“May The Force Be With You”
Such an elementally simple concept. Hmm, isn’t the essence of humanity? All we have is OUR life force.
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INITIALISMS: MTFBWY
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
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INITIALISMS | 
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Posted by reinkefj
POLITICAL: FACEBOOK picture makes me wonder.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
I r an fat old white guy injineer. Did anyone else find the equation “fascinating” and “written wrong”? Subliminal message? Or a statement about “teachers”? P.S. IMHO teachers ARE “underpaid” because they are “on the dole”, currently “wards” of the Gooferment, inextricably tied to it, and are also slaves to their “union” who’s “in bed” with the Democratic Party “machine”. Not that anyone asked.
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Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: dole, teachers, teachers' unions | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
INTERESTING: “How to Change Your Life”; always a good topic!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012ROI APRIL 4, 2012, 12:18 A.M. ET
How to Change Your Life
Arends: New research suggests the key to breaking a bad habit lies in identifying both its cue — and its reward.
By BRETT ARENDS
*** begin quote ***
The bottom line: We’re running on autopilot most of the time, and we don’t really know it. We are controlled to a remarkable degree by our habits, not just by our conscious choices.
“A habit is a choice that we deliberately make at some point, and then stop thinking about, but continue doing, often every day,” he writes.
Even people in crisis can use this knowledge to turn their lives around.
We can’t unlearn bad habits. The way to defeat them is to learn new, better ones.
*** and ***
1. Find the bad habit.
2. Find the reward.
First, experiment: Try out different alternative habits to see if you feel the same reward.
Second, after each experiment, try isolating by writing down the first three things that come to mind “emotions, random thoughts, reflections on how you’re feeling, or just the first three words that pop into your head.”
Third, after doing that, he waited for fifteen minutes. He set an alarm. When it went off, he asked himself: Do you still feel the urge … ?
3. Find the cue.
Where am I? What time is it? What’s my emotional state? Who else is around? And what action immediately preceded the urge?
*** end quote ***
I did some further poking.
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http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Habit-Business-ebook/dp/B0055PGUYU/ref=reg_hu-rd_dp_img
PART ONE: THE HABITS OF INDIVIDUALS
1. The Habit Loop – How Habits Work
2. The Craving Brain – How to Create New Habits
3. The Golden Rule of Habit Change – Why Transformation Occurs
PART TWO – THE HABITS OF SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATIONS
4. Keystone Habits, or The Ballad of Paul O’Neill – Which Habits Matter Most
5. Starbucks and the Habit of Success – When Willpower Becomes Automatic
6. The Power of a Crisis – How Leaders Create Habits Through Accident and Design
7. How Target Knows What You Want Before You Do – When Companies Predict (and manipulate) Habits
PART THREE – THE HABITS OF SOCIETIES
8. Saddleback Church and the Montgomery Bus Boycott – How Movements Happen
9. The Neurology of Free Will – Are We Responsible for Our Habits?
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I “amazon wish listed” it.
Noticed that the Kindle version is 12.89$. The exact same price as the hard cover. WTX?
I know from my lame self-publishing that 99% of the ebook price is profit. Why do I feel like I’m being gouged?
Strike One!
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The Pièce De Résistance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pièce_de_résistance) was the following comment fragment:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Habit-Business-ebook/dp/B0055PGUYU/ref=reg_hu-rd_dp_img
5.0 out of 5 stars
Curing Your Habits, March 19, 2012
By Ethan Jones
This review is from: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business (Hardcover)
*** begin quote ***
My chief complaint is he doesn’t really show you how to break bad habits. For this you should consider Emotional Intelligence 2.0. That book was great for my self-control.
*** end quote ***
Strike Two!
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Jury’s still out.
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Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Tagged: alternative habits, bad habit, bad habits, breaking a bad habit, can't unlearn bad habits, cue, fifteen minutes, How to Change Your Life, isolating, its reward, reward, running on autopilot, writing down | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
INTERESTING: Sixty Minutes’ Mike Wallace; was it propaganda?
Monday, April 9, 2012http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57411010/60-minutes-icon-mike-wallace-dies-at-93
April 8, 2012 11:12 AM
“60 Minutes” icon Mike Wallace dies at 93
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My Mom went to church every Sunday morning and watch Sixty Minutes every Sunday evening. I remember us debating about some of the content. I didn’t like some of the stories and, even at that young age, thought they were slanted. Little did I know how, why, or … anything.
