New Years Resolutions

I will keep an extra safe distance when driving behind police cars.

New Years Resolutions

I will always replace the gas nozzle before driving away from the pump.

New Years Resolutions

Never again will I try to defuse an explosive device with a known practical joker.

New Years Resolutions

I will always "check for paper"when leaving the ladies room.

The Hard Truth From Orlando

THE LOUISIANA COREY FRAME-UP

It's sad. It's bad. But it's Louisiana (or Texas -- and sometimes Florida) -- or Ferguson, Missouri. The corruption and politically driven need for convictions to further careers in law enforcement and the criminal justice system are pretty obvious. It's embarrassing for those of us who work the system when this kind of obscenity is uncovered, and more of an embarrassment when there doesn't seem to be a quick and resolute correction of the malefaction.

But it's not merely a one-sided, race-driven institution that condemned Corey. It's that gaping Grand Canyon of the cultural divide. Where were Corey's parents in all this? Where was the adult supervision on the night of the pizza robbery? If the boy is that disabled, the crime occurred at night, where were his parents and the parental supervision for he and his underage brother and why were they hanging out with adult men who were probably well-known in the neighborhood for criminal activities? Why didn't the parents or the Defense take the non-compliance of the prosecutor and discovery violations to the media, if not to the Louisiana Bar Association? Because it's easier to blame the "white" system than to make it work for you.

I see this kind of potentially disastrous scenario every single day in Orlando. It happens in West Cocoa, Titusville -- anywhere you have the black population, and a fairly significant portion of our Hispanic population. It's the cultural norm to float around at all hours, unsupervised. It's the NORM to have a criminal record, and therefore you don't restrict your children from running with other people with criminal records or hanging in neighborhoods with a bad reputation. You condone criminal records because "it's the white people's fault" and most of your neighbors and family members have a record, so what's the big deal?

I don't doubt for a red-hot instant that blacks are stopped more often, arrested more often, charged more often, imprisoned more often. But isn't it equally true that so much of the crime is occurring or originating in predominantly black neighborhoods? Yes. I know that's how it is. But what has the black community done about changing this? They don't make their kids be HOME when it's dark. Hell, the parents aren't home after dark. They don't curtail who they hang with, family or not -- bad guys are bad guys. They don't enforce school and good behavior in school and studying (which you can't do anyway if you're not home until late and hanging around in the 'hood).

This morning at 5:10 a.m., walking the dog around the park, a younger black man on a bicycle came across the parkway, saw me, veered off and cut through the park on an expensive racing bicycle without headlights or tail-lights (which WILL get you stopped by the police in Orlando as it's a traffic infraction). He was wearing all dark clothes, had an expensive black backpack and, weirdly, black saddlebags on the bike. I turned the corner of the park and it wasn't three minutes when there was a loud metallic clang down Robinson and a business's alarm system went off. Three guesses which direction and where he'd have been time-wise when that alarm went off? Yep.

The burglaries in my neighborhood are almost nightly. The shootings in Orlando/Orange County are pretty much nightly, too. And the demographics? Nearly all black, with Hispanics running a not-too-close second. And yet, if that young man this morning had been stopped for a bike without lights while pedaling rapidly away from the alarm, he'd have argued "profiling." If he'd been white, he wouldn't have had any excuse. That's the real double-standard.

Change the culture and you'll change the frequency of Corey-type horror stories.

   Florida Cracker


((The original story: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2015/12/louisiana_police_and_the_likely_killers_may_have_framed_corey_williams_for.html))

The Thought For Today

"Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees, tinsel and reindeers, but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas." - Ronald Reagan

The Thought For Today

"Guilt: the gift that keeps on giving." - Erma Bombeck

Christmas

http://feelslikechristmas.com/christmas-music-mp3s.html

Free Xmas MP3 music downloads. Some old and some new. Anything would be better than the muzak that they play this time of year. So download to your computer/MP3 player and enjoy.

The Thought For Today

"Let me see if I've got this Santa business straight. You say he wears a beard, has no discernible source of income and flies to cities all over the world under cover of darkness? You sure this guy isn't laundering illegal drug money?" - Tom Armstrong

Write & Email Santa Claus a Christmas Letter

This is it, you'ld better get those requests in and don't worry, he WILL answer. Don't forget to leave some cookies and milk or even a slice of pie. He doesn't mind diet cookies too much, but soy milk gives him heartburn. Which makes him REAL angry. So if you don't want reindeer poop in your stockings (or under the tree), I'ld go with the real thing.

The Thought For Today

"Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog: you may understand it better afterwards, but the frog dies in the process." - Mark Twain

ToyVault - Cthulhu

ToyVault - Cthulhu

It's Weird Friday again. If you or someone/something that you know loves the writings of H.P.Lovecraft, THIS is the place to visit. It's all beautiful, in a disgusting way. Perfect presents for the little ones. And maybe even some big ones too.

Peanuts Charlie Brown with Pathetic Tree Action Figure

Reflecting the TRUE spirit of Xmas. With a little work, you could turn these into ornaments for YOUR tree.

Holiday Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Movie Lovers - Moviefone

Holiday Gift Guide: Gift Ideas for Movie Lovers - Moviefone

Where to find Xmas presents for the movie fans in your life. There's some pretty cool stuff here.

pepper spray ring, self defense ring, pepper ring defense, stunning pepper spray ring, oc pepper spray ring

Just in time for Xmas. To give as a gift or to use on obnoxious relatives.

Jetpacks for the jetset

That's right you've discovered it here first, on Weird Friday. Check this one out - if your bank account is flush, then you flush yourself, right into the sky on your very own jet pack. This takes water skiing to a whole new level. If they add little parasails, then perhaps snow skiers can reach new heights as well!

The Thought For Today

"They aren't making mirrors the way they used to. The ones I buy now are full of wrinkles." - Phillis Diller

The Thought For Today

"A new government study has found that the average American car weighs five-hundred pounds more than it did ten years ago. However, this is only true if an average American is sitting in the car." - Conan O'Brien

Genuine Geek

"I personally design and make every button on this site, and I have a simple rule: I never sell a button that I wouldn't be happy to have on my own laptop bag. I'm not coming into this as a professional button maker trying to make money, I'm coming into it as a geek who wants to increase the number of funny buttons in the world." Some excellent buttons and $25 or more gets free shipping. He also does custom orders. Recomended.

Comic Book Cartography

Comic fans: Maps, diagrams, cutaways, schematics. If it was in a comic, you can probably find it here.

They Served Man Long Ago

Here are Tess Gerritsen's notes on cannibalism. Although she doesn't mention it, cannibalism can just as easily be a way to kill yourself as save yourself, depending on the situation, as noted here. I don't think we'll be including recipes in this Posting.

Adultitis.org -- The Facts

Adultitis.org -- The Facts Weird Friday it is. Do you feel stressed, anxious and depressed? You might have Adultitis. Now's the time to read up on this horrible disease, before it's too late.

The Thought For Today

"If there is a God, atheism must seem to Him as less of an insult than religion." - Edmond and Jules de Goncourt

Riddles - The Best Riddles and Brain Teasers

Riddles - The Best Riddles and Brain Teasers


How long until YOUR brain melts?

