Tag: entertainment

Local Congressional Race is Nasty

California’s new congressional district #30

Candidates are fighting for their political lives.  Both of them ought to move on to another life!

When I was young I lived in West Los Angeles (Palms district).  I was a member of the Beverly Hills Young Democrats.  It wasn’t because I was a dedicated supporter.  The group was made up of singles and it was a great meeting place (women).  I actually met my wife at a Democratic Party BBQ.

Howard Berman and Henry Waxman were both in that group too.  That young democrat group provided the impetus for their political careers.  Frankly I did not like Berman because his goal from high school days was to become a politician.  My view then, and now, is that professional politicians do not really represent the people.  They represent themselves.  The downside of their profession is having to return to the public for re-election.

Is Brad Sherman any different than Howard Berman?  Probably not.  However, it appears he had some other goals in life before entering politics.

Reports in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angles Daily News and Roll Call at the Races today tell of the near physical fight between Howard Berman and Brad Sherman in a debate at Pierce College.

With Berman already standing, Sherman stood up and shouted into the microphone that Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) sponsored the bill. Berman stepped toward Sherman so they were nearly nose to nose and said Sherman was wrong.

Things bounced down this rocky path when Sherman took exception to Berman calling him a liar.

“Don’t you dare stand up here .. .and get in my face,” Sherman said. He then wrapped his arm around Berman’s shoulder, looked him in the eye and — still holding the microphone to his mouth — said: “You want to get into this? Get out of my face.”

I wish I had been there.

Ariel The Little Mermaid Gets Plastic Surgery In Questionable New Ad (PHOTO)

This from Huff Post Style is mild compared to the pornographic takes on many cartoon characters.

Surely a Disney princess, she of the impossibly bouncy hair and whittled waist, doesn’t need any work done, right?

Well, don’t ask a plastic surgeon that, because apparently, the iconic Little Mermaid was a prime candidate for few procedures (OBVIOUSLY! She’s such a hag.) BuzzFeed’s Copyranter spotted this ad from Clinica Dempere, a plastic surgery center in Venezuela, who decided to give Ariel the old nip and tuck anyway in a new spot for their services.

Watch as Ariel escapes from the evil Ursula. What does she do next? Beelines it to the operating table, where, sprawled out before a beckoning surgeon, she gets her wishes granted without giving away her magic voice box.

So, what procedures did the Little Mermaid opt for? She seems to have gotten the full “Real Housewives” treatment with a boob job and a widened pout. And somehow, the doctors in Venezuela managed to sculpt a pair of sexy human legs outfitted with stilettos out of her mermaid tail. It’s so magical!

While people have tried to digitally slim down other “Mermaid” characters in the past, the introduction of cosmetic surgery into the pot is definitely an even more somber message to young girls. The clinic’s ad is surely an attempt to be cute, but seriously, Ariel: you look great under the sea as is.

PHOTO:

Ariel The Little Mermaid
Ariel The Little Mermaid

Facebook Folly

How many website do you subscribe to?

The say 800 million people have Facebook accounts. Those accounts are free. I am one of those subscribers and most likely so are you. I have never purchased anything as a result of having that account. I only go onto the account when I am bombarded by e-mail messages telling me that I have messages that require my response. Usually the messages are from people I do not know but want to be my friend. These are people who “maybe” did meet me somewhere but I can’t remember where and their faces are not familiar to me.

 I must agree with Betty White when she presented her monologue on SNL. “I really have to thank Facebook … I didn’t know what Facebook was, and now that I do know what it is, I have to say, it sounds like a huge waste of time. I would never say the people on it are losers, but that’s only because I’m polite. People say ‘But Betty, Facebook is a great way to connect with old friends.’ Well at my age, if I wanna connect with old friends, I need a Ouija Board. Needless to say, we didn’t have Facebook when I was growing up. We had phonebook, but you wouldn’t waste an afternoon with it.”

Betty White Monologue

Apparently Mark Zuckerberg convinced himself and millions of others that his free social media site could be a marketing tool. Betty White is correct. He is trying to sell access to the telephone book.

Buy a share of Facebook? Why? How many people will reach their purchasing decision based upon the things they see on that site. Facebook’s number three advertiser, General Motors, has discontinued their advertising on the site.

Senior Discounts

Just an FYI on some discounts available to some folks over 55:

Keep this list. Send a copy to your Senior friends. As I was waiting in line behind an older gentleman at Wendy’s recently, I heard him ask for his senior discount.
The girl at the register apologized and charged him less. When I asked the man what the discount was, he told me that seniors over 55 gets 10% off everything on the menu, every day.
Being that age myself, I figured I might as well ask for the discount too. As I waited for my turn, I thought about the consequences of doing so.

If the employee asked me for I.D., it could be embarrassing having to show my license. But if she didn’t ask for proof, I would get depressed that I really did look “old” and that I didn’t need to prove it.

Since I always like to save money, I boldly asked for the discount, and sadly she just rang up the discount (even though I am convinced I don’t look a day over 54).

Anyway, this incident prompted me to do some research, and I came across a list of restaurants, supermarkets, department stores, travel deals and other types of offers giving various discounts with different age requirements.

I was actually surprised to see how many there are and how some of them start at the young age of 50.
This list may not only be useful for you, your friends and family.Hmmmm, Dunkin Donuts gives free coffee to people over 55.  If you’re paying for a cup every day, you might want to start getting it for free.

