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Real Estate Taxes/Collusion/Graft

Thursday, August 29th, 2019

by: Marceline Donaldson

It never ceases to amaze me how many people are willing to take part in an obvious rip-off of others with those “others” including themselves and they do this for nothing – mostly not even realizing the rip-off. How many “good” people are willing to ‘go along to get along’ turning their backs to the suffering of others caused by their ‘head in the sand’ attitude towards life.

Real estate taxes is one of those areas. A collusion between the banks and the government entity levying the taxes.

Take a close, clear look at what that is all about.

Many government entities, which have decided to charge real estate taxes to those within their boundaries join the corporate and financial mafia which is totally ripping off the average citizen, daily, and these government entities contribute their share in that kind of enterprise. They join in making the banks overfed, arrogant and with an attitude that the banks rule.

How does that happen?The right to collect real estate taxes is declared and the reasons and areas which will benefit are also outlined. Those having to pay the taxes are in general agreement because they see the benefit to themselves and their generations to come.

And then things go off the rail. What enters is graft, theft, rip-offs, greed, power and much more.

How could something which started off as a benefit become such a tool to the grifters and others who insert themselves into the process? Think about who benefits before the real estate taxes you pay reach their destination. Very few people pay their real estate taxes to their government entity. Their taxes are collected by the banks. When they sign for the mortgage they are given a story which is clearly not true as to why the bank should pay the taxes. They are convinced that is the best way and their mortgage papers have a clause they have to sign – even under duress or they don’t get the mortgage – that the bank can take over paying their real estate taxes at any point the bank decides. That means many who start off paying their taxes directly to the government entity, in a short time receive notice from the bank that their mortgage amount is increased by the amount of real estate taxes and it must be paid at the same time their mortgage is due.

Real Estate Taxes have made the banks of America fat, overly arrogant, feeds them for free so they can do their thing in other areas ignoring their customers and much, much more. It is free money for six months. Money the banks knows will come in on a certain day and will remain for the next six months. The banks know that will continue for the life of the mortgage, which in some cases is 30 years. Billions and Billions of dollars free – from John and Jane Q. Public.

The public could put that money monthly into a savings account if they so decided and receive interest payments at the retail market rate. They could buy bonds which come due a few days before their real estate taxes and receive appreciation and interest. They could do a number of things with their own money and earn for themselves instead of giving that money to the bank to be held – for free. The banks are not charity organizations to whom you contribute because of the good humanitarian work they do.

Think of what a bank can do and is doing and has done around real estate taxes. The billions and billions they collect and use to up their bottom line comes from the hard earned money of John and Jane Q. Public who makes the money by hard work and gets zero return on his or her dollars because the bank’s evil geniuses have figured out how to set in place such a system and make it palatable to the general public. It is normal – is what we’ve heard. Everybody has to pay their taxes to the bank – we’ve also heard. And how does that make it right – we are asking?

Today you are required or convinced by the bank’s smooth talk to make mortgage payments to the bank which include your real estate taxes. The bank’s requirement is that you make these tax payments to them six months in advance. The bank holds that money – can use it anyway they choose – and for six months they have money in the billions on which they don’t pay anything to the people whose money they are holding. Banks have billions of dollars they can use – free – to do whatever they choose and they don’t have to answer to anyone for the money nor pay interest nor anything else on those real estate taxes which they hold for fully six months.

If you have a 30 year mortgage, the bank knows that for the next 30 years they have your money to use for free for six months ongoing for the next 30 years.

And then come the games.

Foreclosure and default are very lucrative for banks. If you pay your mortgage plus interest in full and do not pay your real estate taxes to the bank you are found in default for money owed to no one. but which the bank has declared a part of the repayment of your mortgage and they hold that you are in default or foreclosure because the real estate taxes you do not owe have not been paid.

We have been contacted by people who are in default on their mortgage and some who are in foreclosure. Those in default have had massive fees added to the mortgage amounts in spite of the fact that their mortgages were paid in full and on time. For three months they did not include the real estate taxes because they figured out the game the banks were playing and refused to go along. They contacted the bank and said they were going to pay their real estate taxes directly to the government entity and the bank said no. That is not possible. If you don’t pay directly to us and if you don’t pay six months in advance of when the amount is due you will be held in default after three months of not making those real estate tax payments to the bank.

They have tried to send money each month to the government entity – which was fine, but because it was not in the bank, they were found in default by the bank when, in fact, there were no monies due because the government entity had been paid.

So, in spite of their mortgage having been paid in full and on time – and their real estate taxes having been paid six months in advance of their being due, but directly to the government entity instead of to the bank, the bank put them into default and a couple such people we knew about into foreclosure for not paying monies they didn’t owe. The problem was resolved, but with the bank keeping the many fees charged because the mortgage had been declared in default and with the other family, the fees kept because the mortgage was in foreclosure.

The bank, knowing the real estate taxes were paid in full ignored that and paid the government entity the real estate taxes in full. In another case, the bank overpaid the taxes because they needed the extra few thousand dollars they overpaid to throw the family into default on their mortgage. In another case, the bank paid other bills, which they had no right to pay, but which they did anyway causing the family untold problems to work through and all of that with attorneys – causing the family to expend even more money. Is that fear and intimidation?

One such person had an agreement with their bank that they would pay their own real estate taxes. After several months of going along with that, the bank notified the person that their real estate taxes needed to be escrowed in addition to paying the mortgage. They refused because they had a different agreement going into the mortgage – the mortgage was paid on time and the real estate taxes also. The family put real estate tax monies into bonds which matured in six month increments so they could use that money to pay the government entity. That didn’t matter, the bank wanted the money to use for its own purposes, for free and demanded that their mortgage holders pay their real estate taxes directly to the bank or face foreclosure.

Did you know the bank can attempt to foreclose on your property even if your mortgage plus interest is paid before its due date and in full?

Into this money game – enter the government entity collecting the real estate taxes. They have several games they play in collusion with the banks.

  1. They go along with the banks demanding that the real estate taxes be paid six months in advance and the money held by the bank – without recompense to the mortgage holder. And, on one account we saw where the mortgage holder paid an average of $5,000 to the city for real estate taxes over six months, that mortgage holder’s bank was one of the more generous banks paying them $.31 interest on their $5,000 for six months.
  2. Enter the elderly. Many government entities have passed laws which say those over 65 – although some say those over 75 – may defer their taxes on their property until either they die or sell the house. The interest on such ranges from 3% to about 7% depending upon the amount of interest so stipulated by the particular government entity.
  3. Enter the games against the elderly. Some government entities on their admin side don’t want that, but it was passed anyway. So the admins and their managements have found a way to by-pass this. They make sure to discombobulate, to dissemble, to refuse to accept the applications from the elderly for such deferrals. Many we have encountered are very good at this pushing away and not accepting applications yet claiming the applications were not complete, not offered, not submitted, etc.
  4. If that doesn’t work and the elderly person is particularly good at dealing with bureaucracies what then comes into play is the collusion between the banks and the government entities. The government agrees that the application is complete, good, passed on positively and the elderly person sends it to their bank holding their mortgage and the bank refuses to honor the deferral.

5. Given the fact that the bank should not be able to dishonor such an application, especially if the equity is substantial enough to insure the taxes will be paid upon the person’s death or sale of the property – the bank refuses to accept the deferral and does not have to give a reason. Just a blanket refusal. We call that bank-greed and elder-abuse.

6. We call it bank-greed because we have tracked down a few such instances and have found that there will be people in the bank with their eyes on a particular property where the elderly owners are going through this process and they want to buy the house, but not at the retail price which everyone else has to pay. With machinations, the elderly person is, in effect, swindled out of their property and the city or bank person goes away happily owning a new piece of property or have passed it on to someone who gives them a kick back.

7. The rub from all of this is that the elderly person will generally wind up without their property living in subsidized elderly housing and the person paying that bill is John Q. Public who was swindled by the banks and the government entities in the first place in this real estate tax dealing. So that swindle comes around again and payment is extracted again from the tax paying public.

There is a whole lot more to this than the above and we encourage you to send us information from your experiences. We will continue to write about it in installments so that you can see how banks, taxes, mortgages, government entities work hand and glove in ways we feel are illegal, but they feel as their right against those working hard to put bread on their tables and keep their heads above water let alone attempting to do anything more that they deserve because of their hard work over a lifetime.

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This contribution is to the Bettina Network Foundation, inc. which is a 501(c)3 organization and tax deductible.

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You can send a check to Bettina Network, inc. P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 to support this blog! Please make your check out to “Bettina Network, inc.” since the blog income is not the foundation income.

If you prefer your gift go to the Foundation, make your check payable to Bettina Network Foundation, inc. The money we receive for the Foundation currently is going to support the Wells Fargo Boycott.

_________________________________________________________

Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net





Tiger Woods – No Surprise!

Tuesday, May 7th, 2019

We received little notes from Bettina Network Lifestyle Community Members about the award Donald Trump bestowed upon Tiger Woods.

Several expressed surprise that Tiger Woods accepted the award – given the stand many African American and even mixed race African American sports figures have taken. So why is Tiger Woods standing there grinning and proud?

We didn’t understand the surprise of some of our readers and contributors because – “birds of a feather”.

That should give you some idea of the common values Trump and Woods share. That kind of sexism, that disrespect for, that misuse and abuse of women crosses racial, national, and all other barriers.

