I May Just "Sleep Forever"......

Well my friend Doris and I just had our xmas.

We went out to dinner at one of our favorite local haunts-"The Driftwood"-and had a nice dinner and then we decided to go hunt for "after xmas" sales at WallGreens.

I picked up a few things that were 75% off....mostly xmas trinkets and some lights for next year.

We then bopped over to my "cave" and exchanged our little gifts.



I got her a bunch of baking cookbooks and a gift certificate to one of her other favorite restaurants and a few other stocking stuffers.



My "take" this year was something I have wanted for ages and hinted about to a few different people in hopes of Santa being good to me this year....and she came through with.....a "queen size feather bed mattress topper". It is filled with "Down and feathers" and looks (and will hopefully feel) just heavenly.



The bed linens are being washed right now in anticipation of "Sugar Plums" dancing in my head tonight.



I also got a "Scooby Chia Pet plant"....I sppse now I have another thing to water and feed besides Scrappy and the two fish. Hopefully Scrappy will not eat the "hair" once it is grown on the Chia's head. Does anyone know if "Chia grass" is ok for cats to much on??



I am contemplating getting a "NetFlix" subcription for renting movies online. It is sppsed to be a pretty sweet deal if a person watches more than a few movies a month. For 17.99, a person can rent as many movies a month that they want (having 3 out at a time). They send the movies via mail and then when done watching, you put the movies back in a prepaid envelope and send them back and they send you your next selections....in usually one business day. I am going to try it on a trial basis and if it works as good as it is spppsed to...I may just drop my "enhanced cable". We will see.



Off to check on the news and see how those poor people are fairing with the after effects of the Tsunami in the Indian Ocean and then maybe watch one of the 1000 movies I have in my collection that I should probably start getting to.



Happy Wed.

I Think this could be the Worst Natural Disaster in my Lifetime....

The death toll as of tonight in the earthquake and ensuing massive wall of ocean water has surpassed 58,000....and I wouldn't doubt it if the final count comes close to 100,000 if not more. And THAT would make this calamity the worst natural disaster in recent history.



More on this unfolding tragedy:http://www.jsonline.com/news/intl/dec04/288066.asp



I have thought often in the last few days of the "biblical flood" that wiped out most of mankind back in ancient history.

I have (as I am sure others may have) wondered how such massive amounts of water could be unleashed on the earth at one time, to virtually wipe out mankind, back then. Now I understand a little better how easily this could happen. Imagine the population of the world back then (in Noah's time) if you will. It was probably no more than a million people. And if a massive earthquake in the middle of any of the two big oceans or possibly one in each-or a multiple meteorite strike on any or all of the earth's oceans....and you can see how quick such an event would kill many many people.



It is kind of funny that I just happen to be reading a book right now which deals with the subject of that ancient disaster (The Biblical Flood). Though the book puts fourth some far reaching theories on how "God" could have made this flood happen....seeing and hearing about this massive tragedy in Indonesia brings that ancient event into a more clear focus.....at least for me.



The loss of life keeps climbing and climbing and now the aftermath of rotting bodies, disease because of unsafe water supplies and inadequate sanitation is making things all that much worse. I feel so bad for all the people that died and all the survivors that are affected. The pictures and videos brought fourth on TV are just too awful. My god.....how lucky those of us who weren't in that part of the world are right now.



Like I have often thought in the past, and I will leave it at that for now, Nature's force is so majestic and awesome and all powerful and we are just but "ants" as far as those forces are considered.



I hope everyone says a prayer( I have and will continue to do so) for those that have perished and those that were left behind to deal with the unimaginable grief they must now undertake and then after that....all the healing and rebuilding of their shattered lives.

My New Years Travel Plans??

This is where I would like to spend the New Year.....using my "Marriott Trade Out Program Offering" for a "two free nights" stay.......



http://marriott.com/property/factsheet/HKTJW



Click on the link....and then come back to my blog. Hopefully at that point you will understand what some people call my "warped sense of humor". Or look at my previous post....



The site does say that there are rooms available. No doubt some of the prior guests are taking a long "swim" in the ocean.



Some of the scenes I have seen on tv are just amazing. It is like a movie come to life.....those poor people. Imagine sunbathing one second and then seeing a gigantic wall of water coming at you at 500 MPH......ikkes!

