Showa and Spot, Spawning

Showa is the larger fish, the orange, black and white one. Spot is white with a tan face and black spots. Showa is female and Spot is, of course, the male. Showa is 17" long and weighs just under four pounds. Spot is attempting to get Showa to lay her eggs so he can fertilize them. She will lay 100,000 eggs for each pound of body weight.

I am not a breeder so I have no need of 400,000 fish. Last year only one out of every hundred thousand survived birth but even one of them died when it was about two inches long. I have two from last years broad, Tiger and Zero.

I'll post a video on face book of the process of spawning. In the mean time you can enjoy the one of my fish playing in the waterfall.

Payno attentionto thedate/time stamp on the pictures. It was 9 am on May 11, 2011 when I took the pictures. The eggs should start hatching in between two days and a week.

What's fair?

She is to receive about $570,000 which works out to a little over $35,000.00 a year for the past 17 years. I suppose that is about an average income. In one way it seems like a lot of money, and it is. I could do a lot more with $570,000.00 than I could with $35000.00 a year.

Yea, I made that much working, just barely, but I did. But I enjoyed my home and my family and my freedom and I managed to save a goodly sum as well. Debra Brown didn't get to enjoy her family or home or friends.

Would you trade a year of your life for a year's income?

I didn't think so.

Too many innocent people are sent to prison.

I know that an attorney, any attorney, wants to win but winning should be getting the truth out into the open, not getting a conviction or a judgement for your side.

Some guilty go free for the same reasons that innocent people are convicted.

That's not justice.

good food

The ladies group from the church went to Deep River Cafe in Randleman yesterday and reported the experience was great. The pastor's wife reportedly said she wanted to be taken there for the Mother's Day buffet--and she lives in Thomasville!

It really must be good food.

The power of prayer

Sunday, the doctor called my brother and asked him to come back to the hospital where his wife lay suffering from cancer. "Thee is nothing more that can be done for her" the doctors told my brother. "It's just a matter of a few hours at best."

James wanted her son to have a chance to say goodbye so he hooked his wife to a respirator until the family could say their goodbyes then he was going to have it unplugged.

Her son came and mother and sonb said their goodbyes and their last hugs and said or indicated their love for each other and then my brother unpluuged life support.

Many Christians were on their knees praying for her and many churches also.

Today she went home.

She may die tomorrow or Monday, or next week but she will be home on Mother's day.

I don't know if any of you remember Princes Springsummer Winterfall but she was played by a beautiful young lady as part of the Howdy Doodly puppet show that was one of the first shows on TV back in the fifties. When she was 24, she anbd her husband were on vacation when both died in a car accident. People didn't have the opportunity to pray for her. I'm sure she had no idea that morning that it would be her last day on earth.

My mother-in-law was rushed to the hospital this week and she was near death. While she was waiting to be taken to her room another man was brought in and placed in trama care next to her. He has just ran a red light and struck anothyer man, killing him. It was front page news in the Asheboro paper. The man who died doesn't have another week to live nor anyone to pray that he does. Once its over, its over.

I wonder what he would have done differently if he had known that he would die that very day.

I also wonder who might have the opportunity to tell him about Jesus. I wonder if Princess Springsummer Winterfall knew jesus and trusted Him? Who could have told them and didn't?

It's sad to know one only has minutes or hours or maybe just days to live but knowing the end is near gives one the opportunity to say their goodbyes and the chance to question their beliefs and make a choice.

No, prayer will not keep her alive forever nor allow for her to live a normal life. But prayer gave her a chance many never have.

Make the right decision now.

See you in church.

Al-Qaida vows revenge for Osama bin Laden's death

It has to be one sorry religion that everything makes them angry.

Both Sides

I've heard both sides of the story: the confusing,conflicting stories from the administration and various news agencies and the side from the people who think that manyh obama is not telling the truth about what happened to osama, or usama is anything happened at all.

some say he might have been working for the USA and was about to turn on someone, some say he died five years ago, some say one aide defended him with a green water pistol. Whatever.

Frankly, I think he was killed just as the White House said he was and one of the versions given out might contain more of the truth than others. I believe that we landed on the moon and that kennedy, JF was killed by Oswalt.

What really happened was...

At the very beginning of the attack the US lost a helicopter due to mechanical failure, oh, wait, did someone say mechanical failure. We meet that it was hotter in the compound than we had anticipated and the difference in the weight of the air made it impossible for the helicopter to stay in the air.

The President and his men (and women) were watching events unfold from the situation room, expect for the fifteen minutes, or was it twenty, that the troops were engaged inside the compound.

As they searched from room to room the US troops were confronted by Osama bin laden welding a gun, firing at them, and, oh wait a minute, he was unarmed. All he had for protection was his wife. No wait, it wasn't his wife. Or maybe it was. Anyway she was shot and killed by, hold on, she wasn't shot and killed but only shot in the legs. One of bin Laden wives was killed but not protecting bin Laden.

Anyway the women that bin laden was holding onto was used as a shield, no that's not right either. She voluntarily stood in front of bin Laden.

Anyway we know for sure that one of bin Laden's sons were killed. It was , wait, that not the name I was told the first time.

No, well, just hang around and we'll get our story straight eventually.

maybe we will even release a picture to prove we actually killed somebody and it was Osama bin laden except you can't really tell because half his face is missing from the gun shot would.

From my point of view, if this is the defining moment of Barrack Obama's presidency, the won moment that is supposed to ensure that he has regained control and will likely win re-election then one would think he could get his story straight. It really doesn't make the administration look warm and fuzzy and trustworthy, does it? Just adds fuel to the fire of naysayers and conspiracy theorists and makes this administration look foolish and untrustworthy.

obama Political boost

I suppose if the election were held yesterday or today, Obama would have been a tougher foe to beat because of the bin Laden affair and the truth is, he seems to have handled the war effort better than Rumsfeld and Cheney and Bush did. Still, one has to get over decision making over emotional incidents and look at the whole of a candidates policies. The economy sucks, we are still at war and on three fronts, and if we don't get this country back on course soon, it won't matter who is president because we won't exist as we do now.

Bin laden dead

Bin laden was killed by US Navy Seal Team Six during a raid on his luxury hideout located about 100 yardsfrom a pakastanimilitary post. No US troops were hurt although there is a report of oneof the helicopters used in the raid crashed. Bin laden was verified and buried at sea, in accordance with Muslim law.

One terrorist has died, another one will be born to take his place.

see you in church.

Lost

Tonight I received word that my sister-in-law is not expected to live the night. It will be a great loss to her family and my brother will especially be lost without her.

Many decades ago he was single, left in charge of five children, and had no transportation to or from work and lived in a place not quiet as good as the average shack when she literally picked him up off the streets. He would be walking to work and sometimes when it was her turn to drive the carpool she would stop and offer him a ride.

She saved his life, not in the physical sense, but she gave him a chance to have a life and they have been good together all these years.

If she had one thinbg left to say to anyone who would care to listen it would be to quit smoking. She did but it wasn't soon enough to prevent her suffering and death.

See you in church Sunday.

The Fallacy Of Islam

Muslims woulod have us believe that Muhammed is sacred and it is a crime punishable by death to recreate his image but only God is holy and no mere mortal can lay claim to that truth. The God of Islam is the very same God worshipped by the Jews and by Christians and Mohammed recognized the greatness of Jesus Christ but only afforded Him the title of a great prohet.

Yes, Jesus was a great prophet but He was much more: he was also the son of God as proven by His resurrection and ascension into heaven. In difference to Mohammed, who was only flesh and blood and now is decayed back into the earth, Jesus Christ is alive and well awaiting the word from God the father as to when He may return for his bride, the church.

There has been great tension between the Jews and the rest of the Arab world ever since Sara asked Abraham to sent Hanna and her son, Abrahams first born but not the child promised Abraham by God, away from their sight. His discendants have felt that the inheritance of Isacc belong to them and it was this jealousy that Satan used to deceive Mohammed into believing that his people were the chosen of God and all others were infedels.

To the Jew, non-Jews are Gentiles and even God loved Gentiles enough to have allowed Christ to die for us as well as the Jew. In fact the Jews role as Gods chosen people is so they could be a witness for God to the rest of the world as to whom God is and was not intended to set the Jews apart as the only people loved by God.

On copying that point, Mohammed missed the mark, teaching that God only loves Muslims and everyone else has to die.

