Kim’s Comments (group member since Sep 17, 2008)

Kim’s comments from the Runs with scissors group.

I would like to add to this by pointing out other e-commerce sites like Overstock.com have also decided to punish affiliates by "firing" them as well. 25,00 non-profits, individuals, and businesses are being affected by this move. They place links on the web sites of retailers, and when customers "click through" to purchase, the retailer gets a percentage. Amazon is stating a 1992 Supreme court ruling that says states may only collect tax if a company has "a physical presence" in the state.

It is being argued by the state of California that the affiliates constitute said physical presence. To me,doesn't the fact that Amazon only exists on the internet cause it to have a physical presence on your computer? Therefore they should collect tax.
This is only the beginning, and I wonder where it will end.

California recently passed a law requiring internet based companies to collect sales tax on all orders. Amazon has balked at this calling the law "unconstitutional" and has threatened affiliates that benefit from Amazon in C.A. that they will be cut off if C.A. does not back down. The internet juggernaut has made claims that jobs will suffer and other outrageous things just to provoke the public into not passing the law.

Well, this week Amazon "fired" over 10,000 affiliates over this new law, and several other internet companies followed suit in protest. One of the affected parties was a military museum (a non-profit) that benefited from the Amazon deal, losing about $2,000 of their budget which was used for books for their education program. It was said that AIG was "too big to fail" and that is why they were worthy of a bail out from the government. (That worked out so well!) Is Amazon too big to follow the law? Yes, it is a good place to find a deal on a new or used book if you have no where else to go and it is the convenient excuse used by brick and mortar book stores for why they aren't doing well. But should it be exempt from the law just because collecting taxes may eat up a small portion of the profits?

If I go to a store I have to pay sales tax on any items that are not food in the state of Ohio. Technically you are supposed to report any catalog or web purchases that do not charge tax on your income tax form for the state. (I don't think many do...) So why is the idea of charging tax on the internet such a big deal? I know many will argue that is WHY they shop the net, because with no tax things are cheaper and we are all paying too much as it is, blah, blah, blah.

But what gives a company the right to scoff at a LAW and punish people who have nothing to do with it?

I for one think this kind of behavior is not good business.

All three of these are the first books in a new series by Kevin Hearne and they are SO worth it! Attticus is a 21 century old Druid and he pisses EVERYONE off like Harry Dresden. Quick wit,great pop culture quotes, and well written action make these a must read.

I heard on the radio last night that this is National Pet Peeve Week (October 11-16 2011). Hoo-boy do I have pet peeves! I know many of us do, so I thought it might be fun to list our top 10 (for each member) and see what we come up with. Keep it clean!

Kim's top 10:

10) Loud cell phone conversations, anywhere, but especially at the library. These are the people who insist on describing something gross or overly intimate in public and then take umbrage at others who do the same.

9) People who insist on eating and drinking in the library, especially on the computers. It's NOT your living room!

8) People who do not control their children in public. You are BIGGER than them! Pick them up and take them out! (This is being said by the childcare professional and MY charges NEVER act like that in public!)

7) Food nazis. These are the people out to make sure that nothing fun can ever be eaten again. You are an adult and you know what is good for you and your kids.

6) People who text/answer their cell phones and have conversations while out with other people. If you are out with me, we need to pay attention to each other. Unless it's an emergency, hang it up!

5) People who have conversations/play with their phones during the movie in a theater. I PAID good money to hear the actors, NOT you!

4) People who don't push in their chairs. A little courtesy would kill you?

3) People who go around you on stair cases/go or down on the wrong side. Did we not cover this is kindergarten?

2) Tailgaters/slow on purpose drivers. 'nough said.

1) Stupid people who do stupid things and who then win lawsuits for said stupidity. This is why everything costs so much. It's printing the warning labels.

I read this great memoir by Kim Brittingham. She is a plus-size blogger and has collected some of her essays into this book about her journey to accept her body for what it is and herself for who she is. Highly recommended for all shapes and sizes. It made me cry.

I got to try out the new suit last Friday and it is wonderful. It fits so well and I look so good in it!

After a no so great start to my week, I ended on a higher note than expected. Sunday afternoon, my mother and I got the snarks and every time this happens, I end up feeling (intentional on her part or not) that the wrong person died 10 years ago. (My dad passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack on Dec. 31, 2001.) My mother does what I call the "martyr routine" where either she is very put upon or is suffering from "the I'll have to do this myself" guilt trip. Now mind you, I volunteer regularly to help take my grandma places and whatnot, but I always get turned down, so the massive packing of my bags and sending me on a guilt trip over the weekend did not do much for my outlook on life come Monday morning.

I did get to see the boyfriend at the library before he went to work and he knew how I was feeling. That night, he came over to pick me up so I could be with him the next day, which was his day off. Not only did he bring me a card that told me he had been thinking of me, he brought me a pair of hot pink,plastic skull earrings with crystal eyes. I was thrilled.

