Komic Korner Kartoons

 

Favorite Places to Live and/or Visit

While my wife and I like East TN as the location in which we live and Myrtle Beach as the location in which we visit...  everyone else, for the most part, has their favorite locations for one reason or another which allows for the rich diversification that makes American Great... 

For example, we have visit several places in Europe, around the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii and none of those places suit our personalities 100% even though there were aspects of those areas that we really enjoyed as we were experiencing them...

Locations, to us, are not just locations but they consist of:

• travel time to get there
• transportation to get there
• cost of living there
• number of people there
• annual climate there
• things to do there

As we get older, even the 6 hour drive to Myrtle Beach is becoming to long of a time to take just to get someone in which we feel comfortable and know what to expect.  And, it is this knowing what to expect that clinches the deal for us...

COVID has put a damper on our travels and this fear will probably continue until next Summer even if they get a vaccine because we believe vaccines should be tested by others first in case they need to be modified due to side effects...   of course, the FDA would have taken all of that into consideration one would think.

 

THIS and THAT

Retired and LIMITED

Five years ago, when I was 67, I decided that I no longer wanted to work and generate income in addition to receiving full benefits from Social Security because I had had enough of the marketplace bullshit and incompetent supervisors.  I also knew that if I did this that my wife and I would be limited in what we could do and/or purchase because our money had to last not just me until I died but had to last for her as well until she died.  And, instead of estimating a short duration of life from age 67, I planned for us both living until about 95/97...  just to be sure...  and, calculated our expenses each month, and each year if we both lived that long or if I died today and she lived that long.

My wife and I spend less than $4,000/month for everything that we want to do which includes holidays, gifts, vacations, extra stuff we would like to have for ourselves...  so, if I were to die today, and my wife lived until she was 95, we would need money for 28/30 years.  If I died, her expenses would drop down to $3,000 or so each month, minus what she would receive from Social Security which would probably be around $1,200 each month, leaving her with a shortfall of $1,800 each month.

So, if we round up, her financial needs until age 95 or so would be $720,000 or $800,000 or even $900,000 just to be sure...  however, the longer I lie, the less money she would need because of our combined Social Security Incomes.

My wife and I go on about 4-6 vacations each year since we retired, except for this year when we only went on one because of COVID.  We go out to eat about 1-2 a week, sometimes more, sometimes less but we go out to dinner when we want to and don't have to sacrifice on that desire because we are retired.  We don't spend as much on gasoline for the cars since we retired or on car maintenance since we do not drive as much.

We typically sleep as long as we want to getting up around 8 am unless there is an early doctor's appointment.  We work in the yard whenever we want or whenever we have to like mowing the grass.  We exercise on average about 3 times a week although some weeks it is 5 times but again this depends on doctor's appointments.

Neither one of us has any hobbies nor do we spend a lot time outside the house with friends...  my wife usually reads and I usually write.  We seldom talk unless it is about the weather or what might be happening on the news.  We have different interests and had these surfaced when we were dating like they have surfaced now, we probably would not have gotten married...  but, after almost 30 years what the hell does it matter anymore.

CAVEAT:  If I wanted to retired in most other places outside of where I am now, I would not be able to because it costs too much to live there...  so, retirement location is key...  along with being able to manage you anticipated healthcare costs...

Friday Morning in East TN

Controversy abounds...

Democrats versus Republicans...

Blacks versus Whites...

Rich versus Poor...

Liberals versus Conservatives...

ANTIFA versus White Supremacy

North versus South

Religious versus Atheists...

Intellectuals versus Ignorance...

Males versus Females...

LGBQTI versus Other...

Minorities versus Majorities...

BUT, here is East TN... all is quiet...  and, our area is BLESSED because we are not really in the DEEP SOUTH nor are we part of the EAST COAST nor are we in the NORTH, MIDWEST, THE PLAINS, or WEST COAST....  

We are in a LIMBO area when it comes to defining us by our location.  And, the Hurricanes from the GULF COAST never get up to our "neck of the woods," so we don't see that kind of destruction.  Plus, we are bordered by the GREAT SMOKEY MOUNTAINS and the CUMBERLAND PLATEAU so our weather is rather moderate in the winter although it can be kinda humid in the summer months...

