I posted about an A.C.O.R.N. job ad yesterday


Today I decided to see just what kind of community activist they wanted to hire.
I went to their website and found that their concerns include:

National ACORN Campaigns:
> Predatory Lending
> Living Wage
> Better Schools
> Health Care
> Social Security Protection
> Affordable Housing
> Community Reinvestment
> Utilities
> Fair Tax Fees
> Other Campaigns

Sure, unless you're a completely uncaring and greedy person everyone should want that for the community. The problem is that this urban group doesn't want that community to help itself, it wants the government to do it.

I just glanced at some of their causes, and it comes right out of the Dem. playbook. Amuse me by letting me give my take on their causes, please.

• Predatory Lending: Loan sharks always have been illegal- do they want a Gov't handout to repay them?

• Living Wage- McDonald's starts kids off at $6+/hr. Kids- you shouldn't be working at a "dead end" job when you're in your 30's. Get some training, look for a different kind of work.

• Better Schools- Talk to the Dems(and unions) who've been lowering standards for the last 40 years- AND installing "situational ethics" instead of right and wrong.

• Health Care- Two points: John Edwards and mandated illegal healthcare.

• Social Security Protection- At least the Republicans are TRYING something ( I wish they'd let me invest ALL of mine).

• Affordable Housing- Well, the price on everything is going up, except in the "inner city"; but then that crime problem goes back to no guiding morals, doesn't it?

• Community Reinvestment- If it were worth the cost, the greedy capitalists would put money into it.

• Utilities- Ummmm, , , See "Affordable Housing".

• Fair Tax Fees- Income Tax? The only people who REALLY pay income tax are the evil rich, most pay a very low rate (remember the tax rebate in April?) As for property tax, see "Utilities" above.

I'm sorry, I can't feel the "compassion" that I should for these "poor" people. The same "poor" that have A/C, cable TV, two TV's on average, at least one decent car, the kids in school getting fat on Gov't food, Food Stamps, AFDC, SSI, and whatever else they can suck from the DC teat.

Getting a good education and working your way up isn't a "white" thing- it's an AMERICAN thing.

But on the other hand, I guess it helps at the *icky* gas station restroom

Compliments to CUG

And yes it looks like a Japanese animation.

And here I was, just thinking these "activists" were just concerned volunteers

Not according to the S.A. Express Classifieds.

Community Organizer/ Activist Work for Justice! Build a movement for social change. ACORN, National grassroots organization, seeks dedicated individuals for activist/organizer position. Focus on community issues (i.e. living wage, better housing, child safety & education) and make a difference. Call 226-2584 or email resume to txacornsaro@acorn.org


Location: SAN ANTONIO, Texas 78205
Document ID: 9F300-0542
Ad Number: 27105072405

Job Type: Regular

Job Schedule: Full-time


Published in: San Antonio Express-News
Published on: 07/24/2005

Imagine my shock when I saw that they're paid- yes PAID to do something that should be a work of "compassion" "from the HEART". That almost sounds , , , capitalistic, or "mercenary".

Oh, look who's got a new CD out

"The final judgement is with the record buying public and they have made their verdict clear."

Jackson has sold more than 135 million albums during his career, including 60 million copies of Thriller.

His last original album, Invincible, sold two million copies when it came out in 2001.

The Essential Michael Jackson is the latest in a string of greatest hits packages that has also included HIStory, Number Ones and The Ultimate Collection. "

His current one sold 8,000 in the U.S. last week.

So, does he have anything new- besides bedtime lulabys- or is he just re-repackaging the old stuff?

You can skip this if you don't like "Dogblogging"


HOW MANY DOGS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?

• Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned out bulb?

• Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.

• Dachshund: Now, you know I can't reach that stupid lamp!

• Rottweiler: Make me!

• Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.

• Lab: Oh, pick me, pick me!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Pleeeeeeeeeze, please!

• German Shepherd: I'll change it as soon as I've led these people from the dark, check to make sure I haven't missed any, and make just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.
  

• Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls and furniture.

• Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I'm sorry, but I don't see a light bulb?

• Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

• Chihuahua: Yo no quiero Taco Bulb. Or "We don't need no stinking light bulb"

• Greyhound: It isn't moving! Who cares?

• Australian Cattle Dog: First, I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle...

• Bichon: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.
  

The Cat's Answer:

Dogs do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So, the real question is:
"How long will it be before I can expect some light, some dinner, and a massage?"

What kind of a pirate do I beeeeee?

I thought this would work for ZiPpo and El Capitan

What kind of pirate am I? You decide!

Yarr. The scurvy sea dog has been a pirate for an extraordinary length of time - so long that they have forgotten what it's like to be yon ordinary individual. Work behind a desk? The scurvy sea dog would sooner slit your throat! Which he may do anyway. Now hand over ye gold. Yarrr.


You can also view a breakdown of results or put one of these on your own page!

Via Ms Jenni

Brought to you by Rum and Monkey

WOW, the old boss really ment it

I'd already told my (old) boss that I was looking for another job, since I wasn't happy with the working environment (petty politics, favoritism and micro-managing) (no I didn't tell him exactly that), and that because of the attitude of one of my crew (the favoritism part) that I just couldn't care enough to be an effective foreman.
He knew I wasn't happy, and told me that since I'm still on probation that there was no notice. I told him that I was starting my new job Mon, but since he was shorthanded I'd finish the day.

