Thoughts from the Peanut Gallery

Lights and the coast

2006-08-09T11:06:00.000-07:00

Well, I got the fog light replaced. Junkyards rule! The part cost me $40 still, but that is a relative bargain.

We are gearing up for our vacation finally. It will be really nice to get away for a little while. From the look of the weather, it is going to be raining the whole dang time. Figures doesn't it...

How to Get Noticed

2006-05-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

Hmm -- I read the FAQ over at pfblogs.com -- it looks like I have to write more about personal finance if I want to get included.

It looks like my pigeon incident is going to cost me. The dealer wanted $109 + labor to fix it. Aftermarket foglights are going to be ~ $60 + my time to install. Or I can go to Pull-a-Part and see what I can find. I need a tail light for our other car anyway, so pull a part is the way to go for me. I'm still pulling feathers out of the car. There is a white mess on the front of the car like I hit a bottle of baby powder. Ugh.

Going to Houston this weekend with the parents for a cousin's wedding. Should be fun to see family I never get to see.

My debt snowball calculator earned me some more money recently. A user topped the previous record of a $5 donation with $20! Now, I never expected to get that much from someone, so that's pretty neat. I'm glad people are still using it -- it really kept us motivated!. I feel like I owe this user some specialized help. he asked a question when he sent the check and I plan on 'personalizing' the sheet for him if I ever get a couple of free moments at home to do it!

Back on my head now...

An important life lesson

2006-05-01T07:23:00.000-07:00

I learned an important life lesson this morning on the way to work. Hitting a pigeon at 70 mph is an extremely effective way to destroy a fog light. Anyone know a good body shop in OKC?

Follow up to "What a sissy"

2006-04-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

I looked over a few of the things I had posted before and came across my "What a sissy" post regarding a kid who didn't like having homework assigned over the summer for his honors classes. I decided to do a little follow up to see if anything had been determined on his lawsuit.

"If I were a judge, I would not only dismiss the lawsuit, I'd levy a fine against the father for misusing the courts," said Philip Howard, a lawyer and legal-reform advocate based in New York City and author of the best-seller "The Death of Common Sense. (source)

The suit was thrown out, thankfully.

But it's up to school boards to decide such things, Judge Richard J. Sankovitz ruled Tuesday.

"Had the Larsons done a bit more homework," he wrote, they would had learned that "the people of our state granted to the Legislature ... the power to establish school boards." (source)

A New Post ?!?

2006-04-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Really? A new post? Yep. I figured I'd give it another go. I've been reading some personal finance blogs over at pfblogs and have thought about trying to join that site. It is an 'aggregator' -- it has links to lots of blogs related to personal finance. They have some pretty good stuff over there and I don't know if I'd make a reasonable contribution to them if I tried to do this or not.

Anyway, if I want to try to write something someone might want to read, I better find something useful to write about. I don't know if I could go all out personal finance or not.

Maybe I need to get motivated -- or maybe motivated to do this at home or over lunch in stead of during the 'normal' day...

We're Debt Free!

2006-03-07T08:09:00.001-08:00

We're debt free!!!!

Right around $29,000 in under 3 years. We paid off the last debt right at the first of March. It's over and done with -- 2 months sooner than expected, too! Now onto other things!

One of these days I'm going to write out our full story -- I'm just too swamped right now...

I've uploaded a 3rd version of my Debt Snowball spreadsheet. It's been downloaded like crazy. I'm glad people like it and it is helping them!

Picture

2005-09-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

Here:

September 6

2005-09-06T13:41:00.000-07:00

Again -- does anyone read this?

Weight Loss

2005-08-23T13:47:00.000-07:00

Blah blah blah -- nobody reads this anyway...

Ahh -- High Gas Prices

2005-08-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

So the gas prices are high. They're high here, high there, high everywhere. According to DrudgeReport, "gas prices in Amsterdam hit $6.48 a gallon; Italy $5.96." I just paid ~$2.50 a gallon a few days ago. From what I heard, there have been 14 problems at refineries that have shut them down for considerable time since the start of July (maybe June, I can't remember where I heard this info). So, the refineries are shut down, supply of gas drops, demand remains the same, prices rise, obviously. But when these refineries close (albeit momentarily) the supply of oil to the remaining refineries should increase, right? If nothing else, the closed factory should have a surplus of oil when they open back up.

But that would all be to easy, right? Some Saudi king died -- panic!!! Oil prices must jump because we don't know if the Saudis will keep supplying us with our oil, right? To that I call BS. Without us buying up all the oil, the Saudi royalty wouldn't be stupidly wealthy. China just added their straw to the world's oil milkshake. Japan can't get much bigger. Seems like Eurpoe never changes, so I would say that this jump in oil prices is due mainly to this dead king.

Now, I've heard that we shouldn't be complaining about gas prices -- "We paid more per gallon back in the 70's or 80's when adjusted for inflation." Well, I wasn't driving then. I started driving when gas was ~$.89/gal. So, in the decade I've been driving, that's a 281% increase. Isn't inflation supposed t o be 4%/year? Let's see if my math holds up here -- start with gas at $.89. One year inflation should be .$89 * 1.04 = .$93/gal. Next year $.93 * 1.04 = $.96/gal -- do that 10 times and you get $1.32/gal. So, if that is an accurate guesstimate, gas prices are 189% of where they should be right now? Wow...

I've heard that some people thinking that the prices will lower once things get back under control overseas and with our refineries. Again, I have to call BS. Since people really can't stop buying gas, the companies are going to be able to see what price the public will accept. Accept, have forced upon us, same thing.

Oh well, whining about it doesn't lower the prices either do they? I saw on Mythbusters the other day that having your windows down is more fuel efficient than the A/C. Been trying that more recently...

Been a While - July Debt

2005-07-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a long time since I've written anything here. The routine of get up, go to work, work, go home, sleep, repeat hasn't changed. We paid off the student loan this month -- no brain repossession here. We are down to two remaining debts then we are piling $ up high and fast for another emergency fund and a house down payment. Here's where we are at right now:

Baby Step 1) Done!
Baby Step 2a) Fridge Done
------------- 2b) Wash/dry Done
------------- 2c) Cap 1a Done
------------- 2d) Cap 1b Done
------------- 2e) Car a Done
------------- 2f) Student Loan Done
------------- 2g) MBNA Rolling Rolling Rolling!!!
------------- 2h) Car b Min's
======================== Expected payoff - May - June 2006

Since I've gone 'public' with my snowball spreadsheet, it's been really popular! It has been referenced in many forums that I didn't even know existed (based on my site traffic) and it seems like many people are getting lots of use out of it. As of right now, the page has been viewed 727 times, so it's probably a safe assumption that ~500+ people are getting good use out of something I wrote. That really makes me smile. Still no donations to my snowball yet though....

If anyone is reading this, please post a comment -- just to let me know I'm not alone out here!

Email Forward

2005-02-17T08:27:00.000-08:00

Got this in a forward. Snopes says it isn't true, but it sounds tempting to try.

-------------------------------------------------------

The attached is an actual letter that was sent to a bank by a 96 year-old woman. The bank manager thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times.
-------------------------------------------------------
To whom it may concern,

I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his depositing the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it. I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly transfer of funds from my modest savings account, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only thirty-one years. You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank.

My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that whereas I personally attend to your telephone calls and letters, when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has recently become. >From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person. My mortgage and loan repayments will
> therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank, by check, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate. Be aware that it is an offense under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope.

Please find attached an Application Contact Status form which I require your chosen employee to complete. I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative. Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of
> his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof. In due course, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me. I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modeled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Please allow me to level the playing field even further. When you call me, you will now have a menu of options on my new voice mail system to choose from.

Pease press the buttons as follows:
1. To make an appointment to see me.
2. To query a missing payment.
3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.
4. To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping.
5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.
6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home.
7. To leave a message on my computer, a password to access my computer is required. Password will be communicated to you at a later date to the Authorized Contact.
8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 7.
9. To make a general complaint or inquiry. The contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service. While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.

Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee of $50 to cover the setting up of this new arrangement. Please credit my account after each occasion.

May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous, New Year.

Your Humble Client,

(Remember: This was written by a 96 year old woman)

Rebates

2005-02-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

I hate rebates. I would pay more for an item than the reduced-rebated price just to not have to deal with the rebates.

This widget is only $2.99, but you have to cough up $257.00 and wait for the mail-in rebate to come. I don't want to wait on a check for $254.01 -- I want my savings right now. Why would the company expect me to make them a loan? Well, this article says:

The FTC's Dershowitz estimates that at least 50% of rebates go unclaimed because consumers lose the form, throw away the UPC code or just can't be bothered to fill out the paperwork and mail it. And TCA brags on its Web site to its potential customers that it rejects 800,000 claims a year, "saving our customers $20 million."

So much for those savings you were getting! I just got TiVo. Had to cough up $200 for the unit that "only costs $100." Now, I knew that going into the deal, but of course I'm going to file that rebate, right? Well, it sat around and sat around and I almost forgot about it because I didn't do it right away. But you better believe I sent it in. I even went to the trouble of putting a delivery confirmation on the letter. Somehow, the rebate place got around not havingto send that back to me because I still haven't got it back, even though I know they received it [they have a website where you can check]. Now, they have it, where is my check? Well it is still pending final approval. What a crock! If I didn't pay right away, I would not receive a product [because, honey, we don't do credit around here] but they can just hold onto my money for a little while and just not cut the check? I call B--- S---!

I ordered a piece of electronics for Christmas through Staples.com and it had a rebate as well. Well, they have the easiest rebates to file. It's an online form and you can log in and track it through the process. They send emails to update me on the status of it as well. That's all well and good, but I don't like giving the company a loan. I AM NOT A BANK! Same reason why I "hate" [notice the quotes] getting a tax refund. I don't want to loan the government money to get it back without interest in April. Still beats paying though...

