This following Section Commentary was added to Other Topics on 10/2011
Commentary
Article #1:TO THOSE of US Born Yrs 1925 - 1970
At the end of this article is a quote of the month by Jay Leno. Please read what he said. It is Very well stated by Mr. Leno.
NOTE: The following article appeared in the Rim Country Garrett Retiress 09/2011 Newsletter.
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED 1930s, ‘40s, ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s!!
First, we survived being born to mothers who may have smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn’t get tested for diabetes.
Then, after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps, not helmets, on our heads.
As infants and children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.
Riding in the back of a pick-up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from a garden hose and not from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends from one bottle and no one actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter, and bacon.
We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And we weren’t overweight.
WHY?
Because we were always outside playing…..That’s Why!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were OKAY.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill; only to find out we forgot the brakes.
After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Play Stations, Nintendo’s and X-boxes.
There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVDs, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and chat rooms.
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We would get spankings with wooden spoons, switches, and ping-pong paddles, or just the bare hand.
And no one would call child services to report abuse.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthday, made up games with sticks and tennis balls.
And although we were told it would happen-we did not put out very many eyes.
The ideal of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of.
They actually sided with the law!
IF YOU are one of those born between 1925-1970, CONGRATULATIONS!
(I believe most of us qualify !)
The Quote of the Month by Jay Leno.
“With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another,
and with bird flu and terrorist attacks, Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?”
Article #2: Buy American?
I purchased a car last year from perhaps the first, and last, great American car companies – Ford.
How did I come to buy this car? Well, prior to my Ford I had a Chrysler 300M. It was 12 years old and since I am pushing 88 (and I don’t mean miles per hour), I rationalized that I needed a new car that I could depend on to get me to the doctor or hospital if I was in a hurry.
The Chrysler was in reasonably good shape and loaded with amenities: low mileage, comfortable ride, AC, heated seats, lights that go on when it gets dark, go off when you remove the key, a compass, good radio, CD player, sun roof, etc. But still I wondered, in its advanced age, would it get me “there” on a cold winter’s day . . . wherever there might be?
So with that worry in the back of my mind, I started shopping for a new car in early 2010. As a long-time subscriber to Consumer Reports, I checked their recommendations for the best cars on the market. But before I share with you about my decision to buy a Ford, let me give you a bit more background first.
Before the Chrysler, I had a Mercury Sable. And before that, I had a Buick Skylark. And before that, a couple of Plymouth station wagons. Notice anything? All the cars were made by American companies, none of which were ever at the top of Consumer Reports’ recommendations!
Why American Cars? Well, you see, when I was a sophomore at Temple University I decided it was important to join the war effort, so I enlisted in the army and chose to finish my education when the war (WWII) was over.
After basic training in chemical warfare, I spent 6 months training in the signal corps at Camp Crowder as part of a radio-teletype team that was eventually attached as back-up to McArthur’s headquarters in New Guinea. After a year on that island, we followed McArthur to the Philippines, where we prepared for a future assault on Japan. Thankfully, it never happened! Truman ordered The Bomb to be dropped and 6 months later, rather than landing in Japan, I was back at Temple University.
Perhaps now you can see why I only purchase cars from American companies. It has always been hard for me to see beyond my war experiences to care enough about the superiority of Japanese or German engineering.
But was I really buying an American car?
Surprisingly, when I gave the Chrysler 300M to my daughter and son-in-law, I discovered that it was made in Canada. And just recently, after driving my Ford Fusion sport model for over one year, I stumbled across a parts content information sticker that should have been displayed on the window before purchase. It traitorously stated:
So in today’s every growing global economy I have to ask myself, “Did I buy an American car?” To tell you the truth, I am not sure there is such a thing as an American car anymore.
Editor's Note: The above article was prepared by H/AREA Member Ted Largman who is expressing his personal views.
Disclaimer:
It should be noted that H/AREA makes this information known as a Service to its Home Page Viewers.
H/AREA does not recommend or endorse any of the ideas in this article.
The following Section Humor- New Laws,Rules,Axioms,Etc.- was added to Commentary a subset of Other Topics on 11/2011
Article #3: Humor
New Laws, Rules, Axioms, Etc.
