More hate speech

Don't ask how I found this. Well, okay, I found it through a series of links beginning with the Religulious page featuring the new documentary staring Bill Mahur. 

They're Coming to Your Town is a 28 minute rant about how the "gay agenda" is coming to your town. It uses Eureka Springs as the example of what can happen to your town if you don't buy this and share it with your Sunday school class. They even offer discounts if you purchase multiple copies.

Homophobia is dangerous and ignorant. I don't understand why we can't let folks live the lives they choose as long as they are not hurting others. It makes no sense to me.

I can't help myself

Looks like I'm on a political roll right now. I found this the other day and decided I needed to share it.

Take it to heart, and vote Democratic this November. No more of the same please.

And don't get me started on Sarah Palin. She is quickly becoming a joke which is comforting as that can only work in the Democrats favor. 

A little political humor

Sometimes (regularly) this is how it feels to the average Joe. I fear for where our country is headed. It sure seems like the little guys (voters) are bearing the burden of the fat cats (5% of the population that owns 95% of the wealth). I hope that we will see some real change in the future.

Cool Hand Luke passes away

One of my favorite people passed away yesterday. Paul Newman, 83, died of cancer. He has always been my quintessential star that I have admired. Cool Hand Luke is one of my favorite movies. I often use the line, 'what we have here is failure to communicate', from this movie in my daily life. It sums up situations up nicely on a regular basis. 

His ability to survive Hollywood and his philanthropic work makes him a-o-kay in my book. I'm sorry to hear that he is gone. Even as an old man he was still something to look at. Thanks for the lasting memories you've left for us all Paul. 

R.I.P. 

In a way... I got my wish!

Someone out there seems to be thinking along the same lines as me. At least I'm hoping 51% or greater are thinking along the same lines as me.

Thanks for the updated version of an older political sign that I wished for a while back. To see it, click here. It's not quite what I was looking for, but it'll do.

Sarah Palin is wrong for this country

Sarah Palin is a scary woman whom I believe is the current generations Phylis Schaffley. An intolerant woman who has no business being on the Vice Presidential ticket. She has been isolated in Alaska, far removed from the lower 48, with limited travel experience. She has been to Canada and Mexico but just acquired her first passport last year and had never traveled over seas until this year. How can we entrust a person who has no real world experience to be one seat away from the presidency when John McCain is 72 years old? This alone should scare everyone. 

If that is not enough, then here is a snippet from her first interview with Charles Gibson from ABC. There is plenty to watch on youtube, but this piece accentuates her lack of basic knowledge that a President should have. She doesn't know what the Bush Doctrine is. That is the equivalent to a doctor not knowing where the kidney is. Kind of a necessity to be able to preform the job.

Don't let this beauty queen fool you. She is not pro-women. In a strange way she reminds me of Clarence Thomas. Not realizing that she is where she is because others fought hard for her to have that right. That disconnect is all the proof I need to know she is not a compassionate conservative. (Whatever that means.)

Other reasons to vote Democratic:

Sarah Palin charges rape victims for the cost of their rape kit,

Believes that she should 'put it in G-ds hands' when making governing decisions (sound familiar?),

She believes that global warming is a farce,

And on and on and on and on.

If you haven't registered to vote, please do it now. If we have another four years of 'Bush', who knows where we will be. This is very disheartening. Vote democratic!

Teacher injured by student

This is from the Ann Arbor News Police Beat section on Thursday September 18, 2008. 

"An Ypsilanti school teacher told police she wants to press charges against a 9-year old student who broke her hand on Wednesday September 17, 2008. 

Ypsilanti Police said the 52-year old Adams Elementary School teacher told them the boy had not been taking his medication and got into a fight in her classroom at 1 p.m. She said she and an assistant restrained the boy on the ground in an attempt to bring him under control, but he punched and kicked her. She later realized her hand was injured and she reported the incident after a doctor confirmed the fracture, she told police.

Ypsilanti schools spokeswoman Emma Jackson said this morning that the boy has been suspended from school."

It's no wonder we are loosing teachers. What is going on? What happened to parents accountability? This is insane.

Another New Yorker cartoon

Possibly we could all use an epiphany.... 

I can't explain why I am so enchanted with small animals, but I am. Probably comes from my childhood when my friends and I had mice, hamsters and Guinea pigs. 