Another thing about that Staples rebate that really pissed me off was that the check came on a postcard. Anyone could have taken that check and endorsed it and gotten my $8. Sure that's not much, but if my TiVo rebate comes the same way, then I'll be really pissed. $100 on a postcard may not be as easy for someone to ignore as $8.

Guess I will have to resort to buying my electronics online to avoid these damn things.

February Debt

2005-02-01T09:33:00.000-08:00

Well, February will be the month we actually own one of our cars. Woo Hoo! But, we are robbing the remaining snowball to pay for me to go out to San Jose to see my friend. Oh well, such is life.

I have come up with a debt snowball calculator that I have "made public." People like it at the Dave Ramsey forums. I am hoping someone will make a donation to my snowball since I so generously wrote it for the masses...

Anyways:

Baby Step 1) Done!
Baby Step 2a) Fridge Done
------------- 2b) Wash/dry Done
------------- 2c) Cap 1a Done
------------- 2d) Cap 1b Done
------------- 2e) Car a Snowballing -- It will be ours!
------------- 2f) Student Loan Min's
------------- 2g) MBNA Min's
------------- 2h) Car b Min's
======================== Expected payoff - May 2006

What a sissy

2005-01-24T07:13:00.000-08:00

This has to be the most asinine thing I have ever read.

Student sues to end summer homework
Claims it creates unfair workload, unnecessary stress

The Associated Press
Updated: 1:30 p.m. ET Jan. 21, 2005

MILWAUKEE - A student whose vacation plans were spoiled has sued to end summer homework in Wisconsin, claiming it creates an unfair workload and unnecessary stress.

Peer Larson, 17, had lined up a dream camp counselor job last June, but honors pre-calculus homework turned his summer into a headache.

“It didn’t completely ruin my summer, but it did give me a lot of undue stress both at home and at work,” the high school junior said Thursday. “I just didn’t have the energy or the time for it.”

Larson and his father sued in Milwaukee County Circuit Court seeking the end of summer homework across the state. They argue that homework shouldn’t be required after the required 180-day school year is over.

“These students are still children, yet they are subjected to increasing pressure to perform to ever-higher standards in numerous theaters,” the suit said.

School administrators have told the family that honors courses require some summer work.

Whitnall School Superintendent Karen Petric told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the district did its best to address the Larsons’ concerns.

“I strongly believe the district acted appropriately and didn’t do anything wrong,” she said. “Court is not the place to solve it.”

While students will probably root for the Larsons, lawyers contacted Thursday questioned the suit’s legal grounds. Larson and his son had acted as their own legal counsel.

“This is the sort of thing that has been traditionally handled by school boards,” said attorney Thomas R. Schrimpf. Another attorney, Timothy Baldwin, predicted the case would be dismissed.

The Jan. 10 lawsuit names a math teacher, three school administrators and the state’s superintendent of public instruction. Wisconsin’s attorney general’s office will assign a lawyer to respond to the suit, said spokesman Brian Rieselman.

© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

If the honors classes are too much work, QUIT TAKING THEM, DUMBASS!

A Few Good Structural Engineers

2005-01-21T12:41:00.000-08:00

This was emailed to me and it was really funny

A scene from "A Few Good Structural Engineers"

Engineer (Jack Nicholson): You want answers?

Architect (Tom Cruise): I think I'm entitled to them.

Engineer: You want answers?

Architect: I want the truth!!

Engineer: You can't handle the truth! ,Son, we live in a world that has FLOORS. And those FLOORS have to be SUPPORTED BY COLUMNS. Who's gonna DESIGN THEM? You? You, MR. ARCHITECT? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for LOST FLOOR SPACE and you curse the COLUMNS. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that THOSE COLUMNS, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives...You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that DESIGN TEAM. You need me on that DESIGN TEAM. We use words like DESIGN, code, ANALYSIS...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent SUPPORTING something. You use 'em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain my DESIGN to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very STRUCTURES I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a STEEL MANUAL and DESIGN a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to!

Architect: Did you SCHEDULE THE COLUMNS?

Engineer: (quietly) I did the job you HIRED me to do.

Architect: Did you SCHEDULE THE COLUMNS?

Engineer: You're goddamn right I did!!

Monday Night at Morton's

2005-01-18T15:20:00.000-08:00

I found this on Orangepower.com and this is copied directly from there.

For many years Ben Stein has written a biweekly column for the online website called "Monday Night At Morton's." (Morton's is a famous chain of Steakhouses known to be frequented by movie stars and famous people from around the globe.) Now, Ben is terminating the column to move on to other things in his life. Reading his final column is worth a few minutes of your time.

Here is the article it is referring to. Link is Right Here

Ben Stein's Last Column... (read all of this or you will have missed the best).
============================================
How Can Someone Who Lives in Insane Luxury Be a Star in Today's World?

As I begin to write this, I "slug" it, as we writers say, which means I put a heading on top of the document to identify it. This heading is "eonlineFINAL," and it gives me a shiver to write it. I have been doing this column for so long that I cannot even recall when I started. I loved writing this column so much for so long I came to believe it would never end.

It worked well for a long time, but gradually, my changing as a person and the world's change have overtaken it. On a small scale, Morton's, while better than ever, no longer attracts as many stars as it used to. It still brings in the rich people in droves and definitely some stars. I saw Samuel L. Jackson there a few days ago, and we had a nice visit, and right before that, I saw and had a splendid talk with Warren Beatty in an elevator, in which we agreed that Splendor in the Grass was a super movie. But Morton's is not the star galaxy it once was, though it probably will be again.

Beyond that, a bigger change has happened. I no longer think Hollywood stars are terribly important. They are uniformly pleasant, friendly people, and they treat me better than I deserve to be treated. But a man or woman who makes a huge wage for memorizing lines and reciting them in front of a camera is no longer my idea of a shining star we should all look up to.

How can a man or woman who makes an eight-figure wage and lives in insane luxury really be a star in today's world, if by a "star" we mean someone bright and powerful and attractive as a role model? Real stars are not riding around in the backs of limousines or in Porsches or getting trained in yoga or Pilates and eating only raw fruit while they have Vietnamese girls do their nails.

They can be interesting, nice people, but they are not heroes to me any longer. A real star is the soldier of the 4th Infantry Division who poked his head into a hole on a farm near Tikrit, Iraq. He could have been met by a bomb or a hail of AK-47 bullets. Instead, he faced an abject Saddam Hussein and the gratitude of all of the decent people of the world.

A real star is the U.S. soldier who was sent to disarm a bomb next to a road north of Baghdad. He approached it, and the bomb went off and killed him.

A real star, the kind who haunts my memory night and day, is the U.S. soldier in Baghdad who saw a little girl playing with a piece of unexploded ordnance on a street near where he was guarding a station. He pushed her aside and threw himself on it just as it exploded. He left a family desolate in California and a little girl alive in Baghdad.

The stars who deserve media attention are not the ones who have lavish weddings on TV but the ones who patrol the streets of Mosul even after two of their buddies were murdered and their bodies battered and stripped for the sin of trying to protect Iraqis from terrorists.

We put couples with incomes of $100 million a year on the covers of our magazines. The noncoms and officers who barely scrape by on military pay but stand on guard in Afghanistan and Iraq and on ships and in submarines and near the Arctic Circle are anonymous as they live and die.

I am no longer comfortable being a part of the system that has such poor values, and I do not want to perpetuate those values by pretending that who is eating at Morton's is a big subject.

There are plenty of other stars in the American firmament...the policemen and women who go off on patrol in South Central and have no idea if they will return alive; the orderlies and paramedics who bring in people who have been in terrible accidents and prepare them for surgery; the teachers and nurses who throw their whole spirits into caring for autistic children; the kind men and women who work in hospices and in cancer wards.

Think of each and every fireman who was running up the stairs at the World Trade Center as the towers began to collapse. Now you have my idea of a real hero.

We are not responsible for the operation of the universe, and what happens to us is not terribly important. God is real, not a fiction; and when we turn over our lives to Him, He takes far better care of us than we could ever do for ourselves. In a word, we make ourselves sane when we fire ourselves as the directors of the movie of our lives and turn the power over to Him.

I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters. This is my highest and best use as a human. I can put it another way. Years ago, I realized I could never be as great an actor as Olivier or as good a comic as Steve Martin...or Martin Mull or Fred Willard--or as good an economist as Samuelson or Friedman or as good a writer as Fitzgerald. Or even remotely close to any of them.

But I could be a devoted father to my son, husband to my wife and, above all, a good son to the parents who had done so much for me. This came to be my main task in life. I did it moderately well with my son, pretty well with my wife and well indeed with my parents (with my sister's help). I cared for and paid attention to them in their declining years. I stayed with my father as he got sick, went into extremis and then into a coma and then entered immortality with my sister and me reading him the Psalms.

This was the only point at which my life touched the lives of the soldiers in Iraq or the firefighters in New York. I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters and that it is my duty, in return for the lavish life God has devolved upon me, to help others He has placed in my path. This is my highest and best use as a human.

Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will.
By Ben Stein

OH MY DEAR GOD

2005-01-17T11:12:00.000-08:00

OH MY DEAR GOD -- This is by far the absolute worst thing I have ever heard.

Link to Full Story

Woman 'tore off ex-lover's testicle'

A jilted woman has admitted ripping off her ex-lover's testicle with her bare hands after he refused to have sex with her.

Amanda Monti, 24, flew into a rage after her ex-boyfriend, 37-year-old Geoffrey Jones, rejected her advances at the end of a drunken house party. She yanked off his left testicle, which was later handed to him by a friend with the words: "That's yours."

Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetah!

2005-01-10T12:22:00.000-08:00

For all those on the TotalMoneyMakeover forums, this one is for you:

Notice that it is an MBNA card...
Leave a comment below if you want.

