Moon River

LISTEN HERE tap that blue link on the top right and listen and enjoy while you read the rest of it. WARNING, you may want to go to sleep....if that does not work, here is the link .....
http://archive.org/details/WhenYouFeelAYawnComingOn

I remember this show for much of my life. WLW was the voice of the Midwest, it was the radio station most listened to in our house. Peter Grant, Ruth Lyons, Paul Dixon, Bob Braun and more, were almost members of our household. And there were so many others. If a performer was anywhere in the Midwest, he promoted it on WLW. Everyone appeared on the Ruth Lyons show. Products became household words because of Ruth.

At night, Moon River. The end of the day, it made me sad, and I thought it was for "old folks."

"Andy Williams’ signature hit was “Moon River.” And when he worked at WLW-AM as a teen in the 1940s, the station aired a hugely popular dreamy overnight show of poetry and romantic music called “Moon River.”

They started a few careers ........... Vocalists

Phil Brito

Barbara Cameron
Janette Davis
Doris Day
The DeVore Sisters (Marjorie, Billie, and Ruth)
Rosemary and Betty Clooney
Anita Ellis
Lucille Norman
Juanita Vastine aka Sweet Georgia Brown
Ruby Wright

"Fats" Waller was an organist 1932-1934

I remember way back in the 30's I made a "Crystal Radio Set" and after I went to bed I would get under the covers, break out the Crystal Set and listen to WLW for as long as I could stay up. Most of my Moon River listening was on on those earphones. It was "delicious" I was supposed to be asleep, I was hiding, and listening to what was being broadcast over 50 miles away, and I was "getting away" with it. 

Just wondering

Another example, "Love is News"  (1937) ... Tyrone Power, Loretta Young and Don Ameche.

Loretta Young is driving a convertible, Ameche is following her. WHY, and it always happens .... does she turn her head around to see Ameche chasing her, why not just look in the rear view mirror or the mirror on the side of the door.

Everyone always turns their head. Even in a high speed chase, they take their eyes off the road and turn around, I've always wondered why. I never have.

Another one, why did "Bad Guys" always have slower horses than "Good Guys?" The Lone Ranger and Gene Autry and Roy and all the other good guys were always able to overtake the bad guys, jump, and knock them off of their horse.

If I robbed a Wells Fargo office and had all that money I would head to the nearest Livery Stable and ask for the fastest horse around. If I had to I would ride all the way to Dodge City or wherever, but I want the fastest horse in the county, or state, or whatever.

Sheila Jackson Lee Recommended As Head Of Homeland Security… No Seriously

Freedom Outpost

The Congressional Black Caucus wants Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security, now that former Sec. Janet Napolitano has resigned to become president of the University of California System.

This woman does not have the track record to replace Big Sis Napolitano and it has nothing to do with her skin tone.

It has everything to do with her being a hot-headed bigot who is likely to bring even more targeting upon a group of people simply because of our political persuasions.

Let’s keep this in perspective because a suggestion from the Black Caucus does not mean a nomination is forthcoming, but, if it does, it has implications far beyond what most people might have considered. Sheila Jackson Lee is a Tea Party hater and has gone so far to compare the movement to the KKK.

This is crucial knowledge because we will now see how far this administration is willing to go to keep targeting Conservatives. We have been talking for months about how terrorists are no longer considered to be Islamic extremists. Potential terrorists are now being profiled as God and Constitution-loving Americans who believe in the 2nd Amendment. We have reviewed training videos and documents that have stated as much.

It’s a fact of life that you can spot the biggest racists easily by how often they choose to play the race card. Racists don’t generally understand that we don’t care what color they are. They think that everyone thinks just like they think. I would have a hard time saying one positive thing about Sheila Jackson Lee but it has nothing to do with the color of her skin. It’s because she is a moron. Here is another YouTube video I found. This gentleman gives most of the dirt on Sheila but not all. I will get to more in a moment

So if Sheila Jackson Lee gets nominated I think it sends a message. If she gets confirmed it sends an even louder message. I have felt for a long time that they were trying to bait us into starting a war. It is my opinion that Obama wants that war much worse than the Patriots that reside all over this great nation. We don’t want violence. We simply want The Constitution to mean something.

Barry Soetoro (aka Barack Obama) Disappears From DC Voter Registration Site

Freedom Outpost

Almost two weeks ago, it was reported that Barry Soetoro, an alias of Barack Hussein Obama, was registered to vote in Washington, D.C.

Granted, many think this was a hoax and someone other than Obama registered Barry Soetoro in DC. We knew at the time that Barack Obama was registered in Chicago, Illinois and did vote there in 2008 and 2012.

However, after the information about Barry Soetoro being registered to vote in Washington, DC, the DC Board of Elections has scrubbed the voter registration for Barry Soetoro with no explanation.

If you recall, we provided the image of the District of Columbia Board of Elections search of Barry Soetoro, which you can see below dated July 20, 2013. Notice he was registered 22 days before the 2012 elections.

While we are told that Barack Obama took the name Barry Soetoro due to the fact that his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, had married Lolo Soetoro on March 15, 1965 when he was just four years old. Young Barry Soetoro and his mother went to live with Soetoro in Indonesia when he was only 6 years old, but that time was short lived as he was sent to Honolulu to live with his maternal grandparents at age 10.

When did it all start?

When did it start going all wrong?

I remember being able to walk from home, all the way downtown, watching a movie, and walking home, with no concerns. And, believe me, my Mom was a worrier, and if there was any inkling of a problem, she would not have let me go alone. I could ride my trike around the block, pedal my scooter around also. This was only a few blocks from Downtown Dayton, not out in the suburbs.

We used to sit on our front porch and watch the traffic go by, and there was a lot, Brown Street was a main street heading South. UD, the University of Dayton was just down the street not too far. We knew many of our neighbors, the Guilds, the Schmalls, the Burions, Bob and Dick Wolf, Warren Wogaman, the Eilermans, many who lived down our alley, which was a neighborhood all of its own. Our "alley" was "different" than the street side neighborhood, hard to explain. It was more relaxed, laid back, you could talk over the back fence, different conversations than on the front porch.

