Our Whole World

Retirement on Social Security? HaHaHa

2012-01-20T12:05:00.001-05:00

In the USA a lot of people didn't contribute enough to social security so they are now headed for social welfare or whatever miserable fate that the lack of money will deal to them.

If you have enough time to plan ahead and aren't already retiring soon then you have a chance.

There are several ways to invest that will pay off later with little to almost no risk.

Disclaimer:
I am not selling any investment portfolios here just offering ideas! The younger you are the easier it will be to set your self up for retirement.

I like one idea; judiciously buy collectibles for low money and after 50 years realize the current worth.

The web page How Can I Build A Nest Egg offers some good information.

Here's a tip stay away from Bernie Madoff... Oh never mind they got him already.

How To Kill Someone Legally

2012-01-17T23:11:00.001-05:00

Did I get your attention?
I am not a proponent of murder but there are laws defining lethal action in self defense.

Each state has it's own version of what are called "Castle Laws".
In some states, Texas in particular, if someone is breaking into your home and you feel that there is a threat to your and/or your family's life you can blow them to hell with a shotgun and it's OK.

You could use any weapon that would do the job if your life is really jeopardized by the armed intruder.

Some other states have a "Duty To Retreat" in some cases built into their laws. In that case the specifies when you would have to retreat from he situation first.

If you violate those laws you could face prosecution for self defense crimes.

All in all I suspect most courts would be sympathetic to you defending yourself if you were the victim of an armed home invasion.

It would be called defense of habitation and could in some cases include your workplace or car.

USA - Charity Tax Deductions

2012-01-14T09:28:00.000-05:00

You can get tax breaks for donations that you make to a charity.

It has to be a qualified 501(3)(c) charity.

At the Moose Lodge a group of us were talking about charities and the question was "Should I donate my car?"

There can sometimes be a donation tax benefit other than the deduction or tax allowance. Before you donate anything you have to know what donations are tax deductible.

Although I am not in the big money the good Doc Lowe asked "What is the maximum I can donate."

Many hospitals are 501(3)(c) charity qualified.

Lucky him to have so much money that it is a problem!

America's third world population struggling to survive

2011-12-20T06:27:00.003-05:00

The words in blue are links to relevant pages on another website.

In the USA there are ways to get food if you are going to go hungry.

You can get food stamps or SNAP (a food program) or the homeless who are in a different situation and cannot readily cook a meal can go to a free meal program.

Food banks are good especially if you have a stove and can cook.

You can help people by telling them where to go for assistance.

For the families who are homeless there is public housing.

People can get creative. They can look around and find an affordably priced used motorhome.Save money and park it somewhere for free or in a cheap location. It may have to be moved from time to time.

Poverty is the issue and it is becoming more of an issue everyday in America, the richest country on earth.

USA 2012 Mileage Tax Deduction Rates

2011-12-10T07:35:00.001-05:00

This might not excite you very much but there are new rates for mileage allowance for 2012.

If you are in business there are two ways to take a deduction for your vehicle.

One is straight mileage allowance and the other is depreciation.

If you want to deduct medical miles or moving miles or charity miles you can do that at a different rate.

Read all about it here:

www.taxman123.com/2012_mileage_allowance.html

Lipitor - Life and Death

2011-12-08T07:07:00.001-05:00

Roger Chartier - 12/8/2011

Pfizor invented Lipitor and they have had the world by the throat price wise.

It may be the best anti-cholestrol - statin drug on the market for most people who can take it but the price was absurd and so many people on fixed incomes who were strongly advised to take it by their doctor with prescription couldn't afford to pay over $120 a month for the drug.

Three years ago Lipitor, Pfizer’s #1 selling drug, raked in for $12.4 billion in revenue that year alone. That is billion, not million.

Here's the rub for Pfizer, the 7 year patent ran out last week and the generic (identical ) versions are cheaper.

If you pay cash it is cheaper but if you have insurance and your co-pay was $20.00, it now may be as low as under $4.00

So, how many people died because they couldn't afford their medication? I don't know but I am sure that it is a fact that someone had clogged arteries and died because they couldn't pay the exorbitant profit for the manufacturer.

I understand that the cost of research is high but there is a point where absolute corporate greed takes over.

The price fixers never look you in the eyes as you are dying in the hospital.
They have to look good in the eyes of share holders who don't care about anything but $$$$$$$$$$.

I am not a communist but it's hard to believe in capitalism when capitalism it bites you hard on the ass.

Pirates and a bottle of rum

2011-12-02T16:47:00.001-05:00

The old pirate song
"Yo Ho Ho And A Bottle Of Rum" is a real pirate sort of song with swashbuckling both implied and described.

It is the most fun song about death that I can think of.

"Fifteen men on a dead man's chest"...

Well, you know that a dead man's chest would be too small for fifteen men to stand on unless it referred to something else and that something else is a rocky island called just that.
"Dead Man's Chest."

Pirates often stashed their loot on small islands in hidden places.

Read the lyrics of the song and you'll get an idea what Robert Lewis Stevenson was writing about in his book "Treasure Island".

The website http://www.yo-ho-ho-and-a-bottle-of-rum.com/ is both hilarious and informative and a good source for more info about pirates and their shenanigans.

Email - Marketing - Newsletters - Great!

2011-11-21T17:41:00.001-05:00

The whole world is trying to make a buck and promote their band or website or restaurant or electrical contracting business or whatever.

So you put together a mailing list of customers and send out a newsletter or announcement of a sale going on.

How many of your emails end up in someone's spam box?

How many actually read the email? How many click on the ad in the email?

If you new you'd be in a very good position.

It could be that only 10 people out of the 250 that you sent it to actually read it.

This problem was really getting my goat so I was reading some information about email marketing.

I found an article by a woman who does this sort of thing all of the time,and she refers folks to this program called Aweber.

I looked at it (follow the link) and thought about it for a minute and then just jumped on the bandwagon because it was just what I wanted to be competitive and I love it.

I can see who opened the email and who just ignored it or deleted it.

There are really professional looking templates for newsletters that look like you know what you are doing.

They have something that will test your newsletter before you send it to see if it will raise a flag with the spam filters.

There are coupon templates and statistics to beat the band.

You can read more about it on www.Mail-Room.biz as well.

Information & Things - Getting There From Here

2011-11-18T21:29:00.001-05:00

Getting information from here to there is easier than ever with the advent of the internet and email.

We also have to get letters and packages around the world.

There are physical mail and package and freight delivery, global shipping companies, the US Postal Service and couriers.

The word "Courier" comes from the French for "runner"

The drop dead gorgeous woman in the photo above is sending email across the globe and it gets there in split seconds using one of many email service providers.
Amazing!
Old folks are using email in nursing homes.

Kids learn about email in school now!

What'll they think of next?

You Might Become Homeless in America!

2011-11-13T09:26:00.001-05:00

This could happen to you if you don't figure out
what to do when you lose your job or when your unemployment checks run out.

There are things that you can do and
government programs to get you some money
to keep you out of harms way and safe.

Social-Security.biz has a great page on
homelessness and what to do.

SSI or Supplemental Security Income is a big part of the solution
for homelessness.

Take the time to read about it and maybe you will learn enough to
help someone who is in dire straights or yourself for that matter.

Hey! Need a bill of sale form?

2011-11-04T22:10:00.001-04:00

If you want to sell antiques to some jamoke down the street or at a flea market etc., it's a good idea to get a nice Bill Of Sale Form For Antiques to be sure to get all of the details straight.

Or maybe you are into motorcycles well then, here ya go pal!

Here is a Bill of Sale For Motorcycle form .

A very nice website also has forms for :

There are a lot of specifically designed "Bill Of Sale" Forms to choose from.

From Now On Sharia Law Will Rule Libya

2011-10-23T16:31:00.000-04:00

Here's another "I told you so" from this author an American, with my American point of view.

In recent conversations with people I kept saying something that has been mentioned in the media but with little emphasis. "

After the dictator whom-ever he/she is finally is gone will it be better?" Most likely not.

Look at Egypt... a real let down there. At least we didn't have troops on the ground etc.

The Libyan transitional government leader Mustafa Abdul-Jalil ( On the left) said in a public speech in Libya that Islamic Sharia law is the "basic source" of legislation in the country from now on.