January Debt

2005-01-07T12:46:00.000-08:00

Here is the update for January -- see my Debember Debt post for an overview of what everything means.

We are still on track from where we were last month. No changes to the budget. Here's what my numbers reflect as of the first of the month:

Baby Step 1) Done!
Baby Step 2a) Fridge Done
------------- 2b) Wash/dry Done
------------- 2c) Cap 1a Done
------------- 2d) Cap 1b Done
------------- 2e) Car a Snowballing -- Full snowball this month -- Second month in a row.
------------- 2f) Student Loan Min's
------------- 2g) MBNA Min's
------------- 2h) Car b Min's
======================== Expected payoff - May 2006

What does this mean? Well, we are following Dave Ramsey's plan on getting out of debt. He suggests you follow 7 "baby steps". They are working well for us. I honestly recommend that people at least look at his website and/or listen to the radio show once or twice and see if this makes sense to them...

I got a toy finally. Took my Christmas money so no budget hits. I bought TiVo. TiVo is really cool. I would recommend getting it to people and if you do get it, use me a referral -- I earn points that I can use to get other toys. Email me if you need more info on TiVo -- I will try to answer as best I can.

Next toy: Home Theater System!!! Not a "budget buster" system [see Bose], but a reasonably powerful one.

I saw this on the TMMO Forums -- A new take on the baby steps:

BS1: Fear the Cheetah
BS2: Fight the Cheetah <--------- We are here.
BS3: Dodge the Cheetah
BS4: Escape the Cheetah
BS5: Protect Your Young from the Cheetah
BS6: Defeat the Cheetah
BS7: Laugh at the Cheetah

Boooooooooooooo

2005-01-07T07:45:00.000-08:00

Saw this article -- Thought it was Awesome:

Ashlee Simpson’s vocal malfunction
Making viewers long for the days of Janet Jackson's breast

COMMENTARY
By Michael Ventre
MSNBC contributor
Updated: 1:13 p.m. ET Jan. 6, 2005

In this case, if Ashlee Simpson had flashed a breast, the FCC probably would have let it go.

After all, agencies of the federal government are there to protect the citizenry from any sort of injury or harm. Ashlee’s performance at halftime of Tuesday night’s Orange Bowl in Miami was about as close as a singer gets to committing aggravated assault. If she had only taken a lesson from Janet Jackson, the world would be talking today about the exposure of a boob rather than a fraud.

Much of the blame for this fiasco falls upon ABC, which hired this female Gilbert Gottfried to headline the halftime show for college football’s ultimate game, matching No. 1 USC against No. 2 Oklahoma. If the Sooners are despondent today after absorbing a 55-19 bludgeoning from the Trojans, they can take solace that each and every one of them could have taken the halftime stage dressed in drag and mooed like a cow and still induce fewer boos than Ashlee did Tuesday night.

First NBC invited Ashlee on “Saturday Night Live,” where she tried to fool the audience by lip-synching her way through a song, but failed. Now ABC. Don’t these networks have a Standards and Practices office anymore? Don’t they care about the welfare of our children? Don’t these network executives realize that a performance like Ashlee’s could produce imitators? Are they unconcerned about copycat Ashlees?

Slack-jawed awe

I watched the Orange Bowl Tuesday night, like millions of other Americans. The first half was all USC. When halftime arrived, I sat at the kitchen table, watching the TV from a room away. Because of the distance, the sound seemed lower than it was if I was right there in front of the screen. I started to enjoy a fine meal. I felt safe and secure.

When Ashlee came on and began to perform, though, I literally dropped my fork. Then I cupped my hands over my ears, but it didn’t help. Ashlee’s singing sounded like a cross between a political prisoner being tortured and a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.

I desperately searched for the remote so I could hit the mute button, but I must have misplaced it. But I also couldn’t believe that someone didn’t rush the stage and stop her. The local police. The FBI. Homeland security. Even an angry mob of vigilantes. Instead, they just let her keep going. I’ve never felt so helpless or vulnerable in my life.

I happened to look out the window and noticed that some of my neighbors were running down the street, their hands over their ears, screaming for help. I wanted to help them, I really did. Yet I was gripped by horror and disbelief. I was practically catatonic. For their sake — and for mine — all I could hope for was a swift end to the halftime show.

Shrieking like a hyena giving birth, she closed her “song” with something that approximates the phrase, “you make we wanna SCREAM!” And then she waited for applause.

Instead, she got boos, the kind of irate and vindictive boos that usually occur after a pro wrestler taunts a crowd. Through the cacophony, the gentle strains of “You suck!” could be heard. Ashlee was escorted off the stage and through a tunnel, and let’s just say the Indiana Pacers were received more warmly by Detroit fans when they walked toward the locker room after the brawl.

Just go away now

I consider myself a tolerant person. I accept the talented and talentless equally. I realize not everyone can sing like Sinatra or Streisand. Usually, I applaud the effort, even if the result is unsatisfactory. On the handful of occasions when I have been at a karaoke bar, I clap my hands supportively for each and every participant, regardless of how pitiful their attempts. That’s just the kind of guy I am.

But I believe there are limits, and Ashlee has crossed mine, and I believe, the world’s. She is using her status as the sister of Jessica Simpson in order to carve out a career for herself. How anyone can listen to Jessica, let alone Ashlee, borders on the stupefying. But I see stories on the news all the time about con artists who separate people from their life savings. I know there were scads of gullible viewers who tuned in to watch Geraldo Rivera open Al Capone’s vault. I realize that humans are flawed, and sometimes those flaws can have disastrous consequences.

What I hope and pray for now is that Ashlee will go away and leave the public alone. On behalf of the world community, I implore her to pursue another career. There are many avenues for a young woman of her abilities. Pig farmers need wranglers. The U.S. Forest Service has many outposts in remote areas of our nation’s parks, where one can make all the noise one wants and not be heard by another soul for miles. And if she’s determined to remain in the entertainment field, the horror genre in Hollywood could always use a good screamer.

But Ashlee must cease and desist her professional singing career immediately. The lip-synching angered many. The Orange Bowl debacle undoubtedly caused thousands to seek counseling. What does she want next? Is she setting up some sort of blackmail scheme: “Give me $10 million or I’ll keep singing”?

If that’s the case, I’m prepared to donate generously. I don’t think I’m alone.

© 2005 MSNBC Interactive

If you missed the dismal performance, go here -- this video is hilarious.

http://lipsync.us/download.php?l=1&f=(www.lipsync.us)-Ashlee-Simpson-Booed-Off-Stage.wmv

Silly Girl

Tsunami not Toonami

2004-12-29T15:01:00.000-08:00

The latest death toll I have read is 69k people and up to half of them are children. The strangest thing is that nobody has seen a dead animal caused by the tidal wave yet. Animals are freaky like that. They sense earthquakes and stuff like that I've read too. I've also read that there was another earthquake on the same day last year. What's going on?

Here's some thoughts I found off of OrangePower.com:

when a tsunami is still deep out at sea, there are hundreds of meters of depth to distribute the forces of the energy wave, this is why you cannot really 'see' the tsunami far of shore. as you get closer inland, the depth of the water decreases and the forces have no where to go but to be concentrated in the shallow water. this is why, if you've seen that video from the rooftop, you see the wave slam against the treeline of the beach, shooting 30 feet in the air, then continue inland hitting some earthwork and gushing 20 feet in the air, and continuing on and on. there is so much FORCE going on it's almost hard to fathom

also, from what I've read, it sounds like a great portion, if not most, of the deaths came from the fast retreat of the water. it literally sucked everyone out to sea. I cannot imagine the fear...

---

warnings weren't given because there is no tsunami early warning system in the indian ocean the way there is for the pacific (it's a system of bouys and sensors that measure any sudden drastic changes in water depth).
sumatra was toast no matter what. it only took a couple of minutes for the waves to get there after the earthquake. but most places could have had 20 minutes to an hour's time to start evacuating.

---

The governments in that area chose not to join with several other countries when they installed the sensors to prevent this exact thing from happening. Bad call on their part. Zachya's right, Sumatra never had a chance. Anything powerful enough to move an entire island 100 feet is gonna be hard to escape.

This guy had some videos up, but used up too much bandwidth and they had to be taken down.

Snow

2004-12-22T09:52:00.000-08:00

It's snowing!

Foamy Does Christmas

2004-12-20T10:09:00.000-08:00

Go check out this little flash cartoon: http://foamy.libertech.net/xmess.swf It hits on the Mustang school/Christmas issue and is a general rant about Christmas.

It is a little profane, but really funny. If you want to see more of the "Foamy" [squirrel's name] cartoons, go here: http://www.illwillpress.com/vault.html

This is a bigger story that I thought it would turn out to be.

Merry Christmas [if anyone is reading this]

Mustang's Super at it again

2004-12-17T07:39:00.000-08:00

Well the Superintendent at Mustang is at it again. This was posted on the OrangePower message board:

(Link to post)Today (Thursday, 12-16) at the Mustang High School it was rumored among students and apparently administration that some students were going to walk out of classes at 2:30 in protest of the decision to pull the manger scene portion out of a elementary school program. (Not yet certain if this happened.) At 2:30, fifteen minutes after sixth hour had begun, there was an announcement over the intercom at the high school asking all teachers to take attendance at that time and to report it immediately to the office. All teachers had already taken attendance at the beginning of class.

...

The problem is extremely obvious. The district still doesn't get it. On Wednesday the Daily Oklahoman carried remarks of the Superintendent chastising the electorate for defeating the school district's bond issue the day before. This was the very last thing Mr. Springer needed to be doing. Sackcloth and ashes would have been supremely more apropos. The Mustang School District is now being educated on the First Amendment of the Constitution and on how not to do stupid PR things. The schooling is not working. I would have hoped that there would have been a great deal of compassion and understanding for the feeling of high school students. If the threat was carried out and some students did, in fact, walk out of class in protest of the District's obviously illegal action, these students should be heralded as heroes, not truants.

