Lumoto's Woes

GoDaddy's server limitations - be warned.

2011-02-22T18:00:00.007-06:00

Just two years ago I decided to go online with my genealogy file. I found a very cool php program called The Next Generation (TNG) and had to set up a MySQL table, which was new to me.I had been using GoDaddy's free space with the little ad banner at the top. But it was conflicting with TNG, so they assured me I would be fine with their shared server. It was $4.99 a month and they offered a bit of a discount if I paid for a year. Then they introduced me to Gallery, which I enthusiastically added to my site, which required another MySQL table, but they set me up and I was happy, happy.

Then one day relatively soon my Gallery crashed and I learned there were thousands, thousands of spam or some garbage in the comments. So, I ended comment capability. but after that the damage was done. Gallery was quite slow loading. Then soon after that, my genealogy file would not perform correctly. Never anything specific, but not right. It wouldn't export correctly. A whole xnotes table had gone bad. It would hang up on me or time out. Troubleshooting and tweaking, fixing, it'd be okay, then start performing poorly again. So, I was constantly fighting it, contacting the developer and/or GoDaddy till I got lined out again.

Since I'm no expert, I was caught between the two and staying frustrated. Let me say this, though. My genealogy file is pretty big. When I first went online I had about 16,000 people and have added to it till it's now almost double that.

Everything unstable yet again, I posted a query on a forum and an "expert" who also uses the TNG software responded and offered to upgrade me to the newest version and help me get lined out. He quickly saw how poorly GoDaddy was performing and copied all my data to his own server. Everything worked like a top! I mean, it just sings!! His own personal file is 425,000 people! So,it proves it's just a poor server that GoDaddy puts us on.

Thankfully the move of both TNG genealogy program and the Gallery were already in progress when TNG on GoDaddy totally.crashed - I mean unrecoverably crashed. (TNG cannot communicate with your data" crashed. And Gallery is like the old dial-up.

Bottom line, GoDaddy said TNG is to "too data intensive" for their shared server and I should be on a dedicated server. They said my searches were stacking and stacking and not closing off and that was a network violation. So, I suppose it's like trying to wash a full commercial load of laundry in a little apartment size stack-up washing machine. But what they said isn't completely true. The server I moved to isn't dedicated. It's shared, and has files more "data intensive" than mine on it! It's ust their server is crappy and they're trying to make it "my" fault!

So, I'm more than a little annoyed with GoDaddy that they didn't caution me of this. When I had to ask them what mySQL was, that should have told them I was novice at this. We trust them with our precious data and if they aren't going to be able hack it, or if you have limits, they should tell you that up front.

I do have other webpages that don't involve tables. And they're doing okay. Since I don't want to have to rescript them for the new server, I'll keep using GoDaddy and just pay for both places. I think I have the links and flow simple enough leading from one to the other that maybe a user won't really even notice.

The move has been quite painful, though. It started almost two weeks ago, and just yesterday, I think I'm just about lined out. Seems like everything that could go wrong did. No matter how simple something should have been - it turned out to be major. Example -- I use Filezilla as FTP client -- it just would not work, wouldn't access the new server. So, I downloaded about three other free ones, and none worked satisfactorily. So, I'll have to purchase Cute FTP Lite. But at this point, I'm glad to do it. Because Gallery was so full of garbage, we couldn't just do a restore.. So, I had to go through and redo all my album descriptions, reset thumb sizes, and do a lot of work that a good backed up data table should have done for me. But it's getting there and works so much better.

As far as this brilliant and patient young man who helped me get through this disaster -- oh, my gosh, I owe him my life!

GPS, custom Google Maps and Firefox and Adobe woes

2010-09-20T00:17:00.006-05:00

One of the features I wanted to have on this GPS was that I could upload a custom map from Google My Maps. Well, I don't know how or something is wrong. I had a map with six points on it, and I followed the directions in the video that I posted the blog "GPS - finally got one" on the 17th, using http://www.takitwithme.com/ Once I put the link to my map in the space and told it to get my map it said at the bottom it was retrieving my map but never did quit spinning. So, I told it to upload to the GPS and got the error "fatal error. File Path: String Stream line 1, char 1. message: invalid document structure." I thought it might be Internet Explorer, so I used Firefox. That time it still didn't retrieve my map. When I clicked for it to upload, it took me to Garmin to get the app it wanted. That process said it was successful. But I couldn't ever get the custom map to upload. I got the same error as with I.E. Searching around I found somebody posted on a forum or something that they couldn't get that feature to work with multiple points. I went back and did it with a start point and one end point, and the same results. It never said it retrieved my map and I go the same error message.
I went to Garmin's site for some kind of help and nothing. Nothing is in the startup booklet about it, and I can't find it in the programmed help section in the unit. Nor does there seem to be a user's manual you can download anywhere. But yet the stats on this unit says that you can upload custom maps. Crap!! I hate this!
I'll have to call Garmin tomorrow and see if they'll tell me how, but I bet they don't do that kind of support. I also tried to just manually type in the coordinates but the keyboard is not active. I couldn't even find the coordinates on Google Maps -- had to look somewhere else to find them. Grrrr!!

Through all this process Firefox said it wanted to upgrade. So, I said okay. It upgraded me to Version 3.6.10. Then it said I had to upgrade the Adobe -- whatever. So, I did, and now every time I start Firefox I get one of the cursed Vista warnings, "User Account Control - Adobe DLM, User Account Control helps stop unauthorized changes to your computer"!!! Then the Adobe Download manager screen is up and I have to close it before I can use Firefox!! Soooo muuucchhh Bullll sh*t!!
UPDATE AT 1:39 A.M. About the Adobe DLM - I have no idea what DLM is other than it's Flash, I guess. Nor do I know if I need it or if not, how to get rid of it, if I even should. I didn't see it in the Add/Remove Programs nor did I see it in my Programs list, even though it had just been installed! But I did find where to turn off the User Account Control and that seemed to remedy all the frickin' authorization pop-ups. God, I hate Vista.

GPS - dilemma resolved...

2010-09-17T13:46:00.004-05:00

(continued from blog "GPS - I finally got one" found directly below this blog)

Wow, what confusion - but all is well. Here's the deal. I realized this morning that the opening in the cradle where I put the SD card was not the SD card slot. It was a slot for the dc power. Oh, no wonder it wouldn't pop out!! But then if that's the case, why does it see the jpgs on the card!?? I decided if I sent it to Garmin, they wouldn't fix it under warranty because that's not even where the card goes. So, I was going to just have to buy a whole new unit and chalk that $129 up to stupid. But one last ditch effort, I put all the stuff together in a bag and took it down ECP Computers. They've very nice there and helpful, and I thought just maybe they could get it out.

Thankfully, they were not loaded down with customers; and the man there was super nice. He thought the card was in there, too. We decided might as well open up the cradle and see if it would come out. Once he got it open, lo, the slot where the card was - we thought - was not deep enough to hold the card. Now, that's just weird! Where is it? I looked in the slot on the unit where it's supposed to be, and granted, I can't see well -- but just didn't see the card. He said he didn't see it either, but when he stuck a little screwdriver in the slot -- out it popped!! JIMMINY! It was where it was supposed to be all along!! Oh, My God!! I'm really losing it. So, which is worse -- to put the SD in the wrong hole or to put it in the right hole and forget where you put it! Oh, My God!

Well, the man was, as I said, very kind. He acknowledged he even thought it was in there, too. He put the cradle thing back together and was concerned that maybe the AC plug might not work, that maybe something got messed up with all that jacking around with it. He didn't charge me even a dime! And even gave me a little plastic bag to put my now retrieved micro card in so I wouldn't lose it.
As soon as I got back to the car, I plugged the unit into the cigarette lighter and the battery light on the unit came on like it was supposed to. IT STILL WORKS! GLORY BE!! So, walked back in the store to tell him it does still work! Woo-hoo!!
My mom said it was just a miracle. Well -- I guess that's a better way to look at it! But let me tell you --- getting old is hell!

GPS - I finally got one.

2010-09-17T00:14:00.013-05:00

For a long time I've thought it would be cool to have a GPS but I didn't know what kind to get, exactly what they would do, and wondered if I even went anywhere enough to warrant spending money on one. But recently I've had a bit of a case of "buy something" fever - which I rarely get -- and decided I'd look into them. Besides, my birthday is this month -- so I figured I'm entitled to get myself a birthday present!!

One of the things I wondered is if you can download routes from Google to it. Every now and then me and my mom like to take a day trip, and we might have a couple or destinations in mind and then have to hunt for where we're going. If I'm prepared, I'd look it up on Google maps ahead of time. I found a video about how that works,

and it mentioned the brand-name Garmin. So, that was the first stage of narrowing down my choices. I'd go with a Garmin. Then after about two days of reading about what features they have or don't have, and contemplating what I would want or not want -- looking at a very handy comparison chart at GPSTracklog and then looking up who had them for how much cost -- reading the reviews -- I finally made a decision and bought a Garmin 855; and got it from Tigerdirect.com. It doesn't have bluetooth; but I figure I'll never use that anyway. But it does have the feature that I can give it voice commands. The guy at Tigerdirect said Garmin is the best brand and I picked out a good unit.

One thing, though, the reviews said it's a discontinued model. But I guess that doesn't matter. And, I never like to buy refurbished; but looking at BestBuy and Walmart and Radio Shack -- they seem to all sell these refurbished. As long as it's warrantied - and seems to be how they sell these things - guess it's okay.

Well, Tigerdirect was very good. I had ordered an extra ac/dc adapter that was $20-something more; and when the salesman gave me the total price, it included it. But when I got my email receipt it wasn't on there and neither was the $20-something. Not wanting to be without that capability, I called them and asked why it wasn't there. The guy who answered the phone told me it came with one; so they took it off my order. That's very cool! They could have easily got that extra purchase from me!

It was supposed to be here Friday, but it came a day early -- Thursday (16th). So, while running the usual errands today, I tried it out. What fun! Definitely have a new toy There will be several things to get familiar with it so when I am driving, I won't be fumbling; but I figure now it's one of those things I'll soon wonder how I ever did without.

My car has a very huge windshield and slants at a steep - slant. So, I don't want to mount it on the windshield. And I have a dash cover to cut down on glare; so I can't suction cup it to the dash. So, I found a vent mount on ebay tonight and ordered that. I hope that will solve the positioning dilemma.

I also didn't buy an SD card for it; and not too sure I'll even need one. But it uses a micro SD memory card. So, messing with it tonight, I took the micro SD out of my cell phone to try it out and then figured I would order one for the GPS. Well, it works, can see the pictures I had on it; but -- as my crappy luck would have it -- I can't get the blasted thing out! It's stuck in there! I figured it's supposed to sort of be a spring and push in a little and it will pop out -- well, it didn't!! So, I tried pushing harder on it with a little small flathead screwdriver to try to get it to pop out! It didn't!! Now I'm afraid I've buggered up the edge of it - and I'm in a state of almost panic!

I called Tiger Direct, and he said it could be that that spring mechanism in the device that's supposed to pop it is faulty, but I have to call Garmin. Of course, as luck would have it, Garmin is only open regular business hours. So, I hope they can tell me what to do tomorrow. There's a little screw on the cradle that the SD card goes in, and I don't know if I loosened that screw, if it would allow the card to fall out. The guy at Tiger Direct said I shouldn't try it as it might cancel my warranty. Damn, I hate myself sometimes -- but it's not my fault! That's what the slot is for!

Well, it will be all right. I guess worse case scenario is I'll have to buy another cradle. I was able to hook the GPS up to the computer and copy the pictures on the card to my computer hard drive. So, I won't lose them if the damn thing has to be dug out.

Oh, well -- it's going to work out, and it's going to be fun to use and maybe even give me a little incentive to get out more to play with it.

To All President Obama Haters

2010-08-20T23:50:00.002-05:00

To All President Obama Haters
By admin on Apr 22, 2010 in Barack Obama

I did not write this. I wish I had! It should get the point across, and everybody should read it. It was posted at a blog here:
http://www.thepresidentialcandidates.us/to-all-president-obama-haters/1199/
Links to sources are at the original site. I've copied it and posted it and linked
back to the original because I don't want to lose it and with election time coming up, people need to read it.

You didn’t get mad when the Supreme Court stopped a legal recount and appointed a President.

You didn’t get mad when Cheney allowed Energy company officials to dictate energy policy.

You didn’t get mad when a covert CIA operative got outed.

You didn’t get mad when the Patriot Act got passed.

You didn’t get mad when we illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us.

You didn’t get mad when we spent over 600 billion(and counting) on said illegal war.

You didn’t get mad when over 10 billion dollars just disappeared in Iraq.

You didn’t get mad when you found out we were torturing people.

You didn’t get mad when the government was illegally wiretapping Americans.

You didn’t get mad when we didn’t catch Bin Laden.

You didn’t get mad when you saw the horrible conditions at Walter Reed.

You didn’t get mad when we let a major US city drown.

You didn’t get mad when we gave a 900 billion tax break to the rich.

You didn’t get mad when, using reconciliation; a trillion dollars of our tax dollars were redirected to insurance companies for Medicare Advantage which cost over 20 percent more for basically the same services that Medicare provides.

You didn’t get mad when the deficit hit the trillion dollar mark, and our debt hit the thirteen trillion dollar mark.

(The above is a copy/paste of a nice rant about some of the many errors of the Bush admin. This rant has been making the rounds for awhile now and I don’t know where it originated. What follows is my addition.)

Yet you get mad at President Obama for what exactly?

Expanding health care coverage to over 30 million more Americans while making the worst health insurance industry abuses illegal and reducing the deficit? (source)

Credit card reform which protects consumers from credit card company abuses? (source)

Lowering taxes for 95% of working families? (source)

Being on target to cut Bush’s huge deficit in half within four years? (source)

The DOW going from 6500 to over 11000 during his Presidency? (source)

Is it because he signed expanded gun rights into law while not making any moves towards gun control? (source)

The recession reversing with job losses turning into job gains? (source)

Working to reform Wall Street Reform so we don’t experience another economic meltdown like what happened under Bush’s “leadership” in September 2008? (source)

Working to reduce loose nukes in order to decrease the chances of a nuclear attack on the US by terrorists? ( source )

—

Notice those last two are “works in progress.” These are things Obama is trying to do but the Republicans are doing everything they can stop him from being successful on these fronts (similar to how they pulled out every trick in the book to try to stop health care reform.) They don’t seem to care that stopping Obama from getting “political victories” (their biggest concern it seems) may lead to a terrorist nuking a major US city or another economic meltdown.

Think about that. “Country First”? Hardly. The Republican Party of today seems to exist only to further it’s own existence. They will stop at nothing to defeat Obama politically. They don’t care how many lies they have to tell or what the long term consequences are for average Americans.

It’s because of this that I think it’s of very much importance for the future of the United States that the “Republican Tea Party” be defeated this November. Do your part. Make sure you are registered to vote and get to the polls to vote against all Republican Tea Party candidates.

George W Bush, Republicans

Rolling Stones Rock n Roll Circus - London 1968

2009-10-21T22:10:00.007-05:00

"You are about to be transported to another age; swinging London in the late Sixties. The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus is a time capsule. Two days in December 1968 that in many ways capturee the spontaneity, aspirations and communal spirit of an entire era. ...for a brief moment it seemed that rock 'n' roll would inherit the earth."
--- David Dalton (founding editor of Rolling Stone Magazine)

Invitation - December 11, 1968

Rock and Roll Circus

http://www.iorr.org/iorr27/circus.htm

It is early morning Wednesday, December 11, 1968. Paul Lovell has catched the first train from Birmingham into London. Today he was supposed to have an exam at school, but nowit is more important business to take care of.

Last month, he had received the monthly fan club letter, telling about a special concert to be held by the Rolling Stones on Dec. 11. Being fan club member number 10,435 since Oct. 1964, and knowing the fan club had grown to probably 20,000 by now, he realized he didn't have much chance of getting tickets to the special event. Much to his surprice, the tickets arrived, red print on a yellow card. He even got an extra ticket for Barbara!

About 300 people has queued up outside the Intertel Studios, Wembley, in the morning. There seems to be one entrance only for the place. While queuing up each of the performing artists is arriving. John Lennon arrives in a Rolls with Yoko Ono, being one of the first times they show up publicly together. The Stones and all the others walk by the fans queuing up. This is really developing to something very special...

When entering the studio, which is a TV recording building, he has to turn in his ticket, signing on it, stating his appearance on any film taken is not his property. All fans are given special red, orange and yellow ponchos, and large, strage hats. Inside the studio, the Stones have arranged for a Circus being built, like a half circle part of the circus, so that there is space for the cameras and crew. The fans are free to find a seat in the half circle around the center canvas, and Paul is selecting a central spot a couple of rows from the front.

The show is soon starting up. Mick Jagger is saying welcome, dressed up as a ringmaster. and the first band is on.

Jethro Tull is a new group. They do their song "Song For Jeffrey".

Then The Who is on with their set.

This is not a normal concert. The songs are done several times, and film shooting is not done all the time. There are plenty of breaks. During the breaks, the fans are free to walk wherever they like. Paul is finding himself standing next to Mick, then some time later next to Keith. Being a veteran Stones fan by now, since his first concert in 1964, he does not want to bother any of the Stones, asking for autographs. But when he bumps into John Lennon, he simply ask for his autograph. After all, John is a big star, but not in the same league as the Stones, at least not to Paul...

Taj Mahal is next.

Then the important appearance by Marianne Faithfull. This is the apperance when Mick wants everything to be right. Marianne is to be a major star, and Mick has been working hard on the set. Marianne is beautifully located in the center of the circus ring. She performs Something Better, and the camera is rotating 180 degrees around the circus ring, making a perfect panning.

This is really a strange event. There are circus artists performing in-between the sets. Nobody have planned this in detail. Things seems to take much longer time than originally planned for. People are getting tired and hungry. There is a break in the evening for food. Then there are more rehearsals and camera takes. During one of the breaks, Paul find himself next to Brian Jones on the men's room. Again, privacy first, no autographs...

It's about midnight, and still the Stones have not been on. this will probably take till tomorrow! John Lennon is showing up, leading a supergroup of himself, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Mitch Mitchell.

Then Yoko Ono is joining. It's now about 2 o'clock in the morning, and finally, it's time for the Rolling Stones! Mick has changed into causal wear, and they jump into their set of songs taken from Beggars Baquet, being released just before the week-end.
Jumping Jack Flash is on. The Stones are great! Then Parachute Woman and No Expectations.

Brian is great; great slide. They do several takes. Some people in the crowd is now really sleepy! You Can't Always Get What You Want. More takes. The Stones doesn't seem to be satisfied with what they are doing.

Then Sympathy For The Devil, which they have been rehearsing a while back for the One Plus One film. At 5 am in the morning Sympathy is perfect - may be not to the Stones - but it's perfect!

Then they all move into the crowd, all wearing ponchos, the chords of Salt Of The Earth is sounding, Keith and Mick is singing the closing song.
(Salt of the Earth)

Then it's over. Not a usual concert, but a memory for life time.The fans are saying goodbye. The Stones have rranged for transportation. Paul and Barbara is hanging around in London for the first train back to Birmingham. Well, doesn't bother about the exam, the concert, the rehearsals and the happening is still strong in the mind...

ATT and wireless -- tech support sucks!

2009-09-23T16:38:00.005-05:00

There's not too many things in life I hate worse than having to call any computer tech support! Today was one of those days. I have ATT/DSL. All was fine till I left the house to go mail in my reason for not being able to serve on Jury Duty (ah, yes, another woe, but not worth a whole blog) - and when I got back, I had no internet connection. I hit the reset on the modem, and that didn't work. I called them, and the recording said, "Did you unplug modem and restart?"

Well, no, I didn't. So, I hung up and did that. But I still didn't have a connection. So, I called back. Apparently hitting the reset erased my password; and the guy walked me through setting a new one. All is fine -- so far.

Then he has me turn on my laptop, which I might mention has not been turned on for quite some time - months - but it had connection when I used it last. But I agreed a good idea to check it. Good thing, because there was no connection.

He had me do several things; then had me delete the connection, let it create a new one; didn't work. An error message came up, something about the ISP wasn't compatible. Then the phone went dead. I suppose he hung up! They make it a big deal to get your phone number so they can call you back - but he didn't call me back.

So, I called them back, started over. "Let me connect you to the wireless tech support." GEEZ! Okay.

Then we go through the same things again, answering the same basic questions about modem and operating system and all that . She does the same stuff the first guy had me to do - properties, look at this, look at that -- then delete the connection; let it create a new connection, etc. Got to the same place - three or four times. Each time she would say, "Can you hold while I check your account?" Sure, I'll wait. Then she'd come back to do the same thing we did before.

Then she's quiet - then asks me, "You are having trouble getting the wireless to work on your laptop; is that right?" YES!!! Damn!!

I tried to tell her about the message, the ISP wasn't compatible; but she pretty much ignored me and said bla bla bla about ATT supporting Internet connection and I could connect; apparently it was something wrong with my laptop; and did I want her to connect me to the Connect Tech Support? I said there's nothing wrong with my laptop, and I thought that's who she was!! Yes, connect me.

Well, getting connected to that department, the recording alerts me that it is fee-based and to have a credit card handy. OH, NO YOU DON'T! So, I hung up; got out my ethernet cable and hard wired it, and it connected just fine.

Once again, I got the message about the ISP not being compatible; but when I tried to click on the error for more info, it went away. By this time I had wasted well over 2 hours, maybe even three, of stress and rising blood pressure; so I gave it up. I know I'll have to call them back and go through the whole thing -- again! But it won't be today!

There's no reason in this world that so much time and mental energy should be expended on something that should be so minor!

How the GOP got hijacked by Right-Wing Authoritarians

2009-09-14T17:24:00.002-05:00

How the GOP got hijacked (as well as ANY religion!) by Right-Wing Authoritarians

As we are witness the unfolding of a rather bizarre health care debate, one can't help but be amazed at the jaw dropping lunacy of the folks on the right who are amply represented by an assembly of "creationists" "birthers", "teabaggers", "screamers" and now "deathers"...

