George Carlin

On my way into work this morning, I heard the news that George Carlin passed away yesterday from a heart attack.  I can't tell you how bummed I am.  I love George Carlin and quote him often -- even when I didn't realize it was him I was quoting!  (Case in point:  Everyone who drives slower than me is a moron and everyone who drives faster is a manaic.  I always thought I came up with that, but it was Carlin.)

I remember listening to Class Clown when I was around 15 or 16.  The album changed my life and made me a Carlin fan.  I loved watching him in anything he chose to do -- stand up, movies or TV. 

He will be truly missed.

God Bless

Law & Order

I know that there are a lot more things to think about in the world than a Dick Wolf TV show, but sometimes your mind just wants to deal with fluff.

Why is it that on the other two L&O's, the person in charge (PID) holds the rank of Captain, but on the original show the PID is only a Lieutenant -- the only show that has a woman as the PID I might add? Is this an oversite? Isn't it time to promote Lieutenant Van Buren to Captian?

Just a thought.

God bless

E-Bay and Elvis' Former Home

I know I haven't been around much in the last couple of months, but we've been dealing with some family issues -- illness, death and another illness -- then da boys' birthday and, finally, I was out of town (in Pittsburgh) on business.  So, I know that my first post back should be about something more important than Elvis Presley's old house, but it isn't.

The story in a nutshell is that the owners of Elvis' first Memphis home auctioned it on E-Bay.  The winning bid was under a million dollars and they reneged on the deal.  The winning bidder sued them and lost.  (See full story here)  "On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Jon McCalla ruled that the eBay auction was more of an advertising vehicle than a binding sale."  Really?

I've purchased things on E-Bay, not a lot -- just stuff here and there -- and I seem to recall that warning that my bid is legally binding.  I would assume on the flipside that the seller's bid is also legally binding.  Hasn't Judge McCalla just taken the legally binding out of all of E-Bay's auctions?  Doesn't this mean that I as the buyer can say, "Oh, I just thought it was advertising" ?  And, the seller can do the same?

I don't understand how it can be thought that if you put a home up for sale on E-Bay, that it is any different than selling it in the paper.

Of course, if this was my home or yours, no one would give a rat's butt about the case, but it is Elvis' former home and that makes all the difference, I guess.

God Bless. 

California Supreme Court Overturns Gay Marriage Ban

That yell you hear is a collective "Oh, Shit!" from the southern states (and a couple of backward sections of the northern ones)!

Gays are now thisclose to be able to marry.

That ought to scare them wrong wingers.

God Bless

Mario Kart for the Wii

I was going to blog about the election or gas prices, but this past weekend, I was in Green Bay visiting my grandsons and dropping off Cheryl for the week. Kim had purchased Mario Kart for the Wii, so naturally, I had to play it, too! Well, I had a blast, so I purchased my own version and I've been playing it ever since I got back.

All I can say is my employer should appreciate the fact that I bother to come in when I could be home mastering Mario Kart! I love the fact that you can play with friends online. So, if anyone would like to trounce me in Mario Kart, send me an email and we can exchange friend codes and arrange a time to play.

Happy Playing!

True Story -- Under the better late than never category...

My dear gentle readers, I know this AP news story is going to seem like something I made up, but I assure you I found it online at Roadrunner's News Section.  All I did was copy and past it here (emphasis is mine).  Please read:

Woman Pays Off 1976 Parking Ticket Issued in Mich.

CALUMET, Mich.(AP) Police in this Upper Peninsula town had forgotten about the $1 parking ticket written on Sept. 1, 1976. But the woman who had found it on her windshield hadn't.

The ticket, a $20 bill and a note arrived at police headquarters last month in a plain white envelope with no return address.

The note read: "I always had good intentions of paying it. I put it aside and every once in a while I would come across it and said `someday I'm going to pay it.' Now I think it's time."

The fine for an unpaid meter violation increased to $5 after 72 hours, said Police Chief David Outinen, but it hadn't increased beyond that. He told The Daily Mining Gazette of Houghton that he couldn't remember someone making good on an unpaid ticket after so much time.

The woman apparently hopes her payment closes the matter. "Please don't try and track me down. I am a respectable lady," she wrote.

