You're kinda, sorta, basically, pretty much always on my mind. -- psacake.com

Vacation

Camping, Vermont, fire, nothing, swimming, dark, quiet.

1881 Barn - Corn Maze. We only did half because it was roasting hot in the sun. But it sure was fun!

Billings Farm & Museum. The Billings Farm & Museum is a working dairy farm and a living museum of Vermont's rural past. The farm dates back to 1871, when owner Frederick Billings, a lawyer, railroad entrepreneur, and philanthropist began importing cows from the Isle of Jersey. His farm prospered, and today, is still one of the finest Jersey farms in America and a working dairy, and a museum dedicated to telling the story of Vermont's rural heritage.

Vermont Institute of Natural Science. Very Cool..

Ben & Jerry's. Long ride, OK tour.. free samples.

0 Comments | Perm-a-link | 8/8/2005

Peter Jennings

Peter Jennings Dies at 67
The anchor of "World News Tonight" died today at his home in New York City. In April, he announced he had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

0 Comments | Perm-a-link | 8/7/2005

London Police Shoot Wrong Man

The downside...

The London Metropolitian Police have admitted they tracked a man from his home, to an Underground train and shot him to death, five times at point blank range.

And they also admitted it was the wrong man.

That is wrong on so many levels.

Wrong because an innocent man died. Wrong because police will be more hesitant to act in the same way again. Wrong because terorrists know this.

Wrong because actual investigative work, presumably, led to this man and it was false. Wrong because it's a step backward. Wrong because neither Britain nor any other country should have to react his way. Wrong because many commuting Londers had to watch a man shot and killed in front of them.

Wrong because who the hell knows, the man could be a terrorist sympathizer and planned it to cause just such strife.

Wrong because the public is demonizing the police for killing the man, but would the public demonize the man if he killed a cop?

Wrong, but he bears as much blame as the police.

What They Said:

RantUser says Wrong but... on 7/25/2005
Gramps says The Fix? on 7/25/2005
Londoner says YOU are wrong! on 7/29/2005
You don't know what you are talking about. Learn the background to issues before you sound off. He was shot because he looked as if he 'might' be Arab, and ran from the Police. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4713753.stm and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/4711189.stm are good places to start. In the UK, it is a new thing for the police to shoot a n unarmed man for running away. This is not an offence! Worse, they had trailed him from his house! Were the people on the bus he had just got off expendable? Far from easing up on their panicky tactics they are refusing to admit it was a mistake ('operationally correct'), and warning us that it will happen again. For those that don't know:
London is full of black, dark, and tanned people.
London summers are not that warm, so a heavy jacket on a brazilian is not surprising
Shooting an already restrained bomber is not necessarily sensible, as some devices have 'release' buttons to detonate.

granny_halfstep

3 Comments | Perm-a-link | 7/25/2005

Thank you

From the Arizona Republic
A wake-up call from Luke's jets

Jun. 23, 2005 12:00 AM

Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show?

Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 a.m., a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune!

Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns' early-bird special?

Any response would be appreciated. - Tom MacRae, Peoria

The Response
Flyby honored fallen comrade

Jun. 28, 2005 12:00 AM

Regarding "A wake-up call from Luke's jets" (Letters, Thursday):

On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four-ship of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt Jeremy Fresques.

Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.

At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend.

Based on the letter writer's recount of the flyby, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the president of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured.

A four-ship flyby is a display of respect the Air Force pays to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, "Whom do we thank for the morning air show?"

The 56th Fighter Wing will call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.

Lt. Col. Scott Pleus
Luke Air Force Base
The writer is commander of the 63rd Fighter Squadron.

[Letter]
[Reply]
[The Apology]

What They Said:

Enevi says London Calling on 7/12/2005
Doug says London Calling Favs on 7/14/2005
Doug says On the Other Hand on 7/20/2005
On the other hand, in some ways Britain is just like the USA ...

LONDON (Reuters) - The word "fail" should be banned from use in British classrooms and replaced with the phrase "deferred success" to avoid demoralizing pupils, a group of teachers has proposed.

Members of the Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) argue that telling pupils they have failed can put them off learning for life.

