Archive for October, 2008
« Previous EntriesDon’t fall for this folder or any similar email voter scam — it is vile!
Don’t fall for any folders, flyers, brochures, or email or any other information you get from ANYONE telling you you must vote on November 5. That is an extremely vicious, VILE fraud and your vote will not be counted if you fall for it.
I just saw a report on CNN that says voters in Virginia have been getting flyers left at their homes telling them that heavy voter turnout requires Republicans to vote on November 4 and Democrats to vote on November 5.
THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY FALSE, VILE, DECEPTION. IT IS NOT TRUE. DO NOT FALL FOR IT.
Given the way emails are believed by so many gullible people, and given the way this printed notice which people have found stuck on their porches, inside screen doors, etc., looks as though it’s an official notice from the Commonwealth of Virginia, there will be some folks who think it’s real.
IT IS NOT REAL. It is someone’s bad idea of a joke or someone’s effort to negate as many Democratic votes as possible. I heard on the CNN report that the State Police in Virginia have begun investigating this matter and looking to arrest whoever is behind it. I know also from that CNN report that Republican and Democratic Party officials have denounced the brochure and/or any emails or other messages with this lie.
Please, good readers, don’t be someone duped by any such scams. Go to the polls on Election Day (or during the allowed early voting period if your state has one) and let your vote count. Don’t be duped into trying to vote AFTER November 4. No state in the U.S. is allowing voting or requiring voting or anything like that on November 5 or ANY date AFTER November 4.
Now I’ll sit back and wait. Sadly, I predict that someone somewhere will be duped by such lying scammers and fall for it. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!! How horrible is that!!!!!!!
Here’s a tip for you — growing old isn’t particularly fun or funny
You’ve probably heard the term “growing old gracefully.” Or maybe that’s “graciously,” I’m not sure. I AM sure, though, that growing old is nothing like I imagined it would be.
Although I’m “trapped” inside a 60-something-old body, in my mind I’m still about 19 or 20. Though I’m overweight and out of shape, in my mind I can still remember running 100 meter and 800 meter races in high school P.E. classes. (Do they still call them P.E. classes?) Indeed, there are days when just getting out of bed and making it to that first cup of coffee makes me feel like I’m 80-something and headed for the adult diaper stage before sundown. (No offense intended to those who need adult diapers, really.)
But today is the first day of the rest of my life (a phrase highly popular and thought to be profound back in the 1960s). I just read some stories about recent medical studies that indicate it really is almost NEVER too late to improve yourself mentally and physically, and even extend your life span to a ripe old age like 90-something.
I’m hitting the sidewalk, getting away from this computer long enough to take a daily walk. And I’m cutting back on the evening junk food and deserts. I’m shooting for 96 years old.
Join me??
You think elections are expensive? How about Halloween?
I read a news story in our local paper a few days ago that says all the election races combined this year — presidential, congressional, senatorial, etc. — will total about $5.4 BILLION dollars. This is supposed to be the most expensive election in U.S. history by far. My reaction was to be horrified that we spend that much money for elections. It clearly means you can’t be elected to a national office, at least, without spending a lot of money.
Then I read the rest of the story and got a really odd perspective on the high costs of elections. The same story says AMERICANS WILL SPEND ABOUT $6 BILLION THIS WEEK ON HALLOWEEN.
In other words: Americans are willing to shell out more for a week’s indulgence in parties and candy than we are to elect those who lead us. I guess that’s how I understand that, anyway.
All my life I’ve enjoyed Halloween. I’m not a morbid or “scary” person. (I once tried to write a horror novel, but just really couldn’t generate interest in doing it.) When I was a kid I really enjoyed the trick or treat candy, candy apples, popcorn balls, etc., and when my two kids were small we took ‘em around the neighborhood — and we still give out candy each year ourselves.
But somehow it doesn’t seem right to me that we have such an imbalance in our national priorities (as if we really HAD any national priorities).
Does that mean we should spend MORE on elections? Or less on Halloween?
How about BOTH. How about we spend more on secure, easily usable voting methods, and more on getting people registered and motivated to vote? And that we also try to show some sense and moderation on our partying and candy buying? (Yeah, I know. Hard times like these probably call for MORE chocolate and not less.)
How do you feel about this odd comparison/contrast on how we spend our money? Leave a comment and let us know.
Are you being ‘followed’ via your cell phone? Maybe, maybe not
I’ve heard all sorts of stories about GPS technology and cell phones, some of it disconcerting, some downright alarming.
There’s a claim going around that anyone who owns a cell phone and keeps it turned on can be tracked, even if they don’t want to be, and that “Big Brother” on some level is ready, willing, and able to implement the technology to track you down as long as you have a cell phone and it is turned on.
So I did some searching around and found that story is true and not true. Yes, you can be tracked via a GPS-related technology that’s probably built into your cell phone, but, no, you aren’t likely to be tracked that way. It’s the “maybe, maybe not” nature of the information I found which concerns me.
