Random thoughts.... post yours!

[Tom]

E-911
I just paid another month on my Straight-Talk phone. I bought the $30 card and had the clerk put the time on my phone for me. I noticed on my reciept E-911 $1.00? I asked why there are 2 purchases on my reciept when all I bought was minutes for my phone?
The clerk told me it is a charge so every phone can dial 911 even if it has no service.
What gets me is that I can't buy minutes for my phone without paying the E-911 charge. That is taxation. It is a feature I did not want, did not agree to when I bought my phone and shows up as a purchase not a tax. Had I NOT purchased the card, I would not have been charged.
The price sign on the peg stated $30 to purchase that card. Not $31.
If it is a tax, why does it show up as a purchase? If it is a purchase why doesn't the price indicate the additional dollar?
The clerk had no idea why I made a big deal over it. She told me it is only a dollar. Pure blind acceptance.
We live in a world of lies:
Walmart lied when they posted the card at a cost of $30
Phone companies lied when they told us that 911 service on all phones was free.
This is theft.
Imagine all the people in this country that have phones. For each phone each person pays $1 additional. Someone is raking in hundreds of million dollars every month based on a lie.
And We The Sheeple must tolerate it.

I do not have a problem with the 911 availability on non-serviced phones. I have a problem with being lied to.

 

[Kevin]

Imagine all the people in this country that have phones. For each phone each person pays $1 additional. Someone is raking in hundreds of million dollars every month based on a lie.

"Enhanced 911" fees must be billed (the carriers don't have a choice) but it is is up to the carriers to decide as to whether they want to charge their customers that fee on top of their normal billing or if the carrier will cover the cost.

Understanding Your Telephone Bill

 

[Tom]

So is it a purchase or a tax?
Can I buy phone minutes without paying that dollar?
If not, it is either a vital part of the purchase agreement or it is a tax.
Tacking it on to the bill as a separate line item is wrong.
Lets just tack more things on like
Cashier Fee
Door Fee
Lighting fee
Plastic fee
Recycling/disposal fee

I worked as a mechanic all my life. I can think of many fees that could have been tacked onto a bill.
But, it was part of doing the job. If the Govt requires each consumer to pay the $1 then it is a tax on the service. If the carrier passes the cost to the customer it is part of the purchase price.

When I agreed to purchase the code for 1 month of service from StraightTalk at Walmart I agreed to pay the $30 that was marked on the price tag plus any taxes. I go to the checkout counter with my plastic card with the code and it rings up as a $30 purchase but suddenly there is a purchase for E-911 at the cost of $1 added to the purchase. Then the tax is figured on $31.

Something is NOT RIGHT!

 

[Kevin]

So is it a purchase or a tax?

Technically it's neither. E911 is a "fee" that is used so that your local govt can find your phone if you use it to call 911. Mobile devices aren't like landlines that are locked (well, in the past they used to be locked ) to a physical location so Enhanced 911 is a service that'll use send your phones physical location to the 911 operator. That is why its up to the carrier to decide how to handle it; it's not a govt tax and it's not a purchase.

If you calc the tax on your receipt, was the tax based on the $30 or $31? If it was based on the $31 then I'd be surprised as I would not think that'd be a taxable item. Looking at my Verizon bill right now, I'm pretty sure that the PA sales tax is not including the $1.65 PA E911 fee.

 

[Tom]

Outrageous!

 

[Tom]

Just got back from shoppin.
Spent $98.98 at walmart!
$27 to fill the tank at $1.84 @gal
$17 on Irish Cream liquor for my coffee
and $2 for two 2-liters of RC Cola.

I decided I am adding Cheddar Cheese to my Chicken N Biscuits dinner. Picked up some cheddar cheese soup. Also grabbed some mushrooms and peas n carrots for the mix. Its gunna be glorious!

I bought a pack of those black angus burgers for $9. I hope I can eat them. Figuring one burger per meal I should get 8 meals for $9.

Picked up some Cannolis. Never really had a cannoli before - not bad, easy to eat.

So, I didn't shave again today. Looking pretty gruff. Noticed many more wimen's eyes on me but no encounters. Perhaps if I stop showering? Its hard to reach the low standards of Mississippi men. Maybe if I carry around a beer can and smell like stale beer...? Rub dirt on my clothes? Start grunting?

While I was gone I ran all my cleaners and scans. No problems found. Doing systems backups now.

Today I have been actively restricting my smoking. Only had 6 cigarettes so far today. I'm not coughing as much and my eyes don't water up. LOL, I'm probably allergic to cigarette smoke...wouldn't that be a kick in the nuts. Might stop buying cartons and try doing a pack at a time.

I didn't put freon in my a/c today and ran the truck with the windows down. Man, the heat is killer and its a cool day out today.
91.0 °F~Feels Like 98 °F
Been home almost an hour and I still haven't cooled down yet.

