Happy Spring 2011! Thank you to the blogger for the previous comment.

Atlantic City

Atlantic City is an interesting place to visit.

Leasure

"Bill Leasure did not fit the standard mold of the Los Angeles Police Department, as portrayed on Dragnet or the headlines that have branded the LAPD as a violent, racist institution in the wake of cases such as the O.J. Simpson murder trial and Rodney King affair. He was nicknamed "Mild bill" by his associates. He had a spotless personnel record, including numerous letters of praises from citizens who met him on the street and claims that he had an "easy-going personality."

However, he ended up in custody for a triple murder.
William Ernest Leasure went to trial on three counts of first-degree murder on April 15, 1991...the jury deliberated four weeks before reporting themselves hopelessly deadlocked on June 28. The final vote had been 10 to 2 for conviction on all counts.

Jury selection for Leasure's second trial began on October 31, 1991, and Bill Leasure surprised the prosecution a day later, changing his plea from 'not guilty' to 'no contest' on two negotiated counts of second degree murder, accepting a prison term of 15 years to life. At that time, it was no admission of guilt from leasure's perspective, rather, he informed the press, he had struck the bargain 'because my wife wants me to come home someday.' He will eligible for parole, along with killer cop Craig Peyer, in the year 2004."

This is what Michael said.

Guards

"You might expect prisoners to hate prison guards. but it may surprise you to know that prison guards are almost as sincerely hated by cops...Prison guards may wear cop-like uniforms and badges, and some guards carry guns, but that still doesn't make them cops. Unlike cops, prison guards don't investigate, patrol or mix with the public. The typical prison guard is a cop wannabe who is too stupid or otherwise flawed to make it as a cop.
Prison guards are despised even among the Feds. The fastest growing part of 'federal law enforcement' is not the Praetorian of the FBI, DEA, and ATF. As vicious as those alphabet-soup agencies have become, they still have certain minimum standards. The biggest boom in 'federal law-enforcement' is among the blue-jacketed stooges of the Justice Department's Bureau of Prisons (BOP)...
Even ATF agents looked down upon the BOP."

This is what Ned said.

TSA

"I am sure you know by now that the government has forbade certain objects and substances on passenger airlines. The government agency in charge of enforcing this is the Transportation Security Administration, a branch of Homeland Security. Some say the acronym TSA stands for 'thousands standing around,' but it is the government's attempt to protect you, the travelling public. These uniformed government employees attend extensive training, and some of them are very good at what they do and are very polite as well. However, none of them are immune to bad behavior on the part of those they are hired to inspect. Take seriously the admonition to refrain from jokes or snide remarks, no matter how frustrated you become with the process. TSA employees do have the power to make your day miserable...

.Sometimes luck eludes you and you are selected for a random search of your possessions and person. Now is the time to remain calm. Any fuss you make will only prolong the ordeal and could feed any power trip the TSA person might be on. Answer the questions honestly and carefully, as these inspections also include judgments about your character and demeanor. The TSA is slowly coming to the realization that profiling the traveling public is a formidable weapon against the folks who would do us harm, and these security efforts have been used successfully in other countries."

This is what the pilot of a major airlines in the United States said.

Equity

"Equity theory is a general model of how people decide whether an exchange is fair and what they do if they determine it is not....A well-run company, for example, should have an equitable balance; the employer gives the employee a living wage in exchange for the employee's time and effort. If, however, management tries to increase productivity without a corresponding increase in payment, then the employees may feel that they are being treated inequitably and start compensating themselves informally by staging work slowdowns or stealing company property....
Restoring equity can be tricky, but the rewards are well-worth it. Money, of course, is the ultimate equalizer. If you want your employees to work harder, then you pay them more. Sometimes, though, money is not the answer. The budget may not allow it, or the situation may be such that no amount of money would be sufficient (e.g., the boss is abusive). Believe it or not, outstanding results have been achieved simply by treating employees like human beings."
Research done in 1990 on aerospace and automotive manufacturing workers shows how a little compassion can make a big difference."

This is what Charles said.

Choice

"In modern America, the best choice for fugitive travel is a private vehicle. The second best choice is a commercial vehicle such as a long-haul truck under the control of an underground railroad volunteer.

It's easy for anyone who knows how to drive and has a vehicle available to travel to any location; any destination in American is no more than five or six days away. As long as there's no national police bulletins out on the car, the car is in good mechanical condition, the lights all work, and the driver obeys all traffic laws, the chances of making it all the way without ever being challenged by a law enforcement officer are astronomically good. That's true even if the driver is a fugitive with his picture hanging in every post office and his face shining from every television set broadcasting a news report. "

This is what Jefferson said.

Guard

"During a police investigation in the United States, you do not haveto answer questions, because you're under the protection of the U.S.Constitution. However, police investigators have methods of inducingsuspects to talk despite Cosntitutional protection. You need to know these techniques...

During employment interviews, you don't have to answer questions, but the employer doesn't have to hire you. in practical terms, that'scoercion.Your goal is to present a good picture of yourself, and conceal anyderogatory information. If, for example, you once commited a crime and paid for your mistake in prison, there's no real need to reveal this to a prospective employer. Your honesty won't earn you any points, and you don't need to keep paying for your error for the rest of your life.There are many reasons why the average person needs to defend himself. Perhaps the most important one is that the interrogator or interviewis likely to be a pro, with much experience in his craft. He interviews people eight hours a day, forty hours a week, while most people face interviewers only occasionally. That gives the pro the edge.Techniques can be subtle, designed to catch subjects off guard. At times, you may not even know that you're being interrogated or interviewed....Letting your guard down during such moments can lead to serious problems..."

This is what Jack said.

Residential

"Cooking is the leading cause for residential fires in the United States. Most fires in the kitchen usually start from cooking that is left unattended. Lunch and dinner times are when the highest percentage of fires occurs. Fats, oils, and grease are usually what are ignited. Never overheat any kind of grease or oil. Dish towels or paper towels and napkins that are too close to a stove can also ignite a fire. A class ABC fire extinguisher is recommended to keep near the stove. This type of fire extinguisher can be used on most materials found in the kitchen. This includes grease, paper products, and electrical appliances.Heating fires are another leading cause of residential fires in the U.S.

Heating elements such as space heaters and baseboard heating can be dangerous because of the closeness to household combustibles and people. There are many different kinds of space heaters from small and portable to permanently installed. Whatever kind of design you buy, make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions or applicable codes. Heaters can also be installed by a professional. To prevent fires, make sure all heaters are turned off when you’re not in the room. Heaters shouldn’t be placed on top of any surfaces such as tables, cabinets, or furniture. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn or is combustible. Gasoline should never be used in a liquid fueled space heater. Refuel only when the heater is cool, and use the proper grade of fuel. If a baseboard heater is used, then cords shouldn’t be draped across it. It’s important to put 18 inches of clearance around baseboard heaters for fire safety. Drapes and curtains need to have clearance, as well.

Electrical fires in homes are extremely dangerous. Wiring, plugs, switches, and appliances carry electric currents that make heat. Extreme heat can get out of control and cause a fire to start. Overloading circuits and running cords under rugs, or where they’re constantly stepped on, can cause an electrical fire. All old or damaged appliance cords or wiring should be replaced immediately. Dryers, televisions, and radios are some of the home appliances that can cause a fire to start. Washers and dryers can put a lot of stress on electrical connections because of their movement. They need to be checked on a regular basis. Don’t put any electrical appliances in a cabinet, especially where there is paper. Improper wiring when adding lights, ceiling fans, switches and outlets can be unsafe. Not only can it cause fires, but also injury and shock. When using extension cords, you should only plug one home appliance into an outlet at a time. Do not go above more then 1,500 watts for each outlet. Lights that dim, slow-heating appliances, and fuses blowing often are signs of overloaded electrical systems. Using the wrong size fuse and loose connections at switches or receptacles can lead to fires. Any electrical device used near water should be the ground fault interrupting type. This includes outdoor receptacles. When an electrical device is installed outdoors, it should be made for outdoor use. A licensed electrician can inspect a home to ensure all wiring systems are safe.Fires can also start in the chimney. Most chimney fires are caused by accumulation of creosote. Creosote is an extremely flammable natural byproduct of burning wood that can build up inside the chimney. There are many different forms of combustible creosote such as tar glaze, slag, flakes, and soot. Too much creosote causes a loud and severe fire that can cause walls and rafters to burn. It can spread very quickly through a home. A continuous fire in the fireplace is slower in starting new fires because the creosote accumulates more when a fire is first lit. Creosote will also accumulate more slowly if the chimney is properly installed. All chimneys should have clear air space of about 2 inches to the nearest combustible material. Wooden framing members and sheeting should be kept back from the outer surface of the chimney in case there should be a serious fire. It is recommended to have a chimney cleaned and inspected once a year if fires are lit in the fireplace three or more times a week. If a chimney isn’t designed correctly, then deposits can build up faster and need to be taken care of more often. Regularly check your chimney until you know how your installation affects creosote. Flammable items should be kept away from the fireplace. The fireplace and fireplace inserts should be equipped with screens. This will keep sparks from flying. Ashes can start fires, so they need to be kept away from anything burnable.

