Random Thought: Finishing School

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Larry Chapman

Mitt Romney was a kid doing what kids do in finishing school when he and his buds got another kid down and snipped some of his hair off. Having once been a kid doing what kids do I can relate to that. What I’m having trouble with is finishing school. What the hell is a finishing school? I’m guessing it’s different from graduating 8th grade.

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I Wanna’ Be Like Guitar Slim

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Larry Chapman

About ten years ago I saw Buddy Guy being interviewed about the influences in his life. He recalled having once seen Eddie “Guitar Slim” perform and when Slim was introduced he heard the guitar fire up but its player was nowhere to be seen. Then a man came through the front door of the auditorium with Slim on his shoulders, wailing on his guitar. He was dressed in a bright red suit with his hair dyed to match and wearing a white shirt and white shoes. He was hooked into the sound system by an amp cord that was several hundred feet long.

Guy was so impressed by Jones’s stage antics he said to himself, “I want to play and sound like B.B. King but I want to look and behave on stage like Guitar Slim.” Continue reading →

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Suggested Reading; “The Ocean of Life”

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Editor

The following Newsweek article is a long but very important read. It has to do with the health of our oceans and the stocks of food found in those oceans. Both are in peril and we all need to make ourselves aware. The complete article may be read by clicking HERE.

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FACTOID: Today’s average American working man will have paid $345 thousand into Social Security and Medicare by age 65. By the time he has passed he will have gotten back $417 thousand. Since women live even longer they will get an even greater payback.  So, if you’re on Social Security or Medicare don’t think you’re not participating in socialized retirement and/or socialized medicine. Unless you die early you’re living at the government trough.

Source: U.S. News

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Editor | Comments Off

Random Thought: How Many Since Gabby?

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Larry Chapman

Here’s a headline appearing online recently, “Authorities: 5 dead after shootings in Florida.” Has anyone been keeping count of the number of gun related deaths that have occurred in America since the Gabby Gifford shootings in Arizona? Seems like we all of a sudden became concerned about gun violence. So much for attention span!

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How Much Did a Baby Cost in 1963?

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Larry Chapman

We’re all aware of the enormous cost of health care in the 21st Century and the fact that many of us can no longer afford it. Much disagreement and discussion is given to what to do about it but there don’t seem to be any real solutions being offered.

Regardless of today’s realities I recently had a reason to look back on the reality of one aspect of health care in 1963, the cost of having a child.

My wife and I had lunch with some older relatives who had been rustling through some old papers and came across the hospital records for the birth of their youngest child in Continue reading →

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Greenfield’s Farmer’s Market, 2012

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Larry Chapman

Many of you are probably chomping at the bit for the fresh veggies and fruits that come with summertime. For several years now one source of such has been the weekly farmer’s market in Greenfield. This will be the 4th year of the market and several changes are being made to hopefully make things better.

First, it is being relocated to General Hull Way next to the freshly repainted City Building. Hopefully this will make it both more central and more noticeable. Second the day and hours are being changed. The market will now be on Thursdays between the hours of 4-7 p.m. You working folks will now have a better chance of getting there.

The rules of the market still require that at least 51% of what produce one sells have been grown by the seller and all produce has to have been raised in Ohio. They are still lining up vendors and the cost of a space is only $30 for the season. Just give Ellie Zint a call at 937-403-4790 to reserve a space or get further details.

The vendor list so far includes:

  • Mary Jane Parker (Greenfield) – Assortment of pies
  • B4 Creations – Simply Silverware (Bainbridge/South Salem) – Flatware (silver plated) made into jewelry and other items
  • Clearview Farms (Greenfield) – Locally raised meat and fresh eggs
  • Persinger Produce & Cottage Foods (Washington Court House) – Seasonal produce, jams, jellies, fruit butter, cakes, fruit crisps, cobblers
  • Bye Gardens (Leesburg) – Seasonal produce, cinnamon rolls, sweet breads, cookies
  • Dave Brust Farm (Greenfield) – Seasonal produce 
  • Morton Ridge Farm (South Salem) – Seasonal produce
  • Christy Hoadley (Hillsboro) – Assorted craft items

The organizers are also trying to offer some free entertainment for the shoppers this year and are seeking artist, face painters, magicians, musicians, singers, jugglers, snake charmers, belly dancers, etc. who would be willing to display their talents on one or more evenings. If this strikes a not get in touch with Anne Byars at awmbyars@gmail.com.

I’m looking forward to the weekly visits and hope to see many of you there. This is a great thing and represents the efforts of many people. Like always, anyone who is trying to enrich our lives deserves our support.

