The Economy in the United States is undoubtedly linked to the world economy.  There is no turning back.  It is a given.  But we can fix our economy.  That would go a long way towards fixing the economy elsewhere.  The bonus in resolving the economic issue is that it would fix a multitude of other problems (anybody heard of the healthcare crisis which isn’t really a crisis by itself).  So here are five things that I believe would be the foundation for fixing the economy:

1. Roll back and lock in environmental laws to late 1980’s (or so) limits.  Make a LONG TERM COMMITMENT to NOT CHANGE those limits so business leaders know they can count on not having to spend billions of dollars to keep up with ever changing, more restrictive environmental laws.  
2. Reduce federal spending by thirty to forty percent.  Some public employees will lose their jobs, but an expanding private sector will pick up those jobs and then some.
3. The SEC should set limits on executive compensation, which is way out of whack with the rest of the world.
4. Establish financial limits on jury awards regarding pain and suffering and loss of companionship (among other contrived bases for financial compensation). 
5. Allow oil exploration in United States territory with known oil reserves, whether it is off the coast of California or in the Alaskan tundra.   

The same week President Obama made a speech about stimulating the economy and promoting job growth in the United States, the EPA announced stricter smog limits for much of the country.  I don’t know about you, but I saw jobs fleeing the country.  That’s a big DUH!  About federal spending; I was looking at my paycheck.  The federal government takes greater than 80% of the taxes that come out of my check.  That’s bass-ackwards.  If most of the money went to my local or state governments, they could do more hiring to fix roads and bridges, do local projects, all at a far less expensive price tag than the fed.  And if the federal EPA got off the states’ backs, imagine the savings.  I want to touch on executive compensation; it is outrageous that a person can make tens of millions of dollars running a publicly traded company, regardless of whether they are successful or not.  It is downright criminal if they drive a company into the ground and get a golden parachute.  Finally, it is rumored that the United States has more untapped oil reserves than any country in the world.  Start drilling, at least while we learn how to power our economy on hydrogen.  Come on folks, let’s get with it.

Pete Grondin

Author of A Lifetime of Vengeance, A Lifetime of Deception, and A Lifetime of Exposure

www.pjgrondin.com

Five Things About Climate Change

I’m just a little ticked off this evening.  After listening to former Vice President Al Gore spout his version of the imminent destruction of the planet by man, I’m convinced that we need a collective brain transplant.  We all know we can be good custodians of our planet.  No argument.  But please stick a sock in Al Gore’s mouth.  The doomsday predictions of this man are grandstanding at best, and down-right ludicrous at worst, bordering on trasonous.  I’m fed up.  I hope you are, too.  If you think that Cap and Trade is a good idea, go ahead and sell all your worldly goods and send a check to Mr. Gore now.  But before you do, listen to a little reason.  Here are five things that you need to know about climate change.

1. Global temperatures in the last nine years are actually decreasing.
2. The air quality in the United States is better now than it has been in decades due to the measures that have already been taken.  In other words, the current limits are already working. 
3. Further restrictions on certain emissions will absolutely hurt the global atmosphere.  That is because more and more industrial jobs will be shipped overseas to countries that have few, if any laws governing emissions.  They are more concerned about providing jobs for their citizens (what a concept).    
4. When people in this country have no income, they’ll resort to heating their homes by any means possible, like wood burning stoves, and they’ll burn whatever is available (scrap wood, paper, plastics, you name it).
5. If the polar icecaps have already melted significantly, why haven’t ocean levels risen in kind?  It only stands to reason that if the calamity has already started, levels should have risen at a faster pace than previous rates.  They haven’t. 

Al Gore routinely claims that scientific evidence proves “without a doubt” that man-induced global warming is indisputable.  Then why has it recently come to light that data has been manipulated solely to support these claims.  If the evidence is so overwhelming, then why are scientists taking it upon themselves to manufacture data?  Maybe it isn’t so factual after all.  And just maybe we need to take a longer, harder, factual look at the data that is gathered by scientists who are looking for the truth, not a reason to further the claims of a politician who is eager to plant himself in the history books as the savior of the planet.  Write your Congressman and Senators.  Tell them to get a grip on reality and stop spending phenomenal sums of our money chasing imaginary monsters and fairytales.  If you want more information, Google on ‘Global Warming’ and read the facts, not the fiction.    

