August 12, 2023

Saturday Funnies

August 6, 2023

The Donkey and the Tiger

The donkey told the tiger: The grass is blue.

The tiger replied: No, the grass is green​.

The discussion became heated, and the two decided to submit the issue to arbitration, and to do so they approached the lion.

Before reaching the clearing in the forest where the lion was sitting on his throne, the donkey started screaming: ??Your Highness, isn't it true that the grass is blue?"​

The lion replied: "True, the grass is blue"​.

The donkey rushed forward and continued: ??The tiger disagrees with me and contradicts me and annoys me. Please punish him"​.

The king then declared: ??The tiger will be punished with 5 years of silence"​.

The donkey jumped with joy and went on his way, content and repeating: ??The grass is blue"​..

The tiger accepted his punishment, but he asked the lion: ??Your Majesty, why have you punished me, after all, the grass is green?"​

The lion replied: ??In fact, the grass is green"​.

The tiger asked: ??So why do you punish me?"​

The lion replied:

That has nothing to do with the question of whether the grass is blue or green. The punishment is because it is not possible for a brave, intelligent creature like you to waste time arguing with a donkey, and on top of that to come and bother me with that question

The worst waste of time is arguing with the fool and fanatic who doesn't care about truth or reality, but only the victory of his beliefs and illusions. Never waste time on discussions that make no sense... There are people who for all the evidence presented to them, do not have the ability to understand, and others who are blinded by ego, hatred and resentment, and the only thing that they want is to be right even if they aren’t.

When ignorance screams, intelligence shuts up. Your peace and tranquility are worth more.

August 4, 2023

When you want a cat but have a comedian 😅

Bon Appétit!

July 17, 2023

The difference between humans and animals....

July 15, 2023

Old historical photos

I always find these kinds of things fascinating. Here's a few samples from the site.



Jackie Kennedy taking a selfie in a mirror with husband John and sister-in-law Ethel, 1954
"This is such a cool shot of President Kennedy, his wife, and his sister-in-law long before he was actually elected president. The same year that this photo was taken Kennedy was suffering from raging back issues. He had to have surgery to fuse his spinal disks, an incredibly painful ordeal.
Kennedy's back problems stemmed from the steroids that he had to take in the 1930s to get rid of his intestinal problems. This caused his vertebrae to degenerate at an extreme rate. If he didn't get the surgery he would have been confined to a wheelchair for his entire life."



World War I memorial in Hungary
In many cases war memorials tend to focus on soldiers or the generals who led an army through war, but this Hungarian memorial shifts the focus from those fought in a way to the loss that we all face. It shows a mother and her two children sitting with an empty space where their father should be. It's absolutely heartbreaking.
This devastating memorial is hard to look at but it's clear that it was made to remind Hungarians about the real cost of battle. It's hard to look at this without thinking about all of the people lost in the needless violence of war. It's not just a memorial for Hungarians, it's a memorial for the world.



Indigenous Residential School Students Being Forced To Pray Before Bed
This disturbing photo was taken in one of the dormitories at the Canadian Indian Residential School system, a collection of learning facilities with a frightening reputation. Stories of abuse and even death were rampant at these schools. Unfortunately most of the people who could have stopped this behavior turned a blind eye to everything that was happening.
While these schools were in operation during the late 19th and early 20th centuries those who were in charge didn't understand why the indigenous population didn't appreciate the "opportunity" for their children. One report from the time read:
"The Indians do not, unfortunately, seem to show any great appreciation of what we are trying to do."