The Thought For Today

"No matter how absurd I make the "Dilbert" comic strip, I can't stay ahead of the real world.A company purchased laptop computers for use while traveling. Fearing they might be stolen, the managers came up with a clever solution: permanently attach the laptops to the employees' desks....!" - Scott Adams

Fairy Doors of Urban Fairies in Ann arbor

Fairy Doors of Urban Fairies in Ann arbor

Welcome to another Weird Friday. Someone has put something interesting in the drinking water of Ann Arbor, MI. People there swear that small, fairy sized, doors have started appearing on the inside and outside of buildings. Oddly enough, they have photos. Beautifully done.

The Thought For Today

"I can't complain, but sometimes I still do." - Joe Walsh

Alien Abduction Policies

But, if you ARE abducted, the good news is:  "Do you toss and turn at night worrying about how your family would survive if evil aliens took you away? Have no fear. You can always purchase an alien abduction insurance policy to cover this risk." At least I THINK that it's good news. The dog tags would be a lot cheaper.

The Thought For Today

"If God had really intended men to fly, he'd have made it easier to get to the airport." - George Winters



((Or through it...))

Location Earth Dog Tags

You know how it goes. Kidnapped and experimented on by aliens. But it's all over now and you're all kicked back with brewskis and the aliens say: "Well, the least we can do is give you a ride home. Which way?" And as you look into their viewscreen, you realize that you have no damned idea. Unless you have these dog tags. Just show them to the aliens and, BLAM, you're on your way back home. And they even come with a money back guarantee, if you don't find your way back home!

The Thought For Today

"Just because something's toxic doesn't mean it's not tasty." — Matthew J. Siske

Nitroplanes

Toys for the big boys and girls.

POOR DEANO!

The Thought For Today

"From ghoulish and ghosties and long leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us!" - Scottish prayer

The Thought For Today

"Ghosts, like ladies, never speak till spoke to. " - Richard Harris Barham

"Rotting my mind on the Internet so that YOU don't have to."

The Thought For Today

"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown." - H. P. Lovecraft

The Thought For Today

"'Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out Contagion to this world." - William Shakespeare

Bore Me - the best of your inbox - funny movies, funny pictures, games and jokes

Bore Me - the best of your inbox - funny movies, funny pictures, games and jokes

A small Site but fun. Check out the "Tom Cruise Kills Oprah" video. Gee, I wonder why the studio dropped him?

Rec: Crockpot Black Bean Soup

1/2 pound dry black beans (can substitute canned)
3 cups water
1/2 carrot, chopped
1/2 stalk celery, chopped
1/2 large red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons dry lentils
1/2 (28 oz) can peeled and diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon and 1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup uncooked white rice




Skip this if using canned: In a large pot over
MEDIUM-HIGH heat, place the beans in three
times their volume of water. Bring to a boil, and let
boil 10 minutes. Cover, remove from heat and let
stand 1 hour. Drain, and rinse. In a crockpot,
combine soaked beans and 3/4 quarts fresh water.
Cover, and cook for 3 hours on HIGH (1 hour if using canned).
Stir in carrot, celery, onion, garlic, bell pepper, jalapeno pepper,
lentils, and tomatoes. Season with chili powder,
cumin, oregano, black pepper, red wine vinegar, and
salt. Cook on LOW for 2 to 3 hours. Stir the rice into
the crockpot in the last 20 minutes of cooking. Puree
about half of the soup with a blender or food
processor (if you like a chunkey soup, skip) , then pour
back into the pot before serving.



Serves 3 to 5
Refrigerate remainder
Can be reheated in microwave

Rec: Microwave Potato Soup

2 cups potatoes, cubes peeled and raw
1/2 cup finely chopped onion (we sometimes use the
dehydrated minced onion)
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
4 slices favorite cheese, thin slices (optional)
bacon or chives (to garnish)


Microwave potatoes, onion and water on HIGH 8 to 10 minutes
until potatoes are tender. Cover and let rest 5 minutes. Mash
potatoes with a fork into large pieces. This does help thicken
the soup. Add remaining ingredients except cheese and cook
on HIGH 5 to 8 minutes to serving temperature. Garnish with
cheese and bacon or chives.


Serves 2 to 4
Refrigerate remainder
Can be reheated in microwave

Rec: Microwave Cheesy Corn Soup

1/3 cup chopped red or green bell peppers
1/4 cup chopped onions
1 pkg. (8 oz.) light cream cheese, cubed
1 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1 cup very hot water
1 can (8 oz.) cream-style corn
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper



Place pepper and onion in microwave casserole. Cover
and cook for 1 to 2 minutes on HIGH until vegetables
soften. Add cream cheese and milk. Heat on MEDIUM
for 3 to 6 minutes, stirring once or twice, until cheese
is melted and mixture is smooth. Dissolve bouillon
granules in hot water. Stir into cream cheese mixture.
Add remaining ingredients and continue to heat on
MEDIUM, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 10 minutes or
until soup is very hot. Goes very well with garlic bread.


Serves 2 to 4
Refrigerate remainder
Can be reheated in microwave

Rec: Microwave Creamy Asparagus Soup

1 lb fresh green asparagus
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 onion, finely chopped (I use Vidalia sweet)
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon chives
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon paprika
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste



Cut off the tough bottom ends of the asparagus and discard.
Cut off the tips of the asparagus and set into a bowl; set aside
a few of them for garnishing later. Chop the stalks of the
asparagus into small, bite sized pieces and add to the bowl
of asparagus tips. Place butter in a heavy, deep round
microwaveable dish (such as a white Corningware casserole)
and let it melt on HIGH for approximately 1 minute, or until
melted. Add the onion and aspargus tips& spears to the
butter, cover, and cook on HIGH for about 4-5 minutes.
Stir in the flour, mixing well. Next, pour in the broth and
add the chives, stir, recover, and cook on HIGH for 10
minutes, stirring 3 times during this process. Asparagus
should be very tender- if not, return for 2 more minutes,
stir, test again, repeat if needed. Remove from microwave
(wear oven mits) and puree using a wand blender (or use
your regular blender). Add cream, lemon juice, and
seasonings to taste. Get the asparagus tips you set aside
for the garnish and put them into the microwave, in a
microwave safe dish, for just about 2 minutes or so-
just enough to blanch them so they aren't so raw tasting.
Ladle soup into individual bowls and garnish with an
asparagus tip before serving. NOTE: Since microwaves
vary greatly, there may be some variations in the cooking
times depending upon your microwave.



