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Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Monday, April 28, 2014
A FALCON NESTING IN A TREE (THIS IS A JOKE, FOLKS)
Dear Readers:
I received this email from and friend and wanted to share...
"I've received many remarkable nature photographs over the years, but this photo of a nesting Falcon is perhaps the most remarkable Nature shot that I've ever seen. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Nature is truly breath-taking!
I've sent this to most of my older friends. The younger ones probably never see a falcon and wouldn't recognize it. To see the picture, click on the link below."
I received this email from and friend and wanted to share...
"I've received many remarkable nature photographs over the years, but this photo of a nesting Falcon is perhaps the most remarkable Nature shot that I've ever seen. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Nature is truly breath-taking!
I've sent this to most of my older friends. The younger ones probably never see a falcon and wouldn't recognize it. To see the picture, click on the link below."
Friday, April 25, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
NEW HEALTHCARE LAW IS NOT HIPPA COMPLIANT
Dear Readers:
You know that little paper you sign almost every time you go to the doctor's office about keeping your medical records private - you know, the one called HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). In fact, you may have received such notices in the mail from different medical care type companies assuring you that they are HIPPA compliant.
Well, it has come to light that the new Healthcare Law ISN'T - listen to the video. The link is below:
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
WELL, IT'S EARTH DAY - HERE ARE SOME MYTHS...
THIS IS FROM THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION:
Here are two examples that may surprise you.
1. An oil pipeline is environmentally safe.
2. Biofuels are not better for the environment.
Here’s another case where central planners promised they knew what was best for us—and it’s not working out. In fact, it’s costing us.
A new study out this week concluded that biofuels aren’t the “clean” alternative to gasoline that advocates promised. In fact, producing biofuels can release more greenhouse gases than using gasoline.
It’s been known for years that biofuels aren’t as environmentally friendly as we were first told. Heritage’s Loris wrote last year that “After accounting for land-use conversion, the use of fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides, as well as the fossil fuels used for production and distribution, biofuel production is quite carbon-intensive.”
Even if unintended, the consequences of mandating ethanol production and use in gasoline have been disastrous. Loris reports:
"Good news for Earth Day: We can boost energy production and economic growth without harming the environment!
Thanks to years of empty promises from the Left, politicians in
Congress and the White House have installed all sorts of harmful
policies that block energy production, jobs, and economic growth. But
those policies have shown themselves to be counterproductive—they don’t
deliver the benefits liberals promised, and they hurt Americans.
1. An oil pipeline is environmentally safe.
The Keystone XL pipeline, which President Obama just delayed again, has received an environmental green light multiple times—from this administration.
State Department impact reports have concluded “that the pipeline, a
Canada-based project to deliver up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day to
Gulf Coast refineries, would pose no significant environmental risk and
would not contribute substantially to carbon dioxide emissions,” says Nicolas Loris, Heritage’s Herbert and Joyce Morgan Fellow.
Loris also notes that the project “has bipartisan support, the backing of several unions, and approval from former energy and interior secretaries.”
The pipeline would bring jobs and would help provide additional oil
supply. “With high economic benefits and minimal environmental impact,
this project should be a no-brainer,” Loris says. But elections seem to
be a problem for Keystone. After a promise to decide the pipeline’s fate
by 2011, President Obama postponed the project through the 2012 election—and this latest delay pushes a decision past the midterms.
Here’s another case where central planners promised they knew what was best for us—and it’s not working out. In fact, it’s costing us.
A new study out this week concluded that biofuels aren’t the “clean” alternative to gasoline that advocates promised. In fact, producing biofuels can release more greenhouse gases than using gasoline.
It’s been known for years that biofuels aren’t as environmentally friendly as we were first told. Heritage’s Loris wrote last year that “After accounting for land-use conversion, the use of fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides, as well as the fossil fuels used for production and distribution, biofuel production is quite carbon-intensive.”
