For the rest of the month of August we are lowering the price for a full case of canned cheese (36 cans) to $102.60.  That's the lowest price in the country.
Use Coupon Code MYCHS online to get the discount.  We only have 100 cases left ... and this newsletter goes to 6,060+ people, so order early!

http://www.internet-grocer.net/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=20

There are a lot of videos that follow.  Enjoy!  (Unsubscribe info is at the bottom of each email)

Best regards,
Bruce

One of my alert readers sent me a link to the Youtube broadcast of Glenn Beck's outlining of the Apollo
Alliance that I referred to in a previous newsletter. (Thanks, Dr. Jarrod W.!)

Take 7 minutes to view it ... and send it everywhere! America needs to know about this and wake up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80zzW6Osyhs



I'm not reproducing the article here, because I know all of you are not interested in the global-warming
(renamed "climate change" because there's been no warming the past decade) debate. You should be.  It's
this--and last--century's greatest hoax.  And if cap-and-trade is enacted, it will cost you dearly!
I urge you to read the following ... and pass it along:

Climate Revolt: World's Largest Science Group 'Startled' By Outpouring of Scientists Rejecting Man-Made
Climate Fears! Clamor for Editor to Be Removed!

See: http://www.climatedepot.com/a/2213/Climate-Revolt-Worlds-Largest-Science-Group-Startled-By-
Outpouring-of-Scientists-Rejecting-ManMade-Climate-Fears-Clamor-for-Editor-to-Be-Removed



I've mentioned before of the wisdom--IMO--of putting at least some of your assets into gold/silver. You
can even do that with your IRAs. My Lear Capital rep sent me a link to an 8 minute video--from MSNBC of
all places--that explains what happened last Fall with the Fed and the banks.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/276533

If you decide to move into gold/silver ... please tell Eric 'Bruce sent you'. He'll send me a referral
coin.

Eric Harding
Senior Account Representative

Lear Capital, Inc.
1990 S. Bundy Dr., Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90025 U.S.A.
800-576-9355, ext. 269




Obama, You Scare Me (by former exec of Proctor & Gamble) (This one's true.)

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/youscareme.asp



This *is* old news (It originally was supposed to air around election time ... and maybe I just missed
it), but it's definitely worth watching. It is INDEED, prophetic:

"To everyone who thought the special about Obama was going to be on Hannity. It was taken off. Here are
the segments. You better watch now before they are removed too.  
 
"Yes, the program was not aired Sunday ('08?) so it was googled and found the segments had been taken
off of the internet as well. Wonder who did this?  Wonder who blocked this?   Is this our NEW Government
"protecting" us?

"Here are the 6 segments:"

Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rthv8QmJLUw
 
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJNhKZh8mGY&feature=fvw

Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95XFUi8PrTs&feature=related

Part 4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl4twMf1xyM&feature=related

Part 5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKzFtKEysjw&feature=related

Part 6 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmEmRbRJFLU&feature=related



Healthcare INSANITY!

This is a YouTube video that was made of US Rep. Tom Price-6th Dist. on Wednesday.  Tom is a member of
the House Healthcare Committee, and the video was shot in the Wed. Committee meeting.  Please share this
with everyone you know....this healthcare legislation MUST be defeated. Tom has said that our
Constitution is being burned right before our very eyes.  We must, Democrats and Republicans alike, let
our "leaders" know that this plan is unacceptable.

There has to be a better way than a government takeover!  If the Government takes over, it will be one
of the most colossal blunders in the history of this Nation! 

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



I have just received an email from a friend who heard an interview on the Fred Thompson Show (7/16/09)
from a Patient Rights Advocate, Betsy McCaughey. When I checked it out (and you can hear it, yourself),
it chilled me to the bone.

You Must get into it and hear what she has to say!! She has read all 1400 pages of  the bill and points
out many things that you will be shocked at, including whether or not, at our age, there's any point of
having any medical care for certain conditions to help us live longer. You will not believe what she has
to say!

