I want to travel, but don't want to fly. I want to see the great United States of America, but don't want to drive. I want to I want to travel, but don't want to fly. I want to see the great United States of America, but don't want to drive. I want to sit on the passenger side, passing chewing gum to the driver like my mom did for my dad while he told dirty jokes....

I have decided to travel by myself anyway. I want to go places that are not on the "beaten" path. I want to sight see the different smaller towns America has to offer. I know better that to wonder into a "behind the times" town where there is the "ole way" of doing things. People are uncomfortable with change. Change is good when it is for the good of society. Desegregation is good, women's rights are a few of the good changes. There a few places or a few people that refuse to change. I am concerned, I stay concerned.

I am a native New Yorker, We rarely met strangers. If we are in an elevator, we will join in a conversation. We are happy to give a hand, or drop everything and help someone in dire need. This is not welcomed across the country. Living in the south at times, this is apparent to me. The cold shoulder death stares are comical. This does not phase me, there is a Brooklyn saying [F-um!]...

How do I try to travel alone with this attitude? Very carefully, keeping my eyes open and practice safety as best as I can. Making moves in the daytime, and staying away from those dark alleys. Are there dark alleys still?

I think I will just stick to the tourist sections of the cities. I will let you know.

...Pandora [Too old for B.S.] {basic shenanigans}sit on the passenger side, passing chewing gum to the driver like my mom did for my dad while he told dirty jokes....

I have decided to travel by myself anyway. I want to go places that are not on the "beaten" path. I want to sight see the different smaller towns America has to offer. I know better that to wonder into a "behind the times" town where there is the "ole way" of doing things. People are uncomfortable with change. Change is good when it is for the good of society. Desegregation is good, women's rights are a few of the good changes. There a few places or a few people that refuse to change. I am concerned, I stay concerned.

I am a native New Yorker, We rarely met strangers. If we are in an elevator, we will join in a conversation. We are happy to give a hand, or drop everything and help someone in dire need. This is not welcomed across the country. Living in the south at times, this is apparent to me. The cold shoulder death stares are comical. This does not phase me, there is a Brooklyn saying [F-um!]...

How do I try to travel alone with this attitude? Very carefully, keeping my eyes open and practice safety as best as I can. Making moves in the daytime, and staying away from those dark alleys. Are there dark alleys still?

I think I will just stick to the tourist sections of the cities. I will let you know.

...Pandora [Too old for B.S.] {basic shenanigans}

SONY IS OWNED BY JAPAN? YES. THIS IS WHY THEY ARE SCARED OF NORTH KOREA. OTHERWISE WE AMERICANS ARE REALLY NOT SCARED OF IDOL THREATS.... DO NOT FORGET AMERICA HAS EITHER OUT SOURCED OR IN DEBT WITH OTHER COUNTRIES..

This is how I will start my short rant. My memory is always suspect, be I seem to remember the SONY COMPANY is owned my a Japanese company.

"Sony is a member of that "synergy" club too, but unlike the others never put theseparate pieces into a whole. As one TV pundit asked on Squawk Box this week, "When is thelast time you, or anyone, bought a Sony TV?"

We thought Sony would use its pieces to build an Internet powerhouse 12 years ago when broadband started. We now think it could do that with 4K, although that's going to be a much smaller market than the Net has become.

This week, a Wall Street type and hedge-fund billionaire named Daniel Loeb who runs Third Point said his firm is now Sony's third largest shareholder and wants Sony to sell off parts of itsSony Music and Sony Pictures businesses. He presented his proposal in an accommodating, non-confrontational manner but the impact on Sony's directors and executives can only have been shocking." [The Online Reporter,May 17,2013]

http://t.co/sQXPMCZgl7

I started this rant a couple of weeks ago. Since then there has been resent conversations about this being an "inside" job. North Korea does not have the power to run the machine that would do such a hack that is this far reaching. The professional hackers that work for the Feds says North Korea cannot do this. The talk today is it is coming from Sony pictures in the United States. My humble opinion is.....what for it...this is an attempt to put a stumble in the Media Streaming Business. The fact that one now can view the film on line and gross 2 million says a lot of how much we as consumers have shifted in how we view some movies. I would pay 3 to 5 dollars to stream from my home instead of burning gas then pay $5 matinee or $10 plus concessions snacks. The powers that be know this.

It will be interesting to follow this story and the outcome. To see how many big budget  movies releases go straight to online streaming and kill the box office ticket sales. I remember the 1980's when I didn't ever go to the movies until the Star Wars frenzy and then they killed Blockbuster's and all the video rental stores.

THE HOLIDAY SEASON

There seems to be a movement [another one] about people saying Merry Christmas as opposed to Happy Holidays.” Christ is the reason for the season” or “Put the Christ back in Christmas”. I do understand that point of view as well as “Happy Holidays”.

