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Thanks for stopping by Oldman's Cantankerous Point of View. For more Cantankerousness visit my new blog,
OldmanBlurtsOut, My Cantankerous Point of View. Thank You!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Let There Be Peace with You

The economy is down
No jobs in town
The cupboards are bare
No one seems to care
Let There Be Peace with You

Time spent all alone
No rings on the phone
As darkness sets in
I need a friend
Let There Be Peace with You

When troubles arise
It is no surprise
Faith seems to wane
There's no one to blame
Let There Be Peace with You

My family too far
Can't wish on a star
Life is not fair
This is my prayer
Let There Be Peace with You

May God Bless your life
To live without strife
In the Lord's way
Survive every day
Let There Be Peace with You

I hope you enjoy the video below.
God Bless.


Friday, August 28, 2009

Fun, Exercise, and a Healthy Picnic

As the cool morning breeze blows gently, I enjoy my morning exercise routine. I notice a couple of leaves have started to change colors and realize Labor Day is just around the corner. These are the first signs that summer is coming to a close. It will not be long before autumn is upon us however there is still time for summertime fun in the sun. For me, Labor Day means a chance to enjoy a healthy picnic in the park. Yes, I said healthy. I am not talking about chips, potato salad, macaroni salad, fried chicken and beer. I know, that all sounds good to me too, in moderation. We are living a healthy lifestyle now, right? I am talking about making some healthy choices that are satisfying, filling and delicious and a day filled with lots of play time to get in some exercise. Here are some tips for healthy picnicking.

Plan to get there early to make sure you get a picnic table and start the day off with some exercise. Bring a Frisbee®, baseball gloves, softball, kick ball and/or a soccer ball to enjoy running around and playing some games. You can also have races and play games like tug of war, tag and red rover if your gang is large enough.

Choose healthy foods and snacks to bring. Set out a spread of healthy appetizers. This can include celery sticks, carrot sticks, broccoli, cucumbers, mushrooms, fat free dip, whole wheat crackers, cheese chunks, nuts and fruit.

If you are going to be cooking out, add some color to your grill and make shish kabobs with boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized chunks. Cut red and green bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and any other veggies you like into 1” x 1” pieces. I marinate the chicken and veggies in separate zip lock bags overnight. They should be marinated for at least an hour. I usually use a store bought low-fat marinade but you can use your favorite. Next, kabob them on a skewer and place on the grill, turn every now and then until the chicken is thoroughly cooked or about 45 minutes. The chicken should not have any pink on the inside.

Other options for the meal can include veggie burgers, low-fat hot dogs, grilled corn and baked potatoes. You can have sandwiches made with lean roast beef, turkey and/or chicken on whole wheat bread or buns. Be sure to have all the fixings to put on them like lettuce, tomato, onions, peppers, bean sprouts, relish and mustard.

For drinks bring water and iced tea made with a sugar substitute and/or lemon. If you must have alcohol, opt for wine instead of beer and stay away from sugar filled drinks like daiquiris and margaritas. Again, remember the key to our success is moderation.

For dessert have watermelon and other fruits available. Stay away from desserts filled with sugar or use a sugar substitute when baking. Make an angel food cake with strawberries or blueberries as toppings.

Finish the day with a leisurely stroll or a bicycle ride through the park or maybe a game of kick ball.

It is possible to have a picnic filled with healthy foods and exercise. It is a lifestyle change that we are trying to achieve. We are not on a diet; a diet is only the foods that we consume. It can be healthy or unhealthy depending on the choices that we make. We can achieve the weight loss we are seeking. It only takes our willingness to make the healthy choices in our lives. I am on my way to a happier and healthier me. You can do it as well. Just commit yourself to your goals. I am sure you can achieve success. God Bless and enjoy your Labor Day holiday.

This is the article I wrote for The Henry County Times originally published on August 26, 2009.

Make Pop Corn with Your Cell Phone



Unbelieveable! Did you know you can make pop corn with your cell phone. Makes you rethink what it may be doing to us physically, especially those who spend hours talking on the phone. Check out this video.


Thursday, August 27, 2009

The Government Can


The Tim Hawkins' video, The Government Can, is presented below for your enjoyment. Make sure to join in and sing on the chorus.





Follow this link to the Tim Hawkins Website.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

100 Years Ago



What a difference a century can make.

