happy new year!

vote for the 2010 darwin award

here

elderly funnies

An older couple, who were both widowed, had been going out with each other for a long time.
Urged on by their friends, they decided it was finally time to get married.
Before the wedding, they went out to dinner and had a long conversation regarding how their marriage might work.
They discussed finances, living arrangements and so on.
Finally, the elderly gentleman decided it was time to broach the subject of their physical relationship.
'How do you feel about sex?' he asked, rather tentatively.
'I would like it infrequently,' she replied.
The old gentleman sat quietly for a moment, adjusted his glasses, leaned over towards her and whispered, 'Is that one word or two?'

a christmas to recover from

it has been quite a week. first my daughter suffered a burn when the server in the restaurant spilled the soup on her hand. what surprised me is that she, and everyone else who worked there, just froze and i had to bark out orders for cold water and a something to wipe the burning soup off her hand. and ... they didn't offer a discount on the food!! the upside - sliced tomatoes work wonders on a burn. at the end of 5 hours, there was not a mark nor blister.
we arrived at my parent's after a 5 hour trip down 95 - normally a 2 and a half hour trip. the cat was unusually quiet during that time. my mother was mildly ill and still remains so. the cat was not eating and we had to force her to eat.
i had to take my daughter to the shops on christmas eve to buy me a gift because she couldn't find anything at all in georgetown despite spending all day wednesday there (and numerous hints at what i would like.) found something for herself though. but that's me just kevetching.
my parent's dear neighbour announced after christmas dinner that he has been told he has 4-6 months to live. his cancer has metastized everywhere.
the snow was beautiful on boxing day.
instead of driving home on monday, we stayed another day. it was nice to enjoy the snow without having to shovel or drive. i got mild food poisoning. i swear my mother has been trying to kill me with food for years.
after 15 years of love and companionship, our beloved kitty, neve, died in my arms at 5.30 am. we picked her up from the crematorium today. i miss her bugging me.

stuck in williamsburg

we had a great white christmas in williamsburg, va. i hope to be able to go home tomorrow

merry christmas to each and everyone of you

may the love of our Lord bless you abundantly

(Luke 1:5-9) "In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named
Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a
descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous
before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and
regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren,
and both were getting on in years. Once when he was serving as priest before
God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom
of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense.""
(Luke 1:10-17) "Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the
people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord,
standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was
terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid,
Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a
son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will
rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never
drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy
Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the
spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to
their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready
a people prepared for the Lord."
(Luke 1:18-23) "Zechariah said to the angel, "How will I know that this is so? For I
am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years." The angel replied, "I am
Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and
to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words,
which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until
the day these things occur." Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah,
and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he could not
speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He
kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service
was ended, he went to his home."
(Luke 1:24-25) "After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months
she remained in seclusion. She said, "This is what the Lord has done for me
when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured
among my people."
"In the sixth month the angel
Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee
called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man
whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.
The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her
and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is
with you." But she was much perplexed by his
words and pondered what sort of greeting this
might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be
afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
And now, you will conceive in your womb and
bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will
be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will
reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The angel said to
her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will
overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son
of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son;
and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be
impossible with God. Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be
with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.""
(Luke 1:39-56) "In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town
in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted
Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb.
And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry,
"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why
has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon
as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And
blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken
to her by the Lord." And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit
rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his
servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty
One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those
who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down
the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry
with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our
ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." And Mary remained with
her about three months and then returned to her home."
(Luke 1:56-80) "Now the time came for
Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the
Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and
they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they
came to circumcise the child, and they were
going to name him Zechariah after his father.
But his mother said, "No; he is to be called
John." They said to her, "None of your
relatives has this name." Then they began
motioning to his father to find out what name
he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is
John." And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and
his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their
neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill
country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, "What then will
this child become?" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him. Then his
father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people
and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his
servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered
his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us
that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without
fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will
be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare
his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their
sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our
feet into the way of peace." The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he
was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel."
(Luke 2:1-5) "In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the
world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while
Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered.
Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of
David called Bethlehem, because he was descended
from the house and family of David. He went to be
registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and
who was expecting a child."
(Luke 2:6-7) "While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and
laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."
(Luke 2:8-20) "In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping
watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and
the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel
said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy
for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the
Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in
bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the
highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" When the
angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
"Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the
Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and
Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known
what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at
what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered
them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all
they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."

just a few more things i need to do

before christmas, so i leave you with this eye candy

excellent!

persona non grata

and there is no reason they should be invited! well done, wills and kate. by the time william becomes king, the Os will be written in history as a disgrace to this nation.

i think this is an incredible read

i read this on fox comments. in my opinion he nails it: its a long read but worth it
Satguy08
Number one, give the president the line item veto, he than can remove earmarks without having to dump the whole bill.

Congress, make them part time legislators; since it is a privilege to serve, take the profit and power out of it. Put them on a time limit to get the business of the country done, maybe just maybe than they will stop fighting with each other and work together. Remember Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; politicians seem to have forgotten this one.

Entitlements and earmarks, it’s the difference between what the federal government should provide according to the constitution and what the current government provides due to many years of special interest groups. Entitlements and earmarks are not all bad some we feel as a society we should provide. But they need to worth there price and are not meant to help or be needed by everyone for all time. No business, No household, No government can live beyond their means for very long and remain healthy. The simple fact is the deficits that we are running cannot be continued. Run the country as a business or face default it’s that simple. Work together stop fighting with each other and be part of the solution. This is not about Bush, nor about Obama, it’s about us, you and me “we the people”.

