Countrymouse Posted November 2018
On My Mind
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Replacing the much lamented 'On My Mind' profile option, this thread is for musings, jottings, whimsies, preoccupations and the rest of the thesaurus for anyone to jot down anything they please.
I can't remember what the maximum character count was before, can anyone else? But anyway it wasn't very many so let's keep to that.
Said sites show my ex-husband, his wife, his grown daughter, and someone I never heard of are living with me. WAIT? WHAT?
We used to donate to the ASPCA, but as funds became tighter, and commercials more aggressive, we gradually narrowed down to just Veterans, animals and Salvation Army. I suspect that the entity behind the $19/month donations has made a lof of money taking over the advertising of high profile organizations.
Some day I'll see if I can find out which ad agency makes the sob story commercials, but I don't know that there's anything I can do about it except advise that their commercials are so offensive I not only boycott them, but the charities as well.
(That's what I'm going to do to the marketers who've stopped USPS ad deliveries and instead hired someone to drive by and throw a package of ads onto lawns. They get soggy, moldy, and who knows how many insects make the wet ads their homes?)
If they refuse to stop throwing trash on my lawn, I'm going to call the companies/stores that advertise with them and advise that I'm boycotting their stores b'c of the trash their contractor throws on our lawns. I'll just take my business elsewhere.
I can't remember if I've shared this before, but it's worthwhile to know. Leader Dogs for the Blind was a good charity my father supported. Then one day I got a solicitation from them, even though I'd never donated. So I called and asked why they suddenly began to solicit me, and where they got my name.
Guess what? You've probably seen those outfits that purport to find information on anyone and everyone except maybe Santa Claus and his elves? If you haven't seen them, they list people THEY have determined to be relatives, and they list addresses which sometimes are correct and often not.
Leader Dogs for the Blind uses one of those sites to identify family members of donors, then solicits them as well. I understand it from a marketing standpoint, but from a personal privacy invasion, it really annoyed me. And it annoyed Dad. So I called them and told them not only would I donate, but my father's donations would stop as well, and that that had no reason whatsoever to pry into his relations regardless of how much data is available online.
Alva, one day sometime ago I did access the IRS database on charity salaries and was more than overwhelmed at how many there were. All that tax money lost, and often to fake charities, or these strange kind of alleged religious organizations.
I have loved it since childhood. I love the story. I also adore the fantastic jazz by Vince Guaraldi.
It comes on tonight!
Since stay-at-home orders, my husband has not been bicycling as much.
The bicycle cured his issues with imbalance.
Maybe NYMBL will help him, and he can enjoy another APP on his phone.
Just wanted to echo what "Shell38314" said about the story you shared - loved it.
Your family was definitely blessed to have such a great father and I'm so glad he taught you and your siblings how to respect animals.
Your dad was probably thinking those skunks wouldn't dare "spray the hands that feed them" - lol!
I love the fact that all the dogs in town would come to him for their "hug and kiss" fix and that you were able to keep the black lab - what a happy ending for he or she.
How funny that when my cousin told me several months ago, when getting reacquainted after 40 years, that her favorite animal was the "fox" because they are so smart. She then asked me what my favorite was and I said "deer" because they are so beautiful and graceful - you and I often think a lot alike!!
I'm sure it was sad to write and share your story but, what wonderful memories to have as they will always be a special treasure for you :)
I highly recommend that you check out ANY charity before giving. Believe me, it's a real education.
Your dad sounded like a wonderful man. He was lucky to have not gotten sprayed. You had a great dad & thank you for sharing that story.☺
Hugs!!!
Garden,
I have wonder the same thing about the commercials of ASPCA, if they just filmed the poor animals or if they really help them, which I think they do, but it does make you wonder!🤔
On another note, Does anyone really need to make over 13 million dollars who is not famous?! Some of these CEO just make way to much money...just my opinion!
Excellent points. I will read through it.
I hate any form of manipulation of others.
If I see any of that behavior I will have a few reactions.
I ignore them by changing channels.
