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Day By Day© by Chris Muir.

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

The king is dead. Long live the King! Ken Jennings finally lost today, after a 74 game winning streak won him $2,520,700. I was sort of surprised, though. The final Jeopardy question wasn't that difficult. How many seasonal white-collar jobs are there really? I knew the answer, and I suspect he may have as well. My feeling is that he was tired, and wanted to go home. He won enough money and wanted to quit. I may be wrong, but that's my suspicion.

Director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge has announced his resignation, effective in February. Also announcing his resignation is Kweisi Mfume, the head of the NAACP. Frankly, that news was long overdue. The organization is under a cloud of investigations, and their membership has been on the decline. Perhaps new blood and a new attitude will bring it back to its former place of importance in the lives of black people in this country. Let's see who replaces these two men. If the replacements are chosen wisely, the world will be a better place.

The top new word in the dictionary this year is (drum roll, please)..........BLOG! The blogosphere really made great strides this year. I can't wait to see what we do next year.

The Groningen Academic Hospital in the Netherlands proposed some guidelines last month for mercy killing of terminally ill newborns. That was bad enough. Then they made a shocking announcement: They were already doing it.
The hospital said it carried out four such mercy killings in 2003, and reported all cases to government prosecutors - but there have been no legal proceedings taken against them.
They murdered four babies, and because the babies were already going to die, nothing is to be done? This is sick and wrong.
Catholic organizations and the Vatican have reacted with outrage to Groningen's announcement, and U.S. euthanasia opponents contend that the proposal shows the Dutch have lost their moral compass.

"The slippery slope in the Netherlands has descended already into a vertical cliff," said Wesley J. Smith, a prominent California-based critic, in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
Slippery slope indeed!
Since the introduction of the Dutch law, Belgium has also legalized euthanasia, while in France, legislation to allow doctor-assisted suicide is currently under debate. In the United States, the state of Oregon is alone in allowing physician-assisted suicide, but this is under constant legal challenge.
We have so allowed the value of human life to diminish that even children are not safe anymore. God created us to love one another, not pick and choose who can live or die.


Rumors are flying around that Hillary Clinton may not run in 2008. Some say yes, some say no. I say, who cares right now? Let's at least have the inauguration, then we'll think about 2008. Ya gotta rest sometime.

From Best of the Web:
We do not live in a secular country. There are all sorts of people of faith that place moral values over personal freedoms. They are not all "wacky evangelicals." They are people who don't like Howard Stern piping a hard porn show over the airwaves and wrapping himself in the freedom of the First Amendment. They don't like being told that a young girl does not have to seek her mother's counsel about an abortion. They don't like seeing an eight-month-old fetus having his head punctured and his brains sucked out. They don't like being told the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silent prayer and the words "under God" are offensive to an enlightened few so nobody should be allowed to use them.
Did you ever know Dowd to write better? Not Maureen, of course. This was written by her smarter brother, Kevin. Somebody give him a full-time job quickly!

Good evening everybody! To start you off tonight, here's a little story from the Left Coast Report:
Everybody wants to get into the act. This includes Justice Robert Gigante, who just happens to sit on the bench in a Staten Island, N.Y., trial courtroom.

Gigante has been in the news before. As head of the Staten Island Democrats, he was apparently the one who leaked the news that Hillary Rodham Clinton was going to seek a New York Senate seat.

This time Gigante is garnering attention for some unusual judicial behavior.

Gil Lederman recently found himself a defendant in Gigante's courtroom. Lederman is a physician who once treated the soft-spoken, introspective Beatle George Harrison.

The doctor gained fame because reportedly while Harrison was on his deathbed, Lederman asked him to sign a guitar. George's widow, Olivia, accused Lederman of duress.

Lederman was in Gigante's courtroom because he had been accused of malpractice. The doc defendant was seeking to move the trial, claiming that he could not get a fair trial in the area because of the bad publicity surrounding the Harrison matter.

Judge Gigante ruled that the case be moved to the New York state capital of Albany and did so with lyrical flair. He wrote, "With apologies to the late George Harrison":

"Something in the folks he treats
Attracts bad press like no other doctor

He's in our jurisdiction now
He gets Beatle autographs somehow

And all I have to do is move this trial
Somewhere they don't know George Harrison

If this case I were to keep
Defendant would gently weep."

The Left Coast Report will take a judge who writes bad lyrics over one who writes bad law any day.
I wonder how long it took the judge to come up with these lyrics. He could probably get a job writing for some of the new groups out there, you know the ones who couldn't rhyme if all the letters were the same.

Emperor Misha is in full rant mode tonight. You have to see it to believe it.

Michelle at A Small Victory tells a hilarious story about caroling as a child. This will really brighten your day.

There's a rumor going around that Chris Noth, that hunky guy who played Det. Mike Logan on Law and Order several years ago, and recently played Mr. Big on Sex and the City, may, at least temporarily, take over the lead on Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Vincent D'Onofrio, who does an excellent job in the role in my opinion, has been having some health problems, which some people claim were caused by Kerry losing the Presidential race. I doubt that, but he has been fainting and has been to the hospital twice with no definitive diagnosis. Stay tuned.

For the person on your shopping list: A subscription to the Peanut Butter and Jelly of the Month Club. Each month, you get a different, unusual peanut butter and jelly. Imagine hot and spicy peanut butter, or jelly made from kudzu? And it's only $250! The person who receives this gift won't know what to say!

Scientists finally admit it: The Big Bang did not create the Universe!
According to a new study, space and dark are eternal, they were not created, and the 'Primordial Fireball' as claimed by the Big Bang theory could not produce them. The dark had existed before anything else since it is the occupant of the space, the master of the space. When there was no light before existence of the Universe, there existed dark, only dark, nothing else but dark and no one can challenge it just think over it.
Christians the world over have known this for years. I'm glad the scientific community is catching up with us. The whole Big Bang theory was ridiculous in the first place. There may have been a "big bang", but where did they suppose the ingredients came from?

Have you heard of StormPay, an alternative to PayPal? Well, DGCI is having serious problems with them. Take a look before you sign up to see if you really want to go to all the trouble.


My favoritest movie monster of all time, Godzilla, has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. What a guy! The wonder lizard has his 28th and final movie coming out this winter, called "Godzilla: Final Wars." I'm looking forward to seeing the old Godzilla again. The one they created for the recent movies just looked silly. Godzilla has to be made out of rubber, not special effects. Some things just can't be updated.

Monday, November 29, 2004

Some celebrity news for you tonight: John Drew Barrymore, father of Drew, passed away at the age of 72. The cause of death has not been made public.

Penn Gillette, of the famous Penn and Teller magic act, married his longtime girlfriend this weekend in Las Vegas.

Country singer Mindy McCready was fined $4,000 for falsifying a prescription to get Oxycontin.

72 year old Elizabeth Taylor is keeping up a brave front, despite suffering from congestive heart failure.

Finally, George Clooney is laid up with a ruptured disc in his back. Get well soon, George.


Anybody in the mood for a medical miracle? A woman in Korea was injured in an accident in 1985. She has spent the last 19 years in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down. Today she is walking, thanks to stem cell therapy. But wait! It wasn't the all-hailed embryonic stem cells that cured this woman. These stem cells came from an umbilical cord. They were injected into the injury site on this woman's back, and her nerves began to regenerate. Here's hoping the success can be repeated, so maybe people will back off on embryos and find other stem cells work better and more reliably.

Carnival of the Dogs is up and running. Thanks to Mickey's Musings for this weekly effort. The dogs are adorable!

Although I posted the other day about a "gift idea" for me for Christmas, once again I'm asking my family not to spend a lot of money on me. It really just isn't necessary. I'm just as happy with a pair of jeans from goodwill, or a gift cert. for a few bucks at the grocery store. I am much more excited watching everyone else open their presents. I know you probably will ignore this again this year, but I had to try. If you're getting me clothing, I don't wear size XXXL so don't buy that size again this year, okay? I love you all. My wish list: fleece pants and top to wear around the house, blankets (electric would be a plus), cheap boots (try payless - size 8), CD's or DVD's are welcome. Don't spend a lot - I mean it!


I've never seen Al Sharpton look better, have you? Thanks to SondraK for the pic.

Sunday, November 28, 2004

Julia Roberts gave birth to twins in California. She and her husband Danny Moder named the little girl Hazel Patricia, and the little boy is Phinneas Walter. Heaven help those children. I hope they learn how to defend themselves, because with those names they will be teased all through school.