~snip~

Somehow the leaders of the GOP seem to have convinced a majority of their followers that;
1. President Obama is not a naturalized citizen and therefore his presidency is illegitimate (birthers).
2. Obama's healthcare bill will put seniors to death by their government (deathers).
3. Obama's socialist administration will come and get your guns (teabaggers).
4. Obama hates God (creationists).
5. Obama plans for the government to take over Medicare (screamers).
6. Obama plans for America are similar to Nazi Germany. (Limbaugh).
7. Obama's death panels will kill my baby (Palin).
8. Obama's defense policies put the country on the edge of catastrophe (Cheney, Gingrich).

~snip~

At the end of Chapter Two appears a list of those traits that are typically found in Right-Wing Authoritarians. When reading this list, think GOP leaders Limbaugh, Gingrich, Cheney and Palin.

Right-Wing Authoritarian - Leaders:

* Typically men (Palin is the exception but think masculine phrases used to define her such as "hockey mom", "basketball point guard", and "field dress a moose")
* dominating
* opposes equality
* desirous of personal power
* amoral
* intimidating and bullying
* faintly hedonistic
* vengeful
* pitiless
* exploitive
* manipulative
* dishonest
* cheats to win
* highly prejudiced (racist, sexist, homophobic)
* mean-spirited
* militant
* nationalistic
* tells others what they want to hear
* takes advantage of "suckers"
* specializes in creating false images to sell self
* may or may not be religious
* usually politically and economically conservative/Republican

When reading the below list of follower traits, think of those angry white faces (actually more red than white) at your typical "teabagger" party and recent Town hall "screamer" secession.

Right-Wing Authoritarian - Followers:

* men and woman
* submissive to authority
* aggressive on behalf of authority
* conventional
* highly religious
* moderate to little education
* trust untrustworthy authorities
* prejudiced (particularly against homosexuals, woman, and followers of religions other than their own)
* mean-spirited
* narrow-minded
* intolerant
* bulling
* zealous
* dogmatic
* uncritical toward chosen authority
* hypocritical
* inconsistent and contradictory
* prone to panic easily
* highly self-righteous
* moralistic
* strict disciplinarian
* severely punitive
* demands loyalty and returns it
* little self-awareness
* usually politically and economically conservative/Republican

While reading this list you may have asked yourself why these current followers, who display a deference to authority, are not following the head guy; the President of the United States. The answer is a simple one. The glue that binds the current out of power leaders to their pathetic followers is clearly and unambiguously RACE...

LA Science and Tech News Examiner: How the GOP got hijacked by RightWing Authoritarians

(and I might add to RACE - PERCEIVED RELIGION and ISLAMOPHOBIA)

I wish there was such a video about hijacking Christianity, too! If this behavior were all one had to reflect what Christianity is all about, who would want it!

Fears of Obama speaking to school kids

2009-09-04T19:29:00.006-05:00

The Obamaphobia just keeps going from bad to worse. It's hard to believe "adults" and so-called "educated" people have fallen into the snares of the extreme, radical right. This event is something nice for the kids, to be addressed by the "office of the president" - no matter who holds that office. With our education system crumbling, our nation practically illiterate, and dropout rate on the rise, just maybe our kids might need a pep talk to stay in school and give it their all! But God forbid if it be our President Obama to be the one to offer that encouragement to our kids to better themselves with a good education!! This whole thing is the height of complete and utter lunacy at its best!

Even IF (stress IF) Obama did say something partisan -WHICH HE WON'T -- so the heck what! He's a Dem pres. That's part of our government system!! Two PARTIES!! Hello!! These students are not babies. They're kids who should be learning to listen to differing views and forming their own thoughts. It's called learning to think for themselves. That's part of an education, too. It's more scary if parents won't let their kids learn to do that! They're only teaching their kids to have a closed mind, never listen to opposing views than those of their parents! That's what's extremely dangerous!!

Locally it seems our schools cow-towing to this mania; and it is most disheartening. If this is how our schools are, then Pres Obama has more work to do with the schools than maybe first thought. It appears our educators are the ones who need some education!

Sounds like too many of the teachers/administrators, as well as parents, are have become "indoctrinated" by FIXED NEWS!! WHAT IRONY!!

Restriction A - with corrective lenses

2009-09-03T20:58:00.000-05:00

Alas, it is that time of my life when I had to renew my driver's license again. It's been six years, but I know I didn't have my picture made 6 years ago. They used the one I had. So, if I had been stopped with that 12 year old picture, it might would have turned into being somewhat of a humiliating experience to admit how much I've aged in the past dozen years.

But that wasn't what worried me. What did worry me was the eye exam. This was not going to be so easy. I'm getting cataracts, I can't see worth a flip, and I haven't gotten new glasses in three years. So, I was really stressing about this. In fact, I played out the mental daydream (nightmare) scenario that they would take my license away from me and I would have to call somebody to come pick me up.

Well, my birthday is on the 28th; so I knew I had to get down there early enough that if I didn't pass, I would have time to get new glasses and take the test again. So, I took a deep breath and went today, the 3rd.

First off the bat, I was standing in the line and when they flashed the light to take a person's picture, the light was right in my line of vision; so I saw bright spots for a bit. Oh, great. Well, I had to wait long enough, that corrected itself.

A lady from the back came to her station and called on me, as I was next in line. I had been watching the two ladies who were working their stations, wondering which would be nicer. So, when the 3rd lady came and I was her first, I felt a sense of relief for some reason, and it proved to be true. She was very nice.

Well, we exchange the pleasantries and preliminaries, and the moment of truth arrives. She pointed me to the machine you look in, and told me first without the glasses. "Line 5." Oh, boy. I couldn't see a thing. She was very kind and told me to go to the machine next to it. Maybe that would be better. Nope, it wasn't. "Okay, girl," I tell myself. "Stay calm. You knew you'd need to wear your glasses."

I have two pair of bifocals and took them both. One pair is computer/reading; and one pair is distance/reading. I always wear the computer glasses, but while driving up to the DMV, I got out the distance/reading to see if it made much difference; and it didn't at all. So, I took the computer glasses I had in my hand and put them on. Absolutely NO improvement. I couldn't read a thing.

Now I'm starting to feel the ol' heart start to be a little faster, but I quickly grabbed the other pair.

Ohhhh, there it is!!! I rattled off the letters/numbers so fast I even stumbled in my words on the last number "5" -- no, "6." Whew!!

She laughed a little and informed me we'd have to put a restriction on my license. NO KIDDING!!

Now that it's all over I wish I could go back to those machines and do it again. I'm wondering if I just didn't have my head lined up right in the first place because I know my 2nd pair of glasses just aren't that much more correcting than the first. But whatever, at least I've got them and I'm good for another six years!! Such a simple thing as renewing your license turned out to be a major stressor, but God is good and got me through it!

I lifted the picture above of our DMV off Google Maps. But just as an aside comment, that is the same location I went when I took my boys in the 80s to get their beginner permits and then licenses when they turned 16. And, indeed, it is the same building that I went to when I got my very first driver's license when I was 16 in the early 60s. I can remember sitting in the back room taking the written test; and then later when it was time for the driving test, I remember the officer told me to turn left and I made a very nice and controlled right - right into a parking lot! I wondered why he wanted me to go in that parking lot! lol He was kind, acknowledged that he knew I was nervous, and passed me. Gosh, that was such a long time ago.

The Case of the Missing Historical Marker

2009-07-12T12:05:00.010-05:00

Texas Historical Commission Marker No. 10566 issued 1988

umm - where, oh, where could it be? It used to be there. The State of Texas Historical Commission put it there. But now it's gone. It was still there at our Pep Rally on June 6th. But by the time of the press conference on July 1st when we announced filing an injunction against BISD, lo and behold, it had disappeared. All that remains now is a faded mark on the bricks revealing where that marker had graced and honored that building for over two decades.

It seems reasonable to assume that should the marker be removed, that since it was placed there by the STATE, it would have to be removed by the STATE. But, we know from the letter that the STATE Historical Commission sent to BISD (see the letter below) that BISD hasn't even informed them that they planned to destroy the building. So, it also seems safe to assume that the STATE didn't come and get it.

Well, BISD, we would all like to know why you were in such a hurry to remove that marker from the building? After all, your own web site says you are not planning to destroy the school until September. So, what was the hurry?

Perhaps one of our lawyers in our midst, or someone with the Historical Commission, will answer this question: Is this legal for BISD to have removed that marker? After all, isn't that plaque maybe even property of the STATE? Just askin'....

Click here to view page 1 full size.

click here to view page 2 full size

For more about the "Save South Park" movement, Please visit:

http://savesouthpark.org

Debut of my Genealogy via PHP and my new Web Page

2009-03-19T22:45:00.008-05:00

Genealogy has been a big hobby of mine for about a decade or more, and I have collected a lot of information, both from my own research and info others have shared with me. I've used Family Tree Maker from the beginning, and still do, though I haven't liked the newest versions since Version 11.
Well, anyway, I've wanted to put my collection on the web, but didn't like Ancestry.com's layout, and debating on the LDS Family Search site. With a bit of Googling, I came across a program called The Next Generation. It's a PHP program, which until I found it had no idea what PHP was, but I looked at the other users' pages, and samples, and liked it very much and decided that's how I wanted to do it. All this was last Friday, the 13th. So, I paid my $30 and haven't hardly looked up since. Last year I had tried doing my genealogy with HTML, but it was crap. We had Hurricane Ike and I never got back to it, mainly because I wasn't happy with it anyway. So, I'm more than excited about this program.
It was a bit complicated to get installed because I had to convert my webspace with GoDaddy from Windows to Linux, then later I had to call them back to get MySQL, which I still don't know what that is. And finally before it was all over with, I opted to pay GoDaddy for my space, $5 a month as I had been using their free space with the ad. The ad, as it turned out, interferred with the program.

An individual, Darrin Lythgoes, http://lythgoes.net/ wrote this amazing program. There's also a pretty extensive mailing list and TNG Forum. It's quite a "club" I guess you could call it. Though I have communicated with questions to Darrin, I haven't taken part in these other vehicles of support yet. So far it seems most of the users are way advanced of my non-existent PHP abilities.
But I'm up and running. I've installed the program, carefully according to the ReadMe instructions, and created my gedcom, and uploaded that. My Cute FTP client crashed, and GoDaddy told me about FileZilla Client, which is free and is working great. Anyway, I started uploading cemetery pictures and documents I had already scanned, like marriage records, obit, and assigned them to the corresponding individuals.
By now it's Wednesday, yesterday; and I realized before I went any further I needed to create a web page that would incorporate my other web pages as well as the genealogy pages. So, after some thought, and browsing through my own photos, I came with a plan and created as I went, taking my old web page and totally redesigning it - all with basic html. That took me all day yesterday. Now, short of a bit of tweaking, I think I'm ready now to get back to uploading documents. I have sooo many, and will probably never finish that task in this lifetime.
Well, I guess this is the official unveiling. I have told a few select friends and relatives about it, but I have not listed it with Ancestry or posted it on any of their boards yet. That will come when I get more of my documents added and linked up to more individuals. But for now, here's my new site: http://sherrysharp.com/ Of course the Genealogy Link takes you to the wonderful, fabulous TNG program!

Four Months After Ike - Texas Gulf Coast

2009-01-25T11:20:00.006-06:00

I finally got down to the beach last Friday (1/16/09) to see what remained after Hurricane Ike. I suppose it was about what I expected, but still, it was hard to comprehend so much devastation. Since I assume there are many who are not able to get down there, I thought I would share my pictures. I will say that there was lot of activity with the workers scurrying around in the cold trying to bring it back. Not seeing it beforehand but trying to visualize what it looked like right after the storm, I would imagine a lot has been done, but there's still so much more to do.

The link to my collection of shots is here:

Beach - Hwy 87 - 1/16/09

Saturday -- Dear Diary

2008-12-13T23:55:00.000-06:00

My morning started out at 8:15 with someone knocking loudly on my front door. It woke me from a sound asleep and I don't go to the door anyway. But the person was insistent and called me. I let the answering machine get it not wanting to get up yet, couldn't hear the message. I couldn't go back to sleep and figured they were gone, so I got up to get my coffee and saw that there was a mobile home trying to get out. They needed the parking spaces in front of my house where my car is parked to make the curve with the trailer and thus needed me to move my car. I hollered at one of the guys to come get the keys to move it. Then my neighbor came up, apologized for waking me. "Is that you that's moving out?" I asked. It was. He's been here a long time. He told me he was getting evicted because he had a girlfriend living with him and didn't tell the office. Damn! I know that's in the lease, but so is a lot of things that aren't abided by in this park. He said he was taking it to small claims court, but I don't see how he'll be able to recover the tremendous expense of moving a mobile home. I felt bad for him.

I didn't try to intall the graphic dirver yet. Maybe tomorrow I'll feel like tackling it. But I am moving my huge address book to Windows Live. I've used Incredimail for years, and they really don't let you export your contacts where they come out looking right. I hate the Windows Contacts way of doing an address book. So, it's just going to have to be one at a time. Besides, I have contacts for various genealogy family lines, contacts from my photography group, contacts from our attempts to save the high school from destruction -- lots of them I'm not even sure who they are now. So, I need to put them in related folders. There's bound to be a better way to keep up with contacts, physical addresses, and phone numbers. Ths is going to be a big project. I made it to the letter D today. lol

new toy for my computer

2008-12-12T22:30:00.000-06:00

The past two weeks I've been involved in setting up, learning, and transferring files for my job from an antiquated verison that operated on Win 95/98 -- yeah -- really! -- to a version that will operate on my Vista. I've had the old computer set up side by side with my Vista PC, using it only for work, and using the "good" computer for everything else. Finally, the move is done, and I am about ready to put the old tower into retirement (in the corner of the room where I have three other defunct towers).

Anyway, I did have a nice 17" flat screen monitor I have been using, as well as the 22" flat screen I use with the Vista - both are Samsung SyncMasters, Analog/Digital capable. So, I got the hairbrained idea that instead of putting the 17" away, it's time to expand my desktop -- have two monitors! I have a feeling once this is set up, I'll wonder how I ever did with out it.

I'm not THAT computer saavy, so I had several questions, did a little Googling, and decided to go for it. Not exactly sure what to get, I went to Best Buy and trusted the saleman's advice and bought a VisionTek PCI, Radeon HD2400 PRO, 256 MB, which he assured me it ample. He asked if I had the Digital Interface Cable that came with the monitor. Um, well, I had a hunch I would need it from what I had read on the web and looked everywhere I could think of before I went to Best Buy, but I don't guess one came with the monitor -- or else I put it in a "safe" place. So, I bought one.
Guess I will tackle installing it as soon as I get brave enough. I'll let you know how it goes.

OMG it Snowed in SE Texas!

2008-12-12T21:54:00.001-06:00

Well, it's been quite some time since I've added a blog. Almost a year. My man won the election, will be taking office very, very soon! But that's not what today is about.

Actually, it snowed yesterday (Thurs, Dec 11th), which was my granddaughter's birthday -- she turned the magical age of 13.

I had gone outside about midnight to take out the garbage and it was sleeting/raining. Not wanting to drag it out to the street in the rain, I decided there wasn't that much; it could wait till next garbage day. I went back in, watched some TV, went to bed -- snuggled up and finally dozed off. Didn't even think about snow! My mom called at 8:00, apologizing for waking me up, but "Look outside!" Wow! How beautiful!!! I found out it the snowfall had been around 1:30. Damn I hate myself sometimes. I should have looked up and out! I'm so UN-observant! And it never fails that I live to regret it!! But nevertheless, it was such a treat to see white! Last time it snowed I think was 4 (?) years ago on Christmas Eve and before that was something like 1987??? It don't snow much around here! So, it should be declared a holiday. It was pretty much melted away by mid afternoon, but what it was very, very nice.

I got the camera out, of course. Been so long that I tried to take pictures with anything put the Program mode, I forgot how to change settings! But I got quite a few around the yard. Nothing very photogenic where I live, but, hey, it's home.

Here's a couple. Click here for a few more.

VOTE DEMOCRAT -- I CHOOSE OBAMA!

2008-02-21T14:48:00.004-06:00

MY VOTEGOES TO

Since Edwards dropped out of the race, that left Hillary and Obama to choose from. I choose Barack Obama, and here's why.

First and foremost, if we're looking for a change in this country, which we sure do need, she isn't change. She's status quo. Granted she's a Democrat, and if she winds up legitimately being the nominee by honest means, I'll support her. But she was for the war for a long time. She won't commit to bringing home ALL the troops. Besides, it's time we have fresh blood in the White House! The Clintons and the Bushes had dominated the "ruling" dynasties for far too long. If Hillary winds up being the nominee by stealing the election by only superdelegates or playing that childish cheating game of trying to count Florida and Michigan, then I guess I just won't vote!

Second, I think Obama will go very far in bringing back honor to this country and restoring world opinion. I think he will also go far in blending at least some of the radical ends of the parties into a cohesive unit; though granted, there will always be those on the both extreme ends of the political spectrum.

Third, I think Obama has a vision for the country that far exceeds the others. The others are all stuck in the quagmire of "now" and "now" isn't working. He isn't just talk of "hope," though that is nice to hear -- but he has plans that would be good for this country - besides bringing the troops home, he has definite plans for the economy, our infastructure, education, health care, even the treaties with the Indians and their problems. He's against NAFTA, which Hillary and Bill set into play -- and NAFTA leads to NWO. Will he get everything he wants? No. But it's a darn good start! And I have no doubt it won't be his fault if we don't get it all!

Fourth, to the nay-sayers who are soooo freakin' worried about his "Muslim" background or his name. Give it up, for God's sake!! I don't know what influence if any his Muslim background played in the formation of his opinions and beliefs. But he's not a terrorist!! Why do people continue to equate "Muslim" to "terrorist"? That's totally ignorant and biased, prejudiced, and narrow-minded. He is a Christian. But just give this some thought --- IF he had some exposure to Islam, then just maybe he might have a better understanding of their views and can help bring about peace in that part of the world. But if you're worried about his allegience to Israel, his words to the Haaretz,

"My view is that the United States' special relationship with Israel obligates us to be helpful to them in the search for credible partners with whom they can make peace, while also supporting Israel in defending itself against enemies sworn to its destruction."

Fifth, his name -- get real. All I know to say to that argument, or justification as to why he should not be the Democratic candidate because of his name, much less President, is to just say simply -- GROW UP!!! I suppose by that thinking, after this regime of George Bush, with all his war crimes, immeasurable blood on his hands, ruination of our country in every area imanginable -- by the mentality of a prejudice against names, then by all rights, the name "George" should never, ever be used again!!

Sixth -- last but not least,

HE CAN HANDILY BEAT McCAIN!! Hillary cannot!!

She is too devisive!! Even moderate Republicans and Independents are falling into Obama's camp. They would never line up behind Hillary. If McCain wins, we are truly doomed to more of the same. It is said that McCain will be in effect a 3rd term for Bush. Listen to his platform! He's full of praises to Bush and continuing on with everything Bush is doing. He even said he would like to keep Robert Gates on as Sec of Defense! McCain will only advance the ruination of this country that Bush has set into motion -- and might I had, has done a damn good job of it!
One thing that helped me make a comfortable move to Barack was his "Yes We Can" Speech that he gave when he won New Hampshire. What a speech it was! It should go down listed among the greatest speeches ever.

If you've never "really" listened to it, here it is. You owe it to yourself to spend 13 minutes and really listen!

America needs Barack Obama!
He is, indeed, this country's only hope --
at least in this election! We've deterorated so much now that I worry it can't be fully restored. But if things continue on the present course, we

WILL REACH THE POINT OF NO RETURN!

And PS -- in the event Edwards winds up endorsing HIllary, then I sure will be disappointed in him and will never support him again! In my mind, that would only mark him as a sell-out, just like the rest of them! I can only hope that his integrity will prevent him from succumbing to backroom deals.

Christmas Unwrapped - The History of Christmas

2007-12-30T00:12:00.000-06:00

Now that Christmas is over and leftovers are about gone, credit cards are maxed out, and all is left is taking down the decorations, it's a good time to watch this very interesting program from the History Channel about the history of Christmas. I saw it a few days before Christmas and wished I had recorded it. I thought to myself, everybody needs to see this! Fortunately YouTube has it! So, I highly, highly recommend you watch it. Unless you're really up on history, I think you'll be surprised at just how "recent" our "traditional" Christmas really is.

A Must See!

From The History Channel

Christmas Unwrapped
The History of Christmas

From Santa Claus to the Christmas Tree, this is an enchanting look at some of the most beloved holiday traditions.

People all over the world celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th. But why is the Savior's nativity marked by gift giving, and was He really born on that day? And just where did the Christmas tree come from?

Take an enchanting journey through the history of the world's favorite holiday to learn the origins of some of the Western World's most enduring traditions. Trace the emergence of Christmas from pagan festivals like the Roman Saturnalia, which celebrated the winter solstice. Learn how Prince Albert introduced the Christmas tree to the English speaking world in 1841. And discover how the patron saint of children was transformed into Jolly old Santa Claus by British settlers in the New World.

Come in from the cold for a Christmas celebration that has it all.

Part 1 of 5

Part 2 of 5

Part 3 of 5

Part 4 of 5

Part 5 of 5

ATT DSL does not give free webspace.

2007-10-20T13:52:00.001-05:00

THURSDAY OCT 18
I received my wireless modem Tuesday, and my account was turned on Wednesday, late in the day. Setting up the wireless modem was very easy, and programming my laptop was equally painless. However, I DID NOT sustain a download speed of 11 MB as the woman who signed me up damn near promised I would get! That was sheer B.S. I clocked at about 5400 KB as compared to Roadrunner when I would get 6800. But truth be told, I really can't tell a difference at all. So, I'm not upset over it. That's fine. I think the DSL will be more stable.

But Thursday I called to find that 20 gig of web space I would get free. I'll shorten this. After two hours of torturous transferring to six or seven different departments it was finally confirmed there is no 20 GB of free disk space. There is no 1 MB of free disk space for a web page. I could get 5 GB for 11.95! LIARS!!! There was no way I could get hold of "Eddie" again who was in billing and was in West Texas. The last woman I talked to the longest -- her name was Janice -- was fully aware of the horrendous experience I had had with getting the phone hooked up, and then being lied to about the web space, which, by the way, was the main reason I decided to go ahead and switch - anyway, Janice consulted with her supervisor and to appease me, she offered me a $5 credit a month for a year and then a one time $50 credit. Well, whatever.

