I've always thought that the angle on which global warming was presented was a little scewed. I mean, quite frankly, we're not trying to save the earth. It'll take care of itself just fine when we're gone. It's saving mankind as a species that ought to be emphasized. Imagine my surprise this morning when I came across this article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/28/AR2009012803318_pf.html
It finally states what really must be done. Save mankind. If we continue to turn our heads and close our eyes to what is happening to our world we will be the only casualty...probably much to the relief of mother earth.
What Al Gore is doing is necessary and noble. It's getting the rest of us to buy into it. As individuals we generally think "It's just one bottle I'm not putting in the recyling, what harm can there be?" Well, everytime you put a bottle in the trash instead of recycling put a penny in a jar. See how fast that jar fills up (and not a baby jar, a mason size jar). Do the same every time you take your car out for trips that really aren't necessary, only convenient. I'll bet that jar fills up pretty quick. Now imagine a whole warehouse full of those jars and you'll see the Goracle's point.
Everyone has to pitch in or no one is going to survive. Life as you know it won't be but the beautiful sunsets and gentle whale will go on...much better for our demise I'll bet.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
And here they are!!! The 2008 Darwin Awards!
The Darwin Awards were created to relay the stories of the most idiotic people in the world who have (thankfully) been taken out of the gene pool...thus saving us from extinction through stupidity...
Ninth Place- In Detroit, a 41-year-old man got stuck and drowned in two feet of water after squeezing head first through an 18-inch-wide sewer grate to retrieve his car keys.
Eighth Place - A 49-year-old San Francisco stockbroker, who totally zoned when he ran, accidentally jogged off a 100-foot high cliff on his daily run.
Seventh Place - While at the beach, Daniel Jones, 21, dug an 8-foot hole for protection from the wind and had been sitting in a beach chair at the bottom when it collapsed, burying him beneath 5 feet of sand. People on the beach used their hands and shovels trying to get him out but could not reach him. It took rescue workers using heavy equipment almost an hour to free him. Jones was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Sixth Place- Santiago Alvarado, 24, was killed as he fell through the ceiling of a bicycle shop he was burglarizing. Death was caused when the long flashlight he had placed in his mouth to keep his hands free rammed into the base of his skull as he hit the floor.
Fifth Place - Sylvester Briddell, Jr., 26, was killed as he won a bet with friends who said he would not put a revolver loaded with four bullets into his mouth and pull the trigger.
Fourth Place - After stepping around a marked police patrol car parked at the front door, a man walked into H&J Leather & Firearms intent on robbing the store. The shop was full of customers and a uniformed officer was standing at the counter. Upon seeing the officer, the would-be robber announced a hold-up and fired a few wild shots from a target pistol. The officer and a clerk promptly returned fire, and several customers also drew their guns and fired. The robber was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Crime scene investigators located 47 expended cartridge cases in the shop. The subsequent autopsy revealed 23 gunshot wounds. Ballistics identified rounds from 7 different weapons. No one else was hurt.
Third Place - Paul Stiller, 47, and his wife Bonnie were bored just driving around at 2 A.M. so they lit a quarter stick of dynamite to toss out the window to see what would happen. Apparently they failed to notice the window was closed.
Second Place - Kerry Bingham had been drinking with several friends when one of them said they knew a person who had bungee-jumped from a local bridge in the middle of traffic. The conversation grew more heated and at least 10 men trooped along the walkway of the bridge at 4:30 AM. Upon arrival at the midpoint of the bridge they discovered that no one had brought a bungee rope. Bingham, who had continued drinking, volunteered and pointed out that a coil of lineman’s cable lay near by. They secured one end around Bingham’s leg and then tied the other to the bridge. His fall lasted 40 feet before the cable tightened and tore his foot off at the ankle. He miraculously survived his fall into the icy water and was rescued by two nearby fishermen. Bingham’s foot was never located.
And the Winner Is!