The average life expectancy 100 years ago in the United States was 47!

Only 14 percent of homes had a bathtub.

Only 8% of homes had a telephone.

We had only 144 miles of paved roads.

The tallest structure in the entire world was the Eiffel Tower.

The maximum speed limit in U.S. cities was 10 mph.

The average wage was 22 cents per hour.

The average worker earned between $200 and $400 PER YEAR!

More than 95% of all births took place at home.

Ninety percent of all doctors had no formal college education. Instead they attended medical schools that were dubbed substandard by the government and press.

Sugar cost four cents a pound, eggs fourteen cents per dozen, coffee fifteen cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month and used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

The four leading causes of death: Pneumonia and influenza; tuberculosis; heart disease and stroke.

The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet.

The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was thirty. The remote desert community was inhabited by only a handful of ranchers and their families.

Crossword puzzles, canned beer and iced tea had not yet been invented.

There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

One in ten U.S. adults couldn't read or write. Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at corner drugstores. According to one pharmacist, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and the bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health.

Coca-Cola contained cocaine instead of caffeine.

Eighteen percent of households in the United States had at least one full-time servant or domestic.

Now, imagine what the world will be like in another 100 years.


Author Unknown

Friday, August 21, 2009

Fun and Excitement at Yahoo! Answers

Yahoo! Answers is more than just another information site. Among internet reference sites it is ranked as the second most popular site after Wikipedia according to Comscore. According to Yahoo! Answer’s Facebook page, “Yahoo! Answers is a community-driven knowledge market website launched by Yahoo! on December 13, 2005 that allows users to ask questions of other users and answer other users’ questions. The site gives members the chance to earn points as a way to encourage participation and is based on Naver’s Knowledge iN. As of December 2006, it had 60 million users and 65 million answers. On June 11, 2007, Yahoo!’s former questions and answers service, Ask Yahoo!, was formally merged with Yahoo! Answers.”


That is the formal definition. To many of the members of the site it is so much more. I have been a member of Yahoo! Answers since April of 2008. In that time, I have spent countless hours and days of enjoyment answering and asking questions. Questions range from the serious and technical to the whimsical and humorous. They are sorted into 26 main categories and those are divided into numerous sub-categories. Topics include such things as Arts and Humanities, Pets, Entertainment, Health, Education, Games, Travel, and much more.


On Yahoo! Answers you can ask questions, answer questions, or discover what other people are asking all for free. As Y!A puts it, “It is the one place where the world shares what they know to help each other out.” There are other activities that you can do. For example, you can award people extra points for giving the best answer to your question or allow it to go into voting where members can vote which answer is best.


Although they give points and you can advance to different levels, my enjoyment lies in the ability to share my knowledge with others and help them resolve their inquiries. One has the ability to answer questions in all categories on the main page or stay within a category and only answer those questions. If you are an expert on a topic you can earn a top contributor badge that is proudly displayed on your avatar and profile. (That’s my profile’s avatar at the top, though only my head shows on the website.)


My favorite section is the Polls and Surveys section or P&S as those who frequent there affectionately call it. I enjoy this section the most because it is a catch all entertainment category where people ask all kinds of questions. Many questions there are humorous and require a bit of thought to outwit the other members and provide that particular cantankerous answer I enjoy giving. It is also a category that is easy to sit back and relax and enjoy.


Yahoo! Answers also gives one the ability to become fans and contacts of other users in order to follow the questions they ask and the questions that they have found interesting to answer. It provides members with a place to personalize their profile with as little or as much information you wish to share. It provides the ability to socialize with other members but does not require you to participate in this activity. As I said, you can be as private as you want to be. And of course there are community guidelines that must be followed as with any network of people. It is only polite to do so, don’t you think?


There are many frequent users like myself and those who only ask and answer questions on rare occasions. To me it is a great site where I enjoy spending time. I recommend giving it a try next time you are looking for a question to be answered or feel like helping others in need. It gives me a great feeling of joy when I am able to help another person or put a smile on their face.
Is it possible to become addicted to Yahoo! Answers? Well, some people say it is so, but those of us who say that are just kidding around. We all know we could stop anytime we want. lol So that being said, I leave you this poem.