We would build elaborate mazes using paper towel and toilet paper tubes, boxes, anything that could be taped together to create a habitrail long before habitrails where produced. We spent hours doing this. Whether the animals thought this was fun or not, we'll never know. But to this day I have a soft spot in my heart every time a see a rodent - especially anything having to do with a wheel to nowhere.

Dog Woman

My birthday is shortly after the end of the The Original Street Art Fair in Ann Arbor. For an art lover it is a double edged sword. It is an awesome opportunity to see great art! At the same time, because it is near my birthday, it's a perfect opportunity to rationalize a purchase.

Normally I don't feel the need to justify the purchase of art, but you have to admit, it is a handy excuse. On my 40th birthday I didn't have a plan to search for anything in particular, I was just heading out to enjoy the fares of the fair. I was nearing the finish of the fair when she popped out! Her creator, Mark Chatterly comes to the fair every so often and I hadn't seen him in years. His work is often human size and appropriately priced for it's volume. Not having a large home, yard, or income the giant dog that I originally saw would not do. However, this 20", 10# dog/woman would do nicely. She is the first piece of sculpture that I purchased. I think I'm off to a great start! Happy 40th to me over and over and over....

Jesus is a friend of mine

It's hard to say when this was made. In the 70's? Or as a farce? If you're curious to see an upbeat Christian rock (ska/polka?) group with some crazy hairdos, click here!

A good sense of humor!

Halloween is just around the corner. Doesn't this give you some great ideas?

How fun is this!? Nicely done guys, whoever you are!

Allergy protection for the whole family

Richard and June Lotz had two German Sheppard's and one toddler son. When they found the youngster with a mouthful of dog hair they decided they had to do something about it. So they designed a dog coat that kept the dog hair from shedding around their home. Low and behold...doggie pajamas! 

The coat also functions as a barrier to the dog chewing itself. This was a residual benefit that was unexpected. The Lotzes now sell about 2,000 coats a year. A great example of ingenuity at work!

June says that Jax (one of the dogs) tolerates the coat, but, "he still doesn't like it," she says. "I don't know why. He'll come out of the bedroom and kind of look around the corner to see if I have the suit in my hand. It's almost like he's embarrassed."

Go figure!

An appropriate response from neighbor to farmer

When I saw the above picture, it reminded me of the farmer who built the Redneck Stonehenge (second photo). This hedge seems like the appropriate response to the farmer from the neighbors. Click here for the original post. 

Photo of the Redneck Stonehenge which is shown as well.

 Funny!

Addict attempts amputation of own arm

Police say a man tried to cut off his own arm at a restaurant in Modesto, California because he thought he had injected air into a vein while shooting cocaine and feared he would die unless he took drastic action.

Authorities say that 33-year-old Michael Lasiter rushed into the Denny's restaurant late Friday August 29th and started stabbing himself with a butter knife he grabbed from a table.

They say when that knife didn't do the trick, Lasiter took a butcher knife from the kitchen and dug into his arm.

Police Sarent Brian Findlen says Lasiter told officers he thought he needed to amputate his arm to keep himself from dying from the cocaine injection.

Lasiter was taken to a hospital for treatment of severe cuts and the Denny's closed for the night. No wonder.

Yet another reason not to do drugs kids! 

You'll cut your arm off! You'll cut your arm off! 

(Think 'A Christmas Story'...you'll shoot your eye out!)

Funny!

Need anything more be written? Except perhaps, that we need an updated version?

Michigan Broccoli

If you have never had locally grown Michigan broccoli, then you might count yourself among the broccoli haters like George Bush (the father, not the idiot in office now). Michigan broccoli has softer heads that have a completely different taste. It has pretty much ruined it for me for conventional broccoli. There is just really no comparison.

The other thing I noticed is that Michigan broccoli blooms. Who knew!? Take a close look at this photo and you'll see the beginnings of a yellow blossom. Broccoli is beautiful and tasty!

Peg leg Riley

This is Riley, a horse that was given a second chance with a new leg. He arrived at Best Friends (one of my favorite charities) with a bad injury that ended with the amputation. Fortunately, the Guardian Animal Program came to the rescue and provided him with the prosthetic. He is now up and running (truly!) with the other horses. Heartwarming. It restores my faith in human nature after having a difficult day.

