Lazy Sunday: The Chronicles of Narnia Rap - Google Video

For those of you who miss most Saturday Night Live shows these days I have to share this. A gangsta rap spoof video about two guys heading to see Chronicles of Narnia. Awesome. Check it out. Lazy Sunday: The Chronicles of Narnia Rap - Google Video

I Attack Myself

don't I dare

Click the link... Paint this dog black and this could be my boy Otis. Such a stupid freak.

All you needed to know about snausages

Cook's Thesaurus: Sausages: "Pronunciation: SAW-sidge"

Click that link for the pictorial guide to tube meats. YUM!

Follow Doctor's Orders

Wear the cone...



So he doesn't lick...



The wound...

You Better Watch Out...

That Santa looks like he's in a horror movie! For more check out: SCARED OF SANTA GALLERY

So THIS is Christmas

It's not Christmas without this: Smithfield Ham

Hello Hope

To follow up from two posts ago... here's the newest Crawford. Her name is Hope. She is tiny. That grinning fool is my brother Hugh.

A Great Place To Shop

from ABC News online (click for article):ABC News: Costco CEO Finds Decency Is Compatible With Profitability

It's nice to see a company take care of their employees.

And Baby Makes Five

Sometime today I will get the call that my brother's family of four will be one child richer. We don't know if a boy or girl will enter the world. A big surprise for everyone.

PS - can you tell she's eight months pregnant?

Down 5

I decided to not drink between Halloween & Thanksgiving. I stuck to it pretty good until the last few days. Without booze in the diet I lost another five lbs. Still got a few more fivers to go... slowly but surely we are slimming down.

When we started the official strict South Beach I thought it was something we could do for the long term. It turns out I was right. It's not so hard to keep pasta, white rice and potatoes out of our meals. When I have a carb craving I just make sure to eat whole grain products.

If only they made a whole grain wine or beer. Then I'd be content!

Set Your DVR for Christmas Specials

Christmas Specials to watch: (all times EST, check local listings for PBS programs):

My personal favorites (I can't believe they don't list A Christmas Story or Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas):

"A Charlie Brown Christmas," directed by animator Bill Melendez, airs 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, on ABC. It's paired with "Charlie Brown Christmas Tales," based on Schulz's work and featuring each of the Peanuts characters, including Snoopy, in individual vignettes.

- "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, CBS. A shy reindeer battles the Abominable Snowmonster and finds that his vibrantly colored nose makes him a hero, not a misfit, when Santa Claus needs a guiding light.

- "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, ABC. Fred Astaire was the narrator for this 1970 tale about how Kris Kringle (Mickey Rooney) overcomes a ban on toys in his native Sombertown and ends up becoming Santa Claus, the world's biggest toy distributor.

- "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas," 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, ABC. Jim Carrey stars as the unpopular Grinch in the film based on the Dr. Seuss book. Christine Baranski and Jeffrey Tambor co-star.

- "The Santa Clause," 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, ABC. Tim Allen stars as a man who becomes the unwilling successor to Santa Claus and has to quickly learn the ropes. Wendy Crewson, David Krumholtz and Peter Boyle co-star.

- "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, NBC. Life on the road isn't easy for Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and family, but at least his Christmas bonus is coming. Beverly D'Angelo co-stars.

Holiday Snowglobe

I look forward to this time of year just for this Holiday Treat

It's fun just to watch the little guys go about their day, enjoying the show, sledding & skating... then I shake them up a bit.

Have fun!

Timm Enjoys the Beach

 


From our trip last May to Dillon Beach. This was one of the first unfenced places Timm has been able to run off-leash. He loved it. Freedom. 

Preparing for Christmas

 


This was the best pic. in many attempts to capture the boys dressed up for the holidays. I guess we'll never get a good shot of them for a Christmas card. Oh well. We had fun. 

Welcome AFO V aka Erick

Scrunched up face and all five toes! I look forward to tormenting you as you grow up.

Winery in Oakland?

Please Come to Lost Canyon Winery's Grand Opening Celebration

Apparently a new winery & tasting room is opening up in the heart of Oakland. I think I might have to pay them a visit.

Chalk One Up for the Catholics

Vatican Official Refutes Intelligent Design:

The Vatican's chief astronomer said Friday that "intelligent design" isn't science and doesn't belong in science classrooms, the latest high-ranking Roman Catholic official to enter the evolution debate in the United States.... (click above link for full article)

Let your voice be heard!

The ONE Campaign: "This week, Congress will decide how much America will contribute toward an important international effort called the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

Let’s keep up the positive pressure: Please email Congress today and ask their support for $100 million in the Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill for the Global Fund-- an effort that fights back against three killer diseases and encourages other countries to do their share. "

To make sure your voice is heard, ONE has set up a toll-free number that will connect you directly to your Representatives’ office in Washington, DC.

Call 1-800-786-2663 TODAY and help make AIDS, TB and malaria history.

Or you can click on the above link to sign a web petition.

Together, these three preventable and treatable diseases kill 6 million people each year. Together, we can change that - as ONE, we can make the difference.

Liquid Cereal - The BevNET.com Review

Liquid Cereal - makes me want to hurl

A few choice descriptions from the website:
"With a slight thickness to its body, this product also feels somewhat like cereal in your mouth."

"The greenish color is probably our biggest issue with this product as green colored milk is typically a sign of some sort of problem."

"This beverage packs sweet, artificial-fruityness and a slightly thick, cereal-like consistency into an 11 ounce can."

ew.

I Itch

My lips now look normal but they continue to have a poison oak like itch that seems to be spreading. Where do I itch today? The bridge of my nose, my right nostril, my left upper eye-lid. I also have an itchy red rash on each side of my neck (front) and across my neck (back) from shoulder to shoulder.

No, I have not changed body soaps, lotions or laundry detergents. What could it be?

Help... please. I can't stand it for much longer.

Disco Thanksgiving

Click Me and enjoy a little seasonal entertainment. I've received this by email or IM at least 10 times. Now I share it with you.

I've Got Needs

A meme making its way around the Internet, discovered during a visit to sarahlaughed.net: you Google your name and the word "needs," and blog the top ten hits that come up. So, according to Google, this is what I need:

Sarah needs someone who can escort her from port to port

Sarah Needs A Cold Shower, Self-Esteem

Sarah needs to get her life back and establish herself as the person in charge!

Sarah needs to set up her experiment 4

Sarah Needs A Home

Sarah needs comforting

Sarah needs to be hooked up to a respirator in order to survive

Sarah needs your help

Sarah needs a root canal.

Apparently I only need 9 things!

Mango Itch?

Health: "An itchy rash develops and progresses into fluid-filled blisters that itch and ooze. Your dermatologist calls this an acute allergic contact dermatitis. Typically, symptoms develop several hours after exposure, build to a peak within two to five days, and clear up in about three weeks."

Jane thinks I may have this. On my lips. My top lip is currently about triple in size and is covered in oozing little blisters.

I have a Dr. appt at noon to see if internet diagnosis is correct, hopefully prescribe big drugs and make it go away. I'm not pretty. Jane took a picture this AM... We'll see if I can figure out how to get shots from camera into computer.

Cheers!

Puggle

I learned of this new designer breed from Jake Gyllenhall on The Today Show. They are called "pocket boxers". I'm not sure why anyone would cross a Pug with a Beagle but here they are. I introduce you to the Puggle.

Bad Dog Friday!

I'd say this picture is worth 1000 words.

Guest Blogger - RJK

Hi! My name is RJ and I'm a hunny pot. I like to smile and drool. I did not go out for halloween because it's a pagan holiday and my parents are very religious... ok really I was just in a bad mood. Do you see those teeth in my face? They hurt. And I don't like wearing this stupid outfit. Mommy just made me take a picture to show all her friends how cute I am. See, I'm cute. Gotta go eat some candy....

Save Flipper!

northamerica.oceana.org: Dolphin Deadline click here & sign the petition to save Flipper!

Congress -- led by Congressmen Wayne Gilchrest and Richard Pombo – may soon be trying to remove a deadline that would reduce the catching, injuring and killing of dolphins, whales and other marine mammals. Take action today -- tell Congress not to kill the Dolphin Deadline. If you live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland -- click here. Anywhere else in the US, click here.

Each year commercial fishing operations catch and kill more than 300,000 marine mammals worldwide – more than 800 each day. The United States contributes significantly to this problem, needlessly killing thousands of dolphins, whales and other animals each year. According to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, this “dirty-fishing” is one of the biggest threats to the future of marine mammal populations.

In the United States, laws already exist to protect marine mammals. More than 30 years ago, the U.S. Congress enacted the Marine Mammal Protection Act to stop the decline of dolphins, whales, manatees, walruses, polar bears and other ocean animals.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act requires the federal government to reduce the killing and injury of marine mammals in commercial fisheries to negligible levels. Ten years ago, Congress set April 2001 as the deadline to achieve this goal, but the deadline has since passed.

