Echos ....................

Watching the Indy 500 and softball, switching back and forth. Indy brings back a lot of memories.

I don't remember the first one I listened to, Howdy Bell and all the announcers, then it was an all day event. One year we were in Indiana, near the track. A vivid memory, a long of line of slow traffic, bumper to bumper, leaving the track in Indianapolis. I assume we were visiting our family in Marion, and on the way back from that.

We were perhaps 50 yards back, in traffic, when we noticed a train coming, the car on the track apparently could not move, I remember when the train hit it, a woman's straw hat came flying our of a window, long white ribbon on the hat. Never learned of injuries, but never forgot that hat.

I was glued, every year, to the radio, had books, a BIG fan of the race.

In 1943 we moved, and a year or so later, we built a picnic house in our back yard, and some of us started a tradition of having a sleep over weekend, and listening to the race, and cooking out. Jack Austin, now I think in Nevada, Taki Anagnostin, a Doctor in California, Dick Whipp, in Montana. He came back with his wife, Peaches, had a nice visit. Lost track of him since. Barrett "Sonny" Kemp, an attorney in Lima, Ohio. I remember Mary Bimm visiting our group for dinner, Dick Bigelow, Bob Morris, and I am sure there were others, those come to mind. Been over sixty years ago.

In those days the race ran all day, so we took the day to party. Good Memories.

I missed the opening today, was helping my wife get set up at Walmart, maybe the first one I have missed. Not sure if Jim Nabors sang or not, missed hearing "Back Home Again in Indiana," and, used to be "Drivers Start Your Engines." Today probably "Drivers."

One Hundred Years Old, nice that some things don't change ..... I love tradition ............

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2011

We have a lot of Holidays during the year, but I think that there is no day, during the year, that should be given more thought and consideration, than this. They "Served The Country." I really don't think that we give enough respect for those who Served, and even more, those who died, while serving.

Think what it means, to leave your home and family,  learn a whole new way of life, a new routine, new friends, training, whose end result is self preservation, or killing an unknown enemy. A person who was brought up learning "not to kill," is now being trained on "how to kill."

Eventually, perhaps, to be put in a situation where those around you are being killed, you see comrades falling to the ground, you are placed in a "kill or be killed" situation. For your country, perhaps a country that has not been that beneficial to you, that has not produced the bounties that others had received. And, here you are, possibly dying  for that ideology. They say, dying so that those back home can live. Millions have died, millions more have served.

They fought and died for this "ship of state," but now, the "ship" is floundering, greatly in need of repair, slowly sinking, and it appears that the leaks cannot be fixed.

Just think, millions have died, millions left home, millions went to foreign lands, and nothing has been determine or decided yet. WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Desert Storm, wars are still raging, people are still dying, men, boys and women are still leaving their homes, still dying.

So, this one day, take a five minute break from your routine, try to visualize, leaving home, leaving your family, undergoing a training that is completely opposite to the training you have had so far, visualize facing an enemy, being in a kill or be killed situation, all alone, in a  foreign land.

No one gives up more, than a Veteran.

Why was there a WWI, Why did the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Why did Germany want to "rule the world," what was the problem in Korea, Where was Desert Storm, What was gained in Viet Nam.

YOU will need more than a day to answer all these questions. Just say "Thanks," and take a moment on this day, to Remember.

I will, my Grandfather served in the Civil War, my Father was in WWI, my Brother was in WWII, I served in the Navy during the Korean War, my Son Dean, served during Viet Nam, and my Son Brad served during Desert Storm.

Thank a Veteran this Memorial Day, it is MORE than just a Holiday or a day off.

MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTES

What's Next?

Something has to be next, wonder what it is? Will it be weather related, something political, terrorists. Terrorists must be feeling bad now, they can't take credit for these weather related tragedies, but I am sure they would like to.

What a great time to be a news person, travel all over the world reporting, one disaster after another. Murder trials, our leaders, "messing around." They said there were rumors about that child being Arnold's, until on one occasion he acted in a school play. They said that he was so awful  at acting that they knew he was Arnolds.

The Frenchman, head of the IMF, added new meanings to his title, now being held in a luxury apartment, his attorneys working on bail for him.

