Thursday, December 31, 2009

Full Body Scan Cost

DO THE MATH

I looked hi & lo to find out how much a full body scan machine costs and could not find that info. The US has 560 airports so I would give serious consideration for those who have invested their monies in H1N1 Anti-viral medications to now switch their money over to the body scan machine manufactures.

Now let's do some math-
The number of people who died on 9/11/2001 due to terrorist attacks- 3,057
The number of US soldiers killed in Afghanistan & Iraq since 2001- 5,180
The number of people who would have been killed on the potential Christmas Day Terrorist Attack- 300
The % the above total deaths is of the US Population--- Well I am to lazy to figure this one out. The current US Population in 308,397, 541 so what % is 8,537 of our population?

The number of people who die DAILY due to lack of clean water & food is over 24,000.

THIS ALL BOTHERS ME!

Imagine if we took the money for the body scan machines and gave it to the countries that need to dig wells and have food....if we did that "good will" over time, would we then have terrorism?



Wednesday, June 17, 2009

luck....i think not

So, like I met this guy who happens to be the tight-end coach for the Philadelphia Eagles~~~ MY TEAM, bar none. I have met a few players here and there...but never like "hung" with 'em mind you and I hung with Mr. Melvin....I mean like he cooked me a burger and it was good!

So.....yes, I was sure to bring up TO and various Eagles things although I DID NOT bring up Brian D. Hey.....that was a mistake and we all know it.

But you know when you talk about Jeffrey and his leadership, I mean after all he is the owner you can't really, really argue the team's success I mean can you???? HowmanytimesintheNFCchampionship???????

But Tom said over and over~~ LUCK, sometimes it takes luck, we just needed a little luck, we needed to get lucky and so on and so forth and I kept my mouth shut (not as hard as you think) and you know what? I DON'T BELIEVE IN LUCK~ NOT ONE STINKING BIT.
Now go out there and WIN a championship the way one's supposed to be won....

thank you

sorry about that

I lost a bit of control there.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Gd' Bye y'all!

This is well water from probably 150'+ down in the ground. It is good, real good
The landscape is speckled with abandoned, knocked down and/or burned down homes. This is where Jr. used to live, my buddy Bret would visit this homestead often. We visited too and found signs of local squatters- owls, swallows & mice.

A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.


Good-bye West Tex~~You've taught me well.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Day 4

Sign on a church in Sudan, TX. Sudan's population is 1,039
What is faith?
We planted seed today in the pure "hope" of rain
Pic of me driving the tractor while planting cotton seed


Every prayer spoken in this area includes a cry for moisture





Day 3.5

the elusive burrowing owl
the owl's friend the prairie dog

these are the roller baskets that we had attached with the plow. when we went to put up the planter we had to take these rollers off



Day 3

We caught this lizard after scurrying around like a lizard to catch him

the BIG BOY tractor
Yes, it has AC and AM/FM, but you only get God's Country on the radio

David Goen, 71 year old cotton farmer checking the ground for moisture and not being happy about the cotton that is in the ground here.....if he doesn't get rain he will lose all the cotton seed since it won't grow and he has a lot of money invested into the seed.

This is David's office. It is affectionately known as the "boxcar". It is a very interesting place. This would be considered the headquarters for Fatsi's (Finnish for father) aka David Goen's 1,000 acres of farmland





Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Day 2

Make the rows straight! Be careful when hitting the turn road and be thankful IF you have a turn road. Don't let the trash get caught up and go to the edge!
Tractor Terms

Littlefield, TX was Wayon Jenning's hometown!!!


We weeded two farms one was 80 acres and the other 90.
All we did was drag an 8 row weed plower behind a tractor.




DAY 1 Monday 5/18/09 in TX

Welcome to Littlefield TX, POP 6,540 or thereabouts
where it doesn't get dark till 9

the beauty of a minute or a second or a glance
just stop, stop and observe

When we pray out here in Littlefield, TX we pray for moisture to water the crops
this is cotton pushing up






Monday, May 18, 2009

TODAY

So today I am tired and I type this in the DFW International Airport. Tired because everyday is FULL IMPACT and this weekend was no exception. Was up late packing and doing last minute things to get out of the house and make it to the airport and that was a success.

