Windfall Ahead...
I just love listening to Consumer Advise Nerd Clark Howard who is home based on Atlanta's WSB NewsTalk AM 750 Radio station.
Clark and I go back about 18 years, and I've even called in to his show and been on the air a couple of times back in the mid and late 1990's.
I was poking around on the Internet today, looking for a way to find out about some stocks which I bought back before the house fire destroyed all of my financial records, and Clark's Website was a huge assistance in beginning my search.
One might wonder..."why would someone wait over seven years to start worrying about the whereabouts and value of stock in a portfolio?"
BECAUSE THE STOCK WAS WORTH ABOUT $0.05 A SHARE LAST TIME I PAYED ANY ATTENTION.
(That's five cents a share for those of you which fall into the mathematically impaired portion of the population.)
The thing is, the stock (I forget the name) was in companies drilling for OIL in the far East (Malaysia) and south America, and I bought it at a time when people were using crude oil as cleaning solution and gas prices were falling from $1.25 down to $0.89 per gallon.
Any wayyyy, I haven't had any luck finding out the disposition of my stock, but Mr. Howard's website did point me toward a FREE SITE called Missingmoney.com that provides a search engine for most of the states.
I was surprised to find a refund from Florida Power with my name on it left over from my Jimmy Buffet period in Mexico Beach, FL, and I vaguely remember a Property Insurance Refund check that was bouncing around a few years ago and never got cashed in Georgia.
In the end, it was nearly three hundred dollars worth in total.
Imagine that?
Why don't you guys stop by http://www.missingmoney.com/ and try to find some loose change to pay for YOUR dinner tonight
Friday, July 25, 2008
Quote O' The Day
Genius Thought From A Certified Genius...
"The release of atomic energy has not created a new problem. It has merely made more urgent the necessity of solving an existing one."
"Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish."
"To punish me for my contempt for authority, fate made me an authority myself."
"Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions."
Albert Einstein US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)
(Yes, I too had to look the word up:
equanimity Pronunciation: \ˌē-kwə-ˈni-mə-tē, ˌe-kwə-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s):
plural equa·nim·i·ties
Etymology:
Latin aequanimitas, from aequo animo with even mind
Date: circa 1616
1 : evenness of mind especially under stress2 : right disposition : balance )
"The release of atomic energy has not created a new problem. It has merely made more urgent the necessity of solving an existing one."
"Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish."
"To punish me for my contempt for authority, fate made me an authority myself."
"Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions."
Albert Einstein US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)
(Yes, I too had to look the word up:
equanimity Pronunciation: \ˌē-kwə-ˈni-mə-tē, ˌe-kwə-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s):
plural equa·nim·i·ties
Etymology:
Latin aequanimitas, from aequo animo with even mind
Date: circa 1616
1 : evenness of mind especially under stress
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Obamarama
Another Whopper...
Take a look at the names of the people on the Senate Banking Committee as shown on the US Senate Website:
Yeah...I thought so...
Take a look at the names of the people on the Senate Banking Committee as shown on the US Senate Website:
Notice any names ending in Obama?
Then why did Candidate Obama have this to say on Wednesday:
“Just this past week, we passed out of the out of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee - which is my committee - a bill to call for divestment from Iran as way of ratcheting up the pressure to ensure that they don’t obtain a nuclear weapon,”
Yeah...I thought so...
Expensive TV With Battery Back-Up
Technology Continues To Take Over My House Balm My Ego...
Well, the good news is that I can finally spend the evening in my office at home working and watching FOX News on TV at the same time.
The bad news is that it cost me an extra $130 for the TV receiver card and a fancy gold colored RG-6 splitter for the cable signal.
After two hours spent cracking open the CPU cabinet and fooling around getting Vista and the new software to cooperate with each other, I gave up and let Windows Media Center handle things.
Now I have a 22" color TV (with remote) which cost me nearly $1,500 if you include the computer, monitor, UPS, and other goodies.
