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Thursday, November 27, 2014

Just a Little Bit of Thanksgiving

    
           Holidays have always cause me to think of my past and how fortunate I am to have had such a wonderful family and memories.. For as long as I can remember I have had a dreamy relaxing history and a life of peace and rewards.  From all the places I've lived. All the small towns and quiet country settings. The places I have worked and the wonderful friends I've made. I remember being very young and in the beginning my Dad pointing me in the right direction. He has given me a life one could only pray for. I can remember being loved, pampered and taken care of by my Mom. I remember my beautiful Aunt Mary and both of my Grandmothers and my Grandfather and how much I was loved and cared for with hugs and kisses.. From my short pants and suspenders to the Catholic Church and the real beauty and feeling of a Christmas season. I remember Aunt Ann and Uncle Francis, Aunt Grace and Uncle John, Uncle Joe and Aunt Helen, Uncle Louie and Aunt Betty. I was blessed with the most wonderful family ever. I can remember each and every smile and hug and when they greeted me as a little boy.  Those memories are loving precious moments and treasures and something I will always have. They become more vivid every day...
                                                
                                                      Happy Thanksgiving  Everyone...
                                                               
                                                                 Thought to Ponder . . .
                              "There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude; a quiet joy."



Sunday, November 9, 2014

WARNING….. Beware of Advertisements on Twitter!

The other day I noticed there were advertisements for a soft drink. Don't you love the way they say "soft drink" like it can't hurt you so sit down and pour that bowl of sugar down your throat. Or eat this Pizza it tastes good. Failing to mention the grease alone will raise your cholesterol blood pressure to heart attack levels.  Anyway I digress, read the directions below to get rid of those ads..


If you want to block those ads the tool is on the advertisers site.. Go to the Twitter site and click on that little gear and then click block. It will disappear.. There is also a disregard button. You can use that also..Since Twitter has changed things around it is a little more confusing...Gee I wonder why they changed....

Note!...If advertising appears on my Tweet page and I see it I will tell every one NOT to buy or spend anything you sell or try to sell.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Best What!

      
I went to very popular Electronic store yesterday to look for a CD or Cassette player.. Yes, I know what you are thinking but I like the way I listen to books on tape or books on CD and now pay attention here, I am not going to change! I feel better because the sales manager said he will “order what I am looking for and send it to me“.
       I mean this store has turned in a giant phone store and I felt like if I wanted to buy a TV a camera or computer I could maybe get there also. I mean its really messed up.. Things are backwards.. It looks like selling high tech phones is keeping them alive...If it wasn’t because everything is free for me on the Internet I would hate it…

Sunday, November 2, 2014

"Call Block"

The worst enemy of phone solicitation are phones with call block. The second worst enemy is people that know how to use it.
     Stop phone solicitation. The people that do this job are trained to make you feel bad so you will send a donation or buy something. They focus on Seniors, young people and low income people. Remember the freedom of information act and the way they watch you. Your trusted phone servers sell your number to the scammers. They call them servers now not company’s… Did you know that every time you scan that store card you carry to get that so-called discount. That bar code on the back has all your information…They know who you are, where you live, where you go and what you do. If you give your credit number to someone on the phone will your credit card be safe? Never give them any numbers or buy anything over the phone. Never pay for anything on that auto payment plan.
     Please Note! If you decide to get a new phone or just feel like replacing your old one because of those annoying calls. Go on the internet or get a friend to help you find the model number of one and make sure it has the call block feature. These days it will be on the box or in the feature section of the manual. Yes, it may cost a little more but its worth it not to have listen to these morons try to scam you out of your life savings. No matter what they say or how nice their voice sounds, they lie to you, they don’t care about you. When buying your phone from one of those workers in the electronic dept. at your local Wally Land most don’t have a clue about what their talking about so just don’t buy anything. Make them show you where it says, this phone has the “CALL BLOCK” feature. I’ve have one for years and when a unwanted call comes in, it rings once then shuts off. (Hangs up) The call has been blocked. Too block a call you save the number and it will say on the screen, delete or call block. Click on Call block and its done so when they call again and they will, it will block the call from that number. The sophisticated scammer will have two or three numbers. Block them all! They will do anything to catch at your weakest moment…Good Luck and I mean that.. The more we do to keep this scum at bay the better we will feel...