Oddly enough, you could wear your blue jeans in the backyard and by the back fence and in the alley, but you generally had to dress better to sit on the front porch. I could wear my "play clothes" in the alley. My Dad made me a "car" buckboard type thing, our of hickory, had wagon wheels, a Maytag Washing Machine motor that sat on a roller skate wheeled frame. I had a pedal, when pushed, the frame moved back and tightened the belt drive and I went forward. It scooted along pretty good. I did have a brake too. Made many trips down that alley on that.

My brother a motorcycle in the 40's, an Indian, had been a police bike, extended frame, with a sidecar. I vividly remember my first ride in that sidecar, down that same alley, at a pretty good speed, only inches away from all the garages and trash cans in the alley. Frightening.

Then came the war, in December of 1941.  Farmers left the farm to work in the war plants, women left the home to work there also, boys and men left home to travel thousands of miles, some to be killed, some wounded, some lost. Most of my cousins in Indiana, never went back to the farm, the farms finally sold for housing projects. Many of the women kept working, they liked the independence and the money, many lost their husbands and became single parent families.

I think that is when we started our "decline" ... as a country. Our neighborhoods were broken up for freeways, the little corner stores closed up, we lost our "downtowns," years later, we took God and Prayer and "pledges" to our country out of our classrooms and lives, television took over, our lives were controlled by advertising and marketing ..... back then, we were sailing on the "ship of state" ... that was steering on a firm course, now we are on board a Titanic, sinking slowly, not knowing when it will go "under" ... but having that "sinking" feeling .... that it is ....

And they say teachers are "underpaid"

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Former Ohio State University president Gordon Gee, who retired under a cloud after remarks jabbing Roman Catholics and Southeastern Conference schools, will receive a $5.8 million package over the next five years, along with an office, a secretary and a premium parking pass, the university said Monday.

The contract with Gee includes a one-time payment of $1.5 million, an annual salary of $410,000 and a $300,000 annual grant for research on 21st-century education policy. It also retains him as a full professor in the university's College of Law, pays him health insurance and covers moving and storage expenses.

The deal also will cover the cost of tax preparation and penalties Gee incurred as a result of corrections the university made in reporting his income for 2009, 2010 and 2011.

The agreement, signed by Gee on Monday, didn't explain the corrections. University spokeswoman Gayle Saunders said the corrections involved miscalculations on Gee's W2 form dealing with minimal amounts of money.

Lindsay Lohan Out Of Rehab

Actress spent three months in treatment as part of a plea agreement in traffic case.
By Gil Kaufman

Lindsay Lohan was released from a rehab facility on Tuesday after three months of court-mandated treatment
 as part of a plea deal in a traffic case.

TMZ posted a photo of Lohan, looking bright-eyed and smiling, as she was leaving the facility and reportedly headed to her stay with a sober coach for several days.

The 27-year-old actress agreed to spend 90 days locked down in a rehab facility to avoid a possible eight month jail term stemming from accusations that she lied to police
 about a June 2012 car accident.

Though she was also ordered to complete 30 days of community labor and submit to 18 months of psychotherapy, Lohan will hit the ground running following what is believed to be at least her sixth trip to rehab.

No comment - our government and lawyers at their best

By Tony Perry
July 30, 2013, 6:49 p.m.

SAN DIEGO— A college student mistakenly left in a Drug Enforcement Administration interrogation room for five days without food or water will receive $4.1 million from the federal government to settle his claim for maltreatment.

The settlement, approved by the Department of Justice, was announced Tuesday in San Diego by the student, Daniel Chong, 25, and his lawyer, Eugene Iredale.

"It was an accident, a really, really bad, horrible accident," Chong said.

Iredale said Chong has undergone intensive psychotherapy and been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

What happened to Chong, Iredale said, "should never happen to any human being on the face of the planet."

The bizarre event began on the afternoon of April 20, 2012 — a traditional counterculture day of celebration for smoking pot. Chong, then an engineering student at UC San Diego, went to a house near campus to smoke marijuana with friends and found himself swept up in a DEA raid.

Officers from several police agencies raided the house and found large quantities of ecstasy pills and hallucinogenic mushrooms, plus weapons and ammunition, according to court documents. Unknown to Chong, the house had been under surveillance for days.

Chong and eight suspects were taken into custody for interrogation. After being questioned briefly at the DEA facility in San Diego, he was told he would soon be released.

But, for reasons that remain unclear, Chong was left for five days in a 5-by-10-foot windowless room without food, water or toilet facilities. He quickly lost weight and was able to slip out of a pair of handcuffs.

He suffered hallucinations. He tried to break a fire sprinkler to get water but failed. Instead he said he had to drink his own urine to survive. He screamed for help but soon became too weak. For the final two days, Chong was in the dark, Iredale said.

Fearing that he would die, Chong broke his glasses and scrawled the message, "Sorry, mom," on his arm.

When he was discovered by DEA employees, Chong was covered in his own feces and severely dehydrated. He was rushed to a hospital, close to kidney failure and breathing with difficulty. He spent five days in the hospital.

The Bean saved a lot of legal expense

Bus Driver on Phone Lost Control, Hit Pole That Fell on Stroller, Killing Baby

An 8-month-old baby girl in a stroller was killed Tuesday when an out-of-control bus driver who police said was on the phone slammed into several cars and two light poles, causing one to fall onto the child.

The mother of the baby was pushing the stroller on the sidewalk along East Boulevard in West New York, N.J. when it was hit.

Witnesses described chaos after the crash.

"Traffic stopped, people running to the bus," said Johanner Romero.

Police officer Michael Stetson gave CPR to the injured child, Angela Paredes, but it was too late.

"He tried so hard, so hard to save this little baby's life," said an onlooker.

Stetson told NBC 4 New York it was difficult to lose the little girl after trying to save her.

"It is hard, but it is part of the job," he said. "Things we have to deal with. It's what we are here for."

The bus driver, identified by the sheriff's office as 48-year-old Idowu Daramola of Thornwood, N.Y., was arrested on charges of reckless driving, using a cell phone while operating a vehicle and death by auto.

