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.

What expression is represented below?

+ DEEF


Hint
- DEEF would be the opposite expression

This blog is dead without PJ.

What are the odds of this?

The 30 March 2005 Powerball drawing wasn't the only time a fortune cookie had been successfully used to garner a lottery windfall. A decade earlier, two of the three winners who split a $4 million Lotto Texas jackpot had used numbers suggested to them by a slip of paper found inside a fortune
cookie.

Yet there was still more to the story than its mere cookieness. Those two biscuit-blessed winners were married to one another.

Scotty Turnbull purchased his ticket for the 25 March 1995 drawing in Mission, Texas, at United Drive In, selecting as his numbers the cookie-recommended combination 10, 24, 27, 29, 40, and 46. Later that day, wife Barbara Turnbull bought a batch of tickets on the same drawing at that same shop, with one of the tickets purchased also bearing that same set of digits.

JT has been here!

Just to let you all know, if you takea quick peek back under the random 10/12 photo thread, you will find Mr. "JT" has left a comment. It was a total suprize to me, so go check it out!

Quote-o- the day

In other words, I don't think people ought to be compelled to make the decision which they think is best for their family.
--George w. Bush

Be True to Your School!

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A judge sentenced a man Tuesday to 160 years in prison for killing his father, stepmother and two stepsisters so he could attend high school prom events in 1989.

St. Joseph Superior Court Judge Roland Chamblee Jr. sentenced Jeffrey Pelley, 34, to four consecutive 40-year sentences in the shotgun slayings of his minister-father and the three others.

Pelley had faced a maximum sentence of 260 years in prison for the killings at the family's home in a parsonage adjacent to the Olive Branch Church of the United Brethren in Lakeville, about 10 miles south of South Bend.

End of an era for the true old school....

End of a Punk-Rock Institution Whose Attitude Won't Die


By JON PARELES
Published: October 16, 2006
Just after 1 a.m. on Monday morning, the last notes of live music rang from the stage of CBGB & OMFUG, the Bowery club where punk-rock invented itself. Patti Smith finished the club's final concert with her ballad "Elegie," growing teary-eyed as she read a list of dead punk-rock musicians and advocates. But just before it, she had worked up a galvanizing crescendo -- from poetry recitation to rock song to guitar-charged incantation -- in a medley of "Horses" and "Gloria," proclaiming with a triumphant rasp, "Jesus died for somebody's sins/But not for CBGB's."

The songs came from her debut album, "Horses," which was released in 1975, when Ms. Smith and CBGB were making each other famous. She was a poet turned rocker, tapping and then redoubling the energy she found in basic three-chord songs. The club -- its initials mean Country Bluegrass Blues and Other Music for Uplifting Gormandizers -- was a hangout in a dire location. But its owner, Hilly Kristal, agreed to book artistically ambitious, high-concept, generally primitivist bands that defied the commercial imperatives of early-1970's rock. It was a neighborhood place in a low-rent neighborhood that happened to house artists and derelicts side by side, inspiring some hard-nosed art. During her set, Ms. Smith described CBGB as, "This place that Hilly so generously offered to us to create new ideas, to fail, to make mistakes, to reach new heights."

In some ways CBGB, which opened in December 1973, ended its life as it had started. It never moved from its initial location, which was originally under a Bowery flophouse, now a homeless shelter. It never changed its floor plan, with a long bar lit by neon beer signs on the way to an uneven floor, a peeling ceiling, a peculiarly angled stage and notorious bathrooms. Through the years, the sound system was improved until its clean roar could make any power chord sound explosive. Mostly, however, CBGB just grew more encrusted: with dust, with band posters stuck on every available surface, with bodily fluids from performers and patrons. Ms. Smith did some casual spitting of her own during her set.

See ya'll soon

So once again I will be absent for a few days.
Unfortunatly my Step Mother lost her fight with lung cancer and I will be going to FtMyers for a few days to spend some time with Dad.
Tiff, Jake, Max and I are pulling a bit of road trip. should be a hoot. I'll let you know how it turns out when we get back.
we are pulling out Monday after School, but I will leave you with this pretty gothic stuff including a body bag shaped bean bag or you can test your 80's hair bad knowledge here (thanks FARK)
See you gang

Nuke concerns continue.....

