December 19, 2008
Greets and Huggers. Posted the evening of December 19, 2008. A brief discussion this past week about whether there is an “ultimate truth”. There is only one. It is called “death”. Reasonable, honorable people can disagree as to when “death” actually occurs, there are different definitions, (there are also different definitions as to what constitutes “life”) … but for every living thing, death is the final expression of life. Life is just part of the process of dying … isn’t it? You and I are dying. Neither of us know when … but we are … and … we will. Not something I want to think about. No doubt, neither do you. I believe/know our lives, (and the bodies we live them in), are not a “fee simple“. We are renters … and there is/has to be a landlord.
(CNN) — Credit card holders livid about ‘rate-jacking’. “It arrived in Rich Stevens’ mailbox a few weeks ago: the notice that Citibank had “rate-jacked” the Visa cards belonging to him and his wife. “In my case, from 9.5 percent to 16.99,” the 54-year-old nurse from the Long Island hamlet of Merrick, New York, told CNN. And his wife’s rate zoomed from 7.95 percent to 16.99 percent, he said … Citigroup seems to be the target of most bloggers’ venom — partly because Citigroup issues so many credit cards and partly because Citi began sending the notices at about the same time it was getting a $20 billion, taxpayer-financed government bailout.” How offensive is that? Wasn’t it Citigroup that solicited credit cards for your pet? Dead people? Vegetables in your yard? And they got a $20 billion dollar bailout, paid for by you and I? So share with me … they are allowed to increase interest rates on existing debts? How and why? So you bought a truck. A really nice Ford, F150. You financed it through Ford Credit. Ford credit can unilaterally change the contract from 5.99% interest to 11.99% interest? No doubt, perhaps, fine print in the contract, based on what? Interesting question. BIG COMPANIES are run by folks just like you and I. People, folks who have loved ones, family, a life. Do they have a sense of what is right? I want to believe they do … but alot of times, sure not supported by their actions.
And for a postscript on a case from a couple of years ago: WASHINGTON (CNN) – The $54 million pants suit unravels again. “A court Thursday rejected an appeal filed by a former administrative law judge who sued a dry cleaners for $54 million over a missing pair of pants. The District of Columbia Court of Appeals “ruled resoundingly in favor of the Chung family and denied Mr. Roy Pearson’s appeal of the case completely,” said Christopher Manning, an attorney for the Chung family, who own Custom Cleaners. “The D.C. Court of Appeals held that the trial court correctly ruled that Mr. Pearson’s claims had no merit whatsoever,” he added. The Chungs have “some level of relief,” Manning told CNN, “but they won’t count Mr. Pearson out for at least trying to torment them further” with future appeals. “We are very happy with the result and thank everyone for supporting us,” Jin Chung said in a statement issued by Manning. “The past three years have been very difficult, but we hope this nightmare is finally over.” Gee … what great press for our profession. I hope this clown gets disbarred for abuse of process. At least he was fired from his Administrative Law Judge position. Rumor has it he has volunteered to be on Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich defense team.
LONDON, England (CNN) — Banks face huge losses from $50B ’scam’. “Some of the biggest names in global finance say they have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in an alleged $50 billion “pyramid scheme” that led to the arrest of a New York financier last week. HSBC, one of the world’s largest banking groups, could lose $1 billion, it announced Monday, adding to a litany of expected losses across some of Europe’s leading financial houses. The Royal Bank of Scotland told CNN its hedge funds had exposure of up to �400 million ($600 million) to funds managed by securities broker Bernard Madoff. In France, BNP Paribas said Sunday its maximum potential loss was about �350 million euros ($468 million). And in Spain, Banco Santander said it had a direct exposure of �17 million while clients of its hedge funds had �2.33 billion at risk in Madoff’s firm. The country’s second-largest bank, BBVA, said it could lose up to �300 million. Japan’s Nomura on Monday said it had �27.6 billion ($303 million) of exposure, but that the impact on its capital would be limited.” Share with me … how could this happen? How could the SEC miss this? How could this level of incompetence exist? Harry Truman had a sign on his desk: “The Buck Stops Here.“ We are engrossed in a two front, actual shooting war … not to mention the other wars, (against drugs, against poverty, against terrorism, etc.) Presidents are human, with the same frailties we all suffer, (myself included), trusting people whom we should not have. Other presidents have done the same. The fact remains, the “Buck Stops” at President Bush’s desk. History will teach whether he will be found wanting. As for me? Listening to the news, the corruption in Illinois, (4th governor in a row??? Is there something in the water???) … and the system as a whole? Perhaps we need to select our President using the TV “Survivor” show model. “Survivor USA” … auditions for the 2012 show … starting … now. I wonder who will apply … and play?
