This is what happens when an artist has a lot of chalk and way too much time on his hands! I must say though, I wish I had some of this guys artistic talent! If you like this one, check out my yahoo photos for more samples. The album is called Sidewalk Chalk Art 2006.
Now, those of you who have been with me from the beginning pretty much know how I feel about reality shows. I am not a fan at all. Television has been flooded with so many low budget, non entertaining reality shows that all looked the same. Since Survivor and American Idol, there hasn't been an original idea in the genre at all. That is until tonight. The Sci Fi Channel debuted it's reality effort called "Who Wants to be a Superhero?" Hosted by legendary comic book icon/guru Stan Lee. You remember Lee's work.....Spiderman, Hulk, Fantastic Four, and X-Men. Not only were they huge in the comic book world, but years later (decades in Spideys case) were transformed into blockbuster silver screen hits! So, that said, I thought I'd give it a chance.
The following is a brief synopsis of the show........
Each contestant begins with an original idea for a superhero, a self-made costume, and their best superhero mojo. From thousands of hopefuls, Stan Lee chooses 11 lucky finalists who move together into a secret lair. There they will begin their transformations — and their competition for the opportunity to become real-life superheroes. Over the course of the series, they will test their mettle, try to overcome their limitations, and do what it takes to prove that they truly are super.
The finalists will leave their former lives behind and become their brainchild heroes, all under Stan Lee's watchful eye. Each week, our aspiring heroes will be challenged with competitions designed to test their true natures. No one will be asked to perform feats of impossible strength; our superheroes will be tested for courage, integrity, self-sacrifice, compassion, and resourcefulness — all traits that every true superhero must possess.
In the end, only one aspiring superhero will have the inner strength and nobility to open the gates to comic-book immortality. The winner of this six-week competition will walk away with their character immortalized in a new comic book developed with Stan Lee. And that's not all — the winning character will also appear in an original SCI FI Channel movie!
When I first saw the promos for the show, it came off as kinda goofy and campy, but I gave it a chance and I was pleasantly suprised. My 13 year old son and I sat through the whole thing, laughed at the show and had a good time. Imagine that, a cable TV show in primetime (and a reality show at that) that's actually okay for kids big and little to watch. Then as I watched the show, it dawned on me that there was something else that set this show apart from all the other reality shows that came before it. Instead of overblown talent, ego, attitude, greed, and deceit.......the contestants here are tested on traits such as courage, self sacrafice, integrity, and compassion. Now that is breath of fresh air don't you think?
Yeah it's goofy. Yeah it's kinda campy. But it might be worthy of success, especially if enough fathers and sons sit and watch it together. Who Wants to be a Superhero...Thursdays @ 10pm on the SCI FI CHANNEL.
Unions Good For America? I don’t think so!!! I learned that lesson early on in life. I learned what unions and “some” union members are all about during my senior year of high school. As a 17-18 year old high school senior, I worked at a unionized Kroger Supermarket as a “courtesy clerk.” Before beginning work I told them that I was only there through the summer to earn money for school in the fall and they were fine with that. There was also talk of a potential strike during the summer. I told them that because of my situation that I would not honor a picket line should the strike occur. I was there for the money I could earn over a short period of time and had no intention of making retail a career. Oddly enough, they “said” they were ok with that too, but I still had to become a union member. I took them at their word and boy was that a mistake! When the strike came, I crossed, I received threats, and I witnessed so called upstanding unionized Kroger employees threaten and intimidate customers and others who dared to cross them and their picket line. Real upstanding people let me tell you! Needless to say, these people (some which I had known since childhood) are no longer in my address book. Later I would learn that this is typical behavior from union members who try to bully their way through life. It didn’t always used to be that way though. In fact, in their early years, unions proved to be very worthy of the common mans support. Somewhere along the way though, something caused the union focus to change. Today, they still claim to be working on behalf of working families but in fact, the truth is that they are working against the values and welfare of working families.