We must get the word out, because surely Obama and his administration don't want us to know what is
really going on, and they can ramrod this one through Congress just like they did the stimulus package:

http://fredthompsonshow.com/premiumstream?
dispid=320&headerDest=L3BnL2pzcC9tZWRpYS9mbGFzaHdlbGNvbWUuanNwP3BpZD03MzUxJnBsYXlsaXN0PXRydWUmY2hhcnR0eX
BlPWNoYXJ0JmNoYXJ0SUQ9MzIwJnBsYXlsaXN0U2l6ZT01



Powerful video of Rep. Tom Price on Obama "health care" plan:

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




AARP officials walk out of meeting, refuse questions concerning ObamaCare from angry seniors

AARP supports government-controlled health care!

August 7, 2009

Senior citizens who went to a meeting sponsored by AARP were left to themselves after the AARP hostess
walked out. The seniors were trying to get answers concerning ObamaCare and why AARP would support a
government-controlled health system that many believe would lead to euthanasia and rationing of health
care. Watch the video.  http://action.afa.net/videos/aarp/

Why would AARP, the nation's largest seniors group, supposedly working for the elderly, support an
ObamaCare bill? Here is what Dick Morris, former advisor to President Clinton, said: "The interest
groups that usually speak up for the elderly, particularly AARP, are in Obama's pocket, hoping to profit
from his program by becoming one of its vendors. Just as they backed Bush's prescription drug plan
because they anticipated profiting from it, so they are now helping Obama gut the medical care of their
constituents."

Like the National Education Association, AARP has been taken over by liberals. With millions of members,
AARP is using its clout to push ObamaCare on the elderly, even if it includes euthanasia. AARP supported
homosexual marriage by opposing Prop 8 in California.

• Send your e-mail to AARP. If you are a member, do what the lady in Dallas, and I, did -— cancel your
membership. AARP is going to use membership dues to help push ObamaCare.

• Forward this information to others so they can see how AARP is spending their dues in promoting
ObamaCare.

• American Seniors Association (ASA) is an alternative I suggest you check out. I think you'll be
pleased with what you see. Phyllis and I joined.  See http://www.americanseniors.org




Obama Birth Certificate Found?

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=105764




Islamic Sharia Law being practiced in Michigan. Keep silent, and this will be YOUR future:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEPod-hxD7g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLDck9RzLpo&feature=related



Letter read on the Glenn Beck Show:

We, the People, are Coming!

I'm a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential
election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views
or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views
or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or
representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me. There
must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that
you're willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask
yourself what my views and issues a re that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major
political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me?

Well, these are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:

One, illegal immigration. I want you to stop coddling illegal immigrants and secure our borders. Close
the underground tunnels. Stop the violence and the trafficking in drugs and people. No amnesty, not
again. Been there, done that, no resolution. P.S., I'm not a racist. This isn't to be confused with
legal immigration.

Two, the TARP bill, I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you no, but
you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze, repeal.

Three: Czars, I want the circumvention of our checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the czars.
No more czars. Government officials answer to the process, not to the president. Stop trampling on our
Constitution and honor it.

Four, cap and trade. The debate on global warming is not over.. There is more to say.

Five, universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don't you dare try to
pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!

Six, growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less
government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Mind your own business. You have enough to take care of
with your real obligations. Why don't you start there.

Seven, ACORN. I do not want ACORN and its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them
investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them every time on every real
estate deal that closes. Stop the funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audits and
investigations. I do not trust them with taking the census over with our taxpayer money. I don't trust
them with our taxpayer money. Face up to the allegations against them and get it resolved before
taxpayers get any more involved with them. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, hello. Stop
protecting your political buddies. You work for us, the people. Investigate.