I already miss my wife and kids. I will be thinking of them a lot because they really matter to me.

I am just about 40 minutes to board to head to Lubbock ( I looked it up!) and then it is onto Littlefield Texas for five days of planting cotton. Bret told me they were fixing a pipe. I wish I was fixing the pipe instead of typing on a laptop. Something about good hard work.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

the rest of the world


where is the rest of the world
can we see past....past ourselves?
can we see?
what is the rest of the world experiencing?
what are we doing for C H A N G E ?
BREAK THE BUBBLE
SMASH IT
CRASH IT
ROLL IT UP AND THROW IT DOWN THE HILL
isn't it time; time to love time to give time to see time to be?
when you finally realize there is time
it is gone

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Oprah Letter

Dear Ms. Winfrey:

It is my understanding that your television show recently highlighted a "homeless tent city" in San Diego in an effort to....well I am not sure what your purpose was.
http://www.fox5sandiego.com/pages/landing_national/?Homeless-in-Calif-tent-city-to-get-shelt=1&blockID=244509&feedID=16

It is my understanding that now, these people will have a place to go.

Has anyone ever considered that maybe these people wanted to be there?

Just wondering since for thousands and tens of thousands of years mankind has lived in "his or her" environment that now, due to your broadcast of the plight of these tent cities in America; cities are now going after the homeless.

Ms. Winfrey...maybe I am ignorant to your television program and your purposes, but I am hoping that when you aired the segment on your show you gave San Diego solutions to the homeless problem. I try to teach my friends/families/co-workers that it is best to come forth with solutions and not just "identify the problem(s)", but again I am sure you did just that and provided San Diego and countless other cities with solutions to their problems.....not that I thought they were problems, but I guess you did.

Regards,

T. Perazzelli

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Trouble

somewhere in the bible it says-----Trouble will come, but TAKE HEART!

Life has it's troubles and pains and joys!

trouble does come....and sometimes we can't change that trouble

I try to change that trouble all to much by myself

I need to let Him; God, have my troubles, but yet it is SO HARD to do

my friend, an employee....is just not good enough.

I have tried and tried to fit him in, but to no avail.

...and yet----I HURT, FOR HIM.

if only the trouble of this world would end.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Too much money

I ride the Patco Hi-Speedline train from Jersey to Philly just about every work day.

The most this train can charge you from the farthest Jersey station to any Philly station is 5.40 for a round trip ticket.

The new plastic "Freedom" card as pictured above can hold money and acts like a bank for you.

Generally I put about a hundred-bucks on the card and it takes me about 5-6 weeks to deplete that hundred dollars.

I am always thinking about HOW rich we really are.

How embarrassed I am by our richness. Last night I was talking to one of my best friends, Tony and I asked him how many people died from the whole peanut-butter salmonella thing of recent months. He said, "six", it was nine.
Then I asked how many people die worldwide of starvation every day....he pondered and pondered....thinking.
"3,000" was his guess and 30,000 is the answer.

But, I digress.....when you swipe the Freedom Card in the machine it tells you the remaining total and from no fault of my own you always get to see the balance of the persons in front of you.

Today I saw a balance of: 616.00

If this person rode every day, five days a week for the highest fare possible that would be TWENTY-THREE WEEKS worth of rides.

Can we not find better use of our money as a whole?

meanwhile the cripple on the corner cries out "nickels for your pity"

Friday, February 20, 2009

9 people & peanut butter

NINE PEOPLE HAVE DIED DUE TO A RECENT OUTBREAK OF SALMONELLA IN PEANUT BUTTER---NINE!!!

The media has covered this.

We are all aware of it.

30,000 people die ever single day due to starvation....where is the media?

I love peanut butter and once named a dog Skippy after my fave peanut butter.

peace love & understanding

there's this song "Peace, Love & Understanding".

the theme is "what's so funny about peace, love & understanding" NOTHING, nothing at all.

we could all gain to stand some lessons from those three things.

