2010 Census

2010 Census to Begin THIS IS PRETTY BASIC ADVICE;

Be Cautious About Giving Info to Census Workers: by Susan Johnson

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice:

If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census.

REMEMBER, NO MATTER WHAT THEY ASK, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED TO TELL THEM HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE AT YOUR ADDRESS. While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION.

The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau. AND REMEMBER, THE CENSUS BUREAU HAS DECIDED NOT TO WORK WITH ACORN ON GATHERING THIS INFORMATION.. No Acorn worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by Email, so be on the lookout for Email scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau. PLEASE SHARE THIS INFO WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS...

Feeding the calves as a young boy…..

For me “Life in The Slow Lane” means taking the time to do things that interest me.

I enjoy writing and like to share my stories so when a ‘Memoir Writing Class’ was offered at the church, I eagerly joined. I would like my children and grandchildren to share my life in a simpler, more innocent time.

I recall feeding the calves as a young boy…..


The Bully Calf
by: Tim Mangan

Our home in Cadott was just on the edge of town and must have been part of a farm at one time, hence the big red barn out in back of the house. Dad owned a feed mill in town and made the most of this barn. He would buy calves that were only a week or so old and raise them for veil.

Since I stood head and shoulders above the calves (I was not very old at the time), Dad figured that I was big enough to take care of them. My job was to feed and water and add fresh straw to keep their bedding clean and dry.

As soon as we got the calves Dad would have the local Veterinarian come out to vaccinate them. The Vet would first feel the definition of the muscles in the neck. When he was satisfied with the correct muscle, he rubbed disinfectant on the injection site and pulled out the largest syringe that I had ever seen in my entire life. This instrument of torture must have been a foot long. Add to that; the needle, which was about the size of a 10 inch spike. I tried not to watch while with one deft motion, he stuck the gigantic needle deep into the neck of the calf and pushed the plunger. The calf did not react in the least and did not even flinch. I was convinced that calves have no feeling in their neck.

Feeding the calves was always an adventure. Since they were so young, they needed a milk supplement at least twice a day. The powdered formula was mixed with warm water that I carried from the house and dumped into a ‘nursing bucket’ – a special bucket with a large rubber nipple that hung on the side of the calf pen.

When a calf is nursing, the calf will butt the mother’s udder. This is a natural process that gets the milk flowing and doesn’t hurt the cow in the least. This instinct followed through to the ‘nursing bucket’. I had to stand there and hold the bucket on the railing of the calf pen. If I was not vigilant, the bucket was butted off the railing and I would have to start all over.

One particular batch of calves proved to be a real problem for me. One of the calves was several inches taller than the others. This animal had a size and weight advantage over the others and used this advantage to the maximum at feeding time.

We only had one nursing bucket so I would make sure that all of the calves took turns. This was usually not a problem, except with this particular calf. And…. he sure loved the milk supplement. Loved it so much he would bully the others, push them away from the bucket and drink their share.

He was a monster of a calf, standing almost as tall as me (I was a young boy at the time). He would lower his head and his hoofs would paw the ground in a menacing way. Bellowing and snorting, smoke would pour out of his nostrils while lightning flashed in his eyes. One whip with his gigantic tail would raise welts on the skin of any opponent. Yes, this was Beelzebub reincarnate; indeed a beast to be reckoned with.

It was difficult enough having an extra hungry calf, but stealing the nutrition from the others was unacceptable. And too much of a good thing gave him diarrhea. Words should not describe the utter horror of working in the same pen alongside Beelzebub when he had a bad case of diarrhea.

When he was in a feeding frenzy I had my hands full. I tried feeding him first, thinking that he would get full and not steal the other’s milk, but no …. this just gave him a taste of the good stuff and whetted his appetite for more. I tried hanging the pail in the corner of the pen, and then jumping into the pen and blocking him while another calf got his ration. This seemed to work and I thought I was onto something.

The calves were growing rapidly and in only a week or so my blocking technique was no longer effective. To make matters worse, one of the calves was not developing at the normal rate –he needed his supplement more than ever.

One day the small calf was just starting the nursing pail when Beelzebub, deciding he was extra hungry; came in and pushed him away. This was the start of a battle between man and beast – or I should say ‘boy and beast’.

Pound for pound Beelzebub probably outweighed me, putting me at a disadvantage from the start.

He bullied his way to the pail – I pushed him away. He came back again to claim his prize and I pushed him away again. I was getting angrier all the time. When he came back a third time, I screamed at him and beat on his back with my fists. I was in tears I was so helpless and angry.

