Protection Scheme

Remember on TV when the gangsters demand money from the store keepers to PROTECT  them.  Of course the shopkeepers were paying to keep the gangsters from smashing, or burning their establishment. Probably still do. Here is an example of another protection scheme,  This one by the upright citizens of a small town in Tennessee. Imagine, if you will, watching everything you own going up in smoke.  Now imagine the local firefighters with their trucks and equipment sitting there watching it also. That is exactly what happened in Tennessee.  The family in this small town near the South Fulton Tennessee fire department, watched as their mobile home and belongings went up in flame. Why?  Once again it was because the home owner did not pay the subscription/protection, fee.  We saw this once or twice before.  I understand the fire department had to go out of their usual confines to answer the call.  They did respond in the event of human peril. Here is the catch.  The fire department needs the money to keep it’s facilities and equipment up to date.  These fees offset that need.  The FD could just charge…..say $150.oo for these outside calls.  But then there would be no need for anyone to pay the $75.oo annual fee.  I vote for the $150.oo or so per trip charge.  After all this is not like it is an everyday thing. Here is my dilemma.  As a member of the human race,  with the proper training, be able to just stand (or sit) and watch another person’s life belongings, go up in fire.  NO!  I couldn’t.  But apparently the firemen of South Fulton Tennessee, have no problem with this. I guess that will teach the outsiders.  Pay Up!  or lose it. One last question before I close.  I realize it was just a trailer home.  But has anyone assessed the fire department a fine for, in my mind, violation of the EPA code.  Surely a public minded group like a fire department, is concerned with AIR POLLUTION.  Should they not have done their part to prevent this polluted air. That Is How I See It. Post Views: 262

Pizza a Vegetable?

Well it looks as if our United States Government, has done it again. No they did not say Pizza is a vegetable.  Only the Sauce. This will be a very short post, because that is all this deserves.  If any at all. Correct me if I am wrong…. But isn’t pizza sauce made out of TOMATOES?     This is just another example of the inept leadership we now have.  If the leaders of our country don’t know a FRUIT; from a Vegetable,   How can they possibly be relied upon to make decisions regarding the SAFETY, HEALTH, and WELFARE of our great country. The TOMATO has been a fruit from the beginning of time.  Come on people.  Do we maybe need to require an IQ test for anyone elected to office. That Is How I See It Post Views: 155

Crushable Hat

I recently bought a new Hat.  I don’t know what category it would fit in.  I rarely wear a hat, exceptions have usually been while playing softball, watching baseball games, or if it is raining or snowing.  My reasoning for wearing it if it is  raining or snowing is really quite simple.  It helps keep the rain or snow from getting on my glasses. One day this fall it was raining and of course I had my baseball cap on.  (To keep the rain off my glasses).  But as it kept pouring I noticed the rain running down the back of my neck.  It just happens I  was visiting my local TSC (Tractor Supply Company) store.  I was actually looking for some tools, when I passed a display of hats.  This one struck me as being just the thing I needed to keep the rain off the back of my neck and off my glasses. IT WORKS!  The only bad part is keeping it on in the wind.Now the problem I have is the tag on the hat stated it was GUARANTEED CRUSHABLE Now I’m at a loss the tag didn’t state the exact meaning of the guarantee.  So I don’t know if it meant the hat was guaranteed to CRUSH!  Or did it mean the hat was guaranteed to retake it’s form in the event it accidently  becomes crushed.  I’m sort of leaning toward the first CRUSH.  But hopefully no one will sit on it and I won’t find out. I’ll let you know which way the guarantee meant.  If it gets crushed. That Is How I See It.     find find find Post Views: 665

Obama On A Genocide Mission?

