Blog entries for wiboots

Local Lodge To Host Spaghetti Dinner October 29th

wiboots — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:47:41 GMT

Lake Lodge will be holding their annual Spooktacular Spaghetti dinner this Thursday, October 29th, from 5 PM to 7PM at the Lake Masonic Center located at 1235 E. Howard Avenue, Milwaukee. Each year the lodge hosts a spaghetti dinner to raise funs for their Children's Christmas party.

The Christmas party, held each December, is free to all children. Every child enjoys a free pancake breakfast and then meets with Santa. Santa gives each child a gift and bag of goodies.

So all you ghouls, ghosts, goblins and anyone else that likes spaghetti, come out to this great family event. Adults 12 and over are $7.00. Children 3 to 11 are $3.00 and children under 3 are free.

The local Eastern Star Chapter will be holding a bake sale and Jobs Daughters will be pre selling poinsettias for this Christmas season.

Yours truly will be helping to serve you and looking forward to your visiting and enjoying this great family event. See you there!

Holler Park Becomes Center for Rain Garden Training

wiboots — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:57:49 GMT

Alderman Terry Witkowski is proud to announce that the recent reconstruction efforts at Holler Park have not only involved much of the community and recreated the space, but they have also made possible an environmental education epicenter. The new rain garden at Holler Park will be the site of a number of rain garden training workshops so that the public may become more aware of how to use this tool in their own landscaping efforts.

“The rain garden at Holler Park is beautiful, but it’s purposeful, too,” Ald. Witkowski said. “The garden filters rainwater and helps to keep the water of the lake drainage basin clean. These training sessions are the next phase in the park’s makeover; now the public can follow the example in place at Holler Park.”

The sessions are co-sponsored by the Garden District Neighborhood Association, the Holler Park Neighborhood Association and the City of Milwaukee. The environmental coordinator for the grant that allowed for the Holler Park renovation, David Ciepluch, will lead the courses.

“Part of our goal in creating the rain garden at the park was to set an example that people could follow,” Ald. Witkowski said.

The next workshop is Rain Gardens in Depth, and Holler Park Neighborhood Association leader Chris Kuester will take reservations at 414-769-1815.

Rain Gardens in Depth is offered Monday, September 21, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, September 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Residents at the workshops will also learn the importance of rain barrels and how to use them.

“I encourage residents to take advantage of the beautiful September weather to head to the park and participate in the workshops so that they may implement similar strategies on their own property,” Ald. Witkowski said.

Bonus Army march on Washington D C

wiboots — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:21:35 GMT

On September 21 - 23, 2009, members of the Uniformed Services Disabled Retirees (USDR) will convene in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to decide the future of their 28 year-old organization. The USDR was founded in 1981 by six disabled military retirees from the State of New Mexico, to repeal an unjust law enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1944, known as Public Law 78-314, (Title 38 USC, Sections 5304 and 5305). The law had prevented career military retirees from receiving their earned retirement annuity entitlement if they were disabled during military service and received a VA compensation for their disability.

Ironically, this unjust law was passed only twelve years after the infamous "Bonus Army March" on Washington, DC. In the summer of 1932, in the depths of the first great Depression, some 45,000 World War I veterans (Bonus Army) descended on Washington, D.C. to demand immediate payment of a cash bonus promised them eight years earlier for their war-time service. Despite their efforts, the Bonus Bill was defeated in the Senate after passage in the House. Consequently, then Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur, under orders from President Hoover, drove the Bonus Army out of Washington, D.C. on July 28, 1932. Douglas used active duty soldiers wielding bayonet-tipped rifles, tanks, cavalry with drawn sabers and tear gas. Never before or since has our government used such an array of armament against its own citizens.

In greater contrast, the USDR members, disabled military retirees from subsequent wars, will return to its founding state to decide the future of the organization. After fighting a similar battle with the U.S. Congress for over twenty-eight years, they are battle weary of fighting with legislators and/or their staff, making phone calls and sending emails.

Tony Nathe, the current USDR President, will drive from Sauk Rapids, Minnesota to Las Cruces to attend the event. "Even though our entitlements were earned through a lifetime career in the U.S. military, promises made by military recruiters and career counselors are continually broken by politicians who have come and gone," said Nathe. In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case and told the six New Mexico disabled retirees "Congress made the law, Congress can change the law", however, the Congress continues to deny some decent, hard working, disabled military heroes their earned retirement.

There will be no "tent city" where thousands of veterans were camped out in Washington, nor millions of compassionate citizens calling upon the Congress to immediately repeal this unjust law. Just a small meeting room, in an American Legion post, the remnants of "A New Bonus Army" will decide on their best course of action. How will they continue their fight for justice began in 1981 by their New Mexico predecessors? Maybe they will plant the seeds for a new "Bonus Army March on Washington, D.C.?