Here is a List of the Above.
First, The Most Famous Laws --- Murphy’s!
1.Murphy’s Law #1
If anything can go wrong it will....At the most inopportune time.
2.Murphy’s Law #2
If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.
A hidden flaw never stays hidden long.
3.Murphy’s Law #3
If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the
most damage will be the one to go wrong.
4.Murphy's Law of Thermodynamics
Things get worse under pressure.
5.The Murphy Philosophy
Smile ..... Tomorrow will be worse.
6.Anthony’s Law of Force
Don’t force it.Get a larger hammer.
7.Cann’s Axiom
When all else fails,READ the Instructions.
8. Clarke’s 3rd Law
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
9. Canada’s Bill Jones’s 1st Motto
Its morally wrong to allow suckers to keep their money.
10. Canada’s Bill Jones’s 2nd Motto
A Smith & Wesson will always beat four aces.
11. Sattinger’s Law
It works much better----- If You Plug It In !
12. John’s Axiom
When your opponent is down ----- Kick Him !
13. The Johnson- Laird Law
A toothache tends to start on a Saturday night.
14. Jones’s Law
A man who can smile when things go wrong has thought of someone
he can blame it on.
15. Jones’s Motto
Friends Come and Go; Enemies Accumulate.
16. Dean Martin’s Definition of Drunkenness
You’re not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on.
17. Franklin’s Rule
Blessed is he who expects nothing: For he shall not be disappointed.
18. Meskimen’s Law
There never time to do it right. However, there’s always time to do it over.
19. Vonnegut’s Corollary
Beauty may only be skin deep ---- But Ugliness goes right to the core.
20. Lowery’s Law
If it jams ----force it. If it breaks, It needed replacing anyway.
21. Ginsberg’s Theorom
(a) You can’t win.
(b) You can’t break even
(c) You can’t even quit the game
22. The Law of Mechanical Repair
After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch –OR –
You will have to go to the bathroom.
23. The Law of the Workshop
Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner or table.
24. The Law of Probability
The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
25. The Variation Law
If you change traffic lanes while driving, the one you were in will start to move faster
than the one you are in now.
26. Oliver’s Law
The closed mouth gathers no feet.
27. Wilson’s Law
As soon as you find a product that you like and must have, they will stop making it.
28. The Law of Light and Sound
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
29. Definition of Fine
A Fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a Fine for doing well.
30. Definition of Change
Change in life is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
31. The Sword and a Gun
Those who chose to live by the sword get shot by Those that don’t.
32. Definition of the 50-50 Rule
The 50-50 Rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right,
there is a 90% chance of getting it wrong.
33. The Rule of Waiting for Things
The Things that come to those who wait --- may be the things left by those who got there first.
34. The Rule of Fishing
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a
boat all day drinking beer.
35. Definition of a Flashlight.
It is a case for holding dead batteries.
36. Definition of the Shin Bone
It’s a device for finding furniture in the dark.
37. Definition of a Jury
When you go to court, you are putting yourself in the hands of 12 people who
were not smart enough to get out of jury duty.
38. The Law of Close Encounters
The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don’t want to be seen with.
39. Law of Bio Mechanics
The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
40. Iron Law of Distribution
Thems that has-GETS!
Article #4: Humor #2
This is a Double Feature: Comments by Golf Caddies and Golf Quotes has been added to Commentary/Humor.
A. Top Ten Funny Comments by Golf Caddies.
#10 -
Golfer: “Think I’m going to drown myself in the lake.”
Caddy: “Think you can keep your head down that long."
#9 –
Golfer: “I’d move heaven and earth to break 100 on this course.”
Caddy: “Try heaven, you’ve already moved most of the earth.”
#8 -
Golfer: “Do you think my game is improving?”
Caddy: “Yes sir, you miss the ball much closer now.”
#7 –
Golfer: “Do you think I can get there with a 5 iron?”
Caddy: “Eventually !
#6 -
Golfer: “You’ve got to be the worst caddy in the world.”
Caddy: “I don’t think so sir. That would be too much of a coincidence."
