Topics of interest - teresr's Blog - Tehachapi News

REMEMBERING OUR VETERANS PAST AND PRESENT

Be sure to watch the video at the end ...

http://www.managedmusic.com/Music/PlayBeforeYouGo.php

The elderly parking lot attendant wasn't in a good mood! Neither was Sam Bierstock. It was around 1 a.m., and Bierstock, a Delray Beach, Fla. , eye doctor, business consultant, corporate speaker and musician, was bone tired after appearing at an event.

He pulled up in his car, and the parking attendant began to speak. "I took two bullets for this country and look what I'm doing," he said bitterly.

At first, Bierstock didn't know what to say to the World War II veteran. But he rolled down his window and told the man, "Really, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you."

Then the old soldier began to cry.

"That really got to me," Bierstock says.

Cut to today.

Bierstock, 58, and John Melnick, 54, of Pompano Beach - a member of Bierstock's band, Dr. Sam and the Managed Care Band - have written a song inspired by that old soldier in the airport parking lot. The mournful "Before You Go" does more than salute those who fought in WWII. It encourages people to go out of their way to thank the aging warriors before they die.

"If we had lost that particular war, our whole way of life would have been shot," says Bierstock, who plays harmonica. "The WW II soldiers are now dying at the rate of about 2,000 every day. I thought we needed to thank them."

The song is striking a chord. Within four days of Bierstock placing it on the Web, the song and accompanying photo essay have bounced around nine countries, producing tears and heartfelt thanks from veterans, their sons and daughters and grandchildren. "It made me cry," wrote one veteran's son.

Another sent an e-mail saying that only after his father consumed several glasses of wine would he discuss " the unspeakable horrors" he and other soldiers had witnessed in places such as Anzio, Iwo Jima, Bataan and Omaha Beach. "I can never thank them enough," the son wrote. "Thank you for thinking about them."

Bierstock and Melnick thought about shipping it off to a professional singer, maybe a Lee Greenwood type, but because time was running out for so many veterans, they decided it was best to release it quickly, for free, on the Web.

They've sent the song to Sen. John McCain and others in Washington. Already they have been invited to perform it in Houston for a Veterans Day tribute - this after just a few days on the Web. They hope every veteran in America gets a chance to hear it.

GOD BLESS every EVERY veteran...and THANK you to those of you veterans who may receive this !

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO HEAR THE SONG AND SEE THE PICTURES:

Before You Go <http://www.managedmusic.com/Music/PlayBeforeYouGo.php>

FACTS ON ILLEGAL ALIENS

I've seen the following information before and just received it in my e-mail again today. This is a serious topic to discuss and I would like to hear opinions on either side. Keep it clean and follow the blog rules.

Perhaps you need documentation on illegal's? How about this?

President Bush is already being blamed for spending too much money on the war and that's why the bridges are falling down. We could repair a few bridges with this amount of money.

These are stunning numbers and apparently easily verifiable... Proves once again that Washington just doesn't get it!

I hope these 14 reasons are forwarded over and over again until they are read by the majority of Americans. Then they will have something to yell at their U.S. Congress members.

__1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year.
http://tinyurl.com/zob77

__ 2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens.
http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html

__3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens.
http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html

__4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English!
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.0.html

__5. $17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html

__6. $3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html

__7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html

__8. $90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare & social services by the American taxpayers.
http://premium.cnn.com/TRANSCIPTS/0610/29/ldt.01.html

__9. $200 Billion Dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens.
http://transcri

__10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that's two and a half times that of white non-illegal aliens. In particular, their children, are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the US.
pts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.htmlhttp://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/12/ldt.01.html

__11. During the year of 2005 there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our Southern Border also, as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from Terrorist Countries. Millions of pounds of drugs, cocaine , meth, heroine and marijuana, crossed into the U. S from the Southern border. Homeland Security Report: http://tinyurl.com/t9sht

__12. The National Policy Institute, "estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annu ally over a five year period." http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/pdf/deportation.pdf

__13. In 2006 illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances back to their countries of origin.
http://www.rense.com/general75/niht.htm

__14. "The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One Million Sex Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants In The United States".
http://www.drdsk.com/articleshtml

So using the LOWEST estimates, the annual cost OF ILLEGAL ALIENS is $338.3 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR! So if deporting them costs between $206 and $230 BILLION DOLLARS, hey get rid of em', we'll be ahead after the 1st year! Americans need to wake up! When it comes time to vote, remember which politicians support the illegal aliens, keep them out of office. This is not a matter of political party, it's the survival of America!

Traveling by Plane or Train for the Holidays???

HOW TO HANDLE IRRITATING SEAT PASSENGERS

If you are sitting next to someone who irritates you on a plane or train follow these instructions:

Quietly and calmly open up your laptop case.

1. Remove your laptop.

2. Start up your computer

3. Make sure the person who is annoying you, can see the screen.

4. Close your eyes and tilt your head up to the sky.

5. Then hit this link

6. Prepare for security to approach you

Thanksgiving

Your dinner will be the talk of the TOWN!!!
You should try this!
Sure to bring smiles from your guests!
Here is a new way to prepare your Thanksgiving Turkey.

1. Cut out aluminum foil in desired shapes.
2. Arrange the turkey in the roasting pan, position the foil carefully. (Click on the attached picture for details)
3. Roast according to your own recipe and serve.
4. Watch your guests' faces...