Think back a bit. What do you know about Tiger Woods beyond his great talent in the golf game? Remember his ex-wife’s anger when she found out just how ‘outre’ he was with women? Remember the stories which surfaced in the media about how he ‘shacked up’ with multiple women after his golf tournaments and carried on multiple affairs while his wife took care of home and children? Remember all of the womanizing you heard and/or read about concerning how Tiger Woods lived his life? Does that remind you of anyone? Maybe the man putting the necklace (some call it the Medal of Freedom) around Tiger Woods?

Now who is surprised? We are, that so many of you are surprised and/or expected Tiger Woods to refuse the award on principled grounds. Expect him rather to ask ‘what’s that’ – principled grounds?

The surprise should be all of the media reports with no one mentioning that history – those connections between Woods and Trump – etc. Or have we become a society which accepts all of that as normal and those commonalities having nothing to do with why one is chosen? Who you are as a person needs to be the rock foundation from which other talents and accomplishments radiate.

Have we lost our way expecting awards such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom be given to someone who examplifies greatness in what they do as well as who they are and how they have lived their lives – as an example of someone who walks this earth who we would be proud to have our children emulate? A great talent is a wonderful gift. A life well lived is what we give back. An award such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom needs to be given to someone whose life embodies both the gift and what the giver returns to the society. At this point Tiger Woods has shown and cultivated his God given gift. He has given back, however, much that muddies the earth, confuses its children and supports the likes of a Donald Trump and his presidency. From looking at Tiger Woods’ children, imagine them crossing the border – or trying to cross the border from Mexico to the U. S. How do you think he would be treated by those carrying out the dictates and policies of the man putting that award around his neck. Do you think Tiger, having been asked the question would call for the bowl of water, soap and a towel? With the acceptance of that award from Donald Trump, Tiger Woods symbolically did just that.

https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-gives-tiger-woods-presidential-medal-of-freedom-2019-5

_______________________________________

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

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Project 1 – Estate Sales after the Sale

Project 2 – #WellsFargoBoycott

Project 3 – Growing Bettina Network’s Blog

into a major media outlet bringing to the public news, recipes, thoughts, reviews of businesses, etc. from the perspective of those who belong to Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community.

You can send a check to Bettina Network, inc. P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 to support this blog! Please make your check out to “Bettina Network, inc.” since the blog income is not the foundation income.

If you prefer your gift go to the Foundation, make your check payable to Bettina Network Foundation, inc. The money we receive for the Foundation currently is going to support the Wells Fargo Boycott.

_________________________________________________________

Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.co










A New Political and Economics Vocabulary!

Wednesday, April 24th, 2019

It sounds so foolish for people in the United States to be trying to frame this upcoming presidential election around old concepts which were relevant during the time of the Cold War but not today. When used, the concepts being thrown around in preparation for this upcoming 2020 campaign are confusing and the cause of much emotional upset and fighting because of what hangs onto the concepts from a difficult time in the life of this worlds’ political and economic institutions.

Instead of defining our economy in Cold War terms, the Republicans need to be more accurately descriptive of our institutions. We need to make the massive effort to increase our vocabulary with newer more accurate terms or we need to pull out a new vocabulary which fits where we are today – terms that fit what we are actually about. None of the terms the Republicans are using are accurate, fitting, nor descriptive.

The Democrats are going to run their 2020 campaign bringing forth corruption, lying, stealing and all of us will be very well acquainted with terms like “emoluments”. Terms we had probably either never heard of or heard in passing without giving a thought to going deeply into their meaning.

We talk in terms of Capitalism, Socialism, Communism. None of these terms come close to where we are today. Using those terms only exacerbates the ugliness and vileness we are experiencing as a country – brought on by our own.

Capitalism is totally irrelevant and has been for some time because basic to that concept is the assumption that everyone is free and equal in the society and are only limited by their vision, etc. We live in a society which is fraught with sexism, racism, homophobia, ethnocentrism, ageism and so much more of that which separates us and makes us feel better than or less than. A society in which my identify is better than your identity is not able to even begin to describe its economic and political system as based on Capitalism.

Our so called “capitalist” system has venture capitalists who only fund white male northern european types – and will fund minorities and women into the (maybe) $50,000 area to fund their start-ups and actively encourage others to tour the country looking for great start-up ideas being worked on by minorities so they can steal and bring those ideas and that work to the venture capitalists, who are more than ready to see those new and radical business ideas happening and being developed by minorities in this world being carried forward into their substantial billion dollar areas by white male types to maintain the societal structure with those at the top most like our current venture capitalist and other investor groups with serious money that they obtained in the same way. That “serious money” is not available for investment to minority groups. (and from here on “minorities” include women because that is who they are and how they are treated from a power and control perspective in this society.)

Socialism is fraught with many misinterpretations when used today. Most link it to state owned everything and gradually being the economic and political part of the structure of a state which becomes evil and destroys the quality of everybody’s life. In this “Socialism” we all become zombies beholden to a very ugly, vicious and violent state. And – the examples we come up with as to “Socialist States” are indeed horrifying if one thinks that is the direction in which these United States are headed, if we choose the model being proffered by these anti-socialism fighters.

Communism is the most misinterpreted because we hook that term to the Soviet Union at its worse. We hook it to the rampaging McCarthy who destroyed many lives and even more careers fighting phantoms, using a political and economic concept as a means to oppress those he wanted to expel from “his” country and the country which he felt belonged to him and his kind. All others were usurpers trying to turn this great democracy into something vile. Turned out the vileness came from McCarthy and his kind – and who was one of his protege’s – none other than Donald Trump. Trump learned his lessons well at the feet of McCarthy and Cohn and he has brought all of that upheaval and evil back into 2016, 17, 18, 19 America.

And, Communism carries with it the claim by many Christians, that the social and economic system of Jesus was a communist system. That complicates the picture even more as that kind of claim, while not accepted by most mainline Christians was accepted enough to increase the religious bigotry which has existed in these United States from its beginnings with its genoocidal war against Native Americans.

This election cycle is shaping up to be one in which the worst interpretation of the above terms is going to be used to win or lose. At the very least the fight for the presidency and other offices will be embroidered around hurling Socialism, Capitalism, Communism at the opposition as though they were evil and we should not elect anyone who espouses such.

As we look at the above, what becomes clear is that our current system was created, grown and sustained by white male mostly Northern European types who patterned their need for power and control after what they saw in the Middle – Near East – Far Eastern parts of the world which were also male dominated cultures interested in expanding and maintaining power and control in their own ways. Vestiges of those historical groups still exist and today are beginning to rise up to attempt to re-establish their historical societies which are counter to the ways they were beginning to move.

The strong roots such groups have in this society becomes clear as under Donald Trump we are making strong moves to bring those cultures together because it is the only way male domination in its meaness – viciousness – and need for total power and control can continue to thrive and grow.

A more diverse and integrated world is beginning to show-up. Hopefully, as that moves and grows the goodness, beauty and grace of the human spirit will flourish and what has gone before will be permanently in the rear view mirror and will maintain only in history.

Watching that diversity develop is a cautionary tale, however, because even in its extreme infancy we see in the United States powers beginning to move into male groups which were anathema when white males were at the height of their power and control and adopt and adapt these others into their society and culture because that is what is necessary for them to continue developing the mean spiritedness, viciousness, control, tyranny and ugliness of what we have and are continuing to experience.

Looking at the 2018 elections, we celebrated the break through of a new America. We praised our voting citizens for the diversity of people we elected and it looked as though we were reaching through to a new day.

As time goes on, however, we are seeing the sprouts of those weeds which caused and cause so much trouble and evil in the world as talk becomes prevalent of which “white males” can best be elected who will look out for and bring about a more equitable, diverse and “new” America. Which white male will best take care of the rest of the world in a patronizing and paternalistic fashion so that male domination can continue and in a short time raise its ugly head again to attempt to subjugate and push the world into finding its meanest spots to develop. And saddest of all of that talk are the women joining the chorus who are so enmeshed in paternalism they cannot see the worth and ability of other women who can do much better.

The fact that the talk happening is simply a new prelude to another chapter of the “old” slaveowning, segregationist, vile and vicious America has been covered up to be revealed upon the victory and ascendancy of this new talk.

Looking at the way “Bernie” helped to bring in Trump to maintain that old way of life without getting “dirty” in the process should tell us and let us see what is happening with this presidential campaign today. It should also show us that this new, kinder, gentler paternalism will not work.

Think on these things before you reject them out of hand. Look carefully at your government and its history America before you laud yourselves as being “better than” and pray hard that you do not continue in the ways from which you declared you wanted to depart to bring out more of the goodness of America.

___________________________________________

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

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Project 1 – Estate Sales after the Sale

Project 2 – #WellsFargoBoycott

Project 3 – Growing Bettina Network’s Blog into a major media outlet bringing to the public news, recipes, thoughts, reviews of businesses, etc. from the perspective of those who belong to Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community.

You can send a check to Bettina Network, inc. P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 to support this blog! Please make your check out to “Bettina Network, inc.” since the blog income is not the foundation income.

If you prefer your gift go to the Foundation, make your check payable to Bettina Network Foundation, inc. The money we receive for the Foundation currently is going to support the Wells Fargo Boycott.

_________________________________________________________

Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.co







A Trumpian Sonnet

Monday, December 24th, 2018

How have I sold you out?  Let me count the ways –

I sold you out to the depth and breadth and height

my soul could reach striving for and needing great wealth,

control, supremacy over all.

You were the means by which that greatness within the

circle of dictators could be acquired and attained.

My life, from its beginning to its end, has always been about the ideal

situation that would make me better than anyone else ever with

the world acknowledging my greatness.

My reach for the top of power,

money, supremacy of my whiteness

is all that motivates me. 