Even if unintended, the consequences of mandating ethanol production and use in gasoline have been disastrous. Loris reports:
The mandate promised less dependence on foreign oil, lower fuel prices, and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Instead of delivering on these promises, the mandate delivered concentrated benefits to politically connected producers and higher costs to America’s energy consumers.Whether it’s blocking helpful developments or mandating harmful ones, the government isn’t getting environmental policy right. That’s why The Heritage Foundation’s American Conservation Ethic includes the principle that the most successful environmental policies come from liberty.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Sunday, April 20, 2014
TAX DAY - A COMMENTARY
Dear Readers:
Once again, my Representative, Dr. Phil Roe, from Tennessee with common sense suggestions:
Earlier this year, House Ways and
Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp unveiled a draft blueprint for tax
reform. Chairman Camp’s draft needs to be debated and further refined,
but reforming our tax code like this will help grow our economy, create
jobs, increase wages and lower the tax burden on hardworking families.
Once again, my Representative, Dr. Phil Roe, from Tennessee with common sense suggestions:
Tuesday
was Tax Day, the deadline for filing your taxes with the Internal
Revenue Service. Earlier this week, a recent Gallup poll found that 52
percent of Americans say the amount they have to pay in federal income
tax is too high. Still, I believe the president and some Democrats in
Congress seem to think the only way to get our $492 billion budget
deficit under control is to raise taxes.
According to the Tax Foundation, this year’s Tax Freedom Day falls on April 21st,
three days later than last year. This means that 100 percent of the
money earned by American workers during the first 111 days of the year,
from January 1st to April 21st goes toward taxes. I don’t think we should ask anyone to pay more until the government is a better steward of tax dollars.
Washington
doesn’t have a revenue problem-- Washington has a spending problem --
and raising taxes won’t curb our spending addiction. Instead of debating
whether or not we should raise taxes, we should instead focus on
simplifying our tax code by closing loopholes; lowering taxes on
individuals, families and businesses; and making it easier to file. It
takes the average American 13 hours to comply with the tax code. Did you
know that if you were to add the hours spent by every American taxpayer
filing their taxes it would equal roughly 6.1 billion hours each year?
There
is nothing fair about the federal government taking between 30 and 40
percent of your income, especially on top of all the other taxes you pay
– like sales taxes, gas taxes, and state and local taxes. Tax Day is a
timely reminder that instead of increasing taxes, we should reform the
tax code and pass legislation that will help small businesses to grow
and let individuals and families keep more of what they earn.
There
is no shortage of good ideas for tax reform. For instance, we could use
Tennessee as a model for tax reform, which is why I am a cosponsor of
H.R. 25, the Fair Tax Act of 2013. The Fair Tax Act – which eliminates
the income tax, payroll tax and estates tax and replaces it with a
national sales tax – isn't just about taxes; it is about freedom, jobs,
smaller government and the economy. It is about returning power to the
people and finally finding a way to ensure America's economic growth. It
is about reining in the IRS and stripping the federal government of the
opportunity to dig deeper and deeper in the American people's personal
pocketbooks.
We
need to put a stop to the outrageous government spending that has
turned into outrageous government taxing. Congress needs to fix the
broken tax system and allow our workers and families to keep more of
what they earn and save - while giving entrepreneurs and small
businesses incentives to grow. These are the best ways to stimulate the
economy.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
HAVE A PARENT THAT IS ON MEDICARE, OR ARE YOU CURRENTLY ON MEDICARE? YOU WILL WANT TO READ THIS!
Dear Readers:
Obamacare Focus Will be on the Controversial Independent Payment Advisory Board in the Coming Months
by John Grimaldi
WASHINGTON, DC, Apr 18 – There’s been little news in recent months about the Obamacare provision that creates an Independent Payment Advisory Board. “This, despite the extraordinary powers the IPAB would have over the delivery of health care services to Americans,” according to senior citizen advocate Dan Weber.
