The Future of the Air Force? Heaven Help US!

Rythm doesn't seem to be a course covered at the USAFA (United States Air Force Academy). Make sure to have on the sound!

To think, these 'men' will soon be sending the likes of my husband into battle...that is not a good thought... :)

I mesi dell'anno (Ee Meh-zee Del-lahn-noh) [Italian Lesson 15]

Alright, we learned all about la settimana (Lah Set-tee-mah-nah) so now it is time to learn about the months and weather. Make sure you have your sunscreen, umbrella and a coat, we're off!

Remember, in Italian months are NOT capitalized!
gennaio (Jen-ny-oh) = January

febbraio (Feb-bry-oh) = February

marzo (Mar-tsoh) = March

aprile (Ah-pree-leh) = April

maggio (Mah-joh) = May

giugno (Joon-yoh) = June

luglio (Lool-yoh) = July

agosto (Ah-goh-stoh) =August

settembre (Set-tem-breh) = September

ottobre (Oht-toh-breh) = October

novembre (Noh-vem-breh) = November

dicembre (Dee-cem-breh) = December


Now, let's learn the answers for Che tempo fa oggi? (Keh Tem-poh Fah Oh-jee) What is the weather making today? Translate the following sentences.
Starting with this lesson, I will begin to use less and less frequent pronunciation guides. DOn't worry, you can do it. All you have to do it try and you'll do great!

Che tempo fa oggi? = ________________________

Nevica in gennaio. (Neh-vee-kah) = It snows _______________

Nevica anche in febbraio. (... Ahn-keh ...) = ___________ also ______________

Piove in marzo. (Pee-oh-veh ...) = It rains _______________________

Piove anche in aprile. = _________________________

Tira vento in maggio. (Tee-rah Ven-toh ...) = It's windy _____________________

C'è sole in giugno. (Cheh Soh-leh ...) = There is sun _______________________

C'è anche in luglio. = _____________________________

Fa caldo in agosto. (Fah Kahl-doh ...) = It makes hot _______________________

Fa bel tempo in setembre. = _______ nice _______________________

Fa fresco in ottobre. (... Freh-skoh ...) = _______ cool ___________________

Fa cattivo tempo in novembre (... Kah-tee-voh ...) =_____________ bad _____________

Fa freddo in dicembre. (... Fred-doh ...) =_________ cold ___________________

Che tempo fa in febgraio? =_________________________________

Che tempo fa in aprile? =_________________________________

Che tempo fa in maggio? =_________________________________

Che tempo fa in settembre? =_________________________________

Che tempo fa in dicembre? =_________________________________

Now, just a little 'quiz' for you...
Trenta giorni ha settembre, aprile, giugno e novembre... You know what this means, don't you?

Much too little, Much too late

1000 trees are to be planted in an affluent suburb of Seoul, in honor of US servicemen and women who have fallen in Iraq. They will each bear a plaque, and there will be a main memorial as well. Very nice of Gangnam to set aside some parkland to honor the US 8th Army (you know, those pesky Americans that keep those lovely 'norther brothers' at bay, what with their nuclear weapons, and starvation, and psycotic ruler...).

Only problem is, much too little, much too late. The US is pulling out of Korea, and the Koreans are now bitching about the pinch. You made your bed, now lie in it. Americans on average have a very, VERY long memory. Don't think the flagburning, and the "US go home" sits well with most of us, especially given your 'sunshine policy' that ended up with North Korea having nukes trained on 38,000+ US citizens defending your border, per a 50+ year-old UN mandate no one else will enforce.


The world is in for one nasty, all-mighty shock when the US leaves their overseas bases. First the cry is 'YANKEE GO HOME' then it becomes 'but we neeeeeeddddd the money'. We don't like liars or backstabbers. Treat our troops like crap while they defend you, and we don't soon forget it.

Me Three

One is Bryan at Arguing with Signposts. Two is Jerry at Confabulation.

Here are the rules:
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with
these instructions.
5. Don’t you dare dig for that “cool” or “intellectual” book in your
closet!
I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.



"The Tet Corporation now owns the rose," Eddie said. "A corporation of which you're about to become executive vice president."

John Cullum looked unimpressed with his putatuive new title.

The Dark Tower VII, THE DARK TOWER, Stephen King. Copyright 2004, Donald M. Grant Publisher.

And it is down to 2

Who shall be the next Bond, James Bond? Give me Clive Owens any day.

A very distressing situation

A man is suing his ex for having a child. Now, where the case gets distressing for me is the fact the woman used sperm from oral sex to become pregnant.