Growing up in NYC there are so many different ethnic groups in so many neighborhoods attending the same school system it was hard pressed not to see the different traditions expressed during the holidays. In 1960’s and 1970’s Public Schools we learned the songs for both Hanukah and Christmas carols. I still remember most of the words the Jewish song. There is “Three kings Day”.  The streets were decorated with colorful lights that hung across both sides of the streets. The beautiful lights were mostly enjoyed after dark. This was done in the neighborhoods with strong Italian influences. Then you have the store window decorations which was my favorite. R.H. Macy’s out did everyone. The Jewish neighbors had their Menorahs with the nine candles being lite on each day of Hanukah. It was a festive time of the year. We didn’t know if “Merry Christmas” offended you or not. If one didn’t answer back well you knew not to greet them that way next year. So “Season’s Greetings” became apropos! Life in the big city is more festive any day!

Kwaanza started in the 1980’s as an African American “anti-holiday shopping for the season” which encourages principles such as Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), Imani (Faith)

http://theblackcandle.com/about-kwanzaa/

“As an African American and Pan-African holiday celebrated by millions throughout the world African community, Kwanzaa brings a cultural message which speaks to the best of what it means to be African and human in the fullest sense. Given the profound significance Kwanzaa has for African Americans and indeed, the world African community, it is imperative that an authoritative source and site be made available to give an accurate and expansive account of its origins, concepts, values, symbols and practice.” http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml

Today it seems to be less festive, less inclusive with the “Jesus is the reason for the season” attitude. Not everyone is of the Christian faith. The fact remains that The Christ was not born on December 25^th anyway. We as [supposed Christians] are in fact followers of the teaching of the Christ who was a minister to the Jews and Gentile alike. According to the Bible Ishmael was the first born to Abraham then Isaac was born. For some reason the “blessing” was not given to the first born in this case. Please let me apologize now, I am not a Jewish historian. I am not a historian of anything other than my life. Being that said I am speaking for my POV [point of view].

I digress; “Season’s Greetings” is inclusive of all. It is a festive time of the year. When I go back to the neighborhood I grew up in, it looks nothing like I remembered it. There are different ethnic groups now celebrating this season or not, as they see fit to do.

Happy Holidays & Season’s Greetings, and have a Happy New year!

I’m sticking to it!

…..Pandora

Waiting

How much of my life have I spent just waiting? Waiting for what you ask? It started with my mom when I asked her something to drink and she replied “Just wait a minute”. Then I learned [within reason]to get things myself. Throughout life you have to wait. I waited for 9 months twice for what was promised to be a bouncing bundle of joy. The bundle of joy turned out to be a little drill Sargent who kept a schedule from hell that they eventually grew out of it.You wait in lines for everything. You wait in line at the supermarket to….spend your money. You wait in the “snake” line at the bank about your money. A person has to wait for a check to clear even if it is your money. When you walk into a bank and try to brake a $100 bill, you have to deposit the bill. Until there was direct deposit I used to wait for my paycheck on payday in line. Now the paycheck is virtual but the wait is very real.

I do understand for security purposes for waiting. It is good nowadays to use a credit card in case there is fraud in a purchase and one can stop payment. Sometimes waiting will save you heartache as in waiting for an inspection on a newly purchased home. You have to wait none the less.

Today I am waiting at the Doctor’s office for my grandchildren. I do not want to catch something from those runny noses in the waiting room. So, in my car I sit…waiting.

…Pandora

WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CHROME?

It has been a while since I have seen chrome on bumpers. Little by little the car manufactures have completely removed all signs of any chrome. In the 1980’s and 1990’s I had a total of four Cadillac(s). There was a time the Manufacturer made one size bumper that fit several models for several years. I had to weld my bumpers onto each vehicle to keep any one from stealing mine. Yes four nuts and bolts on each bumper were all you had to remove them. For years you saw “toothless” cars riding around without a front bumper. There was chrome in in Home decorating. Chrome light fixtures; sink faucets, etc. [called ‘polished chrome].

“The use of chrome plating in the art deco designs of the 1930s through its heyday in the cars, furniture and appliances of the 1950s and 1960s, chromium has been closely associated with the fast-paced modern world. Unlike other metals, chromium had no ancient or prehistoric uses.” http://www.dartmouth.edu/~toxmetal/toxic-metals/more-metals/chromium-history.html

The cars of my youth were made out of steel and had chrome bumpers. When I became an adult I had pride in my cleaned and waxed car, with the highly polished bumper. On most Saturdays girls and guys would congregate around the “johnnie pump” and wash our cars. The guys would show us girls how to apply the Turtle Wax™ [wax on, wax off], then get us to help them polish the film off. I think we were taking advantage of each other. None the less we were having fun.

This brings me to today, while I’m driving around and noticing the cars looking strange for some reason. There are the new cars with new designs and new looks. There the classics with established reputation [Lincolns and Cadillacs] which looks have something missing. The Chrome Bumpers.

I do understand the cost of fuel has society conscience of conservation or cutting costs in manufacturing. There is little chrome on small trucks nowadays and even less on most cars. The trucks still refuse to go quietly without a fight about chrome on their bumpers. Bring back the chrome!

...Pandora

Pajamas

Today I would like to address the acceptable attire that is being worn in public, the pajama pants!  It used to be that as a young lady you were never seen in this attire outside of your bedroom. I had a robe to put on when I walked into the kitchen. In my generation we had "house" slippers and house clothes, house shoes. These were to worn in the...house. We had self-prided, plus our parents were not having it! When you walked out the door, you were a representation of my mother. Not only my mother, everyone’s mom felt this way.