Eight, redistribution of wealth. No, no, no. I work for my money. It is mine. I have always worked for
people with more money than I have because they gave me jobs. That is the only redistribution of wealth
that I will support. I never got a job from a poor person. Why do you want me to hate my employers? Why
-- what do you have against shareholders making a profit?

Nine, charitable contributions. Although I never got a job from a poor person, I have helped many in
need. Charity belongs in our local communities, where we know our needs best and can use our local
talent and our local resources. Butt out, please. We want to do it ourselves.

Ten, corporate bailouts. Knock it off. Sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead,
we'll be better off just getting into it and letting the strong survive. Quick and painful. Have you
ever ripped off a Band-Aid? We will pull together. Great things happen in America under great hardship.
Give us the chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.
Eleven, transparency and accountability. How about it? No, really, how about it? Let's have it. Let's
say we give the buzzwords a rest and have some straight honest talk. Please try -- please stop
manipulating and trying to appease me with clever wording. I am not the idiot you obviously take me for.
Stop sneaking around and meeting in back rooms making deals with your friends. It will only be a prelude
to your criminal investigation. Stop hiding things from me.

Twelve, unprecedented quick spending. Stop it now.

Take a breath. Listen to the people. Let's just slow down and get some input from some nonpoliticians on
the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed reading our bills into law. I am not an
activist. I am not a community organizer. Nor am I a terrorist, a militant or a violent person. I am a
parent and a grandparent. I work. I'm busy. I'm busy. I am busy, and I am tired. I thought we elected
competent people to take care of the business s of government so that we could work, raise our families,
pay our bills, have a little recreation, complain about taxes, endure our hardships, pursue our personal
goals, cut our lawn, wash our cars on the weekends and be responsible contributing members of society
and teach our children to be the same all while living in the home of the free and land of the brave.

I entrusted you with upholding the Constitution. I believed in the checks and balances to keep from
getting far off course. What happened? You are very far off course. Do you really think I find humor in
the hiring of a speed reader to unintelligently ramble all through a bill that you signed into law
without knowing what it contained? I do not. It is a mockery of the responsibility I have entrusted to
you. It is a slap in the face. I am not laughing at your arrogance. Why is it that I feel as if you
would not trust me to make a single decision about my own life and how I would live it but you should
expect that I should trust you with the debt that you have laid on all of us and our children. We did
not want the TARP bill. We said no. We would repeal it if we could. I am sure that we still cannot.

There is such urgency and recklessness in all of the recent spending.

From my perspective, it seems that all of you have gone insane. I also know that I am far from alone in
these feelings. Do you honestly feel that your current pursuits have merit to patriotic Americans? We
want it to stop. We want to put the brakes on everything that is being rushed by us and forced upon us.
We want our voice back. You have forced us to put our lives on hold to straighten out the mess that you
are making. We will have to give up our vacations, our time spent with our children, any relaxation time
we may have had and money we cannot afford to spend on you to bring our concerns to Washington. Our
president often knows all the right buzzword is unsustainable. Well, no kidding. How many tens of
thousands of dollars did the focus group cost to come up with that word? We don't want your overpriced
words. Stop treating us like we're morons.

We want all of you to stop focusing on your reelection and do the job we want done, not the job you want
done or the job your party wants done. You work for us and at this rate I guarantee you not for long
because we are coming. We will be heard and we will be represented. You think we're so busy with our
lives that we will never come for you? We are the formerly silent majority, all of us who quietly work ,
pay taxes, obey the law, vote, save money, keep our noses to the grindstone and we are now looking up at
you.. You have awakened us, the patriotic spirit so strong and so powerful that it had been sleeping too
long. You have pushed us too far. Our numbers are great. They may surprise you. For every one of us who
will be there, there will be hundreds more that could not come. Unlike you, we have their trust. We will
represent them honestly, rest assured. They will be at the polls on voting day to usher you out of
office. We have cancelled vacations. We will use our last few dollars saved. We will find the
representation among us and a grassroots campaign will flourish. We didn't ask for this fight. But the
gloves are coming off. We do not come in violence, but we are angry.. You will represent us or you will
be replaced with someone who will. There are candidates among us when he will rise like a Phoenix from
the ashes that you have made of our constitution.

