Ah man! Raisins?

Remember when you were trick-or-treating as a kid? There was always one old lady who would put "healthy" treats like small boxes of raisins in your bag (I usually had a pillow case and envied those kids who had the plastic pumpkin with the handle).

It turns out that some of those treats can be worse for kids because they still have sugar and stick to teeth longer than chocolate does.

So there. Just give out the chocolate. Or Sweetarts. (mmm. Sweetarts.)

Poetic Justice

A group of more than 20 Catholic High School girls beat a man who exposed himself to a girl shortly after school let out. He was confronted by some of the girls and then ran down the block where he was stopped by two other men.

At that point, the group of girls caught up and beat the tar out of him.

Ahhh, its great to see the media report some good news every once in a while.

Hospitals make people sick

Julia Gorin has a great article about medicine on FoxNews.com.
She says:
"God bless Western medicine for all the breakthroughs--the vaccinations, the transplants, the emergency life-saving procedures and cutting-edge modern miracles. But these days its practitioners perform best for those on the brink of death, and that's where you'd better be when you come to these people, or they'll bring you there."

Ain't that the truth. Ask me about a little gall bladder trouble turning into a life threatening extended stay in the hospital.

Hold your breath

Everyone, hold your breath. Don't breath out you CO2 emitter. We may as well go to such measures for all the good the solutions environmentalists propose.

Reuters writer, Alister Doyle, laments global warming in his article. He admits the Kyoto treaty would not do anything significant. He seems to think we need to go with an aggressive solution that could cost up to $18,000,000,000,000,000. That is 18 quadrillion. Supposedly, that will only take 4.5 percent of the worldwide GDP. He doesn't say that the U.S. will surely bear the brunt of that.

So lets look at "dangerous" gases for a minute. The EPA says that electrical utilities emit 14 million tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2) per year. That sounds bad.

Then I found out that Mt. Pinatubo volcano injected 17 megatons of SO2 into that atmosphere in one day. That is only one day of one eruption.

We can stop all emissions tomorrow and not come close to what a single volcano would emit in one day. It would be taking a thimble of water out of a lake and expecting a drop in the water level. Yet environmentalists insist that we need to stop driving our cars.

Sad Fish

Sunday brought us a sad moment. Our angel fish died. It was the last of the fish I gave to Honeybun as a Christmas present eight years ago - that's 8. This was the most durable fish I have ever seen. It survived excessive heat, and multiple shocks of temperature and new water.

Have fun in fish-heaven little fish :)

Happy Fish

A researcher has found Flouxetine (the active ingredient in Prozac) in fish in a lake near Dallas, TX.

He is worried about pharmecueticals escaping into the environment but has concluded this particular issue may lead to happy fish. Good for us, improving the environment.

Daylight Stupid Time

This weekend marks the annual ritual of falling back and going back to Standard Time for six months. This is the dumbest thing Americans do.

We really aren't saving any time. There are still 24 hours in a day. Well, 25 this coming Sunday, but that doesn't count.

It's time to end Daylight Savings Time!

California 1 - Spammers 5,123,457,857,494

Today California won its first judgement against spammers. A court fined P&W Marketing $2 million for sending spam.

Its really only a moral victory. I had over 20 spam messages in my inbox this morning. I say its time to cane spammers.

Christians-traitors?

Here is a headline from Yahoo! Op/Ed news section:

BOYKIN'S BIZARRE BELIEFS GIVE AID AND COMFORT TO THE ENEMY
By Cynthia Tucker

Ms. Tucker apparently believes that Christian beliefs are treasonous.

Selective Constitutional Rights

I am alarmed at the continued debate over General Boykin's comments. James Carroll of the Boston Globe criticizes Boykin's religious beliefs, "Boykin's remarks can only inflame Arab perceptions." He concludes by saying: "In the 21st century, exclusivist religion, no matter how ''mainstream'' and no matter how muted the anathemas that follow from its absolutes, is a sure way to religious war."