When Walter Cronkite admitted that he had an agenda, the house of propaganda became obvious. My Mom never knew it. We were such fools in those days.
Argh!
So all the Sixty Minutes correspondents are suspect.
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Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
INTERESTING: Sneaky Computer Security Tips
Sunday, April 8, 2012(0) OBVIOUSLY use unique passwords in every instance. (Use LASTPASS, ROBOFORM, or KEYPASS to remember the UNIMPORTANT ones. Do you care if someone can “share” your PORN stash. (Like I’d EVER have porn. You can catch a case of the computer equivalent of a social disease — malware, virus, or data leak. I think the real kind MIGHT be easier to cure.)
(1) Never STORE financial passwords anywhere, but in your head. (And, in a sealed envelope, located in your bank safe deposit box, for your executor.) Never ever! (If you have more than 5 ± 2, you have too many accounts.) Sorry guys, I don’t even trust my most TRUSTED vendors. (Fact of life. Don’t trust. You won’t be disappointed.)
(2) If you do STORE a profile somewhere, ALWAYS use your real birthday ± 1. (It’ll be our little joke. Play along with all the FACEBOOK birthday wishes. Your real life fans will enjoy the joke. You DO have real life friends; don’t you? So sad if you don’t. You can link to me. I have very few — hi oldest, older, and just plain old!)
(3) If you do STORE — obviously not USE — a credit card number, ALWAYS do a typo with the “secret number” and add ± 1 to the last digit. (Then when someone has a security breech, they have your garbage.)
(4) If you do STORE an address for your self, put a typo somewhere so you know who to blame. (Personally I like middle name. “Hi, I’m F. 37 REINKE.”)
(5) If you can and it’s not needed for credit, add ± 1 to your SSN. (“Oh, sorry, I made an oopsie.”)
(6) ALWAYS mess with the secondary authentication questions. But do it in a consistent manner! (“Where were you born?” “Bayonne158” That’s Our Girl’s and her favorite number.) Caveat: Three sites — CAREMARK CVS, PAYTRUST, BOA — make you remember it from time to time. (If I forget, there is always “call one 800 outsourced service desk”. Reset them to colors. Then go in and immediately change them.) I always record my answers in LASTPASS ± 1. A great tool.
YMMV MTFBWY AMTHOBAIYF
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Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Tagged: AMTHOBAIYF, BOA, CAREMARK CVS, computer equivalent of a social disease, credit card number, FACEBOOK, financial passwords, KEYPASS, lastpass, MTFBWY, PAYTRUST, real birthday, real life friends, ROBOFORM, Secondary authentication questions, social disease's computer equivalent, SSN, unique passwords, YMMV | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
RECOMMENDED: DRIVESLIM for MACOSX
Sunday, April 8, 2012http://www.prosofteng.com/support/support_thanks.php
PRODUCT: DRIVESLIM for MACOSX
Just thought of something that they could do to improve my experience. So I contacted their support.
*** begin quote ***
I’m a Mac noob.
Is there a set of automator script to run drive slim periodically?
So, for example, cache clear, monthly on the first monday and big files on the second monday. TO prompt those of us with old memories.
From time to time, the various tech site have stuff like this. For example, recently, there was one to delete the IPHOTO automatic copies.
Thanks for good product. No complaints. Just could use some help.
*** end quote ***
Let’s see if I get a response or is it a “pump and dump”?
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AUTORESPONDER:
Ferdinand,
Your ticket number regarding this issue is 07-97528.
Please refer to this ticket number in any future correspondence.
Product: DriveSlim
Mac OS: Mac OS 10.6.8
Question: I\’m a Mac noob. \r\n\r\nIs there a set of automator script to run drive slim periodically?\r\n\r\nSo, for example, cache clear, monthly on the first monday and big files on the second monday. TO prompt those of us with old memories. \r\n\r\nFrom time to time, the various tech site have stuff like this. For example, recently, there was one to delete the IPHOTO automatic copies. \r\n\r\nThanks for good product. No complaints. Just could use some help.\r\n
Your question has been forwarded to a Customer Support Specialist who will be contacting you about this issue. Be sure and check out our Online FAQs, found in our Support Website, for answers to common support questions.
Thank-you!
WE WILL SEE?
# – # – # – # – # 2012-Apr-05 @ 02:38
Fedinand,
Your ticket number regarding this issue is 07-97528.
Please refer to this ticket number in any future correspondence.