I have not lost my saints – there were never any there for me by

my life’s choices.

 I wanted to be free to make my own choices

without the handicap of society’s ethics, morals, character which had

constraints that would not allow me the freedom I needed.

My freedom and supremacy uber alles and on my own terms

are beliefs to which I hold and have always lived by.

In my childhood faith I was a god and resented those around

who did not acknowledge such.

In my adulthood, I am god – at the top of the mountain talking only

to a friend who has been there counseling me forever taking his

advice and suggestions.  

He wants world control and asked for my help – which I freely gave.

I didn’t even mind the intense heat and sulfur smell which seemed to

always surround him. 

Through my smiles, tears, through all of my life I have wanted to

be the one he chose – so now I walk into his house with those

like me and we shall, for an eternity, be together.

____________________________________________

Learn More About How We Use Your Donation!

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Project 1 – Estate Sales after the Sale

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_______________________________________________

Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.com

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד׃‬

Wednesday, October 31st, 2018

My heart cries out to you, O God,

others hear and feel their own – but you, O God, hear the pain on my heart and my life.
By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion.
You, O God are omnipotent and gave me life
To you I owe everything.
Where are you now God that those who tried and did take the lives of my ancestors those dark days in Germany
are back today trying to take my life.
My soul screams to you, O God, as do the souls of those who escaped the Holocaust with their lives, but wound up
in a foreign land which rejects us.
How can we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land
How can we praise you, O God, when we escaped the Concentration Camps – the Pograms – the constant
humiliations –
How can we forget that when we finally broke free from the bondage which demanded and took the lives of those
we love, no country wanted us
We were refugees on a ship in the ocean not able to land because we were repudiated
No one wanted us,
Wealthy nations wanted the wealthy – they passed laws to only allow into their space relatives of those who were rich and who looked like them, talked like them, had the same values including the rejection of those like me – one of your chosen, O God, but to others one who they reject because of my love of God.  They wanted the young, those trained and able to serve their needs. They wanted those who would compromise their God for wealth, power and control.
We had been debased; we had been treated as beasts of burden and slaves
We had with us the elderly, the sick, those emotionally crippled, the destitute, those whose hearts cried because
they were afraid to let out their pain in any other way – the cost of others hearing and seeing their pain was too high.
The countries to whom we made our supplications turned us away and so we floated – with no food, no water, tired and desperate
Those same countries are killing us today and they are killing those who are not us, but who are unlike them
They come out and shoot us as they do animals and birds of prey only they are more careful with those because
they have a monetary value to them – we do not.
Those who arrive on these shores in the condition we were in all those many years ago are treated with the same disdain and rejection.  Has nothing changed?  Have they no shame?  Have they no soul?  Are they so enmeshed in evil they cannot overcome it?
They have not learned, they do not know!
O God you have searched me and you know me
Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men and women who are all around me and all around those you cherish
protect me from men and women of violence who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war everyday.
they make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s
the poison of vipers is on their lips
O Lord, I say to you, You are my God
do not grant the wicked their desires
do not let their plans succeed.
Let the heads of those  who surround me be covered with the troubles their lips  have caused
I know that God secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy
Let justice, O God, roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream
For today is replicated, in my land, the plight of the Jews during Hitler’s day.  But in this day others have been added.  Not just those who sympathize with the Jews, but those whose skin is darker; whose language is different; who are trying to sing Your song in a strange land.

Immigrants looking for a home, in this land,  are characterized as a “Caravan”  looking to attack a nation when in reality they are refugees seeking asylum, a place where they can find food, shelter and a safe place for their children.

In this society can justice be done by the victims of injustice?  That is who we are O God and we are trying to reach out to those who are in the space we occupied just a generation ago.

Is that possible, O God?  Can we continue living in a space also occupied by such pain and evil.

We will use our institutions to bring about justice and our lives to insure that others do not have to walk that Trail of Tears the way we were forced to walk it without food, water or shelter.

If that is possible, we will try, O God, so others will not have to serve and live the horrible life of slaves, who have been consigned to live as beasts of burden.

Thought I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life.

you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes.

With your right hand, you save me.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh
when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
though war break out against me even then will I be confident.
One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek God in God’s temple.
Of one thing am I confident –
that I will see the beauty of the Lord in the land of the living!
And in the end:

In memory of:

Maurice Stallard , (69)- Louisville, Kentucky                                                                                                                       Vicki Lee Jones (67) – Louisville, Kentucky

The Lord bless you and keep you

May  God’s face  shine upon you and be gracious unto you

May  God’s face be lifted unto you and give you peace, both now and ever more.

Numbers 6:22-27

Look at what we are doing! Join us!

Tuesday, September 25th, 2018

We have had many valued guests over the past 35 years we have been in business.They are always very discerning people and we are looking to add more like them so we are letting you know about our new movements in the hopes you will call to either add your home and talent to Bettina Network and Bettina Hedge Schools and/or you will call us when you travel to use our services.

We hope you will  become one of those who cares about where you stay when traveling and are always searching for knowledge, wisdom and a greater understanding of the world. We combine both! A concept we originated and for which we have high hopes.

To Bettina Network, inc. we have added:

BETTINA NETWORK HEDGE SCHOOLS

which are elegant accommodations, with an emphasis on diversity, and includes serendipitous learning for those who travel with Bettina’s!

Bettina Network Hedge Schools took  a very old concept, dusted it off and updated it in such a way that we are deep into lifelong learning.

Hedge School Families share their histories, experiences, learning and wisdom when you choose to stay with them when you travel.

Hedge School Facilitators travel Bettina Network and turn up in the most unexpected places.  They bring an added layer of learning as the HSF specialize in many different areas of learning and doing.

Instead of depending upon serendipity, some guests ask to stay in a home with a particular emphasis – with a concert pianist; sculptor;  academics in different fields —which means, for example, you can improve your knitting by staying with a family of expert knitters; a chef with whom you can cook; a priest and more.

Some facts on Bettina procedures

Someone from Bettina Network, inc.spends the night in every home before it is taken into Bettina’s and offered to you.

We get to know the family with whom you will be staying and we keep up with our homes on a daily basis.

We send out a “Guest Questionnaire” to everyone who stays in a Bettina Home and our return rate is 90%. That tells us – usually in great detail – the experience of a guest and keeps us aware in another way of what is happening in Bettina Network homes.

We accept cash, checks, credit cards – OR – we invoice your company.

We invite you to look to Bettina Network, inc., when  looking for a place to stay for those special guests who are traveling to give a lecture; to collaborate on a research project; to be a tourist; those giving a performance in an extraordinary music event, or etc.

And don’t forget Bettina Network’s blog

www.bettinanetwork.com/blog

The blog is thought provoking with contributions from members of Bettina’s Lifestyle Community.  Once you become a member of this incredibly diverse community, we invite you to write articles, send pictures, float ideas, try out your latest research on a great audience – which, as of today, includes some 2,000 to 3,000 people per day coming to read the blog.

Given our resources, we have information, news, and ideas you won’t find anyplace else.Join our little group, add your voice and use our services.

Bettina Network, inc – P. O. Box 380585 – Cambridge, MA. 02238

phone: 617 497 9166or toll free: 800-347-9166 within the U.S.

bettina-network@comcast.net      https://www.bettina-network.com

Sincerely,

All of us at Bettina’s

Bettina’s Menu of Events – a benefit for members of Bettina’s Lifestyle Community!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Bettina Network, inc.
P. O. Box 380585
Cambridge, MA. 02238
phone: 617 497 9166 inside and outside the U. S.
toll free phone: 800 347 9166 inside the U. S.
web-site: bettina-network.com
email: bettina-network@comcast.net

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Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

This is a curated blog so you cannot write your responses at the end of each entry. TO RESPOND TO THIS BLOG email bettina-network@comcast.net or info@bettina-network.com

TO LEARN MORE try www.bettina-network.com

 

A BNLMember Responds to Poetry

Monday, July 9th, 2018

I loved the poem about trees. I would love to respond with my own poetry, but until that day this is what I found which i find beautiful and an addendum to Lynn O. Cohen’s poem –

“The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see Nature all ridicule and deformity, and some scarce see Nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, Nature is Imagination itself.”
– William Blake, 1799, The Letters

“I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech-tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the pines.”
– Henry David Thoreau, 1817 – 1862

“Around a flowering tree, one finds many insects.”
– Proverb from Guinea

“Why are there trees I never walk under but large and melodious thoughts descend upon me?”
– Walt Whitman, Song of the Open Road

“God is the experience of looking at a tree and saying, “Ah!” “
– Joseph Campbell

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Everything talked about in this blog and in any other blog in the Bettina Network, inc. is the opinion of the person who wrote the blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Bettina Network, inc. It is the property of Bettina Network, inc. and/or the person who wrote the original blog.
Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you. Please also tell us if you want your name as your byline or if you want your article to appear without your name.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

Spending Time at a Bettina Network Hedge School

Friday, June 15th, 2018

I recently stayed at a Bettina Network Hedge School and enjoyed every minute, but came home exhausted.

Every home is different and offers a wide range of experiences so I decided to take three days – combine this trip with my vacation – and see what this is all about.

Once you’ve stayed in a Bettina home you become a member of Bettina Network Lifestyle Community.  I love that part because I now have a password and can access parts of their web site.  I can add events to Bettina’s Menu of Events or I can generate a calendar of events for the city where I am staying. Their events are not the kind you find in the entertainment section of newspapers or other kinds of media.  Many are known only to the locals and in the right city that is a great find.

