Day By Day© by Chris Muir.Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Spanning the world to bring you the dumbest stories possible, I link to this story in which a Cambodian man claims his pet dog gave birth to a grey kitten. It seems a forest monk informed him that the dog had mated with a tiger. Read it for yourself. I'm not making it up. Honest.
I got my one-hour fix of the RNC tonight. Broadcast stations don't want to give us any more than that. Arnold was fabulous, although they cut to Maria frowning often enough. It was cute when his son held up the "four more years" sign, but momma put a stop to that real quick. Laura Bush was great as well, and the girls were a little on the cutesy side, but okay. It did look like they were all having a great time at the convention, though. Party on, guys!
Via Quibbles and Bits, we get this story of courage in Vietnam. Should put a lot of people to shame, but it probably won't. They would need a sense of honor for that to happen.
You know, for the most part I really don't like today's rock music. I guess that means I'm now official old. But I do like some of it. I like a lot of stuff that Outkast does, and for some unknown reason I like "Baby Got Back", even though I don't know who sings(?) it. I also really like Stagga Lee's Rock Your Body (Mic Check 1,2), the song in the J.C. Penney's commercial. That would be a good song to drive to, if you didn't mind getting tickets. But for the most part, it's all crap to me. I do like Bare Naked Ladies, and Squirrel Nut Zippers, and others of that style of music, but rap totally sucks, with a few exceptions. Sorry kids, I couldn't help getting too old for MTV.
The best music (in my opinion) was between 1965 and 1990 (not counting disco, of course), although I do like early rock and roll. You see, when I was born, my older sisters were 10 and 12 years old, so I was indoctrinated into rock and roll at a very early age. My mother told me the first song I sang was "Bye Bye Love" by the Everly Brothers. When I got older, I lived with a transistor radio stuck to my head. WHB AM 710 in Kansas City was THE station to listen to at the time for rock and roll, and listen I did. Now it's a talk station that's about as exciting as watching paint dry.
Time rolls on. I gave my granddaughter a cassette of Bare Naked Ladies, and my daughter told me she'd have to listen to it first. I laughed in her face. Then she realized who she was talking to (I was very strict about what kind of music came into the house when she was growing up), and she started laughing as well.
The best music (in my opinion) was between 1965 and 1990 (not counting disco, of course), although I do like early rock and roll. You see, when I was born, my older sisters were 10 and 12 years old, so I was indoctrinated into rock and roll at a very early age. My mother told me the first song I sang was "Bye Bye Love" by the Everly Brothers. When I got older, I lived with a transistor radio stuck to my head. WHB AM 710 in Kansas City was THE station to listen to at the time for rock and roll, and listen I did. Now it's a talk station that's about as exciting as watching paint dry.
Time rolls on. I gave my granddaughter a cassette of Bare Naked Ladies, and my daughter told me she'd have to listen to it first. I laughed in her face. Then she realized who she was talking to (I was very strict about what kind of music came into the house when she was growing up), and she started laughing as well.
You ever get a song stuck in your head and you can't make it stop? Here it is, 2:00 in the morning, and I've got Herb Alpert's version of Little Spanish Flea running over and over. Somebody make it stop!
You should really check out Fark today. There are so many bizarre stories I'd be up all night writing about them.
Are you having a really good day? Well, let me spoil it for you. Read this, then see how old you feel. I'm checking out nursing homes immediately, providing the old hips hold out that long.
I don't know if you heard about this story today or not. A Springfield, Missouri man has been arrested in Florida on felony child abuse and murder charges in the death of 4 year old Andrew Lackey. Preliminary findings pending an autopsy are that the child was beaten to death. His mother's fiancee, Levi McElroy claims the child fell from his semi truck while they were camping in Florida. McElroy had taken the child with him as a "bonding experience", since he and the boy's mother are due to be married soon.
I realize there are stories like this in the news on a daily basis; however, those other people I do not know. I do know little Drew's mother. Her brother is the biological father of one of my grandchild. The entire family is devastated. They cannot believe that Levi would kill Drew. They played togather all the time.
My daughter called and told me about this story this morning. She and bio-father were going to tell my granddaughter about it this evening. She was very close with Drew. They had just seen each other a couple of weeks ago. Now she may be attending his funeral.
If you would, please pray for them. This is going to be a very painful period for them.
I realize there are stories like this in the news on a daily basis; however, those other people I do not know. I do know little Drew's mother. Her brother is the biological father of one of my grandchild. The entire family is devastated. They cannot believe that Levi would kill Drew. They played togather all the time.
My daughter called and told me about this story this morning. She and bio-father were going to tell my granddaughter about it this evening. She was very close with Drew. They had just seen each other a couple of weeks ago. Now she may be attending his funeral.
If you would, please pray for them. This is going to be a very painful period for them.
If this story is true, someone should be hung up by their Buster Browns. A third grader thrown in jail for hitting another kid with a basketball? If the mother and child are telling the truth, there should be a wholesale cleaning out of the school and a couple of cops are on thin ice. If the school is telling the truth, they were still stupid for letting it escalate this far. If the child was acting out, and the mother was there, send the kid home for crying out loud! Good grief, I'd be crying too if someone wanted to lock me up for nothing!
Monday, August 30, 2004
Well-known liberal actor Ron Silver, most recently seen as a campaign director on "The West Wing", made a great speech at the convention tonight. Here is the transcript of his speech.
It seems my comments are slightly screwed up. It's supposed to be set so anyone can comment without having to register, but it's not working right. So comment anonymously if you like, but please leave your name at least in the body of the comment so I know who to talk to. I'm working on getting it fixed, so hopefully this problem won't last long.
Some people just can't do anything right. Here's a 56-year-old man in Japan who was terribly despondent and decided he wanted to die. So he threw himself under a train. The train missed him. This poor loser couldn't even kill himself. How much bad luck can one guy take? What's next? Jumping out a first-floor window? Taking three aspirin?
I'm sorry if I sound glib about the whole thing, but some people just can't catch a break. Maybe he'll get the help he really needs, but what are the odds?
I'm sorry if I sound glib about the whole thing, but some people just can't catch a break. Maybe he'll get the help he really needs, but what are the odds?
I just want to take a minute and thank the guys over at Llama Butchers for the Llama-lanche. And a great big welcome to all Llama readers who came to visit. Come back anytime. I'll try to keep some great stuff on the blog for you.
Here is a ridiculous story for you. After Hurricane Charley ravaged Florida, Alex Arzoomanian called his friend, licensed contractor Anthony Howell, to see if he could help. Being good friends, Howell agreed to help Arzoomanian repair his roof free of charge. So Mr. Arzoomanian paid for Mr. Howell's plane ticket and they proceeded to repair the roof. Happy ending, right? Wrong.
Three days into the job, Howell was approached by two deputies from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office and two investigators from the state's Department of Business and Professional Regulation, who gave him a cease-and-desist order.
Under Florida law, only contractors licensed by the state may engage in roof repair. It carries up to a $5,000 fine. Not to mention that the practice of unlicensed contracting becomes a third-degree felony when the governor has declared a state of emergency.
Now, I can understand Florida wanting to protect its citizens from conmen and contractors gouging them in times of emergency. But that isn't the case here. Actually, Mr. Howell lost money on the deal because he closed his shop at home to help out in Florida.
"They were being real awful. They were just nasty," said Arzoomanian, who has lived in the house for seven years. "They weren't believing our story. They didn't care what the truth was."
The two friends had finished portions of the roof and were allowed to cover up exposed wood, but the investigators would not let Howell finish a portion of the roof that was covered with a tarp, which could — and later did — get ripped off by the wind, the two friends said.
Kristen Ploska, press secretary for the state's Business and Professional Regulation Department, said the department was looking into the case and was trying to investigate the circumstances.
In the meantime, Mr. Howell is not only facing a $5,000 fine, but a possible warrant for his arrest. Here's hoping they resolve this quickly and properly.
Three days into the job, Howell was approached by two deputies from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office and two investigators from the state's Department of Business and Professional Regulation, who gave him a cease-and-desist order.
Under Florida law, only contractors licensed by the state may engage in roof repair. It carries up to a $5,000 fine. Not to mention that the practice of unlicensed contracting becomes a third-degree felony when the governor has declared a state of emergency.
Now, I can understand Florida wanting to protect its citizens from conmen and contractors gouging them in times of emergency. But that isn't the case here. Actually, Mr. Howell lost money on the deal because he closed his shop at home to help out in Florida.
"They were being real awful. They were just nasty," said Arzoomanian, who has lived in the house for seven years. "They weren't believing our story. They didn't care what the truth was."
The two friends had finished portions of the roof and were allowed to cover up exposed wood, but the investigators would not let Howell finish a portion of the roof that was covered with a tarp, which could — and later did — get ripped off by the wind, the two friends said.
Kristen Ploska, press secretary for the state's Business and Professional Regulation Department, said the department was looking into the case and was trying to investigate the circumstances.
In the meantime, Mr. Howell is not only facing a $5,000 fine, but a possible warrant for his arrest. Here's hoping they resolve this quickly and properly.
This is a great program. In Kentucky, they have set up a program called "Death Row Dogs", wherein unwanted dogs are taken from the Humane Society and, rather than killing them, they're put in a prison, where the inmates train them. Then the dogs are adopted out. This looks like a win-win situation. The dogs become lovable and go to good homes instead of a landfill, and the inmates get to do something noble and selfless.
The first batch of dogs were adopted out this week. Most were taken by corrections officers and workers at the prison.
Ina Benge, a nurse at the prison, says the atmosphere at the prison has changed since the program started.
"They're more friendly toward each other. We haven't had as many fights. You can see the changes in the inmates themselves, being responsible for somebody else has given them a purpose," she said.
Perhaps this will catch on in other corrections facilities.
The first batch of dogs were adopted out this week. Most were taken by corrections officers and workers at the prison.
Ina Benge, a nurse at the prison, says the atmosphere at the prison has changed since the program started.
"They're more friendly toward each other. We haven't had as many fights. You can see the changes in the inmates themselves, being responsible for somebody else has given them a purpose," she said.
Perhaps this will catch on in other corrections facilities.
Don't forget to check out the new RNC Bloggers website, where you'll find a clearinghouse for all blogs covering the Convention in New York. Keep checking back, you never know when a new entry will appear!
This new attack ad is just sick and wrong. How far over the line would you say this goes?
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Okay, I'm probably not the most qualified person to tackle this subject, but I've gotta give it a shot. I'm sure someone will set me straight (inside joke to sisters). Who is an African-American? This question seems to be dividing the blacks in this country. Maybe I'm just naive, but isn't an African-American a person who was born in Africa and immigrated to this country? I know a lot of native-born blacks call themselves African-American, but is that really fair. They weren't born in Africa; most of them probably haven't even been there. Aren't they really Americans of African descent? Or Americans of Caribbean descent? I've been working on my genealogy for a few years now, and I've found out my ancestors were English, Irish, Scottish, French, German, and Native American (not yet confirmed, but told by mother). Should I call myself an English-Irish-Scottish-French-German-Indian-American, or can I just be American of European descent? Why do we need so many divisions?