To that point of non-conversion and death, there is a ring of truth to that but the death sentence has already been given to all st birth yet God made a way of escaping that death. We know that all men must die, good people like sweet little Grandma who had seven children and worked hard her entire life to provide for her family.

If death comes to all equally, then why does some think God unfair to let the dead remain dead? He isn't. He made a way of escape but we have to chose life. Christ offers us that choice.

Muhammed only offers death to non Muslims. That is not love. That is not of God.

Uncertainty

A teenager got off his school bus and cut through my yard as a short cut home. I stopped him and told him to walk around and not use my yard as a short cut.

The reason I did this is because I have many small plants and some wire strung between two poles for my Moon Flowers to climb on and it really isn't safe for someone unfamiliar with my yard to be walking through it. I just don't feel up to defending myself in court if a kid gets hurt while trespassing on my property.

My wife fears retaliation by ungrateful kids but I would have rather discussed the situation with him so he would understand my point of view.

How should I have handled the situation? I really don't want to see anyone get hurt and I don't want my property damaged or vandalised and I certainly don't want to get sued if someone did get injured. At the same time I would like to be on good terms with all my neighbors.

The HiccupGirl

Presumably trying to live up to her self-proclaimed "Hustla" status, Mee posted a photo of a pile of money on her bed.
During a teary jailhouse interview with the Today Show, Mee said that after her fifteen minutes of fame, "I took the path of the devil. I really did. Instead of keeping my faith with the Lord, I let the devil overcome me." She left home at 17 and spiraled in the wrong direction, finding herself facing a first degree murder charge less than two years later.
Jennifer Mee, famous as the HICCUP Girl, is now charged with Murder One

Why is it, when left to our own devices, we choice the wrong path? Is it because it is the patch of lest resistence?

see you in church.

EPA puts out global call for environment photos

These pictures and those in the following posts are some of the things I see in my environment. Fruit trees, birds galore, grape vines, flowers, and fish, are permanent fixtures while the vegtable garden is a spring/summer addition.

Ground cover

On my waterfall mound I have a variety of ground cover plants, some of which have bloomed some some have not.

Water sports

Since I redid the water fall and now have a stronger stream of water the fish have really taken to it. each morning they gather under the water fall for their a.m. water exercise class. They spend hours each morning under the waterfall.

The idiots are the other guys

It amazes me that all Democrats are crazy liberals and liars and cheats and every republican is a riligious finactic that also lies and cheats and people or neither side have a bit of sense.

On most issues both sides have valid points. Abortion is the killing of an unborn child or the terminating or an unwanted pregnacy. But it doesn't make the holder of eith view an idiot, liar or cheat.

People crossing the borders into our country with the intention of staying is creating a problem in this country. Some say we need to control it, some say we need to stop it, some say we need to find the ones that are already here and send them back home while others say it isn't a bad thing and we should ignore it.
There are valid arguements for both viewpoints.

Some things are fact. This country ecomonmic policies have gotten this country into one big ecomonmic mess. One side says the country needs to raise taxes and the other side says we need to lower taxes abd reduce spending. Everyone knows thatfor a person or family to get out of finacial trouble one either has to increase income, lower expenditures, or both.

You are, I'm sure, contacted numerous times about donating to charities and while a case can be made for each, one cannot contribute to all of them. We either give a lot to one or a little bit to several and to the rest we have to say no. Instead of raising taxes maybe we should consider an entirely new tax struture like the fair tax.

All I'm saying is that for every problem there are multiple viewpoints and one or more workable solutions but to hold views on one side of the issue does not make the person holding a different view an idiot or a liar.

Cyber trespass?

Prosecutors say it is tough to get a cyberstalking charge to stick because there has to be a pattern of harassment over the Internet. A one-time incident like this usually doesn't constitute a crime. There are, however, other charges that families can pursue, such as "computer trespass" that are easier to prove.



Cyber-trespass and ‘Unauthorized Access’ as Legal Mechanisms of Access Control: Lessons from the US Experience
Mary W. S. Wong*
+ Author Affiliations
*LLB (NUS), LLM (Cantab.), Professor of Law, Franklin Pierce Law Center, USA. E-mail: fatamagistra@gmail.com This paper was funded by the Office of Research at the Singapore Management University (SMU), where the author was an Associate Professor of Law.
Abstract
The common law doctrine of trespass to chattels has recently been revived and applied by courts in the United States (US) to cover intrusions (in the form of electronic signals) to computer systems connected to the Internet. These cases represent judicial recognition of the need to protect certain unwanted intrusions in cyberspace, though the principles developed therewith are remarkably expansive. As such, they overlap with the concept of ‘unauthorized access’ under computer misuse legislation in the US and elsewhere. This overlap has yet to be judicially acknowledged. Since the US, the United Kingdom and other common law countries not only share a common law ancestry but also ‘unauthorized access’ principles as the primary trigger for computer misuse, this paper seeks to examine the consequences of developing a broad cyber-trespass doctrine beyond the US, and its corresponding implications for judicial interpretations of ‘unauthorized access’ in the common law world.
International Journal of Law and Information Technology Vol. 15 No. 1 © Oxford University Press 2007; all rights reserved

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is the celebration of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the day when more people go to church than any other Sunday of the year. The dat of Easter vries from year to year but if a group of researchers have their way that could change.

One of the confusing things about Easter has been the sequence of events leading up to that day. There just didn't seem to be time to everything Jesus did to be done but a research has discovered that the biblical accounts do not differ as to what happened on what day nor do they differ of the day of the Lord's last supper. It seems that some apostles used a differ calendar that other apostles when writing their accounts so some were off by a day from others. It seems the correct day of the last supper was a Wednesday and, if that being so, easter Sunday could be affixed to a particular date.

Whether it will or not remains to be seen.

See you in church.

A fine series of messages

There were a few disappointments during the week, like promises from people to attend a revival meeting who broke those promises and lack of support from area churches. It may be because our church building is small, I don't know but there is something I do know. The revival worked, is on-going and will be for some time to come.

No, there are no more meetings but a revival should not end with the end of the revival meetings because then it would not be a revival. It was a super wonderful week full of blessings ahnd I am happy that I was able to attend.

sorry you were not there but I will see you in church.

Analize This

The real-life murder mystery began at about 10 on the evening of March 29, authorities say. After a long day at work, Ken Ellis was dozing in front of the television with his wife of two years when their doorbell rang. He got up to answer it, but found no one at the door, Ella Ellis told Vieira. Curious, she joined him.

Thinking that perhaps a neighbor needed assistance, they looked again. Then, just as they began closing the door, two men in black, with only their eyes visible, forced the door open, she said.

“In split seconds they extended their hands and [shot] my husband,” she told Vieira. The gunmen were silent — “no words, nothing” — and in the shock of the moment, she didn’t even notice whether both were armed, she said.

Revival

Really great services. I sent invitations to every church in the Randleman area but no support from any church. Can you believe that?

Once was churches supported each other.

That's sad.

Blog I didn't do

I have a stat counter on my blogs. I use it not because count is important but because it was free. The stat country also gives intresting information, like from what cities, states, and countries a visitor is from, what type of web browser they use, if they have a XP, &, Vista, or some other form of computer program.

Another feature of the stat counter is the listing in order of popularity the different posts I've made. This month there was an interesting entry. probably down eight or ten spots from the top was an entry from Dr. J. It isn a post I put up or one she wrote and posted from my sight or evern one I referenced. It was clearly an article she wrote and posted on her own blog, DR. J's housecalls. Why it eneded up on my blog roll, I have no idea.

For those of you who may not know who Dr. J is, I'' give you a brief introduction.

I first read her blog on Randolph is Talking because I thought it nice that a Dr. would have a site. I thought one might be able to gather information or insight into medical problems there. Well, one can but not physical medical problems, but problems with politics within the medical community and specifically those that involve Dr. J.

The first time I read her I thought she was weird and suffered from some mental condition was maybe was not a real doctor. But after reading a couple of blogs I realized the lady was a real doctor,m deadly serious, and after doing some research, I concluded she had a valid argument and I became a supporter, perhaps one of her first.

For the longest time, we read each others stuff and supported each other. I still do actually but the two of us +don't interact the way we once did. It's kind of like a couple that start out together but one gors to college and grows and has an influential life and the other stays home and raises the kids and makes a home and one day they realize they have grown apart and are no longer suited for each other.