We have no major crime of which to speak other than illegal drugs being in our elementary, junior highs, and high schools that NO ONE ever seems to be able to eliminate.  And, while cousins marry cousins, most of us are actually transplants from NC, VA, NY, MA, CT, KY, GA, AR, and a few other States about which no one brags.

Our homes, on average cost, half as much as in other places and we have easy access to reputable and reliable healthcare and airline transportation...  and, thanks to our Federal Government and the PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT, we have some of the best network of LAKES in the entire USA.

SO...  here in East TN on a Friday morning all is quiet...  no rumble of traffic or police sirens or the noises from ambulances trying to save a life...  no rumble of airplanes taking off for other locations carrying passengers and/or supplies.  No, drugs being sold on our street corners or prostitutes sitting in all night diners drinking coffee trying to catch a break.  Most of our restaurants are open and while some are more expensive than others, excellent food is always being prepared.  We have no BROADWAYS or all night bars, nor do we have casinos or gambling...

My social security check goes farther here in East TN than it would in Raleigh, NC, or Atlanta, GA which is why I do not live in those highly populated areas...

IT IS AN IDEAL PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE, RETIRE, AND DIE...

All Creatures Great and Small

The Mediterranean Diet

BY MAYO CLINIC STAFF

                                                                                    

A heart-healthy eating plan

The Mediterranean diet blends the basics of healthy eating with the traditional flavors and cooking methods of the Mediterranean.

Why the Mediterranean diet?
Interest in the Mediterranean diet began in the 1960s with the observation that coronary heart disease caused fewer deaths in Mediterranean countries, such as Greece and Italy, than in the U.S. and northern Europe. Subsequent studies found that the Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The Mediterranean diet is one of the healthy eating plans recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to promote health and prevent chronic disease.

It is also recognized by the World Health Organization as a healthy and sustainable dietary pattern and as an intangible cultural asset by the United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

What is the Mediterranean diet?
The Mediterranean diet is a way of eating based on the traditional cuisine of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. While there is no single definition of the Mediterranean diet, it is typically high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nut and seeds, and olive oil.

The main components of Mediterranean diet include:

• Daily consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and healthy fats
• Weekly intake of fish, poultry, beans and eggs
• Moderate portions of dairy products
• Limited intake of red meat

Other important elements of the Mediterranean diet are sharing meals with family and friends, enjoying a glass of red wine and being physically active.

Plant based, not meat based
The foundation of the Mediterranean diet is vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, beans and whole grains. Meals are built around these plant-based foods. Moderate amounts of dairy, poultry and eggs are also central to the Mediterranean Diet, as is seafood. In contrast, red meat is eaten only occasionally.

Healthy fats
Healthy fats are a mainstay of the Mediterranean diet. They're eaten instead of less healthy fats, such as saturated and trans fats, which contribute to heart disease.

• Olive oil is the primary source of added fat in the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil provides monounsaturated fat, which has been found to lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol levels. 
• Nuts and seeds also contain monounsaturated fat.
• Fish are also important in the Mediterranean diet. Fatty fish — such as mackerel, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, salmon and lake trout — are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a type of polyunsaturated fat that may reduce inflammation in the body. Omega-3 fatty acids also help decrease triglycerides, reduce blood clotting, and decrease the risk of stroke and heart failure.

What about wine?

The Mediterranean diet typically allows red wine in moderation. Although alcohol has been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease in some studies, it's by no means risk free. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans caution against beginning to drink or drinking more often on the basis of potential health benefits.

Eating the Mediterranean way
Interested in trying the Mediterranean diet? These tips will help you get started:

• Eat more fruits and vegetables. Aim for 7 to 10 servings a day of fruit and vegetables.
• Opt for whole grains. Switch to whole-grain bread, cereal and pasta. Experiment with other whole grains, such as bulgur and farro.
• Use healthy fats. Try olive oil as a replacement for butter when cooking. Instead of putting butter or margarine on bread, try dipping it in flavored olive oil.
• Eat more seafood. Eat fish twice a week. Fresh or water-packed tuna, salmon, trout, mackerel and herring are healthy choices. Grilled fish tastes good and requires little cleanup. Avoid deep-fried fish.
• Reduce red meat. Substitute fish, poultry or beans for meat. If you eat meat, make sure it's lean and keep portions small.
• Enjoy some dairy. Eat low-fat Greek or plain yogurt and small amounts of a variety of cheeses.
• Spice it up. Herbs and spices boost flavor and lessen the need for salt.

