What a Handshake can prove

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Saturday March 18, 2017 · 9:52 PM PDT

2017/03/18 · 21:52

I know how we all are upset about somebody who shall not be named and his way how he shakes hands. And oh yes we are all upset about his refusal to shake Angelika Merkels hand.

But I am sorry to tell you — this is going a little bit deeper and even back to his intense handshake with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. When shaking hands in Japan ---------

A handshake is appropriate upon meeting. The Japanese handshake is limp and with little or no eye contact.

So this intense handshake was an insult — simple as that.

When he shakes hand of the planned Supreme Court member Gorsuch — and for that matter shaking hands with everybody else — he pulls his shaking buddy towards him.

Yank and Pull: This handshake is considered a power play, as it’s when a person decides to grab your arm and pull you in close towards them and inside their territory/personal space. There are three possible reasons for this: firstly the person may be feeling insecure and needs you to be in their own territory in order to feel comfortable and safe, or secondly they come from a culture/city that requires smaller space needs, or finally, they want to take control and get you off balance. In any of these cases, they should be considered manipulative because the persons wants things done a certain way.

So please — don’t let us forget over Angelika Merkel — he is simply not capable give a normal handshake because he needs treatment.

Phones and Health Insurance

agermanfullofhope

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Wednesday March 08, 2017 · 9:21 AM PST

2017/03/08 · 09:21

Well --— now comes my 5 cents and I know that some off you will fall in disbelief hearing this from me --- just please - keep in mind - I NEVER AGREE with this idiot no spine low ball small hand server full blown immature chicken shit Chaeffetz.

BUT

I honestly think that America has to learn that you HAVE to HAVE a health insurance. That you HAVE to insure that most valuable thing in your life. We insure our cars, houses everything what is valuable to us but not our health. We buy the best oil for our cars but the cheapest oil in Walmart for our salads. When a car is financed we pay monthly the premium for the insurance because the insurance company wants us to do so - because they see our car as their asset.

mmmmhhhhh - now lets think - and we have a problem with health care now how???? Somebody (our government) thinks that health is the biggest asset we have. No disagreement there. I dont even want to go now into all the proven facts how a healthier citizen base will improve productivity.

mmmmhhhhh - when we meet friends we always say when we part - just stay healthy - thats the most important thing --- as long as we are healthy we can manage with everything else.

mmmmhhhh and then I hear that we dont want to have health insurance????

oh nooooo - and we dont want to pay for it ---- and free cancer screening - 1 free annual doctor visit for EVERY american (btw. both are part of Obama care)

Again - Chaffetz no spine (BAD) dude set aside - fact is - EVERYBODY needs health insurance - everybody has to pay in it --- that the ACA needs some fine tuning - no doubt --- but also AMERICA the citizens have to learn ----- we need to protect our biggest asset - OUR HEALTH --- and we have to learn a simple fact of life — just like learning to get a drivers license when turning 16 -- soon I am working --- soon I am leaving the house I have to pay into a health care insurance.

BECAUSE --- and here is the little wake up call for all the vitamin-supplement users, non-smoker and fitness marathon running, green grass smoothie drinkers customers - soon - sooner than think you will need a doctor — it is not the question IF -— it is the question WHEN.

Am I the only one????

agermanfullofhope

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Thursday February 23, 2017 · 5:18 PM PST

2017/02/23 · 17:18

Me and my husband -— our health insurance went DOWN. From round 1020 Dollar each and month and high deductible (3000 Dollar in words: Threethousand Dollar) to 300 Dollar (in Words: Threehundered) and dont forget I have pre-existing conditions. My husband 62 and retired — I am 56 and owner of a small cleaning business.

Now

My one and only question + Are we the only People who benefit from the OBAMA Care — the Affordable Health Care?????

I am just curious and could cry when I listen to Twittler and Pence-Friends. I am scared stiff — or am I the only one who is scared? I dont even want to mention all the other reasons why I am afraid and start to have real bad nightmares.