Why am I bringing this up with all the other stuff going on in the world today? Well, I just learned that the union representing supermarket workers (including Safeway employees) in Northern California told those employees that they would face termination if they are caught shopping at non union facilities. This is just one more example of union’s total disregard for their membership, which they stopped truly serving several decades ago. It’s not just the food workers unions either. Take a look at the airline industry. Take a look at Ford and General Motors. Both the airline and automotive industries are full of stories of unreasonable demands that, in the worst cases, have driven many companies to the brink of bankruptcy. In others, those demands not only cost companies unnecessary expenditures, but also raises prices for consumers as much as 100 percent in some instances. Yes unions are bad for business and consumers. But they are bad for the employees too. They lie consistently to their memberships about a variety of issues. They make it impossible to work for some companies in certain industries unless you succumb to their extortion. They steal money from their membership under the guise of “union dues” and then use that money to forward political agendas that the majority of the membership would never support in this lifetime or any other lifetime. Anyone who dares to stand up to the unions is systematically slandered and defamed unmercifully. The old saying that “If you tell a lie often enough and loud enough, eventually it becomes the truth,” really is true. Just ask California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Last fall he tried to take them on in a special election, hoping to change some of their more unscrupulous practices. He failed though after the unions ran a multi-million dollar campaign against him based on fear, lies, and slander. And now the unions are intruding into the personal lives of their membership by threatening them with termination if they are caught shopping at non-union stores. Now, I don’t know about you, but where I come from that’s called extortion. And the last time I checked, extortion was illegal.
In closing, I’m not saying you shouldn’t shop at a unionized store. That is a matter of personal choice that is nobody’s business but yours. But it is important to know precisely what type of organization you are supporting if you choose to do so. While it is true that some union organizations do have some beneficial aspects to them, the negative, intrusive, deceitful aspects far outweigh the positive when looked at with an objective eye. In the end it’s all about choice for the both consumers AND the employees. Any organization deceives its membership & the public and takes choice away from it constituency, whether it be big business, the government, or a union, is an organization that is not to be trusted and one that should be held accountable by all.
Your alarm goes off. You hit the snooze button and sleep for another 10 minutes. He might have to stay up for three days at a time.
You take a warm shower to help you wake up in the morning, while he might have to go days or even weeks without running water.
You complain of a headache and call in sick while he gets shot at during the day. Some of his friends might get hit....he helps them and keeps moving forward.
You put on your "Anti War/I Don't Support the Troops" shirt and go meet up with your friends after stopping for a latte' while he continues to fight for your right to wear that shirt.
You make sure your cell phone is in your pocket at all times...just in case. He clutches the cross hanging on the chain next to his dog tags...just in case.
You talk trash about your friends when they're not with you. He knows he might not see some of his buddies again....so every moment is important.
You walk down the beach or sidewalk staring at all the pretty girls. He walks down the street searching for insurgents and terrorists.
You complain about how hot it was last week. He wears heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow in extreme heat......the likes most of us will never experience. And he does it everyday.
You go out to lunch and complain because they got your order wrong. He may not eat today. Supplies don't arrive until tomorrow.
Your maid makes your bed, washes your clothes, and makes sure that everything is just right. He might wear the same clothing for a month, but every single moment that weapon is clean and ready to go.
You go to the mall to get your hair done/cut. He hasn't been able to brush his teeth in two days.
You get angry because your class ran five minutes over. He was just told by his C.O. that he's being "held over in country" an extra six months.
You call your girlfriend to set a date for that night. He waits for mail call to see if there's a letter from home.
You hug and kiss your girlfriend like you do everyday, many times taking her for granted. He holds that letter from home, smells it all week long.
You roll your eyes because the baby is crying. He gets letters with pictures of his newborn and wonders if they'll ever meet.
You criticize your government chanting: War never solves anything! He see's the innocent tortured and killed by their own government and remembers why he's fighting.
You tell jokes about the war and make fun of the men. He hears gunfire and shelling, but still stands his post and does his job.
You see and (more importantly) are content with what the media want you to see and hear. He sees the reality and the carnage of death around him as he fights for you.
Your parents ask you to go to the store, but you whine about their request because you are so busy doing absolutely nothing. He does what he is told because it's his duty.
You stay at home in front of the tv...taking it easy. He takes the little free time he has to call and write home, sleep, eat, and take care of the necessities before doing it all over again tomorrow.
You crawl into your bed with the down pillow and comforter trying to get comfortable. He crawls underneath a tank for some shade and a five minute nap.
You sit there and judge him, saying the world is a worse place because of the wars he fights. We say the world would be a much better place if there were more men like him.
If you support our men and women......say so! They deserve our support more than any politician ever has or ever will. And they deserve to know they have our support now more than ever before.
(originally posted 7-24-06 on Yahoo 360)
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, someone will ask me: "Why do the Muslim extremist hate America so much?" Generally, my answer is something along the lines of ..."Well, they just don't like our way of life." And while at the core that is a true statement, it is also true that the whole answer is a bit more complicated than that.
