Blog entries for wiboots

Generation Y

wiboots — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:44:34 GMT

The Silent generation, people born before 1946.

The Baby Boomers, people born between 1946 and 1959.

Generation X, people born between 1960 and 1979.

Generation Y, people born between 1980 and 1995.

Why do we call the last one-generation Y? I did not know, but a caricaturist explains it eloquently below...Learned something new!

Summer vacation Tips

wiboots — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:49:09 GMT

Vacations are great! We look forward to them all year long. In fact we spend hours planning for them. We gather maps, buy new clothes, check out our camping equipment, and look over our vehicles.

Be sure to cancel the mail and your newspaper(s). You can cancel your mail via the internet by going to the USPS web page. It is simple and safe. Cancel your newspaper(s) too. Newspapers stacked on the front porch are a dead giveaway you are not home.

Leave on several night nights and a radio. The appearance of someone being home is a deterrent to the ever watching burglar. Notify the police department and ask them to do a house check for you.

If you have a pet, make sure they are cared for too. Ok, you have taken care of those items, but wait . . . there is something else to do!

Before you go be sure to let a family member know of your itinerary and a contact phone number. Remember that your church, mosque, or favorite charities continue while you are away. So before you pack up and head out mail in your offering/donation so they can continue their missions in the community.

Have a great vacation and I look forward to you checking out my articles when you return!

Leave work to the experts

wiboots — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:23:37 GMT

Sometimes I do not understand why people think the way they do! Why does the public think they know better than trained professionals?

Would you tell your dentist how to fill a cavity?

Would you tell your doctor how to do a heart operation?

Would you tell your eye doctor how to do an eye exam?

Of course not, your not trained how to do the exams and operations properly.

Then why does the public think they can tell law enforcement how to do thier job. Recruits receive 6 months of in house training, 1 year of on the street training, and everyone receives additional inservice training 2 times a year.

Every day is a training day because Mickey the Mope is out to scam you anyway he can. He does not follow a book of rules . . . only his book of rules to make you a victim. And the crime stats out for Milwaukee indicate there are more victims each day of the week.

Some of you readers have no clue what it is like working the streets and the danger inherit with the profession. I did it for over 25 years and each year became more violent than the year before it. People will kill you for a pair of shoes. I have been to murder scenes because people fought over a lousy 40 oz beer! People killed over shoes, furniture, drugs sales gone bad, and a number of other crazy situations.

Think about it - opinions are one thing - reality is another.

Let law enforcement do their job. Our community will be a safer place because the coppers are willing to risk their life for YOU and your family.

Boots

Stop MEDICARE/TRICARE Payment Cuts

wiboots — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:13:32 GMT

Unless our Congress acts within the next 14 days, MEDICARE and TRICARE payments to doctors will be cut by 10.6% in July of 2008. If that comes to pass your access to health care will be much reduced because more doctors will stop seeing MEDICARE and TRICARE patients.

In addition to cutting payments to doctors, hundreds of thousands of MEDICARE patients will lose coverage for their physical, speech, or occupational therapy unless Congress fixes the MEDICARE law within the next two weeks.

Cut and paste the below letter and send it to your Congress person. Thanks for your help in this matter. These changes will have an effect on medical care for everyone.

I urge you to do all within your power to assure Congress acts quickly to reverse the 10.6% cut in MEDICARE and TRICARE payments scheduled for July 1. The cut will only cause more doctors to turn away elderly and military patients. Some doctors have already stated their intentions to do so.

If not corrected in the next two weeks, current law also will terminate speech, physical and vocational therapy coverage for hundreds of thousands of MEDICARE beneficiaries.

Finding TRICARE providers is already a major problem for retirees, survivors, and Guard and Reserve families who don't live near military installations.

Please do all you can to ensure Congress replaces the MEDICARE/TRICARE rate cuts and sustains MEDICARE therapy coverage. Without stability in the program, our military families and retirees' care is in jeopardy.

