Monday, October 31, 2011

Come Monday...Some More Fresh Air


“Come Monday…” is a weekly series that will involve a review of, or commentary about,  websites, movies, documentaries, television shows, sports, music, and whatever else may tickle my fancy at the time.  Be assured that these reviews will be generally positive, as in accordance to the Jimmy Buffett song “Come Monday.”  This is subject to change, however.  In fact, I would be most derelict in my duties to neglect going on a rant every once in a while.  For rants promote change, and change can be good—right?  Therefore, since good is generally considered as being a positive force in 99.3% of the parallel universes that I am aware of, even a rant could be considered as being something positive, and a genuine hissy-fit would be even better (so I’m told).

Early last summer, I was asked to publish something about [The Fresh Air Fund].  It can be read [here], and I hope this will be a timely follow-up piece, which [Grace] helped to prompt.

Yes, it well past an opportune time to actually host a child in desperate need of breathing some fresh country air, but giving to worthy causes never goes out of season.  Be assured that The Fresh Air Fund is indeed a worthy cause in a number of ways.

In sharp contrast, we have had some fairly recent encounters with charities rife with uncharitable aggression and apathy.  Since I am very hopeful that those encounters have been exceptions instead of the rule, the names of the organizations involved will not be given.

The first encounter involved a solicitation for a donation over the phone by a charity that we were able to give to last year, but our funds are not nearly as plentiful this year.  So, when my wife told the caller that we would not be able to donate anything this year, he asked, “Why not?”  He even went on to ask what was different about this year, since we were able to give before, which was very upsetting to us both.

If I remember right, it was later in that very same week a little over a month ago that she received another almost identical telephoned solicitation from another charity that we had given to last year.  This “inspired” me to find out what I could about what was going on, and I soon learned that both of the calls came through a third-party call center.  I was unable to find out if both calls came from the same place, but since the script was almost identical, I suspect that they were.

After finding out about the third-party call centers, I sought to get into contact with the actual charities, and the one I was able to get into direct contact with via email immediately began an investigation of their own.  Within a couple of days, they informed me that they had tracked-down who had made the call to us on their behalf, and after reviewing the recordings of several other calls that he had made to others, he was fired.

Be assured that I did not want to see anyone lose their job.  For all I was looking for was an emphasis being made on there being a big difference between soliciting charitable donations and collecting debts, but anyone with a semblance of common sense (naturally-speaking, of course) should already realize that—right?

It was a very different story with the other charity using a third-party call center to solicit donations, however.  For they did not list an email address on their website.  So, I called the telephone number that was listed, and the one answering the phone offered to take our names off of their list after evidently ignoring what I had told him about just wanting to help them right an ongoing wrong.  After repeating my intentions a couple of times more, he finally put me on hold for the director, and after almost an hour of waiting, I gave up.

Oh, but wait—there’s more!  For the second charity did have the name of the call center they were employing listed on the front page of their website, and I was able to send an email to them.  Twenty-four days later, I received an email from [MacRae’s Blue Book] that they had decided to not pass on my email to the call center.  When I sent a reply back to MacRae’s about it looking like they were as serious about providing good customer service as the call center was, it came back as undeliverable.

No, we are not quite done yet.  For when my sister-in-law went to donate their old couch after getting a new one, she had to go to three different charity outlets before finding one that was willing to accept it.  Now, I can understand if it had become the home for a bunch of militant squirrels bent on the destruction of all man-made items, but the only thing wrong with the couch was a very small (we’re talkin’ teeny-tiny here) tear in the fabric on one corner of the back.  Evidently, at least some beggars can afford to be choosers.

Please Also Visit:
and

Sunday, October 30, 2011

A Sunday Drive

Back during my childhood, our parents would often load up my brother and me after Sunday morning church services for a leisurely drive around where we lived.  Even though we were seeing mostly familiar sights, it was still good to see them, and this is why “A Sunday Drive” sounded about right for the name of a weekly series revisiting familiar sites that are well worth seeing again and again.  The link below the image is to the site itself, and the image is linked to the post it was first included in here.

