Locally Speaking

In Myrtle Beach's mayor vs. former mayor battle, the mayor won. Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes beat former mayor Mark McBride in Tuesday's run-off election by 492 votes – 2,649 to 2,157. –Sun News

John Rhodes re-election is a sad day for Myrtle Beach.

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According to Forbes Magazine, South Carolina is one of the most unhealthiest states. The most healthiest is Vermont, ranking at number one. South Carolina ranked in the bottom 10 at 41. –Forbes

Ragbag Headliners

Current versions of both the House and Senate health care reform bills contain inadequate verification measures that will fail to prevent millions of illegal aliens from accessing taxpayer funded health benefits, charges the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). And in a radical change from current law, both versions of the bill grant immediate health care benefits to immigrants currently subject to a 5-year waiting period before they may access most federal benefits. –FAIR

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CONCORD, N.H. - Forget cookies and milk. Santa wants the swine flu vaccine.

Many of the nation's Santas want to be given priority for the vaccine and not just because of those runny-nosed kids. There's also the not-so-little matter of that round belly. Research has suggested obesity could be a risk factor.

Swine flu has become such a concern that the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas featured a seminar on the illness at a recent conference in Philadelphia. The group also urged its members to use hand sanitizer and take vitamins to boost their immune systems. –For complete story see MSNBC

Xerox Is Dong Something Cool

If you go to this web site, Lets Say Thanks, you can pick out a thank you card. Xerox will print it, and send it to a soldier who is currently Afghanistan or Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the Armed Forces.

Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers in the front lines need to know we are thinking about them, specially during this Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

It would be great if everyone of you who visit my blog would send just one thank you card! Plus, it’s FREE and it only takes a few seconds.

Thanks for taking to time to remembering our military men and women!

The Stimulus Check Explained

Sometime next year, U.S. taxpayers are supposed to again receive another economic stimulus check. Below is an explanation of the economy stimulus in Q and A format:

Q. What is an economic stimulus payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get the money?
A. From taxpayers' taxes.

Q. So the government is giving back taxpayers their own money?
A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of the payment?
A. The plan is for the taxpayer to use the money to spend to stimulate the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China?
A. Shut up.

Some realities about spending the stimulus economic check. If the stimulus money is spent:

>>at Wal-Mart, yes, the money will go to China;

>>on gasoline, the money will go to the Arabs, Mexico, Venezuela or wherever the U.S. purchases crude oil;

>>on a new computer, it will go to China India or some foreign country where computers are manufactured;

>>on fruit and vegetables, it will go to Belize, Chile, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico;

>>on a new foreign car, it will go to Germany, Japan, or Korea;

>>on clothes, it will go to Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Philippines,

>>on useless junk, it will go to Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan;

>>on paying off credit cards or buying stocks, it will go to management bonuses which will be hidden in some offshore bank in Grand Cayman or other Caribbean money laundering center.

The best way to keep the money in the USA is to spend it on one or more of the following:

>>garage or yard sales;

>>tickets to ball games;

>>prostitutes;

>>US-brewed beer;

>>Tattoos

These are the only US businesses which operate in the USA, and do not let your $$ go out of the country .

Therefore, the logical conclusion is: go to a ballgame with a tattooed prostitute that you met at a yard sale, and drink US-brewed beer all day.

Author Unknown

Southern Charm

Two women, one from California and another from the South, got into a conversation while waiting for their flight at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Like all conversations, theirs went from one topic to another. Finally, the conversation centered on the family.

The California woman started by saying, "Well, when my first child was born, my husband bought me a beautiful ocean-front mansion."

The lady from the South commented, "Well, isn't that precious?"

The California woman continued, "When my second child was born, my husband bought me a top of the line Mercedes-Benz."

Again, the lady from the South commented, "Well, isn't that precious?"

The California woman continued her boasting saying, "Then, when my third child was born, my husband bought me this diamond bracelet."

Once again, the lady from the South commented, "Well, isn't that precious?"

The California woman then asked, "How about you?"