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It’s Just a Part of Capitalism

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Larry Chapman

The head mucky muck at J.P. Morgan Chase bank, Jamie Dimon, said on Meet the Press that his team was “sloppy”, “stupid”, and “used bad judgement” in incurring what may yet become a $4 billion loss for the investors and stockholders in the firm he heads up.

While many are saying this is all the proof for tighter regulations on the too big to fail banks of Wall Street, Mitt Romney just writes it off as a normal part of free enterprise. He argues that since no tax payer money was at risk the government shouldn’t be considering tighter regulations. The leaders of these companies should be left in charge and be free to practice free market economics with all the inherent risks.

I’m left asking myself if this could be just one more instance where Mitt Romney just can’t relate. He made his money, and continues to earn the bulk of his income, from investments. His fortune is large enough that he really doesn’t have to worry too much where his next dividend check, or meal, is coming from. But, the typical investor in Continue reading →

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Bicycling Safety From the North Coast Muse

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Larry Chapman

I continue to enjoy reading all of Sally Kennedy’s offerings at her blog, North Coast Muse. Sally and her husband, Dana, love the outdoors and make every effort to get off the sofa, grab their cameras, and go explore the environment they live within. They love, hiking, nature, birding, cooking, gardening, and much more. Some of what they enjoy are things I don’t want to do, specifically gardening and canning,  but enjoy doing vicariously through them.

They enjoy the occasional bicycle ride, as do I, and today Sally has some advice for the parents of children who ride their bikes on the public streets and roads. Though some of her piece has to do with where she lives, the bulk is grist for all parents to grind. Click HERE to see Sally’s latest offering.

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Random Thought: I Must be Vindictive

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Larry Chapman

It occurred to me while driving along the Mississippi Gulf Coast recently that I must have a little vindictiveness living in me. It did my soul good to see several BP gasoline stations boarded up and out of business. Don’t think I’ll ever see their logo and not see underwater video of that well gushing crude into one of our greatest natural resources.

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The Latest ISP Info for us Living in Bumsquat, USA

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Larry Chapman

Living out here in rural Bumsquat, USA it has been almost impossible to live at the technological cutting edge our city brethren take for granted. We Bumsquatters are pretty much limited to dial-up using our telephone lines or satellite from Hughesnet or Wild Blue. A few are lucky enough to be within range of ADSL or cable systems but they generally consider themselves better than the rest of us and are generally hostile.

Before any of this will make sense you have to understand the basics of two things, bandwidth and caps. Think of bandwidth as a door whose width is fixed. The width of the door’s opening determines how many people can come and go without bumping into each other and slowing things down. Caps are the limits on how many times you can Continue reading →

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Sandbar Party

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Larry Chapman

I found this photo online and it will give you an idea of what I witnessed.

I was driving along Florida’s route 98, which crosses over the inlet at Destin, FL. Wasn’t able to get a photo but off to my right was absolutely the largest sandbar party I’ve ever witnessed. There were at least 400 boats anchored up on the low-tide sandbar with several thousand people standing around in the shallow water drinking adult beverages and enjoying each other’s company. Closest I ever came to this was at a sugar sand beach at the entrance to Pensacola Bay about 10 years ago. Great time but not nearly as large. At one time sandbar parties were a common feature near the causeway going from Morehead City, NC over to Atlantic Beach. I’m pretty sure the local constabulary called a halt to them, however.

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Tales from the Classroom, Part VI: When Winning is, Well, Losing

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Dave Shoemaker

Alright, I’m going to get right to the point. I’ve finally been pushed over the edge. For the third time in the past month I’ve heard the following words uttered in one context or another from one of my students. Although different sports were involved, in each incident the conversation went something like this:
“Hey Mr. Shoe! Did you hear about our soccer tournament last weekend? We won third place!”

Wait. What? You WON third place? What is this, some psychobabble nonsense somebody came up with in order to save our kids from damage to their self-esteem? Good Lord. You know, I think I first heard this senseless phrase last summer when some Euro Trash announcer proclaimed that some biker in the Tour De France had “won second place” in Continue reading →

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FACTOID: A poll by the New York Times and CBS reveals that 62% of Americans favor either same-sex marriages (38%) or legal recognition for same-sex relationships (24%). 33% said there should be no legal recognition.

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Editor | Comments Off

Random Thought: Pick Up Trucks

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Larry Chapman

Pulled into a parking lot in Florida and immediately concluded there are far more pickup trucks than there are things needing picked up. What’s this fascination with driving a p/u truck?

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