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

For Auld Lang Syne

WELL? START SINGING!

The Thought For Today

"Greed is my creed" - Daffy Duck

The Thought For Today

"Most Texans think Hanukkah is some sort of duck call." - Richard Lewis

THIS IS A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY!

READ! LEARN!

6 Types of Salt and How to Use Them

"Knowing the difference between Kosher and sea salt can make a world of difference in your dishes. Here, six easy-to-find varieties, with tips on when and where to sprinkle them." Things you need to know...

The Day Of The Ninja!

"Prepare for the Annual Day of the Ninja. Forget 'Talk Like a Pirate' Day. This will truly be our chance to show the world what ninja are made of.

Every year, December 5th is the Day of the Ninja. Plague your co-workers with ninja-ness and wear a ninja mask to work! Got the day off? Run wild in the streets, or dress like a ninja at the mall! Just show the world that YOU ARE NINJA!" I couldn't make this stuff up. Go for it. 

You WILL experience the Ninja Burger difference!

You WILL experience the Ninja Burger difference!


Funny...

The Adventures of Dr. McNinja

The Adventures of Dr. McNinja

I give you Dr. McNinja. A Doctor who is part of a family of Irish Ninjas. Very entertaining. Definately dip into the Archives. Updates every Mon, Wed and Fri.

The Thought For Today

"If dogs could talk, perhaps we’d find it just as hard to get along with them as we do people." - Karel Capek

The Hard Truth From Orlando

The Michael Brown case: I did not see how the grand jury could indict the officer. Even if he went to trial, the prosecutor could not win. Just the video of Michael Brown’s violent behavior at the earlier shoplifting incident would create reasonable doubt at a trial and the officer would be acquitted.

I'm telling you now and I would tell the protestors across the country -- they have absolutely no concept of the kind of irrational, erratic, arbitrary, dangerous violence that is prevalent in some neighborhoods. Michael Brown was 18 years old, big, violent, full of himself and belligerently stupid. Any normal civil teenager of any race first would not be threatening store owners and stealing. Any normal civil teenager of any race would have been walking on the sidewalk, but if being a twit-head and walking in the street, when asked by a police officer to get to the sidewalk (however he put it), would’ve said, okay, and moved his butt to the sidewalk. Michael Brown was not raised to comply. He was not raised to recognize anything but his own strength and so he mouths off, goes after the police officer to keep the officer from getting out of his car (and probably knows he’s being sought for the earlier theft), punches the officer, tries to evade and then goes bug-nuts again when told to stop.

And the same culture of violent idiocy that spawned him then burned his part of town, including the store that Michael Brown victimized just before he was confronted by the police. It’s a culture of blind incomprehension clashing with a culture of frustration on the other side.

And I find it ironic that everyone was beating up on law enforcement and the governor about having so many folks on standby – like having them there is going to provoke violence. But then, the predicted (and some would say inevitable) violence, looting and lawlessness breaks out and now they’re upset because the police/law enforcement weren’t standing right there to stop it. They always want it both ways.

When they rioted in Liberty City, it was never rebuilt. Watts was never rebuilt. The #1 rule of criminal thinking is: does not learn from experience. Well, here it is again. SSDD.

 

 

   Florida Cracker

How To Shuck Oysters

File this under, Things You Should Know.

How To Clean Fish

File this under, Things You Should Know.

How To Open Clams

File this under, Things You Should Know.

Overheard in Athens

There are many "over heard" sites. Just run "overheardin" through a search engine and you'll come across quite a few. This one from Athens, Georgia, which centers around college kids, is the funniest. (I wouldn't mind a little translation on the Dublin site, though. And it would be nice to know what a "Sorostitute" is in Athens.)

The Thought For Today

"Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company."  -  Mark Twain

The Art Of War, by Sun Tzu

You've seen it in the stores and you've waited for the movie. Sorry, there is no movie. But don't be disappointed because now you can download it from Project Gutenberg for free. With no charge even. Get a copy for YOUR library and get ready to conquer the world.

