Easy 35mm Slide Scanning

With over 2,000 35mm slides and the new digital world it is appropriate to want to scan them onto a CD.  The issue was doing this at a cost that would not break the bank.  I really did not want to buy a new HP printer with scanning capabilities.  The only model wit this capability costs $300.00.  I have found the solution but it’s not pretty.  The Memor-ease 35mm film and slide converter does a beautiful job BUT it scans pictures one at a time in a 4 slide holder.  The cost is low at $50.00 and the package comes with Photoshop Elements 5.0. 

The software will not work in Vista 7 but all previous versions of Windows.  Using Photoshop Elements you can do a Quick Fix or Full Edit before saving the scan.  It’s a great opportunity to see pictures you haven’t seen in years including old friends.  I am saving the pictures in a .jpeg format.  I found this scanner in Costco.  I will be working on this project for many months.

More Signs of Economic Recovery

A Parallel Turkey Universe?

from http://www.guy-sports.com/humor/pictures/picture_thanksgiving.htm

Green shoots of economic recovery can be found in many unusual places.  This was brought to my attention by LogisticsTODAY.  They are reporting that UPS (United parcel Service) is raising their rates an average of 4.9% in 2010.  This is not an isolated event.   The airlines started doing this early in 2009.  American Airlines charges $20.00 for each checked bag.  Some airlines even charge for coach seats that provide more leg room.  Homes in my neighborhood had dropped in price byaas much as 50% just two months ago.  From that low point the asking prices have increased by one third or more.

Finally the unemployment situation has improved with the drop in new claims for unemployment benefits to 466,000 per week from 501,000 last week.  That is the first drop below the 500,000 mark since the week of November 1, 2008. This is a 7% drop in new claims.  It won’t be straight line down but it is a significant decline from the high of 674,000 new claims last March 28.

In the area of politics this drop in new claims will be a White House argument that their stimulus strategy has worked.   Republicans will contend that the recovery was the result of private enterprise doing its thing.  Regardless of the cause, more of us will be celebrating a Happy Thanksgiving than was anticipated.  The green shoots are a good thing.

Law Stands Above Religion

 

I saw the interview of Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence on Hardball.  It is accurate to say that Chris Matthews was not the deferential Catholic.  Mr. Matthews clearly disagrees with Catholic teachings.  That aside the Bishop said something that was truly disturbing to me.  He said of an elected official “His first commitment has to be to his faith. … No commitment is more important than your commitment to your faith.” He repeated that second sentence twice saying the words precisely the same.  In other words your religious beliefs takes a higher priority than faith to the laws of the country.

How does this philosophy differ from Jihadists and others holding extreme religious views?  This bishop would make an excellent witness for Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and Maj. Nidal Hasan.  I believe that the United States cannot survive as created by its founding fathers if we accept religious beliefs to hold a higher authority than the laws of our nation.  Apparently I am not alone in this view.  Chris Matthews is at least one other voice that believes law stands above belief.

Early Signs of Rationing Health Care

First it was a government panel saying that mammograms are not necessary before the age of 50 and every other year is sufficient.  Advice to women not to do self examinations because it might lead to false positives goes against years of encouragement to check yourself.  Now it’s Pap Smear every other year.  Of course those opposed to health care reform will grab these two declarations as proof of health care rationing.

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test does result in many false positives.  This could be another test a government agency will say is not reliable and so won’t be recommended at all or not so often.

Let’s be honest here.  Every test that can be delayed another year means more money in the pockets of the insurance companies.  Kaiser Permanente gives a Sigmoidoscopy every 5 year to its senior patients. A Colonoscopy (a very unpleasant procedure) every 10 years unless there is indications that closer monitoring is appropriate.  Is this a form of rationing or is it sensible health care?

Annual physical exams seem to rarely detect an issue.  Perhaps every other year is sufficient.  After all the determination that I had a hernia was not made as the result of an annual exam.  For that matter most health problems I have ever had were not determined at an annual physical.

We already have health care rationing but aren’t willing to admit it.

War Criminals are not Civil Criminals

“We the people of the United States” are the first words of the Constitution.  The basic law of this country was not meant to be the basic law of the world.  Now strangely the Attorney General wants to bring Khalid Shaikh Mohammed who is part of a sworn enemy of this nation to New York City for a trial.  He was captured in Pakistan.  Attorney General Holder argues, along with others that support his views, is that this trial will send a message to the rest of the world that we treat everyone the same.  The argument is both flawed and erroneous.

First the United States has never treated enemy combatants as law breakers.  No enemies from other wars have ever been put on trial as law breakers.  Those Prosecuted for war crimes have been convicted in military trials.  Nuremberg felons are the leading example.

Second the calls for dismissal of charges against Khalid Shaikh Mohammed will be based upon the fact that he was not read his Miranda rights, was not charged with any crimes in a reasonable period of time, and was the victim of torture while held in a prison for more than five years.  I am not a lawyer and I understand these realities.  It is not hard to imagine that a lawyer will have many other reasons to move for dismissal of this case.

Third Khalid Shaikh Mohammed has admitted guilt and under American civil law those pleading guilty are not put on trial.  There is not presentation of evidence in cases where the accused pleads guilty.  A judge issues a sentence.

For those who would argue that there is no war I ask: if there is no war why has the United States placed over 100,000 troops in Iraq and another 68,000 troops in Afghanistan? 