The love and respect they once had for each other may still be there but they can no longer fulfill each others needs and it is best they spend more of their time in more fulfilling endeavors.

Anyway, she is still fighting the good fight and if she ever gets around to writing that book I want to buy a copy. She has a commanding way with words. A brilliant woman who is also interesting.

If you get a chance read her blog on her own site, Dr. J's Housecalls.

See you in church.

Revival Started

The singing was smooth and mellow, the atmosphere electic, and the preaching was everything, if not more, than it had been promised to be. I definetly feel inspired after last night kickoff to our revival 2011.

I personally dropped off an invitation to almost every church in Randleman, some in Asheboro, and some in Sophia. If I missed your church, I'm sorry. If you don't have a church you regularly attend, shame on you.

If you are planning to attend tonights service then you might want to come just a few minutes early. If you don't plan on coming, you might want to reconsider.

See you in church.

A Good Day

Monday I placed about a ton or more of rocks on the sides (inside) of my water pond. I do that for three reasons. One, it makes the pond look more natural, it helps protect the liner and three, it gives fry a place to hide. After that I mowed by lawn, then took my car to the repair shop.

I walked from the repair shop to the church and mowed the grass there and then walked back to the house where I spread four scoops of mulch in my flower beds. I then walked back to the shop and got my car then came home and tilled my garden space.

Yesterday morning I was watching my fish when one of the Koi, Showa, started swimming quickly from the back of the pond towards the front. About halfway she jumped, clearing the surface, and then did a barrell roll just after reentering the water. it was one of those moments when one wishies that they had been able to video tape.

Today I'm out to get a hair cut and put some plants in my garden.I may cut the grass at the church again today or maybe wait until Saturday, depending on how quickly the grass grew this week and what the weather will be for the remaining week.

I want the church yard to be nice for our revival.

With what is going on in the world I think it is important that we protect our heritage in the United States of American. Perhaps things are out of our control now. someone mentioned that in the book of revelations all the major countries and/or regions are mentioned except the United States. That could be because the US didn't exist when the book was written but God would have know what the world would be like during that time so it seems more likely that the USA is not a major player in that time frame.

I'll leave others to speculate as to why that would be so.

As for me, I'm out to get my hair cut today, plant some vegatables, and maybe help spread the word abouut the revival. It's going to be a good day.

I hope yours is.

See you in church.

All Fools Day

April 1st isknown as All Fools Day and the reason why isn't exactly known. It wasn't as if one day some government enacted a law on a whim that one this one day people could make fools of other people. Like many traditions, it evolved. There was a big bang and all these little ideas were swimming around until they found try land and then they crawled ashore and became fools.

The most likely cause of the moniker was the fact the April 1 was once New Year's Dayand some people had a hard time accepting that so they continued to celebrate April 1 as the first day of the year. I can understand that for it would be hard to adjust if suddenly we were told that August first would be the first day of the new year. Maybe we would have people we called january fools.

I have no idea who thought January first would make a good day to start a new year but it really isn't. It's almost the beginning of winter and it's cold, gray, and dreary outside. April makes more sense. It's near the beginning of spring when the earth begins to warm and plants bloom and begin again to grow and produce. The renewing of spirit and life.

So you tell me who is the bigger fool: the people who thought the dead of winter to be the best time to start a new year or the people who refused to give up the idea that Spring was the renewing of life?

Revival

Don't forget about the revival beginning April 10th at 6 and running forward at 7 pm each evening at One Way Baptist Church in Randleman.

The church is on Sunset just off of Stout Street.

It's important that you be there.

Really. It is.

Honest.

To control or not to control

- Anger over the burning of the Muslim holy book at a Florida church fueled a second day of deadly violence half a world away in Afghanistan, where demonstrators set cars and shops ablaze Saturday in a riot that killed nine protesters, officials said.


It seems what is lacking here is the ability to control ones anger. Some muslims, it seems, are in bad need of anger management classes.

The truth about American Muslims

That's an article on MS NBC that I didn't read but I did hear an interview with a sweet sounding Muslim girl the other day while listening to the radio. She was explaining the non-violent ways of most Muslims. "Americans think we are all the same and I'd just like to hit them in the head and get their attention."

Americans are all the sam--isn't that the basis of what we call prejudice. Judging a whole class or race of people as being the same is prejudicial. And certainly hitting them in the head is not a non violent act.

Someone she just didn't convince me she was really as sweet as she pretended.

Bullies

I was a eighth grade student at Grandview Jr. High in Hickory, NC when this other pupil decided to make me his play toy. He wasn't much taller than I was, maybe a couple of inches but he was built like a rock and I was this really thin kid. School was almost over for the year when he started school there. I never saw him after that year either so I am clueless as to whatever became of this kid.

I remember walking into Mr. Caldwell's class and saying hello to one of my friends. This guy just walked over to me, grabbed me by my shoulders and jammed his knee into my thigh. "That's a Charley horse" he said.

It hurt, really bad, really really bad."

I said nothing.

The next morning I came to class and as I started to take my seat, this same guy came over to me, grabbed my shoulders, and kicked me in my thigh.

It hurt as bad the second time as it did the first.

The third morning I came to class and when this guy walked over to me I knew what was coming. He grabbed my shoulders and as quickly as I could I shoved him backwards. He fell over one of the desks but didn't hit the floor. He reached out and grabbed my shirt in his left hand and while holding on tightly, he pulled his right arm back and made his right hand into a fist.

I brought my right leg up and caught his left thigh with my right knee. He doubled over in pain. "I'll meet you behind the gym after school" he said. "Unless you're a coward you'll be there."

I didn't think he would show. I was also hoping he wouldn't show but he was there and with about twenty other students. I don't know if they were there to support him or just to see him beat a little kid up but in any case they were all standing behind him. It would have been too embarrassing not to fight but my fear of being hurt badly made me almost swallow my pride and run home.

I handed my books to my friend and walked up to the bully. I just hoped he would quit hitting me before I was hurt too badly.

He stood there with his fist balled up. "I'm gonna kick your butt," he promised.

"Go ahead," I said.

"No, you hit me first" he shot back.

I did. As hard as I could hit anything or anyone.

He really wasn't expecting me to hit him. He thought I was going to play the game of "No, you hit me first" with him but I decided to get this fight started and over with. I honestly thought that first punch would be the only one I would get in during the fight. It was.

He turned and walked away from me, tears streaming down his face, while his supporters just stood there in shock. Slowly, without anyone uttering a word, the pupils who came to watch me get beat up hung their heads and walked away.

I never saw him again but I learned a valuable lesson from him that day.

All Fools Day

Several years ago there was a meat cutter who was happy and satisfied doing exactly what he was doing and absolutely did not want to be transferred or promoted so I decided to pull a prank on him for 4-1.

I downloaded a copy of the company emblem and matched the companies type face and designed an official looking letter informing the meat cutter that he had been promoted and was being sent to Raleigh for training. I had the letter delivery by the store manager and the department head.

The meat cutter was absolutely livid. He took his uniform off, threw it on the floor and was stomping around like a scared chicken, muttering something about "I'll quit before I'll be promoted or transferred." Finally, after several minutes of his tantrum he started to calm so I handed him a card and said "congratulations". he said "I don't want your card."

I said "You will want this one."

Reluctantly he took the card from me and opened it.

"April Fool" it read.

Collecting rain

looking ahead at the weather forcast it looks as though we will receive all the rain for the spring and summer in the last half of March and the first half of April. I advise anyone who will need water for the yard this summer to collect it now. It may be the last we see for awhile.

Seriously.

Idiots

The newspaper reported on its website that Michel hit Wilkins in the chest and that he also hit a security guard. It also reported that Michel told police he attacked Wilkins because Wilkins owed him money for suits bought several years ago.

Basketball analyist and former NBA star domminique Wilkins was attacked by a former NBA referree after a game.

Note to ref: if you believe someone owes you money, take them to court. That is why we have a legal system. That, and to keep idiots like you off the street.

What do these men have in common?

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Besides being former Presidents and male, and white, all these fellows were younger when they were elected President than I am now but one would never know it.

A flash of lightning

At 8:18 am I observed a flash of lightning followed in about 10 seconds with a roll of thunder.

