SEARS -KMART TO CLOSE UP TO 120 STORES : EACH HAS A MINIMUM OF 80 JOBS

" Florida will be hit the hardest by the closing of Sears and Kmart stores, losing 11, according to a preliminary list of 79 planned closures released Thursday.

Ohio, Michigan and Georgia are not far behind with six store closures planned in their states. Tennessee, North Carolina and Minnesota are set to lose four stores each.

A spokeswoman for Sears Holding Corp. said each store employs between 40 and 80 people.

None of the closures announced so far are in Sears' home state of Illinois.

The 125-year-old retailer said on Tuesday it would close up to 120 stores to raise cash."

This breaking Yahoo news article lists the stores by state. Sears used to be well known for excellent appliances. Kmart is probably being beaten by Wallmart; both carry mostly imported products.

SLED RACE ?

This bit of Americana comes from DoverCards.com, which has some free-use images, so long as you keep to their terms of agreement. If you want to use Dover images ethically, go to their site and see what they offer!

BET YOU DON'T HAVE A PERSONALIZED WHISTLE!

American Whistle company can sell you a gift for one or imprint for the entire force! Finally a gift for that person who has everything they need but a whistle! (You can also take a tour of their plant and find out how the ball gets in the whistle!

PEEPS has MARSHMALLOW REINDEER for CHRISTMAS

How much Candy is actually made in the United States? We were looking for labels and noticed chocolot marshmallow Peeps. You know Peeps from Easter - the bunnies and chicks. We checked the label and yes they are made in the United States, so we stocked up.

ANGEL

FIRST GOLD COIN EVER MINTED IN THE USA (BY GEORGE WASHINGTON'S NEIGHBOR) SOLD FOR OVER 7 MILLION!

Breaking Yahoo news! A coin minted in 1787 on sale for $7 million!

GREENLEAF DOLLHOUSES for the MINIATURIST : HEIRLOOM

A great variety of styles and themes!
YOU CAN GET A KIT AND MAKE IT A FAMILY PROJECT! Furniture is also available.

MARY'S SOFT DOUGH HAS SCENTED NONTOXIC PLAY DOUGH FOR KIDS AND ADULTS WHO LIKE TO BE KIDS!

LINKING TO THIS COMPANY which started small at the farmers markets and went big. You can not only get SCENTED, you can get GLOW IN THE DARK and GLITTER!

BUY A REAL HOME GROWN CHRISTMAS TREE and the HECK WITH FAKE SYNTHETICS made in ????

OK FOLKS... it's time to put up a Christmas Tree...
Why not this year buy a REAL ONE ?
This is especially important if you have no tree already bought.

Do we really need more fake trees in our landfills ?

A tree with falling leaves was good enough for CHARLIE BROWN !

DOYLE DYKES FREEDOM SONGS

REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE NOT

Eat those leftovers! Don't throw them away! Share with your neighbors!

BLACK FRIDAY WARNING!

Up early to go shopping today, Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, when many Americans try to accomplish all their Christmas shopping?

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT BUYING PRODUCTS MADE IN THE UNITED STATES is going to stimulate our economy, is going to help keep jobs in the United States, and is ultimately going to help INSURE YOUR OWN PROSPERITY!

So check those tags... and go that extra dollar or two... PLEASE!

TOBY KEITH : MADE IN AMERICA

We've decided to make this our new blog theme song!

THANK YOU TOBY KEITH!

GRATITUDE IS AN OLD FASHIONED VALUE

Give thanks for what you do have. Help those who do not have. Do an old fashioned thing and invited someone who has nowhere to go (or would be stuck in a Board and Care) for a THANKSGIVING MEAL!

DOLLAR TREE BARGAINS ARE RARELY MADE IN THE USA : BETTY CROCKER A SELL OUT! : GOOD BARGAINS ON FOOD

Went shopping at the Dollar Tree chain recently. The store was immaculate and well organized and the staff was friendly, if only working the registers. The manager told me that they pretty much always have the same merchandise with a seasonal section, a party section, food (more on this in a bit), and cleaning supplies.

