The Life and Times of Jim
Hi, there. I'm Jim. Welcome to my phlog!
This site was written for Las Vegas, then LouisVille. Now, it seems to be about anywhere. In these phlogs, you'll see a lot of my personal notes and pictures. I like to post my observations here to remember life and celebrate it. I'm not religious. I don't pray for good fortune. I'm ecstatically grateful for the gift of life and I think our time should be remembered and not taken for granted. I'm not a writer. I think pictures tell stories so much better than words. I love just about everything in this life, and, I guess that would have to include you. So, if you've seen me, don't be surprised if your picture is in here somewhere. Of all the critters, people are absolutely the most interesting. 
<< 11/2005 < 10/2006 Calendar 12/2006 > 11/2007 >>Sign InView Other Logs
Sun 
11/05/2006 22:27:51
 Jim  Played poker with Jen and Dustin.
Becky and I p
It was pretty cool day. We laughed, played, tickled, and had fun.
Driving down the freeway in the convertible, with the top down, we got waved at by six people in another convertible.
I love how that Mustang convertible makes me feel.
Sonny was in a great mood. The tenants called twice. Everything is going quite well.
Hopefully, we'll be a Certified Loan Signers by next Friday.
Becky and I polished the day off by dropping in at Arizona Charlie's for Bingo.
I generally don't like Bingo, but for the price, its great entertainment.
Basically, we were in a room with a 300 geriatric people who were daubing their cards to the beat of the ball picker.
Every once in a while, we'd hear a feeble sounding "beeengoooo".
I still remember the days when Bingo was offered at casinos for free...man, was that a long time ago.
Sat 
11/04/2006 23:01:42
 Jim  Vote!
Gibbons for Nevada Governor.

I didn't even know they could run!
Another election year.
Another year of representives bashing other representives.
They seem like children fighting over a toy.
Why do these political commercials intermesh with my otherwise pleasant TV time?
Me, I don't vote for anyone who spreads hate or negativity. 
The problem is, there's so much of that.

Me, I'm still upset about the Bush/Gore election.
As I understand the news, some votes got lost in the swing state of Florida, which happened to have Jeb Bush as governor
and Gore lost the election even though he had the popular vote.
But I'm not making this up...according to the The 2000 Presidential Election by Wikipidia
Main articles: Florida Central Voter File and Florida election recount
Some observers have questioned whether he or Secretary of State Katherine Harris attempted to help his brother in the 2000 presidential election by tampering with the voter rolls and then certifying a controversial election, though there is little evidence to back this. Questions have been raised about Bush's involvement in the notorious "Florida Felons List" affair in which primarily black and Democratic voters who were not in fact felons erroneously were listed as ineligible to vote. Bush ignored at least one direct warning from a state computer expert that the list was flawed and should not be used. [13] Questions were also raised about the conduct of the vote count itself, which was chaotic at best--- although it should be pointed out that there were Democrats who arguably contributed to the confusion as well