To truly understand Muslim extremism, you have to go back to the death of the Prophet Muhammed. After living a long life of 61 years Muhammed died in 632 AD. His death was the catalyst for the creation of the extremism we see today. His death also marked the beginning of a century of battles and conquests that included parts of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Northern Africa, parts of Asia, Afghanistan, Iberia any a few other nations/territorys that the muslims viewed as weak and evil. This string of battles and conquests ended almost 100 years later with a stinging defeat near Tours, France.
These "conquests", which included the basic destruction of the Roman and Persian Empires, didn't come without a cost though. During the battles and the years that followed, different sects of the overall religion began to drift in different directions based on their individual interpetations of the Koran. Some became more peaceful and others became more militant, hateful, and violent. Any nation or society that didn't follow the views and ways of the extremists were considered infidels and not worthy of continued existence.
Fast forward to the early to mid 20th century.....After a minor involvement in WWI & WWII and the creation of the nation of Israel, the Muslim extremist had found their new enemy. The nation of Israel and any country who supported her was going to be in for a rough time when dealing with Islam. This is where the United States really began to draw the attention of the extremists. Our support for Israel though is but only one of several reasons for their utter contempt for America. They consider us an evil immoral society with a way of life that totally goes against everything in their extreme interpretation of the Koran. But even more than that, they consider us a weak people and thus an excellent target for domination by extreme Islam. This image of weakness, while totally untrue, has been perpetuated by more than one U.S. administration thus encouraging even more attacks by these religious terrorists.
A couple of years ago, Ann Coulter wrote an excellent piece that illustrates precisely huge mistakes made by former admistrations that have led us to the place we are today in the war on terror.
How 9/11 Happened By Ann Coulter
We don't need a "commission" to find out how 9-11 happened. The truth is in the timeline:
PRESIDENT CARTER, DEMOCRAT.....In 1979, President Jimmy Carter allowed the Shah of Iran to be deposed by a mob of Islamic fanatics. A few months later, Muslims stormed the U.S. Embassy in Iran and took American Embassy staff hostage.Carter retaliated by canceling Iranian visas. He eventually ordered a disastrous and humiliating rescue attempt, crashing helicopters in the desert.
PRESIDENT REAGAN, REPUBLICAN ....The day of Reagan's inauguration, the hostages were released. In 1982, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut was bombed by Muslim extremists. President Reagan sent U.S. Marines to Beirut. In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut were blown up by Muslim extremists. Reagan said the U.S. would not surrender, but Democrats threw a hissy fit, introducing a resolution demanding that our troops be withdrawn. Reagan caved in to Democrat caterwauling in an election year and withdrew our troops – bombing Syrian-controlled areas on the way out. Democrats complained about that, too. In 1985, an Italian cruise ship, the Achille Lauro, was seized and a 69-year-old American was shot and thrown overboard by Muslim extremists. Reagan ordered a heart-stopping mission to capture the hijackers after "the allies" promised them safe passage. In a daring operation, American fighter pilots captured the hijackers and turned them over to the Italians – who then released them to safe harbor in Iraq. On April 5, 1986, a West Berlin discotheque frequented by U.S. servicemen was bombed by Muslim extremists from the Libyan Embassy in East Berlin, killing an American. Ten days later, Reagan bombed Libya, despite our dear ally France refusing the use of their airspace. Americans bombed Gadhafi's residence, killing his daughter, and dropped a bomb on the French Embassy "by mistake." Reagan also stoked a long, bloody war between heinous regimes in Iran and Iraq. All this was while winning a final victory over Soviet totalitarianism.
PRESIDENT BUSH I, MODERATE REPUBLICAN ....In December 1988, a passenger jet, Pan Am Flight 103, was bombed over Lockerbie, Scotland, by Muslim extremists. President-elect George Bush claimed he would continue Reagan's policy of retaliating against terrorism, but did not. Without Reagan to gin her up, even Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher went wobbly, saying there would be no revenge for the bombing. In 1990, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. In early 1991, Bush went to war with Iraq. A majority of Democrats opposed the war, and later complained that Bush didn't "finish off the job" with Saddam.
PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, DEMOCRAT .....In February 1993, the World Trade Center was bombed by Muslim fanatics, killing five people and injuring hundreds. Clinton, advised by Dick Clarke, did nothing. In October 1993, 18 American troops were killed in a savage firefight in Somalia. The body of one American was dragged through the streets of Mogadishu as the Somalian hordes cheered. Clinton responded by calling off the hunt for Mohammed Farrah Aidid and ordering our troops home. Osama bin Laden later told ABC News: "The youth ... realized more than before that the American soldier was a paper tiger and after a few blows ran in defeat." In November 1995, five Americans were killed and 30 wounded by a car bomb in Saudi Arabia set by Muslim extremists. Clinton, advised by Dick Clarke, did nothing. In June 1996, a U.S. Air Force housing complex in Saudi Arabia was bombed by Muslim extremists. Clinton, advised by Dick Clarke, did nothing. Months later, Saddam attacked the Kurdish-controlled city of Erbil. Clinton, advised by Dick Clarke, lobbed some bombs into Iraq hundreds of miles from Saddam's forces. In November 1997, Iraq refused to allow U.N. weapons inspections to do their jobs and threatened to shoot down a U.S. U-2 spy plane. Clinton, advised by Dick Clarke, did nothing. In February 1998, Clinton threatened to bomb Iraq, but called it off when the United Nations said no. On Aug. 7, 1998, U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by Muslim extremists. Clinton, advised by Dick Clarke, did nothing. On Aug. 20, Monica Lewinsky appeared for the second time to testify before the grand jury. Clinton responded by bombing Afghanistan and Sudan, severely damaging a camel and an aspirin factory. On Dec. 16, the House of Representatives prepared to impeach Clinton the next day. Clinton retaliated by ordering major air strikes against Iraq, described by the New York Times as "by far the largest military action in Iraq since the end of the Gulf War in 1991." The only time Clinton decided to go to war with anyone in the vicinity of Muslim fanatics was in 1999 – when Clinton attacked Serbians who were fighting Islamic fanatics. In October 2000, our warship, the USS Cole, was attacked by Muslim extremists. Clinton, advised by Dick Clarke, did nothing.
PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH, REPUBLICAN ....Bush came into office telling his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, he was "tired of swatting flies" – he wanted to eliminate al-Qaida. On Sept. 11, 2001, when Bush had been in office for barely seven months, 3,000 Americans were murdered in a savage terrorist attack on U.S. soil by Muslim extremists. Since then, Bush has won two wars against countries that harbored Muslim fanatics, captured Saddam Hussein, immobilized Osama bin Laden, destroyed al-Qaida's base, and begun to create the only functioning democracy in the Middle East other than Israel. Democrats opposed it all – except their phony support for war with Afghanistan, which they immediately complained about and said would be a Vietnam quagmire. And now they claim to be outraged that in the months before 9-11, Bush did not do everything Democrats opposed doing after 9-11.......What a surprise.
While Coulter tends to be a bit over the top on some issues, this column is a clear demonstration as to why Islamic extremists see us as weak and evil. Bottom line, We have the terrorists attention now. They won't stop until they destroy us OR we destroy them. Personally, I choose the latter. The United States has spent way too much time being politically correct (IE WEAK). We need to pound these people relentlessly. We need to be more aggressive in our pursuit of them. We need to fight these guys with the same unity and determination that we fought WWII with. Defeat is not an option for America and her allies in this War on Terror. But after the last 20 years of politcally correct non decisive action on Muslim issues and more than one missed opportunity to deal with terrorist leadership, it's time for the United States to take well planned, well supplied, and well executed decisive action against these terrorist without the constant interference of the socialist liberal element in America, at the UN, and around the world. Then and only then will we be able to put an end to questions like "Why Us?"
The Half-Wit
A man owned a small ranch in New Mexico. The New Mexico Wage & Hour Dept claimed he was not paying proper wages to his help and sent an agent out to interview him. "I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them," demanded the agent. "Well" replied the rancher, "There's my ranch hand who's been with me for 3 years. I pay him $600 a week plus free room and board. The cook has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $500 per week plus free room and board. Then there's the half-wit who works here about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes $10 per week, and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every Saturday night." "That's the guy I want to talk to - the half-wit," says the agent.
"That would be me," replied the rancher
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COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country.......... Maybe we should give them all a cow.
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TEN COMMANDMENTS
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments in a courthouse........
You cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal," "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery" and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians because it creates a hostile work environment.
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And then there's this.................
Why you should never take your husband shopping with you.
Letter:
Mrs. Chase,
Our store is considering banning your family from ever shopping with us unless your husband stops his antics. Below is a list of offenses over the past few months all verified by our surveillance cameras.
MEMO
Re: Mr. Mark Chase - Complaints - 15 Things Mr. Mark Chase has done while his spouse is shopping:
1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they
weren't looking.
2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in House wares to go off at 5-minute intervals.
3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's rest rooms.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone, 'Code 3' in
house-wares.... and watched what happened.