Weber, who is president of the Association of Mature American Citizens, noted that the White House has yet to nominate members of the IPAB. “Perhaps it’s because the pervasive and intrusive nature of the board would be exposed at a time when liberals can ill afford such disclosure. They’d be hard pressed to defend the so-called Death Panel come the November mid-term elections,” he said.
“Remember the promise that you could keep your doctor under Obamacare. Can we trust the promise that the IPAB will not ration health care for senior citizens?”
But, Weber, added it will be difficult to keep the panel and its extraordinary authority under wraps when Sylvia Mathews Burwell, who has been nominated to become the next Health and Human Services Secretary. She’ll undergo scrutiny in the Senate before she can be confirmed and the IPAB will be a topic of discussion, he pointed out.
“She could duck the issue, but it will be difficult for her to ignore the fact that along with becoming the new Secretary, she will also become the first and only member of the IPAB and that makes her appointment highly controversial.”
In a recent article published by Forbes, health care expert Michael Cannon wrote that “Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, if the Senate does not confirm any nominees to the Act’s 15-member Independent Payment Advisory Board, then all of the Board’s powers fall to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.”
Cannon is director of health policy studies at Cato Institute highly regarded as an expert on the Affordable Care Act. As he put it: “IPAB’s unelected members will have effectively unfettered power to impose taxes and ration care for all Americans, whether the government pays their medical bills or not.”
It’s a timely topic considering the fact that in June oral arguments will be heard by the 9th Circuit Court in a high profile law suit focused on the legitimacy of the IPAB. The plaintiff in the case, the Goldwater Institute, makes what it calls “the strongest legal challenge to date in Coons v. Geithner by arguing the federal health care law exceeds the powers of Congress and violates individual rights as well as violates the Separation of Powers doctrine.”
Weber said he believes the lawsuit could have a “chilling” impact on the future of Obamacare. “It is focused on the IPAB calling the panel ‘an unconstitutional delegation of Congressional powers.’ And it will bring attention to how liberal elitists can easily use the law to control the lives of each and every one of us.”
Yes, I am on medicare and I am greatly concerned about what is happening. Below is just one of many articles that I have read, telephone calls I've listened to, and letters from physicians I've read expressing concern over the impact the new healthcare law.
Posted 04/18/2014 | (From AMAC)
Can we trust the promise that the IPAB will not ration health care for senior citizens?
WASHINGTON, DC, Apr 18 – There’s been little news in recent months about the Obamacare provision that creates an Independent Payment Advisory Board. “This, despite the extraordinary powers the IPAB would have over the delivery of health care services to Americans,” according to senior citizen advocate Dan Weber.
Weber, who is president of the Association of Mature American Citizens, noted that the White House has yet to nominate members of the IPAB. “Perhaps it’s because the pervasive and intrusive nature of the board would be exposed at a time when liberals can ill afford such disclosure. They’d be hard pressed to defend the so-called Death Panel come the November mid-term elections,” he said.
“Remember the promise that you could keep your doctor under Obamacare. Can we trust the promise that the IPAB will not ration health care for senior citizens?”
But, Weber, added it will be difficult to keep the panel and its extraordinary authority under wraps when Sylvia Mathews Burwell, who has been nominated to become the next Health and Human Services Secretary. She’ll undergo scrutiny in the Senate before she can be confirmed and the IPAB will be a topic of discussion, he pointed out.
“She could duck the issue, but it will be difficult for her to ignore the fact that along with becoming the new Secretary, she will also become the first and only member of the IPAB and that makes her appointment highly controversial.”
In a recent article published by Forbes, health care expert Michael Cannon wrote that “Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, if the Senate does not confirm any nominees to the Act’s 15-member Independent Payment Advisory Board, then all of the Board’s powers fall to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.”
Cannon is director of health policy studies at Cato Institute highly regarded as an expert on the Affordable Care Act. As he put it: “IPAB’s unelected members will have effectively unfettered power to impose taxes and ration care for all Americans, whether the government pays their medical bills or not.”
