Westboro Babtist Church has been sent an $11 million message. Go here for details.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21566280/
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
New to the Shooting World.
Today at the Sinepuxent Rod & Gun Club there was a memebers only 5 Stand competition cosisting of 50 targets. Since we are a little outclassed by most of those shooting, we elected to pay the entry fee, get a meal ticket and conserve our ammuntion. Basicly we donated to the prize pool. Yes, that made the sanwiches a bit on the pricy side, but we also supported the club and our friends.
I tried to take some pictures of the shoot but the participants seemed to frown on having a casual spectator down range with a camera while the targets were flying. Standing behind the firing line proved to be futile as well due to the large crowd watching and I didn't have enough lens to reach out and grab the action where the targets were breaking.
So we socialized for a while, cheered on our favorite shooters and when the oyster sandwiches were ready we indulged.
The best photo I got today was of the young fellow pictured above. His owner brought him to the club today in order to get him used to gunfire. He seemed to coping very well with the noise because we had to wake him in order to get this picture. He is a real cutie and hopefully we will see him more often as he develops.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Move Services?
I am in the process of building a small barn on my property. It seems that where I want to put it is directly over the underground utilities from the phone pedestal and the DP&L transformer. Today I attempted to arrange to have the services moved in order for construction to begin. I must say, dealing with DP&L and Verizon surely was like day and night. After answering the questions on the “phone menu” with DP&L I was able to speak with a live person and in about 5 minutes it was a done deal. Very pleasant trans-action.
Now, on to Verizon. Today I learned the sole job of two-thirds of the people employed at Verizon is to ask you your name, confirm you phone number, and transfer you back to the phone menu that does not offer and option for the problem you have at hand.
It went like this:
Phone menu---without an option for the problem—choose change of service option.
More phone menu with option to speak to rep. Choose that option.
Listen to 5 minutes of elevator music.
Phone rep answers, verifies name and number---I explain problem.
Rep. Transfers me to “proper” department. —I go to original phone menu.
Choose line trouble option. More phone menu with option to speak to rep. Choose that option. More elevator music.
Rep answers. --- verifies name and number. I explain problem, rep forwards me to “proper” department, listen to static, return to original phone menu.
Finally, and I don’t remember how, I get to talk to another rep and with a great deal of agitation the deed is closed and sometime next Wednesday I will have the distinct honor of paying $12.00 for every 15 minutes work to have my phone line move approximately 24 inches.
This entire process took nearly 40 minutes, and in the end the entire arrangement (after getting a rep that could actually assist) took less than 5 minutes.
DP&L will move their service the same distance for free.
Isn’t life wonderful?
Now, on to Verizon. Today I learned the sole job of two-thirds of the people employed at Verizon is to ask you your name, confirm you phone number, and transfer you back to the phone menu that does not offer and option for the problem you have at hand.
It went like this:
Phone menu---without an option for the problem—choose change of service option.
More phone menu with option to speak to rep. Choose that option.
Listen to 5 minutes of elevator music.
Phone rep answers, verifies name and number---I explain problem.
Rep. Transfers me to “proper” department. —I go to original phone menu.
Choose line trouble option. More phone menu with option to speak to rep. Choose that option. More elevator music.
Rep answers. --- verifies name and number. I explain problem, rep forwards me to “proper” department, listen to static, return to original phone menu.
Finally, and I don’t remember how, I get to talk to another rep and with a great deal of agitation the deed is closed and sometime next Wednesday I will have the distinct honor of paying $12.00 for every 15 minutes work to have my phone line move approximately 24 inches.
This entire process took nearly 40 minutes, and in the end the entire arrangement (after getting a rep that could actually assist) took less than 5 minutes.
DP&L will move their service the same distance for free.
Isn’t life wonderful?
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Today in 1861 &1862
Today in 1861 the keel of the Union ironclad Monitor is laid at Greenpoint, Long Island.
In September 1861, John Ericsson, a native of Sweden, was granted the contract to begin constructing the U.S. Navy's first ironclad.
The wooden keel was laid at the Continental Iron Works on Long Island. The vessel was not large--172 feet long and 41 feet wide. Raising from the water by only 18 inches the ship had an extremely low profile. The turret, a 20-foot cylindrical structure in the middle of the ship housed two 11-inch Dahlgren guns.
The craft was launched into New York's East River on January 30. After resolving many engine problems the monitor was commissioned on February 25 and soon set sail for Virginia.
On March 8, 1862, it engaged the C.S.S. Virginia in battle at Hampton Roads. The first Naval battle in the world between ironclads. The battle ended in a drawn that day, but a new era in warfare had dawned.
An additional note: The Monitor later sank in a storm off Cape Hatteras taking many of its crew down. In very recent history the wreck was found and much of the ship has been raised and preserved. At the “Mariners Museum” in Hampton Roads Virginia there is a new building dedicated to the monitor with a myriad of artifacts and preserved parts of the ship. Human remains found during the raising of the craft were given military funerals with full honors. The “Mariners Museum” is easy to find and the trip can be done in a day.