Gaddafi before he was killed. Although
he looks sort of pasty and dead already.

Existing laws that are in contradiction with all teachings of Islam will be nullified.

Then he told the Libyans not to fire in the air but to shout God is Great - "Allahu Akbar".

This was followed by a demonstrative religious gesture of kneeling and praying for thanks to Allah for the success of the revolution.

I notice that he didn't offer a prayer of thanks to the, French, British, or USA without whom the revolution would not have even been a remote possibility. Now he is effectively spitting in our faces.
But we make nice to get the oil. OK.

But don't forget when sharia law comes down on their heads you had better not be working in that country or you could be stoned to death for some unimaginably insignificant action or lack of one.

Today, 10/23/2011 it was reported that Hamid Karzai stated that if there were an unlikely confrontation between Pakistan and USA, Karzai and Afghanistan would side with Pakistan against USA.

Thanks a lot for 9 years our soldiers dying and of country building with billions and billions of dollars of our tax money spent to raise that country up from the stone age that the Taliban had brought it into.

Remember Mogadishu? We were trying to feed starving people and the Muslims were killing us as a thank you gesture.

Our foreign military involvements and generosity appear to be humanitarian and end up biting us on our asses in the end.

There is one case after another proving this point.

It's a damned shame that we can't be effective abroad. If the goal is to have more influence in other countries we are going about it the wrong way.

We should stay at home and worry about our own problems.

I could find a lot better ways to spend the money for sure.

Freedom Of The Press Comes To Libya

2011-10-13T06:40:00.000-04:00

Like an explosion, the Libyans have gone all out and started publishing newspapers and magazines as an expression of their new found freedom like kids let out to the playground.
In mid October of 2011 Benghazi has 120 new publications.

The first publications were more expressions of outrage at Ghadaffi but now they are covering every subject as well as criticism of government that had been restricted in the past under the dictator, Mr G.

Most publishers are new to the game and come from many different backgrounds. Some are still holding onto their day jobs.

The new found freedom of expression has brought out a lot of peoples opinions but I predict that publishing in general will return to a more sustainable level as many will cease to exist when they can't subsidize themselves any longer.

At least for now people are saying what they want to say... for now until government gets a tighter rein on the press. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

The masses prefer freedom.

Does Revolution Give Us A Better World?

2011-10-11T13:20:00.000-04:00

The mid-east is embroiled in revolution Egypt ousted Hosni Mubarak and while most cheered many are asking what will change.

Promises aren't being kept as usual but the military has become a dictatorship as usual when a country falls to the military.

So the people who demonstrated to oust Mubarak won and lost.

Is it better now?

Christians in Egypt are being murdered and churches attacked by Muslims.
It is a simmering religious war and the military is passively and actively on the side of the Muslim majority that represents 90% of the country.

Christians who demonstrate are being killed, shot with live ammunition for demonstrating...same old, same old.

Now what about Ghaddaffi old turf?

What are we to expect from the new regime.

Betcha it goes the same way but with a civilian government instead or maybe a combination of both and lots of retribution against perceived enemies and wholesale corruption.It seems that they all just can't help themselves.

Oh, and here's a real bad guy, massacres aplenty in Syria.

Al-Assad doesn't want to let go.

Although he's seen what has happened in Egypt, Lybia, Yemen and Tunesia he still thinks he will win the day.

He is a bad guy but how long is it before the possible fall of his and these other countries opens up an opportunity for a Taliban style government or Al Queda to take over.

The Muslims don't dare to argue with the religious right as their lives are at stake if they do.

"The eastern world it is exploding violence flarin' and bullets loading , even the Jordan River has bodies floatin'" - Barry Maguire - "The Eve Of Destruction".

Mileage Tax Deductions for USA

2011-10-06T09:43:00.005-04:00

Well, here it is, my rant about changes in the IRS allowance / mileage deductions for miles driven.

Our Dear Uncle Sam thought long and hard and came up with a nice solution to the misery of the expense related to operating a vehicle for business.

You can take the deductions for expense or a mileage deduction.

The mileage deductions for 2011 was set in 2010 but a mid-year change was announced in June.

The rates for business miles driven and moving and medical miles both have gone up!
Yippee (for those who take the deduction anyway)!
Here are the rates and you can read all about it.

The first 6 months - www.rc123.com/2011_mileage_tax_deduction

The mileage deduction allowance rate for July 1, 2001 until December 31, 2011
http://www.rc123.com/2011_mileage_tax_deduction_after_july1.html

It's worth the read.

2011-09-26T20:07:00.001-04:00

Texas Castle Law or Texas Castle Doctrine or as it is also known Texas Castle Bill is the law protecting a person who shoots someone who is committing certain crimes while in the home of the victim or on their property.

This article does not instruct by opinion or claim of law.
Read the actual law as it is written

A Texas man named Joe Horn, 61, had phoned police when he saw two men break into his neighbor's home through a window in the daytime. while on the phone with the 911 operator he loaded the shotgun shells into the shotgun and it can be heard on the 911 call.

At one point he said "Now they weregetting away with a bag of loot. "
The 911 operator told him "Don't go outside the house, you're going to get yourself shot if you go outside that house with a gun. I don't care whatyou think."

"You want to make a bet?" Horn replied "I'm going to kill them." then he did. Read the law for yourself and come to your own conclusions.

Hurricane Irene - damage and destruction on a small scale

2011-09-01T08:46:00.002-04:00

Hurricane Irene didn't do as much wind damage as expected but for the coastal maritime community it was still a problem.
In New Bedford , Ma. USA there were several boats damaged by the wind.

In one case a single boat got loose and tangled up with 3 other boats then dragged them all across the harbor to the shore and caused damage.
11 of the hundreds of boats in the harbor were reported to have gotten loose and ended up ashore.

The New Bedford-Fairhaven bridge was closed for three hours as one sailing vessel's mast snapped and lay across a small section of the bridge after it crashed into it.

This resulted in the exaggerated amount of time that it was closed due to possibly brain dead people just standing there staring and not taking the initiative to just push the aluminum mast aside. Gawkers were all over the place.... This is hearsay as I wasn't there at the time myself.

In one case while standing on a sidewalk at least 70 feet from the beach and behind a retaining wall the police pulled up with lights flashing and were almost in hysterics screaming at us to "Get Outta Here" as if we were about to be killed any second.

The 45 mile an hour wind gusts were just too much for them. Although it was barely enough to create white caps, the local cops seem to be living for the day when they might actually be needed for a real hurricane and were just rehearsing.

Here is a video of a beautiful sailing vessel, the "Satisfaction" out of Port Townsend, Washington getting beat up onto the rocks after it slipped it's mooring or anchorage, as well as some beachfront video.

In this video you can see that the wave action was in no way a threat to life and limb unless you couldn't swim and tried to drown yourself in it on purpose.

There was also some damage onshore as you can see in this set of
photos taken about the city of New Bedford.

All in all the worst problem was downed tree limbs and power outages that lasted a few days in some places.

Go here to see a bunch of photos of wind damage in the city

Go here to see video of a boat getting pummeled and whitecaps in the harbor.

Muammar Gadaffi - All shall be revealed in due time

2011-08-22T21:57:00.000-04:00

8 - 22 - 9:42 PM

I predict that they will find Muammar Gadaffi in the same hotel that the journalists are being held pretty much as captives in.

That trick was one that Saddam Hussein pulled when he was making his last stand before he ran away to hide in the hole in the ground next door to a shack.

Gadaffi's sons are also on the hunted list.

It is Ramadan and apparently Saif the hypocrite has gotten religion.

He has grown a beard sort of considering the genes from his father with the rat face beard it is a wonder that he could grow one.
He is thinner than he had been.
It could be from fasting during ramadan but it should be from his nerves being rattled.

His appearance on television as a happy go lucky guy is some seriously great acting.

Maybe someday if he isn't killed he can join a prison theatrical group. "The Hague Court Players".

Most of Tripoli is under rebel control and he is in denial.
the big question in my mind is ...

Will they loyalists hold the journalists as hostages as a last hoorah?

Could the press who are locked up in the hotel become a bargaining chip for the Gadaffi gang to have time to escape?
All shall be revealed in due time

The Eastern World It Is Explodin'

2011-08-13T10:47:00.000-04:00

Several years ago say 1980 or so it wasn't as bad as it is now in the "East" as far as social discord is concerned . In Our Whole World there is a crisis.