So I went looking in the seasonal section and found almost everything was made in China, a few items were made in Mexico (which I prefer over China). I kept turning over products to see what company or source was listed. I was really upset when I found an entire line of Betty Crocker kitchen gadgets all made in China.... Betty Crocker a sell out?

I did find one surprise. TISSUE PAPER MADE IN THE USA! I bought some of that.

And I also found another surprise, which Iwant to pass on to those of you who are using Food Stamps, also known as EBT, and CalFresh. There was a good array of foods for $1 an item including egg noodles, larger cans of Campbells soup, pot pies, packages of crackers, and so on.

I would like to encourage DOLLAR TREE TO FIND MORE MADE IN THE UNITED STATES PRODUCTS for it's stores. WHEN YOU GO INTO DOLLAR TREE please mention it also!

WHITE HOUSE DOLL HOUSE

SHOULD THE U.S. REPLACE DOLLAR BILLS WITH COINS?

Linking here to consumerism commentary which is from WALL STREET JOURNAL MAGAZINE.

"The government’s assumptions and values used in this study are fascinating. Here are a few: Because coins circulate more slowly than bills, 1.5 coins will be needed for every 1 bill (note) .Dollar bills have a lifespan of 40 months while coins have a lifespan of 34 years. A dollar bill costs 2.7 cents to produce while a dollar coin costs 15 cents each. There are 9.5 billion dollar bills in circulation today. There are 3 billion dollar coins in circulation today, with an additional billion in Federal Reserve vaults (not quite a collectible item)."

WHATEVER HAPPEN TO THE SUSAN B ANTHONY DOLLAR COIN? I recall that these were minted and then no one seemed to want them for change. I used mine at the post office stamp machine!

HIGH END MEN'S CLOTHIER CLUB MONACO INTRODUCES MADE IN THE USA LINE

Yes, you can buy clothing made in the USA and now a high end company, the Club Monaco brand, is going to introduce a men's line made in the USA. It's about time... it's about this economy. So if you're a HAVE, do us all a favor, and spend that money in the United States!

Linking to the ABC news story...

FOX RIVER MILL SOCKS SUPPORT THE TROOPS

BUY MADE IN THE UNITED STATES SOCKS - and support our troops.

How about SOCK MONKEYS? What? Yes, Fox River Mills is the manufacturer of the Original Rockford Red Heel monkey sock! Our friend, the sock monkey, is very popular. Crafters worldwide can’t get enough of our little friend.

In Appleton, Wisconsin, since the turn of the 20th century... this is a great company with a great product.

JOBS NOT JAIL - FATHER BOYLE'S HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES - SALSA

"The Opus Foundation Prize finalists were announced on Monday, September 19 and Father Greg is a finalist. The Opus Prize is given annually to recognize unsung heroes of any faith tradition, anywhere in the world, solving today’s most persistent social problems. This $1 million faith-based humanitarian award and two $100,000 awards are collectively one of the world’s largest faith-based, humanitarian awards for social innovation. Opus Prize winners combine an entrepreneurial spirit with an abiding faith to combat seemingly intractable global issues like poverty, illiteracy, hunger, disease, and injustice. Opus Prize winners demonstrate that change is possible, empowering and inspiring all of us. The awards will be presented during ceremonies at this year’s host university, Loyola Marymount University, on Wednesday, November 2."

We've been aware of Jesuit Father Greg Boyle and his Homeboy and Homegirl Industries that put youth to work to help them move to a future that does not include gang membership. The reason we thought to post this though is because of HOMEBOY SALSA, which we tried and liked which is the latest venture for the cause.

We have seen this salsa for sale, and it needs a little marketing to compete in the market. So we're giving it that little bit. It's on sale at RALPHS throughout Southern California - it's fresh - and you'll be supporting a non-profit with a very worthy cause!

PLENTY

MANY OF YOU HAVE LOST YOUR HOMES AND APARTMENTS!

We haven't given up on blogging or purchasing as much as we can that is made in the USA so that we can support jobs and the economy. President Obama inherited this mess and he is probably not going to be able to help us get out of the terrible economic situation we are living.

BUT IT IS UP TO US! It always was!
We can still help to turn it around!

