Jaxon, you were a star! (Great grandson of my sister-in-law) Cornerstone Baptist Church, Indianapolis
And with 3 of his cousins.
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Planning New Year’s Resolutions?
What are you planning for New Year's resolutions? I went back through my blog and for 2018 it was clean the coffee pot with vinegar and water, so I went back to January 2009 and I had thrown them all out except #5, which was to buy a new floor lamp. About 40 years ago I resolved to stop biting my finger nails, and I succeeded.
On Jan. 1, 2008 I wrote about diets. "It's not rocket science. Reading and following even well-intentioned, healthy recipes can add pounds. A roasted pear, walnut and feta cheese salad has 400 calories. A side dish of fresh, tender crisp asparagus has 88. And if you're like me, the cheese will make you hungry." and also this, "About a year ago [2007], JAMA reported that in a study of the four major diet plans, the only successful people were the publisher and the author/researchers who got the grant. None of the diets worked well, or consistently, and none of the groups (ladies) were really following them." http://huggingchalking.blogspot.com/2008/01/noted-along-way-in-2007.html
The Cohen, Clinton, Trump connection
Christopher Buckley writes:
"Question: How come Clinton fixer Lanny Davis publicly became Cohen's lawyer?
Answer: That was the only way the Clintons could control the situation. That way Davis could hear every single thing that was going on. Cohen belonged to the Clintons and was spying and trying to entrap Trump, then Mueller tried to use him, but there was nothing there to use, Cohen got himself legitimately in trouble, he wasn't nailed on a process crime. He's going to the fancy Club Fed in upstate NYC, but he sure has a lot of information on Hill and Bill... I am 100% certain that Davis was part of the deal to help keep him healthy indefinitely, but I wouldn't be surprised in the least if that's the last we see of Cohen..."
Yes, the way Clinton operatives disappear, I’d be worried if I were Cohen.
https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-cohen-hires-bill-clinton-lawyer-lanny-davis-2018-7
Sally’s sourdough solution
Sally Hyde Lomax writes: “I first made sourdough about seventeen or eighteen years ago when the children were all very small. I was inspired by a recipe in the Sunday papers from Gordon Ramsay. Personally I loved it and kept the culture going for quite a while, but the children hated it, and asked for “proper” bread. So eventually, I gave up, because Derek and I were getting fatter on it, and we were still buying standard bread for the children which we were probably also eating. We then later moved on to a bread maker which provided many years of packed lunches and lovely bread, but not sourdough.
However, a few years back, I had my gall bladder removed, and after that I annoyingly found that I could no longer eat wheat, or other gluten containing products, without a horrible reaction. At the same time the children started leaving school and the need for packed lunches diminished, and so the bread maker was used very little.
Then, recently three things happened. In the process of doing my research for my MA I went round to someone’s house for an interview, and was given a lovely piece of sourdough bread. Having been brought up to always accept hospitality graciously, I said nothing about my gluten intolerance, ate it and LOVED it. I waited the next day for a bad reaction, but found that I was absolutely fine. Then, I read an article about homemade sourdough being good for gluten intolerance, due to the probiotics. Obviously the article said quite clearly that it is not a cure all, but with longer proving times it appears to help, and gluten intolerants have gradually been able to successfully re introduce a little wheat to their diet. Finally, I chatted to a fiend who has a much more serious gut problem than me, which prevents her eating any dairy, caused by a very nasty infection she sadly picked up. She is currently looking at ways to fix the problem, which involve fully replacing the gut bacteria.
Suddenly the penny dropped. It was possibly the heavy duty antibiotics that I’d had for the horrendous infection of my pancreas, prior to my gall bladder removal, that had cleaned out my gut of all good bacteria, and thereby caused my problem.
And so a few weeks ago I started on a mission to replace the probiotics. I read lots more articles and decided that I was going to make a sourdough culture. I decided however to allow myself a bit of slack and made it with spelt rather than standard wheat. It is still wheat but it is less refined and a much more traditional version of the grain, and does appear to be a little more often tolerated by gluten sufferers.
I proudly grew my starter fur a week before the first loaf. I fed it carefully each day and nurtured it like a baby. And then I went about making the bread. The first few batches weren’t instantly successful as they were a little heavy, but I’ve persevered and now I have a method which appears to work. Paul Hollywood would possibly not yet approve, because it’s certainly not as light as standard bread, but the taste is delicious, and with sufficient proving times, I appear to be able to eat it. Hooray! It’s so much nicer than the average gluten free bread. “
I met Sally who is British blogging about 15 years ago and now follow her on Facebook, from which this was copied.