For more information on joining USDR or to register for the 27th Annual Meeting of the USDR visit: http://usdr.org/

Part 2 - Fake Check Scams Could Cost You Big Time

wiboots — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:04:25 GMT

It all starts when someone offers you something too good to be true. They give you a realistic looking check or money order and then ask you to wire the money somewhere and they will pay you for helping them.

It is a phony, and so is the person’s story. Once you cash the check, it may take weeks or even months to discover you have been swindled. And you know what ... you are left holding the bag and you could be out thousands of dollars. Here are some common scams - read them and do not become a victim.

WORK AT HOME

In today’s tough times, we are all looking for a way to make a few extra dollars. You come home and find in your mailbox or email inbox a way to make money working at home. If it was so easy, why wouldn’t we all be working in our pajamas? They ask you to help process payments. All you have to do is deposit their check and send them the money minus your “pay”. Real companies do not business in this manner. DON’T DO IT.

SUDDEN RICHES

They say you won a foreign lottery or sweepstakes. But that is impossible unless you traveled to that country to enter, since it is illegal to buy or sell tickets across the United States border. Or they claim that you have been selected to receive a cash grant. But instead off giving you money, their plan is to steal money from you. DON’T DO IT!

LOVE LOSSES

It seems these days everyone is looking for love in all the wrong places. You think you have found someone special on line. But maybe you have been especially selected for a scam. Or, they promise to come to the United States to be with you. But they need you to cash a check or money order to cover travel expenses. DON’T DO IT!

The old adage is if it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t. So if you’re looking for love or to want to make an extra buck for yourself do it the old-fashioned way. Get out and meet people one on one. To make a few extra bucks get a job and work for it. Or else you may become a victim and have to work doubly hard to get out of debt to cover those fake check scams.

Fake Check Scams Could Cost You Big Time

wiboots — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:03:42 GMT

It all starts when someone offers you something too good to be true. They give you a realistic looking check or money order and then asks you to wire the money somewhere and they will pay you for helping them.

Its a phony, and so is the persons story. Once you cash the check it may take weeks or even months to discover you have been swindled. And you know what ... you are left holding the bag and you could be out thousands of dollars. Here are some common scams - read them and don't become a victim.

FOREIGN BUSINESS OFFERS

They all promise you millions. You have seen them. On the internet, in your mail box, even a phone call. Offers come in many varieties, from many countries, but none of their promises will come through. They pretend to be business people or government officials. Real companies, don't contact strangers in countries to offer business propositions. DON'T DO IT.

OVERPAYMENTS

They don't want the merchandise, they want your money. That is the bottom line. They want your money. They will offer overpayments on items you advertised in classified adds or on line auctions. They will claim they made a mistake, ask you to deposit the money in your account and return the excess to them. DON'T DO IT.

RENTAL SCHEMES

They claim to be moving from outside of the area, maybe from another country. They send you a check to cover whatever you ask and then some. Suddenly they have unexpected expenses and ask you to send some of the deposit back as a favor. But the truth is . . . they never intended to move into the rental property. By the time you discover the scam, they have already found another victim. DON'T DO IT.

These are just a few of the scams. Later in the week I will cover a few other scams hitting the Bay View Milwaukee Metro area.

Military Retired Pay Fairness Act

wiboots — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:21:12 GMT

Open letter to Russ Feingold

The Honorable Russ Feingold
United States Senate
506 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4904

Re: NDAA 2010 - Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009

Dear Senator Feingold:

As apparently, the Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009 (S 1008) has not been included in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, now soon to be brought to joint committee for resolution, I urge you strive to have this legislation included in the 2010 NDAA. This legislation would limit recoupment of separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive from service members subsequently receiving retired or retainer pay.

If a service member accepted a separation benefit for early retirement but later reenlists and qualifies for military retirement pay, DOD is forced to recoup the separation benefit by deducting a portion of their retirement. The repayment formula is unfair and needs to recognize the current economic climate as well as the sacrifice our military is making to protect our freedom.

S 1008 would provide DoD flexibility to develop manageable monthly payment plans that do not impose undue financial hardships on service members. In addition, it would cap the amount that DoD is allowed to recoup at 25% of a veteran's retirement pay each month.

It is imperative during this time of war that we not punish our service members returning to protect our freedom by taking large portions of their retirement pay.

Further, please work with your colleagues to have this legislation included in the 2010 NDAA during the Joint Committee that will be appointed to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions.

Respectfully,

Don "Boots" Jensen
Sergeant USMC 1973-1979

President and Congress Oppose New Health Care Plan

wiboots — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:58:40 GMT

During the past several weeks we have been bombarded with information about the President's new health care plan. This plan is suppose to be the answer to providing everyone with the same quality health care regardless of race, color, creed, or economic status.

