The King Died much too soon. At age forty two you had so much to give us. At the age of twelve you were my inspiration to grow sideburns, a lot of Vaseline to slick down my hair, and a reason to tighten to the belt around my pants, I think a million of us guys all wanted to be an Elvis, and you stuck with our patriotic duty and served two years in the Army. It was a good thing, my sideburns were getting to begin to itch, and I could hardly breathe with my belt needing to give in three notches. I so much wanted to be like Elvis, he had a twin brother like me that died at birth. When I sang your songs I felt I was like the King, he  had no pimples on his face like me, he had dimples, all I could sing, I have pimples and Elvis haves dimples, pretty catchy? He had money, I could only hope I could score on my upcoming Bar Mitzvah,nope the five hundred dollars I thought I had went to pay our household pills. Hopefully I could save enough money for a tube of Clearasil! Yet he made me feel good to be alive,

I went on with my life in photography, watch many of his movies, and surrendered much of my paychecks to The Columbia Record Club for his vinyl and later for his audio cassettes. The day he died, on August 16, 1977, like many I was “All Shook Up.”

I am just a seventy year old man, wishing he could spend tonight with a Grand Pa, The King of Rock N’ Roll.

Happy Birthday Elvis, and Thank You for all the music and movies I was able to listen and watch.

I am not an economist, nor do I want to be one, but with all the talk about closing American factories abroad and lowering corporate taxes, are we forgetting that in any economy people have to spend money. Even at seventy years old, I find myself very complacent either listening to newspapers or books either on audible.com or scribd.com, socializing on Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin  In my younger days I would go gang out with my buddies at our local drinking hole, or maybe meet at a bowling alley. Now my bowling activities is in the for of Candy Saga Crunch, no bowling shoes, no sixteen pound bowling ball, and don’t have to but a round of beers if I finally bowled a great game. Sure playing video games aren’t cheap and are addicted, but it takes no driving, thus spending no gas and no wear and tear on my car. You can put me anywhere that has air condition, something to eat, a toilet of course with toilet paper and I am very happy. As long I can use my electronics, I don’t even care about our freezing weather. I guess I have become a very slow turtle.

It just occurred to me that their could be hundreds of millions turtles like me, using less gas, not going to shopping malls, or restaurants, in essence not spending money like we use to. Less spending by us turtles, could really hamper the job market. It isn’t enough that automation is starting tp put many people out of work, now us turtles are spending more time at home, don’t need to travel, and probably going to live as long as most turtle, and because we are putting ourselves out of harms way of not getting into an automobile accident or s disaster.

Just think of all the venders we are taking a bite of their pay check and if this keeps up we hundred year old turtles will no longer be able to even see, and hear what are once the sources of our complacency, cell phones, computers, and tablets. There goes our economy, nursing homes, and baby food, I doubt that they can support everyone. Most likely my nursing home will be in the Philippines.

I don’t know about you, I am starting a kick starter campaign so in thirty years I will have enough money to pay for the sixty five pills a day I will need to live my next hundred years.

Have fun, and don’t worry, turtles have no teeth.

By now most of you are aware of the incident that happen in Chicago two days ago when four young Afro-Americans kidnapped a mental challenging white Caucasian man, beat him up, cut part of his skelp a couple of times and yelled racial remarks about our up-coming  Potus, Donald Trump,  I believe they wanted to make it a glorified spectacle on FACEBOOK LIVE! I was very excited when I first used Facebook’s new streaming venture to watch my Chicago Cubs win the World Series after waiting 108 years.About threes ago I was able to see my fellow protestors stand up for what happen at Standing Rock and the Dakota Pipeline  protest.

I am sure Facebook had so many venues in mind when they first started, weddings, medical surgeries, church services, instant disasters alerts, and probably the future of our cell phone, the Facebook Phone. How ever I feel that because of Facebook Live, I am now a guinea pig, just waiting to get beat up. I suffer from cerebral palsy and just turned seventy years old, and I think I have every right to be, and I don’t want Facebook to end there new streaming service, but I wish there would be away to protect me, maybe like an OnStar emergency alert. How about a separate device, like the medical emergency alerts I see advertised in my AARP magazines.

I know that there are many positive sides to Facebook Live, especially with all the past police incidents, but I think there are going to be many terrible events to come from suicides to terrorist beheadings, but right now I am scared and want how we can use Facebook Live in a more positive way, and learn what happened in Chicago.