Obama may run "Unopposed" in the next election. The Republicans are looking for "volunteers" to run for President. They are referring to their candidates as "dead man walking," or "dead man running." They know when the "execution" will be.

Someone reported that Oprah may run, her popularity is high, she needs a job, and the president likes her, could be a close race. Who else would look good on that ticket?

BS, where is everyone?

I must admit, I am a bit upset today. With ALL that is going on IN THIS COUNTRY, needless to say all that is going on around the world, our president is in Ireland, letting the world know that he has WHITE relatives. AND, he is going to send a BILLION to Egypt. He is, without a doubt, the greatest campaigner we have ever had in the White House.

At this time, WE NEED SOMEONE HERE, there is just too much devastation going on in the USA, even the IMPRESSION of seeming  to be interested would be nice. HIS only concern is the next election, which he WILL win, with little effort and a BILLION dollars.

WHO is going to be he "sacrificial lamb' that the GOP is going to throw out there. Run Schwarzenegger or  Dominique Strauss-Kahn, they seem to have all the qualifications, and they aren't going to win anyway.

I would like to have the "Frequent Traveler" miles that BA has picked up since becoming King ....

Mexico returns 400 of 513 migrants found in trucks

This handout X-ray photo, provided by Chiapas State Attorney General Office, shows, according to the attorney's office, migrants from Latin America and Asia inside a truck heading to the US at a checkpoint near Tuxtla Gutierrez, in Mexico's southern Chiapas state, Tuesday, May 17, 2011. Police in Chiapas state found over 500 migrants Tuesday inside two trailer trucks.

The Joe Conforte Book is Ready .............

Finally my book is ready! The title is "Breaks, Brains & Balls", which is a short-hand code for how to make it big in this world, like I did. It will be published as a regular book in May, but you can Buy It Now as an Ebook!.


This is my life story. I have a very good memory, very good, and this is the way I remember it, from a little boy in Sicily, watching my mother in her outdoor kitchen, squatting down to fan the fire beneath the big cooking pot with a raven's wing, to now, in my penthouse apartment in Rio De Janeiro with the most beautiful young girl in Brazil for my companion.

Do you think it was easy, getting to this paradise? No. Like the book says, it took breaks, brains and balls every step of the way, from a street-smart runaway kid in New York City to owning the Mustang Ranch in the Nevada desert, putting millions into a Swiss bank account and thumbing my nose at the IRS all the way.

"In Nevada a man can do anything he's big enough to do, so long as he don't hurt nobody else."

— Joe Conforte

For MORE information and to buy the book go to http://joeconforte.com

Americans Work More Than 2 Hours Per Day to Pay Taxes

Americans who work 9 to 5 don’t get to earn money for themselves until 11:13 a.m. each day — before that, they’re working to pay taxes.

In 2011, Americans will devote 2 hours and 13 minutes of each 8-hour workday, or 27.7 percent of their working hours, to pay their share of taxes at the federal, state, and local level, the Tax Foundation reports.

But if the federal government was collecting enough in taxes this year to finance all of its spending, instead of borrowing, Americans would work past lunchtime, until 12:07 p.m., to cover their overall tax tab.

An additional income source that I KNOW works .... my banker told me so

Last week I had an occasion to stop by our local bank, and while there was talking with one of the Assistant Managers. During the conversation, the subject of making money on the Internet came up, and she mentioned one young woman who occasionally made some "hefty" deposits, and had indicated that she made them from "working on line."

My banker friend said that after some time of taking her deposits they became acquainted, and the young woman told her what she was doing and how she was making the money she was depositing.

I was curious, and she told me what she had just started doing at home, in the evenings, and that so far, she had achieved some success following the same path. My curiosity got the best of me and I ran down the program and am looking in to the possibility of following their lead.

Their success has whetted my "retired, on Social Security (with no raises for two years)financial appetite and I am presently following their program.

I have looked in to it, and here is some of the information that I have found. If you pursue this, keep in touch and let me know how much success you have had with it.

MORE INFORMATION

A comment from Janet Paschal.............