Thunder is not a cold weather phenomenon although it does occur occasionally during the winter months. Something else is common to warm weather storms rarely seen in the winter is a drop in temperature. When the skies cloud up and rain falls, temperature will drop during the warmer months and rise in the winter.

My pond is almost full now and it is time to switch over and refill my rain barrels during these rainy days. There will come a time shortly when I'll be glad I've got the extra hundred gallons of water in reserve.

I saw my big fish (17' and just shy of four pounds) playing in the waterfall while I was watching the rain. I'm glad its raining and if it wasn't I would have been staring out the door wishing it was instead of looking out the door wishing I could get outside and do something. Typical human, never satisfied with the status quo.

Kind of like that article I read last night about this writer who decided to explore why men sign up for Dolly Madison, a web site for married people who want to cheat. Sixty two percent of the members are men. Sometimes instead of enjoying what we have we wish for what we don't but if we had what we don't we would still want what we had. It's not a matter of circumstance but one of attitude. I personally choose to be happily married and I am.

So I'll just kick back and enjoy the rain, thinking of its many benefits and be glad it cam today.

another stupid lawsuit

Bret Michaels is suing the Tonies and CBS because he walked into a piece of the set and six months later he almost died. He claims he wasn't properly instructed how to exit the stage.
Did he ask?

If one doesn't know what he is doing then maybe he should ask someone for instructions.

Smart Woman

The air conditioner malfunctioned the other day and we called the repairman. We payed an eighty-five dollar service call fee and were hit with a sixteen hundred dollar repair bill estimate. I passed on the repair until I talked it over with my wife.

She negotiated with the company and got the price down to 1200 dollars and then she got a 10% discount by signing up up a service contract to have the unit serviced twice a year.

Service contacts on the home heating/cooling systems have always proven invaluable to me in the past and with the $400.00 bill I had two months ago to fix the heat maybe I can forstall replacing the entire unit for a couple of years. If I can then the service contract will have paid for itself. If I had had it last year maybe the problems could have been caught in time and I would have saved myself some money.

Call me a fool

Dear Webmaster,

My name is Sherry, and my company Topspot-Promotions represents online sport sites in various domains. We are looking at reputable sites to offer them profitable opportunities to help promote some of my clients sites.

We would like to know if you are interested in working with us on this. For further details please don't hesitate to contact me.

Cheers,
Sherry Williams
Advertising Consultant
Business Development Department
Sherry.Williams@topspot-promotions.net
http://www.topspot-promotions.net


I received the above message in my e-mail. to have someone comment on one of my posts is a rare occasion although I actually did get a conversation started a couple of times over the years. I doubt seriously any company worth its salt is going to be reading my blogs in search of a site to place advertisers with. I have two sites, for those of you who do not know that. One is basically for what I think is news and the other is for venting or or thoughts or feelings or whatever I wish to post there. Sometimes I post the same thing on both sites and sometimes I post whatever I want to on either site so, having no firm game plan so to speak, how can anyone match an advertiser with my sites(unless of couarse, we are talking about ads from mental health facilities as one probably has to be crazy to read my blogs)?

Contacting me was the first tip-off that the company was not legitimate. I don't do business with people who contact me door-to-door nor do I do business with people who contact me via e-mail. If I want or need something I'll seek it out.

Secondly, contacting me was the second sign that they were, or aren't legitimate. I know, it's the same reason twice, but I use the tip because its a blog, not a website, yet she wants to help me build a website. If you have read my blog, you would know I'm definetly different. I'm a cartoon character from Mars for goodness sake.

Thirdly, I knew it was a scam because I did my reasearch on line before I responded.

Less people would be taken advantaged of if they thought before they acted. Act, don't react.

Skill needs to be taught

A skill that needs to be taught in drivers Education is how to control a car that goes off the road. It seems to be the one thing that people panic over, especially teenagers, and it is costly in terms of injuries and death. If drivers only knew what to do stories like this could be avoided :NCHP officials said the vehicle ran off the right side of the road at a curve, lost control and struck three trees before overturning. Both driver and passenger were killed.

Just teenagers, band members, going home after working at a concession stand. Yes, the were driving a little faster than the speed limit, 65 in a 55, but that had less to do with what happened than why it happened.

The kids were probably talking and the driver let the wheels drop off the payment on the right side. had he known to lightly apply the brakes and steer straight until he could safely return the car to the payment he would be alive today and so would his passenger. Inexperienced drivers try to correct the situation by jerking the steering wheel and trying to get the tires back on the road. As soon as the tires hit the payment, the driver discovers he over corrected and is shot across the road and into the nearest solid object, be it tree, telephone pole, or tractor-trailer

financial disaster

I listen to clark Howard and he receives mant phone calls of peple overwhelmed by debt, most of which is due to poor financial decisions on their part mainly caused by overuse of credit cards and often aggavated by a job loss.

I too found myself on hard times due to a business venture gone bad. I lost almost everything eventually. I lost my car, my home, and least importantly, my wife. I know, one would think keeping the family together, especially during difficult times would be a top priority and it may have been except she was the main culpert in the business going bad and when there was nothing left for her to siphon off, she bailed on me.

She might have stayed if I had chosen to file for bankruptcy but my parents would have either had to float a loan on their own or lose their home and I thought it wrong of me to put them in that situation.

I had some hard choices to make but I did what I had to do. I worked part time jobs, looked for every conceivable way to cut expenses and negotiated with the bank to reach an agreement with both could live with.

Cutting expenses may not seem like a viable alternative but one would be surprised if one is forced to make that decision. I grewas much of my own food as possible, lived off of three for a dollar frozen buritos and dried beans, took care of the elderly in exchange for a place to sleep and wrote articles for money in my limited free time.

Perhaps the best way to make the hard choices is to plan for them long before bad things happen. I don't care how little one makes, a dollar or two can be saved each week and if started soon enough, by the time disaster strikes, one would probably be more than prepared to handle it.

Pay yourself first, make the hard choices now, and prepare for a downturn and you will survive.

Another one! What's going on?

FOND DU LAC, Wis. — A Wisconsin man opened fire on police during a six-hour standoff at a house, killing one officer and critically wounding another, authorities said.

I have never heard of so many police officers being gunned down in such a period of time. It seems every week we are reading about a policeman or two being killed or seriously wounded in a gun battle.

Last year (I think) a man walked into a doughnut shop and shot three police officers, killing two of them. The nation was shocked. In the last six months there have been almost weekly reports of officers being killed. So many reports in deed that we are becoming accustomed to the headline.

When police officers become afraid for their lives it puts all of us at a greater danger.

I don't know what we can do to turn this situation around but a solution needs to be found.

planting time

Monday is the day I start planting my garden.

To combat the drought I am planting my melons in tubs so they will have access to moist soil.

I am soaking my morning glory and moon flower seeds as I type.

I have some plants growing in my bedroom.

Everything else I'll plant Monday from seeds.

I have a peach tree started and several apple trees I started from seed sproting and a bunch of Hibiscus trees.

i love spring.

Some things are baffling

While looking at pictures of the disaster in Japan, one can't help but notice how some strutures seem to escape. It is that way in tornadoes, huricanes and fires too. One building survived an earthquake, a tidal wave, and a ship perched on its roof while everything around it is broken into kindling.

It's baffling as to why or how but that's the nature of the beast.

Without the pictures

Spring Revival and Spiritual Renewal

Rev. Charles Garrett, Pastor, One Way Baptist




A new spring is dawning bringing in a freshness that has been missing during the cold winter months. People stir, anxious to be outside, working the soil, planting, growing, becoming one with nature. The apple tree, the mighty oak, the beautiful dogwood tree, come to life and the tulip bulbs push their heads from the cold hard soil into the newly warm air. It is a time for renewing of life.

While drinking in the wonders of nature, it is important to remember the important things of life like family and friends and the God that put His blessings on this great nation. At One Way Baptist, we are celebrating this renewal with a spring revival. It is our way of celebrating a new season, of rekindling our spirit of thankfulness, and reminding ourselves of the things that are truly important. Come celebrate the rekindling with us with guest pastor Rev. W. A. Seawell, Jr. from Hilltop Baptist of Thomasville, NC.

Rev. Seawell is a much sought after speaker and One Way is fortunate to have him for our services









What: Revival

When: Starting April 10, 2011 at six o'clock and running nightly starting at 7:OO p.m.