What a joke -- some people never learn...

U-Stor-It

2004-12-15T11:41:00.000-08:00

Our culture has too much stuff.

We were coming home the other night and passed the U-Stor-It place. Now, we have driven past there a few times before and never paid it much thought, but this time it caught my eye. People have so much stuff that they have to pay for another space to keep all that stuff in. They have so much stuff we can't afford [see my December Debt post] but we have to store crap we don't use in a climate controlled environment because if for whatever reason that shirt [Laura, you'd like that link] comes back in style, it will not have moth holes. If people would sell all that stuff they don't use they could be that much closer to being debt free [yes, I am assuming that most everyone is in debt].

I have crap laying around that I don't use, don't like, don't like moving around, but don't want to get rid of it. One of those days, I will need 3 portable cd players, or 95 highlighters, or all those books [libraries are good...], or, or, or, or, or.... I just want to eliminate clutter. BUT what are you supposed to do with old high school yearbooks, old soccer trophies, or whatever memories you have stored up? I don't think I will want to get rid of my yearbooks and I played hard for those trophies, but I don't have either of them at my house right now [thanks mom]. Do I really want them?

What is crap actually costing us? What about the opportunity cost?

...[L]et's take a one time investment of say $100 invested at an average 10% for 20 years. The return on such an investment would be $730. This is an Opportunity Cost factor of ($730 divided by $100 =) 7.3 . In other words you could either place $100 under your mattress for 20 years and still have $100 or you could invest it at 10% for 20 years and have your original amount times 7.3 . Of course, inflation takes its toll and Money Talks actually uses a factor of 6.7 . I can agree with 6.7 for purposes of this conversation.

We just picked up a couple of boxes we had at a friend's house that he was storing away for us -- since we moved from a house to a townhouse we were really over loaded, which bring this post home to me. I had no idea what was in the boxes and definately didn't miss them, but wanted to get them off of my buddy's hands. Boxes of memories and college notes. WEEEEEEEEEE -- what fun.

Oh well. May be time to get stuff out for a garage sale...

Haunkkah - yes, Kwanzaa -- sure, Christianity -- NO WAY

2004-12-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hoooray! Mustang, OK made the national news. Too bad it was for something as stupid as this. The superintendent was afraid of offending anyone by leaving any reference to Christianity in their Christmas -- wait, I must mean Holiday Play. Now lots of parents are upset and protesting across the street from the school. They are planning on getting together to vote down a $10M bond issue that is up for vote next Tuesday. The parents think that the only way to get the district's attention is to threaten the $ supply. I think it is a good tactic!

Click here for the link
HOLIDAY BLUES
School censors Christmas
from student performance
But superintendent leaves references
to Hanukkah, Kwanzaa

Posted: December 10, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

An elementary school in Oklahoma pulled all references to Christmas from its holiday play at the last minute, but left in references to Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.
<>The superintendent overseeing Lakehoma Elementary School in Mustang, Okla., banned a nativity scene and the song "Silent Night" from the presentation, which was scheduled for last night, citing fears that non-Christians might be offended and file suit against the school. However, a parent reported that students sang the song at the matinee performance of the program yesterday despite the school's decision.

Superintendent Karl Springer nixed the Christian reference based on a recommendation from the school district's attorney, the Associated Press reported.
"Including Christmas in the play does not violate any law," Brent Olsson, an attorney in Oklahoma City allied with Alliance Defense Fund, said in the statement. "It is a myth that the so-called 'separation of church and state' requires officials to suppress the celebration of Christmas in the public schools."

Continued Olsson: "Ninety-six percent of Americans celebrate Christmas. If the superintendent is truly concerned about offending someone, then he just made a very wrong decision."

Springer told Eyewitness News of Oklahoma City he was concerned about violating the law since the play highlights the Christian tradition of Christmas above other religious and cultural traditions.

"I just could not break the law," Springer said. "We may have sins of omission occasionally, but we won't have sins of commission. If I know about something that I believe to be against the law, (then) we will take action on it."

Parent Shelley Lewallen was outraged by the superintendent's action.

"My daughter plays the piano, and she sings 'Silent Night' to me. ... I love that Christmas song," Lewallen told the TV station. "What is that offending? Who is that making so mad that you had to take it out of a fifth-grade program?"

AP reported a group of parents were planning a silent protest by staging a nativity scene on private property across from Mustang High School auditorium, where the play was to take place.

As WorldNetDaily reported, a high school principal in the Seattle area canceled a dramatic performance of Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol," partly because he feared it would raise questions about the place of religion in public schools.

Political correctness has just gotten way out of hand. This is the most absurd thing I have herad. I really do hope the "Alliance Defense Fund" sues the school district, AND I hope the voters refuse the $10M bond issue. I'm not one for taking away money from schools, but something drastic hs to be done about his garbage.

I've Remodeled

2004-12-08T10:37:00.000-08:00

I remodeled, like it? I will add links to the sidebar on the right when I can get around to it.

I met my second deadline in 2 days today. I am now playing structural review for the government on a different job. Right now I'm going through calcs from another engineering firm, making sure they are on the right track. Fun.......

Anyways, still busy, no links. Maybe Friday since I will be out of the office tomorrow.

Comments?

2004-12-08T08:03:00.000-08:00

I have fixed the comments option at the bottom of each of my posts. When you click on add comment it takes you to a page to either log in or post anonymously. Hopefully you would log in or tell me who you are -- not like I care so much, but would be nice...

No fun links today in my posts -- too busy...

Underwear Goes Inside the Pants

2004-12-06T11:54:00.000-08:00

I heard this song on the radio the other day. It made me laugh. It is just one of those long ranting essays put to music, but it was still pretty funny. I don't necessarily agree with all the lyrics or the imagery in the video, but it still made me laugh...

Underwear Goes Inside The Pants
by Lazyboy

Why is marijuana not legal? Why is marijuana not legal?
It’s a natural plant that grows in the dirt.
You know what’s not natural?
80 year old dudes with hard-ons. That’s not natural.
But we got pills for that.
We’re dedicating all our medical resources to keeping the old guys erect,
but we’re putting people in jail for smoking something that grows in the dirt?

You know we have more prescription drugs now.
Every commercial that comes on TV is a prescription drug ad.
I can’t watch TV for four minutes without thinking I have five serious diseases.
Like: “Do you ever wake up tired in the mornings?”
Oh my god I have this, write this down. Whatever it is, I have it.
Half the time you don’t even know what the commercial is,
there's people running through fields or flying kites
or swimming in the ocean.
Like that is the greatest disease ever. How do you get that?
That disease comes with a hot chick and a puppy.

The schools now… It's all about self-esteem in the schools.
Build the kids’ self-esteem, make them feel good about themselves.
If everybody grows up with high self-esteem,
who's going to dance in our strip clubs?
What’s going to happen to our porno industry?
These women don’t just grown on trees.
It takes lots of drunk daddys missing a lot of dance recitals
before you decide to blow a goat on the internet for fifty bucks.
And if that disappears,
where does that leave me on a Friday with my new high speed connection?

(Baby, sing, sing, sing, sing your song, sing on me,
sing sing sing, sing your song, sing for me, sing, sing, sing)

Mastermind's another word that comes up all the time.
That you keep hearing about these ah, these ah, terrorists
masterminds that are being killed over in the Middle East.
Terrorists masterminds.
Mastermind is sort of a lofty way
to describe what these guys do, don’t you think?
They’re not masterminds.
“OK, you take bomb, right? And you put in backpack.
And you get on bus and you blow yourself up. Alright?”
“Why do I have to blow myself up? Why can’t I just…”
“Who’s the f---ing mastermind here? Me or you?”

Americans, let’s face it:
We’ve been a spoiled country for a long time.
You know what the number one health risk in America is?
Obesity.
Obesity, they say we’re in the middle of an obesity epidemic.
An epidemic like it's polio.
Like we’ll be telling our grand kids about it one day.
The Great Obesity Epidemic of 2004.
“How’d you get through it grandpa?”
“Oh, it was horrible Johnny,
there was cheesecake and pork chops everywhere.”

Nobody knows why were getting fatter? Look at our lifestyle.
I'll sit at a drive thru.
I’ll sit there,
I'll sit there behind fifteen other cars instead of
getting up to make a eight foot walk to the totally empty counter.
Everything is mega meal, super sized.
Want biggie fries with that? Want a jumbo fry?
Want to go large? Want a biggie fry?
You want to have thirty burgers for a nickel
you fat mother f---er?
There’s room in the bag. Take it!
Want a 55 gallon drum of Coke with that?
It’s only three more cents.

(Baby, sing, sing, sing, sing your song, sing on me,
baby sing sing sing, sing your song, sing for me, sing, sing, sing)

Sometimes you have to suffer a little in your youth
to motivate you to succeed in later life.
Do you think if Bill Gates got laid in high school,
do you think there’d be a Microsoft?
Of course not.
You got to spend a lot of time stuffed in your own locker
with your underwear wedged up your ass before you start thinking,
“I’m going to take over the world of computers!
You'll see, I’ll show them.”

We’re in one of the richest countries in the world,
but yet the minimum wage is lower now than
it was thirty five years ago.
There are homeless people everywhere.
This homeless guy asked me for money the other day.
I was about to give it to him and then
I thought he was going to use it on drugs or alcohol.
And then I thought, that’s what I’m going to use it on.
Why am I judging this poor bastard.
People love to judge homeless guys.
Like if you give them money they’re just going to waste it,
he's gonna waste the money.
Well, he lives in a box, what do you want him to do?
Save it up and buy a wall unit?
Take a little run to the store for a throw rug and a CD rack? He’s homeless.
I walked behind this guy the other day.