Pete   -   Author of A Lifetime of Exposure, A Lifetime of Deception, and A Lifetime of Vengeance – Available from my website andAmazon’s Kindle

www.pjgrondin.com

When I started visiting social media sites I was a skeptic.  I’d heard so much negative press about MySpace, primarily because of the news about cases of stalkers and pedophiles.  People think that they can do or say anything on-line because they are anonymous.  Oops.  That’s not the case and it’s been proven over and over that you can be identified and located.  But not to be negative, here are five things about social media sites.

1. Joining a social media site is very easy, almost too easy (parents, take note). 
2. Kids get it immediately because they’ve been raised on computers.  Parents and grandparents are catching on though.
3. There are too many cutesy things on the sites.  I’m not there to play games, or join a farming community, or play mobster.  I joined to contact old friends and meet new friends.
4. I planned to use the sites to promote my books, but I figure when people read my books and tell others how much they enjoyed the read, the promotion will take care of itself.
5. You should be cautious how much information you provide in your profile.  There are some very ill people out there with not the best intentions.  Be safe.

I mentioned that you are not anonymous when on the computer.  You can write things that are wide open to legal scrutiny.  It doesn’t matter what your screen name is, your real name can be connected to your ramblings, so please be careful what you write.  Once it’s out there, it’s difficult to retract.  Good gossip spreads like wildfire, especially on the internet.  On the positive side, 2009 has been a great year for me reconnecting with old friends.  I hope the trend continues in 2010.  You can find me on all of the above mentioned sites except Twitter.  I may join soon though.  I wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.  God bless each and every one of you.

Pete PJ Grondin

Author of A Lifetime of Exposure, A Lifetime of Deception, and A Lifetime of Vengeance

www.pjgrondin.com

I really liked going to the barber.  My two barders, Ed and Larry, had been partners since they got out of high school.  I started getting my haircut at Ed’s Barbershop back in 1981 on my first leave home after joining the Navy.  It was great to catch up on the local gossip and have a good laugh with the guys.  That’s all changed now.  Ed retired a few years back and left the business of cutting hair to Larry.  Earlier this year, Ed was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.  He passed away shortly after his diagnosis.  Larry was with him when he passed away.  Larry had planned to retire this year anyway, but I think Ed’s death sealed the deal.  He hung up the shears for good right after Labor Day.  Here are five things about going to the barber:

1. At $12.00 a cut it was a great deal, though over the years, they had less and less work to do on my head for their fee.

2. You would think that retirees would get their hair cut during the week and leave Saturdays to us working guys.  Not a chance.

3. They always knew who was having a run-in with the law.  The police scanner was on continuously.

4. It’s more about friendship than just getting a good haircut.

5. I’m not getting a new barber.   They can’t be replaced in my eyes. 

I still keep my hair cut.  I do it myself now (with some help from my wife, though it’s tough allowing her to hold sharp tols near my head and neck).  But how hard can it be?  Take a look for yourself.  I have more hair growing out of my nose and ears than on top of my head.  And my new Wahl clippers make the job a breeze. 

I’m going to miss both those guys.  They’d known each other since elementary school.  How fortunate to have been friends and business partners for life.  Ed, God bless you.  Rest in peace my friend.  Larry, enjoy your retirement.  You and your family deserve it.

Pete PJ Grondin

www.pjgrondin.com      pjgron@pjgrondin.com

Murder Mystery/Suspense Author of A Lifetime of Exposure, A Lifetime of Deception, and A Lifetime of Vengeance

My wife and I visited an estate sale last weekend.  It was an interesting view into the lives of the couple who once lived in the old, stately home.  The man enjoyed photography and building things.  He had aworkshop attached to the house with a great variety of tools, many quite old.  The woman was a homemaker, the kitchen loaded with standard kitchen appliances both small and large.  The sale had two items that took most customers by surprise.  First, the old couple had about a dozen felt canvas paintings . . . of young naked women.  They were most likely from the 1970s.  Second was a sign on the wall that said “X-rated VHS tapes – $2.00 or negotiate for the lot.  I had to do a double-take on that one.  I was curious, so I asked about them.  Apparently the couple owned a video store and the tapes were unsold inventory.  That’s her story and she stuck to it.  Here are five things about estate sales.