Passion for Yahoo! Answers
by Brian, the old man


Yahoo Answers takes hold of me
Never will it set me free
Answering questions throughout the night
Gives me such a terrible fright
For I will never sleep again
Not even a nap now and then
My eyes have bags down my cheek
But I can't resist another peek
For P&S has got me now
Awaiting best answers so I can bow

Do you like my poem? By clicking on the question, you can see what other Yahoo! Answer members had to say. You can also see which answer I picked as best answer.



Do you remember this commercial?


Yaaahooooooo!




Monday, August 17, 2009

Oldman’s Cantankerous Words of Wisdom



Today I offer my top 50 sarcastic, cantankerous, ironical, cynical, contemptuous words of wisdom I have collected from various places.

1) If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you’ve never tried before.
2) I have to exercise early in the morning, before my brain figures out what I'm doing.
3) Exercise is a dirty word. Every time I hear it, I wash my mouth out with chocolate.
4) I don't approve of political jokes. I've seen too many of them get elected.
5) Age is a very high price to pay for maturity.
6) Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you a mechanic.
7) I can't believe I was late for work tomorrow.
8) Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
9) Just think, if it weren't for women, men would go through life thinking they had no faults at all.
10) Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.
11) If you're too open minded, your brains will fall out.
12) Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
13) My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.
14) It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.
15) For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.
16) If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.
17) How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand.
18) Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
19) A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.
20) Eat well, stay fit, and die anyway.
21) Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.
22) No husband has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
23) A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
24) You should not confuse your career with your life.
25) Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.
26) Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.
27) Junk is something you’ve kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
28) There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.
29) Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
30) By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.
31) Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
32) Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused.
33) A day without sunshine is like night.
34) On the other hand, you have different fingers.
35) 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
36) 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
37) Remember, half the people you know are below average.
38) He who laughs last, thinks slowest.
39) Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
40) The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.
41) Support bacteria. They're the only culture most people have.
42) Don't worry about what people think; they don't do it very often.
43) A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
44) Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.
45) If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.
46) OK, so what's the speed of dark?
47) When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
48) Hard work pays off later. Laziness pays off now.
49) Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
50) Inside every older person is a younger person wondering, 'What the heck happened?'
51) Just remember -- if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.
52) Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
53) Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

Yes, I know there are more than 50, who cares? Is it really going to make your day less enjoyable? If so, take a chisel tip marker and cross out the three you like the least. But don’t blame me if the line doesn’t move as you scroll your mouse.

hAv a Gr8 dAy!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Welcome to Paradise


It’s Sunday and as I sit on my balcony I ponder all the wonders on earth. I enjoy the gentle breeze brought on by the tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico. It will rain today I am sure and I think about whether or not it will bring a good thunderstorm to light up the sky with all of its majestic and powerful energy. Last night the sky looked ominous right after the sun had set. There was still enough light in the sky to paint it with a layer of crimson and navy blue. It was such a beautiful sight as lightning flashed off the clouds in the distance. The rains never came last night but they are forecasting them to arrive today.

Then, I think about the mountains viewing a valley filled with fog and mist on a crisp autumn day. The colors on the trees are bright and full of life though they warn of the oncoming sleep of winter. I ponder walking on an old mountain road winding and reaching toward its peak. I gaze down into the canyons as a feeling of vertigo captures my spirit for a moment sending shivers down my spine. The air is so fresh and thick I can taste all its tantalizing goodness. I breathe in deeply to enjoy all it has to offer. As I relax I can see a small cabin off in the distance and dream of a life without the hustle and bustle of the suburbs.

My mind begins to wander as I think of walking along the beach on the wet sand feeling it scrunch and make way for my bare feet. I dream about lying on a lounge chair sipping frozen tropical drinks filled with rum and fruit slices dangling off the rim topped with an umbrella. I sit and enjoy the warmth of the sun and the sound of the waves crashing along the shore. I begin to people watch as they enjoy their day. Then as the sun begins to set I marvel and I am awestruck of all the beautiful colors that fill the sky. I watch the sun melt the horizon as it dips to its resting place only to leave a black night sky filled with stars to please my eyes.

Watching, feeling and dreaming I realize how blessed I truly am. My Lord is an Awesome God. I thank Him for all of the miracles in my life.


Hope you enjoy the video below.


Friday, August 14, 2009

Lungs4Joseph



When Joseph was diagnosed with *Cystic Fibrosis at 3 yrs. old the doctors told his mom that he would probably not make it past his eighth birthday. Almost 27years later… HE'S STILL HERE... Still going stro....ok... well….We cannot honestly tell you anymore that “he's still going strong.” Sure…in spite of the chicken legs…he's still ruggedly handsome and seemingly the picture of mediocre health…but unfortunately Joseph's lungs are calling it quits.