Handel’s Messiah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdlyoEpCV9k
- 9:26- And The Glory of the Lord !
- 20:07- O Thou That Tellest Good tidings to Zion !
- 32:00- For Unto us A Child is Born !
- 38:07- Glory To God !
- 1:40:30- Handel's Hallelujah !
- 2:08:45- Worthy is the lamb !
As for sitting or standing for the Hallelujah Chorus
An often repeated legend about Messiah tells the story of King George II who was so moved by the “Hallelujah” chorus during the London premiere of Messiah that he rose to his feet and then everyone in attendance followed suit as not to be sitting when the king stood.
Thus we believe the regularly debated tradition of standing during the “Hallelujah” chorus came to be — also giving birth to countless passive-aggressive battles of concert decorum between the sitters and standers.
However, according to various experts, there is no truth to this story. In fact there is no evidence King George II was even in attendance, and it is unlikely the newspaper writers that were in the audience would have overlooked mentioning a royal presence. The first reference to this story was a letter written 37 years after the fact.
https://www.bsomusic.org/stories/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-handels-messiah.aspx
I, however, am cycling on my stationary bike in my office. Sitting.
Saturday, December 15, 2018
How do the search engines play out in recent news—the race to Fox
This morning I searched “Mulvaney chief of staff.” Several months ago I had switched my primary search engine to DuckDuckGo, which supposedly doesn’t tract your searches, so I used that first, then Bing, then Google. How long before the unbiased, balanced record from Fox News?
DuckDuckGo: AP, Washington Post, WBNS-TV (local channel), CBS, Guardian NYTimes, CBS (again) Time, NBC, DW.com (Deutsche Welle), Chicago Tribune, Breitbart, Business insider, Washington Post (again), NPR, Bloomberg, Free Beacon, CNBC, The Street, AOL, USA Today, WSJ, Fox News.
BING: Washington Post, USAToday, Business Insider, Politico, ABC7, ABCHouston, YouTube, CBS, NYTimes, CNN, Guardian Conservative TreeHouse, NBC, Time, Chicago Tribune, DW, Brietbart,Al Arabiya, CNBC, Business Insider, NPR, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, The Street, WSJ, YouTube, CNBC, USAToday, ABCHouston, Al Arabiya (again), Powerline blog, Variety, YouTube (again) USAToday, Variety (again), USAToday (again), Politico, WTOP, Truthdig, Fox News.
Google: Daily Beast, NYTimes, Newsweek, CNN, NYTimes, Chicago Tribune, The Hill, WSJ, CBS, Vox, NBC, Fox News.
Obviously, Bing lost the race. In numbers, Google got there first, but put the Yellow Journalism web side Daily Beast full of trolls and haters first. Go figure! And it tracks your searches! The DuckDuckGo first with AP was another site using the AP story. It was my first time to come across DW, the German news source. Now then Bing—threw in Al Jazeera and a few blogs before it got to Fox News. Really?
Friday, December 14, 2018
To squat or not
I receive e-mails from someone called Taylor, but they are usually just teasers to buy more stuff. Today he was recommending sumo squats, so I looked that up. Everyone (at exercise web sites) seem to rave about them, and that every athlete (that’s not me) or regular gym goer (that’s me) should incorporate them.
First, proper form. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUT0f9P7GpQ&feature=youtu.be
“The squat has been crowned as ‘the king of all exercises’ by many because of its undeniable ability to make your muscles grow faster and stronger in less time than other popular compound movements, and this is why it’s a part of the training routines of pro athletes and average gym-goers alike. In fact, athletes from every sport and discipline use some version of this exercise to tone their legs and abs, strengthen their core and improve their overall performance. “
http://www.fitnessandpower.com/training/workout-routines/sumo-squat-vs-regular-squat
Video showing the difference between a regular squat and a sumo squat.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/437557-sumo-squat-vs-regular-squat/ It’s all in the feet.