Sarah Palin is a Fruitcake

Sarah Palin is a fruitcake (dictionary look up: looks pretty and sweet, but nothing in their brain) but very attractive.  She wants national media attention. Newsweek magazine is suffering from falling advertising and falling subscriptions.  The formula for both is her picture in a running outfit on the cover.  Both the magazine and Palin benefit from this photo.  It’s all about the buzz.

We all love these diversions.  This one hurts no one and puts money in the pockets of the publisher of Palin’s book and in the pockets of Newsweek.  Can you imagine the noise we would hear if she were a blonde?

Crazy Seniors at a Town Hall Meeting

I went to a town hall meeting conducted by the primary congressman in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angles, CA).  Brad Sherman of the 27^th district is a good communicator who maintained a calm demeanor. He is not my congressman thanks to Gerrymandering.  The Local paper reported on the event and says there was 1,200 people in attendance.  I was one of the 400 who had no place to sit.  It was mostly a respectful crowd that booed and cheered as Mr. Sherman spoke.

The group was primarily made up of older people.  My guess is many of them are retired or are approaching retirement very soon.  I spoke to Virginia Brodek who lost her job in a public school and has taken another “temporary” job at $16,000 per year.  Her health insurance costs $7,500 and she now lives with her mother. 

The Daily News reported that Beverly Pegram, 65, was stunned by the outspoken audience. The North Hollywood woman had come to the afternoon meeting to catch a glimpse of Sherman, who she admires. She left shaking her head.  “I know everybody is entitled to their opinion, but these people are crazy,” she said.  I left early too.

HUBRIS

Talk show hosts on both radio and television suffer with a condition called hubris.  The definition is “exaggerated pride or self-confidence.” 

Lou Dobbs quit his job on CNN to pursue “new opportunities.”  He seems like Mr. Bluster to me (remember Howdy Doody?).  Despite his denials, I believe he was terminated.  Sudden departures are the result of a firing (recently that was the situation for the studio boss at Disney).  Chris Matthews on MSNBC has the bad habit of not letting his guests speak after asking them a question.  Why does he bother having guests when he believes he knows all the answers?  Sean Hannity speaks with authority on all subjects.  He rarely has guests who will offer any opinion that differs with his pre-conceived ideas. 

Most of the radio talk show hosts are no better than these three.  A special comment about Mark Levin is appropriate.  He is always angry at the world and tells everyone listening that he knows all and any one who disagrees with him is a fool or a “left wing liberal.”

There have been others that suffered with hubris.  George W. Bush comes to mind as the president who never made a mistake.  Al Gore’s views on global warning appear to have taken on a life of their own.

Some well known entertainers are also suffering from hubris.  Some of the deceased entertainers as well.  The names Jay Leno, David Letterman, and Frank Sinatra come to mind.

Clearly Bernie Madoff, Maurice ‘”Hank” Greenberg former the former CEO of AIG, and General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner are just three of the many “titans” of business that suffered with this same disease.

The solution?  Come to my house and you will learn how “average people” live.  Stand in line at the EDD and you will know the meaning of unemployment.  Ride a bus or subway in any city and watch the people riding in that vehicle.

What Price Diversity?

I am not politically correct!

General George Casey is!

I resent terms like “African-American”, Jewish-American”, and “Mexican-American” because those hyphenated groups balkanize our nation.  My view is that if you are a citizen of the United States you are an American.  We need to be blind to ethnic, racial, and gender identity.  Of course that is difficult to do if you are Black or Oriental (oops, I am not supposed to use that word) or Indian.  So at least try.

 Army Chief of Staff General George Casey appeared on Meet the Press today talking about the massacre at Fort Hood.  This is part of his interview with David Gregory.  I have underlined in bold the sentences that really upset me.   

GREGORY:  What about your concerns about backlash against our Muslim soldiers who are in the Army, as a result of this incident?

GEN. CASEY:  Yeah.  I think those concerns are real and I, and I will tell you, David, that they’re, they’re fueled partially, at least, by the speculation about–based on anecdotal evidence that people are presenting.  I think we have to be very careful with that.  Our diversity not only in our Army, but in our country, is a strength.  And as horrific as this tragedy was, if our diversity becomes a casualty, I think that’s worse.

GREGORY:  Do you have any reason to believe that having Muslims in the Army puts them in a very difficult position and makes the more conflicted fighting a war against Muslims in Afghanistan or Iraq?

GEN. CASEY:  I think that’s something that they have to look at on an individual basis.  But I think we as an Army have to be broad enough to bring in people from all walks of life.

In other words the loss of 13 lives and the maiming of 31 other people is not as consequential as diversity.  What happened to our duty as Americans to protect American lives?  Why is diversity so all important?  General Casey is responsible for protecting all of his people.  He failed.

Our war with terrorists is a fight to protect our nation from those who want to destroy the American way of life.  For those who do not like the way we live there are many other nations to call home.

“Cruella De Vil” or Her Sister?

I could not help notice the face of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in a photo in Vancouver, Canada.  She looks miserable.  Perhaps it was because there was a rain and wind but I think it was more than that.

Look at this set of photos and you will see a pained face.  Her smiles are more grimaces than real indications of happiness. When she was young and having an affair with Prince Charles, even before his divorce from Princess Diana, you knew she thought she had found her own paradise. 

OK, maybe she isn’t Cruella but she looks like that character.  Perhaps she does like Dalmatians. 

As for Prince Charles,  he appears to be in his own world.  It is truly astonishing he could not see the beauty, grace and dignity in Princess Diana.