Howard's Notebook

Your Google Buzz Data

May 252013

“Buzz user,

In October 2011 we announced Google Buzz was shutting down. On or after July 17th, 2013, Google will take the last step in the shutdown and will save a copy of your Buzz posts to your Google Drive, a service for storing files online. Google will store two (2) types of files to your Google Drive, and the newly-created files will not count against your storage limits.

The first type of file will be private, only accessible to you, containing a snapshot of the Google Buzz public and private posts you authored.
The second type of file will contain a copy of only your Google Buzz public posts. By default it will be viewable byanyone with the link, and may appear in search results and on your Google Profile (if you’ve linked to your Buzz posts). Note, any existing links to your Google Buzz content will redirect users to this file.
Any comments you made on other users’ posts will only be saved to those users’ files and not to yours. Once the change described in this email is final, only that user will be able to change the sharing settings of those files. This means that if you have commented on another author’s private post, that author could choose to make that post and its comments public. If you would like to avoid that possibility, delete all your Buzz content now.
The new Google Drive files will only contain comments from users that previously enabled Google Buzz, and the files will not contain comments that were deleted prior to moving the data to your Google Drive.

Once the files are created, they will be treated the same as any other Drive file. They are yours to do with as you please. This includes downloading them, updating who can access them, or deleting them.

Before these files are created, you can view the Google Buzz posts you have authored here. If you do not want any of your Buzz posts or comments saved to Google Drive files, you can immediately delete your Google Buzz account and data.

Thank you for using Google Buzz.

Brooks and Marcus on PBS 05/24/2013

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May 242013

Published on May 24, 2013

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus discuss the week’s top political news with Judy Woodruff, including President Barack Obama’s speech on refining the fight against terrorism, controversies at the IRS and the Justice Department and the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma.

Who gets to sleep in a Boy Scout tent?

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May 242013

One of the great things about being a Boy Scout is getting to go camping.
I never got to go camping. I joined the Boy Scouts but if I remember correct you had to repeat from memory the Scout Oath in order to be a “Tenderfoot rank” and that was the lowest and starting rank.
I attempted to put to memory the Scout Oath but my memory was very bad. I could not remember it! I gave up and left the BSA.

Back to the subject of camping. Many right wing people and maybe it is just the right wing church people are upset right now about the BSA deciding to allow gay boys to be in scouting.

Their big talking point is … Will a gay scout get to sleep in a tent with a “normal” scout?
Of course there have been gay scouts since the BSA of started. Who are we kidding?

But if it is a problem … I have some ideas to fix the problem. The Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts could do joint camping trips and they could put one Boy Scout in a tent with one Girl Scout. That sounds like a good idea.
Or what they could do is in each tent they could have one Boy Scout and at Catholic priest or a clergyman from some church.

News media Shield Laws

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May 242013

I am a very liberal Democrat. I also have been for freedom of speech and of the press all my life. I was fired by a radio station back a long long time ago. They edited an item out of my broadcast and I put the item back in the next broadcast and blasted the station for their censorship. That program never went on the air and that was the end of me on the radio.

Now having said that… I do not believe in “shield laws” for the news media.
You and I do not have a shield law to protect us. The news media should not have any special protection that all of us do not have.
The news media should not be above the law. They already think they are above the laws of this nation and that laws do not apply to them.

I have seen them speeding and driving the wrong way on streets.
From back in the 70s I can give you just one little sample and keep in mind this is just one little example.
I was the day shift supervisor of security at a hospital.
My boss the director of security called me on the radio and told me to go fire Tony, one of the day shift parking control officers, so I went to the office and said the hell is going on?
He said.. Tony let a news media car drive in the exit gate at the north parking lot and drive over the tire spikes and it blew out their tires.
I went down to the north lot and asked Tony what happened. He said the news media drove very fast up the street and started to turn in the exit gate. There was a BIG ASS sign with the picture of a man, larger than life size, hold up his hand and the sign said “STOP” in big letters and “DO NOT ENTER” and “tire damage if you enter.”
Tony also said he ran up and waved his arms for them not to enter and they drove in anyway and almost hit him.
Well I did not let the boss fire Tony. But the hospital did pay for the tires for the news media’s car.

If we give the news media special protection then they should have to give up something. Right now all they are giving us is problems.

Zach Sobiech funeral

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May 242013

You can read about Zach Sobiech funeral:

“Mourners sing ‘Clouds’ to bid him farewell“

Zach Sobiech: Children’s Cancer Research Fund

“With heavy hearts, we are saddened to share that Zach Sobiech passed away on Monday, May 20. Zach was at home and at peace with those he loved most. Zach’s life ended just as he lived, embraced by the love of his family, friends, grace and music.