Supposedly everyone will be afforded the same health care benefits and this plan, according to our President, is the best for everyone in our country. If the plan is so good ... why does it have to be rushed through? Whats actually in the bill that the President and his cronies don't want to tell us about?

I may not have a problem with the new plan if everyone bought into it. By everyone I mean our Senators, Congress, and the President himself must be included in the plan. When the President was asked if he and his family would be part of the plan he avoided answering the question. To date he has made no commitment to have the same health plan and no one from the mainstream media has pressured him for an answer.

It appears to me, and I am sure many readers have asked the same question, if it is not good enough for the President then why is it good enough for you and me!

Do you know that Senators, Congressmen, and the President have a "special health plan" just for them?It is paid for by you and me. They have no co-pays, no long lines to wait in, and they have a paid for Cadillac plan for their family too.

If this new health care plan passes, they are all excluded and maintain their Cadillac plan for ever. Did you know every Senator, Congressman, and the President, when no longer in office continue to receive their annual salary and paid for health benefits? Go figure, when you loose your job the paycheck and benefits stop. No so with our Congressmen, Senators, and the President. This practice needs to be stopped too.

So if they want us to buy into this health care program they should be part of it too. If they do not want to be part of it we must ask why, what are they hiding and why do they not want to be part of it?

I believe the answer is simple. The program will not provide the health care they are used too and they do not want to wait in lines, pay co pays, be told their procedures are not critical, and die waiting for proper medical treatment like all the rest of us will have to do under the proposed health care plan.

I Am A Child Of God

wiboots — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:45:55 GMT

My friend, Bobbie Morris recently gave an open testimony about her baptism and what it meant to her. She gave her testimony a few weeks ago at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, located at 4419 S. Howell Avenue, Milwaukee. Summer services are held Sunday at 9 AM and Wednesdays at 7 PM.

This is Bobbies unedited story:

I Am A Child Of God

By Bobbie Morris

I am a child of God. God owns me, lock, stock, and barrel. Be bought me when I was only 16 days old with water, which is a very simple thing. William Willimon states it very simply in “Remember Who You Are”. He says “God knows we are earthlings, made of the stuff of earth-water, minerals, clay. Therefore God deals with us through earthly means, water. God uses the stuff of everyday human life to give himself to us. God then sealed the deal with a cross that was placed on my forehead with sweet oil. I was branded. I was baptized Roberta Louise Davis. It’s a day I don’t remember, but a day that has stuck with me all these years. I was his. He loved me and truly cared about me, unconditionally. Wow! My parents also loved me unconditionally, but I think this was more.

As I grew, my father taught me the Lord’s Prayer. I learned about the does and don’ts of going to church. Mostly the don’ts, don’t talk, don’t whisper, don’t fidget, sit up straight, pay attention. I learned about religion and I believed in God & Jesus, oh did I believe. Growing up in the Catholic Church, I wanted to become a nun, and like most girls, I thought if I looked saintly, I would be saintly. You know, soulful eyes, glancing upward towards heaven with a rosary in my hands. I would even wear my undershirt over my hair and become Sister Bobbie. But that pious stuff didn’t last too long. I had younger sisters and a brother to fight with, potential boyfriends, a mom to drive crazy and a father to answer to.

I didn’t ask God for much in those days because I wasn’t important enough, but when my parents fought I did ask God to make them stop. They didn’t and my life just went on, fighting with my siblings, disobeying my parents, no miracles, no angels, no voices. I never thought about God, except in church, I figured God was just there.

In about 5th grade in catechism class, in preparation for confirmation, a nun was talking about baptism and how important it was. I don’t remember all that she said about baptism, but she told us how to baptize and how anyone could do this. She also said that if babies weren’t baptized and died, they would go to limbo. I never knew where limbo was, but I figured it was somewhere between hell and purgatory. Anyway, I had 3 sisters at home who had not been baptized and I knew it was up to me to make it right. So when the next bath time came, I offered my services up to my parents and officially baptized them in the family bathtub. I was saving them, from what I don’t really know, but I was saving them. I really took to heart Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”.

When I was older, married and a new mother, I again baptized my babies even though I had them officially baptized in church. I just couldn’t wait. I wanted to protect them against evil. I wanted my children to be safe. When my children grew up, married and had their own babies, I again baptized them in the bathtub. But by this time, it was more. I knew they were children of God; I wanted God to love them like he loved me. I wanted them to know the wonders of God and what Jesus did for them.

Somewhere between my babies and the grandchildren I got divorced and I lost my religion. This is not to say I didn’t believe in God, I DID! I didn’t believe in the church. My friend had encouraged me to go to her Lutheran church because the Pastor was “cool”. I went, but the people were “clicky”, not very friendly, and the Pastor was an actor. He wore costumes, yes, costumes like at Halloween, and tried to portray characters in the Bible.

