2008 Presidential Candidates-Room For More?

Time is running out.....is there still enough for any more candidates to enter the race? Well, some of the sources seems to think there is. I guess this may be true, but what would be the reason to enter the race? Isn't the field already set? Isn't it a two party race? Is there a chance anyone other than a Democrat or Republican will win?

Who could still enter the race?

The Democrat hopefuls are former Vice President Al Gore. After "winning" an Oscar for his "green" documentary, his stock has risen....I'm sure he still feels he was "robbed" in the 2000 election.

The Republican hopefuls are former speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, Nebraskan Senator Chuck Hagel, Fred Thompson, former Tennessee Senator, and New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg (The moderate Republican was a lifelong Democrat before he changed parties to run for mayor in 2001 and avoid a crowded Democratic field).

From the NY Sun, one longtime Washington observer, Stephen Hess of George Washington University, noted that some who don't intend to run toy with the public in order to bring attention to themselves or particular issues. " Richard Nixon said virtually the same thing to me in '64. ‘Let them think I'm a candidate for a while. It gives visibility to things I want to say,'" Mr. Hess said. "

Here's a quick look at some of the most-discussed presidential prospects not currently in, or firmly out of, the race.

Contender: Vice President Gore
Chance of entry: less than 10%, according to a former aide.
Selling points: Hugely popular with the Democratic base; seen as soothsayer on global warming; could raise quick cash.
Drawbacks: Could be tied to scandals of Clinton era; anti-Bush and anti-war rants might alienate swing voters.

Contender: Fred Thompson, former Republican senator from Tennessee
Chance of entry: 50%, according to a source close to Mr. Thompson quoted by National Review
Selling points: Widely known from movies and "Law and Order," could rekindle
Reagan magic; acceptable to moderates and GOP base.
Drawbacks: Only eight years in the Senate but nearly two decades as a lobbyist; support for campaign finance laws could irk some conservatives; presence in race of Wisconsin governor with the same last name could confuse headlines and debates.

Contender: Mayor Bloomberg
Chance of entry: 80%, if Democrats and Republicans nominate candidates such as John Edwards or Mr. Romney, according to a former mayoral adviser, Ester Fuchs.
Selling points: Can bankroll campaign from Bloomberg LP fortune; record as get-it-done manager in unwieldy New York; running as an independent could make him the ultimate outsider.
Drawbacks: Shares some "nanny-state" tendencies with Mrs. Clinton; New York sensibility might not play in Peoria; untested in national politics.

Contender: Newt Gingrich, former House speaker.
Chance of entry: 30% (Sun estimate)
Selling points: Conservative icon with a national following; future-focused; has built ties with some Democratic leaders
Drawbacks: Still detested by many Democrats; lacked political savvy during government shutdown and impeachment crises; tends to make provocative off-the-cuff remarks.

Contender: Senator Hagel of Nebraska
Chance of entry: 40% (Sun estimate)
Selling points: Could consolidate Republican anti-war vote and pick up
Reagan Democrats; Vietnam background adds credibility
Drawbacks: Path to GOP nomination not apparent; advocacy for immigration
reform could neuter effort to win Buchananite constituency; talk of impeachment puts him to left of Democratic leaders.

Why Gas Prices Continue To Go Higher

April 6th, 2007
Gasoline prices are still rising, with the national average for a gallon of regular self serve up 2 cents overnight at $2.72.

Easter holiday and spring break travel are driving up gasoline demand, assuring that prices will remain high through at least through this weekend.

Consumers in Bridgeport, California are hit the hardest at the pump with a gallon of regular costing $3.99. The cheapest gallon of regular on sale in the country costs $2.35 and can be found in Glasgow, Kentucky.

California: Gas prices have continued to rise in Southern California by almost a penny a day, and have come within 15 cents of last May's all-time record prices, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Prices are rising on reports that even in April, American's demand for gasoline is nearing levels typically seen in mid-summer and that this year's hurricane season is expected to be active.

So, what are the reasons given for why California is paying more at the pump than the rest of the nation?

1. Early start of Daylight Savings Time has increased the amount of fuel being consumed. The opposite effect that was hoped for....we were supposed to save on energy by going to daylight savings time several weeks earlier. Instead of saving energy, apparently many Americans decided to take advantage of the extra daylight to drive MORE!

2. Supply and Demand. California's refineries are stretched to capacity, so any additional stress on the system drives supply down, and hence, prices go up. In addition, they are also saying it is a distribution problem, with most of the refineries and pipelines out of the state.

3. California's special blend, with its reduced levels of smog-producing ingredients such as aromatic hydrocarbons, adds about 10 cents a gallon to the cost of gasoline. Because California refineries don't make enough gas to answer the demand, the state must import gas from the few refineries — two on the Gulf Coast and a few overseas — that can make the special blend.

4. The cost of importing gasoline adds 10 to 15 cents a gallon to the price. It also makes gas prices in California more volatile, because instead of a steady stream of gas arriving via a pipeline, some days a lot of gas arrives and some days none arrives at all.

5. California's higher gas taxes add another approximately 13 cents per gallon, according to the American Petroleum Institute.

If cleaner-burning fuel adds 10 cents, shipping costs 10 to 15 cents and taxes 13 cents, that accounts for 33 to 38 cents — and on average over the last five or six years, California gas has cost 20 to 25 cents more than the rest of the nation.

But right now gas is 60 cents more than the rest of the country.

Where does the extra 22 to 27 cents come from?

It looks like it's all about profit!

6. Profit. Sometimes (oil companies) make a lot of money because the market is really tight and demand pushes up the price.

