Think the ACLU is taking advantage of our good will?

Me too, and so do these people they have a pettition to help stop the ACLU.
Your tax dollars are paying them to file these B.S. lawsuits because WE have to pay their expenses.

U.S. Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN) has introduced legislation to curb the ACLU and their attempts to turn us into a godless socialist state.

I signed the petition, and I don't know if it will do any good to send it to my miss representatives in D.C. But I thought I'd let y'all know about it so you can help get the word out.

I mentioned earlier that I was trying to sell the trailer

The real estate agent had two people interested and qualified to buy it. The trouble is- almost everyone has stopped writing loans for used trailers mobile homes.
My bank won't transfer the loan, and we had hell some problems getting this doublewide.
Dunno why, maybe they're ending up in Mexico, just like most stolen vehicles around here.

I was sitting on my toy today thinking, and I basically have three options

1. Do some kind of "owner Finance" deal. The thing is, if we're not 'buying' it anymore- I don't want to have an unpaid loan hanging over my head. Even if someone else is paying for it.
2. Keep renting it out. Since I'm getting all this over-time, we've got our noses out of the water- for now (till I start getting rain days). The bills are getting payed and we're able to start saving agin. It would be ALOT better if $150/week wasn't going into gas tanks. We're getting $500/mo for rent and paying $220/mo in mortgage -so it's not that much of a drain.
3. Build a new house where the trailer is now. I could do it myself- but it would take forever, since I could only work on it over the weekend. It would go alot faster (and cheaper) if I used straw bale constructionthe banks would probably look favorably, since it would be built to Austins' Straw bale building code (caution- PDF).

I'll probably keep renting it out. The guy that's renting it now bought a house, but has a years contract. He just needs to cut the grass, that house is next to a hayfield anyway- and the grass probably needs to be baled.

Bummer

My Jurassic Park dino-history is all wrong, at least when it comes to the Velociraptor.

It wasn't the efficient disembowling killing machine we saw in J.P an it's money sponges sequel's.
But tests on a mechanical arm suggest this fearsome-looking appendage was probably used just to hang on to prey. UK scientists report their experiments in the journal Biology Letters. "This dispels the myth in place for some 40 years that this was a disembowelling claw - this is not the case," says Dr Phil Manning, from the Manchester Museum, University of Manchester. "I'm saying that the primary function of this claw was to hold on to the prey, effectively like a climber's crampon," the curator of palaeontology told the BBC News website.

Help our recovering troops-

ummmm , , ,

Buy a bloody arrow tip????

Ok, it's not up there yet.

I heard Shemane Nugent on the radio this morning, you may have heard of her husband. She was talking about visiting B.A.M.C. with Ted, and seeing the wounded. When she asked a mother what she could do to help, the mom mentioned the kids getting outside, but not being able to because of the strong sun here.

In order to help build a shaded porch for the recovering burn victims and amputees, she was talking about auctioning off the arrow that she shot her first deer this season with.

That's something I can and probably will help with, I can make BAMC a stop on the way home- I'm sure the could use a strong back and a weak mind.

After reading that greedy, selfish blog I posted about a while ago, I won't be willingly be sending my money that way again.

Ok, I'll tell on myself

The other night I was invited out for a night with the guys. I told my
wife that I would be home by midnight... "promise!"

Well, the hours passed quickly and the beer was going down way too easy. At 3am,
drunk as a skunk, I headed for home.

Just as I got in the door, the cuckoo clock in the hall started up and cuckooed three
times. Quickly, I realized she'd probably wake up, so I cuckooed another 9 times. I was really proud of myself for having such a rapid, witty solution, even when smashed, to escape a possible conflict.

The next morning my wife asked me what time I got in, and I told her 12 o'clock.
She didn't seem disturbed at all. Got away with that one, I thought! Then she told
me we needed a new cuckoo clock. When I asked her why she said, "Well, last night it
cuckooed 3 times, then said, 'oh fuck,' cuckooed 4 more times, cleared its throat,
cuckooed another 3 times, giggled, cuckooed twice more....
then farted."

----------Ok, nothing struck me as rantable tonight ---------------

I drove the wifes truck to work yesterday

#1 Because I don't trust the weather geeks (the Montero has a heater)

And

#2 Because it also has a C/D player.

