I am pretty sure that I have never prepared an entire meal in 30 minutes unless it was already made and all I had to do was heat it up. So if you only have 30 minutes, plan to buy prepared food or have a sandwich. So I begin knowing that it will take 45 minutes to an hour before we eat. With that in mind I will choose a recipe with 3 or less ingredients that must be washed dried or chopped. I am pretty handy with a kitchen knife, but more than three labor intensive ingredients gets too lengthy for a quick dinner. And contrary to what you may think, a long ingredient list is not always indicative of a time consuming dish. If the list is long but mainly dried herbs and spices that don’t have to be carefully measured it will probably go quickly. I also consider the type of time I have on my hands. Some “quick” dishes require me to stand at the stove the entire time to add ingredients, stir, wait for a boil etc. It can be better use of time to put a whole chicken or pork roast in the oven for an hour while I do other things, like exercise and take a shower. There is also the added bonus of leftovers that I can remake in a day or two for a whole new meal. One of my favorite things to do is prepare a large piece of meat, such as a pork loin roast, generically first, just salt, pepper and maybe garlic. The next night I dress it up as an Italian style stew with tomatoes, white beans and some basil.

The money budget is a totally different animal altogether. I have watched the cost of our weekly grocery trips sky rocket in the last few years and now that I am basically cooking for four adults, we are really feeling the increase. So when it comes to budgets I have found that learning how to cook has been more beneficial in maintaining a healthy diet and a tasty one on a tight budget. I am not talking fancy stuff but basic things like how to sauté a piece of meat and de-glaze a pan for a delicious sauce. If you can do this with any degree of skill you can apply it to chicken, fish, and many cuts of beef that may be on sale in your local grocery store. In the same way, discovering what spices and tastes you and your family enjoy, and applying those to the meat of the week. You can take any plain meat or vegetable and turn it into an Italian, Chinese or Mexican inspired dish with the right spices. This concept can obviously be applied to vegetables in the same way. Use soy sauce and sesame oil for Asian, ground cumin and chili powder for Mexican and oregano and basil for Italian. Don’t be afraid of trying something new with an old recipe, just use what you like. Here is one of my favorite soup recipes that started out with Asian flavors but can easily become a Mexican inspired dish as well.

Basic Noodle Soup
2 cups uncooked egg noodles
6 cups chicken broth
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small onion chopped
2 cups celery or carrots chopped or one cup of each
2 cups cooked turkey or chicken
salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbsp. olive oil

In a large Dutch oven heat the olive oil (use sesame oil also if making Asian flavor) on medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the celery, carrots or both and sauté for 4-5 minutes then add the garlic and continue to stir for 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and bring the heat up to medium-high until the broth begins a slow boil. (For Asian flavor add the bay leaf now. For Mexican flavor add the tomatoes, green chilies, and cumin.)Add noodles and reduce heat slightly, cook for about 7 minutes and add the chicken. Continue at medium heat for about 4 minutes until noodles are tender and chicken is heated through. Remove bay leaf before serving. (Add soy sauce last for Asian flavor.)

For Asian flavor
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. sesame oil
Bay leaf

For Mexican flavor
Canola or olive oil
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can chopped green chilies
3 tsp. ground cumin
Chili powder

I probably could make this soup in under 30 minutes if no one interrupted me…but what would be the fun in that!

Billboard Discoveries called this EP “a premier calling card” and “a well executed collection.” Gary Allen of the Charlie Daniels Band described it as “powerful, breathtaking and a masterpiece” and went as far as to call him “a male version of Taylor Swift – young, good looking, writes his own songs and can cross Pop and Country lines.”

We thought the EP was excellent – well executed, enjoyable, moving and wonderfully short – only four songs – no wasted tracks taking up space in an attempt to extract more money for more songs. The first two songs (Settlin’ Down and Fire Away) are full of energy robust instrumentation. “Worth Fighting For” is track three – a fiercely emotional ballad about the battle between family and self gratification. Wrapping it all up is the EP’s title track – a beautifully enticing number with a bit of classical guitar and soft jazz flair – perhaps the best track on the EP.