Deficits, The modern dollar, one of the historically strongest of all currencies has lost over 90% of its purchasing power since going off the gold standard in 1971. Its value is based solely on faith, and is decided by the debt load of the government, public, along with the amount of money in circulation. Why would a government want to increase debt load which only devalues the dollar? The dollar has value because our government has declared it to be legal tender, despite the fact that it has no intrinsic value, and is not backed by any reserves; every government in the world is this way, and they all run debt loads, many large. How is that going for the world? Lately country after country seems to be in trouble. A devalued dollar is good if we where a large exporting country, but we gave that up to China and other country’s years ago. The real problem is large deficits created by a big government, with currency that’s not backed by any commodity. Sorry to tell you this, the government is not a contributor to the economy; large governments cannot be sustained for long periods of time, if anything the Government is overhead or an additional cost, because by definition everything it “creates” is a debt owed by the taxpayer, and thus is a liability. If I understand this why can’t the politicians?


Funding, I will say this again around 50% of the people in this country do not pay income tax, they end up with a zero balance, many get back more than they pay in. so half of the people in this country support 100% of the government. This is not fair, right or just. It is time to for a real change; this is the fairest thing I can think of, a 3% federal sales tax. Do away with all payroll taxes, no personal deductions, no income tax of any kind, except social security and disability. Some will say it is not enough; yes it is. We the people are putting the government on a diet. This is all the government gets which means we are forcing them all to get rid of the bloat, and I have been looking into it, and there are huge amounts of it (billions). Tax everything and everybody, except fresh food. (The people who want to do away with fast food will like this, it gets taxed) Everybody pays, than it’s even. Those that spend more i.e. the better off pay more. Some people say that as a percentage of income, what the rich will pay is less because they have more to spend. I say who cares; there always have been the rich and poor among us. This way those that spend more, pay more. God bless the well off, because of one, I have a job along with 200 others. And I have never gotten a paycheck or even a job as a kid mowing lawns from a poor person. People talk about monetary equality. Wherever it has been tried it failed. The big communist experiment in the Soviet Union went bust. Where most everybody was equal (except those in the government) and everybody was poor (except those in the government) and nobody had anything, (except those in the government) which is what equality gets you, everybody ends up with nothing (except those in the government) Unlike capitalism, in communism, why do more than the least that is expected? There is no reward for it, because it all goes back to the state. And socialism is a great thing for the poor and lazy, until the well off run out of money. This is about everybody paying their share. This is a consumption tax; those that consume the most pay the most. No returns to file, no income tax to pay, this is for everyone. To me this makes it fair.

People keep bring up the life-long poor; let’s look at a few of the things that cause people to be life-long poor.

In this country we all can, through hard work, perseverance or personality become well off. Throughout time we as a people have worked hard to leave a legacy for the next generation. People talk about monetary equality, like it is the holly grail. I hate to be the one to break it to you but it is a pipe dream. A percentage of the population of any society will deviate to the bottom end, wither its drugs, crime, or slough. Avoiding long-term poverty takes some simple steps. First, graduate from high school, than enroll in a community college part time. Many school districts from around the US report a 50% drop out rate. In virtually every case it was an individual’s choice to quit. Remember freedoms can be taken away, knowledge is forever.

Second, get married before you have children, stay married and don't have kids right away. Please don’t become someone working at a big box store with seven kids.

Third, work at any kind of job, even one that starts out paying the minimum wage. Most full time jobs nowadays provide some type of heath care and a 401k program avail yourself of it. Most jobs start with wages higher than the minimum wage, a man and his wife, even earning the minimum wage, is above the poverty threshold in most states. So long as there are no children. Taking a minimum-wage job is not the best job, but it produces an income higher than the poverty threshold. Plus, having a job in the first place increases one's prospects for a better job. Finally, avoid engaging in criminal behavior. Criminal behavior of any type is not a job.

A few steps early in life, a little discipline and you will not be counted among the lifelong poor. Since it was an individual’s choice, why should this become mine or society’s problem? I did these things; I lived by the rules, people are now demanding I give of mine, to those that didn’t!! Because they where lazy. Having done these things for my family, achieving all that we have, makes a portion of my estate subject to seizure by the government, and given to those that did not. How is this justified as anything but greed, much less fair or even right?


Make sure the people we elect can run the country.

Don’t elect a president, who has never run a state or large business. Show me that they can do that, than we can talk.

Demand real common sense change from the other one’s that serves us.

If we start doing these things, maybe we can save this country.

the christmas contest

inspired by mini capt i have decided to conduct a contest of your favourite little drummer boy rendition

pretty thing, i'nit

as we journey through life

Walk with me by the water… worth the read.
I really think you will enjoy this, it is so… it's just hard to put it into words,
A BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE ABOUT GROWING OLDER:

Crap ...
I forgot what it was....

elliot carver call home

when you mess with the world the world messes with you
julian assange

Carver is ultimately killed by Bond

what fun

a good listen

www.youtube.com/v/n775HebQKMI?fs=1&hl=en_US">

i have a new toy, sort of

i bought a digital camera.. several months ago actually.. and discovered quickly i needed a memory card. i took 5 pictures without it and was told i was out of memory. well in my book thats just crahp, since i am an impulse buyer it took me until today to get that wee crahp, because i didnt have the camera with me before when i tried to buy it. i even deleted those first five experiments and still i was out of memory. and again, thats crahp
so everyone has missed the beautiful sunrise i saw today.
this won't happen again
i hope
if its not scottish its crahp

happy thanksgiving!

wishing all three of my readers a happy thanksgiving! ;)

go on now go- walk out the door

A federal judge in Oklahoma will decide whether to block a constitutional amendment that prohibits state courts from considering international or Islamic law when deciding cases.
">go on now go, walk out the door just turn around now you're not welcome anymore

A Brief History of Republicans and Democrats -- Author Unknown

The two most important events in all of history were the invention of beer and the invention of the wheel. The wheel was invented to get man to the beer. These were the foundations of modern civilization, and together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups: Liberals & Conservatives.

