Elk County Forum

Right now I don't have a Soap Box subject but I am hoping to hear from the rest of you on your favorite subject.  How about it?

Just one subject, Wilma?  :(  I can think of several I could "rant and rave" about. 

1.  The school districts keep complaining they need more money------well, if they wouldn't waste so much, they'd have more money.  They use the buses excessively and needlessly, and stupidly.  (Who needs a huge bus, just to take 3-4 students?)  When I grew up, if students wanted to go to an extra ciricular activity, we had to find our own transportation, now the tax payers have to pay for your way to the ball games.  That is not right!

2.  If foreigners are going to live in this country, they need to learn and use ENGLISH as their language.  What can be more frustrating than to call a support line, only to attempt to communicate with some foreigner that doesn't speak your language!!!!!  If they do try to speak English, it's with such an accent, that no one can understand.

3.  Everytime I go to the grocery store, prices have gotten higher, and that puts me in a foul mood, and I'm terrible to live with for the rest of the day.

I better quit before I get too wound up, or you never will hear the end of it.  :laugh:  Who's next?

My things are labels and stereotypes. Sounds sort of petty up next to some other things, but they get me going. You would think that we had advanced enough in our society to where we could just look at someone and see them for what they are, the person they are, the qualities and characteristics that they bring to the table. Nope, we have slide those old filters in, oh he/she is that (insert race), or (age), or (hair color) or (nose length), or supposedly/allegedly does that in the bedroom or well you know their family and the way they are...... Breathe  move on to next rant.

Stereotypes. Sort of like labels. Hate them. Worse are those that do not fight against them but continue to perpetuate them. If you are blonde, why do you insist on doing stupid things? People are there to just jump on that and say, " Ya see.........." Rebel against the stereotypes! My profession is the worse. I detest how they portray librarians. First off, I am not a woman...at least the last time I checked. Second, I don't have enough hair for a nice comb over, let alone a bun. Third, if I am lazy and do not want to wear my contacts, I definitely can push my glasses up off the end of my nose. Fourth, yes, I like to wear comfortable shoes. Deal with it. If I could, it would be barefoot, but it would gross out the students. Finally, my vocabulary does extend beyond. SH!

Enough.....petty yes, but thanks for letting me rant.

The last time I looked, librarians were among the most intelligent beings.  And one of the most intelligent was a man from Howard.  And I like bald.  My father was almost bald and my brothers are headed that way.  I prefer pushing my glasses up off my nose and if I don't have comfortable shoes I am not happy.  And above all else I have to be kept happy.

Quote from: Lois on May 18, 2007, 08:48:24 AM
2.  If foreigners are going to live in this country, they need to learn and use ENGLISH as their language.  What can be more frustrating than to call a support line, only to attempt to communicate with some foreigner that doesn't speak your language!!!!!  If they do try to speak English, it's with such an accent, that no one can understand.

I watched an interview this morning with an Hispanic person who has been in the states for 11 years (illegally) they had to have an interpreter because she cannot speak english, but she was excited about the new plan they have to make her legal and how much she wants to be part of the American dream. Made me very angry that she has been here that long and still cannot speak our language and yet we bend over backwards to make it easy for her to have that dream >:(

BTW Are you sure the support line you are calling is in the US? :P

 >:(well, here goes my two cents worth and might add up to three.  First on illegal immigrants - they protest the way we are treating them socially and they want to become citizens with citizen rights.  Ever notice how many of them are carrying the mexican flag while they march????? AND speaking spanish????? Sterotyping - I have a granddaughter who is part of the "piercing" generation.  I don't like it one bit, but it happens. (told her one day not to stand so close to the refrigerator.  She wondered why.  I told her if she got hooked on my magnets, we'd never get her loose. - we both laughed)  I know she is a very sweet girl, but when others see her they see earrings from top to bottom of her ear, nose diamond and lip ring.  Most cannot see past that.  Consequently I have to tell her once in awhile to remove part of the "hardware" when she is in certain public places. (just some grandmotherly advice).  And minorities who think they are being abused.  Don't get me started there.  And I am in no way prejudiced! work hard, keep your hands busy instead of out for somebody to fill with charity, obey the law and keep your nose clean and who cares what color your skin is. Opps, getting close to four cents - enough

This subject was brought up in "politics", but as for trying to get help via ma bell - how bout this sent to me by a family member:

"Hello, This is America,
Press 1 for english or
Press 2 to disconnect until you do."

OK, I found my soapbox.  The price of gasoline, having just filled my car at $3.48 per.  How can people afford to drive to work?  Are we all going to have to go back to living within a few blocks of our place of employment?  And all the activities our children participate in?  Will we have to eliminate them because we can't afford the transport?  And how can our government afford the fuel to fight a war?  I think it is time for the government to step in and stop the price of gasoline from rising.  It could drop but not rise.  Or even roll the price back.  It has been done before.  Maybe the government could require the oil companies to build new refineries, maybe double their output, before they could raise the price again.  I want an immediate solution, not a long term investigation. 

I think we need to think abount conserving.  Crude oil & natural gas is a non-renrewable commodity.  Most of the people we see driving these big Hummers have no real need for them.  A lot of people driving V-8 & V-10 vehicles have no real need for them.  We can also plan our driving routes when we run errands so we don't backtrack.  I don;t know about you people, but we had to do that in th days of th embargo.   We need to think beyond our own generation and think of what a mess we are leaving for our children & grandchildren.  America makes up about 5% of the world population and we use about 25% of the crude oil produced.  Back in the 1970's when my husband was working in London, gasoline was ABOUT $5.00 A GALLON.  Some people didn't have automobiles and said they probably never would as they couldn't afford them.  We have a friend from Scotland & gasoline is at least $10 a gallon over there.  Guess I'd better sign off for this time or I really will get on my soap box.

Myrna
Guess we've worked in the oil patch too long!!!

I would venture to guess the motorcycle dealers are doing pretty brisk business these days.  I tell Don we may need to get us a small motorcycle with a side car to use. :laugh:  We have a couple of neighbors that wake us up early every morning with their revving up (va-a-r-room, va-a-r-r-ooom) of motorcycles.  And then here comes the 4-wheelers!!!!!  We have so many of those running up and down the streets (wasting our precious gas), all hours of the day and part of the night. (It's like we're being invaded)

We might see more people out riding bicycles, too.  As for me, I live at least 15 miles from the nearest grocery store, so I would need something motorized to get there and back. 

I know how the majority of us can conserve on gas this summer!!!!!  All of us can quit mowing our yard!  :o   :laugh:

I'll second the motion to stop mowing the yard. All in favor say aye?

AYE?  The question mark is because I don't mow the yard.  My son-in-law does and I don't think I could persuade him not to.

Gee, I forgot all about Fridays being soap box day.  Guess I have had too much to think about lately with Memorial Day, getting a new great grandbaby, and getting a garage sale ready.  Anyway, I don't have a soapbox today.  If I did have a soapbox, it would have to be the rain, but since nothing can be done about it, it doesn't do any good to voice an opinion on it.  And rain, rain, go away, doesn't work either. 

Thanks for the reminder - I had forgotten.

My Soap Box today is people who shade the truth.

Or, at least, that's what they call it.

I like being able to trust what someone says.


And if you can't be honest, it's okay to NOT say anything!!!!!

It's similar to what I was taught as a child: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

If you can't be honest, don't say anything at all.

I don't mind the accent if the person is at least trying to speak English!  If you learn a language before the age of six {I think that is the age} you will speak the  language with  out an accent.  After six you  will have an accent.   Yes I know that you can take a lot of speach training  and get rid of accents.  I like to see them at least try.   But again we make it so easy to not even try.  It all has to do with our teeth and mouth developement.

Accents don't bother me in the least. Everyone ...everywhere has an accent of some kind.
Whether they are from Minnesota or Mississippi, or New York .. or the foreign countries..
If they want to live in America.. I think that they should be able to speak English...and use it !
They will have an accent, but need to  "speak" the language.
But that goes both ways you know~~

If you are going to go to Europe or any foreign country (live there or visit for a period of time) we should abide by the same obligations.
Kjell gets a kick out the whole discussion about language (although he does agree about the issue about speaking English in the US.

He has an American friend working at the American Embassy in Oslo, Norway.
He has been working over there for over 20 years.
He still has a huge problem with the Norwegian language.

Kjell said he tried to teach him once the different European pronunciations of words with the letter R in it. ( R is a toughy)
He went through German, English (as in Oxford English), Irish, Norwegian and Swedish and it took his US friend half a bottle of Jack Daniels to get some of it straightened out.  ;D

He has tried and tried and tried to get me to the point of even being able to say a few words correctly, but I'll be damned if I can get that weird sound to come off my tongue. They kind of roll the words off the back of the throat , and every time I say what I really think is the right way... he gets this screwed up look on his face and tries not to laugh.! ;D

Seriously, he says it's  all about the courage to "sing the language or the accent". Every accent (US southern accent, the Italian, the Irish, the Norwegian, just to name a few) have their own song or rhythm. It is called intonation or variation of tone.
He hears different accents in people even in different parts of Kansas. I don't.. but he does.
And to try to teach him the 'slang' words that we use... Lordy, if that  hasn't been a challenge! ::)

Have you all listened to foreign song artists and noticed that they sing better in English than talking it? I have..and I ask him about it..

Simply because the song.... the intonation, the tone comes first for a singer and it loosens up the native tone they are born and raised with.

So... if you decide to sing a language, you will partly or fully get rid of your native accent. Then again, it should not be necessary as long as they can make themselves understood.

Most people don't even know that Kjell is from Norway, because he doesn't have the typical Norwegian (talking American)  accent that all of his friends and family have. He has worked very hard on the English language since he was a wee lad in school.. and even got punished by the teacher once because he wasn't speaking English the "proper Oxford  way "  with the accent that that the English and London people used.
But then again... he can fluently  speak and understand 4 languages.

Better than me... I can only speak 2 languages... redneck and country and do both in English.. LOL  ;D

Teresa, this was very interesting.  Hope Kjell was not offended by some of the comments I made about speaking english.  Was not my intent.  Most interesting was the "singing" the language.  This goes along with a childhood girlfriend who stuttered very bad, just as Mel Tellis.  She could sing like an angel, tho.  And, of course, we all know Mel can sing a flawless song. 

Kjell takes offense to very little. He is about the most patient easy going man I have ever been around. Not much ruffles his feathers. When it does, you will  know about it.
He is one of those .. Go IMMEDIATELY to the source and get it talked out!

He has lots of interesting things  to talk about on lots of different subjects. And my little world has been opened up to many different ways of doing things and looking at things.
( But so has his)  ;)

I know what you mean about the rhythm and singing of the language. My Jim can hear the different accents and used to be able to pinpoint which part of the country people came from. Even the eastern accents (New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, etc.) he could hear as different.

And . . . the reason comedians are able to imitate other people is because they catch the rhythm of how that person talks, how they accent their words and where they put the emphasize in a sentence.

No Flo, you or anyone else didn't offend me at all. Thanks for taking the time to ask though----appreciate the thoughtfulness

Teresa keeps nagging---.errr I mean asking me if I would post about things in Norway, but
---well for one, I haven't had any spare time to do much long writing, and 2, where do I start?  ;D

If certain subjects come up I will try to give the Norwegian way of doing things, if it is different than here in America.
But I have no idea when..
But---
I WILL try! :-*
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/104.gif)

I was saving this for soap box day, but I can't wait that long.  As some of you know, I have a five year old, unneutered tom cat.  I have gone to some expense to provide him with a safe outdoor space, namely, the back porch is covered with welded wire, creating a huge cage.  Recently he has had to defend his territory because of a cat that has been challenging him through the wire.  Now the porch floor is at least 2 feet from the ground.  This cat has to find something to climb on to reach the level of the porch.  I have blocked off the screen door to keep them apart and placed some boards in other places so they couldn't see each other.  Tonight I found the cat perched atop my air conditioner.  Luckily, my Bud couldn't get to the screen in that spot, so the argument was vocal.  Last week they tangled through the wire resulting in Bud being injured and having to see the vet.

Not only that, but this cat has been marking the outside of the house, to which my Bud has to respond in kind.  Not pleasant.  The cat has even marked the back door of my garage where my Bud has never been.  Now the gist of this tirade is, if you have a pet and if you love your pet, have it spayed or neutered and try to keep it from being a nuisance to your neighbors.  If you don't love your pet, why do you have it?  I know that it is hard to control a cat.  Didn't I trap and haul 28 of them to the Humane Society instead of moving them over here and turning them loose or leaving them for the neighbors to put up with?  So what if the kittens are cute now?  Are you any less responsible for them when they grow up?  And as for strays, wouldn't it be far better to help them find good homes than to spend $$$$$ feeding them?  Taking care of the strays may be kind hearted and I heartily applaud people that care for animals, but providing for them is not keeping them from being a nuisance.  And just who are you doing any favors for anyway?

I know some of you will wonder why my pet hasn't been neutered.  My pet is a special needs pet.  When he was less than a year old, he was very, very sick.  We didn't take him to a vet because I was very, very sick, also, having had heart surgery, then staph infection.  Bud was so sick we were sure he was dying.  He survived, but was incapacitated in that his equilibrium was off.  He still can't jump from the floor to the table and he has only in the last couple of months managed to jump up onto my bed.  The vet I talked to about neutering didn't think he could take the anesthetic.  He hasn't been loose outside for more than 4 years.  The only people he is a nuisance to is me and anybody else who happens to be in my house.  Having him neutered would not solve the problem of other cats challenging him or spraying the outside of my doors.  The only solution to this problem is you. 

It just irritates me to death to have people drive by here 60 mph not giving a flying flip if there is kids riding their bicycles or anyone walking or anything!
I mean .. they are flying by here.. !
I would love to print the name, but if I did, the parents would claim that "not their boy.. he wouldn't do that..!
And they are the first ones to gripe about him saying "we just don't know what we are going to do with him... blah blah blah....
And the few times when he gets in trouble.. they are the first ones to get him off the hook..and telling him he was mistreated by the law!
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/grrr.gif)
It's a bunch of horse s........................opps... :-X
Ahhh .. I mean....It's a bunch of poppycock!... yeah! THAT's what it is,...

Makes me sick!


That's all.. !
I just had to vent.!

I'm going to bed now...
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/gnight.gif)

LOL!

Good night, Teresa!

;D

I ditto everything Teresa said earlier about the flying right down Wabash (or any other street) in town or out of town (like the lake) .... sorry I didn't say that.  Anyway, I agree.  You know, Teresa, if you or I or anyone else on this forum was doing that.......we'd have made the paper, channel 2 and the forum news.  (plus there would probably be pictures posted of us in the post office!)

There have been a few college kids in our street that used to drive too fast. I think I have hollered at them all, now, in the year we have lived here and sometimes moseyed on down to have a talk with them as they park. They have all slowed down. I don't look forward to having to break in a new set of KU freshman leadfeet when school starts in the Fall.

But I will.

And we live on Washington - here's it not just one car - but often two - racing ! ! !

I had hoped it would be better when the sheriff moved in; it slowed them down for awhile but now they're at it again.

Of all my kids, only one did much speeding. (And he still does, but that last ticket has kinda knocked the wind out of him a bit - hooray!) When he lived at home, we'd just take the car away. Can't do that any more.  :(   Except we just did -  :D. He made the mistake of having us co-sign for it, so he can't get it back until his fines are all paid off. So sad. (giggle, giggle)    He's driving our Rav 4, which isn't nearly as cool as his Mazda.  ;)

And on that topic, only from a different angle - have you noticed that different vehicles really do have different speeds they feel comfortable in?  Not all cars "hum" or are in the groove at the same speed.

And where is our city cop when this speeding is occuring?  Would a complaint put him on the lookout for this? 


I agree with Mom about different cars being comfortable at different speeds.  Maybe that is why I am comfortable in my old Town & Country at the speed limit.  I have had cars, especially a 1964 Ford galaxie, that was more comfortable at over the speed limit and, believe me, that is how Janet drove it.

Tsk, tsk - you're not saying Janet exceeded the speed limit regularly, are you!  ???   :D   :laugh:

Back in her young and foolish days.  I don't think we can call her young any more.

Quote from: Wilma on June 15, 2007, 07:15:50 AM
Back in her young and foolish days.  I don't think we can call her young any more.

You can say that again...
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/139.gif)
and the foolish part?   LOL LOL

when they changed the speed limit from 72 to 55 we were driving a Mercury Marquis Brogham station wagon.  Believe me it was not made to drive 55 miles an hour.  It idled faster than that. HA ----- now my soapbox gripe of the day.  These cars and pickups going by with that damn BOOM BOOM BOOM - think most of the stereo speakers are bigger than the vehicles they are in.  Some rattle the windows - worry that these kids will be deaf before they turn 25

They are already deaf if they have to turn the music up that loud.

Quote from: flo on June 15, 2007, 08:56:55 AM
...that these kids will be deaf before they turn 25...

Doesn't matter Flo, they don't listen to anyone else anyway!   ;D

Quote from: Teresa on June 15, 2007, 07:54:15 AM

Quote from: Wilma on June 15, 2007, 07:15:50 AM
Back in her young and foolish days.  I don't think we can call her young any more.

You can say that again...
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/139.gif)
and the foolish part?   LOL LOL

And after all the nice things I said about your pie making abilities.  :'( :'(

Quote from: Janet Harrington on June 15, 2007, 09:11:02 PM



And after all the nice things I said about your pie making abilities.  :'( :'(

(http://www.cascity.com/howard/forum/sorry.gif)

And thanks for the compliments on my pie..

I made the lemon one, a coconut cream and a chocolate.

Right now  I have a batch of bread raising so I can make some hot rolls . (http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/tasty.gif)

This is just a reply I guess not a SOAP BOX. I work with alot of Spanish speaking people. When I get to a job I speak to them and call them by name. (we wear name tags and most of us have our names on our hats). At first they act like they do not understand me, then I say a few words in Spanish or ask how do you say that in Spanish. Pretty soon they are speaking to me in English. I think they are afraid to try English for fear of being made fun of, but when they hear me attempt to speak Spanish they are not as afraid. I have made several good friends with the ones that come back every year.  I am also getting free Spanish lessons. I have several words and a few pharses now. They do a very professional job at thier craft for a lot less money than I would do it. They work with that nasty insulation. I don't even want to be near it. Another crew puts up scaffolding. My, they work fast and I think it is a very hard job. Just my opinion!!!

Henry, think you have been reading back issues, including mine.  I, personally, have absolutely nothing against mexican/americans or their language, up to a point.  My gripe is the illegals that sneak into our country, protest for whatever reason they think they are being mistreated, yelling to be treated as americans, all the while flying their mexican flag and speaking in spanish.  I have some very very good friends who are of mexican heritage but born in the United States, and a former brother-in-law who was mexican/american.  All very wonderful people.  If they wish to immigrate to this country, doing it legally, having the proper work permits, then more power to them.

and speaking the English...then they can stay.

