Christmas and Zoo Lights: Destroying Our Planet Earth.

Green is the “in” thing. By green, I make reference to green Earth, saving trees, less use of plastics, less use of non-biodegradables, increase in the use of renewable energy, and decrease in the use of fossil fuels.
A “green” attitude is a healthy attitude. A “green” approach is a “save our planet Earth” approach.
Many, many people have jumped on the green advocating bandwagon; but, most are hypocrites as the most recent Christmas season has proven once again.
Yes, I said Christmas; and, I mean it.
Christmas celebration rituals, at least in the United States of America, are anti-green. USA Christmas observance celebration traditions contribute greatly to global warming. Christmas observances, excluding religious services, are downright anti-Earth and lead to the destruction of our planet.
What? You ask. How dare I say that! You say.
My answer is: “I say it simply and easily.”
Why? You ask. How? You ask.
My response is as follows:
Think of all the evergreen trees that are cut down to be used as Christmas trees and in the making of Christmas wreaths. Think of all the non-biodegradable Christmas decorations and artificial Christmas trees that are manufactured. Think of all the plastic products (made from petroleum and non-biodegradable) used during the Christmas season celebrations. Think of all the Christmas lights used in homes, in yards, at business establishments, in public displays, and such, all of which use enormous amounts of precious electrical energy mostly generated by dirty, atmosphere-polluting coal, a fossil fuel nonrenewable energy source.
And then, there are the ever-increasingly popular Zoo Lights ---- UGH!!! Think of all the nonrenewable energy used in those displays! What a tremendous nonproductive, nonutilitarian use of electricity at an exorbitant cost to all of us, directly or nondirectly.
Think of all of that and more! Now, can you honestly tell me that the popular Christmas observances are helping to save and preserve our Earth? I say it all adds up to the unnecessary use of our valuable natural resources, an increase in global warming, and a hastening of the destruction of our planet Earth!
To all those who are destroying our planet through the guise of Christmas celebrating energy-wasting Christmas displays, zoo lights, and the like, I say:
Bah! Humbug!

Government Mortgage Bailouts: Welfare for Big Business

I don't know about you, but I think all this stuff about the government helping people save their homes by providing government financial assistance is a bunch of crap. The bottom line is that it really is a form of welfare to the mortgage industry -- banks, financial institutions, speculators, and the like.
Think of it. Who really benefits from the government intervention? I say let the mortgage industry eat it all up! Let that industry lower its rates or let them get stuck with all the homes they want to forclose upon but cannot sell. Do you really think the mortgage industry really wants all those homes? I think not. If the government does not intervene, the mortgage industry will have to negotiate new rates with homeowners or the mortgage industry itself will go bancrupt.
Read this just for enlightenment.

Jack Ford: Volunteer or Politician?

It is possible to wear many hats and serve many roles concurrently. I
should know; I've been there, and I've done that. And, so has Jack
Ford, who is a citizen activist, community volunteer, educator, and
politician. Those are all roles with which I can identify and
appreciate.
I read about Toledo City School Board member Jack Ford
in this interesting newspaper article. I have
known Jack Ford for a couple decades. I met him before he was a Toledo
City Councilman, before he was a member of the Ohio House of
Representatives, and before he was Mayor of the City of Toledo. From
time to time, I have had some minor differences of opinion with Jack
Ford, but nothing really monumental. And while there may have been some
occasions in which I have been questionable of him, I have never
doubted his sincerity and commitment to community service. In fact, I
respect his dedication to public service and the community.
His
involvement as a volunteer serving in the capacity of development
director with the Kidney Foundation of Northwest Ohio and as
a member of Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease is
just the latest in his long list of organizational involvements that
demonstrate his desire to be of service. I tip my hat off to Jack Ford
in appreciation of his community, civic, and charitable service.

Ohio Republican State Legislators: Criminals or Not?

