Category Archives: experience

I Have Questions

Posted in Biden, Border wall, Christian values, Crime, experience by

While the news is all full of stories about the recapture of the murderer, Danelo Cavalcante, I have questions that, I guess no one wants to answer.

My first question is, did he enter the US legally? On my own, I determined he is from Brazil. However, I suppose he might have come legally. Given the way things are at the border, the chances are high his arrival was illegal?

That, naturally brings up the supposition that the woman he killed would still be breathing.

My next question is how many dems are willing to lay this death at the feet of Old Joe? Had it not been for Joe’s changes in policy, the man might still be south of the border waiting for a hearing.

Third question. How much time, effort and money was spent convicting the man? Thousands? Tens of thousands? A lot? By the way, his defense was also likely paid for by the tax payers.

Another question, how many more times is this story repeated to some degree all over the country? How many more times will it take before the dems decide it’s time to seal the border. How many more deaths will it take to open their eyes?

And now the escape and search! How many law enforcement men have been pulled from other important duties? How much money was dispersed in the effort?

And then, by the way, the man was armed. Law enforcement officials might have been wounded or killed. Oh, and by the way, bystanders – children might have been hurt.

My last question…would anyone, anyone at all ask Old Joe if he feels any remorse for opening the floodgates? I doubt anyone will. It’s one of those rhetorical questions. You know, the ones where we already know the answer. Besides, he might be one of the few in this country who wouldn’t understand the question.

I guess I lied. I do have 1 more question, the rhetorical type. Are we ready for Old Joe to pack his things and go back to where he can’t do any more damage?

Remember the Alamo

Posted in Communism, experience, Gathering false infomortion, Important things, Lawyers and Representation, Mistakes, Obama, Politally Correct, Politcal Opinion by

Considering that today is September 11, that’s an odd title for a post, especially considering that the tragedy of 9/11 is far more recent. Moreover, the Alamo was not even in the US at the time. Check your history. It belonged to Mexico. Texas did not become a state for several years later.

However, the Alamo should be remembered and so should 9/11. But, the truth is no one really remembers either one. Both times are studied in history as the we remember the date December 7. Oh wait a minute December 7. That does sound familiar but I am having, oh yes. That was the day that will live in infamy. At least that was what that president said way back then. Now what was his name. I got it. I think it was Wilson, right.

My point is this, many high school grads have no idea why we celebrate July 4, 1976. We all should remember but few do. Just what was it that happened on this current day 22 years ago. Ask around. Do your kids know what happened. Ask them how many died on that day and how. How many remember the so-called purpose for the attack.

It is so easy to forget. Today, it is the first thing talked about on the news. It has likely been replayed a hundred or so times already today. And yet, already, even now, it is beginning to fade into obscurity. It will soon become just another date to remember. After another generation or two it will not even be spoken of much in the schools. The memory will be forgotten. Not only will it be forgotten but it will become obscured. It will be twisted to mean what the socialists will want it to mean.

How many remember the fall of Vietnam. How many know we actually won that war. How many will remember the lost lives there. How many will remember that there was a Korean police action. It is already known as “the forgotten war.”

I often get on the case of the English teachers for not teaching to read and write. Yet that is nothing compared to the way that history is taught. Does anyone out there remember when the war of 1813 was fraught or who we were fighting. I mean, I am 73. It happened a long time before I was born. Why should I remember such things.

I’m a marine. I remember Iwo Jima. A person cannot make it through boot camp without knowing about it. Does this mean that the only way we remember our history is to join the Marines.

I could go on and on with this all day, but you see my point, or at least I hope you do. Hopefully, you will have spotted my intentional errors, though many will not. Try looking up the War of 1813 on the internet.

The man said that those who do not remember the past are doomed to relive it. Let me put it a little differently. Those who fail to remember are doomed to failure and destruction.

So, let’s remember the 9/11 event. But let us not forget Pearl Harbor or the Battle of the Bulge. Let’s not forget the battle we had with communists in Korea. Let’s not forget the men who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. More important, let’s not forget why they fought. Also let’s not forget when Obama and Biden turned tail and ran in both cases. Let’s not forget the way Congress took Nixon’s ability to finish the war in Vietnam. In each case, it costs the lives of millions.

