My Message To Instacart Strikers

Currently most workers make between $10-$20 an hour plus 60 cents a mile. This is the time people like myself (72 years old) need your services. Business has gone through the roof so now you guys think you got your company and customers by the gonads... wrong!

Most of the grocery products available online I estimate cost about 5% more then other products I could find in the store myself. In addition shopper club card discounts don't apply. Currently workers get 5%. The company another 5%. Booking fee's cost another 1%. This means I'm paying about 16% more for the service already. Now you guys want a $5 hazard duty pay per order plus 5% more. That means my total costs would then be at least 21% (because no shoppers club discounts) plus the additional $5.

Screwing The Pooch
That kind of business model isn't sustainable. Not now or ever. Even when this pandemic ends. One out of work Uber driver said he's making $20 an hour. He doesn't want any part of this walk out. I'm sure plenty of others who don't qualify for unemployment need the work if you guys don't. At a time when you could make more money then ever before, while business is great, you guys decide to pull this crap. I've already waited 6 days for my order. Who knows how much longer because of this walk out.

Put it this way. I'm not going to forget this. Neither will the 10,000's of other customers I suspect. You guys very well might have killed the company you work for. Not exactly an Einsteinian move. Hopefully the store I order deliveries from will find an alternate company whose workers are more appreciative. Perhaps even the company itself will be able to find alternate workers more willing to work. For the sake of this company being able to survive I hope this is the case.


UPDATE (03/31/2020)Well the delivery guy from 'Instacart' came today right on time. He like the woman 2 weeks ago couldn't be nicer. My wife and I are grateful. He said he just started after he lost work at a local restaurant. It just started up in November 2019 and couldn't sustain because of the Covid-19 outbreak. They tried take outs but it wasn't enough to keep it going.

So as I mentioned if these people who chose to walkout weren't willing to appreciate what they had going, folks like this guy are thankful this job is here for them. Hats off and best wishes and health to all those workers who remain on the job at this most critical time. My wife and I sincerely appreciate this service.

I also want to give a shout out to my step-daughter who had a Covid-19 patient on a ventilator. This patient is not expected to make it. Doctors and RN's who are at far greater risk have never given one second's thought to walk out when supplies are short. We all need to thank them for their dedication during some of the worst times they ever experienced in their careers. I admire each one of them and wish them all to stay well not just physically but even more so mentally.

Jeff Dunham During COVID-19

I've been following Jeff's videos for a few weeks. Since his next 16 appearances were canceled he has taken to using his 3d garage printer to come up with a new character. That and posting a bunch of vblogs from his garage/workshop. Here's his latest...

My Thoughts On Covid 19

We're in the process of waiting for "Instacart" to deliver our groceries next Tuesday, March 31, 2020. Now it's been announced they are planning to go on strike Monday, March 30, 2020. Gee ain't that swell! Here we thought we were doing everyone a favor by staying out of the grocery store. (a) To help relieve overcrowding. (b) Not subjecting ourselves or the store to contamination. (c) To provide much needed work for unemployed low skilled workers. Instead they decided now is a perfect time to pull a strike when business has never been better. Supposedly they're striking because they don't feel they're being given adequate protection from the virus. When they deliver ours they leave it on the back porch, ring the bell and stand 10 feet away. Seems like a money grab to me. Workers already get 5% the cost of the order. In the case of our last order it would earn someone over $16. Not enough for about 1 hour's worth of work?

About the virus itself.
Florida has seen 25% increase in infections over the last 24 hours. The average Temperature in Florida this time of year ranges from 70 degrees upward. So it seems to me we shouldn't be holding out hope Covid 19 is going to simply disappear in warmer weather. If it doesn't we're stuck with 2 choices. (a) Restart the economy even with the risk. (b) Stay hunkered down till the economy collapses. Neither is a good choice.

So here's a thought. Nature never has shown a preference towards humans nor animals when calamities strike. In the case of some diseases in the past it has wiped out almost entire civilizations and species of animals. We saw this when Europeans first arrived to this continent. Some jungle tribes when explorers and missionaries arrived. What remained was only the heartiest whose immune systems could fight off the diseases. What emerged was only those who could no longer be afflicted. It seems nature is continually evolving by eliminating the weaker species no matter the cost to any particular one. I fear such might be the case here. Like I said nature plays no favorites.

