Senator Harri Anne Smith,29th District (Dale, Geneva, Houston ) is for the people, so she is for the right to vote, yeh or neh.  Go Harri Anne!

Well, I’m not shocked, nor am I angry.  I’m really sad.  Sad to be represented by “some” (not all) of the most judgmental and hypocritical State Representatives of our generation.  This is an excerpt from the “Birmingham News” and my comments in Bold.

The state Senate on Wednesday rejected the “Sweet Home Alabama” plan that would have let voters decide whether to allow electronic bingo at 10 casinos statewide.   “I’m not against the people voting. I’m against them having to vote on something that’s horrible,” French said. “If it were a good bill, I could vote to let them vote.”

Did you understand what was being said here?  He thinks he has the right to play God with what we should have the right to vote for?  Or did he say, he feels this bill is morally not a good thing and therefore, we should not be tempted with a moral issue to vote on?  Who is he to determine that for us?  He is suppose to be working for the people and giving us choices that are a major concern to and of the people of Alabama.

I still want to know why they allowed these establishments to obtain business licenses to operate and employ thousands and then snatch their jobs away without any regard as to their well being.  Shouldn’t they have shut them down before allowing them to spend millions of dollars?  Country Crossing’s Attorneys investigated the laws regarding this issue before deciding to go forward with a land acquisition to build their facility.  But now the State has shut down the business and unemployed all these people who thought they had a future, and the state will not give Country Crossing and Houston County, Alabama a court date to prove their findings for starting this Resort/Bingo Privillion.

Back to comments reported by some of our State Senators according to the Birmingham News:

Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, said he would be surprised if gambling proponents didn’t try to switch some votes and try again to get Bedford’s bill passed. “There are a lot of very powerful interests pushing that train,” he said.

Obviously not as powerful as the majority vote by the State of Alabama Legislature. Their opinions are obviously more powerful than the majority of opinions of the PEOPLE of this State.

The Legislative Fiscal Office estimated taxes on electronic bingo under Bedford’s bill would raise about $215 million a year for state and local governments. “We need the hundreds of millions of dollars that bingo would bring to this state,” said Barron.  Waggoner said restricting competition probably would indirectly help the Indian-run casinos, but that wasn’t the motive of opponents of Bedford’s bill. “Alabama has nothing to do with the Indian casinos. That’s a federal issue,” he said.

I wonder if any other State in this Country allows the Indians to do what they please, when they please, while telling the White Man he can’t do the same thing.

The saga still continues as hopes of a change of heart comes with the Representatives finally coming to their senses as to the benefits ($$$ for charities and taxation to local and State governments) of the reopening of the existing facilities could far out way the reason for their selfish decision.

Written by: Jan Renae

Anyone else have an opinion?  Write me at janrenae@dothanalabamamall.com and I’ll post it on this website!

GoDaddy.com’s founder Bob Parson’s has an interesting approach to life in general, but his business rules for success speak for themselves.  What do you think?

1.Get and stay out of your comfort zone.
I believe that not much happens of any significance when we’re in our comfort zone.  I hear people say, “But I’m concerned about security.”  My response to that is simple: “Security is for cadavers.”

2. Never give up.
Almost nothing works the first time it’s attempted.  Just because what you’re doing does not seem to be working, doesn’t mean it won’t work.  It just means that it might not work the way you’re doing it.  If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and you wouldn’t have an opportunity.

3. When you’re ready to quit, you’re closer than you think.
There’s an old Chinese saying that I just love, and I believe it is so true.  It goes like this: “The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.”

4. With regard to whatever worries you, not only accept the worst thing that could happen, but make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be.

Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of “undefined consequences.”  My father would tell me early on, when I was struggling and losing my shirt trying to get Parsons Technology going, “Well, Robert, if it doesn’t work, they can’t eat you.”

Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of “undefined consequences.”  My father would tell me early on, when I was struggling and losing my shirt trying to get Parsons Technology going, “Well, Robert, if it doesn’t work, they can’t eat you.”

5. Focus on what you want to have happen.

Remember that old saying, “As you think, so shall you be.”

6. Take things a day at a time.

No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don’t look too far into the future, and focus on the present moment.  You can get through anything one day at a time.

7.  Always be moving forward.

Never stop investing.  Never stop improving.  Never stop doing something new.  The moment you stop improving your organization, it starts to die.  Make it your goal to be better each and every day, in some small way.  Remember the Japanese concept of Kaizen.  Small daily improvements eventually result in huge advantages.