Sir Mugley used to worry that he was too old to go back to college. He's due to graduate in May at the ripe old age of 55. He should worry no longer. Roger "Rusty" Martin has just started his freshman year at St. John's University. He's 61 years old. He's also the President of Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. Sir Mugley should feel younger reading this.

Now they've gone too far. Some terrorists in Kashmir strapped explosives to a stray dog and blew it up, killing four people and the dog. People fighting people, at least that's usually a fair fight. The people being attacked can usually fight back. The dog wasn't doing anything to anyone except trying to stay alive. Somebody kill a terrorist for my dog, he will be so happy.

Something mysterious is afoot in Washington. The Navy has built a super secret complex near the Jefferson Memorial, and no one who can talk about it knows what it is. Conspiracy theorists, start your engines.

Did you see the Chiefs game today? I felt so bad for Dante Hall. Getting the ball and running it clear across the field, only to drop it about the 10 yard line and have it recovered by San Diego. What a rip! Of course, the Chiefs lost the game by 3 points, so it was a grave error. He did complete one of those fantastic runs later on, but it just wasn't enough. The Chiefs really suck this year. Maybe it will be better when Priest Holmes gets back in the game.

Well let's start off tonight with a moonbat, shall we? Barbra Streisand says Condi's blind loyalty to the President is preventing sound judgment for the country. Bah Humbug! I believe Barbra's blind hatred for the President is preventing sound thinking of any sort. Besides, who wants to believe anybody who can't even spell Barbara?

For those bloggers who plan to participate, the rules for the Dead Pool 2005 are up on Laurence's site. Rosters will be accepted after December 1. Good luck.

Saturday, November 27, 2004

They had a 3.1 magnitude earthquake on Mount St. Helens Saturday, the strongest since October. I had hoped the old lady was calming down, but I guess not. The scientists still don't think she's going to blow apart again, but how much do they really know? They're only guessing at what's going on under the surface.

A landmark bridge on Indonesia's Sumatra Island is in danger of collapsing because of people urinating on one of the steel pillars which support it. Now, I don't know what these people are drinking that makes their urine so powerful, but they really ought to switch to water.

There's going to be a Global Day of Prayer on May 15, 2005. They are estimating about 200 million Christians will pray together on that day. I say we can make the number higher. Spread the word to all your friends. For that matter, tell your enemies, too. The more, the merrier.

So, FARC wanted to kill President Bush? Ah, too bad. We want to keep him around for the next four years, guys. So sorry if that messes up your plans. Why don't you just stick with terrorizing people your own size?

Drink Alert! Iowahawk has done it again. Tune in for It's A Dan-derful Life.

Friday, November 26, 2004

Here's the headline: Man dies in leap from Empire State Building. I'd like to know: where's the news in that? If it said "Man leaps from Empire State Building and lives", now THAT would be news!


If any of my family is paying attention, this would make a nice Christmas gift. It's only $315,000. Petty cash, really....eh...hello?

Mary McClintock, a 69 year old woman who worked with the disadvantaged, died Tuesday in a hospital in Seattle, because of a stupid mistake. During a brain aneurysm procedure, she was injected with an antiseptic instead of a dye marker which would show up on an x-ray. This is inexcusable. The two solutions should not have been in the same type cups. Even using the same cups, they should have been marked in some way so as not to use the wrong one. The people responsible for this stupid mistake are the scrub nurse who would have worked the sterile field, the circulating nurse, and the doctor, in that order. Some form of disciplinary action must be taken in this case. Mistakes of this magnitude cannot be permitted. This woman suffered a horrible death, which took 19 days, and steps have to be taken to insure this does not happen again. I know I may seem overly passionate about this sort of thing, but I worked in a hospital for 6 years, and I know how truly idiotic this mistake was. My heart goes out to the family for their loss. My heart also goes out to the people who go to that hospital, as they could be facing the same morons who killed that woman.

Here's the latest Carnival of Recipes your your enjoyment. Kudos to Marybeth, who put this together on an extremely hectic weekend. You go, girl!

A great big "Thanks" to Dean Esmay, who gives us Klingon Turkeys!

Thursday, November 25, 2004

For your amusement, here is a list of the most idiotic crimes of the 20th century. You'll really enjoy it.

That cheese sandwich did so well on eBay, now a man in Eastern Ontario is going to try to sell a fish stick that he says has the face of Jesus on it. Now all we need is a veggie that looks like Joseph and we'll have a complete set.

Here is the text of President Bush's Thanksgiving Day proclamation:
All across America, we gather this week with the people we love, to give thanks to God for the blessings in our lives. We are grateful for our freedom, grateful for our families and friends, and grateful for the many gifts of America.

On Thanksgiving Day, we acknowledge that all of these things, and life itself, come from the Almighty God. Almost four centuries ago, the Pilgrims celebrated a harvest feast to thank God after suffering through a brutal winter.

President George Washington proclaimed the first National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, and President Lincoln revived the tradition during the Civil War, asking Americans to give thanks with "one heart and one voice."

Since then, in times of war and in times of peace, Americans have gathered with family and friends and given thanks to God for our blessings. Thanksgiving is also a time to share our blessings with those who are less fortunate.

Americans this week will gather food and clothing for neighbors in need. Many young people will give part of their holiday to volunteer at homeless shelters and food pantries.

On Thanksgiving, we remember that the true strength of America lies in the hearts and souls of the American people. By seeking out those who are hurting and by lending a hand, Americans touch the lives of their fellow citizens and help make our nation and the world a better place.

This Thanksgiving, we express our gratitude to our dedicated firefighters and police officers who help keep our homeland safe. We are grateful to the homeland security and intelligence personnel who spend long hours on faithful watch.

And we give thanks for the Americans in our armed forces who are serving around the world to secure our country and advance the cause of freedom. These brave men and women make our entire nation proud, and we thank them and their families for their sacrifice. On this Thanksgiving Day, we thank God for His blessings and ask Him to continue to guide and watch over our nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, president of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, Nov. 25, 2004, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans to gather together in their homes and places of worship to reinforce the ties of family and community and to express gratitude for the many blessings we enjoy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-ninth.

GEORGE W. BUSH


We had a wonderful time today at the daughter's house. We were the only guests, so we didn't have to deal with our son-in-law's mother. She has a real talent for keeping all eyes on her, and trying to upstage everyone else. So when she's over there, we usually stay home. But tonight was fun. We had a lovely dinner, teased my daughter about not fixing any sweet potatoes (sacrilege!), and enjoyed playing with the grandchildren, two of whom were dealing with colds. I learned my oldest granddaughter is going to be a good cook. She prepared the stuffing for today's meal, and it was delicious. After dinner, the kids decided to play a game called "make grandma cry". They would take my hand in theirs and squeeze as hard as they could, trying to make me cry out. Of course, I couldn't give them that satisfaction, no matter how much it hurt. When you have arthritis in your hands, it doesn't take much. Then it was my turn. BWAAHAHAHAHA!! I only used three fingers and they were contorting, trying to get away from me. Then it was tickle time. Then they brought in the little schnauzer, Roland. He loves me, too!

Then, after we got home, I got a call from my son's family. It was so good to talk to the boys. They are growing up so fast! I love them so much! Needless to say, I'm exhausted. I'm going to sleep real good tonight!

And here's an example of the lowest of the low, the most pathetic excuse for a human being there is: Two males (I refuse to call them men) robbed the apartment of a Marine who died in Iraq while his widow was with family members planning his funeral. All so they could buy some heroin. I truly hope the judge throws the book at these creatures.

Do you remember the scene in Star Wars when the video message from Princess Leia is transmitted by R2D2 to Obi-Wan Kenobi? Well, some Japanese scientists have developed a way to actually transmit a video message like that as a phone call. Very cool, if you ask me.

There's a movement afoot to split up the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the court that put the blindfold on justice. They have had more decisions overturned than any other court in history. All I can say is, it's about time!

John Esparza, an enterprising man in Illinois, has invented the round paper towel. Now, at first glance, this may seem like a ridiculous idea. But think about it. A round paper towel would make microwaving so much easier, as it would fit the plate precisely. No more folding or tearing off the corners. Give that man a Nobel Prize!

Mike over at Rambling's Journal has the story of a teacher in Cupertino, California who has been told he cannot teach the Declaration of Independence, among other historical documents, because they mention God. This is absolutely ridiculous! Check out the story, then use the contact information provided to let these idiots know how you feel about this. It's this type of discrimination and anti-God bias that is going to destroy this nation.

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

After typing my poor fingers to the bone for a whole three minutes, I found the source of the George Bush Turkey Doll. What a bargain at $35.00!

The British Council, an agency which promotes British culture, took a survey on the most beautiful English word. And the winner is: mother! I can definitely live with that.

I probably won't blog too much tonight, folks. I made enough chicken and noodles this evening to fill a 7 quart bowl, and my hands are really hurting because of my arthritis. They better appreciate them tomorrow. We're going to my daughter's house about 5 o'clock for dinner, and I plan to bring home a lot of food. So I won't have to cook for a day or so. Which will give me more energy to blog, right? Anyway, typing is a little difficult with stiff fingers, so I will be keeping it short and sweet tonight.

An idiot in Carlysle PA decided to rob a bank, so he wrote the obligatory note and handed it to the teller. He was unsuccessful, because he wrote the note on the back of one of his own checks! People can be so stupid when they're on drugs.

I see the Post Office wants to raise postage rates to around 41 cents for a first class letter. I say go ahead. You'll just lose that many more customers. More and more people have already turned to the internet because of high postage rates. The post office is going to price itself right out of the market.

As I write this, it's early in the morning. The rain is starting to taper off, and the temperature is holding at 44 degrees. Sometime later today we're supposed to get our first snow of the season. That doesn't matter to me; I stocked the fridge today so I don't have to go out. But the dogs will be in the house all day, because of the mud. It's going to be very difficult to get my cooking done.

We're going over to our daughter's house for Thanksgiving dinner, but I'm doing my traditional duty and making the chicken and noodles. She just can't seem to get the hang of it. Making noodles from scratch is so easy, I don't know why I didn't do it long ago. The real trick, besides letting them dry before cutting and cooking them, is how to season the chicken. Of course, she can do that part, but her noodles always fall apart. She can never seem to use enough flour. Oh well, Sir Mugley likes my noodles. I imagine I'll cook enough that we can take a good potful and still have enough at home for a meal. If there's enough chicken in it, the noodles are a meal all by themselves, with perhaps a big hunk of buttered bread on the side.
Yum Yum! I'm getting hungry already!

A Brookville, NY family is suing Benihana for wrongful death. The chef tossed a shrimp at the father and the family says that toss was responsible for the father's death. Seems dad ducked to miss being hit by the shrimp, and that damaged two vertebrae in his neck. He had surgery to repair them six months later, and a second operation was required two weeks after that because of a complication. Five months later he developed a fever and breathing problems, and he died. The family is saying that the chef is responsible for this man's death. I'd be more inclined to believe it was something that happened at the hospital that caused his death. Or it was some type of infection that caused the fever and breathing problems, such as pneumonia. Suing Benihana is ridiculous.

There is a moron who lives in Bradenton, Florida. I know, you're saying "Just one?", but let me finish the story. This idiot planned to rob a convenience store manager, because he thought the guy took the money home with him. He watched as a package was placed in the manager's trunk, then followed him home. He forced the manager, at gunpoint, to open the trunk. He then shot at the manager and missed, but he left the shell casing there. He also left his fingerprints there, so he was arrested very quickly. He was just convicted of armed robbery and attempted murder and sentenced to forty years in prison. How much did he get away with? Nothing. The package was Stouffer's lasagna the man brought home for dinner.

What in the world would possess a person to go into a shop and contaminate 237 wheels of cheese? The cheese, a blend of havarti and colby, can't be sold now that someone punctured each wheel. We're talking about a full year's production now worthless. Some people can be so totally stupid they should be locked away so they can't hurt themselves or anyone else.

Someone is trying to rally the troops for a peaceful protest, to kick off four years of dissent. They're calling for people to attend the inauguration in January, and when "the signal" is given, turn their backs on the President for the remainder of the ceremony. At least they're gonna be quiet about it. And this will probably get them more attention than it would have if they'd gone the loud protest route. It should be interesting to see how it turns out.

Venomous Kate, who is experiencing her first snow in many years tonight, has a slew of links that you can use to do something great for a soldier during this holiday season, including sending them blank Christmas cards so they can send them out. They can't buy them in Islamic countries. You can also arrange care packages for them, gift certificates at the base exchange, etc. Let's see how many of these things we can do this season, okay?

If you're inviting anyone to Thanksgiving Dinner who has a habit of suing people, you may want to have them sign a Obesity Liability Waiver. That way they can't sue you if they eat too much and get fat. It's pretty sad that our country has become so sue-crazy that people think this may be necessary.

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

A very happy birthday to my nephew David on his 39th birthday (or is it 40?). I hope you had a wonderful day.

Here's to Sergeant Rafael Peralta, one of the bravest Marines on the planet. Sgt. Peralta made the ultimate sacrifice Tuesday, throwing himself on a grenade to save the other men with him. He was 25.

Sgt. Peralta wasn't even a member of the patrol unit. He often volunteered to go with the units. Upon entering a house, he was wounded in the face. Then a fragmentation grenade was rolled into the room, at which time he threw himself on it. I don't have any info on whether he was married or not, but I'm sure his parents are very proud of him. I know I am.

Fellow blogger and columnist Michelle Malkin has been dropped by the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot because she's "too anti-liberal". Calling her an "Asian Ann Coulter" they claim they've received a lot of complaints about how mean-spirited she is. Fooey on them! I'm sure Michelle will wear this as a badge of honor. She's an excellent writer and a very intelligent woman. She doesn't need them nearly as much as their readers need her.

I see Dan Blather's stepping down in March of next year. He shouldn't be stepping down; he should have had the stairs pulled out from under him. I guess CBS executives just aren't that strong. No word yet on his replacement. I'm sure they'll find an appropriate weasel somewhere.

Monday, November 22, 2004

I realized today that I didn't post our football stats last week, but things didn't change that much. After adding in this week's scores, here's the current standings:

Sir Mugley 803 points
me 861 points

So you can see I'm up by 58 points as of this week. And that's with one of my teams off this week. It's looking good for a profitable season now.

Can you believe someone actually paid $28,000 for that old grilled cheese sandwich that supposedly looked like the Virgin Mary? What's the matter with people anymore?

Sunday, November 21, 2004

For all of my readers who use Moveable Type, check out this post by GruntDoc, who has found a way to completely and successfully block comment spammers. Good news for all who have this program.

I remember when the only choice you had in a checkout line was paper. Then the plastic bags came out, supposedly to cut down on the use of paper and thereby save some trees. Now, San Francisco is considering putting a 17-cent tax on your grocery bill for each plastic sack you get. This is to encourage people to use paper sacks. But they are also considering taxing the paper bags at a lower rate, just to keep things fair. Anything to get your money.

Do you know anyone who's lost half a house? Outside Tampa, Florida, at the junction of U.S. 301 and I-75, you can find a three-bedroom, two-bath second floor of a house sitting on the side of the road. It has been there for about a month now, and the neighbors really want it removed. If you've lost your second floor, you might want to get in touch with the local authorities. They're tired of running off transients who want to camp in there.

UPDATE: Sorry gang. I now have the correct url in the link so you can read the story. My bad.

There's a bill before Congress which would make it a crime to fast-forward through commercials and trailers on DVDs. I have no idea how they would ever enforce such a law, but the broadcast companies feel that if you don't watch their stupid ads and trailers, they would lose money. Seems to me they get their money whether we watch the ads or not. Just another case of telling people what they can or can't do in their own homes.

Here's yet another reason to be thankful you don't live in England. John Reid, Britain's Health Secretary, has come up with "guidelines" which cover everything from smoking to drinking to your sex life. His plan would ban smoking in all but pubs that don't serve food. There would be "lifestyle coaches" to assist you in learning what you should eat, how you should exercise, etc. Advertising of food and drink would be coded as to healthy and unhealthy choices. There would be national screening for STD's, and an e-mail sex advise service, available to all ages without parental consent. School nurses would "encourage" healthy nutrition choices in the schools, and infant formula would be harder to get so as to increase breast feeding. All choices which should be made by the individual, not by a nanny state. I wonder how long before someone suggests the same thing here?

I'm not going to say much about last night's NBA brawl, except this: The players involved should be fired. Period. They should also be facing criminal charges for assaulting the fans. There is no excuse for what they did. Supposedly they are professionals. Professionals don't act like that. Fire them. End of story.

Saturday, November 20, 2004

Since we're about into the holiday season, I thought I'd post a traditional recipe from our family for holiday candy:

POTATO CANDY

1 very small potato
1 box confectioner's sugar
peanut butter

Boil potato until tender. Peel and mash until mushy. Add confectioner's sugar until it forms a dough you can roll out. It will probably take most of the box. Roll to 1/4 inch thickness. Spread with peanut butter, then roll up like a jellyroll. Slice into 1/2" slices and chill. Very rich candy, but you'll love it.

I see National Review is selling 5,000 of President Bush's Turkey Dinner Action Figure. Better get yours while they last!

UPDATE: The url is no longer working, so I guess they sold out. Sorry about that.

Is it just me, or does it seem strange that President Bush had to rescue one of his secret service protectors from a Chilean crowd? Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? And isn't it nice to have a President who can do that!

Looks like we've had a slow news day around here gang. I do have some good news; my great nephew Aaron and his love Kelly married tonight in Carthage, Mo. I wasn't able to attend since I'm still in recovery mode, so I'm waiting to hear from those who did attend to fill me in on all the details. Here's praying they have a long and happy life together. Frankly, I'm looking forward to my niece becoming a grandma. I'll laugh my butt off!

Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher is in trouble with the AMA. Dr. Gov. (Gov. Dr.?) Fletcher, in his capacity as a governor, signed a death warrant on Thomas Bowling, convicted of 2 counts of first degree murder. The AMA says that's a violation of their rules. He was not working as a doctor, and in my opinion, the AMA should keep their nose out of it.

Looks like there's going to be a sequel to Mrs. Doubtfire. Robin Williams is currently working on it with his wife Marcia, and Bonnie Hunt is doing the script. Here's hoping it's as good as the first one.

In this article about a pro-family group talking trash about CSI, one of the best shows on TV right now, we find a hidden gem. It seems there is a series of kits available for kids and adults so they can play CSI at home. These CSI kits are CSI: Forensics Lab, CSI: Forensics Facial, and CSI: DNA Laboratory. These are for sale at Target and Toys r Us. I personally know a few people who would love any of these kits for Christmas. If they had a kit where I could build my own personal William Peterson, I'd buy it in a flash!

Here's what you've all been waiting for: The 2004 WATCH Top 10 List of Dangerous Toys. Don't you know they'll be at the top of every kid's Christmas list?


Wouldn't this just give you the creeps? Thanks to Rodger for the pic, spooky as it is.

As long as I'm talking about prayers, my son could use some. A few days ago, he was sitting in his car in the turn lane waiting for his opportunity to turn, when he was sideswiped by a semi. His car was tore up pretty bad, but he didn't seem seriously hurt, just sore. The semi hit hard enough it tore off the running board. Anyway, he went to the hospital to be checked out and they gave him some muscle relaxers and pain meds. That hasn't helped, and now he has to go see an orthopedic surgeon. He is currently out of work, and they have three small sons at home. Please pray for a quick recovery and a job for him, if you would.

Friday, November 19, 2004

I'm asking for prayers for Lance Corporal Justin Cook and his pregnant wife Julia tonight. The young Marine was rushed home from Iraq to be at his wife's side after learning that she had been shot in the head at a supermarket by a man who wanted to shoot somebody. She is in serious condition, and has had one operation already. They will probably have to operate again at least once, and her baby is due in February. I'm sure our prayers will be appreciated.

An Eastern German amusement park was robbed recently, but it was unusual. This particular amusement park was not inhabited by wild animals, or loaded with rides. It was an adult peepshow with a twist: the park was inhabited by scantily-clad garden gnomes, some in risque positions. It is doubtful any of the gnomes will be recovered as they are unlikely to be displayed outdoors.

Senator Rick Santorum and his wife are going to start home-schooling their five children. This is a good thing; however, there is a weird twist to this story. Their children were enrolled in a cyber charter school in Pennsylvania, where they own a home. But most of the time they live in Virginia. So the school said since they weren't residents full-time, the kids weren't eligible to attend. This is very confusing to me. What difference does it make, really, where they live? A cyber charter school is all done on computer. This particular school covered the entire state of Pennsylvania. Why shouldn't they attend by sitting in front of a computer in Virginia?

On the other hand, the constituents of Santorum's state, nor the school district, should not have to cough up the $38,000 annual tuition. In my opinion, no one should have to pay that much for long-distance computer education. It simply does not cost that much to educate a child. What they're paying for is a lot of bells and whistles that aren't really going to teach their children anything. Put them in public school. Put them in private school. Either would be cheaper. I get so tired of people sometimes. Quit using your status as a senator to get perks. That goes for all of them. By all means, home school your children, Senator. At least they will know their parents care about them.

For those of you who've seen the video of the Marine killing the wounded insurgent, here's a look at the situation from another viewpoint, so you can make up your mind about what happened in an objective way:

Letter From a Fallujah Marine:
This is one story of many that people normally don't hear, and one that everyone does. This is one most don't hear:

A young Marine and his cover man cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!"

He is badly wounded, lying in a pool of his own blood. The Marine and his cover man slowly walk toward the injured man, scanning to make sure no enemies come from behind. In a split second, the pressure in the room greatly exceeds that of the outside, and the concussion seems to be felt before the blast is heard. Marines outside rush to the room, and look in horror as the dust gradually settles.

The result is a room filled with the barely recognizable remains of the deceased, caused by an insurgent setting off several pounds of explosives.

The Marines' remains are gathered by teary-eyed comrades, brothers in arms, and shipped home in a box. The families can only mourn over a casket and a picture of their loved one, a life cut short by someone who hid behind a white flag.

But no one hears these stories, except those who have lived to carry remains of a friend, and the families who loved the dead. No one hears this, so no one cares.

This is the story everyone hears:

A young Marine and his fire team cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!" He is badly wounded.

Suddenly, he pulls from under his bloody clothes a grenade, without the pin. The explosion rocks the room, killing one Marine, wounding the others. The young Marine catches shrapnel in the face.

The next day, same Marine, same type of situation, a different story. The young Marine and his cover man enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One lies on the floor in a puddle of blood, another against the wall. A reporter and his camera survey the wreckage inside, and in the background can be heard the voice of a Marine, "He's moving, he's moving!"

The pop of a rifle is heard, and the insurgent against the wall is now dead. Minutes, hours later, the scene is aired on national television, and the Marine is being held for committing a war crime. Unlawful killing.

And now, another Marine has the possibility of being burned at the stake for protecting the life of his brethren. His family now wrings their hands in grief, tears streaming down their face. Brother, should I have been in your boots, I too would have done the same.

For those of you who don't know, we Marines, Band of Brothers, Jarheads, Leathernecks, etc., do not fight because we think it is right, or think it is wrong. We are here for the man to our left, and the man to our right. We choose to give our lives so that the man or woman next to us can go home and see their husbands, wives, children, friends and families.

For those of you who sit on your couches in front of your television, and choose to condemn this man's actions, I have but one thing to say to you. Get out of your recliner, lace up my boots, pick up a rifle, leave your family behind and join me. See what I've seen, walk where I have walked. To those of you who support us, my sincerest gratitude. You keep us alive.

I am a Marine currently doing his second tour in Iraq. These are my opinions and mine alone. They do not represent those of the Marine Corps or of the US military, or any other.

Thanks to PowerLine blog for getting this letter out for all to see.

Let's start tonight on a good note: Carnival of Recipes is up and ready to eat at Boudicca's place. Enjoy!

Thursday, November 18, 2004

Today was the 28th Annual Great American Smokeout. Does anybody care? I don't. I started smoking in 1974, not because of ads, or peer pressure. I started smoking because I made a choice to start smoking. I smoked for 17 years. I quit in January 1991, when I went in the hospital with pneumonia, went into a coma, and woke up with a permanent connection to an oxygen tube. I can't say I haven't had a cigarette since, because I did try one about a month later. I took two puffs and put it out. It's been 13 years now. I still, on occasion, want a cigarette. I choose not to smoke. I also choose not to nag other people to stop. If they don't want to stop, they aren't going to be successful. Nagging isn't going to make them want to stop. If anything, it will make them more determined. My husband smokes, and both my children smoke. The kids started smoking after I went on oxygen. They are responsible for their decision. I told them how I feel about it. I will not nag them to quit. Great American Smokeouts are a waste of time. That's my opinion.

