Kristin Chenoweth - I Didn't (AOL Sessions)

2011

Amateur Hour - Sparks | The Midnight Special

November 15, 1974

I saw these guys at the 'Roxy Theater' in Northampton way back when.

ID Theft Tips

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1. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED" in the signature space.

3. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check-processing channels will not have access to it.

4. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks, (DUH!). You can add it if it is necessary. However, if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Also carry a photocopy of your passport when traveling either here or abroad. We have all heard horror stories about fraud that is committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards, etc.

6. When you check out of a hotel that uses cards for keys (and they all seem to do that now), do not turn the "keys" in. Take them with you and destroy them. Those little cards have on them all of the information you gave the hotel, including address and credit card numbers and expiration dates. Someone with a card reader, or employee of the hotel, can access all that information with no problem whatsoever.

- - - - -

Here is some critical information to limit the damage in case ID theft happens to you or someone you know:

1. You should cancel your credit cards immediately. The key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). However, here is what is perhaps most important of all.

3. Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security Number. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

Here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet and contents being stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Slaveowners Got Reparations

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New York Times
When Slaveowners Got Reparations"On April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill emancipating enslaved people in Washington, the end of a long struggle. But to ease slaveowners’ pain, the District of Columbia Emancipation Act paid those loyal to the Union up to $300 for every enslaved person freed."... Enslaved African-Americans got nothing..

I wasn't aware of this. Musta slept through that day's history class.

Historical Video: Regulation Will Destroy Capitalism

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Richard Whitney, President of the N.Y Stock Exchange, warns the risks to capitalism by government regulators because of the the National Securities Exchange Act.

Almost 4 years before he was sent to Sing Sing for embezzlement.

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Common Sense Test

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Most of them seem like trick questions to me.
Course it may seem they are only because I may be lacking common sense :-)
Let's see how well you do.



Hard to believe I once passed an Army intelligence test. Course they were looking for suckers volunteers to snoop out where Vietcong troops were hiding in those days. Fortunately they gave me this test before I signed the enlistment papers. The way I figured it future wouldn't be looking bright after taking that test if I went ahead with it. Especially since they said I'd most likely become a radio operator which goes along with that. I decided instead to take my chances and wait out the lottery drawings for the draft. Turned out my number was 265. The list that year stopped at 150. I've been losing lottery drawings ever since, but still consider myself fortunate. So many of my friends from high school were not :-(

A bit of a weird story. One of the guys at work was a radio operator during Vietnam. He had a second guy who would always go with him on advance patrol. He said the radio batteries were so damn heavy to carry in the hot jungles so he took them out of his radio to make his load lighter. Then one day they came under attack. He jumped to one side of the path while his companion (carrying the much needed extra batteries) jumped to the other. After some arguing he said toss me your batteries. They other guy replied, what batteries? I thought you had them in your radio. He said no, I left them on the chopper. Turns out so did this other guy. Oh shit. Several days later they came across some Marines having lunch. When they weren't looking he took one set of theirs so he wouldn't get disciplined praying he wouldn't run into them again.

Useful Pi Information You Can Use For Your Calculations

Pi's more common number is, 3.1415

Pi is unique because it never reaches a conclusion of exactness no matter how far you calculate it.

I'm not going to pretend to have a handle on this. However The New York Times had this good write up a few years ago .