Since then of course the Arabs and Jews are still fighting and most likely will be at odds in word and deeds forever but places like Egypt were stable.

Lybia was the bad guy on the block but mostly kept to themselves other than the Lockerbie thing. Bad Ghadaffi.

Although it is questionable whether or not we should have gone into Iraq.

Saddam was an evil dictator king of guy and got captured and hung.

Pakistan is a phony friend with their own sneaky agenda.

Syria has exploded. Al Assad is killing his own people left and right.

I think that it's probably not a good time to vacation there.

Don't even vacation near the border of Iran or they'll kidnap you and carry you over the border and hold you in prison as a spy.

Yemen the hot bed of terrorism is in a political upheaval.
It would be suicide to go there for a fun vacation as well.

A few other local eastern countries have put down uprisings but the mood has changed and people are not happy with government. The issue of support for the rebels in all of these cases is whether or not they are good rebels or bad rebels.

Since Egypt has had the overthrow of Mubarack the Muslim brother hood who were marginalized at the time of the upheaval are coming to the fore.
Christians are being killed churches burned and there is a call for sharia law to take effect. I have a feeling that Egyptians who did the dirty work of dying for the revolution are pawns of fanatical muslims. There was a revolution and the results seem to be for the worse.

This could easily happen in all of the countries that are raging against the machine.
Keep up with the world news and learn about "Our Whole World website.

Irish Songs

2011-04-26T01:26:00.000-04:00

It is fun to play and sing familiar Irish songs.
Our Whole World (the website) has a page that is an index to several Irish songs with chords and lyrics.

You ought to check it out if you have any interest in Irish songs and having a good time. These are real pub singing songs at their best.

Here's a fun tune from the Songs Irish Chords on the website www.OurWholeWorld.com

All For Me Grog
CHORUS
            G                             C                 G
Oh it’s all for me grog me jolly, jolly , grog
                                        D
It’s all for me rum and tobacco
           G                                      C                        G
I’ve a spent all me tin with the lassies drinking gin
G                                  D7                             G
Oh across the stormy ocean I must wan – der
_______________________________________

Verses
G                                C                     G
Here is me coat me nobby knobby coat
                                                D
Me coat’s seen a lot of rough weather
              G                                          C                     G
For the sides are wore out and the back is flying about
            G                       D7                              G
Oh the lining’s looking out for better wea – ther…CHORUS

………………………………………………………

G                                       C                         G
Here are me britches me knobby knobby, britches
                                                  D
Britches a seen a lot of rough weather
            G                                                  C                         G
Oh the pouch is near wore out and the seat’s all flying about
              G                           D7                           G
And the knees are looking out for better wea-ther .CHORUS

……………………………………………………………….

G                               C                    G
Here is me shirt me nobby nobby shirt
                                                    D
Me shirt’s a seen a lot of rough weather
G                                                         C                             G
Oh the collar’s all worn out and the sleeves are flying about
G                                D7                          G
And the tails looking out for better weather……….CHORUS

..................................................................................

Free Printable 2011 Monthly Calendar

2011-04-21T19:04:00.001-04:00

FREE!!!
Free is good - we like free.

Download and print a free 12 page - 12 month 2011 calendar on your 8 1/2" x 11" paper.
Just staple the pages together.
Here are some notable holidays for 2011. Here's the link

January 1 - New Years Day
January 17 - MLK Day
February 2 - Groundhog Day
Bebruary 3 - Chinese New Year
February 14 - Valentine's Day
February 12 Lincoln's Birthday
February 21 - Washingon's B'day
March 8 - Mardi Gras
March 13 - Daylight Savings begins
March 17 - St. Patricks Day
March 20 -Spring Begins
April 1 - April Fools Day
April 2 - Good Friday
April 15 - Taxes Due unless Congress authorizes a change.
If you need an extension, the form you need to use is the Form 4868 download it here
April 20 - Holocaust Remembrance
April 22 - Earth Day
April 24 - Easter
April 29, Arbor Day
May - 5 Cinco De Mayo
May 8 - Mother's Day
May 20 Armed Forces Day
May 30 - Memorial Day
June 14 - U. S. Flag Day
June 19 - Juneteenth
June 19 - Father's Day
June - 21 Summer Begins
July 1 - Canada Day
July 4 - U.S. Independance Day
September 5 - Labor Day
September - 11 -Grandparents day - begins National Assisted Living Week
September 11 Patriots Day
September - 23 Autumn Begins
October 10 - Columbus Day - Thanksgiving Day (Canada)
October 31 - Halloween
November 1 - All Saints Day (Daylight Savings Ends)
November 8 - Election Day US
November 11 - Veterans Day (Rememberance Day Canada)
November 24 - Thanksgiving USA
December 20 - Chanukah
December 22 - Winter Begins _Winter Solstice - shortest day of the year
December 24 - Christmas Eve
December 25 - Christmas Day
December 26 - Kwanzaa begins
December 31 - New Years Eve

this is the end of the list of dates of holidays in USA

1901 - Whaling ships at what port?

2011-04-18T23:30:00.002-04:00

New Bedford is the answer! The Whaling City was the #1 port for whale oil and ambergris.

Before the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania, whale oil lit the lamps of the world.

It was the cleanest burning oil and considered the best of all.
New Bedford became wealthy because of that.

Here is you chance to learn a bit more about that famous city.

http://www.whalingcity.net/picture_whaling_ships_new_bedford_1901.html

Motorcycle Weather - Camping and Riding

2011-04-09T11:25:00.001-04:00

Time is now to get the motorcycles out of the garage and ready to rumble.
I am seriously planning this summer's camping trips.
Check out this website for a really comprehensive look at what you need to go motorcycle camping.

www.motorcycles123.com

Odd News

2011-04-04T22:56:00.000-04:00

Usually the news is a mixture of what can be most hyped to get ratings or sell newspapers.

The odd stuff is sometimes the fun stuff.

Odd news makes for light reading when the day has been too long and too stressful.

Sometimes I don't want to read about who just massacred thousands of innocent people or what airplane crashed killing hundreds or even worse the political fray as it plays out in the media.

So in the end, I resort to the Odd News page on the www.OurWholeWorld.com website, the parent of this blog.

Today for example a "Giant Yellow Teddy Bear" was big but odd news from New York.

I haven't read the story yet but I will just as soon as I finish writing this blog.

Nuclear Disaster

2011-03-31T22:18:00.000-04:00

Note:
There is a web page out there written by author Leopold Boucouvalas with an article about the nuclear radiation issues and possible danger to humanity.

This is a forward thinking author who has taken a look at the issue in and interesting way.

I can only suggest that you read the full article so that you can come away with a better understanding of the situation we are faced with today.

The Title is "Nuclear Nightmare - We Are All Going To Die"

The article touches on the history of nuclear energy and the problems specific to the process of it's development.

A Tirade Against Muammar Gadaffi

2011-03-30T23:14:00.003-04:00

So this guy is a real bad guy.
His forces have murdered, tortured raped and pillaged and cause general mayhem in his own country.

I want to write more about him but to tell the truth, you can read a very good tirade about this whole deadly fiasco on this web page
http://www.rc123.com/muammar_gaddafi.html

Motorcycle Camping Trip

2011-03-28T00:20:00.001-04:00

Oh it is sooo much fun to just go off on an adventure on a motorcycle but best to be prepared.

Camping on a road trip is a great way to save money.
Camping is cheaper than a motel/ hotel fee.

The cost per mile for gas is also a lot cheaper.

So there it is you've saved money right off the bat by planning a motorcycle camping vacation.

You can read about tips and tricks to save yourself from some misery at www.Motorcycles123.com

The page on camping has some nice photos as well.

Gadaffi - Kaddahfi - Quadafy

2011-03-22T09:51:00.001-04:00

An asshole by any other name would stink just as bad.

So the guy is an evil doer. Pretty much the whole world agrees. Why does Russia and China and a few others decline from the military assault to aid the rebels and save women and children from the massacre? Why doesn't the Arab league fully and wholeheartedly endorse the mission.