Peace- ahhhhh......tranqulity

Love- the greatest of these...

Understanding- O' to understand!

Tomorrow night I w/b playing this song in front a good 20+ people, playing and singing....if only they listen.

I know I will be...listening that is.

Love,

Tater

Thursday, February 12, 2009

it's official

i am out of control

someone needs to stop me.

I am not kidding......see I am on the train and we just stoppped at Wilmington and these boys got on....really they were just boys although if I told them I thought they were boys I am sure it would not have looked good....but the truth is they are Marines, but REALLY they are boys....you wonder why I don't call earth HOME????

Look around!

What d.......guess what.....out of control says: that's all you get. Fill in the blanks yourself.

You really don't want to hear what I have to say...

with love,

Tater

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

to show I still smile

This is Felix. I work with Felix in Philly. He is also a college student and I really like him. He is funny and a pretty swell, yes swell, guy.

That is Felix's tattoo. Yup, Felix has a mustache tattooed on his finger.

Honestly...I think it is pretty clever.
it makes me smile cause he is a nut enough to do it and cause it's just plain funny

what i am playing




I Will Rise-Chris Tomlin
Put Yout Lights On- Sanatana
Peace, Love & Understanding- Nick Lowe as performed by Elvis
Babaji- Supertramp
Everybody Hurts- R.E.M.
Waiting For My Real Life To Begin- Colin Hey
The Cure For Pain- Jon Foreman
SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH NO MORE
I HAVE FOUND HIM
thankful for His grace :)



Monday, February 09, 2009

Deacon?

Today I became the deacon of missions @ my church.

I also prepared the worship songs....most would say I led singing...I am really struggle on "what" to call song leading. I really see leadership as serving....

It was an amazing day

Glory to Him!

Becoming a deacon (for the 2nd time...long story :) was awesome in the fact that I now have purpose in my church body...we can say, more purpose lol.

The most beautiful or amazing part of the day today was when the house arose in the 8:00 AM hour. My favorite daughter had to work today so she did not attend worship :( HOWEVER....unlike the days of my children longing to jump in my arms and be cuddled and loved today was marked by one of the most simplest of things. A verbal sigh. if you will from my daughter when, as we readied for church and she prepared for work she realized I would be singing w/the church with our prepared songs.....when she realized that, and knew she would not be in attendance she sighed. It was as if she ran into my arms upon my arrival home from work when she was five years old.....that "sigh" of her disappointment.

People are to be cherished and loved.

Life is, but a mist.

live it before it evaporates.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

YES!!!!

I am a live music junkie and am as skilled as anyone can be in obtaining tickets for shows. It really is a dice roll. What with pre-sales and exclusive memberships it is always a bear. I have "slept out" for countless shows at countless malls and ticket venues and sometimes these sleepouts were in vain. Springsteen....1st in line @ the door only to be etched out 100% and not get a ticket due to people's names on a line list that were not there all night.

I don't like to present the problem and not have a viable solution as in this case....and I don't have a solution. Scalpers exist because WE, not necessarily me, are willing to use money for our means. I have seen it. A good friend of mine purchased super expensive Police tickets and I guarantee she could not name the 1st album....money can talk and talk powerfully.

So why all this ranting and raving???

Ray LaMontagne-- 4/4/08 @ the Tower in Philly....8th row! S-W-E-E-T
and not just two tickets, but 4!

I missed out on Springsteens tixs yesterday that conveniently went on sale the day after his Superbowl performance, and more then likely I will hit that show ( i have my secrets)....but right now I have 4 tixs to see a man who really has passion....and that is something I love to see.

now...who to bring.
I think I have that figured out too....will try and let you know later ;)

Thursday, January 29, 2009

?

someone...PLEASE explain to me how wrapping five septa tokens in a plastic bag is environmentally correct.....someone, please.

shout it from the mountain tops

from Cali to the Grand Canyon and onto Wyoming, Toronto, The Caribbean....where I've been, but where I haven't been as well.

I have witnessed the stars from a jungle without light pollution and stood amongst the giant redwoods. I have seen the ocean CRASH into rocks on the shore as the sun sets. I have stood atop an 11,000' mountain amongst snow 15' deep!

