government – Rachel Greensleeves

February 26, 2013

Wow! Lincoln is a MUST SEE movie!

Just saw the movie, Lincoln, last night. All I can say is, “Wow!” What a great movie! It is nothing like I expected. Everyone knows about Abraham Lincoln and how he got assassinated and all that part of our American history. This movie was NOT about that! This movie was about politics in the old days and how the end of the Civil War affected the end of slavery – and it almost did not happen!

Daniel Day Lewis is SPECTACULAR as Abraham Lincoln. You totally believe that you are watching the real man – not an actor who has won the Academy Award for other movie roles like Last of the Mohicans and his other great movies. There were several excellent actors in this movie. I loved Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field, too.

This movie was nominated for all kinds of Academy Awards and should have won them all. It’s a GREAT MOVIE! Don’t wait for the DVD – go see it!!!

April 17, 2012

No Late Night for the Post Office

So many people are filling their tax returns over the internet now that I guess the post office has taken a big hit from not as much mail on the yearly tax deadline day. I remember years ago that all the post offices would stay open until midnight so the last minute tax filing people could still buy their stamps and mail their returns to get the post marked date of April 15 on their envelope.

But this year I read in the newspaper that no post offices around here are staying open late. In fact the biggest, main post office out by the airport is only staying open until 10:00 pm. Wow – things have sure changed because of the internet!

February 24, 2012

Official Notices

My house is almost paperless. I don’t get any mail except maybe a few Christmas cards and birthday cards, and once in a while a notice from the Government that my tags are about to expire or something like that.

So today I got a notice with a return address of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security. And I’m wondering what is that all about? Why would the department of Homeland Security want anything to do with me?

So it turns out that is the name of the department that has to do with driver’s licenses and they were notifying me that my driver’s license expires next month. I think it is a little weird that the Department of Homeland Security is the branch of our state government that has anything to do with drivers licenses.

October 4, 2011

Justice in Italy

My friend, Micah, called me yesterday afternoon so excited to share the news that the court in Italy had freed those two poor young Americans from jail. It has been a horrible tragic story for over four years about how a beautiful English college girl had been raped and murdered in her rented home in a little college town in Italy. The other girl who shared the house came home after an evening with her boyfriend and discovered the body. Then the police went nuts accusing her and her boyfriend of having an orgy gone wrong and threw three kids in jail with almost no evidence and no clear motive. It was horrible and my heart aches for everyone involved.

At least now the girl can come home to America and try to start her lie over again. I hope she gets a huge book and movie deal to make some money and help make up for the four years she had to spend in that awful Italian jail. The whole story makes me not want to ever visit Italy – some place Micah and I’ve always wanted to visit – until now I see how the police treat people.

September 21, 2011

Eight Facts About the FBI

You’d be hard pressed to find an American who has not heard of the FBI. But, that certainly doesn’t mean that Americans know all they should about the bureau. In fact, over the years, there have been many misconceptions about the FBI, its role and its reputation. Here are eight facts about the FBI that you may not know.

The FBI does not try cases – The Department of Justice receives investigative results from the FBI. They then make the decision on whether or not to try the case, and the US Attorney’s Office prosecutes.
The FBI’s motto is Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity – Their motto carries the same initials as their agency name.
The longest running director of the FBI was J. Edgar Hoover – Hoover was director from 1924-1972. Hoover was the original director of the agency, and remained its director until his death. Hoover was a very controversial figure, and often used illegal tactics to gain information. Hoover’s reputation is what led to subsequent FBI directors being limited to 10-year terms. The federal building that houses the FBI in Washington, DC is named after Hoover.
The FBI was originally called the Bureau of Investigations – The name was changed to Federal Bureau of Investigations in 1935.
The FBI was a leader in the field of Composite Sketch Art- The FBI was the first agency to develop a standard for composite sketching to be used by many different agencies. This technique, called standard methodology, allows both artists and non-artists to develop composite sketches.
Every Special Agent of the FBI completes a 21 week training course at FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia. This includes their firearms proficiency training and testing. Throughout their tenure with the FBI, agents must maintain firearm proficiency.
FBI agents must be between the ages of 23 and 37 when the bureau initially hires them. However, some preference veterans may apply after the age of 37.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, you have a right to obtain a copy of any file that the FBI has on you. In reality, however, the FBI has files on relatively few Americans. Unless you have been suspected of a federal crime or you have provided information in a federal investigation, there’s likely no FBI dossier for you. However, over the years, the FBI has had records on many famous people, including Elvis Presley, John Denver, Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson. It has been said that the FBI once sent a letter to Dr. Martin Luther King encouraging him to commit suicide.