Democrat, Republican, independent, libertarian. Understand this. We don't care. Political parties are
meaningless to us. Patriotic Americans are willing to do right by us and our Constitution and that is
all that matters to us now. We are going to fire all of you who abuse power and seek more. It is not
your power. It is ours and we want it back. We entrusted you with it and you abused it. You are
dishonorable. You are dishonest. As Americans we are ashamed of you. You have brought shame to us. If
you are not representing the wants and needs of your constituency loudly and consistently, in spite of
the objections of your party, you will be fired. Did you hear? We no longer care about your political
parties. You need to be loyal to us, not to them. Because we will get you fired and they will not save
you. If you do or can represent me, my issues, my views, please stand up. Make your identity known. You
need to make some noise about it. Speak up. I need to know who you are. If you do not speak up, you will
be herded out with the rest of the sheep and we will replace the whole damn congress if need be one by
one.. We are coming. Are we coming for you? Who do you represent? What do you represent? Listen. Because
we are coming. We the people are coming.



From Jon Christian Ryter:

"Here is the most complex, complete analysis of the Article II coverup;  Obama's role in the destruction
of America and the final steps in creating world government. (Warning, this will be the longest article
you've ever read on the Internet. Don't cut it short.  It took me two months to research and write it. 
When you finish it, you'll have a new understanding of the who, what, when, where, why and how...and
you'll pass this on to all of your friends who also like short articles.)"

http://www.jonchristianryter.com/2009/090802.html




From the American Thinker: Obama, Demolition Man

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/08/demolition_man_building_the_an.html




from http://www.marketskeptics.com/2009/07/us-govt-completely-out-of-wheat.html

Thursday, July 23, 2009
*****US Gov't Completely out of Wheat*****
by Eric deCarbonnel


Wednesday, July 23, 2008 (please note that this story is a year old)

US Gov't out of wheat. Completely.

Government Holdings of Wheat are at Zero
By Benjamin Gisin

IDAHO FALLS, ID - Quietly, the last of the U.S. government's wheat reserves, held in the Bill Emerson
Humanitarian Trust, were sold in late May onto the domestic market for cash. The cash was put in a trust
for food aid. With no other government wheat holdings, U.S. government wheat stocks are now totally
exhausted.

The following recent statements by Rebecca Bratter, director of policy for U.S. Wheat Associates,
provides insights:

"While U.S. wheat industry strongly supports the administration's goal of maintaining current food aid
programs to prevent rampant hunger worldwide, there is concern regarding the impact of selling reserve
wheat o­n the domestic market and over the lack of commitment from the administration to replenish the
Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust. U.S. Wheat Associates has shared these concerns with high officials at
USDA and o­n the President's staff and has asked about the Administration's intent regarding
replenishment of the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust.

Staff from the office of the President's Special Agricultural Assistant noted that while there is no
commitment at this time, the administration intends to replenish the Trust once the supply and price
scenario stabilizes." (Note: U.S. Wheat Associates works in 90 countries promoting U.S. wheat exports.)

The Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust was established in 1980 by an act of Congress and is authorized to
hold up to 4 million metric tons of wheat, corn, sorghum and rice as a reserve for global food crises.
The wheat is purchased and managed by the Commodity Credit Corporation and included in the total amount
of wheat owned and held by the U.S. government. Holdings by the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust for
corn, sorghum and rice are also zero.

For the decade of the '80s, government wheat holdings (including those in the Bill Emerson Humanitarian
Trust) averaged 358 million bushels. For the decade of the '90s, government wheat holdings averaged 133
million bushels. Since 2000, government wheat holdings dropped steadily until recently when the last of
the government-owned wheat was sold.