Never mind that after 200 years, this country has not started a religious war. Carroll's point seems to be that General Boykin should not state his religious beliefs because it offends others and they may attack us for those beliefs.

This point is ridiculous. This country was founded through war to protect the right to practice religion freely (among other reasons). This is one of the rights that was important enough to fight for. Now our media expects us to give it up so as not to offend Islamicist.

He also infers the solution is to reject Christianity. Since Christianity is exclusivist and that philosophy only leads to war, then - following the logic - we must reject Christianity if we want to avoid a war with Islamicist.

Why is it Christians must give up their faith? The Islamicist surely won't. Again we are in the position of rejecting our right to worship freely. People quote the saying that they are willing to die to protect other's rights to free speech. Journalists are willing to go to jail to protect their rights under freedom of the press. Why are they so willing to deny the right to freely practice our religious beliefs?

General Boykin was right

The amazing controversy over General Boykin's comments continue. As mentioned previously, one of the comments he made was this one:
"Why are terrorists out to destroy the United States? They're after us because we're a Christian nation."

Was he wrong? The evidence says he wasn't. The most recent Osama bin Laden tape quotes bin Laden as urging a holy war against American "crusaders" (a reference to the European Crusades in the early part of the last millennium.)

So, tell me. Why are the Generals comments so offensive? According to MSNBC and the LA Times, the truth is wrong.

The Christian bashers are still at it

General Boykin is still being attacked for having Christian beliefs. MSNBC published this indictment, "Despite repeated questions at a Pentagon press conference, [Secretary of Defense, Donald] Rumsfeld declined to condemn Boykin's statements or to say whether he would take any action."

Notice the inference. According to the wording, Donald Rumsfeld should be expected to take some action against General Boykin - apparently for the General stating his Christian based beliefs in a Christian church to a Christian audience.

Now the not so Reverend Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State has jumped in to criticize General Boykin. This should once and for all discredit the so-called reverend. If he really was for separation of Church and State, he would criticize news agencies for attacking religious speech made in a church. Instead he criticized the General (again, for making religious speech in a church.)

Clearly, Barry Lynn is a liar. He is more concerned with limiting freedom of religion than in separating Church and State.

But I don't feel rich

A new study says that taller people will earn about $789 per inch annually more than their shorter counterparts.

So at 6'2" I should be earning about $2,200 more than my shorter counter parts. It doesn't seem to be happening.

I wonder what I'm doing wrong? Maybe I should stand on my tiptoes.

You can't say that in church...

Yesterday MSNBC broke the unbelievably controversial (please note sarcasm) story that a Christian actually believes Christian teachings.

It seems General William Boykin committed the unforgivable sin (to the secular world) of relating his religious beliefs to current events. General Boykin said he believes George W. Bush is in office "because God put him there for a time such as this."
One of his most egregious statements seems to be, "Why are terrorists out to destroy the United States? They're after us because we're a Christian nation."

In response NBC News military analyst Bill Arkin said, "I think that it is not only at odds with what the president believes, but it is a dangerous, extreme and pernicious view that really has no place."

So let me get this straight. In a country that has a Constitutional Amendment protecting the right to freely practice one's religion, General Boykin's religious view of the world has no place?

Stunning.

It seems Mr. Arkin and his ilk believe in selective Constitutional enforcement. That is we must defend freedom of the press to the death, but freedom of religion? Apparently not so important for Arkin.

No corruption here

Kelly Huston, the place kick holder for the University of Nebraska football team was suspended for one game for punching a University of Missouri fan after last Saturday's game.

It is difficult to figure out if the University of Nebraska believes Huston did anything wrong. The Cornhuskers coach said, "I truly believe that Kellen did not instigate the situation and that he was simply reacting to what he saw as a dangerous situation coming right at him."

The athletic director followed up with, "I would never claim that hitting someone is appropriate, but I was not standing in Kellen Huston's shoes on Saturday night."