Serves 4 to 6
Refrigerate remainder
Can be reheated in microwave

Rec: Microwave Cabbage Soup

4 cups green cabbage, chopped or shredded finely
3 tablespoons unsalted butter or margarine
2 onions, chopped (I use Vidalia sweet onions)
1 bunch scallion, chopped (green & white parts,
reserving some of the green for garnish)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
2 (16 ounce) cans chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 cup skim milk, warmed
1 cup shredded carrot (approx 2 carrots)



You will need a deep, heavy microwave safe cooking dish-
such as a round Corningware casserole (no lid). Put butter
in casserole and heat for 40 seconds on HIGH heat (or until
melted). Add cabbage, onions, scallions, salt, pepper, and
sugar. Cook on HIGH 4 to 6 minutes. Add the broth and
cook on HIGH another 15 minutes. Add the warm milk
(I remove the soup from the microwave and heat up the
milk for 1 minute or so in a glass measure). Stir in the
carrots and return to the microwave to heat on HIGH
3 to 4 minutes. Test for seasonings- add more salt, pepper,
or sugar if needed to suit your tastes. You may need to
adjust cooking times for your microwave- if cabbage is
not tender enough yet, keep microwaving in 3 to 4
minute intervals on HIGH, stirring, until veggies are
cooked to your liking.



Serves 4 to 6
Refrigerate remainder
Reheats in the microwave

The Hard Truth From Orlando

I'm over this Tamir Rice silliness. Yes, he was 12 years old. Yes, it wasn't a "real" gun -- just a pellet gun or air gun or whatever. I don't know what the laws concerning supervision of children with pellet guns or BB guns or whatever "toy" guns are in Cleveland. Florida is pretty lenient, but you still have to be 16 years old or be supervised by a responsible adult when you're out with a pellet or BB gun. And the endless litany of any parent with a child, toy gun or not, should be, DON'T point it at anyone, DON'T point it at anyone. I guess Tamir Rice's parents were out on a smoke break when that part of their parenting class was going on.

And I'm pretty sure that at 12 years old, he should have known better than to have a realistic-looking usually nonlethal "toy" firearm in a public park, waving it around, pointing it at people and acting like a thug. Someone called him in. Someone who didn't know he was 12 years old and it wasn't a "real" gun called 911 about a guy in a public park pointing a gun at people. The police came, and because this unsupervised little dumb-butt came flailing toward them instead of dropping the gun and freezing in place, he got killed -- because the police are NOT omniscient. They are not bulletproof. And they can't tell how old someone is in a glance, nor can they tell from a distance if the firearm is a toy or not. And when someone comes towards you, waving what appears to be a firearm around, you don't wait to be shot to find out if it's a lethal weapon or not.

Tamir Rice's death is a tragedy. But if the parents want to know who to blame for their son's behavior that day when he was killed, they can just look in the mirror. But it isn't really about the loss of their unsupervised, untrained 12 year old son. It's about the payday the parents hope to glean from his death. Maybe if the police and city counter-sued these parents, and so many others just like them, for their failure to supervise when their kids get arrested or killed, we'd see a whole lot more parenting going on and a whole lot fewer irrational lawsuits and dead children.

     Florida Cracker

The Thought For Today

"Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." - Thomas Paine

The Hard Truth From Orlando

It's like gun control legislation. All the NRA and like-minded idjits are terrified Big Brother is going to come into their houses and take their guns away. Not so. But it's about time we start getting on top of what constitutes LEGAL acquisition and RESPONSIBLE gun ownership. Like it should be illegal to leave a firearm in your personal vehicle unless the vehicle has an attached, secured lockbox designed for storage of a firearm. If you don't have a concealed firearm permit that lets you carry it on your person or you are in an area where all firearms are prohibited, then leave the darned thing at home in a lock box, not in your car. An estimated 232,400 firearms are stolen each year -- 172,000 stolen during burglaries and another 60,300 stolen during other property crimes. The stats don't differentiate between car burglaries and residential/business burglaries. But I can tell you, Orlando's gun thefts are primarily from car burglaries because the gun owners don't have the license to carry but they keep one in their cars "for protection." 80 percent of these firearms are not recovered up to six months after being stolen. But when they do turn up, they've been used in a crime by the same bad guys who use them like trading cards in the community to commit other illegal acts.

If I buy a gun, it's with a "carry permit" and I'll wear the thing all the time when it isn't physically locked in a hidden compartment in my vehicle or my residence. It'll be as much a part of me as my glasses because I see no other reason to have a firearm for "protection" unless it's with me and I have the legal authority to carry it.

Mental health is not added to the data bases for background checks and to prevent purchase of ammunition or firearms. If you've been Baker Acted (and many of our mentally-ill shooters HAVE been at one time or another), it means you've been involuntarily committed for treatment because you present a threat to yourself or others. That's the bottom line; you have been identified at some time as having presented a threat to yourself or others. A Baker Act is a LEGAL proceeding, a kind of arrest/incarceration, and therefore it SHOULD be included in all background checks. But varying states have varying requirements and most of the time, it doesn't reflect at all in local police records or on the NCIC. If you've been Baker Acted, you shouldn't be allowed to have or acquire a firearm without additional medical certification that you are no longer a threat to yourself or others. Will it be 100%? Nothing is. But it will stop a lot of these mass-shooters from easy acquisition.

Internet sales of firearms and ammunition to individuals who are not licensed gun dealers should be prohibited. You have a license, you have to have certain qualifications to keep that license -- as well as the insurance to cover you if you screw up and sell to the wrong person.

These are realistic things that gun lobbyists are ignoring. These are realistic options that gun manufacturers don't want anyone to look at because it affects their bottom line. And it doesn't impact the sacrosanct 2nd Amendment in any material form whatever. But as long as money drives the gun train, we're not going to see any improvements -- any more than we will in the pharmaceutical monopoly.

     Florida Cracker

The Thought For Today

"Food is like sex: when you abstain, even the worst stuff begins to look good." - Beth McCollister

The Thought For Today

“I like persons better than principles, and I like persons with no principles better than anything else in the world.” - Oscar Wilde

The Thought For Today

"Someone once told me that there is more to life than golf. I think it was my ex-wife" .- Bruce Lansky

.: Welcome to inCaseOfZombies.com

.: Welcome to inCaseOfZombies.com


Yup, more Weird Friday stuff.

The Thought For Today

"If a dog's prayers were answered, bones would rain from the sky." - Turkish Proverb

The Hard Truth From Orlando

Trying not to watch the political stuff. Too depressing for words. Republicans. Jeez. They can't tackle income inequality, affordable housing, sustainable energy, global warming impact, erratic and arbitrary medical costs, insurance or banking reform, immigration reform -- but they can waste hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to go after women's reproductive rights based on unlawfully obtained videos. They're not even targeting the alleged real issue, which is the regulation of fetal tissue use by the self-same medical industry that they refuse to reform or regulate.

I'm not fond of our current rudderless Democrats but I wouldn't touch anything Republican with a ten-foot pole. If they ever put the Equal Rights Amendment back on the ballot, I'll vote for it and maybe that will help put an end to the constant political gender-biased battles.

Candidly, I wish these legislators and wannabe fathers of our country had to sit through some of family court dependency hearings to see first-hand the quality of life they're foisting off on unwanted, unplanned for children who get shuttled from person to person because they're government subsidies on two legs, not because anyone cares for them. Hideous. A sentence of lifelong dysfunction. Adoption? The exception -- and too few and far between for success in rearing good, productive citizens. I always said if I found a baby in a dumpster, it was meant to be mine and I would make that child a priority in my life. But I think we should recognize that unwilling parents are probably not going to be good parents and it's the children that suffer for it.