Fraying of Old Restraints Risks a Second Nuclear Age

By WILLIAM J. BROAD and DAVID E. SANGER
Published: October 15, 2006
The declaration last Monday by North Korea that it had conducted a successful atomic test brought to nine the number of nations believed to have nuclear arms. But atomic officials estimate that as many as 40 more countries have the technical skill, and in some cases the required material, to build a bomb.

U.S. Hits Obstacle in Getting a Vote on North Korea (October 14, 2006) That ability, coupled with new nuclear threats in Asia and the Middle East, risks a second nuclear age, officials and arms control specialists say, in which nations are more likely to abandon the old restraints against atomic weapons.

The spread of nuclear technology is expected to accelerate as nations redouble their reliance on atomic power. That will give more countries the ability to make reactor fuel, or, with the same equipment and a little more effort, bomb fuel — the hardest part of the arms equation.

Signs of activity abound. Hundreds of companies are now prospecting for uranium where dozens did a few years ago. Argentina, Australia and South Africa are drawing up plans to begin enriching uranium, and other countries are considering doing the same. Egypt is reviving its program to develop nuclear power.

Continuing with the alcohol.....

How to Taste Single Malt Scotch
Tasting single malt whisky is becoming increasingly popular all over the world. To be a "single malt" a whisky must be distilled at a single distillery and made entirely from malted barley. To be called "Scotch," the whisky must be from Scotland, the country that produces most of the world's single malt whiskies. A good bottle of single malt costs about three times as much as a good bottle of wine, but it is a much stronger drink (starting at 40% ABV). You may also find that Scotch whisky has an intense taste, with flavors that can be more easily identified than the subtler ones found in wine.
Steps
Buy a bottle of single malt whisky. The chief rule is to drink what you like. Starting at $40 a bottle, you'd better like the taste, not the name. Names like Glenlivet, Glenfiddich and Macallan are famous for a reason, but they come from the same small area in Scotland and therefore taste quite similar. To begin, try some of your friends' favorite whiskies, or go to a whisky bar and ask for recommendations. If these options fail, some good bottles under $40 include Laphroiag 10 Year Old, Balvenie 12 Year Old Double Wood, Glenmorangie 10 Year Old, and Bowmore Legend.
Buy a good glass. The tulip glass (right) allows the rising alcohol to be directed toward the nose and splashes the spirit onto the palate like a martini glass. Most professional tasters believe that tumblers do not focus the alcohol, causing many of the aromas to be lost. A "dram" of whisky is about an ounce, but depending on your experience and how much you want to drink, this amount can be anywhere from half an ounce to two ounces.
Swirl the whisky around in the glass, which causes the molecules to spread out over a larger surface and evaporate, releasing the whisky goodness. Take a whiff. Remember that whisky (40%+) is stronger than wine (11%+). You do not need to be very close to the glass. The collection of aromas is referred to as the "nose."
Add water. Adding water depends on the whisky and the taster, but also on the strength and style of the whisky being consumed. "Cask strength" whiskies require more water. Regular bottles have spring water already added to reduce the alcohol content. However, a little water will always result in slightly different smells and tastes. Purists recommend adding distilled water. Some tasters do not believe in adding in water at all.
Swirl the whisky around in the glass and smell it again. Continue this for a few minutes while the water "marries" with the whisky and releases additional aromas you may not have noticed at first.
Take a sip. Take just enough to coat your mouth and begin to slowly swirl it around your tongue. Feel the consistency of the whisky. Some feel thicker, more oily, or grittier than others. This is referred to as the "palate." Try and coat your tongue so that the whisky touches all of your taste buds.
Taste the whisky. Try to hold still in this position as long as possible to notice all of the different flavor components.
Swallow but do not open your mouth or close your throat. Let in a tiny amount of air through your mouth and breathe through your nose slowly so that the fumes rise up into your sinuses. As the whisky evaporates from your tongue it will release a sequence of different flavors. This is called the "finish." Once the flavors subside, breathe normally.

had to share this link

I came accross this during my most unproductive day of websurfing in recent history and wanted to share.
the best(worst), unoffensive blond joke ever

liabach, the great seal

How to Enjoy the Taste of Beer
For those people that have had beer before but thought it tasted terrible and wonder why people even drink it...perhaps this may help you to get the "acquired taste" that everyone talks about.