Cancer may have taken Zach too soon, but he leaves a lasting legacy that most of us will never achieve. His message of love and hope delivered through infectious lyrics and memorable tunes have imprinted on the minds and hearts of millions around the world. Zach became a beacon of light and benevolence in a world that sometimes weighs too heavily. In turn, he received a flood of well-wishes that helped him, and his loved ones, smile through tremendous pain and worry.

His legacy will also help the children of tomorrow who learn that they have osteosarcoma, the type of cancer that took Zach’s life. He became the face of this rare disease and built tremendous awareness of the need for more research funding. Because of Zach, his family’s support, and the donations of thousands in his name, kids with osteosarcoma will have better outcomes in the future. This was a source of comfort to Zach in his last days, and will provide comfort to his family going forward.

We extend our deepest condolences to the Sobiech family – parents Rob and Laura, siblings Alli (Collin), Sam and Grace, along with Zach’s many friends, aunts and uncles, cousins, teachers, classmates and others who share in this tremendous loss.

We also want to acknowledge Zach’s friends and A Firm Handshake band mates, Sammy Brown and Reed Redmond, who dedicated their time and energy to helping Zach achieve his music dreams. Our thoughts are also with Zach’s constant companion, and love of his life, girlfriend Amy Adamle.

With Zach’s blessing, the Sobiech family requests that all memorials be directed to the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund in lieu of flowers to help carry on Zach’s mission to help kids with cancer.

To share messages of condolences or to find obituary information, please visit Zach’s CaringBridge page.

We’ll see you again, Zach, up in those clouds.”

BSA did the right thing

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May 242013

I am surprised and happy that the Boy Scouts of America is going to let gay boys join the BSA. Right wing talk shows and sites were calling for the BSA to keep out gay boys.

CNN: “Boy Scouts to allow gay youths to join“

The $590 million Powerball jackpot winner

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May 232013

    Word is that the winner of the $590 million dollar Powerball jackpot is a 26 year old woman from Zephyrhills (FL). See FoxNews story.
    The winner is going to get $376.9 million in cash. They have 60 days to claim the money. In FL you can not remain anonymous. In some states you can.

    (I am typing this and we just lost power for one second again! It is happening about two times per day now. Not good. I just have a USB on the computer.)

I had four tickets for the Powerball. I would loved to have won. But wow.. to be 26 years of age and win. Just think an entire lifetime of being rich. I am 73 years old. Hell if I had won I might have died before I could collect the money.

If I had won I would have taken $76.9 million and setup a foundation to help people and do good deeds. I would have put my oldest daughter in charge of it.
I would have taken $100 million and just given it away to family and friends and other people and causes that I wanted to help.
Then $100 million I would try and do something to change the United States and the world for the better. I am not sure what I would have done. I would have got advice from people. If the Boy Scouts vote not to allow gay boys into the organization I might have started a new scout organization. I might have tried to call it the Eagle Scouts! Boy, the Boy Scouts organization would have gone crazy about using that name. Court time!
On the other hand if the Boy Scouts voted to allow gay boys to take part in the Boy Scouts I might have used the money to support troops that lost their church support and and start up more troops etc.

With the last $100 million I would just use it to live one hell of a life for the time I have left and then when I died the money would go to people and organizations and causes in my will.
I think I could have a pretty good time with $100 million.

My Daily View for 05/23/2013

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May 232013

If you study law enforcement one of the things you learn about is the history of the police and the system in the UK. I admire the idea of the Bobbies. The Metropolitan Police began in 1829. People respected the Bobbies. They did not wear a uniform that looked military in appearance. There only weapon has been a short truncheon and they keep it out of sight. They try not to use it except in self-defense. For someone to attack one of them was rare and people would be very upset if someone did.
Our police over here have gone the other direction. They are more like a military force. They were masks. They are armed with everything you can think of and then some. The police over here seem often to shoot first and ask questions later. I think all of now feel like if the police have contact with us that we are in danger. Are we going to make some error and move or reach for something. Police use force on children. The police break down doors in the middle of the night and sometimes it is the wrong door.
But my God after the hacking attack in the UK I think it is time for change for the UK.
I am not sure if it is correct or not but it is reported that it took the police 30 minutes to show up! I suspect that was because they had to round up some armed police officers to respond. I think it is time for all police officers to be armed in the UK.

I did not follow the Jodi Arias story. But I read part of the story. I do not believe in the death penalty. I do not believe in it for a number of reasons. But if someone deserves the death penalty it is Jodi Arias. I see the jury is having a hard time making a decision on the penalty. In that case I think the judge should just have the ability to make it life. My guess is the judge will tell the jury to go back and come back with a decision one way or the other.