I think that the Russians and Chinese just resent us because we are the big boy on the block and they wish they were.

The Arabs all have plenty of skeletons in their closets. Just about every Arab country is a dictatorship and is oppressive in many ways. None of them want to be next to fall although just about all of the Arab countries are showing signs of internal revolt.

As soon as the Arab leaders realize that Twitter, Facebook and all social web based media has opened the eyes of a whole new generation of people in their countries to "What could be" as opposed to "What is", they will find ways to crack down on social web based media.

Myanmar really sucks as far as personal freedom is concerned but then so does at least half of the countries in the world. The next decade will bring huge change - I can smell it. It is in the air.

w-9 Tax form in English and Spanish for 2011

2011-03-19T12:39:00.000-04:00

From time to time you run across a useful website.

I like to bookmark sites that I will refer to again in the future.

This time I was looking for tax information and found the web pages I needed at www.TaxMan123.com

What I wanted was to print a W-9 form for 2011 and also one for a friend who needed to get a few Spanish W-9 forms.

The website www.TaxMan.com has supplied me with a lot of good tax info and always easy to understand.

2011 Tax forms have changed and I can print a lot of them at that site.

Mileage tax allowance by the IRS - Deduct miles driven

2011-03-05T01:44:00.001-05:00

Last year you may have driven an amount of miles for business or medical

or charitable purposes.

If so you can take a deduction ! Isn't this great news?

For a lot of people it is.

Any chance to save money on taxes is a good thing.

Check the 2010 deduction and if it's too late and you have already filed well plan ahead as we are already in

2011 and you need to keep records of the miles driven for whatever purpose you choose to take a deduction

for. So check on the 2011 mileage deduction rates

Tax Time - Everybody Hates Tax Time - How to Not Get Screwed.

2011-02-25T09:39:00.001-05:00

The only people who like the tax season are the accountants and tax professionals because their income jumps up.

For us non professional tax people there are some good ways to be informed as to how you can save money.

People who "Do" taxes for you often don't look hard enough for the legitimate deductions that you can get. They charge a flat fee and just want to get you done and out of the office with your check in hand.

If you know enough about these deductions you can tell them and they will have to respond.
So, to look good in your eyes now they start to actually do what they are paid for - save you money with legitimate deductions.

Do you know what your mileage allowance is for 2010?
How about mileage deduction for 2011?

The standard deduction for 2010 is $11,400 for married couples filing a joint return, and qualifying widows and widowers. $5,700 for singles and married individuals filing separate returns. $8,400 for heads of household.

If you are over 65 it is different. The facts are available at www.TaxMan123.com
It is a very easy to understand website for us regular folks - my friends like it because it is practical and gets to the point in a way that most anybody can understand.

Down By The Glenside and more Irish song Lyrics and Chords

2011-02-19T11:15:00.004-05:00

Irish songs are fun and for St. Patricks day. You can learn a bunch of them.

I've got the lyrics and chords to many Irish songs on the website www.OurWholeWorld.com

Go to the index page for the Irish songs lyrics and chords.

Our friend here Irish Joe loves to sing and dance as well to the old Irish tunes of the olden days in Eire.

Down by the Glenside lyrics and chords and many more Irish song lyrics and chords.

Come St. Patty's day I'll say "Cheers to all of you and have a glass with me!"

Homepage website. www.OurWholeWorld.com

2011-02-13T12:17:00.005-05:00

Now here is a handy (if I must say so myself) website.

The home page is a perfect homepage for people to use as their homepage everyday.

It has links into what most people need.

Looking for maps and directions? Ok right there on www.OurWholeWorld.com .

There are many many links to what we use everyday including many news sources and RSS feeds as well as cheap gas, email, Facebook, Craig's List, driving directions.

There are several pages of lyrics and chords to songs.

The lyrics and chords to the Star Spangled Banner is available in several different keys.
(hint to those people who really shouldn't have butchered it)

It is an amazing homepage type portal to the world. I hope you enjoy it.

Shoot somebody on your property - Texas Castle Law

2011-02-07T10:36:00.003-05:00

Say an armed evildoer broke into your house with the possible intent of harming you.

They could also want to violate your wife or husband or child and/or perhaps steal and rob you. etc.

Depending on the details of the situation and if you live in Texas, under certain circumstances you can shoot them.

It has been done and the law covers it.

The Texas Castle Law or Texas Castle Doctrine or Texas Castle Bill is the document to study if you want to know more.
Here is a sample:
(a) Except as provided in Subsection (b), a person is justified in using force against another when and to the degree the actor [he] reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to protect the actor [himself] against the other’s use or attempted use of unlawful force. The actor’s belief that the force was immediately necessary as described by this subsection is presumed to be reasonable if the actor: Read more

Money To Pay The Bills

2011-02-06T02:04:00.006-05:00

I'm sure that most of you readers could use a few bucks to pay your bills and most of us know someone who is in a bit of financial trouble.

If you do, be a friend and forward the link to them. www.moneytopaythebills.com

The website offers a lot of different ideas about how to generate money and some good advice.

You don't need to sign up for anything or buy anything or give out your email address because they don't ever ask for it.

It's a lot of creative and helpful advice and ideas about how to generate some money for bills.

So many people are out of work and desperate.

It is terrible for a person who always could generate and income to be humiliated by poverty.

Check it out for yourself. It can't hurt.

I get a kick out of some of the ideas! www.moneytopaythebills.com

Down By The Glenside Bold Fenian Men (chords)

2011-01-28T10:11:00.007-05:00

The song Down By The Glenside was written sometime around 1916 by Peadar Kearney. He was a supporter of the Irish republic to say the least.

The song lyrics and chords are available on.
www.ourwholeworld.com/down_by_the_glenside.html

Good old Peadar was a rebel ( a Fenian) and wrote a lot of other Irish Rebel songs. You can find a version of "Down By The Glenside" recorded by the vocal group "Cherish The Ladies"

For this and a lot of other Irish lyrics and chords visit the website. www.ourwholeworld.com/irish_lyrics_and_chords.html

Pictured here on the right is the world famous Leprechaun Joe. A real live person!

Stinky Feet

2011-01-27T11:01:00.003-05:00

I love this web page it's about stinky feet.
Cure Foot Odor

So the truth is in warm weather and/or if you exercise or whatever it takes to sweat in your shoes, you can build up a pretty good aroma in your shoes.

This is really interesting because I never thought it would be so simple to cure smelly feet and get the stink out of your shoes.

Stinky foot info - what a laugh but useful information.
Pass it along to your facebook pals or whatever.

Everybody knows someone with foot odor.
www.rc123.com/cure_foot_odor.html

Congressional Reform Act 2011

2011-01-19T16:27:00.015-05:00

Some of the points made in the proposed

Congressional Reform Act of 2011 are incorrect.

I am not taking political sides in this debate but,

the truth is the truth.

Take a look, click on the link to the web page and scroll down

the page. Consider the opinions.

Just because a lot of people say it - doesn't mean it is true.

http://www.rc123.com/congressional_reform_act_2011.html

Too often people start spreading bad information around and so many people

read it and repeat it that it is considered to be truth.

Well, in this case it is not the truth.

2011-01-09T19:54:00.003-05:00

The Declaration of Independence is the foundation document of the great nation
The United States of America.

If not for this we would be still tithing to the King or Queen of England.

Most of us have never read this profound document. Well guys and gals here's our chance. you can see a free printable and readable version of it at www.RC123.com/declaration_of_independence.html

Deduct mileage from taxes

2010-12-22T06:37:00.003-05:00

It only makes sense to save money and those of us who drive miles for business , charity or medical purposes really should. Why pay more taxes than you have to?

The I.R.S. decides the rates yearly and wading through the complexities can be frustrating so here is the information, boiled down to what it does for us in more understandable terms.

The rates for deductions taken for the year 2010 are www.rc123.com/2010_mileage_tax_deduction.html

Lucky for us the changes in deductions for the tax year 2011 are available on
www.rc123.com/2011_mileage_tax_deduction.html
this way we can plan ahead. Hey save some money already!

TAXES --- HELP!!!!!

2010-03-28T20:46:00.004-04:00

I hate the bother of filing but we must all do our part.

It is tax time for the last minute holdouts.

You had better get your butt in gear to file because procrastination may leave you with little time for an accountant to get your "stuff done".

