The Alchemist by Al Thomas, Too Many Grasshoppers: Not Enough Ants
I think we all know the story of how the industrious ants worked all summer long storing food for the Winter while the grasshoppers ate everything insight and made no provisions for the future.
Sound familiar? Like the European economy? Like Greece? Like our economy?
Winter is coming and the ants are doing their best, but th grasshoppers are eating the food faster than the ants can produce.
In Financial Land that is called a deficit. The way our grasshoppers are being fed is with more and higher taxes. We give our grasshoppers free housing, food, free health care and all the amenities the ants have to work for including cars, color TVs and just about anything they ask for. And it is never enough. Our poorest grasshoppers are considered rich by the poor in other parts of the world. And why?
Their free market system is kept in chains by the rulers. The reason the USA has become the world leader and the place ever person in the world aspires to come is because of the capitalistic system, the free market. All of history has shown that when people are allowed to keep the fruits of their own labor they all prosper.
During the Stalin days where central planning proved to be a failure the tiny plots of the peasants produced more food than government farms. When the government gets out of the way the entire economy grows and prospers.
One by one we are seeing the European countries that have confiscated the incomes of their successful entrepreneurs (ants) go deeper and deeper into debt because they are producing more grasshoppers than ants. Ultimately the grasshoppers will have eaten everything.
We can feed more grasshoppers if we can have more ants working, but there are few jobs now for the ants. The Big Central Planner says borrow more money and make new jobs. Build bridges. Fix sewer pipes. Problem is those out-of-work ants have not done any work like that. They are all pencil pushers an computer nerds; they have never worked with their hands. Make them do work says the Big Central Planner. So they train them for jobs that aren’t there.
Doing something, whatever that is, may not produce anything. The money goes to waste as no permanent job is created. It is called priming the well. Getting something started. Trouble is, it is a dry well.
Now we have a catastrophe. The grasshoppers are eating the ants. They are pouring tax syrup on them that slows their productivity. At some point they stop producing. The ants leave the country to find a place where there are fewer grasshoppers. Grasshoppers have only themselves left to eat.
Al Thomas' book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousand make and keep their stock market profits is SOLD OUT. A limited subscription to his advisory letter is available on the web site www.mutualfundmagic.com
Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai
Do you know someone affected by cancer? Walk for them! Lace up your sneakers for the 22nd annual Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai on Sun., Sept, 12. Walkers choose the Hopkinton 26.2-mile route, the Babson to Boston 13.1-mile route, the Boston College 5-mile route or the Dana-Farber 3-mile route with patients and their families. Participants will walk to raise more than $6.3 million for adult and pediatric cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
To register for the 22nd annual Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk or to support a walker, visit www.jimmyfundwalk.org or call (866) JF-1-WALK.
Baseball Program for Children with Special Needs Looking for Players and Volunteers
The Miracle League of Massachusetts is a non-profit, all volunteer organization that provides all children with the opportunity to play baseball in
an organized non-competitive league at no cost to their families. We are looking for children aged 5 to 18 with a disability that keeps them from playing in a mainstream league. Miracle League team members are assigned buddies who assist them in hitting the ball, running the bases, and fielding. During every game, each child is given an opportunity to hit the ball and score a run. We also have an announcer who introduces each child and gets the crowd into the game. One thing that sets the Miracle League apart from other local special needs baseball leagues is the ultimate goal of building a Miracle League stadium with a specialized rubber field, allowing easy access and mobility to all.
This fall will be our 6th season and we are looking to expand our enrollment from the 80 players we had last season. We think the best way to do this is to let parents know that we encourage all types of players. I would imagine that some parents hear a baseball program for children with special needs and think “that’s not for my child, he doesn’t have a physical disability” or “that’s not for my child, she can’t hit a baseball”. But we want everyone to know that our players have a wide range of abilities; some just need a little help paying attention to the game, while others have significant physical and/or cognitive delays that require them to have help with all aspects of the game. We encourage you to visit our website at www.miracleleagueofma.com to see pictures and video from previous seasons to see the joy that our players get from playing baseball.
We also need volunteers to be buddies for our team members. We are primarily looking for teenagers aged 12 and up, but we need adults to help out too. Buddies can participate at any number of games – just one game would be great, or all would be fantastic!
Games are played at Blanchard Memorial Elementary School in Boxborough, MA on Sat., mornings from Sept. 18, 2010 through October 23, 2010 (with October 30th slated as a rain make-up day). We also have a spring season. Although the games are played in Boxbor-ough, we have players from 35 towns around Massachusetts. Some dedicated players drive for an hour each way to get to the games. If you think your child might be interested in playing or you are interested in volunteering, please contact Lauren Richard at 978-263-3043 or miracleleagueofma@yahoo.com. Or, you can also download a registration form on our website. The deadline for player registration is Aug.13, 2010. Come join the Miracle League because every child deserves the chance to play baseball!
