Wednesday, December 22, 2021

THE 8 NIGHTS OF HANNUKAH

 For those amazed that so many Christmas songs were written by Jewish songwriters here is the main reason.

This was the attempt to glorify Hannukah that led to the famous “12 days of Christmas.”


On the 1st day of Hannukah we stood by the Menorah
And lit the 1st candle with the shamash.


On the 2nd day of Hannukah we stood by the Menorah
And lit 2 more candles with the shamash.


On the 3rd day of Hannukah we stood by the Menorah
And lit 3 more candles with the shamash.


On the 4th day of Hannukah we stood by the Menorah
And lit 4 more candles with the shamash.


On the 5th day of Hannukah we stood by the Menorah
And lit 5 more candles with the shamash.


On the 6th day of Hannukah we stood by the Menorah
And lit 6 more candles with the shamash.


On the 7th day of Hannukah we stood by the Menorah
And lit 7 more candles with the shamash.


On the last day of Hannukah we stood by the Menorah
And lit 8 more candles with the shamash.


LET’S EAT!

Friday, December 10, 2021

WOMEN ARE BETTER THAN MEN

Naturally 50% of the World would agree with the title of this piece and many men too.


In fact, Joseph Conrad said, “Being a woman is a terribly difficult trade since it consists principally of dealings with men.”


So why are so many countries still ruled by men?


Surely there are lessons to be learned from the reigns of Indira Ghandi, Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir, and most recently Angela Merkel.


Why are so many voters, women included, fooled by the false tropes of monthly troubles or pregnancy mood swings and emotional outbreaks?


In real life women are not only calmer than their male counterparts, scientific studies show men to be far more susceptible to stress and anger related early death.


And related to the above it is also a fact that, on average, women live longer than men.


An 82-year-old female President would have a better chance of living through her entire term than her male counterpart.


But when President Biden seeks another term at 82 you can count on the ‘right’ to bring out the ageism tweets.


Why is it when two World leaders appear on the stage together it is only the women who’s clothing and hair are critiqued?


This disparaging disparity not only demeans the entire female gender but holds the rest of us back in ways far more important than worrying about a pants suit or a perm.


For one this silly inane distraction gave us the Donald, a second-rate reality star and first-rate con man over a woman who already had a proven track record on the World stage as an intelligent capable leader.


We are well into our third century as a nation, and we are only now pointing with mocked amazement at our first female Vice President.

Earlier this year President Biden was incapacitated for a day while he underwent a routine colonoscopy. As expected, we were confronted with headlines touting Kamala Harris as our first female President!

It’s the end of the World, I tells ya!!!


So, why does our glass ceiling seem like concrete?

It started in pre-historic times.

Back then the physically strongest beings became the leaders.

The winner of any argument that arose was decided on that basis.


Women were generally weaker in that regard and therefore not capable of taking control of the pack.


Today’s animal kingdom still uses this criterion as we see with rams butting heads for the right to mate with the ewes of their choice.


Sadly, today that leads to butt heads being in charge.


But we lifted ourselves out of the jungle long ago and came to realize brains were as important as brawn, at least outwardly.

Too many still harbor the cave man mentality.


Many famous females of the past used their wits to entice men into doing their bidding. Cleopatra and Mata Hari come to mind in that respect.


Check out how GM, Pepsi, IBM, Lockheed Martin, Oracle & Kohl’s are doing.


Surely you can guess that every one of these companies are being run by very capable female CEOs.


Isn’t it time to start treating and respecting women as at least equal to, if not better than men?


And one last point, with the possible exception of a test tube or lab beaker every one of the over 7 billion humans walking around on Earth were born by women.


When men can boast that bit of biological magic perhaps the title of my next article will be MEN ARE THE EQUAL OF WOMEN!

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

2032 SCENARIO

  • dt decides not to run for a 4th term instead stepping down and announcing his VP ivanka as his successor.
  • ivanka immediately announces jared as her VP
  • Secretary of State, don jr approves as does education secretary eric.
  • Due to unrelenting gerrymandering, and Democratic infighting that has stopped the party from agreeing on any plans for America:
  • The GOP now controls 46 State houses;
  • The Senate and House are 75% repub;
  • Congress makes 2/20 a Nat'l Holiday honoring mcconnell's 90th;
  • Roe v Wade is repealed; Legal abortions are a thing of the past;
  • Planned Parenthood Org is outlawed as sexist;
  • Corporate taxes have been eliminated;
  • Strict voting laws are in place;
  • The Postal Service has been privatized;
  • National cost of living has topped $100K/year;
  • Minimum wage has been eliminated;
  • Deficit tops $50 trillion;
  • Social Security & Medicare eliminated to pay down the debt;
  • Confederate Flag makes a comeback in 35 State Houses;
  • Blue Laws are reinstated with harsh penalties for noncompliance;
  • Guns and assault rifles are mandatory for all citizens over 16;
  • Restrictions on drilling in National Parks are eliminated;
  • Public Television is now State-run TV;
  • Dem & liberal voting groups meet regularly to grumble;
  • dt presidential library to be constructed of gold at mar a lago.

To paraphrase the Ghost of Christmas Present from Dickens’ A Christas Carol:


I see a country devoid of compassion. I see a political party without any power. If these shadows remain unaltered by the future, this country and its Democracy will die.

Friday, October 29, 2021

THE magas RUIN EVERYTHING

Gone
All our futures are gone
Without all hope
All due to a dope
 
Truth
What we need is the truth
To then move on
From Don T the con
 
In our schools and on our streets
The magas ruin everything
Spewing lies and spreading hate
The maga ruin everything
 
Peace
Is now a faint distant dream
Read the news and you wanna scream
Can we get our lives back
Can we get our lives back?
 
Peace
We must focus and then use our wit
Cast our votes and we must not quit
Cast the evil ones out
Cast the evil ones out!
 
Everyone around the World
They can’t believe America
Every time the right wing speaks
They can’t believe America
 
Got a dream of years gone by
They can’t believe America
Build back better, we must try
They can’t believe America
 
They can’t believe America
They can’t believe America
They can’t believe America
They can’t believe America
Today, Today,
Today, Today, Today


My country 'tis of thee (today)
Sweet land of liberty (today)
Of thee I sing (today)
Of thee I sing 
Today, Today, Today
Today, today, today



(Apologies to Mr. Neil Diamond.
Should I have used Sweet Caroline instead?)

