Depressed? Read this

Are you depressed? Have you ever been depressed? (Are you getting depressed, just reading this?)

Or do you know anyone who is (or has been) depressed?

Pick up a copy of a new book by Leah Oviedo titled D.I.Y. Therapy: Healing Depression. This will set you back $0.99. That's right; less than a dollar for this e-book, delivered instantly from Amazon.com. Just click on the title.

The author writes from her personal experience and offers valuable information. Your job? Read the book and follow her suggestions. Pretty simple, eh?

Don't speed-read through her book. Read a page and do what she recommends; i.e., write down your answers, feeling, emotions, intuition, thoughts, memories. Actually do it. Don't just read about the exercise or think about it for three seconds before reading on.

You can also give away her book. Just imagine. For only $0.99, you can give this book to all your friends who are depressed. After you do, be sure to bug them to claim the gift and to begin reading the book. Get your 99¢ worth!

e-Books can be read on tablet, smartphones and even right on your computer.

Do you know anyone who doesn't have one of those?

After you read it, please post a review on Amazon. Reviews always help authors.

Scammers becoming more "creative"

Does it seem to you that scammers are becoming more aggressive and more creative?

A friend recently received a phone call that purportedly was from McAfee. The caller wanted remote access to her computer so that she could "refund" $300.00 from McAfee. The person who received the call was smart enough to hang up, but seconds later another caller followed up with the same scam. Quite likely her phone number will be passed around now as a "good" phone number; i.e., one that is answered.

Now I know that you are smart enough to avoid becoming their next sucker, but what about someone you know? Perhaps someone who is not quite so computer savvy as you?

It's a fact of life now (not an "alternative fact") that scammers are getting more aggressive and more creative in their attempts by email and telephone to get your money out of your pocket and into theirs.

Carefully guard ALL confidential and privacy information. Do not give out any personal information to anyone who calls you. Even if you know who they are, call them back at a known and proven customer service number (not the number they give you). Get that number off the back of your credit card or bank statement.

Caveat emptor. If it's too good to be true, it probably is.

WisconsinCarry wins again

Would you like to be able to "carry" on the "L", CTA buses, Pace, Metra and other mass-transit systems in Illinois?

Is the Illinois State Rifle Association winning like WisconsinCarry? Does ISRA face off in court like WisconsinCarry does? It's worth your $15.00, even if you live in Illinois. They are working hard for gun owners.

Check out its recent press release:

This email is being transmitted to Wisconsin Carry members, former members, and those on our opt-in email list.

In the fall of 2014 it was brought to Wisconsin Carry's attention Madison Metro Transit prohibited law-abiding citizens from carrying while on city buses. Notwithstanding it is shameful for a government entity to discriminate against individuals who rely on mass transit. (citizens who use mass transit should be able to exercise their 2nd Amendment right to carry just like those who have their own transportation). WCI believed this ban was illegal. Wisconsin Carry contacted the city of Madison and Madison Metro Transit by phone and certified letter to request they end their illegal gun ban. Our requests were denied. This is not just about carrying ON the bus, but rather, if your day/errands, etc start, and end with a ride on a Madison bus, you are effectively denied your right to carry throughout your entire day.

In January of 2014, Wisconsin Carry Inc. filed a lawsuit against the City of Madison, WI. In that lawsuit, WCI maintains, in addition to its discriminatory nature, Madison Metro Transit's ban of guns on city buses violates the state's preemption statute (66.0409) which, in order to maintain uniform gun laws across the state, prohibits political subdivisions of the state (municipalities, counties, towns, villages, cites, etc) from passing gun laws stricter than state laws.

The original lawsuit was filed in Dane County Circuit court. After a questionable ruling, and subsequent appeal which concurred with the lower court, Wisconsin Carry appealed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The court agreed to hear our case. Oral arguments, including an amicus brief *supporting* WCI's position filed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice under pro-freedom Attorney General Brad Schimel, were heard in September of 2016.

