Monday, March 31, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Things YOU Can Do Everyday
Light and computer are back on. So much for a quiet hour, my mother called and I spent most of the hour talking with her.You can help stop global warming by taking these 10 steps to cut your yearly emissions of carbon dioxide by thousands of pounds.
1. Replace standard light bulbs with energy efficient fluorescent. (Reduces emissions by 500 pounds per year.)
2. Replace worn out appliances with energy efficient models. (Reduces emissions by up to 10,000 pounds per year.)
3. Choose the best energy saving models when you replace windows. (Reduces emissions up to 1,000 pounds per year.)
4. Wrap your water heater in an insulating jacket. (Reduces emissions up to 1,000 pounds per year.)
5. Install low-flow shower heads that use less water. (Reduces emissions up to 300 pounds per year.)
6. Insulate walls and ceilings and save about 25% of home heating bills. (And reduce emissions by up to 2,000 pounds per year.)
7. Next time you buy a car, choose one that gets at least 30 miles per gallon (reduces carbon dioxide 2,500 pounds a year over a car that gets 10 mpg less.
8. Where you can, choose an electric utility company that does not produce power from polluting sources such as fossil fuels and nuclear fission. (Enormous potential reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.)
9. Ask your utility company for a home energy audit to pinpoint the best energy wasters. (Potential reduction of thousands of pounds per year.)
10. Whenever possible, walk, bike, carpool or use mass transit. (Reduces emissions by 20 pounds for every gallon of gasoline used.)
And, remember, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Hopefully some of these things have already been done in your house. If so, great. If not, get with the program. In many ways it's already too late!
Earth Hour
On March 29, 2008 from 8pm to 9pm, cities around the world will join together to literally turn off the lights for one hour to offer leadership and symbolize their commitment to finding climate change solutions. Individuals, local businesses and corporations will also be asked to turn off their lights. Will you join in?So I'm getting ready to turn off the computer, music and the lights. I will so enjoy the quiet.
If you'd like to do the same, no matter what day or time it is, just take an hour and turn everything off. Have a candlelight dinner, read a good book by the fireplace or a candle. Play board games or just relax and do nothing.
Dead Battery
I asked Patrick to go out today and start my car seeing as it's been a week since I went out. We didn't really have anywhere to go, but I just had a feeling about it. He came in a few minutes later and I didn't hear the car start in the meantime. Dead battery again! Now I just bought a new battery in January, so I knew there was a problem.
I called Triple A for service telling the woman that I purchased an AAA battery a couple of months ago. She said that she would give me the customer service phone number, but I told her I'd wait to see what the service guy said. I told her to make a note for him to not follow the GPS directions as they take anyone about 20 minutes out of the way unnecessarily. She said she would and he should be at my house by 3:15.
At 3:20 I got a call from the Providence office saying the driver was on his way. I told him again to tell the driver not to use GPS directions.
At 4:15 I got an automated call saying the driver was by my car, which was just outside of the window I was sitting at - no driver. As I was calling them, I received another automated call saying the driver was here. I finally reached a person who said the driver was at a location just about a mile up the road, thinking that it was the right location. By this time I'm getting a little ticked off. While I was waiting for them to track the driver, there he goes, right by my house. I waved him down and he pulled in. I asked why so long and he said the GPS directions were wrong!! Yikes, that did it. Now I was officially ticked off and I started yelling in the phone and at the service guy.
The service guy put his meter thingy on my battery, I tried to start it and he said it was my starter. I said no, it wasn't my starter and that's how the conversation went for the next couple of minutes. I finally got him to see that the lights in the car went on and off as he hooked the meter thingy up and that the battery was the problem.
Once he realized I was right he read the meter and my battery was putting out 0%. Thank goodness he had the battery truck so he changed the battery, gave me some new paperwork and he was on his way.
Patrick and I decided to take a ride so we went to pick up my mail, he shopped at Dave's and then we both hit the dollar store where I bought some new reading glasses.
