Because Everybody Is Entitled To My Opinion

"O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, . . . in wrath remember mercy" (Habakkuk 3:2).
"Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?" (Psalm 85:6)

Friday, December 28, 2007

Out With the Old and In With the New (Template)

Some of you might have noticed a change in my template. I have moved from the starscape theme to a primary colors patriotic theme. This may cause a problem with archived posts where I chose colors based on how well they showed up against a black background. They may not show up as well against the blue. Hyperlinks are underlined. The underline disappears on visited links.

I used to change font colors for blockquotes but now I have settled on a standard blockquote color scheme. This is an exapmle of the new scheme. I have had a lot of fun playing with CSS. (That means my template is a holdover from the old Blogger. I haven't had time to play with new Blogger template layouts.)


I have also enabled Blogger comments as well as leaving the Haloscan comments active. This change I may undo. The reason being is I like the comment preview widget in my sidebar. It is a Haloscan widget so my blogger comments do not show. Also Haloscan supports Gravatars. If I find a Blogger equivalent widget I will keep both comment types.

Tell me what you think in one of the comment sections.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #62



Thursday Thirteen #62


13 Things About Dane Bramage
13 People Who Passed On in 2007


People tend to reflect at the end of the year on what has happened during the last 365 days. I thought I would mention 13 people who passed away this year.


  1. Ike Turner, controversial Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, age 76

  2. Anna Nicole Smith, Playmate, Reality TV star, age 39

  3. Luciano Pavoratti, legendary Italian tenor, age 71

  4. Yvonne De Carlo, actress (Lily on the "Munsters"), age 84

  5. Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson, former First Lady of the United States 1963-1969, age 94

  6. Boris Yeltsin, Former Russian President, age 76

  7. Jane Wyman, actress (Angela Channing on "Falcon Crest") and 1st wife of Ronald Reagan, age 90

  8. Rex Humbard, TV Evangelist ("Cathedral of Tomorrow") age 88 A local legend as well. He used to broadcast from here in Akron (okay Cuyahoga Falls but how many of you ever heard of that place?)

  9. Gen. Paul Tibbets, pilot of the Enola Gay which dropped the bomb on Hiroshima, age 92

  10. Tom Poston, actor (Cliff Murdock on "The Bob Newhart Show") age 85

  11. Kurt Vonnegut, author ("Slaughterhouse-Five") age 84 He also wrote the controversial "Breakfast of Champions". I think my favorites were "Cat's Cradle" and "Dead Eye Dick".

  12. Rev. Jerry Falwell, Founder and Chancellor of Liberty University, age 73 A moral voice and pain in liberal sides for decades

  13. Robert Goulet, singer/actor (Sir Lancelot in "Camelot") age 73

This list is by no means exhaustive. Others like, Evil Knievel, Ingmar Berman,Dick "Mr. Whipple" Wilson, Joey Bishop, Alice Ghostley, Lois "Miss Moneypenny" Maxwell, and Art Buchwald also left us in 2007. Were any of these people special to you too? Let us know in the comments





Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

If You Really Must Know

I am planning a Thursday Thirteen this week I just haven't finished it. If I get it done before too late on Thursday I will post it. If not, it can wait till next week. I hope veryone had a pleasant Christmas!

Monday, December 24, 2007

Tonight is Christmas Eve

My little countdown widget declares that tonight is Christmas Eve. I was fortunate enough to have today off. Many people had to work. I usually take this time to contact my friends and wish them a Merry Christmas. Tomorrow I will spend the day with family.

I would like to wish all the readers who visit me a Merry Christmas. I know that isn't P.C. But if you have read just a little of my blog you know I am not a P.C. person. So in that spirit I would also like express my wish that everyone know Jesus.

Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. The reason everyone is peaceful and joyful this time of year is because they know that the promised Saviour came to Earth and dwelt among us. Oh and He will return as promised too.

If you would like to know Jesus and be 100% sure you will go to Heaven when you die, read this. And again Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #61



Thursday Thirteen #61


13 Things About Dane Bramage
13 Christmas Songs I Love/Hate


I did a "13 Favorite Christmas Songs" list last year. So rather than repost it in it's entirety, I decided to combine it with another list. I got the idea from David Drake who listed 10 Christmas songs he hated and 10 songs he loved. So here is my Love/Hate list. Songs I HATE are in RED
Songs I LOVE are in GOLD

  1. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer Too Bad Elmo and Patsy didn't get run over.
    O Holy Night
    Any version. Patti LaBelle's is pretty cool.

  2. Frosty The Snowman You know if they didn't say he'd be back on Christmas day I wonder if they would even consider it a Christmas song.
    Carol of the Bells
    Done with voices or bells it is awesome. AND it lends itself to electronic versions like Manheim Steamroller, very well.

  3. Santa Clause is Coming to Town - The Jackson Five version Springsteen's version is a close second. Too much airplay.
    I Wonder As I Wander
    Truly a lovely song. Not enough airplay.

  4. Little Saint Nick - Beach Boys Excuse me while I hurl. This is a shining example of people just playing a song because it is Christmasesque. I know I just made up a word but it fits.
    Beautiful Star of Bethleham
  5. I sang this last week with the Mens Trio in my church
  6. Feliz Navidad Annoying in TWO languages.
    Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant
    Since we are liking the French again why not mention this beautiful Christmas tune.

  7. Come Home for Christmas - The Eagles Very depressing for a Christmas song. And not the good bluesy depressing (that they were shooting for) either.
    Hark the Herald Angels Sing
    It just isn't Christmas without this song. I love belting this one out!

  8. Happy Xmas (War is Over) Despising John Lennon's version would be enough for most people. Not the Bramagemeister. Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan and Charlotte Church have conspired collaborated on a new version. Yuck. The video reeks. It looks like everybody recorded it on different days and spliced it together. And I automatically hate all songs that spell Christmas with an "X".
    Sleigh Ride
    I have the most different versions of this song. I love them all.

  9. Jingle Bell Rock It is just overplayed.
    God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
    The Ladies Trio of my church sang this Sunday. Any version is great!

  10. Jingle Bells - The Singing Dogs This song made to the top of many "Worst of" lists.
    Silver Bells
    The Supremes and Robert Goulet are just a couple to sing this classic.

