Sunday, July 30, 2006

A PRAYER..... I am not a religious person in the ...

A PRAYER.....

I am not a religious person in the traditional sense. I do not believe there is an omnipotent and omminicent entity watching over this or any other planet. I believe that the only forces that can govern our collective survival is our ability to reason and a self-imposed "humanitarian moral order." Without these efforts we will not survive.

If I WERE religious man this the one prayer I would offer:

"Dear GOD, please provide more common sense and humanity to the human race. End the constant selfishness offered in your name. Make a new visitation and UPDATE your mission statement. Tell us WHY we are here. And if there is a "damnation clause" in our "so-called contract" please make sure that everyone who kills another human being in your name receive instant and full punishment." (work in progress)

Sadly the history of mankind has been a struggle of one group of believers to impose their WILL on others and enriched with hatred and revenge of others not possessing the ONE TRUE RELIGION. I don't see see this ever ending.



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Monday, July 17, 2006

GAMBLING.....

A recent article revealed that "Students with computers can wager 24/7 from their dorm rooms on unregulated, offshore Internet poker sites. And they do. Nearly 600,000 youths under age 22 gamble online every week, and online wagering among college students has increased fivefold since 2002, according to a study last year by the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center.

Not surprisingly, more young people are suffering social ills such as compulsive gambling, overspending and social isolation as they start playing video games for real money."

Parents need to pay particular attention to the actions of their children - especially with this recent addiction.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006

IMPORTANCE OF BEING OBSERVANT......

I have been working on "rehabbing" my home so I have not found much time to work on my "life lessons." But today as I went to the local Home Depot checkout with a number of purchases the cashier told the purchase was "$278". I did a quick mental check of the monitor purchase list and it did not come close to that amount. I asked the clerk to check the items out again as I did not agree with the total. A second checkout resulted in "$172."

I mention this incident because it is very important to be financially "observant" whenever you make a purchase.

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Saturday, July 08, 2006

PRACTICAL ADVICE....

A neighbor asked me why her lawnmower had such a hard time starting. I looked at the mower and noted she had a large gas container she used for the fuel. When I asked her how OLD was the gas she replied it was from last year.

Gasoline is made for "seasonal" use - it has a slightly different composition for each season. In addition, gas left to set out will "separate" by the seasons. In your "gas device" this separate often deposits sediments in the carburator making it nearly impossible to start unless you clean the carburator.

There is a simple method that prevents this from happening. Purchase a bottle of "STA-BILE" or some similar fuel stabilitzer. Use as directed. Odds are you will have minimal starting problems.

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Wednesday, July 05, 2006

ENERGY CONSERVATION.....

Being retired I have taken more time to constantly "insulate" our home and practice "energy conservation." Each small effort produces a saving over the long haul. My only regret is not doing this when I was younger.

Today's conversation effort was to insulate the hot water heater.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=13070

"Insulate Your Water Heater Tank for Energy Savings
Unless your water heater's storage tank already has a high R-value of insulation (at least R-24), adding insulation to it can reduce standby heat losses by 25%–45%. This will save you around 4%–9% in water heating costs.

If you don't know your water heater tank's R-value, touch it. A tank that's warm to the touch needs additional insulation.

Insulating your storage water heater tank is fairly simple and inexpensive, and it will pay for itself in about a year. You can find pre-cut jackets or blankets available from around $17–$20 (Lowes $16.85). Choose one with an insulating value of at least R-8. Some utilities sell them at low prices, offer rebates, and even install them at a low or no cost.

Insulating an Electric Water Heater Tank
You can probably install an insulating pre-cut jacket or blanket on your electric water heater tank yourself. Read and follow the directions carefully. Leave the thermostat access panel(s) uncovered. Don't set the thermostat above 130ºF on electric water heater with an insulating jacket or blanket—the wiring may overheat.

You also might consider placing a piece of rigid insulation—a bottom board— under the tank of your electric water heater. This will help prevent heat loss into the floor, saving another 4%–9% of water heating energy. It's best done when installing a new water heater.

Insulating a Gas Water Heater Tank
The installation of insulating blankets or jackets on gas and oil-fired water heater tanks is more difficult than those for electric water heater tanks. It's best to have a qualified plumbing and heating contractor add the insulation. If you want to install it yourself, read and follow the directions very carefully. Keep the jacket or blanket away from the drain at the bottom and the flue at the top. Make sure the airflow to the burner isn't obstructed. Leave the thermostat uncovered, and don't insulate the top of a gas water heater tank—the insulation is combustible and can interfere with the draft diverter."

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Sunday, July 02, 2006

LIFE EXPECTANCY....

"In 1900, the average life expectancy was 50 and the major causes of death were infant mortality, malnutrition, infection and trauma, he said. By 2000, life expectancy had climbed to near 80 and causes of death shifted to chronic conditions such as heart disease and cancer."

This FACT of life is often over-looked in individual retirement plans. The fact of life is - your retirement income will probably not keep pace with the cost of living. You can live "too long" and not have adequate resources to pay for unexpected chronic health conditions.

Plan carefully for the future....

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