So, that means that when it's all said and done, I'll actually make a little money off this, even though it put a few more gray hairs in my head. With my rebates and credits, It actually adds up to about $325, less the hundred I have to pay for the modem, gives me about $225 profit. Of course, it will take about four months before I get it all. Maybe I'll try to put it in my piggy bank as it comes in.

FRIDAY, OCT 20
I had found a site that offers free web hosting, called http://000webhost.org/ that I had signed up for. Now that I won't have Roadrunner anymore and ATT lied about having any free web hosting, I moved my web page there. It looks like it will be a satisfactory new home. I have reassigned my domain name, http://lumoto.com/; so hopefully it won't be too painful a transition. It's not that my web page is so awesome, but I had collected a lot of things on the Save South Park fight and I really didn't want to lose all that. 000web host offers 250 MB of space as opposed to Roadrunner's 4 MB. So, I guess I'll live. Monday I'll call Roadrunner to disconnect me.

(on edit - 12/14/08) I happened to notice this old blog and thought I should update this information for anyone who might stumble into this post -- 000webhost did not prove to be successful for me. Something happened I couldn't log in and they couldn't seem to get me logged in; told me best thing to do was to sign up again. So, I was forced to abandon it. I am now using godaddy's free web space that goes with the domain names I have with them. It's working out very well. They offer ample space, and I highly recommend it. Of course, you have to have a domain name to get it, but if you are going to have a web page, you will want to have that anyway. Otherwise, it's free. my page is http://lumoto.com

Supreme Court Gives Gore's Nobel to Bush - w/photo evidence :)

2007-10-15T19:28:00.000-05:00

From the Oct. 14 Borowitz Report
by Andy Borowitz
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Supreme Court Gives Gore’s Nobel to Bush
Stunning Reversal for Former Veep

Just days after former Vice President Al Gore received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts on global warming, the United States Supreme Court handed Mr. Gore a stunning reversal, stripping him of his Nobel and awarding it to President George W. Bush instead.

For Mr. Gore, who basked in the adulation of the Nobel committee and the world, the high court’s decision to give his prize to President Bush was a cruel twist of fate, to say the least.

But in a 5-4 decision, the justices made it clear that they had taken the unprecedented step of stripping Mr. Gore of his Nobel because President Bush deserved it more.

“It is true that Al Gore has done a lot of talking about global warming,” wrote Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the majority. “But President Bush has actually helped create global warming.....”

note: I photo manipulated a photo of Gore from Saturday Night Live, imposing the faces of Bush, Condi, Clarence Thomas and Anthony Scalia, as well as the Nobel Peace Price from other photos in Google Images.

ATT final chapters? Maybe not. DSL reconsidered

2007-10-12T15:46:00.000-05:00

I got my first bill from ATT. It was for $103.17! WHAT? Back on the phone, wait, hold, "This department can't help you. We have to get billing on the phone." geez.

Bottom line, they never cancelled the DSL portion of my bill. She made the adjustments, applied my $25 "we screwed up" credit, and I paid her $40.47.

She asked why I canceled DSL. I told her because I was worried about speed and because I couldn't get web space. I explained I tried to find that out one day, spent two hours on the phone, went through 6 departments and nobody knew, said there was no web space for a webpage.

She said she has the elete plan that I was going to get and because she is close to the terminal or whatever it is, she gets 11 MB speed Internet connection, even though they say 6 MB. She said I was the same distance as she is, and that I should get the same as she does. Wow! If that's right, that's really some smokin' speed! "Okay. Then what about the web page space?"

She put me on hold, came back, asked me to hold again, she wanted to verify and be absolutely sure, came back and said I would get 20 GB webspace! "That cannot be right," I said. You mean, 20 MB?"

"No," she says. "20 GB. I'm sure. I doublechecked. ATT wants you to be able to have a nice webpage!" Holy cow!!!

I really do not believe this!! But I decided to once again sign up. I will get my modem Monday. No techs this time. I can do it myself. She also explained I will not have to use my Linksys router for my laptop, that their modem will also serve as the wireless. That's a nice plus. They also provide free dial-up for emergencies.

I will have to pay about $100 for the modem, but it will be mine. I will get $50 back, but it might take a few weeks. I'll also get 3 months of Internet free. However, she says, the way that works is you pay for those months, then the 4th month you get the money back. I'll also get $50 back for the phone, but that, too, will take about 3 or 4 months! Kinda pathetic they make you wait so long, but whatever.

I do have to sign a contract for one year. However, I have 30 days to decide with no penalties. I can keep Roadrunner and just unplug/plug the prospective modems for comparison until I decide for sure which is better before I disconnect one or the other.

The DSL is a little cheaper than Roadrunner, but the ATT phone is more than Roadrunner. Between the two, I think my bill will be about the same, maybe $5 more or something. It shouldn't be much difference.

If she's right -- 11 MB speed and 20 GB webspace ----- well, we shall see!! I'll give it a chance. The modem should be here Monday, or possibly Tuesday.

ATT - final chapters, I hope

2007-10-12T15:12:00.000-05:00

Since I didn't blog on the appropriate days, here's the ensuing sequence of events)

(Friday, October 5)
The day arrives that the repair service promised they would be here. From 3:00 to 7:00 they say. At 6:30 I get a call from a recorded message, basically "We're sorry nobody showed up. But we'll get to you in the morning." OMG!!! "Press 0 for customer service." Poor guy in customer service! Unbelieveable!!! He assured me he would call me in the morning and let me know what time the repairman would be here. I cannot believe how horrible this whole thing has been. Today is the 4th day I've had to wait home for a scheduled appointment! This whole fiasco started on the 28th! But what can you do! I could go back to Roadrunner for my phone, but the VOIP is just not all that great yet. One more day then!! (sigh)
_______________________________________
(Saturday, October 6)

Believe it or not, I have my phone jacks all working! It was sort of a comedy of errors this morning.

My phone rang about 10:30. I had laid the phone handset down that I used last night on the night table (Radio Shack phone), next to the Motorola phone that was on the base. I was sleeping so hard I guess I fumbled with the RS phone or else I never hung it up properly, but I couldn't get it to answer. The answering machine was coming on. I grabbed the Motorola phone and said "Hello, hello" through the ans mach message but the guy hung up and immediately dialed my cell phone. My cell phone was in my office at the other end of the house. I jumped up and ran (well, stumbled very fast) to try to beat the voice mail cutting in, but didn't make it! Oh, no!!! Thank goodness for Caller ID!! I called him back and said "I'm here. I'm here!!"

My neighbor on the left had every parking space filled up with his cars, including my 2nd space. I saw him out and asked him to move one of them, and he did, said the car that's in my space he can't get running, so he moved the one next to that. I see ATT driving up and he passes me!! I'm frantically waving at him! He pulls in the drive two houses down on the right ???? I holler at him! "Hey, ATT!! Over here!!" So, he walks over. Why did he park over there???

He comes in to see where my lines are and, as as all good kitties do for us from time to time, Molly had left a hair ball right in front of the phone jack in my office (well, that was embarrassing).

He got his job done quickly (this was not the same guy as the one who came out Tuesday and hooked up the two lines - Dorman). He said there was a line there that was easily hooked up that took care of the office and the L.R. He had to do something else with the back room jack. Either Dorman was either making excuses (lied?) about the line being bad and that I would have to buy a new line for $130 or else he didn't know his job very well.

As soon as I get my phones moved back to their rightful places, I'm going to forget this nightmare!

_______________________________________
(Monday October 8)
Even though my phones are now all working, I decided to call the office and report that Dorman had not properly hooked me up, causing me to have to wait several more days, and to also report that again, the technician did not come out as promised. They actually gave me a $25 credit for the piss-poor way they handled my account. Needless to say, that's hardly a compensation for this nightmare, but I'll take it and run with it.

I called Roadrunner to find out about returning the modem I have. This one is for Internet and phone, and I was told I had to return it and get one that is only for Internet. But the office said, no, I could keep this one. My telephone account was disconnected, and I would no longer be billed. So, that's good -- don't have to go down there and wait in line.

Okay. Now, chapter closed!!

ATT v Roadrunner Saga -- Part 3

2007-10-03T18:57:00.000-05:00

Being stressed and tired from the ordeal Monday, I indulged in sleeping late and called ATT about 2:00 yesterday. I was somewhat over my rage and was able to talk a little more calmly since I at least have phone service. A young lady named Kim answered the phone. Hoping to continue where I left off and not have to start over explaining the situation, I asked for Lisa, the manager (she wasn't there), well, then how about Becky or Troy - they were there, but busy. Kim assured me she saw my file and knew what was going on.

So I explained to her about the phone jacks, that I had five working phone jacks when Roadrunner disconnected me last Friday. I explained that Dorman, the repairman who came out Monday, was rushed and told me he hooked up two lines only. He did not ask me how many phone jacks I had.

Kim had quickly reviewed the file and needed no further history of the problems I had had so far. She promised me I would have all my jacks working even if they had to run new lines. She called the technician/repair department and talked to one of their managers (I didn't get his name - slap me!) and brought him up to date. On three-way he told me somebody would be out Friday between 3:00 and 7:00 and not leave until all five of my jacks are working. Kim told me that if anything happens where I am mistakenly charged for anything, jacks, new wires, anything, to call back. She said there are plenty of people and plenty of documentation in my file to show that they had far too many screwups on my install and I would have no problem whatsoever getting it credited, if something showed up. Well, at least ATT now knows who I am!!

So, I have to admit, they are trying. The office crew has been nice enough. It's the guys in the field who seem to be the problem. Though Dorman, the repairman from Monday, was pleasant and I did not make any official complaints about him, in all reality, he did not do as he should have either. I should not have had to deal with a rushed install. He should have asked me how many jacks I had and made sure he had me back to my original layout of functioning jacks. But I guess sometimes compromise is the better part of valor. And even though it's pathetic to take this long, they're at least sticking with it till they get it right.

Of course now the weather is predicting rain Friday! GEEZ!! Well, we'll see how it goes.

I do think the phone quality is better than when Roadrunner was providing my connection. The volume of the sound I am receiving is much, much better. With RR I had the phone's volume turned up as high as it would go and still would have to strain to hear. The voice was usually muffled, as if talking into a towel or something. So, I would either have to ask for repeats or just miss things. My voice being sent would intermittently have an under-water sound, garbled and broken. VOIP is a great idea, and it is probably the communication of the future. It is cheaper. But the quality just isn't there yet. Besides, Roadrunner does have its problems with the Internet losing connection periodically, in which case the phone goes dead, as well. Having a lined phone will at least allow the ability to access the ancient mode of dial-up in case of dire emergencies.

So, next I'll need to search for a free dial-up service, if one even exists. But that will wait till I have the phone jack in my office working again. Maybe next week.

ATT saga continues

2007-10-01T22:04:00.000-05:00

After a frustrating weekend with no phone, several failed efforts to contact ATT over the weekend, Monday finally got here. I diligently set the alarm clock for 8:00 a.m., so I could be sure to call them early enough to get them out here today! That was no easy feat for me because I didn't go to sleep till after 4:00 a.m.! But I made the call - even before coffee. After listening to excruciating music for 20 minutes, I finally got to talk to a gal named Becky and explained what happened. Becky declares matter of factly that the repairman came back out Saturday morning at 8:15 and could not get access. I was livid! "I was asleep!! How was I supposed to know he was coming!"

I let her know with no uncertainty that that was totally unacceptable and I wanted his supervisor to know exactly what happened. She said she would tell her supervisor who would in turn tell his supervisor. I asked to speak to her supervisor, Lisa, myself. Both ladies apologized profusely, and Lisa assured me the technician's supervisor would hear about it. Becky then asked me if the correct number to call me is - and read off my home phone number!! I made conscious effort not to scream and said, "No, That's so silly!! That's the number that is not hooked up!!" grrr.. My patience level is really non-existent. The ladies both tried to be nice, but I didn't feel like making nice.

It will be probably after 12:00 they said. By 2:00 I called again. This time I talked to a young man, Troy. Troy was pleasant but said it wasn't ATT's policy to call before they come out, like that should explain things. I said no, it's not a matter of ATT policy at all! It's a matter of that man having some manners and consideration himself, as a human being! How hard would it be for him to have called Friday and said, "I can't make it this evening, but I will be out by 8:00 in the morning."

Finally at 4:30 (now two full days of waiting for them to show up and a screwed up weekend) the technician got here - Dorman I find out is his name. He said he didn't even need to come inside! So, that lame brained excuse about no access was a pile of b.s. Dorman said the man who never called had been complained about more than once for the same irresponsible behavior and he, Dorman, would personally see to it that the man's superintendent was informed via Dorman's superintendent, and then he gave me his boss' phone number.

After Dorman finished in the back at their box and was leaving, I checked my phone in my living room, and it did not work. He informed me that he hooked up two wires. He said there was a third wire that was bad and would give me static that he would hook up if I wanted him to. But to run a new wire, he said ATT would want $130!

Well, I had five working phone jacks when Roadrunner disconnected me last Friday morning. And now I only have two working phone jacks -- both at the far end of my house. That just won't do. So , this story isn't over yet. Tomorrow I have to call back and tell them I need my phone accessibility just as convenient as it was before. I'm now going on Day 5, counting my weekend, of total frustration trying to just achieve what should have been a simple task of getting phone service!

For what its worth, I do think the clarity of the voice is better than the VOIP with Roadrunner. Once these issues are worked out, if they ever are, I guess things will be better.

ATT vs ROADRUNNER PHONE SERVICE

2007-09-28T23:41:00.000-05:00

It's been a very long time since I've aired my Woes on this site. I won't go so far as to say life hasn't had its shares of woes over this past time period, but I've been preoccupied and pretty much rolled with what has come my way. But it's time to complain - at least a little bit.

Several months ago I chose to change my home telephone service from ATT to Roadrunner, both for the free long distance that it offered, as well as a cheaper phone bill. Usually Roadrunner is amenable with service calls and the like, and I do love my Roadrunner Internet connection. However, as it would happen, the quality of the voice transferral, both receiving and sending, suffered. No, not 100% of the time, but intermittently. Either I would hear a low volume, muffled voice or I would send a garbled, underwater sound out to the person I was trying to communicate with. Of course I would call RR and complain and they would be attentive and come out and check lines and connections, etc, but they never could fix it.

Then a new problem developed that I would lose Internet connection much more frequently than before. By frequently, I mean, maybe once or twice a month or something, sometimes for a few hours, sometime only minutes. Sometimes they had to reset my modem. Sometimes they told me to. Sometimes it would reset itself. They even gave me a new modem. But the problems persisted. The last time was for over six hours and their phone was out of service and I couldn't even call them. So, I had no phone, no Internet, and no way to reach them. So, in a fit of rage - albeit, panic, I called ATT. Moving from Cable to DSL gave me much consternation, but I was tired of not having consistent reliable connections. When the cable went, my phone went.

ATT explained it would take two weeks to set up the takeover of my accounts. Two weeks was the 24th. I received my modem from ATT, along with promises of two $50 rebates, 3 months of free phone, and a $50 Visa gift card. Geez!

They called me in a few days to say it would be the 28th because they didn't give Roadrunner all the correct info, and they had to start over. Um. Okay (is this a hint of what is to come?)

It dawned on me I would lose my RR web space of which I do utilize for my web page. I called ATT back to see if they had free web space available. I was put on hold. Finally I got a person as opposed to animation. The person didn't know. "Let me transfer you." Hold. Next department - well, you get the idea -- two hours and six departments later and still, nobody knew. The 6th department was literally the 1st department I started with! I'm growing less and less happy about this decision.

I asked around and decided I would be giving up too much Internet speed and opted to change just the phone to ATT and keep Roadrunner Internet. That was easy enough to change. ATT didn't give me a hard time, told me about the return label for the modem, and informed me I was losing all incentives since I wasn't getting the Internet. Well, okay. So be it. I didn't have those incentives to begin with.

Finally the 28th came. Roadrunner was prompt to disconnect my phone early in the morning. My appointment was for ATT to hook me up was 12:00 to 5:00. I think at least 4 times ATT had called over this period of two weeks' wait, leaving messages on my answering machine that they would be here on the 28th. Great! By the way, as if it mattered to ATT at all, the 28th just happens to be my birthday.

They weren't here by 2:00. This is Friday, mind you. I called ATT customer service with my cell since I now have no house phone, explaining I wanted to be sure the repairman would be coming because it was Friday. "Oh, yes, ma'am. You're next."

I called at 4:30. "Are you sure he is coming?" "Oh, yes, ma'am. It may take till 5:30 but he's coming. " "Here's my cell number." She assured me she gave it to him.

It reached midnight. He never came! He never called! If I ever do find out who "he" is, "he" will certainly get a piece of my mind!!

I called at 6:15 and got a recording that I have to call back during business hours. I tried to call technical support. Since I don't have an active account, the animation tells me I have to call back during business hours. There is no one to talk to -- only a machine!

So, here I sit, wondering what to do. I seriously am considering going back to Roadrunner's crappy VOIP and begging them to take me back; but the quality really is annoying! Either way I have to wait till Monday, set up a new appointment, wait around another whole day for a repairman who might or might not come. God help anybody who has phone problems on the weekend or after 5:00! Guess I best keep my cell phone charged and bill paid!

This ride turned out to be quite a bumpy one. But then why would I think it shouldn't have been. When do you ever deal with these companies and all go like clockwork.

Does all this explaining and complaining help? Well, maybe a little. At least I got it off my chest. Take a deep breath, and wait till Monday!

Maybe I'll tell you next about what Sears did to me about my car! It's a story of equal frustration.

Gulf of Mexico "Dead Zone (Hypoxia) is growing

2007-07-17T20:13:00.000-05:00

Along with so many of our environmental problems, this is one more that seems quite alarming and troubling, not only for the fishermen but also the big picture of our ecosystem. Since I didn't know about it, I'm assuming maybe some of you didn't either.

07/17/2007
Gulf 'dead zone' is growing, researchers say
By Beth Gallaspy, The Enterprise

Researchers this week expect to find the largest "dead zone" of oxygen-depleted water in the Gulf of Mexico since they started measuring more than two decades ago.

Based on the amount of nitrogen flowing into the Gulf this spring from the Mississippi River, Nancy Rabalais predicts a dead zone covering about 8,543 square miles, larger than the state of Massachusetts.

Rabalais, executive director of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, has studied the Gulf dead zone, known scientifically as the hypoxic zone, since 1985.

Hypoxia in the Gulf means an area with less than 2 milligrams per liter of dissolved oxygen.

High nitrogen levels are the major factor in formation of a swath of low-oxygen bottom waters nearly devoid of marine life off the coast of Louisiana, sometimes reaching into Texas. This year, nitrogen levels are above the long-term average and above last year's level, even though the amount of water discharged from the Mississippi River basin is below average, Rabalais saidThe reason for the excess nitrogen is anyone's guess.

"It could be related to agricultural practices. It could be a climatic factor in the watershed," Rabalais said. Increased corn plantings as an alternative fuel source could have some impact, but it is too early to track a trend there, she said.

Researchers will begin measuring dissolved oxygen levels and taking other samples at the mouth of the Mississippi River on Friday and work their way west, covering as large an area as possible in eight days.

If the size prediction holds true, this year's dead zone would top the previous high of 8,500 square miles in 2002. Last year, it measured 6,662 square miles.

A separate survey by the NOAA research vessel Oregon II last month found areas of hypoxia off the Texas coast about 40 miles south of High Island and hugging the coastline from the western end of Galveston Island to Matagorda Bay.

The trip was cut short by mechanical problems before NOAA was able to look at the area off Sabine Pass and the Louisiana coast. That leg is scheduled to resume next week after repairs are complete.

Nelson May, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration physical scientist, said the main focus of the NOAA survey is the fishery, but other environmental data such as low oxygen are collected as well.

The effect of the lack of oxygen on the fishery is dramatic, May said. Sometimes nets in a hypoxic zone will find fish, but often they come up empty, May said.

"On other occasions, you can see the crabs swimming on the surface, trying to get out of it," he said.

"You definitely don't see any shrimpers in the hypoxic zone. They've got that figured out," May said. Rabalais said it's hard to pinpoint the long-term impact of the low-oxygen areas on the fishery. In the short term, people still are catching fish and shrimp, but it has become more difficult.

"Livelihoods are being affected because they aren't going as much or they're having to go out farther," she said.

For some, it's no longer worth it, "especially compared to the cost of fuel and competition from cheap imports."

bgallaspy@beaumontenterprise.com(409) 880-0726

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18593146&amp;amp;BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=6

Please visit these sites for more info:
http://www.gulfhypoxia.net/

http://www.ncddc.noaa.gov/ecosystems/hypoxia

Tribute to Lady Bird Johnson

2007-07-13T23:14:00.000-05:00

I actually was privileged enough to shake this lady's hand one time in the early Sixties, before she was First Lady. She was visiting in Beaumont and spoke at the Lamar College (it wasn't a university then). She was very lovely with the warmest smile you ever saw, and a hearty Texas sized handshake. Here's my humble tribute to a lady I have much admiration for:

590 KLBJ NEWS RADIO - Austin
Thousands Flock to View Lady Bird Johnson

7/13/2007 Newsroom

Thousands line up outside the L-B-J Library to pay their final respects to Lady Bird Johnson. Among them, former state senator Gonzalo Barrientos. "They made a real difference," Barrientos says, "and changed the world, literally." He says, were it not for President and Mrs. Johnson and "War on Poverty" programs, like VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), it would have been harder for him to go into public service. Others come to pay tribute to the former First Lady's grace, her love of the environment and her stands on Civil Rights. "She was a great lady," one woman waiting in line says. "She had a good sense of history." "Her love of nature is my main memory," one man waiting since about 10:00 am today says. Rick Scott and his family were vacationing from Eldorado, Kansas, when they heard of Mrs. Johnson's passing. "We went through Johnson City and Fredericksburg yesterday," Scott says. "Growing up in the 60s, we just felt we should be a part of this." Mrs. Johnson's body lies in repose in the Library's Great Hall, and the public is invited to pay their tributes all night and into tomorrow morning.

Thank you, Lady Bird!!!