"Before I met and married my dear husband, my parents sent me to charm school," declared the Southern lady.

"Charm school? My God! What on earth for?" asked the California woman.

The Southern lady responded, "To learn the rudiments of proper social behavior and etiquette, such as, how to say 'Well, isn't that precious?' instead of 'Who gives a shit?'

Author Unknown

Illegals & Your Money

This is a must view video

Viewing Instructions

Click on link below, choose open with windows media player and click ok, should you get another pop-up window click yes and you will be able to view this video.

Click here and take action!

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by Ray Stevens

The Navy Wife

On the eve of her 50th wedding anniversary, the wife of a retired Navy officer, found the negligee she wore on her wedding night and put it on. She then went to her husband and said: "Honey, do you remember this?"

He looked up from his newspaper and said: "Yes, dear, I do. You wore that same negligee the night we were married."

She said, "That's right. Do you also remember what you said to me that night?"

He nodded and said, "Yes dear. I said; 'Oh baby, I'm going to suck the life out of those boobs and screw your brains out.'"
She giggled and gleefully said, "That's exactly what you said. So, it has now been fifty years later, and I'm in the same negligee. What do you have to say tonight?"

He looked her up and down and replied, "Mission accomplished!"

Author Unknown

Have A Festive & Happy Thanksgiving

Ragbag Headliners

CNN—Darren Manzella saw two tours of duty in Iraq, first as a combat medic and later as a liaison officer. He earned three promotions in his six years as a U.S. Army sergeant.

Despite his professional success, Manzella says he began to question his personal life.

"After returning from my first deployment in Iraq, after seeing death and violence, losing friends and comrades, it really made me look over my life," he said. "I looked at some issues I had always had trouble with. I had debated, 'Am I gay?' "

As he struggled with his sexual identity, Manzella began a relationship with a man. Soon after, while in Texas between tours, Manzella said he began receiving anonymous, harassing e-mails and telephone calls.

"They told me, 'You are stupid, the Army is going to kick you out, but before they do, they are going to take your rank away and all your money away.' "

Manzella describes this time as one of fear and deep insecurity.

"I didn't know if the military police would be coming through the door to take me away because someone had reported me," he said. "This was some of the paranoia I was living with every day."

Manzella says that the e-mails and calls went on for months and that after many sleepless nights, he decided to ask his supervisor for help. –For complete story see CNN

This'll "crack" you up!!

I've always wondered about this myself. Now I know

- The Silent generation, people born before 1946.

- The Baby Boomers, people born between 1946 and 1959.

- Generation X , people born between 1960 and 1979.

- Generation Y, people born between 1980 and 1995.

Why do we call the last one generation Y? I did not know, but a caricaturist explains it eloquently below … Learned something new!

An Indian’s Assessment

An old Indian chief named Two Eagles was once asked by a white man, who was also a government official, "You have observed the white man for many years. You've seen his wars and all of his technological advances. You've seen his progress as well as his mistakes."

Chief Two Eagles nodded in agreement.

The official then continued, "Considering everything that you have seen, what do you think?"

Chief Two Eagles stared at the government official for a long long time and then calmly replied, "When white man first arrive in Indian land, everything o.k. No taxes, no debt, plenty buffalo, plenty corn, plenty beaver, plenty clean water. No pollution. Indian women did all work around house. Medicine man, he give free treatment to anyone sick. Indian men spend all day hunting and fishing; and having sex all night."

Then the chief leaned back, smiled, and after a long pause, finally said, "Only white man dumb enough to think he could improve system like that."

Author Unknown

Demographics

Proud To Be White

I have been wondering about why Whites are racists, and no other race is.....

Michael Richards makes his point …. Michael Richards better known as Kramer from TVs Seinfeld does make a good point.

This was his defense speech in court after making racial comments in his comedy act. He makes some very interesting points.

Someone finally said it. How many are actually paying attention to this? There are African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Arab Americans, etc.

And then there are just Americans. You pass me on the street and sneer in my direction. You call me 'White boy,' 'Cracker,' 'Honkey,' 'Whitey,' 'Caveman'... and that's OK.