I wanted to learn about upholstering a room in my house.  This was something I read about years ago in a beautifully written novel and never forgot the description of the house.

I traveled to another one of the Bettina homes a couple years ago and heard about this house which helps you look at different ways to make your house, not airtight, but as economical in using heat as possible and the one thing I heard was this house was upholstering its walls.

I know cold comes through windows and sometimes I realized how cold the inside of the outside walls of my house can become so I thought that would be great.  So, knowing very little about what I was getting into off I went on a real journey of discovery.

My first day was spent sightseeing around town.  That was great, but my attention span for those kind of things gets lost quickly. I need to do something “real” to keep going , so the second and third days I stayed at the house instead of roaming around.  A woman, who was a guest at breakfast talked about what upholstering walls was all about.  She was there to help with a bedroom and talk us through the process.  The family had done this before and will finally have all of their rooms upholstered, I was glad to be around for the second and not the first try.

I saw the padding that would be used and the beautiful brocade material that would be put over the padding.  I was over the moon.  This was going to be really special.

We started by measuring and cutting the padding to fit all the different walls and over doors and small cubbies in the room.  I realized right away this was going to dramatically reduce my heating bill.  It would be really difficult for the cold to penetrate into that room.  It would take a couple days or longer, if at all.

Stapling the padding to the walls took the rest of the day and I was kind of tired, but very proud of my work.

We had tea in the late afternoon and talked about the history of this wall upholstery – it was the precursor of wallpaper.  Most of the very upper class homes had upholstered walls.  The poorer folks – like myself – had to paper their walls, which really gives no benefit beyond aesthetic.  This wall upholstery gives aesthetic as well as insulation.

the next morning – my third day – my host family suggested I might like to hangout, tour a bit, do nothing, but I was ready to go and wanted to see this through to the end as quickly as possible.  They cautioned that I might get tired since I really was not accustomed to such work.  I didn’t want to hear any of that so after breakfast and a visit with an Interior Designer who the family knows and works with we were ready to go.

I could not believe how beautiful the material.

We had the measurements from the day before when we put up the padding, so we moved along pretty quickly cutting and stapling the material to the walls. The staple gun we used has a pot belly contraption which hooked into the upholstery staple gun which was made especially for doing upholstery work.  The pot belly thing seemed to be for the purpose of giving more power to force the staples into the wall.

As we talked to the Interior Designer she described other ways to do this wall upholstery.  One was to put framing around the walls and staple the material to this framing.  The family, however, wanted to do this by stapling directly to the wall.  Their walls were plaster and built before 1900.  It was a time when, in some buildings, plaster was mixed with marble dust and it made for a very strong plaster wall.  If they had wall board as walls they would not have been able to do the stapling directly onto the walls – and – we were stapling close to the doors and windows so that also provided a substantial surface on which to attach the material.

This is very brief from what I learned at that house.  I have a notebook full of information which I will keep close because I am going to upholster all of my walls and hopefully my next winters heating bill will drop by half.

When we finished putting the material onto the walls we used a beautiful braid and that was our finishing look for this project.  The braid blended with the material and gave everything a very professional look.

All in all it was three days well spent.  I stayed in a beautiful room – great breakfast – met a couple of people who did this wall upholstery as their vocation – and I was ready to go to work.  Only when I got home I realized I was completely exhausted.  I spent a couple days recovering because we did some hard work.  It was fun – we joked quite a bit – talked a lot – I felt as though I had known this family for years by the time I left for home – and I got over my tired in a couple days.  The same kind of tired I would have experienced from a vacation, but on this “vacation” I came home with some real learning, new friends and an understanding of what some people do for a living.  I didn’t think anyone did this, but whatever you are looking for there is someone someplace who is an expert.

I hope Bettina Network Hedge Schools grows into a huge, magnificent Network so I can try many of their homes.  What I love most about Bettina’s is that it is a corporation that is greed-free.  They will contribute to this world as well as take what they need to survive and grow.

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Everything talked about in this blog and in any other blog in the Bettina Network, inc. is the opinion of the person who wrote the blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Bettina Network, inc. It is the property of Bettina Network, inc. and/or the person who wrote the original blog.
Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you. Please also tell us if you want your name as your byline or if you want your article to appear without your name.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

 

Bettina Oracle Speaks – AGAIN?

Monday, May 28th, 2018

We couldn’t pass up the Royal Wedding and all that means without sharing a little bit of what has transpired and its meaning and what is to come..

Lets take a look at the future as we watch the Royal Wedding re-runs.

The wedding of Meghan and Harry tells you one very important thing.  Pack your bags Donald Trump, your reality show is over – don’t drag the ending out too long because that stage of a reality show is like fresh fish left on a counter for days.

The Royal Wedding also tells you in which direction the world is moving. – It is moving quickly and in a straight line towards diversity – democracy and away from the autocrats, dictators, the uglies, the ‘for white patrons only’ people.

Clearly, England and the monarchy sees its future in a world of diversity.  A grouping of people calling themselves the English monarchy made a decision that they would no longer be identified nor would they identity themselves as all white all the time, but they would embrace diversity in everything they do.  That was a clear and unequivocal statement.  Charles may have put his head down to cover his flushed face when Presiding Bishop Michael Curry started his sermon, but in the end he was holding hands with Doria Ragland and making sure she was supported.  For someone who reportedly does not brush his own teeth, that was quite a statement – you go Charles, we are all behind you.

Following Charles’ example, even though they were giggling and snickering through parts of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s sermon will be most of the royals.  At least there will be those who count following their 1st in line heir to the throne of England.

Taking a very definite turn towards the Commonwealth with its 53 countries several of which are African and the darker colors of humanity, England has made a statement and a choice.

AND – the Cambridge Analytica’s of the world with their wealthy associates who have put their wealth into a pot of evil doings – every  penny of your wealth will burn in hell and be delivered along with your ashes, in the not too distant future, to the people you tried very hard to turn back into slaves.  You folks may have been one of the many forces behind Brexit, and behind the ascendancy of Trump to the U. S. Presidency, but there is a statement, very forcefully made in one religions scripture (Genesis 50:20) and in different ways in the scripture of all religions – ‘you, (mankind) meant it for evil, but to you (humanity) God means it for good….

How else to break England away from its all white partners, turning it completely towards a growing group of diverse humanity striving to work together for the good of all?  The Commonwealth may not today be a gathering as particularly linked together as was the EU, but given a bit of time it will decisively move in that direction.

That leaves the countries of the EU which currently identify as white, with very difficult times including any others, having a decision to make.  Turn towards Russia – an all white nation to include within your grouping?  Or get with this program of diversity and stop holding hands with the devils amongst you.

Kate and William will do well when they inherit the throne of England, but Charles won’t do too badly when he shortly ascends the throne.  He is showing his humanity and his ability to move into a very diverse community as one amongst equals.  The equals have to be elevated to his level, but when they are, he is apparently totally accepting and will have them hold his hand or take his arm as he carefully and quietly guides them into a place of comfort amongst the equals surrounding them.

Brexit – Trump’s trump card and his genesis – has done its job.  Meant as a tool of evil, it is doing good.  England can stand strong and let Brexit continue to have its sway, moving England out of the European Union and more solidly into the Commonwealth Countries without divided loyalties, bringing those countries closer together as they continue working through how they will live, work and love together without needing a “better than” crutch to divide and feel whole.  The Commonwealth Countries are not currently strongly united in the economic and political realm but in my realm we can see that coming.

Who are these countries? – 53 in total – and more to come!

Bangladesh Republic
Botswana Republic
Cyprus Republic
Cameroon Republic
Dominica Republic
Fiji Republic
Ghana Republic
Guyana Republic
India Republic
Kenya Republic
Kiribati Republic
Mawli Republic
Maldvies Republic
Malta Republic
Mauritius Republic
Mozambique Republic
Namibia Republic
Nauru Republic
Nigeria Republic
Pakistan Republic
Rwanda Republic
Samoa Republic
Seychelles Republic
Sierra Leone Republic
Singapore Republic
South Africa Republic
Sri Lanka Republic
Tanzania Republic
Trinidad and Tobago Republic
Uganda Republic
Vanuatu Republic
Zambia Republic
Brunei Monarchy
Lesotho Monarchy
Malaysia Monarchy
Swaziland Monarchy
Tongo Monarchy
Antigua and Barbuda Commonwealth Realm
Australia Commonwealth Realm
The Bahamas Commonwealth Realm
Barbados Commonwealth Realm
Belize Commonwealth Realm
Canada Commonwealth Realm
Grenada Commonwealth Realm
Jamaica Commonwealth Realm
New Zealand Commonwealth Realm
Papua New Guinea Commonwealth Realm
Saint Kitts and Nevis Commonwealth Realm
Saint Lucia Commonwealth Realm
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Commonwealth Realm
Solomon Islands Commonwealth Realm
Tuvalu Commonwealth Realm
The United Kingdom Commonwealth Realm

The immigrant question has been settled.  It now only requires a bit of time to work through to a place where our humanity is snatched back from the filthy hands of those who would use such categories of division to cause pain, destruction and damage to other human beings so a small few can feel “better than”, “Supreme-Great-Glorious”.  They will soon understand: – to everything there is a time and place and the time and place for their kind of civilization, habits, culture is gone.  It is being replaced by something more in line with God’s bidding to this world.  The continuing and continuous breaking in to this world of God’s kingdom – in spite of the evil made visible by Treasonous Trump and his supporters and promoters.