“Once you've mastered proper form for a standard squat, you can move on to other variations like the sumo squat. To perform a sumo squat, stand with your feet significantly wider than hip-distance apart (about three to four feet), turn your toes out 45 degrees and hold your hands by your sides. Lower yourself down by bending your knees and hips, raising your hands to meet under your chin. Keep your abs tight, back straight and do not let your knees move past your toes when lowering. Once your thighs parallel the floor, root through your heels and rise back up steadily for one rep. Again, depending on your fitness level and goals, start out with three sets of eight reps and building from there once you get more comfortable with them.”
https://www.strengthauthority.com/sumo-squat-benefits/
And what elderly person doesn’t need more mobility, flexibility, balance and stability?
4. Mobility and Flexibility
Sumo squats are also a fantastic exercise for improving both mobility and flexibility.
And because squatting is a motion that people use every day–whether it’s sitting or rising from a chair or squatting down to pick up a heavy object–the gains you will make from doing regular sumo squats should be easy to both see and feel.
Additionally, because the muscles in your legs and core have to act in unison during sumo squats, they learn to work together, and that can lead to significantly better mobility. . .
Sumo squats are also useful as a dynamic stretch. While you lower yourself and then rise back up, your muscles alternate between contracting and lengthening, which ultimately warms them, reduces any tension that has built up, and stretches them out.
5. Balance and stability
Your core muscles have a lot to do with maintaining balance in all kinds of activities, but sumo squats demand a lot from them, especially when your body is first learning to adapt to the new motion.
They not only help to keep you from toppling over backwards when you are lowering yourself, but they are also crucial for keeping your back straight and ensuring that you don’t lean too far forward.
https://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/butt/exercises/30-day-squat-challenge/ Video on proper form beginning with regular squats.
Two exercises for back pain. One involves squats. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq0zyjVo6Jc
First, proper form. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUT0f9P7GpQ&feature=youtu.be
“The squat has been crowned as ‘the king of all exercises’ by many because of its undeniable ability to make your muscles grow faster and stronger in less time than other popular compound movements, and this is why it’s a part of the training routines of pro athletes and average gym-goers alike. In fact, athletes from every sport and discipline use some version of this exercise to tone their legs and abs, strengthen their core and improve their overall performance. “
http://www.fitnessandpower.com/training/workout-routines/sumo-squat-vs-regular-squat
Video showing the difference between a regular squat and a sumo squat.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/437557-sumo-squat-vs-regular-squat/ It’s all in the feet.
“Once you've mastered proper form for a standard squat, you can move on to other variations like the sumo squat. To perform a sumo squat, stand with your feet significantly wider than hip-distance apart (about three to four feet), turn your toes out 45 degrees and hold your hands by your sides. Lower yourself down by bending your knees and hips, raising your hands to meet under your chin. Keep your abs tight, back straight and do not let your knees move past your toes when lowering. Once your thighs parallel the floor, root through your heels and rise back up steadily for one rep. Again, depending on your fitness level and goals, start out with three sets of eight reps and building from there once you get more comfortable with them.”
https://www.strengthauthority.com/sumo-squat-benefits/And what elderly person doesn’t need more mobility, flexibility, balance and stability?
4. Mobility and Flexibility
Sumo squats are also a fantastic exercise for improving both mobility and flexibility.
And because squatting is a motion that people use every day–whether it’s sitting or rising from a chair or squatting down to pick up a heavy object–the gains you will make from doing regular sumo squats should be easy to both see and feel.
Additionally, because the muscles in your legs and core have to act in unison during sumo squats, they learn to work together, and that can lead to significantly better mobility. . .
Sumo squats are also useful as a dynamic stretch. While you lower yourself and then rise back up, your muscles alternate between contracting and lengthening, which ultimately warms them, reduces any tension that has built up, and stretches them out.
5. Balance and stability
Your core muscles have a lot to do with maintaining balance in all kinds of activities, but sumo squats demand a lot from them, especially when your body is first learning to adapt to the new motion.
They not only help to keep you from toppling over backwards when you are lowering yourself, but they are also crucial for keeping your back straight and ensuring that you don’t lean too far forward.
https://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/butt/exercises/30-day-squat-challenge/ Video on proper form beginning with regular squats.