I'm weird enough to believe that if any woman who had a child she didn't want could put her legislator's name on the birth certificate and the lawmaker had to pay out of his/her personal pocket for that child, suddenly contraceptives and abortion would become non-issues. It's easy to claim to stand on moral high ground when you're not the one footing the bill.

 

   Florida Cracker

The Thought For Today

"If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you." - Oscar Wilde

The Thought For Today

“If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee.”  ― Abraham Lincoln

The Thought For Today

"Kids, just because I don't care doesn't mean I'm not listening." - Homer Simpson

Godchecker.com - Your Guide To The Gods. Mythology with a twist!

Godchecker.com - Your Guide To The Gods. Mythology with a twist!

Annnnnnnd, it's Weird Friday. You've always known that someone or SOMETHING was out to get you. Now you can find out who or what. "I always knew that that lousey Snake God couldn't be trusted!"

The Thought For Today

"Boards don't hit back." - Bruce Lee

ShadyURL - Don't just shorten your URL, make it suspicious and frightening.

ShadyURL - Don't just shorten your URL, make it suspicious and frightening.


Well, that works for me! (By the way, echofox3 turns into 5waystokillwithamelon)

The Thought For Today

“Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll buy a funny hat. Talk to a hungry man about fish, and you're a consultant.”  ― Scott Adams

Coursera

"Take the World's Best Courses, Online, For Free." That's right, from 33 different universities with courses in 18 different catagories. All online. And did I mention, FREE?

The Thought For Today

"This week in New Zealand, a man who lost his wedding ring in the ocean found it in the water over a year later. The man says the most amazing thing about the story is that his wife fell for it." - Conan O'Brien

32 Edible Insect Foods You Can Buy Online | SenseList

32 Edible Insect Foods You Can Buy Online SenseList

YUMMY!

The Thought For Today

"A 92-year-old man was cited for reckless driving yesterday after he crashed his car into a restaurant, then sat down and ate breakfast. The amazing part? When he was done, he still couldn't remember where he parked." - Jimmy Fallon

Radiation Network

This should help you sleep nights... "Welcome to RadiationNetwork.com, home of the National Radiation Map, depicting environmental radiation levels across the USA, updated in real time every minute. This is the first web site where the average citizen (or anyone in the world) can see what radiation levels are anywhere in the USA at any time."

Warning Label Generator

Warning Label Generator

This is pretty much self-explanatory. Still, with some of the slightly odder warning symbols, it can be fun making posters and stickers. I especially like the Godzilla warning - I foresee lots of fun with that one.

The Thought For Today

“Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what’s for lunch.”
― Orson Welles

Gorgeous Golden Age Comics

The one thing I don't like about Golden Age Comic Book Stories is that the blogger is anonymous. I'm getting to where I think people should have the courage of their convictions. Nevertheless he posts some really lovely old comics panels and old movie posters and other oddments. Well worth checking out.

Nora the Cat Plays the Piano

Here I have for you Nora the Cat playing a piano. And here is a sequel of Nora playing the piano. A duet! With an intermission! Ah, isn't she cute? No kidding, Nora has been on CNN and the Martha Stewart Show. Why aren't my stupid cats out making moolah?

The Death Psychic.com - Click And It Shall Be Told

The Death Psychic.com - Click And It Shall Be Told

It's Weird Friday again and here we go. You give the Psychic your name, age and sex and he'll tell you how you're going to die. As for me: "As the unfortunate target of a serial killer, a rubber innertube is stuffed into your mouth and fully inflated, causing your head to explode." Try and top that!

Custom Wall Graphics Decals Vinyl Banners and by WilsonGraphics

Custom Wall Graphics Decals Vinyl Banners and by WilsonGraphics

"If you have a design you would like made into a decal, wall graphic or craft show banner let me know. If you need a design I'd be happy to help you develop your idea." Cool. I love the portholes. And check out the Brontosaurus.

Spoon Candy

"Sure, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But how much do you really know about all those sugary-sweet cereals that have kept kids awake and hyper at school (at least until lunch)? Grab your bowl and see how well you do!" Have fun!

The Thought For Today

"The difference between the right word, and almost the right word is the difference between lightning and lightning-bug." - Samuel Clements

The Thought For Today

"A person reveals his character by nothing so clearly as the joke he resents." - G. C. Lichtenberg

Death Star Costs $15.6 Septillion, 1.4 Trillion Times the US Debt - Death Star price - Gizmodo

Death Star Costs $15.6 Septillion, 1.4 Trillion Times the US Debt - Death Star price - Gizmodo


And on this Weird Friday we answer a question that's been on EVERYONE'S mind.

Star Wars: The Blueprints

Here be the complete Star Wars blueprints. Finally, you can build that Death Star that you've always wanted.

Chad Vader: Day Shift Manager - Blame Society Productions - Matt Sloan and Aaron Yonda

Chad Vader: Day Shift Manager - Blame Society Productions - Matt Sloan and Aaron Yonda

"It's a little known fact that Darth Vader, the great Jedi warrior-gone-bad, has a younger brother named Chad. For this "less charismatic" family member, the Force doesn't always come through. Though Chad takes pride in his position as day shift manager at a Wisconsin grocery store, the floor staff doesn't respect him, the general manager resists being called Emperor, and the cute check-out clerk isn't interested, sorry." So, go, watch and laugh. Free at Babelgum and YouTube.

The Thought For Today

"The two biggest sellers in any bookstore are the cookbooks and the diet books. The cookbooks tell you how to prepare the food and the diet books tell you how not to eat any of it." - Andy Rooney

Howstuffworks "The Sith Explained"

Howstuffworks "The Sith Explained"

How Stuff Works is the Site that explains how the universe, and everything in it, works. Well, almost everything. Okay, at least a little of it. Start with this Link and learn how much you do (and don't) know about The ("Always two there are, no more, no less.") Sith. And perhaps you too can rule the universe.

Mad Cows and Englishmen

Since I wouldn't want you feeling too nice and cozy, check out this creepy little fact from Tess Gerritsen to put a bit of spark and sizzle into your weekend bar-b-cue.

The RealTruth From Orlando

Confederate Flag controversy --

The cemeteries in Germany still have the Nazi symbols on the headstones and elsewhere. The soldiers buried there died for their cause and an organization unparalleled in history for its systematic evil. I still see no reason to erase everything just to sanitize history. I don't have to agree with everything that's displayed. I don't have to agree or condone things done before my time or subscribe to the concept that because I don't protest a symbol that it means I support what that symbol stood for.

Confederate cemeteries and graves are desecrated on a regular basis, receive almost no funding or recognition -- but it's conveniently forgotten or ignored that they also contain the remains of black soldiers who fought for their homes and states, not just for or against slavery. They contain the remains of thousands of family ancestors of both colors. I see no reason we cannot honor the dead with a symbol of the cause they died to support.

It's more of this politically correct garbage that wants to pretend that the only reason we had a civil war in this country was because of slavery and that persons of color can only feel good about themselves nearly 200 years after the fact if only they get enough apologies. The Civil War was about states' rights to govern themselves -- the very same battle that's going on right now in the issues of abortions, women's rights, immigration, gay marriage and the so-called "religious freedom" to refuse service to anyone who doesn't believe like you do. But none of those issues has a flag people can point to and scream about.