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

TRUST ME (A DEM SONG)

Dems & Repubs

A Suggested B'Way Show
By Frankly Lesser

 

Trust Me

 

Dems to the voters:
“I got a policy that will really work. But it’s gonna take more time.”

  

You policy this, you policy that
You policy everything I do like that
Then you make an excuse
And you’re blaming Repubs
And you’re off to a meeting again
When I think of the votes I waste
Hoping to end woes I’ve faced
I could honestly cry

Can’t you see that I’m trying
Trying
While they’re all lying
I’m trying.
 
Please don’t forsake me
Take me
For my faults take me
I need you.

The best years of my life I’ve been a fool to vote for you

Alright, already, I'm part of a Congress
Alright already, it’s true
So nu?
 
I’m trying, trying
Despite my faults trying
I need you

You’re infighting here
You’re infighting there
You’re infighting on every issue we need
And we’re sick of the other side laughing at us
Till they’re back with the power again.

When I think of the votes I waste
And all the woes I’ve faced
I could honestly die

Give me more time and trust me
Trust me
You’ve got to trust me
I’m trying

HAH!

Right now you hate me
Hate me
I get it you hate me

When you lose all your jobs
Don't come to me to pay your billlllllllllls!


Alright, already, so call an attorney!
Alright, already, it's true
So nu
But trust me, trust me
Give me more time
And just trust me
I love you!

You're at it again,
You're playing their game
They’re stalling, you’re falling right into their trap
They’ll block all the big stuff
And then they’ll blame you
And I'm telling you now that we're through!
When I think of the votes I waste
Trying to end woes I’ve faced
I could honestly die

Hate me, hate me
Curse my name hate me
But vote for me!! 

Monday, October 18, 2021

WHITE RABID DEBT

One card is for dining
And another one is for gas
And a third one is for shopping
With a fourth linked to EZpass
Without malice, count the points you get

 

And if you pay bills when they’re all due
You'll watch your credit rating rise
Then banks send more offers to you
And each card gives you a prize
With so much credit, you go into debt

 

When spammer calls make you think
That your warranty is up
And you just had the morning’s fifth drink
And six more before your sup
Go ask a banker
Before you erupt

 

When you owe more than you can handle
And you’ve fallen on hard times
You've lit both ends of your candle
And you only think in rhymes
Remember, it is not a crime
To pay on time,
Pay on time!

Sunday, September 26, 2021

DEATH: FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR BILLIONAIRES

 

The wealth gap is increasing.

And it will still increase beyond belief until our leaders come to the realization that it is killing Democracy!

The incredibly rich billionaires, many of whom head corporations worth trillions of dollars are legally hiding their money and handing it down to their scions free of taxation.

This ‘step up’ tactic is a scam similar to the ‘trickle down’ scam of the Reagan era and it must end or America will.

We are headed in the direction of a full on feudal state of masters and serfs!

The once so-called ‘death tax’ could easily be reformed so as to not harm those with moderate inheritances.

Congress could decide upon a number below which funds would be exempt from the tax.

That ‘monetary floor’ could be changed periodically to mirror changes in the cost of living.

It could start as low (high?) as 10 million dollars.

In other words when the owner of an incredibly wealthy estate 'passes on' the first $10,000,000 of his/her wealth is tax exempt for the heirs.

Any money over and above that amount would be taxed at a rate decided upon by Congress.

And the rate could be a progressive scale, increasing with the size of the estate in consideration.

The spawns of the obscenely wealthy would not lose any of their abilities to donate to super pacs or bribe their favorite politician to do their bidding.

They would merely have a tiny amount less with which to do so.

And there would still be no need to hold a telethon or start a 'go fund me' page on their behalf!

Republican President Eisenhower presided over a prosperous period of economic growth, and he did so while the IRS wielded a top tax rate of 91%!

And no billionaires were harmed during the length and breadth of his administration’s tenure.

It is WAY past time for America to stop coddling the least needy of our Nation and start cuddling the rest of us!

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

CHOOSE WISELY

In "The Last Crusade" Indiana Jones chose wisely and lived to tell the tale.
Not everyone does!

We make thousands of decisions daily without giving most a thought. If we actually stopped to think about all of our choices our indecision might cause us to never leave our beds!

But choosing wisely is, well, wise!

The light is red, should we step on the gas or walk through the intersection?

Most will wait for the light to change to green because we were taught the system and learned the dangers of ignoring it.

Yet some WILL proceed.
And if they succeed in making it through the intersection unscathed may do so again in the future.

Do they ignore the law, let alone common sense, because it is the law?
Do they need  extra excitement in their lives?

I don't care which path they choose as long as it does not involve injury to others.

And that brings us to the current Covid-19 pandemic.

There are vaccines that are keeping us safe from severe illness and have proven track records.

Vaccinated people may still become infected but the reactions will be muted and should not require hospitalization.
In many cases vaccinated people might not even realize they have the disease.

There are an abundance of masks available to keep others safe from catching whatever we might be carrying.

So the choice to protect or ignore the dangers of Covid would seem clear to anyone who bothers to think for themselves and about their loved ones.

However a tremendous number of Americans are choosing not to vaccinate or even wear masks.
In fact they are so violently against either of those protective choices that some have attacked others for wearing a mask!

Even more interesting is the reasons they rail against a seemingly 'no-brainer' such as wearing a mask to keep from joining the nearly 700,000 already dead from Covid.

WHY?
Personal freedom and the right to choose for oneself how to live their lives.
That's a great argument until it infringes on the rights of others.

I believe the same individuals wear seatbelts when driving and don't drive through red lights.
And when they argue the government should stay out of their lives why do they not return the money they receive from Social Security?

Some argue that God will protect them from Covid-19.
Well, in a way, God IS protecting them from Covid-19, by giving scientists brains and the wherewithal to create vaccines.
And some could argue that God implanted the idea in the minds of manufacturers to make and market masks!