 Link: [2012 Earth]














 Link: [The Padrino]





Please Also Visit:
and

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Trib Updates


This is a weekly series that will include a brief summary of the latest articles that have been published on The Tribulation Times Herald-Exhorter.  Hopefully, this will encourage you to go check out some truly outstanding articles that have been published by a number of truly outstanding authors.  Moreover, I hope this will also encourage you to want to become a contributing member/author, as well.  The “Hear Ye!  Hear Ye!” site explanation near the top of the side-bar should answer many of your questions.  Yes, this series also included an “SOS! (Spam On Saturdays)”  segment before, but it just wasn’t working for me.  Therefore, that will be replaced by a republishing of one of the Trib articles.

[Ma’s Roadhouse] has me wondering if all of the good times I remember having in places like that weren’t actually so good.

[Lavender Darwin Attacked By Militant Urologists] tells the tale of Lavender being saved by the Vasectomy Avenger.

[Michelle Duggar and the Breastfeeding Taboo] has Lavender ranting about something other than vasectomies and Shaun White.

[Why I will NOT buy RCA products again!!!] is another Lavender rant about something other than vasectomies and Shaun White.

[Pros and Cons of the Matrix films…] goes to prove what happens to Lavender when he loses focus on vasectomies and Shaun White.

[Computer-rendered Celebrities] has Lavender still stuck in the Matrix.

[Vaccines Ingredients: DNA…?] has Lavender presenting us with a video about such.

[Self-Driving Cars] gives Lavender another subject to take his mind off of vasectomies and Shaun White (not to mention breastfeeding).


A lot has been made of the supposed dumbing-down of America, with our educational system taking a lot of heat, and with all of the realignments (both real and imagined) of major athletic conferences lately, methinks there is nothing supposed about it.  For I don’t think anyone with a fourth-grade education would make some of the moves that have been made—let alone people with multiple doctoral diplomas hangin on their office walls.

Now, before we get too far into this, I would like to make it clear that I am well aware of there being many conference realignments over the years.  For anyone with a passing interest in history knows that no self-respecting [Goth] would have left home without their American Express card until some decided to go with [Visa] instead, but I do not want to go back that far.

Oh, and as an added benefit to my readers, I have included images to make it easier to keep up with what states are involved.  Yeah, they may look like they were rendered by a kindergartener hopped-up on Kickapoo Joy Juice and Pop-Rocks, but if you had any idea just how technically-challenged I really am, you just might be as impressed with me as I am with myself.  (Our Heavenly Father asked to be kept completely out of this one.)


Anyway, I would like to start with a much more recent realignment that involved the now defunct [Southwest Conference (SWC)] when it consisted of Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, Rice, Southern Methodist (SMU), Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Christian (TCU) and Texas Tech in 1990, which is shown on the left.  The beginning of the end of the conference occurred when Arkansas announced that it was moving to the [Southeastern Conference (SEC)] that very same year, which is shown on the right.


Before Arkansas joined, the SEC consisted of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana State (LSU), Mississippi, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, which is shown on the left.  South Carolina also joined the SEC the same year as Arkansas did, which is shown on the right.


Earlier this year, Texas A&M announced that they were leaving the [Big 12] to join the SEC, which is shown on the left.  More recently, Missouri announced that it was also leaving the Big 12 for the SEC, which is shown on the right.


No, Texas A&M and Missouri moving to the SEC doesn’t look all that out of place.  That is, until you get into the proposed realignment of the conference itself.  For Texas A&M will be joining the Western Division of the SEC, which is the completely darkened portion above, while Missouri will be joining the Eastern Division, which is depicted as the outlined portion.  Yes, I suppose it could be argued that it is only fair.  For Texas A&M made the first move, and we just couldn’t have Alabama and Auburn moving to the Eastern Division—could we?