"We don't know if he was texting or talking," said Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari. "This is what distracted him, we feel. And he lost control of the bus."

Remembering Korea

The Korean War 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 was a war between the Republic of Korea (South Korea), supported by the United Nations, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), at one time supported by the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union. I preface my comments with that bit of information to verify my service in the U.S. Navy from June of 1952 to May of 1956, so I am a Korean Veteran.

I missed mentioning it on the 27th of July. The war actually started at the end of my Senior year in highschool, and I remember my Freshman year at The Citadel, a military school, where unfortunately, it was occasionally announced that a graduate had been killed in the Korean War. Some Seniors who graduated in June knew what their future held. A Second Lieutenant in combat does not have a long life expectancy, so Korea was on everyones mind in one way or another.

One underlying reason I joined, was to carry on a family tradition that started in the Civil War. I don't think I did it to save the world, more so, my ADD kicked in and I was up for something new. I loved boats, and the sea, so that was a logical choice. No forethought, I impulsively enlisted, in Columbia, South Carolina.

They put is all on a train headed for San Diego, California, I was the only "Yankee" in the group. Two or three days on the train, had a lot of fun, the train pulled in to Los Angeles. Saw my first star, Peggy Lee and her entourage, headed East.

I did as little as possible in Boot Camp, was the Company Mailman, got me out of a lot of "duty." I actually did not learn to swim, probably one of the few. Boot Camp to Yeoman School, where I learned how to type, then two years at the Receiving Station in San Diego, then two years on the USS William T. Mitchell TAP-114, and then I became a Veteran.

I vividly remember my first trip to Tokyo and as the ship approached the city there were still many reminders, partially submerged, damaged, destroyed, relics of the recent war, that had ended less than ten years before. I had seen newsreel or some of them, and it was surreal to see them in person, it was a strange feeling. We ported at Inchon and Pusan and I walked around both cities, there were some reminders.

We had two thousand troops aboard, as well as dependents (wives and children) and some civilian government employees. The troops going over were young somewhat apprehensive about what might lay ahead. On the return trip they were seasoned veterans, a bit more arrogant, and some were very quiet and apprehensive, perhaps battle weary. They were Veterans of a very intense war, different from other wars we had fought.

There are still quite a few of us "Vets" around, from Korea, WWII are almost gone, so we are the the last survivors.

Some interesting stuff for entrepreneurs

Approximately half of small businesses fail within their first five years of launching. Some of them fail due to the economy, others fail due to strategic mistakes. But sometimes a business has a great business model, a great product, a great team, but is still doomed to fail. Why? Some industries are significantly riskier than others; they have greater competition, higher overhead and a lower rate of success. While no industries are foolproof (and consumer trends often fluctuate), it never hurts to know which business types are thriving, and which are sinking.

Likely to Fail

Mom & Pop Restaurants
While restaurant chains and franchises still enjoy comfortable revenue, the economic climate is still extremely different for Mom and Pop restaurants. Restaurants have an extremely long list of expenses, including food and alcohol permits, insurance, waiters, chefs and fresh food supplies which can spoil easily. If you’re going to be starting a restaurant, be sure to have your financials in order and a lot of monetary cushion.

Direct Sales
Direct sales businesses rely on the business owner selling to a customer directly (think CutCo, Pampered Chef, Mary Kay and other companies that rely on one-on-one demonstrations and party plans). This approach to sales has fallen greatly out of favor, and it’s difficult to reconcile with the consumer trends towards online purchasing and e-commerce.

Independent Retail Stores
While large retail stores are recovering from the recession, local and boutique retail stores were hit hard and have yet to recover. Many small retail stores find that consumers are still spending less, and they face fierce competition and steep lease prices when vying for prime retail locations. If you’re entering the world of retail, be sure to have a tight budget, and offer some value that larger stores don’t (hand crafted goods, locally grown produce, supporting a family business, etc.).

Likely to Succeed

Mobile Games
The mobile games industry has more than doubled in the last 5 years—from $2 billion in 2007 to $4.5 billion in 2012. This may not come as a shock, considering the explosive growth of smart phones, but the fact remains that this space went from non-existent to a multi-billion dollar industry in under a decade. While you may not have the technical skills to develop mobile games, take some time to learn the tricks of gamification and read how to take your business mobile.

Internet Publishing
Not long ago we found the information and entertainment we desired in books and magazines, on television, radio, CDs and more. Now all of this content is found in one place: the internet. The internet publishing industry is massive, with 11.4% annual growth since 2007, and an anticipated value of 72 billion dollars in 2017. Find a way to successfully deliver the content people want online, and you can increase your SEO, boost your customer base and stay afloat in the tidal wave of online business.

Residential Construction
While this stat may be surprising in light of the housing crisis, the numbers show that the construction industry is finally picking up. Residential construction is expected to increase about 10% each year, reaching a whopping $573.1 billion in 2017. Electricians, civil project engineers, construction managers, builders, masons and carpenters will see a bump in opportunities, and for those looking to break away this might be a great time to start your own business.

Runner Ups

Artisanal Alcohol and Beers
Even when people are hurting financially, they won’t skimp on their alcohol. The demand for unique alcohol options and craft beers grew around 30% in 2012, and is expected to continue expanding.

Pet Care
The pet care industry has been growing 4% annually as America’s demographic of furry friends continues to climb. Surveys reveal that 62% of U.S. households own a pet, and the pet industry raked in $52.87 billion in 2012.

Environmental Consulting
While the consulting industry in general has been stagnant, the number of environmental consultants has grown exponentially thanks to new environmental legislation and growing public interest. The environmental consulting industry has grown about 39% a year since 2007, and that rate is only expected to flourish.

Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Striking Down NYC Large Soda Ban

An appeals court has upheld a judge's ruling striking down New York City's ban on large sodas and sugary drinks.

The court's ruling Tuesday affirms State Supreme Court Justice Milton Tingling's decision in March that Mayor Bloomberg's 16-ounce limit on sodas and other sweet drinks arbitrarily applied to only some sugary beverages and some places that sell them.