Friday, October 31, 2014

"I Remember a Few Presidents"



Here I was playing with my Dad.               Mom and me at Riverside Park

                                                                              

 “I never forget that I live in a house owned by all the American people and that I have been given their trust.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt


             I vaguely remember Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his final days. His picture was on the front page of the New York Daily News that my Dad brought home.. There was also a picture of a flag covered coffin…I was a really little kid but I remember that..
I remember being with my Dad and seeing Dwight David Eisenhower giving a speech from the back of a train in Windsor Locks Connecticut.. They called it the Freedom Train. It was decorated with red white and blue bunting..
I remember Harry S. Truman, his health walks and the attempt on his life one morning. I also remember when he fired General Douglas MacArthur.
I remember seeing John F. Kennedy at Bradley International Airport. He Was riding in the back of a open Lincoln convertible going to Hartford to make a speech. He really did have Auburn hair.
I remember when he was shot in Dallas Texas. Years later I went to Cape Cod all the time and me and my dog Albert used to play on the beach outside his house at Hyannis Mass. See the picture below of the little doggie sitting on the life guard stand. That was near JFK's Cape Cod house.. I loved that place..
I remember Lyndon Johnson. I never seen him in person but I did pat the nose of Air Force One when it was parked on the Air Guard ramp at Bradley Airport. It was a Boeing 707 and you could reach it.. So much for security in those days.. He quit after one term in office. His wife’s name was “Lady Bird”.
I remember Richard Nixon. He was not a nice person. He said he wasn’t a crook but got Impeached then flew back to where ever he came from waving from Air Force One with that big grin on his face… At the time I thought he should fly commercial..
I remember Gerald Ford. His wife had a huge drinking problem.. I remember when the Secret Service had to escort her away from a party she attended.. She got sober and started a Rehab with her name on it.. The Betty Ford Rehab. I always felt sorry for her because alcohol addiction is not easy..
I remember seeing Jimmy Carter sitting on fender of a Cadillac in Hartford Connecticut waiting for a parade to start. I waved to him and he smiled and waved back.. I was working for the Government at the time…
If I remember right Ronald Reagan was an actor who got shot and made jelly beans famous… I think he had Dementia during his last few months in office..
It was when the first Bush was president that I totally lost interest. I mean who can take 8 years of a Bush?
I really stopped (and avoided) watching people like these (Presidents) when junior Bush got elected because for eight years, his clown stage appearance and the way he talked spoiled it for him.. I thought he was embarrassing…. Its hard to believe he flew fighter jets for the Air National Guard.. I think they made up the flying part… Now some black guy with no birth certificate is President now. I have no idea who it is.. I don’t think anybody does..



Below ~  Me and my Prom date Marie and Albert on the life guard chair near J.F.K's house at Cape Cod..

 
           Albert running on the Beach at the Cape near JFK"s house...




Monday, October 20, 2014

© " My Life in a Nutshell " - Joan Jett

I was doing some research before I watched Stephen Kings TV movie, "Big
Driver" last night. Maria Bello and Joan Jett are two of the actors.
Joan Jett caught my eye because she is a Vegetarian as I am.. I went to
Wikipedia like I always do and here are some of the things I found
out... 



 © " My Life in a Nutshell " - Joan Jett

Sunday, October 19, 2014

© " My Life in a Nutshell " - Three Years



   This is the link to the new post on Live Journal. I'm going try to remember to put the link here from now on. This is the picture of the new router I described on the post. Thank you for putting up with me...





 © " My Life in a Nutshell " - Three Years









































Thursday, October 16, 2014

Could This Be Germ Warfare?

People killing each other everywhere, now the plague ... Or something that looks like the plague.. Think about it. Our troops will be going into infected areas. Is someone NOT telling us something? What if you get sick with a minor problem and have to go to a hospital. Hospitals are bad enough these days, will you get sick and die now? What if you needed a hospital for a minor procedure, could you be infected? Could this be Germ warfare? We went to the mall today and did you know there are Army posters everywhere saying join up for a career and better life. Are they kidding???  Is that some kind of joke???  This is not a war like years ago. The wars of years ago we gave names to like World War I or World War II because they ENDED!!! Now its on going death. There will be no end.
I feel really sorry for your sons and daughters that don't know any better. The ones that walk around staring at that little machine in their hand. Its so sad....The worst of it is, some poor fool will believe their lies and actually join... 



Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Things Mom and Dad Said


“If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything”

“In one ear and out the other”

“You can’t have your cake and eat it too”

 “To each is own”

 “That’s water under the bridge”

 “Do unto others”

“Don’t make a mountain out a mole hill”

“Let bygones be bygones”

“Beauty is in the eyes of beholder”

“It takes one to know one”

“Monkey see, monkey do”

 “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink”

“Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched”

“The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence”

“The best things in life are free”

“Good things come in small packages”

“Idle hands are the Devil's workshop”

“Save for a rainy day”

“This is what happens when you burn the candle at both ends”

"What you don't know won't hurt you"

" Money is the root of all evil"

"If at first you don't succeed, try and try again"

"What's good for the Goose is good for the Gander"

"A penny saved is a penny earned"

"Bite the bullet"

"Don't take any wooden nickles" 

"To each his own"

"Its not carved in stone"

"Its better to be safe than sorry"


"I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore"

I am really getting frustrated.. To the point of being angry..

To make a long story short. I miss Writers block. At this point in time I want to answer a serious or silly question in the morning.. No, I don't know how long this will last. I guess for as long as I want it to. On this spell check thing.. I can spell but I'd like to be assured that an unusual word is spelled right.  Here is what I'm going to do.