Rest in Peace

Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Taylor Johnson

(Dec 22, 1912 – July 11, 2007)

Rare Bottlenose Dolphin sighted from Cameron Ferry

2007-07-10T14:35:00.000-05:00

A couple of days ago there was an article about a rare pink dolphin seen from the Cameron, Louisiana, ferry. Cameron is only about 65 miles east/southeast from here. One day ( 4/24/04 to be exact!) Mom and I rode over that ferry when we were out taking pictures. We had followed the coast line up and stumbled into it - didn't even know it was there. The whole area was very desolate and the weather was rainy and cold and nasty, but we were out anyway. Rather than turning back, we opted to cross over the ferry and drive even more long desolate road up to Lake Charles, hit I-10 and then head west to get back home. There was precious little to take pictures of, and what I did get was pretty boring.
Here's one of my famous through-the-windshield shots for illustration lest I have nothing of my own in this post! :

Anyway, when I looked on the Enterprise website for the article and found it, I saw there was a link to this slideshow of the wildlife from the ferry. This really makes me want to go back!! I didn't even know there were dolphins in this part of the country -- much less such a rare one!! (these pictures according to the site, were taken on July 7th, so they're brand new! Mark Hancock, photographer)

Cameron Ferry photo gallery slideshow

Here's the article, too, if you're interested:
Albino dolphin spied around Calcasieu Lake

Even though these aren't mine, it's at least in my general neighborhood and I thought it worthy of sharing!!

Profile picture won't stay put...

2007-06-18T12:44:00.000-05:00

For some reason I keep losing my profile picture. I follow the instructions, and it will appear, then I go back and delete the message I inserted the picture; and all is fine, till later and I go back and I'm gone again. So, this time, I'm leaving the picture in a message. Hopefully, I can start blogging more and it will roll off eventually. So, if this looks lame, then I'm very sorry.

CONGRATULATIONS, JOHN!!

2007-05-03T16:02:00.000-05:00

My son John just competed law school, took the
Texas Bar Exam in Austin, and has been awaiting the
results -- today they were posted...

CONGRATULATIONS, JOHN!!!

Texas Board of Law Examiners

Examinees who passed the

February 2007

Texas Bar Examination

...
Scivetti,,Jodie Elizabeth,Feaster, ,1269

Scoggins-Gamez, Nora Yvette, , ,1090

Sears,Shannon Marlene, , ,1979

Shahan,Brian McClure, , ,2106

Sharp, John Edward, , ,2166

Shaw,John Weldon, , ,1209

Shen,Jian, , ,1557

Shepherd,Joshua Lee, , ,2176

Shepherd,Phillip Warren, ,Jr.,1067

http://ble.state.tx.us/

Buy South Park High School T-Shirts Here

2007-04-16T11:40:00.000-05:00

We are still fighting the local school district to save our
South Park School with petition drives and addressing school board
and city council meetings, writing letters, and getting some media
coverage. Please visit http://lumoto.com/southpark
for more information.

We now have T-shirts available.
________________________
Buy South Park

T-Shirts Here

(click each thumb for

full
view)

click >>>here<<<

for price list
and order form

_____________Thank You!!!______________

SAVE SOUTH PARK

2007-03-11T14:08:00.000-05:00

I have not been posting much here, other than the occasional political post concerning National events, but I now want to shift gears a little bit -- well, a lot -- and focus on some local issue that has gotten my full attention. Rarely, if ever, have been too concerned with local politics. But now, it seems the school district is wanting to pass a very huge bond issue to revamp, remodel, repair, and rebuild schools around the city. Of these proposals, one is hitting very near and dear to my heart, South Park High School -- well, it's my alma mater. Sadly, it's now being used as a middle school.

Among their considerations, they have found it in their wisdom that perhaps tearing down that wonderful historical building might be in their best interest -- not tearing it down, then maybe closing it, abandoning it.

I have started my own letter writing campaign, but many, many other ex-students, alumni, people in the community have been making a loud outcry in opposition to to these options through their own letter writing and we've launched a petition drive which is going quite well.

This school building has been around since 1922, and the South Park school system was begun in 1915. This particular building was also the birthplace of our local Lamar University. Few if anyone is alive today who can remember when South Park did not exist or remember its beginnings. She even is adorned by a Texas Historical Marker, which to protect her from demolition, she must bear a National Historical marker, which we will be pursuing that avenue, as well.

But besides all that, the school is and has been a backbone of the community which has suffered immeasurably since it was deprived of a K-12 school system since 1986. Lots of politics involved in this whole issue that I won't go into now.

I have started a webpage, http://home.gt.rr.com/lumoto/southpark which leads to a printable, downloadable petition with an address to mail it to (you do not have to be a city resident to sign the petition or a SP graduate, only concerned), pictures of the school and around the neighborhood, YouTubes of News Broadcasts, letters written by me and fellow "Greenies," South Park alumni, short articles of history of the community and the school, and other related links.

Among those links is http://southparkgreenies.com/, an Alumni Association site where all "Greenies" are encouraged to register, post pictures, news, find old friends, and even see who has passed away.

Also, KFDM, a local TV station has a forum where at present three active threads are dealing with this issue:

Save South Park (started by me)

BISD Bond Issue (general discussion, but I started SP concerns at pg 6)

BISD Bond Plan Threatens Historical South Park School

If you have any interest in South Park, the school, the community, or even Beaumont as a city, please visit these sites. While you're at it, leave me a note here or email me at lumoto@msn.com. I'd love to hear from you.

The Greenie Fight Never Dies

Go Greenies!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, FOLKS!

2006-12-08T15:53:00.000-06:00

My most sincere wishes to everyone for a most happy and wondrous Christmas and most certainly peace in the New Year!!

What's Going On?

2006-11-21T00:01:00.000-06:00

Do things really change?
Something to ponder...

THEN...

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (1971)

and NOW...

Bono,Nelly, Monica, Destiny's Child, Usher, Nelly Furtado, Christina Aguilera
What's going on?

Touch Screen Voting v Paper Ballot - WARNING!

2006-10-27T18:14:00.000-05:00

BE AWARE!
MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE COUNTS OR
WE WILL LOSE THIS ELECTION!

IF YOU CAN HAVE A PAPER BALLOT
GET ONE!!

Texas allows early voting, which I did yesterday. They had in place the touch screen machines to which I complained to the attendant. He acknowledged the complaint, sympathized, but that was about it. I had other issues that were pertinent to my RELOCATED, remote, hard to find, nobody knows where it is voting location but that's another story (see footnote).

When I returned home, I called the County Commissioner, and the Democratic Party. In discussing my complaint to the Dem Party official, I mentioned my distrust of the touch screen machine; to which he replied I could have asked for a PAPER BALLOT!

Why isn't that common knowledge! I told him I had never heard that and that if that is a fact, then the attendants should offer the voters a choice when they sign in. There should be paper ballots on the tables! The attendant did not offer me that option -- and he was definitely sympathetic to the cause of voter fraud and everything else because we chatted. I seriously doubt he knew it himself! Did YOU know you can ask for a paper ballot??

I also was told by the same Dem official that in the only three days of early voting there has already been a couple of straight Dem votes that came up on the machine as a straight Republican vote! That point was also in a newspaper article in our localBEAUMONT ENTERPRISE however it was brushed off as "insignificant" error on the part of the voter. (please see footnote)

IF YOU CAN HAVE A PAPER BALLOT
GET ONE!!

If you are not familiar with the fallacies of these crooked machines, please, you owe it to yourself to learn NOW. View the video "Steal an Election with a Dibold Machine in One Minute" contained as a comment in my blog
UPCOMING ELECTIONS - A WARNING

BE AWARE!
MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE COUNTS OR
WE WILL LOSE THIS ELECTION!

FOOTNOTE RELATED TO THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE:

Just to point out, note how they play down the event -- bumped it with a fingernail or whatever crap -- and the article leaves it sounding like no big deal -- right-wing tilted freakin' paper!

Also, they're saying such a good turnout so far -- well, not at my hidden Elmira Street location! Attendant said hardly anybody was showing up. Article didn't even mention that location. And interestingly enough, this is the location that a large portion of the black population will use.

Also, NOBODY is saying -- this article either -- that you have an option to use paper ballots! That's a crock not to tell that valuable piece of information!

Also, it was proved in that Princeton video that these machines will even show the desired candidates checked on review screen and still record the vote however it damn well wants to record it.

The privacy issue, nobody was there anyway when I was there, but I did think about the attendant wasn't far from me and noticed how "out in the open" you are - no curtains - machines set side by side in rows - but since nobody was there, I didn't really focus on it or make it an issue. But those who complained in the article are right. There is no real privacy in voting, other than trusting people will just not be standing over your shoulder to see what you're doing.

DAMN IT!!! IF YOU CAN HAVE A PAPER BALLOT
GET ONE!!

BE AWARE!
MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE COUNTS OR
WE WILL LOSE THIS ELECTION!

Don't Mess with Texas - Trans-Texas Corridor: IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY!

2006-10-25T11:26:00.000-05:00

Now, this just makes me proud to be a Texan! Well, I am anyway, but I'm speaking "politically minded" as I seem to be running upstream to my Texas neighbors. So, this is refreshing that there's hope for this state yet! Seriously, this is critical for the whole country, not just Texas. This government has become far too powerful, no checks and balanaces, no opposition when everything we've fought and died for over the past 200 years is being taken away! Let's hope these ol' boys are right!

The North American Union NAFTA Super-Highway, which is taking form first through the Trans-Texas Corridor, is a massive land-grab, with plans to seize over 1 million acres in Texas alone through eminent domaign. This has candidates like Texas Democrats Hank Gilbert (running for Commissioner of Agriculture) and David Van Os (running for Attorney General in Texas) up in arms and discussing the possibility of an armed populist revolution in response to the North American Union's sovereignty-seizing actions.

RS REDSTATE

Rick Perry's Highway to Hell

by George H. Russell

Texas Governor Rick Perry is so blindly and stupidly obsessed with his Trans-Texas Corridor boondoggle that he apparently doesn't realize that he is playing into the hands of America's enemies by creating a target for terrorists so large that it would be visible from the moon.

Just think how strategically dimwitted it is to place all of our eggs in one big oversized basket. A single strike against this "Highway to Hell" could knock out our electrical power grid, as well as our natural gas, oil, and water supply systems, and all forms of ground transportation.

It is sheer insanity to build 4,000 miles of highways at a time when the planet is running out of fossil fuels, and burning what is left at an even faster pace. This detrimental situation contributes to global warming and ecological disaster, which boggles the minds of intelligent people.

Only one part of Perry's feebleminded plan makes any sense at all and that is the high-speed rail aspect. At 200 miles per hour, people and goods can be moved between major urban areas in less time and at much less expense than traveling by automobile or even by air. The pollution level would be only a fraction of that caused by millions of cars and overloaded diesel trucks.

An elevated high-speed rail network with dual tracks could easily be built on a hundred foot wide right-of-way, rather than Perry's 1,200 foot wide gashes across Texas. Perry's plan would sever hundreds of rural county roads, divide farms and ranches, fragment forests, destroy wetlands, and cause widespread environmental damage so severe that the quality of life of all Texans would be negatively impacted.

Half a million acres of Texas would be permanently destroyed so that Perry's overblown ego can be stroked to his satisfaction. Billions of dollars would migrate out of Texas to bank vaults in Spain. The Spanish would then have our own dollars with which to purchase and take control of our factories, farms, and industries. Perry would trade the basic wealth of Texas in order to satisfy his obvious megalomania.

Hundreds of rural families whose lives would be disrupted, and in many cases destroyed, would resort to alcohol and drugs in an attempt to cope with the inevitable depression that could lead to suicide. In my opinion, their blood would be on Perry's hands, and all of the scrubbing in the world could never wash it off.

Much more innocent blood would also be spilled if Perry's dream, which is our nightmare, comes to pass. No terrapin, deer, rabbit, armadillo, fox, beaver, river otter, frog, toad, or any other member of Texas' wildlife population could ever successfully cross a 1,200 foot wide series of highways and ground level train tracks. The road kill slaughter would be horrendous. Eventually, it would virtually depopulate millions of acres of rural Texas of its wildlife.

An elevated high-speed rail system would impact only around 45,000 acres rather than twelve times that amount. In addition, the environmental degradation would be only a tiny fraction of what Perry's scheme would cause. Animals, farmer, ranchers, hikers, hunters and vehicles could all pass safely beneath the elevated railways at almost any point along the course of the lines.

Farms and ranches would not be fragmented, rural county roads would not be cut and blocked, and life for the residents of Texas could go on relatively undisturbed as multitudes of passengers and tons of freight stream past at 200 miles per hour. In addition to the millions of animals that would not become road kill, the lives of hundreds of Texans who are killed each year by inefficient, and dangerous fuel-guzzling 18-wheelers would be saved.

If I were Osama Bin Laden or another terrorist leader, I would hang portraits of Rick Perry on the walls of my cave and thank Allah five times a day at prayer that Texas is being led down the primrose path by a dupe of the enemies of America.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it were discovered that some of the money being poured into Perry's campaign coffers by promoters of the "Highway to Hell" originated in Iraq, Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan.

George H. Russell [send him email] an outspoken opponent of the death penalty, is a resident of Hunstville, Texas, which is known worldwide as "The City of Death." His work can be found at http://www.patriotnetwork.org/ and http://www.salvationnetwork.org/ George is a columnist at www.populistamerica.com.

WFAA.com

Dallas/Fort Worth [ Channel 8

Trans-Texas Corridor hot issue in governor's race

08:18 PM CDT on Tuesday, October 17, 2006

By BRAD WATSON / WFAA-TV

Farmers and ranchers flocked to the Capitol in May 2005 to protest Gov. Rick Perry's Trans-Texas Corridor, which they say is gobbling up their property.

File/AP Farmers and ranchers flocked to the Capitol in May 2005 to protest Gov. Rick Perry's Trans-Texas Corridor, which they say is gobbling up their property.

The governor's race is becoming a referendum on the Trans-Texas Corridor toll road.

Republican incumbent Gov. Rick Perry supports the TTC that would parallel Interstate 35 from Laredo to Oklahoma.

However, it could gobble up 81,000 acres of rural land according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Also, a large chunk of the land used would be in North Texas.

Lance Haynes, a Republican, said he wonders if his family's 68 acres in rural Collin County might be covered in concrete in the near future.

The land lies within the path where the state could route the TTC and he's worried.

"It has the potential to completely wipe out everything that our family has here," he said.

With population and traffic congestion growing in Texas and funds tight, Perry said the TTC is the quickest answer.

"We must build more roads and we must build infrastructure that works safely, thoughtfully and that's economically viable," he said.

While wide open spaces separate the landowners in the path of the TTC, they are very much together in opposing it and have lots of company. The Texas Farm Bureau, and even the Texas Republican Party, is against the TTC.

Perry's opponents, Democrat Chris Bell and Independents Kinky Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn, are also adversaries of the plan.

Strayhorn attended many of the public hearing on the TTC over the summer.

"They are literally cramming toll roads down Texans' throats; and the people don't want it," she said.

A TexDOT video explains that a private company would finance and build the corridor in return for collecting tolls for 50 years.

Cintra-Zachry, mostly owned by a Spanish company, is designing the TTC and will bid to build it.

"If someone has a better plan bring it to the hearings," Perry has responded to the criticism.

But opponents, partially financed by Strayhorn, made a web video as well that lampoons the TTC and Perry.

Perry, whose hometown of Paint Creek is north of Abilene, said he is listening.

"I'm sensitive to those landowners," he said. "I come from a very rural area."

But many rural voters deeply disagree.

"But doing it in a manner that disregards the concerns of local government and citizens, I can't endorse that," Haynes said on Perry's position.

E-mail bwatson@wfaa.com

Brad Watson reports

Trans-Texas Corridor: Keep Texas Moving

Trans-Texas Corridor Watch

Anti Trans-Texas Corridor Video

More Texas Politics

Please visit HTTP://STOPPERRY.COM

http://www.texastollparty.com/tv_ad.php

to view the campaign ad video to oppose GOV RICK PERRY

Saturday (Bush) cartoons!!

2006-10-21T12:27:00.000-05:00

We've Been Sold Out

2006-10-18T12:54:00.000-05:00

Bush signs
terror interrogation law
MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT
HR 6166

Listen to Jonathan Turley - Constitutional Law Professor at George Washington Univ explain what deep trouble this means for our country and us as individuals -- not just the "terrorists"! This is so monumentally serious to our rights! How can we make people understand the horrors that have become reality!

Warning: Graphic! Not suited for underage or sensitive viewers!

Who voted to violate the Constitution and their oath of office?

The Day America Died

The following congressmen voted for the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (a.k.a. The Detainee Bill, a.k.a. The Torture Bill, a.k.a. The Death of the Great Writ of Habeas Corpus):

REPUBLICANS (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES)

Robert Aderholt, Todd Akin, Rodney Alexander, Spencer Bachus, Richard Baker, J. Barrett, Joe Barton, Charles Bass, Bob Beauprez, Judith Biggert, Brian Bilbray, Michael Bilirakis, Rob Bishop, Marsha Blackburn, Roy Blunt, Sherwood Boehlert, John Boehner, Henry Bonilla, Jo Bonner, Mary Bono, John Boozman, Charles Boustany, Jeb Bradley, Kevin Brady, Henry Brown, Ginny Brown-Waite, Dan Burton, Steve Buyer, Ken Calvert, Dave Camp, John Campbell, Chris Cannon, Eric Cantor, Shelley Moore Capito, John Carter, Steve Chabot, Chris Chocola, Howard Coble, Tom Cole, Michael Conaway, Ander Crenshaw, Barbara Cubin, John Culberson, Tom Davis, Jo Ann Davis, Geoff Davis, Nathan Deal, Charles Dent, Mario Diaz-Balart, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, John Doolittle, Thelma Drake, David Dreier, John 'Jimmy' Duncan, Vernon Ehlers, Jo Ann Emerson, Philip English, Terry Everett, Tom Feeney, Mike Ferguson, Michael Fitzpatrick, Jeff Flake , Randy Forbes, Jeff Fortenberry, Vito Fossella, Virginia Foxx, Trent Franks , Rodney Frelinghuysen, Elton Gallegly, Scott Garrett, Jim Gerlach, Jim Gibbons, Paul Gillmor, Phil Gingrey, Louie Gohmert, Virgil Goode, Bob Goodlatte, Kay Granger, Sam Graves, Mark Green, Gilbert Gutknecht, Ralph Hall, Katherine Harris, Melissa Hart, Doc Hastings, Robin Hayes, J.D. Hayworth , Joel Hefley, Jeb Hensarling, Wally Herger, David Hobson, Peter Hoekstra, John Hostettler, Kenny Hulshof, Duncan Hunter, Henry Hyde, Bob Inglis, Darrell Issa, Ernest Istook, William Jenkins, Bobby Jindal, Tim Johnson, Nancy Johnson, Sam Johnson, Ric Keller, Sue Kelly, Mark Kennedy, Peter King, Steve King, Jack Kingston, Mark Kirk, John Kline, Joe Knollenberg, Jim Kolbe , Randy Kuhl, Ray LaHood, Tom Latham, Ron Lewis, Jerry Lewis, John Linder, Frank LoBiondo, Frank Lucas, Daniel Lungren, Connie Mack, Donald Manzullo, Kenny Marchant, Michael McCaul, Thad McCotter, Jim McCrery, Patrick McHenry, John McHugh, Buck McKeon, Cathy McMorris, John Mica, Candice Miller, Jeff Miller, Gary Miller, Tim Murphy, Marilyn Musgrave, Sue Myrick, Randy Neugebauer, Anne Northup, Charles Norwood, Devin Nunes, Jim Nussle, Tom Osborne, Butch Otter, Michael Oxley, Stevan Pearce, Mike Pence, John Peterson, Thomas Petri, Chip Pickering, Joe Pitts, Todd Platts, Ted Poe, Richard Pombo, Jon Porter, Tom Price, Deborah Pryce, Adam Putnam, George Radanovich, Jim Ramstad, Ralph Regula, Dennis Rehberg, David Reichert, Rick Renzi , Thomas Reynolds, Mike Rogers, Mike Rogers, Hal Rogers, Dana Rohrabacher, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Edward Royce, Paul Ryan, Jim Ryun, Jim Saxton, Jean Schmidt, Joe Schwarz, Jim Sensenbrenner, Pete Sessions, John Shadegg , Clay Shaw, Christopher Shays, Don Sherwood, John Shimkus, Bill Shuster, Rob Simmons, Michael Simpson, Christopher Smith, Lamar Smith, Michael Sodrel, Mark Souder, Cliff Stearns, John Sullivan, John Sweeney, Tom Tancredo, Charles Taylor, Lee Terry, Bill Thomas, Mac Thornberry, Todd Tiahrt, Pat Tiberi, Michael Turner, Fred Upton, Greg Walden, James Walsh, Zachary Wamp, Curt Weldon, Dave Weldon, Jerry Weller, Lynn Westmoreland, Ed Whitfield, Roger Wicker, Heather Wilson, Frank Wolf, Bill Young, Don Young

DEMOCRATS (HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES)

Robert Andrews, John Barrow, Melissa Bean, Sanford Bishop, Dan Boren, Leonard Boswell, Allen Boyd, Sherrod Brown, Ben Chandler, Bud Cramer, Henry Cuellar, Lincoln Davis, Artur Davis, Chet Edwards, Bob Etheridge, Harold Ford, Bart Gordon, Stephanie Herseth, Brian Higgins, Tim Holden, Jim Marshall, Jim Matheson, Mike McIntyre, Dennis Moore, Collin Peterson, Earl Pomeroy, Mike Ross, John Salazar, David Scott, John Spratt, John Tanner, Gene Taylor

REPUBLICANS (SENATE)

Lamar Alexander, Wayne Allard, George Allen, Robert Bennett, Kit Bond, Sam Brownback, Jim Bunning, Conrad Burns, Richard Burr, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, Thad Cochran, Norm Coleman, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Michael Crapo, Jim DeMint, Mike DeWine, Elizabeth Dole, Pete Domenici, John Ensign, Michael Enzi, Bill Frist, Lindsey Graham, Charles Grassley, Judd Gregg, Chuck Hagel, Orrin Hatch, Kay Bailey Hutchison, James Inhofe, Johnny Isakson, Jon Kyl , Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, Mel Martinez, John McCain , Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, Pat Roberts, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, Gordon Smith, Arlen Specter, Ted Stevens, John Sununu, Jim Talent, Craig Thomas, John Thune, David Vitter, George Voinovich, John Warner

DEMOCRATS (SENATE)

Thomas Carper, Tim Johnson, Mary Landrieu, Frank Lautenberg, Joseph Lieberman, Robert Menéndez, Bill Nelson, Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor, Jay Rockefeller, Kenneth Salazar, Debbie Stabenow

PLEASE BE SURE TO VOTE!