But when I call you, Nigger, Towel head, Sand-nigger, Camel Jockey,

Beaner, Gook, or Chink. You call me a racist.

You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you... so why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live?

You have the United Negro College Fund. You have Martin Luther King Day.

You have Black History Month. You have Cesar Chavez Day.

You have You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi.

You have the NAACP. You have BET... If we had WET (White Entertainment Television), we'd be racists. If we had a White Pride Day, you would call us racists.

If we had White History Month, we'd be racists..

If we had any organization for only whites to 'advance' OUR lives, we'd be racists.

We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of Commerce, and then we just have the plain Chamber of Commerce. Wonder who pays for that??

A white woman could not be in the Miss Black American pageant, but any color can be in the Miss America pageant.

If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships. You know we'd be racists.

There are over 60 openly proclaimed Black Colleges in the US . Yet if there were 'White colleges', that would be a racist college.

In the Million Man March, you believed that you were marching for your race and rights. If we marched for our race and rights, you would call us racists.

You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange, and you're not afraid to announce it. But when we announce our white pride, you call us racists.

You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us. But, when a white police officer shoots a black gang member or beats up a black drug dealer running from the law and posing a threat to society, you call him a racist.

I am proud. But you call me a racist.

Why is it that only whites can be racists??

There is nothing improper about this e-mail.. Let's see which of you are proud enough to send it on. I sadly don't think many will. That's why we have LOST most of OUR RIGHTS in this country. We won't stand up for ourselves!

BE PROUD TO BE WHITE!

It's not a crime YET.... but getting very close!

The GM 2010 Fuel Saver

GM (formerly General Motors; now Government Motors)

PROUDLY PRESENTS
THE LATEST IN FUEL ECONOMY

THE 2010 OBAMA

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Fueled by hot air, empty words & broken promises
Three wheels to easily get out of tight spots
Teleprompters to help talk one's way out of any violation
Transparent canopy to show plastic smiles of "happy" owners
Comes in 5 sizes: S, M, L, XL and XXL

It may not get anyone to work on time or at all, but that is not a problem because there aren't any jobs anyway!

Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

With identity theft having become so common these days, you must be careful when you are surfing or browsing around on the Internet.

Just in case you do not already know, there is a very important difference between http:// and https:// in the address of a website or webpage. What is the very important difference?

http:// is NOT a secure site

If you visit a website or webpage, the address in the web browser will most likely begin with the following http://. This means that the website which is talking to your computer's internet browser is not secure. Therefore, anyone can "eaves drop" or listen in on the conversation between the website and your computer's internet browser.

For example, out of the blue, you want to go on Facebook to chat with a friend. Since it is "not a secure" webpage, anyone browsing in the internet can [accidentally or intentionally] open the Facebook page you are on and "eaves drop" on the conversation between you and your Facebook pal. As long as you are just chatting about the weekend weather and the football game between your the football teams playing the weekend, there is no danger involved in a stranger eaves dropping.

2) https:// IS a secure site

However, let us say that, you want to buy a roundtrip business class airplane ticket from LA to London from a discount airline ticket agent, so you want to make sure that the website is secure because you do not want anyone eaves dropping or popping in on the website while you are typing in delicate personal information, such as, your credit card number and security code. Thus, you must make sure that the website address starts with https:// The "s" after the "http" means that the website is secure, and nobody can just pop in and see your delicate personal information such as your credit card number and security code.

Be very sure that the website is a secure site before you type-in any delicate personal/private information [such as your credit card info.] on any on-line form!
Fortunately, these days, most business websites inform the client/the buyer [you] in advance before asking for your delicate personal information [e.g., credit card number] that the website is secure, and usually a "yellow padlock" icon pops on your computer screen.

Nevertheless, it is still a good habit to double-check and make sure that the website is secure before you type-in any delicate private information.

Thought for the Day

Have you ever wondered if the one dollar bills
in your wallet were in a stripper’s butt crack?
If not, your wondering now.

