Kinda Picky, Aren't You Salvation Army?

I have a retail store, I've said that many times. I also have rental property. On occasion, I have had furniture that I couldn't sell for one reason or another, or I have had things left behind.  In both situations, you would think that The Salvation Army would be a consideration.  Not so much.  In recent experience, they have gotten especially particular about what they will accept.
Recently, a friend took a computer desk to donate.  The woman in charge looked at it as if the desk had poop on it.  Yes, it was pressboard.  There were no dings, scrapes, or other damage.  But it was pressboard.  Had it been made of wood, I would have sold it.  But again, it was pressboard.  Also, it was a little wet because it was driven over in the rain.  News flash to Salvation Army employees: rain gets things wet.
She wasn't very excited about taking it.  I guess this free item wasn't up to her high standards.  I can understand not wanting junk, but this was just a cheap desk.  It wasn't in bad shape or one step from the curb, just not selling, so not justified in keeping it, right?
I have been in Salvation Army stores.  I don't see what they are so picky for.  There is also some debate as to when the employees there can scarf up the few good things that come through the door.  I was told in huffy terms that they cannot buy anything until it has been on the floor for thirty days.  When I asked if a friend could be directed to buy it before the 30 days had passed, I did not get a response. Huh.
I have read the literature.  The Salvation Army says that that they do a lot of good.  I have read that they give work skills to people.  So does Walmart, and people hate their guts.  I have read that they put a lot of money into their charity. Do they? Opinions vary.  A quick google search runs through all sorts of propaganda. They start their employees off at almost $9 bucks an hour.  Oddly, I can never find help there in less than 3 minutes.
There is a charity in my town that is associated with the local hospital.  It is run by volunteers who are not paid. The building was a gift.  The utilities are paid by an anonymous donor. It truly does put 100% of it's sales back into the community.  Guess where my donations go now?  Think about it, you'll thank me later.

If I Were Forced to Bake a Cake for Two Homosexuals

I have been watching with great interest the story of a Christian baker is does not want to make a cake for two homosexuals.  She is not the only baker in town.  By no means are these homosexuals left with no choices for their cake to adorn their dress up party.  I know, and you know, that these bakers were singled out to make other business people afraid to say no to any homosexual that comes in demanding a good or service to celebrate their dress up day.
This is what I would do: if I were forced to make this cake, it would not be a good cake.  I would tell the homosexuals a head of time that this cake won't be good.  I would not charge for the cake, because it would not have enough ingredients in it to warrant a fee.  It would be a cake that embarrass Betty Crocker.  I might get the salt and sugar mixed up, it happens.  I might forget the leavening.  It happens all the time.  I read cake wrecks, so I have seen cakes that are submitted where the baker actually expects to get paid.  This would be worse.
My cake would be late.  I would not charge for any of it, and I would give the homosexual couple plenty of opportunity to get another baker.  When the cake showed up, it would not be a pretty cake.  Frosting? maybe. The colors would be correct, but there are many shades of blue, aren't there?  Eventually, I would have a horrible reputation for making cakes for homosexual functions.  I expect the word would get around.
However, for real weddings, my cakes would be superb.  On time, beautiful confections that would take your breath away.  That would be what I was known for.
The idea of forcing someone to participate in your delusion is pretty scary.  The idea of the government shutting down my business because I don't want to participate in their abhorrent behavior is even worse.  Don't try to equate it to racism.  That dog won't hunt.
The idea of rejecting business because of a person's race is stupid.  I know many aholes who happen to be Caucasian.(Unfortunately, I married one) I dislike people if they are mean to me or mine.  I am equal opportunity that way.  Treat me fairly, and I will do the same to you.  Think about it, you'll thank me later.