Now, instead of working harder to enforce the deadline, some members of Congress just want to do away with it altogether. (View Fact Sheet)What they should do is insist that the government comply with the law. If this deadline is removed, marine mammals will lose the most basic and fundamental protection given to them, and the number killed or harmed by commercial fishing operations could increase by the thousands.

Happy Halloween

If ghosts and goblins or the current regime in the white house don't scare you I'm sure this will. Check out the KQED blog about Scary Food

Ew... I think I threw up a little bit in my mouth. urp.

editor's note to my parents: the text in bold blue is a link. move your cursor over that and click to be sent to the Scary Food blog

Freshman Sensation

FALCON CROSS COUNTRY TEAM

My neice Lauren is apparently a big stud. She ran her final big XC race and crushed the competition. Unfortunately I had to be in class and couldn't go cheer her on. Mom said she was awesome. Hopefully they get to go to championships and I can see her woop 'em in person.

Homeland Security

This is upsetting but I thought I should pass it along. Check your drivers license. Now you can see anyone's Driver's License on the Internet, including your own! I just searched for mine and there it was picture and all!!

Thanks Homeland Security! Where are our rights?
I definitely removed mine. I suggest you do the same... Go to the web site and check it out. Just enter your name, city and state to see if yours is on file. After your license comes on the screen, click the box marked "Please Remove". This will remove
it from public viewing, but not from law enforcement.


http://www.license.shorturl.com

Mother Goose Rocks!

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes appearances by Pope JP2 & GWB!

On my local radio AM show I learned about Mother Goose Rocks. This is a five volume collection of Mother Goose rhymes or other children songs performed as pop songs by "cover artists". Either sung to the tune of a popular rock song or in the style of a popular rock artist.

Song samples
I've Been Working on the Railroad performed by Coldwork (sung like Coldplay... The above link goes to a vieo of ME2 (ala U2) song of Head Shoulders Knees & Toes.

yes, I just bought the whole collection and it's awesome.

Dominant Genes

I've always heard that brown hair/eyes are the dominant gene. How is it that all the kids of the next generation have such fair features? Except for the hair/eye color the rest of them is ALL Crawford.

Here they are in decending age:

A New Toy for FREE!

America West | BlackBerry Promotion

My friend Melissa showed me her new free BlackBerry Treo she got for buying an airline ticket from America West. Wow, that's quite a promotion.

If only I wasn't already locked into a cell phone contract... and don't mind not being "in touch" 24/7 I might consider booking a flight.

Young MC

Check One Two... sibilance... sibilance..

How cute is she!

My Own Three Toed Sloth

Otis gets his toe removed on 10/24. The doctors think it's best to preventatively remove his potentially cancerous toe.

Jane wants to take him with us to Oregon this weekend as a special field trip. Otis loves the farm, loves uncle Jack, loves a good long 9 hour car ride, loves being with his mommies. Little does he know Jane has started the K9 Make-A-Wish!

po' puppy. He'll be fine, no worrries. He will only be able to count to 17 now.

Arkansas Mother Gives Birth to 16th Child

Get this woman some birth control.. or self control... or a sex ed video. 16 kids and she's only 39. She's spent almost 12 years of her life pregnant.
Arkansas Mother Gives Birth to 16th Child: "Their children include two sets of twins, and each child has a name beginning with the letter 'J': Joshua, 17; John David, 15; Janna, 15; Jill, 14; Jessa, 12; Jinger, 11; Joseph, 10; Josiah, 9; Joy-Anna, 8; Jeremiah, 6; Jedidiah, 6; Jason, 5; James, 4; Justin, 2; and Jackson Levi, 1."

Steve, Don't Eat It! - Silkworm Pupas

Eating silkworm pupas just sounds nasty. For the full text of his experience read this blog's section called Steve, Don't Eat It! . Have a barf bag handy if you are easily grossed-out.

A Message for My Dad

I love you.

Fan Appreciation Day

What a bummer. Work is sending me to NYC for the week and I had to sell my tickets to the A's game giveaway of the Bobby Kielty Troll Doll

The A's have a chance to win the west and I'll be stuck in NY booing the Yankees.

Let's Go Oakland!

The source for my random statements

I'm a huge fan of Celebrity Jeopardy on Saturday Night Live. Click on the title for a listing & video clips of all episodes for the last 10 years.

a few of my favorite categories (per Sean Connery)
Anal Bum Covers (An Album Cover)
Swords (S' Words)
Ape Tit (A Petite Dejuneir)
The Penis Mightier (The Pen Is Mightier)
The Rapists (Therapists)

The best final Jeopardy answers:
Threve
Suck it, Trabek

A Rooftop Bar in San Francisco!!!

Yes, and it's awesome. It's like a country club up there... chaise lounges, umbrellas, heat lamps, sunshine (if you're lucky) and always a cool view.

I highly recommend it. The restraunt on the first floor looks cool but we didn't eat there.

I'm Sick

I should be at home, in bed, sleeping with a dog at my feet. Unfortunately today is payroll processing day so I gotta be at work to process payroll. It's great job security being the only person who knows the ins & outs of what I do... but... It's days like today when I wish I wasn't so darn indespensible.

Not only do I have sore throat, runny nose & tired eyes but the office burgler alarm is on the fritz so every 8 seconds it runs a self-testing high pitched beep.... beep.... beep.... beep

Last night I made a pot of hot & sour soup. It's my latest favorite "sick food". Thanks to Elmar for introducing me to this delicious & quick recipe. I brought the leftovers to work today for lunch.

Please let me get payroll done quickly so I can go home.

sniffle... cough... ahem...

How I spent my Labor Day weekend

Jane planned this weekend's trip to kayak Mono Lake & explore the eastern Sierras (click the header for a description) as my birthday present. Our trip was booked through REI but our guides came from Current Adventures

It was great! I highly recommend a trip like this. We showed up to a fully set up camp and were sat in front of a fire and offered cocoa, tea or coffee. The guides did EVERYTHING for us... cooked enormous meals, drove us around, moved equipment, planned activities, cleaned up... It felt so strange to be turned away when offering to help out.

Mono lake is very cool. We ended up covered in streams of salt from the splashing water. After a full morning of paddling & vising the museum of Mono Lake we went for a long hike through beaver dams and waterfalls. We ended the trip with a morning paddle on Silver Lake (located on the June Lake Loop off HWY 395). Glaciers created some beauty! Sheer granite walls, cascades, crystal clear waters and hardly any other people on the lake. I will definately return.

Thanks Jane and all the family for contributing to this trip. It was awesome.

Blog for Relief Day

If you are a blogger click on the header and add your name to the list.

Hurricane Katrina: Blog for Relief Day
Thursday, September 1
A day of blogging focused on raising awareness of and funds for relief efforts to aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina. See here for more information, and here for the TTLB Katrina topic page.

Officials Helpless Against Looters

So your home is washed away... your city is 80% underwater... everyone is evacuating... Time to loot!

My question is: WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THAT STOLEN STUFF????? You have nowhere to put it. You have nobody to sell it to. You just gonna wade the streets with a pile of junk on an old wooden door?

Someone please explain to me.

Mah nah mah nah....

Do doo do do doo do

www.maketradefair.com - registration

"Before you've finished your breakfast this morning, you'll have relied on half the world"
- Martin Luther King

Apparently I'm not doing enough...
An interesting thought. And a depressing one, when you realise that those people you've relied on for your coffee and muesli are almost certainly being exploited and oppressed by the unfair power balance in world trade.

But what can you do? Surely it's beyond your control? Wrong. You can buy Fair Trade products. And you can add your voice to the Big Noise.

Fair Trade is a growing, international movement which ensures that producers in poor countries get a fair deal. This means a fair price for their goods (one that covers the cost of production and guarantees a living income), long-term contracts which provide real security; and for many, support to gain the knowledge and skills that they need to develop their businesses and increase sales.

Fair Trade and the Make Trade Fair campaign
The Fair Trade movement has been one of the most powerful responses to the problems facing commodity producers. It gives consumers an opportunity to use their purchasing power to tilt the balance, however slightly, in favour of the poor. But Fair Trade alone can't address the crisis faced by the millions of small-scale farmers and producers whose livelihoods are threatened by low commodity prices and unfair competion from rich countries.

This can only be achieved by changing the unfair rules of world trade so that they work for small-scale producers as well as rich multinationals.

In the meantime, for hundreds of thousands of people, Fair Trade means the difference between a hand-to-mouth existence, and being able to plan for the future.