—————————————————————————–
Hi Ferdinand,
There is no script to automate DriveSlim.
Contact us if you have any further questions.
Regards,
—————————————————————————–
Jeremy
Prosoft Engineering Customer Support
# – # – # – # – # 2012-Apr-05 @ 13:00
“Go away, you Customer, you. Stop bothering us.” YMMV.
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Leave a Comment » | RECOMMENDED | Tagged: DRIVESLIM, MACOSX, RECOMMENDED | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
INSPIRATIONAL: In a negative sort of way, we should be outraged
Saturday, April 7, 2012Watch Sharks’ Clowe break up an odd-man rush from the bench (VIDEO)
By Harrison Mooney | Puck Daddy – 18 hours ago
*** begin quote ***
The San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings may have clinched a playoff spot well before Thursday’s game ended, but they certainly didn’t play like it. It was a hard-fought battle right to the final horn and then some, with the Sharks narrowly edging their divisional rivals 6-5 in a shootout.
But don’t let the high score fool you into thinking there weren’t any big defensive plays. Why, Ryane Clowe’s pokecheck on Jarrett
Stoll with 3 minutes to go in the 3rd period stands out, and not just because it broke up a very threatening-looking 3-on-2 rush and potentially saved a game-winning goal. It was also the fact that Clowe was on the bench at the time.
*** end quote ***
First, it was baseball doping. Second, the headhunting in the NFL. Thiird, this.
Where are our Nation’s standards?
The Duke of Wellington is often quoted as saying that “The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing-fields of Eton”.
If that’s so, America won’t be winning anythinv any time soon.
We should be outraged!
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Leave a Comment » | INSPIRATIONAL | Tagged: Battle of Waterloo, from the bench, Los Angeles Kings, playing-fields of Eton, San Jose Sharks | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
RANT: NBC with its thumb on the scales
Saturday, April 7, 2012NBC issues apology on Zimmerman tape screw-up – Erik Wemple – The Washington Post
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This is a complete screw up. I wouldn’t trust NBC with my news needs.
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Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Tagged: MEDIA BIAS, NBC, Zimmerman tape | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
GUNS: True equality
Friday, April 6, 2012http://ncc-1776.org/tle2012/tle664-20120401-03.html
I Love My Guns
by Susan Callaway
*** begin quote ***
To start with, about 30 years ago I was attacked and would likely have died if I had not been armed.
At that point the man started to walk toward me, in a few words telling me just how he would hurt me. I raised the shotgun, but he just sneered and said confidently, “you won’t shoot me” and kept coming.
He was still too close to my car, so I aimed the .410 shotgun just over his head and pulled the trigger.
I saw the shocked look, just before I saw the blood on his face and chest where the tiny #6 birdshot had hit him. He turned and ran away, destroying a low ornamental fence in the process, but never even slowing to untangle it from his legs.
How would the world be better and more peaceful if I had been raped and murdered instead, simply because I had no gun?
*** end quote ***
“Victim disarmament is the view that it is somehow better to see a woman raped in an alley and strangled with her own pantyhose, than see her with a gun in her hand.” — T.D. Melrose
I think this summarizes the argument quite nicely. As someone said: “God made man and woman; Sam Colt made them equal.”
“An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.” — Robert A. Heinlein
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Leave a Comment » | GUNS | Tagged: .410 shotgun, armed society, good manners, Life, polite society, rape, strangle, VICTIM DISARMAMENT, you won't shoot me | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
POLITICAL: Out of Afghanistan NOW!
Thursday, April 5, 2012http://www.downsizedc.org/blog/pulling-out-of-afghanistan-now
March 30, 2012
Pulling Out of Afghanistan NOW
Posted by James Wilson
*** begin quote ***
Quote of the Day: “In my opinion, any future defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should ‘have his head examined,’ as General MacArthur so delicately put it.” – Robert M. Gates
2012 has been bad for the U.S. occupation in Afghanistan. That’s why I wrote to my Representative and Senators telling them to pull the troops out.
The hard-wired message reads…
Remove our troops from Afghanistan now.
*** end quote ***
What more does one have to say?
This is one reason I support Ron Paul.
We can add Korea, Japan, Germany, Iraq, … <insert all the other countries that we have troops in> … and Iran.
Oh yeah, we haven’t invaded there … YET … officially. (What do you bet we have scouts out? I would if I was the General who’s gonna get stuck with this duty.)