Am I the only one??? Are we the only people benefiting from Obama Care?

Call your Rep

agermanfullofhope

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Sunday January 08, 2017 · 10:36 AM PST

2017/01/08 · 10:36

IDEAS TO A CALL GUIDE

After my first few phone calls I noticed that it took me a moment to appear secure and started to talk more SLOW and STRUCTURED. And anybody who knows me understands that these are two things that don’t go well with me. SLOW and STRUCTURED J

I would love to make a little list - and I hope that all of you find time to add to these list. By the end of a day we all could have a tool for us during our phone calls. If you are just a little insecure like me (and I was more than a little) it might help you.

I know for sure that you have additional pointers. So please add on and make tons of suggestions so that this turns into a growing reference guide.

IDEAS --- How to make a statement with your call

Turn down radio, tv and anything else what might disturb your call (maybe kids have to get a new toy to be occupied J ) – even your furnace could be disturbing.

Take a few deep breathers before dialing. I always count 10 deep breaths (wish I would have that much discipline in my diet attempts)

Don’t sit comfortable – stand up – your whole voice will have more energy.

Smile – although we are all angry. Smile – a smile is a great weapon and on the phone your voice turns into a more interesting voice. And that’s what we want. We want them to be interested in what we have say. We all think we smile all the time. Put a mirror in front of you while being on the phone and you will be amazed. SMILE!!!!

Speak slow!!! (That one is for me and if you have an accent like I do - this is vital) Speak so slow that you think you sound like a sloth. Remember – these people don’t know you, they don’t know why you call, they might be even trying to write down pointers of what you have to say. GIVE THEM A CHANCE!!! Speak s l o w and they will be able to take in much more information than you hope to get across.

Stay polite and calm – weird – that one is easy for me. Since this last election I know for a fact that I don’t want to come cross (not even remotely) like president elect. So stay calm and polite. I would like to quote Michelle Obama “When they go low, we go high”

Prepare yourself to answer a few questions. Your name and your district although most of the time they can see already on your caller ID where you are from. (Like amazon.com – they know everything about us)

A little list of your pointers is helpful. My list has from health care – women’s rights to school and education – the wall – Medicaid – ethic commission……………….and and and and. And then depending on who I call I set a check mark behind the items I want to talk about and I check them off again while I am talking on the phone. But there are always a few points which are more dear and most important to me. And these points I keep REPEATING

Repeat - wash and repeat!!! Your most important points – keep repeating them. Hey – I see this on Donald Trump. Watch him how he repeats, repeats and repeats himself so even the slowest thinker (isn’t that nicely put?) can follow him. With Trump is only one problem he doesn’t say the same thing twice but he keeps repeating them.

Mention that you represent more than one voter. That you speak for people like your spouse or parents. Elderly neighbors, friends etc. Maybe you can even name them or mention them as a group – I actually made myself a list of people I speak for and why I do so.

Tell them you will keep watching every step they make and you will call again until they understand that they need to represent our interests not their own. Tell them that you are not happy and that you will make insure by the tools given to you that they do their job.

By the end of the call I sum up one more time everything what I said by the little list I check off. And I even tell them so. I ask friendly: “I hope you don’t mind that I go quick with you over my little list here – to insure that I didn’t forget anything and to give you the opportunity to write a few points down. If I remember correctly we talked about A, B, C, D, E, ….. “

I also tell them to feel free to call me back anytime they would like to follow up on this important phone call.

Wishing you all a nice day and thanks for the time

But the most important thing to make this call — PICK UP THE PHONE and simply do it!!!!!!!!!

I finally understand .....

agermanfullofhope

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Tuesday October 25, 2016 · 6:59 PM PDT

2016/10/25 · 18:59

Yes — I really do — I finally got it. Boy somebody should have told me earlier and I would have slept much better the last few months.

I know now why Trump wants to build walls. Not to keep immigrants out — NO — it is to keep us all IN!!!

That way we can keep working — paying taxes — dont have time and money to travel.