It was the John the Baptist character and the costume that did me in. This whole thing could have been interesting on some level, but I left me cold. He was not “cool. I quit! I felt the Pastor should have kept his day job, whatever that was. I was done with religion and unfortunately so were my children.

Two things happened to wake me up:

1. My daughter-in-law announced on day when my son & she were picking up their children after a weekend visit, that she was a “Jehovah’s Witness”. I was stunned, as the children were watching the move “Santa Clause”. What about Christmas? What about Birthdays? What about all holidays? She stated, she simply didn’t believe in them and started quoting Bible passages as her defense for her cause. I was dumbfounded. I didn’t know the Bible that well and needless to say they didn’t call me too much after that visit.

2. My granddaughter Molli’s baptism. My husband, Bob, was her Godfather and for the first time in my life, I listened. I listened to the words, I listened to the directives. I listened to the command to “bring up this child, this child of God, as a Christian”. Teach her. Love her. She was now like me, owned by God.

I needed to read the bible. I needed to know more about Jesus so I could teach my grandchildren. I needed to surrender myself to God. Oh my! The “surrender” part was the hardest. This was a time of women’s lib. “I am woman, hear me roar.” I was trying to be self-sufficient and I could do everything myself. I had a good job, great husband, and wonderful children. What more did I need? But I had an emptiness inside, but life continued.

One day, God spoke to me. Not in words but….let me tell you my story.

I was recently let go from my job, a business decision and I was at home alone. I sent my husband off to work and the only thing I had planned that day was to clean my house, AGAIN! I was depressed and thought about going back to bed and sleeping all day. I must say that sounded real good, but that wasn’t going to happen. I sat at the kitchen table, I put my head in my hands and cried. I asked God to help me, please. I asked God to show me the way in the name of his son, Jesus. PLEASE! About a minute later, the phone rang. I dried my tears, wondering who would be calling me this early in the morning. It was my daughter. She never called me during the day, let alone in the morning. NEVER! She worked. She said she was calling me because she just felt like calling me and talking, she didn’t know why, but she felt a strong urge. We talked about my grand kids; we talked about everything and nothing. I was renewed. I knew God had answered my prayer. After I hung up the phone, I thanked God. I know He is there for me. He hadn’t turned his back on me and I vowed not to turn my back on him ever again,

I went back to church, I started to pray and read the Bible. I let myself become a servant of God and to God, trying to do his will. I must say, it isn’t easy. I know I make the wrong decisions all the time, but I know He is there, loving me and guiding me. To this day I wonder why, because I don’t feel worthy, but God still loves me. I think it is put best in John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you”.

I know this all to be true because of a simple sacrament that was given to me when I was 16 days old. I still have the mark on my forehead. Touch your forehead, remember your baptism and do not ever forget it.

A post-racial president?

wiboots — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:49:17 GMT

Thomas Sowell - Syndicated Columnist - 7/28/2009 9:25:00 AM

Many people hoped that the election of a black President of the United States would mark our entering a "post-racial" era, when we could finally put some ugly aspects of our history behind us.

That is quite understandable. But it takes two to tango. Those of us who want to see racism on its way out need to realize that others benefit greatly from crying racism. They benefit politically, financially, and socially.

Barack Obama has been allied with such people for decades. He found it expedient to appeal to a wider electorate as a post-racial candidate, just as he has found it expedient to say a lot of other popular things -- about campaign finance, about transparency in government, about not rushing legislation through Congress without having it first posted on the Internet long enough to be studied -- all of which turned to be the direct opposite of what he actually did after getting elected.

Those who were shocked at President Obama's cheap shot at the Cambridge police for being "stupid" in arresting Henry Louis Gates must have been among those who let their wishes prevail over the obvious implications of Obama's 20 years of association with the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Anyone who can believe that Obama did not understand what the racist rants of Jeremiah Wright meant can believe anything.

With race -- as with campaign finance, transparency and the rest -- Barack Obama knows what the public wants to hear and that is what he has said. But his policies as president have been the opposite of his rhetoric, with race as with other issues.

As a state senator in Illinois, Obama pushed the "racial profiling" issue, so it is hardly surprising that he jumped to the conclusion that a policeman was racial profiling when in fact the cop was investigating a report received from a neighbor that someone seemed to be breaking into the house that Professor Gates was renting in Cambridge.

For those who are interested in facts -- and these obviously do not include President Obama -- there has been a serious study of racial profiling in a book titled Are Cops Racist? by Heather MacDonald. Her analysis of the data shows how this issue has long been distorted beyond recognition by politics.

The racial profiling issue is a great vote-getter. And if it polarizes the society, that is a price that politicians are willing to pay in order to get votes. Academics who run black studies departments, as Professor Henry Louis Gates does, likewise have a vested interest in racial paranoia.

For "community organizers" as well, racial resentments are a stock in trade. President Obama's background as a community organizer has received far too little attention, though it should have been a high-alert warning that this was no post-racial figure.