With no formal plan for wheat stocks by the U.S. government, wheat stocks have defaulted to the arena of
the private free-market sector. Unfortunately, the private sector has no plans for any kind of minimum
wheat stocks that would protect from a price and/or availability standpoint the American public.

Private wheat stocks are divided into two major categories — o­n-farm wheat stocks owned by farmers and
off-farm wheat stocks owned by warehouses and grain companies. These two together held 305.6 million
bushels of wheat as of June 1 — or roughly 1 bushel per person living in the United States — the lowest
level in 60 years.

Of these stocks, o­n-farm wheat stocks are at 25.6 million bushels, the lowest level of o­n-farm wheat
stocks since the USDA started keeping tabs back in 1934. So as you are driving in rural America before
wheat harvest, the farmer's bins have never been so empty.

The USDA, projects America to have a bumper wheat crop in 2008 — producing 2.43 billion bushels and
consuming and exporting 2.30 billion bushels. This leaves a meager 133 million bushels (5.5 percent of
production) as a margin for error. Globally, the USDA projects wheat production to be 24.36 billion
bushels, consumption to be 23.74 billion bushels for a relatively smaller margin of 622 million bushels
or 2.6 percent of production.

The recent wheat crises in America was sparked by the nation exporting more wheat than it produced. This
means the true 2008 wheat margin for Americans is really the global margin of 2.6 percent. Any decline
from global projections could precipitate greater wheat exports from America and further draw down
already low domestic and global wheat stocks.

Food security is emerging as a global focal point. With the U.S. government and the private sector
lacking visions for stocks, food security is poised to grow as a grass-roots issue around the nation.
The Infinite Unknown reports that the US has no remaining grain reserves.

The U.S. Has No Remaining Grain Reserves
Posted On June 10 Economy, Politics Add comments

WASHINGTON - Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), has raised concerns
over the issue of U.S. grain reserves after it was announced that the sale of 18.37 million bushels of
wheat from USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust.

"According to the May 1, 2008 CCC inventory report there are only 24.1 million bushels of wheat in
inventory, so after this sale there will be only 2.7 million bushels of wheat left the entire CCC
inventory," [As stated in article above, the US has no grain inventory left] warned Matlack. "Our
concern is not that we are using the remainder of our strategic grain reserves for humanitarian relief.
AAM fully supports the action and all humanitarian food relief.

Our concern is that the U.S. has nothing else in our emergency food pantry. There is no cheese, no
butter, no dry milk powder, no grains or anything else left in reserve.

The only thing left in the entire CCC inventory will be 2.7 million bushels of wheat which is about
enough wheat to make 1/2 of a loaf of bread for each of the 300 million people in America." [Nothing
left in CCC inventory]

The CCC is a federal government-owned and operated entity that was created to stabilize, support, and
protect farm income and prices. CCC is also supposed to maintain balanced and adequate supplies of
agricultural commodities and aids in their orderly distribution.

"This lack of emergency preparedness is the fault of the 1996 farm bill which eliminated the
government's grain reserves as well as the Farmer Owned Reserve (FOR)," explained Matlack. "We had hoped
to reinstate the FOR and a Strategic Energy Grain Reserve in the new farm bill, but the politics of food
defeated our efforts. As farmers it is our calling and purpose in life to feed our families, our
communities, our nation and a good part of the world, but we need better planning and coordination if we
are to meet that purpose. AAM pledges to continue our work for better farm policy which includes an FOR
and a Strategic Energy Grain Reserve."

AAM's support for the FOR program, which allows the grain to be stored on farms, is a key component to a
safe grain reserve in that the supplies will be decentralized in the event of some unforeseen calamity
which might befall the large grain storage terminals.

A Strategic Energy Grain Reserve is as crucial for the nation's domestic energy needs as the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve. AAM also supports full funding for the replenishment and expansion of Bill Emerson
Humanitarian Trust.