You absolutely have to love that last line, I'm a respectable lady.  Like because she had a parking ticket and didn't pay it, she wasn't respectable.  Well, I'm sure we all have debts we believe should be paid that we haven't paid (and, yes, my student loans are all paid off).  In this day and age of people just shrugging off their responsibitities, this woman should be appaulded.  Although, I wonder about that respectable lady part, don't you?

Do you think she's now a grandma and wants to set a good example for her grandkids?
Do you think maybe she's running for office somewhere and needs to pay the fine before the press finds out about a 22 year old parking ticket?

I just wonder.

But, anyway, good for her.

God Bless

They Ride Deer, Don't They?

Make sure to turn up the sound -- it is hard to hear!

God Bless!

Translation Assistance

We found a document in Cheryl's family trunk that starts off like this:

PANOWANIE SPOLECZNE NAJSW. SERCA JEZUSA
Now the L has a line (/) going through it and the S in NAJSW has a link above it.
If you can translate this or identify what language this is, I would be very grateful.

Thanks in advance!

God Bless

Funeral Arrangements

Cheryl's mother passed away Tuesday morning. The news was devastating to the both of us, despite the fact that Mary had been sick for the past month. But, I think even more difficult than coming to terms with our grief has been making the funeral arrangements.

The funeral director, Mike, is a nice man. He remembered Cheryl from her father's funeral nearly twenty years ago. And, we're lucky because our brother-in-law, Charlie, was on the ball and wrote the obituary with Mike right away. All we needed to do for that yesterday was proofread it.

No, the real hard part came with picking out the casket and then Mom's dress. We even had to pick out what vault. Did you know that linings in caskets are not interchangeable? I liked the roses that were embordered on one lining, but we liked a different casket better. You can't take one lining out of one casket and put it in another. In any case, it's hard trying to decide just what casket someone would like to have.

This morning, we'll be meeting with the Priest to go over the Mass arrangements.

So, my whole reason for this post is simply this:

Sit down and plan your funeral. Go take a look at caskets -- many funeral homes offer pre-planning. And, if you're thinking, well, I might not live where I'm at the rest of my life -- that's okay. Don't make anything official. Just pick out the color and style and write it down. Trying to make serious and expensive decisions through the tears of grief is the hardest thing your family members will ever have to do. So, do something for them and plan it out. Write down your favorite hymms and if you want a full Mass (if you're Catholic) or not. Do you want a viewing the night before? Do you want your funeral to be at a church at all?

My father recently said that he was writing out what he wants for his funeral. At first, I really didn't want to think about it. But, now, I'm thinking Dad's giving Scott, Brian and me the best gift he possibly can. I just wish he could convince Mom to do the same.

God Bless

Today...

Today, I could write about how I wish Pennsylvania had voted for Obama and not Hillary so that Hillary would drop out of the race, but I won't.

Today, I could write about how I hated filling up this morning at $3.69 and how I think the stations that are charging $3.75 and $3.79 are just being greedy, but I won't.

Today, I could write about how we're in a recession and wouldn't it be nice if the government could figure that out, but I won't.

Well, why not?  I hear all of you asking...

Well, I'll tell you...

Today is my wedding anniversary.  We've now been married seven years.  And, for at least today, I just want to forget about the country's issues and enjoy the day...

Happy Anniversary, Baby.  Here's to seven more!

God Bless

Florida's New Plate...

Florida is considering a Christian License plate.  The plate has a cross in front of a stain glass window and the words I Believe.  The plate looks colorful enough.  Now, would I get one of these plates if it were available in Wisconsin -- no way. The extra $25.00 to have one goes to Faith in Teaching Inc. which supports faith-based schools activities.  I don't have anything against faith-based school activities per se.  I attended Bible study at my grade school on Thursday afternoons from 2nd or 3rd grade (I don't remember which) all the way until 6th grade.  However; back when I was a kid, this consisted mostly of teaching about Jesus and how He loves us, etc.  It wasn't the right-wing stuff like the faith-based learning is now.

Anyway, my only problem with this plate is because of this (and I'm quoting directly from the CNN article):

Simon, of the ACLU, said approval of the plate could prompt many other groups to seek their own designs, and they could claim discrimination if their plans were rejected. That could even allow the Ku Klux Klan to get a plate, Simon said.

