Most folks are not aware that there are additional benefits for Veterans or their Widow(ers). There is something called an “improved pension benefit”. What does it take to qualify?

• only 90 days of continuous, active duty military service, one of which was during wartime.
• any discharge other than a dishonorable discharge
• disabled OR at least age 65

For seniors living in assisted living or other senior facilities who are at least 65, there is up to $1950 per month available TAX FREE.

(I’m just hitting the highlights from the brochure.)

For more information, visit Dukes Benefits Advocates LLC: http://dukesbenefits.org/
or call Ronald Dukes at (757) 233-8404, or email him at rdukes@dukesco.com

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An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had once failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama’s socialism would work and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, “OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama’s plan”. All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A…

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B.  The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.  As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

The second test average was a D!  No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

Could not be any simpler than that.

Remember, there is a test coming up… November 2010!

William Jowers, Chowan County, NC, Master Gardener Volunteer will present, “There Are Worms in My Kitchen…”, a program on vermiculture and vermicomposting.  Raising worms for compost is a fascinating topic and is something that can easily be accomplished by anyone.  Bill will define vermiculture, explain the needed components, give direction on how to start, and show how it can be done to meet your specific needs.  He will also discuss the benefits of vermicomposting and its positive effect on your soil health and gardening productivity.  This is an informative program that is a must for all gardeners. Bill has been an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer since 2004 and is a lifelong Organic Gardener and long time practitioner of Vermiculture and Vermicomposting.

Following Bill’s advice I found a source for red wigglers on the internet. I chose www.compostcritter.com and decided to make my own boxes following the design of the sample boxes he brought to the lecture.

I’d expected a notification of when they shipped, planning to build the box once I knew they were on the way; no notification, but they were shipped within a reasonable amount of time, and the seller has to try to judge what the weather is going to do so they don’t get damaged or stuck in a truck somewhere. In any case, when my worms got here, I had no box.

My worms arrived via priority mail from Pennsylvania looking rather dry and withered, but the insert included with them said that was to be expected and that warm water and food would perk them right up. I put them into a temporary home (an ice cream bucket) and within a day they were thriving.

A quick trip to the big orange home improvement store and I had all the materials I needed. Not a complicated project. Here’s what my box looks like:

I then added bedding: a mixture of shredded newspaper (damp, but not dripping wet), sand and some compost from my outside bin. Once I got the bedding in, I dumped the worms in on top.

Then some food and then bedding on top.

Have a peek of my little guys in action…

Anybody know if it’s any good? The price ranges for hard drives of this size only fluctuate about $10 either way, so price isn’t all that much of a concern. I just need to know if it’ll last. Read both very good and very bad reviews on Amazon, which makes me skeptical.

Who to trust?

Hot Cyber Monday Deals from Amazon

She was an adorable, precocious child and has grown up to be a smart, beautiful woman.

Christmas 1982, with her mom and dad

April 1984, with her mom and our sister Connie

1985 - at the hotel after Cherie's wedding

1986 - with her mom and brother... hope she doesn't hate me for posting this one

1991 - Family portrait with her mom and little brother Richard

With her mom at our family reunion in 2006

Happy Birthday!