The March ruling came just hours before the rule was to take effect.

Tingling said the Bloomberg-appointed Board of Health intruded on City Council's authority when it imposed the rule.

Because of the limits of city authority and exemptions made for other reasons, the ban on supersized beverages didn't cover alcoholic drinks or many lattes and other milk-based concoctions, and it didn't apply at supermarkets or many convenience stores — including 7-Eleven, home of the Big Gulp.

In defending the rule, city officials had pointed to the city's rising obesity rate — about 24 percent of adults, up from 18 percent in 2002 — and to studies tying sugary drinks to weight gain.

Poor Harry, he WON

Update from the Jollywood Casino ............

Harry Parkinson, of nearby Wildwood, had a day off from his job in Norton Hill and decided to spend the day in the luxurious Jollywood Casino. He was greeted at the door by Jollywood Hostess Charmaine LeTour who took him on a tour of the club, and gave him coupons for FREE slot machine coins, two FREE drinks and a FREE lunch in the glorious South Shore room, right after Harry bought "chips" in the amount of $2000.

He received friendly greetings from all of the dealers, at all of the tables, and especially Sassy McClain, 21 dealer, and ex Miss Jollywood. Harry decided that 21 was his game, sat down, and started playing. It didn't take Harry long to lose the two grand, so he hit the ATM and headed back to the tables.

Harry's story has a happy ending though, he WON over six thousand dollars playing 21, and WON two thousand shooting craps, and at the height of his winning streak "shooting craps," he asked Bill Joseph, the boxman, if he had a "recipe" on how to fix the "craps" he was shooting, everyone at the table roared at that joke.

Harry spent, the next few nights at Jollywood, He unfortunately missed work, for the next few days, and he learned that his employment was terminated, right before he learned that his wife had left him after learning that all their money had been withdrawn from their bank account and that he had mortgaged their home, cashed in an IRA and some bonds they had saved up for their retirement. She was going home to her Mother.

Harry lost everything he had, his home, his job, his wife and family, everything. But, as Jollywood likes to say, "He WON $8000 at our tables playing 21 and shooting craps"

WINNER - WINNER - WINNER

Horseshoe Casino Cleveland
Congratulations to Steven M. on his legendary jackpot of $40,000. Will you be our next jackpot winner?

I get these almost daily posted on Facebook and even get Emails proclaiming the same thing, WINNERS, WINNERS, WINNERS

I remember when I turned out as a dealer in '56, one of the first things they instilled in me, "Never say the word ....... LOSER .... always  a WINNER." The word loser is never spoken in a casino. Every roll of the dice, there is a winner. I see in their advertising though that they have "help" groups available for those who become addicted. 

Nothing better ...............

Yesterday afternoon, for a little while, I experienced one of the great experiences of my life. I have done a lot in my lifetime, seen a lot, met and seen many "people" done some awesome things, but yesterday, for about ten minutes or so, I held and fed, "Miss Emma." She generally doesn't like being away from her Mother, but for some reason, I think that "He" knows, I was permitted to hold her in my arm, occasionally, when SHE wanted to, held the bottle for her, and from time to time, let her take a toy or two that I was holding.

I don't know what all happened in the world yesterday, I can see what made the news, which was not much. I imagine that a number of "major" decisions were made yesterday in a variety of venues, but of the millions of people in this world, only I, got to hold Miss Emma for that time period till she got, "fussy".

I took her away from my wife, sat down in my chair, got her comfortable in the cradle of my left arm, and then, an event like no other, Miss Emma looked up at me, and in that instant ..... there is no explanation, no way to convey what went on between us, it was just one of "those" moments, never forgotten.

Miss Emma is my Great Granddaughter. What's it all about, just that, and I got to visit with Miss Brooklyn, Emma's sister, who also has me wrapped around her finger.

I thank Him every day for keeping me on this earth to enjoy these pleasures

Some Insight .................

Some insight on my personal opinion of the "Burger Strike" in New York and how it may have originated.

Late 60's, for reasons that would take too long to explain, I worked in "retailing" in Klamath Falls, Oregon, a large store, I sold tires and auto items. It was a "union" store, some small union in Portland, not even sure what it was, they did very little, as I recall. Union meetings and a bowling league were on the same night so it was not a complete waste.

I had gotten to know a guy about my age who worked in sporting goods, we used to go fishing because he had a nice boat and a new motor, and all the "accoutrements" that went along with the sport, and he always had a nice "bankroll" for  after fishing activities.

A BIG union wanted in, they had nothing to do with retailing, they were primarily truckers, but their thought if they took over the retailing outlets, they would be sympathetic with those who delivered the products to the store, and in the event of a strike, well, a thorough shut down was anticipated.

That is where my friend got his boat, etc., it was anticipated that his oratorical ability with other employees would ensure their victory changing unions at the store, and it worked.

I left shortly after that, went back to Nevada and worked, at that time, in a union free environment. The union finally prevailed, I think due in part to the immense size of Harrah's and the number of employees they had. I am glad I worked in the days prior to that, and even back when we were nothing more than "clerks" to the IRS.

New York's latest luxury: a night under the starspg

New York - In the concrete jungle of New York City, where open sky can be hard to find, the latest luxury offering is a night under the stars - or, under twinkling city lights, at least.

From terraces and high-rise balconies atop Art Deco buildings or glass-walled modern structures, this new breed of hotel offers straight-up views, with nary a window pane or curtain to impede the breeze.

And in a city where air pollution, bright lights and the dizzyingly tall skyscrapers of the Manhattan skyline can obscure the stars, hotel companies say they offer travelers a unique experience.

"When we identified something we think will really delight people and give them a one-of-a-kind chance of living -- something that they can't get somewhere else -- we quickly tried to make that happen," said Elana Friedman, of luxury hotel group AKA.

For the not-so-insignificant price of $1 995 a night, the AKA Central Park promises a five star "outdoor bedroom," 17 floors up, complete with a queen-size bed, candle-lit dinner, fireplace, romantic snacks, and a giant telescope to admire the stars in the city that never sleeps.