I must say that the opinion I was speaking of was mine (Marjean) not Henry's. I guess I'll have to start putting my own John Henry on my stuff. MJ

not a problem, Marjean, I should have just made it a general reply anyhow. 

Marjean,

Does this face look familiar?

I had a very nice time visiting you guys last summer. You are a very gracious host. I hope everyone is doing well, and I hope I get to see you all again.

Today is the 2nd Saturday of the month. Right?  Today is recycling day, right?  Maybe not.  I had my recycling ready to be picked up, which out of the kindness of his heart, Bill Rader does when he can.  But he didn't do it yesterday.  So today, daughter loaded it into my van and took it downtown where the trailer is supposed to be on the 2nd and 4th weekends of each month.  It wasn't there.  So, where is it and why hasn't there been any notice that it wouldn't be there?  Why should we save our recycling when we don't have any place to take it?  I hope that some how the word will get back to the people responsible, that I am willing and able to save my recycling and not put it in the trash just to get rid of it, but if I can't get rid of it according to schedule, I am gong to start filling up the landfill with it. 

I didn't think my tirade about the recycling trailer would do any good, but it did.  Our own Mom70X7 called me and told me that I wasn't the only one that couldn't find the trailer today.  I don't know how many, but her husband, bless his heart, too, opened the county yard where the trailer is kept so that the people that had brought their recycling with them could deposit it.  Since my recycling was still in the van, daughter drove it around the corner and donated it.  Thank you Mom, for calling me and thank your husband for taking the time to accommodate us.

Your welcome.  :D

Jim is a major recycler - sometimes even more than I am comfortable with  ;)  - and I know he was willing to help.

The Lions have started doing the cardboard collection around town, so he's got a key to the area. It worked out well this time.

I passed your thanks on to him, so thank YOU for thanking him.

Wilma, I took my recycling yesterday and they had a sign on the truck that said they wouldn't be there today ~ I didn't ask, but assumed it was because of the parade and all the fair activities going on today.  How great it is that someone stepped up to open it up in a pinch though!  Just another benefit to living here in Elk County, USA.
I'm just getting into the swing of seriously recycling myself (except for aluminum, which is a habit after all these years.)  I know it's a pain when you miss the day ~ I forget pretty regular and it's hard to find storage space when I do, but we are SO VERY FORTUNATE to have the recycling drop off available to us.  Several places I've lived ~ even larger towns than this ~ either don't have a place to take it, it's a long drive to it, or  you have to pay to use the facilities.  When I'd have just a little bit, it hardly seemed worth the trip to drive 45 miles to drop it off.
BTW, if you ever need me to pick your recycling up for you, I'd be happy to swing by on my way anytime.  Just give me a call or email.  I usually try to go on Fridays.

Thank you, Joanna, for the offer, but with daughter living up the street now and around most of the time, it will be taken care of.  I might even let Bill off the hook.  When I moved over here it wasn't so easy for me and Bill was kind enough to pick it up.

  I have a stupid east coast question. What really becomes of your recycled stuff? We have optional recycling here, and most of us take newspapers and such to igloos up the street in a U. of Del. parking lot. But we hear all kinds of stories about it ending up in the big state landfill anyway, because there are no buyers for most of the stuff. "They" are talking about starting mandatory recycling, which we will have to pay extra for. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I know it used to be that the authority that ran the big landfill took everything, all mixed up, and they had (have) big conveyor belts where they sorted and sold what they could. It was very convienent for everyone.They had enough to sell so they could keep their tipping fees very low. Now that cycle is broken and tipping fees have gone way up and I'm not sure we are really being "green" at all.     

I have wondered, too, about what happens afterwards.  And if recycling is so important why hasn't the government made it easier for the common folk to do it.  There is so much that I still have to throw away, expecially in plastics.  Why not make it illegal to make plastics that can't be recycled or anything else for that matter?

I'd be interested in learning what happens to it too ~ though I could probably just ask Knut or one of the other guys who volunteer at our drop (if I could find the patience to wait 2 more weeks  ;)).  I do know that once, when I took a lot of aluminum up, the guys said they used that to buy gasoline for pulling the recycling trailer around. 
We have a friend that runs a volunteer recycling program in Independence, and when he gets his stock-trailer full he hauls it up to Fredonia about once a month or so to a recycling place there.  I'm sure someone on the forum has more info that they could share ~ if they don't or if I find out first, I'll post it.

Joanna....where is your friend located with his tailer?  I would love to know, so I could take things that I would save to him. 
I have asked where there is a place to take recycle things -- and was told there was no place.  You would think that the State Park and campground would have one, wouldn't you?  I was just dumbfounded that there was none here...Where we always camped in Minnesota there were HUGE containers to put in the cardboard - cans- plastic - glass - and newspapers.  Consquently there was a very small amount of trash that needed taken to the dump each week.
With all of the soft drink - snacks,  coin operated machines on every corner, you would think there would be a recycle container close by to gather the by products from those, wouldn't you?
  Well---guess I will get off my soap box and hop around to see what else I can get on a ramblin' rampage about  ....

To Diane Amberg and all other interested recyclers.

What happens to our recycled materials?

Aluminum cans we crush and truck to Commercial Metals in Independence. Cardboard we bale and store until we have 32 bales or more and then contact a company (name and location not personal knowledge) then they schedule a semi to come pick it up. They deduct trans costs etc. but present the County with a nice check for our efforts.

The balance of the material we collect:  plastics, newspaper, mixed paper, steel cans. magazines, and glass we haul to the area recycling center in El Dorado. And donate to their collection.

I am certain that their facility DOES NOT TOSS IT IN A LANDFILL. I feel certain some enterprising individual has found buyers for alllof the material they have us bring to them, What makes me so sure is the fact that I've witnessed City of El Dorado trash trucks bring material in to off load at the center. I'm not sure of the mechanics of trash collection in El Dorado and how sorting of materials happens, but I am sure they wouldn't waste their time pulling one over on the hicks from Elk Co.

Take the time to sort out your stuff and recycle. It can and will make a difference in our tipping fees and eventually save us as taxpayers money.

Woluldn't it be nice to set up an area recycling center for Elk, Montgomery and Chautauqua Co.s and sell everything we collect? It could happen.

And after it leaves the recycling center, how is it used?  What is it recycled into?  Is it making a difference?

 Thank you, CarDad, for that great explaination. You made me feel much better about what's coming. I've never minded taking newspapers and such to the igloos, but we have a lot of elderly here who get really confused about the different kinds of paper, cardboard and plastics. Perhaps there will be a good education program before it's made mandatory. Already we have an increase of people "night dumping" bags of trash along the roads. We also had a huge problem at the end of each semester with the college kids dumping all kinds of mattresses, defunct sofas, bookshelves etc. on the curb. They have come up with a pretty good solution for that. They have a big drop off point at a closed papermill and things are sorted and recycled or sold.  

I am sitting here trying to sort out one soap box topic for today.  It needs to be something other people can relate to, while the only thing I can think of is how down I am feeling.  Not a soap box subject.  What I need is something positive to think about.  So what shall it be?  The new car that I am going to have to go into debt for, the new roof for the house that I have put off for 2 years until the leak is so bad it has ruined a portion of the living room ceiling or the repairs that need to be made on the trailer house since the last tenant moved out.  Ah, there is a topic.

The Irresponsibility of Tenants.  Sometime since my trailer house became a rental the good window shades that were there have been taken out and thrown on the ground.  Ruined of course.  Inside windows have been removed and left leaning against the outside of the trailer.  Don't know yet if they can be put back in.  The curtains that I left at the windows have disappeared.  When the last tenant moved out he left the dryer vent open to the outside.  The utility room floor had to be replaced because of a water leak at the washer.  A dead bolt lock was installed on the front door and the key has never been given to me nor was I  told about it.  Needless to say, the lock and all other locks have been replaced.  And that is only what has been found so far.

When we were renting we took care of the property as if it were our own as we had been taught.  But then we had to provide our own window coverings and floor coverings.  I can understand the wear and tear of day to day living but what I can't understand is if you are going to replace the landlord's property with something of your own, why not store the unwanted property, in a proper manner and let the landlord know about it.  If a repair is needed and the tenant is in the position to know when a repair is needed, why not let the landlord know immediately so it can be done before too much damage has occurred.  And I did ask if there was anything needed at the time the rent was paid.  Needless to say, my trailer house is never again going to be rented outside the family.  First daughter is living there now and when she is through with it, it is going to be sold or set there vacant.

There, now, I have aired my complaints.  What are yours?

    I always have an opinion on everything.  But, I too, was a landlord for a time and was very lucky with my tenants. I was very careful to whom I rented. But they can be rough, it's true That's also why I had a last month check up front and a security deposit also. Don't forget, your repairs to your mobile home are deductible and that rent is income for you. Get your roof repaired!! It's the hat for your whole house and will only get worse and more expensive wth time. Do you need a "new" car, or a "new to you"car. Don't forget to check out sales at rental car dealerships when they sell their rental cars. I'm not so sure about leased cars, they may have been " rode hard and put away wet.''  Consumer Reports can be a big help when buying any car, new or used.   Isn't it frustrating when it all hits at once?     

I think that it is my biggest problem.  Everything at once.  The new car will be a new to me car and I think I have found it.  It is just more than I want to make payments on.  And the roof is going to be fixed.  My man will be here tomorrow to give me an estimate and there is no excuse for it getting so bad.  I have known for 4 years that it needed attention.  My biggest problem is me.

 I'm so glad you are getting your roof repaired. Maybe the cost won't take your breath away, but I think I should "tsk, tsk" at you for waiting that long. But as they say, they won't fix it when it's raining and it doesn't leak on sunny days. If you think you found a car, then you are 2/3rds of the way there. I mean who needs money anyway?  :D  If you need a hot meal, I think Janet or Teresa will fix you right up.

I do have a reasonable excuse for the roof.  We bought this in 2002, moved our home-away-from-home belongings from the trailer to the house, then in Sept. I had heart surgery.  I can't remember when the roof started leaking, sometime in 2002 or 2003.  We had that fixed, then between my heart surgery and my husband's subsequent illnesses and death we didn't get to actually move in here until June, 2005.  And since the leak wasn't leaking I just didn't give it much thought.  But the heavy rains we have had found their way through the old leak and I can't ignore it any longer.

I rewound your time line and took a look.....You are doing very well to even get to it now! Your house will love you for it.

And if you get hungry, Ta Ta and I will cook you a hot meal... ( with a pie)  ;)

I'm hungry now.  Can we skip to the pie?  Coconut cream would do nicely.

Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.

(an Italian proverb)

besides that my grandma Johnson always said eat dessert first, cause after the meal you might not have room for it and she was a wise lady.

p.s. Wilma, can't put this in the mutating wish but that's 2 now  >:(

Oh, my!

Diane, I just reread our earlier conversation and changed my moving date to 2005.  But you are right.  When I think of everything that I have had to do since we bought this house and most of it I didn't list, I can see why I am a mite tired of making decisions and having to do things that I am not ready to do.  But the roof and the car are necessities now.  Maybe the rest of it can be pieced out, like the repair to the ceiling that will need to be done after the roof is done.  And thanks for the encouraging words.

Wilma,
I can sympathize and empathize with your situation.  It is all too much sometimes to make all those decisions---especially alone.  You have my prayers and thoughts.  Know that you are blessed by having daughters and friends on the forum to "vent" to.  That is important. 

I, too, have just this summer had to purchase a new vehicle.  I had never bought one by myself before.  My husband and I always were together when we bought a vehicle.  And then the garage door opener quit (and still is down), the lawn mower wouldn't start, and then my refrigerator completely quit.  (Not the pool's--my own).  And my house desperately needs siding. Somedays it's just too much, so I give it to God.  And do my best.  I could easily get down--but I remind myself, this is only the world.  Heaven will be so much better.  And I ask for divine guidance---and then sit quietly and wait.  If I start to get down--I get up and do something different, because whatever I was doing let my mind return to the "frustrated and down" feeling.  My lawn mower is now fixed---thanks to just mentioning it and as it turned out a neighbor fixed it in no time at all.  Garage door is still broken--but it was a luxury anyway.  I have a new refrigerator that was delivered right to my kitchen---and even though it was an added expense---things just clicked when it was time to purchase.  House is not sided----but maybe someday.........

I so much appreciate you putting your feelings into words.  We share a very common bond---and my heart goes out to you.             Susan

Thank you, Susan.  The funny part about this is that my husband and I so often disagreed on what to do or to buy and now that he isn't here to disagree with me I find it difficult to make a decision.  So goes the world and contrary people like me.  I did siding last summer and I am so glad I did.  It made the house feel better.

It sounds to me like you both are doing a really good job under hard circumstances. You both have angels watching over you and a good deep breath and a nice cup of tea (and a piece of pie) help too. It's like that silly old joke...How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

One thing I want to say about Mother's renters.  We usually rented to people who really needed a place to live because of one thing or another.  Mother was extremely nice by not charging a whole lot for rent and not requiring any deposit, etc.

Yes, she was taken advantage of because, for some reason, that is what mankind does these days.  Probably did in the old days, too.

Did she get any thanks for trying to help out young people?  Nope.  I will say, though, that only one set of renters left the place dirty.  The last two sets cleaned the trailer really good. 

My only hope is that someday, those young renters will "Pay it forward".  That they will mature enough to see that someone needs help and that they will help those people. 

We must always remember that life is not about us.  Life is about God and helping people.  Do as Jesus did. 

John Batson, the owner of Batson Drug for many, many years, had a sign on his desk that read,  "Lord, there is nothing that happen during this day that You and I can't handle together."  (I probably paraphrased that).  Think about it.

Just a quickie to let Diane know that I have taken a positive step and now have a car that I will paying for the rest of my life.  And you who have been used to seeing a white van under my carport, yes, the car that is there now is different.  It just looks the same even tho it is blue instead of white.  Also, newer.  So I like Dodge Caravans and Chrysler Town & Countrys.  They fit me and my chair.

Thanks, Diane, for the encouraging words when I needed them.  I also have an estimate coming on the roof.  I'm using Janet's inheritance to pay for things.

  Good idea! I don't think Janet will mind one bit. I'm glad your new van is a good fit. We finally had to buy something for Al last summer, as our old Dodge Caravan was on its last wheels, and I couldn't figure out how to do CPR on it. We took his electric scooter around to the dealers to see what could be fitted with the hoist to swing it up into the back. We finally settled on a Honda CRV which looks small, but worked great for us. The dealer was extremely helpful. I said that CRV must stand for "cute recreational vehicle."

   Now I am going to spout off ( well, more than usual) Today I got yet ANOTHER plea from the March of Dimes for a donation. I did send a donation months ago and that's it. We have gotten 3 now in July. I don't need any more address labels!!! Surely every cent I sent has been used up in sending me monthly requests. I know how it works, because I did our annual fire company and ambulance fund drives for 25 years. One of my selling points was that we would mail just once, and no phone calls. We did very well and often got notes back thanking us for doing it that way. A good fund raiser never spends more than 10% of the funds, producing the fund drive. I keep asking to be taken off the lists of charities I don't support, so they won't waste their time with me, but nothing works.  I get PILES of requests. Talk about paper to recycle! I have about 15 I do support, like the Masonic charities and the ones I know  manage their money very well, but oh my!

After having been on the Board of Directors for the Kansas City region of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for a long time, I finally resigned over the issue of how the money was spent, after being unable to fix the problem. The percentage of overhead to revenue kept going up; the national organization became less and less responsive; the mailings became fancier and more expensive, they became more frequent, and 90% of the staff in the office was dedicated to marketing rather than service.

That sort of thing really annoys me.

>:(

Damn it!
I have so much so much work to do ..and my project is started.. but so far it is just sitting there on my computer looking at me.
But I have to comment on this one.  :P

I got a call yesterday form the Republican committee, which is fine..and I patiently answered their questions about Fred Thompson for president...and told them  how much I loath Hillery Clinton.. :D
Then they ask for a donation of a small amount of 100.00.
Well, That amount to me right now is HUGE. Might not be to some but to me I would love to have an extra 100. But ... I told them I was sorry, but I couldn't donate at this  time. But, we DO  give about 70.00 a month in free advertising in our ad-servers etc devoted to Fred Thompson, through Down Range TV , our NRA affiliates, and through our other websites that we own. 
Instead of saying ok, thanks for what you are doing...She ask if I could give 50.00.
I told her no not at this time..
She said, If I send you an envelope, could you put $10 dollars in it and donate that?
I told her that giving free advertising ( for which we charge and get paid for) WAS making a donation.

THEN she finally thanked me and hung up!

Jeese....  >:(
You know that only a teeny bit goes to what ever it is supposed to go for.. the rest is wasted.

 Teresa, did you think to tell her not to call back?  If you don't, some one may call again in a few weeks, figuring if you don't give this time, perhaps you will the next. The professional fund raisers have a list of comebacks for everything you might say. We always had a house rule of no donations of any kind over the phone, period. It helped weed out the phonies.   

My daughter was always getting calls from people raising money for cerebral palsy and telling them not to call was not working so finally one time she responded by saying "cool!! can you give me $500.00? Jess needs new leg braces and we have to go to St. Louis for his appt" The response was we collect it not give it so she told them that all the money she had for CP was going to her son so if they were not giving money to please don't bother her any more and it worked that was 2 years ago and she never has heard from them since.

Often times I have told them that at this time I am very busy and if you will give me your telephone number, I will call you back.  NEVER have they given me a number to call--- that tells me they are not the true committee that they say they are.
I have my phone listed with DO NOT CALL and if I get a call,  I mention that and they immediately hang up.

 We are on the do not call list too, but some will say that since I have donated in the past, they can call. I tell them if they ever call again, I won't respond in any way written or otherwise. That pretty much stops the majority of the calls, but the mailings just keep on coming.

Haven't heard about anybody's pet soap box topic lately and I am as much at fault as anyone.  I have been trying to find a topic, but am not having much luck.  Not that I am happy with everything the way it is, it is just that the things I am unhappy with can't be fixed.  The most popular topic lately, on another thread, has been illegal immigrants.  This will probably remain a pet topic for some time to come.

Still haven't found a topic, so if you are so inclined, jump in with something.  Let's air it and see how other people feel about it.

 I'm still mad at the March of Dimes. I got another solicitation yesterday! That's 6 in 6 weeks. I wrote a strong letter but nothing worked. 

I'm with you Jody.  The attitude really matters to me.  I can be very patient when I can tell someone is really trying.  A couple of times they have actually thanked me for being patient with them.  I have thanked them in turn for doing their best.  I'm keeping my Buick with the Super Charger and thanking God that premium is only 2.89 here.