What does a community organizer do? What he does not do is organize a community. What he organizes are the resentments and paranoia within a community, directing those feelings against other communities, from whom either benefits or revenge are to be gotten, using whatever rhetoric or tactics will accomplish that purpose.

To think that someone who has spent years promoting grievance and polarization was going to bring us all together as president is a triumph of wishful thinking over reality.

Not only Barack Obama's past, but his present, tells the same story. His appointment of an attorney general who called America "a nation of cowards" for not dialoguing about race was a foretaste of what to expect from Eric Holder.

The way Attorney General Holder has refused to prosecute young black thugs who gathered at a voting site with menacing clubs, in blatant violation of federal laws against intimidating voters, speaks louder than any words from him or his president.

President Obama's first nominee to the Supreme Court is, like Obama himself, someone with a background of years of affiliation with an organization dedicated to promoting racial resentments and a sense of racial entitlement.

An 18th century philosopher said, "When I speak I put on a mask. When I act I am forced to take it off." Barack Obama's mask slipped for a moment last week but he quickly recovered, with the help of the media. But we should never forget what we saw.

VA Medical Doctors Negligence Kills Marine Iraq War Veteran

wiboots — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:50:57 GMT

July 26, 2009

The Honorable Herbert H. Kohl
United States Senate
330 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4903

Re: S 1347 - Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act

Dear Senator Kohl:

After Marine Sgt. Carmelo Rodriguez served his country with honor for nearly a decade, including a tour of duty in Iraq, he lost his life not on the battlefield, but as a result of preventable medical negligence. While most Americans could pursue justice through our courts, service members like Rodriguez and his family do not have this same right. The Carmelo Rodriguez Military Medical Accountability Act (S. 1347), introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (NY), would restore the protections of the civil justice system to the men and women of our armed forces.

A 1950 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Feres v. United States prevents service members on active duty from holding the government accountable for non-combat related injuries. This decision strips countless military families of their right to seek redress through our civil justice system.

"It is inexcusable that our service men and women, if injured by medical negligence, are denied the same protections that all other citizens enjoy," said Linda Lipsen, Senior VP of Public Affairs at the American Association for Justice. "This important legislation would restore these rights to these brave heroes, who risk their lives every day in service of our country."

Upon enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps, Rodriguez received a routine medical exam. His doctors diagnosed a blotch on his buttock as melanoma but never told him, and the military never followed up. Over the next eight years, the melanoma continued to grow until, while serving in Iraq, Rodriguez had it examined again. This time, he was told that it was just a wart and that he should have it examined upon returning to the U.S. Tragically, by then, it was too late, and Rodriguez died 18 months later from skin cancer, holding the hand of his seven-year-old son.

I strongly urge you to co-sponsor S. 1347 to restore the right of active duty service members to bring suit against the United States for improper medical provide by the Department of Defense. Please note that the provisions of this legislation would not apply to any claim arising out of the combatant activities of the Armed Forces during the time of armed conflict.

Respectfully,

Don "Boots" Jensen
Sergeant United States Marine Corps 1973-79

Local Iron Man Competes To Help Wounded Warriors and Challenged Athletes

wiboots — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:00:53 GMT

For the past 31-year’s local Iron Man athlete Dave Orlowski has been competing in the Iron Man contest throughout the world. Recently Dave wrote and asked me to help in an endeavourer to raise funds for Wounded Warriors and Challenged Athletes.

I have known Dave for about 25 years. Dave and I are both United States Marine Corps veterans and retired members of the Milwaukee Police Department. Dave has been an advocate for these causes for as many years as I can remember. Please, take the time to read Dave's letter of appeal and help him help those who have fought for our freedoms and other challenged athletes.

Dear Friends and Athletes:

On February 18, 1978 on the island of Oahu, Hawaii a group of 15 individuals undertook the goal of completing a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile marathon in one day. No one thought that any individual could complete this and anyone that could complete this would be called an “Ironman”. 12 individuals proved people wrong and completed this event. I was one of those individuals having placed third and become a part of the history of an event that now on any given year thousands are undertaking as a personal challenge and completing. This event not only inspires but changes people’s lives once they cross that finish line and prove that “Anything is Possible”.

On August 9, 2009 after 31 years, I will again be standing on the shores of Waikiki beach doing the same 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile marathon. This time I will be doing the event to change the lives of others that are physically challenged and raising money for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. This organization provides wheelchairs, equipment, and prosthetics to children and adults less fortunate to get the items for themselves. I have personally raced in events, volunteered with these athletes, and observed the awarding of various items to these athletes. It was very emotional and life changing. The Challenged Athletes also assist the wounded soldiers returning from war.