It's asinine to say the Confederate flag means slavery and only Southerners are bigots. African tribes sold opposing tribal captives to slavers. Ship magnate northerners ran the slave ships from Africa and made huge profits in the slave trade. Northerners ran their profitable textile mills for cotton grown by slave-owning plantation owners. The Southerners owned the slaves. Not every Southerner owned slaves; not every Northerner was an abolitionist. Not every black man in the South was a slave. Not every slave in the South was black. No one's hands were clean.

The hypocrisy that touts that flag as a symbol of slavery is overwhelming. The imminent criminalization in displaying the flag is a slap in the face to the American experience and a patent violation of the First Amendment.

It's a shame one nut ball, gormless, disenfranchised jackass went in and killed nine productive people of whatever color just because he could. He's a terrorist. Treat him like a terrorist and stop with the constant racism rhetoric. There's as much racism on the black side of the color fence as there is on the white side. Time to quit throwing stones back and forth over it and leave each other's heritage alone.

Florida Cracker

The Thought For Today

"Love: a temporary insanity curable by marriage." - Ambrose Bierce

Intuitor Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics

Intuitor Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics

We all know that space ships don't actually make wooshing noises in space and big bangs are all flash and no noise, but it's interesting to read about how bad the science is coming out of Hollywood. And folks, it's worse than you think. Some fun movie reviews too.

GTD In Space: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Spaceship Captains

GTD In Space: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Spaceship Captains

COOL!

Challenger, A Science Fiction Fanzine

If you like reading works by Mike Resnick, Greg Benford and other science fiction notables, then you will enjoy Challenger. Contributors write about such diverse topics as science fiction as an art form to real science (especially that involving space) to horse racing to movies to insurance law to getting stuck in jail...Well, let's just say there's a lot on offer there. Bookmark it so you can take your time; there are achived issues in addition to the current issue.

Paranormal Restraining Orders

Paranormal Restraining Orders

On this Weird Friday, for only $5, you can get a Restraining Order against the paranormal being of your choice. What a deal.

Speculative Fiction | The Stories | AntipodeanSF

Speculative Fiction The Stories AntipodeanSF


A very good free SF/Fantasy webzine from the land downunder.

The Thought For Today

"You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is." - Ellen DeGeneres

Abyss & Apex: Magazine of Speculative Fiction

Another excellent online magazine. Read and enjoy.

The Thought For Today

"Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory." - Albert Schweitzer

The Thought For Today

"All I can say about life is, Oh God, enjoy it!" - Bob Newhart

SpaceWesterns.com: The e-zine of the Space Western sub-genre

SpaceWesterns.com: The e-zine of the Space Western sub-genre

Before you laugh, remember that Gene Roddenberry pitched the original Star Trek as "a wagon train to the stars". The same cast every week, but a different location and story. Enjoy.

The Thought For Today

"Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before." - Steven Wright

FLURB, a Webzine of Astonishing Tales.

FLURB, a Webzine of Astonishing Tales.


The title pretty much says it all. Free from Rudy Rucker. Good stories. New issue out.

U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program

U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program


For those worried about such things...

The Thought For Today

"I voted for the Democrats because I didn't like the way the Republicans were running the country. Which is turning out to be like shooting yourself in the head to stop your headache." - Jack Mayberry

The Thought For Today

"We humans do not need to leave Earth to get to a hostile, deadly, alien environment; we already have Miami." - Dave Barry

The Thought For Today

"Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate." - Thomas Jones

AsianFoodGrocer.com - Asian Food and Recipes Online

AsianFoodGrocer.com - Asian Food and Recipes Online

Another interesting food site. Don't forget to check out the cook/tableware here and at the previous Site. Some VERY nice stuff at fair prices especially at the Korean Site. Perfect for special occasions.

The Thought For Today

"It’s the friends you can call up at four a.m. that matter." - Marlene Dietrich

Japanese Kimonos, Chinese Paper Lanterns, Chopsticks, Chinese Dresses

Japanese Kimonos, Chinese Paper Lanterns, Chopsticks, Chinese Dresses

A fairly inexpensive place for Asian goods and clothing.

Korean food and Japanese grocery online store

Korean food and Japanese grocery online store

Korean food - opinions vary. Especially on KimChi. It's cabbage, radish, peppers and other vegetables fermented together and some people love it. While others... Now you can order it and other Korean goodies through the Internet. So be adventurious - write down the phone number of your nearest hospital emergency room and give it a try!
P.S. Try leaving a dried squid instead of a chocolate on your houseguests pillow - they'll never forget THIS visit.

"The Boys Won't Be the Same"

And that's all I can say without giving away the punchline. It's only 100 seconds and worth every one, right here.

The Thought For Today

""Look closely at Central America, and try to imagine what would happen if this vital region were to fall into Communist hands. What would happen is a lot of Communists would be stung repeatedly by vicious tropical insects the size of mature hamsters." - Dave Barry

The Thought For Today

"We're all kissed by angels but some of us never think to pucker." - Terri Guillemets

Rec: Helluva Good Veggie Sandwich For One

1 croissant, sliced lengthwise
2 ozs cream cheese
1/4 of an avocado, sliced thin
1/4 cup alfalfa sprouts
1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
1 tablespoon raisins
2 tablespoons carrots, shredded
1/4 of a green apple, sliced


Spread the cream cheese on the bottom of the croissant.
Arrange the sliced avacado over the cream cheese.
Top with all the other ingredients. Enjoy.

Rec: Frankie's Turkey Meatloaf

1/2 pound ground turkey
1 egg
1/4 cup salsa
1/8 cup green olives (well-drained)
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs or saltines
lemon pepper to taste


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large bowl combine the turkey, egg, salsa, onion,
bread crumbs and lemon pepper. Mix well with hands
until blended. Press mixture into a loaf pan. Bake in
the preheated oven for 25 minutes.


Serves 2 to 4
Refrigerate remainder
Can be reheated in microwave

Rec: Frankie's Bratwurst With Curry Sauce

A tasty simple dish I modified from my time in Germany is
the Bratwurst with curry sauce. With a little experimentation,
I think I’ve got it. Buy your bratwurst and broil it like you
usually do in the oven or on the grill. While it’s cooking,
get your cheap ketchup – any kind will do, put about ½
cup of ketchup with two tablespoons of water, and add a
teaspoon of curry powder. Stir or shake vigorously. Add
a half-teaspoon of Worcestershire to the mix, again stir or
shake vigorously. Add the sauce to the bratwurst, on a
plate, in a sandwich, in a bun – your choice. Great with
fresh French fries.

Enjoy

Rec: Frankie's Breads

Make your own interesting bread sticks or flat breads.
Yes, they sell bread sticks in the pop-n-fresh section,
but you can do it with the generic cheap-o pop-n-fresh
biscuits found in any grocery store at a fraction of the price.
You need ½ cup regular flour, 1 tablespoon garlic salt,
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, mix together and evenly and
thinly spread over a wax papered flat surface.