So many of you have lost your apartments or homes. We know. A while back we called our closest church to ask if any parishioners needed someone to live in, in exchange for rent, for a friend of ours who was in desperate need of a roof over her head.

The area is considered well to do, there are many home owners, many senior citizens who bought those houses for a tenth or less than they would be sold for now, people who have maids.

This is what the church secretary said to us : "So many of our parishioners have lost homes, so many are taking in family, we just don't have anyone that needs to take strangers in."

Patriots can love their country and still have criticism.

We have to face that we have problems first before we can start solving them.

We can look at the negative and the positive. We can still believe without being in denial!

OCCUPY WALLSTREET OFFICIAL SITE

"Occupy Wall Street is leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We are the 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%.Occupy Wall Street is leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We are the 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%."

We think this is the official site for OCCUPY WALLSTREET, the protest group that has been in the news, and which is exploding around the country.

As with the TEA PARTY, we are curious and interested in how citizens are going about making their needs known to our politicians. Though we aren't members of either party, we understand the right to speak out and to protest.

This blog is our own small part in effecting change.

ILLINOIS MAZE FOR KIDS

COLONIAL CANDLES MADE IN THE USA make sure...

Sitting outside at night or at a romantic dinner for two... Yes, I did see these being sold at Kohls recently.

BALD EAGLE

LOCAL NEWS PAPER REPORTING ON OUR WOUNDED OR DEAD SOLDIERS?

Does you local newspaper proudly save space for the reporting of wounded and obituaries for those who have lost their lives in the service of our country?

OPERATION GRATITUDE

Linking to OPERATION GRATITUDE which offers you the opportunity to write letters or send snacks to our troops!

PATRIOTIC PURCHASE BLOG DOES NOT SUPPORT LINKS TO DIET SITES : HOME COOK and EAT IN MODERATION

Sorry to have to waste a post on this subject, but we know that our content is being used without permission by a few sites that sell diet products.

We at Patriotic Purchase are suggesting that you not use any diet products but rather EAT A VARIETY OF WHOLESOME FOODS in MODERATION!

America still has the wealth and bounty of agriculture. And though food prices are up, we find that you will always get more food and more nutrician for your buck if you shop carefully and use some good recipes. That means COOKING FOR YOURSELF or YOUR FRIENDS and FAMILY rather than depending on pre-cooked or fast foods. Why? Because the preservatives, salt, fat, and sugar contents of many pre-cooked (including frozen) foods is much higher than if you made it yourself!

DIANE SAWYER MADE IN AMERICA CHALLENGE

Linking now to this website from ABC News : Several videos of Americans taking the challenge to buy USA made products. FUN!

CARMAKERS REBOUND IS DRIVIING JOBS : LA TIMES

Linking to the LA TIMES article... Yes it's autos that people are buying...

"And it's not just the Big Three American manufacturers that are thriving. Nissan, VW and other foreign-based firms are expanding in the United States, putting billions of dollars into building and refurbishing plants. Start-ups Tesla Motors in Palo Alto, Fisker Automotive in Anaheim and Coda Automotive in L.A. are hiring and spending hundreds of millions of dollars designing and launching electric and hybrid vehicles. Dealers are having a banner year, making more money per sale than they have in years and hiring back some workers shed during the recession."

HAWAII MAZE CRAZE

BUYING AMERICAN PRODUCTS LEADS TO MORE AMERICAN PRODUCTS BEING MADE

So, we know that when you go to the store and start looking at packaging and the underside of products looking for evidence that something is MADE IN THE USA it can be frustrating, even make you angry. It's true that we have REPLACED SO MANY AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS and the jobs they created) in a search for cheaper things.

And often what we get are cheaply MADE things. Things you have to throw away and replace rather than repair and keep! If you could only tally up the energy you use working for, buying, and then throwing away cheap products.

(I'm thinking right now of a Land Fill full of MADE IN CHINA shoes!)

This is the truth of it. Maybe it takes a millionare to buy everything American, but TRY. For every item you buy American you are preserving a job. And every working American can stimulate the economy! So start small and keep going!