I am reaching out to all of you for help in surpassing my goal and making this event a success. You can donate two ways:

Mail a check made out to Challenged Athletes Foundation to me at

Dave Orlowski

PO Box 551

Brookfield, WI 53008

Go to the website Challengedathletes.org

Click on the Hawaii Revisited event

Under the Resource section Click on “Donate to an Event Participant”

Enter my name Dave Orlowski in fundraiser name area

You can then enter a donation with a credit card

All donations need to be received by August 9 when I do the event. The donations are also tax deductible.

Thank you all for your support in this event and knowing that you have helped change a life.

Sincerely,

Dave Orlowski

Answers to the Geezer Quiz

wiboots — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:52:04 GMT

GEEZER QUIZ ANSWERS

1b) On the floor, to the left of the clutch. Hand controls, popular in Europe, took till the late '60s to catch

on.

2. b) To sprinkle clothes before ironing. Who had a steam iron?

3. c) Cold weather caused the milk to freeze and expand, popping the bottle top.

4. a) Blackjack Gum.

5. b) Special makeup was applied, followed by drawing a seam down the back of the leg with an eyebrow

pencil.

6. a) 1946 Studebaker.

7. c) Wax coke bottles containing super-sweet colored water.

8. a) Wax for your flat top (butch) haircut.

9. a) With clamps, tightened by a skate key, which you wore on a shoestring around your neck.

10. c) Eeny-meeny-miney-mo.

11. c) Polio. In beginning of August, swimming pools were closed, movies and other public gathering

places were closed to try to prevent spread of the disease.

12. b) Taxi. Better be ready by half-past eight!

13. c) Macaroni.

14. c) Hiding under your desk, and covering your head with your arms in an A-bomb drill.

15. a) Princess Summerfallwinterspring. She was another puppet.

16. a) Immediately sniffed the purple ink to get a high.

17. b) Put in a special stamp book, they could be traded for household items at the Green Stamp store.

18. c) Ammunition, and we'll all be free.

19. a) The all male, all black group: The Inkspots.

20. a) Tony Bennett, and he sounds just as good today. (or bad, depending on your taste)

_____________________________________

SCORING

17- 20 correct: You are not only older than dirt, but obviously gifted with mind bloat. Now if you could only

find your glasses.

12 -16 correct: Not quite dirt yet, but your mind is definitely muddy.

0 -11 correct: You are a sad excuse for a geezer or you are younger than springtime

The GEEZER Quiz

wiboots — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:28:45 GMT

GEEZER QUIZ:

You have to be a certain age to even have a prayer at being able to answer these questions. So, put your thinking cap on and don't cheat! Good luck!!

1. In the 1940's, where were automobile headlight dimmer switches located?

a. On the floor shift knob

b. On the floor board, to the left of the clutch

c. Next to the horn

2. The bottle top of a Royal Crown Cola bottle had holes in it. For what was it used?

a. Capture lightning bugs

b. To sprinkle clothes before ironing

c. Large salt shaker

3. Why was having milk delivered a problem in northern winters?

a. Cows got cold and wouldn't produce milk

b. Ice on highways forced delivery by dog sled

c. Milkmen left deliveries outside of front doors and milk would freeze, expanding and pushing up

the cardboard bottle top.

4. What was the popular chewing gum named for a game of chance?

a. Blackjack

b. Gin

c. Craps!

5. What method did women use to look as if they were wearing stockings when none were available due

to rationing during W.W.II?

a. Suntan

b. Leg painting

c. Wearing slacks

6. What postwar car turned automotive design on its ear when you couldn't tell whether it was coming or

going?

a. Studebaker

b. Nash Metro

c. Tucker

7. Which was a popular candy when you were a kid?

a. Strips of dried peanut butter

b. Chocolate licorice bars

c. Wax coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside

8. How was Butch wax used?

a. To stiffen a flat-top haircut so it stood up

b. To make floors shiny and prevent scuffing

c,On the wheels of roller skates to prevent rust

9. Before inline skates, how did you keep your roller skates attached to your shoes?

a. With clamps, tightened by a skate key

b. Woven straps that crossed the foot.

c. Long pieces of twine

10. As a kid, what was considered the best way to reach a decision?

a. Consider all the facts

b. Ask Mom

c. Eeny-meeny-miney-mo

11. What was the most dreaded disease in the 1940's?

a. Smallpox

b. AIDS

c. Polio

12. "I'll be down to get you in a ________, Honey"

a. SUV

b. Taxi

c. Streetcar

13. What was the name of Caroline Kennedy's pet pony?

a. Old Blue

b. Paint

c. Macaroni

14. What was a Duck-and-Cover Drill?

a. Part of the game of hide and seek

b. What you did when your mom called you in to do chores

c. Hiding under your desk, and covering your head with your arms in an A-bomb drill