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Everything talked about in this blog and in any other blog in the Bettina Network, inc. is the opinion of the person who wrote the blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Bettina Network, inc. It is the property of Bettina Network, inc. and/or the person who wrote the original blog.
Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you. Please also tell us if you want your name as your byline or if you want your article to appear without your name.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

 

 

 

 

A Great Snack – Elvis Style!

Saturday, May 26th, 2018

I was sitting in my kitchen enjoying a cup of tea and a guest comes along with a snack she brought with her.

My tea was accompanied by one of my favorite snacks from my days living in Mississippi.  A sandwich made up of organic or home baked raisin bread with peanut butter – oops! organic peanut butter – and sliced bananas.

This was also one of Elvis Presley’s favorites.  It was fairly common for children where I grew up. We didn’t have peanut butter and jelly.

She brought peanut butter and apples and wheat crackers.  She put peanut butter on the crackers and topped each cracker with a very thin slice of apple.

It was nothing short of sensational.  Quick to make.  Elegant to serve and I enjoyed every one of her crackers.

When I repeat this for myself, however, the peanut butter will definitely be organic – her peanut butter was out of a jar with lots of ugly stuff processed in and her apples were not organic.  In spite of those transgressions, it was a delicious snack.

My peanut butter will be the kind I grind at the store myself or grind at home of organic peanuts – apple crisp organic apples – and organic wheat crackers.

I highly recommend this!  It makes a great lunch or afternoon snack.  It is also quite healthy – what more could one ask!

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Everything talked about in this blog and in any other blog in the Bettina Network, inc. is the opinion of the person who wrote the blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Bettina Network, inc. It is the property of Bettina Network, inc. and/or the person who wrote the original blog.
Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you. Please also tell us if you want your name as your byline or if you want your article to appear without your name.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

 

 

A Bettina Network Lifestyle Member Responds

Thursday, May 24th, 2018

Amazing!

Donald Trump is a liar

Donald Trump is a pathological liar

It seems clear that his campaign worked with Russia and other such countries who helped to get him elected

It seems clear that criminals are at the top of his campaign

Is Putin setting the strategy to help Trump out as he now clearly will have to pay the piper.  It is true that what goes around comes around Mr. Trump.

Putin owes him that since Trump has carried out Putin’s wish list for the United States.  Every one of Putin’s goals for the United States is being pursued by Donald Trump and most times it has been successfully pursued by Donald Trump.

This North Korea thing is nothing more than theatre staged by Donald Trump.  Now he’s going -now maybe he’s going – now Kim Jong Un is blowing up a nuclear site that North Korea announced a couple months ago couldn’t be used anymore so they would have to move their testing to another site.  So their current site spends its last days being used as the back drop – the stage setting for this Trump production as he moves along to make an agreement which will again, no doubt, be harmful to the United States, but will totally gratify Russia and all the others in Trump’s lineup of foreign supporters.

Keep posting, I love to read your blog.  Had a bit of trouble accessing it over the past few days – is everything alright over there?

Folks don’t like what you are saying and are retaliating, but don’t stop and don’t slow down.  I am sure if you are running into problems  you have a lot of supporters who will come to your defense and aid.

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Everything talked about in this blog and in any other blog in the Bettina Network, inc. is the opinion of the person who wrote the blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Bettina Network, inc. It is the property of Bettina Network, inc. and/or the person who wrote the original blog.
Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you. Please also tell us if you want your name as your byline or if you want your article to appear without your name.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

 

Trump’s American Oligarchs and Giuliani

Friday, April 27th, 2018

It has been amazing to see how Trump has gone about destroying America and bringing it down to size so Putin could benefit and control the world.  Who will manage to gain world control first – Putin or Bezos?  Very different play books; lifestyles, goals and objectives.

First: Giuliani.

Why was he brought in?  What is his goal? What are his marching orders?

One can only hope he has more care and concern for the United States than he does for Trump.  Sometimes, however, that has not been so clear.  His morality and values have been showing for quite some time and they don’t look as though he wears a “white hat”.

We think Giuliani’s two week deadline is dead serious.  Not that Mueller’s investigation will be wrapped up by that time – this coming Thursday – but it didn’t sound to us as though those two weeks were about Mueller finishing his investigation.  He can’t be allowed to do that because Trump isn’t coming out looking good.  In fact, Trump is looking like crap with morals and values that make Giuliani’s look like Jesus’.

What has been clear to us is that by this coming Thursday, Giuliani will be present at Trump’s side as he fires Mueller.  Hasn’t Giuliani surfaced to be present at the ‘execution’ – so to speak.  To help pick up the pieces and be one of Trump’s people helping so Trump won’t be alone as he manages the fallout from that act.  And, possibly so Giuliani comes out ‘top dog’ in a way he could never be otherwise.

If you have any doubts, listen to the Fox interview with ‘President’ Trump and what most call the ‘rant’, but which actually sounds as though it is something coming from someone who can’t control the power he thinks will soon be in his hands.

Second: Putin’s Americanized Playbook!

Now that Trump has done his best to cause as much disruption in the American Government as possible, especially by putting into government people who are diametrically opposed to the cabinet position to which they have been appointed to wreck all of those areas with upheaval causing distractions as a bonus, the next step – so thinks Putin, Trump and company – should be a breeze.

All of the upheaval Trump has put down – after having given himself a mental out, if things take a turn in the wrong direction – now makes it easier to establish American Oligarch’s in the Putin/Russian style.

When the Soviet Union became Russia there was a lot of publicly owned utilities, monopolies and more such huge structures hanging out waiting for the next step.  That next step  was to ‘privatize’ – Russian style – all or most of those structures making a handful of Russians unimaginably wealthy.  They then built a human shield around Putin so his taking over would be complete – the creation of the ‘super wealthy’ class – the Russian Oligarchs.

That Russian playbook, we think, has been translated American style and that is what Trump is following.  How?  Privatize as much of America as possible and put the largest structures, now publicly owned into the hands of the select few who would be the American counterparts to the Russian Oligarchs by having them form the human shield around Trump.  We’ve seen the attempt and plan to privatize the armed forces, – the VA, eliminate the Education Dept, kill the Energy Dept. and on and on it goes.

That is being played out with the Veterans Affairs structure.  The number 7, 8 or 9, if it were on the largest 100 corporations in America, being privatized would be a very large step on the way to achieving that goal.

Trump, having fired the head of the VA when he took office was an early step.  It has been complicated by the American spirit which tends to be generationally republic on its way to a democracy.   That is a very different mind set than was in Russia when Putin took it over.  A mindset we don’t believe Putin or Trump could begin to understand.

Having fired McDonald – who had been head of Proctor and Gamble – probably, we think, because he was not into privatization of the VA of which Obama set him up to head, finding someone else who would be open to do the Russian Oligarch thing in America has not been an easy task. That could not be someone with experience. It would ideally be  someone with not even the beginnings of experience on that level.  Someone who could be manipulated without knowing it; who was willing to go ahead with the privatization plan or at the very least who would not know the privatization plan was in play,  moving ahead under his inability to watch over such a large organization.  Someone whose ego would carry him away as head of such prestige who wouldn’t really care what was happening on his watch as long as it didn’t affect him.  Someone like Pruitt at the EPA – so busy lining his own pockets he could care less what was happening and the best way to distract from what he is doing is to cause upheavals and take resources to deal with his mess.

Now what!  How does the playbook continue in play with Trump losing it because he is actually, experience wise, in the position Ronnie Jackson was in when he was elected president.  That is quite a parallel.  Trump had about an equivalent amount of experience when he took over the American government as president and Putin was clearly aware of that fact.

What was really wrong with Hillary Clinton, as far as this Russian plan was concerned?  She was totally experienced and ready to be a totally functioning president.  It would not be possible to put over on her the kinds of things Putin and Company have put over on Trump.  Some say Putin favored Trump because of his dislike of Hillary.  We think that is ridiculous given what is at stake.  Likes and dislikes don’t come into play when one is shooting for the high stakes in this game.

Trump has probably worn out his welcome with Russia and Putin, so now what!  Clearly, his usefulness has come to an end.  So have his dreams of Trump Tower Moscow.  The “privatization” of huge public companies is going no place so the creation of the equivalent in America to Russian Oligarchs has come to an end.  Do they have an alternative game plan to bring in in case of failure of this one?

The part of the playbook we were most amazed at was the willingness of Putin and Trump to throw as many “mafia” types into top positions in the United States as needed hoping enough would stick to get the game way down the road to success.  Failures would just be dropped into the sewer.  The penalty the failures would receive would be their name, reputation and future smashed.

Trumps’ problem and what slowed him down to a stop even though he tried very hard was not being able to get rid of the media with his calls of “Fake News” and other such tactics so what was happening would not be noticed.  The United States media is roughly akin to the Putin concept of how to take down America – throw as many “news hounds” as possible against the wall.  Some will stick and climb to the top, others will fall by the way side, but there will be no end to those begging to be thrown against the wall even if it means serious injury to health, life, wealth and family.  And so the U. S. media, in the end, will help the U. S. citizenry win the game they don’t even know they are playing and don’t have a clue it is being played against them.

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Everything talked about in this blog and in any other blog in the Bettina Network, inc. is the opinion of the person who wrote the blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Bettina Network, inc. It is the property of Bettina Network, inc. and/or the person who wrote the original blog.
Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you. Please also tell us if you want your name as your byline or if you want your article to appear without your name.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

 

A Current Example of Bullying – Trump and Macron!

Thursday, April 26th, 2018

Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron are back in France and have left the American public with lots to talk about and even more to think through.

