Saturday, December 24, 2011

Happy Holidays, Everyone ***

Happy Holidays, Everyone

May the true meaning of Christmas enter into your spirit.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

The voice of wisdom ***

"The voice of wisdom is silent, except to the open mind."
                                                                    ~ Summum

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Update on Oba Chandler, Murderer ***

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article1201683.ece

Oba Chandler died today at 4:25pm by lethal injection.  Some of the story of why he died is to be found in the link above.  The man caused untold lasting misery for others.  Read the account for yourself and you will understand.

I feel no compassion, no sorrow for his demise.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Is this not beautiful? ***

An artist may envy nature.


One View of the Universe from NASA

Friday, September 30, 2011

Awed ***

This makes me pucker up and whisper, "Wow".

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110929.html

CoyotePrime over at "RunningCauseICan'tFly" posted this and I wanted to share the beauty with you.  CP gives us views of the heavens often.  You may wish to check out his blog.  It makes me put on my thinking cap!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Grin and bear it ***

Grins always make life easier.  For those of you that don't like jokes and laughs,  would you rather I make you cry?  None of that today; it's my blog so I'll laugh if I want to and share it with you.  Sometimes we just have to grin and bear it.




Goat for Dinner

The young couple invited their elderly pastor for Sunday dinner.

While they were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their son what they were having.

"Goat," the very little boy replied.

"Goat?" replied the startled 'man of the cloth,' "Are you sure about that?"

"Yes I am" said the youngster, just as his parents walked in to overhear him.

"I heard Daddy say to Mommee...this morning."

"Today is just as good as any day

to have 'the old goat' here for dinner."



Understanding Engineer Minds #1


Two engineering students were biking across a university campus when one said, "Where did you get such a great bike?"

The second engineer replied, "Well, I was walking along yesterday, minding my own business when a beautiful woman rode up on this bike, threw it to the ground, took off all her clothes and said, "Take what you want."

The first engineer nodded approvingly....

and said, "Good choice:

The clothes probably wouldn't have fit you anyway."
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, August 22, 2011

Mama said "Don't Talk to Strangers" ***

I like to reminisce with people I don't know.
Steven Wright







Monday, August 8, 2011

How is the Book Coming Along? ***

Steven tells it like it is!

"I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done."
Steven Wright





Friday, July 29, 2011

Income Tax ***

Useless Knowledge
The Supreme Court once ruled the Federal income tax unconstitutional. Income tax was first imposed during the Civil War as a temporary revenue-raising measure. Try telling that to the IRS!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Just Pondering ***

“The odd thing about the often long and lonely path of life is that when you get to the end of it and look back, you'll find that it was neither of these. Stranger still, by and large, no matter where it's taken you, its memories will be so sweet, they'll usher forth the happiest of tears.”

Author Unknown

Sunday, July 17, 2011

A Lapse of sanity ***

A two-minute lapse of sanity will haunt me until the day I die.  Jane said it.  I say it.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Time for Discussion, Don't You Think? ***

It's a holiday week-end here in the US, Memorial Day week-end, the unofficial start of summer.  Up early this morning, I started thinking, "Can I afford to go visiting today"?   I'm to the point of needing other people to interact with for a break in the monotony of my solitude.  Would you believe I have started talking back to myself.  It's true.  The situation is critical and needs a remedy; thus my thoughts for escape.

The $20 last spent for gas bought me enough to make a trip to town and back, then a run to the spring, a 2 mile run downroad for gas for the mower. Today the car gauge is near empty.  Actually, the gauge is always near empty; we all know $20 doesn't go far these days. I've tightened my proverbial belt to the last notch. I'm sure each of you are in the same situation and wondering "what next".  We see the price of everything climbling daily, if not by the moment.

So I resigned myself that I will be going nowhere this weekend.  Instead I began surfing the internet; it is FREE.

Reading a headline of something or other led me to thinking of the Blue Angels, that flying team that brings roars from the crowds somewhere in the US nine months of every year - March through November-year in, year out since 1946.  The Blue Angels have been strutting their stuff/performing for 65 years, this one, 2011, the 66th year.   Today and tomorrow they are performing at Millville, NJ.

Google is a 'right smart' searcher, able to give me the information I want every time.

Keep in mind the article below was written in 2008, Gary Kohls speaking of 2006.  Today is 2011 with gas prices much higher.  I'm just saying....