I'm going to get a question from a site that I found and use it here on my Google site then I'm going to post the link on LiveJ.... You don't need spell check for that... I'm going to cheat, sort of..



      What is a motto or phrase that you try to live by?

Answer...................Get off the cross we need the wood...

I'm not serious there but I think you get the point...

 

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Just a quick refresher course 'lest we forget' what has happened to many "friends" of the Clintons.



 Just a quick refresher course 'lest we forget' what has happened to many "friends" of the Clintons.

1- James McDougal - Clintons convicted Whitewater partner died of an apparent heart attack, while in solitary confinement. He was a key witness in Ken Starr's investigation.
2 - Mary Mahoney - A former White House intern was murdered July 1997 at a Starbucks Coffee Shop in Georgetown .. The murder happened just after she was to go public with her story of sexual harassment in the White House.
3 - Vince Foster - Former White House councilor, and colleague of Hillary Clinton at Little Rock's Rose Law firm. Died of a gunshot wound to the head, ruled a suicide.
4 - Ron Brown - Secretary of Commerce and former DNC Chairman. Reported to have died by impact in a plane crash. A pathologist close to the investigation reported that there was a hole in the top of Brown's skull resembling a gunshot wound. At the time of his death Brown was being investigated, and spoke publicly of his willingness to cut a deal with prosecutors. The rest of the people on the plane also died. A few days later the air Traffic controller commited suicide.
5 - C. Victor Raiser, II - Raiser, a major player in the Clinton fund raising organization died in a private plane crash in July 1992.
6 - Paul Tulley - Democratic National Committee Political Director found dead in a hotel room in Little Rock , September 1992. Described by Clinton as a "dear friend and trusted advisor".
7 - Ed Willey - Clinton fundraiser, found dead November 1993 deep in the woods in VA of a gunshot wound to the head. Ruled a suicide. Ed Willey died on the same day his wife Kathleen Willey claimed Bill Clinton groped her in the oval office in the White House. Ed Willey was involved in several Clinton fund raising events.
8 - Jerry Parks - Head of Clinton's gubernatorial security team in Little Rock .. Gunned down in his car at a deserted intersection outside Little Rock Park's son said his father was building a dossier on Clinton He allegedly threatened to reveal this information. After he died the files were mysteriously removed from his house.
9 - James Bunch - Died from a gunshot suicide. It was reported that he had a "Black Book" of people which contained names of influential people who visited prostitutes in Texas and Arkansas
10 - James Wilson - Was found dead in May 1993 from an apparent hanging suicide. He was reported to have ties to Whitewater..
11 - Kathy Ferguson - Ex-wife of Arkansas Trooper Danny Ferguson, was found dead in May 1994, in her living room with a gunshot to her head. It was ruled a suicide even though there were several packed suitcases, as if she were going somewhere. Danny Ferguson was a co-defendant along with Bill Clinton in the Paula Jones lawsuit Kathy Ferguson was a possible corroborating witness for Paula Jones.
12 - Bill Shelton - Arkansas State Trooper and fiancee of Kathy Ferguson. Critical of the suicide ruling of his fiancee, he was found dead in June, 1994 of a gunshot wound also ruled a suicide at the grave site of his fiancee.
13 - Gandy Baugh - Attorney for Clinton's friend Dan Lassater, died by jumping out a window of a tall building January, 1994. His client was a convicted drug distributor.
14 - Florence Martin - Accountant & sub-contractor for the CIA, was related to the Barry Seal, Mena, Arkansas, airport drug smuggling case. He died of three gunshot wounds.
15 - Suzanne Coleman - Reportedly had an affair with Clinton when he was Arkansas Attorney General. Died of a gunshot wound to the back of the head, ruled a suicide. Was pregnant at the time of her death.
16 - Paula Grober - Clinton's speech interpreter for the deaf from 1978 until her death December 9, 1992. She died in a one car accident.
17 - Danny Casolaro - Investigative reporter. Investigating MenaAirport and Arkansas Development Finance Authority. He slit his wrists, apparently, in the middle of his investigation.
18 - Paul Wilcher - Attorney investigating corruption at MenaAirport with Casolaro and the 1980 "October Surprise" was found dead on a toilet June 22, 1993, in his WashingtonDC apartment. Had delivered a report to Janet Reno 3 weeks before his death.
19 - Jon Parnell Walker - Whitewater investigator for Resolution Trust Corp. Jumped to his death from his Arlington , Virginia apartment balcony August 15, 1993. He was investigating the Morgan Guaranty scandal.
20 - Barbara Wise - Commerce Department staffer. Worked closely with Ron Brown and John Huang. Cause of death unknown. Died November 29, 1996. Her bruised, nude body was found locked in her office at the Department of Commerce.
21 - Charles Meissner - Assistant Secretary of Commerce who gave John Huang special security clearance, died shortly thereafter in a small plane crash.
22 - Dr. Stanley Heard - Chairman of the National Chiropractic Health Care Advisory Committee died with his attorney Steve Dickson in a small plane crash. Dr. Heard, in addition to serving on Clinton 's advisory council personally treated Clinton's mother, stepfather and brother.
23 - Barry Seal - Drug running TWA pilot out of Mena Arkansas, death was no accident.
24 - Johnny Lawhorn, Jr. - Mechanic, found a check made out to Bill Clinton in the trunk of a car left at his repair shop. He was found dead after his car had hit a utility pole.
25 - Stanley Huggins - Investigated Madison Guaranty. His death was a purported suicide and his report was never released.
26 - Hershell Friday - Attorney and Clinton fundraiser died March 1, 1994, when his plane exploded.
27 - Kevin Ives & Don Henry - Known as "The boys on the track" case. Reports say the boys may have stumbled upon the Mena Arkansas airport drug operation. A controversial case, the initial report of death said, due to falling asleep on railroad tracks. Later reports claim the 2 boys had been slain before being placed on the tracks. Many linked to the case died before their testimony could come before a Grand Jury.

THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAD INFORMATION ON THE IVES/HENRY CASE:

28 - Keith Coney - Died when his motorcycle slammed into the back of a truck, 7/88.
29 - Keith McMaskle - Died, stabbed 113 times, Nov, 1988
30 - Gregory Collins - Died from a gunshot wound January 1989.
31 - Jeff Rhodes - He was shot, mutilated and found burned in a trash dump in April 1989.
32 - James Milan - Found decapitated. However, the Coroner ruled his death was due to natural causes".
33 - Jordan Kettleson - Was found shot to death in the front seat of his pickup truck in June 1990.
34 - Richard Winters - A suspect in the Ives/Henry deaths. He was killed in a set-up robbery July 1989.

THE FOLLOWING CLINTON BODYGUARDS ARE DEAD
35 - Major William S. Barkley, Jr.
36 - Captain Scott J . Reynolds
37 - Sgt. Brian Hanley
38 - Sgt. Tim Sabel
39 - Major General William Robertson
40 - Col. William Densberger
41 - Col. Robert Kelly
42 - Spec. Gary Rhodes
43 - Steve Willis
44 - Robert Williams
45 - Conway LeBleu
46 - Todd McKeehan

Monday, June 23, 2014

House For Sale

   Hopefully in the future Cathy and I are moving to a warmer climate but in order to do this she has to sell her house. I thought I would show it here. Its a beautiful large home with 5 acres of land.



Did you find this past winter a blast from the past? Did you wax your skis and build a snowman for the kids? Do you like Jack Frost nipping at your door? North Stonington maybe just the place for you and your family to live. A small town. Great schools. Your St. Bernard or Husky will love it too…  C. Blacker
                            
                 

 The location is in North Stonington Connecticut.

                            Front taken from the road.

                             A little closer..
                                Kitchen..
 
                                 Living room with a bedroom loft..
                                  Rear
                                 Garage















Friday, May 30, 2014

There is No Shame Anymore


     
 As I have predicted in the past, corruption has finally gotten to the point where they know you know all about them and they don't care. They laugh at you...To them you have become a non-person. Something to be overlooked. We are just a sore spot that doesn't matter. To the politicians in Washington you don't exist....



Note.. I WILL NEVER CHANGE! They will never change me! I do not belong in their culture and I will NOT be disrespected!








Thursday, May 29, 2014

Tuesday's with Morrie

  "Tuesday's with Morrie" is a book written Book written in 1997 by Mitch Albom.

If its the last thing you do read this book. It changed my life. Keep in mind it was written in 1997.

The following is a quote from Morrie.

      “We've got a sort of brainwashing going on in our country, Morrie sighed. Do you know how they brainwash people? They repeat something over and over. And that's what we do in this country. Owning things is good. More money is good. More property is good. More commercialism is good. More is good. More is good. We repeat it--and have it repeated to us--over and over until nobody bothers to even think otherwise. The average person is so fogged up by all of this, he has no perspective on what's really important anymore. Wherever I went in my life, I met people wanting to gobble up something new. Gobble up a new car. Gobble up a new piece of property. Gobble up the latest toy. And then they wanted to tell you about it. 'Guess what I got? Guess what I got?' You know how I interpreted that? These were people so hungry for love that they were accepting substitutes. They were embracing material things and expecting a sort of hug back. But it never works. You can't substitute material things for love or for gentleness or for tenderness or for a sense of comradeship.Money is not a substitute for tenderness, and power is not a substitute for tenderness. I can tell you, as I'm sitting here dying, when you most need it, neither money nor power will give you the feeling you're looking for, no matter how much of them you have.”      Morrie Schwartz 



Thursday, May 22, 2014

"Chelsea Groton Bank" - DO NOT USE THIS BANK!