I got to listen to the Rev. all the way there, and these two on the way home.

I also filled her truck at Flying J for $2.59- which is some inprovement. Not much, but some. The local Robber Baron still has it at $2.89 - wich is about par for the course- he's always a dime over San Antonio.

Here's a bit of enlightenment about care packages

He (or she) has a biting list of things to send- or not.
Now I know why I didn't get a thank-you for the combat boots. I guarantee it'll make me think twice about spending MY hard earned money again.

H/T Rhianna

Fire Dept. lets house burn down for $25

Yes I thought it was in N'awlins, too.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. There's outrage in northern Minnesota after firefighters allowed a man's mobile home to burn.
Carl Berg had failed to pay the 25-dollar annual fee required for fire protection for homes outside International Falls city limits.

Berg says he couldn't afford the fee or fire insurance. He says he lost everything in last month's fire.

The Fire Department poured enough water to put the fire out temporarily and make sure everyone was safe. But when the blaze rekindled later, firefighters let the flames destroy what was left.

Fire Chief Jerry Jensen says he doesn't want to see that happen again. He says a firefighter's job is to "put out fires, not to watch them burn."

Local officials have been haggling for two years over how to pay for fire protection.

That's the whole article.
Via Fark

The Mayor of Salt Lake City doesn't seem to want another term

In a recent interview with a British newspaper, Anderson seemed to compare living in Utah to living under the Taliban.

Most Americans know the Taliban as religious extremists in Afghanistan.

But if you ask Rocky Anderson, the Taliban may be also be right here in Utah.

Depending on whom you ask, Rocky Anderson either does or does not think this is what living in Utah is like.

Recently, the mayor told an English journalist, "I feel like we're in the middle of a Kafka novel sometimes...with a little bit of the Taliban thrown in."

Ok, I can't make a snarky remark about his party since both sides have said some damm stupid stuff lately.

Another quick thought on Harriet Miers,

If Harry Reid and the rest of the Liberal Dems are defending her, WHAT is she (and Bush) planning on pulling?

The leading Dems came out of the White House as giggling and giddy as schoolgirls when they heard who it was going to be. Now, the Party of character assassination is dissing the Republicans for talking bad about her.

WHY?

Nothing this morning

After yesterdays goatroping of forecasts, I'm going to be sure I have enough warm cloths with me.
Yes being over prepared.

Roxanne wants your opinion

She's asking what the Dems need to do to get your vote.
Go over and let her know, I did.

Here's what I had to say:

Sorry, I can't see myself voting for a (National) Dem in the forseeable future.
They have insulted my beliefs, my patriotism, my intelligence, my religion (I'm Christian-not moslem), my hstory, my memory (they keep revising what happened back in the day).
Basically everytime they open their mouths, they find a way to drive me farther away.

BTW- the Reps are starting to follow the same pattern.


Yes, she's a Lib, but still be nice- it IS her house, ya know.



Via Protein Wisdom

I'd like to take this opportunity

to thank the weather-geeks here in San Antonio. They predicted the mid 70's today- at 5 AM.

When I was too far to turn around the forecast started changing.

Basically what we had today was a Norther- I think it got up to 58 today with a 10-15MPH wind and spitting rain. I'm glad I had a spare jacket in my truck. At least I didn't FREEZE to death up 8 feet high in an open chair on an empty field.

BBBbrrrrrrrrrrrr

It's 54 degrees cold outside right now.

. . . And I had to isolate my heater core the other day- it sprung a leak.





. . . And in the Dodge, the A/C is always on- it's made that way.

If you're interested in the Union Jack

Mrs trainwreck found a link that tells you all you want to know about the national flag of our steadfast allies accross the Atlantic.

Happy Ramadan

From the "Religion of Peace .

Why, is everyone on edge when the moslems have some kind of major "Holy" day?

I remember everyone holding their breath, just waiting for the invetable terrorist bombings when ever HANUKKAH came around, and the wave of maimed and dying childeren that Saint Nick always brought along with him.

It's about time is all I can say

WASHINGTON — Citing hurricane damage to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico, key lawmakers are trying to relax a decades-old federal ban on new drilling off California and the Atlantic Seaboard and to encourage energy prospecting in the Rocky Mountains.