On Tuesday, I ordered a new bathing suit. Many of you know that I have needed one and am having trouble finding my size and a color other than black! I have a new catalog called M.i.B.and 99% of everything they carry goes up an 8x(!) and it all sizes are offered in all the colors so I took a chance. Well, I couldn't get the 6/7x, and had to go for the 4/5x, which really I needed a 5/6x which they did not offer. So I am nervous, but they offer free returns.

Wednesday, I did 32 lengths which is less than my usual 1/2 mile, but my knee was being cranky.

Thursday marked my grandma's 94th (yes, you read that right) birthday and we all went out to dinner. (She still lives on her own and drives (limited mind, but still can drive).

Friday, I did 32 again,but I quit because I was getting really tired and the last time I pushed myself when I was tired, I ended up with the very low blood sugar incident. When I got home, my suit had arrived. I tried it on and.......


WINNER!WINNER!CHICKEN DINNER! It fits! It is a size smaller than I normally wear and it fits! I am so happy! WHEEEEEEEE!

Well, I had my regularly scheduled 3,000 mile check in on Tuesday with the doctor. My cholesterol is excellent, my blood pressure fantastic, my thyroid (which I am being treated for)is perfect, and I have lost 7 lbs. since May 31, which was my last appointment.


My knee finally stopped bothering me last week so I went swimming yesterday. I only got in 1/4 mile before I had to quit because my knee said "NO!"
*sigh* I also had a job interview last week,my first in a while that went face to face instead of question and answer over the phone or job web site. I thought it went well, they contacted me and all. On the job sites I have to list my price range is by the hour or week. I heard from the family this morning telling me that they have filled the position and that I was just out of their budget.

I am confused. 1)I told her in the interview that I am negotiable from the rate listed and 2) my listed range fell in the range they posted. So this just leaves me devastated. I was feeling really good about this interview and about myself and now I feel like a rug has been pulled out from under me. I am feeling like I have been told that I am too stupid and fat to be of use.....

I know that is not true and that I am VERY good at what I do, and the economy is not helping. I am just not feeling too good about myself at the moment.

I just finished this yesterday. It is the first of a new murder mystery series so I will review it with a grain of salt. I fear that the author may fall into the "small town trap" trying to keep this quaint and since a business like a shop that specializes in cookie cutters most likely do well in a bigger setting. The suburb/town is near Baltimore, and attracts tourists from D.C. so the potential for more people other than residents to die is a little better.

The main character, Olivia,has a snotty ex-husband who is a doctor at John's Hopkins, so there is a little baggage without having too much of a past to cause every murder to be connected to her all the time. Her shop is unique and her best friend/business partner is quirky, and may become annoying if she is made too quirky as the series goes on.

Is it worth the read,yes. The overall mystery was a good one and I had figured out the who but not the why so that in my book makes it a good one. I will be reading #2 for sure, and I will decide then if the rest will be worth it as they come out.

Eech! I think that I will not read that one then.

This is the history you wish they taught in school! I had no idea that the tavern/saloon/bar culture really is a culture unto itself. The Roman's used to measure distance by how far it was from one tavern to the next when traveling. When the colonies were founded, the fist thing built was a tavern,which served as a town hall, meeting place,a court room and even church! It is really interesting how many political ideals were created and defeated in bars over the centuries. Bars are still ever evolving.

There is a group of parents in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY who have fought with a bar to bring in, get this, INFANTS! Yes, babies in the bar!

Think about that the next time you go out with friends.

I know how you feel. There have been a few historical fictions that I have read that are like seeing a bad accident. You just can't stop looking even though you want to....

I think it is human nature to destroy what others have. Be it jealousy or fear of the unknown, but human nature has dictated on a base level an ugly notion to use violence or fear to keep people in line or to incite change. I am reading an interesting book right now which explores the roots of American history from the real place it started, a tavern. Many political movements good( women's rights .0and gay rights) and bad (the Nazi party)have started in taverns, bars, saloons, coffee houses,grog shops, and the like. Our most ancient history deals with the idea that fermenting grain turned humans into settled people vs. nomadic.

From this grew a culture that centered around ale,beer and wine that may have evolved from a dietary need to a social one. Now, the internet is becoming our new taverns and new ideas are spreading, and possibly escaping censorship more quickly than in print from. Yet, like in print, there needs to be a responsibility with what we say. To me inciting violence is not he answer (I am a pacifist, so ....) and using words to harm on purpose or to advance violence with a flash mob or what have you, to me is just plain irresponsible. To hold the social media site accountable is wrong as well.

We need to learn how to express ourselves in a manner that gets the point across without inciting harm.

Recently,there was an incident with a flash mob that caused a lot of problems and new laws being passed here in the Cleveland area. Flash mobs are becoming more and more prevalent with sites allowing all sorts to talk and gather that may not have been able to do so before. Not unlike the revolutions that got their seeds in taverns and public houses, the social media network has allowed for more messages,some for doing good, others for not so, and the more and more these mobs form to do childish acts to the destructive, what are we to do?


