Deployment Donut

There are some of you out there that serve our great country and have to leave home anywhere from a couple of months to over a year. In the time that I have deployed, I saw a great tracker of the time. It is called a Deployment Donut. Some have referred to it as the Donut of Misery or some other depressing term.

For those spouses that remain home and in charge of everything while their significant other is away, it can be hard. The Deployment Donut is a tracker to remind (sometimes painfully if a long time is left) how much time is left in the deployment and how much in per diem and family separation pay has been made.

I have created a Deployment Donut for those who would like to use it. It is a bit more decorative than the others that I have found out there, yet simple in nature. I hope you like it and I would appreciate any comments if this helps you!

Deployment Donut Download

Thank you to all who have served and supported our Armed Services!

Plastic Bag Tax

Citizens in Ireland have been faced with a tax on plastic bags for the past five months. In doing so, the government has reduced the use of the litter producing bags by 90 percent and increased revenue.

I feel that this a great measure in helping reduce the litter of these bags. They clog up the environment and create dangerous situations for some animals as well. Not to mention that they require oil to be manufactured.

I have already seen a trend where more and more people are beginning to use reusable bags to do their shopping, but it hasn't quite reached the mainstream just yet. I believe that the U.S. could learn a thing or two about this.

In fact, why should we stop at plastic bags? Why don't we start taxing everything else that is not eco-friendly? I believe that gasoline should be taxed more than it is at the moment. If it were, you would begin to see people drive more fuel efficient vehicles, ride bikes more often and use more public transportation.

But instead we will continue to invade nations that provide us with a steady cheap oil supply. What ever happened to using innovation and invention to overcome obstacles? I know most Americans do not share my sentiment, but if we are to ever turn our polluting ways around, the government will have to step in and either mandate certain policies, or tax us for choosing more polluting alternatives.

What are your ideas or opinions on the subject? I would love to hear from you. Just leave a comment below.

Google Provides Free Voicemail to Homeless

Google announced yesterday at a Project Homeless Connect event that they would provide free voicemail to homeless in San Francisco, if they choose to accept it. According to the article by MSNBC,

A homeless person will be able to call in for his or her messages from any phone.

The move by the city and the company would allow someone to be able to fill out a job application, which asks for a call back number.

It will allow clinics to share test results.

Mayor Gavin Newsom and Google said they want to empower people.

"How do you communicate as a homeless individual? " Newsom asked. "How do you expect your life to turn around if you can't even get information or if someone can't even get in touch with you?"

I believe this a great offer and Google should be lauded for their efforts in trying to help those who are less fortunate get back on their feet. Homeless people come from all backgrounds and each has a different story that got them to where they are today, but each of them can benefit from Google's offer to give them a better opportunity.

I also think that it is great that a corporation is stepping up to help those who have fallen on hard times. They government should only do so much, and it is good to see that a company with a lot of money being able to help out and support those who need it.

Double Dipping Bacteria

Clemson University professor, Paul L. Dawson, was intrigued by the "Seinfeld" episode in which George Costanza explodes into a diatribe about double dipping. So, he conducted a study where volunteers double dipped into various dips.

In my opinion the results were amazing. By double dipping, over 10,000 bacteria were introduced into the dip. I've never been a fan of double dipping, but if I am sharing something with my wife or other close family, it doesn't bother me as much.

But be warned germophobes! Bacteria could be lingering in the dip at the next party you attend!