That way we all will feel save and we wont see and hear and know how other countries take care for their citizens.

That way I dont have to hear how health insurance actually covers people in the rest of the world.

That way I dont have to see how far developed the Western World is with alternative energy. Hate seeing all these solar on roofs and windmill farms in the north sea.

That way I dont have to hear about paid maternity leave — maternity leave shared if wanted between mom and/or dad.

That way I wont notice how other countries look at us with a sorrowful smile and shaking their heads in disbelief.

THANK YOU Donald Trump for sparing me these images and thoughts. THANK YOU for protecting me by building a wall.

Why didnt you tell me right away that it was not to keep THEM out — that it was to keep ME in and so so save!!!

(Havent been that sarcastic for a long time but felt good — sorry guys had to do it) And I am sure have endless ideas and thoughts to complete my little list :)

Our Health Insurance in Straight Numbers

agermanfullofhope

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday October 24, 2016 · 10:12 PM PDT

2016/10/24 · 22:12

I don’t even know what to say right now because I am so so so so angry and hope to find here relief, an open ear, a shoulder to cry on and maybe even a few suggestions.

My husband (62) went into early retirement last year due to that the his job in a warehouse was getting very hard for him.

I (56) own a small home cleaning business to support our daily life in a typical small Main Street Town in Utah.

Thanks to “Obama Care” insurance companies had to take us on even with my pre existing condition Diabaetes.

For the last three month in 2015 we started the insurance and paid for both of us 1080 Dollar.

So far so good.

Then in January 2016 our monthly premium went up to

1380 Dollar

Tonight I opened a letter from SelectHealth and guess what

Our new premium will be 2111 Dollar a month (no this is not a typo)

With higher deductible

From 4600 Dollar to now 10.000 Dollar

Not 25 Dollar for a doctor visit — NO — we will pay now 40 Dollar

RX Deducitble from 100 Dollar to 500 Dollar and and and.

Sitting here — crying. And I dont think that anyone will be surprised that our entire savings will be gone by August next year.

Yes there are other insurance programs available and I will shop around but Utah opted out. Open Market Place is a joke. Yes — I read and cheered for the planned changes in the american health insurance plans. I am from Germany — came here 17 years ago and know how it should work and see even today what my family members in Germany pay and get on services. Germany and the rest of the western world seem to have a higher interest in their citizens health.

I cheered until I saw how the opposition turned this planned health care program into a premium eating machine. I am sorry but I feel like this country is bleeding us dry.

Trying to convince my husband to go back to Germany with me. My old insurance has to take me back by law. Will have to find out how we can insure hubby.

Sorry — right now — I just want to run away.

Congratulations - you all have been hired

agermanfullofhope

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Sunday October 20, 2013 · 7:25 PM PDT

2013/10/20 · 19:25

Oh yeah – you all got a job!!!
You just started working for Wal-Mart or for that matter in any other store with self-check-out stands. You know the wonderful self check out cashier stands? Don’t you? Oh yes, I can see you all nodding and I bet that at least 95% of you went thru them at least once. Convenience and/or curiosity pulled you into their lines.

I am now on a mission after I just visited our local Wal-Mart and found that they installed a HUGE area with at least 8 automated check stands. I was not to able to count them all because everybody who knows me, knows that I lost my usual German calm approach and this mean evil German temper took over.

So I took a nice stand in the middle of the crowd and started to talk very loud and I mean loud enough to get over every intercom conversation, cashier ringing and customer conversations. And as loud as I could speak without turning my voice into a screeching something I told them that

1.    I refuse to work for Wal-Mart
2.    I know that Wal-Mart is NOT paying you for checking and bagging your purchases yourself. Or did you see a rebate on the end of your transaction for all the work you have just done?
3.    I will not take a paid job away from anyone and work the same job for free
4.    I will do anything and everything that is needed not to sit in a town with even more unemployed brave and hard working citizens.

