All in the Family featured the curmudgeonly Archie Bunker. Archie was television’s most famous grouch, blunt, blustering, straightforward and untouched by the PC crowd. He was the archetype of the conservative male. Michael desprately tried to reeducate him, but he persisted in his breviloquence.



Looking back at the last 40 years, we realize: ARCHIE WAS RIGHT!

12/29/2006

Hang on to Your Hats…

Since I put in that new wood floor at my house a while back, I’ve help out putting in some other ones. I’ve gotten to be a half way decent hand at installing wood and laminate floors. So when a buddy called me up last week to ask my help installing the new floor at his place I told him sure. He did all the ripping up of the old floor and got the trim off the walls so all I had to do was show up and help lay the floor.

He asked me to show up at 8:00 and I joking asked him what was for breakfast. He asked what I wanted. I told him the usual (biscuits, gravy, scrambled eggs). He said his wife would be happy to fix it for me but they didn’t have the makings. So I brought my own sausage and farm fresh eggs.

Anyway I got my breakfast and he got his new dinning room and kitchen floor. It looks pretty nice and he should have his trim back up this weekend. His wife knows that I love pie. Mostly that’s it, I love pie. There is one pie that I love more than the others, pecan.

The problem with pecan pie is that I’ve found that only one kind of women in the world can fix it proper: the southern grandmother. For whatever reason there is a gene found in the best examples of southern womanhood that kicks in after they become grandparents that causes them to create the best pecan pie. This is a scientific fact.

My buddy’s wife was so grateful that we got her floor done and that it looked fantastic that she made me a special treat. (I’m sure he got his own special treat too). You guessed it pecan pie. It was awesome, it’s also half gone. Here’s the part you need to set down for and hold onto your hat. Not only is she under 45 years old and nowhere near being a grandmother. She isn’t from the south. (gasp) She’s originally from (brace yourself) Minnesota.

I don’t want to go making unfounded accusations about anybodies mama. But the pie don’t lie. There must be a redneck in the wood pile.

12/27/2006

Gerald Ford RIP

Much in the news today about America’s unelected president. Take it easy now Bill, this isn’t a tirade about GWB.

Ford accepted a tough job at a tough time, then he got promoted into a even tougher one. I’m not big on the draft dodger pardon, I think they should have stayed in Canada. They made their choice, a fact I can respect, but they should have lived with those consequences and not been given a second chance to enjoy the benefits of living in a nation that they found repugnant enough to leave.

Other than that I can’t say Ford should be judged too harshly. He wasn’t a great leader, nor did he suck too badly, he merely kept the ship of state listing along and steered it through the Nixon fall out. Of course had he done a better job we might not have ended up with Carter….

New Blogger?

Is anyone using New Blogger yet?

How does it work? (Does it work?)

Do you like it?

Is it worth the effort to switch?

Curious minds want to know, but a lazy guy doesn’t want to rush into anything that would require a call to tech support.

A Great One Liner

Credit Roci for coming up with a one liner worth remembering:

“I am sure those stories will serve you well at the children’s table in Valhalla.”

I’m going to love using this one the next time a certain someone shows up to pistol league with a 9mm and talks about how its just as good as a 45.

12/25/2006

Welcome to the Blogsphere

Our very own sultry voiced siren, Taylor has started her own blog. I for one hope she posts some audio entries so we can hear her sweet voice. It’s ok with me if she posts some pics too, she’s a looker boys. Don’t mind Jamie, I’m sure he’ll post there a couple hundred times a day. I never thought I’d see an Aussie have the hots so bad for anyone. Look for him to propose any day now. I think it’s true love and not just a cheap attempt to get his green card.

Stop by and wish her a Merry Christmas at Mind Over Blather.

12/24/2006

Tradition

Are you big on holiday traditions?

My family is on some and not so much on others. For instance, the wife’s side has a pretty decent Christmas Eve tradition. They go to one of the early services at the Lutheran church and then everyone goes out for pizza and beer afterwards in Frankenmuth. Only a bunch of hardheaded Germans would think of going to church and then invading Italy. Of course this isn’t the same as the old days; they only invade an Italian restaurant and pillage the supply of beer. It’s the symbolism that matters.

On my side of the family we enjoy food and the Christmas meal is a big part of the holiday. Tradition requires a whole prime rib roast be ordered, rubbed and allowed to age. (Farmer Tom, this roast is ALWAYS corn fed, hanging beef and well marbled; I can’t swear that its American beef but I hope it is) The side dishes are a big part too. We’ve experimented with having twice baked potatoes, but were pretty well settled on my mother’s rice pilaf. Apple salad, mixed veggies and shrimp cocktail round out the must haves, other dishes get rotated through the mix as the women folk determine necessary. There is always a special dessert of some sort. The real treat is the Christmas cookies of which there are more than a dozen verities; some years up to two dozen depending on how industrious the moms and grandmas are feeling.

Christmas Eve two significant things happen. Dinner is a depression era soup, known as “ground up soup”. Not so kindly referred to by me and my siblings as “gruel”. The soup is made by putting potatoes, carrots, onion, and salt pork through a food grinder and boiling the stuff in a pot of water. In the 30’s in northern Michigan my mother’s family lived on a not so prosperous farm. They had 14 kids and two adults. In order to feed everyone two methods of food preparation were employed. 1. Poaching, I don’t mean boiling either, my grandfather and uncles were normally about 2 minutes ahead of the game warden for most of their life. 2. Not wasting ANYTHING, this meant stretching every last bit of consumable food to the max. When my grandfather finished a bone, there was so little flavor left that the dog turned his nose up at it. Ground up soup is a way of remembering those times and not gorging ourselves before the Christmas feast.

The second significant thing with food is that a big bunch of those Christmas cookies get dished up onto lots of paper plates with holiday scenes on them. Then the plates get delivered to our friends and family. Afterwards tradition dictates that we sample the cookies and wash them down with my mother’s all time favorite beverage, Bigalow’s Fruit and Almond tea.

My friends I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year; may your traditions bring you joy as you remember years gone by, may your children keep them in remembrance of you and their youth, and may the Good Lord bring you happiness this season to you and all you love.

God bless us every one.

A Whining Review

As Water Boy can attest, I enjoy good wine. Generally I can pick pretty good ones too. I’m not a snob about it or picky. Should I ever have the pleasure of dinning in your home and you graciously serve me a glass I will accept it and toast you and yours with a glad hart.

Something horrible has happened in the world of red wine. For several years I’ve enjoyed the occasional glass of grape form the pinot noir family. In the US a handful of vineyards grew the stuff and a small batch of winemakers produced exceptional fare. Due to the fact that the stuff was virtually unheard of and “merlot” and “Cabernet Sauvignon” were all the rage, you could buy excellent vintages for just a few dollars.