IF YOU CAN'T BUY AMERICAN maybe you don't need it!

C Patriotic Purchase blog 2011 All Rights Reserved

9/11 FRAGMENTS of WORLD TRADE CENTER ON DISPLAY : LINK TO SLIDE SHOW HERE!

Linking here to the article and SLIDE SHOW of items on display that were recovered from the disaster site.

SHURON EYE GLASS FRAMES ARE MADE IN THE USA SINCE 1865

Today looking for EYEGLASS FRAMES that are not made in China or Europe (which we hear used to dominate the trade) we found references to the classic styles of SHURON LTD... They've been in business in the USA for years, and apparently they provide vintage looking eyewear for the movies these days.

Contact them to find out where the glasses are available in your area!

18 Halton Business Park
120 Halton Rd
Greenville, SC 29607
Phone: 800-242-3636 / 864-288-6364

AARON TIPPIN : WHERE THE STARS AND STRIPES AND EAGLES FLY

MADE IN THE USA PASTA? BARILLA IS MADE IN IOWA

Yes "Italian" pasta is made in the USA in IOWA! So, while other brands may or may not be, check out this brand... and remember that you can also insist to your local grocer that they honor produce and other food products that are home grown!

YOU MAY HAVE TO EAT 'In Season' though!

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN NAVY SHIP TOUR A HIT IN SAN PEDRO CALIFORNIA

Supercarrier USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72 was one of four navy ships that thousands of people visited, standing in line for hours in the heat to get aboard. We were two of them. (This is an older video but we wanted you to see what the ship looks like.) Perhaps the event planners didn't expect such a huge patriotic turnout. We were sun burned and dehydrated by the time we got home.

It was a historical event, the first time any navy ships have docked in San Pedro, Port of Los Angeles in many years. This ship usually goes between San Diego and Washington state. It was all part of LA NAVY WEEK.

HASTY BAKE BBQ GRILLS MADE IN THE USA FOR YEARS TO LAST YEARS!

Made in Tulsa, Hasty Bake is one of the original All American BBQ grill companies in the United States. We hear good things about their product!

NEW YORK MAZE CRAZE

This BRITT TOWERY article IS WORTH REPEATING

The delimas of making a PATRIOTIC PURCHASE are here in this article linked to above by Britt Towery... a millionaire decides he will buy everthing American!

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN US UP IN MOST STATES -

"The changing trend in state unemployment rates reflects a weaker economy hampered by high gas prices and lower factory output. Nationally, employers added only 18,000 net jobs in June, the second straight month of feeble hiring."

WASHINGTON STATE MAZE CRAZE

AMERICAN EXPRESS GIFT CARDS - GREAT DEAL - and AVAILABLE AT YOUR UNITED STATES POST OFFICE!

Today we want to support the UNITED STATES POST OFFICE which is suffering, which means that all those employees are suffering. This morning our local clerk told us that the post office is "restructuring" how they hire which means (you guessed it!) that they are going to change job descriptions and cut down on pay and benefits.

The post office is being kept open because of junk mail and mailing e-bay auction items. The use of computerized bill paying has eliminated a lot of first class stamp mailing.

So today I went shopping at the post office.

I saw cards that were pretty much being sold at the SAME PRICE as cards at gift stores but I got to thinking that it would be worth it to make cards and afford the stamps! I think that comparison pricing when you send packages is in order...

But one item that was being sold was a surprise to me: AMERICAN EXPRESS GIFT CARDS which are used like charge cards and can be loaded to $100 and recharged. There is NO LOST VALUE, NO MONTHLY FEES, NO EXPIRATION DATE. You can't use them for gym fees or subscriptions, for cruises or at ATMS.

And we know it's OK to GIVE YOURSELF A GIFT too!

VACATION AT HOME WITH A THEMED WEEK FOR YOU AND THE KIDS

OK! HERE IS MY BEST IDEA YET FOR A LOW BUDGET VACATION WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR HOME TOWN!

Decide (pull straws or take a vote) on a place you've all been hoping to visit. Maybe one of the states or cities of this great nation?