Over the years, conservatives came to be symbolized by the largest, most powerful land animal on earth, the elephant. Liberals are symbolized by the jackass.
h/t maggies farm

ok, you go first

Napolitano says it’s vital to our security, though nobody can point to a single attack foiled by this fondling. She insists this is a key part of their “layered” approach to air safety.
OK, fine, Janet. I’ll do it. Only, you go first.

michael graham
h/t instapundit

congratulations to the happy couple

toys make kids fat

The San Francisco ban, and similar proposals on both sides of the Atlantic, are predicated upon four false assumptions: the fast food sold by McDonald’s and its competitors makes kids fat; fast-food marketing causes childhood obesity; fat children grow into unhealthy adults; fat kids incur significantly higher health care costs than skinny ones.

read this here

remember those who gave their lives

why chicks cry

easily mused
66 reasons

Cautiously Ripping Bats' Heads Off

Ozzy Osbourne, the hard-rocking and hard-living Prince of Darkness, is a both a warrior and a worrier, according to an analysis of his genome by Cofactor Genomics and Knome — and Osbourne credits that for keeping him alive. Cofactor's Jon Armstrong tells the St. Louis Business Journal that most people have either one or the other of those genes and that it is rare for someone to have both. "Being a warrior — the crazy bat-eating Prince of Darkness — has made me famous. Being a worrier has kept me alive when some of my dearest friends never made it beyond their mid-20s," writes Osbourne in his column in the UK's Sunday Times. Osbourne, unsurprisingly, has a mutation in the alcohol processing gene ADH4 gene that allows him to break down alcohol efficiently, though he is six times more likely than the average person to be addicted to alcohol. "Given the swimming pools of booze I'd guzzled over the years — not to mention all the [drugs] — there's really no plausible medical reason why I should be alive," he adds, according to the Daily Mail. The Mail adds that Osbourne is distantly related to Czar Nicholas II, King George I, ancient Romans, and Neandertals. In addition, Osbourne is at increased risk for allergies, particularly to dust mites

genomeweb

how much will this cost the bankrupt state of california?

cute lil fella

celebration

i have three things to celebrate
today is my birthday
i have made my last car payment
the american voters rock!
update: my mother is home from the hospital and healthy again

vote

vote vote vote vote vote

happy halloween

don't let your pumpkins near alcohol

happy halloween!!

mesmerising

thanks, minicapt

i am back

the wedding was great fun, the bride was beautiful and the groom handsome, of course.
i spent a wonderful week with my daughter, who is now back in california.
news has been boring, or not worth posting. or other bloggers have been holding down the fort as it were.
the job is still going great after 6 months. my boss calls me "merry sunshine". i can't possibly be that grumpy ;)
my birthday is next wednesday, if you care to join me in the celebrations, email me ;)

time to dance

i am off for a few days for my nephew's wedding.. i will be dancing

this guy really needs to be gone, gone, gone

new americans?

"New Americans" indeed. If there were an award given for the most craven display of caving in to an interest group, O'Malley would win it hands down.

the bitchy meow post

why some women should wear sleeves

sounds like an act of war to me

law enforcment asks for troops and they get signs?

this lunacy has got to stop. armed thugs enter our country illegally and our government does nothing? didn't thugs armed with airplanes kill almost 3000 not even a decade ago? we have vowed to never forget, and i don't see how this situation is any different.

sharia law

i might say i am speechless, but instead i will post this

from theo

24 accents of english

he is quite good actually
a few mistakes, but hey, i cannot do all of those.. some of them, i am sure, but not all.

from: maggies farm

who really discovered america?

happy columbus day

oh good grief not again

yes, my computer at home is once again playing the bad actor. since things at work this week are a bit hectic, i am going to put off until the weekend to sort it out. in the meantime, enjoy the original boy band (thanks to minicapt)

advice from my boss

i am currently working on an important event at work. unfortunately i have to work with this crazy woman. she has no experience on putting on this type of event and i do. i have done a number of them so i know what needs to be done to make it classy. she hasn't a clue. she is a bull in a china shop.. can't shut up to listen to everyone and thinks her ideas are gold.
i finally told my boss that i am going to have to push back on her before this thing turns into a train wreck. after all i have only been there less than 5 months and am still learning the office politics.
he gave me words of advice - it i am not pissing any one off, i am not doing my job.
ha! i am really good at pissing people off, and within five minutes she had her knickers in a twist.

o america

thank you, minicapt

never forget never forgive

don't desecrate our flag

huh?
the comments baffle me. well, they shouldn't really.
found at fsop

Allama Obama

A Pakistani minister wants Obama to offer Eid Prayers at Ground Zero and declare himself the new Caliph of the Muslim World.
gateway pundit
i think it is a great idea.. have him resign as potus, because we know he cant do one job well let alone two. biden is too stupid to do any harm (i could be wrong, but am willing to take that gamble)