While your voting, ponder this from: homelandstupidity.us
Some of the worst news possible for the security of U.S. elections came a year ago, and somehow I missed it. In March 2005, Smartmatic, a company based in Venezuela, purchased Sequoia Voting Systems, a company which makes electronic voting equipment.
What's the big deal?
Sequoia's systems are just as insecure as Diebold's, with irregularities being reported this week in Pittsburgh and Chicago. And the parent company, Smartmatic, whose machines were used in Venezuela's 2004 recall election, still refuses to answer questions over the results of that election.
Sat 
11/04/2006 22:00:00
 Jim  Vote for Jennifer: Dog Pound Director
Jennifer and I got into a mock debate for the position of Dog Pound Chief.
Jim :
Jennifer, my esteemed opponent has no experience with dogs. I have pictures of a dog walking her!
Jennifer: If I am elected, I will make sure the dogs aren't fed bad food
Jim: Jennifer is a dog. She wants to feed them her food.
Jennifer: I will make sure these dogs are treated humanely.
Jim: Jennifer wants to put innocent dogs in prison, with gang members.
Jennifer: I will act in both the dogs and your best interest
Jim: Thats the problem, she's not real. She's an actor.
Jennifer: I honestly love dogs. I'd never do anything to hurt them.
Jim: See, she admits never doing anything.
Jennifer: Vote for me on election day. I'll try to do what best for all of us.
Jim: Vote for Jim. The man of the people, for the people, by the people.
I'd vote for Jennifer. She actually said something.
Sat 
11/04/2006 11:12:20
 Jim  Home Schooling, is it quality?
I just helped Dustin with his math homework.
EG: Simplify this ratio 15 cats to 50 dogs.
       Answer: 3 cats to 10 dogs or 1 cat to 3.333_ dogs
       Dustins answer: 3 continous
EG: The temperature went up 7 degrees between 1990 and 1997.
       The temperature went up 6 degrees between 1997 and 2000.
       During which period did the temperature climb the fastest?
      Answer: 1997 to 2000
      Dustins answer: 7...between 1990 and 1997.
EG: A line goes from x,y coordinates (1,1) to (4,2) on a cartesian graph. Find the slop.
      The formula is Slope=m where m=(y1 - y2) / (x1 - x2)
      Answer: 1/3
      Dustins answer: 9
Matter of fact, out of 60 questions, he only got 1 right by accident.
He said it didn't matter. He'll still get a C.
First off, I'm wondering HOW?
Sat 
11/04/2006 09:22:26
 Jim  Primatene Mist Scare
For a long time, the FDA has wanted to ban Primatene mist because it uses chloroflourocarbons as a propellent.
They contend those little bottles are destroying the ozone layer.
I've read cows burping methane are destroying the ozone layer too. We still eat cows.
I went to Smith's Food King to by a Primatene Mist inhaler last night.
They told me it had been removed from the shelves.
During my next near fatal astma attack,
I must decide to die or lose everything I've got to medical professionals for what should be minor care. I don't know why professionals would put anybody in that position. I was able to purchase Primatene Tablets (which take longer to work), but I had to provide my drivers license which was keyed into Smiths database. Now my name exists on some lists that I don't want to be subscribed too.
According to what I've read, 3,000,000 people use Primatene to control their Asthma.
700,000 people use it because they have no health care. I would be one of those.
In effect, my last bottle of Albuterol, along with 5 antibiotics, and some steroids, cost me $700 with the doctor visit after all of the tests they seemed to need to confirm the obvious.
It was like a mechanic doing an alignment to fix a flat tire on an old car.
I suppose in a reach, the alignment could be the problem.
In the end, I called around. Primatene Mist is not banned yet.
Smith's Food King told me they had to remove it from the shelves.
Hopefully, the FDA will wait until another product hits the shelves before banning it.
For me, Primatene Mist is the only thing that controls my Asthma in Las Vegas.
Of course, I'm no doctor...I'm just a silly consumer who thinks Primatene helps.
Fri 
11/03/2006 12:35:14
 Jim  Fake IDs
You can easily find and order fake IDs on the internet.
So how do you detect them?
As a notary, you should be familiar with the most commonly used IDs. EG: Passports, State IDs.
But for out of state IDs, its advisable to call 800-USNotary.
The signature should be similar on the ID, document and notary journal.
Check for card wear, raised area around the photograph, smudges, erasures, styles of typewritten info.
If fraud is suspected and danger may be present, proceed with the notary, then call the police.
Fri 
11/03/2006 09:58:38
 Jim  Journal Entries
1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 240.069, each notary public shall keep a journal in his office in which he shall enter for each notarial act performed, at the time the act is performed:
- The fees charged, if any;
- The title of the document;
- The date on which he performed the service;
- The name and signature of the person whose signature is being notarized;
- A description of the ID used
- An indication of whether he administered an oath
- The type of certificate used to evidence the notarial act, as required pursuant to NRS 240.1655.
 2. If the notary uses a credible witness to verify ID of the person signing the notarized document
- Require the witness to sign the journal in the space provided for the description of the evidence used; and
- Make a notation in the journal that the witness is a credible witness.
 3. The journal must:
- Be open to public inspection.
- Be in a bound volume with preprinted page numbers.
 4. A notary public shall, upon request and payment of the fee set forth in NRS 240.100,
provide a certified copy of an entry in his journal.
 5. A notary public shall retain each journal for 7 years
 6. A notary public shall file a report with the Secretary of State if his journal is lost or stolen.
 7. The provisions of this section do not apply to a person who is authorized to perform a notarial act pursuant to paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of subsection 1 of NRS 240.1635.
 [Part 18:49:1883; BH § 2359; C § 2483; RL § 2020; NCL § 2951] + [Part 21:49:1883; BH § 2362; C § 2486; RL § 2023; NCL § 2954]—(NRS A 1967, 533; 1993, 262; 1995, 193, 1596; 1997, 936; 2001, 654) NRS 240.130
Thu 
11/02/2006 15:16:29
 Jim  Notial Acts
NRS 240.1655 Notarial acts. 
1. A notarial act must be evidenced by a certificate that: 
- Identifies the county, including, without limitation, Carson City, in this State in which the notarial act was performed in substantially the following form: 
    State of Nevada
    County of ............................................  

- Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, includes the name of the person whose signature is being notarized.
If the certificate is for certifying a copy of a document, the certificate must include the name of the person presenting the document.
If the certificate is for the jurat of a subscribing witness, the certificate must include the name of the subscribing witness.
- Is signed and dated in ink by the notarial officer performing the notarial act.
- If the notarial officer performing the notarial act is a notary public, includes the statement imprinted with the stamp of the notary public, as described in NRS 240.040.
- If the notarial officer performing the notarial act is not a notary public, includes the title of the office of the notarial officer and may include the official stamp or seal of that office. If the officer is a commissioned officer on active duty in the military service of the United States, the certificate must also include the officer's rank. 
2. A notarial officer shall: 
- In taking an acknowledgment, determine, from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence, that the person making the acknowledgment is the person whose signature is on the document. The person who signed the document shall present the document to the notarial officer in person.
- In administering an oath or affirmation, determine, from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence, the identity of the person taking the oath or affirmation.
- In certifying a copy of a document, photocopy the entire document and certify that the photocopy is a true and correct copy of the document that was presented to the notarial officer.
- In making or noting a protest of a negotiable instrument, verify compliance with the provisions of subsection 2 of NRS 104.3505.
- In executing a jurat, administer an oath or affirmation to the affiant and determine, from personal knowledge or satisfactory evidence, that the affiant is the person named in the document. The affiant shall sign the document in the presence of the notarial officer. The notarial officer shall administer the oath or affirmation required pursuant to this paragraph in substantially the following form: 

  Do you (solemnly swear, or affirm) that the statements in this document are true, (so help you God)?