I am so glad that I had that funny psychic feeling about my car, because tomorrow I HAVE to go out. I'll blog about why tomorrow.
I called Triple A for service telling the woman that I purchased an AAA battery a couple of months ago. She said that she would give me the customer service phone number, but I told her I'd wait to see what the service guy said. I told her to make a note for him to not follow the GPS directions as they take anyone about 20 minutes out of the way unnecessarily. She said she would and he should be at my house by 3:15.
At 3:20 I got a call from the Providence office saying the driver was on his way. I told him again to tell the driver not to use GPS directions.
At 4:15 I got an automated call saying the driver was by my car, which was just outside of the window I was sitting at - no driver. As I was calling them, I received another automated call saying the driver was here. I finally reached a person who said the driver was at a location just about a mile up the road, thinking that it was the right location. By this time I'm getting a little ticked off. While I was waiting for them to track the driver, there he goes, right by my house. I waved him down and he pulled in. I asked why so long and he said the GPS directions were wrong!! Yikes, that did it. Now I was officially ticked off and I started yelling in the phone and at the service guy.
The service guy put his meter thingy on my battery, I tried to start it and he said it was my starter. I said no, it wasn't my starter and that's how the conversation went for the next couple of minutes. I finally got him to see that the lights in the car went on and off as he hooked the meter thingy up and that the battery was the problem.
Once he realized I was right he read the meter and my battery was putting out 0%. Thank goodness he had the battery truck so he changed the battery, gave me some new paperwork and he was on his way.
Patrick and I decided to take a ride so we went to pick up my mail, he shopped at Dave's and then we both hit the dollar store where I bought some new reading glasses.
I am so glad that I had that funny psychic feeling about my car, because tomorrow I HAVE to go out. I'll blog about why tomorrow.
Friday, March 28, 2008
When Torture Hits Home
When the unthinkable becomes acceptable.
Reported by Mother Jones: Smart, Fearless Journalism
Reported by Mother Jones: Smart, Fearless Journalism
Who's Behind Abu Ghraib?
For the first time, one chart shows the scandal's full chain of command from Bush to detainees.
Here's the link:
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2008/03/abu-ghraib-chain-of-command.html
Funny how the court martials happened only to the people at the bottom of the list!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Seal Hunt
I just found out recently that Canada still allows seal hunting - as of tomorrow the seal hunting season is open for business, and a nasty business it is, to be sure.
Despite global opposition, Canada's sealers are gearing up to slaughter the first of 275,000 seals tomorrow. They kill mostly babies - for their fur.
Despite global opposition, Canada's sealers are gearing up to slaughter the first of 275,000 seals tomorrow. They kill mostly babies - for their fur.
Here's a link to the Humane Society: http://www.hsus.org/
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
One Reason Why I Boycott Walmart
By Randi Kaye CNN
JACKSON, Missouri (CNN) -- Debbie Shank breaks down in tears every time she's told that her 18-year-old son, Jeremy, was killed in Iraq.
Even though the 52-year-old mother of three attended her son's funeral -- she continues to ask how he's doing. When her family reminds her that he's dead -- she weeps as if hearing the news for the first time.
Shank suffered severe brain damage after a traffic accident nearly eight years ago that robbed her of much of her short-term memory and left her in a wheelchair and living in a nursing home.
It was the beginning of a series of battles -- both personal and legal -- that loomed for Shank and her family. One of their biggest was with Wal-Mart's health plan. Eight years ago, Shank was stocking shelves for the retail giant and signed up for Wal-Mart's health and benefits plan.
Two years after the accident, Shank and her husband, Jim, were awarded about $1 million in a lawsuit against the trucking company involved in the crash. After legal fees were paid, $417,000 was placed in a trust to pay for Debbie Shank's long-term care.
Wal-Mart had paid out about $470,000 for Shank's medical expenses, but in 2005, Wal-Mart's health plan sued the Shanks for the same amount.