Let's just hope that this election isn't stolen; because otherwise, what's left -- a full-blown, bonefide revolution?

Steal an election with Diebold machine in one minute.

You can download this video, as well as two other videos chronicling the detailed test voting at:
http://itpolicy.princeton.edu/voting/videos.html

Please visit
UPCOMING ELECTIONS - A WARNING

IN GOD WE STILL TRUST

2006-09-21T14:13:00.000-05:00

What a beautiful thought - that I for one want to always hold in mind. For God's sake - literally -- please to do not let these radicals as portrayed in the Jesus Camps -- or the war mongers, bigoted, racial hate extremists who tout themselves as "Christians" make you think it's Jesus who is to blame. God still stands for love, tolerance, patience, kindness, forgiveness, giving, joy and let's certainly not leave out peace!

I've been wanting to make a blog about this for some time, and this video coming out in the bulletins at the same time as the "Jesus Camps" (view below) was the inspiration to get me to do it. These Jesus camps are really scary -- but they are cultish -- remember that!! Sadly too many NUTS in this world use Christianity to make outrageous and reprehensible attempts at trying to legitimize the spread of their dangerous poisons.

So, don't be fooled, swayed, or disheartened. Indeed, we are well advised to remember,

In God we still trust!

"Jesus" Camps

LEBANON

2006-07-19T13:23:00.000-05:00

Since I'm a Christian, and I am fully aware that some "Christians" have the mind-set of "Stand with Israel no matter what" I wonder if it will be okay to pray for Lebanon! Well, I most certainly will, and I do!! I'm so tired of people who take the attitude that anything Israel does is just fne and dandy. I know what the Bible says about Israel is God's chosen people and to stand with Israel. I also know that Israel disappoined God time and again. Do we stand with a child who commits murder? Does it mean you have to agree with it? Does the fact that His plan for Israel is unique in His plan from that of the Gentiles mean that anything goes, that it gives them a carte blanche license to oppress, destroy, ravage innocent people with apparently no restraints at any provocation?

I admit, I haven't followed every step of this conflict with a full recall of this side did this, that side did that -- but what is so disturbing is the blatant disregard for the innocent, and our country is backing them. Why? -- simply because they're Israel? No, I don't understand. And please don't try to explain it to me. I'd rather have my humanity than somebody's personal interpretation of "what it all means." I know what "MY" Bible teaches about loving, and living in unity, to strive for peace and respecting life. Why is that people can't read those Scriptures, as well, as the ones that suit their needs to reek vengence or oppression on others.

Yes, I'm a Christian. But I'm not the kind of Christian that will allow radical fundamentalists who distort their own faith base to suit their needs, pull Scriptures from their context to justify prejudices, hate, and cruelty and exclude the commands and even promises, the examples in deed and parables that set forth before them tolerances of all people. I saw some pictures of Israeli children signing "love notes" on the bombs to be sent to Lebanon. And "we" cheer that on! How freakin' sad and pathetic is that!! As I pray for Lebanon, I'll also pray that these misguided people will discard their hearts of stone and find the love that the God I know is.

Say what you wish if you wish, but I will not get into a debate that Israel is the "good guy" or is only "defending itself."

Addendum: Added July 20, 2006, at 3:37 p.m.

Here are the pictures I referred to of the Israeli children writing love notes on the bombs.

Israeli girls write messages on a shell at a heavy artillery position near Kiryat Shmona, in northern Israel, next to the Lebanese border, Monday, July 17, 2006. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)...

Lebanese Children Receive them ---

and "we" criticize "them" for teaching their
children to hate! And "we" raise our hands in church every Sunday thinking how pious "we" are.

How can so-called "Christians" be so blind in their own hypocracy. This brainwashed mind-set gives Christianity a bad name.

AMERICA'S BLIND SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL

ADDENDUM: posted Jul 23, 2006:

What a tragedy. Now we have Iraq destroyed and are instrumental in the destruction of Lebanon. How many lives are destroyed or lost!!!

It's a SAD SAD TALE....

2006-06-11T08:38:00.000-05:00

I am not the author of this enlightened document -- only received it through cyberspace and am reposting, as I would beg you to do to spread the word; But if this doesn't wake up some people who seem to continually stay blinded to what's happening to this country, then I don't see where there's much hope. I know it's a little long, but at least skim through it and get the idea!

Sorry for this more "graphic" illustrative photo, but it's just too appropriate to not use it!

RESUME
GEORGE W. BUSH
1600 Pennsylvania AvenueWashington, DC 20520

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

LAW ENFORCEMENT

I was arrested in Kennebunkport, Maine, in 1976 for driving under the influence of alcohol. I pled guilty, paid a fine, and had my driver's license suspended for 30 days. My Texas driving record has been "lost" and is not available.

MILITARY

I joined the Texas Air National Guard and went AWOL. I refused to take a drug test or answer any questions about my drug use. By joining the Texas Air National Guard, I was able to avoid combat duty in Vietnam.

COLLEGE

I graduated from Yale University with a low C average. I was a cheerleader.

PAST WORK EXPERIENCE

I ran for U.S. Congress and lost. I began my career in the oil business in Midland, Texas, in 1975. I bought an oil company, but couldn't find any oil in Texas. The company went bankrupt shortly after I sold all my stock.
I bought the Texas Rangers baseball team in a sweetheart deal that took land using taxpayer money. With the help of my father and our friends in the oil industry, including Enron CEO Ken Lay, I was elected governor of Texas.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS GOVERNOR OF TEXAS

I changed Texas pollution laws to favor power and oil companies, making Texas the most polluted state in the Union. During my tenure, Houston replaced Los Angeles as the most smog-ridden city in merica. I cut taxes and bankrupted the Texas treasury to the tune of billions in borrowed money. I set the record for the most executions by any governor in American history. With the help of my brother, the governor of Florida, and my father's appointments to the Supreme Court, I became President after losing by over 500,000 votes.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PRESIDENT

I am the first President in U.S. history to enter office with a criminal record. I invaded and occupied two countries at a continuing cost of over one billion dollars per week. I spent the U.S. surplus and effectively bankrupted the U.S. Treasury. I shattered the record for the largest annual deficit in U.S. history. I set an economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any 12-month period. I set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12-month period. I set the all-time record for the biggest drop in the history of the U.S. stock market.

In my first year in office, over 2 million Americans lost their jobs and that trend continues every month.

I'm proud that the members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in U.S. history. My "poorest millionaire," Condoleeza Rice, had a Chevron oil tanker named after her. I set the record for most campaign fund-raising trips by a U.S. President. I am the all-time U.S. and world record-holder for receiving the most corporate campaign donations. My largest lifetime campaign contributor, and one of my best friends, Kenneth Lay, presided over the largest corporate bankruptcy fraud in U.S. History, Enron.

My political party used Enron private jets and corporate attorneys to assure my success with the U.S. Supreme Court during my election decision. I have protected my friends at Enron and Halliburton against investigation or prosecution. More time and money was spent investigating the Monica Lewinsky affair than has been spent investigating one of the biggest corporate rip-offs in history.

I presided over the biggest energy crisis in U.S. history and refused to intervene when corruption involving the oil industry was revealed. I presided over the highest gasoline prices in U.S. history.I changed the U.S.policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government contracts. I appointed more convicted criminals to my administration than any President in U.S. history. I created the Ministry of Homeland Security, the largest bureaucracy in the history of the United States government.

I've broken more international treaties than any President in U.S. history.I am the first President in U.S. history to have the United Nations remove the U.S. from the Human Rights Commission. I withdrew the U.S.from the World Court of Law. I refused to allow inspectors access to U.S. "prisoners of war" detainees and thereby have refused to abide by the Geneva Convention. I am the first President in history to refuse United Nations election inspectors (during the 2002 U.S. election). I set the record for fewest numbers of press conferences of any President since the advent of television. I set the all-time record for most days on vacation in any one-year period. After taking off the entire month of August, I presided over the worst security failure in U.S. history. I garnered the most sympathy for the U.S. after the World Trade Center attacks and less than a year later made the U.S. the most hated country in the world, the largest failure of diplomacy in world history.

I have set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously protest me in public venues (15 million people), shattering the record for protests against any person in the history of mankind.

I am the first President in U.S. history to order an unprovoked, pre-emptive attack and the military occupation of a sovereign nation. I did so against the will of the United Nations, the majority of U.S. citizens, and the world community. I have cut health care benefits for war veterans and support a cut in duty benefits for active duty troops and their families-in-wartime. In my State of the Union Adress, I lied about our reasons for attacking Iraq and then blamed the lies on our British friends. I am the first President in history to have a majority of Europeans (71%) view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and security. I am supporting development of a nuclear "Tactical Bunker Buster," a WMD. I have so far failed to fulfill my pledge to bring Osama Bin Laden [sic] to justice.

RECORDS AND REFERENCES

All records of my tenure as governor of Texas are now in my father's library, sealed and unavailable for public view.
All records of SEC investigations into my insider trading and my bankrupt companies are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.
All records or minutes from meetings that I, or my Vice-President, attended regarding public energy policy are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public review.

I am a member of the Republican Party.

PLEASE CONSIDER MY EXPERIENCE WHEN VOTING IN THE 2006 MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

PLEASE SEND THIS TO EVERY VOTER YOU KNOW.

We the Sheeple

2006-06-03T22:04:00.000-05:00

This was posted today in the bulletin section of MySpace by my friend, An American Patriot. I wrote him and told him that it was exactly my sentiments, though I would have never been able to say them so eloquently and could I post it here. Thankfully, he was very kind and was happy for it to get spread around.

WE THE SHEEPLE
We the Sheeple of the United Snakes, in Order to form an American Union, establish Injustice, insure no Tranquility, provide for the common greed, promote Welfare, and dumbdown ourselves and give away our Liberty, do ordain our government to take away all of our rights, establish a Police State, monitor our phone calls, and treat us no better than the tyrant that we left in England.

That is how I feel today, my heart is ready to explode, how it weighs so heavy in my chest ready to drop like a grapefruit from a tree only to hit the ground and burst exposing its contents.

It sadens my soul to see how weak and subdued the citizenry of this country have become, we see the problems all around us, yet we do nothing to change what we know is clearly wrong.

Let the government take care of it, thats their job, this is what many people have said, but you cannot see that the very ones we have intrusted with the problems of this country are the very ones creating the problems. So you become dependant on criminals and liars and so you are delivered into bondage.

I was always under the impression that we were to make things better for our children, raise them up not to make the same mistakes that we made, how I shudder with the thought off what kind of country we are leaving for them. Throwing away our rights based on fear, I know what your thinking, if we give up just some of our rights that will make it a better place for our children to live in, under this misconception wouldnt giving up all of our rights make it a pefect place.

Imagine a country filled with people living day to day in a police state, working for the common good of a greedy corporate government, where their every move is watched by big brother, looking for a chance to whisper to one another stories of a country that used to be free, where individuals had rights, a voice, an ability to stand up and point out the tyranny in the world.

This is the world I see for our children, sound outlandish? Look around, what do you see? Police looking more like the military everyday, cameras going up on every street corner, more and more of our rights dwindling away all in the name of security, yet how do you feel? Do you feel safe, or are you just content? Theres nothing to worry about, Right? You still have American Idol, Desperate Housewifes and the mainstream media, all is well.

Our government is protecting us from the boogymen that threaten our country right? All the while their wallets grow fatter with the spoils of forced Democracy and the death toll grows from the lies they fed us, the same lies that take away our children to fight for that same lie. Where will it all stop? Iran, Syria? How many of our loved ones will be fed to the machine that is clearly out of control?

I am reminded of a speech given by Mario Savio in 1964, There is a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part; you can't even passively take part, and you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you've got to make it stop. And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you're free, the machine will be prevented from working at all!

When will we stand up to the machine? In fact to our own selfishness, we have let this machine grow to a point where it is becoming unstoppable, we must stand up now, take back what is our right, our freedom! Stop the war machine, stop those who profit from the lies before its to late and our legacy to our children will be one of shame and regret.

The future is truly up to us, will you be just another sheeple in the corporate slave state or will you create a future for the next generation?

The choice is yours.

Could Impeachment be Closer than We Think??

2006-05-28T23:42:00.000-05:00

Don't knock her down, Dubya!

U.S. President George W. Bush walks with first lady Laura Bush to the White House in Washington May 28, 2006. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Almost looks like he's pulling
his arm away...

U.S. President George W. Bush walks with first lady Laura Bush from the Marine One helicopter on the South Lawn of the White House while returning to Washington from Camp David May 28, 2006. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Such a happy countenance... President Bush and first lady Laura Bush wave as they arrive on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, May 28, 2006, in Washington. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Note, please, a slight change of
body language and check out the
facial expressions!

U.S. President George W. Bush (L) and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice walk on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, May 26, 2006. Bush and Rice boarded Marine One to depart for the presidential retreat, Camp David, in Maryland. REUTERS/Larry Downing

Now, I would never want to be one to spread rumors or such gossip; so I'll let you draw your own conclusions. But the question looms in the air -- considering the impeachment grounds and witchhunt Bill endured, you think -- maybe.....
...naw, I guess it's just wishful thinkin'....

Did you hear the one where Condi was overheard saying: "As I was telling my husb-"

Political Conversation:
Condis SlipA pressing issue of dinner-party etiquette is vexing Washington, according to a story now making the D.C. rounds: How should you react when your guest, in this case national-security adviser Condoleezza Rice, makes a poignant faux pas? At a recent dinner party hosted by New York Times D.C. bureau chief Philip Taubman and his wife, Times reporter Felicity Barringer, and attended by Arthur Sulzberger Jr., Maureen Dowd, Steven Weisman, and Elisabeth Bumiller, Rice was reportedly overheard saying, As I was telling my husb and then stopping herself abruptly, before saying, As I was telling President Bush. Jaws dropped, but a guest says the slip by the unmarried politician, who spends weekends with the president and his wife, seemed more psychologically telling than incriminating. Nobody thinks Bush and Rice are actually an item. A National Security Council spokesman laughed and said, No comment.

article found at NYMetro

ummm, what a slip!

Sweet dreams...

What is the REAL truth in Iraq?

2006-05-25T08:03:00.000-05:00

A good friend of mine brought this to my attention. Granted, Jesse Macbeth was a fraud and the whole incident will have serious ramifications in many ways. Certainly I am not "there" in Iraq and I don't know anybody who is there -- THANK GOD -- (even our reporters won't go now!!!!) but we need to seek what is truth - always! So, my friend's suggestion that we all contact IVAW urging them to get to the bottom of these allegations is a good one.
Sherry

From my friend:
Our (controlled) media has no interest in finding answers to any questions. How are we supposed to know what's the truth??

Please send an email to IVAW (Iraq Veterans Against the War) asking them to dig deep and urge vets to come forward. Tell them that the truth matters. Here's the email address:

ivaw@ivaw.net

And, in case you want to email it, here's the URL for the YouTube video clip below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrXxoi3sFdk&eurl

Big Brother Comes to Beaumont...

2006-04-25T18:06:00.000-05:00

Well, at least a loss of freedom in a sense. Beaumont city council has voted to impose a 100% smoking ban in restaurants, bars, public buildings, 25 feet of buildings, etc. What happened to citizen voice in this? Maybe it would have been nice to put this to a popular vote.

Now, I do know the arguments about second-hand smoke, but, really, smokers should have a right to have their cigarette, pipe, or cigar after their meal or with their drink at least in specially provided areas. Having smoking sections was working pretty well. The local businesses are feeling quite infringed upon because some of them are just now getting over the Hurricane Rita hurdle and now will have to worry about losing patrons to perhaps out of town restaurants where folks will be allowed to have their smoke. Probably the next step will be as I've heard some places do is to ban smoking in parking lots and parks and all public grounds. This is just wrong.

I noticed in the exceptions they listed "private residences." WOW!! How generous of them!!

No, I don't smoke. I used to smoke. I loved my cigarettes! But I quit in 2000 after smoking for over 30 years; and that was my choice. So, personally, this will have no bearing on me at all. But I can just imagine how enraged I would be if I were still a smoker.

Well, here's the article from the Beaumont Enterprise. I realize there are just as strong opinions that this is a good thing as there are that it's not. And I can see that point of view, of course. But personally, I think it's taking too much control over individual rights. Maybe if they had offered this issue to popular vote, it wouldn't have been so offensive to me.

Interestingly, there was a just report about how much crime is going on in our parks. Here's an article that was run yesterday. People can't go to the park and enjoy a quiet picnic or a nice walk for fear of thugs and gangs, prostitution, perverts. Why doesn't our esteemed city council worry about cleaning up that garbage rather than worrying about policing law-abiding folks who are simply trying to have an enjoyable meal or a social evening in a club! They had their designated areas to spare the nonsmokers. What's wrong with this picture!

Weekend report

2006-04-24T11:20:00.000-05:00

Well, the whole weekend was pretty much a wash. It seems that things are moving at a snail's pace around here - very low key all weekend. Trying to get up any kind of entheusiasm for anything was a completely wasted effort. No work came in and that's a worry. It's got to pick up soon!

"Fooled Again" Book Notes video is out...

2006-04-24T11:17:00.000-05:00

On April 9th my post dealt with a book by Mark Crispin Miller, a program called Book Notes where the authors are given a chance to talk about their book and answer questions. There was one today, Mark Crispin Miller; his book: Fooled Again: How the Right Stole the 2004 Election and Why They'll Steal the Next One Too (Unless We Stop Them). You can now see this on video on line. I promise you, it is very much worth your time to watch it! I won't elaborate my commentary again, but since the video is out, I wanted to post the link to it and urge you to see it.

Friday log

2006-04-21T17:26:00.000-05:00

Nothing much of any consequence today -- all seems to be fine on the home front and politics are as usual. So, will keep it short. Seems like I don't even have any major opinions today. At one point I tried to take myself a little nap -- had that miserable feeling of being sooo dang sleepy but just couldn't fall off to sleep.
Weekend is upon us and we sure can't ever get any news on the weekends. There's still no work; so maybe I can get my paperwork done.
Well, I'll be back tomorrow. Just nothing to rant about today.

Embarrassing - or Funny?

2006-04-20T21:10:00.000-05:00

My whole day was a total wash -- did nothing constructive whatsoever. Even the news was boring - well, except for the fiasco our esteemed government put on trying to impress the visiting Chinese President, Hu Jintao.

Of course they put on the red carpet treatment - - well -- they played the freakin' wrong National Anthem -- geez! How embarrassing is that! There's no excuse for that kind of stupidity, not for such an event. Guess they just saw the word "China" and that was close enough.

Then there was poor lady protester/reporter. How could they possibly let a protester in! She's facing arrest and serious charges! Ah-em -- freedom of speech? She spoke out?

Then I even heard that there was a CNN reporter who also got himself removed from a photo op because he dared ask a question.

If all this wasn't enough, Bush grabbed the dude's arm -- check out this photo:
Well, yes, I think there was a little Photoshop going on. Too funny.

Then to add insult to irreparable injury -- get a load of our most esteemed Vice-President and Secretary of State during the meeting with our honored guest!

It's just too funny to be sad! Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall to hear President Hu Jintao when he gets back home!

No wonder Scotty's got such an ear to ear grin on his face!

"I'M SOOO OUTTA HERE!!"

McClellan sacrificed -- who will be new press secy?

2006-04-19T21:46:00.000-05:00

Now, I'm no fan of most, if any, Republicans -- but Scott McClellan has never irritated me the way a lot of them have. He didn't have that smug arrogant persona that Ari Fleisher had, for example. In fact, I would really feel sorry for him sometimes because of the lies he would have to tell and the horrendous predicament the Administration would put him in. Apparently, they'd lie to him so, mercifully, he wouldn't be "lying" to the press; he would only be passing on what he was told to pass on.

But nonetheless, he's history. Why he didn't just quit on his own as protest makes me wonder a little about his own credibility and honor, but it's not the messenger, stupid -- it's the message!!!

And now I hear they're thinking of putting Tony Snow in his place! OH, MY LORD! Well, he sure is perfect example of a controlled voice for the White House -- so, what would you expect! Just to give you an idea of what we'll be in for if he gets it -- he was on Bill O'Rielly show last night (no, I didn't suffer through it but it's posted on the Internet) and "Snow was trying to counter the public perception that we're getting gouged by the oil companies. After noting that a gallon of gas costs the same as a gallon of milk Snow commented,
'A gallon of milk has lower production costs than a gallon of gas. Does that mean we're getting gouged by cows?'"

Doubtful they'd offer the job to Helen Thomas!

Shuffling around these people is the silliest thing I ever saw. How can this country ever maintain any dignity or respect in the rest of the world when our leaders are so -- well, sometimes just plain - SILLY is at least one word for it -- yet, very seriously and sadly, they're the ones running things. No matter what the public or generals or anybody says - they ignore it. It's an insult to the population and the world to watch these "leaders of the free world" play musical chairs in the pretense they're doing something and never address the REAL problems.

With all that said -- here is who I would recommend they put in Scotty's place. He would be perfect for the job, and I wish we could all sign some kind of petition somewhere!

I hereby nominate Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, the former Iraqi minister of Information, a/k/a "Bagdad Bob"

In case you need a refresher...
Here are some of the All Time Greats!

Tommy had another rough day...

2006-04-18T22:36:00.000-05:00

This morning Quincy woke me up about 6:30 and I realized Tommy had never come to get me to let him outside -- which he does usually about 5:30. So, I immediately went to see about him, and sure enough, he was ill. Very lathargic, very weak, turned his head away when I offered him his food. Poor Tommy. I had stopped giving him his antibiotics because he had fully recovered from the abscess. But I still had some, so I gave him a dose. He laid around all day and even at one point crawled up under my day bed to lay down. Ohh, that's not a good sign!! But eventually he started coming out of it and by late evening, he was ready to go outside for a little bit, lay on the patio and get some air. I gave him his 2nd dose, and by nighttime he was feeling pretty good again.