Michael’s first EP, “God Only Knew,” was more of a fun, light hearted project; however, the first song, “Just As Surprised As You” has garnered substantial radio play and been featured on American Airlines flights and Six Flags North America’s in-part radio. Some artists have that inexplicable “it” quality and Michael Whitworth most definitely has “it” by the throat. The Music Industry is a fickle mistress and who knows what the future holds, but we are rooting
for Whitworth as he soldiers on. Check out his website www.michaelwhitworthmusic.com.

We are bombarded every day with information on the importance of physical exercise to our overall health and well-being. Statistics show that there are decreases in mental health issues as well as physical health problems in most everyone that engages in a regular or “routine” exercise program. But who wants to get into a routine? That sounds boring already. We live in a world where everything is new, fast, fun and ever-changing.

It was easy to exercise as a kid because as a child you are wired to play. Children are natural at burning energy, and given the right outlets (moms really try), they will be physical in their play. So what happens when playtime ends, and jobs, family commitments and all the unexpected of life get in the way? The importance of exercise isn’t diminished. Just look at your waistline. You have to exercise on purpose. That just means making exercise as much a part of your life as brushing your teeth or grocery shopping.

Here are a few ideas that can help you continue to exercise on purpose:

1) Be flexible. It is good to have several options of exercise. For instance if you are a walker or jogger you may want to find a good stretching DVD to add to your library. That way if the weather doesn’t cooperate or the baby sitter cancels at the last minute you can still get a workout of some kind. Speaking of no-show baby sitters, just running around with your kids in a game of tag or Red Rover may be the answer. It may not be exactly what you a planned but something is better than nothing.

2) Grab a partner. Finding someone else to workout with you may be a good idea if your have similar schedules and attitudes about the importance of the workout. This has always been helpful for me as it incorporates commitment and a social aspect. But be careful of falling into the trap of “if my partner is not going, then I don’t have to either”.

3) Keep it fresh. If you get bored quickly with the same thing then check out your local YMCA or County Parks and Recreation programs for fitness classes. You may be surprised at what you will see. The Parks and Recreation department offers many quality classes and locations all around your local county. There generally is not a contract or long-term commitment so if your schedule changes with the seasons, this may be the right thing. According to Laura Pate with the Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department, one of the fastest growing classes there is the “Couch to a 5k”, which is basically for those just getting into or back into exercise. They also are offering everything from spin classes, to Zumba, to Yoga and Pilates. In addition the newest trend is to offer classes that combine elements from all of the above.

In the article titled Five Elements for a Rounded Routine, the Mayo Clinic suggests incorporating aerobic, strength, flexibility, balance and core into your workout. These classes would give you all of that rolled into about 50 minutes.

4) Join a team. If you enjoyed sports as a child or teen this may be just the right thing for you. If you have never played, it still may be a good option. Look for a beginner team and learn the sport with others. Enjoy the social camaraderie of a team sport and the sense of accomplishment in learning something new. There are tennis, basketball, touch football, soccer and many other adult teams to participate with now. Play like a child again.

5) Be Creative. There are many things you can do everyday to add purposeful exercise into your life. Do push-ups or sit ups while waiting for the water to heat up in the shower. Instead of bending to retrieve something low, squat with your feet apart. If you are right handed, try using your left hand whenever possible to build strength and coordination. And don’t forget the ever-easy two: take the stairs, and park far from the entrance of the building to add a few more steps into your day.

Ultimately, the motivation has to ultimately come from within. When time gets tight, and you know that it will, some how you have to push yourself to keep moving. Hopefully this is the year that purposeful exercise becomes more than just routine for you and next New Year’s you are figuring out how to get that garage finally cleaned out.

