Saturday, February 1, 2014

Useless Informtiona



Did you know:

There are 84 people in the world who’s combined wealth is more than the combined wealth of the rest of the people in the world.

"Steven Seagal - Blues show"



One of my heroes in action.

"2014 Dream Water Banned Super Bowl Commercial"

NSFW  Adults only, please.



Published on Jan 27, 2014
"The following 1 minute commercial for Dream Water was banned from being aired during the 2014 Super Bowl.

"PRESS RELEASE

 

"DREAM WATER COMMERCIAL BANNED FROM SUPER BOWL XLVIII

"Hollywood, FL (January 30, 2014) -- The 2014 Super Bowl Dream Water® commercial will not air during this year's big game. The ad was rejected for being, 'too risqué' for the general public."


Read more:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKzGarKzhiQ


That reminds me of one of the raunchiest jokes that I know, but I won't besmirch the JTI with it..

Open Blog - Weekend


Happy February!

Friday, January 31, 2014

“'One ring' scam alert from the BBB"

From RacineUncovered:

"The Better Business Bureau Serving Wisconsin is warning cell phone users about a new scam that can result in unauthorized charges appearing on their monthly wireless statement.

"It’s called the 'One Ring' scam because the scammers program computers to send thousands of calls to random cell phone numbers, ring once and then disconnect. The scammers then hope you are curious enough about the phone call that you return the call right away.

"When the cell phone owner returns the call, they are charged $19.95 for an international call fee. After that, there is a $9.00 per minute charge. It’s reported that often they will first hear music followed by advertising. So,it’s easy to see how quickly these charges can add up.

"Consumers who have been duped by these calls report that they are coming from the Caribbean Islands including Grenada, Antigua, Jamaica and the British Virgin Islands.

"If a person thinks they may have fallen for this scam, they should immediately alert their cell phone carrier and keep an eye on their cell phone bill. The earlier they document the fraud, the better their chances of having some or all of the charges removed.

"To be as safe as possible, the BBB recommends the best thing to do if your phone rings and it’s an international number you don’t recognize, don’t answer it and don’t call back."

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Read more: http://racineuncovered.org/2014/01/one-ring-scam-alert-from-the-bbb/


It just never ends.  If they're not hacking into user accounts, they're scamming people by telephone and online.

Retirement

 
It's important to remain active in retirement...
 
 

Four for Fridays

Hello everybody and welcome back! What do you know, I remembered to set my alarm clock! Seeing I'm up bright and early, at BLB's request I'm going give you EIGHT questions instead of my usual four. So fire away with your answers and enjoy!

1) What do you prefer warm, snowy days or the frigid sub-zero temperatures?

2) Do you have any magazine subscriptions?

3) Do you sleep with your closet doors open or shut?

4) Who you think is going to win the Super Bowl, Seattle Seahwaks or the Denver Broncos?

5) Can you change the oil in your car?

6) What is your Chinese astrological sign?

7) Would ever consider going skydiving?

8) What do you wish you had invented?

Enjoy your weekend!

"Hackers steal Yahoo! Mail usernames, passwords"

"SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Attackers now own an undisclosed number of Yahoo! Mail usernames and passwords, stolen from a third-party site, the Sunnyvale, Calif., Internet giant said.

"As a result, Yahoo! will now require affected users to change their passwords and use a one-time second sign-in verification to re-secure their accounts, Yahoo! Inc. Senior Vice President Jay Rossiter wrote in a blog post.

"'We regret this has happened and want to assure our users that we take the security of their data very seriously,' Rossiter said in the blog.

"He did not say when the breach occurred, other than 'recently.' He called it a 'coordinated effort' but did not say which third party was involved."


Uh-oh.  Now it's hitting close to home.  I'm afraid to check out how many Yahoo accounts I have.

"Porters project stopped -- Buildings to be removed to make clear development site"

From The Journal Times.com:

By Michael Burke

"RACINE — The former Porters of Racine owner will not redevelop the existing buildings into retail spaces and apartments — but instead will remove the historic buildings to make a clear development site.