Much more:
https://historydaily.org/eerie-photos-show-a-darker-side-to-history/62?utm_source=pt_tc&utm_campaign=926_neweeriere_d22&utm_medium=tc&pp=1&epik=dj0yJnU9LVBxSDBPc3EyblRuLVhiX3NpOEtFckZHY0EyckV0bl8mcD0wJm49M3ptX2xaVlI1eDdFXzE2RHZ6RHBSQSZ0PUFBQUFBR1N3WEdj

July 13, 2023

Update from the OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR/Kentucky

OFFICE OF GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Crystal Staley
502-545-3714
Crystal.Staley@ky.gov
Scottie Ellis
502-330-1722
Scottie.Ellis@ky.gov

Gov. Beshear Announces Largest Revenue Surplus in State History
Team Kentucky Update includes good economic development news, positive mental health rankings, an update on sports betting and more
FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 13, 2023) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced the largest revenue surplus in the commonwealth’s history. The General Fund receipts for fiscal year 2023 totaled $15.1 billion, exceeding budgeted estimates by $1.4 billion.
This will be the third consecutive year with a General Fund budget surplus of more than $1 billion. Kentucky’s economic strength is the result of more jobs, higher wages and salaries, growth in sales revenues and continued business profits.
“We continue to see an economy that is on fire, all while we have lowered income and property taxes for our families,” said Gov. Beshear.
During the Team Kentucky news conference, the Governor also shared good economic news; provided an update on mental health and 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; condemned hateful rhetoric; signed a new sports betting executive order; announced funding to support Kentucky veterans; discussed upcoming weather and Eastern Kentucky flood recovery. He also named Kentucky Transportation Cabinet employee Keith Rogers as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Star.
Economic Development
Gov. Beshear announced further growth of the commonwealth’s rapidly growing manufacturing and electric vehicle (EV) support industries as Hitachi Astemo Americas, one of Kentucky’s largest Tier 1 automotive suppliers, announced an expansion of its operation in Madison County with a $153 million investment creating 167 new, quality Kentucky jobs.
The Governor congratulated Harbor Steel & Supply Corp., a distributor and manufacturer of fabricated products for the steel and aluminum industries, as company and local leadership gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on a new $8 million operation in Bowling Green that is creating 25 full-time jobs.
Gov. Beshear highlighted new growth in the state’s metals-related sector as Southern Coil Solutions, a leading provider of advanced coil handling and storage solutions, will invest over $27 million into a fully automated steel coil warehouse distribution and logistics center in Bowling Green that will create 30 new full-time jobs.
Gov. Beshear announced that Kentucky has earned back-to-back Gold Shovel Awards from the national publication Area Development, which cited the commonwealth’s strong gains in attracting new businesses and growing jobs. The publication also named AESC, formerly known as Envision AESC, as a 2023 Manufacturing Project of the Year.

Mental Health Update
The Governor announced that, according to Mental Health America, Kentucky is ranked No. 1 in the area of adult mental health. Mental Health America collects data across all 50 states and releases its state rankings based on how many adults and youth have mental health and addiction issues and how many have access to health coverage.
“This ranking shows that the things we’ve been doing in Kentucky have been working,” said Gov. Beshear. “I am very proud of the work we have done in mental health care these past few years in the commonwealth. But the work doesn’t stop. I will continue to push for mental health services so we can continue to keep our people happier, healthier and safer.”
The Governor also noted that this Sunday, July 16, will mark the one-year anniversary of the launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in Kentucky. Since this free, confidential, 24/7 line launched, the state has seen a significant increase in call volume, text messages and chats, with a decrease in abandonment rates and speed to answer.
The Governor announced that over 22,000 calls have been answered since last July, an increase of 22% compared to the prior 12-month period. Currently, 81% of all calls are answered in-state at an average rate of 27 seconds, which is 5 seconds faster than the national average. There have been nearly 9,000 text messages and 9,000 online chats since the launch. And the volume for these methods of communication steadily grows each month.

Denounces Hateful Rhetoric
Today, Gov. Beshear condemned hateful rhetoric from a former gubernatorial primary candidate and encouraged other leaders to do the same.
“There is no place for these types of comments in Kentucky. They are horrific. They spur hatred and division. And they violate everything that my faith teaches me on Sunday that I’m supposed to practice every other day of the week,” Gov. Beshear said. “I fully condemn each of these statements this individual made, and I call on every other elected official to do so.”