Over the past 20 years, he has been admitted to the hospital a countless number of times (lost count at 72) battling one lung infection after another. Currently at 5’6” his weight has dropped to 108 pounds and his lungs are operating at 14% (FEV1) of expected function based on his age, weight, height, ect. and he has recently been placed on home oxygen. Fighting infection, congestion, weight loss, etc. has become a daily struggle.

After much prayer…he has decided to receive a double lung transplant. There are enormous costs associated with receiving an organ transplant. Hospital and physician charges alone can cost up to $500k. Thankfully Joseph's insurance will cover 80% of that cost. However…the remaining 20%, which could be as much as $100k, will be his responsibility.

On top of that…required outpatient immuno-suppressant medications following transplantation can cost anywhere between $15k - $25k annually, leaving him to pay prescription co-pays that could very likely be hundreds or even thousands of dollars each month.

It’s worth the cost. We know that God is not finished with Joseph yet. Over the past eight years since he gave his life to Christ, he's had the opportunity to share Jesus' love and Gospel to many people in many churches, schools, clubs, street corners, camps and yes…hospitals. You may have even seen him on the side of the road in Stockbridge holding up a poster board that says, "Jesus Still Loves You" on it. He love's ministering…and he's not finished!

With the transplant, as far as Joseph's lungs are concerned, he will be cured of cystic fibrosis! He will no longer have to endure frequent hospitalizations! He will no longer have to tell Kayse (his wife) to slow down while walking around together! With new lungs he will be able to run around the yard with his dogs, go hiking with his friends, swimming with his family, and play catch with his nephews!!!

But…We Need Your Help!

Helen Keller said it best, “Alone we can do so little; Together we can do so much.”

Please prayerfully consider what you can do to financially or otherwise help support us in this endeavor.

You can also visit Joseph's Blog: http://www.lungs4joseph.com/ to keep updated with the latest news on the transplant, hear Joseph's testimony, see a schedule of upcoming fundraisers or to make a secured credit/debit card donation through PayPal.

Donations can also be given at any Wachovia bank. Just let the teller know that you would like to give to:Lungs For Joseph.

Thank You for supporting this life saving campaign!

*Cystic Fibrosis (also known as CF) is a hereditary disease affecting the exocrine (mucous) glands of the lungs causing chronic respiratory and digestive problems.

Mission:
Our mission is to raise moo-lah for Joseph McCanne's lung transplant and post transplant immunosuppressant drugs. You can also join in a Walk-A-Thon for this worthy cause. It is going to be:

Date: Saturday, October 3, 2009
Time: 6:00pm - 9:30pm
Location: Mount Carmel Elementary
Street: 2450 Mt. Carmel Rd.
City/Town: Hampton, GA

You can become a fan on Facebook by clicking this link.

Below is the welcome video from Joseph McCanne's Web site.





Intro for Lungs4Joseph.com from Joseph McCanne on Vimeo.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Heathcare Reform: Politics as Usual?


I get so tired of hearing politicians talk out of both sides of their mouths. Especially when it comes from our leader. Our elected officials should tell us where they stand and stop this jibber jabber. I want to know the truth. Yes, I CAN handle the truth.

For example, AP reported today that Obama got it wrong when stating that AARP supported the the legislation before congress. AP reports, "At the town hall in Portsmouth, NH, Obama said, "We have the AARP onboard because they know this is a good deal for our seniors." He added, "AARP would not be endorsing a bill if it was undermining Medicare." But Tom Nelson, AARP's chief operating officer, said, "Indications that we have endorsed any of the major health care reform bills currently under consideration in Congress are inaccurate."

I guess, trying to manipulate the public to win votes is what politicians do. This leads me to my next question. Obama said that he's not going to pull the plug on grandma. Is this true? Well below I offer three videos. The first is Obama in Portsmouth, NH telling us how he is not going to pull the plug on grandma. The second is a short version of Jane Sturm asking Obama if her mother would have still received a pacemaker under the new plan and his response was basically that maybe she should take a pill instead of the surgery. The final video is the longer version (in context) of the conversation with Jane Sturm. However, I don't think it puts Obama in a better light. So you be the judge. Which is it? Under this legislation, will seniors get the care they need or will they be given a pill to dull the pain?