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Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: Afghanistan, Africa, American land army, Asia, downsizedc, Middle East, Out of Afghanistan NOW, U.S. occupation | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
SERVICE: FACETIME on Apple platforms is marginally better than a cellphone
Wednesday, April 4, 2012I’ve been playing with FACETIME at the behest of a youngster related to me. Other than LUDDITE, no one I know uses it.
It presents some interesting challenges for parents and guardians.
It opens up a whole new attack surface for predators and peers. While it gives the FACETIME User the undivided attention of the person they call, it does create: (1) an uncontrolled access to the two people FACETIMEing. (2) Creates a level of intimacy that could be used to break down barriers and physical inhibitions when the two people meet. (I’m being intentionally vague so as not to give any one ideas. Adults, parent, and Guardians will know EXACTLY what I mean. (If you don’t, ask.)
Its marginally better than a cell phone because, as far as know, there’s no built-in capture or forwarding. I can think of ways to do it. Hopefully peers won’t; predators will be rigged for it.
Adults, Parents, and Guardians better have a good understanding of the technology and its implications. The children can mae it work with little or no help.
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Leave a Comment » | SERVICE | Tagged: Adults, APPLE, attack surface, cellphone, FACETIME, Guardians, intimacy, no built-in capture, no forwarding, Parents, peer pressure, peers, predators | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
GOLD: Joe Scarborough Admits
Wednesday, April 4, 2012http://www.theblaze.com/stories/joe-scarborough-admits-glenn-beck-has-been-right-about-gold/
Business
Joe Scarborough Admits: ‘Glenn Beck Has Been Right’ About Gold
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 3:49pm by Becket Adams
*** begin quote ***
Today on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Matthew Bishop, the US Business Editor and New York Bureau Chief for The Economist, talked about his new ebook “In Gold We Trust? The Future of Money in an Age of Uncertainty.”
Co-written with Michael Green, Bishop’s ebook discusses some awfully familiar themes: the instability of fiat currencies, the skyrocketing price of gold, and the future of the global economy.
“If you got volatile markets, why do you run to gold?” MSNBC host Joe Scarborough asked Bishop.
“This is a very interesting time because…the people who have been the most successful investors over the past few years, a lot of them basically are very worried about the future of the dollar, very worried about the future of the euro, and they see gold as the best alternative currency,” Bishop answered.
“And they’ve been right a lot,” Bishop added. “They have a lot of their money in that currency and I think the rest of need to understand why. It’s always dismissed as this kind of crazy rightwing thing to do,” Bishop added.
*** end quote ***
ROFL!
Bout time that someone, anyone, in the mainstream media acknowledges the economic reality.
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Leave a Comment » | GOLDBUG | Tagged: alternative currency, AU, future of the dollar, future of the euro, Glenn Beck, GOLD, Joe Scarborough, money | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
INTERESTING: IRS Scammed
Tuesday, April 3, 2012http://www.theblaze.com/stories/feds-uncover-massive-fraud-irs-scammed-out-of-billions/
Business Feds Uncover Massive Fraud, IRS Scammed out of Billions
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:05pm by Becket Adams
*** begin quote ***
Federal authorities have uncovered a widespread scheme that may have defrauded the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) out of billions of dollars using the stolen identities of Puerto Rican citizens, according to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal.
“The perpetrators of the scheme, authorities say, swipe the Social Security numbers of Puerto Rican citizens, who don’t have to pay federal income tax—and are less likely to be on the IRS radar—and use their information to file fake returns,” the report adds. ”In some cases, they enlist U.S. mail carriers to intercept the refund checks that are disbursed [emphasis added].”
Dating back to 2007, the plan involves participants from both the U.S. and Latin America. Two sources claim the scheme was led by a group from the Dominican Republic. And although prosecutors have managed to obtain several convictions, they don’t think they’ve come close to catching the operations “top players.”
*** end quote ***
Can’t believe that the IRS was scammed?
One out of three medicare dollars spent in FL is fraudulent.
Once the Gooferment gets involved fraud, corruption, and losses are assured.
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Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Tagged: Dominican Republic, FRAUD, IRS Scammed, Puerto Rican citizens, refund checks, stolen identities | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
INTERESTING: How to get cattle to fatten up?