He told me to turn in my keys, pager (yeah!) and phone- NOW!

Ok, here ya go. Enjoy the thunderstorm with only one qualified lineman :-)

I can use the break, I won't be getting any paid holidays for a while with the new job.


Now I can go price the materials for Jennis' new desk.

It's nice to have an ace in the hole

I just found another e-mail that dammned Outlook had hijacked. I have been offered a job with a highway electirfication company(they do streetlights, signs and signals).
The problem is problems are- I am almost signed with another company, the only hold-up is my price. AND I still haven't decided when to give formal notice to my present employer- as I'm on probation, as soon as I tell him I've got another job- I NEED the other job. No notice.

I think I'll call the other company, and get an idea about what I'm worth to them- that way I can say that Abc company is willing to pay $Xxx do you want to match it? I'm not going to be unreasonable, just the high end of the usual wage.

I have to admit that after seeing nothing I want to do (as little as possible for as much as possible), these two Equipment operating jobs together have me kinda jazzed right now- HEY people want to pay me(well) to sit on my butt and dig trenches.

Just curious about blogrolls

If any one (exept my 3 main viewers) has me on their blogroll, and I don't have you on mine- please let me know.
I'll be glad to add you.


I went to a new blog the other night, he was aking for some help- I posted with my _nospam_ addition to my mail- and it didn't go through.

Anyway, I thought I'd kinda talk him through adding Blogrolling to his Blogger blog- if he's reading this.


Step 1- Get an account at Blogrolling, or another blogroll- I use Blogrolling because what I put out isn't worth paying for IMHO.

Step 2- Copy and save the template from the "autoload" (or whatever they call it).

Step 3- The easiest way to get to your template in Blogger is to go to your "create new post" page and open the "template" tab.

Step 4- Scroll down the hypertext untill you come to the sidebar section- it'll look something like this:


< !-- Begin #sidebar -- >
< id="sidebar">

< !-- Begin #profile-container -- >

< $BlogMemberProfile$ >

< !-- End #profile -- >

<>
< language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="http://rpc.blogrolling.com/display.php?r=89f01cc6f8c7662720645c1bc958cdab">
< href="javascript:void(rollpop=window.open('http://www.blogrolling.com/add_links_pop.phtml?u=http://atrainwreckinmaxwell.blogspot.com/&t=A Trainwreck in Maxwell','rollit','scrollbars=no,width=475,height=350,left=75,top=175,status=yes,resizable=yes'));rollpop.focus();">Blogroll Me! *NOTE* This is my blorolling script- yours will look alot like it.


< /ul >

<>

< /mainorarchivepage>

Reference

<>

<>Drudge

<>Washington Times

<>Fox News

<>Snopes Urban legends

This is from my blog, so you'll have to experiment where to paste it.

Step 5- On the bottom is a blue button"Preview" to see how the blog looks with the change. If you like it, hit "Save Template Changes"

step 6- Be sure to republish your blog, or you won't see the changes.


Hope this helped someone.

How's this for a teaser?


From a REAL, factual news article.
But when the agent began touching her breasts, enough was enough, she said.
“I said, ‘What are you doing? No one’s done that to me before,’” Dintenfass said. “And she kept going … for what felt like an interminably long time. It seemed to go on and on in my mind.

“She was feeling me up.”

Dintenfass testified that she reacted out of instinct.
“I said, ‘I don’t like you feeling me up.’” Dintenfass testified. “She said, ‘I’m not feeling you up.’ I told her, ‘My husband’s been feeling me up for 40 years. I know what that feels like when someone’s feeling me up.’


Andit IS sfw, actually

I took today off

I had some errands to run, trucks to register and jobs to apply for.

I got a bit of a surprise at the Medina Co. Tax Office when I was waiting to give them my $62 registration fee for the Dodge Ram.
Apparently Rick Perry (R.I.N.O.) and the rest of the tax greedy pols up in Austin decided to jack the title fee by more than double. It went from $13 to $28.
This is under House Bill 1365 of the 79th Legislature for the 'Texas emissions reduction plan.'
I'm not a lawyer, but it sounds like they want to rob title transfers to 'entice' people (more likely their buddies in business) to swap prime movers to alternative fuel motors.
Gee, how silly of me to automatically think "Yep, they want to jack the title cost, so somehow people will drive less vehicles. Yep, that'll work as well as the statewide mandatory insurance does."


I went to San Antonio, and I start my new job Monday.
As far as I can see, the big drawback (besides the years worth of no vacation or paid holidays) is the 7AM start time. I'd have to leave the house at 6AM. The job is trenching for parking lot power, and installing the lighting. A little better pay, and best of all NO pagers going off after 3:30PM. Unless I decide to work overtime.

I was in the middle of a post when the pager went off- again

That was about 9:15PM, we got done with the water main break at 11:30PM- and Mrs Trainwreck had the computer off.
No sooner had come in and put the leftover lazagnia in the microwave and powered up the computer, when I got another f*cking page about the power being out in town- all over town. I called San Antonio CPS (our electric supplier) and they said it was a hard ground. They're sending someone out, BUT my guy also has to come in and show that we care (he lives IN Hondo- even farther away).

I told him to take a look at our fault indicators and just see if we can isolate that nagging transitory blackout we're getting off of one feed.

