Why do I blog?

Because I can. True, my blog is just one among thousands and most likely on of the leat read of all of them but I blog for me. In fact, I dropped my blog on Rsndolph is talking because I felt pressure from certain readers to not broach certain subjects and life could have become difficult for me if I had so the best thing I could do was to write on a blog they did not know existed.

Freedom of expression is grest and blogging is an excellent way of expressing one self. it also establishes the fact that we are all equal. True, certain celebrities will instantly have a fan base that I doubt I'll ever be able to generate in a lifetime of blogging but that is a status the reader gave them and not one that they were entitled too. I'm positive if i were rich and famous i would have a bigger readership too. But the point is not to gain readers but to exercise ones freedom of expression.

A favorite saying of mine is "One who doesn't read is no better off than one who can not read." I suppose the same can be said for freedom of the press. One who doesn't express himself is no better off than one who can not."

Change of focus

Two years ago I was shocked to learn the real truth about my health. I realized I was over weight but otherwise healthy. I was totally wrong. I wasn't overweight; I was obese and I was anything but healthy. I had high blood pressure, was borderline diabetic, had high cholesterol, and my triglycerides were so high it would make one dizzy. To save my life would take more than just diet and exercise. It would require a change in lifestyle.

Joining a health club or a gym turned out to be something that wasn't going to work for me and even walking was a difficult thing to accomplish on a regular bases with my crazy schedule at work. Even following an eating schedule would be nearly impossible. What I could control however was what I ate. I started making better choices.

I didn't want a diet that says you can eat this but not this or one where I had to make swaps or count calories or have to have foods I never heard of or that required pills or other artificial supplements. My goal wasn't to lose weight. My goal was to get healthier.

What I could do was eat a breakfast that was high in fiber and low in calorie content so I choose Cheerios and shredded wheat. I also tried some oatmeal upon occasion.

My lunches consist of a sandwich on whole grain bread, a few slaps of lunch meat and mustard, a no calorie drink and an apple. Supper (or dinner-whatever) was the biggest challenge but I knew that it had to be varied, taste good, and good for me. As much as possible, I chose fruits and vegetables to make up the majority of the meal, if not all of it.

What I did eliminate is snack foods, deserts, and candy. When I order unsweetened tea I drink it that way. At first it was hard to take, being used to the taste of sugar, but after a few times I discovered I actually liked the taste of the tea.

To combat the exercise problem, especially during the colder months, I exercise on a Wii. It works wonders.

It really didn't take long for my numbers to decline towards healthier levels. Although I am classified as a diabetic I take no medicine and have blood sugar levels in the normal range. The thing is I am still obese but have a near normal blood pressure, excellent numbers on everything else.

So far I have lost 48 pounds and have gone from wearing a size 42 pants to getting into a size 34 (this week). I want to drop to 197 pounds which is the line between obese and overweight for me. It would really be nice to get below 200 for the first time in over a decade. 200..9, 200.7, 200.5, 200.3. and this morning 200.2.

It's never been about weight until now. I'm so close but the 199 mark is taunting me but I'm not going to skip a meal or change my eating habits to sped up the march toward thinness. My goal is an eating habit that is healthy and sustainable and I have achieved that. But I can think about that weight goal now. which is something I haven't allowed myself to do before. It's like going for a hitting streak or a home run record. One cannot help but think about it but one has to be careful not to try a little harder for that extra effort may through off the rhythm that got you to where you are in the first place. 'Steady as she goes" is an old navy saying that works well in many situations, this one included.

Is there life beyond Earth?

Not anymore. Once, the universe teemed with different life forms that one didn't have to have an electronic microscope to see but those life forms have ceased to exist and humans are all that is left now.

Just as Lysol kills 99.9 % of all germs, all higher life forms have died out but us and not because we are anything special but just because we were that one that just didn't die. Not yet, any way.

What's fair is fair

Redistribute the wealth, increase taxes on the rich, tax benefits, limit pay of executives of companies which receive federal aid, etc., etc.

I've got one more for you.

Federal housing plus food stamps plus welfare check plus value of attorney as in "will appointment you one if you cannot afford one" plus value of free health care equals taxable income. If the receioient cannot afford to pay the income tax, then he must either get a job or forfeit the benefits.

I'm rather tired of supporting people who can work and be productive citizens but who live off of us instead and supplement their freebies by sellling/manufacturing/using drugs and committing various other offenses, aren't you?

Spring thing, part 2

A yellow tulip popped out today and my cat tails did indeed survive and are beginning to grow. Upon close inspection, all the twigs I stuck in the ground are budding, including the limb that broke off the butterfly bush last year. So far, the only problem I have had is with the same hole that I couldn't grown anything in last year. I wouldn' try except I like balance and that hole is necessary to complete my pattern.

My father could do everthing wrong and still get a plant to grow and thrive and while I don't have the fortune he had, I'm still adapt at getting things to grow that shouldn't. I just hope my plants bear fruit. I have apple trees, peach trees, cherry trees, and grape vines as well as my vegatable garden.

Dislike Duke?

I don't. I've always been a Duke fan. I also pull for Carolina, State, and Wake Forest, but always Duke first and foremost. I pulled for Carolina last year after Dukes embarrassing loss and I was pulling for Carolina in the NIT this year (ACC honor, you know).

Tiptoe through the tulips

Click on picture to enlarge.


First wave, RED, next to come is yellow.

Spring thing

With my neighbor's help my garden is dug, tilled and some crops are planted (cucumbers, tomatoes and bell peppers). Cherry trees in bloom, apple trees with new leaves, and grape vines showing signs of life, all signs that spring is really here and plants are waking up from their long winter's nap.

I planted a tomato garden for my mom yesterday and also planted some Iris nearer the front door so she can see them easier than where they had been on the far side of her house. I really enjoyed my visit with my mom yesterday but missed working in my own yard. My fish are eating and eating alot now. When things get a little warmer I'll clean my filters and do some spring maintenance on the ponds.

I still have some plants that are not showing any signs of life so I'll give them another week or so then really start to investigate if that is normal or if the plants aren't going to make it, or didn't make it. There are some I;m not positive of the life-cycle/ winter sleeping habits of so patience and time will give me the right answer.

Maybe I'm weird but I hate it when a plant dies. It's like I failed it.

What do you want?

"On the “have-not” side of the ledger, inflation-adjusted household income fell by 3.6 percent between 2007 and 2008, from $52,163 to $50,303."


Granted, in today's economy $50,000 a year isn't much but when compared to the world as a whole, it is a good amount. The trouble with %50,000 a year is that it only provides for what we need and not much left over for what we want. More and more, it seems that people who only have what they need are starting to depend on the government to provide for their wants. The government, of and in itself, has nothing. All the government can do is take from those who do have and give to those that do not have.

People who know how to get things done will always be able to get things done but will have less and less input on the government. People who have little will begin to depend more and more on the government to give them their needs but if one poor person and one ricvh person has one vote each and there are many more poor people than rich people, the poor will control the government.

I find that the more one depends on someone else to support them the less incentive they have for supporting themselves.

Spring

1: Park bench beside new morning glory and moon flower garden

2: Tulip garden-one in bloom

3: Sleeping bird on the water fall--I told you it was relaxing.

$: Garden space-dug and fertilized and ready to be tilled

Anti-virus program that isn't

I just learned about an anti-virus program that really isn't one but it supposedly better. I first heard about this concept from a web designer and he swears by it so I thought I would check it out.

It's called sandboxie and the concept is to allow programs and web sites you click on to run on your computer without actually affecting your computer. The data is isolated in a small area called a sandbox and if an e-mail or other program has spyware or a virus or malware, it is confined to the sandbox and cannot get into your computer.

Places to go/or not

A new place of business opened in Randleman called "Cupcakes to Go" and is located next to Firestone on main Street. No, you don't have to take them with you. There are a few small tables where one can sit and enjoy a cupcake there.

Yes, cupcakes is all they do.

They are delicious.

A trophy shop just opened a few doors down from the cupcake place. It didn't look like they were fully stocked but it did look like they have other things besides trophies. Need a plaque for your desk? Didn't check them out closely so will reserve judgement for later.

The Finish Line. I needed an inspection and didn't have time to drive to Asheboro to Thomas tire and make it to Greensbor for my dental appointment so I took my car to the Finish Line in Randleman.