The Shanks didn't notice in the fine print of Wal-Mart's health plan policy that the company has the right to recoup medical expenses if an employee collects damages in a lawsuit.
The family's attorney, Maurice Graham, said he informed Wal-Mart about the settlement and believed the Shanks would be allowed to keep the money.
"We assumed after three years, they [Wal-Mart] had made a decision to let Debbie Shank use this money for what it was intended to," Graham said.The Shanks lost their suit to Wal-Mart.
Last summer, the couple appealed the ruling -- but also lost it. One week later, their son was killed in Iraq."They are quite within their rights. But I just wonder if they need it that bad," Jim Shank said.
In 2007, the retail giant reported net sales in the third quarter of $90 billion.
Legal or not, CNN asked Wal-Mart why the company pursued the money.
Wal-Mart spokesman John Simley, who called Debbie Shank's case "unbelievably sad," replied in a statement: "Wal-Mart's plan is bound by very specific rules. ... We wish it could be more flexible in Mrs. Shank's case since her circumstances are clearly extraordinary, but this is done out of fairness to all associates who contribute to, and benefit from, the plan."
Jim Shank said he believes Wal-Mart should make an exception.
"My idea of a win-win is -- you keep the paperwork that says you won and let us keep the money so I can take care of my wife," he said.
The family's situation is so dire that last year Jim Shank divorced Debbie, so she could receive more money from Medicaid.
Jim Shank, 54, is recovering from prostate cancer, works two jobs and struggles to pay the bills. He's afraid he won't be able to send their youngest son to college and pay for his and Debbie's care.
"Who needs the money more? A disabled lady in a wheelchair with no future, whatsoever, or does Wal-Mart need $90 billion, plus $200,000?" he asked.
The family's attorney agrees.
"The recovery that Debbie Shank made was recovery for future lost earnings, for her pain and suffering," Graham said.
"She'll never be able to work again. Never have a relationship with her husband or children again. The damage she recovered was for much more than just medical expenses."
Graham said he believes Wal-Mart should be entitled to only about $100,000. Right now, about $277,000 remains in the trust -- far short of the $470,000 Wal-Mart wants back.
Refusing to give up the fight, the Shanks appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. But just last week, the high court said it would not hear the case.
Graham said the Shanks have exhausted all their resources and there's nothing more they can do but go on with their lives.
Jim Shank said he's disappointed with the Supreme Court's decision not to hear the case -- not for the sake of his family -- but for those who might face similar circumstances.
For now, he said the family will figure out a way to get by and "do the best we can for Debbie.""Luckily, she's oblivious to everything," he said. "We don't tell her what's going on because it will just upset her."
Walmart caved into public pressure a few days later and dropped their demand.
JACKSON, Missouri (CNN) -- Debbie Shank breaks down in tears every time she's told that her 18-year-old son, Jeremy, was killed in Iraq.
Even though the 52-year-old mother of three attended her son's funeral -- she continues to ask how he's doing. When her family reminds her that he's dead -- she weeps as if hearing the news for the first time.
Shank suffered severe brain damage after a traffic accident nearly eight years ago that robbed her of much of her short-term memory and left her in a wheelchair and living in a nursing home.
It was the beginning of a series of battles -- both personal and legal -- that loomed for Shank and her family. One of their biggest was with Wal-Mart's health plan. Eight years ago, Shank was stocking shelves for the retail giant and signed up for Wal-Mart's health and benefits plan.
Two years after the accident, Shank and her husband, Jim, were awarded about $1 million in a lawsuit against the trucking company involved in the crash. After legal fees were paid, $417,000 was placed in a trust to pay for Debbie Shank's long-term care.
Wal-Mart had paid out about $470,000 for Shank's medical expenses, but in 2005, Wal-Mart's health plan sued the Shanks for the same amount.
The Shanks didn't notice in the fine print of Wal-Mart's health plan policy that the company has the right to recoup medical expenses if an employee collects damages in a lawsuit.
