Thomas Jefferson said in 1802: "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies."

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."-- Thomas Jefferson

"When in danger or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout." .... jbd

"When once a job you have begun, do no stop till it is done. Whether the task be great or small, do it well, or not at all." .... Anon

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

Television is one daylong commercial interrupted periodically by inept attempts to fill the airspace in between them.

If you can't start a fire, perhaps your wood is wet ....

When you elect clowns, expect a circus ..............




Sunday, July 31, 2011

Sunday evening Ramblings

I was born in 1932, have lived through and aware of the late 30's  and all of the 40's. There have been a number of TV shows on recently on the "Rise of the Third Reich."

I have always wondered how so many people could "look the other way" during those years, and not be aware of all that was happening in Germany. I'm sure that some questioned the policies, and probably were "dealt" with. But, how, can a whole country, turn their heads, and not look at what was going on.

They were mislead by their leaders, the media, their education system, it was all a diabolical plan to have people see and believe, in what those in charge, wanted them to see and believe in. When they saw, they looked the other way, when they heard, they only listened to what they were supposed to hear. Perhaps they were content and didn't want to believe.

How, could that have happened.

Could that somewhat be happening here and now, in this country. Are we gradually losing our rights and our freedoms? I know that I, for one, feel that our country is not the same as it once was.

I watched an old documentary on TV today, probably from the 40's or 50's ... a brief pictorial picture of our country, from the Pilgrims, the Indians, ( I must admit I am not sure if the Indians got a fair shake or not)Washington, Lincoln, a few wars, our "Nations Pride." I don't know that I feel that pride or not, anymore, what we once had, we no longer have.

What we once were proud of, has diminished. Our government has forsaken us. ALL politicians now, only have their best interest at heart. To me, the word "politician" congers up many thoughts, none of which are admirable.

The Marine Corp needed "a few good men," we, as a nation, need a few good men to  enter the field of politics, have not seen ANY come forward yet.

Peyton Manning now gets 90 MILLION

OK, 90 million for 5 years @ 16 games per year = 80 Games

80 Games = $1,125,000 per game = 60 Minutes per game = $18,750 PER MINUTE

Am I figuring wrong here, just doesn't seem like anyone is worth that much, especially just to play a game on a Sunday Afternoon. Wonder how many homeless, out of work and hungry people there are in Indianapolis? What could they do with a "minute" of his time.

Something is wrong ........

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Danziger Cartoon

Apple has more cash than the federal government

By Chris Moody

As the BBC has reported, the software company Apple has more cash on hand than the United States federal government, according to the company's financial records.

Apple's quarterly financial report shows that the company responsible for the iPad, iPod and the iPhone now has $76.4 billion in reserve cash, while the Treasury Department is sitting on just $73.7 billion.

The feds could probably learn a thing or two from Apple's success. Congress remains embroiled in a debate over spending and whether the federal government, which currently owes trillions in debt, should be allowed to borrow even more. International credit rating agencies have threatened to downgrade the national debt for the first time in the nation's history if Washington doesn't come up with a solution to lift the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling while implementing a concrete plan to get the nation's financial house in order.

Meanwhile, Apple's financial report shows that the company's profits, even through the last recession, are booming.

Friday, July 29, 2011

A Good Lesson Learned

A toothpaste factory had a problem: they sometimes shipped empty boxes, without the tube inside. This was due to the way the production line was set up, and people with experience in designing production lines will tell you how difficult it is to have everything happen with timings so precise that every single unit coming out of it is perfect 100% of the time. Small variations in the environment (which can’t be controlled in a cost-effective fashion) mean you must have quality assurance checks smartly distributed across the line so that customers all the way down the supermarket don’t get upset and buy someone else’s product instead.


Understanding how important that was, the CEO of the toothpaste factory got the top people in the company together and they decided to start a new project, in which they would hire an external engineering company to solve their empty boxes problem, as their engineering department was already too stretched to take on any extra effort.

The project followed the usual process: budget and project sponsor allocated, RFP, third-parties selected, and six months (and $8 million) later they had a fantastic solution — on time, on budget, high quality and everyone in the project had a great time. They solved the problem by using some high-tech precision scales that would sound a bell and flash lights whenever a toothpaste box weighing less than it should. The line would stop, and someone had to walk over and yank the defective box out of it, pressing another button when done.

A while later, the CEO decides to have a look at the ROI of the project: amazing results! No empty boxes ever shipped out of the factory after the scales were put in place. Very few customer complaints, and they were gaining market share. “That’s some money well spent!” – he says, before looking closely at the other statistics in the report.

It turns out, the number of defects picked up by the scales was 0 after three weeks of production use. It should’ve been picking up at least a dozen a day, so maybe there was something wrong with the report. He filed a bug against it, and after some investigation, the engineers come back saying the report was actually correct. The scales really weren’t picking up any defects, because all boxes that got to that point in the conveyor belt were good.

Puzzled, the CEO travels down to the factory, and walks up to the part of the line where the precision scales were installed. A few feet before it, there was a $20 desk fan, blowing the empty boxes off of the belt and into a bin. “Oh, that — one of the guys put it there ’cause he was tired of walking over every time the bell rang”, says one of the workers.

SOMETIMES IT'S BETTER TO WORK WITH A LAZY PERSON THAN AN ENGINEER.

A Letter to the President ..................

Dear President Obama:


I heard you say you will not guarantee SS checks if the debt ceiling isn't raised.

Why is it the scare always has to do with SS, Medicare, & our Soldiers pay?

Why not stop your pay, your staff, or Congress and the Senate to save more money for our country?

Why use Seniors, Soldiers, & our Needy as examples?

Take the money from those who take no risks and reap the benefits!!