The Thought For Today

"I don't like to commit myself about heaven and hell - you see, I have friends in both places." - Mark Twain

Hanttula.com Presents the { Circus of Disemboweled Plush Toys }

Hanttula.com Presents the { Circus of Disemboweled Plush Toys }

It's another Weird Friday and this is. This is. Weird!

HAPPY GUY FAWKES NIGHT!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

Time for the traditional bonfire and fireworks!

Carnivorous Plant Nursery

YEAH! Meat eaters one and all.

How to Build a Pencil Crossbow

How to Build a Pencil Crossbow


Let the Office Wars begin!

The Thought For Today

“My wife and I tried to breakfast together, but we had to stop or our marriage would have been wrecked.”  ― Winston Churchill

TV Horror Hosts - Part 6

They moved to the net.

TV Horror Hosts - Part 5

A few links from Web Ring.

The Thought For Today

"An intellectual is someone who has found something more interesting than sex." - Edgar Wallace

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

TV Horror Hosts - Part 3

Part 3 of the series.





Damn I MISS MST3K!

TV Horror Hosts - Part 4

Local flair, but some good stuff.

TV Horror Hosts - Part 2

Part 2 in my series of paying homage to the TV Horror Hosts of years past.

Did you know, the first TV Horror Host was Maila Numi aka Vampira in 1954. Her amazing hourglass figure was more pronounces because she had her lower ribs removed. Her show was cancelled after a year because she wanted to get paid and the TV station (KABC) countered with a demand that they owned the rights to the character.

Vampira probably would have been forgotten if not for Ed Wood and his famous Plan 9 From Outer Space.

TV Horror Hosts - Part 1

After reading an article in the HorrorHound magazine, I'm feeling a bit nostalgic. They ran a short bit on the TV horror hosts of years past. I remember the days long gone when I used to wait anxiously for late Saturday night to flip on Channel 3 in Philadelphia to watch "Saturday Night Dead" hosted by Stella, the giant cleavage femme fatal whose campiness and low cut, skin tight black gowns got all teenage boys cranked up and then she hosted some of the best B films ever made. And before her time, of course, was Dr. Shock. Back in the day when I watched these demented creatures on a console TV which pulled in about 10 or 12 channels from the antenna on the roof.

The video age slowly killed these icons. The early mom and pop video stores of the '80s had great selections of genere film and B films, which were killed by the big box rental places, which are now all closing due to the internet. And I do find the internet to be a great source to find rare gems, but the net can never replace the iconic horror host. Even now, with 200+ channels from my satellite TV and a horror channel (Chiller), none of them have a decent Friday or Saturday night line up of great B horror/SF films with a schlock host. Damn wished they did. I'd put down the computer to watch it.

All that being said, the above link is the first of 4 or 5 places I've found on the web that pay homage to the great TV Horror Hosts of days past.

The Thought For Today

"I've been accused of vulgarity. I say that's bullshit." - Mel Brooks

Chocolate Ammo, Chocolate Guns & More - www.ChocolateWeapons.com

Chocolate Ammo, Chocolate Guns & More - www.ChocolateWeapons.com


I don't need to say a thing...

The Thought For Today

"If love means never having to say you're sorry, then marriage means always having to say everything twice." - Estelle Getty

The Thought For Today

"Don't spend two dollars to dry clean a shirt. Donate it to the Salvation Army instead. They'll clean it and put it on a hanger. Next morning buy it back for seventy-five cents." - Billiam Coronel

Tokyoflash Japan

They're not cheap but if you have a friend that loves watches, this is the place to shop for them. Not quite 'one of a kind' but very close. A few you might have trouble getting through airport security because they don't look like watches.