5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and asked to put a bag of M&M's on lay away.
6. September 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
7. September 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other shoppers he'd invite them
in if they'll bring pillows from the bedding department.
8. September 23: When a clerk asks if they can help him, he begins to cry and asks Why can't you
people just leave me alone?'
9. October 4: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror, and picked his nose.
10. November 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, asked the clerk if he knows where
the antidepressants are.
11. December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously loudly humming the "Mission Impossible"
theme.
12. December 6: In the auto department, practiced his "Madonna look" using different size funnels.
13. December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browse through,
yelled PICK ME!" "PICK ME!"
14. December 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumes the fetal position
and screams "NO! NO! It's those voices again!!!!"
(And; last, but not least) (which happens to be my favorite!)
15. December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door and waited a while; then, yelled, very
loudly, "There is no toilet paper in here!"
HAVE A GREAT "HUMP DAY"!!!!!!!!
(originally posted 7-19-06 on Yahoo 360)
It looks like we humans aren't the only ones forced to find ways to deal with the heat this week!!! How are you guys dealing with the heat and humidity?
IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE HUG A TREE Free to be you and me crowd from Martiniville (otherwise known as Massachusetts) are at it again....spreading their sickness called liberalism. This time the victims are the children of America. In particular children who play soccer and other organized little league sports. It's all about games where no one keeps score or stats and no trophies are handed out at the post season banquets. It's a trend that has been going on for a while and was again pushed to the fore front during the recent World Cup Tournament.
Why are the liberal whackjobs subjecting our children to this nonsense? The reason they give is that they don't want anyone to get their feelings hurt. Personally, I think they're doing it because they feel guilty over their own status and success and they don't want their kids (and our kids) to experience that success in their lives and have to endure the same guilt that they do.
But now the libs from Martiniville are taking it to a whole new level....."Silent Stands." Yep, now in some leagues across the country, parents and friends aren't even allowed to cheer for their own little Bobby or Susie when they make a great play or score the winning goal. HUH???? I'm sorry, if my son were about the score the game winning goal or pitch a no hitter.....you would have to weld my butt to the bleachers and duct tape my mouth to keep me from cheering my son on to victory.
But more importantly than that, what kind of children would we be raising if we totally removed the competition factor from little league sports? Sports psychologist Richard Ginsberg says that sports is about more than winning. He actually says that sports is about feeling good about yourself....oh and he did mention skill development just so he would sound like a total idiot.
Where I come from competition, whether it be sports, business, or academics, is about striving to be the best you can possibly be. It's about learning to win graciously, learning to lose gracefully, and the strong helping the weaker to become stronger so that they experience success as well. It's also about learning how to deal with adversity, learning the concepts of teamwork, self discipline, determination and yes learning to deal with disappointment, rebounding and doing better next time. The list goes on and on. But not if the liberals have their way.
Oh! But Mark, what about the parents who are totally out of control at their kids sporting events??? Two words: BAN THEM! Let them know that taking their kids participation to extremes is unacceptable and won't be tolerated. If that doesn't work.....Ban Them! But don't turn it into some limp wristed hug fest that most normal kids and adults wouldn't want to ever be caught participating in.
If these invaders of our kids childhood games are allowed to continue, we will end up raising a generation of children totally unprepared for the realities of the competitive world in which we live. I can see it now.....little Johnny tries out for his Jr High football team and starts crying during the first practice because the coach yelled at him for missing a hand off. Can you imagine the ridicule little Johnny will have to endure when that happens. And it will happen because of people like Sports Psychologist Richard Ginsberg and crap they spew. Because of Ginsberg and people like him, we are raising children who will enter adult life as emotional cripples unable to cope with competitive situations in school, sports, or work.
As for all the folks in Martiniville...... just shut up! If you don't want your kids to play in the real world......fine. Take them home and put them in the bathtub, give them a rubber duckey, a bowl, and some plastic spoons and we'll call it good. As for me, I want my son to learn all the valuable character building lessons that playing in competitive sports can offer. Sports whose game plans do not include scoreless soccer, trophyless tournamnets, or silent stands.
WELL, HERE WE ARE ONCE AGAIN with a major conflict occuring in the Middle East and the usual cast of characters coming to the forefront with their typical ramblings.......once again showing their complete ignorance of reality.Perhaps the most frustrating and puzzling is the response from Russia. President Putin along with other senior Russian officals have repeatedly said that Israel must show restraint. While it true that Russia does have close ties with Iran, The Russians have fought two wars with Muslim extremists in Chechnya. Except for the United States and Britian, The Russians are one of the very few who truly know what's at stake in this war against Muslim extremism. Their constant siding with Iran (who has quietly supported those who stirred up Chechnya) is at the least very confusing. I suspect that when all is said and done we'll find that Russia is more involved in this current conflict than anyone realizes at the moment.