3. A certificate of a notarial act is sufficient if it meets the requirements of subsections 1 and 2 and it:
- Is in the short form set forth in NRS 240.166 to 240.169, inclusive;
- Is in a form otherwise prescribed by the law of this State;
- Is in a form prescribed by the laws or regulations applicable in the place in which the notarial act was performed; or
- Sets forth the actions of the notarial officer and those are sufficient to meet the requirements of the designated notarial act.

4. For the purposes of paragraphs -, - and - of subsection 2, a notarial officer has satisfactory evidence that a person is the person whose signature is on a document if he:
- Is personally known to the notarial officer;
- Is identified upon the oath or affirmation of a credible witness; 
- Is identified on the basis of an identifying document which contains a signature and a photograph;
- Is identified on the basis of a consular identification card;
- Is identified upon an oath or affirmation of a subscribing witness who is personally known to the notarial officer; or
- In the case of a person who is 65 years of age or older and cannot satisfy the requirements of paragraphs - to -, inclusive, is identified upon the basis of an identification card issued by a governmental agency or a senior citizen center.

5. An oath or affirmation administered pursuant to paragraph - of subsection 4 must be in substantially the following form:
    Do you (solemnly swear, or affirm) that you personally know ………
   (name of person who signed the document)………, (so help you God)?

6. A notarial officer shall not affix his signature over printed material. 

7. By executing a certificate of a notarial act, the notarial officer certifies that the notarial officer has complied with all the requirements of this section. 8. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "consular identification card" means an identification card issued by a consulate of a foreign government, which consulate is located within the State of Nevada.  (Added to NRS by 1993, 202; A 1995, 195; 1997, 940; 2001, 655; 2003, 608, 1932)
Thu 
11/02/2006 14:19:29
 Jim  Notary Fees
NRS 240.100 Fees for services; additional fees for travel expenses; notarial acts performed within and outside scope of employment.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, a notary public may charge the following fees and no more:
 -For taking an acknowledgment, for the first signature of each signer.......... $5.00
 -For each additional signature of each signer...............................................$2.50
 -For administering an oath or affirmation without a signature....................... $2.50
 -For a certified copy..................................................................................$2.50
 -For a jurat, for each signature on the affidavit........................................... $5.00
 2. All fees prescribed in this section are payable in advance, if demanded. 
 3. A notary public may charge an additional fee for traveling to perform a notarial act if:
-The person requesting the notarial act asks the notary public to travel;
-The notary public explains to the person requesting the notarial act that the fee is in addition to the fee authorized in subsection 1 and is not required by law;
-The person requesting the notarial act agrees in advance upon the hourly rate that the notary public will charge for the additional fee; and
-The additional fee does not exceed:
--Between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., $10 per hour.
--Between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., $25 per hour.
--The notary public may charge a minimum of 2 hours for such travel
--After the first 2 hours, charge on a Pro Rata basis
4. A notary public is entitled to charge the amount of the additional fee agreed to in advance if:
-
The person requesting the notarial act cancels his request after the notary public begins his travel.
-The notary public is unable to perform the requested notarial act due to improper acts. 
5. For each additional fee that a notary public charges for traveling to perform a notarial act pursuant to subsection 3, the notary public shall enter in the journal that he keeps pursuant to NRS 240.120:
-The amount of the fee; and
-The date and time that the notary public began and ended such travel.
6. A person who employs a notary public may prohibit the notary public from charging a fee for a notarial act that the notary public performs within the scope of his employment. Such a person shall not require the notary public whom he employs to surrender to him all or part of a fee charged by the notary public for a notarial act performed outside the scope of his employment.  [17:39:1864; B § 346; BH § 2251; C § 2418; RL § 2760; NCL § 4730] + [1:94:1865; B § 2735; BH § 2318; C § 2457; RL § 1994; NCL § 2925] + [1:49:1883; BH § 2342; C § 2468; RL § 2005; NCL § 2936] + [15:94:1865; B § 2749; BH § 2329; C § 2467; RL § 2004; NCL § 2935] + [16:49:1883; A 1889, 39; C § 2481; RL § 2018; NCL § 2949] + [Part 25:49:1883; BH § 2366; C § 2490; RL § 2027; NCL § 2958]—(NRS A 1981, 325; 1985, 1207; 1993, 261; 1995, 193; 1997, 935; 1999, 76; 2003, 607)  NRS 240.110 Posting of table of fees. If a notary public charges fees for performing notarial acts, he shall publish and set up in some conspicuous place in his office a table of his fees, according to this chapter, for the inspection of all persons who have business in his office. The schedule must not be printed in smaller than 1/2-inch type. A notary public shall not charge fees unless he has published and set up a table of fees in accordance with this subsection.  [Part 23:49:1883; BH § 2364; C § 2488; RL § 2025; NCL § 2956]—(NRS A 1985, 1207; 1995, 193; 1997, 936)
Thu 
11/02/2006 10:27:01
 Jim  10 Most Stolen Cars in Nevada
If you drive a 1996 Honda, your car is at the top of the list of the most popular stolen vehicles in Nevada. The National Insurance Crime Bureau has released a top ten list of the most popular cars for auto theft in 2005.
Rank
1  1996 Honda Accord
2  1995 Honda Civic
3  1990 Toyota Camry
4  1994 Saturn SL
5  1992 Nissan Sentra
6  2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
7  1988 Toyota Pickup
8  1998 Dodge Neon
9  2001 Ford F150 Series
10 1993 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
Thu 
11/02/2006 09:20:56
 Jim  Stopped by the Stardust last night
Its all lit up. If it wasn't for the lack of people, you wouldn't even know its shut down.
The Strip is always an interesting place to cruise on chilly nights.
It was in the 50's and people are wearing short sleeve shirts, even in convertables.
Wed 
11/01/2006 23:30:56
 Jim  ..The Pharaohs must have been resurrections.
Yep...thats all I had. I wanted something to smooth out all the expresso I'd been drinking.
Becky had a Mom's Apple Pie drink. She sucked it on down.
I had two beers with Frank a while back too.
Wed 
11/01/2006 11:37:56
 Jim  ..Stardust closes at Noon
Ya know, I helped install their Race and Sports book!!! It seems like a million years ago.
And I told the Board of Directors, yoose guys, yoose doos what ever yoose wants...money aints no object.
I think Stardust was the home of Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, the guy the movie "Casino" was really about.
Ahhhh, I do I remember those days now.
Thu 
11/02/2006 10:17:50
 Jim   (Reply)Stardust closes at Noon