And as I was making my way to a check stand still occupied by a Wal-Mart employee, I saw puzzled faces, people who were wondering, even customers turning around and going to a NORMAL check out and idiots shaking their heads about my outburst.

On my way out I was stopped by cashiers who whispered “Thank you” and more brave Wal-Mart employees voicing a little bit louder the wish to find more customers like me.

Right here and then it was where I found my calling.
I was looking for the longest time where I could make a difference. Where I can take my rights and fight for a change! Where I can demonstrate that the time for companies who are running our country and everyone in it as if we would be mindless idiots is finally OVER.

My plan formed fast and conclusive in my head. I will get as fast as possible home, leave the act of putting the shopping away up to my hubby and sit down in front of my computer and will turn this pile of circuits into a weapon.

Step one - write a diary in the DailyKos and search for support. Hopefully finding out that I am not the only one who is as upset and that there are lots of people who finally want to make a change.

Step two - will use nearly the same words in an email campaign by soliciting friends, family, customers and purchasing email services (hope it is not to expensive - any suggestions?)

Step three – post this article with similar wording in every other available forum (oh yes - even FB) with suggestions for everybody how to behave and what to say if encountering self-check-out stands.

Step four – email to Wal-Mart and a few other stores who are known for the same practice and ask for answers (a copy of this email will be posted in a little while)

Step five – get fliers, stickers and stick buttons developed and find the cheapest way to make copies (I am open and in the desperate need for suggestions to lower costs - I plan on pitching copy companies too)

Step six – involve hubby to develop stickers, logos and picket signs

Step seven – set up campaign center in my living room to get the fliers, stickers and buttons sent to anybody and everybody America wide who wants to join me on this crusade.

Step eight – get America involved in a small change with a huge impact

Step nine – find numbers and facts about impact of self-check-out stands on economy and job loss

And believe me – I am ready – I am ready and fired up to go.

Who is with me? Who is as tired as me of ranting and raving and not being able to make an impact, to make even the slightest change? Who remembers the times when we went out on the streets to demonstrate and voice our opinions?

I know we won’t change the world in a day. I know that self check-outs are not a big deal to many people, but to anybody who is losing their job. It is a big deal to every small business owner (like me) who is wondering why buying power on main street is becoming smaller and smaller.
It is a big deal to every employee who got fired because somebody else is doing their job for free.

We have seen ample examples for that in the past 25 years (and longer) it is time to make a first small step towards a change.
This change will not take place as long as we stay quiet and just rattle and rave in our homes. I know that there are many, so much bigger issues out there but it is not in my power (besides the rattle and rave part) to actually change them. But to boycott every self-check-out in America is feasible.

Please join me in my crusade against self-check-outs!!! Please contact me if interessted to join and help here over DailyKos to receive additional contact information

Goal:
Eliminate self-check-outs by informing every American. Informing and communicating goals and concerns to companies. Showing, educating transparent and publishing the impact of self-check-outs on our economy and the need of their removal for survival in an ever changing world wide market.

I am calling on everyone like me, who want to see a small change and who want to know that we can make a difference in a time where nothing seems to be moving.

I know it is possible to change this seemingly small issue with a huge impact if we all fight it together. My goal to have this change implemented is 1st. of November 2014 and earlier.

And I know that we will tackle together the next issue as soon as possible! This is a promise! Because after all – HOW TO YOU EAT A BIG ELEPHANT?!?

COPY - PASTE & FORWARD

agermanfullofhope

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday October 06, 2013 · 11:49 AM PDT

2013/10/06 · 11:49

Copy – Paste & Forward Share – Like – and so forth.

This big, catching, creeping, free thoughts, brain activity and spirits killing avalanche disease of our days.
And I just wish there would be a way that would make fingers crumble soon people want to use the forward button before turning on their brains.

I spend now several weekends on all kinds of SOCIAL MEDIA!!! And YES, most of it on FACEBOOK!!!
I thought it would be interesting to see what has been posted about important subjects like health care, government shutdown, alternative energy, food stamps, politics in general, GOP and Democrats.