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey be plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have never a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

DON'T TICK OFF LITTLE OLD LADIES!

Defense Attorney:
Will you please state your age?

Little Old Lady:
I am 86 years old.

Defense Attorney:
Will you tell us, in your own words, what happened the night of April 1st?

Little Old Lady:
There I was, sitting there in my swing on my front porch on a warm spring evening, when a young man comes creeping up on the porch and sat down beside me.

Defense Attorney:
Did you know him?

Little Old Lady:
No, but he sure was friendly.

Defense Attorney:
What happened after he sat down?

Little Old Lady:
He started to rub my thigh.

Defense Attorney:
Did you stop him?

Little Old Lady:
No, I didn't stop him.

Defense Attorney:
Why not?

Little Old Lady:
It felt good. Nobody had done that since my Albert died some 30 years ago.

Defense Attorney:
What happened next?

Little Old Lady:
He began to rub my breasts.

Defense Attorney:
Did you stop him then?

Little Old Lady:
No, I did not stop him.

Defense Attorney
Why not?

Little Old Lady:
His rubbing made me feel all alive and excited. I haven't felt that good in years!

Defense Attorney:
What happened next?

Little Old Lady:
Well, by then, I was feeling so "spicy" that I just laid down and told him "Take me, young man. Take me now!"

Defense Attorney:
Did he take you?

Little Old Lady:
Heck, no! He just yelled, "April Fools!" And that's when I shot him, the little creep!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

As distasteful as this subject is we all must be aware that domestic violence exists even in our own untopian community. The following information is quoted from The NCADI Reporter Web site http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/newsroom/rep/2005/domestic_violence.aspx

All over the country, battered victims’ advocates, government officials, corporations, unions, health care providers, and faith-based groups will participate in activities and events to raise national consciences about domestic violence. This event takes place throughout the whole of October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Although anyone can become a victim of domestic violence or intimate partner violence (IPV), women are still more likely to experience IPV than men. People from all economic and cultural backgrounds can be subjected to domestic violence.

Sadly, children are often the direct or indirect victims. Just witnessing violence impacts children’s lives, especially as it usually takes place at home, a place where children should feel safe. If children have been exposed to domestic violence, it increases the chances that they will take on the role of either a “batterer” or a “victim” in their adult relationships. Abuse can seem “normal” to youth who witness it in their own homes.

Often alcohol and illicit drugs play a part in domestic violence. The link between substance abuse and violence has been clearly documented in numerous studies. Partner history of alcohol and drug abuse is a strong risk factor for domestic violence. Violent behavior can also interfere with treatment for substance abuse and substance abuse can impede interventions to change violent behavior. Drugs or alcohol can impair both the batterer’s and victim’s ability to make sane and safe choices. Substance abuse can distort communication, aggravate resentments, and exacerbate tempers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control estimates that nearly 5.3 million domestic violence incidents happen each year among women 18 years and older resulting in 2 million injuries and 1,300 deaths.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or go to: http://www.ndvh.org.

Risk Factors for Domestic Violence:

Individual Factors:

Low self-esteem
Low academic achievement
Involvement in aggressive or delinquent behavior as a youth
Alcohol use
Drug use
Witnessing or experiencing violence as a child
Lack of social networks and social isolation
Unemployment

Relationship Factors:

Marital conflict
Marital instability
Male dominance in the family
Poor family functioning
Emotional dependence and insecurity
Belief in strict gender roles
Desire for power and control in relationships
Exhibiting anger and hostility toward a partner

If you or your children are experiencing abuse whether it be emotional, verbal or physical, please tell someone or call the hotline. If you are in immediate danger call 911. There is a way out and help is just a phone call away.

An Old Dog

A wealthy old lady decides to go on a photo safari in Africa, taking her faithful, elderly poodle named Cuddles, along for the company.

One day the old poodle starts chasing butterflies and before long, Cuddles discovers that he's lost. Wandering about, he notices a leopard heading rapidly in his direction with the intention of having lunch.

The old poodle thinks, "Oh, oh! I'm in deep doo-doo now!" Noticing some bones on the ground close by, he immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the leopard is about to leap the old poodle exclaims loudly, "Boy, that was one delicious leopard! I wonder if there are any more around here?"

Hearing this, the young leopard halts his attack in mid-strike, a look of terror comes over him and he slinks away into the trees. "Whew!", says the leopard, "That was close! That old poodle nearly had me!"

Meanwhile, a monkey ! who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the leopard. So off he goes, but the old poodle sees him heading after the leopard with great speed, and figures that something must be up.

The monkey soon catches up with the leopard, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the leopard.

The young leopard is furious at being made a fool of and says, "Here, monkey, hop on my back and see what's going to happen to that conniving canine!

Now, the old poodle sees the leopard coming with the monkey on his back and thinks, "What am I going to do now?", but instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn't seen them yet, and just when they get close enough to hear, the old poodle says...

"Where's that d@mn monkey? I sent him off an hour ago to bring me another leopard!

Moral of this story....

Don't mess with the old dogs...age and skill will always overcome youth and treachery!

BS and brilliance only come with age and experience.

If you don't send this to five "old" friends right away there will be five fewer people laughing in the world. Of course, I am in no way insinuating that any of you are old, some are just more "youthfully challenged." You did notice the size of the print, didn't you?