, you find out that you have out lived a lot of them…Then you get to talk to an old friend and it seems like you can take up right where you left off many years ago….Have you noticed that?…It’s sure nice to visit and talk about the good old days, meaning of course, the youthful life shared….I spoke to one old friend today, and while it was a sad occasion that prompted the call, as he had lost a brother, also a friend, it was so good to hear his voice again and to get caught up on the many years between our last visit…The last couple of years of high school, this guy was like a brother, seems like if you saw one of us you saw both of us…He was like family over at my house and I think I was kind of like family over at his house….I feel so badly that I have missed all these years in talking to him, but we just get to busy living, don’t we, hung up on work and family duties… all of that is important but looks like I could have made time somewhere in there…. it seemed like to me this morning the we both hated to have the other hang up the phone as we kept finding things to talk about….after promising not to wait so long next time we did hang up…..but let me tell you, this old soul was pleased as he had ever been in talking to a friend, an old friend, a best friend and today I have vowed to never let that much time pass between visits with all you guys that it has been my pleasure to call “friend” over the years…..You know what, I ain’t got that many left, and every one of you are special……Pete Hester

Goodbye TCU….It is a shame that the Mountain West could not be one of the money conferences, then I think we could have kept TCU around. However, this year you could have kicked butt in the Big East….Next year, well, I’m not so sure….You may come to regret this move, not only in football but basketball… I am sure you will make more money, but a year or two years down the road, what then?….well, come to think of it you had trouble holding your own in the Mountain West in basketball, the Big East will kick your butt there….Your girl players are pretty good..I just don’t see you fitting in very good there, football or basketball….Why should a fellow like me worry about it anyway, it’s all about money….The have’s have and the have not’s want…..so goes life….it still ain’t right….

I guess we have to like birthdays, don’t we…..I mean if we did not have one here we would be starting over in another place, Heaven in my case since I am a believer in Jesus Christ, who, by the way, has gone to prepare a place for me so that where He is, there I may be also…..He told us that while He was here, huh?….Well, back to the Birthday deal….I want to keep having them on earth as long as I can but they are just not as fun as they used to be…I get the presents and the cards and the phone calls and all that and I really appreciate it….Bending down to pick up the used wrapping paper is a pain now, you know what I mean…You don’t get basketballs and footballs and softballs and bicycles  like we used to….hunting and fishing stuff seems to fall by the wayside, too, as most of us have those and it’s ” just to dangerous for you to be out there on your own, Dad, you might fall, etc.” ( the hell of it is, they are right, dang it)….gift cards seem to be best anymore, huh?…..Well, heck, I am glad folks remember me and my special day…Always makes one feel good when someone does remember you….I have been retired almost two years now and I recieved a birthday greeting from the folks down in Abilene, the office I used to report to. It’s nice for them to remember a past associate from that long ago….Well, I guess I have to keep having them here for a while longer, then I’ll start my new birthday in eternity….I’m kinda glad I don’t know exactly when that will be, know what I mean, Vern?…..Come to think about it some, I’d just as soon wait several more earthly birthdays….make that,  lots more birthdays…..

Today is a time to reflect upon all God has given us this year and the blessing He has bestowed on our families and our country, and with all of our problems we are all thankful for being Americans….Thankful that we are still one of the most powerful nations on earth and I think that is because “In God We Trust” remains our motto….This web site has readers from all over the world and I don’t know if or when you celebrate thanksgiving for what your nation is, or has, or will be, but I hope that you will give thanks for what you and your family has on this day….I am thankful that this website can reach out to you and ask for God to Bless you and your family on this day, sharing our Thanksgiving Day….Pete Hester

The Albuquerque Journal published my letter about the APD,  in full, just like I sent it in except they made some needed corrections, just minor stuff understand…They did their job well and I appreciate them publishing the letter. You can scroll down a few postings and find it if you are curious, or you can go to www.abqjournal.com and read it there…..I read the paper cover to cover almost every morning, excepting when the honey-do’s are heavy and demanding, which is not often..I enjoy reading the paper, having a couple of cups of coffee….I even read my own letter again….Well, it sounded pretty good to me….Some of thier writers give me lots to write about….you know, that Ruben fellow for one…..

Take a few minutes to listen about Jonah as described by this precious little lady from Corinth Baptist Church. Sent to me from a relative in the south and I am not sure if the Corinth is in Mississippi or some other state. Anyway you will enjoy the sermon…..Corinth Baptist Church    Jonah click on http below

http://vimeo.com/16404771

ok, you will need to go back to an older posting if you are not familuar with “Bernie and Them”. You can read the Introduction and Chapter’s One, Two, Three and Four there….I will be adding Chapters Five and Six today…I hope you enjoy them and if you do let me know….if you don’t, well, do what you need to do then….Ah, I’m sure you will love these little guys…they are all about having fun and helping their buddies….like us, huh?

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