Growing up in Kansas City, I went to a grade school that was about 50% white, 50% black. We all played together. We didn't see any big deal in what color we were. Then Malcolm X was killed. Things began to change. We were still friends, but something was different. Then Martin Luther King was killed. Everything changed. My dearest friends, who happened to be black, would no longer speak to me. I didn't understand. I hadn't killed anyone, nor had anyone in my family. But that didn't matter. A white guy killed a black guy, so we couldn't be friends anymore.
In my last two years of high school, one of my black friends from grade school finally made peace with our friendship. She invited me to her wedding, but the damage was done. My folks didn't want me to go, because it was in a "bad part of town". I should have gone anyway, but I didn't have transportation. I did wish her many happy years with her husband and got her a gift. She said she understood; I hope that was true, and she wasn't just saying that to spare my feelings.
I'm so tired of race being such a big deal. I've never had a problem with it. I raised my kids to respect all races equally. I only wish everyone felt that way. But like I said, maybe I'm just being naive.
Growing up in Kansas City, I went to a grade school that was about 50% white, 50% black. We all played together. We didn't see any big deal in what color we were. Then Malcolm X was killed. Things began to change. We were still friends, but something was different. Then Martin Luther King was killed. Everything changed. My dearest friends, who happened to be black, would no longer speak to me. I didn't understand. I hadn't killed anyone, nor had anyone in my family. But that didn't matter. A white guy killed a black guy, so we couldn't be friends anymore.
In my last two years of high school, one of my black friends from grade school finally made peace with our friendship. She invited me to her wedding, but the damage was done. My folks didn't want me to go, because it was in a "bad part of town". I should have gone anyway, but I didn't have transportation. I did wish her many happy years with her husband and got her a gift. She said she understood; I hope that was true, and she wasn't just saying that to spare my feelings.
I'm so tired of race being such a big deal. I've never had a problem with it. I raised my kids to respect all races equally. I only wish everyone felt that way. But like I said, maybe I'm just being naive.
This should be interesting. Dr. Robert Ersek, a plastic surgeon in Austin, Texas, claims fat from liposuction should be saved, and the stem cells used for research. He says they are more reliable than embryonic stem cells, which destroys the embryo when the cells are extracted. I'm looking forward to seeing whether any studies are done on this. It could settle the stem-cell dilemma once and for all.
There is a new prodigy in our country. Missouri native Akiane Kramarik paints beautiful pictures, which have been sold for as much as $25,000 to $55,000. She has had several solo gallery shows, and has been on Oprah and Wayne Brady Show, among others. She speaks three languages, and an anthology of her art, philosophy and biography will be published soon. Now here's the twist: she's only 10 years old. She gets up every morning at 5 a.m., has a session of prayer, then begins to paint. She and her three brothers are being home-schooled by her mother. Take that, public school system.
The long-awaited Passion of the Christ DVD comes out on Tuesday. It won't have all that extra junk they usually fill a DVD with. You'll get the movie, the trailer and the soundtrack. What more could anyone want? I've been looking forward to this since Spring. I think I'll spend that expected birthday money on a copy.
There's lots of hurricane news on the net tonight, gang. First, Tropical Storm Gaston has left around 125,000 homes without electricity after dumping up to 8 inches of rain on South Carolina today. Meanwhile, Hurricane Frances is at a category 3 level right now, and the powers-that-be don't know which way it's going to go. It could conceivably hit Florida at a category 5 level, or it could miss us altogether. And Tropical Storm Hermione is lining up about 325 miles southeast of North Carolina. It's only 40 miles per hour right now, but you know how that goes. Let's all keep the southeast in our prayers, okay?
This week's Carnival of the Dogs is up over at Mickey's Musings. Check them out. Some of them are precious; many of them are hilarious!
Finally, it has happened. Michael Moore has finally gotten his much-deserved smackdown at the hand of Mr. Bill Timmons, President of Aladdin Casinos in Las Vegas. What a delight to read! Happy happy joy joy (dancing around the room).
UPDATE: I'm devastated. The letter from Michael Moore is real; alas, the answer from Mr. Timmons is not. According to Snopes, it was written by someone who wished that's what Mr. Timmons said.
UPDATE: I'm devastated. The letter from Michael Moore is real; alas, the answer from Mr. Timmons is not. According to Snopes, it was written by someone who wished that's what Mr. Timmons said.
One more "Star Trek" note for tonight. James Doohan, Scotty from the Original Trek series, is making one final public appearance this weekend at a sci-fi convention in California. All of the remaining cast will be appearing as well, to honor his work. As I reported before, Doohan has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. In addition to the appearance, he will also be getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Live long and prosper, Scotty. You'll be missed.
This is a "must see" entry for you all. For those of you who have never seen a tornado, this is a formidable one. Most are not this large. But these are some of the most beautiful pictures of the tornado outbreak in Nebraska and Iowa on August 26, 2004. I've never seen one in person; I have, however, spent many nights in the basement of my folks' house, waiting for the "all clear" signal. Now that I live in the country, I won't be doing that anymore. We have a storm cellar, but it is filled with trash and old appliances, some from the previous owner and some from us. It's easier to burn our trash there (yes, we can do that here). We don't have to worry about it getting out of control. Anyway, if a tornado does come here, I'll probably be in my bathroom with my dogs. Sir Mugley will probably be on the front porch, looking for a tornado. Shoot, I might be out there with him. We're both a little crazy, you know.
Well, kiddies, Jean-Luc Picard doesn't have an artificial heart after all. Patrick Stewart is recovering from cardiac angioplasty performed earlier this week. He is resting comfortably, and should be able to return to work next week.
Well, that's a load off my mind. At least, during the Republican National Convention, with all the nonsense that's expected, the police dogs will be safe!
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Well-known singer Laura Brannigan passed away Thursday, August 26, due to a brain aneurysm. R.I.P. Laura. Your music will live on forever.
Just for the record, Carl Lewis can bite me!
You know, I told myself I was through with John Kerry's medalgate stories, but this is just too weird. According to this article, former Secretary of the Navy John Lehman has no recollection of John Kerry's third Silver Star citation:
"It is a total mystery to me. I never saw it. I never signed it. I never approved it. And the additional language it contains was not written by me," he said.
Isn't it about time the Pentagon got into this mess? Or perhaps as soon as the election is over, do a thorough investigation and settle this matter once and for all?
"It is a total mystery to me. I never saw it. I never signed it. I never approved it. And the additional language it contains was not written by me," he said.
Isn't it about time the Pentagon got into this mess? Or perhaps as soon as the election is over, do a thorough investigation and settle this matter once and for all?
If you love muscle cars as much as I do (believe me I do), then you'll love the Woodward Dream Cruise 2004. Man, I wish I could go and drool over some cars.
If you have a fear of spiders, as I most definitely do, you'll hate this article. According to entymologists, there are greater numbers of spiders this year because of the mild summer we've had here in the midwest. Here's the most gruesome part of the story:
But just how many are there, and how fat are they? Entomologists say it's hard to pinpoint exact numbers.
The rule of thumb is that no one anywhere is ever more than 3 feet away from a spider, Sierwald said. There are also 899 known spider species in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. People just don't notice the creepy crawlers as much until they fatten up near the end of summer.
I need to buy more Raid.
But just how many are there, and how fat are they? Entomologists say it's hard to pinpoint exact numbers.
The rule of thumb is that no one anywhere is ever more than 3 feet away from a spider, Sierwald said. There are also 899 known spider species in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. People just don't notice the creepy crawlers as much until they fatten up near the end of summer.
I need to buy more Raid.
This week's Carnival of the Recipes is up, hosted by Beth over at The Donavan.
Friday, August 27, 2004
Missouri is once again a pioneer for our nation. Our military personnel who are serving our nation oversees will be allowed to cast absentee ballots by e-mail. Some people aren't particularly happy about it, of course. More details in this article. If there are adequate checks and balances, this could be great for our country, and for the military, since every vote will truly count.
I'm sure you've probably seen that great commercial with the 10-year-old boy daydreaming about tooling around in a Corvette, flying through the air and speeding around with wild abandon? Do you see that ad as a threat? Well, the nannies do. GM is pulling the ad, because consumer and safety groups say "This ad is certainly among the most dangerous, anti-safety messages to be aired on national television in recent years." Isn't that the biggest crock of nothing you've heard in a while?
Picture this: A couple fall in love and decide to have a child. Just before the child is born, they break up. Wouldn't you expect some form of child support would be forthcoming to the woman raising the child? Don't be so sure. According to this story on MSNBC, a court has ruled that a lesbian woman doesn't have to pay child support. According to the Massachusetts Supreme Court, the informal agreement between the women to have a child does not constitute an enforceable contract. This is, to put it nicely, horse hockey! How many men are, at this very moment, supporting children they didn't even want. They never made any type of agreement to have a child, yet they are forced, by law, to cough up hard earned money.
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for child support; in fact, my daughter's ex-boyfriend is on my last nerve right now cause he hasn't paid anything since May. But I'm also for equal protection under the law. If this woman doesn't have to pay, why should anyone?
Thoughts, anybody?
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for child support; in fact, my daughter's ex-boyfriend is on my last nerve right now cause he hasn't paid anything since May. But I'm also for equal protection under the law. If this woman doesn't have to pay, why should anyone?
Thoughts, anybody?
Can you believe the nerve of the FIG, asking Paul Hamm to voluntarily give up his gold medal? They claim it would be the ultimate demonstration of fair play. I claim they are nuts! If they want to give the South Korean a gold medal, give him one. They gave out two golds in winter olympic games, during the ice dancing competition. Paul Hamm was given that gold medal as an appreciation of the fact that he was the best athlete on the high bar that night. That fact has not changed. They're the ones who screwed up; let them handle it and leave him alone.
A grandmother in Orlando, Florida decided to buy her grandson a bag of candy with a toy inside (as grandmothers are wont to do). But when she saw the toy, she became outraged. It was plastic, with two tall towers, and a plane between them. She immediately recognized it for what it was, and went into action. According to this story on WFTV, the candy company didn't realize what they were putting in the bags with the candy. The toy company who provided the toy says there's nothing wrong with it; it's just a toy. With a serial number 9011.
The Homeland Security Department has issued a warning that al-Qaeda may be targeting Veterans Administration hospitals, believing they are less strictly guarded than other military installations. I worked in a VA hospital for six years, and although I'm sure security is tighter now than when I left in 1985, the logistics of security a medical facility, not just military, but any medical center, would be a nightmare. You have people wandering all over the building, looking for offices, visiting patients, pretending to be working, and so on.
Attacking a Veterans hospital would probably be considered a real coup for the terrorists. I can think of few things, however, that would give our active military personnel more desire to destroy a country.
Attacking a Veterans hospital would probably be considered a real coup for the terrorists. I can think of few things, however, that would give our active military personnel more desire to destroy a country.
We've all heard the stories about VC, the amazingly acrobatic dog that served on Kerry's swift boat. Well, he says the dog was there. No one else saw it. Kinda like "Harvey", VC was Kerry's puka. Anyway, according to the first American Kennel Club Presidential Dog Poll, 51% of responders said they would trust President Bush to walk their dog; only 37% would go with Kerry. Here's one of my favorite parts of the poll:
In a finding that may raise the candidates' fur, dog owners say Bush reminds them of either a Labrador Retriever or Rottweiler (tie at 20 percent), 15 percent say Kerry reminds them of a Labrador Retriever, 14 percent Poodle
I'm just surprised it was only 14% for the Poodle.