The Crazy World at the end of 2004-An Earthquake so Poweful that it changed the "Earth's Rotation"

Headlines in the News:

-Asia Quakes' Tsunamis Kill Nearly 10,000

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INDONESIA_EARTHQUAKE?SITE=WIMIL&SECTION=HOME



-Reggie White dies of Massive Heart Attack

http://www.jsonline.com/packer/news/dec04/287433.asp



The first story really makes one think....almost an entire section of the world devestated by a natural disaster that no one knew was coming-or could control. Makes one think of how lucky we are to even be alive. And it makes me feel that it is all that more important to "live each day to the fullest", as one never knows when their number will be called........



An excerpt from the first story:

-The rush of tsunami waves brought sudden disaster to people carrying out their daily activities on the ocean's edge. Sunbathers on the beaches of the Thai resort of Phuket were washed away. A group of 32 Indians - including 15 children - were killed while taking a ritual Hindu bath to mark the full moon day. Fishing boats, with their owners clinging to their sides, were picked up by the waves and discarded.

"All the planet is vibrating" from the quake, said Enzo Boschi, the head of Italy's National Geophysics Institute. Speaking on SKY TG24 TV, Boschi said the quake even disturbed the Earth's rotation.



Can you imagine what all those people were thinking as they were going about their "daily business" and their lives were litterally and suddenly "washed away" without any notice except a giant tidal wave. Makes me think of the movie "Sudden Impact" where Tia Laone is standing at the seashore off Martha's Vinyard and that big wave comes across the shore. How terrible and how sad.......



On another note....hope everyone had a great christmas. Mine was very nice and I got my wish for a white christmas. There was snow flurries all the way up to my folk's house and the snow was the light and flaky kind-coming down and sitting gently on trees and objects. It was a "picture perfect day". I even made my first "snow angel" in years while I was out there. There must have been close to 4 inches of snow on the ground up there at their place.



The weather channel is calling for more snow today and that is fine....flurries. Its perfect..You dont have to shovel flurries (most of the time) and it is easy to brush off of your vehicle.



A week till New Years. I will blog my New Years Resolutions sometime in the near future.

Happy Sunday.......

Happy Xmas Eve

Well everyone...one more day to go till the big "Santa Day".



I have all my shopping done and gifts are wrapped and it is almost time for bed.

I will be heading to my parent's home in Oxford on Christmas day for dinner and a few hours with them and a few family members.....nothing like the christmas' of my youth but things change....and one can not help that.



I do actually feel sorry for all those people who got "stuck" in the snow down south yesterday. I was just a bit crabby when I got up on thurs. and needed to vent so I picked the first thing that I saw. As I was out and about getting my shopping done, I thought....what if there was tons of snow coming down right now...yukkk.....it is cold to begin with and while I was at a few different places, I actually left my truck running so it would stay warm in the cab. WallMart was crazy....lines so long that people were waiting for hours just to check out. I decided to circumvent the long lines and I snuck over to the Electronics dept. and checked out there in 3 minutes....hee hee.



Time to sleep and be bright eyed and bushy tailed for our 3 hour xmas eve dinner hour at the restaurant. I wish we could close over the holidays but with our restaurant being in a full service hotel, that is kind of hard to do. Hopefully I will be out of there by 10pm so I can either catch up with some friends for a few hours or just get home and watch a christmas movie or something. I need to be on the road to head up north by 10am at the latest on saturday.



Happy Xmas Eve.......



Oh and just a thought before parting....people must be thankful for their jobs at this time of year also...I sure would not want to be in these people's shoes.....



http://www.jsonline.com/news/racine/dec04/286100.asp

WA Wa Wa-If they only had 4 Wheel Drive!!

I am sitting here watching the news and there is a story about a snow emergency somewhere in the midwest (Indianna I think...) that says 300 some cars are stuck in the snow on the interstates and other roads.....If these people would have 4Wheel Drive vehicles, they wouldnt be stuck...........I often think when I am driving in the snow, passing those 2wheel drive jobbies...how these people wouldnt have any of these problems if they would just invest in a proper vehcicle for this climate (like me......my Ford Ranger "Off Road 4by4" never lets me down).



And I only wish we had as much snow that some south of us do. There is maybe a sprinkling on the ground and though it is cold outside....it is "winter" in Wisconsin. People need to be prepared for that kind of weather. Full tank of gas, blankets and pillow, coffee can with candle, some high energy food, a pair of jumper cables and a bag or two of sand and or salt....just in case.