A homeless guy asked him for money.
He looked right at the homeless guy and says
Why don’t you go get a job you bum?
People always say that to homeless guys,
get a job like it's always that easy.
This homeless guy was wearing his underwear outside his pants.
I’m guessing his resume ain’t all up to date.
I’m predicting some problems during the interview process.
I’m pretty sure even McDonalds has a “underwear goes inside the pants” policy.
Not that they enforce it very strictly,
but technically I’m sure it's on the books.

(Sing, sing, sing, sing your song, sing on me,
baby sing sing sing, sing your song, sing for me, sing, sing, sing)

Here is a link to the video: http://homepage.mac.com/njenson/movies/underwear.html

December Debt

2004-12-02T11:41:00.000-08:00

Well, tis the season, eh? We actually realized that [as Dave says] Christmas is in December this year though and have saved money all year. It feels really good to pay for the presents now instead of worrying if there is enough to cover in the bank. The only problem is it seems we might not have much of our saved up money left to buy each other something nice. It will work out though.

I think I will start trying to put up a progress report at the beginning of each month. If nothing else I will be able to track it with some accountability -- well accountability to someone else other than the wife. Guess that would mean someone would have to read this first thought, right? Oh well, I will change my profile on http://www.MyTotalMoneyMakeover.com and maybe someone will look at it!

What my numbers reflect as of the first of the month:

Baby Step 1) Done!
Baby Step 2a) Fridge Done
------------- 2b) Wash/dry Done
------------- 2c) Cap 1a Done
------------- 2d) Cap 1b Done
------------- 2e) Car a Snowballing Full snowball this month!
------------- 2f) Student Loan Min's
------------- 2g) MBNA Min's
------------- 2h) Car b Min's
======================== Expected payoff - May 2006

What does this mean? Well, we are following Dave Ramsey's plan on getting out of debt. He suggests you follow 7 "baby steps". They are working well for us. I honestly recommend that people at least look at his website and/or listen to the radio show once or twice and see if this makes sense to them...

Anyways, we are looking towards getting out of this debt mess so we can buy some toys!

Well, I need to get back onto my head and get some work done.

Cake Recipe

2004-11-23T07:26:00.000-08:00

I saw this on ilovebacon

Cake Recipe

This is for those practical jokers and "different" kind of bakers. THIS IS A REAL RECIPE!!!

On a recent visit to our veterinarian to get shots for our cat I found this recipe on the waiting room bulletin board. After recovering from hysterical laughter, I obtained a copy from the office staff so that my wife could make it, which she refused to do. I took it to work and gave the recipe to a lady at work who loves cats. The pictures below show the results of her work, which looks like S#%* but it's actually quite tasty, so I decided to pass it along.

CAKE INGREDIENTS
1 box spice or German chocolate cake mix
1 box of white cake mix
1 package white sandwich cookies
1 large package vanilla instant pudding mix
A few drops green food coloring
12 small Tootsie Rolls or equivalent

SERVING "DISHES AND UTENSILS"
1 NEW cat-litter box
1 NEW cat-litter box liner
1 NEW pooper scooper

Prepare and bake cake mixes, according to directions, in any size pan. Prepare pudding and chill.

Crumble cookies in small batches in blender or food processor. Add a few drops of green food coloring to 1 cup of cookie crumbs. Mix with a fork or shake in a jar. Set aside.

When cakes are at room temperature, crumble them into a large bowl. Toss with half of the remaining cookie crumbs and enough pudding to make the mixture moist but not soggy. Place liner in litter box and pour in mixture.

Unwrap 3 Tootsie Rolls and heat in a microwave until soft and pliable. Shape the blunt ends into slightly curved points. Repeat with three more rolls. Bury the rolls decoratively in the cake mixture. Sprinkle remaining white cookie crumbs over the mixture, then scatter green crumbs lightly over top.

Heat 5 more Tootsie Rolls until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake and sprinkle with crumbs from the litter box. Heat the remaining Tootsie Roll until pliable and hang it over the edge of the box. Place box on a sheet of newspaper and serve with scooper.

Likely Non-newsworthy News

2004-11-22T12:11:00.000-08:00

Doubt you will see this anywhere on the news:

LINKEY-LINK-LINK

NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

November 22, 2004
Release Number: 04-11-77

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INSURGENTS FAKING DEAD FIRES ON MARINES

FALLUJAH, Iraq – Marines from the 1st Marine Division shot and killed an insurgent, who while faking dead, opened fire on the Marines that were conducting a security and clearing patrol through the streets here at approximately 3:45 p.m. on 21 November.

For more information, please contact Capt Bradley Gordon, public affairs officer, 1st Marine Division, gordonbv@1mardivdm.usmc.mil

Oh and by the way

2004-11-17T12:35:00.000-08:00

Hidden away in a USA today slideshow on their website was this picture:

The labels are in English and in Russian. The english one reads:

SOMAN,
SARIN, V-GASES

FOR WORKING INSTRUCTIONS, REFER TO THE INSTRUCTIONS-LEAFLET

Now the text below is hard to read, but I think it is something like this:

Marines discovered 40 vials of suspected Sarin gas while searching a house in Fallujah, Iraq. It was secreted in a briefcase hidden in a ruck in the courtyard of the house. Two mortars tubes, three mortar rockets, compass, and fire maps also were found.

Now will this be on any news tonight? Likely not. Front page of any website? No, just blogs. The fullsize image can be found at this slideshow, image 2.

The New Abu Ghraib

2004-11-17T11:57:00.000-08:00

Oh, Lordy. Here we go again. Most everyone has heard about the Marine killing a "wounded" terrorist in Fallujah. [Note, for this post, I will not call them insurgents, or militants, I will call them what they are -- terrorists, sorry Al-Reuters.] This terrorist was faking being dead. Now why would someone fake being dead?. 1) After fighting and losing, he was hoping to save what pathetic shred of life he had left by curling up in a ball while the schoolyard bully kicked him in the kidneys, or 2) he was going to blow himself up and take some Marines with him to the big jihad in the sky.

Now seriously now, people. What is the big deal? Ohhhhh... the Geneva Convention the Geneva Convention. Nope, try again:

Article 37, paragraph 1, of the Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949:
It is prohibited to kill, injure or capture an adversary and resort to perfidy. ...
The following acts are examples of perfidy... (b) the feigning of an incapacitation by wounds or sickness

Found here

From what I have read on other blogs, the audio from the video was (paraphrased): "He's f------ faking it!!! He's f------ faking it!!! -- *BANG* He's not faking it anymore." That brings me to another point -- why do we have access to the video on the Al-Reuters site? Is it so people can watch others die without having to go to the 'bad' sites on the internet? Without much effort, anyone can find any of the beheadings, the "Fallujah Snuff Films." Now Al-Reuters is posting this video??!!?? (If anyone is wondering why Reuters is being referred to as Al-Reuters, it is the Al-Jazeera of the USA. In none of their stories, they will not use "terrorist," all of their stories are bashing the military, on and on) This disgusts me. Why do we need to see this? I know the answer: The terrorists were villified (rightfully so) by us seeing people get murdered/decapitated, by showing the public this video, the Marines are vilified -- what better way to show your contempt for our troops and for the war. These people are embedded with the soldiers shooting pictures and shooting videos -- NOT SHOOTING GUNS! What purpose does that serve? "The public has the right to see what is going on." If the public wants to know what is going on, let them enlist and go over. Stop vilifing our troops or they might not tell you to "get down" next time a rocket is headed your way.

Rollin, Rollin, Rollin, Keep Them Doggies Rollin

2004-11-08T14:04:00.000-08:00

Been a little while since I've had anything to say. Well, still nothing much going on. The never-ending project finally went away last THURSDAY. Nearly 2 weeks from when I thought it would be gone and after I thought I was done 4 times. ARRRRGH!!! From what I heard, we were 360% over budget. Guess that little project was a lot more involved than initially thought. Being that far over budget doesn't reflect horribly negatively on me -- just underestimation of the scope of the project.

Dave Ramsey was on 60 minutes last night. His programs have really helped us out trying to get out of debt. We should be completely out of debt in a little over year from now [2 years total]. Maybe that's what I'll make this blog about -- us getting out of debt... Nah -- maybe just give updates every once in a while.

Well, the Poke Choke is still in full effect. Blowing a 28 point lead and then losing by 21 really hurts. Is it time for a new defensive coordinator? Is it time for a new defensive scheme? I dunno, but something didn't work Saturday!

We tried a new church on Sunday. We like the people at the 'old' church, but there are a couple of things we disagree with/don't like. 1) Faith-Promise was not handled well at all. We received many mailings about it, but we were presented a form a couple Sundays ago to fill out our Faith-Promise RIGHT THEN and then all the forms were totaled up and we were given the total before we left. I'm glad they got $70k+ when they wanted to raise $50k, but that was a really inappropriate way to do it. 2) We were first on the list to become new members more than 2 months ago and still have not received a call about classes. This is really tacky in my opinion. 3) Our 'original' Sunday School teacher left to pastor a church and our replacement is good, just not quite the same. 4) Since the teacher left, attendance at Sunday School has dropped dramatically. We have become pretty good friends with one couple from class, but really nobody else...

Anyway, on a lighter note, here is a brain teaser I found:

Below are four (4) questions. You have to answer them instantly.
You can't take your time, answer all of them, immediately. Answer in
your head first, THEN scroll down for answer.

First Question:
You are participating in a race.
You overtake the second person.
What position are you in?

Try not to screw up in the next question.

Second Question:
If you overtake the last person, then you are...?

How are you doing with this?

Third Question:
Very tricky math! Note: This must be done in your head only.
Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.

Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30.
Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. Now add 10. What
is the total?

Today is definitely not your day. Maybe you will get the last
question right?

Fourth Question:

Mary's father has five daughters:
1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono.
What is the name of the fifth daughter?
(a, e, i, o, u)?