Diane, I can now report that I have my new roof.  I decided to go with a metal roof instead of shingles.  The cost was only a few dollars more.  Janet thinks the house is already cooler and I am inclined to think so, too.  I keep turning the thermostat up as it gets too cool.

 Congratulations on the new roof.  Is it the standing seam kind of metal roof?   Just nosey.  Regardless it should last for a very long time.  Your house will love you for it. :-*

I think it might the standing seam kind.  It has raised ridges every so often with a little higher raise on the edges.  I have never heard it called anything except metal roof.  At least it isn't flat pieces of metal that fit flat on the roof.

Wilma,
The cat and dog and I will be walking over that way to look at your roof.  We have to keep our finger on the pulse of what's going on in the neighborhood from time to time.  Are there people in the house to your east from time to time?  I tend to see lights there off and on but never any people.

There seems to have been a light left on in the north part of the house.  It is always there when I pull my east shade at night and if I raise the shade early enough in the morning.  I don't see anybody there except to mow.

By all means, come see my new roof and tell me how it looks.  I can't see it without getting at least half a block away from it.  Might do that today.

I can tell you right now what ticks me off.!~
It is people who let their dogs bark all the time and do nothing about it!  >:(
( my neighbors to be exact..)
We have neighbors on one side that have a Jack Russell that barks until FINALLY they let him back in.. That is right by our bedroom window on the north.. and then on the other side of our windows to the south is the "yipper".
The only reprieve that we get from "the yipper" is when we have the windows closed and the a/c on, or if they do occasionally takes him inside.( there are 3 in the pen)...  which isn't very often.
Can't blame the poor little dog. He is a Pomeranian..  and he is supposed to be an inside dog. But they have put him in the pen with the other dogs and rain or shine and hot or cold, the poor little guy is out there standing at the fence barking.! Lord it is annoying. I have told them to turn off their outside light cause he thinks that they are still up and will bark all night long, and when the pen is about 10 ft from my kitchen window and my bedroom is right beside that.. well... you get my drift.
Then in the old church is the Pyrenees, which the poor thing is tied up all the time ..and when it gets cool, she feels so good that she barks off and on in the night ..
sighhhhhh...
My new house has no dogs close by. Thanks goodness.. Well ...Shery and Curtis Carey have Mattie, but she is old and only goes out to do her business and then she is back inside.

So that is my gripe. It is going to be window open time in a few weeks and then I will have to be listening to dogs half the night.
  >:(
By October, I will really be ready to change locations.

Am I ever with you on this, Teresa.  For some time now there has been a penned up dog across the alley and north across the street.  Poor thing barks all night.  My bedroom windows are on the north and even through the closed windows, I can hear him.  He didn't bark last night and I think he has gone home with someone.  It is a hunting dog and maybe is just here for hunting.

My big gripe is that I've never made it over to Howard to get one of Teresa's wonderful massages.

Woe is me.

Quote from: Rudy Taylor on September 04, 2007, 07:25:06 PM
My big gripe is that I've never made it over to Howard to get one of Teresa's wonderful massages.

Woe is me.

Woe is you is right!!  You need to try that out.  It is great.

I think it would be the perfect outing some Friday afternoon.  Wonder if the Queen
gives two-fer discounts?

Well, it is 9:00 and as usual.. for the past 30 minutes and until about 11:00 the Pomeranian dog of Danny & Stephanie Hebb  is barking non stop .. !
I can't believe that EVERY night they can't hear him! But they never ever open their windows. They either have their a/c on or their heat so I guess they can't hear.. either that or they choose to ignore it.
I have told them before that it about drives me crazy and for one night they took him into the house, but that was it..
I know its not the dogs fault, but I am about to take a 12 ga out ..
(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/pullhair.gif)

Maybe if he were fed at night he would go to sleep.  My husband used to feed our dogs at night and we never had a barking problem.  Of course they were allowed to bark non-stop anyway.

Poms are notorious yappers! Why is such a little dog left outside? He is probably scared silly! They know when night critters are prowling, it is really easy pickings for coyotes to come into town and dine on kittys and other small animals. I have seen them here on the streets of Moline, and hold my breath every night when Little Man, (our tomcat) goes for his nighttime activities. We have an old pussy who likes to spend warm nights on the patio; but I know when the critters are about because she comes in! Maybe you could offer that little guy a place alongside all the others, hhhmmmmm?????

I will never understand why people have to have these cute little creatures, then ignore them.  I think it is immature of the humans that they don't realize that the cute little creatures will turn into adults and will continue to depend on their humans to provide for them.  Not only food and water, but love and suitable protection.  And why do these humans place their pet pens as far from their house as possible?  Seems to me that our dog pen was always almost outside the back door.  Sometimes our back door was part of their pen.  Made it easy to let them in and out.  Pets have to be a part of the family or they cease to be pets and become pests.

These 3 dogs are IN a pen and it is about 10 steps from theri back door and about 6 steps from my side kitchen window!
And you are right.. Poms are an inside dog.. but this little guy is outside rain or shine hot or cold! sighhhhhhhhhhhh..
I need to get busy or I will be on my soapbox again.. ::)

So I wonder why they have an inside dog if they don't want an inside dog.

 ::) who knows~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's hard not to get mad at the pet instead of the owner even when we know better, so you have my cheers for that (even though it's not any help!)  I'm so glad I don't have that problem Teresa, I'm not sure I'd be as patient as you are...

I'm very lucky in my neighborhood, the dogs don't usually bark unless there's something that needs attention (We have a strictly no tolerance armadillo policy here!)  The neighbor's dogs are cute ~ they are inside dogs but when they get out to do their business, they'll stand in the corner & bark at Squirt over here on our porch until she goes over to play.  Then they race back & forth on either side of the pen about 3 times.  The dogs inside the pen usually win (but they cheat by cutting the corners. ::)  Squirt doesn't care, she races them then comes home with her tail between her legs because she knows she's not supposed to leave the yard.  It's hard to scold her though, because it is so cute.  I try.  ;)  I have very tolerant neighbors; I apologize for Squirt going over there and they apologize for their dogs egging her on. 

Life here can be GRAND!

I am tired of Daylight Saving Time.  It needs to end now.  This thing of starting it earlier and ending it later each year is for the birds.  Well, maybe not for the birds because I am sure they are not observing it.  And I am sure that I am not saving anything on energy.  I have to turn on lights when I get up.  These lights are forgotten as the sun lights the house and they stay on all day.  Where am I saving?

I know there was a reason for this in the beginning so I researched it.  Did you know that it was Benjamin Franklin's idea?  In the U.S. it was instituted during World War I on March 19, 1918 and was observed for 7 months in 1918 and 1919.  After the war ended it was so unpopular that Congress repealed it and overrode President Wilson's veto.

During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt instituted year-round Daylight Saving Time, called "War Time," from February 9, 1942 to September 30, 1945.

President Lyndon Johnson signed into Public Law the Uniform Time Act of 1966 on April 12, 1966 that created Daylight Saving Time to begin on the last Sunday of April and to end on the last Sunday of October.  (Now, what was wrong with this?  I got along fine with it.)

In 1985, the Federal law was amended to begin Daylight Saving Time on the first Sunday in April.  (Things just go down hill from here).  This amendment also set the time to begin the time change at 2:00 AM.

In 2005 the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (signed by Guess Who) extended Daylight Saving Time in the U.S., beginning in 2007, though Congress retained the right to revert to the 1986 law should the change prove unpopular or if energy savings are not significant.  So, this year our Daylight Saving Time started on the second Sunday of March and will end on the first Sunday of November.

Guess I will just have to stay in the dark for a few more weeks.  To me, it is unnecassary to start it so early and end it so late.  I am not sure that the nation is saving anything in energy anymore as most of the nation operates around the clock.  Most of the lights in most of the buildings, including our nation's capitol are on from beginning to end of the work day.  The farmers can work their fields any time of the day or night with the modern equipment they have.  The cows are milked any time of the day with electric milking machines.  The hogs and chickens have lighted houses and can be fed any time of the day or night.  So, who is saving?

I am tired of Daylight Savings Time also.

Not because of the days but because I have to get up on Sunday morning at 2:00 am twice a year to change the time...

You would think they would have made the time change at 10:00 pm on Saturday night so that you can change your clocks just before you go to bed...

I do change my clocks before I go to bed.

Just one more thing the gall darn(?) government is messing with.  I'd like to tell them to GET OUT OF IT!!!!, It's all God's time anywy.

Gee, Waldo, I NEVER get up at 2 AM and reset our clocks --- I do it before I go to bed, no matter what time that might be.
When this body goes to sleep, that is it, until 5:30 AM,  then my automatic alarm system seems to go off and it opens my eyes, and another day begins.  And I am thankful for each and every one that I am blessed with, whether it is daylight savings time or regular time.

That's what we do too, Jo.  In fact, Frank takes care of setting the clocks.  I LOVE the longer daylight time.  It isn't as important to me now as it once was.  I used to be at work at 7:00 A.M., so it didn't matter what season it was, it was basically dark, but had the evening hours with a little more time to run errands, do outside chores, etc.  I'm with you!  Every day is a gift and the older I get the more I appreciate each day!

Myrna

Folks,

Getting up at 2:00 am was a put on.....

Of course it was Waldo.  They's just funnin' wit cha, thas all.  Don't forget to change your smoke detector  batteries if you didn't do it last April!  Change your clocks, change your batteries!!!

Ha! I work very oddball days & hours, and sometimes don't change my clock for a day or two after Daylight Savings Time begins or ends.  I get up when I wake and go to bed when I'm tired (or when Marty's History Channel program is REALLY boring!)  It's really not that much different for me than when the electricity goes out and I have to reset all the plug-in clocks in the house.  Ha!  Marty has some kind of internal clock that works for him, so he doesn't bother with clocks much anyway...  Hmmm... 'Nuf said.

Anyhow, my computer, cell phone and cable box all automatically reset, so we have a reference when needed.  When I had a regular-hours job and my kids were in school, it was more important.  Now I just work ALL the time, so it doesn't matter what the clock says.  HA!

PS.  W ~ I'm so glad you let me know you were joking.  I don't know you well enough to be sure, and my Grannie really did used to stay up till 1 a.m. to change her clock.

Gee, Waldo, you really don't get up at 2:00 AM to change your clocks?  And here I was going to change my ways so you wouldn't be the only one.

Well, if you think about it if you set your clock when you go to bed you would have a different time than it actually was.

Additionally, it would be against the law since the law says 2:00am.

A few years ago, I was working with a number of FEMA employees in an emergency exercise on 12-hour shifts over a two-week period including weekends.

One weekend happened to be the day light savings weekend. If the balloon had actually gone up, there would not have been any coming and going.

However, shifts were employed for the two-week exercise to help with the realities of family life.

Once inside the underground shelter, everyone was prohibited from leaving. The military police normally opened the blast doors twice a day at 2:00 am and 2:00 pm to allow changing shifts. FEMA has an underground blast proof self contained facility in Lakewood, CO.

Some of the women reporting at 2am forgot to set their clock and came in one hour early but were granted access.

At that time in the morning there is not a lot one can do to kill an hour. There was a lot of shrieking when they discovered they forgot and each had no choice but work a 13-hour shift.

A couple men came in early but they would only smile and not admit to not setting their clock.

 Emergency Services that are 24/7 have the same problem. You  can have a call at 0200, then you can have another one at 0200 the second time around, after the clocks switch back. We have to be very careful with the paperwork!

This has all been so funny.  I loved it.  Especially when Waldo said he got up at 2:00 a.m. to change his clocks. LOL

Waldo---------  I find it much easier to just stay up until 2:00 A.M. and set the clocks than to drag out of bed and set them to the proper time. ;D ;D ;D ;D  I do enjoy the extra daylight at the end of the workday.  It's kind of depressing in the winter when you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark.  It might not be so bad if I had some windows at work.  Oh well !!!!!

Tomorrow is soap box day, but I won't have time in the morning to do this, so I will do it now.

I wish everybody would stop smoking so I wouldn't have to wheel through their discarded butts or smell their stinking clothes.  We visited a place of business last week and the entry to their door was littered with butts, then while inside, a nice looking lady passed me and she stank so bad that I found myself holding my breath until she moved out of range.  I can't imagine why anyone would want to smell so bad that people avoid them.

If you are a smoker, I am talking to you.  Have you ever accidentally started a fire with a carelessly tossed butt?  No?  Are you sure?  Think about it.

Have you ever felt that you are being avoided?  No?  Think about it.

But then this brings up the subject of perfume that is overpowering which is just as bad.  Or the ordinary litter that slovenly people drop or throw out of their cars.  Think about it.  Are you one of the thoughtless people that make the world a harder place for others to live?  Think about how your actions affect those around you. :'( :'( :'(

There are very few places left in Delaware where people can smoke indoors, and many have restricted out door smoking also. My clothes and lungs are very thankful for it.

some of the reasons I stay away from indoor public gatherings is because of overuse of perfume/aftershave and smokey clothes, I also avoid the homes of people who use powerful scented air "fresheners" these all trigger a major asthma attack.  :(

I'd say that California is pretty smoke free, but you know that's not true this week!  However, there is no smoking allowed in any restaurants in California, and there are many public places where smoking is not allowed.  (Including, in our home, which is not necessarily a public place!)  I do know people, though, that are so "addicted" to smoking, that I think they'd actually just as soon die, as to quit smoking.  My addiction is eating, so "what can I say?"  (I love warm peach pie with ice cream!)

I'll eat to that!  (Warm Peach Pie with ice cream)   ;D ;D ;D ;D

ME TOO! :D :D :D

Yes, my extra pounds will probably take me long before cigarettes would. So, here's to chocolate cream pie!

I only like two kinds of pie     Hot and Cold

Not a bit picky, are you, Jo?

No, Wilma, not one bit.   lol  only if I don't get invited to eat.  :P :P
Yesterday I made three cakes for the cake walk that is this afternoon, here at the park, for OUR Neewollah celebration
There was a free Hot Dog feed last night - and a free breakfast this morning...a cake walk - Needle in Haystack - Pinata - Chili Cook Off - Kids costume contest - Hay Ride - Best Decorated Campsite - Drawing for Vechile Permit - Drawing for Camping permit - Drawing for a Muzzleoader.  And the Minute Men are here and having a lot of Black Powder Shoots this week end.  They have their teepees set up in the area just below us and are cooking over their campfires ...So neat !!!!
  So there is a lot of traffic in and out of here these busy days.

Jo, I am really missing not being at Neewollah this year!  The events you have going on out there sound great!

The wedding we attended last evening was so nice, and we were very happy that we "gave up Neewollah" for this wedding of some wonderful "young people."  Can't have it all, darn it!

Take care, and have fun.

Soap Box Subject:

Why do we still have to sign credit card slips?  Nobody checks the signature or the identity of the user?  Anybody could scan my card, sign my name and run up my debt.  I am very careful with the one card that I use, making sure that it gets back into my billfold, but it kind of irks me that the check out never checks my signature with the card signature or asks for identity to be sure that I own the card that I am using. 

Yes, I still use a credit card.  I do not like writing checks in big chain stores and I do not like carrying a large amount of cash.  I pay off the balance every month if I can, so that I am not paying any interest.  I try to not put any more on the card than what I can pay off the next month.  Using a credit card is a matter of convenience for me and so far I haven't fallen for the debit or cash advance scheme.  If anyone is going to benefit from my credit card use, it is going to me.  Also, the credit card I use is with my credit union in Wichita, payments go directly to this office and not through the huge system.

Small purchases (under $50.00) do not have to be signed at some places.  Fast food, Walgreen and I'm sure many more.  I do not like the idea myself.   Penney's usually ask for ID for a large amount or depends upon the clerk.  There are a few stores that always still ask for ID.  It is too easy to use credit cards.

I like the debit card I don't have to sign but I do have to know my pin # and it will not allow me to spend any more than what I already have in my bank account so I am not borrowing from any one and don't have to pay interest or late fees if my payment gets held up in the mail, because there is no payment. Will never use cash advance seen too many people get caught up on that expensive merry-go-round and never get off. 

What did you or anyone else on the forum think the first time you gave the clerk a personal check and he/she processed the check through the cash register and then handed it back to you along with the receipt?

Told them I had not signed the receipt.  That's when I learned of the $50.00 limit.  I must say it is nice when you are at the drug store in the car line not to have to sign the receipt  Makes the line move faster but still is scary. 

Quote from: W. Gray on December 07, 2007, 01:27:58 PM
What did you or anyone else on the forum think the first time you gave the clerk a personal check and he/she processed the check through the cash register and then handed it back to you along with the receipt?

I looked at them like they had 3 heads.  :D Then .. I ask if my stuff was free.. did they not want my check or what?
( Small town country girl was stamped all over my forehead that day..)  ;D

I was a little perplexed, too.  That was when I decided not to write checks at these places.  I'll be darned if I want my checks getting to the bank before I get out of the check out line.  That's a bit too fast.  I think the credit card is the best way for me.  I might have as much as a month before I even get the statement and then another 15 to 20 days to pay it.  And it isn't costing me anything.  I can control my checkbook better if I have the time to sit down and use the calculator when I write checks.

The first time I was confused about what was going on and then remembered that Congress had made some changes to banking laws to benefit the businessperson. I brought that up to the clerk but the clerk did not know. So I checked with my bank.

I think we will find more and more that more businesses will be operating this way. Potentially, this process could wipe out all bad checks.

I still walk away feeling a little strange like something is missing.

Another thing that Congress now allows is not sending the canceled checks back to the issuer in the monthly statement.

I think some banks have run into a problem with their customers on this one. One bank I know of sends a copy of each canceled check bunched together on 8 .5 x 11 paper. A couple sheets of paper are much cheaper than sending a bunch of canceled checks through the mail.

I have not received a canceled check from my bank for 27 years. In return for agreeing to this process in the early 1980s, the bank provides at no charge personal checks that have carbon or today's equivalent underneath each check. That way you always know how much your check was even if you forgot to put the amount in the check register. These checks have always been available but are otherwise expensive.

At first, if we needed a canceled check to prove something, the bank gave us a photocopy of the front and back. It did not hurt that my bank was only about 100 feet from where I was sitting at my desk. Nowadays, I need only go on line, access my account, and copy the front and back.

We pay for all of our purchases with our "Southwest Airlines VISA credit card," and we get "free" airline tickets, one or two a year.  Bob "diligently" keeps the recipes from our purchases, and the day that the VISA statement arrives, he sits down, goes over all of the purchases, and send them the check, so we have never paid any interest.  I guess the checks we write are for Church, paying bills through the mail and for "things" other than making purchases at a store.  SO, I've not had the experience of writing a check and having it handed back to me, after it's been processed.  I can see where that would certainly help in eliminating the writing of bad checks, as I guess the bank account is accessed from the cash register?  What happens if "a person" lost their check book?  Do they check your identity when you write a check?  I know they used to.  How many businesses do business that way?  (Handing you back the check you've just written.)