So.....wa wa wa. I have some xmas shopping to do, it is getting late...I slept until close to 530pm...but dont have to be to work till 2pm on xmas eve...so off to shop I go.



Happy thursday to all and to all a good night.

A Winter Wonderland Just in Time for Christmas Memories

I started this post out as a remembering of childhood christmas's of my past and then after writing for close to two hours, as I was formatting it for the blog...I lost the entire thing.



So maybe I will try next year. There was a lot of good stuff there, at least for me. Oh well.



So it snowed today and there is sppsed to be a bit more on tuesday......if it stays cold enough maybe we here in Wisconsin will have a "white christmas". I sure hope so. I was talking to some guests at the hotel that I work at the other day and we were remembering how much snow there USED to be back in the 70s.....when I was just a wee lad. There was so much snow that if I stood in the driveway between the sidewalk and the street, I couldnt see anything except those two big mounds of snow on either side of me....plus the house across the street. Snow caves and tunnels were common as well as playing king of the hill. There were more than enough hills for everyone to be a king....that is for sure. I remember one really big hill in the old IGA parking lot where the snow trucks would dump all the snow after plowing the lots. Man that thing had to be 30 feet high. We even tried sledding down it with these little round plastic thingys...kind of like an upside down plate.....and they seemed to always be either blue or red. That was always so much fun.



Well only a few more days till christmas and I have just only begun my shopping. I am always last minute.....I always say I am going to start early and always have good intentions but then all of a sudden Dec. 25th just sneeks up on me....I think its a "trick of time or something"!!



One more day of work untill I have a few days off where I can finally get my shopping done.



And then the New Year is just around the corner...where does the time go???

Got the Flu Bug--Arrg

Well it finally happened. The flu (after 5+years) finally caught up with me.



I actually am feeling so drained and sick that I called in sick to work....and I havnt done that in ages.....



So...after being told this afternoon that my shift would be covered...I went back to bed (and of course Scrappy joined me) and I slept (more like tossed and turned) until almost 8pm. I then tried getting out of bed...actually crawling.....and thought that I had better get something to eat....as with most flu-there wasnt much left in my system from the numerous night time trips to the "Lue". I had absolutely nothing in my cabinets (Talk about old mother Hubbard!!).

I sure didnt feel like going out anywhere to pick anything up...but what other options do I have....arrrg.....so I bundled up as warm as I could and walked across the street to my little corner grocery store. I love having that place so close....



I am walking down the aisles thinking what in the heck can I eat while "keeping it down"....

I ended up spending 20.00 on such comfort foods as:

-Frosted Mini Wheats

-Apple and cinnimon poptarts

-Chicken Noodle Soup

-Apple juice

-Twinkees

And a few other essentials...Nightquill being the biggest.



So not two and a half hours later I am back in bed after trying to gobble on some soup and some mini wheats....and I am "snug as a bug in a rug" with a few extra pillows, extra blankets on the bed, an electric heater on high (my apt only gets to about 65 degrees and that is a bit to cold form me right now in my delicate and fragile state).

I am sure sleep will come soon...with all the flu medicine that I have in my system...and I sure hope I feel better by morning. I have tons of reservations at the restuarant on saturday evening.



Time to sleep........

Some People Just Are Plain Stupid!!

So another local manufacturing plant is set to close here in my little city of Racine.

And you know what???

It didnt have too!!

But it is partly the "Employee's Fault"!!

Yes...the Employess of the company!



You see, they were offered continued employment if they would allow the company to remain viable, by taking pay cuts across the board which amounted to about 13% and some reductions in health insurance coverage.

With an average HOURLY WAGE OF 15.00 AND ALOT OF PEOPLE MAKING 25.00 PLUS-AN HOUR....., I think most of these people could have handled 15%.......



Well, hey 15% or 100%.....which part of your paycheck would you prefer loosing??



And here is my "stupid people of the week link" to this story:



http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/dec04/284399.asp



Happy thursday........

This Week's News Snapshot

Ok so here is what is going on in the world in the week of December 13, 2004



Compliments of USA Today Online Edition....Enjoy



Peterson awaits his fate

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — The jury deciding whether Scott Peterson should be executed or spend life in prison requested to see autopsy photos and a dozen other pieces of evidence Monday as they resumed deliberations for a third day.

Full coveragePeterson awaits his fate12/13/2004 2:09 PM-->



Pinochet indicted

SANTIAGO, Chile — Gen. Augusto Pinochet was indicted Monday for the kidnapping of nine dissidents and the killing of one of them during his 1973-90 regime, and the former dictator was placed under house arrest.