Is it still legal to smoke in places like that? I think my blood pressure shot up ten points because of the air in that place. I'm serious--it really reeked.

So if you need an oil change, an inspection, or other car repairs and aren't a smoker, steer clear of the Finish line. If you need a trophy or placque, keep the new place in Randleman in mind. If you want something sweet, definetly go to the cupcake place. When I retire, you'll find me there each morning eith my checkerboard. Just kidding about that, but everthing is sweet there, including the cupcake maker.

What did I just eat?

Know before you go. To help in meal planning, dietary concerns and health issues, it might be helpful to know what's in your food before you go out to eat. Check out food facts at http://www.foodfacts.info/ for calorie counts.

Change: believe it

Obama promised us change we can believe in, a new way of transacting business in Washington. I heard a man call in to a talk show the other day and he said "Obama promised us something free (referring to health care) and you white folks just can't stand it."

Nothings free. Someone has to pay. maybe not you. But I will.

vindictive coworker

I have always thought that one of my co-workers did mean things on purpose but was assured by others that it was just a thoughtless act of indifference and not any deliberate act of meanness. I never had any definite proof one way or the other until tonight.

After chiding my co-worker (a cocky faster and better than you attitude type person) about taking too long to do the grind, I had to take over the job after his time was up and he headed home. That's when I discovered he had sabotaged the grinder so as to cause me to have to break it down and clean it before I could finish the job. This had to be a deliberate act on his part.

His plan didn't work as I quickly noticed the problem and fixed it before there was any opportunity for his sabotage to work.

Bad writing

"Anania and other friends of Elizabeth Edwards were reacting to a lengthy interview with Hunter published Monday by GQ. It was the first time Hunter has spoken publicly about the affair that ended John Edwards’ political career and produced a 2-year-old daughter, Frances Quinn. "



Read more: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/35926541/ns/today/#ixzz0ii865lnT


One could easily conclude that the "love child" of Edwards and Hunter was two years old when she was born but you and I both know that isn't true. The writer would have been correct in writing that "the affair that ended John Edwards' political career produced a daughter, Francis Quinn, who is now two years old." Another interesting thing about the paragraph is the use of the word "and" which implicates the possibility of the event happening again. If the union of Hunter/Edwards had in fact produced a two year old named Francis Quinn, I doubt seriously that event could ever be duplicated and if it is, I don't believe the second two year old would be named Fancies Quinn.

I'm sure glad this writer wasn't penning a legal document or a technical piece because it could be confusing. What I think is sad is that such poor writing as this doesn't bother most people. Someone wrote "Whose the father?" and when someone pointed out that whose was incorrect, a third person responded that it doesn't really matter since who's and whose is pronounced the same.

Maybe in a text message using u and r is acceptable to save time and effort, but if one wants to convince me they know what they are writing about, one really needs to know that the u is you and the r is are and that a carrot and a karat, while pronounced the same, aren't interchangeable.

Love children, rape, and basketball

"Love child" is a term used to designate the baby born to a couple as a result of an affair. The most famous "love child" in America at the moment is the baby born of Ms. Hunter and John Edwards. For the life of me, I fail to understand why that couple would make a sex tape when it was in his best interest to keep their relationship private and the sexual part of it non-existent to the outside world.

If a man's wife is suffering because of some life threatening disease and cannot pleasure her husband, I can understand why he might look outside the marriage. I didn't say agree because I don't, especially entering into a love affair. At least Tiger Woods, a cheating creep in his own right, had the good sense to find women willing to have brief affairs. Lordy, how does this mans stupidity shine through from this incident. Falling in love, failing to use any birth control methods, taping the affair, and leaving a cell phone where his wife could find it. One would think he wanted to be caught and if his wife was dumb enough to ask "are you having an affair" he had the tape to prove he was.

I wonder too if Elizabeth had the ability to regulate the state of her cancer--getting sicker when it would give John needed publicity and getting less sick when she needed the strength to fight him in court. Doesn't it seem like someone who was the son of a mill worker would put himself through school to become a lawyer and a successful one at that and a US Senator and a Presidential Candidate would be happy with his life. But you know what they say about power.

Some people can't handle power and some can't handle responsibility. Give a man a little responsibility who can't handle power and bad things are bound to happen. If John Edwards isn't enough to prove that point, just look at the refugee camps in Haiti where the workers handing out food are demanding sex from the women before they can receive rations. It seems rape is a rampant problem too with numerous reports of girls as young as two falling victim to this despicable crime.

One commenter on a story suggested that the US allowed this to happen and we should put a stop to it. Don't I wish we could. I'm sure if the American people made it a priority, much could be done to change the mentality of the Haitian men who engage in this behaviour and the legal system there that does little to discourage the practice, but we have too much other stuff going on and something to focus our attention on that is oh so much more important right now; College basketball and March madness. Come April, we will have the fianl run to the pro baketball championships to draw our attention.

Now, I'm not belittling sports fans or sports or our need to espcape from the pressures of life for awhile. Enjoying ourselves is as important to living as solving problems for if we didn't have pleasure, life woule hardly be worth living but we still need to pay attention to what others are going through. Instead of arguing with other sports fans on why UWV, Sienna, or Wolford will be the surprise team of the NCAA tournament or why Cardinal fans are really idiots, maybe we can just find a little time to enjoy the games and then put the world into perspective.

Maybe we can just show a little love to that yong girl who lost her home,maybe her family, and her virginity, to a sadistic rapist. If we could just show some of the passion for their plight as we do for our favorite basketball team, things like what is going on in Haiti would not happen nearly as often.

Doubts over Prius story

It seems the experts are in agreement with me--they have their doubts about the sudden accelaration of a Prius to 94 mph and the inability of the driver to stop the vehicle. They have their data to support their position--I have my knowledge of phony stories.

pushahead

"pushahead" was used as a word in an article I read today. Could it be that someone forgot the space rather than really thinking this is a word?

I believe it is just poor proofreading as the first paragraph also contains this word: teambefore and in the the full article quotation marks are rendered '' rather than ". Fox News must not be able to afford proofreaders. Slate was once the worst but I am beginning to believe few reporters have a good command of proper English anymnore.

A Good Day

I enjoyed my day off even if it did begin with a 7:30 am dentist appointment. My wife and I went out for lunch together. It is good having her able to get out some now. She still has a long way to go but she is making good progress.

I worked on my water ponds some, cleaning the filters and installing my new pump. It works great but I haven't gotten my fountain pump installed the way I want it yet. Maybe Monday on my next day off.

My doctor's office called with my blood work results. Total cholesterol of 118 and triglycerides of 96. When I started seeing my doctor I weighed 45 pounds more than I do now, I smoked, my cholesterol was almost 400 and my directorates were well over 600
Lots of hard work went into achieving these good results but I still have problems. I'm still considered obese, my blood pressure still runs high sometimes and I am still considered a diabetic even though I take no medicines for that condition.

Now that the weather is warming, maybe I can get out and walk some now. Working out on the Wii has been helpful but I still believe the real thing is better.

I'm still debating on whether it is safe yet to plant my tender young saplings. Any one with ideas?

Feds to probe cause of runaway Prius in California

I think when all is said and done, this incident will prove to have been staged. I believe the man just wants to make money from Toyota, a little fame and fortune so to speak.

Sure his brakes were worn almost to nothing from the attempt to stop the car but what would one expect if the accelarator was pressed to the floor. Why didn't the man cut the engine off when instructed to by the 9-1-1 operator? Not enugh media attention had not been generated by that time. It wasn't until the CHP got involved did the man even attempt the recommended method of stopping a run a way car. If it has no power, it has to stop.

The only excuse for not being able to stop a car with a stuck accelarator is if the engine won't cut off. Even if the brakes fail, without power the car is going to eventually stop.

I'm not implying other incidences are not real and I know people panic and do stupid stuff in a paniced mode but I just don't buy in to this incident.

Sounds like another "baloon boy" incident to me. Check out the driver's history.

Bear eats fingers

A lady fed a bear and it ate her fingers. I don't have any bears to feed but I do have some fish. I fed them today which is the first time they have eaten in over three months. I worked in the yard digging holes in anticipation of next month when I can start planting my seedlings. I did plant some bulbs (only half-I'll plant the other half next month so the flowers won;t all bloom at once) and dug the holes for the rest of them. I also dug twenty-five holes where the hibiscus plants will go olus another five holes for the apple trees.