The Thought For Today

"A team of British engineers have developed a car that runs on human waste. I'll bet that new car smell doesn't last very long." - Jay Leno

The Thought For Today

"Smartness runs in my family. When I went to school I was so smart my teacher was in my class for five years." - Gracie Allen

And Now, the Human Sling-Shot Joyride

Afraid of heights but want to bungee jump? How about the human sling-shot alternative? I'm not sure I'm ready for this thrill-ride myself but if any of you want to try it, I'll try to make your debut. Just keep me posted.

The Thought For Today

"A new survey found that 48 percent of Americans are willing to try out a nude beach for vacation. And my guess is that it's the wrong 48 percent." - Jimmy Fallon

The Thought For Today

"A true friend stabs you in the front." - Oscar Wilde

The Thought For Today

"If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is...and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them." — Jack Handey

Iron Sky

"As World War II comes to an end in 1945, Hans Kammler and other German scientists make a breakthrough in anti-gravity research. From a secret base in the Antarctic, Nazi spaceships are sent to the "dark side" of the Moon to establish the military base "Schwarze Sonne" (Black Sun). Their plan is to build a powerful fleet and return to conquer Earth. The film is set in the year 2018 when their descendants finally return." Wikipedia says it better than I ever could.

Extreme Pug Skydiving

The title says it all. If you check out the comments after watching the video of this skydiving dog you'll see that not everyone thinks it's a good idea. It's a beautiful video though and the music is fabulous, although I think Dr. Dave should have credited it. Stay until the end, where there are additional stills of the pug surfing. I think the pug's name is Bugsy but the credits don't make it really clear.

ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive Project Blog

ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive Project Blog

Good Site. Great art. I remember seeing some of these years ago.

The Thought For Today

"According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, a secret panel meets every week in Harrisburg, Pa., to go through applications for state vanity license plates to reject any that are considered sleazy or offensive. They wouldn't want anyone with a crude saying on their license plate driving through Intercourse or Blue Ball, Pa." - Jay Leno

Khan Academy

"Over 2,100 videos and 100 self-paced exercises and assessments covering everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history. Watch. Practice. Learn almost anything for free." "He's NOT dead, Jim."

The Thought For Today

"Surprise me." - Bob Hope, when asked by his wife where he'd like to be buried.

Free Range Graphics

Free Range Graphics

An environmental advertising group who brought you animated videos of Store Wars and The Meatrix among others. Well worth a peek.

The Hard Truth From Orlando

     THE POLICE OFFICER FROM THE FERGUSON SHOOTING SHOULD BE ARRESTED

   Sorry. Don’t agree. We don’t have enough facts. Every time a black man shoots another black man, it’s BFD, business as usual in the black neighborhood. Even their families don’t care enough to come forward and protest if the other guy isn’t prosecuted or if he’s allowed to plead to something ridiculously lenient. If the criminal is African American, anything can be excused in an African American community because somehow “the system” failed him and his.

  But you let it be an officer involved, and it’s all the officer’s fault and the “victim” is somehow maligned. Too many African-Americans openly encourage noncompliance with any form of authority, but they expect authority to protect them on demand.

  Reports are the shooting officer was taken from the scene to the hospital with a broken orbital (eye socket) bone and other serious injuries. The orbital fracture is disputed. The fact that the officer had facial injuries doesn’t appear to be. You can infer he was struck in the face. You can infer that the “victim” of the shooting was anything but a mild-mannered passerby from his earlier convenience store theft and battery of the employee – also white, or at least not African American. Where’s the outrage over that? The only outrage was that it “disparages” the victim’s character rather than establishing a clear example of violent, anti-social behavior occurring within a narrow time-frame of the incident which resulted in his demise.

  The pattern of the bullets is interesting. It doesn’t indicate the guy was shot while standing there with his hands raised. The last shot went through the top of his head, so the shots went into his arm, shoulder and then through his head as he was falling. And they were all on his right side. That indicates he was in a fighting or striking stance, right side forward. And that, coupled with the officer’s reported injuries, tends to support a theory of violence to the officer rather than a hands-raised, compliant “victim.”