Kids are High Tech


I was trying to add this widgit from Lijit and their site went under maintenance while I was working on doing it. Obviously, I couldn't do it but they had this cool video come up which I just had to share. Remember always ask a kid if you are having trouble with anything technical, VCRs, TVs, DVDs, MP3s, Laptops, Desktops, Iphones, Ipods, you know anything. Tech stuff is designed that even a kid can do it. What they don't tell you is that adults should not even try. Here's the video.

Edit: Check out the Lijit widget on the sidebar here and on my other blog, Oldmanblurtsout. They are Fantabulous! You can get your own widget by visiting the Lijit site.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Bottles, Goodies and Adventure


When I was a mere child around the third or fourth grade I remember collecting bottles and bringing them down to local corner store and cashing them in for those hard earned pennies. It was a time when glass bottles were widely in use. Drinks taste so much better in glass bottles. Do you remember? Soda machines use to have bottle openers on them.

We would carry those bottles in our little arms down the hill and walk about eight blocks to get our reward. Of course, when we had our hands full of change we would calculate how much candy we could afford. We would buy those little five packs of plastic bottles of sugar water, caramel chews, Bazooka Bubblegum, baseball cards, candy cigarettes, penny candy (yes, candy use to cost a penny) and a Milky Way all for about .35 - .50 cents. If we were lucky we would be able to afford a chocolate éclair ice cream and a grape soda. The clerk would put all of our treasures in a small paper sack and we were on our way.

We use to go behind the store and sit and devour our ice cream and compare our riches. We would compare and trade our baseball cards and chew the awful gum that came with them. We would complain about how the taste didn’t last and grab something else out of our sacks. Then it was time to start heading home where we would not get into trouble for being gone for so long.

Along the way back we would kick rocks on the street and take the time to stop and investigate the ant hills that had taken over the empty lot. We bombed the ants with rocks and sticks to start their panic and frustration of our presence. Once bored we continued toward our home just to stop and play in the creek at the bottom of the hill. We would play with the tadpoles and pollywogs and find a container to put them in so we could tease, poke, and play with them. As we admired our catch we sat on the rocks and ate the rest of our candy.

As the street lights began to come on we realized that once again we had spent too long on our journey. We snatched up the remainder of our loot and released the tadpoles and pollywogs. As dusk began to fall I could hear my grandmother calling out my name. As I am walking up the hill my aunt from three houses down yells to my grandmother, “Here he comes, he should be home in a minute.” “Thanks, Elaine. Make sure he comes straight home,” my grandmother replied.

I walk in the front door only to be stopped in my tracks and told to get out of those filthy clothes. I can smell dinner cooking and it makes my mouth water. I strip in the foyer and I am told to run and get in the tub before dinner is ready. While in the tub I hear my parents come home from work. My mother comes and gets me out of the tub and dries me off. We all sit down at the table, say the blessing and enjoy our meal.

It has been another great day of adventure and I am blessed to have such a wonderful family. My grandmother and my aunt have since passed away. I treasure those memories of them and thank God for giving me such a wonderful childhood and family. God Bless them always.

This story reminds me of a song I began enjoying in my teens. I still like to sing to it today. Here is the song, The Ballad of Curtis Lowe by Lynyrd Skynyd.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Why all the Hate?

Do you want to know what I hate? I hate the hate. It seems by now in this day and age we would have come to a point that the differences between us would not matter. But still it is perpetuated in our society. I continue to hear people put down each other for no apparent reason except the fact they are Black, White, Hispanic, Mexican, Japanese, Oriental, Korean, Indian, Muslim, Jew, Arab, French, English, Irish, Russian, Canadian, the list goes on and on. Why? I just don’t understand. I even hear people putting themselves down. If you listen to rap music, you hear many racial slurs about their own people. Even in conversation I hear this black guy did this or this white guy did that or this Mexican over there did so and so. It is like me saying, "I went to eat out last night and this white girl waited on me." Who cares!? What does it matter if they were black or white or Mexican? Does it add to the content of what they are trying to say? Are they trying to reinforce a stereotype or start a new one?