Then the whole deal went right in the crapper. Pinot became popular, then it became trendy. Now it’s a crap shoot to get a decent bottle of the stuff for under $30. I used to be able to pick up excellent stuff for 10 bucks and never have to worry about the quality. There is such a high market demand now; everyone is making something they are calling Pinot and selling it in hopes of tricking the unsuspecting public into thinking you can pass grape cool aid through a radiator, sick it in a green bottle and sell it for $25. Perhaps I’m being much too kind and generous with my evaluation of this years biggest mistake purchase.

Turning Leaf Vineyards is a typical mass market producer. This I know, and knew before buying the bottle. What can I say? It was on sale for $14.99 and I assumed that the word “Reserve” on the bottle of 2005 Provincia Di Pava meant that in the tradition of Vineyards all over the freaking world that it was some of their better product.

Little did I know, “reserve” means; that even in America’s culture of mass produced junk and drive through “dinning”, that profit hungry corporate executives with no sense of shame, who eagerly look for opportunities to pimp out their own mothers and sisters to syphilitic johns just to make 50 cents, do in fact have some scruples and reservations about the stuff they put in a bottle and call wine.

If you’re a hard core drunk, living on skid row just waiting for the DT’s or liver failure to kill your sorry butt and someone offers you a swig from a bottle of Turning Leaf 2005 Reserve Pinot Noir, look em right in the eye and say “no thanks, I’ve got standards”.

12/22/2006

Which Holiday Relative Are You?

Please circle the letter that best describes your response.

1. When dinner is served, what do you say?

A. Is the turkey done? How are the mashed potatoes? Could I make some more gravy?
B. I get first pick! I paid for that turkey.
C
. Who needs their wine topped off?
D
. I want to open presents first.
E
. Please pass the salad, and no, I'm not dating anybody.
F
. Why is everybody here? It's not my birthday, is it?
G
. Are you going to finish that? I'll be glad to finish that for you.

2. When opening gifts, what do you say?

A. I'm going to save this pretty wrapping paper.
B. I paid $57.95 for that and he's playing with the box!Play with the toy!!
C. I don't need another 12-step book.
D. This stinks! I wanted a pokeasurusmon game.
E. Oh, great. Another tablecloth. I can use this while eating take-out every night.
F. This is a wonderful hat. I can keep my governmentsecrets in here.
G. Woo Hoo! I love my new toy! I'm so excited.

3. What do you think when shopping for gifts?

A. I'm making good money now -- this year it's fabulousgifts for everyone.
B. Do I look like I'm made of money?
C. Vermouth for everyone, and jars of olives for stocking stuffers.
D. You mean I have to "buy" presents?
E. This sweater is a lovely shade of cobalt, but it needs to be more of a cerulean.
F. A banana for Peggy Sue. A hula-hoop for Betty, and some bobby socks for Jude.
G. I wish I were in the mall with them and not locked in this car by myself.

4. What is your holiday attire like?

A. A green dress, red blouse, and Christmas tree earrings.
B. The same thing I wear every holiday.
C. I always notice my shirt is on backwards halfway through dinner.
D
. I have to wear a clip-on bow tie and itchy wool pants.
E
. Something black that shows a little leg.
F
. My pajamas and a fez.
G
. Fur.

5. How do you decorate the house during the holidays?

A. You can never have too many wreaths, I always say.
B. It's time to string up the lights again?! Geez!
C. Airline-size liquor bottles strung together are abeautiful holiday decoration.
D. I string popcorn together so I can eat it afterChristmas.
E. Why decorate when I am never home?
F. Why would I want to decorate the "horse"?
G. I like to leave lots of homemade surprises behind the couch.

6. If you were a reindeer, what would your name be?

A. Cleaner.
B. Whiner.
C. Rudolph the RED NOSED reindeer.
D. Broken.
E. Vixen.
F. Burden.
G. Sniffer.

7. What is your favorite outdoor winter activity?

A. I love sleigh rides with the whole family.
B. Leave me alone. I'm watching football.
C. Frozen snow makes a great margarita mix.
D. I'm gonna peg people with snow balls.
E. Anatomically correct snowmen and lots of them.
F. I run through the sprinklers without any clothes on.
G. Making yellow snow is lots of fun.
-----

If you circled "A" three or more times, you are "UberMother." Mom, sit down! The meal is perfect, the house is perfect, and the gifts are perfect. So knock back a few shots of eggnog and chill!

If you circled "B" three or more times, you are "TheIrritable Father." You put the "Bah" in "Bah humbug" and the "Grrr" in Grinch. Lighten up.

If you circled "C" three or more times, you are "The Tipsy Aunt." It's time to start drinking your eggnog straight, honey.

If you circled "D" three or more times, you are "The Whiny Grandchild." You're so spoiled. Stop complaining about getting underwear instead of toys. When I was your age, we had to make our own underwear out of leaves.

If you circled "E" three or more times, you are "The Career-Minded Daughter." For you, life is one big party. Just remember... tick tock tick tock.

If you circled "F" three or more times, you are "Grand Pappy." We've been talking and feel it's time you move intoa nice place where people can take care of you. No, put that down -- you don't need that to talk to the mother ship.

If you circled "G" three or more times, you are "The Family Dog." You're such a good boy... yes you are... yes you are...

If you circled "none" three or more times, you probably needto see a therapist.

Grandma Russell’s Recipe

Ok folks here it is, the traditional bourbon eggnog:

Bourbon Eggnog
1 bottle bourbon
1 quart milk
1 quart heavy cream
2 dozen eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
Nutmeg for garnish

Separate eggs and beat yolks until creamy. Whip sugar into yolks. Beat whites until they stand in peaks, adding 1/2 cup additional sugar, if desired. Beat yolks and bourbon together. Add whites. Beat cream. Add cream and milk. Nutmeg to taste, and garnish. Makes 10 servings.

This is an ok recipe, and what most of ya’ll probably have had with one variation or another like adding cinnamon or chocolate shavings or whatever.

Boiled Custard is something else all together.

1 gal whole milk (warm)
1 qt heavy cream or whipping cream (warm)
6 c sugar
8 tbsp flour
12 eggs

Mix flour and sugar set aside.
Beat eggs and strain through a sieve into milk and cream mixture into a double boiler. Bring milk almost to a boil, then add sugar and flour mixture very slowly stirring it in with a whip. Stir the mixture constantly until it begins to thicken then lower heat to a simmer. Cook on a low heat stirring constantly until the mixture is very thick. Remove from heat and sit mixture in a cool water bath until cool. Strain mixture back into a milk jug and cool before serving.