Stardust is closing today at noon, to make way for the 4 billion dollar Echelon complex.
Wow...I did say that right!
It opened in 1958.

This really puts pressure on Phil Ruffin to finally make a decision about The Frontier.
With Echelon, Encore, Palazzo and The Trump Towers, The Frontier will look like a trailer park surrounded by luxury if something isn't done - And Circus Circus will probably have to go as well.
Wed 
11/01/2006 11:27:24
 Jim  Halloween 2006 - Green Valley Ranch Gang
Jennifer,Becky,Renee,Jonathon,Dustin at the Green Valley Ranch.
Wed 
11/01/2006 11:17:50
 Jim  Green Valley Ranch - Becky, Jim
Becky and Jim, gobbling around at the Green Valley Ranch.
One kid asked me what I was supposed to be.
I said, I'm a "Hekifino".
In this picture, is just my imagination or is my head HUGE!
Tue 
10/31/2006 21:58:56
 jim  GhostHunting,NV-Sonny,Jim
Tue 
10/31/2006 21:58:56
 jim   (Reply)Vegas,NV-GhostHunting-Sonny,Jim,GVRanch
Sun 
10/29/2006 02:00:00
 Jim  Daylight Savings Time
Set your clocks back one hour.
Sat 
10/28/2006 18:16:34
 Jim  We are watching ’Click’
Its a story about a guy who has a remote that lets him fast forward, reverse, play and pause any part of his life.
What a weird concept!
I want to write a book called OverWear
It's about a guy who, when he wears other peoples underwear, he becomes them.
The story line could go like:
- He puts on his wifes underwear and becomes her, then meets her secret lover. 
Then he takes off his wife's underwear while in bed, and becomes himself again.
- He tries on his bosses underwear, and gives himself a raise!
- He wears his wife's underwear, and goes to her gym!
Now there's an Adam Sandler movie for you!
This idea probably took as much thought as "Click".
Fri 
10/27/2006 20:54:50
 Jim  Stupid questions?
Why don't cows shrink after it rains?
Why do cows have a hide?
To keep them from falling apart!
Why did the elephant paint her toe nails red?
So she could hide in a strawberry patch.
Why did the elephant hide in a tree?
She couldn't find a strawberry tree.
What's black and white and read all over?
A newspaper.
How many squirrels does it take to change a light bulb?
None. They keep playing with their nuts.
How many rabbits does it take to change a light bulb?
None. They're just too darned stupid.
Why did the deer cross the road?
To get hit by a car.
Fri 
10/27/2006 14:01:22
 Jim  Katie Couric: Fat people cause pollution!
CBS NEWS
She says, fat people, per year, are using 1 billion more gallons of gas than 40 years ago.
Lets see now. 40 years ago, 1966...
How many people drove cars then?
Did we even have freeways?
The population went from 200 million in 1966 to 300 million in 2006.
Looking at this closer, a car weighs around 3,000 lbs.
The full tank alone weighs 160 lbs.
A spare tire (or over weight belly) must weigh around 20 lbs.
So, lets blame the driver. haha
And my truck gets 12 miles per gallon now.
That's what trucks in the 60's got.
But, lets not blame automotive technology.
Lets blame FAT PEOPLE! haha
See now, I might have said:
- Don't lose weight, your probably driving because your overweight.
- Don't keep a spare tire in the trunk.
- Drive on empty
- Remove the back seats
- Remove anything that might use excessive energy, like those 400 watt boom boxes.
- Remove the air conditioner.
- Never roll down your window while going down the freeway.
Why not say, lets all hate fat people, and while we're at it, hate driving our cars too.
What do you drive, Katie?
Fri 
10/27/2006 04:28:16
 Jim  .what is family and what is love
I don't know what you've been hearing, Robert.
GMa doesn't talk about you.
Joy talks about you. Becky and I talk to Joy based on what she tells us.
But we've barely seen you for almost two months now. You've been like a ghost.
We thought we were picking you up Sunday.
We even waited until 11pm for you to come over.
Tony said you let him in the apartment window sometime Sunday.
You should come over during your lunch break, and we'll fix you something really nice.
BTW-You can have my floor jack if you want it. Its seals are shot. It leaked bringing it home.
I don't know, maybe you can fix it. I bought another one.