The Vatican's response just plain pisses me off (if you'll pardon the expression). The Vatican....No wait......let's just call them what they are.......The Catholic Church! Yes the same organization that has a history of hiding & protecting child molestors and the same organization that has no respect for the sovereignty of the United States or the laws of this country. This so called religious organization has zero credibility with any normal sane thinking person. Don't get me started on the Catholic Church. Vactican officals and Mr Pope: SHUT YOUR MOUTHS!!! Nobody cares what you have to say!
And finally, The American Left.....Today Howard Dean came out and said that Israels response was an overly aggressive response to the current events. Let's see Mr Dean.....multiple rocks launched into Israel as a distraction for the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier. More rockets followed and more soldiers kidnapped and killed. Plus you have Iran publicly saying they won't rest until Israel is wiped off the map. All combined, I'd say that more than qualifies as an act of war. I dare would say that Dean's response would be drastically different if missles were launched at his beloved Vermont from north of the border. If he says differently, then he is a liar too!
Here's my viewpoint on this whole deal. What Israel is dealing with now is a part of the much larger war on terror. In the past, I have generally thought that the United States has always been a little too chummy with Israel. However, my thoughts on that are changing with every moment that passes by. Israel has been one of if not the staunchest ally of the United States when it comes to Middle East affairs. Time and time again she has shown remarkable restraint when conflict flares in the region. During the first Gulf War, Israel was targeted more than once with missles and did not respond. On more than one occasion, Israel has shown incredible restraint when asked to by the United States. Not this time though. Israel has as much right to defend herself as any other country. No other nation with the capability to defend itself would stand by and let themselves be repeatedly be attacked by terrorists and nations bent on it's total destruction.
The sad truth in this case though is that the real victims in this current conflict are the people and the government of Lebanon. This fledgling government put in place by democratic elections is still being held hostage by the Syrians and by Iran's support for Hezbollah and Hamas. Until that situation is resolved, I'm afraid these types of conflicts will continue for some time to come.
Murphy's Law was just the beginning........Enjoy!
Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with grease your nose will begin to itch or you'll have to pee.
LOW RENT YUPPIES......You know the type. They are the ones talk a big game, wear the izod and khakis or Lands End sweaters and Jordache jeans, and generally fool most people they come in contact with. But if you pay close attention you can bust them wide open.
After they've completely annoyed and irritated everyone around them and they think no one is watching they'll try to sneak away. If you follow them to the parking lot, you will most likely find that they drive an old beat up Ford Escort (or something similar) that spews more smoke than that old run down factory just around the corner. They are usually the same ones who can only get into the local country club by mooching of someone else's membership as a guest and God help you if you ever try to call them on it. Most people who are a part of the yuppie lifestyle are simply content to walk around with their noses up in the air, quietly projecting their air of superiority with nothing more than their presence. Not my cup of tea, but it does take all kinds to make the world go 'round. The low rent yuppies, however, go out of their way to bring attention to themselves in everyway possible. Loud, obnoxious, and quite frankly about one rung up the ladder from white trash.....these are some of the most infuriating people on the planet.
In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm up on the very tip top of my soapbox!!!!! And in case you're wondering.......yep, I had a run in with one last week. I'm not going to go into all the details of the encounter since they are unimportant to my point, but suffice to say, when they decided to take a personal shot at me.....I sent the shot back across their bow. I called them on their lack of work ethic, their deceit and arrogance, and their total lack of respect for anyone who has the "audacity" (their word not mine) to disagree with their extreme liberal, anti american, anti common sense viewpoints.
Normally, I am very tolerant of other people and their viewpoints.....even if I don't personally agree with them. I think my friends list here on 360 is evidence of that. However, when a person starts taking shots at me, spewing their crap....stand by!!!!!!!!!
Yuppies, I can live with........Low rent yuppies I can't!!!!!!
hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred. to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
— John Hancock
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton
This document is where it all began.....the birth of a nation. Along with our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and standing military forces which defend and protect the ideals and standards these documents represent, our way of life has endured for well over two centuries. As a country, we may not be perfect. Lord knows, even amongst ourselves, we sometimes can't even get along with each other. But collectively, as a group, we are still the best game in town. This Fourth of July, take a moment to remember those in uniform at home and around the world standing ever vigilant to protect us and our way of life. A way of life that all started with this simple document.