I have hiked into the Grand Canyon and amongst the Red Rocks of Sedona. I have seen six different grizzly bears! Startled a rattlesnake and walked amongst the buffalo.....

FOR WHAT?

what can i have or do on this earth that makes ANY difference at all except influence others for the greater good of God?

I will continue to venture the earth

I will continue to proclaim the name of Christ....Jesus the Messiah!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

e - a - g - l - e - s

Dear Donovan,

It has been almost a week since we lost the NFC Championship game to the Cards led by Kurt Warner. I am sorry I have not written you sooner.

I was excited to see what you and offense would do with a FULL 9 seconds left in the game and being down by 7.

So I guess by all indicators in the play that was ran you didn't feel you had a chance to tie or win with a two-point conversion.

Sad....you see team leaders lead and never give up. That last play was an indicator of where your head was at.

I am a fighter and fighters fight. Not always physically, but mentally and by example. Imagine the thrill of airing the ball out with those seconds ticking away and Jackson running down the field arms out stretched hot dogging it all the way! Then imagine getting a second chance if needed with 1-2 seconds on the clock and airing it out again?!

Effort Donovan, effort!

But, alas. We threw a simple pass for short yardage and then players "tried" to keep it alive and run the remaining 90 or so yards for a touchdown.

Good call Donovan....I am not sure where your head is at, but I certainly know where it isn't.

Love,

Tate a die-hard EAGLES fan

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Post Inaugural

I got home Fri after seven solid days of work, work, work only really interrupted by Donovan's funeral when he gave up with 9 seconds left....a note on that---LEADERS DON'T GIVE UP--NOT EVER!

While in DC, I met two "celebrities" if you will. David Cohen & Catherine Keener (40 Year Old Virgin).
I recognized Mr. Cohen and rang him up. It was on Sunday before the Eagles game ( I was wearing my Dawkins jersey). I could not remember what he does and just knew it was political and maybe something with the Sixers.
Oh! If only I had remembered!!! David Cohen is the Executive VP of Comcast....THE Comcast!
Oh, how I would have loved to tell him how I think his company is ripping off the people of this country. I don't have too many issues w/to many companies in this world, but Comcast TOPS the list for overcharging and ripping people off. Any company that takes a run @ owning Disney and actually has the surplus money to so....that company has to much money and where do they get the money from????
Where I live I have, but one choice in the entire world for broadband service---Comcast.
that is a monopoly!
Comcast just completed building the tallest building east of Chicago and the greenest building in the world. Again....our money!
So Mr. Cohen....all I can say it was a pleasure to meet you and you have a nice handshake. Next time I will be ready for you!
As to Catherine.....I was too busy to really invest the time, but she looked just like in the movies.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

a week in dc

Tuesday- Extreme - More Then Words

Wednesday- Heart - Dog & Butterfly

Thursday- James Taylor - Shower The People

How do you express appreciation "more then words"?

"up in the air they like to fly" people accepting challenges and soaring.

"shower the people you love with love, show them the way that you feel"

these three songs signify my entire week in DC....smashing company sales records, 17+ hour days and people going above and beyond the call of duty

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

new president

i am working like i have never worked before in my life. i arrived in dc on fri afternoon and have worked 12-15 hour days since my arrival. i am overseeing 7 dc metro area stores that are all selling OBAMA.
insanity!

We broke a company sales record on Sat and then again today, monday. we are in crisis mode.
staff is working on mental and physical overdrive.

life IS good---eternal life is better.

what matters time and time again are people.

people are the lifeblood of the world.
if the world had no people, we would have no life no matter what nasa says.

animals and plants are life, but not life like we live. animals do not have free will...we do.

i have never experienced anything as chaotic as this in my life and frankly I cannot see something of this magnitude happening again, in my lifetime.
sports championships do not compare.

even with the amount of $ my stores are capturing and the electricity of each day i know in my heart of hearts that i live for a better day. i live for the day of His return. the return of the King. the King whom everyone knows, and that many refuse....if only the world would embrace Christ the way they embrace Obama....then we would have real change.