I cleared the grass from the fence where I will plant my Moon flowers and morning glories. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy so I put some steaks on the grill to go with the salad and potatoe we had for lunch.

After all the work was done, I uncovered my ponds and noticed the bigger fish were active so I gave them a few pellets. At first the fish were preoccupied in exploring the disappearance of their winter hiding place and discovering they could swim around the entire pond now. Then they realized they were hungry so they nibbled at the food. After they consumed the few pellets, I gave them some more and they were more eager that time to eat.

I took some pictures and finally got one in which all five fish can be seen. Shark, the black and orange one, is in the lower right hand side and is only prtly visible. Spot is the white and tan one with the round black spots. Showa is the tri-colored Koi, and Old Yeller is the orange one. Sasha is also a tri-colored fish but isn't a Koi. She is a smaller fish, chunkier with colors that aren't as pure and organized as the Koi has.

The comets were still too shy to eat today although two of them did venture out. It will be warm enough soon.

Tomorrow I'll clean the ponds.

48 hr mystery

Seldom do I get the chance to watch on regular TV. My wife records the show or I watch it on the computer. I just watched the segment about the funereal director's wife who drowned in the pool. The defense claim was that a stranger must have saw the woman by the pool, beat her, robbed her, threw her in the pool and cleaned up the crime scene and did not arouse any neighbor's or the husband or any of the four children. It was around 10:30 pm when the lady drowned.

How convenient for the husband who was having an intense affair and just found out his girlfriend was pregnant.

Snow plow

A lady told me this morning that she had to travel some in Randoph County this morning and none of the area she passed through had been touched by a snow plow. "Don't they have one?," she asked.

"Oh" I replied. "Randolph County uses a Green snow removal method. It is so far advanced it is even solar powered".

"Really?" the lady quizzed. "I certainly didn't see any evidence of anyone using any kind of snow removal system in the area I passed through and it is a busy area. Wonder why they hadn't used it there?'

"The sun hadn't come out yet" I answered.

Congress, health care, compromise

I once had a pick-up truck that I needed to sell. I looked the value up in all the latest "value books" and determined the vehicle was worth $1200.00. I parked it in the front yard with my phone number on it and the next day a man called and wanted to see it.

He asked how much I wanted and I quoted him a price and he made a counter offer of less than that and I accepted. That is compromise. He purchased the truck he wanted for less than the asking price so he felt he did a good job negotiating.

I sold the truck, which was my goal, and I sold it for more than it's book value.

It was a good compromise for us both.

Obama promised Americans change and one of the things he wants to change is the meaning of compromise, or at least the way it is done.

Obama wants the Republicans to accept the premise that compromise is accepting as fact that in the end, he will get what he wants with or without their cooperation so if they will agree to stop fighting him on what he wants, he will tell the American people it was a bipartisan piece of legislation but if they don't agree to just roll over, he is going to get his way one way or the other and he will do his best to make the Republicans look bad in the process.

It's kind of like if the man came to look at my truck and offered me a price way too low and I said no so he told me if I didn't accept his offer he would steal my truck and I would get nothing and I still said no even though I knew he was the local sheriff and if he stole the truck I would never be able to prove it or would I ever get my truck back or any money for it.

Change you can believe in (yea, right)

Rottweiler kills 4 year old

ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) -- Oregon authorities say the 4-year-old daughter of a reality TV show star was mauled to death by the family's Rottweiler.

Clatsop County Sheriff Tom Bergin says Ashlynn Anderson's mother found her badly injured on their lawn in Astoria on Sunday. Ashlynn is the daughter of Jesse Browning, who stars with his father on The History Channel's show about the logging industry called "Ax Men."

Randleman dam

The lake in Randleman will open tomorrow 3-1-2010.

Vernon Hunter

His killer is no hero.

Randleman is growing.

A new Waffle House opened in Randleman not long ago, McDonalds was razed and is being rebuilt bigger than before (one can only hope for better but McDonald's is what it is), and a new financial institution (SECU)is being built on Academy, and if the bidding war is over on the land the rescue squad sits on, we may be getting a new super gas station.

smart mouth comments

My younger brother had a reputation for making smartassed comments. Dad called him a mealy mouth. As an adult I have developed a reputation for making those kinds of comments but usually I do so only to provoke humor and seldom do I make those comments directly to the person they concern. I think though, I have to take my hat off to Obama for being the new champion of smart asses for his comment to John McCain.

I really don't think that distinction is anything to be pround of. In fact, I know it's not.

Domino's Pizza

I tried one of the "new" Domino's Pizzas today. It is good. Real good.

Free Cell 26629

Now and then I get a game I think might be my downfall and 26629 seemed to be it but with patience it turned out to be victory number 230.

Dr. Earl Bradley

A Peditrician from Delaware has been indicted for sexually abusing his patients. What he is accused of doing is so sickening I'm not going to write another word about him.

Peeves

I live in the small town of Randleman which has to be home of the largest percentage of aggressive drivers in the world. It seems that each day when I hit 220 North from Randleman the driver behind me in intent on pushing me out of his/her way. I do drive a small car but I am not a slow driver. I accelerate to a descent speed (normally 65 mph) and pick my spot to merge with ongoing traffic. But that just doesn't seem to be good enough as the driver behind me will whip around and pass me before I have merged onto 220 or ride my bumper as if to express their irratation that I am not doing 85.

People, the sign with numbers on it is not the minimun speed you are supposed to be driving but the maximum.

Oh, and don't get me started on those asshole people from Greensboro. I work on Friendly but bel;ieve me, that is only a location, not an attitude. I noticed years ago that people from Greensboro have a special attitude not found anywhere else in the good ole USA (or the world for that matter). I dubbed it the Greensboro attitute almost thirty years ago when I first moved to this area. And that isn't a compliment. The people there really suck, weather they be the upper crust of society or the scrapping off the bottom of the barrell. It was no surprise to me that Greensboro residents were selected as the unhappiest in North Carolina.

Seedlings

Hibiscus, Fuji Apple and Cripp Pink Apples.

Empty cups are my peach and cherry seeds. Maybe there is still hope. Maybe not.

Toyota problems

It's not like I wish ill things of the japaneese auto maker but I have been so tired of hearing how the Americans can't produce cars of the same quality as foreign companies.

I think toyota just proved we can.

Spring time will come

I am ready for spring planting. Well, not for a vegetable garden yet. I guess I will start small and expend later on. Last summer I had six tomato plants. I'll have a larger garden this year but no one as big as I want.

I am growing some of my own plants. I plan to plant Hibiscus trees alone the property line in the back in between the cedar trees. On the left side of the house I have to Crypt Myrtle trees growing, one on the backside and one almost in the front. My the road I have two Fuji apple trees (I planted three but one died.) I plan to replant the third one and plant a cherry trees between the apple trees.

On the right side of the house I will plant two more peach trees. I already have 4 Fuji apple trees growing on that side. If the Hibiscus bushes don't come back this year, I will plant my Hibiscus trees I have planted from seed in their place next to the horseshoe pits.

I have a couple Cripp Pink apple trees growing, one of which I will plant in the space behind by Holly tree/Mum/tulip garden. I ordered two more grape vines to finish out my grape arbor and will plant my morning glories and Moon Flowers on the fence I put up last fall. I just have to cement all the poles in the ground.

My hyacinths are sprouting in my front flower beds. I purchased the bulbs for my gladiola/ iris garden. I know it will take a few years for everything to grow but by the time I actually retire, I should have an attractive yard.

In the front I have some dwarf bushes and some azaleas planted. How I finish that up will depend on how the various plants do.

Now if I can just get rid of the fire ants. It seems some local counties have been quarantined to prevent the spread of the ants. They are aggressive little creatures with a nasty bite.

operation

My wife underwent knee replacement surgery Monday (her third such operation). No, she doesn't have three knees. The right knee had to be redone after the replacement knee came loose.

She is doing well and hopefully can come home Thursday.

For all you unhealthy and unhappy people in Greensboro, I am letting you know that mt wife will leave your fair city a happier and healthier person, leaving your city sadder than before.

Sorry about that.

Hibiscus tree

The picture at the top is of my Hibiscus tree I planted in Hickory about 9 years ago. Of course it has no leaves now but it is alive and doing well. It is about 8 feet tall and probably 5 feet across when in full bloom. The mother tree from Archdale is a bit taller, maybe 12 feet high.