I love reading the articles on the New York Times, and wish I ha the extra money to take advantage of the 50% discount they are offering on their subscriptions. However being retired, and already having subscriptions on both www.audible.com, and www.scribd.com, it doesn’t give me much money left to feed my candy saga addition.

I did have the the option to either receive The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times each day, I selected the Wall Street Journal on my audible.com account. I even called today if I could enroll in two every month selections for half of their normal $14.00 dollars a month subscriptions. I figured seven dollars a month for each is very inexpensive, and I would also get one audiobook selection each month,  the New York Times Best Seller(“Killing the Rising Son” by Martin Dugard, Bill O’Reilly), add this to their daily specials that can range from $.99 to $4.95 I am  in my own library heaven.

Expecting a sure no from the audible.com customer representative, he suddenly put both a smile on my face and a savings of seven dollars a month in my wallet. They just added The New York Times to their new channel section at no additional cost. I must said thank you at least six times, and couldn’t hardly wait to listen the following audible readings, “”Dylan Roof, Addressing Court, Offers No Apology or Explanation for Massacre” By Alan Blinder, Kevin Sack-Jan 5, 2017-8min, and “Ivanka Trump Plans Move Near Obamas” New Home” By Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Jan 05, 2017.

If this was not enough to ask for, audible.com they also added the Washington Post and Scientific American. I don’t want to be too educated, but it will keep me away from Candy Saga Crunch, My Vegas, and QBet computer games.

I am ready for the trade off, less pain in my fingers and and turning down the volume on the phone. Well anyways I cannot wait until tomorrow, I get to listen to the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, a little of The Washington Post, and if I really want to impress my Facebook friends, there is an audio on Scientific American, “What’s Behind he 2016 Mumps Spike in the U.S.? Dina Fine Maron Dec.26,2016-4m.

There are many more audio sections that is over whelming for me wanting to find to listen to. Check it out and let me know if I made a great discovery-Happy Listening.

Today our upcoming Vice-President, Michael Pence announced that the first thing that he, and Donald Trump when they take office is to replace Obamacare. It scares me wondering how can my wife get immediate coverage, without spending  an arm and a leg. Looking at the Obamacare option, the total cost with deductibles, is in the range around $1000.00 a month. There is no way with her dropping out of the work force that the both of us can afford this. Right now on I have been fortunate to be on her plan, this is certainly a lot cheaper than me paying for medicare (A-N). I have heard many suggestions, restricting coverage, modifying pre-existing conditions, and making coverage more competitive across state lines. There has also been talk about extend coverage internationally. Whatever the case is, healthcare is a Three Trillion dollars Medical expense for our three hundred million americans, yikes $10,000.00 a year per person. However I have not heard anyone talk about stream lining the medical process.

I am not a Doctor, but I go to many, I also have to my fair share of medications. I wonder if we ever ask our Doctors and Insurance companies how they can make it financially for everyone to have affordable care. I am going to start a list and I hope we can get many on board to help me have a list of possible ideas for our new administration.

A) Mass Production of Doctors for many of the most common medical issues. There are two doctors in the office I go to. Could it  be cheaper if we have an assembly line of 100 doctors and nurses and stream line the process.

B) Buy prescription drugs in bulk, so everybody can get a massive discount.

C) Have credit cards that will rebate for medical expenses.

D) Medical credit cards can be used for all purchases, and like in the old days, their credit card interest will be tax-deductable.

E) Can we have a secondary doctor certification, a three year schooling? Are our Doctors over qualified to diagnose the common cold?

F) Alliances with other countries for expensive procedures.

G) A national medication registry for of our prescription users, saving the medical systems million of dollars of repetition.

H) Nursing homes in our third world countries, and in areas in our country where there is massive unemployment.

I) Hospitals are not in the restaurant business, start utilizing vending machines, or rent space to food venders.

J) Start having hospitals that are more specializing.

K) Penalize those who are not wanting to live a healthier life style.

L) Start teaching in our school systems on god health, and they must meet the health requirements to pass a new national requirement.

M) Just like we need to pass a drivers license test to drive a car, perhaps we need to pass a health license test to get an insurance discount.

N) I know that eventually this will probably affect me, a life time limit on the amount that an insurance company will be liable for, age 90?

O) Better medical education in our school systems, the earlier the better.

P) Allow foreign doctors to practice here in this country , perhaps they can be able to be part of our new classification of doctors.

R) Encourage retired doctors to play a part in our new health care.

S) A national medical tax,of one-percent of everyone’s income.

