Articles written by W Thomas Payne - Page 5

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About me - W Thomas Payne

Freelance writer, photographer, and general handyman with words, I roam the back roads of America looking for the slightly different, the bizarre, and the fun that can be found in those 'off the highway' locales.

Over the last 25 years, I have been a landlord

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Politics, News & Issues > Presidential Elections 2008 Sarah Palin: Gifted communicator or eternal gaffer?: 27 of 59
Sarah Palin is no Great Communicator, and may never become one, not on a mass communication scale. However, the mainstream media went too far in calling her a hopeless gaffer, incapable of grasping larger issues, or being unable to prepare for dealing with them. Her trademark wink and grin might be endearing one-on-one, but ... More..
Food & Drink > Food & Drink (Other) How foodies use the Internet: 14 of 30
Foodies are a social bunch. Food surrounds many of the good memories we all form throughout life. Food is part of our social interactions. A businessperson's daily schedule often revolves around meeting at a restaurant for a luncheon or an evening business meal to secure the next deal. Foodies love to share what they have le... More..
Personal Finance > Smart Spending How to fight high energy bills in the summer: 49 of 102
If you are like me, your electric bills from cooling your home last summer have you concerned about this next air-conditioning season. You are probably thinking about spring projects that will help lower your overall energy costs. There are lots of ideas and suggestions out there, but I wanted to look at simple solutions fir... More..
Home & Garden > Home Repair (Other) Guide to water damage restoration service: 6 of 12
Sunday evening, and you just came home from a holiday trip to visit family. Turning on the light, you find water dripping from the ceiling, the walls and cabinets damaged, and you can hear water flooding down the basement to your family room. Now is the time to get acquainted with the services of a damage recovery and restor... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Immigration Should landlords be penalized for renting to illegal immigrants?: 5 of 10
Landlords have their hands tied when it comes to renting to illegal aliens (the politically correct call them illegal immigrants). How, precisely, is a landlord to know, or even have an indication, that a person is in the country illegally? Landlords are subject to the Fair Housing Act, and are prevented from asking the ques... More..
Business > General Management How to organize and write a business report: 2 of 4
When it comes to writing a business report, knowing the intended audience is critical in determining how to proceed, and then making sure the finished product meets the readers' expectations. More than likely, your boss assigned you the project of preparing the report for analyzing the business, and you need to start by maki... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Energy Issues US Senate's new energy bill: Is it the answer?: 1 of 2
The Senate's "new" energy bill is just more of the same, without any real effort to put an end to the dependence of the human race on using combustion for its energy needs. Are we still cavemen building a fire? Instead, it is a "feel good" measure, aimed by the Democrats at President Bush's head in an attempt to gather ammo ... More..
Jobs & Careers > Arts & Entertainment Jobs How astrology can lead to a profitable career: 1 of 2
There's no question that astrology can lead to a successful and profitable career. Just look at the facts, the wife of a United States President (Nancy Reagan) relied on one! But, will using an astrologer lead you to a profitable career? That is about as likely as winning the lottery, unless of course the astrologer casting ... More..
Entertainment > Musicians & Bands Band biographies: Kilborn Alley: 1 of 1
After seven years of honing their craft, local blues band Kilborn Alley received international attention with their nomination for "Best New Artist Debut Album" for their "Put it In the Alley" CD. Three of the five members of the band hail from Champaign Illinois Andrew Duncanson (guitar), Chris Breen (lead guitar), and Josh... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Politics, News & Issues (Other) Blagojevich Budget Vetoes Under Fire: 1 of 1
Governor Rod Blagojevich's slash and burn line-item veto on the Illinois state budget is coming under increasing fire, and could be overridden in the upcoming Legislative veto session. Blagojevich ran under four main premises: Improvement in employment, safety, education and health care, and his public statements say he is f... More..