Thomas Jefferson is the writer of the Declaration of Independence, co-author of the Constitution, and third President of the United States. Was he also the father of several illegitimate children, the primary cause of the War of 1812, and did he pay for the Louisiana Purchase with money illegally appropriated from military funds? Is it ok for the President to break the law and lie for “the greater good?” How far should executive privilege extend? Does character matter?

There is no doubt that President Jefferson’s first term was a success. He doubled the size of the country with the swipe of a fountain pen for a measly 13 million dollars. Sounds great right? Too bad, according to the Constitution, all spending bills have to originate in the House of Representatives. President Jefferson used executive privilege to take money from the military budget to fund the Louisiana Purchase and the Louis and Clark expedition that followed. He was able to do this through Alexander Hamilton’s system of finance. This was a system that he openly opposed for more than 15 years. Is this a character flaw? The greater good?

During his second term, when Britain and France went to war he refused to take sides and stopped trading with both. This infuriated Britain and is said to be the reason we were invaded in 1812 and the White House was burned to the ground. Indecisive? In over his head? An American hero? If you don’t know what you’re getting into, what does that say about your character? Is it possible that Jefferson created something so profound that even he could not live up to the expectations of such an exquisite document?

I was taught that the Founders were great presidents as well as great citizens. Now I wonder if they were any different from any other modern day politician. President Clinton lied under oath about having sex with an intern. So what! He presided over one of the greatest economic surpluses in US history due to the dot-com boom of the late 90s. We all know that Al Gore invented the Internet, but is it ok for President Clinton to take credit for something that was completely out of his control? Is it bad character if he does it while cheating on his wife at work? Had any of us done that, we would be fired and divorced. Talk about executive privilege!

George W. Bush started a war to settle a family feud, but we have not been attacked since. Finally, James K. Polk, the 11th President, ran on a platform that he was going to be EXACTLY like Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. President Polk baited Mexico into a war and thousands died. This war gave us Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. He originally asked Mexico to sell us the land and they said no, so we took it. President Polk called it “manifest destiny”, meaning God is on our side.

Historians talk about legacy, but they never talk about character. When will we FINALLY learn from history? If you could travel back in time knowing then what you now know, would you vote for Thomas Jefferson? Does character matter?

The bad:
The Flat Tax, as written by Steve Forbes, taxes Americans at the same rate no matter income level. It does not punish success like the current progressive system because it increases by percentage and not by rate of income. Currently the top 10 percent of wage earners (those that make $300,000 or more) pay 40 percent of the taxes. Liberals think that’s great, but have you ever gotten a job from a poor person? Those “top” wage earners are the same people that often supply the jobs! If the government keeps punishing these people at this rate there will be no jobs left in the private sector, leaving only government as a means of employment. The main draw back to the Flat Tax is the need for the IRS because the withholding standards of collections remain the same and unlike the Fair Tax, it does not call for the repeal of the 16th Amendment, making it easier for Congress to increase the percentage with the swipe of a pen.

The ugly:
Last but not least is the “VAT,” or Value Added Tax. This has been a liberal idea for years and rumor has it this will be President Obama’s next big idea to pay for his ridiculous healthcare plan and to make up for the fact that the Fed has been printing money like crazy (which started under Bush) to artificially keep the economy afloat for the last two years. The fact that all this “extra” money is not helping the economy and that Liberals have never met a spending bill or tax they didn’t like, the VAT seems like the most likely next step for the current administration. In a nut shell, the VAT doubles the tax of goods and services by adding a tax to every stage of development of a product. This puts a strain on manufacturers at the wholesale level as well as the retail level. These added taxes are then passed off to us, the consumer, to make up for corporate losses due to the excess taxes. These added funds go directly to the Federal Government… period. Obama knows that adding more to withholding will not work so his argument will be that rich corporations will be forced to pay “their fair share” of taxes. What I’m waiting to hear is his rebuttal to the fact that one of his campaign promises was that no household making less than $250,000 a year would see any additional taxes. Oh, I forgot… he will just blame George Bush!