Full coveragePinochet indicted12/13/2004 1:51 PM-->



SARS vaccine gets test

WASHINGTON — The National Institutes of Health is launching a human trial to test the safety of an experimental vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome. SARS, which was first recognized in 2002, killed 774 people worldwide before being brought under control by quarantine, patient isolation and travel restrictions.

Full coverageSARS vaccine gets test12/13/2004 1:32 PM-->



Murders drop 6 percent

WASHINGTON — The number of murders dropped by nearly 6% in the first half of 2004, an indication that a four-year climb may be ending, the FBI reported Monday.

Full coverageMurders drop 6 percent12/13/2004 11:17 AM-->



New HHS nominee

WASHINGTON — President Bush has chosen Environmental Protection Agency head Michael Leavitt to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Full coverageNew HHS nominee12/13/2004 12:19 PM-->



Automakers join

BERLIN — General Motors (GM) and DaimlerChrysler (DCX) are teaming to develop hybrid technology, which combines combustion engines and electric motors, for use in their vehicles, DaimlerChrysler said Monday.

Full coverageAutomakers join12/13/2004 9:57 AM-->



Poisoning probe re-opened

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukrainian lawmakers reopened their investigation Monday into Viktor Yushchenko's allegations that authorities tried to kill him, after doctors in Austria determined the presidential candidate had been poisoned by dioxin.

Full coveragePoisoning probe re-opened12/13/2004 1:57 PM-->



Baghdad bomb kills 13

BAGHDAD — A suicide car bomber linked to al-Qaeda killed 13 people just outside Baghdad's Green Zone on Monday, the first anniversary of Saddam Hussein's capture. Clashes resumed in Fallujah, a one-time insurgent stronghold that American forces believed they had conquered, and seven Marines died in combat in western Iraq.

Full coverageBaghdad bomb kills 1312/13/2004 1:42 PM-->



Rate of Guard deaths higher

WASHINGTON — In a reversal of trends from past wars, part-time soldiers in the Army National Guard are about one-third more likely to be killed in Iraq than full-time active-duty soldiers serving there, a USA TODAY analysis of Pentagon statistics shows.

Full coverageRate of Guard deaths higher12/13/2004 12:32 AM-->

The Conservative Christians are at it Again! What's Next...Making everyone watch Sunday Morning Mass on TV??

The Plot Against Sex in America.........



Right-wing groups are targeting "Kinsey" as part of their larger goal of pushing sex of all nonbiblical kinds back into the closet.



Ok...so I knew it was just going to be a matter of time before these "zealots" raised themselves from their "rocking chairs and church pews" to spew venum about sexual related matters...



The latest is the controversy over a movie that has just come out, telling the story of "Alfred Kinsey" who wrote a very thourough book on the topic of "sex". And yes I have read it and I think this man was a genius and way before his time and he did indeed help create the sexual revolution, which among other things, opened the door to "Gay Rights, letting people know that they were not alone in thinking something was terribly wrong with what our parents and grandparents were trying to tell us about sex-THAT IT WAS BAD-, and tons of other matters relating to sexual behavior.



Well hey everyone...guess what?? We are in the year 2004. To go back in time and wish for a simpler, more pure time is not possible. The idea that sex should be pushed back in the closet or behind closed doors or for "biblical" purposes-IE....to "breed" is laughable and rediculous!



A few different views from a few different sources follow (so everyone can see how utterly insane these "moral conservative ideots" are):



A moral "paranoid" view:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2472-2004Nov21.html



A more realistic view:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04334/418572.stm



Everyone has their opinions and ways of thinking and I dont wish to influence anyone one way or another. I am just expressing my views (as I always have and always will).



I did find another interesting article while browsing the subject of sexuality and morality and have included a few paragaphs from what is called the "Sexual Bill of Rights" that is part of the mandate for the "United Nations" and it's beliefs:

________________________________________________________________

Sexual morality should come from a sense of caring and respect for others; it cannot be legislated.



Laws can and do protect the young from exploitation and people of any age from abuse. Beyond that, forms of sexual expression should not be a matter of legal regulation. Mature individuals should be able choose their partners and the kinds of sexual expression suited to them.

Certain forms of sexual expression are limiting and confining--for example, prostitution, sadomasochism, or fetishism.