Tuesday, April 3, 2012http://lewrockwell.com/mercola/mercola181.html
Is This More-Dangerous-Than-Aspartame Sweetener Hiding in Your Food?
by Joseph Mercola
*** begin quote ***
On August 16, 2000, the law firm of Hartman & Craven filed comments on the neotame docket pertaining to the lack of safety data submitted in support of neotameiv, stating in part:
“A food additive petition has been submitted to the FDA for the artificial sweetener neotame. In that petition, the sponsor claims the data presented demonstrate that the compound produces no adverse effects at a dose of 1000 mg/kg/day in the rat. The sponsor also claims that the product should be safe for patients with diabetes. A review of the data submitted to the FDA does not support these conclusions.
In fact, no safe human usage level can be determined based on the submitted data. The animal experimental evidence indicates a toxic effect on growth. The clinical evidence raises concerns about glucose control in patients with diabetes.
Searches for an explanation resolving the adverse findings leave no clear acceptable answers that would insure the safety of the public but does stimulate speculation on questions relating to possible liver effects.”
*** end quote ***
Now I am NO fan of the FDA. If you had to advance an example of “regulatory capture” (i.e., those being regulated run the regulatory body), then probably #2 on the list of examples is the FDA.
(#1 is the UN Human Rights Council where horrible dictatorships are a majority on that Council. Talk about the fox “guarding” the hen house! Why “we, the USA, is paying for that whole UN charade is beyond me. Thank Prez Wilson and FDR, what a mess.)
I found most interesting the assertion that using artificial sweeteners fatten you up. Like the cattle cited to bring the up to market weight.
Maybe we’re being dumb about this.
What did “Grok” (i.e., the mythical caveman in the Primal Diet series) do?
Drank only water! Ate only stuff he hunted or gathered.
Maybe we should do the same?
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Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Tagged: Aspartame, diabetes, FDA, glucose control, Grok, More-Dangerous-Than-Aspartame, neotame, regulatory capture, UN, UN Human Rights Council | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
FUN: Taylor Swift wins twice
Monday, April 2, 2012Stayed up too late, two nights in a row.
Saturday night, watch FLOTUS present Ms. Swift with the “Big Help” award. The two were obviously fans of each other.
(But I did think the acceptance speech was awkward, but heart felt. Maybe the little girl is growing up and can’t just wing it anymore.)
(Yeah, I know. No life watching the slime show.)
I thought FLOTUS was a good sport when the slime flew. Some commenters on the UK site thought she was the devil incarnate. Fair’s fair. While I don’t like her politics, she did well inspiring little kids. And I heard nothing political in her words. And, it seemed like her girls were having a ball.
Sunday night, ACM entertainer of the year (again). (She owes it all to Meridith the cat. That probably sent all the tweens and teens to voting.) Sad that she was dateless. But she showed real class with her “shout out”.
(It’s reported that she’s promised to make it up to the sick young man in the hospital. I bet it’s even better than the ACMs.)
So other than admitting I have no life. It was two fun evenings.
(Who else could be “entertainer of the year” when she blew them all away in dollars earned?)
Oh well, what will she accomplish next?
(And, she was a knock out. Eat your heart out all the dumb guys who let her get away. Good jokes about “Denver sacrificing a virgin” and Swebow on the ACM.)
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Leave a Comment » | FUN | Tagged: ACM, FLOTUS, Swebow, Taylor Swift | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
FUN: Child’s Prayer
Monday, April 2, 2012Child’s Bedtime Prayer
Now I lay me down to sleep;
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the lord my soul to take.
God bless …
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My proposed Child’s Daytime Pryer
Now I arise from bed,
New challenges in my head.
If I should falter doing good today,
I pray the Lord to guide me back to His way.
God bless …
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Leave a Comment » | ADMINISTRIVIA | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
INSPIRATIONAL: Swift’s date too sick to go
Sunday, April 1, 2012http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/story/2012-03-31/taylor-swift-date/53914560/1
Cancer-stricken N.J. teen to miss date with Taylor Swift
By Steve Wood, (Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post
Updated 1h 48m ago
*** begin quote ***
CHERRY HILL, N.J. – In his second bout with cancer, 18-year-old Kevin McGuire won over the Internet and Taylor Swift.
Now the fickle fight will keep the high school senior from Stratford, N.J., from accompanying the superstar to Sunday night’s Academy of Country Music Awards.
Hours after being in “great spirits” Thursday, and a day before his planned departure to Las Vegas for the show, McGuire was dealt a 103-degree fever and taken to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, according to his mother, Vicki McGuire.
*** end quote ***
I can’t think of a more polite way to say: “Boy, does that suck.”