  There is a double-standard in the criminal justice system. I knew it when I was a probation officer. African-Americans got tougher sanctions because they had no family support for lesser sanctions. I see it in the juvenile system. White, Spanish and Asian kids get Teen Court and diversion programs because their parents make sure they toe the mark, attend the classes, do the community service work. African-American parents don’t. They won’t make sure their kids attend classes, court – even when costs can be defrayed by community service, they don’t make the kid comply. Instead, they let their kids take criminal probation instead of diversion which could have let their records be expunged. They don’t show up to court half the time when their child is facing criminal charges and the child’s future is on the line. They let their child’s behavior and charges and lack of compliance snowball into a commitment (juvenile prison) sentence, which just greases the skids into adult criminal prison.

  African-Americans say, the system did this, the system did that, the system failed my child. Hockey puck. The parents are the first step in “the system.” And African American parents on the whole consistently refuse to step up to the plate. They want what they perceive privileged “white” folks as having, but they won’t conform behavior or their social norms in order to achieve it. Until the African American community ceases to embrace a culture of failure and violence as their “norm,” we’re going to keep having these incidents.

  ** sidenote: And every time African- Americans protest, they burn their own neighborhoods, loot their own stores, and otherwise prey on their own community. It’s as predictable as the sun rising in the east. I'd like to see that idiocy cured by African-American leaders. NO other ethnic/minority in the US does that kind of stupid stuff over and over again, generation after generation.

 

     Florida Cracker

AE4RV.com :: Original Flash Games and More

AE4RV.com :: Original Flash Games and More

Look Ma, even more brain damage!

What Classic Movie Are You?

I suspect this is skewed to the darkside, but maybe that's just me. Anyway, answer the quiz to see which classic movie represents your true nature.

The Thought For The Day

"The easiest thing to be in the world is you. The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be. Don't let them put you in that position." - Leo Buscaglia

Encyclopedia Astronautica

Encyclopedia Astronautica

THE source for space information, past, present and future.

Space Toys NASA Store from Apollo to the Space Shuttle. NASA Space Toys for all ages.

Space Toys NASA Store from Apollo to the Space Shuttle. NASA Space Toys for all ages.

Another very cool Site. Where else can you buy a space suit and rent or buy a full sized Space Shuttle? Perfect for the front yard. Just remember - if you have to ask "how much", you CAN'T afford it.

Ugobe / Pleo

Here's what happened when he disappeared for a while: http://www.robotsrule.com/pleo/2009/10/inside-story-behind-pleos-rise-fall-and.htmlUgobe / Pleo

He's back! Forget those robotic dogs - now you can have your very own robotic dinosaur. Much smarter than the dogs are. He's even trainable. Hmmmmmm - those noisy neighbors. I wonder how big he'll get. Plenty of videos at YouTube.

Why Superman Can't Save Your Fall

Superman makes it looks easy, but unless you're Supergirl you'll just turn into mush in his arms. And I don't mean that in a good way. Tess again, from the ooey gooey bits of her website on ways to die. Also, the real reason why Lois and Supes will never Become One.

The Thought For Today

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." - Ernest Hemingway

Sacrificing without Digesting

And now, on a related note for yesterday's posts, this is Tess Gerritsen again on human sacrifice. It still exists today, only now it isn't sanctioned by any government or society. In this regard I suppose it's similar to slavery -- witness the recent brouhaha over the forced servitude (i.e., slavery) of children and adolescents in China. Well, at least I haven't heard of anything similar regarding human sacrifice lately, but it's early days in the new century.

Molds On Food: Are They Dangerous?

Molds On Food: Are They Dangerous?


Hmmmmmmm? There's a chart at the bottom.

The Thought For Today

"Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination." - Robert Fulghum

The Thought For Today

"In Massachusetts, Republicans are upset over a new tax hike on dogs. It was slipped into a bill at the last minute by Democrats. Democrats claim they're only going to be taxing dogs that make over $250,000 a year, though." - Jay Leno

Things You Never Knew Existed : Gag gifts, novelties and toys : Welcome!