Robin Williams will be receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement at the Golden Globes Awards in January. I love Robin Williams. From Mork and Mindy through Good Morning Vietnam, Fisher King, Toys, even Jack, all the way through Memento, he's been great. And who could ever forget Elmer Fudd singing "Fire"? What a guy!

My but I've missed a lot while I've been sick. Condi getting Colin's job (yea!), Clinton's shrine being dedicated this morning (have you seen it? blech!), all happened while I was sick. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. I'm still not one hundred percent, but I can sit up and actually concentrate on what I'm doing. With pneumonia you don't sleep well, because you're coughing a lot. So you usually wind up pretty goofy from sleep deprivation. I'm still coming back from that, but I'm here. I might not post a lot for a few days, but I'll be here for my dedicated fan.

Monday, November 15, 2004

Hey everybody. Did you miss me? I'm not quite back yet, but I wanted to let you know I'm not dead. I've developed yet another case of pneumonia so I'll be taking it easy for the next week or so. I'm not going to be gone that long though. I'm missing too many good stories. But right now I can't concentrate long enough to do you justice. So I'll be resting and taking some very powerful antibiotics. The doctor also added to my regular daily medications. Goody Goody! Better living through chemistry, right? So, I'll be back in a couple of days, as soon as this medicine kicks in good. Don't abandon me. Read the blogroll, check the ads. To quote the governor... I'll be back!

Friday, November 12, 2004

I'm not quite back yet, gang. My head is stuffed to the rafters, and I sound like Lauren Bacall. Actually, that part isn't so bad; kinda sexy even. Too bad I don't feel like acting on it. Anyway, I called my doctor's office to find out what I could do for it, and got some very strange advice. The nurse practitioner gave me a recipe for clear sinuses: 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons salt, 1 rounded teaspoon baking soda, and a quart of water. Mix completely, then put a little in the palm of your hand and, while standing over a sink, sniff it up your nose. It will make your nose run like crazy, and draw all the congestion out of your sinuses. Isn't that weird? They recommend 3 to 4 times a day. I'll try it if and only if the Sudafed doesn't work. So, as soon as I can think straight again, I'll be back. Don't forget about me. If you need reading material, check out my archives, or the blogroll on the right, or even the ads. It is all entertaining. Goodnight.

Thursday, November 11, 2004

Probably won't be blogging tonight folks. I've got a sore throat and I think I'm just going to go to sleep. If it's not gone in the morning, I guess I'll have to go to the doctor. Yuck. See you tomorrow.

Wizbang! has your updates on the fighting in Fallujah, the kidnapping of some of Allawi's relatives by the terrorists, and the hostage "slaughterhouses" the Marines have found.

The mother of the late Marine Lance Corporal Jeremiah Edward Savage has taken a supreme cluebat to the head of Michael Moore. I can't do it justice. Suffice it to say she lays him out, as any Marine mom would do. Makes me proud to be a mother.

On the Imus in the Morning radio program, Zell Miller that lovable former Senator from Georgia, tore into Maureen Dowd like a buzzsaw rips through a tree trunk. My favorite statement:
Miller suggested "that red-headed woman at the New York Times" should not mock anyone's religion: "You can see horns just sprouting up through that Technicolor hair."
You gotta love him.

Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame this year were Darrell Waltrip (NASCAR), Joe Amato and Bob Glidden (drag racing), Chip Hanauer (powerboat racing), and Nigel Mansell (Formula One and CART). The induction ceremony will be held April 28, 2005.

Even though they've done it twice before, several ABC stations are balking at airing "Saving Private Ryan" tomorrow night, siting concerns about FCC penalties. This is ridiculous. The stations went so far as to contact the FCC to make sure there would be no problem with airing the movie, but personnel at the FCC would not say one way or the other. They claimed that would constitute censorship. This is an important movie, as it quite accurately depicts what war, specifically World War Two, was like. There is no more foul language in that movie than what you would hear at any sporting event, especially if the home team was losing. Yes, there is a lot of bloody violence. That's what war is like. In one way it could be considered worse than your everyday video game. That way is the fact that the violence depicted in this movie really happened. It happened for a reason. Those men didn't kill each other just to be killing each other, as in gang warfare games. Of course small children should not watch the movie. There are a lot of movies and television programs small children should not watch. There is, unfortunately, a serious lack of parents who prevent them from watching the violence. That is no reason to refuse to show the movie. The television stations need to grow a pair and show the film. If the FCC were going to fine them, they should have done so already. Doing so now would be a serious error by the government.

President Bush has chosen Alberto Gonzales as replacement for John Ashcroft as Attorney General. Although he's not exactly pro-life, I think he'll do a good job.

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

I got a call from my son today. Seems a semi tried to change the direction he was driving. Actually, he was sitting in the turn lane, and the semi ripped down the side of his car. Tore the running board off the side of the semi. Naturally, the semi driver tried to blame my son, even though his car wasn't moving. I'm just glad he's all right. He came out of it with just a sore back. I guess God was looking out for him. He is sad about the car though. He hadn't had it that long. But I'm sure the semi driver's insurance will take care of that.

Arafat is dead. (gasp in shock, swoon) Next!

No, that's rude. Sympathy goes out to anyone who will miss him. Here's hoping they never find the blood money he had stashed away. And here's hoping his successor will have the intelligence to work with the Israelis to find a peaceful resolution to the living arrangements.

Moxie has written a guidebook for liberals who plan to visit Jesusland. Read it and enjoy. Moxie is very good at dealing with lefties and liberals who want to visit our part of the country, but don't know how to behave.

A person might not ordinarily think of Sweden as a dangerous place. But every autumn, the yards come alive with drunken moose. The moose come into town looking for food, and eat the fermented apples that have fallen from trees in various yards, getting totally moose-faced, and wandering around looking for trouble. Be on the alert if you're going to Sweden.

Do you want to know first-hand what's going on in Iraq? Specifically in Fallujah? Belmont Club has a reporter on the scene, sending back reports for us. Why depend on the mainstream media? Get it from the eye of the hurricane that is war. Okay, so that sounded stupid. Just go read it. You'll know what's going on before your neighbors.

I want to wish a great big "Happy Birthday" to Sesame Street, 35 years old today. Who knew it would last so long? And that the theme song could be so powerful:
But while "Sesame Street "is still popular with its target audience, not everyone is a fan. U.S. officials have claimed the show's theme song is especially effective at making Iraqi prisoners break down and cough up secret information during interrogations
Bravo!

For those of you in a country frame of mind, who may have missed the CMA Awards tonight, here's a list of the winners:

Winners marked with **

Entertainer of the Year
Alan Jackson
Brooks & Dunn
**Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw

Male Vocalist of the Year
Alan Jackson
Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
George Strait
**Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year
Terri Clark
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
**Martina McBride
Reba McEntire

Horizon Award
Julie Roberts
Dierks Bentley
Big & Rich
Josh Turner
**Gretchen Wilson

Vocal Group of the Year
Lonestar
**Rascal Flatts
Alabama
Diamond Rio
Trick Pony

Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich
Blue County
**Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
The Warren Brothers

Single of the Year
'Remember When' -- Alan Jackson
'I Love This Bar' -- Toby Keith
**'Live Like You Were Dying' – Tim McGraw
'Redneck Woman' -- Gretchen Wilson
'Whiskey Lullaby' -- Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss

Album of the Year
'Here for the Party' -- Gretchen Wilson
'Mud on the Tires' -- Brad Paisley
'Red Dirt Road' -- Brooks & Dunn
'Shock'n Y'All' -- Toby Keith
**'When The Sun Goes Down' -- Kenny Chesney

Song of the Year
'Remember When'
Written and performed by Alan Jackson

**'Live Like You Were Dying'
Written by Tim Nichols/Craig Wiseman
Peformed by Tim McGraw

'Long Black Train'
Written and performed by Josh Turner

'Redneck Woman'
Writen by Gretchen Wilson & John Rich
Performed by Gretchen Wilson

'Whiskey Lullaby'
Written by Bill Anderson & Jon Randall
Performed by Brad Paisley

Music Video of the Year
'It's Five O'Clock Somewhere'– Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
'I Love This Bar' – Toby Keith
'Redneck Woman' – Gretchen Wilson
'Remember When' – Alan Jackson
**'Whiskey Lullaby' – Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss

Musical Event of the Year
'Hey Good Lookin' - Jimmy Buffett with Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson,
Toby Keith & George Strait
'How's The World Treating You' - James Taylor and Alison Krauss
'When the Sun Goes Down' - Kenny Chesney (Duet with Uncle Kracker)
**'Whiskey Lullaby' - Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss
'Creepin' In' - Norah Jones with Dolly Parton

Musician of the Year
Matt Chamberlain -- Drums
Kenny Greenberg -- Electric Guitar
**Dann Huff -- Guitar
Larry Paxton -- Bass Guitar
Brent Rowan -- Guitar

The man must be a glutton for punishment. John Kerry is seriously considering running for President again in 2008! He didn't get elected this time, and with all the information that has come out just in the last week, what makes him think it would be any better next time? Did somebody slip him something in his drink? If so, let me know what it is. I'd like to visit lala land once in a while.