8.  Be quick to decide.

Remember what General George S. Patton said: “A good plan violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow.”

9. Measure everything of significance.

I swear this is true.  Anything that is measured and watched, improves.

10. Anything that is not managed will deteriorate.

If you want to uncover problems you don’t know about, take a few moments and look closely at the areas you haven’t examined for a while.  I guarantee you problems will be there.

11.  Pay attention to your competitors, but pay more attention to what you’re doing.

When you look at your competitors, remember that everything looks perfect at a distance. Even the planet Earth, if you get far enough into space, looks like a peaceful place.

12. Never let anybody push you around.

In our society, with our laws and even playing field, you have just as much right to what you’re doing as anyone else, provided that what you’re doing is legal.

13.  Never expect life to be fair.

Life isn’t fair.  You make your own breaks.  You’ll be doing good if the only meaning fair has to you, is something that you pay when you get on a bus (i.e., fare).

14.  Solve your own problems.

You’ll find that by coming up with your own solutions, you’ll develop a competitive edge.  Masura Ibuka, the co-founder of SONY, said it best: “You never succeed in technology, business, or anything by following the others.”  There’s also an old Asian saying that I remind myself of frequently.  It goes like this: “A wise man keeps his own counsel.”

15. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

Lighten up.  Often, at least half of what we accomplish is due to luck. None of us are in control as much as we like to think we are.

Drumrole……………………and #16.

There’s always a reason to smile.

Find it.  After all, you’re really lucky just to be alive.  Life is short.  More and more, I agree with my little brother. He always reminds me: “We’re not here for a long time, we’re here for a good time!”

JOIN US ONE AND ALL………….PROMOTE A PRODUCTIVE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE WITH THE NO CUSSING CLUB OF THE WIREGRASS AREA!  I challenge all schools of the Wiregrass to start a group to promote a great way to help others.

Here’s How! Just Google the “No Cussing Club” and go to their website!  It’s easy to become a member and and it’s free!  Lets get together to organize a great way to encourage others to become more “wordly” with our language.  You can also order a t-shirt like the one below to support our efforts!

Also, once your a member you can print your challenge certificate and post it in your room or your classroom to get the teacher and your fellow students involved.  Be a leader, and start a new revolution against profanity and violence!  Start with www.nocussingclub.com and of course DothanAlabamaMall.com!

Their is more to come later! Till then, email me at janrenae@dothanalabamamall.com for your ideas as to how you can help in your area.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!  After a long search for my “cause” to promote on this website  I’ve finally found it.  But I’m not going to share it with you until the next BLOG.  www.DothanAlabamaMall.com was created to represent all of you, the people, churches, and for the businesses who make up the economic development of our ancestors (and God) have allowed us to be a part of.  In order to do my part in helping others, I want to promote prosperity and ethics in our society.  We have to start with our own ethics and how we can touch a child or any other person who needs kinder words.  I want to hear from you and what your thoughts are as to how we can change the way we think.  Use the comment area below to write me about your ideas.

Although I’ve never been blessed with children, I’ve been on a mission all my life to find my “purpose” because I haven’t birthed a child.  No, I’m not going to start a pity poor me party, believe me.  I have never been at a point in my life where I’ve had an intense desire to birth a child.  But yes, I’ve mothered a few.  I’ve  have been blessed with children in my life that have brought me joy by being a Stepmom while helping to raise them with their father or, by just being a influence in their life by being friends with the thier parents.  We are all human.  We all make mistakes.  Sometimes we just need to be aware of them.

When you where a child didn’t you want or need assistance with your homework?  Didn’t you watch your elders and how they carried themselves?   Where your parents more concerned with their “world” to bother with yours?  Did they say, “I love you”, or put you to bed at night to make you feel safe?   Whether or not you said yes or no to these questions, you are not alone; because like I said, we are all human.

Everyday, we all have a chance to make a difference in another person’s life.  Let’s start by watching the video link below that links to YouTube’s Moderator on Barrack Obama’s logical thinking on parenting.  Use your browser to come back to this page and click to on the next blog t0 find out what my next Project will be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frtwrLfPne4

OK, I’ve kept quiet long enough!!!!!!!  After watching from a distance…..reading from local, state and regional newspapers and online, I’ve decided enough is enough…….so here it goes……

January 14, 2009

Actions speak louder than words.

