Free Association Thread 4

[JKendallDane]

Gorby to his friends

Birthmark

.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Birthmark

.

A natural tattoo or a sign of how one died?

 

[SamScribble]

A natural tattoo or a sign of how one died?

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

 

[legerdemer]

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Red Hot Chilli Pipers

 

[MichaelinChina]

Red Hot Chilli Pipers

Si Chuan Hot Pot

 

[MagicaPractica]

Si Chuan Hot Pot

Thai Dragon Pepper

 

[SamScribble]

Thai Dragon Pepper

Tie a Yellow Ribbon

 

[JKendallDane]

Tie a Yellow Ribbon

Aging whisky in an oak barrel

.

 

[SamScribble]

Aging whisky in an oak barrel

.

Sherry casks

 

[Skowt]

Broken arm

 

[MagicaPractica]

Sherry casks

The Cask of Amontillado, Poe

 

[MichaelinChina]

The Cask of Amontillado, Poe

Driving in Central Australia years ago, I noticed the huge number of empty wine casks (aka Chateau Cardboard) on the side of the road.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Driving in Central Australia years ago, I noticed the huge number of empty wine casks (aka Chateau Cardboard) on the side of the road.

Homeless people in Japanese train stations, who carefully fold up their cardboard houses in the morning.

 

[Handley_Page]

Homeless people in Japanese train stations, who carefully fold up their cardboard houses in the morning.

Homeless ex-soldiers in the UK, sleeping rough because the government has broken the Covenant - again.

 

[SamScribble]

Homeless ex-soldiers in the UK, sleeping rough because the government has broken the Covenant - again.

The Big Issue

 

[Handley_Page]

The Big Issue

Until recently, our local seller was a Rumanian migrant, not a military Veteran.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Until recently, our local seller was a Rumanian migrant, not a military Veteran.

Vets shouldn't be homeless. From what I've seen, though, the department responsible for Veterans in the UK, Canada, and the US seems to think its mandate is to find reasons to deny Vets the services to which they're entitled.

 

[SamScribble]

Vets shouldn't be homeless. From what I've seen, though, the department responsible for Veterans in the UK, Canada, and the US seems to think its mandate is to find reasons to deny Vets the services to which they're entitled.

A friend of mine, a half colonel (retired), tells me that, apart from having to cope with debilitating physical injuries and PTSD, many career service personnel have just never been taught (or learned) how to live outside the service. From a relatively early age, the service has ‘looked after them’. In exchange, the service person has lived a life of boredom interspersed with moments of high terror and very real risk. And then, one day, it’s all over. And the now ex-service person has to learn how to live in an entirely different world. The lucky ones manage to slide sideways into a security job or a technical trade. But far too many just end up with a dog, a cardboard box, and an itinerant role selling The Big Issue. It’s not a fair deal.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

They deserve better.

 

[MichaelinChina]

They deserve better.

I agree.

By the way, The Big Issue in Australia is sold mainly by people with intellectual disabilities..and goes a long way to helping them become more independent, socialise in their work and become more accepted.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

I agree.

By the way, The Big Issue in Australia is sold mainly by people with intellectual disabilities..and goes a long way to helping them become more independent, socialise in their work and become more accepted.

Quite a few years ago an association for the intellectually disabled here started a business that employed them. They solicited donations of cast-away clothing. The workers were taught to sort them into resale and rag. The goods were sold, the workers paid, and the "profits" put into the charitable association for other projects. It was quite successful.

So, other charities started soliciting old clothing donations and sold them by weight to private marketeers for resale in the Third World. Now the marketeers have cut out the "middle-men" and have, often without permission, emplaced donation bins in shopping centre parking lots, and expanded their solicitation to include used small appliances.

Reminds me of the Monty Python skit where a volunteer with a donation can approaches a Merchant Banker for a coin or two. "You mean, I give you money for nothing?"asks the Banker. "What a wonderful idea; give me that can!"

Ah, Pathos! Thy name is profit!

 

[Handley_Page]

I suspect that there are no 'intellectual property rights' for a really good [charitable] idea.
Which is very regrettable

 

[JKendallDane]

I suspect that there are no 'intellectual property rights' for a really good [charitable] idea.
Which is very regrettable

Things started going south on this side of the pond when the CEOs of the "charities" figured out they could get away with paying themselves six and seven digit salaries while utilizing a depression era law still on the books that allowed them to pay their employees literally pennies on the hour.

The robber barons now live high on the hog and the poor and disabled they are supposed to be helping get only whatever scraps fall to the floor.

.

 

[Handley_Page]

Things started going south on this side of the pond when the CEOs of the "charities" figured out they could get away with paying themselves six and seven digit salaries while utilizing a depression era law still on the books that allowed them to pay their employees literally pennies on the hour.

The robber barons now live high on the hog and the poor and disabled they are supposed to be helping get only whatever scraps fall to the floor.

.

Strange to relate we have also had publicity & much discussion about the pay of higher execs of charitable endeavours. The official excuse is "We have to pay to get the best person for the job". Whilst there is a body of opinion that tends to agree with this view, many do not like the idea of what might be regarded as "very high" salaries for them. Some have been revealed to being paid more than our MPs [and they are very well-paid].

 

[L1tTleD1fferent]

I don't get why there is so few (if any) ways for people to be paid after their children die in military things overseas... Or why people like Patsy Ramsey can't pass their charge-ability on to their relatives once they die if it is learned they were guilty of a crime.

As for handicapped, that makes me think a lot, & could go in the "pissed you off" topic... I have been called such for multiple decades, to the point I've had a parking placard for I literally don't know how long. Actually, my parent has it. That works for me, as I have no permit or license at the moment, but if other parent or a friend offers to take me somewhere, they have me (reason for placard) but no placard or ability to use it.