The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has embraced Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ", while banning "Fahrenheit 9/11" from consideration for a Golden Globe award. (Isn't karma sweet?) Michael Moore's drek is considered by the Association to be a documentary, a category the Golden Globes does not have.
But Gibson's "Passion" does qualify for the awards' foreign language section as it was filmed in the ancient languages of Aramaic and Latin, (HFPA President Lorenzo) Soria said.

"Yes, we know Aramaic is not a spoken language and, yes, we know the film doesn't have a country of origin, but our bylaws state that when a film is in a language that is preponderantly non-English, it's a foreign-language film," he said.
Now if the Oscars would only consider it. But I really will be surprised if they do, either in the foreign film category or best film category. They are just too anti-Christ to allow it.


The resignations have begun. John Ashcroft and Don Evans submitted their resignations to the President today. John Ashcroft served as Attorney General and Don Evans as Commerce Secretary for the full first term of President Bush. Possible replacements for Ashcroft are his deputy, Larry Thompson, former governor Marc Racicot, and White House counsel Alberto Gonzales. One possible replacement for Evans is the national finance chairman for the Bush campaign, Mercer Reynolds. It should be noted that neither of these men were asked to leave.

Three cabinet members have asked to stay: Ann Veneman, Agriculture Secretary; Gale Norton, Interior Secretary; and EPA Administrator Michael Leavitt.

We're still waiting on word regarding Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, and Condoleezza Rice, who could be considered a replacement for either of them. She has said she does not want to stay where she is. I think she would be excellent at either job.

Researchers across the country working together have found a treatment that significantly reduces heart failure deaths among African Americans.
Over the three years of the study, the death rate for patients on BiDil was 43 percent lower than among patients taking inactive placebo pills. The rate of hospitalization among patients on BiDil was 33 percent lower. And patients on BiDil reported greater improvements in their quality of life.

Many patients taking BiDil did experience side effects. About 47 percent had headaches, and 29 percent had dizziness, more than twice the numbers for those taking placebos.

All patients in the study received conventional heart-failure medications. But the study was double-blinded, meaning neither the patients nor the doctors knew who also received BiDil or placebos.
One of the participants in the study asked the question I'd like to know the answer to.
Ruby Dennis, 62, of Kansas City, was confident she was taking BiDil when she took part in the study last year. “I think I got the real thing. I had more energy when I was taking it,” she said. “It helped a lot.”

Dennis was curious about the racial aspect of the little red pills she was taking.
“How does the medicine know if you're black or white? Why is it good for us?” she asked. “The nurse told me it has to do with our genes.”



Wow! I would have been happy as a planet!





You Are From the Sun



Of all your friends, you're the shining star.
You're dramatic - loving attention and the spotlight.
You're a totally entertainer and the life of the party.
Watch out! The Sun can be stubborn, demanding, and flirty.
Overall, you're a great leader and great friend. The very best!



What Planet Are You From?


A gas station attendant in Turkey thought he'd lost his cell phone, so he called it to listen for the ring and track it down. When it started ringing, he was amazed to find out his dog had swallowed the cell phone. Nature took its course, and he was reunited with his phone the next day. I only have two things to say about this case.

1. Will he use the phone again? Considering what it's been through, I wouldn't want it anywhere near my mouth.

2. Will he change the dog's name to Ringo?

Here's a woman in Connecticut who was arrested for having sex with an 8 year old boy. This secretary, when standing in from of a judge, actually had the gall to blame the chld.
The divorced Birch Drive resident has told investigators the boy — a playmate of her own 7-year-old daughter — was the aggressor in their relationship. Imre said he ordered her to dump an adult boyfriend and told her not to take birth control pills.

"That's a lie!" the boy's mother angrily retorted later. "He doesn't even watch things like that on television."
Does she seriously think anyone is going to believe her? I'd be tempted to double whatever sentence she gets just for being stupid.

Tuesday, November 09, 2004

If your planning your next vacation, you may want to consider Jesusland. It's smack dab in the middle of our great country. All we need to do now is expand the borders all the way to the ocean. Jesusland is a great place to live.

This is fun. Read the Top 21 Lines from Star Wars, with the word "pants" substituted for another word in the quote. Always a fun game to play. You can do this with almost anything, books, songs, etc. Thanks to Eric at Fireant Gazette for the link.

This makes me very happy!

You are Betty Grable!
You're Betty Grable!


What Classic Pin-Up Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Kate is spending her last night in her exotic Hawaiian home tonight. They're moving back to the Midwest. We'll be glad to have them, but I don't think I'd be too happy about leaving paradise.

All right, since I'm getting more than a couple of readers a day now, I'd like to poll my readers. (I said POLL not POLE, you dumb butt.) Anyway, here's your question for today: Assuming Justice Rehnquist steps down from the Supreme Court, who do you think should take his place? Just answer in the comments section, and tell why if you can do it briefly. Also, since Blogger is mildly retarded regarding posting comments, use the anonymous feature if you don't have an account already, but please put your name in the comment. It helps if I need to respond. Okay you have your assignment children. Talk to me.

I first read Lord Spatula over at the Emperor's palace, and thought to myself I should link him. Heaven knows I love snarky, and he's good at it. Plus he's a much better writer than I am, although that's not really saying much. Anyway, go over and check out his website for yourself. You won't be sorry.

Monday, November 08, 2004

Jones Soda Co. is at it again. Last year they made a real splash with their Turkey and Gravy Soda. This year they've added some new items. You'll soon be able to buy Green Bean Casserole soda, Cranberry soda, Mashed Potato soda and Fruitcake soda, among others. As disgusting as they sound, people do buy them, and they pay a premium for it. A five-pack of 12-ounce bottles will cost between $14.95 and $16.95.

This week's football bets went very well for me. As of today, here are the standings:

Sir Mugley 629
Me 694

This puts me ahead by 65 points. Things are looking good.

I got this in an e-mail from my sister:

Five tips for a woman....

1. It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.
2. It is important that a man makes you laugh.
3. It is important to find a man you can count on and doesn't lie to you.
4. It is important that a man loves you! And spoils you.
5. It is important that these four men don't know each other.

Amen, sister!


I would really like to see President Bush appoint this man to his cabinet. I don't know that he would accept, but he'd be a wonderful example of a Democrat willing to work with Republicans to make this a better country. He's even got great dogs (Gus and Woodrow, named for characters in Lonesome Dove). I stole this photo from his website. I don't think he'll mind too much.

You have got to read this letter to Democrats over at Thinking Meat. I tell you, E. Nough is an excellent writer, who expounds on his/her position, while not getting nasty or condescending about it. Too bad more people can't write like that. I get snarky sometimes, sure, but I don't deliberately go out of my way to wound someone's pride or throw them into a deep depression. I have many acquaintances of both the Democrat and Republican mindset. I like it that way. We should be able to think differently, and express ourselves intelligently, without being hateful. That's my opinion.

I was just reading SondraK's website, and she was talking about Bozo the Clown. Well, I never knew anything about Bozo growing up, because in Kansas City we had Whizzo the Clown! He introduced cartoons and acted goofy, and had the coolest theme song:
Who's always smiling, never sad? It's Whizzo!
Who makes the boys and girls so glad, Whizzo.
He's a merry fellow with a big red shiny nose,
Dressed in crazy mixed up clothes
From his head down to his toes.

He has a great big trunk of tricks, has Whizzo.
He'll sing a song or do a dance for you.
And when you're sad he'll make you glad,
The very best friend you ever had,
Whizzo the clown, that's who.
I miss those days.