Thu 
10/26/2006 10:15:01
 Jim  Cold Season is here - tried Airborne.
Gotta a cold. Trying an OTC called "Airborne", highly recommended by GMa.
Talked to Ida this morning, she just got over her cold.
Jennifer had a cold last weekend.
Guess its going all around.
Wed 
10/25/2006 23:57:19
 Jim  Joes Crab Shack - A Paul BDay Dinner 4 6
Becky and I went to Joes Crab Shack waiting for Paul and GMa to join us.
While waiting we ordered an appetizer (lobster and crab dip)...YUM.
45 minutes late, Paul, Gma, Renee and Jonathon joined us...but by then, I was semi-full (cuz I wolfed the dip).
Anyway, I ordered a Fishermans Platter, which I took home in a doggy box.
I told Sonny he could eat it when I got home. He left me $17 on my desk for it in the morning...wow.
The result of the night:
- I paid $60 for dinner, which is GREAT,
-We had a very nice time,
-Sonny ate my left overs and should catch my cold, oops.
On the way home
The Tennants squared up the rent, finally.
We stopped by GMas and ate a BDay cake. It had a headstone on it that read "Over the Hill. Too Old to Count".
While there, we talked a lot, and had quite a few laughs.
Another good day has gone by.
Tue 
10/24/2006 23:08:24
 Jim  .252 kilometres whatever the hell that means
So has your bonnie Heather left or will she return?
Tue 
10/24/2006 16:42:19
 Jim  ..That Mustang is Zipper
In that little Mustang (or should I call it, the 97FM...I'll explain that later), it wouldn't much matter if I was going 180mph or 20mph. If I hit a telephone pole, I'd be in little bitty pieces either way.
I said 97FM instead of 97 Ford Mustang, BECAUSE, buzz words are still everywhere. Sonny keeps talking about the EDR. A fight happened in the EDR. He hates the Frontiers EDR. Every time, I ask him, whats the EDR again? He says
"The Employee Dining Room, or cafeteria". And what is it, a 45 is a pair of pliers...
LOL
Wed 
10/25/2006 16:20:15
 Jim   (Reply)That Mustang is Zipper
I left home at 11:30 today, went up I515 through the spaghetti bowl to Summerlin Pkwy, to I215, then to Red Rock Casino on Charleston Blvd, to meet Paul to get GMas extra car keys. Then, I drove  to Decatur and Charleston to give GMa those car keys. Then I picked up Jennifer and Renee at Petsmart and took them home. I got to the Albertsons store near Sam's Town at 12:40. That's 44 miles of driving in Vegas, with 3 stops in a little over an hour.
Not bad!!!
Tue 
10/24/2006 10:57:50
 Jim  Vegas Rule for Air Quality
Mountains Hide - Just stay inside
Mountains Clear - Get out of here
Rain and Mud - Its gonna flood
Sunny Sky - Bare feet will fry
** smiles **
Sun 
10/22/2006 08:22:06
 Jim  Mr and Mrs Carrot got into a terrible car crash.
The doctor told Mr Carrot, he'll will be fine, but his wife, Mrs Carrot, will always be a vegetable.
The Lettuce family head was also involved, but he only required only a light dressing.
Sat 
10/21/2006 11:24:20
 Jim  Ancestrial Relationships Chart
Sat 
10/21/2006 09:38:59
 Jim  The Concept of Easy Money
I believe people doom themselves once they start believing a magic pill, phrase, or symbolic action will fix all of their problems.
People get rich, in many ways, just by pure chance.
If a megabucks slot machine pays someone $3,000,000, it has paid out 1 million to 1 for the investment.
It would be ridiculous to write a book on "How to win at Megabucks".
I know at least three people who have lost fortunes chasing get-rich-quick schemes:
One friend with his ski-bike; my Dad and a friend with their options and futures trading.