THE CHINA STUDY

                                                 

Conclusions of The China Study

1. American health statistics are scary. You may feel pretty fit, but the country as a whole is, well, not so great. The researchers spend a lot of time citing frightening stats on obesity, diabetes, and heart disease that point to the need for an American diet shake-up. Americans also pay more for health care than any other country—and don’t have better health to show for it. It’s probably the one section of the book no nutrition expert would argue with.

2. The conclusions are based on a lot of data. They’re not talking about one small study on mice. After years of controversial lab results on animals, the researchers had to see how they played out in humans. The study they created included 367 variables, 65 counties in China, and 6,500 adults (who completed questionnaires, blood tests, etc.). “When we were done, we had more than 8,000 statistically significant associations between lifestyle, diet, and disease variables.” They also incorporate a wealth of additional research data from other sources.

3. Animal protein promotes the growth of cancer. The book’s author T. Colin Campbell, PhD, grew up on a dairy farm, so he regularly enjoyed a wholesome glass of milk. Not anymore. Dr. Campbell says that in multiple, peer-reviewed animal studies, researchers discovered that they could actually turn the growth of cancer cells on and off by raising and lowering doses of casein, the main protein found in cow’s milk.

4. You should be worried about poor nutrition more than pesticides. The food you eat affects the way your cells interact with carcinogens, making them more or less dangerous, the authors explain. “The results of these, and many other studies, showed nutrition to be far more important in controlling cancer promotion than the dose of the initiating carcinogen,” they state.

5. Heart disease can be reversed through nutrition. The authors share the work of other respected physicians that they say supports their own data’s conclusions, and some of the most interesting are on heart disease. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD, a physician and researcher at the best cardiac center in the country, The Cleveland Clinic, treated 18 patients with established coronary disease using a whole food, plant-based diet. Not only did the intervention stop the progression of the disease, but 70 percent of the patients saw an opening of their clogged arteries. Dr. Dean Ornish, a graduate of Harvard Medical School, completed a similar study with consistent results. But hey, this is actually encouraging—heart disease can legit be reversed.

6. Carbs are not (always) the enemy. Highly-processed, refined carbohydrates are bad for you, but plant foods are full of healthy carbs, the authors say. Research shows that diets like Atkins or South Beach can have dangerous side effects. While they may result in short-term weight loss, you’ll be sacrificing long-term health.

7. Cancer isn’t the only disease plants can ward off. It’s not just cancer and heart disease that respond to a whole food, plant-based diet, the authors say. Their research showed it may also help protect you from diabetes, obesity, autoimmune diseases, bone, kidney, eye, and brain diseases. Are you getting that plants are pretty miraculous by now?

8. You don’t have to tailor your diet for specific health benefits. Eating healthy can seem segmented—broccoli will prevent breast cancer, carrots are good for eyes, and by the way, did you get enough vitamin C today? “Nutrition that is truly beneficial for one chronic disease will support health across the board,” the authors explain.

9. You don’t need to eat meat. “There are virtually no nutrients in animal-based foods that are not better provided by plants,” the authors say. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals—you name it, they’ve got it, along with major health benefits.

10. The takeaway is simple: Eat plants for health. “People who ate the most animal-based foods got the most chronic disease. People who ate the most plant-based foods were the healthiest,” the authors state. Whether you’re going vegan or not, they suggest putting as many plants on your plate as possible at every meal.

TimeShares

My wife and I purchased a timeshare in Gatlinburg, TN and after a year or two were able to give it back to them.  We then purchased a timeshare in Myrtle Beach, SC and were very satisfied until the damn thing was sold to Holiday Inn and then it became a nightmare.  We traded that Holiday Inn Timeshare to a company in Mexico but discovered later that the owners and developers of that timeshare were CROOKS and were put in jail and LOST ALL OUR MONEY...