I bought 16 of those microwave meals at about $2.50 each. Should last me a little while. Picked up a nice assortment of those lil pies from the walmart bakery...Mmmm...PIE!

 

[Tom]

Today (9/11) on Comet TV
COMET TV Sci-fi Network

2 pm
Journey to the Seventh Planet
2 pm EST/PST | 1 pm CST | 3 pm MST
An astronaut (John Agar) leads U.N. explorers to Uranus, where a giant eye feeds them images from their minds.

4 pm
Burnt Offerings
4 pm EST/PST | 3 pm CST | 5 pm MST
Ben (Oliver Reed) and Marian Rolf (Karen Black) can't believe how cheap the rent is at their giant Victorian summer home. Over time, however, they begin to sense that there's something peculiar about the place. Marian becomes strangely obsessed with keeping house, Ben finds himself prone to unusual bursts of anger and his vivacious aunt Elizabeth (Bette Davis) becomes withdrawn, then mysteriously dies. As the couple tries to adjust, they wonder if the house itself could be responsible?

6 pm
The Amityville Horror
6 pm EST/PST | 5 pm CST | 7 pm MST
When George Lutz (Ryan Reynolds) and his wife, Kathy (Melissa George), find a beautiful new house in the small town of Amityville, N.Y., they think the place is too good to be true. After they move in with their kids, they find out the cheap price tag is thanks to the house's sordid history: The former tenant murdered his family after supposedly being possessed by the devil. Believing the home is haunted, the couple find a priest (Philip Baker Hall) to help them rid the place of evil spirits.

8 pm
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Attack of the Giant Leeches
8 pm EST/PST | 7 pm CST | 9 pm MST
"Attack of the Giant Leeches" (1959) Horror. A bartender sends his wife and her lover into a swamp where big, smart leeches lurk. With Ken Clark, Michael Emmett, Yvette Vickers.

10:30 pm
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Wild World of Bat Woman
10:30 pm EST/PST | 9:30 pm CST | 11:30 pm MST
"Wild World of Bat Woman" (1974) Horror. Bat Woman confronts evil Dr. Neon.


September 12
1 am
Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot The Terrifying Sand Creature
1 am EST/PST | 12 am CST | 2 am MST
The underground office of the South Pole Unicorn Branch is buried in red sand, which suddenly starts to gush out in the ice field.

1:30 am
Men Into Space
1:30 am EST/PST | 12:30 am CST | 2:30 am MST
A young scientist (John Howard) tries to destroy himself.

2 am
Cherry 2000
2 am EST/PST | 1 am CST | 3 am MST
In the post-apocalyptic California of 2017, Sam Treadwell (David Andrews) manages a recycling plant. His companion is Cherry 2000 (Pamela Gidley), a lifelike robot who caters to his every need. When Cherry expires, Treadwell refuses to settle for a newer, less attractive robot. Salvaging the chip containing her personality, he hires tracker E. Johnson (Melanie Griffith) to lead him through the lawless desert zone, where a replacement Cherry 2000 model can be found.

 

[Kevin]

Mrs. Kevin & I were outside in our yard this morning with our dog when she lets out a "Ewwwwwww!" really, really loud. I come over to see what's wrong, her response is "In the pool!".

Dead squirrel floating.

Well, I guess this year's pool season is really over.

 

[Tom]

If I had a nickel for everything I need to do I would have about $2.15

 

[Tom]

So, This morning I am sitting at my writing desk having a cup of coffee and I stretch my feet out and my toe hits something decaying under there. I look and find a chunk of Tuesday under there. I had to check and yes, it is Wednesday today.
So I gather up the rotting mess of fading goo and attenpt to place it in my jar of Daylight Savings but it is so decayed it will contaminate what I have saved. Plus it is a chunk of Tuesday night and will clash with the decor. What to do...
Can't just put it in the cupboard, it will fully rot away by next Tuesday. If I freeze it and the cops find out I could go to jail. My solution was to gather it up in a ziplock bag, take it outside and hide it in the bottom of the neighbor's trash can. Trash gets picked up on Friday and as long as no cat gets ahold of it everything will be fine.
Tonight, I'm going to wait till 11:59 pm before I go to bed so I can make sure I don't have any Wednesday pieces on Thursday.
Man, I hate, Just hate when that happens!

 

[Tom]

Pecan Brickle

Recipe type: candy

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
  
  
• 1 cup pecan pieces
  
  
• ½ cup corn syrup (light)
  
  
• 1 teaspoon butter (plus extra for greasing)
  
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
  

Instructions

1. *see notes below*
   
   
2. Grease a rimmed baking sheet with butter, or line with parchment paper.
   
   
3. Mix the sugar and corn syrup in a bowl and microwave for 4 minutes
   
   
4. Carefully remove & stir in the pecans, microwave 4 minutes
   
   
5. Stir in butter and vanilla, microwave 1 minute
   
   
6. Stir in baking soda until foamy and pour on greased rimmed pan.
   
   
7. Allow to cool on a rack.
   
   
8. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.
   