  11. The Chanukah Song - Adam Sandler "So drink your gin and tonicah, And smoke your marijuanikah"??? Okay NOT a Christmas song but I hate it for all the same reasons.
    This Christmas - Any version especially the original by Donny Hathaway
    They've made a movie with the same title. A great Christmas classic.

  12. Any Christmas Song by Barbara Streisand Babs has a set of pipes and no one can deny that. BUT singing Christmas songs, and cutting a Christmas album is all about the money for her. I can't get past that hypocritical taint. Let's face it. Christmas songs about Christ are religious songs. Why would you sing a religious song from another religion?
    Christmas Time is Here
    Anyone who watches "A Charlie Brown Christmas" knows what I am talking about. Great jazz. Period!

  13. Merry Christmas From the Family - The Dixie Chicks with Rosie O'Donnell version Bah Humbug.
    Merry Christmas From the Family - Robert Earl Keen version
    A great song about family at Christmas. Well, some families.

  14. All I Want For Christmas is You - Mariah Carey This ubiquitous ditty grates on my nerves more than any song of the season. I am constantly battered with it everywhere I go!
    Christmas Wrappings
    A guilty pleasure but with a happy Christmas ending!

Apparently I am not alone in my loathing of some songs. Two different media companies put the barking "Jingle Bells" at the top of their lists. Love them? Hate them? Agree or disagree, leave your thoughts in the comments!
I would like to thank the T13 graphic contributors for the holiday logos. They are lovely. OH! I got a little item off of last weeks Christmas list! Check out my laser eyes! Merry Christmas!




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Newsworthy Notes

I found this to be an interesting bit of news. Lynne Spears Parenting Book Delayed Indefinitely
Why you ask? Because her famous daughter is pregnant with her boyfriend's baby. No; not Brittney, her other famous daughter, 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears. The Nickelodeon star announced that she is 12 weeks along and she's keeping her baby. The father is her "long time boyfriend". LONG TIME BOYFRIEND!!?? She's 16! How long are we talking here?

But buying Lynne's book on parenting would have been like buying Jeffery Dahmer's book of recipes. Not a bright idea. Seeing how baddly Brittney turned out did anyone think Jamie would actually do better?

(Hat tip: The Anti-Itch Meditation)

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Fat Tax or Pop Fee; What's the Difference?

I got up this morning and turned on the T.V. Normally I don't but I thought I would check school closings. Well The Daily Buzz was on and they were doing a piece on San Francisco mayor Newsom's plan to assess a fee on soda (or pop as we call it here). The justification was that soft drinks are a major contributor to obesity and therefore the retailers should be penalized for selling it by paying a fee (and NOT a tax although the distinction escapes me). The idea of a "fat tax" has been kicked around for years. The liberal left plans to control your decisions by making what they deem unhealthy more expensive as punishment to manufacturers, retailers, and you the consumer. (The tree hugging enviroweenies use the same concept with things they deem harmful to the earth.)

Newsome says he plans to make soda makers give back. Newsom considers city fee for sellers of sugary soda has this to say about where the money will go.
In San Francisco, Newsom said a recent Health Department survey found that 24 percent of fifth-, seventh- and ninth-graders were overweight and that high-sugar drinks accounted for 10 percent of the kids' caloric intake.

All in all, he said obesity accounts for tens of millions of dollars of the city's health costs.

Now Newsom wants the soda sellers - primarily big-box retailers and chain drugstores - to chip in for his "Shape Up San Francisco" program and for media campaigns to discourage the soda habit.
So the city want to shape up and offset the cost of tens of millions of dollars by taxing soda pop. Is there a line somewhere that the nanny staters will not cross to interfere with an individual's freedom to choose? I may not have met a can of Coca-cola I didn't like but charging extra for it because it's unhealthy? Too much.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Wishes Do Come True

I did a Thursday Thirteen about Christmas gifts I wanted but was never going to get. Well thanks to the magic of computers I got one of those gifts and early to boot! Hop over to I Blog The Body Electric to see which one it was.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Headlines for Friday 12-14-2007


New York City Pays $29,000 for Arresting Topless Womwen
City is flodded with applicants for arresting job.

South Dakota Town May Rename Hooker St.
Residents look forward to living on Skanky Ho Boulevard

Girl Scout gets coveted award 69 years late
Earns final badge by helping herself across the street

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Court orders cartoon characters to witness stand
Warner Brothers announces new legal drama "Fudd for the Defense"

Early care helps frozen shoulder
Treatment should begin in the Cold Shoulder phase

Blaine Fears New Stunt will Leave him Brain Damaged
Little did he suspect his idiotic Headline would leave him Dane Bramaged

Pink Floyd Wishes Led Zeppelin Luck
Says life is scary outside the nursing home

Scott Baio Is ... No Longer Single
I guess somebody else loves Chachi too

Sutherland Starts Prison Sentence
Also shoots new reality show called "48"

Huge Newfound Part of Milky Way Rotates Backward
Mars Inc. says it will use the same technique for Snickers, 3 Musketeers and their other candy bars.

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Paris Hilton Is Looking for 'A Nice Boy'
She'll be out of luck if she finds one who wants 'A Nice Girl'.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #60



Thursday Thirteen #60


13 Things About Dane Bramage
13 Things I Really Want for Christmas but Won't Ever Get


There are some things I want for Christmas but they are out of reach in some form or fashion. Either they are too expensive or the world won't make the necessary changes to bring about my personal desire. How dare they? And some are scientifically impossible (for now). So here is my list:

  1. Halle Berry Clone If you are going to wish, wish big I always say.

  2. Personal Time Machine I would go back to certain key points of my life and avoid the screw ups. Especially the ones from my college days.

  3. Financial Freedom 40 or 50 million dollars would do it. Or maybe just tons of stock in successful companies.

  4. PC Free Zone A place where there are no hyphenated Americans. A place where people stop sugar coating everything they think might offend. And most importantly a place where people don't get offended at everything. Yeesh.

  5. Congress with Character A congress that supports our nation's troops in word and deed. One that will take National Security and Immigration very seriously. One that actually works would be nice for starters.

  6. Piano Lessons I've always wanted to play the piano.

  7. 50" Plasma HDTV This is doable but I'd have to sell my house and I don't think the refrigerator box I'd be living in has a wall big enough.

  8. Laser Eyes If looks could kill, then I want the eyes to do it with. The world would be better off with some people reduced to ash with a glance.

  9. Millions of Babies Yes I want millions of babies. No I don't want to father them, I want them to be born. I want a world without abortion.

  10. A Stepford Wife Not a robot or android like the movie, but a conservative sweet spirited woman who adores her husband and loves her role as wife, mother and keeper of the home. you know, a Christian wife. Funny how Hollywood makes those traits seem sinister.

  11. Guitar Lessons I've always wanted to play guitar. I guess all the musical talent went to my two time Grammy award-winning cousin.(You can hover over the link.)

  12. Psychokinesis This coupled with the lasers eyes would be way cool! I'd be like a black Superman!

  13. More Brothers and Sisters Somebody pick my mom up off the floor. I didn't mean she would have to 'get busy'. I mean more brothers and sisters in Christ. I know we add to our family by obeying the Great Commission and witnessing for Christ but I would like for all those who claim to be Christians to act more like brothers and sisters.

So there's my list. Add your own "want but won't get" item in the comments




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

New Look Part Deux

As you know I am thinking of changing my template. My "Flames of Hell Red" idea was pretty much universally panned. You can check out my latest proposed template change at my other blog I Blog The Body Electric or you can cheat by just hovering over the link and let Snap Shots show you a preview. IF it brings up the RSS feed or you see the "Flames of Hell" cache then you have to follow the link.

This theme is more patriotic in keeping with the more politcal themes of the blog. What do you think?

Here's a Little Gift to You

Well I missed BSG "Razor" on Sci-Fi but I did find this cool game! From those wonderful people that brought you Don't Taze Me Bro:The Game...


Friday, December 07, 2007

Never Forget


Today marks the 66th aniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It drew this country into the conflict that has defined what is called by many "The Greatest Generation." That generation saw evil for what it was and stepped forward to stop it. Many paid the ultimate price. Let us never forget.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #59


Thursday Thirteen #59


13 Things About Dane Bramage
13 Photos Left in My Digital Camera


I picked up my camera last night and noticed I had not downloaded the 82 pictures in it. These pictures span two gaming conventions and two church events going back to July. So I decided to share 13 of them with you. I wish I had more time to play with my camera. I really want to get better at taking pictures. Clicking on the thumbnail will open a larger view in another window.


  1. Hotel Room
    When I go out of town I pack only the essentials


  2. War is Swell
    At least it is on the tabletop front. Terrain was a big feature at Origins 2007.


  3. Battlestar Celebrity
    Richard Hatch was there. He has a Sci-Fi genre game company that is pushing a "game universe". He is the only actor to star in both Battlestar Galactica series.


  4. City of Ruin
    Here they are selling damaged building terrain for use in war miniatures. Don't those tanks notice the spider-like aliens on the other table waiting to swoop in and take over?


  5. Expensive Village
    More terrain. Yes that price tag for one building is $74.95. A building behind it is $90.


  6. If you "Gotta Catch 'Em All"
    This is where the national Pokemon championships are held. This is the lovely yellow spokesmodel.


  7. Elevators Exposed
    The Hyatt in Downtown Indianapolis has these beautiful glass elevators. Kinda scary if your in one going to the top.(you have to look at the full view. This is too dark to see in the thumbnail.)


  8. Tin Foil Hats
    One of the groups of gamers decided that their game called for special headgear.


  9. Homage or Mockery?
    An adjoining table decided that the other table should be made fun of. So they put on paper headgear.


  10. Western Sunday
    The adult Sunday school class files in on Western Sunday at my church.


  11. Western Ushers
    The ushers had out lessons all dressed up for Western Sunday


  12. Kid Corbin
    Here's the orneriest hombre west of Streetsboro


  13. Davey the Kid
    Folks tell of the biggest bus rustling cow poke this side of the Tuscarawas.

Well that'll teach me to keep my camera cleaned out.




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Last "Who Are You" Quiz ('Till the Next One)

Well I am not a blond but I do get into bleach. Unfortunately I am unable to watch or TiVo it for the next couple weeks. So to combat my withdrawal I thought I would see which of the thirteen squad captains I was most like. Hmmm, 13 captains, tomorrows Thursday... Anyway I scored the same captain twice. The rest of the choices varied wildly after that. So I threw in the Lieutenant quiz too.





Which of the Thirteen Division Captains (from Bleach) are you?
created with QuizFarm.com
You scored as Yamamoto Genryuusai

You're Yamamoto Genryuusai, Captain of the First Division!
You're the one in charge, and you make a lot of decisions. People respect you highly and listen when you give advice or direction. You might seem to be a non-agressive type, but watch out when someone drives you to the point of fighting!


Yamamoto Genryuusai


83%

Soi Fong

83%

Aizen Sousuke

75%

Unohana Retsu

75%

Ukitake Jyuushiro

67%

Kuchiki Byakuya

58%

Kurotsuchi Mayuri

50%

Komamura Sajin

50%

Tousen Kaname

42%

Hitsugaya Toushirou

42%

Ichimaru Gin

42%

Zaraki Kenpachi

33%

Kyouraku Shunsui


33%






Which Bleach captain are you most like?
created with QuizFarm.com
You scored as Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni

You are Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, the commander of all Gotel 13. Well respected, powerful and knowledgable, but you're a bit strict when it comes to following the rules. Don't let that get in your way of justice.


Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni

75%

Hitsugaya Toushirou

63%

Komamura Saijin

63%

Unohana Retsu


58%

Kuchiki Byakuya

50%

Soi Fong

42%

Zaraki Kenpachi

42%

Ukitake Jyuushirou

33%

Kyouraku Shunsui

33%

Tousen Kaname

33%

Ichimaru Gin

33%

Aizen Sousuke

29%

Kurotsuchi Mayuri

8%







Which Bleach Vice-captain are you most like?
created with QuizFarm.com
You scored as Shuuhei Hisagi

You are Shuuhei Hisagi. Known for your exceptional talent while still in the academy, you are responsible and quiet. You tend to avoid violence if possible.


Shuuhei Hisagi


80%

Kira Izuru


80%

Oomaeda Marechiyo


75%

Ise Nanao


70%

Kotetsu Isane


65%

Matsumoto Rangiku


55%

Sasakibe Choujirou


50%

Kusajishi Yachiru


45%

Abarai Renji


45%

Shiba Kaien


40%

Hinamori Momo


35%

Iba Tetsuzaemon


20%

Kurotsuchi Nemu


10%


Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Action Hero






Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0
created with QuizFarm.com
You scored as Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones is an archaeologist/adventurer with an unquenchable love for danger and excitement. He travels the globe in search of historical relics. He loves travel, excitement, and a good archaeological discovery. He hates Nazis and snakes, perhaps to the same degree. He always brings along his trusty whip and fedora. He's tough, cool, and dedicated. He relies on both brains and brawn to get him out of trouble and into it.


Indiana Jones


79%

Neo, the "One"


75%

Maximus


71%

William Wallace


58%

The Terminator


58%

El Zorro


50%

James Bond, Agent 007


50%

Batman, the Dark Knight


46%

Captain Jack Sparrow


46%

Lara Croft


46%

The Amazing Spider-Man


46%


Thursday, November 29, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #58



Thursday Thirteen #58


13 Things About Dane Bramage

13 Things About Feet


One never knows when one's muse will hit. I was sitting on the sofa staring at my dry ashy feet (Black folks understand ashy) wondering what to write this week's Thursday Thirteen about. After examining my feet for cuts, blisters, and sores like a good diabetic should, it occurred to me that most everyone has feet. But do they know feet? So here are thirteen things about feet.

  1. One fourth of all the bones in your body are in your feet.

  2. Women suffer from foot problems nearly four times as often as men. This may be attributable to wearing high-heeled shoes.

  3. Our feet bear a cumulative weight total of 1,000 tons a day.

  4. There are over 250,000 sweat glands in your feet. An average pair of feet will create a pint of perspiration a day.

  5. Standing and balancing cause babies feet to exert a lot of energy-they may sweat up to twice the amount of adult feet.

  6. The average person walks over 115,000 miles during their lifetime. That’s enough to walk around the world 4 times.

  7. Our feet cushion as much as a million pounds of pressure during only one hour of strenuous exercise.

  8. Your feet may be as much as 5 to 10 percent larger at the end of the day. It's best to shop for shoes in the afternoon or late in the day. Your feet actually swell during the day from walking and activities, so a pair of shoes that felt comfortable in the morning might actually be too snug by day's end

  9. No less then 19 muscles and 107 ligaments are used to control the movement of each foot. (Ironically it is the lip and tongue muscles however; that position the foot into your mouth.)

  10. Before King George IV of England ordered a set of boots made to fit each of his feet, shoes were designed to be worn on either foot.

  11. When a baby is born, the number of bones in the feet are higher, but many of them fuse by the time we reach adulthood.

  12. The palms of the hand and the soles of the feet cannot tan. (I don't know what they are talking about, I cannot tan any part of me).

  13. The skin on your feet is 20 times thicker than on any other part of your body! (With the notable exception of certain skulls!)
Fifty percent or more of leg amputations not resulting from traumatic injury are a result of diabetes. An annual foot health check up by your Podiatrist is a preventative way to help avoid diabetic foot complications, along with proper diet, exercise, and not smoking. People with diabetes should inspect their feet daily for signs of cracking, sores, skin discoloration, or blisters. See your Podiatrist right away if you have any of these things. People with diabetes must also pay attention to good footwear, since worn out or poorly fitting shoes can cause serious problems.




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

More "Less AIDS Deaths"

I blogged about the total lack of millions of AIDS related deaths not ravaging Africa like the liberal guilt machine predicted. Now there are fewer AIDS deaths worldwide but the Liberal agenda spin doctors are quick to point out that the reduction is mostly on paper.
Much of the drop is due to revised numbers from India - which earlier this year slashed its numbers in half, from about 6 million cases to about 3 million - and to new data from several countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Previous AIDS numbers were largely based on the numbers of infected pregnant women at clinics, as well as projecting the AIDS rates of certain high-risk groups like drug users to the entire population at risk. Officials said those numbers were flawed, and are now incorporating more data like national household surveys
So how does this work exactly? They inflated the number of AIDS cases to hype the scare. They "projected" AIDS on the population based on a couple of actual cases. People started noticing that they were off by, oh say, 50% in India. Now that the numbers are accurately reflecting the lack of pandemic, they don't want us to give it much heed because the adjustment is on paper and not a real reduction in AIDS cases. What it is, they don't want any reduction in the SCARE of an AIDS epidemic obviously. Isn't anyone besides me upset that they lied about the number of cases to begin with?

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #57



Thursday Thirteen #57


13 Things About Dane Bramage

13 Things My Mother Taught Me


Happy Thanksgiving everybody! I know just about every Thursday Thirteener will probably have some thankful list today. I decided to go another route. I am thankful my mother is still with us so in honor of that I am posting "13 Things My Momma Done Taught Me". I want to thank Scott (You know, the guy with the zipper on the back of his head) for sending me this list.

  1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

  2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

  3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

  4. My mother taught me LOGIC. "Because I said so, that's why."

  5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

  6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

  7. My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying, and! I'll give you something to cry about."

  8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

  9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!

  10. My mother taught me about WATER SPORTS. "If you don't stop teasing your sister I'll hit you so hard your head will swim!

  11. My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

  12. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"

  13. My mother taught me JUSTICE. "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

What did your mother teach you? Leave it in the comments!




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Random Acts of Memeness

The Random Yak has tagged me with a meme. My meme policy is to only participate if I feel like it or if the person who tagged you is really cool. Likewise when I tag someone I let them know they are under no obligation in my eyes to participate.
The rules of the meme:
  • When tagged, you must link to the person who tagged you (RandomYak).
  • Then post the rules before your list, (that'd be this thing here) and list eight random things about yourself.
  • At the end of the post, you must tag and link to eight other people.

So this is the Random Eight Meme. I pick eight random things about me to share. I am not quite sure how that works. Should I take everything about me and put it in a hat and draw out eight? Yeah let's do just that.
  • Thing #238 I am participating in the NaNoWriMo this year. My NaNoWriMo name is Kevlord. I am writing a science fiction novel and I am pleased as punch with my progress so far. I am also certain that my novel is crap. I am very pleased about that too, believe it or not. It's all about the learning experience.

  • Thing #2 Currently I live alone in my own home. The "People Under The Stairs" are gone. Can anyone tell me the best way to clean dried cat crap off a cement floor? Or where to find those scrub brushes with long handles? And I think I need a floor squigee. And a respirator.

  • Thing #446 I have been dreaming about dead people Weird. For several nights I have been dreaming about relatives and friends who are all dead. Do I need a shrink or a psychic?

  • Thing #37 This is National Games Week Me and a bunch of my gamer friends are all going to get together Friday and play games for 12 hours. At least those of us with the day off. The rest will probably show up after five. We rented a pavilion and plan to consume Thanksgiving leftovers. Stop by if you are in West Akron near Sand Run Metro Park, Shady Hollow Pavilion. Bring food and games.

  • Thing #7 I am singing "Birthday For A King" as a solo in church. Again. I sang it last year too. I must get a new song by Christmas 2008.

  • Thing #879 I am oddly fascinated by the anime "Bleach". I don't know why. I've been TiVo'ing it for two weeks now and I am actually looking forward to each episode. I puts me in mind of early Dragon Ball Z and I hated DBZ.

  • Thing #42 I have been a Bus Captain at church for 12 years. That makes me the longest serving Bus Captain. I am really sad that everyone who was a Bus Captain when I started are out of that ministry now. (although some have move on to different ministries).

  • Thing #89 When I turn 50 years old in 2009, I'll celebrate with a Sci-Fi Masque Planning it now. Come as your favorite Sci-Fi or Superhero character. I am looking forward to that and with this much advanced planning how can it not be great?

Now, for the tagees, I choose;
  1. Eddie at EddieButler.com

  2. JAM at Least Significant Bits

  3. Chelle Y at The Story of Me

  4. Mitchypoo at Knitting and Losing

  5. QTPies7 at My Seven QTPies

  6. Nicholas at A Gentleman's Domain

  7. Malcolm at Pop Culture Dish

  8. Darla at nichtszusagen
Well I hope you all enjoyed this memey goodness!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Headlines for Tuesday 11-20-07

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Woman Wins Sears Tower Race for 6th Time
Tower says it will train harder. Hopes to actually move next year.

'Mr. Toilet' Builds Commode-Shaped House
No one wants to come over and sit in his pool

Homeless man uses church phone to call sex hot line
Bigger surprise is the nuns who answered the phone

UK Fat Patients Claim Discrimination
Despite snub Micheal Moore still claims it's better than US health care

Food makers pressured to cut sodium
Dairy producers pressured to cut cheese

Firemen told to abstain from sexual bribes
Asked to return to more traditional money only bribes
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Stomach virus races through cruise ship passengers
It got really crowded on the poop deck

CBS news writers give OK for strike call
Now who's going to make up the news?

Experts promote the global warming diet
  1. Eat nothing but beans for seven days
  2. Seal yourself inside airtight plastic bubble
  3. Produce greenhouse gases until you polar regions melt


5 Million Pizzas Recalled on E. coli Fears
Get it back to Dominos in 30 minutes or less or you have to keep it.

Giuliani Promotes Virtual Fence
Fence blocks 100% of illegal aliens from World of Warcraft. Mexicans still get in.

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Alabama woman turns 100, gets her diploma
Says; "I had to take P.E. over 87 times but I finally got that last credit"

Burglar drives into store, snatches TVs
Gets home, realizes nothing is on because of the writer's strike, returns them all

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Thursday, November 15, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #56

Dane Bramage Thursday Thirteen

Thursday Thirteen #56


13 Things About Dane Bramage
13 Types of People Who Get On My Nerves


I generally love everybody but sometimes there are certain types of people who get on my nerves in a big way. My nerves have been acutely raw because of some of them recently.

  1. People Who Can't Keep Their Promises As a Christian Bus Captain I see this every week when I visit my kids. Their parents swear that the kids are coming and will be ready. But lo and behold come Sunday morning the kids aren't going. The parents don't even bother coming to the door to tell me they aren't coming.

  2. People Who Make Excuses for Their Shortcomings "I was going to do it but the weather wasn't good enough". When the weather breaks, "Oh I need a special tool". etc..

  3. People Who Make Excuses for Other Peoples Shortcomings "Well he would have done it but he has been so sick lately." Yeah watching the weather and looking for tools can really wear you down.

  4. Unreliable People What is it with the world today. It used to be when someone said they were going to do something they did it. Today people tell you they are going to do something and it is "understood" that they are exempt from completing their task if something better, more important, easier, pays more, comes along. When it does they usually become a #2 person.

  5. People Who Think You Are Stupid Ever have someone make such an outrageously stupid and/or false statement and look at you in all seriousness expecting you to believe it?

  6. Fence Walkers Ever try to get someone to commit one way or another on an issue and all they do is give you excuses on why they can't decide?

  7. Liars All liars are fryers. I have no use for someone who deliberately tells me a falsehood. And no I don't buy it when they try to excuse it with "I changed my mind."

  8. Busybodies I only have one such neighbor and I try to be loving and kind but she is constantly calling city and county agencies on me. She has a problem that requires a 12 step program to fix but she wont go go go.

  9. People Who Do Things For The Common Good(As They See It)


  10. Thieves And I don't mean the old Dungeons and Dragons character class (although they do make great pit detectors). I hate people who just take things or worse, people who feel entitled to your things because they don't have it as good as you.

  11. Liberal Democrats Redundant I know. They were covered under liars and thieves.

  12. Hypocrites Whether they are celebrity spokesmen who don't live their beliefs, or former politicians who blatantly contribute to the problems they are crusading to solve, hypocrites really rub me the wrong way.

  13. Celebrity Know-It-Alls Just because someone made a movie or won an Oscar doesn't make them an expert on anything else. If they want to stop global warming they can start by shutting up.

There I feel much better now! If you have a particular type of person, or a specific person you don't like right now, tell us in the comments. Note:It is not really possible to read a person's mind. Any celebrity images with thought bubbles were created for parody and ridicule of said celebrity.)




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

New Look

I am thinking of changing my template. You can check ou my proposed template change at my other blog I Blog The Body Electric or you can cheat by just hovering over the link and let Snap Shots show you a preview. IF it brings up the RSS feed then you have to follow the link.

I think it is kind of Christmasy. What do you think? Should I change?

When Life Gives You Lemons

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Admittedly most people with a scar would just wear a hat. But no, not the artistic types like my friend and author Scott who had the scar covered with a tattoo. They should have just put in a real zipper. It would have made it easier for Scott to change his mind.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Keep It Really Really Simple Stupid

Okay there is a problem in the UK with a scratch off lottery card game.Minus a grasp for figures explains;
Lottery operator Camelot has been forced to withdraw a scratchcard because players were too innumerate to understand it, according to the Manchester Evening News.
"Too innumerate to understand it" translation; dumb. One card holder was sure she was being cheated out of her winnings;
The story quotes player Tina Farrell, 23:
I phoned Camelot and they fobbed me off with some story that -6 is higher - not lower - than -8 but I'm not having it.
I think Camelot are giving people the wrong impression - the card doesn't say to look for a colder or warmer temperature, it says to look for a higher or lower number. Six is a lower number than 8. Imagine how many people have been misled.
So what are the rules that have everyone so confused?
To qualify for a prize, users had to scratch away a window to reveal a temperature lower than the figure displayed on each card. As the game had a winter theme, the temperature was usually below freezing.

But the concept of comparing negative numbers proved too difficult for some. Camelot received dozens of complaints on the first day from players who could not understand how, for example, -5 is higher than -6.
So either the country is number dumb in general or people with math skills don't buy lottery cards. At least in the U.S. They usually limit it to matching games. No room for error there.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #55



Thursday Thirteen #55


13 Things About Dane Bramage
13 Favorite Television Theme Songs


I stole the idea for this week's Thursday Thirteen from Chelle Y. I would also like to thank Jay Campbell for leaving me the link to http://www.televisiontunes.com. I have links to all of the themes (except the two I used YouTube for) so you can listen to the theme if you want. (It will open in a separate window). My taste in music is very eclectic. So don't let it surprise you if you don't remember or even have heard of some of these 13 T.V. theme songs.

  1. Man From UNCLE (Link to 1966 version) There was a variation on the theme every year. 1965 and 1966 were the ones I remember. The theme for the Girl from UNCLE was yet another variation on the this song.

  2. Johnny Quest (Link to Theme) I loved this cartoon when I was a kid. They subsequently ruined it with a bunch of P.C. crap but the theme was excellent.

  3. The Name of the Game (Link to Theme) Something about late sixties early seventies television themes that I really liked. Very jazzy with a big band behind them. TNotG was a great show too!

  4. S.W.A.T. (Link to Theme) This theme was a commercial hit during the disco days of the seventies.

  5. Soul Train (TSOP) (Link to Theme) Another disco era hit with a big band sound.

  6. Rockford Files (Link to Theme) Another theme song musical hit. I didn't watch the show but I heard the theme on the radio everywhere.

  7. Hill Street Blues (Link to Theme) I remember hearing this on the radio too. But I never missed an episode of HSB. An excellent T.V. show and theme song.

  8. Taxi (Angela) (Link to Theme) I enjoyed watching Taxi. But I was really happy when Angela (The name of the theme song) did so well. I had been a Bob James fan for years and was really happy he got a mainstream hit.

  9. Quantum Leap (Link to Theme) I'm a leap head. I loved everything about the show including the great theme song.

  10. Twin Peaks (Link to Theme) To be honest, I was never a TP fan. I saw David Lynch's "Eraserhead" and found it disturbing on many levels. So I never watched more than an episode or two of Twin Peaks. I did love the theme song and the soundtrack album.

  11. Northern Exposure (Link to Theme) An incredible show with an awesome theme. Where else will you find harmonica, accordion, saxophone with brazilian percussion?

  12. Now and Again I found this show through Bravo's "Brilliant But Canceled" series. Dennis Haysbert builds a twenty six year-old white male superman body (Eric Close) and puts John Goodman's forty-something brain in it. It is not really a comedy but a well written show. The theme song was done by Narada Michael Walden and he never recorded it on any of his other works. That is a shame because the theme is very nice indeed. They did two versions (same song but just used different parts at differnt times). Thank God for YouTube. Here is the theme (both)


  13. Cowboy Bebop (Tank!) Anime fans know what I am talking about. Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts perform this great jazzy big band sounding theme song called Tank!. The series itself was very good. Lots of style and absolutely great music.


There were others too. I liked a lot of the Norman Lear show themes. Does anyone NOT know the words to the Jefferson's theme? The Mary Tyler Moore Show? Leave your favorite in the comments.




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Teens Still Getting Pregnant

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy is releasing a report that states that Abstinence Programs Don't Work in preventing teen pregnancies.
"At present there does not exist any strong evidence that any abstinence program delays the initiation of sex, hastens the return to abstinence or reduces the number of sexual partners" among teenagers, the study concluded.
Isn't that amazing. Color me skeptical but if abstinence only programs worked it would fly in the face of the liberal agenda's free sex beliefs. Funny how before the days of sex education when abstinence was the only form of birth control taught, teen pregnancies were very few. After sex education was introduced into the public schools, teen pregnancies sky rocketed. Now they still teach sex in school but then expect a program that tells teens not to try sex to work? Of course no one is suggesting we NOT teach kids about sex. In fact they still laud that great decision to take sex education away from parents.
The study, conducted by Douglas Kirby, a senior research scientist at ETR Associates, also sought to debunk what the report called "myths propagated by abstinence-only advocates" including: that comprehensive sex education promotes promiscuity, hastens the initiative of sex or increases its frequency, and sends a confusing message to adolescents.

None of these was found to be accurate, Kirby wrote.

Instead, he wrote, such programs improved teens' knowledge about the risks and consequences of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and gave them greater "confidence in their ability to say 'no' to unwanted sex."
Very powerful statements. But again color me skeptical. Why does Kirby praise Sex Ed and is so down on Abstinence programs? Could it be he has a vested and financial interest in sex education?
The sponsors of the study praised Kirby for his "thorough research" and for being "fair and evenhanded," but they also acknowledged that ETR Associates developed and markets several of the sex education curricula reviewed in the report. Several of the previous studies that were reviewed also were written by Kirby.
That makes sense now. Say that sex ed helps and then sell sex ed curricula. Some of the programs he claims are doing well are his so he reviews and promotes his own products at the same time under the guise of "objective study." Yeah right. He even promotes sex ed combined with abstinence training. It's the abstinence only programs that are the only ones he wouldn't make a cent on. You would think people would sponsor a study by someone who didn't stand to personally gain from the outcome of their own report.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Smoke Up! It's for the Kids!

I found this over at Kender's Musings. Don't look at me I voted Republican.

Friday, November 02, 2007

Now And Again You Get What You Want

In 2000 there was a television show on CBS called Now and Again. I never saw it then. I saw it years later on Bravo during their "Brilliant But Canceled" series. In a nutshell, a doctor/scientist played by Dennis Haysbert constructs an twenty six year old superman played by Eric Close, for the U.S. government. Unable to construct a "mind" they harvest John Goodman's forty something brain and put it in the body. The show lasted one season but long enough to show incredible potential in writing. I felt bad for the character Michael "Newman" because the wife he loved was grieving for him and the daughter he raised had to go on without him and yet he was still around, unknown to them and unable to interact with his family. But he does anyway even under "threat" of having them killed. I mean wouldn't you? He obviously can't tell them who he really is. He constantly bumps into them while out saving the country from evil doers. The story lines were imaginative and thought provoking as well as warm and touching.

So why the interest? Well I have already done next week's Thursday Thirteen and it is about T.V. theme songs. Now and Again had a great theme song by Narada Michael Walden. I linked the theme song(s) found at YouTube. I was lamenting the fact that there wasn't a clip avalable and voila! I also found a music video with scenes from the the show. I am in heaven! So here is the video and the song for this great show.

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #54



Thursday Thirteen #54


13 Things About Dane Bramage
13 Spin-offs of Other T.V. Shows

I've done television lists before. And I'm going to do one again. This time the theme of the list is spin-offs. I am listing 13 shows that were spin-offs of other shows.

  1. Maude (1972-1978) This show was a spin-off of "All in the Family". The eponymous Maude was Edith Bunker's cousin.

  2. The Jeffersons (1975-1985) Another "All in the Family" spin-off. George and "Weezie" were Archie and Edith's neighbors.

  3. Good Times (1974-1979) This show was spawned by "Maude". Florida Evans was Maude's wise-cracking housekeeper.

  4. Happy Days (1974-1984) Happy Days was spawned from a vignette on the show "Love American Style" called "Love and the Happy Days".

  5. Lavern and Shirley (1976-1983) A spin-off of "Happy Days". Lavern and Shirley were friends of Fonzie who double dated Ritchie and Potsie.

  6. Mork and Mindy (1978-1982) Another "Happy Days" spin-off. Mork appeared in a dream episode.

  7. Rhoda (1974-1978) This was one of the spin-offs of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". It was funny for a season then the characters got married and it went downhill from there. Kinda like real marriage so I'm told.

  8. Lou Grant (1977-1982) This was weird. Lou Grant was Mary Richard's boss on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" which was a situation comedy. The show "Lou Grant" was an excellent Emmy award winning drama about the same character. Go figure.

  9. Trapper John M.D. (1979-1986) Some say this was a spin-off of M*A*S*H the TV show. It would then be one of two drama's spawned from comedies (the aforementioned Lou Grant being the other). But some say, for legal reasons, the show was spun-off of M*A*S*H the movie. I don't know. I do know Wayne Rogers was offered the role and he turned it down.

  10. Barnaby Jones (1973-1980) Did you know that Buddy Ebsen's P.I. character was introduced on William Conrad's show "Canon"? Live and learn.

  11. Daria (1997-2001) This animated gem had it's unlikely start from "Beavis and Butt-Head" of all places. I recommend Daria. Not so much Beavis and Butthead

  12. Family Matters (1989-1998) This show was a spin-off of "Perfect Strangers". Harriet and Carl Winslow were friends of Balkie and Larry.

  13. Angel (1999-2004) Angel was spawned from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", Different enough to be interesting and yet it had the same Buffy flavor Josh Whedon fans had come to love. I miss both shows.

I purposely limited the spin-offs to those shows that actually lasted more than a season. That way I didn't have to mention shows like Joanie Loves Chachie, or Phyllis. Many shows were spun off hit TV series that crashed and burned. Do you have a favorite Spin-off?




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!


Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Headlines for Wednesday 10-31-2007

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Wiccan Lottery Winner to Open Witch School
You don't want to get an 'F' in Spelling in this school.

Ex-Idol still shocked by success
I didn't know there that many shopping malls to open

Strike threatens Hollywood; reality shows loom
More reality shows is a threat to viewers

Shatner: How come I'm not in new 'Star Trek'?
Producers: There aren't enough curtains in this film for you to chew

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Edwards shifts focus to integrity
He thought he'd give something new a try

Prostitutes sew lips together in protest
The hookers made no comment on the success of their strike

Coach Accused of Exposing Buttocks
Apologizes for his cheeky move and hopes not to set a bad example

Police Catch Burglar With His Pants Down
Says he was inspired by his coach

Baby Giraffe Named in Honor of Red Sox
'Colorado Crusher' is doing well.

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Fiat found with 2 cows, 2 goats squeezed inside
Strangest double date ever seen at Lovers Lane
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Where Are We Going and Why Are We In This Handbasket

Want to see me cry and at the same time be so mad I would gladly rip someone's head off? Tell me a story like this one. Toddler Left in Hot Car Dies at Hooters It is a video spot so you need Windows Media Player.

A woman goes to work at Hooters at 10:00 in the morning and forgets she left her 17 month old son in the car. FORGOT HE WAS IN THE CAR! How frickkin' stupid do you have to be to do something like that? Or how little does a child rate in your life that working at Hooters can make you fatally neglect him? An investigation is going on but no charges have been filed as yet.

And this is not the only case like this. Back in August here in Ohio a woman, an assistant principal, left her two year old daughter in her hot SUV while she worked. The child died. The mother was not charged even though she had been captured on film returning to her car, twice, for the donuts she brought for a meeting (pictured here).
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We had a case that was even worse than that here a few years ago. A woman goes to a salon to have her hair done. It is sweltering hot, over 100 degrees, and she leaves her two kids in the car with the windows up. She is gone over seven hours and she comes out to find her kids dead. Then she decides that she is in trouble and claims that she was kidnapped from the scene which prevented her from coming back in time to save her kids. Her lie quickly fell apart and she was charged. When they found the kids, the older boy had held his baby brother as if to comfort him. Both had vomited before dying.

How did we get to this place where womem are increasingly less maternal towards their children to the point that kids have died? And in the two recent cases why has no one held the parents accountable for their fatal neglegence?

Hat Tip GlennSacks.com

Monday, October 29, 2007

The Color for Today is Green

I am not against recycling. I am against the notion that if we fail to recycle we will be hip deep in our own refuse and the world will die because of it. But recycling is a good idea if it helps keep the environment clean and reduces costs and wastes.

The company I work for recycles (more so now than in the past; it was discovered that for a while the cleaning company dumped the "recyclable" paper in with the regular trash). We get these quarterly reports that span our three local sites. This quarter we recycled pounds of trash which resulted in savings of a number of trees, gallons of water, kilowatt hours of electricity, and cubic feet of landfill. The totals;

TrashTreesWaterElectrictyLandfill
14,439122.750,53830,32323.12


So what does this mean? Did somebody, based on our saving call the lumber industry and tell them to hold off cutting down 122.7 trees? Where did the water savings come in? And the electricity? The only on I can see where they might have an actual clue is landfill space but the volume they reported is just a percentage of the total trash recorded. Did they actually measure the volume of the trash before recycling to determine actual savings?

I think that this "report" is some sort of "feel good mechanism" to make people think that they are making an impact on the environment by recycling. A big ego stroke for the enviroweenies to justify their green agenda. I don't believe the numbers. But I am not so narrow minded that I won't listen to anyone who has a good explanation for these numbers and what they represent in the real world. Anyone? Bueller?

Friday, October 26, 2007

Headlines for Friday 10-26-2007

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Iraqis Try to Defuse Tension With Turkey
If tensions continue, will add stuffing and cranberry sauce

Pair Get Hitched at Ohio Haunted House
Couple plan to honeymoon in Ohio Scary Senate

You can have a personal chef
Most people just call her Mom

Ghosts, Vacuums and Other Childhood Terrors
And yet I have never seen a child dress as a Hoover Upright for Halloween

Dumbledore is gay, 'Harry Potter' author reveals
That would explain his expertise in fairy magic

Britney Spears avoids hit-and-run trial
Still has to deal with Hit-and Run marriage consequences

Critics blast 'namby-pamby' obesity ads
Tougher ads in future will ask "Are you so fat that you have your own zip code? Do smaller fatsos orbit you? When you go to a restaurant do they give you an estimate instead of a menu? You could have a weight problem Lardo!"

Winehouse held for drug possession
They tried to make her go to rehab but she said "No No No..."

Wildfires Bring Serious Health Dangers
Being burnt to a crisp being the biggest

Giuliani: I could end illegal immigration in three years
Bold plan requires annexation of Canada and Mexico

That's it for this edition of Headlines. Stay tuned for more headliney goodness!
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UK Couple Lose Foster Child for Not Teaching Gay Is OK

I found out about this over at Stop the ACLU. It seems that a Christian couple will no longer be able to care for foster children.Foster child to be taken away because Christian couple refuse to teach him about homosexuality:
They are devoted foster parents with an unblemished record of caring for almost 30 vulnerable children. But Vincent and Pauline Matherick will this week have their latest foster son taken away because they have refused to sign new sexual equality regulations.
The authorities took an 11-year-old boy from the couple and removed them from the list of available foster parents. What did they object to?
Earlier this year, Somerset County Council's social services department asked them to sign a contract to implement Labour's new Sexual Orientation Regulations, part of the Equality Act 2006, which make discrimination on the grounds of sexuality illegal.

Officials told the couple that under the regulations they would be required to discuss same-sex relationships with children as young as 11 and tell them that gay partnerships were just as acceptable as heterosexual marriages
The couple are devout Christians who belive as I do that homosexuality is a sin and contrary to the Word of God. The couple prior to this had cared for 28 foster children and were exemplary parents. But because they won't go along with the liberal agenda they have been denied access to foster children. They can't even keep their foster son until they find a permanent home. Officials will remove the child tomorrow and put him in a temporary shelter. There is a severe shortage of foster parents and now those with any kind of religious beliefs are being driven from the program with these types of regulations. The couple will fight this with the help of Christian lawyers.

We are losing the fight Christians! The Gay agenda in the UK is marching boldly on and grinding Christians under it's boots. How did it get to the point where the state requires you teach kids at a young age that gay and lesbian lifestlyes are normal? This couple's objection on religious grounds was brushed aside by the powers that be. We are headed down that same path here in America. You had better speak up now Christian while you still have the right to do so.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #53



Thursday Thirteen #53


13 Things About Dane Bramage
13 Tidbits of Wisdom

The internet is great. Where else can you find priceless gems of wisdom? This week, inspired by Scott who sent me an email, I went out to the vast world wide web and made a half vast effort to cull 13 pearls of wisdom. So here they are for you.

  1. Birthdays are good for you; the more you have the longer you live.

  2. Avoid cutting yourself slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold while you chop.

  3. Avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink.

  4. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives, then you will be too afraid to cough.

  5. Everyone should have a spouse, because there are a number of things that go wrong that one can't blame on the government.

  6. The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

  7. There will always be death and taxes; however, death doesn't get worse every year.

  8. God grant me the Senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, The good fortune to run into the ones I do, And the eyesight to tell the difference..

  9. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

  10. When choking on an ice cube, simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat. Presto! The blockage will instantly remove itself.

  11. You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

  12. Some people are like slinkies. Not really good for anything but they bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

  13. Time may be a great healer, but it's also a rotten beautician.

I can just smell the wisdom oozing from you. If you have a pearl to share leave it in the comments.




Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!