Where:. One Way Baptist Church, 604 Sunset St. (off Stout St) Randleman, NC 27317

For more information spiritual guidance or counseling, contact Pastor Charles Garrett 687-3079








Rev. William Arthur Seawell, Jr.

A new way

I was watching a video of the huge tidal wave that hit Japan and thinking about all the damage done and I got to thinking about insurance and it seems we americans have been going about things all wrong. When we purchase a car or a house, we don't actually own that property until it is paid for so I think the actually owner of the property should be the one required to pay for the insurance, which is in most cases the bank.

Novel Idea

How to Get Gaddafi
Published - Mar 13 2011 10:49PM EST

By Niall Ferguson, The Daily Beast

Mr. President, don't send guns to the Libyans. Send them a piece of paper. In this week's Newsweek, Niall Ferguson has a message for Obama-take advice from President Gerald Ford. Yes, President Ford.

President Obama is reluctant to intervene in the bloody civil war now under way in Libya. As a senior aide told The New York Times last week, "He keeps reminding us that the best revolutions are completely organic." I like that notion of organic revolutions-guaranteed no foreign additives, exclusive to Whole Foods. I like it because, like so much about this administration, it is both trendy and ignorant.

The new earth

Alan Boyle writes:This week's earthquake caused the main island of Japan to shift as much as 13 feet to the east, seismologists say. That may sound like a shocker, but it's just one of the natural changes that come along with an 8.9-magnitude temblor — like the 1.8-microsecond speed-up of Earth's daily rotation and the 6.5-inch shift in Earth's axis

Actually it's the same earth but it is different because it has been moved because of the earthquake.

Another frivilous lawsuit.

Starbucks is being sued over tip jars that led to the death of 53-year-old Roger Kreutz. The lawsuit was filed three years after a Missouri altercation.

On March 3, 2008, Kreutz chased down then 19-year-old Aaron Poisson after seeing the culprit nab a tip jar with less than $5 inside it. The two physically struggled outside Poisson’s car, but Poisson eventually broke free. He then backed his Ford out of a parking spot and over Kreutz, who later died of head injuries.

Kuertz’s family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in St. Louis County Circuit Court on Monday, but not against Poisson. They’re blaming Starbucks, who they allege “invited criminal behavior” by leaving tip jars “within reach of customers.”

[The lawsuit] alleges that Starbucks “did not employ security to prevent the perpetration of such crimes” and that it “invited the act of perpetration of said crime” by having a tip jar.

As a “direct and proximate” result of this, Kreutz was killed after he was hit by the car, the filing claims.

It says Starbucks had a duty to “exercise reasonable care” to protect Kreutz or give him adequate warning against harm.


If the tip jar is not in reach of the customers how are they supposed to put the tips in the jar? No one instructed the clerk to chase the crook or to have an altercation with him.

no football?

It seems for the time being that no football will be played next year in the NFL. Some of you will be devastated by the news, some will be disappointed and some will be filled with despair like one former player, a pro bowl quality running back who is trying to come back after a four year absence from the league. He is jobless and broke and his only hope is to play another year of football. Now, it looks as if he'll never have that chance.

I can understand the players objections to an 18 game schedule and playing is hard on the body and when they signed their contracts the season was only 16 games and I can understand the owners wanting to get more games in to increase receipts so they can afford to pay the players.

I, for one, think a sixteen game schedule is too long and eighteen would be unbearable. I think the season should began as a playoff system. Lose a game and you are done for the season. Last one standing wins it all and then we can all do something more fun and interesting than watching football.

A fool and his life are soon parted

The man was swept away after he and two friends reportedly traveled to the shoreline to take photos of the incoming tsunami waves, Lt. Todd Vorenkamp said. His friends made it back to shore.

Japan suffers a 8.9 earthquake and tidal waves that killed hundreds and warnings were issued to all countries east of there including the western coast of the United States of america. With hours of advance warning what does this idiot do but go get a camera and go down to the beach to take pictures of an incoming tidal wave.

What a fool.

Of course if he has any family anywhere they will probably file a lawsuit agaist the city, county, and state, the Coast Guard, and Japan, claiming it was their fault he was killed.

11 year old gang raped

"Maturity or not I'm pretty sure she knew what she was doing," Robin Smith, 24, a cashier in Cleveland, said as she shopped this week.

The girl had been seen dressed provocatively and wearing makeup playing near the place she was raped.

Some people think it was the girls fault she was raped by eighteen men.

Is clerk party to thief

"at a clerk smiled and held the door open for Lindsay Lohan when she walked out of a jewelry store that later accused her of stealing a $2,500 necklace"

According to an article the above quote was taken from, it has been hinted at that the clerk allowed Miss Lohan to walk out with the necklace knowingly and may be complicent in the thief.

First and foremost, even if the clerk participated Linsay Lohan still stole the necklaceand in order to claim the clerk was complicent ould first have to admit her quilt.

Secondly, the clerk may have know the necklace was being stolen but could do nothing about it.

Remember a year or so ago where two security guards at a Best Buy were fired after they apprehended a shoplifter? Best Buy had a policy in place that probids pursuing a shoplifter outside the store, which is what the security guys did. The place where I work has the same policy plus no non member of management can stop a person for shoplifting.

I do not know the policy of the jewelry store where the clerk woorked nor the laws of the staste the store is located in but if the incident had happend in North Carolina, then all the clerk was allowed to do was hold the door open, smile. and let Miss Lohan leave. To do otherwise would have been a violation of the law.

Pond Cleaning

I have been waiting for the perfect combination of time, warm weather, and rain in the forecast to clean my water pond but the likely hood of that occurring seems remote so I cleaned it after work yesterday.

The water was cold and when my right shoe was sucked off by the mud it wasn't long before my foot became numb. My neighbor, who recently separated from his family (or rather they separated themselves from him) offered his help except that he was afraid he might get his shoes muddy.

The job entails draining a 2,000 gallon pond, catching fish and transferring them to a second pond, moving about 500 rocks and 50 water plants, pulling the liner out and cleaning it.

This time I had two sections of carpet (about 10 x 12 each) to place under the liner. The carpet will help protect the liner plus next time I have to clean the pond, I won't have to deal with so much mud.

I did get the carpet in the hole and the liner reinstalled but placing the pond plants back into the pond and lining the pond with the rocks will have to wait for another day.

I drained the contents of my rain barrels into the pond and left the drain hoses draped into the pond liner and the rain barrel valves open in anticipation of the rains today and tomorrow. Forecast calls for heavy rains today saying we might get up to two inches.

I know it is seems to be asking a lot for two inches of rain to fill a 4 foot deep hole but considering much of the water running off the roof of the house will drain into the pond via the rain barrels and one can see that two inches of rain might be sufficient as the rain barrels add an additional 1,300 square feet of surface to the 196 square feet of pond surface. The last hard rain added a thousand gallons of water to my pond which would have been a good thing except I was letting it get low on purpose.

My fish are getting huge. The four Koi are about two years old, give a week or two and the largest two have to weigh five or six pounds. They will really enjoy the extra depth of the pond this year. Last year it was only 2 feet deep at the deepest part and eighteen inches at the shallow end. This year the pond will be five feet deep at the deep end and three feet at the shallow end while most of the pond will be at about four feet deep.

My pump is plenty big enough to handle the water flow but I need a better filtration system. Hopefully I can find the right plans and come up with the money to build a good system this year.

The waterfall mound has filled in nicely and should be a beautiful sight this year. I'll post some pictures of the water pond and the fish when everything is in full bloom.

No. 13 UNC beats No. 4 Duke, wins ACC

What a shocker and it wasn't even close.

Lake still closed

Randleman Lake will not open until April 1, 2011 due to the need to cut costs since the lake operated in the red last year.

NFL labor Talks

It's hard to care about multi-millionaire's wanting more and the people who have want they want (owners) and I don't. I can't believe anyone really thinks football has more action than baseball. After all, the football is only in play 7 to 8 minutes per game.

Actually a lot of sports games are boring like bowling, golf, football, soccer, stock car racing, and almost anything involving snow.

Basketball is sort of an exception: the sport has a lot of action but is still boring.

I haven't a clue what the football players are negotiating for and I really don't care. If they never play another game it would be okay with me.

I know some people eat and sleep football but it is supposed to onoy be a game and games are played to entertain us, just like watching a good drama on TV or seeing an action flick at the theater. We don't see Oscar bars where people are gathered around a TV set, beer in hand, betting and braggin about the best movie, actor, supporting actor, what-ever, like it was what life is about.

