If you "Tweet", it's Follow Friday #FF

I'd like to thank you all for following my blog. Having followers is a huge honor for me.

News from the Home Front

This morning, I have made a few phone calls and received some as well. On Monday, I have an interview! WOW! Incredible! The vacancy that I will interview for is in training. For the past 5 years, that's been a part of what I have done.

After searching the internet for articles on re-potting cucumber plants, there was one article that was close to what will help me. The Ohio State University - Horticulture and Crop Sciences. I obtained the phone number for the "Master Gardener" while on the phone with the university and will call him regarding the transplant of my little tender plants. More on that later ..... I missed out on calling today (because of the time difference) but will definitely call on Monday for advise on what to do.

On the unemployment front, though, nothing has changed and it appears as though our US Senators and Congress people will happily go on vacation leaving those of us who are running out of unemployment benefits 'out on the clothesline' to dry up and go away. Don't stop calling and writing .. STAND UP AND BE HEARD!

Shortened URLs

For the past year or so, people have been posting links to pictures, articles and websites via shortened URLs. What I have observed from these is that you can't tell where you are really being directed to. You all know that when hovering over a link it will show the address of where you will land. While I respect that Twitter, by use of TweetDeck, gives you the option to shorten a url, how do we know what the long address was? In recent time, I am guilty of shortening urls but it is my belief that once you trust a person, there should be no problem clicking on the link unless you suspect that the persons account has been hacked.

Until today, I never knew that there was a way to view the original address with shortened URLs. Some valuable information on knowing the original web address from shortened urls - on bit.ly links add a "+" to the end of the link and you can see the original link and how many people have clicked on it, for is.gd links add a "-". A huge thank you to Jason who provided that information.

Something disturbing

"Tensions are rising at a California high school (Live Oak High School) where five students were sent home for wearing American flag T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo." Fox News reporter, Joshua Rhett Miller, reported.

You can read the whole article by clicking here. What are your comments on this story? Should the students wearing American flagged shirts been sent home or not? It makes me wonder what would have been done if school was in session on July 4th and students went to school wearing the Mexican flag on their shirts. Do you think that the school official who stepped in was acting prematurely in his actions?

It doesn't bother me that "ethnic" groups want to show support of the countries that they've come from - ie: St Patrick's Day Parade, Columbus Day Parade. Yet, on those days, people wear shirts of any style and nothing is considered to be tense.

My opinion is that increased exposure to laws etc. regarding illegal immigrants have spurred on these occurrences.

English as an Official Language

As I have noted in another post, English is the official, by law, language of Colorado (where I live) but did you know that it is the official language in over 35 states here in the US. You may wish to click here and check the law for your own state. Perhaps this is why those students felt it was "politically correct" to wear proudly their shirts with American flags on them. California IS an English speaking state.

My allergies are killing me today!

Notes from the Home Front

I woke up today with the runny, half stuffy nose, watery eyes and an annoying cough. Apparently, the blooming trees, which are beautiful, are having an adverse affect on me. It took almost an hour to get my eyes to focus correctly. I've taken just about everything on the market and some prescriptions for this, none of these seem to work. Getting poked and feeling prodded through allergy tests is not something that I want to do. Any suggestions? One of those "homemade or natural" suggestions would be best.

The cucumber plants will be re-potted today, once they started to sprout up through the dirt from seed, they have really grown in a short amount of time. The green peppers haven't really started to come up but I'm looking forward to when they do. Green peppers in the grocery store are outrageous in price ... I've seen anywhere from 79 cents to $1.00 EACH! Wondering how onions would grow in pots, that would save me even more money. Has anyone planted other vegetables on the balcony?

Your suggestions are appreciated!

While browsing through the gadgets that can be added to my blog site, I found several for CNN news. Anderson Cooper is an amazing reporter, he'll be in Tennessee today to report on the devastation from the flooding. It is my opinion that he gives the most accurate reporting on issues and what is going on - live - in and out of our country. Any suggestions on gadgets? I really don't want anything in another language nor world clocks or calendars.

Unemployment and Federal/State Taxes

Another issue, it's bad enough that we are unemployed but to slap us in the face with Federal and State tax taken out could even be worse. This year I made out better by having NO federal or state tax taken out of my unemployment benefit. While on unemployment, as a bonus, we should not be expected to pay Federal and State taxes.

More on the "unemployment slap", states have adopted JPM Chase visa cards to put your unemployment benefit on. This causes a HUGE problem if you don't have a branch in your neighborhood, and you can be assured that you will be losing your unemployment money on FEES. More on that as soon as more research is done on it. Does your state do this? Colorado does but we have the option of a "Chase card" OR direct deposit. Bet you know which I decided on.

Fees

Please visit a wonderful blog site for more on fees that we should be aware of and avoid at:

http://feesanddeals.blogspot.com

While there you can listen to the numerous podcasts that are summarized by the blog. I can promise you that you'll learn something there.

Great Customer Service IS expected!

Banks

In the past year, my bank has been the worst in all the years I've been with them combined (almost 10 years). Why can't anyone pay attention anymore?

The first time, when I requested that a check be deposited while I sat at the drive-thru (I even WROTE on the back "for deposit only"), the tube came back with an envelope of CASH! Imagine my surprise that a clearly marked document including me telling the teller - DEPOSIT! I wonder how this happens but it has to deal with "attention to detail" and the lack of it.

The next time this problem of lack of attention happened at my bank was - in short - that money should have gone directly back into my account from a closed account (yes, at the same bank) and instead came to me by CHECK! What part of DEPOSITED BACK means MAILED CHECK? On this issue, I had made several phone calls, then asked to speak to each supervisor because what I was told by several customer service reps didn't seem believable. After the many phone calls, I went to my local branch and explained AGAIN my story that started out at her branch and to the point of where it was. When she called the service department and announced herself as a "store manager" she was given the same consideration and lousy service as I had received. We "thought" the situation was fixed until I had inquired to my bank via email - NOPE! At least my branch manager noticed my frustration and shared in it. Although it wasn't much, she did offer, which I took, a $10 gas card for my time and troubles.

Do others also experience these problems?

What does "loyal long time customer" really mean?

When I went to deposit the check, at the same local branch, I inquired about their "rewards program". I had two different answers that day from two different people at the bank. When I got home, I had to call the corporate office and inquire about which was true. After one more phone call, I received the correct answer. Why do we have to go through this?

The result - after calling the corporate office of my bank, I wrote a follow-up email to the CEO, about a week later a letter arrived by "snail mail" from an office in Portland Oregon. This letter did not really "make my day" instead the tone was .... so big deal, we are apologizing, and now will impose more fees to make your life miserable. Sheesh!

So on to the other duties of the day ...