Adult Synchro Team Skating
The Colonials Open Adult Synchronized Skating Team is hosting Free Tryouts on Fri., Aug. 6th from 9:15 to 10:15 pm - or by appointment on any other Fri., evening in Aug. The skating team is coached by former national champion, Amy Boucher at the Nashoba Valley Olympia Rink, Rt. 111, Boxboro, MA. For more information call Amy Boucher at 978-592-5786 or e-mail her at amy.boucher@colonialfsc.com or team member Bonnie Linscott at 603-205-0985.
Weekly team practices begin in September on Fri., evenings from 8:25 pm to 10:25 pm. Men and women over age 19 are welcomed and should have basic skating skills of forward and backward crossovers, mohawks and three turns. Skaters will need to become members of USFSA or ISI. Come and learn circle footwork, intersections, wheels, blocks, lines and presentation. If you are interested in giving synchronized skating a try, come join us. Current team members will be there to welcome you. The Team competes locally and at Easterns with occasional travel involved. We hope to see you on the ice!
Ellen Racine, 102 Whitney St., Northborough, MA 01532 508-393-2343. The Colonials Open Adult Skating Team is a non-profit organization.
Young Teens Learn Tolerance in Children’s Theater Workshop
While rehearsing the musical “Honk! Jr.” area teens have been learning tolerance, self-confidence and anti-bullying techniques, as part of the Arts Alliance’s Children’s Theater Workshop this summer. The public is invited to see the end results when Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved story “The Ugly Duckling” is brought to life on Thurs., July 22 and Fri., July 23 at 7 p.m., as well as in an 11 a.m. matinee on Thurs., July 22. Audiences of all ages will enjoy the fun shows in Marlborough High School’s air-conditioned Little Theater, 431 Bolton St, Marlborough, which is wheelchair accessible. There is ample free parking.
In the contemporary, comic re-telling of the Danish author’s book, “Honk! Jr.” follows ‘Ugly,’ whose odd, gawky appearance instantly incites prejudice from his neighbors and most of his family. Gradually, the main character transitions from a gullible, impressionable duckling to a wise swan filled with self-esteem. Along his harrowing, yet hilarious journey, ‘Ugly’ not only discovers his true beauty and glorious destiny, but also finds love and acceptance, as do the young acting students.
By attending a performance of Children’s Theater Workshop, one can become part of the same rewarding fun and positive energy that the youths are experiencing while encouraging each other and working hard together. Come support the young people, as well as local arts and get up with arts! Tickets are now available online at: www.upwitharts.org or by calling 978-562-1646. Adults are $10; seniors and students are $8, but save $1 per seat by purchasing tickets in advance. Group discounts are available if purchased in advance. Arts Alliance members enjoy a further discount for “Honk! Jr.” and hundreds of other programs each year. Become a member today by downloading a form from the website and immediately enjoy member discounts and other benefits.
Our Home Run Derby/Family Field Day
Westborough Little League’s 10-Year-Old All Stars invite you to our Home Run Derby/Family Field Day on Sun., July 25 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Target Field in Westborough. This is a great way to have fun with your entire family and friends! Cost is $5 per child for unlimited game activities such as: Baseball Home Run Derby, Lots of Field Day Games and Races, Face Painting, Arts and Crafts.
There will be great food, raffles, trivia and prizes to be had! We’re also holding a pie eating contest for adults.
Twister from The Worcester Tornadoes will make a special appearance from 4-5pm!
We hope to see you there! All proceeds from this event will be donated to The Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Cancer Institute. So, please bring your family and friends, and help Westborough Little League’s 10-Year Old All Star team take a swing at cancer! For more information, please contact Jane Flerra at janeflerra@yahoo.com or 508-898-9962 or Jen McGrath at jmcgrath819@verizon.net or (508) 836-3634.
*Target Field is located behind the Target store on the Eastbound side of Rt. 9 in Westborough.
Crafters/Artists Wanted
MetroWest Humane Society is seeking crafters and artists to participate in our Fourth Annual Craft Fair. We welcome all who do original work in any medium. However the jewelry category is full.
The fair will be held on the Framingham Common, Edgell Rd., near the intersection of Rte 9, on Sat., Sept 11, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., rain or shine. A single space, approximately 12' x 12', is $65.00.
This is a juried fair and we limit admissions within craft categories. Our goal is to provide a profitable venue for all participating crafters and artists.
MetroWest Humane Society is a no-kill shelter that seeks permanent loving homes for abandoned, abused, and neglected cats and kittens. We also operate a barn program and trap-neuter-return (TNR) program to aid in feline population control and to ease the suffering of unadoptable cats living in the wild. www.webpaws.com/mwhs
All space fees will directly benefit our programs. To request an application, or if you have questions, please contact our coordinator, Jeanne Ridolfi, at 508-787-0069, email: jeanne44@comcast.net
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