Instead of threatening to withhold Social Security, VA and disability payments of people who really need the money....

Lets hold the paychecks of all house & senate members, then see how fast they resolve the debt ceiling crisis and forfeit your salary & expense accounts.

If you agree, forward this blog, let's keep it going until someone in Washington hears US.
 
Thanks..................

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Cultural Differences!!!

On a chain of beautiful deserted islands in the middle of South Pacific, the following people are stranded:

Two Italian men and one Italian woman.
Two French men and one French woman.
Two German men and one German woman.
Two Greek men and one Greek woman.
Two British men and one British woman.
Two Bulgarian men and one Bulgarian woman.
Two Japanese men and one Japanese woman.
Two Chinese men and one Chinese woman.
Two Irish men and one Irish woman.
Two American men and one American woman.

One month later, on these absolutely stunning deserted islands in the middle of nowhere, the following things have occurred:

One Italian man killed the other Italian man for the Italian woman.

The two French men and the French woman are living happily together in a menage a trois.

The two German men have a strict weekly schedule of alternating visits with the German woman.

The two Greek men are sleeping together and the Greek woman is cooking and cleaning for them.

The two British men are waiting for someone to introduce them to the British woman.

The two Bulgarian men took one look at the Bulgarian woman and started swimming to another island..

The two Japanese have faxed Tokyo and are awaiting instructions.

The two Chinese men have set up a pharmacy, liquor store, restaurant, and laundry, and have gotten the woman pregnant in order to supply more employees for their stores.

The two Irish men divided the island into north and south and set up a distillery. They do not remember if sex is in the picture because it gets somewhat foggy after a few pints of coconut whisky. However, they are satisfied because the British are not having any fun..

The two American men are contemplating suicide, because the American woman will not shut up and complains relentlessly about her body, the true nature of feminism, what the sun is doing to her skin, how she can do anything they can do, the necessity of fulfillment, the equal division of household chores, how sand and palm trees make her look fat, how her last boyfriend respected her opinion and treated her nicer than they do, and how her relationship with her mother is the root cause of all her problems, and why didn't they bring a damn cell phone so they could call 911 and get them all rescued off this god forsaken deserted island in the middle of freaking nowhere so she can get her nails done and go shopping.

A NOTE to Congress

DEAR CONGRESS:

Last year I mismanaged my funds and this year my family and I cannot decide on a budget.

Until we have come to a unified decision that fits all of our needs and interests we will have to shut down our checkbook and will no longer be able to pay our taxes.

I'm sure you'll understand.

Thank you very much for setting an example we can follow.

Monday, July 25, 2011

WRONG, WRONG, WRONG ............

At a hastily convened news conference Friday evening, President Obama offered his explanation of why debt negotiations with House Speaker John Boehner fizzled, and he once again raised the specter of entitlement checks not going out if the debt ceiling isn’t raised soon.


“Well, when it comes to all the checks, not just Social Security — veterans, people with disabilities — about 70 million checks are sent out each month — if we default then we’re going to have to make adjustments. And I’m already consulting with (Treasury) Secretary (Tim) Geithner in terms of what the consequences would be,” Obama said.


“We should not even be in that kind of scenario. And if Congress — and in particular, the House Republicans — are not willing to make sure that we avoid default, then I think it’s fair to say that they would have to take responsibility for whatever problems arise in those payments.”


In the next breath, Obama said he’s “not interested in finger-pointing and I’m not interested in blame, but I just want the facts to speak for themselves.”

WRONG, WRONG, WRONG ............
THE BLAME IS AT THE TOP .................. THE LEADER

If a ship has a problem, the CAPTAIN is to blame .............
WHO gets fired when a team is losing ........... the top man, THE MANAGER
The LEADER is to blame ....

WE DO NOT have a LEADER in the country at this time, we had a politician, running for election, a man looking for friends, a man who wants to be adored

This country is on a "runaway" rollercoaster, gaining momentum all the time, gaining speed all the time. NO ONE is in control of the coaster, and if SOMEONE doesn't take control of the coaster, it is going to  speed into a curve, jump the rails, and be destroyed.

The Tomato Garden

An old Italian lived alone in New Jersey . He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

Dear Vincent,
I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.
Love, Papa

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

Dear Pop,
Don't dig up that garden. That's where the bodies are buried.
Love, Vinnie

At 4 a.m. The next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.

That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

Dear Pop,
Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you,
Vinnie

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Good Idea .........

Sally: "Hey, Mom, I'm bored!"

Mom: "Go open some Oreos and carve your profile in the filling."


A worried cat.............

Have they settled their budget differences yet?

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Cute story

An old man and woman were married for many years, even though they hated each other. Whenever there was a confrontation, yelling could be heard deep into the night. The old man would shout, 'When I die, I will dig my way up and out of the grave and come back and haunt you for the rest of your life!'


Neighbours feared him. They believed he practiced magic, because of the many strange occurrences that took place in their neighbourhood. The old man liked the fact that he was feared. ---To every one's relief, he died of a heart attack when he was 98.

His wife had a closed casket at the wake. After the burial, she went straight to the local bar and began to party, as if there was no tomorrow.

Her neighbours, concerned for her safety, asked, 'Aren't you afraid that he may indeed be able to dig his way out of the grave and haunt you for the rest of your life?'

The wife put down her drink and said, 'Let him dig. I had him buried upside down. And you know men won't ask for directions.'

Friday, July 22, 2011

Nuff said.....................

This Doesn't Often Happen .............

Got an Email this afternoon, from Satan ..................

He said he wants his weather back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

NEWS FLASH - NEWS FLASH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

In the wake of Bin Laden's death, Radical Muslims have gone on a rampage in Southern California, killing anyone who's a legal US citizen.