I was armed with tons of enthusiasm and a folder full of research pages to be able to inform the here and there maybe misinformed poster.

Now it is Sunday morning and I am sitting shivering with a cup of soothing hot coffee, little white pills and a big glass filled with brandy in front of my computer. Muttering to myself over and over again “there is no place like home – there is no place like home”.
I feel like coming back from a war nobody can win.
I lost friends and family members who UN-friended me without a last friendly word and stone cold faces. I have blue marks on my forehead from banging the same on the keyboard more time than you could count and my knuckles show raw flesh from chewing on it.
No my dear friends – it has not been fun. I am afraid to open my entrance door when it knocks and hide in fetal position when the phone is ringing.

Yes, I am a poor fool to think I could go on this mission, hoping to set errors straight, change minds, clear clouded brains and exorcise the letters FOX wherever it would be needed.
I started off with a smile on my face. Like a hiker at the foothills of a mountain with a fresh energetic step and a jolly tune on his lips. And then it hit me. Boy did it ever.

Between all these important messages in what dress she is wearing right now, in which shoes you should NOT go to Wal-Mart, what department store is really essential, what beer should be served with chicken and what we think about the color purple, I found an abyss.

A never ending horrible smelling swamp filled with sinkholes and creatures, grinning evil while telling me and all their 8457 (and counting) FRIENDS!!! how the democrats and Obama in particular are ruining our greatest country on earth into the ground. How a non-citizens has become president, that guns will be taken away, how taxes will increase so high that even your poor old 93 year mother on welfare will have to start working at McDonalds for minimum wages.

You think that’s bad? Wait till you come to the pond filled with sulfur smelling tangling arms, trying to wrap around you, to choke you and silence you forever. The HEALTH CARE POND!
The healthcare pond looks first calm and you could think there is a breeze coming down from the mountains, giving hope for all the un-insured in our country. And when you just think you can take a deep sigh of relief and thinking about how to tell your grandchildren about the times when people used to die because they could not pay for treatment – that’s when they get you.

The very same people who are without insurance and are just one heart attack away from bankruptcy are throwing themselves on you, lashing out with vengeance, telling you that they are living in a free country. Telling you how this socialistic idea will bring communism into their little urban life.
That Adolf Hitler was a saint compare to this Obama who came illegal cross the border. An Obama is pretending only to care. Obama care will kill you. Death panels and costs will make our last few intact bridges crumble and cars can drive only 5 miles per hour on broken down interstates. Well, we can’t drive our big huge fuel guzzling trucks because of this SOB (and that’s one of the more nice wordings, I don’t dare to repeat the racist version) raised the gas price.
And he is doing it because he is a Moslem in disguise and a terrorist and illegal. And hey, they can proof it.

If you want to follow my example and leave this secure haven to wander around out there, prepare yourself to be hanged on tea bags with deep in your flesh digging poisoned hooks.
Be aware that you will lose friends and family members soon you send them correct and real information right from the horse’s mouth. Prepare your email mail box and FB page for a flood of COPY – PASTE and FORWARD of the craziest and wildest lies and construction you have ever encountered.
And every attempt of yours to set records and stories straight will get flushed down in a swirl pretty similar to a flushing toilette.

My personal favorites in all these stories are the once with people using state or any form of government assistance themselves. Either because they raise children alone or lost everything over being sick. Or they started a small business with funding or going to school while Kindergarten is paid for. The once who are paying with food stamp card at the cashier station while raveling and raving to the cashier about these fascist Dem's and their anti american socialistic plans. It is even more fun to find out that words like fascism or socialism have been used without knowing what they mean.

I could scream over all the people who did not notice that they had more on their pay slip for a while. I want to beat the once who are 30 years and younger and telling me that they might never need health insurance but for sure they won’t use OBAMACARE!!! OH, and before I forget – you will not only get fined if you don’t have insurance – NO – they will throw you in jail for that. And boy, don't you know Will? He just came back from prison for refusing insurance. You really don't know him? Weird, because all these FB people out there seem to know him.