California Energy Commission data show that the average price for a branded gallon of unleaded was $3.08 on March 19, with a crude oil cost of $1.32 a gallon.

The refineries' margins that day — their profits plus the cost of making the gas — were $1.12 a gallon.

Compare that to March 20, 2006, when commission data show branded gas retailed for $2.64 a gallon, with a crude oil cost of $1.39 and the refineries' margins were 66 cents.

7. Refinery disruptions. Some of the current difference may be because of an unusual number of recent refinery disruptions. (These almost appear to be planned to hit when the demand is the highest)

Each disruption further restricts the supply of available gasoline, helping keep prices high.

Exxon Mobil Corp.'s refinery in Torrance, for instance, has been running below maximum capacity since February for maintenance.

Then, on March 22, a unit shut down after a malfunction, a problem that will take a week or two to resolve.

Other California refineries have had problems recently, with a fire in San Ramon-based Chevron Corp.'s Richmond refinery in January.

Also, the refineries are switching from the winter blend of gas to the cleaner-burning summer blend.

This disrupts supply because refineries let their supplies of the winter blend of fuel decline in anticipation of replacing them with the summer blend.

Oil companies manipulate the price of oil so their profit and their stock will go up.

There's no reason gas should be $3.40 a gallon when we were paying $2.40 a gallon in October, other than the fact that the oil companies can do it. The price of producing the gas hasn't gone up since then. The cost of crude oil hasn't changed appreciably.

Exxon Mobil, the world's biggest publicly traded oil company, reported that profit rose 9 percent in 2006 to $39.5 billion, the largest annual profit by a U.S. corporation.

Meanwhile, Chevron reported its best-ever annual profit in 2006, $17.1 billion, up 22 percent from 2005.

What are your thoughts on this? Are we really paying the correct price at the pump, or are we being "fleeced"?

Why the Democrats Keep Stirring the Pot

It's kind of like picking at a scab, a sore that never goes away or gets better....the Democrat's sense victory in 2008 by picking at everything in the Bush administration that's just not quite right. What are the things that they are focusing on NOW? Well, I'd say the two more important one's are the Iraq War and it's funding and the Attorney General flap!

Yesterday, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' liaison with the White House refused to answer questions at the Senate hearings about the firings of eight U.S. attorneys, citing her Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.

The House voted 329-78 to strip the attorney general of his power to indefinitely appoint federal prosecutors, approving a bill similar to one passed in the Senate. President Bush has signaled that he will not veto the legislation.

On the Iraq War Funding, Bush said "The clock is ticking for our troops in the field. If Congress fails to pass a bill to fund our troops on the front lines, the American people will know who to hold responsible."

Bush spoke as the Senate moved toward passage of legislation that would require the beginning of a troop withdrawal within 120 days, and would set a goal of March 31, 2008, for its completion.

The House approved a more sweeping measure last week, including a mandatory withdrawal deadline for nearly all combat troops of Sept. 1, 2008.

Both bills would provide more than $90 billion to sustain military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Democratic leaders, determined to force Bush to change course in Iraq, also disputed his contention that Congress would be to blame for any funding difficulties in a war they have vowed to end.

Time will tell if the Democrats are successful. I believe they want Bush to fail in Iraq, and are doing everything they can, smelling a landslide victory in the 2008 elections.

"Strawberry Ice" - It's Not Ice Cream or Candy!

U.S. drug enforcement officials are becoming concerned that a candy flavor given to methamphetamine may represent a new focus on creating younger users.

Drug traffickers are having a tough time selling this product, especially to young people. The meth dealers have to come up with some sort of gimmick to lure in new customers, no matter what their age, by making the drug seem less dangerous.

The flavored drug, known as "strawberry ice", has already proved popular with young addicts in the States, according to US drug enforcement agent Sarah Cullen.

"During the manufacture process, they are cooking it with a strawberry flavoring and some pink reddish food colouring. They're manufacturing and pushing them into pills and really they’re marketed towards kids."

The Us took too long to confront ice's devastating effect on users, crime and society, says agent Cullen. "This is something you'll never stop. We're at the US/Mexico border, where every day and night drug mules are lining up here to smuggle ice in from Tijuana."

In addition to the strawberry flavoring, chocolate and cola are also being used. It's only a matter of time before the middle schools and elementary schools have some students selling this stuff to our grand children. Warn them before it's too late!

"Paper or Plastic"- No Longer an Option?

Tuesday, San Francisco became the first city in the United States to outlaw non-recyclable plastic bags from use in supermarkets, drugstores and other large retailers.

The Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance, written by Mirkarimi and co-sponsored by six other supervisors, gives major supermarket chains with more than $2 million in annual sales six months to make the switch to biodegradable bags. Pharmacies and retailers with at least five locations have one year. Violators face fines of up to $500.

By a 10-1 vote, the Board of Supervisors required the use of compostable or recyclable bags — a move officials predicted could soon be imitated by other cities. Each year, businesses here dispense an estimated 180 million plastic bags that ultimately kill marine life and clog landfills, said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi.

At a news conference before the bill's passage, Mirkarimi handed out canvas shopping bags that read "SF Environment: Our Home. Our City. Our Planet." The new law calls for bags that are reusable or made of recyclable paper or plastic that can be composted.

Advocates say biodegradable bags are stronger than conventional petroleum-based polyurethane plastic bags. In his office before the news conference, Mirkarimi produced a biodegradable bag holding 55 pounds of rocks.