Fire action plans should be made for the whole family, particularly for children, the elderly, and the disabled. There should be two ways out of each room. Windows or screens should open easily. The escape plan should be displayed where everyone can see it. The plan should be practiced two times a year."

Groucho

"Some people considered Groucho Marx and his brothers thieves. Many comedians who had their start on the vaudeville stage participated in the age-old habit of appropriation and joke stealing. Everybody did it, but the Marx Brothers got caught a few times....Because of their audacity, or perhaps their carelessness, Groucho Marx, his brothers, their writers, and their studios were forced to defend at least three major copyright infringement suits in their careers. It's clear that the Marx Brothers, despite their creative comic genius, relied heavily on he works of others for their success.

By the 1980s, the Marx Brothers' legacy, reputation, and body of work had solidifed to such a degree that they became the plaintiffs behind lawsuits, instead of the targets for them....A Federal court of appeals heard a complaint by Groucho Marx Productions Inc. against a dramatic production company that used likeliness of the Marx Brothers in a Broadway play called A Day In Hollywood/A Night in Ukraine....Groucho Marx Productions tried to enforce a perpetual monoply on the characteristics of its namesake: the painted mustache slick hair, cigar, and glasses. The court ruled against Groucho Marx Productions, but the case remains an example of how valuable the Marx Brothers are as commodites long after they ceased being creators-or borrowers."

This is what Siva said.

Pack

"If your pack can be traced to the store you're shopping in, don't claim you bought it at the gas station around the corner. Say you bought it in this store, sometime yesterday.The pack of smokes can simply be dropped into the pocke t or purse. Again, keep Anderson's First Law in mind: Never move the cigarettes from the display directly into your purse or pocket. Wait until you're in another aisle.

A person could claim that he stuck them in his pocket or purse out of habit, and meant to pay for it. The explanation is sufficiently plausible to get a person off, even if the person has to go to trial.

But don't get greedy...Anything beyond two packs is likely to get a person in trouble.

Any store that permits shoppers more or less free access to the restrooms is an easy mark. A person can carry a small basket of merchandise into the restroom, lock themself in a stall, and then transfer some of the items into pockets or purses.Some items can be consumed on the spot.

I frequently find candy wrappers and empty beer cans in the restrooms. Furthermore, access to the bathrooms also may mean easy access to the back stockrooms, where no one is likely to be watching. It never hurts to ask a store employee if a person may use the restroom. If the answer is yes, make frequent use of it."

This is what Andrew said.

Denied

"Justice delayed is justice denied. In most cases, the labor law will not protect you. When it does, it does not protect you fast enough.

The fact is that while you are out on thes street with no income, the employer is making a living and can well afford to fight you in court. He can afford the delay: in fact he benefits from any delay that the process involves because the chances are that you'll become discouraged and drop the suit.

In some cases, you might think of suing your boss to recover something that is not actually spelled out in the applicable labor law. If, for example, you are working under the provisions of a contract and your employer does not live up to it, denying you an increase in pay for some pretext or other, you might take this to civil court.