Gen·o·cide [jen-uh-sahyd]: A noun.  The deliberate ans systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or CULTURAL GROUP.   Since Mr. Obama has taken office it seems he has pinpointed the elderly as the means to balance his budget.  Or should I say slant things to his pet projects. What do you do if you want to spend money you don’t have.  You eliminate things you don’t need.  Divert that money to what you want.  That my friends is just what Mr. Obama has done.  First on his agenda was to bail out his buddies in the banking, and manufacturing industries.  (Rich helping Rich get Richer).  To do this he refused to admit the costs of living rises (Medicinal, Utilities, and yes gasoline) .   He even wants to change the formula for figuring these costs, because he says they project a false and higher cost of living than is a true cost of living . Therefore not giving the elderly the raises they deserved, since he has been in office.  To subsidize his buddies, the elderly have, by not getting a raise for 2 years. Has amounted to between $45 and $90 trillion dollars.  That more than paid the trillions given to the bail out effort.  These people have paid into this account for 40 to 50 years.   It is not their fault the Government gave that money to other Government agencies. (Which fail to pay it back. let alone pay interest).  merely a mismanagement of funds. Some of you will think the amount paid in does not equal the amount paid out….HOWEVER…  Let us not forget the INTEREST which this money had been properly invested.  How many of the people who have paid in never receive a check, because of death.  Or just drop out of the system.  How much of this money is being spent on people who never paid in a cent. How about planning our own retirement income.  I did this.  I invested the maximum I could.  Two years later it was all gone.  My company shut the doors,  Not my fault.  Due to EMERGENCIES,  and the need to get by until I could find another job, (which has been 3 years now).  I have no money.  The barter system works fairly good but I still have to do without a lot,   So you see that doesn’t help either. So how does this  relate to GENOCIDE?  By denying the elderly people the money needed to exist on.  The poverty level is $10,890 a year.  If I were to be on Social Security now I would be getting about $13,800 a year.  But as of now I would have about $1392 a year subtracted before I get my check for MEDICARE,  Which I have also been paying for all my working life.  That takes me to $12,408, a year. Now let us not forget we need a supplement insurance.  This cost is around $125 a month (according to friends paying it). This is another $1500 gone.  Leaving us with $10,908.  This puts you at just    $18 above poverty level.  Now subtract a conservative average of $600 a month for rent or mortgage.  There goes $7200.  Let’s see,  that takes us to $3708 dollars to pay utilities, and buy food, house or renter insurance, life insurance and let’s not forget MEDICINE, Car insurance if we are lucky enough to have  one.  But then you would not be able to put gas in  it.  And let’s not forget we have to pay SALES tax on everything.  Including our utilities. It seems that Mr. Obama’s plan is eliminate the elderly as quickly as possible.  After all they are a drain on his economy. Genocide or what.  I see it as an attempt to eliminate the elderly. That Is How I See It. How many people do we have die of starvation or heat, or just plain a lack of compassion by our leaders. more than between find merely find find Post Views: 137

How Expensive Can OTC Medicine Be?

While recently killing time in a local Wal*Mart store.   I happened by a middle of the aisle display for abreva.  (A cold sore medicine).  I remember we once used a product called campo-pehnique,  (sorry if I misspelled that),  which cam in a small bottle and worked just fine.  As I remember it cost just a little more than a stick of chap stick. I was really shocked to see a “discounted on sale” price of $15.12 for a little tube containing .07 oz.  I ‘m sure it is a very good product,  but come on….$15.12 for 7 hundredths of an ounce.   Talk about the price of bottle water being high at about 89 cents (in our area) for a 20 oz bottle.  Think gas is high at $3.79 9/10 a gallon. Let’s look at this abreva cost.  As you know I am not very good at math so this is just as an example.  I think it takes 700 of these tubes to make a full ounce,  If I am wrong you can do the following computation with the correct number.    Take the sale price, $15.12 per .07 oz  X 700 =$10,584.00 an ounce.  Note abreva is sold I believe by net wt.  So comparing to water or gas we would have to figure the net weight for an ounce of either.  For example we know FLUID oz is a measure of volume, and net wt oz is a measure a measure of WEIGHT.  The ounce is still an ounce, it takes 16 oz to make a pound.  A gallon of water weighs approximately 8.34 pounds.  So we are now comparing weight to weight.  This means 133.44 oz to a gallon.  Now take the $10,584.oo an ounce for abreva, times th3 133.44 oz in a gallon of water.  Guess what that would bring the cost of of a gallon of water to $141,232,8.96.oo. A 20 oz bottle of water would cost $11,769.41.  So who can complain about 89 cents for a 20 oz bottle of water?  It is but a drop in the bucket.  If you want to figure this for gasoline.  Gasoline varies from about 5-6 pounds, so for  our sake here we will use the more prominent estimate of 6 pounds per gallon. means about 96 ounces.  96 ounces times $10,584.oo = (appx)  $1,016,064.oo So I ask you is abreva really worth the price you pay? I suppose the answer is yes, if it does what you want of it.  But comparatively It appears to me to be WAAAY overpriced. That Is How I See It.     more than Post Views: 134

Legalize Marijuana?