For those more a stickler for details...3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510582097494459230781640628620899862803482534211706798214808651328230664709384460955058223172535940812848111745028410270193852110555964462294895493038196442881097566593344612847564823378678316527120190914564856692346034861045432664821339360726024914127372458700660631558817488152092096282925409171536436789259036001133053054882046652138414695194151160943305727036575959195309218611738193261179310511854807446237996274956735188575272489122793818301194912983367336244065664308602139494639522473719070217986094370277053921717629317675238467481846766940513200056812714526356082778577134275778960917363717872146844090122495343014654958537105079227968925892354201995611212902196086403441815981362977477130996051870721134999999837297804995105973173281609631859502445945534690830264252230825334468503526193118817101000313783875288658753320838142061717766914730359825349042875546873115956286388235378759375195778185778053217122680661300192787661119590921642019893809525720106548586327886593615338182796823030195203530185296899577362259941389124972177528347913151557485724245415069595082953311686172785588907509838175463746493931925506040092770167113900984882401285836160356370766010471018194295559619894676783744944825537977472684710404753464620804668425906949129331367702898915210475216205696602405803815019351125338243003558764024749647326391419927260426992279678235478163600934172164121992458631503028618297455570674983850549458858692699569092721079750930295532116534498720275596023648066549911988183479775356636980742654252786255181841757467289097777279380008164706001614524919217321721477235014144197356854816136115735255213347574184946843852332390739414333454776241686251898356948556209921922218427255025425688767179049460165346680498862723279178608578438382796797668145410095388378636095068006422512520511739298489608412848862694560424196528502221066118630674427862203919494504712371378696095636437191728746776465757396241389086583264599581339047802759009946576407895126946839835259570982582262052248940772671947826848260147699090264013639443745530506820349625245174939965143142980919065925093722169646151570985838741059788595977297549893016175392846813826868386894277415599185592524595395943104997252468084598727364469584865383673622262609912460805124388439045124413654976278079771569143599770012961608944169486855584840635342207222582848864815845602850601684273945226746767889525213852254995466672782398645659611635488623057745649803559363456817432411251507606947945109659609402522887971089314566913686722874894056010150330861792868092087476091782493858900971490967598526136554978189312978482168299894872265880485756401427047755513237964145152374623436454285844479526586782105114135473573952311342716610213596953623144295248493718711014576540359027993440374200731057853906219838744780847848968332144571386875194350643021845319104848100537061468067491927819119793995206141966342875444064374512371819217999839101591956181467514269123974894090718649423196156794520809514655022523160388193014209376213785595663893778708303906979207734672218256259966150142150306803844773454920260541466592520149744285073251866600213243408819071048633173464965145390579626856100550810665879699816357473638405257145910289706414011097120628043903975951567715770042033786993600723055876317635942187312514712053292819182618612586732157919841484882916447060957527069572209175671167229109816909152801735067127485832228718352093539657251210835791513698820914442100675103346711031412671113699086585163983150197016515116851714376576183515565088490998985998238734552833163550764791853589322618548963213293308985706420467525907091548141654985946163718027098199430992448895757128289059232332609729971208443357326548938239119325974636673058360414281388303203824903758985243744170291327656180937734440307074692112019130203303801976211011004492932151608424448596376698389522868478312355265821314495768572624334418930396864262434107732269780280731891544110104468232527162010526522721116603966655730925471105578537634668206531098965269186205647693125705863566201855810072936065987648611791045334885034611365768675324944166803962657978771855608455296541266540853061434443185867697514566140680070023787765913440171274947042056223053899456131407112700040785473326993908145466464588079727082668306343285878569830523580893306575740679545716377525420211495576158140025012622859413021647155097925923099079654737612551765675135751782966645477917450112996148903046399471329621073404375189573596145890193897131117904297828564750320319869151402870808599048010941214722131794764777262241425485454033215718530614228813758504306332175182979866223717215916077166925474873898665494945011465406284336639379003976926567214638530673609657120918076383271664162748888007869256029022847210403172118608204190004229661711963779213375751149595015660496318629472654736425230817703675159067350235072835405670403867435136222247715891504953098444893330963408780769325993978054193414473774418426312986080998886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23172763163218339896938075616855911752998450132067129392404144593862398809381240452191484831646210147389182510109096773869066404158973610476436500068077105656718486281496371118832192445663945814491486165500495676982690308911185687986929470513524816091743243015383684707292898982846022237301452655679898627767968091469798378268764311598832109043715611299766521539635464420869197567370005738764978437686287681792497469438427465256316323005551304174227341646455127812784577772457520386543754282825671412885834544435132562054464241011037955464190581168623059644769587054072141985212106734332410756767575818456990693046047522770167005684543969234041711089888993416350585157887353430815520811772071880379104046983069578685473937656433631979786803671873079693924236321448450354776315670255390065423117920153464977929066241508328858395290542637687668968805033317227800185885069736232403894700471897619347344308437443759925034178807972235859134245813144049847701732361694719765715353197754997162785663119046912609182591...and on and on, etc, etc and so forth...


Still Confused?
Maybe this music video will help


I'm certain a lot of people may doubt my numbers. I'd really appreciate someone doing the math to verify my accuracy. Here's an excellent site that provides several formulas for calculating Pi

Please get back to me when you're done.
     Thanks & you're welcome :-)

Ernest Hemmingway

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Pulitzer Prize winning author, Ernest Hemmingway was quite a character. He had four wives. He was an avid fisherman and went on a safari in Africa which nearly killed him when his plane crashed. He had permanent residences in Cuba and Key West, Florida.