Then you have all the jokes. Did you hear the one about the Jew, Muslim, and Christian that went downtown? There are jokes about women drivers, dumb blondes, male dominance, black jokes, white jokes, fat people, Polish people, etc. All of these jokes are rooted in hate and stereotypes. These jokes are never funny to the group of people they are demeaning. But still we perpetuate the hate.


Now I am by no means a saint in this regard. As old as I am I come from a time when it was more widespread than it is today, so I guess as a society it has gotten better. I believe that although I am sure that there are individuals and companies still that practice racism, it is not as wide spread today as it was. At least minorities are for the most part able to obtain jobs, go to movie theaters, eat at restaurants of their choice, and for the most part live their lives as they wish. We have come a long way.


It is good in important things like employment we have changed dramatically. However, if we could change our speech where we accept people for who they are and not single out and stereotype each other, we could find peace in this world. Once, in speaking with a friend of mine we started talking about how he acted differently around his own race and I didn’t understand why. It was then I realized and told him, “I never thought of you as being black, you have always just been my friend.” Why can’t we just be ourselves? Why can’t we accept each other for who they are? As John Lennon said, "All we are saying, is give peace a chance."

Here is an excellent video which helps describe and encourage embracing our diversity.





If you want to hate, how about hating inanimate objects like Facebook as in this video by Julian Smith from Nashville, Tennessee. It is Fantabulously Funny!



John Smoltz Dumped by Boston Red Sox






One of my all-time favorite pitchers, former Atlanta Braves veteran right-hander John Smoltz, has been cut from the Boston Red Sox. Living in Atlanta, I have followed his career for a long time. I was sad to see him leave Atlanta but understood. I remember when he won the National League MVP award in 1992 and the National League Cy Young Award in 1996. He has been one of the great pitchers in baseball and has earned much respect from all who love this great sport.

He was released less than 24 hours after he gave up eight runs and nine hits in three and a third innings in the Sox’s loss of 6-13 to the New York Yankees yesterday. He has not given up this many runs since he was playing for Atlanta against the Chicago Cubs in a no-decision game on May 28, 2006. The Sox have ten days to either release him or send him to the minor league.

It is my sincerest hope that John finds happiness and peace in whatever he may decide for his future. He has given me many hours of joy and should he decide to leave the game this fan will miss him. Thanks for the great times!


Thursday, August 6, 2009

Cash for Clunkers - Good Idea?


So, if I am understanding this right, I can trade in a clunker, a gas guzzler, for the purchase of a new automobile that offers better gas mileage for a whopping $3500 or $4500 depending on the vehicle, I guess, and our government is going to pay for it, or I should say the taxpayer is going to pay for it. Of course, I know there are rules and the car pictured above does not qualify because it is more than 25 years old. Now don't be making no judgements yet, I am just trying to understand this cash for clunkers program.

Now that our government is in the automobile business (after bailing out the industry for those of you who have been in a coma), Is our government forking out money just so we can purchase our competitors cars? At first glance, it would seem that the USA is not doing so well because all of the top 10 trade-ins are from the USA and only 4 of the top 10 new cars are manufactured from Detroit's Big Three. However, those 4 are accounting for about 47% of the sales and the number one car being sold is the Ford Focus. Normally, American made cars make up about 45% of sales. Also, it should be noted only 3 are not made in North America, the Toyota Prius and Honda Fit are made in Japan and the Hyundai Elantra is made in Korea. So I guess Americans are not losing any jobs over this program.

However is it good for the environment? According to Business Week, "don't expect it to help save the planet from global warming or reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil." They offer a detailed description concluding mathematically that it will only save approximately 0.04% of gasoline and gas emissions, a mere drop in the bucket.

So is it worth the $3,000,000,000.00 price tag? As a stimulus program, the program is helping the economy in the short term. However, Lee Schipper, project scientist in Global Metropolitan Studies at the University of California at Berkeley states, "That doesn't mean it's not helping Detroit in the near term, but I don't think anyone sees any long-term benefits."

My conclusion, I believe we could have found a better use for the $3 Billion to stimulate the economy. I am not an economist and I do not pretend to have a solution but paying outrageous prices for clunker automobiles just to feel like we are doing something good for the environment makes no sense. There are many better solutions to reduce our dependance on foreign oil. Although, it may not be costing us jobs, all of the profits are still going to our competitors.

Here is a list of both of the top 10's provided by U.S. News and World Report. The video below is from an article posted by the Los Angeles Times.