*********************************************************

1. Answer:
If you answered that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong!
If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are
second!

2. Answer:
If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong.
Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST person? YOU are the last
person.

3. Answer:
Did you get 5000? The correct answer is actually 4100. Don't believe
it? Check with your calculator!

4. Answer:
Nunu? NO! Of course, not. Her name is Mary. Read the question
again

I got 3 out of 4. You'd think I could do math in my head... Here's a late Halloween comic

IRS: Churches Can't Ask God to Intervene

2004-10-27T15:57:00.000-07:00

Here is an article I found. I'm not sure what standing the IRS has in making such a desicion...

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41145

IRS: Churches can't pray for Bush victory
Ruling says tax-exempt groups prohibited from asking God to intervene
Posted: October 28, 2004
1:00 a.m. Eastern

By Ron Strom
© 2004 WorldNetDaily.com

In a letter of clarification requested by a traveling minister, the Internal Revenue Service has declared people gathered in tax-exempt churches can't pray for President Bush to win the election on Tuesday.

The ruling comes in response to a request by the Christian Defense Coalition, which is in the midst of a 15-day prayer tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the organization, had planned to lead in prayer for a Bush victory during evening services in each town. Though he had hoped to hold the services in churches, Mahoney says he has used American Legion halls, hotels and other venues pending a clarification from the IRS.

The American Center for Law and Justice wrote the letter to the IRS on behalf of the Mahoney's group, explaining that the pastor planned to "offer prayer during the evening services in the churches he visits that God grants President Bush four more years as president and that Senator Kerry does not become president."

"This is rank censorship," Mahoney told WND. "If churches felt compelled to pray for Senator Kerry, they should be able to do that, too.

"Now we have the IRS not only limiting what can said behind a pulpit in terms of electioneering, but churches aren't even allowed to pray the dictates of their consciences."

Mahoney said he would consider legal action against the IRS, saying churches that had considered hosting the tour were unable to do so. He also said he considers his First Amendment rights to have been violated.

Reaction to the IRS ruling, Mahoney predicts, will include "massive anger" in the Christian community.

"Our organization, along with the American Center for Law and Justice, is going to make this a major issue," he said.

Mahoney considers the ruling a "much greater leap into censorship" than the prohibition on endorsing candidates from church pulpits.

"You hear people talk about the separation of church and state," he said. "This is a massive violation of the separation of church and state from the standpoint of the government intruding on the private dictates of churches."

Under IRS regulations, churches that are tax-exempt organizations cannot openly advocate for candidates for office and can only use a small percentage of their budgets on political activity.

As WorldNetDaily reported, an concerted effort is under way to get the IRS to crack down on churches that might push certain candidates or parties. In July, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, headed by Barry Lynn, filed a complaint with the IRS against Ronnie Floyd, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Springdale, Ark., accusing him of preaching a sermon promoting President Bush's re-election July 4.

Seems awfully absurd to me.

"Ride 'Em" Remix

2004-10-27T11:08:00.000-07:00

I just found a remix to the OSU fight song. It is surprisingly not bad.

HERE is the link to the guy's webpage that is hosting it.

HERE is the song by itself.

HERE is the thread I found it in, just so I don't step on anyone's toes.

You ought to check it out if you are an OSU fan.

Weekly Readers

2004-10-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

Everyone remember the Weekly Reader magazines we all got in elementary school? Well, they have accurately predicted the presidental election winner since 1956. Well, luckily, the kiddo's predicted Bush to win. That doesn't soothe my nerves, but is a nice predictor because kids know what their parents talk about. If the parents are talking about Bush that much to influence the kids that much, then that is a good sign.

Weekly Reader kids select Bush in Presidential Poll

The students who read Weekly Reader’s magazines have made their preference for President known: they want to send President Bush back to the White House.

The results of this year’s Weekly Reader poll have just been announced, and the winner is President Bush. Hundreds of thousands of students participated, giving the Republican President more than 60% of the votes cast and making him a decisive choice over Democratic Senator John Kerry.

Since 1956, Weekly Reader students in grades 1-12 have correctly picked the president, making the Weekly Reader poll one of the most accurate predictors of presidential outcomes in history.

President Bush was a strong winner in the student poll; the only state Senator Kerry won was Maryland. Senator Kerry was also in a statistical dead heat with President Bush in New York, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C. and Vermont. President Bush won most grades, although Senator Kerry did win among tenth-graders.

This year students caught election fever, with an increase of more than 20% in the number of students participating in the Weekly Reader poll than in any prior year. While there were participants from grades K through 12, third- and fourth-graders were the most enthusiastic voters. More than 57,000 students from each of those two grades voted.

The presidential poll, in which teachers collected their students’ votes and forwarded them to an independent polling company to be tabulated, is part of Weekly Reader’s “Promote the Vote” program, created to teach students about the election process, the issues, the candidates, and how democracy works.

“This program teaches students that voting is a privilege and a responsibility,” said Emily Swenson, President of Weekly Reader. “Through this authentic experience, we are hoping students will become advocates and lifelong voters. And even though the election may be over in eight days, the learning will continue.”

As part of the Promote the Vote Program, Weekly Reader will also conduct an essay contest called Write Your Own Acceptance Speech. In this contest, students from grades three through 12 will be asked to write the speech they would give if they were going to be inaugurated as President in January. Contest rules will be posted at the Weekly Reader Website (www.weeklyreader.com) beginning November 8.

To select this year’s presidential poll winner, classrooms across the country submitted ballots, called in results via a toll-free number, or voted online. The results were tabulated by Zogby International, which has been conducting public opinion polls since 1984.

Well debating is fun. Going 'round with my best man right now. One of us is going to be really disapointed come November 3rd or whenever the lawsuits are over and a winner is finally decided.

Still working on the never-ending project...

Wouldn't It Be Nice?

2004-10-22T08:20:00.000-07:00

I got this in a forward a few weeks ago. Was cleaning out my email and found it again

---------

WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR OUR PRESIDENT GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?

My Fellow Americans:

As you all know, the defeat of the Iraqi regime has been completed. Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is finished.

This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq. This action will be complete within 30 days.

It is now time to begin the reckoning. Before me, I have two lists.

One list contains the names of countries, which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, and Poland are some of the countries listed there.

The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.

Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war.

The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world hell-holes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.

Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France.

In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home.

On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth. Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France, or maybe China.

To Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Yo, boys. Work out a peace deal now. Just note that Camp David is closed. Maybe all of you can go to Russia for negotiations. They have some great palaces there. Big tables, too.

I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, Germany, and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes amis.

I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers, and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York.

A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change. Mexico is also on List 2. President Fox and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. Since I will have a couple of extra tank and infantry divisions sitting around, guess where I am going to put em? Yep, border security. So start doing something with your oil.

Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty --- starting now. We are tired of the one-way highway. It is time for America to focus on the welfare of its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, "darn tootin."

Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America. It is time to eliminate homelessness in America.

To the nations on List 1, a final thought, thanks guys, we owe you and we won't forget. To the nations on List 2, thanks for nothing.

God bless America.

Thank you and good night.

The Never-Ending Project

2004-10-20T11:05:00.000-07:00

The project that seems like it never had an end is starting to come to a close. All that's left is getting the big boys around here to read my report. Sounds like I will be getting to work on something bigger and badder here pretty soon -- either a hospital or the new ou College of Engineering building.

If I get the COE building I will have to find some way to get an OSU into the brick as payback for the ou in bricks at BPS. That was a pretty good prank though... I heard that behind one of the trophy cases at the Lloyd Noble Center has a picture of Pistol Pete glued to the back of it.

Going to the Dr tomorrow for a general checkup and cholesterol test. Probably soon I will be eating salads and fruit to try to get my cholesterol under control. Stupid health. I have heard many times that "people spend there health trying to get wealthy then spend all of the wealth trying to get their health back." I hope I don't fall into that category any time soon...

Homecoming Pictures

2004-10-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures I took from the suite I was fortunate to get into at the homecoming game. We had the very southwest suite above the A&M fans. If I would have paid what was listed as face on that ticket, I would have been ticked off, but lucky for me it was free!

The links are obviously below, but here are a few of the pictures. Let me know what you think...

Pic 1 Pic 2 Pic 3 Pic 4 Pic 5
Pic 6 Pic 7 Pic 8 Pic 9 Pic 10
Pic 11 Pic 12 Pic 13 Pic 14 Pic 15
Pic 16 Pic 17 Pic 18 Pic 19 Pic 20
Pic 21 Pic 22 Pic 23 Pic 24 Pic 25
Pic 26 Pic 27

My Sweet Suite Tickets

2004-10-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

Well -- OSU's homecoming was a bust. A&M came in and handed us our rear ends. So much for leading the nation in turnover ratio! It was not really that bad of a game really. They just dug themselves into a hole they could not get out of.

Well, this post is not about the game, but about my seats for the game. Thanks to my wife's job, we got sweet SUITE TICKETS. Well, not too sweet. You know how the visiting fans are always smashed into one end zone? Well, we had the seats in the row directly behind them. Not bad seats, but A&M fans stand on the seats the whole game, so to see, I had to prop myself up on the seat [in the seat's upright position] to see over them without blocking the people behind me. We did have the actual suite behind the seats too and that was really cool. And it is a really good thing that we had an open tab at the bar because I needed it -- especially with that game. The bartenders up there were pretty cool too, my drink was much more whiskey than sour, if you know what I mean. All in all the suite/club level seats were really cool, but if I would have paid the price listed on the ticket, I would have been really pissed off.

A&M fans are really good fans. Always loud, always supporting their team. They even took the time to explain to us behind them what their cheers and hand signals meant.

Their band played the same thing they always do when they come. Same songs, same marching, same coolness that it always is. Of course all the fans stayed and watched them, but surprisingly most of those fans stayed to watch our band too. I was upset that their band got to play at halftime at OUR homecoming -- I mean come on, it's OUR homecoming!