            
Do you save your change? I mean when you get home from work do you have change in your pocket like a few quarters, nickles, dimes and penny's? Do you put them in a bank or in a jar to save for a rainy day? I learned from my Dad many years ago to do this. Well, for the first time ever Chelsea Groton Bank in Groton Connecticut wanted to charge me 3 percent of my fifty dollars in coins to turn my coins in. I surprised the lady who did this by saying she should have told me before she put the change into the machine so she decided she couldn't charge me. She didn't charge me this time but I will never bring anymore coins to that bank.
             Contagious Greed has its slimy fingers everywhere now. I've been a customer of that bank for 4 years and at times used 4 branches. Most times the tellers have that blank stare or that aloof look like they have the social skills of a ground mole. Needless to say, I am very angry. I will never ever suggest or tell anyone to use this Bank. I never said anything because at times people do have a bad day but there are also times I have been treated rudely, sometimes ignored and now I feel dirty like a scum that has its greasy hand in my pocket.

Please, I implore you! Do not use this bank....

The branch Manager wasn't there today. The bank I went to is below..
The locations link is below that....

Mary Conti
Branch Manager

1319 Goldstar Highway
Phone 860-448-4242


 

               http://www.chelseagroton.com/locations.php






Friday, May 16, 2014

Norwich State Hospital




           The following Pictures are of the Abandon State Hospital In Norwich and Preston Connecticut. A classic example of the over spending and the wasteful and corrupt politician's in this country. Keep in mind that somewhere on that property there is a Cemetery filled with the patients that died there between 1904 and when they closed it in 1996..If memory serves me there was a Jewish Synagogue there and next to it is and still is a rather large Jewish Cemetery. For some reason the Church was torn down but the Graves are still there.. Most of the buildings are gone now. The Redskin Casino owners want to make a walking trail out of it.. If they get their hands on the property forget it..





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwich_State_Hospital,_Connecticut









Friday, May 9, 2014

"My Economy"

A lot of what I wrote here is nonexistent in America today. Now in America its instant gratification and debt. That is the only way to go. More and more people are programed to spend anyway possible without thinking of the consequences. I had a wonderful patient father that taught me me the value of a dollar and how to save for a rainy day........ Read on.....

Today’s topic is about finances. The dictionary describes this as, "control of money, the business or art of managing the monetary resources of an organization, country or person." Wow, I could do something with that. I mean I could really be angry and show someone how save or spend but this is about my economy… Lately with me, its mostly using what I have been taught all my life. Lets start with credit. In these times of economic disaster and believe me, it is economic disaster. Its the worse I have ever seen...Never buy gas in Connecticut and never ever charge anything. I buy very few luxury’s if any. Because I saved in the past I’m fortunate enough to be able to buy what I want. I just don’t like to overpay for anything. I won’t give them an extra nickel if I don’t have to. I only buy things on sale with a coupon. Especially food but I never buy two to get one. The rule for me is if I want something and don’t have the money I’ll wait till I have the money to buy it, even if its inconvenient…I save (a word seldom used these days) money for things…I put a few dollars away for emergencies. Like a new Computer just in case I need one. I save for car maintenance. Oil changes every 3000 miles or if something breaks. My Mustang, paid for by the way, is a high maintenance car so its important to have it checked out at least once a year whether it needs it or not. Like to rotate the tires or front end work. You don’t want know what I paid for a break job for that car. At the speeds on the highways these days you had better do something. The insurance for that car is not cheap either so I have to save for that. I always pay bills as soon as I get them, never waiting till their due. My rent is paid a few days before the first of the month, I don't remember when I have paid interest in any form …When I have moved in the past I always use the landlord or the building manager as a reference. You can do that if you pay your rent on time. I could travel anywhere in the world if I want but I don’t want to deal with all this terrorist nonsense. I'm an American and worked hard for my country. I worked for the State, the Federal Government and the Army National Guard. I have top secret clearance for the Subase in Groton Connecticut...My history will not be ignored. I don't deserved to be searched and if I ever walked through security at an airport they should salute me.....When I worked at Bradley International Airport I used to fly for free and everybody knew my name. I save my change for the laundry and never wash unless I have a full load. When I get gas for the Mustang I never put more than $20 dollars in the tank…I will not carry around all that gas. Its heavy. Leave it in the ground at the gas station, it will be there if I need it. I do a lot of things to economize and cut back. I just absolutely refuse to give them anything if I don’t have to. Most of this for me is common sense and the end result is I have money in my pocket at payday and I don't owe anybody anything...


"There's not a lot you can do about the national economy, but there is a lot you can do about your personal economy." - Zig Ziglar



Thursday, May 8, 2014

Charities


These days when money is so tight it seems there is always someone looking for and asking for money. From the person at the register saying do you wish to donate, to the person standing on the side with a sign asking for money. Here are some tips and cautions you can use before you give..

1. Is it a registered charity?


Some charities operate without any paid employees, and so they do not have to be registered as a charity. The limit they declare is usually below $50,000 annually. But all the other charities who claim to be registered should be checked out by consulting the list at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This is important because of the tax deductions available. It will also ensure that you will not give to those charities who are flying under the government’s radar. In the UK, the Charity Commission is the government’s regulator on charities.