The orange bloom is from a Hibiscus tree I planted last year but it is probably a tropical and may not come back this year. The purple bloom is almost the color of the ones in Archdale and Hickory and will be the color of the flower of the ones I will plant here; the ones I'm growing from seed, even though the textbook says I can't.

Poll: Obama has edge over GOP among public

It seems the Republican party has done itself irreparable harm with its Bush/McCain/Palin fiasco. No one really wants to admit they are a Republican. Callers to talk radio will admit they are a Democrat (never a liberal though) or a conservative (but not a Republican) or an unregistered voter.

I got some things wrong in my book "Feet of Clay" but not totally. In that story, Hillary won the election and screwed up the Democratic party and the country as badly as Bush screwed up the country and the Republican party. Voters reorganized themselves into two new parties that were less concerned with religious values and family values and more concerned with different approaches to solve common problems.

One might think from that that the book was a fantasy but actually it is a modernized version of the New Testament of the Holy Bible and God is actually in charge of the political, social and economic systems of the world. The main character, Olympia, is a child prodigy and has a remarkable grasp of political strategies and religion and his life parallels that of the birth and early life of Christ, up to and including his temptation in the desert.

At first it appears that he may just be the real Messiah as the Jews believe instead of Jesus, the messiah accepted by Christians. Just as the one term senator (like a one-term senator could ever get elected President of the United States of America, right?) was about to win the nomination for President of the United States of America from his party and then become an almost shoo-in for the White House, he abruptly drops out of sight only to emerge a few years later as the architect of the movement to create a one world church in a world in which religion as being viewed as more of an evil and less of a reality in the world.

After another failed assassination attempt Olympia put into operation his new energy plant that soon pulled the world out of an economic tailspin and propelled countries into a period of economic growth and property unknown before in human history. At first Olympia was viewed as a world hero but some countries soon began to realize that Olympias company, headquartered in Israel, had the ultimate goal of world domination and control

Olympia plan was much easier to implement following a world disaster in which over a third of the world's population was destroyed by a mysterious release of toxic chemicals from sea going vessels that formed a thick cloud of what could only be described as a purple haze. What was confusing to scientist studying this phenomenon was that nothing in the purple haze was actually toxic.

Just before the point in which Israel will gain control of the entire world through Olympias company, that country is attached by a rogue mid-eastern country and the national government of Israel is destroyed. Just as Israel is on the verge of collapse, the country is saved from ruin by the brillant planning of Olynpia. Not only does Olympia save Israel but his forces switch from a defensive posture to an offensive one as just as it seemed that Israel would win in a battle of world conquest, a strange image is noted in the skies above Olympias palace. The image is made the more brilliant as it was of a bright light appearing in a purple sky: the purple of the purple haze.

Before the last election, I received e-mails from people warning me that Obama was the anti-christ so I should cast my vote against him. I replied that if he was indeed the anti-christ, then he was part of God's plan for this world and I would have to cast my vote for him as I felt i had to support God and not oppose HIm.

When I penned this book, I believed the Republicans would win the election in 2008 and the Democrats would be the first to go down in flames. It seems that the reverse is true and mayve through the tea parties, a new party will be born to take the place of the Republicans. I do not know the futures of any politcal party. I do believe, however, that God is actaully in control of this world and that he has a plan that is on schedule. His will will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Karate Depot

I haven't had a bad experience purchasing anything on line until now. I tried to purchase a pedometer from Karate Depot and have neither received my item nor a satisfactory response from the company,

Only one way

To a logical thinking person, it seems rather harsh for the Christians to believe that only through Jesus Christ can a person be saved. For 4,000 years men never heard of Jesus because he had not come to earth yet and in the two thousand years since he came, many have never heard of him nor have had the opportunity of hearing about him.

Yet the most well-known defenders of the faith will quote you the scriptures where it is written that only through Christ can a person receive salvation. "There is no other namr under heaven whereby a man can be saved. Whereby through one man sin came into the world; by one man can sin be taken away."

The bible, the holy word of God, days that we must accept Christ as our saviour in order to reeive salvation and that there is no other way. If God said it, then far be it from me to disagree. Bibical scholars and church leaders all agree that there is no other way.

But the Old Testament saints received salvation without ever hearing about Jesus. How?

It is said that their faith was counted for their rightousness. If this was done for them, why not for others. Does not the Psalmist claim that nature teaches us that God exists? So if a man accepts what nature teaches, is he not accepting what God wants him too?

There is another verse that is never quoted in dealing with this subject and that is "In the beginning was the Word...." This verse tells us that Jesus Christ is the word of God and is God, and has been God from the beginning. I believe that God speaks to man through the Bible, through nature, through other people, and through other works. One may not reognize the voice as that of Jesus but ony as the voice of God, or the word of God, or the sign of God or however one comes to the knowledge and acceptance that there is but one true Lord, that acceptance came to them as a truth from God. That truth is the Word, which is Jesus Christm our Lord and Saviour.

Just like the N.O. Saints beat the Colts in the 2010 Super Bowl is truth, that truth may have come to us because we saw the game live, we watched it on TV, we read it in the paper, we heard it on the radio, or some one told us, we got word somehow that the Saints won, the same is true about God and salvation: salvation only comes by accepting the word of God and that word is Jesus Christ, but that word came come to us in many different ways.

A present from Santa Claus

I wanted an apple peeler and have for a good number of years but no one wanted to get me one so this year "Santa Claus" (a.k.a. me) left me one under my Christmas tree.

I purchased it at Melvin's of Randleman (which I call Macy's). I may have been able to get one online for less or one that did more (mine peels, slices and cores ) but I helped the local economy, didn't shop at Wal-mart and got exactly what I wanted.

I seldom peel my apples but love them in a salad. Just core one and then quarter the slices and it is perfect for a salad.

If you have never been in Macy's it is worth the trip. While at it, stop in the Firestone store on the same block. You just have to check out the TV that is in the back.

It's instant time travel.

Is Whole Foods unfair to fat employees?

Whole foods gives their employees a 20% discount but will "reward' those with a BMI of less than thirty and who do not smoke a discount of 30%, according to a recent news release.

Another grocer doesn't reward the non obese but penalizes the more than overweight and smokers. A BMI of over thirty-two and/or smoking will get one a $40.00 a week increase in health insurance cost. These costs can be limited to just a three month period if one calls the insurance company and agrees to participate in regular sessions with a "health coach".

I like the preventive medicine approach now being taken by employers. It is good for the employees health and will cost the employers less in the long run. The biggest drawn backs I have noticed to these programs is that the ones who participate tend to be the ones who are recently diagnosed with health problems and it can be financially devastating to already struggling low wage earners.

I never realized how unhealthy I ws until the company had a free health screening at the store about four or five years ago. One has not been held since.

My biggest concern about programs like this is not whether it is fair or not to bigger employees or to smokers but whether it will lead to discrimination in hiring practices. Just beause one is large and/or smokes does not mean that they are unhealthy nor does it mean that they can afford not to have a job. It stands to reason that if a employer is concerned enough about health care costs to give away 10% of its income from employee purchases, it would also encourgage, either overtly or covertly, the hiring managers to hire people they believe to be less of a health risk. It even may lead to a requirement that applicants furnish a recent physical along with their job application for common low paying jobs.

Now wouldn't that get the opponents of the Whole Foods owner in an uproar if he did that?

Howard Stern on Idol

I don't want to watch it with Ellen Degenerate judging the tslent. If howard Stern takes Simon Cowell's place next season, a large percentage of Idols audience will quit watching.

Excuse me, I meant Degenerous, or is it Degenerass--I'm not sure--you pick one.

Installment 96

I picked up a copy of the Rhino times last week and the firist page touted installment 96 of Black and white by jerry Bledsoe. What is special about this installment is that number 96 is the last one. It represents reporting a story over a nearly 3 and one half year time frame.

I quit reading the articles 84 installments ago.

News 14, Greensboro

Following is a copy of a headline from News 14 in Greensboro as published on Roadrunners home page:

School closings and delays inconvient for working parents


Exactly what does inconvient mean?

keyboard

I need a new keyboard as some of my keys stick together. I cleaned it a couple of weeks ago which helped but it didn't solve the problem.

I now have 16 Hibiscus seedlings growing. The flowers will be a light purple--lavendar I beleive is the correct color.