In a finding that may raise the candidates' fur, dog owners say Bush reminds them of either a Labrador Retriever or Rottweiler (tie at 20 percent), 15 percent say Kerry reminds them of a Labrador Retriever, 14 percent Poodle
I'm just surprised it was only 14% for the Poodle.
An Iranian doctor named Ramin Etabar sent this brief letter to Activist Chat, which I am posting here for you to read:
The murderous mullahs of Iran have executed another minor. The interviews of locals in the city of Neka conducted by Radio Farda revealed that this child was either mentally retarded or was suffering from a psychiatric illness.
As a physician and human right's activist I can not express my outrage enough.
The terrorist regime in Iran has been killing children for the past twenty five years. The virgin girls are raped by these Islamic hooligans the night before their execution in order to "prevent them from going to heaven".
We the Iranian people hold the E.U. and corporate sponsors of the terror regime responsible for continuation of tyrannies in Iran.
Please do your humanitarian share of responsibility and forward this content to the press, multinational corporations and government officials of your country of residence.
May god bless the souls of the genocide victims of the I.R.I.
Who wants Iran to be next, since we're in the neighborhood anyway?
The murderous mullahs of Iran have executed another minor. The interviews of locals in the city of Neka conducted by Radio Farda revealed that this child was either mentally retarded or was suffering from a psychiatric illness.
As a physician and human right's activist I can not express my outrage enough.
The terrorist regime in Iran has been killing children for the past twenty five years. The virgin girls are raped by these Islamic hooligans the night before their execution in order to "prevent them from going to heaven".
We the Iranian people hold the E.U. and corporate sponsors of the terror regime responsible for continuation of tyrannies in Iran.
Please do your humanitarian share of responsibility and forward this content to the press, multinational corporations and government officials of your country of residence.
May god bless the souls of the genocide victims of the I.R.I.
Who wants Iran to be next, since we're in the neighborhood anyway?
A group of international scientists have determined the Top 10 Sci-Fi Films of all time. They have chosen Blade Runner as #1, with 2001: Space Odyssey #2. Check out the entire list, and let me know if you would change it.
I would like to take a moment and wish my sister-in-law Joyce a very happy birthday today. I hope you get to do something really fun tonight since it's Friday. In fact, make it a whole weekend of good times!
Don't you love that fresh feeling you have when you first get out of the shower? You open the clean soft towel and wrap it around you (in this fantasy it fits around you), and then you go brush you hair with one hand, while holding up the towel with the other! ARGH! Well, your troubles are over. Scientists have invented a towel that stays up, freeing you to primp as much as you like. Now if they'd only make them larger!
Thursday, August 26, 2004
ARGH! I will never understand these people. Another moron dressed in a black robe has decided that 1) partial birth abortion is "gruesome, brutal, barbaric, and uncivilized", and 2) it's still legal. Richard Casey, U.S. District Judge of Manhattan, states that the partial birth abortion ban is unconstitutional because it does not make exception for the "health" of the mother. How is it less strain on a woman to go through the dilation process, and give birth to most of a baby, then wait for the doctor to kill it and deliver the rest? And the biggest problem I have with his reasoning is, there is no definition of the "health of the mother". There are so many loopholes in that statement you could build a freeway through it. Many women get abortions because it is just to "mentally exhausting" to contemplate raising a child. Fine. Give the baby up for adoption if you can't raise it yourself. Don't kill it. Especially not that way. Read the article. You'll find out what happens to that child. The child does not die right away in this procedure. If you are contemplating an abortion, please stop and think first. You have the ability to change the world with that child. Don't throw away that chance.
Okay, I've read a lot about John Kerry, and I've seen him compared to Lurch from the Addams family, and Frankenstein, among others. But I've found the perfect picture of John Kerry, but I also found a picture of Howard Dean! That's Howard on the left, and his "brother" John on the right. I'm sure someone with more blogging experience than I have can do a lot with these photographs.
More science for you: Chandra has taken a beautiful picture of Cassiopeia A, the remains of an exploded star.
This is cool. They've found a Super Earth orbiting a star only 50 light years from here. To think I hated earth science when I was in school.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Israel won their first ever Olympic medal today, when Gal Fridman won the windsurfing competition. Windsurfing?? That seems like an odd sport for Israel. But what do I know? I'm sure they have lots of water to windsurf on. We just never see it.
The AFL-CIO is planning to monitor polling places during the November elections this year. Is this really a good idea? I realize the fact that I have absolutely no love for unions may be tainting my opinion, but isn't this somewhat like asking Michael Moore to guard the fridge?
John Kerry has stooped to another new low. Now he's sending out his personal attack dog, Max Cleland, to deliver a message to the President in Crawford. Too bad it didn't work. Apparently, Max Cleland couldn't get past the Secret Service.
Is it so hard for the Democrats to understand that President Bush cannot stop the ads. It is against the law.
UPDATE: Right Wing Duck, who's been filling in for Frank J. over at IMAO, has come up with some responses to Cleland. It would have been interesting to see his face if President Bush had said any of these things.
Is it so hard for the Democrats to understand that President Bush cannot stop the ads. It is against the law.
UPDATE: Right Wing Duck, who's been filling in for Frank J. over at IMAO, has come up with some responses to Cleland. It would have been interesting to see his face if President Bush had said any of these things.
Taken (stolen) from today's "Best of the Web":
From a John Kerry speech commemorating Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 20, 2003:
I remember well April 1968--I was serving in Vietnam--a place of violence--when the news reports brought home to me and my crewmates the violence back home--and the tragic news that one of the bullets flying that terrible spring took the life of that unabashedly maladjusted citizen.
In fact, Kerry did not go to Vietnam until November 1968.
Setting aside the fact that he lied (again) about being in Vietnam in April, 1968, I have a real problem with Kerry referring to Martin Luther King as "that unabashedly maladjusted citizen". What was the maladjusted part? I always thought of Martin Luther King as a peaceful man who genuinely wanted equal rights for blacks and whites in this country. I have always admired him. I couldn't give a fig about some of those who have come since: Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, Kweise Mfume, etc. (If I spelled any of those names wrong, sorry.) I think Martin Luther King would puke at some of the things that have supposedly been done in his name. Granted, when he died, I was 12 years old, but that's old enough to know right from wrong. Wrong is what the blacks in this country went through in the last century, up until the Civil Rights Act was passed. It has gotten better since then. I'm not saying it's all equal now; that would be stupid. In some ways it has; in others, the scales have tipped too far in the other direction; in yet others, they haven't changed much at all.
So that's how I feel. My question is: How do blacks feel about MLK being called a "maladjusted" citizen? I don't remember any backlash to that speech. Anyone remember?
From a John Kerry speech commemorating Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 20, 2003:
I remember well April 1968--I was serving in Vietnam--a place of violence--when the news reports brought home to me and my crewmates the violence back home--and the tragic news that one of the bullets flying that terrible spring took the life of that unabashedly maladjusted citizen.
In fact, Kerry did not go to Vietnam until November 1968.
Setting aside the fact that he lied (again) about being in Vietnam in April, 1968, I have a real problem with Kerry referring to Martin Luther King as "that unabashedly maladjusted citizen". What was the maladjusted part? I always thought of Martin Luther King as a peaceful man who genuinely wanted equal rights for blacks and whites in this country. I have always admired him. I couldn't give a fig about some of those who have come since: Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakhan, Kweise Mfume, etc. (If I spelled any of those names wrong, sorry.) I think Martin Luther King would puke at some of the things that have supposedly been done in his name. Granted, when he died, I was 12 years old, but that's old enough to know right from wrong. Wrong is what the blacks in this country went through in the last century, up until the Civil Rights Act was passed. It has gotten better since then. I'm not saying it's all equal now; that would be stupid. In some ways it has; in others, the scales have tipped too far in the other direction; in yet others, they haven't changed much at all.
So that's how I feel. My question is: How do blacks feel about MLK being called a "maladjusted" citizen? I don't remember any backlash to that speech. Anyone remember?
Attention, all who drink beverages from a can. Tempra Technologies has invented a self-cooling beverage can. It can supposedly drop the temperature of the beverage 30 degrees in about 3 minutes. If this could be cheaply mass produced, the summertime would be a much more pleasant place to be, wouldn't it?
This is really cool. A photographer decides to shoot the implosion of a bridge over the Mississippi River. So he sets up two or three cameras on tripods and gets set. He was just a little too close. One of his cameras was totally demolished, but the flash card survived. The pictures showed the debris just before it hits the camera. His other cameras caught the actual destruction of the camera. Check the pictures and be amazed.
If you like Rush Limbaugh (and who doesn't?), then you should check out one of the new kids on the block (not really), his brother David. David Limbaugh now has his own blog, children, and you would be well advised to read it frequently. He taught Rush everything he knows, except how to control his ego. I'm not real sure anyone could teach Rush that, or even if they should. Would he really be Rush without it? Anyway, check David's blog. You'll really enjoy it. He has a section on Christian persecution that I found particularly interesting.
Today is Wictory Wednesday. Every Wednesday from now until the election, a group of bloggers are reminding everyone that George W. is the best candidate for the job. If you can, please volunteer or donate to the campaign, if you haven't done so already. If you're a blogger, why not join in? Just check here for directions on joining the vast right wing majority who believe in what our President is doing.
George Lucas may be changing his mind again. Are you ready for Episode 7, 8, and 9? Check it out here.
It is my understanding that political campaigns cannot legally join with 527 groups to coordinate their efforts to win an election. Yet, that is exactly what the Kerry campaign is doing: Kerry's Ties to Anti Bush Groups.
The Kerry campaign is kinda sorta ready to admit that Kerry's first purple heart may have been received for an unintentional self-inflicted wound.
The Iraqi soccer team lost to Paraguay 3-1 in the semifinals today. They still have a shot at the bronze medal. This is the greatest story of the Olympics in my opinion.
John Kerry's website has a copy of the award for his Silver Star, and it is quite revealing. It seems the citation for the award has been issued a total of three times. Read about it here. What stands out most to me is the third citation, which was issued by Secretary of the Navy John Lehman. Secretary Lehman held that job from 1981-1987. Why did Kerry have the citation re-issued twice?
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
When I was a student, I dreaded seeing a red mark on my papers. So, I worked that much harder to make sure I didn't see them. Now children won't have to worry about seeing red any longer. The powers that be have decided that red ink is too traumatizing, so they're going to start using purple ink to correct papers. What a crock! I give it two-three years, and these same kids will be equally traumatized by purple ink. I say, let them be "traumatized", let it scare the pants off of them. Draw those F's in big bold letters. Paste them on the walls, and embarrass the crap out of the little darlings. Do it long enough and they'll either get used to it, or more likely, work harder to stop the "trauma". It's time kids had to face the fact that when they get out of school, no one is going to be looking out for their self-esteem. The world doesn't work like that. I don't think it ever has. They need to learn that the world will not kowtow to their every whim. They need to learn how to take responsibility for the things they do, and deal with the consequences thereof. But enough ranting from me. Anyone want to chime in on this topic?