A typical plastic bag cost less than a penny to produce. Paper bags cost about 5 cents apiece. The newer biodegradable bags, made from materials such as potato starch, each cost 4 to 8 cents, but advocates say the price will drop with increased demand. Currently only 1 percent of plastic bags are recycled, city officials said.

So, is Al Gore behind this? Does his "stock" go up because of the step San Francisco has made? Will other cities follow suit? As seniors, will it become more expensive to shop? Will you take your own bags to the store to save on expenses? How about letting me know your thoughts on this....you can post them here on our blog!

Late Nite Catechism 2 at The Grove

At the urging of my wife, I agreed to go to a play at The Grove, in Upland, CA. I was not disappointed. It was enjoyable, and I especially had a great time watching my wife laugh over and over at the things Sister spoke of in the play. It brought back memories to Bonnie, growing up in a Catholic family, in Ohio in the 1950's!

The play was interactive. Sister had a list of the names of the audience, and referred to it repeatedly during the performance, calling on many to answer questions, remove gum from their mouths, cover up exposed parts of the body, etc.

For those of you that are interested in attending this "live" event, or any other at the Grove, I've given you the link:

http://www.grovetheatre.com/

Below is one of the many reviews of the play. We had one member who was called on repeatedly, Ray, the husband of Barbara, one of my wife's fellow teachers. Ray got several "rewards" from Sister for giving the right answers. Another member of the audience took the Ten Commandments paper, folded it and turned it into a paper airplane, sending it flying onstage!

Late Nite Catechism 2 is another “Catechism Class” with Sister focusing this time on Penance and the Ten Commandments. Sister spends most of the first act focusing on Heaven, Hell, Purgatory and Limbo... using her fantastic improvisation and audience interaction skills to “guilt” the audience, reminding us that we are “selfish, weak, and lazy” for failing to follow the proper path set forth by the Catholic Church. However, lest you think you are in for hours of lecturing and painful reminders, Sister peppers each comment and thought with humor and love and the audience reacts back in turn. Act Two focuses mostly on the Ten Commandments and questions from the audience regarding them. Sister handles these questions with tact, beauty, and total control even when audience members try to “upstage” Sister.

From a non-Catholic standpoint, Late Night Catechism 2 is actually instructional in addition to being humorous. Sister is constantly affirming other faiths and makes sure that the audience knows that “we’re trying to include the Jewish people” and people of other faiths. Though presented humorously, the information actually instructs and guides, and we leave the show not only laughing at ourselves and others, but a little bit wiser in regards to the Catholic Faith.

It’s not just stand-up comedy. It’s not just instruction. It’s not just a play. It’s Sister infusing the audience with her beautiful presence, knowledge, and soul. Sister doesn’t even stop when the “performance” is over. She stands in the lobby, thanking each guest, and collecting money for the real Sisters who are retiring and need monetary assistance.

Don George Restaurant, A Nice Place To Dine!

Yesterday, my wife said she wanted pasta. We planned on attending the Grove, in Upland, CA, to see Late Nite Catechism 2, a one person play about Sisterhood in the Catholic church. See my review of the play on a separate post.

Well, I decided to use the Internet and search the immediate area around the theater for an Italian Restaurant. I came up with three, and chose Don George at 922 N. Central Ave., Upland, CA 91786. The phone number is 909 946-6548, and fax no. 909 946-0899. Their hours of operation are Mon - Thur 8:00AM to 7:00PM, and Fri - Sat until 8:30PM.

I've provided a link for the map/location:


Map of Don George Restaurant
922 N Central Ave
Upland, CA 91786-3530


A nice selection of American, Hispanic and Italian dishes for dinner. For our 1st time, both my wife and I chose pastas. She had Spaghetti and Meat Balls, and I had Cheese Ravioli with meat sauce. The dinners come with a small salad and bread. We added two glasses of a nice red wine. The dinner for two was over $40, including the wine and an 18% tip!

Jorge Salan is the owner, and a native of Guatemala. He personally greeted us at the table and welcomed us to his restaurant. He's been in the restaurant business for years, and has served as an executive chef at the Hilton, as well as working in the food preparation area for American Airlines. He's been at this location for just over a year. It is a family ran business. We were served quickly, and the food was hot!

The menu also offers a nice breakfast selection (from 8:00AM to 10:30AM), including the traditional eggs, bacon, or sausage served with hash browns and toast, or huevos rancheros, among others. The lunch selection of both hot and cold sandwiches includes burgers, Philly cheese steak, meatballs, wraps and is served with french fries.

Jorge also offers catering for all occasions. He is presently expanding this part of his operation, and recently added some catering functions at some of the UCLA sporting events.

I would recommend this restaurant to all who enjoy good food at a great price. It's better than dining at a fast food location, and there's room to stretch your legs! The decor is modest, the lighting adequate and there are nice murals adorning the walls.

Are Seniors At Risk Over Pet Poisioning?

As medical costs continue to escalate, and senior budgets remain fixed, we must revisit the issue of how seniors eat. This is doubly important with the recent news of many cats and dogs dying from eating poisoned pet food. Many of us cannot increase the amount of money we spend, so we look at how to stretch our budget. There has been talk of seniors eating pet food to save money. All of us need to talk and visit any senors we know who may think of eating this in their diet. They'll sure as heck find themselves in the hospital with kidney failure if they choose to eat any of the products recently produced by Menu Foods....see below!

From the "Houston Chronicle" an article states Aminopterin being identified Friday as the likely culprit in a poisoning scare that prompted the recall of 95 brands of "cuts and gravy" style dog and cat food. Scientists had no theories on how Aminopterin got into the products of Menu Foods, which makes pet food for most of North America's top retailers.