I'm a certified Genius, aren't I?
Careful... I said Genius, not accountant.
Well, the good news is that I can finally spend the evening in my office at home working and watching FOX News on TV at the same time.
The bad news is that it cost me an extra $130 for the TV receiver card and a fancy gold colored RG-6 splitter for the cable signal.
After two hours spent cracking open the CPU cabinet and fooling around getting Vista and the new software to cooperate with each other, I gave up and let Windows Media Center handle things.
Now I have a 22" color TV (with remote) which cost me nearly $1,500 if you include the computer, monitor, UPS, and other goodies.
I'm a certified Genius, aren't I?
Careful... I said Genius, not accountant.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
More "Inconvenient Truth"
Read It And Weep...Owl Gore...
Another Global Warming alarmist crosses over from the dark side, this time a famous Australian Scientist.
David Evans July 18, 2008
I DEVOTED six years to carbon accounting, building models for the Australian Greenhouse Office. I am the rocket scientist who wrote the carbon accounting model (FullCAM) that measures Australia's compliance with the Kyoto Protocol, in the land use change and forestry sector.
FullCAM models carbon flows in plants, mulch, debris, soils and agricultural products, using inputs such as climate data, plant physiology and satellite data. I've been following the global warming debate closely for years.
When I started that job in 1999 the evidence that carbon emissions caused global warming seemed pretty good: CO2 is a greenhouse gas, the old ice core data, no other suspects.
The evidence was not conclusive, but why wait until we were certain when it appeared we needed to act quickly? Soon government and the scientific community were working together and lots of science research jobs were created. We scientists had political support, the ear of government, big budgets, and we felt fairly important and useful (well, I did anyway). It was great. We were working to save the planet.
But since 1999 new evidence has seriously weakened the case that carbon emissions are the main cause of global warming, and by 2007 the evidence was pretty conclusive that carbon played only a minor role and was not the main cause of the recent global warming. As Lord Keynes famously said, "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"
All I have to add is these words:
"HAH, Told you so...."
Another Global Warming alarmist crosses over from the dark side, this time a famous Australian Scientist.
David Evans July 18, 2008
I DEVOTED six years to carbon accounting, building models for the Australian Greenhouse Office. I am the rocket scientist who wrote the carbon accounting model (FullCAM) that measures Australia's compliance with the Kyoto Protocol, in the land use change and forestry sector.
FullCAM models carbon flows in plants, mulch, debris, soils and agricultural products, using inputs such as climate data, plant physiology and satellite data. I've been following the global warming debate closely for years.
When I started that job in 1999 the evidence that carbon emissions caused global warming seemed pretty good: CO2 is a greenhouse gas, the old ice core data, no other suspects.
The evidence was not conclusive, but why wait until we were certain when it appeared we needed to act quickly? Soon government and the scientific community were working together and lots of science research jobs were created. We scientists had political support, the ear of government, big budgets, and we felt fairly important and useful (well, I did anyway). It was great. We were working to save the planet.
But since 1999 new evidence has seriously weakened the case that carbon emissions are the main cause of global warming, and by 2007 the evidence was pretty conclusive that carbon played only a minor role and was not the main cause of the recent global warming. As Lord Keynes famously said, "When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"
All I have to add is these words:
"HAH, Told you so...."
"Wherefore By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them"
Why I haven't Been To A Movie Theater In Over Six Years...
Apparently that British dude who appears in the new Batman movie is in deep doodoo for pushing his family around in a swank London Hotel.
Go figure.
Apparently that British dude who appears in the new Batman movie is in deep doodoo for pushing his family around in a swank London Hotel.
Go figure.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
More Crap That Pisses Me Off
Simple Things That Annoy Me...
Ever get tired having to get up off the toilet and walk across the room with your underwear around your ankles to get to the toilet paper roller mounted on the wall 5' away from you?
What about having to reach BEHIND you to reach it?