15. What was the name of the Indian Princess on the Howdy Doody show?

a. Princess Summerfallwinterspring

b. Princess Sacajewea

c. Princess Moonshadow

16. What did all the really savvy students do when mimeographed tests were handed out in school?

a. Immediately sniffed the purple ink, as this was believed to get you high

b. Made paper airplanes to see who could sail theirs out the window

c. Wrote another pupil's name on the top, to avoid your failure

17. Why did your mom shop in stores that gave Green Stamps with purchases?

a. To keep you out of mischief by licking the backs, which tasted like bubble gum

b. They could be put in special books and redeemed for various household items

c. They were given to the kids to be used as stick-on tattoos

18. Praise the Lord, and pass the _________?

a. Meatballs

b. Dames

c. Ammunition

19. What was the name of the singing group that made the song "Cabdriver" a hit?

a. The Ink Spots

b. The Supremes

c. The Esquires

20. Who left his heart in San Francisco?

a. Tony Bennett

b. Zavier Cugat

c. George Gershwin

I WILL POST THE ANSWERS ON TUESDAY, JULY 14TH AT 12 MIDNIGHT. GOOD LUCK!

Fair Pay For Duty Performed

wiboots — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:22:03 GMT

OPEN LETTER TO RUSS FEINGOLD

The Honorable Russ Feingold
United States Senate
506 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4904

Re: S 1008 - The Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009

Dear Senator Feingold:

I urge you to cosponsor S. 1008, the Military Retired Pay Fairness Act of 2009. This bill would limit recoupment of separation pay, special separation benefits, and voluntary separation incentive from service members subsequently receiving retired or retainer pay.

If a service member accepts a separation benefit for early retirement but later reenlists and qualifies for military retirement pay, DOD is forced to recoup the separation benefit by deducting a portion of their retirement. The repayment formula is unfair and needs to recognize the current economic climate as well as the sacrifice our military is making to protect our freedom.

S. 1008 would provide DoD with some flexibility to develop manageable monthly payment plans that do not impose undue financial hardship on service members. In addition, it would cap the amount that DoD is allowed to recoup at 25% of a veteran's retirement pay each month.

It is imperative during this time of war that we not punish our service members returning to protect our freedom by taking large portions of their pension.

Please cosponsor S. 1008, and encourage your colleagues to do the same.

Further please strive to have S. 1008 included in the 2010 NDAA during the Joint Committee that will be appointed to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions.

Respectfully,

Don "Boots" Jensen
Sergeant United States Marine Corps 1973-79

Military Toxic Exposure Prevention

wiboots — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:53:17 GMT

The Honorable Gwen Moore
House of Representatives
1239 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4904

Re: Support HR 2419 - Military Personnel War Zone Toxic Exposure Prevention Act

Dear Representative Moore:

I urge your support and co-sponsorship of HR 2419, "Military Personnel War Zone Toxic Exposure Prevention Act" introduced by Rep. Timothy Bishop.

HR 2419 would require the Secretary of Defense to establish and administer a system to identify members of the Armed Forces who were potentially exposed to a hazardous disposal site, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as any negative health effects that may be related to such exposure. HR 2419 would prohibit the disposal of waste by the Armed Forces in a manner that would produce dangerous levels of toxins.

For the past century, in nearly every war that America has asked her sons and daughters to fight, there have been dangers on the battlefield that went beyond injuries resulting from direct combat, that have left their disabling mark on hundreds of thousands of veterans. Whether from the mustard gas fields of World War I, to frostbite and radiological diseases in World War II and Korea, or to the relentless spraying of dioxin containing herbicides in Vietnam; the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan appear to be shaping up no differently. However, in each previous conflict, the Government took decades before recognizing such dangers; you now have a chance to stop this cycle of disregard.

In short, HR 2419 would require the Secretary to: (1) administer the system using existing medical surveillance systems; (2) notify a member and the commanding officer of a potential exposure; (3) for each member notified, collect information for purposes of the system; (4) for each member notified, annually provide a complete physical examination and related consultation and counseling; and (5) determine, and report to Congress on, whether existing surveillance systems are sufficient to identify all potential negative health effects resulting from such exposure.

If passed, H.R. 2419 would ensure the government lives up to its responsibility of finding those exposed, investigating current and future illness in those exposed, and preventing further illness by putting an end to these careless and irresponsible procedures.

Again, I urge your support of HR 2419. Please advise me of your intentions.

Respectfully,

Don "Boots" Jensen
Sergeant United States Marine Corps 1973-79

Democrats Block Military Health Care

wiboots — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:18:37 GMT

The Honorable Gwen Moore
House of Representatives
1239 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4904

Re: Democrats Block Republican Effort to Fund Benefits Promised to the Men and Women of America's Armed Forces

Dear Representative Moore:

As you are likely aware, on June 16, the House Armed Services Committee reported the 2010 NDAA (HR 2647) out of committee and denied an amendment offered by Rep. Joe Wilson that would have made (1) improvements to concurrent receipt (CRDP) by providing a 5 year phase in for CRDP payments to include service members who were medically retired with less than 20 years of service (Chapter 61 retirees), (2) eliminated the SBP/DIC offset, and (3) eliminated the requirement for retired Reservists with 20 or more years of service, to reach age 60 in order to be eligible for TRICARE Standard.