But it is also important to not let the libs redraw history to fit their purpose. It is just as bad as forgetting. Invariably, it will result in reliving the past mistakes, over and over, again and again.

Learning From our Mistakes

Posted in Abuse of Power, Communism, Controllers, Education, experience, Politcal Opinion, Uncategorized by

Well, we’ve made the mistake. When are we going to start learning.

Oh. Maybe you are wondering to which mistake am I referring. Well, let’s look at it objectively. In the fifties and sixties, we had some of the best schools in the world. California had the best schools in the schools country.

Odd. Since then, we have increased spending on those schools, not just two fold but ten fold. One would think the quality of the teaching would have skyrocketed. It did… in the negative direction. The teaching has gotten so bad so fast that one would think it intentional. Well, maybe it was intentional. I have often wondered and I am sure I’m not alone.

Shall we take a short walk down memory lane, please. The current Department of Education was signed into law in 1979 by Jimmy Carter (You remember, he was the president who did very little other than give away the Panama Canal. Now that took some brains.) Since that time, the quality of our education has taken a nose dive. Do you suppose that forming the Department of Education just might have been the beginning of mistakes.

Let’s look at two very important objective considerations. The current budget of the department is 68 billion dollars. (seems as if we could build a lot of schools with that.) If distributed equally, that is over a billion dollars for each state. Also it has 4900 employees. I wonder just how many of them actually knows how to teach. I wonder how many ever did teach. It makes me wonder if they really know where to most effectively spend that 68 billion dollars.

When I started this post, I did feel I should Google the department. At that point, I only had a vague idea on what I would be writing. Right there on the computer screen was a photo of a big building. (I really mean it is big.) Do they have to have a big building? Does it serve any purpose. I am sure that building must require maintenance, utilities and upkeep. It makes me wonder if those going green folks realize the waste. Actually, when you come right down to it, the US government likely generates a lot of carbon dioxide in buildings like that. You ever take a tour of DC. There is a big building for this and a big building for that. There are many of them and I suspect there are more planned. Shut that city down for a month and we could run Southaven on the savings all year and then some. My electric car would likely go around the world… forget that. I don’t think I could make that calculation.

At any rate, my best guess, that big department likely takes it’s orders from the National Education Association, a union. I don’t think that the union has the interest of our kids at heart. Like most unions, their biggest interest is the union…gaining and maintaining money and power. If the kids get educated, it is totally by accident and the local education system.

The department controls local schools in three ways. They collect statistics. The distribute money, but only to those who meet the standards of the department. It makes little difference of those standards are good or bad. Finally, they make sure that there is no segregation in the schools. Surely, all this can be done locally. Why do we need a big brother in DC to tell the local schools and teachers what to do.

Well, how is the centralized system working out for us? Well, they collect the stats. They, themselves ought to be able to tell us. I don’t have to guess. You don’t have to guess. Since their formation… by their own stats, they have failed miserably. If we are ever going to learn from our mistake, I’d say the best thing to do is do away with the Department of Education and let the homeless move into that big building. It would solve 2 problems. The schools would start improving and homeless would have somewhere to stay. Actually, a lot of homeless people could stay there.

Okay. It won’t solve everything and I know it. It will help. The big mistake is this, more money does not always equal better teaching. If you want better teaching, you need better teachers, better curriculum, and less overhead. As I said, those folks in the department hierarchy don’t teach. They are what I call, “Hangers on.” At the state level, there are thousands who work for the school system who don’t teach or for that matter directly support the teachers.

By the way, the state of California has its own education quagmire. They have 2740 employees and a budget of over 89 billion dollars. I wonder just how many of them know how to teach. Just how many of them know where the money will do the most good. My guess is they get many of their orders from the N.E.A. too.

I think the big part of the mistake is centralizing the education system. Those folks up there in those really big buildings have no idea of what is going on in the classrooms. I think most experienced good teachers will agree with me. On the other hand, the mediocre teachers will prefer the protection provided by the union.