In the past decade, the Fair Trade movement has really taken off, as consumer awareness of - and indignation at - the treatment of producers in poor countries has increased. More retailers than ever are stocking Fair Trade goods, the number of products on offer continues to grow as demand increases, and more poor communities are feeling the benefits.

click on the header of this post to find out more.

Dingo didn't eat your baby

Probaby because she's got a mullet.



A 25-year-old woman has walked into an Alice Springs newspaper office claiming to be Azaria Chamberlain.
The woman made the claim when she and her 48-year-old partner walked into the offices of the Centralian Advocate, sister paper of the Northern Territory News on Monday.

The woman then went to the Alice Springs police station on Wednesday where she repeated the claim.

Alice Springs Detective Superintendent Don Fry said police had rejected her claims. The woman was prepared to have a DNA test to prove she was the grown-up Azaria Chamberlain.

Azaria disappeared from a campsite at Uluru 25 years ago this month, sparking a legal saga that captivated the nation.

Azaria's mother Lindy was convicted of her murder and her husband Michael for being an accessory to the murder in 1982.

Advertisement:
The Chamberlains were released from prison after two appeals in 1986.

They were finally declared innocent in the NT Court of Criminal Appeal in 1998 and it is now accepted Azaria was taken from her tent by a dingo.

Since Azaria's disappearance, scores of bizarre but unproven theories have abounded, including claims the baby had been rescued from a dingo by Aborigines.

Last year Victorian pensioner Frank Cole, then 78, said he and friends shot a dingo carrying a baby in its mouth at Uluru in 1980.

Police offered to investigate Cole's claim but it was dismissed by the coroner.

The woman claiming to be Azaria said on Monday she believed it was time for the truth to be known.

She said she had flashbacks to when she was nine weeks old and found herself between the jaws of a dingo.

The woman has scars on her right arm that she said were made by the dingo.

Her partner said he discovered the woman was rescued from Uluru by a man from Mutitjulu community 25 years ago.

He said she was then given to a white family, which was part of a sect.

The man said his partner was still suffering from years of abuse at the hands of sect members.

We're #1

As of this moment the A's have once again taken over first place. Let's go Oakland! Let's hope they can hold on until the end... I don't think I can stomach the wild card chase.

No Fun Diet (click me)

Three Things

List 3 things that bug you - things that others may find trivial. Then tag 5 of your friends to do the same:

1. Line waiters. People who get in line because it looks like there is one forming without examining the evidence for the need of a line. How many times in a crowded concert or event have you stood in line for the bathroom only to get near the front and realize that 5 stalls are empty... the doors are just shut. C'mon people! Look before you line up. (this probably only applies to women)

2. Bitching without action. Don't complain about something if you aren't willing to step up and take some proactive steps to correct the situation.

3. Loud music. I hate driving in a car or being at a party where the music is so loud the people can't converse. When you have to turn down the volume to speak to the person in the passenger seat it's a sign the music is too loud.

I'm not sure I have 5 readers... but... tag you're it:
Gabe
Jane
Elaine
Jenny or Joe
SAJ

Me Either (click title for the link)

Actually, I've never understood the rabid attraction to DMB... All the songs sound the same to me. I also think he looks like a bloated turtle, not cute.

Question of the day:
What socially / culturally popular "thing" are you not into?

What's your Potter-nality?

That's me alright...


Harry Potter Personality Quiz by Pirate Monkeys Inc.

Are You Jealous?

I saw the American Idol Live concert in Sacramento last night. Bo was out sick so the whole show started out with a big bummer. Nikko Smith wins the award for most improved. That guy can sing & dance. Watch out Justin Timberlake!

Whoever organizes that thing must be raking in the money. The stage was a plain white platform, that's it. The only special effects were lights that went back & forth in blue & white. Wow! I can't imagine the Idols are taking home much cash either.

Each of them got to perform 3 songs. Lots of props to Sacramen-TOE (emphasis on the "to") and one shout out to Cali! Who calls it "Cali"? Nobody I know.

Anyway, it was fun. The best part of the night was playing the game, "Why are they here?". The group next to us were 3 white haired couples. Are they really big fans of Constantine.. or maybe Vonzell? weird.

Highlights of the show: she did NOT perform.
Constantine's version of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.
Jessica and Scott's rendition of Total Eclipse of the Heart
FYI:
the Ukranian still sucks.

We didn't get home until after midnight so I am a bit tired now. Oh and just to clear up any confusion Jane was not my date for the show - you think she'd stoop that low!

Sarah Is...

Thanks Tripp for this game.

Here are the rules...search on google for your name. But like this: "Sarah is"

Use quotes. Include the verb. Cut and paste the first ten entries.

sarah is a cute blond prostitute...

sarah is seeking to seeking to fill in the jerusalem area ...

Sarah’s not scared of everything . . . just dogs and lightning and scary movies and the dark and...

Sarah is now known professionally as Sarah...

Sarah is passionate, highly knowledgeable and down to earth...

Sarah is dedicated to her work and is a leader of teens, and parents...

Sarah is a cancer-free, happy teenager, and she hopes to enroll in a nursing

Sarah is an artist...

SARAH IS BEAUTIFUL Sarah is beautiful inside and out...

Sarah is wonderful and there's no doubt.

UGLY DOG

This is NOT my dog! (click the title to see pic of the ugliest K9)

My Baby is Sick

The tiniest Otis is not himself. I picked him up from the groomer yesterday and his usual response was not there. He didn't wag, bark, run, jump... his tail was limp, his eyes were sad and he refused his favorite food treat. I took him to the vet and they were all shocked at his lack of self. They drew blood & urine we went home. He sacked out on the couch all night.

This AM he perked up a bit - but still miles from his personality. We dropped him off at Grammy & Papa's for day care and possible return to vet.

I just got off the phone with the Dr and he's got elevated kidney numbers, concentrated urine, high white blood count and he's dehydrated. He needs to go back in for the day to receive IV fluids, antibiotics and a follow up blood test.

We hope it's a quick kidney infection and not the start of kidney failure.

Say your puppy prayers.

How I Spent Last Night

Thanks to the best radio station ever I won two passes to a private Nickel Creek concert. They played for a small audience (a few hundred max) at the Little Fox Theater. We arrived 5 minutes after the show started and ended up in the front row next to the DJ of my favorite radio show.

I think I need to add their new album to my wish list.

Highlights of the show/night:
The lead singer/mandolin player making eyes at my +1, Jenny.
The seamless blend from bluegrass instrumental to cover of Nirvana's In Bloom.
My souvenier... the band's set list.
2+hours of awesome music... FREE!
Jenny's 11 yr old nephew's friend thanking her for dinner by saying the homemade pesto sauce was "not as good as my mom's".
The dogs didn't destroy the house even though I wasn't home until 11pm.

Bummer of the night discovered this AM:
Otis snuggled up to a burr bush and his shaggy fur is now matted with pricklers. Fortunetely I had him scheduled for a grooming today. I cut as much of the mess out as I could before dropping him off for his bath & haircut. He'll be so cute tonight.

YEAH - Jane comes home tonight!

The Chaos Begins

For the next three weeks one member of our houseshold will be out of state at one time or another. I wonder if we'll recognize each other when we meet again...

Busy summer... Remember the days when summer seemed to last forever, you had nothing to do but play with your friends, no meetings, no school/work, nothing to do but what you wanted to do.... ?

Longer Days

What is the point of longer days? Doesn't our government have more pressing issues than altering the man made construct of time? The sun comes up... the sun goes down... Does it really matter what time the clock says when that happens?

Spiders on Drugs

Check out what happenes when a spider weaves a web under the influence.

If you've ever been to my house you may have seen one of the many spiders living in our yard, under the eaves, kitchen, bathroom, etc... Unfortunately I believe all our spiders are in recovery. All of our webs are HUGE & perfectly formed. They may even be more structurally sound than our house.

For insight into our house I suggest you read Jane's blog

Thanks to Anne M. for the link.

Weekend of Fun in Review

I saw two of the greatest movies this weekend.

The first: March of the Penguins A beautifully filmed and wonderfully narrated (by Morgan Freeman) documentary on the annual march of the Emperor Penguin to breed. If I were an Emperor Penguin I'd die childless and alone! Why would anyone walk 70 across antarctica (multiple times) to have sex and raise a chick. They are an amazing little critter.

The next was a movie date with my mom to see Mad Hot Ballroom AWESOME! I laughed, I cried... it was better than CATS! What a great story. Get out of your house and see this film NOW. So touching. I wish I was a fifth grader in NYC so I could learn ballroom dancing. GO NOW!

Other activities of the weekend included: Friday of errands (day out of office), soccer (we won I think), dinner at The Kerry House, and saw Oklahoma at the historic Woodminster Amphitheater

Back to work now....

It's A Girl!