We didn't get to check out any house decs, and in my opinion, I couldn't care less. I'm glad we have the biggest homecoming in the land, but when the greeks spend more time on their decs than their classwork [as I witnessed for 5 years -- no greeks came to class] it aggrivates me.

Oh well... I have some cool pictures I will try to post somewhere.

Canned Response from Kerry-Edwards

2004-10-15T06:20:00.000-07:00

Here is the canned response I got from Kerry, Thursday @ 3:46 -- that response is faster than I could get my letter posted to this blog. Good to know they care enough to have a person respond to the inquiries.

Kerry - Edwards - Stronger at Home, Respected in the World.

Dear Friend,

Families are already struggling with higher health care costs and higher state and local taxes. In fact, John Kerry wants to give more tax breaks to the middle class with new tax credits on health care and college tuition. These tax cuts are part of his plan to restore the economy and cut the budget deficit in half in four years.

Also, here is a link to our Economy and Jobs webpage, with more information on John Kerry's vision for getting the American economy back on track: http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/economy/

What a waste of time. So far, though, they are the only ones to respond to me.

On another note, the FCC is not going to block the showing of the the anti-Kerry film "Stolen Honor," believing it would be unconstitutional. Finally there will be a right-wing equivalent of Moore's mockumentary. Whether or not this will be dead-on factual is yet to be known, but honestly that won't matter to me. My mind was made up by speeches and debates -- well sort of. I was affirmed in my choices by speeches and debates -- there, that's better.

Today's cartoon from Cox and Forkum is pretty good

Letter to Candidates

2004-10-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

I sent the following letter to the "Contact Us" pages on both candidate's web sites. If I get responses, I will post them here.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this letter to both parties, hoping to get a response from each. I understand that neither candidate will likely read nor respond to this, so as a representative of your candidate, please answer this question:

As recent college graduates, my wife and I are in pursuit of the traditional “American Dream” and have aspirations of one day becoming wealthy. How is it fair for the wealthiest people pay the most taxes? I know they have more income from which to collect taxes, but they pay far more than their fair share as a percentage of their income. What motivation does this give me to be successful, inventive, whatever to become one of the 'wealthy'? We hear all the time from both candidates about the 'unfair taxing' of the middle class; well, I don't want to be middle class for the rest of my life, but I also don’t want to be unfairly taxed either! What would you propose to do to 'level the playing field' to give me the motivation to become wealthy? Is a flat-tax or a national sales tax a viable option?

Thanks

Chris Snider, Yukon, OK

Debate and more on the Crying Engine

2004-10-14T11:44:00.000-07:00

Bush finally came out and showed the country that he can effectivly participate in a debate last night. He answered all questions and attacks really well I thought. Kerry effectively offended all listeners last night when he mentioned the Cheney's daughter being gay. That was really bad taste. Kerry was much more on the defensive last night. It just scares me to death that this dingbat could actually be elected.

There are many reports (1, 2) going around recently that Kerry paid only just over 12% taxes last year by hiring lots of accountants and lawyers to find the loopholes. Knowing that, it made me laugh when he started talking about closing all the loopholes and making the rich pay more taxes.

The one question I have always wanted an answer to is "Why do the wealthiest people pay the most taxes? I know they have more income to collect taxes on, but they pay far more than their fair share. What motivation does this give me to be successful, inventive, whatever to become one of the 'wealthy'? We hear all the time from both candidates about the 'unfair taxing' of the middle class, well I don't want to be middle class for the rest of my life! What would you propose to do to 'level the playing field'?"

You know what? I will write this question up better and actually mail it to both candidates' headquarters and see if I get an answer. The answer wouldn't change my vote though...

Drudge Report has some proof that the Dems are going to be off and crying, even if nothing bad happens. This is going to be one of the most vile elections I have ever seen.

Democrats warming up the Cry Engine

2004-10-13T10:38:00.000-07:00

Another from LGF. If the election is stolen, protest -- read: if Bush wins, protest. If only the outcome is so overwhelming pro-Bush. That would abso-freaking-lutely make my day.

The Democrats are making such a mess of the pre-election times. All these break-ins at Republican headquarters and everything are infuriating. (Click Here for the article)

The fever swamp left is already organizing for nationwide protests on November 3 if George Bush is reelected: Pledge of Action to Stop a Stolen Election.

Pledge of Action to Stop A Stolen Election

“I remember the stolen presidential election of 2000 and I am willing to take action in 2004 if the election is stolen again. I support efforts to protect the right to vote leading up to and on Election Day, November 2nd. If that right is systematically violated, I pledge to join nationwide protests starting on November 3rd, either in my community, in the states where the fraud occurred, or in Washington DC.”

Scary Times

2004-10-13T07:18:00.000-07:00

Here is an article I found off of Little Green Footballs regarding how the rest of the world is starting to see America. Scary times for sure. It is starting to sound like us Americans are starting to be in their own little bubble, not knowing anything like this is going on in the world.

An American in London
By Carol Gould
FrontPageMagazine.com | October 12, 2004

Something remarkable has been happening to me in the past nineteen days. Wherever I go, no-one launches abuse at me. When I open my mouth to speak, I am received with civility and the occasional ’ Have a good one.’ I am not attacked or intimidated to the point of abject fear and loathing. Where have I been visiting for the past two and a half weeks? And where do I live?

The answer lies in a conversation I had with my sister in a charming ice cream parlor in Philadelphia’s historic Suburban Station this afternoon. I looked up from my dessert and said, ‘My God, I’ve gone for nineteen days without anybody -- not taxi drivers, shop clerks or waiters -- launching an abusive tirade at me.

Here is the background scenario: Exactly one month ago today, I was traveling on a London bus when a well-dressed woman boarded with her equally-respectable son in his school uniform. Ahead of her was an elderly American woman, who said, ‘I beg your pardon, I didn’t mean to bang into you.’ This prompted a tirade from the Englishwoman -- let’s call her Lady E -- that resembled a verbal assault by a brownshirt against a hapless Jewish pedestrian in 1933. The American -- call her Mrs. A -- sat down and cowered as the tirade continued: ‘I rejoice every time I hear of another American soldier dying! You people all deserve to die in another 9/11. You are destroying the world.’ Mrs A fought back: ‘I personally am NOT destroying the world.’ This only provoked Lady E more, and as the bus driver and passengers laughed, she screamed into the American’s face ‘I wish every one of you would leave this country and not set foot in it ever again,’ and Mrs A began to wince, crying. ‘Thank you for ruining my day and my trip.’ At this point Lady E lunged at the American and began to shake her. I jumped up and shouted at the top of my voice for the driver to stop and for her to leave the woman alone, prompting Lady E to come over to me and grab me. ‘Another bloody American accent! You come here and think you can strut about, well, you are scum.’ Thankfully, the woman next to me pushed her away. I left the bus as the American woman sat sobbing.

Did I imagine this? No. Was the Englishwoman a crazy? No.

A few weeks before, I had attended a party at which I was lambasted, intimidated and mocked by a group of people I had known for some twenty-odd years. It reminded me of a comment made to me by an American expatriate shortly after 9/11: ‘Now I know what the Jews felt like in pre-war Germany.’
<>Frankly, I don’t like what is happening in Britain and am shocked and dismayed at the level to which anti-Americanism has peaked in recent months. Does anyone say ‘George W Bush’ or ‘Donald Rumsfeld’ or Dick Cheney’ when they fly into these tirades? No. In fact, the visceral, hurtful and in-your-face America-hatred goes back long before the days of the Bush 43 regime. When Bill Clinton was in the White House I attended a Human Rights Conference at my local synagogue in St John’s Wood. During the tea break I asked a man at one of the booths for a leaflet. Instead of welcoming me and asking for a donation, he had detected my accent and duly launched into a loud and red-faced screeching session about the evils of the American Empire and of the ‘Naziism’ and ‘Fascism’ promulgated by the United States. A black man came over and began shouting about America having ‘invented slavery’ and soon a delicate elderly lady joined the fray to bellow about the Zionists running America (did she mean Robert Rubin, Dennis Ross, Sandy Berger -- after all, it was the pre-Wolfowitz/Perle time zone) and the ‘genocides’ perpetrated by Americans since the days of William Penn. I remember wondering why I had ventured out on a Sunday to be with like-minded people concerned about human rights issues, only to be reduced to a gibbering jelly as the ugly, strident and deeply uncivil crowd soon grew around me. (Remember what it was like being surrounded in the school playground at recess by all the bullies?) The English are not known for public displays of fury except perhaps at soccer matches, but there is something about an American accent that brings out their pent-up rage.