Hope he gets a replacement date from Ms. Swift. (I’d expect so since she’s one sharp kookie.)
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Leave a Comment » | INSPIRATIONAL | Tagged: Cancer-stricken, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Kevin McGuire, NJ, Stratford, Taylor Swift | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
INTERESTING: Early warning for heart attacks
Sunday, April 1, 2012Home / Technology / Rethinking Healthcare
New blood test predicts heart attack weeks in advance
By Janet Fang | March 21, 2012, 9:00 PM PDT
*** begin quote ***
A simple test that spots abnormal cells coming from the lining of blood vessels can predict a heart attack a week or two beforehand.
Heart attacks happen when fatty deposits in an artery burst open. A blood clot forms to seal the break, but if that gets too big, it blocks off blood flow.
Blood vessels are lined with ‘endothelial cells’ that control the ability of arteries to widen and prevent clots. When there are a lot of large, misshapen endothelial cells, a heart attack is imminent, the new study shows.
*** and ***
In the future, patients at risk could have a nanosensor implanted in a vein to detect the abnormal cells and then send an alert to their phone.
The study was published in Science Translational Medicine today.
*** end quote ***
This is a great break thru. Fascinating that if could warn us about the widow maker.
From my time on the first aid squad, there is a whole class of victims — men in the forties, smokers, maybe Type A — that just drop dead. And, we had no chance to save them.
(Each one made me sadder. The adage was that each member had a limited number of these in their “tank”. Then when they hit “empty”, they’d have to give it up.)
My break point was a thirty something cancer victim without insurance who needed twice weekly transport in the middle of the night for cheap treatment. He was riddled with cancer and every little jiggle caused him pain, despite painkillers. That was the breaking point for me after 14 years.
I can’t imagine how “real” medical professionals, doctors and nurses, deal with this.
It’d be great to avoid that sadness for all involved. No one would be happier, except for the victim who dodges death.
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Leave a Comment » | INTERESTING | Tagged: Early warning, endothelial cells, heart attacks, lining of blood vessels, misshapen endothelial cells, predict a heart attack | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
RANT: Buchanan’s “It’s all about race now” is on target for as far as it goes
Saturday, March 31, 2012http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=50546
It’s all about race now
by Patrick J. Buchanan
03/30/2012
*** begin quote ***
If it had been a white teenager who was shot, and a 28-year-old black guy who shot him, the black guy would have been arrested.
So assert those demanding the arrest of George Zimmerman, who shot and killed Trayvon Martin.
And they may be right.
Yet if Trayvon had been shot dead by a black neighborhood watch volunteer, Jesse Jackson would not have been in a pulpit in Sanford, Fla., howling that he had been “murdered and martyred.”
*** and ***
For all the abuse he has received, Geraldo Rivera had a point.
Whenever cable TV runs hidden-camera footage of a liquor or convenience store being held up and someone behind the counter being shot, the perp is often a black male wearing a hoodie.
Listening to the heated rhetoric coming from demonstrations around the country, from the Black Caucus and TV talkers — about how America is a terrifying place for young black males to grow up in because of the constant danger from white vigilantes — one wonders what country of the mind these people are living in.
The real America is a country where the black crime rate is seven times as high as the white rate. It is a country where white criminals choose black victims in 3 percent of their crimes, but black criminals choose white victims in 45 percent of their crimes.
*** and ***
Some Sanford police believed Zimmerman; others did not.
But now that it is being investigated by a special prosecutor, the FBI, the Justice Department and a coming grand jury, what is the purpose of this venomous portrayal of George Zimmerman?
As yet convicted of no crime, he is being crucified in the arena of public opinion as a hate-crime monster and murderer.
Is this our idea of justice?
No. But if the purpose here is to turn this into a national black-white face-off, instead of a mutual search for truth and justice, it is succeeding marvelously well.
*** end quote ***
I hope we can get back to the search for “truth and justice”.
Which will probably land us in the middle somewhere. Like the victim was no angel, but probably innocent. And the shooter may have gone over the line by not stopping his pursuit quickly enough, but probably innocent.
And, both “sides” of the issue need to turn down the volume and turn up the understanding.
I think a lot of this tracks back to the “(pseudo) War on (some) Drugs” and the Federal welfare destroying the Black Family and the Black Churches. And, as usual in this blog reflecting a fat old white guy injineer’s opinion, the trouble is with the Gooferment.
Dona Nobis Pacem!