Things You Never Knew Existed : Gag gifts, novelties and toys : Welcome!

Okay, you knew that SOME of them existed. Still, there's a lot of fun stuff here and Xmas is getting closer.

Roswell Revisited

So was this guy nuts or what? Deathbed affidavits are thought to be true because what do you have to lose? I'm not sure that's accurate, because one's family can lose. The living still have something to lose in a lot of cases. But I have to admit, what did this guy have to lose by telling the truth? That still doesn't mean he saw a flying saucer, of course. But maybe he saw something he wasn't supposed to see...

The Thought For Today

There was once a young man who, in his youth, professed a desire to become a "great" writer.When asked to define "great", he said: "I want to write stuff that the whole world will read, stuff that people will react to on a truly emotional level, stuff that will make them scream, cry, wail, howl in pain, desperation and anger!" He now works for Microsoft writing error messages...

The Thought For Today

"I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that." - Thomas Edison

The Thought For Today

"May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country!" - Daniel Webster

Brass Pocket Sundial Compasses

The ultimate pocket watch. Solar powered and never needs batteries.

The Thought For Today

"As to marriage or celibacy, let a man take which course he will; he will be sure to repent it." - Socrates

The Thought For Today

"Why do Jewish divorces cost so much? They're worth it." - Henny Youngman

The Lighter Side : Collectibles, t-shirts, and other inexpensive gifts ideas : Welcome!

The Lighter Side : Collectibles, t-shirts, and other inexpensive gifts ideas : Welcome!



And on the same note...

The Thought For Today

'You scratch my back, and I'll suck blood out of yours' - that is the insect motto." - Dave Barry

Beam Me Up - Science & Science Fiction news: Isaac Asimov interview on Youtube

Beam Me Up - Science & Science Fiction news: Isaac Asimov interview on Youtube


About an hour, but well worth the time.

Beam Me Up - Science & Science Fiction news: Ten Things You Didn't Know About the Apollo 11 Moon Landing

Beam Me Up - Science & Science Fiction news: Ten Things You Didn't Know About the Apollo 11 Moon Landing


Interesting stuff...

StarShipSofa -

http://www.starshipsofa.com/

From their Home Page: "Take a voyage on the Science Fiction podcast StarShipSofa if you dare? Travel into the deepest realms of the classic Sci-fi and science fiction world. Calling at such science fiction destinations as Philip K Dick, Alfred Bester, John Brunner and all the other great Sci Fi writers out there. Then, from science fiction and Sci Fi we travel anywhere our imagination and our podcast take us. All wrapped up and inspired by the great Ronnie Corbett. Intrigued? Want to find out more about our science fiction podcast?. Then travel on the greatest science fiction and Sci Fi ride of your life, the StarShipSofa podcast.... If it's classic science fiction... or sci fi trivia listen no further - science fiction never listened so good!"

SF Signal - A Science Fiction Blog

SF Signal - A Science Fiction Blog

An interesting Blog concerning all Science Fiction and Fantasy news.

The Thought For Today

"A human being is a part of the whole called by us 'Universe', a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest. - A kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." - Albert Einstein

The Hard Truth From Orlando

Missouri principal wows crowd, angers atheists with guarded 'God' references -- June 4, 2014

Increasingly, I think our Founding Fathers got it wrong in one respect. It shouldn't be freedom OF religion. It should be freedom FROM religion. Of course, they couldn't know that everything they fought for would be undermined almost as soon as it was written.

It would be different if people really respected other people's beliefs, but while the majority who espouse one belief or another say they do respect, their actions plainly show that they don't . So what we have are members of various organized belief groups who insist on ramming their personal credo into the face of everyone else while protesting that they have a right to believe as they do.

