The Old Days Versus The New Days

The New Days…

Zoe Saldaña won the Oscar for supporting actress for her performance as a lawyer who helps with the gender transition of a transgender drug lord.

Compare the above to a description of Shane below.

The Old Days…

Shane contains something more than the beauty and the grandeur of the mountains and plains, drenched by the brilliant Western sunshine and the violent, torrential, black-browed rains. It contains a tremendous comprehension of the bitterness and passion of the feuds that existed between the new homesteaders and the cattlemen on the open range. And it also contains a wonderful understanding of the spirit of a little boy amid all the tensions and excitements and adventures of a frontier home.

Does it surprise you that I prefer the old days?

Would I kid u?

Smartfella

 

Mao Wrote a Little Red Book. Fella wrote a Little Read Book.

Around $10 Is Not Much Money for What Might Be the World's Greatest Bathroom Book!

After you have bought my book (or not), send this information to your friends (or enemies who have around $10) who might be smart enough or silly enough to buy my book (I don't care which it is).

Below is the Amazon Link where my book can be purchased...

Once inside Amazon, click on "Read Sample" under the picture of the book and you can read a few pages.

After you have read a few pages and had a good laugh or two, add it to your cart and buy it.

Also available in a Kindle Version ... Click here

I've heard that Justin Bieber reads my entire book every day (that is a complete lie that I made up so I could say I heard it).

I hope you will enjoy my book.

FellaO

Lagniappe: I self-published my little-read book. Self-publishing a book means that no one knows you published your book who you do not tell that you published your book. After you run out of relatives, friends, enemies (who have around $10) and anyone who just plain feels sorry for you (who have around $10) your book sales dry up. Then you just might resort to begging for sales (which is what this Blog Posting is).

The Question of the Day

In September of 2017, Equifax announced a data breach that exposed the personal information of 147 million people. Now Equifax has agreed to a global settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and 50 U.S. states and territories. The settlement includes up to $425 million to help people affected by the data breach.

I am being told that I am one of the 147 million people who have been harmed by Equifax’s Carelessness and I am due my share of the $425 Million. Yahoo! I am rich...Or am I?

I almost forgot to remember The Question of the Day (Subject of this Blog). The question of the day is, How Much Did the Lawyers Get? They worked hard to get me my Fair Share which is $7.44...Or did they?

Fella’s Wondering Department...I am not going to bother filing for my $7.44. There will probably be millions of us who will not bother also. I wonder if all that unclaimed money will go into a lockbox and somewhere down the road that box will be unlocked and the lawyers will get that too?

Would I kid u?

Smartfella

 

A Football Emergency Has Been Declared By The National Football League

It seems like only yesterday that the NFL was flying high as a kite. Now they are in imminent danger of going out of business. Did you just say to yourself, "Self, how could this have happened so quickly?" 

It's very simple. The NFL must have Football Players to play Football and they are fast running out of Football Players.

Am I going too fast for you? OK, I'll slow down...

• In the past, 99% of the NFL Football Players came from College Football.
• A few years ago, College Football started to change.
• Some people who wanted to make a lot of money started agitating that it was not fair that College Football Players had to practice a lot and really work hard all through their College Careers and all they got was...
  >Free college education.
  >All the free food they could eat.
  >Free accommodations that rivaled the kind of palaces that middle-east Oligarch hang around in. 
  >Beautiful coeds hanging all over them.
  >Lots of mystery money and really nice cars (even though they had no salary).
  >Had to go to a class every so often.

Before we football fans knew what was going on, all that changed...

• It was decided that College Football Players were entitled to make money off of their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).
• Since the NCAA approved NIL rules in 2021, athletes have secured agreements with brands, enabling them to monetize their popularity and skill. (Sometimes called their "Personal Brands".)
• Next thing we knew, all rules about transferring schools and tampering with another schools recruited players had been thrown out the window.
• During College Games we began hearing the commentators saying things like, "Bruiser has been to 4 schools during his 3 years in College". 
• We started hearing College Players saying to each other, "What's that song they are singing?" Response: "That's your school's Alma Mater." Response back, "What's an Alma Mater?"