Maybe an island in Hawaii? Or how about Stone Mountain park outside of Atlanta? Or perhaps Washington, DC. because of historical homes and the nations best museum, the Smithsonian. Then, a little fun research: What is that place known for? The hula? Civil War History? What are the special foods served? Peach Cobbler? Barbecued Pig? Venison stew?

Is it time to have a pig roast in the backyard or try some new recipes using peaches? What about decorating the apartment in this theme and making crafts?
Can you bring home movies and books from the library that fit your theme? Your children have a great sense of adventure!

What about a kids party or a neighborhood barbecue?

YOU GET THE IDEA!

TEXAS MAZE CRAZE

IT'S SUMMER VACATION TIME : SEND GREETINGS FROM YOUR OWN HOME?

Vintage postcards like these bring back memories of a time when the summer vacation was more affordable than it is today. Many families are having a hard time paying the rent or mortgage and can't afford to go anywhere special. May we suggest that you plan to stimulate the economy without incurring high gas or other transportation costs by making one day excursions closer to home?

Honesty! Your own home town can feel like a vacation if you plan to go and do AS IF YOU WERE TOURISTS!

ABOVE GROUND POOLS BOASTS MORE THAN ONE MADE IN THE UNITED STATES POOL

As you know we aren't exactly consumer reports here (though we try), but we do want to help you buy American.

We were impressed that this site offers competitive pricing and has been in business near 50 years and that they offer more than one manufacturer as well as close outs. So it's not too late to set up that swimming pool in the backyard for summer fun. And you may find that a local store you walk right into is also a good choice for pool purchasing. Just remember to say "I want to buy Made in the USA!"

ARTIST JOHN TRUMBELL - THE MAKING OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Or well, the start of it. Everyone who has ever come to this country has been part of making it great, and we must continue to do so.

This image, like many others on this blog, is courtesey of Dover Publishing. Artist John Trumbell.

FOURTH OF JULY NAIL ART

Believe it or not, we watched a lot of videos on this subject and, though we saw a lot of designs, we decided this one had the most refreshing music and professional presentation! (We thought it was weird to see fake nails not attached to fingers being painted!) Now when you look on a bottle of nail polish or supplies - clippers - filing boards - etc. what words are you looking for?

We found one called "Piggy Paint" which is "Natural as Mud" meaning non-toxic and MADE IN THE USA... LINK ABOVE!

OP ED BY MICHAEL M. GUNTER : RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH : BUY A PASSPORT AND BE A GOOD WILL AMBASSADOR AS YOU TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

We thought this article was interesting. Michael M. Gunter proposes that spending your travel and vacation money outside the United States is good for the United States.

We have one thing to say : Travelers should remember HOW OTHER COUNTRIES TREAT AMERICANS WHO WANT TO STAY AND WORK... You can pretty much forget about taking jobs from their citizens. We should do the same when vacationers come here, love it, and want to stay in the United States and work. We should never support illegal immigration which means we should not hire illegal.

1776

AMERICAN MANUFACTURING ORG YOU MAY FIND SOME ACTIVISTS HERE

GO TO THE SITE, CLICK ON THE MAP OF THE UNITED STATES, then your state for a report on where the manufacturing jobs are!

WHITE HOUSE

Gotta Read This Book! NANNY STATE by DAVID HARSANYI

Nanny State
How Food Fascists, Teetotaling Do-Gooders, Priggish Moralists, and Other Boneheaded Bureaucrats are Turning America into a Nation of Children
by David Harsanyi C2007
Broadway Books New York

OK- if you would like to try a "Luther Burger" which is a chili cheese hamburger on a Krispy Kreme donut "bun" but the Food Fascists make you feel guilty, this is the book for you. If you would like to smoke cigarettes somewhere in New York City besides your own personal home, this is the book for you. If you would like your children to have the freedom to go ahead and put their fingers in an electric socket...

Ok, you get the idea... This book is funny but it's also damn serious. We want to PRESERVE OUR FREEDOM OF CHOICE and not all be treated like children by our GOVERNMENT.

MOBILE PHONE VIEW TURNED ON

and we hope our blog turns you on to a traditional form of patriotism - buying American made goods and services!