The recent actions of the Republican members in the Ohio General Assembly have left me aghast and more aghast.
Are there many elected Ohio Republican criminal state legislators, a few elected Ohio Republican criminal state legislators, or no elected Ohio Republican criminal state legislators?
We may never know the answer.
Read the Glass City Jungle blog entry of Lisa Renee entitled "GOP blocks criminal checks for legislators."

The Grinch Of Reality

‘Tis the season that many people become more charitable.
‘Tis also the season that many charities prey upon susceptible people.
I’ve never agreed with the folks who think about helping others at specific times of the year. You know of whom I write.
You know – the folks that want to give out food baskets during Thanksgiving and at Christmas. Heck, people are hungry year ‘round. Having served with the “Feed Your Neighbor” program, the Old Newsboys Goodfellows Association, and other charitable organizations, and having worked in the social work field for many years, not to mention having been raised in a poor family that received food through the now defunct government surplus food commodities program for the needy, trust me, I know. And if there were not enough ‘hand-me-down’ clothes for all of us as kids, we went to the thrift shop for the rest of our clothing needs.
Incidentally, the Feed Your Neighbor program is a 100% charity that helps feed people all year round. The Old Newsboys Goodfellows is also a 100% charity that helps out with coats, gloves, shoes, etc. all year long, not just during the holiday season.
I really do not understand the folks who seem to want to help the “less fortunate” only during Christmas with things other than food – things like toys. Oh yeah, that’s really going to help with food, clothing. and shelter!
Then there are the people who come to the rescue during a crisis such as a death or medical operation or whatever. Then all the individual fund raisers pop up all over the place just to help the impacted individual or family.
Not too long ago, there were a slew of benefit fund raisers and other solicitation efforts to assist the widow and two children of a murder victim. There was so much money raised, it was overflowing. Sounds great, doesn’t it? But I questioned it then and I question it now. Why? Because the widow and children received an extremely large amount of money from insurance and other death benefit policies and programs, as well as a sizable survivors’ pension that financially they entered the realm of the wealthy. What about all the other family survivors out there that receive nothing?
There are recipients of individual charitable efforts who actually wind up far better off financially after the efforts than before the efforts and who then have more money than most moderate income families. I draw the line at the point where the recipient can now drive the new fancy car, dine out at fancy restaurants, have all the latest fancy electronic gizmos, visit the casinos, and so on. I’ve seen that happen on several occasions.

Now if you haven’t already gotten all upset with me, let me say this:
I am strongly in favor of helping those who are in need of help. And, I have done so throughout my life. I am a believer in charitable efforts and causes. And, I have been active in those efforts and causes throughout my life.

So, what is my message? Simple. Help all you can throughout the year and throughout your life.

Before you start giving to this cause or that cause, and to this charity or that charity, make sure of a few things by getting answers to some questions, such as:
Is the cause legitimate?
If the cause is legitimate, are there other resources already available?
Is the charity a legitimate charity?
How much of the donations and contributions to the charity actually reach the intended recipients?

---- Are you getting the picture?

With all the means that are available nowadays, I suggest that you research charity ratings as a way to identify legitimate charities. There are several ways you can research charities on the internet.
Below are some of the more common websites that can help you:

Charity Navigator, Your Guide To Intelligent Giving
Charity Guide, Charity Ratings: Donate To A Good Charity, Not Just To A Good Cause
American Institute of Philanthropy, Helping You Give Wisely To Charity
Forbes.com, Most (And Least) Efficient Charities
US National BBB.org: For Charities and Donors, Better Business Bureau, Start With Trust.
Give.org, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Investigate Before You Donate

Learn the Newest DIRT

That's right. Do Toledoans and others want to know the newest DIRT?
I'm talking about the three newest members of Toledo City Council here.
Do you really, really want to know?
Okay. I'll start off with this:
D = Democrat Lindsay Webb
I = Independent D. Michael Collins
R = Republican Tom Waniewski
T = Toledo City Council
Now, let's get to the nitty-gritty.
All you need to do to learn the latest is click this.