No cherry or peach trees yet. I hate to have to buy any but I will if I must. In years past I have been able to grow peach and cherry trees from seed but the lasttwo years I have had no luck. But I will have my fruit trees this year, one way or the other, evem if I have to forgo a new keyboard to afford them.

Winter planting

In my back yard on the property line I planted pine trees (the cedar variety) last year and this year I plan to plant a hibiscus tree between each one. I stsarted the trees from seed in my spare bedroom and have 10 seedlings growing so far. I needed one more apple tree to take the place of the one that died last year and my apple seed has produced a seedling that is almost three inches high so far.

No action from either my cherry or peasch pits but I keep hoping.

I may start some vegatables seeds next week, maybe peppers and/or tomatoes.

In a hurry?

Why does Obama always urge Congress to pass legislation quickly. Can't they take their time and get it right?

Is it in the numbers?

Years ago I was told that 10% of all people would lie and steal even if they did not have to and 10% of people would never ie or steal regardless of the circumstances.
Staistics say 15 out of ever 1000 girls will engage in prostitution.

It that just in the numbers or is there something that can be done to reduce those numbers. I know there is a common thread among street prostitutes in regardless to their early family life and their personality types but the numbers seem they would be skewed by those girls who are rnnaways and befriended by pimps or those girls sold by family members and put into forced prostitution.

Sometimes it is a good girl from a good family that just seems to go haywire for no apparent reason.

Do we really have an input into who and what they become or are they just who they were destined to be, just because it is in the numbers?

Obama proposes tax hikes in budget

Did you really expect otherwise? President Obama acts like a poor man who just won the lottery and thinks his winning will buy and and his family and friends and neighbors everthing they ever wanted.

A business in trouble cannot go on an expansion frenzy and then expect the employees to take a pay cut to pay for the expense of expanding and yet that is exactly what Obama has done with the US Government.

I am beginning to think that as bad as Jimmy Carter was, he was better than Obama. Hell, Bush was better than Obama.

As Dan Rather would say "just1,095 days until Barrack Obama is escorted from the White House back to that political cesspool that is Chicago, Illinois.

Unless of course, enough people want to have a recall election or a do-over.

Who wants to be a millionaire?

The new found rich do not often find life better. The body of a man who won a lump sum of $17 million in Florida was found buried in the yard of a girlfriends boyfriend's backyard. He is believed to have been killed because of his money.

In another news story, a lady won some money in the lottery, purchased a set of wedding rings for herself and her new spouse, took him out to dinner, and then went to a bar to celebrate with some friends. She was ran over by a car just after leaving the bar and died at the scene.

Even some churches find that having received a large cash nonation from a lottery winner is not a good thing. It seems that a sudden influx of ill gotten gains indices the congregation to quit giving and once the large gift is gone, the church can no longer meet it's obligations.

It seems the newly rich can't seem to deal with that much money and end up worse than they were to begin with, or, in some cases, just plin dead.

Recall vote

California had one, Skip Alston threatedned to have another here in Greensboro, and maybe we should have one, or at least a do-over from the last Presidential election. If it were held today, who would win?

Obama on Bipartisianship

"We want the Republicans to work with us." Obama says.

Not "we want to work with the Republicans" or we want both parties to work together". No, he makes it clear he believes he is right and the party of the open mind is closed to Republican ideas. What Obama is really saying is if the Republicans do things his way, the he can control Congress and get his agenda passed.

It is what it is

The phrase "it is what it is" is one of the most overworked phrases of 2008 and one voted most irratating.

“But, remember this,” he (Obama) went on. “I never suggested that change would be easy, or that I can do it alone. Democracy in a nation of 300 million people can be noisy and messy and complicated. And when you try to do big things and make big changes, it stirs passions and controversy. That’s just how it is.”

Or, it other words, it is what it is.

That's change we can believe in.

Yea, right.

It is what it is

Exercise program

Several years ago I was diagnosed as diabetic. My blood pressure was high, normally around 165/72, trigycerides were over 600. chestrol well over 400, and I was almost 100 pounds overweight although I didn't think I was that fat.

I started visiting my doctor regularly and changed my eating habits. With my doctors help. I lost 30 pounds and all my numbers except for blood pressure and sugar were well within the normal range. Only after Christmas did my blood sugar climb to a level where i needed meds. After 3 months I would have it back under control.

The difference was that I love being outdoors and with digging my water pond, mowing the grass, planting trees and flower gardens, I got plenty of exercise. During the colder months I'm like a bear--I find a nice warm place to curl up in and stay put until it warms up outside.

This year to combat that problem my wife and I purchased a Wii. We use it daily, set goals for ourselves, and follow the exercise programs that cover the whole body. We do occasionally play one of the games--my wife likes bowling and I perfer golf.

She has done exceptionally well, losing 16 pounds in 48 days. I haven't done quite as well, but I have shrank pants size and people are always asking if Ihave lost weight.

She has better eating habits than I do and her schedule is steady. My changes from day to day. Some days I go to work at 5 am other days it might be 8, or 9, or 10, 0r 11, or 12, or one, and occasionally even as late as 2 o'clock. It is hard to maintain a rountine like this.

I must, however, do better.

Obama at the State of the Union debacle

Looks gay, doesn't he? Not that there is anything wrong in being gay.

Is he serious?

Conan OBrian left the tonight show and Barrack Obama is campaigning for his old position or maybe for a prime time opening being vacated by Jay Leno. A pending freeze on federal programs that are currently at record deficit levels? Does that spending freeze prevent the government from enacting any more new programs for the next three years?

No? Then it really isn't a freeze, is it?

What is new and improved about a political leader spewing rhetoric that sounds good but contains no subsance of any value or promises that cannot be kept. And his only admission of failure was that he did a poor jopb of convincing me he was right?

Maybe he should realize he is trying to push me down a road I don't want to go on. He can't lead me anywhere because I don't trust him or any of his crappy promises. I haven't believed him since he said he was going to change business as usual in Washington. He knew and everyone else knows that just "ain't gonna happen" and yet a majority of people were motivated by empty rhetoric.

Bush, with all his faults, at least told things like they were. An example was when Obama appointed Bill Clinton and George Bush as a,bassador's to raise money for Haiti. Clinton gave this fance appeal. Bush said "I know you want to give water and blankets-just give cash' Uninspiring yes, but straigt and to the point.

What this country needs is less motivaltional and inspirational speeches and more truth and substance and real life, real time solutions.

Toyota recall

My wife and her family are what one would call a Toyota family. Yjr one my wife owns and the one I drive is not part of the gas petal recall. It is a flinstone-type car. Miles per gallon depends on how much one has had to drink!

My perpective on Obama

I did not vote for Obama so we can get that out in the open to begin with. I also was not a supporter of John McCain, and certainly my loyalties did not lie with the likes of John Edwards. I voted libertarian in the NC governors race. I voted for the people I believed could get the job done, whose views were closer to mine own, and whose motivations seemed to be more about principals or people than power.

I didn't back many winners this time.

The nation is still not doing well.

Maybe there is a connection.

Maybe not.

Did the fact that Obama is black play a part in my decision not to vote for him?

Yes, it did. So was the fact that Clinton was a female and John McCain couldn't lift his arms above his head. An insignificant part. Much more important to me was the candidates ability to get the job done. McCain appeared foolish while Obama remained cool, collected and arrogant as always.

I didn't hear the speech that got the Democrats so excited about Obama four years (five now) ago when Kerry ran. Obama put on a hell of a show at his convention and promised a new was of doing business in Washington and change I could believe in. Except I couldn't.

Washington is to set in its way for a brash young political neophyte to change it much if at all. I didn't believe he could change the way of doing business and so far he has proved me correct on that point.

I did believe he would try to redistribute the wealth-like Robin Hood, only legit-taking from the rich and giving to the poor. I was one of those poor that would be in on the receiving part. But the truth is, I'd rather make it own my own than have anyone give it to me. And if he was taking from the rich, that meant that the more he took to give to the poor the less motivation there was to become rich and the less motivation there was to quit being poor.

I didn't like that either.

John Kennedy was a good speech maker. Everyone wants to be a John Kennedy. He wasn't really a good President. He failed at the Bay of Pigs. failed in Vietnam. and would have been impeached if he had not been shot first. He just couldn't keep his pants on. The only Kennedy I liked was Robert.

Obama appears to me to be to filled up with himself, as if he really does believe that he walks on water. He is going to admit missteps during his upcoming speech. he took to long to get his agenda rammed down America's throat.