The lineup of entertainment for the Republican National Convention has been announced.
Top GOP officials say the duo of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn will perform during the convention at Madison Square Garden, along with country singer Lee Ann Womack, Latin gospel singer Jaci Velasquez and Christian rock band Third Day.
Among other performers who will appear the convention are Christian singer Gracie Rosenburger, rock band Dexter Freebish, country singer Darryl Worley and gospel singer Donnie McClurkin.
Other celebrities scheduled to attend the GOP convention are singer Wayne Newton (news), actor Stephen Baldwin (news) and actress Bo Derek (news).
The GOP announced other performers for the convention earlier this month. That list included country singers, the Gatlin Brothers, and contemporary Christian performer Michael W. Smith.
I find it refreshing that Christian performers were asked to participate. I don't recall seeing any on the roster for the Democratic convention. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me.
Top GOP officials say the duo of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn will perform during the convention at Madison Square Garden, along with country singer Lee Ann Womack, Latin gospel singer Jaci Velasquez and Christian rock band Third Day.
Among other performers who will appear the convention are Christian singer Gracie Rosenburger, rock band Dexter Freebish, country singer Darryl Worley and gospel singer Donnie McClurkin.
Other celebrities scheduled to attend the GOP convention are singer Wayne Newton (news), actor Stephen Baldwin (news) and actress Bo Derek (news).
The GOP announced other performers for the convention earlier this month. That list included country singers, the Gatlin Brothers, and contemporary Christian performer Michael W. Smith.
I find it refreshing that Christian performers were asked to participate. I don't recall seeing any on the roster for the Democratic convention. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will correct me.
Direct quote from today's Best of the Web:
"John Kerry's presidential campaign, which slighted Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton during the Democratic convention last month, now wants the former first lady to lead its 'truth squad' at next week's GOP convention," the New York Post reports. Remember the cattle futures and the missing law-firm records? Could anyone be better qualified to lead a "truth squad"?
The caption on the Post's photo of New York's junior senator reads: "Sen. John Kerry wants Hillary Clinton to keep an eye on the GOP's convention." If she does as good a job as she did keeping an eye on her husband, the Republicans will be able to get away with murder.
Can't add anything to that.
"John Kerry's presidential campaign, which slighted Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton during the Democratic convention last month, now wants the former first lady to lead its 'truth squad' at next week's GOP convention," the New York Post reports. Remember the cattle futures and the missing law-firm records? Could anyone be better qualified to lead a "truth squad"?
The caption on the Post's photo of New York's junior senator reads: "Sen. John Kerry wants Hillary Clinton to keep an eye on the GOP's convention." If she does as good a job as she did keeping an eye on her husband, the Republicans will be able to get away with murder.
Can't add anything to that.
Here's a little test for you: Sitting in a chair, rotate your foot (either one) in a clockwise direction. While you're doing this, using the hand on the same side of your body, draw the number six in the air. Your foot will automatically change direction; there's not much of anything you can do about it. I'm told very very few people can do it successfully. Have fun. And remember: if anyone walks in while you're doing this, pretend like it's normal, and they're the crazy one!
Two Russian airliners had major problems when taking off from a Moscow airport. One reportedly crashed immediately after takeoff, and the second, which took off about the same time, is missing. There are reports of something burning in the area where the second plane disappeared from the radar. It is believed Chechnyan rebels may be responsible.
I guess there really is a shortage of Republican actors in Hollywood. In the upcoming season of "The West Wing", Alan Alda will portray a Republican senator with presidential aspirations. Come on! He's just about the biggest liberal feminist in the state of California. There must be someone better.
For those of you who think blogs are a total waste of time, read this article. Blogging can be a great outlet for emotion, a therapeutic process for people who have a hard time interacting with people, or just a fun hobby. But I would hardly call it a waste of time.
Monday, August 23, 2004
In another example of the fairness and tolerance of the Islamic culture, a 16 year old girl was hanged in Iran today for having a "sharp tongue". Think about it. If our legal system worked like that, we wouldn't have a teenager left on the continent.
The Kansas City Chiefs kicked some St. Louis tail tonight, beating the Rams 24-7. Go Chiefs!
Looks like John Q. Hammons came through on his promise to bring a AA baseball team to Springfield, Missouri. After all, he built the stadium for them. And now it's official: The St. Louis Cardinals AA baseball team will begin playing in Springfield in 2005. They are bringing a team in from El Paso, Texas which the Cardinals purchased from the Diamondbacks. I'm wondering what the name of the new team will be? Any ideas?
Did you see the men's gymnastics competition this evening? What a joke! Nemov should have won that high bar competition flat out. Six times he launched himself off that bar and six times he caught it again. I was glad when the judges changed his score; however, the crowd should not have had to influence them into doing it. It should never have been that low in the first place. Then poor Paul Hamm having to wait, then getting a higher score than Nemov. I just know he was glad when someone got a higher score than he did. They've got to come up with a better scoring system, or their going to have a riot on their hands. They almost had one tonight.
In the runup to the Republican National Convention, the anti-Bush activists are already well into their planned "mischief". Naturally, they're getting bent out of shape because the federal and local authorities are keeping tabs on troublemakers and their websites. Of course, the ACLU is screaming about privacy issues. If these anarchists want to be left alone, they shouldn't be causing trouble and it seems, breaking the law.
I don't talk about my children of fur much, because usually they don't do anything much to talk about. However, Bandit, the 5 year old beagle/bassett mix, has fallen in love with peaches. I've never seen a dog before who loved to eat peaches. He and his older brother Bubba, a 10 year old golden retriever/chow mix, also love to eat watermelon and cantaloupe. They draw the line at lettuce, unless it has something on it, like salad dressing or taco sauce from a taco salad. Bubba also likes to eat grapes, but only if I break the skin first.
If you have children of fur (canine or feline), do they eat anything unusual? Tell me about it.
If you have children of fur (canine or feline), do they eat anything unusual? Tell me about it.
Have you been wondering what 527 groups have been against John Kerry? What about the ones out there working against President Bush? Well, N.Z. Bear breaks it all down for you, naming names and donation amounts. Should be an enlightening read for any of you who check it out.
I've added a new blog to my blogroll today. It's called On the Patio, and it's very well written. He may be new (well, newer than me), but I'm sure you'll enjoy his work. Check it out if you don't believe me. Check it out if you do.
It's not too bright to carjack someone. It's even dumber if there is a dog in the car with the owner. But if the dog in question is a 3 year old rottweiler-doberman mix named Diablo you are a total idiot. The dog lost four of its baby teeth when the female owner pried its jaws apart to release the buffoon. My opinion: GOOD DOG!!
Alice Cooper has a problem with the rock stars touring to oust President Bush. My favorite part of the article:
"If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal."
Cooper is a long-time Republican who feels rockers should stick to music and stay out of politics. I knew I liked him. Even back in high school, Alice Cooper's music was chosen for our class song. I think it was called "Billion Dollar Babies". I voted for "School's Out", but was overruled. But that's neither here nor there.
Other rockers who are staunch Republicans include Britney Spears and Ted Nugent, and country star Toby Keith.
"If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal."
Cooper is a long-time Republican who feels rockers should stick to music and stay out of politics. I knew I liked him. Even back in high school, Alice Cooper's music was chosen for our class song. I think it was called "Billion Dollar Babies". I voted for "School's Out", but was overruled. But that's neither here nor there.
Other rockers who are staunch Republicans include Britney Spears and Ted Nugent, and country star Toby Keith.
Sunday, August 22, 2004
There are about 46,000 people who live and vote in New York City who are also registered to vote in Florida. Most of them don't vote twice, of course, but it seems there is little or no impediment to their doing so. It is very difficult for one state to cross-check voting records with another. The breakdown on these people, according to the New York Daily News is thus:
Of the 46,000 registered in both states, 68% are Democrats, 12% are Republicans and 16% didn't claim a party.
Nearly 1,700 of those registered in both states requested that absentee ballots be mailed to their home in the other state, where they are also registered. But that doesn't raise red flags with officials in either place.
We need to find a way to limit voters to one ballot per person. Voter fraud is one more distraction we don't need this year. This election is too important.
Of the 46,000 registered in both states, 68% are Democrats, 12% are Republicans and 16% didn't claim a party.
Nearly 1,700 of those registered in both states requested that absentee ballots be mailed to their home in the other state, where they are also registered. But that doesn't raise red flags with officials in either place.
We need to find a way to limit voters to one ballot per person. Voter fraud is one more distraction we don't need this year. This election is too important.
There are millions of capsules, tablets, and liquids on the market for pain relief. Would somebody, anybody, explain to me why we need one that's minty fresh? Tylenol has come out with a caplet with a minty fresh flavor. It's supposed to make the product more "hip". Please. If you want minty fresh, get the regular stuff and take it with mint tea. At least if the tea sits in your mouth a while, it won't dissolve and make you ralph.
I guess my posts are running along a theme tonight. Here we have some jerk threatening Audrey Geisel, the widow of Dr. Seuss, with a painting of Seuss characters engaging in sex acts, unless she coughed up a whopping 2.5 million dollars. This so-called man threatened an 83-year-old woman, sending her threatening letters and e-mails, trying to extort money from her. He was sentenced to 180 days, suspended, and 3 years probation. That sentence is ridiculous. I don't care if she was rich or poor, strong or weak, if a person threatens an elderly member of our society, the law should come down hard on them, if for no other reason than to discourage that sort of behavior by others. Most civilizations revere their elderly. Why can't we?
Somebody stole Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream", in my opinion one of the most ridiculous paintings ever created. Apparently, this is the second version of this painting that has been stolen from Oslo. Seriously, what does a person do with a butt-ugly painting? You can't sell it; it's too famous. All you can really do is hide it. But then, what's the point?
Jay Tea of Wizbang has posted a list of actual achievements of John Kerry over the last 33 years. I'm sure you will find it surprising. Why Massachusetts kept re-electing him is beyond me. Are they just too lazy to find someone qualified? And why, for pity's sake, hasn't he been charged with a crime?
Here's the script of the new Swift Boat Vet's ad that will begin airing sometime in the next few days in a few states. The first ad has had a major impact on the Kerry campaign; FEC complaint, demands that ads not be aired, calls for the SBV book publisher put book on hold, etc. If this ad has an equal effect, the Kerry camp may need new diapers. They are trying to blame George Bush for these ads. He had nothing to do with the ads. John Edwards is demanding that George Bush stop the ads. He can't do that. It would be illegal. What these veterans are doing is following their consciences. Too bad the opposition can't seem to do the same.
Week 13 of the Carnival of the Dogs is up at Mickey's Musings. They are so adorable.
From Church Executive Magazine, a poll listing the 50 most influential Christians. Of course, your list may vary. Feel free to let me know if you think any names were overlooked or on the list in error.
If you like cars as much as I do, you might want to check out this hot rod slideshow.
The very first Carnival of Recipes is up and running. It looks to have been a very popular idea, so I guess they'll be doing it every week. You may feel free to submit a recipe to them for publication. Deadline is August 26.