Friday, January 16, 2009

WINTERTIME

The trees have been naked for months. The air is as cold as it gets. The sky is clear and the wind has the clouds racing through the sky.

Yet

Life goes on...

The bible says our life is, but a mist in time.

We trudge on...working---FOR WHAT?

to pay the bills!?

go ahead....pay the bills....BUT remember the truth and what is important in life.

P E O P L E--- L I F E

REMEMBER TO SPEAK THE TRUTH WHENEVER POSSIBLE. If a crack should appear to allow you to tell others of the TRUTH....do not hesitate or stop. PROCLAIM the truth!

Time is short as the cold steals your breath.

wintertime is in it's prime.

sing with me. sing the songs of life. lift your voice. lift it loud, above the clouds

i feel like i repeat myself here on this blog.

live the life He has promised you..step out of the shadows and live

the breath the winter wind steals is life...if you seek the truth.

seek

look

(then you will find)

Monday, January 12, 2009

the dream of a lifetime...

By default (where I was born) I am a DIE-HARD Philadelphia Eagles fan. In my book there has never been any such thing as a band wagon to jump on or off.

My parents determined I needed glasses when I could not see the players # from the 700 level @ the Vet back in '74 when Roman Gabriel was the QB.

Somewhere around 1978 my father and uncle got six season tickets in section 634. I attended the 1980 NFC Championship game which we won against the Cowboys. My dad and Uncle went to that Superbowl, which we lost to the Raiders. We held onto those tickets for 16 years, through Marion Campbell, Buddy Ryan and the last year of Rich Kotite. When Ray Rhodes came into the picture my dad gave up the seats and my brother and I did one year of Ray and then by default not being born ultra financialy wealthy we gave up our seats. I have only attended one NFL game @ the Linc and that was a pre-season game. I have only ever owned one jersey and that is Jerome Brown's.

When Jeff Lurie purchased the team you could feel the electricity of this new owner and he did not disappoint.
In eight years we have been to the NFC Championship game FIVE TIMES!

A long time ago I gave up "living" for my team....sure I love 'em, but I don't live and die with games. I have often said....I just want one Superbowl victory in my lifetime.

Sports Illustrated picked the Eagles to be in the Superbowl this year. We still have the NFC game to go....I am not getting ahead of myself; trust me.

Kurt Warner has won the big game, as has Ben & Joe Flacco is an admirable opponent.

We have the "Brians" and Donovan as well as an arsenal of receivers.

Go ahead Steelers and Ravens---beat yourselves silly.

Look out Cards, here we come.....and this time it's FOR REAL!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

The Batman

I just watched The Dark Knight....wow! I think this image captures the whole movie.

Two face.

Don't we all have two faces????

While here....on earth, we have two faces....lean towards the good side.

Now the Bible states that there is only light and dark and you are either in one or the other and Jesus came so we could live in the light.

Live in the light.

The fence of light/dark cannot be straddled.

Accept Him who let's you be light.

It was a good movie....really good.

Thursday, January 08, 2009

stop look listen

inspiration

inspiration vs motivation vs confidence
I = Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity
M= The act or process of motivating
C = Trust or faith in a person or thing

three things that are important

I am going to take motivation out of the equation
I used to think motivation was soooooo important!
Lately I am more focused on Inspiration
right now it's late and my inspiration is waning....i need to think about it some more

gd' nite

Saturday, January 03, 2009

FALCONSBOLTSCOLTSCARDS

N F L
I love Pro Football. I have grown up with it. I know the game inside and out....and you always need to PLAY the game to have a determination.

Credit is due to all the teams that played today.

Out of everything that took place...I am most disappointed in the Indianapolis Colts. They have the potential and should have legendary status and yet I am not so sure they do. Peyton, what gives?


KUDOS to the Chargers. I am not a Norv Turner fan in the least and he called a good game OR he is smart enough to have good people under him.
My game ball goes to Darren Sproles, period. WOW! What a game he played and it was ONLY fitting that he ran that last touchdown in....you gotta love D E T E R M I N A T I O N !