However, any changes in such patterns, if they are made, should come through education and counseling, not by legal prohibition. Our overriding objective should be to help individuals live balanced and self-actualized lives.

The punishing and ostracizing of those who voluntarily engage in socially disapproved forms of sexual conduct only exacerbate the problem.

Sexual morality should be viewed as an inseparable part of general morality--not as a special set of rules. Sexual values and sex acts, like other human values and acts, should be evaluated by whether they frustrate or enhance human fulfillment.



Physical pleasure has worth as a moral value.



Traditional religious and social views have often condemned pleasures of the body as "sinful" or "wicked." These attitudes are inhumane. They are destructive of human relationships.

The findings of the behavioral sciences demonstrate that deprivation of physical pleasure, particularly during the formative periods of development, often results in family breakdown, child abuse, adolescent runaways, crime, violence, alcoholism, and other forms of dehumanizing behavior.

We assert that physical pleasure within the context of meaningful human relationships is essential--both as a moral value and for its contribution to wholesome social relationships.



Individuals are able to respond positively and affirmatively to sexuality throughout life; this must be acknowledged and accepted.



Childhood sexuality is expressed through genital awareness and exploration. This involves self-touching, caressing parts of the body, including the sexual organs. These are learning experiences that help the individual understand his or her body and incorporate sexuality as an integral part of his or her personality.

Masturbation is a viable mode of satisfaction for many individuals, young and old, and should be fully accepted.

Just as repressive attitudes have prevented us from recognizing the value of childhood sexual response, so have they prevented us from seeing the value of sexuality in the middle and later years of life. We need to appreciate the fact that older persons also have sexual needs. The joy of touching, of giving and receiving affection, and the satisfaction of intimate body responsiveness is the right of everyone throughout life.



In all sexual encounters, commitment to humane and humanistic values should be present. No person's sexual behavior should hurt or disadvantage another.



This principal applies to all sexual encounters --both to the brief and casual experience and to those that are deeper and more prolonged. In any sexual encounter or relationship, freely given consent is fundamental--even in the marital relationship, where consent is often denied or taken for granted.

Perplexing questions are raised by these concepts. Those directly engaged in the encounter may hold widely differing points of view toward sexual conduct. This possibly makes necessary open, candid, and honest communication about current and future expectations. Even then, decisions are subjects of judgment and projection, and their outcomes are only slowly revealed.

No relationship occurs in a vacuum. In addition to the persons directly involved in the sexual relationship, there are important others. The interests of these other persons are usually complex and diverse; no course of action will satisfy everyone. Some might prefer that no sexual involvement whatsoever occur and are disturbed if they are aware of it; others might be quite accepting under most circumstances. For this reason, each individual must have empathy for others.

One might ask oneself: "How would I want others to conduct themselves sexually toward me and others I care about?" "Am I at least as concerned for the happiness and well-being of my partner, and others involved, as for my own?"

There is also a broader consideration: namely, that each person contribute to creating a social atmosphere in which a full acceptance of responsible sexual expression will exist.



Conclusion



The realization of the points in this statement depends upon certain attributes in the individual. One needs to have autonomy and control over his or her own sexual functioning. One needs to find reasonable satisfaction in living and to accept and enjoy pleasures of the body.



Furthermore, one needs to respect the rights of others to those same qualities. The society in which one lives, while it makes demands, should also attuned to individual needs and the importance of personal freedom. Only as these conditions are met will loving and guilt-free sexuality be possible.



At this point in our history, we human beings are embarking on a wondrous adventure. For the first time we realize that we own our own bodies. Until now our bodies have been in bondage to church or state, which have dictated how we could express our sexuality. We have not been permitted to experience the pleasure and joy of the human body and our sensory nature to their full capacity.



In order to realize our potential for joyful sexual expression, we need to adopt the doctrine that actualizing pleasures are among the highest moral goods--so long as they are experienced with responsibility and mutuality.



A reciprocal and creative attitude toward sexuality can have a deep meaning, personally and socially. Each of us will know its personal meaning when we experience psychic growth and ego enhancement with others. In effect, our behavior can say to another, "I am enriched for having had this experience and for having contributed to your having had it also."



The social meaning can derive from the living feelings engendered by a person who is experiencing guilt-free, reciprocal pleasure. The loving feelings of mental and physical well-being, the sense of completion of the self, that we can experience from freely expressed sexuality may well reach out to all humanity. It is quite impossible to have a meaningful, ecstatic sexual and sensual life and to be indifferent to or uncaring about other human beings.