You'll be facing the same problems as you would under the labor law, but worse. You cannot institute a civil suit and protect your identity. Your boss can fire you as soon as he ise served the papers and that you leaves you out in the cold. Of course, the ideal way to handle this is to get another job and then sue him. Your income will be relatively safe and you will be able to afford to wait while the civil suit drags its way through the courts.

One disadvantage of suing your employer, even after you find another job, is that the grapevine operates among employers, too. You can be given a reputation as a 'trouble-maker,,' which will not help you in your new job. In fact, it can make it hard or even impossible to find another job in some cases."

This is what Victor said.

Admissions

"The entire history of higher education has demonstrated, via the admissions policies, the exclusivity of the system. One might speak of the academy as being both elitist and aristocratic in its attitude and actions, for there has always been the attempt to exclude those who were considered to be socially inferior or those considered to be mentally inferior. And even today we still encounter the practice of selecting students on....

I have personally known many individuals who wished to study nursing, medical technology,veterinary medicine, etc. who were very bright and capable of undertaking these studies, but were prevented from doing so simply because they were rejected by the schools to which they had applied.

Is this a strange circumstance, or is it not? Consider the fact that if one wishes to purchase good and services, such as food or laundry service, one simply goes to the business set up to provide these goods or services and makes the purchase. There are no admissions policies involved; there are no application forms to fill out...And if there are more customers demanding more goods and services than can possibly be supplied by the existing business, more businesses inevitably open to supply the increased demand. But when one attempts to purchase courses of instruction which will, hopefully, prepare one to be able to pursue a career or profession of one's choice, one cannot simply go out and do this. It becomes necessary to make application, and be accepted, if one is lucky, before one can proceed along the way toward a desired goal. It is the education establishment, and not the individual,that determines who will study and prepare for the professions and many careers."

This is what Thomas said.

Middle

"Canada is at best a middle power, but it has more sway in the United Nations and other international bodies than its population,its economy, or its strength would imply....Canada will go to great lengths to prevent embarrassment.

Except in very rare instances (such as the recent Canadian condemnation of Israel at the United Nations) Canada will not take a cause directly to international forums. It can be made to appear to support a cause, however, even without such direct intervention...

Israeli-Canadian diplomatic relations were severely weakend in the 1990s when Israel objected to Canada's hearing a number of Israeli refugee claims. This is in spite of the fact that, under Canadian law and International Agreement, Canada had no choice but to hear them. In an interesting mirror image of this process, a Canadian Indian activist recently embarrassed Canada by claiming and receiving political asylum in the United States."

This is what Mike said.

Submarine

The occupants of a live-aboard submarine vessel would be able to use not only the breadth, but also the depth of the oceans as their home territory. Even the fiercest storms would be of no concern because the submarine could slip below the towering waves to cruise in peaceful depths. The sub could roam wherever its inhabitants desire....Various fish and other marine life could be hunted underwater. Other delicacies could be gathered on occasional visits to uninhabited islands and coasts. Drinking water tanks could be filled from fresh water sources ashore when possible, or fresh water could be made by desalination of seawater if necessary.

It must be admitted that the cost of setting up a submarine habitat could be in the very high range. Some small subs are available commercially, but they are too small for living abroad. And they are quite expensive. For instance, Perry Oceanographic, Inc. of Rivera Beach, FL, makes two to four person subs for prices ranging from $200,000 to $1.5 million. Up in Warren, Maine, George Kittredge is turning out a lower-priced model at prices from $12,000 up. But his product is a one person minisub suitable for use as a 'jeep of the deep' but not for living in. You can imagine what it would cost to custom build a submarine that would be big enough to live in for extended periods."

This is what Jon said.

Ratings

"One ratings book from a single survey period is, to say the least, inconclusive It's best to average two or more books' data together, when there has been no format change, to increase the sample size and your level of confidence. Because the ratings have a definite impact on station revenue and often on the future direction of the station, it's very desirable to have regular access to more than one ratings service to obtain corroborative and contrasting data. If simultaneous Arbitron and Willhight surveys generally agree with each other, for example, then the reported programming trends and sales data may well be right. If they disagree, you've not only have a warning about taking either survey too seriously; but you've doubled the chances of getting helpful sales data to maintain station revenue.