CONSUMER TIPS FOCUS ON NOT SPENDING - NOT STIMULATING THE ECONOMY

When you don't have it to spend, you shouldn't spend. BUT IF YOU DO? This Time article focuses on not spending money. Should you really avoid stimulating the economy?

We don't think so.

We believe that focusing on purchases that support jobs (it may be your own) is the key. So do your research and buy american made products and services.

Gas prices are making automobiles difficult to keep for many people. Buses are more crowded than ever. People are spending a larger portion of their income on expenses such as getting to work.

MEMORIAL DAY - JOHNNY CASH THAT RAGGED OLD FLAG

AT YOUR SERVICE ? CLERKS ARE JERKS and OTHER FACTS OF LIFE 2011

DON'T YOU WISH? Seems like we've encountered a lot of clerks who are jerks lately. Sadly, most of them seem to be youthful, first job out of high school or college, and deeply unhappy with their minimum wage or not much better job. We know what it is to work a cash register in a retail store, or waitress in a restaurant where the tabs aren't too high and neither are the tips.


But a job is a job, and when it's service it's service - until you can do better.


We're not saying to put up with a customer being ABUSIVE to you but most of the time the cranky ones are tired, hungry, been on their feet too long, or SIMPLY TIRED OF SPENDING THEIR MONEY WHERE THE SERVICE HAS GONE TO HELL!


Many of us cannot seem to locate an employee at all to help us find products and we ARE SAYING THANK YOU TO BUS DRIVERS AND CASHIERS who should be saying THANK YOU TO US!

THRIFT STORES GO BEGGING?

BEEN TO YOUR LOCAL THRIFT STORE LATELY?

You may have noticed that the racks and shelves look a bit sparse. That's not just because more people are shopping at thrift stores but also BECAUSE DONATIONS ARE DOWN.

According to the management of one thrift store we went to, donations are down because now people are selling their things rather than donating.

And we notice that garage sales on lawns seem to be happening more in neighborhoods where the people who donate live!

DESECRATION OF THE AMERICAN FLAG TO SELL CARS?

Desecration of the American Flag? This car dealership went wherever (belly up?) on Van Nuys Boulevard and Chandler Boulevard, in Van Nuys California, Los Angeles. For months the shredded American Flags flew. We were horrified that the business was not required to take these flags down. WE SERIOUSLY QUESTION THE USE OF OUR GREAT AMERICAN FLAG AS A MARKETING TOOL, if the flags are not well cared for.

We were ready to contact the City Councilman of this district to protest, but we went back out there and a new business seems to have opened at this location.

CRACKER JACK

Frito-Lay of Plano Texas includes ALL AMERICAN CRACKER JACK as one of their brands and you can link to Cracker Jack's own website.

WE LIKE THE PRIZES WHICH INCLUDE ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND GEORGE WASHINGTON face puzzles!

Guaranteed Fresh (this is easy because we eat Cracker Jack so much it's unlikely you'll ever find a stale bag at the store!

"Cracker Jack brand has been an American favorite for more than 105 years. The delicious blend of caramel coated popcorn and peanuts is just as good as you remember. And who can forget the thrill of opening the toy surprise inside!

BIN LADEN DEAD and so NOW WHAT?

We believe that the beginning of this Great Depression was the 9/11 terrorist attack orchestrated with Muslim fundamentalist terrorist pride, by Bin Laden. (Link to a Christian Science Monitor article about him as a FAILURE and a FRAUD.) This was also the end of our assumption that we could walk into grocery stores, public buildings, airports, and hospitals and NOT go through low dose X-ray type machinery, body searches, and bag checks. NO AMERICAN IS NOT WHAT IT ONCE WAS when everyone is suspected of being a terrorist.

Our usual television programming was interrupted to bring us the news, and how we wish the death of this person would mean the END OF TERRORISM, and THE END OF A CRUSHINGLY EXPENSIVE WAR! Instead, our city is on terrorist alert.

Once again we advise you to do everything possible to buy American! It is a start and something you CAN DO to stimulate the economy even coming from a very low income.
BUY AT GARAGE SALES and THRIFT SHOPS, RECYCLE things you don't want any more, anything to buy new imported products.

