Facebook

Well, I finally have a couple spots on Facebook. One for my shop: J&S Car Care Center, and the other for me personally. Mixed blessing those are. Social media has changed far beyond anything I could ever have dreamed of. Because of my time restraints, as I am sure others have also, viewing time is limited to a few short sessions from time to time. Knowledge of Facebook's working is gathered slowly, more by hit and miss than anything else. For the most part, Facebook is a way to stay in touch with whomever. Networking and advertising stand alongside political statements and religious views so a person has to learn fast how to pass over postings not of their liking and move on. It's also important to remember that anything written is viewable to most anyone, anywhere, at any time and cannot be taken back. In only the short time I've been involved I've seen postings that may have been written without keeping that fact in mind.

Over the past year, business and personal responsibilities have become much more intense and time consuming and I haven't been able to blog as much as I wish and now there is the Facebook thing. Choices, choices. What has my life become other than a journey between choices? Not complaining here, I welcome these opportunities and the richness they add to my existence. With Facebook my vision is expanded far beyond my physical surroundings. I find it very interesting the value of humor on social media. One minute a sense of tension can be felt when suddenly, the next minute someone pops up with a joke or humorous picture of an animal making a funny face with a caption putting you into fits of laughter. Five minutes of viewing a Facebook page can give you a moment or two with 20 other people. That's nice sometimes.

Veteran's Day

Monday is set aside as a tribute to our Veterans. It's our way of saying thank you and we recognize your efforts and sacrifice. We  need a reminder sometimes I think. The United States didn't come to where it is easy or by chance. It's been a hard fought battle every step of the way. Freedom has a price doesn't it?

My parents, uncles, aunts and friends made sure us kids knew that veterans were special. That's the way I learned it anyway. We visited many of them in the apartment complexes built just north of 28th street by Kalamazoo. About three stories high with no elevators, those apartments were filled with veterans coming back from service along with their families. I was too young to understand the economics of the situation but I could feel the importance. My folks would bring little things for the kids and maybe a casserole or other dish. My dad would give rides to job interviews or doctors or sometimes just a ride on Sunday afternoon for the whole family. The apartments are long gone now. There is a golf course there instead.

The movies at the time highlighted the heroism of our armed forces. In school we started the day with the Pledge of allegiance. Downtown was the community hub and it seemed that whenever we went there people could be seen wearing a uniform of one branch of the armed forces or another. I had several heroes in my own family from the navy, the air force, the army and the marines. I was in awe of them. The whole family held them in esteem. I haven't forgotten that.

Every day of the year we live in a free country preserved by our armed forces. Every day of the year it may be a good idea to remember the huge price paid for our freedom. A society such as ours is only as good as the morals and integrity of the people living in it. All too often I hear people who have no concept of what we are all about. Our veterans do. I do my best to live my life as a real tribute to our veterans and their sacrifice. We all enjoy rights and freedoms because of them. It's best we don't allow those rights and freedoms to disappear. Sometimes I feel as though more veterans might just be what we need in politics. They know the price.

Advanced Cell Technology stock sales/getting rich

Even without any money invested here in Advanced Cell Technology stock, I can understand why the buddy of mine that recommended it says that the stock market isn't for the weak. I have nothing to lose and my heart still goes up and down with the fluctuating price of the stock. I'm actually getting caught up in the process. A great deal of my interest is because I want my friend to make a bundle. Another part is that when it comes to medical research I want to see inroads in treatment and cure of disease. Only one week ago I never even heard of this company and today I'm fussing and fretting over each and every blip on the stock exchange. Crazy how stuff like that works. It's pretty neat that their clinical trials are going so well. That ought to shake things up.

Getting rich with stocks/Advanced Cell Technology

Well, someone is getting on the bandwagon with those advanced Cell Technology stocks. They bought 20,000,000 yesterday. I'm thinking my buddy that suggested that stock may be onto something. But, of course that is what he does all day, every day, buy and sell stocks. That's what it takes to make a go of it. Unless, your name is Warren Buffet and you can buy or sell any company at any time you wish, even an entire railroad from what I hear. Meanwhile, back here in the world of reality for me, where there is no extra money to lose, I am left to watching the stock market from afar. I guess that's OK by me. But, to tell the complete truth, part of me wishes he was buying some of that 20,000,000 Advanced Cell Technology stock. As a matter of fact, if I can sell one more of my old, antique radios, I' wouldn't be surprised if I buy a few thousand shares. If I win, all is well in River City. If I lose, it won't change my lifestyle.

Advanced Cell Technologies/Getting rich with stocks

The stock tip on Advanced Cell Technologies the other day, that I cannot afford to take advantage of, has shown promise already just as he said it would. The stock rose over 10% in just a couple days and is continuing to be very active. I'm thinking it's going to go even higher in quick fashion. One of the company officers is giving a lecture and that will probably divulge some good news there too. Once again I will miss the opportunity to increase my worth due to a lack of excess funds. Even so, I find it exciting to see some stocks show huge gains. Somebody is going to make a haul from what my buddy said. He's just bought a bunch of it to hold onto until the clinical trials are over. The health markets are blossoming what with the affordable health care act here in the states. I'll keep watching and let you know what happens.

Advanced Cell Technology stock

Well, the old government is up and running again so we can all sit back and breathe easy for the time being. Now I have a chance to play catch up on weeks old correspondence. The first letter on the top of the pile is from a friend who has earned a bunch of money buying and selling stocks. I value his opinion. He's proven he knows what's happening with certain stocks. In his opinion, the stock to buy right now is a company called "Advanced Cell Technology" As he relates it, this company has made some sort of ground breaking discovery linked to Diabetes and some other life changing disease. The stock price is cheaper than a 10 cent candy bar and he figures it'll go up over 50 times in value before the end of the year. If I buy it now, I'll be able to buy a new truck in January, he says. I think, "I wish I had a few hundred or thousand to invest in stocks because he's almost always on top of these things." Just my luck, no discretionary income at this time. He says he'll lend me some money but I do not borrow money no matter how large or small the opportunity. Good old Dave Ramsey has convinced me of that.

several years ago he mentioned a stock for an oil company he saw promise in. I bought $300 worth at 78 cents a share. Nothing happened. Not right away anyway so I truthfully forgot all about it. Until the stock broker I bought it through called me and asked if I was ready to sell it. I replied that I might, if the price was right. He said it was now worth $29 a share. I sold right there and then abd paid off the tuition for my kids schooling. As you might guess, I am so very tempted right now after that experience. However, no money is no money no matter how you say it and as I said, borrowing is not an option. There goes my opportunity for a new truck.

Now it's on to the rest of the pile of letters. I gotta stick with my plan. So far, so good. I haven't made much in stocks but I haven't lost my butt on them either. My buddy says "no risk, no gain." Hmmm!

Government shut down

It happened before, back in the 1990's, our government representatives got their hair in a bunch and refused to reach an agreement regarding the budget and other important stuff and allowed non-essential government functions to shut down. We survived! A government shut down sounds like scary stuff doesn't it? For anyone who hasn't lived through it before I can see how it appears to be total collapse. Perhaps, if it lasts long enough that may be the case. However, someone has to blink here. They did it before, they'll probably do it again. Meanwhile, as much as our instincts tell us to panic, I'm going to do my best to survive in the same way I did the last time. Just keep doing what I know best: And, remember all this when it comes to elections. That's about it. Oh yeah, and not plan any trips to a federal park or museum. I also write letters and send them to politicians. I do that a lot. The post office isn't funded by the government.