"Micah Waters, who co-owned the former high-end furniture store at 301 Sixth St. and owns the property, told The Journal Times on Thursday of his family’s decision not to proceed with an estimated $6 million redevelopment there.

"The project was to have converted the 80,000-square-foot historic building into 37 market-rate apartments and enough ground-floor retail space for up to seven storefronts.

"Now, Waters said, 'The plan is for the property to be developed in another way — maybe with another developer. ... We are going to develop this property one way or another.'”

Read more: http://journaltimes.com/news/local/porters-project-stopped----buildings-to-be-removed/article_e25bf0bc-8a0e-11e3-ae0e-0019bb2963f4.html


How is it that every Joe Blow in Racine knew that this project was goiing to be a disaster, but not the high profile people involved?

As I understand it, three million taxpayer dollars have been invested in this project.  How much you want to bet that the money goes, "Poof!"
 

Open Blog - Friday


Yes, it is, it is, it is, it is.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

"Set Yourself Free"

NSFW  CAUTION: Graphic Violence



Oh my.  That'll teach 'em.

"Deport Justin Bieber and revoke his green card."

An online petition: 
 
"Deport Justin Bieber and revoke his green card."

"We the people of the United States feel that we are being wrongly represented in the world of pop culture. We would like to see the dangerous, reckless, destructive, and drug abusing, Justin Bieber deported and his green card revoked. He is not only threatening the safety of our people but he is also a terrible influence on our nations youth. We the people would like to remove Justin Bieber from our society."

Read more and/or sign the petition:  https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/deport-justin-bieber-and-revoke-his-green-card/ST1yqHJL


Madame Zoltar hinted at this yesterday:

"Did you hear that Justin Bieber was arrested?  Like, for sure.  I don’t know why everyone keeps picking on the poor guy.  He should teach them a lesson by returning to Canada and never singing another note again.  Please."

Read more: http://www.jtirregulars.com/2014/01/dear-madame-zoltar_29.html

I wish I could sign the petition more than once.

"Coffee with a Cop" Today, 5:00 - 7:00 PM

From RacineUncovered:

"On Thursday, January 30, 2014 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, stop out at Barnes & Noble on Hwy. 31 (S. Green Bay Rd) to have a cup of coffee with Police Officers from the Mt. Pleasant Police Department. Meet the officers that patrol your area and get to know them a little more than just the person in the squad car.

"Ask questions about the job. Ask questions about safety or just ask how the day is going. This event is designed to bring the community together to get to know each other in a relaxed setting and allow the community to learn about the police department and its officers. It also allows the officers to get to know the community on a more personal basis."

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Read more:  http://racineuncovered.org/2014/01/january-302014-coffee-with-a-cop/

Open Blog - Thursday


And P and P.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Global Warming...Where?


Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my Frosted Flakes. How are you?  The deep freeze is supposed to break today, but we still have plenty of winter left for subzero atrocities.  I want to move to JTIsland now.  We should just pick out an island and invade it.  Drive out the locals.  Then we can declare ourselves a sovereign nation and apply to the USA for foreign aid.  Give us a few millions dollars and we won’t ally with the bad guys.  It all sounds so lovely.  When do we start?

I see that the documentary, Pattern or Practice, is causing a brouhaha in the city.  Good.  We need more brouhahas and hullabaloos.

The Journal Times is reporting that Mr. Ex-Mayor Becker has been released from the Sturtevant Transitional Facility. (http://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/becker-released-from-custody/article_a36ee24e-8872-11e3-9188-001a4bcf887a.html)  Unspecified “treatments violations” triggered his arrest 12 days ago.  That’s all we know.  I mean, that’s all you know.  I, of course, know all.  Often, the best use I can make of this information is to not use it.  In any case, the experts have decided that it’s OK for Mr. Ex-Mayor to mingle with us once again.  The experts should know, right?

It’s awful to read about the propane shortage and the price gouging going on.  It’s especially so when you read stories like this: “Flatulent cows start fire at German dairy farm – police:”

“(Reuters) - Methane gas from 90 flatulent cows exploded in a German farm shed on Monday, damaging the roof and injuring one of the animals, police said.”

All that methane going to waste while we starve for propane.  Oh my.