On his fourth assault, and in a fit of desperation and rage, I bit him. Yes, …..I bit him. I bit him right on the back of the neck. Biting had always worked when I was angry with my older brother. I bit Beelzebub as hard as I could and in return simply got a mouth full of foul tasting, wiry calf hair. My biting attack did not bother him in the least, reinforcing my belief that calves have no feeling in their neck.

What's it like to get old?

I received this as a forwarded email. Some things are just too beautiful to keep to yourself, so enjoy the thoughts.

The question:
What's it like to get old?

The Answer:

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not makingmy bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers,or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever,but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day(if I feel like it).

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART! MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE.

Mortgage information and Guru report

Thanks to Bob Martin from Metro-Mortgage in Madison.

BOB MARTIN ext. 3011
OFFICE: 608-829-3000 or 800-700-9955
HOME: 608-873-3925
MOBILE: 608-575-1978

"WOW is all I can say....
The following Guru Report is absolutely LOADED with some very good updates, it would be a good read...

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving Day....and a safe and enjoyable weekend.

Bob


Guru Report:

It was a Thanksgiving-like serving of economic data that hit the wires this morning. Mortgage Bonds are slightly higher, but are again testing resistance. Initial Jobless Claims were reported at 466,000, better than expectations of 500,000 Initial Claims. This is a welcome improvement and the lowest level since September of 2008. But there is still a long way to go before net job gains are achieved. Continuing Claims also fell to 5.42 Million, from 5.61 Million the prior week. But when the recent extension of benefits is taken into account, Continuing Claims remain near all-time highs.

The Fed’s preferred gauge of inflation, the Core Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) rose by 0.2%, higher than the 0.1% expected. However, the year-over-year Core PCE remained tame at 1.4%. Personal Spending increased 0.7% in October, a little more than the 0.5% anticipated, and a modestly good sign for the economy. And Personal Incomes rose by 0.2%, which is a little more than the 0.1% estimated, but still shows that income growth is travelling at a snail’s pace. The savings rate came in at 4.4%, which is much higher than it’s been in recent years – especially when the savings rate was actually negative just a few years ago. This is a double edged sword. It’s good to see individuals saving for their future, but there can also be too much of a good thing, as consumer purchases fuel the economy.

Durable Goods Order for October fell -0.6%, well below expectations of a rise of 0.5%. The unexpected drop was due to a decline in demand for defense equipment. Additionally, after stripping out transportation orders, Durable Goods fell even further, by -1.3%, the biggest slide since March. This illustrates the hesitancy on the part of consumers to make large purchases, as perhaps they are trying to get more life out of what they currently own.

And more news from the housing front, which has garnered many headlines of late. And it was another good report – New Home Sales were much better than expected, at 430,000 units, where only 404,000 were expected. As we have said before, there needs to be some perspective here, as these numbers represent a tiny fraction of what they were just a few years ago. And the trend of inventory declines continues in this report as well, as inventory of unsold new homes dropped to a 6.7 month supply, the lowest level in three years. But let’s remember how inventory levels are calculated – it’s not just the amount of homes on the market, it’s the amount of homes on the market divided by the monthly pace of sales. Therefore, an uptick in the sales pace can take an increase in raw inventory and turn it into a decrease in monthly home supply. This is important to note, as much of these favorable housing numbers are coming in near the perceived initial cut-off of the homebuyers tax credit. We like the good news, and feel that there is strong opportunity in the housing market, but wouldn’t be surprised to see a bit of a temporary lull, once the steroids are removed.

Consumer Sentiment was reported at 67.0, essentially in line with expectations of 67.4.

The Fed will auction a record $32B in 7-year Notes this afternoon at 1:00pm ET. Monday and Tuesday’s auctions were well received, as the carry trade we have been describing to you is helping to absorb the supply. Let’s see if investors are willing to be as aggressive with the longer duration 7-year Notes being auctioned today, as the longer duration carries added price risk.

Bond prices have been on a nice roll, since Bernanke assured on November 4th that rates would remain low for an extended time period.

Wisconsin Home Sales Up

Wisconsin Home Sales Up in Third Quarter
as Median Prices Moderate

Madison – Wisconsin home sales increased for the first time since the recession began nearly two years ago, according to data reported by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). Existing home sales increased 5.8 percent in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the same quarter last year, the first increase since the recession began in the fourth quarter of 2007.

“We are finally seeing signs of recovery in the housing market,” said John Flor, Chairman of the Board of the WRA. “This deep and lengthy recession has kept many buyers on the sidelines for the better part of two years.”

He credited a combination of favorable mortgage rates and the federal tax credit for first time home buyers for the surge in sales. “With mortgage rates in the 5 percent range and the tax credit putting up to $8,000 in the pockets of first time home buyers, the market saw a real boost,” Flor said.