I just LOVE the way Aelfheld turns a phrase

Now enjoy read his take on Liberals sparked by two Dems. in charge of PA.

For all their fecklessness, spinelessness, and incompetence, the Republicans are giants compared to the moral and intellectual midgets that make up the Democratic party and make it hospitable to every drooling lack-wit that thinks hating Western Civilisation is a mark of superiority. Catherine Baker Knoll is just the poster child du jour of the true caring and compassion of the Left.

Ummmm, Ok- so I guess looking before you sat down wouldn't have helped

The title of the article says "Woman Bitten By Poisonous Snake Hiding In Toilet"
The subtitle is: "Family Afraid Of Toilet"
They have a slideshow, too- but that "Water Moccasin" looks an awful lot like a Cottonmouth from where I'm sitting.

So how can you not start reading by thinking about what moron would sit on a Water Moccasin?- right?
Well the story's not that unrealistic. She had the lights on and got hit when she lifted the lid.

What I find curious is that they live in FLORIDA, and can't figure out how the WATER MOCCASIN got into the toilet- and where it went.

Ummm, folks ;Water Moccasins live, sleep and feed under water, a toilets pee-trap is maybe a gallon of water, then it's a fairly dry 3"-4" pipe- until it gets to the main, , , or the hole it found in the pipe.

I didn't know Red Lobster sold Harp Seal meat


I don't really want to give this link out, but it's got pics of the picket line in front of Red Lobster.

The reason is that I really don't want to help the San Francisco, Ca. Branch of Indimedia out in any way.

I just thought y'all might be interested in seeing protesters at a place that has absolutely NO connection with what they're doing trying to do (except ruin an economy of a foreign country)

R.I.P. Private Timothy Hines -I'm sorry it happened to your family

Apparently, some members of the peaceful and loving reality biased community thought that Pvt. Hines family didn't go through enough pain, so they vandalized their property after the funeral.

I believe (don't like it, but...) that there is a right to burn flags as a protest, but don't go sneeking around at night and try to start a car fire with the ones you stole from the front yard- of a family that had just buried their son.

All I can say is that my opinion of Libs just took yet ANOTHER dive.


Via Confederte Yankee

There is NO effing way!!!

You Are a Glam Rocker!

You put the "show" in rock show with your larger than life self. No doubt, you are all about making good music... But what really gets you going is having an over the top show. Glitter, costumes, and wild hair are your thing - with some rock thrown in!

What Kind of Rocker Are You?

Well, the recriminations are starting

From the London shooting. I'm kinda surprised that it's taken this long.
In case you haven't heard, the guy they shot who was running from them was an unconnected Brazilian.

I KNOW things are different across the pond, but as Leftist as most of the news is, I'm pleasantly suppressed that there's not more of a stink. My English wife's first comment -when we heard- was "well, in light of the bombings, he should have stopped. It's his fault." I think the Brits have a better handle on this terrorist chit than we do- historically. They've been through the IRA and their bombs, this is just a different verse- same as the first. So I guess their equivalent of the ACLU isn't getting much traction right now.

The only difference between the IRA and the Islamo-fascists is that the Irish have always been there, and the moslems decided to move over to that "oppressive" country.

I hope the British police will stand fast in their convictions. It(the shooting) may be the best thing that's happened to law enforcement since their judges said that criminals had more rights than their citizens.

I just found out that I got an Acidman launch

Thank you Rob it's appreciated.

Welcome to all linkees(?) from there. Hope you find something you like.

Someone needs to call Animal Cops-Hondo







They are so full of brisket trimmings that I had to force them to pre-clean the cutting board. All that pre-cooked fat! I was slicing a brisket to marinate it for jerky and fajitas, and they were so full they ignored the last of the trimmings.

Why does THIS remind me of other daycare scandals?

If you remember, back in the late 80's/early 90's there was a rash of prosecutions on daycare centers on sexual abuse charges(mostly on the left coast). These prosecutions were the result of "investigators" 'un'intentionally leading their pre-school accusers in what to say.
If I remember croorectly something like 95% were later exonerated.

But then again, this is Fla. where the art of political persecution prosecution is well underway.

As requested, desk pictures






These requests were from a post I threw up and e-mails I got about wanting an excuse to build a workshop.

Just for reference, the desk-top is a 3-0 hollow core door.
And, untill now, I didn't realize just how tall it looks.

Speaking of records, Sen Kerry- have you made your Navy records public- YET?

Apparently John F. Kerry (D- Viet Nam War Hero) wants ALL of John Roberts records to be made public.
I guess what's sauce for the Consrevative isn't good enough for the Liberal.

Sorry for the light blogging

It's just that after dragging myself to work, and just enduring the time there- I just can't get myself motivated to be moved enough by much of anything to post.
That and the fact that the transformer mishap we had back in the first part of June.
I thought I posted about it, but can't find it. I TRY not to job-blog too much, but we put the wrong transformer up and fried 3 houses. Actually the wiring was ok, but everything that had a motor, silicone chip, or transformer was cooked from the 480V we sent through the wiring.

Anyway, it was my First FUBAR there, and I saw the way they cover there @ss- I'm still working, but the guy that had two previous ones isn't after this last Thurs. Currently, I'm activly looking at at finding a different job; and untill then, I probably won't be moved enough to comment much for a while.

I'm only going to highlight one part of this Gitmo hunger strike


Because I'm tired of all the leftist appologists crying about mistreatment.