No man on this planet would expect a woman to keep sperm, then impregnate herself, and then sue him for paternity payments 2 years later. There is no sane human on Earth that would find this normal, or usual behaviour.

This quote is just over the top:

"There's a 5-year-old child here," Mirabelli said. "Imagine how a child feels when your father says he feels emotionally damaged by your birth."

You're right, but how is the kid gonna feel when they find out the only reason they're around is mommy is a lying, coniving bitch? That 'daddy' didn't want a child, didn't know anything about the child, never gave consent, and was sued to get money? How will that kid feel when they find out their entire purpose on this Earth is to serve the greed of their mother? You think THAT would set well with them, do you?

No man should be made to be a father if he did not want to be. No man should be tricked into being a father. If a woman wants a kid, go adopt one! Or go to a sperm bank, don't lie to your guy, then use the courts to get even with him when you break up. It is dispicable for this woman to use her child as a poker chip in court against her ex. If anyone should be forced to pay, it is the 'Dr.' that praticed this particular form of medical abuse!

What the hell is up in Kansas?

The Kansas Attorney General is continuing to order clinics to turn over private medical records for women and girls that sought abortions. DUDE!?!?!?!?!

We're not talking a few little bits of information, we're talking the whole enchilada here:

The records sought include the patient's name, medical history, details of her sex life, birth control practices and psychological profile.

1. I'm assuming they want names to send out agents to contact the woman/girl, her partner/spouse, her parents and anyone else they think 'needs' to know this information.

2. Medical records are protected, PRIVATE information. No court other than Kansas, has ever allowed to stand a ruling for a fishing expedition into private health matters that do not involve state paid for treatment.

3. Details of her sex life? Okay, if it was rape that's one thing, but now the secret police want us to tattle on under 16's having sex with other under 16's? When did Kansas become headquarters for the bedroom police?

4. Birth control practices? WHY does the state need this information? Are they going to start staking out the condom isle, or doctors that prescribe the pill?!?

5. WHY THE HELL do you need a psycological profile of the patient? So they know what kind of words to use to attack her, smear her, get her to 'co-operate' with their 'investigation'?



Now don't misunderstand, I am STAUNCHLY pro-choice. But I am also legal controls of abortion. If those clinics, or any others are violating the law by providing 'late-term' abortions....(hello, 22 weeks isn't 'late term', that's 4 and a 1/2 months! That's about 2 months after most women know they're pregnant, but still 4 1/2 months before most women give birth. Don't oversensationalize the law, it bothers me.) they should face investigation and punishment. However, one does not need to harrass 90% of their patients to gather this information, nor do you need their patient's private medical histories, sexual history, or birth control methods. The state is NOT a party to my sex life, nor does it need to be. I thought we got past the Victorian idea of sex being the government's business a long time ago...seems in Kansas they haven't.

How to tell if you're from the 80's (or earlier...)

You know you grew up in the 1980's and early 1990's if...

1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word "PSYCHE." I plead the 5th, for I may tend to incriminate myself...

2. You watched the Pound Puppies. Huh, yup.

3. You can sing the rap to the "Fresh Prince of Belair" "Now this is the story all about how my life got flipped, turned upside down....Looked at my kingdom I was finally there, to settle my throne as the prince of Bel-air"

4. You wore biker shorts under your skirts and felt stylish. Blessedly, NO! Though, I will admit to wearing bikers underneath running shorts...

5. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried to start a club of your own. No, not really.

6. You owned those lil Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls. Nope, I was more a Rainbow Bright kind of girl.

7. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom. Yes

8. Two words: M.C. Hammer Two more words...Parachute Pants!

9. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock." "Down at Fraggle Rock!"...Oh God, I'm sorry....I'm ashmed!

10. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars. DUDE! Those were COOL!

11. You can sing the entire theme song to "Duck Tales!." That's a little harder on me than Fresh Prince, but I can do it.

12. When it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons. Oohh, when I actually WANTED to be awake at 6 AM!

13. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head. I wore pigtails, so does that count?

14. You saw the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" on the big screen. Nope, sorry, don't like the Turtles.

15. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school. We never had one of those, but the games are cool!

16. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side. No, you just tied it in a knot.

17. You played the game "MASH" (Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House) I'm drawing a total blank on this one...

18. You wore Jordache jean jacket and you were proud of it. Nope.

19. L.A. Gear... Uh uh.

20. You wanted to change your name to "JEM" in Kindergarten. ?!?! JEM?!?!?

21. You remember reading "Tales of a fourth grade nothing" and all the Ramona books. Ramona completed in 1st grade. Those are good books!

22. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF" Yes I do.

23. You wanted to be a Goonie. Didn't everybody?

24. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. I throw myself on the mercy of the court!!

25. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off... And when he was black....hehehe

26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf. I never did understand that...

27. You took Lunch Pails to school. Yup.

28. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets. Uh huh!

29. You still get the urge to! say "NOT" after every sentence. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I still do sometimes...

30. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts. Yes

31. Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band. Aw, dude, they were like too cool!

32. You thought Sheera and He-Man should hook up. Yes, yes I did.

33. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged friendship bracelets. Nope, never exchanged anything as a child.

34. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes. Ummm, up until about a year ago, yeah....

35. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?" I watched Pee-Wee's Play House on TV.

36. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up" Hehehe, and every joke that goes along with it.

37. You remember going to the skating rink before there were in-line skates. Inlines are FAR more fun!

38. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide. No, but I played on alot of them.

39. You have ever played with a Skip-It. They're back again.

40. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds. Um, mine or my kid's?

41. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement. Saddly, more often than not.

42. You remember Popples. Those were SOOO COOOL. I had some!

43. "Don't worry, be happy" Na, na, na ,na na nanananannnnaaaaa nana, ....."

44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks. No.

45. You wore socks scrunched down. Yes, and folded, and pulled up,....

46. "Miss MARY MACK MACK MACK, all dressed in BLACK BLACK BLACK" "with silver buttons, buttons, buttons all down her back, back back..."

47. You remember boom boxes vs. cd players. And I wanted a boom box!

48. You remember watching both "Gremlins" movies. Oh, the ransacking, and "No water, no food after midnight, and no bright light."

49. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!!" You never saw it, you can't prove anything!

50. You remember watching Rainbow Bright and My Little Pony Tales "My Little Pony, My Little Pony you'll always be in my heart...."

51. You thought Doogie Howser was hot. I was young, forgive me!

52. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac. Hey, he was cool. The cartoon sucked though.

53. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool. I was exempt from NKOTB frenzy thank you! I liked George Strait.

54. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By the Bell", the ORIGINAL class. This goes without saying, but....there was ONLY the origional class...and I had to chatch the very first episode on Saturday morning, too.

55. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THRU THE HEART. "I'm shot through heart, and you're too late, darlin' you give llllooooovvvveeee a BAD NAME."

56. You just sang those words to yourself.(didn't you) Leave me alone!

57. You remember watching Magic vs. Bird. When basketball was worth watching...and I watched them retire Bird's uniform.

58. You cut your t-shirts in half and wore it with your homemade Levi shorts..(the shorter the better) Not that I remember, no.

59. You remember when mullets were cool! Mullets were NEVER cool.

60. You had a mullet! I would rather be an NKOTB fiend than have a mullet!

61. You still sing "We are the World". "We are the world, we are the children..." Uh oh...

Lack of Blogging

Okay, sorry about the lack of blogging lately. My best friend is PCSing, and I'm spending some quality time with her and all the kids together. Don't like it, kiss my butt! :)

Possible Overkill???

Okay, I know in a post 9-11 world we must all be on our guard at all times, and take any threat seriously. But, come on folks. Two 'middle eastern' dudes were unhappy with the service at a Warton, Texas McDonald's so they threatened to BLOW UP the Pentagon and the McDonald's.

I'll give the employee calling the cops and reporting the threat to the MickyD's, and I can understand (but not really fathom) considering the threat to the Pentagon. However, the FBI, the DPS and the local cops all out looking for a 'white Ford van' with a '50's' aged man and a '20's' aged man? That, and apparently of 'middle eastern descent'? You put out a STATE-WIDE for this minor amount of information? No plate number, no approximate age for the van, no clothing description, no nada in effect for alerting the public...And I'm sure terrifying a few in the process. (I think the McD's would have a camera on the drive-through, so why not check it if you haven't yet?)

Update on 'This is Sick'

The woman that LIED about having a spouse killed in Iraq WILL face charges for her despicable behaviour.

And sadly, as I suspected and commented, already there is a chill in the way pro-troop groups are operating. They are already more suspicious of those coming to them for help. I'm only sorry there is no punishment harsh enough for the destruction of trust she has wrought.

Vocabolario (Voh-cah-boh-lah-reoh) = Vocabulary

I have been very remiss in not giving you all soem vocabulary words to use. I'll correct that now. These may seem like words you won't use on a daily basis, and many you won't, but they might just come in handy if you're using Italian some day, so pay attention...(Remember, Cognates are your friends!)