Respectfully,

PHISHING SCAM AGAINST SLAIN VETERANS FAMILIES

wiboots — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:42:56 GMT

A phishing scam has been sent to families of fallen Soldiers. As part of the scam, the proponents request personal information, such as SSN, DOB, addresses, etc., and are instructed to come to either visit the Army Human Resources Command Offices in Alexandria, VA, or email the information to an overseas Yahoo account.
Like most scams, the grammar is poor, it is not on official letterhead, nor does it come from a valid Army e-mail account. CRSC will never ask for personally identifiable information to be sent over e-mail due to security concerns. CRSC will never promise payment or award of any kind. CRSC is not eligible for SBP. As Ambassadors and Affiliates, the program office wants to ensure you are aware of the scam in case you are asked about it.
Thank you,

---- example of letter ----
Supplemental Guidance for Benefit Pay off Section 644, P.L. 108-375, Administration Letter (BAL) #98-109, US Army Survivor Benefit Plan).
21 May 2008
Attn: Dear Mr.Mark,
We believe you are the next of kin of a deceased officer who died in service in that you bear the same name and last known geographical area of same person. We wish to duly compensate the family by paying the deceased officers benefits and financial entitlements to them. So many deceased officers have the same problem of difficulty in locating their kin but we are doing the best we can. We have gone as far as Asia, Central and southern Africa, Europe, Australia and the Americas in search for next of kin of deceased officers. So the benefits entitled to you amounts to $12,859,555.23 and you can receive it in one week.
Our search attorney Mr.Louis Manches. undertaking Group B16 search (AMERICA ,EUROPE & AFRICA SEARCH GROUP) found & located you.
We need you to come to our office at: U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Army Physical Disability Agency (CRSC), 200 Stovall Street Alexandria , VA 22332-0470 With photocopies of the following documents. (As the originals will not be returnable.)
1. Letter of Introduction or ID of next of kin (In which case you)
2. Sworn affidavit of next of kin.
3. You are also required to complete the forms below.
A. FORM DD 2860, CLAIM FOR COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION (CRSC)
B. FORM DD 2656-7, VERIFICATION FOR SURVIVOR ANNUITY
You can download these forms from our US Army Human Resources Command website using the URL (FOR DD FORM 2860) (web links deleted) Or Defense Technical Information website using this Url (FOR DD FORM 2656-7) (web links deleted)

To make it simpler for you, if you cant come to our offices yourself to submit these documents due to ill health or whatever you can appeal to your search attorney to file these documents on your behalf. The search attornies are legal practitioners contracted by the United States Army to help locate next of kins who are in various countries of the world. Your name fell among Group 16 Search which complises of beneficiaries from EUROPE,AMERICA & ASIA. The search attorney responsible for this areas is Barrister Louis Manches. It is the search attorney who shortlisted your name for payment. You are therefore advised to contact him if you have difficulty in completing the forms as well as providing the necessary documents. We understand the problems you could face in getting these documents owing to the fact that it has taken a long time when the officer died. You can write your search attorney for clarifications through the following email (e-mail address deleted by S1NET) If you also have problems filling all these forms , just fill out and return by email the short version attached below. Your search attorney will fill the rest of the forms on your behalf but of course you will contact him and negotiate this service with your search attorney. We expect to hear from you soon.
H.S. Park
Defense Finance and Accounting Service,
US Army Human Resources.

cc. Capt Sanjay Nangalia
Forwarded By Sanjay Nangalia
SBP Monitoring & Control Officer
US Army Survivor Benefit Plan
DD FORM 2860, JAN 2008
General Purpose Sheet
CLAIM FOR COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION (CRSC)
SECTION I - PERSONAL INFORMATION1. NAME (Last, First, Middle Initial)
2. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
3. RETIRED RANK/RATE
4. DATE OF BIRTH (YYYYMMDD)
5. TELEPHONE (Include area code)
6. E-MAIL ADDRESS
7. MAILING ADDRESS
8. BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER WHERE THIS PAYMENT SHOULD GO
a. STREET (Include apartment number or P.O. Box)
b. CITY
c. STATE
d. ZIP CODE
NB

You are however advised to seek legal guidance and advice from your search attorney who is presently in Europe searching for other next of kin. He could facilitate your payment by providing all necessary documents as required. Mr.Louis Manches can be reached at (Link deleted).