My interest in Hemmingway was aroused when we toured his home in Key West. The tour guides weren't stuffy and seemed to share pretty much the ironic stories that made this man unique.

As you tour his house in Key West you will come across a garden with a beautiful china basin filled with water in which many dozens of cats drink from. Well it turns out it actually is the urinal from the first 'Sloppy Joe's Bar'. He took it home for his garden.

The other story involves the pool. His second wife Pauline, whom he married in 1927, had it built as a surprise for him when he returned home. None the too pleased he admonished her spending habits. He declared that she might as well take every cent he has. Supposedly Ernest took a penny from his pocket and handed to her.

If you tour the home today you will see that very penny now embedded in the concrete around the pool. Pauline had put it there as a bit of spiteful humor for his lack of gratefulness.

If you ever get down to Key West, a tour his home is a must.

Video Courtesy mkayreagan

In 1959 he moved to Ketchum, Idaho where he committed suicide less then two years later in 1961.

Easter Reminds Me Of Our Greatest Loss

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If we had a second chance would things turn out differently?

While many celebrate Jesus's resurrection as a day of joy I find only sadness for what could have been. Sadness for what still remains in this world in how we treat one another.

Fäaschtbänkler - Humpa Humpa

Repost

Check back often. Better yet subscribe. You never know what you'll find next on this blog. Entertainment, science, technology, humor, everything in between and more.

Before you leave check out my other posts.

All too many times people arrive here seeking out a single post from whatever link led them here never taking the time to look at my other stuff. Some of these other posts might interest you as well.

Soldiers Are Willing To Die For Their Country

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However notice how few are ever quoted as saying they are willing to kill for their country?

All battles come from hell

It changes people on both sides forever.

Is Your Router A Public WiFi Hotspot?

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Everyone should check their router to be sure they are password protected. When I look at my mobile devices two wireless networks come up besides my own. One is the neighbor's to my left. The other to my right. Fortunately they both are password protected. Is yours?

By password I don't mean the factory default password. Everyone knows those.
Don't Allow Yourself To Become Your Neighbor's Hotspot
Intruders can do all kinds of legal and illegal stuff. Eat up massive amounts of bandwidth charged to your account which also slows down your connections. All of which appears as you are the responsible one doing whatever they actually are. Even having access to anything shared on your computer within your own personal network.

Why would a neighbor pay for internet access if your providing one free to them?
Here's how to create a password.
(1) Open your internet browser.
(2) Type in the URL address http://192.168.0.1 << This is the one most routers use & login.
(3) From there I cannot help you as each router may be different. In my case they call it 'pre-shared key' under the manual wireless settings. If you don't know how, pay or get a trusted someone's help.

'Smartphones' are able to connect to WiFi as a alternative connection

Earth Lives Don't Mean Squat In The Big Picture

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This is for all you religious types who think some old guy is sitting on a throne judging and worrying about what happens on this single planet every hour compared to it's overall micro existence in time.


I may not know how this all works. I am certain however mankind is extremely egotistical thinking our existence matters one way or the other to the universe as a whole. We should focus all our energy on sustaining one another in every way possible rather then at each other's throats for whatever short time we have been allotted.

It's apparent the universe in the past has gotten (and will continue to get) along perfectly fine with or without us.

Was Virgin Mary Sexually Assaulted By God?

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If so--does this mean God gets a pass?

"Nobody is going to believe you anyway."
Looks like this has always been a problem for women.
Why start now?

Check back often. Better yet subscribe. You never know what you'll find next on this blog. Entertainment, science, technology, humor, everything in between and more.

Before you leave check out my other posts.

All too many times people arrive here seeking out a single post from whatever link led them here never taking the time to look at my other stuff. Some of these other posts might interest you as well.

Hard To Believe There Was Once A Time...

Repost

Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Harry Reid proposed renaming part of a bipartisan bill to speed government approvals of drugs and increase medical research after the vice president’s son Beau Biden, who died of cancer.

December 2016

NOTE: This was passed and approved before Donald came into office.
(Although he likes to take credit for such things)

Academy Award Winner Kevin Spacey Addresses the Oxford Union

ABOUT THE OXFORD UNION SOCIETY: The Oxford Union is the world's most prestigious debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford. Since 1823, the Union has been promoting debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe.