I know homes cost a lot of money but homes in areas that are hit by tornado should have shelters. A basement will work. But there should have to be shelters for all new built homes in those areas. The problem is going to be on what areas. Is that going to be Texas, Kansas, OK and Missouri? I see a lot of problems with that and costs.
I live in an apartment in Fort Worth. There is no basement here and no shelter. We would all have to head for our bathrooms. Hell this apartment complex only has about two wheelchair ramps. It was built, I guess, before they were required.

The Boy Scouts are going to vote on the gay ban. Right wing talk radio and groups have been doing all they can to get the people voting to keep the ban on gay boys.
A lot of the Boy Scout post are supported by churches. They are threating to pull their support of the Boy Scouts vote to admit gay boys to the scouts.
It is a mess. Boys need organizations like the Boy Scouts. No one should be asking if boys or anyone is gay. It should not matter. It should be a private and personal thing.
I looked on the internet and most people seem to think that about 4% of Americans are gay. I was thinking it might be more like 10%. But come on…For Christ sake..Gays have been in the Boy Scouts from the very beginning. Just as they have been in the military, in government, in the churches and all over America. It seems to be that the percentage of gays in the Republican Party must be like 30%. We have had a gay President I am sure. Many people think President Lincoln was gay.
I hope the Boy Scouts do the right thing and I hope the right will accept it and not try and punish the Boy Scouts and America’s children.

Why the GOP uses the epithet "Democrat Party"

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May 222013

I never knew the details and history of some Republicans using “Democrat Party” instead of the correct “Democratic Party.”
See AmericaBlog for the story: Why the GOP uses the epithet “Democrat Party“

I did not notice it until the last few years. The first time or two that I heard it I was thinking the person was just dumb and messing up their hate speech.
Then I noticed that the only Republicans doing it were the real stupid and crazy Republicans.
Then I noticed that when they said “Democrat Party” it was like they were spitting it out. Some of them would also get a stupid smirk on their face. Like the George W. Bush look that we all saw so often. But I do not think even President Bush ever used “Democrat Party.” President Bush was not very smart but he was not that stupid.

That stupid smirk they got on their face reminds me a little kid that knows a “dirty” word and will say it to see what sort of reaction he gets from adults.

I would love to be a reporter on TV doing an interview with one of those guys and have him say “Democrat Party.” I would stop the interview and say “I am sorry but what are you saying?” I would say there is no Democrat Party! Are you talking about the “Democratic Party?”
As long as the guy used that word I would just keep correcting him and asking him if he ment “Democratic Party.” I would love to fuck with someone like that.
He would have his talking points that he wanted to get out … that President Obama is a Muslim and was not born in the United States and is a Communist and all the other garbage … But he would have to spend all of his time answering me about who in the hell are you talking about.
Of course it will never happen … But I can dream. I would love it.

I never had a debate with anyone over “Democrat Party” vs “Democratic Party” I guess because I never ran into anyone that stupid.
But I have had right wing friends that will get all red in the face and yell that the United States is not a democracy it is a REPUBLIC! The first time someone got all upset and screamed at me that the United States was not a democracy I was shocked and surprised. I had to ask them what in the hell are you saying. All he could do is yell the same thing. I had to carry the water..Saying yes we have a republican form of government. We elect people to make decisions for us. So we have a republican form of government but the United States is a democracy. The government gets it power from the citizens and is a free and open nation for all citizens. But I learned that it did not do any good. The people that are crazy on this subject I do not think understand government, politics or history. They just repeat back “THE UNITED STATES IS NOT A DEMOCRACY!!! IT IS A REPUBLIC!!!”

We have got a LOT of stupid people in the United States. Problem is some of them are stupid and crazy and most of those people are Republicans.

Sky filled with aircraft and my brain empty

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May 222013

When I was young all my friends knew all the makes and models of cars. They knew what type of engine was in the cars etc. I did not know any of that.
Same with sports information I never knew any of that information.
Part of my problem might have been that my memory has always been bad for some reason. It is not just now that I am fucking old. Some things I can remember better than other things. Numbers are hard for me to remember for some reason.

I have to use information over and over again and OVER AGAIN before I can remember it. I just got in the last week or two so I can remember my phone number! I have been entering a contest each day online and I have had to enter my phone number. Now I remember it.

One thing I wish I knew was military aircraft. We got a base very close and they fly over here all the time.

Here is one from a few minutes ago.