Guantanamo detainees refuse food

Fifty-two detainees at the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba are staging a hunger strike in protest at their detention and treatment.
So far, the men have refused nine consecutive meals over three days, the US military said in a statement.
The detainees are being monitored by medical professionals and their vital signs are being checked daily.
More than 500 inmates are currently being held at Guantanamo. Only four have been charged.

'Inhumane conditions'

"Indications are that this is a temporary effort by some detainees to protest their continued detention," the statement said.
On Wednesday, an Afghan man released from the camp after three years said that more than 100 prisoners had been on hunger strike for two weeks.
The former Taleban soldier said the protest was aimed at highlighting "inhuman" conditions at the camp.
However, a lawyer who represents a number of detainees held in Guantanamo Bay told BBC Pentagon correspondent Adam Brookes that protests in the prison facilities were already under way by late June.

The lawyer said that they had been prompted by detainees' anger over the quality of their drinking water.

Hawaii- the NEW example of the socialist paradise

I guess they just somehow know better than even California in letting bureaucrats dictate private business.

Hawaii- in case you haven't heard is thinking of capping the price of gasoline.
Yep, it worked so well for the electric problems that Cali had, that naturally the island socialists just HAVE to show how well it works for them.

Anybody want to make a wager on when the gas lines will start over there?
How about rationing?

Ok, I've got the 'puter almost back to normal

Not sure if that's good or bad- I've had a comment about Macs. Anyway, I think I'm back. The thing is running about as fast as one could expect on a 26k connection. The annoying thing is that I just CAN'T turn off messenger. XP needs messenger to run (that's the warning I get, anyway). I tried taking it out of the boot menue, but still get old contacts poping up. WTF????? I had it disabled before, why won't it work this time?

Ok, I don't know how to title this about the rain forrest


I was thinking along the lines of cutting off your nose to spite your face masochism or hitting your hand with a hammer to be sure it hurts stupidity, but you make up your mind.

Ok, picture yourself in Woods Hole Research Center. Now you're hearing from your ecofreaks researchers about the irepairable damage to the Amozon rainforest. Now, being the concientious, benevolent, thoughtful researchers of an ecofriendly bend; how do you think you'd study the problem?

Being the evil, greedy, anti-Gaia, right-wing nature-haterI am, you'd think it was MY idea to just start rainforest fires to study them, you'd be wrong. I believe in conserving rescorces, why not study a fire already set?

BUT:

Fire is an important agent of transformation in the Amazon landscape. Every year, low intensity fires burn thousands of square miles of Amazon forest. To study the effects of these fires on the forest, and the forests' ability to recover from repeated burning, Woods Hole Research Center scientists will burn two and a half square kilometers of forest in the transition forest of northern Mato Grosso state, at Fazenda Tanguro in Querencia, from late August into early September.

The goal of this research is to better understand what is the impact of fire on the transition forests, which lies between the tall dense rainforests at the core of the Amazon and the "Cerrado" savannas of central Brazil. According to Daniel Nepstad, a senior scientist with the Center, "By studying the characteristics of fires in this transitional forest on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, Center researchers hope to learn how these accidental fires may affect the vigor, health, biodiversity, and animal habitat in these forests, and in the end, to learn whether recurring fire may threaten the very existence of the forest." Repeated burning of transition forests in the Amazon could cause their eventual replacement by fire-prone scrub vegetation through a process call "savannization."

Ok, it's SCIENCE,

The planned burn provides information that cannot be obtained by studying an accidental or escaped fire. The experiment is being conducted in an area in which researchers have taken many measurements prior to the burning – inventories of thousands of trees to catalogue their species, size, and number, surveys of seedlings, measurements of fuel on the forest floor, censuses of mammals, amphibians, and birds, and monthly measurements of canopy closure at 400 points within each square kilometer of forest. After the burn, a census will be taken of the trees to see how many have survived or how they may be reacting or recovering from the burn; and canopy density will be measured immediately after the fire and at monthly intervals, to monitor the impact of the fire and rate of recovery. Temperature and humidity will be monitored at multiple spots in each forest pre- and post- burn, to detect changes in the microclimate of the forest; and soil moisture will be measured at set points in the parcels at regular intervals, to see how the changes in canopy may effect the water available in the soil. According to Nepstad, "This experiment allows us to measure the impacts of recurring fire on the forest by comparing the trees, the animals, the leaf canopy, and the soil before vs. after the fire."

Couldn't they do the "census" on a place that's already going to be burned?

Sorry, I tried posting about the redudndant, inadvertant, , ,whatever it is about about Libs ruining something instead of using what's already there.

I'm still burnt-out from the RRC inspection- maybe tomorrow will be better.

Oh, yeh, I'm still here

Just been busy at work, we're going through a Railroad Commission safety audit.
I've come home with a headache the last two days from lying explaining our paperwork. She used to be an office mouse, so we have to explain why we're not dotting the "I's" and crossing all "T's"; and explaining how what we do in the feild is represented on our forms. Now we have to totally redo our leak survey maps, because she "can't tell how much was done" by reading the locations in a written report and looking at a map of a 750 meter gas system.

The last inspector we had worked in the field, and KNEW how a gas supplier worked, and was more interested in the pipeline integrity, , , siggghhhh.

Sorry y'all, computer probs.