A
l'alcool (Lahl-kohl) = the alcohol

le Alpi (Leh Ahl-pee) = the Alps

americano/americana (Ah-meh-ree-kah-noh/Ah-meh-ree-kah-nah) = American

l'animale (Lah-nee-mah-leh) = the animal

l'appartamento (Lahp-par-tah-men-toh) = the apartment

l'appetito (Lahp-peh-tee-toh) = appetite

aprile (Ah-pree-leh) = April

l'arrivo (Lar-ree-voh) = arrival

l'attenzione (Laht-ten-tsee-oh-neh) = attention

l'attore (Laht-toh-reh) = actor

B
la baia (Lah Bah-ee-ah) = the bay

il balcone (Eel Bahl-koh-neh) = the balcony

la banana (Lah Bah-nah-nah) = banana

la banca (Lah Bahn-kah) = the bank

la benedizione (Lah Beh-neh-dee-tsee-oh-neh) = benediction

il biscotto (Eel Bee-skoht-toh) = biscuit, cookie (one and the same in most parts of Europe)

la bistecca (Lah Bee-stek-kah) = beefsteak

la bottiglia (Lah Boht-teel-yah) = bottle

breve (Breh-veh) = brief, short

brillante (Breel-lahn-teh) = brilliant, shining

C
la capitale (Lah Kah-pee-tah-leh) = capital

il castello (Eel Kah-stel-loh) = castle

la categoria (Lah Kah-teh-goh-ree-ah) = catagory

la cattedrale (Lah Kat-teh-drah-leh) = cathedral

il centro (Ell Chen-troh) = center, downtown (most European areas have a town center, not a 'downtown')

la cerimonia (Lah Cheh-ree-moh-nee-ah) = ceremony

certo (Chair-toh) = certainly

il cinema (Eel Chee-neh-mah) = cinema, movie house, movie theater

il cioccolato (Eel Chohk-koh-lah-toh) = chocolate (very imporatant word!)

la comunicazione (Lah Koh-moo-nee-kah-tsee-oh-neh)> = communication

la conservazione (Lah Kohn-sairvah-tsee-oh-neh) = conservation (always ongoing in Italy, be it a church, civic building, ancient ruin...)

la conversazione (Lah Kohn-vair-sah-tsee-oh-neh) = conversation

il coraggio (Eel Koh-rah-joh) = courage

la cugina (Lah Koo-jee-nah) = female cousin

il cugino (Eel Koo-jee-noh) = male cousin

D
la danza (Lah Dahn-tsah) = dance

decorato (Deh-koh-rah-toh) = decorated

delizioso (Deh-lee-tsee-oh-zoh) = delicious

denso (Den-soh) = dense

il desiderio (Eel Deh-zee-deh-ree-oh) = desire, wish

dicember (Dee-chem-breh) = December

direto (Dee-ret-toh) = direct

il disastro (Eel Dee-zah-stroh) = disaster, accident

la distanza (Lah Dee-stahn-tsah) = distance

divino (Dee-veeh-noh) = divine

il dizionario (Eel Dee-tsee-oh-nah-ree-oh) = dictionary

il dollaro (Eel Dohl-lah-roh) = dollar

il dottore (Eel Doht-toh-reh) = doctor

il dubbio (Eel Doob-bee-oh) = doubt

durante (Doo-rahn-teh) = during

E
eccellente (Eh-chel-len-teh) = excellent (in you're best Mr. Burns...)

l'economia (Leh-koh-noh-mee-ah) = economy

l'entrata (Len-trah-tah) = entrance

est (Est) = east

Europa (Eh-oo-roh-pah) = Europe

F
la famiglia (Lah Fah-meel-yah) = family

famoso (Fah-moh-zoh) = famous

la farmacia (Lah Far-mah-chee-ah) = pharmacy, drugstore

il favore (Eel Fah-voh-reh) = favor

- per favore (Pair Fah-voh-reh) = please (- it is a variant, and more likely to be heard, than favore)

il filtro (Eel Feel-troh) = filter

finalmente (Fee-nahl-men-teh) = finally

finito (Fee-nee-toh) = finished, ended

la fontana (Lah Fohn-tah-nah) = fountain

la forchetta (Lah For-ket-tah) = fork

la foresta (Lah Foh-reh-stah) = forest

la forma (Lah For-mah) = form

Francia (Frahn-chah) = France

fresco (Freh-skoh) = cool, fresh

la frutta (Lah Froot-tah) = fruit


These should be pleanty of words to keep you busy naming and practising for awhile to come. Remember, any time you have some mental 'down time', use it to your advantage.