So, Teresa, you're not the only one who would be quite surprised, to have their check handed back to them!  I know I would be!

It seems to happen quite a bit but is not yet a common transaction.

Walmart uses the procedure. When I am in Howard and take my mom to Walmart, she still cannot understand why they give her the check back even though I have explained to her several times.

We recently purchased a television from a local electronics chain that uses the procedure. Two of our utility companies do it. Our grocery store does it. I am not sure what physically happens to or who gets my paper check when a utility uses this procedure.

The process is done with an electronic reader at the checkout probably wired to the register. I presume there is an electronic connection to the appropriate bank, etc, otherwise the check would not be accepted. The reader runs the check back and forth several times. It sometimes seems ridiculous the number of times it takes.

I suspect the reader and whatever other equipment needed is expensive. That might keep some retailers from adopting the procedure but in the long run it will probably be less expensive than processing checks in the time honored way and enduring losses.

My wife is always with me when I make a purchase. If the clerk asks for my ID I sometimes point to my wife and say "She can tell you who I am." Most clerks will laugh but some seem to get indignant. In either case, they want the ID.

I'm always happy when they ask for my ID.

The Dollar Store is another one who processes your check in the store.

First time I was uncomfortable........but, now it isn't a bad thing.
Just a new (to me) way of doing things.

It is just one more thing to call CHANGE and you know that none of us
like change...........and I think this is another form of getting people use to
the "New/Modern and improved world.........hold on to your hat
people.........it will be a bumpy ride.

Hugs and God bless :P ;)

Kjell doesn't call it a "dollar Store"..
Because of me.. he calls it the $73 Dollar Store.  ;D

He exaggerates.. but I DO love to shop in those places.

but I DO love to shop in those places

me too.........if you are careful, you can find all kind of cool things........
and at a dollar each, if you make a goof.......so be it........almost like a flea
shop.....but cheaper.......... 8) 8) 8) ;) ;)

This thread has been neglected lately and I am sorry to say that I am as much at fault as anyone.  I could at least remind someone of something they would like to sound off on.  I want to thank Judy for reminding me of one of my favorite subjects to complain about.  I have been reading her daily devotionals ( which I enjoy very much) and today's was about what you take into your heart affects the person you are.

That is true, but it is also true that what you take into your body and mind affects the person you are.  You all know that what you take into your body determines if you are fat and sloppy or trim and slim, but do you realize that what you take into your mind affects your outlook on life? 

If your mind is overloaded with violence, you will react violently.  Are your favorite TV shows the ones that are loaded with violence?  Or with sex?  How can our children learn what is right and wrong when they see it all the time?  and I am not talking about children's shows.  I am talking about adult shows that children watch because what they watch is not being monitored.

This is also true of the books we choose to read or the magazines we have laying around that the children can see.  And what about the jokes you tell and your children hear?  Maybe the gossip you repeat in their hearing?  I didn't intend for this to be about children even if they are the most important in this sense.  What about yourself?  Is your outlook on life being affected by the shows you watch, the books and magazines you read, the jokes and gossip you listen to and repeat? 

I don't think that God intended for us to spend our lives violently or be obsessed with sex.  And I am sure that he didn't intend for us to speak unkindly of our neighbors.  If each of us could be a little more careful about what we watch or let our children watch, what kind of books and magazines we read and our children get hold of and the things we listen to and repeat about our neighbors,  we would all be better people and the world would be a better place to live in.

Now having said all this, my favorite TV right now is basketball.  Is it possible that I can become a great basketball player?

Sure you can Wilma..............we can do anything we choose to do.
Course, you need to practice and jump and go back to school to learn
how......but, it is just as do-able as learning to read.

As for what we all watch, I get so depressed when each and every time I turn on computer
or news or the television, the first thing they report on is that NEGATIVE NEWS that makes the
news.

I do not care for Yellow Journalism, but that makes the news so that makes the money.
I am guilty of spreading stuff I have no business spreading. Wish they all would put a positive
story on first. Instead of closing a news cast with an upbeat story (IF THEY HAVE TIME).

Ok, someone else  can grump now..I am done.

AOYP

Ok, TV is a big issue at my house.  I have a 10 year old, a 5 year old, and a 2 year old.  My step father gave them an old TV of his, and I was stupid enough to buy one of those DVD players that you can take in your cars.  I do try to control the amount of TV that they watch and the shows, but now a days there is nothing truly good on TV.  I do let them watch the Discovery Channel, the Outdoor channel, and things like that.  My oldest loves to watch the show that tells about how things are made.  To me, that is educational and she does not even know that. 

I just had to add my two cents on that.  I know that I am not a perfect parent, by no means.  I do let them watch to much TV, but at the same time, they have chores to do, also.  They have to feed and water the dogs, and chickens.  They have to do dishes, help fold clothes, clean the TV room, their bedrooms, and help me keep the house clean.  They also have to help me clean at the daycare.  And do you know what my oldest, who is 10 told me, "No one else in my class has to do chores, why do I?"  I laughed at her and told her, that I wanted to teach her something in life other than how to watch TV!!

Quote from: angtown3 on February 08, 2008, 02:31:03 PM
  And do you know what my oldest, who is 10 told me, "No one else in my class has to do chores, why do I?"  I

when my kids told me about "No one Else" I told them the same thing my mother told me--I would call Mrs Else and see if she wanted another child. :laugh:  that one lucky kid in every classroom around the world who gets to do whatever he/she likes has had the same name since my mother was in school and probably a lot of our grandparents as well

I was wondering not so long ago if there was a soap box thread or a pet peeve thread that I hadn't seen.  I'm glad to see there is one.  As for TV, my 3 year old grandaughter comes here two days a week.  She was never interested in what was on the TV until about three months ago.  Now she loves to watch cartoons.  And when she is here with the others of our family, I have to be careful about what is on the TV even though she doesn't appear to be watching it.  Kids her age pick up on everything.  The other day I was taking her to the church pre-school and the trash truck was in the neighborhood.  She mentioned something about the trash and I told her that papa's trash is picked up every Tuesday.  She said that her daddy takes out the trash and then, without missing a breath, she said "our house is dirty"!!  I laughed all the way to the school.  She is really precious to me.
Anyway, this is too long.  No parent is a perfect parent.  They don't have handbooks that are given out when kids are born.  You just do the best you can and pray that it will good enough. 

I am afriad if there were a handbook out there, we would all choose to become
Old Maids or just have one child and call that good.

Right now I think  that raising critters, 4-legged, was a lot easier.......
LOL,  I am laughing.....I would not trade mother hood and my 3 kids for anything.
But, I sure do feel sorry for my folks having to raise me.
None of what I am was their fault...they did the best they knew how.
And that is all any of us can say when we choose (or not) to have kids.

AOYP

While I am at it, here is another question in my mind.  When I receive my monthly bills in the mail the outside of the envelope says "Go Green", which is the flavor of the month right now.  This is to get you to pay your bills online or have an automatic withdrawl from your account so as to save paper.  Why then, oh why, do they put all those advertising inserts in the envelope? ???  Larryj

You've got a point there.

Sometimes ..out of meanness I put all the advertisement junk back in the envelope and send it back to them.,  :angel:

Especially if the return envelope is pre postage paid.

     I've tried that with AARP and it didn't work!   In plain ENGLISH, I told them I did not want their junk mail/trash and to take my name off of their mailing list, and mailed their junk back to them------Guess what?  I'm still getting their crap!

I've gotten rid of some credit card offers that way.  Don't get many of those anymore.

I have a soap box subject that I'm sure will get a lot of flack but here goes.  Lately I have noticed that probably 7 or more out of 10 TV shows and commercials are black people.  I have never considered myself prejudice but neither have I ever considered myself a "minority", but that's just about the case.  I think that NAACP should now stand for NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CAUCASIAN PEOPLE. Now,  :-\ let the fur start flying.

I agree with you that TV seems to be going black.  Not only commercials, but shows as well.  Flipping through the channels, which I do a lot of anymore, I land on mostly black people.  Most of the basketball teams are mostly black men as well as the football teams.  I am not saying that this shouldn't be, but it does seem that we are going overboard to see that black people are not slighted.  I am not going to stop watching basketball because it's mostly black and I will not refuse to watch a show that is mostly black just because the participants are black.  I still look for quality and where I am finding it is in the old shows which are mostly white.  Not because they are mostly white, but the content of the shows is more to my taste.

You are right, Flo.  TV seems to be going black.  Now if they can come up with the content that I like, I will watch it.  I still watch The Cosby Show and the one with Steve Uerkle, "Family Matters?", Sandfor and son, those were on because the content was good.  Maybe I am just old, but I still hold out for quality of content, not quantity.

No fur flying here...............(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v467/TMB/BluebirdNut/Emoticons/AllEmoticons/cat.gif)

Doesn't bother me either.  We don't watch much TV  --  mostly news and weather.  We sometimes watch Public TV from Rogers State University if we do watch, or the debates.  That's about it.

mlw

It would be interesting to know why you don't watch TV.  No time, nothing worth watching, even old movies don't catch you anymore?  The old timers might have been right when they said TV wouldn't last.

     I for one do not watch TV.  We have one, but it is not hooked up to cable or satellite, as we had it disconnected about a couple years ago.  We got tired of watching the same old movies over and over and over, until we almost knew the lines by heart.  As for the other programs.............we didn't care for a lot of the smut and other junk they were trying to cram down our throats.   As for the "black community" dominating TV these days, it sounds to me like the "shoe is on the other foot" now.  For many years the blacks that watched TV were mainly seeing "whites" on various programs.  With so many hispanic, blacks and other nationalities increasing in number throughout the country.............yes, I would say the whites are fast becoming the minority.  But I doubt if you will see or hear of the whites  running to the NAACP hollering ..........DISCRIMINATION!

How about watching the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, the Arts and Entertainment Channel, Home and Garden channel, the Travel Channel, or the Animal channel.  These are the channels I watch because the regular channels have nothing on that I will watch because of the stupidity.  I watch the game shows (Jeopardy, Wheel of Furtune, Family Feud, the Millionaire show, Are you Smarter than a Fifth Grader?) on regular channels for the entertainment and education.

I hadn't intended this to be who does and who does not watch TV.  T Sackett got my point.  Doesn't make any difference, there's nothing to be done about it.  Just had to get it off my chest.

I feel like we are getting  a taste of what minorities put up with foso long.

Flo.. I knew what you were getting at.. but instead of pounding the keyboard..( again)  :-X I just decided to play it cool ..
It doesn't matter cause there isn't a darn thing you can do about it. I don't care one hoot about color, gender or sexual preference.. UNLESS ..and I say this emphatically.. UNLESS they want to make a big deal out of it!
Blacks are abusing the "discrimination" road. I mean come n.. Blacks are far from being discriminated against. Hell the black community has more rights than the white community. And I'm sick of the whine that because I am black and my great great great great great grandfather was a slave, I need special treatment now.
And gender in jobs? Another area where .. who cares as long as the person can do the job and wants to be in that position.. then who cares if he is a stay at home dad.. or she is a construction worker..
Sexual preference? I don't care who sleeps with who.. Just don't make a big deal out of it. ..just because someone prefers to have sex with the same sex doesn't give them the right to cram it down everyones throat. They want to be treated normally, but yet they flaunt it to anyone who has eyes and ears.

I'd like to tell all of them.. (http://www.rightnation.us/forums/style_emoticons/default/talk2hand.gif)

Just my (http://www.rightnation.us/forums/style_emoticons/default/twocents.gif) worth..

(((so much for my  :-X and  letting it lay)))  ::) ::)

Have anyone notice that the Native Americans do not speak out about the abuse against them because of the EuroAmericans cheated and stole their lands not counting how many times both parties broke the peace treaties between them.  The blacks need to learn from the Native Americans to face what was done because it can't be change and go on to make a better future.

I have a question.  We just heard that the big contract for new tankers for the Air Force has been awarded to Air Bus which I understand is in France.  My question is, why is a contract for this enormous amount of money going outside the United States when the same thing is available in our own country?  Can anyone answer this?  Does anyone care?

A subsidiary of Air Bus teamed up with Northrup to beat out Boeing.

The tankers will be built in U.S. in Georgia.

Boeing was involved in a scandal involving air tankers a few years ago and may have lost on that account.

I thought I understood the news to say that the parts will be built in France, but that the airplanes will be put together in US (Georgia)?  I also heard that since France has gov't healthcare, they didn't have to include that in the budget for workers for the planes, whereas US companies do.  Also, they will have to build hangars and runways to accomodate these planes.  I also repeat Wilma's question... WHY did this company get the contract???

Not sure they will get the decison overturned, but heard that KS lawmakers are raising a big stink in Washington and asking these hard questions to the Pentagon officials.

They will be built in Mobile, Ala, instead of Georgia.

The sub assemblies are to be built at several places including France and the U.K. This is the way Boeing now works also. Subassembly work in overseas areas for their new Dreamliner is behind schedule causing Boeing to be late with deliveries. Overseas labor is cheaper.

A few years ago, Boeing received a contract to build the new tanker planes but many in Congress objected, including John McCain. The Boeing contract was for leasing, rather than buying, so the AF could get them sooner. It is easier for the services to get operation and maintenance money for leasing than it is capital asset money for buying.

A scandal soon ensued involving two high level women in DoD procurement who just happened to get jobs at Boeing. Apparently, there was some financial padding of lease terms favoring Boeing going on.

Boeing lost the contract and Congress requested that competition be opened to more than one company. It is one of theses situations "be careful what you ask."

Boeing went ahead with development and is now selling their tankers to other countries armed forces, although not very many.

From what I have heard, the French, er, Northrup Grumman tankers carry twice the fuel of Boeings planes but cost more. The bigger size is an advantage.

Another advantage I have heard is that the Northrup tankers have the capability of refueling both AF and Navy planes without landing and resetting or redoing their fuel dispensing equipment. For some reason, it takes different equipment to refuel each service's planes.

Wichita was supposed to be the site for some subassembly work on the Boeing tankers and that is why Brownback and Tihart are trying to get involved.

It may be that just the Mobile plant will need the runways. That is going to be a totally new plant.

I am surprised Obama and Hillary are not discussing the tanker contract.

McCain really cannot say too much because he was instrumental in getting the contract rebid.

The current contract is for something like 180 planes, there are more than 500 that need to be replaced. Northrup will probably be well positioned to get the follow on contracts.

Tomorrow is Soap Box Day and I have noticed some of you have very strong feelings about the animal situation that has happened in our county.  Here is your chance to vent.  So let's hear it.  Let us have it.  Get it off your mind.  Who knows, someone might be listening that needs to hear you right now.

Sorry; didn't realize there was only a specified day for soap boxes.

There isn't an only day that you can get on your soap box if you want, because when you feel deeply about something that is the time to talk about it.  Soap box day is just an invitation to state your opinion when you might not otherwise think to do it.  I would like to hear some more about this.  I didn't know that you could no longer have horses put down.  Please, if you have more to say, say it.  This is something more people need to know about.  And you probably know more about it than most people.

You know that I have posted alot about the mistreating of animals.  I'm very passionate about it.  We have had our share of animals dropped off at our place and to tell you the truth that is just as bad.  We only have one female dog on the place and she is fixed.  Some one dropped off a female terrier at our place.  She of course got pregnant, and we got rid of the pups. We gave them away.  But the mother was killing our chickens and we had to put her down.  Alot of people might not like that either, but what is one to do when they kill other animals.  We have had to do this with a couple of our other dogs.  When we had goats, we had one that would get in the pen and try to kill them.  But I feel this is very much different than just not feeding the animals.  To me that is terrible.  I know that they man who is is trouble for hoarding animals posted bale right away.  Ok, you have the money to get yourself out of jail, but no money to feed these animals.  I see something wrong with this picture.   My husband is a very loving and kind man.  He is an animal lover to.  He made the comment to me, Angie maybe all the animals got to be to much, maybe he did not realize what he was getting himself into.  But after seeing all the information surface, he just couldn't believe that the man would have let it get this far.  I am going to call the to see about adopting one of the animals if not more.  I know that we will take care of them.  I just hope that they all haven't been placed yet.

I am going to say, I am really shocked that the sherriff's office has done such a good job taking care of this matter.  Not that I don't trust them, its just this is a very odd case for our county.  They say that this goes on alot around here, but I have never seen it to this extent.  What also worries me, is the children in this case.  I know that they have 3 kids, not sure that they are theirs, maybe grandchildren, but one is in Jr. high, one in 6th grade, and one in 4th.  My daughter has one in her class, and she was already talking about him and the animals.  She feels sorry for him.  She said that she is afraid that people will make fun of him.  I was shocked that she cared about him, since he is one that has given her so much trouble in school.  But that is another soap box, but It is nice to see that my daughter has sympathy for him and the situation.  That shows me that she is a caring person.  But anyways, what I was getting at is, I hope that they are taking care of the children.  I hope that they are getting feed and not mistreated, too.  Ok, I have had my soap box, NEXT..... :P

I don't know what else I can say that I haven't already. It still makes me very angry, regardless of the situation this man was in. It's true, there's not much of a horse market these days, but I'm positive someone around here would have taken them if he posted information somewhere. I bought one horse last fall who wasn't trained at all...He's like a big dog and I just fell in love with him. It's quite possible I would have bought one of the "starved" horses had I known about them. He always had the chance to get rid of the animals. Always had an opportunity. He may have gotten in over his head, but there's never a moment he couldn't have posted an ad in the Good News, the Flint Hills Express, the Eagle, etc. Or even driven to Tripco or P & J's to put up flyers. He IS a "hoarder"  and is a cruel man. The pens they kept some of the animals in were very small. The horse pens were nubbed to bare ground.

People like this sicken me. I believe they are extremely selfish individuals. Only thinking about themselves. Maybe some don't realize what they're getting themselves into. They buy a puppy, or kitten, or a colt, and then when it grows up they're disinterested or realize what a chore it truly is. BUT STILL, there's ALWAYS the opportunity to sell it, GIVE it away.

You know what it took me to feed my 2 horses last month? $11.76. Yep. That's it. Billy's horses and bills are separate from mine, but I don't think he paid over $60.00.

I took in 2 dogs when my friend divorced and moved to Wichita. I did it out of the kindness of my heart, and I didn't complain once. When I realized we had too many dogs, I tried to get rid of the Cocker Spaniel. I advertised her and finally gave her away. I fed her the entire time she was here. I didn't starve her because I didn't want her anymore. You don't do that. If I could afford it, I would own every dog that I ever passed along the road that had been dumped off. It bothers me that this happened so close to home. It wasn't even 3 miles from my house! It makes you sad to know that these things are getting closer and closer.