Some pets that ate the food suffered kidney failure, and the company has confirmed the deaths of at least 15 cats and one dog.

Menu Foods expanded its recall Friday to cover each of the tens of millions of cans and pouches produced under the affected brands. The original recall covered only pet food produced from Dec. 3 to March 6.

Aminopterin has been used to induce abortions, treat cancer and kill rats. What it was doing in pet food is what owners of a rising number of sick or dead animals are demanding to know.

Scientists at the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University and at the New York State Food Laboratory tested three cat food samples provided by the manufacturer and found Aminopterin in two of them.

Effects of Aminopterin

Aminopterin inhibits the growth of malignant cells and suppresses the immune system. In dogs and cats, the amount of Aminopterin found — 40 parts per million — can cause kidney failure, according to Bruce Akey, director of Cornell's diagnostic center.

"It's there in substantial amounts," Akey said.

Officials said there is no risk to pet owners from handling the food, but Donald Smith, dean of Cornell's veterinary school, said he expected the number of pet deaths would increase.

The federal government prohibits using Aminopterin for killing rodents in the U.S. State officials would not speculate on how the poison got into the pet food, but said no criminal investigations had been launched.

Stephen Sundlof, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's top veterinarian, said the agency hasn't ruled out sabotage, but doesn't have any leads — nor any theories how the drug could have contaminated the pet food.

Focus on wheat gluten

The FDA thinks the drug was used only in animal feed but has asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to watch for any uptick in human cases of poisoning.

"This is very, very precautionary. We have no reason whatsoever to believe this chemical has entered the human food supply," Sundlof told reporters.

The FDA has said the investigation into the pet deaths was focused on wheat gluten in the food, and Sundlof said it remains the suspected source of the contamination.

Paul Henderson, chief executive of Ontario, Canada-based Menu Foods, confirmed Friday that the wheat gluten was purchased from China.

Menu Foods, already facing lawsuits, said Friday that it is testing all the ingredients that go into the food.

"We have a lot of work to do, and we are eager to get back to it," Henderson said. "This is a highly unusual substance."

He said the company does not think the food was tampered with because the recalled food came from two different plants, one in Kansas and one in New Jersey.

Menu continues to produce food at the two plants.

Compensation possible

When asked whether there would be compensation for medical bills for sick pets, Henderson said "to the extent that we identify that the cause of any expenses incurred are related to the food, Menu will take responsibility for that."

Robin Godfrey of Weston, W.Va., said that was good news. She said her family can't afford the $800 veterinary care for their two mixed-breed dogs and six puppies who fell sick after eating one of the recalled brands.

"If they should die, part of me would die with them," Godfrey said.

Kerner said he was contacting an attorney, mostly in the interest of preventing another pet tragedy. He was repeatedly reminded of his loss because of an Associated Press photo of Pebbles in a clinic, taken a day before she died.

"Although my family loves me, no one ever loved me like that dog," Kerner, 48, of Sherman Oaks, Calif., said tearfully over the phone. "Every Web site I go to, I see my dog. She was so cute."

You Got To See "Wicked"!

Wicked is Broadway's smash-hit musical that tells the untold story of the legendary Witches from L. Frank Baum's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Yesterday afternoon, we hit the freeways and travelled north to Hollywood, CA, to see the play. What a treat!

Prior to the show, we dined at the Restaurant, "Hollywood and Vine". My wife, Bonnie and I, usually go to Las Vegas, where we are comped for both the room, meals, and most of the shows that they have appearing at the times we are there. I have no real concept of the prices you have to pay, so I may be off base when I state the cost for value of the meal or the show, but will give it a try.

We went with a group of about 12 people Bonnie works with. Most are middle school teachers. We met at the restaurant around 4:00PM, had a cocktail, and sat down to dinner. Most of the main entree menu items were priced in the $20 to $30 range. A salad (split), 2 entrees, 2 glasses of wine, a desert (split), and 2 coffees cost about $110, including tax and an added 18% gratuity. Bonnie had the seared Ahi Tuna, and I had the Argentine Braised Short Ribs as our entrees. The restaurant was nice, clean, and the staff was efficient and friendly. We couldn't have asked for a more convenient location relative to the show. I'm providing a link for you, if you care to try the food and are in the area. It's well worth the trip!

http://www.hollywoodandvine.us/

About the musical....Wicked is a triumph for which Schwartz won two Grammy awards, a Drama Desk award (lyrics), and received his 6th Tony nomination.

As the publicity for the show states: Winner of 15 major awards, this "spectacular spectacle" [New York Post] transports audiences to a fantasy land of wizardry and witchcraft with Grammy Award-winning music, Tony Award-winning sets and costumes, and stunning special effects.

The Washington Post calls Wicked "a breathtaking success story of a magnitude the theatre has not witnessed since the peak years of The Phantom of the Opera". Now you can experience this magical new musical adventure in London and discover that you've not been told the whole story about the Land of Oz...

It opened on Broadway on October 30th, 2003. The cast recording received the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2005 and was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 30, 2006. Wicked earned back its entire initial investment by December 21, 2004. The Broadway company of Wicked celebrated its 1000th performance on March 23, 2006. The show began its first US national tour in early 2005.

We saw the musical in Los Angeles, California at the Pantages Theatre. Performances began on February 10, 2007, with an official opening on February 21. On the week ending on March 4, the show grossed a massive $1,786,110 and became the highest grossing attraction in Los Angeles theatre history. The previous record holder was The Producers, June 2003 at the Pantages. Elphaba is played by Eden Espinosa and Glinda is played by Megan Hilty. Each has previously played her role on Broadway.