I would hope that people achieve wealth by working hard and paying close attention to their business's details.
My Dad and my Uncle are a good example of how well people learn in this life.
The Polarity between these two is astounding.
My Dad played his get rich quick schemes throughout his lifetime.
Dad thought he cound find the secrets to long life, rapid wealth, and spiritual happiness.
He held disdain for the religious and the wealthy.
As a result, we grew up poor.
Dad's logic was flawed. He hated rich people while wanting to become one.
My Uncle got rich through hard work.
He went with the flow and learned from the wealthy.
As a result, his kids grew up and received the education they needed to succeed.
Stocks and Bonds do make money
Its what they net after inflation and expenses that count.
If there was an easy investment scheme that payed even 10% , the economy would buckle.
The rich would be doing it and this would be a country with no middle class.
Imagine, never doing anything more for the rest of your life, by using an investment scheme.
We hear from the winners in stocks while the losers remain quiet.
Why do people like Donald Trump keep building their wealth?
Because he enjoys it. I doubt that wealth cannot sustain itself without action.
Sat 
10/21/2006 03:45:36
 Jim  I gotta say something good about my Dad
Dad built himself a beautiful house.

Dad said he built it for us.
He left his life insurance to his wife. That was the right thing to do.
Dad burned us, though.
-Dad burned Sonny on the house that was paid off with an accident settlement.
The money should have been put in a trust, but instead, it paid off the shack we grew up in (with 5 acres of land).
He got Sonny to Quit Claim to him after Sonny turned 21. 
In effect, he used the money from Sonny's accident settlement to build the house above. 
Sonny felt he didn't deserve the house, may be, may be not, but it was rightfull his.
Dad took advantage of Sonny's feelings on this. He didn't even put Sonny's name on the new house as a coowner.
-Dad burned Linda with her newborn baby by kicking her out.
-Dad burned me by lying to me, threatening to sue me during the worst time in my life and talking behind my back.
I went on to ignore him for years.
Then he borrowed on it to build himself a ice cream shop in a failing mall.
When he lost his house and ice cream shop:
-He went on to live in his wife's son house.
-He went on to talk about his will which he never filed.
-He went on to talk about his big life insurance policy for Sonny, which he fumbled.
I realize none of the above sounds good...but good did come out of Dad
Dad gave me a goal. He was my mentor is a non-traditional way.
As a kid, I swore I would never pick up his bad traits.
I'm the only one to finish college, work my way up to having my own corporation.
I've had two houses for over 21 years.
I didn't get my inspiration from Dad. I got it from my Step-Dad who was a great guy.
My Step Dad and my Mom were my best friends in this life.
Dad was ripped off in life, I suppose.
He never quite made anything of himself.
I hope he gets a chance to do-it-all-over. Its possible, I suppose.
Fri 
10/20/2006 18:08:54
 Jim  Jennifer and Dustin are staying over.
We tried to play frisbee golf at Freedom Park, but someone rented the public park again.
We couldn't even feed the ducks. So sad people can rent a park and charge admission.
Right now, we're cooking Stuffed peppers with a side of meatloaf...its a meat lover's night in!
Fri 
10/20/2006 15:27:54
 Jim  ..I am headed for a Day Trip to Tampa/Clearwater S
Thats cool. So, he's a Tampan now?
Thu 
10/19/2006 18:11:36
 Jim  Saw a CPA today
Ryerson Smith
4455 S Pecos #B; Las Vegas, NV 89121
Call: 702-878-4809, Fax: 446-8261
Email: jryersonsmith@usa.net
He'll be my resident agent. Plus, he's going to help me with these nasty forms.
It's been 10 years since I've incorporated.
Thu 
10/19/2006 09:10:16
 Jim  Turned the heat on for the 1st time
The outdoor thermometer said 44 degrees! wow
Thu 
10/19/2006 09:03:03
 Jim  What is Butt Dust?
PREACHER: "Dear Lord, without you we are but dust."
CHILD: "Mom, what is butt dust?"
Watching his Mom breast-feeding.
CHILD: "Mom why have you got two? Is one for hot and one for cold milk?"
CHILD: "Granny how old are you.
GRANNY: "I don't remember anymore".
CHILD "If you don't remember you must look in the back of your panties. Mine say five to six."
Hugging/kissing his Mom goodnight.
CHILD: "I love you so much that when you die I'm going to bury you outside my bedroom window."
BRITTANY (age 4) had an earache and wanted a painkiller. She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom explained it was a childproof cap and she'd have to open it for her. Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: "How does it know it's me?
SUSAN (age 4) was drinking juice when she got the hiccups. "Please don't give me this juice again," she said, "It makes my teeth cough."
D I (age 4) stepped onto the bathroom scale and asked: "How much do I cost?"
MARC (age 4) was engrossed in a young couple that were hugging and kissing in a restaurant. Without taking his eyes off them, he asked his dad: "Why is he whispering in her mouth?"
CLINTON (age 5) was in his bedroom looking worried. When his Mom asked what was troubling him, he replied, "I don't know what'll happen with this bed when I get married. How will my wife fit in?"
JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: "The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt. Concerned, James asked: "What happened to the flea?"
TAMMY (age 4) was with her mother when they met an elderly, rather wrinkled woman her Mom knew. Tammy looked at her for a while and then asked, "Why doesn't your skin fit your face?"
Thu 
10/19/2006 08:00:19
 Jim  Disorder in the Courts of America
ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
WITNESS: No, I just lie there.
ATTORNEY: What is your date of birth?
WITNESS: July 18th.
ATTORNEY: What year?
WITNESS: Every year.
ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
ATTORNEY: How old is your son, the one living with you?
WITNESS: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.
ATTORNEY: How long has he lived with you?
WITNESS: Forty-five years.
ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"
ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?
WITNESS: My name is Susan.
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Would you repeat the question?
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Uh...
ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death.
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it?
ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral. What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral.
ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy on him!
ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So then, it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law
Wed 
10/18/2006 17:34:39
 Jim  Illusions: See if you can read this
Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs. I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The
phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if
you can raed tihs psas it on !!
Wed 
10/18/2006 11:59:59
 Jim  Dad’s life ends on a sour note.
Its depressing when you find your own father despised you.
All I tried to do was be his friend.
Dad and I talked a lot this last year.
He apologized for threatening to sue me.
He apologized for blaming me for losing the St Louis cross when my house got broken into and robbed.
I told him to forget about it, I realized he was just ranting.
He told me he thought he hadn't lived a good life. I told him I thought he had done just fine, that he had a good life.
However, his written words reach out beyond his grave.
Dad missed his calling to be a good parent.
He was never there for me.
We grew up poor, with an outhouse, and a pump well. We washed our clothes in #10 tubs.
Dad was a bricklayer, which should have been good money back then. Most Kentucky houses are brick.
But Dad was constantly sick, with his retina detaching, his arm going numb (he pulled a needle threw it).
He was a hypo-chondriac, which is why I still avoid doctors. I didn't want to be like that.
I was so depressed living in his house once Mom moved out, so at 14 (1970), I moved out to live with my Grandfather.
I moved in with my mom and my step-father from there.
I got Sonny into real estate when I was twenty one.
I'd put myself through college.
I offered Dad $40,000 to invest, and he turned me down.
I borrowed $2,000 and gave him back $2,500 in two months.
Nobody in the family, except for me, Aunt Tass or Uncle Art has done anything for him (to my knowledge).
About Mom and her estate:
Mom left me everything that was left over after her estate was close, that included this house's mortgage.
Basically, Kelly got $80k and I got $80k, but I had to pay the Probate lawyer $12k and take care of Mom's bills for 90 days. I also got this house free and clear, and thats where I really made out.
Dad thought I was a fool
He wanted me to give my inheritance to Kelly because she had kids. Kelly had already gotten half.
Dad thought I should invest in Vector Vest, a stock scam, instead of buying real estate in Las Vegas.
Mom didn't leave Sonny much, so I paid off the condo and put my name on it.
I also bought a house in Summerlin.
He was insensitive to my feelings
When I took out the St Louis Medallion (from a Safety Deposit Box), and my house got robbed, he threatened to sue me.
(never mind, that I left the house to wrap up an IRS audited which I beat, or that I just had major surgery with 3 bags hanging off of me, or that I was going through a divorce).
I suppose, in his mind, he damned me for moving in with Mom.
Now that I've read his letters, and will read more eventually, I finally know what he was saying about me.
He has told Tass, Sonny, and probably everyone else, what a terrible guy I am.
He dismissed these facts as being nothing to talk about:
I payed off the condo for Sonny.
I offered Dad $40k to play with.
I payed him the equivilent of 400%  interest on $2k he'd loaned me.
Meanwhile, in his letters, he's calling me the equivalant of an idiot because I bought real estate instead of running a program called Vector Vest, and investing in its stock picks.
All I can say is, fooey on Dad.
In Dad's words, and in his deeds, he did his best to turn people against me.
Dad did Sonny wrong
A settlement was awarded to Sonny. He suffered from damages in an auto accident while Grandfather was driving. 
Mom used the settlement to pay off the house on Hinkleville Road.
The house placed in Sonny's name. 
Which we grew up in that house.
After Sonny turned 21, Dad got Sonny to Quit Claim the house to him.
Dad sold that house and went on to build a 2 story house, and start an Ice Cream shop.
Dad lost everything. Sonny did not get his settlement money. 
All that talk about he was building the house for us, and what he was doing was just talk.
If there was an insurance settlement for my child,
and I used it to pay off my house, but had to put it in the childs name, I wouldn't hustle the child out of it when he turned 21. The money should have been put in a trust to begin with. I think I would have been grateful for all the years I lived there for free.
In short, Dad not leaving Sonny with a nickel was a total screw.
He left his insurance policys to his 90 year old wife. She'll leave it her 60 year old children.
Sonny didn't get the settlement, the house or anything...as promised. He did get a violin.
Judy mentioned that Dad raised him. What father demands payment from his child for raising him?
I don't understand these people.
Well, Sonny is my partner, and I have Becky by my side.
Whats mine is theirs.
Anyone else Dad spoke too about me doesn't concern me any more.
Tue 
10/17/2006 20:44:40
 Jim  Beckyism: Doc Holiday died from Psoriasis
I think she meant cirrhosis, but I think he died from tuberculosis.