Irrationality seems to be the order of the day. Fear will do that. If there's one thing worse then what a disease can do to society it is what damage we are capable of doing unto one another. We tend to accuse and finger point then act out against one another as if somehow someone else rather then the disease is to blame for our woes. This virus wants to stay alive. So do we. The will to survive can make both deadly as the other. It's inherit it all things from plants to animals, and everything else that ever existed. What determines each species being able to survive along the trail of evolution is how each is able organize against the other who threatens their own existence. I'm sad to report this Earth can get along perfectly fine without any particular species including humans. Hell in the entire universe we cannot find another like us. So it seems we're not so special after all.

We've been given brains no other species has (including this disease). This places us at a great advantage over any threat that comes our way if we use our brains wisely and not give in to our negative inclinations becoming our own worst enemy. This disease just could be part of evolution in-so-much as the foolish will be eliminated through their own reckless acts during this epidemic. For you religious folks, you could say it's God's way of separating the wheat from the chaff. I prefer to think of it as another step along the ever continuing path of evolution. The way it's always been no matter how unpleasant.

Pawn Stars Posted This Humorous Clip

How The Holderness Family Is Holding Up

This is one of a countless number of videos turning up everywhere in social media. This and a bunch of memes.

Today Was The Day MLB Baseball Was Suppose To Start

Highlights from the IronPigs' Final Homestand of the 2019 Season

We're in this together.#OpeningDayAtHome | #Birdland pic.twitter.com/i5YQxBnqtA

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) March 26, 2020

The 1918 Flu Pandemic

I don't know if you caught this on Sunday March 8, 2020 aired by CBS Sunday Morning. I felt it was worth a watch hence why I embedding it here.



There are some uncanny parallels. Hopefully we can learn from mistakes made in the past.

How Our Grocery Store Is Handling The Covid-19 (UPDATED 03/25/2020)

Our son-in-law said our grocery store has security stationed out front. They allow only so many at a time to go in. They are also limiting items to 1 no matter what it is. Each cart is being sprayed down before a shopper takes one.

Here's how we're handling this.
Since there is a line outside the store, a few days ago we ordered home delivery through their website. It was delivered several hours later. The delivery person stacked the bags on our porch before ringing the bell then positioning herself several feet away.

The website itself mostly list what items are available (subject to the 1 item limits). Even then some of the items were scrubbed from our list as they became unavailable. Next time we'll leave a notation that substitutions are OK with our online order. See how that goes.

This was paid for by our credit card number they already had via our shoppers club card we always use.

While doing things this way it cost us more then ten percent of what it otherwise would going into the store. We felt it was worth it. Shoppers club discounts and coupons are not available on items you order this way. Plus they don't always list the lowest priced products even if some may still be available in-store.

I'm not sure all stores have the number of workers they need to do this. Here's something to consider. A lot of people are out of work right now. Perhaps they could take on some temporary help for people who could really use a job right now. Keep in mind the extra fees already cover the cost for personnel (including their tip money) to do this.

If this thing is gonna last for months it wouldn't be a bad idea for lots more stores to do this. It also wouldn't require triple handling. In other words a shipment comes in. Then it gets taken out to the floor for restocking the shelves, Shoppers then have to go to a checkout. Instead all three of these people could be putting an order together in back as it comes in (at least in part). This also would reduce the exposure to the store and products by a large number of people coming in.

This isn't a new concept.
What's old could be new again.
In the 50's the "grocery boy" would sometimes deliver groceries. The milkman, bread man, vegetable truck, dry cleaner/diaper man and dozens of others would come around. Maybe we should start rethinking this again. It certainly would reduce traffic on the road for one thing. It also would free up time for those workers who hold multiple jobs. This could put people with low education back to work again. It would most certainly benefit oldsters, the sick or the disabled too frail to shop or able to drive safely for themselves. Think about it before you poo poo the idea.

UPDATE 03/25/2020Well now home delivery sucks. Last Monday it worked like a charm. This Tuesday when we ordered it first said 5 hours. It never came. Now every time I click on it I get the craziest dates. One said within 2 hours. Then it said between 9-10:00 AM. When it didn't come I checked it said between 9-10 PM. Then today it said between 9-10:00 AM. When it didn't I checked again. This time it said Monday 03/30 2020!

