My blog receives an award...and my Bank rains on my parade...

Yes! I've received paychecks and grades for my writing but never an award...and so, thanks Brian for your continuing support. Be sure to check out Brian's list of things he wants to know, inlcluding why the bank charges you an NSF fee when they know you do not have any money in your account. My bank goes even further but in a manner that is supposed to be helpful. First, they pay the overdraft by charging the amount to a credit card. Of course, since I did not initiate the transaction, they charge a fee, ($30.00). The amount due accrues interest at almost 30% compounded what seems like every second until paid. Two months ago, the interest and fees for a couple of days raised the amount due to more than I had calculated and before I noticed, the .32 cents I did not pay went over 30 days past due. Yep, they send a ding to my card company and combined with an erroneous report they filed about my mortgage, led them to "proactively" cancel my card. I know I have responsibility here - who would be stupid enough to use a credit card with such a high interest rate in a time of emergency...I should have known better. Financial help from a bank has become the same as airline food - either non-existant or it tastes terrible! Who would be dumb enough to eat food from an airline anyway? (Same guy that used a credit card for NSF!)

City Lights Dark in Rio and Sao Paulo...

The lights in the photo at right that normally light up beachfront Rio de Janeiro have been dimmed tonight by a massive power failure.  The more inland metropolis of Sao Paulo has also been affected by what has been attributed to unspecified problems at the Itaipu hydroelectric facility. The blackout follow a CBS News, 60 Minutes report that previous outages have been caused by hackers. I'm worried about the challenges presented by rampant poverty that will exeraservate conditions for many as crime is always a challenge for local authorities. The news is limited at this time...click here for story.  Please leave your comments.

ShrinkWrap...This week's Audio Update!!

Enjoy this week's Audio Update and sorry for being a day late with this one. By the way, I'm having fun with the music, honing my editing skills without the help of my good pal and sound engineer Michael James, now at WestStar Radio and bringing you today's radio superstar of the tech industry, Kim Komando. Be sure to check out Kim's site and enjoy the smooth listening provided by her top notch man behind the scenes. I miss you Michael and as those that listen can tell...I need your help to smooth over the fades in and out. Speaking of, I included a little music at the 3 minute mark so be sure to hand in for the report to resume a few seconds later.  Until next week..............

Welcome to Gunnar, Morty, Valy, EcoDiva, Jon Wallace, Jelly, George Robinson, Nursarah!!!

     Hi guys and thank you for following the blog. My work life has consumed me of late but I endeavor to keep a steady flow of information and inspiration. If I have missed writing to you directly or greeting you here, please accept my gratitude for following these writings and please respond at any time with your comments and questions. I am behind a day with this week's ShrinkWrap, (Audio Update), and will have it up later today.

Trave Tuesday in Peru...News of Anton and Samana Wasi

In place of this week's segment, I have discovered an email address to Anton and his son, (in order to translate),  and sent a letter to help clarify the details of my trip to Peru. In looking more closely at the Anton's first book, in which he personalized a message to me, I found what appears to be the date of February, 1988. I had not been able to recall the specific year or month and am now hoping I bring more clarity to my account of what transpired. Interestingly, I found a web site belonging to Samana Wasi, Italia, or what appears to be a sister location in Italy. The proprietors in Italy provided email addresses to Anton and I have asked if there is any chance that someone from this company in Italy was the person visiting Anton when we first met and described in the earlier parts of the details of my travel. Please click here for parts one through four.

Obama's Afghan Plan: About 40K More Troops

Click here for the latest from ABC NEWS. Like many things that present themselves as a challenge, I want to give myself some time to think this one over. My first reaction is bewilderment about what is the a major reversal of campaign promises alluded to one-year ago. I'm sure we will hear how this is not a change of policy but, rather, an adaptation to constantly changing circumstances. Still, I know the average Obama pre-election supporter would say they believed the new President would not be increasing troops, regardless of location, to resolve the conflict in the Middle East. I also believe in the need to support the decisions of our elected officials with the caveat of making them aware of our position on every decision. You will begin to hear about parallels now between the LBJ Vietnam decisions and the pressure now on the President to keep our soldiers and country safe. Just as the population made its voice heard years ago, we must take the same responsibility now to make informed contributions to the formation of national policy. What you believe, counts. Please share your thoughts here and allow this forum to be a place where democracy works and each citizen heard.

Officials: U.S. Aware of Hasan Efforts to Contact al Qaeda

Click here for ABC News Report. With U.S. anti-terrorist agencies now being asked to preserve all documents related to Army Major Nidal Hasan, I'm now concerned what happened was not just a matter of failing to connect the dots but rather an ill-fated attempt to obtain additional intelligence. My views on the trail of events and information leading to the shootings have not changed since last week and are only made more frightful by this morning's disclosures that Hasan had identified ties to al Qaeda. If the appropriate officials had given a small percentage of the effort we will now see committed to this investigation it is possible the shootings would have never taken place. For more insight, listen to this interview with a co-worker of Hasan although you will have to put up with the interruptions of an unskilled reporter.

...and now for some GOOD NEWS!!

Imagine this...you are about to miss one of those five small meals a day that we are all supposed to be consuming and instead of junk, you find a vending machine full of snacks that are actually good for you! Check out h.u.m.a.n., (helping unite man and nutrition), Healthy Vending providing healthful snacks across the planet and giving 10% of what they make to charity. As I work at home, I'm wondering how much to put one of these in my home for me and the kids. Anything to reduce the challenges of post-Halloween snack attacks. I will have more for you as I get to know these guys better. Have you seen these in your neighborhood?

Orlando office is site of shooting...

This Orlando office building the site of yet another dreadful event. In what is apparently the actions of an employee that lost his job, at least one person has died and others have been injured by gunfire. A suspect has been apprehended and is now in custody. Click here for associated stories.

Now, I'm angry! Ft. Hood fiasco has already...

...provided us with many answers to difficult and known challenges. Unfortunately, it appears the choice to ignore available information is forcing heads further up the backsides of those that already chose the bliss of ignorance. One headline report describes the shootings as an isolated incident. Perhaps the officials in question should have read the morning newspapers, or better, the numerous pleas by shooter, Maj. Nidal Hasan. The question mark to the left is not because the information is sparse...it is for all of those that turned their backs on what appears to be a plethora of information that may have prevented this unnecessary loss of life. For more, please see my thoughts at PGP.com.

Has this ever happened to you? Sex, then...amnesia!!

     Understanding the human body is a never ending challenge. I'm curious if any of you have ever had such an experience or know of anyone with this experience. Read about it here and comment below.

13 Dead, 30 Wounded at U.S. Army Base....Will I be working there?

The photo above is the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood in Texas. About a month ago, my application for employment with the Army was approved for work at Ft. Hood and the most likely work space would be the center that assists soldiers immediately before or after deployment....please see the rest of the story at the Personal Growth Productions Web site.  For news story, click here.

Yankees Win!!

I love this game!

Travel Tuesday in Peru - Part 4 - Law of Attraction

Travel Tuesday, continues in Peru.

This week, meet...Anton Ponce De Leon, (pictured above).

Weekly Audio Update - ShrinkWrap!!!

Please Press the play button for this weeks audio update