I found out just how FUBAR'D my computer was when I tried to reinstall my cam to show MsJenny a computer desk. I am now reinstalling all the windows upgrades, and all the rest of the cr@p I lost.

Have I mentioned that we live between Hondo and Casrtoville? Yep out in the sticks with a 26K connection. Yeh, that slow.

Anyone notice one word specifically NOT mentioned in this article?


You saw the article over at Drudge, did you notice the one word description that a specific population doubling in 10 years was ignored?



Outside the office of the Living Water Ministry, which two months ago drew hundreds of people to its first Cinco de Mayo festival, there is still a smell of charred wood from the June 21 fire that gutted the house next door and caused damage to the outside of the ministry's office.

"Before, the street would be covered with people, people out all over the place," said Sasha Amen, community outreach coordinator for Living Water. "There's a lot of fear now. People are shutting themselves in their homes."

Hamilton has been a hotbed for Hispanic growth in a state that has lagged behind much of the nation in Hispanic population. The number of Hispanics here jumped fivefold in the 1990s, to 1,566, and is now estimated at 4,000 or more in a city of some 61,000.

For the most part, the immigrants had settled in without much controversy in Hamilton, whose mayor in the 1990s was of Cuban descent. But life here was transformed on June 19, when a 9-year-old Caucasian girl was raped, allegedly by a Hispanic man who has apparently fled the city.


In case you didn't bother reading the entire thing, or just miised it- the word they ignored is ILLEGAL.

I am going to be SOooo glad to get rid of that pager

I woke up to it going off, and now that our SCADA is working; everything that lost power had to page us (the electric dept). After every affected well, lift station, switching gear, and water treatment plant paged us; we got another page reminding us that we had all those unanswered pages.

We had a hard trip on our side, our fault indicators were tripped at a lateral to an elementary school, and also to an underground subdivision. Ok, at least we're narrowing it down- it's verifying my suspicions, too.

Anyway, we got the power up- AND- every thing affected had to page us to tell us they had power again.

Gawd am I going to be glad when I don't have to hear that d@mn thing going off any more.

Hey y'all- lookat this, , , I can see the future

I was surfing and came on the speech from Chimpy McHitler on his Supreme Court ideas.

Just look at the excerpts, and I can tell what the Leftist reaction is going to be, , ,
"In his weekly radio address, Bush said his eventual nominee will be a "fair-minded individual who represents the mainstream of American law and American values." '

Yep, somebody from a RED state, who the Dems will oppose like fish breathing air

"His candidate also "will meet the highest standards of intellect, character and ability and will pledge to faithfully interpret the Constitution and laws of our country," the president said."

Ohhh cr@p, some-one who thinks the founding fathers didn't want a guy to marry his male dog!

"Our nation deserves, and I will select, a Supreme Court justice that Americans can be proud of,"

Ok, so from the previous statements, we just know it'll be Ward Churchill, or another Ruth Bader-Ginsberg.


.

OK, my money's on a filibuster, and a lot of hyperventilating--- what are the Vegas odds against?

I'm just curious if the world is ready for a new computer desk?

I'm bored, I'm looking for something to do. I want an excuse to build a workshop at the new casa.
In order to really make it worth my while, I want to make it worthwhile to spend the cash on materials (and go thru the motions at our HOA).

I'm looking at the desk top computer console I made to hide the tower in plain sight. The difference between this one and most I've seen, is that I put in a door to make it easy to attatch ALL the cabling in the back(the computer pivots). I also included a workshelf to hold the monitor, printer and paperwork at just the right height to hide the keyboard while not in use.
except for the printer taking up space on the left, I could take my keyboard, monitor and mouse a good 30" farther to the left. That would leave a lot of working (storage) space on my right.
the top two drawers hold our collection of software c/d's, and the base has 4 BIG drawers and two smallish cupboards.

I've got about $35- or so invested in the 1"x 12" pine boards I used to make the body of the tower, and another $10 -or so in hardware. I KNOW how much Wally-world wants for cheap particleboard knock-offs, so I should be able to make a decent dollar if I could get people to buy a solid wood computer work station for around $100 plus shipping- or more if the traffic would bear it.

Should I write about something I don't really know about?

I have my thoughts, and if devoting hours of airtime and trees worth of print on proving a (false) idea they have is true *waving at KKKarl*, then I guess I can waste some electrons.

The new Harry Potter book is coming out tonight. I have a 16 yr-old who would willingly camp outside in the rain to get the new book. More power to her, she's expanding her mind and learning about right and wrong (by osmosis?)- but she's NOT hanging in the hood, or doing anything illegal or immoral.

I've been seeing a lot of moral -ummmm , , ,'experts'- telling about how bad the Potter books are with the witchcraft and majik and all. I'm a (non practicing) Lutheran, I was taught from a book that had water turning magically into wine, guys walking on water, people rising from the dead, a guy who lived in a whales' belly, a small boat that housed every type of living animal now on earth, 7 loaves and 7 fishes that magically fed a multitude.
The thing with Harry is that everyone KNOWS it's fiction! H.P. is on the side of good, he's showing how hard it is to do the right thing. I want my girls to know that the easy thing is usually not the right thing- and to be ready for the problems.

I have alot less problem with the girl reading Harry Potter than I do with what the Liberals want her to believe.

(Just for the record, I'm a non-practicing Christian- NOT- a non believer)

Are you REALLY going to eat that?