It’s a timely topic considering the fact that in June oral arguments will be heard by the 9th Circuit Court in a high profile law suit focused on the legitimacy of the IPAB. The plaintiff in the case, the Goldwater Institute, makes what it calls “the strongest legal challenge to date in Coons v. Geithner by arguing the federal health care law exceeds the powers of Congress and violates individual rights as well as violates the Separation of Powers doctrine.”
Weber said he believes the lawsuit could have a “chilling” impact on the future of Obamacare. “It is focused on the IPAB calling the panel ‘an unconstitutional delegation of Congressional powers.’ And it will bring attention to how liberal elitists can easily use the law to control the lives of each and every one of us.”
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
A PHYSICIAN'S PLEA AGAINST WASHINGTON'S WAR AGAINST DOCTORS
Dear Readers:
“As a practicing family physician, I plead for help against what I can best characterize as Washington’s war against doctors.” – Dr. Marlin Gill, Decatur, AL
Dear Congressman Brooks,
As a practicing family physician, I plead for help against what I can best characterize as Washington’s war against doctors.
The medical profession has never before remotely approached today’s stress, work hours, wasted costs, decreased efficiency, and declining ability to focus on patient care.
In our community alone, at least 6 doctors have left patient care for administrative positions, to start a concierge practice, or retire altogether.
Doctors are smothered by destructive regulations that add costs, raise our overhead and ‘gum up the works,’ making patient treatment slower and less efficient, thus forcing doctors to focus on things other than patient care and reduce the number of patients we can help each day.
I spend more time at work than at any time in my 27 years of practice and more of that time is spent on administrative tasks and entering useless data into a computer rather than helping sick patients.
Doctors have been forced by ill-informed bureaucrats to implement electronic medical records (“EMR”) that, in our four doctor practice, costs well over $100,000 plus continuing yearly operational costs . . . all of which does not help take care of one patient while driving up the cost of every patient’s health care.
Washington’s electronic medical records requirement makes our medical practice much slower and less efficient, forcing our doctors to treat fewer patients per day than we did before the EMR mandate.
To make matters worse, Washington forces doctors to demonstrate ‘meaningful use’ of EMR or risk not being fully paid for the help we give.
In addition to the electronic medical records burden, we face a mandate to use the ICD-10 coding system, a new set of reimbursement diagnosis codes.
The current ICD-9 coding system uses roughly 13,000 codes. The new ICD-10 coding system uses a staggering 70,000 new and completely different codes, thus dramatically slowing doctors down due to the unnecessary complexity and sheer numbers of codes that must be learned.
The cost of this new ICD-10 coding system for our small practice is roughly $80,000, again driving up health care costs without one iota of improvement in health care quality.
Finally, doctors face nonpayment by patients with ObamaCare. These patients may or may not be paying their premiums and we have no way of verifying this. No business can operate with that much uncertainty.
On behalf of the medical profession, I ask that Washington stop the implementation of the ICD-10 coding system, repeal the Affordable Care Act, and replace it with a better law written with the input of real doctors who will actually treat patients covered by it.
America has enjoyed the best health care the world has ever known. That health care is in jeopardy because physicians cannot survive Washington’s ‘war on doctors’ without relief.
Eventually the problems for doctors will become problems for patients, and we are all patients at some point.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Marlin Gill of Decatur, Alabama
Recently at a doctor's office where I normally get in on time - i.e. if my appointment is at 4:00 I got in at 4:00 or 4:15. However, during this 4:00 PM visit I didn't get back to see the doctor until 6:00. They were so far behind because of the 'computerization' of the records. Read what this physician has to say about the new healthcare law...
“As a practicing family physician, I plead for help against what I can best characterize as Washington’s war against doctors.” – Dr. Marlin Gill, Decatur, AL
Dear Congressman Brooks,
As a practicing family physician, I plead for help against what I can best characterize as Washington’s war against doctors.