Abbas had a message for Iran: Butt out

myob

"He who does not represent the Iranian people, who forged elections and who suppresses the Iranian people and stole the authority, is not entitled to talk about Palestine, or the President of Palestine,” Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said Saturday.

lovely.. now let us have more middle east leaders say the same thing.

stuff from my favourite irreverants

WORK, n.
Those pesky tasks you pretend to be doing when your boss arrives, uninvited, while you’re being amazed, amused and enlightened by the latest thrill-packed ravings from the Free State of PIG

"These actions make it abundantly clear that Arizona, including this sheriff, IS Washington's new whipping boy. Now it's time to take the gloves off. ... It's time Americans everywhere wake up and see this administration for what it really is. Calculating, underhanded at times and certainly not looking out for the best interests of the legal citizens residing in this country."
– Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Painting A Bull’s-Eye On We the People

Rumors of the early demise of the Tea Party movement are, at best, wishful thinking. You don’t need to take my word for it, because the Rabid Libertard Moonbats just demonstrated that, far from falling victim to an early demise, the Tea Party movement is thriving. How did they demonstrate that fun - for rational adults - fact? They demonstrated it when several Libertard groups pooled their resources for a cyberspace-centered hit squad.

Fox News explained this new dirt-digging expedition, this way:

A new website sponsored by the NAACP and left-leaning media operations is seeking videographers and bloggers who will search out "racism" and "extremism" among Tea Partiers.

Teapartytracker.org will feature tweets, interviews with people at rallies, blog entries and a picture of a t-shirt they say someone spotted at a rally that reads "Blacks own slaves in Mauitania, Sudan, Niger & Haiti."

read more at the link above

non profits vs global corporations

four differences i have come across in my switch from the nonprofit world to the global corporate world

cars:
global corp
none of the executives in the corporate world drive expensive cars - my boss drives a mini cooper or a jeep
and there are no assigned parking spots for them
when the CEO is in town, yes he has a driver, but then he is usually only in town for a day, travelling from one campus to another
non profit
all of the vps get a monthly allowance of $650 to pay for their mercs, bmw, and jags and they don't have to pay the $150 month garage fee (even tho' the building is owned by the np) and have their own spaces.. sometimes not used (i did have permission to park in my boss' spot when he didn't use his car)- to free up a spot in the peon level)

"winter celebration" (formerly known as the christmas party):
global corp
spends $165 per person and includes a guest at a first class venue
non profit
complains about spending $57 per person for an in house party

sense of humour:
global corp
excellent
non profit
none

the CEO:
corp
he actually is pleased to meet you and remembers your name
non profit
only tries to grope and kiss inappropriately

i have only been there for 4.5 months.. i am sure there are more relevations on this subject

the presidential address

it was on but i did not hear a word - isthatso? i was told he was a dynamic speaker..isthatso?

Thassoo is the entrance from which the devil's remote-controlled clouds are released. It is also a breeding site for circus performers. Thassoo gives off the feeling known as autumnal melancholy


from the uk entrances to hell

Then there are the foods that are sexy because of how they are eaten or how they feel in our mouths. The textures of foods like sushi, mangos and honey. Peeling back layer after layer of an artichoke. Caviar bursting in your mouth. Chocolate can also provide a highly sensual experience if you follow these steps from famed chocolatiar Vosges :

— Take in the glossy sheen.

— Release the chocolate’s aroma by rubbing it with your thumb and inhale deeply.

— Snap off a bite-sized piece.

— Place the chocolate on your tongue and press it to the roof of your mouth.

— Allow it to melt around your tongue.

— Finally, enjoy the lingering sensation.

what women want?

this article appeared a month ago in the daily mail
i have added my own comments because quite frankly i thought she was stupid

The 30 simple things women REALLY want (take note chaps)
By Laura Kemp
It's the million dollar question - what do women really want? In a new book, psychologist Paco Underhill examines this very topic. Here, one woman offers her own top wishes…
1. Fat-free versions of garlic bread, trifle and brie.
No, all of those without fat are tasteless—don’t eat them if you don’t want the fat
2. A kitchen worktop that's minus Sunday's gravy and shrivelled strips of some kind of vegetable (probably onion), which have become one with the surface and won't shift until the woman of the house administers the Brillo.
Clean up after yourself for heavens sake
3. Oh, and while we're at it, a microwave free of flecks of unidentifiable stuff which could possibly be blitzed curry or spag bol, though we're not betting on it.
See #2
Bliss: A long, hot bath and fat-free trifle are on our girl's wish-list wrong
4. Not to be asked 'Where's my wallet/glasses/car key?' every single morning by the other half.
Don’t have that problem
5. Holidays which give us the chance to read one piffling book - just one - without being interrupted with 'Where are my goggles, Mum?' every few minutes.
See #4
6. A bed with clean, ironed sheets, fluffed-up pillows and a crisp and luxurious duvet - changed regularly, and with assistance. The sooner men realise this, the sooner we will feel cherished, adored and appreciated, and therefore more likely to enjoy spending time in bed with them in the first place.
Ironed sheets? Good grief
7. A bikini which extends our leg-length, flattens our tummy, lifts our cleavage and makes us feel like Angelina Jolie (but without the six kids in tow).

