Tuesday, September 18, 2012
What is a Troop?
I have seen the transition!
About three weeks ago, I read the second news article in which the word "troop" was used in the singular to mean "one soldier."
Originally, a troop was a group of armed men that fought on horseback, a cavalry unit. This is opposed to a group of men mounted on horses to move rapidly about the field of battle but who would dismount and fight on foot -- dragoons or mounted infantry.
A member of a troop of cavalry was a trooper (or horseman or cavalryman). Since 1910 in the USA, a member of a troop can also be a Boy Scout; Girl Scouts came along shortly thereafter.
Somewhere along the line, the word "troops" came to be used to "our fighting men" as in "Support our troops!" So, if "troops" were many soldiers, then it must follow a single soldier would be a "troop."
-30-
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Dead ... but only temporarily
A few years ago, I was dead for several days.
As I recall, my bank called to ask about my death. I responded I wasn't and who said I was.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) said so. "Someone" had told them I was dead and so they corrected my record to match the information supplied. The SSA would not tell me just who told them I was dead; that must be privileged information. The SSA did not have to verify the actual fact of my death; they were told I was dead and that was that.
On the other hand, my physical presence would not be proof of my non-deadness to the SSA. An official SSA form along with supporting documentation had to be presented at the local office before I became undead ... not dead ... resurrected.
And, after a bit of Googling, I learned this is not an uncommon event. Some 14,000 non-dead folk are listed as dead each year by the SSA.
Damp but not down,
J R "Mad Dog" Madden
Originally posted at SouthernFandomClassic at Yahoo! Groups.
As I recall, my bank called to ask about my death. I responded I wasn't and who said I was.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) said so. "Someone" had told them I was dead and so they corrected my record to match the information supplied. The SSA would not tell me just who told them I was dead; that must be privileged information. The SSA did not have to verify the actual fact of my death; they were told I was dead and that was that.
On the other hand, my physical presence would not be proof of my non-deadness to the SSA. An official SSA form along with supporting documentation had to be presented at the local office before I became undead ... not dead ... resurrected.
And, after a bit of Googling, I learned this is not an uncommon event. Some 14,000 non-dead folk are listed as dead each year by the SSA.
Damp but not down,
J R "Mad Dog" Madden
Originally posted at SouthernFandomClassic at Yahoo! Groups.
Delta Diamond status attained ...
On Monday, 03 September, I completed my currently usual two flights from Baton Rouge to Atlanta and from Atlanta to Huntsville. My assignment is at Redstone Arsenal with the GFEBS Project.
Those two flights (AKA segments) put me at 140 segments for the calendar year. Therefore, I qualified for DIAMOND status as a Delta Frequent Flyer. This is for the second year in a row.
Is it worth it? Well, if the aircraft has a first class section, I usually get upgraded which is nice. If the aircraft does not have first class seating, and my usual aircraft, the CRJ-200 doesn't, then it is not much of an advantage.
Oh, the complimentary SkyClub membership is nice on occasion when I have time between flights in Atlanta which is the case about half the time.
-30-
Those two flights (AKA segments) put me at 140 segments for the calendar year. Therefore, I qualified for DIAMOND status as a Delta Frequent Flyer. This is for the second year in a row.
Is it worth it? Well, if the aircraft has a first class section, I usually get upgraded which is nice. If the aircraft does not have first class seating, and my usual aircraft, the CRJ-200 doesn't, then it is not much of an advantage.
Oh, the complimentary SkyClub membership is nice on occasion when I have time between flights in Atlanta which is the case about half the time.
-30-
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
TO: AVIS Customer Service Comments & Feedback
RA 555167001
Reservation Nr 07238339-US-3
I continue to be aggravated with the service staff at HSV.
When I turned the key in my KIA OPTIMA SILVER Sunday, 26 Aug evening, two (2) indicators on the dash let me know the vehicle suffered from LOW TIRE PRESSURE: the tire icon on the tachometer was lit and the words LOW TIRE PRESSURE were glowing inside the speed indicator. Why can I see these signs and the driver who takes the vehicle to the service area as well as the driver who returns the vehicle to the pickup slot do not?
I drove about looking for the service area in hopes of "airing up" but did not find it. The lone agent on duty was behind the counter in the baggage claim section of HSV; he would not have been able to assist.
I considered not bothering with proper inflation for the week ... if it doesn't bother them, why should it bother me? But, I relented, invested a dollar in quarters, and added air to all tires in hopes of getting the one or more that was low.
This is not the first time I have reported low tire pressure on my rental units from HSV AVIS.
I may have to move to another agency if your HSV staff can't get it together ... soon.