Two exercises for back pain. One involves squats. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq0zyjVo6Jc
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Bill Gibeaut—a good friend, member of our church
| We attended many church events in their homes, and were at their wedding. Bill was active in the same Haiti ministry as Bob, and one of his daughters was in school with ours. He will be missed. ----------------------- William "Bill" Gibeaut, 83, Dublin, previously of Hilliard and Upper Arlington. Born, March 13, 1935, Sandusky. Survived by his wife, Judy (Woods) Gibeaut; brothers, Donald and Charles; sons, Tom, Jim, and James (Rebecca) Murphy; daughters, Julie (Amar) Inalsingh and Sarah Murphy Henneberry; grandsons, Nikhil, Shiva, and Taj Inalsingh, Jacob and Jalen Arms; granddaughters, Anna Murphy and Jade Arms. Preceded in death by parents Webb and Tabea Gibeaut. Bill started his career as a research engineer at Battelle, and then joined Columbia Gas in research and marketing positions; was promoted to V.P. of Marketing for Columbia Gas and retired in 1993. Earned a B.S. and M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering from The Ohio State University. Initiated into the senior class Sphinx Honorary and Sigma Chi Fraternity. Member of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church since 1980, serving in many UALC ministries and leadership roles. Elected to 4-year term on Upper Arlington Board of Education. Active in Kairos Prison Ministry for 10 years. Served on Board of Trustees of National Church Residences for 12 years. Active for 10 years as medical missionary for Coalition of Children in Need Association, a U.S.-based charitable organization that supported a school and medical clinic in Haiti. Bill loved to charter large sailboats with Judy, and take week-long cruises from various ports in the Caribbean, the U.S., and a couple foreign countries. He introduced friends to sailing by getting them to be crew members. Doubles tennis was a passion for Bill into his 80's. Gardening was also a hobby. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Upper Arlington Lutheran Church. Memorial service, followed by reception, is 2 P.M. Saturday, December 15, Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, 2300 Lytham Road, Columbus, OH 43220. (Columbus Dispatch.)  2015 photo from Facebook |
Suggestions for praying for leaders
Encouragement and counsel from Darlene, a member of my church, on praying for our leaders. She maintains a prayer group by e-mail.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
While most of my life, I would say, “Yes.” Obedience to my promise has drastically changed over the years. There was a time when I would say, “Yes.”, but then forget to pray. As I grew in my faith, I was convicted of my disobedience and I would dash off a thirty second prayer over the woman. Deeper in my faith, that thirty second prayer catapulted in love for the person requesting the prayer and my prayers became sincerer. Now the Lord has made me love others as soon as I think of them. I have some understanding of the process this woman is going through and the feelings I would feel enduring the same process and I pray for her and her family, although I would not know her if I saw her on the street. Even moreso…..
The more in love we grow with Jesus, the more in love we grow with each other and our prayers increase. PRAISE GOD! The more in love we grow with others, when we love each other as ourselves, we pray as if we are in the place of the person we are praying for. God allows us to be in their situation in the Spirit. THANKS BE TO GOD! We pray with fervor just as Jesus does for us. How beautiful is that? He draws His body together in prayer for each other.
As you sit to pray for leaders or a leader, ask Holy Spirit to guide you or listen as He does to not only who you should pray for today but how to pray for them and watch the beautiful tapestry that He weaves for you as your pray and your unity with this person and the body of Christ…HALLELUJAH You grow in understanding His love, the love He wants you to have for the rest of the body but also how much you have grown in prayer and through prayer. . . I am constantly amazed at how He has put together every detail for our growth in Him. . . if we just follow Him.
Brings new meaning to the song...SHOW ME YOUR WAYS...THAT I MAY WALK WITH YOU..
Please pray for me and my Psalms Bible study. I am constantly amazed where the Lord takes me in these Psalms. Deeper in love with Him. . . I want to be ignited, set on fire and be able to take others on that journey....
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I Timothy 2:1-2 - I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.What happens when you pray? We do not really know but above all, it changes me. The other day a friend asked,”Would you pray for my cousin, Donna? She is going through a total mastectomy.”
While most of my life, I would say, “Yes.” Obedience to my promise has drastically changed over the years. There was a time when I would say, “Yes.”, but then forget to pray. As I grew in my faith, I was convicted of my disobedience and I would dash off a thirty second prayer over the woman. Deeper in my faith, that thirty second prayer catapulted in love for the person requesting the prayer and my prayers became sincerer. Now the Lord has made me love others as soon as I think of them. I have some understanding of the process this woman is going through and the feelings I would feel enduring the same process and I pray for her and her family, although I would not know her if I saw her on the street. Even moreso…..