The medical profession has never before remotely approached today’s stress, work hours, wasted costs, decreased efficiency, and declining ability to focus on patient care.
In our community alone, at least 6 doctors have left patient care for administrative positions, to start a concierge practice, or retire altogether.
Doctors are smothered by destructive regulations that add costs, raise our overhead and ‘gum up the works,’ making patient treatment slower and less efficient, thus forcing doctors to focus on things other than patient care and reduce the number of patients we can help each day.
I spend more time at work than at any time in my 27 years of practice and more of that time is spent on administrative tasks and entering useless data into a computer rather than helping sick patients.
Doctors have been forced by ill-informed bureaucrats to implement electronic medical records (“EMR”) that, in our four doctor practice, costs well over $100,000 plus continuing yearly operational costs . . . all of which does not help take care of one patient while driving up the cost of every patient’s health care.
Washington’s electronic medical records requirement makes our medical practice much slower and less efficient, forcing our doctors to treat fewer patients per day than we did before the EMR mandate.
To make matters worse, Washington forces doctors to demonstrate ‘meaningful use’ of EMR or risk not being fully paid for the help we give.
In addition to the electronic medical records burden, we face a mandate to use the ICD-10 coding system, a new set of reimbursement diagnosis codes.
The current ICD-9 coding system uses roughly 13,000 codes. The new ICD-10 coding system uses a staggering 70,000 new and completely different codes, thus dramatically slowing doctors down due to the unnecessary complexity and sheer numbers of codes that must be learned.
The cost of this new ICD-10 coding system for our small practice is roughly $80,000, again driving up health care costs without one iota of improvement in health care quality.
Finally, doctors face nonpayment by patients with ObamaCare. These patients may or may not be paying their premiums and we have no way of verifying this. No business can operate with that much uncertainty.
On behalf of the medical profession, I ask that Washington stop the implementation of the ICD-10 coding system, repeal the Affordable Care Act, and replace it with a better law written with the input of real doctors who will actually treat patients covered by it.
America has enjoyed the best health care the world has ever known. That health care is in jeopardy because physicians cannot survive Washington’s ‘war on doctors’ without relief.
Eventually the problems for doctors will become problems for patients, and we are all patients at some point.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Marlin Gill of Decatur, Alabama
Monday, April 14, 2014
WHAT FLOWER ARE YOU?
9 simple questions to find out which flower best describes your personality. The answer may surprise you!
quizony.com
GOVERNMENT TARGETS TAXPAYERS FOR THEIR PARENTS' DECADES-OLD DEBTS
Dear Readers:
Did you ever think that you would be held responsible for your parents' decades-old debts. Something that you never had a hand in incurring, perhaps because you were just a child. Well, think again...
Government targets taxpayers for their parents’ decades-old debts
Posted 04/14/2014 | In The News 5
By Marc Fisher, WashingtonPost.com
"A few weeks ago, with no notice, the U.S. government intercepted Mary Grice’s tax refunds from both the IRS and the state of Maryland. Grice had no idea that Uncle Sam had seized her money until some days later, when she got a letter saying that her refund had gone to satisfy an old debt to the government — a very old debt.When Grice was 4, back in 1960, her father died, leaving her mother with five children to raise. Until the kids turned 18, Sadie Grice got survivor benefits from Social Security to help feed and clothe them."
To read the rest of the article = click on the link:
http://amac.us/social-security-treasury-target-taxpayers-parents-decades-old-debts
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Monday, April 7, 2014
COMPUTER HUMOR FOR THE DAY
Dear Readers:
Perhaps you read my post of April 2nd - "Diary of A Computer" (http://www.tricitiesonadime.com/2014/04/diary-of-computer-7th-day-of-computer.html)
The cartoon below says it all on how I felt trying to put it ALL back together.