Sorts should be no different.

I've been a Giants (baseball Giants) fan since I was eleven. Win or lose, I've been a steadfast fan. But they aren't my team. They won the World Series this year but they were not the best team in baseball. Just the best on a particular day. I love the game: playing, coaching, watching. It's just more fun if one has a favorite team but some people just take it too serious. It's not the stuff life is made for. Your family is.

men wear their favorite teams colors but you never see anyone wearing a jacket that says "I love my wife." Some people have bumper stickers that proclaim their affection for their dog or their truck but not their famiily.

I for one am not crazy about football but I am about my wife. I care what happens with her. Unlike a football fan, if my wife has a bd day I'm there to support her and help her. I never boo nor wish I could trade her for the one Joe has and the one Joe has waiting in the wings, to be named later.

Nope, football players want to quit playing for awhile it's perfectlyokay with me.

Stock market Rollacoaster

Hang on, here we go again. Just as my 401K hit a new high the stock market took a big downturn. I can't afford to be conservative but its getting harder to hang on as I continue to get closer to retiring.

It wouldn't be nearly as scary if my body would hold out but it is getting more difficult to function. I'm just glad I need a lot less than most folks because I've learned to live with less. The average 401k has more in it than mine does but the average boomer makes a lot more than me and doesn't have much more than I do so in that perspective I'm doing fine. Plus my personal savings has the potential to triple in the next few years. How, you ask?

For one, my social security checks will replace my take home pay plus I'll receive a small inheritance. Also, if I work past age 66, everything I make I can save plus I may receive a small sum from a service connected disability.

It's all good anyway. I've always been a survivor and I'll make it through the retirement years just like I have through life. Faith, hard work, and clean living.

Asshole, part two

Michael Grzybowicz


Look up asshole on Southgate NBews and you will find this man. He raped a two year old at seaworld.

What hard drugs can do.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41787410/?gt1=43001

copy and paste the above link for some revealing photos.

Maria Aragon

Isaw the you Tube video last week of Maria Aragon or shall I say I watched part of it. I wasn't impressed bt the music, the song, or the singing. I guess I'm just not a Lady GaGa fan.

Being manly can kill you

One would think that being the weaker sex, physically that is, would be a disadvantage in the survival game but being less physically strong would, I would think, make one less likely to be aggressive in a physical way.

Watching TV and reading novels and seeing news headlines makes one believe that most murder victims are women killed by serial killers but the truth is that isn't likely to happen, even is a high risk professional like being a crack addicted street prostitute. Only 100 or so people are killed by serial killers a year out of 15,000 murder victims. Women are most likely to be killed by their husband (half of the 3,000 women killed in the US are murdered by their spouse).

Eighty percent of all murder victims are men though.

Wanted: Very Dangerous

He has black hair and brown eyes and two tattoos: a rose with the word “Teon” on one arm and the words “Thug Life” on his chest. He was last seen driving south on High Point Road in a burnt orange Ford LTD with a white vinyl top.

Police ask those with information to call Crime Stoppers at 373-1000.

Shocking News

The controversial police office, Lt. Hinson, of the Greensboro Police Department has been promoted. He is now a captain.

Feeding fish

The unusual high temperatures have caused my fkish to become active and search for food so for the past two days I have fed them. Next week it is supposed to turn cold again with snow possible in the forecast. I'm not sure how that is going to affect my fish.

I did get my garden space tilled the other day (Thursday, I believe) so it will be much easier to work with when planting time comes.

My wife heard frogs out by the pond tonight. I don't hear much myself.

It Isn't what It Is

I was hungry for some Oriental food and I was in Asheboro the other day so i decided it was about time I stopped and get some. I saw this place called the Hibacci Grill and not knowing anything about it, I decided to take a chance. The selection was good and the food okay but I was surprised to see a pan of meat labelled "Prime Rib."

The meat had been cut into 3" x 3" chucks about an inch or so thick and displayed in a pan of some sort of liquid. I've never seen prime rib displayed in such a manner before so I decided to try a piece although I was skeptical of the signs claim. I had every right to be.

In my professional opinion. the beef, and it was beef, was chuck. Chuck has an unmistakable flavor and is stringy and tends to be dry is overcooked. It is best served a little pink but that is hard to maintain on a buffett line.

Prime rib differs from a rib eye in thatg it is cooked as a roast so only the outside is browned and when sliced, the meat is a bright pink. If overcooked, it will tough but not become dry like chuck does.

I know now why the pan was still full even though it was after the normal 11-2 lunch crowd had finished eating.

Will I go back to Hibachi Grill? The price was reasonable: For all one can eat plus drink, the bill was like $10 and some change. The food was fair. I would have to be in one of those moods where nothing but chinese food will satisfy me and I am already in Asheboro, and have to other place to go to satify my cravings to consider it.

Half Price

Obama said he would reduce the decifit by 50% by the end of his first term. Most people take that to mean that he would run a surplus high enough that the national debt would decrease. But it is becoming obvious that what he means is that if the deficit was 4 billion dollars additional to the existing debt in year one thyen by year four the country will only go into debt an addtionbal $2 billion dollars.

New Lights for Randleman

New traffic lights are being installed at the intersection of Academy and Old High Point Road in Randleman. That intersection is the site of the third round-a-bout. I am assuming the lights are being installed as a means to redirect traffic safely as work is done on the intersection to change it from an intersection to the traffic circle and are not meant to be a permanent feature, just like the jobs that were "created" from our stimulus money, which is where the money came from to build the round-a-bout.

Mabarak resigns

What a difference a few hours make. I listened to his speech with interestexpecting to hear him announce his resignation. At the beginning of the speech he promised tio give the people what they wanted. Apparently Obama did too because Obama had announced earlier in the day that history would be made when Mubarak gave his speech. In a way, I suppose it was because it is the first time I ever remember a US President making an announcement of grave importance and being wrong.

Mubarak said in his speech he would not cave to foreign pressure which I understood to mean he didn't give a damn what Obama wanted so I doubt he changed his mind because Obama was embarrassed he announced something was going to happen that didn't. Murbarak probably believed that if he assured the people that he would use his remaining time in office to ensure a smooth transition out of office the people would accept that and go on home. He was wrong.

What happened in Eygpt is a rare event indeed. Most revolutions require plenty of bloodshed. I was pleased when the Army moved in to protect the protesters from attacks by pro-government forces.

Thinking back over US history, had the mindset of today been the prevailing mindset 150 years ago, would history then judge Lincoln to be barbaric? How often today does sentiment rest with the factions in a country trying to separate itself from the mother country like in the breakup of the Soviet Union?

The Eygptians toppled their government peacefully and Sudan divided itself without bloodshed and all this happened within the month. How sad that the Islamic nations cannot let Israel abide in peace. The Jewish people have been the subject of so much hate and violence over the course of their history and only wants to live in peace. Considering what they have been through it is quite understandable their reluntance to trust any Arab country.

I wish that the peaceful change of governement as a result of the Eygptian revolution was the prelude to peace in the middle east but in truth may prove only the beginning of the next global war. If the brotherhood get a good foothold on the leadership, who is to stop them?

Not us, I'm afraid.

What Obama said

"What is absolutely clear is that we are witnessing history unfold," Obama told a crowd

In Obama's statements yesterday propr tp Mubareks sepech Obama left listeners with the impression that Muberek intended to step down immediately but as we all know from Mubareks speech yesterday it just isn't going to happen. It also seemed apparent that the USA had suggested strongly that Mubarek resign and I believe Obama was sure he had convinced Mubarek to do so but the truth is Obama failed in his attempt to control events in Egypt and has actually ended up with egg on his face for announcing a change which wasn't.

Video Won't Work

I have been trying to upload a short video to my blog for two days but it just won't do it and BLOGGER is no help has they have a forum, not a help section, and I don't have time to sit around and wait on someone to answer that thing.

Does anyone have any useful ideas?

The clip is less than six minute's long and in the video file of om computer under documents.