This is near the bottom of this Blog Posting, so here is the Bottom Line...

The NFL is going out of business because it is running out of Football Players coming out of College because the Football Player are retiring rather than go to the NFL because they have all the money they will ever need.

Bruiser said it best: "Why should I go into the NFL? Someone might knock me down and give me a Back Wallet Contusion".

I'll save you having to Google "Back Wallet Contusion"...

A Back Wallet Contusion happens when a person with a very thick wallet falls down, lands on his wallet and causes his Spinal Column to go out of alignment.

In case you are wondering, now that College Football Player are so rich, will they have to pay for their College Educations? The answer is No.

One final point. That last Bullet Point at the top of this Blog Posting that says, "Had to go to a class every so often"...That requirement has been scratched. 

Would I kid u?

Smartfella

Lagniappe: During a future College Football Trial on something or other, the Sitting and Listening Attorney hears the Pontificating Attorney say something that confuses him, so he says to his Minion Backup Attorney... What was that word he just used? Quick! Google, "unethical"! And while you are Googling, look up, "School Spirit", "Loyalty" and ''Alma Mater"!

Special Fella Note:

Tired Of Going To Foolishness...Or Is It? Web Site Only To Find Out That A New Blog Posting Has Not Been Published Yet.

If You Will Send Fella Your Email Address by EMail (zooombuggy-forii@yahoo.com) or by Comment to  a Blog Posting, He Will Put You On The Foolishness Notification List.

If Later You Want Off, No Problem. 

Fella Can Handle Rejection.

Send Request to be Removed to zooombuggy-forii@yahoo.com.

Is It A Rule That, If You Are Not Eligible To Participate, But You Sneak In, You Are You Entitled To Stay?

On Fella's Foolishness Scale This Blog Posting Registers As Not Very Foolish

Congress is abuzz about the Members who want to Cut Medicaid Spending.

Is it a Cut to Medicaid if you stop Medicaid Funds from going to people who are not entitled to Medicaid?

I Heard a New York Congresswoman On TV Make These Points:

• In New York State 5 million people are Eligible for Medicaid.
• In New York State 8 million people are Collecting Medicaid.
• That’s 3 million who are Collecting Medicaid who are Not Eligible for Medicaid.
• Medicaid paid $40 Billion for these 3 million Ineligible Recipients of Medicaid Funding.

(Are you saying to yourself New York need not care about the cost of Medicaid because the money for Medicaid comes from the Federal Government...Or does it?)

• Actually, State and Local Governments pay half of the cost of Medicaid Expenditures.
• That means New York paid $20 Billion (its half) and the Federal Government paid $20 Billion (its half).

Now you know. What do you want to bet that some of our representatives in both the States and Federal Governments who are poking holes in the air when they stand up and talk about Medicaid do not know what you now know?

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It’s not Exact Science...

New York’s Medicaid program is funded through a combination of federal, state, and local dollars. The federal government reimburses 50% of most New York Medicaid costs, with higher matching rates for ACA (Obamacare) Medicaid expansion costs and other special circumstances, which is why the visualizations show the federal proportion as greater than 50%. ^*

Click on this link below only if you have burning desire to become confused...

^{*Source: https://uhfnyc.org/our-work/initiatives/medicaid-institute/dashboards/new-york-medicaid-expenditures/}

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Since we are at the Bottom of this Blog Posting, here is The Bottom Line...Many are complaining about the people who want to cut Medicaid. Fella’s question of the day is, Is cutting payments to people who are Not Eligible for Medicaid really “cutting” Medicaid?

Would I kid u?

Smartfella

Lagniappe: These are big numbers but these are only one state’s numbers. If we were to try and wrap our heads around all 50 states and all 50 states had the same Ineligible Medicare Recipient Payment Problem, would you not agree that we are talking about some Really Big Numbers!