Legalize marijuana or not legalize marijuana.  That is the question. We have heard this argument for many years.  Does it really matter?  I must admit I have never tried it so maybe I fail to see the advantage, or disadvantage here.  From what I understand drugs like marijuana have been used in many different rites during the course of our history.  The American Indian supposedly used this or a similar drug in some of their ceremonial rites.  The tribes of Africa used similar drugs for the same reason.  For all I know our forefathers may have participated in this type of rites, or maybe even recreational purposes.   Perhaps the medicinal uses were known way back when.  I remember hearing of our ancestors, and even royalty abroad having snuff boxes.  (And it wasn’t for tobacco snuff). No! I don’t know the answer.  What I do know is this.  If it is legalized,  our Government will be able to get a piece of the action, (money) .  The cost will most likely go down.  Thus crime created by trying to get marijuana should go down.  I suppose these would all be pluses, and I can’t really think of any minuses; other than there will always be those who have no legal claim to buy marijuana.  Also if it is legalized,  will growers be monitored like the existing drug companies,  like Eli-Lily. If it is legalized will insurance companies pay for it.  How much more will this cost us, the consumer in increased insurance premiums.  And how will it affect hiring practices of business.  There is mass impacts involved here.  I’m sure more than I can foresee. Finally let me insert my personal observation.  People already take legal drugs, illegally.  I know of one young lady who stole a doctors prescription pad, and wrote her own prescriptions.  This was many years ago, and the doctors signature would be impressed on the sheets below it.  Do doctors now take measures to prevent this?   I also know of  people who will steal a relatives much needed medication out of their medicine cabinet.  Without regard to the relatives health.   I also know peoples homes are broken into for the purpose of finding legal drugs. Legal or not people will get their hands on them and use them illegally.  MOOT POINT.  Does it really matter if it is or is not legal.  The government will benefit by getting a portion of the proceeds. That Is How I See It. more than involved Post Views: 176

Motorcyclist Has Tree Branch In Cheek

While flipping through the TV channels the other day a teaser, (a short blurp of an upcoming story),  A motorcyclist walked into the ER with about a 5 foot long 1 1/2 inch tree branch sticking through his helmet shield. This was on DHF; Discovery Health & Fitness channel. I figure they will have it on again, if you want to catch the full story. A young man riding his motorcycle lost control of his motorcycle, and as he said, “…luckily a brush pile broke his fall….”  He righted his motorcycle, hopped back on and headed to the ER.  When he came in he proceeded explaining what happened and came to the ER because he was hot, and couldn’t get his helmet off.  He was very nonchalant about the whole thing.  Like this happens everyday. The  motorcyclist was wearing a full face helmet, with shield.  The branch punctured the shield, and proceeded through the cheek into the neck.  The doctors had to borrow pruners from the hospital maintenance crew,  cut the branch about 4-5 inches up from the shield; just so they could remove the helmet.  They proceeded to pull the branch out.  Checked for further injury, sewed him up.   He left the ER just as if nothing unusual had happened and rode his motorcycle home. The reason I wrote about this is to demonstrate, that although we take precautions and do what we need to do; protective clothing, helmet and shield; and aware of our surroundings.  we are still at the mercy of  the unexpected.  I don’t know, but I suspect his injuries might have  been greater if he had not had his helmet on.  But what I want to say is protect ourselves as we might, a freak accident can still sneak in on you. Just be careful, and enjoy your ride. That Is How I See It. Post Views: 122