But the devout religious sect might still demur arguing that they have a God given right to decide for themselves.
Would they tell firemen to leave their house alone when it catches fire because it's God's will?

Near the end of that Indiana Jones film the Nazi 'bad guy' (an obvious redundancy) chooses poorly and pays with his life.

So do we vaccinate, mask up, and eradicate this deadly pandemic from the Earth?

The choice is yours
CHOOSE WISELY!

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

LONGEVITY MENU

Remember going to the beach with your mom and dad?

Remember mom telling you to wait 30 minutes after lunch before going back in the water? She explained something about cramps and death!

Remember going in after 10 minutes anyway?

Well mom wasn't all wet and may have been ahead of her time according to an article in Women's World.

The article doesn't actually mention losing your life because of your choice of food and frolic at the shore but it does suggest a relationship between what you eat and your life expectancy.

When I was young I defied my mom's admonitions and lived to tell about it. But maybe I was lucky.

At that time I had devised a devilish correlation between personal injury and longevity.

I even imbued each injury with an amount of time I would lose in the future.

For example, stubbing my toe would cost me about 1 hour of life but busting it could mean 3 weeks. And don't even talk to me about breaking a leg!

Since there was no way to prove or disprove my theory it has withstood the test of time!

Of course I never mentioned what my starting date, or rather original ending date was. I believed I had a total of 100 years old as the standard. 

Quick Tangent: If you ask people how long they'd like to live many might say 100. But ask them again when they hit 99 and you can bet the number jumps a bit!

But back to the gist of the Women's World article; why would we wish to live our lives constantly changing our diets and food choices based on a 35 minute increased longevity possibility, or even the loss of an hour?

I'm reminded of the story of the lady whose consciousness, while she was on the operating table, floats up to heaven and is greeted at the gate by the guard.

He checks his ledger and asks, "Why are you here now?"

"I have no idea."  She says. "I guess the operation failed."

"No ma'am. You are scheduled for another 40 years on Earth!"

Suddenly she wakes up, rejuvenated in the recovery room. She decides that if she has 40 more years, she's going to have a complete makeover.

She gets a face lift, butt lift, boob job, and a tummy tuck. Basically she opts for the whole nine yards.

Upon leaving the clinic as her 'new self' she is hit by a bus and killed.

When she arrives back at the gates of Heaven she questions the guard.

His curt response: "Hey, I didn't recognize you!"

Bottom line, it's nice to know what to eat but it's also nice to eat what you like and what helps you enjoy life!

We're each on this Earth for a set time so grab your favorite meal and hit the beach!

Saturday, August 14, 2021

DEMS ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT BUT THE RIGHT IS ALWAYS WRONG!

Surprise, surprise, a right wing pundit working for a right wing organization with a typically 'nice sounding' name that belies it's intent has written an article damning Biden. (Link to article at the bottom of this post.)

Who would've thought it?

Sadly I must visit the "Whataboutism" room and ask why the author or his group of fascist dictator loving conservs did not write a "He could have but didn't" piece about any of the recent repub leaders in DC.

Hey Freddie K, let me start you off with some suggested titles for your 'never to be written' articles:

"W Could Have Gone After Real 911 Attackers. He Chose Not To."

"Cheney Could Have Stayed Out of Iraq. But He Chose Not To."

"mcconnell Could Have Followed The Constitution instead of stealing SCOTUS Seats. But He Chose Not To."

"dt Could Have Sided With American Intelligence Over Putin. But He Chose Not To."

"dt Could Have Saved Lives When Covid Hit. But He Chose Not To."

I could go on and on but why waste my time explaining how hypocritical the right wing propaganda machine truly is.

How often has a Democratic leader done or attempted to do exactly what a repub leader before him tried to do only to be vilified for trying to put such a 'liberal socialistic' thing in place?

Think about mitt romney and his healthcare plan that was lauded by repubs and how the same repubs went after Obama's version of the same thing!

"They Could Have Chosen To Welcome a Plan To Save American Lives. BUT THEY CHOOSE NOT TO!!!"


Here's the promised link to the hatchet piece by another hypocritical fascist loving right winger in a another fascist loving right wing organization:

Opinion | Biden’s Withdrawal From Afghanistan May Have Helped the Taliban - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Monday, July 26, 2021

CANCER AND THE LONG GAME

Nearly every person in the World can claim to be in a minority.

Being in the minority usually means you are subjected to stereotypes, racism or some form of unjustified hate.

But being in the minority is not necessarily a bad thing, as Bezos, Musk and a few others might tell you.

Dig deep enough into your life and you will find you're a card carrying member of some minority club.

I am sadly a member of a growing minority of people with cancer.

However the fact that the group is growing in size can be attributed to both good and bad things.

For one, the longer we live the chances we will contract some form of cancer grows as there are more carcinogens in the air we breathe and the food we eat than in the past.

And science has been able to detect the onset of a cancer much earlier in it's lifecycle than ever before.

Add to those facts that we also have far better treatments than we did a while ago and, though many of them do not completely cure the disease, they do prolong a patient's life.

As of now roughly 10% of Americans are in this undesirable minority.

One thing that sets members of this particular minority apart is we are not subjected to prejudice and personal attacks. At least not for our disease.

Quite the opposite is true. When someone is diagnosed with cancer they receive sympathy and good wishes, along with the unspoken, 'There but for the grace...'

When 'minorities' view an open house they may sense the urgency of the neighborhood to discourage them from buying.

But cancer has no such timeframe. It plays the long game.

Like the cockroach that hides from or adapts to a new pesticide, cancer can sneak around the body and evade targeted treatments.

It may even lay dormant for years before striking again.

My unwanted guest first arrived late 2000 and was treated the following year.

Nearly 20 years later signs of it's return were noticed in routine bloodwork and the cycle began once again.

According to statistics, in 2020 1.8 million cancer cases were discovered and 600+ thousand others will pass away.

Again, statistically, I happen to be in a majority as I have long since passed the 5 year survival benchmark, at least concerning the first occurrence.

But my clock is now ticking anew and I am not a candidate for the 2000 'successful' treatment.

So I will now do what the doctors tell me and fight like hell to join another minority, people who have survived cancer's long game, twice!