I grew up in The Bronx in the 1960’s and 1970’s. It was a mixed community of Jews, Italians, Blacks, Hispanic [Puerto Rican, Dominicans]. Every family had their own sense of pride. We were cleaned and “polished” before we stepped out in public. Our mothers used to congregate at the laundry-mat on Saturdays and catch up with [whatever] they talked about. The children were not too far always in

ear shot or eye sight of our mothers.

On Saturdays after household chores it was a different story. We went outside and played. We ran from the time we got outside like escaped prisoners to the street lights came on. This the only time I chose what I wanted to wear.

Today, not so much it used to be a running joke to go into THAT store and watch all kinds of outfits after hours. They would look like they rolled out of bed and fell into the store. Some patrons look like they celebrate Halloween every day of the year! The other day I was in the bank and saw…pajama pants! What? I was at the doctor’s office, more pajamas pants. No pride in oneself today. Here’s a thought, “Do they wash?” (0_o). How about the germs one treks into the home!

BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER....[MONDAY/WEEK]

In these turbulent recent times the holidays have come upon us and the economy has not changed much. There is an underlying tension with the resent insanity with the police forces in minority communities which has everyone at unrest. The poorer communities are known and are counted on to shop. Merchants and the Stock market depend on this “feeding frenzy” this time of the year. The gas prices have went down because “they” learned that people are not shopping if they have to spend half their pay on gas at a high rate.

This brings me to the Christmas shopping season. What is known as Black Friday and Cyber Monday was abysmal at best. This was partly due to civil unrest, protests to boycott shopping on these two days. Feeling that the message can be sent and well heard of you “hit em in their pockets”! Apparently it works. Black Friday was extended to “Small Business Saturday” then Cyber Monday, now we have Charity Tuesday and Cyber week. Well the “Brick and Mortar” store show profit this year? Will the Oil companies survive? I think they will be fine with a few hundred thousand dollars loose of the hundred billion dollar businesses. The World is watching.

...Pandora

FERGUSON & AMERICA A NATION’S DIRTY SECRET

I have struggled with this subject to write for a while. It is not that I don’t know what to say but the question is what else to say. I have lived through the media coverage of the 1960’s when those four little were killed in the bombing of the 16^th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. According to my parents and adults, it was an outrage. This was after the federal government ordered to desegregate the school system in Birmingham. “Fifteen sticks of dynamite were planted in the church basement. When thousands of angry black protesters assembled at the crime scene, Wallace sent hundreds of police and state troopers to the area to break up the crowd. Two young black men were killed that night, one by police and another by racist thugs”. [www.history.com]

Here are other examples:

“Harlem Riots, 1964

The riots began on July 16, 1964, when a police officer killed a young black boy in Harlem. The Congress for Racial Equality (CORE) had already scheduled a peaceful march to take place two days later to protest police brutality. After the march, a group of more militant and aggressive demonstrators took their protest to the steps of the police precinct. A number of fights broke out between the police and protesters, and 16 black demonstrators were arrested

In the early morning hours of July 23, 1967, Detroit police raided an after-hours bar and arrested 80 patrons. A crowd gathered outside and rocks were thrown at police cars, breaking their windows. The rioting increased and began to spread, with rioters outnumbering police. The next morning, a state of emergency was declared and the National Guard was called in to help the police. Things did not improve until President Lyndon B. Johnson sent in federal troops to help stop the sniping, shooting, looting and burning.

Watts Riot, 1965

On August 11, 1965, police used excessive force while arresting a black man in Watts, a black neighborhood in Los Angeles, for drunk driving. A small group of people gathered at the scene. Although the situation was tense, it was not violent. That changed when a police officer accused a woman of spitting at him and tried to arrest her. The crowd instantly erupted and began throwing bottles and rocks at passing cars and buses. Additional police were called in, and the violence and fighting intensified.

After police left the scene, thinking that their presence exacerbated the issue, the rioters took to the streets with a vengeance and began overturning cars, and smashing windows of nearby stores and looting them. "Burn, baby, burn" was the cry of the rioters. The situation deteriorated and 75 stores in the neighborhood were burned during the first 2 days of the rioting. The undermanned police force was helpless to combat the rioters.

Newark Riots 1967  In Newark, on July 12, 1967, police beat a black cab driver while trying to arrest him. A group of protesters gathered at the precinct house and became unruly. When they were asked to leave, they refused to obey and the police began to use force to break up the crowd. A protest rally against police brutality was called for the next morning. Once again, the police used excessive force, and the city erupted into violence with looting, burning and shooting. The National Guard was called in to help restore order. In all, 23 people were killed and nearly $11 million of damage was caused.