One of Bonnie's fellow teacher's booked a block of tickets about 4 months ago, before the show took off. We paid just over $70 a ticket, and sat about midway on the 1st floor, right center orchestra section....nice seats! I understand the tickets at the show were selling for over $200 apiece. The show was in two acts, starting at 6:30PM, with a 15 min. intermission between acts, it ran until 9:30PM. Parking was an extra $15, and was within about a half block of the restaurant and theater. For anyone interested, I've provided a link for theater tickets.

www.pantages-theater.com

We all had a fun time, and we both enjoyed the show. I finally got to see how the tin man, the cowardily lion, and the straw man came to be....why I even found out why the "Wicked Witch" is green!!!

How To Protect Yourself Against Crime

It's all over the news! A 101 year old woman gets mugged outside her apartment in Queens, NY. She got punched in the face twice, got a broken cheek bone, and ended up in the hospital for three days.

Are any of us really safe? It tears me up to think of how low some of the adult population have sunk to take advantage of senior citizens. This was not the only case. An 85 year old woman was punched by the same mugger, and knocked to the ground.

Total take for the two muggings...under a $100.00!

Yesterday, in the LA area, a 67 year old woman was killed in her car when it was broadsided by another car speeding . It seems that two other cars, with a number of occupants, were shooting at one another. The driver of one car was hit, and went out of control, crashing into the vehicle with the senior who was killed and her daughter.

And now the Internet and identity theft...we are not safe at home, on the streets, in stores....what can we as seniors do to protect ourselves?

"Identity theft is a crime of opportunity and the bad guys often target seniors because they perceive older adults as the most vulnerable members of our society; but armed with knowledge, you can protect yourself from becoming a victim," says Dennis Everett of Dignity Memorials Smart and Safe Living program. He points out a good place to start is with a working knowledge of how the crime is perpetrated.

How do thieves get your information?

According to The Identity Theft Resource Center, a national non-profit organization founded in 1999 by a woman who fell victim to the crime, there are many ways. Thieves may steal your mail or wallet; go through your trash can, looking for papers with personal information; listen in on conversations you have in public; or trick you into giving them the information over the telephone or by e-mail.

They may also obtain your personal information by purchasing it on the Internet or from someone who has already stolen it; by taking it from a loan or credit application form you filled out or from files at a hospital, bank, school or business with which you deal; or by retrieving it from dumpsters outside of such companies.

What can you do to protect yourself?

* Check your credit reports once a year from all three of the credit reporting agencies -- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

TransUnion:
(800) 888-4213
www.tuc.com

Experian:
(888) EXPERIAN
www.experian.com

Equifax:
(800) 685-1111
www.equifax.com

* Guard your personal information. Be very careful about giving out your Social Security Number (SSN)..

* Don't put your SSN or drivers license number on your checks.

* Destroy papers you throw out, especially those with sensitive or identifying information. A crosscut paper shredder works best.

* Be suspicious of telephone solicitors. Never provide information unless you have initiated the call.

* Do not reply to and delete suspicious e-mail requests.

* Use a locked mailbox to send and receive all mail.

What can we do to protect ourselves from other crimes as we get older? We all have to think about it, face it, and plan for it.

EIGHT THINGS SENIORS CAN DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST CRIME

Though less likely to be victimized by crime than other age groups, seniors are still vulnerable to crime. To further ensure your safety, whether you are young or old, the following tips are worth considering:

1. Get involved in your community. Get to know your neighbors and community leaders. Know the area in which you live. Report problem areas to police.
2. Do not carry a lot of cash. Consider getting a debit card-it can be used to buy groceries and a wide variety of other goods. As a senior you may not have to pay a service charge (check with your bank).
3. Visit the community police center nearest you. A staff member should be willing to arrange for a free on-site safety inspection of your home. You will get a list of things you can do to make your home safer.
4. A well-lit home, outside and inside, will discourage thieves.
5. Identify your possessions with a code number. Put a notice in your window that your possessions are marked.
6. When walking outdoors, do not carry a bulky purse or package. Walk in well-lit areas.
7. If you are home when someone tries to break in, do not try to catch the intruder. Call the police. Then try to get a good look at his or her face so you can provide a good description.
8. If you think you are being followed, cross the street, go to the nearest home, service station, or business and call the police. If you have a cellular phone, bring it with you.

Mexican's Protest Against President Bush's Visit

I was watching the news on a local NBC TV station this AM in the LA area. I guess it wasn't really much of a surprise to see how some of the people of Mexico view our President (he's referred to as Hitler) and our country. I took the time to search the web, and found the following reported from the Latin News Media, Prensa Latina:

Mexican University students and social organizations continue protesting US President George W. Bush s visit.

"Mexico refuses to receive Bush the murderer," reiterated hundreds of people gathered in a march at the central avenues of Merida city, Yucatan state, 234 miles from this capital.

The demonstrators have chanted slogans for the respect of the country s sovereignty and against Iraq war for three days consecutively.

Freedom is a privilege. We often forget how much it means. Here, in this country, the illegals are demanding a free pass to this country. They want citizenship for being here, free medical care, free education for their children, voting rights, welfare, etc.

Yet, Bush goes to Mexico, and they call him a Hitler, burn the flag, and trash the places where he was staying while in "their" country. Make you wonder!

Who Actually Convicted "Scooter"?

Well, the word by some on both the radio and TV today is how "Scooter" is taking a fall for others higher up the food chain. He was found guilty of 4 felonies and could spend up to 20 years in prison. There are those that say, "no big deal", he'll join a TV show as a commentator, and make millions after he does his time. Many seem to feel he'll get a reduced sentence, and no where near the maximum.