Free Sermon

Reasons NOT to attend One Way Baptist Church in Randleman:

1. The church is small
2. The church building is small
3. The church has few programs
4. The preacher is long winded
5. The preacher is old-fashioned
6. The preacher is not an apologist
7. The preacher is not an expositor
8. The church is not a social club

Reasons to attend One Way Baptist Church:

1. The church is small but wants to grow by adding converts and workers
2. The church has few programs but lots of opportunities
3. The preacher is long-winded and we view it as a good thing as it is inspired preaching.
4. The preacher is old fashioned
5. The preacher is not an apologist
6. The preacher is not an expositor
7. The church has a strong belief in God and trust in Jesus Christ and a love for one another that is rarely found.
8. It is a little light in a dark place. Come early; seating is limited and the services are inspiring.

Sarah Palin, serious candidate or laughing stock?

John mcCain was desperate to revitalize a dying campaign. He needed to find a candidate that would counter Clinton, Obama, and youth as his running mate. He was viewed as too old, too white, and too much like George W. Bush. Who better, he thought, than a young, beautiful, dynamic, proven candidate to shore up his sinking campaign. He choose Sarah Palin.

It didn't work for him. It could have had she been someone people could take seriously. She has the charisma, the fire, and the ambition to be more than she is capable of being. Many men, in thier dreams, are capable of pitching that perfect game in a World Series, or put on a exhibition of broken field running in pulling out the Super Bowl for their team, but it reality all we can do is buy some tickets to a regular season game.

Reality just hasn't sunk in for Sarah Palin yet. When it comes to answering substance questions like "what newspspaers do you read?" or "What was the Reagan Doctrine" or any of a host of other questions a viable candidate should know, she doesn't have a clue.

Adolph Hitler was a master of emotion, as are Penecostal Holiness preachers. if a person can get the mindless masses all worked into an emotional fernzy, they can lead you anywhere, even into murdering millions of people and into putting your life on the line in the belief you deserve to rule the world.

The truth is, the people were innocent and the world is just too big and nasty to be ruled by anyone man. Few us us ever make it to the big leagues. Sarah Palin is like the Scare Crow on the Wizard of Oz: she may be lovable but "if she only had a brain".

Too True

One of my co-workers asked me todday "Who will win the Super Bowl, Pittsburg or Green Bay?" and I said "yes".

It takes one to know one.

"Religious leaders are masters of intimidation and veiled threats, and their followers aren’t much better"

According to a blogger, teachers do a poor job of teaching evolution in schools because they are afraid of religious people. Balderdash and baloney.

Evolution is a theory and arguing with a religious person is no more like arguing with a wall than to argue with a contraction that those little red squares are bricks. Just because you do not believe in God or the Genesis account of creation does not make it not so. To a religious person who accepts that premise as true, you are the one who is stubborn and foolish .

I can make the statement that evolutionists have had to use the constitutional provision meant to protect people from the government forcing a particular form of worship upon them to prevent the truth from being taught in school because they just don't want to accept the truth.

That statement might not be true either.

Maybe the truth is that many teachers are just not convinced that evolution is anything more than a theory and not a provable at that and maybe many accept the biblical account of creation and are being forced to teach something that they themselves do not believe is true.

On Purpose?

I wonder sometimes if Duke loses a basketball game on purpose? With just a little over 4 weeks until the NCAA playoffs begin, I wonder if Duke lost the game just to put themselves in a better position to win? I mean, St. John's at just lost 5 out of 6 games and Duke just moved from 4Th to third in the rankings. To have played so poorly and lost to a struggling team so badly almost seems like it had to be done intentionally. Making only 1 of 13 three point shots and shooting only 27% from the field is bad play against anyone but against St. Johns this year has to be embarrassing. The final score was 93-78. Whenever have you heard of Duke losing that bad?

Sometimes being undefeated and all powerful works to a teams advantage by them being able to intimidate opponents but sometimes it can inspire other teams to play on a higher level. Sometimes being the best can make a team cocky and overconfident. maybe Duke thinks that if it comes into the tournament looking less than perfect and beatable it might not intimidate other teams but not inspire them too play at that higher level either, enabling Duke to play thier normal game and increase their changes for success.

The weather

Sunday was an absolutely beautiful day while today promises to be anything but. Wednesday may be warm but also rainny. Winter isn't over by a long shot and with the word snow in the forcast next week, we might expect another panic at the grocery stores although that is usually not necessary.

Last week I was told "they changed the forcast and we are expecting bad snowstorms Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday."

Yea, that was true but only if one lived in the North East. North Carolina is not in the North East.

It may snow again this year. Winter isn't officially over until March 20th although snow after that date is always a possibility. Last year we did have some cold snaps after that date that spoiled some plantings of mine. I'll not make that mistake again this year. Most years my seedlings would have been okay but last year was just freaky because winter, although warm so they say, just didn't seem to want to go away. I'm hoping this year when its over, its over.

Still, I'll be mor cautious /this year in protecting my tender plants.

I've got my garden pace layed out and a brand new garden tiller to help me this year.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Days like yesteday have me dreraming of spring. People were firing up the grill yesterday and enjoying nature. Today, it's back inside, especially if we get any of the rain in the forecast.

Well, stay warm and stay dry and be in church on Sundays.

Singing the Star Spangled Banner

I think I mentioned this in another post but there is again another controversy about the song. Seems a 16 year old girl has been instructed to sing the song the traditional way after some complaints and now there are cries of racism because she is black.

In my opinion, color has nothing to do with how the song is sung and accepted as okay or rejected as not okay. When the song is sung the way it is supposed to be sung it leaves me with chill bumps. When singers try to change it, especially the last line, it leaves me cold. I believe if a singer really understood the circumstances surrounding the events described in that song, they would be less likely to "make it their own" and realize it belongs to everyone.

I've heard song in there original version and it was good but a singer came along and sung it their way and not only had a hit but made a classic out of it. Other times I've heard singers take a great song, try to make it their own, and left the song as forgettable as the singer was. But singing the Star Spangled Banner isn't about changing a song so the singer will be remembered or trying to sing a version that will become unforgettable, but about honoring those who held up the flag under the tremendous bombardment by the British Naval forces and the effect that had on the war prisoners.

Change the tune if you will: just make it about the men who died and what they died for and not about you.

The History of Baseball by Ken Burns

Excellent work of art.

I finished the movie and donated it to the library in Randleman so stop in and check it out.

News 14 online poll

Should community colleges have the ability to ban admission to students who appear to pose a significant threat?
Yes
No
Only if they are American citizens.

(re-posted from Marvin's Observations)

Baseball
I am really enjoying the tapes my son gave me for Christmas about baseball. It's great to explore the history of the game and to learn the personalities of some of the old players, managers and innovators of the game.

Growing up I played a lot of sports. I played football and ran the mile on the track team as well as playing baseball. I remember my first track meet. I really had no training but was drafted by the coach after my performance on "field day", an event in which all the students were required to entire at least three events. I choose pull-ups, the softball throw, and the mile run. I finished second in pull-ups and was leading in the softball throw until a much bigger boy made his toss and beat me by three yards. I won my heat in the mile run, beating one of the track stars who ran that event on the track team.

When I ran my first race at College Park Junior High, I didn't not know about pacing myself and gave out at the end of the third leg and was soon passed by all the other runners. I wanted to give up when all the other runners had finished and I still had a hundred or so yards to go. The fans encouraged me to finish so I did to a cheering crowd. It felt great.

I did some amazing things playing football, especially considering I was a little fellow back then. I was especially good at kick-off and punt returns and my aggressive running style made me a hard man to tackle but as the other players grew and I didn't it proved to be a more painful experience than I cared to endure.

To some, baseball seems a slower and more subdued game than football but I find that true only if one views the game as a whole rather than concentrating on individual battles, defensive posturing, and strategies.

Most sports play not only against another team but also against the clock and often times a game seems foolish when it becomes obvious that the losing team cannot possible win, even if the team that is ahead goes home but the game still goes on because there is time left on the clock. That is the height of boredom to me.

In baseball, it does not matter how far behind one team is they always have a chance to win. As long as they do not make three outs, an inning can last forever. The game is simple yet intricately difficult at the same time.

My Dad and his three sons played backyard football for five years in a vacant lot beside the house and once Dad understood the rules of the game, he and I never lost to my two brothers until the very last time we played. He had gotten too old to move quickly and I had grown too fat to run.

It was fun but since my two brothers played together, I believe that had much to do with the strained relationship among us. My two brother remained close but I have always been left out of the loop.