Bullard, the plate's sponsor, isn't sure all groups should be able to express their preference. If atheists came up with an "I Don't Believe" plate, for example, he would probably oppose it.

Now, that would be wrong.

If you want to prove that the state isn't supporting one religion, then I would say you have to let the atheists have their plate.

Now, I should say right here that I don't believe in any of these plates.  I don't have a Packer plate or the wild animal fund one or any of those plates.  First, I have bumper stickers to show what I believe and second, I don't announce to whom I give money.  (Remember, Jesus said to give to charity secretedly and I'm sure he meant don't put it on your license plate!)  However; everyone has the right to their own opinions and if people like these plates, they should get them.

But, if you offer a Christian plate, you really need to offer the alternative.  If you offer an anti-abortion plate, you need to offer a planned parenthood one.  If you offer one supporting straight people, you need to offer one for gay people.  It's all about fairness.

At least it is in my book.

God Bless

Military Waivers

According to CNN , the Army and Marines have both given out more waivers to people convicted of felonies in 2007 than either military branch gave in 2006. According to the article, "The Army defended its use of waivers as a response to a changing American society, arguing that only three in 10 Americans of military age "meet all our stringent medical, moral, aptitude or administrative requirements." Some of the waivers have been granted for offenses such as burglary, assault and drug possession, according to the article. Also according to the article, "Army never issues waivers for some types of offenses, including sexual violence, alcoholism and drug trafficking."

I remember being in a social studies class in junior high. We were discussing the draft. I remember asking my teacher why we didn't take guys from prison and send them out to the battlefield. After all, they weren't doing anything besides sitting in a jail cell, so why not put them to use. I remember my teacher saying to me that the men in prisons couldn't follow the rules and that's why they were in prison and we couldn't expect them to follow the rules if they were in the military.

Of course, that was more than 25 years ago when we thought as a society that men in prison couldn't be rehabilitated and were hopeless. Times have changed.

Now I'd like to mention that the Army issued 511 waivers and the Marines issued 350 (according to the article). With the thousands of soldiers recruited each year, that doesn't sound like a lot, does it? In the case of the Army, it is less than 1% of the 80,000 troops they wish to recruit each year.

Let me repeat that -- less than 1%.

So, you're thinking to yourself, then why bring it up? What's the big deal?

The big deal is that Rep. Henry Waxman of California (Democrat) is giving both the Army and the Marines one month to explain themselves.

And, while these two divisions of our armed forces are preparing a report regarding less than 1% of their troops, how much of our tax dollars will they be spending? Why would anyone want to waste even more tax dollars when our deficit is higher than it has ever been?

Now, here's what I would like you, my glorious reader to do.

If you live in California and in Rep Waxman's district (It is the 30th District), please contact his office by going to his website (link will open in a new window) or calling his office: (202) 225-3976 (Washington #) or (323) 651-1040 / (818) 878-7400 / (310) 652-3095 (California #s).


If you do not live in California, please do not contact Rep Waxman -- it does no good, really, they just toss your opinions away. All offices do that, not just his. They're designed to only help constituents.

So, what to do if you're not in his district?

Contact your representative.
Or, contact the committee yourself by clicking here (link will open in a new window). This is what I did and, if I receive a response, I'll post it here.

We really don't need to waste taxpayers money by looking for a needle in a haystack, do we?

God Bless

Slacker Radio

I started listening to Slacker while at work. The concept is easy -- you pick 15 (or more) of you favorite artists and Slacker keeps the music coming. No playlist to fiddle with or choices to make. Still, you can make your own playlists or listen to the pre-set ones. Since my tastes are pretty out there, I can hear Johnny Cash's "Walk the Line" right behind Van Halen's "Hot for Teacher".

The best part is that it is all free -- yes, free! Sure, you can sign up for Slacker Premium (which I have), but you don't have to do so. There are benefits to having a premium account, like saving favorite songs to play out of your library and unlimiting skipping.

Now, I'm hoping to get a Slacker Portable sometime this year, so support my sponsors -- order books/games from Amazon using my links and buy my t-shirts -- in order to help me earn the cash needed. Or, do it the free way by clicking the below button and trying out Slacker. It'll earn me an entry into a drawing for a free Slacker Portable and you get to listen to great music, so it's a win-win situation!