Congressional proposals also aim to waive some air pollution rules to encourage expansion of oil refineries and to authorize oil drilling beneath Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"Mother Nature proved just how vulnerable America is to supply disruption," said House Resources Committee Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-Tracy). "We must do more to increase and to diversify domestic supplies."

The legislation, likely to be voted on soon in the House, comes as oil- and natural-gas-dependent manufacturers have urged Congress to reopen the "85% of all federally controlled coastal waters [that] are currently off-limits to energy production."

It really sounds good, too bad that we have a bunch of RINO's up there lead by George "Trust ME!" Bush. We all know what'll happen to THIS legislation as soon as the Libs start whining.

Then we get another "sounds good" proposal from them-who-know-better-than-us

High gasoline prices, hurricane-triggered shortages and big refining profits are fueling a push to build the nation's first new oil refinery in 30 years.

The same forces are also triggering renewed efforts in Congress to give incentives and regulatory breaks to companies that expand their plants to produce more gasoline and diesel and jet fuel.

What's driving these efforts is that fuel production from U.S. refineries has not kept pace with the demand from a rebounding economy. The result has been painful price surges for consumers, truckers and airlines.

You have your usual special intrests on both sides, but in Fla. even Georges brother
doesn't want his state to benefit from inexpensive energy. Being the second half of the "Compassionate Conservative" duo, Jeb wants cheap energy without having to help pull the load.

I'm really getting tired of "politica-as-usual" and getting shafted every time I fill up.

(UPDATE 1-07-05 I guess Jeb is as consistant as his brother, he's now agreed to allow drilling off his coast)

Is anyone else having blogger problems?

I don't know if it's Blogger, my computer (I'm having SpyBot issues) or my connection.
I finally got through to Donnie over at Cadillac Tight, and kinda got in the back way from him.

A copy of an actual letter I sent to Schneider Trucklines last night

Hi,

Just an opinion from someone who shares the road with you people.
Your drivers really should be more image consious. I was entering I-10 westbount just east of San Antonio from Cr1518 at about 4:00Pm when over the overpass on I-10 came one of your trucks. This truck had NO other vehicles (exept me) withing at least half a mile. I saw him as I was comming up thew ramp, and unless he was blind, he saw me. I had to slam on my brakes and drive onto the grass to avoid him.
I used to drive for Arrow Trucking (maybe you've heard of them?) and I know it's not required to move for an onramp. Most truckers will move if there is room, however- this is general courtiousness (and good company PR- stops letters like this).
The driver of truck #33342 pulling trailer #549010 should be reminded about driver responsibility in avoiding preventable mishaps.

Thank you for allowing me to have my say.


Yep, ol' mother trucker had the entire interstate to himself, and couldn't move one lane over.

Take a guess at which Socialist country this is from:

Initiative Measure No. 907 concerns energy conservation in homes.

This measure would require residents of cities with a population of 500,000 or more, in homes with three or more bedrooms, to refrain from heating at least one bedroom from October to February.

Ballot Measure Summary
This measure would require energy conservation by residents of cities with a population of 500,000 or more, whose homes have three or more bedrooms. Such residents would be required not to heat at least one bedroom (at least two for homes with five or more bedrooms) between October 21 and February 21 of each year, and to seal off such rooms from the rest of the residence. Violators could be fined $10,000 per month.


WRONG, it's the socialist state of Washington.
If you thought that was gov't intruding on civil liberties on this one, you should see the rest of the ballot initiatives over there.

The media is always talking about Conservatives telling people how to live. Think about it, aren't the Conservatives just reacting to what the Liberals are always trying to shove down our throat? Talk about government intruding into bedrooms- Conservatives try to stay out of them, but you keep forcing attention to what goes on in there. The more preverted, the more you want to legalize it.

H/T to Rob

This is wrong in a funny morally wrong way

A group of German teenagers disguised as policemen to frisk the attendants of a beer festival in Munich. The teenagers pretended to be looking for weapons in the crowd of tourists, who came for Octoberfest in the capital of Bavaria.

They sighted the women they liked and gave a manual going-over. One of the victims of sex-swindlers complained to the police station on “a too intimate frisk” in the street.