Cut To The Chase

 

Theodore Roosevelt definitely Cut to the Chase. The College of Cardinals definitely did no cutting until they had lost a lot of weight and they had snow on their hats. 

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Teddy wanted to build the Panama Canal. He knew, if he turned the Build or Not Build Decision over to Congress, it would take a long time and he was not of a mind to wait around for that long a period of time. So, he said this...

“My own part in it may perhaps be explained by the fact that I deemed it better not to have half a century of debate prior to starting in on the canal; I thought that instead of debating for half a century before building the canal it would be better to build the canal first and debate me for a half-century afterward.”

Do you not agree that not waiting for Congress to act was the right decision?

It’s been more than 100 years. Do you not agree that our Congress has not changed?

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An Interesting Fella Sidetrack... The 1268–71 papal election (from November 1268 to September 1271), following the death of Pope Clement IV, was the longest papal election in the history of the Catholic Church.

Politics ruled and the Cardinals could not agree on a Pope for almost 3 years.

The selection process still continued to drag on for more than a year after the magistrates of Viterbo locked the cardinals in, reduced their rations to bread and water and had the roof of the room they were in removed (exposing the Cardinals to the elements) while they continued to poke holes in the air with their collective fingers.

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Maybe it was easier back in 1370 because there were only 18 Cardinals involved in the selection of the Pope...maybe.

Today there are 252 cardinals in total, but only those under the age of 80 can take part in the conclave.

While that means that 135 cardinals are eligible to vote, two have announced they will not travel to Rome, leaving 133 cardinals to participate in the conclave.

Let’s get back to December 29, 1370...

• On the first ballot in the morning Pierre Roger de Beaufort was unanimously elected Pope.
• He initially opposed his own election but eventually accepted and took the name of Gregory XI.
• On January 2, he was ordained to the priesthood.
• On January 3, he was consecrated Bishop of Rome by the Dean of the College of Cardinals.

Wham bam, thank you, ma'am!

Would I kid u?

Smartfella

Lagniappe: Let’s hope there is not a spoil sport out there somewhere who points out that, Canon law stipulates that any baptized, unmarried man is technically eligible to become pope. Someone better close all the windows because Planet Earth has a lot of unemployed baptized unmarried men who just might throw their hats into the ring and then this conclave too might drag on and on.

Everything Is Dangerous! (I'm publishing this blog again.) (Third, and last publication of this Blog Posting.)

There was a time when I knew more about computers than my son did. That time is long gone. Thanks to my son for this fix.

This You Tube link will work... https://youtube.com/shorts/xc3dfATxNlM?si=ZKgqs-ZNUNXyv5ES

Sorry about all the confusion.

************

The question of the day is...

Would This Bird Still Be So Dangerous If We Did Not Have So Many Lawyers?

I first ran into this bird when I was about 10 years old. Actually, I did not run into it. It was put in front of me by a relative who was not related to me. It was my Aunt Betty.

I was immediately fascinated by this Classic Wonder of a Bird. Actually, I may have messed up by saying, “Classic Wonder”. I was trying to quote the box in which My Bird came. I might as well be exact because the box is sitting on the table right next to where I am Blog Pecking...

“This classic novelty is a scientific wonder, using the properties of thermodynamics to keep in constant bobbing motion.”

************

Back to my Aunt Betty who was not my Aunt. She was a neighbor who lived around the corner from our family’s grocery store. She got into our store by coming through the family gate that separated our homes. She would appear every day coming through the gate, then through the back door to our grocery store, to sit on her stool that was always waiting for her and shortly thereafter she would be handed a small bottle Coca Cola.