If you know of anyone who has lost a loved one, tell them about this scam. All scams should be reported to the FBI.

The Gratitude Campaign

wiboots — Fri, 23 May 2008 04:16:18 GMT

PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO VIEW THIS GREAT MESSAGE

Ever wonder how to say thank you when you see a military person in uniform? See a simple way to do it from across a room or as you are passing by.

The Gratitude Campaign

Mortgage Fraud - Beware

wiboots — Wed, 14 May 2008 02:43:10 GMT

The FBI has released a comprehensive new report on mortgage fraud—now posted in full. And, as you might expect given the downturn in the economy and all the troubles in the lending industry, it isn’t a pretty picture.

The information can get quite technical, with plenty of charts, graphs, and hard numbers. But we invite you to take a read if you’re interested in getting educated on the issue—and on emerging schemes that might impact your own pocketbook.

Among the key findings:

... Mortgage fraud is clearly on the rise. Although there is no central way to track the total extent of the problem, we received 46,717 Suspicious Activity Reports related to mortgage fraud last year—compared to 35,617 in 2006 and just 6,936 in 2003. Only seven percent of these reports documented an exact dollar amount in terms of losses, but even so, the total loss from this seven percent was $813 million. Our caseload has also escalated. By the end of fiscal year 2007, we were handling just over 1,200 mortgage fraud investigations—a 47 percent increase from 2006 and a whopping 176 percent increase from 2003.

... The downward trend in the housing market will continue (see forecasts provided by the Mortgage Bankers Association in the report), providing further incentive for shady real estate industry insiders to look for dishonest ways to turn a profit and growing opportunities for scam artists to prey on vulnerable homeowners.

... The subprime lending crisis is a contributing factor to mortgage fraud, both directly and indirectly. Subprime loans, designed for people with poor or limited credit histories, now represent more than 13 percent of all outstanding loans—double the percentage of five years ago. These high-interest, high-risk loans contributed to the 2.2 million foreclosures filed during 2007, up 75 percent from 2006. The trouble actually began when home prices were rising a few years ago, leading to relaxed lending practices throughout the industry and the exaggeration of assets by borrowers anxious to qualify for loans, both of which contributed to fraud.

... The top 10 hotspots nationwide for mortgage fraud in 2007, carefully mapped from multiple public and private sources, were: Florida, Georgia, Michigan, California, Illinois, Ohio, Texas, New York, Colorado, and Minnesota. The north-central region had the largest share of mortgage fraud, followed by the west and southeast regions.

.. The latest mortgage scams run the gamut: from “builder-bailout” schemes where developers unload excess inventory through financial trickery…to foreclosure rescue frauds that trick homeowners into signing over the deed to their house; from seller-assistance scams that use false appraisals to sell homes…to identity theft that leads to home equity credit lines being opened and drained. See the report for more details.

The report also briefly recounts our proactive response to the problem, including our participation in the Department of Justice's Mortgage Fraud Working Group, through which we are helping to identify large-scale industry insiders and criminal enterprises conducting systemic mortgage fraud...our work in multi-agency mortgage fraud task forces and working groups around the country...and our recent “Mortgage Fraud Summit” to discuss the issue with special agents nationwide.

For more information:
- The 2007 Mortgage Fraud Report
- FBI Mortgage Fraud webpage

information obtained from the FBI web page

The Bill Story

wiboots — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:06:40 GMT

So true …

A one dollar bill met a twenty dollar bill and said, “Hey, where have you been? I haven’t seen you around here much.”

The twenty answered, “I’ve been hanging out at the casinos, went on a cruise and did some other trips for a while, went to a couple of baseball games, out to dinner, to the mall, that kind of stuff. How about you?”

The one dollar bill said, “You know, same old stuff… church, church, church.”