London was on fire due to flash mobs, governments have been overthrown in the middle east and peaceful neighborhoods have been turned into war zones. Knowledge on it's own is not dangerous, it is how it is used that makes it so. So what knowledge is being shared by flash mobs? This weekend, some up an coming local rapper took over the food court at a local mall and put on a flash mob concert. He and several participants were arrested for causing a riot.

He did not have the malls permission to perform nor did he clear it with the city. Again, the disruption of a flash mob causes problems. The free flow of ideas has increased ever since the internet became a tool for the common person and not the exclusive domain of computer geeks and academics. Was this a bad thing? Most likely not. But, with this should come a modicum of responsibility.

Yes, we have all seen the peaceful and cool flash mob gatherings that did the "Hallelujah Chorus" and other cool things on youtube. But, it still leaves the question of what to do about the destructive ones. Is it censorship to punish the participants or is it an over active government afraid of a revolution? If flash mobs were to be used to influence and election, or a jury, would that then be o.k. to censor them? Or is the free flow of ideas more important?

Many law makers around the country are dealing with this right now. Freedom of speech vs. public safety....

Right now, I stand with the idea that if it is peaceful and not harming anyone, flash all you want. If you are doing it to be a bonehead, you need to arrested.

Where do you stand?

Not a problem. If you wish to post about it, please post it in the "group read section".

Yes. learning comes first young lady! :)

As for the game.....I am still flying high. We got there and found out that there were 2 events going on. Season ticket holders were going to do a spirit flag and the library winners the American flag. The flag we held was 40 yards. I got to stand on the 50 yard line, got high fived by several players,and got to sit in really cool seats. The Cleveland Browns organization is a very wonderful group. Not only the event staff but the stadium staff too. They did provide food for all of us, but since it was hot dogs and I don't eat meat, I had to wait a little until the game and I got some pizza. I did have a little trouble walking since my left knee decided to act up last week and held over this week. Due to that, the staff was very accomodating. They let me through the gates to the escalator, let me sit in empty seats that were lower than our ticketed seats and took me out of the stadium by wheel chair at the end of the game when I had trouble walking. They even took me to the curb so that I wouldn't have to step down into the street! We won by the way 27-17.

I told Narzain on the way home that I can't wait to get back into the kitchen and bake. I had the icing on the cake moment when I got home and found a message from my best friend Karen. She called me from the fair to tell me that her quick bread took 3rd place. It seems a Chocolate Covered Cherry Bread took 2nd! I won second! I just picked up my ribbon and my $2 check!

This Saturday, August 13, I will be attending the Cleveland Browns pre-season game against the Green Bay Packers. I won tickets through my libraries summer reading program. As a part of my prize, I will also be an American Flag bearer during the National Anthem,which means being on the field. As my guest, Narzain will also be a flag bearer. I am huge Browns fan so this is really big for me.

WHEEEEEE!

Well the 115th annual Cuyahoga County Fair started Monday, August 8, and will close this Sunday, August 14. I went Tuesday with Narzain. I decided to enter this year for the first time. Cookies and cakes had to be in by last Sunday the 7th, and were judged on Sunday evening. I took my 2 cookies and 2 quick breads on Saturday.


I did not get any ribbons for my cookies. Best in show went to a not so well decorated cookie, 1st to an under baked peanut butter cookie and honorable mention (which is 4th place and does not HAVE to be awarded) went a snicker doodle. I was and am heart broken. NOT because I lost ( I was prepared for that) but to WHAT I lost to. I entered 2 original recipes of my own creation and I got beaten out by a cookie you can by a mix for.

No, I am not bitter either. I am just sad. This was a small hope that I would at least place and that would have been a sign that my life is going to finally turn around after 5 years of unemployment and what not. My hope was crushed. I was in tears with "I will NEVER bake again!" being avowed. Narzain just sat with me on a bench and let me vent and cry. (He has heard the baking statement before when things don's work, and knows it is just me venting.) We stayed for a few hours and we had fun.

I do not know about my breads, but I do not hold much hope. Due to the overall expense (ingredients and entry fee) I do not think I will enter this or any fair any more. The top prize was $3.00, so I would not have broken even. I am currently feeling like I do not want to bake anymore.


My best friend Karen, who talked me into this, told me not to let it get me down and that I "will always be HUGE hit" with her family. Jane, who works at the desk at my Y, told me that I "will always be first place" with them, and my local library staff (who are my willing guinea pigs) have all said that they will gladly eat anything I make.

I am not as hurt today as I was Wednesday, and I was less so yesterday. I know I will bake again and that what I do is good. I was just hoping for something that just wasn't meant to be.....


For the record, I made Chocolate Coconut Chip cookies, Cherry Pie cookies, Chocolate Covered Cherry bread, and Apricot Nut bread and I used Pistachios instead of my usual almonds. All recipes may be found in my group Cookies!

O.K. people since nobody responded to this post for August,I am making some more changes to the group read. Since we cannot seem to get a genre together, so for now, the group read will be what ever you are reading and want to talk about.

If we keep having lack of participation.....