Kentucky Lake Times
According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, eight employees of the British embassy in Tehran have been arrested by Iranian authorities. The employees were accused of playing a part in the recent unrest throughout the country after the presidential election.
I had naively hoped never to live through tough economic times like my folks did, with The Great Depression. And, while I still believe that we're far from those dark days, it is clear that we are in the midst of the worst financial crisis of my life and certainly of my boy's lives. There are lessons for them, for me, for all of us.
I recently got in a debate with a close friend about his wanting to get his not-yet-16-year-old a car. "He's done well in school; he deserves it," my friend says. This same friend is financially strapped, in constant debt, yet wants to please his son whose many friends "all have cars." This is the ultimate juggling act for my generation of parents, who seem inclined to pamper their kids, delay their growing up, and otherwise give them everything they desire. It seems we're all trying to compensate for some perceived slight our kids are suffering at our hands, whether it's the dual-working parents or, in my case, the ugly divorce and absentee Mom. I feel bad for them, so I buy to assuage those feelings.
I'm hoping my boys will gain wisdom from what we're presently experiencing. Till now, they've lived in the relative lap of luxury and convenience. "Let's go to Barnes 'N' Noble" as an outing invariably meant buying them a book. We've now had discussions about how and where we will hereafter spend money. Things often taken for granted will no longer be available. I will have to live the life I preach and take the same, at times, harsh medicine I'm asking them to swallow. First, we're cutting out all the "extras." Yeah, that means no more Art School at $180 per month, no more Rock 'N' Roll School at $280 per month, no more sleep away Summer Camp, and no more exotic heli-skiing trips for Dad.
Am I damaging my boys' remaining few years of childhood or teaching them valuable lessons about conservation (meant in the most general sense) and the value of a buck? I think the latter trumps just making them happy. I believe that learning the strength to deal with adversity, to do without, to actually have to save and delay some gratification will enhance their happiness just as they'll assuredly face many hurdles in their adult lives. I reflect on my parents' survival of both the Depression and the rationing and fear of living, on the Home Front, during WWII. They survived without radical scars and appreciated all the blessings that followed.
So, my boys now "check out" their books and DVDs from the library. We order them online and they have to wait till they come in. Eating out is reserved for special occasions. We go to the market ONLY when we have a full list of items to buy. The AC doesn't go below 78, the heat doesn't go above 68, and showers aren't endless anymore. It's a beginning to the end of their childhood, and the beginning of their mature-a-hood. I hope.
The other day I was helping my younger son set up his computer. He inherited my old one as I finally upgraded mine. I looked around his room and realized the extraordinary amount of "things" he possessed and that he'd known no other way of living till now! There was a TV, DVD player, two or three portable video game devices, an "old" cell-phone (we'd just upgraded to newer ones as our former provider didn't work where we recently moved), and more boxed DVD sets than they carry at Blockbuster. And, now, his own computer, albeit a "used" one. Nah, the lessons they will learn will serve them well. Won't hurt their old man either.
As far as a car for my not-yet-16 teen (10 more months, but who's counting), he's clear that he's NOT getting a car when he turns 16. In fact, he won't even get his license if he's not maintaining an agreed upon grade average (a "B"). He understands that "spending money" is earned, in part, by doing his required chores and finding small jobs. He's limited in that regard by his age, but when we recently moved and the next-door neighbor mentioned that she needed help cleaning her horse's stalls, I leapt at that opportunity for him. His first instinct was "ugh, that's disgusting" until I reminded him what those Starbuck's drinks he loves and iTunes songs cost. I will provide my boys with many wonderful life experiences but they will learn to earn the extras, wait and save for the big-ticket items, and maybe, just maybe, only get to drive my car occasionally. Hopefully, if I'm lucky, this way they'll actually move out of the house before finishing their 20's!
Bruce Sallan was an award-winning television executive and producer for 25 years. Google him if you really want to know more (e.g. his credits). When his boys were quite young, Bruce left show biz to become a full-time Dad. Shortly thereafter his marriage ended and his wife abandoned their children, leaving the state. Bruce found himself a full-time single Dad, in his late forties, as well as a returning single man to the changed world of cyber-dating. It became a classic "sandwich" situation when he also began to care for his ailing parents. He began writing various blogs on the dating sites he used as well as parenting articles for local publications. The goal of his column is to primarily focus on parenting and occasionally other issues from the male point-of-view. Presently, his column is available in several papers nationwide. Bruce lives in Agoura, California with his second (and last) wife and two boys, who are 15 and 12. He can be reached at: brucesallan @ gmail.com.
The World Health Organization says that 34 countries have officially reported 7,520 cases of swine flu. Meanwhile, three schools in New York City have closed due to another outbreak. WaPo says the flu "has left an assistant principal in critical condition and sent hundreds of children home with flu symptoms." Swine flu is increasing by about 1,000 victims per day.
Two new reports show that ginger appears to reduce nausea and vomiting often associated with chemotherapy. Read more in the Los Angeles Times.
AP: "Rev. John Jenkins, C.S.C., President of the University of Notre Dame...has become the most criticized Notre Dame president since World War II because of the university's decision to invite President Barack Obama to deliver its commencement address." Calls for Jenkin's ouster have increased, "saying Catholic teaching stands in stark opposition to the president's policies on abortion and embryonic stem cell research." MB reports that "Comrade Obama came to the Valley of the Sun to deliver the commencement address at Arizona State University [at Sun Devil Stadium], which laudably refused to grant him an honorary degree, on the grounds that he hasn't done anything to deserve one." (MB, AP)
Obama chose Thomas Frieden as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director. Frieden has served as the health commissioner for New York City for the past seven years.
In California, three months after the state "seemingly averted a state budget meltdown, voters are being asked to ratify billions of dollars in higher taxes that were part of the deal." (Read More)
In the recent Governors Bass Tournament held in Paris Landing, just outside of Paris, TN, Tim Sprouse of Clarksville, won $1,500; Sam Lashlee of Camden, and Jeff Davis of Waverly, won $1,000. The first prize, $4,000, went to Ireland Brown.
333 boats launched from the docks, which broke the previous of 269, set in 2006. There were 78 more than last year. Six teams claimed catches of more than 20 pounds of fish. More than $11,000 in prizes were awarded at the tournament, including a 150 HP Mercury Outboard motor, which went to Pat Schmickrath of Nashville. The event, which took place Saturday, was sponsored by Austin Peay State University.
Australian researcher Adrian Gibbs claims that swine flu was likely created from the result of human error. The World Health Organization, which said the flu could affect a third of the world's population, is investigating the claim.
Gibbs said he plans to publish his research saying that the flu may have originated in eggs which were used by scientists to grow viruses used for research to make vaccines. Gibbs told Bloomberg Television, "One of the simplest explanations is that it's a laboratory escape...But there are lots of others." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta claims there is no evidence to Gibb's research.
The Australian National University says of Gibbs: "His 39-year career at ANU (John Curtin School of Medical Research 1966-1970; Research School of Biological Sciences 1971-1999; School of Botany and Zoology 2000-2005) was busy and resulted in au thorship/co- au thorship of over 250 publications; mostly research papers but also books and networked publications, including an introductory book on plant virology that was translated into both Russian and Mandarin Chinese.
Throughout his career he has worked to understand the origins and evolution of viruses. This has involved understanding their identification, ecology and host interactions. He pioneered the storage and manipulation of virus data, first as co-founder of the Descriptions of Plant Viruses, then, using computers, founded the Virus Identification and Data Exchange ( VIDE ) database, which became the first component of the database of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTVdB)." (Read More)
The Better Business Bureau says that parents of high school students who are planning to take the SAT and ACT college admissions tests say they are being misled by a test preparation service. Since August, 2008, the BBB has received 67 complaints from families across the U.S., including one in KY, on The SAT and ACT Prep Center out of Coppell, TX. The company has a BBB rating of "F" due to the number of unanswered complaints.
Parents of high school students allege misleading telephone sales and difficulties with refunds for test preparation materials offered by the company. Due to the nature of the complaints and the lack of response from the company to the complaints, the BBB serving Dallas and Northeast Texas has referred information on the business to the Texas Attorney General's office.
Complaints allege telephone sales for The SAT and ACT Prep Center misrepresented that their son or daughter had asked to get test preparation software for the college admission tests through their local high school. (Read More)
I keep learning this great lesson. It's something I know, but seem to have to experience repeatedly for it to sink into my stubborn head. With kids, there's no such thing as quality time, only quantity time.
Some people actually believe they can schedule quality time with their kids -- "moments when their kids will open up, reveal what's really going on, and share. They want to schedule this time the way they schedule a business lunch. But, kids don't work on these kinds of schedules. They open up when they're good and ready, and it's usually when you least expect it. This happened one weekend a couple of years ago with my younger son. (Read More)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that 30 countries have officially reported 5,251 cases of swine flu, also known as influenza A(H1N1) infection. Currently the U.S. leads in the number of confirmed cases. Studies show that swine flu is easily spread from one person to another. World Health Organisation officials said the virus is expected to circle the earth up to three times.
Since swine flu has reached China, the government is trying to stop it from becoming too wide spread. "Top Chinese leaders called for strict steps to be taken against the outbreak of swine flu after the country confirmed its first case of A/H1N1 influenza." (Read More)
FOX News says, "For General Motors Corp., the task at hand is so difficult that experts say a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing is all but inevitable. To remake itself outside of court, GM must persuade bondholders to swap $27 billion in debt for 10 percent of its risky stock. On top of that, the automaker must work out deals with its union, announce factory closures, cut or sell brands and force hundreds of dealers out of business - all in three weeks." If GM does receive approval for bankruptcy much of its stock will go to the government because of loans. (Read More)
As soon as Pope Benedict arrived in Israel on Monday, he called for an independent "Palestinian" homeland to be established. Experts say that the Pope's latest radical stand concerning the "Palestinians" and terrorists could place him in a bad light with Israel and conservative Catholics worldwide. Meanwhile, BBC reports that "King Abdullah of Jordan has warned that failure to reach an agreement for peace in the Middle East will result in a new conflict within 12-18 months."
"Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Sunday that intelligence operations under the Bush administration potentially saved 'hundreds of thousands' of lives and suggested that President Obama would "sacrifice" Americans by dismantling the counter-terrorism tools of his predecessor." Cheney said that charges concerning the Bush administration so called "torture" are false. (FOX News)
According to officials in Washington state, a man in his thirties has died from swine flu. This is the third reported person infected with swine flu to die in the U.S. The World Health Organisation reported that as of 7:30 GMT, "29 countries have officially reported 4,379 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection." As was reported in Kentucky Lake Times on May 7, World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Keiji Fukuda said: "If the situation continues to evolve and the virus does become established in other countries, and we do move into a pandemic, we would expect the virus to infect many people...perhaps a third of the world's population could be infected with this virus."
According to an article in the Dakota Voice and Washington Times, "This proposed global warming tax-and-spend scam would be one of the biggest financial assaults ever perpetrated against a free people...President Obama’s climate plan could cost industry close to $2 trillion, nearly three times the White House’s initial estimate of the so-called 'cap-and-trade' legislation, according to Senate staffers who were briefed by the White House." (Read More)
As Mother's Day rolls around once again, I find myself reflecting this year on the different obligations we feel towards those mothers in our lives, at different times and passages in our lives. As this is the second Mother's Day since my own mother died, I can't help but remember her with the fondest recollections, avoiding the sad, last, and declining years of her life when a stroke took away her sparkle and delightful personality. (Read More)
At a press conference today, World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Keiji Fukuda said: "If the situation continues to evolve and the virus does become established in other countries, and we do move into a pandemic, we would expect the virus to infect many people." Fukudua added: "Perhaps a third of the world's population could be infected with this virus," stating that the information is based on data from past pandemics.
As of this morning, 24 countries have officially reported 2,371 cases of swine flu, also known as "influenza A (H1N1) infection." Mexico has reported 1,112 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection while the United States has reported 896 laboratory confirmed human cases. There are 36 confirmed cases in the state of Tennessee.
Paris, TN - Judge Bettye Springfield ordered nearly $15,000 be returned to Carmina Perez who was stopped back in July of last year for a routine traffic violation on Interstate 40 near Camden. The money had been seized because authorities believed it was drug money. Perez said the money was from income generated by the family cleaning service business, and not from the sale of drugs. (Read More)
A "social experiment" conducted by Shane Fitzgerald on Wikipedia, an online "encyclopedia" where anyone with an internet connection can edit data, shows that mainstream media is still vulnerable to quoting false information. Mainstream media has been blindly quoting false information from Wikipedia as "facts" for years now.
Wikipedia has been accused on several occasions for providing false information, allowing anyone to defame another person's character, editors exposed as frauds, other false information in biographies and various other ethical issues and fake entries.
(Read More)
Kentucky Lake Times National Bulletin is pleased to introduce the well known columnist Bruce Sallan to its readers. Bruce was an award-winning television executive and producer for 25 years. Google him if you really want to know more (e.g. his credits). When his boys were quite young, Bruce left show biz to become a full-time Dad. Shortly thereafter his marriage ended and his wife abandoned their children, leaving the state. Bruce found himself a full-time single Dad, in his late forties, as well as a returning single man to the changed world of cyber-dating. It became a classic "sandwich" situation when he also began to care for his ailing parents.