Our 3rd of July BBQ & margarita fest was interrupted with a call from Jenny & Joe to announce the arrival of Sylvia Ida. I'm sure there will be multitudes of pictures posted soon (HINT HINT). Joe, stop fawning over the cutie pie & share the love.

She's the first baby girl born to our family & friends in almost three years. Those Y chromosomes have had a long lucky run.

We spent a few days in early June with Jenny & Joe... she looked miserable and about to pop then. I can't believe she held on this long.

Congratulations!

U G L Y - you ain't got no alibi

Yes, you are ugly!

March of the Penguin

Oh yes, I will see this movie!

Would you do THIS for $10K? (click here)

My answer is NO!

Now I gotta learn spanish...

Spain OKs Gay Marriage, Defying Opponents

By MAR ROMAN, Associated Press Writer

Thursday, June 30, 2005

(06-30) 09:20 PDT MADRID, Spain (AP) --

Parliament legalized gay marriage Thursday, defying conservatives and clergy who opposed making traditionally Roman Catholic Spain the third country to allow same-sex unions nationwide. Jubilant gay activists blew kisses to lawmakers after the vote.

The measure passed the 350-seat Congress of Deputies by a vote of 187-147. The bill, part of the ruling Socialists' aggressive agenda for social reform, also lets gay couples adopt children and inherit each others' property.

The bill is now law. The Senate, where conservatives hold the largest number of seats, rejected the bill last week. But it is an advisory body and final say on legislation rests with the Congress of Deputies.

Opposition conservatives said they will consider challenging the law before Spain's highest tribunal, the Constitutional Court.

The Spanish Bishops Conference criticized the new law and urged resistance to it. The group said the bill, along with another passed Wednesday making it easier for Spaniards to divorce, mean that "marriage, understood as the union of a man and a woman, is no longer provided for in our laws."

"It is necessary to oppose these unfair laws through all legitimate means," the bishops said, apparently alluding to a previous call for town hall officials who oppose gay marriage to refuse to preside at such ceremonies.

After the final tally was announced, gay and lesbian activists watching from the spectator section of the ornate chamber cried, cheered, hugged, waved to lawmakers and blew them kisses.

Several members of the conservative opposition Popular Party, which was vehemently opposed to the bill, shouted: "This is a disgrace." Those in favor stood and clapped.

The Netherlands and Belgium are the only other two countries that allow gay marriage nationwide. Canada's House of Commons passed legislation Tuesday that would legalize gay marriage; its Senate is expected to pass the bill into law by the end of July.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero noted this in debate before the vote.

"We were not the first, but I am sure we will not be the last. After us will come many other countries, driven, ladies and gentlemen, by two unstoppable forces: freedom and equality," he told the chamber.

Zapatero said the reform of Spanish legal code simply adds one dry paragraph of legalese but means much more.

He called it "a small change in wording that means an immense change in the lives of thousands of citizens. We are not legislating, ladies and gentlemen, for remote unknown people. We are expanding opportunities for the happiness of our neighbors, our work colleagues, our friends, our relatives."

Zapatero lacks a majority in the chamber but got help from small regional-based parties that tend to be his allies.

Spanish gay couples can get married as soon as the law is published in the official government registry. This could come as early as Friday, or within two weeks at the latest, parliament's press office said.

Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy said after the vote that Zapatero has deeply divided Spain and should have sought a consensus in parliament that recognized same-sex unions but didn't call them marriage. Rajoy said that if the vast majority of countries in the world don't accept gay marriage, including some run by Socialists, there must be a reason.

"I think the prime minister has committed a grave act of irresponsibility," Rajoy told reporters.

Beatriz Gimeno, a longtime leader of the gay rights movement in Spain, held back tears as she hugged her partner Boti after the vote.

"It is a historic day for the world's homosexuals. We have been fighting for many years," Gimeno said. "Now comes the hardest part, which is changing society's mentality."

The gay marriage bill was the boldest and most divisive initiative of the liberal social agenda Zapatero has embarked on since taking office in April 2004. Parliament overhauled Spain's 25-year-old divorce law Wednesday by letting couples end their marriage without a mandatory separation or having to state a reason, as required under the old law.

He has also pushed through legislation allowing stem-cell research and wants to loosen Spain's restrictive abortion law.

The Roman Catholic Church, which held much sway over the government just a generation ago when Gen. Francisco Franco was in power, had adamantly opposed gay marriage. In its first display of anti-government activism in 20 years, it endorsed a June 18 rally in which hundreds of thousands marched through Madrid in opposition to the bill. Some 20 bishops took part in the June 18 rally.

On Wednesday, a Catholic lay group called the Spanish Family Forum presented lawmakers with a petition bearing 600,000 signatures as a last-minute protest.

Late last year, the spokesman for the Spanish Bishops Conference, Antonio Martinez Camino said that allowing gay marriage was like "imposing a virus on society — something false that will have negative consequences for social life."

Despite the street protests in Madrid and elsewhere and the petition drive, polls suggest Spaniards supported gay marriage.

A survey released in May by pollster Instituto Opina said 62 percent of Spaniards support the government's action on this issue, and 30 percent oppose it. The poll had a margin of error of 3 percentage points. But surveys show Spaniards about evenly split over whether gay couples should be allowed to adopt children.

Late Night Tuesday

Why do I do this to myself? Why get tickets for a concert on a weeknight? Sure the doors open at 7:30, the show starts at 8... but the headliner didn't get on stage until after 10:30. I had hopes that it wouldn't be a very late night. Oh well. Jane was a good sport (she only took a short nap.

The opening act was Youth Group. I enjoyed them and bought their CD. They are English or Australian - cute accents, funny hair. Their sound reminds me of The Ocean Blue.

The co-headliner / second act... Blanche was a pleasant suprise. They rocked the house with slide guitar & a banjo and you gotta love a band with a chick drummer. It's not often you find a goth roots fusion band from lovely Detroit, MI. The male lead singer looked like the love child of Jeke Gyllenhaal and Lyle Lovett. The female lead singer looked & dressed exactly like this. I think I'll get their album off iTunes today.

The Ditty Bops played for only 45 minutes, bummer. They also played mostly new songs, another bummer. But they were cute & perky and kept inviting their chubby childhood friend, Kenny, onstage to dance.

If you ever get a chance to catch a show at The Great American Music Hall I recommend it. A beautiful building.

So I'm now at work after a short night's sleep. Tonight another meeting to plan for the mission trip to Idaho later this summer. Let's hope it's short & to the point so I can catch some zzzzzzs.

Greener Choices

I was reading one of my favorite magazines and learned of a free Consumer Reports website to help one make more eco friendly choices. CHECK IT OUT

Save Public Broadcasting

Where would you be without Seasame Street? Julia Childs? Garrison Keillor? This Old House? Yan Can Cook? Mr Rogers? Car Talk? Terry Gross? Nova? National Geographic?

You know that email petition that keeps circulating about how Congress is slashing funding for NPR and PBS? Well, now it's actually true. (Really. Check at the bottom if you don't believe me.) This time, it's for real: Save NPR and PBS

Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS:

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

A House panel has voted to eliminate all public funding for NPR and PBS, starting with "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow," and other commercial-free children's shows. If approved, this would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting, threatening to pull the plug on Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch.

The cuts would slash 25% of the federal funding this year—$100 million—and end funding altogether within two years. The loss could kill beloved children's shows like "Clifford the Big Red Dog," "Arthur," and "Postcards from Buster." Rural stations and those serving low-income communities might not survive. Other stations would have to increase corporate sponsorships.

Already, 300,000 people have signed the petition. Can you help us reach 400,000 signatures today?

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

Thanks!

P.S. Read the Washington Post report on the threat to NPR and PBS at:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=745

Fainting Goats

Watch the video. I need to get me one!

East Coast cont...

We arrived in White Plains mid-afternoon and I got to meet Mason (he's quite tiny). Thank God for air conditioning because humidity sucks and we spent three days inside holding the wee baby, catching up on daytime TV, the life of the Chucheloes and reeeelaaaaxing. Our only trip outside of the house so Jane could teach Fred how to make rub. He did a good job.

Best of White Plains: doing nothing and that's OK!

Philadelphia in a day. More humidity! Our host took us to dinner. It was great fun and if you've never had a 73yr old petite lady challenge you to drink you should go visit Peggy.

Best of Philly: cats cats cats (7 to be exact)

Silver Spring (aka burbs of Wash. DC) to visit Jenny & Joe. They are living the American dream - a house & baby on the way. If only all these friends didn't have to move to the right side of the country to do it.
We missed going here to have lunch and hear him speak because Jane thought it was on Friday. Woops.

After making amends with June for missing the Thursday lunch date on Friday we wandered DC proper. We saw:
Jane's Idol
Telous Latrec
Sarah's Pilgimage

Saturday we shopped at Eastern Market and returned home for a BBQ (Joe calls it a cook-out) and many hours of discussion on politics. I guess that's what you do when you hang out with DCers.