I called the store. They said they couldn't help me because it is an outside contractor. I asked for a number to call. She gave me one but said good luck there are substantial phone wait times. Boy she wasn't kidding. The number I called said there is a 75 minute wait time on call-park.

Look I'm not too fussy about when. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHEN IT WILL ACTUALLY BE DELIVERED!

This is nuts.
Every time I click there's yet another BS wait time. So unless you're lucky at gambling I'm not recommending grocery home delivery at this time. Looks like too many jumped on the bandwagon. I can't help believe this will only get worse in the days ahead.

Think About This Before Your Next Take Out Meal

A shift manager at a McDonald’s restaurant in Kansas City, Mo., asks why a company that earned $5.3 billion last year can’t guarantee paid sick leave for all of its workers. https://t.co/5AWIY3UORc pic.twitter.com/k9AIxnXTMe

— New York Times Opinion (@nytopinion) March 22, 2020

Whether it's a large or small employer I don't feel it's their responsibility to pay people too sick to come to work. I would like to see it factored into government unemployment benefits. If not perhaps private insurance could offer sick benefit plans. OR perhaps both private and government plans could be made available as an option for workers to sign up for at low cost. If workers don't want to sign up and pay for these it would be at their own risks for not doing so.

As I see it, right now neither the government nor one's employer should be burdened with this responsibility. It should be on the workers themselves These insurance plans (whether government, employer sponsored or private) should be made available as soon as possible so we don't find ourselves in this same situation again.

As for this person in the video.. he would have had the option to take advantage of a low cost plan such as this or face the consequences for not doing so. It's all about taking personal responsibility.

Anyone Else Catch Gov. Cuomo's Presser Today? (Sat. 03/21/2020)

New York is very fortunate to have a great leader who is both well spoken and extremely knowledgeable.


(Starts at 16:08 Minutes)

Jane Goodall's Powerful Coronavirus Message

‘I must stay healthy. I’ve got so much more to do before I die.’ — Listen to Jane Goodall’s powerful message about fighting the coronavirus pandemic pic.twitter.com/dDHG9WQmBR

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) March 21, 2020

Karma is the word that comes across my mind.
Look I'm not saying everybody should go vegan, but neither should we stuff our faces with every living creature we come across. All the while making them suffer more then they need to unnecessarily. Perhaps there is a price to paid for doing so.

Sure Could Use A Little Baseball Right Now

Because we could all use a smile. ❤️⚾️ pic.twitter.com/YrmQWPo5Hq

— MLB (@MLB) March 20, 2020

Government Bailouts Need To Go Here First

NEW from me: I talked to rural hospital CEOs around the country, and the picture is dire.

Right when Americans most need them, droves of rural hospitals are weeks from closing their doors as the coronavirus prep saps their cash. @NPR @KHNews https://t.co/okhBenWnlS

— Lauren Weber (@LaurenWeberHP) March 21, 2020

UPDATE: Spoke to hospital exec.

They have lost $39M in a month.

Some in their group have 1-2 months before they will close doors.

We shouldn’t get to the point of hospital shutdowns to compel fed govt to secure the medical & fiscal solvency of this nation.

— Haley Stevens (@HaleyLive) March 20, 2020

Former Mayor Pawlowski Ask For Release From Prison

Former Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski asks for release from prison during coronavirus outbreak, argues his immunity is compromised due to having one lung https://t.co/xLscu3NaEA

— Emily Opilo (@emilyopilo) March 20, 2020

If Your HS Musical Is Cancelled....

Because of COVID-19 check this out...

Use the tag #SunshineSongs so whoever wants to can be your audience! https://t.co/32wMTLhB1l

— Laura Benanti (@LauraBenanti) March 13, 2020

Here's one sample...

@LauraBenanti sending you this from @WeAreOneRPA theatre! These boys qualified in small group musical for State, which is now cancelled. Thank you for providing this awesome opportunity for our students to show their hard work 💙💚 #SunshineSongs pic.twitter.com/FHBLhx7JAT

— Kate Torcom (@TorcomKate) March 15, 2020

Coronavirus What A Difference 3 Months Makes

Today, @realdonaldtrump said: “I’ve always known this is a pandemic. I’ve felt that it was a pandemic long before it was called a pandemic ... I’ve always viewed it as serious.”