Let’s change gears for a second and talk about choice. Clearly the American people are fed up with both parties in Congress. I get into six pack arguments with my friends and family all the time about how both parties are the same, they are all crooks, and behind the scenes they are all laughing at us. I don’t believe that to be true. I suggest you set your DVR to record C-SPAN 2 and 3. Two is typically House Committee debates and 3 is usually the Senate. I recommend recording them so you can fast forward through the 75 percent that is garbage and pay attention to the issues that are not in the headlines and not the lead story. Watch the parties debate, question, and give their opinion on what should be done. Compare what the Senators or Congressmen ACTUALLY say with the way the media, both left and right, report it. Then take a second to research the end results of the issue or bill. Try it for one week. You will see there is still a tremendous difference in the two parties.

Barack Obama was elected by mostly Independents. He did a tremendous job getting his message out better than John McCain did, but that was not totally because the press was on his side—it was because McCain is not a Conservative. Even the conservative media was against McCain. The conservative media has caught up to the liberal press. That, combined with the flow of information on the Internet, makes it possible to get information about anyone in politics. Separating the satire and commentary from the real news can sometimes be a chore, but if you have not already realized that The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and E! News are not the best sources of information, I will have to put you on the long list of individuals that serve no political purpose other than canceling out my vote.

I will admit, the Stimulus has had some effect, but if you print a bunch of money and dump it into the system you are guaranteed to see a small spike. What happens if you keep printing money? Inflation happens. What happens when you stop printing money? Stag-flation happens. Stag-flation is when people are not losing money, but they are not spending or investing it either. This causes businesses to fail, banks to become unable to loan to investors, and Wall Street to freeze, negatively affecting retirement accounts. What happens when the stimulus money runs out? Depression happens. So what do we do now boys and girls—keep borrowing from China? We’re currently partnering with India in an effort not to give China a total monopoly on all of our debt. Is that what Obama meant when he told Joe the Plumber we have to “spread the wealth around?”

I’ve got to be brutally honest about this one—I don’t have a clue where to begin. I don’t even have an uneducated guess. What I do have is a little bit of common sense. Why do Liberals think that spending more money we don’t have is the way out of this mess? History has shown time and time again that this approach only prolongs the inevitable. Unless you are FDR and have a world war that kills enough people to leave a void in the job market, things will not go well for a long, long time. Two years ago I had all the answers—just read any of my previous columns on economics. Now? Who knows! President Obama… I’m still waiting.

In January of 2010, Scott Brown defeated Martha Coakley in a landslide Senate election in the state of Massachusetts. This ended the democratic super majority and made the Republicans relevant again. How did he do it? How did a Republican win in the state that gave us JFK, Robert Kennedy, and Teddy? What does this election mean for the American people?

Let’s start with attitude. During questioning on Capital Hill, a democratic committee member asked Mr. Brown, “What makes you qualified to fill the Ted Kennedy seat in the United States Senate?” Mr. Brown prefaced his answer by stating, “It’s not the Ted Kennedy seat, it’s the people’s seat!” This brief statement extended his lead in the polls and sparked his stunning and overwhelming victory. For too long, Massachusetts has been ruled by anyone with a “D” after their name. Democrats thought they could run a convicted felon and there was no way they could lose, as long as she was a Democrat. How brazen is it to think that the Senate seat is some kind of right to the Democrats and that they could run someone that was convicted of corporate bank fraud? The President himself got his jab in by joking that being a United States Senator is not like driving a pick-up truck. Ummmm, so because Mr. Brown drives a pick-up truck he is not qualified to be a senator? I waited for the press to ask the President what he meant by that remark, but as usual they let me down. The President soon found out that attitude + karma = democratic panic and, oh yeah, a lot of people in Massachusetts drive pick-up trucks Mr. President!