(CNET) – Survey: Many would take Internet over sex. “Just how reliant are you on the Internet? Nearly half of the women questioned by Harris Interactive said they’d be willing to forgo sex for two weeks, rather than give up their Internet access, according to a study released Monday by Intel, which commissioned the survey. While 46 percent of the women surveyed were willing to engage in abstinence versus losing their Internet, only 30 percent of the men surveyed were willing to do likewise. And for women 35 to 44 years old, the figure jumped to 52 percent. Results as of Monday from CNET’s related online poll showed that 30.5 percent of respondents would give up sex for one year, while 26.1 percent would do without Internet access for a year. Almost 40 percent of voters didn’t want to sacrifice either.” I guess that must be the 40% that download their porn from the Internet! Only goes to prove … “Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder.“ … or is that absence?
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. – Homeowner Allegedly Tried to Sell Pierced ‘Gothic’ Kittens on Web. “Humane officers say a Pennsylvania homeowner marketed and tried to sell “gothic kittens” with ear, neck and tail piercings over the Internet. Officers with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals removed three kittens and a cat Wednesday from a home in Ross Township, just outside of outside Wilkes-Barre, Pa. An investigation into the pierced kittens started about a week ago when a man from another state saw “gothic kittens“ [Note: the linked to video is disturbing, at least it was to me!] being sold on eBay, a SPCA official in Luzerne County told The Times Leader.” What kind of nutcase searches Ebay for “Gothic Kittens”? Who would buy one? I understand we “tag” the ears of cattle and we “chip” our pets — but piercing a kittens ear, neck and tail? I’d like to nominate this waste of skin for the “Michael Vick Humanitarian Award” … and room next to him in his cell.
SKY NEWS — Eau Du Whopper Burgers Belief. “Fragrances are a popular gift choice at Christmas - but the latest edition to the market could leave you mouth-watering. Fast food chain Burger King has released a body spray for men, called Flame. The company has done its best to bottle the Whopper, claiming the fragrance “captures the essence of that (burger) love and gives it to you. “Behold the scent of seduction, with a hint of flame-broiled meat.” A spokeswoman for the company’s UK operations said the scent was not a gag - there was even a website, firemeetsdesire.com.” I guess this would be handy if you decide to go out trolling for bitches. I know what I’m giving Holden’s Animal Control Officer for Christmas.
And in the “Go Ye Forth and Multiply” news — ROGERS, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas family welcomes 18th child, a girl. “And baby makes 18. Michelle Duggar has given birth to her 18th child. The Arkansas woman and husband Jim Bob Duggar now have 10 sons and eight daughters. He says the latest addition, a daughter, is “absolutely beautiful, like her mom and sisters. Duggar says he and his wife would love to have more. He’s 43 and she’s 42. The ages of the children are 20, 18, 18, 17, 16, 14, 13, 12, 11, 9, 9, 8, 7, 6, 4, 3, 1 and 1 day.” The Duggar Family Website. Wow! 18 children? That has to be rough on your body. The Duggars married July 21, 1984 and Jim Bob served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003 and was a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2002. Interesting to look at the slideshow on their Website. Reminds me of an upbeat Christian boarding school.
Sitting here editing these Ramblings, (of course, the Editorial Staff on the chair with me). On the evening news, a massive winter snow storm hitting the east coast: they will definitely have a white Christmas. Gov. Rod Blagojevich on the news vowing to fight to his last breath because he has done nothing wrong. He didn’t get a chance to. They busted him for conspiracy – talking about doing something wrong. The Senate leadership has flat out said they would not seat anybody Blagojevich appoints … the seat will be open for months. And the Christmas bonuses Goldman-Sachs is handing out are in excess of 10 Billion dollars, to it’s executives, (you know, the clowns that put them on the edge of bankruptcy) … after accepting 10 Billion dollars in TARP money – “to survive” … and posting a 2.2 Billion dollar quarterly loss. And California in the news … the California Supreme Court ruled “that a young woman who pulled a co-worker from a crashed vehicle isn’t immune from civil liability because the care she rendered wasn’t medical. The divided high court appeared to signal that rescue efforts are the responsibility of trained professionals. It was also thought to be the first ruling by the court that someone who intervened in an accident in good faith could be sued.” California has a “Good Samaritan” law … but apparently it only applies to emergency medical treatment rendered in good faith. So, I guess in California, don’t pull anyone out of a burning wreck or save a person who is drowning. And forget the “Heimlich maneuver”: let the pilgrim choke to death. Time to post these Ramblings and spend a quiet evening playing with some of the images I captured this week and watch some TV. I finally broke down and read the manual for our surround sound system and got it to work!! Susan is in her office making cards with ‘the pack” at her feet watching. “Katie“, our little female Daschund rescue goes to her “furever” home tomorrow, (a really nice older couple ) … and Ft Timmerman is warm and cozy, so there is much to be thankful for. For that is will say a prayer of thanks when I curl myself around Susan and drift off to sleep … and a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform, (care to join me?) Be and sleep well, the best there is, is on watch so you can. If my Ramblings offend, I apologize – I do not intend for them to do so. As always …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
Karl (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri … and the Editorial Staff, Karly, Willie, my ‘Lil Buddy … and Dinker, the copy boy!)