Best of DC/MD: If one person orders a vodka tonic and the other orders vodka on the rocks and both drinks arrive in the same size glass with same volumn of liquid... who gets the better deal?

Thanks to all of our hosts. The trip was great. We'll be back... muwahahahaha!

No News?

Why am I just hearing about this? Am I really so out of the loop?

East Coast Fun

Things we did... people we saw... stuff from our East Coast travels:
We began the trip waking up at 4AM to make the earliest flight to JFK. Rented a sexy car for the 5 hour drive to our first stop.

Highlights from Vermont:
The Livingson's & Pearl
Shopping
Local Pub

Best of VT: Squirrely Pearl the goat footed sheep dog and her family.

Highlights from Saratoga Springs
Bartending read Jane's account for more details.
BBQ & Bocci by moonlight
A walk through the city ending with another refresher
After dinner we hit The Racino. Jane won on the slots and we both won a few $ on the ponies.

Best of Saratoga Springs: midnight bocce (with blinking lighted balls)

Next up... White Plains to DC! More tomorrow...

He Beat It

Not guilty for the king of pop or just enough reasonable doubt to get off....

New Post

I'm home from vacation and will post some highlights as soon as I dig through the pile on my desk. I think I'll need a vacation tonight after all the stuff in my "in-box"... oy.

Neeto!

I'll leave that link for you to enjoy while I'm off on a much deserved vacation. Cheers.

The Second Best Birthday Present

Thanks to KATIE E.

Stern Grove Summer Concernts (click here)

Is there anything better than a beautiful sunny day in the park listening to a great free concert? Stern Grove 2005 concert list has several artist I plan to see live.

Friends don't let friends....(click for phots)

I'm glad my college friends were either too kind or too lazy to bring a camera to parties. I'm sure I could have been a victim of this sort.

Thank you friends for taking pity on me. or Perhaps they never messed with me because I had a remarkable ability to wake up after a breif "cat nap" and start the party all over!

There are some great pictures there.

The One Campaign

Click the link to Sign the ONE declaration...

“WE BELIEVE that in the best American tradition of helping others help themselves, now is the time to join with other countries in a historic pact for compassion and justice to help the poorest people of the world overcome AIDS and extreme poverty. WE RECOGNIZE that a pact including such measures as fair trade, debt relief, fighting corruption and directing additional resources for basic needs – education, health, clean water, food, and care for orphans – would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the poorest countries, at a cost equal to just one percent more of the US budget. WE COMMIT ourselves - one person, one voice, one vote at a time - to make a better, safer world for all.”

Remembering a friend, appreciating the now (click here for full article)

Remembering a friend, appreciating the now by Tom Stienstra
Sunday, May 15, 2005

The early rains of May bring out the brilliant white blooms of the dogwood trees, the arrival of spring in the mountains, a time for adventures and the memories of friends loved and lost.

Near a downed log in deep forest, far from any trail, a dogwood tree blooms every year this week. It grows over the grave site of my old dog, Rebel, who rambled and roamed with me for 17 years, and blooms each year on the day that I buried him.

In nature, that dogwood represents spring's rebirth of the land. For me, it also symbolizes the crossing over of my old dog's spirit to the other side, to live again.

Every day for 17 years, Rebel slept on my feet as I wrote, so when I finished a story and got up to go, he'd wake, ready for the next trip. Then one spring morning, while curled up beneath me, he had a devastating stroke. An hour later, I held his head in my hands and he gave me a lick on a cheek, and as I held him, he died. It felt like my heart was dying with him.

But a moment later, I sensed something rise from his body, a distinct but amorphous presence, and then hover over him for a few seconds, then drift off and vanish. Now some 10 years later, I believe what I felt was his spirit leaving his physical shell and crossing over. In his death, I felt divine force.
CLICK THE TITLE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE - this is just the intro...

Fetal Attractions

From this website you can "Get your 'Culture of Life' accessories. All fetal models come ready and waiting for you to imprint with your fantasies."

I don't have any fetal fantasies to imprint. I don't know why anyone would want these. What would you do with them? Help! Scary

Here is one choice description: Unborn Baby Ornament - US Troop Model

Protect our troops - from the womb to the war. What if the fetus you were going to abort would grow up to be a soldier bringing democracy to a godless dictatorship?

South Park Studio

Click the above link to find out what you'd look like as a South Parkie.

I HATE HUMIDITY

I'll be in North Carolina for the next few days where it will be close to 80 with showers & thunderstorms. Ugh... what to wear.

ON THIS DAY (well yesterday, May 8)

BBC ON THIS DAY | 8

I was too busy yesterday to post. It was my birthday! Exciting events of yesterday, my 34th, at 3:45am I woke up in the midst of a 3.4 earthquake centered in my hometown. 34 3:45, 3.4... Oooh spooky.

We were to head to my sisters house for an outdoor BBQ party to celebrate both my & Katie's birthdays and Mother's Day. However due to the rain we relocated to our house since we have more indoor space. I spent the morning on a quick clean-up and the house was ready for the family & friends invasion.

Jane worked her magic with tri-tips on the q. Katie & I exchanged pink teddybears. The family chipped in this awesome REI Adventure: http://www.rei.com/adventures/trips/namer/ca_monokayak_wend.jsp Yahoo!

I'm at work for one day this week. I am off to North Carolina for a conference on "The State Of Health Care". whee. I think I'll have lots of time on this trip to study for my physiology final in 2 weeks.

Other birthdays of note:

Oscar Hammerstein 1847
Harry S. Truman (U.S.) 1884
Don Rickles 1926
David Attenborough 1926
Rick Nelson 1940
James Mitchum 1941
Toni Tennille 1943
Alex Van Halen 1955
Ronnie Lott 1959
Melissa Gilbert 1964

California Lottery - Games - SuperLotto Plus - Winning Numbers

We won! ok, only $10... but I'm still a winner.

Common birth procedure denounced in report / Routine episiotomy hurts more than it helps, analysis says

An article for all my pregnant friends....

Doug's Bar-B-Q - GO NOW!

Doug's Bar-B-Q - Emeryville, CA, 94608-3902 - Citysearch: "Doug's Bar-B-Q
3600 San Pablo Ave
Emeryville, CA 94608-3902
(510) 655-9048


I can only speak for the ribs. Both pork & beef (short rib style) were AWESOME. Since my former fav. place, Flint's closed down this is my new favorite. YUMMY!

Rules: Working For The Man

For thos eof you in the corporate world this might be entertaining... Dilbertesque

Coming Soon! The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Finally a decent production! The team that put this together also worked on LOTR. Yeah!

Baby Season

Welcome to the world Mason Frederick & John William. Two of our friends now have a new role in life: mom! Yeah! Both were born on Friday 4/29. Two more Tauruses... Tauri?

In sad baby related news we learned this weekend that Jane's 7mo old cousin was diagnosed with leukemia. Fortunately she's responding well to the first round of chemo. Keep Delaney in your prayers.

Now the remaining dozen pregnant friends need to give birth and let us meet the little buggers.

America We Stand As One

Yes it is an awesome video, an awesome song. But what is most awesome is this item:
"America We Stand As One and Dennis Madalone did not authorize or assist in the production, creation, or concept behind alternative "spoof" videos of America We Stand As One."

The spoof is better than the original! You can view the spoof here: http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2668262?htv=12 remix of Team America's "America F*** Yeah!" make sure your volume is appropriate.

PS - Joe V I dedicate this post to you.

Why I love Jane.

Haribo Gummi Candies: "Haribo Gold-Bears Bulk, 5 Pounds
Imported Haribo Gold Bears in a five pound box! A perfect gift for the Gummi Bear addict in your family. This bulk box is sure to get your College Student and their roommate(s) through the next cram session for exams. Let them know you're feeling their pain. Each box contains one large bag of very fresh and very delicious gummi bears.
NET WT. 5 LBS"

It was when Jane expressed her affection for this specific brand of Gummi Bear that I knew we were meant to be together. Ooooh look - a 5lb bulk purchase can be made! Happy Anniversary, honey!

First Lady's Visit To Alameda School

My sister is in this news piece. She was part of a group discussion with Laura. Both my mom & sister said that Laura is "beautiful" and "quite lovely" in person.

Another one lost.

I guess I can cross her off my "list".

Covergirl

Click the above link to see my friend Splash. She's quite sweet. Now she's a famous supermodel.

Salami & Olive Loaf....

Click the above link to view the selection of lunch meat throw rugs. No, not made of lunch meat!

Pope Toast

That's pretty funny!

One of these things is not like the others

click the above link... read the caption, look at the picture... does someone look out of place?