Police fear the death toll could be as high as 2.



I will keep you posted on future developments.

Some TIPS from 1st Response

Fans and Ceiling Fans
     If you’re looking for ways to beat the heat, a ceiling fan can be a great investment for your home. This one appliance can make a room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler, and even the most power-hungry fan costs less than $10 a month to use if you keep it on for 12 hours a day. Good fans make it possible for you to raise your thermostat setting and save on air-conditioning costs. Fans don’t use much energy, but when air is circulating, it feels much cooler. Ceiling fans are best, but a good portable fan can be very effective as well.
      You should remember that even mild air movement of 1 mph can make you feel three or four degrees cooler. Also make sure your ceiling fan is turned for summer – you should feel the air blown downward.
Shades, drapes, or blinds
     Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun (east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon) to keep the sun’s heat out and help fans or air conditioners cool more efficiently. Always remember that the best way to keep your home cool is to keep the heat out.
Internal Heat
     The most common sources of internal heat gain are; appliances, electronic devices, and lighting. Be aware from where the heat is comming. Now if you have air conditioning, use it wisely. Don’t put lamps, televisions or other heat-generating appliances next to your air-conditioning thermostat, because the heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer. The heat they produce will make it think your house is warmer than it really is, and your system will run harder than it needs to.
     Unless you absolutely need them, turn off incandescent lights and heat-generating appliances. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents; they produce the same light but use a fifth the energy and heat.
     You should also try to avoid heat-generating activities, such as cooking, on hot days or during the hottest part of the day. If you are cooking, use your range fan to vent the hot air out of your house. By reducing the amount of heat in your home, you will have to use less energy to cool it.
Other things to remember
     Humidity makes room air feel warmer, so reduce indoor humidity. Minimize mid-day washing and drying clothes, showering, and cooking. And when you must do these things, turn on ventilating fans to help extract warm, moist air.
     Avoid landscaping with lots of unshaded rock, cement, or asphalt on the south or west sides because it increases the temperature around the house and radiates heat to the house after the sun has set.
     If the attic isn’t already insulated or is under-insulated, insulate it NOW. Upgrading from 3 inches to 12 inches can cut cooling costs by 10 percent.

Link to 1st Response Website

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Pro Football Hall of Fame’s statement regarding cancellation of NFL/Hall of Fame Game

While the Pro Football Hall of Fame is disappointed by the news that the NFL/Hall of Fame Game will not be played, we appreciate the effort that was made on our behalf by the league and players right up until the last minute.

Although the game is an important part of the 10-day, 18-event Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, it is important to remember that the most important event is the Enshrinement Ceremony which will be held on Saturday night August 6 as scheduled.

Obviously, the loss of this year’s game will have a significant adverse economic impact on the Hall of Fame and the Canton community. We believe, however, that the long-term stability this new agreement will provide will be beneficial not only to the league and the players, but to the fans and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Recent Comments

The players and the owners should be ashamed. They both had plenty of time to get the CBA agreed upon and sign in time to save the HOF game. I'm attending for the 1st and probably the last time. I feel sorry for the inductees. The game on Sunday would have been a fitting end to a HOF career. You selfish b------s!!!!

I was afraid of this game being cancelled by the NFL. I had purchased game tickets even before the teams were announced. Then when they announced the Rams were playing, I was ecstatic. I've been going to Canton every other year since 2001 for just the Enshrinment Ceremony and the game. With the economy still being slow it doesn't make sense to fly from Miami just to go to the Ceremony. I'm very upset, but that's life. I was looking forward to seeing the Rams play and greeting Marshall and his friends from the Greatest Show on Turf. Oh well, congratulations to all, and especially to Marshall Faulk. Go Rams!!!

We have been attending Enshrinement weekend for many years. After months of eagerly waiting to see our Chicago Bears play in the HOF game, we are devastated by the news. For that reason, this will be our last Enshrinement. Shame on  the NFL, the owners and the players, all of whom forgot about the game... they only thought about their wallets.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

What's Next?

Anthony is in hiding, that trial is over, the war is getting rather boring, for those of us at home, getting very tired of seeing Obama on the television, he is on more regularly than Ellen. Are the fires out in the Southwest, have not heard much recently? Any floods, tornadoes, heard briefly that some volcano is erupting, don't think the lava will make it to Newark, Ohio.

Something has to be standing in the wings, just waiting to erupt on the news scene. My guess is that most of the news persons are at their home office, just waiting for the next GREAT news story.

Some TV shows can just rehash abductions and murders forever. High heat around the country is not much of a story. I cool off by watching Ice Road Truckers or gathering Crabs in the wherever they go after them. If I get seasick from that I can watch them cut down trees in the swamp, or gather up alligators, or watch survival in the hinterlands, guys close to death, hungry, just barely surviving, while the film crews shooting them are well fed. Haven't figured that out yet.

Middle of the Summer, so we are having End of Summer Sales, and seeing Christmas in July on the one selling channel. Back to school merchandise came out at Walmart the day after school closed, and on TV, promos about the New Fall Season. One ad was for a show that "everyone" is talking about, and it has not even aired yet. I never figured that out, or Hit of the Season and no one has seen it ye

Monday Night Football is already being promoted and the last I heard they were not sure if there was going to be a season or not. Trust me, the networks WILL NOT let that happen. Players and owners have nothing to do with it, TV controls sports, so, we will see NFL football next season. All this off season bantering is just promotion for the upcoming season.

Just wondering where the next "disaster" will come from, the next "big" news story, something has to happen, somewhere. There are thousands of people who make their living off of "news," just waiting to spring on some ............. BIG EVENT...

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

UPDATE on the mailing list window .....