I sure wonder what it is that makes him do this. It happens periodically and I do know he's getting old. But as of now, I think he's out of the danger zone.

He pretty much monopolized my day and my thoughts. I did have a very little work to do. Wasn't much going on in the news either. So, it was a pretty boring day -- as it seems a lot of them are.

Monday's log...

2006-04-17T19:32:00.000-05:00

Today was a pretty lazy beginning, got coffee, email and so forth, picked up Mom to go buy cat food and get something off to Sarah -- my precious, beautiful, baby girl granddaughter for her Big No. 1 Birthday! Wow, already a year old! How amazing is that!!!

Anyway, then we had to decide where to eat lunch, and my aunt has said for months she wanted us to go to Olive Garden for salad and breadsticks. So, we called her and sure 'nuff, she could meet us.
We go there maybe 30 minutes before she did, and the restaurant was busy enough that we had to take a number -- and let them pass us while we waited. That was fine. We were just lounging there in the lobby and watching people as they came in and left.

What really struck me was I'd say 3 out of 5 people who passing to and fro were at least 250 pounds plus. In fact, I might be being generous to give it that much proportion. With all the talk about the children and the population - not only here but in the world I guess - I'm convinced, totally and thoroughly convinced that something is going on in our food supplies that is doing it to people. To say that all these people are obese simply from pigging out and couch potato lifestyle in my opinion is a way over-simplification.

I don't know what it is, of course. I'm not a scientist. But think about the chemicals that they use in our foods, both spraying the produce, the preservatives, the steroids they give to the animals, and even, heaven forbid, the cloned animals. One day, mark my words, they will discover this -- if they don't know already and don't want it to be public.

I'm sure that there is some overeater factor, but I'll bet you a dollar to the proverbial doughnut that it's something way more to it that's changing the body chemistry.

Okay. So much for that soapbox. We had a nice lunch, nice visit. I don't get to see my aunt very often. She's, sadly, a strong Republican - so I tend to have to bite my tongue sometimes if we get off on politics. She seems convinced the disaster that everything is in now is all the Democrats fault and the storms and tornados are God's punishment. Well, it's easier to just grunt a little, but I did have to say I really didn't believe that. Still thank goodness, the whole conversation wasn't dominated with that touchy topic, and it was a pleasant outing.

By the time I got back home, I was really sleepy and wanting a nap in the worst way. However, a friend IM'd me, and my mouse just quit working. So, that put me in a frantic frenzy of trying to get it taken apart and cleaned; but to no avail. So, I had to go over to Computer Shak real quick and buy a new one. By then I was over that sinking sleepy spell, and never got my nap.

Well, that was pretty much my day. I will be getting a job in tomorrow, but TC said it's very small. Here we go again.

Easter Sunday

2006-04-16T23:36:00.000-05:00

While most people were going to church, all dressed up in their new Easter clothes, having the Easter egg hunts with the little ones, and big family barbecues -- it was just me and Mom at her house. We ate gumbo and basically just took it easy.

I went through her photo albums and scanned some pictures. Our old pictures are all ruining with lines across them from the plastic of the album pages and they're fading or yellowing. I'd like to eventually get them all of the digitized, but that would be a monumental task between her collection and my own. However, from time to time, I'll do scanning, but haven't gotten them in any type of presentable formats yet.

We decided we wanted a banana split to satisfy a sweet tooth. Dairy Queen on Washington Boulevard has never reopened after Hurricane Rita and Sonic was closed for Easter. So, we just rode out to the Sonic on 11th Street, and it was open. So, we sat there in the van and ate our banana splits, then called it a day. Such was Easter.
Here's a couple of pictures I scanned....

Mar 28, 1948 -- 58 years ago!!!
My First Easter, practically speaking,
considering I was only 7 months on my real First Easter.
More than half a century ago! Yup -- that does make one feel old!

Live Nesting Eagle & Easter

2006-04-15T11:33:00.000-05:00

First, my cable was out all day and last night, briefly came back on if you read the comment section in yesterday's post. But when I got up this morning, it was fine and has been running strong all day! Who knows!!!

Now, about the bald eagle, according to the site where I learned of this link, they say the new baby will arrive around the April 27th!! So, save the link and keep an eye on her. http://www.infotecbsi.com/wildlife/

I've been watching her some tonight, and she keeps hearing something and looking around, staying very alert to what's going on around her. Once she even hollered out. This is waaay cool!!!
Here's a couple of screen shots of her.

Also, I've been watching the Easter services being broadcast live from Rome. It's Pope Benedict's first Easter as Pope. He has a kind, gentle face. Since it is the most holy of our holidays, I wanted to get at least give some kind of proper reverence to the day other than just the Easter bunny. My, they do put on the pomp and circumstance! But I do like that.

They're confirming some people who will be taking their full communion and baptism. Last summer I had started RCIA classes and the hurricane interrupted them. After we returned from evacuation, I didn't go back; but I doubt that I would have completed to the point of converting because there were several things my Protestant faith conflicts with. But I would have been confirmed tomorrow, also, had I finished it to completion. I still might go back to visit. I loved mass and St. Anthony's! Watching this makes me think I'd like to visit again. (actually it's 1:20 a.m. while I'm watching this -- and writing my blog -- but I'm dating the time stamp to before midnight since this is actually Saturday's entry)

An Internet friend sent me this poem, said her son brought it home from his CCD classes. I emailed it to a few folks, but I wanted to post it here because it's such a simple little poem, but such an insightful way to look at the jelly beans. Hope you enjoy -- and hope you have a great Easter.

THE JELLY BEAN PRAYER

Red is for the BLOOD HE gave.

Green is for the grass HE made.

Yellow is for the sun so bright.

Orange is for the edge of night.

BLACK is for the SINS we made.

WHITE is for the GRACE HE gave.

Purple is for HIS hour of sorrow.

Pink is for our NEW tomorrow.

A bag full of Jelly Beans colorful and sweet,

Is a prayer, is a promise, is a SPECIAL treat.

May the Joy of Christ's resurrection

Fill your HEART and BLESS your LIFE.

Woe is me-- Cable modem on the blitz!!

2006-04-14T20:53:00.000-05:00

Woe is me!! Woe is me!! I checked my email this morning, lost my connection and my Roadrunner is dead, dead, dead!! I called them, and she put me on hold -- wait -- wait -- then she comes back and said "he" said I have a very weak signal coming into my modem. Nothing can be done till Monday!! ARRRGHH!!!! All weekend -- no Internet!! This is worse than withdrawal!

I have dial-up -- I pay AOL $9.95 a month purely for this reason, so I can have a dial-up as a backup. However, something is screwy with it, too, because I know dial-up is worse than molassas but I really think this is totally not right. I've managed to check messages a couple of times on MySpace and my camera group and was able to get a message out that I am out of commission; but I haven't been getting all my mail, though I'll try again. Some people are still living with dial-up; but this is NOT liveable. This plan gives me 10 hours of dial-up a month, and at this rate, I've probably used half of it today waiting, waiting, waiting.

Then they've got this message that keeps popping up on my screen saying my ISP does not support Modem On Hold. Should it answer incoming or not -- well, hell, I don't even have call waiting. And that message comes up ever 3 seconds. That works!!

MSN messenger doesn't want to work, and I've only been able to get Internet Explorer to load a page just a couple of times -- usually get Page Not Found. AOL and MSN don't get along at the best of it. I suppose that's at least part of the problem.

I did get my laptop out and it too had no signal. But I think I will check it afterwhile and see if the dial-up is as slow as this PC. Something tells me next week I'll be doing that hard drive recovery I've been putting off.

Well, since I'm writing this on Word Pad before I get online, it will probably take an hour to get Blogger up, logged in, and cut and paste and post even this much, I guess this is it for today. Some Good Friday -- I worked on a job and had almost a nervous breakdown over the frustrations of this Internet connection.

Happy Easter!

PS Just for fun, I am finishing this at 8:40 pm and will begin the process of trying to post this on my BlogSpot. So, let's see how long it takes.

Duke U, Justin Berry, and South Park

2006-04-13T20:54:00.000-05:00

Oh, I'm slipping! Didn't get my diary entry done yesterday. Most of the day was spent doing dreadful paperwork, checking and rechecking numbers, and pretty much mundane stuff. I did look around on the Internet for something really cool to put on my blog without another long dissertation on politics since I really don't want to turn this into a political blog. But there wasn't really anything that caught my interest. Then I visited with a friend on the phone till late and just didn't ever get around to making my post.

Today was errands day -- bank (long line to wait), Wal-Mart (lanes closed on Interstate and snail's pace traffic), circled through the post office mailbox and with a prayer, dropped off my tax check, ate lunch, took flowers out for Daddy's grave for Easter -- home -- exhausted!! In fact here it is after 9:00 and I still haven't finished putting the groceries all away.

Good Friday is tomorrow. I don't expect to do anything special. In fact, since I've been so preoccupied with my taxes I'll probably work on a job I have here. Maybe I can get it done tomorrow and Saturday; and then Sunday just relax and enjoy being off. Maybe watch some kind of Easter service on TV or something.

Re: Lacrosse Duke University Rape case:
Well, maybe I will rant on one thing -- they've been playing so much about this Lacrosse team rape case at Duke University. Sometimes I wonder if they don't just try to find the most graphic words they can, hardly short of verbal pornography. Where are the days when they would use more modest language. Everybody knows what happened. They don't have to spell it all out. I really like what her brother said -- he said she's a woman, she's a mother -- wish I could find the quote; but he was trying to get the woman some dignity. It's not going to happen! Rush Limbaugh - gentleman that he is, called her a "ho" today!!! Why is that blow-gut still on the air!!
To be honest, I haven't followed this case too much, but every time they're talking about it, they're using as graphic language as they can think of on what is supposed to be the news! It's like the news is turning into verbal porn!

Re: Justin Berry - the teenager who testified on Capitol Hill about his horrid experiences in the child porn rings.
They did the same thing with that boy. As far as I'm concerned, they continually re-violated that boy by showing it over and over and over ad nauseum --- talking about how awful it was -- well, it was -- but --"Let's watch it again -- I know we just showed it 5 minutes ago, but let's see it again so we can talk about it again." Maybe some secret fantasies going on???

Re: South Park show -- Now this one really makes me furious! And to be on Easter Week just compounds it! I just heard about it on Scarborough Country. I never watch South Park and never will. It shouldn't even be on the air! I really, REALLY hope Christians all over the world will rise up and DEMAND some respect, an apology, and to shut the show down. It's so vial, I won't even write it. They wouldn't show the segment on the show. Good for them. If you don't know what this is about and you really want to know -- you can read about it at CBS News Entertainment (entertainment???) But personally, now I have to go watch something else to get that filth out of my head.

Tax Time...

2006-04-12T11:43:00.000-05:00

Finally -- I think they're done. I finished up work this afternoon, made myself a pot of coffee, and stalled as long as I dared - you know, water the plants, oh, yes, feed the cats, clean off the desk -- take a deep breath, and dig in. In the morning I'll go over my numbers and be sure everything is in order and (shudder) write my check. I read somewhere that 40% of our taxes are going toward that God forsaken war! Talk about adding insult to injury!

Well, I'm brain-dead - once again. Sure glad to have this just about finished!

Camera back in the shop

2006-04-10T23:29:00.000-05:00

This is the 2nd time I've had to send it off. But yesterday I found all the pertinent paperwork and e-mailed Mack Camera and got my authorization number. Among my many, many breaks today, one of them I took my poor little Konica Minolta Dimage Z2 to the Mail Room, paid $21 for the postage and packaging and insurance -- it's that awful!! $21!! And they won't even get it till next week! Plus I had to give Mack Camera $10 to process it.

I really hope they'll give me a new camera this time. If write me back saying they're going to fix it, I'm going to complain pretty loudly that they should give me a new one. After all, I think I only took about 115 pictures, if I counted right from when they fixed it the first time. Didn't last too long!

However, I don't think I'll want another Z2 - not now. Konica Minolta stopped making cameras at all. Sony took over some of their technology but won't be making cameras under the KM name. I have no idea how they'll do this -- probably offer me another Z2 -- which the Z6 was the last one they made - and will be the last, period!

Besides the camera and the pitiful effort at trying to do this little, but nevertheless, awful job, I got so many phone calls today - the 1-800 or unidentified, or caller blocked. They call me every night while I'm trying to hear the news and I usually just let it ring, but it's so distracting.

So, today I decided to answer them all and tell them to take me off the calling list. Well, one was Bank of America and one was MBNA Bank - and I told them both - take me off the list. I swear, I got three more calls from MBNA and two more from BofA! HOW RUDE! One of them told me it could take 30 days.

I gott this in the mail the other day -- maybe I should have tried it out...

Revenge on Telemarketers

The phone rang as I was sitting down to my evening meal, and as Ianswered it. I was greeted with "Is this Karl Brummer".

Not sounding anything like my name, I asked who is calling.

The telemarketer said he was with The Rubber Band Powered Freezer Company or Something like that.

Then I asked him if he knew Karl personally and why was he calling this number.

I then said off to the side, "get some pictures of the body at various angles and the blood smears",

I then turned back to the phone and advised the caller that he hadentered a murder scene and must stay on the line because we hadalready traced this call and he would be receiving a summons totestify in this murder case.I questioned the caller at great length as to his name, address, phoneNumber at home, at work, who he worked for, how he knew theDead guy and could he prove where he had been about one hour before he made this call.

The telemarketer was getting very concerned and his answers were given in a shaky voice.

I then told him we had located his position and the police were entering the building to take him into custody, at that point I heard the phone fall and the scurrying of his running away.My wife asked me as I returned to our table why I had tears streaming down my face and so help me, I couldn't tell her for about fifteen minutes. My meal was cold, but it was the best meal in a long, long time.,

"Fooled Again"

2006-04-09T23:35:00.000-05:00

If you have C-Span 2, then you're aware they have a program called Book Notes where the authors are given a chance to talk about their book and answer questions. There was one today, Mark Crispin Miller; his book: Fooled Again: How the Right Stole the 2004 Election and Why They'll Steal the Next One Too (Unless We Stop Them).

(quoted from the review of the show linked off C-Span website - but the link doesn't work anymore)
Miller argued that the outcome of the 2004 election, in many states including Ohio, was manipulated to favor George Bush and the Republican party. He discussed the evidence he has for this charge and talked about the reaction that Sen. John Kerry had when presented with the evidence. Professor Miller also argued that the Republican Party has been taken over by religious fundamentalists who see their opponents as evil and whose ultimate goal is to bring about Armageddon.

Of course we all know that the election was stolen. Why John Kerry caved in so quick is anybody's guess. But the last sentence of the review is where it's really at!! This guy zinged right in on something that my gut has been telling me all along. He was able to put it to word and it's so clear. It's the motivation!
Granted there has been voter cheating since the beginning of time, but this is more than just cheating. It's more than to get power, or corporate greed or oil. It's an agenda, a paranoid agenda of "We've got to get them before they get us" mentality. How can I explain it in a few words. The Right thinks the Left is total evil and in the mind of the Right, if the Left has any power, they will surely put all on a road of destruction and evil -- and so forth. This is paranoid thinking. So, they feel they MUST maintain the power, no matter what they have to do to "save" - who? - the world? - the nation?

He explained how this was the motivation in the Crusades and many other horrific conflicts throughout history, not allowing a view of differences of opinion to approach solving problems, but as an extreme "good versus evil" mentality. I know I'm not explaining this very well. I strongly suggest you read his book to get a good handle on this. He also said something about a plan to enact the Constitutional Restoration Act, which virtually would make any rulings from a court non-overturnable if they were ruled on by basis of the Bible! That is the real danger of the Supreme Court as it is being "stacked" - not so much the Roe-v-Wade. But even that, he said it's not so much that they are advocating right to life (which I am by the way) but no contraception, period! An extreme religion doctrine that they want to impose in their controlled world they're trying to build. Now I believe in the Bible, you can't get hardly two people to interpret the Bible the same way. He brought up Leviticus as an example I don't think we want to live by the guidelines as set out in Leviticus! This is far more serious than Republican and Democrat. We're all Americans. We are losing the very things we think we're fighting for.Well, my apologies for not being more articulate, but I hope I've given you at least a tangent on which to direct your own thinking. People have GOT to start looking at what is really happening. It's almost too late. It is sooooo dangerous for our beloved America that is being destroyed before our very eyes.

Before you declare this is all tin hat stuff, just read the book.

Let's Pretend

2006-04-08T23:45:00.000-05:00

I found this video today on the Malone Zone and thought I'd share it here. It's just too good not to share!

All my greatest ambitions to get housework and all those awful chores done - well, I didn't do them. I did very little as a matter of fact. My amarillis has already bloomed, and I took my Dimage Z2 outside and tried to get some pictures of it.

My camera was telling me it was low on batteries; and I did get it unloaded. But then it froze up. I replaced the batteries - nothing. I recharged the batteries, nothing, used some fresh batteries - nothing. So, dang it!! That's the same thing it did in October when I had come back from the evacuation and had to send it off to Mack where I have the extended warranty. It took till December to get it back if I remember right. And I've hardly even used it since then since I haven't even been fooling much with photography. So, now I'll have to go find all the instructions on where to send it, get ahold of them and tell them it's coming. I hope they'll give me a new one this time. As a matter of fact, I hope it's still under warranty!!!
It's so depressing! But I still have my little HP Photosmart, which will do. But it's just a point and shoot. I'm trying to learn settings and f stops and all and was making some headway when that hobby pretty much took a backseat. But now that things are getting where I could play with it again - this happens. Dang it!

Tomorrow I hope I can be more self-disciplined and get these mundane but necessary things done -- and check on my camera warranty!

Well, here's my first flower of all the planting I've been doing. The photogaphy isn't great but I'm out of practice and my camera was -- lol -- dying!

Keeping it short...

2006-04-07T23:29:00.000-05:00

Going to make it short tonight. I'm dead tired. I finally finished that bloomin' awful job! Two weeks of trying to get through with that bugger. Of course there were a couple of times I had to put it aside to do something else, but man. These kind of jobs are not worth it. There's no way you can charge enough to cover the time it took to do it. The best thing you can do is hope the next one will be one that you can zip right on through and not have to fight it so hard.

I haven't heard what's waiting in the wings to be done. I have one more job here, a small one. But unless there's a time crunch on something I'm not aware of, I'm going to take off tomorrow -- if you want to call doing housework, bookkeeping and taxes taking a day off. lol I don't! But it's at least not stuggling through a transcript. So, it feels like being off.

Time to call it a day. See you tomorrow.

An Inconvenient Truth

2006-04-06T23:10:00.000-05:00

An Inconvenient Truth

Starring: Al Gore
Director: Davis Guggenheim
Opens: May 26, 2006

What the Movie's About: This captivating documentary chronicles former Vice President Al Gore's career-long crusade to raise awareness about -- and stem the tide of -- the potentially catastrophic effects of global warming.

Here's the Buzz: The positive hype surrounding 'Truth' has caused something other than the climate to heat up, namely Gore's political career. Although Gore officially retired from politics in 2000, pundits are already speculating that the ex-Veep could ride the film's coattails into the 2008 Presidential race. Nothing 'Inconvenient' about that.

This is a link to Laurie David interviewing the Director, Davis Guggenheim, on the movie and Gore.

(edited 4/8: trailer and interview evidently have been taken down; so links don't work. I replaced the Title link with a synopsis of the movie. I never got to see the interview. Shoot.)

(I haven't watched the interview yet, only checked to see if it would work. It's about 10 minutes. The movie trailer didn't work at first; and I changed the preferences from 7000 bps to 350 bps and it worked fine.)

At first I was going to elaborate about the man who questioned Bush today in North Carolina and how smug and arrogant Bush was in response. The crowd was such an obviously hand-picked crowd. He had that sarcastic grin on his face when the man was trying to express he concerns and -- just so typical of Bush. It makes me wish I could just slap his smart-alleck face! Here's a MediaPlayer video of it -- I'll just leave it at saying, Boy, does Pink's song ever say it! On second thought, almost wonder if the guy had heard her song - lol. Does Bush feel shame -- ha! judge for yourself!

But I came across this trailer. I've heard about the movie almost in passing because the media doesn't dare want to promote anything Al Gore does, so I was happy to see the trailer. Going to the movies is not something I do often -- or hardly at all! -- but I definitely want to make a point of seeing this one. I sure hope the pundits are right that it will give him enough boost to run in '08! He's by far my first choice! Nevertheless, this is a must-see movie - at least as far as I'm concerned.

My own uneventful life? Well, since you asked -- TC called, said they were calling on a job we haven't started yet; so again, had to put this nightmare job aside and to the one they wanted. Thank goodness it was short and I got it done by about 1:00 and she came by to pick it up.

I walked over to the now vacant house to see what all was left behind, and in the back was a stair stepper, only a little rust on the bottom where it's been outside, but it works fine. So, I drug it home. I put it on my patio. Let's see, I have a treadmill I never use. I have a bicycle that's in my shed. I have one of those things you push the handlebars and and feet and sort of rock -- don't know what it's called. Do I do any of them?? Ever?? HA! But I have good intentions! Does that count?
I got some joke pictures in e-mail; but I think maybe I might put them on my refrigerator.
My first thought was, "Umm, maybe exercise does work!"

Rubber stamp day..

2006-04-04T23:23:00.000-05:00

You ever feel like your whole life is just a rubber stamp, day after day; or else the sensation that you're just pretty much hanging out there like this poor little guy? It's been one of those days. Guess that's not all bad -- because it's nothing earth shattering going on, but it's so redundant. Work, walk outside to water my little plants, let Tommy in, let Tommy out, watch the news with only half an ear or else get the screaming heeby-jeebies at either what they're reporting or the spin at which they report it. And eat -- eat, eat, eat. Definitely there's a direct correlation with boredom and food.

I'm still struggling with this job that is driving me nuts. I did get my bills paid this morning, though I still haven't brought my Quicken records up to date. I think one was due yesterday - that sucks. Probably slap me with a $40 late fee or something.