The more in love we grow with Jesus, the more in love we grow with each other and our prayers increase. PRAISE GOD! The more in love we grow with others, when we love each other as ourselves, we pray as if we are in the place of the person we are praying for. God allows us to be in their situation in the Spirit. THANKS BE TO GOD! We pray with fervor just as Jesus does for us. How beautiful is that? He draws His body together in prayer for each other.
As you sit to pray for leaders or a leader, ask Holy Spirit to guide you or listen as He does to not only who you should pray for today but how to pray for them and watch the beautiful tapestry that He weaves for you as your pray and your unity with this person and the body of Christ…HALLELUJAH You grow in understanding His love, the love He wants you to have for the rest of the body but also how much you have grown in prayer and through prayer. . . I am constantly amazed at how He has put together every detail for our growth in Him. . . if we just follow Him.
Brings new meaning to the song...SHOW ME YOUR WAYS...THAT I MAY WALK WITH YOU..
Please pray for me and my Psalms Bible study. I am constantly amazed where the Lord takes me in these Psalms. Deeper in love with Him. . . I want to be ignited, set on fire and be able to take others on that journey....
Clinton Pay to Play Scandal
- Overall, the Clinton Foundation has received staggering sums from Saudi benefactors — between $18 million and $50 million. (The foundation’s donations are reported in ranges, not specific numbers.)
- Groups with interests in China also donated between $750,000 and $1.75 million, at a minimum, to the Clinton Foundation.
- Emails uncovered by Judicial Watch demonstrate that Clinton Foundation donors and supporters received special favors and consideration from the Clinton State Department.
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton delivered highly revealing – and in many ways even stunning – testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on Government Operations, regarding the Clinton Foundation pay-to-play scandal.
Now why do you suppose China and Saudi Arabia would care about an American foundation, set up to “do good.” Well, she was the Secretary of State.
He thinks the federal government is a college student’s friend—an e-mail exchange
Really? Your source? Did you know the government and its own predatory loans, grants, scholarships, etc. is the main reason the bubble of student loans is bigger than the housing bubble of 2007? When I entered Manchester College (private) in 1957, a college education was about $1,000 a year with tuition, fees, housing, food and transportation. My sophomore year at the University of Illinois (public) was about the same.
If you use a calculator for 1957-58 dollars and convert to 2018 dollars, 60 years later, you’ll see what throwing money at colleges does to the costs. College costs have soared far higher and at a faster rate than medical costs, even though medicine has gone through far greater changes and technological and pharmaceutical improvements. Our lives have been extended by the medical improvements. A college education has been cheapened; a BA or BS is today not worth a lot except to go on to graduate school and leave with $70,000 in debt. Colleges have made few changes except to shift most of the faculty to the left of center, add programs in “area studies,” remove Shakespeare and American history, and deny conservatives their right to a bias-free education. The more money government provides to students, the more the universities and colleges raise their tuition and fees. Funny how the “market” works, isn’t it?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, prices in 2018 are 772.10% higher than prices in 1958. The dollar experienced an average inflation rate of 3.68% per year during this period. In other words, $1,000 in 1958 is equivalent in purchasing power to $8,721.04 in 2018, a difference of $7,721.04 over 60 years.
Do you know any college/university where a student can attend for $8,721 a year? All costs, not just tuition and fees. Administrative costs have soared as more and more non-faculty are added, especially in the huge departments of equality, diversity, disability that may have 50 or so employees (at OSU) as well as those assigned to the individual departments, courses are watered down or expanded so it now takes 5-6 years to finish rather than 4, young men and women are encouraged to remain adolescents longer and remain in parents’ care until late 20s, very odd courses are required for students, staff and faculty like “hate speech” or “appropriate non-sexist dating behavior” which chew up many hours that could be useful for studying and which make the old “in loco parentis” of my era look like wild freedom.
No one can reverse this overbearing, interfering federal meddling in higher education except the Department of Education, and since even Republicans don’t like to give up power, I think not much will come of this except more money being thrown at the problem, and a bigger bureaucracy to make sure the tax payers get screwed again.
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
What is the infrastructure candidates talk about?
Infrastructure. Trump talked about it, so did Obama, so did Bush and Clinton. We only seem to hear about it when someone (of either party) is running for president. But the federal government’s percentage of ownership and cost is very small, so why?