Really??? Let’s roll the tape. pic.twitter.com/NpUTzGiokW

— John Heilemann (@jheil) March 17, 2020

Looks like they all finally got the memo.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

PADDY & MICKPaddy and Mick get a pilot to fly them to Canada to hunt moose. They bag six. As Paddy and Mick start loading the plane for the return trip, the pilot says, "The plane can only take four of those." The two lads object strongly. "Last year we shot six and the pilot let us put them all on board; he had the same plane as yours."

Reluctantly, the pilot gives in and all six are loaded. However, even with full power the little plane can't handle the load and down it goes and crashes in the middle of nowhere. A few moments later, climbing out of the wreckage, Paddy asks Mick, "Any idea where we are?"

"I think we're pretty close to where we crashed last year," says Mick.
* * * * *

Paddy & Mick find three grenades, so they take them to a police station. Mick: "What if one explodes before we get there?" Paddy: "We'll lie and say we only found two"!
* * * * *

Paddy says to Mick, "Christmas is on a Friday this year" Mick says "Let's hope it's not the 13th."
* * * * *

Joe says to Paddy: "Close your curtains the next time you're having sex with your wife. The whole street was watching and laughing at you yesterday. "Paddy says: "Well the joke's on them because I wasn't even at home yesterday"!
* * * * *

Paddy says to Mick - I'm ready for a holiday, only this year I'm going to do it a bit different.

3 years ago I went to Spain and Mary got pregnant. 2 years ago I went to Italy and Mary got pregnant. Last year I went to Majorca and Mary got pregnant.

Mick asks - So what are you going to do this year?
Paddy replies, - This time I'll take her with me
* * * * *

An Irish daughter had not been home for over 5 years. Upon her return, her Father cursed her heavily. 'Where have ye been all this time, child? Why did ye not write to us, not even a line? Why didn't ye call? Can ye not understand what ye put yer old Mother thru?'

The girl, crying, replied, 'Sniff, sniff... Dad... I became a prostitute.'

'Ye what!? Get out a here, ye shameless harlot! Sinner! You're a disgrace to this Catholic family.'

'OK, Dad.. As ye wish. I only came back to give mum this luxurious fur coat, title deed to a ten bedroom mansion, plus a $5 million savings certificate. For me little brother, this gold Rolex. And for ye Daddy, the sparkling new Mercedes limited edition convertible that's parked outside plus a membership to the country club ... (takes a breath) .... And an invitation for ye all to spend New Year's Eve on board my new yacht in the Riviera.'

'What was it ye said ye had become?' says Dad.

Girl, crying again, 'A prostitute, Daddy! Sniff, sniff.'

'Oh! My Goodness! Ye scared me half to death, girl! I thought ye said a Protestant! Come here and give yer old Dad a hug!

Paddy was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place. Looking up to heaven he said, 'Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to Mass every Sunday for the rest of me life and give up me Irish Whiskey!'

Miraculously, a parking place appeared.

Paddy looked up again and said, 'Never mind, I found one.

***

An Irish priest is driving down to New York and gets stopped for speeding in Connecticut . The state trooper smells alcohol on the priest's breath and then sees an empty wine bottle on the floor of the car.

He says, 'Sir, have you been drinking?'

'Just water,' says the priest.

The trooper says, 'Then why do I smell wine?'

The priest looks at the bottle and says, 'Good Lord! He's done it again!'

***

Tote Bags Instead Of Plastic Could Spread The Coronavirus

New York Post
Using tote bags instead of plastic could help spread the Coronavirus"The COVID-19 outbreak is giving new meaning to those “sustainable” shopping bags tha[t] politicians and environmentalists have been so eager to impose on the public. These reusable tote bags can sustain the COVID-19 and flu viruses — and spread the viruses throughout the store."

This article is also against the use of paper bags. Kinda makes me wonder who is behind this attack piece. Well if these "tote bags" are a source so would all the shoppers clothes and shoes as well. Should we all strip down and get naked so we can get sprayed before entering the store? Perhaps require shoppers to buy paper bunny suits?

If it ever came down to this I'd insist they just throw my groceries loose into another cart to take to my van. There I'll repack it into boxes I can carry inside my house. Who knows maybe we won't even be allowed inside. Makes me wonder just how paranoid all this is going to get.

Joe Biden Reaches Out to Bernie Sanders Supporters

‘This is your campaign.’ — @JoeBiden reached out to Bernie Sanders’ supporters in a push for unity on the night of key primary victories for the former vice president pic.twitter.com/32Q7x0foQk

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) March 11, 2020

My Medicare Part D Surprise

This is the first time I ordered one of my prescriptions under Part D this year. SURPRISE !