President Trump has a way of bullying those who arrive as “important guests” both domestic and foreign from the moment he holds out his hand to shake theirs.  The only person on whom he did not use this bullying handshake was Vladimir Putin.  Trump has a bullying handshake where he makes the person on the other side wince as he pulls their arm and then the rest of their body towards him with one of the most bullying handshakes I have ever seen.

Emmanuel Macron was no exception.  Macron, however, has made it his mission not be bullied by this handshake nor to be passive in an attitude of acceptance with a “this too shall pass” sub-text.  He has taken on Trump’s handshake and given back which, during this visit,  resulted in an amazing display.

The media and many others took it as a “bromance”.  To say they missed the point is to say they exist in a society which accepts and does its best to ignore and deny sexual abuse in its many forms.  That is exactly what we saw Emmanuel Macron put through during his trip to these United States.

President Macron, however, gave the country an exquisite example of how to handle such a bullying.  Bullying of all kind will be with us forever if we don’t start calling it what it is when we see someone being bullied instead of finding other ways to describe what we know is an act of unashamed bullying.  That could have been an example of a woman being abused and I think the media would have talked about a budding romance instead of stepping in to stop the atrocity – which is what we saw acted out before the world.

Trump’s initial handshake was returned in kind and Trump’s bullying was on high display as he responded to the need to push Macron down to puff himself up – in front of the world.  I hope others have the guts and insight to come forward to condemn the display President Trump put on as his ego kept pushing him to uglier heights.  Not even children would have participated in that dandruff act.

Not to be deterred by how ugly he was appearing to all, Mr. Trump continued trying to oppress and subjugate President Macron and Macron’s response should be in a book on bullying as one person’s way of brilliantly handling an extremely distressful and continuous almost non-stop display of oppression and bullying.  Instead of seeing and commenting on what was actually happening, the media continued to claim – “they must like each other.”

Beginning with the handshake, Trump practically bowled Macron over as he tried to pull him towards himself.  Macron responded by maintaining and giving back to Trump what he got from the handshake and responding and making it about the ‘French Kiss” by putting his arm around Trump and kissing him on both cheeks.  Since it seems possible that Trump goes both ways, President Macron’s attempts didn’t land the way he intended.

and on and on it went.

Clearly, Macron’s response – his coup de grace – was put forward during his speech to the American Congress during which Macron laid out his policies and ideas including almost all of Trump’s policy stances and the beliefs Trump has made a part of his ‘reign’ as president.   President Emmanuel Macron’s stances were totally opposite to Donald Trump’s.  In giving that speech, President Macron did not wince, pull back, chance his beliefs, etc.  He was forthright, forthcoming and clear and he had the American Congress with him – showing where they really stood when any possible attempts at blackmail, bullying, pushing were removed and one could respond as one felt.

Clearly, Melanie Trump showed she was truly the wife and soul mate of Donald Trump when she appeared in the white suit with hat which at one point moved Brigitte Macron out of the picture.  When she appeared with “the Don” it was clear the arrogance and posturing of one was totally acceptable and generated pride in the other.  They appeared in a strong statement which looked totally out of place for the company, the situation, the reflection of herself as hostess.  She was clearly uncaring about Brigitte Macron and was only out to outshine and put forth her worth – which she apparently holds as her body and what she puts on it. The sexist male – the misogynist male has a female counterpart whose chief value is invested in how she looks.  It was an outsized look and had a very hard edge which did not show as the hostess, but as the guest attempting to outshine all the other guests.

In his speech to Congress, President Macron came across as human, compassionate and seriously working to make this a better world for the least of these.  His wife, Brigitte, looked like a caring, compassionate and serious person who was working with her husband and while her dress was quite elegant, it was also very human.  She was not trying to outshine, outdo, send out an image to puff herself up or any of that.  She was dressed in a lovely “human’ way.  The contrast was astounding.

As I looked at all of that my mind brought me back to Barbara Bush’s funeral and life.  Her funeral, for me, was a brief moment of public respite. At the end, she gave us a time to reflect, to think, to move away from the upheaval – panic – intensity of nothingness – the passionate hiding of something unsavory.  There was no name calling; no trying to upstage and outshine; no arrogance; no posturing; just people coming to witness to the life of someone they knew either as a close friend or in her capacity as mother, wife, First Lady, volunteer, helper to those in need, etc.  Somehow, I could not see Melanie Trump ever being such a lovely, humble person who knew who she was and presented herself not as an artificial model using her body to sell whatever it was she was selling.  The hat ruined the suit and showed a person with a very hard edge who was anything but a warm, caring human being.  I have yet to see any of those qualities in either Melanie or Donald Trump and that white hat and suit emphasized the arrogance, artificiality and lying image of the couple.  What is a ‘lying image”?  Presenting oneself as an image projecting not who you are but projecting that which one needs to show to make public one’s concept of power and control and that ‘better than’ attitude so constantly projected by the Kushner/Trump family.

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Everything talked about in this blog and in any other blog in the Bettina Network, inc. is the opinion of the person who wrote the blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Bettina Network, inc. It is the property of Bettina Network, inc. and/or the person who wrote the original blog.
Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you. Please also tell us if you want your name as your byline or if you want your article to appear without your name.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

 

Rudi Giuliani and Donald Trump

Friday, April 20th, 2018

by: Marceline Donaldson

It should not have been amazing to hear that Rudi Giuliani has again taken center stage in the Donald Trump story.

It should also not be amazing to see that men, who treat women like crap, profoundly disrespect women and see them as objects for their use, to be discarded when a newer model comes along, should find each other.  In that, Giuliani and Trump are brothers and it makes sense that one such piece of scum would come to the aid of another piece of scum.  (Sorry for the crudeness, but I am living in a country where crude is being modeled at the top as the way one speaks of others and we all know that way of being and talking is like a contagious disease which spreads like wild fire and so it is spreading.  I wonder how our children, now in their teens, will talk about others as they move into their twenties and beyond and they become the politicians).

I remember – maybe a decade plus ago – reading about a press conference that took place on the steps of the Mayor’s house, on the steps and porch of Gracie Mansion, in New York City, when Giuliani was still mayor.  It was then Mayor Rudi Giuliani flanked by his girl friend who was the reason for calling this press conference.

Inside the Gracie Mansion was Giuliani’s wife, preparing a meal for the family completely oblivious to what was happening in front of her house.  Giuliani called the press conference to announce that he was divorcing his wife and was going to marry his girl friend.  He had not yet made that announcement to his wife, with whom he was still living, who was inside with their young son preparing food for them to eat – I believe it was breakfast.

She learned that morning, from the press, when they called her for a comment, that her husband was leaving her for another woman – with whom he had been involved for some time.  She learned that her husband was going to divorce her and marry this other woman.  People divorce and remarry all the time.  The circumstances of the Giuliani divorce and his re-marriage would fit into a narrative about the ethics and morals and lifestyle of Donald Trump.

I can’t imagine how Giuliani’s then wife felt, but I am pretty sure it was not great.  She learned of all this from the press.

The rest of us forget that little detail about Giuliani’s values and ethics.  His sexism, extreme I would say, is put in the past and not even deserving of a foot note as the press now talks about his current position on the political stage.  In fact, that act by Giuliani was almost never mentioned as he moved into other things and was involved in life as it unfolded around him and his political and other ambitions.  Was that a part of what has made Donald Trump possible?  Our moral values are eroded a little at a time.  If we ignore what Giuliani did to be so disrespectful and crude with his then wife and we ignore that and treat him as though he is an honorable man then the door opens a little wider for someone like Trump to be elected in spite of the way he has treated so many women and in spite of all the rumors of “golden showers” and other such stories.  And now two such men are again combining to support one another in their ambitions to be a big deal in life and in this United States culture and society.  Is this how our culture is evolving and the path we are blazing for our children to see and to follow?

This is the man Trump called on during his campaign and who he has now called on to shore up and help him with the Mueller investigation and other matters.  We are seeing the coming together of a new nation with new moral values, new ethics, new ways of being and doing, and an unbelievably destructive way of relating to and dealing with woman on all levels of all kinds of all races, religions and marital status.

How long will we all accept people who treat women in such a disgraceful way and move ahead with them, quietly ignoring their history with women.  Those things need at least a foot note.  Ignoring Trump’s history with women and his treatment of them – isn’t that one reason why so many were able to vote for him?  Because women don’t count and can be treated however – isn’t that what allows the white evangelicals to support, comfort and raise up someone like Trump?   I suspect if you look into the lifestyle of many of the white male evangelicals you would find similar circumstances – girl friends, mistresses, one night stands all carefully hidden from their congregations as they go about attempting to hold up Jesus as an example to the world as someone the world should follow and to whom this world should give allegiance, love and faith.  And as they hold up themselves as an example of who you should be as Christians holding up to all of us what looks like the wonderful white male family hoping you don’t remove the covers and look inside?  Where is the real voice of the women inside these families?  Are they so afraid for their own existence and survival and lifestyle that they are willing to oppress themselves to hold up their men knowing their transgressions and the lies they are living?  How long are we going to hold up Donald Trump as president of these United States?  A man mired in filth, corruption, and who – by his own admission – sees women as only of value for their p#### which he can grab and do with whatever he and by extension other men choose?

It does not take geniuses to know what to do!  It takes men and women of courage to step out and be counted here!  Is your identity as white – male – Northern European ancestry – so important to you that you will give up eternity for these few minutes on earth during which you are ethically, morally and in every other way destroying yourselves and others?  And to the women who support these men – what ever happened to your self-respect?  The more support you give to them the less you have of yourselves.  You can’t but dwindle in your own eyes when these are your standards.

