Thursday, July 26, 2007

To Kill an American

Recently, there was a report that a newspaper in Pakistan had published an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American. An Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is, so they would know when they found one. Read his editorial, below.

To Kill an American
Written by an Australian Dentist

An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan.

An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navajo, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.

An American is Christian , or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.

An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.

An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence , which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never as king or for a thing in return.

When Afghanistan was overrun by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country! As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan.

Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least. The national symbol of America , The Statue of Liberty , welcomes "your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed". These in fact are the people who built America.

Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.

So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so, you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.

[My thanks to Charlotte Kalamar for this post]

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Priceless

This one is self explanatory. The caption says:
American Flag: $25
Gasoline: $2
Cigarette Lighter: $2.50
Catching yourself on fire because you're a terrorist asshole: PRICELESS!


[My thanks to Tom Sherba for forwarding this to me]

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Motivation Posters

A friend sent me some motivation posters (military style) that I found quite entertaining. They show a sense of humor and optimism that I have only experienced in and around military folks. To view them, click the link below.

Motivation Posters

[My thanks to Greg Thew for forwarding this to me]

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Personal Identity Precautions

The compromise of personal identities occurs daily. We have all heard the nightmares that some have endured after their personal identities were stolen by unscrupulous individuals. Their credit ratings were trashed; they were responsible for thousands of dollars of incurred debt; and it took years, as well as thousands of dollars of legal fees, to correct.

The following rules of thumb for protection from the compromise of your personal information are worth your consideration.

PREVENTION:


1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put
"PHOTO ID REQUIRED".

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT
put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

3. Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO box, use your work address. Never have your Social Security number printed on your checks . You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

4. Get photocopies of all the contents of your wallet. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. Also carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel at home or abroad.

CORRECTION (What to do after a compromise):

1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know who to call. Keep those where you can find them.

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were
stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

3. Most importantly, call the three national credit reporting agencies immediately to place a fraud alert
on your name, and also call the Social Security fraud line number. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

NATIONAL CREDIT AGENCY PHONE NUMBERS:

1. Equifax: 800-525-6285
2. Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
3. Trans Union: 800-6807289
4. Social Security Administration (fraud line): 800-269-0271

[My thanks to Edna Oeth for this information]

Sunday, July 8, 2007

The Greatest Baseball Play Ever

On April 25th, 1976, at Dodger Stadium, Rick Monday of the Chicago Cubs made an unusual play that was hailed by many to be the "greatest baseball play ever". It would, later, become one of the "one hundred top moments in baseball history". Watch this amazing video. Click on the link, below.

Greatest Baseball Play Ever

[My thanks to Lynn Hill for forwarding me this video]