The FBI remains an enigma in US culture. Few law enforcement agencies in the world have held the mystique of the FBI. Between the federal agents located in Washington, DC, the 56 field offices throughout the United States and the more than 50 international offices, the FBI has maintained a wide reaching presence, and a wide reaching reputation for being one of the most significant law enforcement agencies in the world.

Phyllis T. Zerkle particularly likes to write about issues surrounding homeland security and the various courses studied when earning a homeland security degree online.

January 30, 2010

This one’s not the brightest crayon in the box

A guy walked into a little corner store with a shotgun and demanded all of the cash from the cash drawer. After the cashier put the cash in a bag, the robber saw a bottle of Scotch that he wanted behind the counter on the shelf. He told the cashier to put it in the bag as well, but the cashier refused and said, ‘Because I don’t believe you are over 21.’

The robber said he was, but the clerk still refused to give it to him because she didn’t believe him. At this point, the robber took his driver’s license out of his wallet and gave it to the clerk. The clerk looked it over and agreed that the man was in fact over 21 and she put the Scotch in the bag.

The robber then ran from the store with his loot. The cashier promptly called the police and gave the name and address of the robber that he got off the license. They arrested the robber two hours later. I bet he’s still wondering how they caught him so fast!!!

October 1, 2009

Please do this

I got this from an email and it is true!!!

On Tuesday, the Senate health committee voted 12-11 in favor of a two-page amendment courtesy of Republican Tom Coburn that would require all Members and their staffs to enroll in any new government-run health plan. It took me less than a minute to sign up to require our congressmen and senators to drink at the same trough! Three cheers for Congressman John Fleming of Louisiana!

Congressman John Fleming (Louisiana physician) has proposed an amendment that would require congressmen and senators to take the same health care plan they force on us (under proposed legislation they are curiously exempt).

Congressman Fleming is encouraging people to go on his Website and sign his petition (very simple – just first, last and email). I have immediately done just that at: http://fleming.house.gov/index.html . Please urge as many people as you can to do the same!

If Congress forces this on the American people, the Congressmen should have to accept the same level of health care for themselves and their families.

May 23, 2009

Remember to thank a veteran this weekend

Memorial day is a wonderful holiday. It’s where we honor veteran and the families of veteran that didn’t make it back home. So while you’re having your cookouts this weekend, remember to say a prayer for our troops that are in harms way today and be thankful for those that passes before them that gave us the security and freedom to have the cookouts in the first place.

Happy Memorial Day!!

May 17, 2009

You learn something new every day

Jayce just told me last night that his brother is on the police force. I really admire anyone that is in the military or on the police force because they put themselves in harms way to protect us. One thing that blew me away is the fact that the police department doesn’t provide all of the tactical gear that they need. Jayce was telling me that his brother gets most of his 5.11 Pants and other tactical gear online. They have just about everything that a police officer would need to protect them and be able to carry the gear they need. Anything to keep them safe is the way I feel about it especially since they put their lives on the line every day.

May 11, 2009

Wow this is great for New Jersey

New Jersey has a new web site to help people find jobs. New Jersey Jobs helps companies to find employees and help the unemployed to find companies that are hiring. It’s through the Chamber of Commerce too so that just gives people another way to search for a job. I know New Jersey has always had a bit of a bad reputation but how bad can it be when some very famous people are from there. Bruce Springstein is just one of many that grew up there. It’s really a beautiful state if you’ve never been the and also has one of the highest per capita incomes of all 50 states. You just might want to consider checking it out if you’re in need of a job. I sure wouldn’t hesitate if I needed a job.