I was a bit worried and went to www.taxman123.com to find some forms and info on deductions that I needed.

Phew! Getting it done and filed will be a relief.

TAX SEASON - OH NO!

2010-03-13T08:20:00.002-05:00

Yessiree Bob!
It is time to get your paperwork organized and get those tax deductions.

Lucky for us there is site that has some excellent tips about how to save by deducting mileage.
You may be surprised to know how much money you can deduct for miles driven in 2009.
For those who like to plan ahead you can start logging your 2010 IRS mileage deduction now .

If you think that you pay a bit more in taxes than you think that you should
check this site www.Taxman123.com for great info.

Here you can download some current IRS forms and have what you need on hand to get going on saving the money that you have earned.
Happy Tax filing

History is interesting ... New Bedford, Ma.

2010-02-15T00:29:00.005-05:00

New Bedford, Ma. wasn't the only city to have street urchins selling newspapers when they were 7 years old but it was one of them.

The city of New Bedford has an interesting history.

Let me invite you to take a look at some very old photographs and pictures from long ago and read about the history of the city from 1602 until current times. here's the link to a great site for history
www.WhalingCity.net

History of New Bedford, Massachusetts

2010-01-23T10:14:00.002-05:00

New Bedford is known as the Whaling City and the first European to arrive there as far as we know was a Captain Gosnold and his crew who first landed on Cuttyhunk Island in 1602; it all starts there.

Read about the fascinating adventures of the founding families, whaling, textile and fishing industries and the chronological development of the city. It is a very interesting read.
There are quite a few illustrations. After the mid 1800's there are photographs.
Adventure awaits you at www.WhalingCity.net

2009-08-21T07:47:00.002-04:00

So I started off at 5:24 AM on August 17 (Monday) and crossed to the border at Newport VT. at 10 AM.

I followed the GPS and/or my nose off into the countryside for several hours until I got to a point where I realized that my steering was locking up at about 25 MPH . Couldn't turn the handlebars left or right and could only steer by leaning the bike. Below 25 MPH is got better and the pressure on the steering bearings was reduced ( I think) and I could make turns.

Well that sucked so I called Ernie Dube my pal who is a great motorcycle mechanic and we talked. He suggested a few things and we ruled them out so he concluded that the steering head bearings were bad, I agreed.

I ended up using my GWRRA gold book ( It's a great resource) to find the local Goldwing repair place. It was about 25 miles away in Victoriaville. A mechanic weighing about 125 lbs the most got on it and had no problem.

He really couldn't diagnose the problem and blamed it on a weight imbalance in the back and thought that the front wheel wasn't touching the ground ???. I suspect that although he is of superb French Canadian heritage he was partially brain dead. That can't lock the left/right turning of the bike.

I told them I wanted to change the steering head bearings and they said it would be 3 or 4 days to get parts and fix it. I was not looking forward to the prospect of finding a hotel or campground with no transportation for 4 days. I figured that if I drove the major highways and came home I would not encounter any really bad turns that I had to take at speed above 25 MPH the exits were either below 25 MPH and or I leaned through them. It is nerve wracking to ride at 65 MPH and have no ability to turn the wheel at all but you can get used to it, . You have to lean left and right to turn. I managed to stay in the lanes that had less traffic. The worst turn was the on-ramp getting onto Rt 140 off of Rt 24. I got home at 10:35 PM with 807 miles driven. 17 hours and 11 minutes vacation. I really never want ride with the steering like that again. Canada was nice though. I will be back for sure. I met some nice people up there. I had been planning this vacation for a year and it has all gone to hell on me. Ernie Dube has ordered parts and he'll get the bike back in shape. Yay Ernie!

Later... Roger

Tax filing panic

2009-03-29T16:29:00.003-04:00

Well, so many of the folks out there haven't filed their taxes yet. Questions about what to do are often overwhelming.

The IRS can help you, but a lot of questions about deductions can be answered here at the web site www.taxman123.com

You can really save money by knowing the tax savings tricks and so there are a bunch of pages on taxes that are easy to understand here www.rc123.com/tax_information_links.html

I can tell you that there are great deductions for home office and the IRS will even help you if you need it with online tax help..
There are great tips here for musicians on these three pages, click the numbers . 1 2 3

You can file for a tax filing extension but personally I'd rather not create more paperwork for myself.

So make sure you get off your butt and get it done if you haven't already.

Surprise? Irish Songs are most popular this week!

2009-03-20T22:23:00.004-04:00

This is not me in green but it is Leprechaun Joe!

I was looking at the page view statistics for the OurWholeWorld.com
website and I noticed that this week the #1 most popular page on the site
was the Songs Irish Chords page.

Considering that it is the week of St. Patty's day I guess a lot of people
were searching for Irish songs to sing.

I played 4 different one hour shows that day myself.
( I am a musician and singer solo act).
I spent more time driving to each gig than actually playing.

Back to the statistics...
The most popular song searched for was "Down by the Glenside" so who would have thunk it!
I would have thought "Danny Boy" might have been a more popular choice but no.
So it just goes to show ya! Well nevertheless it is a bit belated but you can find a bunch of
Lyrics and chords for Irish songs on the "www.ourwholeworld.com" website.

A few of my favorites are "The Wild Rover" and "Mairie's Wedding" and "I'll Tell My Ma", as
well as, well just about all of them.
If you have any interest in Irish traditional songs then spend some time there and you can learn
the lyrics and play the chords for them. The best part is the price... $0.00

Senior citizens need entertainment too!

2009-02-04T21:00:00.003-05:00

I have a lot of responses from folks on the website www.seniorsentertainer.com
Apparently there are a lot of musicians and entertainers that would like to learn the ins and outs of the nursing home entertainer business.
It isn't just for entertainers but for activity directors as well.
The purpose of the site is to get people to respond to the site with opinions and ideas about how to better entertain the elderly.
In the website I teach newcomers to the business the basics and several have thanked me and told me that they are inspired by the info and will be getting into the business. After looking at the site if you have any good ideas let me know. The email address is there in a Contact Roger link. Be nice to old people you will be one someday.

Health News on ourwholeworld.com

2009-01-10T10:14:00.003-05:00

www.ourwholeworld.com has a great health news page the has the latest info and news rss feeds about your health. www.ourwholeworld.com/health_news.html
It's important to keep up on your health news and to maintain your good health. Do you have a healthy diet? Can you cook healthy foods? Do you suffer from priapism? There are many health products and sources of information that will possibly save your life. You might find a cure there. Sufferers of headaches, cancer, diabetes, skin conditions, cold, flu, irritable bowel syndrome, hypochondria, inflamed aureole, phimosis, gastric disorder, sexual problems, eye health issues, hearing loss, gangrenous toes, rectal bleeding, menstrual problems, hair loss, mental health issues, erectile dysfunction, swollen glands, mumps, hysteria, dysentery, Clauson's syndrome, leprosy, chronic priapism, sinus headache, sinusitis, vitamin deficiency, and specifically bad breath also known as halitosis, could find helpful resources and information here. Do you suffer from tooth decay? It is common amongst those who have teeth. Do you have loose bowel mass? Are you constipated? Perhaps you need a thorough colonic cleansing. Remember to wash your hands after you touch yourself. Be well. Laughter is the best medicine.

The Our Whole World website

2009-01-06T12:54:00.004-05:00

www.ourwholeworld.com
Here is the website that I use as my home page.
There is so much info on it that I can't explain it all . Pay it a visit and look through the pages. It's like a refdesk and news resource as well as a great home page with links to things that you use everyday. Scroll down to the bottom and find great links and widgets . Why read this ? Just go there now. You'll be glad that you did.

