Democrat Emanuel Cleaver introduced a resolution with a simple message: Cut the griping. He wants to see the day before Thanksgiving in future years declared Complaint-Free Wednesday, dedicated to setting the criticism aside and acknowledging that whining does nothing to solve problems. Cleaver is also pitching it as a chance to prepare for the day that follows. Like stretching before a workout, laying down our list of problems will make it easier for people to see what they’re thankful for.

Not surprisingly, his proposal has generated – you guessed it – complaints. Some folks paint it as another attempt to try to muzzle speech and make dissent unpatriotic. Of course they ignore that the identical idea was proposed last year by Cleaver’s Missouri colleague Sam Graves, a Republican. Others have made hobbies of grumbling and aren’t keen on stopping, even for a day.

Truth be told, we can come up with a couple things to groan about ourselves. Today of all days, shouldn’t we be able to blow off whatever steam we have before sitting around with family? Don’t we need the chance to complain about traffic jams, airport waits and somebody absconding with that last tube of Pillsbury crescent rolls at the grocery store? Heck, what would our online commenters do with themselves if they’re not allowed to satisfy their very reason for being? I find fault, therefore I am.

Then, of course, there’s the healthy measure of doubt that this will have much effect. Cleaver has acknowledged those doubts and still figures it can’t hurt to try. He’s pointed out that it’s revenue-neutral – how many proposals can claim that nowadays? – and keeps people healthier. Indeed, the Dallas Morning News cites reports that the average person grouses about one thing or another 15 to 30 times a day (a number we suspect goes up on days city councils and school boards meet). Yet, contrary to popular belief, hard-core complainers tend to die before those who give it a rest occasionally, according to a Mayo Clinic study.

In the early 1960s, many people claimed the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was radical for devoting his life to ending racial discrimination in this country. Almost 50 years later, we celebrate the man and the dream he gave us. And did he do this by complaining? No. He led not by complaining, but by providing hope.

Rep. Cleaver’s resolution encourages each person in the U.S. to remember that having a positive life begins with having a positive attitude. It recognizes and reaffirms the meaning of Thanksgiving by asking each person in the U.S. to use Complaint Free Wednesday to refrain from complaining and prepare for a day of gratitude.

What a world this would be if everyone, especially those who are so negatively denouncing Rep Cleaver, would, for just one day, pause, reflect, give thanks and maybe, just maybe, stop complaining and start being nice to one another. That’s Rep. Cleaver’s vision, and my vision as well

The attacks of September 11, 2001 dramatically altered the course of freedom and Democracy. The attacks were used by an egregiously appointed criminal Presidential administration as an excuse to consistently terrorize an unsuspecting American public while keeping them in a constant state of fear.

Whoever is responsible for perpetrating the attacks against the U.S. on 9/11 had help from someone on the ground. There is no way that foreign terrorists would be able to perpetrate the attacks, quickly remove the evidence, and then cover-up the attacks. The attacks were done with the aid of domestic terrorists in the U.S. government. The implosion of three World Trade Center buildings — including one that wasn’t hit by any flying objects — could not have happened had the event not been planned long in advance. Planes did did not bring those buildings down. Military grade explosives did.

It was consequently crucial for the development of a coherent antiwar and civil rights movement, to reveal the nature of Al Qaeda and its evolving relationship to successive US adminstrations. Amply documented but rarely mentioned by the mainstream media, Al Qaeda was a creation of the CIA going back to the Soviet-Afghan war. This was a known fact, corroborated by numerous sources including official documents of the US Congress. The intelligence community had time and again acknowledged that they had indeed supported Osama bin Laden, but that in the wake of the Cold War: “he turned against us”.

After 9/11, the campaign of media disinformation served not only to drown the truth but also to kill much of the historical evidence on how this illusive “outside enemy” had been fabricated and transformed into “Enemy Number One”.

Unfortunately for America, the mainstream media has been nothing short of complicit in keeping the crimes committed by an appointed Presidential administration covered up. Of course, it’s not surprising when you realize that many of the owners of these media corporations are also Jewish neo-cons whose loyalty has been handsomely rewarded by the corrupted politicians they’re protecting. The corporately owned mainstream media is a shining example of the problem America has with corrupt monopolies that purposely lie and decieve to keep their crimes hidden.