Here's a website that tells kids how to take vinyl albums and make bowls out of them. Sacrilege I say! Albums contain our music history, many of them aren't out on cassette or CD. How could you turn that into a crappy looking bowl? Don't let this happen to you!

Sunday, November 07, 2004

The events of 9/11 were the final straw for our country. Now we know what the final straw was for the Netherlands. Many are promoting a crackdown on Islamists since the brutal stabbing death of Theo Van Gogh. So many that moderate Muslims are concerned about their own safety. This is quite a turnaround for the Netherlands, a hotbed of liberalism in the European Union. It will be interesting to see where this goes.

I heard on the news tonight that Howard Keel had passed away. I remember seeing him in one of my favorite musicals, "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers." He had such a wonderous voice, very deep and resonant. I loved hearing him sing.


This is my older child of fur, Bubba. He's part lab and part chow. He got the best of both worlds.

He might look fierce here, but he's not. Actually he's singing in this picture, something he does every night after his backrub.


This is my youngest child of fur, Bandit. He's mad at me for taking his picture. He's part beagle (duh) and part bassett hound.

Here he is holding up a chair. He's a little on the lazy side.

All you Star Wars freaks rejoice. Click here to see preview pictures from the next Star Wars movie, Revenge of the Sith.

Saturday, November 06, 2004

Found this in the Corner. This is a press briefing from Centcom:
November 5, 2004 Release Number: 04-11-12

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


INSURGENTS TARGET CHILDREN OF RAMADI

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq – An Army unit assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force, discovered and defused an explosive-laden youth center in Ramadi Nov. 4, which was rigged by insurgents to detonate and potentially kill dozens of Iraqi children. They also discovered more than two tons of explosives hidden in a mosque.

The discoveries were made during a sweep of the city looking for improvised explosive devices.

After a thorough investigation of the youth center, the Soldiers discovered that the explosives were rigged to detonate three ways: through a light switch, a remote control and by wiring that ran from the youth center to the nearby Al-Haq Mosque, where the unit discovered the firing mechanism.

At another mosque, a search yielded the discovery of more than two tons of ammunition, explosives, mortar systems and RPGs. Artillery rounds; assault rifles and various IED-making materials were found, as well. Fifty suspected insurgents were also detained during the sweep.

Mosques are granted protective status due to their religious and cultural significance. However, when insurgents violate the sanctity of the mosque by using the structure for military purposes, the site loses its protective status.

Great care is taken by the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines of I Marine Expeditionary Force, who are committed to assisting Iraqi Interim Government in providing security to Iraqi people.
How long will it be before you hear about this on the news?

Our Marines are preparing for a tremendous battle in Fallujah. Their weapons are ready, and now they are getting themselves ready, in a most appropriate way. It wouldn't kill any of us to join together and pray for our soldiers and their safety during their time in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hooray! The school board in Grantsburg, Wisconsin has decided to allow teaching creationism along with evolution in their science classes, much to the dismay of many "educators" who feel this would detract from "real learning." If you live near there, please contact them and give them some encouragement. Let them know somebody agrees with what they're trying to do.


Frank over at IMAO is selling Victory T-Shirts. Go on over and order one today. Don't be intimidated by leftist moonbats!

Mr. Wendy the "unofficial spokesperson" for Wendy's Inc., has been fired. They finally realized that the advertising campaign sucked big time. No word yet on what they'll do for ads now, but hopefully it will be at least interesting.

A story after my own heart: A truck carrying 45,000 pounds of liquid chocolate overturned in New York, spilling the contents all over the road and some railroad tracks. This is absolutely the best line of the story:
The trucks tires resembled giant chocolate-covered donuts
.Yeah, baby! Don't you know they had an army of women with PMS volunteering to help with the cleanup.

Read this short item by Jane Smiley of California titled The unteachable ignorance of the red states. In my case I've gotta say, ignorance truly is bliss. I wouldn't have her mindset for all the money on this continent. I believe in God, I believe children should be raised in church, should be taught right from wrong, and should be taught there definitely are absolutes in this world. Not everything is relative. A parent's love is absolute. God's love is absolute. And if the red states are too ignorant for Ms. Smiley's taste, Canada is making a list for people who want to move. They have plenty of room for the "enlightened". PPBBLLTTTTT!


This map is self-explanatory. Perhaps the Democrats should take "moral values" under consideration while they are campaigning next time.

This is really fascinating. i think we need to rename Mt. Saint Helens:
The new lava lobe inside Mount St. Helens' crater has sprouted a piston-like protrusion the size of a 30-story building — glowing red at night...
I don't know about you, but it sure sounds like the old mountain has a penis! Want more proof she's a guy? How about this:
A more explosive eruption, possibly dropping ash within a 10-mile radius of the crater, is possible at any time, scientists have said.
Typical male.

Friday, November 05, 2004

It's guys like this one who give Georgians a bad name. Michael Marshall entered the Bank of America and demanded $500 from the tellers. What he didn't seem to realize is the bank hadn't even opened for business yet; it was still being built. He was arrested as he attempted to leave.

Three men in Narco, California were placed under house arrest for promoting a golf tournament which featured prostitutes and strippers on various greens.
More than a dozen prostitutes and strippers, including a 16-year-old girl, set up tents and advertised their services on boards, officials said. About 160 golfers paid $200 apiece to play, though some showed up without their clubs, officials said.
I'll just bet they did!

Boy they are really losing it over in England these days. A Church of England school has been told they have to change their name. St. Mary Magdalene Church of England Primary School, in existence since 1710, has been told to lose the "saint" part of their name, so as not to offend other religions. Give me a break! The name of the school doesn't make any difference, any more than the name of a church does. What really matters is what is being taught inside.

The AP is reporting that Al and Kathy Sharpton have announced their separation. I hate to see any marriage fall apart, but this one is unusual. They're not splitting up for usual reasons, adultery, abuse, etc., they're splitting so they can devote more time to their work. That probably wouldn't sound so strange, but they work together. Maybe they'll get their stuff together and get back together. No job is worth losing a marriage over.

I watched Tucker Carlson Unfiltered on PBS tonight (something I don't usually do) while I was fixing dinner, and it became clear to me that Paul Begala probably won't be working on Hillary's campaign, at least in any major way. They were discussing the election, and then the conversation veered toward the next election in 2008:
Begala: I don't know, President Bush, I tend to be liberal on immigration. I kind of like that President Bush has made a few moves to try to liberalize the immigration laws. They were defeated very quickly. I like the fact that the Democrats are largely in support of it. You are right. Analytical matter if I were completely amoral and constructing a candidate to run, I would either take them from the right or left, who cares, and give them a very sort of negative first message I would put immigration at the heart of that. There is a strong sense in the country, you are right, that immigration is getting out of control and somehow that's hurting our jobs. Someone will emerge as the post-Bush leader of the Republican right, and somebody will emerge as the post-Clinton, Kerry leader of the Democratic Party.

Carlson: Who is that person? You are in a position to make a good guess.

Begala: I don't know. I would look outside of Washington. One of Senator Kerry's problems was he's a senator. He cast 10,000 votes. So he of course had been on both sides of every issue. I watched Bill Clinton run against Bob Dole who had been on both sides of every issue, too. That's what Senators do. I would look outside of Washington. I would look somewhere in one of those red states. The only --

Carlson: Basically you are endorsing Bill Richardson.

Begala: He's a lovely man. The only guys -- People in my party who have won the White House in my lifetime were southerners. And I'm not a young man anymore. I think the Democrats have to find a way to come back and speak to southerners, speak to midwesterners. A lot will be reassessing the cultural elitism.
Doesn't sound like he thinks Hillary should be the next candidate, does it?

Rumors are floating around that Harold Ickes will replace Terry McAuliffe as head of the DNC. This, of course, would be the expected thing if Hillary is going to be the next nominee.
Ickes was the architect of Hillary Clinton's successful 2000 Senate campaign, after running the Clinton White House's aggressive Chinagate fund-raising operation in 1996.

In 2002, after Sen. Clinton complained to Sen. Russ Feingold that campaign finance reform would make much of the party's fund-raising practices illegal, Ickes was assigned to carve out loopholes in the new law.

He came up with the concept of using 527 groups like the Media Fund, which Ickes headed, to raise tens of millions of dollars in soft money from liberal fat cats like George Soros and Peter Lewis.
Yeah, they're starting early, but they do have a lot of work to do.