To the strains of live jazz guitar, Brazilians, Australians, Emiratis, and even New Yorkers spend the night doing what travel agents call urban "glamping" -- short for "glamorous camping."

"This experience made me never want to go traditional camping again," one guest at the AKA, Jennifer Semeter, told AFP.

If anyone is interested, I have a rollaway bed I can put out on our porch, and for $749.99, you get an unobstructed view of the sky, and a dinner of a Big Mac, fries and a Bud Lite, with a Twinkie and an ice cream sandwich for dessert. The rollaway has casters, and for an additional $75 we will turn the bed every hour to enable a different view of the stars. (NO RAINCHECKS) ... our travel agents refer to it as "Suborping" .... short for "a sucker born every minute camping out on Dooley's front porch on a cheap rollaway bed eating a BigMac and sucking down a Bud"

Fast-food workers in NYC stage strikes, rallies

By BETHAN MCKERNAN and JON GERBERG — The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Workers at McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's restaurants across New York walked out Monday in a one-day strike to demand better pay and the right to unionize, calling for minimum wage to more than double from $7.25 to $15 an hour and the end to what activists called "abusive labor practices."

"It's noisy, it's really hot, fast, they rush you. Sometimes you don't even get breaks. All for $7.25? It's crazy," said Nathalia Sepulveda, who works at a McDonald's opposite Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, where one protest took place.

Outside the McDonald's as well as a Wendy's in lower Manhattan, workers chanted "we can't survive on $7.25" and "supersize our wages." At the Wendy's, the crowd shouted at customers not to go in and two police officers were stationed inside.

They were among hundreds of people who took part at locations throughout New York, activists said. Similar strikes were planned across the country this week, organized by the national Fast Food Forward campaign, which was launched last year to tackle stagnating wages and the proliferation of low-wage jobs as the nation recovers from the recession, said campaign director Jonathan Westin.

Have to make a comment here .. All these places, where we can afford to eat, have been open for many years, why, now, all of a sudden, is there a problem ... OH, I know why, some union has gotten (generally with gifts, money, vacations, etc) to some "vocal" employees and started this chain reaction. I would not be surprised if, in the past, a plan was formulated to get some of "their" people hired, and let the plan start working. How many people are we talking about, employees of "these" places, millions. And a few, probably bought and paid for, are causing this. This could be the end of "fast" food, affordable meals. It won't happen overnight, it will take some time, but eventually, they will fade away .... no more Big Macs. Walmart will be next, and then we won't be able to afford anything, anywhere .... except .... from the government ... wonder if Washington had anything to do with this??????

And I thought I was old

By Luc Cohen

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A team of paleontologists have discovered the fossilized remains of a 72 million-year-old dinosaur tail in a desert in northern Mexico, the country's National Institute for Anthropology and History (INAH) said on Monday.

Apart from being unusually well preserved, the 5 meter (16 foot) tail was the first ever found in Mexico, said Francisco Aguilar, INAH's director in the border state of Coahuila.

The team, made up of paleontologists and students from INAH and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), identified the fossil as a hadrosaur, or duck-billed dinosaur.

The tail, found near the small town of General Cepeda, likely made up half the dinosaur's length, Aguilar said.

Mexico dinosaur dig reveals bones bonanzaPlay video."Mexico dinosaur dig reveals bones bonanza
Paleontologists found the 50 vertebrae of the tail completely intact after spending 20 days in the desert slowly lifting a sedimentary rock covering the creature's bones.

Strewn around the tail were other fossilized bones, including one of the dinosaur's hips, INAH said.

Dinosaur tail finds are relatively rare, according to INAH. The new discovery could further understanding of the hadrosaur family and aid research on diseases that afflicted dinosaur bones, which resembled those of humans, Aguilar said.

Scientists have already determined that dinosaurs suffered from tumors and arthritis, for example.

I believe it ................

Explosions rock propane plant in central Florida, seven injured

By Barbara Liston

ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - Dozens of explosions rocked a propane tank servicing plant in central Florida, northwest of Orlando, late on Monday, injuring seven workers, at least three critically, and prompting the evacuation of nearby homes, authorities said.

No one outside the plant was hurt by the blasts, which began at about 10:30 p.m. local time at the Blue Rhino propane gas filling station in the town of Tavares, about 40 miles northwest of Orlando, said John Herrell, a Lake County sheriff's spokesman.

Fifteen workers out of the two dozen on duty were initially reported missing, but all subsequently were found unscathed, Herrell said. Two others were safe from the outset.

"Obviously it was a very, very dangerous scene" when firefighters arrived, Herrell said.

The chain reaction of explosions, ripping through 20-pound propane cylinders one after another - one tank every few seconds at its peak - unleashed tall columns of flames into the night sky. Homeowners several miles away reported feeling shocks from the explosions.

"We are hearing the booms here inside the restaurant," said Jessica McClure, 23, a waitress at a Denny's restaurant 7 miles north of the scene in the town of Eustis.

A pot and a kettle thing ...........

NEW YORK--Eliot Spitzer has repeatedly refused to answer questions about the sexting scandal that has enveloped Anthony Weiner’s mayoral campaign.

But in an interview Monday with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, the former governor, who was ousted from office after his own sex scandal, relented and said he would not support Weiner’s bid to replace Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Asked who he would support in the race for City Hall, Spitzer, who is running for city Comptroller, was initially hesitant to answer.

“You’re not going to vote for Anthony Weiner, can you just say that?” Matthews asked Spitzer. “You don’t think he should be mayor of New York?”

“Fair point,” Spitzer responded. “That is correct.”

Spitzer resigned from the governor's office in 2008 after he confessed to cheating on his wife with prostitutes. Last month, he announced a surprise bid for Comptroller--asking voters, as Weiner has, for a second chance in public service.

Diesel Mazda 6 wins at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Mazda says it won a big race in a new way at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- with a diesel.

The win by a Mazda6, a midsize sedan, in the Grand-Am Brickyard Grand Prix marked the first time that a diesel has won a car race at "the brickyard," as the track is nicknamed. The win is significant because automakers are still trying to sell American motorists as clean and thrifty when it come to gas.

