N&O ad crosses ethical boundaries

Dubious full-page ad

Tucked into the front section of Tuesday’s News and Observer was an advertisement that disturbed me. Paid for by some outfit known as the World Reserve Monetary Exchange Inc., the ad ran full-size and was made to look like an actual news story, claiming Raleigh residents could get some sort of deal on sheets of two-dollar bills. It included a color photograph portraying serious-looking “guards” and used a newspaper-like typeface. Only a tiny, one-line disclaimer at the top of the page gave it away as a paid advertisement.
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Elizabeth Edwards

The Edwards family reunites at RDU Airport

Elizabeth Edwards lost her battle with cancer Tuesday. She was 61. As one of her friends remarked, it was fitting she died on Pearl Harbor Day, having grown up a Navy brat.

I got a chance to meet her during the 2004 Kerry/Edwards presidential campaign and she made quite an impression on me. Here’s what I wrote in my blog post from that day:

Last, but certainly not least was Elizabeth Edwards. This woman radiated warmth like you wouldn’t believe! She seemed genuinely pleased to meet me and bragged about her father’s 30 years of Navy service. Her sincere, upbeat personality just blew me away. I thought Edwards was electric, but he doesn’t hold a candle to his wife.

After they had made their way down the line of veterans, the campaign photographer had us all bunch up and get a picture. John and Elizabeth Edwards ran up to the group for the picture. Elizabeth stood just in front of me, so I thoughtfully put my hand on her shoulder. Hopefully, that shot will serve as proof I was actually there.

I tried tracking down that picture but have yet to find it. Maybe someday it will turn up.

Elizabeth was one of a kind. I’m glad I got a chance to meet her.

Julian Assange and Wikileaks

I’m not much impressed with the leaked diplomatic cables provided by Wikileaks and its director, Julian Assange. I’ve not seen in the press anything that strikes me as being particularly deserving of classification. I suppose it’s because the source of the documents is the State Department, which apparently gathers all of its intelligence at embassy cocktail parties.

Boooorrring. Even the Hee Haw gossip girls could do that.
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Cheap Thoughts: Superhero CEFGoW

My son’s repeat watching of the superhero kids movie The Incredibles has given me an idea for a new superhero: Superhero Close Enough for Government Work (CEFGoW for short).

My superhero would mostly save the day. The damsel would be almost totally clear of the tracks when the train arrives. He would leap most of the way up tall buildings. To impressive heights, if not all the way over. Overall, you’d be significantly better off from the help of Superhero Close Enough for Government Work, if not outright saved.

I think I may be on to something here.

Singing is hard

For the past few holiday seasons I’ve been saying I would create a CD of me singing Christmas songs but I’ve never gotten it done. I began this season determined to do it. After considering inviting a friend to accompany me on piano, I decided to go a more polished route and use some professional musicians.

Recalling my early job as a recording engineer at the karaoke-like Sing-A-Song Recording Studios, I searched online for some vocalless tracks I could buy. Finding just what I needed at Singray Digital’s The Karaoke Channel, I purchased a dozen or so tracks and tried mixing my voice in with them.
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Tennis, trash pick-up, and furniture

It’s been a long and busy day for me. Travis had his last tennis lesson tonight: a two-hour session that began at 9. I spent most of that time playing tennis against Gabrielle, the parent of another student. When Travis complained about not feeling well, we headed for the car. There he had a change in heart and returned to his lesson, at which time I began to play tennis with Reid Serozi.
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Blue Cross Blue Shield refund

My feelings for health insurance companies are about as low as they can get. I’ve long been disgusted by their arbitrary rate hikes and discriminatory pricing. So imagine my joy when we received a hefty refund from BCBS for their having overcharged us in the past. The North Carolina Department of Insurance discovered the overcharging and demanded BCBS refund the money to its customers.

I wonder what other hidden charges insurance companies are padding their revenues with? I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this wasn’t the only case of these companies blatantly gouging the public.

Staying busy

Wow, what a week. Working in sales this time of year is keeping me busy, with at least two big proposals going on simultaneously. I’ve been gathering (and disseminating) as much info as I can about the burglars in the neighborhood. And I’ve had meetings and parties to go to, too.

Last night I worked feverishly at the end of my work day to fix some networking issues. Then Travis and I spent some time putting our Christmas tree together. We had to drop what we were doing to head over to the Conn PTA holiday party (which was great fun, I might add). I left early from the party to attend the New Bern Avenue Corridor Study Workshop at Milner Memorial Presbyterian Church. Returning home around 8:30, I had more networking issues to work out so that Kelly could make a phone call to Guam for her work.

Tomorrow promises to be busy, too, but fun things. My big-ticket things to do include taking Travis for a bonus two-hour tennis lesson, during which I plan to play a few matches of tennis myself. Then I head up to north Raleigh to help with trash pick-up on portion of Baileywick Road adopted in honor of my friend Gerry Reid. I scoot from there over to Brier Creek where we bought dining room furniture Wednesday night. I will be picking up the last of the furniture from the seller and hauling it back home.

Sure, I’ve got a lot going on but life is pretty darn good. Work is busy but it’s all good. I am very lucky to be where I am, without a doubt.

Suspect arrested in recent break-ins!

Michael Darnell Green

I got word today that yesterday’s foot chase through the nearby Mordecai neighborhood yielded an arrest of a suspect in the area’s recent burglaries. Michael Darnell Green, age 37, was arrested and charged with numerous offenses, including breaking and entering, possession of burglary tools, possession of stolen goods, and possession of a firearm by a felon, among others. Green has a long history of B&Es, and with his build of 5’10” and weight of 160, he certainly fits the description of the guy my neighbors saw on our front porch when our alarm went off Friday. Police are charging him with at least 9 area burglaries and more are pending, I’m sure.

It goes to show you … don’t mess with East Raleigh!