I know it's (the toilet paper) is ultimately going to end up performing it's purpose behind you, but please...
How about having to sit leaning sideways or rotated 45 degrees because some rocket scientist mounted the toilet paper roller 9" away on the wall, right beside the toilet which is also located crammed up against a wall with a 3 foot gap between it and the sink or tub?
Is it just me?
And another thing...changing the subject entirely...
Anyone but me hate being required to scroll down to the "U" in the alphabetical listing of "countries" when filling out a form to order something from an AMERICAN COMPANY on the Internet? Why should I have to watch Armenia, Afghanistan, Germany, and Tunisia scroll past looking for United States when making my E-Bay or Amazon purchase.
Finally, have you caught the latest BS up at the NY Times...publishing Obama's OP Ed while telling John McCain to "try again" when he submitted his own opinion piece.
Just like in 2004 with John sKerry, just watch as the media does their best to drag Obama across the finish line in the November election. They's be good for at least 5 points in the election, and then you'll be sorry when they tax your ass off and destroy our health care system with a liberal dose of socialism.
As for me...I'm looking at Costa Rica and Belize for an very extended vacation.
Ever get tired having to get up off the toilet and walk across the room with your underwear around your ankles to get to the toilet paper roller mounted on the wall 5' away from you?
What about having to reach BEHIND you to reach it?
I know it's (the toilet paper) is ultimately going to end up performing it's purpose behind you, but please...
How about having to sit leaning sideways or rotated 45 degrees because some rocket scientist mounted the toilet paper roller 9" away on the wall, right beside the toilet which is also located crammed up against a wall with a 3 foot gap between it and the sink or tub?
Is it just me?
And another thing...changing the subject entirely...
Anyone but me hate being required to scroll down to the "U" in the alphabetical listing of "countries" when filling out a form to order something from an AMERICAN COMPANY on the Internet? Why should I have to watch Armenia, Afghanistan, Germany, and Tunisia scroll past looking for United States when making my E-Bay or Amazon purchase.
Finally, have you caught the latest BS up at the NY Times...publishing Obama's OP Ed while telling John McCain to "try again" when he submitted his own opinion piece.
Just like in 2004 with John sKerry, just watch as the media does their best to drag Obama across the finish line in the November election. They's be good for at least 5 points in the election, and then you'll be sorry when they tax your ass off and destroy our health care system with a liberal dose of socialism.
As for me...I'm looking at Costa Rica and Belize for an very extended vacation.
Monday, July 21, 2008
You Can Take The Hillbilly Out Of The Coal Mine
But You Can't Take The Coal Mine Out Of The Hillbilly...
It continues to amaze me how life turns back on itself.
Some call it fate.
I refuse to give it a name--positive or negative--but I do see the convolutions and permutations of the order and disorder none the less.
Take my Father's family as an example.
Everyone I know in that side of my gene pool alive before 1950 was in some way involved in the coal mining business in West Virginia and/or southeastern Ohio.
Truck drivers, mechanics, or just plain pick and chisel men (Grandpa was Electrical Superintendent of the Red Parrot Coal Mine in Prenter, West Virginia), I've seen the results of making a living under ground ingrained on the faces of distant relatives whose memories are relegated to ragged black and white photos today.
My dad, at my Grandfather's insistence, escaped the ravages and calluses of the coal mines via his matriculation at the University of Kentucky in the early 1950's in pursuit of a degree in Electrical Engineering, and later as a pilot with the US Army's Signal Corps.
That said, I still find it more than a little bit amazing that at 9:30 AM this morning I'm walking into a meeting to coordinate beginning the structural design work on a project that will ultimately handle millions of tons of...
COAL?
This after spending over 25 years designing equipment which much of the time used...
COAL as the fuel for the fire.
I, personally, am quite pleased to be on the design end of the energy extraction process rather than on the MINING end of the mineral extraction process--something that historically has shortened the lives of my kin by somewhere between ten and twenty years as I understand things.