2. How much is spent on overhead

Each charity will have enormous overhead costs regarding staffing, running costs, and fundraising. Inevitably, a part of your donation will go towards these costs. A good rule of thumb is that 60-75% of donations should go to the actual cause and 25-40% towards administrative expenses. But some charities cut back on expenses, which leads to more waste. Check to see if this information is available on the charity’s website before making a donation.

3. Beware of phone calls

Some charities use companies who are for-profit fundraisers and they use telemarketing extensively. Because of the costs involved, it is unlikely that the charity will receive more than 10% of the amount you pledge.

4. Some charities pay enormous salaries to their CEOs

Major charities have to be run as businesses. But disturbing news often comes to light about how much they are spending on salaries and bonuses. Sometimes, funds raised actually go to the charity’s pension funds, rather than to the poor, sick and needy. This information is rarely revealed. Charities defend paying high salaries to executives because they are in demanding roles, and clever fundraising policies have to be thought out and implemented. The site Charity Navigator believes that salaries around the $1 million mark are unacceptable.

5. Think carefully about donating to short mission trips

These short mission trips to help build houses, schools and orphanages in third world countries seem to do more good for the volunteers, than the poor people. Think about these facts, before donating:

    Many trips cost as much as $30,000 to sponsor.
    Such large sums could actually be used locally to give employment to builders and workers in the country who desperately need money to buy food. Unemployment in these countries can be as high as 30%.
    Volunteers can send the wrong messages in that they know better, can do the work faster and they do not train the people there to deal with their problems in the long term.

Organizers of short term mission trips should focus more on the permanent impact, and how locals can be more actively involved after the volunteers have left. Ask if they are approaching the mission in this way before deciding whether to donate or not.
6. The good, the bad and the ugly about celebrity charities

When you think about Bob Geldof and Bono, who have supported enormously successful charities to fight world hunger and poverty, you can have nothing about admiration for them.

But some of these celebrity charities have made zero impact when auditors revealed that considerable funds were missing or unaccounted for. This was the case with Madonna. She was going to build a girls’ school in Malawi. Auditors revealed that almost $4 million went missing from the charity’s funds. Madonna is now contributing $11 million she has raised into Malawi-based organizations to help them build the schools that are needed.

Wyclef Jean, the hip hop icon, founded the Yéle Haiti Foundation after the disastrous earthquake in Haiti, which killed up to 300,000 people in 2010. He is now facing lawsuits about tax fraud and whether he gained financially from the charity he set up.
7. Beware of fundraisers in the mall

How many times have you been approached in the mall or on the street by a fast-talking and convincing fundraiser for a very worthy charity? This is a bit more sophisticated than the telephone calls you might receive at home. Here is what to look out for:

    They do not want a one-off donation.
    They want a monthly commitment which could work out to be $500 annually.
    They offer to fill out a form and all you have to do is sign.
    They are trained in using persuasion techniques by the companies who are raking it in.
    As some of the fundraisers (or “chuggers” as they are called in the UK) earn $13 an hour, you can imagine how much money actually gets into the charity’s coffers.
The whole concept of giving to charity should be based on a desire to help and not from being pressured in any way by a fast-talking fundraiser!

8. Do some detective work

Before deciding on donating to any charity, check out the following information. All of this should be easily available on the charity’s website. Failing that, there should be information leaflets available. This is what you should check:

    The annual report
    Names of directors and patrons
    Audited financial reports
    Specific projects and how the funds are used
    Statistics on completed projects

Charities are doing magnificent work. You just need to do some homework to make sure that they are managing their funds in the best possible way and that they are not using doubtful tactics. If you are unhappy about this, you can always volunteer to help local charities in your area.


Andy Warhol Art

Pictures found recently on a old computer...






















Friday, April 18, 2014

The Cell Phone Fad



Written on Oct. 23rd, 2012

 How many people remember the CB radio? Trucks on the highway still use them today to report the location of police although these days you don't really need to because it seems there is no speed limit. Today 65 really means 85. That's all you need to know...Remember when everyone just had to have one in their car or truck with the antenna on the back of the car they called a "Fire Stick"? Remember the 21 channel CB? Then they came out with the 40 channel and everybody had to have that. Remember, "breaker one nine, breaker one nine, how do you read me or in some cases, what's your twenty?" That meant where are you? There was absolutely no privacy, everyone could hear what you were saying. Its was a time when a sexy female voice really meant something. Especially late at night on your way home from work. Its was a time when everyone  had a job and didn't know what welfare or food stamps were. I remember those days fondly. I even sent a form to the Government for a FREE radio license. I still use that number today as a pass code to get on the internet. Its a long complicated number that I memorized years ago. Almost like my Army serial number. The CB Fad lasted for a while. Even today I know where they sell them. How long will the "Cell Phone Fad" last? What's odd is, a few years ago they encouraged you to buy a large screen TV. Today, "They lie to you" telling you to watch TV on your phone on that tiny screen saying everybody does it. Are they "grasping at straws" or is the "Cell phone fad" ending? Will you actually watch TV on that tiny screen? Its almost like the Fast-food restaurants saying "Fat is the new beautiful"...P.T. Barnum once said, "There is a sucker born everyday." and I humbly agree......