************

Back to Aunt Betty not being related to us. In many ways she was more than an Aunt because she was my Aunt Betty. To this day, when I say my prayers at night, I say the names of those I want God to pay attention to. First is my Mother, second is my Father and third in line is my Aunt Betty. She has been deceased 74 years but, just in case, I keep her right up there at number three. God must be really busy, if He has not paid attention to My Aunt Betty, after 74 years of my mentioning her name to Him.

************

Does this little birdie look harmless? The Lawyers do not think it is in the least harmless. On the contrary, they think it is downright dangerous and they warn us about its dangers all over its little box...

1. Choking Hazard – Small Parts.
2. Not for children under 8 years.
3. Use with adult supervision.
4. This product is not a toy.
5. This product is not intended for use by children (kind of obsessed with children, don’t you think?).
6. Avoid breaking glass.
7. This product contains methylene chloride.
8. This product will stain clothing.
9. This product will stain other surfaces.
10. Do not swallow this product.
11. Do not allow this product to come in contact with eyes.
12. Keep this product away from flames.
13. Keep this product away from other heat sources.
14. Is this one a warning? ... The drinking bird is nonflammable.

Fella Observation: The Glock G17L Gen5 MOS Pistol does not come close to 14 warnings...

Glock G17L Gen5 MOS Pistol's WARNING: Can expose you to lead, a carcinogen and reproductive toxicant.

Would I kid u?

Smartfella

Lagniappe: Glock does not mention that it can put holes in you. If they did that, it would prima facie evidence that the G17L Gen5 MOS was dangerous and then Glock would really be in deep doo-doo.

The Good Doctor Is Asking For Help

 Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all the rage. It is going to be wonderful. It is going to fix everything. It has no downside.

Fella is here to say Fella is worried and he does not believe all the hype above. He is worried that one day we may be told that much of AI is AF (All Foolishness).

I gave AI an assignment. I asked it to write a short story about a red-headed boy with freckles who won the Kentucky Derby at the age of 15. 

What I got back was impressive. AI came through and did a remarkable job of giving me exactly what I had asked for in less than 30 seconds, complete with a very nice use of words (you know how I love words) but Fella is still worried.

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First read the AI Slick Story (bolded text below) and then read the Fella Worry Part below that...

In the rolling hills of Kentucky, a young boy named Finn McCarthy dreamed of one day becoming a jockey. With his fiery red hair and a face full of freckles, Finn was a spirited youth, known for his unwavering determination and deep love for horses.

Finn’s family owned a modest farm adjacent to a renowned horse trainer’s estate. From a young age, Finn would sneak over to watch the majestic thoroughbreds train, mimicking the jockeys’ stances and movements. Recognizing the boy’s passion and potential, the trainer, Mr. Thompson, offered Finn a position as a stable hand when he turned twelve.

Under Mr. Thompson’s mentorship, Finn quickly progressed from mucking stalls to exercising the horses. His natural affinity with the animals was evident; they responded to his gentle touch and calming voice. By fourteen, Finn was riding in local races, often leaving seasoned jockeys in his dust.

Word of the red-headed prodigy spread, and soon, Finn found himself with an opportunity to ride in the Kentucky Derby—a dream he had scarcely allowed himself to entertain. At fifteen, he was set to become one of the youngest jockeys to compete in the prestigious race.

Race day arrived, and Churchill Downs buzzed with anticipation. The crowd’s murmurs grew as they spotted the young jockey with flaming hair atop a sleek, ebony stallion named Midnight Star. Despite his age, Finn exuded a calm confidence, a testament to his countless hours of preparation and innate connection with his horse.

As the gates clanged open, Midnight Star surged forward, guided by Finn’s steady hands. Horse and rider moved as one, navigating the pack with precision. The final stretch saw a neck-and-neck battle between Midnight Star and a favored contender. Drawing upon their deep bond and shared determination, Finn and Midnight Star inched ahead, crossing the finish line first.

The stands erupted in cheers, celebrating the underdog victory. Finn McCarthy, the freckle-faced boy with a heart full of dreams, had won the Kentucky Derby at just fifteen, etching his name into the annals of racing history.

