Spoof...!

Pervasive Telephone Scams.
The IRS has reported an increase in phone scams across the country, with callers pretending to be from the agents or other IRS representatives in hopes of stealing money or identities from victims. There are a number of variations on a theme ranging from instances from where callers say the victims owe money or are entitled to a huge refund to calls which threaten arrest.  The IRS has noted a few patterns in these calls such as:

• Scammers use fake names and IRS badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
• Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security Number.
• Scammers “spoof” or imitate the IRS toll-free number on caller ID.
• Scammers sometimes send bogus IRS emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.
• Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.
• After threatening victims with jail time or a driver’s license revocation, scammers hang up and others soon call back pretending to be from the local police or DMV, and the caller ID supports their claim 

Undercover .... !!

FDA's New Paradigm, see a ....Pharmacist

Research shows that 20 percent of patients with prescriptions do not get them filled. In addition, the time or cost required visiting a doctor to receive a prescription or refill often stops patients.

The FDA thinks that some doctors' visits can be eliminated.  It is exploring ways to make drugs for common conditions available as nonprescription products. Under this paradigm, the agency would approve drugs -- that would otherwise require a prescription -- for over-the-counter (OTC) distribution, if certain conditions are followed.

For example, before getting a medication, you might have to talk with a pharmacist, or need to have a diagnostic test. In other cases, you might have to visit a physician for original prescription, but not to get refills. FDA is also considering whether some drugs could be a prescription drug and a nonprescription drug with conditions of safe use.

Another scenario for enhancing self-care could involve pharmacists that could help consumers verify their diagnosis, or decide whether the medication is right.
“Pharmacists could also reinforce directions for use,” said Woodcock.

Potential benefits for consumers from this initiative are: an increase in the appropriate use of medication, decreases in health costs, greater access to health screening, easier access to needed medications, and better, more consistent treatment of common conditions.

This mimic some of my patent Application with a pharmacist role expands as in the rest of the advanced world.
Just a thought

 http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/SpecialFeatures/ucm297128.htm#.T3HHzgpizmc.facebook

Food Stamps to Corporations???!!!!

The federal Government spent $92 billion in direct and indirect subsidies to businesses and private corporate entities “corporate welfare” . Ex:Boeing, Xerox, IBM, Motorola, Dow Chemical, GE, and farmers.

The mortgage interest deduction is one of the largest federal tax expenditures, $108 billion a year. Goal of expanding home ownership, yet the beneficiary is the banks.

SNAP (Food Stamp Program) benefits costs $76.4 billion in 2013 and supplied roughly 47.6 million Americans with an average of $133.08 per month in food assistance. Not much money, but it is spent quickly on inflated prices on vegetables and food items.

Wal-Mart reported ".......cuts in food stamp support for the poor weighed on US sales and would hit earnings for fourth quarter 2013.

McDonald’s, Wal-Mart and Target together employ several million Americans. While these companies' profits have grown in recent years, most of their workers continue to earn low or minimum wages. Due to low wages, some of the employees are getting government support for housing, Healthcare, etc.

The money is recycled back to various large corporation. Corporate welfare, and Businesses influence have the largest share of the money and tax benefit.

So plan not to get SNAP, but instead go for corporate welfare. It is much generous.
Just a thought.

Yet the mortgage deduction has evolved into the second-most expensive tax subsidy in the behemoth code, costing the federal government $99.8 billion in missed revenues in fiscal 2011 alone - See more at: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2011/06/03/The-Hidden-Costs-of-Cutting-the-Mortgage-Deduction#sthash.ARgkGMM7.dpuf

But a diverse group of economists say cutting the deduction would have only a short-term negative effect on the housing market, and would have little or no affect on lower-income taxpayers from buying homes. That’s partly because only about two-thirds of the nation’s 52 million homeowners with a mortgage now take the deduction, according to IRS data. - See more at: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2011/06/03/The-Hidden-Costs-of-Cutting-the-Mortgage-Deduction#sthash.w1HUKoON.dpuf

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-quigley/ten-examples-of-welfare-for-the-rich-and-corporations_b_4589188.html

the behemoth code, costing the federal government $99.8 billion in missed revenues in fiscal 2011 alone.  - See more at: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2011/06/03/The-Hidden-Costs-of-Cutting-the-Mortgage-Deduction#sthash.LOvjDHUI.dpuf

Yet the mortgage deduction has evolved into the second-most expensive tax subsidy in the behemoth code, costing the federal government $99.8 billion in missed revenues in fiscal 2011 alone - See more at: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2011/06/03/The-Hidden-Costs-of-Cutting-the-Mortgage-Deduction#sthash.ARgkGMM7.dpuf

Yet the mortgage deduction has evolved into the second-most expensive tax subsidy in the behemoth code, costing the federal government $99.8 billion in missed revenues in fiscal 2011 alone - See more at: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2011/06/03/The-Hidden-Costs-of-Cutting-the-Mortgage-Deduction#sthash.ARgkGMM7.dpuf

Ironic Huh...*

 

A Kentucky pastor who starred in a reality show about snake-handling in church has died -- of a snakebite.

