TRIAD
Well, I had my monthly TRIAD meeting today in spite of the cold. Only four of us showed up. But we had a nice meeting in spite of that. Some of the things we talked about:
Don't Hold Your Breath
The Alliance for Retired Americans may have started out as a nice organization designed to advocate for senior citizen's benefits. However, now they are perpetrating a scam that is designed to take money away from the people they say they are helping. They want some donations to cover the legal and lobbying fees necessary to get Congress to come up with a $581. stimulus check for everyone. (I'm sorry, but this will never happen, at least not in your lifetime. Remember the "Notch Babies?" My Uncle Allen donated lots of money to organizations saying that they would get money for certain Social Security beneficiaries caught up in a Congressional screw up of benefit rates. As should have been expected, no money was forthcoming and now all the "Notch Babies" are dead.)
They suggest paying $10. for a membership in their organization... with, of course an extra $3.50 tacked on "to expedite petition processing and win passage of this bill more quickly..."
New Jersey calls their request for your money, a "charitable solicitation." However, the mailing brochure says that "The Alliance is a non-profit, tax-exempt Membership organization that engages in legislative lobbying on your behalf, so dues or donations to the Alliance are not tax-deductible as a charitable contribution or business expense."
My suggestion: don't send these guys any money. If, by some unbelievable change of heart by our now Alt-Right Government leaders, they do decide to "trickle down" a few bucks to the "greedy old-timers," you'll get your share then... and you would not have helped the Alliance folks become millionaires.
Some Folks are Like That
Yesterday, Elaine and I went to WalMart to buy some "stuff" and to see if there were big crowds and make Elaine happy to own WalMart stock. There were, and she was.
After pushing Elaine in her wheelchair and a cart for about two hours, I sat down in the only sitting place now in the store and waited for Elaine to finish her search for bargains. Nearby was a middle aged guy in a wheelchair. He was looking through his wallet and grumbling, as only a grouchy looking guy can look. He obviously was not happy about his condition.
Suddenly, he dropped his credit card on the floor and said a few choice phrases, but made no effort to pick up the card. As I was about to get up off my dead ass to help him, a young mother with a small child reached down and handed the card to the grouchy man, saying, "Here's your card, Mister."
Normally, one would expect at least a short "Thank You." What did this nice lady get? Nothing. Mr. Scrooge did not even look at her as he snatched the card from her hand. Why? Perhaps:
He was wounded in the Middle East war and has stress as well as a disability.
His wife divorced him today.
He has an incurable disease and has only a short time to live.
He had a big mac a short time ago, and he has indigestion.
Or.. he's just a miserable son of a bitch.
And... why is of importance to me what this guy does? I'm an empath, and my empathy this time was with the nice young mother trying to be helpful. I hope that this guys attitude doesn't sour her own attitude.
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What I Learned Today from Cryptics
As I work on British crossword puzzles, I come across words and references that are unfamiliar to me. For example:
drugget: a floor covering made of coarse woven fabric. (I would have thought it was the name of a female addict.)
Curio: a keepsake of course, but also a character in Twelfth Night.
Fleance: the son of Bafquo in MacBeth... you remember Bafquo as a ghost? (I would have thought it was a name combination of two annoying critters)
William Etty: (1787-1849) English (from York) artist, best known for his history paintings containing nude figures. (He was very good, and yes, you can check himt out on Google Image.)
Amy Robsart Dudley (1532-1560) the first wife of Lord Robert Dudley, who was a "favourite" of Elizabeth the first. Amy was mysteriously choked to death.
Now.. why on earth would people include such obscure (to me) entries in crossword puzzles? Well, that's the Brits for you... and their cryptic puzzles are very hard and fun to solve.
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