Add Russell’s Reserve to taste.
You can also add nutmeg and all that other stuff too if you want. Try it straight first. For a treat use only organic milk and cream.

I’m apparently some distant (by marriage to an aunt) shirt tail relation to Jimmy Russell, at least according to my cousin. No Nate I don’t know him, never met him and I can’t get you an autograph. However I might be able to work out something with Glen. Grandma Russell gave me the recipe when I was a kid, sans bourbon, becasue I liked it so much. Grandma’s from Kentucky can sure cook.

12/21/2006

A Dilbert Moment

I applied to the company that I now work for over 9 months ago. They had listed the job I’m doing now on their web site as a direct hire position. Today I got this email:

From: The Big Oil Company Careers Site Administrator

Dear Mr. Ipsa,

Thank you for your interest in the position: Operator (Req ID: 00522 / Req#: 090606B) and the opportunity to review your qualification and accomplishments. However, we must inform you that this position has been filled. We will keep your resume on file and will contact you should your qualification match any future vacancies.

Thank you for contacting us and we wish you success in attaining your future goals.

Sincerely,
The Big Oil Company Talent Acquisition Team

I’m debating sending them a reply.

Dear Big Oil Company Talent Acquisition Team,

I thank you for your interest in my application. I was aware you filled this job opening via a subcontractor. I am currently doing the job you advertised and have been for the last two months. Every time I hear your HR department gripe that they can’t find good people to hire into direct positions and they hate paying the consultants a premium for recruiting and training, I will remember this email and smile. I am willing to split the difference between the bill out rate you are paying for my services and my hourly pay rate with you. This will decrease your expense of having the job filled by 25% and increase my hourly pay rate by 50%. How about it?

This is what happens when Wally and Dogbert run the “Talent Acquisition Team”.

12/15/2006

Was it the 25th of December?

Nate’s got a post up about this pressing question. If ya’ve been around for a Christmas or two it comes down to those who believe that December 25 was the actual day of Christ’s birth and those of us who don’t. I don’t but I also don’t see that it matters much. When ya’ll get to heaven you can ask, I’m sure God has it marked down some place. On to more pressing Christmas related subjects:

This is the time of year when we think back to the very first Christmas, when the Three Wise Men -- Gaspar, Balthazar, and Herb -- went to see the baby Jesus and, according to the Book of Matthew, "presented unto Him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

These are simple words, but if we analyze them carefully, we discover an important, yet often overlooked, theological fact: there is no mention of wrapping paper.

If there had been wrapping paper, Matthew would have said so: "And lo, the gifts were inside 600 square cubits of paper. And the paper was festooned with pictures of Frosty the Snowman. And Joseph was going to throweth it away, but Mary saideth unto him, she saideth, 'Holdeth it! That is nice paper! Saveth it for next year!' And Joseph did rolleth his eyeballs. And the baby Jesus was more interested in the paper than the frankincense."

But these words do not appear in the Bible, which means that the very first Christmas gifts were NOT wrapped. This is because the people giving those gifts had two important characteristics:

1. They were wise.
2. They were men.

Men are not big gift wrappers. Men do not understand the point of putting paper on a gift just so somebody else can tear it off. This is not just my opinion, this is a scientific fact based on a statistical survey of two guys I know. One is Rob, who said the only time he ever wraps a gift is "if it's such a poor gift that I don't want to be there when the person opens it." The other is Gene, who told me he does wrap gifts, but as a matter of principle never takes more than 15 seconds per gift. "No one ever had to wonder which presents daddy wrapped at Christmas," Gene said. "They were the ones that looked like enormous spitballs."

I also wrap gifts, but because of some defect in my motor skills, I can never completely wrap them. I can take a gift the size of a deck of cards and put it the exact center of a piece of wrapping paper the size of a regulation volleyball court, but when I am done folding and taping, you can still see a sector of the gift peeking out. (Sometimes I camouflage this sector with a marking pen.) If I had been an ancient Egyptian in the field of mummies, the lower half of the Pharaoh's body would be covered only by Scotch tape.

On the other hand, if you give my wife a 12-inch square of wrapping paper, she can wrap a C-130 cargo plane. My wife, like many women, actually likes wrapping things. If she gives you a gift that requires batteries, she wraps the batteries separately, which to me is very close to being a symptom of mental illness. If it were possible, my wife would wrap each individual volt.

My point is that gift-wrapping is one of those skills like having babies that come more naturally to women than to men. That is why today I am presenting:

Gift Wrapping Tips for Men:

* Whenever possible, buy gifts that are already wrapped. If, when the recipient opens the gift, neither one of you recognizes it, you can claim that it's myrrh.

* The editors of Woman's Day magazine recently ran an item on how to make your own wrapping paper by printing a design on it with an apple sliced in half horizontally and dipped in a mixture of food coloring and liquid starch. They must be smoking crack. If you're giving a hard-to-wrap gift, skip the wrapping paper! Just put it inside a bag and stick one of those little adhesive bows on it. This creates a festive visual effect that is sure to delight the lucky recipient on Christmas morning:

YOUR WIFE: Why is there a Hefty trash bag under the tree?
YOU: It's a gift! See? It has a bow!
YOUR WIFE (peering into the trash bag): It's a leaf blower.
YOU: Gas-powered! Five horsepower!
YOUR WIFE: I want a divorce.
YOU: I also got you some myrrh.

In conclusion, remember that the important thing is not what you give, or how you wrap it. The important thing, during this very special time of year, is that you save the receipt.


This piece shamelessly stolen from Dave Berry and reproduced here for your amusement.

12/14/2006

In Threes

“Where's Res?”

Fucken hell Res”, indeed.

Every time I looked at the arrangement of “baby’s breath” I wondered if I could work a swap with God, my breath for Cadee’s.

This is what it means to be a Christian, this is what the church looks like at its best. The ladies from over two dozen Detroit area churches worked out a schedule to help my sister out for the next several months.

My brother in law and sis picked the songs they wanted for the funeral, I only remember the last part of the last one.

“God, you give and take away”
“you give and take away”
“you give and take away”
“you give and take away”

“Yet I will teach my heart to say…”
“Blessed be the name”
“Blessed be the name”
“Blessed be the name of the Lord”

They say bad things come in threes. Last Monday I buried my niece, on Saturday we buried a friends mother, today another friend buried his father.

I haven’t been posting. I’ve been contemplating. I didn’t want to burden my friends (which I consider ya’ll) with long grief filled musings on death and other cheery topics when you should be preparing for Christmas and enjoying your families and blessings.

12/01/2006

4,300 a Year

I was told that’s the number of babies that die of SIDS each year in the US. It’s not big number. Pretty good odds that it’ll never happen to your kid or anyone you know. It’s a small number, if you happen to think about it, it’s a slightly sad number. Not much of a headline grabber, if you saw it in a newspaper you’d move on to more interesting topics.

At least I would. It’s not pleasant to think about and it’s not big enough to get overly concerned over. A sad little number in a world filled with big tragic numbers.

Six days after my son was born, my sister had her second child, a girl, named Cadee. Last night Cadee got her bath, a clean diaper and ate, she went to sleep like a good girl. She didn’t wake up.

The funeral is Monday in Trenton MI. I will be on a plane first thing in the morning. There are a number of good Christian folks who stop by here, if you would, please say a prayer for my sis, her husband and their little boy.

11/29/2006

Thread Starter

"If people really did have several pounds of "impacted" poop up their butts,….”

-Astrosmith

They would live in Minnesota, vote democrat and elect America’s first Muslim to congress. Then they can feel all warm and fuzzy about Keith Ellison refusing to take the oath of office on the Bible, and how we’re such a great multicultural nation, because we include people who belong to a religion made up by a murderous pedophile in congress.

Supposedly the civil war settled the issue of states succeeding from the Union. Is there a ruling on what states we can throw out? Minnesota has proved that its electorate is even less capable of casting votes then Florida. In Florida they had the excuse that old people get dementia, senility and Democrat voters probably went to public school. What's Minnesota's excuse, they hate America's Christian heritage and have embraced their inner Garrison Keller?

I don’t think the Bible imparts any special “holy” or “godly” quality to the ceremony or to those empowered because of it. Judging the quality of the character of those in public office I’d expect them to bust into flames just touching the Bible. I can only pray God would be so generous in blessing America that way.

11/28/2006

If You Can’t be a Star…

The wife likes watching the CMA awards each year. Most years they interfere with something I’d rather be watching so she tapes them and watches latter.

Last night she wanted to watch them and I sat through part of it with her. What amazed me wasn’t the stars, the songs, the stage show or Faith Hill’s little fit. I was impressed with a man that was inducted into the hall of fame.

I had never heard of him. I doubt many country music fans every have. Sure you may have seen his name before if you were reading through an album cover. Even if you had read it I doubt you would have remembered him.

Harold Bradley had a career as a performer and studio musician that lasted over sixty years. He is without a doubt the most recorded guitar player in history. His resume of songs, reads like a who’s who of country music, covering the last half century.

Yet few outside of the Nashville music scene have heard of him. Bradley is a minority in the entertainment business. He’s a vary talented musician, who’s achieved a rare level of accomplishment. No doubt he’s made good money at it. In an industry where fame is the goal, he traded off fame for professional and personal accomplishment.

I bet he got to go home most nights, see his kids, kiss the wife and pet the dog. He’s quite the contrast to other performers in music today that sacrifice family, friends and values in order to get fame at any cost.

Then again, maybe he is the real star.

11/22/2006

Wise Turkey

When I was a young turkey, new to the coop,
My big brother Mike took me out on the stoop,

Then he sat me down, and he spoke real slow,
And he told me there was something that I had to know.

His look and his tone I will always remember,
When he told me of the horrors of Black November:

"Come about August, now listen to me,
Each day you'll get six meals instead of just three,

"And soon you'll be thick, where once you were thin,
And you'll grow a big rubbery thing under your chin.

"And then one morning, when you're warm in your bed,
In'll burst the farmer's wife, and hack off your head.

"Then she'll pluck out all your feathers so you're bald 'n pink,
And scoop out all your insides and leave ya lyin' in the sink;

"And then comes the worst part," he said, not bluffing,
"She'll spread your cheeks and pack your rear with stuffing."

Well, the rest of his words were too grim to repeat,
I sat on the stoop like a winged piece of meat,

And decided on the spot that to avoid being cooked,
I'd have to lay low and remain overlooked.

I began a new diet of nuts and granola,
High-roughage salads, juice, and diet cola;

And as they ate pastries, chocolates, and crepes,
I stayed in my room doing Jane Fonda tapes.

I maintained my weight of two pounds and a half,
And tried not to notice when the bigger birds laughed;

But 'twas I who was laughing, under my breath,
As they chomped and they chewed, ever closer to death.

And sure enough, when Black November rolled around,
I was the last turkey left in the entire compound.

So now I'm a pet in the farmer's wife's lap;
I haven't a worry, so I eat and I nap.

She held me today, while sewing and humming,
And smiled at me and said, "Christmas is coming..."

Happy Thanksgiving

11/19/2006

Getting Ready for 2008

I predict the Republicans will be back with a vengeance and retake every, and I mean EVERY political office in the land. At least they’ll raise the quality of political debate to this level:

Self Education Bleg

I know we’ve got a good number of home school folks out there and more than a few math geeks. I need some major input on curriculum for teaching higher level mathematics. This isn’t for Baby Ipsa it’s for me. I never took advanced math beyond college algebra and statistics. I’m finding that I need to be able to comprehend and use more math than I ever thought I would in order to deal with engineers.

What I think I’m looking for is a way to refresh myself with college algebra and progress to Alg II, Trig, and Calculus. Then I need to know how to “hit the high points” with engineering terminology and discover what formulas and concepts are important in various disciplines like petroleum, and electrical engineering.

I would like to do this on my own, without investing in another degree. I have a EE who will help me out with some things but he’s going to cost me a bunch and I can’t afford to hire all this out. Please load me up with info and specifics.

I don’t need to be the next John Nash, I just need to be able to comprehend theory, work comfortably with the equations and program it into Excel, to work up my proposal and not have the math blow up in my face when the engineers get to looking at it.

"Security"

On a business trip, my father approached a security checkpoint at the airport. The National Guard shift was rotating, and a guard, in full uniform, was in line in front of him.

As with everybody else, the soldier was ordered to go through the metal detector. So, as he did so, he handed his M-16 rifle to security personnel along with other items such as handcuffs and a flashlight.

Still, the alarm sounded when he walked through. Further inspection revealed a little Swiss army knife inside one of his pockets.

"Sorry, Sir, but this item is prohibited," security said to the soldier.

Then, taking the knife away, the airport worker handed him back the M-16.

I think that story was written just for fun but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was true. The wife wants to fly to see her folks for Christmas, I'm not in favor of it but I won’t have time off to drive her half way like I did for Thanksgiving.

11/17/2006

Gary North Reprint

"Most people are content right where they are . . .
given the cost of changing.

Nevertheless, they have unfulfilled dreams. They also have unfulfilled potential. They have time, although it's running out in a grimly predictable manner. They have not achieved what they hoped they would achieve. They would like to come closer to their original goals. But they don't change. There is a reason for this.

Unfulfilled potential, dreams, and hope all begin with
two words: "If only. . . ."

Like Mt. Everest, there looms a barrier to "if only": price. At zero price, there is greater demand than supply. This law of scarcity applies to unfulfilled potential, dreams, and hope.

Yet there are two prices: (1) the price of attempting to fill the unfulfilled; (2) the price of not filling the unfulfilled. The second price we call regret.

I have known a lot of successful people in my line of work. I have never heard any of them express emotional regret for a project they launched that failed. Financial regret, yes, but not emotional regret. But on occasion, I have heard some of them express regret for a project not launched.

This is a defining mark of successful people. They can contend with specific failures far better than they can contend with unfulfilled dreams.

Conversely, a defining mark of less successful people is their inability to deal with the threat of specific failure, and their emotional acceptance of unfulfillment.

In "On the Waterfront," Marlon Brando plays a washed-up prize fighter who had been told to throw a fight. This ended his career. He never got over this. In one of the most famous lines in the history of the movies, he complains to his older brother, who had carried the message to him to take the fall: "I coulda been a contender."

Brando the actor recognized that the power of this line comes from the feeling, almost universal, that every man has that he, too, could have been a contender.

As the movie works out, he becomes successful. When he must show real courage and stand up to the corrupt labor union boss who told him to take the fall, he does so. Why? His moral dilemma can be solved, but only at a very high price. He faces death. But he has been down the dead end road before. Death looks better than a moral dead end. He decides to be a moral contender.

That's why it's important that people know the difference between a failed attempt and a failed dream. If a specific failed dream is inherently a failure, then it can be abandoned without shame. Not every dream should be pursued. But if a dream defines you in your own eyes, it is better to try to achieve it and fail. Better to regret not having succeeded than not having tried."


The above was Gary North's work. I thought that was worth while. Be a contender.

11/14/2006

Monday at Work

Every have one of those days where you just wish you could shoot something?

We have a policy at work that whenever it rains, snows or otherwise is wet muddy or hard to get around on a dirt two track that we can’t go out to the field to work. The reason for the policy is two fold (allegedly) the first is safety; they don’t want you wrecking a truck or driving off a cliff because the roads are bad. The second reason is the company doesn’t want to shuck out the cash to build good gravel roads. This is because (1) building good roads cost big bucks and (2) we’d have to renegotiate the surface damage contracts and payouts.

Nobody wants to have to open that can of worms. The company that developed these fields (not my employer) royally screwed the landowners on every aspect of the development they could. The landowners have figured that out and are dying for a chance at paybacks. I think one day they may get their chance. One of those ranchers is a friend of mine and I’d like to see him made whole on the deal.

If the roads are wet, I don’t work. Anyone could see that there was 6 inches of wet snow on the ground when they got up. The reasonable thing to do is to go back to bed. What happens instead is we show up for work and then we get to have meetings, stand around the office, waste time etc.

Eventually I get to go home. I went for a drive.

Then I went for a walk, saw some deer, like this doe. She’s in the center of the pic and only 40 yards away.

I had decided that this would be a bad day to be a spike. I would shoot the first deer with horns that I came across. I went for a hike, saw a few bucks and couldn’t get a shot.

About 200 yards up slope I saw a doe wandering around. I waited. I saw another deer come out. She was a doe too. After a bit another deer showed up but was blocked by some lodge pole pines. The wind was gusting and the first doe had picked up my sent and had worked down slope to see what I was. She was looking right at me. I was busted!

Oh well. It’s not like this is the first time this has happened. I put the scope on the last deer in the group just to see if I can tell what it is before they run to cover. He’s got horns! I drop to my knee to shoot. There is a pine branch in the way at that angle. I stand, no time to loop up the sling. It’s got to be off hand if it’s going to be at all. Tuck in the left elbow to the chest, find his shoulder, drift the crosshairs back to the left. Squeeeze. The shot rings out. Deer jump up all over the hillside. I can’t tell if I hit mine or not.

I walk up the hill pacing out the distance to the pine tree that keep me from improving my rest. It’s 264 yards. 10 feet to the right is this guy:

Not my best deer ever, but not a bad way to spend Monday at work. Bad news is that I didn’t realize that the batteries were dead in the digital until after I had him hanging in the garage skinned out. Sorry this is the only pick that I have of the horns. He’s a small 2x3 whitetail.

I got him with that old 30.06 that my day gave me and some home made 150 grain ammo that I worked up.

True Story

As I’m coming out of the hills yesterday thinking about bloging about my little adventure, I’m flipping through the radio stations. I caught a bit of “Those Were the Days” (the All in the Family theme song). My mind drifted to thinking about if this was an appropriate place to use the word “ironic”. I don’t want to make Space Bunny mad and transgress one of her pet peeves.

I’m singing along and right when they get to the part in the song where it says “didn’t need no welfare state, everybody pulled his weight”; the announcer breaks in on the word “didn’t” and announces “this is NPR, National Public Radio”.

I guess NPR is a little touchy about some topics.

11/09/2006

Election Wrap Up

If a picture is worth a 1,000 words, I’ve found a pic that explains the election.


Embrace the same values as the liberals. Mimic the same policies as the liberals. Engage in communistic wealth redistribution, just like the liberals. Try to shag a boy fag, like a liberal. Try to buy votes with government hand outs. Ignore both the spirit and the letter of the constitution; fail to execute even one major conservative platform promise, then set back and wonder why the Republican Party has become as impotent as Bill Clinton in a hot tub with Hillary.

If Republicans are even semi serious about being a party for American conservatives they will run Allen Keys and Roy Moore for president and vp in 2008.

Don’t hold your breath.

GWB, its not the war stupid! Its about standing up for the things we voted for the first time we put the Republicans in power. Tax breaks that expire unless we revote Republican aren’t tax breaks, they’re a bribe. If the Republican Party really believed its rhetoric it would have enacted its political platform into law at some point in the last 6 years. They don’t believe in conservative/Christian/American values, they believe in sound bites that pander to those they hope will vote for them, just like democrats.

Newt Gingrich saw the big picture, why doesn’t anyone else?

Mixed Feelings

Yesterday John Kerry said, "You know education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well, and if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq"

So I wrote him a letter:

I am a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. I am currently on my second tour in Iraq, a tour in which I volunteered for. I speak Arabic and Spanish and I plan to tackle Persian Farsi soon. I have a Bachelors and an Associates Degree and between deployments I am pursuing an M.B.A. In college I was a member of several academic honor societies, including the Golden Key Honor Society. I am not unique among the enlisted troops. Many of my enlisted colleagues include lawyers, teachers, mechanics, engineers, musicians and artists just to name a few. You say that your comments were directed towards the President and not us. If we were stupid Senator Kerry, we might have believed you.

I am not a victim of President Bush. I proudly serve him because he is my Commander and Chief. If it was you who was President, I would serve you just as faithfully. I serve America Senator Kerry, and I am also providing a service to the good people of Iraq. I have not terrorized them in the middle of the night, raped them or murdered them as you have accused me of before. I am doing my part to help them rebuild. My role is a simple one, but important. You see Senator Kerry, like it or not, we came here and removed a tyrant (who terrorized Iraqis in the middle of the night, and raped them and murdered them). And we have a responsibility to see to it that another one doesn't take his place. The people of Iraq are recovering from an abusive relationship with a terrible government and it's going to take some time to help them recover from that. We can't treat this conflict like a microwave dinner and throw a temper tantrum because we feel like it's taking too long.

Senator Kerry, you don't have to agree with this war. You don't have to say nice things about those of us who choose to make sacrifices for the rights of every American rather than sit back and simply feel entitled to it. But please Senator Kerry, if you're going to call me a stupid murdering rapist, stick by what you say. Don't tell me that I misunderstood or that you would never insult a veteran because you're one too. Having been there and done that does not give you a free pass to insult me.

My suggestion for you, Senator Kerry, is to remember that your speeches are recorded, and broadcast to us simpletons over here. You may want to write down what you want to say before you say it, maybe have somebody look at it before you say it and tell you what others might hear. Remember that we can't read your mind, if there are any misinterpretations in what you say, it's because you didn't communicate clearly.

Good luck to you Senator Kerry, if nothing else it's always entertaining to watch you try and climb out of the holes that you constantly dig for yourself.

Sincerely,
Somebody who is watching his daughter grow up in photographs so that you can have the right to say whatever you want about him.

I’m not sure we need to be in Iraq or that “the most important issue of our time” really is. I do support and respect those who are willing to put on this nations uniform because they do. John F’ing Kerry is a waste of oxygen, the only thing that kept him form being elected president was he insisted on campaigning in person. If he sent a life sized cut out poster of himself and never said a word, he could have won.

11/07/2006

The Parable of the Politician

While walking down the street one day, a senator is tragically hit by a truck and killed. His soul arrives in Heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to Heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in,it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the senator.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"There's no need! I want to be in Heaven," says the senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules." And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator, the doors open, and he rides the elevator down, down, down. When the doors open again, the senator finds himself in the middle of a beautiful green golf course. In the distance is a club, and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in formal dress. They run to greet him, and they reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar.

Also present is the Devil, who is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that, before the senator realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and waves while the elevator rises. The elevator goes up, up, up, and the door reopens in Heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

So 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by, and St. Peter returns.

"Well, you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now, you must choose where you want to spend eternity."

He reflects for a minute and then answers, "Well, I would never would have thought it, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better satisfied in Hell."

So Saint Peter escorts him to the elevator, and down, down, down he goes into Hell. Now, the doors of the elevator open, and he is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags. And it's hot, hot, hot, and the odor is just horrible.

Sweltering hot. Hot and miserable. The Devil comes over to him and smoothly lays his arm around his shoulder.

"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "The day before I was here, and there was a golf course and club, and we ate lobster and caviar and danced and had a great time. Now all there is is a wasteland full of garbage, and my friends look miserable."

The Devil looks at the senator, smiles, and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted for us."

11/02/2006

Oil Field Trash

Monday morning 5:25 am. I haven’t rolled out of bed at 5:30 to show up for a job in years. It’s cold out. I don’t know exactly how cold. The wind is gusting up to 35 mph, everything is ice. This sucks.

I pull on my steel toe boots. It’s been 17 years since I wore work boots for a job. The wife has made me a lunch. It’s been 9 years since she’s done that.

Drive to the office, I leave early, can’t be late on the first day. Everyone else is late. I’m not. The HR guy issues me flame retardant coveralls, safety glasses, hard hat, and a gas monitor. Meet the lead man, head to the truck, he wants to know what I used to do for a living.

I told him about my last job in very general terms. I remember back and talk about jobs I had in school: being a shop rat for an automobile company, working construction, the fencing company, restaurant work. Those things I busted my butt doing so I could go to work at 9, in a nice warm office. The efforts I made so I wouldn’t have to work for a car company or some other POS job to make a buck are wasted now. I didn’t let on about being a professional. I don’t say squat about going to college, or grad school. Those things won’t help on this job. I left them off my application. No one needs to know about them now.

Oil field companies will hire newbie’s if they’re petroleum engineers, ignorant laborers or Texans. They don’t hire guys without industry experience; who are taking a step backwards on the career ladder in hopes of getting a foot in the door, and for health benefits in hopes their wife can stay home. I know. I’ve been applying for over 10 months to this company and several like it.

They do seam to cotton to Texans. They like Texans because most of the bosses are Texans and because you can work a Texan almost as hard as Mexican before they curl up and die. I’m not an engineer or from Texas.

Man is it cold out. Radio says coldest day of the year so far. Before leaving the house I start a fire. The boy is in his room and getting fussy. No reason to bother the wife. Check the diaper, change it, put the little guy back into his sleeper and kiss his head. He smiles, coos and lays on daddy's shoulder, sound asleep. All is well, daddy will take care of whatever needs to be done.

I can out work ten Texans.

10/28/2006

Where fort art thou Cederford?

Me thinks Scott Adams hast been hanging out at Vox’s.

Given his blog; I’d say, “The Lady dost protest too much”.

10/27/2006

Legends of the Fall

When you explore wild country you expect to encounter animals that can kill you. Lions, bears and now wolf packs are abundant and are a constant threat to the wilderness explorer. Other less dramatic threats are common. You can sprain an ankle and not make it back to your truck or shelter, hypothermia can take you.

In the 1994 movie Legends of the Fall, Tristan Ludlow meets his death hunting in grizzly country. If I get a choice that’s how I want to go; I want to die a man’s death in the midst of a grand adventure, meeting my end defending what I know to be noble would be a good second choice.

Three years ago I lost 95% of the hearing in my right ear and 10 to 15% of the hearing in my left ear. Prior to that, I used to have excellent hearing, well above average. I loved being outside because of the quite and being able to hear things in nature. As a kid I discovered that I picked up on the natural world better than most people and I like being immersed in it. I miss having that connection.

Today I had a job out of town near a section of mountains that I like to hunt. I did the assignment and headed up to hunt deer. The day was beautiful, the air clean and crisp. I drove to the end of the trail and started hiking up the mountain. After several miles I heard a fluttering sound, like a cross between a bee and a grasshopper. Looking around I couldn’t find what was making the noise. Only hearing out of one ear makes it hard to locate sounds.

I took another step turned and couldn’t see what was making the sound. Then I started looking around on the ground in front of me, nothing. I made it up onto a large section of rock. No more noise. Then I saw him. There was a small rattlesnake about 14 inches long. He had two little buttons on his rattle that barley made any sound. He was keeping his head under his body and wasn’t likely to strike. He wanted me to not step on him. I obliged.

I don’t know what the deal is, in the last month I’ve come across more venomous snakes than in the last 16 years. I hope one day to die in the mountains, in the open air, under a big sky, but not from snake bite.

My buddy Bill’s dad got that wish this year. At least close to it, at 80 some years old he died in his sleep in elk camp after spending one last great day in the splendor that is Jackson Hole. A hospital ward or an old folks home is a miserable ending. I’d rather go on the crapper than sick in bed, at least there’s a laugh in that and your buddies will snicker while they lift a glass in your memory.

10/26/2006

Rong

Do you remember your first video game?

How about the first video game?

Pong in the round is a new take on an old game. It’s perfect for wasting your employers time when you could be doing something more productive.

Giver a try: Round Pong = Rong

10/23/2006

Wyoming Politics

It’s that time of year again, “If I’m elected…blah blah blah”. One candidate says the other guy is the spawn of Satan and the other candidate says the same about the first guy. They’re both right. That will likely be the only truthful thing either one of them say.

It’s not as bad here as it is some other places. I get a kick out of it. Our current governor is a democrat, he’s running on a platform of having kept his promises, and good economic times. He’s got the AG suing the feds on the wolf issue, he got sales tax removed on food purchases and now he’s pushing a tax holiday on the portion of property taxes devoted to paying for public schools. Gov Dave, as his campaign refers to him, is a republican, he just doesn’t know it yet.

I bet he wins.

Wyoming has one congress critter. Barbra Cubin (r) or Babs as almost no one calls her, is a mostly harmless party hack whose main accomplishment is not being one of those godless democrats. In Wyoming that’s generally good enough. This year some POS New Yorker who lives in the peoples republic of Jackson hole is running against her. His strategy is new and innovative, he’s running to her right. Normally this wouldn’t fool anybody, but if the Bush years haven’t accomplished anything else, they proved that republicans govern as democrats given the chance. Gary has Babs worried and the race looks closer than the normal republican landslide. If Babs wins it’ll because electing a New Yorker to Congress is just plain wrong, and we still know better.

In the senate Craig Thomas (r) is up again. Thomas is an out of touch old fart that doesn’t posses enough gumption to lead in any meaningful way. So far he’s doing everything we sent him to Washington to do. My guess is he’ll get reelected.

That’s it for political news. Washington doesn’t matter, so who cares which one we send? We’ve got no income tax, no sales tax on food and a proposed property tax cut, we’re suing the feds on wolfs and maybe on grizzlies soon, and we’re running a BILLION dollar state budget surplus.

Wyoming is, what America was.

10/20/2006

An Open Letter to Rick Baxter

Blog readers: Your help in editing this would be appreciated. Post or email your suggestions to me.

Thanks




Rick I trust that all is well with Erica and the kids. I hope to presume upon our family’s long time friendship and offer some comments on my concerns for the state of Michigan. I have gotten over my initial shock that Michigan elected a Canadian to govern, but any state that allows Geoffrey Fieger to run as a serious candidate for governor deserves what it gets. When I saw Granholm’s comment about you being a traitor to the state for criticizing her for running off 20,000 non-automotive jobs in the WSJ, I laughed.

My concern today is no laughing matter. I recently read that the legislature is considering requiring all 6th grade girls to have a vaccine for HPV a virus that is a sexually transmitted disease. This is a brief excerpt from the article I read:

Michigan may require cervical vaccine

September 13, 2006
LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan girls entering the sixth grade next year would have to be vaccinated against cervical cancer under legislation backed Tuesday by a bipartisan group of female lawmakers.

The legislation is the first of its kind in the
United States, said Republican state Sen. Beverly Hammerstrom.

The vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in girls and women and has been hailed as a breakthrough in cancer prevention.

A government panel said that ideally the vaccine should be given before girls become sexually active.

Some conservatives have expressed concern that schools would make the vaccine a requirement for enrollment. They have argued that requiring the vaccine would infringe on parents' rights and send a message that underage sex is OK.

AP

Have you people gone completely off your rocker? This proposed legislation is morally repugnant on so many grounds that I don’t know where to begin. It’s bad enough that the state feels free to intrude on the civil liberties of its citizens by requiring vaccinations to attend school. At least some of those vaccines are design to prevent communicable dieses. In this case you’re trying to force little girls, who have no business experimenting with sex, get a shot designed to protect them from an STD!

I recognized years ago that Michigan was a cesspool of socialist meddling, Marxist economics, and moral decay in which no decent person should live. Consequently I fled the state in 1994. I realize that this was long before your political career began and it makes it impossible for me to complain to you as one of your constituents, or even as a resident of the state.

As one father to another Rick, this is bad public policy. Its bad for civil liberties, its bad for public morals, it’s bad for parental authority. I urge you to work to put a stop to it.

10/19/2006

If Only the Nation Would Convert

Apparently the Amish are causing big problems in Ohio.

A 2005 report detailed the Amish influence on food-stamp participation rates across Ohio. In Geauga, one in five eligible families was found to be Amish and unlikely to use the benefit. In Holmes, it was almost one of every three.

"No matter how much we do, the Amish won't sign up," Taylor said. "It's not something they endorse."

Here’s to hoping their beliefs will catch on.

10/18/2006

My First Sports Post

Apparently it’s happened.


The Detroit Tigers made it into the series, the first time since 1984 if memory serves.

Christians Divorce and Remarriage

I received a “Christian” magazine from a friend to read. One of the articles touched on divorce. Apparently there is a group of folks that believe that marriage is something that once entered into can never be over looked in the eyes of God. Lets call it OMAM once married, always married. According to these folks once two people are married, if they ever divorce and remarry they are living in a state of eternal adultery, therefore they must divorce their current spouse and remarry their first spouse or they will burn in hell. They use Matt 5:32 as their proof text for this teaching.

My take:

  1. God hates divorce, He said so.
  2. The New Testament is of no use to anyone except Christians. I believe the world will be judged by it, but for purposes of living on earth it is only binding on believers.
  3. I see different categories of people when it comes to divorce; unbelievers, mixed marriage of a believer and a nonbeliever, two married Christians.
  4. I see different time frames for when a divorce happens, either prior to becoming a Christian or after one is a Christian.

According to the OMAM crowd if a divorced person remains divorced and celibate they can be a Christian but they can never remarry someone else until the first spouse is dead, otherwise they live in a state of continual sin and if they die they will go to hell.

As I see it:

  1. Nonbelievers go to hell anyway, that’s what happens to nonbelievers in Christian doctrine. Is hell somehow hotter if they were divorced and remarried? Must be you spend eternity with the divorce lawyer and your mother in law.
  2. The subject of believers that are married to nonbelievers and what they can do about divorce/remarriage is addressed in Corinthians. OMAM goes against this section of scripture.
  3. A Christian married to another Christian according to the verse above may only divorce for marital unfaithfulness as cited in Matt 5.

From where I sit: scripture condemns divorce no doubt about it. It doesn’t teach that a remarried person can’t be forgiven for breaking their vows, or that they can’t be saved latter in life, or that they have to remarry their first spouse to be ok with God.

I’m still working this one out so feel free to pipe in with your 2 cents and anything you think applies.

10/17/2006

WTW – Airline (lack of) Security

Mrs. Ipsa wants to take the boy on show off tour to friends and family out of state. She thinks she wants to fly instead of drive. I’m opposed to the whole idea for lots of reasons. This week I got a glimpse of what happens to the best and brightest TSA employees, they get promoted to new jobs, like these two:


Wisdom of Solomon

Two women came before wise King Solomon, dragging between
them a young man in a three-piece suit.

"This young lawyer agreed to marry my daughter," said one.

"No! He agreed to marry MY daughter," said the other.

And so they haggled before the king until he called for silence.

"Bring me my biggest sword," said Solomon, "and I shall hew
the young attorney in half. Each of you shall receive a half."

"Sounds good to me," said the first lady.

But the other woman said, "Oh, sire, do not spill innocent blood. Let the other woman's daughter marry him."

The wise king did not hesitate a moment. "The attorney must marry the first lady's daughter," he proclaimed.

"But she was willing to hew him in two!" exclaimed the king's court.

"Indeed," said wise King Solomon. "That shows she is the TRUE mother-in-law."

10/16/2006

Can You Relate?

I bought a box of self-improvement tapes-- "How To Handle Disappointment."

I got it home and the box was empty.


"Just because nobody complains doesn't mean all parachutes are perfect."

-Benny Hill



When a customer left his cell phone in my store, I scrolled through his saved numbers, stopped at "Mom" and pushed send. His mother answered, and I told her what happened.

"Don't worry," she said, "I'll take care of it."

A few minutes later, the cell phone rang. It was "Mom."

"Martin," she said, "you left your cell phone at the convenience store."

10/12/2006

WTW – Quarter Recall Notice

White Trash Wednesday this week is a little late, better late than never.

Hang on to any of the new State of Alabama quarters. If you have them, they may be worth much more than 25 cents.

The U.S. Treasury announced today that it is recalling all of the Alabama quarters that are part of its programfeaturing quarters from each state.

"We are recalling all the new Alabama quarters that were recently issued," Treasury Undersecretary Jack Shackleford said Monday. "This action is being taken after numerous reports that the new quarters will not work in parking meters, toll booths, vending machines, pay phones, or other coin-operated devices."

The quarters were issued in the order in which the various states joined the U.S. and have been a tremendous success among coin collectors worldwide.

"The problem lies in the unique design of the Alabama quarter, which was created by an Auburn University graduate," Shackleford said. "Apparently, the duct tape holding the two dimes and the nickel together keeps jamming the coin-operated devices."

10/11/2006

Hard Choices, Hidden Blessing

Ever have someone that you were friends with, that you cared about and genuinely like that you had to fire? I’ve been struggling with that exact situation for over 2 years, yet no one had the guts to say “lets pull the plug”. This summer situations came to a head and things started coming together that made termination a forgone conclusion. Things were so dismally bad with my friend’s job performance, and he refused to make any adjustments to his performance or behavior that everyone knew it was only a matter of time.

When the time came to make the decision I did my best to protect the organization I represent and the man. In the end we offered a choice of resignation or termination, with the resignation came an extremely lucrative severance package, including relocation to his home town.

Sunday my friend, who has disowned me and has rejected all attempts to talk with him, suffered a near fatal hart attack. The doctors have said that had he been living in Wyoming, or even a few minutes farther away from the hospital (they specialize in hart disease) than he was, he wouldn’t have made it. As things stand now it doesn’t look like he will live much longer, but his kids, grandkids and extended family will get a chance to say goodbye.

10/10/2006

Mark Foley Doesn’t Surprise Me

When King George the Younger ran for his first term as a “compassionate conservative” he identified two issues that the largess eager public viewed the Republicans as week on, education and health care. So GWB embraced the age old strategy of scoundrels seeking election, he promised to give the soccer moms what they wanted. Bush was elected and he kept his promise, not to those who voted for the so-called “conservative” platform, but to those who wanted the “compassion”. America got the short end of the stick, and the largest demand side socialist wealth redistribution scam since LBJ’s great society.


Bush Republicans

Democrats

On Economics

Demand and Supply Side Socialists

Clinton/Blair Third way socialist

Governing Philosophy

Bigger is better

Bigger is best

Constitutional Philosophy

“how do I know what the constitution means I’m not a Supreme Court Judge”

Living document means what the courts tell us

Abortion

Good fund raiser issue

Good fund raiser issue

Civil liberties

Constitution is a “God damned piece of paper”

Only for blacks, gays, women and other victims

Family Values

Crap we talk about to get votes from Christians

Crap we talk about to get votes from Christians

Reforming Government

McCain Feingold, Brilliant incumbent protection

Why reform something that works so well?

Taxes

Lauffer Curve is a great way to increase tax revenues to spend more $ and keep buying votes

Tax and spend buys votes and power


When someone like Mark Foley comes along and does the “flaming fag looking to score” thing, I’m not surprised. This, like all other issues embraced by the republicans, is just a cheap knock off of something the democrats have all ready done. When Barney Frank had his sex scandal, he at least paid another guy for sex and let him run a whorehouse out of his apartment.

Ah, the Republican Party or as I like to call them “Democrat lite”.