Well, yes. They have a right to believe whatever. The difference is, their right to believe appears to contain a simultaneous belief that they have a right to insist everyone else has to hear what they believe -- particularly when it's a group held socially captive for non-religious activities, school graduations, sports competitions, government assemblies -- heck, business meetings.

The original version of the Pledge of Allegiance did not contain the words "Under God." That was a calculated, political addition during the Cold War 1950's to show the world that the U.S. wasn't like the "godless" Communists. The original Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis Bellamy, a socialist, and the pledge was meant to be all encompassing of what the United State stands for, an ideal of intellect and equality -- not an inherently divisive religious affirmation.

I wonder how Principal Kevin Lowery would feel if he were obliged to attend a monthly assembly of school principals to collect his pay check and then be obliged to sit and listen for an hour while Islamists, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Atheists or Satanists expounded on their private, personal religious views before he could collect his check. He'd be offended. He'd feel excluded. He'd feel trampled on.

But like most puffed-up, self-righteous Bible-thumpers, he won't see any correlation between that scenario and the one he just orchestrated at a Missouri high-school graduation. After all, his is the only REAL religion. Just ask him. He'll tell you. He has a personal line to God to which you're not privy unless you believe like he does. And then he's probably the only one who can hear that "still small voice." But rest assured, he'll "interpret" any messages for you because that voice that only he can hear told him he could.

"And just in case you’re interested, during my moment of silence, I gave thanks to God for these great students, their parents, their teachers and for this community.”

And of course, he is firmly convinced I give a tinker's damn what HE did during HIS moment of silence. I don't. I only give a damn when he and others of his ilk suck up my time with their arrogance. Puffed up jackass.

The school board needs to make him review and re-sign his oath to defend the Constitution and obey all laws. You know, that piece of paper all people who work for the taxpayers have to sign when they work in the government. I think the Principal has forgotten what it says.

 

   Florida Cracker

 

TSA Complaints: Home

TSA Complaints: Home


Enjoy your right to complain.  And no guarantee that if you do complain, you won't end up on the No Fly list. Just the opposite.

The Thought For Today

“Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion.” - Steven Weinberg

The Thought For Today

“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading” -  Lao Tzu

Used Body Armor

That's right folks, for Weird Friday we have a FINE selection of used body armor for all occasions. Most NOT bullet proof but there are some. Just look for the most expensive items. But all handy if you are going through a messy divorce.

Cannibalism Among the Ancients

Here is another creepy biological fact post from Tess Gerritsen. This one suggests that cannibalism may have been a ritual among the Neanderthals. I wonder what those guys in the Geico commercials would think?

Candwich

Yes, boys and girls, it does exist. And most of the reviews aren't bad.





http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38268129/ns/today-foodwine/

The Hard Truth From Orlando

You know, I'm somewhat torn about the murder trial going on in Minnesota of the 65-year-old who is accused of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of a pair of teenagers who broke into his home. The prosecution says the man lay in wait for the pair after they'd broken into his house (and others) several times to steal to support their drug habits. The prosecution alleges that because he lay in wait and because he made sure to kill them both with a final shot to the head, he exceeded the right of protecting one's home and elevated it to what amounts to an execution.

Do I think the pair of idiots had it coming? I think if you break into someone's house, you're begging to get hurt. Doing it more than once, especially the same house, you're increasing your odds dramatically of getting caught or worse. In this case, it proved to be worse.

Breaking into someone's house to steal, vandalize, or just for a kick is not "a mistake." It's a choice of criminality. I found it interesting that the grandfather of the male victim, Brady, referred to his grandson's criminal acts as "a mistake." It kind of shows where grandpa's mentality is -- and why his grandson wouldn't think breaking into houses with his girlfriend (or whatever she was) to support a drug habit was a big deal.

It's probably the arrogance of the homeowner that has prosecutors and other law enforcement seeking criminal penalties for deliberately killing this pair of dirtbags. There would be no question of a justifiable shooting if not for the final and very considered shot to the cranium of both burglars. And it's that arrogance, more than the final shots, that will convict him.