Hat Can Tell About You

Hats can tell a lot about men. Many times men wear hats because they are unable to come to grips with thinning hair.  Or being bald.  Some wear hats as a symbol of their faith,  Some wear hats because it is part of their employment uniform,  Some wear hats because they like to advertise a favorite brand, (without compensation,  HECK they even pay for the privilege).  Whether they admit it or not they may wear a certain style of hat because, “Dad wore one of these”. Now I have never been one to wear hats,  I wore one because it was part of my baseball uniform, then part of my softball uniform,  (It does help keep the sun out of one’s eyes.  I even wear it a little off to the side when the sun is coming from a different angle.  I wore one while in the military.  Again because it was part of my uniform,  I wore one during my two year stint as a plumber, (YOU really need one here to keep the cooties out of your hair).  I wear one to support the schools teams.  But unless I have a reason I won’t wear one.  Mostly during the summer I only wear one when it rains.  This is because it helps keep the rain off my  glasses, and I can see better.  So there are places for a hat. One reason I never liked hats is because, as a young lad I usually seen bald people wear hats.  I equated this with hats,  Hats keep your hair from getting the air it needs to grow, and holds in sweat.  Thus it must kill hair.  Can’t say I’m wrong.  My brother lost his hair at a lot younger age than I have started.  (He always wore a hat). But there are places for hats.  I was raised to take your hat off when entering a building.  You rarely see men do this anymore.  But It is the proper thing to do.  After all there is no rain inside no hot sun beating down.  MEN take off your hat.  It is a show of respect to the people around you. to your host, (Note a barn is a different story, as is a garage, when working with something over your head). But the thing that really IRKS me is the inconsiderate men who apparently had no proper upbringing, are so uncouth as to place their hat on the eating table.  When in a restaurant or somewhere I see this….  I just want to go over and smack the guy up along the side of his head and teach him something called manners.  What kind of person would do this thing.  Perhaps someone raised by animals.  Someone who never had a proper example set.  One who disrespects his fellow man. When you see someone put their hat on the table it tells me this person was probably raised by slobs.  Maybe their Mother’s tried but they didn’t have respect for their mother, or family mothers. This is the first thing that comes to my mind.  It is a reflection of your parents.  So if you don’t mind people thinking your mother was a slob.  Then I guess you will continue to place  your hat on the table. As for me.  I remove my hat when entering a building,  At restaurants, I sometimes leave my hat in the truck.  When I go in I remove my hat, and put it in the sleeve of my jacket so I don’t lose it.  If I have no jacket I place it on my knee.  You see my mother was no slob. I was taught right. Hat on ONE slap.  Hat off a kiss. That Is How I See It. PS: For some of you.  It really wouldn’t hurt to change the oil on your hat once in a while. Post Views: 353

Fast Food Garbage

Remember when you could go to an eatery, and order a hamburger or cheeseburger, and paid extra for onion, lettuce, or tomato?  Those were really scrumptious burgers.  Usually ground  fresh that day.  I remember we had a little shanty of an eatery, only about 8 stools, and a stand up counter on the outer wall.  We would go in, order our hamburger, fries, and a milk shake.  I never got the fixins. (occasionally I would get onion on my burger).  I preferred my sandwich plain.  I would order my milk shake made with chocolate milk, chocolate ice cream, and chocolate syrup.  MMMMM triple chocolate shake.  We could sit right there and watch the hamburger shaped, (it was usually stored in  a ball and then flattened on the grill).  You could watch them make the milk shake. We had our Root beer stands, and drive up restaurants, too. It was the same thing,  good quality meat, and you paid extra for the fixings. Then one fateful day they built a new fast food joint.  It had a futuristic style building and was called The Satellite.  I tried it one time.  The meat was very bland, and of poor quality.  Now some of my friends who would get the fixins, thought these were OK because their sandwiches were cheaper, and they didn’t have to pay for the lettuce, onion, tomato or their special sauce, which was mostly mayonnaise. This was when the term “garbage” came into use, as with all the fixins it looked like garbage on their sandwich.  To compete with this chain our other fine establishments started putting the garbage one their burgers.  Then they realized they would have to buy cheaper meat in order to compete.  That is when the quality in most of our eating establishments sank to the bottom,  Today we still have no good place to eat.  We have many places to eat, but you can’t find good food at any of them.  The eateries have to put the garbage on to give any hint of taste to their sandwiches. My question is:  WHY do I have to  PAY for this garbage when I request they omit from my sandwich.  Granted the meat has no quality flavor on it’s own.  That is why you need to put a lot of salt on them.  I wouldn’t mind paying more for quality sandwiches.  But having to pay for the garbage I don’t get really irks me. Bting back the days of quality meat and paying extra if you want the garbage. That Is How I See It.     find find find Post Views: 101