I found an interesting website that discusses in some detail how all this works. You should take a look at it, but as disclaimer let me say I really know nothing about it. (The site and the information there “looks” legit — but give me a couple of simple pieces of software and access to a web domain and I can create a site for you that “looks legit” on just about anything.)
Anyway, the short answer to this is that cell phone tracking is only activated in response to a 9-1-1 call and/or other emergency. But this explanation on the website isn’t exactly comforting to those of us who truly value our privacy:
Permissions and Privacy
Simply put, tracking someone without their knowledge can get you in trouble. Typically, the subscriber must give permission and the cell phone must be enabled for tracking. Consult with your service providers for more detail.
Tracking Application “Persistence”
Again, the tracking application on a cell phone typically must be enabled by the user. Depending on your equipment, the application may persist – remaining enabled when the phone is turned on after having been turned off. This feature is particularly handy if you do not want to instruct the person using the phone how to turn tracking on and off.
I guess the bottom line is this: “Behave” yourself and obey all the laws of the land; if you aren’t — don’t take your cell phone along, or leave it turned off. LOL!
Don’t be fooled: OTC medications can be hazardous to your health
There’s been a lot in the news in recent weeks about the risks of giving infants and children over-the-counter cold medications, because of fears of overdose, drug reactions, etc. I haven’t followed it all too closely since my kids have long ago grown to adulthood and I do not yet have any grandchildren.
But I had a personal example last evening of the risks of over-the-counter medications and overdose for “Old Guys” — namely, ME!
I actually knew about this problem but simply didn’t pay real attention: You should NEVER exceed recommended dosages on over-the-counter pain medications — in this case the drug acetaminophen, commonly referred to by the brand-name version “Tylenol.”
The short version is this: I’ve been struggling with a flare up of arthritis stiffness and pain in my shoulder in recent weeks, so I’ve been pushing pain killers nearly to allowable limits each evening when I go to bed, hoping to sleep through the night with little or no pain. I’ve been taking two of these generic extra-heavy-duty acetaminophen arthritis tablets. Last night, with the shoulder ache especially bad, I took THREE.
After a couple of hours of stomach distress and some nausea things settled down, just before I decided I might have to visit the local emergency room.
DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSAGE LIMITS on acetaminophen. It could literally “blow up” your liver. It may at least cause you a lot of stomach distress.
For that matter, from cold medication to diet pills to pain killers, I know will preach the gospel of sanity to you: Do NOT assume over-the-counter drugs and/or supplements are harmless. Take them very seriously.
I know I’ll take them more seriously now!
Hockey mom and kids needed to see the Big City — on Alaska’s ticket
Who would begrudge Gov. Sarah Palin using a little money from the State of Alaska to take her kids on a trip to the Big City? Anyone out there that mean spirited?
Apparently some folks are unhappy that Gov. Palin charged off to the state several thousands of dollars in travel for her daughters which, uh, may have been more family/personal travel than “business” travel. She apparently said the girls “had been invited to attend or participate in events on the governor’s schedule,” according to that AP News report. The problem was, among other things, according to that report:
“But some organizers of these events said they were surprised when the Palin children showed up uninvited, or said they agreed to a request by the governor to allow the children to attend.
“Several other organizers said the children merely accompanied their mother and did not participate. The trips enabled Palin, whose main state office is in the capital of Juneau, to spend more time with her children.”
Some of that state-funded travel included this very interesting trip to New York City:
“In October 2007, Palin brought daughter Bristol along on a trip to New York for a women’s leadership conference. Plane tickets from Anchorage to La Guardia Airport for $1,385.11 were billed to the state, records show, and mother and daughter shared a room for four nights at the $707.29-per-night Essex House hotel, which overlooks Central Park.
“The event’s organizers said Palin asked if she could bring her daughter.
“Alexis Gelber, who organized Newsweek’s Third Annual Women & Leadership Conference, said she does not know how Bristol ended up attending. Gelber said invitees usually attend alone, but some ask if they can bring a relative or friend.”
Good to know that we have such a financial crusader and her Maverick Friend trying to get in the White House where they can cut all that government corruption, isn’t it?
(Sure would be nice if I could afford to take my wife on a nice trip to New York City. Guess I should consider a name change to Joe Six-Pack or Joe the Plumber. You betcha!)
Lighten up, the hockey mom needed fancy clothes for the campaign trail
Okay, I have no problem with a political campaign, or political resources from the RNC in this case, being used to help a candidate look good for campaign appearances. The whole “dress for success” idea leaves me pretty cold, but I understand it. In this case, the “success” and the “dress” involve money spent by the Republican National Committee to put Gov. Sarah Palin and her family into some pretty fancy dress clothing for her campaign appearances. They apparently ran up a shopping bill of about $150,000 in designer clothing for the gang.
Now I really only have ONE problem with all that — whatever happened to the famous Two Joes Gov. Palin and Sen. John McCain were appealing (Or should I say “appealin’”? You betcha.) to.