That's really easy for those to say who are on the outside. I for one would not want to spend any time in jail, let alone prison. Does anyone think Martha Stewart is a better person for the time she spent in prison? Would any of you want to spend a day in jail, a week, month, or a year? Think what could happen to you, if you survived. Yes, people die in prison, and not all by natural causes. Libby would likely be a target, and have to be protected from the general population.

They are saying that they are going to appeal the decision. A quote from the times and his lawyer, Theo Wells.... "We believe, as we said at the time of his indictment, that he is totally innocent and that he did not do anything wrong," Wells said shortly after the verdict. "And we intend to keep fighting to establish his innocence."

What convicted Libby? The Vice President's chief of staff was a man who worked long hours and had a notoriously bad memory, but not bad enough to explain away lying to the grand jury about how he heard about the identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame. Did the news media have any influence on the jury? Were they sequestered? Did any of them hear anything about what was being said on TV or in the papers while they were deliberating?

My guess is yes, at least one or more of the juror's heard or saw something. That, more than likely, had significant influence on the outcome. A juror is asked under oath to follow the letter of the law, not whether they believe it is right or wrong. I've been on several juries over my adult life. On more than one occasion, a member of the jury chose to put in their own interpretation of "justice".

I recall one time when a person was being charged with reckless driving (We didn't know it at the time, but this was a 3rd retrial, with the charge being reduced to this. Originally, the charge was driving under the influence.) After the closing arguments, we went into deliberation in the jury room. After all was discussed, we voted, not unanimous, so we tried again. We got to where the majority felt he was guilty. In further discussions, one juror said he felt it was okay to drink and drive. He drove better after a drink or two to relax him. That the person being tried was small business man, a welder....the government was always picking on the "little guy", so under no condition was he going to find the guy guilty.

We ended up with a hung jury, 11 to 1. The one hold out was the guy who drank to relax. He did not follow the judges instructions. He shouldn't have made it into the jury pool, let alone be a juror, yet he was, and his decision let this person go free on all charges. I'd bet news was leaked to the jury, and that at least one had something to say about what was heard. The news media helped convict Libby.

Will Bush pardon Libby? I don't think so. There's a year and a half left in his Presidency, way too long for him to jump in and do anything now. Remember the two border patrol agents who look like they were framed? They're still in prison. With all the crap flying, the President doesn't need to walk right into it!

Laughlin 1st Day Covers and Wooden Nickels Are Available

As promised, I've uploaded photos of the special First Day Covers and the Wooden Nickels especially made for our upcoming Banquet at the Colorado Belle in Laughlin, NV on the 13th and 14th of April.

I decided to made three different designs for the First Day Covers. They will be limited to 25 of each design, no more. This way, they will become a collector's item, and have a chance to appreciate in value over time. They are offered on a first come, first served basis.

Each design will be numbered 1/25, 2/25, up to 25/25. The lower numbers historically have a chance to go up in value more than the higher numbers. The lowest numbers will go to those who order first.

Here's the pricing:

Wooden Nickel


Wooden Nickels are 25 cents each, plus an SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope), or 5 for a $1.00, plus an SASE. There is a mintage of 550 wooden nickels.


First Day Covers are $3.95 each (your choice of Design #1, #2, or #3), plus $1.00 s&h, or a set of all three for $10.00, plus $3.50 s&h. The s&h cost for the set includes insured shipping. If you prefer Priority Mail, add $4.05 to your order. Insured shipping is $1.35 extra.

FDC#1

I'm going to offer these sets over the Internet to several sites I have either a group on or that has interest in wooden nickels and first day covers. This will also be followed up with an article to the weekly numismatic publications of "Coin World" and "Numismatic News".

FDC#2


Money Orders will get next day service. I'll hold your items for about 5 to 7 days for your check to clear, if you prefer to pay that way. Don't get left out. The First Day Covers are likely to sell out quickly!

FDC#3


Send your orders to: Ronald Fern, PO Box 704, Placentia, CA 92871.

See you in Laughlin on the 13th of April!


Ron

After The Oscars

Well, I went 3 for 6 on the predictions I made for who or what was going to win the 79th Edition of the Academy Awards. I guess that's not too bad.

I did think that Eddie Murphy was going to win best supporting actor. I really didn't think Alan Arkin was that good in "Little Miss Sunshine", and again, neither Bonnie or I liked this movie. Little girls are going to want to join the ranks of getting exploited by either their parents or the beauty pageants and the people who get rich off of them....they should be banned!

Here are my misses....

Best picture: "The Departed"

Best Actor: Forrest Whittaker

Best Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin

I missed the 1st part of the program. We were watching the AMC channel and "Tora, Tora, Tora". We went to bed and I turned on the Oscars after Arkin got his award. Ellen came on stage with her statue carrier strapped to her and made reference to Arkin's trophy.

I guess I'm not surprised that Al got the award for best documentary film, especially with all the actors schmoozing around him and offering up all the kudos on how important he and the film are in making us all aware of global warming......it is really? I'm still not convinced. Yes, we are part of the problem, but I'm more concerned about pollution than warming....how about you?

Tell People What They Mean To You - Now!

We often forget to tell people what they mean to us. For me, this was very important as my mother got older. We never know how long we are here for on this earth. I'm now in my sixties. When I was growing up, and in my twenties, I guess most of us never really think much about passing away.