I think his mistake is in trying to get too much done, too fast, without giving us a chance to understand what was going on. Government did not put our health care insurance system together. Necessity and private enterprise did. It is a hodgepodge of business practices and state laws that is not always good for everyone or anyone. We don't need the US government to redone an entire system for us. We just need some tweaking to work out the kinks and make the system work better.

I never bought into the arguments that he should not be President because of his religion or country of origin or skin color. He has every right to be President as did George Washington and George Bush. I did not vote for him to we could have our first black President and prove to the world we are not prejudice any more than Clinton deserved my vote to prove we were a liberated people who gives equal create to mean and women. I didn't give my vote to John McCain because he was a war hero and deserved our sympathy or graditude.

For the first time in my life I didn't want either canidate to win. One had too. I'm not convinced we made the wrong choice among the two. But I am not convinced either, that we made the right choice.

I thought it interesting that Obama has been advised to stay the course and stick to his agenda and not do anything so radical as listening to the American people.

Wow! What advise for an American President to receive. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35094828/ns/politics-the_new_york_times

Another foot in mouth story

Bratt and Britt have a radio show. Yesterday they were talking about the recall of Toyota vehicles and remarked how unusual it was that a Japanese company made a defective product. One of them speculated that the defective cars had to have been made in American plants as if Americans were not capable of making anything of quality.

It does turn out that all of the recalled vehicles were made in American and Canadian plants but that is of no consequence as the problem is not one of material or workmanship but of design.

Suck on those smelly toes boys.

Sad day

It was a sad day for one of my co-workers. We started our jobs just a few days apart and have worked together for five years now. I am about to end my workiing career and she is just embarking on hers.

This morning her husbands parents were on their way to take their cat to the vets when the husband turned to say something to his wife. She didn't hear. She was dead. Suddenly, with no warning, no known problems, too young to die but gone just the same.

Update on Obama's Jury Duty

I certainly didn't mean to imply that I really believed Obama should actually sit in judgement of someone accused of a crime while he is President of the United States. I do believe that he should have been willing to do so and not made the excuse that he was too busy. That is an excuse so many people make because they either believe they are so important or do not have the proper respect for our system of justice.

I have been called to jury duty twice. The first time the prosecution was called away to another case and everyone on the next calendar pleaded guilty so there were no cases to be heard. The second was just after I moved from Guilford to Randolph County (and yes, one's IQ does actually drop when one leaves Greensboro) and I notified the court of my move but volunteered to serve anyway but that isn't legal.

Of course my experience has no bearing on the President of the United States but he is first a citizen and has an obligation to uphold it's laws and support it's legal system and not skirt his civic duties. I am not surprised he will not serve but disappointed he had to make an excuse to get out of jury duty.

carried away

I was playing a game of tennis and was really into getting my double's partner into the game. In fact, I was so excited about one shot that I slammed the ball as hard as I could and connected with the entertainment center, injuring the ring finger on my right hand.

Nit god--not good at all.

Well, Duh!

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - President Barack Obama will be skipping jury duty after being summoned in Illinois.



One doesn't really expect the President to honor his civic responsibilities, does one?

News that isn't News

Number one on that list would be John Sleazy Edwards finally admitting he is the father of Miss Hunter's child.

Another item that isn't really news is the President claiming that anger at George Bush is why a Republican was elected to Ted Kennedy's former Senate seat with just a hind that there may be some unhappiness from the past year,

The last item I'll mention is a survey that says Wii Fit is an item one should not buy because studies show it doesn't help one get into shape. I have reported that my wife has lost 12 pounds and dropped a dress size while I have lost 10 pounds and now fit into smaller jeans--all in just six weeks of using Wii fit and during a time of year that I have always gained weight.

What role is China, Great Britian, Russia, and the Muslim masses playing in the disaster in Haiti to bring about relief and recovery?

bad english

"The aftershock came as the U.S. military announced that is sending additional ships to help with earthquake recovery in Haiti, including one that could remove debris blocking the main port, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday."

The sentence above from an Associated Press story is becoming typical of writing in these modern times. It seems that at least one article I read every day has a wrong word used, the wrong tense, or a word just not there that should be there. Is it bad proofreading, bad writing, or just a bad typist?

Slate was the worst but now it is becoming much more common.

Animals

Took a stroll through the zoo yesterday. I'm sharing some zoo pictures and some from my back yard.

Say what?

I was listenting to the radio yesterday and a lady was describing her life's work. Whe works with the homeless in Greensboro and was telling about her enteractions with one particular man. She said when she first met him he was half drunk and spent his time sitting on a milk crate outside the little neighborhood convenience/grocery type store.

After gainning his trust she got him to move into the back of a van and then eventually into an apartment. Now, she said, he is half sober.

So exactly what is the differemce between half drunk and half sober? I don't get it?

Another thing I don't understand is why the younger generation seems to be getting more and more carefree about their litter. I work in one of the premiere shopping centers in the nation and shoppers there tend to be families with money and yet they don't seem to be any more respectful of God's green earth than the common working man. The poor homeless guy pushing the shopping cart spends his day picking up stuff that the good citizens throw out of their cars.

A healtier Asheboro

It strikes me as funny that a town that just went from dry to wet is now concerned about the health of its citizens. It also strikes me as pathetic that the home of the NC Zoo claims it has no place for people to go to to walk. I know, it isn't free, and joggers and walkers don't want to pay. They want the city to build them a nice place.

Another thing that strikes me as funny is that the computer and TV get the blame for Americans being in the shape (round) that we are in but actually that is just another example of us transferring blame for our own actions, or in actions in this case, to someone or something else. We can choose to use the TV and/or computer for our benefit.

I have a Wii and have been working out daily on it for about six weeks and I have been getting comments from people about how much weight I have lost. The truth is, I haven't lost but just a couple of pounds but I have slimmed down considerably. It's not boring, nor am I affected by the weather, nor do I need friends to keep me motivated and I am not out in public exposing myself to the dangers posed by thieves and other dregs of society and crazy drivers who seem to be getting more and more aggressive.

I'm not a saleman for Wii and I'm sure that most people would rather play games that work-out with it. All I am saying is that it is a great way to take responsibility for yourself and stop having to depend on others to motivate you or shame you into taking a positive step.

I find the desire of the city to be a healtier place to live commendasble but I am still suspicious of the motives behind it. It is the same people who pushed for the town becoming wet and appointed one of their own to run the ABC store, a lucritive position with little responisbility, now want to convince you that the town now needs to take the lead in encouraging you to get healtier. Guilty conscience or profit-motive?

Tracing links

It is fun to check out what people read on my blog. One certainly can't go by comments because pnce in a while I'll write something that bloggers in Greensboro find controversial enough to comment on but most often a comment or two is left by one particular blogger, a friend, who, I suppose, is being nice.

Still, there are certain blogs that seem to draw a lot of attention. I have had quite a number of hits on cyberstalking, some on why my wife drives me crazy sometimes, and a few on the pediatrician who was arrested. A good number of people will look uo my book reference to see what it is about and I even had a visit from Soutgate College in England.

Important local News

Update: Oak Ridge parent says man tried to take child; sheriff's office investigating
Friday, January 15, 2010 (Updated 5:06 pm)
By Ryan Seals
Staff Writer
Map data ©2009 Google - Terms of UseMap
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Possible abduction attempt , 6400 Peppermill Drive , Oak Ridge , NC
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OAK RIDGE – The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a possible child abduction attempt Sunday in an Oak Ridge neighborhood.

About 4:30 p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to the area of Peppermill Drive and Ashton Park Drive to a report of suspicious activity.

A parent had called to report her daughter had been walking in the area when she was approached by a man in a black pickup truck - who told her to get inside.

The girl said "no" and took off running and told her parents, who then alerted the sheriff’s office.

Sgt. B.W. Hall said the suspect was described as being a white man with a dark complexion and a narrow mustache. He is believed to be in his mid-40s. He was wearing a black stocking cap with flames on the side and dark sunglasses.

The vehicle is described as a black pickup truck with an extended cab and a toolbox in its bed. Hall said it was possibly a newer model Chevrolet S10.

Right now, the case has only been classified as a suspicious incident and not an attempted abduction.

"We want to notify the community but don't want people to panic," Hall said.

"Parents should talk to their kids about how to handle these types of situations. This kid did what her parents trained her to do and the suspect drove away without incident."