Tue 
10/17/2006 12:08:40
 Jim  Is Bin Laden dead?
Someone mentioned the other day that he had been killed, so I looked it up.
According to Time Magazine, on 11/23/2006 the CIA Director said NOPE. Iraq's intelligience says NOPE. It was guessed he died in November 2001, from lung complications.
He's been reported as dead quite a few times over the last 5 years.
Most think he died in December 2001.
Check out: What Really Happened.com.
It looks like this site tries to decifer the truth from the news.
Good luck with that! lol
Mon 
10/16/2006 22:00:00
 Jim  Ate at the South Coast Garden Buffet
It was steak night at the price of $13.95, which is GREAT.
We ate (jumbo?) mussels, prime rib, large shrimp, seafood newburg, and more.
What can I say? It was delicious! I like South Coast.
Sun 
10/15/2006 12:56:06
 Jim  Its nice that he is receiving and not deceiving
Jennifer said that about Jonathon.
Looking confused, I asked her "Do you mean he we won't be receiving your Grand mom's help because he's getting a job, and he's not lying about getting a job?".
She said, "No, I don't know what that means. Ask Grandma.".
I asked her, "Does it mean he's receiving Christ's ghost or something religious like that?".
She said, "No, he's receiving information, I guess.".
I said, "So, he's receiving information about a job, and not lying to them?".
I know...I'm trying to make sense out of things that don't make sense.
A talent I have got to learned is how to look like I'm listening, when I'm not.
Mon 
10/16/2006 20:15:05
 Jim   (Reply)..Its nice that he is receiving and not deceiving
I looked everywhere on the internet and "he is receiving and not deceiving" doesn't mean squawt.
And that's all I wanted to know, was what does that expression mean.
Didn't mean no kind-a harm to no one. haha.
Its like the first time someone told me someone else was getting pickled.
When I asked them what that meant, they said, "getting drunk".
And that was basically a good enough definition.
Speaking about weird sayings...Jennifer asked us if Squirt was FIXED
I told her, if she meant did we destroy his ability to reproduce, no.
Sun 
10/15/2006 09:04:03
 Jim  Here’s my problem with the Bible(s):
They rewrite the Bible all the time.
I remember reading:
If thine right eye offend thee, pluck it out.
I remember its meaning as:
If something bothers you that you can't fix, get away from it, separate it from yourself.
See, being raised as a good Christian, I didn't believe in self mutilation.
None of these are what I remember reading when I was a kid.
The following are several translations of the Bible, Mathew:18:8
ASV: And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.
BBE: And if your eye is a cause of trouble to you, take it out, and put it away from you: it is better for you to go into life with one eye than, having two eyes, to go into the hell of fire.
DBY: And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee; it is good for thee to enter into life one-eyed, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.
KJV: And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
WEY: And if your eye is causing you to fall into sin, tear it out and away with it; it is better for you to enter into Life with only one eye, than to remain in possession of two eyes but be thrown into the Gehenna of fire.
WBS: And if thy eye causeth thee to sin, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell-fire.
WEB: If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.
YLT: And if thine eye doth cause thee to stumble, pluck it out and cast from thee; it is good for thee one-eyed to enter into the life, rather than having two eyes to be cast to the gehenna of the fire.
This why when I hear someone quote from the Bible, I kind of chuckle
If I ask them which one. Invariable, I always get the response that there is only one Bible.
There isn't. There were more versions of the Bible retranslated in the 1970's than all through out its history.
EG: "The King James Bible (for children)".
But if you actually read them, they changed things.
So I can't say, I've read King James, and it says if a child sways from Jesus, tie a rock to his neck and drown him. Mine says that. But, hopefully, thats not what it means. It means something else to me.
Sat 
10/14/2006 12:17:27
 Jim  ...Lost Wages Weather
So, I need to sort these blog entries down by the server's date/time, instead of the requesters date/time....lol.
Sat 
10/14/2006 08:08:52
 Jim  Forecast: Floods, rain, and pea sized hail
Its raining hard outside with thunder and lightning abound.
My thermometer says its 55 out there, but the weather reports say 50.
Its a hot cocoa day!
Fri 
10/13/2006 22:58:03
 Jim  South Coast Hotel

We went to the South Coast tonight. 
Somehow, its visible and looks huge, 5 miles away on the 215.
They have nine great restaurants!
Don Vito's is an Italian restaurant with classy cuisine.
The Big Sur Oyster Bar has a very long counter, where people can see their oysters being shucked.
All of their menu prices look well below market (typically $9 or less a plate).
The casino is brightly decorated.
I just love its golden hued themes. I noticed they have a lot of flat screen video poker machines.
A security guard told us South Coast just hosted the Jerry Lewis Telethon.
Check out the Equestrian Arena Calendar
It looks like they have horse shows and competitions in there Equestrian Arena all of the time.
Most of the activities are free, too. They just had a Nevada painted pony competition!
Today, they are having a Futurity Race.
That means the under 2 year old horses in the race were selected at birth for this event.
I was wondering why so many horse trailers were parked out front.
The security guard told us the equestrians are kept in a 5 story air conditioned barn!
Ya know, I've lived in Vegas since 1974
We eat someplace different every week. We cruise the strip and site see at least two times a week.
And I'll never see it all.

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