Sports Betting
On Monday, Gov. Beshear joined the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and lawmakers to announce that Kentuckians can make their first-ever sports bets in Kentucky in less than 60 days. For more information, see the full release. To see facilities eligible to apply to be a sports betting location, click here.
Today, Gov. Beshear signed an executive order that creates a Sports Wagering Advisory Council. The council will assist in carrying out legal requirements and support the integrity of sports betting in Kentucky. Council members will include the Public Protection Cabinet secretary, three members and an employee of the Horse Racing Commission and two at-large members.

Veteran’s Program Trust Fund Grants
Gov. Beshear announced $175,000 in funding from the Veteran’s Program Trust Fund, which will go to eight organizations supporting Kentucky veterans. These organizations include:
• $25,000 to the Kentucky Historical Society for its exhibit featuring Kentucky women veterans;
• $6,000 to the Warrior Battalion, an organization in Louisville that provides veterans with financial assistance;
• $34,000 to the Kentucky Minutemen Relief Fund, which assists members of the Kentucky National Guard with housing, transportation and more;
• $13,8000 to the National Association for Black Veterans to support its “Week of Valor” events;
• $50,000 to Honor Flight Kentucky to support its mission of providing veterans with flights to visit war memorials in Washington, D.C.;
• $28,000 to Service Dog Solutions to train four service dogs that will be placed with veterans in need;
• $15,000 to Horse Sensing to support veterans who live onsite while completing the organization’s Equine Grooming Program; and
• $4,000 to Disabled American Veterans Chapter 003 for the purchase of uniforms for funeral details, posting of colors and other veteran events.
“In Kentucky, we will always honor those who fought on our behalf and in our defense. We thank those who sacrificed their time, their health and their lives,” said Gov. Beshear. “Today’s funding awards are just part of the work we are doing to support our heroic veterans.”

Upcoming Weather and Eastern Kentucky Flood Update
Gov. Beshear encouraged Kentuckians to remain weather-aware today as an approaching cold front will bring increased chances for showers and storms. Heavy rainfall, damaging winds, lightning and large hail are expected. More severe weather is expected Saturday morning throughout Saturday evening with showers and thunderstorms.
The Governor also provided an update on recovery and rebuilding efforts in Eastern Kentucky. Currently, 80 families are housed in travel trailers, and 302 households have transitioned out of the Commonwealth Sheltering Program.
Debris removal efforts on private properties are nearly complete in Breathitt, Knott, Letcher, Perry and Pike counties. As of Wednesday, July 12, contractors had removed over 5,500 tons of debris from 258 properties in those five counties.
To date, Gov. Beshear has announced three high-ground communities, including Olive Branch in Knott County, Skyview in Perry County and the Cottages at Thompson Branch in Letcher County. More high-ground communities will be announced soon.
So far, Fahe, a team that collaborates with partners to build homes, has 130 new homes and 123 rehab projects either under construction or pending work or application approval.

Team Kentucky All-Stars
Last week, on a family trip to Natural Bridge, 10-year-old Andrew lost control of his bike and rode off a 15-foot cliff into a creek. Andrew is alive today thanks to the quick action of Kentucky Transportation Cabinet employee Keith Rogers. Rogers pulled the young boy out of the creek, administered first aid, retrieved the bicycle and returned it to the family. Gov. Beshear named Keith Rogers as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Star.
“Keith bravely jumped into action to save a child’s life, and we are forever grateful to him. So today, I am proud to name Keith Rogers as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Star,” said Gov. Beshear.

July 13, 2023

'Only my dead friends'

'Only my dead friends': Kentucky man used skulls, human remains as home decor, FBI says

When FBI agents searched a Mount Washington, Kentucky, apartment Tuesday and found 40 human skulls, spinal cords, femurs and hip bones inside, they asked occupant James Nott if anyone else was home.

“Only my dead friends,” he responded.

Agents found one skull wrapped in a head scarf and another sitting on a mattress where Nott slept. Others were strewn around Apartment No. 3 as if they were decorations.

The grisly discoveries were disclosed in a criminal complaint that put Nott in the middle of a multistate and international trade in body parts stolen from the morgue at Harvard Medical School and a mortuary in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The complaint and an FBI affidavit to search Nott’s home in Mount Washington - which is roughly 25 miles southeast of Louisville - says Nott received body parts from abroad and sold them in the United States.

