FUN: Cinco De Mayo

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Ok, lately I’ve gotten e‐mails from people claiming that the Titanic was carrying mayonnaise (some say 12,000 jars, others give no quantity). Once the Titanic reached New York, it’s next supposed destination was Mexico. The e‐mail always ends with a corny Sinko de Mayo joke.

The only evidence I’ve found that this is a joke and not some coincidence embellished with a poor inter‐lingual pun is that mayonnaise was supposedly just invented in 1912.

Any help here?

Most people don’t know that back in 1912, Hellmann’s mayonnaise was manufactured in England.

In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York. This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost.

The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great, that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day.

The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course, as Sinko de Mayo.

# – # – # – # – #   

Leave a Comment » | FUN | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

GOVEROTRAGEOUS: USA interrogation techniques; unacceptable

Monday, May 4, 2015

May 4, 2015
Mr. Ferdinand Reinke
1641 International Dr Unit 414
McLean, VA 22102-4831

Dear Mr. Reinke:

Thank you for contacting me about the report on interrogation techniques by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. It was good to hear from you.

I believe that torture has no place in national security methods; it should not be used as it contradicts our values. In December 2012, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) voted 14-1 to approve a more than 6,000-page report that included detailed information on each detainee the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) interrogated, the methods used, and the accuracy of the intelligence. Since 2005, the SSCI has worked on this report, conducting its own investigation into these tactics. Following this investigation, on April 3rd, 2014 the SSCI voted in a bipartisan manner to declassify certain sections of the report. On December 9th, 2014 the SSCI released an unclassified executive summary and findings of the report to the public. The report found that enhanced interrogation methods were not effective or properly justified. In addition, the study cited discrepancies between management, oversight, and reporting to the administration of interrogations the CIA conducted.

While I am well aware of the unique national security challenges faced by our nation, I have always believed strongly that torture is not a proper method for ensuring our security and does not belong in the pursuit of our foreign policy or national security goals. I support the Committee’s thorough work to properly oversee and review intelligence collection methods, and support the report’s release. I believe that intelligence collection is critical to our national security and counterterrorism efforts, and I deeply respect the work of the professionals who remain vigilant and keep us safe. I hope that by fully exposing these past interrogation measures we can help guard against the future use of such a program, which is inconsistent with American values.

I am encouraged that the SSCI carefully reviewed the information presented to it and continues to evaluate a number of important issues. As a member of both the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, I recognize the important implications the declassification of this report has on our servicemembers and intelligence community, which are so closely tied to Virginia, as well as on efforts to maintain diplomatic relations to and manage future conflict.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me with your views on this important matter.

Sincerely,

Signature

Tim Kaine

# – # – #

I tried!

# – # – # – # – #  2015-May-04 @ 21:13  

Leave a Comment » | GOVEROTRAGEOUS | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: Is the Gooferment inflicting suffering on the people

Monday, May 4, 2015

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2015/04/tyler-durden/needless-suffering-inflicted-on-ordinary-americans/

The Baltimore Riots: The Stunning Comments By Orioles Owner’s Son
By Tyler Durden
Zero Hedge
April 29, 2015

*** begin quote ***

The innocent working families of all backgrounds whose lives and dreams have been cut short by excessive violence, surveillance, and other abuses of the Bill of Rights by government pay the true price, an ultimate price, and one that far exceeds the importance of any kids’ game played tonight, or ever, at Camden Yards. We need to keep in mind people are suffering and dying around the U.S., and while we are thankful no one was injured at Camden Yards, there is a far bigger picture for poor Americans in Baltimore and everywhere who don’t have jobs and are losing economic civil and legal rights, and this makes inconvenience at a ball game irrelevant in light of the needless suffering government is inflicting upon ordinary Americans.”

*** end quote ***

Wow. that’s a pretty damning indictment of the current Gooferment and the policies of the last 30 years.

When you think of the “Rust Belt” and the demise of the American auto industry, that’s the exemplar of what this is saying.

It can’t be “corrected”. Anymore than you can hold back the tides.

But the Gooferment, with its Crony Capitalism, feathering the nest of politicians and bureaucrats, and all the other abuses, has finally killed the “goose that lays the golden eggs”.

Do we have to be like the alcoholic, who wakes up face down in a pool of his own fluids, to realize that help is needed?

Apparently so.

Seems like there are some very ugly chickens that have to be dealt with and they problems all start (and possibly end) with Gooferment.

Best we can do is starve the beast into submission. No new taxes, no new fee, no nothing. 

Period. End of story.

