Full Arm Muscles

I stole this pic from here.

Pretty cool stuff.

More stuff from USA Today

This is just more random stuff from my favorite rag...USA Today.

Alaska
Juneau - Thunder Mountain and Capital - namesakes of a nearby mountain range and the city itself - are the finalists for the name of a new high school, a panel of city and school officials decided. The school board will make the final decision in November, but Thunder Mountain has emerged as the favorite, board members said. The school is scheduled to open in 2008.

Thunder Mountain? Sounds like a ride at Disneyland.

Arizona
Tucson - A couple stepped down as leaders of a church that considers marijuana a sacrament and deity. Dan and Mary Quaintance said pending federal charges against them made it impossible to lead the church. In February, they were arrested in a car with 172 pounds of marijuana in Lordsburg, N.M., near the Arizona state line.

Hmmmm...my kind of church.

Georgia
Carrollton - Day care center owner Kathy Johnson was charged with driving drunk while transporting about a dozen children in a van. Deputies arrested Johnson, 50, after she drove into the parking lot of the Starting Block Learning Center. Her blood alcohol level was .15, nearly double the legal threshold for DUI, the chief deputy said.

She would not have to worry about the court system – I’d hunt her down for them. What an idiot! Good grief!

Hawaii

Kaanapali - Whale watchers spotted the first humpback of the winter season off Maui. The juvenile whale lifted its tail and part of its back out of the water, said Pacific Whale Foundation spokeswoman Ann Rillero. Humpback whales migrate to warm waters to breed after feeding near Alaska during the summer.

If you have never seen whales in person, you really need to do this. Whales are magnificent creatures. We used to watch the whales every summer from my parents’ place on the Oregon Coast. Now they are the only lucky ones!

Idaho

Squaw Bay - Members of the Coeur d'Alene Indian Tribe petitioned the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to change the names of creeks, canyons, peaks and springs in Idaho that include the derogatory word "squaw." But first, the board of the Idaho name council must agree. Some politicians vow to fight any changes, saying the names reflect a colorful history.

I tell you, I can’t imagine a world without Squaw Valley or Squaw Peak. They have had those names for over 150 years…Why change now?

Illinois

Springfield - The state department of agriculture will investigate allegations of animal cruelty at last July's National High School Finals Rodeo. An animal-rights activist said he has video and photos from the event that appear to show horses being electrically shocked and bulls jabbed and pulled by their tails.

Oh puhleeze!!

Maryland

Frederick - County animal control officials are trying to identify the owner of a loose pit bull that mauled three horses at a farm east of here. One injured horse, a 5-month-old foal, may not survive. The dog was caught.

Have I mentioned how much I dislike dogs?

Montana

Stevensville - An "adopt-a-tank" fundraiser aims at helping cash-strapped local police have enough fuel to stay on the roads. The department was left with just two officers when a third left for military duty in Iraq. The program would funnel cash donations into a gasoline card, helping offset the $40 cost of filling up a patrol car each week.

What an idea! I like this. If I had an extra $40 I would send it to this police department.

Nevada

Las Vegas - Outsiders are conducting "a social science experiment on the families of Nevada" by supporting an initiative on the November ballot to legalize small amounts of marijuana, a Bush administration official said. Drug czar John Walters said initiative supporters are taking advantage of a "blind spot people have about marijuana."

Marijuana is the least of Nevada’s problems. Crystal meth is a much larger problem there. And to be honest, I would rather deal with someone smoking pot than someone on meth. Meth sucks. Been there, done that.

Oregon

Springfield - State Rep. Paul Holvey said he plans to introduce a bill to ban field burning, after almost 1,200 Oregon residents complained about the smoke. The practice is used by grass seed farmers to get rid of straw after harvest. So far, farmers have burned 48,285 acres, and the season isn't over until heavy fall rains come.

Okay, how much do you want to bet that the people that complained are newcomers from California? I lived in Oregon for a good portion of my life and yes, the field-burning can be nasty, but I also know what it does for the fields. I hope they do not ban this practice. Maybe they could ban Californians?

Portland - A dozen out of 60 children eligible to participate in Pentagon-financed classes at an Oregon National Guard base are boycotting the program because their parents oppose the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Some parents at Winterhaven elementary school worry the program may be a military recruiting tool. The program uses jet engines and computer technology to teach children about space and aviation.