About 97% of what we call infrastructure is owned and paid for by local governments and private interests. I found this one really enlightening—I had no idea, but then, we don’t know what we don’t know. In 2015, private infrastructure assets of $40.7 trillion were four times larger than state and local assets of $10.1 trillion, and 27 times larger than federal assets of $1.5 trillion, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Where the federal government does figure for this issue is regulation of and taxes on—I think Donald Trump being in real estate, realizes the heavy hand of government squeezing all businesses.
https://www.cato.org/publications/tax-budget-bulletin/who-owns-us-infrastructure
Politics and healthcare
At the coffee shop today I was reading the Oct. 9, JAMA and noticed an editorial on "Politics and Healthcare." JAMA's left of center, but I thought I'd take a look. Praise for Lyndon Johnson and Medicare in 1965, praise for Barack Obama and PPACA (Obamacare) in 2010 and then 3-4 paragraphs lambasting President Trump who, but for McCain, would have been able to undo Obama's disastrous grab of the private sector and 1/5 of the economy. It's one of the reasons Trump was elected--the people hated it, especially those who lost good coverage or lost their doctor or were forced to buy coverage for contraception and abortion. Obamacare was the only significant piece of social legislation that got zero support from Republicans, who had supported FDR and social security, and LBJ and Medicare. In fact, it's doubtful those programs would have passed without Republican support. It is the Obama administration that created the extreme partisanship we see today, not President Trump.
Yes indeed. Politics and healthcare in black and white in JAMA. So I looked up the author, Donald M Berwick--he's retired, but has been on just about every government board and committee to give us socialized medicine, was part of the Clinton administration, and even worked with the British National Health Service and was knighted by the Queen! I would not have expected anything else from him.
Have you heard of this scam?
| This warning about a delivery scam came in my e-mail. It did not happen to me. And I have no idea who the "victim" writing in first person is. But we receive odd phone calls everyday about changing our utilities carrier, packages about to be delivered, asking about our pain, telling us our computer has a problem and that we have college debt to settle. So this one just sounds like a new wrinkle. If these scams didn't work (maybe one out of thousands), they would go away. I only removed the part about passing it along to friends and family. “This is a new scam! This is very clever. I would probably fall for it if not warned. Give this wide distribution. This scam is actually very clever. Just when you thought you'd heard it all. Be very careful out there! Beware of people bearing gifts. The following is a recounting of the incident from the victim: Wednesday a week ago, I had a phone call from someone saying that he was from some outfit called: "Express Couriers," ( The name could be any courier company). He asked if I was going to be home because there was a package for me that required a signature. The caller said that the delivery would arrive at my home in roughly an hour. Sure enough, about an hour later, a uniformed delivery man turned up with a beautiful basket of flowers and a bottle of wine. I was very surprised since there was no special occasion or holiday, and I certainly didn't expect anything like it. Intrigued, I inquired as to who the sender was. The courier replied, "I don't know, I'm only delivering the package." Apparently, a greeting card was being sent separately. (The card has never arrived!) There was also a consignment note with the gift. He then went on to explain that because the gift contained alcohol, there was a $3.50 "delivery/ verification charge," providing proof that he had actually delivered the package to an adult (of legal drinking age), and not just left it on the doorstep where it could be stolen or taken by anyone, especially a minor. This sounded logical and I offered to pay him cash. He then said that the delivery company required payment to be by credit or debit card only, so that everything is properly accounted for, and this would help in keeping a legal record of the transaction. He added, "Couriers don't carry cash to avoid loss or likely targets for robbery." My husband, who by this time was standing beside me, pulled out his credit card, and the "delivery man," asked him to swipe the card on a small mobile card machine with a small screen and keypad. Frank, my husband, was asked to enter his PIN number and a receipt was printed out. He was given a copy of the transaction. The guy said everything was in order, and wished us good day. To our horrible surprise, between Thursday and the following Monday, $4,000 had been charged/withdrawn from our credit/debit account at various ATM machines. Apparently the "mobile credit card machine," which the deliveryman carried now had all the info necessary to create a "dummy" card with all our card details including the PIN number. Upon finding out about the illegal transactions on our card, we immediately notified the bank which issued us a new card, and our credit/debit account was closed. We also personally went to the police, where it was confirmed that it is definitely a scam because several households had been similarly hit. WARNING: Be wary of accepting any "surprise gift or package," which you neither expected nor personally ordered, especially if it involves any kind of payment as a condition of receiving the gift or package. Also, never accept anything If you do not personally know or there is no proper identification of who the sender is. Above all, the only time you should give out any personal credit/debit card information is when you yourself initiated the purchase or transaction!” |
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
It’s not about breakfast cereal anymore
Today I received in my e-mail a notice about The Racial Equity Anchor Collaborative funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Reading through the blurb it appears to be an organization to funnel voters into the Democrat Party because there's no policy or plans, just vague buzz words about racial healing, equity and full potential: Nine organizations.