Some Sobering Thoughts About the Blue Angels Air Show



July 25, 2008
By Gary g. Kohls
Gary g. Kohls's ZSpace Page


In 2006, the last time the US Navy Blue Angel air show was invited to come to Duluth, there was a news report that said that the Blue Angel fighter jets burned 8,000 pounds of jet fuel per hour of flight. 8,000 pounds of jet fuel equals 1,200 gallons. In 2006, the cost to the Navy for that fuel was $2 – 3 dollars per gallon. Today, with the current world-wide scarcity of fuel, the price of jet fuel has risen to $7 per gallon!


The 2006 news report also said that the commanding officer of the Blue Angels team was required to fly a minimum of 3,000 hours just in his training exercises in order to qualify to be commander. The other team members, just to get into the Angels, had to fly 1350 hours to qualify. It was noted that there were 15 pilots that are members, although only 6 perform at a time.


As of 2006, there had been 230 Blue Angel pilots. They perform 70 or so shows per year and have dress rehearsals before each performance. The pilots also practice their routines year-round over and around their Pensacola, Florida base of operations.


Now for an unwelcome reality check. Here’s the math:
The 3000 hours of simply training the single Commanding Officer of the Blue Angels used up 3,600,000 gallons of jet fuel just in the training phase (3,000 hours X 1,200 gallons/hr)!


How about the costs in fuel for the other 15 officer pilots? The 1,350 training hours for the 15 other officer pilots on the team (although only six perform at a time) consumed 1,620,000 gallons for each one's 1350 hours of training (1,350 hours X 1,200gallons/hr X 15). Multiply that by the 15 pilots and you get 24,300,000 gallons of fuel just for the training. At today’s costs of jet fuel, $7/gallon, for every new Navy pilot who aspires to become a Blue Angel, the costs to US taxpayers, just for training, would be $11,340,000 per pilot.

One could multiply the fuel consumption just for the training by the 230 Blue Angel pilots that have performed over the past decades and we would get the figure of 5.6 billion gallons of jet fuel (5,589,000,000 gallons) just for training!


And then if you want to get some really big numbers, one could also try to calculate the fuel costs for the upcoming year of 70 shows/year (not counting the dress rehearsals before each show and not counting the continuous training that probably goes on most days of the year), the flights to and from Pensacola, the support crew's C-130 transport plane.


Then, or course, one could add in the fact that the US Air Force’s Thunderbirds, are doing the same thing. If we could do all that, one would come up with some really astronomical numbers, but I hope the point has been made!


I know that I am probably poking a hornet’s nest of devotees of such air shows, who would rather not think of the real costs of war or the real costs of the machinery of war, but in a world of scarce and dwindling resources, especially fossil fuels, and in a world where young men and women are dying every day, not for freedom and democracy, but for the for-profit oil corporations that obviously care not for the economic suffering of its captive customers. The fallen warriors of virtually every war throughout history have mostly been working, at minimum wage, for the multitude of war profiteers who then abandon the war-wounded to essentially fend for themselves. Our soldiers and Marines are working for a whole host of institutions that make money on their sacrifices, but stop their patriotic flag-waving when the body bags come home. Perhaps acknowledging these painful truths will eventually set us free.


The main purpose of this commentary article is to expose the hidden truths that are intentionally censored out about the costs of war, so that as we Duluthians stare in wonder at the immense and lethal air power that will be exhibited this weekend, we consider all the consequences of such activities.


And when your children and grandchildren ask you in some future decade, “Daddy, what did you do in the wars for oil back in 2008? Did you do your part to conserve fuel? Did you protest the wastage? And why can’t I afford to buy my own car? For that matter why can’t you afford to drive your own car like you did in the good old days?”


Hopefully, you won’t have to say, ”I defended, either overtly or by my silence, the US’s wastage of those depleted resources for my entertainment and for the purpose of recruiting impressionable young boys and girls to think that war is glorious. I’m sorry, but I wasn’t taking the oil crisis seriously back in 2008.”


Such an apology will be regarded by your progeny as inadequate, perhaps even pathetic.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

2011 Blue Angels practice schedule:  March
- 23, 24, 30, 31 APRIL - 1, 2, 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 MAY - 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19 JUNE - 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23 JULY - 13, 14, 20 AUGUST - 10, 11, 18, 19, 24, 25 SEPTEMBER - 7, 8, 14, 15 OCTOBER - 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 NOVEMBER - 2, 3


According to information I read, the Blue Angels team is all about getting the viewers to think about joining the military, to defend their country.