In the window next to SUBMIT .......... put in your email address and then hit SUBMIT ........ give it a try, we have had a few problems, but generally it works .........

Join in the fun and games .......

Thanks ...........

Strawberry Melon Gazpacho

Serves 8 (Sounded good and cool for this weather here in Ohio)


Traditionally made with tomatoes, this refreshing twist on an old favorite can be served as a dessert soup at the end of a hearty meal or as part of a brunch buffet.

Ingredients

2 cups (1-inch cubes) cantaloupe

2 cups (1-inch cubes) seedless watermelon

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped

1 pound organic strawberries, hulled, divided

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Method

Place cantaloupe, watermelon, cucumber, half of strawberries, and lime juice in a food processor and blend until puréed. Chop remaining strawberries and stir into the soup. Refrigerate until chilled.

Nutrition

Per serving: 45 calories (5 from fat), 0g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 5mg sodium, 11g total carbohydrate (2g dietary fiber, 8g sugar),1g protein
Tags: Family Friendly, No Cook, Quick and Easy, Low Sodium, Dairy Free, Low Fat, Vegetarian, Vegan, Wheat Free, Gluten Free, Raw, Fat Free

Thanks to Whole Foods for this recipe.

Please join my mailing list

You may notice, down below here is a submit button. If  you put your Email address in there, you will receive each post via your  Email. I am trying to build up my list. I have a few potential advertisers who are followers of mine and are interested in advertising on this site.

Exposure is the name of the game, and the more exposure, the more interest. I am able to give them an accurate "hit" count, so the more the merrier.

I would appreciate you joining my list.

Thanks.

My Wife always wanted a riding lawn mower.

She works all day and was always tired when she came home from work
and thought that a riding lawn mower would help her get the yard work done
quicker so she would have more time for the chores inside the house.

SO, being the handy sort of guy that I am, I made her a riding lawn mower.

I guess I thought she would squeal with delight or something and
give me a big hug.


To this day I have never been able to understand why some women are
so hard to please.

P.S. I can see out of my left eye pretty good now and should be able to
 leave the hospital some time next week!


Monday, July 18, 2011

Casey in Washington TinC

This is a T in C Article, NO truth to it ............ all made up

An undisclosed source today revealed that First Lady Michele Obama has invited Casey Anthony, recently released accused child killer, to "hide out" in the White House in Washington, D.C.


Mrs. Obama stated, "Barack and I are never there, so someone might as well get some use out of the old place. Who would think of looking for her there, and security precautions are certainly in place. If necessary, we have the armed forces of the United States to protect her. The same people who voted for Barry are the same ones who found her innocent, I am sure of that, people just don't make mistakes."

She told Casey that she could stay as long as she likes, or at least another year or so, or at least until the next election.

The Casey Anthony trial was a criminal trial held in Orlando, Florida from May 9 to July 5, 2011 in the state's Ninth Judicial Circuit Court. Casey was accused of killing her child, Caylee Marie Anthony.

After her early morning release, Casey was last seen driving away from the jail, and her destination was unknown.

It is now known that she was taken to a covert government airfield, hidden under Disney World, and flown by a "black ops" Airwolf helicopter to Washington, where the helicopter landed on the roof of the White House. Air traffic is so frequent at the White House that the helicopter landed unobserved.

The First Lady also revealed to Casey that her tattoo "Bella Vita" which means "beautiful life" in Italian, may become the theme of her husband's next campaign, and that once the hatred for her has settled, she may become a spokesperson for the Democratic Party. There was some talk that due to her notoriety, that she may become the Chairman of the Party.

She also stated that there were irregularities in her husbands past, much the same as with the question about who might be the father of her deceased child.

Michele indicated that Casey was welcome to stay as long as she liked, or until they were forced to leave. "We're not here much, we've actually remodeled the Oval Office to make living quarters for Casey, Barry is never there.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

And, I was there

Sunday morning, watching an old movie, "She's Back On Broadway," there is a scene in the movie where Virginia Mayo is at the LA airport, with Frank Lovejoy.

I did my Navy "Boot camp" in San Diego, and after that, flew back to Ohio for a visit with family. I flew from San  Diego to LA, had a brief layover, was walking around, and happened to see them filming that segment of the movie. Big incident for a kid from Ohio, that was way back in 1952.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Part of my daily routine ............

We were sitting out in front talking last night, with some neighbors, mostly about my age, talking about routines, and how we have gotten to the age where we all were today. Each one had his or her own daily routine, certain things they did to start the day, and keep them going through the day.

It got around to me, and I gave them my daily routine.

I generally wake up around 8, give or take ten or fifteen minutes either way.

The first thing I do is open my eyes, realize that I am alive, it is morning, and I thank Him, for getting me safely through the night. Then I thank HIM for safely getting ALL of my family and friends through the night. No phone calls from anyone, so I assume all my kids, grand kids and great grand kids are all OK.

As I slowly drop my legs off the bed, and start sitting up, I ALWAYS think of Joe Gilligan. I met Joe years ago. His wife always drove him, asked him why, and he told me. One morning, he sprang out of bed and jumped up, too fast, and his balance has been whacked ever since. So I always think of Joe, and get up
V   E   R   Y      S   L   O   W   L   Y, thinking of Joe Gilligan.

Now I am up, sitting on the side of the bed. I thank HIM for giving me this day. I ask HIM to  be with me throughout the day, again, to look out for my wife, my family, and to walk beside me during the day.

So far, I have thanked HIM for getting me through the night, and now am asking HIM to be with me during the day.