Baseball, on the other hand, forged lasting memories from the earliest days from playing cow pasture ball in the nurseries in Longview, NC where my older brother, because of a speech impediment, was call a swoosh hitter to the end of my baseball career when, in much pain, I asked the coach to remove me from the game.

I played sand lot ball, little league, pony league, Babe Ruth League, and on school teams and outlaw baseball. My Dad would gather up a bunch of kids and we would travel from ball field to ball fields in search of other people playing. We would stop and challenge them to a game. Eventual this practice led to an organized league with firm schedules and even a state tournament in Kings Mountain, NC.

Such things didn't happen in basketball, track, football, or any other sport that I am aware of.

Unlike many other sports where the best teams can go all season and dominate every team they play like winning all 12 or 15 footballs games or going 32-0 in basketball, no such domination occurs in baseball. Over the course of a season, the team with the better players will most likely win the championship but every game is unique. Ever the Mets won forty games their first season.

When one see a man that is six foot five, he is asked "Did you play basketball?' and when you see a big man at over six feet and twohundred and fifty pounds, he is asked "Did you play football?" The is no such look for baseball players. Some professionals have been big men at six-eight and somme have been less than three feet tall.

I think too, that with the opportunity to play a lot more games in one season than in other sports, there is more room for memories.

Of all the sermons my Dad preached, I can remember the title of only one because he preached the same message on the first Sunday of the New Year and I can recall a few, but now many, of the things he said while I was growing up in his home, but my head and heart of full of things he said and did on the baseball field. Baseball was he passion and a way of sharing with his children, a bond that was never broken with his family.

My dream for retirement is to once again to be able to participate in a ball game by being a coach, not for the glory of winning, for life is more about losing than winning, but for the memories the game leaves us with and the reflection of life that the game reveals.

It is the greatest game of all time.

Ingenious

GREEN BAY, Wis. — A Green Bay, Wis., woman opened a Christmas present from her children to find a refurbished vacuum - and a load of drugs.

Authorities say the woman found 2 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and 2.2 pounds of cocaine shrink wrapped inside the box. Sheriff's officials estimate the drugs' street value at about $280,000.

Lt. David Poteat (poh-TEET) tells the Green Bay Press-Gazette that a smuggler likely put the drugs in the box before it was shipped from the Juarez, Mexico, area, where it had been reconditioned.

Poteat says no one noticed anything, including the department store where it was purchased, until the woman opened the package.

Sheriff's officials say the store is cooperating with the investigation


Opps! someone on the receiving end goofed up and missed an important delivery. What an ingenious smuggling method.

Murder most foul

In 1999, 1300 women were murdered by an intimate parnter in the United States. Notall the couples were redneck, ghetto dwelling, drugged out, metally disfunctional, or alcohol inhibited. some were doctors, lawyers, wealthy, preachers, Sunday School teachers, regular school teachers, and what we like to think are normal, everyday kind of people.

In that same year, 1999, there were over 800,00 women assualted by thier lovers. i have no figures on how many men were killed and/or battetred by their female partner or the vi0olence involved in same-sex relationships.

I do know there are far better ways to handle ones problems.

Strange but true

A few years ago my aunt and uncle gave my mom a clock. It is a common type electric clock that is used by a bedside to tell time and to sound an alarm. It is an inexpensive model not unlike those one finds in any discount retailer. The only trouble with the clock is that it doesn't keep time very well.

The digital readout will advance 10 to 15 minutes every day so one has to either reset the clock four times a day, rely on an additional source to time, or replace the defective clock. I did that for her a year and a half ago.

I had also given Mom a digital clock that Christmas and had placed mine in her kitchen window so I just swapped the two clocks. I cannot remember if I plugged the defective clock in and later unplugged it or if I just never ever plugged it in but I do know the clock has been setting in her kitchen windowsill for the longest time.

Yesterday Mom noticed a faint light, glowing red, coming from the window. It was the unplugged digital alarm clock and the face where the time is usually displayed had a message.

The message said "Jesus is the answer".

Ice

It's not snow-it's ice.

They say don't venture out unless yiou have too.

For today, I'd say don't venture out even if you have too.

It's three am and its still coming down and it looks very dangerous out there.

Whatever you need at Wal-mart can wait.

victims

(Top Row L-R) Nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green, Giffords and Federal Judge John Roll. (Bottom Row L-R) Phyliss Schneck, Gabe Zimmerman, Dorothy Morris and Dorwan Stoddard

A cold Day

I really look forward to gettinh home from work, especially during the colder months. I work in a cold environment and sometimes it seems I'll just never get warm.

Yesterday morning I woke to the faint smell of an electrical burn but I dismissed it because I wake for work not long after my wife retires for the day and thought perhaps it was an ordor lingering from something she might have cooked.

I arrived home from work a little after three yesterday afternoon to a very cold house. Yesterday was one of those very rare occasions when my wife works normal hours and thought perhaps she had cut the heat back to save some energy. I was not going to mess with the thermostat but it was just too cold so finally I decided to turn up the heat a little.

The thermostat didn't respond. I checked the unit in the back of the house to see if some theft sabotaged my AC unit but it was fine. I checked the circuit breaker box and the one to the AC/furnance had bee tripped so I flipped it back on but the furnance still wouldn't kick on and the thermostat still showed a blank dial.

I guess I will find out how much the repair man cost me after my wife wakes up in the morning. I know it will be more than it should because he had to meet a man in Hogh Point to get a new part because "the part on your unit is an odd one."

So what else is new?

DNA clears Texas man who spent 30 years in prison

It seems another screw up has been corrected way to late. Almost all the exonerees have been black and some were convicted because of faulty eye-witness testimony, with held evidence, over zealous prossecution, and of course bigotry. I've read of cases where the defendant was able to prove they were hundreds of miles away from the scene of the crime when it was committed and were still convicted.

I learned at an early age how hurtful bigotry can be and how people are judged wrongly just because of the color of their skin.I'm not a bleeding heart liberal but I am mindful of how I would want to be treated and give others the same due. After all Christ loved them just as much as He loved me.

Sampaloc, Rizal, Philippines

Back in the early 70's between tours of Vietnam, I was stationed in the Philippines in a small base located near San Miquel, Zambalas and loved every minute I was in that country. Great people, great food, lots to do with easy access to the mountains and beach, easily affordable prices on everything, and just a beautiful place with great weather most of the time.

I always dreamed of retiring there.

Church Vandalism

Thursday Dec 30, 2010 someone vandalized the church sign at One Way Baptist Church in Randleman. The church is located on Sunset just off Stout street. I reported a few weeks back that the church was creating a stir in town and I guess this act of vandalism is one way the devil has of fighting back.

Thank you Satan for the church will use this act of childishness to God's advantage, or rather God will use this act of vandalism to the good of the church.

We will say a prayer for the vandals tonight. One day they will be punished whether in this life or another unless they accept Jesus as their saviour then this vile act will be blotted out.

I'll see you in church.

baseball and Christmas

I received a collection of DVDs about baseball from my son for Christmas. I love the sport,played a lot in my younger days, coached some little league, and have a lot of memories about my father "Ninth-inning Ed"a superb player himself.

The gift is history of the game from its inception through todays game and is contained in 6 2-disk sets. I am half-way through the first disk and look forward to many hours of enjoyment.

beautiful snow

Christmas day was nice as I went to my in-laws for dinner. Actually my wife and I furnished the ham and she made the deviled eggs, strawberry salad and yams, and her sister brought the white potatoes and green beans and my wifes brother-in-law did the cooking and cleaning.

After dinner my wife and I came home and watched "Home Alone" (We had watched the "Christmas Story" early) and built a fire in the fireplace. It was relaxing, romantic, and peaceful.

Sunday I had to work which won't have been so bad but the seafood clerk called out so I had to deal with two departments. I was the only one in the meat department and it was busier than it should have been on such a cold, wet, miserable day but since people didn't have to work and couldn't make it to church, they decide to go grocery shopping and to the movies.

It's amazing where people put their priorities.

Some otherwise nice people seem angry but I have better use of my time than trying to get even or get ahead because we all die in the end and I'd much rather be happy than vindictive.

I love the line from that song "You are so vain you think this song is about you."

Anyway, I was disappointed that the snow cancelled church services but that will only make the next time we meet than much sweeter.

My Mom got home from the mountains yesterday just fine. BTW, the picture is of Mom who isn't bad looking for 85.