January 2026

80's Music Can't Be Revived. Neither Can These Performers

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Civics Lessons No Longer Being Taught?

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There can be no better example of failure by the American schools then that when comes to teaching civics classes. Apparently most of the people in United States (including it's politicians) have little clue how voting works. It seems nearly everyone believes in instant results This is especially true of our paranoid president who has the impression there is some sort of con going on if all the results are not made official with 24 hours.

Hopefully these two links will help educate some folks who never paid attention in Civics Class, never had one, missed a semester in high school or dropped out before 9th grade.

Why it takes so long to get election night results

Kicking civics out of class and taking it to the streets

IN SUMMARY
Vote tabulators from one end of this country to the other are not in on some giant scheme to defraud voters. Frankly it takes a sick mind to think all these people are reprehensible and untrustworthy as some of the candidates they're required to certify for office.

To my way of thinking there are two kinds of people bitching when it comes to this vote counting controversy. Those who are guilty themselves of what they claim others to be. The other too dumb to know any better.

5% Of Plastics Were Recycled

Repost From 2022

huffpost.com
Just 5% Of Plastics Were Recycled In The U.S. Last Year, And Things Are Only Getting Worse "The study estimates the U.S. produced about 51 million tons of plastic waste in 2021, but just 2.4 million tons of that was reprocessed."

It's time to get real.
Most paper and glass is not recycled either. Other then plain brown corrugated cardboard and aluminum cans need be put out by American households. Everything else is needlessly costing our cities and we taxpayers unnecessary expenses.

The alternative is require manufacturers to use only one type of plastic. Since this is never going to happen why not face the truth. Recycling has become a feel good nothingburger costing more then it's worth. One which is doing little to improve the environment.

Does anyone for one moment believe a bunch of workers are checking out the numbers on each piece of plastic they receive as it speeds past them on a belt.

I mean, come on, get real!

One Lawyer's View On Philanthropy

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The United Way realized that it had never received a donation from the city's most successful lawyer. So a United Way volunteer paid the lawyer a visit in his lavish office.

The volunteer opened the meeting by saying, 'Our research shows that even though your annual income is over two million dollars, you don't give a penny to charity. Wouldn't you like to give something back to your community through the United Way ?'

The lawyer thinks for a minute and says, 'First, did your research also show you that my mother is dying after a long, painful illness and she has huge medical bills that are far beyond her ability to pay?'

Embarrassed, the United Way rep mumbles, 'Uh... no, I didn't know that.'

'Secondly,' says the lawyer, ' did it show that my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair and is unable to support his wife and six children?

The stricken United Way rep begins to stammer an apology, but is cut off again. 'Thirdly, did your research also show you that my sister's husband died in a dreadful car accident, leaving Her penniless with a mortgage and three children, one of whom is disabled and another that has learning disabilities requiring an array of private tutors?'

The humiliated United Way rep, completely beaten, says, 'I'm so sorry. I had no idea.'

And the lawyer says, 'So, if I didn't give a dime to any of them, what makes you think I'd even give a penny to you?

The Working Dead

A repost from Novwmbwr 2016

While many schlep to work everyday trying to eek out a few bucks some who have assumed room temperature long ago are making out much better.

According to 'Forbes' MJ grossed more then $1b since his death 6 years ago ($115m in 2014 alone). Elvis earned more since he died then the sum total of all he earned while still alive.

The article details 11 others who are doing quite well during their dirt naps.

Sure does make you wonder how it is dead people can earn vast amount$ more money then working stiffs doesn't it?

Was The United States Faking It's Wealth?

America Had No Income Tax Until 1913 — This Is How Government Got Paid Before That

I've often said there is no such thing as money. If one accepts gold, a piece of paper or beads for trade things will move along just fine. Wealth is all in one's imagination. God didn't designate some value to an object, that's for sure. So did the United States fake it in the begining? Are they still faking it now?

As long as we have faith in some object of value in one or another thing life will move along just fine. If not... POOF!

Phrases You Don't Hear Anymore

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Be sure to refill the ice trays, we're going to have company.

Watch for the postman, I want to get this letter in the mail today.

Quit slamming the screen door when you go out !

Don't forget to wind your clock before bed.

Don't you go outside with your school clothes on.