Now, I slowly stand up, do a little wiggling to make sure everything is working, and take a few, slow, deliberate steps beside the bed, generally holding on, and then, at the end of the bed, I get a good solid hold on the bedpost, turn right, take a step, and then go into my John Wayne walk. I kinda move my right shoulder a little forward, raise my right elbow a little and take those slow, "Howdy Pilgrim" steps, very deliberate, and walk that way to the bathroom.

For some reason, when I walk like John Wayne, all the unsureness in my walk disappears. I walk confidently, just like the Duke did, that gets me to the bathroom, confidently, and all in one piece. The first hurdle of the day is cleared nicely.

Joe Goss

Don't know what made me think of that name, have not heard that name in a long time. Who was Joe Goss? Hard to explain. Joe Goss, back in the 50's and 60's was "the Man." Actually, the man you wanted to see. He was many people, it really was a title more than an individual or a name.

If you were looking for a job, the Joe Goss in question was the person who did the hiring. Or, "who's the Joe Goss who owns this store?" So really, Joe Goss was the person in question at the time time.

"He's the Joe Goss on this shift." the Shift Manager, so it was an oft used term in Nevada in those days. Heard it many times in my years in Nevada.

Oddly enough, when I came to Ohio from Reno, my first job was at the Southgate Men's Store in the Southgate Shopping Center in Newark, Ohio. I got the job, and on my first day, John Slanker was explaining the store operation to me. showing me around, where everything was, how to work the register, etc.

My first customer was an elderly lady, who was purchasing some clothes for her husband. I gathered she was a regular, John knew her as did other salesmen in the store. I complied with all her wishes, found what she wanted, and we went to the register.

Cash or charge? (you don't hear that much these days, this was in '62}

"Charge."

"And the account name."

"Joe Goss."

True story, I had heard and used that name for so many years, and it was never an actual person by that name, just a title,, and here, in Newark, Ohio, my first customer was Mrs. Joe Goss.

Paul Anka at the Primm, many years ago

Just did my morning Crossword Puzzle. A Paul Anka song was mentioned. Had not thought of him in a long time.

Late 50's, not sure of exact date, I was working at the Primm in Reno, and before my shift started I was sitting in the coffee shop having a bite to eat and was was perusing the "Entertainment" section of the Reno  Gazette. Front page article about Paul Anka appearing at the Riverside Hotel. Tells about the background and success of this twenty year old entertainer.

I finished and headed for my table and reported to Don Eammelli, my shift manager.

Had not been on the table too long when I glanced over at one of the 21 tables, and who was playing 21, Paul Anka.

I motioned to Don, he came over, and I told him that Anka was not old enough to be playing.

"How do you know?"

"It's in the newspaper."

So Don went over and politely asked him to leave the table. He got a little belligerent about it, "I'm old enough to sing in these joints but not old enough to gamble," or something like that. He reluctantly left the Primm.

Funny what you read in the paper.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

I just cried ..... many tears


I was sitting back in the bedroom in my easy chair, watching Bill Gaither and his quartet, they were joined by Ernie Haase and his Signature Sound group. The curtains were drawn, it was rather dark, nice, quiet atmosphere, and they started singing America, "Oh Beautiful, for spacious skies," and I was completely wrapped up in their beautiful rendition.........

I got completely carried away by the song, it was beautiful ........... and then I started wondering, how much longer will this country, as we know it, exist, and I started remembering, thinking, about my life in this country, how blessed we all are, and the tears started falling. I could not hold them back.

We have so much, and we are seeing it being eroded, perhaps more than we realize, and we are not even aware of it. Look what lies ahead at the rate we are going.

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

I admit it, I cried, real, genuine tears, tears for what I am seeing happen to our Country. I have much, much more behind me, than I have ahead of me. I just hope that we can still be proud of our Country, listen to that song, and have it bring a tear ......

40 years of marriage...

A married couple in their early 60s was celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant.

Suddenly, a tiny yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table. She said, 'For being such an exemplary married couple and for being loving to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish.'

The wife answered, 'Oh, I want to travel around the world with my darling husband

The fairy waved her magic wand and - poof! - two tickets for the Queen Mary II appeared in her hands.

The husband thought for a moment: 'Well, this is all very romantic, but an opportunity like this will never come again. I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me. The wife, and the fairy, were deeply disappointed, but a wish is a wish.

So the fairy waved her magic wand and poof!...the husband became 92 years old.

What to do when the SS checks stop arriving ....


Obama has threatened to stop paying us our SS each month.
In an effort to be of service, I am hoping that my readers can come up with some suggestions
What can we do when the CHECKS STOP?
  1. Not Eat
  2. Not pay rent
  3. No more trips to Walmart
  4. Sell the car and walk
What suggestions do you have for us Old Folks?

Some Summer Tips

Some "TIPS" I got from a blog by 1st Response they are a complete full service contractor in Newark, Ohio, serving a large portion of Ohio.

1. Reduce the cooling load by employing cost-effective conservation measures. Provide effective shade for east and west windows. When possible, delay heat-generating activities such as dish washing until evening on hot days.


2. Over most of the cooling season, keep the house closed tight during the day. Don’t let in unwanted heat and humidity. Ventilate at night either naturally or with fans.

3. You can help get rid of unwanted heat through ventilation if the temperature of the incoming air is 77 F or lower. (This strategy works most effectively at night and on cooler days.) Window fans for ventilation are a good option if used properly. They should be located on the downwind side of the house facing out. A window should be open in each room. Interior doors must remain open to allow air flow.

4. Use ceiling fans to increase comfort levels at higher thermostat settings. The standard human comfort range for light clothing in the summer is between 72 F and 78 F. To extend the comfort range to 82 F, you need a breeze of about 2.5 ft/sec or 1.7 mph. A sow-turning ceiling-mounted paddle fan can easily provide this air flow.