Did you hear that Justin Bieber was arrested?  Like, for sure.  I don’t know why everyone keeps picking on the poor guy.  He should teach them a lesson by returning to Canada and never singing another note again.  Please. 

The “rock star” pope, Pope Francis, has made the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.  He’s also the subject of graffiti in Rome portraying him as the “ Super Pope.”  His love of the common people is being returned many times over.  Bless you, Pope Francis.

Bless anyone who tries to make this a better world.  There are far too few who do.  Woo-woo.

Thank you, my dears, for reading my blog today.  You know that I love to have company.  You know that I love my readers.  You know that I love you.

Make money selling your methane.  Fart your way to a fortune.  Contact: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com

Stay with the layered look for now, my dears.  There’s no reason to believe that February won’t be just as bad as January.  Or worse.  Remember, the best way to stay warm is to share body heat with someone else.  You can take it from there.  I love the Irregulars!  Jerque!

Open Blog - Wednesday


Is it spring yet?

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

"Folk icon Pete Seeger dies at 94"


R.I.P. Pete Seeger.

The older I get, the more of these I post.  It's depressing.

Gun Control


It has already started at Gander Mountain Sporting Goods.

When I was ready to pay for my purchases of gun powder and bullets, the cashier said, "Strip down, facing me."

Making a mental note to complain to the NRA about the gun control wackos running amok, I did just as she had instructed.

When the hysterical shrieking and alarms finally subsided, I found out that she was referring to how I should place my credit card in the card-reader.

I have been asked to shop elsewhere in the future. They need to make their instructions to us seniors a little clearer

Open Blog - Tuesday


Try to stay warm.

Monday, January 27, 2014

I Found An Online Job



Can you imagine getting paid to eat online? $9,000 a month.

Just think of the commercial endorsements and advertising from restaurant chains and food companies.

Nuts


Stilt.... You Turn Me On......

OK, so I snagged a line from an Emerson, Lake & Palmer tune and reworked the title. Thought it was clever. Anyways, remember my post about peeps on the subject of plovers? I have been avoiding digging too much into that area because explaining the difference between the many species of sandpipers we have here in Wisconsin can be a chore. However, stilts are much easier.

Wisconsin is the host for two different stilt species, the American Avocet and the Black Necked Stilt. Both are uncommon and a great sight to see, even among birding experts. The American Avocet is mainly found in the western half of North America, however they do venture into Wisconsin for brief stays during migratory seasons.

I have gotten lucky twice to see these gorgeous birds. The first time was at Samuel Myers Park on 5/4/2013 and the other in a flooded pond nearby Union Grove later in the spring.This photo below is from Myers Park.


I had gotten an e-mail report of avocets found at Myers Park and raced down there to see these lifers! Beautiful and majestic these birds are, all in their breeding plumage! Ten of them! They were just wading in the water right as I walking down the sandy ramp. They seemed to not to notice me much... I sat down on a log for more than 20 minutes takings pictures of them pruning and preening themselves, almost symmetrically,  on a warm day. I half expected to see a crowd of birders and photographers there. Lucky for me, it was just me, myself and an obnoxious Killdeer "yelling" at me. Talk about a good day! I later learned that the avocets were gone by nightfall, after just a brief stay....

The Black Necked Stilt is extremely rare in Wisconsin, except for the Horicon Marsh where they are known to breed. Why just Horicon is quite unclear, for they quite common in the western parts and the coastal regions of North America. Anyways, Tender Heart and I were fortunate to see some at Horicon on May 25, 2013. After reading reports of Black Necked Stilts possibly breeding at Horicon, this bird quickly became a "target" for us. The one in the picture below was taken on Highway 49 (Yep, THAT busy highway). I spotted it while we were creeping slowly in the car along the gravel shoulder. As I was snapping away, trying to that perfect picture, a van with Minnesota plates zoomed in front of us, scaring the bird off in the process. I did see the stilt family later on in the summer using a birding scope....


More wildlife photos and stories to come.....

"Free access to E-Edition Monday, Tuesday"

From The Journal Times.com:

"RACINE - Due to the extreme cold and windy conditions, delivery delays of The Journal Times are expected.