Ok but the body has to be included with this
8. A reliable builder who mindreads, cleans up the dust afterwards, rinses his coffee cup, doesn't scratch his nethers while explaining the problem with the supporting wall, and just gets the job done on time.
I don’t care about this one
9. To have the very occasional wolf whistle. But only when we are in the mood.
I am always in the mood for a wolf whistle
10. A long, hot bath - and a private wee. That means no knocking at the bathroom door, no barging in while we lie there submerged. And not to be caught by our other halves and offspring quizzically extending the strange long hairs which appear on the backs of our thighs once we've passed 35.
This one is really bizzare
11. A home-cooked dinner when it's the man's turn to do supper, rather than a calorific takeaway, which invariably means we are still the ones who have to dish it up, clear it away and fumigate the bin afterwards.
Oh get over it – dinner is dinner
12. To be able to admire the snake hips and smooth skin of a younger man who serves us coffee without feeling guilty and without feeling mortified when we realise we used to babysit them 15 years ago.
That’s your problem honey
13. No tutting or arched eyebrows from male colleagues when we have to dash off from work to pick up a sick child. One day, it will be their child who needs a mother's urgent TLC.
Again - your problem.. my boss has always understood
14. We would love a conversation with our husbands. Competing with the latest man gadget - an iPhone or iPad - really gets on one's iChest.
- not married
15. Decent, entertaining drama on Saturday night telly, not a dreadful game show involving celebrities who we've only had the misfortune to have heard of because we were forced to read a dog-eared mag while we waited to see the dentist.
Change the channel or read a decent book – there are lots of them out there
16. Being considered 'damaged goods', post-reproduction, is very irritating. If we can appreciate our man's salt and pepper hair, laughter lines and a drooping chest, is it too much to hope they can learn to love ours, too?
Most men do - its all in the attitude
17. To take our car to the garage and know we won't be ripped off; to let the gas man in without being asked 'Is your husband here?'; and for it to be considered that we might, just might, bring in half the household income, if not more. Our wish is also to be spoken to eyeto- eye rather thaneye-to-breast.
Ok..this I agree with.. when it comes to cars. Buying, selling or repairing we are treated horribly
18. When a woman goes out for the day and leaves her husband in charge of the kids, she wants to return to children in bed, washing brought in off the line and put away, dishwasher emptied and the ice cream tub back in the freezer rather than melted to liquid.
Not married.. cant relate
19. A bathroom with dry, folded towels and a sink with no toothpaste blobs in it.
Clean up after yourself then
20. For our children to be obedient, loving and appreciative and to go to bed with a smile on their faces rather than howling at the injustice of their mothers. We've read 15 parenting books, for goodness sake. What more can we give?
I agree. However………..
21. Endearing and well-thought out surprises. Such as an empty laundry basket, a bottle of that Sauvignon Blanc we drank on honeymooon, possession of the TV remote for a whole evening, and a day to be spent exactly as we wish just once in a blue moon.
Again, not married.
22. To at least share the guilt of sticking kids in nursery when we return to work, rather than carry it all by ourselves. Why don't dads feel tortured about leaving at 7am and returning at 7pm without first sorting out who's eating what, who's got money for the bus, and has everyone's homework been done?
I cried the first time I had to leave my daughter with a stranger…
23. For testosterone-addled men not to drive up our backsides. It is specifically to irritate men like this that we drive at the exact speed limit all the way, braking hard every now and again to remind them who's in front, and positioning ourselves so they can't overtake whatsoever. Hah!
Move over and let them pass … geesh
24. A wardrobe to suit every occasion, rather than a pile not just of last season's clothes, but last decade's, which make us feel dull as dishwater - which by the way, we had our hands in just before we went out on the town.
Well.. buy it then
25. A night off from feeding the cat, walking the dog, sprinkling pellets into the fishtank and chopping lettuce for the rabbit. Family pets should be cared for by the whole family, not just the female of the species.
Only child ..
26. Meaningful, loving sex, preceded and followed by candlelight, conversation, cuddles and kisses. Or a quickie if we've got to get up earlier than usual.
Not married…
27. To have our own personal assistant on call 24-7, who works for nothing. This is what men call 'a wife'.
Since I am not married can I call it a husband? Or a friend with benefits?
28. The father of our children to entertain them without resorting to a glory run at the toy shop - which we specifically banned because we're trying to teach them the value of saving their pocket money.
NM
29. For love to forever remain blind when we are in our pyjamas, wearing specs minus make-up, with talc on our roots and depilatory cream on on our upper lips.
NM
30. A man with the manners of Colin Firth, the brawn of Russell Crowe and the money of Simon Cowell. Well, a girl can dream, can't she?
Ewan McGregror

slimy terrors of the seas

one story a tragedy the other just stupid
tragic

stoopit

pretty

happy birthday you sexy scot!

my pick to beat mikulski

jim rutledge

it is this simple

the most excellent and succinct letter

The proposal to build a mosque in the shadow of the Ground Zero site has been the focus of considerable attention in the news lately ("A monument to terrorism," Comment & Analysis, Friday). But the media largely have failed to explore the true motive behind the developer's decision to locate the mosque so close to the site of the murder of 3,000 Americans at the hands of Islamic terrorists.

There is no Muslim population to speak of in the neighborhood of the proposed site. Lower Manhattan is commercially zoned and is therefore a nonresidential area. Thus, the proposal to build the mosque so close to Ground Zero cannot be said to serve any local Muslim population. There are numerous mosques located in Manhattan, so building it right there is not about addressing a shortage.

