July 4, 2017

Today's Google Doodle: Happy July Fourth!

Today's Doodle honors the National Parks:

Google is celebrating today’s Fourth of July holiday with a doodle inspired by the U.S.’s first National Parks Service Director and noted conservationist Stephen Mather.

The red, white and blue logo leads to a search for “Fourth of July,” and includes images of deer, bears, moose and other animals you may find in one of America’s 58 national parks.

According to Google, Mather’s birthday was also on July 4th. He was named director of the the National Parks Service — often cited as “Amercia’s best idea” — in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson who created the NPS the same year.

“Over a century old, America’s national parks span 84 million acres and host more than 275 million visitors every year,” writes Google on its Google Doodle Blog.

More at link: http://searchengineland.com/fourth-july-google-doodle-inspired-u-s-s-1st-national-parks-director-stephen-mather-278367

July 2, 2017

Toomey will hold a televised "town hall" next week:

More at link: http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/06/pat_toomey_town_hall_republica.html

June 30, 2017

Here is Gov. Wolf's letter on the voter ID request: (from Twitter)

https://twitter.com/GovernorTomWolf/status/880893706517315584

June 30, 2017

How to contact PA Sec. of State about voter suppression: (from Twitter)

https://twitter.com/WhatsPatUpTo/status/880838340483985408

Saw on Twitter that Gov. Cuomo and Gov. Cooper (NC) have just refused Kobach's request. It is time for Gov. Wolf to do the same!

June 26, 2017

I keep to myself.

Easy to do now that I'm retired, but even when I was working, I never discussed politics.

I only engage in political conversations with two close friends and online.

June 21, 2017

We have a decent candidate to challenge Tim Murphy: PA-18

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — When Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy voted for the Republican health care bill, it was, for Democrat Mike Crossey, “The straw that broke the camel’s back.”

The former Allegheny County councilman, Mt. Lebanon commissioner, Keystone Oaks teacher, and former state president of the PSEA teachers union says he will challenge Murphy for Congress next year.

Link: http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2017/06/19/mike-crossey-run-against-tim-murphy/

June 16, 2017

I finally gave in too.

I thought I needed it for the Women's March... as it turned out, there was no signal in DC that day. I did get a few pictures, although we were packed in like sardines.

I still prefer my old phone. It had nice big buttons and took up less space. The iPhone buttons are too damn small for my fingers. I mostly use it to read the news while I sit around doctors' waiting rooms.

Oh.... and my "new" iPhone died... only 6 months old and the "Home" button jammed. I had my old "flip phone" for many years.

June 9, 2017

Our dog was a registered therapy dog.

We took him to lots of training classes and qualified the legitimate way. He didn't have a vest, but had a bandana and tag for his collar. It it does annoy me to see people who call their pets "emotional support animals" or whatever, just to take them along for fun. Eventually they will ruin it for the qualified dogs and their owners/handlers.
Some people just think the rules don't apply to them, I guess.

June 9, 2017

Yes, a real estate broker.

Not only was he a bull-shitter, he was a drunk. We bought his old house and he built next door to us. We were friendly at first, but eventually all that soured. After a couple of years we put up a privacy fence, planted big trees, and tried to ignore them.

June 6, 2017

We dumped Comcast when they bumped MSNBC from their basic package.

Their new lineup certainly lacks diversity. We used to watch Rev. Al (daily, not one hour a week), MHP, Tamron Hall, and Joy every afternoon. Those were the days!

I can't stand the new people (all women, btw!) and switch channels or turn off the TV when they come on.