Columns and Commentaries

2009-01-01T22:07:00.003-05:00

Here is a web page that lists so many links of columnists that influence our whole world. If you get hooked on reading some of the commentaries you may have to come back everyday for a "fix". Getting various opinions on world events helps to form a more educated opinion and point of view for yourself.
This is definitely a page to bookmark.

http://www.ourwholeworld.com/columns_and_commentary.html

Musical entertainment for old people

2008-12-24T23:58:00.003-05:00

If you want to know how to entertain old folks and the senior citizen set you have to check out this site. www.seniorsentertainer.com there is lots of info about how to be an singer musician entertainer type and how to earn money doing it.
This site has good ideas about how to do everything that you need to do from what instruments to use to what songs to play.
There are great ideas about theme parties etc.
Have fun!
Roger

Kids Songs

2008-12-15T18:49:00.003-05:00

It is fun to sing and it's especially nice when family members sing together.
In the old days people sang at home and played piano and banjo or guitar etc. in the parlor.
There was no TV or internet so people had to actually interact with other live human beings...
Well, I was thinking about kids singing and I figured that it would be good to let you in on the web site page that has a bunch of kids song lyrics and chords
on it. http://www.ourwholeworld.com/kids_songs.html
HaVe FuN

Sell Your Jewelry

2008-11-23T19:44:00.002-05:00

Some serious scams out there! I don't think I could be stupid enough to send my gold in an envelope and trust some company that melts the gold to give me a fair shake.

Here is an objective article about how to sell your jewelry without getting cheated. Now is a time when a lot of people are worried about getting some money to pay the bills. This article doesn't ask you to do anything but it is an objective view of ways to sell jewelry. I am sure that at least you will learn some useful facts about jewelry.
Let me know what you think.

http://www.moneytopaythebills.com/sell_your_jewelry.html

Money to pay the bills

2008-11-21T12:17:00.003-05:00

You can go to this site and learn news ways to get extra money or submit your ideas for ways to earn extra money for what ever.
http://www.moneytopaythebills.com There even is a panic button on the bottom of the first page..
It's cool!

People are getting nervous about money

2008-11-11T20:31:00.002-05:00

So a lot of folks are getting nervous about money. The panic is on! Jobs are getting scarce and money is getting scarcer. There are those who are thinking about getting a second job or starting a sideline business.
Some people are hoping to get some overtime at their jobs. Start scrimping people because nothing is funny about a recession and the economic disaster that we are facing. I did some researching. Take a look at this site. www.moneytopaythebills.com
There is some hopeful information there. The tax situation is going to be important because we need to be aware of where we can save money. Here are some good pages on tax info.
We'll need to be prepared for the future.
www.rc123.com/irs_2009_tax_deductions_page1.html There is a link to a page about mileage tax deductions... Oh heck here it is... very good info. I was really glad that we can get such a good deal. for 08 mileage deductions.
http://www.rc123.com/2008_mileage_tax_deduction.html
The situation for the next few years makes me want to start stockpiling can goods.
Perhaps President Obama can help us despite the odds.

Obama and Colin Powell

2008-10-20T03:53:00.002-04:00

This is my honest and objective opinion.
When Colin Powell first emerged in the national spotlight with the first Bush wars, I didn't agree with the political policy going on but I did learn that Colin Powell is beyond Republican and Democrat. He is honest. When driven by the Bush dishonesty policy and eventually realised the shennanigans going on with false intelligence etc. he quit. I always admired that.
He definitely is not a smarmy character like Dick Cheney. World leaders still respect Colin Powell.
I really do hope that our next President Barak Obama...
That's right, I said it . Today is October 20, 2008 and we haven't had an election but as mindless as many voters are America can't possibly elect McCain and the Palin. I am confident he will win. I am worried that some hate monger will try to assassinate him. Remember Jack and Bobby and Martin?
Back to Obama.
I have never been a socialist or a communist but looking at the Canadian government model and the UK's and Sweden and many other models of government used by the countries with the higher standards of living I have to admire their policy of taking care of the lower and middle income citizens better. Our balance of wealth has become very top heavy. Government is in place to be for the people so someone in government has to adjust the situation so that we don't starve and end up in a depression again.
I would be dead and or have lost my home if not for the Massachusetts healthcare plan which is similar in some ways to Canada's.
I get hate e-mails from a McCain supporter and yet her family barely gets by financially.. Duh! She had better learn... I have to tell her to think! In the end, who's your daddy going to be? Sadly McCain has trouble standing up and remembering what he is talking about. I hate to be like all of the negative folks at election time but he appears to have early alzheimers. So, Sarah in the White house. She just isn't intelligent or well spoken enough to lead. McCain having made that choice of VP showed that he does have poor judgement and obviously didn't do enough vetting in her case.
Ok Enough for now.

My latest work

2008-02-22T10:56:00.002-05:00

I have just recently changed servers for my web sites. I rebuilt them with "Dreamweaver" software.

"Frontpage" software isn't being made any longer and I wanted to upgrade so that's that.

Check out the sites and if you have any constructive suggestions let me know.

www.ourwholeworld.com

www.sailorsongs.com

www.rogerchartier.com

My Nimbit Store

2008-01-07T20:42:00.000-05:00

Hui-Ling Needlecraft

2007-12-10T11:25:00.000-05:00

The wife's work with stitchery.

Lolita and Motorcycles

2007-10-25T10:04:00.000-04:00

10/25/07 Lolita and motorcycle maintenance.

Having sworn to never read another Russian author again, I still kept noticing that black cloth, hard bound “Lolita” on the top of the sock and underwear chest in my living room. It isn’t a long novel like the “Gulag Archipelago” or “War and Peace” or my last Russian brain torture tome “Crime and Punishment” but Russian nevertheless. I think it can sit there for a while longer. I had started reading it for the 2nd time after many years and it’s more interesting than the others in some way but…

The Russians don’t have a monopoly of drawn out tedium.

“Zen and the art of motorcycle Maintenance” seemed innocent enough.

I am currently in my first year of my riding obsession and more than a mere motorcycle enthusiast. An American author wrote the book. I looked at the cover and it was a so far, so good situation so I decided to bring it home to read. Shortly after getting into it I realized that the author must have had a Russian bloodline hidden somewhere. There are parallel stories of the past and present and delusional insanity. I just wanted to feed my craving for travel and adventure and maybe learn something about on the road maintenance of my bike. Sure, changing the oil and beautiful scenery in America is buried in there somewhere along with lessons on dealing with a mentally ill son by the mentally ill father. The only other person who I know ever bought the book told me he could never get through it. I admit that I had to plow through it dying for some choice bits of actual sanity. Sometimes I’m stubborn about finishing books.

I’ll have to write “the book” myself. No Zen, not that there was anything about Zen in the book and not the same tedium but possibly the adventures of what I am going through with repairing my own 1980 bike and my travels. This summer I did a 3 day tour north through Massachusetts and up into the White mountains of New Hampshire. I love New Hampshire. The people are mostly very friendly and the natural beauty is inspirational. You can breathe. At home it was a ton of fun to get my daughter on the back of the motorcycle and go out into the countryside. She loved it. I’m so lucky to be able to connect with my 18 year old on any level. They mostly roll their eyes at every bit of advice or question that you have about their life so the riding was a great idea although once we did get caught without rain gear in a downpour while on Ocean Drive in Newport RI and rode the 25 miles home in pouring rain.

This started out to be an epic novel but I think I’ll just blog it instead.

Diana's Baths and my Suzuki gs750

2007-08-30T21:43:00.000-04:00

I had 3 days off and went up to New Hampshire for a vacation.
I haven't had a vacation in a very long time. I went to Diana's Bath's off West Side Rd in No. Conway amongst other places. Here is a pic of me taking a shower. A woman offered to take my picture and in the process stole the memory card out of my camera when I wasn't watching as you can see, I was occupied. (The 5 pictures she took were actually saved on the camera's limited internal memory then there was no more memory.) She shut off my camera and put it on my backpack and said that she had gotten a bunch of pictures.
I walked the .06 mile down the hill and decided to look at the day's pictures and "Voila" no card! It can't fall out by accident because it is too impossible as you have to open the door press it in then pull it out then close the door. (may she burn in hell)
I had taken 70 pictures up until then and lost them all.
One can only think that she was on vacation and her card was full so...

There was nothing else to do but get another one for $12.95 at the Staples in Conway... Bitch... she had a bathing suit on. I can only imagine where she put it.
I did have a great time and met some very interesting folks.

Kancamagus Highway is also very nice.

Paris sent back to jail

2007-06-08T16:04:00.000-04:00

Paris Hilton sent back to jail. haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha (gasp) haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha haha ...self centered little bitch

Personally I hope she gets her above the law, spoiled bitch attitude straightened out by some large butch sexual predator woman.