1. There is usually some good “stuff” for sale.
2. Most items are sold at a fraction of their original value
3. If you want these bargains, you’d better get there early.
4. Even though the prices are great to start, you can usually negotiate prices.
5. Sometimes it is tough to negotiate with someone who is selling their parents’ legacy “on the cheap.”

A small sample of the ‘goods’ that we purchased at the estate sale.

 

Estate sales are sad in some ways.  Many items only have real value to the deceased owners.  Their children have kept the really valuable stuff for themselves.  But that stuff is not always valued in dollars.  Sometimes it’s that old fishing pole that Grandpa let you use when you went fishing, or the special cup you  used when you and Dad had the morning cup of coffee Sunday mornings before the big game.  More often than not, it was a youthful picture of the younger couple your parents used to be; just how you want to remember them.

Pete Grondin                     A Lifetime of Deception, A Lifetime of Exposure, www.pjgrondin.com

I‘ve been fortunate to have worked in the nuclear power industry for over 28 years; eight-plus years in the US Navy, 20+ years in the commercial power industry.  I’ve learned a lot, earned a lot, and continue to enjoy the benefits of a great job.  In short, I’ve been blessed with God given ability and ambition, a sound mind, and no small amount of luck.  But work is a repetitive event.  You daily have to get up, prepare yourself for another day of ‘battle’ and when it becomes a battle just to go to the office, the factory, the store, or any other place of employment, then you have to question your motives.  So here are five things about work.

 1. The vast majority of people must work in order to provide the basics in life; food, clothing, and shelter.

 2. Deciding your career path at a young age is a difficult task, especially if you’re not sure of your interests. 

 3. Decisions that you make as a teenager can set a path for your life that may be difficult to change once you’re ‘locked’ into a career path.

 4. Careers that are steeped in social consciousness are not necessarily steeped in financial reward so make sure your convictions can be supported financially (see number 1). 

 5. Try to make a career of doing what you enjoy.  You may find that your work will be more enjoyable and more financially rewarding.

 My second career, writing murder mystery novels, is starting to gain momentum.  This is kind of scary because my first career is not yet over.  But I love creating stories.  It’s like I have a license to live in a fantasy world.  If I had to do it all over again, I would have started to write sooner.  There is one advantage to writing later in life.  I’ve met a lot of characters over the years.  Most of them I met at work.  Many of their personal traits and characteristics . . . well, just read one of my books.

Peter J. Grondin 

A Lifetime of Exposure, A Lifetime of Deception, and A Lifetime of Vengeance

www.pjgrondin.com      pjgron@pjgrondin.com

Being busy has its advantages.  You don’t spend too much time in front of the Boob Tube, you don’t have time to worry about life.  And you sure don’t have time to whine about every little thing.  And you don’t necessarily get a lot done, I mean really finished.  I’ve recently learned that being busy does not equate to being productive.  Here are five things about being busy:

1. I tend to not watch the clock at work so sometimes I leave work late.
2. I tend to lose track of time at home and usually get to bed much later than I plan. 
3. I work at lots of things.  Examples are writing (starting on my fourth novel), home remodeling, woodworking, not to mention the other daily stuff.
4. It seems that, as soon as I get started on one thing, I’m being pulled in a different direction.
5. As busy as I am, I’m not real organized and therefore not as productive as I know I can be.

One of my goals for the remainder of the year is to stay busy AND be more productive.  I’m selling books at a decent clip but not at a national bestseller’s clip.  I need to improve that.  At my real job, I plan to make some changes that will limit the amount of time I spend on e-mail and voice mail.  And I’m going to try like the dickens to set and stick to deadlines.  I’ll always be busy but the key is to make that busy time count.  Productivity is the key.  Time to get focused.

Pete PJ Grondin 

Author of A Lifetime of Exposure, A Lifetime of Deception, and A Lifetime of Vengeance

www.pjgrondin.com

pjgron@pjgrondin.com

There are events that cause your body and mind to experience an explosion of positive feelings.  Among them are your wedding, the birth of your children, sex, a well cooked steak, or the taste of your favorite meal.  You might argue with some of these and you may have examples of your own, but you get the picture.  I just experienced a feeling that ranks among these, though not quite as explosive as some.  I just finished proofing my third novel at the printers.  I’ll have copies of A Lifetime of Exposure in my hands in a couple weeks.  So here are five things that I experienced whilef writing and publishing this novel.