ARE YOU STILL DRIVING YOUR CAR WITH GAS AT OVER FOUR DOLLARS A GALLON?

JOE LOUIS PATRIOTIC POSTER

It's not that we're hawks. We believe in a strong DEFENSE. We believe in keeping our own country strong. To do that we have to have and keep PROSPERITY. We have to take care of our own first, before we can afford to be generous to other countries and their people! How easy it is for them to make us feel Guilty.

But we are still waiting for paybacks.

And no matter who the President is it's lousy financial policy to let those Countries default on us!

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND SAYS UNITED STATES WILL NO LONGER BE NUMBER ONE MARKET IN FIVE YEARS

BOMBSHELL DROPPED? NOBODY NOTICED? WE DID! CHINA WILL TAKE OVER THE UNITED STATES AND WE DID IT TO OURSELVES BUYING CHINESE MADE PRODUCTS!

IT'S NOT TO LATE TO KEEP YOUR MONEY CIRCULATING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

Brett Arends' expose article at Market Watch/Yahoo on line linked above.

PRESIDENT OBAMA SPEAKS IN LOS ANGELES and THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA is MORE THAN 12 %

I'm wondering if McDONALD'S the fast food burger restaurant announced that they were hiring on the EXACT SAME DAY as OBAMA'S VISIT did that to give evidence to a "recovery." President Obama was in Los Angeles for the afternoon two days ago, on Thursday the 21st of April, 2011.

A friend of ours tells us that 3000 people showed up at a Glendale California McDonald's to apply, some getting there the night before to apply!

The UNEMPLOYMENT LINES of the GREAT DEPRESSION are with us!

GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN? NO IRS? NO SSDI?

The news reports are dire, and some people are saying that this means NO IRS or SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS, others say THEY WILL PRINT MORE MONEY! Meanwhile there are those who are trying to change their retirement accounts so they are based on old fashioned GOLD. What do you think will happen?

SANITARY SUPPLIES ? BUY KOTEX BEFORE YOU BUY CHINESE SMARTSENSE

Today I went to my local Kmart to find panty liners. OK, let's not get offended here that I'm talking about SANITARY SUPPLIES! WOMEN NEED THESE!

I decided to look at the boxes and see where the manufacturing is done. HERE IS A SITUATION WHERE FOR A COUPLE DOLLARS YOU CAN AFFORD TO SUPPORT AMERICAN JOBS!

First, the Smartsense (the budget brand being sold by Kmart) was 64 for $2.99 MADE IN CHINA

Second, the Carefree was 56 for $3.99 MADE IN CANADA

Third, KOTEX, was 80 for $6.29 MADE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Without knowing for sure, I imagine that the QUALITY of the product makes a difference, but my experience with generic brands in general is that they vary considerably. I also saw that though the temptation is to price per pad, the manufactures box in different quantities making it necessary to use your math (or your calculator) to price.

OLD KELLOGS AD

DEATH OF TRAVELERS CHECK

REMEMBER WHEN TRAVELERS CHECKS WERE so very popular for travel? But then a lot of fine hotels started refusing the checks and expected MASTER CARD OR VISA or another card, even in New York! We know! At a five star hotel in New York many years ago they expected us to go to the American Express office and cash them in!

I SAY THAT TRAVELERS CHECKS MAY BE THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP SOME MONEY ASIDE when BANKING RATES and CREDIT CARD RATES are ridiculous, or you can't afford to keep minimum balances!

Link now to MAIN STREET site to read about American Express:

MAKE YOUR OWN GROCERY CARRY BAGS RATHER THAN PLASTIC OR STORE BAGS MADE IN CHINA

Shame on Ralphs, Food For Less, (The Kroger Company), and all those other stores that are being forced by laws or who want to slow the use of PLASTIC BAGS! They are selling us junk for a buck or more, and so far I haven't found one that was MADE IN THE USA.

SHOW ME a Grocery or Shopping Bag substitute that is MADE IN THE UNITED STATES! I want to preserve manufacturing jobs and this economy as well as this ecology!

