GrnFlamingos's Blog

I'm just curious.  How do they come up with the results for Most Admired? 

I've never voted in one of those polls.  Where do they get the data?

Maybe Black Friday has worn out it's welcome.  Previously it kicked off the Christmas shopping season.  A time of wonder for the kids.  Brightly lit windows and displays.  Instead of polite shoppers there are salivating bargain hunters.  People lined up ahead of time some for days, skipping another holiday alltogether, to be first through the gates.  Like a feeding frenzy the adrenalin is pumping so when the doors are opened it's a stampede.  Sort of like running of the bulls.  Shoving and trampling your neighbor.  Where is the Christmas spirit in that?  There is a commercial for a well known brand where the adult is intent on getting everything he wants.  His young child is forgotten.  It could apply to today.  Whatever happened to Christmas?  It's that holiday for children.

Like the news store? 

All the stations are covering shopping, shopping and more shopping.  What about the real news?

Do you know what Patrick Swayze and Luciano Pavarotti, Michael Landon, Fred Gwynne who played Herman Munster, Jack Benny, Rex Harrison, Donna Reed, Fernando Lamas, Richard Crenna all have in common?  Oh and Joan Crawford too.

Do you know what Patrick Swayze and Luciano Pavarotti, Michael Landon, Fred Gwynne who played Herman Munster, Jack Benny, Rex Harrison, Donna Reed, Fernando Lamas, Richard Crenna all have in common?

It is that time of year again.

It is not a glamorous or well known disease.  It is simply Pancreatic Cancer. 

As you know if you've read my bio, I lost my Mom to Pancreatic Cancer a year ago September.  She was an active woman in her 80s enjoying her retirement years traveling to distant countries with Dad.  By the time the end came less than a year later it was a blessing for her. 

We need more research so that early detection can give people a fighting chance against this deadly disease.  Often by the time it is detected it has progressed so far that there is little that can be done except watch your loved one waste away in pain.  Funds could help to buy time and an eventual cure for a debilitating disease.  It's not fashionable like Breast Cancer or as well known.  But we need to change that.  Pancreatic Cancer is a killer pure and simple.  This disease knows no boundaries when it comes to age or gender but in most cases is a death sentence.

This month help get the word out and contact your Representatives.

http://pancan.org/Public/take.html

I never was a Scrooge before.  Until this year.

The Christmas music and decorations were in prominance on Halloween.  Why?  That is 2 full months ahead.  What happened to Thanksgiving?  In my book this year it is important to step back and be thankful for what we have.  Just because of the economy the news, radio, TV and stores feel they have to start with the jollies 2 months ahead to get everyone in the spirit of the season?  The stores are not going to make big sales this year.  Deal with it!  If families are torn between putting food on their table or expensive gifts under the tree 2 months of ads and music is not going to make that decision any easier.

Families are worried about their homes foreclosing and they are faced with losing their jobs but just play  Christmas music and put up the decorations and everything will be ok.

Get real folks!

 

When does the media stop their trotting out the polls one right after another?

The newspapers and the tvs and internet news sites need to back off and stop influencing the outcome of these elections.  This one especially.  Let the public make up it's own mind.  Stop mentioning that this candidate is ahead in this poll or that state has turned red or blue.  Let the voters have space to make up their minds without undue influence.

It's not like there hasn't been enough campaigning coming at us each and every day.  You've done your job.  Everyone knows this is an election year and that they need to get out there and vote.  There will be plenty for you to cover AFTER the last person has voted.  We all have a right to cast our vote and we all have the right to think our vote matters.  Trying to call the outcome and/or force the outcome more than a week ahead does an injustice to many voters and this country.

Last year public campaign funds were good enough for both candidates.  This year Barak changes his mind and decides the guy with the most toys (or money) wins.  That glistening in the eyes is not from the bright lights but money greed.  With talk of bailing out one institution after another Barak keeps raking in the money.  Money he is not completely forthcoming about all donors.  To buy 30 minutes of air time.  So he can stand alone in the spotlight.  Money that could be better spent in this economy. 

Per former Senator Kerry of Nebraska, "a hypocrite is a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue -- who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or feelings. And that, it seems to me, is what we are doing now."

When people on the street were asked for the first word that came to mind about each candidate, one response is so true.  Cocky.  Barak appears Cocky.  Overly self-confident.  Arrogant.  Conceited.

Not what I want in a President.

Try as I might I can't figure out why we received 2 Sample Ballots last week.

We mailed in our votes early.  Should there not be a way for the left hand to tell the right hand if you rec'd early voting materials, not to send Sample Ballots?  Not only is that a waste of time, paper and mailing expense, but ti was also in both languages.

Talk about saving taxpayers' money.  Start here.

Does anyone else see the security risk with Cell Phone Tickets for your airline flight?

This year especially, when our country is experiencing economic troubles, why does a candidate need $158 Million Dollars? 

There are so many other areas where this money could be put to better use. 

Frivolous?  Excess?  A sample of his spending IF he gets to the White House?  You betcha.

We went to the Arizona State Fair yesterday. First time in years. We walked through the halls that showcased the winners in cooking, baking, sewing, quilting, photography and other genres. Was it just us or did others notice also? The cases housing the winning entries were old and dilapidated with peeling paint.  These entrants had spent a lot of time and money on their projects.  Too bad the cases couldn't have spent a little time with a paintbrush.

The entrants were from all ages in every category.  There is a lot of talent out there in all age groups too.  With the run on graffiti today, it is refreshing to note that there are still many who have decided to put their talents into photography and artwork.  Beautiful quilting and delicious confections being passed down from one generation to the next.

We also took in the 4H judging and were delighted to see how many of our youngsters still take pride in responsibility.

If you haven't been to the fair yet this year, you might want to stop by.  There's more out there than the carnival and the booths trying to sell you stuff.  It's our present, past and future.

(AP) A handful of top executives from American International Group Inc. spent thousands of dollars during a recent English hunting trip, even as the New York-based insurer asked for an additional $37.8 billion loan from the Federal Reserve.

"This was an annual event for customers of the AIG property casualty insurance companies in the U.K. and Europe, and planned months before the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's loan to AIG," company spokesman Peter Tulupman said Wednesday.

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They will probably tell you that the funds for this comes from a different account.  Those same top executives will more than likely also get their bonus this year.  An exorbitant one too.  But the minions at that company will not.  Why?  Because they did not reach their goals. 

Why was there not a stipulation?  Why do these companies not stand up themselves and say we would be too embarrassed to have this excess when our company needed a bailout?  Because they believe they are owed this kind of extravagance.  And we allow it to continue.  Aren't we throwing good money after bad?  What happened to firing someone for doing a terrible job?

It's great that CEO's are virtually unscathed by the market's plunge.  Just look at all the good they try to do for the "little people".  Why one company has gone out of their way to get a better medical insurance plan for their "folks".  They are even putting between $600 and $1,2000 for each employee (depending on the number of dependents)into a special account to help pay for expenses throughout the year.  How magnanimous can you get?  Those that do not use all of it can carry it over to the next year.  I'm sure it was just overlooked that last year's health program covered 100% of costs after the co-pay.  This new proposed plan?  Well, there is the $300 deductible that needs to be met now.  Oh yes, and it only pays for 80% now and not 100% like last year even though the premium is almost exactly the same.  But heck they are giving that $600 to $1,200 to each employee .  They must have only the best interests of the employees in mind.