His story became an inspiration, a testament to passion, hard work, and the unbreakable bond between a boy and his horse.

************

Here’s the Worry Me Part

Let’s do a Multiple-Choice Quiz...

1.   You think this Blog Posting is a total waste of your time.

2.   You are not worried in the least about what I am worried about.

3.   You are going to report me and my blog to the authorities (What authorities? You are not sure, but you are so enraged that you are going to Google “Authority Over Fella’s Foolishness” and, when you find out who they are, you are going to turn me in).

4.   I have touched a nerve and now you are worried that one day you are going to be laying on an operating table about to be operated on by Dr. Albert Know Nothing Schultz and, at this crucial moment, you are panicking that Dr. Schultz got his degrees because he AI’ed his way through Medical School using AI to answer every question put to him and write every Research Paper for him. You really started to worry when you heard Dr. Schultz whisper to the Janitor, “I’m confused. Can you give me a hint. Is the brain right next to the liver?”

Would I kid u?

Smartfella

I Often Write Blog Postings About Things That Confuse Me

It seems like every time we turn around our 9% Approval Rated Congress is all wrapped up in the possibility of Shutting Down the Government or Not Shutting down the Government. As I peck this Blog Posting out, they are at it again.

Sometimes they Shut It Down and sometimes they Do Not Shut It Down. Whatever they do, it seems to make no never mind about anything. The sun still comes up the next morning. We just keep on keeping on. The only thing “accomplished” every time we go through one of these episodes is I get confused about something that I hear the TV Talking Heads talk their heads about every time this happens...

We are always told that Essential Bureaucrats keep working but Non-Essential Bureaucrats do not keep working. There are times when I talk out loud to myself and this is one of those times. I will say to myself something along these lines, “Self, if the jobs are Not-Essential, why do they have these jobs at all?” 

Is a Non-Essential Job a Job that is not Important or is it a Job that is not needed? If it is not important and/or not needed, why don’t we save the money and not give them the job in the first place?

After all the smoke has cleared, they all get paid. I don’t mean they start getting their salary again. What I mean is they get all their pay including the pay they did not get when the Government Was Shut Down. I’ll say it another way, They Just Enjoyed a Paid Vacation.

And the whole time they were enjoying their paid vacations we were sitting in front of our TVs worried about their survival.

Would I kid u?

Smartfella 

Lagniappe: If it were not for these Shutdown the Government Interruptions, they could spend all of their time pursuing pursuits they are really good at...Happy Hours and Going on Recesses. 

 

Sex...Or is it?

 

What is that? Oh, I remember that. It once was quite Common. It was called Common Sense. Awhile back they (whoever “they” are) started attacking everything and Common Sense was the first thing to go. The saddest part is those of us with Common Sense just sat back and said nothing. I guess you might say we were dumbfounded by the dumbness of it all.

Now the new Health and Human Services (HHS) has come out and boldly stated What We Always Knew About Sex (Formerly part of Father’s the Birds and the Bees Sit Down) ...

Male and Female Are the Only Two Sexes and That the Sexes Cannot Be Changed

During the Attack Everything Era the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of HHS’s Agencies, redefined Sex as...

An individual’s Biological Status as Male, Female, or Something Else

This caused Merriam, Webster, Oxford, Cambridge, Abbott and Costello to say to their collective selves, “This is not acceptable! Definitions are all about the act or process of stating a precise meaning or significance.”

Fella is outraged also. He will now peck out a Fellaifications (he says he will use Silliness to explain the Silliness) ...

Emergency Central Intelligence Agency Text Message: Someone working for the CIA sends an emergency Text Message to the CIA Headquarters in Langley, VA that goes like this, “As directed, I am going to Spies R Us National Convention this morning. My top-secret pouch of spy instructions says that all attendees must wear a certain item of clothing and whoever enters the convention hall without that item of clothing will be shot dead as soon as he enters. My top-secret spy instructions do not tell me what item of clothing I must wear. Please advise ASAP!”