(originally posted 7-4-06 on Yahoo 360)
THE BLONDE SAYS:..............Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with those expensive double pane energy efficient kind. But this week I got a call from the contractor who installed them. He was complaining that the work had been completed a whole year ago and I hadn't paid for them. Helloooo? Now just because I'm blonde doesn't mean that I am automatically stupid. So, I told him just what his fast talking sales guy had told ME last year. Namely, that in just ONE YEAR these windows would pay for themselves! Hellooooo? It's been a year, I told him. There was only silence at the other end of the line, so I finally just hung up.... He didn't call back. Guess I won that stupid argument.
FROM THE FOREIGN DESK:..............................A man and his ever-nagging Wife went on vacation to Jerusalem. While they were there, the Wife passed away. The undertaker told the Husband "You can have her shipped home for $5,000, or you can bury her here, in the Holy Land, for $150." The man thought about it and told him he would just have her shipped home. The undertaker asked, "Why would you spend $5,000 to ship your wife home, when it would be wonderful to be buried here and you would spend only $150?" The man replied, "Long ago a man died here, was buried here, and three days later he rose from the dead. I just can't take that chance.
AND THEN THERE'S THIS.....................................................................................
WINTER CLASSES FOR MEN AT THE LEARNING CENTER FOR ADULTS REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED BY Tuesday January 24,2006
NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM.
Class 1
How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays --- Step by Step, with Slide Presentation. Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Class 2
The Toilet Paper Roll : Does It Change Itself?--- Round Table Discussion. Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.
Class 3
Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and Avoiding The Floor,Walls and Nearby Bathtub?--- Group Practice. Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor---Pictures and Explanatory Graphics. Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.
Class 5
After Dinner Dishes: Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink?---Examples on Video. Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM
Class 6
Loss Of Identity: Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other---Help Line Support and Support Groups. Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM
Class 7
Learning How To Find Things: Starting With Looking In The Right Places And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming---Open Forum . Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.
Class 8
Health Watch: Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health---Graphics and Audio Tapes. Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 9
Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost: Real Life Testimonials---Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined.
Class 10
Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks?---Driving Simulations. 4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.
Class 11
Learning to Live: Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife---Online Classes and role-playing . Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined
Class 12
How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion Relaxation Exercises,Meditation and Breathing Techniques---Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Class 13
How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy: Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late---Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered. Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 14
The Stove/Oven: What It Is and How It Is Used---Live Demonstration. Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.
Upon completion of any of the above courses, diplomas will be issued to the survivors.
HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT TUESDAY AND A GREAT 4TH OF JULY!!!
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN WITH ME FROM THE BEGINNING, You may remember me writing about our two cats a couple of times."Sable" and "Mandu", without a doubt, have got to be two of the most bizzare felines I have ever encountered. Don't get me wrong though.....If anything ever happened to either one of them, it would be heartbreaking for all involved. But sometimes I wonder................
In particular, I wonder about Sable and her sometimes human like habits. Solid black with a small white patch on her silky soft chest, she sometimes takes on personality traits and eating habits of a wide eyed, always curious child.
On some mornings, she will stand by the front door as we walk outside and then head for the window and watch us leave. When we come home, she'll come running looking for attention and not give up until she gets it........just like a child.
And when it comes to food, well lets just say that she sometimes gobbles up stuff that most cats won't touch. She loves McDonalds Happy Meal Cheeseburgers. She has, on a couple of occasions, even eaten part of the bun. She will also eat french fries, potato chips, pickles, small chunks of cheddar cheese, ice cream, and the strangest of all.........celery. That's right, celery! A couple of nights ago, while having a salad for dinner, I dropped a celery stick on the floor. She grabbed it up and ran off to the other side of the room. After finding a comfortable place to curl up with her latest bounty, we watched as she ate half of it. I was totally blown away. I've never seen a cat eat celery before.
Some of her other habits include staring contests. You remember those games where whoever blinks first loses? Yep, that's the one. It's only happened a couple of times, but when it does it sure is freaky. She's also been known to curl up beside one of us one the couch and stare at the tv until she is distracted from her trance like state by something else.
Now I know she's only a cat. But sometimes, it's just plain freaky when she starts in with the human like behaviors. It's so strange at times. It almost looks like she is human, or least trying really hard to act like one of us. Either way, she's a part of the family I couldn't imagine living without......especially on those days when she almost seems human!