In Facebook posts describing the parts and their price, Nott used the pseudonym “William Burke,” which the affidavit says in a footnote was used by a serial killer active in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1827-28 with his partner, William Hare.

Together the pair sold the bodies of their victims to Dr. Robert Knox an influential lecturer in anatomy at the University of Edinburgh.

The U.S. scheme was discovered when police in East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania, got a tip the human remains could be found at the residence of Jeremy Pauley, in nearby Enola.

Police executed a search warrant and found items that included human organs and skin.

Pauley’s wife, Sarah, provided law enforcement with screen shots that showed he was communicating with a woman who worked at a mortuary in Little Rock, Arkansas.

She allegedly stole remains that were due to be cremated and sold them to Pauley over Facebook. They included human hearts, brains lungs and two fetal specimens. Payment was by PayPal.

Pauley told the FBI about a network of people involved in the sale and transportation of fraudulently obtained body parts.

According to the complaint and a story in the New York Times, one member of the network was Cedric Lodge, morgue manager for Harvard Medical School’s Anatomical Gift Program. Lodge was steading parts from cadavers and selling them on the internet, according to the complaint.

According to the affidavit, Pauley communicated over Facebook with Nott, who identified himself by the pseudonym, about the sale and shipment of human remains. Nott sent him photos and videos, it says.

“How much for the couple you sent, plus the spines,” Pauley asked.

Nott quoted him a price and Pauley replied, “Works for me.”

Pauley, Lodge and four others were charged in federal court in Pennsylvania with interstate transportation of stolen property and conspiracy.

During the search of Nott’s home in Mount Washington, the FBI said it found an AK-47, a loaded .38 special and ammunition.

In 2011, Nott pleaded guilty to possession of a destructive device and a firearm. He was charged Tuesday with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

He waived a detention hearing and is being held without bail in the Oldham County Jail, pending further court decisions. He was assigned counsel from the federal public defender’s office and his arraignment was set for Aug. 4.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/crime/2023/07/12/harvard-body-parts-scandal-kentucky-man-accused-of-using-skulls-as-decor/70407920007/



I used to live in Mt. Washington years ago..... No Kentucky jokes please.

July 6, 2023

Has anyone ever sold something on Poshmark?

I put a really nice set of Akoya pearls (necklace and earrings) on there, and accepted an offer from someone. BUT--just realized the site wants you to send the item to the buyer before its paid for. Sounds like its just a good way to lose your stuff.

I've bought plenty of things on ebay, and its just the opposite. Nothing is shipped until you've paid for it. Never had a problem.

I've emailed the site to ask what kind of guarantee they have that I will be paid. No response yet. I'm not sending anything anywhere until then.

June 26, 2023

From Gavin Newsome: Compare and contrast

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FyeUVAZacAEKddE?format=jpg&name=medium

Middle class families in California pay LESS in taxes than in states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1668455904348602368
POTUS
has created more jobs than the last 3 Republican presidents COMBINED.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1666898953319907328

Even Fox News can't deny that the 28th Amendment is widely popular.

Here's their most recent polling to prove it:
- Raising minimum age to buy a gun to 21: 81%
- Background checks: 87%
- A standard waiting period: 77%
- Banning assault rifle sales: 61%

news.gallup.com
U.S. Same-Sex Marriage Support Holds at 71% High
Seventy-one percent of Americans think same-sex marriage should be legal, matching the high Gallup recorded in 2022.

"There has not been a single book banned in Florida."
Last school year, Florida had 566 bans across 21 school districts.


As you would expect, the comments on these posts are enlightening.

June 21, 2023

Samsung phones

I had a Samsung Galaxy 5 for several years, and it easily did what I needed. I just decided to get a new phone when I changed services, a cheaper Samsung, that I make a payment on with my bill every month. I don't remember the model, and don't see it on the phone.

On the old phone, I could connect it to my desktop and download all my new photos. I tried that once with the new one, and it shut down my entire system.

So, I am trying to email a bunch of photos to my desktop, one at a time, and it says, "The recipient inbox is full." That is not the case.

Any help?