Seems there is a need to rethink where we stand today - just a bit lopsided it appears.  Keep in mind, this is all on the backs of the citizens of the US, we taxpayers.

I need a break; all this thinking about GAS makes me want to escape and go visit someone; maybe to muse about the weather for a bit or 'how does your garden grow'. I'm just saying....

Monday, May 16, 2011

I Just Had a Belly Laugh; Now It's Your Turn ***

Tennessee Declares War on the USA



 President Barack Obama was in the Oval Office when his telephone rang.

 "Hello, President Obama” a heavily accented southern voice said. "This is

 Archie, down here at Joe's Catfish Shack, in Memphis , and I am callin' to

 tell ya’ll that we are officially declaring war on y'all!"



 "Well Archie," Barack replied, "This is indeed important news!

 How big is your army?"



 "Right now," said Archie, after a moments calculation "there is myself, my

 cousin Harold, my next-door-neighbor Randy, and the whole dart team from

 Hooters. That makes eight!"



 Barack paused. "I must tell you Archie that I have one million men in my

 army waiting to move on my command."



 "Wow," said Archie. "I'll have to call ya back!"

 Sure enough, the next day, Archie called again. “Mr. Obama, the war is still

 on! We have managed to acquire some infantry equipment!"



 "And what equipment would that be Archie?" Barack asked.



 "Well sir, we have two combines, a bulldozer, and Harry’s farm tractor."



 President Obama sighed. "I must tell you Archie, that I have 16,000 tanks

 and 14,000 armored personnel carriers. Also I've increased my army to one

 and a half million since we last spoke."



 "Lord above", said Archie, "I'll be getting back to ya."



 Sure enough, Archie called again the next day. “President Obama! I am sorry

 to have to tell you that we have had to call off this here war."



 "I'm sorry to hear that" said Barack. "Why the sudden change of heart?"



 Well, sir," said Archie, "we've all sat ourselves down and had a long chat

 over sweet tea, and come to realize that there's just no way we can feed

 that many prisoners."



 SOUTHERN CONFIDENCE CANNOT BE SHAKEN

 If you are a REAL Southerner, you won't even need to be told to pass this

 on!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

They didnt have the green thing in her day ***


In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she

should bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren't good for
the environment. The woman apologized to him and explained,

We didn't have the green thing back in my day.


The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. The former generation
did not care enough to save our environment."


He was right, that generation didn't have the green thing in its day.


Back then, they returned their milk bottles, soda bottles and beer
bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be
washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles
over and over. So they really were recycled.


But they didnt have the green thing back in that customer's day.


In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn't have an escalator
in every store and office building.

They walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks.


But she was right. They didn't have the green thing in her day.


Back then, they washed the baby's diapers because they didn't have the
throw-away kind.
They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling
machine burning up 220 volts wind and solar power really did dry the
clothes.

Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters,
not always brand-new clothing.


But that old lady is right, they didn't have the green thing back in her
day.


Back then, they had one TV, or radio in the house not a TV in every
room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a
screen the size of the state of Montana. 

In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you. They cut up their own fruits and vegetables because they didn't have a food processor.

When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.


Back then, they didnt fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut
the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power.

They exercised by working so they didnt need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.


But shes right, they didnt have the green thing back then.


They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water.

They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen,
and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole
razor just because the blade got dull.


But they didnt have the green thing back then.


Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes
to school or rode the school bus instead of turning their moms into a
24-hour taxi service.

They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances.

They didnt need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.


But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful the old
folks were just because they didn't have the green thing back then?


Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way. La la la la...


Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days

Monday, May 9, 2011

HOW TO CALL THE POLICE WHEN YOU'RE OLD ***

Needing a bit of Healing Laughter?
I bet you have read this one before.  It's still funny AND EDUCATIONAL.


*HOW TO CALL THE POLICE WHEN YOU'RE OLD AND DON'T MOVE FAST ANYMORE like me.


George, an elderly man, from Meridian, Mississippi,was going up to bed,

when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the garden shed, which

she could see from the bedroom window. George opened the back door to go

turn off the light, but saw that there were people in the shed stealing things.

He phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?"

He said "No," but some people are breaking into my garden shed and stealing

from me.

Then the police dispatcher said "All patrols are busy. You should lock your

doors and an officer will be along when one is available."


George said, "Okay."


He hung up the phone and counted to 30. Then he phoned the police again.

"Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people
stealing things from my shed... Well, you don't have to worry about them now
because I just shot and killed them both, the dogs are eating them right
now." and he hung up.

Within five minutes, six Police Cars, a SWAT Team, a Helicopter, two Fire
Trucks, a Paramedic, and an Ambulance showed up at the Phillips' residence,
and caught the burglars red-handed.


One of the Policemen said to George, "I thought you said that you'd shot
them!"

George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"



*( True Story ) I LOVE IT! *



*Don't mess with old people. *



*Live well, laugh often, love much!!! *

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter ***

                                 Happy Easter to You


                    May Your Day Be Filled With

                    Love,
                                                                      
                                          Peace,

                                            Sunshine,

                                                             Beauty

                                                                          Gratitude



             My Gratitude to You, Each and Every Day. 

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Strange Visitor *** insect

This insect is one never seen before or since....by me, that is.  Have you? It was one and a half inches long.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Blood Clots/Stroke ***

You probably have gotten this information about a stroke before now.  I learned it long ago - I also had forgotten, so it is good that I received it again today in an email from a blogger friend, deciding the better way to reach many is to post it here for the world to read (yeah, right).  Thank you, J.

If you pass it on to others, most likely someday it will help to save a life or prevent a lifetime of disability from a stroke.  Having known stroke victims personally, I've seen the devastation resulting when blood does not reach the brain.  You may also know of someone who suffers from having had a stroke. 


Blood Clots/Stroke - They Now Have a Fourth Indicator, the Tongue

STROKE: Remember the 1st Three Letters..... S. T. R..


STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

During a BBQ, a woman stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) ......she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Jane went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.

Jane's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm Jane passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Jane would be with us today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S *Ask the individual to SMILE.

T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
     (i.e. It is sunny out today.)
R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

remember the '3' steps, S T R.

Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Juicing for Good Health ***


"I think the key with the juice is to have it first thing in the morning before eating anything else. Then wait a while and let the little elves in your body run it all around to where it needs to go...then eat."

These are the words of a woman whose blog I just came across and read for awhile.  Its a lot about her horse and leather business.  She speaks of feeling "so good" and attributes it to her morning juice.

Having some arbitrary comments from my other two posts regarding 'eating fruit on an empty
stomach' I post this as a bit of support to the information contained in the posts.  Just scroll down and check the Labels {'eating fruit }  on this homepage.
Champion Juicer

Monday, March 21, 2011

Odds and Ends ***

                                                                  
Odds and Ends  3-21-11


When I had excess money (lol) years ago, I found a craft supply wholesaler going out of business. I WENT NUTS. 90% discount.

One idea I had for these soft suede leather cutouts. Giving them a coat of acrylic hardened them nicely. I added a bit of paint and attached a pin to the back.
Gaudy but fun.
                                                                                     



Project "Rescue"

It has the nicest bounce to it. Years ago, I found it and a mate at the county dumpsite. $1 each. They need to be sandblasted; I haven't hired the Sandblasting Specialist yet. I've used paint remover, wire brush, putty knife. You can see I haven't gotten very far along on the project. The chairs may be waiting for rescue long after I'm gone and forgotten. I must be lacking in focus ;).


Isn't he regal? A royal no doubt.  Ceramic.

   

       One of a set I sanded and painted.  B had a shop attached to her house.  She was two blocks away.  We would all gather 3 nights a week if we wished.  It was ... but that is another story. 
B and I became close friends.
She worked in publishing, JC Press, for many years, sometimes six days a week.  Yet she put much hard work into her little ceramic business. 

                                                                                   Let the choir begin .  This is a picture of my calendar page; aren't they neat?  I love my camera! I like frogs too.

                                                                                                                 The dog lot 4ft. gate. A great job, well built.  Lot of good it has done! Charly, the Creature, made an escape hatch just left of the gate.  He is at war with the creek rocks and ripples, so water and mud make him "creaturish".

 
Storm Clouds Building.  Maybe. Days can begin such as this but soon clear sky is seen.  A mountain on opposing sides and near me provide the clouds.