- NAACP;
- Advancement Project’s national office;
- Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF);
- Demos;
- Faith in Action;
- National Congress of American Indians,
- National Urban League;
- Race Forward;
- UnidosUS.
Seems to have evolved out of the Ferguson riots 4 years ago.
We have so many wealthy foundations and non-profits throwing money at social justice and racial equity projects I'm beginning to see them as part of the problem rather than part of the solution. I'm wondering if the bureaucracy of the NGOs (there are 1.5 million in the U.S.) isn't rivaling that of the federal government.
The wage gap myth
Women earn less than men in the same job at the same hourly wage with the same union benefits because they choose to. Yes. With everything else the same, the paycheck is less because men work more overtime. And on a broader scale, men take the jobs with more risk, and they are more willing to move where the better jobs are. A study of librarians over 20 years ago showed that--men moved more often and had more publications. For over a decade, more women have been graduating from college, but not in the same fields as men. There are limited opportunities for dance majors and art historians. In the trades, there are wonderful opportunities, but women aren't flocking there--don't want to mess up the manicure. We live in a competitive, capitalist country (except where the government interferes) and if the CEO can make more money hiring qualified women, she will do it.
https://legalinsurrection.com/2018/12/harvard-study-confirms-the-gender-wage-gap-is-just-a-myth/
MS-13 in Maryland
“MS-13 is a gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, with members operating in the state of Maryland, including Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Frederick County, and throughout the United States. Branches or “cliques” of MS-13 often work together cooperatively to engage in criminal activity and to assist one another in avoiding detection by law enforcement. In Maryland and the surrounding area, these cliques include ParkView Locos Salvatrucha (PVLS), Normandie Locos Salvatrucha or “Normandie,” Sailors Locos Salvatrucha Westside or Langley Park Salvatrucha, Weedoms Locos Salvatrucha “Weedoms”, and Cabanas Locos Salvatruchas. MS-13 cliques often combine and work together as “Programs,” with the purpose of increasing the gang’s levels of organization, violence, extortion, and other criminal activity. A person within the participating cliques is selected as the program leader.
To protect the gang and to enhance its reputation, MS-13 members and associates are expected to use any means necessary to force respect from those who show disrespect, including acts of intimidation and violence. MS-13’s creed is based on one of its mottos, “Mata, roba, viola, controla,” which translates to, “kill, steal, rape, control.””
https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2018/09/07/maryland-ms-13-program-leader-pleads-guilty
“Organized in local MS-13 units called “cliques,” the Maryland gangs put prospective members under long periods of “observations” before allowing them in. Ascension in the gang involves at least five rank designations, according to federal court records, with clique leaders using social media and coded words to stay in constant contact with superiors in the United States and El Salvador.”
The Washington Post article refers to crimes carried out many years before Trump became president, yet so many insist that there is no danger here—just prejudice and racism. Tell that to the families of the murdered men.
If only CNN had been on the job then
A few years ago (Dec. 2015) the Blaze published an expose about Muslims in the Obama White House, but the link gave me the dreaded 404 message. But I found it at one of those archive sites.
But no scandals for Obama; not a one.
"Purges, blacklists, book banning, mandatory “re-education” and punishment would otherwise sound like a program by the Khmer Rouge, not so-called U.S. “civil rights” organizations. But these events of “Black October” would set in motion a radical shift in our nation’s national security and counter-terrorism policies."
If we just had had a free press during the Obama years. . . Like a CNN watchdog over the presidency like we have now.
Monday, December 10, 2018
Black man wants to help people in the “hood.”
What happened to a Columbus couple who came out for Trump. The left tried to destroy their business (and succeeded). Imagine what would have happened if someone from the right had tried to destroy a black family business. CNN would have been hectoring us for weeks.
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