A spokesman for the group said it wanted to avoid labeling children. "We recognize that children do not necessarily achieve success first time," he said.

"But I recognize that we can't just strike a word from the dictionary," he said.

The PAT said it would debate the proposal at a conference next week.

3 Comments | Perm-a-link | 7/11/2005

Independence Day

Today is Monday, July 4, the 185th day of 2005. There are 180 days left in the year. This is Independence Day.

Today's Highlight in History:
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.

On this date:
In 1802, the United States Military Academy officially opened at West Point, N.Y.
In 1826, 50 years to the day after the Declaration of Independence was adopted, former presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died.
In 1831, the fifth president of the United States, James Monroe, died in New York City.
In 1845, Henry David Thoreau began his two-year experiment in simpler living at Walden Pond, near Concord, Mass.
In 1872, the 30th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, was born in Plymouth, Vt.
In 1917, during a ceremony in Paris honoring the French hero of the American Revolution, U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Stanton declared, "Lafayette, we are here!"
In 1939, baseball's "Iron Horse," Lou Gehrig, said farewell to his fans at New York's Yankee Stadium.
In 1976, Israeli commandos raided Entebbe airport in Uganda, rescuing almost all of the passengers and crew of an Air France jetliner seized by pro-Palestinian hijackers.
In 1997, NASA's Pathfinder spacecraft landed on Mars, inaugurating a new era in the search for life on the Red Planet.
In 2003, rhythm-and-blues singer Barry White died in Los Angeles at age 58.
Ten years ago: President Boris Yeltsin announced that Russian troops would be permanently stationed in Chechnya. British Prime Minister John Major won re-election as Conservative Party leader. The space shuttle Atlantis and the Russian space station Mir parted after spending five days in orbit docked together. Actress Eva Gabor died in Los Angeles at age 74.
Five years ago: Tall ships sailed through New York Harbor during OpSail 2000, celebrating Independence Day.
One year ago: A 20-ton slab of granite, inscribed to honor "the enduring spirit of freedom," was laid at the World Trade Center site as the cornerstone of the Freedom Tower skyscraper that will replace the destroyed twin towers.

Thought for Today: "If the American Revolution had produced nothing but the Declaration of Independence, it would have been worthwhile." -- Samuel Eliot Morison, American historian (1887-1976).

0 Comments | Perm-a-link | 7/4/2005

People Watching

One of the drawbacks of working at home is that I miss people watching. Sure I have my share of freaks walking through my kitchen on a regular basis, but it's just not the same.

Last night I took the boys out for ice cream. Wow..
To the lady in front of us in line. Yeah.. they have a bunch of flavors, they are on the sign above you. Why do you need to ask the girl in the window if they have ____? No lie 5 times she asked about different flavors. So what does she get? Vanilla.

To the guy that I first thought had Tourettes Syndrome. Dude you look like a FREAK talking on the phone with that little thing in your ear, and the people on the other side can't see you gesticulate like you have Tourettes. And the socks pulled up to your knees was a nice touch too.

To the guy sitting on the trunk of his Hyundia. Livestrong bracelet on the same wrist of the hand that holds your cigarette?! So are you supporting the cancer makers? Or the cancer survivors? The "Keep Jobs in America - Vote Kerry" bumper sticker.. on your Hyundia? Oh.. and Captian Mixed Messages you park like a jackass too.

Finally, to the lady that lost her breath stepping up that one step to the window. You probably don't need the 3 scoops of icecream

What They Said:

Doug says Refreshing on 6/28/2005
A little ray of bitter sunshine.

1 Comments | Perm-a-link | 6/28/2005

The Summer Solstice

You know it as the first day of summer. Others refer to it as the longest day of the year. So, what makes this day � the solstice � special? To understand, you'll need a little background about the Sun and the Earth.

In the summer, days feel longer because the Sun rises earlier in the morning and sets later at night. When the North Pole of the Earth is tilted toward the Sun, we in the northern hemisphere receive more sunlight and it's summer. As the Earth moves in its orbit, the tilt of the North Pole changes (see diagram). When it is tilted away from the Sun, it is winter in the northern hemisphere. In between we have autumn and spring.

The day that the Earth's North Pole is tilted closest to the sun is called the summer solstice. This is the longest day (most daylight hours) of the year for people living in the northern hemisphere. It is also the day that the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky.

The winter solstice, or the shortest day of the year, happens when the Earth's North Pole is tilted farthest from the Sun.

In between, there are two times when the tilt of the Earth is zero, meaning that the tilt is neither away from the Sun nor toward the Sun. These are the vernal equinox � the first day of spring � and the autumnal equinox � the first day of fall. Equinox means "equal." During these times, the hours of daylight and night are equal. Both are 12 hours long.

What They Said:

Doug says May Be Misleading on 6/28/2005
The earth's axis does not change its tilt. However, as the earth revolves around the sun, the tilt of the axis relative to the sun changes.

1 Comments | Perm-a-link | 6/21/2005

Bay State Justice

One of a group of evil-spirited teens who destroyed a Taunton family's home and tortured their pets is the son of a major at the Suffolk County sheriff's office, neighbors and officials said.

"They're dangerous kids. This is terrible. They destroyed everything I own. It keeps us awake at night," Bill Humphrey said yesterday while standing in his home, which has been unlivable since last month's ransacking.

The Humphreys said that while they were vacationing in Maine, the teens broke in through a basement window and killed their fish, shot one cat, egged another cat, plucked out their bird's feathers and covered their turtle and lizard with dishwasher detergent.

They also urinated on clothes, broke furniture, smashed electronic equipment and new kitchen appliances, dumped paint on new carpets and walls, destroyed kitchen cabinets and poured out food, officials allege.

The teens stole two guns, ammo, jewelry and Humphrey's correction officer badge, said officials, who estimate the damage at $110,000.

According to the news reports, the kids did this to get back at the homeowner for telling them to stop cutting across his lawn.

Jail time avoided by animal abusers

TAUNTON � Three teenagers pleaded guilty to wrecking a local family's house while abusing and killing family pets during a vandalism rampage last August, and at least two of the teens will not serve jail time.

Abraham pleaded guilty to gun theft and carrying a firearm without a license and was given a suspended sentence to his 18th birthday as well as probation conditions.

Freeman pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, animal cruelty and larceny of a firearm and was given a suspended sentence to April 2006.

Welcome to Massachusetts: Steal guns, ammunition, and a correction officer's badge after breaking into an unoccupied dwelling and torturing the animals therein - you're free to go, have a nice day. Apply for a permit to even possess a firearm in your home - get treated like a criminal and have your rights severely and arbitrarily infringed upon.

This is what our politicians, prosecutors, and judges call "common sense". Clearly, we all need to be more "compassionate" toward these poor, innocent children. It's not their fault they're complete losers. We, as a society, should all assume some share of responsibility for their actions. This is a slap in the face to every law-abiding citizen who has to share oxygen with these little upstanding citizens. What happened to all the "get tough on crime" crap we hear on election year?

What They Said:

Doug says Two Words on 6/24/2005
New Hampshire.

1 Comments | Perm-a-link | 5/25/2005

Veruca Salt

Have you seen this commercial for Verizon's "New Family Plan" with the girl who pretends she's on an invisible cell phone to remind her parents that she doesn't have one? And, if so, don't you want to beat her to a pulp?

You can take your little 12-year-old, condescending, spoiled-rotten, no-phone-havin' life and go get a J O B and pay for it your damn self.

What could you possibly have to tell them that you can't tell them at school tomorrow?
Oh.. and by the way If you'd been paying attention in class instead of playing grabass, you wouldn't need help with your homework.

::middlefinger::

Don't you just love people that say less than stellar things about you in public, but then come crawling to you when they need something?! Ya me too... Please see the title...

What They Said:

BBS says Who on 5/23/2005
A. Nonymous says Maybe It�s Time on 6/24/2005
A. Nonymous says Connections? on 6/27/2005
I was under the impression that the "So who was it?" questions and the "For all you former MediVationers" comment were connected. I'm told they are not. I still would love to hear more details.

3 Comments | Perm-a-link | 5/23/2005