Friday, October 21, 2016

Flowers and The Circle of Life





Surreal moments as a church treasurer:

A. Writing a check to the Florist for bouquets sent to each of my parent's wake.


B.  Same with my mother-in-law. We think the bouquet never even made it to the funeral home in California, though. If it did, it ended up with a stranger.  The funeral home had a full house that day!


C.  And now:  the Florist's invoice for 88 year old Lois' funeral   --  she who had placed the floral orders for others' funerals year after year after year.

Who will be signing the church's checks when someday  -- in the far distant future, God willing -- it will be my name under the invoice's description?
I prefer all PINK flowers, btw. 

 bouquet from church for my Dad

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Samsung Galaxy Note7 Phones are No Longer Welcome on Flights

pc: FAA

October 14- WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), today announced it is issuing an emergency order to ban all Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphone devices from air transportation in the United States. Individuals who own or possess a Samsung Galaxy Note7 device may not transport the device on their person, in carry-on baggage, or in checked baggage on flights to, from, or within the United States. This prohibition includes all Samsung Galaxy Note7 devices. The phones also cannot be shipped as air cargo.  The ban will be effective on Saturday, October 15, 2016, at noon ET.


Link ---> FAA News Update

Link ---> DOT Press Release

Here is a note of relief from a Wheaton College parent on their son's flight home:

FYI ... the FAA has banned all Samsung Galaxy NOTE s7 phones... !!!  Our boy almost did not make it home but his s7 is not a NOTE phone, so once that was determined, they let him on right before take off!!! Whew!!!! Praise God!

Monday, October 10, 2016

US General Elections 2016: About last night ...


via AOL

Clinton did not "pull back", if she is as smart as many allege she pulled back for only one reason: she knew that any attack leveled would result in further, much more egregious attacks from Trump.
A prime example of this is when she responded to Trump's assertion concerning the 33,000 emails she deleted, and that she was basically useless as a Senator and as Secretary of State, she responded with, "I'm very proud of what I achieved...we brought awareness to women's rights, etc, etc:  in general a demonstrably vacuous response.
Her failures and missteps clearly outweigh and overshadow any victories during her tenure in politics. Everyone knows this, as does she...obviously. One of the 'undecided' participants said it best at the analysis after the debate, when asked what he thought of Hillary's performance he responded with, "Same-o, same-o".
In my opinion this preoccupation with something vulgar that Trump said over a decade ago was nothing more than propagandist tripe intended to apply pressure in the hopes that Trump would drop out of the race. CNN's premature ejaculation that Pence had dropped out is another example of this. And concerning the conversation with his, "locker room banter"; is this the best they can do? I think it may have had the opposite effect.
Anyone who thinks that this type of 'banter' doesn't take place amongst men on a general and regular basis suffers from a general delusion: that we are NOT imperfect beings, that we HAVE evolved beyond the constraints of our physicality (genetic and predispositions inculcated by a liberal society and educational system), and that anyone who engages in this type of banter is somehow less-human, in spite of the fact that the expression is never acted out (as Trump asserted when Cooper asked if he had ever done those things: "No I have not"). Generally speaking most men (and women) can identify with that. Go to a male-revue (Chippendales anyone?) and survey the women there ("size doesn't matter"?).
Typically these types have suppressed the fact that they contain the same physicality and predispositions but instead cling to the notion (based on a false piety) that they are somehow "better" than others simply because they scoff and degrade those that recognize their inalienable right to be flawed (aren't we all?). They are moral busybodies who actually / sincerely believe that they know better how people should be, think, and feel, and that they have the solution on how to make these 'lesser' people think, feel, and act the way they do. All the while rationalizing their own failures (just as Hillary did: "it was a mistake").
This is antithetical to the concept of 'diversity', and it is how 'sheeple' are created. It is how tyrannies are created. It is how populations are subjugated. We are already too far down that road now. What any politician "says" is irrelevant, it is exactly this ideology that has resulted in (fundamentally) our current caste system with politicians as the ruling elite for a handful of puppet masters intent on maintaining their personal power and wealth, and still desiring yet more. If nothing else; Trump's rhetoric demonstrates this: I am 'owned' by nobody. Hence his appeal.
Look at the response of Hillary to the muslim's woman's concern: "We need to welcome our Muslim friends, this is not a war on Islam." Really?
This comment has the superficial well intentioned meaning of tolerance towards those who are different. Yet it completely ignores the lessons of history. Muslims have been fighting holy wars for Islam for the past ~1500 years. It. Is. Their. Way.
Under their rule infidels were murdered, children raped, women tortured, arabic only was spoken, sharia law usurps any and all local laws, only infidels pay taxes, and only muslims were allowed to bear arms (historical fact). If we are being attacked (and we are) on our own soil Trumps response was the ONLY reasonable response: a ban on immigration until a viable solution is found for robust vetting and verification. It may not be PC, and it may not be the 'best' solution, but at least it makes sense.
I think that most people believe Trump may well be our last hope at turning the corner back to the America we have all envisioned: globally respected, prosperous, united, and the land of opportunity. Past administrations (blue & red) have brought us to the brink. We can make America great again with the right leadership. The way this will be accomplished will not be by Trump as president, but through Trump placing competent leaders in positions to affect positive change, in the direction that most Americans (red & blue) actually want to go. I believe he will do THAT.
Cheers!

I copied this comment from a guy named Lonnie. He was commenting on last night's debate. Very eloquently put. I could not state it in any other way - WP




**

Friday, October 7, 2016

Potheads Speak ...

I have found FB posts more than entertaining. Here is a recent conversation  between my abundantly positive, brave,  albeit meddling friend; and a couple of potheads:
source:  The Other 98%


My sober friend, Willie (first  to comment on this public post):

 I know marijuana is not physiologically addictive. Supposedly it will not result in an overdose. I do believe it has some medicinal benefits. It even helps a lot of people relax. However, I observed that most people that like to use it are underachievers. Can it be that they value being high more than they value improving themselves? Again, this is just my observation. There are a lot of good things a person can pursue to improve themselves. It is sad when their focus is being high. Maybe, deep down they are not happy with life.

Pothead Rhonda;  Some of that is true. On the other hand have you notice (sic) how people on alcohol behave?

Sober Willie:   Like any drugs, alcohol or even tobacco, I don't use any. i love life...If you do not enjoy your life, you tend to be destructive/abusive especially to your body.

Pothead Bob (original poster): 
You (Willie) have no clue of what you are talking about! It is no different than alcoholics being underachievers... It can be abused like anything else. There are many good uses for it and the tax benefits are never ending.

Pothead Jerry:  What did he say Bob I lost my focus.

Pothead Bob:  He said he observed people who smoke pot are under achievers. Don't even know who he is.

Pothead Sylvia:  Pothead Bob, Good answer to Willie. I always wonder if people who rant about the negativity of marijuana have ever tried it. Seems to me one must have some experience to be an "expert" on the subject.

Pothead Mary:  I've never been called an underachiever for a little smoke now and then, however I always thought I've done my best work with a little smoke here and there, but whose (sic) to say.

Pothead Bob:  
Same here..... lol