I had finished high school and was in college. I was a senior. I changed majors, and transferred to a 4 year school, after going to a junior college for 5 semesters. I never thought I'd loose my father so early in his "golden years". He was only about 6 months into retirement, and 67 years old. He went into the hospital and 9 days later, he died. I never got to tell him what he meant to me, or to say goodbye. My mom thought he'd get better, and come home, but I wasn't so optimistic.

Over the years, I've changed. I now tell people how I feel about them. I lost my mom in 2000. She was 92 at the time, and had managed to live on her own from 1967 to 1999. About 6 months before she passed, we had to put her into a rest home. During the 34 years since my father died, I told my mother almost every day I loved her. It was easier for me to let my mom go, because I let her know how much she meant to me when she was alive.

If you think about it, many people "mask" their feelings. After a loved one passes, they feel so guilty, that they spend thousands trying to show the other people around them how much the person meant to them. I'm sure the funeral homes love that, but I don't think the cost of the service really matters to the one who died. It's much better to let them know what they mean to you when they are still here.

So, if you are one of the folks who have managed not to say what you feel to those who are close to you, there is still time. Make an effort, and let them know. For me, I'd rather have a party with family and friends while I'm still alive and here to enjoy it....how about you?

2007 Oscar Winner's - My Predictions

Okay....the 2007 Academy Award winners are just under 24 hours from being presented. I'm going to make predictions for several categories. Bonnie, my wife, and I have been fortunate to see several of the movies during the past few months, so I do have something to base it on. Here goes, my pick for winners are:

Best Movie: "Babel"
This is sort of my best guess. While I didn't see it, I did see the previews....it looked pretty realistic. I don't think "The Departed" will win, but I did think it was a much better than average movie, IO'd rate it an A-. We watched it in the room in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, and it was wellworth the $11.95 we paid for it.




Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio ("The Departed")
He's long overdue. Should have won in the past. He's not the favorite here, but my pick.


Best Actress: Helen Mirren ("The Queen") You can't get any better....she nailed the Queen down, even looks like her. Great makeup!

Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Murphy ("Dreamgirls") Eddie is great in this role....who knew he could sing?


Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson ("Dreamgirls")
An outstanding job by a young actress. Surely not her last great performance.













Best Director: Martin Scorsese ("The Departed") Martin is long overdue. The directing in this movie is outstanding! Clint Eastwood has won too many, too often for him to win again. Neither of us saw his movies, but I feel the winner will be Martin.

I personally feel these are the top categories, and I'll not bother to bore you with the rest.

Some other thoughts on the reasons why (or why not) I picked the above....

We saw "Little Miss Sunshine", and both didn't like it. It was sort of an expose on beauty pageants for little girls. I didn't like the language, and I didn't think Alan Arkin is deserving of the supporting actor award based on this performance. As the best movie, "LMS" doesn't even come close. We also saw "Blood Diamond" and "The Departed", as I mentioned above. While both Djimon Hounsou and Mark Walberg had strong efforts in their supporting roles, I think the nod will go to Murphy.

Pets and Seniors

There have been several articles written about the effect of pets on seniors. Most of them have been very positive. It seems that pets actually can improve the health of us "old folk"....guess it just comes down to having something else to care for and love.

I know from experience the pleasure we get from our two cats. Our oldest, Bell, is a classic tabby, about 14 years of age now. She looks after her younger sister, Tiger (she actually looks like a Tiger), who's about 4 months old. Bell was part of two cats my wife adopted.

Bell's twin sister, Missy, passed away about 10 years ago, just after I met my wife, Bonnie. Actually, both Bell and Missy are "He-She's". They were given girl's names, but when they visited the vet to have them fixed, they found out that they were both boys! Bell and Missy grew up as girls, but were boys....talk about confused cats!

Bell grew up for most of her adult life alone. Several years ago, we adopted Midnight, a black and white cat. Unfortunately, Midnight got lost one day, never to be seen again (we actually believe a coyote got her). Midnight liked to play and was always getting into things. One summer it was unusually dry, and a lot of wild animals came out of the surrounding hills to look for food and water. One afternoon, I saw Midnight playing with a possum in the back yard. She didn't know it was a wild animal, probabily thought it was another cat! Well, it bit her and tried to rip her up, just trying to protect itself. I'm sure the possum didn't want to play!

A few months ago, as my wife was leaving for work, she heard a mewing coming from the bushes outside our house. She called for me to come out. I found a small kitten, scarred and cold, huddling in the leaves, under a bush. I promptly picked him up and took it into the house. Bonnie went to work. The kitten cried, and cried. I guess it was both cold and hungry. Well, I fed it, and sure enough, she stopped crying. Tiger had become part of our family. Bell didn't like sharing her parents for awhile. After all, she was the Queen, and had the run of the house, both inside and out.

It took a couple of months before Bell finally accepted Tiger. Even now, at times, Bell still gets fed up with Tiger, and "cuffs" her with her paws....Bell's old now, and I'm sure there are times when she wants to be left alone. Tiger is a kick. She's full of energy and as a kitten, into everything. She likes to sleep on our bed at night, and tries to ride Bell like a cowgirl riding a horse!

I'd encourage any of you seniors to think about getting a cat or dog. Even if you don't have a large space for them, both dogs and cats are relatively easy to care for, and don't require a lot of effort from you. Rather than paying for them through a store, consider saving one through a animal shelter or pet rescue services. There are many around, and I've listed two links that will get you to a directories of pet shelters and rescue sites in California.

Here's the links:http://www.rescuers.com/
http://www.petbond.com/

Please share your experiences with your pets....do you find them fun and do you think they improve your health?