My neighbors moved today. The neighbor adjacent to me left a couple of months ago, and this one is next to them. Their double-wide is still there. I have no idea if they sold it or not. I tend to think not, but maybe. So, that's two potential new neighbors. Then there's the space that emptied out across the street that is in my immediate area. So, I hope all will turn out okay. Not that it really matters. I'm very much a loner and don't mix with neighbors - and luckily folks out here don't mix either. Everybody pretty much minds their own business and that makes it nice. Still it leaves you feeling a little unsettled till you know who will be moving in.
Oh, well, keep smilin' and it will all be okay.

Monday, Monday...

2006-04-03T21:55:00.000-05:00

Absolutely nothing much to even talk about today. Work - this job is driving me crazy. The witness is nervous and stammers around and pauses long pauses; and she really is getting on my nerves. I can only tolerate listening to her so long and have to get away from it. And the job is going slow at the best of it. Will I ever reach the end! Today is already the 3rd, and bills and IRS taxes are awaiting. I had thought I would do them today; but I will in the morning. That in itself is an all-day job; but maybe I can at least get the important ones taken care of. They'll be calling for this job soon, I'm afraid.

Good news in the news - Tom DeLay is quitting! Umm, where's that big ol' smile you had in your mugshot, Tom!

Scary to think what they might put in his place since the crazy Republicans in his district still voted for him! Even he knows he ain't got a chance!!!

Talk about craziness, the Houston Traffic Court decided to put technology to "good" use and spent $13 million on a computer system. The morons didn't teach the judge or the lawyers how to use, I guess, and the poor people had to wait like 7 hours to pay some minor traffic ticket - kids crying and they didn't even have the sense to let folks go home and come back. Oh, boy, can you imagine! Talk about running the blood pressure up! Click2Houston has a video of the news clip; or you can just read it if you're interested.

Garden report: I planted the nasturtium today; they were getting some nice little roots on them; and I planted most of the rest of the zinnias. Just about all my seeds are coming up, though very slowly. They're still way too almost microscopic! -- to put in the ground yet. No doubt I'll run out of garden room and have to make another one. Good luck to me on that one! The new seeds I bought of the morning glories -- let me tell you about them. I read the directions - (fancy that); and did what they said: scored each tiny seed and soaked them in water for a few hours; then put them in the little containers, watered good, covered, and it said to leave them in a dark place till they germinated. Wow, they were sprouting up by two days! I'm learning! Wonder if all these others would have done likewise? Oh, well, they're doing okay. My amarillis getting close to putting out a bloom. It's fun watching them. Of course, it's more instant to buy all these already established, but that would be missing this phase. Waiting and nurturing makes you appreciate them that much more!

God bless the folks in Tennessee. All this weather destruction makes me wonder what we'll all be in for come hurricane season, which is fast approaching.

Daylight Savings Time...

2006-04-02T23:15:00.000-05:00

I really do hate it! If I were in charge, we wouldn't ever change the time. My philosophy is it was going just fine all by itself. Leave it alone! It will take me a couple of weeks before I make the necessary adjustments. But so be it. The only clocks I've reset so far are the computers -- and that's because they set themselves - lol - but they're about all I use anyway. I'll get them all done eventually.

By the way, if you didn't get my email about this today - this is so neat -
on Wednesday of next week, at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06. Obviously, a phenomenon that will never ever happen again!

Tommy was ecstatic to go outside today! He was so cute. He would go out the door, then turn around and look at me and sit down, saying, "Bring my food out here," or "Come out here and sit with me." I'm so glad he's getting better. I'm still giving him his antibiotic, but I think a goblin is coming in at night and refilling the bottle because it just doesn't seem to ever go down. At least giving it to him isn't traumatic anymore. Holding the scruff of his neck works wonders!

Today was pretty much spent sitting in this computer chair trying to get some headway on my job. I only walked outside a couple of times to check on all my little plants to be sure they were still alive and water them if they needed it. I did fool with my MySpace blog a little bit, and added pictures to My Heros section. It's pretty tricky - you have to find the picture, then since I don't think you can add pics from your computer, you have to upload them to an online album. There's a free place called Photobucket I signed up for so I could put them there. All this is exposing me to HTML coding and tags, and I'm really wanting to learn this stuff. I'm picking up tiny bits and pieces, but it fascinates me and I want to get time to learn it -- at least to do a little more than the most simple things.

Oh, and I'm finding out that the entertainers have pages - well, I don't know if it's really theirs or a fan's or exactly what that's all about. But I stumbled on Tom Jones' page!! So, I sent a message to his page requesting to add him to My Friends, and of course, I'll be in his list of friends, too!

Otherwise, that's it for today.

Where are you -- politically speaking?

2006-04-01T19:37:00.000-06:00

Since I'm pretty intense about most of my political views and since I can lean from extreme left to even (shudder) extreme right, depending on the issue, I decided to take a little test that I came across, a little quiz that will tell you where you fit in the political spectrum. What's nice about this test is it doesn't just put you on a horizontal scale but a grid, and then it has various famous people and where they fit on this grid of political leanings.

Would you just check this out!!! Dang!! Just in case you can't see (ah-hem), my spot is blue - and it's right next to Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and close enough to the Dalai Lama!

Did I ever miss my calling! Had I known I was in such great company I would have brought about world peace when I grew up!

You can take the test at PoliticalCompass. It's six pages of questions, makes a statement, then you choose Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree. It's a little more comprehensive than most.
Maybe you'll surprise yourself, too!

Well, so much for that fantasy! Back to reality -- Tommy has been pacing the floor all day wanting to go out. I did go out with him for a few minutes and let him walk around a little; but he was too weak to leave him alone. If he needed to get out of the way of danger fast, he'd never make it. But as the day has passed, he's gotten stronger. I think by tomorrow he'll be able to go out a little bit. Other than that, the day was status quo, work, Internet, breaks, wash dishes -- lol -- alas, not saving the world!

Atta girl, Helen Thomas... she reaps her rewards

2006-03-31T22:51:00.000-06:00

Remember a few days ago when Helen Thomas confronted Bush asking him why we REALLY went to war? I posted about it in "Atta girl, Helen Thomas... and had some links even to the video clip if they're still up.

Well, some of the folks on the DemocratsUnderground blog got together and collected money to send her roses -- 108 dozen! Here's the thread by one of he people involved in getting them delivered, Roses for Helen - Reflections on a Thrilling Day.

Here is a site that has a lot of great pictures of her receiving them, the team getting them together, and her response back to the DU folks (scroll down a bit to get past the advertising.) I wish I had gotten in on it, but I sure am glad they did it! Nobody deserves it more.

What? You didn't hear about it on mainstream media? Umm, wonder why.

Now, Tommy report -- he had to have surgery. The vet said the place we were looking at had just about healed, but the problem was he had another one on the other side -- on either side of his anal gland, which is said was quite unusual. Not being a medical person at all, I asked if it was on his rectum and he said no, it was his anal gland. Well, anyway, it's got to be uncomfortable!

He was still knocked out when I brought him home at 5:00. I took the top of the carrier and gently took him out and laid him on his pillow he likes. He didn't wake up till 9:00. He's now trying to walk around a little, but he's still so groggy that he's falling all over the place and can't keep his legs under him. Poor baby. I can't see very well, but he's definitely got a hollowed out hole back there. Sure hope it won't get infected, but I'll be giving him another bottle of antibiotics. I'm glad I took him. He was really suffering. And the charge surprised me.

The surgery and the bottle of antibiotic was only $47.50. They even clipped his claws some, too, while he was out - which he really needed. He won't let me do it.

Well, this is two posts in one day - but I thought the girls needed the memorial. And Helen's news was too happy not to mention!

Tragedy and sadness take over in my town

2006-03-31T14:00:00.000-06:00

Alicia Bonura Ashley Brown

I had thought about not mentioning this car wreck in my blog because I'm so far removed from the school days and teenagers and though I feel really sorry and prayerful for them all, it's not anyone I know. But it's staying on my mind more than I thought it would. It's so sad.

Basically the West Brook High School girls soccer team were going to Humble in a chartered bus; it was raining; a truck in front of them dropped some of his load and the bus driver swerved - they turned over. Two of the girls died. One girl I think has lost her arm; and injuries vary from critical to scratches. I've done a blog search and found that one of the girls had a blog at MySpace - In answer to a question, who she wants to meet, she said that she "can't wait to meet God."
Here is the link to her webpage. Many of her friends are posting their sympathies and airing their grief there.

The Beaumont Enterprise, local paper, is full of articles, and local newscasts are reporting all the updates. Here's one article of the events as they happened on the bus.

Passenger describes horror of crashing bus
By: Jamie Reid and F.A. Krift, The Beaumont Enterprise
03/31/2006
Rain pounded the highway ... fog clouded the charter bus windows ... then, out of nowhere, foam panels dropped into the bus' lane on U.S. 90 ... The driver swung the wheel right then compensated left.

A bus crash that killed two West Brook soccer players Wednesday on their way to a playoff match in Humble played out like a movie to the girls on board.

Gasps of "Oh my God," filled the bus, sophomore Elise Huch said.

"A lot of people were screaming and we were scared," she said.

About 45 miles from Charles Street Stadium, where the Bruins were headed to play Houston Lamar, the bus driven by 41-year-old Lorri Ann White of Silsbee tumbled onto its left side with a mighty window-bashing crunch.

Laurel Battle, 17, can't begin to describe the scene. And she won't. It's just too horrible.

The 22-member soccer team left West Brook about 2 p.m., some surprised they would play in the bad weather, Battle said.

About 45 miles from Humble, some girls had started to curl up for naps.

The team watched the movie "Dude, Where's My Car?" and finished homework when "two huge white things," fell into the road, Huch said.

"Everything was normal. Then I saw that thing in the road," said Huch, who sat near the front.

Battle, like Huch, was on the good side of the bus, the right side. Battle has no lasting injuries; Hutch dislocated her left shoulder.

When the bus toppled to the left, Battle fell on top of three other girls.

Girls sitting on the left side, including the late Alicia Bonura, a senior, seemed to have more injuries. The other girl who died was sophomore Ashley Brown.

Head coach Rachael Scoggin attempted to calm the trapped girls, Huch said. When the bus stopped moving, Battle opened the roof hatch so bloodied girls could climb out.

Battle, sitting near the rear, never saw the piece of foam that apparently caused the driver to steer the bus off the roadway.

Battle doesn't blame White for the accident.

"There was no way she could have run over that (foam)," Battle said in defense of the driver.

The fogged windows unnerved Huch, 16 and in training for her driver's license. Asked a day later, Huch wasn't sure if the defrosters were working. White wiped the windshield clean, Huch said.

"You could barely see out the windows," she said.
jreid@beaumontenterprise.com(409) 833-3311, ext. 428
fakrift@beaumontenterprise.com(409) 833-3311, ext. 413
©The Beaumont Enterprise 2006

And then a friend of mine sent an email from a student who is trying to tell how things are in the school. This is all so familiar because even though it's been so many years ago when I was in high school there was an incident where some senior boys had gone to the beach and they were all asphixiated with carbon monoxide poisoning. I remember going from one funeral to another, and how the grief and sadness took over the whole community.

From: xxx
Date: 3/31/06 8: 20:37 a.m.
Subject: Fw: FYI on West Brook
FromSubject: FW: FYI on West Brook
Here is an email from my friend who is a Senior at West Brook. I just got it and thought you might want to know what was going on.

I can't even begin to describe school today. In my first period class, our teacher tried to tell us what happened to clear all the rumors, and she started bawling. One of the girls was in our class and although she has pretty bad injuries to her hips, she's having surgery this morning, she was the one who kicked out the emergency window and pulled out 8 to 10 girls. We all sat there in silence for about 35 minutes and then slowly started to talk, and cry, about things. As I sit here typing this, you can hear the clicking of keys sending out emails and searching for imformation, an Among Thorns CD and news casts from the computers and televisions we have in the room.
The halls are eerily quiet. You can hear some hushed conversations, but mainly all you hear is crying and the shuffling of feet. It's so sad that something like this had to happen, but it's slowly bringing us together as a school and that is an awesome thing!
What's even more amazing is the presence of God. Everybody is talking about Him, even the teachers. Text messages were going out like crazy! A girl put one on the chalk board in my 1st period class, and our teacher passed it on to the other teachers. It's really amazing how something that is not allowed to be talked about normally is so strongly present.
2 coaches came to talk to us and they said that most of the injuries were upper body injuries and a lot of people had road rash and really bad ant bites all over from laying in the grass. As of 12 midnight, there was only on girl who's arm they reattached and couldn't be saved. Only 6 girls are still at St. E(Elizabeth) and one is probably going home today or tomorrow.
All you can do in a time like this is pray, so I ask that you continue to pray for the girls families, their friends, and all of us here at West Brook. Pray that we can come together and get through this as a community and that God can start to heal some of the horrific pain we're all facing.
Also, feel free to pass this on as you see fit.
-Katie

Mexican Flag was waving in Texas!

2006-03-30T20:32:00.000-06:00

Before I begin my tirade on politics, the homefront was pretty boring, mood pretty melancholy to boot. I did get to sleep late, till 9:00 - which was nice; and have been working the rest of the day, pretty steadily. TC said there's another job she took today that needs to be expedited; so tomorrow I'll have to put this one aside and do it. It's like she said, "Be careful what you wish for."

Tommy hasn't seemed to do too well today. I tried to look at his hip to see how his sore is coming along, but he wouldn't let me. But he has been such a good boy to take his antibiotics. But he's just plain cranky and obviously feels bad. I sure hope I don't wind up having to take him back to the vet. He has been doing so well up till today.

Now for my rant -- guess you heard the news about the lunatic principal in Houston who actually flew a Mexican flag over his school! Good God! What's wrong with people? Have they no common sense at all! He's an educator; but it makes you wonder if he missed school the day they taught Texas history and about the Alamo and The Battle of San Jacinto and how our brave ancestors fought and died to get Texas out from under that Mexican flag!! This whole situation is getting totally out of control! I don't think the families who have been here for decades and have kids should have to go, but I think maybe the rest, the ones without children should and then apply for immigration rights the same as every immigrant has to do. They've got to stop this madness and stop cowtowing to all the Mexicans at the expense of the legal citizens called Americans. If the Americans aren't taking the back seat to the Iraqis, then it's the Mexicans! If our jobs aren't sent to Mexico and India and China, then they bring in the Mexicans in to do what jobs we have left. And then rub it in our face flying Mexican flags! Argh!

Lou Dobbs is about the only voice on the news that's trying to tell people what's happening out there. I think he had a report tonight about how many interest groups have a vested interest - to say the least - in this resolution - though I did miss the report. Maybe I'll read the show's transcript tomorrow.
But of course there's vested interests -- No Doubt!

Remember the old saying, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it any more"? Where's our ringleader when we need one!
(Click on the picture to take you to the page. It has links for the video or audio only.)

Myspace.com

2006-03-29T23:42:00.000-06:00

I think I mentioned it the other day, but an online friend kind of got me started with Myspace and and I set it up, I haven't done too much with it. But people will go through and read your profile and send a message asking to be your friend. Your friends accumulate. Some will start trying to just visit with you, get acquainted. Some are maybe bands who probably go through and post to everybody to get people to listen to their music. It's pretty neat. They don't seem to be so interested in the day to day blogging as much as just getting acquainted and putting all the little stuff on their web pages.
This is the site that has been in the news so much about the young teenagers using it. I can sure see how it would appeal to them. I've met some really nice people in my age group, though, from Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Florida, and even some younger people - well, 20s, 30s. I do have one girl who is 16 in my friends now, but I already knew her from another board.
Since they all have their pages all dolled up, I found a site where you can get the frills to add to it and have been messing with that all night. A lot of them have videos on their pages, and I wanted to find a good one for mine, but didn't know where to find it. I looked through Googlevideos and I didn't like any of them. So, I don't know where to find them that will have the html codes so you can use them. At a point of desperation, I thought I'd put the juggling video on it, but I couldn't even get it to work. The song that I added that plays when you load the page has a video to go with it, but I couldn't figure out how to get on my page, only the song part. Anyway, it's a pretty neat little community. Take a look at my page, see what you think.

Today was shopping day. Finally got to the grocery store - well, Walmart. It was rainy and thundering, but somehow it seemed quite pleasant to be out, even in the rain, and hear the thunder and see the lightening off in the distance. Of course I did go through the garden shop and picked up another package of morning glory seeds. I'm determined I'm going to grow some. The others aren't quite dead yet, but they're not too far from it. If any live, it will amaze me.

I did finish the huge job, finally, and will start the other big one tomorrow. By all rights, I should have started on it tonight, but -- well, I didn't. Guess that's it for today. It's definitely bedtime!

Tuesday's entry...

2006-03-28T23:37:00.000-06:00

Wow, I sometimes wish I could do something else for a living. I never want to complain because I'm thankful for this job, thankful I can be home and not have to fight a 8:00 to 5:00, which I don't think I could do anyway. My stamina wouldn't ever allow it, and I haven't had a real job since -- uh - well, I guess 1969. But this makes me so freaking tired! I can only stay with it so long, then have to get away from it for a bit, and that makes it drag out. I've hardly got out of this chair since 8:00 this morning -- less a couple of hours to cook something for supper and watch Lou Dobbs and part of Olbermann. I've got about six pages left and then all the little finishing touches, but it will have to wait till morning. Then I really must get to the grocery store. There's another big job behind this one. Hopefully it will be a little easier. But like I say, I don't want to complain; because if I didn't have this, I would be in a heap of big trouble. But venting helps a little bit.

Are you following all this immigration madness! I'm having a hard time deciding what side of the fence I'm on with this issue (ha -- get the pun! ) I can see both sides. Definitely I think there is a problem here, and I think we should not allow however many millions of people get a free ride with amnesty. That's totally not fair. What about all those poor souls who lost their lives trying to get here in big trucks where they'd suffocate and all the horror stories. They are taking our jobs - no matter what they say. To say people won't do them is not true. They are driving the wages down. I can see all those justifications to send them all packing. But on the other hand, the ones who have been here for years, especially with children who are US citizens -- well, that wouldn't be a humane thing to do at all. It's a difficult situation. The whole thing got way too far out of hand and now there's not any easy fixes. Seems like this country has way too many of those kind of problems now - in just about every area you can think of!

Well, guess I don't have to try to fix it. They won't be coming to ask me to be Queen for the Day and solve the problem; that's for sure. I just wish these legislators would use some plain common sense. I heard a comedian late last night, a Mexican on Comedy Central - saying how crazy it is throw them all out and build a wall. He said, "Who's going to build it??" Then he said, "I know. Make them build it, then kick them out." He was being funny, but it's almost too true, too sad to be funny.

The one thing about all these demonstrations, though, that's interesting. The media has covered them pretty well. But when there were massive, huge, world-wide demonstrations against the war, against Bush, they barely made note of it. Seems like we're not getting much Iraq news lately either - and people are still dying, still suffering. "Out of sight, out of mind" you think will help Bush's ratings? Um, wonder who picks and chooses what stories we get to hear about!

Gosh, it's been a long day.

"For once; just for fun; for a world out of balance"

2006-03-27T20:49:00.000-06:00

Chris Bliss

Amazing Juggling Finale

title coined by Peter Werbe

Thought you might enjoy this amazing video. I've never heard of Chris Bliss - sheltered world that I live in - but I think I'll familiarize myself with him now. Also, I've never heard of Peter Werbe. Looking at his site, I'd say he's a guy after my own heart -- ha! Ha! Actually a thread on the DemocraticUnderground is what brought this video to my attention and one of the posters referred to the title and that Peter Werbe coined it. So, just in case, I thought I it best to give proper credit. Since the only events for today were finishing up my job, delivering it, watering the plants, and giving Tommy his medicine twice today without incident - this is it for today.Enjoy!

What Color is your aura?

2006-03-26T22:06:00.000-06:00

Take the test... and let me know what your color is and if you think it fits you.

I stumbled on this little test today, and was a little worried what it might tell me by the way I answered some of the questions - but to my surprise, it fit me pretty well - at least my own perception of me. There was even instructions how to put this on your blog, which I figured out how to embed it in my template. It's at the very bottom of this page -- just scroll all the way down. Their colors are hard to read, so I made some adjustments and reposted it here. (edited 3/28: I deleted it -- decided I didn't want it on my main page - but it was an educational experience of learning how to include it.)

As you can see, I worked hard today at trying to work hard. TC called this morning at barely after 8:00 saying she had just then retrieved her messages and there was a message from Friday requesting her to hustle her bustle on a particular job - which I didn't even have yet. So, I had to put aside the big job I've been trying to get done and work on this one. I got about half of the job done, which is no great feat, but I'm on good enough schedule. I'll do some more tonight so I can knock out the rest tomorrow by mid day.

Tommy was such a good boy to take his medicine. I decided to try something different. Rather than trying to hold him down and restrain is front paws, I just took hold of the scruff of his neck, held his head back, and his little mouth came open and that was it - no stress, no mess -- well, a tiny amount of spitting back, but not bad! It even worked for his afternoon dose. Now I do hope telling this won't jinx the method for his dose in the morning. He even let me look at his sore. It's right under his tail, but thankfully not in as critical a place as it could be. It looked to me like maybe it's draining, seemed open -- which is very good - because that's what they have to do to get well. So, unless something seems different, I think maybe we've dodged the surgery for him.

So much for this weekend.

A little camera play

2006-03-25T23:21:00.000-06:00

Tiny Tiger Lilly

Almost Amarillis

I decided to get out my Dimage Z2 for a little bit today, first time I've even fooled with it since the hurricane - last October. I only took a few, but here's a couple of macros I'm finally entering in my DPME MSN group's assignment this month. I'm assistant manager of the group; and we have a little competition every month of a different topic. I collect the votes and announce the winners. It's a fun group. It's just the last several months I haven't been in the mood to enter anything.

The morning glories are doing awful. If they make it, t will be a miracle. My zinnias aren't looking too great either. I definitely tried to transplant them too soon. I feel like I'm having to reinvent the wheel learning how to grow these flowers. In days gone by, I would have these little old lady neighbors who could turn weeds into exotic plants and were always so free with advice and cuttings. I sure wish I had one of those neighbors again.