FBI warns of phishing scam related to economic stimulus checks

wiboots — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:47:55 GMT

The Federal Bureau of Investigation warns consumers of recently reported spam e-mail purportedly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which is actually an attempt to steal consumer information. The e-mail advises the recipient that direct deposit is the fastest and easiest way to receive their economic stimulus tax rebate. The message contains a hyperlink to a fraudulent form which requests the recipient's personally identifiable information, including bank account information. To convince consumers to reply, the e-mail warns that a failure to complete the form in a timely manner will delay the issuance of the rebate check.

One example of this IRS spam e-mail message is as follows:

"Over 130 million Americans will receive refunds as part of President Bush's program to jumpstart the economy.

Our records indicate that you are qualified to receive the 2008 Economic Stimulus Refund.

The fastest and easiest way to receive your refund is by direct deposit to your checking/savings account.

Please follow the link and fill out the form and submit before May 10th, 2008 to ensure that your refund will be processed as soon as possible.

Submitting your form on May 10th, 2008 or later means that your refund will be delayed due to the volume of requests we anticipate for the Economic Stimulus Refund.

To access Economic Stimulus refund, please click here."

"Various forms of online fraud continue to proliferate on the internet and people should take the appropriate precautions to protect themselves," said Special Agent Richard J. Kolko, FBI National Press Office.

Please be cautious of unsolicited e-mails. It is recommended not to open e-mails from unknown senders because they often contain viruses or other malicious software. It is also recommended to avoid clicking links in e-mails received from unknown senders as this is a popular method of directing victims to phishing websites.

If you have received an e-mail similar to this, please notify the IC3 by filing a complaint at www.ic3.gov. More information on scams is also available on www.fbi.gov and www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com.

Cops and Alderman Declare War on Street Noise

wiboots — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:53:57 GMT

New Ordinance Would Allow Citizen Complaints Against Nuisance Noise Violators; Also – "Operation Bass Busters" Set to Restart

A new ordinance sponsored by 14 members of the Milwaukee Common Council would allow Milwaukee citizens to lodge complaints against owners of vehicles blasting excessively loud music or sounds generated by car stereos by simply providing a license plate number, the date and time of the violation and their name and contact information, Ald. Bob Donovan, the measure’s principal sponsor, said today.

"Throughout this city loud car stereos rattle our windows and completely disrupt the peaceful enjoyment of our homes and neighborhoods, and this ordinance empowers the people of this community to – for a change – take action themselves to put a lid on it," said Ald. Donovan, chair of the Common Council’s Public Safety Committee, which will take up the proposed ordinance during its meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday (May 8, 2008) in room 301-B at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St.

The new ordinance would mirror the city’s nuisance property ordinance, which allows the city to issue tickets and fines to property owners when police are called to investigate multiple complaints at a home or building.

Under the nuisance vehicle loud noise ordinance, the owner of a vehicle that is the subject of a loud stereo complaint would receive a warning for the first complaint but would be charged for the cost of enforcement on any subsequent complaints, meaning fines of at least $100 could be levied for each subsequent occurrence.

"With the nuisance property ordinance, any unpaid fines or charges go directly on the owner’s property tax bill," Ald. Donovan said. "Under this ordinance, charges and fines will go directly to the owner of the vehicle – no matter who might have been driving at the time of the violation."

Co-sponsors of the ordinance include Ald. Joe Dudzik, Ald. Robert W. Puente, Ald. Robert J. Bauman, Ald. Tony Zielinski, Ald. Jim Bohl, Ald. Willie L. Hines, Jr., Ald. Willie C. Wade, Ald. Joe Davis, Sr., Ald. Michael J. Murphy, Ald. Ashanti Hamilton, Ald. Terry L. Witkowski, Ald. Nik Kovac, and Ald. James N. Witkowiak.

Operation Bass Busters, which allows officers to target vehicles with excessively loud car stereos using special decibel-measuring detectors, is being re-started as another tool to help curb noise violators, Ald. Donovan said. "People may think an (Operation Bass Busters) patrol is enforcing speed limits with a radar gun when they’re really looking for offending vehicles blasting music and brain-numbing bass lines," he said.

