Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

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Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

I have a new blog address!

Hi everyone! Self-Employed Reporter has been moved to my own website http://www.kacikoviak.com/blog

Please click on the link above to view my new blog page.

I hope you find it easier to read and navigate! Thank you so much for your support!
Kaci

I have a new blog address!

Drizzling on My Parade

What is a New York Thanksgiving with out the Macy's parade?

Tonight, I had a sneak preview of featured balloons in the parade.

Lined up along 77th street and Central Park west, were familiar floating characters such as Spider Man, Sponge Bob Square Pants and Shrek, all covered in nets and held down with hundreds of sand bags. The weather was misty and the temperature was cold, but that didn't stop the thousands of New York parents and their kids from coming out and taking a peak at these giant inflatable visitors.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade starts tomorrow at 9 A.M. Get there early, dress warm, and enjoy the view.

Drizzling on My Parade

Pot Calling the Kettle Black?

I was walking to the grocery store on an August afternoon when two teenage boys handed me this “Tony Alamo Christian Ministries” pamphlet.

Unlike most New Yorkers who are deeply annoyed with street handouts, I ‘m still new and greatly accept every piece of literature that is shoved in my face; curiosity I guess.

I read it.

This religious pamphlet would offend any practicing Catholic. The article refers to Catholics as Nazis, kidnappers and the Antichrist.

Self-proclaimed “World Pastor" Tony Alamo writes, “They [Catholics] are also the ones behind the D.H.S. (Department of Homeland Security) stealing Christian children and today’s Catholic-controlled world government persecution of true Christians – sending weak-minded young people to brainwashing centers like the Catholic Cult Awareness Network, now called Wellspring, which they (the Catholic government) call 'counseling centers'."

Alamo then pleas to Catholics, “Ask God to save your soul,” followed by a prayer and five step process to “receive salvation.”

Wow.

Slightly disturbed by Alamo’s fervent allegations, I then glanced at the picture of the Pastor himself. With his fluffy mini-fro, cheesy off-white suit and shaded Aviator sunglasses that he’s creepily sporting INSIDE a portrait studio mind you, I thought to myself, “No thank you Mr. Alamo, I’ll take my chances with the Catholic Church.”

I respect our freedom of religion and speech in the first amendment of our constitution, though there’s no law respecting a person who exercises these rights.

I folded up the pamphlet and added it to my “New York Experience” box.

It wasn’t until today that I decided to reopen my box and take another look at this piece of literature handed to me a few months ago.

Then, I googled “Tony Alamo” and this is what I found.

November 13, 2009 – (Friday the 13th)
CNN – “Evangelist Alamo sentenced to 175 years on sex charges.”
CBS – “Tony Alamo, Christian Ministries Pervert Preacher, Gets 175 Years for Molesting Child Brides.”
The Examiner.com “Tony Alamo: the same old story – abusive do-it-yourself preacher.”

Last week, in Arkansas, 75-year-old Alamo was sentenced to 175 years in prison for taking underage girls across state lines for sex, the theft of his late wife’s body, and income tax evasion to name a few of the 10 convictions. His youngest known victim was eight years old.

Alamo used his status as a father figure and leader of the church as a weapon against girls, threatening the “loss of their salvation” if they did not submit to his demands.

While determining his sentence, United States District Judge Harry F. Barnes said, “Mr. Alamo, one day you will face a greater judge than me, may he have mercy on your soul.”

Since then, there has been a website set up to serve as a resource for information and support for the victims of Tony Alamo.

Alamo’s lawyers have appealed the conviction.

Alamo, whose real name is Bernie Hoffman, calls the accusations a hoax, claiming that he loves children and doesn’t abuse them.

In the pamphlet that disgustingly lies on my desk, Alamo writes in the fifth and final step of his salvation plan, “You must learn the Word of God, then submit yourself and do what the Word says. . . If you’re like me and would rather not be damned, but instead be saved, then say this prayer to God.”

Let his prayers begin.

Fact - A record 7.3 million Americans are now in prison, on parole or probation, costing the United States $52 billion on corrections last year.

Pot Calling the Kettle Black?

FALLing in Love

Central Park is sporadically covered with gigantic glaciated boulders. I climbed to the top of one and took this picture.

Covering over one square mile of Manhattan is New York’s famous Central Park. It consists of two skating rinks, 37 playgrounds, a 106-acre reservoir (among several smaller lakes and ponds), a Central Park zoo, over 26,000 trees and 200 species of birds.

Fall is one of the more popular seasons to visit Central Park for obvious reasons. The temperature is crisp, the air is clean, the leaves are breathtakingly beautiful and everyone seems to be in a pleasant mood.
If you want to jog through the trails, play catch on a grassy knoll or just relax on a park bench and catch up on a good book, I believe Central Park is one of the most inviting getaways that New York City has to offer.

Growing up on a small farm in East Texas provides more serenity and privacy, but for now, I’ll enjoy the substitution of car horns for donkey brays as best I know how.

Fact - In 2009, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg cut more than $5.6 million in funding from the parks and recreation budget, causing job losses for 167 employees.

FALLing in Love

Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Inside those walls of scaffolding is Spruce, the 76-foot tall Christmas tree from Easton, Connecticut. In a couple of weeks, those metal poles and wooden planks will come down, as thousands of Christmas lights and decorations go up.

Workers are decorating around the clock to get Rockefeller Plaza’s most cherished tree ready for the 2009 tree lighting ceremony on Wednesday, December 2nd at 8:55 P.M. sharp.

Even though they only use lights and one star to decorate this Norway Spruce, the star stands 9.5 feet tall and weighs 550 pounds, and more than five miles of wire and lights are used to make this the most famous Christmas tree in the nation.

Rockefeller Plaza is also home to NBC Universal, the Today Show and the world-famous Rockefeller skating rink.

Fact – Holiday shopping isn’t even in full swing, but stores are already experiencing toy shortages. Nervous retailers are under-ordering their shipments of toys in anticipation of another economic hit to holiday spending.

By early December, experts have predicted shortages of the top 100 toys as opposed to the usual short supply of the top 15 toys of the year.

Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Welcome to my mini-version of Canton's First Monday.

The Union Square Market is located just a few blocks from where I live. On a beautiful day, walking through the square provides a wonderful source of exercise with loads of entertainment, especially if you're interested in people-watching.

On the north side of the square, vendors sell anything from organic fruit, herbs and vegetables to more seasonal items like pumpkins, decorative squash and mums.

There is even an older couple who sells hot apple cider on those days when wearing thermal underwear isn't enough to keep a person warm.

On the south side of the square, local artists set up tables, displaying unique expressions of the city in forms of paintings, sculptures and jewelry.

The SPCA even sets up a little "Dog Alley." Unfortunately, no chickens or goats are up for adoption here.

Everything is reasonably priced, and there is always room for some bargaining.

Fact - More than 65 percent (two thirds) of Americans will spend less money on holiday shopping than last year.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood