Happy Happy New Year!

I just wanted to wish you all a very happy and SAFE New Years.

Another one down, huh?

So, what are your New Years plans for tonight? Anything good? Anyone heading out?

How about new year resolutions, does anyone have any?

more hang time.....

BAGHDAD, Dec. 30 — After nearly three decades living with the brutal repression of Saddam Hussein and the violent aftermath of his overthrow by American troops, most of Iraq responded with relative calm on Saturday to the news that the former dictator had been hanged at dawn in one of the grimmest of his own execution chambers.


Death of the Iraqi Tyrant This nation of 27 million people spent much of the day crowding around TV sets to watch mesmerizing replays of a video recording that showed the 69-year-old Mr. Hussein, in what appeared to be a state of subdued resignation, being led to the gallows shortly after 6 a.m. in Baghdad by masked executioners, and having a noose fashioned from a thick rope of yellow hemp lowered around his neck.

Hangovers suck

If ringing in the New Year feels like a gong banging in your head, chances are you drank too much alcohol celebrating New Year's Eve, and you're not alone.

Scientists have studied few of the common treatments for hangovers found at your local drugstore.

However, you can avoid headaches this holiday by learning the facts about alcohol: a cup of coffee won't sober you up, popping Tylenol can be bad for your liver, and the hair of the dog will only prolong your pain.


"The severity of a hangover is related to the blood alcohol level you reach, how rapidly you drink, and the amount you drink," said Dennis Twombly, program director of the Division of Neuroscience and Behavior at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). "After the alcohol has been cleared from the system, a hangover can last for 8 to 24 hours, depending on how much you've consumed."

Granted, I would NEVER wanna mess with this guy, but he is just a world class fuck up.


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Mike Tyson was arrested early Friday on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of cocaine after police stopped him shortly after he left a Scottsdale nightclub, police said.

The former heavyweight champion appeared in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix later Friday and was ordered released without bond on a felony drug possession charge.

No alcohol was detected in his system, and a DUI-drugs charge was not filed pending toxicology tests.

Tyson, 40, will be required to submit to drug and alcohol testing and is prohibited from drinking or taking any nonprescription drugs while the case is pending.

Time to hang.....

U.S. official says execution could come tomorrow, but Iraqis are not so sure

December 29, 2006
BAGHDAD–Saddam Hussein bade two half-brothers farewell yesterday in a rare prison meeting as he awaits execution, but U.S. and Iraqi officials gave conflicting accounts of whether he would hang within days.

A senior Bush administration official said the ousted president could go to the gallows as soon as tomorrow. But Iraqi officials backed away from suggestions they'd definitely hang Saddam within a month.

Edwards Makes It Official: He's Running For President

December 28, 2006 10:50 a.m. EST


William Macklin - All Headline News Staff Reporter
New Orleans, LA (AHN) - In an appearance on NBC's "Today Show" early Thursday, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards admitted what anyone vaguely familiar with the electoral process already knew: he wants to be president.

"I'm here to announce I'm a candidate for president of the United States," said Edwards, a Democrat and his party's 2004 vice-presidential candidate. "I've reached my own conclusion that this is the best way to serve my country."

Standing in the early morning light in a Katrina-ravaged neighborhood in New Orleans, Edwards formalized his campaign after months of cat-out-the-bag leaks that left little doubt as to his intentions. As he spoke about his desire to reduce the number of troops in Iraq and tackle other problems ranging from global warming to health care, his campaign was already in full swing on the internet, where for months Edwards has been posting blogs and raising money on his "One America" website.

The joy of music.....

OK, I know I have asked this of you in the past Scott, but since we have had so many new Offmen pop up on here since then I ask again. I also ask that you add your few to the pile again Scott!

If you had to pick 5 or 10 songs of the past that would help you to build you an Offmen soundtrack, what would they be?

I am building a new library of songs for my new MP3 player and I need your help.

Anyone?

Thats why they taste so darn good!!!!!

Over the course of its four-month life span, the average commercially bred domestic turkey is fed two pounds of antibiotics, sedatives and other growth enhancing drugs.


This makes me wanna think twice come next Thanksgiving. Its pretty amazing to think what they add to our food. Granted, Ill still eat it.....it has always made me wonder as to why you see so many young kids develop so early....makes me wonder if all the hormones they add to our food is playing a large part in this. Its just not right seeing an 8th grade boy stand nearly 6 feet tall or some 11 year old girl having boobs bigger than your wife or girlfriend, you know?

You cant help but notice. Its kinda freaky.

Great Place

I am seen through many eyes.
Even the blind see me.
Through me, nothing is impossible.
Many stories come from within me.
Time can hold still, or move at the speed of light.
The unthinkable comes to life in me.
I am a wondrous world full of life, or even death.
Love can rule, and hate fades out of the picture.
Peace can be found throughout and no wars.
It is within me where only I can control; no one else can.
I am a place that no one can take from you.

What am I?

In the news.....RIP.

RANCHO MIRAGE, California (CNN) -- Former President Gerald Ford, who became president in 1974 after the resignation of Richard Nixon, died Tuesday at age 93.

Ford, the oldest surviving former U.S. president, died peacefully at 6:45 p.m. PT (9:45 p.m. ET) Tuesday at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, according to a statement from his office. The cause of death was not given.

A statement from Ford's wife, Betty, said: "My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Gerald Ford, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather has passed away at 93 years of age. His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country."

In the music world.....

A true pioneer.....



James Brown, the ‘Godfather of Soul’, Dies at 73

By JON PARELES
Published: December 25, 2006
James Brown, the singer, songwriter, bandleader and dancer, who indelibly transformed 20th-century music, died early today at Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta, where he been admitted on Saturday with pneumonia, his agent, Frank Copsidas, said. Mr. Brown was 73 years old and lived in Beech Island, S.C., near the Georgia border.

Gifts Galore?

So, what did everyone get for Christmas?

I gots me a new pair of jeans, an MP3 player, a new electric razor and some new boxers.

What did you get?

Dad e O Update

so life here in AH has been a thrill a minute lately, thought I would update you boys to let you know why my postings have been so erratic (and a little salty).

-I got a new boss, the guy I 've been working with for the last 5 years has moved on, and I am not ready to GM my own place yet so we brought in a Lady to take the helm, there has been some shifting of responsibilities and some policy changes. And of course I take a little time to get used to so that can be a little trying. All this happening in December after a difficult year is bad timing. Some soul searching is/was inorder to decide whether or not I want to be part of the new regime. I'm gonna stick it out since the boys get hungry when I'm out of work.
-Tiff also is doing a little soul searching, she has been experiencing some trouble getting used to her new responsibilies at her job.
-My brother Scott (Middle brother) is in town (Rockford, doing Managment training with a major national Steak House Chain) and I have to deal with some long squelched familial emotions.
-Max is sick on Christmas!! poor little dude is having Vomit and Diariah.
-Jake is getting a little big for his britches if ya know what I mean.
-We are getting ready to go down and visit my Mom in Dallas, she hasn't seen the boys in a few years.
-Oh yea, my Dad's wife died of lung cancer, kinda lame
-On a brighter note, this summer I hung some flyers in a couple of local buisness offering to overhaul bikes in my garage, and I just got a call from one of them. This dude wanted me to put together his brand new Felt Tri bike ($1200, online), and overhaul a Schwinn tandem. so I threw together this bike in a couple of hours and made $50, he takes in home, and comes back 2 hours later saying he cant get the gears to shift. OK, lets check it out, it worked when he left. Turns out he just didn' t know how to use his fancy index shifting 20 speed shifters, there's 2 levers dude, one for down shifts, one for up. this is why I love my old school friction shifters. easy and intuitive.
- I did reach my milage goal this year (1500 miles pedaled) but I was hoping to ride a century (100 miles in a day) which didn't happen (sad face)
-I got to spend some quality on line and face time with old friends!
-I've been happily married for over 12 years, and going strong, Iwould like a piece if the bets that were placed against our marriage lasting. I and despite my grumblings I do have two wonderfull kids,

That being said:
All and All, I am very glad this year is coming to a close, it has had some very distinct up and downs. I'm ready for a new start in '07

Merry Christmas Boys, I'm gonna lift one (or 2) to you all and to your loved ones.

One Offmen's Film Review "Borat"

I have to admit this was not a movie on my list of “must see um’s”… but then as late I really don’t have one any how. So last night, at the last minute my wife secured baby sitting and requested that we get out and see a movie. Our choice Borat fit out film watching parameters in two ways, one it was starting a reasonable hour, and two it was short 81 minutes (which allowed me to get home and in bed before 10pm).

Any-hoo, my expectations were like so, sure I would laugh now and again, but some of the clichés were really going to annoy me. Was I off target, not really how ever I was taken aback to the depth and degree on some of the digs this movie made on some rather unsuspecting characters. To be honest there were many points in this movie when I felt a little uncomfortable with the content. For me it was not so funny to see these unscripted characters teased and hoodwinked on such a personal level. Shortly after my wife and I left the theater I was still in WTF mode, and then it dawned on me. These poor bastards (the films unscripted characters) who where mocked and teased so unshamefully, all signed release forms…. And so with that thought in mind I nearly giggled my self to sleep last night.

In the end you would have to say I was a little slow on the uptake. So would I recommend this movie? Sure any of the Offmen would enjoy this movie… just don’t take your mom, or your children!

Merry Christmas!

I wanna take this little time to wish each and every Offmen that visits this blog a very Merry Christmas. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend and that you are able to spend some quality time with your loved ones.

I cant believe 2006 is all but over, can you?

Happy Holidays brothers!!!

Eric =)

Another mile stone for boner.....

DUBLIN, Ireland — Irish rocker and humanitarian Bono will become a knight of the British empire — but the U2 frontman won't be called "Sir."

Britain confirmed Saturday Bono will receive his honorary knighthood from the British ambassador to Ireland, David Reddaway, in a Dublin ceremony shortly after New Year's Day.

The Dubliner, whose real name is Paul Hewson, won't be entitled to use the title "Sir" because he is not a national of Britain or the Commonwealth of former British colonies.

A spokesman said the 46-year-old singer was flattered by the honor and hoped it will help him open diplomatic doors in his campaign for more Western aid to Africa.

The (Holiday) Random Photo 12/22

I found this one in an old file a few months ago, and thought I would save it for a special day. Merry Christmas every one, hope these holidays all find you well.

More troops, this is insanity!!!

Washington, December 20, 2006

President George W Bush on Wednesday said he is inclined to believe that there is a need to permanently increase in the strength of the United States Army and the Marine Corps in Iraq, maintaining that securing a peaceful future required a sustained commitment from the American people and the military.

At the year-end press conference, Bush said that he did not disagree with the notion of lighter armed forces as pushed for by former Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld but that one had to factor in the long term threats of extremists and radicals.

"One of my top priorities during this war is to ensure that our men and women wearing the uniform have everything they need to do their jobs. This war on terror is the calling of a new generation. It is the calling of our generation. Success is essential to securing a future for peace for our children and grandchildren. And securing this peaceful future is going to require a sustained commitment from the American people and our military," he said.

strong, strong weed.....

LAZARO CARDENAS, Mexico — Soldiers trying to seize control of one Mexico's top drug-producing regions found the countryside teeming with a new hybrid marijuana plant that can be cultivated year-round and cannot be killed with pesticides.

Soldiers fanned out across some of the new fields Tuesday, pulling up plants by the root and burning them, as helicopter gunships clattered overhead to give them cover from a raging drug war in the western state of Michoacan. The plants' roots survive if they are doused with herbicide, said army Gen. Manuel Garcia.

"These plants have been genetically improved," he told a handful of journalists allowed to accompany soldiers on a daylong raid of some 70 marijuana fields. "Before we could cut the plant and destroy it, but this plant will come back to life unless it's taken out by the roots."

I wonder what this shit is like smoked? I wonder if it has hit the US yet and what a half ounce goes for?

And now for something else.

Compliments of a History Channel Daily E-Mail: this day in history: It's a little long but....sorry about the format sucking. edited for length, but you remember, right?.
1998 : President Clinton impeached

After nearly 14 hours of debate, the House of Representatives approves two articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton, charging him with lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice. Clinton, the second president in American history to be impeached, vowed to finish his term.
In November 1995, Clinton began an affair with Monica Lewinsky, a 21-year-old unpaid intern. Over the course of a year and a half, the president and Lewinsky had nearly a dozen sexual encounters in the White House. In April 1996, Lewinsky was transferred to the Pentagon. That summer, she first confided in Pentagon co-worker Linda Tripp about her sexual relationship with the president. In 1997, with the relationship over, Tripp began secretly to record conversations with Lewinsky, in which Lewinsky gave Tripp details about the affair.
In December, lawyers for Paula Jones, who was suing the president on sexual harassment charges, subpoenaed Lewinsky. In January 1998, allegedly under the recommendation of the president, Lewinsky filed an affidavit in which she denied ever having had a sexual relationship with him. Five days later, Tripp contacted the office of Kenneth Starr, the Whitewater independent counsel, to talk about Lewinsky and the tapes she made of their conversations. Tripp, wired by FBI agents working with Starr, met with Lewinsky again, and on January 16, Lewinsky was taken by FBI agents and U.S. attorneys to a hotel room where she was questioned and offered immunity if she cooperated with the prosecution. A few days later, the story broke, and Clinton publicly denied the allegations, saying, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky."

Editorial comment by your truly: This was (I'm a little sorry to say in hind sight) one of the most deciding factors in the following elections for me. This whole sordid affair so filled me with discust that I had no choice then to vote for the opposition. No matter who it was. It's kinda wierd but Slick willy getting it wet probably changed America more then nearly anything else he did in office. He would probably go down in history as one of our greatest presidents if not for the cigar shenanigens. IMO

What do you think?

Should this guy really be charged with kidnapping????

WARREN, Mich. — An 84-year-old man who took his 81-year-old wife from a Michigan nursing home and moved her to Florida has been charged with kidnapping her.

Judge John Chmura of 37th District Court in Warren on Monday reduced the bond for Joseph Perez from $100,000 to a personal bond, and he was released from the Macomb County Jail. He had been held since being charged last week with kidnapping his wife Helen.

Kidnapping carries a possible sentence of life in prison, but a prosecutor suggested that the charge may not stand.

"Let's put it this way: Everybody's going to have a merry Christmas," Macomb County Assistant Prosecutor John Latella told The Detroit News. A preliminary examination is scheduled Wednesday.

Suprize Email!!!!

I got a suprize email today from Mike T. and it was so great to hear from him. I always held Mike up with a lot of respect and andmiration....

It was just a nice little suprize. Thanks to the Offmen who gave him my email addy!!!!

Damn former commie pigs.....

MOSCOW — Russia is to begin supplying Iran with nuclear fuel early next year despite mounting concern in the West that this could accelerate Tehran’s plans to build a nuclear bomb.

Sergei Shmatko, head of Atomstroyexport, Russia’s state nuclear fuel exporter, said last week that preparations to send fuel to Iran would start next month and the first consignment was expected to reach the Islamic republic in early spring.

The announcement, at a time when Russia is asserting itself as an energy power, has caused anxiety in western countries which are trying to convince the Kremlin to end its nuclear co-operation with Tehran.

The concerns were strengthened yesterday when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was reported to have told a Kuwaiti envoy that Iran was ready to transfer its nuclear technology to neighbouring countries.

Last Night!

A few Offmen found lurking at the 2006 Bongiovanni Christmas party. From the left; Martin, Frank, Scott, Mike T, and Pete. Special thanks to Kristi for the photo.

"Choose your friends carefully. Your enemies will choose you!" Y. Arafat (taken from "Hit or Myth" by Robert Asprin)

Just wanted to stop in and say hi. the weather is great here if it gets a little chilly at night. i was fired from one of my jobs friday night. apparently i don't get along with others well. that was the reason stated. it was my secondary job and my primary was looking to give me more hours anyway, so now they are available. it has been brewing since the boss told me to cut my hair and i said no. the final straw came when i confronted a co-worker during a slow period over an opinion she expressed that offended me. i never got rude and i never insulted her but since she was a two week employee and i had been there since the place opened the brilliant manager chose to fire me so she wouldn't quit. oh well i won't have anytrouble finding a new part time gig to fill my hours and i get to spend little extra time with my family right before the solistice celebration. every body have a great holiday.

So, how is everyones weekend going? Quiet here. It is cloudy and around 60 degrees, terrible, terribly warm for this time of year, but I guess Ill take it because when winter hits, its really going to hit. I got all my holiday shoppin done which is nice. Didnt spend a terrible amount either.

Hows things with everyone else?

Florida Halts Executions After Injection Problem

By ADAM LIPTAK and TERRY AGUAYO
Published: December 15, 2006
Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida suspended all executions in the state today, citing a troubled execution on Wednesday and appointing a commission to consider the humanity and constitutionality of the way inmates are put to death in the state.

Hours later, a federal judge ruled that California’s death penalty protocol violated the constitutional prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.

Opponents of the death penalty cheered the decisions. “Today has been the most significant day in the history of the death penalty in the America in many years,” said Jamie Fellner, the director of United States programs for Human Rights Watch.

“These developments show that the current lethal-injection protocols pose an unacceptable risk of cruelty,” Ms. Fellner said. “The way states have been killing people for the last 30 years has yielded botched execution after botched execution.”

In the news.....

By PATRICK HEALY
Published: December 15, 2006
It’s her! Wait, who’s she with? Wait — not him? With him?!?

Probably the juiciest power lunch of the week unfolded at the Four Seasons yesterday as Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton sized up her 2008 presidential chances with none other than the Republican power broker Alfonse M. D’Amato, with former Mayor Edward I. Koch merrily riding shotgun.

Mr. D’Amato, the former senator from New York, described himself in an interview yesterday as a big, big fan of hers, (though he will be supporting a Republican in 2008), and said he told her not to lose a minute’s sleep over her possible Democratic rival — “what’s-his-name, Obama.” The three dine together once or twice a year, with each taking a turn at picking up the check. (Mrs. Clinton, who had the $56 Dover sole, paid yesterday, so the White House consultation did come at a price, something north of $250.)

Over salad, Nantucket Bay scallops and a plate of heavenly truffles (gratis), Mr. D’Amato and Mr. Koch said they analyzed the 2008 field, and both predicted that Senator John McCain would be the Republican nominee and that former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani would be his running mate.

Mr. Koch said he told Mrs. Clinton that she would triumph over that ticket, while Mr. D’Amato, a friend of both men, would not reveal how he rated her chances.

Lets all go and shoot this man, shall we?

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Two children have been removed from their home after a man reportedly ran a clothes dryer with the toddlers inside.

A 3-year-old boy was treated for second-degree burns, but a 2-year-old girl was not injured after the Nov. 28 incident, the Reno County district attorney's office said.

Aron J. Pritchard, 27, was charged Tuesday with one felony count of child abuse and another of aggravated endangering a child. Bond was set at $750,000.

Police investigators alleged the man stuffed the children into the dryer and turned it on, reportedly after the boy wet his pants. The boy was not treated for his injuries until he was taken into protective custody on Dec. 6, the district attorney's office said in a news release.

What Am I?

In your future and in your past
I come and go so senseless and fast
My purpose is unknown to all
Remembrance seems to drift then fall
I travel by night and fade by day
Because that is my common way

What am I?

How to Stay Calm when Other People Give You the Finger when You're Driving

Keep calm - don't react angrilyDid someone give you the finger, and you want to stay calm, even though what they did was very insulting (not to mention, immature)? Follow these steps, and have less drivers pulling beside you just to flip you the bird.

Steps
Consider why they are giving you the finger. Are you cutting them off, speeding up when they need to get over, or do you have an extremely insulting bumper sticker? If you know what it could be, try changing that a little bit.
When someone gives you the finger, and you want to remain calm, pretend that they are telling you that you're number one.
You can always smile and wave at them, instead of yelling back. They hate this, because they want you to do something annoying to justify their anger, but don't do this just to annoy them; do it to keep yourself calm and collected.
Turn the radio on to your favorite station. Sing along to the music, to get your mind off rush hour traffic. This works especially well with pop music such as Britney Spears or Pusscat Dolls, don't be afraid to turn that music way up.
Think about what you're going to do when you get home. A relaxing bath, crawl into bed, read, etc.
Ignore it, act as if they flipped off the car next to, or behind you.
Find humor in the situation; just laugh it off.
Be the mature one in the situation.
If it still doesn't help, imagine the horrible car crash they will suffer the next time they are giving the finger and not paying attention to their driving.

Buy a home, get a free gun!

HOUSTON — A Texas real estate agent looking to add more bang to her business is offering clients in law enforcement a free Glock pistol if they buy a home from her.

Julie Upton, a Houston-area real estate agent, spurned traditional buyer incentives like free gasoline cards or home improvement store gift certificates.

Instead, she placed an advertisement offering a pistol with the purchase of any home worth at least $150,000 in the city police department's monthly publication, "Badge & Gun."

The free guns are only for those in law enforcement, said Upton, who is married to a police officer.

"We thought it would be a good way to entice other police officers," Upton said. "And whether people want the gun or not, it has stirred up a lot of attention."

Upton has given away two pistols to police officers who purchased homes from her. The guns cost about $500.

Crazy ass mofuckies.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVLZJ90E-q4

Follow up.....

Leaders Voice Outrage on Conference on Holocaust in Iran

By CHRISTINE HAUSER
Published: December 12, 2006
A gathering in Iran billed as a conference to “debate” the Nazi annihilation of six million Jews continued on its second day to spark outrage in the West, drawing fierce criticism today from European leaders, the Vatican and the White House.

Calling the Holocaust an “immense tragedy” for all humanity, the Vatican issued a statement admitting of no doubt that the mass murder took place, and said it must serve as a warning for people to respect the rights of others. The statement used the Hebrew word for the Holocaust, Shoah, and expressed “great compassion” for what happened to the Jews during World War II, according to Agence France-Presse.

“The last century saw an attempt to exterminate the Jewish people, which led to the killing of millions of Jews of all social categories merely because of the fact that they belonged to that people,” the Vatican statement said.

The White House said in a statement today that the gathering of Holocaust deniers in Tehran is an “affront to the entire civilized world, as well as to the traditional Iranian values of tolerance and mutual respect.”

Just incase you wanted to know.....

How to Write an Obituary
Writing an obituary can be a painful ordeal if you know the deceased. It can also be an important thing to do if announcing a person's death is relevant to a small community.

There are five parts of an obituary: announcement, biographical information, survivor information, scheduled ceremonies, and contributions.

Steps
Example of short obituary without biographical info.Begin with the announcement. It should include who the person is, the date they died, and how they died. Be short and concise. All this can be typically included in one sentence.
Write up a short biographical piece about the person's life. This should include where/when the person was born, where they lived throughout their life, notable awards and times in their life, important hobbies, where they went to school.
Include who the person is survived by. Include, in this order, immediate family members (spouse and children or parents and siblings) and secondary family members (aunts, uncles, grand-parents, close cousins).
Note where and when important ceremonies will take place, such as memorial services, grave-side burials, etc.
Tell people where they can make donations in remembrance of the person who has died. This is a very common practice in the United States and should always be noted, to avoid an influx of calls to the bereaved family.

Water in the Cup

A man in a restaurant asked a waiter for a juice glass, a dinner plate, water, a match, and a lemon wedge. The man poured enough water onto the plate to cover it.
"If you can get the water on the plate into this glass without touching or moving this plate, I will give you $100," the man said. "You can use the match and lemon to do this."
A few minutes later, the waiter walked away with $100 in his pocket. How did the waiter get the water into the glass?

JUST SO YOU KNOW....the answer is on the reply page......

The 12/11 Random Photo

Have you ever been humped and spit upon? That was the question I would ask any one visiting the apartment Frank and I shared back in the day. Although I don’t recall ever forgetting or discriminating, I am not sure how it all started but before long it was the official rite of entry. Which as many of you already know in embarrassing detail if you were there?

Seen above Tom B, Frank’s largest take down… an impressive feat! I know this one aroused our neighbors bellow, but I was always surprised to not hear from any of our other neighbors.

In the news.....

By NAZILA FATHI
Published: December 11, 2006
TEHRAN, Dec. 11 — Holocaust deniers and skeptics from around the world gathered at a government-sponsored conference here today to discuss their theories about whether six million Jews were indeed killed by the Nazis during World War II and whether gas chambers existed.

In a speech opening the two-day conference, Rasoul Mousavi, head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Institute for Political and International Studies, which organized the event, said it was an opportunity for scholars to discuss the subject “away from Western taboos and the restriction imposed on them in Europe.”

The foreign ministry had said that 67 foreign researchers from 30 countries were scheduled to take part. Among those speaking today are David Duke, the American white-supremacist politician and former Ku Klux Klan leader, and Georges Thiel, a French writer who has been prosecuted in France over his denials of the Holocaust.

Mr. Duke’s remarks late this afternoon are expected to assert that no gas chambers or extermination camps were actually built during the war, on the ground that killing Jews that way would have been much too bothersome and expensive when the Nazis could have used much simpler methods, according to an advance summary of his speech published by the institute.

“Depicting Jews as the overwhelming victims of the Holocaust gave the moral high ground to the Allies as victors of the war, and allowed Jews to establish a state on the occupied land of Palestine,” Mr. Duke’s paper says, according to the summary.

At the touch of a button, a moment is captured.
A marriage, a birth or a birthday I see.
Later, an image might leave thee enraptured,
All due to a flash, or a mere click indeed.

Yet some people say that I am quite evil,
That my staring eye might just capture your soul!
At least to my knowledge it is utter nonsense,
Only moments I capture, that is my sole goal.

What am I?

So, how is everyones Christmas shoppin going thus far?

I may run rings around you
Or escape your clutching grip
Or leave a treacherous trail
That gives a sudden slip.
(If you're not careful!)

You always end up winning,
While I shrink with each new meet:
Our bouts will be my ruin,
But you'll come out smelling sweet.

What am I?

In the news.....Goodbye Rummy.....

By DAVID STOUT
Published: December 8, 2006
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 -- Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld bade farewell to Pentagon employees today in his familiar style, fencing with his questioners and voicing deep faith in the American people.

“Every day, in one way or another, I’ve seen the strength of men and women in uniform, and the dedication of the many thousands who serve here, military and civilian, who do their jobs knowing that theirs is the essential business of protecting a nation and protecting a people,” Mr. Rumsfeld said at what was probably his last meeting with Defense Department employees.

“You do so knowing that you contribute directly to the safety of millions of Americans — people you’ll never meet, whose names you’ll never know,” Mr. Rumsfeld said. “I leave office very proud to have served with you, inspired by your dedication, by your patriotism, and by your sacrifice.”

New stuff.....

I noticed this AM upon logging in that a newer version of Blogger is available, has anyone else seen this and have you upgraded?

The 12/8 Random Photo

Wow the hand pulled a very memorable B&W beauty from the archive this week.

Shi'ite Punk, The Vandals

How to Bike to Work
Off to work Bicycling to work is one of the best choices you can make for your health and the environment. After an initial investment of purchasing a bicycle, biking is a very inexpensive mode of transportation. You'll save money on gas and car maintenance, you'll get in great shape, and your coworkers will think you're awesome. Join the growing ranks of bike-to-workers!

Steps
Acquire a bike, bike lock, and bike helmet. There are many varieties of each. Do not buy a cheap bike at a discount store; instead, find a local bicycle shop. There, knowledgeable people can help you decide what to buy. Later on you will be able to go there for help and bike tune-ups. You may also wish to buy extra tire tubes or flat-fixing tools.
Learn the local bicycling laws of your area. This is essential to remain safe and within the law. Register your bike if required.
Your local bike shop will probably have bicycle route maps. Get one and map out your route to work. If there are no bike route maps, get on your bike on a non-work day and scout out the area.
Look for streets with bicycle lanes.
Avoid streets with excessive potholes or junk in the road.
Determine where you can lock your bike while you are at work.
You will need something in which to carry your work items. There are many types of bicycle luggage carriers, or you can use a backpack or messenger bag.
Some people like to bike in work-out clothes and then change into their day clothes. Other people just bike in their day clothes. It's up to you.
Don't just assume that the route you drive to work is the best route for biking. Often the best bike route includes back streets and side roads which may make your trip slightly longer but much safer and more enjoyable.
Do a test-run of your bike route. Try some alternate routes, if possible. Make a note of how long each rout takes you.
Bike to work!

It roars like thunder,
And rises higher,
While breathing fire,
This wingless wonder.

If it leaves its cave,
Drags us in its tail,
Over hill and dale,
Then you must be brave.

Early morning flight,
Silently it flies,
Slowly in the skies.
Hides before the night.

My kingdom at least,
To the brave young knight,
If you name it right.

What is this huge beast?

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 — Pictures of Martian gullies taken several years apart strongly suggest that water still flows at least occasionally on the surface of the planet, scientists announced Wednesday.

While water ice and water vapor have long been known to exist below the surface of Mars in the relatively recent past, and water ice has been seen at the poles, this is “the strongest evidence to date that water still flows occasionally on the surface of Mars,” said Michael Meyer, the lead scientist for NASA’s Mars exploration program.

If water is present, that would raise the possibility of microbial life: with water and some form of steady heat, bacteria can grow even in hostile environments

This is very interesting to me.....

Iran to Host Scholarly Seminar on Holocaust

By NAZILA FATHI
Published: December 5, 2006
TEHRAN, Dec. 5 — Iran will hold a two-day conference on the Holocaust next week in which more than 60 scholars from some 30 countries will participate, the Foreign Ministry said today.

The seminar is in response to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s comments last year, when he said the scale of the genocide of the Jews had been exaggerated, the deputy foreign minister, Manouchehr Mohammadi, told a news conference today. Mr. Ahmadinejad first stirred outrage in the West in December last year, when he called the Holocaust a myth. He has repeatedly said that the Holocaust has been used as a tool of propaganda, and banned scholars here from research on the subject. The president also sent a 3,000-word letter to Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel outlining his arguments.

Mr. Mohammadi said next week’s conference will “provide the opportunity for scholars from both sides to give their papers in freedom and without pre-conceived ideas.” He refused to give the names of the 67 international scholars he said were attending the seminar, out of concern that their countries would prohibit them from coming.

He said the conference does not mean that Iran “denies the crimes of Hitler.”

“Since we are not accused and responsible for the Holocaust, we are an impartial judge,” Mr. Mohammadi said.

ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis man was shot to death by his wife after giving her a can of warm beer, police said.

The shooting happened Sunday. Names have not been released. The woman was taken into custody.

The wife allegedly admitted shooting her husband, who was about 70 years old, in the kitchen of their home. The man was shot four or five times in the chest after giving his wife a can of warm Stag beer.


A STAG beer! I had to chuckle over that.

Gross.....

Love me slender: Candy fans are all shook up over plans by Hershey (HSY) to sell a peanut butter and banana crème version of its Reese's cup to honor The King.

The King, as in Elvis Presley.

Elvis' favorite sandwich was fried peanut butter and banana - sometimes with honey or slices of bacon added.

So in July, to mark the 30th anniversary of the rock legend's death, Hershey will introduce a limited edition of its chocolate cup featuring a layer of peanut butter and a layer of banana crème.

What we wont do to make a quick buck.....

Im not sure where I sit on this one, is it wrong, or does this guy have the right to ask for the vehicle?


The owner of the car in which Diana, Princess of Wales, died is demanding it is returned to him — so he can sell it as a souvenir.

Jean-Francois Musa said he believes he can get more than $1.9 million for the wrecked Mercedes.

Musa owns the Etoile Limousine company which rented the car to Diana and Dodi Fayed in August 1997.

After their deaths in an apparent accident, the car was shipped to Britain and is believed to be in a garage in southeast London.

U.K. and French authorities have been refusing to return the wreckage to Musa, prompting him to launch legal action.

He claims he has been told he waited too long to ask for it back — when he insists he was simply being patient in order to help investigators carry out their inquiry into the crash.

This all just makes ya wonder......


LONDON — The level of violence in Iraq is "much worse" than that of Lebanon's civil war, outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in an interview aired Monday.

Speaking to the British Broadcasting Corp., Annan agreed that the average Iraqi's life is worse now than it was under Saddam Hussein and called the situation in the country "extremely dangerous."

"Given the level of violence, the level of killing and bitterness and the way that forces are arranged against each other, a few years ago, when we had the strife in Lebanon and other places, we called that a civil war; this is much worse," Annan said.

First snow experience… botched!

The short of it, to many layers! After two short steps C fell face first into the fresh snow and he was unable to stand back up or even roll over… I had to save him. Sadly thus far my mission to pass on my snow loving lineage is failing.

She wont go away....

Do you want her to go away?


ALBANY, N.Y. — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has begun active consideration of a 2008 run for president and has personally asked some fellow top New York Democrats for their support in the event she goes ahead with such a campaign, a top adviser said Sunday.

"As Sen. Clinton said, she was going to begin actively considering a presidential run after the election. That process has begun," said Howard Wolfson.

"She is reaching out to her colleagues in the New York delegation and asking for their advice and counsel, and their support if she decides to make a run," the Clinton adviser told The Associated Press.

Wolfson said he did not know when she might make a decision.

The former first lady is coming off an easy re-election victory to the New York Senate seat she has held since her historic election in 2000. National polls show her as the front-runner for the 2008 Democratic nomination.

BURBANK, Calif. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger first announced his candidacy on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." Might Barack Obama, who is considering a run for president, do the same?

"This is a great place. Everybody who has announced here has been successful," Leno hinted to Obama, who appeared on Friday's show.

"This is true, but I have to say that I've already committed to the Food Network to announce," Obama quipped before offering his standard answer to a question that follows him everywhere he goes.

"I think that if I'm going to run, then I've got to dive in early next year, and I've got a little bit of time," Obama said.

When Leno asked whether he would consider running for vice president, Obama said: "You don't run for vice president. So I don't think about it as much."

Incase you forgot.....

How to Throw a Cocktail Party


Cocktail parties are a great way to entertain because they accommodate any kind of guest list, ranging from neighbors to business associates. Regardless of what kind of crowd you're entertaining, however, there are a few basic guidelines to throwing a fabulous cocktail party...

Steps

Set the appropriate time. The traditional time frame for a cocktail party is two to three hours in length held between 6 P.M. and 10 P.M. tst
On the rocksBuy more than enough ice. Remember that you're not just using it for drinks, but also for chilling bottles and cans. Generally, having 1 lb. of ice per guest should be adequate.

MojitosHave a variety of glasses on hand, depending on the variety of drinks you plan to offer. You should offer wine glasses for wines, juice and water; straight-sided highballs for tall drinks; tumblers for spirits and juices; and martini glasses. In terms of quantity, be ready with approximately twice as many glasses as you'll have guests.

Stock your bar.
For the wine drinkers, have one bottle for every two people, assuming five servings per bottle.
For the beer drinkers, have one six-pack for every two people, assuming 12 oz. servings.
Get one or two liquors that can be made into a variety of cocktails (probably vodka, rum, gin, scotch, bourbon, blended whiskey, or tequila)
Don't forget mixers and garnishes, including orange juice, soda, tonic, ginger ale, cola, tomato juice, Tabasco, lemons, limes, horseradish, and Worcestershire sauce.
Prepare the menu. Aim for variety (meat, vegetarian, hot, cold, spicy, and sweet). If you're not serving dinner, estimate 6 bites per person, but remember that it's better to have too much food than not enough.

Offer coffee to your guests towards the end of the party to keep them alert for the ride home. Keep the number of a local taxi service handy, just in case some of your guests have a little too much fun.

Two idiots are sitting in front of a mirror.
One said, "Why don’t we meet the two people in the mirror", so they stood up and the other one said, "sit, sit they're coming!"

Weed found on Grandma.....

SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. — A grandmother found with a trunkful of marijuana was convicted of drug running in what prosecutors said was an attempt to earn cash for a bingo habit.

State troopers found 10 bundles of pot totaling 214 pounds hidden in Leticia Villareal Garcia's car trunk last year when they stopped her outside Bisbee, in far southeastern Arizona.

Villareal, 61, told jurors before they convicted her Thursday that her only regular income was a $275 monthly welfare check, but she frequently played bingo and occasionally won thousands of dollars.

Prosecutor Doyle Johnstun said the game was Villareal's undoing.

"People who play bingo almost every night of the week end up losing in the long run," Johnstun told jurors. "The underlying issue is that she's got a bingo problem, which explains why an otherwise nice person might get sucked into something like this."

Jurors rejected Villareal's argument that she'd been tricked into carrying the drugs.

Why didnt they do this when we went to school?

Well, I can speak for myself when I say I cut class most of the time so I would have never stood a chance, but my main question is this....

Does something like this teach reals goals to a HS kid? Read on.....


CASPER, Wyoming — Public schools often reward excellent attendance with movie tickets, gas vouchers and iPods. But some United States students are now hitting the ultimate teenage jackpot: They have won cars or trucks just for going to school.

Last spring, 16-year-old Kaytie Christopherson won a brand-new $28,000 pickup truck, with an MP3 player, for near-perfect school attendance.

"I take it everywhere," the high school junior said.

School districts in several states are now giving away vehicles, which usually are awarded through drawings open only to students with good attendance.

So I hear you guys got gobs and gobs of snow today, is that true?

AMMAN, Jordan, Nov. 30 — President Bush said today that American troops would stay in Iraq unless its government asks them to leave, using a joint news conference with the Iraqi prime minister to push back against a reported decision by an independent bipartisan panel to call for a gradual withdrawal.

President Bush met with Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq today in Amman, Jordan.
“I know there’s a lot of speculation that these reports in Washington mean there’s going to be some kind of graceful exit out of Iraq,” Mr. Bush said during a joint news conference here with Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, referring to the final report by the Iraq Study Group that is expected next week. “We’re going to stay in Iraq to get the job done so long as the government wants us there.”


You see thats the thing that really pisses me off. These animals dont even know what Government is, let alone how to run one on their own and until then we get stuck with having our boys die over it and this turns into another 10 year war.

A simple How to.....

How to Create a Fake Band
Love music? Love bands? Can't carry a tune or play an instrument? Have no fear, just create a fake band!

Steps
Think of an AWESOME name - these often crop up in conversations with friends, at drunk times, etc.

Designate positions - ie. fake vocals, fake drums.

Make a fake band dream playlist. The songs you witch you'd written
Compile the list in itunes or what have you.

Dance! Dance to your playlist!

Burn a cd and make a wicked cd cover - ie. your beloved's face

I am tall when I am young.
I am short when I am old.
When I live I glow.
From your breath I die.

What am I?

I think its a load of bull that the guy feels he was picked on because he is a Muslim "convert" or whatever, but hell, for 2 million the Govt. can falsely accuse me of being a terrorist too....


PORTLAND, Oregon (CNN) -- An Oregon lawyer wrongly arrested and accused of involvement in the 2004 Madrid train bombings has settled a lawsuit against the U.S. government for $2 million, attorneys told CNN on Wednesday.

Brandon Mayfield was arrested in Portland, Oregon, on a material witness warrant in May 2004, less than two months after the train bombings.

The settlement was confirmed by both sides. It was reached Tuesday during a conference with a federal judge, attorneys said.

The FBI identified Mayfield's fingerprint on a blue plastic bag containing detonators found in a van used by the bombers. However, the FBI's fingerprint identification was wrong and Mayfield was released several days later.

Mayfield and his family later sued the U.S. government for damages. The Portland-area attorney contended that he was a victim of profiling because he is a Muslim convert.

Paging Mr. Martin.....

Hey Mike, you out there?

Havent seen ya on here in quite a while, kinda miss ya.

Let it snow.....

Hey Scott, we are supposed to get an inch of snow tonight, Ill be thinkin about you....

Some cycle tricks for PJ

Tricks

Just sumbled across this....some extreme cyclist guy, kinda cool.....

How to Calculate Pi by Throwing Frozen Hot Dogs
Throwing a pie in someone's face is good. Throwing food at pi is better. Believe it or not, of all the countless ways to approximate the most prolific irrational number in the universe, there are none quite as interesting or as surprisingly satisfying as throwing perfectly good food around your kitchen. In fewer steps than it takes to circumscribe your house in a circle of baguettes, you, too, can easily add a slice of pi into your dinner menu tonight. The best part is...it really works!
Steps
Select your food item to throw. There are a couple of qualifications. First, it must be long, thin, and straight, like a frozen hot dog, for example. There are lots of other items that fit this criterion including Otter Pops, celery sticks, and churros. (If you simply can't come to grips with throwing perfectly good food, see the Tips section for some additional ideas.) Second, it must be a reasonably stiff item. Third, it should be somewhere between six and eighteen inches long. The experiment can be performed otherwise, but read on, and you will see why this size is optimal.
Select the spot from where you will throw your mathematical cuisine. You will probably need about 6-10 feet in front of you as you will be throwing straight ahead.
Clear the area. The place at which you are throwing should be devoid of objects that your food item could possibly run in to. So, if you are throwing in your kitchen, consider moving the table into another room or at least throwing in such a way that your food won't hit the table during its flight.
Measure the length of your projectile (i.e. your frozen hot dogs). A tape measure should do the trick. Be as accurate as you can, even down to the millimeter, for best results.
Lay down masking tape in parallel strips across the floor as far apart as your projectile is long. The strips should be perpendicular to the direction you will be throwing (see picture below). Do about 6-10 strips if your item is 6-18 inches long; fewer, if longer; more, if shorter.
The throwing set-upGet a piece of paper and across the top make a column for “Tosses” and another column for "Crosses." The "Tosses" column is to keep track of how many times you throw your food item. The "Crosses" column is to keep track of how many times your item, once it lands and stops moving, is laying across one of the lines.
Now, get into position, and THROW YOUR FOOD! Throw just one item at a time. Once it is at rest, observe whether or not it is crossing one of the lines. If it is, put a tick under "Crosses" and a tick under "Tosses." If it isn't, just put a tick under "Tosses." Repeat this as many times as you like. You should start seeing some interesting results by around 100 to 200 throws (it doesn't take as long as it sounds, especially if you use a pack of 10 frozen hot dogs so you're not out retrieving the one hot dog after every throw).
Once you are done throwing your food, multiply the number of tosses by two and divide by the number of crosses. For example, if I threw 500 times, and it crossed 320 times, I would calculate 500 x 2 / 320. And, as if a miracle has occurred, you will have an approximation for pi! Now, don't you feel less stressed?

Mormans vs Athiest

another link from my friend jonny at drunkcyclist.com
this one about the LDS vs Athiests,
fun stuff, enjoy

It wont go away.....

LOS ANGELES — Just when it seemed Michael Richards was about to leave the most troubling incident of his career behind, his publicist is having to explain how the comic could consider himself to be Jewish.

Last week, crisis-management expert Howard Rubenstein acknowledged that Richards had shouted anti-Semitic remarks in an April standup comedy routine — well before his appearance earlier this month in which he harangued hecklers with the n-word. But he defended Richards' language about Jews, saying that the comic "is Jewish. He's not anti-Semitic at all. He was role-playing."

For PJ.....

Maybe this will help you out a little bit next time...wink, wink....

How to Politely Turn Down a Drink From Your Host
Here's some advice about turning down unsolicited drinks from a host.

Steps
Say, "No thank you. I'm not drinking this evening." Or try, "No thank you. I'm not thirsty at the moment." Sometimes a polite word will do just the trick.
If they insist, then you must insist as well. "Thank you for the offer, but I'd really rather not."
Another line would be, "Thank you, but no. Perhaps another time."
Say, "I am fine right now, I may take you up on it in a little bit," thus ambiguously deferring the drink until a later time (or not at all.)
If you absolutely must take the drink, remember that you are not forced to drink it. If you've already used the above phrases, then the fact that you are carrying the drink around without sipping should come as no surprise to your host.

The 11-28 Random Photo

It looks like at least one of us knows how to treat a woman, but I don’t understand why he is wearing a pink shirt???

This is vaguely interesting.....

How to Raise Children to Be Rich
Many of the skills and attitudes needed to become rich, if that is a value that you desire for them to have, begin to develop in childhood, along with all other lifetime skills. If you want your child to grow up to become the next Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, or Tiger Woods, or,if you just want to encourage the development of habits and skills that will help your child eventually have the ability to not only earn, but to become more responsible with money, it is never too early to start, and for you to be a good example.
Steps
Examine your own beliefs and feelings about money. Do you believe that earning an income is a privilege and challenge; a good thing that can help you achieve your dreams and goals, or do you see it as a “necessary evil” to getting through life? If your thoughts tend toward the latter, you’ll have a hard time convincing your child that building wealth is a good thing. It's difficult to instill positive financial values that will help your child achieve success if they come into conflict with your own. Carefully think about your attitudes toward money and where they came from. No matter how you feel about money, it's good goal for a parent to assist your child in growing up to be a financially responsible and secure adult.
Evaluate and address your own spending habits. If you spend more than you earn, or if you spend your money frivolously and neglect to save and invest, don't expect your child to develop these habits. If you're currently having trouble providing for your family's basic needs, and money is a constant source of stress in your household, consider looking carefully at how you are modeling spending habits and the work ethic. Identify your problem areas, and work to correct them. Develop a budget and stick to it. Start saving money and invest for retirement and college funding, even if it is in very small amounts. These steps will have benefits right now for the entire family and will set a good example for your child to follow.
Appraise your general work ethic. Hard work over time is the only way to financially succeed for most people. Are you a conscientious worker? Have you tended to change jobs often, unsatisfied with your career? If so, discuss with your child how you are determined to alter the choices you've made regarding work. A large part of thinking positively about making an income is in having a job you enjoy. If you are not happy in your work, take action and make realistic plans to get a different job. This is a valuable lesson for your child to experience. Watching you make these tough changes will have a lasting impression on your child.

Yet more with the M. Richards thing.....

LOS ANGELES — Black leaders on Monday challenged the entertainment industry, including rappers, to stop use of the racial slur that Michael Richards uttered in his tirade.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson and others said they will meet with TV networks, film companies and musicians to discuss the "n-word."

"We want to give our ancestors a present," Jackson said at a news conference. "Dignity over degradation."

I HATE that it is always referred to as the "N word", just use the damn word itself.

I wonder how useless W. will be at this meeting....


Iraqi Leader Sees Crisis Ahead of Meeting With Bush

By CHRISTINE HAUSER
Published: November 26, 2006
Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq said today that his country was in a crisis as political pressure builds on his government just days before he holds talks with President Bush.

Mr. Bush and Mr. Maliki are scheduled to meet in the Jordanian capital, Amman, starting on Wednesday, less than a week after some of the worst violence in Iraq since the American-led invasion more than three years ago. The meeting is to take place despite the protests of Iraqi lawmakers loyal to the anti-American cleric Moktada al-Sadr, who threaten to boycott the government if the two leaders go ahead with their plans.

A little follow up to Kramer's falling apart last week.....


CHICAGO — Comedian Michael Richards said Sunday he did not consider himself a racist, and said he was "shattered" by the comments he made to two young black men during a tirade at a Los Angeles comedy club.

Richards appeared on the Rev. Jesse Jackson's nationally syndicated radio program, "Keep Hope Alive," as a part of a series of apologies for the incident. He said he knew his comments hurt the black community, and hoped to meet with the two men.

He told Jackson that he had not used the language before.

"That's why I'm shattered by it. The way this came through me was like a freight train. After it was over, when I went to look for them, they had gone. And I've tried to meet them, to talk to them, to get some healing,"

In the news.....

I found this info. to be interesting.....


MOSCOW — Russia has begun delivery of Tor-M1 air defense missile systems to Iran, a Defense Ministry official said Friday, confirming that Moscow would proceed with arms deals with Tehran in spite of Western criticism.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue, declined to specify when the deliveries had been made and how many systems had been delivered.

Ministry officials have previously said Moscow would supply 29 of the sophisticated missile systems to Iran under a $700 million contract signed in December, according to Russian media reports.

Quiet Friday here.....

Well, I hope everyone is having a productive day. Things are sure quiet here.

Did anyone dare to go near a mall today, it being Black Friday and all?

Man, holidays sure do take the wind out of the sails of this blog, so to speak.

I ate too much today, Im such a pig, I love it.

The turkey was wonderful and so were all the fixins.

I have joy in bringing two together, but darning my existence!
My life hangs by a thread,
filled with ups, downs and resistance!
What am I?

Being thankful.....

Since today is a day about being thankful for what you have, I wanted to say happy Thanksgiving to you all.

I know I am thankful for having all of you in my life after all these years.

Thanks.

What if it was the same here in the US? Things would be a lot different for internet business and for its users.


BEIJING — The creator of China's largest pornographic Web site was ordered imprisoned for life Wednesday, state media reported.

Xinhua News Agency said judges at the Taiyuan Intermediate People's Court in Shanxi province gave the life sentence to Chen Hui and handed down terms of 13 months to 10 years to eight others after they were convicted of profiting from pornographic dissemination.

Chen, 28, and his accomplices started the Qingseliuyuetian (Pornographic Summer) Web site in 2004 and opened three other porn sites, attracting more than 600,000 users.

Xinhua reported the police said it was difficult to know the exact amount of profits the Web site earned. Police found about $25,000 in the bank accounts of the nine.

When the site was closed in October 2005, it contained more than 9 million pornographic images and articles, police said.

In the news.....

PHILADELPHIA — A man who mailed a bomb to a doctor because he was angry about how his penis enlargement surgery turned out was sentenced Tuesday to four years and 10 months in prison.

Blake Steidler, 25, of Reamstown, put the bomb in the mail on Feb. 11, 2005, in North Bloomfield, Ohio, addressed to the doctor in Chicago. After returning home, he called 911 and told police what he had done. The bomb was retrieved from the mail and destroyed; no one was injured.

Trivia.....

The winter of 1918 was the only year cold enough that all of Niagara Falls froze.

calling out Mike S. and Frank

I was sitting here thinking about Offmen we havent seen on here in AGES and Mikey and Frank came to mind.

You 2 out there? How have you guys been?

OJ sucks

NEW YORK — The families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman applauded the cancellation of O.J. Simpson's book and television special about how he would have killed his ex-wife and her friend if, in fact, he did do it.

Ron Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, told "The Early Show" Tuesday that News Corp.'s move to scrap Simpson's material is evidence that the "voices of the people can be heard."

Ron Goldman's sister, Kim Goldman, who also appeared on the show, said the family would take legal action to collect any money Simpson received from the deal.

News Corp., the parent company of book publisher HarperCollins and the FOX network — the publishing house that was to release the book and the network that was to air the interview — scrapped the project on Monday.

This weeks Picture

Max got this pic at school. and Jake was convinced that it should get altered a bit.
Enjoy.

Another Urban Legend

According to Lyn Bramer, WXRT morning show host. The story earlier posted on this forum about Bono and the dead african babies is in fact an urban legend.
A little disapointing.
I would have liked to beleive Bono was a sanctimonius prick. and I suppose I still will, but not about clapping babies to death.

Kramer fucked up.....

SEINFELD STAR RICHARDS IN RACE ATTACK


Former SEINFELD star MICHAEL RICHARDS left comedy fans stunned during a Friday night performance at Los Angeles' Laugh Factory when he blasted a pair of African-American hecklers with a racist rant. The funnyman, who played quirky COSMO KRAMER in the beloved sitcom, lost his cool during a stand-up routine at the comedy club when two black audience members challenged him - and his comments were caught on camera. News website TMZ.com, which obtained the footage, reports the comedy show turned ugly when Richards realised his hecklers were black. He screamed at one of the men, "Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f**king fork up your ass." And then, when the playful heckling continued, Richards objected further, ranting, "You can talk... you're brave now motherf**ker. Throw his ass out. He's a n**ger! He's a n**ger...! Look, there's a n**ger!"

So, what do you think? Uncalled for, or was he just having a really bad night?

Mark your calenders.....

SAN FRANCISCO — Two peace activists have planned a massive anti-war demonstration for the first day of winter.

But they don't want you marching in the streets. They'd much rather you just stay home.

The Global Orgasm for Peace was conceived by Donna Sheehan, 76, and Paul Reffell, 55, whose immodest goal is for everyone in the world to have an orgasm Dec. 22 while focusing on world peace.

"The orgasm gives out an incredible feeling of peace during it and after it," Reffell said Sunday. "Your mind is like a blank. It's like a meditative state. And mass meditations have been shown to make a change."

I have this blog bookmarked in my favorites as being a year old on Jan. 4th. I cant believe this blog is almost a year old already, it just seems like yesterday Scott and I were coming up with ideas to create it.

It sure has been fun so far.

How to Become a Wine Connoisseur
So you want to become an oenophile (a lover or connoisseur of wine). You don't have to be a wine-maker or have a basement cellar in order to appreciate fine wine. Just follow these tips to start you on the road to a new hobby.

Steps
Get information from the experts. Read books on wine. Purchase wine guides. Subscribe to wine magazines.
Go to a wine shop and ask the staff for recommendations. Look for bottles of wine with write-ups near them, award citations and high magazine ratings. Try to go when you know the store is holding a tasting with samples.
Attend a local wine tasting or a wine appreciation class. These are held at adult schools, winemaking schools and fine restaurants.
Join a wine group.
Visit a winery. You'll learn how wine is made, see how the grapes are grown and be taught the proper procedure for drinking wine.
Buy wines that match the taste of the food you're serving.
Don't just stick to traditional reds and whites. Try sparkling wines, ice wines and desert wines as well. Try wines that aren't just from Italy, France and the Napa Valley. For American wines, try South Dakota or Idaho. Internationally, try wines from Argentina, Portugal and Australia.
Learn about different grape varieties. Traditionally fine wine was made from mainly French grape varieties, but now a much wider range of grape varieties are being used.

And I thought about buying myself one for Christmas......


PUTNAM, Conn. — On the first day the much anticipated PlayStation 3 hit shelves in stores across the country, two armed thugs in Connecticut targeted game seekers with fat wallets, shooting one person waiting in a Wal-Mart line who refused to give up money, authorities said.

Police were still searching for the suspects, both believed to be in their teens. Police said one suspect was wearing a ski mask and brandishing a handgun, and the other had what appeared to be a shotgun.

The two tried to rob of line of people waiting to buy the new gaming console early Friday. They confronted a "bunch of people who were in line" outside a Wal-Mart store shortly after 3 a.m. and demanded money, said Lt. J. Paul Vance, a spokesman for the state police. The new Sony consoles are selling for around $500 to $600.

"One of the patron's resisted. That patron was shot," Vance said.

Does anyone besides me think of this than nothing more than publicity? I think its just a way for Madonna to get noticed so she looks like a good person. These people make me sick, its as if they look at adoption as a simple, joke like task. The last line of this little snippet almost made me wanna puke. "Picking candy off a store shelf...." Whatever. It can take some couples literally years to adopt a child and it sure isnt like picking candy off a store shelf. This is pathetic.


The Material Mom is desperately seeking a Malawian girl.

After landing in a PR nightmare while adopting a little boy from the central African nation of Malawi, Madonna wants to go back and adopt a little girl.

"Yes, absolutely. I'm going to adopt another Malawian child very quickly. A baby girl this time, in order to redress the balance," the 48-year-old singer-turned-Angelina Jolie wannabe told Paris Match.

She said her two other children, Lourdes and Rocco, would be given a "choice" in selecting their new sister like picking candy off a store shelf.

Strong Stomach?

the aussies take their gov't ant-smoking warnings pretty seriosly.
these are some pretty pictures to see every time you buy a pack of smokes.

An Adult Rum and Coke?

Should such a thing exist? Probly not how ever the problem for me is I like a Rum and Coke now and again, but I am no longer 22 so the thought of drinking copious amounts of syrupy cola smothered over a little unintelligible rum is no longer really appealing. I want to taste the rum and all its complexity, and I want my cola to compliment the rum in return. To be clear, my quest here is for flavor as I do not drink as much as I used to so when I do I want my time to be well spent. Here is what I have come up with.

Start with a standard rock glass, fill the glass to one third an equal portion of water and ice (for the purist’s use water and cubes from a trusted bottled source such a evian, or better still a reverse osmosis filtration system), then add a third of rum (Find a neat amber rum such as Mount Gay or Bacardi Anajo. You want something with a more complex flavor than a light rum but nothing that will break the bank, this is after all just a rum and coke. Althought I have on ocation spluged and used an 8 year old sipping rum Rhum Barbancourt with some astounding results. However due to the price of this product I consider it cost prohibitive and not acceptable for daily consumption), Finally top off the last third with thecola (finding the right cola for this last third is critical, so I advocate a premium cola made with real sugar stay away from those cola’s sweetened with corn syrup, and for God’s sake especially not aspartame! My personal favorite is called Cane Cola) by Boylan Bottling).

So there you have it, if you have a favorite please share it, my wife gets grumpy when I drink rum all the time.

Gobble gobble

So with turkey day a little over a week away, what are you guys planning? Are you traveling or are you hosting Thanksgiving?

We are going to have a quiet turkeyday here, nothing all too special.

Hey PJ, remember when we used to boycott Thanksgiving?

He Gave Me Smelly Money

I am a word of meanings three.
Three ways of spelling me there be.
The first is an odour, a smell if you will.
The second some money, but not in a bill.
The third is past tense, a method of passing things on or around.

Can you tell me now, what these words are, that have the same sound?

Ill keep this short.....


Human rights activists are trying to persuade German prosecutors to open a war crimes investigation against the outgoing US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld over his alleged role in abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.


Like Germany of all nations has a fuckin right to bitch about crimes against humanity. Whatever.

The 11-14 Random Photo

The note on the back reads “Jan 90 Thumb”.

My Black Ass, Shellac

Bono, whilst playing a gig in Glasgow, got the whole crowd to be silent and then began slowly clapping his hands. He got the crowd to clap along for a while, the stadium quiet except for the rhythmic clapping...

After a short period Bono spoke, saying that everytime he clapped his hands a child in Africa died...

Suddenly, from the front row of the venue a voice broke out in thick Scottish brogue, ending the silence as it echoed across the crowd, the voice cried out to Bono "Well stop ****ing doing it then!!"

In the news...

Personally, in all my years, I never thought weed tasted that good anyways. Read on, yet another controversial product.....

MARIETTA, Ga. — A group of residents plans to ask county commissioners Tuesday to ban the sale of marijuana-flavored candy in Cobb County.

Christine Able, executive director of the Osborne Prevention Task Force, said she is concerned the candy encourages children to use drugs.

Companies who sell the candies say the lollipops, gum drops and other treats are geared toward adults and that they advise retailers to sell the candy only to people 18 and older.

Corona, Calif.-based Chronic Candy uses marijuana-related slogans in its marketing and claims "every lick is like taking a hit." Its hemp-flavored candy is packaged with images of bright green marijuana leaves.

The Web site for Chronic Candy acknowledges using "hemp essential oil" in its products, but maintains that the oil is not illegal.

"One of our goals is to reduce the interaction youths have with drugs," Able said. "[Chronic Candy] is considered a gateway product. It's opening the door to wanting to try the product for real."

I totally disagree, but what the hell, I havent posted one of these in a while.....


Thought for the day :
" Communism will work when love, not greed, inspires it. "

Just for trivia reasons, I thought this was worth passing on.....


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Gerald Ford, who turned 93 in July, became the longest-living U.S. president on Sunday, edging past Ronald Reagan, who died two years ago.


Ford, who was born on July 14, 1913, in Omaha, Nebraska, has been alive for 93 years and 121 days, one day more than Reagan, who died in June 2004.

Ford, a former Michigan congressman and vice president, became U.S. president on August 9, 1974, after Richard Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal.

The only president who was never elected, Ford remained in office until Jimmy Carter replaced him in January 1977 after losing the November 1976 election.

random thoughts

"It's the wild color scheme that freaks me," said Zaphod whose love affair with this ship had lasted almost three minutes into the flight. "Every time you try to operate one of these weird black controls that are labeled in black on a black back ground, a little black light lights up black to let you know you've it. What is this? Some kind of galactic hyperhearse?"

-"The Restuarant at the end of the Universe" by Douglas Adams

some unknown song from the internet stream that julia found and i still haven't even figured out how to get the damn song titles to show up.

in the news.....

What a difference a day makes here....it is snowing like an SOB right now and its 34 degrees.


Anyways, I am sure we all knew someone when we were little that had an easy bake oven and now it becomes a part of history....


ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The National Toy Hall of Fame is paying homage to the electric age.

The Easy-Bake Oven and Lionel model trains joined Mr. Potato Head, the Frisbee and 32 other classic but watt-free toys Thursday in the Strong-National Museum of Play's eight-year-old hall of fame.

Longevity is a key criterion for getting into the all-star lineup. Each toy must not only be widely recognized and foster learning, creativity or discovery through play, but endure in popularity over multiple generations.

"This is the year of the plug-in toy — and a sign of things to come," said Christopher Bensch, the museum's chief curator, noting that the 12 nominees in 2006 included the iconic Atari video game system.

Internet problems

I am turning again to my comrades in OMI for some computer help.
Pop-ups. Is there a way to block them effectivly. I am currently using Windows Explorer and until recently had no problems, but no I get a distrbing amount of them. Some are even loud and fairly obnoxios. Not to mention annoying.

A how to......

How to Prevent and Treat Dandruff

"John, why do you have this wikiHow article bookmarked? You don't have dandruff." "Exactly, Susan. Exactly."Dandruff, a condition characterized by flaking, itchy scalp, is one of the most common dermatogical conditions. Fortunately, while the exact cause of dandruff is not known, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of getting it, and effective treatments are available. So if it looks like a winter storm is following you--and only you--around everywhere, read on.
Steps
Eat a healthy, balanced diet. As if you needed another reason to eat right, it turns out that a healthy diet may ward off the flakes. Make sure to get plenty of zinc, Omega-3 fatty acids, and B-vitamin, and avoid excessive yeast and sugar. Research suggests that dandruff is at least in part caused by a fungus that thrives in yeasty, fatty, sugary environments. Though this does not neccesarily directly affect the conditions of your skin, your overall health will help with how your body responds to the fungus causing the dandruff.
Don't worry, be happy. Stress challenges the body's defenses and encourages all sorts of ailments, including dandruff, so relax now and don't worry about wearing a black shirt tomorrow.
Limit your use of hair styling products. Hairspray, mousse, and gel may contribute to dandruff in some people. They may also cause excessive drying of the skin, which can cause flaking--or trigger allergic reactions. If you notice dandruff soon after you begin to use a new product, chances are the product is to blame.

The 11/09 Random Photo

Heta Hema, a good friend although perhaps only remembered by Offmen Frank, Joey, and my self. It is a cool photo none the less. I in fact suspect she lurks here on our blog now and again. She would make a great Offmen, if girls where ever allowed into the fold.

some local news....

This guy is pretty much an idiot, but it is making local news here....


Iowa Governor Kicks Off Dem. Race For White House

November 9, 2006 11:10 a.m. EST


William Macklin - All Headline News Staff Writer
Des Moines, Iowa (AHN) - He may lack the big name visibility of Hillary Rodham Clinton or the national campaign experience of John Edwards, but Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa can claim something the others can't: the right to say he's the first Democrat to officially enter the race for the White House in 2008.

On Thursday, Vilsack established a presidential campaign committee by filing documents with the Federal Election Commission, the AP reports.

A dark horse in a field that could include New York Sen. Clinton and 2004 vice-presidential nominee Edwards, Vilsack used his party's successes in Tuesday's mid-term elections to make the case for his campaign.

"Americans sent a clear message on Tuesday," he said in a statement. "They want leaders who will take this country in a new direction. They want leaders who share their values, understand their needs, and respect their intelligence. That's what I've done as governor of Iowa, and that's what I intend to do as president."

Its almost 75 degrees here today. Is anyone else enjoying this indian summer like weather?

In a way it kind of makes me long for the cold. I am not a huge fan of winter but I like the feeling of cabin fever at times. The feeling of curling up under a favorite blanket or putting on your favorite cold weather gear is always nice. I also think coffee tastes better in the winter for some psychological reason. I dont like what snow does to the roads and the temperatures, but it sure is pretty to look at.

In the news.....

Democrats Take Control of House; Senate Hangs on Virginia and Montana

By ADAM NAGOURNEY
Published: November 8, 2006
Democrats seized control of the House of Representatives and defeated at least four Republican senators yesterday, riding a wave of voter discontent with President Bush and the war in Iraq.

Eliot Spitzer, who was elected governor of New York, celebrated in Manhattan.
But the fate of the Senate remained in doubt this morning, as races for Republican-held seats in Montana and Virginia remained too close to call as Election Day turned into the day after. Democrats would need both seats to win control of the Senate as well.

In Montana, Senator Conrad Burns, a Republican, was trailing Jon Tester, a Democrat, by a narrow margin. The race in Virginia — between another Republican incumbent, Senator George Allen, and Jim Webb, his Democratic challenger — was so close that some officials said it would have to be resolved by a recount.

Scott had mentioned the new elec. voting machines in an earlier post today. Here is a little news bit as to how they are going so far...

By JOHN HOLUSHA and BRIAN KNOWLTON
Published: November 7, 2006
With control of Congress hanging on a handful of races, voters streamed to the polls today in a midterm election many people have viewed as a popular referendum on President Bush and the war in Iraq.

Polls opened in many places as early as 6 a.m., and with about one-third of the precincts across the country using new electronic voting technology, a range of technical problems soon began frustrating voters in states like Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Some of the worst problems were reported in Marion County, Ind., which includes Indianapolis. Roughly half of the 914 precincts reported difficulties getting machines started. Insufficient training for poll workers was part of the problem, County Clerk Doris Ann Sadler told The Associated Press. Officials in 175 precincts were forced to turn to paper ballots.

Election officials in Delaware County, Ind., said they would seek a court order to extend voting hours. Voters in 75 precincts were frustrated because the cards that activate machines apparently had been programmed incorrectly.

You Decide 2006

Happy voting day!

Will you guys be making it to the polls today?

Should this guy be taken seriously? What ya think?

Bigfoot Researcher Criticized, Ridiculed by Many Fellow Scientists
Monday, November 06, 2006

POCATELLO, Idaho — Jeffrey Meldrum holds a Ph.D. in anatomical sciences and is a tenured professor of anatomy at Idaho State University. He is also one of the world's foremost authorities on Bigfoot, the mythical smelly ape-man of the Northwest woods. And Meldrum firmly believes the lumbering, shaggy brute exists.

That makes him an outcast — a solitary, Sasquatch-like figure himself — on the 12,700-student campus, where many scientists are embarrassed by what they call Meldrum's "pseudo-academic" pursuits and have called on the university to review his work with an eye toward revoking his tenure. One physics professor, D.P. Wells, wonders whether Meldrum plans to research Santa Claus, too.

Meldrum, 48, spends most of his days in his laboratory in the Life Sciences Building, analyzing more than 200 jumbo plaster casts of what he contends are Bigfoot footprints.

For the past 10 years, he has added his scholarly sounding research to a field full of sham videos and supermarket tabloid exposes. And he is convinced he has produced a body of evidence that proves there is a Bigfoot.

"It used to be you went to a bookstore and asked for a book on Bigfoot and you'd be directed to the occult section, right between the Bermuda Triangle and UFOs," Meldrum said. "Now you can find some in the natural science section."

So, what do you all think???


by NewsNetNebraska
November 05, 2006


As verdicts go, it may be one of the most profound in world history. Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq, has been sentenced to death by a Baghdad court after being found guilty of crimes against humanity.

When the judge announced the sentence on Sunday, Saddam, 69 appeared shaken at first but later recovered and shouted: "Allahu Akbar!" [God is greatest] and "Long live the nation!"

"It's a good day for the Iraqi people," White House spokesman Tony Snow said.

Im Back!

Hello Gents!

Sorry it took me so long to get reconnected, but we had major internet problems here and the tech. had to come out 2 times to fix it. I am moved and loving it, things are good here.

How have you all been?

got an hour or so to kill?

this video is EXTREMLY interesting
it's about the lack of actual law supporting the IRS's ability to collect income tax's from you and me.
I'f you've got the time, check it out. I would love to hear/read your thoughts.

Random Photo 11/01

Robot boy on patrol!

Colin’s first trick or treat Halloween
photo’s…. I Just can’t help but share them.

not so random pic

Helloween
this is a picture of your's truly, "carving" my pumpkin I used my hole saw and a steak knife for 90%. I picked a crazy colored one on purpose. I thought I was being original using a drill, untill I heard this podcast from popular mechanics telling about their "extreme pumpkin carve-off"
http://feeds.feedburner.com/ThePopularMechanicsShow where someone uses nitrous to freeze his pumkin, another guy uses exclusively a hatchet, a lady uses a disection kit, a dude uses a drill and a saber style saw, and of course a guy adds techno stuff (web cam) to his.

it has not escaped my attention that this blog has been very tame in the last few days. Eric has been missed here for sure, I hope everything is going well for him.

Jake, Max ( "Scream" and a Ghostbuster) and I "trick or treated" with Martin, his daughters Maeve and Bridget, who I call "Mac" (a lady bug and a cow) and my (now traditional) flask of southern comfort. While the wife's stayed at the house and made Chili and gave candy to suburban kids.
Martin made an observation: of the houses we saw that were not giving out candy, if they had election propaganda in their yards it was always republican.
coincidence??? hmmm.
We also congratulated Maeve on her second birthday.

E is going MIA.

I just wanted to let you all know I will be going offline for several days, Ill see ya'll soon. Be safe.

!! Score !!

so, we went to the Library book sale today and I made a cool score of tune:
Pear Jam; No Code (the issue with a bunch of individual loose pictures), and the single that was included in the Neal Young album
The Queers; A day late and a dollar short
Millencolin; Melancholy tune
The Used; in love and death (not a fan, I bought it based on the cover)
MU330; Chumbs on Parade (also, not a fan, I bought it based on the cover)
L7; hungry for stink
and a compliation album from DrMartens called Shoe Pie
all for less then $20

sweet

Our How to.....

How to Become a Punk Rocker
The real way to become a punk rocker is to not listen to what anyone says about how to be punk. You can't pretend punk. Now that said, here are some tips.

Steps
Don't take trash from anyone, and be an individual.
Listen to some good punk music. Remember Older is better!!! By default, you can always say you liked a band's first album the best!
The age of technology is great for punk. Now you can get music from the Internet instead of from your local record store.
Don't stand out too much. That stuff is out dated and cliché. In fact, you might be mistaken for a goth.
Wear a tee-shirt that makes you stand out (preferably designed by yourself). You could wear a Clash tee-shirt, but if you buy it from Hot Topic, you're contributing to the downfall of the punk movement. Learn to screen print and make it yourself.
Try your hardest to get others involved.
Go to the thrift store and find some old dickies. Do not, DO NOT, buy them from a box store, i.e. Walmart, Kmart, or Target. You can find them at a men's uniform store a lot cheaper. Also, dickies come in four colors: tan, blue, black and gray. If you're wearing red ones, you're trying too hard. If they are too big, you're trying too hard. If it has a cell phone pocket or creases on the front, you're trying too hard.
Fight for what you think is right.
Give other punk rockers the middle finger.
Go to punk rock shows and get into the pit.
Do whatever you want, whenever you want.

So, what do you think, should the name justify the pulling of the product?


DALLAS — Convenience-store operator 7-Eleven Inc. is telling franchises to pull a high-caffeine drink from its shelves because of the product's name: Cocaine.

The company acted after getting complaints from parents of teens, who are a big part of the drink's target audience.

"Our merchandising team believes the product's name promotes an image which we didn't want to be associated with," said Margaret Chabris, a spokeswoman for 7-Eleven.

Cocaine comes in red cans, with the name spelled out in what are meant to resemble lines of white powder.

According to the label, each 8.4-fluid ounce can contains 280 milligrams of caffeine — more jolt than a cup of coffee, a can of Coca-Cola or the leading energy drink, Red Bull — but no cocaine.

The drink is made by Redux Beverages of Las Vegas, which markets it as "The legal alternative."

Hannah Kirby, the company's managing partner, said 7-Eleven stores didn't account for many sales of the drink. It hit shelves in New York and California in August and is now available in more than a half-dozen states, mostly in mom-and-pop convenience and liquor stores.

Call me a flat Lander… Your weekly random post 10/23

Maybe it is just me, but I find it a strange sight to look up a hill and see not only a tunnel on my same steep slope but also another road that has an even more extreem slope atop it. Add houses, more cars, and I think to my self wow I am definitely not in Chicago any more. So in the sprit of Eric’s brain teasers do any of you flat fellow Landers have a guess as to what this piece of cottage cheese / city Colin and I just went a visiting?

recent trip

So, as you know I recently took a trip to my old stomping grounds of SW Fla. I thought it would be fun to sum the whole thing up for you folks on "the blog."
On Saturday morning while I was on the way to work Tiff called to let me know that my Step mom passed away. (I had spoken to my dad a week or so previosly and learned her battle with lung cancer wasn't going well.) I called my Dad as was moved to tears in very short conversation (She did teach me to drive after all).
After calling Tiff back we started making plans to go down for a visit. She made about 99% of the plans, arranging to rent a mini-van (our 92 Caprice was a bad choice, not only because it fuel efficency, but it's maintence level).
We decided to leave Monday after the boys got out of school.
After packing and shopping and map-questing (Yahoo, mapquest and google all had different routes) and all the other pre trip arrangement were attended to, we picked up the boys, and got on the Kennedy, in the rain. It rained pretty much all the way to South Georgia. Fortunatly we picked up a Harry Potter book on tape (Highly recomended) which passed the time well for everyone.
Arriving at Dad's was interesting, there was a small sign on the door saying "No Smoking, Oxygen in use" but when we opened the door, My Step Brother Josh was smoking, on the couch while watching football. Dad, Josh, and my Step-Sister Shelly all smoked constantly. Dad smokes little cigars which doesn't sound all bad untill you realize he inhales the things like a cigarette. It was definatly weird being indoors around smoke again after being a non-smoker for the last 2 years. and considering we were mourning the loss of a woman who had LUNG CANCER for cryin' out loud.
We spent a few days doing a lot of nothing with Dad, and my brother Rick who came down from Ohio. the highlights:
Rick and I went to the tattoo parlor where I got my first ink(Rick got a yin yang). the friend I was with in high schools pic was still in the photo book (She got a escher peeled face thingie)
The boys went to the beach with Rick one day & Tiff another
We drove by our old house, which is for sale for over $150,000 more then we sold it for, only 5 years later.
I got to see the hotel where I used to work. (lot's of changes from the last hurricane)
We all passed the time playing a little pool (dad has a table)
organised some crap (dad will be in a house full of junk and books if he's not carefull)
I aquired a bench grinder (he has crap tons of tools, many extras)
The trip home took 3 hours less then the trip down (rain really slows ya down)
My other brother Scott couldn't make it down, he is starting a new life in Gainsville, after recently (and suddnely) leaving his wife and job in FtMyers, and had a job interview he couldn't miss.
Tiff and I decided we were VERY glad we moved. It made us sad that we were not part of my Dad's life, but our life is healthier then it was, and it's not so damn hot all the time.