SHOW ME a Grocery or Shopping Bag that really LASTS, that can be used over and over again without breaking!

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

7 MILLION DOLLARS DOESN'T FEEL RICH TO MILLIONAIRES

Link now to this breaking news from Yahoo. We know that inflation ups the price of everything but how much money do you have to own to start feeling rich?

FEAR OF FOOD SHORTAGES MAKE RADIO

We were listening to a radio show in the middle of the night recently, and presented was a startling fact 43 million Americans are now using FOOD STAMPS (that means they are eligible) and one person in 6 may not have enough to eat!



THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE BREAD BASKET OF THE WORLD!

ARE YOU DUE A TAX RETURN YOU NEVER TOOK?

"Some people may not have filed because they had too little income to require filing a tax return even though they had taxes withheld from their wages or made quarterly estimated payments," the IRS said.

But Uncle Sam isn't holding your money for you much longer.
If you don't file your 2007 return by April 18, 2011, say goodbye to your refund forever. Taxpayers are only given a three-year window to claim refunds. After that, your money is scooped up by the U.S. Treasury."

FULL ARTICLE from YAHOO NEWS linked above!

By the way, I believe if you have defaulted on your student loans, the money automatically goes towards paying them!

GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN? HERE'S THE BUZZ

"Social Security checks would still go out. Troops would remain at their posts. Furloughed federal workers probably would get paid, though not until later. And virtually every essential government agency, like the FBI, the Border Patrol and the Coast Guard, would remain open..."

Link to the breaking news article from Yahoo and Associated Press Writer, Andrew Taylor.

AKMAK "ARMENIAN" CRACKERS have BEEN MADE IN THE USA FOR YEARS

And are of high nutritional value. We are linking to the company information here. We used to find these in health food stores but now we also buy them at Trader Joes. I've never bought a box that proved to be stale. I love the flavor with cheeses or plain.

CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO BE FOOLED BY FAKE MADE IN AMERICAN /USA PRODUCTS

Friends, we have not forgotten about you or our quest to buy MADE IN THE USA and support jobs and the economy here in this very distressed nation.

We are encouraging you to use the net to do research into products when you are ready to buy clothing, shoes, toys, umbrellas, housewares, furniture, anything at all.

We realize that some companies offer some American Made Products and others that are not. You may have to ASK and in ASKING you are COMMUNICATING that you desire to purchase patriotically!

In fact we suggest that you go into a store and ask the clerks or the managment "Where Do You Keep The American Made Products!" Ask the clerks to direct you towards labels in clothing! ASK!

WOMAN YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU

LEARNING TO COMPOST : AFTER THE RAIN and SNOW STOPS FALLING

The other day we signed up for a COMPOSTING class, so that we can turn some of the food garbage we produce into good soil for our garden. Needless to say, planting some seeds this summer in coffee cans may be what we can manage but we really love the idea of preserving the soil and throwing less garbage out into landfills.

The news is that most of the country is experiencing a very harsh winter, lots of snow, and yesterday even reports of ice rain!

We haven't forgotten about YOU, the PATROTIC PURCHASER!

We're still doing all we know to BUY AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS!

HAPPY NEW YEAR PATRIOTIC PURCHASERS! KEEP BUYING AMERICAN!

What can we expect in 2011 as Americans who are experiencing a DEPRESSION in the economy which has resulted in record foreclosures of HOMES resulting in record breaking HOMELESS, defaults on STUDENT LOANS, joblessness, A REDUCTION OF SALARIES and BROKEN UNIONS, and you know the rest?



WE KNOW HOW BAD IT IS! And we often feel powerless. BUT THERE IS ONE WAY TO GO and that is UP. And there is a way that you can make an IMPACT even when you don't have much income yourself!



In this era of INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS you can STILL make every attempt to BUY AMERICAN! Doing so preserves jobs, not just in MANUFACTURING, but in TRUCKING, and in RETAIL and WHOLESALE SALES, which leads to REAL ESTATE!



EVERY AMERICAN MADE PRODUCT YOU PURCHASE maintains and improves our economy!