I am appalled by what have should been a bi-partisan vote of cooperation that the amendment was denied by a partisan vote. As you will recall, the Chapter 61 issue was included in the President's Budget Request for 2010.

As your voting constituent, I strongly urge you to support or sponsor an amendment similar to Rep. Wilson's to restore these benefits to our disabled retirees, our widows, and to qualified reservists.

The Senate version (S. 1033) of the 2010 NDAA does contain provision for the restoration of concurrent receipt to Chapter 61 retirees as outlined in the President's Budget Request for 2010.

Again, I stress that this should not be a partisan issue.

Thank you for your support and assistance in seeing that our disabled retirees, our widows, and our Reservists receive what is due them.

Respectfully,

Don "Boots" Jensen
Sergeant United States Marine Corps 1973-79

*Please copy and send off a letter to your Congress Person*

National Health Care Reform vs. Military/VA Health Care

wiboots — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:56:04 GMT

The Honorable Russ Feingold
United States Senate
506 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4904 Re: National Health Care Reform vs. Mililtary/VA Health CareDear Senator Feingold:As the Congress begins consideration of national health care reform legislation, I urge you to ensure that any national health care reform plan that may be enacted must preserve the unique identity and role of the military TRICARE and VA health delivery systems.

It is essential to recognize the nation's unique responsibilities to those who served in uniform and the Defense Department's special employer responsibilities to the families of those who rendered decades of service to our country.

Military health benefits provide an essential offset to the extraordinary demands and sacrifices inherent in a military career. Unique and specialized VA programs acknowledge special government responsibilities to those who incur service-caused injuries and illnesses.

Both systems are critical in sustaining a career all-volunteer force, and subjecting them to taxation would be a major erosion of benefits that would undermine recruiting, retention, and national security. We must retain them as earned benefits to those who have served and defended this great nation.

Please ensure these earned benefits continue as unique -- and untaxed -- programs rather than seeking to incorporate them in a national system that fails to recognize the government's special responsibilities to the military and veteran populations.Respectfully,Don "Boots" Jensen
Sergeant United States Marine Corps 1973-79

Pig Smarts

wiboots — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:34:56 GMT

Ole and Lena got a new neighbor! Ole went to visit and noticed the new neighbor Lars, had a pet pig.

Ole asked him what is with the pig, who had a wooden leg. Lars went on and on about this pig who he claimed was the smartest pig there ever was. Lars had been mowing ditches with his tractor and the tractor rolled over and pinned him to the ground. The pig heard his crys and came to the rescue, digging underneath Lars so he could crawl out and be freed.

Yeah Ole agreed that was pretty amazing but what about the wooden leg? Lars went on and on about how smart that pig was, in fact, Lars said their house caught fire one night and the pig smelled the smoke and squealed so loud the whole family woke up to escape the flames.

Ok ok that's a mighty smart pig, I agree, but what about the wooden leg. Lars related that one night he was milking cows in the barn and it was blowing snow outside so bad that he lost his way when he tried to return to the hous e, the pig heard his cries and guided him safely back to the house.

Enough, enough, I agree Ole said, that there is the smartest pig ever, but what with his wooden leg!!!! Well, Lars paused, a pig that smart, you just couldn't eat him all at once.

Nails In The Fence

wiboots — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:42:03 GMT

Nails in the Fence Lesson

As I Remember It From Many Years Ago

There was once a little girl who had a bad temper. Her mother gave her a bag of nails and told her that every time she lost her temper, she must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the girl had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as she learned to control her anger, the number of nails hammer daily gradually dwindled down. She discovered it was easier to hold her temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally, the day came when the girl didn’t lose her temper at all. She told her mother about it and the mother suggested that the girl now pull out one nail for each day that she was able to hold her temper.

The days passed and the young girl was finally able to tell her mother that all the nails were gone. The mother took her daughter by the hand and led her to the fence. She said,
“You have done well my daughter, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.

You can put a knife in a person and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.

Frogs

wiboots — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:36:36 GMT

A number of frogs were traveling through the woods. Two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. They saw how deep the pit was; they told the two at the bottom that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The frogs on top kept telling them to give up and stop, that there was no way they could make it and they were as good as dead.

Eventually one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die.

He jumped even harder and finding better footing finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “How could you manage that? I guess we were wrong.”

The frog explained to them that he was hard of hearing. He thought that they were encouraging him the entire time.

The lesson: There is the power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. A destructive word to someone who is down can be the push over the edge. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.

Anyone can speak words that can rob another of the spirit to push forward in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.

FROG – Fully Rely On God