So folks always wash your hands after handling money.
This is my public service announcement for the day.

Thank You Very Much and Have A Nice Day!

When My Heart Finds Christmas by Harry Connick Jr.

Locally Speaking

Though the Myrtle Beach mayoral runoff was inevitable with a five-way race, at least one political expert says Tuesday night's election results offered some twists.

"One thing that's surprising - and, I think, a barometer for the runoff - is [Councilman] Wayne Gray's decisive win," Coastal Carolina University political science professor Paul Peterson said. He said the fact that the other two council incumbents are still in the race is an indication that the May motorcycle rallies and the 1 percent sales tax for tourism promotion weren't as heavy factors as people thought they would be.

"Gray's win indicates it wasn't just the policy issues," Peterson said, because all four incumbents are still in the race. "Maybe much of the discontent with [Mayor John] Rhodes was more about personality."

While people on both sides are spinning Tuesday's vote count to favor their candidate - with Mark McBride's supporters saying 53 percent of the city voted against Rhodes and Rhodes' supporters countering that 73 percent of the city voted against McBride - Peterson said it's Bill Howard's 944 votes that stand out, in a way.

"Howard's votes were anti-Rhodes votes cast by those who couldn't stomach McBride, either," he said.

Either way, neither of the two remaining Myrtle Beach mayoral candidates is a stranger to a runoff election.

The showdown between Rhodes and McBride has played out previously.

Tuesday night, McBride said he's in the position he prefers, because the second-place finisher often wins the runoff.

It's the position from which Rhodes defeated McBride in 2005, and the position from which McBride first reached the mayor's seat in 1997 by beating Mayor Robert M. Grissom.

This time, though, the numbers look a little different. –For complete story see Sun News.

Ragbag Headliners

It's enough that you have to worry about you and your kids catching swine flu this season. But now you also have to be concerned for … your cat. That's right. Your furry friend can catch it, from you. At least that's the case for a 13-year-old feline in Iowa diagnosed with H1N1 after its two owners both came down with the flu. The cat was treated at a veterinary hospital after appearing lethargic, losing its appetite and having trouble breathing. All three have recovered. Although this is the first documented case, consider it a cautionary tale. While searches on "swine flu symptoms" were up this week almost 400%, lookups on "swine flu in cats" also increased. (Read up on how to protect pets from the swine flu click here.)

A letter from Grandpa. . . .

My granddaughter is a recent college grad. She drives a flashy hybrid car, wears all the latest fashions, and loves to go out to nightclubs and restaurants. Ashley campaigned hard for Barack Obama. After the elections, she made sure all her Republican family members and relatives---including me received a big I told-you-so earful on how the world is going to be a much better place now that her party is taking over.

Having lost both roommates recently, Ashley recently ran short of cash and cannot pay the rent (again) on her 3 bedroom townhouse. Like she has done many times in the past, she e-mailed me asking for some financial help. Below is my reply:

Dear Ashley,

I received your request for assistance. Ashley, you know I love you dearly and I'm sympathetic to your financial plight. Unfortunately, times have changed. With the election of President Obama, your grandmother and I have had to set forth a bold new economic plan of our own --- "The Ashley Economic Empowerment Plan". Let me explain.

Your grandmother and I are life-long, wage-earning tax payers. We have lived a comfortable life, as you know, but we have never had the fancier things like European vacations, luxury cars, etc. We have worked hard and were looking forward to retiring soon. But the plan has changed. Your President is raising our personal and business taxes significantly. He says it is so he can give our hard earned money to other people. Do you know what this means, Ashley? It means less for us, and we must cut back on many business and personal expenses.

You know the wonderful receptionist who worked in my office for more than 23 years? The one who always gave you candy when you came over to visit? I had to let her go last week. I can't afford to pay her salary and all of the government mandated taxes that go with having employees. Your grandmother will now work 4 days a week to answer phones, take orders, and handle the books. We will be closed on Fridays and will lose even more income to Wal-Mart.