A quick thanks to all who emailed me about the story I was trying to find. It was a short story by Leo Tolstoy, called "How Much Land Does A Man Need", which he wrote in 1886. I can say this definitively, because one of the sets of books I had as a teen was a collection of works by Tolstoy. Thanks to the person who left me the answer, whoever you are.

This week's Carnival of the Recipes is up and ready to eat! Enjoy it, and feel free to submit a recipe for next week.

Here, from a great blog called Feet First, is a series of questions asked of the Australian Tourism Board. The questions, as well as the answers, are hilarious! Just what we need after all the nastiness of the last week.

All right, I'm going to say this once, and hopefully you'll lock it into your mind for future reference. On election night, the pundits were already talking about Hillary being the Democratic nominee in 2008. And she probably will be. Therefore, you need to keep alert at all times. Her campaign is going to make this year look like a trip to Disneyland. All of the kerfuffles she's been linked to, Whitewater, Vince Foster's death, Travelgate, the health care beast she tried to create, the Rose Law Firm billing records, the FBI files on "enemies", etc., will somehow disappear. Any evidence linking her to those problems and others will have vanished before she finishes her nomination acceptance speech. And there will be much worse "attacks" on the conservative America we know and love. More marches, more disruptions in electioneering, yard signs disappearing, vandalism, etc. This election cycle will be remembered as a really easy one by then. Remember this, children. She is a smart and dangerous woman. Don't let your guard down.

This is sweet! Syria's President Bashar al-Hassad wants to make nice with the United States, now that President Bush has been re-elected. I guess he figures Bush has nothing to lose so he just might kick some Syrian butt this term. Anyway, he wants to work with us to make the world a better place.
"I have a big hope that serious dialogue, the commitment in international law and the United Nations charter would be our way to strengthen the relation between our countries," Assad said in a telegram to Bush congratulating him.

He also hoped the two countries would work together "for just and comprehensive peace in the region", according to the official news agency SANA.
I'll just bet he does.



News arrives today that Blogs for Bush is going to continue their work. Matt declares the group will be renamed GOPBloggers.org officially on Inauguration Day 2005.


Absolutely the coolest space picture you'll see today. This is the Iris Nebula in the constellation Cepheus. It is about 6 light years across, and about 1,300 light years from Earth. I love stuff like this.

For anyone who hasn't yet seen it, here's the link to see the trailer for Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith. Enjoy.

Here are some photos of an after-election anti-Bush rally in San Francisco. Put up your moonbat shields before you look at the photos. We wouldn't want you to lose your eyesight, now would we?

Thursday, November 04, 2004

The latest edition of Newsweek that went on sale today is going to be a blockbuster. Evan Thomas is blowing the lid off the myth that the Kerry campaign was disciplined and driven. In effect, it was chaos 24/7. After listening to Thomas on the Today show this morning, it's much easier to see why Kerry lost the campaign. He simply could not make a decision. Read this article, then get the magazine and read the whole thing. Not only do they tell how badly the Kerry campaign was organized, but go on to compliment the Bush campaign for being the most organized and successful campaign they'd ever seen. Can you believe it? My only problem with this (and you knew I'd have one, didn't you?) is that they waited until after the election to tell us this stuff.

Elizabeth Edwards is really having a bad week. First, her husband is denied the opportunity to become Vice President, now she's been diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer. This is the most common form of breast cancer, but does spread readily. She will be undergoing more tests to determine if there has been any spread.


This is the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette, also called the C6. Isn't it beautiful? The funny part of the story is, they say it's moderately priced, at over $50,000. I can't imagine using that number and moderately with a straight face. That's more than my two cars and my house cost all together.

Mark Steyn covered the election excitement in his most brilliant way. This is a must read for anyone who appreciates wit and excellent writing skills.

Anybody want to speculate on who will be the new Senate Minority Leader, now that Tom Daschle has lost his senate seat?

I'm asking my readers for help here. When I was a young teenager, I read a book that I'd like to find for my grandchildren, but I can't remember the title or author. I knew you'd like the challenge! Here's the storyline: A man makes a deal with the devil. He can have all the land he can walk around in one day. Sounds like a great deal for the poor man, so he goes for it. After he gets started he realizes that he can cover a lot more ground than he thought he could, so he keeps expanding the area he wants to claim for his own. Bottom line is he is so exhausted by the time he's nearing the start/finish point and the sun's going down, that he falls down dead. Great story about the perils of being greedy. Anybody know the story?

Just thought you might want to know how the general population of Iran is reacting to President Bush's re-election. Don't you wish they could really let go?

USA Today published this election map showing who won each county in the country. Look at this, then try to tell me there wasn't a mandate.

This is exactly why we need to keep the electoral college. If we were to go strictly on a popular vote, the election would be decided by four or five states, and the rest would be meaningless. Do you want to be told who is going to govern your country by New York and California? I don't.

Steve over at Hog on Ice has some practical guidance for all those liberals who said they were leaving the country if President Bush was re-elected. Although I would hurry if I were you; it seems there's a waiting list of about six months to a year.

Well, at long last Doc's Office is back in business, and boy is he on a tear. A wonderful essay about the separation of church and state. You really should read it. I know the author, and I know he speaks and writes from the heart.

Maybe this will help explain some of the trouble with Ohio: In the town of Rabbit Hash, 5,000 people successfully elected Junior the black lab as mayor. Rudy the brittney spaniel came in second, with Higgins the donkey finishing third.

I found this article in the Gainesville, Florida Sun: Europe Offers to let Bygones be Bygones. Absolutely hilarious! Now that they know Bush is going to be in office four more years, they want to play nice. It will be interesting to see how the administration handles this. Personally, I'd show them the door. But that's why it's a good thing I'm not President.

A high school in Grand Rapids, Michigan had a Halloween costume party and gave prizes for various costumes. One young man won the prize for the scariest costume, when he arrived dressed as a member of the KKK. After he was awarded the prize, he was suspended from school. That's right. He was suspended for five days. Naturally, the young man, on advice from the school, refused to discuss the matter, saying he didn't want to get into any more trouble. The school is also refusing to discuss the matter publicly. I have a few questions: 1. Were there any regulations stating certain costumes couldn't be worn; and 2. Why was he allowed into the party by school staff members if the costume was inappropriate? Frankly I can't think of a much scarier costume to wear than the one the young man chose. They probably would allow costumes of serial killers, or terrorists, so how are the students to know where to draw the line?

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Do you believe this? Bloggers are responsible for bad polling information? Where do they get off? Bloggers didn't invent those bad exit polls. Bloggers warned people to look at the exit polls "with a grain of salt". If people took those exit polls too seriously, they are on their own. Nobody made them believe the crap people spew to pollsters after they vote. They need to take responsibility for their own actions. Something I was taught as a young child.

This was listed under AP Strange News: Lion Attacks Man Who Jumps Into Enclosure. When I first read this, I thought, what's so strange about that? I expect a lion to attack a strange man who jumps into his home. No, the strange part is that the man screamed at the lions, "Jesus will save you!" Doctors say he has psychological problems. I say, Duh.

What a day, what a day! Woo Hoo! Okay, that's enough gloating for me. God answered a lot of prayers Tuesday. For anyone who didn't get to see them, click here for John Kerry's concession speech. Click here for President Bush's victory address.

Did anyone else see Nancy Pelosi on NBC after the President's speech? What a nut! After John Kerry and George Bush both talking about reuniting the country, and working together to rebuild trust, she gets on there talking about how she hoped he'd "keep his promises this time", and how the Democrats had specific plans and the President would more or less have to come to them. Is that how you improve relations in this country? I don't think so.

Here's where we stand with Ohio:

OHIO
100% of Precincts Reporting
George W. Bush 2,777,645 - 51 percent
John Kerry 2,632,547 - 48 percent


Now, tell me how Kerry is going to make up 144,000+ votes with those provisional ballots? It can't happen. They can't possibly ALL be for him. Plus, if there aren't enough of them, they won't even bother to check to see who the votes were for. Quit stalling already, John. You've lost. Now be a man and accept it!

Thanks to the Llama Butchers, we can get this story of some liberals who say they cannot stay in this country if President Bush is re-elected. All I can say is, don't let the door hit you in the butt on your way out! Or perhaps, Do you need any help packing?

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