Some real life shelf life for things in your cupboards:

# Beer
Unopened: 4 months.

# Brown sugar
Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moistureproof container in a cool, dry place.

# Chocolate (Hershey bar)
1 year from production date

# Coffee, canned ground
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 1 month refrigerated

# Coffee, gourmet
Beans: 3 weeks in paper bag, longer in vacuum-seal bag (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Ground: 1 week in sealed container

# Coffee, instant
Unopened: Up to 2 years
Opened: Up to 1 month

# Diet soda (and soft drinks in plastic bottles)
Unopened: 3 months from "best by" date.
Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected.

# Dried pasta
12 months

# Frozen dinners
Unopened: 12 to 18 months

# Frozen vegetables
Unopened: 18 to 24 months
Opened: 1 month

# Honey
Indefinite shelf life

# Juice, bottled (apple or cranberry)
Unopened: 8 months from production date
Opened: 7 to 10 days

# Ketchup
Unopened: 1 year (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Opened or used: 4 to 6 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

# Maple syrup, real or imitation
1 year

# Maraschino cherries
Unopened: 3 to 4 years
Opened: 2 weeks at room temperature; 6 months refrigerated

And that's not all that has a shelflife:

# Miracle Gro, liquid, water-soluble
Indefinite

# Motor oil
Unopened: 2 to 5 years
Opened: 3 months

# Mr. Clean
2 years

# Paint
Unopened: Up to 10 years
Opened: 2 to 5 years

# Spray paint
2 to 3 years

# Windex
2 years

# Wood polish (Pledge)
2 years

Beauty Products
All dates are from the manufacture date, which is either displayed on the packaging or can be obtained by calling the manufacturer's customer-service number.

# Bar soap
18 months to 3 years

# Bath gel, body wash
3 years

# Bath oil
1 year

# Body bleaches and depilatories
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 6 months

# Body lotion
3 years

# Conditioner
2 to 3 years

# Deodorant
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 1 to 2 years
For antiperspirants, see expiration date

There's more here.

Man, I hate the smell of burnt insulation in the morning

And at night. I just got back from a smoking meter call, the second one at this restaurant. We think he's added equipment, and all his phases aren't balanced- he says "it's the same as it's been for the last 20 years".

Ok, we looked in his panel box and his wiring is twice as big as ours, it's like he's using our wiring as his fusible link. We've got 4/o copper and a 320Amp 3 phase box on order- lets see him burn that. That's it for job-blogging tonight- except that we have a Railroad Commission inspection Monday. We just found out at 3:55 yesterday, and they're 6 months early for our annual inspection. Well, we know the FIRST 6 months records will pass with flying colors, anyway.

This joke shamelessly stolen from Confederate Yankee

At a small terminal in the Texas Panhandle, three strangers are awaiting their shuttle flight. One is a Native American passing through from Oklahoma. Another, a local ranch hand on his way to Ft. Worth for a stock show. The third passenger is an Arab student, newly arrived at the Texas oil patch from the Middle East.

To pass the time they strike up a conversation on recent events, and the discussion drifts to their diverse cultures. Soon the Westerners learn that the Arab is a devout Muslim. The conversation falls into an uneasy lull.

The cowpoke leans back in his chair, crosses his boots on a magazine table, tips his big sweat-stained hat forward over his face. The wind outside blows tumbleweeds and the old windsock flaps, but no plane comes.

Finally, the Native American clears his throat and softly, he speaks: 'Once my people were many, Now we are few.'

The Muslim raises an eyebrow and leans forward, 'Once my people were few,' he sneers, 'and now we are many. Why do you suppose that is?'



.


.


.


The Texan shifts the toothpick to one side of his mouth and from the darkness beneath his Stetson says, 'That's 'cause we ain't played Cowboys and Muslims yet.'


He goes on to relate how well 2005 parallels the west in the 1870's, and how tribal warfare matches against modern arms.

Hi, I'm not a rocket scientist or anything-but

I know that some things need to be complex, but Mr. ENGINEER have you ever heard of K.I.S.S.? (That means Keep It Simple, Stupid).

That way maybe we could get the Shuttle launched sometime soon.

Two people I'd vote for for governor

I just ran accross an Austin interview with the Motor City Madman himself, and he wouldn't be adverse to running for governor of Mich.

That's Ok, we have Kinky Freidman running here.

He needs your signature, if you don't vote in a primary, , , just letting ya knowin case you want a real change.

Ok, being a guy and KNOWING that I wouldn't see what I wanted


I still HAD to look and be sure that I couldn't see a NUDE Mariah Carey .
It's just something I had to be sure of, kinda like seeing smoke on the next block- you just have to look.

And now, for something new and completely different

It's fairly new, and unique enough to merit comment,unfortunately anyway.

I found a new moderate/conservative black blog called BookerRising over at Deans World.

If you've missed Aelfheld


He's been weathering the storm standing watch over at Wards Place while Ward is watching roofs fly past in Fla.

The new, NEW Democratic playbook

From the Watley archives comes this new Dem re-invention:

Following the defeat of presidential candidate John Kerry, the Democratic party has announced that it is completely revamping its platform in preparation for coming elections.

"A key issue in our defeat was our failure to articulate the core values of the Democratic party," said DNC chair Terry McAuliffe. "While the selection of my successor will of course play a role in defining the future of the party, we feel it necessary to let America know now what we are really all about, before we are written off as the next Green party."