What (aka Mind your own DAMN BUSINESS)?!?

The Vatican is taking on Satanism. Which, in Vatican speak seems to mean any non-Catholic version of Christian belief...Especially given the quote of

Up to 1,000 sects are believed to be involved in Satanism in Italy, according to a parliamentary group monitoring the issue.

Italy is a Catholic nation. It has been since Constantine made a deal with the devil to exclude the church from man's law, and to exclude himself and his family from the same. (A few side notes, I do find it interesting that Constantine decided what a Christian was, and that he didn't repent of his sins until his deathbed...How Christian was that?) No church, or religion of any sort, should be exempt from the laws of man. No priests should be allowed to rape generations of children, no nuns to do the same, no preachers, no Imans and Mullahs, nobody in any religion should be allowed to claim they can't be held responsible. These are the folks that preach God will hold you responsible for your actions, after all, and they lobby for laws, so they can't have their cake and eat it too.

Back to the rant at hand, what is wrong with the hierarchy in the Vatican? They use the British Navy as justification for their latest attempt at a purge of non-believers...

Nanni said the fact the British Royal Navy allowed a practicing Satanist in a submarine crew was proof of a widescale problem.

The man in question is Chris Cranmer (hehehe, jokes on him, Chris is a shortened form of Christopher = Christ bearer...), who was allowed to REGISTER the fact he is a Satanist. He wasn't allowed in as a Satanist, he was enlisted, and then chose to have it documented as his religion. Where is the problem for the Catholic Church in all this?

I am no a Satanist, but to claim they're evil because they press for vengeance, and self gratification instead of the 'good' of the society is bizarre to me. They can be self-centered, there are Billions of people in this world that are, that doesn't make them evil. Why is it everyone's panties are in a wad?!? The man isn't practicing human sacrifice, or even animal sacrifice aboard a Royal Naval vessel.

I see no reason for the noses in the 'Holy See' to get bent out of shape from getting stuck where they don't need to be. The British Royal Navy is "an equal opportunities employer", and doesn't "stop anybody from having their own religious values". Why is it a priest of a different religion, in a foreign nation on the other side of the continent thinks he has to launch an attack on those that don't agree with him? England BROKE from 'the church' a very long time ago, why now is the Vatican so hell bent on bringing them 'back to the fold' so to speak?

Your religion is of no importance to me. Obey the laws that govern us all, don't seek to harrass me about my beliefs, and don't seek to force me to convert to your wierd views, and I will respond likewise. Your sins are between you and your God, I figure no where in that chain, so I'll keep my nose out. Pity others can't seem to abide by the same ideas of FREEDOM OF RELIGION and FREEDOM OF THOUGHT. I didn't get the memo the RCC was now in the business of thought police. Hey, Cardinal, come arrest me, I'm a HERETIC!!! From the looks of it, I'm not alone.

How evil are you?

I am 39% evil.




I could go either way. I have sinned quite a bit but I still have a bit of room for error. My life is a tug of war between good and evil.


Are you evil? find out at Hilowitz.com

Le preposizioni italiane (Leh Preh-poh-zee-tsee-oh-nee Ee-tahl-yah-neh)

Prepositions, we all know them. They can seem a bit wierd and scary to non-English Majors, but they're simple. In, On, Through, Next To...These are all prepositions you use on a regular basis, so today we'll be working on their italiane cousins. Remember, these are all piccole parole (Peek-koh-leh Pah-roh-leh)= little words.


sotto (Soh-toh) = Under

in/nel/nella (Een, Nel, Nel-lah) = Into/In

sopra (Soh-prah) = Over

davanti a/davanti al (Dah-vahn-tee Ah/Dah-vahn-tee Ahl) = In front of/In front of the

fra (Frah) = Between

dietro (Dee-eh=troh = Behind

accanto a/accanto al (Ahk-kahn-toh Ah/Ahk-kahn-toh Ahl) = Next to/Next to the

da/dal/dalla (Dah/Dahl/Dahl-lah) = Of or From/From the

su/sul/sulla (Soo/Sool/Sool-lah) = On/On the

il dolce (Eel Dohl-cheh) = the Pastry


Now, here are two of our origional question words to practice on.

_____________(How) va?(___ Vah) = How are you?

_____________(Why) è il tassì giallo (___ Ee Eel Tahs-see Jahl-loh) = Why is the taxi yellow?

Women in the ranks

Daughters of Molly Pitcher, or a bad thing?