'Health Care Workers' vs the United States Military

I read today about another health care worker who was having an absolute hissy fit because she was being forced to quarantine herself after coming back to the United States after being in an ebola infected area- Kaci Hickox.
She had retained a lawyer, and a larger pair of shoes for stamping her foot in irritation that the rules apply to her. Maybe Kaci Hickox is in the wrong business. 
Let me stop and blow my nose for her. Okay, all set.  My empathy for her, as well as the doctor who was out bowling, along with the group that left quarantine to grab some fast food is non existent. I would be very curious to know where Ms. Hickox is employed, that is not a hospital I would want to come anywhere near.
 With the fatality rate any where from 25% to 90%-why are these idiots running around to infect the rest of us?  You went to help with the crisis. Good on you. Now you want to come back here and spread it around to the rest of us because you can't wait three weeks to knock over some pins or grab a cheeseburger? Seriously? What an incredibly selfish piece of goods.
The idea that these people can just monitor themselves and use some sort of honor code is ridiculous.  How do we know that they have any honor?  We should trust our own health to their sense of honor?  Really? No offense, but three of the stupidest people I have ever known in my life were registered nurses.  I don't trust them to find their way home at night, much less to self monitor their health and keep the rest of us from catching their diseases.  And now there is a boyfriend that she has been exposed to, so what do we do with him?  Does he go into quarantine, or will he attempt to lawyer up and have a legal hissy fit as well?
If there are two sets of rules, who decides who has to follow which set?  It seems like a no brainer to me.  Have one set of rules for all of us, how about that?
Contrast the special treatment afforded to these health care workers with our Military who are quarantined in Italy.  They will spend the entire quarantine there.  They will not get to come home and go bowling.  They will not get to come home and make a fast food run.  They especially won't get to come home and threaten to lawyer up if their childish selfish, reckless, stupid demands aren't met.  They knew what they were getting into when they went over to help out.
What a pity that someone didn't clue in the health care workers that this would happen.  I guess they figured on that other set of rules, maybe.
None of this gives me any faith in our medical system.  I didn't have much to start with, then you add in the debacle of socialism we call Obamacare- unless you are a huffy Nancy Pelosi- then you refer to it as Patient Affordability Care Act. And you completely miss the irony.
Who is in charge of these decisions, who is making all of these health care calls?  Is it some field tested physician?  Is it even a scientist with experience in the field of transmittable diseases?  Or is it a long time lobbyist, someone whose major field of expertise is hand jobs to democrats, not necessarily anything medically related?  Yeah, that inspires confidence.
Wash your hands, read up on staying safe and avoiding ebola.  Think about it, you'll thank me later.

2 Days and Counting

As I write this, we are 2 days away from the election.  Obama is extremely toxic, not one person wants to be seen campaigning with him.  The only people who are glad to see him are the elitist 1% that he campaigns against when he isn't attending 30k per plate fund raisers with them.
Gwyneth Paltrow-no one's vote for brightest bulb threw a fund raiser for him and affected being flustered because he was so handsome. Sure.
That must be why he landed such a hottie  yeti for a wife.
The control of the Senate is at stake, and even those openly rooting for B.O. are pegging the odds of it switching control at 70%.
Just think, two bodies of the government openly prepared to shut him down.  Better yet, impeach him.  I don't want across the aisle cooperation.  I want all of his socialist ideas sent packing.
But regardless of how you feel-vote.  Especially if you oppose his nonsense as much as I do.
On another note- I had a sale at work to reduce a lot of the stock in my store.  When did people lose their minds when it came to sales?  I love a bargain as much as anyone, but if the price of something is $200- don't waste anyone's time by offering me $5.  I won't not laugh in your face, trust me.
Also, just because those guys on Pawn stars can make a living doing what they do, don't expect that to work at my place.  I spend at least six hours researching prices every week.  I know what things are selling for.  Don't low ball me, I don't care if it works on reality television, it won't work here.  Also, I am not in business to give you a better price to sell it elsewhere.  Again, my price is fair.  You won't believe how many people ask me to sell my things for less so that they can resell them to someone else.  That's not how it works. Sorry.
So get yourself out there and vote, we have to stop his last two years of destruction.  Think about it, you'll thank me later.