I hope I'm up to the process, having had almost three months to sweep the dust off the 'ol brain cells and come back up to speed with the latest software.
Wish me luck...If you will...
It continues to amaze me how life turns back on itself.
Some call it fate.
I refuse to give it a name--positive or negative--but I do see the convolutions and permutations of the order and disorder none the less.
Take my Father's family as an example.
Everyone I know in that side of my gene pool alive before 1950 was in some way involved in the coal mining business in West Virginia and/or southeastern Ohio.
Truck drivers, mechanics, or just plain pick and chisel men (Grandpa was Electrical Superintendent of the Red Parrot Coal Mine in Prenter, West Virginia), I've seen the results of making a living under ground ingrained on the faces of distant relatives whose memories are relegated to ragged black and white photos today.
My dad, at my Grandfather's insistence, escaped the ravages and calluses of the coal mines via his matriculation at the University of Kentucky in the early 1950's in pursuit of a degree in Electrical Engineering, and later as a pilot with the US Army's Signal Corps.
That said, I still find it more than a little bit amazing that at 9:30 AM this morning I'm walking into a meeting to coordinate beginning the structural design work on a project that will ultimately handle millions of tons of...
COAL?
This after spending over 25 years designing equipment which much of the time used...
COAL as the fuel for the fire.
I, personally, am quite pleased to be on the design end of the energy extraction process rather than on the MINING end of the mineral extraction process--something that historically has shortened the lives of my kin by somewhere between ten and twenty years as I understand things.
I hope I'm up to the process, having had almost three months to sweep the dust off the 'ol brain cells and come back up to speed with the latest software.
Wish me luck...If you will...
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Testing...testing..IS THIS THING ON???
Please Excuse The Silence of the Lambs My Keyboard
Sorry for my silence over the past couple of days. It's just that I can see the dust cloud on the horizon which represents the flurry of new work that's coming my way next week.
There's a scene in one of my favorite movies... "Cat Ballou", which depicts a young "Pre-Hanoi" Jane Fonda running up against a middlin' aged Lee Marvin, trying to save Miss Fonda's Bacon or a ranch or something I'm too tired to Google this morning to qualify.
My point is that I feel today much like Lee Marvin's Character..."Kid Shelleen" did in that movie, a has been gunfighter turned bar-room drunk who/whom is brought out of retirement as the plot develops to fight the battle between good and evil..
Even his horse sleeps standing up with Marvin on his back when not asked to move or accomplish anything. I guess that my 3/4 ton 4 WD 2500 series gas sucking Suburban could qualify to play the part of the Kid's horse, as I attempt to steel myself to do battle with a few hundred man-hours of Coke Plant Quench Tower and Water Clarifying basins which enter my life on Monday morning.
Hurry, hurry, step right UP, I got your steel...I got your concrete, what else could you possibly need?
Sorry for my silence over the past couple of days. It's just that I can see the dust cloud on the horizon which represents the flurry of new work that's coming my way next week.
There's a scene in one of my favorite movies... "Cat Ballou", which depicts a young "Pre-Hanoi" Jane Fonda running up against a middlin' aged Lee Marvin, trying to save Miss Fonda's Bacon or a ranch or something I'm too tired to Google this morning to qualify.
My point is that I feel today much like Lee Marvin's Character..."Kid Shelleen" did in that movie, a has been gunfighter turned bar-room drunk who/whom is brought out of retirement as the plot develops to fight the battle between good and evil..
Even his horse sleeps standing up with Marvin on his back when not asked to move or accomplish anything. I guess that my 3/4 ton 4 WD 2500 series gas sucking Suburban could qualify to play the part of the Kid's horse, as I attempt to steel myself to do battle with a few hundred man-hours of Coke Plant Quench Tower and Water Clarifying basins which enter my life on Monday morning.
Hurry, hurry, step right UP, I got your steel...I got your concrete, what else could you possibly need?
