Shirl & Ron

A few of the blog related questions are being answered here; while electing to omit the identifing information of the people whom have posted the questions...

 

About some of the pics which are on the site... Yes there's quite the variety, yet there used to be considerably more. There used to be "types of links" to three online portfolios of about one hundred pics a piece; each individual pic was well over the final edited size of some 200 meg. complete access to the viewing of the pics is now restricted and controlled; yet some of the content can still be viewed online if one where knows to look in the right place. Of the photographs that remain online; (YES!!) one can view them as a type of predication; especially noting the dates that they were originally taken. Examples of such... note the certain people in the pics; which is not accidental. Some of those pictured include present and former University of Charleston students/alum, some of which are/were full scholarship students. Also noting the photo of me at the Steinway; just happens to also be the place where the ex Shirl later worked- go figure.

 

About further access on the internet directly to me, through the "company site" of which appears on my business credentials, and such. Again it's just a matter of where exactly to look. Or for those whom can't quite find it; simply ask.

 

About my dating life since Shirl abandoned our marriage. Now that's quite the complicated question. I guess it could be said that yes I've dated, yet most of the people I associate with are limited to just friends- some very close firends.

 

About me dating a celebrity... Yes true, but not- just very close friends. She still appears on a "version" of a nationwide cable television newscast. she maintains a rather private life outside of her broadcasts, and I continue to respect her privacy on such. I've been photographed in public with her and a few of those appear on the networks pages online.

 

About more detailed specs on my "ventures in photography" and also with a certain very large company technically located mostly out a certain Washington state city. Actually to answer that is basically a bit too complicated to get into detail on this site. I've been "doing photography for quite the long time; actually well before even turning sixteen; and naturally I still do it presently. -And as according to my verified resume there's a portion of that which has been done professionally. As for the other credentials; perhaps that story is best told some other time.

Although not yet officially confirmed; my personal eyewitness can confirm that yes there was at least one tornado that briefly touched down in the Pittsburgh area on the date of 17 June 2009; as can also be confirmed by the front page photograph by a resident in today's (as of posting) Pittsburgh Post Gazette. The person in the paper witnessed either a seperate storn completely or the same one that I did actually touching down a second time. So far it appears as though noone was killed or injured; almost a type of act of God given the circumstances.

 

Also not much in the way of property damage from the tornado's themselves; although my car sustained very minor cosmetic damage from hail which exceeded some one inch in size. Although there was also record rainfall with the storm and some minor flooding due to a few extra circumstances, such as-- lcak of proper infrastructure and overdevelopment in certain areas... Which brings me to the rant phase of this blog entry...

 

One would naturally think that it might not be the wisest of ideas to actually want to rebuild in areas that have a proven history of flooding; not once, but on numerouse occasions. -And are a good number of those same adequately insured? NO. so the bill gets flipped to the taxpayer; even though the same homeowner may be violating one of the most major clauses of their home/property loan by not having adequate insurance on the property- go figure. It almost makes me think of some area of Pittsburgh, and then want to compare them to areas of New Orleans or perhaps Southern California.

 

It's strange that New Orleans (or should I actually say the taxpayers) are spending many hundreds of thousands of dollars to protect area that will eventuallt be suffering the same flooding (and other storm) damage in the near future. Or to glance at certain very high real estate properties which are built in desert areas in Southern California which have burned down twice. Perhaps if they try to rebuild two more times maybe they'll get it right- or not.

 

Then there's also the massive failure of the majority of the entire American infrastructure; decades of improper oversight, maintaince, and going to the lowest bidder.

The official united states government perspective is that technically it is only a recession; yet the facts clearly show otherwise. By literally any standard of measurement it is a depression; and perhaps worse than when the stock market crashed many decades ago. There is but two remaining saviors which have kept america afloat; such as by example-- that most americans still have some form of credit- of which most are abusing just to stay afloat- or perhaps they may have used some cash from the sale of a lifelong asset such as a house. -Or that unlike the original depression- a rather significant number of americans are on some type of social programs; such as the electronic version of food stamps and the like.

 

And although it now might appear as though things are getting better the reality is far from that. Has anyone really addressed or touched on issues such as social security; and how it won't be around much longer? -Or how the united states is basically now owned by the "government of China"? Or the real stories of the numbers and facts surrounding exactly how much was lost in retirements that evaporated; and most of which will never be recovered.  america now has a debt to the country and people of China that is next to impossible to ever be repaid. What remains of the united states is now the largest debtor; by far owing the most to that country.

 

Although it has yet to fully effect myself; it can technically be said that it has only reached me on a personal level by basically scrathing the surface of the apple. Not much more than a blip on the radar.