I just found out I now have a $375 deductible. I've had this plan for 7 years and this is the first year it carried a deductible Meaning I have to pay full price before their crappy tier 3 kicks in. Last year this plan came out ahead by $361.35. Apparently that's not good enough.

So in other words this plan which will cost me $381 this year will now cost me $756 before they even kick in a nickel. I only need one prescription for my emergency inhaler which I keep on hand if I need it. Last year I still at 20 doses left when it expired.

Damned If You Do. Damned If You Don't
Yeah I know what could happen if I dropped it, but it still doesn't diminish the fact this company net profited almost $2,000 off me over the last 6 years for the 6 inhalers I largely paid for myself To top it off they are owned by the pharmacy I go to. In other words they paid themselves. This while I assumed the larger retail cost then they paid wholesale (even without the prior deductibles). So in other words on this particular inhaler they made money coming and going and are looking to make another $375 on top of that. What a racket!

Medicare and my Medigap insurance plan paid a hellva lot of money for my other prescriptions to this pharmacy. And I do mean a hellva lot of money. With the money their pulling in on me alone they could give me a dozen free inhalers a year and still have several thousands of dollars left over. Trust me I'm not exaggerating. I kept track of the figures which proves it.

Before we even consider Medicare-For-All we need to reign in all the costs. Pharmacies, insurance companies, drug manufactures and providers all have a good thing going. Unless we get these costs under control first Medicare-For-All will be impossible to afford. So let's start there. Piece by piece getting these costs under control. If we do there may be no need for Medicare-For-All in the end. Every politician should be campaigning on containment costs before they even dare speak of any other kind of reforms. Now there's something I think we all could support.

Couple Quick Facts
In 2017 U.S. healthcare spending was $3.5 trillion. Another couple of billion each year is spent by taxpayers for drug research with almost half of it benefiting drug manufacturers.

President's Latest Tax Cut Plan

From the "Been there. Done that" department....

Ronald Reagan exploded the deficit via tax cuts. he also realized his mistake, and subsequently RAISED taxes six times, though never high enough to repair the damage. also, Reagan is churning in his urn right now at the thought of what his beloved Republican party has become

— Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) March 10, 2020

The old tax cut trick. It won’t get you out of your cover up mess. #Trumpdemic pic.twitter.com/878TNKIcaG

— Hoodlum 🇺🇸 (@HoodlumRIP) March 10, 2020

^ ^ Obama- DNC Convention 2012 ^ ^

Requiem For The American Dream

I'm quite certain 99% of my readers won't take the time, but they most definitely should. Although this documentary came out in 2016 it is just as relative today as it ever was. Perhaps even more now so then it was four years ago considering the millionaires and billionaires who now have become congress members. Not to mention Trump's wealth as well as each of these future presidential candidates along with the many super wealthy appointees Trump has put in charges of our agencies. Kind of makes we wonder how Noam Chomsky's hypothesis could be anything other then correct. See what you think. REQUIEM FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM is the definitive discourse with Noam Chomsky, widely regarded as the most important intellectual alive, on the defining characteristic of our time - the deliberate concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a select few.

Through interviews filmed over four years, Chomsky unpacks the principles that have brought us to the crossroads of historically unprecedented inequality - tracing a half-century of policies designed to favor the most wealthy at the expense of the majority - while also looking back on his own life of activism and political participation. Profoundly personal and thought provoking, Chomsky provides penetrating insight into what may well be the lasting legacy of our time - the death of the middle class and swan song of functioning democracy.

A potent reminder that power ultimately rests in the hands of the governed, REQUIEM is required viewing for all who maintain hope in a shared stake in the future.

Tommy Zito Performed LIVE- Smile That Lights Up A Room

Without a doubt one of the finest performers in the Lehigh Valley is Tommy Zito. Last Tuesday (03/03/2020) 'ROCKING THE VALLEY' on it's one hour webcast featured Tommy Zito at The 'Hava Java' coffee shop on North 19th Street. It was one of those very rare times Tommy sang a song he composed. It was heart rendering.



If your interested watching the entire Tommy Zito performance THE VIDEO CAN BE FOUND HERE along with dozens of his other past appearances.