Hall said deputies have been patrolling the area more frequently in light of the incident.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office Dist. 1 office at 643-2300.

Any similar incidents should be reported to 911 immediately.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com
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How cold was it?

It sure has been cold on the Eastern seaboard the last few weeks. How cold has it been?

So cold the Democrats had their hands in their own pockets.

How cold was it?

How cold was it?

Wash the foot first

That idiot preacher has inserted his foot in his mouth again. I've written him several times and he used to respond but he ignores me now. He has not said anything newsworthy in several years now but his idiocy could not be kept underwraps for long.

He sure does make it hard for a person to hold their head up while claiming to be a Christian. He has to be an embarrassment to believers everywhere.

If you do not know what preacher I am talking about, good, because the less people who hear what he said the better off the world is. If you agree with what the man said, stop and leave my blog as I only want intelligent people reading here.

Conan O'Brian

I saw his show live once. Before the show went on the air, he entertained the audience with unscripted and unrehearsed material that was suggested from audience questions and comments. The man was double-over and laugh until your side hurt funny. But once the actual show began, he was like a different person and nothing was funny, entertaining, or interesting. He was only slightly better than Chey Chase but not by much.

Seriously folks

Howie mandell taking over for David Hassellhoff on America's Got Talent and Ellen Degenarate, uh, Degeneras on America Idol. maybe the producers think these shows are so successful that the judges make no difference, but seriously, Ellen and Howie?

Internet shopping

I love the internet. I need some test strips and I checked at a local pharmacy and the price was $69.99 for 50 strips. Ouch!

I checked a few other places and all were the same price so I decided it might be best to buy a meter with cheaper strips. But first, I decided to check the internet. I found one place selling the box of fifty strips for $39.00 and alsmost sent an order but decided to continue checking.

Believe it or not, I found one site that sold a kit that included a meter, 100 test strips, and 100 lancets for $17.50 plus free shipping.

All that and I am still in my pj's on this cold morning.

Sometimes the convenience of shopping on the internet is negated by the cost of shipping but it is a great way to compare products and prices and find local suppliers if shipping costs are prohibitive. Overall, shopping on the internet has been a great time saver as well as money saver and has resulted in making better buying decisions.

Quoted

Dr. Mary Johnson said...
Dale didn't like it either:

I just read that comment from Dr. J and I must say that it is the best compliment I have ever been paid.

Why Seniors Really Should Fear Swine Flu

I don't like getting flu shots and have always refused to get a regular flu shot. My doctor insisted that I get the H1N1 flu shot. She said I was in a high risk category. The CDS said I was not.

I'm glad I trusted my doctor.

It seems the report is out that the CDS report that children were more likely to die than seniors is they contacted the H1N1 flu and that somehow seniors seemed to have an immunity turns out not to be true. It seems that while children are twice as likely as adults to catch the flu, seniors are twice as likely to die from it as children are.

Don't you just hate mistakes that put your life at risk?

We got it wrong?

In the song, Twelve Days of Christmas, the golden rings are not jewelry.

Fitness and Weight Loss

My wife wanted a Wii for Christmas. To be honest, we are both overweight. Wait, that's not absolutely correct. We were labeled obese by weight measurements-just slightly but obese just the same. I had already lost 35 pounds but had gotten stuck at a certain wight and seemed that my eating habits would not allow me to go below that number.

My health had improved. When I started all my numbers indicated I was a walking dead man but with a change in diet the numbers came down and except for borderline blood sugar and slightly elevated blood pressure, my other numbers were perfect. But I still had work to do.

In the warmer months I am in the yard working almost everyday and I did the occasionally walk. It was enough to keep me from gaining weight but bad weather days and months were really hard on me. Every year over the holidays, I would pack on the pounds and spend the next spring and summer working the weight off.

My wife's argument for the Wii was that we could exercise indoors. I let her win this argument and I am glad I did. We exercise via the Wii on a daily basis. She is now only overweight and I am only two pounds away from reaching that new low.

But better than that, I now wear a size smaller pants, my double shin in now a shin and a half, I sleep better and have more energy. I has only been 30 days (yea, it was an early Christmas present)

We play the games occasionally but mostly do the Wii fitness. She is able to stick to a set routine but I have to work around my crazy work schedule. It is paying off. Even though the weight loss has not been dramatic-nothing like twelve pounds in 7 days with "right-sized smoothies" or "you can lose twenty pounds by Christmas" headlines in November issue magazines, but the physical changes are noticeable and occuring at a steady rate.

It was a one time investment, we don't have to get out into the weather to go to the gym or brave the elemnts to walk around the neighborhood. One great thing is, once results have been noticed, motivation to keep at it sets in.

Stupid lawsuits

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34743864/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts

I exercise and sometimes a new exercise is one I cannot do and i know that I can't do it so I don't. i may do a version of it or I may just skip it, waiting for one I can.

However, the lady in this lawsuit was taking an exercise class and she informed her instructor that she could not do the next exercise. Instead of doing the logical thing and sitting it out, she attempted it anyway and when she hurt herself, she decided the injury was someone else's fault and sued.

When are people going to start taking responsibility for their own actions?

She would have had grounds for a lawsuit if the equipment was faulty or the instructor had failed to give all of the instructions, or had physically or mentally conercised her into doing something that was unsafe for her but to knowingly attempt to do something that one has already voiced an objection to because one knew it was unsafe for them to try, is crying fowl because they couldn't do it.

Grow up people.

Socialite Casey Johnson has died at age 30.

Casey Johnson may not be as familar to people as say Paris Hilton but she was the heir apparent to a fortune: the Johnson and Johnon fortune.

Not to speculate but I recently (like last week) saw her picture posted along with other dumb people on a crime library photo array of rich people who do dumb things. I believe her dumb thing had to do with illegal drugs.

I was sorted right. Here is the link: http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/photogallery/heirs-under-arrest.html



Casey Johnson
Dec. 1, 2009: Casey Johnson, heiress to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, was arrested for grand theft after allegedly stealing clothing, jewelry and a 600-page legal document from her former friend--and according to tabloids, lover--supermodel Jasmine Lennard. The 30-year-old heiress, who supposed friends say has a drug problem, also reportedly left a used vibrator on Lennard's bed and some wet towels on the floor.

Vapid Sun

Why do writers need to use such language? I know some words that are not of common usage help to more narrowly define the exact meaning a writer wants to convey but honestly, can the sun really be vapid? In reading a true murder story, which is more important: the dead body of a nude man that has just been discovered lying on the doorsteps of his home clutching a chain saw or the mood of the sun?

Has anyone ever used the word vapid in a real sentence?

Old Fort, NC

My dad loved the mountains and so wanted a piece of land with a mountain stream running across it so he purchase an acre of land in Old Fort, NC. Unfortunately, he died before he could finish what he had started on the land. I'm glad he got to enjoy it some though.

The taxes on it were cheap, only $50.00 or so a year but more than Mom should have to pay on property she can never use so I made an agreement to buy the land from her. I had hoped to cleam it up and maybe build something on it but there are no jobs for me in the area so I finally decided to buy a home here.

I did however want to take care of the land and maybe grow some vegatables and flowers and maybe raise some pond plants up there so I made an agreement with a man to clear the land in exchange for the trees. He took what trees he wanted, cut the rest and left them piled up on the property in such a manner that I can't use the property for growing anything unless I pay to have it cleared and that would coat several thousand dollars, which I don't have.

Now if I were planning to build on the land the epense would not be any greater than it would have been otherwise since the property would have to be graded anyway.

I relunctantly decided my best option was to sell the property but that hasn't worked out. The first agent I hired didn't move the property because the government decided to close off access to the main road so they could remodel bridges. The second contract also failed because the economy tanked.

The property was valued at $14000 and has a tax based on $10,800.00 (less than $57.00 a year) I want to clear $10000 on the sale so I had it listed for $12800.00 but I no longer have a contract.

The address is 140 Violet Lane Old Fort NC. To reach the land one needs to take Bat Cove out of Old Fort.

Identical twins born in 2 separate decades

maybe. Technically no. Purist will argue that the calendar began with year one making the year 100 the last year of a century, not year 99. When we count to ten, we start with the number one, making ten the last number in a decade. Counting forward, 2009 is the nineth year of this decade and 2010 the tenth, or last year. So a child born on 12-31-2009 and his twin born a few minutes later on 1-1-2010 were not born in two different decades.