He began writing various blogs on the dating sites he used as well as parenting articles for local publications. The goal of his column is to primarily focus on parenting and occasionally other issues from the male point-of-view. Presently, his column is available in several papers nationwide and will now be appearing regularly in the pages of Kentucky Lake Times. Bruce lives in Agoura, California with his second (and last) wife and two boys, who are 15 and 12. Start reading "Mother's Day and the Women in Our Lives" in Bruce's "A Dad's Point-Of-View."
Camden, TN - Ronald Darby has resigned from his seat as General Sessions judge. Darby was previously charged with 22 counts of official misconduct last year but the charges were dropped after his official resignation before Judge Creed McGinley Tuesday.
Administrator of elections, Mark Ward, said the Benton County commissioners have been given the responsibility of appointing a replacement judge who will serve until the August 2010 election. (See Also: Charges against judge dismissed when he resigns)
Louisville, KY - The Better Business Bureau says that calls are streaming in from bitter consumers who are upset over companies calling them about their "expired or about to be expired auto warranty." Some of these calls are even coming on consumer's cell phones. BBB warns to be extremely weary of any of these calls or mailers which claim your auto warranty had or is about to expire. Currently, there are several auto warranty companies contacting residents, and more are being added to the list.
"The BBB receives complaints every single day from consumers who believe they have been deceived or ripped off by an auto warranty processing company," said Charlie Mattingly, president of the Better Business Bureau serving Louisville, Southern Indiana and Western Kentucky. "Too often, these companies use telemarketing and deceptive mailers to make people believe their auto warranty is about to expire and that they must sign up now or lose their warranty. The companies are usually selling an extended service agreement that has no connection whatsoever with the auto manufacturer or the dealer from which the car was purchased. It's important to fully understand the cost and benefits of any agreement. Some of these agreements cost thousands of dollars and may have so many restrictions that the contract will fail to cover most problems with the car."
Many consumers complain that the contract had numerous conditions that might be difficult to meet. For instance, pre-existing conditions often are not covered, proof of maintenance records may be required and restrictions on authorized repair facilities and repair charges must receive prior approval making many of these contracts virtually worthless. Others report difficulty in obtaining refunds. BBB offers the following advice for dealing with a firm selling extended auto service contracts:
While most mainstream media outlets are now downplaying the global reach of swine flu, the World Health Organisation says that 21 countries have officially reported 1,124 cases. Also known as the AH1N1 influenza, the swine flu has reached nationwide for the United States. Health officials are expecting more severe cases. According to reports Saturday and Sunday, some pigs in Canada have also been infected.
The Associated Press says that in Egypt, "police and armored cars charged into a crowd of a 1,000 irate pig farmers" causing 12 people to become injured. The farmers were protesting the Egyptian government's policy to slaughter all pigs in Egypt.
The Washing Post reported yesterday that the New York Times Co. "is notifying federal authorities of its plans to shut down the Boston Globe, raising the possibility that New England's most storied newspaper could cease to exist within weeks."
Camden, TN - Today, Fifth District Commissioner Randall Clark stated on a Benton County public forum: "I have not attended any secret meetings on the budget, raising taxes, or any other subject." Clark said he has attended two meetings in April and three in March which were previously announced. The comment was generated after news was posted two days ago concerning allegations of "secret meetings" of the Benton County commissioners and the possibility of raising property taxes.
Another participant on the Benton County Forum, simply known as "Frank", commented: "Do you really think the commissioners in question would respond to anyone verifying they broke the law by meeting in secret? I am not holding my breath that they will respond." Kentucky Lake Times National Bulletin has yet to hear directly from other commissioners concerning the alleged "secret meetings."
UPDATE 3: Commissioner Sam Rainwaters said on a public forum on May 5th: "I Sam Rainwaters have not attended any secret meetings. I have never voted for a property tax increase...There is no way I would vote to raise taxes in Benton County when people can not pay their bills now."
According to an alert from the Better Business Bureau of Louisville, scam artists are taking advantage of residents to try obtaining their personal information. Before answering any questions, here is how residents can tell the difference between a con artist and an official U.S. Census worker:
When they come around and knock on the door, census workers will have identification, a handheld device and a confidentiality notice. U.S. Census workers will not ask for social security numbers, banking and financial information, or money.
At 4:30 this morning, the World Health Organisation reported that "20 countries have officially reported 985 cases" of swine flu (AH1N1 influenza). Several schools throughout the United States have closed to help limit the spread of this deadly infection among children and families. Governments in other countries are taking stricter measures concerning this pandemic.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that sixteen countries have officially reported 658 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, also known as the swine flu.