I get annoyed and won’t take their plea for help seriously, which is sad because I do donate to worthy causes.
Overall, I am skeptical of the reasoning behind this type of marketing.
I wish that they would get a new PR person in charge and start over with better advertisements.
I respect non profits and I have nothing against religious organizations. I only want facts to be exposed as to where money is spent.
Another interesting thing I noticed sometime ago before changing channels b/c I got so tired of the same theme, is that the monthly request seemed to be $19, the tearjerker approach was used, and I suspected that the same fundraising company was behind the various commercials.
I always checked salaries, especially exec salaries, before donation consideration. Usually I go to the charities web page, but I just found this:
https://www.causeiq.com/insights/highest-paid-nonprofit-ceos/
The second highest, Ascension Hospital, in the last few years acquired the Providence chain, a nonprofit religious owned hospital which generally provided good service as well as an array of small seminars, a few for free. It had an excellent PT program, on a level of another nonprofit hospital that's now been bought out by private interests. The free seminars of the latter hospital were cancelled, med staff laid off, and quality eventually deteriorated.
Now that the new CEO & Pres makes $13,249,761, annually, I suspect a lot has changed, including the free seminars.
Skim through the list - it's quite interesting, especially given the number of medical affiliation institutions paying big bucks to their CEOs (who I'm assuming aren't on the front lines treating COVID patients).
Interesting synopsis of the company that maintains this site:
"...helps companies grow, maintain, and serve their nonprofit clients." I wonder what kind of "companies"?
Polar, and others who mentioned the ASPCA commercials, I found them so offensive, and exploitive. I wonder how many of those poor shivering, suffering animals they really rescued, or did they just film them? ASPCA is I think a good organization, but these commercials make me wonder who's choosing their publicity and fundraising companies.
They are based on guilt. Who responds to that?
A better thing to do would be to show the animals after they are adopted and have a loving home.
Another commercial that does this is the life alert commercials where the old people fell down. Geeeeeez!
A better thing to do is the example shown by The Shriners with the kids after they get the prosthetic arms and legs and are happy to be walking, playing and having fun being a kid! They focus on the good things that are done with the money instead of GUILTING people!
It’s the same thing with the televangelists who use all kinds of tricks to get people to donate money to line their pockets with the money and live in mansions! Who falls for this stuff? It’s sad and ridiculous.
65 years ago, I had won a mink boa and gave it to an antique store.
I can’t watch those commercials. They are heartbreaking.
We can eat a healthy plant based diet. I could do a vegetarian diet. I don’t eat meat everyday.
I don’t think I could be vegan though. That’s a huge jump, no byproducts at all. I eat dairy and cheese.
I can't watch those ASCPA commercials either. I get teary-eyed. They are so heartbreaking!
I have my mother's fake fur coat, which I will probably never wear because people might think it is real and I wouldn't want anyone to think that I am ok with killing an animal for their fur because I am not! We have to love our fuzzy furry friends.
For our grandparents and generations before them, they didn't think much about animal suffering. And then there were people who used fur for survival. Take the Eskimo for instance, without fur, they'd freeze to death. Thanks to modern technology, we create synthetic materials that can keep people warm. I wouldn't judge people from generations ago by today's standard, however. Who knows, a few generations from now, future people will look back at us and say we were barbaric for eating meat.
It was a present to my sister from a male friend, and she refused to wear it for the same reasons as others have stated: animals were killed to create that coat. I wouldn't wear it for the same reason.
Initially I planned to donate it, but got some advice (so long ago I don't remember from who) that it should be cleaned before being donated. Spending even a penny on that coat repulsed me, so I just put it away. I did get an estimate and it was well over what I would pay - something like over $25, and that was well over a decade ago.
It might actually be a home for the mice that somehow get into the garage.
I didn’t accept the fur that was left to me.
Grossed me out, knowing that animals were abused.
Donate to Born Free USA. They use them for orphaned animals to snuggle in to keep warm.
I feel guilty getting rid of it, but animals died to make that coat and I don't think I could wear it.