If you're not familiar with Tommy 'Rocking The Valley' posted his bio. IT CAN BE FOUND HERE

HERE IS A LIST OF HIS UPCOMING APPEARANCES

Why New Diseases Keep Appearing In China

After watching the video I can understand now the importance of restaurant inspections. Especially when it come to the food preparation area. How food must be refrigerated and stored in the proper order inside the cooler.

For a number of years I've been following Margaret Fabrizio. She an elderly retired educator from Stanford University Despite her age Margaret travels every year for about a month to a single country. On March 03, 2020 she sent this video back from Nairobi, Kenya of...

the Nairobi slums

After seeing how some people live in the world it makes me wonder why there aren't more pandemics. I also count my blessing I was born here rather then these other places. I feel for them since it was through no fault of their own

If there's a lesson to be learned from the Coronavirus, for better or worse, we're all connected one way or another with each other. Such is our fate.

Social Security Cuts No Matter Who Gets Elected

Except if Bernie manages to get elected. He always fought for Social Security. Obama/Biden haven't. Same goes for Donald Trump.

2012

Obama relented and dropped the idea.
(May be gone but not forgotten)



The point is.. rather then personalize either Biden or Sanders try to stay focused on the issues they espouse. Which of the two has always stood for what they are now saying? One thing I can assure you, if either Trump or Biden manages to get elected you can kiss Social Security goodbye as we now know it.

2017


February 2020

Found Myself In The Mood For Some Jugband

The Perch Creek Family Jugband - Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2012









2009

You never know what you're going to find

I told you folks before I have a wide range of interests.

Like it says above, A Blog About Anything & Everything

A Hodgepodge Of This And That (03/04/2020)

One of the thoughts I have on my mind over the last few days was about people commenting. All too often it comes from a place of unknowingness. I find it increasingly hard to fathom why this is.

In my younger days I had only a few places to go to get the information I seek. It was either go to the library or if lucky enough to look for whatever I was seeking up in the encyclopedias we had at home. Or if really lazy just call the reference desk at the library and wait for an answer. With today's smartphones, personal computers or with these "virtual assistants" (SIRI) there is no excuse for some of these folks being so ridiculously misinformed as some of these comments indicate.

I realize I should be more patient but it makes me wonder if society is becoming intellectually lazy or just those who are prone to leave comments.


In response to the feared coronavirus handshake AOC came up with this...

One practice I’ve used in no-hand shake situations is to put my hand over my heart and smile/nod at whomever I am greeting. (Shout out to our local NY14 faith communities for teaching me this!)

What’s your favorite handshake greeting alternative? https://t.co/xY1rXBjFZ0

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 3, 2020

It seems conservatives everywhere (including Trump's tweets) are concerned Bernie Sanders is getting a raw deal by the democratic party. Could it be they are trying to sow chaos within their opposing party? Why? Are that troubled by having to run against Joe Biden?

Will former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh be headed to 'Camp Cupcake' or 'Club Fed'? Here's a run down on what prison will likely look like for the city's former top exec https://t.co/TaE2ZnD7B0

— Emily Opilo (@emilyopilo) February 27, 2020

Looks like Emily left Allentown's story of corruption behind only to find another where she went. Call it job security if you will. :-)


The other day in one of my comments I used the expression, "the whole 9 yards". This caused me to wonder where the expression came from. Well here it is...

Consider this my gift to the world:

Here are the daily/Sunday circulations of the largest newspapers in the United States — information that is surprisingly difficult to find online!

These are all the papers with daily circulation of at least 75,000: pic.twitter.com/G0WbQiIYTP

— Joshua Benton (@jbenton) March 3, 2020

I notice if you add them all up there are more newspaper subscribers then viewers of the three major cable news channels combined.

‘If you want to surround yourself with people that only think like you do, we are in deep trouble’ — Country singer Garth Brooks called for civility amid political division during this talk pic.twitter.com/WTWWMNfGyu

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) March 4, 2020

Undocumented Immigrants Legal Options

In light of the recent arrest of an undocumented immigrant in the Northampton County courthouse I want to post the following information. I'm doing so because I've never seen so many misinformed ignorant comments. It as if no one has access to 'Google' before opening their trap. I find it disappointing there are so many intellectually lazy people Rather then endlessly fact checking each of them, the following video answers almost half the questions people raised.