Submitted ~0700 CT, Tue, 28 Aug 2012
Reservation Nr 07238339-US-3
I continue to be aggravated with the service staff at HSV.
When I turned the key in my KIA OPTIMA SILVER Sunday, 26 Aug evening, two (2) indicators on the dash let me know the vehicle suffered from LOW TIRE PRESSURE: the tire icon on the tachometer was lit and the words LOW TIRE PRESSURE were glowing inside the speed indicator. Why can I see these signs and the driver who takes the vehicle to the service area as well as the driver who returns the vehicle to the pickup slot do not?
I drove about looking for the service area in hopes of "airing up" but did not find it. The lone agent on duty was behind the counter in the baggage claim section of HSV; he would not have been able to assist.
I considered not bothering with proper inflation for the week ... if it doesn't bother them, why should it bother me? But, I relented, invested a dollar in quarters, and added air to all tires in hopes of getting the one or more that was low.
This is not the first time I have reported low tire pressure on my rental units from HSV AVIS.
I may have to move to another agency if your HSV staff can't get it together ... soon.
Submitted ~0700 CT, Tue, 28 Aug 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Louisiana Taxes Too Much ... NOT!
From huffingtonpost.com ...
"9. Louisiana [9th of 10 U.S. States With The Lowest Taxes]
"Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 8.2 percent
"Total state and local taxes collected: $44.2 billion
"Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 54 percent
"Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 46 percent
"Despite having the fifth highest average state and local sales tax rate, residents of Louisiana have a relatively low tax burden. A leading reason for this is the simple fact that, on average, residents pay one of the smallest amounts of total state and local taxes in the country. According to the Tax Foundation, property taxes in the state are $565.23 per capita, the fifth lowest amount among states. Louisiana also collects $1.78 in federal spending for every dollar spent on federal taxes -- the fourth highest ratio. This rate of federal spending helps offset the need for higher state revenue from taxes."
COMMENT: So, if the Federal Government spending is cut as apparently a lot of folks in Louisiana want, especially Governor Jindal, that $1.78 back per $1.00 sent will change downwards. Will Louisiana make up the difference with higher taxes? Not according to Governor Jindal.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/08/france-income-tax_n_1757139.html?1344453539&icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk2%26pLid%3D190145#slide=746246
"9. Louisiana [9th of 10 U.S. States With The Lowest Taxes]
"Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 8.2 percent
"Total state and local taxes collected: $44.2 billion
"Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 54 percent
"Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 46 percent
"Despite having the fifth highest average state and local sales tax rate, residents of Louisiana have a relatively low tax burden. A leading reason for this is the simple fact that, on average, residents pay one of the smallest amounts of total state and local taxes in the country. According to the Tax Foundation, property taxes in the state are $565.23 per capita, the fifth lowest amount among states. Louisiana also collects $1.78 in federal spending for every dollar spent on federal taxes -- the fourth highest ratio. This rate of federal spending helps offset the need for higher state revenue from taxes."
COMMENT: So, if the Federal Government spending is cut as apparently a lot of folks in Louisiana want, especially Governor Jindal, that $1.78 back per $1.00 sent will change downwards. Will Louisiana make up the difference with higher taxes? Not according to Governor Jindal.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/08/france-income-tax_n_1757139.html?1344453539&icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk2%26pLid%3D190145#slide=746246
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
... not founded on the Christian religion ...
... from the Treaty of Tripoli ratified unanimously by the U.S. Senate on June 7, 1797 and signed by Adams, taking effect as the law of the land on June 10, 1797: “As the Government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Musselmen (Muslims); and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.”
--30--
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
DELTA: Have a Comment or Complaint?
The Delta Messenger eamil notifying me of the delay of my flight leg from BTR to ATL ...
Monday, May 7, Flight Delta 5371, Operated by ExpressJet Airlines
Departs 4:25 pm Baton Rouge, Louisiana
(was) 4:00 pm
Arrives 7:05 pm Atlanta, Georgia
(was) 6:34 pm
was sent "5/7/2012 7:48:19 P.M. Central Daylight Time"
Getting a notice more than three (3) hours after the new departure time is really not helpful.
--30--
Monday, May 7, Flight Delta 5371, Operated by ExpressJet Airlines
Departs 4:25 pm Baton Rouge, Louisiana
(was) 4:00 pm
Arrives 7:05 pm Atlanta, Georgia
(was) 6:34 pm
was sent "5/7/2012 7:48:19 P.M. Central Daylight Time"
Getting a notice more than three (3) hours after the new departure time is really not helpful.
--30--
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