T) Hospitals profits are taxable.

U) Doctors and medical personnel pay lower taxes, encourage more people to enter the medical work force.

V) A national family history registration all Americans.

W) Just like some of us grew up with Dr. Welby, may be can go to Dr. Walmart.

X) Insurance and Drug companies start pouring their profits in building hospitals, medical schools, and education.

Y) Harder policing on many of the cheaters that put such a financial burden on many of us.

Z) We are all in this together, lets hear from many of you, so we can help our new administration with this problem of costly health care.

We all remember Michael Keaton as Batman in the movie “Batman Forever”, coming out at the end of this month will be his new movie, “The Founder”, where he plays McDonald’s Ray Kroc, originally a milk shake machine salesman, and finding himself at the right place at the right time, gave America their food cravings of burgers, fries, soda, and milk shakes, led to the foundation of one the largest corporations in America, McDonalds, a member of the Dow 30. Hopefully this movie will be more successful than last year’s “Steve Jobs” movie. With the coming of Donald Trump, Americans apparently are getting excited about their America.  Lets hope so, the fizzle might go away, but a good bottle stopper is needed to keep the fizzle in the bottle will help Ray Kroc’s  McDonalds and George Lucas, “Star Wars” find museums to showcase his great contributions.

Today I had the pleasure to speak to Michael Fountaine, a McDonalds franchise owner and a collector of McDonalds memorabilia for some forty eight years, starting at the age of fifteen, and amassing over some 80,000 items. Owning a 4800′ house in a Allentown, Pennsylvania,still  not going to get the many attendees, unless it is housed in a McDonald’s sponsored museum. Mister Fountaine has the following ideas for this museum.

A) Hall Of Fame Area-Showcase many of the pioneers of McDonalds. Ray Kroc, Fred L. Turner, Jim Deligatti, Herb Petersen, and many of the celebreties that worked at McDonalds, the likes of Shnaia Twain, Jeff Bezos(Amazon), and Jay Leno, and many many more.

B) A Movie Theatre to show films of  McDonalds history, and all the great TV commercials.

C) A play area that both children and parents could play together.

D) A vender area to show McDonalds long relationship with so many venders, Coca Cola, Bama Pie, Simplot, Lamb Wesson, Kraft and many more.

E) Sports Arena, highlighting McDonald’s Basketball Championships Olympics, and the world of Auto Racing.

F) Ronald McDonald House, it’s mission , history, and commitments around the world.

G) The many award winners that McDonalds have honored in their company, Ray Kroc Manager Award Winners, and classes being taught at McDonalds University.

H, The World’s Largest Fast Food Restaurant, featuring over 250 of McDonalds international menu items. (Gift Shop to fund Ronald McDonald House)

I} The Vacation Home of Ronald McDonald, I think he likes California and Florida.

If this wasn’t enough for Batman to help me with, I also noticed that on my Bloomberg phone app, that “George Lucas Cannot Give His $1.5Billon Museum Away.” Mister Lucas like Mister Fountaine and his McDonalds wants to construct a museum to house and showcase  his cast art collection, (Rockwells, Flash Gordon comics art, and Mad Magazine covers), and most of all the 500,000 artifacts he fathered of Star Wars. Coming so close to landing a landing spot on Chicago’s lake front and certainly very close to the new headquarters of McDonalds(Harpo Studios), he just might have to go west young man, Los Angeles or San Francisco.

Please, Batman lets give Chicago two more jewels, a Cubs World Series after 108 years, a McDonalds Museum, and tell George Lucas to come back to Chicago.

HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR BIG MAC?

Here is the second day 0f 2017, and I need to see if I can fulfill one of My New Years, of adding more postings on my howiemaui.com blog. I saw on Facebook.com, that people we commenting about the Queen’s cold, and Mariah Carey, New Years Eve equipment  breakdown, I feel that I must defend us cold weather Illinoisans, and reveal a fantastic food gems, Marianos.(www.marianos.com).

Marianos is a grocery food chain started by Robert Mariano. With locations in Chicago and its neighboring suburbs, it can be described as “A Disney Land Grocery Experience.” With everything from a Pizza bar to a Wine bar, a huge selections of fruits, vegetables, and you name it they got i, I was able to get a second help with my New Years Resolutions, how am I going to have more money this year.