Saturday, July 10, 2021

COMPUTERS DON'T ARGUE

Great cautionary tale!!!
Computer Fiction as told through correspondence:



 

COMPUTERS DON'T ARGUE

Gordon R. Dickson



Treasure Book Club
PLEASE DO NOT FOLD, SPINDLE
OR MUTILATE THIS CARD

Mr: Walter A. Child Balance: $4.98
437 Woodlawn Drive
Panduk, Michigan

Dear Customer:
Enclosed is your latest book selection.
"Kidnapped," by Robert Louis Stevenson.



Nov 16. 1965
Treasure Book Club
1823 Mandy Street
Chicago, Illinois

Dear Sirs:

I wrote you recently about the computer punch card you sent, billing me for "Kim," by Rudyard Kipling.
I did not open the package containing it until I had already mailed you my check for the amount on the card.
On opening the package, I found the book missing half its pages.
I sent it back to you, requesting either another copy or my money back.
Instead, you have sent me a copy of "Kidnapped," by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Will you please straighten this out?
I hereby return the copy of "Kidnapped."

Sincerely yours,
Walter A. Child
437 Woodlawn Drive
Panduk, Michigan



Treasure Book Club
SECOND NOTICE
PLEASE DO NOT FOLD, SPINDLE
OR MUTILATE THIS CARD

Mr: Walter A. Child Balance: $4.98
For "Kidnapped," by Robert Louis Stevenson

(If remittance has been made for the above, please disregard this notice)
Treasure Book Club
1823 Mandy Street
Chicago, Illinois



Jan. 21. 1966

Dear Sirs:

May I direct your attention to my letter of November 16, 1965? You are still continuing to dun me with computer punch cards for a book I did not order. Whereas it is your company that owes me money.

Sincerely yours,
Walter A. Child
437 Woodlawn Drive
Panduk, Michigan




Mr. Walter A. Child
437 Woodlawn Drive
Panduk, Michigan

Feb. 1.1966

Dear Mr. Child:

We have sent you a number of reminders concerning an amount owing to us as a result of book purchases you have made from us. This amount, which is $4.98, is now long overdue.

This situation is disappointing to us, particularly since there was no hesitation on our part in extending you credit at the time original arrangements for these purchases were made by you. If we do not receive payment in full by return mail, we will be forced to turn the matter over to a collection agency.

Very truly yours,
Samuel P. Grimes
Collection Mgr.
Treasure Book Club
1823 Mandy Street
Chicago, Illinois



Feb. 5, 1966

Dear Mr. Grimes:

Will you stop sending me punch cards and form letters and make me some kind of a direct answer from a human being?
I don't owe you money. You owe me money.
Maybe I should turn your company over to a collection agency.

Walter A. Child
437 Woodlawn Drive
Panduk, Michigan




FEDERAL COLLECTION OUTFIT
88 Prince Street
Chicago, Illinois

Feb. 28, 1966

Mr. Walter A. Child
437 Woodlawn Drive
Panduk, Michigan

Dear Mr. Child:

Your account with the Treasure Book Club, of $4.98 plus interest and charges, has been turned over to our agency for collection. The amount due is now $6.83. 
Please send your check for this amount or we shall be forced to take immediate action.

Jacob N. Harshe
Vice President
FEDERAL COLLECTION OUTFIT
88 Prince Street
Chicago, Illinois


April 8, 1966

Mr. Walter A. Child
437 Woodlawn Drive
Panduk, Michigan

Dear Mr. Child:

You have seen fit to ignore our courteous requests to settle your long overdue account with Treasure Book Club, which is now, with accumulated interest and charges, in the amount of $7.51.
If payment in full is not forthcoming by April II, 1966, we will be forced to turn the matter over to our attorneys for immediate court action.

Ezekiel B. Harshe
President
MALONEY, MAHONEY, MACNAMARA and PRUITT
Attorneys
89 Prince Street
Chicago, Illinois



April 29, 1966

Mr. Walter A. Child
437 Woodlawn Drive
Panduk, Michigan

Dear Mr. Child:

Your indebtedness to the Treasure Book Club has been referred to us for legal action to collect.
This indebtedness is now in the amount of $10.01. If you will send us this amount so that we may receive it before May 5, 1966, the matter may be satisfied.
However, if we do not receive satisfaction in full by that date, we will take steps to collect through the courts.
I am sure you will see the advantage of avoiding a judgment against you, which as a matter of record would do lasting harm to your credit rating.

Very truly yours,

Hagthorpe M. Pruitt, Jr.
Attorney at Law


May 4,1966

Mr. Hagthorpe M. Pruitt, Jr.

Maloney, 'Mahoney, MacNamara and Pruitt
89 Prince Street
Chicago, Illinois

Dear Mr. Pruitt:

You don't know what a pleasure it is to me in this matter to get a letter from a live human being to whom I can explain the situation.
This whole matter is silly. I explained it fully in my letters to the Treasure Book Company.
But I might as well have been trying to explain to the computer that puts out their punch cards, for all the good it seemed to do.
Briefly, what happened was, I ordered a copy of "Kim," by Rudyard Kipling, for $4.98.
When I opened the package they sent me, I found the book had only half its pages, but I'd previously mailed a check to pay them for the book.
I sent the book back to them, asking either for a whole copy or my money back. Instead, they sent me a copy of "Kidnapped," by Robert Louis Stevenson which I had not ordered; and for which they have been trying to collect from me.
Meanwhile, I am still waiting for the money back that they owe me for the copy of "Kim" that I didn't get.

That's the whole story.
Maybe you can help me straighten them out.

Relievedly yours,

Walter A. Child
437 Woodlawn Drive
Panduk, Michigan

P.S.: I also sent them back their copy of "Kidnapped," as soon as I got it, but it hasn't seemed to help.
They have never even acknowledged getting it back.




MALONEY, MAHONEY, MACNAMARA and PRUITT
Attorneys
89 Prince Street
Chicago, Illinois

May 9, 1966

Mr. Walter A. Child
437 Woodlawn Drive
Panduk, Michigan

Dear Mr. Child:

I am in possession of no information indicating that any item purchased by you from the Treasure Book Club has been returned.
I would hardly think that, if the case had been as you stated, the Treasure Book Club would have retained us to collect the amount owing from you.
If I do not receive your payment in full within three days, by May 12, 1966, we will be forced to take legal action.

