Your Tax Dollars At Work

The New York Post has discovered through an investigation that welfare recipients using EBT cards (which work like debit cards filled with taxpayer money, just swipe and buy) pulled out cash to use at strip bars, to buy alcohol and to use at porn shops.

A database of 200 million Electronic Benefit Transfer records from January 2011 to July 2012, obtained by The Post through a Freedom of Information request, showed welfare recipients using their EBT cards to make dozens of cash withdrawals at ATMs inside such New York sites like Hank’s Saloon in Brooklyn; the Blue Door Video porn shop in the East Village; The Anchor, a sleek SoHo lounge; the Patriot Saloon in TriBeCa; and Drinks Galore, a liquor distributor in The Bronx.

While I am sure this not representative of all people being helped by welfare, It's nice to know that a nation which has a 16 trillion dollar plus national debt, increasing taxes on "the wealthy" and has a welfare program bordering on 100 billion dollars a year, is taking good care of "needy" recipients with a program designed to buy food. This our tax dollars at work?

On a personal note, one of my closest friends passed away last Thursday. I became aware of his passing on Saturday and on Sunday, Brother Kirt, Sister Jeanne and I attended his memorial service. We have all known Victor since childhood and he will be missed. Victor was a close, personal friend and ever constant contributor to Jimmy's Journal. His passing leaves a void in my heart. Rest in peace my dear friend.

The News As I See It: Last week, Congress approved some version of the fiscal tax bill, which raises taxes on rich Americans. President Obama was determined to do this right away, while there are still some rich Americans left.

Americans from all sides of the political spectrum seem to be upset about this fiscal cliff deal. Imagine how the Chinese must feel. It's their money.

Al Gore's Current TV has been sold to Al-Jazeera for a reported $500 million. Experts believe that Al-Jazeera overpaid for Current TV by approximately $500 million.

The National Journal says Joe Biden maybe the most influential vice president in history. Is that really a compliment? Isn’t that like being the tallest hobbit?

Star Wars creator George Lucas just got engaged to his girlfriend of seven years. Lucas’s fiancé is 25 years younger than him or as his lawyer put it, "May the pre-nup be with you."

This Date In History: 1896; Fanny Farmer published her first cookbook. 1927; Transatlantic commercial telephone service began between New York and London. 1953; Harry Truman announced that the U.S. had developed the hydrogen bomb.

1955; Marian Anderson made her Metropolitan Opera debut. 1979; Vietnamese forces captured the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, overthrowing Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge government. 1989; Japan's Emperor Hirohito died. 1999; The impeachment trial of President William Clinton began in the Senate.

Picture Of The Day: I ran across this intriguing picture on Facebook and I thought I would share it with you.

Printable Things I Never Told You: 1) If the Mayans have taught us anything, it is that if you don't finish something, it's not the end of the world. 2) At what point in time since my school days did the pronunciation of the planet Uranus change to Uranus? 3) If a man says he'll fix it, he will. There is no need to remind him every 6 months about it. 4) You know you're getting old when you have to turn your music down to park your car.  5) It's hard to write a good drinking song. I can never make it past the first few bars.....and that's five !

Today's Horoscope: Capricorn - January 7th: Drinking alcohol may turn out well for you today. Try to ensure that you go out tonight wearing the underwear with the really strong elastic. Oh, and remember to put on a little cologne. One never knows, do one?

Birthdays: My good friend Harold - Happy Birthday Counselor 19XX, Millard Fillmore, 13th President of the United States 1800, St. Bernadette, saint 1844, Francis Poulenc, composer and pianist 1899, Zora Neale Hurston, author 1901, Charles Addams, cartoonist 1912, David Caruso, actor 1956, Katie Couric, broadcast journalist 1957, Nicolas Cage, actor 1964.

The AREA 51 Retirement Home Bar And Grill: While attending a marriage seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife, Grace, listened to the instructor. He said, "It is necessary that husbands and wives know each other's likes and dislikes.

He addressed the husband, "Tom, Do you know your wife's favorite flower?" Tom leaned over, gently touched his wife's arm and asked, "It's Pilsbury, isn't it?"

Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end ~ author unknown.

The Hits Just Keep On Coming: A blonde heard that milk baths would make her beautiful. She left a note for her milkman to leave 25 gallons of milk. When the milkman read the note, he felt there must be a mistake. He thought she probably meant 2.5 gallons. So he knocked on the door to clarify the point.

The blonde came to the door and the milkman said, "I found your note asking me to leave 25 gallons of milk. Did you mean 2.5 gallons?" The blonde said, "I want 25 gallons. I'm going to fill my bathtub up with milk and take a milk bath so I can look young and beautiful again."

The milkman asked, "Do you want it pasteurized?" The blonde said, "No, just up to my tits. I can splash it on my eyes."

An old golfer comes in from a round of golf at a new course and heads into the grill room. As he passes through the swinging doors he sees a sign hanging over the bar:

COLD BEER: $3.00
HAMBURGER: $3.75
CHEESEBURGER: $4.00
CHICKEN SANDWICH: $4.25
HAND JOB: $60.00

Checking his wallet to be sure he has the necessary payment, the old golfer walks up to the bar and beckons to the exceptionally attractive female bartender who is serving drinks to a couple of sun-wrinkled golfers. She glides down behind the bar to the old golfer and inquires with a wide, knowing smile, "May I help you?"

The old golfer leans over the bar and whispers, "I was wondering, young lady, are you the one who gives the hand-jobs?" She looks into his eyes with that wide smile and purrs, "Yes Sir, I sure am." The old golfer leans closer and into her left ear and says softly,"Well, go wash your hands real good because I want a cheeseburger."

That's it for today, my little sunflowers. Remember, sometimes auto-correct can be your worst enema. That's it for now. More on Wednesday.

Stay Tuned !