I think we live in a wonderful community. Farmers and ranchers take pride in their livestock. They have to be devoted to their herd; be it goats, cattle, or hogs. They can't "take a day off" and not feed. I wouldn't go so far as to say that they are animal lovers, but it's their job. And it's the job they chose.

And who has prairie dogs as pets? That in itself is ridiculous. Things belong in the wild for a reason. Leave them there!


AND - Don't put this guy in jail so I can pay for him for 10 years...or however long he ends up being there (If he even goes). Put him out behind the barn, with no shade, little water at the bottom of the stock tank, and NO food. Let's see how sorry he is then.

Quote from: Devyn-Leann on March 21, 2008, 08:00:11 AM

AND - Don't put this guy in jail so I can pay for him for 10 years...or however long he ends up being there (If he even goes). Put him out behind the barn, with no shade, little water at the bottom of the stock tank, and NO food. Let's see how sorry he is then.

Devyn Devyn Devyn............. such harsh words...

Are you my child?  ;D
I believe that there must be a genetic strand connecting us .... * Probably in a past life of *an eye for an eye*. ;)

There is 20 some charges against him...and he will hopefully go to jail.
I like "Our" solution better..
but it won't happen of course, because we have to "coddle" criminals in the 21st century.   >:(

I know I used harsh words and I've been thinking about my post all dang morning. It certainly isn't very christian of me, but it IS something I feel very passionate about.

LOL, Teresa, I think we were related in a past life. We share many of the same opinions. Billy tells me to always keep my mouth shut, nobody wants to hear my opinion and blabbering. I really let myself go on this post. That'll show him.  :P

told myself I wasn't going to get in on this, but ya'all know me.  >:( can keep my mouth shut for only so long.  First, thank you Angie, for also being concerned about those children.  I know first hand the conditions out there and yes, I did report what I seen and observations I made.  I was told these people had an "exotic animal farm", what ever that means.  I personally seen nothing exotic about it.  That would probably explain the prairie dogs, although I doubt they could be classified as "exotic". ::) They reported different animals penned together.  I seen pens, but not one closed gate.  All the animals were free to wander at will.  Conditions were much less than desirable.

PS - need to modify this reply and state that law enforcement was not who I reported these conditions to just in case some of you would start on Sheriff Hanks, who so far as I know does a very good job.  Now I know that I should have gone right to the top - but didn't - so what I should have done and what I done is of no consequence now.   

Ok, I am back.  I want you all to know that if you want to adopt or get one of these animals you can call the sheriff's office and be put on a list.  I was put on a list.  I told him that we were interested in a Llama, a pony, and the cats.  He said that they had lots of calls for the Llama, ponies, but now for the cats.  I would have liked to take a dog, too.  But we already have 4 and really kind of afraid to take one of them, because of the girls chickens.  We have put a lot of money in the chickens and don't think I want to take a chance on them getting killed.  There might be a small fee, just because it cost the county to feed and house these animals, but I don't mind.  He also told me that they have to wait until the court date to see what they can do with them.  They also will have to be sent to an animal santuary, not sure if I spelled that right, to get nursed back to health.  That is what he told me.  I was just passing along the information for you all. 

Yes, Devyn you are right about putting him out in a barn.  I feel the same way.  Why should he get to live in the lap of great jail cells.  I mean he would have shelter, unlike he gave the animals, food, unlike he gave the animals, and attention, unlike he gave the animals.  But Teresa is right.  We "coddle" our criminals these day is just right.  I think they live better than I do.  You know that this man will live better than any of those animals will. 

Flo, I agree with you, too.  But I know first hand from working in schools, too, that they basically have to be physcially abusing those kids for something to happen to them.  But if he hoards animals, what I wonder if he does the same with those kids.  Maybe those kids are bringing him in some kind of income.  I am sure that they are.  It is just one sick and twisted family!!

 Proof? no, strongly suspect? yes - - - and I shouldn't say any more

I don know that Parker has a real hard time with the boy in her class.  He seems to get away with alot. Not sure why, but he does.  She is always telling me about him, he either hit her, kicked her, or called her some kind of name.  But you know, I just tell her that he doesn't know better and leave it at that.  I don't feel that she or the other kids should put up with this, but you know what I always think that the kid doesn't know any better.  So, I just let it be.  Now if it got to bad, things will change, but leaving it alone is what is best.  Flo, I feel for you.  You know the situation really well it seems, and that is hard.  I can't stand the way the SRS system works.  You can turn in a family for things you know are inhuman and nothing is done about it.  But just remember that they are Gods children and he is watching over them.  That is what I had to do when I saw all the cases of neglect that I saw while working at the school.  Believe me, no one realizes the amount of neglect that happens to kids in this county more than the teachers athe the schools.  But they also know, that they can turn them in, the parents will change for a while, and it will be right back to the same conditions if not worse when the SRS is out of the picture. I have even tried to give nice hand me downs to a family I felt needed them, and they did not want them.  I think that is sad, especially when you see them wearing rags as close.    Ok, that is another soapbox.  Sorry you can tell were my heart is!! :-[ :-[

On March  we were returning home from vacation. We connected in Phoenix. In Phoenix the US Airways Gate Agent announced that the flight was over weighted and he was looking for volunteers to give up their seats. This was the last flight out that night, so it would mean staying overnight, and not leaving on another flight until 1:00  the next afternoon.
We had been gone 10 days and I was more than ready to be home..but being on a plane that was too heavy wasn't anything I was too overjoyed about riding on. So Kjell and I volunteered.

The reward was a round-trip airline ticket anywhere US Airways flies within the 48 contiguous states.
When the "Take Flight Certificates" were issued, it read:
$200 discount off round-trip flight OR free restricted economy class ticket within the 48 contiguous states." These were good for one year. So they would be invalid on March 28, 2008 of this year. ( Just in a few days)

We have been saving them for when we both needed to fly out together. We are needing to book a flight to Louisville KY in May. So today I called to redeem the flight certificates. Tickets are $408.00 each to fly out of Wichita with a change over in Chicago and then on to Louisville. So I called and told them that I had these free vouchers and I wanted to use them on these flights.

I was told that there were no seats available for the free tickets. Now I was on line on the internet at the time and I could SEE  that there were available seats. I told her so too..
She advised us that these flight certificates are limited to Dividend Miles frequent flyer seats (at the lower mileage rate, of course).
And that there were none of THOSE seats available.  And that since it is 3 months in advance that no way could there be any  of these seats available on these flights , BUT we could pay full price and use the $200 discount...and get a seat.
SAY WHAT?! >:(

The tickets are presently $409 each. Delta has the same flight for $219.00.

I said, " so you are telling me that you HAVE Coach seats but not for my vouchers, but you DO have them if I pay half??"
She said yes.. and proceeded to tell me how the $200 voucher worked. 

I was furious and told her I understood the math. That I could easily pencil and paper it..and it came out to the same thing... We were being ripped off. !"  ..I didn't understand why the airlines were not honoring the "free" voucher that they had issued to us.

I was informed that  the "Take Flight Certificate" is only free if X-class coach seats are available, and she couldn't override this restriction.
I ask when any seats  would be available...if ever.  She said she didn't know. That I would have to call back periodically to check.
But in the meantime, my vouchers are void after March 28th..and I doubt that there would ever be any free seats, no matter when I called.

Kjell did some extensive online searching for fraud and rip off information and sure enough .. There is loads and loads of complaints...sounding just like mine.

US Airways gives out thousands of these "free" ticket vouchers every month. ( even sells them on e-bay) I'm sure they have heard every possible complaint about them. Every time anyone has called for a particular destination, there were no seats available.
And these were well in advance of the intended trips.

So rather than lose out, I suppose I will  book the flights and received the $200 off. But get this!

I will be charged $25 per ticket for booking through a rep instead of on line. . My online confirmation numbers can't be keyed in online ( since they are vouchers) so I have to go through a rep and do the reservations by phone.There go $50 more off my discounts! And if you have more than one suitcase, you are charged now $25.00 per suitcase, no matter the size.

What a stinkin' rip off!
NO wonder  US Air is the lowest rated carrier in the US.

There's a lot of "fine print" that the airlines don't make you aware of, when they give you anything "free!"  I have two "free" tickets on Southwest, but there were no seats available when I flew back for Ardis's funeral, to use one of those tickets.  I was pretty "put out," but the piece of paper I had did say "seats, when available."  So, after checking the other airlines, and finding the prices would be as much as $1,200 for a trip out the next day, I went ahead and booked on Southwest, for $371.50, round trip.  But when I tried to book to come back on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, there were no available seats on the flight I'd need to take, due to it being Spring Break.  So, I had to wait until Monday to fly back.  The thing I do like about Southwest is their policy of not overcharging for the tickets when you need them in an emergency.  I've flown back several times with the same thing, needing to get out in a hurry, and their prices are a fraction of what other airlines charge.  Southwest doesn't fly into Kansas, so we always fly to Tulsa.

When we were on the "rip off " web sites , most all the people who had posted said that Sothwest was the best airline to use.

We've always enjoyed flying Southwest.  And, it's enjoyable flying into Tulsa.  The airport there is pretty small and very easy to get into and out of.  And, driving from Tulsa to Longton is such a pretty drive!  They have a better system now for lining people up in their "A," "B," and "C" lines, as each boarding pass has a number on it, along with the A, B, or C, and you just get in line according to your nubmer, so don't have to get in line so early, to get a good shot at getting the seat you want.

Bonnie, I agree, we always fly Southwest.  It goes to most places that we need to be.  The flights were packed this past weekend, but the crew is always friendly and accommodating.  My biggest complaint was the Kansas City Airport.  We had to fly from LAX to KCI and change planes to come on to Tulsa.  After deplaning at KCI, we wanted to get a bite to eat as our connecting flight was late (weather) and also we had to get to another gate.  So, had to go through security again to get to the area where the other flight would be arriving (still Southwest).  It isn't the fault of the airline--it is the way the airport is set up.  Because Frank has so much metal in his body (back and knee surgeries) and I have a pacemaker) we have to be "patted down" can't go through like most people do.  It gets to be difficult at times especially when there are a lot of people flying.

Myrna

I've had the same experience at the Kansas City airport.  I'm sure they have a reason for doing what they do, but it's not "user friendly!" 

Some of the Flight Attendants for Southwest are downright "clever!"  We've had some good laughs along with them, at their antics!

We were planning to drive back to Kansas for the Memorial Day/Week,  (almost two weeks, as it will turn out!) but after thinking about getting to use our "free" tickets, I think I'll try and get plane reservations, using those tickets.  It doesn't do any good to have something "for free," if you can't use it!  We have several times we're going to need to be going back this year, so we'll probably be driving back at least once!  $ $ $ $ !!!

Bonnie, I too, like the free tickets.  We put everything possible on our card and then just pay it off when the bill comes.  Saves writing so many checks, plus we get to keep the money a little longer.  The only thing with SW now is that they only have so many "free" seats on each flight.  You might want to get your reservations for Memorial Day is you are thinking about using them.  We could only get "free" seats one way this last trip.  Had to pay for the return "ouch" as we didn't plan far enough ahead.  I am going to Houston Friday to take care of my grandchildren while our son and daughter-in-law are gone and was able to get it ahead far enough that I have a "free" trip.  He qualified for the trip and the spouses get to go, so am glad to help out.  Certainly have plenty to get done here, but grandkids are so special and I haven't gotten to see them since early August of 2007.

Myrna

I've been in the process of getting our confirmed tickets.  Their "Rapid Reward" system is down (that's scary,) but the agent went ahead and gave me confirmation numbers, and I'm to call back each hour.  The tickets are supposed to be held until midnight tomorrow.  Nothing is easy. at least, hardly ever!  I had to change the day we're flying out, going one day earlier, in order to get the flight we wanted.  I don't want to land in Tulsa at 10:00 at night, then drive to Longton!  We like to stop for supper at the Copan Truck Stop, and I don't think it would be a good thing to stop there at midnight!

We do the same as you do with our Southwest Visa card.  We charge everything on our card that we can, then pay it the next day after we receive the statement.  It's surprising how often those "free" tickets come around.

I'll let you know when the tickets are actually purchased, and I've received my email confirmation. 

'Tis done!  The tickets are purchased, the e-mail confirmation has been received, looks like we're all set!  That's actually a relief!

Good, I'm glad you got them Bonnie.  You can always cancel if you need to.  I had to do that once, and they didn't charge me anything for cancellation.  I'm sure you won't want to cancel, but one never knows.  If you get to Bartlesville and can't make it on to Longton, give us a call--we have an extra bed!  We've never stopped at the Copan Truck stop yet, but hear they have very good catfish.  We are usually in a hurry to get to Owasso, get what we needed, and get back home.  But, some friends told us it is good, so we plan to try it some time!  Do you know people at Elk Falls?  I'll bet you do.  You know, they have a basket dinner at noon on the Sunday of Memorial Day.  We take Mother every year and enjoy seeing people that we wouldn't see otherwise.  The Morton family always come, some of the Osborns, Buchanna's, etc.  I know you will be at your alumni gathering on Saturday, as we will too.

Myrna 

Thanks for the kind offer of a bed to sleep in!  By the time we get to Bartlesville, we feel like we're "almost home!"  But, "one" never knows!

Yes, we know all of those people you mentioned, from Elk Falls.  We've been friends of the Mortons for years, also Osborns, etc.  I know that Joan and Loyd Baughman usually go to the dinner, and Rowland and Gladys Jones, etc., etc.  It would be fun to meet you. 

Okay.. get this!!!! >:( >:( >:(

I called last night because my vouchers are void after Friday.
What I dealt with was  the airline company's who said that what I found online wasn't the right pricing. ( Go figure and try talking to a Pakistan guy who was arguing with me.. and so I ask for someone else and got somebody from Chinese .)
God I was so pissed. I had the website ( THEIR website)  right in front of me as I was talking to them...

and get this...
I couldn't use my vouchers ( worth $200 each)  if I chose from the list and made up my own itinerary flights.
In other words.. a lot of the flights were already booked up and sold out. so I chose one from the departing.. and one from the arriving list.
It was $163 one way.. ( x2 =$326 each for rd trip)
I told them what I wanted.. they took all the information ..flight # layovers etc and matched it up on their end.. Then gave me this amount of $596.00 AFTER my vouchers..  Shocked
I said.. "No.. it should be $252.00 after my vouchers"
They said.. Oh no.. you can't use your vouchers on those flights!
(You can only imagine what my BP did  at that time)
Calmly and through gritted teeth I ask "Why"...?

They said because it was not considered a round trip pkg. . It was separate scheduling.

I said no it wasn't. It was a round trip I was going and coming back.
She said.. No.. it is not a round trip pkg that we have put together as a "full trip pkg".
I said" But most of the flights..even these... are sold out. "
She replied in her broken English " I'm sorry but I can't change the scheduling that you see.
I ask what she could get me in a round trip..

Now ..listen to this!~~~~~~~~~does it get any more corrupt than this???...................
She gave me the exact   >:(^&$#$@$^%damned $^%  itinerary that I gave to her. WITH the bigger price of course.
And the fact that she had only 5 seats left.

I told her AGAIN that was what I just had given her.. and I had in front of me  the lower prices.!!"
She said..
" What website are you using..? ((in that stupid condescending voice)

My god, I thought I was going to blow a gasket,.. but still I was scary calm but not nice voiced...
I said in a very slow and deliberate voice...... I'm using YOUR... MAIN... WEBSITE.  And I told her the address..
She said it wasn't coming up on her screen and that all she had was the other pricing.
Then.. "I'm sorry  for all your trouble.. do you want these reservations or do you not?!

Hell I had to have them ..as we have to be in Ky the day before NRA and that was obviously all that was left. out of Tulsa.
(Flying out of Wichita was $1,023 each)

So I said I'd take them..What should have been $252 total.. cost us $598.
So we ended up using our vouchers and when the smoke cleared had a savings of a whopping $34.

*end of the story** Blond loses.. airlines win.

I also ask if this conversation was recorded and she said it was.. and I gave them a piece of my mind.. ( for all the good it will do)

You always wish there was "someone at the top" to talk to, but there never seems to be!  It really doesn't make you want to accomodate them again, by taking their "vouchers" and giving up your seats on an overbooked flight, does it?  Oh, well!

On a different topic, since today is Friday... Why does Ta Ta get to have her own car company? Can I have one too? And when does she have time to sneak off to India anyway?

Yes, Bonnie, all those folks are there too!  You would probably enjoying seeing many of the people who attend.

mlw

What's this about Ta Ta's car company and when did she sneak off to India?  How come I don't know about it?

What??

Sorry, didn't mean to throw you.  Tata is the big Indian auto company that just bought out Jaguar and Land Rover. They are working also on new itty bitty mini cars too. Thought it would be nice if our TaTa could get royalties or something.

Oh! You been watchin CNN again! Had me wondrin'!  :o :o

Maybe she should look into that.  Might be able to sue them for stealing her name.

Today is Soap Box Day and I was thinking that we needed something to liven up the Forum a bit then I read a couple of Judy's posts and about laughed my head off.  If you haven't read them this morning, then take some time and do it.  I particularly like the one about polluting your mind. 

Have you ever read something that you later wished that you hadn't read?  What you put into your mind cannot be deleted.  What you choose to watch on television cannot later be erased.  If  you wonder why the world has become so violent, how many shows are based on violence and do you watch them?  If you wonder why girls run around 99% naked,  how are the females on reality shows dressed?  If you wonder why our young people dress so crazy and inappropriately, how are the stars that we continually see on the news dressed?  And this is the way our kids are seeing them on MTV and whatever else they watch.

What can we do about it?  Me?  I can't do anything about what other people choose to put into their minds but I can refuse to further pollute my mind.  Maybe that is why I watch basketball over regular shows.  I am just thankful that the players wear tights under their cullottes.  If you ever saw one fall while the camera is on his legs, you would know why.

Sorry, Wilma, I don't think that watching basketball over regular TV is less pollution.  Those BB and other sports stars are just as spoiled and inappropriate as the rest of the TV stars.  Professional sports, mostly, but college is getting just as bad, too!  Why do you think that kids think it's OK to yell at the refs and throw a fit on the court and pout when they're doing bad?  Not to mention PARENTS!
But, I can't think of a better TV show alternative, either.  Guess we'll just have to figure out how to get our name on the guest list for the Cookson card parties.  I remember when card and game parties used to be the "in" thing to do, especially in the country to get neighbors together (of course, I had to already be in bed by that time, so I just remember it "sounded" like fun).