Detroit Riots 1967

In the early morning hours of July 23, 1967, Detroit police raided an after-hours bar and arrested 80 patrons. A crowd gathered outside and rocks were thrown at police cars, breaking their windows. The rioting increased and began to spread, with rioters outnumbering police. The next morning, a state of emergency was declared and the National Guard was called in to help the police. Things did not improve until President Lyndon B. Johnson sent in federal troops to help stop the sniping, shooting, looting and burning.”

http://www.highbeam.com/topics/race-riots-of-the-1960s-t10642

“The day that the black man takes an uncompromising step and realizes that he's within his rights, when his own freedom is being jeopardized, to use any means necessary to bring about his freedom or put a halt to that injustice, I don't think he'll be by himself”

http://www.malcolm-x.org/quotes.htm

On Thursday, July 16, 1964, James Powell was shot and killed by police Lieutenant Thomas Gilligan. The second bullet of three fired by Lieutenant Gilligan killed the 15-year-old African American in front of his friends and about a dozen other witnesses. The incident immediately rallied about 300 students from a nearby school who were informed by the principal. This incident set off six consecutive nights of rioting that affected the New York City neighborhoods of Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvesant. In total, 4,000 New Yorkers participated in the riots which led to attacks on the New York City Police Department, vandalism, and looting in stores. At the end of the conflict, reports counted one dead rioter, 118 injured, and 465 arrested. It is said that the Harlem Race Riot of 1964 is the precipitating event for riots in July and August in cities such as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Rochester, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Jersey City, New Jersey; Paterson, New Jersey; and Elizabeth, New Jersey

I can go on and on. This is a small piece of what ails us as a people. To those arrogant white people, I say stop. Stop talking about what you know nothing about. I hear “black people need to get over it” “It was in the past”. You have no idea how deep this is in our DNA. Just like there is a great need to keep the poor, poor. There is a great scare of what has been done by the oppressors will revisit them by the oppressed. In all fairness there are ignorant black people as a culture that is sleep walking through life feeding on empty values. Poor people are being hoodwinked against each other in the name of “white supremacy”. The rich do not want lower income people of any race in their community.

Today it is Ferguson. Same story, same outcome. The definition of insanity is? We have not seen the last demonstration. The government has given most these small towns surplus war equipment. Mom and Pop with Timmy will do what?

As a nation, please do not lose focus. Laws are in placed to keep the masses in control. If those officers are wrong it is because the laws on the books are wrong. We as a nation need to……

You fill in the blanks the world is watching. This how we will lose the seat at the world summits.

…Pandora

Thanksgiving morning at my house this year...

WHAT'S THAT I SMELL? "
TIME TO INVESTIGATE. ..

 I love the smells of the holidays. When I was a child my mom was not fussing at me and my siblings when it was time to cook for the holidays. I remember how she would start the week of Thanksgiving with the grocery shopping. Picking out the fresh vegetables and the meats that were on the menu for dinner. A few days before the greens [collards in our house] were soaked and washed. The sweet potatoes or yams were prepped for use. Thursday all meats go into the oven to cook. The list can go on how everyone had a chore to do in the kitchen. As an adult my traditions changes slightly, I too created my own traditions with my children. My sons enjoyed helping then eating, everything.

Today my sons have wives and families of there own and are creating their own traditions.The ladies are in my kitchen mixing and chopping with me in the family room watching the Thanksgiving Day parade on television with the grandchildren. Every now and then I wonder into the kitchen and wait patiently for an offer to "taste this" to which I reply "Not bad".

...QUALITY CONTROL OFFICER!

CONSTRICTIVE CRITICISM

I HAVE MY BUCKET OF MUD TO SLING, DO YOU HAVE YOURS?
...LETS COMMENCE TO SLING SOME MUD. NO ONE IS 100% RIGHT.
OPINIONS ARE LIKE ASSHOLES, EVERYONE HAS ONE AND IT USUALLY STINKS

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/thanksgiving-day

THANKSGIVING

Gobble -Gobble day is coming again. The same time every year we are told to cook a king's feast and invite people over to dine who you may or may have not spoken to in about a year. I am talking about Thanksgiving. The day we are supposed to remember how the settlers came to a new place and almost starved to death and the natives helped them to survive.

The holiday known as the first feast is for the harvest in autumn.  The Pilgrims celebrated a first successful harvest. The Plymouth Colony was English Protestants. The Wampanoag Native Americans were at this first harvest. It is the Wampanoag custom to give thanks for the harvest each year. [www.plimoth.org]

In the Bible it talks about harvest: Celebrate the Harvest Festival each spring when you start harvesting your wheat, and celebrate the Festival of Shelters each autumn when you pick your fruit. To my understanding one has to plant for a harvest. To sow, so one can reap a harvest. If I walk over my property year in and year out and do nothing to it, why should I expect any harvest? This is why we [collective humans] used to celebrate this time of the year for the harvest and give thanks.

In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln declared two national holidays. There was one in August to commemorate the Battle of Gettysburg and one on November to give thanks for “general blessings”. The Wampanoag did not share this reverence for long and thought a great betrayal and bloodshed.

Which brings me here today; the commercialization of Thanksgiving today has nothing to do with any harvest. The Black Friday phenomenon is a beast of magnums proportion. The fact that the retail market wants you to skip your dessert from your holiday dinner and head out for unbelievable, over priced merchandise to fool you that you can save is outrageous. Then there is a new crazy called “Cyber-Monday” shopping online [at work].

