I know, I know - very few are dangerous and they probably do all kinds of good things like eating bad bugs and helping the environment and all that crxp.  I don't care - I hate'em - they give me the creeps - 8 legs is unnatural - and some of them can really hurt you!  Even the harmless ones have made me bleed many times when I "reacted" to their close presence and jumped too far too fast into something with sharp edges and corners!  :-)

Okay, I'll give you this - granddaddy long legs aren't too bad.  I don't like them, but I usually let them live.  Did you know that they are one of the most poisonous spiders on earth?  It's just that the shape and size of their mouth prevents them from biting us!

Alright - one more concession - Spider-Man is great!  I love those movies that have brought the old comic book hero back to life.

So, the next time you see a spider, think of me - - - - - and mash that sucker flat!

I think I could collect 100,000 email addresses in one month - no problem.  From there, millions would be a piece of cake.

We, or some of us, make it so easy for spammers to gather up email addresses. 

I’m sure you get those emails where the first page (or two) is the list of email addresses that particular email was sent to - sometimes it seems like it must have been EVERYONE in the sender’s address book!

Well, folks, with a little education and a few seconds of your time that can be stopped!

I’m sure you all know about the “Bcc:”(Blind carbon copy) field that is available in virtually every email client.  If it’s not visible, just a little detective work can easily find it and your addressees will REALLY appreciate it.  Just enter all the addresses into that Bcc field - or if you forget, then just cut and paste from the To: window to the Bcc: window.  Then, all those addresses will not be available to every other person in the list, AND will not take up the first several pages of the email when it's forwarded.  Help us get to what it is you wanted us to see in the first place!

Another thing that annoys me is the forwarded email that has several references to “Hotmail” or “Virus checked” or some other AD at the bottom.  How about taking a few extra seconds and just deleting that junk BEFORE you click “Send”.

Oh, and what about those little >>>>>>> that get added by the thousands every time some emails are forwarded, until there is a string about 8 deep on the left side of the message.  Sometimes it’s those lines.  Those things can be disabled in your email software, too, so - - - how about disabling it for the rest of us!

Wait - I got another one.  Those amazing messages

that are so important

they put 10 or twenty blank lines

between each comment - -

PLEASE, there is nothing that is SO suspenseful, that I need ten pages for what could be said in one page.  And a normal or slightly enlarged font is fine - it doesn’t need to be in 40 point font for even an older guy like me to be able to read it - I have glasses.

I expect there are several little annoyances that I haven’t mentioned so let us know - educate us so we can make YOUR email experience a more enjoyable one.

Likewise, we're all too familiar with our government's extraordinary efforts to make sure there is no "profiling" in our search for possible terrorists.  I saw this time and again as I passed through airport security and watched children pulled from the line for closer screening while some obviously middle-eastern man in his twenties was overlooked - couldn't be accused of profiling!  No, not even in the interest of national security.

Now the tables have turned completely, irresponsibly, and disturbingly.

Our new administration has made it very clear that they will not use the words terrorism and terrorist to refer to islamic extremists or the attacks they propagate.  The new term for a terrorist attack is something like, "Man-caused event"!  Is that not just about the stupidest thing you've ever heard?  On the other hand, our "new" government has no qualms about highlighting the extremely small possibility of returning Vets engaging in local "terrorism".  These men and women are American citizens and heroes.

That same Homeland Security report obviously doesn't mind "profiling" Vets and other vocal conservatives and putting them on some kind of "watch list".  The arrogance and hypocrisy is staggering!

I truly fear for the future of our country.  I worry about the integrity of our Constitution.  I'm angry at the gross and obvious lack of respect our current government is showing for us, the American citizens.

You've probably seen the email.  You know, the one that encourages everyone to wear red on Fridays to show support for the men and women who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.  I don't see much red on Fridays and I have to admit I don't always remember, either.  But I do unconditionally and completely support and admire everyone who wears, or has worn, a uniform in the U.S. Military.

My Grandfather, my Father, and every one of my uncles served in war time - Granddad in WWI and the others in WWII.  Our family was so incredibly lucky that they all returned home safe, because they were all in harms way with an enemy shooting real bullets and intent on killing them.

Maybe my family history is one reason it makes my blood boil every time I see anyone who disrespects a soldier or what they do.  Those warriors have a terrible, dangerous job to do but they are only following orders - orders that come from the top, by the way.  So let's not fault them for doing what we ask of them - what some go to great lengths to avoid doing (like moving to Canada).

I hate war!  We should all hate war.  Our soldiers probably hate it more even than those of us who remain safe at home.  But, hating war will not stop it.  As long as there are evil people in this world, war will be a fact of life and we had better have a strong, capable, and willing military to protect us from those who would do us harm. 

