Author: Darlene Mitchell

Reading The Fine Print Before You Sign

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Reading The Fine Print Before You Sign

READING THE FINE PRINT:

17 Phrases To Understand Before You Sign

By D. S. Mitchell

Red Flags

Most consumer contracts and service agreements contain a lot of legaleeze. Best selling author Bob Sullivan warns consumers to read the fine print. Red flags should go up when you see any of the following common phrases in a contract you are about to sign.

1.) “Free”  We all know nothing is free. You have probably heard the expression, “if you aren’t paying for the product-then you are the product.” The meaning of course is that your personal information is probably being sold to advertisers. OR, maybe it is free now, but you may be committing to pay later. WHICH, takes us to:

2.) “Free Trial”  You often see phrases like this one, “Free 30 day trial.” (We won’t charge your card until the end of the trial period.) Do you really expect to remember to cancel on the 29th day?  Corporations have spent millions of dollars to learn that the average consumer will not cancel before the end of the 30 day period.  

3.) “Reduced Price for Six Months” This one falls in the same category as ‘introductory price offer’ and ‘free trial’ scam.  $59.00 a month for six months may sound great in January, but if it is going up to $150.00 in June is it actually a good deal? You are the only one that can decide that. And again, will you remember to cancel before July 1st if you decide that the high monthly price after the six month period isn’t worth it?

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David Shadrick “Let’s Get Vaccinated”

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David Shadrick “Let’s Get Vaccinated”

David Shadrick “Let’s Get Vaccinated”

Since Joe Biden’s inauguration the federal government has put 100,000,000 COVID-19 vaccines in arms of Americans.  Some people don’t want to get it because Trump has been publicly “anti-vaccer.” But now even this last week the fat orange one told his people to go get the vaccine, after it came out that Melania and Donald got their vaccines, a couple months ago in secret. Well as usual Donald is a day late and a dollar short. Let’s stay focused folks, let’s don’t break ranks now, we are so close to having this Pandemic behind us. Do the patriot thing, wear a mask and get vaccinated, it’s the American thing to do!

https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2019/01/02/value-of-vaccinations/

Medicare: Choosing The Right Plan

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Medicare: Choosing The Right Plan

Medicare is one of the most transformative laws in U.S. history

Medicare: Choosing The Right Plan

by D. S. Mitchell

AARP Contribution

I am convinced one of the best publications for a senior citizen is AARP magazine. This little newspaper is a gem. A year ago Dena Burns wrote an article on how to be a smart consumer when it comes to Medicare benefits. I thought her observations were worth passing on.

Important Calendar Events

I can’ t stress this enough. When it comes to signing up for Medicare, time matters. So, sign up on time to avoid hassles and higher monthly premiums. The initial enrollment time is called the IEP, unless you have health insurance through your job or your spouse’s. The IEP spans 7 months; the month a beneficiary turns 65 and the 3 months before and after that birthday.  Missing the IEP can cost you, for the rest of your life. Here’s how it works for parts A, B, and D.

  • Part A: This is the hospitalization portion of the program and covers hospital stays and short term nursing facilities. If you miss your deadline you will have no coverage until you enroll.
  • Part B: This portion of the program covers doctor services, outpatient and preventive care along with some covered medical supplies. If you miss your enrollment deadline your premium will increase by 10 percent for every 12 months you are overdue in signing up. As an example, if you sign up 2 years late you will pay an estimated $6,500 more in monthly premiums over the next 20 years. 
  • Part D: Part D helps pay for prescription medications. In this case, if you miss your IEP your monthly premium will increase by 1% each month you remain unenrolled. In 2019 the average monthly premium was $31.83.  As an example, if you delay for 24 months to enroll, you will pay an additional $8.00 per month for your coverage for life. (* I personally have a  story regarding Part D.  I was hit with the additional 1% when I filed nearly 2 years late for Part D. In my case it was my employers fault and when I appealed the decision and it’s penalty I won the appeal because my employer had failed to provide the information to me, although they had provided all the enrollment information on Parts A and B.*)  So, remember, in some cases you can appeal the ruling and win, but it is easier to do it right to start with.
  • Once you are enrolled it is important to make a note each year that between October 15 and December 7 you can legally switch coverage for the upcoming year.

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The Old Testament Is Not A Christian Book

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The Old Testament Is Not Christian Book

We must be careful when accepting the dogma of a group that seems to have a confused understanding of the message of Jesus.

OPINION:

The Old Testament Is Not A Christian Book

By I.B. Freely

God Hates You

There seems to be a particular reputation which Christians have gotten over the last few decades. One that has lead several disaffected youth to “go atheist.” Nothing wrong with being atheist if that is what you want, but going against “The Rules” because they are there is just another kind of conformity. Particularly considering that anyone who would claim to be Christian and then judge, let alone hate, anyone for “religious reasons” are doing it wrong.

Thou Shalt Not

Christian Conservatives can quote the Old Testament chapter and verse all they like, a bit ironic considering their general attitude to our Jewish friends, but it won’t make a lot of difference. Not least because, stay with me here, THE OLD TESTAMENT IS NOT A CHRISTIAN BOOK! Forgive me the shouting but few things bend my wand like so-called “Christians” who don’t seem to realize that the Old Testament (otherwise known as the Torah), was mostly the Bible as background for Jesus. It is part of the Christian story but not the main plot. Including that bit in Exodus, 22:18 to be exact, about not suffering a witch to live.

Cool Guy Christ

Jesus was nothing but clear on his opinion when it came to accepting others. Unafraid to sit with outsiders he made friends and disciples of the dregs of society at the time. Lepers, both social and literal, accepted by him. Jesus making friends and even disciples  of prostitutes and tax collectors. He is mostly known for driving money changers from the temple but that was a special case.

Choice Quotes

Some of J-man’s most famous and memorable quotes are on this theme.  “Judge not lest ye be judged” could not be any clearer.  The “treat thy neighbor as they self” also seems pretty cut and dry.  Apparently the judgmental and pious among us are just as open to the same sort of treatment. Otherwise they would be massive hypocrites.  The clearest indication of what Jesus really meant, particularly for those who take the bit about being made in God’s image to mean they are literally God, is the bit about stones.

Sticks & Stones

The clearest indication that the rules had changed between Testaments is “let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”  Stoning was a popular mode of punishment before the arrival of Christ, used for “infractions against the lord” from adultery to working on the Sabbath and mixing fabrics.  What Jesus was helpfully pointing out is none of us are perfect.  So if you are going to punish someone for their sins, you’d better make darn sure you don’t have any yourself. The general idea being that judgement properly lies with God.  As does vengeance as it turns out.  The full quote on which the phrase vengeance is based is “vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.”  Judgement, punishment and vengeance are not for humans to take.  At least for those who call themselves Christians.

Wise Words

Someone who laid things out in a cogent, and funny, way was Frank Zappa. In reaction to the attempts by the Christian Republicans at the Parent’s Music Resource Center to label records they didn’t like, Zappa opted to apply his own warning sticker to his 1985 album Frank Zappa Meets the Mother of Prevention:

“WARNING GUARANTEE: This album contains material which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress. In some socially retarded areas, religious fanatics and ultra-conservative political organizations violate your First Amendment Rights by attempting to censor rock & roll albums. We feel that this is Un-Constitutional and Un-American. As an alternative to these government-supported programs (designed to keep you docile and ignorant). Barking Pumpkin is pleased to provide stimulating digital audio entertainment for those of you who have outgrown the ordinary.

The language and concepts contained herein are GUARANTEED NOT TO CAUSE ETERNAL TORMENT IN THE PLACE WHERE THE GUY WITH THE HORNS AND POINTED STIK CONDUCTS HIS BUSINESS.

This guarantee is as real as the threat of the video fundamentalists who use attacks on rock music in their attempt to transform America into a nation of check-mailing nincompoops (in the name of Jesus Christ). If there is a hell, its fires wait for them, not us.”

The Loudest Voices

That’s it. Don’t let religious fundamentalists take away the right of free speech (guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution) in the name of Jesus, when those folks keep proving they are taking their message from the wrong book.

https://www.calamitypolitics.com/category/more-topics/brexit/

 

Tom MacDonald “No Lives Matter”

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Tom MacDonald “No Lives Matter”

Tom MacDonald “No Lives Matter”

Jukebox Choice of the Day is Tom MacDonald singing “No Lives Matter.” So today, again, T.K. McNeil won the vote. Here is his Calamity News and Politics music interlude. LOL. Enjoy. DSM. Lyrics below.

No Lives Matter

Tom MacDonald

Hip Hop died, it’s full of guys who cannot even rap (facts)
Media dividing us by colors, white or black (facts)
If you believe in Jesus, these days Christians get attacked (facts)
If you don’t hate police then everybody thinks you’re wack
And everything’s so connected
Black Lives Matter got so aggressive
White folks who agree can’t support the message
Both sides go to war ’cause they don’t respect it
Our social climate from the global tension
Turned to total violence and a whole depression
We could unify and then all go against them
But we let ’em divide us with votes and elections
the music we bump
All about shooting guns and doing drugs
(Ay, whoa) the things that we want
Are promoted subliminally through the songs like
You need a fast car, you need designer clothes
You need a rap star
To tell you to start popping pills
Hit the blunt and go live at the club ’til you’re broke
It’s all controlled by the elites
Pull fake news all over our screens
Convincing the right to go fight with the left
And distract from the fact it’s each other we need, uh
Divided by race and religion
Segregated into teams, uh
You’re a white supremacists
If you’re not, I guess you ANTIFA
Screaming from the rooftops, beatdown, battered
Turned us on each other, now no lives matter
If we do what the news wants, blood gon’ splatter
Turn us on each other ’til no lives matter
Freedom’s dead, if you have an opinion, take it back (facts)
People hate the president, if you don’t then you trash (facts)
Indoctrinate the nation using news and mainstream rap (facts)
The government abuses us, it’s all part of the plan (facts)
And it’s so confusing
Black Lives Matter is a valuable movement
But All Lives Matter ain’t racist or stupid
It’s non-black humans who don’t feel included
All colors fall under laws that govern
The whole country and we all suffer
We’re all broke and nobody recovers
Until we accept that we’re all brothers
the music we make
All about big booties and getting paid
(Ay, whoa) we watch the news
And it fills up our brains
With violence, and riots, and race
Like this is a race war, you need to hate more
Get what you came for
You need some songs about Xanax and violence
So you can escape more
What a vicious cycle we gotta break away from
They control the culture, they control the paper
They’re indoctrinating a whole generation
‘Til the patriots start to hate the nation
The music we love make us dumb and addicted
The news that we watch is brainwashing the children
The virus is riots and racist conditions
Ain’t problems, they’re symptoms of life in this system
Screaming from the rooftops, beatdown, battered
Turned us on each other, now no lives matter
If we do what the news wants, blood gon’ splatter
Turn us on each other ’til no lives matter
The music will make you dumb
The media makes you hate
And they control ’em both
There ain’t no escape
They put the world is a state of chaos
Economy crashing and massive layoffs
Black against white or it’s left versus right
Divide and conquer and control is the payoff
Screaming from the rooftops, beatdown, battered
Turned us on each other, now no lives matter
If we do what the news wants, blood gon’ splatter
Turn us on each other ’til no lives matter
Source: Musixmatch

U.S. Presidents and Cultural Amnesia

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OPINION: U. S. Presidents and Cultural Amnesia

Not every president of the United States is remembered well.

OPINION: U.S. Presidents and Cultural Amnesia

By Trevor K. McNeil

Uncertain Legacy

We are all judged  by our actions, intention meaning little in terms of social discourse. Rightly or wrongly, the measure of a life tends to be in what is done and not what it means. Presidents are no different. Where then, will Trump end up on the scale of U.S. political importance? Currently, the pathetic and deposed Caesar, is hiding out in one of his private properties.  It is reasonable to believe that things are very much over for Trump, in terms of ever holding political office again, though not in terms of  his political legacy.

A Year Is A Long-TIme

With all the time and concern dedicated to politics, it can be easy to forget how fleeting it all is. The cardinal issues of today, tomorrow’s old news, particularly with a two term limit. The old administration forgotten almost as soon as the new one is sworn in. Much as how things go from wartime to post-war before the ink is dry on the peace treaty. This can make the facts, at least the facts of the time, difficult to come by, except possibly for those who remember it. Though even that can be hit and miss, since all memories are formed by our own biases.

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Thomas Benjamin Wild “Well, This Is Shit”

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Thomas Benjamin Wild “Well, This Is Shit”

Thomas Benjamin Wild “Well This Is Shit”

I’m not sure how you feel, but everyone here at Calamity Politics pretty much shares the same sentiment as Thomas Benjamin Wild, Esq. Some of us show it in unexpected rages, others by isolation, others by denial, others by thoughts of self-harm.  Hopefully, if Joe is right we should be able to celebrate the 4th of July with friends and family, until then, “Well This Is Shit.” This is a serious matter. If you are feeling suicidal call for help.  The National Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255.

Motorhead “Ace Of Spades”

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Motorhead “Ace Of Spades”

Motorhead “Ace Of Spades”

Well, here’s another one of T.K.’s Jukebox Choice(s) of the Day. Motorhead with “Ace Of Spades” got three thumbs up here in the office.  You will find the lyrics below. Enjoy! DSM

Ace of Spades

Motorhead

If you like to gamble, I tell you I’m your man
You win some, lose some, all the same to me
The pleasure is to play, makes no difference what you say
I don’t share your greed, the only card I need is the Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades
Playing for the high one, dancing with the devil
Going with the flow, it’s all a game to me
Seven or eleven, snake eyes watching you
Double up or quit, double stake or split, the Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades
You know I’m born to lose, and gambling’s for fools
But that’s the way I like it baby
I don’t wanna live for ever
And don’t forget the joker!
Pushing up the ante, I know you gotta see me
Read ’em and weep, the dead man’s hand again
I see it in your eyes, take one look and die
The only thing you see, you know it’s gonna be the Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades
Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Edward Alan Clarke / Ian Kilmister / Philip John Taylor
Ace of Spades lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, DistroKid

Offspring “L.A.P.D.”

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Offspring “L.A.P.D.”

Offspring “L.A.P.D.”

T.K. McNeil is at it again. The Offspring take the L.A.P.D to task in one of today’s CalamityPolitics.com Jukebox Choice(s) of the Day. I have posted the lyrics below.

L.A.P.D.

The Offspring
When cops are taking care of business I can understand
But the L.A. story’s gone way out of hand
Their acts of aggression, they say they’re justified
But it seems an obsession has started from the inside
They’re shooting anyone who even tries to run
They’re shooting little kids with toy guns
Take it to a jury but they don’t give a damn
Because the one who tells the truth is always the policeman
Beat all the niggers
Beat whoever you see
Don’t need a reason
(We’re) L.A.P.D.
The city of L.A. feels like a prison
With helicopters overhead and bullets whizzing by
Martial law ain’t no solution
Police brutality’s just social pollution
Beat all the white trash
Beat whoever you see
Don’t need a reason
(We’re) L.A.P.D.
They say they’re keeping the peace
But I’m not buying it because a billy club ain’t much of a pacifier
“Protecting your freedom”
Now that’s just a lie
It’s an excuse for power that’s more like an alibi
Law and order doesn’t really matter
When you’re the one getting bruised and battered
You take it to a jury, they’ll throw it in your face
Because justice in L.A. comes in a can of mace
Source: Lyric Find
Songwriters: Dexter Holland / Greg Kriesel / Kevin Wasserman / Ron Welty
L.A.P.D. lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2021/01/24/black-sabbath-paranoid/