This is an Email I received from Janet Paschal, she is a Gospel Singer and I have admired her for many years. This is her perspective, and one that we all should share. She is a very giving person.

Alabama On Our Minds

Hey Everybody,

I have just returned from Tuscaloosa where we partnered with Comfort Care of Alabama for a Tornado Relief concert. On Thursday night we raised $5,000 and on Friday night in Brewton, the concert attendees added a truckload of basic essentials for the people of that state. God bless America...

I was granted a behind-the-scenes tour of the hardest hit areas. Amid the indescribable pictures, it was encouraging to see the people and corporations who have joined hands, hearts, and logistics to reach out to the people of that area. Tide laundry (P&G, I suppose) set up a free washer and dryer facility along the main stretch of highway; next door was a makeshift Duracell battery charging station; at posts all throughout the worst areas the National Guard offered free water and tarps. Many national companies sent supplies, stations, and volunteers to work hands-on as the area begins a long recovery. I spent the day alternating between deep sadness and sheer pride at the response of a nation under God that does not wait to be asked, but who moves without hesitation to help someone whose need is more imminent.

I know that the people of Alabama and the other areas affected sincerely covet your prayers. I also suspect that many of you have already been praying for them. That, too, makes me proud.

We love you. We appreciate you, too.

Blessings,

Janet

Inner Peace

INNER PEACE

Who Invented Toast?

When you think about it, toast is nothing more than burnt bread. A whole industry makes a unit just to burn bread, how smart is that? I wonder how it all happened?

"Hey, let's burn the bread and see how they like it," I don't think so.

I think that years ago, some guy was working in a restaurant kitchen, fixing breakfast for some customer, and some guy was working with him, not paying a lot of attention to what he was doing, set some bread down on the stove and forgot about it.

"Hey, dummy, you're burning the bread!"

"Oh, I'll throw it out and slice some more."

"Not enough time, is it bad?"

"No, it just turned color, a light brown."

"Is it hot."

"No, just warm, nice and toasty."

"Go ahead and cut it in half and put it on the plate, tell them it's just warm bread."

"That's not a good name, call it something else, how about we call it toasty?"

"No, too long, just call it TOAST."

And now, you know the rest of the story.

Jessie Maud Shannon Dooley

My Mom, and my thoughts go out to  her as we get closer to Mother's Day. She left this earth too soon.
She loved family, and "good times" with her family.

She was a "PK," a Preachers Kid. James Shannon, her Father, was a United Brethren Minister, now Methodist, and her early life revolved around the church. He ultimately became a Bishop in the church.

A lot of her stories revolved around the church, and incidents that happened there. She had a sister, Eva Shannon, and they had so many stories to tell of their growing up, many of which revolved around the church.

They always told the story of an elderly man in the church who had not been feeling well for quite some time, and finally felt good enough one Sunday morning to give it a try. He and his wife agreed that if he got to feeling bad, he would get up, go outside, and wait for his wife outside.

During the service, he leaned forward in the pew, and told his wife, "Mother, I think I'm going."

She reluctantly told him, "Oh, alright," a little disgruntled that he was leaving, but as they agreed, she thought he was leaning forward to retrieve his hat from under the pew.

He died, right there in the church.

I never heard her use a "cuss" word, they were not in her vocabulary. She was a patient, faithful and dutiful Doctors wife. The hospital and his patients came first, she understood that.

When Dad first retired, he agreed to go to work for Blue Shield, travel the state, and implore Doctors to not take advantage of health insurance. They gave him a car and an assistant  for his travels

On one occasion, Mom was going to accompany them on a short trip, and they took my Dad's car, Werner, his assistant drove.

After a while, my Mom commented, "Dean, there aren't nearly as many bastards on the road when Werner drives." A rare occurrence for Jessie to use a word like that, my Dad, the Doctor, had a bit of a temper.

If a child used an "off color" word or phrase, her comment generally was, "He/she didn't suck that out of his/her thumb."

Mom died suddenly, I wish I had more time with her, some of those great summer evenings, sitting on the front screened-in porch, looking out over the lawn, the smell of fresh mowed grass in the air, and the pond, some occasional fireflies lighting up the night, just sitting and talking. I was always too busy doing something else to spend much time with her.