Gom (who was Happy Young Publican Husband aka HYPH) was not keen, when I suggested we should hire a caravan & take the kinder down to a riverside camping ground. We had visited this area for day trips & noted the lovely shallow gentle river flow, the nice, still water, ideal for children to swim. Lovely clean river stones, & sand on the banks, & beautiful native bush to explore. A truly idyllic spot for really relaxing & getting away from the hurly burly of Hotel life.

Our children got all excited at the prospect, & so Gom made some inquiries about getting a caravan. The friend of a friend who had one available for hire, was willing to deliver it to our door prior to the proposed day of departure. Of course we examined it’s neatness, & marvelled at the compact layout. Children chose their berths, & all seemed very exciting

As it happened the night before our departure one of our Bar tenders, & her husband to be, had a party to celebrate the fact that they were leaving next day to go off & get married. We were the only ones who knew the reason for the party, everyone else thought it was the impending groom’s birthday party.

Friday morning dawned befuddled & grumpy in some quarters. The about-to-be Happy Couple called in to give HYPH a hand to hook up the caravan. To this day I still cannot believe someone had not thought to check out the marriageability of the fittings on both car & van.
Eventually we got the blasted ball fitted. We got the luggage stowed, heeding advice of conflicting ideas. One said stow it all at the rear of the caravan. Another suggested stowing it close to the tow bar end. Someone else said it needed to be scattered all about the caravan.
we heeded the wrong advice, & took the rear end option. We had barely got to the outskirts of the city, when the caravan began to fishtail across the road, almost causing HYPH to lose control of the car. In fact almost flipping our not so small car over, at one point! So we pulled over, & began the task of putting the luggage into the front end of the van. That done, we cautiously set off again.

On the day in question there was a fierce & strong Nor Westerly wind blowing in Christchurch. People who live in Chch will know this wind. It is strong & hot, & powers across the plains to hit with a wallop. As be began to cross the Waimakariri River Bridge, which is a very wide span across the river, we were hit by the Nor Westers. We felt lucky to get across without being blown off the side of the bridge, & my fear level was at fever pitch
Famous last words. That night, the winds changed to Southerlies, the temperature plummet-ted to nigh on freezing & it poured with rain! The awning was on inside out! The rain flooded our little back yard area, under the awning, & turned it into a mud bath. Imagine our horror. We still should have heeded these signs & run for our lives.
Worse was to come!

We sorted out the awning, got the mud puddles dried & sat inside in the freezing cold. So much for our summer fun filled vacation. HYPH found a heater in the caravan, so we turned that on, & decided to try a little TV we had been given. ZAP! The power ceased to be! Feeling utterly foolish HYPH, who by now was resembling what he later would become, GOM, in fact, went sheepishly outside to see what the heck he could do to repair the damage. The cheery neighbour site man was out there fixing things.
“Sorry about that!” He grinned, “My fault for having too many heaters going!”
HYPH said nothing & slunk inside again.
Of course, it was all my fault for insisting that a camping holiday in a caravan would be “FUN”! Hah!! Cured me for life!!