CIA Headquarters’ Response: “We understand your sense of urgency and we apologize for sending incomplete top-secret spy instructions. You should wear a hat like Brear Bryant used to wear when he coached Alabama’s football team or Something Else.”

Would I kid u?

Smartfella

Lagniappe: Did fella say something about Abbott & Costello?

The Problem With News Articles About Waste, Fraud and Abuse In Washington D.C. Is The Articles Are Too Long

 

This may surprise you, but I contend I do not write Political Blog Postings. I often write about politics, but I take no position about politics. I do not write about Stupid, Ignorant or Apparently Illegal things that Democrat or Republican Politicians do. I write about the Stupid, Ignorant or Apparently Illegal things done by Politicians who are either Democrat or Republican (those are our only choices).

I am not going to Hoist Myself on My Own Petard. (Yes, I looked up “Hoist Myself on My Own Petard” but I will not bother bothering you about what I found). Just when you think you have gotten your mind around what the article you are reading is trying to prove at word 2,752, the article moves on and at word 5,564 it contradicts and disproves what you thought they thought they were proving way back at that 2,752^nd word.

The article I am trying to understand at present tries to make the point that most examples of government fraud ($2 million for sex changes and “LGBT activism” in Guatemala) do not meet the Legal Definition of Fraud.

When I got to this point in the article, I felt like I was in church because I started thinking, “Alleluia! Alleluia! I am about to see the Definition of Fraud! Now we are getting somewhere!”

It was at this point that my Excitement Bubble Burst because I then read, “Fraud requires a showing of bad intent by the perpetrator and financial harm to the government.”

In the midst of all this Exciting Clarification Confusion, the article threw in this muckety-muck, “On Friday the Times reported that a Nevada woman pleaded guilty to filing more than 1,200 tax returns to fraudulently claim Covid-19 tax credits of nearly $100 million.” She allegedly “used the money to gamble at casinos, take vacations and buy luxury cars and purchase designer clothing from Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci and Louis Vuitton.”

Several points of Confused Common Sense (Common Sense should not be confusing) raised their very ugly heads...

• Joey, said to Shane in the movie Shane, “But, Shane, there’s too many” ... How on the earth could she have filed so many claims without a person, computer or doorknob not noticing that she was filing so many claims? One would think that by the 6^th Claim Filing Alarms would start going off. OK, she got past the sixth claim but 1,200!? We all know that our world likes to round off to even numbers. The only solace I take from all of this is knowing that the real number was somewhere around a more understandably acceptable 1,194 Claim Filings. 
• Fraud requires a showing of bad intent by the perpetrator ... How many Questionable Intents are allowed before they turn into Bad Intent? Does it not automatically turn into Bad Intent when one takes action to acquire money to which they are not entitled? There is an enormous difference between, “It is my money. Give me my money” and “It is not my money. Give the money that is not my money to me.”
• Financial harm to the government ... If the Government really cared about its money, it would pay more attention to its money. I contend it is not possible to Financially Harm the Government by taking money from the Government because the Government does not seem to care if its money is being taken.

It is like the old Jay Leno Commercial for Doritos where he said, “Crunch all you want. We’ll make more.” Only, in this case, the Government is saying, “Steal all you want. We’ll make more.”

Would I kid u?

Smartfella

 

How Do They Know That?

 

1 billion is not just a 1. It is 1 thousand million.

1 trillion is not just a 1 either. It is 1 thousand billion.

Ergo, 40 trillion is 40 thousand billion.

Below is the headline of an article about Hurricane Helene (and other storms).

Fella has this to say about that... How Do They Know That?

“Helene and Other Storms Dumped a Whopping 40 Trillion Gallons of Rain on The South”

Said another way, Helene and other storms dumped a whopping 40 thousand billion gallons of rain on the south.

I don't believe they can know that.

Would I kid u?