Varifrank has a must read entry today: Just Another Goofy Ensign. Check out the parts about what life was like for the Average American during the Vietnam War. Brings back a lot of memories.
The Iraqi soccer team won again today, defeating Australia 1-0. These guys are really cookin' out there.
Ben Stein is a brilliant writer. He also has a very dry sense of humor which not everyone gets, but I do. Anyway, read this article he wrote about the true meaning of a star. Makes those Hollyweird freaks look pathetic.
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Blackfive has a letter from a father whose son is stationed in Najaf. Read it, then see if you can help: prayers, comfort items, letters of encouragement, etc.
Have they found Noah's Ark? Or should I ask, have they just found Noah's Ark? Or did they find it years ago? I leave that decision to you. This article covers both sides of the story. Enjoy. It doesn't really matter to me. I believe it existed when it was supposed to exist, and if God wants it found, it will be. If it is or isn't, it won't change my belief system, nor will it change many others. Most people who don't believe the story of the ark wouldn't change their minds. They would claim it was created to trick people. Some would believe, of course, but it takes more than a belief in Noah's Ark to redeem one's soul. Perhaps some would seek out further evidence, leading them to "The Way, The Truth and The Life". For those few, I pray they find the peace of mind that only Christ can give.
Not much to blog about tonight. I went to the doctor and got a clean bill of health. Gained back two of the pounds I lost, but I expected that. I've been pounding down the chocolate like it was going out of style. But now I'm out of cupcakes and brownies, and don't plan to buy more. Seriously, I think I am keeping the weight off because I cut down on the amount of Coke I drink. I limit myself to two cans a day now. When it's on sale I buy the C2. It tastes better than Diet Coke, and it's only half the calories. I couldn't care less about the carbs.
Anyway, I've got a mild migraine, and I don't want it to get worse, so I'm gonna take my meds and shut down early tonight. I just want to say a couple of things first:
1. What idiot let al Sadr get away? Whoever it was should be shot.
2. Michael Phelps rocks. Giving away his slot on the relay team tomorrow night so Crocker can get the glory, pretty mature for a 19 year old.
3. The more John Kerry complains about the Swift Boat Vets, the more credence people are going to give their stories. Complaining to the FEC? Why doesn't he just pick up his marbles and go home? He obviously doesn't play well with others.
I'll be back tomorrow. My head hurts. Oh, yeah. Sis, I'm really happy for you. Say hi to Bill for me.
Anyway, I've got a mild migraine, and I don't want it to get worse, so I'm gonna take my meds and shut down early tonight. I just want to say a couple of things first:
1. What idiot let al Sadr get away? Whoever it was should be shot.
2. Michael Phelps rocks. Giving away his slot on the relay team tomorrow night so Crocker can get the glory, pretty mature for a 19 year old.
3. The more John Kerry complains about the Swift Boat Vets, the more credence people are going to give their stories. Complaining to the FEC? Why doesn't he just pick up his marbles and go home? He obviously doesn't play well with others.
I'll be back tomorrow. My head hurts. Oh, yeah. Sis, I'm really happy for you. Say hi to Bill for me.
Friday, August 20, 2004
Michelle Malkin was asked to be a guest on Hardball. She writes about the experience here.
The press seemed to make a big deal about Oprah Winfrey serving on a jury. Then they went on and on about how the defendant was found guilty of first degree murder. If I were this guy's lawyer, I'd be ecstatic! Think about it. You have a jury of his peers (yeah, right), who took a whole two hours to convict him. Oprah Winfrey was on the jury. Now would it really be a big stretch of the imagination to think that some of the people on that jury voted to convict just because she did? Celebrity worship is rampant in this nation. He should be able to get an appeal fairly easily. It should take more than two hours to sentence a man to spend the rest of his life in prison. But that's just my opinion.
A French citizen has been arrested in Poland on suspicion of terrorist activity. It seems he was caught by railroad workers lying in the grass, taking pictures of Poland's largest natural gas distribution plant in western Poland. Doesn't sound much like something a tourist would do to me.
Iowahawk has written a modern version of an old classic: The Gift of the CIA Magi. Enjoy.
Sir Mugley just remembered to say happy birthday to me. 25 minutes too late. I said, "It's too late now. It's the 20th. That's Patty's birthday." For those who don't know, and I know that's most of you, Patty was my husband's first wife. I could write a novel about her, but I think Acidman could put it in a few words. She was a lot like his ex-wife. Except she didn't keep coming back for more money, and there were no children. She did, however, name her first child after my husband. What a freak! She cleaned him out twice. He got his due back, though. She paid for the divorce.
I always wanted to meet her. She was an anal neat-freak. I'm just the opposite. I have to force myself to do housework. I had a chance to meet her one time. She was going to bring her new baby over to my mother-in-law's house to show him off. I decided to meet her there, but she backed out. I think she was afraid to meet me. I don't know why. I only wanted to thank her. If she hadn't been such a nasty witch, my husband wouldn't appreciate me so much.
I always wanted to meet her. She was an anal neat-freak. I'm just the opposite. I have to force myself to do housework. I had a chance to meet her one time. She was going to bring her new baby over to my mother-in-law's house to show him off. I decided to meet her there, but she backed out. I think she was afraid to meet me. I don't know why. I only wanted to thank her. If she hadn't been such a nasty witch, my husband wouldn't appreciate me so much.
I had a pretty nice birthday today. Before Sir Mugley left for school, we brought the children of fur in the house, since it was supposed to start raining any time, and they're afraid of thunder. So we cleaned the living room, then watched the Olympics. They were bored, but I was enjoying having the house to myself. We took an afternoon nap, then I got up and cooked fried chicken and mashed potatoes and cream gravy for dinner. It turned out pretty good, and I'm not that fond of fried chicken. Anyway, it didn't start raining until after S.M. got home from school about 4:15. What're ya gonna do? It's raining now and supposed to rain all day tomorrow. The boys will get to stay in, but I have to go to the doctor. Nothing serious, I have to see him every three months or he won't give me any more controlled substances. He doesn't want to lose his license. I have to take fairly strong pain medicine and muscle relaxers for my back problems. My sister worried for a while about my getting addicted to them, but that's not gonna happen. I only take one a day, and I have run out in the past without going through withdrawal. No withdrawal, just more pain. But, considering the alternative, I'll get by.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
I know he's cross country, but I think this guy is angling for an invitation to the Jawjah Blogmeet.
Greg Thompson is the current superintendent of the Humansville, Missouri school district. For now. After taking office six years ago, he posted a small plaque in the school with the ten commandments on it. All was fine until about a year ago. One person complained. Now, after going from court to court, he has been ordered to take it down. He says, no way. Taking it down is a violation of his right to free speech, and the court has no jurisdiction Well, now the school district's insurance company has gotten involved. They have informed the district that if the plaque is not removed, their insurance will be cancelled. This put the district in an uncomfortable position: back up a good superintendent, or keep their insurance. They chose to put Greg Thompson on administrative leave with pay for sixty days, hoping that he would change his mind. He won't. Nor will he resign. This is a man who stands up for what he believes in, and that is the kind of role model our children need. He is not forcing the children to read the plaque. They don't have to acknowledge it in any way. If the plaque has to go, the district will have to fire him, because he won't take it down. Good for him. We need more educators with a spine in this country. Here's the story if you want to learn more.
On to more serious things. A woman in England was undergoing intensive treatment for autoimmune hepatitis, which was destroying her liver. Taking a lot of medication, as well as undergoing radiation therapy, she was struggling to survive. Then she finds out she's twelve weeks pregnant. After much contemplation, she decides to have an abortion. She already has three children she is trying to raise while so sick.
Well, after the abortion, she goes home. Later in the bathroom, she feels something "fall out of her." When she looks in the bowl, she sees the face of her aborted child. The doctor had left the baby's head inside her.
If it were me, I would lose my mind. The doctor apologized (duh!), and tried to take the head away from her, but she refused. She is going to give the head a proper burial.
Now, I'm as pro-life as anyone on this planet, but I wouldn't wish this on anyone. If any among you are tempted to say, "Serves her right!", you should re-evaluate your life. There is definitely something missing, and I think it is your soul.
Well, after the abortion, she goes home. Later in the bathroom, she feels something "fall out of her." When she looks in the bowl, she sees the face of her aborted child. The doctor had left the baby's head inside her.
If it were me, I would lose my mind. The doctor apologized (duh!), and tried to take the head away from her, but she refused. She is going to give the head a proper burial.
Now, I'm as pro-life as anyone on this planet, but I wouldn't wish this on anyone. If any among you are tempted to say, "Serves her right!", you should re-evaluate your life. There is definitely something missing, and I think it is your soul.
First post of the evening: Michael Phelps and Carly Patterson ROCK!!!
I'm telling you, I had no idea the Lord of the Rings trilogy was so .... exhilarating. After reading what Rachel Lucas had to say, I think I need a cigarette. I may have to go get these movies and watch them, (probably while Sir Mugley is at school).
You should never mess with cows when you've been drinking, as this guy can attest to. Warning: language alert.
Here's a blogger who's looking to get some dirt on our NYC convention attendees. He wants pics if possible. He especially wants to get some dirt on politicians and political pundits. He should be ashamed. Would it really kill some of these people to play by the rules of etiquette and good manners most of us were raised with?
Well, well. Another Democrat has been caught growing the Pinocchio nose:
Earlier this week Iowa Democratic Senator Tom Harkin called Vice President Dick Cheney a "coward" for not serving in Vietnam. In the past Harkin has bragged about his own status as a Vietnam Veteran. Harkin told the media that he flew combat air patrols in Vietnam for a year. Well ... big uh oh. It seems that Harkin was lying. (Big surprise). It turns out that Harkin was actually stationed in Japan and his flying duties consisted of ferrying aircraft to the Philippines from Japan to be repaired. When Harkin's lie was exposed he started calling himself a "Vietnam Era Vet." He still hasn't explained the lie about the combat air patrols. And this is the guy the Democrats send out to call Cheney a "coward?" Can't they do better than this?
What was that about a pot calling a kettle something?
Earlier this week Iowa Democratic Senator Tom Harkin called Vice President Dick Cheney a "coward" for not serving in Vietnam. In the past Harkin has bragged about his own status as a Vietnam Veteran. Harkin told the media that he flew combat air patrols in Vietnam for a year. Well ... big uh oh. It seems that Harkin was lying. (Big surprise). It turns out that Harkin was actually stationed in Japan and his flying duties consisted of ferrying aircraft to the Philippines from Japan to be repaired. When Harkin's lie was exposed he started calling himself a "Vietnam Era Vet." He still hasn't explained the lie about the combat air patrols. And this is the guy the Democrats send out to call Cheney a "coward?" Can't they do better than this?
What was that about a pot calling a kettle something?
From MSNBC Breaking News:
Elmer Bernstein dead at 82 -
Elmer Bernstein, an Oscar-winning composer who scored such movie classics as "The Ten Commandments," "The Magnificent Seven," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "The Great Escape" and "True Grit," died Wednesday at age 82.
The man was brilliant. His music will live on.