Very truly yours,
Hagthorpe M. Pruitt, Jr.
COURT OF MINOR CLAIMS
Chicago, Illinois


Mr. Walter A. Child
437 Woodlawn Drive
Panduk, Michigan

Be informed that a judgment was taken and entered against you in this court this day of May 26, 1966, in the amount of $15.66 including court costs.
Payment in satisfaction of this judgment may be made to this court or to the adjudged creditor. In the case of payment being made to the creditor, a release should be obtained from the creditor and filed with this court in order to free you of legal obligation in connection with this judgment.
Under the recent Reciprocal Claims Act, if you are a citizen of a different state, a duplicate claim may be automatically entered and judged against you in your own state so that collection may be made there as well as in the State of Illinois.

COURT OF MINOR CLAIMS
Chicago, Illinois


PLEASE DO NOT FOLD, SPINDLE OR MUTILATE THIS CARD

Judgment was passed this day of May 27, 1966, under Statute $15.66

Against: Child, Walter A., of 437 Woodlawn Drive, Panduk, Michigan.
Pray to enter a duplicate claim for judgment
In: Picayune CourtPanduk, Michigan
For Amount: Statute 941

Samuel P. Grimes
Vice President
Treasure Book Club
1823 Mandy Street
Chicago, Illinois



May 31, 1966

Samuel P. Grimes
Vice President
Treasure Book Club
1823 Mandy Street
Chicago, Illinois

Grimes:

This business has gone far enough. I've got to come down to Chicago on business of my own tomorrow.
I'll see you then and we'll get this straightened out once and for all, about who owes what to whom, and how much!

Yours,

Walter A. Child
437 Woodlawn Drive
Panduk, Michigan



From the Desk of the Clerk
Picayune Court June 1,1966

Harry:

The attached computer card from Chicago's Minor Claims Court against A. Walter has a 1500-series Statute number on it.
That puts it over in Criminal with you, rather than Civil, with me.
So I herewith submit it for your computer instead of mine.

How's business?

Joe



CRIMINAL RECORDS
Panduk, Michigan
PLEASE DO NOT FOLD, SPINDLE OR MUTILATE THIS CARD

Convicted: (Child) A. Walter On: May 26, 1966
Address: 437 Woodlawn Drive
Panduk, Mich.
Crime: Statute: 1566 (Corrected) 1567
Crime: Kidnap Date: Nov. 16, 1965

Notes: At large. To be picked up at once.


POLICE DEPARTMENT, PANDUK, MICHIGAN. TO POLICE DEPARTMENT CHICAGO ILLINOIS.
CONVICTED SUBJECT A. (COMPLETE FIRST NAME UNKNOWN) WALTER, SOUGHT HERE IN CONNECTION
RE: YOUR NOTIFICATION OF JUDGMENT FOR KIDNAP OF CHILD NAMED ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON, ON NOV. 16, 1965.
INFORMATION HERE INDICATES SUBJECT FLED HIS RESIDENCE, AT 437 WOODLAND DRIVE, PANDUK, AND MAY BE AGAIN, IN YOUR AREA.
POSSIBLE CONTACT IN YOUR AREA:
THE TREASURE BOOK CLUB,
1823 MANDY STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SUBJECT NOT KNOWN TO BE DANGEROUS.
PICK UP AND HOLD, ADVISING US OF CAPTURE


TO POLICE DEPARTMENT, PANDUK, MICHIGAN. REFERENCE YOUR REQUEST TO PICK UP AND HOLD A. (COMPLETE FIRST NAME UNKNOWN) WALTER, WANTED IN PANDUK ON STATUTE 1567, CRIME OF KIDNAPPING.
SUBJECT ARRESTED AT OFFICES OF TREASURE BOOK CLUB, OPERATING THERE UNDER ALIAS WALTER ANTHONY CHILD AND ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT $4.98
FROM ONE SAMUEL P. GRIMES, EMPLOYEE OF THAT COMPANY.

DISPOSAL: HOLDING FOR YOUR ADVICE.


POLICE DEPARTMENT PANDUK, MICHIGAN, TO POLICE DEPARTMENT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

REF: A. WALTER (ALIAS WALTER ANTHONY CHILD) SUBJECT
WANTED FOR CRIME OF KIDNAP, YOUR AREA,
REF: YOUR COMPUTER PUNCH CARD NOTIFICATION OF JUDGMENT, DATED MAY 27, 1966.
COPY OUR CRIMINAL RECORDS PUNCH CARD HEREWITH FORWARDED TO YOUR COMPUTER SECTION.



CRIMINAL RECORDS
Chicago, Illinois

PLEASE DO NOT FOLD, SPINDLE OR MUTILATE THIS CARD

SUBJECT (CORRECTION OMITTED RECORD SUPPLIED)
APPLICABLE STATUTE NO. 1567
JUDGMENT NO. 456789
TRIAL RECORD: APPARENTLY MISFILED AND UNAVAILABLE

DIRECTION: TO APPEAR FOR SENTENCING BEFORE JUDGE
JOHN ALEXANDER MCDIVOT, COURTROOM A, JUNE 9, 1966


From the Desk of Judge Alexander J. McDivot
June 2, 1966

Dear Tony:

I've got an adjudged criminal coming up before me for sentencing Thursday morning but the trial transcript is apparently misfiled.
I need some kind of information (Ref: A. Walter Judgment No. 456789, Criminal).
For example, what about the victim of the kidnapping.
Was victim harmed?

Jack McDivot



June 3, 1966
Records Search Unit
Re: Ref: Judgment No. 456789
Was victim harmed?

Tonio Malagasi
Records Division


June 3, 1966
To: United States Statistics Office
Attn.: Information Section

Subject: Robert Louis Stevenson
Query: Information concerning
Records Search Unit
Criminal Records Division

Police Department
Chicago, III.