She had a great deal set already - 23 days. She gambled that a temper tantrum and some acting would get her a ticket to ride. Could it be paid for by mommy?
Now I wonder do you think her mommy bribed the sheriff?? Just wondering is all.

Falwell is dead, Hooray!

2007-05-15T16:46:00.000-04:00

This bloated pig was the leader of an immoral majority. He was a gay bashing anti everything anal sphincter.

Jerry the pig was constantly involved in very viscious condemnation of homosexuality, abortion and pornography. He acted as an evangelical right wing fanatic, who suckered millions of dollars out of weak minded people who fell for his line of crap.
His Liberty University ended up over $70 million in debt. also his "Old Time Gospel Hour" was $16 million in debt. Falwell's business associates began watching the purse strings and helped sucker companies into forgiving debts or writing them off.

Falwell's father and his grandfather were militant atheists, but unfortunately Jerry boy didn't follow in their footsteps, when he was in school he a prankster who was banned from giving his high school valedictorian's speech after he was caught using counterfeit lunch tickets his senior year.

He was a member of a gang of juvenile delinquents before becoming a born-again Christian at age 19.

Falwell created a big stink in 1999 when one of his publications suggested that that the purse-carrying "Teletubbies" character Tinky Winky was gay.
The man was truly a major asshole.

Two Bit Act - 4 27 07

2007-04-29T00:35:00.000-04:00

So Roger Chartier and Leo Dumas had a a lot of fun playing some great tunes from the past...
This was a opener for Octopus' Garden - They are a Beatles tribute band! They are great!
check out www.rogerchartier.com/two_bit_act.htm

2007-03-29T15:36:00.000-04:00

I went to Foxwoods (3/28/07) last night to see Edgar Winter up close ... as you can see. Later hung out with Mark Meadows the Bassplayer also known as the bass cowboy check it out. www.thebasscowboy.com

"Two Bit Act"

2007-03-22T07:49:00.000-04:00

"Two Bit Act"
Roger Chartier and Leo Dumas

We are having way too much fun playing
great songs from the past 50 years.
Leo 508 951-3216
ldumas@comcast.net
Roger 508 996-0495
roger@rogerchartier.com
Leo and Roger play guitars and sing live with the accompaniment of great backing tracks that they record themselves in Roger's studio.
Go To The Webpage. www.rogerchartier.com/two_bit_act.htm

Who said cats aren't loyal?

2007-01-11T09:49:00.000-05:00

Saddams beloved and playful cat "Deathsquad" never left his side.

The Unseen Beatles

2007-01-06T09:49:00.000-05:00


Unseen Beatles ! Timewatch documentary

My dad and me Christmas eve 2006

2006-12-29T22:58:00.003-05:00

This is pic of my dad and me on Christmas eve.
My mother has a tiny french horn on the tree as a decoration and I decided to "play "it.
My father Normand O. Chartier is only 84 years old.
I just saw CNN tonight(Dec 29) and Sadam Hussein has been hanged by the neck until dead... at least thats what they say. This calls for a party/celebration.
See you later, I have to go get a drink...
I borrowedand read my sister Melanie's copy of "The Mayflower" by Nathaniel Philbrick and it was a great book if you love history as I do.
I played in Plymouth today and went walking where some of the historic places mentioned in the book are.
Cool!

I love this guitar

2006-12-09T14:56:00.000-05:00

I love this Ibanez guitar. It's an Artcore model. I am using flat wound 4th, 5th and 6th strings.
For the 3rd string I found a company online who can sell me individual .22 unwound strings.
The 2nd and first are .16 and .11. so it's a jazzy feel but totally useful for a lot of styles and you get enough tension to finger pick without getting too mushy as a 009 - 042 set would.
The flat wound bit is great because it doesn't tear up the finger tips the way round wound strings do so you can play longer without getting ragged fingertips. After all these years I found that these heavier than usual strings are even fine for rock and roll because my hands are strong from the last 10 years straight of playing an acoustic 12 string and also recording bass parts all of the time.
This is not an expensive guitar but it has many attributes of a more costly one. Everytime I open the case at a gig I look at her and fall in love again. I'm a sucker like that for an instrument. My wife doesn't know about this love affair she thinks we are just good friends so shhhhhhhhh!

Molly the Goat and my friends Kate & Lloyd

2006-11-26T13:37:00.000-05:00

I met a lovely goat named Molly. In the evening I had dinner with my friends Kate and Lloyd and my wife Hui-Ling was there as well.

Beaver Brown Band

2006-11-19T11:21:00.000-05:00

Leo Dumas with severe hand cramp. Let's hope he has a speedy recovery.

John Cafferty and Michael Antunes of the Beaver Brown
Band

Me, Mao Tse Tung and Gu Zhengtian

2006-11-15T22:06:00.000-05:00

So it was an ordinary day in Shanghai with Mao and Zhengtian. I introduced Zhengtian to an American university physics prof via e-mail . I hope they get together with some back and forth e-mail to furthur science. Zhengtian is a laser physics fan and so is my new pal Mr. Wong.
I am hoping that there will be a new found glitch in physics whereby you can travel faster than the speed of light. They say it's impossible.
Ok ...going to watch Southpark and the Daily show. night night.

Nose to the grindstone (Melanie Chartier - artist)

2006-11-11T23:01:00.000-05:00

I like this illustration by my sister Melanie Chartier - www.melaniechartier.com
She is a very good artist and it's worth checking out her web site. She'll be featured on public television this month. She lives in East Sandwich on Cape Cod and is featured in local galleries there.
You must buy some of her art now as the value/and prices have gone up every season.

We haven't had a good impeachment lately!

2006-11-09T22:50:00.000-05:00

Now that the congress and the senate has a democratic majority do you think he is worried about getting dumped?

Does the word impeachment ring a bell?

Too bad the dems have already said they wouldn't... They could change their mind... Hmmmm
C'mon Nancy Pelosi... It's ok. Begin impeachment proceedings.
It would be fun!

Have you noticed that they all like to wag the finger.

I have a special finger for them...

George Bush had an enema

2006-11-08T17:19:00.000-05:00

George had an enema and look what came out!
This is and exciting day!
The pressure was too much ... so now we have one less arrogant dictatorial asshole in power.
I can't wait to see what Nancy Pelosi is going to do...
Go for the throat Nancy!

Like a good enema, democrats are there!

2006-11-08T02:15:00.000-05:00

Like a good, healthy enema, the Democrats have flushed out many of the corrupt and evil republicans.
Tomorrow will tell the final results (I hope) of the Senate race. 3 states still up for grabs.
If we are lucky we won't have a re-count. and the Dems will dominate. If the republicans end up in a situation where there is a tie then the prick Cheney will be the tie breaker as far as the law is concerned. Wouldn't that suck considering how much of an asshole he is? Our supreme court is already a piece of right wing crap...and they aren't going away soon.
Here is the rub... Unless you are wealthy you can't afford to be a republican. Most of us are not wealthy and the republican machine does not serve us at all. Those who beleive that the republicans represent a conservative moral guide for the country had better wake up and smell the meth, prostitution, mistresses, and hypocritical gay sex from those who purport themselves to be anti-gay conservatives who vote against gay marriage and many basic liberties, as well as the Abramoffites, fantastically big bucks CEO's etc., etc.
Have you noticed the incredible amount of money flowing into the hands of republicans in the form of profits generated by laws generated by republicans? The shit has to stop somewhere.
The decent societies in the world have free or nearly free health care as a basic element of their society. Many people can't afford essential healthcare and so they die and or are sick .
Many people in this country have pre-cancerous and other serious conditions that they can't afford to treat and just gamble on what will happen to them... they die.
Your life is at stake. Now is the time to get on the politicians asses about healthcare. Take a look at healthcare in Canada... very civilized.... Norway etc.
It's 2:30 AM I'm going back to bed. I couldn't sleep because I wanted to see what was going on with the election. Luck will be with me if I can get to sleep.

End The Republican dictatorship

2006-11-02T19:49:00.000-05:00

VOTE TO END THE REPUBLICAN DICTATORSHIP.