Elmer Bernstein dead at 82 -
Elmer Bernstein, an Oscar-winning composer who scored such movie classics as "The Ten Commandments," "The Magnificent Seven," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "The Great Escape" and "True Grit," died Wednesday at age 82.
The man was brilliant. His music will live on.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Paul Hamm is fabulous! GO U.S.A.!!
One last rant for the night. I would like to say a word for left-handed people the world over. We have enough problems, dealing with a right-handed world. I would like to request we find another name for liberals besides lefties. There must be a plethora of words we could substitute. Thank you.
When my sister and I finally finished laughing at the jerk who fired her, our thoughts turned to the past. She met some of the teenagers we used to play music with at church. Of course, they're all getting old! Seriously, we're gonna see what we can do about reuniting the old gang. Not for a musical reunion (I haven't played bass in a long long time), but for a dinner and yak fest. Some have married and divorced, but we were all close for a long time. Our group had keyboard, bass, lead guitar, drums, two trumpets, and a tambourine (for the girl who couldn't play anything else). We played a lot at church, but when we got out of school, we all went our separate ways. It will be good to see them all again.
I got a call from my baby sister tonight. She was fired from her job today, and she called so we could celebrate over the phone. I know, you're saying, Are you nuts?, but no. Here's the situation:
She was running an office for a dentist in the town where she lives. This guy was crazy. He wanted her to commit insurance fraud by changing the dates on the bills so the insurance would pay up. She said no. This dentist routinely reuses plastic tips on the instruments instead of throwing them away, because he's cheap. He doesn't care that he's endangering peoples' lives. The instruments he did clean he didn't sterilize properly. So we have fraud, OSHA violations, health concerns. He also had a bad habit of talking to his patients about other patients. There's your ethics violations. His wife was no better. She read my sister the riot act because she didn't draw smiley faces on the bills she was sending out. At the end of the day, the chairs in the waiting room had to be placed just so before my sister could leave.
She was fired today. You know why? She wasn't "friendly enough". Yeah, right. They're gonna think she wasn't friendly enough, when they realize that she has plenty of documentation, enough to shut them down for a long time. Problem is, she's not as opinionated as I am. She's not sure she's gonna use it. I say, use it. They are endangering people with their unsanitary conditions. She's not worried about getting another job. She already has a job lined up teaching at UMKC Dental School.
Don't ask me who this jerk is, I don't know his name.
She was running an office for a dentist in the town where she lives. This guy was crazy. He wanted her to commit insurance fraud by changing the dates on the bills so the insurance would pay up. She said no. This dentist routinely reuses plastic tips on the instruments instead of throwing them away, because he's cheap. He doesn't care that he's endangering peoples' lives. The instruments he did clean he didn't sterilize properly. So we have fraud, OSHA violations, health concerns. He also had a bad habit of talking to his patients about other patients. There's your ethics violations. His wife was no better. She read my sister the riot act because she didn't draw smiley faces on the bills she was sending out. At the end of the day, the chairs in the waiting room had to be placed just so before my sister could leave.
She was fired today. You know why? She wasn't "friendly enough". Yeah, right. They're gonna think she wasn't friendly enough, when they realize that she has plenty of documentation, enough to shut them down for a long time. Problem is, she's not as opinionated as I am. She's not sure she's gonna use it. I say, use it. They are endangering people with their unsanitary conditions. She's not worried about getting another job. She already has a job lined up teaching at UMKC Dental School.
Don't ask me who this jerk is, I don't know his name.
If you wanted to protest the over-fishing of the area lakes and streams, wouldn't you try to do something which would save the fish? Not these people. Germany's Greenpeace, in order to protest said over-fishing, caught 11,000 fish, and dumped their corpses in front of the Brandenburg Gate. How do these people find their way out of bed in the morning?
Wow, I think my sister's would disagree with this one (especially my baby sis):
How evil are you?
I do have a wicked streak about me, although I guess I hide it well!
How evil are you?
I do have a wicked streak about me, although I guess I hide it well!
Today's history lesson is brought to you by Vodkapundit: What if Hitler had.... Gives you an idea of the inner workings of a mind some said was crazed, others said was genius. You know, they say there's a fine line between the two.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Wouldn't it be wonderful if the only problem you had to worry about was how much hair you had? George Clooney is afraid if he shaves his head for the new movie he's making, it may not grow back. Gadzooks! Maybe we should have a telethon. Losing your hair is not the end of the world. My father was almost totally bald (just a fringe around the sides) by the time he was 23. My female cousin was totally grey-haired before she graduated from high school. If it doesn't grow back, deal with it. Learn to love your head, or get a wig. There are bigger problems to expend your time on, George.
Oh, dear. It seems Sen. Kerry has stepped in it again. According to this article, Kerry kept a diary while in Vietnam. It was used to write the book "Tour of Duty" by Douglas Brinkley. In his diary, nine days after the day he says he was shot, and for which he received his first purple heart, Kerry wrote that he had not yet been shot at. It should be interesting to see how this is spun.
The llamas are yipping again! Steve over at Llama Butchers has evidence that Kerry was in Cambodia. I guess we all owe JK an apology!
Michelle Malkin tells of some needs our specialists in Iraq need. If you can help out, perhaps enough money can be raised to outfit our guys the way they need to be. Click here for more information.
In Russia, a family was shocked when a morgue confused the body of their relative with another man. All was not lost, however, since the officials at the morgue convinced the family that the deceased looked different because the body changes after you die. Do you believe this? Read the whole thing. It's truly ludicrous.
Over at DGCI, you'll find a post on a Congressional Budget Office study on the Bush tax cuts. Read the whole thing. You'll be surprised, I'll bet.
Michele over at A Small Victory has decided not to attend and blog the Republican National Convention, for all the right reasons. Good for you, Michele. Enjoy the rest of the summer!
Here's Jeff Goldstein on the movement of WMD's to Syria. Goats and magic carpets, indeed!
Monday, August 16, 2004
Greene County, Missouri prosecutor Darrell Moore has decided to either dismiss or not file charges on more than 250 drug cases, because the employee at the crime lab who tested the drugs was also using the drugs.
The dismissed cases involved methamphetamine, cocaine and other powder drugs. Investigators say Barb admitted to them last April that he was addicted to meth and stole drugs for his personal use. That admission triggered the three-and-a-half month investigation that led to the charge filed on Monday. As part of his duties as a criminalist, Barb was supposed to test seized or purchased drugs so his findings could be used as evidence in criminal cases. In the charge filed on Monday, prosecutors say Barb stole meth from the crime lab sometime between Feb. 11 and April 28.
Unfortunately, this moron will probably make a deal of some kind. As it stands, he will probably only get 7 years maximum for what he has done.
The dismissed cases involved methamphetamine, cocaine and other powder drugs. Investigators say Barb admitted to them last April that he was addicted to meth and stole drugs for his personal use. That admission triggered the three-and-a-half month investigation that led to the charge filed on Monday. As part of his duties as a criminalist, Barb was supposed to test seized or purchased drugs so his findings could be used as evidence in criminal cases. In the charge filed on Monday, prosecutors say Barb stole meth from the crime lab sometime between Feb. 11 and April 28.
Unfortunately, this moron will probably make a deal of some kind. As it stands, he will probably only get 7 years maximum for what he has done.
In Atlanta, Bobby Frederick was charged with manslaughter in the death of his 5 year old son by fire. The entire story is here. The part that tore me up was this:
Fredrick's son, "Little Bobby," was trapped inside his room on the second floor of the duplex and called for his dad but perished. Fire officials did not release the name of the boy, but a family friend who knew him and talked with the father's live-in fiancée Sunday identified the child as Robert Jerome Fredrick III, a kindergartner at Cascade Elementary School...As flames taller than his body roared in his room, the 5-year-old Atlanta boy turned to the man he trusted most. "Daddy, Daddy! Help me!" the boy wailed as he pounded on the windows of his second-floor bedroom.
His pleas were in vain.
I'm sorry, but I couldn't live if that had been my child. I would have sacrificed my life getting to the baby. There isn't a hell hot enough for anyone who could be so monstrous.
Of course, he hasn't been convicted...yet. If he's innocent, he has a horrible memory to live with. If he's guilty, they should set up a raffle to see who gets to give him "the needle".
Before you say anything, I know being convicted of manslaughter is not a capital offense. I'm just sayin'...
Fredrick's son, "Little Bobby," was trapped inside his room on the second floor of the duplex and called for his dad but perished. Fire officials did not release the name of the boy, but a family friend who knew him and talked with the father's live-in fiancée Sunday identified the child as Robert Jerome Fredrick III, a kindergartner at Cascade Elementary School...As flames taller than his body roared in his room, the 5-year-old Atlanta boy turned to the man he trusted most. "Daddy, Daddy! Help me!" the boy wailed as he pounded on the windows of his second-floor bedroom.
His pleas were in vain.
I'm sorry, but I couldn't live if that had been my child. I would have sacrificed my life getting to the baby. There isn't a hell hot enough for anyone who could be so monstrous.
Of course, he hasn't been convicted...yet. If he's innocent, he has a horrible memory to live with. If he's guilty, they should set up a raffle to see who gets to give him "the needle".
Before you say anything, I know being convicted of manslaughter is not a capital offense. I'm just sayin'...
Do you like to work jigsaw puzzles? Then you should check out Jigzone, a website where you can work jigsaw puzzles on line. You can have them "cut" in from 6 to 247 pieces, in different shapes (classic, tetris, etc.). You can, as I do, subscribe to a "puzzle of the day" and they will e-mail them to you. Try it, you might really like it.
A group of archaeologists in Israel believe they have found a cave used by John the Baptist for baptizing believers.
I'm still here. Thanks to all who said prayers for us. We got a deferral from the various people who wanted money from us, giving us more time to figure out where to get it. Thanks again for all the prayers. I wouldn't mind if you continued to pray for us; I'll never turn that down. The internet and this blog are the only luxuries I allow myself so I really don't want to give them up.
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Put your drinks down. Did you? Okay then, look at this picture of John Kerry at the Sistine Chapel. I hope you really did put your drinks down. I'm not cleaning your keyboard for you.
I almost forgot to mention, Iraq defeated Costa Rica 2-0 to make it into the quarterfinals. It makes a person feel good to see how far they've come from the bad old days with Uday Hussein.
Just a few quick notes on the Olympics I've seen today:
Didn't you just love it when Puerto Rico kicked USA butt at basketball? I know I'm supposed to root for the home team, but it just isn't the same since they started using NBA players instead of sticking with amateurs. It's hard to root for a team which, instead of USA, should be labelled EGO. They beat themselves.
The South African swimming team winning the gold medal in the 400 meter relay. Wow. They didn't just win; they killed.
I have no use for beach volleyball. There aren't enough players, and the women players need to put on some clothes. The men play in shorts and sleeveless shirts, why can't the women?
The women's gymnastics team looks really good, but they made a few really rookie mistakes. At least they have a chance to correct them before the real competition. The other teams were making a lot of mistakes too.
The men's water polo game is set to start in about an hour. I saw water polo for the first time last Olympics, and was really surprised that I liked it as much as I did. I had no idea that it was such a tough sport. It's like playing basketball without touching the floor. Hope it's a really good game.
