Another hot day.. and nice and sunny with a beautiful blue sky and high clouds.
"My theory on housework is, if the item doesn't multiply, smell, catch on fire or block the refrigerator door, let it be. No one cares. Why should you?" Erma Bombeck (Funny Paper) How true!
01. Poem for NARFE
Today, at my NARFE chapter (National Active and Retired Federal Employees), we were talking about conventions in Reno, Nevada, how nice it is and yet how hard it is to get there. This triggered a poem in my mind.. a variation on one by Jimmy Stewart:
Reno's a very nice place,
With beautiful flowers and grass.
But getting to Reno Nevada
Is a terrible pain in the ass!
02. Income Tax .. Who pays
Carroll County Times: Tom Zirpoli reports that Citizens for Tax Justice found that 26 corporations they studied, paid no Federal Income Tax from 2008 to 2012. Three of those corporations were: Boeing, General Electric and Verizon.
Also, according to Americans for Tax Fairness, Verizon made $19.3 billion in the latest 5 years; however, in addition to not paying any tax, it received half a billion dollars in tax rebates.
NOW...IS THAT FAIR?
03. Sub-human activity
Carroll County Times: Another American has apparently been beheaded in Iraq. This group enjoys killing.. especially Americans, Christians, and Shiite Moslems. How do you respond to this action by such "creatures" without lowering yourselves to their level? No wonder President Obama's hair is turning white.
04. No Problem
In the "old days", when you said "Thank You", the other party would reply: "You're welcome."
Now, the reply is "No problem." How has this change come about? Perhaps because of the Spanish reply: "De Nada". Does it make a difference?
05. Mea Culpa!
I was surprised not to see a notice in the Carroll County Times advertising our AARP Chapter meeting /luncheon next Friday. I called them up and was told that it didn't show because I had apparently entered it incorrectly. Yes.. in my dotage I screwed the dates up. Wait until I confess to the members (if any come) at the Friday session.. they will probably tar and feather me.
06. Local Mall Demise
The former Carrollton Mall in Eldersburg, Maryland has been knocked down and is being prepared as a Town Commons; that is, instead of being indoors, the shops will be on the outside and one will be able to drive to each directly and park in front. (Just like in the 1950's.) The new stores will be: A Giant WalMart (happy days!), Chipotle, AT+T ; Sleepys; Vitamin Shoppe; Noodles and Go; Petco and TJ Maxx.
(Boring!)
07. A Policeman's Lot is Not a Happy One
Carroll County Times: A prisoner was hiding a bag of narcotics in his facial cheeks and when an officer tried to extract it, the prisoner bit the cop's finger and then spit a glob of blood into the officer's face. This is very bad because the officer does not know if the prisoner has the AIDS virus in him or not. Lots of painful tests will probably be necessary, just like after a dog bite.
08. Side Effects
I'm trying to find out if my medications are causing some minor problems I've been having, so I've been checking the side effects that are listed with the drug write-ups that Druggists prepare.
Two medications that I take:
Metformin: May cause low blood sugar.
Valsartan: May cause high blood sugar.
Do they cancel each other out?
08 1/2. More on the sub-humans mentioned in #3 above
New Yorker: Walter Reich writes: "Nazi Germany used degradation and dehumanization as tools in its mass-murder of Jews. The Islamic State uses similar tools and unspeakable violence to conquer territory, commit genocide against non-moslems, and murder those who don't interpret Islam the way they do."
09. The Catholic Hierarchy
Fortune Magazine: The Catholic Church has three "pillars":
1. Dioceses: that includes Bishops that preside over 2,846 dioceses with parishes. The Bishops are chosen by the Pope, and the dioceses donate $28.3 Million per year to the Pope
2. Religious Orders/Congregations: that include 296 institutes that are involved in education, aiding the poor, and missionary work. They donate $1.1 million per year to the Pope.
3. The Pope and the Vatican with 21 congregations and councils.
10. How Rich is the Vatican?
Fortune Magazine:
Investments: $920 million
Real Estate: $1.35 billion
Bank Account: $972 million
Art Collection: Untold billions. (the Vatican's museum brings in $130 million each year.)
I wonder how this compares with American Corporations...
11. Inversion
Fortune Magazine: Harley Reed writes: "... If having your headquarters overseas is such a great move, then why don't the executives of the company move over there as well? Go live in Ireland or wherever, but don't be showing your face at the local coffee shop here in the U.S., where the rest of us are still paying our taxes."
Amen, brother!
12. The Fat size please.
New York Times: Tokyo-based clothing store "Fatyo" has changed the names of its sizes to be more accurately descriptive:
From Small to Extra Large:
Titch
Skinny
Fat
Jumbo
How do you think that will go in the U.S.? We will probably have to add: Massive and Super-Sized.
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1 comment:
2. I think we may finally be nearing the end of "supply side" economics & deregulation. The main thing we have to show for it is a damaged environment, polluted rivers and streams, and much lower wages. It's time for a new idea. I expect it will have something to do with being more successful in a global economy.
6. I remember Carrolltown mall as an open-air mall; then they covered it over to make it more competitive with the soon-to-be-built Cranberry mall in Westminster. The more things change...
7. Why on earth would you put your finger in a belligerent person's mouth without some kind of safeguard? How much does it cost to buy a dental spreader (those things dentists use to clamp patients' mouths open for surgery) or something like that?
8. You should have a medication review with your doctor - you probably shouldn't be taking two medications that conflict with each other like that.
3, 8 1/2. I'm not sure what to make of ISIS; I'm cautious in vilifying them too much because there are probably a lot of rich and powerful people who want to see them fail. They wouldn't even be in existence if we hadn't invaded Iraq after 9/11.
12. I don't think they'll do well in the US with that branding.
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