Quick, Joe Six-Pack and Joe the Plumber, raise your good old small-town-real-American-values hand if you’ve bought your wife a $x,xxx dress. No?
Oh, for shame, that I, one of those evil Liberal Democrats, should bring this up. That’s exactly what the McCain Campaign thought, according to the article I linked to above. I quote from that article:
The McCain campaign released a statement late Tuesday night saying, “With all the important issues facing the country right now, it’s remarkable that we’re spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses. It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign.”
Oh, my. May God forgive me that I should even MENTION this issue, when I should instead be crying out against Sen. Barack Obama’s evil associations with terrorists. You know the associations I’m talking about, don’t you? The ones he and several Republican leaders had when they served on an education board with that evil guy in Chicago — a board funded by a foundation started by a conservative Republican friend of Ronald Reagan? Yeah, that one.
Wow — Powell crosses party lines, endorses Obama for president
I don’t know whether he would want me telling you this, but a very close relative of mine — very close — who is a conservative Republican once served closely in the Army with Ret. General Colin Powell. I wonder how this close relative feels about today’s announcement by Powell that he’s voting for Sen. Barack Obama? Will Powell’s support help Obama overcome the almost given tradition that military people are conservative supporters of Republican presidential candidates?
What a fascinating presidential campaign this has been! And, of course, it’s really not over yet.
But Powell’s support for Obama can’t be good news for Sen. John McCain, can it?
I did not get to see Powell’s appearance today on “Meet the Press,” so I’m basing my understanding of all this on newspaper website reports. (I urge you to click on the link in that last phrase and read one of those reports for yourself.)
Powell’s endorsement was pretty much a ringing, positive statement: “He has both style and substance … Obama has displayed a steadiness; showed intellectual vigor. He has a definitive way of doing business that will do us well.” In addition to the endorsement, Powell had some pretty frank things to say about McCain’s campaign. For anyone not interested or able to read the entire Internet report I referenced above, I quote these two paragraphs from that report by “The International Herald Tribune”:
“Powell also questioned McCain’s decision to choose Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska as the party’s vice presidential candidate. Powell said he did not believe Palin was ready to become president.
“In the appearance on “Meet the Press,” Powell also said he was disappointed by the McCain campaign’s decision to seek to tie Obama to William Ayers, who four decades ago was a domestic terrorist who violently protested the Vietnam War.”
Yes, a very interesting presidential campaign so far, and a very impressive Obama endorsement from a very impressive statesman!
Thanks to McCain, Letterman for the political change-of-pace: humor for a change
Every election campaign offers its share of humor, most of it unintentional, i.e., debate gaffs or stump speech gaffs, even the choices of political candidates running for office.
But it was refreshing last night to watch John McCain’s long awaited appearance on David Letterman’s show and be treated to some great humor.
Heck, I’m NOT a McCain supporter and I felt a certain sympathy for the poor guy’s squirming — and some admiration for the way he handled the whole situation.
If you aren’t familiar with the background on the whole issue, it goes something like this: The night before the first House vote on the economic bailout, McCain was scheduled to be a guest on Letterman’s show. One hour before he was to be there, McCain canceled, by calling Letterman and telling him he couldn’t make it. He said he was compelled to rush back to Washington and be there to do anything he could to help resolve the looming economic crisis.
A day later, Letterman found out McCain had hung around NYC long enough to be interviewed by CBS Evening News, AND had stayed overnight in a NYC hotel before going to Washington the next morning!
For two or three weeks, Letterman has skewered McCain unmercifully on each night’s monologue over the matter. Last night McCain finally appeared on the show.
To howls of laughter and applause all around, he had a simple explanation for the incident. McCain’s words: “I screwed up.”
Good job by Letterman and McCain last night. If you didn’t see the appearance, I urge you to check around the CBS website and YouTube and I’m sure you can find it. I applaud both McCain and Letterman for giving us some great entertainment as Election Day draws near.
I also urge you to get out and vote. I ask you to vote for Obama — but most of all, I appeal to you to get out and vote. That’s a great part of what America is SUPPOSED to be all about, isn’t it?
Election Day is coming — be sure you get out and vote!
Thank goodness the American elections are almost over. I hope you’ll get out and vote. I don’t care who you vote for, as long as you’re voting your conscience. That’s entirely up to you, but I do urge you to take advantage of this fundamental freedom and vote.
Then, if you’re like me, you’re going to look for whatever travel deals your budget may allow and get somewhere to relax after such a long election campaign.
Where do you go to relax? The mountains? A beach?
Given our limited budget, the nice little park down the street four blocks may be about all the “travel” my wife and I can afford right now. But we definitely will — and currently DO! — enjoy a nice walk to the park from time to time.
Wherever you’re living and whatever your doing, I hope you’re enjoying the wonderful autumn weather we’ve been having where I live. And I hope you’ll put down that newspaper, turn off that television, and get outside for some exercise and relaxation — no matter who you vote for!
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