5. In hot climates, plant shade trees around the house. Don’t plant trees on the South if you want to benefit from passive solar heating in the winter.

6. If you have an older central air conditioner, consider replacing the outdoor compressor with a modern, high-efficiency unit. Make sure that it is properly matched to the indoor unit.

7. If buying a new air conditioner, be sure that it is properly sized. Get assistance from an energy auditor or air conditioning contractor.

8. Buy a high-efficiency air conditioner: for room air conditioners, the energy efficiency ratio (EER) rating should be above 10; for central air conditioners, look for a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating above 12.

9. In hot, humid climates, make sure that the air conditioner you buy will adequately get rid of high humidity. Models with variable or multi-speed blowers are generally best. Try to keep moisture sources out of the house.

10. Try not to use a dehumidifier at the same time your air conditioner is operating. The dehumidifier will increase the cooling load and force the air conditioner to work harder.

11. Seal all air conditioner ducts, and insulate ducts that run through unheated basements, crawl spaces, and attics.

12. Keep the thermostat set at 78 degrees F or higher if using ceiling fans. Don’t air-condition unused rooms.

1st Response - A Full Service Contractor

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

What to do with old Pencils

Betty Ford remembered at bipartisan memorial

By JEFF WILSON and JOHN ROGERS - Associated Press

PALM DESERT, Calif. (AP) — First ladies, past and present, and others who called the White House home remembered Betty Ford on Tuesday, not just for her decades-long work against substance abuse but for her contributions to a political era when friendship among lawmakers helped them govern.

Speakers, including former first lady Rosalynn Carter and journalist Cokie Roberts, also hailed her as a force of nature whose boundless energy and enthusiasm, coupled with a steadfast determination to do what was right, pushed the country toward a commitment to equal rights for women and other causes.

Ford, who died at the age of 93 on Friday, reshaped the role of first lady with her plain-spoken candidness.

In doing so, she helped bring such previously taboo subjects as breast cancer into the public discussion as she openly discussed her own battle with the disease. She was equally candid about her struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, and her spearheading of the creation of the Betty Ford Center to treat those diseases has benefited thousands.

"Millions of women are in her debt today and she was never afraid to speak the truth even about the most sensitive subjects, including her own struggle with alcohol and pain killers," Carter said. "She got some criticism, but I thought she was wonderful and her honesty gave to others every single day."

Behind the scenes she was also aggressive and effective, said Roberts, who noted that Ford's late husband, President Gerald R. Ford, confided to her privately that his wife badgered him relentlessly into stronger public support of equal rights for women.

The former first lady mapped out plans for her funeral well in advance, including who would deliver her eulogies, and Roberts said she told her to be sure to let people know that politics does not have to as acrimonious as it is today.

"Mrs. Ford wanted me to remind everyone of the way things used to be in Washington, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if she timed her death to make sure that she could convey the message of comity during this week, when it seems so badly needed," she said as former President George W. Bush, a Republican, sat in the audience next to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Democrat.

Fan may owe taxes on rewards for Jeter’s 3,000th

By Ian Casselberry

Christian Lopez might end up wishing he kept that baseball after all.

Lopez became more than a footnote to the spectacle of Derek Jeter(notes) getting his 3,000th hit on Saturday at Yankee Stadium by returning the milestone baseball to the New York Yankees shortstop rather than cash it in for a likely six-figure payday. That touched off a debate still raging among fans days later: Would you have given the ball back or sold it to the highest bidder for a payday that was rumored as high as $250,000?

For his gesture, Lopez was rewarded by the Yankees with luxury box tickets for the rest of the season (including postseason), along with signed baseballs, bats and jerseys from Jeter. In addition, Lopez received four premium front-row seats to last Sunday's Yankees-Rays game.

Nice haul, right? Sure, but with those generous gifts comes tax liability. As George Harrison once sang for the Beatles, "Let me tell you how it will be; There's one for you, nineteen for me. 'Cause I'm the Taxman."

The IRS will likely consider Lopez's gratuities from the Yankees as income, and if so, he could end up having to pay anywhere from $5,000 to $13,000 in taxes, according to the New York Daily News. The New York Times, meanwhile, says the face value of the tickets to the remaining 32 regular-season games at Yankee Stadium are worth anywhere between $44,800 and $73,600. The paper's conservative estimate puts Lopez's tax bill at $14,000.

Lopez, however, seems unfazed by these revelations.

If the IRS comes calling, he says he'll pay those taxes:

"Worse comes to worse, I'll have to pay the taxes," he told the Daily News on Monday. "I'm not going to return the seats. I have a lot of family and friends who will help me out if need be.

"The IRS has a job to do, so I'm not going to hold it against them, but it would be cool if they helped me out a little on this."

It's unclear from the quote whether the "they" Lopez refers to means the IRS or the Yankees. The IRS could obviously help him out by considering the items he was rewarded as gifts, rather than income. Then he wouldn't owe as much in taxes.

But could Derek Jeter or the Yankees also step in and pay the taxes for Lopez? One tax expert the Daily News spoke to made that very suggestion.

What a buzzkill. Lopez expressed hope that his parents would help him out with whatever taxes he might owe. But they could rightfully point out that some of that memorabilia — not to mention many of those tickets — could be sold off to cover his expenses. (Lopez might have to do that anyway, telling reporters that he still owes more than $100,000 in student loans.)

Lopez being essentially punished for what so many saw as a good deed and selfless act makes for a troubling epilogue to a nice story.

But maybe there's still a happy ending to come.

Up Up and Away Away Away Away Away

This is from Mark Knoller of CBS.