Okay. Now, open your pop-n-fresh generic biscuits
(usually 10 in a cylinder). Stretch each biscuit into a
long form or stretch it out thinner and roll and flip it
in the mix. Do each biscuit – you don’t want too much
flour, just enough to stiffen the dough. Lay the biscuit
on a cookie sheet lightly sprayed with Pam or other spray
oil. Sprinkle extra Parmesan or garlic powder if you like.


Bake at 400 degrees F (or at the temp on the package if
different) or until golden brown.

Remove from heat. Let cool 10 minutes (if you can
restrain yourself that long) and enjoy.

Great with spaghetti, lasagna, egg plant parmesan.

Rec: Frankie's Spinach Pie

You will need 1) puff pastry sheets package or 2 pie shells,
2) fresh bag of spinach (the kind with shredded carrots is
okay), 3) one red onion (tastes better, but any kind of onion
will do), 4) shredded Mozzarella cheese, 5) crumbled Feta
Cheese, 6) olive oil, 7) garlic powder (not garlic salt), 8) a
little basil is optional.

Puff pastry sheets, available in Publix frozen dessert section,
make the best crust. There are two sheets of pastry per box.
Use both.

Defrost and pre-heat pastry sheets per the directions on the
box. Bake the bottom pastry sheet until it puffs up nice and
light brown, watch the pastry carefully because it cooks really
fast. Remove from the oven.

On the baked pastry sheet, lay down an fairly thick layer of
spinach leaves, covering all of the pastry sheet. Sprinkle it
lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle with basil leaves (if desirable).
Put a layer of THINLY sliced onions. Go easy on the onion;
you don’t want to wipe out the spinach flavor. The onion adds
a bit of tang, it shouldn’t obliterate. Now, sprinkle Feta cheese
crumbles over the spinach and onion. Go light; Feta is very
salty. Now sprinkle the shredded Mozzarella.

Lay down another layer of spinach leaves, olive oil sprinkles,
basil, onion, Feta, Mozzarella as described above.

You’re building flavor layers. Spinach is the main flavor, onion,
Feta, olive oil, basil leaves, garlic powder are the enhancers.
Mozzarella is the glue that holds the pie together, so you want
enough that it will make things stick together, but you don’t
want a great clumpy mass. Good spinach pie can be eaten hot
or cold, so you’re trying to avoid making a congealed mass of
Mozzarella later.

Make as many complete layers of these ingredients as you like.
I usually stop at three. Sometimes I add sliced mushrooms or
thinly sliced green tomatoes as well.

Cover the center concoction with the second puff pastry
sheet. You don’t need to pinch the edges together on the
sheets, just push it down around the edges. Put in the oven
at 400 degrees F. Make sure you keep an eye on it as it bakes,
usually less than fifteen minutes. Remove when the pastry
is golden brown. Let it cool. Eat it warm or cold.

This is a popular dish for office parties…you can save yourself
clean up time by using the throwaway baking pans. Good
healthy stuff and a tasty way to get veggies into your diet. Enjoy.

Shavuot - The Giving Of The Torah

CHEESE IT!

A Water-Powered Jetpack | Popular Science

A Water-Powered Jetpack Popular Science


WHOOT! That looks like FUN! Now if I can only win the lottery so that I can afford it.

Etch-A-Sketch Masterpieces

No kidding, this artist renders his versions of masterpieces with an Etch-A-Sketch. He also sketches buildings such as the Taj Mahal, photographic images and even playing cards. Mona Lisa anyone?

ReallyReady.org: A Project of the Federation of American Scientists

eallyReady.org: A Project of the Federation of American Scientists

Hurricane season is almost here. Are you ready? Water, food, batteries, a bit of cash and whatever prescription drugs you need. And the most important thing of all - TOILET PAPER! Now's the time to be hitting Sam's/BJ's/Wally World and stock up. And this Site will give you the basics.

The Hard Truth From Orlando

And another story that grits. The 15-year-old girl with autism who got kicked off the plane. Maybe the pilot & crew did over-react and maybe the steward could have nuked the damn sandwich so the kid would eat it. I would have nuked it for the little twit just to shut her up.

But having a kid who pitches a fit because her sandwich isn’t hot enough is not the problem of everyone else. Yes, the child has a disability. But guess what? The whole world doesn’t have to cater to her and that’s something the FAMILY needs to recognize. It’s become epidemic. My child has a problem, everybody has to make allowances for them, everybody has to suffer their tantrums when they don’t get their way.

No, we don’t. You have to do everything in YOUR power to make sure your kid conforms to societal norms. You have to do everything in YOUR power to make sure your kid doesn’t hamper anyone else in the performance of their duties or that YOUR kid doesn’t create an emergency or get in the way during an emergency.

That’s not society’s job. That’s the PARENT’S job.

Frankly, I hope the child is sufficiently comprehensive to BE embarrassed, but she won’t be. Her mom is going to make her a victim and not a responsible human being. Wish the little idiot luck when Mommy is not there to hold her hand and make the bad people all kiss her self-inflicted boo-boos.

 

   Florida Cracker

Rec: Pickled Ginger

2 cups rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 small red beet, peeled and halved
2 bay leaves
1/2 tablespoon white peppercorns
2 Thai bird chiles
2 cups ginger slices, peeled (1/8-inch thick)

Combine everything but ginger in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add ginger and turn heat down to a simmer for 1/2 an hour. Pull off heat and let stand until cool, about 1 hour. Place in jar and refrigerate overnight. Will keep for 1 month.

Rec: Crockpot Wild Rice Casserole

1 1/2 cup uncooked long-grained rice
1/2 cup uncooked wild rice
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
4 cups water
1 bunch green onions, chopped
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup melted butter
1 tablespoon snipped parsley


Combine all ingredients in lightly greased (Pam'd)
crockpot. Cover, cook on HIGH 2 1/2 hours, stirring
occasionally. Stir in parsley just before serving.


Serves 4 to 6
Refrigerate remainder
Can be reheated in microwave

Home Security Systems

Wish that you could afford a decent home security system, but they're out of your price range? Maybe you should fake it! Worth a shot at these prices.

Abraham Lincoln and Assault Weapons

From Outdoor Life--

Couldn't have said it better myself....

It's Okay to Be Eaten First

But before that happens, please read the text that accompanies this cartoon, particularly that below it.

Church Sign Generator

Church Sign Generator

Now you can make a personalized church sign to say ALL kinds of nasty things about your friends. Of course they may not remain your friends for long. Or you can praise them to HIGH HEAVENS. Your choice. Have fun.

McSweeney's Internet Tendency

McSweeney's Internet Tendency.

Another McSite just chock-full of good (if slightly strange) reading that you'll need to check on every couple of days.

History of Comics Blog

This blog, by Door Tree, is well worth a look by comics fans interested in the history of comics and anyone who would like a peek at some really old material. His alternate site also is interesting, with lots of old photographs and postcards.

The Thought For Today

"The teacher should make a concerted effort never to lose his temper in the presence of the class. If a man, he may take refuge in profane soliloquies. If a woman, she may follow the example of one sweet-faced tranquil girl who went out in the yard and gnawed a post." - William Lyon Phelps

Religion of Comic Book Characters

You know that you want to know...

