September 20, 2011

Maybe I can keep this one-hour thing going for a while. At least I will try.  Of course, the Allen Curve may make an appearance after a short period of enthusiasm.  Anyway, here are an hour's worth of news from local sources, with my commentory, for what it is worth.

1.  A dead man rises again.

The former owner of a Maryland cemetery had been convicted of fleecing over five hundred people out of cemetery services, and he apparently thought that it was time for him to disappear and start a new life.  So, he conned his brother into thinking that he had fallen overboard into Chesapeake Bay.  While rescue teams searched for his body, he was busy setting up a new identity in Texas.

However, this scumbag didn't count on the TV show "America's Most Wanted."  Viewers turned his sorry butt in, and now he is facing a total of 16 years in the slammer.

2.  The politics of Social Security

Texas Governor Rick Perry has said that Social Security is a Ponzi scheme.  Acting like a George W. Bush look-alike, Rick is trying to swagger his way to a Republican nomination for President.   However, with this Social Security statement, I believe he has sealed his fate as an "almost-ran."   Even Mitt Romney says: "If we nominate someone who the Democrats could correctly characterize as being against Social Security, we will be obliterated as a party."

3.  The politics of deadly vaccine

Michelle Bachman is now saying that her claim that a vaccine intended to prevent cervical cancer caused mental retardation did not represent her view.  She just says she was relaying what a woman told her.   Come on, Michelle, you know that everything you say these days is going to be picked up by the media and thrown back in your face. 

4.  Movies by mail?

Guess what?  Netflix for mail subscribers is about to be renamed: Quickster.  Wow!  Competition from Hulu, Amazon,  and other companies have caused the company to rethink their service.  Now, I think, we will get a bill for mail Netflix (Quickster) and also for online Netflix.  Is this another instance of GREED?  We'll probably rethink it all and cancel some service and pay for another.  I love Netflix by mail. Right now, I can order all kinds of esoteric movies and a few days later, they appear in my mailbox.

5. Facebook for Churches?

Wevival is a social media service and a local business involved in web development.  The company recently launched its first offering, Shop My Church.  This is a social church directory where people can promote their church for free.   http://www.shopmychurch.com/  How are they going to make any money if their services are free?

6.  Jobs

In looking at  today's Carroll County (Maryland) Times newspaper classified ads, I see ads for the following: (in order)

Honda Salesman
Automobile Technician
Another Honda Saleman
Car Washer and Detailer
Carpenter's Helper
CDL Driver (whatever that means)
Cleaner for a day care center
Construction Workers (Heavy Equipment Operators)
Egg Company Driver/ Deliverer
Tractor Trailer Driver
Another CDL Driver
Family Investment Specialist
Farrier (or helper)
Roofing Field Job Supervisor
Gardener
Grounds Maintenance Persons
Groundskeeper
Another CDL driver
Caregiver
Health Worker
Housecleaner
Liquor Store Clerk
Town Maintenance Worker
Medical Assistant
Newspaper Carrier
Optometric Assistant
Optician
Pharmacy Technician
Receptionist
Office Assistant
Another Receptionist
Restaurant Manager
Battery Warehouse Clerk
Veterinary Technician
Part-Time Driver
Licensed Therapist
Financial Agent
Grant Agent
Agricultural Agent
Diesel Technician
Medical Assistant
Landscaping Laborers
Landscaping Foremen

In addition, I see "HELP WANTED" signs outside most of our fast food restaurants.  And these ads are printed in the newspaper of a rather small town on a week day.   Why are people not taking these jobs?  Is it because they can get Unemployment Benefits now for such a long period?

Once, in the 1960's, a New Jersey Representative gave a talk at the Social Security Administration office in Woodlawn, at which he read off hundreds of job openings in New Jersey that were not being filled, even though unemployment was at an all-time high rate.  He later became the Secretary of Labor and tried to get those jobs filled.   So.. not much has changed in 50 years, I guess.
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Oh.. time's up.  See ya.
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