CCC Inventory numbers

The Farm Service Agency gives us current and past CCC inventory numbers.

Year      CCC Inventory

1975/76       0.4

1976/77       0.1

1977/78      19.0

1978/79      49.5

1979/80      50.1

1980/81     199.0

1981/82     194.0

1982/83     189.5

1983/84     311.7

1984/85     300.3

1985/86     456.9

1986/87     791.2

1987/88     708.6

1988/89     237.3

1989/90     162.4

1990/91     125.9

1991/92     160.8

1992/93     151.3

1993/94     150.2

1994/95     145.5

1995/96     140.6

1996/97     104.8

1997/98      93.1

1998/99     111.2

1999/00     121.0

2000/01     105.0

2001/02      97.0

2002/03      86.4

2003/04      61.8

2004/05      60.1

2005/06      49.0

2006/07      43.1

2007/08      37.6

2008/09         0

[Bruce says: Notice that we were best taken care of during the Reagan years...]



My reaction: The US government is completely out of wheat.

1) the last of the US government's wheat reserves, held in the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust, were
quietly sold in May 2008 onto the domestic market for cash.

2) US government wheat stocks are now totally exhausted.

3) The US has nothing else in our emergency food pantry. There is no cheese, no butter, no dry milk
powder, no grains or anything else left in reserve.

4) This lack of emergency preparedness is the fault of the 1996 farm bill which eliminated the
government's grain reserves as well as the Farmer Owned Reserve (FOR).

5) Government wheat holdings over time:

  A) Averaged 358 million bushels for the decade of the '80s.
  B) Averaged 133 million bushels for the decade of the '90s.
  C) Dropped steadily until zero in May 2008

6) With no formal plan for wheat stocks by the US government, wheat stocks have defaulted to the arena
of the private free-market sector

7) The private sector has no plans for any kind of minimum wheat stocks that would protect from a price
and/or availability standpoint the American public.

8) In July 2008, on-farm wheat stocks are at 25.6 million bushels, the lowest level of on-farm wheat
stocks since the USDA started keeping tabs back in 1934.

9) The recent wheat crisis in America was sparked by the nation exporting more wheat than it produced.

10) Any decline from global production could precipitate greater wheat exports from America wiping out
already low domestic wheat stocks.

Conclusion: The US has done the same thing to wheat as it has to gold (though perhaps to a lesser
degree). Since 1987, the US has sold nearly 800 million bushels of wheat, emptying its reserves. These
sales, besides making the US vulnerable to a food crisis, have depressed wheat prices below what they
would otherwise have been.



Biting the Bullet on Expenses

The President just ordered the cabinet to cut a whopping $100 million from
the $3.5 trillion federal budget!

I'm so impressed by this sacrifice that I have decided to do the same thing with
my personal budget.

If I spend about $2000 a month on groceries, medicine, bills, etc, it's time to get
out the budget cutting ax, go line by line through my
expenses, and go to work.

I'm going to cut my spending at exactly the same ratio -1/35,000 of my total budget.

After doing the math, it looks like instead of spending $2000 a month; I'm going
to have to cut that number by six cents!

Yes, I'm going to have to get by with $1999.94, but that's what sacrifice is
 all about.

I'll just have to do without some things, that are, frankly, luxuries.



$100,000 Reward for Proof that Obama is a Bona Fide American (no takers, yet...):

http://silverstockreport.com/2009/obama-reward.html


The Post Turtle

While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year old rancher, who's hand was caught in the gate while
working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man.  Eventually the topic got around
to Obama.

The old rancher said, 'Well, ya know, Obama is a 'Post Turtle''..
Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him, what a 'post turtle' was.

The old rancher said, 'When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a
turtle balanced on top, that's a 'post turtle'.

The old rancher saw the puzzled look on the doctor's face so he continued to explain. 'You know he
didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while he's up
there, and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put him up there to begin with'.