Tracing Your Roots

Time is a precious commodity. It goes all too quickly. For me, it is hard to believe that I'm in my 6th decade....it just seems like only a few years ago I was in high school, and then college. I remember my 21st birthday like it was yesterday, well, maybe not yesterday, but it sure doesn't seem like it was over 40 years ago!

Several years ago, just after I left Boeing (I retired at 58 in 2002), I decided to see if I could trace my family lines. I knew a little about my dad's side of the family, even less about my mom's. I came late in life. My dad was 45 and my mom 36 when I was born.

All but one of my grand parents were dead. Only my father's mother was alive. I was born in California, the state my parents had moved to in the 1920's....can you imagine....they were here before oil was discovered in Signal Hill (a small town within the city of Long Beach).

Signal Hill got it's name from the Indians who made fires and signals by holding blankets over the fire's smoke to communicate to each other before the telegraph, and yes, telephones, or cell phones to the kids.

My dad had moved from Oklahoma to California. I thought he was born there. My research indicated that he was born in Iowa. My mom came to California from Maine. The mid west and the east coast were my origins, or so I thought.

My family was not one to talk too much about our background or history. I'm guessing that's because my dad was working long hours at his job, and my mother was taking care of raising us and seeing to keeping the house in order. Back then, there wasn't a lot of conveniences in the home. My mother did not have a dryer. All the washed clothes were lined dried by the sun. There was no microwave oven. Even though we had a refrigerator when I got older, my parents both still called it an "icebox". We had a black and white TV until I was a senior in high school. No cable. TV reception was by antenna. Lots of "ghosts", or multiple images, poor reception or picture quality. No power tools like a mower, edger, or weed wacker to help with the lawn and garden.

For some reason, I decided to try and find something out about my family and the relatives of my parents. My dad died young, at 68. I was still in college. While I was not an expert on the Internet, I managed to search through the different sites and come up with a lot of "free" information. What I found out was purely through my searches, and contacting people (some who turned out to be unknown relatives) via the email addresses I came across.

Not all my contacts proved to be valid, and some were even unfriendly. Believe it or not, not everyone wants to have the past uncovered. There are "skeletons" in every one's closet. Remember, not until recently have people been willing to discuss a lot of topics. Much of the past remained buried or "swept under the rug" in a lot of families.

I won't bore you here with all the details, but I'll provide you with a few links that you can look at (no cost) and see a little about your ancestors. If you are Internet active and have a little time on your hands, you can perhaps find something out about your history, and some of your relatives who walked this planet many, many years before you. Here are the links:

The oldest and largest FREE genealogy site http://www.rootsweb.com/

FREE genealogy Search Engines http://www.ancestorhunt.com/

As for me, I was able to establish I was not of Indian ancestry on my mother's side, but that we did come from England several centuries ago. Actually I believe that one of my ancestors was on the Mayflower that came from England in the 1620's. I also found out that my mom's dad (my maternal grandfather) had two brothers I did not know of. Both of my grand dad's parents died relatively young within the same year or two (during the 1870's) and all of the children were farmed out to other families. My grand dad was raised by a Handy (my mom's maiden name), but his two brothers went to other families carrying another last name. They sort of got lost in the system, and it wasn't until I started my looking that I uncovered it. I have a great niece (her great grandfather was one of my grand dad's brothers) living in Maine.

On my dad's side, I found he was born in Iowa. I found a census on the Internet that showed my paternal grand mother living close to my dad's father in Dubuque, Iowa with a variation of her maiden name. Further research showed she came from Wisconsin. I uncovered brothers and sisters of my grand parents on my dad's side, and have managed to trace some of them to present times. While I've never met any of my "new" relatives in person, we've made contact via emails and keep in touch, sharing holidays, photos, and special events.

If you have any desire to trace your roots, there is a lot of information available for you to research and digest. I've started a family tree. On my mom's side, I think I can go back to about 900AD! That's over a 1100 years, and many, many generations....just think of it!

Going Native

From the morning TV news, it is suggested that we Californians "go native". What is meant is that the state is facing a water shortage. It's really not a state issue, but rather an issue facing much of our country. We simply have gone beyond our means with the population vs. the demand on water. So, what is the plan? They say we can save over 80% on our water bill by planting (or replanting) shrubs, trees, and grasses native to the area. These do not need water beyond "normal" rainfall.

This should be important to us all. Besides saving on our costs, we'd be protecting our environment. If you spend an average of $50 a month watering the grass, a reduction of 80% would save you $40 a month or almost $500 a year, not an amount to sneeze at for us seniors. They say that within 100 to 200 years (that may not be important to us), that areas populated without sufficient water will become ghost towns. To our grand children or great grand children it will be important. Cities like Phoenix, Las Vegas, Tucson, and Los Angeles , to name a few, will cease to exist!

My brother, a native of southern California for over 70 years, moved to Sierra Vista, AZ, a town about 100 miles southeast of Tuscon. Over the last few years, the population in this town has mushroomed from around 25,000 to over 60,000. The city planners simply did not foresee the growth being that large or that quick for the area. They are out of water (not that there was a lot to begin with). They are now trying desperately to find alternatives.

For any of you who may want to re plan your front and back yards for more efficient water usage, I've provided a link listing some nurseries selling California (and several other states) native plants. http://www.wildscaping.com/resources/nurseries.htm

The lady on the Ch. 4 TV news interview has replanted her entire front yard. She has taken a plan to the city she lives in with the hope that they will follow suit and replace all the plants, trees, and shrubs in front of city hall with ones that are native and take little or no water to maintain. Makes sense to me, how about you? When we move to our final home, Bonnie and I are going to have our front and back yards with "zero maintenance" plants...no gardener for us....we are "Going Native"!!