Notes

Use a good sized bowl to allow expansion as ingredients cook. Mixture coming from microwave will be EXTREMELY HOT use caution when handing.

 

[SarryMillix7823]

I feel like I have no focus the last few days. I'm just running through all the motions.

 

[Tom]

You signed an official contract that pledged your life to our country. You left your home and changed your life. You were/are prepared to do battle in the name of freedom. Following orders to the brink of death. You watched friends grow as you became stronger, resourceful and wiser. Sadly, some of us watched our friends die. You did your duty for your country and we appreciate your dedication. You are entitled to the benefits and reverence this nation owes you.

Happy Veterans Day to all my fellow warriors.
Remember the Fallen.​

 

[Kevin]

I have realized that I'm in a bit of a funk. My Mom passed in January, my wife's Mom in May. With the upcoming holidays one of my family members is trying to keep our weekly family dinners going but it just isn't the same. Thanksgiving used to my absolute favorite holiday; Fall in PA, the seasonal foods, the change of attitudes in people looking forward to Christmas... our family dinners. Family get togethers now are somber events, not like they were before. I've been doing what I can to help out with the planning of the Thanksgiving dinner and I've been trying to be happy about it but, honestly, it's a facade. I'm not looking forward to it, the holidays, or anything else this season.

For the past few weeks my routine has been off. I'm not reading, I'm not online much and when I am online I'm not really interacting with others, I'm avoiding following-up with people, I'm putting in work days far longer than usual and often longer than actually needed, I've been mulling things & people I haven't thought about in years, I have no interest in the assortment of shiny electronic toys that fill the house. Spending time alone with my dog, much to the chagrin of my wife, is one of the few things I find catharsis in.

I know I'm in a funk though and that means that, like much we encounter in life, this too shall pass.

 

[Tom]

It is normal for a person to be depressed after losing loved ones. It is part of the coping mechanism. If life starts to get you down I recommend following very simple suggestions given to me while I was battling depression. Redirect your thinking Tom and stop feeding the sadness. At first I thought they were crazy and had no idea what they were talking about but it actually works. At our age, people leave us more quickly than we want. Enjoy those you have around you today. Your happiness does not diminish the love you shared with those that were gone. Share those memories with others that did not have the connection you did. Build new memories for those will be your memories and theirs as well.
I wish for you a joyous holiday season with good food and great company.

 

[SarryMillix7823]

My focus is back, lololol

 

[Kevin]

It is normal for a person to be depressed after losing loved ones. ...
I wish for you a joyous holiday season with good food and great company.

I'll be good, thanks. Part of it is related to there still being a few things that need to be settled from my Mom's death so the combination of the holidays & the unresolved issues hit me. It doesn't help that Mrs. Kevin lost her Mom also this year, just a few months after mine, so planning for the holidays on both sides of the family has been somber. And, just so life could give us one more "screw you" this year, the company Mrs. Kevin works for was shut down by the state a few weeks ago.

But, this too, shall pass.

At the moment I'm trying to concentrate instead of next weekend with a Costco Pumpkin Pie & some whipped cream.

 

[Classysturgeon]

Here's something I've wondered about for awhile: during the '90s, when I was a kid, none of the multi-colored food items had any blue food. There were no blue froot loops, blue skittles, blue M&Ms, blue fruity pebbles, blue trix, blue fruit roll-ups...nothing.

Then, at some point, blue versions of all these food items just appeared. Overnight. It was like a blue food explosion. Incidentally, Blue Food Explosion was the name of my garage band in high school.

 

[Kevin]

There were no blue froot loops, blue skittles, blue M&Ms, blue fruity pebbles, blue trix, blue fruit roll-ups...nothing.

As somebody born in the 70's... I remember none of those items growing up except for M&Ms & Fruit Loops!

 

[Kevin]

Turns out I went Black Friday shopping by accident, on Sunday.

Our house is big enough to need some power tools but not big enough that I can't get away with using battery operated cordless tools for stuff like the weed whacker & leaf blower. I had been using the various items by Worx but was constantly having problems with their equipment quality. So this summer I started switching to Ryobi's 40V tools (insert Tim Allen's "Tim the Toolman" grunt).

They have a leaf blower that normally retails for $150 locally and this past Sunday I went to go pick one up. Turns out Home Depot had them as a Black Friday sale item for $100. Woohoo! But... they had none in stock. Dang it. OK, no problem, a little drive up the highway to a store a bit further out in the boonies and picked one up from there. Woohoo!