The Top Ten Cash for Clunkers Trade-Ins:

1. 1998 Ford Explorer
2. 1997 Ford Explorer
3. 1996 Ford Explorer
4. 1999 Ford Explorer
5. Jeep Grand Cherokee
6. Jeep Cherokee
7. 1995 Ford Explorer
8. 1994 Ford Explorer
9. 1997 Ford Windstar
10. 1999 Dodge Caravan

The Top Ten Cash for Clunkers New Cars:

1. Ford Focus
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Corolla
4. Toyota Prius
5. Ford Escape
6. Toyota Camry
7. Dodge Caliber
8. Hyundai Elantra
9. Honda Fit
10. Chevy Cobalt



Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Happy National Underwear Day!!!


National Underwear Day? Yes, today is the 7th anniversary of the event. Who would of ever thought that we would be celebrating such a thing? When I was growing up nobody ever even talked about their underwear. The only thing you knew was that you wanted it to be clean without holes in the off chance that you were in some kind of an accident. It was one of those things that were giggled about on schoolyards and in the work place. Not today, National Underwear Day was founded in August 2003. For the past six years, Freshpair has slated the first week of August with gorgeous models strolling down the runway showing off their underwear in New York City. According to Freshpair, "Last year the annual renegade sidewalk fashion show transformed into a celebrity-studded fashion event, hosted by actress and fashion maven Lydia Hearst. This year, in response to popular demand, the event has grown into an online underwear extravaganza!" You can read about these unmentionables and their history on their website. They have contests and many offers including discounts and free stuff from their sponsors. Take a look at the videos below to see highlights of last year's event and its coverage the Today show. So get out and flaunt those unmentionables today, I won't tell anybody. Have a Happy National Underwear Day!




Tuesday, August 4, 2009

The Frogs, Ribbet, Bud, Ribbet

From Kermit to Budweiser, what is our fascination with frogs? We all know if a girl kisses the right frog it will turn into a handsome prince. Right? Don't confuse a frog with a toad, Frogs usually have smooth, moist skin and spend most of their lives in or near water. Toads usually have dry, warty-looking skin and spend more time living on land. Which brings me to the age old question, Do frogs give you warts? According to the Froggy Page, 'Don't be silly! Warts are caused by a virus, not by frogs. This common myth probably originated because many toads have bumps that that look like warts. The large bumps behind the toad's ears (the parotoid glands) contain a nasty poison. It tastes bad and irritates the mouth of any predators who try to eat toads and can cause convulsions or even death. You should be careful in handling toads and always wash your hands afterward.' So what about frog licking? 'Since before the dawn of time, frogs have been licked in the hopes of spiritual revelations. Much of modern science and engineering can be directly linked to the Frog licking practices of otherwise highly intelligent men,' according to Mr. Encyclopedia. If you are interested in this practice you can read the article here.

Below I offer some pics depicting the variety of colors. I also have included some of the Budweiser commercials. Or should I say Bud...Weis...Er.










Sunday, August 2, 2009

Life of a Tree



Tree
Seed is sprouting
Life has sprung
Breaking from the earth
Seasons pass
Ever growing
Tall and proud you stand
Roots are planted
Branches reaching
Toward the heaven’s sun
Home to many
Birds of flight
And creatures on the land
Winds are blowing
Storms are raging
As your branches bend
Canyon’s calling
You grasp tighter
To the Mother land
Rain is pouring
Dirt’s eroding
Your trunk begins to break
Now you’re falling
Can you make it
And bridge the other side
Wind is pushing
Branches reaching
You have reached your goal
Animals crossing
Birds are singing
Your destiny fulfilled
Bridge

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Need a caddy? Try a Llama




What will they think up next. How would you like a llama for a caddy? WSPA News Channel 7 reports that Sherwood Forest Golf Course in Cedar Mountain, NC is using llamas for caddys. They are still in training so they may not know which club to use. Give them some time, I'm sure they will figure it out. My only question is this, If the llama makes a mistake and gives you the wrong club and you start arguing with the llama, is it going to spit in your face? I know I had that happen to me one time when I was working for Zoo Atlanta and I was being nice to it and petting him. They are friendly animals for the most part so I will give them that. But seriously, A llama for a caddy? Maybe if I can ride on him between shots. I think I will stick to a golf cart and my own incompetance in choosing my club. Of course, I could use the exercise. Here's the news footage video. Have a great day!



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