Our elected official, Governor Bob Riley of the State of Alabama;  the same State of Alabama that gave “Country Crossing” the license to operate a business AND to open the doors of  the “Bingo Pavilion” of  “Country Crossing“, has gone to far.  Before the land acquisition and then the purchase of the property for the development,  Governor Bob Riley’s visited our city and his comments where,” he supported any entertainment within the law of the State of Alabama and would, AFTER they opened, visit the facility and determine if the gaming machines are illegal or not.”  WHAT?  I would think.  AFTER?   Did he just say, “spend your money first and then we will try and shut you down?”

This is the same Governor of Alabama (”along with Alabama Law”) that has allowed recent openings in the State, and who supports the gaming of the existing, self proclaimed “CASINO’S“, that are open in the State of Alabama.   All the while these “CASINO’S” (as they call themselves), are advertising on our local television stations such as Channel 4, our local FOX Channel and Channel 18, here in Dothan, Alabama.   My Point? You ask.  This morning, January 14, 2010, while watching the news on WTVY (channel 4) and listening to the story about how a group stemming from the “Citizens for a Better Alabama” came together Wednesday afternoon on the steps of the State House to let the public know they are against gambling.   Then, “low and behold“, a commercial for the “CASINO” in Atmore, ALABAMA is graciously inviting our citizens (in Houston County) to their facility to gamble in their “CASINO“!

“Country Crossing’s” local “BINGO PAVILION“, as it is called here in Houston County, Alabama, has yet to advertise on our local television stations.   They are getting enough local advertising through our local and state newscast’s at 6: a.m., 12: p.m. and again at 6 and 10 p.m. at night!  Hey, Governor, while your telling people you don’t allow gambling in the State of Alabama, why don’t you go ahead and tell the “CASINO’S in the State of Alabama that they can’t advertise on our State’s television station’s because the State of Alabama doesn’t allow gambling.

This is the same Governor of Alabama that has allowed cut’s to our education system here in the entire State of Alabama.  Governor Bob Riley cut the educational budget where it is needed most.  He’s allowed his own agenda’s to become more important than our teacher’s salaries, and the needed funding to accommodate the needs of the educational building and remodeling funds that are desperately needed along with other extra curricular facilities to create awareness of the world around us.  He put’s our children of the State of Alabama on the back burner because he has to fund his task force to fight illegal gambling in the State of Alabama.   This is what he feels our taxes would be better spent on and I’m sure in other agenda’s that we never hear about.  All we know is that our schools and our unemployed, are not worth his generosity.

This is the same Governor Riley of Alabama who is heavily opposed to gambling. So much so that he had founded the Governor’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling, after the announcement in November 2008 of the location of Country Crossing to be in Houston County, Alabama.  Not before.  On January 6th, 2010 the task force was set to raid the Dothan Bingo Pavilion under the “pretext” that the games did not fit the law separating bingo machines from slot machines.  Over three dozen state troopers were said to have congregated before daybreak on the Wednesday (before the Thursday of the SEC Championship game) close to Country Crossing’s location,  ready to bring your threats to a close, your way.  Calling Country Crossing a unlawful “Casino”.   But, according to the law of Alabama, should be called a “Bingo Pavilion” because it meets the requirements of the State.   Our Local government had to step in of course (as they are known to do when they feel it’s needed), causing the power’s that be, (local vs. state officials) to swap threats with power.  The local officials came out on top. The local officials had taken the initiative, going to the home of a judge just after midnight. The judge signed an order to stop the raid, an order that was personally delivered by Houston County Commissioner Mark Culver at the location of the Task Force.

This is the same Governor Bob Riley who was in California (during this planned raid) along with other Alabama Economic consultants during the SEC Championship football game about to be televised on National Television.  All this to promote Alabama Economic Development.  All the while having his sharks here in Houson, County, ALABAMA to embarrass and destroy the economic development going on right here in his own State?  What’s up with that?   Our machines have bingo cards on them just like other’s in the State.  You have to change the number’s on the card’s in order to be a winner of a BINGO!  Our local “Privilion” just pay’s out more than regular “Bingo” games.