So what is it? It sounds like the "I didn't kick your dog...besides, it bit me" defense. In this case, Huston shouldn't hit a fan, but the fan deserved it according to Nebraska. Typical.

To floss or not to floss

The pendulum has swung. Women showing off their thong underwear above their low-rise pants is out of fashion according to some New York designers.

So what is in style? Panty lines. Yep, old-fashioned panties whose lines can be seen through clothes.

So get rid of the thongs and bring on the granny panties.

Columbus - bad, Human sacrifice - good?

Denver seems to be the epicenter of Columbus Day protests. Every year now its the same thing,
"Columbus committed genocide", "Columbus was a rapist". Even the Denver Post allows its writer's to publish factually incorrect stories in saying that Columbus was arrested for allegations of brutality. He was sent back to Spain in chains (probably for disappointment in lack of gold coming back for the New World) but was released with apologies from the King and Queen of Spain.

The bias against Columbus is amazing. It really does come down to hate of Western culture.

The Spaniards did come as conquerors. This was not unique in world history. True, the natives in Latin America were wiped out. Partly due to conquest, partly due to other reasons including disease.

MSN's Encarta considers this a tragedy because of Latin America's cultural signficance. I suppose the human sacrifice practiced at the time should have been saved. Here is Encarta's description Aztec religious practice:

"The sacrificial rituals were elaborate in form, calculated according to the stars to please specific gods at specific times. A victim would ascend the steps of the pyramid. At the top, a priest would stretch the victim across a stone altar and cut out the victim’s heart. The priest would hold the heart aloft to the god being honored and then fling it into a sacred fire while it was still beating. Often many victims were killed at once. In 1487, according to legend, Aztec priests sacrificed more than 80,000 prisoners of war at the dedication of the reconstructed temple of the sun god in Tenochtitlán."

OK, if we are going to judge Columbus by today's standards, let's judge the culture's he supposedly is responsible for destroying by today's standards.

You mean you want the whole game?

Today I was working and therefore could not watch the Yankees/Red Sox game on TV. So I tuned in the radio at work.

Great. I can listen and stay up on the action. Up until about the 5th inning. Then KLZ (I'm naming names here) decided that they would switch to the Nebraska/Missouri college football game (like people in Denver care about Nebraska).

Now I understand they may have contractual obligations to air the Nebraska game - but if you are going to stop broadcasting an event in the middle of the game, don't start!

And why is no other station iin Denver broadcasting the baseball playoffs then? Sheesh.

Once upon a time, one could tune in a webcast of baseball games. Now MLB makes you pay for it. The NFL does the same thing. If I'm gonna pay, you better at least give me pictures. Why do you pay for a webcast but the same advertising pays for the radio broadcast to a local market?

Rush to judgement

Rush Limbaugh admitted to being addicted to pain killers today.

Is what Rush did wrong? Yes. Does it make him a hypocrit? No.

See, the difference between this and other national figures is that Rush admitted, not denied his problem. We did not hear him say, "I am not addicted to prescription drugs" or even "Well, that depends on what the meaning of 'addicted' is".

On a personal level, I can relate to Rush having to live with chronic pain. Three years ago I was hospitalized for Pancreatic Necrosis - life threatening and very painful ailment. I was prescribed the pain killer Dilauded by IV. After weeks on the drug I became addicted without even realizing it. When the IV was taken off I went through physical withdrawal symptoms.

That doesn't mean the pain was gone though. For the next few months, I still had great pain from the ongoing condition. Mentally, it becomes very depressing waking up after weeks of pain knowing that it will still be there for the forseeable future.

Thankfully, my wife watched out for me. When I went back to the hospital for another surgery, she made sure that I had limited access to Dilauded as well as monitoring the amount of other pain killers (Percoset) I was given.

Rush Limbaugh has sought help. Of course the political vultures are circling. They are saying that because Rush is not perfect he should not be a political commentator. That is a formula for the destruction of civilization.