Saturday, March 29, 2014

Why did the chicken cross the road?


  I did not not write this.... It was sent to me from a friend...

This is only my opinion but I think it was to get to the other side. However I could be wrong so don't hold me to that...
Subject: Why did the chicken cross the road?




Barack Obama: "Let me be perfectly  clear: if the chickens like their eggs, they can keep their eggs. No chicken  will be required to cross the road to surrender her eggs. Period."  
John McCain: "My friends, the chicken  crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and  dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road."
Hillary Clinton: "What difference, at  this point, does it make why the chicken crossed the road?"
George W. Bush: "We don't really care  why the chicken crossed the road.  We just want to know if the chicken is  on our side of the road or not. The chicken is either with us or against us. "  
Dick Cheney: "Where's my gun?"  
Colin Powell: "Now, to the left of the  screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the  road."
Bill Clinton: "I did not cross the  road with that chicken."
Al Gore: "I invented the chicken."  
John Kerry: "Although I voted to let  the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to  cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now,  and I will remain against it."
Al Sharpton: "Why are all the chickens  white?"
Dr. Phil: "The problem we have here is  that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on  this side of the road before he goes after the problem on the other side of  the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he is acting by  not taking on his current problems before adding any new problems."  
Oprah: "Well, I understand that the  chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross the road so badly.  So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which  is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a NEW CAR so that he can  just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the  chickens."
Anderson  Cooper: "We have reason  to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access  to the other side of the road."
Nancy Grace: "That chicken crossed the  road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks."  
Pat Buchanan: "To steal the job of a  decent, hardworking American."
Martha Stewart: "No one called me to  warn me which way the chicken was going. I had a standing order at the  farmer's market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No  little bird gave me any insider information."
Dr. Seuss: "Did the chicken cross the  road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why  it crossed I've not been told."
Ernest Hemingway: "To die in the rain,  alone."
Grandpa: "In my day, we didn't ask why  the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road,  and that was good enough for us."
Barbara Walters: "Isn't that  interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for  the first time, the heartwarming story of how it experienced a serious case of  molting and went on to accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road."  
Aristotle: "It is the nature of  chickens to cross the road."
John Lennon: "Imagine all the chickens  in the world crossing roads together, in peace."
Bill Gates: "I have just released  eChicken2014, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an  integral part of eChicken2014. This new platform is much more stable and will  never reboot."
Albert Einstein: "Did the chicken  really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?"
Colonel Sanders: "Did I miss one?" 


Monday, March 24, 2014

"Television Withdrawls"


If you remember a while ago I said I was going to stop watching television and those brain washing ads and commercials. It was more of a commitment than anything else. For those of you that don’t what that is…A commitment is saying you are going to do something then actually doing it…Well, its been lots of days and I haven’t turned on my TV…Not for a minute not for a second…In fact I don’t even know if it still works…The bottom line here I have been commercial free for almost 3 years…Three years of no morons trying to beg, trick or tell me I need something I don’t want nor would I even consider buying. Here is what is going on now and I kid you not…
       I think I am having curiosity withdrawals from not watching…This includes a slight anger over nothing and a tiny voice in my mind telling me its OK to watch for a little while. However, I don‘t!  I will not subject myself to insanity of the news today or even the weather…OK, here is my alternative…My hand held computer (phone) for the weather if I need it…Living a mile away from the ocean its necessary. I still see all the TV shows and movies, I mean (all) the shows new or old commercial free! I'm not saying where so you guess where?  I do this on a Sony 40 inch High Definition TV monitor... One word describes this. WOW!...
       This little anger thing that is going on will pass and soon I won’t even think about the hot weather or traffic girl. Yes, the Bastards will still do anything to get you to watch! You have heard of a target audience haven’t you? Well I’m not a target or a consumer for anybody and if I choose to be a customer I will.  I have no interest in who kills their wife, grandmother or kids, no interest in college basketball and their highly overpaid egotistical coaches. No interest in what is on sale…Actually they just jack up the prices 50% then give the morons a 25% discount. I surprised you don’t know that… My theory is that if I don’t know what is going on, it won’t bother me… Now I choose, what I watch, when I watch it and how I watch it. Yes, I post my Blog and Twitter with news that I choose by getting EM alerts to certain new or on going stories or people or things that I consider interesting. I will not allow them to poison my mind with the insane things they want show me… See what I mean, there is a little anger between those lines? Please bare with me, it will pass.










Sunday, March 23, 2014

Future News from 2061

     
I used a little bit of my imagination in this piece. The sick part of this is the way things are going these days and big business keeps controlling our country it could happen. ... I'm glad I won't be here and I feel sorry for those of you that are.. 