My Two Favorite Nuts

Posted in experience, Food, Little known info by

It is an oddity, of sorts. The two nuts I like the very most, aren’t nuts, or so I’m told. The peanut is a legume. Never heard of legumes until a couple of decades ago. I can easily sit down and eat a couple of pounds in one sitting.

Then about two or three years ago, some one spoiled it for me for cashews. All the time I have been eating them and then they spoil it for me. They said cashews aren’t nuts either. I think of all nuts, or should I say of all not-nuts cashews are my favorite. It is a good thing they cost so much. I would make myself sick on them very regularly.

They, along with the real nuts are really very healthy. That means they are good for you. Don’t let the kids find out. Because of the fiber in them, they are very good for digestion. It’s true. The last few months, I have taken to eating them, a lot of them.

Since I was thirty-ish I have had problems with digestion. I have paid many doctors a lot of good money to help me. It didn’t work. There are some things doctors know not. Now, since I have been eating the non-nut nuts, I have been doing much better, thank you. I sure wished one of those doctors told me about nuts a long time ago.

Of course, not everyone can eat peanuts or cashews. I am told as many as 20 percent of people are allergic to them to some degree. That is a true shame because the non-nuts are good and they good for a person, I mean, even besides the fiber thing. They are good about helping with circulation and they keep cholesterol low. Though cashews are an expensive food, they are less expensive than a heart attack or stroke. I wish I knew about them before my heart attack.

I buy at least two bags of peanuts and a couple of cans of cashews now every time I go shopping. I buy the peanuts still in the shell. I’ve gotten pretty good at shelling them. It gives me something to do while watching TV. I try to put the shell in a container, but many end up in my lap or on the floor. That means cleaning up after.

I guess it’s been a couple of decades ago, I drove south to the Gulf. By the time I reached Jackson, I started noticing signs, “Boiled Peanuts.” I had two thoughts, “You can boil peanuts?” and “What in the world do they taste like?” Well, I guess I did have one more thought, “Do I want to find out?”

I thought the thought revolting. I couldn’t imagine people ruining perfectly good peanuts and I certainly couldn’t imagine anyone would actually to pay for them. I mean, who wants to pay good money for a bunch of ruined peanuts?

Well, I guess there are a few folks who like to eat their legumes that way. Otherwise, why would anyone be selling them. I still have one more question. Are they boiled in or out of the shell? After all, anyone can boil nuts. It does, however, seem to be a thing a person should find out before they start heating the water.

Cold & Flu

Posted in CEO Princeple, Customer complaints, experience by

I really like Alka-Seltzer Plus. It works. Usually I by the little green or red pills. They are easy to swallow and I don’t need to mix them with water. Made a mistake a few days ago. I bought the powder. My wife was feeling bad and her nose was stuffy.

Well, I tell you, I knew just what to do. I got out the Alka-Seltzer and opened the box, then I realized my mistake. The powder came in an envelope. The envelope has instructions on it, mainly warnings and cautions. I got out my reading glasses. Not enough. Held the envelope under a light. Not enough. Scrounged around and found a magnifying glass and finally read the instructions.

The instructions, by the way are simple. Mix contents of envelope in eight ounces of warm water. It was panic time again. I don’t have anything in the house for measuring water in ounces. I know this for a fact because I looked about everywhere.

Finally, I went to the computer. Glad I have some access to the internet. By the way, 8 ounces is one cup. You might want to remember that. It just might come in handy one day.

At any rate, I’m glad it was just a stuffy nose and achy muscles. I’d hate to think if it were something a little more important.

Well, you will be glad to know. It worked. My wife can breathe easy again and she is sleeping well. Thank you, Alka-Seltzer. But next time, can you please mark things a little more plainly. Not everyone who takes these meds have perfect vision. A small parenthetical (8 oz) would have come in handy too.

I’m going to need to get me a bigger magnifying glass. How small is that print anyway. I don’t even think it is four points. Maybe 2. I wonder if the Chairman of the board can read that print. I wonder if he ever tried.