Take that empty bottle to the store so you won't have to pay deposit.

Quit jumping on the floor, I have a cake in the oven.

Let me know when the Fuller Brush man comes by.

Don't lose that button; I won't be able to sew it back on.

Soak your foot in this pan of kerosene so it doesn't get infected.

Hurry up and finish drying the dishes.

I'm going out and compression start the car.

I have to take the wash off the line before we leave.

I'm running out of fresh boiled diapers.

Why would I need a phone in my bedroom?

Don't forget to leave a note for the milkman.

The car needs to get it's points adjusted.

Isn't a skateboard nothing more then a scooter with a broken handle?

I just met the cutest 'soda jerk'.

Got to go and boil some baby bottles.

Socks need darning.

TV's acting up. I'm going down to the store's tube tester.

The coal bin is almost empty.

The record player needs a new needle.

I ran out of carbon paper.

The 8 track mangled the tape.. AGAIN !

I got that information on my 'rolodex'.

The Mimeograph needs more stencils

The handle is broke on the office adding machine.

Encyclopedia salesman is at the door.

Insurance man is here for this month's payment.

Check the oil. Give me $2 worth of gas.

I'm taking the toaster down to the fix-it shop.

What's 'revolving credit'?

Hospital says there's no smoking near the oxygen tent.

When cigarettes go to 35¢ I'm quitting!

Try pumping it & pull the choke out.

Use the electric plug in the floor.

Where's the # key on my rotary?

Beer delivery man is here !

Did you hear, the soda's machine is going up to 25¢?

With cable TV you can now get 12 channels !

HiFi Stereo.. wow !

Which should I buy.. VHS or Betamax?

Why should I put 'siding' on my house?

Triple track windows are the way to go !

The push mower needs sharpening

The ash man comes on Tuesdays.

The wringers are shot on my washing machine.

My dungarees need patching.

Doctor says we can pay him next time he comes to the house.

A Different Kind Of "Dancing Queen" (Music Video)

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They say, "There's more than one way to crack a nut". The same goes for different musical arrangements. A great composition is always a great composition no matter how it's rearranged if done right.

1st Studio Recording Of "Me & Bobby McGee" Janis Joplin

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That's some damn fine singing. All done without echo, equalizers, instrumental back tracks, chorus vocal backup, pitch adjustment or 'auto tune' equipment. Today there's so much processina
It's a shame we don't get to hear more of these (not only hers) that were left on recording studios floors.

July 18, 1969

How Not To Drive In The New Roundabouts

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Well it's Eastern Kentucky. What did you expect?

Could be worse I suppose. Here's the Arc de Triomphe, Paris

Fox Sounds Like Screaming Woman

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I saw this on one of the social media sites. A Allentown woman thought she heard a woman screaming in her yard at 3:30 AM. Before she reported this to the police she asked if anyone else heard it. One of the comments left pointed her in this direction...


Wow, I didn't know that.


Apparently I was misled..

Tips 4 Men Shopping With Women

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Face it, when it comes to shopping with the wife or girlfriend it's like oil trying to mix with water. For most men tagging along while their wife or girlfriend shops can be like going to a NASCAR race without the cars. Men like to dash, grab & go. After all, we all know how a man's time is more valuably spent drinking beer in front of the TV then frittering it away in some frilly store. Besides, 90% of the crap is geared towards women anyway!

The electronics department: This is where disenfranchised omega males gather. You'll see multiples of them gathered in front of big screen televisions. It is here they find comradery with one another's longsuffering. It is as if it were some sort of waiting room for those hoping to escape from eternal boredom.

As I public service I offer this little primer on how to make the experience a little more pleasant. Here are a few alternate suggestions in lieu of heading to the electronics department with the rest of the Buffalo. If you're really successful, who knows you just might be excluded from future shopping safaris invites from the little lady.* Take 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's carts when they weren't looking.

* Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

* Make a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom

* Go to the Service Desk and try and put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.

* Hide in a clothing rack and when people browse through, yell 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'

* When an announcement comes over the loud speaker assume a fetal position and scream, 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'

* Take a box of condoms to the checkout clerk and ask, where is the fitting room?

* Go into a fitting room, shut the door. Wait awhile, then yell loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here.'

Species Bias With Neil deGrasse Tyson

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A lot to think about.

In short the most important species to humans are themselves. Wonder if the creator of all things would feel the same way if forced to choose who stays and who goes? Does this creator even have a preference?