My mother has a fur cape and I suppose I could wear that at historical reenactments (Colonial era) because at least it is almost historically accurate. I'm feeling uncomfortable about it, though.
I have not restored my email service.
Crunch.
Get some rest! Sounds exhausting.
It is wonderful that furs went out of fashion due to public pressure and exposure.
Shell, yes people can wear a faux fur.
Our parents took us to the circus for entertainment because they weren’t aware of the animal abuse.
Same can be said for whales and dolphins held in captivity, amusement parks are now being exposed.
Some countries have banned these practices. Putting a whale or dolphin in a swimming pool is awful!
Yes, my mother does have a Advanced Directive and it does state that she does not want CPR, feeding tube, ventilation, in fact, it states they are to do nothing to save or extend her life. I have left her alone about the palliative care. It is not worth fighting over, nor is it worth the backlashes that she will do to me. It is her life and her decision. Thank you Alva for all your help and for understanding.
NHWM,
I have a beautiful fur coat, but it is not real. My dad bought it for my mother and she gave it to me after my dad passed away. I think real fur belongs to the animals wearing them. I will say it does look real. I can not imaging killing an animal just for their fur. I had a lady tell me once "if we were meant to wear fur God would had made us with fur!" LOL
I think that's a great summary of life CM 😉😂
I'm not feeling very resilient this evening. It's been - I don't know how long - weeks, months of battering-with-highlights and I'm terribly tired.
I have just restored my email service, all by myself.
I started this project over twelve hours ago.
The IT support man had emailed me the instructions.
We finally have the Christmas rota after months of in-house negotiation [read: squabbling].
I am working early shifts on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the Bank Holiday.
The Service Manager forwarded me a sweet email from a client of three weeks ago saying that she had been really anxious about accepting support but she'd hardly noticed I was there and could she book me.
My line manager, who was also on the list of recipients, did not forward me this email. I am coming to believe that she thinks praise is bad for morale.
Daughter 2 sent me the job advertisement and is now looking for housing advertisements in the same county. Somewhat prematurely.
I have learned to use MS Teams, thanks to Son.
I tried to look like I knew what I was doing during the virtual interview for the job.
They didn't look like they knew what they were doing.
I have been offered the job.
The employer has graded the offer at a level or two down from where I've worked my behind off to get to. I can't accept it.
I emailed the HR lady to ask her advice.
Automated reply - she's out 'til Monday.
Then my email crashed and I've lost the email I sent her.
My line manager ripped my ears off. Again.
Daughter 1 talked me down from the roof.
Line Manager sent me a message without explanation saying "you're a great support worker!"
I think she must have had the wrong recipient.
I have no idea what I'm doing. Just keep faking, I guess. Is it any comfort that I suspect nobody else knows what they're doing either?
I asked a client yesterday how long she had lived in her 15th century working farmhouse (with its 15th century heating system, pretty much). Eighty years. I do not think she will see the advantage of a nice cosy retirement apartment, somehow. She is not supposed to be mobilising independently, but somebody got the butter and marmalade out of the fridge and I don't think it was the dog...🤔
But I love it so much more when it is on its original owner that I hardly even regret not being able to wear it (though I still do, a twinge).
Ivory and tortoiseshell are very beautiful as well but I would rather look at my dressing table and be reasonably sure that no animals were harmed in the making of my personal clutter.
I'm bloody annoyed about coral, though. I thought they could farm it nowadays - why's it banned???
I still remember when my Sunday New York Times was full of furs at this season. None now. Sure is going out of vogue. I remember my mother way back in the 40s had furs. Remember a black lamb coat and the WEIRD fox neck thingie. She came soon enough to loathe that whole industry for certain.
Hailey, I recommend some of the commercials for your viewing enjoyment. Sometimes it's better than the series. OMG that "Chance" thing on Hulu was AWFUL and I hung in yelling at Hugh Laurie (who once I loved) for being a stupid idiot. Don't recommend. But the commercials were OK. Hee hee.