Oct 8, 2009

Politically Speaking

TRUE - Last month, Sept, 2009, Obama said, "I am concerned that if the direction of the news is all blogosphere, all opinions, with no serious fact-checking, no serious attempts to put stories in context, that what you will end up getting is people shouting at each other across the void, but not a lot of mutual understanding."

He said he would be happy to look a bills that could give newspapers tax-breaks if they were to restructure as 501 (c) (3) corporations (most hospitals are 501 c 3). One of the bills is that of Senator Ben Cardin, who has introduced the 'Newspaper Revitalization Act'.

Yeh, the newspapers put things in context and are not one sided. Right!

Quotable

A word is not the same with one writer as with another. One tears it from his guts. The other pulls it out of his coat pocket.

Speaking of Blogs

Now I have seen it all. There is a web site doyourf...ingdishes that shows nothing but pictures of filthy, messy sinks and counters overflowing with dirty dishes. I did not provide the link, because it is so useless. However, I felt the need to share, so you know how the net is still filling up with useless bloginalia. Not mine, of course.

Oct 5, 2009

The World



Here is an interesting twist to making maps. It has a series of maps of countries, showing elevations based on population, rather than land mass. Below is the US. For a larger view and more, click on this link. The two that stand out the most are the UAE and Russia.

Toilet Paper Facts

I am not so sure you have noticed, so I thought you should be informed that toilet paper is getting smaller. The standard size for years had been 4.5 by 4.5 inches, but now most manufacturers have gone to 4.5 by 4 or 4.5 by 4.3 inches.

The British pay twice as much as Germans or French, and nearly three times as much as the Americans for a standard four-pack roll.

Studies show that the average user of toilet paper uses about the same number of sheets whether it is three ply, two ply, or one ply. So, when using the loo, one ply will do - and it's cheaper.

Profound Thoughts Book Three

Here is chapter one from my book of wise sayings, quotes, aphorisms, and great thoughts from great minds about health, Wealth, Knowledge and Wisdom. Hope you enjoy.

Oct 2, 2009

The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude

I have not done any book reviews here before, but I just finished a delightful book.

Reading the book made me feel like I was sitting across the table from an old aunt, who had just returned from a life's journey and is sharing stories of her adventures and the people she met along the way. Of course, like Sister Mary Olga, she is already through two thirds of her Jack Daniels and well on her way through her second pack of Marlboro 'prayer sticks'.

This would make a wonderful play and has more mayhem than 'Nunsense'. A true bonus is the good moral lesson seasoned in with the wacky humor.

I almost forgot how wonderful it is to read a book, close the cover, and feel like I just attended an Oscar winning performance.


Here is the website

Arizona Sand

Beautiful natural sand formations in Arizona.

Quotable

Art is Man's nature.  Nature is God's art.

BAN ALL CAPS

TRUE - An Auckland accountant was fired for sending confrontational emails with words in red, in bold and in capital letters.

Vicki Walker, who was a financial controller with ProCare Health, has been awarded $17,000 NZ for unfair dismissal, and plans to lodge an appeal for further compensation. The Employment Relations Authority ruled that Walker was not fairly terminated from her position after sending the emails to co-workers.

ProCare told the authority, Walker, who was fired after two years of employment - had caused disharmony in the workplace by using block capitals, bold typeface and red text in her emails.

The email, which advises her team how to fill out staff claim forms, specifies a time and date highlighted in bold red, and a sentence written in capitals and highlighted in bold blue. It reads: "To ensure your staff claim is processed and paid, please do follow the below checklist."

Quotable

You must set your sights upon the heights
Do not be a mediocrity
Don't just wait and trust to fate
And say, that's how it's meant to be
It's up to you how far you go
If you don't try you'll never know
And so my lad as I've explained
Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Congressional Approval Rating

The numbers below say it all.

Favorable Ratings for Professions
  Fav
Unfav
Rating
Small Business Owners
94%
3%
+91
People Who Start Own Business
92%
5%
+87
Pastors and Religious Leaders
70%
22%
+48
Bankers
48%
49%
-1
Journalists
43%
54%
-11
Lawyers
42%
54%
-12
Stockbrokers and Fin Analysts
41%
54%
-13
CEO's
27%
69%
-42
Members of Congress
25%
72%
-47

Quotable

"Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first." - Ronald Reagan, 40th US President (1911 - 2004)