Didn't you just love it when Puerto Rico kicked USA butt at basketball? I know I'm supposed to root for the home team, but it just isn't the same since they started using NBA players instead of sticking with amateurs. It's hard to root for a team which, instead of USA, should be labelled EGO. They beat themselves.
The South African swimming team winning the gold medal in the 400 meter relay. Wow. They didn't just win; they killed.
I have no use for beach volleyball. There aren't enough players, and the women players need to put on some clothes. The men play in shorts and sleeveless shirts, why can't the women?
The women's gymnastics team looks really good, but they made a few really rookie mistakes. At least they have a chance to correct them before the real competition. The other teams were making a lot of mistakes too.
The men's water polo game is set to start in about an hour. I saw water polo for the first time last Olympics, and was really surprised that I liked it as much as I did. I had no idea that it was such a tough sport. It's like playing basketball without touching the floor. Hope it's a really good game.
Allow me to ramble for a little bit. The past month has been extraordinarily difficult for me and Sir Mugley. The surgery and additional medical expenses, the multiple trips to the doctor (1 hr. each way), the special dietary requirements, all have combined to put us in a very nasty financial bind. Now, you might say it's okay, hang in there until payday and you'll be fine. At least, that's what I would say. What most of you don't realize is my husband was unable to do the work for which he was trained for a very long time, and is now in the process of attending college to start a whole new career at age 55. For the last ten years, we have been living strictly on my monthly disability check, and whatever leftovers he has from his college grants and loans. Every semester is putting us farther in debt.
So we've been surviving on (hold on now) $675.00 a month, plus food stamps. OMG you say, how can you do it? It's easy. We don't go out, we drive a 14 year old car that needs repair, we eat simple foods. Meat and potatoes, or meat and a vegetable. Once in a while I'll bake a cake. We have minimal car insurance, no house insurance. Our house payment is less than $125 a month. Still with all that, we barely make it through the month.
Don't get me wrong; this is not a bleg for money. However, the bad karma has combined in such a way that my light bill and phone bill are both due on Monday, and I'm broke. Not just short of money; my account is overdrawn. What I want, what I need from all who read this blog is this: I would like for you to pray for us this weekend. That's all. Pray that God will provide a way to see us through this. My husband starts school again on Thursday (my birthday). He'll need the computer for his classes, ergo he needs the phone and lights working properly to study. I'm not asking for myself, I'm asking for him. I've been without lights before, although living in the country, when the power is off, the water pump doesn't work. I'm not afraid of the dark. But he needs those things for school.
Pray for us please. If God does not intervene, my blogging will be temporarily stopped until we can come up with the money to pay the bills.
Needless to say, I'll probably never leave Blogger. I like free.
So we've been surviving on (hold on now) $675.00 a month, plus food stamps. OMG you say, how can you do it? It's easy. We don't go out, we drive a 14 year old car that needs repair, we eat simple foods. Meat and potatoes, or meat and a vegetable. Once in a while I'll bake a cake. We have minimal car insurance, no house insurance. Our house payment is less than $125 a month. Still with all that, we barely make it through the month.
Don't get me wrong; this is not a bleg for money. However, the bad karma has combined in such a way that my light bill and phone bill are both due on Monday, and I'm broke. Not just short of money; my account is overdrawn. What I want, what I need from all who read this blog is this: I would like for you to pray for us this weekend. That's all. Pray that God will provide a way to see us through this. My husband starts school again on Thursday (my birthday). He'll need the computer for his classes, ergo he needs the phone and lights working properly to study. I'm not asking for myself, I'm asking for him. I've been without lights before, although living in the country, when the power is off, the water pump doesn't work. I'm not afraid of the dark. But he needs those things for school.
Pray for us please. If God does not intervene, my blogging will be temporarily stopped until we can come up with the money to pay the bills.
Needless to say, I'll probably never leave Blogger. I like free.
Finally. Reports are that tomorrow morning, President Bush will announce at a VFW gathering that he is pulling 100,000 troops out of Europe and Asia. Other reports state the number at 70,000 troops. Either way, it's about time. Let Europe take care of themselves for a while. They'll find out just how easy they've had it, especially since militant Islamists are making headway in their countries. Of course, they'll blame us. I really don't care anymore. I just hope they don't ask us for help. To quote Robert Romano on "Everybody Loves Raymond", "I don't know what we'd do with all the vomit."
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Here is the current list of bloggers who have been invited to the Republican National Convention. Check them frequently during the convention to get the story behind the story:
A Small Victory
Blogs for Bush
Campaign Web Review
Captain's Quarters
Dean's World
HughHewitt.com
INDC Journal
OxBlog
Power Line
RealClearPolitics
Redstate
Roger L. Simon
Slant Point
Spot On
t a c i t u s
The Command Post
Wizbang
No I didn't take the time to hypertext the blogsites. Sue me. I'm having a bad weekend. Granny is grumpy.
A Small Victory
Blogs for Bush
Campaign Web Review
Captain's Quarters
Dean's World
HughHewitt.com
INDC Journal
OxBlog
Power Line
RealClearPolitics
Redstate
Roger L. Simon
Slant Point
Spot On
t a c i t u s
The Command Post
Wizbang
No I didn't take the time to hypertext the blogsites. Sue me. I'm having a bad weekend. Granny is grumpy.
Here is an excellent post about new fathers in the military. The story focuses on one squadron with seven(!) brand-new fathers in it. It also demonstrates the great work of the Key Volunteers Network.
I absolutely love this photo of John Kerry. It so seems to suit him to a tee. All he needs now are some love beads.
Those of you who were able to watch the Democratic National Convention on cable no doubt saw David Alston's speech regarding the time he spend serving with John Kerry in Vietnam. Seems Mr. Alston was not quite being truthful. According to some research into the public records, Alston left before Kerry joined the unit. He was wounded and medivac'd out before John Kerry took command. So please explain to me, how did he serve with Kerry, and how can he speak about how good Kerry is at command? How many more lies will surface before the mainstream media start reporting the attempt of a pathological liar to become the President of our great nation? If my children lied as much as John Kerry has, they wouldn't be allowed dessert after dinner, let alone allowed to run a country.
Here's a beautiful picture from the Olympics. I wish we could see this kind of thing more often, don't you?
I guess Hurricane Charley has been devastating to Florida. Fifteen dead at last count. At least Danielle is not expected to make landfall at all. Now for the bad news. Earl, while a tropical storm right now, is expected to follow the same path as Charley. Let's all keep the families in the path of these storms in our prayers.
Friday, August 13, 2004
You know, I think Steven over at The Sneeze has been sniffing glue or something. Check out his entry on Bert, Ernie, and the Rubber Duckie. Wow.
Imagine the fury! You attend Oklahoma State University, home of the Cowboys. You're getting a brand new football stadium. It's almost finished, and what do you realize? Some idiot bricklayer has put up the initials of their worst rival! That's right. The OSU stadium has O U embedded in the brick wall. The horror! The really bizarre thing in my opinion is that they just noticed it this week, even though the renovation has been going on for ten months. Not to worry, though. They've corrected the error by painting the bricks.
When I fix hamburgers for dinner at home, it usually takes less than a pound of meat, since it's just the two of us now. I even have enough left over for mini-burgers for the children of fur, Bubba and Bandit. I can't imagine, no matter how hard I try, why anyone would want to eat a nine-pound hamburger! I'm not kidding. Nine pounds of hamburger, not counting the cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, etc. According to the article, no one has ever finished one. I'm sure my son could give it his best shot, he always could put the food away. But why? The human stomach is only about the size of your fist. Why shove that much food into it? C'mon people, let's leave some food for the rest of the world, okay?
Thursday, August 12, 2004
You should read Mr. Minority today. He's got some great stuff about a series of radio ads that have the Dems boiling, and a lemonade stand that was put out of business by a neighborhood scrooge and local government, plus lots more. I really enjoy his blog, he seldom disappoints.
In Women's Wall Street, Annie Jacobsen updates the mystery of Flight 327. It just keeps getting weirder and weirder, gang.
In Greece today, Iraq's soccer team beat Portugal 4-2. I'm thrilled for them. After all they've been through, I hope the Iraqi and Afghanistan teams do well in Athens.
Well, my surgery was one month ago today. I'm feeling pretty good, except when I get frustrated at the newscasters or Democrats or whatever. So far, the hormone therapy is working. No hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, etc. Still, it doesn't take much for me to get tired. I have to sit down about every ten minutes because of my back spasms, which seem to have gotten worse since my down time. I guess those muscles don't want to start working again. Well, they have no choice. Sir Mugley starts back to school next Thursday, and I have things I want done before that happens. Which means I have to get things ready for the work to be done. My husband is a treasure. He can cook, and he's a whiz at doing laundry. But when it comes to cleaning house, he really cannot get motivated. But that same quality in his wife gets under his skin. But life is good. I have my health, a place to live, bills are temporarily current. I'm getting stronger every day. In two weeks I have my final checkup, and I'm free and clear.
Iceland is having a monster heat wave right now. According to this article, Reykjavik had their hottest day on record when the temps hit 24.8 degrees Celsius. For those of you who don't know how hot that is (and I'm including myself in that, MAN.I.HATE.METRICS!) that translates to 76.6 degrees F. (And it only took a calculator) Their average high in August is 13 degrees C. (I'm not figuring that one for you, it's about half). Our high here in southwest Missouri today was 72 degrees. Freaky, isn't it?
Democratic Governor James McGreevey of New Jersey resigned today after he came out of the closet and admitted to a homosexual affair. I realize this is a very personal choice to resign, however, I don't understand why he felt the need to resign. Now that the secret is out, why couldn't he go ahead and fulfill his duties? Can someone explain it to me?
This is the funniest thing I've read in a while. Somebody at Newsmax has a wicked funny streak running through their bones. Of all the Bruce Springsteen songs they could have chosen, John Kerry chose "No Surrender", and John Edwards chose "Land of Hope and Dreams". Go over and read the lyrics to those songs and the witty way the author brings it home. What a delightful way to start my evening reading.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has once again refused to recognize a Christian fraternity, frozen its accounts and web access without warning. According to officials of the university, any group that only includes Christians is clearly "discriminating" against other people. This is ridiculous. I realize that fraternities are not he be-all and end-all of life itself, but they have the right to admit anyone they choose. Next will they be requiring fraternities to admit women? How about animals? If this were a group of any other type, such as Jewish, or Muslim, or black, or asian, this would not be happening.
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
For your reading enjoyment, here's Blackfive's Night Before Christmas (Cambodia version). Drink alert in effect.
Did you know that a character in the movie "Species" was named John F. Kerry? He was one of the alien's victims. You can get the lowdown here. My favorite line: "...try to get John Kerry on the line...tell him he's about to copulate with a creature from outer space." Priceless. I may have to watch that movie again.
After their cross-country glad-handing, apparently the strain is starting to get to Teresa Heinz Kerry. After a heated argument Teresa and John moved to separate suites. I have no doubt that a national campaign can have a strain on a marriage; perhaps they should take a couple of days and regroup.