So what does it all mean? President Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi thought they had two solid years to do whatever they wanted without republican filibuster or needing a single conservative vote. Oops! No one expected anyone to die in office and it’s always been believed that the Senate seat in Massachusetts is a gift from God down from heaven to anyone that worships the donkey. Not so anymore? Unfortunately, Scott Brown turned out to be a “RINO.” He has voted in lock step with the Dems on almost every ridiculous bill put forth by Obama to date. I originally wrote this column one week after the special election that Scott Brown won, but I did not want to post it until I had a voting record to back my opinion either way. I don’t mind at all that Senator Brown is not in lock step with the Republican side of politics. The question that makes my head hurt is, “How can a politician portray himself to have views that he clearly doesn’t believe in just to get votes?” The simple answer is: he’s a politician! Does that make it ok? Politics as usual? I am always preaching from my soap box to research a candidate’s voting record. If you’re a Conservative, that is the only way I can think of to avoid electing a “RINO.”

Poll after poll has shown that the American people most closely identify with the libertarian principals. Most seem to want smaller government that won’t interfere with day to day life. So why, after more than 10 years, has the Libertarian Party still never gained any real ground in the world of politics? Let’s begin with political infighting. The Libertarian Party can’t seem to come up with a cause that all of the candidates can agree on. Some want to focus on the war in Iraq. Others want to still stick with the illegal drug thing. Then there is the Fair Tax, which is the best way to reach the largest amount of people the quickest. With all these issues to choose from, why not just pick one and run with it?

The problem is not the issues, it’s the attitude. After Ross Perot was able to receive over 20 percent of the popular vote in 1992, third party candidates believed that they should always shoot for the stars and run for president right off the bat. They would fix the country in eight years and that’s it. Huh? How about starting from the beginning? If I were head of the Libertarian Party I would say, “Hey everyone, let’s all run for city council. Next, we will all run for mayor of a major metropolitan city. Then, decide if you want to be a governor or representative. Finally, who do you think would be best to run for president?”

The reason the party has never really gained a foothold in politics is that it is trying to do way too much, WAY too fast and get a lot of credit in between. You have to start from the ground up. When people hear the word Republican, Democrat, or even Independent, they know what it means. Had they done this back when Harry Browne was running, who knows how strong the party would be after 10 years. Until they figure out this principal they will always be “loser-tarians.”

The victims of Hurricane Katrina suffered an unbelievable hardship. Their homes were destroyed, all of their worldly possessions were lost, and over 2,000 people lost their lives. I had no problem seeing my tax dollars being spent on hotel rooms and FEMA trailers all over the southeastern United States. I’m happy to say that I’ve spoken to several people from the hardest hit areas that relocated here in Atlanta and most have found jobs, purchased homes, and resumed their lives. Then there are the “others.” The healthy, able-bodied, lazy people that stayed in the hotel rooms and FEMA trailers for years! The people that were given government issued credit cards meant for purchasing food and clothing that instead was used for alcohol and expensive accessories like handbags. Let me pause for a second to make a point… it was not hard for the government to trace these purchases and cut these people off, in case you were wondering. These were the same healthy, able-bodied, lazy people that, when Burger King and Starbucks offered $5,000 signing bonuses and were willing to pay $12 an hour to flip burgers and pour coffee, ignored the opportunity to go back home and work. Instead they stayed in the trailers and hotel rooms living off our tax dollars.

So at what point do liberals believe these people should be obligated to take care of themselves? When do we start kicking people off of welfare and other government entitlement programs? How many questions am I going to ask before I start answering them myself? I’ve often found that examples are usually better than preaching, so here goes. Somewhere along the line, we as a country decided that everyone is special and deserves “stuff” just because you can fog a mirror. The most negative societal example of this is reality television. No longer is talent necessary. No longer do you have to work hard for anything. Lazy people see reality television “stars” getting rich for being themselves and they see this as the way to go. Then along comes the Federal Government whenever there is a tragedy; taking care of everyone just because they can fog a mirror. Had they been working (real work) they could take care of themselves whenever there is a tragedy or just when life gets in the way. Am I my brother’s keeper? How about, “God helps those who help themselves”?