Snake-handling preacher Jamie Coots, who never backed away from his beliefs despite derision, criminal charges and excruciating bites, died Saturday night after being bitten by a rattlesnake during a church service.

Coots was charged about six years ago with illegally buying and selling snakes and fined more than $6,000. Last year, he was charged in Tennessee with transporting poisonous snakes he had bought in Alabama.

"To me that's what God taught me to be about," he said. "I'm not telling people to handle snakes."
I don't think that violating the law, make snakes a church signature and focus are  the right direction.

Comment: I am not judging no one but sorry for what happened.  Just a thought.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2014/02/16/3092068/jamie-coots-well-known-snake-handling.html#storylink=cpy

Read moreNational Geographic to air special on Jamie Coots, who ministered using deadly snakes here: http://www.kentucky.com/2014/02/16/3092068/jamie-coots-well-known-snake-handling.html#storylink=cpy

Empty...*!

 

Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction.

Empty Calorie Foods
         Most empty-calorie foods are highly processed that contain added fat and sugar. [Cakes, cookies, pies, pastries, puddings, doughnuts, fries, jams, syrups, jelly, sweetened fruit drinks, breaded fried burgers and ice cream.]  

If not used for physical activity, the extra calories are stored in the body as fat, and over time, result in weight gain and obesity.

Nutrient Dense Foods
         Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free milk and dairy products, nuts, beans, seeds, turkey, chicken, fish and lean cuts of meats. These foods provide fewer calories but are excellent sources of nutrients. 

Gradually increase one and decrease the other until you reach a balanced level. This would lead to decrease, increase or maintain your weight depending on your Body Mass Index.

"It isn't what we don't know that gives us trouble, it's what we know that ain't so." -

 Just a thought

US Debt Ceiling- Bill and Hillary Clinton

It was a moment of real drama in a chamber known for its somnambulism. Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, counted votes on his hand, at one point holding up three fingers as he searched for the remaining votes. Senator John Cornyn of Texas, his No. 2, paced the Senate floor.  finally, twelve Republicans in all, joined the Democrat and passed the bill for the debt ceiling.

The  Republican didn't want to show clear enthusiasm about it, but without them it wouldn't pass.

The US debt today is 16 Trillion Dollars. During President Clinton, the debt of 7 Trillion dollars was eliminated and the US budget had a surplus.

Would Hillary be the next "Clinton" President to eliminate the debt? ....possible.

Just a thought

New Year resolution...

The year 2014 is the year of health. The most important basis to our life is having a good health.

Weight control is the goal for many  but so difficult to achieve. Overweight is a contributor factor to many serious diseases.

Yet in many cases we attempt to mask the symptoms rather than deal with the causes of health problems.

The coming few short articles are an attempt to simplify the process.  It may help.

Just an attempt.

The Invisible...

The Good Samaritan"  theory was established more than 2000 years ago.

Adam Smith published his theory of economics "the invisible hand" in 1776. A free market where you buy what you want and others manufacture what they want the way they like. This will help the society where all benefit.

To avoid having extra supply in one location, roads, trucks, railroads, ...etc. were built.

Now the demand on potato's equal the supply in Idaho as well as in New York. More profit to the grower and to the market.

In the process, a new class of people fell off the wagon, and landed in the bottom of the society. The society and the individuals have responsibilities towards the less fortunate. 

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, "I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

So  "promise you wouldn't forget me... ever" Just a thought.

A-Rod Doping, a baseball story

A-Rod appears ready to accept the penalty for using performance-enhancing drugs.
Notices of dismissal in lawsuits were filed in Manhattan.

The suspended Yankees player will see out a season-long suspension - longest ever sentence dealt in a drug case in the history of baseball.

He never denied, under oath, the charges against him and never took the stand in his own defense in front of baseball’s arbitrator.

One of the ugliest chapters in baseball history is finally over.  Some suggested that A-Rod's counsel played to his vanity, gave him terrible advice, made a fortune off him and doomed him to being the baseball pariah he will quickly discover he has become.

 

To end doping in sport and create an example for the young.... He should be paying back, the club, whatever money he made while under the influence. That should be in every player's contract.
 

 Just a thought

[NY daily News]