Besides having a great meat and fish department, I think I need to hear a drum roll, Marianos, will season and grill your steak and fish. Remembering going to a very expensive restaurant with my wife in Maui, waiting two hours to get seated, being very excited after seeing the incredible fish they catch daily on TV, I thought that for thirty-five dollars that a fresh beautiful creature from Hawaii was ready to give me an epicurean experience that I will never forget, well it was a financial disappointment that is still simmering in me for over seven years, a whole fish it was not, three inch square it was, with two drinks and some kind of cake desert, with the tip, our memorable food fantasy came to $185.00,  Wanting to finish our New Years holiday with a fantastic dinner, a huge thanks to Robert Mariano, our 1.4lb  USDA Choice Black AngusRib steak was on sale for $10.50, and our 1.205lb Fresh Wild Caught Whole Red Snapper was almost one third the price of our Hawaiian nightmare, a huge savings of $12.04. Our gigantic steak(well done) and tasty fish were  seasoned with garlic and cooked to perfection.

With just a twenty minute wait, were able to walk around and select a couple vegetables to add to our fantastic meal. With many of the restaurants dropping out of our coupon books, I see that we found a money-saving solution for 2017, we were also able to sample their hamburgers, mmmh, if they only had French Fries, I think there is going to be a lot less going out. So for a little less than $25.00 we made this 2017, a fantastic start, we even have leftovers for another feast. What a meal, steak, red snapper, broccoli,  Champagne, and rice.

Well there you have it, my second posting of 2017, and I am on my way to make three New Years Resolutions happen, eating healthy, you probably wondering what was the third one? My wife and I went to our local LA Fitness.

I am not a food critic, hopefully a journster that you like following.

It’s almost a couple of hours away fro the end of the first day of 2017, and I am thinking that may you can’t teach an old dog some new tricks? Mmmh, maybe I should give it a try. At least it might be fun for next year that I can write about last years resolutions that just looked good on paper(blog Paper) To tell you the truth, I am scared because over the last couple of weeks, I see that there are many celebrities that have passed, Carrie Fisher,  George Michael, David Bowie, Muhammad Ali, Prince, Debbie Reynolds, Florence Henderson, Alan Thicke, Gene Wilder, Patty Duke, Dorris Roberts, Nancy Regan, Robert Vaughn, Hugh O’Brian, and Arnold Palmer, and this is for just in 2016. With the coming of Donald Trump as our new president, and the realization that maybe I should be writing my obituary.

What the Hell, or perhaps I should change that to “Am I going to Heaven?” So let’s see if I even have a chance of achieving any change with  my 2017 New Years Resolutions.

A) Don’t dwell on the past. Instead of forgiving those who ripped me off, a past tenant, a relative that could of left me a lot more of an inheritance, Just Forget These Events!

B) Get my affairs in order. If I die tomorrow, it’s not fair that my wife and to dig into a big financial mess.

C) Consolidate my debts, paying off a lot of bills, so I have more money coming in.

D) Concentrate on my health issues, use my heath club more often, and listen more to my doctors.

E) Realize that everyone, does not have to be your friends, that goes for relatives, don’t be surprised if they want borrow money from you.

G) Get rid of a lot of clutter, a storage locker I don’t even remember what I have in it, an old Jaguar that hasn’t run in seven years.

H) Listen to more audio books on www.audible.com, and www.scribd.com. Go back to school, and take an online course, www.udemy.com.

I) Upload more photos on my www.photographers.digital website. I certainly don’t want to be another Vivian Maier and have all of my photos thrown away. Let my wife know that I have a dropbox account, and a www.flickr.com account.

J) Eat healthier, and drink more water.

K) Not all friends are cute little puppy dogs. My wife has reminded me on many occasions , tell me your friends are, and I will tell you who you are. Don’t feel sorry that you cannot help everyone, let the Buffets and Gates do that job.

L) Realize, that being seventy years old, is old, be fortunate that I am very fortunate to have been alive today.

M)Listen more to my wife, I couldn’t have survive this long without her. Hopefully, she can retire this year.

N) Accept the fact, that all of my projects will not be completed, I am very fortunate that I have been able to have a Apple Founders Museum concept with one of the original Apple Computer Company founder Mister Ronald G. Wayne, being able to communicate with Steve Wozniak, Daniel Kottke, and John Jandali.

O) Hopefully I can can climb two hundred more levels on Candy Saga Crunch, I am on level 1306, its my bowling league.

P) Stop trying to figure life is about. Accept that my life is just a process, I came into the world and I will leave it.

Q) Put more postings on my howiemaui.com blog, and encourage others to help me with it.

I am going to take a breather, tomorrow is another day.