I agree with my mother (Wilma) that I will not pollute my mind.  I watched programs that educate me and make my laugh.  Such as the Mythbusters on Discovery Channel,  Cities of the Underworld on History channel, or the Animal Channel.  Sherlock Holmes stated to Dr. Watson, "That a man's mind is like an attic."  I don't remember that rest of the statement but the jest is "if you watch junk, your mind will cram with junk; but if you watch shows that educate, your mind will be fill knowledge."  It is up to the public that will sent a message that young actresses need to dress appropriatly in public and the shows need to stop glorify violents.  Bring back games show on prime time.

Well said, archeobabe.  The only game show I could do without is the lie detector one.  That doesn't seem quite right to me; may as well call it the Jerry Springer Game Show.

well, now, first the way teenagers look and dress today.  BACK WHEN  :-[ I was a teenager the girls and boys had DA haircuts, some boys had flattops and some even mohawks.  We did cover our bodies, but we listened to music that adults thought was horrible.  Remember when Ed Sullivan wouldn't let them show Elvis below his waist? Yes, today with the rainbow colored hair, the skin tight shirts the girls wear, with the neckline cut lower that the hem of our skirts were, the piercings and tattoos, those awful awful baggy pants that the boys wear, and their passion with violence is all very disturbing.  Some of my grandchildren are included in this piercings and tatooing.  I don't like it, but I know inside they are good people so I can look past the outside a bit, the general public don't know these kids and their first impression is not going to be good.  As for TV - sorry, I like Law & Order, First 48, COPS, but also Wheel of Fortune, Crossword and game shows of that nature.  Animal Planet, National Geographic and History are good, but ALL of these channels will have some violence in some peoples eyes.  Remember how we laughed at the roadrunner being chased, rocks falling on him, being blown up with dynamite?  Was that not violence?  But did we realize it at the time?  I allowed my children to watch those "violent, mind-warping" shows.  My television has a remote that will easily let me change the channel if I don't like what is on.  By the way, WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO RANDOLPH SCOTT?   ::) ::) ???

Hey MA He's on AMC! Watched him just the other day! My philosophy on raisin my boys was not sweatin the small stuff like watchin horror movies or listenin to the music they listened to, or their clothes up to a certain point. Figured if I gave em room they'd grow out of most of it and they did. They turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. Kinda the same way with Ashley, we talk about stuff, I do the same with her, let her express her youth so to speak to a certain point and she's growin out of it just like the boys did. We all drove our parents crazy with our clothes and hair and music and the movies we saw etc. Think people need to step back and say hey, it's tv, it's entertainment, turn it off and get back to real life when your shows over. And as for the music, me and my kids pretty much listen to the same thing lol, everthing from marilyn manson to johnny horton! As for the piercin and tattoos I made em wait till they were 18 and could pay for it themselves, one has a pierced toungue, the boys have a few tattoos but shoot I've got one too. And most of the stuff they said they wanted to do when they were 15 or 16 they no longer wanted when they got grown. Figure Ashley will be the same way. As for movies and stuff I'm not a fan of slasher movies or stuff like that but the boys watched freddie and jason and neither one turned out to be an axe murderer, I watch AMC, TMC, lost and Jericho, anyway to make a long story short, think it's more about the family than it is about the tv or music. But that's just my opinion and I could be wrong! ;D

no, I don't think you are wrong.  FAMILY VALUES are what teaches kids right from wrong.

Psst, Flo... I'm a Law and Order junkie, too.  Law and Order CI and SVU, too.  CSI, CSI Miami, CSI NY.  Numb3ers.  Chuck just goes downstairs and watches the Outdoor Channel.

Quote from: Tobina on April 25, 2008, 05:34:39 PM
.  Chuck just goes downstairs and watches the Outdoor Channel.

Yeahhhhh for Chuck!(http://www.cascity.com/howard/animations/bravo.gif)
  ( keeps my paycheck coming..)   ;D hahahahahaha


But have to tell you that right now, that Kjell is logged on to CBS on his computer and is watching Jericho.
Every single one of the episodes can be watched ..and that is just what he is doing.  ;D
I am going to watch them when I get a chance, but right now, I am trying to work on my computer at my desk.. ( which is right beside his ) and it is real hard to try to get my work done and listen to this awesome show.

Flo, Randolf Scott, who was "closely associated" with one of our local heiress types long ago, retired in the early 60s and died in CA. in 1987.

Believe it or not, the only Randolph Scott movie I saw as a "kid" was Ride the High Country in 1962  with Joel McCrea. They played a couple of over the hill gunmen.

However, since introduction of the western channel, I have seen virtually every Randolph Scott movie made.

Turns out Ride the High Country was his last.

He was born in 1898 so he was "old" when he made a zillion westerns in the forties and fifties.

Diane, I knew that - that was a "line" from the Statler Bros. song and I do agree with most of the song.  ;D

New Subject, but not one to get excited about.  Computer printouts.  Have you noticed that when you print something from the computer that the last page will have nothing except a couple of lines at the top of the page that doesn't mean anything, but uses up a whole sheet of good paper?  Also, a short article that would fit on one page comes in such large print that it requires 3 pages, the last page of which doesn't have anything to do with the article?  Have you noticed this and does it bring to mind the question "Where are the global warming people that they aren't trying to stop this waste of paper?"  I save these pages and use the backs for printing letters for proofreading or other things that will be discarded or filed in my own files.  But I still have more than I can use.  What about you?

Yes, exactly the same!  If it's something I can "control," by just asking the printer to print one page, or two, I'll do that, but I don't always know how many pages might be involved.  But, I, too, use both sides of the paper, so it's more the use of the expensive cartridge ink than it is the paper, for me.

You should be able to control the print size and number of pages. When I print something, I generally do a "Print Preview" to see how it will print with no changes. You can adjust to say fit on  1 page if it shows it would barely have something on the second page or if what it shows will print on the second page is not relevant then tell it to print page 1 only. There are numerous adjuatments one can make to save paper and ink.
Frank

This is something that needs looking into al all work places. We had one tester that was attatched to a printer that always had four empty forms at the top of a printout and four at the bottom. That was eight sheets wasted every time the printer was used. Our process required that we print a summary for each lot tested and a datalog for each of five failed devices. That was 48 sheets of wasted paper, and since that was a continuous paper printer, it could not be reused. Multiply that by three temperatures per lot, and running this tester 24 hours per day seven days a week. Wow! Now that is a lot of paper! I brought this up in a work in progress meeting, and the head of engineering had an absolute fit! The next day, that tester was hook up to a more efficient printer that wasted zero paper. Just wish I had spoken up sooner.  :-\

Good for you.  I used to use a printer that always ran off 2 empty sheets before it started printing.  I couldn't understand why, but I never thought to bring it up to someone that could do anything about it.

You can also just highlight only what you want to print and print only that.
It saves lots of ink and other crap on the page that you don't need.

If there is lots of stuff I want and lots of stuff I don't want on an article. I go through the article and sporadically copy and paste what I want into notepad ( or an email) and then I just print that off. That way you have all the important stuff together in your print out.

Our company uses an e-fax system... 1) since we're a virutal office company, and 2) saves lots of paper.  Customers can fax to a phone number and it turns it into an e-mail instead of a paper-based fax.  Then the e-mail gets sent to the office manager and she determines where to forward the e-mail.  Since most of our documents need to be uploaded in an electronic version anyway, this also saves time so someone doesn't have to re-type the information into a form.
I'm also saving lots of trees lately; my printer carriage is jammed and I can't print anything!  Frustrates me b/c it's a fax, scanner, printer, copier all-in-one, and now that the carriage is jammed, it's only half useful and not completely broken.

Today is Soap Box day and I am rather ticked, so I'm gonna vent, as I've got a few things to mention. 

Why is it, when a woman who is middle aged or older,  can very seldom find appropriate clothing in the discount stores, as the clothing they carry is mostly for the younger woman?  And if by some fat chance, an item of clothing is found, the price is higher for the larger sizes? 

Older women do not look dressed very nicely  in mini-skirts, tank tops, etc. as  all those "spare tires" are revealing......which leads to another gripe for me. 

Why are so many of the younger generation rude, obnoxious and disrespectful towards their elders?  These past couple of years, I have had a number of incidents with the younger generation that really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I was taught to be respectful and use some manners.

In observing the younger women, who go shopping with practically nothing on (their boobs are ready to pop out at any time from the extra-skimpy top or else when they bend over or stoop, you can see clear to China, as that micro-mini skirt leaves nothing to the imagination), giving the male gender the "come-on signal" then before you know it, they're screaming "RAPE!" and claim the guy is sexually harrassing her.  Don't these "bimbos" ever wonder WHY?

KANDY, I agree with you on everything, especially the way people dress.  I am told that it is old fashioned to say that the way young women dress invites attention.  Maybe it is old fashioned to say that but it is as true today as it was way back when.  Do these women really expect to not be noticed when they show most of their body in public?  I don't think so.  I think that they undress just to get the attention that they are then screaming about.  Otherwise, they would cover their bodies.  It is a whole lot easier to shop or anything else if you are not constantly pulling up the front of your dress or tugging down on the skirt.  And if when you bend over in short shorts, you can't tell what is exposed, then your skin isn't very sensitive.  No, the women that expose most of their skin know exactly what they are doing and I would say that is "asking for it".

Kandy, I know exactly what you are saying.  You either have to have an hourglass figure or weigh 450 lbs. and I don't fit in either catagory.  Also, I attended a high school function a few nights ago and remarked to the lady that I was with that it sure don't take near as much material now days to make a dress as it did when my girls were in high school and they were there during the "mini" skirt era. What is in a dress now I used just to make the sleeves.  ;D

Flo, I saved those pieces for my mother to make quilt tops.

Yes, I know that I am old-fashioned, but I would rather be that, than an empty-headed bimbo with no scruples/decency and no morality.  In reading the Bible, in the New Testament, it plainly tells women to dress modestly, and no one can argue with God's authority.  So if it's attention these "bimbo's" want, they're going to get more than just attention.  Putting oneself on display to be oogled is just downright disgusting!!  And that is putting it mildly.

I'm not sure that the classification of "bimbo's" is correct.  It's what's presented as today's fashions.  These girls, most of them anyhow, were not trying to exploit themselves.  It's just that the dresses they had to choose from were "skimpy" by my standards but then I'm not a fashion dictator.   If I was, I'd probably say let's just stick with blue jeans and a T-shirt for everyday and slacks  and a nice blouse for dressy occasions.  ;D

There is a choice here.  The skimpy, barely there clothes, or the blue jeans and shirts with slacks and nice blouses for dressier occasions.  Dare to be different.  I did and if I remember correctly, so did you, Flo.

yep - I sure did.  :angel:

Oh Ma, This stuff is killin me.......................................Ok ....Yeah the girls that wear skimpy clothes are lookin for attention, BUT, so are the ones who wear the baggy black chain drippin goth clothes, or the ones who wear the fashionably ripped up jeans and tie-dye....SO....it is NOT an open invitation to get throwed down and raped ALTHOUGH there ARE men who will USE it as an EXCUSE. Which brings me to the Bible which was written by MEN who were so scared of women they had to make us responsible for EVERYTHING and turn the human body into somethin to be ashamed of (especially the female form) and make WOMEN totally responsible for their natural appetites instead of bein RESPONSIBLE for themselves....period. Now I'm a fair sized ol' gal and I've been wearin t-shirts and jeans or shorts for years ask ma, but when I was young and skinny I was not above wearin a mini-skirt or two. I feel VERY strongly on this subject, so for any toes I step on sorry......but that doesn't change my opinion one bit . By the way my daughter is one of the ripped jean, short plaid skirt, fishnet wearin goths LMAO, WITH a funky hair do LOL but just like all of us she'll outgrow it eventually LOL

I know this is getting off the subject a bit, but I would like to kindly say to Pam  that the Bible wasn't written just by mere men,  but by men that were inspired by God..... in other words God told them exactly what to write (2 Timothy 3: 16)

Pam, I have never seen Ashley dressed inappropriately and I think her hair cut, if funky, is cute on her.

No she doesn't, but SOME people might think she does lol. As for the religious argument I could have here I ain't even gonna bother :P Some things are just an exercise in futility lol.

Quote from: pam on May 11, 2008, 06:54:04 PM
As for the religious argument I could have here I ain't even gonna bother :P Some things are just an exercise in futility lol.

Thanks.. took the words right out of my mouth.  :)

Argument????????????  There's nothing to argue about, because "If GOD said it, then I BELIEVE it, and that SETTLES it."  The End.

 :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:  :-X

 ;) Well.. as long as GOD said it.. and it can be proven as such... then I will believe it. :)

Not to get into a heated debate.. but.......................... the bible was written at least  200 years AFTER Jesus was no longer walking the earth.,
The are many books of the Bible that are missing and have been purposely taken out, so I have many many many questions on and about "The Bible".. I also know that stories repeated, rewritten and interpretated over a span of decades sometimes change.

That is all I am gently saying..

**Let me say also that Mother and Father God are my very best friends in the whole universe. I talk to them every day lots of times.. I appreciate and love the angels and my guides and all those that are God's helpers...who interview and help me with everything I do.**

Thanks Teresa...you just kept me from sticking my foot all the way down to my stomach. I love the "naked archaeologist" and the really, really old history. My sister in law recently returned from a trip to Israel and the surrounding area and saw a lot of the oldest things. She was fascinated by it all.   

Thank you Teresa, took the words right out of my mouth :) That was the argument I was gonna skip lol. There have been several versions of the bible thru history and what went in it depended on who was in power at the time in the church. You could write ANOTHER bible with what they don't put in the current one. Let me say I am also a very spiritual person and am a big fan of Jesus, I'm just not a very big fan of organized religion. :o imagine that! :laugh:

Well .. religion.. like politics.. can be very emotional and can't really be argued without a frenzy taking place.
Personally I am not a person who wants any part of  organized religion. ( been there and done that) but I also feel it is everyone's choice how and where and when they pray and talk to their God.
I prefer Gods open spaces, woods etc..as I believe God is everywhere all the time, so I don't need to go into a building that is man made with man made rules to feel close to the higher powers.
But I understand that we are all wonderful individuals and if meeting with a group in church is what helps and makes people feel the closeness... then by all means do it.
Whatever works for you..should be what you do. As long as it makes you be the best you can be.. and you have love in your heart.. then go for it!  :angel:

Lol, think we go to the same church  :) God/dess is where you find em.

That's me too. I'm Presbyterian by registry and family history, but I rarely go to church services.There is a remembrance garden at the rear and a vespers area in the woods out behind. That's more to my liking.

I had a soap box subject picked out and a couple of paragraphs written ready to put on here tonight.  Then I read Sixdogsmom's post on the conserve thread and she suggested something that I hadn't thought of.  She was talking about the cost of living rise and mentioned the housing situation and the people going under from bad investing.  That reminded me that there was some talk of the government bailing out the people that were in trouble with their mortgage payments.  Since this didn't affect me in any way or I didn't think it did, I didn't pay much attention to it.  Now I wonder if some of our increased costs are due to this situation.

I am wondering if you think the government should be helping people and mortgage companies that so clearly used poor judgment in buying homes.  I have always wondered why people need such expensive homes and now I wonder how can some of them afford to buy them to begin with.  And if there was some indiscretion in making them eligible for the loans, should the mortgage companies be bailed out?  I think that in this country of free enterprise, a company should sink or swim on it's own merits and not with taxpayer money.  If I use poor judgment in how much I put on a credit card, I am certainly not helped to pay it off to get out of trouble.

There is always bankruptcy court, and it seems not to affect anything about future credit. I know that in theory it is supposed to suspend all credit for the bankrupt person, but it doesn't seem to work that way. The credit card companys make a deal with the credit card holder and accept pennies on the dollar for the amount. Of course it ruins your credit, but there seem to be ways around that. Mostly though, credit card users are paying for all this with outrageous fees and rates. We use a credit card all the time but pay it off every month. I keep a small bank account as a cushion for taxes, insurance and extras if there is enough. We also keep a family bank account used to pay bills. We use the credit companys' money all month at no cost and receive perks as we use the card. I know this is not the way they want it to work, and many folks owe a balance. That is the danger, owing a balance. Right now cell phones seem to be a problem with young people. They get a cell phone because it is cool to be talking to your friends in the middle of Walmart ar wherever. Most of the time, they cannot really afford that cell phone and end up closing the account early and paying a humungous penalty. Cool ain't so cool anymore then. I too think they are cool, but cannot justify the expense. I answer the phone too much as it is. Enough!!   :D :D

And no, I do Not think the government should be stepping in to pay off a mortgage that should not have been issued in the first place.

No one has written on this thread for a while. And some of you might've seen mine coming. I didn't want to continue on Heather's hardest things thread.

I want to continue my soapbox of teen pregnancy. The piece I wrote yesterday really got me thinking. And I have never really expressed my thoughts about it until now. As you read, and some of you know me personally, I became pregnant in the summer of 2004. I was to be a senior in high school. At the beginning of each school year my friends and I would run the "joke" of who would get pregnant that year. Until, it happened to me. I felt horrible about the things I had said. Now I was in the girl's shoes who were the butt of our joke. AND, I became pregnant in a small town, in a small school. Where people are always talking and ALWAYS have their opinions. I was terrified. I knew as soon as I got the results of my test that I couldn't give up my child, or even "kill" it. We talked about it over and over and over again. It was our mess and we were going to deal with it ourselves. We waited as long as we could to tell our parents. Billy was 23, had a college degree, and a job he loved. I was in high school. I didn't want to disappoint my mother, or my grandparents, and worse...set a terrible example for my sisters. Those were things constanly on my mind. I was an unmarried young mother to-be. I was, a statistic.

When it finally came out that I was pregnant. So many people were negative. My favorite teachers became my enemies. My "friends" were distant. I even had teachers tell me it was expected that I would not go to college. Can you imagine how this made a student feel? I felt like trash. I was on bed rest most of the time, out in the country, in MY own house doing schoolwork that was brought to me a daily basis. No one informed me of graduation plans, those in charge thought I wouldn't celebrate that day.

Billy and I had no help when we were expecting. We didn't cry out and complain. We didn't think, "Why us?" We paid our bills, insurance, and for the things for our child. Billy worked. He paid for us, with his own money. Not my mommy and daddy, not his parents. We didn't beg and plead for help. We had our child and took him home to a safe, happy, and healthy home. Once again, that was ours, that we paid for. We didn't receive a Welfare check. We didn't depend on the state for money. We didn't even get WIC. (Which I'm not saying is a bad thing at all, I think it's wonderful) I was still in high school. The principal gave me 2 more weeks at home and only a week of going half days. I would be up half the night and still get up and go to school each morning. I never cried and complained about it. I just did it. People still acted the same. Girls looked at me like I had some nasty baby making disease. Some thought it was incredible how strong I was. The people who were the nastiest to me are the ones who kept me going. When my baby got sick, I went and picked him up and took care of him. When he had to go to the doctor, I took him. I never once depended on someone else to take care of MY child.