American Hiking Society: Volunteer Vacations

American Hiking Society: Events and Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteer Vacations: "


On an American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation, you visit stunning backcountry locations to construct or rebuild footpaths, cabins and shelters. In the process, you meet new people, explore canyons, peaks and valleys, enjoy quiet evenings around a fire and come home refreshed and rejuvenated. Volunteer Vacations are more fun than work! And best of all, the trips are only $120 ($95 for American Hiking Members)!"

43 Things

What do you want to do with your life? (click on the above link)

Music-Map - The tourist map of music

Enter the name of an artist or band you like and see the web of musical connections. Learn about new music!

Go to this website to add to the mapping network: http://www.gnoosic.com/

Good Things

15 Things You Probably Never Knew or Thought About... an email from my mom.

1. At least 5 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. If not for you, someone may not be living.

8. You are special and unique.

9. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good come s from it.

11. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.

12. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, probably, sooner or later, you will get it.

13. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.

14. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know.

15. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. Take the time... to live and love.

Pork Pork Pork

KQED Food Blog: Bay Area Bites: "Monday, April 11, 2005
The Pork Saga


I walked out of my office on Wednesday evening to the smell of grilling meat wafting down the street, so naturally I got it into my head that I must have meat for dinner. Now, I cook nearly every night -- it helps me wind down from the day and gives me a creative outlet, but, like most of you, I'm tired at the end of the day and at least during the week I'm always looking for ways to save time but still be adventurous and make a delicious meal.

I love pork. I love everything about pork and pretty much every cut of pork. I like to cook pork because I find it so versatile. But I am very careful about where I purchase my pork products. My favorite place is Prather Ranch in the Ferry Building, but I'm typically happy to buy Niman Ranch products as well.

You might think I'm rambling on a bit here, but I actually do have a point. I just needed to lay the groundwork. So back to Wednesday evening. I got it into my head that I would make a pork tenderloin. Too lazy to walk over to the ferry building, I headed to the store near my house (Farmer Joe's) which stocks an array of Niman products. Unfortunately when I got to the store, they were clean out of loins. They did, however, have 'Pork Top Round Roast,' a cut I frankly had never heard of. But, being the adventurous type, I figured I could look it up in one of my all time faves, The Meat Cookbook, and cook it accordingly. I also assumed that it was a lean cut that would probably take well to roasting, similar to a pork tenderloin.

Foiled again. There was no mention of this cut in my tome of meat. Again, too lazy to actually turn on the computer and look it up, I decided to just wing it and roast it like a loin. I rubbed it with a mixture of kosher salt, ground coriander, oregano, basil, thyme, and fennel seeds and let it sit at room temp for about 30 minutes, while I heated up my oven to about 425F, with my trusty cast-iron pan heating up along with the oven. I then seared the outside of the pork on all sides for about 10 minutes, reduced the heat to 300F, and proceeded to roast the pork until it was 145F inside. I then removed it from the oven, let it rest for about 5 minutes (loosely covered with aluminum foil), and then carved it. The pork seemed to be perfectly cooked, light pink, and juicy looking when I sliced it. The herb-crusted exterior was very flavorful, but the pork itself was only mediocre. Even though it appeared juicy, it was a dry and without the rub, somewhat flavorless.

Since I had purchased this mystery cut from Niman Ranch, I decided to visit their website and see if I could learn more about it. I had to dig through the site, but I finally did find the following information: "This small roast is from the inside thigh muscle. It is a great little roast for 2 to 3 people. You'll want to cook it slowly so that it doesn't dry out. Flavor it to your liking, but it goes well with rosemary, garlic, sliced apples or pears."

It was then that I remembered that I had been given Bruce Aidell's Complete Book of Pork for Christmas. This is what happens when you have far too many cookbooks scattered throughout the bookshelves in your house. Oh well, I think I'll go back and get another top round roast and try again!

Here kitty kitty kitty

Oh hours of fun with this game!

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day

April 19 noon-8pm. Get your free scoop!

Sesame Street: 25 Of My Favorite Memories - Progressive Boink

These aren't *my* personal memories but I agree 100%.

Sign-upp now for Donate Life California

Donate Life California: "This site allows you to sign up online to be an organ and tissue donor in California. Your organ donation could save the lives of eight people, and your tissue donation enhance the lives of another 50 people. "

I'm gonna hurl!

Scroll down to
April 04, 2005
Steve, Don't Eat It! Vol. 7

Oakland Gas Prices - Find Cheap Gas Prices in California

This morning I paid $2.77/gallon for reg. unleaded. How much did you pay for your last fill-up?

Where Are The Good Christians? / The fanatics and nutjobs now running the show sure give honest believers a bad name

By Mark Morford, SF Gate Columnist

I know they're out there.

I forget, often, too often, just how many there are but I know they exist in much larger numbers than you might be led to believe by current spiritually embarrassing headlines and I know they are just as, if not more, passionate and healthy and deeply felt in their beliefs than the overpublicized sects of angry and frothing "true believers" screeching into the megaphone of the culture, the ones yanking BushCo's chain and pounding their Bibles and hiding their warped porn fetishes and forcing their way into our lives and laws and bedrooms right now.

They are the decent Christians. They are the calm, morally progressive, compassionate, open-hearted Jesus-loving folk who don't really give a damn for archaic church dogma or pious noise or sanctimonious candlelight vigils, for repressing women or bashing gays or slamming Islam and. in fact, turned to Christianity precisely because they believe these things are abhorrent and wrong and, well, anti-Christian.

They are Episcopalians, for example, that most nimble and intelligent and groundbreaking of Christian churches, a rather revolutionary sect that recently elected its first openly gay bishop and supports gay marriage and dares to ordain women as priests.

And they're still deeply involved in amazing charity work, AIDS and orphanages and Africa and stuff that makes you humble and amazed and they have not, due to this seemingly blasphemous dichotomy and much to the shock of their homophobic conservative brethren, been struck by lightning or doomed to hell for all eternity -- or, rather, if they have, they'll go down happy and intelligent and singing and believing in Jesus anyway, all the way down.


They are the legions of recovering Catholics, people for whom the radiant and positive aspects of this most intense of faiths still hold powerful sway but who just can't abide by the ridiculous and outdated and often homophobic and sexist doctrines hurled forth like so much flaccid manna from the unhappy red-robed automatons of Vatican City.

They are the moderate Christians, the ones who do not support illegal wars or the killing of all doctors who perform abortions and who are all for social justice and who think Bush is a bit of an imbecile, and even if they find themselves for some unfortunate reason in support of the Republican cause overall, they still think it's rather abhorrent that the man dares invoke God to support his lie-ridden wars and the smashing down of women's rights and gay rights and abuse of the environment et al.

How do I know they're out there? Because I hear from them all the time, especially when I get carried away and lump them all together in my often overly harsh criticisms of the faith and my utter lack of patience for its more rabid and small-minded and hateful practitioners and its more violently self-righteous elements, stuff so completely antithetical to what true Christianity, what true faith, true spiritual connection, is all about, it would make Jesus wince.

And these Christians -- let us call them "normal" or perhaps "natural" or even "organic" (i.e.;, devoid of poisons or preservatives or Sanctimonious Growth Hormones) -- they are filling all manner of funky or progressive (or Unitarian) churches across many a large city in America, right now.

They are streaming into huge beautiful nonjudgmental buildings all over San Francisco and Chicago and New York and Boston, etc., places that welcome gays and oddballs and spiritual nomads and pantheists and anyone else who might be feeling a divine pull, and please leave your Jesus extremism at the door and let's talk about Sufism.

And they discuss stuff that sounds much closer to mystical or cosmological or otherwise paganistic energy work than the narrow, spittle-filled believe-in-Jesus-or-burn-in-hell angles of approach you keep hearing about and that tend to slash at your heart and insult your soul.

They're not radical. They're not rabid. They're not full of venom and Rapture and they read books other than the childish Left Behind series and they don't loathe sex or despise other religions or hate their genitalia like Tom DeLay loathes congressional law, and they know full well that Mel Gibson is a rather insane misogynistic blood fetishist who knowingly swiped an illiterate 18th-century stigmatic nun's bizarre and ultraviolent hallucination to use as some sort of dangerous literal truth. Amen.

They are, in short, those who understand the deep irony that, when it comes to religion, the ones who scream and stomp and whine the loudest are often the ones who understand their faith the least.

But there is a reason these calm and moderate and private Christians don't make the news, why, despite their enormous numbers, they are not setting the cultural agenda like some sort of sanctimonious meth-addled monkey (hi, Sen. Santorum!) right now.

It's because they are not organized. They are not a club. They do not have a unified attack agenda. They do not have pamphlets or advertising budgets or congressional lobbyists or the complaint line of every TV network and program except Fox News and "The 700 Club" on speed dial.