June 5, 1966
To: Records Search Unit
Criminal Records Division

Police Department
Chicago, Illinois

Subject: Your query re Robert Louis Stevenson
(File no. 189623)
Action: Subject deceased.
Age at death, 44 yrs.
Further information requested?

A. K.
Information Section
U. S. Statistics Office
To: United States Statistics Office
Attn.: Information Division

Subject: RE: File no. 189623
No further information required.



June 6,1966

Thank you.
Records Search Unit
Criminal Records Division
Police Department
Chicago, Illinois


June 7, 1966

To: Tonio Malagasi
Records Division
Re: Ref: Judgment No. 456789
Victim is dead.

Records Search Unit


June 7,1966

To: Judge Alexander J. McDivot's Chambers

Dear Jack:

Ref: Judgment No. 456789.
The victim in this kidnap case was apparently slain.
From the strange lack of background information on the killer and his victim, as well as the victim's age, this smells to me like a gangland killing.
This for your information.
Don't quote me.
It seems to me, though, that Stevenson the victim has a name that rings a faint bell with me.
Possibly, one of the East Coast Mob, since the association comes back to me as something about pirates possibly New York dockage hijackers and something about buried loot.
As I say, above is only speculation for your private guidance.
Any time I can help...

Best,

Tony Malagasi
Records Division


MICHAEL R. REYNOLDS Attomey-at-law .
49 Water Street
Chicago, Illinois

June 8, 1966

Dear Tim:

Regrets: I can't make the fishing trip.
I've been court appointed here to represent a man about to be sentenced tomorrow on a kidnapping charge.
Ordinarily, I might have tried to beg off, and McDivot, who is doing the sentencing, would probably have turned me loose.
But this is the damnedest thing you ever heard of.
The man being sentenced has apparently been not only charged, but adjudged guilty as a result of a comedy of errors too long to go into here.
He not only isn't guilty he's got the best case I ever heard of for damages against one of the larger Book Clubs headquartered here in Chicago.
And that is a case I wouldn't mind taking on.
It is inconceivable but damnably possible, once you stop to think of it in this day and age of machine-made records that a completely innocent man could be put in this position.
There should not be much to it.
I've asked to see McDivot tomorrow before the time for sentencing, and it'll just be a matter of explaining to him.
"Then I can discuss the damage suit with my freed client at his leisure.

Fishing next weekend?

Yours,

Mike
MICHAEL R. REYNOLDS
Attomey-at-law
49 Water Street
Chicago, Illinois June 10



Dear Tim:

In haste - No fishing this coming week either. Sorry.
You won't believe it.
My innocent-as-a-lamb-and-I'm-not-kidding client has just been sentenced to death for first-degree murder in connection with the death of his kidnap victim.
Yes, I explained the whole thing to McDivot. And when he explained his situation to me, I nearly fell out of my chair.
It wasn't a matter of my not convincing him.
It took less than three minutes to show him that my client should never have been within the walls of the County Jail for a second.
But, get this, McDivot couldn't do a thing about it.
The point is my man had already been judged guilty according to the computerized records.
In the absence of a trial record, of course there never was one (but that's something I'm not free to explain to you now) the judge has to go by what records are available.
And in the case of an adjudged prisoner, McDivot's only legal choice was whether to sentence to life imprisonment, or execution.
The death of the kidnap victim, according to the statute, made the death penalty mandatory.
Under the new laws governing length of time for appeal, which has been shortened because of the new system of computerizing records, to force an elimination of unfair delay and mental anguish to those condemned, I have five days in which to file an appeal, and ten to have it acted on.
Needless to say, I am not going to monkey with an appeal.
I'm going directly to the Governor for a pardon after which we will get this farce reversed.
McDivot has already written the Governor, also, explaining that his sentence was ridiculous, but that he had no choice.
Between the two of us, we ought to have a pardon in short order.

Then, I'll make the fur fly . . . And we'll get in some fishing.

Best,
Mike



OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS
June 17,1966
Mr. Michael R. Reynolds
49 Water Street
Chicago, Illinois

Dear Mr. Reynolds:

In reply to your query about the request for pardon for Walter A. Child (A. Walter), may I inform you that the Governor is still on his trip with the Midwest Governors Committee, examining the Wall in Berlin.
He should be back next Friday.
I will bring your request and letters to his attention the minute he returns.

Very truly yours,

Clara B. Jilks
Secretary to the Governor



June 27,1966

Michael R. Reynolds
49 Water Street
Chicago, Illinois

Dear Mike:

Where is that pardon?
My execution date is only five days from now!

Walt



Walter A. Child (A. Walter) June 29,1966
Cell Block E
Illinois State Penitentiary
Joliet, Illinois

Dear Walt:

The Governor returned, but was called away immediately to the White House in Washington to give his views on interstate sewage.
I am camping on his doorstep and will be on him the moment he arrives here.
Meanwhile, I agree with you about the seriousness of the situation. The warden at the prison there, Mr. Alien Magruder, will bring this letter to you and have a private talk with you.
I urge you to listen to what he has to say; and I enclose letters from your family also urging you to listen to Warden Magruder.

Yours,
Mike



June 30, 1966

Michael R. Reynolds
49 Water Street
Chicago, Illinois

Dear Mike: (This letter being smuggled out by Warden Magruder)

As I was talking to Warden Magruder in my cell, here, news was brought to him that the Governor has at last returned for a while to Illinois, and will be in his office early tomorrow morning, Friday.
So you will have time to get the pardon signed by him and delivered to the prison in time to stop my execution on Saturday.
Accordingly, I have turned down the Warden's kind offer of a chance to escape; since he told me he could by no means guarantee to have all the guards out of my way when I tried it; and there was a chance of my being killed escaping.
But now everything will straighten itself out.
Actually, an experience as fantastic as this had to break down sometime under its own weight.

Best,

Walt




FOR THE SOVEREIGN STATE OF ILLINOIS
I, Hubert Daniel Willikens, Governor of the State of Illinois, and invested with the authority and powers appertaining thereto, including the power to pardon those in my judgment wrongfully convicted or otherwise deserving of executive mercy, do this day of July 1, 1966, announce and proclaim that Walter A. Child (A. Walter), now in custody as a consequence of erroneous conviction upon a crime of which he is entirely innocent, is fully and freely pardoned of said crime.
 And I do direct the necessary authorities having custody of the said Walter A. Child (A. Walter) in whatever place or places he may be held, to immediately free, release, and allow unhindered departure to him . . .