I proudly graduated my senior year, WITH my class. I graduated with no scholarships that I had a applied for because an anonymous figure at the school never turned them in. My son was 3 months old then, and attended my graduation. I am in college. I pay for it. I don't need any help just because I had a baby when I was a teenager. Some people still look at me the same. Some days it gets me down, and some days I just think, at least I will still be young when all the other moms with kids my age will be OLD!!

I just don't understand why it's the girls like me, and marinemom's daughter who are also quoted in these statistics. Mommy and daddy didn't raise my baby. I didn't live at home. I didn't get free money. Billy and I worked our butts off (and still do) for our child. We ARE still together. It wasn't a "slutty" act. He wasn't some random guy. Does anyone get my point? Some of these girls are 16 and don't even know who their child's father is!!! And their parents are the ones taking care of the grandbaby, as well as STILL raising them. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, Billy and I got a house and I lived with him. My mother begged me to stay with her, but I felt I needed to take responsibilty for our act. And I did so in my own house. To this day Billy and I have never received a penny from Welfare. And we will never apply for it. We don't need it. We can take care of ourselves. I feel better knowing that we are able to take care of ourselves. Our son, now 3, is a healthy normal little boy. He doesn't have green skin or any teen pregnancy disease.

If I can juggle housework, school work, Billy, and a baby, then I can do anything. I'm very proud of myself and ashamed that I ever got ashamed of my "situation". My sisters still look up to me, and often refer to me as one of their heroes. If I could go back and change things, would I? Absolutely not. The Lord gives us obstacles. I would, however, tell girls to think about what they're doing...I mean, really think about it. There are some days when I want to beat Billy over the head with a skillet and send Lane to stay with his grandparents for a week, but I get past it. I still love both of them, and I always will. Some girls don't get as lucky as I did. You can't just think about what you want then, you've got to look at your future. Do you want to be up 4 or 5 hours during the night calming a baby with colic? Do you want to be spending your prom dress money on diapers and formula for your baby? Or do you even want your parents spending their retirement money on raising your baby? You can't just think about yourself, you've got to look at the whole picture. And that's something I've learned. Whew, I think I'm done now.

(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc251/jwcpt/kudos.jpg)


(http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm239/jesusaves2483/9630e6d5b6b7922030ae6142f071eac9.jpg)

Excellent.. and I'm proud of you and all the young mothers (and parents) who are "doing it right"..

Deveyn-Leann:  Thank you for sharing your story with us.  My best wishes for a peaceful, prosperous life for you and your young family. Young, but obviously, not immature.

Devyn, thank you for your story.  I know that it took a lot of courage and I hope many many teenages get a chance to read it.  It may help them to make the right decision should the need ever arise in their lives.   You are to be commended for your outlook on how to make the best decision for the rest of you life, the life of your child, and making a happy home for all three of you.  These things happen and yes, I got your point.  A lot of people will make "snide" remarks and look down on someone in your situation.  Makes me question the "wisdom" of those teachers in their desire to work with children.  Sorry, folks, those days of "hide em in the closet or lock em in their room" to save face is gone.  This happens in the best of families.   I know you had the support of your family and, Devyn, your "friends" are those who stood by you during your pregnancy and last days of high school and continue to be your friends.  So many would have just quit and gotten their GED.  Good luck with your college education and for your future together.  You deserve much happiness and you already know that life doesn't come easy, but nothing worthwhile does (and I'm sure you've heard that before  ;).

May God bless you, always, Devyn, you are a wonderful, strong young woman, that Lane and Billy can both be very proud to call their own.

I know that today is not Friday, but this came to mind and I find that it is bothering me more than I thought.  Besides, I am going to be very busy come Friday and I would probably forget it.

Do you feel as if you have had any say in the selection of your party's presidential nominee?  I don't.  I couldn't attend the infamous caucus and couldn't mark a ballot.  At least with the ballot, if you are unable to get out, you can do a mail in ballot.  I feel that I am being deprived of my right to vote.  My vote might not count for much, might not be counted at all, but at least I would have had the satisfaction of casting it.

How do you feel about it?

Like I am fighting like hell and it doesn't make even a speck on the universe.

I don't trust the automated voting machines and I don't trust that our votes in a small town even make a difference with all the
caucus's and the electorates etc etc... But vote I will... and hope it does make a difference ..somehow..

To say I am scared to death is a mild statement. 

I do wish they would have a weather contingiency if they insist on holding caucus in February, or at least have caucus a little closer than the 40 miles we had here. I was disappointed that I could not attend due to weather conditions and the 40 miles across narrow icy highway.  :'( :'(

So far, no one has mentioned the injustice or justice surrounding the state of Puerto Rico having more Democrat delegates than 27 Union states, yet Puerto Rico citizens cannot vote in the Presidential election.

Puerto Rico is a state and has been since 1952—complete with governor, legislature, and supreme court--it just has not been admitted to the Union.

Yeah I did Waldo, this mornin when my husband and I were talkin about this stupid election lol

Count me in with Wilma. The only time "the people" are heard is when we hold a true election. A caucus is still a political party function, and few Americans are involved with such events. Besides, everybody at a caucus knows how you vote, and I don't like that.

That's why there are curtains on election booths.

I also oppose the Electoral College even though it offers advantages for small states. Why should people vote in a presidential election when they see the losing candidate placed in office, as happened in 2000? The name of the candidate doesn't matter to me --- the man or woman with the most votes should take office.

Anybody, do you believe the party is more important than the candidate?  Isn't it more important that the best person be elected to the office than which party they belong to?

I believe the person is more important than the party, but in so many cases, without  party support the person doesn't stand much of a chance.

Haven't done much with this thread for awhile because people have been getting on their soap box when the occasion arises, which is as it should be.  And my topic is just a repeat of an old one.

Why can't the county road men clean up the county road yard??????  The weeds and Johnson grass is way high and I have to see it every time I look out my kitchen window.  I also can see several of the men standing around doing nothing.  Don't they know how to use hand tools such as a weed whip or scythe?  I'll bet they don't even know what a scythe is.  Is the only thing they can do is get on a big machine?  There are hand sprayers, too.  The spraying doesn't have to be done with a big tank in the back of a truck.  If they are worried about contaminating the neighbors yards, Round-up doesn't drift and it is systemic.

round-up doesn't drift? try spraying it with even a very gentle breeze.  I have a solution for you.  ;D ;D don't look out your kitchen window.  ;D ;D

That is impossible for me.  Some people can stay behind closed doors and curtains all day, but I can't.  I love the wide open spaces and the sky and the far off hills.  I don't belong in town, but at my age and condition it doesn't make sense to live way out yonder where it takes forever for an ambulance to reach you.  If they can find the way.

Today's subject:

          IS THE PRESS AND MEDIA OBLIGATED TO BE AS TRUTHFUL AS POSSIBLE?

I don't have the time right now to get into this as fully as I would like, but I wanted to get it started.  My simple answer is yes.  The press and media news are obligated to be as truthful as possible, but some of them are not doing that and are in fact doing just the opposite.

Wilma, what a great question at a time like this. I think they are obligated to tell the truth period, I can think of no good excuse for them not to. I agree, I think it is the worst reporting I have ever seen, but I think this Presidential election has brought out the worst in everything and everybody, that I have ever seen in an election..

good morning to you.

I agree about the news? people............we really can't believe anything they tell us.

I know there is truth out there..........but, where is it???

One thing, the masses (people) have finally had enough and what I am seeing is that
more and more Americans are ready to stand up and be counted.

At last there will be a goodly number voting and maybe, just maybe the powers-that-be will listen to us.

For some reason I think that the people in Washington think we are just "no account" and that what ever they feed us will
be accepted as GOSPEL!!!
Not going to happen.

We are going to stand up and TAKE BACK AMERICA!!!!!!

God help us all.
Judy

AMEN JUDY AMEN, Judy, I was glad to see you respond, I was beginning to think Wilma and I had broken the forum

This election is making me sick.  I watched CNN for about 3 hours the other morning (while I was working at a customer's house), and I wanted this election to be over so bad!  Yes, I'm voting this year (first time in a long time), but wish there were better candidates to vote for.  I've always said that dirty campaign makes for dirty politicians, but seems as though that's all there is.  I dare someone to run for an office and really actually run a clean campaign.  No, they probably won't get elected the first time, but maybe it would change the tide.

Tobina,

Every time they find an (almost) honest politiician.....they find a way to smear him and boot him out.

I know we don't have a better choice, but we can clean house............I mean the ins may not be in when the election
is over and if we clean up the Senate and all those people, maybe we can find some satisfaction.;


I am on the counting board here in Longton, and many times we have people write in Mickey Mouse or the like and Do you 
know I would almost........LOL.......enjoy reading his name out to be counted........LOL.

But, we must take what is put to us and in the end, just maybe we will get it right.

I know that people are talking about the anti-christ......but, altho we are coming to an uprising, I for one am trusting
God to help us get it right.

Jesus will come when Jesus will come!........In the meantime we live with our eyes on the Lord, and trust...........and Trust
some more.........We are UNITED in this, This year.......who knows what will happen .........Only God knows.

Hang in there and we will make a change. God bless

Judy

Quote from: Wilma on October 24, 2008, 07:46:37 AM
Today's subject:

          IS THE PRESS AND MEDIA OBLIGATED TO BE AS TRUTHFUL AS POSSIBLE?

I don't have the time right now to get into this as fully as I would like, but I wanted to get it started.  My simple answer is yes.  The press and media news are obligated to be as truthful as possible, but some of them are not doing that and are in fact doing just the opposite.

Absolutely the press and media are obligated to be truthful, objective, and unbiased. they are not. I took a journalism class in school and that concept was drummed into us while we wrote the school newspaper and studied the history of journalism. Definitely gone today or very hard to find. This is a great question and I have been cussing at the tv and the newspaper each time I see stories that blatantly violate these policies.

David

Well, it is called Freedom of Speech, so I guess they really can say what they want to.  What really needs to happen is that people need to start thinking for themselves and find out information on their own... not just believe what the media or any "unbiased" group tells you.
I do have to say that the morning I watched CNN, it did seem very neutral... they were doing "fact vs. fiction" on the campaign ad claims.  They didn't seem to come across for or against either candidate.  I just wished they wouldn't have talked for 3 hours STRAIGHT on only campain issues... when there was other breaking news scrolling across the bottom of the screen that you could barely read (and I read fast).

Bias has always been evident in the media; however sensationalism has become popular and successful in recent years only because of readership. Somewhat like the oldest profession, if there were no customers there would be no product offered. The human race is pretty seedy as far as showing publicly what we really are all about and what we are really about in private. Why do they have those trash papers at the grocery checkout? Because they sell!! Only the garbage collector knows after all!  ;) ;)

Tobina, you may want to sample CNN Headline News; they pretty much keep up with all the news, while CNN does indepth stuff.

The objective unbiased facts are the news. Their opinion should be kept in Op|ed or clearly delineated as opinion. Has nothing to do with free speech or not. No one is quashing their right to free speech. Just a matter of being honest, objective, and unbiased that is what Journalism should be.

David

Once when I worked for ATT&T, they sponsered a seminar on grief management. Part of that was a short lecture on shoulda, coulda, woulda. The point of that lecture is that we bring on a lot of our own problems with expectations that are not legitimate. That if we leave Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda at home, it is much easier to cope with the world.

I do not think there is such a thing as objective unbiased facts; we are all victims of our own experiences, and that in turn tints the view we have of any one thing. You may observe a vehicle accident differently than myself for instance. Doesn't mean that either is correct or incorrect, but 'see' things from a different perspective. History books are a terrific example of this. You can read a history of something that is written in present time, and read about it written in a time from long ago. Often, they are unrecognizable as being the same incident.

So all papers would be the same if they coulda, shoulda, woulda seen the same way.  ;D ;D

P.S. (Did you notice that I am beginning to sound like Pam? Must be all those enlightenment postings!)  ;D ;D

Good points, SDM.  To add to that, we all may perceive "bias" differently, too.  Depending on how ferverent we are in our own beliefs, or our own experiences with the subject.  So it's not just the reporters' bias, but the listeners/audiences bias, too.

That's why, when social researchers do "scientific" polling, they have a margin of error of +/- 4%, or whatever measure they're using at the time...bias plays a huge part in those discussions...it's hard to get an accurate picture when you're dealing with innate prejudices and generationally intrenched views.

QuoteP.S. (Did you notice that I am beginning to sound like Pam? Must be all those enlightenment postings!)

Oh no.....LOL
1

Quote from: Catwoman on October 24, 2008, 03:40:03 PM
That's why, when social researchers do "scientific" polling, they have a margin of error of +/- 4%, or whatever measure they're using at the time...bias plays a huge part in those discussions...it's hard to get an accurate picture when you're dealing with innate prejudices and generationally intrenched views.

If you want to know about scientific polling, mathematical statistics, data mining and what it means, how to analyze polls. Let me know. I have been involved with this in various ways from studying the topic to applying it for 25+ years. I am not an expert I am just the middle to upper middleman that uses this to determine what you are thinking. This type of stuff is done on you in many various ways;  it drives what you see, how business advertises to you, what is on your grocery store shelf, the topic a Presidential candidate chooses to talk on in a debate. Also, the best way to use all the various grades of tomatoes and how the line ropes are set up in your bank. I will tell you it works and you might be surprised how small the business is that does this. Sorry for ranting. I am a numbers man. I have done this for a florist, many  health clubs, a Casino\Entertainment|Leisure|Health Club Co., a County hospital and an upscale grocery store. Often we know what you are going to do before you do. Done with the rant.


David

David, that is very interesting.  You might be the person to answer this one.  How much can the polls that are being quoted now, be trusted?  I think that is what I want to ask.  Maybe you can figure out what I really want.

So what am I going to do next??????

Quote from: dnalexander on October 24, 2008, 08:49:36 PM
Often we know what you are going to do before you do.

David

Quote from: Wilma on October 24, 2008, 09:05:17 PM
David, that is very interesting.  You might be the person to answer this one.  How much can the polls that are being quoted now, be trusted?  I think that is what I want to ask.  Maybe you can figure out what I really want.

Wilma there are a lot of polls out there. The polls that I read and trust right now show this as a dead heat with a 95% accuracy. Without a big lecture. If a poll has a margin of error less than a 2.5 % margin of error it is outside what is called the statistical scientific theory line of 5% swing. That hints at bad data gathering or what we call poor lab technique.That does not mean that it is not useful or appropriate for the question. It can provide you with good information but it needs a much wider difference in the numbers than we have in the Presidential race. There are many other factors to look at besides the mathematical theory for probability and data sampling; which are very straightforward. The analysis is harder. Now for maybe a little more useful information.

This race is uncallable by the polls. The numbers are a dead heat when you use the margin of error. More importantly the people that have no opinion are much larger than the margin of error. That keeps an accurate poll at a dead heat no matter who you attribute those people to. What it means is we are split 50 50 on who should be the President. Flipping a coin is cheaper in this case. When the numbers are farther apart on a question the answer to the question is much more apparent. We are animals of habit that is why advertising works. That is why the Casino always wins in the end. Sometimes our analysis is wrong, but not enough to make us come out behind in the long run.

David

As for you Patrick you are going to continue to drink Mt. Dew, post acerbic comments, and work on finding a useful purpose for the old grade school. I don't need a poll for that. Also, Patrick you are but one person and we don't care about what one person does. We care about the group. Nothing personal so no hard feelings.

Thank you, David.  You have confirmed what I was thinking.  Now I hope that the right people read this and don't go off and vote for the person that the polls say is going to win just because they want to be on the winning side.  That isn't a good enough reason.  Following the leader is fun to play when it is just a game.

I didn't mean me personally I meant the social unit as a whole.......



What direction are we +\-2.5% headed?



Heaven or Hell?

Judging from the political debates and the wretched choices in people running, I'd say...hell.  Ding-Ding...first stop on the right, just before Never Ending Misery and just after the conclusion of the 2008 Presidential election. ::) ::) :o :o

Quote from: Wilma on October 25, 2008, 06:14:36 PM
          IS THE PRESS AND MEDIA OBLIGATED TO BE AS TRUTHFUL AS POSSIBLE?

I don't have the time right now to get into this as fully as I would like, but I wanted to get it started.  My simple answer is yes.  The press and media news are obligated to be as truthful as possible, but some of them are not doing that and are in fact doing just the opposite.

See my post in the Politics thread.

http://www.cascity.com/howard/forum/index.php/topic,6142.new.html#new

Quote from: pepelect on October 25, 2008, 07:37:50 PM
I didn't mean me personally I meant the social unit as a whole.......



What direction are we +\-2.5% headed?



Heaven or Hell?

Pep as for whether we are headed for heaven or hell I don't know. As I said we want to know what groups of people say. Your question is only answerable by one entity, being, God. So far he\she has not responded to our phone call. If we get a response that poll has no margin of error.

David

David

Today's Subject:  Recycling

I am a devout recycler.  I am doing the best I know how.  But there should be a better way.  So, what do I do with the following items that made it to my trash because I don't know what else to do with them.

plastic without a recycling symbol
caps from plastic containers that have a symbol, but the lid doesn't have one
styrofoam
dry cereal boxes;  these are perfectly clean
cardboard tubes from paper towel rolls, etc.
cardboard backs from calendars, etc.
junk mail
discarded toothbrushes
bread wrappers
shred
hard plastic packaging
plastic kitty litter bag and bird feed bag

This might not sound like a gripe but there is one here.  I think that the government isn't doing enough to encourage recycling.  No, I am not talking about being given a bonus for recycling, but, rather making it easier.  Why should we have to throw away anything?  Why isn't the government doing more to either find ways to recycle our waste or making it illegal to make non-recyclable, non-biodegradable products.

Yes, I said, make it illegal to make non-recyclable, non-biodegradable products.  Make it illegal to package anything in non-recyclable, non-biodegradable packaging.  It hurts my soul to put these things in my trash, but what else can I do with them?   

First there has to be a market for the stuff. If nobody wants it, it can't be recycled. Some things are already made from recycled materials, like cereal boxes and cardboard tubes. Some things can be recycled many times, but others don't have the strength after one use or must be partially made of new product for the process to work. Some things are just too nasty to recycle. I'm getting a bit smarter about all this as we are about to start  mandatory home recycling here, IF the market hasn't dried up. We will have two big roll cans, one for all recyclables mixed together for one pick up a week and the other can will be for"trash'' that will be picked up another day, once a week. We're supposed to start in the spring....we'll see. We've been sent folders about what to recycle,  but their attitude is, if not sure, put it the trash can. Eventually the stuff that now goes to the land fill will be burned in a clean way and probably be used to fuel trash to steam plants for heat or manufacturing. As for the government getting involved...are you sure you want that?   