Even so, it is unusual for twins to be born in different years. congrats to the parents.

Rahael Ray's Sexy Photos

I was surprised by those words when I loaded my home page. She kinda cute, I guess but seems a little chunky to me. I just didn't think she could shut up long enough for someone to take her picture.

I didn't look at the pictures. I find her an irratating little mouse.

Fair enough. I doubt she would look at my revealing photos either. (Even if I had some).

Secret admirer

Having someone wishing to quote a line from something I wrote is perhaps flattering. I have been quoted often but have always known who and what for. I have quoted others and sometime I have had to pay for the privilege but I have always had to get permission which entailed filing out a request form with the exact words I was going to use and in what context, if from copyrighted work and always giving full credit if from work in the public domain.

I suppose my blogs would fall under public domain but I'm not schooled on that enough to know how the law works on that issue.

A blogger named Anonymous said she was going to use sometime I said or an idea I expressed in a college report. Being without a real identity, I cannot say for sure if this unknown person is the same unknown person from the other blog. But someone or someones wishing to use me in their college work, even if it is in a derogatory way, is kind of like having a secret admirer-or a stalker. One never knows when an unknown person's attention may change from flattery to scary. That is why this person interests me. If the two request from Anonymous came from the same person, then I know Anonymous is a black female college student with a less than average grasp of proper grammar.

I hope she does well on the paper she is writing. I would rather be quoted in an A paper than one that receives a lesser grade.

Cops stop attack on Mohammad cartoonist

I have a stupid question.

If it is offensive to Muslims to have the image of mohammad recreated, how does anyone know what he looks like?

I remember when this controvery was fresh the question was asked why Christians don't get upset when Jesus or God the Father are depicted in unflattering psoses. Christians are taught not to worship idols or graven images.

If someone does succeed in killing the cartoonist, will it further the causes of the religion?

Maybe I had two stupid questions to ask.

I'm Innocent

Sometimes mistakes are made and innocent people are convicted and sometimes it is murder that one is convicted of and the penalty given is death. It is a horrible thought that one should be put to death when they had done no crime.

I have done some research into death row inmates who have faced their final punishment who claimed until the end that they were innocent.

Some would have to say the cry of innocence was the cry of insanity. An example would be the man who told friends and family that he had money problems and he was going to rob an old lady who ran a business by herself.

The old shopkeeper was found murdered. Her wedding ring was sold at a pawn shop and two checks from her business was cashed. The police found the person who sold the wedding ring from the fact that he gave his driver's license as ID when the transaction was made. At the time of his questioning, he confessed and then led police to a garage where her car was hidden with her body inside.

At his execution he pleaded innocence.


It is possible that some people convicted were not the ones who actually committed the killing. Four men do a home invasion in which the victim is killed. Two months earlier another victim was found who was killed in like manner (strangled with a coat hanger).

I agree that it is almost impossible to say which of the four committed the actual murder and if the one who killed the first victim also killed the second but at least one of the four is a murderer.

Two men stop at a farmhouse owned by an elderly couple. The couple is murdered by gunshot and their bodies burned. The son of their neighbors and one of his friends were arrested. The son of their neighbor was convicted of murder but claimed it was his friend who was the real killer. Maybe.

In neither of the last two cases to I believe in the innocence of the men convicted any more than I buy into the story of a man whose step sons body was found in a freezer located on this carport. Even though the other children claim they saw and heard the murder and thier parents told them conflicting stories of what happened, the man claims that a stranger took the boy, murdered him and placed the childs body in his freezer.

This is not meant to be an indorsement of the death penalty. I do have a comment about that though. The constitution says "cruel and unusual" not cruel or unusual. While lethal injection is less cruel than hanging or the firing squad it is unusual in the fact that it is only a recent method. Hanging and the firing squad have been used for hundreds of years and while cruel are not at all unusual.

I agree with the opponents of capital punishment that the death penalty does not prevent a person from commiting murder but not executed person had ever killed after their death. On the other hand, numberous people who have been given prison time have gone on to be repeat offenders.

Yemen

Back in the day I was young and naive about the world. I was sitting at my MSD position in Sabana Saka, Puerto Rico when I received a message that had originated in South Yemen. It was definitely anti-American but I had no idea of the significance of that message. I received an accommodation for intercepting that communique. It seems it was the first message that had been copied from that area in many years. It gave this country a location and frequency of a possible source for uswful intelligence.

Vile people, even back then. I know countries go to war from time to time and some countries have a deep distrust of each other but I have never heard expressions of hatred for others, even in war time, I I heard from these people towards Americans. This hate was directd at us not because of anything we did or didn't do but just because we were.

I still don't understand that point of view.

Queen of Southgate Update

Some of you know that I wrote a book "Queen of Southgate" which is a true account of what happened in a fire that claimed the life of a young boy and my relationship with a woman involved in that fire who, it turns out, was, and is, a street prostitute in Greensboro, NC.

The book wasn't a success because the subject matter isn't of much interest to the average folk and is a problem most who rather not think about. From time to time I learn of things that happen to the women protrayed in the book. One lady, Lisa, who I referred to as pure evil, is now no longer a street prostitute but a married lady with a job.

One, who really wanted to change her life and re establish a relationship with her children dropped dead of a heart attack a week after ending her legal battles to retain her freedom. Another, Donna Brown, who had two children, the last was by the special police officer hired to police the grounds of the Lost Dimension strip club
and the grounds of the seedier motels, was murdered in Burlington.

A resent event made me realize that I had been given some facts wrong in my book. I knew that TJ's mother has given birth to two daughters when she was young and to TJ after she married a young man. TJ's sisters had children the same age as she was.

I had been under the impression that TJ's parents lived in Raleigh and that her mother died first and the the father. Apparently that wasn't the case. It seems that her parents argued a lot and spent most of their marriage separated. Her father lived in California when he died. I believe he passed away before his wife did.

But what I learned that both shocked and saddened me was to learn that TJ had a brother. The picture of her and her brother identified the two as being three years old but I don't know if that was accurate. It may have only been TJ who was three. The boy was larger and could have been a year or so older. I do know that he was given away. I would hope for adoption but that wasn't siclosed.

One would have the doubts that a little blonde haired green eyed peanut of a girl would have much of a change coming from such a back ground. She didn't.

When she saw her brother's picture, she shed a tear. It is good to know that after all she has been through there is a little part of her that can still care.

Christmas Spirit

I shopped from my computer for Christmas and except for a quick trip to Hallmark and Macy's of Randleman, I ventured into no retail outlets.

I did noticed that my employer did not play traditional Christmas music this year but the regular music that it plays every other day of the year. I was surprised to learn that my wife's employer didn't play Christmas music either.

Is this a phenom at major retailers or just an oversight this year?

Anonymous

Anonymous asked for permission to quote from one of my blogs and I said no. I do not know who Anonymous is or if the quote would be used for ligitimate purposes.

I seldom read other blogs and usually only when chasing a story that takes me to a someones blog and I have never read a blog written by Anonymous. I do, from time to time, come across a comment from Anonymous. Wanting to know a little bit more about this person other than the fact that their command of proper grammar is weak, I ventured into the blogosphere and found a few comments on Roach's blog.

On that blog Anonymous identified themselves as a black woman.

I found that interesting.

Pediatrician Arrested

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland - A pediatrician charged with sexually abusing his patients likely attacked more than 100 children at an office he had decked out with a merry-go-round and a ferris wheel, a state official said Wednesday.

The volume of evidence seized from Dr. Earl Bradley's practice and home, including video tapes and computer files, makes it difficult to estimate the number of victims, said Alexis Slutsky, a deputy attorney general assigned to the state's Child Predator Task Force.

Best Health Care Plan

In spite of the best medical community in the world, Americans do not have the longest lifespan, due in great part to unhealthy lifestyle choices like drugs, smoking, over eating and stress.

Our current President has increased our national debt to an unbelievable high level, and with new costly proposals about to become law, America will be in debt for a long, long time. In order to pay off that debt, taxes will have to be raised and many small business owners cannot afford that and stay in business.

The end result is that eventual Americans will not be able to smoke, or to purchase drugs and eating to excess will be something that is only done in dreams. We will then began to live a healthier lifestyle thereby proving that Obama did, after all, know what he was doing in passing health care reform.

Most of us will one day fall into that 4% category that the new health care system doesn't cover but that is for the younger people to worry about.