This mosque is intended to serve as a victory monument paying tribute to the heinous attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It is intended as a poke in the eye to America, to constantly remind us of the terrorists' triumph. If there were any doubt about this, one need look to the proposed opening date of Sept. 11, 2011, for the project.

HARRISON E. MCCANDLISH

Alexandria, Va.

the washington times

there will be lighter than usual posting

until i get my computer fixed.

update: computer fixed but i have nothing amusing or outrageous to post at the moment. i did finally read tess of the d'urbervilles during my downtime

how i spent my lunch hour today

the frollicking mole over at tizona's has written three very well thought out opus on poverty in oz. i am certain it applies to poverty everywhere, with some areas worse than others. i started with his latest piece, and went back to the other two (written sept & dec '09) - don't know how i missed them.
reading about the squalor peole live in on benefits always amazes me. when my daugher was born, i did the benefit bit so that i could raise her, not some stranger. it was always my intention to return to work when she was two, however at that time she was diagnosed as profoundly deaf. all i could think of then was that she had missed out on critical years of obtaining language and that became my focus, until she started at the md school for the deaf. i never intended to stay on benefits, looking at the choice as a necessary evil. but, my house was always clean, i did without (my telly was a 12" black & white loaned by a friend), shopped at thrift stores, etc. i would have to agree with the mole that it isn't the lack of money that keeps the poor impoverished, it is lack of education.

read it all here

definition of a lady

Manners, attitudes, appropriate dress and social mores have changed so dramatically that the definition of being a lady has left everyone confused.
A lady by today's definition knows that educating herself in every way possible, from higher education to the common sense manners, empowers her to become a woman of accomplishment and poise. She knows it is not her dress size or the money she possess that brings her satisfaction in life.
A lady knows that beauty and wealth can be fleeting, but her inner character is the measure by which others will ultimately judge her as a person.
Her courtesies, the high esteem in which she holds herself and others, and her sincere words of praise and thoughtfulness will reflect her strong values and place her ahead in the minds and hearts of those who know her. Being thought of as a "lady" may be the one of the highest compliments a woman can receive in her life.
(candace simpson)

rush just about says it all

conservatives have to stop eating their own


rush puts into words the frustration i feel
h/t crusader rabbit

the british open

what a character

After all, the supposedly professional golfer -- sporting plastic shoes, a fishing hat, false teeth and a set of cheap mail-order clubs -- hardly looked like a world-beater.

The fact that the 46-year-old crane operator from a northern English town didn't have a handicap, or that he'd never played a full round of golf in his life, wasn't going to stop him either.

once again, paco says it all

practicing my second amendment rights

i am now an official gun owner

we're having a heat wave

little known fact about George Washington

the spirit of washington
i can't make the event (damn work) but at $85 a pop it's a steal!

thanks to jm heinrichs (where does he find this stuff?)

germany outplays a lazy england

and my grand niece reacts!

ted nugent speaks again..

America faces new challenges that once again require our steadfast defiance if we are to leave future generations of Americans with a more vibrant republic, more freedom and more liberty. That is the goal, right?

great new ad

">

found at maggies farm

wednesday funny

found at tim blair's

i just found out my cousin is an author

mr. peanut

my opinion

obama hates great britain.. we all know that.. therefore BP british petroleum is the enemy.
forget the mexican cartel that wants to kill american cops in arizona..
forget the islamic facists that want to kill americans
forget the economy that is killing the american
forget all hyphenated americans that want to kill the great society that is/was america
please insert your forget here:

i am still in shock that we have a president of this great country that hates it so much

Being a good dad and nice guy who sees the world as he wishes it to be is not exactly a resume of exacting leadership.

Your advisers have failed you and you have failed the American people on nearly everything we've asked of you.

fox news

what do our college students really know about israel

">ucla

and how many of these students are willing to join mob protests against israel

i am beginning to rethink the french

france blocks hamas

but then they do this

christina hendricks advice to men

<
We want you to order Scotch. It's the most impressive drink order. It's classic. It's sexy. Such a rich color. The glass, the smell. It's not watered down with fruit juice. It's Scotch. And you ordered it.
and i agree with her

Christina Hendricks: A Letter to Men

enough is enough i say

israel you have every right to defend and protect yourself

picture of the day

thanks, theo

quote of the day

A gift for reading the TelePrompter is not the same as leadership.“

liz cheney

h/t gateway pundit

*waving* i am still here

my daughter is home, so things have been a bit crazy here. and i also finished my 6th week of work ~ and i think they still like me!

another song i love to sing

thanks minicapt for reminding me

a great song i heard earlier today that had me singing at the top of my lungs in the car

a fashion question for men

would you wear a pink shirt? i am not talking about anything with ruffles, or with a tux. a pink polo, a pink dress shirt with a suit and tie.
i happen to love it when men wear pink shirts. to me they are secure in their masulinity and it brings out the colour of their eyes. plus the colour pink is associated with healing and calm. so i want to touch them more *evil grin*

what do you say?

there may be hope for britain yet

i know my scottish labor friends will not agree with me, but they have been on the tit for so long they don't even know independence

update

i am happy to report that no earthquakes happened here because of my previous post, but hopefully several feminists are offended by my shameless act.

boobquake (am late to the party again)

so because i do not have much time to check the emails, and blogs, i discovered i am late to another party.. the fabulous boobquake
here is my contribution

caption this photo

the job update

the job is going great so far, they like my work, and everyone is so nice! it's a bit weird being the new girl - i have to learn to whom to go for what i need. i try to think of who was responsible at my old job for stuff, and start there. they have been quite patient with me, and somewhat helpful.
unfortunately we have two buildings - one in gaithersburg and one in germantown, so it is going to take me a while to get used to that. the hardest part is keeping track of the two bosses.. they are always hopping back and forth between buildings.
the nice thing is that there is a dearth of leftover food, so maybe i will lose weight!