Perhaps you read my post of April 2nd - "Diary of A Computer" (http://www.tricitiesonadime.com/2014/04/diary-of-computer-7th-day-of-computer.html)
The cartoon below says it all on how I felt trying to put it ALL back together.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY FROM MAX LUCADO
"Forgive
and give as if it were your last opportunity. Love like there's no
tomorrow, and if tomorrow comes, love again." - Max Lucado
Saturday, April 5, 2014
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS WEB PAGE - 50 INSANELY CLEVER ORGANIZING TIPS & TRICKS
I just found a practical web page that really can help you organize. Easy to do and will help get rid of some of your clutter.
Take a peek - http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/2013/08/50-insanely-clever-organizing-ideas.html
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
DIARY OF COMPUTER - 7th DAY OF COMPUTER INSANTIY
Dear Readers:
I apologize for not posting for the last several days. My computer is in the computer hospital and I will not have it back until Monday evening. Thank you for your patience. (Posted March 29th)
Helen
4-1-14 - UPDATE - and not April Fools - the computer PRISON has not yet released my computer. Hopefully I will get it today.
4-2-14 - UPDATE - Day 6th of imprisonment - got the word late yesterday - words that make you shudder - HARD DRIVE - "they" tell me they have one in stock...(how did they know they were going to need one, hmmmm).
4-2-14 - UPDATE - 11:00 PM - Day 7 of Insanity - I was finally able to come up the the "bail" to get my computer out of prison - the cost...one hard drive later. For those of you that have ever lost a hard drive, I know that I have you sympathy.
The computer guy put a 'new' password on the 'puter. After getting home and turning it on, I put in my usual password and got that little message we all hate - 'Invalid password'. Fortunately it was 1 minute before they closed, and I called. Lo and behold...they were still there. "Use the password - Password - for your password", they said. Yes, they told me capital P - so I dutifully put it in...and got that lovely little message again. As I throw my hands in the air and stomp into the kitchen to prepare dinner, my husband asks what wrong. If looks could kill, my husband would be dead right now.
Realizing that was the wrong question to ask, he quietly goes into my office, and says, "What did you say the password was?" I explain to him what they told me. Now you have to understand that my husband is of the generation where computers are intimating, however, he soldiers on. Oh, did I say he can't type either? So, in his 'hunt and peck' method and of course, no capitalization, he types in...password. It worked!
So, after dinner, I have been RELOADING all of my programs, plug-ins (add-ons) and just generally trying to recreate was is now missing. I have this strange feeling that I am not going to be bored over the next several weeks. I've always said - the joy of life is having something to look forward to...I think I might change that little axiom.
I apologize for not posting for the last several days. My computer is in the computer hospital and I will not have it back until Monday evening. Thank you for your patience. (Posted March 29th)
Helen
4-1-14 - UPDATE - and not April Fools - the computer PRISON has not yet released my computer. Hopefully I will get it today.
4-2-14 - UPDATE - Day 6th of imprisonment - got the word late yesterday - words that make you shudder - HARD DRIVE - "they" tell me they have one in stock...(how did they know they were going to need one, hmmmm).
4-2-14 - UPDATE - 11:00 PM - Day 7 of Insanity - I was finally able to come up the the "bail" to get my computer out of prison - the cost...one hard drive later. For those of you that have ever lost a hard drive, I know that I have you sympathy.
The computer guy put a 'new' password on the 'puter. After getting home and turning it on, I put in my usual password and got that little message we all hate - 'Invalid password'. Fortunately it was 1 minute before they closed, and I called. Lo and behold...they were still there. "Use the password - Password - for your password", they said. Yes, they told me capital P - so I dutifully put it in...and got that lovely little message again. As I throw my hands in the air and stomp into the kitchen to prepare dinner, my husband asks what wrong. If looks could kill, my husband would be dead right now.