Smartfella

This Plane Crash Could Have Been Prevented!

There is no doubt in my mind but that that plane crash in Toronto yesterday could have been prevented if only the Fire Chief had been allowed to have more stars on his hat.

It is hard to count but it looks like he only had 20 Stars!

More Is Better...Or is it?

Would I kid u?

Smartfella

 

My Encounter with a Millionaire in My Coffee Shop

 

Life has a peculiar way of throwing the most unexpected encounters our way. Thursday of last week was a good example of this. I found myself in a cozy corner of my favorite coffee shop, sipping on a caramel macchiato and lost in the labyrinth of my thoughts, when an elderly gentleman approached my table with a warm smile.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked, his voice rich with a hint of mischief. I could not refuse such a polite request, so I nodded in the affirmative. He settled into the chair opposite me, his presence radiating an air of quiet confidence.

We exchanged pleasantries, and it was not long before we were deep in conversation. He introduced himself as Horace, a name that, much like the man himself, seemed to carry an air of old-world charm. As we chatted, I could not help but wonder about his life and what stories lay behind those twinkling eyes?

"Tell me," he said, leaning closer, "are you a fan of the Nightly News?"

I chuckled. "I suppose I watch it often enough. It's become a bit of a habit."

A sly grin spread across his face. "How would you like to make a lot of extra money while watching the Nightly News?"

Intrigued, I leaned his way, "I'm listening."

Horace reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, shiny nickel, which he placed on the table between us. "I'll give you a nickel every time the Nightly News mentions the names either 'Elon or Musk'."

I stared at the nickel, then back at Horace, trying to gauge whether he was serious or simply indulging in a bit of whimsical folly. "Every time?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow.

"Every single time," he confirmed with a nod. "Think about it. The media cannot seem to get enough of him. With all his ventures like Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink (I made a mental note to look this one up) Elon’s name is constantly in the news."

The idea was absurd, yet oddly compelling. "Why would you do this?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around the proposition.

Horace's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Let's just say I enjoy making life a bit more interesting for those around me. Besides, it's pocket change for me, but it could add up nicely for you."

I laughed, shaking my head at the sheer lunacy of it all. "Alright, Horace. You've got yourself a deal."

We shook hands, sealing the most peculiar agreement into which I have ever entered. As Horace stood to leave, he offered me one last piece of advice. "Keep a big jar handy. You might be surprised at how quickly it fills up."

And just like that, he was gone, leaving me with a story to tell and a new hobby to indulge in. As I watched the news that evening, I could not help but smile every time Elon Musk's name was mentioned, the image of that shiny nickel dancing in my mind.

Would I kid u?

Smartfella

Lagniappe: Another ending to this Silliness...

I said to Horace, “I agree! I accept you generously stupid proposal and I expect I am about to be as rich as you are until you figure out you are running out of money.”

Horace’s response to Fella, “I take it all back! You are right! I have a lot of money but I don’t have this much money. I would have been able to easily afford this bit of silliness if I had chosen the names 'Donald or Trump' but 'Elon or Musk' is a reach too far even for me. It must have been that shot of espresso I told the barista to add to my coffee!”

John Kennedy Is Smart

You are smart also if you just said to yourself that Fella made a Typographical Error when he pecked out “Is” instead of “Was” because John Kennedy is dead. Fella is here to tell you that John Kennedy is not dead. That John F. Kennedy you are thinking about is dead but the John Kennedy I am pecking about is alive and well in Louisiana and serves in our “beloved” U.S. Senate.

The dead one became dead on November 22, 1963, as he riding around Dallas, Texas waving to admirers. At least one of the “admirers” did not like him very much. That’s another story for another day and not the subject of this Foolishness...Or Is It. Actually, it will not ever be the subject of one of my Blog Postings because there is not any Funny or Foolish in that story.

