Sat, 19 Jul 2008

Flamingos

Ya gotta love 'em! Everyone should have a pair on their front lawns. These are in front of the building where I work. They have been there since the company started ten years ago. Admitedly, they're a bit burried in the landscape that's in front of the building, but they have managed to survive several management changes.

Pink flamingos make a statement. Unlike other decorating elements, pink flamingos say, "bah! I don't care what you think!" Of course, they might also say, "I have absolutely no taste!", but that's a matter of opinion. You can buy them (with "extra sturdy legs") to decorate your home or place of business.

You can't get genuine Don Featherstone signature flamingos right now, however. The company which manufactured them is out of business. Perhaps this is a business opportunity for some enterprising plastics manufacturer. If having pink flamingos on your front lawn makes a statement, imagine what owning the company that makes them says about you . . ."Daddy, what do you do?" "Well, son, I own the company that . . ." well you get the idea . . .

Want to know more about pink flamingos? Check out the Wikipedia entry.

posted 08:06 [/FromMyFone] permanent link

Wed, 16 Jul 2008

Inflation or Depression or . . .

Reports today indicated that inflation increased more than expected. In fact, it was the worst report in many years. Gas and food prices are the major cluprits. So which is it? Can't afford things because of higher prices or can't afford things because you don't have a job? It appears to be the old rock and hard place.

posted 18:32 [/bloids] permanent link

Sat, 12 Jul 2008

You are worth $7,000,000 . . .

. . . at least to the EPA. That's the value of an average human life for evaluation purposes. How does it work? Well, suppose the EPA is considering a rule which they figure will save 10,000 lives. They multiply that by the value of a life and get a number (e.g. $70,000,000,000). If the cost to implement the rule is less than that amount, it's a deal. If it costs more than that they may not consider it (not really encouraging if you are one of those 10,000 lives!).

posted 13:03 [/bloids] permanent link

Fri, 11 Jul 2008

Health Insurance Company Marketing

Why am I, as a consumer of health insurance, paying for them to market their producthip? They spend MILLIONS on this type of marketing rather than spending it on ways to drive down my COSTS!

The answer . . . GREED!

posted 09:07 [/bloids] permanent link

Sun, 06 Jul 2008

A National Language

It's Independence Day (July 4th) here in the U.S. I have been listening to all the programs, news items, and other material about the country and it has brought back my thoughts about a National Language for the U.S. Unlike a lot of countries, we don't have one. English is the predominant language, but not the official one. I think English should be the official language of the country.

Let me pause for a moment and state that I am all for bilingualism. My kids are fluent in English and Spanish and I think it's a great thing. I'm also all for celebrating your heritage. It's great that your relatives are from this country or that country. But, after a couple of centuries, don't you think it's about time to say you're an American and not Italian or polish or African or . . . For most people in the U.S. their heritage is no more from that country or continent than it is from the moon. Just because you enjoy pizza, doesn't mean you are celebrating your Italian heritage. You are Americans, period.

OK, so let's say your ties to another country are a little more recent. Say you or your father or mother decided to some to the U.S. for whatever reason. You are still natives of whatever country you came from, but when you come to the U.S. -- primarily for economic reasons -- learn the language.

I don't have a problem when any business or group decides to conduct their business in a foreign language. For example, when I drive through the Korean part of town and see shops with their signs in Korean, don't resent it. I just don't stop. These shopkeepers have chosen, because of their use of the language on their signs, to not do business with me and that is just fine.

What I DO object to is schools and other tax supported institutions having to spend millions of MY tax dollars printing things in foreign languages and dealing with people who don't learn the language. This affects me directly and I think it should stop. If you wish to do business with the U.S. government and take advantage of programs which it supplies, learn the language! I don't like seeing dollars which might be spent to benefit my children, used for printing in multiple languages just because you do not want to learn the language.

posted 11:38 [/Thoughts] permanent link

Thu, 03 Jul 2008

Hands Free, Day Three . . .

Hey, it rhymes! Even though this blog is in the From my Fone section there isn't a picture. That's because I can't use my cell phone while driving any more in California. At least I haven't figured out a way to take a hands-free picture!

Anyway, this is the third day of the new hand-free cell phone law in California and I have been conducting an informal survey on my 21 mile round trip to/from work. I actually haven't seen that many people using cell phones -- only about five. I should point out that I come into work rather early, 6:45 am, and am traveling on the "reverse" commute for our area. But this is far less than I observed prior to the new law.

I did see one interesting thing. I was stopped in the left-hand lane for a signal and in the right lane, a gentleman had his phone, not up to his ear, but poised. In the left turn lane next to me was a city policeman. Quite a tableau!

They say that these laws have the potential to save over 7% of the fatalities on the road. I support them and have my bluetooth device in my ear as I drive. I really don't receive many calls while on the road -- actually approaching none. Now, I wish we could eliminate some the other distractions like applying eye makeup, reading, and animated conversation with passengers. Actually, I really wish I could eliminate my entire commute by telecommuting to work most days! Gass prices are killing me . . . but that's another blog . . .

posted 07:18 [/FromMyFone] permanent link

Mon, 30 Jun 2008

Aptly Named?

Death row inmaces in California are FOUR TIMES more likely to die of natural causes than to be executed. I guess the plact is aptly named!

posted 18:13 [/bloids] permanent link

Sun, 29 Jun 2008

Certified?

Who certifies these things? Is there some sort of National Loose Slots Commission? Are there a bunch of commissioners sitting around in a closed room discussing which of the slots are loosest? "Hey, Phil, I was just over at the El Dorado and boy where those slots loose!", "Yeah, well, I bet the slots at . . ." Well, you get the idea. And, is there a west coast and an east coast commission. And, for another thing, since when is Nevada on any coast? I have been to Reno and I don't remember any sandy beaches, let alone any ocean!

My suspision is, that, like a lot of things, the only people doing the certification are the people doing the advertising! It's like a lot of things . . . player beware!

posted 11:06 [/FromMyFone] permanent link

From My Fone: Introduction

I have decided to add some simple things (a sort of bloid) which stems from things I see and take a picture of from my phone. Generally, the quality of the picture won't be so great, but, hopefully, the though which accompanies it will be better!

posted 10:58 [/FromMyFone] permanent link

Thu, 26 Jun 2008

Individual Right to Bear Arms

individual right to bear arms. This decision struck down a Washington D.C. ban on indivuals owning hand guns. I expect we will see gun advocates attacking other laws restricting gun ownership in the near future as a result of this.

The amendment reads:

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

posted 13:14 [/Politics] permanent link