Best idea I have heard………and so very simple

Why hasn't anyone thought of this before? A really neat solution heh?

Here's a solution to all the controversy over full-body scanners at airports.

Have a booth that you can step into that will not X-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on you.

It would be a win-win situation for everyone and would eliminate this crap about racial profiling. This method would also obviate the need for a long and expensive trial. Justice would be quick and swift.

Case Closed!

This is so simple that it's brilliant.

I can just see it now: You're in the airport terminal and you hear a muffled explosion. Shortly thereafter, an announcement comes over the PA system, "Attention standby passengers, we now have a seat available on flight number.........."

rip to a classy lady

dixie carter

she definitely had that special southern charm

Blazing Cat Fur: Great Caeser's Ghost I'm Cheerin for the Muslim Extremists! Islamofascists Attack George Galloway!

Blazing Cat Fur: Great Caeser's Ghost I'm Cheerin for the Muslim Extremists! Islamofascists Attack George Galloway!

but does "jihad george" really understand that they hate him as well as every other westerner?

the cardinal

this creature has been knocking on my window for the past two days, so naturally i looked up his totem to tell me what message he has



The cardinal is a power-packed bird that transforms and awakens us. Its color and voice are its two strongest characteristics. It is a member of the finch family and is often recognized by its brilliant red color.

The eggs laid by the female hatch in about twelve days. This, along with the cardinal's year-round residency, reflects the rhythm of the number twelve. The number twelve often has important significance for those with this totem. It can indicate a turn of events or a life changing situation. When the cardinal flies into your life expect a change to occur within 12 days, 12 weeks, 12 months or at the hour of 12. Because this bird is a year-round resident, its medicine is available at all times and should be used by those with this totem whenever a need arises.

Cardinals have a loud whistle, a whistle that penetrates the air with sharp distinct tones. They demand our attention, urging us to hear what is carried through the air. Both male and female cardinals join in the whistling. This reflects the need to integrate our male and female characteristics into our day to day life. Feminine energy is linked to intuition; Male energy to perseverance. If both are operating within our life, our intuitive knowledge has the perseverance and strength necessary to manifest our goals and dreams.

Cardinals eat many decaying weeds and injurious insects. When a cardinal appears in your life it is telling you to pay attention to your eating habits. Are you eating things that might be injurious to your health? Is your diet nutritionally balanced? Extra care should be given to the blood and circulatory system. Past life ties to overindulgence or the consumption of poisonous substances is often linked to cardinal medicine people.

The bright red color of the cardinal is very symbolic. Red represents the blood or life force of the Mystic Christ. In yoga circles this vital force is known as the kundalini. The kundalini lies dormant within us until activated by a disciplined spiritual practice. Once activated spiritual power can be attained. The cardinal offers safe passage into the world of personal power for those who ask for its help.

When a person with cardinal medicine steps onto a spiritual path there will be no turning back. Everything else in their life will seem insignificant. Extra care must be taken here to insure personal happiness, particularly in the area of one-to-one relationships. Balancing spiritual ideals and physical pleasure will need to be instated in ones life so harmony on all levels is known.

Cardinals are named for the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church with their bright red robes. A great love or a strong dislike for religion and churches is common amongst cardinal medicine people and can indicate a past life connection with one or both.

The cardinals voice is strong and clear and reflects an air of importance. This power-packed bird can teach you how to express your truth, develop confidence, and walk your talk. If you respect its teachings it will lead you home.

stop the presses!

photo: arne reinhardt/fanfare ciocarlia
art: david wenzel

i have a job!
the unemployment rate just went down by one

on this day..

On this day in 1320, the Declaration of Arbroath was drawn up by the monks of Arbroath Abbey. The declaration was a letter, in Latin, from the Scottish nobles to Pope John XXII, affirming their determination to maintain Scotland's independence. The document is also seen as the first example of a contractual monarchy, with the nobility asserting the right to dethrone King Robert I should he submit to England. The Declaration of Arbroath is widely regarded as being the inspiration behind the American Declaration of Independence in 1776.