After that, the real policemen figured out the teenagers and arrested them. Now all the three hooligans face the punishment for sexual harassment, indecent behavior and a pretension of being the personnel of law-enforcement agencies.

That was the entire article.

Ohh, yes- how awful that these juvenile delinquents would do this to those innocent women too bad I didn't think of it when I was that age, that's just entirly too much authority abuse, and sexual predation.

That is just WRONG

There are questionable things and so-so things, but carbonated yogurt just sounds gross.

For those who've never tried carbonated yogurt, here's what you can expect:

It's a little tart and a little sweet, and bubbles lightly with fruity flavor as it hits your tongue. People who like regular yogurt will probably find it tasty and also slightly weird, given that we usually associate carbonation with the fizzy bite of a cold soda.

Sorry--YUK!

Oh, look the French are throwing another strike

I guess the Socialists in Gaul are running up against the invetable human lazyness/greed.
They keep giving more goodies for less work and people are da-m well going to take it.

Well the gov't can't support the dead weight so much any more and is thinking about privatizing some of their industries.

French rail services face widespread disruption from Monday night as trade unions prepare for a one-day national public sector strike on Tuesday.

The strikers oppose government economic policies, including plans to privatise state firms, and complain that their purchasing power is being eroded.


Remember last week? Well maybe not, it DID happen in France:

Plans to sell off the SNCM ferry firm have already led to a week of unrest in the southern port of Marseille.

Company staff have gone on strike and other workers at the port came out in sympathy, stranding thousands of tourists on the island of Corsica for several days.

The government says SNCM is debt-ridden and on the brink of collapse, but it has already modified its privatisation proposals and now intends to retain a 25% stake.

Apparently tommorrow, they will take another mid week vacation have a transportation strike. It'll be Tuesday, so most Frenchmen shouldn't be too affected, since they only work two days a week anyway.

Everyone else is weighing in on Harriet Miers

I guess I'll put in my two cents.

I'm hearing about her lack of judicial experience- so? Does that mean she won't uphold the Constitution?
I'm hearing about her lack of any kind of "history"- doesn't bother me.

She's a fundamental Christian- good we need more of them.

What bothers me is what Bush's people are saying. "Just trust him"

TRUST HIM???? Are you nuts? Every time the Left starts jumping and foaming- he rolls over and gives them what they want. The only thing I trust George W. Bush to stand firm on is the G.W.T. Everything else is nothing but Left leaning Libera Appeasement.

Trust him- chit.

Trust him- my tax bill.

Trust him- to expand Medicare by the Rx drug scam.

Trust him- to cave on Soc Sec reform.

I was just over at E-Bay Motors


Looking at motorcycles, and decided to look at econo-boxes since I can get a car with A/C for about the same price as a bike. Looks like the twin hurricanes have affected the offerings over at E-Bay. I could probably count the non truck/SUV's that are within 200 mi. of ZIP 78861 on one hand.

The whole reason I'm looking is the 100 mi. daily round trip. I want something economical; that's why I was looking at a bike. Makes sense, right- good milage and all. Exept that I'd be the only one that could drive it, and if wifes truck had to go in, she'd be S.O.L.
That and the fact that if I'm on my bike at work, and the teens (who will be getting their licenses' to drive) will probably need something. That something will NOT be my Dodge, OR moms 2005 Montero Sport(that we still owe 50+ months on).

I looked at the S.A. Express classifieds, and have alot of choice there, it's just dealing with the denizens of the Alamo City that is kinda worrying.

Well, the girls though we had ghosts

Maybe they're poltergiests.

The 14yr-old has been seeing a green patch on her ceiling sometimes at night. We put it down to somekind of reflection off the security light up the hill.

I guess we were wrong



I guess not only is he a ghostly eating machine, he's a terrible driver also.

The only licensed drivers in the house are myself and Mrs. Trainwreck. I don't drive the Montero because I don't particularly like it. She said didn't get too close to anything when she parked, and I don't remember seeing the NEW hicky yesterday. Our 17yr-old "would never think" of taking the keys in the middle of the night for a joyride.