They do not call themselves the Parent's Television Council or the Right to Life Marauders or the Family Values Coalition or some other dumbly misleading and patently bogus moniker. They are not attempting to cram already gutted public school textbooks with imbecilic "Intelligent Design" BS, nor are they writing uptight letters to the FCC en masse or ranting about nipples or dildos or low-cut jeans on teenage girls while at the same exact moment repressing their own gay fantasies and kiddie-porn collections.

They understand that our children are at much higher risk of moral and spiritual damage from, say, decimated school budgets and violent presidential warmongering and noxious Kraft Lunchables than they could ever be from Janet Jackson or Abercrombie and Fitch or healthy teen sex.

Most spiritually healthy Christians are simply living their lives, praying deeply, carefully, privately, seeing the divine all around them and choosing Jesus' teachings as the best moral compass, especially the parts about love and healing and empathy and acceptance and turning the other cheek, about how God is not some sneering angry bearded puppeteer but rather a radiant energy force inside everyone and every living thing, always, just waiting for you to tap into it. You know, just like every other religion in existence.

They are the ones who understand that Jesus was, quite simply, one hell of a powerful teacher, and healer, and mystic, and visionary, a pacifist, a liberal, a feminist, the ultimate outsider, one of the finest examples in all of history of how to radiate pure love and compassion and divine interconnection and Lord knows we could all use more of that.

The bad news is, the rabid evangelical set is growing, this cluster of lost and weirdly undereducated people for whom the Bible is literal word-for-word verbatim truth and the Rapture is imminent and the Earth is just a disposable lump and the flesh is a disgusting afterthought and should be ignored and loathed and made really really fat and sexless and sad. And, to my mind, these people deserve all the fiery verbiage and raw satire and intelligent ideological counterforce I can possibly lob their way.

But. Just as there are moderate and wonderfully articulate pro-choice Republicans and just as there are moderate and fiscally conservative liberals, so there are millions of Christians who don't adhere in the slightest to the narrow and spiritually numb worldview now being touted by the BushCo Right. And if we're going to get anywhere with this increasingly desperate and fractured American social experiment, we need to remember that.

Deep Ocean Photography : Galleries

There is some crazy stuff down in the deep!

Guess What

click above to find out....

ShowMeYourWound v 1.5.0

I love this stuff. Maybe nursing is the right place for me.

bunny rap

Do not click on the above until after Holy Week.

Boogers: A Celebration

Above is a link to cartoons. Below is a news piece. Little did you know!

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_903083.html?menu=

Top doc backs picking your nose and eating it

Picking your nose and eating it is one of the best ways to stay healthy, according to a top Austrian doctor.

Innsbruck-based lung specialist Prof Dr Friedrich Bischinger said people who pick their noses with their fingers were healthy, happier and probably better in tune with their bodies.

He says society should adopt a new approach to nose-picking and encourage children to take it up.

Dr Bischinger said: "With the finger you can get to places you just can't reach with a handkerchief, keeping your nose far cleaner.

"And eating the dry remains of what you pull out is a great way of strengthening the body's immune system.

"Medically it makes great sense and is a perfectly natural thing to do. In terms of the immune system the nose is a filter in which a great deal of bacteria are collected, and when this mixture arrives in the intestines it works just like a medicine.

"Modern medicine is constantly trying to do the same thing through far more complicated methods, people who pick their nose and eat it get a natural boost to their immune system for free."

He pointed out that children happily pick their noses, yet by the time they have become adults they have stopped under pressure from a society that has branded it disgusting and anti social.

He said: "I would recommend a new approach where children are encouraged to pick their nose. It is a completely natural response and medically a good idea as well."

And he pointed out that if anyone was really worried about what their neighbour was thinking, they could still enjoy picking their nose in private if they still wanted to get the benefits it offered.

Get that man a hobby!

I returned from my 20 min lunch break to get a voicemail from my dad. I was busy going through my mail and answering work related calls. 10 minutes after his voicemail message he called me back. "I guess you you were at lunch when I called" "Did you know that Xena was a lesbian?"

Apparently he's at home watching something on TV and this tidbit of information came up. He needed to share this with me.

Why? WHY!

Please get me an unlisted work phone number.

Send Congress A Strong Message

This request is from my mom - a public school resource teacher. Please send a message!

As I promised, I am reminding you to Email your U.S. Representative in Congress tomorrow, March 17, about the WEP/GPO. This is the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision that has "devastated otherwise carefully planned retirements for thousands of teachers." It needs to be repealed or a very large part of teachers' earned Social Security is wiped out when they begin to collect their STRS retirement. These 2 retirement funds cover different periods of employment - both have been earned.

I urge you to e-mail your Congressional Representative (US - not state) tomorrow, March 17, encouraging them to become a cosponsor of H.R. 147.

An informative website is http://calrta.org/WEPGPO.htm

Costume Accessories for your Cleavage

Not only is the product somewhat terrifying - check out the models. eek. I do not want this for christmas.

BIG NEWS

Court invalidates California's ban on same-sex marriage: "Gay and lesbian couples in California have a constitutional right to marry, a San Francisco Superior Court judge ruled Monday. "

All My Friends are TOTAL Geeks

so I took this quiz.

Take the quiz at dicepool.com

What English Speaking Country Do You Belong In?

Blogthings - What English Speaking Country Do You Belong In?

But It's SO Far Away

You Belong in New Zealand

Good on ya, mate You're the best looking one of the bunch Though you're often forgotten... You're quite proud of who you are

To all my currently pregnant or newly kid having friends

I just want you to know I may think these things but I'd never say it out loud to you or your talented child.....

Tis the season

click on the headline to get into the Easter spirit.

String-Emil

If you speak German I'd appreciate a translation.... an explaination of any kind would be great.

The Commonly Confused Words Test

I scored 100% Beginner, 86% Intermediate, 87% Advanced, and 66% Expert!

HA HA - take that Mr. Myers. Take that D in 10th grade grammar and shove it.

i used to believe :

A collection of ideas that adults thought were true when they were children. It will remind you what it was like to be a child, fascinated and horrified by the world in equal parts. Be reassured, the things you used to believe maybe wasn't so strange after all.

What did you believe? What do you still believe?

1% For the Planet

You can shop red or blue. Or you can shop green. These are some companies who have dedicated 1% of their income to organizations that support the planet. Spend wisely.

Neighborhood Hangouts

If you are in Oakland and looking for a place to grab a bite & a drink these are my two favorite local hangouts.

Cato's Ale House: You can even take the kids to this one -- parents can drink one of their monthly feature brews while the small ones eat burgers and play checkers. The selection of 22 brews is sure to please the most discriminating lager-lover. One piece of advice: If you must order the catatoes -- those large, hard-to-swallow potato wedges -- make sure you have a pint of Guinness to help wash them down. 3891 Piedmont Avenue, (510) 655-3349. (website)
blogger note: on Tuesday nights they have "Pint Night" where you get to keep the souvenier pint glass of the brewery for the specialty beer of the night. Stock your shelves!

Kerry House: A true dive featuring dark interior, a gloomy pool table and a smoking room upstairs. 4092 Piedmont Avenue, (510) 652-4032.
blogger note: A true Irish bar with attached Indian Restraunt. If you hanker tandoori & a pint this is the place to go & relax.

I hope to run into you!

Do You Know Flags of the World?

I got 7 of 11... how many do you know?

Welcome to Canada, Eh?

Aww, Canada is spooning us for warmth. God bless them.

I'm only 60%

Take the quiz!

BiblicalSandals.com - Biblical Sandals. Comfortable enough to wander in for forty years.

Let's all go shopping! I know what I'm getting everyone for their next birthday!

What's in a name...

For all my breeding friends - check this bad boy out! So cool.

A sick (and funny) bastard

Kill the wabbit! No, save the wabbit.

All About Me

IF YOU COULD BUILD A SECOND HOUSE ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD IT BE? On the shore of a calm section of a river or a lake.
WHAT IS YOUR OF CLOTHING? Socks. Any of them. I love socks.
THE LAST CD YOU BOUGHT? The Waifs - A Brief History.
WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING? Between 6:45-7am.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE KITCHEN APPLIANCE? Homebrew kit.
IF YOU COULD PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Guitar or Banjo
FAVORITE COLOR? Yellow
WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SPORTS CAR OR SUV? neither.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN AFTERLIFE? I believe in resurrection.
FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK? Anything by Richard Scarey or Dr. Seuss.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON? Spring
IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE? A healing touch.
IF YOU HAVE A TATTOO, WHAT IS IT?
CAN YOU JUGGLE? yes but only three round objects.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE DAY? Saturday!
WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? Being happy - and I am.
WHAT'S IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR? Usually just a lot of crap. At the moment few packs of soda, a jacket, cleats.
WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SUSHI OR HAMBURGER? Moo.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER? cut - Alstromeria. in the garden - lavender or tulips
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEAL? anything Jane takes all day to braise or bbq.
WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY? May 8
WHAT IS THE BEST PLACE YOU HAVE EVER BEEN ON VACATION? Poland was very cool.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR? using up vacation time on small trips to visit lots of friends.
WHAT IS ONE THING THAT MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU? I'm very shy.