The family's attorney, Maurice Graham, said he informed Wal-Mart about the settlement and believed the Shanks would be allowed to keep the money.
"We assumed after three years, they [Wal-Mart] had made a decision to let Debbie Shank use this money for what it was intended to," Graham said.The Shanks lost their suit to Wal-Mart.
Last summer, the couple appealed the ruling -- but also lost it. One week later, their son was killed in Iraq."They are quite within their rights. But I just wonder if they need it that bad," Jim Shank said.
In 2007, the retail giant reported net sales in the third quarter of $90 billion.
Legal or not, CNN asked Wal-Mart why the company pursued the money.
Wal-Mart spokesman John Simley, who called Debbie Shank's case "unbelievably sad," replied in a statement: "Wal-Mart's plan is bound by very specific rules. ... We wish it could be more flexible in Mrs. Shank's case since her circumstances are clearly extraordinary, but this is done out of fairness to all associates who contribute to, and benefit from, the plan."
Jim Shank said he believes Wal-Mart should make an exception.
"My idea of a win-win is -- you keep the paperwork that says you won and let us keep the money so I can take care of my wife," he said.
The family's situation is so dire that last year Jim Shank divorced Debbie, so she could receive more money from Medicaid.
Jim Shank, 54, is recovering from prostate cancer, works two jobs and struggles to pay the bills. He's afraid he won't be able to send their youngest son to college and pay for his and Debbie's care.
"Who needs the money more? A disabled lady in a wheelchair with no future, whatsoever, or does Wal-Mart need $90 billion, plus $200,000?" he asked.
The family's attorney agrees.
"The recovery that Debbie Shank made was recovery for future lost earnings, for her pain and suffering," Graham said.
"She'll never be able to work again. Never have a relationship with her husband or children again. The damage she recovered was for much more than just medical expenses."
Graham said he believes Wal-Mart should be entitled to only about $100,000. Right now, about $277,000 remains in the trust -- far short of the $470,000 Wal-Mart wants back.
Refusing to give up the fight, the Shanks appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. But just last week, the high court said it would not hear the case.
Graham said the Shanks have exhausted all their resources and there's nothing more they can do but go on with their lives.
Jim Shank said he's disappointed with the Supreme Court's decision not to hear the case -- not for the sake of his family -- but for those who might face similar circumstances.
For now, he said the family will figure out a way to get by and "do the best we can for Debbie.""Luckily, she's oblivious to everything," he said. "We don't tell her what's going on because it will just upset her."
Walmart caved into public pressure a few days later and dropped their demand.
Was Eliot Spitzer Assassinated?
The predatory lending industry has a partner in the White House. And guess who it is? Our own President Idiot.
Here's a short video that explains how the White House went after Eliot Spitzer after his 2/14/08 editorial in the Washington Post. It's quite enlightening and gives us one more reason to distrust our government.
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/291.html
Here's a short video that explains how the White House went after Eliot Spitzer after his 2/14/08 editorial in the Washington Post. It's quite enlightening and gives us one more reason to distrust our government.
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/291.html
Monday, March 24, 2008
Grim Facts
Of the 4,000 men and women who have been killed in Iraq during this illegal war, 97% of these human beings were killed after President Idiot declared "Mission Accomplished" on May 1, 2003.Over half of the dead soldiers were under 25 years of age.
Approximately 2,200 children have lost a parent since this illegal war began.
And, the Idiot's Vice President implies that the military members have no one to blame but themselves. Here's his quote:
"We're blessed with families who have sacrificed as they have. The President carries the biggest burden, obviously; he's the one who has to make the decision to commit young Americans. But we are fortunate to have the group of men and women, the all-volunteer force, who voluntarily put on the uniform and go in harm's way for the rest of us. You wish nobody ever lost their life, but unfortunately it's one of those things that go with living in the world we live in. Sometimes you have to commit military force, and when you do, there are casualties."
There are no words that can adequately describe the sadness that I feel for the families, the moms and dads, the sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandmothers, grandfathers and especially the children.
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