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Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Tagged: black crime rate, Buchanan, George Zimmerman, Geraldo Rivera, Pat Buchanan, Patrick J. Buchanan, race, Trayvon Martin | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
INSPIRATIONAL: Child’s awaking prayer
Saturday, March 31, 2012Now I’m not much of a holy roller.
First Amendment!
Probably a testimony to the basic tension between my English Anglican Protestant maternal Grandmother and my Irish Catholic maternal Grandfather. Due to a divorce, I spent a lot of time under the watchful eye of said maternal Grandmother and my spinster Aunt.
So you can imagine the fun when I went to my First Day at Catholic grammar school, Annunciation, and the good Nun says something like “It’s now time to learn the Our Father.” (What were these kids doing for their whole lives? They couldn’t read, speak in cogent sentences, nor carry on a conversation about anything significant!) So little, fat future old white guy injineer, Johnny chimes up and says: (quotes because so I am told by my Mom who was for the first of many times called to the Principal’s office to discuss little Johnny Reinke’s behavior) “Sister, respectfully, I know that, Is there something I can substitute?”
Needless to say the Good Nun, Sister Euphemia, was stunned and said something to the effect of “let’s see what you got sonny”.
So, as taught, I respectfully riffed out the Lord’s prayer with reverence, resect, and in a fine loud voice. And ended with … “For THINE is the power and GLORY forever and ever. AMEN!”.
And the good Nun went into cardiac arrest.
And, of course, I was on the first of many many trips to the Principal’s Office.
Reading wasn’t much better. Given the First Grade Reader, we were told to “familiarize” ourselves with the concept of a book. (Are you kidding me?) “Sister, I’m done. Do you have something better? A novel. Even the Bible is better than this.” Off to the Principal. (Another quote courtesy of the Principal to my Mother. I’, sure my beloved maternal Grandmother did this to put the Papists in their place.)
Yeah, you get the picture.
Finally, I was assigned to the convent to read the Daily News and the Daily Mirror to the old Nuns. They got a kick out of it. Eyes failing, they were “retired”. (What stupid concept. These were some sharp ladies.) So they got to contribute to the school by keeping this “annoying boy” out of everyone’s hair during “religion” and “reading”.
(The Principal’s specific directions were nothing racy and NO sports. One Nun followed the ponies and another was a Hollywood Star struck. My first education in selective order following.)
Any way, one of the prayers I learned at the hands of the Women’s Justice League (i.e., Maternal Grandmother, Spinster Aunt, and two other Aunts brought in as relief watchers. Every time I screwed up one of them would be looking over my shoulder.) was “A Child’s Bedtime Prayer” (i.e., “Now I lay me down to sleep …” ending with an ever lengthening litany of people to pray for).
My question is: Shouldn’t there be a “child awakening prayer”? For example, “Now I rise to wake, the Lord’s Day, I’ll take, one foot forward for Courage, the other for Bravery, … …”!
Seems like the world is out of balance?
Only took me 65 years to realize it.
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Posted by reinkefj
POLITICAL: Canada starts to align retirement age with life expectancy; why can’t we?
Friday, March 30, 2012http://ca.news.yahoo.com/canada-raise-retirement-age-67-report-184156915.html
Canada ups retirement age in bid to balance budget
By Michel Comte | AFP
*** begin quote ***
Canada’s center-right government called for the retirement age to be raised and for major public service cuts Thursday, in an austerity budget that aims to balance the books by 2016.
Tackling unpopular measures that many industrialized countries are being forced to consider as their populations age, the Canadian government said its budget would help the country move a step ahead.
“Other Western countries face the risk of long-term economic decline. We have a rare opportunity to position our country for sustainable, long-term growth,” Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said in the House of Commons.
*** and ***
Flaherty said old age security and guaranteed income supplement benefits worth up to a total of Can$15,000 and now paid out at age 65 would be offered only at age 67, starting in 2023.
He also announced the withdrawal of the Canadian penny from circulation later this year, saying it costs more to produce than its face value. The move will save the government Can$11 million annually.
*** end quote ***
Seems a simple modest change. Will it make THAT much difference to folks who are 55 now.
I’d prefer something a little more dramatic at a much earlier age. Like 40’s go till they are 70. 30’s go to 75. 20’s go to 80.
And an annual “mark to market”. Remember life expectancy is supposed to top 100 in our life time.
I’d index it to inflation and means test it. If you’ve got 10M$, then you shouldn’t need the dole. Spend down to 10 and climb aboard.