I'd say more than the daughters of Molly Pitcher, and nothing like a bad thing. I'd take up a gun today if I thought the military would take me.

Never Forgotten

The US Navy is looking for any relatives of Seaman Second Class Dee Hall, a former native of Mission, Texas. He, along with six other crewmen, was lost in June 1942 in the Aleutian Islands chain in Alaska.

So far the Navy has only been able to locate one serviceman's family, but they are still looking for the others that they may be returned to their families. It is gratifying to know that even 63 years later, the US military tries to re-unite the honored dead with their families. I sure hope they can all find resting places soon.

Where is the Death Penatly when you need it?

A piece of human garbage deserves it! He BEAT a 2 year-old to DEATH! After sexually abusing her and her sister. Add to this MOM was DEPLOYED!! He did it on a US ARMY BASE!! This man deserves to ride 'ol sparky' for a very, very long time with nothing to dull the pain, and nothing to help with the current! He even goes so far as to blame the child for struggling when he tried to changer her diaper! OF COURSE SHE DID!! What small child wants their sexual attacker anywhere NEAR them, let alone their diaper?!?

I'm so disgusted I could actually kill, just to harm this piece of filth. Life in Prison isn't bad enough for this person. Anyone that beats a child to death, BEATS HER HEAD IN!, can not be 'rehabilitated'. He is of no use to humanity and civilization. UUUUGGGGGHHHHH! It is a very, very good thing he's not right in front of me, I'd commit capital murder! I'd even do it with my bare hands!

Another Texas Round-up...literally this time

Dennis Wayne Bagwell is scheduled to DIE in the Texas Death House tonight. I can remember the case, I can remember the news, I can remember the sociopath's crime spree. I do not pity him, nor do I wish to see him executed. He's admited that the Death Penatly will ease his suffering, that's chicken shit. The man deserves to suffer for a very, VERY long time just for the 4 year-old alone. This is but one of the reasons I wish the Death Penatly was given to the criminal in the exact manner they commited the crime. If their victims' rights to "Cruel and Unusual" didn't matter, the pieces of human excrement that did the crime don't matter to me. The DP is brutal, it ends a life, but not the life of a shining example of human virtue. Even in Texas, where the DP is king, you have to do some really nasty shit to get it. I love the quote from Joe Dell Takitt...that bastard is one of the most corrupt people in that podunk ass county. He's one to talk!


What's the big todo about the new Homeland Security measures? In 3 years time, ALL Americans and Canadians will have to show proof of identity (via Passport or ID card) to gain entrance to the US. Why the big freakout?!? I have to cough up a US Government issued Passport, and a military ID every time we fly back to the states. Is it THAT hard to prove you're a citizen, or have valid business in the US? Contrary to what some socialist governments may tell their people you have no RIGHT to enter the US at will. It is the US' business to protect her borders and her people, don't like it?!? Don't come to the US. No one is forcing you to visit Disney Land!


Okay, what posseses people to buy land, sight unsee, in and around El Paso, Texas?!? I've been to El Paso, it isn't a bad town, but I damn for sure don't want to live there! No European I know can take the HEAT. (These are people that drop like flies if the mercury goes over 80°F. El Paso is gonna eat alive, and make mummies out 'em!) Add in the lack of moisture, the dust storms, the small-townyness of it...this is not a drawback exactly, but Europe and Hawaii aren't known to have 14 hour drive times to cross their borders! Seriously folks if you want to move to Texas (and who doesn't?!?), do NOT buy land in El Paso and think you're gonna be able to cut it out there. You'll have to buy MASSIVE plots, spend MAJOR $$ to get it habitable, and then you're gonna own a chunk of desert with some Rattlers, Scorpions, and catus for neighboors. JUST DON'T DO IT! I don't care how nice the 'horseys' look in the picture, don't be an idiot!

Oh, and there ain't no damn land near Midland-Odessa worth $4,000,000.00! Espcially given the 'owner' is going to KEEP THE MINERAL RIGHTS. There is no reason to pay that much for a ranch 'just down the road from GWB'. He may be my President, I may have voted for him as Govenor, but I'm not fool enough to pay that damn much money to live near him! Oh, by the way, the 'ranch' obviously ain't making that much dough if they want to sell it, now is it?!?

Now, land that is WORTH buyin' is the KING RANCH. Not that they're selling...hell, most folks couldn't pony up the cash it'd take to buy 825,000 acres! Hell, they even have their own CATTLE (Santa Gertrudis)! This puppy gives new meaning to "Cash Cow"...And bull, and steer, and calf, and....etc.