You will have to pass by all these stupid, dumb voting requests to tell the world that you are sick of Obama. No reasoning or explanation. Just so!
And if you try to get into a discussion with somebody, please for your own sanity, be aware that every fact, every quote, every statistic, every YouTube clip will not be received by a healthy brain.
The FOX brain wash treatment was effective enough to turn a tremendous amount of people into mindless zombies. And it really is like in the movies. It seems to be catching like the flu and you will see friends staggering down the road – their arms stretched out and grunting GOP propaganda without even knowing what that means.

Now you know why I am sitting here, my hands clutched around my cup of coffee because I am to afraid to open my pantry and reach for a tea bag.
You think I am exaggerating?!?! Go out and try to convince one of these zombies and you will find out that I only embellished a tiny little bit.

I need to make now an appointment with my shrink. See you later soon I am feeling myself again and please – soon you find a way to stop mindless COPY PASTE and FORWARD – let everybody know.

This, that and the other RANDLE MOMENTS

agermanfullofhope

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday September 05, 2013 · 9:07 PM PDT

2013/09/05 · 21:07

Instead of doing the dishes my better half seems to come up with the weirdest ideas and making his point in little cartoons. I would love to share this one here with you guys and hope that your feedback is making him brave enough to post more.

Help! I am going to my first town hall meeting!

agermanfullofhope

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday August 04, 2013 · 7:03 PM PDT

2013/08/04 · 19:03

Here I am, writing my first dairy with sweaty palms, because I am not even sure if my question is worth a diary. On top - the majority of all the other diaries I read before show profound knowledge and insight so I feel kind a silly to ask this question or for that matter any question. But I am brave and will do it anyway. I hope that my diary will get lots of “lurking” people (like me-Member since 2008) to come out of the wood work and that lot of young or inexperienced citizen like me will get the information they need to make a difference in a forum like a town hall meeting.

In 1999 I married an American and moved from Germany to the States. And let me tell you, this was not easy. I was no spring chicken anymore when this took place. My views on the United States went beyond the beautiful red white and blue image as well as it was hard for me and my hubby to learn each other’s ways.

In 2008 I got my American citizenship to take the most important right into my hands – the right to vote. I was always a political oriented person and was able to voice my thoughts and opinions in a constructive way. Now I am dealing with a foreign language, a complete different way of approaching or voicing opinions and a knowledgeable forum as this one.
So I blame my friend and member of this forum high uintas who talked me into becoming a member, just in case I make a fool out of myself. Although she seems to be the only one who understands my gibberish, she thinks it is time to stop bothering her with my questions and step into the light.

So I take a deep breath and go.

How should I prepare myself for a town hall meeting?

•    I know date, time and place of the meeting.
•    I know who the politician is.
•    So far I have read already a lot about this particular senator and his political views when he got up for election and I know what he has done so far.
•    I know what he voted for.
•    I see what effect his political tactics have and I don’t agree with them.
•    I know out of experience, that I should ask only one question and not a group of questions so that he can’t pick the easiest to answer.
•    I have already five questions I would like to ask this senator.

What I do not know is…..

•    How long do town hall meetings normally last?
•    Should I arrive more early?
•    How do I get the chance to ask/say anything?
•    Do I have to present my questions maybe before hand to a staff member maybe?
•    Do I have to state who I am? (I would not have a problem with that – this is more a general question)
•    Can I ask my question again if I feel it has not been answered?
•    Can I be thrown out if my questions don’t fit this senator agenda?
•    How many questions should I prepare?
•    Is there more that I need to know?
•    What kind of experiences do you have and what kind of advise could you give me?

It is done! I wrote my first diary and can’t wait for your comments and I can promise you that each constructive advice and idea will be followed as good as possible. I will post my first town hall experience at the end of this month for everybody to view and to critique. But mainly for all the people like me who might need just the right information or a little nudge to take part in a basic right.

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