What we have in common with all other species is the will to survive. Though  it could come at the expense to another. This is a built in conflict which cannot be undone within the imperfect world all are forced to live in together.

Each species is interdependent on another in some way.

Sometimes to the determent of the other.

Not too sure I'm fond of the system.

Cheers :-)

Highway Safety Stop

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(It Didn't Go Well)

101st Army Dixieland Band, "Tiger Rag"

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I don't see how anyone could perform it better.

The 70's- Were Rock's Most Productive Years

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I don't think there will be another like it. Well, except maybe for the 80's which wasn't too shabby either :-)

Shortly after this era MTV fired their VJs ending their 24 hour music video programing. Since that time music has never been the same. :-(

Civility

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Short. Sweet. To The Point

Plate Tectonics Key To Sustaining Life (Maybe)

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Seems the Earth has a somewhat crude way of trying to sustain life. Question is how well is this self repairing mechanism able to perform it's task with human influence constantly altering the air, land and water?

We constantly remove dangerous materials safely stored underground away from us bringing them to the surface. Then modify them into many different forms in which the Earth may not have the ability to cope with.

My belief is Earth can sustain only a certain number of animals, plants and people. Less of each means less consumption. Over population of any one of those or all three is something the Earth's self repairing system may not be able to handle. In other words when too much occurs too fast the Earth isn't capable of keeping up with the burdens placed on it.

Some Funny Photos

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The GOP Has Always Overhyped Socialism

Reposted From 2023


Like I said the GOP has a strange view of what socialsm is. Here's a couple of campaign buttons from years past.

Posted Sept. 02, 2015

Microsoft: Who'd Thunk It?

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Amazing 5 Year Old Plays "My Way" On A Piano

To be truthful I'm not sure this isn't a AI generated fake (as I suspect)

2014 BBC Proms- A sing along Mary Poppins Medley

When "The Voice" TV Show Coaches Sang

What Political Candidates Are Really Thinking

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The Late Pat Paulsen Said..

Nuttin' Much Changed Did It?

Take The New H.S. Exit Exam

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New High School Exit Exam.

* You only need 4 correct out of 10 questions to pass.1) How long did the Hundred Years' War last?

2) Which country makes Panama hats?

3) From which animal do we get cat gut?

4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?

5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?

6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?

7) What was King George VI's first name?

8) What color is a purple finch?

9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?

10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?

Remember, you need only 4 correct answers to pass.


Check your ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ

1) How long did the Hundred Years War last? 116 years
2) Which country makes Panama hats? Ecuador
3) From which animal do we get cat gut? Sheep and Horses
4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? November
5) What is a camel's hair brush made of? Squirrel fur
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal? A species of dogs
7) What was King George VI's first name? Albert
8) What color is a purple finch? Crimson
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from? New Zealand
10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane? Orange (of course)

What do you mean, you failed?
Me, too.
(And if you try to tell me you passed, you LIED!)

Pass this on to some brilliant friends, so they may feel useless too.

Another Thing Solar Panels Have Going For Them

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Graphic Courtesy Of-- 'One Block Off The Grid'

Whenever solar reflector arrays, nuclear materials, biomass or fossil fuels are used to make electricity, they all have one thing in common. They rely on steam turbines that require lots and lots of water. Several of these fuels further rely on vast amounts of water for the extraction of them in the first place. We all know how much water drillers use fracking. Each of the coal fired power generators can leave behind 100's of tons of sludge waste as well.

As population grows there's an ever increasing need for water coupled along with the alarming lack of it for Midwest farmers. It makes little sense not committing to solar panels in supplying our future electrical needs which is water free just as soon as practically possible.

Water should not be the only reason..
All fossil fuels create varying levels of pollution in both the extraction and the combustion of them. There's also the safety aspects in transporting fuels to get them there in the first place. In most cases across rail and pipeline. With nuclear materials there are even greater hazards then those associated with fossil fuels. It's not just getting nuclear material to a generating station alone. Spent radioactive waste has to be transported and stored for up to 10,000 years before it's considered safe.

The question we should be asking ourselves is not whether we should convert to solar energy, but rather.. when?

Like The IRS To Bill You?

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The New York Times is asking, Would You Let the I.R.S. Prepare Your Taxes?