Texas News Round-up

I'm speechless at this story. There is no punishment from man that will ever repay the suffering this man has caused. I'd call him an animal, but animals don't act like this...he's a monster.


The Women of Juarez by Los Tigres del Norte is stiking a nerve in Mexico. Imagine if 300 women had been murdered in one small area in the US over a decade, with atleast 90 of them being raped and tortured. Would Americans be screaming for blood? Well, in Mexico 'law enforcement' types want the song banned for painting them in a bad light. Isn't it funny how the roaches run when the light finds them.


The Rock and the Hard Place hits Houston. Judge William C. McCullough has ruled that Sun Hudson can be removed from life support. I have to agree with the judge but still my heart goes out to the mother and the baby, along with their family. Which ever way the appeals court rules, I hope Wanda and Sun get to spend as much time together as possible. All I can say is...Geez, this sucks the big one.


I know the news only reports the bad stuff (just look at Iraq and how the US military is portrayed), but I think I'm done commenting on Texas news for right now. Hopefully I'll get another post up later about better things to come...

Italian Lesson 13

Today we'll be working on using the parts of il giorno (Eel Jor-noh) = the day, and learning the different saluti ilaliani (Sah-loo-tee Ee-tahl-yah-nee) = Italian greetings. Try to practice them on a daily basis (in front of the mirror, in your head, wherever you feel comfortable).

buon giorno (Bwohn Jor-noh) = good morning or good day

buona sera (Bwohn-nah Seh-rah) = good evening

buona notte (Bwohn-nah Noht-teh) = good night

ciao (chow) = hi! or goodbye!


Now comes time to work on translating, and answering questions. They're all words from previous lessons, so you'll get them all very easily...


Answer each question with a sì (see) = Yes or no (no) = No. Remember, you can refer back to the previous lessons if you need help with the words. Buon divertimento e buona fortuna. (Bwohn Dee-vair-tee-men-toh Ee Bwoh-nah For-too-nah) = Have fun and good luck.

Are your eyes blu? (Bloo) _________

Are your shoes marroni? (Mah-roh-nee) _________

Is your favorite color rosso? (Rohs-soh) ________

Is today sabato? (Sah-bah-toh) ________

Do you own a cane? (Kah-neh) ________

Do you own a gatto? (Gaht-toh) ________



Now go back over the previous lessons, and run through all the words you've learned. You might be suprised at how far you've come in such a short time.

FAIR USE and the MSM

This is ABSURD! A fellow blogger, who also has strong ideas on politics and the news, is being threatened with a lawsuit by a newspaper...the Tulsa World to be specific.

It seems he's illegally using their material...or so the paper claims. Perhaps the Editor doesn't know his copyright law, but FAIR USE means you can quote someone, and then rip their little opinions to shreads. That is the only thing Michael is doing.

It is beyond me why anyone would want to SUE someone for LINKING to their newsite. Well, other than to chill the First Amendment, and terrify the blogosphere. Pity, I'm not scared, and judging from the number of trackbacks to Michael's article, I'm not alone.

When will the MSM get it through their collective heads (yeah, I know the knowledge has to pass their spincter to get there) that the blogospher will not be intimidated or harrassed into silence? We weren't afraid of Rather and his 'sitting around in pajamas' comment, and Eason Jordan and CNN were wennies. Does the Tulsa World think they are the Gods of the internet? (They can't be, Al Gore brought it down for us from on high...[very dramatic eye roll].) I think the folks in Tulsa just got themselves into a fight they're gonna being telling their great-grandchildren to avoid at all costs...

Hat Tip to Dean for the head's up.

Something to brighten the day

What does Love mean?

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4- to 8-year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
Rebecca- age 8


When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
Billy - age 4

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
Karl - age 5


"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
Chrissy -age 6


"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
Terri - age 4


"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Danny - age 7


"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"
Emily - age 8


"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
Bobby - age 7


"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"
Nikka - age 6


"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
Noelle - age 7


"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Tommy - age 6


"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
Cindy - age 8


"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
Clare - age 6


"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."
Elaine-age 5


"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
Chris - age 7


"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
Mary Ann - age 4


"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
Lauren - age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you."
Karen - age 7


"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."
Mark - age 6


"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
Jessica - age 8


And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"




Below is an attempt to help some of my male readers with understanding the women in their lives. Note, I said this was an attempt, just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I understand all the members of my sex...

Things I know about WOMEN .......... Cut that laughing "O-U-T"

Words Women Use....

