How to clean your air filter

PTSD Patrol: Owners Manual and Your Air Filter
PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
October 14, 2018

The owner's manual frustrates me! I was looking up how to check the air filter. Sure enough, I found the page to tell me what to do with it, but it DID NOT TELL ME WHERE THE HECK TO FIND IT!

CARS.COM — The cabin air filter, a feature found on most late-model vehicles, cleans the air that comes into the interior through the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. It catches dust, pollen and other airborne material that can make riding in a car unpleasant, particularly if you have allergies or other respiratory problems.

Some signs that you need a new cabin air filter are reduced air flow through your climate control system, such as when you crank up the fan too high and get more noise than results. Another is persistent bad odors. Even if you don't have these warnings, however, you should have the air filter checked at least once a year, and you may be able to do that yourself.

How can you fix anything if you do not know where it is? You cannot do it until you find it. Then again, how can you know fixing something is even possible unless someone figured out how to do it?

Have problems with your vehicle that you cannot fix yourself, you turn to a mechanic with more training and tools than you have. New cars go to owners with owners' manuals, so we can figure some things out on your own.

People are not born with owners' manuals. Well, that does not mean we cannot get our hands on one.
read more here

Cell Phone Companies need to respond to Florida

In this report from CNN, there is a video about how survivors of Michael are desperate to get news to their families they are still alive. 

This is a challenge to see which cell phone company really cares about the service they provide. GET TRUCKS DOWN TO MEXICO BEACH and let people use the cell phones to contact their families! Set up phone banks for them. What it will cost you is nothing compared to what you have to gain by helping these people actually communicate in this heartbreaking time of need to hear the voice of someone they love!

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Hurricane Michael death toll climbs to 18 with new victim reported in Virginia

CNN
By Ray Sanchez and Nicole Chavez
October 13, 2018
CNN)Hurricane Michael's death toll climbed to 18 Saturday, after another victim was discovered in Virginia.

Fears were mounting for those who did not heed evacuation orders before Hurricane Michael bulldozed large swaths of Florida's Panhandle, and residents in the hardest-hit areas grew increasingly desperate for provisions.

Three days after the monster storm, with rescue workers cutting through hulking debris piles in search of survivors, residents formed long lines outside fire stations, schools and Salvation Army food trucks to collect bottled water and ready-to-eat meals.

"It's about to get stupid if people don't get food and water," Panama City Assistant Fire Chief Gary Swearingen said Saturday.
Two food and water distribution centers have opened, and others are expected, officials said. read more here

PTSD and other challenges recover and take back their lives

NDVets Host Annual Gala To Honor And Benefit Veterans

Patch California
By Emily Holland, Patch Staff
Oct 13, 2018

The event will feature a demo of "Mind at War," a VR experience that provides a look into an Iraq War veteran's struggle with PTSD.

SANTA MONICA, CA – New Directions for Veterans (NDVets), a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive housing and development services to homeless and at-risk veterans, will host its annual Veterans Canteen gala to benefit homeless veterans Saturday at the Skirball Cultural Center.

NDVets is based on the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs campus and provides housing and social services to about 1,800 veterans each year. The organization has served veterans facing homelessness, PTSD and other challenges recover and take back their lives for more than 25 years, the press release said. The event will honor community leaders and media for their support and advocacy for veterans.

"The Veterans Canteen gala is our opportunity to honor both our veterans and those advocating for them," said USMC Capt. (Ret) Leo Cuadrado, Chief Operating Officer of NDVets. "As more and more veterans return home from overseas conflicts, they will need our support now more than ever, and we are grateful to know we have the support of our partners and the community behind us to help raise the much-need funds to continue providing life-saving services to veterans seeking help."
read more here

OK! Looks like changing the conversation is catching on!

Have them beat on the number of years too but that's OK too! From what I hear, New Directions for Veterans are doing great work.

Ace Cafe got Cycle Fever Thursday night

Thursday night I was out at Ace Cafe in Orlando for a rare behind the scene recording of Cycle Fever TV because our buddy Sgt. Dave Matthews of Never Forgotten Memorials was their guest. Dave is also on KLRN Radio on, you guessed it, Thursday nights. 

Cycle Fever TV

To Keep Up To Date With Our Special Events, Check Out Our Podcast Every Thursday At 7:30pm EST sharp! We Are Live streaming on YouTube! Check Out Our Social As Well To Check Out What We Are Up To! See Us At Ace Cafe, Where We Regularly Stream!

And yes, bikers! Naturally, between bikers and veterans I felt right at home! 

(On a personal note, to the staff of Ace Cafe, you guys are awesome! Once I explained that basically I have a broken back and climbing stairs up to the tower was not good for me, you guys got me into the elevator! I didn't even know there was one there after being out there several times.)

In these videos it is clear to see that these guys are absolutely passionate about veterans and bikers!

These guys are awesome! I had to make sure I did not bust out laughing since I was standing right in front of them.

John of Cycle Fever and Rick of United States Motorcycle Corps Charities Inc and Hank do one of the funniest shows I've heard and on every other Thursday night.

This is Dave's show that was on when Dave was doing this show.

Remember the Fallen

Shadow Warrior Riders Fundraiser Krystal Parker
October 11, 2018•59 min
As we lose another Patriot "Krystal Parker" to the silent epidemic of 22 every day dying of suicide, we honor, remember and celebrate her life with a Fundraiser Memorial at the Ace Cafe with the assistance of Shadow Warrior Riders Motorcycle Club, LLC, Today's Veteran Organization, Never Forgotten Memorials, Inc. and Adam Martin from black Bird Anthem

All female veterans have waited too long

All female veterans have waited too long for equal honor

Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
October 13, 2018

First the positive 

“The time to act is now” said Paul Rieckhoff, founder and CEO of IAVA in the statement. “The unveiling of the Women Serve monument at Calverton National Cemetery is an important time to recognize and support women veterans.”

And now the negative headline that came with this on Newsweek

VETERANS GROUPS ACCUSE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OF DERELICTION OVER CHANGING VA’S ‘OUTDATED AND SEXIST’ MOTTO

In the article there was this

"More than 345,000 women have deployed since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, according to IAVA. The VA reported last month that in 2016, the suicide rate for women veterans was 1.8 percent higher than for civilians."  

Does this mean that older female veterans did not deserve the same from all the other Administrations going back to President Lincoln?

It isn't as if this president came up with the motto, nor did he cause all the problems veterans have been facing since they returned from the Revolutionary War.
Ever hear of Shay's Rebellion?

"Veterans had received little pay during the war and faced added difficulty collecting pay owed them from the State or the Congress of the Confederation, and some soldiers began to organize protests against these oppressive economic conditions. In 1780, Daniel Shays resigned from the army unpaid and went home to find himself in court for non-payment of debts. He soon realized that he was not alone in his inability to pay his debts and began organizing for debt relief."

Female veterans deserve more than we could ever repay but again, the way they were treated goes all the way back to the time they decided to do whatever it took to defend this nation...including, when they had to dress like men to do it!


President Trump has made a lot of bad decisions, including pushing to privatize the VA and forcing veterans into the same healthcare the rest of us have to endure. 

It seems like his advisors have decided they could sell caring for veterans out forgetting they prepaid for all of it. Yet again, the problems our veterans have did not begin with this president.

Do women deserve to be treated like veterans? Hell no! None of our veterans should ever be treated the way they have been treated throughout the history of this nation!

We need to do the right thing but we need to keep the political BS out of it to actually accomplish it!