The new platform eschews all attempts at walking the line on potentially controversial issues, and instead attempts to connect with what Democrats suggest are a set of "values all Americans can agree upon." This includes, and indeed is entirely limited to, a broad statement of support for "puppies, rainbows, and flowers."


And why not?
They've hollered and yelled about all their other versions of policy( and still couldn't get their message out) that they may as well try this one.
Yes, I think they should go for the soft and cuddly now- they've shown that the only time they are meanspirited is when it's looking at what America is about.

Another picture statement blog

Except this one HAS something to say to the islamo-fascists.


H/T Second Breakfast
Via the Vodka Pundit

Still waiting

I'm reading about these so-called moslem leaders and social groups:

*Terror Strikes London

July 7, 2005

Free Muslims Coalition

(Washington, D.C., 7/7/05) The Free Muslims Coalition (FMC), a national Muslim organization with 15 chapters world wide, condemns the London terror attacks and calls on the silent majority of Muslims to stand up against the terrorists who commit evil in their name.

*PMU Statement on the London Bombings

The Progressive Muslim Union of North America (PMU) categorically condemns the terrorist attacks in London of July 7. We mourn the loss of life and injury there as we do everywhere around the world. We offer our condolences and prayers to the families and loved ones of all those affected by this brutal attack.

*Arab News:
The barbaric terrorist attacks in London yesterday were condemned by all civilized nations. In addition to condemning the atrocities, Muslim and Middle Eastern leaders were among the first to send messages of support, sympathy and solidarity with Britain.

Etc, ad-nausium

But, here is a realist on the "Religion of Peace":

And that's why Muslims everywhere face a test in the next several hours. Assuming we're serious that Islam means peace, we must demand that our Friday khutbas denounce the London terrorist explosions in unambiguous and unqualified terms.

Here's what I predict will happen instead. The preachers will express condolences for the victims and condemnations of the criminals. Then they'll add, "But Britain should have never invited this kind of response by joining America in the invasion of Iraq."

And not one public demonstration
As I said, I'm still waiting for the mass protests against this terrorism like that greeted a lie about mis-use of a book

On a bit more liberating note

The ACLU lost an "anti-religious" lawsuit by someone who was "offended" by a Christmas display.

Oddly enough, it was a court in Boston.

What I have a real problem with is that these people who are so, , , ummmm delicate that they have to complain about something that they either happen to see, or go out of their way to be offended by(religion) have NO problem with anything else.
They don't raise a stink about the moral decay of our society-
-the slutty look of young girls (and I like a nice shape- but too young is too young)
- the gratuitous violence in any film or video game,
-the vile language being forced onto anyone with-in earshot
- The separation of education from government schools- replaced by the "theory of the period".
-The tax funded NEA "art":
-Performance of giant bloody tampons, satanic bunnies, three-foot feces and vibrators. — NEA-funded performan

— A novel depicting the sexual molestation of a group of 10 children in a pedophile's garage, including acts of bestiality, with the children commenting on how much they enjoyed the pedophilia. — NEA-funded publisher

— Christ submerged in a jar of urine. — NEA-funded exhibit

— A female performer inserting a speculum into her vagina and inviting audience members on stage to view her cervix with a flashlight. — NEA-funded performance

— A performance of large, sexually explicit props covered with Bibles performing a wide variety of sex acts and concluding with a mass Bible-burning. — NEA-funded performance (canceled by the venue in response to citizen protests)

— A show titled "DEGENERATE WITH A CAPITAL D" featuring a display of the remains of the artist's own aborted baby. — NEA-funded exhibit

— A play titled "Sincerity Forever," depicting Christ using obscenities and endorsing any and all types of sexual activities as consistent with Biblical teaching. — NEA-funded exhibit

If she's "offended" by a religious display, I'n sure she finds no problem with:

— "Kiss it." — governor of Arkansas to state employee

— "For most Americans ... (war with Japan) was a war of vengeance. For most Japanese, it was a war to defend their unique culture against Western imperialism. ... Some have argued that the United States would never have dropped the bomb on the Germans, because Americans were more reluctant to bomb 'white people' than Asians." — Smithsonian exhibit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of VJ Day, later modified due to protests

— "Anglos consolidated their control of New Mexico, acquiring huge holdings from the original owners through fraud and manipulation." — Smithsonian exhibit

— "Ignored were the less honorable aspects of California history — the profiteering, revolts against Mexican authority and Indian massacres." — Smithsonian exhibit, comment on the painting "The Promised Land — The Grayson Family"

— "This predominance of negative and violent views was a manifestation of Indian hating, a largely manufactured, calculated reversal of the basic facts of white encroachment and deceit." — Smithsonian exhibit

— "In the Americas, sugar meant slavery." — Smithsonian exhibit :either.

I'm daring anyone to tell me -aside from being a socialist ploy to remove any kind of religion from public life- WHY is someone offended by a religious display, but NOT raising anything else I mentioned to the same level of "offence".

Tell me the difference.

List via Anne Coulter

WHy don't women listen?