I finally met Ginger!

I encountered this man the other day while walking in the downtown. He graciously posed for my photo, but put the kabash on a ride. 

It is the first and only time I have seen a Segway aka Ginger in person. 

Looks like fun! Although I'm still pining for a Vespa!

Shopping Cart Races

I'm not sure how it started, but years ago a group of people decided to start a race using shopping carts. Every year the racers gather at the top of the hill on Ann Arbor's Main Street and race their cart to the bottom of the hill. I'm not sure what time of the day it occurs as Main St. is a high volume street leading into and out of town.

Somehow this year I missed the race. I usually know about it, but not this year. The only reason I knew I missed it, was the collection of carts shown here that were left outside my office door. One of the people in my office spent a fair amount to time calling various shopping stores notifying them of the relocation of their carts. (Since the average cost of a shopping cart is around $100, it is in their interest to pick them up.) It will be interesting to see how long it takes. When they were notified, it took some explaining to whomever answered the phone. It might require more than one call....

Alas, I hardly knew yee....

I guess I just didn't care too much about the Olympics this time around. I watched it sporadically, but never caught the things that I cared about. 

I love crew. Never saw an ore.

Tried watching beach volleyball, but couldn't stand the loud music that was constantly blaring in the background. I just don't get the current generations need for constant loud stimuli. It makes we worry for the future. But that's another story. Don't get me started. Oye vay!

Anyway, I just wasn't that into the Olympics, except for Michael Phelps. Eight gold medals. Now that is cool. But please, please, please don't ever talk to me about what he eats every day.... That is unless, you eat like below.

I love this time of year!

This is what living in Michigan is all about! August is the best time of year due to the fabulous foods available at the local farmer's markets.

This was my dinner the other evening. Two Red Haven peaches, a sliced tomato, broccoli with homemade cheese sauce and steamed potatoes with cottage cheese. YUM! All flavorful, fresh and beautiful to boot! All of the non-dairy was purchased at my local market. It is a standard dinner for me this time of year. Fabulous!

Librarian Fired for writing book about patrons

This book has caused a problem for the author, Sally Stern-Hamilton aka Ann Miketa. She lost her job when this book of fiction turned out to mirror real life in the public library that she worked at.

She wrote about the patrons who spent time in the Mason County district library in Michigan. Much of what was written was about folks who were identifiable in this small community. Hence was the reason given by the director when she was fired.

Having not read the book, I can't comment on it's contents or as to the reason behind her firing, but it does beg the question, 'what happened to freedom of speech?' The fact that this all occurred within the structure of the system that defends freedom of speech more vigilantly than any other organization is troubling. It makes me want to learn more to better understand what is really happening here. I might just read this book and see for myself what the hub-bub is really about. 

If this doesn't warm your heart...

...then you must be dead.

This young man is from Khabul, Afghanistan and is the first athlete to win a medal for his country ever. He took the bronze in Taekwondo. 

Fabulous!

What a wonderful feat for a country that can desperately use a hero right now. Congratulations to Rohullah Nikpai!

Serious recycling

We take recycling seriously.

These popped up around town recently. I'm waiting to see how they are received and how they work out.

The folks in my neighborhood don't know what is recyclable and what isn't recyclable. People who are making an effort place things in bins that won't be recycled because they are not recyclable items. No matter how the bins are labeled, they just don't bother to learn what is and is not. They end up creating more work for the folks that pick up the bins and much more work for those that have to sort through the receivables.

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be an effective way to get it through peoples heads. Over and over, it's the same week after week. Maybe these new bins will have a positive change among the masses. Maybe they will start to pay closer attention.... One can only hope.

Julia Child a spy???

The list of OSS spies was released this week and begetted some surprises. Among them was Julia Child, Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg, major league catcher Moe Berg, historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. and film actor Sterling Hayden. 

The release of the OSS personnel files unmasks one of the last secrets form the short-lived wartime intelligence agency, which for the most part was later folded into the CIA after President Truman disbanded it in 1945.

The CIA long resisted releasing the records. But a former CIA director, William Casey, himself an OSS veteran, cleared the way for transfer of millions of OSS documents to the National Archives when he took over the spy agency in 1981. The personnel files are the latest documents to be made public.