Restaurants
Applebee’s: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+)

Arby’s: 10% off (55+)

Ben & Jerry’s: 10% off (60+)

Bennigan’s: discount varies by location

Bob’s Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)

Boston Market: 10% off (65+)

Burger King: 10% off (60+)

Captain D’s Seafood: discount varies on location (62+)

Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)

Chili’s: 10% off (55+)

CiCi’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)

Culver’s: 10% off (60+)

Denny’s: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)

Dunkin’ Donuts: 10% off or free coffee (55+)

Einstein’s Bagels: 10% off baker’s dozen of bagels (60+)

Fuddrucker’s: 10% off any senior platter (55+)

Gatti’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)

Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)

Hardee’s: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)

IHOP: 10% off (55+)

Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)

KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+)

Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+)

Long John Silver’s: various discounts at participating locations (55+)

McDonald’s: discounts on coffee everyday (55+)

Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)

Shoney’s: 10% off Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)

Steak ‘n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday (50+)

Subway: 10% off (60+)

Sweet Tomatoes: 10% off (62+)

Taco Bell: 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)

TCBY: 10% off (55+)

Tea Room Cafe: 10% off (50+)

Village Inn: 10% off (60+)

Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)

Wendy’s: 10% off (55+)

White Castle: 10% off (62+)

Retail And Apparel

Banana Republic: 10% off (50+)

Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month (50+)

Belk’s: 15% off first Tuesday of every month (55+)

Big Lots: 10% off

Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount days (55+)

C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)

Clarks: 10% off (62+)

Dress Barn: 10% off (55+)

Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)

Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)

Kmart: 20% off (50+) Kohl�s: 15% off (60+)

Modell’s Sporting Goods: 10% off

Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions

Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday (55+)

The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off (55+)

Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month (55+)

Grocery

Albertson’s: 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+)

American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday (50+)

Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)

DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)

Food Lion: 6% off every Monday (60+)

Fry’s Supermarket: free Fr’s VIP Club Membership & 10% off every Monday (55+)

Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)

Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)

Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)

Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)

Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)

Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)

The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday (50+)

Publix: 5% off every Wednesday (55+)

Rogers Marketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)

Uncle Guiseppe’s Marketplace: 5% off (62+)

Travel

Alaska Airlines: 10% off (65+)

Alamo: up to 25% off for AARP members

American Airlines: various discounts for 65 and up (call before booking for discount) Amtrak: 15% off (62+)

Avis: up to 25% off for AARP members

Best Western: 10% off (55+)

Budget Rental Cars: 10% off; up to 20% off for AARP members (50+)

Cambria Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)

Clarion: 20%-30% off (60+)

Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)

Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)

Continental Airlines: no initiation fee for Continental Presidents Club & special fares for select destinations

Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off (50+)

Econo Lodge: 20%-30% off (60+)

Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members

Greyhound: 5% off (62+)

Hampton Inns & Suites: 10% off when booked 72 hours in advance

Hertz: up to 25% off for AARP members

Holiday Inn: 10%-30% off depending on location (62+)

Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)

InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)

Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler’s Discount (50+); 20%-30% off (60+)

Marriott Hotels: 15% off (62+) Motel 6: 10% off (60+)

Myrtle Beach Resort: 10% off (55+)

National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members

Quality Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)

Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)

Sleep Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)

Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)

Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50 and up

United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)

U.S. Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)

Activities And Entertainment

 AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+)

Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)

Busch Gardens Tampa: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)

Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)

Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off

U.S. National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services including camping (62+)

Regal Cinemas: 30% off

Ripley’s Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket (55+)

SeaWorld Orlando: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)

Cell Phone Discounts

AT&T: Special Senior Nation 200 Plan $29.99/month (65+)

Jitterbug: $10/month cell phone service (50+)

Verizon Wireless: Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus Plan $29.99/month (65+).

Miscellaneous

Great Clips: $3 off hair cuts (60+) Super Cuts: $2 off haircuts (60+)

A New Addition to this Blog

I am on the lookout for interesting blogs that have something to say in areas that are not generally covered by me.  WordPress has given the title ENERGY for that alternate category.  The first on up is the result of a comment by Guro Stuan who lives in Vancouver Canada.  Perhaps I have misunderstood but he goes by the name Jason.

Give a look.  The ENERGY group is immediately below the BLOGROLL  It is a well organized and interesting blog.  The direct link is http://thewalkntalk.com/. 

Bank Savings are for Fools

I must be blunt.  If you have most of your saving deposited in a bank or a credit union you are a fool.  The interest you earn is most likely less than one percent (1%) a year.  Your response is that the FDIC insurance guarantees the money’s safety.  So while the S&P 500 has grown by well over 10% this year, you are sitting on the same amount of savings that you have had for the past two or three years.

OK, you aren’t comfortable with the stock market because it can easily go down in the next three months by 10% or more.  There are alternatives.

The US government issues treasury bonds (notes) that are currently paying substantially more.  Just yesterday this report, that appeared on Morningstar, from AllianceBernstein, lists their top holdings that include U.S. Treasury bonds paying as much as 8%.  If the U.S. Treasury is not a reliable guarantor than neither is the FDIC.

OK you are still not satisfied.  How about Vanguard GNMA fund?  Again U.S.guaranteed bonds that are currently earning over 3%.

You don’t believe me. Check it out for yourself.