Soooo, I guess Slimer got too close to the roof support post, and almost cracked the headlite housing along with scraping off the paint from the bumper (to)past the plastic fender flair. And, yes the white paint deposited on the truck matches the black mark on the white 4x4 post.

The 17yr-old isn't up yet, so we'll see if anything's admitted. But I just KNOW it was Slimer.

(I'd post a pic, but the cams batteries are dead, and we don't have any spare AAAs around.)

(UPDATE- When mom asked 17yr-old to come out and see something, she didn't look suprized at all- even though denying she'd done anything. The keys will now be stowed in our room.)

Microsoft looses Explorer patent case

I just thought I'd throw out this link for those that it might affect.

It may even affect me, but I'm no techno geek AND I run Firefox.

This could be scary

Imagine, mice that can replace missing parts.

If they find out what enables them to do that, then they'll be able to translate it into human consumption. No one needs to die anymore. People can regrow damaged organs and limbs. Think about how it will be when you have people in their hundereds (age wize). Population explosion, financial trouble, insurance? I don't want to think of the potential problems that would (in my opinion) outweigh the good.

This guy was worth a look as a possible vote getter

He's running as an independent for the 2008 presidential ticket.
I went to his website to take a better look. He says he's a centrist, and after looking at his issues page, I'll take a pass. I agree with some, but disagree with most of his ideas.

I'm a Conservative, I believe that people should be responsible for themselves. Let me keep MY retirement money. As far as abortion, it should be between the woman, her conscience and her Dr.- but it shouldn't be legal to have a partial birth abortion because mom can't fit into her prom dress. In dealing with other countries Teddy Roosevelt said it right, "talk softly and carry a big stick"(also be ready to cancel foreign aid). I want to see line item vetoes for ANY President. Although I'm a non-practicing Christian, I'd like to see more (positive)references to God, and less anti-social promotion. As far as Iraq and the mideast, we'll get out when it's stable enough- not on somekind of calendar date (it helps keep the enemy off balance).
As far as energy and reliance on foreign fuel- DRILL, build refineries and pipelines- THEN we can ease the red tape of the obstructionist environmentalists.

Ok, the rant is done.
I'll keep looking for someone I can vote for with a good conscience- whatever party, or color they are.

We just sent the 14yr-old off somewhere

We still don't know where; it's "a High School that sounds like
it's a college, kinda close to Castroville." said she

Me: Incarnet Word?
Her: No, that doesn't sound like it.

Me: It's a H.S. on the south side?
Her: yes,,, but I'm not sure where.
Me: Kennedy?
Her: No,,,,
Me: San Antonio Academy?
Her: Ummm,,,, almost, but I forgot to write it down when she told me.
(note- we've been trying to find out since Tues. where she's going)

Me: Ok, next time have her print out a flier so we know Who, What,
When and Where.
She: She doesn't have time, she teaches (something) in middle school!
Me: She can't get to a COMPUTER- with WORD- at a HIGH SCHOOL??????
Me: and print it out???
She: Well,,,, I think she may be low on paper, , ,
Me: A***, I Know how much money that School District has, they are
NOT hurting for supplies.

Me: Tell her, next time she has one of these hairbrained ideas, to
print out a flier so that parents ACUALLY know where the
so-called adults are taking you kids. She is SUPPOSED to be a
professional, with some kind of college degree, and a
responsible adult.
Me: Tell her next time we don't have something in writing- you're
not going!
Her: I can't tell her THAT! I'm 14, she's a teacher.

ummmm. . .

Me: Ok, you're right. Thanks for reminding me. I'll send something
to the Principle.
Her: Can I have the $10 for lunch? I'll bring back change.


What's griping me about this, is that ever since she got into this
colorguard/band thing they've been Nickle and Diming us to death.
First it's uniforms- ok they need that, then

* shoes
* black spagetti strap top
* sports bra
* gloves
* pants
* color coordinated make-up, , , with glitter
* every away game a present for her "secret friend" (the
teachers idea) and food money
* gym shorts
* I can't remember what else- actually, it's something "else"
every week

I and her mother don't mind so much- it's just that we want her to
have some kind of ADULT supervision.

(This was originally ready to post at 9:30AM---But Blogger being Blogger -they said they were down for scheduled maintenance from 4:30-5:30PM PST)