  My fellow Americans, newly-immigrated Americans learned to celebrate this holiday with their own take of something to be thankful for. I’m sure each family story is unique in its own way, but thankful just the same and not necessarily a turkey in the middle of the table. [maybe at the head of the table].

Let us not lose sight of what one is thankful for. I am thankful for my family, blood relations or just good friends. I am thankful my health.  As a breast cancer survivor, everyday above ground is a good day. I am thankful for the United States of America, the land of the free, home of the brave. We have our flaws and many we have, but life is a work in progress. When you learn more, you do more.

I will be volunteering somewhere. My children are grown and are creating holiday traditions for themselves. I am thankful for this.

Happy Thanksgiving

…Pandora

A TURN-AROUND KITCHEN

I have noticed for a while the trend to have a “mega-do-it-all” kitchen. I have seen fire places, and 6 or more burner stoves. There are subzero refrigerators. One may want to have a pizza oven or a fireplace in the kitchen. The wall of ovens with a microwave stuck in there. In the last few years the trend was to have “pot filler” over the stove so you can fill a pot of water without lifting it.

Kitchen islands are of phenomena of themselves. One can cook at the island or wash dishes at the island as well. You family [not so much] or friends can watch all of this taking place on stools if you wish as if you are some kind of cooking show host.

The countertops will have you daydreaming forever. There are so many choices to choose from. Granite, soap stone, concrete and even chalkboard so you can write on it! Cabinets can be made of wood, laminate of any color. The hardware [faucets and cabinet pulls] can cost from a few hundreds to a few thousands of dollars.

I really like those walk-in pantries. I wish I had one when I was raising my children. I think it would have made my life more organized. [I want to believe].

I can’t imagine cleaning those mega kitchens. Granted if one can afford to have one of those big kitchens, one can afford the housekeeping as well. I am old school. I do not want to have strangers in my home cleaning and snooping.

Which brings me to today’s rant! I love what I call a “Turn-around” kitchen. In a turnaround kitchen you have the sink then, turnaround there is a stove, then turnaround there a refrigerator. I can fill a small pot and turnaround and put it on the stove just fine. When I’m cooking I usually forget something in the “fridge” and I don’t want to walk ¼ mile for something.  By the time I get there I will have forgotten anyway. I want to get in there do what I have to do and get out. There will be no show, no demonstrations. I do not want to travel to get to the pantry or pull appliances from over there. I want to fix something to eat while I worry about my calorie count.  After this I want to get out of the kitchen and turn off the light!

…Pandora

WHEN DID WE LEARN TO SCREAM?

Recently I was watching a movie and as usual I predicted the oncoming scream. The gut wrenching high pitched, loud female scream we know today. Then I wondered when this became a socially acceptable trained response to fear. To let out a piercing siren for help when my first response is, my eyes opening wide, my ears trying to focus and for me to be QUITE!

I remembered I grew up when there was big influence from Hollywood. We collectively were taught to scream. We were taught that The White Handkerchief meant Chlorophorm and someone will be going unconscious immediately after. Today Hollywood still uses the White handkerchief that I cannot find as easy in most retail stores.

The scream, is still recognized as a “danger cry for help”. Some of the most famous female Hollywood screams are: Fay Ray of King Kong 1933; Margret Hamilton of Wizard of Oz1939; Janet Leigh of Pyscho 1960. The opening scene of Jaws 1975, her scream was created by Susan Backlinie.

Then there is the male screams of Hollywood that has a long history of using the same guy! It is an inside Hollywood story of how an uncredited actor was recorded screaming and his recording has been use throughout the years.

Known to insiders as the Wilhelm Scream it has been used from The Charge of Feather River 1953, several George Lucas Star Wars films, Indiana Jones movies, even Walt Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in 1991.

I think our collective conscience has learned to expect a well-placed scream but in reality [mine] not so much. So the next time you sit down to watch a scary movie, wait for the chlorophorm and the well placed scream.

Fortunate Son (CCR) - Dave Grohl, Bruce Springsteen & Zack Brown 2014

Fortunate Son (CCR) - Dave Grohl, Bruce Springsteen & Zack Brown 2014

EBOLA

The Ebola River, also commonly known by its indigenous name Legbala, is the headstream of the Mongala River, a tributary of the Congo River, in northern Democratic Republic of the Congo

…Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a disease caused by one of five different Ebola viruses. Four of the strains can cause severe illness in humans and animals. The fifth, Reston virus, has caused illness in some animals, but not in humans.

The first human outbreaks occurred in 1976, one in northern Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) in Central Africa: and the other, in southern Sudan (now South Sudan). The virus is named after the Ebola River, where the virus was first recognized in 1976, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Ebola is extremely infectious but not extremely contagious. It is infectious, because an infinitesimally small amount can cause illness. Laboratory experiments on nonhuman primates suggest that even a single virus may be enough to trigger a fatal infection… [CNN.COM]

After a few weeks of Republicans turning the Ebola virus into a campaign instrument, it’s still not altogether clear what GOP officials and candidates want voters to think. The message is a little convoluted: Americans are supposed to be terrified, which should lead them to vote Republican, which in turn will empower GOP policymakers to do … something.