UPS v2.0

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May 222013

As I said in the last post I am a big believe in uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). But they cost a little bit of money. Plus often the battery dies after x amount of time.
Now days we all need to protect our hardware and protect our billfolds.
One thing you can do when a storm comes around is turn off your computer hardware and unplug from the wall.
We have been losing power here when there is no storm or at least not here.
So you would not have any warning. Russ keeps his computer and stuff going no matter what is going on…He is not going to miss a minute of watching a movie or playing his games. He does them all at the same time.

I am not sure if can trust reviews of items at some online sites. Often it looks like they just reprint what is on the box. But you might check some online sites before buying for reviews.
I do like to read the reviews on Amazon. Those are reviews by people like you and I.

If you are on a budget like me or if you just want to save money you could go with a surge protector instead of a UPS. It might save your hardware. It is better than nothing.
Read reviews on them before you buy.

Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)

1 Response »

May 222013

I have had a uninterruptible power supply on my computer for many years. I love them. I think they, over the years, have saved hardware for me many times.
For a few years, when I lived in Missouri, I lived in a mobile home park. One side of the park got their power from one electric company and the other side from a different company. The side I lived on got their power from the company that had big time problems. The power would go and off all the time. Power would go off and then right back on and do it a number of times in a roll.
When I lived in FL having a UPS was a must there to protect your hardware. There lightning was the big problem. Lightning strikes each year kill more Americans than tornadoes! About 75 people die each year.

Since I moved here to Fort Worth and this apartment power lose has not been to bad and I do have a UPS but it only protects my computer and monitor and a few other little items.
At risk is my computer modem and router.
For a week or two now we been having a loss of power for a second or two from time to time. It seems to be getting worst. Yesterday it was about three times. Each time it is just for one second. Two weeks ago we had it break our router and we had to get a new one. Last week it caused Jimmy to lose his Internet connection and he could not get it back. I offered to help but he refused the help. Then he decided that the router needed to be washed! Well that was the end of that router. I got them a new router and Russell hooked it up for them. But Jimmy disconnected it. He wants to wait for some reason known only to him.

Power loss yesterday may have killed Russell’s hard drive. I am not sure yet.

When I worked at CompUSA in FL this time of year people would be buying UPS units like crazy.

With a UPS unit I am not looking at the battery to supply power so that I can keep on doing what I am doing. I am only interested in protection of the power source. The power interruptions and the on and off and on again is what I want to prevent from happening.

Tornado Watch for this area

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May 212013

“TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH TEXAS UNTIL 7:00PM. THIS DOES INCLUDE THE METROPLEX.

TODAY: Thunderstorms are expected to develop near the Red River later this morning and begin moving southeast through the day. Strong to severe storms are likely with large hail damaging winds and tornadoes possible. Winds: S 10-15. High: 82.

TONIGHT: Showers and thunderstorms (30%) some severe, mainly during the evening. Mostly cloudy. Winds: S 10-15. Low: 65.

WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny skies and warm. Winds: SE 5-10. High: 87.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy skies. Winds: SE 5-10. Low: 68.

THURSDAY: Partly sunny skies, continued warm. Winds: SE 5-10. High: 89.”

After OK everyone is going to be worrying about storms.

Life in a state that is 47th in education

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May 212013

I am going to get into trouble with my family. I am not sure any family wants family matters in a blog.
But I think I need to wrap up this little story… It might help some other people.

My son is home and we are glad he is home. Of course his mental condition is no better and we are still going to have problems.

But about what happened the other day. Sunday, I think it was, at about 2 AM he left here and walked to a 7-11 and called 911 to report that there was going to be a fire or something because of gases from a meth house that had blown up or was going to blow up.
The fire department came here.
The Fort Worth police went to the 7-11 and interviewed him.
They gave him two choices; one he could go to JPS (John Peter Smith Hospital) and go into the psy unit or two he could go to jail. He picked JPS.

Darlene, his mother, called JPS two times to check and they said they would check and they said he was not there.
Then Darlene filed a missing person’s report with the Fort Worth police. They sent out two officers to take a report. They called JPS and checked with them and JPS told them they did not have Jimmy.

The Fort Worth officers that came these two times were nice and attempted to be helpful but there is a problem with JPS.
The last time Jimmy was at JPS they had his correct name but they filled out his chart wrong or sent the wrong chart and they gave him the wrong medication. They said it was a different James Howard.

    JPS had been no help at all to Jimmy or us. They keep him two or three days and then release him.
    It takes about a month of him taking his medication to get him back to “normal.”




   Texas schools are spending $8,400.00 per student. That ranks Texas as 49th on spending for children.
Teacher pay in Texas is 31st in states.

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