Interdepartmental Routing Service
PLEASE DO NOT FOLD, MUTILATE, OR SPINDLE THIS CARD
Failure to route Document properly.

To: Governor Hubert Daniel Willikens
Re: Pardon issued to Walter A. Child, July 1, 1966

Dear State Employee:

You have failed to attach your Routing Number.
PLEASE: Resubmit document with this card and form 876, explaining your authority for placing a TOP RUSH category on this document.
Form 876 must be signed by your Departmental Superior.
RESUBMIT ON: Earliest possible date ROUTING SERVICE office is open, in this case, Tuesday, July 5, 1966.

WARNING: Failure to submit form 876 WITH THE SIGNATURE OF YOUR SUPERIOR may make you liable to prosecution for misusing a Service of the State Government.

A warrant may be issued for your arrest.
There are NO exceptions.
YOU have been WARNED!

Monday, July 5, 2021

100 YEARS OF PRESIDENTIAL PRECEDENTS

WE JUDGE OUR PRESIDENTS BY WHAT THEY ACCOMPLIFH WHILE IN OFFICE BUT NOT SO MUCH FOR HOW THEY LIVE THEIR LVES AFTER THEY LEAVE OR SADLY HOW THEY DID SO BEFORE!

Here is a synopsis of the last few Presidents, both in and then out of office, starting in the 1900's era known as the "Roaring Twenties."


Herbert Hoover was known for doing very little to help Americans during the great depression (click) caused and helped along by fellow Repub Calvin Coolidge and the 1929 Stock Market crash.

Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt turned America around with his wonderful socialist policy known as ‘The New Deal.’ It saved the country and the citizens therein. He created the Social Security Administration and the ‘alphabet soup’ of agencies known as the FDIC, TVA and WPA all aimed at helping America!

Roosevelt guided America through most of World War II before passing away in office and leaving the job of helping end the war to Democratic President Harry Truman.

After leaving office and driving home in his own car without fanfare to his home in Missouri Mr. Truman lived out the remainder of his life quietly with his wife Bess.

Dwight Eisenhower was the last good Repub President and he presided over the remaking of the American economy post WWII.  He was largely responsible for creating the middle class and starting decades long run of prosperity. On his way out of office he famously warned of the ‘Vast Military-Industrial Complex’ that was going to suck money out of our economy and create an awful over weaponized military. He was sadly correct!!

Often considered a time of ‘Camelot’ the short presidency of Democrat John F Kennedy was a time of hope even though we were embroiled in the Viet Nam war and came close to an even worse conflict caused by the ‘Bay of Pigs’ fiasco and Cuba’s relationship with Russia. He and his brother Bobby, the Attorney General successfully worked to head off the disaster.

Democrat Lyndon Johnson took over the Presidency after the assassination in Dallas and was responsible for implementing ‘The Great Society,’ a sweeping set of domestic policies that attempted to end poverty and racial injustice.

He also championed and signed into law two more socialist programs; Medicare and Medicaid. But while he did institute many 'people friendly' policies, he will also be remembered for escalating the broadly unpopular, rightfully so, war in Asia.

Johnson was not well after he left the White House and retired to his ranch in Texas where he died 1 day before the Paris Peace Accords ended the Viet Nam War.

Repub Richard Nixon was good on foreign policy and opened up relations with China but ultimately devolved into deep paranoia and anti-social behavior. His Watergate activities caused his downfall and he avoided impeachment by resigning before Congress could act.

Nixon retired to his compound in Whittier California where he did nothing for America or Americans ever again, except, of course for staying out of our lives!

Gerald Ford will always be remembered for pardoning Nixon before he was even charged. Ford was never elected President or Vice President as he was named to the second spot behind Nixon after Spiro Agnew agreed to avoid jail time by resigning before he could be charged for his incredibly blatant criminal activities!

All in all the period between Lyndon Johnson and the next Democratic President Jimmy Carter could be considered the worst criminal period in the history of the White House if it were not for the eventual treasonous one coming in 2016.

As for Jimmy Carter, he was responsible for a semi quiet period in politics.

His Camp David accords & Civil Service Reform Act are bright achievements however ultimately his inability to deal with the religious leaders of Iran allowed Reagan to defeat him in 1980.

After leaving the White House Mr. Carter and his wife Rosalynn started working tirelessly with Habitat for Humanity, building homes for humans in need. He has been helping Americans ever since and is still on the job after brain cancer and many other physical problems as he passes his 97th year on Earth!

Repub Ronald Reagan was responsible for the beginning of the end of the middle class’ rise to affluence. His ‘trickle down’ economics fraud aided the wealthiest of the country become even more wealthy.

He despised unions and worked to end their rise in popularity and power. He saw them as a threat to the wealth and power of corporations.

 Corporations have since rewarded Repubs for their continued loyalty to their cause of controlling America.

After he finally left DC, Reagan and the true power behind the Alzheimer stricken president, Nancy, retired to his ranch in California where he did nothing for America or Americans ever again.

Repub George H W Bush was known as a ‘hands off’ President because he mainly a milquetoast kind of guy with a fair foreign policy and a poor domestic one.

Ultimately his poor handling of our economy, as it seems all Repubs are guilty of, doomed him to being a one term president.

He retired to his ranch in Texas where he did nothing for America or Americans ever again.

Democratic President Bill Clinton presided over a period considered to be the largest economic growth and expansion in our history. Home ownership soared as did job growth and the number of unemployed Americans hit a then all-time low. He turned the largest budget deficit (a typical occurrence after a Repub administration) into the largest surplus ever.

After leaving office Clinton started the 'Clinton Global Initiative' & the 'Clinton Foundation' aiming to make the lives of Americans, and humans in general, safer and better.

Naturally both of these came under fire from the Repubs who always have the deire to stop anything that helps people over corporations.

Their efforts failed as no corruption was found and the Clintons continue to do good things for as many as they can.