Wisconsin’s 5.8 percent increase in housing sales compared favorably with the nation, which rose 5.9 percent, and the Midwest region, which grew at a 5.2 percent rate over that same period. Flor noted that recent action by Congress not only extended the housing tax credit through April of next year but also expanded it to include all buyers. “The extension and expansion of the federal tax credit is not only good news for home buyers and sellers, but also for the economy as a whole,” said Flor.

“Families buy a wide range of goods and services after they purchase a home, which helps the entire local economy, and sales of starter homes create opportunities for sellers to trade-up to a new or more expensive home.”

Flor noted that with the national unemployment rate now topping 10 percent, the economy still has a long way to go. However, he said there are good reasons for guarded optimism. “Gross Domestic Product grew in the third quarter and a key indicator of future economic performance, the Conference Board’s Index of Leading Economic Indicators, has been up each of the last six months. Hopefully these trends will help continue to fuel housing demand,” Flor stated.

As sales increased, median home prices in Wisconsin fell 6.3 percent to $148,000 in the third quarter of 2009 compared to quarter three of 2008, according to the WRA report. This was better than the national reduction in median prices, which was at 11.2 percent over the period.

WRA President William Malkasian says care should be taken when interpreting these price figures. “These annual changes in median prices are not apples-to-apples comparisons,” said Malkasian. “Over the past year we’ve seen a shift from higher priced homes to lower priced homes, so the median price naturally falls,” Malkasian said. While some of the price change is the result of seller concessions, Malkasian said much of it is due to the robust movement of starter homes as a result of the first time home buyer tax credit program. He concluded, “Wisconsin home prices are not nearly as volatile as we have seen in other parts of the country and so purchasing a home in Wisconsin remains a very stable way to build household wealth.”

The Wisconsin REALTORS® Association is one of the largest trade associations in the state, representing more than 14,500 real estate brokers, sales people and affiliates statewide. Sales estimates for the state are provided by the National Association of REALTORS®, which seasonally adjusts quarterly sales figures. All county figures on sales volume and median prices are compiled by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association and are not seasonally adjusted. Median prices are onlycomputed if the county recorded at least 10 home sales in the quarter. All data collected by the Wisconsin REALTORS®Association are subject to revision if more complete data becomes available.

Electronic security, GPS and Cell Phone

Thanks to Tim Wilson from The Gardens....

This gives us something to think about with all our new electronic technology.

GPS.......

A couple of weeks ago a friend told me that someone she knew had their car broken into while they were at a football game. Their car was parked on the green which was adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans. Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard.

When the victims got home, they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had been stolen.

The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house. They then used the garage remote control to open the garage door and gain entry to the house. The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish and so they knew how much time they had to clean out the house. It would appear that they had brought a truck to empty the house of its contents.

Something to consider if you have a GPS - don't put your home address in it. Put a nearby address (like a store or gas station) so you can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else would know where you live if your GPS were stolen.

MOBILE PHONES...

I never thought of this.......This lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag which contained her cell phone, credit card, wallet... etc...was stolen.

Twenty minutes later when she called her hubby, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says 'I received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago.'
When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text 'hubby' in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.

Moral of the lesson: Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list.
Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mom, etc....And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back.Also, when you're being text by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet 'family and friends' who text you.

Meals on Wheels

Every Tuesday I am a volunteer driver for "Meals on Wheels". This is a rewarding experience and not without a laugh or two. The following was posted on the kitchen wall where the drivers pick up their meals.

"Heavenly Meals on Wheels...."

After a long and difficult life the old barn cat passed to a better place. He was greeted at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter.

“Welcome to Heaven” said St Peter. “You have been a good cat all your life. Is there anything special you would like in Heaven?”

“Why yes,” answered the cat. “All my life I have had to sleep on the hard barn floor. I would like a soft pillow to sleep on and a blanket to keep me warm.”

“Done.” Replied St. Peter and the old barn cat found himself lying on a soft pillow lovingly covered with a warm blanket.

The next day two mice were greeted at the Pearly Gates.

“Welcome to Heaven” said St Peter. “You have been good mice all your lives. Is there anything special you would like in Heaven?”

“Why yes,” answered the mice. “All our lives we have had to run very fast to avoid the old barn cat. We are exhausted. We would like roller skates to get around in Heaven.”

“Done.” Replied St. Peter and the mice found themselves wearing a fine set of roller skates.

A couple of days later St. Peter checked back with the old barn cat.

“How is everything in Heaven?” he asked.

“Everything is just grand,” purred the cat. “I have my old friends to play with, a fluffy pillow and blanket to keep me warm and comfortable, and the ‘Meals on Wheels’ are simply delicious.”