This information was obtained from a City of Milwaukee Press Release

You ain't gonna like losing

wiboots — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:21:27 GMT

President Bush did make a bad mistake in the war on terrorism. But the mistake was not his decision to go to war in Iraq Bush's mistake came in his belief that this country is the same one his father fought for in WWII. It is not.

Back then, they had just come out of a vicious depression. The country was steeled by the hardship of that depression, but they still believed fervently in this country. They knew that the people had elected their leaders, so it was the people's duty to back those leaders.

Therefore, when the war broke out the people came together, rallied behind, and stuck with their leaders, whether they had voted for them or not or whether the war was going badly or not.

And war was just as distasteful and the anguish just as great then as it is today. Often there were more casualties in one day in WWII than we have had in the entire Iraq war. But that did not matter. The people stuck with the President because it was their patriotic duty. Americans put aside their differences in WWII and worked together to win that war.

Everyone from every strata of society, from young to old pitched in. Small children pulled little wagons around to gather scrap metal for the war effort. Grade school students saved their pennies to buy stamps for war bonds to help the effort.

Men who were too old or medically 4F lied about their age or condition trying their best to join the military. Women doubled their work to keep things going at home. Harsh rationing of everything from gasoline to soap, to butter was imposed, yet there was very little complaining.

You never heard prominent people on the radio belittling the President.

Interestingly enough in those days there were no fat cat actors and entertainers who ran off to visit and fawn over dictators of hostile countries and complain to them about our President. Instead, they made upbeat films and entertained our troops to help the troops' morale. And a bunch even enlisted.

And imagine this: Teachers in schools actually started the day off with a Pledge of Allegiance, and with prayers for our country and our troops!

Back then, no newspaper would have dared point out certain weak spots in our cities where bombs could be set off to cause the maximum damage. No newspaper would have dared complain about what we were doing to catch spies.

A newspaper would have been laughed out of existence if it had complained that German or Japanese soldiers were being 'tortured' by being forced to wear women's underwear, or subjected to interrogation by a woman, or being scared by a dog or did not have air conditioning.

There were a lot of things different back then. We were not subjected to a constant bombardment of pornography, perversion and promiscuity in movies or on radio. We did not have legions of crack heads, dope pushers and armed gangs roaming our streets.

No, President Bush did not make a mistake in his handling of terrorism. He made the mistake of believing that we still had the courage and fortitude of our fathers. He believed that this was still the country that our fathers fought so dearly to preserve.

It is not the same country. It is now a cross between Sodom and Gomorra and the land of Oz. We did unite for a short while after 9/11, but our attitude changed when we found out that defending our country would require some sacrifices.

We are in great danger. The terrorists are fanatic Muslims. They believe that it is okay, even their duty, to kill anyone who will not convert to Islam. It has been estimated that about one third or over three hundred million Muslims are sympathetic to the terrorists cause... Hitler and Tojo combined did not have nearly that many potential recruits. So... We either win it - or lose it - and you ain't gonna like losing.

America is not at war. The military is at war. America is at the mall.

This is from : "You ain't gonna like losing." Author unknown.

Remember Fallen Warrior Army Spc Steven J Christofferson

wiboots — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:25:57 GMT

Army Spc Steven J. Christofferson 20, of Cudahy, Wis.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died April 21 in Bayji, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Army Sgt. Adam J. Kohlhaas.

Spc Christofferson’s memorial service will be held at the Cudahy High School auditorium on May 1st from 4pm – 8pm. The Patriot Guard will be providing an escort and flag line for our fallen warrior.

Milwaukee Police Launch You Tube Site

wiboots — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:54:00 GMT

Below is an email I received to help solve crime in the city. Consider watching a few videos, you may be able to help solve a crime or two.

All -

Beginning this week, the Milwaukee Police Department now has its own page on the popular video Web site, YouTube.

At the site, we will be showing the surveillance videos that we distribute to the media when we need help identifying the perpetrators of a crime. Now, the public will be able to access those videos whenever it is convenient for them, helping Milwaukee Police reach a wider audience to assist us in solving crimes. We also will list our favorite videos from positive stories on the Milwaukee Police Department done by news organizations who upload their news stories to YouTube.