At least Tommy seems to feel a little better. That's what's really important. I was able to give him his antibiotics today - well, at least half of them because the other half wound up on the floor or in his hair . He's not doing cartwheels, but he does feel better. Sure hope that ol' nasty bite will dry up on its own.

A trip to the vet...

2006-03-24T21:31:00.000-06:00

Tommy did ask to go out this morning, but it was evident that he felt like death warmed over. He was cranky if I picked him up, and laid around. I noticed him licking on his bottom and decided to try to see if I could see anything wrong; and sure enough, there was some redness, something wrong there. He didn't want me messing with him and he has a lot of fur and I couldn't see well enough to see what was going on. I'll have to admit, cancer crossed my mind. You always think the worst. So, I called Dr. Crenshaw - the only vet in town that I trust with anything more even mildly serious. They said they'd work me in at 4:00. It was about 1:00 then.

Well, it's not cancer, he said he has an abscess, that he had evidently gotten in a fight and was either clawed or bit. He said the best thing to do would be put him under and drain the abscess and get it all cleaned up, but being late Friday evening, he wouldn't have time and offered to keep him over the weekend. No, I didn't want to do that. But he gave him an antibiotic shot and some antibiotic liquid for me to try to give him this weekend and call them Monday and go from there. He said he should at least feel some better, but as of right now, he's not seeming to feel any better. He did eat a little. Poor Tommy.

He's quite protective of his home, and if a cat comes around, he will challenge the cat to leave. Not too long ago he tangled with one and got a bloody ear from it. It's probably the same cat. Actually, it's not a bad cat, he looks sort of like Tommy. He doesn't have a good home and he'll be looking for some food is all, but Tommy is not a gracious host for cat company. It may not have been that cat. I really have no idea. Maybe some insect or spider bit him? Whatever, it's not pleasant, and if he doesn't get a whole lot better over the weekend, I'll have to let the doc do what he thinks is best. I didn't ask how much this is going to cost, but hopefully it won't be horrific!

Besides that all that, I checked on my little flowers out back and the morning glories looked like they were about fried. Too tender to be in the sun, even if it is cool. At least that was my novice analysis. So, I gently pulled them out of the flower bed and put them back in little pots and back on the patio out of direct sun and wind. Not too many of the seeds germated anyway. Wonder if they're for a different zone or something? Then, to add to my dismay over my gardening efforts, even a couple pots of my pansies in front were about dead from dryness. Dang, these plants drink a lot of water! But it did snap back. So, I was happy about that.

The neighbors who are so messy in the back decided to weedeat the fence, the other side of my bed. And they blew all their trash and grass clippings and stuff on my little baby flowers. Rude men! I've got to get that netting or something put up. But I don't have time now. In spite of the stresses today - and major worry about my little kitty, I did make some headway on work - finished one of the big jobs. There's a continuation to it that I need to get finished this weekend.

If you feel so inclined, say a little prayer for Tommy that he won't have to have that place lanced. He and I both need a break.

Feast or famine

2006-03-23T20:48:00.000-06:00

More jobs came in today and more will arrive tomorrow. If I could figure out how to clone myself, I could get ahead -- well, maybe begin to play catch-up for what I had gotten behind at least -- but I'm only one person and I can only do one page at a time. Stamina and speed it the key. I don't seem to have either one.

I suppose it was bad luck for me to tell the story yesterday of how Tommy wakes me up to go out every single morning because when I awoke this morning, looked at the clock, it was 7:30, and Tommy had not been in, I knew something was wrong. Sure enough, he's really under the weather. Eating and drinking hardly at all, laying around, complaining if I pick him up. Only once he got up to go out, and I didn't let him because he's too sick and it's cold today. He didn't insist, used the litter box, and went back to his little bed. This blog comes in handy because I had recorded it before when he got sick, and it was December 27th (last paragraph). He gets this way every now and then. If he's not better tomorrow, I may have to take him out to Dr. Crenshaw and get him an antibiotic shot. Last December he did pull out of it on his own. A year or two ago the vet told me he has really low resistance. Needless to day, it worries me a lot when he feels so bad.

It looks like the USB - parallel cable might not work; but I could be doing something wrong. A couple of times the whole computer froze up and I even got Explorer has performed an illegal function, then a run.dll error once. It wanted me to put the driver on the LPT2 port but it defaulted to LPT1; and all I knew to do was manually change it. I couldn't find the right cable for the parallel printer; but if the key would work, it didn't have to have the printer attached. However, the key didn't work. It would tell me the button couldn't be detected. So, with all the work I have, I gave up, decided maybe some day when I can get back to John's, maybe he can figure it out. Otherwise, it's pointless to waste any more time on it.

I got something in the mail today I want to share. You know, these things that go around talking about how much better times were in the 50s or the 60s, happier, easier times. Boy, were they! If not easier, at least a whole lot less stressful. I always enjoy those and the nostalgia it brings back of a time when life was good. But this one is a little different, but it picks up on a time that our kids and grandkids will never know and a time that the world seems to have long forgotten. In fact, even I was almost born too late for this cherished icon of a feeling of love and security.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. It's called simply,

Aprons

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.
The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER, Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

Funny Cat Video 2

2006-03-22T22:45:00.000-06:00

Funny Cat Video 2 -- click on the picture! You gotta just love cats!
I sure wish I could get a video of Tommy's morning routine. Every morning, usually about 4:00 or 5:00 a.m., he will be ready to go outside. Needless to say I'm in pretty deep sleep by that time as it's usually well after 2:00 before I can finally get to sleep, even with the one Tylenol PM I allow myself as a sleep aid. Anyway, he sleeps in my office until he's ready to go out. Then he'll come to the bedroom, get on my night table, sit there a minute looking at me to see if I'll wake up. If not, he will walk across the top of the bed, above my head, to the other side, perch on that night table and see if that woke me up. If not, he will go back to the original side, only this time he will make sure he bounces the mattress a little harder. I've played possum enough to know he'll continue doing this, back and forth, pouncing harder each time, till I show signs of life. As soon as I even turn over, he races to the front door and waits. If I take too long to get there and let him out, he's comes back to see what happened to me and has a very irritated expression on his little face. For a cat, he can definitely get a wrinkle in his brow! Who said animals aren't smart!

Nothing to report today. I worked, did a little better on my production today, though I can't crank it out like I could a few years ago. The weather was cold and rainy. I did get my cable, the USB to parallel adapter - actually I got it yesterday - but I haven't tried it yet.

I never answer unidentified or 1-800 numbers. They rarely will leave a message on the answering machine, but tonight they did, and it was Hewlett-Packard Tech Support checking on me to see if all was okay with my new laptop (dv5020). Remember, I had spent seven hours with them trying to get the wireless router to work and finally it turned out the Linksys people got it working. Actually, come to think of it, I do need to call HP back and tell them. But I thought that was really nice that they would follow through like that. I'm really happy I got the HP. I love it.

I checked on my little baby plants, and all seems to be okay. I'm thinking about where I'll be putting the rest of them when they get bigger. I've got to do something about my ugly, messy back neighbors. Maybe I will go to Sutherland's and look at that greenhouse netting. If it's opaque enough, maybe I should put it up. It's so disheartening. I'll just about guarantee you that Parigi won't be putting up the privacy anytime in the foreseeable future -- well, yeah, on second thought - when all my flowers are really doing great and at their prime of beauty, then they'll come along and dig post holes and trample all my pretty flowers in the ground. How's that for optimism!

Guess that's it for today. Think I'll watch the funny cats one more time. Ah, just looked -- Animal Plant's Funniest Animal Videos is on as we speak. That show always makes me laugh out loud!

Atta girl, Helen Thomas...

2006-03-21T21:53:00.000-06:00

-- she made my day. What a gal! If you saw any news today, you probably saw it, but Bush finally called on her and she didn't let her fans down. Here's the video of her confrontation with Bush. She so knew his answer was a bunch of hooey. You might need to let it fully load before you try to play it because when I tried it, it was buffering a lot. But it's worth it if you didn't see it.

Then she was on Wolf Blitzer's show; and again, she came through like a champ. She gently and swiftly smashed Wolf like he was a pesty little fly. She's terrific. And here's a link to a recount of that encounter.

Other than the joy in my heart at an old lady's triumph, I did get to Mom's as planned, picked up my job, got back and started on it before noon. It's pretty big. Then tonight TC called and said she took another bunch of pages of a continuation of the same today, then a different tonight and will be taking another decent size job tomorrow. So, guess play time is over. She also ooh'd and ah'd over the pictures of Robert's house I had emailed to her and told me how she bragged about him to somebody she was talking to today. So, that made me feel good.

During one of my breaks I gave myself, I did plant some of my zinnias. I'm afraid maybe I tried putting them in the ground too early because they're so very tender; but most of them were a few inches high, but just so very delicate. So, I only planted about half of them and am going to wait for the others to get a little more sturdy.

Guess that's it for today.

Monday report...

2006-03-20T23:46:00.000-06:00

Can't say today was anything earth shattering. I went through a huge stack of mail that was 7/8 junk mail. However, my phone bill was in there, and it's not AT&T instead of SWB. Guess I better change that on my bill pay on my bank site. I just straightened up, puttered around. This evening I filled my garden in with the soil I bought and have only one more wheelbarrowful of the clay to move out and wait for my little baby plants to get big enough to put in their new home. It won't be long. I actually had a few bags of dirt left over, so maybe I'll use it to expand the bulb bed.

When I came back in I saw where TC had called and said she had taken a job today and had to go back and take more of it tomorrow and she would drop the job off at my mom's in the morning since it's closer for her. So, I'll have to go get it and get back and --- yeah! So, glad to have a job to do!

Today, on C-Span they covered a live discussion with some of the ex-detainees who had been held for years in Guantanamo. It was so upsetting to me to hear how mean my fellow Americans have been to other human beings. The whole torture, Gitmo, Abu Gareb situation has been appalling to me and has made me ashamed of the conduct of our government. We should be better than that. Believe me when I say what I'm saying now is mild to the outrage in my heart. For the life of me I can't understand these far right people who seem to revel in how justified they are to be so cruel. The thing of it is, none of these people had done anything wrong. It could have been anybody husband, father or son.

Beside that, I've been thinking about how now with Bush's approval ratings being so low, the Republicans and some Democrats are now conveniently saying how horrible a job Bush is doing and though they're certainly not going to get an argument out of me about it - my whole philosophy is it's about darn time people start waking up out of their fog - I just got to thinking how most of them are crying foul now and they were just as guilty as he was when they endorsed everything, gave him the go-ahead for all these things, egged him on and drove up his approval numbers giving him all that "political capital" he was so proud of; now they're complaining things aren't going so good. What hipocrits. When he kept hollering about the weapons and we needed to invade and all that, it was so obvious that it was all one big con job on everybody, ruse of the century to have an excuse to go to war. It couldn't have been more obvious. But no, so many of the senators, and representatives and even John Q Public all saying, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, now they all are saying how lousy Bush has done. Yes, he has, but all those people need to take a good hard look in the mirror. They carry just as much blame.

On a happier note -- I brought my laptop into the living room and set it up on a TV tray and have been setting up MS Outlook to bring in my mail accounts. On my desktop I use Incredimail; but I don't want it on this one; will just let Outlook retrieve it, but not delete the mail. That way it will still collect in the same place, but I won't have to sign into four different accounts. I'm not sure if I can get Outlook to retrieve AOL or not. But it's okay. I can just log into AOL.

Well, think I'll try to get to bed early - at least for me. Hopefully I can pick up my job in the morning and get back and get started on it before noon.

Very happy news from my kids...

2006-03-19T22:41:00.000-06:00

... Robert and Ranya in Virginia! They bought a house - a townhouse. Wow!! Three levels, only four years old -- best word I know to describe it is "elegant." I'm so happy for them. I was hoping that they would find jobs maybe in Houston, but they're established with their employment up there, and they did try looking for something comparable down this way; but I guess it wasn't meant to be. They've been married over ten years and now have little Sarah, who will be a year old in May; so it's time they start building some equity. They'll finalize and take up residence in April. Gosh, how exciting - their first home and it is a beauty!!

In the meantime, back to reality of my simple little life, my flower garden construction continues. This morning I got the morning glories section done. Some of the seeds were duds, so there won't be a whole lot of them. Then Mom and I got out for a while, ate lunch, and loaded up another bunch of 40-lb bags of potting soil that I hope will finish up the bed.

I couldn't resist more seeds; but this time I got perennials - which I know nothing about. Ha - I know nothing about any of this venture.
(Heliopsis, Scabiosa, Rudbeckia, and two varieties of Hollyhock)
Some I knew what they were, some I didn't, just thought they looked nice, especially the Scabiosa. TheRudbeckia is black eyed Susans. Anyway, after I got them home and read the backs of the packets, they don't flower till the 2nd year. Shoot! Well, we'll see how it goes. This time I bought the Jiffy Mix stuff to plant them in as is recommended rather than dirt. I also got a packet of poppies and even two packets of hot peppers.

Who knows where I'll find spots to plant all these if they all grow. I didn't realize what I was getting into with the perennials. Maybe I can put some in containers.

I borrowed Mom's wheelbarrow and moved about half the pile of clay clods to the far back behind the shed against the fence. Slowly but surely...

Oh, and I got some azalea food and fed them as per directions - but I forgot the mulch. Oh, well.

Saturday's achievements...

2006-03-18T21:25:00.000-06:00

Sweet peas move into their new home...

My very young and tender sweet peas now have a home. I doubt I'll keep the fence thing up around the front, but I put it there just to protect them while they're so fragile. Yes, I know the background is ultra ugly. There's not too much I can do about that at the moment. You know the commercial on TV for the windows where the two ladies are admiring the windows and the homeowner shows her friend how she lowers and raises the blinds inside the windows and the hubby is almost setting himself on fire in the yard but they don't look through the window -- well, that's how I have to be about my backyard. Don't look past the fence.

This angle makes the bed look longer than it is. The section I finished for the sweet peas is about a fourth of the bed I guess. It's still most definitely under construction. Maybe by the end of the summer I'll have it all finished! But this much is an achievement.

I had to call Shell's Nursery today about my azaleas. It seems they are requiring a whole lot of watering. One didn't really snap back real well today, and it scared me. He told me they need watering from the base rather than top and that I should get a soaker, put it on a timer, put mulch around them, and also feed them with some azalea food. So, that's a project to take care of tomorrow. I really don't want to kill these azaleas. I love them and besides, I paid about $20 a piece for them. I rewatered the one that looked the worst, like he said around the base, and I think it did help, but it's dark and hard to see.

Other than all this gardening preoccupation, I again deserve some sort of pat on the back because I got out all my income tax junk and completed my first rough draft. There will be some rechecking and looking, but at least I have an idea how much I'll have to pay. Being self-employed and never sending in the right amount on quarterlies, I never have the luxury of getting any money back.

Well, it's early enough, think I'll pull up my Yahoo TV schedule and see what's on that might hold my interest for an hour or two.

Happy St. Paddy's Day

2006-03-17T22:19:00.000-06:00

The day was almost half over before I realized it was anything other than another ordinary day. Since I didn't even leave the house, no, there was no celebrating. I do have a little Irish ancestry, mostly Breckenridge on Dad's side and Clark on Mom's but neither was even within the last 200 years. There's probably a few others undetermined at present. The vast majority is German and English. Still, it's a nice little holiday; and I'm sorry I wasn't prepared with the corn beef and cabbage.

I finished up the job I had started the first part of the week, and TC came by to get it, promising we're going to get into high gear come Monday. She doesn't even know if she has a job Monday, but I hope she's ready to start cranking out some work.

Good news for me finally -- little event that it is. I was able to get my cell phone to download to the computer. I'm not even sure what I did, but just messed around with it, and -- surprise -- it works now! So, all seems to be in good form.

Of course, good news is always flanked with bad, and that is that the eMachine is getting more and more sluggish and every now and then I'll get a run.dll and app has encountered a problem and some other error messages, which generally means, start getting things backed up and ready. It's not far a' comin'. (sigh)

I watched Lou Dobbs - God bless him!! - and then went outside to work a little on my flower bed. I'll have to catch Olbermann on the 11:00 rerun - if he even will rerun tonight. The bed is now right at 20 feet and long enough, I think. I spent some time breaking up the clay -- (as opposed to real dirt - lol) into small clumps to put back and then top off with the top soil and sand I bought. A tiller would have been handy - if it could have cut through the gumbo. Oh, well. What clumps are too hard to break I'll use in low spots in the yard; but my wheelbarrow is still broke. Hopefully I can at least get the sweet peas planted this weekend since they're just about ready to get in the ground.

An Internet acquaintance of mine who is active with the Democratic party in Nevada, circulated an email today. Thing of it is, I suppose this is supposed to be funny -- but it's all too true! Here's a few:

"Things you have to believe to be a Republican today."

Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.

Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him, and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.

Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.

The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches, while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.

Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health care to all Americans is socialism. HMOs and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart.

A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense, but a president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.

Friends don't let friends vote Republican.

Have a great weekend. I'll see you tomorrow.

Tying up a few loose ends

2006-03-16T22:06:00.000-06:00

What a great visit with my kids! Way too short but such a wonderful breath of fresh air!

So, now it's back to the grind. This little guy seems to have the right expression for how things went the rest of the day!

First thing I had to do was return the USB/Parallel adapter to ECP because it was wrong. They didn't have what I needed, but he gave me the name to ask for - USB - DB25.

Then I stopped at Home Depot because my cordless drill power supply went caput; but they didn't have one. So, on to Lowe's to see if they did -- nope, said it was no longer being made, etc, and so I just bought a new drill. The power supplies are about as much as the whole darn thing anyway.

After I got back home, I found the USB - DB25 on the web, called them to be sure I was getting the right thing, and ordered it.

Next was to get through all the registrations on my laptop, router, mouse, and Care Pack, and get the rebate form. Well, easier said than done. The router was a joke! Sign up, okay. Did that. Register -- you have to be signed up. I did! Sign up again. "You don't have anything registered"! No joke Dick Tracy. Ring around the rosey with that and then I called the only 800 number I had for Linksys - which was tech support. On hold, menus, another phone number - foreign accents - finally after an hour of tenacious determination, I got it registered.

The mouse wasn't too hard, but the Care Pack (extended warranty) was. Again, after a fight with the web page, I called HP and they convinced me to mail in the written form would be the best and then told me where to find the rebate form.

Of course all this needed printing and my black ink cartridge was empty. So, I had to stop and take care of that, put the printer through the alignment. Now all that's left is to find the bar code and get it in the mail. Jeesh!

Next desired task to do was to set up my network. Oh, boy. No, I had no idea what I was doing. It said everything had to be hooked up to each other, and I don't know what that meant. I unplugged the router and printer from the desktop and plugged them into the laptop and had to name each computer and the network. I don't think it took at all. It will have to wait till John can have some time to help me - or I can get somebody. Maybe HP will help me - but not now!

After that I wanted to set up my external drive to do a scheduled backup on the laptop. I have the directories all named the same as they are on the desktop; so if something changes on one, it will just overwrite. If the external drive isn't available, Iomega will find a place on the C drive to back it up files until the external drive is attached again. Boy, that little device was well worth the money. (um, it's gone up since I bought mine - or else I got a good sale.)

So, that's about it. I did find my cable to my cell phone, and maybe now I'll sit here and see if I can get it to work. Then again, maybe I'll try to focus in on the news, though they're not covering much that I'm interested in right now.

Just checking in

2006-03-15T22:14:00.000-06:00

Don't want to ruin my daily accounts by missing a day of my online diary. There's nothing earth shattering to report other than I spent the day with Sheridan, which is special in itself. She had a whole disk of pictures she wanted emailed to her so she could have them on her computer that's at her home so they would be already in the mail and she could forward them. I guess she doesn't quite know how to get them off a CD; so we tried sending them full size, and her email account quickly hit its limits. So that didn't work. We messed with that project all morning and finally I did resize them but it was still over 3 mg in size; so to make a long story short, the way she wanted to handle it is email them all to her mom's account and then her mom mail them to her AOL account where she had room. I could have sent them there, of course, myself, but both her parents have all her email accounts where only approved addresses can get an email to her, and her mom just hadn't put me on that particular account.

Even though child predators have always been with us, the Internet has made their sick pastime so much easier. It's sad too, because the kids can't really enjoy the email attachments and fun things that get sent around because of all the filters and protection settings. But I sure don't blame her parents for having the protections on. Then today there was the horrible story of the child porn rings sting. It's so sick.

After we got resolved to her satisfaction, we watched Hook. If I had seen it before, it was long forgotten; so I enjoyed seeing it a lot.

Other than that, I wanted John to try to could figure out my cell phone upload program and see about the driver. I had misplaced the disk and found the program online, but not sure about the driver. Problem now is I can't find the blasted cable. I know I had it! Where did I put it!!! I really hate myself when I do this. I swear, there's a goblin hanging around that takes great joy in hiding things from me.

Tomorrow our precious visit will end. It's always such a joy to spend time with my kids. All the time they were growing up, I took it for granted that they would form their families and have their jobs in town and we'd have weekend visits or barbecues and babysitting and shopping together. That just wasn't in the stars. I have to admit, it's hard not to be envious of people whose kids live next door or at least nearby and have daily visits and get to share life. So needless to say what time I do get is always cherished time. So, it will be time to get back into my routine of my projects and my own responsibilities. There's certainly enough to keep me occupied.

Virtualization

2006-03-14T23:39:00.000-06:00

It's a pretty neat set up. John put it on my laptop, and now I can do a couple of clicks and I have Win 98 at hand, can minimize it and still have XP right there. Very cool. The problem I have now -- of course to think this would come off without a hitch was folly -- is the USB to parallel adapter is the wrong kind. So, I still can't use my work software on here. There's a device, called a key, that opens the software, and it plugs into a parallel port, which the laptop doesn't have. And the software won't run on XP; so I have to have pre-XP operating system for it. If I can't get it to work, it will be okay, but it would sure be nice. Reality is I should upgrade to a newer version, but this version is serving the purpose, and it's very expensive!

Visiting with John and Sheridan has been great. I missed all the news shows, but that's okay. We've had delivery pizza and Dr. Pepper and ice cream. Right now I'm watching "Kim Possible" with Sheridan. There's all sorts of shows she watches that I've never seen. I'm sure out of the loop, I'm afraid.