FINE

This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

FIVE MINUTES

If she is getting dressed, this is half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given 5 more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

NOTHING

This is the calm before the storm. This means "something," and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with 'Nothing' usually end in "Fine"

GO AHEAD

This is a dare, not permission. Don't do it.

LOUD SIGH

This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing"

SOFT SIGH

Again, not a word, but a non-verbal statement. "Soft Sighs" mean that she is content. Your best bet is to not move or breathe, and she will stay content.

THAT'S OKAY

This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can make to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

GO AHEAD

At some point in the near future, you are going to be in some mighty big trouble.

PLEASE DO

This is not a statement, it is an offer. A woman is giving you the chance to come up with whatever excuse or reason you have for doing whatever it is that you have done. You have a fair chance with the truth, so be careful and you shouldn't get a "That's Okay"

THANKS

A woman is thanking you. Do not question it or faint. Just say you're welcome.

THANKS A LOT

This is much different from "Thanks." A woman will say, "Thanks A Lot." when she is really ticked off at you. It signifies that you have offended her in some callous way, and will be followed by the "Loud Sigh." Be careful not to ask what is wrong after the "Loud Sigh," as she will only tell you "Nothing."

Why I despise 'foreign aid'

THIS is a prime example.

The Dollar gains ground

Alan Greenspan's comments on interest rates has driven the Dollar higher against the Euro and the Yen. Add to this Japan admits a 4th recession since 1991 and the US economic picture looks quite a bit better than some Bushy detractors are screaming. I love stickin' it to the Euros, really I do.

Lance, Lance, Lance, Lance, LANCE!!!

Lance Armstrong has announced he's going after a 7th Tour de France Win. Hehehe, this is one pony you don't bet against.

All I can say is that during the month of July, I will be screaming 'LANCE, LANCE, LANCE' at every TV screen I can find. I may not agree with the man's politics, but this man beat cancer, and 6 years (and counting...) worth of French and German ass to make the recordbooks. Let's make it seven!

LANCE, LANCE, LANCE, LANCE!!! Make Texas proud, buddy!

A News Roundup

UK News:

Rascism rears its ugly head, and the Mayor of London is the one doing it. He accused a Jewish reporter of being a Nazi. Allow me to quote from the article...

On tape the mayor is heard asking Oliver Finegold if he is a "German war criminal". Mr Finegold replies: "No, I'm Jewish, I wasn't a German war criminal. I'm quite offended by that."

The mayor then says: "Ah right, well you might be, but actually you are just like a concentration camp guard, you are just doing it because you are paid to, aren't you?"

What passes for brains in this man's head? Then to say he has nothing to appologise for. Okay, perhaps you'll explain that to the Olympic Committe since London is bidding to host the Olympics. I mean, I'm sure the Greeks, and the Germans, and the French and the Italians, and the North African nations, and the Eastern Europeans will all be so understanding, it isn't like they actually lived under the Nazi bootheal for years and saw millions slaughtered on their doorsteps, millions just like MR. FINEGOLD, you know Ken, "Jooos". And still Europe assures us there is no Anti-Semetic bias...


The Life Guards Troopers, Her Majesty the Queen's body guards, are under investigation concerning a taped sex orgy at their barracks. Okay, military discipline demands they be investigated and punished if found guilty. But what has the fact Buckingham Palace being 'less than a mile away' from the scene have to do with anything? I'm sure there've been orgies IN the Palace, and I wouldn't consider the Queen to blame (unless she instigated or took part in them). This is a needless bit of sensationalism fluff. Stick to the facts please. Don't pass off salicious details as news, stick it in Entertainment or Opinion, not the headlines.


Wild accusations are rampant in the case of the Home Office refusing to grant two of the returned 'detainees' Passports. Yeah, the Home Office made a secret, back office deal with Bush...yeah, yeah, that's the ticket to sell the news...



TEXAS News:

A 'big man' of 22 faces Captial Murder charges in the death of his girlfriend's baby son. He admits hitting the kid in the head, and the child then hitting a coffee table. Hhhmmm, I think we may have a new Death Row candidate. Can't say I'll be mourning his loss.


Let me set the scene for you...Mom cuts off baby's arms, baby dies, mom is found in house listening to hymns and brandishing the knife she used on the child. She is incompetent to stand trial, so says a jury in McKinney, Texas. It is notoriously difficult to prove crazyness in a Texas court of law. This woman fits the bill, in my opinion. I don't think there is a punishment strong enough from man to give her. At the same time she needs to be locked far, far away so she can't harm anyone else...especially if God tells her to. I, I, I'm at a loss for what to do with this creature...killing her seems too humane, but at the