 President Malia Obama in her news conference today announced today that the new steroid growth hormone for live stock has passed the rigorous testing by the FDA. From now on all livestock will be given this chemical twice a day and will grow faster and produce more meat. She said, "now the slaughter houses will be able to keep up with the demand at the fast food restaurants". Livestock will be slaughtered each day instead of every six months. The President said it is harmless to humans but would not comment on the millions of overweight people and heart attacks in the country. Meanwhile all local Walmart stores have starting stocking rotund sizes for children ages 6 to 12.
          She also announced that Walmart is the only store left in this country. She congratulated Walmart executives for manipulating and driving all other stores out of business commenting, "with no competition they can charge anything they want". The only stores left are a few drug and gas convenience stores. She said our foreign friends need to have a place to own and work.. Meanwhile Walmart employees will be taking a pay cut because there in no other place to work... 
       The President also announced today that effective immediately the new country wide posted State highway speed will be 150 mph. Back roads speeds will be increased from 30 to 90 mph. Effective immediately. Because of over population and driver licenses being issued to all illegal immigrants driving will only be permitted on odd or even days. Your license plate number will be used to determine if its your day to drive. If caught driving on the wrong day a one year mandatory jail sentence and a $10,000 dollar fine will be issued. Drones will be flying over highways and cameras installed on the highways and roads will issue the fine to be sent in your mail. The computer that runs your car will shut off automatically and the car will stall. Towing charges by the State and Government will be $5000.  
       Also in the news… When starting the new school year it will be mandatory for children ages 5 to 18 to wear a bullet proof vest when entering school property. The bullet proof vest sale starts at Walmart this weekend. Also as an after thought she said no one will be able to enter a Shopping Mall or Super Market without body armor. Store security will start strip searching people before entering any store. This is including movie theaters and churches. The President said, “Your safety comes first.” 
       In 3 days it will be legal to buy Cocaine without a prescription. It will be sold in Walmart and all drug, convenience stores. Congress said the taxes selling this will help paying our $931 Quadrillion dollar debt. They said if everything goes well it should be paid off in 300 years if there are no wars…
     Update......Because of the increase in the minimum wage to $34.61 an hour all fast food hamburgers will go up to $99.99 each. The price of fries will go to $55.99 for a small bag.
     Gas prices in America increased today to $1061.73 per barrel making the price per gallon of gas raise to $397.99 per gallon. 
      As a side note she also said effective immediately the new Federal retirement age for Social Security will be 80 years old. Senators and Congress will still be able to retire after 1 term with full pay, lifetime benefits and full medical.




Friday, March 21, 2014

Mexican Drug Lord


I heard there was a Drug Epidemic here in the United States and the drugs came from Mexico. I was just wondering if any of our so-called leaders ( President, politicians ) really care. This freak of nature seems to have more money than God. Who was he paying off? How much aid to we send to those Bastards down there? How much did he make while family's suffered and kids became addicted and died.

A Mexican Drug Lord’s Home Was Raided. It’s Even More Incredible And Horrifying Than I Ever Could Have Imagined.

There was a matched pair of these found.

.357 Magnum semi-automatics with solid gold grips.

This guy had a better gun collection than most legitimate museums do.

Just a quaint little villa in the hills – Drug money bought it all!

Man-made cave and hot tub inside the home.

A collection of exotic animals – which were cared for in the grandest fashion, by the way.

8 Lions were on the property.

A very rare Tiger.

The back yard pool.

Exotic art collection – some of which was illegal to own – some stolen.

  More guns than you could ever imagine!

This pile of cash before it was counted was estimated to be approximately 18 Billion Dollars!

After it was counted it turned out to be a little more than 22 Billion Dollars!

From another angle.

Guns were hidden all over the house, along with ample ammo, just in case of trouble.

Stacks of cash were found in every nook and cranny…

This case is filled with 100 dollar Bills estimated to be 1/2 a million dollars and no doubt headed out to make another drug deal with perhaps the Columbians.

18 plastic bins filled with 100 dollar bills were found…

Another cabinet stacked tight with cash – all 100′s.

More 100′s.

Each of these stacks of 100′s holds USD 250,000 (a quarter of a million US dollars)! They also had millions in Columbian money and Mexican Pesos, although they preferred American dollars for the most part.

There were even stacks of Chinese Yuan found in one closet.

More Gold machine guns and pistols – most were never fired, just held for collection value.

The money and valuables found in this one house alone, would be enough to pay for health insurance for every man woman and child in the USA for 12 years! There is estimated to be approximately 27 more of these houses in Mexico alone. Not to mention the ones in other countries who are enriching themselves in the drug trade. These people have so much money, they make the Arab oil sheiks look like welfare recipients. Their money can buy politicians, cops, judges, etc. Whatever they need they just throw down stacks of cash and it is theirs! This is why the drug problem is so difficult to fight.