I think this is the last of the notes on my desk so let's give it a whirl.
Want to stop all the assaults of flight personnel on the airlines? Make it a forcible federal felony with a ten year MANDATORY sentence. "I was drunk and didn't realize what I was doing" "I had a tough day and didn't want to be told what to do" or my recent favorite "I know I'm supposed to have a mask on but I was tired of wearing it and she didn't have to treat me like a ten year old." This assault trend is absolutely ridiculous and endangers the safety of the entire flight and it should be treated in that nature.
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Gotta love the one juror in the dirt bag Smollett case. "We did him a favor and threw him a bone with the one 'not guilty.' Total lack of credibility and no one story to back up his version. I've been told the penalty will be light but can you imagine his legal fees?"
I would pay serious money to watch him pick up garbage along the highway wearing a bright orange jump suit.
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And while we're talking about owing money, Smollett still owes the City of Chicago $130,000 for the police man hours used investigating his phony story. Hey Jussie, they're hiring at both Amazon and UPS.
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In a much safer time, I journeyed to a faraway place called downtown because I had tickets to see CRISTMAS CAROL at the Goodman Theatre which would be followed up with seasonal festivities at LAWRY'S PRIME RIB HOUSE which I figured would be the highlight of the afternoon/evening. (Never eat a big dinner BEFORE seeing a play)
But I was dead wrong because I was treated to an acting masterpiece by WILLIAM J. NORRIS who played Ebenezer Scrooge like Stradivarius played the violin. Absolute perfection and he was so good in the role that I saw the play three more times in the 90's and was always amazed at how great he was. Mr. Norris passed away two weeks ago from heart disease at the age of 75. Godspeed.
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Just got thru with History Channel's two part documentary on the rock group KISS and it is fascinating. I am not a fan of the group and only know a couple of their songs but watching the machinations of trying to hold a band together for FIFTY freaking years is absolutely amazing. Take the time to dial it up.
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Did ALEC BALDWIN pull the trigger? He says no. How did the gun discharge?
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Ah, the needy and the greedy. Lee Price of Houston was sentenced 9 years in federal prison for misusing 1.6 million dollars in funding from the Paycheck Protection Program, a low interest loan program to protect a small business during covid. HOW DID MR. PRICE PROTECT HIMSELF?? Well, he purchased a Lamborghini Urus for $211,000, an $85,000 Ford F-350, paid off a loan on a residential property and of course, the mandatory misuse of funds at the local strip club which means he will owe the government $900,00 PLUS INTEREST when he is released in 2030. Good luck getting paid back, Uncle Sam, but at least you got the jerk and $700,000.
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DID YOU KNOW there is no parole if you're sentenced federally? You get 3 years, you serve 3 years unless you get credited with 'good time.'
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God bless the people who suffered thru the 6 states tornado path over the weekend. Mother Nature's power never ceases to amaze me. A photo was found in the driveway of a woman in Illinois on Sunday that up until the tornado, had been placed with other family photos in a living room 130 MILES AWAY in a small Kentucky town. incredible.
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C'mon, give it up for OJ SIMPSON who was released from parole after serving 9 years for armed robbery in Nevada and 3 years of parole. Still the luckiest man in the world after walking away from two murders and has a monthly NFL pension of $25,000 which can't be touched by criminal or civil actions.
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Just like you, I've been reading about the overflow and long waits in local emergency rooms but it's kind of a shoulder shrug because we don't spend a lot of time there. BUT HOLD ON A MINUTE, SUGARPLUM, because do I have a story for you.
My back and hip are really killing me so i get a ride to the ER and sign in at EXACTLY 1300 with my complaint of 24/7 pain with a pain scale of 10 on a 1-10 and within ten minutes, I'm signed in and have my official hospital bracelet that we all know and love. I'm looking for an x-ray and some stronger meds to help me sleep. simple.
I count 38 people as I take my seat but I mentally eliminate moms, dads and grandparents from the total count so I figure two hours for 20 people. WRONG, BATMAN. FIVE FREAKING HOURS LATER at 1800 due to a constant flow of new patients, there are still 33 people in the room and a guy in a wheelchair is rolled up to the check-in counter and says, "9 hours is long enough. I'm out of here."
NINE HOURS??? So I lasso the guy and he tells me he got there at 0900 with super elevated blood pressure which kept climbing in the ER but he never saw a doctor. NEVER SAW A DOCTOR. They kept checking his vitals every 30 minutes but was never given and medicine or explanations.
So now Uncle Dan is curious and begins working the room. 16 year old who got his head slammed at school and reported headache, blurred vision and nausea. brought in at noon, still waiting at 1800. They gave him a vomit bag but no xrays.
Middle age woman with 'super pressure' headache, vision issues and a very sore ear came in at 1000 after waking up with the stroke symptoms. tears rolling down her cheeks. 8 hours later---vitals but no x-rays or CAT scan. So what chance do I have with a sore hip?
Absolutely ridiculous. The only explanation was that the ER was a level 1 trauma center where incoming patients are constantly shuffled according to need BUT THEY WILL NOT LET YOU KNOW YOUR CURRENT POSITION IN LINE which is ridiculous. The way I got it figured was that a limb hanging by a thread or a happening heart attack or stroke might get you in pretty quick but other than that......good luck.
There is a strong need for new rules and regulations. Make it easier for the nurses, not harder and post LARGE SIGNS explaining the procedure for ranking patients.
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Ah, the seasonal beauty of Chicago at Christmas time is somewhat tainted by the 800th murder which goes along with the 4300+ shootings. Talk about decking the halls!
STAY OUT OF CHICAGO! It's their problem....don't become part of it.
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Finally, this has been another difficult year for many of us but 2022 is just around the corner and hopefully, things will be much brighter!
HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!