Of course, ideally, everyone would be responsible for their own retirement. Like it was in the old days.
But then we were a free country!
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Leave a Comment » | Political | Tagged: age 67, balance the books, Canada, life expectancy, long-term economic decline, long-term growth, retirement age, starting in 2023, unpopular | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
FUN: You’re_Not_A_Handyman_Until_You_Can_Do_This.wmv
Friday, March 30, 2012[TIP ‘o’ the HAT to: LUDDITE]
You’re_Not_A_Handyman_Until_You_Can_Do_This.wmv
ROFL! Real highbrow humor.
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Posted by reinkefj
SERVICE: Yahoo is now forcing a capcha on login
Friday, March 30, 2012Can it get any more annoying?
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Leave a Comment » | SERVICE | Tagged: capcha, Yahoo | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
MONEY: FED screws retirees
Thursday, March 29, 2012http://finance.yahoo.com/news/how-the-fed-hurts-retirees.html
How the Fed Hurts Retirees
CNNMoney.com
By Annalyn Censky | CNNMoney.com
Fri, Mar 23, 2012 1:08 PM EDT
*** begin quote ***
The Federal Reserve has kept interest rates near zero since 2008, but the economic boost comes at the expense of these savers.
*** end quote ***
This is basically saying that the time preference for delaying consumption is ZERO!
When folks were planning their retirement decades ago, who would have guessed a zero interest rate scenario? Any financial advisor, who did, would looking for a job. There was always talk of the after tax interest rate minus the rate of inflation. That was figured at anywhere from 5 to 8%.
Yeah, right.
Now the after tax rate is ZERO and the inflation rate is guesstimate at 5%. (Pay no attention to the smoke and mirrors being blown up your <synonym for donkey> by the “news anchors”, the FED, politicians, and bureaucrats. You’ve seen the price of gas, the national debt, the amount of “dollars” being held by the various bailed out banks.)
The reason that the FED is holding the interest rate down is to allow the Gooferment to carry the national debt with ease.
The retirees are only one group that is being hurt.
There’s a long list; not the least of which is anyone considering making a capital investment. What is the true cost of capital? (I know some businesses that are making a 12% assumption. Based on historical averages in previous business plans.)
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Leave a Comment » | MONEY | Tagged: assumption, bailed out banks, capital investment, Federal Reserve, interest rates, NATIONAL DEBT, price of gas, Retirees, zero interest rate scenari | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
IPAD: Penultimate interesting; catch a sale
Thursday, March 29, 2012http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/penultimate/id354098826?mt=8
Penultimate
By Cocoa Box Design LLC
** The original, easiest-to-use, best-selling handwriting app for iPad. On sale.
**Penultimate gives you the fast, tactile gratification of writing on paper, with digital power and flexibility. Take notes, keep sketches, or share your next breakthrough idea — in the office, on the go, or home on the sofa.
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Caught it n sale and recommended it to the other “kids” in the family.
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Leave a Comment » | IPAD | Tagged: iPad, Penultimate | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj
Reinke Faces Life 
POLITICAL: The battle between the administration and the judiciary
Monday, April 9, 2012http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504564_162-57408827-504564/appeals-court-fires-back-at-obamas-comments-on-health-care-case/
Crossroads
April 3, 2012 3:42 PM
Appeals court fires back at Obama’s comments on health care case
By Jan Crawford
Topics Supreme Court
Updated 6:55 p.m. ET
*** begin quote ***
(CBS News) In the escalating battle between the administration and the judiciary, a federal appeals court apparently is calling the president’s bluff — ordering the Justice Department to answer by Thursday whether the Obama Administration believes that the courts have the right to strike down a federal law, according to a lawyer who was in the courtroom.
The order, by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, appears to be in direct response to the president’s comments yesterday about the Supreme Court’s review of the health care law. Mr. Obama all but threw down the gauntlet with the justices, saying he was “confident” the Court would not “take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress.”
Overturning a law of course would not be unprecedented — since the Supreme Court since 1803 has asserted the power to strike down laws it interprets as unconstitutional. The three-judge appellate court appears to be asking the administration to admit that basic premise — despite the president’s remarks that implied the contrary. The panel ordered the Justice Department to submit a three-page, single-spaced letter by noon Thursday addressing whether the Executive Branch believes courts have such power, the lawyer said.
*** end quote ***
I think this is an epic struggle for the American Experiment.
I’m not sure that this is goign to end well.
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