This week, the second richest man on the planet announced to the world that he was going to donate the bulk ( almost 85 percent according to some reports) of his riches to charity. This, according to reports, is also the largest single donation announcement ever. Some folks have come out against this charitable gift by Buffett because the majority of it is going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has given money in the past to abortion rights groups. Others complained that he should've given it all. These complaints aren't the point of this writing though.
One thing that I noticed from several commentators was that they were asking....."What about his children?" "Why not give it to them?" " Are they going to be angry?" " Don't you think you should give them the money?" And then there was the absolute dumbest question of the day...."Why not give the money to the government?" That last question blew me away! And as if the question itself wasn't bad enough, the source of the question was even more shocking.......Neil Cavuto from the FOX News Channel. Cavuto seemed to be more concerned about the kids not getting the money. It almost seemed as though he was personally offended by that fact. Then he asked the "government question" and I almost came unglued! He of all people should've known the stupidity of that question. I suppose it was possible he was playing "devils advocate" by asking the question, but it sure didn't come accross that way. Most of the other people asking these questions were all the usual suspects in the liberal agenda driven media! You would think that these people would be more interested in the individual causes that this gift would be helping. But instead all you hear are dumb, stupid, idiotic questions.
Whether you agree with Buffet's politics or not is irrelevant. This man just gave the human race the second biggest gift and the second best example of generosity that mankind has ever received or seen. For all the liberal/socialist/communist complaints made over the years about capitalism and constant droning on about the evils of a free market society, this stands as a silent testimony to the many benefits brought about by hard work and ingenuity.
In the final analysis, the only true purpose of great wealth is to do great things. Those who allow themselves to be swallowed and devoured with race/class envy and choose to criticize the choices of the rich in this country should be ashamed. They should also stand back for a moment and take a good, long, hard look at people like Warren Buffet and consider our way of life that allows men like this to be so generous. And while you're at it.....show a little more gratitude!
In reality, I generally go out of my way to try and avoid these sorts of thing and almost ignored this too. But then on second thought.......maybe this would be a good way to get to know some of the recent additions to my friends page if they decide to participate. So, if you're one of those I decide to "tag" and you feel like playing along.....great! If you don't want to participate, that's fine too. You won't be offending anyone, especially me. After all, I almost didn't do it either!
That said, HERE'S HOW IT WORKS..............
I was tagged by Southern Rose
Rules: Once you have been "tagged", you have to write a blog with 8
interesting facts/things/quirks/habits about yourself saying who
tagged you. Then choose 6 people to be tagged and list their
names.
NO TAG BACKS. Send out a message to those you pick to tag.
The people being tagged may be for any of the following reasons- 1)
I want to know you better 2) You're special to me 3) Haven't tagged
you before
OK, here are my 8 things:
1. At the radio station where I work, I am responsible for the one item on the radio that drives everyone nuts......commercials. That's right. I'm the one responsible for the writing and production of those little jewels that drives everyone that listens up the wall.
2. Star Wars or Star Trek? STAR TREK......Sorry Christina LOL But you still have the coolest sci-fi page on My Space! LOL I even have a rather large collection of Star Trek books. Sad I know!
3. I have a wife and two boys that I love more than anything in this world! I might not always say it often enough.....but in my world, everything begins and ends with them! Love you guys!
4. Sports priorities.....1) NFL 2)Nascar 3)college football 4)Major League Baseball
5. 12 year US Navy veteran. AFRTS, Public Affairs. Gulf War....been there done that. Saw Mt Pinatubo erupt and helped with the ensuing evacuation in the Phillipines. Met Steve Perry of Journey while doing a tour in Azores off the coast of Portugal. Loved Japan Singapore, and Hong Kong. I think young people today would definitely a better appreciation for the things they have today and the sacrafices made to preserve those things if they served at least one term.
6. Sometimes I snort when I laugh......don't ask. LOL
7. (Pet Peeve) I'm sick and tired of hearing eco whackjobs blame us conservatives for global warming. I ride the bus back and forth to work, so get out of my face!
8. I absolutely love the beach! Just the whole vibe of being there is something that, once you get it....it never ever goes away.
BONUS: Just to throw a curveball out there so that everyone doesn't think I'm a cranky old man.......MY FAVORITE CHICK FLICKS>>>>>>Practical Magic and City of Angels!
So there you have it.......More than you ever wanted to know about me and probably enough to scare you to death. Now for the next six tagging victims: Kat, Christina, Bekiboo, Lisa, Sassy, and Jerzygirl.
(originally posted 6-29-06 on Yahoo 360)