Of course, ratings aren't meaningless. You cans learn from them. So now you must understand the limitations and problems of radio surveys."

This is what Eric said.

Numbers

"If the spot specifies an address, make it the last thing in the copy because if the listener will remember a specific detail in the ad, it will be the last thing they hear. Avoid street numbers; instead, use landmarks and cross streets when possible. Listeners tend to mix up numbers, but they can remember a location if they can picture it mentally.

It's a good idea to repeat any telephone number. If the ad requests a phone call from the listener, give the number the same way at least twice. The first time they hear it, they must decide whether they want to remember the number and call; if they do, the second time, they'll concentrate on the number. Giving the number a third time will help listeners remember it.

Bearing in mind that listeners easily transpose numbers, you must make telephone numbers as simple to remember as possible. A common trick is to group numerals, so that 555-2374 becomes 555-23-74. Twenty three is one number; seventy-four is another; so you've shortened seven numbers to five and make it harder to transpose.

If a number is misunderstood, a listener can easily call the wrong number. If that happens, they won't try again. Also, letters are slower to pick out on the telephone buttons than numbers. However, an easily understood and easily spelled word that represents the number to dial on the phone can sometimes help listeners remember that number long enough to call it."

This is what Eric said.

Number

"Area numbers that are currently in use are the following; 001 to 595, 600 to 649, 700 to 728.

Any purported Social Security number with an area number outside of these ranges is invalid. Area numbers are assigned to various states...New York is assigned the area numbers from 050 to 134. North Dakota, by contrast, is assigned only the area numbers 501 and 502...

Anyone who presents a Social Security number in the 700 to 728-area band needs to regarded with suspicion. These area numbers were assigned in only a few limited circumstances.

The 700 series of numbers were issued to people in the railroad retirement system in the first half of the century and to some refugees from the Vietnam conflict during the period of 1975-1980. Anyone who legitimately has a Social Security number in this range will be either quite elderly or a Southeast Asian refugee."

This is what John said.

"Another nonstandard form of employment held out to the unemployed is franchising, known to cynics as 'buying yourself a job' because the initial fee for the right to use the corporate franchisor's name is in the $15,000 to $40,000 range.In an earlier era, people were more likely to start their own business; today, you can buy any sort of prefab business, in which operating procedures, as well as any products used or sold are supplied, for a monthly 'royalty,' by the franchisor. About 400,000 Americans are franchisees, managing eight million employees and generatingone-third of U.S. gross domestic product- everything from doughnuts and burgers to fitness centers. But as in real estate, the rewards are uncertain and the prospects of failures dauntingly high. In his study of franchisees in a variety of industries sociologist Peter M. Birekeland found a survival rate of only about 25 percent andaverage franchisee incomes of about $30,000. "

This is what Barbara said.

Preparation

"Here are the basic rules for preparation for sudden flight.

1. Have a plan of escape. Know what your final destination is, how you will travel, and how you will survive once you have reached it.

2. Always have cash and portable wealth readily available. The best weapon is always money, or assets that can be easily converted to money. The more wealth a person has, the greater chance of success. The modern credit card makes this a much easier chore, provided one hits ATM machines before initiating flight. Once in flight, national credit cards must be abandoned, as the enemy can use them totrace the flight route. One alternative is to have a credit card issued on a foreign bank, preferably in a country that still guards bank secrecy. Such a card can be used in flight, a slong as no evidence of existence is left behind at the abandoned home.

3. Be prepared to pack for flight on a moment's notice....One can transfer prescription medicines to bottles without identification numbers, but take as much as possible.

4. Don't tell anyone about escape plans. Do not tell cover stories that explaina sudden absence...Use simple disguises

5. Don't contact close friends and families for help once you're in flight.Their homes will be the first places the enemy will be looking for...Instead, look for friends of friends, or old friends you haven't contacted in years..."

This is what Jefferson said.