Also, I'm trying something new by posting to two of my blogs at once, so...
God Bless and Happy Reading!>< FONT>

Harry Potter Reference Book

I'm sure we've all heard by now that J.K. Rowlings is suing a fan who has written a lexicon of Harry Potter. She wants the publication of Steven Vander Ark's "Harry Potter Lexicon" to be stopped. Mr. Vander Ark has been running a Harry Potter Lexicon website of which Mrs. Rowlings approves. However; she feels that publishing a book is a "wholesale theft of 17 years of my hard work."

Now, since I haven't read Mr. Vander Ark's book, nor have I visited his website, I have no way of knowing if he has indeed plagiarized the Harry Potter books. However; I do know that Mrs. Rowlings plans on completing a Harry Potter encyclopedia in a couple of years and if a lexicon is all ready out there, it could hurt the sales of her encyclopedia.

I'm glad I'm not sitting on that jury.

On one hand, Mrs. Rowlings has made a lot of money from Harry Potter and she has created an industry of Harry Potter related books, toys, etc. It's not going to hurt anyone to have someone make a couple of bucks. (As a Harry Potter fan, I do have to say that I wouldn't buy the lexicon, nor will I buy her encyclopedia either.) Since she's planning her own encyclopedia it does sound like she's only worried about her business future.

On the other hand, if all Mr. Vander Ark has done is rearrange her words, then that is stealing.

I'm really, really glad I don't have to sit on that jury.
God Bless

A Little Economic Sense

According to an article in US News & World Report, we're heading back into an era of Big Government. Our economic woes are such that the government will have to get more involved. If done right, it isn't necessarily a bad thing. But, we all know that it won't be done right.

Here's a few of my off the top of my head ideas.

1. The government needs to be proactively involved in producing a complete electric car. Tax breaks should be given to the car companies to offset some of their research costs. We know this car has existed -- one that can drive highway speeds and travel up to 300 miles on a single charge -- it just hasn't been cost effective. The second part of this is the government needs to give tax breaks to anyone who purchases said car. I can't afford a $30,000 car -- even if it will drop my gas to nearly nothing, but if the government subsidizes the manufacturing and the purchasing, I'm sure I could swing $20,000 for the car.

2. All this talk about Social Security being overdrawn in 2017 is beginning to piss me off. First, Social Security used to have a surplus until the government started borrowing against it. The time for that to completely stop is now. Also, let's put some of that borrowed money back and then let's see if we're still behind. Finally, we need a national retirement plan. The truth is that we need older workers to get out of the way for younger workers. If everyone works until they drop dead, what are young people going to do for jobs? That being said to keep this funded let's eliminate the cap on the tax. No matter how much you earn, pay both Social Security and Medicare taxes on it. So, no more cut off at $92,000.

3. We need to take a good long look at what the government subsidizes. (Yeah, I know I said electric cars, but hear me out.) Nearly everybody gets something from the government. For example, farm subsidies. Huge company farms are subsidized and that's not what the plan was for. This should be changed to only help the little farmer compete. There are other things we subsidize and we need to take a good long look at them to see if they're really needed.

God Bless

Death Sentence for Rape?

Under most circumstances I am against the death penalty. I don't think the state taking someone's life really does anyone any good. The costs for keeping a death row inmate are much higher than a non-death row inmate. If an innocent person is convicted and is put to death, you can't go back and fix that.

All of that said, I do support the state of Louisana in executing Patrick Kennedy for the rape of his 8 year old step-daughter.

Here's my reasons.

First, child molestors can never be rehabilitated. NEVER. They don't get out of prison and lead normal lives. They go on to rape and molest children again.

Second, in a sad way, a murder victim's pain is over right away. No one can ever hurt them again. But, children who are harmed by a sexual predator never forget. Also, studies show that children who have been sexually abused are more likely to be abused in the future. Killing their attacker might make the child feel safer, knowing that the boogey man can never hurt them again.

Finally, do we really want these people around? The average molestor has ten victims before he ever gets caught. That's ten children who never get justice.

Let's hope the US Supreme Court upholds Lousiana's decision to put this rapist to death and doesn't decide to put the brakes on a good idea.

God Bless

Want a More Stable Financial System -- higher more women!