------------------This post deleted for marital harmony-----------------

(UPDATE July 12 2005 7:00PM) I called - - - Kohls is "required by law" (really? I thought they were gouging because they could) "to unless someone in your family is going into the military". So, after paying the other half next month, it's adios Kohls card, and we'll use a card that's not "required by law" to charge 21%. I only told Mrs Trainwreck to get it anyway to get a credit history, I'm sure Visa, or any major card would let her use theirs- IF we wanted more than we need.

( UPDATE July 12 2005)---Yes I am in trouble for this post

The "Religion of Peace" has shown their "love of diversity" yet again

I'm not sure what their aim was this time, last time they pied an election- this time I'm sure it's going to bite them in the ass.

I feel for the Brits, I have 5 of them in my house right now. All those terrorists did was solidify the will of freedom loving people on both sides of the Atlantic. Did they think that a handfull of bombs would scare the Brits into caving? The Empire who withstood the Zepplin and Gotha raids of London in the War to End all Wars? The Nazi bombings that near wiped out the East End? They're used to looking for terrorist bombs and dealing with the aftermath- They have Ireland.

Now you Islamo-fascists want to TRY to destroy the English resolve?
That might happen- - - AFTER the widespread islamic protests against terrorism.

Is anyone else getting tired of the ads on Drudge?

I've got Firefox w/ pop-up blocker, my IE has pop-up blocker and I've got SpywareBlaster, but I'm still having to delete the ads from that site. I guess it's time to cull my bookmarks. You know, go for a good news site instead of a kind of sensationalised gossip column.

Late Independance day post

I'm running behind in my blogreading, but came upon this at Iowa Hawk who let Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi(yes the terrorist) post a 4th of July greeting. It sounds alot like the left over here- well exept for the carbombs.

Trans oceanic perspectives

As I've mentioned, wifes' dad and brother are visiting untill the 10th. Some observations.

* They both can't believe how wide and straight the roads are here- and (relativly) uncrowded. -English roads (and their interstate) grew from cowpaths thousands of years ago.
* Since we live in the country, the unreality that we can step out the back door with our rifles and plink at targets- and how good the 14 yr-old is with her hand-me-down .22!
* 4th of July fireworks and parades- they don't have "organized" fireworkes.
* Fajitas!
* How it's so clear and dark that you can see the smallest stars.
* How quiet and peaceful it is out here.
* Wildlife- deer, roadrunners, humming birds, coons, possums, armadillos.
* Peanutbutter AND jelly- "wonderful, we'd never think of combining them"
* Biscuits and gravy
* The Alamo! (dad's a big John Wayne fan)
* The heat- it's amost 100 degrees in the shade.
* The price of gas- it's about $4/liter over there now - don't you feel lucky?
* The stores open after 8PM and on Sundays.
* Grorcery baggers (they do shopping daily- and bag it themselves)
* Pick-ups and SUVs- how abundant they are here

Just thought I'd update you on the visit.

One thing they don't like is the tax. They're used to the VAT- what the pricetag says- you pay. They had to get used to adding tax to the price.

How American are you?

You Are 87% American

You're as American as red meat and shooting ranges. Tough and independent, you think big. You love everything about the US, wrong or right. And anyone who criticizes your home better not do it in front of you!

How American Are You?

via Denita

I hope everyone had a good Independance day

Even if you had a mediocor one, it was better than the one I had.

Happy independence day!

I thought I'd just post an image of the Declaration of independence, but decided to remember how we spread our ideals.

By returning our favor to France in the first part of this last century.

By freeing most of the world in WWII.

We and our allies tried to do the same in Korea.

And we tried in 'Nam , but got blindsided at home.

I can't say much about the mideast in the 80's and 90's.

This guy was called a war monger, but finished throwing the yoke of communism off uncounted millions by using a backbone, and never spilling (our) blood in fruitless glory.

We tried in
Kosovo, but that turned into an unreported "quagmire".

And last but not least, is Afghanistan and Iraq,;where we are doing a hell-0va job taking one nation out of the 14th century and showing the entire region that they, too can govern themselves through self will.

I'm hopeful that there will be more to write about next year, as long as we remember that we ARE independent Americans first- no matter what your party.
We've recognized that communism socialism doesn't work longer than we've been a country, and I hope the folks in DC will continue to remember that the first attempts at socialism in America failed miserably- (where it almost killed the dream before it could begin); and don't try to renew it again.

*I know there are lots of mistakes, but I have to be at work at 4AM to get things ready for the 4th parade* God Bless America- again.

Do you think there's a reason that 5 of the six are guys?

In these reflecto-prOn?


Not realy safe for work- if your boss wants to look REAL close.

And ,no I'm not spending alot of time here.

For the lack of anything better. . .

A new Army Captain was assigned to an outfit in a remote post in the African desert.

During his first inspection of the outfit, he noticed a camel hitched up behind the mess tent.
He asks the Sergeant why the camel is kept there.

The nervous sergeant said, "Well sir, as you know, there are 250 men here on the post and no women. And sir, sometimes the men have "urges". That's why we have the camel."
The Captain says, "I can't say that I condone this, but I understand about "urges", so the camel can stay."

About a month later, the Captain starts having his own "urges".

Crazy with passion, he asks the Sergeant to bring the camel to his tent.

Putting a ladder behind the camel, the Captain stands on the ladder, pulls his pants down and has wild, insane sex with the camel.

When he's done, he asks the Sergeant, "Is that how the men do it?"


.

.

.

.


No . not really, sir...They usually just ride the camel into town where the girls are."