Happy Valentine's Day

What a perfect "gift" idea. Unfortunately my valentine will be in Dallas and I'll be in a Physiology exam so we won't get to celebrate this year.

Happy Anniversary...

I should have posted this yesterday. Forgive me. In talking with my mom last night she mentioned that "today is the 60th anniversary of your Dad's liberation". Yes, my dad was a child in a POW camp - information below. 60 years ago yesterday he was liberated. I suppose this date should "pop up" in my internal calendar but it's not. He doesn't talk about this experience so what I know about this piece of my family history I learn from research, the internet, overhearing conversations.

Happy Anniversary to my Dad & Thank you General Mac Arthur - I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you.

Santo Thomas University (University of Santo Tomas)
Founded in 1611 as the College of the Holy Rosary, it became a university in 1645. It was the second university in the Philippines, and the oldest university in Asia, Santo Thomas predated Harvard by 25 years.

POW Camp
After the Japanese occupation of Manila, its main building was used to hold civilian POWs, and classrooms for sleeping quarters from January 4, 1942 - February 3, 1945. In total there were 3,787 prisoners: 3,792 Americans, 733 British, 200 Australians, 61 Canadians, 51 Dutch, 8 French, 1 Swiss, 2 Egyptians, 2, Spanish, 1 German, 1 Slovak. All were held for a total of 37 months, and 466 died in captivity. Three attempted escape February 15, 1942 and were shot, one successfully escaped in January 1945. Were you interned at Santo Thomas? Contact Us.

Hostage Situation & Liberation
On February 3, the university was liberated by the US Army 1st Calvary Division (8th Regiment, 1st Brigade). They were backed by five tanks from the 44th Tank Battalion. They were assisted by Filipino Guerrillas. The tanks entered thru the gate at Calle Espana after a brief skirmish, freeing many of the captives. The Japanese, commanded by Lt. Col. Toshio Hayashi gathered the remaining internees together in the Education Building, as hostages, exchanging pot shots with the Americans. On February 4th, they negotiated with the Americans to allow them to rejoin Japanese troops to the south of the city. Americans allowed this to save the hostages, allowing them to only carry their rifles, pistols and swords. On the morning of February 5, 47 Japanese were escorted out of the university to the spot they requested. Each group saluted each other and departed. The Japanese were unaware the area they requested was near the American occupied Malacanang, and soon afterwards were fired upon and several killed including Hayashi. Later in the afternoon, some of the same group returned to Santo Thomas, captured as prisoners during the same day.

They're in love. They're gay. They're penguins... And they're not alone.

So much for the only gay Eskimo....

Hangover Cure? Eww!

One of the downfalls of South Beach is that we don't drink as much as we used to. Apparently, now we can't drink as much as we used to. Jane had a coworker over for dinner and the three of us killed two bottles of wine and a few glasses of port. Ouch. Shhh, not so loud please.

Spatter Zone?

Beware of the hippo. While large with short legs they can run faster than you... and apparently they need to post signs to warn of their extreme "POO-POWER"

The Wacky Packages Web Page!!

Oh I loved these as a kid. Where are they now?

Easy riders -- casual carpooling rolls on with few hassles / 30-year-old social experiment rated high by commuters

Yes, I do this everyday. Ooooh scarey! Sorry - murderers aren't up before 8AM, just the weirdos who carry 4 or 5 store bags (Gap, Old Navy, Nordstrom...) rather than one briefcase type thing. Sheesh.

ACNE Zit Popper game by Spore Productions

I'm a sicko & I love this game!

Answers.com - Online Dictionary, Encyclopedia and much more

My daily discovery. So far so good. Easy peasy.

Nothing beats the speed of 1-Click AnswersTM.

It's more than just a website. Once you download 1-Click AnswersTM, you'll have Answers at your fingertips from whatever program you're using:

The Old Way
1. Open Your Browser
2. Go to a search engine
3. Type in search terms
4. Hit 'Go'
5. Read the list
6. Choose a link, click on it
7. Were you lucky? You're done!
8. Otherwise, click Back and repeat from step 5

The 1-Click AnswersTM Way
1. Alt-Click on word(s)
2. Read your answer

Bloggies >> Fifth Annual Weblog Awards

Are you a nominee? Who's gonna win? Go vote!

Co-Worker: The Little Idiot That Could

OH what is to not love about the "BEST OF" craigslist?

This American Life

Last weekend while running errands I had to stay in my car for the full of This American Life's Act Two. Go to the above link, into 2005 archives & listen to the story called "My Big Break".

Fast Forward about 24 minutes to get to Act Two.

What Happens in Baghdad, Stays in Baghdad. Two young men, Jeff Newmann and Ray Lemoigne, decide it'd be interesting to be part of the rebuilding of Iraq. So they take a bus to Baghdad, during the war and the bombings and the kidnappings ... and try to make their mark. Jen Banbury, who wrote for Salon.com from Baghdad, met Jeff and Ray there. She tells the story. (11 minutes)

It'll make you laugh & cry.

Our Daily Routine

Check out the comic for Thrs. Jan 27.

Happy Birthday Old Man!

Please attack his comments with birthday greetings! I don't care if you don't know him. Send a message!

What Barbie Are You?

I'm 100% Transgender Barbie. So good to know. Thanks, Bob!

How to Fold a Shirt

This defines awesome! Wow! Oh. My. GOD!

Goodnight Johnny

If you have been watching the clips on the news you may see my friend Patty. She was on The Tonight Show when we were in high school because she was the winner of the Leonard J Waxdeck Birdcalling Contest.

chirp chirp.

Shamings | The Olympics of Drunken Embarrassment

Shamings | The Olympics of Drunken Embarrassment: "Welcome to Shamings.com. Think of us as a museum of drunken defacement. The Olympics of drunken embarrassment. We showcase pictures (and accompanying stories) of you and your friends� best efforts at shaming each other and put it out there for everybody to judge. Go here to submit your photos!"

I hope this didn't exist when I was in college. I know there are a few photos that might qualify!

Knowledge is Power

In the news recently is the housing of a known sex offender out on parole. If you live in California... if you click on the above link & following the instructions you can search for registered sex offenders by name, address, crime, etc.

Don't use this to freak yourself out - use it to be aware. If you search by address you can click on the blue markers for pictures of the offender and details of their crimes as well as their home address.

The Govt Working for YOU?

Wow, The IRS helps you find FREE online tax filing! Awesome. Fast refund. Free filing. Neeto!

Black Thursday

It's easy to make a statement any day of the year.

One of my favorite protests is to donate money in the name of President Bush to an organization he doesn't support... Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club, Save The Redwoods, anything Gay or Same-Sex Marriage supporting, Stem Cell Researchers, etc. Be creative. For all donations made "in his name" Dumble-ewe will receive a card acknowledging the donation to the causes YOU care about.

Go out and make a difference!

Gays in the Military

As you know from my earlier post my friend Brian is off to Iraq. He leaves behind a wife and baby. Last night we watched a recorded Queer Eye for the Straight Guy... the episode was about a man getting married and preparing to go to Iraq. Leaving behind a new wife and baby.

The guys from QE provide a tips list of things you can do to support our troops away from home. I only wish the govt. cared about our gays as these gays cared about the people our govt is sending into harms way.

Hurry home, Brian.

If you know of anyone serving in the military click on the above link for tips on what to send to support them while they do the dirty work.

A Double Shot, Please.

Oh yeah, I discovered a new laudlum. The new severe cold night time formula has 2x the medication as NyQuil. I've found liquid heaven. I'm off to OD. See you later.

She's the nerd, NOT me

Janeism

See... proof:

BEER BEER BEER

Mmmm I love beer!

120-year-old tortoise adopts baby hippo

Mother Nature brings comfort to those orphaned by the tsunami. This is the best news I've read in days. God bless! and there is a cute pic.

Peace, Please

This is a pic of my friend, Cute Brian (as all the high school moms called him). The wee boy is his baby, Jake. Brian is off to Iraq. I ask that you add him to your prayer list. Please return home soon!

Netflix: Welcome To Netflix

If you have Netflix and you are my friend... let me know what email address you use with Netflix so we can share recommendations!

Creation Museum | Walk-through

I know where I'm going on my next vacation!

Remodel Ideas...

Thank God someone collected this gallery of interior design! Now I can start on my own abode.

Never Eat the Yellow Snow

The Cross in Space

Yeah, neet. Ugh.