Wisconsin Carry is pleased to announce that yesterday the Wisconsin Supreme Court rendered its decision in this case. By a 5-2 majority, the Wis. Supreme Court Justices agreed that Madison Metro Transit did not have lawful authority to ban guns on city buses and reversed the lower courts rulings.

A copy of the decision can be read here: http://www.wisconsincarry.org/media/15370/SCOW_Opinion____WCI_v_Madison.pdf

Additional information on this case is available from a news release on the WCI website:

http://www.wisconsincarry.org/news/wi-supreme-court-victory.aspx

Buy the right coffee

If you saw the news recently that Starbucks is gearing up to hire 10,000 refugees in the next five years, you'll want to read the news about Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC).

Black Rifle Coffee intends to hire 10,000 veterans in the next five years! How about them apples???

I'd never heard of the Black Rifle Coffee Company. Check out www.blackriflecoffee.com

You'll like their flavors: AK-47 Expresso Blend, Silencer Smooth Coffee Blend, Just Black Coffee Blend, and others.

And they offer a unique coffee can in the shape of a G.I. ammo box. Only $14.99 + shipping. The coffee can is multi-purpose, According to the website, you can use it "to store your coffee, your bullets, your whiskey or even your pistol when you fly."

BRCC also has a special blend that they call The Thin Blue Line. All sales of that product are donated to the families of wounded police officers through Blue Lives Matter and the F.O.P.

Dashcams - catching on in U.S.?

I've been wondering how many readers have installed a dashcam in their cars? Have you?

I spoke with a fellow Kia Soul owner last week, after I noticed one installed in his car. He said it has front- and rear-facing cameras and that it saved his bacon after his car was rear-ended. He has installed one in each family member's car.

Have you watched any of the dashcam videos on YouTube.com? I don't mean the police chases; I mean the recordings from private vehicles.

Does anyone have a recommend for a brand and model of dashcam that works particularly well for you?

Or one to definitely avoid?

What's an appropriate price-range for a reliable dashcam?

Blowhard Rahm risks millions

FoxNews.com reports that Mayor Rahm is going to continue to protect illegals and criminals. Rahm is willing to risk millions of dollars in Federal funding (and only pennies of his own money) in giving the finger to President Trump.

"Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also vowed to protect illegal immigrants, including ones suspected or convicted of crimes, from the feds.

“ 'I want to be clear: We’re going to stay a sanctuary city,' Emanuel said. 'There is no stranger among us… you are welcome in Chicago as you pursue the American dream.' ” (Source: FoxNews.com)

What does "pursue the American dream" mean to a few (some? many?) illegals? Sucking on the welfare teat? Driving without a license or insurance? Getting free hospital care and education? Getting paid in cash for "contract" work (most of which is actually employee-status work) "under the tax", in order to avoid the system?

How many illegals live in Rahm's neighborhood? Visit his office regularly? Go to school with his kids?

What do the People of Chicago want? Do they want their taxes increased to replace lost Federal funding? Will they put up with cuts in benefits that are funded by the Federal dollars that will be lost?

It's easy (and foolish) for him to side with the illegals. Voters should toss him in Lake Michigan when his term is up. Or maybe sooner.

Local attorney arrested

Thanks to a tip, I checked the Circuit Clerk's online record today and found information about the arrest of a local attorney on multiple, serious charges.

So far there appears to be nothing in the Northwest Herald. Nothing recent is found, using its search engine.

On Thursday, January 19, Crystal Lake attorney Don Franz was charged with numerous charges, and on Friday more charges were filed. Crystal Lake Police filed charges including driving on possible canceled/suspended/revoke driver's license, aggravated DUI, resist/obstruct officer including injury, aggravated battery on a police officer, carrying concealed firearm under the influence, revoked FOID card.

This is not the beginning of problems for Franz. There is some interesting reading on the Legal Profession Blog.

Presumably, Northwest Herald reporters will eventually get the word and file a story with more detail.

A little over a year ago, it appears that Franz and a client were having a dispute about a fee. Check out this posting on the blog, Above the Law.

I met Don several years ago at the McHenry County courthouse. I recall one day when it appeared he had fallen down some steps. I didn't injure into the cause of his facial injury at the time.