A Little Advice, Worth Every Cent You’re Paying for It

Posted in Customer complaints, experience, Fast Food, Pride, Vocabulary by

Any time that you are looking for employment, if you get to the point of an interview, I suggest you promise that you will keep your mouth shut and do your job.

Well, I suspect that just might overdo it just a little. Sometimes talking, such as in sales, requires talking. Nonetheless, there are those who think talking is their job when it isn’t. Indeed, talking may irritate customers and coworkers. Moreover, it can actually reduce productivity. The boss is not paying you to discuss last night’s date or the score of yesterday’s ball game. When it drives up the din in the dining room, it can actually drive customers away. It can become an irritant.

This is especially true when yelling and, or foul language is used. Believe it or not, there are still some of us who prefer a dinner in a restaurant where such language is not common. Even though I spent 9 years in the Marines, I am still irritated by such language.

Finally, when a person who is supposed to be taking orders is talking to a fellow employee or on a cell phone, it prompts people like me to look around. If there is another place across the street, maybe we’ll just go over there. Worse, we might discover we like the other place and never return to your place. It happens.

In summary, there are some places where loudmouths are not appreciated, especially in the workplace.

As a side note, the rest of us should remember that when in a restaurant, we customers really ought not be obnoxious to the other guests. As guests, we are encouraged to carry on conversations, not yelling contests.

Face-to-face…NOT

Posted in Awkward Situation, CEO Princeple, Computers, Crazy Nuts, Customer No-Service, experience, Phones & Cell Phones by

At one time, I really thought that the phone was a wonderful thing.  When the cell phone came out, even better.  But it would seem that, as with all wonderful inventions, they can be good or bad.  A hammer, when used to drive a nail, is a wonderful thing.  When used for murder, not so much.

Okay, I agree.  I overdid it, not a little but a lot.  However, sometimes the extreme is a good thing when illustrating a point.

I have heard that Alexander Bell, the inventor of the phone, would never answer his phone during dinner.  As I think it over, maybe that was a good idea, whether he did or not.  The old door to door sales man has been replaced by the telemarketer.  No one seems immune.  During a recent visit to my doctor, he got two robo-calls.

I’m sure they are much more of a bother to him than to me.  Yet, he must answer.  It just might be an important call.  We have all somewhat become a slave to the wonderful invention.

It is quite common for me to receive phone calls from Memphis offering to buy my house.  I don’t live in Memphis.  Don’t want to sell my house.  I must have something to keep the rain off me.  Maybe roofs aren’t so important in the desert of Arizona, but here in the Mid-South; they are something of a necessity.

I think the worst thing about phones is that they have virtually destroyed the face-to-face relationships, both socially as well with business relationships.

The other day, I went to answer my cell phone and when I touched the thing in the wrong way, it displayed the internet screen.  I rarely use the phone for internet, only when I can’t get to a computer.  The screen is too small for my 73 year-old-eyes.  It is common with my not-so-smart phone.

So as the phone continued to ring, I continued to fumble.  I easily got rid of the of the internet screen, but there were no buttons to answer the phone.  So.  I missed the call.  Just as well.  It was a telemarketer.  But what if it was that guy that wanted to give me a million dollars?  I think I would have been very angry with that phone company and the character that designed that stupid phone, the one they call a smart phone.

So.  Today I went down to the store where I bought the phone.  I told the sales person there I wanted to drop the line.  I have a good flip phone that works much better for my purposes.  He said that he couldn’t do it.  I had to call customer service, on the phone.

So much for face-to-face service.  Of course, if I wanted another phone, they would have had me all set up in roughly twenty minutes.  I would have walked out of the store with a new working phone, a smart phone that would really be dumb.  They don’t carry the flip phones.  They have to be ordered.  Takes 7 to 10 days to get it.

Soon after getting home, I called customer service.  I explained that I wanted to drop the line and why.  The lady I was speaking to hadn’t an idea what I was saying.  She immediately started trying to say she might be able to reduce the price of my service.