I'm also very sorry to report that your cousin Frank will no longer be working summers in the warehouse. I called him at school this morning. He already knows about it and he's upset because he will have to give up skydiving and his yearly trip to Greenland to survey the polar bears.

That's just the business side of things. Some personal economic effects of Obama's new taxation policies include none other than you. You know very well that over the years your grandmother and I have given you thousands of dollars in cash, tuition assistance, food, housing, clothing, gifts, etc., etc. But by your vote, you have chosen to help others - not at your expense - but at our expense.

If you need money now, Sweetheart, I recommend you call 202-456-1111. That is the direct phone number for the White House. You yourself told me how foolish it is to vote Republican. You said Mr. Obama is going to be the People's President, and is going to help every American live a better life. Based on everything you've told me, along with all the promises we heard during the campaign, I'm sure Mr. Obama will be happy to transfer some stimulus money into your bank account. Have him call me for the account number which I memorized years ago.

Perhaps, you can now understand what I've been saying all my life: those who vote for a President should consider the impact on the nation as a whole, and not be just concerned with what they can get for themselves. What Obama supporters don't seem to realize is all of the money he is redistributing to illegal aliens and non-taxpaying Americans (the so-called "less fortunate") comes from tax-paying families.

Remember how you told me, "Only the richest of the rich will be affected?" Well guess what, honey? Because we own a business, your grandmother and I are now considered to be the "richest of the rich". On paper, it might look that way, but in the real world, we are far from it. As you said while campaigning for Obama, some people will have to carry more of the burden so all of America can prosper. You understand what that means, right? It means that raising taxes on productive people results in them having less money; less money for everything, including granddaughters.

I'm sorry, Ashley, but the well has run dry. The free lunches are over. I have no money to give you now. So, congratulations on your choice for "change." For future reference, I encourage you to try and add up the total value of the gifts and cash you have received from us, just since you went off to college, and compare it to what you expect to get from Mr. Obama over the next 4 (or years.) I have not kept track of it, Ashley. It has all truly been the gift of our hearts.

Remember, we love you dearly...but from now on, you'll need to call the number mentioned above. Your "savior" has the money we would have given to you. Please try and get it from him.

Good luck, sweetheart.
Love, Grandpa

Author Unknown

A Redneck Love Poem

Contact with H1N1 (Swine Flu)

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital, Tata Memorial etc.. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).

The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know.

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don*t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped
in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

I suggest you pass this on to your entire e-list. You never know who might pay attention to it - and STAY ALIVE because of it.

It Happened On April 1st.

Defense Attorney: Will you please state your age?

Little Old Lady: I am 86 years old.

Defense Attorney: Will you please tell us in your own words what happened the night of April 1st?

Little Old Lady: There I sat on the swing on my front porch when a young man crept up on the porch and sat down beside me.

Defense Attorney: Did you know him?

Little Old Lady: No, but he sure was friendly.

Defense Attorney: What happened after he sat down?

Little Old Lady: He started to rub my thigh.

Defense Attorney: Did you stop him?

Little Old Lady: No, I didn't stop him.

Defense Attorney: Why not?

Little Old Lady: It felt good. Nobody had done that to me since my Albert died some 30 years ago.

Defense Attorney: What happened next?

Little Old Lady: He began to rub my breasts.

Defense Attorney: Did you stop him then?

Little Old Lady: No, I did not stop him.

Defense Attorney: Why not?

Little Old Lady: It made me feel all alive and excited. I haven't felt that good in years!

Defense Attorney: What happened next?

Little Old Lady: Well, by then, I felt so 'spicy' that I just laid down and told him 'Take me, young man. Take me now!'

Defense Attorney: Did he take you?

Little Old Lady: Hell, no! He just yelled, 'April Fool!' And that's when I shot the bastard.

Author Unknown

An airline pilot friend sent the attached FAA photo of the cockpit of Northwest Airline flight #188, which recently overshot its destination by 150 miles. It may help explain what happened.

Shared by my Friend Ralph