It’s not that Republicans actually have some Ebola-related policy agenda in mind that can only be implemented by a GOP-run Congress. Rather, the right seems to believe the Obama administration has been “incompetent” in its response to the Ebola threat. By voting Republican, Americans can ensure that GOP officials complain from the majority instead of complaining from the minority.

Some of the political hysterics have arguably been effective. The latest USA Today poll asked which party Americans believe can do a better job responding to the Ebola threat, and the parties were nearly tied (Democrats 34%, Republicans 32%). Most recent polling suggests the public is generally satisfied with President Obama’s handling of the issue, but it’s hardly onesided. [THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW/RACHEL MADDOW BLOG]

DIY|MakeUp Vanity Display $1store

SPY APPS

There recently was a lot of "hoop-la" about the FACEBOOK app and its ability to view your contacts, photos, and camera operations. To my surprise this is done by TWITTER and TUMBLR as well.
You by all means think that your privacy is being invaded daily. If you are on a shopping website perusing a pair of shoes, why is that those same pair of shoes show up in the advertisement column of the right side in FACEBOOK. The ads show up in YOUTUBE as well.
These company has a business agreement with each other to share your information to gain "traffic" for ads.
My point is for you to monitor your apps. Some apps "run" in the background when you are not using them. Some apps say "they will posts" for you. [DON'T DO IT].
Do yourself a favor at least log out of those apps when you are finished. Go to your "Settings" > APPLICATION MANAGER" then chose each app and scroll to the bottom, this will tell you exactly what the app is doing [for you].
I just uninstall the apps at the end of the day, then re-install them as needed. I mostly work on my desk top where I can delete my browser history if need be.

THEY ARE WATCHING>>>> (o_0)

Solo - Touch Me

Theses elections are over and it is back to business as usual. The usual politics, usual "stonewalling", promise braking business. Well I will just sit back and watch the show. Let's see what gets done now.

HALLOWEEN

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. The people who like to create, I believe they also like Halloween and Easter as well.

When I was growing up in the “housing development” in The Bronx, we would have to be creative with our costumes. Finding old worn out shoes, hats and anything we could get our hands on. Please note you have to ask your parents if the items were suitable for donations to our cause!

 Side note: We did not know how economically poor we were, but none the less we were rich in community and family values.

I would ask my mom for some of old make up that were either the wrong colors in her free samples or just that the shade were off by a lot! This would make the best corpse completion. Let us not forget the black eyeliner to complete the look.  My younger brother was always subjected to my required participation whether he wanted to or not. His costume was always the same, a Red Skelton inspired Hobo. It was complete with the sloppy clown makeup, oversized clothes, big shoes and a stick with a sack tied on the end. We would go door to door in the building where there were seven stories, seven apartments on each floor. It was good, clean fun. No worries of sorted grownups and bad behavior. The scare of razor blades in candies has been around since there were “trick-or-treating” in the urban big cities.

The years passed, I got married and had children of my own, who once again were subjected to my required participation! By this time I had a better budget. I bought “proper” costumes because my sons would have it no other way.

 We went out in neighborhood, but very little participation. I think it was the neighborhood had changed. The influx of new immigrants who were not familiar with this holiday made for slim pickings. We would make our way to the malls where the shop owners would give candy to the little ones.

Nowadays as a grandmother myself, I wear a homemade costume with a funky wig and give out candy. I have crazy decorations in front of my home that lets the neighbors know I HAVE CANDY ON HALLOWEEN! Some of my neighbors do not speak English very well, but I always try to lead by example. Most all of them want to be American citizens, and do what Americans do, celebrate holidays from different cultures and putting personal family spin on them. Tailoring the holiday and making new traditions. It is always a pleasure and gives my heart joy to see the little one say “tricktree”…

By the way, what happened to the “tricks” instead of the treats? Trick----or---Treat?

..Pandora [Twilight Zone Music]

MY PHONE IS RINGING

I'm not in the mood. There are some days when I'm willing to or wanting to be BOTHERED! I do not want to answer the phone which is calling from a 1-800 number, private, or my new favorite {1}...Just the number one on the caller I.D.
 You have to pay for any type of publication or advertisements. You have to pay someone to promote you or your product on any social media.

 Why is it, I have to pay to have my phone number...not to be published?

When I was growing up you had prefix telephone numbers with names. Our number began with "Killpatrick"[ki2-8862]. As per "GOOGLE" they are known as Telephone Exchange Numbers

http://ourwebhome.com/TENP/Recommended.html

The information was accurate. The telephone book was a "go to" source to locate "respectable" family members. When I was a child, we used to actually read the telephone book to find the funny sounding names until we got bored.

Now we have google, numbered saved automatically into our mobile phones.

I digress.
Stop the madness.... oh wait, my phone is ringing, I have to see who it is...

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 speed sketching!

S Pen Lesson: Galaxy Note 4 Edition

Sharp Aquos Crystal - Bezelless Smartphone!

Your Family Tree Explained

How Many Countries Are There?