I like to ask myself, if I were in his shoes, having been burglarized more than once by the same knuckleheads, would I have been waiting with a gun in the basement? For sure. I'd probably have made it easy for them to get in, too. And I would've shot them like the crazy little animals they were. I would not have made that final kill shot to the head if I knew I'd already gotten in a couple of good injuries. Frankly, if I wanted them dead at that point, I'd just go hide in a corner until they stopped breathing and pretend I thought I heard a third and maybe a fourth person moving around and was afraid to call or come out.

Mind you, that would also be an act of homicide, but kind of tough to prosecute.

On the other hand, dead men tell no tales. When you have a living victim, it turns into a "he said/she said" and probable civil cases that will wreck you as surely as the initial criminal act. When you are the sole survivor, you can spin that story however you like within the forensic evidence. Your best option if you're going to use lethal force is to make sure that it's lethally done so that yours is the only voice heard. The homeowner did that; he just didn't do it smart.

Maybe it doesn’t say much about me as a human being, but my sympathy for those "kids" is zero, because whatever happens with the shooter, you won't see those teenage deadbeats committing crimes anymore -- and the community will probably never recognize what a relief it is that they're gone.

 

 

   Florida Cracker 


UPDATE:  http://news.yahoo.com/minnesota-man-convicted-premeditated-murder-205233923.html

Life with no parole. But there will be an appeal in part because:  "Judge Douglas Anderson excluded evidence about the teens' histories from the trial, including court documents that showed Brady had broken into Smith's house and garage before. Brady and Kifer were also linked to another burglary; stolen prescription drugs were found in the car they were driving." Innocents?

CBC.ca - Arts - Photo Essay - Coming Attractions

CBC.ca - Arts - Photo Essay - Coming Attractions

Improving the modern movie experience. I can't figure which is my favorite - #1 or #2.

Purple Rain? No, Purple Snow!

Yes, that's right, purple snow. Is it caused by climate change? I'm not clear on that, but here's the story.

The Thought For The Day

When you get to be President, there are the honours, the 21-gun salutes, all those things. You have to remember it isn't for you. It's for the Presidency. - Harry S. Truman

Maps Of 17 Years Of UFO Sightings

Via Slate Magazine: "In the past 17 years, the Davenport, Wash.-based National UFO Reporting Center has collected more than 30,000 reports of UFO sightings through its hotline and Web site. The following three maps visualize that rich history." So, which one did YOU come from?

National UFO Reporting Center

National UFO Reporting Center

An interesting Site. And, yes, we know that you're not REALLY from around here.

The Thought For Today

"If there were no God, there would be no Atheists." - GK Chesterton

Name the Film Quiz

A British film site, MovieMail, has some nifty quizzes for you film buffs. I like this particular quiz because it's not for the casual film-goer. You really need to know your movies, including foreign films, to figure out which movies these stills go with. Test your movie knowledge!

eclectech : pointless but fun : flash animations

eclectech : pointless but fun : flash animations

Some more fun stuff. Check out the Penguin Song.

Cosmetic Database

Interresting. Check out what cosmetics and personal care products are killing you.

The Thought For Today

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." - Robert Heinlein

Girl Genius

Enjoyable stuff. Go, read, laugh.

Dance Dance Party Revolution Movie Titles

Okay, it's not really Dance Dance Party Revolution, but it looks as if ought to be. So what is this video good for other than dancing? How about speed reading? See how many movie titles you can read, then watch it again to see if they're really there!