The winner car was the No. 70, the SpeedSource Castrol Edge Mazda 6 SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel. It marked the fifth winning race in a row for Mazda6, and moves it ahead of Porsche after eight of 12 races in the GX manufacturers championship race. Mazda traded first place in Porsche several time during the race.

Cars with diesel engines have tried and failed to win before at Indy, Mazda says. The Cummins Engine Special won the pole for the Indy 500 in 1952, but never captured the checkered flag.

Porsche and Mazda battled for the lead during the entire race.

Hunter Mahan leaves PGA Tour event he was winning to attend birth of baby girl

Nice story, some things are just too important to miss ..... priorities!!!!! Let's just name him "Father of the Year"

Hunter Mahan was in prime position to capture his first PGA Tour victory of the year this weekend. 

A stellar second-round 64 vaulted him into the lead, and conditions at Glen Abbey in Ontario were prime for scoring today. 

There was just one problem: His wife Kandi went into labor. The couple had been expecting a baby girl for some time, and Mahan knew he might have to withdraw from a tournament when the time came 

(Kandi’s expected due date was after August’s PGA Championship). He only hit a few balls on the practice range before his agent received a call from Kandi. Hunter immediately withdrew from the tournament and headed to the airport.

Tropical storm Flossie: Hawaii braces for first direct hit in 20 years

According to the National Weather Service, the eye of the storm is headed directly for Maui and Oahu, with landfall expected Monday. Wind gusts could reach 60 miles per hour, but the greater threat is rain. Heavy rainfall could cause "life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, especially in the mountains."

The storm is expected to bring 6 to 10 inches of rain over Maui and the Big Island, with up to 15 inches possible in isolated locations, and 4 to 8 inches of rain over Oahu and Kauai, with isolated maximums of up to 12 inches possible.

Sustained winds up to 45 miles per hour were expected, and the NWS says that "dangerously high surf" is already hammering eastern-facing shores of the Big Island, and will soon spread to the other islands and continue through Tuesday.

The entire state is under a tropical storm warning and a flash flood watch through Tuesday night.

Forecasters on Monday said the storm is weakening rapidly as it shifts to the northwest. But Hawaii is still preparing for the worst, directing nonessential workers to stay home Monday and opening evacuation centers in numerous locations.

"We're going to continue to prepare for the worst," Hawaii island Mayor Billy Kenoi told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. "We want people to exercise caution, stay off the roads if possible and minimize curiosity."

Hawaii's Civil Defense office urged residents to pay attention to flash flood warnings.

Two Swiss trains collide, 35 injured, driver feared dead

All of these accidents are just an accident ............. right?

GRANGES-PRES-MARNAND, Switzerland (Reuters) - Two trains collided head-on in Switzerland on Monday evening, injuring about 35 people, five seriously, police said.

The driver of one of the trains was still unaccounted for and thought to be inside the wreckage, at Granges-près-Marnand in the canton of Vaud, police spokesman Jean-Christophe Sauterel said.

"These are regional trains. The speeds are a little lower and even if one deeply regrets the likely loss of life of one person as well as five serious injuries, the situation could have been much more catastrophic," Sauterel said.

He said it was too early to try to ascertain the cause of the crash.

One of the injured was taken by helicopter to Lausanne. Others were treated on the spot by paramedics or taken to hospital by ambulance.

About 40 people were on the two trains, one of which was heading to Lausanne, the other was going to Payerne.

Monday Morning Ramblings

PREDICTION: Anthony Weiner will be the next Mayor of New York City. With all the publicity he is getting, good, bad or indifferent, he is a shoo in to win. I have faith in voters, regardless of locale, they will vote for the name they see the most often, and that is his. The voters of New York City will forgive him for his transgressions, they will elect him and say, "Show us what you got." And, he will.

When, how and why, did pet departments and stores become so popular? I had a dog most of my life, I don't remember ever getting or feeding him dog food, I don't remember ever feeding him, for that matter. I think Rags ate leftovers, maybe my Mom fed him and I didn't know about it. A few years ago, our local Walmart had a small section of the store, in a far corner, devoted to pet stuff. Now I think it is the largest department in the store, or at lease one of them. Is that all Marketing and Advertising and Television rearing its head.

What marketing genius came up with "Christmas in July"? Instead of two months, the holiday now has at least three months to rake in the bucks. Late July, talking about "Back to School" already, Halloween stuff will be out soon, they Christmas Season again, and the year is over. How time flies.

Bliitz Cloth: Anyone know what that is? It was a very important item to me at one period in my life. It is a polish cloth. It was a part of life at The Citadel when I went to school there. Polished all of our brass with one, and we wore a lot of it.

Ohio State Fair already in progress. Runs longer and earlier every year. Summer just seems like a long weekend anymore. The "Long, Hot, Summer" is a thing of the past. Years ago it seemed like a lifetime between school getting out and school starting.

Crime is alive and well in Columbus, Ohio. A few murders, a number of shootings, two young boys have been shooting a few people, they caught them in Dayton, I guess. Large jewel theft in the French Riviera, lone guy, got 53 millions or so, in little time, and all the unarmed guards watched him do it. I admire someone with guts like that.

Believe it or Not .....................

Surprise for New Yorkers.........

"Yes, hi Mister Mayoral Candidate Weiner, Bill James, UPI, do you have any plans on what you intend to do if you get elected Mayor of New York?" 

"I sure do, Bill, going to be a big surprise for the citizens of this great metropolis, but plans are in the works to build a new City Hall Office Building, where my offices will be in the head, ah, or, er, at the top of the building, appropriate for the "head" man, don't you think, Bill?" 

"I must admit, it is unique, do you have a name for it yet?"

"What else, Bill, the Weiner Building."

Cannes heist: $53 million in jewels stolen from hotel

Where is Clouseau?