Mobile Telephone Technology

Mobile Telephone Technology

               Today one can check their email, search for information on a “Smart Phone”. There is what is known as “apps”. Applications that will complete certain tasks for the user. There are the applications [apps] that can do simple arithmetic calculations to square root of…whatever. There are useless apps for as far as I’m concerned that are pre-installed. There must be some sort of advertising gain or “sleeping with the devil” to have these pre-installed programs. Take for instance, the “Head phone” apps, the chat-room types, the “I want to find my family” app, three different message apps, and a few I have no idea what they are for. Then there are the “Office-on the go” apps. One can do spreadsheet or create a document for emailing. You can also use your favorite search engine to verify more useless information.

The Global Positioning Satellite [GPS] apps I find useful. If I have an address that I have looked up prior to my travel before I left my home, and cannot seem to locate, this app is very useful. You have to turn on the GPS on your phone to allow the assistance.

The calendar app is priceless. No more collecting appointment cards to lose, or missing meetings or concerts that I wanted to attend. The camera and photo gallery go together, make sense.

There is more technology that is being introduced which allows you to set your thermostat, security alarm systems. You can view the inside of your home just by the swipe of your phone. You can take a picture of a written check and with a “click” deposit it into your bank account. [Yipes]. Now I’m scared.

This is why I used get frustrated when I had to make a simple phone call. I have learned to “disable” apps, custom my home screen and minimize useless information that is all but annoyance.

My question is: Are there sufficient security for all of this technology? If we can view the inside of our home and cash a check with our mobile devices is there enough security for this? Is the NSA working on my behalf?

I just want to order some Chinese food.

…Pandora

DRIVING

Today you have car that can almost self-park. I have a rear camera on my car. There is your standard rear view mirror, left side mirror and the right side mirror; this is from sitting in the driver’s seat. Now they are trying to make “Driverless Cars”.

Getting your driver’s license was a rite of passage growing up. You watched your mom or dad driving and couldn’t wait to get your license. You studied the Manual, asked a thousand questions and became A “BACK SEAT DRIVER”.

When I started getting driving lessons from my father, we had a 1965 Dodge Rambler. It had two mirrors, a rear view and a left side one. There was no a right side mirror at all and it was a stick with the clutch behind the steering wheel.

 I took a “Driver’s Ed” in high school as an elective instead of home economics. The class had a little seat with a steering wheel, indicator controls, brake and gas pedals. We watched movies about other people getting driving lessons. That was it!

 When we sat in the back seat as children, there were no seat belts. There were no children car seats to speak of. My mother of father’s arm was the safety restraint. By the way gas was 35¢ and you had to choose between regular or high test.

When I started my family, I had a Ford Town and Country Station wagon. I used to put the kids all of the way in the back with pillows and blankets for long drives. Don’t judge me. I didn’t know better!

When I visited the south people did not wear shoes while driving. I thought this was brave.

Today, tsk, there are so many unnecessary accidents. Texting and driving? Why would you want to take your eyes off of the road? The fact is you have not been on this earth for a while. You have not been an adult that many years, therefore have not developed the skill to master the vehicle to start with. To you older drivers, you are not as quick as you think. [sh]

Moving right along, I think I will go into the store. Wait, someone is sitting in their car, in the Handicap space with no tag! I will just circle and give the “evil eye/ice grill”.

….Pandora

America By The Numbers with Maria Hinojosa: Clarkston Georgia

PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE

Last year around Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays the mailbox was packed every week with the “Publisher’s Clearing House sweepstakes” There should be a law requiring how many winners per year, and what states there are in. Looks to me they run the same people in the commercials, and this year I have not seen any as of yet.

               What are “they” clearing? Publications? With the decline of print publications there should be less junk mail anyway. The filler mail in the envelope is products that can be purchased in today’s Dollar 99¢ discount stores. The question again, what is in the “Clearing House?”

               I played along for one year to see how far they would go to string me along. I was told that I am getting close. There are 5 people in my zip codes and I am moving closer to finding out the winner in my neighborhood. I have been getting close for that last [forever].

               There should be a law against “coning” people out of their money. Oh wait! There is. Games of chance, internet gambling is illegal in most states; Mail fraud in all 50 states.

               I think time has passed for this type of “junk mail” There some people who really believe there is a chance like I do with the State Lottery of Education. The difference is, it’s a dollar and a dream. The Lottery can get out of control, but there are people who do win. Publisher’s Clearing House I am not too sure if any, how often.

Today’s ‘Rambling’ brought to you by “Mailbox Keeper” he who clears out the mailbox and takes a hand full directly to the nearest trashcan.

….Pandora

GPS

Get People Searching

GPS are the bane of my existence. Global Positioning System, GPS & Navigation systems seemed like a good idea at the onset. Blindly following turn by turn directions from a device that sounds like a Star trek robot that has no idea where we’re at!