Life as a real CSI - and you thought Entomology was useless

Ok, here it goes, since I've been nagged to death to post. and speaking of death, here is something that could fall into the category of the Thought for the Day. As it goes, a word of advise is that if you find that you are going to pass on while preparing to go fishing, leave the live bait behind. Such is the case of "Uncle Pete." By using forensic Entomology, as generalized in the above link, I estimated "Pete" had been preparing to go fishing, sitting in his car in a closed, detached garage for about 3 weeks.
The big question should be, "How do you know 'Pete' was going fishing?" Well....in the car, next to "Pete" sat a lunch box cooler. Along with food stuffs, was some containers of live shrimp bait. Naturally, after 3 weeks, the bait was less than live.
The next question should be, "Why leave the bait home if I'm going to die?" Well....there is the matter of bouquet. Three weeks for a former person is one thing, but for former aquatic life......I'll leave to the imagination.

Rec: Haggis With Neeps And Tatties

An easier version for Burn's Night Supper...


http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/haggiswithneepsandta_90856

The Thought For Today

"When asked by an anthropologist what the Indians called America before the white man came, an Indian said simply, "Ours"

The Thought For The Day

"Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is
a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left
to irresponsible action." – George Washington

The Hard Truth From Orlando

SHOT FOR TEXTING AT THE MOVIES

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/justice/florida-movie-theater-shooting/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Frankly, I’m surprised someone hasn’t been shot before over cell phones, texting and stupidity in the movie theatres. And of course, they’re playing “Hearts & Flowers” over the fact that the dead dumbass was texting “his little daughter.” Um. He has a three-year-old daughter who reads text messages? Wow. So she has HER own phone, too, at three years of age? Or were they babysitting by video instead of leaving her with a living human being? And of course, this ill-mannered twit doesn’t know the polite thing is to make any phone calls or texts from the lobby, not the theatre seat, or was he just so important he can’t be bothered?

One report also said that the couple were talking loudly and otherwise being pretty obnoxious – which behavior usually means that they’ll continue this behavior right into the feature presentation and screw the experience for all the other paying customers. A normal couple would’ve gotten the message when someone asked them to stop texting, talking and be quiet. But not this pair of entitled yuppie jerk-offs.

And I can almost guarantee that little blonde wife of the victim was the instigator. Oh, you better call the baby, let her know we’re all right. Oh, honey, blah-blah-blah – and then argue with the man behind them so that hubby thinks she’s threatened and has to stand up for her. Sorry. It’s almost reminiscent of the airport security guy who got his neck broken by the more harassed than belligerent husband because his puffed-up entitled wife started a fight over her ill-trained child running past security. Hubby got acquitted, but wife’s behavior was finally addressed publically.

People are saying, oh, a retired cop did this; policemen and guns, ooh, can’t trust them. And as I said before, I’m just surprised someone hasn’t been shot before. That’s the trouble with ANYONE and a gun. The impulse to put down a mouthy jackass can escalate quickly into a lethal reaction. And in this case, it did.

Remember when going to the movies was almost like going to church with popcorn? You paid, you went and were quiet in a room full of strangers, all of whom were also expected to be quiet. Maybe a whispered comment, but by and large, you shut up and watched the movie or an usher ushered your antisocial self OUT and you did not get your money back.

Then we got VCRs and home theatres and everybody acted like they were in their own living room for the show, yelping, running up and down the aisle to the lobby, the bathroom. The kids were no longer trained to shut up and sit down – or taken out of the theatre if they became disruptive. You were conscious of the people around you and polite, saying, excuse me, if you had walk past other people in their seats. And then we got cell phones and that was the nearly the end of movie going for most people. You now see every jackass in the place with his or her feet propped up on the seat ahead of him/her, yakking, calling people on the phone, commenting on every scene and actor – usually not even in a whisper – and mouthing off if someone asks them to keep it down.

That’s why I pick senior citizen morning matinees if I go to theatres for a movie anymore. That’s why I really don’t want to carry a weapon. It’s not the theatres. It’s not even the cost. It’s the ill-mannered crap heads who inflict themselves on other paying customers, oblivious of possible consequences. And the urge to drill courtesy into their pointed craniums with a steel-jacketed projectile might become overwhelming…and besides, I’d miss seeing the movie.

 

 

   Florida Cracker