Why not?
We already get itemized bills for our phones, cable, hospital bills and a whole host of others. I'm warm to the idea as long as it's optional and not compulsory.

The IRS has all the information already. All we're doing to re-entering what the IRS already knows. The only thing we have a say in is how we wish to take advantage of the available reductions. In my case, like the vast majority of us, I end up taking the standard deductions anyway. It always has beat out those when I try itemizing everything. As such it turns out a waste of my time and the $76.30 I spent this year with the tax preparation software I used. Besides, if I make a error it could cost me a penalty.

Maybe this won't work for businesses so well, but I believe for most Americans having the IRS billing us would work out just fine.

As for the paranoid who walk among us who don't trust the IRS I'd ask this. Who do you trust more with all yours financial details. Some third party accountant, an online service or the government which is going to scrutinize and go over the filings anyway with all the information they already are privy to?

So yeah I kinda like the idea. I'd like Pennsylvania to do this as well.

I Don't Mean To Brag, But...

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A History Primer On Cuba

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All the chatter about how Fidel & his brother are evil dictators doesn't take in account the overall history of Cuba. They had it far worse then they do now under these two. Let's put a little perspective on this by taking a brief look over the history of Cuba and how the Cuban people always seem to get the short end of the stick no matter who rules the joint.

Going back to 1492 when Christopher Columbus's three ships landed things really started to go downhill for the Cuban people. Columbus claimed the island for Spain. Cubans finally had enough and began fighting against Spain in 1895. Spain sent around 200,000 troops who overwhelmed the population rounded them up and put them into "reconcentrados" which were similar to concentration camps. The Red Cross estimated between 200,000-400,000 Cubans died while in these camps from disease and starvation.

By 1898 the United States Spainish-American war ended. Spain then sold the Philippines, Guam and Cuba to the United States for a sum of $20 million. Then in 1902 Cuba became a independent country. There were too many clashes and uprisings to mention here in this brief highlight. Suffice it to say Fulgencio Batista ended up being elected President in 1940. After being defeated for second term (1944) he came to the United States only to return to Cuba to become it's dictator for seven years (1952-1959) until Fidel's Cuban Revolution..

Yeah Sure He's A Dictator, But He's Our DictatorLife Under Batista's Cuba became a police state when he returned in 1952. Nearly all the Cuban liberties were taken away under his corrupt regime. He aligned himself with the American Mafia bosses (Meyer Lansky and Lucky Luciano). Prostitution, gambling and drugs like marijuana or cocaine were as easy to come by as candy.

The Mafia in Cuba


He took bribes which allowed American companies to own & control nearly 80% of all the oil & cattle ranches. 90% of the minerals and 40% of the sugar farmlands. When the Cuban people began to rebel he started doing executions in public. It was estimated up to 20,000 people were killed or tortured during his seven years in power. Witnesses said hundreds of those executed were hung on street lights or thrown into the streets. All this while still receiving military, logistical and financial support from the United States. No wonder the time was ripe for Fidel Castro's revolution in 1959.

Next Up, Fidel CastroOver the next six years when the dust finally settled, up to 33,000 Cuban lives ended up dead. Still this was not the end of it. The Cuban people rose up again in 2003 in what is called "Black Spring". Fortunately instead of being killed 75 dissents were sent to prison. In 2010 all of them started being released by the Castro regime after the 'European Union' lifted it's sanctions. Cuba claimed they weren't arrested for disagreeing with the government but rather because of their links to the U.S. in trying to undermine Fidel's government.

The Way I See ItThere's a hellva' lot of older investors in the United States who are still pissed they got their asses kicked out of Cuba. They along with individuals who had a vested interest with them. Also those who lost family in the fight against Fidel. It should be no wonder why then so many are opposed to normalizing anything with present day Cuba. You can say what you will but when you look over the entire history of Cuba, today's Cuban people deserve a chance at hope for all they've endured.

The Castros for all their blemishes are far less evil then what transpired over the Cuban people these past centuries. 'Normalizing relations' is more about helping the Cuban people then an endorsement for it's present government. Continued isolation of them only serves to punish those who had least to do with any of this and their extended families living here in the United States.

One more thing I want to add. Nearly 60% of Cubans are Catholics hence why the pope became involved. I find it hypocritical that many who claim they want more Christianity in schools and government involvement are now critical of the pope for doing just that. Does anyone seriously believe the pope is fond of Castro or is he just trying to look out for the people who follow him?