Today in 1862 President Lincoln sends a wire to General George McClellan saying: "I have just read your dispatch about sore tongued and fatiegued [sic] horses. Will you pardon me for asking what the horses of your army have done since the battle of Antietam that fatigue anything?"
Lincoln earlier had urged McClellan to pursue General Lee across the Potomac after the bloody battle at Antietam but McClellan being ever cautious refused. McClellan pled fatigue of his horses and his men and desired to maintain his Army in repose. This was a fateful decision. Lee’s army also fatigued was in retreat and not in much condition to fight. Lee himself commented later that if the Union had pursued him after Antietam the end of the war may come much sooner.
Within a week of Lincolns curt message to McClellan the President replaced the General with General Ambrose Burnside. By now Lee had finished crossing the Potomac had rested and was willing to fight another day.
In September 1861, John Ericsson, a native of Sweden, was granted the contract to begin constructing the U.S. Navy's first ironclad.
The wooden keel was laid at the Continental Iron Works on Long Island. The vessel was not large--172 feet long and 41 feet wide. Raising from the water by only 18 inches the ship had an extremely low profile. The turret, a 20-foot cylindrical structure in the middle of the ship housed two 11-inch Dahlgren guns.
The craft was launched into New York's East River on January 30. After resolving many engine problems the monitor was commissioned on February 25 and soon set sail for Virginia.
On March 8, 1862, it engaged the C.S.S. Virginia in battle at Hampton Roads. The first Naval battle in the world between ironclads. The battle ended in a drawn that day, but a new era in warfare had dawned.
An additional note: The Monitor later sank in a storm off Cape Hatteras taking many of its crew down. In very recent history the wreck was found and much of the ship has been raised and preserved. At the “Mariners Museum” in Hampton Roads Virginia there is a new building dedicated to the monitor with a myriad of artifacts and preserved parts of the ship. Human remains found during the raising of the craft were given military funerals with full honors. The “Mariners Museum” is easy to find and the trip can be done in a day.
Today in 1862 President Lincoln sends a wire to General George McClellan saying: "I have just read your dispatch about sore tongued and fatiegued [sic] horses. Will you pardon me for asking what the horses of your army have done since the battle of Antietam that fatigue anything?"
Lincoln earlier had urged McClellan to pursue General Lee across the Potomac after the bloody battle at Antietam but McClellan being ever cautious refused. McClellan pled fatigue of his horses and his men and desired to maintain his Army in repose. This was a fateful decision. Lee’s army also fatigued was in retreat and not in much condition to fight. Lee himself commented later that if the Union had pursued him after Antietam the end of the war may come much sooner.
Within a week of Lincolns curt message to McClellan the President replaced the General with General Ambrose Burnside. By now Lee had finished crossing the Potomac had rested and was willing to fight another day.
Stop Salisbury Cyberbullying
There is a drive to stop cyberbullying in Salisbury and surrounding areas. I recieved a request via E-Mail to provide as a public service this link to the program. If interested go to:
http//www.projectfuja.com/main.sc
http//www.projectfuja.com/main.sc
Monday, October 22, 2007
How Taxes Work
No---I don't really believe this, but it it is amusing.
Let's put tax cuts in terms everyone can understand.
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this: The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. "Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20."
Drinks for the ten now cost just $80. The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the payin g customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free.
But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings. "I only got a dollar out of the $20,"declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man," but he got $10!" "Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!"
"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"
"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!" The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore.
In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D. Professor of Economics University of Georgia.
For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.
Let's put tax cuts in terms everyone can understand.
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this: The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. "Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20."
Drinks for the ten now cost just $80. The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the payin g customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free.
But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings. "I only got a dollar out of the $20,"declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man," but he got $10!" "Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!"
"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"
"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!" The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore.
In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D. Professor of Economics University of Georgia.
For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.
Salisbury Fire Department Promotions
Today at 4:30 friends, family and invited guests gathered at the Salisbury Fire Department Station 16 for promotional ceremonies for the newly appointed officers.Mayor Barrie Tilghman and City executive John Pick were in attendance.
The five new officers pictured here left to right are:
From Captain to Assistant Chief, Dru Bragg
From Captain to Assistant Chief, Jim Gladwell
From Lieutenant To Captain, Darrin Scott
From Firefighter to Captain, Chris O'Barsky
From Firefighter to Lieutenant, Michael Donaway.
Additionally, four firefighters have been identified to be the departments acting Lieutenants should a temporary vacancy occur with-in the officer ranks. Those four individuals are:
Firefighter Jay Jester, Firefighter Dave Merritt, Firefighter Rob Frampton, and Firefighter Brooks Morris.
Congratulations to all those promoted! The testing and evaluation was quite extensive and each and every one of these men excelled in the process. The Salisbury Fire Department is fortunate indeed to have such a cadre of leadership.
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