Learning that this device needs to be updated at the wrong time, helps nothing. “In 200 feet make right turn”. There has been a railroad track for the last two mile running parallel with the road I’m on. I need to not to make any right or left turns for that matter! I prefer MapQuest®

I like to map out my travels to a new destination before leaving the house because of my prior experiences with GPS software.  I like to look at the surrounding neighborhoods to see if I am familiar with the general areas. I do not like surprises. Well, Surprise, not only did the map from the house computer told a lie, the car GPS and my Android turn by turn directions lead me to a dead end.

I called the office to get better directions. They gave the same directions as the Android. The issue in my town is it is growing and spreading. There streets that have not been mapped. The satellite doesn't help [evidently].(o_0). What’s the point of satellite connections if I do not have the right address or, I do have the right address and the road work has not been updated! This is proof that there is no “real time” GPS.

We finally found the place after we had lunch. Maybe the red wine help!

Be careful and make sure your GPS is up to date.

I’m in the shower, starting my routine when I looked down to see the extra that is in the shower with me. The extra width on my thighs and my waist are noticeable. My “Gurls” have gone south. I thought about complaining then I thought again.

 I thought about thanking my legs and thighs for carrying for almost 70 years [I’m closer to 70 then 20]. They have supported me through thick and thin. They have taken me work for over 35 years, carried two children at different times for 9 months. Then another year and a half off and on;  carrying each one at different times.   Grocery shopping, open school nights, emergency room visits between the hours or 1am and 4 am at different times for different children.  

I thought about my “Gurls”, my breast and how they are not paying attention to what’s ahead in front of them. They are not “uplifting” as much anymore. I remembered how they tried to feed two children once upon a time. How my “Gurls” filled out my dresses and sweaters in the right places, and hid small sums of cash from time to time.

I thought about complaining. I thought about the blessings. The blessings to be able to see another “ripple” in my thighs. The blessing to have a wider girth. The blessing to have the two sagging sidekicks.

Things are not as bad as they seem. Each day is a gift to unwrap and see the surprise that is waiting. I really smell the flowers. I really enjoy each and every day. My children are the keepers of my heart, the keepers of my soul. My grandchildren are my light on my path to my family’s future.

A Breast Cancer Survivor, I have a lot to be grateful, thankful for.

PANDORA….

POWER LUNCHES

POWER LUNCHES

A spiced ham and American cheese hero [lettuce, tomato, and mayo] with a bag of WISE® plain potato chips, a NEHI® grape soda. This is what was for lunch once per week in the 1970’s.

This was our “Power Lunch”. We ran and played hard. We ran errands for our parents. Living in the inner city sometimes we had to go to the Laundromat to wash the blankets because they were too large for our washing machines.

Those hot summer days when I had to walk to the train station to save a fare, we used to budget out for our snacks. My parents gave me just enough money for carfare and a bag of “chips”. So we would walk half of the way going and back from the train station.  We lived in The Bronx. “Soundview” station on the #6 Pelham Bay line. Getting off the “el” [elevated subway]; one would have to wait for the BX 27 bus. This is what is called a two fare zone. We did well saving that second fare by walking.

Summer school lunches were made by us who had summer jobs [$1.65hr] nasty bologna sandwiches, fruit, hot milk. No one ate the lunch. Anyone was welcomed to the lunch, there was no judgment. If you wanted it, you got it. We knew of children that were hungrier than we were. They were poorer but as a child I did not understand this concept. Some days we all ate The Nasty Lunch.

Once per year I find myself strolling past the deli section staring at the “spiced ham” with fond memories of my childhood Power Lunch. Even though I introduced this to my children, they never appreciated the history of…”spiced ham-n-cheese hero”, WISE® plain potatoes chips and a NEHI® grape soda.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!1.2

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!1.2

I bought balloons, cake, franks [I’m from the Bronx} buns for the birthday celebration of my first born. The same look on his face as always when I show up with the Helium filled balloons and a cake with his name written on it is priceless.

I personally love franks even though the sodium content is high. The sugar in the cake is unhealthy. A few times per year I eat birthday cake. [Don’t judge me] I love cake like the next foody!

Today there are a variety of sweeteners that can substitute for sugars. “Stevia”, “Agave”. One can use bee vomit [honey] as sweeteners. I will take sugar in my cake any day.

  Back to his day. I decided to fix franks and buns for the menu. I believe his guests would enjoy this.

His guest consists of three little boys who think the world of him. They believe he is a super hero and try to be like him every day in every way.

They are his sons. My baby is a father of 5, 2 girls and three boys. The boys are here for his birthday today. The girls are out of town this weekend. Daddy is everything.

I am proud of my son. I still bring him balloons, and cake for his birthday. He never sees it coming!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY! 1.2

SHOPPING LISTS

Lately I make every effort to create a shopping list to take to the grocery store for the household essentials. My attempt is to save money, use coupons and to be as frugal as humanly possible.

This task is never completed. I either leave the list home or the coupons. If I somehow remember to bring the coupons, they have expired. Not to mention the coupons nowadays are mostly dog food and for very fair skinned cosmetics.

I try to go on Wednesdays. This is the day they have “Double Coupons”. Whatever that is! There are coupons given at the checkout by the cashiers to use upon your return. I, of course never bring them.

I digress; my shopping list proves useless every time I return home without the much need groceries I left out of the house for.