To the most Holy Father and Lord in Christ, the Lord John, by divine providence Supreme Pontiff of the Holy Roman and Universal Church, his humble and devout sons Duncan, Earl of Fife, Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, Lord of Man and of Annandale, Patrick Dunbar, Earl of March, Malise, Earl of Strathearn, Malcolm, Earl of Lennox, William, Earl of Ross, Magnus, Earl of Caithness and Orkney, and William, Earl of Sutherland; Walter, Steward of Scotland, William Soules, Butler of Scotland, James, Lord of Douglas, Roger Mowbray, David, Lord of Brechin, David Graham, Ingram Umfraville, John Menteith, guardian of the earldom of Menteith, Alexander Fraser, Gilbert Hay, Constable of Scotland, Robert Keith, Marischal of Scotland, Henry St Clair, John Graham, David Lindsay, William Oliphant, Patrick Graham, John Fenton, William Abernethy, David Wemyss, William Mushet, Fergus of Ardrossan, Eustace Maxwell, William Ramsay, William Mowat, Alan Murray, Donald Campbell, John Cameron, Reginald Cheyne, Alexander Seton, Andrew Leslie, and Alexander Straiton, and the other barons and freeholders and the whole community of the realm of Scotland send all manner of filial reverence, with devout kisses of his blessed feet.
Most Holy Father and Lord, we know and from the chronicles and books of the ancients we find that among other famous nations our own, the Scots, has been graced with widespread renown. They journeyed from Greater Scythia by way of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Pillars of Hercules, and dwelt for a long course of time in Spain among the most savage tribes, but nowhere could they be subdued by any race, however barbarous. Thence they came, twelve hundred years after the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea, to their home in the west where they still live today. The Britons they first drove out, the Picts they utterly destroyed, and, even though very often assailed by the Norwegians, the Danes and the English, they took possession of that home with many victories and untold efforts; and, as the historians of old time bear witness, they have held it free of all bondage ever since. In their kingdom there have reigned one hundred and thirteen kings of their own royal stock, the line unbroken a single foreigner.

The high qualities and deserts of these people, were they not otherwise manifest, gain glory enough from this: that the King of kings and Lord of lords, our Lord Jesus Christ, after His Passion and Resurrection, called them, even though settled in the uttermost parts of the earth, almost the first to His most holy faith. Nor would He have them confirmed in that faith by merely anyone but by the first of His Apostles -- by calling, though second or third in rank -- the most gentle Saint Andrew, the Blessed Peter's brother, and desired him to keep them under his protection as their patron forever.

The Most Holy Fathers your predecessors gave careful heed to these things and bestowed many favours and numerous privileges on this same kingdom and people, as being the special charge of the Blessed Peter's brother. Thus our nation under their protection did indeed live in freedom and peace up to the time when that mighty prince the King of the English, Edward, the father of the one who reigns today, when our kingdom had no head and our people harboured no malice or treachery and were then unused to wars or invasions, came in the guise of a friend and ally to harass them as an enemy. The deeds of cruelty, massacre, violence, pillage, arson, imprisoning prelates, burning down monasteries, robbing and killing monks and nuns, and yet other outrages without number which he committed against our people, sparing neither age nor sex, religion nor rank, no one could describe nor fully imagine unless he had seen them with his own eyes.

But from these countless evils we have been set free, by the help of Him Who though He afflicts yet heals and restores, by our most tireless Prince, King and Lord, the Lord Robert. He, that his people and his heritage might be delivered out of the hands of our enemies, met toil and fatigue, hunger and peril, like another Macabaeus or Joshua and bore them cheerfully. Him, too, divine providence, his right of succession according to or laws and customs which we shall maintain to the death, and the due consent and assent of us all have made our Prince and King. To him, as to the man by whom salvation has been wrought unto our people, we are bound both by law and by his merits that our freedom may be still maintained, and by him, come what may, we mean to stand.

Yet if he should give up what he has begun, and agree to make us or our kingdom subject to the King of England or the English, we should exert ourselves at once to drive him out as our enemy and a subverter of his own rights and ours, and make some other man who was well able to defend us our King; for, as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom -- for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.

Therefore it is, Reverend Father and Lord, that we beseech your Holiness with our most earnest prayers and suppliant hearts, inasmuch as you will in your sincerity and goodness consider all this, that, since with Him Whose Vice-Regent on earth you are there is neither weighing nor distinction of Jew and Greek, Scotsman or Englishman, you will look with the eyes of a father on the troubles and privation brought by the English upon us and upon the Church of God. May it please you to admonish and exhort the King of the English, who ought to be satisfied with what belongs to him since England used once to be enough for seven kings or more, to leave us Scots in peace, who live in this poor little Scotland, beyond which there is no dwelling-place at all, and covet nothing but our own. We are sincerely willing to do anything for him, having regard to our condition, that we can, to win peace for ourselves.

This truly concerns you, Holy Father, since you see the savagery of the heathen raging against the Christians, as the sins of Christians have indeed deserved, and the frontiers of Christendom being pressed inward every day; and how much it will tarnish your Holiness's memory if (which God forbid) the Church suffers eclipse or scandal in any branch of it during your time, you must perceive. Then rouse the Christian princes who for false reasons pretend that they cannot go to help of the Holy Land because of wars they have on hand with their neighbours. The real reason that prevents them is that in making war on their smaller neighbours they find quicker profit and weaker resistance. But how cheerfully our Lord the King and we too would go there if the King of the English would leave us in peace, He from Whom nothing is hidden well knows; and we profess and declare it to you as the Vicar of Christ and to all Christendom.

But if your Holiness puts too much faith in the tales the English tell and will not give sincere belief to all this, nor refrain from favouring them to our prejudice, then the slaughter of bodies, the perdition of souls, and all the other misfortunes that will follow, inflicted by them on us and by us on them, will, we believe, be surely laid by the Most High to your charge.

To conclude, we are and shall ever be, as far as duty calls us, ready to do your will in all things, as obedient sons to you as His Vicar; and to Him as the Supreme King and Judge we commit the maintenance of our cause, csating our cares upon Him and firmly trusting that He will inspire us with courage and bring our enemies to nought.

May the Most High preserve you to his Holy Church in holiness and health and grant you length of days.

Given at the monastery of Arbroath in Scotland on the sixth day of the month of April in the year of grace thirteen hundred and twenty and the fifteenth year of the reign of our King aforesaid.