Simply go to www.youtube.com/milwaukeepolice which takes you to our site. We invite the public to make MilwaukeePolice one of their favorites on the YouTube site so anyone who may have information won't miss a thing when we upload new surveillance video.

Thank you for getting the word out about this terrific tool for law enforcement

Motorcycles On The Move

wiboots — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:01:00 GMT

This past weekend the motorcycles were out in force. I must have counted over 100 riders this past weekend enjoying themselves on our highways.

Being a former Motorcycle Sergeant with the Milwaukee Police Department, I cannot tell you how many thousands of miles I logged on each season. Nor, can I tell you the number of times some knucklehead turned into my lane or pulled out in front of me because in their words "I didn't see you." Because of my training and experience I was fortunate, I was able to take the proper evasive action to avoid a collision.

I urge everyone to keep an eye out for the motorcycle riders. They are harder to see than motor vehicles.

For you new motorcycle riders I urge you to take a safe rider course. It could save your life. The proper training can make your ride safer.

For you experienced riders I urge you to take a refresher course or an advanced rider course. The time spent is priceless ... so are our lives.

O'yea - successful completion of these classes can save you up to 10% on your annual insurance. That savings can buy you a few bucks and you can use it to off set the high cost of fuel.

For more information on safe rider courses click on the below link. You can sign up for classes on line. This school is, in my personal opinion, the best in the State of Wisconsin.

Don't delay, call or sign up today!

Country Dance Social

wiboots — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:06:04 GMT

Come for couples lessons by 5-time national country master professional champion RICH-MESSICK.

He and his partner will instruct in the basics of two-step, country swing and country waltz. Following the free lessons, stay and dance the night away to country music by a DJ.

Come with a partner, or solo. All are invited.

Place: McKinley Masonic Center, 4550 N Pilgrim Road, Brookfield, WI

Time: 6:30 pm - FREE lessons

7:30 pm - Dance

Any questions call 262-442-3031. I'll see you there!

Veteran Benefits Cut Again

wiboots — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:53:48 GMT

VETERAN BENEFITS BEING CUT

As veteran and an American, I am concerned. For some time now our Congress have not paid enough attention to the "people's business" and I for one am tired of it. We have sitting members of House and Senate who are drawing full pay and allowances, while traveling across the country campaigning to keep their power in the November's election. Who is paying attention to the needs of the people who elected them?

Funds set-aside for the earned entitlement programs for our military retirees are being gutted and shifted from current disabled veterans to the War on Terror. It can only get worse when 77 million baby boomers age 65 in the next 20 years and all the bureaucratic government policies and programs the Congress has created run out of funds. The priorities for funding then will be: (1) Congressional unique health care and retirement programs, (2) then will come all the government bureaucrats retirement and healthcare entitlements, (3) the "pork barrel" earmark programs, (4) funding all the current bureaucracies, policies, agencies and programs, and finally (5) National Defense, so by the time it comes to veterans, military retirees and our widows, there will be not much left.

The Congress tried to get pay restoration right in 2001, but got bogged down with bureaucrats more concerned about starting new programs than about disabled military retirees receiving their fully earned retirement, especially retirees from "ancient wars" like the Persian Gulf, Vietnam, Korea and World War 2.

I invite you to take the next 60 seconds to view the USDR (see footnote) public service message on this issue (http://www.youtube.com/user/USDRONLINE).

Please support HR 333 and S Amendment 4162 to S Con Res 70.

This information was obtained from the USDR web page.

Easter Cookies with the kids

wiboots — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:09:00 GMT

Easter Cookies . . .
             To be made the evening before Easter with Your Kids
You need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. Vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch salt
1 cup sugar
Zipper baggie
Wooden spoon
Tape
Bible
Preheat oven to 300 degrees right NOW (don't wait until you're half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. Vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.   Then say a prayer for the person who sent you this recipe, and to all of those that you share it with – God bless you all!