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Everything talked about in this blog and in any other blog in the Bettina Network, inc. is the opinion of the person who wrote the blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Bettina Network, inc. It is the property of Bettina Network, inc. and/or the person who wrote the original blog.
Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you. Please also tell us if you want your name as your byline or if you want your article to appear without your name.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

 

Cooking Rice Elegantly!

Wednesday, April 11th, 2018

What if Colonialism had not happened and we gradually moved to a world community – discovering new ideas, ways of doing things, different foods that we are used to eating and cooking, etc. instead of developing a society which claimed some foods and ways of cooking as superior and some to be shunned.?  What a rich and very fantastic place this would be.

What if today we shun that Colonialism and come together as a one world community giving and sharing what we have with others on an equal basis.  Mine as just as good as yours and yours as just as good as mine.  What an incredibly rich place this would be and the knowledge which circulates using the new technology would facilitate an awesome life.  Instead that technology is used to manipulate, persuade, lie to, and we are all the poorer for it and enamored forever in war, brutality, white supremacy, nazism and its cousins, and so much more that destroys us and totally damages our children.

Assuming this first, we look for greatness in societies and cultures and discovered a way of cooking rice that is great.

I didn’t much care for rice, but then I only knew white rice which took 7 minutes to cook and had a skim covering on top that looked like and probably was talc powder. Hope I’ve missed the cancer that kind of rice is rumored to cause and that I discovered organically grown rice in time.  Now, today, with my new found knowledge,  I buy organically grown rice and I am careful whose organically grown rice we buy.

Problem with that was in the cooking.  It would take a long time and I could never count on the rice being great.  Sometimes it turned out in a sensational way and sometimes it was not something you wanted to eat – either too hard or too soft.

A friend came over to show me how to cook this rice and we put on a cooking show for our Bettina Network Hedge School guests.  This now very close friend is not someone who my mother would have allowed into the house as my playmate, nor would she have been a part of the many “play dates” I was taken to as a child.

Those who joined us for dinner were in my Bettina-Hedge-School-Home to learn special cooking skills and so thy were invited into the kitchen to help prepare the dinner.

Rice was the main dish since that was the reason for my very-skilled-at-cooking friends’ presence.

She started by putting what to my eyes and sensibility was a very large amount of butter in the glass corning pot in which we were going to cook the rice. I winced as I saw all of that butter.  (It actually was three tablespoons – but if you try this you should use your own judgment and your own taste.)

She let the butter melt and bubble awhile and then added the rice.  She cooked the rice in butter for several minutes and then added water, a little salt – Himalayan salt, turmeric and I added a dash of cayenne pepper (because every dish I cook has a dash of cayenne).

We put the top on the pot and in about 15 minutes we had the fluffiest rice I have seen.  And the tastiest.  I think I will give up potatoes and take on rice.  Well, maybe I will just add rice cooked in this way as another food I can add to my menus.

Everyone at dinner thought the rice was spectacular.

A SUGGESTION:

If you are vegan, you might want to start this rice in coconut oil, or some other kind of oil with a high smoking point.  I would not use the famous Olive Oil because it goes rancid quickly in heat.  We only use Olive Oil for cold dishes like salad dressings, etc.  As a society we have become so accustomed to what we call th “Mediterranean diet” which is anything but, that we assume Olive Oil is a universal oil and we try to use it in everything.  So much so we have become accustomed to the taste of rancid olive oil and assume that is normal.

Enjoy!

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Everything talked about in this blog and in any other blog in the Bettina Network, inc. is the opinion of the person who wrote the blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Bettina Network, inc. It is the property of Bettina Network, inc. and/or the person who wrote the original blog.
Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you. Please also tell us if you want your name as your byline or if you want your article to appear without your name.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

 

 

 

 

What is Bettina Network, inc. – i.e. Publications

Sunday, March 25th, 2018

Bettina Network, inc. has several areas within its corporate structure.  Bettina Network Hedge Schools is one – to refresh your memory or read about the Hedge Schools see https://www.bettina-network.com/blog/archives/3428

Also included in Bettina Network, inc. are its publications: Bettina Network’s Blog and Bettina’s Menu of Events.  Both described below.  If you have questions don’t hesitate to email us at bettina-network@comcast.net 

2.) Bettina Network’s Blog

is a conglomeration of conversations which take place around the breakfast table in one or another Bettina Network Hedge School/homes.                    

-or-

A Member or Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community sent us information which they would like disseminated to a large audience,

-or-

something happens which just strikes our fancy and we want to share it with all of you.

– all will go immediately to Bettina Network’s Blog.

Bettina Network’s Blog covers a wide range of topics —- With points of view you generally won’t find other places — you never know what will appear next — and that comes from the diversity within our corporation.  An article could come from one of the  Bettina Network Hedge Schools; members of Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community; or our own quirky people who work for the Corporation; or from those who volunteer to help us achieve our goals to “make this a better world one small step at a time”.

 

3.) Bettina’s Menu of Events

provides a rich, curated list of activities that will keep you busy,

entertained,

will add to your intellectual knowledge base,

and help create and expand your store of wisdom.

Use the “Menu” before your next stay in a Bettina Lifestyle Home!

Bettina’s Menu of Events also includes reviews of everything, critiques of events, places, restaurants, happenings and more.

To use Bettina’s Menu of Events you must be a member of Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community.

As a member you will receive a password, which allows you access to Bettina’s Menu of Events, among other benefits.

Besides getting events to attend during your stay in a Bettina Network Hedge School you can also add events you find of interest so others can share what you found.  Some of our best events have been added to Bettina’s Menu of Events by members of Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community.  We encourage you to search the world for just that perfect event to share.

……And so we grow.

You can interact with us by:

CALLING: when you next need reservations either for yourself or from visitors coming from other cities, states, countries who would benefit immensely from spending their time away from home in a Bettina Network Hedge School.

Our homes are wonderful places to stay – some reach the appellation of exquisite.

Not much can compare to what we offer.

Our rates range from $110 through $495/night. In other cities the rates also vary depending upon what is offered.

Call if you are moving, changing your lifestyle, settling an estate – we are able to sell furnishings, jewelry, automobiles, stocks, bonds, etc.

Call if you have a home and want to join Bettina Network, inc. as a Bettina Host Family sharing your knowledge with guests who come from around the world. If your home is not currently ‘exquisite’ we have people who will work with you to make sure you are on a par with everyone else in the network.

Call if you have a home you want to donate to Bettina Network Foundation, inc. that we can use to house those who are in need and so continue to expand our training and more, recovering someone who might not find their way otherwise.  Yes, we do offer a tax deduction through Bettina Network Foundation, inc. a 501(c)3 corporation.

Call if you just want to talk to get acquainted and know more about who we are, what we do and where we are going.

And in the future, coming as soon as our resources allow – Bettina Network’s Research Library.

Sincerely,

All of us at Bettina’s Bettina Network, inc.

P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238

1-617-497-9166 (or) 1-800 347 9166 (toll free within the U. S. and Canada)

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email: bettina-network@comcast.net

blog: bettina-network.com/blog

Bettina’s Menu of Events can only be accessed by members of Bettina Network’s Lifestyle Community via their personal password .

Check out our web site for more information at www.bettina-network.com .

We are an exciting company which also includes Bettina Network’s Blog – Bettina’s Menu of Events – Bettina Network’s Sales – Bettina Network Research Library and Bettina Network Foundation, inc a 501(c)3 corporation.

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What Is Bettina Network, inc.?

Tuesday, March 20th, 2018

 

Use our services to increase your knowledge, experience and enjoyment of life.

1.) Bettina Network Hedge Schools

Why travel inns, hotels, bed & breakfast, guest houses, etc. when you can travel using Bettina Network Hedge Schools

What are Bettina Network Hedge Schools? How do they work?

A Bettina Home/Bettina Network Hedge School, is a place where you can stay while visiting a particular city, country, village, either on other business or on a vacation or you are doing a historical review of the area and you want to add to the experience of the trip; or you can travel to a Bettina Network Hedge School just for the experience, knowledge and wisdom it adds to your life.

We take homes into Bettina Network, inc. because they have something to contribute to our learning; they are full of many amenities not found elsewhere.

The family in residence offers their life-experience, a workshop, knowledge of art, architecture, prayer, spirituality, health, cooking, or whatever is their specialty. In Bettina Homes/Bettina Network Hedge Schools, those specialties change as the family lives and grows and experiences life from different perspectives.

Bettina Network Hedge Schools are patterned after the historical “Hedge Schools” of Ireland. We include all the world’s knowledge, experience, religions, spirituality.

Book your visit to one of our Hedge Schools today by calling 617-497-9166 or toll free at 800-347-9166

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email us at bettina-network@comcast.net.

Check out our web site for more information at www.bettina-network.com .

We are an exciting company which also includes Bettina Network’s Blog – Bettina’s Menu of Events – Bettina Network’s Sales – Bettina Network Research Library and Bettina Network Foundation, inc a 501(c)3 corporation.

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The Smiths – An Estate Sale Family!

Monday, March 19th, 2018

Most of us buy from all kind of stores to satisfy our needs and wants – retail, hardware, clothing, accessories, furniture, jewelry, etc.   Ever-so-often we come across a family or individuals or groups of unrelated people who live together, who have decided to try another lifestyle and live one step under the radar.

They do this through buying food from a commercial store and everything else from estate sales, garage sales, driveway sales, house sales, etc.

We have had many talks with people who think of this from time to time as they pay exorbitant amounts of money for things they want.  We also hear this from people doing wishful thinking when they see something they want, but can’t afford.