#5 -
Golfer: “Please stop checking your watch all the time. It’s too much of a distraction.”
Caddy: “It’s not a watch – it’s a compass.”
#4 -
Golfer: “How do you like my game?”
Caddy: “Very good sir, but personally, I prefer golf.”
Golfer: “Do you think it’s a sin to play on Sunday?”
Caddy: “The way you play, sir, it’s a sin on any day.”
#2 -
Golfer: “This is the worst course I’ve ever played on.”
Caddy: “This isn’t the golf course. We left that an hour ago.”
And the #1 Caddy Comment is:
Golfer: “That can’t be my ball, it’s too old.”
Caddy: “It’s been a long time since we teed off, sir.”
B. Jeff Vanek's Golf Quotes
Turn on your sound before clicking on the following movie Website. ENJOY !
The U.S. Congress has passed legislature requiring all conventional ‘analog’ TV Broadcasting to stop on February 17, 2009. Viewers of this type of Free Over-the-Air TV Programming will see their TV screens go Dark.
The DTV Transition Coalition
Many people are not aware of the DTV Transition deadline. A group of industry organizations have formed a coalition whose purpose is to educate and make the public aware about the DTV Transition. The group has a website which includes a deadline countdown clock.
The URL for DTV Transition Coalition is: DTVT
This website Home Page has helpful links to a DTV Glossary, Information about the Coalition and three (3) Main Categories:
Another perspective on DTV Transition can be gained by listening or watching a recent Analysis Program on thePBS NewsHour called TVs Prepare for Transition to Digital Signals.1
Over-the Air TV Reception
Most of the nation’s commercial and public broadcast TV stations are simulcasting both Analog and Digital signals now. Therefore, a viewer can see his programs either on a new digital equipped TV or an older analog TV set.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) states that 1600 TV stations in 211 Markets are now delivering DTV transmission.2
Your local TV broadcaster will make only Digital Television ( DTV) transmissions after the 02/17/09 date. In order to view the Over-the-Air Digital Programming on your present analog TV set, the viewer will need a combo: A capable antenna and a set-top converter box capable of decoding the digital signal.
It has been estimated that this shut-off of analog TV signals will affect over 20 million households that rely solely on Free, Over-the-Air TV Broadcasting.3
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has estimated that:4
Why Is DTV Being Mandated ?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gives three (3) main reasons.5
You gain the capability to multicast: Each local station can provide several different program streams from using the digital spectrum. This means expanded program coverage.
How To Cope With the DTV Transition
Here are two (2) approaches:
The U.S. Congress passed a law in Yr05 which provides an initial $990 million and up to $1.5 billion to help people buy converter boxes that would keep their old analog TV sets working when the DTV transition finishes. These converter boxes will be available in retail stores during the transition and are expected to cost between $40 and $60 each.
Congress has directed the National Telecom & Inform Administration (NTIA) which is part of the U.S. Dept. of Commerce (DOC) to setup a program.6
(Note: The above amount of money allows for the conversion of only 24.75 million TV sets if the consumer so chooses to do this. Once this money has been spent, the consumer eligibility for this program will be limited.)
The specific rules addressing the implementation of the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon program will be made public in later 2007.
This will address how the consumer can go about requesting these coupons.
It should be noted that interfacing a Set-Top Converter Box to your present analog TV WILLNOT display the full features that DTV is capable of providing.
Your set will display the broadcast content – but your TV viewing experience will not be enhanced.
The Flip Side of TV Reception
How does DTV effect the 85 million households that watch TV via service provided by cable or satellite?
Local TV broadcasts are usually picked up by the cable or satellite service provider at a central location and then made available. It is likely that these service providers will continue to provide local broadcast programming (LBP) even after there is the change in broadcast transmission from analog to digital.8
That Maybe True! However What If………?
The Cable TV Service Provider
Your cable provider may decide to go ALL DIGITAL in his means of delivery once DTV takes effect. If this happens, the cable subscriber might need new DTV equipment to view this type of programming. It would best to ask the cable provider what equipment is necessary and when.
Here are some probable approaches:
This provides the user the LBP capability in case certain over-the-air broadcasts are not carried on cable.
Satellite TV Service Provider
It is suggested that the user contact their satellite provider and determine what type of new DTV equipment will be necessary to receive and view High Defintion TV( HDTV) programs.
DTV Types & High Definition (HD) Capabitlity
There are several versions of DTV sets that are presently on the market if the user decides to this route. The cost of DTV sets varies depending on screen size, display technology, and other features. As with most new consumer electronics, these products enter the marketplace at a high price to recoup their development and marketing expense and then begin to decrease in price to capture the public’s product acceptance and most important their pocketbook.
Here is a short list of TV Types and their High Definition (HD) Capability.9
The reader can gain additional insight into DTV terminology by referring to the DTV Glossary located in the DTV Transition Coalition website.
TV Type
Display Type
Screen Size
Flat Panel
Plasma
37” – 65”
LCD
15” – 65”
Projection
DLP
42” – 72”
LCD
42” – 62”
LCoS/SXRD
50” – 70”
This is DVD –Quality, but not as detailed true HD. There is also a price differential between ED and HD.
FootNotes
Scroll down to the Thursday March 01, 2007 Program Listings and Click on:
TVs Prepare for Transition to Digital Signals. There is choice of Video or Audio.
Click on Link Digital Broadcasting
Click on Link 1600 DTV stations on air to obtain their listing.
Click on Link: Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program
The Earth Calendar is a daybook of holidays and celebrations around the world.
Provides an easy way to search for cameras trained on subjects as diverse as penguins at New York City's Central Park Zoo and the Earth as viewed from the moon.
With more than 16,000 articles at your fingertips, you'll find answers to most questions by querying this online encyclopedia. Short video clips, diagrams, and pictures help illustrate the entire site. (There may be a fee to view this site).
GrubHub helps you find food and order it online. It will provide a list of restaurants that deliver in your area, as well as a number of places that offer carry-out.
History of Famous 115 year old Jewish Delicatessen on lower East Side with excellent Kosher Deli sandwiches like "the best Corned Beef in New York", Pastrami, Ruben, Salami, pickles, hot dogs, salads, etc.
TasteBook provides a way to collect, organize and share your favorite recipies and turn them into personalized cookbooks.
This site features genealogy articles and tutorials that cover topics such as Courthouse Research Tips, Interview Pointers, and Record Keeping.
This site points you to valuable resources for gathering and arranging you family history.
This site provides a link to investigate U.S. Immigration records, and acts as a portal with links to other genealogy sites.
Provides a database for genealogy searches.
Provides links and tool and tutorials.
Map out the effects of global warming: glaciers melting, animal populations declining, and coral reef bleaching, to name a few.
Holidays on the Net provides the history and ways of celebrating holidays, along with holiday calendars.
This is a free site for TV shows and movies. If you've missed a TV show, you can watch it online.
An engaging array of interactive math, reading, and art activities designed for children ages 2 to 12.
This site contains information about Boy Scouts, and Boy Scout projects. For example, under "Winter Activities" you will find information on how to build a snow fort.
NJ public transportation route schedules, fares, rules, trip planning, etc.
This online service that can stop 'Mailbox Stuffers'- Various merchants and other Organizations - that send out catalogs to your house.
This service is free. Just register to search and then decline. You'll stop the Catalogs and by doing so save a lot of trees.
At this site you can read online books which explain the basics of taking great photos and the equipment you'll need to do it.
Quality stuffed exotic zoo animals.
Dishwasher, microwave oven, trash compactor, or dehumidifier - if it's a household appliance, this site tells you how it works, figures out what is wrong with it, and shows you how you can fix it. You can even order spare parts.
Fun and activities for children, with guides for parents and teachers.
Activities for seniors.
From dams to museums to pipelines, you'll find engineering points of interest in every state.
Official U,S, Marine Corps. Reserve Toys for Tots Program.
Looking for Lost Money? The Natl. Assoc.of Unclaimed Property Administrators is holding billions of dollars in unclaimed stocks, dividends , bank accounts, and various other assets.
You can find out if any of these unclaimed assets has your name on them by going to the above website.
Yelp offers user reviews by city in a number of categories: food, entertainment, automotive, nightlife and others.
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