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9

Stop 10% Medicare Cuts on July 1st

wiboots — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:56:30 GMT

Stop the 1 July 10% cuts to Physician Reimbursements

In three short months Medicare will cut physician payments by more than 10 percent. This cut will be a disaster for both Medicare and Tricare patients, as 60 percent of physicians say they will be forced to limit the number of new Medicare and Tricare patients they can treat. Senator Debbie Stabenow has introduced S.2785 which is an excellent step to preserve seniors' and military retiree access to health care. Please send the following message to your Senators -

As a former Marine and a veteran, I strongly urge you to write your Senator and Congress person to co-sponsorship and actively support S.2785, the Save Medicare Act of 2008. This legislative impacts both seniors on Medicare and military retirees on Tricare. Realize that Tricare reimbursement ratios are keyed to, but may not be greater than Medicare reimbursement ratios.

As you are aware there looms a great health care crisis in our country. A physician operates a small business: a medical practice. While the costs of doing continue to increase, Medicare physician reimbursements have been decreasing according to the defective Sustained Growth Rate (SGR) formula of Medicare law.

This is a problem for patients, military retirees, and their families, because it will force doctors to refuse new Medicare patients, discourages many from being able to invest in new health technology and makes many think about cutting staff or closing their medical practices altogether.

The S.2785 would suspend the Medicare physician reimbursement cuts for 18 months and will not increase the cost of permanently fixing the fatally flawed SGR formula. The 18 month suspension will allow some stability into the system for seniors and physicians forced to make difficult practice decisions because of now scheduled payment cuts. These 18 months will allow Congress time to work on a long-term solution to repair the now broken physician reimbursement system without having to merely delay the cuts twice in one year.

This is not a partisan issue. Please, champion everyone to contact their Congress person to cosponsor S.2785 today.

Info obtained from the USDR Web Page Information.

Remember Staff Sergeat Christopher Frost

wiboots — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:07:29 GMT

Staff Sgt. Christopher S. Frost, 24, of Waukesha, Wis., died March 3 near Bayji, Iraq in a crash of an Iraqi Army Mi-17 helicopter. He was assigned to the 377th Air Base Wing, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.

Remember Staff Sgt. Frost and his family in your prayers.

The circumstances surrounding the crash are under investigation. Staff Sgt. Christopher Frost is the 87th Wisconsin service member to die as a result of the war in Iraq since the U.S. invasion in 2003.

Milwaukee Police Announce Downtown Campaign Against Crime

wiboots — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:23:36 GMT

CITY OF MILWAUKEE POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS ADVISORY

Edward A. Flynn, Chief of Police

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: ANNE E. SCHWARTZ

DATE: FEBRUARY 27, 2008 PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER 414-935-7209

MILWAUKEE POLICE ANNOUNCE PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN AREA OF POLICE DISTRICT 1

District 1 Captain Michael Massa, Alderman Robert Bauman and other elected officials and partners who help make these plans a success.

To combat this crime, Milwaukee Police will work in concert with the Downtown Security Network to employ our tactics. We will not publicize the details of the tactics itself, as we are interested in apprehending those responsible and ending this activity.

The effort will be combined with a strong Crime Prevention effort advising the public to lock their vehicles and not to leave valuable items in plain view. The target area for this plan includes the area surrounding the Bradley Center, Midwest Airlines Center, the Water Street neighborhood, Milwaukee School of Engineering and the Historic Third Ward.

The media are invited to cover this event and to communicate information to those who wish to make their neighborhoods safer. The greatest ongoing crime problem in District 1 remains thefts from autos.

It is not a violent crime but it contributes significantly to the perception that a neighborhood is in decline or is unsafe. To attack the nexus of crime, fear and disorder, the Milwaukee Police Department is attacking the property crime that affects the Downtown area.

The Downtown area of Milwaukee experiences a very small amount of violent crime, but the frequency of break-ins to autos continues at an unacceptably high number and has a direct impact on the quality of life for those who live, work and visit the area.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn, will hold the meeting in the Atrium of the Plankinton Building, 161 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, 6 p.m., Thursday, February 28, 2008.
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