Realizing that was the wrong question to ask, he quietly goes into my office, and says, "What did you say the password was?" I explain to him what they told me. Now you have to understand that my husband is of the generation where computers are intimating, however, he soldiers on. Oh, did I say he can't type either? So, in his 'hunt and peck' method and of course, no capitalization, he types in...password. It worked!
So, after dinner, I have been RELOADING all of my programs, plug-ins (add-ons) and just generally trying to recreate was is now missing. I have this strange feeling that I am not going to be bored over the next several weeks. I've always said - the joy of life is having something to look forward to...I think I might change that little axiom.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Saturday, March 22, 2014
SOMETIMES I THINK ANIMALS ARE MORE HUMAN THAN HUMANS.
Giraffe 'kisses' goodbye dying zoo worker in touching photograph
FoxNews.com
A touching moment between a zoo worker and one of his favorite animals has gone viral.
According to a report by Dutch News, 54-year-old Mario, who worked for the Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands for many years, was recently diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. But before he died, he had one wish: to say goodbye to the animals he cared for.
Thanks to a Dutch organization called the Ambulance Wish Foundation, Mario was transported from his hospital to the zoo and wheeled around the giraffe enclosure. That’s when one of the giraffes came up to Mario to give him a kiss goodbye.
“It was a very special moment. You saw him smile," said Kees Veldboer, director of Ambulance Wish. ‘It was special that the animals knew him and could sense all was not well with him.”
According to Dutch News, Mario has spent most of his adult life cleaning the animal enclosures at the zoo.
Click for more from Dutch News.
According to a report by Dutch News, 54-year-old Mario, who worked for the Rotterdam Zoo in the Netherlands for many years, was recently diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. But before he died, he had one wish: to say goodbye to the animals he cared for.
Thanks to a Dutch organization called the Ambulance Wish Foundation, Mario was transported from his hospital to the zoo and wheeled around the giraffe enclosure. That’s when one of the giraffes came up to Mario to give him a kiss goodbye.
“It was a very special moment. You saw him smile," said Kees Veldboer, director of Ambulance Wish. ‘It was special that the animals knew him and could sense all was not well with him.”
According to Dutch News, Mario has spent most of his adult life cleaning the animal enclosures at the zoo.
Click for more from Dutch News.
WHO ATE THE KITTY KAT TREATS?
Dear Readers:
This has to be one of the funniest videos: Click HERE
"Denver felt so bad after she tore into the kitty treats while Daddy was out. The good news: it landed her a spot on Good Morning America."
This has to be one of the funniest videos: Click HERE
Friday, March 21, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Sunday, March 16, 2014
YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP!
Dear Readers:
Every now and then I get tired of hearing of how terrible Americans are. That's when I go back and read this article. I suggest it is something we should all keep in mind. I don't know who originally wrote it, but I am thankful they did.
YOU COULD
HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP
When
in England, at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the
Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire
building by George Bush.
He
answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many of its
fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our
borders. The only amount of land we have
ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not
return.'
You
could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There
was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were
taking part, including French and American. During a
break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying
'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft
carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?'
A
Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three
hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear
powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have
three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they
can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day,
and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use
in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight
deck. We have eleven such ships; how
many does France have?'
You
could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A
U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from
the U.S. English, Canadian, Australian
and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a
large group of Officers that
included personnel from most of those countries.
Everyone
was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral
suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans
learn only English. He then asked, 'Why
is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than
speaking French?'
Without
hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe it' s because the Brits,
Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn' t have to speak
German.'
You
could have heard a pin drop.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AND
THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE...
Robert
Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to
locate his passport in his carry- on.
'You
have been to France before, monsieur?' the customs officer asked sarcastically.
Mr.
Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously.
'Then
you should know enough to have your passport ready.'
The
American said, 'The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it.
‘Impossible.
Americans always have to show your
passports on arrival in France!'
The
American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained,
'Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this
country, I couldn't find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to.'
You could
have heard a pin drop.
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