Steps
Try a stronger tasting beer, like Heineken or Guinness. If possible, drink it lukewarm. The purpose for this is to be exposed to a strong flavor, most likely one that you will utterly not like.
Take some time off from beer, perhaps a day or two.
Choose a light, crisp-tasting beer such as Coors Light or Bud Light for your next beer. Rolling Rock is also an excellent starting beer. Make sure it's very cold and hasn't been sitting in any warm temperature - if so, it may be skunky and won't taste very good.
If you still find yourself not liking the taste of light beer, continue to drink lighter beers (in normal amounts) until you get used to the taste.
Once you get used to light beer, move onto more flavorful beers. There are many beers out there, all with varying degrees of taste, so be sure to find out which beers are lighter in taste. Get used to the lighter beers first, then move your way up at your own pace.

The 10/12 Random Photo

This will be it for now. I have decided to take a break from the Offmen Archive, is it seems to be mostly full of members whom are not active on this blog, with the exception of Eric, and a few of Pete in his undies. However I do plan on continuing the random photo concept only with out as many of the old archive images.

Final Market, Killdozer

Weather Report

I know I'm opening my self for some grief from Eric, since I gave him some shit when he posted weather reports, but:
It's Snowing
and it's not even halfway through October for the love of all that is good and holy.
global warming my ass

xrt radio, stevie wonder (I think)

Not that this study holds any water to whether it is totally accurate or not, but still, its something to think about.....


BAGHDAD, Oct. 10 — A team of American and Iraqi public health researchers has estimated that 600,000 civilians have died in violence across Iraq since the 2003 American invasion, the highest estimate ever for the toll of the war here.

A New Estimate of Civilian Deaths The figure breaks down to about 15,000 violent deaths a month, a number that is quadruple the one for July given by Iraqi government hospitals and the morgue in Baghdad and published last month in a United Nations report in Iraq. That month was the highest for Iraqi civilian deaths since the American invasion.

But it is an estimate and not a precise count, and researchers acknowledged a margin of error that ranged from 426,369 to 793,663 deaths.

how did we skip this?

Hey, we haven't even touched on this Mark Foley thing.
ya know he's the congressman from FLA who was sending suggestive IM's to 16 year old boys.
your thoughts?

intimate secratary, the recontours

The Significance of the “Dear Leader” Testing His Nuke
J. Peter Pham
October 9, 2006


The announcement from the official Korea Central News Agency was couched in the communist state’s usual blend of solipsistic discourse, hyperbole, and surrealism:

The field of scientific research in the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] successfully conducted an underground nuclear test under secure conditions on October 9, Juche 95 [2006, the North Korean regime operates on its own calendar which dates 1915, the birth year of “Great Leader” Kim Il-Sung as year 1] at a stirring time when all the people of the country are making a great leap forward in the building of a great, prosperous, powerful socialist nation. It has been confirmed that there was no such danger from radioactive emission in the course of the nuclear test, as it was carried out under scientific consideration and careful calculation. The nuclear test was conducted with indigenous wisdom and technology, 100 percent. It marks a historic event as it greatly encouraged and pleased the KPA [Korean People’s Army] and people that have wished to have powerful self-reliant defense capability. It will contribute to defending the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the area around it.

Nonetheless, the message was clear: the exclusive club of the world’s declared nuclear powers had just been crashed by a dangerous and potentially highly unstable upstart

Crazy, plain and simple.....

PATTAYA, Thailand — A Thai snake charmer kissed 19 highly poisonous king cobras in an attempt to set a world record.

One by one, the cobras were released Saturday onto a stage set up in this Thai beach resort town, as the snake charmer, Khum Chaibuddee, kissed each one and then moved onto the next.

Security was tight, with four additional snake charmers flanking the stage at each corner and a medical team waiting on the sidelines with serum in case one of the snakes snapped, according to a statement from Thailand's Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum in Pattaya, which organized the event.

The museum's manager, Somporn Naksuetrong, said Ripley's planned to submit the attempt to the Guinness Book of World Records to overtake a previous record set in 1999 when an American kissed 11 venomous snakes.

File under trying to fight fire with a bucket of gasoline?

After three sensational/tragic school shootings so far this 2007 school year Wisconsin Representative Frank Lasee proposes teachers to have guns in schools.

Robert VerBruggen blogs at http://robertsrationale.blogspot.com. Writes;

This story makes me proud of my home state. A Wisconsin lawmaker has suggested allowing teachers and principals to carry guns. Given the screenings teachers already go through (a friend of mine was fingerprinted and background-checked before she could teach in New York), and presuming training courses are required, this would prevent more violence than it would enable.

The gun control issue often turns into a logic contest — “criminals break laws anyway, so they’ll break gun laws” vs. “if they couldn’t get guns they couldn’t kill people with them.” Then there are the make-up-a-scenario debates, with “what if someone tries to rob you?” vs. “what if you accidentally shoot your son?”

But the fact of the matter is that the 50 states have tried a whole variety of gun laws, so it’s an empirical issue, not a hypothetical one, whether regulation works. Various scholarly analyses have revealed that, at best, gun control can’t be shown to work and, at worst, disarming law-abiding citizens actually causes more crime.

S- Um does any one else think this is a good idea? Eveidently there is more than I guy out there who does.

Fists of Love, Big Black

THIS scares me.

...More so than most....



Nuclear bomb test 'just a day away'
By Leo Lewis

Neighbours hold urgent talks as North Korea's leader says that blast must not rock sacred peak too much

Preparations to detonate a bomb at a 2,000 metre-deep abandoned coalmine close to the Chinese border have reportedly been completed, enabling North Korea to go ahead with the controversial test as the leaders of Japan and China hold urgent talks at a summit in Beijing.

Kim Jong Il, the North Korean leader who celebrates 19 years as head of his country’s Workers’ Party tomorrow, is reported to have given orders that the test should “not excessively rock” Mount Paetku, a nearby peak considered sacred by many Koreans.

another fun site

This one.... drinking related (really) you may, by now, sence a theme with me, but who knows. I came by this one honestly enough. I was researching a quote that Central 214 (the resturant I'm visiting) has on their drink list, I thought it was wrong, and I was right.
sweet vindication.

nhappy

Decipher this phrase-

NHAPPY

Random Photo 10/05

I see underage drinking, Johns guitar, Jason in his Doc’s before he cooked them in the fire, my self in some half baked drunken philosophy, and lots of mud. I must be getting old because none of this really looks like fun any more. Ahh but it was fun and it seems like just yesterday as well… 1990?

Any one know the Whereabouts’ of Jason? Last I saw him was at the North Avenue Home Depot in Chicago…. Maybe 5 years ago?

STOCKTON, California — President Bush took a swat at his critics Tuesday, bluntly declaring that if Democrats take control of Congress, the nation's stance against terrorism will soften.

He scolded Democrats who voted against his warrantless wiretapping program to monitor the communications of suspected terrorists and legislation to detain, interrogate and question high-value terrorist suspects.

"On each of these programs, the Democrats have said they share our goals. But when it comes time to vote, they consistently oppose giving our personnel the tools they need to protect us," Bush said at a $400,000 breakfast fundraiser for Rep. Richard Pombo, held 60 miles east of the San Francisco Bay area.

"Time and time again, the Democrats want to have it both ways. They talk tough on terror, but when the votes are counted, their softer side comes out," he said.

In the home stretch of campaigning for the Nov. 7 elections, Bush is using his $2.3 million fundraising sprint through Nevada, California, Arizona and Colorado to try portray distinct differences between Democrats and Republicans, especially on waging the war against terror.