#6 – WAL-MART
Shopping at a Wal-Mart is bad enough so can you even imagine having to live next door to one? To hell with the convenience, what about the glare of the parking lot lights in your bedroom window? The endless stream of delivery trucks backing into the loading docks. The teenage employees hiding behind your fence smoking weed or swapping spit during their breaks. Even worse they are now open 24-hours a day and encouraging people to use the parking lot as an RV campground. You couldn’t even have fun people watching, unless you enjoy watching poor, fat, overweight people.
#5 – WARREN JEFFS
Living next to this santimonious religious nutbar pedophile would be a real treat and put a whole new meaning to the term “lock up your daughters”. You would have one of his brain-dead followers knocking on your door every day telling you they held the only true path to your salvation. Plus when they ask if you want to buy any cookies the parents would push their 8-year old daughter in front of you and introduce her as ‘Cookie’. Be warned that when your 50-year old neighbour asks how your wifes pregnancy is coming along and what her due date is he isn’t being friendly, he is planning his wedding day.
#4 – MEXICO
Your neighbours are crawling over or under your fence and sneaking into your home every time you turn your back, and sometimes even when you don’t. You go to work one day to find out they took your job, so you manage to find another job and go to work one day to find out they took the whole factory and moved it into their yard. Half of your TV channels are suddenly speaking a language you don’t understand, your politicans are pandering to them in order to get their vote, there are hundreds of thousands of ‘visitors’ in your home, and you still can’t find a decent burrito anywhere.
#3 – OSAMA BIN LADEN
The worst thing about living next to Osama would have to be that you are probably living in a cave somewhere in the mountains of Pakistan. Instead of a cup of sugar he is always coming over to borrow your video camera or a roll of toilet paper.
#2 – SUMGAYIT, AZERBAIJAN
“Worlds Worst Polluted Places” for 2007 by The Blacksmith Institute. This home of over 40 Soviet-era factories was the industrial center for the manufacturing of pesticides, chlorine, detergents, and plenty of other noxious garbage. Today it is a cesspool of untreated sewage, mercury contamination, and some of the highest rates of cancer and birth defects anywhere in the world. And if you think that is bad, most of the factories have closed, so you can’t even get a decent job in this town.
#1 – THE DEATH STAR
Seriously, can you even imagine a worse neighbour? Not only can the Death Star blow up your house, but it can blow up your whole planet when you forget to return that 30′ ladder or fail to pledge allegiance to the Emperor. Even worse, if you move it can follow you anywhere in the galaxy. Don’t even get me started about the parking problems you would experience when the entire Imperial fleet shows up for some big meeting. To make matters worse you’ve got those peksy Rebels launching suicide attacks against the thing every couple weeks, so its only a matter of time before you have an X-Wing fighter or some other piece of random space debris crashing into your living room. Then when the damn thing is finally blown up they start rebuilding it but never finish the job, turning your street into a permanent construction zone, and you don’t even dare to ask to see the permit.

Poverty has many faces, changing from place to place and across time, and has been described in many ways. Most often, poverty is a situation people want to escape. So poverty is a call to action — for the poor and the wealthy alike — a call to change the world so that many more may have enough to eat, adequate shelter, access to education and health, protection from violence, and a voice in what happens in their communities.”
Poverty in South America is also a result of migration, internal conflicts and structural adjustments. In spite of having most of the natural resources South America is the home of the miserably poor people. Colonialism is not the soul reason behind this poverty. Higher fertility is one of the causes behind the Poverty of South America.

South America Poverty is becoming a threat to social and political stability as well as public security. Drug addiction is a result of this poverty. It is also leading to environmental issues. To solve this problem is one of the major duties of the government, which needs international help n this matter. The food supply capacity is inadequate. This can affect the international economy and environment on a global scale.

Poverty in Africa “I know poverty because poverty was there before I was born and it has become part of life like the blood through my veins. Poverty is not going empty for a single day and getting something to eat the next day. Poverty is going empty with no hope for the future. Poverty is getting nobody to feel your pain and poverty is when your dreams go in vain because nobody is there to help you. Poverty is watching your mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters die in pain and in sorrow just because they couldn’t get something to eat. Poverty is hearing your grandmothers and grandfathers cry out to death to come take them because they are tired of this world. Poverty is watching your own children and grandchildren die in your arms but there is nothing you can do. Poverty is watching your children and grandchildren share tears in their deepest sleep. Poverty is suffering from HIV/AIDS and dying a shameful death but nobody seems to care”. ” Poverty is when you hide your face and wish nobody could see you just because you feel less than a human being. Poverty is when you dream of bread and fish you never see in the day light. Poverty is when people accuse you and prosecute you for no fault of yours but who is there to say some for you? Poverty is when the hopes of your fathers and grandfathers just vanish within a blink of an eye. I know poverty and I know poverty just like I know my father’s name. Poverty never sleeps. Poverty works all day and night. Poverty never takes a holiday”
(One Poor African)
“Twenty percent of Africa’s children will die before the age of five” a recently released report stated. The statement was part of a series of reports that demonstrate the horrible conditions currently facing children throughout Africa.
“Every day 30,000 children die from a combination of disease- infested water and malnutrition,” the report continued. “Water-borne diseases are claiming one child every three seconds. These diseases are the major killers of small children in Africa.”
“As a consequence of the AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa,” one report stated, “it is estimated that more than 18 million people have died to date, of which over 3 million were children. Additionally, more than 25 million adults are currently infected which will result in the continued increase in the number of orphaned children. To date, more than 15 million children have already been orphaned as a result of the epidemic. Another 1 million children are currently infected with the disease.” Help fight child poverty in Africa. Help save Africa

These days, I find the turnaround time is faster when I send complaints from readers to large firms. The complaints are often resolved within a day, which used to be unusual.