From that point on, we went to timeshare presentations just for the GIFTS and MONEY and were rude and ugly in our fight not to purchase and left all those sessions exhausted but FREE FROM PURCHASE.  After going to roughly 12-15 presentations, we began well versed in all the TIMESHARE LIES...

Three years ago after agreeing to go on a vacation to Disneyland for sitting through a timeshare presentation, we actually purchased again, a double unit where the maintenance fees are due every three years.  None of their promises proved to be true and now we are in the process of giving it back to them and while that is a hassle it has become a fun challenge.

First of all,

check out the real estate laws in the state where your timeshare is located not the state where you timeshare was purchased.  read all those laws carefully.

then check out that state's consumer protection laws for fraud....

third, most contracts states that your heirs will inherit the timeshare and be forced to pay...  but, your children can file a refusal to accept timeshare letter with the probate court after your debt and there will not be paying any fees.

fourth, your age and health is a factor as is the property you own and your social security income.  So, think about selling your house to your children for a $1 with the right to live in it until you die.  Your vehicles can be done the same way...  leaving no personal property for a lien to be placed.

fifth, remember the terms/phrase signing under duress, fraud, misleading information, not being advised to seek out legal counsel on the contract, and faithfully keep track of all the INCENTIVES that you were given or promised to purchase, even though you signed that there were no incentives....  SIGNED UNDER DURESS...

sixth, all correspondence should be sent CERTIFIED MAIL to make sure that they received it and keep a diary of who you talked to, what date, and time...  remember phone records will help prove that you made the call....

GOOD LUCK

INTERMISSION

Social Media

I find it curiously interesting that if you read LINKEDIN rules, regulations, and Professional and Community Standards that it is stated several times not to create a FAKE or FALSE profile and yet, I have talked with numeral people who say that that is exactly what they have done because they don't want their bosses to find them posting derogatory comments about their employers.  LINKEDIN also wants you not to put anything into your profile that is not true, which is also done all the time as people embellish who they are to seem more impressive.  Think about this...   how many people are 100% honest on their RESUMES???

There is not supposed to be any solicitation on LINKEDIN and yet for the last 6 weeks, I have been solicited daily to invest in cyber currency or Foreign Exchanges...

In point-of-fact, LinkedIn cannot possibly monitored EVERYONE and every once in a while catches someone and kicks them off or restricts their account because you violated the rules.  LINKEDIN is exactly like HIGHWAY PATROLMEN who pass out speeding tickets to those they catch letting 80% of the speeders drive like they want to...

Prayer, Answering, & Miracles

Throughout my entire life so far (and I am 73 years old) I have believed that prayer was being used to communicate with God, Allah, or some kind of Superior Entity that had God-like qualities.  I have also believed that MIRACLES have and will continue to take place on earth, but I am not sure that it is the result of prayer or because of some other reason(s).

WHY...  do I think like this?

Well...  

1. how come some prayers are answered while other prayers are not answered?
2. how come some miracles are performed while other miracles do not happen at all?
3. how come miracles happen to those who believe as well as to those who do not believe?

There are literally millions of people praying everyday for:

• their own good health
• the good health of others
• the end to conflict and wars
• the cure for disease
• children with terminal illnesses
• a long awaited promotion
• to pass a difficult test
• that their children grow up unharmed
• the recovery from cancer

HOWEVER...

We have been told that when we pray to use THE LORD'S PRAYER and for God's Will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven...

AND YET...

Do we always believe that God's Will is, in fact, being done on earth as it is in Heaven when so many of our prayers are unanswered?

Socialism Lives

Socialism, social and economic doctrine that calls for public rather than private ownership or control of property and natural resources. According to the socialist view, individuals do not live or work in isolation but live in cooperation with one another. Furthermore, everything that people produce is in some sense a social product, and everyone who contributes to the production of a good is entitled to a share in it. Society as a whole, therefore, should own or at least control property for the benefit of all its members.

What does this actually mean for you and I?

It means...  FOR EXAMPLE...  that instead of Walmart being owned by the Walton Family it is owned by ALL THE EMPLOYEES and they share equally in the ENTIRE WEALTH of the company...

If Walmart generates $100,000,000 in PROFIT each year and there are 1,000 employees then each person receives $100,000...