The Big 12 was previously known as the Big 8 when it consisted of Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Nebraska, which is shown on the left.  In 1996, it officially became the Big 12 with the addition of Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech from the disintegrating SWC, which is shown on the right.

Last year, Nebraska joined the [Big 10], and Colorado joined the [Pac 12].  So, the landscape changed to what is shown on the right before Missouri made its move.


No, it is not looking good, but any plans of celebrating the demise of the Big 12 would seem to be premature.  For TCU (formerly of the old SWC and more recently with the [Mountain West Conference]) has already been formally accepted into the conference, and West Virginia has started taking down their [Big East] banners, as is shown on the right.  [Politics] might get in the way, however.



One would think that the [ACC] would have been a better choice for West Virginia.  For with its longer termed members being Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, it is regionally close, which is indicated on the left.  Furthermore, West Virginia has become practically surrounded by the ACC with Pittsburg and Syracuse leaving the Big East to join, as is indicated on the right.

Another logical choice for West Virginia would have been the Big 10.  For as is shown on the left, it had Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin before Penn State joined as few years back, which is shown on the right.



The Big 10 has even been in a “the more the merrier” mood lately, which Nebraska became officially a part of this year, as is indicated on the right.  There was a lot of buzz about Missouri joining the Big 10 a few weeks ago, but the announcement about them going to the SEC put a halt to that.

Nope, we ain’t done yet.  For the Pac 12 started out as the Pac 8, with California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), The University of Southern California (USC), Washington and Washington State, which is shown on the left.  With the inclusion of Arizona and Arizona State, it became the Pac 10, which is shown on the right.


When Colorado (formerly of the Big 12) and Utah (formerly of the Mountain West) became official members this year, the Pac 10 became the Pac 12, as is indicated on the right.  Rumors are that they will become the Pac 16 before it is all over with.  Oh, and the Pac 12 keeping up with the number changes is more commendable than you may realize.  For the Big 10 currently has 12 members, and the Big 12 might have 10 after all Missouri, TCU and West Virginia officially land where they appear to be heading.



The most mind-boggling realignment of all is the proposed merger between the Big East, [Conference USA], the Mountain West and the [Western Athletic Conference (WAC)].  For if the logistical nightmare that could be the Big East Mountain Western Athletic Conference of the USA comes to life, it could include Air Force, Boise State, Cincinnati, Colorado State, Connecticut, East Carolina, Fresno State, Hawaii, Houston, Idaho, Louisiana Tech, Louisville, Marshall, Memphis, Nevada, New Mexico, New Mexico State, San Jose State, San Diego State, Southern Mississippi, Rice, Rutgers, Southern Methodist (SMU), Texas Christian (TCU), Tulane, Tulsa, the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB), the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV), the University of South Florida (USF), the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP), Utah State and Wyoming, as indicated on the map above.  Can you imagine how much it would cost the University of Connecticut to fly their football team (along with all of its gear and equipment) 10,000 miles (or so) to get them out to play the University of Hawaii and back?

I could go on about many of these changes only applying to the football teams, which could see some schools playing football in one conference and other sports elsewhere, but I wouldn’t want your head to explode.  For I have had it happen to me before, and it is an awful mess to clean up.

Please Also Visit:
and

Friday, October 28, 2011

Sites To See


The SOLE purpose of this weekly series is to call attention to sites that I think many would find most interesting—in one way or another.  Just to be clear, inclusion in this series is not necessarily meant as a recommendation, and I have included sites that are rather disturbing to me.  The link below each image is to the site itself, and each image is linked to the particular post from which it was taken when applicable.  Please, go see for yourself.