The pilots and crew of Air Force One are flying more hours than a rookie on a beer run. They are tired of it too, and are adding more crew to Air Force One. I know this for a fact because I'm one of the instructors who trains the crews. Our company (Atlas Air) has had the Air Force One and E-4 contract for over two years and I've been doing it for about eight months now.

Last year (2010), Obama flew in Air Force One 172 times, almost every other day. White House officials have been telling reporters in recent days that the Democrat doesn't intend to hang around the White House quite so much in 2011 (and he hasn't, so far).

They explain he wants to get out more around the country because, as everyone knows, that midterm election shellacking on Nov. 2 had nothing to do with his health care bill, over-spending or other policies, but everything to do with Obama's not adequately explaining himself to his countrymen and women. And with only 673 days remaining in Obama's never ending presidential campaign, the incumbents travel pace likely will not slacken.

At an Air Force-estimated cost of $181,757 per flight HOUR (not to mention the additional travel costs of Marine One, Secret Service, logistics and local police overtime), that's a lot of frequent flier dollars going into Obama's carbon footprint.

We are privy to some of these numbers thanks to CBS' Mark Knoller, a bearded national treasure trove of presidential stats. According to Knoller's copious notes, during the last year, Obama made 65 domestic trips over 104 days, and six trips to eight countries over 22 days. Not counting six vacation trips over 32 days.

He took 196 helicopter trips, signed 203 pieces of legislation and squeezed in 29 rounds of left-handed golf .

Obama last year gave 491 speeches, remarks or statements. That's more talking than goes on in some entire families, at least from fatherly mouths. In fact, even including the 24 days of 2010 that we never saw Obama in public, his speaking works out to about one official utterance every 11 waking hours. Aides indicate the "Real Good Talker" believes we need more.

Related : Obama spends nearly half his presidency outside Washington , plans to travel more.

Related : Vacationer-in-Chief spends $1.75 million to visit Hawaiian chums.

Obama has spent over $100 million taxpayer dollars flying around in Air Force One, and probably another $100 million on his entourage. He is just another tin-pot dictator living lavishly at the expense of his subjects.

Monday, July 11, 2011

FIVE good Thoughts


You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity
by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

What one person receives without working for,
another person must work for without receiving.

The Government cannot give to anybody anything
that the government does not first take from somebody else.

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work
because the other half is going to take care of them,
and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work
because somebody else is going to get what they work for,
that is the beginning of the end for any nation.
 

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Q and A

QUESTION:
What does it cost to keep your mouth shut at da Ohio State University?

ANSWER:
$300,000.00 plus Health Insurance

Poor Tress

How much more can ex-OSU coach Jim Tressel take. They have let him RETIRE instead of RESIGN, they have taken his $250,000.00 find away from him, he doesn't have to pay that, they owe him $50 some thousand on his pay, he gets FREE medical for life, and the school wiped out last years record. What does that mean? How do you take away a winning season, and a winning bowl game.

The wonderful part of the whole scenario is that NO ONE else knew anything about it. just ol Jim knew what was a goin on. That thought saved AD Smith his job, may even Gordon Gee. The guys are all walking around with NEW tats, driving fancy cars,  and no one wondered WHY? I find that ironic.

HOW could the AD NOT know what was going on? Easy, he looked the other way, he didn't want to jeopardize his job by losing any games or putting a "black" mark on daOSU.

Tress will probably be given an office on campus, and do some part time teaching .... Ethics 101.

I guess Columbus, Ohio now can boast about having Earle Bruce, John Cooper and Jim Tressel. Ohio used to be the "cradle" for football coaches, now it is the "graveyard."

Friday, July 8, 2011

Words of Wisdom

I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.






Generation Y

Thought you all needed the explanation. I know I did, now I completely understand!

The Silent Generation are people born before 1946.

The Baby Boomers are people born between 1946 and 1965.

Generation X are people born between 1965 and 1979.

Generation Y are people born between 1980 and 1996.

Why do we call the last one Generation Y?

I did not know until now, but the illustration below explains it eloquently...





And now, you too have learned something new too!

I will take door?????

The Republicans are looking for YOUR advice for their Dream Team.

YOU can express your opinion on this poll.

A MUST SEE PAGE ....................

An interesting and SCARY page to look over......

"A politician cannot spend one dime on any spending project without first taking that dime from the person who earned it. So, when a politician votes for a spending bill he is saying that he believes the government should spend that particular dollar rather than the individual who worked for it." Neal Boortz.


"There is no such thing as government money - only taxpayer money."
William Weld, quoted in Readers Digest.


http://www.federalbudget.com/

Thursday, July 7, 2011

A Facebook Post - Worth a read

With duct tape & bags, you threw me away.
What more is there to say?
Alone in the woods is where I was kept, for six long months & you STILL haven't wept.
"Bella vita" that's what your tattoo said.
Not a care in the world, while I lay dead.
Every night Jesus rocks me to sleep and makes a promise I know he'll keep.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine, for in the end
vengeance shall be mine!!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

CHANGE DIRECTION - Republican Video - It may work, in REVERSE

The Chairman of the Republican National Committee wanted me to watch this video, and then donate money, so they could have everyone in the country see it.
FIRST, the only photograph in the whole ad is that of Barack Obama,
and indicates that he has Changed Direction.
 They probably DID NOT have a Republican Candidate to talk about.
I thought it was a stupid, ill planned, ill advised video.
I sent this reply to the the Chairman, I am sure they will not see it, and certainly won't reply.



This was my Email reply:
Great NASCAR commercial ....... OH, incidentally ............ do YOU have a CANDIDATE yet? Might be a good idea to start promoting SOMEONE .... instead of STUPID - No Message Commercials ........... anyone donates to promote that gibberish is a Jackass .... No wonder there is a Democrat in the White House ..... at the rate YOU are going we can expect another four years ............... Barrett-Jackson Car Auction may be interested in buying that commercial ......... Nice you are assisting the Handicapped who put that "commercial" together ...... I use that term loosely............