Good grief. Trying to teach technology is a recruiting tool? I hope so. Having intelligent officers in the military would not be a terrible thing.

Wisconsin

La Crosse - In the wake of the drowning of a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student Sept. 30 in the Mississippi River, Mayor Mark Johnsrud said he'll ask the city's Common Council to consider installing motion-sensitive halogen lights along the river at Riverside Park. Eight intoxicated young men have drowned at La Crosse since 1997.

Okay, get this…In the last few years, 7 young men have drowned after a night of drinking and debauchery. No girls. All guys. 2 of them were valid – 1 fell out of his fishing boat and the other went through the ice. The other five all were the same age, sex, size, etc. They all went drinking and were found later after drowning in the Mississippi. And this always happens in the Spring, or in October around Oktoberfest time. There was a young man that made it out of the river alive last spring. He has no clue how he got into the river or where he went after the bar. He doesn’t even remember leaving the bar. And the BAC of these guys? Most of them between .28 and .38. That is almost comatose. How can they say someone isn’t helping these guys into the river????

Madison - University of Wisconsin System regents voted to oppose a Nov. 7 referendum banning gay marriage, saying it would hurt their ability to recruit and retain gay and lesbian employees. Regents said the amendment would threaten the state's ability to provide domestic partner benefits.

See? I like this school. (No wonder I chose to go there for my degree.)

Paper Wars

Paper Wars

News from the USMC

Anthony finally called me tonight. They screwed up his pay a couple weeks back and he has been without a phone since then.

Anyway, he tells me he is headed for NAS Miramar to join the 13th MEU.

I can't help but feel proud. I think it is an honor to be chosen to be part of that group. The 13th MEU is the same group that went to the aid of the USS Cole when it was bombed.

Pretty important group...and he is gonna be a part of it!

Ooh-Rah!!

The Zipper

The Zipper

A man walked into a supermarket with his zipper down.

A lady cashier walked up to him and said, "Your barracks door is open."
Not a phrase that men normally use, he went on his way looking a bit puzzled. When he was about done shopping, a man came up and said, "Your fly is open. " He zipped up and finished his shopping.

At the checkout, he intentionally got in the line where the lady was that told him about his "barracks door." He was planning to have a little fun with her, so when he reached the counter he said, "When you saw my barracks door open, did you see a Marine standing in there at attention?"

The lady thought for a moment and said "No, no I didn't. All I saw was a disabled veteran sitting on a couple of old duffel bags."

Blogroll

I did not remove my blogroll completely...the Blogrolling site is currently not working.

Blogroll

I did a lot of housecleaning today. No, not at my house - on my blogroll.

I removed a lot of links that I either never read or the links themselves were broken.

Some of the links had been there for almost two years, but I just don't read them anymore.

There are a few that I left even though I rarely read just because I feel an attachment to them (Swirlspice, Moxygen).

I found some that I just coudn't stomach reading anymore. My politics and their politics were just too far apart. I even found a couple that I had no clue why they were on my blogroll.

I have been blogging for a few years now (3, I think). The oldest member of my blogroll is Swirlspice. I was introduced to blogging by a great guy named Buddha who lives in St Paul. Through him I found Swirlspice.

Although Buddha is not blogging publicly anymore (at least as far as I know), I think of him often and hope he is still having a great time.

If I dropped someone I shouldn't have, please let me know. Or if you want me to add your blog, let me know. I will check your blog out before I add it. If for some reason, I decide I don't want to blogroll you, I will definitely say why or why not.

The Day the World Shook

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2396310,00.html

Robin Williams as President?

In the half-sheet article in today's USA Today, Robin Williams pooh-poohs the idea of running for office, but he does have some interesting ideas:

Cabinet Choice:
"Willie Nelson, secretary of Agriculture. Just to get people right off the bat. You get certain Southern votes. You get a certain vote from people from the '60s. You'd take care of higher education.

HeeHee!!! Willie Nelson is an awesome man and I would certainly support his nomination for Secretary of Agriculture!

More Randomness from the USA Today

Apparently there was an article in a previous issue of the USA Today regarding hunting on Sundays. Several people are worried that if hunting is allowed on Sundays, church attendance will drop.

My favorite quote is from a person right here in the Great State of Wisconsin.