 Link: [Acidemic]




 Link: [Andrew Laws]

























Please Also Visit:
and

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Kris Kristofferson vs. Janis Joplin



Me and Bobby McGee
Kris Kristofferson
Busted flat in Baton Rouge
Headin’ for the train
Feelin’ nearly faded
As my jeans
Bobby thumbed a diesel down
Just before it rained
Took us all the way
To New Orleans
I took my harpoon out of my
Dirty red bandanna
And was blowin’ sad
While Bobby sang the blues
With them windshield wipers slappin’ time
And Bobby clappin’ hands
We finally sang up every song
That driver knew

Freedom’s just another word for
Nothin’ left to lose
Nothin’ ain’t worth nothin’
But it’s free
Feelin’ good was easy Lord
When Bobby sang the blues
Feelin’ good was good enough for me
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee

From the coal mines of Kentucky
To the California sun
Bobby shared the secrets
Of my soul
Standin’ right beside me Lord
Through everything I’ve done
Every night she kept me
From the cold
Then somewhere near Salinas Lord
I let her slip away
Lookin’ for the home
I hope she’ll find
And I’d trade all my tomorrows
For one single yesterday
Holdin’ Bobby’s body
Next to mine

Freedom’s just another word for
Nothin’ left to lose
Nothin’ left is all
She left for me
Feelin’ good was easy Lord
When Bobby sang the blues
Buddy that was good enough for me
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee

La da da la la na na na
La da da na na
La la la da
Me and Bobby McGee
La la la la la da da da
La la la da da
La la la da
Me and Bobby McGee
La la la la la na na na
La la la da da
La da da da
Me and Bobby McGee
La la la la la da da da
La la la da da
La la la da
Me and Bobby McGee
La la la la la da da da
La la la da da
La la la da
Me and Bobby McGee
La la la la la da da da
La la la da da
La la la da
Me and Bobby McGee
La la la la la da da da
La la la da da
La la la da
Me and Bobby McGee



Me and Bobby McGee
Janis Joplin
Busted flat in Baton Rouge
Waitin’ for a train
When I was feelin’
As faded as my jeans
Bobby thumbed a diesel down
Just before it rained
We wrote a song on the way
To New Orleans
I pulled my harpoon
Out of my dirty red bandanna
And was blowin’ sad
While Bobby sang the blues
Windshield wipers slappin’ time
I was holdin’ Bobby’s hand in mine
We sang every song
That driver knew

Freedom’s just another word for
Nothin’ left to lose
Nothin’
Ain’t nothin’ if ain’t free
Feelin’ good was easy Lord
When he sang the blues
Feelin’ good was good enough for me
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

From the Kentucky coal mines
To the California sun
Bobby shared the secrets
Of my soul
Through all kinds of weather
Through everything we’d done
Yeah Bobby baby
Kept me from the cold
One day up near Salinas Lord
I let him slip away
He’s lookin’ for that home
And I hope he finds it
And I’d trade all my tomorrows
For a single yesterday
To be holdin’ Bobby’s body
Next to mine

Freedom’s just another word for
Nothin’ left to lose
Nothin’
That’s all Bobby left me
Feelin’ good was easy Lord
When he sang the blues
Feelin’ good was good enough for me
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

La da da la la na na na
La da da na na
La la la da
Bobby McGee yeah
La la la la la da da da
La la la da da
La la la da
Bobby McGee yeah
La la la la la na na na
La la la da da
La da da da
Hey my Bobby
My Bobby McGee yeah
La la la la la na na na
La la la da da
La da da da
Hey my Bobby
My Bobby McGee yeah

Lord I’m callin’ my lover
Callin’ my man
I said I’m callin’ my lover
Just the best I can
C’mon
Where is Bobby now
Where is Bobby McGee yeah
Lordy
Lordy
Lordy
Lordy
Lordy
Lordy
Lord
Hey
Hey
Hey
Bobby McGee
Lord

Lordy
Lordy
Lordy
Lordy
Lordy
Lordy
Lordy
Lord
Hey
Hey
Hey
Bobby McGee
Yeah

Lyrics From: [Sweets Lyrics]

Please Also Visit:
and