Next up was Repub George W Bush, who was awarded the Presidency after the Governor of Florida, who just happened to be his brother Jeb, and Jeb's girlfriend at the time, Attorney General Katherine Harris decided to end the voting recount of a very close election. (click the lick for more.)

This meant the outcome of the race would be decided by the Supreme Court where a 5-4 Repub majority shockingly ruled 5-4 in favor of their guy and the Repubs took the White House.

Bush, who had gone AWOL from his National Guard post for over a year, was missing in action once again on and before 911.

He completely ignored his intelligence briefing report entitled, "Bin Laden determined to strike in US" and when planes struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon he sat stunned and scared for over 7 minutes while he finished reading "My Pet Goat" to school children in Florida.  He was then whisked away into Air Force One for safe keeping. (Remember this action by the Secret Service as it comes into play in 2020!)

After the terror act Darth Cheney, as his VP was known, took over and orchestrated America's response.

His awful deadly lie that Iraq perpetrated 911 and that Sadam Hussein was hiding weapons of mass destruction caused an unnecessary 20 year war. In fact there were no WMD in Iraq. What they did have was oil and cheney and his company coveted their supply.

The wave of Nationalism allowed Bush to win a second term, this time without cheating from his friends.

And when he retired in 2008 he left America with not only what should be known as the usual GOP sky-high National Debt but also a stock market crash bested only by the last Repub caused one of the late 1920s.

Bush retired to his Texas ranch where he, like his daddy, continued to do nothing for America and Americans ever again.

Democratic President Barack Obama came in and immediately started working on fixing that which another Repub administration had broken. He started by bailing out and saving the auto industry thus keeping Detroit afloat.

His economic policies slowly turned the country around and we experienced tremendous job growth.

His next project aimed to fix our healthcare system with his "Affordable Care Act' (ACA.) He wished to make sure all Americans had access to healthcare without going into bankruptcy.

This non radical idea which was already espoused by all other civilized nations of the world naturally came under attack by the GOP, and is still being vilified by them.

The hypocritically odd thing about the ACA is that it was originally espoused by Repubs and actually implemented in Massachusetts.

Go figure!

It seems as though anything that uses money to help the average citizen and not their billionaire friends is abhorrent to Repubs!

President Obama wished to do much more for America and Americans but was completely stymied by the Repub Senate majority leader mcconnell who admittedly worked to stop the President's agenda at all costs, even if it harmed the country.

He even refused to meet with judge Merrick Garland, Obama's nominee for an opening on the Supreme Court, let alone be voted on and ended up placing three of the most unqualified Justices on the highest court to rule in his  party's favor for decades to come!

Mcconnell claimed Obama was not allowed to place a judge on the bench in an election year. This absurd lie was laid bare when the next president was allowed to do so mere days before the election and rushed through by the very same treasonous mcconnell!

When the Democratic President Obama retired from office he donated $2 million of his own money earned from speeches and other paid events to help low income children of Chicago get jobs.

Obama's philanthropy continued with his "Obama Foundation" and the "My Brother's Keeper Alliance" which aimed to find opportunities for young black men and boys of color.

When Obama turned the job over to the Repub dt he did so with a surplus.

But as has been the wont of the GOP the newly installed and unbelievably unqualified president immediately got to work on destroying all the good done by Democratic Presidents that preceded him all the way back to FDR.

He caused the National Debt to rise exponentially higher than ever before.

With his ruination of the nation plans in place dt stepped into his next role, that of his dictatorship plans by starting his reelection rallies in every State that would have him, USING TAX PAYER DOLLARS!

He placed family members in every position of power he could think of and fired anyone who did not bow and kiss his, uh, ring.

The entire GOP seemed to be willing to forgo their obligations to America and Americans and become the dt cheering squad. They picked up after him as if dog owners with overactive pooper scoopers.

He was impeached twice for obvious crimes and would have suffered a 'perp walk' were it not for his lap dog, the equally corrupt lying filth, attorney general billy boy barr.

His total ineptitude became evident to the world when he failed to do anything constructive with regards to the Covid Pandemic that killed 600,000 and more, on his watch and even held unprotected 'super-spreader' rallies touting himself during the worst of the disease's rampage!

When America was finally able to vote the self-described 'pussy grabbing' low-life treasonous pond scum criminal out of office he had already accomplished his first term goal of ruining every government agency and had his people in place to continue doing so until they could be stopped.

Case in point is the ongoing destruction of the U S Postal Service under crony dejoy.

But on his last day as president he decided to stoke the flames of treason once more by inciting a deadly riot during which his minions stormed the Capitol searching for VP Pence to hang him for not supporting the dt takeover of America!

The Secret Service did not whisk him away into safety this time as they most likely knew that the mob was acting on his orders and did not pose one iota of threat to the con-man in the White House.

This time the Repub president did not retire to his conclave at mar a lago in red state Florida but did return there to strategize his next take-over move of the White House.

He is still off on his 'O What a Tangled Web I Weave' mental illness tour for white supremacists and members of Nazi America.

Democratic President Joseph Biden started his arduous task of fixing what dt had destroyed, namely everything!

President Biden's first job was to get the Covid vaccine into as many arms as possible and has been focused on this life saving agenda from day one.

He was able to get a relief bill passed, not a simple task when dealing with mcconnell, a man who calls himself the grim reaper and once again admits he will work tirelessly to stop yet another duly elected Democratic President from doing his job for America.

This Senator from Kentucky and traitor to everything America represents resents Democrats trying to work for Americans and wants to get back into power as a majority leader so he can reverse things.

He has decided that the best way to do this is to stop Biden's entire agenda then campaign in 2024 that the Dems did nothing with their power and must be replaced!

He will do this even if it means bringing back the worst president in the history of America, the awful, disgusting, do no good criminal, white supremacist, Nazi Repub who like himself thinks only OF himself.

But when and if dt is ever allowed to be in power again America will be forever be doomed.

So can we survive?

Time will tell.

But make no mistake, we are in a fight for our very lives!

It is up to every American to say, NEVER AGAIN! And then back up the righteous determination by voting ONLY for Democrats on every ticket, top to bottom and from sea to shining sea!

VOTE YOUR OWN INTEREST.

YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN!