Saturday, August 04, 2007

Seven Pines Seven Crimes Incest Story


Van Gogh Thatched Cottages

Girl: I'm depressed.
Man: About what?

Girl: My dad.
Man: Not him again?

Girl: It was all a lie.
Man: What was?

Girl: He hasn't changed, and she won't let me see him anymore.
Man: That's actually a very good thing.

Girl: Josie moved into his new apartment.
Man: What?

Girl: Yes, they're living together now - as boyfriend and girlfriend.
Man: I thought he moved back to Virden to be with his wife?

Girl: No, it was all a lie.
Man: I thought Josie had moved to Washington state?

Girl: They just told me that.
Man: So she decided to move in with her step father?

Girl: Yes.
Man: I thought she'd escaped all that sex abuse.

Girl: No, and she hates me.
Man: I really hoped she'd left them for good.

Girl: That's why I'm feeling upset.
Man: I don't know why you still want anything to do with him.

Girl: He's my father.
Man: He should be behind bars for what he's done with that girl.

Girl: That's really none of our business.
Man: He's harmed everyone who had anything to do with him.

Girl: I feel sorry for him. He's dying.
Man: Dying, again?

Girl: Yes, his body is riddled with tumors.
Man: Isn't this the same story he told you about six years ago?

Girl: He doesn't have long to live.
Man: Right, I guess he's found solace in incest, drugs, and booze.

Girl: It's lung cancer.
Man: And you're depressed. I can see that.

Girl: Yes. I thought he'd changed.
Man: You know you're never going to change him.

Girl: Silent.
Man: He'll just drag you down with him.

Friday, August 03, 2007

Chauncey Bailey Oakland Post Editor Assassinated


Chauncey Bailey Oakland Post's Editor Assassinated

Attacks upon journalist are all too common in the developing nations, but is rare in the United States, and Europe. That's why I was shocked to read that Chauncey Bailey of the Oakland Post had been gunned down while walking to work.

I don't live in Oakland, California, nor can I claim to have ever read Chauncey Bailey's opinions. My only recollections of Mr. Bailey is of watching him appear as a guest on various television news style programs. He was the voice of the "black community" or so we viewers were told.

I've read in the days following his murder that he had been considered confrontational, and relentless in his journalistic dogging of gangs, and corrupt politicians. I've read that he made enemies within the black Muslim community.

I guess we could take our pick as to who wanted him dead. No matter that he was gunned down by a coward who shot him in the back for simply using words. He's dead now, and his killer lives.

No matter who killed Mr. Bailey, and why, we should all know that Chauncey Bailey's assassination was an assault upon us all. By killing the radical troublemaker editor we have all been threatened.

I grew up hearing the expression that the pen is mightier than the sword, but one must first secure a society in which writing words is considered safe. Gangs, corrupt politicians, and radical religionist present within our society are all signs that we have a ways to go before anyone should consider laying down one's sword.

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Peeing Baby Banner Advertisement


If there were only an award for stupid banner advertisements


Why Not An Award For Stupid Banner Advertisements?

There should be an award for stupid banner advertisements. I'm not sure if one doesn't already exist, but there should be. The advertisement above should win such an award.


The Nice Interpretation

A man holding a baby notices that the baby has urinated in his diaper. The man sniffs the air for a sign of odor - just to confirm his suspicions about the baby peeing, and is comforted that there isn't any smell. He's pleasantly surprised that the diapers have retained all smell of urine. Good diaper the man thinks, as a smile comes to his face.


The Evil Interpretation

The man is rocking a baby back and forth to make the baby urinate. The baby urinates. The man sniffs the baby's diaper and discovers it does smell like urine. A smile comes to the man's face as he is happy that he made the baby urinate.

I'm hoping that the former interpretation is the one and only one intended. Still this banner advertisement is very weird - even if my imagination is running wild, it still looks strange to me.


Banner Advertisements Are Cultural Artifacts

In the meantime the number of these banner advertisements seems to have increased, and the ingenuity and effort invested into finding new means of annoying web surfers appears to have increased over the last decade.

I often wonder who will preserve these little bits of Internet history for future generations to scoff at? Despite being annoying the banner advertisement is a cultural artifact that deserves preservation, and recognition.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

I Drink Tea


A Peek Inside My Refrigerator Reveals a Mix of Green Tea and Red Tea

I love tea. I usually drink it iced cold, but I like hot teas too. I'd say I drink about five gallons of tea a week. That's right, five gallons. In fact I drink so much tea that my skin is slightly bronzed from the teas I drink. But guess what - having an antioxidant saturating my skin isn't a bad thing considering how those same chemicals protect against cellular aging, cellular mutation, and cancer.

My favorite teas are green teas, but I like red teas too. In fact I tend to mix red, and green teas. I also enjoy some flavored black teas, and an occasional herbal tea. I don't drink black teas all by themselves, and use them only to add flavors to green tea.

I usually make up a large batch of tea all at once. Usually ten gallons. If you notice I leave the tea bags floating inside half gallon containers letting them infuse as long as a week before they are consumed.

I stick to caffeinated tea during the day, and naturally decaffeinated teas in the evening.

I'm sure I'm breaking every rule in the book on tea making, but then again when you make more than ten gallons of tea a week you find ways to save time. I also enjoy the fact that my teas grow stronger throughout the week infusing even while refrigerated - similar to cold pickling.

I never use sugar! But I do use sweeteners.

There are many health benefits conferred on those who drink tea, but the greatest benefit is pushing soft drinks like Pepsi, and Coke out of your life! Soft drinks are a disgusting waste of liquids which everyone could do well without.

The photo above is a bit fuzzy, but I like it because it shares the color experience of tea inside a cold refrigerator on a hot summer day. I love tea.

One little note: Actually it's white tea mixed with red, but white tea is actually green tea - confused? Read about tea here:

Wiki
NCCAM

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Thoughts About Tom Snyder's Passing

's
Tom Snyder of the Tomorrow Show

Late Show With Tom Snyder

Blowing past the Tonight Show deep into the night on the Late Show with Tom Snyder opened a whole new frontier for those living in small and medium sized television markets. During the 1970's the Late Show on WICS 20 was the only network show still on the air at that time of night. Tom Snyder was king of Late Night.

Tom Snyder's show lured me into the realm of the vampire, the werewolf, and cat burgler.

Not only was it too late to be up for a teen on a week night with school the next morning, but many of Tom Snyder's guest were quite radical. The 1970's was a decade with a 1960's hangover.

The overall effect of airing such edgy guest so late into the night was magical, and had an effect similar to reading a church banned book under the covers with a flashlight. It made every word more intense, more important. More adult.

Tom Snyder was capable of asking very serious, and insightful questions, and then out of nowhere injecting a zinger which he often found uproariously funny - which I without years of reading or adult experience - simply didn't get. I knew he was off the wall, but hearing others laughing with him told me straight out that I had much to learn - no matter how smart I thought I was.

One of the most disturbing televised interviews I have ever watched was one Tom Snyder conducted with Mass Murderer Charles Manson. I knew while watching the interview that Charles Manson was as evil as everyone was saying he was. Not that I didn't already know this from reading Helter Skelter, but seeing Manson was believing in evil incarnate. Television has that power, and Snyder knew how to bring it home.

The 1970's was the last decade in which televised smoking was tolerated, and Tom Snyder was always seemingly shrouded in cigarette smoke. There was definitely something hypnotic in those swirling drifts of smoke which crowned Mr. Snyder's talking head.


Trippin On Tom

Tom Snyder Passes Into History

Tom died of Leukemia today after a two year bout with the big C.

Tom was too old to be a baby boomer, yet too young to be of the greatest generation, but he certainly had an influence on the baby boomers, and was great at what he did. Rest in Peace Tom.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Google Earth Unusual Locations Video


Google Earth Video of Unusual Locations

Thought I'd share this Youtube find. I like it when medias collide. In this case we have blogger, which I am using, and YouTube which host the video made by someone else, and Google Earth which I spend way too much time goofing around on.

If the video stops short of the end surf here to watch it on YouTube.

Some Neat Google Earth Spots

Firefox-Logo: 45° 7'25.87"N 123° 6'48.97"W
Nazi-Building: 32°40'33.83"N 117° 9'28.36"W
Reversed Ship: 35° 9'18.21"N 129° 8'51.37"E
Bomber: 52°20'10.98"N 0°11'43.17"W
Indian 2 (with headphones): 50° 0'38.19"N 110° 6'48.31"W
Donut Store: 25°57'0.25"N 97° 8'50.29"W
Giant of Tarapacá: 19°56'56.86"S 69°38'1.81"W
Italian Crop Circle: 44°40'52.79"N 10°19'6.39"E
Radar Station: 18°20'39.01"N 66°45'8.79"W
Sailing/Pirate Ship: 33°51'13.07"S 151°13'59.47"E

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Your Cat Knows When You'll Die

OSCAR - the Grim Reaper of Felines - AP Photo/Stew Milne

An interesting article in the Washington Post shares a story of a cat which seemingly knows when patients in a Hospice will die. A quick read definitely worth the time.

My take is that it's far more than pheromones the cat is sensing. I believe that Oscar the cat is connecting to an area of its conscious which allows it to sense into the future.

Animals are not as distracted by the division between the conscious, and the subconscious as humans must be in order to survive.

While I don't believe that Oscar "knows" in any human sense, "This person is about to die", I do believe that his behavior is illustrative of a deeper knowledge that is available.

People have been pushing aside this alternative means of knowledge in favor of self talk and logic for a long time now.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Are Bloggers the Modern David?


Half Blood Prince Google Search Results

You'll need to look at the image above to understand the rest of the post.

Sometimes even the little people get lucky. This doubled my hit count for the last several days, but it's come back down. I sometimes see these anomalous results on a post, and scramble to add content, and correct grammar on the post after the fact.

It's fun outranking the NYTimes, and Amazon.Com for awhile - but it always goes away.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Illinois - World's Mold and Pollen Capital


Atmospheric Mold After Just 120 Hours Of Incubation

Realm of the Black Knight reveals in his most recent post a very scary incident in which he blacked out at the wheel. Cause? Sinus infection. I too suffer from chronic sinus problems and wanted to make a few comments about Central Illinois notoriety when it comes to mold, and pollen.

The earliest perceptions I had of people who mentioned having allergies were usually of either hypochondriacs, narcissistic personality types, or effeminate males. I can thank the mass media for creating this perception by portraying those with allergies as self absorbed weaklings.


What Is the Solution?

So it was quietly shocked when my buddy at the11thhour admitted to me when we were teens that he had an allergy or two - and get this - had to take allergy pills! What a wimp I'd secretly tell myself. It must be a sign of personal weakness on his part. Only wimps get allergies. Next thing you know he'll be crying for mommy! But I never told him about my misgivings, and he may in fact be shocked while reading this that I ever had this initial reaction to his problem.

For many years I had noticed a growing problem that I had with stuffy noses, and itchy reactions. Some nights I'd leave my window open, and I'd find myself itching so much I simply couldn't sleep. I'd wash all my sheets, and blankets and I'd take a shower, and I'd still itch.

Eventually I'd break out sneezing.


Weather.Com's Spore Map - Just Gotta Love Those Spores!

After many of these episodes I came to the conclusion that I had developed an allergy.

I slowly got the nerve to start buying antihistamine tablets, and dealt with my allergies that way. Yet I soon discovered that over the counter remedies at that time had a way of interrupting sleep, and dulling the mind.

It wasn't long until no drowsiness antihistamines made of molecules so large that they couldn't pass the blood brain barrier were developed, but at the time I didn't have health insurance and couldn't afford shelling out over a hundred dollars a bottle for them.

Eventually the FDA forced the makers of Claritin,. who were being sued by several health insurance companies, to release Claritin as an OTC. And now Loperamide is available as a generic. Walmart sells a thirty day supply for three dollars! This was a drug that was selling for nearly a hundred dollars a bottle just six years ago.

Despite this easy to obtain, safe, and effective antihistamine I still find myself hit with sinus troubles. I usually don't recognize it until it's too late. The sudden onset makes itself known in the headaches, and facial pain. The dizziness when moving the head around is a clear give away of sinus troubles.

Illinois is the worst state in the nation as far as ragweed, and corn pollen are concerned. Illinois also is the worst state in the nation when it comes to mold, and when it comes to summer time right when the corn plants are man high is about the time when allergies start getting bad.


Weather.Com's Weed Pollen Map

Relief often doesn't come until November. I live in Jerome, and we actually still allow people to burn their leaves, and other yard waste. This is insane, and causes me several allergic breakouts each year. And so November is really the first month in which allergies begin to subside for me.

Many people actually move to other states due to their allergies, but sadly states like Arizona, and Nevada which have seen a huge increase in population are no longer the havens they once were offering clean air to those in need.


A Mix of Pollen

This morning was particularly bad for me as I woke up with sinus problems which I had gone to bed with the night before. I lost hours of sleep from it, and decided I had had enough, and called in sick.

I can see myself as a teenager chuckling at anyone who suffered from allergies, thinking they were weaklings. For after all what's a little allergy? Today however I know better. The immune system slowly but surely builds allergic responses sometimes over reacting to harmless substances. We all eventually develop allergies if we live long enough. It's a matter of learning to deal with them.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Simpson's Movie Poster? Eat My Shorts!


I know if I don't get a Simpson's the Movie Poster I'll just..,

I think the whole idea of finally identifying which Springfield is the Simpson's Springfield sort of backfired. Ever since I found out that Springfield, Vermont was elected as the official Simpson's Springfield I've lost interest in the long running cartoon series. I've lost interest in just about everything else too. Food, Sex, the Joy of Work, nothing seems the same anymore. I guess you could say I've been in a funk.


I mean what did we do wrong? Springfield, Illinois is a good little city isn't it?

I had always assumed that Springfield, Illinois must be the home of Bart, but I guess I was always wrong. From the very earliest days of the show I had watched. Even before the show obtained its own time slot on Fox I had watched.

Someone at work had dutifully told me that the cartoonist was actually talking about Springfield, Illinois. He seemed to know what he was talking about I thought. And that's how it all began I believe. All in a moment so many years ago I was convinced that it must be my home town where the Simpson family lived.

Over the years I kept looking for the clues, the similarities between my home town, and Bart's. I found many. Look, there's another clue I tell myself, and others! For many years I believed that we were special. It isn't your typical city which has its own cartoon, especially one as hip, as cool as The Simpsons.


I Just Know I've Seen These People Here In Springfield, Illinois!

Years later I began to recognize an often repeated phrase in reference to the Simpson's and it went something like this, "The show is set in Springfield, but exactly which Springfield hasn't been revealed". That when I began to wonder.

Could it be that my Springfield, Illinois wasn't the Simpson's Springfield? Could it be that all those people who told me that Springfield, Illinois just had to be the Simpson's Springfield were totally wrong?

Possibly so, I thought.


There's No Doubt This Is The Simpson Family At The Washington Park Lagoon

Still I chose to believe. What the heck, who was there to say anything different. Even the creators of the Simpson's weren't talking. It was a neat way to handle the distress of having been sold out.

For years and years the comfort of my faith made life livable. Bart and Lisa went to a school that looked just like one in Springfield, Illinois. Homer was obviously driving to, and from the nuclear power plants in Clinton, Illinois. The Davey Crocket styled founder of Simpson's Springfield were based upon Springfield, Illinois pioneer founders, and what about those occasional references to Abraham Lincoln! Not to mention Shelbyville!

And then there came Simpson's The Movie!


Springfield's Beloved Nuclear Power Plant In Nearby Clinton, Illinois

For some insane reason, publicity I guess, the powers that be decided that it would be fun to pit one Springfield against another. That there should be an online vote, and that winner would take all. And through some weird fluke a small hole in the wall town, Springfield, Vermont managed to steal Springfield, Illinois unofficial claim on being the true Simpson's Springfield.

Springfield, Illinois came in second place in the online voting. I suspect, and still do that foul play was involved. It is too late now, and there is nothing it seems that anyone can, or will do to place the crown back upon the true king - Springfield, Illinois.

There's nothing it seems anyone can do to stop this travesty, this mockery of all that is good and right, to restore the way things really should be.


We Know The Simpson's Live In Springfield, Illinois We've Seem Them!

I guess in some bizzaro world alternate reality Springfield, Vermont or any of the lessor Springfields out there were experiencing the same feelings that we in Springfield, Illinois had been. They actually believed that their Springfields was the Simpson's Springfield. But they were wrong. For I know different.

And now due to some insane mistake Springfield, Vermont has been "Chosen" as the Simpson's Home Town. And I can barely sleep at night thinking about it.

But there is a consolation prize!

We are being offered trinkets. Just as the native Americans were offered beads and bobbles to pick up and leave their rightful lands we Springfieldians have been given a box of movie posters, and a handful of free movie tickets as a consolation prize.

Who needs it?


We Know Who Jebediah Really Is And He Didn't Found Springfield, Vermont

While I'd surely love a Simpson's the Movie movie poster, and a chance to see the Simpson's Movie for free I'd feel uncomfortable taking either if it means I must accept living in a Universe in which the Simpson's Springfield isn't secretly about Springfield, Illinois.

And so I must say in my strongest voice possible, and it ain't so easy to muster folks as it was before, "Eat my shorts"! Eat my shorts all of you who live in Springfield, Vermont!

Monday, July 23, 2007

Harry Potter - Deathly Hallows


My Harry Potter Flier and Wristband

Potter Fan Experience to Obtain First Edition


I went to Barnes and Noble on Friday night, and picked up a wrist band, and colored flier. I had already called a week before to reserve the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

I didn't hang around to long for the Harry Potter Fan's Party, although it looked kind of neat.

I then came home knowing I had to come back at around 11:15 P.M. I spent the time scanning my flier, and wristband, and goofing around on the Internet looking for book reviews.

There had already been a crowd at around seven thirty when I came to pick up my wristband and so I kind of figured there'd be one when I came back to queue for the book.

And there was.


Harry Potter Party - Pretty Young Witch With Wand Waving A Strange Glowing Hand

I was fortunate as the crowd was friendly, and in such a festive mood that I moved easily toward the front. I took many photos.

There were lots of very friendly people. Families with kids, and a large number of teens in the same age as the main characters in the book series.

I saw teens wearing Hogwart's style clothing, and gothic styled people too.

One thing I didn't see was any kind of disruption or disrespect at all. I was surrounded by teens who never made any kind of smart remark to anyone - and we were waiting in line for hours!

There was one family in front of me that drove from Pittsfield. The kids and parents were very happy to be in Springfield standing in line for the last Harry Potter book. I was amazed at how nice this family was. One gentleman opened up a folder, and began reading Harry Potter Jokes, and was quickly surrounded by people wanting some sort of diversion while standing in line.


Barnes and Noble Clerk Who Served Me

A Race to Defeat the Spoilers!

I got home around 1:30 A.M. with my Harry Potter book in hand!

I read until sunrise, and then crashed. I woke up, and began reading, and kept reading all weekend long. I finished reading about 11:30 Sunday night.

I can only say I felt spent after reading the book. I normally wouldn't have read a 757 page book in two days, but I really had no choice. Going back to the office on Monday means being surrounded by people who will have read - and those who will have skimmed and pretended to read - the book. I can tell you they'd have ruined the experience for me, and there'd be no one to blame but myself.


Harry Potter Party - Is This Young Woman Waving Or Is That A Spell Being Cast?

It's one thing to spoil a movie, it's another thing to spoil a book, and it's even worse to spoil a seven book series!

I read a news article in the Indian Times and at least some of the children in India are attending class during the summer. The article quotes teenagers saying they expected to skip school on Monday to give them time to finish school, and to prevent spoilers from getting their thrill by spoiling the book for others.

Sadly I felt I had to read the entire book before going back because I am surrounded by Harry Potter fans, who would have intentionally, and accidentally ruined the book for me.

They can't do it now! Ha!


Harry Potter Deathly Hallows - Review

Nice book. Nice ending to a book, and very nice ending for the series.

There must be sacrifice, and people must die, even those we care about. There really is no escaping death, but we can live a life worth living, and we can celebrate life, and be celebrated even after we have departed.

The last book was a bloodbath, and many beloved characters died, but the story itself achieved closure. The Harry Potter series is indeed a classic. A hundred years from now I see teachers inspiring their students to read by having them read the Potter series. I'm sure that children, and adults alike in future generations will find the series as fun as we have. We've been very fortunate to have lived in a time in which this series was introduced.

Friday, July 20, 2007

Harry Potter - Half Blood Prince Review


Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince U.S. Cover

This is going to be a very short review of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. The book was an excellent read. Before taking up Half Blood Prince you'll want to have read the prior Potter books in the series.

Half Blood Prince definitely acts as a bridge between Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (book five), and the final book of the Potter Series - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In fact I suspect that much of the material in Half Blood Prince was written at the same time Order of the Phoenix was being formulated. This is not to say that Half Blood Prince isn't a book unto itself, but it did leave me wondering how much J.K. Rowlings felt the need to fill, and expand plot and character just to hatch a sixth book.



Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Canadian Style

Having said that I must say that Half Blood Prince did further the story of Harry and his Hogwart's family. The central expansion is that of the Dark Lord, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Much of the book is spent in the presentation of a collection of memories which Albus Dumbledore shares with Harry Potter in an attempt to educate Harry, and the reading audience as to the origin of Voldemort.


Harry Potter Half Blood Prince Ukrainian Style

There are some excellent scenes in the book, but very little magical action. One of the main characters is killed, and Harry is assigned a quest which of course begins at the ending. Leaving readers wanting closure, wanting more.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Order of the Phoenix Movie Review


Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood

Not bad. Having read the book recently I could easily compare the book to the movie, and both are good even if they tell the story in a different way.


Evanna Lynch Plays Luna Lovegood

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix finishes just short of nine hundred pages, while the movie runs around two hours and fifteen minutes. Having said that there's really no way to tell the same story without making a six hour long movie.


Emma Watson as Hermione Granger

Despite the differences I was happy with the movie.

I did, however, want some more action at the end, but I suspect we the viewer are supposed to feel this way. Almost all the action comes at the end, and to tell the truth my imagination presented a much better battle as I was reading the book than the movie presented.


Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter

Is the book better? Of course it is, just like all the Harry Potter books.


Emma Watson Plays Hermione Granger

Anyway, we can all look forward to Half Blood Prince whenever it is set to come out, I know I'll be waiting to see the movie.


Daniel Radcliffe Plays Harry Potter

In the mean time I've read about one hundred and fifty pages into Half Blood Prince, and my goal is to finish it before the last book in the series is released at the end of this week.


Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Lady Bird Johnson Funeral Service


Frank Wolfe Photo: Lady Bird Johnson In Field of Wild Flowers

“The environment is where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share. It is not only a mirror of ourselves, but a focusing lens on what we can become.” - Lady Bird Johnson -

Early this morning I watched the Funeral Service for Lady Bird Johnson on CSPAN. I really love CSPAN as it carries such events without interruption. A few months ago it was President Ford's Funeral, and burial service, and now it is Lady Bird Johnson's Funeral Service.


Claudia Alta Taylor (1915)

“When I was a little girl, I grew up listening to the wind in the pine trees of the East Texas woods.” - Lady Bird Johnson -

If anyone had asked me about Lady Bird Johnson before having watched and listened to her funeral service I would have only been able to say that she was President Johnson's widow, and that she played a significant role in beautifying America's roadsides.

Since her death I've read her obituary, and discovered her role in Head Start, and the civil rights movement.


Lady Bird Johnson and President Lyndon Baines Johnson

“Wildflower landscapes can help us save water. Wildflowers also can save time and maintenance money. They may even bring money to cities and states. Wildflower trails and flower festivals improve local pride and bring in tourists. But, as I’ve said, we need to know much more about how and when and where to plant them to get reliable, predictable, consistent results. We need that knowledge if we are to preserve wildflowers and to choose them as complements to traditional manicured landscaping.” - Lady Bird Johnson -

However, tonight (early this morning) I had the opportunity to learn about who she was. Listening to her grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and daughters speak at her funeral service was amazing.

She lived a long life, and she had a profoundly positive impact on her entire family. It was quite evident that she was profoundly loved, but just as evident was how she changed her family. Her daughters, and granddaughters were so open, and self confident. They were unabashedly proud of Lady Bird.

Lady Bird Johnson may be gone, but she certainly lives on in her family.

“Though the word beautification makes the concept sound merely cosmetic, it involves much more: clean water, clean air, clean roadsides, safe waste disposal and preservation of valued old landmarks as well as great parks and wilderness areas. To me…beautification means our total concern for the physical and human quality we pass on to our children and the future.” - Lady Bird Johnson -

Related Links

LBJ Library

WildFlower Center

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Cheap English Candy Bars - A Review


Scanned These "English" Candy Bars

My daughter pulled these out of her purse. They came back from London with a friend of hers. Funny thing is they were all made in Ireland. The Mars Bar was made in Dublin. The Cadbury bars were not that good actually. The Cadbury Time Out was most awful. I don't know if there's some sort of chocolate shortage in England-Ireland, but they need to add more chocolate to their chocolate bars - listen to me. Even the Cadbury Dairy Milk Bar, what a horrible name, wasn't that good, even though it did have more chocolate. Quite bland.

I don't really like candy bars, but that's not to say that I don't enjoy a bar of dark chocolate several times a week, but I can say that these candy bars were not very tasty - and from Europe I might add. There really is a difference between a candy bar, and a chocolate bar.

The chocolate bars which I find myself consuming most often come over from Germany, Switzerland, and France. European chocolates are available at Walgreen's, and other chain stores, and are a real bargain.

Just a few decades ago you could hardly find good European chocolates here in the states, but no more.

A few days ago my daughter gave me a chocolate bar which she bought at Walgreen's which came from Poland! That chocolate bar wasn't so good, but it still beat all the crappy Hershey's bars that line the rows of American Grocery store checkouts.

Speaking of Hershey's they are offering a premium line of dark chocolates, which are actually quite good for a Hershey's product. It took Hershey's a very long time to enter into the dark chocolate competition, but they are not only good, but better priced than some of the European chocolates.

Friday, July 13, 2007

A Real Flying Car UFO Story


Eye Witness Sketch of 1986 California Flying Car UFO

A few years back I had the pleasure of working for an Internet Service Provider. The IP was started, and based in Springfield, Illinois. That company had within its employ some early website designers whom were very talented. One was a graphics artist whose name I won't share without his permission.

I had a small geocities website dedicated to a few UFO experiences which I had. One day in the break room over lunch my supervisor was talking to another coworker about ghost, and the topic of UFOs eventually popped up. I ended up telling my supervisor about my web pages, and she pressured me to provide the link - which I did.

I asked her not to make a big deal about it, but soon she ended up telling a few others at work about the site. Eventually the graphics artist heard about the sight, and while I was in his office we began sharing our stories about our UFO encounters.

It was then he told me of an incredible encounter with a flying car UFO back in the mid 1980s while he and his father were driving north along Interstate 80 in California.

As he was an artist I asked him to sketch the flying car, which he did.

I've kept the little sketches for nearly a decade, and intended one day to share them in some way, and so now I do.

The sketch above shows in the upper right hand corner how a very bright UFO in the distance hovered high in the sky, moving about somewhat slowly descended (straight line) behind a bridge. As my coworker and his father drove northward traffic came to a virtual halt as an automobile sized UFO just a few feet off the shoulder of the I-80 traveled southbound.

The small craft hovered several feet off the ground, had very bright lights, and darkened window areas. It was colored a very dark green.

The sketch shows I-80 and the bridge in the foreground, it shows the UFO car to the right of the road.


Eye Witness Sketch of 1986 California Flying Car UFO

I asked my coworker to sketch the flying UFO car, and he did. The sketch on the top shows a side view, and the sketch below shows a top view (as he imagined it would look). Notice the very bright lights positioned on the car, and window areas. The windows were darkened and not translucent enough to be seen through from the outside.

My coworker said that whenever he talks with his father one of the first things his father will mention is the day they saw this fantastic flying car.

For the 1980s such a craft would be fantastic indeed. I'm not certain if what they saw was extraterrestrial or not. Perhaps it was a remote controlled unpiloted aerial vehicle? Certainly it would have been top secret, and remains so today - twenty years later!

I suspect some type of hardware malfunction.

If I had been there I'd have jumped out of the car, and ran up to the craft, maybe trying to block its way. My coworker said that as it hovered it was only moving a few miles per hour.

I suspect I'd probably have been taken away, and still sitting in some federal prison for having done such a thing, but still it would have been fun.

Folks there are lots of secret things that will never be shared with us during our lifetimes. Future generations may be scootering around in Jetson's-like cars after all - but it's highly unlikely anyone living today will own such a means of transportation.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Koshi Kat & Half Blood Prince


Koshi Kat Loves To Curl Up With A Good Harry Potter Book

Just love how photogenic Koshi Kat is. Sometimes a photo can capture just a bit of the personality of the subject being photographed, well this photo does a good job capturing a bit of Koshi Kat's persona.

There's a little person there. I'm sure Koshi has a soul.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Harry Potter - Half Blood Prince

The premier showing of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is taking place as I write this. I didn't look up how many theaters here in Springfield, Illinois are showing Order of the Phoenix, but I'm sure they're all packed. The movie started just after midnight. I've talked with several fans of the Potter series today, and all expressed a keen desire to show up for the first showing, but none said they could attend - that's what happens when you get old I guess.

Despite not attending tonight I am hoping to catch the movie this weekend.

This post, however, is about Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I ran out to Barnes & Noble tonight and purchased Half Blood Prince. Thanks to my brother and sister in law who gave me a Barnes and Noble gift card for Christmas I have the money to purchase the books.

I also reserved a copy of the upcoming, and final Harry Potter book which will arrive on bookshelves in less than two weeks!

So far I've read the very first chapter of Half Blood Prince, and it definitely picks up where Order of the Phoenix ends. I've been reading in the press lately how author J.K. Rowling has been coming under increasing pressure from fans to not let Harry Potter die. I too am feeling a bit concerned. It's such a nice series, but I know something has to give - either Potter or the Dark Lord - He Who Must Not Be Named - must die, and I suspect Harry Potter will not survive.

But what does that mean? How will Harry Potter die? Certainly he can not die in the sense that the Dark Lord prevails, but at the same time we know that the Potter series is coming to a definite ending. There must be some ultimate act of self sacrifice on the part of our hero. Everything seems to be pointing to Harry Potter not being able to defeat the Dark Lord through magic alone. Yet we know Harry Potter is the one person who can defeat him. So it is something else about Harry that can defeat He Who Must Not Be Named. Most speculation I've read suggest it is Harry Potter's ability to love. That love in some way will overcome hate.

How J. K. Rowling spins the final chapter of the final book in this series is something hundreds of millions of Harry Potter fans around the world expect to find out in less than a fortnight. I can hardly wait. This is why I decided to read Half Blood Prince now instead of waiting. Reading the last three books in rapid succession, and taking in the fifth movie is certainly helping to define the color of this summer of 2007.

Movie Reviewer Makes Mistake - I Point It Out to Him

Oh yes, here's an email which I sent to San Francisco movie reviewer, Mick LaSalle who incorrectly identified one of the magical creatures in his Order of the Phoenix movie review.

You stated, "A flight across the Thames at night on broomsticks is a beautiful thing to see. A similar flight, later in the film, on centaurs is almost equally satisfying", however, the winged creatures to which you refer are actually Thestrals.

Some Potter Mythology

Centaurs are a proud race of creatures not the servants of man for goodness sake. They'd probably shoot arrows at you if you ever venture into the forbidden magical forest outside Hogwarts for suggesting that they would help Harry and his crew. Although a Centaur saved Harry Potter's life by giving him a ride in an earlier book that Centaur, a friend of Dumbledore's, is now under a threat of death from the other Centaurs, and is banned from ever returning to the magical forest when he agreed to teach at Hogwarts).

Thestrals, winged reptilian horselike creatures, have a keen sense of direction, can only be seen by those who have witnessed death, and may give a ride if you can attract one with say, a lick of Giant's blood, or perhaps some fresh kill.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Response From Senator Durbin

O.K. I know this is boilerplate. Something anyone voicing their concerns about the Iraq War receives. Still let's look at it. My responses in purple. I use the color red to indicate areas of interest.

The following, not including my comments, came from Dick Durbin's staff as a result of an email which I sent to him a few days ago. Look for my better written version of that email on my blog posted a few days ago.

Thank you for letting me know of your opposition to the war in Iraq. I appreciate hearing from you.

I agree that our policy toward Iraq needs a new direction. I voted against the resolution authorizing this war, and since then, far too many of our men and women in uniform have died there. With our involvement now in its fifth year, more than 3,500 American soldiers have been killed and more than 25,000 have been wounded, including thousands who have suffered life-changing injuries such as traumatic brain injury or the loss of a limb. In addition to these losses, this war is costing us $2 billion each week. Add to this the escalating sectarian violence and the unknown number of innocent Iraqi civilians who have perished as a result, and it is clear the Bush Administration lacks a coherent strategy to stabilize Iraq and achieve victory.

JP: I didn't know Senator Richard Durbin voted against the resolution authorizing the war. I suspect there were several points at which Congress had the chance to delay, or stop our headlong rush to war. I'm hoping Senator Richard Durbin consistently voted against the war. If so, my hat is off to him since I was duped by Bush into supporting the war. I honestly believed that our intelligence community must have possessed evidence of weapons of mass destruction. I like most were fooled by lies from the Bush Administration. Who would have believed any administration would stoop so low after the attacks on the twin towers as to lie to the American people, and the world about who was responsible?

The invasion of Iraq was possibly the greatest policy failure of any administration in our nation's history. It is time for a new policy that will start bringing our troops home. Congress went on record in support of a phased withdrawal when it approved a supplemental spending bill containing a timetable for redeploying our troops from Iraq. Tragically, President Bush vetoed that bill and vowed to do the same with any other bill that included a timetable. We do not yet have the votes to compel him to change course, but the supplemental appropriations bill Congress ultimately sent to the President is not the end of the debate on the war in Iraq. This debate will continue until the President relents and implements a plan to bring our troops home.

JP: It's too bad that Congress can't keep sending bills to the President anyway - like one bill a week until Bush is kicked out of office. The Democrats could say they sent a hundred bills to the President only to have the President veto them all. I don't think the American people would blame the Democrats for the war or for dragging their feet. They'd know the Republicans, and the Bush Administration was completely to blame for keeping our troops in Iraq.

The measure that was signed into law takes one small step. It requires the Iraqi government to adhere to specific conditions in order to continue to receive economic assistance from the United States. The President may waive that provision, but to do so he must justify the waiver and describe the actions being taken to bring the Iraqi government into compliance. Ultimately, however, the bill lacks the clear timetable for redeployment that many of us worked hard to include.

JP: Symbolism only, and I dare say that this one measure was not enough.

Our troops have done everything we have asked of them. We owe it to them and their families to hold our government accountable and continue to press for a new direction. We must make it clear to Iraq's political leaders and its people that they must take responsibility for the future of their nation, engage in an effective reconciliation process, and establish and maintain peace with the help of a trained and fully functioning Iraqi security force. The Iraqis face a difficult road ahead, and we should continue to help them as they strive to move forward. But by continuing our current open-ended military commitment in Iraq, the Bush Administration is simply prolonging the day when the U.S. soldiers there are able to return home to their families. I am saddened and angered by the Administration's insistence on continuing and escalating our role in what is now an Iraqi civil war. I will continue to push for a new direction that brings our troops home.

JP: This was some good boilerplate. Obviously Senator Durbin doesn't have time to respond to every letter, or email, but he probably approved the text. Nothing new here, but in a way that's reassuring in the sense that what I hear him say on CSPAN is what he's telling everyone, and that's that he wants to bring our troops home.

Monday, July 09, 2007

Order of the Phoenix - My Take

Last week I announced on this blog that I started reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I have read every book in the series just before attending its theatrical release.

Part of the reason why I chose to read the books just before each movie was released was laziness, but as each movie approached I also realized that I enjoyed racing to finish the associated book just in the nick of time.

And so this weekend I decided I simply had to finish up Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, what with the movie coming out in a matter of days.

This morning I finished the book after reading all night. In fact I left just twenty pages for myself before sleeping, and finished those up this morning.

As this isn't going to be an actual review of the book I'll cut to the chase and simply say - wow!

Great book for what it is.

Tonight I watched a one hour retrospective which appeared on A&E which reviewed the first four Harry Potter books, and movies. It also included many recent interviews of the actors which portray the main characters in the series, and included some tantalizing clips from the soon to be released movie.

From everything I've seen I can tell you it looks very exciting.

I can think of no other series of books or movies which start their main characters out as children, and slowly progress them through adolescence, and what will inevitably be early adulthood. So this must be really exciting for my daughter's generation who have aged year by year in step with the characters in the movies.

Also, there's the fact that the last book in the Harry Potter series is due for release later this month.

I plan to break my pattern, and purchase the two remaining books in the series.

I'm doing this as a form of self defense, for if I don't one of my coworkers will ruin the ending of the series for me, and I won't let that happen.

Stephen King is correct when he says that a hundred years from now people will still be reading the books in this series.

No doubt I'll be going to the movie this week!

Sunday, July 08, 2007

Open Letter to Senator Dick Durbin

Senator Durbin,

I've been a life long supporter, and wish to thank you for your service.

As I see it, President Bush will not bring our troops home from Iraq despite mounting opposition to the never ending war there.

I believe the Iraq war has harmed the national interest.

I've seen you speak several times on CSPAN, and I suspect you are as frustrated with the Bush Administration as the majority of the American people are.

I realize that the slim Democratic majority in the Senate makes it difficult to proceed in any bold fashion. Without Cloture Republicans can filibuster - effectively killing a bill before it even has a chance.

Unfortunately, I have begun to notice in the blogosphere that many who supported Democrats in the last election feel betrayed.

I'm hoping that this sense of betrayal doesn't keep people from voting in the extremely important 2008 election.

The fate of the nation depends upon voters understanding that Democrats did not betray them, but that they simply lack the votes to overcome Congressional procedural obstacles employed by Republicans. That such procedures will prevent bringing our troops home unless either the Democrats take additional seats in the House and Senate, or until we have a Democrat as president again.

I believe that our nation should be using the money we are wasting in Iraq on subsidizing a shift to alternative fuels.

We've wasted so much of this nation's treasure on the Iraq debacle it is simply mind boggling to wrap one's thoughts around how much good we could have done right here in this nation.

I often wonder how many wind mill farms, geothermal electric plants, and solar plants could have been built with the money we have wasted on the Iraq war?

I can only guess how many more hybrid vehicles, flex fuel vehicles, and electric vehicles could have been purchased if we had used money wasted on the Iraq war to finance tax breaks for those purchasing such vehicles?

I see many problems ahead for America which can be avoided if we only had leaders willing to tell the truth, and challenge corruption.

I feel that you are such a leader. Please do what you can to end the Iraq war, and help this nation move toward energy independence.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

Edited for presentation on my blog. I sent this to the Honorable Senator Durbin.

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Corrupt to the Core - Impeach Them


.. God Bless The USA! Impeach George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney
.
.
Bush Administration - An Organized Crime Operation

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney should be impeached.

Commutation of Scooter Libby's prison sentence for having obstructed justice is just one more example in a long list of Bush Administration misdeeds which illustrates that George W. Bush is unfit for office - any office.


The Bush Administration is like an oozing wound contaminating everything that it touches.

The Bush Administration's corrupt gang of cronies will continue to hold power until January of 2009, and if this country doesn't watch out we'll end up with another group of blood suckers following on their heels.



What To Do Until January 2009

  • Tell your kids not to join the military until U.S. troops leave Iraq
  • Keep informed
  • Write your Congressman
  • Contribute
  • Volunteer
  • Vote in 2008
  • Don't give up hope

If we can keep the bastards from stealing another election there's a chance we can make this nation the kind of nation everyone can be proud of again.
.. .
.
Remember peace and prosperity anyone?

They're wanting to raise an entire generation of American's afraid of their own shadow - American's so afraid of the terrorist boogie man that they'll raise their hands for permission before they go potty. Don't let them use our fears to take our freedoms away.
..
.
For Those Outraged

.
Olbermann on Libby

Watch Countdown on MSNBC tonight in which Host Keith Olbermann will ask for Bush, and Cheney to resign!
.
.
Local Blogger on Bush's Outrageous Behavior

Check out Dave of The11thhour's totally justified righteous indignation over Bush's latest evildoing.
.
.
Read More About Bush Administration Treason

http://www.wilsonsupport.org/

Monday, July 02, 2007

All You Need Is Love


The Beatles - All You Need Is Love

Some may find the world's problems a bit overwhelming.
Where do we even begin?
This group hates that group.
This person can't stand that person.

And what of war, and intolerance, and petty jealousy?

This song seems to have the answer, however, we need to define love in a way that doesn't result in violence, oppression, all the other evils that have been carried out in the name of God, and presumably love.

If we look at all the bloodshed, and havoc in this world today we see the genesis of all these events based in the opposite of concern for the welfare of our fellow man.

We've found many ways to justify this behavior; nationalism, capitalism, religion, ethnicity, race, gender, age, and even sexual orientation. We've use these tools to promote genocide, war, slavery, theft, torture, murder, rape, and a list of atrocities so long that only an evil madman could ever imagine.

Some say humanity is itself evil, and insane, while others blame individuals. No matter where we point the blame the truth is the responsibility for how this world works falls to us.



All You Need Is Love
.......The Beatles

Love, love, love.
Love, love, love.
Love, love, love.

There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game.
It's easy.

Nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time.
It's easy.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

Nothing you can know that isn't known.
Nothing you can see that isn't shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
It's easy.

All you need is love.
All you need is love.
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need.

All you need is love (all together, now!)
All you need is love. (everybody!)
All you need is love, love.
Love is all you need (love is all you need).

Yee-hai!
Oh yeah!
She loves you, yeah yeah yeah.
She loves you, yeah yeah yeah.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Buffet City Scrapbook Entry


Photo: Buffet City Sells Wall Adornments Spring 2007


I'm using my blog to "scrap book" the following article obtained from the ICE website.

Buffet City was a popular Chinese eatery in Springfield, Illinois. The restaurant was closed after an immigration raid in 2006. I include (above) a photo which shows the sale of the large posters which adorned Buffet City's walls. Asking price was $150 each. I snapped the photo early spring 2007.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The two owners of a Springfield restaurant were indicted yesterday for money laundering, and for harboring and employing illegal aliens at the restaurant. The indictment resulted from a worksite enforcement investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Rodger A. Heaton, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, announced that the owners of Buffet City restaurant, 1774 Wabash Ave., Springfield, were charged by a federal grand jury yesterday. The 10-count indictment charges Xiang Hui Ye, 28, of 3304 Haviland Dr., and Xian Xi Ye, 39, of 2709 Kipling Dr., with one count each of harboring and employing illegal aliens, and eight counts of money laundering.

Both defendants were charged in a criminal complaint filed Sept. 20. Hui Ye, a Chinese citizen who was granted asylum in the U.S., was arrested Sept. 20, and Xi Ye, an illegal alien from China, was arrested Sept. 28. Both remain temporarily detained pending hearings scheduled on Oct. 10 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Byron G. Cudmore.

The indictment alleges that from January 2005 through Sept. 20, 2006, the two men provided housing, employment and transportation to illegal aliens for commercial advantage and financial gain, and that they knowingly hired and recruited illegal aliens to work at their Buffet City restaurant. The money laundering charges allege that one or the other of the defendants signed checks to pay for apartment rental used to house illegal aliens.

If convicted, the statutory penalty for the felony offense of harboring illegal aliens is up to 10 years in prison for each alien. For the misdemeanor offense of hiring or recruiting illegal aliens for employment, the penalty is up to six months in prison and a fine of $3,000 for each illegal alien. For each charge of money laundering, the penalty is up to 20 years in prison.

“ICE aggressively targets employers who knowingly and recklessly employ an illegal alien workforce,” said ICE resident agent-in-charge Greg Archambeault who heads the Springfield office. “Today's enforcement action demonstrates how we use all our investigative tools to go after those who take advantage of illegal labor to make a profit.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Chesley, in the Springfield Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office, is prosecuting the case. The U.S. Department of Labor assisted ICE with the investigation.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The public is encouraged to report suspicious behavior by calling ICE's toll-free hotline: 1-866-3472423.

This investigation was part of the Secure Border Initiative (SBI), a comprehensive multi-year plan by the Department of Homeland Security to secure America's borders and reduce illegal migration. Under SBI, Homeland Security seeks to gain operational control of both the northern and southern borders, while re-engineering the detention and removal system to ensure that illegal aliens are removed from the country quickly and efficiently. SBI also involves strong interior enforcement efforts, including enhanced worksite enforcement investigations and intensified efforts to track down and remove illegal aliens inside this country.

-- ICE --

Friday, June 29, 2007

iShot Him For His iPhone


Bloody IPhone


iShot Him For His iPhone

...........by JP

Head's smashed like a bug

iShot him for his iPhone
iShot him for his iPhone
iShot him for his iPhone

Blood colors the rug

iShot him for his iPhone
iShot him for his iPhone
iShot him for his iPhone

Oozing goo was his head

iShot him for his iPhone
iShot him for his iPhone
iShot him for his iPhone

Alive now dead dead dead

iShot him for his iPhone
iShot him for his iPhone
iShot him for his iPhone

Now I got what he once had

iShot him for his iPhone
iShot him for his iPhone
iShot him for his iPhone

His IPhone now I'm so bad

iShot him for his iPhone
iShot him for his iPhone
iShot him for his iPhone

Asked polite he just laughed

iShot him for his iPhone
iShot him for his iPhone
iShot him for his iPhone

Had to cap his ass

Harry Potter - Order of the Phoenix


Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

I must admit I bought the book long ago, but never read it. And now as with earlier Harry Potter books I find myself racing to read the book prior to going to see the movie.

How else can I claim to be disappointed in the movie?

Actually, I've found the series of Harry Potter movies so far to be quite faithful to the books - not word for word mind you.

So I'm about ten percent done after some reading tonight - will I be finished in time?

One of my coworkers told me about some of what happens in this book, yet I like what I've read so far.

Harry is turning into a darker character - with passions - feelings - that he wasn't able to have when he was younger. I've heard that he develops more magical skills, and I'm looking to see that too.

And yes, I know the last book in the series is being released next month too - so I'll have some reading to do if I'm ever to catch up with the series.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

iPhone Wet Dream



It's down to hours now. My buddy Dave at The11thhour will be lucky enough to own what I can only dream of - the IPhone.

Many months ago, right after Steve Jobs introduced the IPhone to the rest of the world, I went to www.Apple.com and spent over an hour just reading about this phone.

I sent the link to a coworker, and said I was going to have that phone.

After I bought my daughter her car for her sixteenth birthday I knew then I couldn't afford the IPhone. I couldn't justify moving from my cellular carrier, and buying the phone of my dreams.

Still I told myself, maybe someway I'll do it.

But reality has set in.

As Apple and AT&T have run their IPhone advertisements I've noticed the effect they've had upon me - similar in a way to pornography.

Here is something you want very much. She's classy. She's for a better man than you.
But you can have her for a price. She's for sale. If only you were man enough to handle her.

Oh IPhone, I must have you. I must possess you. I must be one with you my dream phone.

I have for many years believed that the IPhone would in fact be mine. Even before Apple introduced the IPhone I thought out carefully what I'd want in a phone, thinking about Science Fiction predictions on technology of the future.

Now it seems the future is here, and that phone is available in the IPhone.

I've read enough reviews to know the phone has some series limitations. For the money that people will be shelling out the IPhone is an expensive status symbol. Yet despite any flaws it may have I suspect it will be worth every penny considering how much other cell phones suck.

In fact when I look at advertisements for other phones now I laugh in contempt.

The thought of upgrading to something less than the IPhone seems a cruel thought, and I now have decided not to upgrade any of my phones until Apple begins selling to Verizon in two years.

Why would I want some obsolete crap when I can have an IPhone?

I believe that will be the legacy of the IPhone. It has raised the expectation of what a phone should be.

Since I won't be buying an IPhone anytime soon I will hope for the next best thing, to be allowed to play with Dave's IPhone when he gets one - hopefully tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

It's Midnight!


My Cat Midnight

I liked this photo of Midnight. Midnight is a male tuxedo cat.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Now Those Are Some Big Flippers


Introducing On The Right Icadyptes salasi

Thought this recent discovery in paleo-biology was kind of funny.

Five foot tall penguins! Go figure. Then again some of the fish living forty million years ago were huge, and rather evil looking too.


Check out Alabama's Zeuglodon from the same period

Food for thought people of Springfield. You never really know what may be lurking in Loch Springfield.

email jp

  • jeromeprophet@gmail.com

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