When I was 17 and in my last of a string of foster homes (and one of the few GOOD foster homes, I might add!), I was having a conversation with my foster parents, whom I was just beginning to know. Over the last few years, we had both experienced personal loss. They had lost a son, I had lost a brother that my siblings and I had spent a great deal of time helping to raise. When my foster mother discussed losing her son, I said I understood because I had lost a brother. This upset her ...
There's an old story about frogs based on what snopes ( www.snopes.com ), at least, declares to be an urban legend. According to the story, if you put a frog into boiling water, the frog will jump out immediately. If, however, you put it in water of a comfortable temperature and gradually increase it, the frog will boil to death with no attempt to escape. Though the story itself may be apocryphal, the moral is apt. We as individuals tend to be complacent when rights are removed one by one...
Third time's the charm, right? <table align=center border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=5> <tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFFF"> <h3>Your Taste in Music:</h3> </td></tr> <tr><td bgcolor="#C2F5FF">80's Alternative: Highest Influence</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#C2F5FF">90's Rock: Highest Influence</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#C2F5FF">Progressive Rock: Highest Influence</td></tr>...
As a Libertarian, I have often had sections of the opening chapter of "A Christmas Carol" thrown at me in regards to my opinion that charity is the responsibility of citizens, not of the government. Democrats wrongly align the attitude of small government Republicans and Libertarians with that of the pre-converted "Scrooge". But in making such an analogy, they take the book out of context. When visited by the men soliciting donations, Scrooge excuses himself from personal liability by poi...
As I have travelled about, I have always felt it my duty to immerse myself in local culture. This has led down many interesting paths, including a dip in the frigid waters of Wisconsin's Lake Winnebago in January some years back. So, it was a natural that when I saw the "redneck lawnmower racing" racetrack in town, I would have to find a way, ANY way, to procure a good lawnmower and join the racing circuit. I found a retired mechanic who wants to help design the machine, and so we're gettin...
Your Linguistic Profile: 50% General American English 25% Yankee 20% Dixie 5% Upper Midwestern 0% Midwestern What'>http://www.blogthings.com/amenglishdialecttest/">What Kind of American English Do You Speak? "
I am an onion ring afficianado. In my quest to lose weight, the occasional order of onion rings is a "must have" for maintaining sanity. Over the years, in every place I have lived, one of the first things I have done is sought out the best onion rings in the community. While the occasional tavern or local restaurant has provided inspiring rings, the two most reliable places I have found, depending on your region, are Sonic Drive Ins and Culver's Frozen Custard. Here are the ground rule...
I am a baseball fan. I will always be a baseball fan. The above two rules being kept in mind, it is only a matter of time before I read any baseball oriented book written by an ex-player. Their inside experience and understanding take me to a place I never had the ability to go to in reality. And thus, my reading of Jose Canseco's book only awaited the library's obtaining it to put on their shelves. The media circus surrounding it only helped to encourage. The book is actually a fair pi...
When my oldest daughter was a year old, we had an issue with the nursery of our church at the time. When we would take her in there, she would fuss. She wasn't used to being away from us, and needed to adjust to the nursery surroundings. The problem was, one nursery worker would come get us at the first sign of a whimper. Another instituted a "five minute" cry rule. Still another would bear through the entire church service to try to get her used to the nursery environment. We met with ...
Ok, to be technical, I looked up a few definitions of the word "express". I found the following relevant results: rapid transport of goods mail that is distributed by a rapid and efficient system send by rapid transport or special messenger service; "She expressed the letter to Florida" without unnecessary stops; "an express train"; "an express shipment" Bearing that in mind, I took two rims in last week to WalMart's Tire and Lube EXPRESS to have new tires put on them for my vehicle, ...
I was born in 1970. Thus, I was 15 years old in September 1985, which could best be considered "The Day the Music Died, part Deux". I remember well the PMRC hearings, led most notably by Tipper Gore, Al Gore's wife, who blew her top after she caught her daughter (allegedly, I still don't believe this story) masturbating to Prince's song "Darlin' Nikki". She then decided to be the moral arbiter of all American Rock music, notably exempting country music and many others from the same attacks. U...
Well, it's entirely possible I may have my car back together sometime tonight or tomorrow morning. I may be overly optimistic, but it's not far off. Then will come the ULTIMATE test: Did I put it back together RIGHT? Can't say this is the most fun I've had in awhile, that's for sure!
I read with great interest the news story that the mosque founded by Hakeem Olajuwon, the former center for the Houston Rockets, donated money to Islamic charities that are fronts for terrorist organizations. As with the earlier flap about Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens), the question quickly arises: How does someone so truly moderate in every way get so involved in terror organizations? I'll tell you how. It's not as hard as you think. When I became a Christian, I was very zealous for ...
While updating myself on another person's recent article about celebrating birthdays in schools, I was brought back to one of the chronic complaints of childhood, and how it applies to life in general. The justification was given that, to be "fair" to the one child whose parents didn't believe in birthdays, NOBODY in the class should be allowed to celebrate a birthday. Now, excuse me for asking, but what kind of chickenS&*^ NONSENSE is THAT? LIFE isn't fair. Some people come into it ...
OK, I know I'm one of the few, but I have to chortle at the "LLL" label tossed around here. Though it bears no relevance to this article, it did in some way inspire it so I have to give a nod in its direction. My family and I have become increasingly luddites, though without necessarily intending to. Being conservationists, the "back to earth" movement has always held appeal for us, and there is some joy in the fact that economic necessity has virtually forced us to live that dream (I have be...