Reuters reports that the White House was forced to issue an advisory when it was discovered that after Obama and a member of his delegation came back from Mexico, one of the delegates "came down with flu-like symptoms - and tests on his family showed they're probably infected with the swine flu." Earlier when the swine flu was not being reported adequately by mainstream media, Obama had told Americans not to be alarmed. The information was startling because [Robert] Gibbs [White House Press Secretary] said earlier this week that White House physicians believed the flu had posed no risk at all."
Earlier Obama's right hand man, Biden, said, "I would tell members of my family - and I have - I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now. It's not that it's going to Mexico. It's [that] you're in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft. That's me.... So, from my perspective, what it relates to is mitigation. If you're out in the middle of a field when someone sneezes, that's one thing. If you're in a closed aircraft or closed container or closed car or closed classroom, it's a different thing." (Read More)
Camden, TN - According to two emails obtained by Kentucky Lake Times National Bulletin, dated April 28th and 30th, Benton County Commissioners may be seeking another raise in taxes on certain properties throughout Benton County. The email correspondence alleges that the Commissioners gathered at least four times in March and twice in April in secret meetings to discuss the possibility of raising property taxes for residents of Benton County. Neither one of the emails indicate which commissioner is responsible for making the proposal for the tax hike.
KLT's National Bulletin attempted to contact commissioners to verify the information within the correspondence, but as of to date, no responses have been received. (Click here for an update)
Washington - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
announced yesterday that Veterans can begin submitting applications on-line
for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
"There is no better investment than education," said Tammy Duckworth,
VA's assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs. "The
Post-9/11 GI Bill will provide new opportunities that are essential to
our Veterans, our workforce and our economy."
Veterans, service members, reservists and National Guard members with
active duty since Sept. 10, 2001, may be eligible for this benefit.
Veterans will remain eligible for benefits for 15 years from the date of
last discharge or release from a period of active duty of at least 90
continuous days. Prospective beneficiaries may apply
on-line through the GI Bill Web site at GIBILL.VA.gov or by calling 1-888-GIBILL1 (1-888-442-4551).
Bill Griggs of Griggs & Maloney, an engineering firm in Murfreesboro, was hired by Marshall County to locate and report various alternatives for waste management. Marshall County Tribune's senior staff writer Clint Confehr writes, "Unless some other option arises for Waste Management's Cedar Ridge Landfill just west of Lewisburg, local trash collections will eventually have to be hauled elsewhere and so Griggs made calculations with figures on population, the amount of trash generated and hauling costs."
In reporting to the commissioners, Griggs mentioned four landfills near Marshall county, one being Camden's Waste Management located on Highway 70 "where Griggs says the hauling costs would be $73 per ton." Griggs reported that a transfer station would be an alternative to bringing Marshall County's trash into other areas, which could cost around $1.5 million. (For more details, see: "Trash could go to Murfreesboro")
Scientists have confirmed that the swine flu is now in Kentucky and Middle Tennessee. The World Health Organisation, which has placed the situation at level 5 out of 6, says the swine flu is spreading rapidly. As of May 1, 2009, 11 countries have officially reported 331 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection." More European countries continue to confirm cases.
Earlier WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said, "All countries should immediately now activate their pandemic preparedness plans. It really is all of humanity that is under threat in a pandemic." Health departments, hospitals and clinics are quickly preparing for emergency situations as the swine flu continues to develop throughout the United States.
Jeffrey Lang, acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of Illinois said that "Ali al-Marri today admitted that he came here... as an Al Qaeda operative the day before the September 11 attacks to plan and prepare for future acts of terrorism within the United States".
Ali Saleh Kahlah Marri, a Muslim native of Qatar, faces up to 15 years in prison. He is seeking to serve his time outside of the United States. LA Times reports that Marri was attending Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, "on a student visa when he was arrested in December 2001 on charges of credit card fraud and lying to the FBI."
"Newly uncovered documents reveal that President Franklin D. Roosevelt worked quietly in the late 1930s to find havens for European Jews, contradicting the view that he ignored their plight in the years leading up to the Holocaust," says USA Today.
Deborah Lipstadt, a Holocaust studies professor at Emory University in Atlanta, says "He may deserve a lot more credit than he is getting."
Paris, TN - Heather Bryant with the Paris PI reported yesterday that the "Henry County Board of Education approved charges for the dismissal of a Henry County High School English teacher during its special meeting Wednesday."
"Sandra K. Curtis, 36, of Camden, was arrested on April 21 for having sexual contact with a 16-year-old male student. The Henry County Sheriff's Department charged her with three counts of statutory rape by an authority figure and three counts of aggravated statutory rape. She posted bond and is scheduled to appear May 19 in Henry County General Sessions Court." Curtis has 30 days to request a hearing before the Board of Education. (Read more from The Paris Post-Intelligencer)