The John Kennedy that is still alive is a very smart fella and his Senate Interrogations of witnesses are becoming legendary. He is brilliant at getting to the Common Sense (remember Common Sense?) of things and, at the same time, being Funny and Entertaining. An example of his humor is he once said, “That bill is as dead as fried chicken”. If you are of mind to, you can spend a lot of time watching him being Funny and Entertaining on You Tube.

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Senator (the alive one) Kennedy is (like so many others in Washington, D.C.) currently on a tear about Wasteful Government Spending and one of his interrogations is the subject of today’s Blog Posting. Get ready to be Shocked and Entertained and Disbelieving about what I am about to peck out.

As you read through this Blog Posting, you are possibly going to be tempted to think Senator Kennedy or I made this stuff up. I have been known to lie for the sake of Foolishness but you can believe what you are seeing because Senator Kennedy is a Senator and Senators never lie...Or do they?

Ø A Scam Artist stole the Social Security Number of a Deceased Veteran.

Ø Between 1997 and 2024 this Scam Artist received checks intended for the Deceased Veteran that totaled somewhere around $825,000.

Ø At some point the Veterans Administration almost got smart and stopped sending checks to the Deceased Veteran (the Scam Artist).

Ø If I told you that the Scam Artist said to himself, “Oh well, it was good while it lasted”, that would be a logical and believable ending to this Foolishness but that’s not how it ended.

Ø What actually happened was the Scam Artist contacted the VA, imitated the Deceased Veteran and got his (not really his) check flow started up again.

Ø The problem is the VA only suspected the Deceased Veteran was Deceased but they do not know he was Deceased.

Here is how he got his money (not really his money) flowing his way again.

Ø The Social Security Administration maintains a Dead Master File (DMF) of Dead People so they will know who is dead.

Ø So, if the VA suspected that our Scam Artist was a Scam Artist, and looked at the DMF it could make the Scam Artist look elsewhere for the money necessary to keep him living in the matter to which he has become accustomed.

Ø The problem is the SSA does not share their DMF with other government agencies.

Ø So, the VA does not know that the Deceased Veteran is Deceased because it has no access to the DMF.

Ø The SSA contends it is illegal for them to share the DMF with other government agencies.

Ø Fella, has this to say about that...Huh?!

In 2020 Senator Kennedy and a few other clear-thinking Senators tried to stop this Not-Sharing Foolishness. It turned into big battle on the floor of the Senate with other Senators who did not think this Obvious Foolishness was Obvious.

Ø Senator Kennedy and his like-minded few other clear-thinking Senators drafted a bill named something like, Stopping Dead People From Receiving Money Act.

Ø The bill stipulated that the SSA was to share the DMF with other agencies.

Ø But they ran into heated opposition.

Ø But they still did not give up.

Ø They compromised (Better to Get Something Rather Than Nothing) and drafted a second bill called something like, Ending Improper Payments To Deceased People Act.

Ø This bill would allow access to the DMF but only allow access for 3 years.

Ø Unbelievably they again ran into heated opposition.

The end result was Senator Kennedy and his like-minded clear thinkers Got Nothing Rather Than Getting Something.

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This Blog Posting has been going on beyond my Don’t Make Your Blogs Too Long rule of thumb but I could not help myself. I’m sure you’ll agree it was worth it...Or will you?

I will quickly finish up with some short ones from Senator Kennedy.

The First One Is... Senator Kennedy asked the SSA how many people in the Good Ole USofA were 112 years of age or older. The SSA told him the number was 6,500,000. Senator Kennedy and Fella do not believe that number.

The Second One Is... A deceased Ohio woman’s family members collected her Social Security for 48 years before the SSA figured out what they were up to and put a stop to it.

The Third One Is... Our government sent $1.4 Billion COVID Stimulus Checks to dead people.

The Last One Is... Our government made $2.9 Trillion in improper payments since 2004.

These dead people are dead, but the checks sent to them are still being cashed. I always knew that dead people could vote but, until now, I did not know they retained the ability to cash checks.

Would I kid u?

Smartfella