We believe that freeing our sexual selves is vital if we are to reach the heights of our full humanity. But at the same time, we believe that we need to activate and nourish a sense of our responsibilities to others.



___________________________________________________________________



I couldn't have said it better had I written the preceeding myself.



As someone else I know says: "That's my Story and I'm stickin to it.....



Happy Monday

I sure hope this isnt Mikey!

Ok...so sometimes you read something and then ideas run rampant in your head (I am sure everyone has been there at one time or another...)



When I read the following article in the Milwaukee Journal Online Edition, my first thought was "I sure hope that isnt Mikey..."



Mike was one of our servers at the restaurant and he left employement with us a few months ago and I have heard in the last few weeks that he has fallen on some hard times, in fact, sleeping in his vehicle at times.



I do not know how to get in touch with him...though I hope someone sees or hears from him in the next few days.



Whoever this person is, I feel truly sorry for his family. What a shame that someone has no recourse in this day and age but to live and sleep in their car in a parking lot. How sad.

________________________________________________________________

The Milwaukee Journal Online Edition-December 12, 2004



Man found dead in car at commuter lot

A 40-year-old man was found dead Saturday morning inside a car parked at a south side Park 'N' Ride lot, the Milwaukee County sheriff's office reported.

A deputy discovered the man's body about 9:30 a.m. in the driver's seat of a vehicle in the lot at E. College Ave. and Interstate 94.

The man, believed to be from the Milwaukee area, may have been living in the car, officials said. His identity has not been released pending family notification. Foul play was not suspected, but an autopsy was planned for today.

Frosty's Big Adventure

Ok...So....Scrappy hasn't had any big adventures lately..except for almost being buried under my xmas tree (every time she knocks it over...which is at least 2 times a day!!)....but our little "Frosty the Snowman" at the Marriott where I work just got back from HIS big adventure....ok so you want an explanation?? Here goes....



My boss Doris comes into work this morning to find her cute little "Frosty Tree Topper" gone from the top of our Lobby xmas tree.....the decorations on the tree are her personal ones from her house (due to her impending winter move to her new "ranch" in the country..she had decided not to put up a tree at home this year and so brought in her decorations for our "lobby tree"). Who in the hell would take a cute little tree ornamant (that is not their property to begin with) is beyond me. Needless to say, Doris was livid....and I dont blame her. Those decorations were not cheap.



So an APB went out on "Frosty" throughout the hotel and through the day there was no luck in finding her little snowman. Numerous associates tried "joking" with Doris throughout the day and tried to inject a little humor into the loss but she wasnt having it. As soon as I got in, I asked her how her day was (as I usually do) and she replied "Fine...untill I got here!" and then proceeded to tell me about Frosty's dissapearnce. At one point during the day, a Front Desk associate called her to say "Frosty" had been found...and then when she told Doris "Not really...just kidding ha ha"...Doris gave her the look that would make the meanest person cry...(if you know Doris...you would know that look). So...Doris left and "Frosty" was officially a runaway snowman.



Well, right after she walked out the door, the Front Desk called to tell me that "Frosty" had been found in a guest's room. She also called and left a message on Doris' home phone (this was the same associate who had teased her earlier with saying he had been found) and she heard her voice and deleted the message...anf then there was a message from me right after saying the "runaway" had been found.....so she calls me back and asks if I was serious......I said "Would I kid you about something like that??!!"......so.......



.........Frosty is back from his big adventure...he hasnt melted, all his body parts are intact....hopefully no one took any sexual gratification with his innards and all is well again. What a day to be a "plastic snowman" ha??

PS: Doris has put out a reward for the caprute and prosecution of those responsible for his kidnapping. A free meal awaits the person that brings this "criminal" to justice!!



That's my story and I'm stickin to it!!

Happy Saturday.......

Our "Beloved Tommy Thompson's" Final Words as Secretary of Health and Human Services------ And this week's "Snapshot" of What's Going on in the News

QUOTATION OF THE DAY

____________________________________________________________

"For the life of me, I cannot understand why the terrorists have not attacked our food supply because it is so easy to do."TOMMY G. THOMPSON, the secretary of health and human services, announcing his resignation.