I explained I wanted the line deleted, like right now.  “Sorry.  Can’t do that.”  Better to talk face-to-face.  They obviously did not want to lose the line.  After I reminded her that there are many other cell phone services, she stopped that ploy.

Still, in about a year, when I no longer have to pay penalties, I just might go to another service.  I am currently paying 200 a month.  I think I just might be able to find somewhere that will provide pretty good service for 50 or less.  Still.  Push-come-to-shove.  I am going to have to admit to it.  The days of talking to a person, face-to-face are gone.  In essence, the corporations have decided to use the hammer for something other than a nail.

Possible Solution for Robocalls or Telemarketers

Posted in Computers, experience, Fantasy, Important things, Lawyers and Representation, Respect by
  1. Check caller ID. If not recognized, don’t answer.
  2. When phone stops ringing, call back. If busy, it is likely robocaller or telemarketer attempting there next call. If they answer, if it is a business they will likely answer with 1. A recording 2. A business reply identifying their business 3. Some poor college kid might reply with no idea what to do. They generally are not trained to receive calls. Your choice as to what to do, most probably tell them to stop calling. Alternatively, you can simply hang up.
  3. Of course it could be Mom on a borrowed phone wanting some help. Apologize and tell her you’re on the way.
  4. If it is a telemarketer, refuse to do any business with them. It is the ultimate solution. If telemarketing doesn’t work, they will stop doing it. My guess is the phone companies will be the losers. They know when these guys set these things up & they know they are going to make a bundle on it. As. Long as the phone companies permit it, it will not stop, especially from foreign shores.

All You Have to Do….

Posted in Abuse of Power, Customer complaints, experience by

During a phone conversation, the young man was trying to sell me something. I don’t remember what it was. Maybe he was trying to get me to donate for something. It doesn’t really matter.

I do remember the last two things said. He said, “All you have to do is….”

I said, “I don’t have to do anything! ” I put the emphasis on the word have and hung up.

It seems to be, unfortunately a very overused very inaccurate phrase. When I was a private in the Marines, there were many things I had to do. When I was a child, there were many things I was required to do. Even today, as a citizen, as a driver, as a taxpayer there are things I must do. Last time I checked, as a potential customer, I don’t have to do anything other than pay for my purchases.

To be sure, there are things that are customary. There are things that are contingent. I mean, I do fill my own basket in a grocery store. Nowadays, I do my own scanning. Nowadays, I pump my own gas.

Before l can leave the store, I must make a valid payment. That is not just conventional but legal.

However, more and more these days I become angered when someone says all I need to do is….

It is wrong and it shows a wrong idea. As a customer, there are things reqired of me, to be sure. However, when this phrase is used, most of the time, it’s simply not true. It is very rare to be accurate by telemarketers and it is never appropriate for those representing charities.

Hence, unless a person wants to anger me, they should really avoid using the phrase, especially when not accurate. If on a phone the next sound they will likely hear is the click of a hangup. If in person, they will likely see me turn on my heel and leave. I’d suggest others do the same. Just maybe we customers might regain some of the control we deserve.

A New Wonder Plane

Posted in Climate Change, experience, Fantasy, Gas vs Electric by

Just saw it on the web…an electric powered seaplane capable of a hundred miles with 19 passengers. Now let’s see. That means it can go between L.A. or San Diego and Catalina. maybe without a recharge. That means it can go from L. A. to San Diego. I suspect it would take a few stops to go from L. A. to San Francisco.

That is a somewhat limited range though there is an advantage. Should the fuel…er, the charge, start running low, as long as it is over water, it can just about sit down anywhere. No need to look for a runway. On the other hand, it could be a long swim to shore.

I kind of like the idea of seaplanes. If I were a billionaire, I just might buy one. However, I think mine would be powered by gas. Much better to fly than swim.

Okay. That is just over the edge. I shouldn’t say things like that when people are doing what they can to save our planet. However, sometimes a person has to go over the edge a little to get people to that we are a long ways from truly practical electric planes. I did see the photo of the plane, though. It looks nice. Put a couple of gas guzzling engines on it, and they just might have a product they can sell.