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

SURVIVAL: What do you have when your house collapses or worse

Sunday, May 3, 2015

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3055045/Homes-offices-collapse-massive-earthquake-rocks-Nepal-destroying-historic-19th-century-tower.html

The tiny gap between life and death: Entombed alive with the body of his friend, Nepal earthquake victim is finally pulled free as death toll rises to 2,500

  • The earthquake survivor was pulled from rubble of his home in Swyambhu in the Kathmandu Valley on Sunday 
  • He had been stuck with the lifeless body of his friend after the building they were in collapsed around them 
  • In the Nepalese capital city of Kathmandu the bodies of hundreds killed have been laid out in the street 
  • Rescue teams are frantically using their hands to dig out survivors as aid relief from neighbouring India arrives
  • As many as 18 climbers on Mount Everest were killed when base camp was swallowed by avalanche on Saturday 
  • More bodies are being pulled from destruction in cities ‘by the hour’ as the death toll continues to rise 

By SARA MALM and JENNIFER SMITH and STEPHANIE LINNING and HANNAH PARRY FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 03:55 EST, 25 April 2015 | UPDATED: 14:32 EST, 26 April 2015

*** begin quote ***

Thousands of people spent the night outside in chilly temperatures and patchy rain, too afraid to return to their damaged homes or sleep indoors for fear of another tremor. Aftershocks from the deadly earthquake have ravaged through the country today. When the aftershocks come you cannot imagine the fear… you can hear the women and children crying ‘The aftershocks keep coming … so people don’t know what to expect,’  said Sanjay Karki, Nepal country head for global aid agency Mercy Corps. ‘All the open spaces in Kathmandu are packed with people who are camping outdoors. When the aftershocks come you cannot imagine the fear. You can hear women and children crying.’

*** end quote *** 

We see “natural disasters”, but it’s like no one prepares.

In the USA, we have tornados, floods, power outages, and blizzards. There are gas explosions, fires, and wind damage. 

Many different ways a house can become a total loss.

But no one is prepared it seems for anything.

My paternal grandmother in Oregon had a storm “cellar” nearby her house. Up on a rise, dug into the hill, with her “put up food”, blankets, and stuff. In bad weather, she sleep in it. 

Most people have nothing, zero, nada. Not even a plan.

We’re very luck that this doesn’t happen often. But it does happen often enough.

I have serval 72 hour bags around. Maybe even I need more.

Hmmm?

# – # – # – # – # 

1 Comment | SURVIVAL | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

CLOUD: My desire to leave the Apple / Microsoft “jail” is hindered by these functions or programs

Saturday, May 2, 2015

TO produce my Jasper Jottings:

  • BlueGriffon — to compose HTML
  • MARSEDIT — to capture my daily Jasper Jottings blog
  • FileZilla — to post it
  • Mail chimp — web-based service
  • Yahoo Group — web-based service 

TO produce my blog:

  • MARSEDIT —blog posts
  • TEXEXPANDER — for quotes and shorthand

Other functions

  • iMessage — for texting
  • Opera Mail — for yet another Mail program and rss feeds
  • PROXPN — for privacy on public wifi
  • LIBRE OFFICE — microsoft compatibility
  • CLIP MENU — for cut and paste memory 
  • DOXIE — for scanning
  • FACETIME — for video calls
  • FITBIT CONNECT — for tracking
  • FORMAT MATCH — cut and paste format free text
  • LASTPASS — password generation
  • SCRIVENER — for writing; constrained by disk space
  • PHOTO — space constrained

Any suggestions?

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | CLOUD | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

MONEY: Investing short term earnings and long term as well?

Friday, May 1, 2015

https://www.quora.com/I-am-a-single-mother-who-is-looking-to-invest-my-money-What-suggestions-do-you-have-for-something-that-will-be-good-for-short-term-earnings-and-long-term-as-well?__snids__=1105045430&__nsrc__=2

I am a single mother who is looking to invest my money. What suggestions do you have for something that will be good for short term earnings and long term as well?

# – # – # – # – # 

I’m a big fan of Ric Edelman, the Financial Advisor, who does a weekly radio show for decades. He says that his objective to help people become rich.

(Disclaimer: I’m a Client for several years and get nothing for giving this recommendation.)

He offers — and several of my coworkers have taken them up on it — to spend some time with ANYONE regardless of possible account size and help identify your goals and suggestions how to reach them.

One specific coworker had a job, a mortgaged house, and nothing else. One of their Financial Advisors has spent four hours with her over the last three months coaching her financially. So I’d recommend that you talk to one of these guys rather than trying to go it alone.

There is NO obligation to do business with them.

They are registered financial advisers which means they work in your best interest (i.e., the fiduciary standard).

They have an account minimum of 5k$ if you want to have them handle your investments. So, I’d say 1-800-call-ric or ricedelman dot com.

I worked on Wall Street for a couple of decades, managed my own portfolio, and I wish I had found them much sooner. Just my opinion.

Remember the sources of my education! I’m just a fat old white guy injineer with:

  • Law “degree” from watching Judge Judy;
  • Medical “degree” from watching Doctor Phil;
  • Building “degree” from watching “Holmes on Homes”;
  • Investing “degree” from reading about Bernie Made-off;
  • Finance “degree”from listening to Ric Edelman;
  • Sensitively managing Human Resources from watching Chef Ramsey; AND
  • Creating loving /  caring human relationships from studying the movie roles
    of Gunny Ronald Lee Ermey! 

# – # – # – # – # 

Leave a Comment » | MONEY | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

Next Entries »