__________________________________________________________________

Ok....so the day that our former governor decides to abdicate his throne in Washington....he drops this "not so tiny" bombshell of information on us! In the same breath he went on to say how he feels that there is a very real "Major Flu PANDEMIC" on the horizon that could kill millions of people.

And then President Bush downplays the whole the food thing and....... just a few months ago, our wonderful president decided to stop shipment of a "vital vaccine" that could help all these millions of people avoid this nasty flu, which many people have said could be worse than the "Flu of 1918" which, while I wasn't yet born, heard and have read that it was one of the worst natural calamities to descend upon mankind since the "Black Death" in Europe in the Middle Ages.....

Something just doesn't play right here. Why do I feel like someone is trying to play "God" with the Human Race? Am I being paranoid?? There are just too many things happening without a good explanation.... and not enough clear answers to why these things are NOT being addressed. I am sure there are enough recourses to protect our "food supply" if we really want to...and I also sure that there is more than enough vaccine to prevent this "Flu Pandemic" if our government really wanted to. The people of cannoned have no problem getting all the vaccines they need and indeed have offered us (The U.SA.) enough of the vaccine to inoculate every citizen of our country. But our Government said no. And the reason they gave for not accepting all the vaccine that was available from the company that made it (in the U.K.) was "unclean and somewhat "circumspect" practices at the lab where the vaccine was created. What are we to believe??

Maybe we should all start growing our own food and stay away from each other. That way we will know for sure that we will be safe and secure. (Just kidding)....but someone has to start thinking and stopping these things from happening. We HAVE the recourses to do it! As my Boss at work says..."Just Do It!".....

And This Week's News Snapshots-Who says we live in a boring world???? I hope everyone has a good week (and a better one than some of these people in the news..):

NEWS :



Coast Guard Calls Off Passenger Search

Woman Accused of Flu Shot Sale Released

Elton John, 5 Other Stars Honored in D.C.

Report: Nigeria Priest Wanted in Texas

Pastor Decried After Child's Arms Severed

Obituaries in the News

Report: Tillman's Final Minutes a Horror

Two Killed in Nevada Mine Accident

Man Asks for Death Before Murder Trial

Found Body May Be Missing Texas Teacher

Calif. Bishop 'At Peace' After Settlement

Eric Rudolph Defense Questions Sketch

Chief Leaving Army Psychology Support Team

Wright-Designed Milwaukee Home Is Sold

Report: Tanker in Oil Spill Hit Hazard

Report: Corners Cut in Florida Shelter

Hacking Name Removed From Gravestone

Ministry Punished for Lesbian Pastor

Woman Auctions Father's Ghost on EBay

Pa. Grandma Acquitted in Dog Mauling Death

Habitat for Humanity Founder Pushed Aside

Judge: Commander to Testify in Abuse Trial

Nev. Controller Convicted on One Count

Paralyzed Woman Takes First Plane Trip

Cargo Plane Ditches in Lake Near Miami

Principal Reconsiders Gay Permission Slips

La. Man Dies After Deputies Use Stun Gun

College Board Challenges SAT Data on Web

Mormon Choir Cancels Overseas Trips

Winner of $149M Lottery Faces Divorce

Groups to Join in Great Lakes Cleanup

Officials: Blast Pollution Won't Last

Interstate Wine Sale Fight Goes to Court

Jet Searched for Explosives in L.A.