In Stuart, Florida a 600 pound woman has died after rescue personnel were unable to separate her from her couch. Seriously. She had been on the sofa an estimated 2-5 years and had literally become "one with the couch". The rescue personnel had to work for a long time just to get her out of the apartment. The stench was overpowering. Police are considering whether neglect charges should be filed.
Here are some words to live by: If you attend a wedding in the Philippines, do not touch the bride on the bottom, not even by accident. If you do, you may wind up the main course at the wedding feast. The family had a cousin killed, then roasted him and fed him to the guests. Eeeewww!
The Olympics started today, with the men's and women's soccer tournaments. The U.S. women's team beat Greece 3-0. We're off to a good start.
Isn't life sweet? "Mr. Ambush", Sixty Minutes' own Mike Wallace was arrested last night for disorderly conduct, but was later cited and released. Where was the hidden camera? Couldn't someone have gotten this on tape?
St. Louis 1, Tampa Bay 0
GO CARDS!!!
GO CARDS!!!
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Five questions so you'll know more about me:
1. How do you like your eggs?Usually over medium, cause I hate it when the white part is runny. I also like egg sandwiches and boiled eggs. As a matter of fact, I had scrambled eggs and french toast for dinner.
2. What do you collect?I collect music boxes, blue glass items and stuffed animals.
3. Do you carry a purse, backpack or briefcase on a regular basis? If yes, does it contain only the essentials or a whole lot of everything?Absolutely not. If I can avoid it, you won't see me with a purse. I have to carry an oxygen tank, so a purse would just be that much more weight I don't want to lug around.
4. When is the last time you've read a book, put together a puzzle, built something or did something crafty?I read all the time, usually on the internet, but I'm reading a book of short stories in literature right now. I used to put puzzles together all the time, but the dog likes to knock them off the table, so I haven't done that for a while, and the last crafty thing I did was look at a kitchen with nearly bare cabinets and come up with a week's worth of meals. That seems to have become my new hobby.
5. What was the highlight of your weekend?Probably the NASCAR race, since I haven't started going back to church yet. I'll probably go next weekend.
1. How do you like your eggs?Usually over medium, cause I hate it when the white part is runny. I also like egg sandwiches and boiled eggs. As a matter of fact, I had scrambled eggs and french toast for dinner.
2. What do you collect?I collect music boxes, blue glass items and stuffed animals.
3. Do you carry a purse, backpack or briefcase on a regular basis? If yes, does it contain only the essentials or a whole lot of everything?Absolutely not. If I can avoid it, you won't see me with a purse. I have to carry an oxygen tank, so a purse would just be that much more weight I don't want to lug around.
4. When is the last time you've read a book, put together a puzzle, built something or did something crafty?I read all the time, usually on the internet, but I'm reading a book of short stories in literature right now. I used to put puzzles together all the time, but the dog likes to knock them off the table, so I haven't done that for a while, and the last crafty thing I did was look at a kitchen with nearly bare cabinets and come up with a week's worth of meals. That seems to have become my new hobby.
5. What was the highlight of your weekend?Probably the NASCAR race, since I haven't started going back to church yet. I'll probably go next weekend.
Jay over at Accidental Verbosity has cleared this writer's confusion regarding overseers at the elections. Read here and learn. It's not as bad as it seemed a few days ago.
Did anyone see Condoleezza Rice on Meet the Press Sunday morning? She had a perfect opportunity to set the Dems back on their heels and she blew it! Tim Russert asked her point-blank about Kerry's assertations that he "wouldn't have waited 5-7 minutes to act" on 9/11. Did she come back with the information about his remarks on Larry King to the effect that he sat, doing nothing for at least 40 minutes? NO! Read her response here. When is the Bush campaign going to start fighting back? Why are the being so "goody goody"? If they want to win in November, they are going to have to stop being a welcome mat and get down to business.
Monday, August 09, 2004
Have you wanted to get involved in supporting our troops, but didn't know how? Well, you have come to the right place. Blackfive has a list of groups who are involved in everything from care packages to the troops, to helping the soldiers help the children of Afghanistan and Iraq. There's a group for everybody to get involved in, so pick one and get busy. Please.
Around 50 Jewish university students were assaulted at Auschwitz museum in Poland by some French tourists. Now, I'm not Jewish, but I have a great affinity for the tribulations the Jewish people have gone through. I get outraged when stupidity like this takes place. No one was arrested; I don't know why. If it had been the other way around, I'm sure some police action would have been taken. Anti-semitism has no place in this world.
According to the Houston Chronicle, McKinney Pharmacy has a new policy, wherein they will
sell prescription drugs to uninsured or underinsured patients for "cost". On the surface this sounds like a great idea. However, as an example, one of the drugs described normally sells for $240.00. They will sell it for $16.68. I thought the drug companies were supposed to be the ones gouging us on prices. Oops.
sell prescription drugs to uninsured or underinsured patients for "cost". On the surface this sounds like a great idea. However, as an example, one of the drugs described normally sells for $240.00. They will sell it for $16.68. I thought the drug companies were supposed to be the ones gouging us on prices. Oops.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Iowahawk goes to great lengths to let us know "Why I Am A Democrat". If you are easily offended, get over it. Life's too short.
This is too much. The State Department has decided to allow foreigners to oversee our elections. I am outraged! Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kelley, in charge of legislative affairs, affirmed The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will be monitoring our elections in November. I plan to write to the President about this. We don't need them over here, deciding whether or not we're voting right. We have election officials, from both major parties, at the polling places to insure fairness. If they did their jobs correctly, there wouldn't be a problem. And if they didn't, they shouldn't be allowed to do it anymore. In Florida, they've already announced the overseers would have to stay at least 50 feet from the polling places. Here's hoping more states follow in their footsteps. This is America. We take care of our own.
While vacationing in Italy, Al and Tipper Gore were robbed of about $35,000 worth of valuables. It seems they decided to forego their usual security team. I suppose Terry McAuliffe will blame a vast right wing conspiracy for this, too.
Was Jesus a liberal or a conservative? Or was he neither? A question taken up at Rambling's Journal.
Today, August 7, is National Mustard Day. Here's a press release from French's, listing the Top Ten Ways to Muster up Fun. Don't you just relish these ideas? Or do they make you feel like a weiner? Sorry. I'm such a brat(wurst).
Friday, August 06, 2004
Over at INDC Journal, Bill has a wonderful story about President Bush at an Ambassador's dinner, and how he interacted with the staff afterward. It's just more evidence of how "real" President Bush is, especially compared to his current competition in the election.
"Super Freak" singer Rick James died today at age 56 of natural causes. I never really got into his music (I kinda lost interest after the mid-80s; did he have any other hits?)but I know he had his fans and they will miss him.
If you want to know what's really going on in Iraq, instead of taking the word of the media here where it's safe, check out My War - Fear and Loathing in Iraq. Be forewarned - there is much adult language used here. If you can't get around that, you probably shouldn't read it.
Sir George over at the Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler has the details on John Kerry's Silver Star. The bonus is: you get to pick which version of the truth you want to believe.
Grouchy Old Cripple has posted Bad Day 5. A lot of people in this neck of the woods can really relate to this one.
My husband, Sir Mugley, and I thought we would go see a movie this weekend. There is a drive-in movie theater about 45 minutes from here. The last time I was there was with my daughter, when we saw that Mel Gibson movie, "What Women Want". It was pretty obvious to those in my car, what women wanted was Mel Gibson. Anyway, I called this evening to see what was playing this week (only one movie per night, but it's still outside so that's okay). This week's movie is "A Cinderella Story". BLECH! We'll wait and go next week if the weather stays cool. At least then we can see "The Village". I hope it's good. I don't go to movies very often, so I don't like to waste my money on garbage. But the drive-in is only 4 dollars per person, so that's not so bad, and it's right down the street from Sonic, so it's kinda a cheap date. Reminds me of when we were dating. Although, back then, every time we went to a drive-in movie, it started raining. We didn't leave though, we just waited for the rain to stop. (Don't worry family; nothing happened).
Blackfive has another e-mail update from the Thundering Third in Iraq.
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Here's a pleasant break for those of you who enjoyed "The Exorcist". Check out these two pictures and find something special. Do not do this while drinking or if you have a weak heart. I don't want to lose any of my loyal readers. If you don't like it, blame Jonah Goldberg.
Three articles posted on World Net Daily:
Albany Mosque raid uncovers missile plot
2 Muslim leaders helped terrorist buy weapon
U.S. says 3rd suspect confirmed terror threat
Info provides "another new stream of intelligence".
Man in Chicago nabbed for plot to attack courthouse
Authorities say he planned to use fertilizer truck bomb.
More proof that we are being too paranoid about being attacked again. Not.
Albany Mosque raid uncovers missile plot
2 Muslim leaders helped terrorist buy weapon
U.S. says 3rd suspect confirmed terror threat
Info provides "another new stream of intelligence".
Man in Chicago nabbed for plot to attack courthouse
Authorities say he planned to use fertilizer truck bomb.
More proof that we are being too paranoid about being attacked again. Not.
It seems that John Kerry thinks President Bush should have moved faster when he found out about the attacks on the World Trade Center. According to CNN's report, President Bush waited 5-7 minutes before exiting a classroom full of small children. What's wrong with that? Should he have jumped up, and run from the room, frightening the children? Should he have screamed like a little girl? No. He did what was right. The secret service men with him had to secure an exit for him earlier than expected, he wanted to get in touch with Washington as soon as possible, so those arrangements were being made. How long does that take? I'm sure John Kerry has no idea.
UPDATE: (From the Corner)Here's what he told Larry King: "...And as I came in [to a meeting in Sen. Daschle's office], Barbara Boxer and Harry Reid were standing there, and we watched the second plane come in to the building. And we shortly thereafter sat down at the table and then we just realized nobody could think, and then boom, right behind us, we saw the cloud of explosion at the Pentagon..."
Kudos to Red State for finding that. And for noting: "It should be noted that the second plane hit the World Trade Center at 9:03 a.m., and the plane hit the Pentagon at 9:43 a.m. By Kerry's own words, he and his fellow senators sat there for forty minutes, realizing 'nobody could think.'"
UPDATE: (From the Corner)Here's what he told Larry King: "...And as I came in [to a meeting in Sen. Daschle's office], Barbara Boxer and Harry Reid were standing there, and we watched the second plane come in to the building. And we shortly thereafter sat down at the table and then we just realized nobody could think, and then boom, right behind us, we saw the cloud of explosion at the Pentagon..."
Kudos to Red State for finding that. And for noting: "It should be noted that the second plane hit the World Trade Center at 9:03 a.m., and the plane hit the Pentagon at 9:43 a.m. By Kerry's own words, he and his fellow senators sat there for forty minutes, realizing 'nobody could think.'"
Here we go, folks. The lawyers for the DNC and John Kerry's campaign have faxed a letter to television station managers, warning them not to show the ad made by the Swiftboat veterans, which contradicts everything Kerry has said about his medals and how he got them. They must be scared, or they wouldn't be going to this length to silence the opposition.
UPDATE: If you want to see/hear the ad, click here.
UPDATE: If you want to see/hear the ad, click here.