The Thought For Today

"You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain

Wireless Catalog - Welcome to Wireless Catalog

Wireless Catalog - Welcome to Wireless Catalog

What can you say about a Site that offers autographed pictures of Batman and Robin? And much more. A couple of my favorite T-shirts are: "Some days, it's not even worth chewing through the restraints." Or: "They say I have A.D.D. but they just don't understand. Oh look! A chicken!" Visit. Laugh. And remember my birthday is coming.

The Thought For Today

"Anatomically speaking, a bust is here today and gone tomorrow." - Lady Isobel Barnett

T-shirt Bordello

Cool shirts, mugs, glasses, caps, etc. Buy 2 shirts and get 1 free. Love the Zombie Outbreak Barricade Tape.

The Thought For Today

"I'm not upset about my divorce. I'm only upset I'm not a widow." - Roseanne Barr

6DollarShirts.com

6DollarShirts.com


They're not kidding. Over 240 Tshirts for $6 each. Ten for $50. Not a sale.

The Thought For Today

"Haven't you learned anything from that guy that gives those sermons in church? Captain What's-his-name. We live in a society of laws, why do you think I took you to see all those Police Academy movies? For fun? Well I didn't hear anybody laughing! Did you? Except at that guy who made sound effects. Vroom! Beep! Honk! Honk! Ha-ha. Where was I? Oh yeah, stay out of my booze!" - Homer Simpson

The Thought For Today

"To you I'm an atheist; to God, I'm the Loyal Opposition." - Woody Allen

The Thought For Today

"Who is General Failure, and why is he reading my hard disk?" - Steven Wright

Modern Drunkard Magazine Online

Modern Drunkard Magazine Online

Who needs Time or Newsweek when you can read the best - Modern Drunkard Magazine. All the answers to those hard questions of life. Such as, what to toast next.

Retropolis

Retropolis

Eric suggested my post should be for this site, which is pretty cool for the likes of us. This artist features items with a Celtic theme or a theme he refers to as "Retropolis." He bills it as "the future that never was." It's very art decoish, like the covers of the early pulps. Enjoy!

The Thought For Today

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect." - Mark Twain

The Thought For Today

"All right, brain, you don't like me, and I don't like you, but let's just get me through this, and I can get back to killing you with beer." - Homer Simpson

The Thought For Today

"The other day in Iowa, a 78-year-old blind man went bowling, and he bowled a perfect game. Of course, no one had the heart to tell him he was in a supermarket." - Conan O'Brien

Rec: Crockpot Five Alarm Beef Chili

1/4 cup oil
4 pounds boneless beef chuck, cut into pieces
2 medium onions, chopped
2 medium bell peppers, chopped
1 4 ounce can chopped chiles or jalapenos
1/3 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup beer



Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Add the beef and brown on all sides. Transfer to crockpot.
Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the skillet and saute the
onions and green peppers until soft. Transfer to crockpot.
Stir in the jalapenos, chili powder, oregano, cumin, salt
and beer. Cover and cook on LOW 6 to 8 hours or on
HIGH 3 to 4 hours. Serve. Enjoy.


Serves 6 to 8
Refrigerate remainder
Can be reheated in microwave

Rec: Australian Shrimp on the Barbie

1/2 cup butter,melted
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup minced fresh herbs (parsley, thyme and cilantro)
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 large garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablespoon minced shallot
salt and pepper, freshly ground
1 1/2 pound medium large shrimp, unpeeled
spinach leaves


Combine marinade ingredients in large bowl. Mix in
shrimp. Marinate at room temperature 1 hour or in the
refrigerator 5 hours, stirring occasionally. Prepare
barbaque with medium hot coals. Thread shrimp on
narrow skewers. Grill until just opaque, about 2
minutes per side. Line platter with spinach. Arrange
skewers on platter. Garnish with lemon and serve.


Serves 4

The Thought For Today

"Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been." - Mark Twain

Are you smarter than an atheist? A religious quiz.

"Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons are among the highest-scoring groups in a 32-question survey of religious knowledge by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. On average, Americans got 16 of the 32 questions correct."
WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLL? And, no, I didn't quite get a perfect score. Done in by the bloody Christians again.

The Thought For Today

"I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally." - W.C.Fields

The Hard Truth From Orlando

INDIANA APPROVES PANDORA'S BOX LEGISLATION

I don't believe in contraception, so if I work in a store or pharmacy that sells condoms or other prophylactics for birth control, medically prescribed or not, I don't have to make the transaction for the customer or stock it on the shelves even if the manager says we provide those materials -- and he can't fire me.

I don't believe that women should be allowed to wear pants, so I don't have to serve any woman who doesn't conform to my dress code.

I don't believe that God meant for people of different races to be equal, so I can treat them according to the variation of their skin hues, from lightest to darkest, or darkest to lightest.

I believe that children born out of wedlock are going straight to Hell, so I don't have to pay for them to go to school. They're not the same as legitimate children and they should be shunned along with the mothers who gave birth to them.

I also don't have to rent to single mothers or their Hellspawn.

I believe that Jews should have to prove they don't have horns before I serve them.

I believe that homosexuality is offensive before God and I am not going to sin by treating them the same as anyone else and I don't have to provide them the same services.

I believe that mine is the only true religion, so I don't have to serve anyone who can't show their faith is the same as mine.

Who do you hate? It doesn't matter. Indiana wants YOU!

  Florida Cracker

BugMeNot.com

BugMeNot.com

Find yourself following a news link to a newspaper site that wants you to log in? BugMeNot will do it for you.

The Thought For Today

"John McCain was on “The View.” And I thought, Good Lord — hasn’t this man endured enough torture?" - David Letterman

The Hard Truth From Orlando

Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival

And this is my take over the big brouha over the poster image for this year's Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival depicting two impressionistic black shapes of children in white clothing with red mouths and holding strawberry baskets: Seems that some folks see the painting exclusively as racist, reminiscent of early stereotypical depictions of African-American children as "pickaninnies." These same folks say it was an insensitive selection because the festival committee is primarily composed of white members and that's why they chose this image.

Well, I guess some hyper-sensitive folks could see it that way; the same folks who insist that having a Confederate flag automatically means you're a racist, that all black people are persecuted and profiled by police for no valid reason, that all early American folk art depicting African-Americans is stereotypical and must be labeled as such and never displayed, anyone who puts on blackface and plays a minstrel is a bigot, no matter the context.

I have a solution. Never paint any figure of a person as black unless they're in foreign or primitive clothing to show they're not African-AMERICAN. We need to follow the rules set by these masters of political correctness and pretend that African-Americans have no history in this country but one of discrimination and failure. Black human forms painted by anyone who isn't black are automatically to be deemed stereotypical and should have no place in American mainstream art. We can all just accept that hip-hop and gangsta rap, pants on the ground, and street-gang graffiti are the end-all and be-all of appropriate African-American contributions to art and let it go at that.

So for the next strawberry festival, make it a white figure in a black dress -- and then see if all these same super-sensitive critics scream that you're ignoring historical contributions by African-Americans. You're not going to please them no matter what you do, so scrape them off and move on.