Smoke No Smoke

This is my experience with smokers.  My Dad smoked.  Sometimes Pipes, sometimes Cigarettes.  He sometimes rolled his own with Velvet tobacco.  He died of Emphyzema. But I do remember the sweet smell the pipe gave off.  My Brother smoked.    He finally gave up the habit.  After two bypass surgeries.    Now the aroma of the Pipe depended on the tobacco used.  But I remember the smell was not as good when it was wrapped in paper.  They both smoked Chesterfields. and sometimes Lucky Strikes,   Probably my brothers choice because it was easier to sneak one of Dad’s.  Later he switched to the mentholated Kools.    I remember they spent 2o cents a pack.  We farmed for a living and I have no idea what percentage of our income that amounted to. As for myself I had always been told how bad the habit was, for my health.  So If I knew this back then.  I really have little compassion  for those who sue tobacco companies and say  “I didn’t know they were bad for me.”  Anyway I never smoked.  I got more than my share from second hand smoke.  Also I had better things to spend my money on.  What little I had. I remember, as a lad,  my uncle had a a regulation pool table in his basement.  The door was always open anytime we wanted to play.  The only rule that applied to my family was  ‘NO  SMOKING”.  I know if it had been necessary other rules would have been,  “NO ALCOHOL’ and  ‘NO CUSSING’  etc.   I remember one time when my Aunt and Uncle were away for a week.  My brother decided it would be okay to smoke, no one would know.  WRONG !!   My Aunt walked in a week later and demanded  “Who has been smoking in my house”.   We wondered, ” how did she know?”  Years later when  I got married and had my own house I found out.  Tobacco stinks.  Being around it all those years I didn’t know the difference.  So knowing how bad it smells and being able to smell it on people who either smoke or are around smoking….well.  I feel sorry for children who have to breathe their parents second hand smoke.  I think, “Don’t the parents care about the danger they are exposing their children to.”  Not to mention they have to go to school smelling like that too. Now you have the right to smoke if you choose.  I just ask you be considerate of others.  And I am seeing more signs of smokers respecting the rights of those of us who choose not to smoke. Thank YOU very much. In parting let me give you a couple of examples.  I was in a restaurant, near the door they had allotted 5 booths for non-smokers.  The rest of the restaurant, including the coveted spots near the fireplace, were designated Smoking area.  After I sat down a man came in sat down behind me IN the non-smoking area and lit up one of those little cigar cigarette thingies.  I politely pointed out this was a non-smoking area, and the rest of the restaurant he had at his disposal.  He said, “I’ll be done in just a minute.”  I let it rest.  Then he lit up another.  The waitress told him he had to move if he wanted to smoke.  He refused.  The manager told him the same thing.  He just sat there and lit up another.  Now I have to say this is extremely rare.  But there are people out there like this. Now to a better example.  Again in a restaurant we were seated in an area that made a tee.  there was no separation. in reality, but the smoking and non-smoking were side by side. The gentleman sitting in the smoking area was perfectly right to light up.  But he smoked those generic cigarettes that stink even more than brand names.  I could have probably tolerated a brand name cigarette.  But the odor was really bad.  So I just turned to him, and said,  “Do you smoke while you are eating?”   He said,  “No.”   I then said.  “Why do you smoke when I am eating.”  He looked at me and said, ” I never thought about it that way.”  He proceeded to put his cigarette out and thanked me for letting him know.  This is how more smokers are becoming.  Respectful of our right to not smoke.  And I respect their right to smoke. I could go on and on.  But I think you all get my point.  I do have one last question for the ladies.  Why do you buy expensive sweet smelling perfumes and then cover it up with smoke smell? That Is How I See It. Post Views: 84