See? This is sky.  Not one touch of cloud anywhere. Its impressive. Vast beyond imagination.
You can see clearly now.  The rain is gone.

 Clocks and more clocks.  V, a relative, lives deep in the mountains of western North Carolina. Upon his retirement from a nuclear fuel company a few years ago, he began this hobby - scroll saw work.  The lawn and his wood shop kept him active. His shop was used daily. With practice he has become very precise with a scroll saw. He has over a hundred clocks and many other wooden items just waiting for the appreciative eye.
About a year ago Vern had bladder cancer and his energy level no longer allows him to work at his clock making. The cancer was treated and now is in remission for the present.  This picture is before his illness.  Most of his fellow workers in his department developed bladder cancer.  Some died.


Short trip vehicle. Usually E is astride also.
The location of V's home is in direct line with this nuclear company, just across the mountain and the wind blows that direction. In this community deep in the NC mountains, so many people have already died or are suffering with cancer today.  The community members are very concerned.
If you might be interested in purchasing a clock, let me know.  V's prices vary.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

This Makes Me Sick, So Sick ***

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/15.html  There is a 3 minute video of Dr. Doug Rokke, a U.S. health phycisist.  Being such, he should know his facts.

I've written about this situation before. It made me sick then.  It makes me even more sick again.

Who is in charge?  Who allows such to happen?  How can it be stopped?  CAN it be stopped?
These are some serious questions.  We need answers.  We need a halt immediately to this.

When we realize what effects one eventually effects all, (the rippling principle) will something change.  Who's in charge?  Even stronger: Is Anybody in charge?

Here is an introduction to the 'stuff'  http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/abom/uran/index_e.html and http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/abom/uran/special/deadbodies.html 

Saturday, March 19, 2011

You Are Invited to See the Air Show ***

I've never been to one either, so come and join me.  These are all private pictures and not origiinally mine but my son's.  He and Robin had an exciting time watching the skilled maneuvering of the planes.  Good thing here is we don't have to contend wiith all the noise.
 
A lot of parchutes floating down

























Stealth bomber. A silent and fast machine


Totally alien looking, isn't it?



















































Have a Laugh ***

A drunk man who smelled like beer sat down on a subway seat next to a priest. The man's tie was stained, his face was plastered with red lipstick, and a half-empty bottle of gin was sticking out of his torn coat pocket. He opened his newspaper and began reading.

After a few minutes, the drunk man turned to the priest and asked, "Say, Father, what causes arthritis?"

"My son, it's caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, contempt for your fellow man, sleeping around with prostitutes and lack of bath."

"Well, I'll be damned," the drunk muttered, returning to his paper.


The priest, thinking about what he had said, nudged the man and apologized. "I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?"

"I don't have it, Father. I was just reading here that the Pope does."


Read more: http://www.thirdage.com/humor/an-unholy-disease?utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=conditions#ixzz1H2HZvb00

Monday, March 14, 2011

I Found This ***

in the brickpile.  
 
I intend to clean it up and add words 'The' and 'Live Here'.  Good idea as you may guess. They sometimes are savages.

Just Two Things to Be Said ***

It is raining.  It is cold.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Chamber of Commerce ***

The biggest barrier to climate change progress?  You might wish to read about this subject over at http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/ .  The link is also over in my Blog List.  I certainly admire the man who takes interest rescuing our world; if only we each will do our share; the end result relies on all of us, worldwide becoming No Impact Humans. 

Walk softly.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Flowing Happily ***

A few pictures I've taken this week  several views of the side branch. It is quite clogged with weeds and needs attention. It is nice presently with all the rain, snow and melting occurring. Look very close and you can see faint growth of the Water Cress. This water comes straight off the mountain, flowing underneath the highway.&nbsp. I would have no problem drinking from this branch if an occasion arose for the need. Yet, the ditch is dry much of the year so it is not a reliable emergency source.  It didn't use to be but the creek gets mighty low for the last three or four years.  I don't look forward to drought conditions later on but I will take pleasure from what I have presently.  Three of the pictures are taken of the brilliance of sunlight rippling on the water. What the camera caught is black and white though.  I really like them. Pay no attention to the dates on the pictures.  My camera is screwed up. Click each picture to enlarge.







Watercress Bed