Our man

2006-10-31T22:42:00.000-05:00

Today our man went to sing and entertain some folks and of course several women fainted during the performance. He told everyone it was that they had suffered the vapors when we all knew it was their rapid, uncontrollable heart rate and the fierce passion caused by his mere presence in the room. He comforted several of them afterward. They swooned and fell to the floor at his departure. Alas, there was nothing that could be done for it.

2006-10-19T21:44:00.000-04:00

The rough Newport Rhode Island rocks on the coast of the Atlantic ocean was the setting for this fabulous portrait depicting the grandeur of our man of adventure in an heroic setting.
From this point he has gone off to rescue a ship load of beautiful maidens who were shipwrecked on Nantucket. Having been found in a pub and quite soused our man took them into protective custody and saved them from the advances of the natives.
Always a man of integrity, our hero will never admit to the stories oh his having romanced all of them aboard his vessel before sailing into New Bedford harbor and landing at the dock to the accompaniment of cheers and hoorahs from throngs of eager onlookers.
Much to their grief, he, a humble man stoically said farewell to the damsels and insisted that he could no longer stay with them as he was needed elsewhere.
And so our story goes...

2006-10-17T22:00:00.000-04:00

This is my uncle Roland Chartier in his VFW uniform. Born 1923...
He hasn't been too healthy lately. We all hope he sticks around a while longer.

After the Korean war he worked very hard as a welder to support his family. The family first lived in New Bedford then they eventually moved to Fairhaven, Ma.
He was a POW in Korea and did more than his share over there. He and my dad and their sister had a life during their first 20 years that would make "Angela's Ashes" seem like a day in the park.

Somewhere in Scotland.

2006-10-13T22:58:00.000-04:00

Does anyone know where this place is??? It is somewhere in Scotland. This is one of the homes in a small community the name of which has escaped me.
If you know it e-mail me at www.rogerchartier.com
There is a web site about it somewhere.
Thanks
Me

Lazzet and Alex have a birthday celebration

2006-10-09T20:18:00.000-04:00

So Lazzet Williams and Alex Donnelly celebrated their birthdays together today, October 9.
Her actual birthday was also celebrated with her incredibly wonderful, loving dad earlier as well. She is 17 years old and 1 year away from being independant although she is mentally independant as well as intellectually superior to many people around her.
Alex is in his second year of Providence College and a genuine studly guy with musical talent to boot. Let's see what the future brings for these bright shining stars.

Stones for Free1

2006-09-25T18:05:00.000-04:00

So, My pal Leo asked if I wanted to go with him to see a band.... He said the cover charge was taken care of (by him) the surprize is that the tickets were $152.00 each... Rolling Stones - Center Floor near the expanding stage - up close and personal!
Free! "It doesn't get much better" as someone once said.
Too bad about the camera phone - poor quality

Serious look...as if

2006-09-18T23:19:00.000-04:00

Here is a pic of me done by my bro-in law Jim.
Me - the serious side...
Check out www.rogerchartier.com

Who's that girl?

2006-09-06T05:32:00.000-04:00

Lazzet during Christmas 05.
See her expression of profound joy when she saw
the amazing Roger Chartier enter the room.
All hail Roger Chartier, he who has given life, the creator of Lazzet!

2006-05-10T20:49:00.000-04:00

Hui-Ling and Sharon went to Boston.
Here is the Boston Common in early May.

SAVE MONEY!!!

2006-05-07T07:46:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Dennis Pittsley!!!

I am informed about a great way to save $$$ when calling 411 Information from a cell phone or land line.

I got on the web and looked this stuff up so as to get the facts and to dispell any "urban legend".

Simply use 1 800 373-3411 or as it works out it is 1-800 FREE 411.

Here are some prices for some regular 411 service... per call mind you!

MCI ............ $3.49
Sprint .......... $2.49
AT&T .......... $2.49
Bell South ....$1.80
Verizon ........$1.25

I have had times where I placed a call to 411 on my cell phone and they connected me to the wrong number.
I immediately called asked the company for a rebate or a correction to my bill and they refused saying that it wasn't their fault or responsibility as they only process the call and do not control the search results for the information directly.
Now that is a real pile of something stinky .
You can see more info here http://www.free411.com/index.htm
There are occasional 12 second ads that pay the company to offer the service.
In one report that I read only 1 in 3 call actually had an ad.

2006-05-01T09:09:00.000-04:00

We had an international Sino/American supper with turkey and stuffing.. ,
The recipe came from The OurWholeWorld.com recipe page.

Gas Prices

2006-04-28T09:55:00.000-04:00

I was looking at the www.ourwholeworld.com website while silently agonizing about the price of gas.
So I went to "Find what you need" section and clicked on "Gasoline Prices".
Now here is a great way to save money!
Find the gas station nearest you with a LOW price. If it is on the way to your next point of travel all the better.
This is a matter of suvival for people who commute long distances to work.
I have to go to Falmouth Mass, from New Bedford, Ma today. It is usually even further.
I can't wait to see the results of any investigation into oil monopolies and price gouging.

2006-04-27T09:15:00.000-04:00

So, here is your man ready for action circa 1953.
I can't carry the knife in public anymore without upsetting some folks I'm sure.
At least I was ready in case of a bear attack or some similar event.

Since then I have travelled the world a bit and also spent a bunch of years playing music.

Time to sit back and read a short story or two.
Nice link to some very nice short stories on www.ourwholeworld.com
Have a good one.

2006-04-25T12:49:00.000-04:00

2006-04-25T12:32:00.000-04:00

So it is a bit early for some plants but I am starting them indoors for now. There is a great tomato plant that is hybridized for small pots. I am growing green and wax string beans , tomatos, strawberries, melons, rhubarb, and onions as well as green peppers that we haven't got yet.
I read a bunch of good gardening info in a couple of magazines on the web site...
http://www.ourwholeworld.com/magazines.htm check it out.. time to start thinking about the garden before it is too late. Have you noticed how tomato plants go up in price the longer you get into the season or you have to buy small ones that are not far enough along for the time of year ... Oh well. Last year I tried tomatos from seed and they all failed.. or did I?
Rhubarb Pie yummm! later... Rog

2006-04-22T08:41:00.000-04:00

Here is my soon to be second floor rooftop mini farm.
Saw a nice website today www.lime.com an eco-friendly resource site.
So today the topic is Earth Day...
I remember going to the first national earth day held at Harvard stadium in Cambridge, Mass. in the late sixties or maybe 1970. It was interesting.
There was a catalogue that you could buy back then called the Whole Earth catalogue and it carried a line of really earthy crunchy sort of stuff. Some eco friendly...
I was a Thoreauvian hippie... Then reality and then travelling and playing music on the road won. Ha!
Log a comment if you have one....
Oh, and if your not too busy see my "short stories" page on www.ourwholeworld.com

2006-04-19T20:25:00.000-04:00

2006-04-19T06:29:00.000-04:00

So! After an Irish concert I took this photo of Joe...

Well, the item for today is Irish Song Lyrics and chords.
www.ourwholeworld.com has a great page for Irish song lyrics and chords. The page is growing and I hope it will be useful to the folks who love this stuff!

There are a bunch of the most popular and some not so well known songs there now and more will be added. Today is
4 / 19 / 06
I hope to have a hundred or more songs listed soon.!!!
http://www.ourwholeworld.com/irish_lyrics%20and%20chords.htm
If you have any lyrics and chords for Traditional Irish Songs send"em in..

Later,
Rog

2006-04-15T16:54:00.000-04:00

www.OurWholeWorld.com
Features some astounding photographs.
Some are from NASA, (astronomy and planets) and some others are from nature etc.
Our Whole World... China, etc.
Check it out... Life is beautiful. Click below.
http://www.ourwholeworld.com/wonderful_pictures.htm

2006-04-13T02:02:00.000-04:00

4 / 13 / 06 - 2:04 AM
Hui-Ling is home! So this time I cooked somehting for her to eat for a change . She usually cooks for me. It was yummy noodles and peas and an egg. (Chinese Style).
She came with new cloth to make accoutrements for the house and brought me a nice leather bag. We also have new sheets and a comforter and some furniture thing, all imported by her from China. It will be back to normal around here now.
It's a great big world out there...
www.ourwholeworld.com

2006-04-12T00:14:00.000-04:00

Here she is - Hui-Ling Chen your authors wife. Think I'll keep her. (Kinda cute eh?)