Immigration Enforcement At Courthouses
A resource for attorneys

No ICE Arrests In Courthouses Without Judicial Warrants, N.Y. Court Directive Says
The directive requires ICE agents to show a federal judicial warrant or order to a New York judge or court attorney before the arrest.

Does ICE Have Unlimited Authority To Make Courthouse Arrests?

The Chilling Effect of ICE Courthouse Arrests


Where I Stand
Some argue states and local governments should respect federal laws without question. Would these same people support the federal government enforcing it's marijuana laws by raiding and shutting down every dispensary various states now approve of? If the DEA can take a reasonable approach why can't ICE at least attempt to be more cooperative?

Then there's those hard asses who stubbornly argue, WELL, IT'S THE LAW. Anyone familiar with the storyline in Les Misérables? In it Jean Valjean is relentless pursued throughout his entire life for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his hungry family. No matter how well a father, businessman or citizen he became there was no forgiveness to be found. in the eyes of THE LAW he was a criminal period! Had Valijean been imprisoned no one he came in contact with would ever benefited by it. Nor any safer because of it. Laws need to be tempered against the harshness they may impose not only on the person themself but on others who are intertwined with their lives.

I've argued throughout my life we can't have people pouring across the border endlessly. Especially if they are coming here looking for a free ride. If everybody did our boat would sink. BUT still there are those others. People who've managed to make something of themselves and kept their nose clean (like Jean Valjean). The DREAM ACT was one such program which took into consideration such things. I've seen various stories and videos where rather being a burden were just the opposite. Let us consider each person's story carefully before we throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Under Obama's DACA Program

Catholic Agency Objects To Gay Foster Care

Sentinel Source
Supreme Court agrees to hear case of religion vs. gay rights over foster care"he Supreme Court said Monday it would decide another clash between religion and gay rights, this time involving Philadelphia's termination of a contract with Catholic Social Services over the group's refusal to place foster children with same-sex couples.

The court agreed to hear an appeal arguing that excluding the Catholic agency from the city's program violated the First Amendment and its protection for the "free exercise" of religion."

My husband & I have been raising kids for 27 years. Our eldest came to us when he was almost 3. His mom OD’d & his dad went to jail. There was no one to take care of this little boy, so we did. When you discriminate against LGBTQ couples, you deprive kids like mine of good homes. pic.twitter.com/n7d8VRAwnB

— Sean Patrick Maloney (@RepSeanMaloney) February 27, 2020

It appears to me the catholic church, in more ways then one, has a gay problem.

In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.

The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:

___________________________________________________________________

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations.

A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24.

The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9.

The problem is my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death.

Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your adoring fan.

James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education University of Virginia

(It would be a damn shame if we couldn't own a Canadian)

Lehigh Valley Live Discontinued Comments On Their Website BUT...

LEHIGH VALLEY LIVE ON FACEBOOK is more robust then they ever were. Not only a greater number but the quality of comments has improved. It looks like they made the right choice.

Politics Till You Puke

Friday I finally had it up to my ears with politics. I called my cable company to reduce my TV account to 'economy basic'. Since I can't resist clicking more then a few times to cable news this eliminates those channels. Alas my desire to eliminate politics has still gone unfilled. I had no idea how much politics has taken over the airwaves. It permeates local channels and evening news as well. Now I find out Bloomberg bought a 3 minute spot on prime time in the middle of the program we watch entitled 'God Friended Me'. Are you freakin' kidding me.. GO AWAY!

Is it any wonder why Americans have become addicted into interpreting everything that happens has something to do with politics. We're being indoctrinated and becoming infused to the point where it's almost become an inescapable mental disease. I, for one, will try very hard to escape what's become a fixation in this country. Starting here and now this blog will no longer promote such, It's not healthy. I now realize how much politics had occupied my mind. I urge my readers to self reflect as well. This needs to change. That is why my last post focused on Freddie Mercury and Queen as this post will now do as well. Free yourself for the next hour and a half and see if you feel better after it's done then you would fixated on the Coronavirus or all the other bullshit relentlessly coming across on the airwaves every damn minute of the day.

Queen Live at Milton Keynes, June of 1982

The Late Great Freddie Mercury

I was always a fan of his... now even more so.





Live at Ku Club Ibiza, 1987









The only other singer that can even come close...



Ye gads will there ever be another group coming up this great?