I'm reading the headline on RoadRunner's news site and I come across this one:  "Male Sex Hormone May Affect Stock Trades."  I read the article and a study was just completed in England that measured the testosterone levels in men and determined that while high levels help over say a day of training, repeated days of high levels make men more risky and cause more "irrational risk-taking". 

So, basically what we're supposed to gather from this article is that men make lousy financial advisors and hiring more women would equate to "a much more stable financial system."

I can hear my late grandmother's answer to that:  "OH, COME ON!"

Isn't this the same kind of argument that was used against women when they wanted to enter into male dominant fields?  Women shouldn't fight in combat or be police officers because their monthly cycle makes them hormonal and therefore, they would make lousy soldiers and police officers.  Using the same type of hormone argument against men isn't very fair, now, is it?

Well, I better end this.  My financial advisor for my IRA is a guy and I need to change him to someone else.

God Bless




Quote from AP Article on RoadRunner:

"WASHINGTON(AP) The hormone that drives male aggression and sexual interest also seems able to boost short term success at finance. But what seems to start out well can turn bad, with elevated testosterone levels over several days possibly leading to irrational risk-taking, according to researchers at the University of Cambridge in England.

"If people want to get practical, it would be good for both banks and the financial system as a whole if we had more women and older men in the markets," said John M. Coates, lead author of a study appearing in this week's issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Such a change would produce a much more stable financial system, said Coates, a research fellow in the university's department of physiology, development and neuroscience."

You Don't Have Mail UPDATE...

So, still no email from Wal-Greens today after waiting for two days. Well, I decided to call Wal-Greens' tech support and find out what's going on.

Apparently, Road Runner blocks emails from Wal-Green's, so they can't get through to my email box. Isn't that wonderful?!? I can get ED emails in my inbox, but not the email I wanted!

Crazy!

God Bless

You Don't Have Mail

Remember those days when you'd rush home from work, log into AOL and hear "You've Got Mail"? This was way back when the Internet was still so vast and exciting. Do you remember the disappointment when the man's voice didn't come on? It was a horrible feeling to not even find one message in your AOL account. Remember?

Well, the times sure are a changing. I can't think of one person who is still using AOL for one thing. My Inbox is now filled more with spam than with emails from friends. 90% of the messages I receive falls into one of these categories:

Enlarge Your Penis or solve your ED problem. Messages mentioning my non-existent penis are quite common.

Save this fill in the blank.This could be anything from the spotted owl to a snake in the Amazon rainforest.

Pass this on to your friends. This one is usually a letter begging for prayers that usually turns out to be a hoax. (This excludes real prayer requests from people you know)

I've come into a lot of money, but I need your help in getting it. My personal favorite.

But, complaining about Spam is not really what I wanted to write about. Unwanted email messages aren't my problem today -- I'm waiting for an email and it hasn't showed yet! That's what's really bugging me.

This morning, I wanted to go on Wal-Green's site to have a couple of prints made. Well, I have an account, but I can't remember my password. It isn't one of my usual ones, so I click the button to have my password reset and sent to me, but has it showed?!?

No, it's been 5 hours and nothing. Now, I did have an email problem a while back where things were being forwarded and I didn't know it, but my son-in-law sent me an email this am and when he responded to my reply, I received that email. A couple of friends have sent emails with no problems, so what's Wal-Greens' problem?

What in the world could be taking so long? It's a password reset for pete's sake!

Yeah, I know what you're thinking, starving kids in foreign lands, people suffering all over the world and I'm complaining about a password reset.

Life's pretty good for me and I thank God everyday for that.

God Bless

Funny News...

It's been a rough week and the last thing I've been able to do is update my blog. But, we're now back home (why would ANYONE want to live in Park Falls, WI is totally beyond me) and I saw a news article I just want to pass on...

Toddlers Can No Longer Marry In Ark.

I cannot tell you what a relief that is! To know that you now have to be "17 as the minimum age to marry for boys and 16 for girls" in Arkansas is going to make my sleepless nights just go away! But, I'm sure there's two very disappointed seven year olds just cursing the Arkansas Legislature!

I, also, saw an article about a woman who bit a dog that was attacking her dog. As funny as that sounds, this woman was really fearing for her dog's life, so I'll bet it was scary.

It's truly a strange world we live in, isn't it?

God Bless