I've been deer hunting for more than 20 years and have virtually never missed a Sunday morning church service here in Wisconsin. The best morning hunting is dawn to 9a.m. - and there are plenty of church services after 9 a.m.
Of course, you have to want to go.
As for the deer, most don't participate in a worship service and can't tell Sunday from Monday.

HeeHee!! My only comment is that if football games can start early on a Sunday, why can't hunting?

Random Stuff

Over lunch today I actually took the time to read the entire USA Today paper. These are just some of the random things that ran through my head.

Alaska
A new website is out allowing people to know exactly when and where the Northern Lights will be seen.

Why? That takes all the fun out of it!

Colorado
A man charged with child abuse in the watercraft death of his 2-year-old son was arrested in another boating incident...His 2 year old son was killed when he pulled him behind his jetski at 30mph on an innertube.

Hello? Can you say stupid?

D.C.
A spike in pedestrian traffic deaths has community leaders calling for a crackdown on speeding...Even though almost all of the accidents were caused by the stu[idity of the pedestrians.

Okay, this makes sense, right? The pedestrians are jumping out into traffic and killing themselves, but we are going to blame the drivers. Hmmm...who put Congress in charge of traffic safety?

Maine
A man was accused of cruelty to animals (authorities seized 92 English Springer Spaniels from his home), he was sentenced to jail. He was just released and part of his probation was that he was only allowed one spayed or neutered dog.

ONE spayed or neutered dog...How many non-spayed or non-neutered dogs can he have?

Tennessee
A Methodist church built in 1893 was destroyed by a fire of unknown origin.

Does anyone else find it ironic that the emblem of the Methodist church is a flame?

Washington
Jurors will now be paid $61.04 a day compare to the $10 per day they have been earning since 1959.

I have nothing to add.

And finally, this little gem from the great State of Wyoming..in it's entirety:

Wyoming
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reminded hunters to keep their dead game animals covered while transporting them from the field. "A deer or elk strapped to a vehicle with a cigar hanging out of its mouth may seem comical to a few, but it is simply crass to most everyone else, said Walt Gasson, special assistant to the department's director.

A cigar??? Okay, I have seen a lot of strange things in my travels, but a dead deer or elk with a cigar hanging out of its mouth? That's a new one.

Just because I have it stuck in my head...

Del Reeves Girl on the Billboard Lyrics
Doo da doo doo doo doo da doo doo doo

Who is the girl wearing nothing but a smile
And a towel in the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway
Rolling down the highway in my Jimmy hauling freight
From Chicago to St Louis Lord I see her every day
A double clutching weasel like me can hardly ever get a girl to look at him that way
Like the girl wearing nothing but a smile
And a towel in the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway

Well what a girl wearing nothing but a smile
And a towel in the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway
I bet it wouldn't take her very long to be gone
If someone would pull a dirty trick and take her hot pants away
I slow my Jimmy down to twenty that's how many wrecks I see there every day
Caused by the girl wearing nothing but a smile
And a towel in the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway

A doo da doo doo doo doo da doo doo doo

Doggone that girl wearing nothing but a smile
And a towel in the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway
Sleepy headed painter said the girl wasn't real better get the (kwee) on my way
On Route 66 from the billboard to Chicago
You'll find tiny pieces of my heart scattered every which a way
Shattered by the girl wearing nothing but a smile
And a towel in the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway

A doo da doo doo doo doo da doo doo doo dee da dee dee doo

Four Letter Word

They said a nasty four-letter word on the news today.

That weatherman actually said the word...snow!!!

Yes, that is correct, it is supposed to snow on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Oh, and it was almost 80 degrees here yesterday. Our high on Thursday is supposed to be 45.

Welcome to Wisconsin.

Sunday Morning

Here it is Sunday morning and I have accomplished exactly nothing this weekend. There is so much I need to do.

I was supposed to clean and organize the bedroom yesterday. Instead, I went fishing. Actually, I only fished for a couple hours. I spent about six hours sleeping because of a damned migraine.

But we did have fun fishing. I caught a couple of really nice Perch. Meghan caught the hog of the day; her Perch was about 12 inches long and weighed just a tad under one pound.

We took pictures, but they are still in the camera.

Of course, we caught several smaller fish (Crappie and Perch), but they were of average size. Nothing to write home about.

The agenda for today is homework. I have four tests this week. Ugh! And I have a lot of studying to do today. Tests in French, Sociology, Government and Geography.

Ick!!!!