No, I'm not, but there doesn't seem to be anybody else doing anything.  Meanwhile we are just piling up the trash and some day it will bury us.

Here is a novel (albeit unoriginal) solution: Everyone obtains an empty 55-U.S. gallon metal drum with the bottom intact and the top taken off. They then cut ventilation holes at the bottom on each side.

They put the drum on the back property line and assign one of their kids to carry out and burn all their trash including tins, bottles, etc. Makes a great chore for the boy in the house.

Every so often the city, or their contractor, sends a truck by and empties the drum for you. The sharply reduced volume of trash, i.e., the ash, the burnt tins, and the burnt bottles, then goes to a landfill.

That is exactly what we used to do, Waldo -- until the Gov't  with all of it wisdom (?) put a stop to it --- now we have the overflowing dumps - that is a lot harder on our environment than a little gray smoke coming up from the burn barrel   If we could get the "do-gooders" to butt out, we would all be a lot better off, and so would our world..

I live in a town where the city outlawed trash burning 35 years ago, and the result has been a marked increase of junk that's piled in alleyways and behind garages.

I'm not against landfills, but I think disallowing the burning of trash was a huge mistake. I also think a reasonable city dump served a great purpose. It was the greatest recycle station in the world. If we had a tricycle with a wheel missing, we'd place it just inside the gate at the city dump and someone else would take it, repair it and get some good from it.

If we can stuff something inside a trash barrel or trash sack, we don't have a problem disposing of it. But there are lots of items, such as an old microwave oven, TV set, couch, etc., that once were thrown into a city dump and burned that now find home in our small towns' alleys.

Jo is right.  Here's a case where the government butted in where nothing was "broke."

Here's another quite unscientific comment: We notice more rats in our town today than we did when we had a city dump. The reason? The rats stayed at the dump ... they didn't see a need to travel into our towns. Besides, it was fun plinking rats with a .22 rifle on a Sunday afternoon.

We have air quality issues here that you folks in the wide open spaces are less likely to have. Newark hasn't allowed open burning for a very long time because of that. We do not have problems with junk in the alleys. We have pick ups for that and rats? Not a problem. We eat 'em...rat on a stick, a great Delaware delicacy.  ;D

Diane there are those that would say that you elect them to go to Washington!  ;D ;D

Diane, you as a large city, perhaps need some regulations like you have, BUT --- we as a small town need not be lumped into that category.  There doesn't seem to be any "common sense" to any rules and regulations any more  --  just dump them all in a pile and make it the rule for everyone -- large and small.  If  ONLY -- we had any voice at all in the things that matter to us.  But how in the Sam Hill do we get rid of the idiots that are sitting in the high back chairs with their goofy grins and their lack of brain cells, making the rules.  It would be such a blessing if  we could put the "Gravy Train Riders" in the garbage disposal and flush them down the drain?  The power to be is in the hands of total idiots -- and they are all identical, no matter what they say or do -- it is just one carbon copy after another.  Makes me sick to the bottom of my shoes. Darn "em ! I wish I could have 30 minutes to tell them all to go where the sun don't shine, and the fire is blazing high!

If I lived there I'd feel the same way you do.

I know that I have neglected this thread lately, but yesterday I was so frustrated it took all the fun out of a shopping trip.  Four years ago I bought a digital camera with a rechargeable battery.  I have really enjoyed using it, but this week the battery gave out and wouldn't take another charge.  Yesterday whilst in Wichita I went back to the store where I had bought it thinking that they would have a new battery for it.  Boy, am I naive, not only did they not have a battery, they didn't even sell the camera anymore and they couldn't tell me where I could find one.  So I did what everyone else is doing.  I found it on the internet and ordered it.  Now I have to wait 2 weeks for it to come.  Meanwhile, I can't use my camera.  Who knows, maybe the baldheaded cardinal that I have been trying to photograph will have grown back his topknot by that time.  Whatever has happened to service?  Is technology advancing so rapidly that we just throw away our favorite possessions because we can't get replacement parts for them?  I don't want a new camera to have to learn how to operate.  I want my just 4 year old camera that works really well for me.  My old box Kodak lasted 30 years and was still a good camera when I couldn't get film for it anymore.

    I'm sitting here waiting for a work type phone call, so I thought I'd gripe a little and then go away. If you have something to say to me, say it. Don't whine to Teresa behind my back. That is not fair to her or to me. My E-mail has always been public. I don't hide. I know its a site for Howard, the site description even says so. I know I've intruded and I apologize, BUT, I think it is very unfair for a forum member to attack me using  a piece of someone else's post, who probably didn't give permission for it to be used that way. And if using smileys  and saying "I was just kidding, honest," isn't a strong enough way show intended humor, well, I just won't any more. No more kidding, no more puns. Ya know they say ''If you can't attack the issue, attack the person." Please don't say I can dish it out and but can't take it based on erroneous information. If I do hurt your feelings, which is the last thing I would want to do...you tell me, don't have someone else do it for you.  But I do have feelings too. I am tough but there is a limit.
   I had wanted to ask what you all thought about Sonia Sotomayor as a new Supreme Court Justice nominee, but I'm afraid now anything I say would be used against me by several of you who have apparently declared me the enemy. Better that I not say anything if a neutral, issue based debate can't happen.  I'm really a light hearted docile old cow most of the time, but  cows can give quite a kick when needed.

Diane, I don't think you've intruded. I enjoy your posts and have put a lot of your advice to use. I'm thankful you're on the forum!! Some people just have the guts to go face to face, they're cowards. I've learned this in the 22 years I've been on this earth.

Wilma - If you'd like to borrow a camera to snap pictures of your flowers or birds while waiting on your new battery, I have an extra. It's very simple point and shoot camera.

You kick them, Diane.  I think you are right.  You have been the voice of reason among a rabble of accusations.  I am curious, also, about what people think of the new supreme justice candidate and I am just waiting for someone to dig up something relevant, not something she said 8 years ago.  How about I start a thread about her and you can listen in?  Going now to the politics section.

CDBL, thanks for the offer, but Daughter has a brand new camera I can use when I get over griping about mine.

 Uh oh, not to be picky, but I've never really considered myself a coward....not the bravest on the planet, but not a coward. Never mind, I said I wouldn't kid around anymore.

I love your sense of humor and I don't have to have it pointed out to me by smiley faces.

Diane, I am not from Howard and have never lived there but still enjoy the Forum, especially your posts.  Sometimes humorous, sometimes serious but always welcome.  I have also enjoyed and watched for your advice on some issues that have been brought up.  Hope you will continue posting with your thoughts.

Pat

I've just been shocked and amazed lately at how people have got so personal on their attacks and posts.  Instead of just stating facts and having a discussion, people immediately jump down each other's throats and call names or make personal statements.  I don't think that says a lot about the people posting, I don't care how intelligent their argument is.  If you can't argue a point without being personal... you're no better than a politican.  (wow, how's that for a slam!   ;))

Unfortunately, this forum ISN'T just for people of Elk County.  Sometimes it makes me so embarrassed to think that outsiders and "guests" see how we act and argue.  It's not portraying a friendly community, that's for sure.  If this were just called "the forum" or "Teresa's forum" it'd be different; but when it actually says our County and community name on it, I really think that the negative posts and personal attacks speak very low about where we live.  Even if the posts don't come from Elk County people, or if they do, it's like walking around doing and saying horrible things while wearing a college t-shirt; people immediately relate your bad actions with that of the school (and you may not have even gone to school there!).

Tobina+1, pregnancy has definitely done something for you.  You are so right about everything you say.  Can't find a thing to pick on you about.  Keep up the good work.

What the last seven posts said. Thanks for making my life easy and making it so I didn't have to type. 

Diane, Teresa, and anyone else that gets frustrated, pissed off , hurt, offended, etc. I will give you back the words given to me here on t;he forum. Take a break, just remember to come back. True friends are those that you can have a fight with, but still want to go back to, and can go back to. That is our forum.

David

Ok, Maxine and I have something to say about this. Here you are setting on this forum doing nothing but b##ching and griping about everything. Do you have nothing better to do. Do you not think the world is stressful enough with out you all complaining? I gather you are all retired? I know I am, but I have better things to do then set on here 24 hours a day. Have you looked to see who is on here all the time, it is the same people.
We have people on this forum that have been there,done everything,can do the one up on anybody. I guess when you have been in the business world that gives you the right to correct everyone let us know how great you are and there is nothing we can do that you have not done. Well I guess that is our Soap Box, and all I have to say is if the shoe fits wear it. Max and I have a great live and yes there are thing we do not like. But like our old pappy use to say. If it is something you can change do it, If you can do change it do not lose any sleep over it. And it saying that it is close to our bed time, so Good night to all.  ::)

Bless your heart, Diane.

You can't imagine how many times I have been inspired by your intelligence and courage in the face of stones being hurled in your direction. You have spent your lifetime engaged in teaching young people to think and develop their own opinions based upon obtaining good information. You have volunteered your time to help others in your community --- and in Elk County. You've never once asked the party affiliation of those you have helped or the ideology of the the young people you have so lovingly nurtured.

Hang in here with us.  Your roots grow deep in Elk County and I truly believe you are appreciated by a majority of our forum members.

Besides, we need to see your Irish blood bubble to the top on occasion. And, by gosh, you let 'er rip a good one this time.

You go, girl. Burn that bra!

I so agree with Rudy!  Don't leave us, please. :'( :'( :'(

Quote from: Wilma on May 28, 2009, 05:16:22 PM
Tobina+1, pregnancy has definitely done something for you.  You are so right about everything you say.  Can't find a thing to pick on you about.  Keep up the good work.

Oh Wilma!  Hahaha!  I hope you weren't LOOKING for something to pick on me about!  That would kind of defeat the point of my Soapbox!  Haha!

I agree with David and Rudy, too.  There are so many things to talk about on this forum without engaging in arguments.  As you can tell, even those people who only pop in every-so-often (Maude and Maxine) are fed up with complaining and arguing.  EVERYONE (and I mean EVERYONE) has something to contribute to this forum, and I hate to see people leave with a bad taste in their mouth over one thread or a personal argument with one person.  Also, we have to remember to keep it in the thread (post), and not let it bleed over to the rest of the categories.  Teresa and I got into a heated argument last year over a political post, but yet on the Coffee Shop we were chatting it up like great friends.  I loved that!  Really showed me that we all can have our differences in certain areas, but yet still be friends.
Wilma; thanks for re-opening the Soapbox thread this week!  I think this is a good place for a release, and a place to "get it off your back" without getting another thread off track.  I hope you get your camera battery soon!  It's a great time of the year to be snapping pictures!

Thank you all, I feel much better about things. A little later I'll give it another try. I do sincerely apoliogize for anything I have done to add to any bad feelings.

Tobina, Diane, when I opened this thread it was only to vent about how fast things become obsolete, but in view of what has come out of it, I, too, am very glad that I opened it.  Venting about my small problem made me feel a little better, but what some other people wanted to talk about has made me feel even better.

Several things--- Thanks to Rudy for that lovely post. It shows why he is a 'PRO' and I am just an old gal with few blogging skills. And thanks to Diane for the great spirit she is, and to all the others who remain respectful under fire. And Wilma, you reopened this thread with a pet peeve of mine; the absolute continuous waste of resources just trying to keep all the gadgets etc going, when ten years ago we didn't have these gadgets and didn't need them. We are wasting a great deal just because there is no planning for the future, just get the thing on the market and sell it. Ted used to say that this kind of thing was made just to sell, with little other use.  ::)

That used to called "planned obsolescence." It sure is true today. Every year's "new model" cars, a two year old computer is "old  technology,"every doo-dad that runs on batteries, very tempting and meant to sell. 
    Thank you folks for the kind words. Now the ones who don't like me will accuse me of trying for compliments. Ya can't win.

Remember it isn't if you win, but how you play the game! ;) ;) :) :) :)

Yupper! Tis yah know!  ;D

The topic today is "added sugar".

Not having really gathered my thoughts on this, I am not totally prepared to put into words my true feelings about "added sugar".  Actually, the words for my true feelings could be classified obscene.

My question is "Why?"  Why does everything have to have sugar in it?  I just had homemade biscuits for lunch and they were the best I have tasted in a long while.  And they contained no sugar.  I checked the loaf of bread that I have been using and guess what.  There is a gram of sugar in each slice.  This loaf is a multi-grain sandwich loaf, each slice has 45 calories.  But why the sugar?  I don't remember my mother adding sugar to her home made bread unless she used starter to make it. 

I have, occasionally, checked the sugar content of food that I buy and there is always sugar.  Even in products that don't need sweetening.  So why the "added sugar"?

I've asked that very question.  I was told that it's what the American taste buds want. Phooey. I personally think it's the sugar lobby that influences the bakeries somehow. Kick backs? I don't know, but it has to be something. We don't need all that sugar, or corn syrup either. 'way too much sodium too. IMHO. Some things need some sugar for tenderness, texture and browning etc, but not that much. Even the "no added sugar" labels can be misleading. Things that don't have table sugar ( sucrose and fructose together) may still have lots of natural fructose, but at least it comes in the fruit...then there's glucose and dextrose and lactose. Not all are bad of course, but overdoing cane sugar and some others can be problematic.

      Unbelievable.
   
An eighth grade Connecticut kid is claiming he was "cheated" on Jeopardy. He gave the correct answer, but he spelled it wrong, so Alex disallowed it.

     Front page of Yahoo news.

    He was behind about $60,000 , so he had no chance.

    His mother said it was, "hard to watch". Hundreds on Facebook admonished the show for being too strict with their rules.

    Ridiculous.

     I guess I'd be upset too if I lost by $60,000.  :o ;D ;D ;D

   

     More craziness.

By Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent

LONDON (Reuters) - A corner of west London will see culinary and scientific history made on Monday when scientists cook and serve up the world's first lab-grown beef burger.

The in-vitro burger, cultured from cattle stem cells, the first example of what its creator says could provide an answer to global food shortages and help combat climate change, will be fried in a pan and tasted by two volunteers.

The burger is the result of years of research by Dutch scientist Mark Post, a vascular biologist at the University of Maastricht, who is working to show how meat grown in petri dishes might one day be a true alternative to meat from livestock.

The meat in the burger has been made by knitting together around 20,000 strands of protein that has been cultured from cattle stem cells in Post's lab.

The tissue is grown by placing the cells in a ring, like a donut, around a hub of nutrient gel, Post explained.

To prepare the burger, scientists combined the cultured beef with other ingredients normally used in burgers, such as salt, breadcrumbs and egg powder. Red beet juice and saffron have been added to bring out its natural colors.

"Our burger is made from muscle cells taken from a cow. We haven't altered them in any way," Post said in a statement on Friday. "For it to succeed it has to look, feel and hopefully taste like the real thing."

VIABLE ALTERNATIVE?

Success, in Post's view, would mean not just a tasty burger, but also the prospect of finding a sustainable, ethical and environmentally friendly alternative to meat production.

According to a 2006 report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), industrialized agriculture contributes on a "massive scale" to climate change, air pollution, land degradation, energy use, deforestation and biodiversity decline.

The report, entitled Livestock's Long Shadow, said the meat industry contributes about 18 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions and this proportion is expected to grow as consumers in fast-developing countries such as China and India eat more meat.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), annual meat production is projected to rise to 376 million metric tons by 2030 from 218 million metric tons in 1997-1999, and demand from a growing world population is expected to rise beyond that.

Post cites FAO figures suggesting demand for meat is expected to increase by more than two-thirds by 2050.

Animal welfare campaigners applauded the arrival of cultured meat and predicted a great future for it.

"In vitro technology will spell the end of lorries full of cows and chickens, abattoirs and factory farming," the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) campaign group said in a statement. "It will reduce carbon emissions, conserve water and make the food supply safer."

A study published in 2011 comparing the relative environmental impacts of various types of meat, including lamb, pork, beef and cultured meat, said the lab-grown product has by far the least impact on the environment.

Hanna Tuomisto, who conducted the study at Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, found that growing meats in-vitro would use 35 percent to 60 percent less energy, emit 80 percent to 95 percent less greenhouse gas and use around 98 percent less land than conventionally produced animal meat.

While Monday's fry-up will be a world first and only an initial proof-of concept, the Dutch scientist reckons commercial production of cultured beef could begin within the next 20 years.

"What we are going to attempt is important because I hope it will show cultured beef has the answers to major problems that the world faces," he added.

Good morning, all.  I remembered this thread this morning while ruminating about some of the spectacles that I have seen while watching the basketball games.  Namely, grotesquely painted bodies and faces.  I think I have commented about this before concerning football games and my opinion has not changed.

This time it concerns not only the spectators, but the schools themselves or more accurately, representatives of the schools.  The pep bands.  A bunch of young people with their faces so obliterated with paint that their own mothers would not recognize them.  Not to mention outlandish costumes and kindergarten behaviour.  This is definitely not a positive image of the school.  This old grandmother would not even consider sending a high school graduate to this school for preparation to live in the real world.  Wait!  Maybe this is the real world.  God help us.

There was a time when this was the gripe thread wasn't it? Now they are almost all gripe threads.
    As far college behavior, much has changed. One was considering the kids adults at 18 instead of 21.They don't have to behave for anyone now, as long as no one is injured or killed. There is no such thing as shame. I'm not talking about everyone, but in certain segments, they are bright kids who just don't care. We  had two here caught having sex behind The Galleria on Newark's Main Street,up against a fence....totally smashed and caught on camera across St. Patrick's Day weekend. It went viral and was all over face book. Our police will prosecute for public lewdness if they can get positive ID. The rest ...just hysterically funny... after all, everybody does it. Isn't it sad?"

Yes, Diane, I started this thread seven years ago because there was some talk about being on a soap box when someone needed to get something off their chest and mind.  There have been some interesting subjects broached.  And without grinding it into the ground.

My favorite one right now is the body painting being displayed in public places.  It makes me think that the painted people don't want to be recognised because they are secretly ashamed of taking part in whatever it is that they are doing.

Wilma, do you think the American Indians were "secretly ashamed of taking part in whatever it is that they are (were) doing?"

Hee hee!  Just razzin' ya.

Larryj

The American Indians, Africans, Aborigines and others painted their faces as part of a ritual of their lives or religion.  Oldest daughter says it was also used as identification and/or protection of the skin from the elements or insects.  I suppose that you could say that today's face and body painting could be called a ritual even if it does appear to me as a means of not being identified.

       Anyone else noticed a change in some of the billing practices used today?

      For example, AT&T has been billing for a 29 day period instead of month by month. In essence cheating you a day or two each month and making the due date constantly change. Makes me furious. The city also does something that irks me. One month they show me using 0 water, or gas, and so I am charged the minimum use rate. Then the next month I am charged for 2 units. One of which should have been on the previous bill. So I pay for that unit twice, basically.

      Just one of those things that make you say , Hmmm.