See comments below for recent cases where companies changed their tune and gave customers what they wanted, after denying and stonewalling such requests before.

All it takes is a little nudge from the media to get the wheels rolling.

Braaking news: TD Canada Trust has listened to customers and decided to cancel the $35 inactivity fee it was going to impose on those with unsecured lines of credit. I’m sure the comments at this blog helped play a role in that decision

These cockatiels were lucky has been adopted by an angel volunteer who takes in medically fragile birds.

Charly is missing one leg completely and, on the other leg, his foot has grown backwards. Perhaps something terrible happened to him when he was young. He can never sit on a perch, so he has a special cage setup with soft blankets. Charly is the sweetest, most loving bird who loves to be held, cuddled and kissed over and over. He plays all day with his toys, especially untying knots from leather strings. He has taught us that no matter what happens with the body, the heart is most important.

Caillou is missing one foot, but that doesn’t stop him from getting all around his cage and playing with the other cockatiels! He’s in love with Lucky—they are inseparable when out of their cages. Caillou sings songs to Lucy in his sweet little voice

Levi nearly died in horrible living conditions in a pet store for reptiles and snakes. Mickaboo took her in, hospitalized and treated her. She has a wonderful new life and fills her world with her smiles.

JJ went from being very scared to charismatic and sweet, hanging out on the play station & trying to get the girls’ attention. Though he needed medication frequently, he willingly cuddled in his towel for it. He would say “JJ, hi JJ!” over and over… but, sadly, poor JJ lost his battle with cancer this past August. Though he was here only briefly, he will always be remembered. Good luck, JJ—we love you.

Luc is very outgoing, with lots of personality! He loves stepping up and giving kisses. He’s very healthy and loves to play with his toys and his friends.

Lucy was originally diagnosed with terminal heart disease and only weeks to live. Now, seven months later, she still has an enlarged heart but continues to do better than ever! She takes her medications with no complaints and now is doing so well that she can fly without having to catch her breath.

Lark has a pretty large mass in her lower body, putting pressure on her organs and air sacs. Though this creates some trouble for her when pooping, she’s otherwise in pretty good shape. The mass is still under investigation.

Jasmine is on her second Mickaboo go-’round. Her adoptive parent’s life has changed, and Jasmine is not getting the attention she needs. She loves to hang around people as they enjoy music and TV, but she may need a little gentle coaching to feel as confident and safe as she wants to be.

Kiki (Pippi) has an enlarged liver. Fortunately, no tumor is present; the cause remains a mystery (maybe an infection?). She takes an herbal medication for now and loves to sit on Friederike’s shoulder and cuddle.

Moon Pie tested positive for giardia. He had to stay in his cage for so long while he was being treated that just flying out of his cage now brings him great happiness! Not big on stepping up to fingers, he decides when to come out of his cage, though he will usually allow a human to carry him back. He sings and whistles, especially when we are near.

Missy rubs her head on our hands every chance she gets. Her lower beak grows too much, so we have to trim it back at least once a month. But she eats well and is very sweet and loving!

Maisie recently had an ultrasound to check her heart; the heart murmurs with which she came to us are almost completely gone. She’s content, active and fun to watch as her feathers grow back. She has a beautiful bright yellow “crown,” doesn’t she?

Nora is a petite lutino who was extremely thin when she came to Mickaboo. After lots of good food, she’s much better, and she enjoys the other cockatiels very much. She loves being talked to and cuddled, and she has lots of love to give.

Twelve years after adopting Sunny, the daughter of Sunny’s family moved away to college, leaving Sunny to be returned to the pet store from which she came. She was so sad that she refused to eat and spent every day on the bottom of the cage. Because she had also lost a lot of calcium due to much egg laying in her life, her bones are very thin, too. But she’s now back to her old self and loves her head scratches!

Turkey was rescued from a pet store after a manager found him covered with blood. He’d mutilated his back and nearly died of blood loss. Medications for infections and a recent surgery have put him on the track of recovery, but he may always need special attention. Even now, picking at his back is so tempting that he has to wear a collar.

Ms. Valentine has a tendency toward weight gain, so she must stay on a consistent diet. For exercise, she runs across the living room for a couple of hours every day, occasionally foraging for food here and there. She loves showers and head scratches!

Author: katieslider
Keywords: bird love parrot pet cockatiel friends conures macaw greys
Added: August 24, 2008