This brings me to an incident that was the cherry on the sundae. Just before leaving for the United States nineteen days ago, I went to my favorite tape duplicating shop to have copies made for the actors who had appeared in the video of my new play in London. I handed the master tape to the proprietor, whom I have known for some ten years. He seemed unusually agitated and flushed. He looked at the material and snarled, ‘Is this another one of your Jewish-Holocaust things?’ I was speechless. He scowled and continued, ‘You know, Carol, I want to get something off my chest that I’ve been dying to say to you for years. Number one, just don’t say Israel to me. Number two, you people should look at yourselves in the mirror and wonder why every so often there is a Holocaust or massacre or pogrom. You bring it on yourselves. Just look at the way you are and then figure out why the rest of the world wants to flatten you. Number three, America throwing money at Israel has to stop, and hopefully all hell will break loose. Israel is not a country. I just hear the word and I turn peuce.’ By this time his anger was so visceral that I wanted to head for the door, but I had to take a stand. ‘Let me tell you,’ I said, ‘If the USA or Israel came under threat I know many Americans who would die for either country,’ to which he replied, ‘ Israel is not a country. The Jews have no right to a country. What makes you people think you have a right to a country? ‘ Me: ‘There are over a hundred Christian countries and fifty-five Muslim countries.’ He:’ The Jews have no right to a country.’ Me:’ What, a strip of land the size of Wales?!’ He (grinding his teeth and close to hitting me) ‘ Just say Israel and I can’t be depended upon for the consequences of my actions, Carol.’ His litany of offences committed by the Jews, Americans and Israel continued for another twenty minutes or so and I came away realizing that a man who had always greeted me with genteel, cheery sweet nothings was actually a rabid Jew-hater. <>So, what does this all mean in the scheme of things? I have lived in Europe for all of my adult life and from the day I arrived as a youngster have been aware of an oft-blatant anti-Semitism and resentment of Americans amongst colleagues, teachers, social circle and neighbors. What is significant about this rage is that it emanates not from the great unwashed but from the educated and intellectual classes. We all know about the academic boycotts of Israeli scholars. We all know about poor Philip Lader, former US Ambassador to the Court of St James who was reduced to tears on BBC ‘Question Time’ on 15 September 2001 as the moderator, Davis Dimbleby, sat and dispassionately watched a crazed studio audience stomping its feet and shouting anti-American epithets two days after the Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. What I find so frightening is that I cannot conduct business or even take a taxi ride in London, Bournemouth or Edinburgh without a scathing tirade about the scurrilous Yanks. The day after 9/11 I was obliged to keep a consultant’s appointment and the minicab driver informed me that the ‘yellow Americans’ on the four hijacked planes were typical of the way ‘the Yanks do battle’ -- they chicken out and let the Brits do the dirty work. I was in such a state of shock from the events of 9/11 that I could not find an answer, and he continued with a further lecture about the cowardice and stupidity of Americans and their pilots when they are threatened, and added the assertion that had Brits been on those planes, not one would have come down.

Getting back, however, to the ’Independent’ and ’Guardian’ reading classes, my hunch is that the daily dose of relentless America-bashing in the European media, combined with the abundance of criticism of Israel has created an atmosphere of anger and hostility that for the first time in my lifetime makes me fearful for my safety in my beloved adopted country, Great Britain. The anger of the video manager went beyond a whining session. He was physically smoldering every time he said ‘Jewish,’ Israel’ or ‘Holocaust’ ( this is now the tool used by more than one person I have encountered in polite circles to accuse Jews of ‘manufacturing an excuse’ for a state). The fury of the otherwise elegant woman on the bus fell just short of serious assault. <>The paradox is that we have Islamic extremists in our midst in Britain preaching all manner of mayhem and holding ‘festivals’ to celebrate the ‘magnificent nineteen of September 11th.’ In 1998, when I was producing a documentary about the three monotheistic faiths, I filmed with ease at the local church and synagogue. When it came time to film at the mosque, my cameraman, a Libyan, beseeched me to stay at home, as I would be ‘killed’ if I came to the London central mosque on a Friday. He explained that ‘the crazies’ came out in force on the Sabbath and that if they realized I was American there would be an incident that would reverberate as strongly as the killing of Yvonne Fletcher in April, 1984 outside the Libyan Embassy. He begged me to stay away and I did. It was the first time I had ever stayed away from my own production shoot. Throw your minds back, dear reader, to that date: 1998. There was no wall in Israel and no Intifada. Bill Clinton was President and there were no neo-cons to blame for the Gulf’s ills. But event then, the hatred of America and of Jews was already a palpable force in British life.

There are some 260,000 Jews in Britain and more than two million Muslims, but at dinner parties all one hears about is the ‘birthplace of terror, Menachem Begin’s Israel’ and the ‘world’s number one terrorist state, the United States.’ Last November when President Bush visited the United Kingdom and London’s Mayor, Ken Livingstone, boycotted the State Banquet, ordinary folk gathered in Trafalgar Square to burn and stomp on the Stars and Stripes. <>I hesitate to blame my own profession, the media. However, the ‘Guardian’ ran a lead article by Faisal Bodi in January 2001 entitled ‘Israel Simply Has No Right to Exist,’ and on a daily basis Robert Fisk, whom my British friends and colleagues think is God, runs an ’Independent’ piece brutally critical of the United States and Israel. I have stopped attending meetings of my trade union, the National Union of Journalists, because I cannot listen to incessant vitriol about the crimes of my native country, the United States and of Israel when we should be dealing with the problems unions are supposed to address. It is likely the readers of this paper do not know that many British trade unions, including that of the teachers, have been adopting resolutions condemning Israel and the United States. Yes, the Sharon government is the one I have loved the least and yes, there is much to worry about in present American policy, but how many American unions spend hours devising resolutions to censure their most trusted and valued ally? How many Americans invite expat Brits to their dinner table only to abuse and intimidate them, especially if they are Jewish? Another mantra thrown at me daily these days is the news that the United States is one giant Fundamentalist Christian nation peopled by raging Bible-thumpers on every street. I have had otherwise enlightened colleagues tell me that the USA is ‘running wild with religious extremism that threatens the world far more than bin Laden.’ I am also informed that coupled with the religious fervor is the ‘dangerous fact that America, Carol, has no culture to speak of, and that is a lethal mix.’

When I am tearfully overcome with emotion when ‘Jerusalem’ is played every year at the Last Night of the Proms, I am received with considerable bemusement. Many people want to know how on earth an American could ’feel’ British and others are very blunt with, ’But shouldn’t you people really become Israelis?’ <>Where will it all end? I know Jews -- including Anglo-Jews -- who have ceased socializing because of the abuse they receive from old friends. The much-loved British actress Maureen Lipman and her eminent playwright husband, the late Jack Rosenthal, attended an Israel Solidarity Rally in London two years ago much to the astonishment of her fans. In her long career Lipman had never been political but one suspected she felt as marginalized as the rest of us who turned up for the rally (it was severely hampered by pro-Palestinian demonstrators with loud-speakers.)

I know expat Americans -- including non-Jews-- who receive punishing dressings-down at social and professional gatherings. The standard reprimand contains the list of American misdemeanors: the Project for the New American Century taking over the world’s governments; Wolfowitz, Perle and other ‘Zionists’ bullying the Bush and Blair Administrations into waging war with Iraq to allow Israel to expand across the Gulf and beyond and American Jews running the world’s media, banks and industries. When Barbara Amiel, wife of beleaguered Hollinger executive Conrad Black, stopped writing for the British papers when her husband fell under a cloud there was unmitigated glee amongst the chattering classes and expressions of joy that we would no longer have to read ’ Zionist diatribes.’ <>Here is what I perceive as the explanation: Europe has always been a seething hotbed of anti-Semitism. England, sadly, has the distinction of being the very first country to expel its Jews and initiate the Blood Libel. The Jews were not allowed back into England until the time of Cromwell and feel to this day that they worship by the grace of the Sovereign. It is impossible to convey to Americans inside the United States, or to American Jews, the open loathing of both groups that dominates daily life outside the United States today. What is so disturbing to me is that I am no longer accepted at face value in my daily encounters. If the media set out some years ago -- even before Bush 43 -- to turn the public against America and Israel, they have done a magnificent job. I have stopped counting the number of unfair accusations hurled at both nations in the course of a day on the airwaves or in the print media. Long ago I stopped wearing a flag pin (how wonderful to be able to wear one as I walk down a Philadelphia street without fearing for my life). Just the other day I had a tongue-lashing from an old acquaintance about the ‘appalling flags the Americans put outside their homes, like Nazis all over again.’

In a recent review of James Naughtie’s book, The Accidental American, Lord Gilmour in The Guardian (18 September issue) asserted that the ‘neo-cons’ or ‘axis of evil’ who comprise Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Feith, Bolton, Libby, Abrams, Perle and others are ‘not only passionate about Israel, they are Likudists to a man.’ He adds that the American ‘Likudists’ are happy to let Sharon create more ‘apartheid settlements.’ Imagine what it is like these days to emerge from one’s home to attend a dinner party or tea and be browbeaten about ‘Zionists’ running America as if it is a criminal offense to be ‘passionate’ about Israel. And, Dammit, I AM passionate about the remnant of my people who made a go of it after the Euro-generated Holocaust. Lord Gilmour quotes a Blair aide making the other accusation that is hurled at Americans abroad these days: ‘the only special relationship is between America and Israel.’ <>I am aware that many Americans are leaving their homes abroad and returning home after decades in foreign countries. Notwithstanding the loss of free medical care and pills (and that is one hell of a sacrifice!) afforded by their adopted countries, they can no longer endure the daily abuse and the ugly posters and stickers that proliferate across European cities. When the many anti-war rallies were held in February 2003 young people in European cities were seen wearing headbands with slogans wishing death upon Jews and Israel. I went to hear Seymour Hersh speak and he suggested that Americans with dual nationality value the other passport and to ‘keep that villa in Italy.’ I see it, dear Sy, from a different perspective: Europe created the Holocaust, the Inquisition and other genocides. Anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism proliferated long before the Bush Administration came onto the scene in 2000. Anti-Americanism is not a result of Abu Ghraib or of a Rumsfeldian pronouncement. It is a disturbing and hurtful form of psychosis that is rapidly eroding the all-important special relationship.

At present I do not yet fear for my life in jolly little St John’s Wood, but it sure is heaven strolling around the artists’ studios at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia and being greeted as me, not as a bloody American or an accursed Jew

	NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

	November 22, 2004 Release Number: 04-11-77 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE INSURGENTS FAKING DEAD FIRES ON MARINES FALLUJAH, Iraq – Marines from the 1st Marine Division shot and killed an insurgent, who while faking dead, opened fire on the Marines that were conducting a security and clearing patrol through the streets here at approximately 3:45 p.m. on 21 November. For more information, please contact Capt Bradley Gordon, public affairs officer, 1st Marine Division, gordonbv@1mardivdm.usmc.mil