 

     Florida Cracker

(The poster: http://imgick.nola.com/home/nola-media/width620/img/entertainment_impact_festivals/photo/17317425-standard.jpg)

The Thought For Today

"When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers." - Oscar Wilde

The Thought For Today

"[Charles Dickens was] the bravest man who ever lived. He fathered ten children before they became tax deductions." - W.C.Fields

The Thought For Today

"You should do your own car repairs. It's an easy way to save money and possibly maim yourself for life." - Dave Barry

The Thought For Today

"Muscles come and go; flab lasts." - Bill Vaughan

The Thought For Today

"Back in the old days, most families were close-knit. Grown children and their parents continued to live together, under the same roof, sometimes in the same small, crowded room, year in and year out, until they died, frequently by strangulation." - Dave Barry

The Thought For Today

"Never moon a werewolf." - Mike Binder

The Thought For Today

Sanders, who will be a senior at Waltrip High School in the fall, already has seen an improvement in his football skills. Before his surgery, Sanders could run fast and lifted weights to stay in shape. But his football coach, Anthony Zuccarini, said his football catching skills left much to be desired. "He couldn't catch a cold, buck naked in a snowstorm," Zuccarini said.

The Thought For Today

"I'm desperately trying to figure out why kamikaze pilots wore helmets." - Dave Edison

Rare Book Room Includes British Library Works

Rare Book Room is a special site because these are digitized pictures of the actual pages of the books. Project Gutenberg also is wonderful, however only the texts are available there. Rare Book Room has so far scanned just 400 books but they include rare volumes from the British Library, the Bodleian Library, the University of Edinburgh Library, and the National Library of Scotland that we previously would have no way of seeing except in person. Great site!

For Bibliophiles Everywhere

This nifty little video about printing visually shows the difference between hot type and cold type. We can design our own pages these days, but we can't make them look three-dimensional like this. Great stuff!

The Thought For Today

"With ignorance and arrogance, success is assured." - Mark Twain

The Thought For Today

"Admit it, sport-utility-vehicle owners! It's shaped a little differently, but it's a station wagon! And you do not drive it across rivers! You drive it across the Wal-Mart parking lot!" - Dave Barry

On the Evils of Girl Scout Cookies

Oldish but still funny, I know some of you are addicted, especially to Thin Mints. Herewith, writer Jennifer Weiner's sad tale of addiction. Read, learn.

Need to Know Some Knots?

It's always handy to have a visual reference for common knots such as these. This page is thanks to the Coral Gable Boy Scouts. Thanks, guys!

The Thought For Today

"Any time four New Yorkers get into a cab together without arguing, a bank robbery has just taken place." - Johnny Carson

More Stupid Cat Videos

Now I know some of you want only cat videos that call for recipes, such as Cat-On-A-Barbie. I have to disappoint you this time, because these are merely cat swimming videos. Not all cats hate the water, just most of them. First there is the kitten-in-a-tub video. I'll bet the videographer didn't find that kitten too cute when he leaped out of the tub all soaking wet. Next is the cat-in-a-pool video, wherein I don't think the cat was a willing participant. (This last video has a commercial for some TV series or whatever tacked onto it but it's at the end so you can just click off the video at that point).

Yes, Another Stupid Cat Video

Only this one is a stupid kitten video, and what could be cuter than that? This one is all about how to break up a cat, er, kitten fight. When you just don't know what to do about your rowdy friends, try this one. They do it on the big screen all the time.

The Thought For Today

"A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them." - P.J. O'Rourke

The Thought For Today

"I am a strong believer in luck and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." - Benjamin Franklin

Become a Laird, Lord, or Lady... Lochaber Highland Estates.

Become a Laird, Lord, or Lady... Lochaber Highland Estates.

Not cheap but think of the business cards that you can have printed.

The Thought For Today

"When you work seven days a week, fourteen hours a day, you get lucky." - Armand Hammer

Islands for Sale, Private Islands, Luxury Real Estate

Islands for Sale, Private Islands, Luxury Real Estate


So, you've just won big in your local lottery. What do you plan to do with those millions? Buy a mansion to store all those toys that you've bought? Orrrrrr - you can buy your own private island to live on. They're available all over the world in all shapes, sizes and prices. So tour this Site and dream a little.

The Thought For Today

"When my mother makes out her income tax return every year, under 'Occupation' she writes in, 'Eroding my daughter's self- esteem.' " - Robin Roberts

The Thought For Today

"Of course I don't believe in it. But I understand that it brings you luck whether you believe in it or not." - Niels Bohr

The Thought For Today

"Lots of people talk to animals.... Not very many listen, though.... That's the problem." - Benjamin Hoff

The Thought For Today

"I found out why cats drink out of the toilet. My mother told me it's because the water is cold in there. And I'm like: How did my mother know that?" - Wendy Liebman

When 3-year-olds Attack

Let's be clear about this: it's butt, not ass, okay? Now scram and go play.

The Thought For Today

"I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life." - George Burns

The Thought For Today

"I'd rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate." - George Burns

Burns Night Supper

With the Supper coming up the 25th, you may ask yourself "Where do I find a Haggis here in America?". And the answer is: http://store.stewartsofkearny.com/home.php. Or: http://www.caledoniankitchen.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/33_29?osCsid=578d71eb0bcf8d1a14f5a6f30d550b02. Better order now.

And remember - Haggis is made from the parts of our sheep that the English DIDN'T steal.

Wrong Town

IT'S PURE EVIL! DO NOT VISIT THIS SITE!!!!!

Rec: Perfect Microwave Rice

1 cup long grain rice
1 3/4 cups water or stock
3/4 teaspoon butter or oil
salt and fresh ground black pepper


Put all ingredients in microwave safe bowl.
Remember, the rice will be expanding during
cooking, so pick a large enough bowl.
Microwave on HIGH uncovered for 5 minutes.
Microwave on MEDIUM LOW, uncovered for
7 1/2 minutes. Do not stir during the cooking
process. Season with salt and fluff with a fork
just before serving.

Serves 4

Rec: Easy Layered Delight

14 whole graham crackers
1 (5.1 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups cold milk
1 cup thawed whipped topping
1 (12 oz) can cherry pie filling


Line a 9x9-inch square pan with whole graham crackers
(break crackers, if necessary). Prepare pudding with milk
as directions indicate; let stand 5 minutes, then blend
with whipped topping. Spread half of the pudding
mixture over graham crackers. Place another layer
of graham crackers on top. Spread remaining pudding
mixture over crackers. Add another layer of crackers.
Then spread cherry pie filling over the top. Cover, and
refrigerate 3 hours.


Serves 6 to 8

The Thought For Today

"Lack of money is the root of all evil." - George Bernard Shaw

The Thought For Today

"The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between political parties either, but through every human heart." - Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Which Tarot Card Are You?

Take this test to find out! Check out all the different card sets while you're at it, they're pretty nifty.

The Thought For Today

"One thing vampire children are taught is, never run with a wooden stake." — Jack Handey

The Thought For Today

"New Year's Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual." - Mark Twain