Blix, Kidman Receive United Nations Award

Half Brother Testifies for Scott Peterson

Couple Found Dead in Abandoned Farmhouse

Gay Marriage Proponents Decry Claims

National Guard Hiring 1,400 Recruiters

Theer Convicted in Husband's 2000 Slaying

Columbine Parents Want Lawyers Disbarred

N.C. Woman Convicted of Killing Husband

Wash. Dems. to Pay for Recount of Votes

N.C. Man to Plead Guilty in Murder Case

Box: National Guard Hires Recruiters

Holiday Displays Pricey for Some Cities

Executive Names Athletes Who Used Steroids

Federal Prosecutor in Md. Is Resigning

The Sun Escalates Feud With Md. Governor

San Diego Mayor's Inauguration Delayed

Explosion Rocks Houston Chemical Plant

Dead Wife's Lawyer Muzzled on Lost Girl

Man Guilty in Rape, Killing of Girl, 7

Three Charged in Iraq Abuse Face Hearings

Woman Testifies on Immigrant Smuggling Try

Company Recalls Catheters for Infants

L.A. Times to Drop East Coast Edition

Survivor of Tenn. Plane Crash Goes Home

Prominent Okla. Attorney Evades Kidnappers

Cops: Teacher 'Wed' Girl in Pagan Ritual

Two Sue, Say Loose Tiger Caused Crash

Man Charged in Series of Missouri Killings

Source of Leaked FBI Tape Asked to Testify

Man May Be Charged in Hmong Home Graffitti

Copy of Alamo Commander's Letter Is Sold

Trial Begins in 1987 KY. Beating Deaths

Caleb. County Diocese Settles Abuse Cases

Red Cross Worker Charged in ID-Theft Plot

Recount Shows Ala. Segregation Law Passed

USAID Head Promotes Aid Effort in Iraq

Washington Metro Campaigns for Etiquette

Judge Refuses to Set Moussaoui Trial Day

Competency Hearings Ordered in Smart Case

Mourners Pack Helicopter Victims' Service

U. of Mo.-Kansas City Chancellor Resigns

Reindeer Travel Restricted This Holiday

Mall Security Getting Anti-Terror Training

Salvation Army Using Bell-Ringer Cutouts

Peterson Case Attracts Devout Followers

Media Challenges Army Decision on Hearing

Ore. Company Recalls Eye Rinse Products

Ebersol's Wife Details Colo. Plane Crash

New Efforts Push to Make Better Citizens

Pa. Mother, Toddler Kidnapped, Found Safe

Man Being Tested for BTA Link Freed

Army Makes Training Base Feel Like Iraq

Denver Mayor Won't Change Christmas Ad

$315M Powerball Winner Sought After DUI

Methodist Church Defrocks Lesbian Minister

Police Officer Trapped on 9/ 11 Retires

Judge to Allow England's Early Statements

Oldest American Dies at Age 114 in Ohio

South, West Most Hazardous for Pedestrians

Woman and Child Kidnapped in Philadelphia

Study: Fla. Streets Among Most Dangerous

Condemned Texas Woman Maintains Innocence

N.M. Town Is Anti-Terror Training Center

Summary: Indian Education Mandate in Mont.

Mont. Deals With Indian Education Mandate

Millionaire Tops Schwarzenegger Donors

A Snapshot of the World on Dec 3, 2004

As I am having my coffee and getting ready for work this friday, I figured I would start a weekly item in my blog....a snapshot of what is going on in our wonderful world....according to the "Mainstream Press" which I do read every day. I will surly still include my interesting newsworthy quips also...so here is today....with links to assorted stories.

___________________________________________________________________



Thompson resigns Cabinet post

Former Wisconsin governor Tommy G. Thompson will announce this afternoon that he is resigning as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, likely to take a private sector job

Go to Story Video

OTHER NATIONAL AND WORLD NEWS

Ukraine Court Orders New Run-Off Election



AP: Thompson Resigning From Bush Cabinet



Report: Explosions in Madrid After Warning



30 Killed in Twin Iraq Insurgent Attacks



Calif. County Diocese Settles Abuse Cases



Police Follow Doughnut Trail, Solve Crime



Teen's Parents Sue Actor Nick Nolte



Stocks Mixed on Poor Job Creation Report



Report: Bonds Admitted to Using Substances



____________________________________________________________



There you have it.....today's "Important Headlines"...compliments of John's Blog.



Happy Friday everyone......

Is Our World Real? Maybe Not...

The Matrix as Reality????



Is Our World Real? Maybe Not...The question of whether or not our world is real has been debated since the time of the ancient Greeks. Recently, films like the Matrix have suggested that 'reality' could be an entirely artificial construction.



Now two scientists are saying that it might just be true. Physicist Martin Rees and mathematician John Barrow speculate that the world that we know might be the creation of a gigantic computer located, perhaps, outside of the universe.



In fact, the universe itself could be a simulation, and, as Dr. Rees speculates, it would not be necessary to create the entire thing, but only the appearance of it. Our reality, in other words, could look enormous but actually be quite small, easily manageable by the sort of supercomputer that might be available in just a matter of years.



John Barrow, also a Cambridge teacher, suggests that a civilization just slightly ahead of our own could create a universe in which self-conscious entities could exist and interact with each other. But Seth Lloyd of MIT says that such a simulation would require a computer so large that it would be virtually unimaginable.



Nevertheless, Barrow and Rees are being taken seriously in scholarly and scientific circles. If they're right, then the question must be asked: IS this a barnyard and are we the pets?







For more information, click here.