Lightening CAN Strike Twice ..................

ONLY IN AMERICA

Monday, July 4, 2011

Dah-De-Da-Do ... Theme from the Twilight Zone

Been watching the Twilightt Zone Marathon since last night ....

In this one, a  couple has car trouble, and pulls into a garage in a small city."Will take a few hours, have to get the part from Dayton." I was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio.

The couple goes into a diner and has a bite to eat.

As they leave, parked outside the restaurant is a 1949 Dodge Wayfarer Roadster, just like the one I had in the late 40's and early 50's. Had not seen one in years ..... Da De Da Do ......... to say the least...

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Obama Losing Canada's Oil to China

By Jim Meyers

The Obama administration is foot-dragging on approving a pipeline to deliver abundant Canadian oil to the United States at the same time the Chinese are investing in a pipeline that could send that oil to China.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee last week passed a bill requiring President Barack Obama to speed up a decision on approving the pipeline. The bill was introduced by Nebraska Republican Rep. Lee Terry, who maintains that the Obama administration has been too slow in making a final decision, the Montreal Gazette reports.

The Canadian province of Alberta has the world’s third-largest oil reserves after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, and more than Russia or Iran. Daily production from oil sands is expected to rise from 1.5 million barrels today to 3.7 million in 2025.

Delivering the oil will mean building two pipelines, one south to the refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast and the other west toward the Pacific, where it can be exported to China.

If the United States doesn’t approve its pipeline promptly due to environmental concerns, “Canada might increasingly look to China, thinking America doesn’t want a big stake in what environmentalists call ‘dirty oil,’ which they say increases greenhouse gas emissions,” according to a report from The Associated Press.

Sinopec, a Chinese-controlled company, has invested $5.5 billion in the planned pipeline to the Pacific coast.

Sinopec has also paid $4.6 billion for a stake in Syncrude, Canada’s largest oil-sands project, and PetroChina, Asia’s largest oil and gas company, bought a $1.7 billion stake in Athabasca Oil Sands Corp.

According to Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, American government officials have expressed concerns about the Pacific pipeline delivering oil to China that might have otherwise gone to the United States.

4th of July

Saturday, July 2, 2011

A little about Vince Gill

Vince Gill must have a great sense of humor ..... listened to him a little on NPR this morning ......

He said he wrote a song, "It's Hard to Kiss the Lips that have been Chewing Your Ass Out All Day"

Another great line, "Paul McCartney once told me to never be a name dropper."

He plays a lot of golf, and to maintain his "squeaky clean" image, he hired a "designated cusser." When asked where he found one, he replied, "They're everywhere."

I wish I had recorded the whole interview, very witty, and he sings well.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Happy Fourth of July to All


I have many readers in countries all over the world.

July 4th is the Day that we celebrate our Independence

July 4, 1776
Fireworks have always been a part of the day.

I do hope that there are those who will take some time,
and respectfully reflect, remember the meaning of the day.
Many have given their lives protecting that Freedom,
they too, should be remembered..
My regards to all my readers around the world.

I wonder?

Watching the LAVISH fireworks display from Columbus, Ohio ...... awesome ...... I always have to wonder if there isn't some child, girl or boy, perhaps homeless, Father out of work, hungry, sleeping under a bridge, and they hear the explosions, they peer out from under their bridge and see all of those fireworks, all of those explosions, what must that child be thinking................

They just did the finale .... totally awesome, greater than last year .

But I have to wonder what is going on in that poor child's head..............

Let Freedom Ring

Part of the Document

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.


We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

The Declaration of Independence

The FOURTH of July

Maybe it's my age, but the holiday has lost some meaning for me. I think, yesterday, when I posted that foto of the bridge in China, on the news last night, their high speed rail travel system, their size, their wealth, I am just not sure we are the same country we used to be. Perhaps not Number One anymore, but we just don't want to admit it.

Our jobs are gone, unemployment is high, many are living on the street, homeless, hungry. Our country gives away billions to other countries, yet we have no money. I have to wonder what out "founding Fathers" would think if they visited this country today.

I remember years ago, a high school teacher made this comment in class, "An American never visits a foreign country." Arrogant and proud, but that is diminishing.

Like many of our "holidays" have degenerated to, it is just a day to "celebrate" shoot off fireworks, have picnics and parties, and never consider the "reason" for the holiday. Just think what has been accomplished since then, yet, we are no longer the leaders or the originators of that progress. We can take credit for some, but we are now being outdistanced by other nations. We just don't like to admit it. We don't even own much of our country anymore.

If we were not supplied many products by other countries, we would have nothing to celebrate the day with. Check your fireworks, your food, your clothes, maybe your car, all made overseas, somewhere.

Many years ago, my Dad made a small, about an 8" barrel, cannon, he made it out of brass, turned it on his metal lathe. Made some strapping with his forge, used my erector set wheels on it. I remember vividly, throughout the 1940's, he would announce the Fourth of July, early in the morning, and throughout the day, by firing his cannon, and it was a BIG boom. The neighbors loved it.

Another great memory, Northern Michigan, Burt Lake, in one of Pauline Everhard's cabin rentals, my Dad, lounging in front of the cabin, looking out over the lake, the Jessiedean tied up at the dock, a boat he made, quiet serene setting, and then, out of nowhere, my Brother Bud would somehow sneak up, light a big firecracker, and have it go off, directly behind his canvas lounge chair. You no idea how fast he reacted, until that moment.

Wonder how many more years we will be able to celebrate this Holiday?