Well, this column, written by different people as they experience the ‘estate sale lifestyle’ fully, will tell you the stories of those who live via shopping only at these sales.  For some, they even step into buying food at estate sales.  They can only buy food that is sealed and have to supplement what they buy via going shopping at grocery and other food stores, but they stick rigidly to not buying anything else except at the sales which happen across the country.

We will attempt to give you a peek into how they manage this and you can decide if this is how you want to live.  It is recycle on steroids.

Meet the Smith Family.  Mother – Mary Smith.  Father – John Smith.  Daughter – Dorian Smith.  Son – Jackson Smith.  Mother, Father and two children with a van, living in a White House with black trim surrounded by a white picket fence.  The beginning story of the American dream.

The Smith’s however, are not who they appear to be.  We met them at the last estate sale we went to.  The  family in that particular house was selling everything.  The mother died recently.  She had been living in a nursing home for about two months before she died and now her house and everything in it was for sale. Her children – now grown – didn’t want to keep anything.  (This is the kind of sale we really love).  They didn’t think much of their parents taste.  Wanted everything “new” and were going to get their wishes fulfilled when the house and its contents were sold.

We felt so sorry for the woman who died and especially for her children.  She had some lovely things which would cost a small fortune if purchased from retail stores, but were being sold for a fraction of their “when purchased” price. She also had furnishings which would only escalate in value over the years.  We have met many people who talked about – “oh look, Mama had that and wow look at the price.  We sold it for a fraction of that when she died – we had no idea.”  We sent up a prayer for the woman and her children.  The woman who thought she was leaving a beautifully furnished house for her children to take over and continue to improve and live in graciously, and we prayed for her children who couldn’t wait to get rid of all that ‘stuff’ .

The Smith family showed up near the end of the sale and were very excited about what they found.  They have three fireplaces in their white home with black trim surrounded by its white picket fence.  One thing they were looking for was wood for the fireplaces.  They had been looking for a couple months and wondered if this wasn’t something they would not find and today, here they were beyond their greatest dream with this huge store of oak in front of them.

Before this ‘great find’ they had not used their fireplaces because the cost per fire was too much given their small income and the relatively high cost of fireplace wood.   At the house where we met they had just purchased a ton of wood – cut – dried – stacked on the side of the house and they paid $25 for all of it.

They were in the process of taking the wood home.  They were filling their van and clearly would have to make two or more trips to get the wood home, but that didn’t bother them at all.  They were very animated talking about how they could have a fire every night when the weather dictated that a fireplace smelling of oak would be sensational.  They could toast marshmallows that they made and spend long evenings in front of a blazing fire without hurting themselves financially.  Actually, they could enjoy this dream without even thinking of saving on wood or of burning just a little keeping the fires sparse and maybe only in one fireplace. The wood they were taking home would last two or three seasons.

As we talked further with the Smith family, they told us how they have been living like this for several years.  They were devoted estate sale shoppers and loved the friends they made going to different houses and meeting  people who are ‘estate sale people”  and exchanging stories.  They also loved walking through the houses to see what people had done and how they decorated – taking home as many ideas as ‘things’.

We asked if we could follow their adventures so you will be hearing more about the Smith Family.  Amazingly, their daughter Dorian was the most excited about this way of life because of the clothes, games and other such things she finds which her parents would not let her buy retail, but which she can enjoy via the “sales”.  Dorian is about 12 years old.  Jackson is about 16.

As we paid for our purchases, it was clear the Smith Family was not nearly ready to stop shopping.  We looked back on them filling their van and hoping they could made the trips home and still have time to shop.  Mrs. Smith just shook her head and said it would be next weekend before they did any more buying, but that was alright because it was exciting to find something they really needed and didn’t expect to find at a price they could afford.

So, next weekend you will find us traipsing around town following the Smith Family and writing up their adventures for you to experience through Bettina Network’s Blog.

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Everything talked about in this blog and in any other blog in the Bettina Network, inc. is the opinion of the person who wrote the blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Bettina Network, inc. It is the property of Bettina Network, inc. and/or the person who wrote the original blog.Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you. Please also tell us if you want your name as your byline or if you want your article to appear without your name.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

 

 

A Readers Response

Saturday, March 17th, 2018

Thank you for what you have written in the Manchurian Administration.

What amazes me is that Jared Kushner let the cat out of the bag early on that there was and would be “collusion” with Russia and Putin when he wanted to set up a “back door” communications channel for Trump and Putin to communicate.  And, when he wanted that back door to be immune to U. S. Intelligence Agencies listening and spying on what they had to say or what transpired between Putin and Trump, that just seemed to be Kushner trying to protect Trump from what he had to know would be a price to pay if those Intelligence Agencies could listen to the connection and conversation of those two people.

It seems very far fetched that Kushner would come up with something like that and present his idea to the Russian Ambassador unsolicited or with no reason except coming only from Kushner’s mind.

That is one of the most telling pieces of this saga for me.  That had to come to Kushner from trying to carry out his and Trump’s part of this agreement with Russia and Putin so Trump could become president and stay on the good side of Putin.  Clearly, to be on Putin’s bad side carries lots of danger.

I have followed this and it seems so clear to me that apparently, the Trump followers and supporters prefer their White Supremacy in all and any of its forms to a democracy.  That is a tough trade off but when it is your identity we are talking about people will give their lives to maintain their identity.  That is rock bottom who you are and that is not easily changed.  Our basic nature endowed identity is the group from which we come.  Add to that the next step humans most often take – to declare their group better than any other group and you have all these machinations, killings, spyings, and more to maintain themselves as better than at all cost.

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Everything talked about in this blog and in any other blog in the Bettina Network, inc. is the opinion of the person who wrote the blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Bettina Network, inc. It is the property of Bettina Network, inc. and/or the person who wrote the original blog.Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you. Please also tell us if you want your name as your byline or if you want your article to appear without your name.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

 

Sex Trafficking, Airbnb and more!

Sunday, February 25th, 2018

An article from the Thomas Reuters Foundation

http://news.trust.org/item/20180219000115-hggd9/

As Airbnb established itself Harvard Business School was the first to discover racism within its corporate structure and in the services it offers to others.  Other magazines and research groups followed and verified that finding.

Second, the destruction and trashing of many homes where the people rented to individuals for the night through Airbnb and not for a party; and now this. – a home for those engaging in sex trafficking.  It is an incredible way to avoid the law and public exposure.

Some Bettina Network, inc. history with Airbnb – like, where did their idea to establish such a company first came from:

When you come to a black woman’s home, where she has structured a successful business which is growing and on the verge of taking off into the stratosphere, apparently sent by people from the local venture capitalist company, to steal her business ideas because they are working and successful and have shown that private homes can be put together in a network for the benefit of all = and the purpose of your visit is to see what is working, how and to steal what is there – there is a price to pay. Saying nothing to her as to your purpose but putting your feet under her dining room table and eating her food while you steal everything you could and continued to have people call for ideas, explanations and finally to have a friend steal her business plan – the universe definitely does not like that and the ethics so displayed get wrapped up in the business you stole.

First because it isn’t your original idea so all kinds of wrong doings and wrong things are in your corporate structure because you didn’t know the industry into which you and your investors put yourselves.

Second, you didn’t have the decency to say anything to the person whose idea and business you stole and third because apparently within your own souls there is an evil which allowed you to do all of the above and put screwed up ethics into the business structure you created.

It is unbelievable that you have turned bed and breakfast into the kind of sordid industry you have managed to structure. Adding sex trafficking to out of control parties at peoples homes who did not give you permission to hold parties at their home and whose homes were and are trashed and destroyed after your guests leave, many homes to the point of having the industry beginning to be heavily regulated because of the negativity you created.

An industry which for several hundred years has been a way for many small individuals to survive with only good results given to the society in which those homes existed – you have turned that into a way for the greedy to have a public platform where they could practice their evil under your watchful and protective eye and structure. Overtime I thought you had stooped as low as you could go, but something always happens to show that you still have a long ways to slide.

And here you vow to tackle the sex trafficking you have used your corporate structure to house so they could practice their horribleness outside the watchful eye of the law. = You should have structured your business so that sex trafficking would not be able to use Airbnb in the first place, but it was not your original vision so you clearly don’t know how. Just as you structured racism into your business because your greed wanted to insure you got as many and as much money as possible and not structuring racism into what you are doing, in your eyes, probably seemed to limit your possibilities. The universe isn’t through with you yet. The way you are corrupting the societies in which you function are legion and ugly and evil.

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Everything talked about in this blog and in any other blog in the Bettina Network, inc. is the opinion of the person who wrote the blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Bettina Network, inc. It is the property of Bettina Network, inc. and/or the person who wrote the original blog.Want to join us? Have a home that you want to open to become one of Bettina Network’s Hedge Schools? Call us and lets talk – or email us.

Ed. Note: Members of the Bettina Network Lifestyle Community can contribute to the Bettina Network Blog whenever they have anything they want to say and be heard by this fantastic group of people. Send your blog to bettinanetwork@comcast.net or mail it to us at P. O. Box 380585 Cambridge, MA. 02238 or call us on the telephone at 617-497-9166 to tell us what you want to say and we will write it for you. Please also tell us if you want your name as your byline or if you want your article to appear without your name.

Volunteer with Bettina Network Foundation, inc. to work estate sales; to help move items from one home to another; to contribute your ideas on how we can better use our resources in this effort to relieve and eliminate homelessness and poverty. We also need photographers; designers; and more. However much or little time you have, we are grateful.

Send your event information to be included in Bettina Network’s Menu of Events to: bettina-network@comcast.net

 


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