PARIS—A staggering 40 million euro ($53 million) worth of diamonds and other jewels was stolen Sunday from the Carlton Intercontinental Hotel in Cannes, in one of Europe’s biggest jewelry heists in recent years, police said. One expert noted the crime follows recent jail escapes by members of the notorious “Pink Panther” jewel thief gang.

The hotel in the sweltering French Riviera was hosting a temporary jewelry exhibit over the summer from the prestigious Leviev diamond house, which is owned by Israeli billionaire Lev Leviev.

A police spokesman said the theft took place around noon, but he could not confirm local media reports that the robber was a single gunman who stuffed a suitcase with the gems before making a swift exit. The spokesman spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter on the record.

The luxury Carlton hotel is situated on the exclusive Promenade de la Croisette that stretches a mile and a half along the French Riviera, and is thronged by the rich and famous throughout the year. The hotel’s position provides not only a beautiful view of the sea but also an easy getaway for potential jewel thieves along the long stretch of road.

“It’s a huge theft. Anytime you talk about a heist with many millions of dollars it turns heads and feeds the imagination,” said Jonathan Sazonoff, U.S. editor for the Museum Security Network website and an authority on high-value crime.

He said the likelihood of recovering the stolen diamonds and jewels is slim, because the thieves can easily sell them on. “The fear is, if you’re dealing with high-quality minerals, it’s hard to get them back,” Sazonoff said. “They can be broken up and so they can be easily smuggled and sold.”

Hello .......................

My telephone message on my answering machine

Hello

we are unable to take your call right now, 

please leave your name and number, 

or if you prefer, 

contact the White House in Washington, D C, 

they have all of our pertinent information 

on file there. 

Thank You.

U.S. beats Panama 1-0 to win Gold Cup

CHICAGO — The U.S men's soccer team didn't have coach Jurgen Klinsmann or midfielder Stu Holden, but it didn't matter in the end.

With Klinsmann and his fashionable wardrobe banned from Sunday's Gold Cup final, the U.S. seemed to lack a little bit of its own style on the field. But Donovan emerged with a strong performance and Brek Shea scored in the 69th minute to seal a 1-0 victory against Panama and win the regional tournament.

Klinsmann was suspended from the game by CONCACAF after being ejected in the final minutes of the semifinal victory against Honduras. He ran to the field to congratulate his team after watching the game from a luxury box.

Shea scored just 42 seconds after coming into the game. Alejandro Bedoya made a pass to Donovan, who missed the ball. Shea got a foot on it, sending the ball past goalkeeper Jaime Penedo.

Rescuers say 24 bodies in Italy bus plunge

ROME (AP) — Rescuers are saying that at least 24 bodies have been pulled out of the mangled wreckage of a tour bus that plunged dozens of yards (meters ) off a major highway in southern Italy after slamming into several cars. The bus landed in a ravine.

The Italian news agency ANSA quoted firefighters among the rescuers as also saying at least 11 people were injured in the crash Sunday night on the 116 autostrada near Avellino, some 160 miles (250 kilometers) south of Rome. Italian TV quoted people at the scene as saying about 49 people were on the bus, which was reportedly filled with Italian pilgrims returning from an excursion elsewhere in the south.

Highway police said the bus crashed into cars that had been slowed by heavy traffic.

Pastor, Wife, Chaperone Died in Bus Crash - What a horrendous tragedy

By KEN KUSMER Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS July 28, 2013 (AP)

An Indianapolis church mourned their youth pastor, his pregnant wife and a congregation member Sunday after the three died when their bus returning from a northern Michigan camp overturned a mile from home.

Saturday's accident devastated members of Colonial Hills Baptist Church, who had been anticipating a joyful homecoming with the 37 people aboard the bus. The crash killed youth pastor Chad Phelps; his pregnant piano-teacher wife, Courtney Phelps; and chaperone Tonya Weindorf, deacon Jeff Leffew said.

The crash, which happened Saturday afternoon near Interstate 465, injured dozens. Seven teens remained hospitalized Sunday, including one in critical condition. Bus driver Dennis Maurer, a 68-year-old member of the congregation, told authorities that the brakes failed before the church-owned vehicle struck a raised concrete median and flipped on its side, Indianapolis metro police said.

Chad Phelps, the son of the church's senior pastor, and his wife were both in their mid-20s, Leffew said, and were expecting their second child next month. Chad Phelps had become youth pastor at Colonial Hills late last year, he said." ... We're going to have a long road, but God is good," Leffew said Sunday during a news conference.

The Phelpses' first child, Chase, nearly 2 years old, was among the injured. He was treated and released from a hospital Saturday, IU Health spokeswoman Sally Winter said.

Authorities are still investigating the crash. The bus was nearly finished with a 365-mile journey, overturning just a mile from the church, where parents were waiting to pick up their children after a weeklong camp filled with prayer, zip lines and basketball.

Dear Abby:

Dear Abby:

I think that maybe I have a problem and need your advice. I am a national figure so I can't mention my name, so I will use a "secret" name that I use on the internet, Carlos. My problem, I really enjoy taking pictures of my "private parts" and sharing them with millions of people on the internet. Do you think this is wrong?

I had to resign from one job I had because they found out, and I am trying to get another really nice job, but, I have done it again, well, really, I never stopped. My wife has forgiven me, again, but I don't know how much longer my "forgive me" story is going to hold up. She found out that my activities included texts, revealing pictures, phone sex, and sex chats. I looked at them as getting votes, "One Voter at a Time."

I have attended Sex Therapy sessions on a number of occasions, and I really don't think they helped me any, except, I did get some good names and numbers of ladies who I have stayed in contact with, if you know what I mean.

Do you think I need help? If so, please send me your Email address and your phone number and I will send you some pictures and perhaps we can "chat" sometime.

I really, I mean, REALLY, look forward to hearing from you.

Carlos

Obama Ignores Congress – Sends $500 Million Of Taxpayer Money To Hamas

"Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth."

 - Abraham Lincoln 

Once again we are bending the rules to send money to fund terrorists and once again the media lap dogs are ignoring it. Maybe it’s just not big news anymore. It’s not like the Royals had a baby or something.

Why is it not big news when we send aid to Palestinians? I am not sure but this seems to be the norm. Remember that $4 Billion Dollar Aid package that John Kerry put together for Palestinians a couple of months ago? Probably not because it went virtually unreported just as this case will.

In the interest of National Security, Barack Obama chose to waive congressional restrictions on aid to Palestinians on Friday Afternoon. The Washington Times reports:

President Obama on Friday afternoon ordered another waiver of congressional restrictions on direct funding of the Palestinian Authority, clearing the way for more U.S. aid.

In the one-page order, Mr. Obama said he was taking the action due to the “national security interests” of the U.S. The move comes as the administration is preparing to host renewed direct talks in Washington between Palestinians and Israelis for the first time since 2010.

The president in March directed about $500 million to be sent to the Palestinian Authority, also waiving the restrictions set by Congress. At the time, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said he was seeking to move another $200 million to the Palestinians.

Some lawmakers oppose the aid, both because of sequestration budget cuts and the Palestinian Authority’s ties to the terrorist organization Hamas.

Some afternoon "thoughts"

Under ObamaCare, 

Criminals, 

A.C.O.R.N. 

Goons 

and Occupy Wall Street Thugs 

Will Have One-Touch Access 

To Your Private Financial and Medical Information.

 Stephen T. Parente and Paul Howard, writing in USA Today, called it an open door for unprecedented "identity theft," but few are talking about the potential for ObamaCare to morph into a tool that Obamabots will use to harass, extort and intimidate you, your family members and your neighbors. 

       Enough is enough. 

It's time to tell Republican leaders in Congress: Enough of the talk, 

WE DEMAND REAL ACTION. 

It's time to force them to finally do the 

ONE THING IN THEIR POWER

 to 

STOP ObamaCare. 

       Yes, Republicans have had the power to stop ObamaCare They can stop it by SIMPLY REFUSING TO FUND IT, and they don't need Harry Reid or Barack Obama to go along with them to do it. 

       As a matter of fact, Senator Ted Cruz and 63 Republican legislators in the House and Senate are demanding that the rest of their GOP colleagues in Congress do just that... DEFUND OBAMACARE. And these brave conservatives need our help. 

       The time to stop ObamaCare is now. Because, as Senator Ted Cruz warns us: 

"If we’re going to repeal it we’ve got to do so now or it will remain with us forever." 

I have a problem ... Danny

Dear Abby ...........

I have a problem. I am the campaign manager for a candidate who is running for Mayor of New York City. I won't mention his name. My problem is that he was found to be posting obscene photographs of himself to certain women on the Internet, photographs of his "private parts, and using an assumed name of Carlos Dancer. The first time it was brought to lite, he resigned his seat in Congress, disgraced himself and his wife, and asked everyone's forgiveness.

Then he came to me and asked for my help in running his campaign for Mayor of New York City. He told me that Carlos had done his last "dance," no more "exposure" he assured me.

Now we find out he is still "dancing" on the internet and still up to his old internet "tricks." He seems to be really addicted to exposing himself to millions of women on the internet.

I can no longer help him, so I am resigning as his campaign director. I guess my question to you is, will all those who have been "exposed" to him still vote for him if he does continue to campaign and run for office, and, how can I respect his wife who keeps forgiving him for doing it, and is now accused of "double dipping," and how can I continue to work for someone so stupid?

I have been offered a potential job with Larry Flynt as his publicist, and have also been asked to do PR for Dennis Hoff at The Moonlite BunnyRanch in Carson City, Nevada. They feel my background and association with my "candidate" gives me the appropriate experience to work in either pornography or prostitution.

I await your answer.

Disillusioned Danny in New York

Ripley;s .................

"Anthony, I'm leaving"

NEW YORK—Anthony Weiner’s campaign manager reportedly quit Saturday amid turmoil over the mayoral hopeful’s admission that he exchanged lewd messages with women he met online even after a sexting scandal forced him out of Congress. ..................

......................But Weiner has repeatedly insisted he won’t drop out of the race, saying he wants voters to ultimately decide whether he deserves the “second chance” he’s been asking for since he officially kicked off his mayoral bid in May.

“Citizens have to decide for themselves whether this personal behavior, when one thing happened or it didn't happen, is important to them. All I am saying is that these things were personal in nature,” the Democratic mayoral candidate told reporters Thursday. “I have worked them out between me and my wife and ... they've been behind me. They've been behind me for some time now. And it wasn't until they were behind me that I decided to run for mayor. I understand that might not be a satisfying answer for some people.”

I left the middle part out .... I am trying to understand how and why a person can reach this mindset. "Hey, my wife forgave me, why can't you guys. Yeh, I still do it, I'm a exhibitionist or something, maybe even worse, but I 'm still able to run this gigantic city during the day and expose myself at night. My wife, the "double dipper" is standing beside me. She knows she has to, I could ruin her with what I know." Maybe it is just that he is ........... a ............... "Politician" ...... comes with the job title.....

Boat Driver Arrested on Suspicion of Being Intoxicated in Crash That Killed Bride

The operator of a boat carrying members of a wedding party that crashed into a barge on the Hudson River Friday night, killing a bride and her fiance's best man while injuring three others, including the groom, has been arrested on suspicion of intoxication.

A woman's body was found by rescuers off the shore of Piermont, N.Y. Saturday that is believed to be the body of Lindsey Stewart, 30. Her fiance, Brian Bond, 36, was also injured in the crash near the Tappan Zee Bridge. They were set to marry in two weeks.

Authorities said the 35-year-old operator of the boat, described as an acquaintance of the couple, is charged with first-degree vehicular manslaughter and second-degree vehicular assault. Police say there is probable cause that he was intoxicated.

The woman's body was found near the bridge, Rockland County Undersheriff Bob Van Cura said Saturday afternoon. The best man, Mark Lennon, remains missing.

Stewart's stepfather, Walter Kosik, said the bride and groom had known each other since they were 10 years old.

Excellent suggestion ...................

This is good, forward this to all of your list ........

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage.

If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds, all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

Carry your keys with you all the time, it could be a very effective WARNING DEVICE for any emergency.