"Backward, turn backward ........................"

Happy Mothers Day.

Good one Ernie...................

If you go to a bar and ask for an Osama, you get two shots and a splash of water.

Pelosi Changes Tune on bin Laden

By Martin Gould

Seems everyone’s jumping on the bin Laden bandwagon — even former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Just five years ago, when President Bush was still in power leading the hunt for the world’s most wanted terrorist, the California Democrat said capturing or killing Osama bin Laden was not vital to national security.

“Even if he’s is caught tomorrow, it is five years too late. Even to capture him now I don't think makes us any safer,” she said according to Powerline.

But now the deed has been done and the president is a member of her own party, Pelosi has changed her tune. “The death of Osama bin Laden marks the most significant development in our fight against al-Qaida,” she said on Monday.

“I salute President Obama, his national security team, Director Panetta, our men and women in the intelligence community and military, and other nations who supported this effort for their leadership in achieving this major accomplishment.”

Dog Submerges Herself In Bathtub To Survive Fire

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. -- A dog survived a raging house fire for six hours by hiding in a water-filled bathtub, according to firefighters.

The house that burned was in the relatively new Beaumont subdivision off State Park Road near Mt. Creek Baptist Church.

Piedmont Park Fire Capt. Duane Brock said the fire was extremely difficult to extinguish because of the size of the house and the intensity of the flames.

Firefighters were able to rescue the dog, a 1-year-old Belgian Malinois named Mia, from the basement of the burning home, according to Brock.

Mia's owner, Chris Brumby, was amazed at how the dog survived, but said he knew she was smart.

"She acts like a human for most things," Brumby said. "And that kind of showed it. She knew where to go and hide."

He said Mia was able to get to a bathtub on the lowest level of the house, where she waited as firefighters doused the home with water. As the water ran down into the basement, it filled the bathtub and soaked Mia, keeping her safe from flames, Brock said.

Brumby said the dog has learned how to open doors throughout the house, and that she had to open four doors to get to the bathtub where she was found.

He said when firefighters brought her out of the house, she was wet, dazed and covered in soot.

"She literally had steam coming off of her," he said.

I hope not ...................

I am remembering back to December 7, 1941, to a comment, made by a Japanese high ranking officer ...
Japanese Admiral, Isoroku Yamamoto,  "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

I hope that the event on Sunday, on Osama Bin Laden, will not trigger plans that were already formulated.

That is the very nature of "terrorism."

Hitchcock, “There is no terror in a bang, only in the anticipation of it”

Politics??????

Tough being a politician.

The president, took advantage, and credit, for eliminating Bin Laden, because it was a good political move. He has had a good week. All of that "roasting" of Trump at the dinner the other night.

I really don't know that I would have taken all the credit for eliminating him. I wonder now, just how many fanatical terrorists see that "target" on him.

I don't think I would want to be known as the one who took the "shot," or even being in the assault group that did it. There are a lot of terrorists out there who might want to get even, reward might be even larger than the one on Bin Laden.

If, we we assume he is, Obama is a Muslim, how does it go over that he gave the "kill" order?

I think his "virgins" may all have leprosy.

Interesting comment .... in comparison to the last entry ....

Listening to NPR on my way home and they were talking about being abroad and traveling, and how during his travels abroad he always tries to "listen" to the local people and hear what they are saying, especially about our country.

Overheard somewhere, "I don't want to move to America, I don't want my daughter brought up like Britney Spears."

Interesting perception of our country.

The Real Miss America ............

This 19 year old ex-cheerleader now an Air Force Security Forces Sniper, was watching a road in Pakistan that led to a NATO military base when she observed a man digging by the road.

She engaged the target (she shot him).

It turned out he was a bomb maker for the Taliban, and he was burying an IED that was to be detonated when a U.S. patrol walked by 30 minutes later. It would have certainly killed and wounded several soldiers.

The interesting fact of this story is the shot was measured at 725 yards. (That's a shot 25 yards longer than seven football fields).

She shot him as he was bent over burying the bomb.

The shot went through him and into the bomb which detonated; he was blown to pieces.

The Air Force made a motivational poster of her.