Under CAPITALISM, some employees might receive $30,000, some might receive $50,000 while only a few might receive $100,000...

ANOTHER ISSUE is the fact that under SOCIALISM there is no guarantee that each employee will work equally as hard each year to receive their $100,000...

Social Scientists see this same sort of behavior happen when there are UNIONS that negotiate the salaries of the workers as workers know that they will get paid regardless of how hard they work.

They Will NEVER Believe...

Politics has never been so crucial and so mean as it is now...  For almost 4 years, the Democrats supported by the mainstream media have been trying to DESTROY TRUMP and anyone else who might be close to him like family, friends, and work associates...   This is the most devastating political period of our history, including what took place during WATERGATE...  Never in the history of our country has a President been so ABUSED by the press and by the Democrats...

Today, I heard Nancy Pelosi state that we cannot believe what Trump's doctors say about his health because TRUMP has put pressure on his doctors to LIE to the American People.

Chuck Schumer has forcefully made the claim that Trump should PULL OUT of the 2020 Election because he has contracted the Corona Virus and therefore is UNFIT to lead.

Other Democrats have said, Trump got what he deserved.

Fanatical Supporters of the Democrats has TWEETED that they hope THE PRESIDENT DIES...

BUT,

the fact remains that whether or not Trump wins a second term or not, he has accomplished the following:

1. Created the greatest economy in the history of the United States to date
2. Created the strongest military in the history of the United States to date
3. Created the LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT in the history of the United States to date
4. Created the MOST EMPLOYED in the history of the United States to date
5. Confirmed 3 Conservative Justices to the Supreme Court
6. Confirmed over 300 Conservative Judges to Federal Courts
7. Brokered peace deals between Israel and Arab Nations
8. Negotiated favorable trade deals with Mexico and China
9. Lowered taxes for Americans and Businesses
10. Created highest level of employment for Minorities in the US to date
11. Built the WALL between Mexico and the US
12. Stopped the treat of terrorism from the Middle East

HISTORY may record that TRUMP was an ASSHOLE but they will also record that TRUMP actually accomplished more than ANYOTHER PRESIDENT in our history in his first 4 years in office.

I'm FLIPPIDITY FLAP and I Approve This Message

2020

        2016

               2012

                       2008

                               2004

                                       2000

                                               1996

                                                       1992

                                                               1988

                                                                       1984

                                                                               1980

                                                                       1876

                                                               1972

                                                       1968

                                               1964

                                       1960

                                       These ELECTION YEARS are all the elections that I have experienced and through which I have lived during my 73 years of life...  and, I have listened to the promises and lies of politicians and seen first hand that these politicians will say whatever they need to say in order to get elected...  but, once they win, they set about doing whatever it is that they want to do or that their party or the lobbyists influence them to do...

President Kennedy, in my opinion, was the last President of the United States that any of us could believe...  and, I am not totally confident that this President was completely and totally honest with the American Public.

15 Elections and listening to I'M FLIPPIDITY FLAP AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE...      and 1 that is soon to take place...  a total of 16 and very little has changed as they all continue to spread half truths and lies and deception in an effort to gain power...

Boy Scouts of America BSA

They Knew...
The BSA knew all along about the abuse that was happening within its ranks. They even had a secret list known as the “Perversion Files” or “P Files” that included names of sex predators going all the way back to the early 1900’s. Tragically, the BSA did everything in its power to conceal these documents, allowing the abuses to go on. Instead of rooting out abusers, the BSA, like The Catholic Church, systematically protected pedophiles by allowing them to move from troop to troop.

When I lived in Alexandria, VA  until 1962/1963, prior to my leaving I was a Boy Scout, receiving my Eagle Scout and God and Country Awards that were later presented to me by the US Ambassador in Cairo, Egypt.  If I was abused, I don't recall and one would think that if there was abuse, one would never forget...  but abuse is not always physical...  and, there is probably a good possibility that one of those leaders during a camping trip in the Appalachian Mountains could have showed me photos and could have had conversations with me that I really don't remember because nothing physical happened...  and my leader was just more apprehensive about following through with something physical...

NONETHELESS...  it is disgusting what was happening to boys my age by leaders we grew up trusting to make us better people through Scouting.  And, I have always enjoyed my camping experiences...