Governor Riley, we are tired of your wishy washy governing tactics!  We are tired of you not paying attention to the citizens, including our children of the State of Alabama.  So what if the County of Houston, Alabama decided to use the laws of the State of Alabama to better educate our children (building a library) and further employment opportunities with our own economic development that is obviously legal, because the State of Alabama gave it a “Business License” to do so.   You certainly have not tried to help our communities.  Also, you have used your position to say, “this casino can be in business, but this “bingo pavilion” can not be in business.”  You are using your “power” to threaten and misinterpret the laws of the State of Alabama by allowing other gaming facilities to operate and give absolutely nothing back (other than jobs) to the communities that they reside in.

This is why are we upset.  We are upset that you are also using YOUR power’s and some of OUR state taxes, to raid a facility who just gave $1.8 million dollars (in one month’s business) back to the County of Houston, which it resides in.  Our County,  Houston County of ALABAMA, Governor.   We want to know who Atmore, ALABAMA and the other self proclaimed “CASINO’S”  in Alabama are giving back to……., well?  What’s up with this picture?

It seems to me and thousands of others that you wanted “Country Crossing” developers to spend millions to facilitate this deal and build this facility so you could come in and be the big hero and RAID it.  Shame on you!  Why didn’t you work with them from the beginning and see what kind of machines they were going to be using before the land acquisition.  You were invited, remember………oh, yeah, that’s right…….you wanted to be a hero, so you didn’t cooperate.  That would have been too honorable and easy.  You didn’t want to fight the battle then, why now and why so dishonorable?

As I said:  Actions speak louder than Words, Governor.  I can’t wait till election time!

Written by: Jan Renae Walding in support of Equal Rights and Fair Opportunity!

FARMER’S HOME FURNISHINGS

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This offer is valid at the Dothan, Alabama Store Only!! Come in and check us out.

Mention this ad on www.DothanAlabamaMall.com and recieve

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Today, Farmers Home Furniture is one of the top 100 furniture companies in the country and one of the largest privately owned companies based in Georgia. We are committed to providing our customers with the best possible service and selection – that’s why we tailor each store to it’s town, matching product selection to the customers.

Each location is committed to providing customers high-quality name brand merchandise along with superior service. By growing our business one customer relationship at a time, Farmers Home Furniture has earned generations of repeat buyers. We want to keep our customers, and employees, for life – so we are there every step of the way.

Contact your Dothan, Alabama Farmer’s Home Furnishing Location today!

Directions: Corner of Ross Clark Circle and Denton Road, Just Northeast of  Bondy’s Ford.

3781 Ross Clark Circle

Dothan Alabama 36303

334-671-0165.

Prevention is better than cure and GetSafeOnline.org can help. This is just a high-level overview, but the site has detailed advice that will explain it all.

Why You Should Use a REALTOR® to Purchase a Home

Buying a home is a major decision. Before you begin your search, find a professional who will be a trusted adviser during one of the most personal, exciting, and, at times, stressful experiences of your life. A REALTOR®, with some basic financial information, can help to determine your buying power and borrowing capacity and can focus your search on homes that fit your needs and are within your financial reach. After your buying power is evaluated, a REALTOR® can help you to understand financing options and identify qualified lenders. Real estate professionals have the resources to find the homes available in a wide range of neighborhoods. They are also an excellent source for general information about the community as well as specific information about schools, utilities, and zoning.

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A REALTOR® is the best-qualified person to objectively resolve issues that arise during the process and move the transaction to closing.

Whether buying or selling your home, the use of a REALTOR®’s knowledge can guide you through the complexity of home buying or selling and can help you avoid delays or costly mistakes. Keep in mind that most people buy and sell only a few homes in their lifetime – REALTORS® do it everyday.

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If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with someone who speaks that language. REALTORS® have done it before. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. And even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. That’s why having an expert on your side is critical. REALTORS® provide objectivity. Since a home often symbolizes family, rest, and security, not just four walls and roof, home selling or buying is often a very emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you keep focused on both the business and emotional issues most important to you.

REALTORS® are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, a trade organization of more than 1 million members nationwide. REALTORS® subscribe to a stringent code of ethics that helps guarantee the highest level of service and integrity.

REALTORS® in your area are listed here.

The problem is that over the last century, we humans have been releasing more and more carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere when we burn fuels and cut down forests. These additional gases have upset the natural balance of our atmosphere, trapping more heat than is healthy for the Earth.

The result is human-caused global warming, which brings serious threats from increased flooding to the spread of disease to the disruption of agriculture in many parts of the world.