 

But on a very sad note... Someone that I consider very dear and close to myself is now homeless. Unfortunately this same person lives at some distance from myself; yet I've still made every reasonable effort possible to lend assistance to this person. I sincerely fear for the safety and welfare of them. My prayers and wishes wil be for them.

For over one and a half years I've been working out on my Bowflex; with quite impressive results. It still happens to be one of the best ways that I could have possibly invested in both time and money. It also happens to be one of the most effective ways of working out; not only for myself. but just about anyone interested in literally guaranteed results.

 

The Bowflex gyms are considerably more effective than any free-weight workout and also better than other plate type gyms and/or work-out systems. In addition to the effectiveness of the systems there's also the cost. Bowflex has just recently added to their "composite bow" system with a new model which starts out at about $650. Compare that cost with any other home gym, a gym membership fee; and it now becomes even more cost effective. Even the Bowflex top of the line systems which are about $3k are still very viable options- for just about anyone.

 

I would still naturally suggest that anyone consult with at least one medical professional before starting this type of program. But for someone such as myself; even at above age forty- I've literally never been in better shape. While my personal program exceeds some ten hours a week; someone can still meet and/or exceed the guaranteed results just three times a week at less than one half hour on each session.

 

Not bad. More of the documented results to follow.

 

 

Over the holiday weekend there was a series of three attacks in the NYC area; technically could be considered terrorism (more on that downplay later), or could be something else; and could also most probably be connected to other such attacks which have occured in the past which were linked to certain political targets such as embasy attacks.

 

What is also most ironic is the apparent (LACK of) media coverage of these events. Yes, so far it would appear as though there have been no deaths in the attacks- so far; but that also does not shadow the significance of the attacks. Up until now the attacks have been relatively minor and basically not much more than a step up from a variation of pipe bombs- but on a larger scale. Also noting that some have involved variations of placing an explosive device onto a parked/abandoned bicycle.

 

In also quite suprised that more NYC and federal law enforcement aren't all over this one. It's only a matter of time before they either escalate and/or take someone's life- or possibly much more. Yes something this small can cause damage to something such as a natural gas main, a large vehicle gasoline tank, or possibly even a gasoline tanker- and then we could also be talking (in addition to loss of life) also the possible loss of a rather large building- no joke.

 

-And to think that in major media it mostly made page tow news of about one paragraph. Most other major news organizations simply ignored it. Why??

 

The events that literally led up to 9/11 started out the same exact way. Our government and media also reported (in error) that we were dealing with "beginners" back then as well.

The email remains private for now- as does the few questions which were posted to this site- moved to a different site location to protect the privacy of those whom asked.

 

And now the answers.

 

Yes it was me in the Charleston area. Ironically I still happen to know more than a few people from the area; one of which happens to live just a block or so from my former wife- whom I have no further interest in. -And besides catching up with friends there were a few business transaction that transpired- one for profit, one a type of barter, and yet another which was a type of donation- of sorts.

 

I've been in the Charleston area twice in the past three weeks or so. In the past I could (besides visiting friends all over the place there) I could most recently be found visiting the boat docked near the University of Charleston- also occasionally docked almost directly across the river. Reminder to self- not to try to drive again as I almost bottomed out the twin screw boat in the Elk river. Also of interest to those whom noticed was the hull name of the boat- named after a Union was hero- but not a good idea to have that same name in a former confererate state- oops.

 

Also of interest was the few meeting between existing U.C. staff and students; some of whom also happened to specifically remember the former and the fact that she worked there up to relatively recently- on the overnight shift- in the cafeteria building.

 

I actually enjoyed my visits there- even though it happened to be without the company of the former wife. Perhaps there is a way to put all of this behind me after all; and maybe even move onto greener pastures.

A number of years back before the (in full) purchase of my most recent house; I was looking into the possibility of purchasing in the Pittsburgh market- while at the same time also looking into several areas in and around Charleston. Ironically I had a type of down payment on a property in Charleston when a sudden change in circumstances had occured- and by less than say twelve hours. At that time the house and property in Charleston was literally wiped out and later condemed by a flood.

 

And then just a matter of months after relocating to the Charleston area one of my major considerations for property that I was looking at here was also wiped out by flooding, as was one of my previous employers.

 

And then yesterday, again...

 

Charleston hit again in the same exact area by flooding. Ironically I also happen to still know and have contact with a number of people effected in that area- of of which as noticed by a recent posting I'm now electing to ignore. What's the odds?

 

To change subjects somewhat... Yes, this is somewhat of a series of natural disasters, but also more than that- also pointing to lack of infrastructure- something that effects a majority of areas throughout America. Yet when an area is effected by flooding, some people insist in rebuilding in the same areas which will most likely be flooded again- go figure.

 

And ironically one would also be most suprised at a majority of those same people which are effected by disasters are not usually covered by adequate insurance- which ends up sticking the bill to everyone else.