1. This particular story was a bit difficult to write.  The subject matter is a tough one for some people.
2. I wanted to make sure it remained a murder mystery and not turn into erotica or low grade porn. 
3. The cover turned out better than I expected.  I’m glad I took the extra time to make changes at the last minute.
4. The McKinney Brothers are great protagonists. They have a lot of options left for adventures in the future.
5. The chill I got seeing the proofs will definitely not measure up to the feeling I know I’m going to get when the final product is delivered, but it was really cool. 

Don’t forget your copy of A Lifetime of Exposure.  It is available now for advance copy purchases.  If you order now, they’ll be in the mail by July 15, 2009.  Visit my website at www.pjgrondin.com to read the back cover information about this outstanding story.  You’ll be blown away.

Pete Grondin  Author of A Lifetime of Exposure and A Lifetime of Deception

I love spring, especially when the rain lets up and everything is green.  The trees are full and everyone seems to come to life.  And the Harleys are rumbling into town.  So I wanted to say five things about Bike Week in Sandusky.

1. Bikers have changed over the years.  They used to look mean.  Now they’re just people riding bikes.
2. Harleys are loud.
3. Some of these bikes are nothing short of true art. 
4. My daughter waits tables at a local restaurant so we love to see the bikers rolling into town.  They’re great tippers.  Thanks dudes and dudettes.
5. They may be loud and they may be proud, but I love these folks and everything they bring to our city.

Yes, the days of Hell’s Angels are gone.  Now we have the law firm of Sweeney, Helper, and Jones riding into town for bike week.  How times have changed.  Incidentally, when I went to school in Apopka Florida, I was a biker of sorts.  Our “club” won the Apopka High School tricycle race every year.  We were the Zell’s Angels (for Zellwood, Florida where we all lived).  We rode proud at a top speed of maybe 25 mph (it was a very special tricycle).  Man, those were the days.

Zells Angels Member Pete Grondin

Club member Dee Dee Rice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pete Grondin – Author of A Lifetime of Deception Available at Amazon.com and www.pjgrondin.com

The Murder Mystery Gazette is a newsletter from PD House Books.  It provides information about my books, any specials, an upcoming appearances.  It’s runs from two to five pages.  It is one of my methods to provide my readers with up-to-date information on where my newest books stand and any special deals being run by the publisher, PD House Books.  So here are five things about the Spring 2009 Murder Mystery Gazette:

1. The lead story announces the imminent release of A Lifetime of Exposure, PJ Grondin’s next McKinney Brothers Myrder Mystery.

2. The most exciting highlight is the monthly special, also called the PD House Buyer Referral Program where you can earn free books by referring customers to PD House Books. 

3. The third exciting article is the announcement of the start of the fourth McKinney Brothers Manuscript, A Lifetime of Terror.  It is scheduled for release in the summer of 2010.

4.  The fourth feature in the Spring 2009 Murder Mystery Gazette is the list of PJ Grondin’s 2009 appearances.  Be sure to look for a scheduled appearance in your area.

5. The last point about the Murder Mystery Gazette is that it may become a bi-monthly newsletter. 

In the future, the newsletter will have three basic sections; 1. News on the status of past, current, and future novels, 2. A deal of the month section, and 3. a listing of appearances, many with pictures from past events.  I’m excited about the future of the Murder Mystery Gazette and the information that I’ll be able to send directly to you.  I hope this newsletter will benefit you as you look forward to more McKinney Brothers adventures.

Pete ‘PJ’ Grondin   Author of A Lifetime of Vengeance, A Lifetime of Deception, and A Lifetime of Exposure

www.pjgrondin.com, pjgron@pjgrondin.com, www.booksofexcellence.com  

http://www.pjgrondin.com/2009NewsletterSpring.pdf

ps – Don’t forget to visit the Shameless Shorts Project ands read short stories from up and coming authors.  www.tenparinc.com/ssc/ssc_review.htm