So, from the bottom of my heart -

to all of you who serve or have served,

or have family helping to protect our great country and all we stand for - -

"Thank You for Your Service to Your Country!" 

Please repeat this message to every soldier you see.

(Top right - my grandfather/WWI.  Left - my grandfather with my dad and uncle/WWII)

This is important information for homeowners.

"Uncle Sam" is doing a few things right!  They have finally stepped up to help responsible homeowners continue to be able to afford their mortgage payments.

Most homeowners pay their mortgages and pay them on time.  But there are circumstances, often beyond our control, that make it difficult to continue to make those payments.

• The current economic difficulties have led to lost jobs and lower incomes for many Americans.
• The drop in values of most homes has made it impossible for many people to refinance their mortgage at a lower, more affordable interest rate.
• Some have been caught in the "increasing interest rate" TRAP of adjustable loans.
  

More information about exactly what help is available and who is eligible for this assistance can be found at MakingHomeAffordable.Gov.

There are two basic categories of homeowners that may qualify:

1. Those who don't have enough equity to refinance.
2. Homeowners who need to "modify" their loan to be able to afford the payments.

At the website, you'll find free help and many FAQ's, Scams to watch out for,

and a HotLine contact number:  (888) 995-HOPE.

Good News!  The "Conficker" worm that was supposed to wreak havoc on PC's around the world, today, has been broken.  Well, sort of - from what I read, they've figured out how to get rid of it but maybe not stop it completely.  We'll have to "stay tuned" for more on that one.

What all of the media attention regarding this worm threat should have done, though, is remind all of us about the multitude of threats that are lurking just on the other side of that firewall.  Spams, scams, a new virus, computer eating worms, Phishers - the list seems to be growing.

So, what can you do?

• install a good anti-virus/anti-spyware/firewall/etc. program
• and THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK!

Did that email come from someone you expect to be sending to you - are the questions it asks reasonable (they should NEVER ask for personal information of ANY kind)?

One good practice is to never click links in email that you don't know and trust the sender.  If it appears to be from your bank, credit card company, or any other financial institution - - - NEVER trust the sender.  Don't use those links in the email, but go to the website directly through your browser, if you feel compelled to check it out.

So remember - "Think Before You Click"!

I was listening to Fox News, last night. One of the reporters mentioned that common sense seemed to be a rare commodity in Washington D.C., these days. I have to admit - - I feel the same way. What his statement made me realize, though, is that common sense really isn't all that common. It is loosely defined in Wikipedia as what most people would agree on or should just be naturally understood. Common sense and good judgment always seem to go hand-in-hand or maybe even be the same thing. It's the kind of knowledge that comes from experience and not necessarily from "book learning" but, for some reason, lots of experience doesn't always lead to good common sense. I'm approaching 60 years old and I know my 29 year old daughter often has more sense than I do. :-) I think "Common Sense" is a rare attribute! If not, then why do we always seem to notice people who seem to have it? Common things and events slip by us every day, completely unnoticed but, when someone does something really smart, we do take notice and often comment that, "well, yeah, it's just common sense! - "everybody knows that!" I guess another name for common sense is wisdom. Wisdom is that characteristic that most of us work toward, pray for, and need during those most difficult times when hard decisions have to be made, sometimes with not enough information. Come to think of it, pure inspiration or luck may help us more than good old common sense. I sure hope our leaders either get inspired, use some good old common sense, or become very wise in the near future - our country needs it.

Oh - have you heard?  The United Nations (U.N.) is asking for billions of dollars from the newly passed stimulus/pork package.  Now, there are a lot of good ways to spend that money (nearly $900 Billion) and there are even more bad ways to spend it - but giving any of it to the U.N. is probably the worst thing we could do with it. The U.N. is a broken, dysfunctional organization and has been for many years.  It is likely more corrupt than Illinois/Chicago politics - and that's saying something! If a single penney of MY money goes to the U.N., it will thoroughly tick me off.  In fact, I think the USA should get out of the U.N. and stop giving billions of dollars to them.  Any money that the U.N. can spend around the world to ease hunger and suffering, can still be put to the same use by us and I'm certain even our wasteful government bureaucracy can spend that money more effectively.

If anything said here strikes a nerve, please take the time to contact your senator or representative and voice your opinion.  That is the ONLY way we can be heard!  I've made it very easy - just click here - and you will be redirected to a website where it takes just moments to find who your congressmen are and then send them an email or find their phone number.

It is our duty as citizens to "help" them respresent us.