When critics say that imperfect people (which we all are) cannot say we should aspire to living to a high standard, then the critics are advocating no standards.

From the Halls...

10 years ago today, I was (honorably) discharged from the United States Marine Corps. Whew, 10 years go by quick. My memories of those four years on active duty are as vivid as if they were yesterday.

Humping (hiking for you civilian types) on Camp Pendleton during basic training. Getting "bent"....a lot. Singing the Marine Corps Hymn on the steps of the base Chapel the weekend before graduation.

Partying at the Days Inn in Pensacola, Florida where I attended "A" school. Also, giving the company mascot, Sam, a bath (the smelliest dog...ever.)

....Getting to Guam, working in the communications center - spending Christmas on the ops floor. Drinking rum and Coke in the beer garden in front of the barracks with "Woody", Mike, "Ding Dong", and Navy guys like Lee and "Opie" while smart people like "Chief" watched us make idiots of ourselves. Going to the Dallas Club and The Citizen with "Gabby". Woody low crawling down the hallway (rough night). My friends throwing the biggest party for me when I left the island.

...Getting to Cherry Piont, NC shortly after Gabby. Realizing I hadn't escaped the humidity. Spending Christmas alone in the barracks (that one sucked). Playing Super Nintendo Hockey and drinking with "Burl" until we couldn't see the TV screen. Watching Gabby fall asleep after two beers. Driving to Greenville to see Hootie and the Blowfish at The Attic. Dragging a very drunk Rick up to his apartment: "Q-E-D is Q-E-D". Yes Rick, it is.
And discovering the funniest joke ever:
Rick goes into a bar.
He comes out
...and doesn't have a ride home.

Sorry Rick.

Those guys are still the best.

Semper Fi

There aren't words for this one

On July 1st of this year. Jonathan Russell took a gun to where he was employed and killed three people before killing himself after shooting at police.

The employer, Modine Manufacturing settled worker's compensation claims for the family of the victims. Now for the sick part.

The murderer's mother, Nina Tichelkamp-Russell, has filed a claim to get compensated for her son's death since he died at his place of work.

This woman certainly did not care that her son was a murderer who ruined families. Its should be shameful that this woman believes her murdering son is a quick way to make a buck.

Idiots of the Day

I heard about this on the radio so did a quick Google search to find out if people really believe it. They do.

Apparently the sky is falling because there is supposedly a hidden swastika in the Department of Homeland Security logo.

Someone had to work really hard to "highlight" the swastika in the logo. Its obvious that someone created the swastika in the logo rather than merely highlighting it.

Its amazing what some Chicken Littles are willing to believe.

Irony of the Day

Timothy Treadwell, a founder of a Grizzly Bear protection group, and his companion were killed Monday after being mauled by bears.

Man, first Roy Horn (of Siegfried & Roy fame) is attacked by one of his tigers and now Timothy Treadwell. Its enough to make you think that large, wild, predator animals aren't safe to handle. Who'da thought?

You can't say that on TV

Rush Limbaugh is in the hot seat for making supposedly racists comments about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Now Presidential candidates Wesley Clark and Howard Dean say that Rush Limbaugh should be fired for "hateful and ignorant speech." The NAACP says it was "bigoted and ignorant".

Thankfully the NAACP is not the voice of all "people of color" as they want to believe. Just because the lefties say it was racist doesn't make it so. Now they want someone fired over what they claim is racist.

Isn't that a dangerous precedent? That's a very disturbing thought. Losing your job because someone else decides you made a racist comment.

Actually what I find most alarming is that Presidential candidates are calling for punishment of someone's speech. Doesn't that show how much they value our rights? Their stance seems to contradict other statements they have made. Wesley Clark has said he is "concerned about the effect of the war on terrorism on civil liberties" and Howard Dean claims that President Bush has "a reckless disregard for our civil liberties" because of the Patriot Act.

I guess their civil liberties are important but Rush Limbaugh's aren't.