"Free access to the e-edition for today and tomorrow is available at http://jo-ee.journaltimes.com/eedition."

Read more:  http://journaltimes.com/news/local/free-access-to-e-edition-monday-tuesday/article_9a3e7e1e-8782-11e3-af5a-0019bb2963f4.html

Local Loyalty - The Grind Cafe

Welcome back to this week's edition of Local Loyalty. 
This week brings us to a well hidden treasure,

The Grind Cafe
7300 Washington Ave, 
nestled in the Razor Sharp complex.

I actually became introduced to this wonderful, cozy, cafe during my 1st LL interview, with Nick from Rely Local. I live close and didn't even know it existed. 
Their hours are M-Fri 6am-8pm
Sat. 7am-5pm
Sun.  9am-2pm.
The Grind has been in business for 3 1/2 years. The feel is warm and inviting, like home. The soups, cookies and pastries are all homemade, using any local ingredients possible. Everything is made right there, and is SO GOOD!
They have coffees, teas, lattes, smoothies, steamers, and tons more beverages, and the make panini's - even for breakfast!! I can't wait to go back and try one of those, yum!
Then there are the amazing cookies, scones, all kinds of goodies, many visits are needed to try everything.   
Steve, the owner, also does catering. 
He had a thing for CNH today, what an awesome opportunity. 

The 3 words he chose - 
1. Fresh 
(LOVE the homemade factor!)
2. Unique
3. Personal

It's so nice to go into a place that feels like an extension of home. Go check them out, and enjoy the coziness and some of their goodies!
Tell them you saw it here, and help spread the word :) 

Open Blog - Monday


Happy Monday! Be super careful out there.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Unified Closed Monday

UPDATE:  Due to the continuation of extreme cold, all Racine Unified Schools will be closed Tuesday, January 28th.  The official message from the district is:  "At this time fully anticipate that school will resume on Wednesday." 

Racine County
  • 21st Century Prepatory School Closed Monday
  • Catholic Central High School Burlington Closed Monday
  • Concordia Lutheran School Racine Closed Monday
  • Kansasville Grade School Closed Monday
  • Racine Christian School Closed
  • Racine Lutheran High School Closed
  • Racine Unified School District Closed Monday
  • Raymond School District Closed
  • St. Catherine's High School Closed Monday
  • St. John's Lutheran School Racine Closed Monday Also no After school Activities
  • The Prairie School Closed Monday
  • Trinity Lutheran School Caledonia Closed Monday
  • Trinity Lutheran School Racine Closed
  • Union Grove Union High School Closed Monday
  • Union Grove Christian School Closed Monday
  • Union Grove Elementary School Closed
  • Yorkville School District Closed Monday and Tuesday
  • Mount Pleasant Renaissance School Closed Monday

Ziggy


Oh my.

"Google Glitch Sent Thousands of Emails to Some Guy’s Hotmail Account"

Daniel Acker / Bloomberg News / Getty Images
"On Friday, a Gmail outage led to widespread panic and confusion across the globe. That same day, an apparently unrelated glitch also caused thousands of emails to end up in the inbox of some guy named David S. Peck. (A Hotmail user, it should be noted.)

"Here’s what happened: users who searched 'Gmail' were led to a results page with a link that said 'Email.' Clicking that link created a new email with Peck’s address – dsp559@hotmail.com —  already filled in. A tipster pointed this out to TechCrunch, who then tracked down the owner of the email address: David S. Peck of Fresno, Calif. They gave him a call to see just how badly this bizarre glitch was affecting him.

“'I’ve been getting thousands of no-subject, blank emails,' Peck told TechCrunch. '500 of them come every hour, I can’t stop them.'"


I found the headline hilarious. 

Campus Tour Guides Reminded To Use Official Name For Rape Hall

RACINE, WI—Speaking with a group of campus tour guides today, the University of Wisconsin-Racine’s undergraduate residential life coordinator Richard Matta reportedly asked the assembled students to please refer to the south lawn freshman dormitory by its official name, and not as Rape Hall.

Check out the story http://www.theonion.com/articles/campus-tour-guides-reminded-to-use-official-name-f,35044/