German Zookeeper - Friedrich Riesfeldt, fed his constipated elephant 22 doses of animal laxative and more than a bushel of berries, figs and prunes before the plugged-up pachyderm finally got relief. Investigators say ill-fated Friedrich, 46, was attempting to give the ailing elephant an olive oil enema when the relieved beast unloaded. The sheer force of the elephant’s unexpected defecation knocked Mr. Riesfeldt to the ground where he struck his head on a rock as the elephant continued to evacuate 200 pounds of dung on top of him
We are safe for another year...
Ninth Place- In Detroit, a 41-year-old man got stuck and drowned in two feet of water after squeezing head first through an 18-inch-wide sewer grate to retrieve his car keys.
Eighth Place - A 49-year-old San Francisco stockbroker, who totally zoned when he ran, accidentally jogged off a 100-foot high cliff on his daily run.
Seventh Place - While at the beach, Daniel Jones, 21, dug an 8-foot hole for protection from the wind and had been sitting in a beach chair at the bottom when it collapsed, burying him beneath 5 feet of sand. People on the beach used their hands and shovels trying to get him out but could not reach him. It took rescue workers using heavy equipment almost an hour to free him. Jones was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Sixth Place- Santiago Alvarado, 24, was killed as he fell through the ceiling of a bicycle shop he was burglarizing. Death was caused when the long flashlight he had placed in his mouth to keep his hands free rammed into the base of his skull as he hit the floor.
Fifth Place - Sylvester Briddell, Jr., 26, was killed as he won a bet with friends who said he would not put a revolver loaded with four bullets into his mouth and pull the trigger.
Fourth Place - After stepping around a marked police patrol car parked at the front door, a man walked into H&J Leather & Firearms intent on robbing the store. The shop was full of customers and a uniformed officer was standing at the counter. Upon seeing the officer, the would-be robber announced a hold-up and fired a few wild shots from a target pistol. The officer and a clerk promptly returned fire, and several customers also drew their guns and fired. The robber was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Crime scene investigators located 47 expended cartridge cases in the shop. The subsequent autopsy revealed 23 gunshot wounds. Ballistics identified rounds from 7 different weapons. No one else was hurt.
Third Place - Paul Stiller, 47, and his wife Bonnie were bored just driving around at 2 A.M. so they lit a quarter stick of dynamite to toss out the window to see what would happen. Apparently they failed to notice the window was closed.
Second Place - Kerry Bingham had been drinking with several friends when one of them said they knew a person who had bungee-jumped from a local bridge in the middle of traffic. The conversation grew more heated and at least 10 men trooped along the walkway of the bridge at 4:30 AM. Upon arrival at the midpoint of the bridge they discovered that no one had brought a bungee rope. Bingham, who had continued drinking, volunteered and pointed out that a coil of lineman’s cable lay near by. They secured one end around Bingham’s leg and then tied the other to the bridge. His fall lasted 40 feet before the cable tightened and tore his foot off at the ankle. He miraculously survived his fall into the icy water and was rescued by two nearby fishermen. Bingham’s foot was never located.
And the Winner Is!
German Zookeeper - Friedrich Riesfeldt, fed his constipated elephant 22 doses of animal laxative and more than a bushel of berries, figs and prunes before the plugged-up pachyderm finally got relief. Investigators say ill-fated Friedrich, 46, was attempting to give the ailing elephant an olive oil enema when the relieved beast unloaded. The sheer force of the elephant’s unexpected defecation knocked Mr. Riesfeldt to the ground where he struck his head on a rock as the elephant continued to evacuate 200 pounds of dung on top of him
We are safe for another year...
Monday, January 12, 2009
Some Ideas for Resolving the Current Economic Crisis
Tongue and Cheek...
The world is in an economic crisis, so I hear. Well, I can't solve the world's problems but here are a few ideas for the United States:
The Auto Industry Bailout:
So Congress "lent" the auto industry billions to bail it out of imminent financial collapse. You know who has billions to spare? The Oil Industry. Didn't we read about their record breaking profits over the past year? Well, without cars, no oil, without oil, no cars. Hmmm, the oil industry could bail out one of it's biggest resources (automakers) for making a product (cars) that consumers of gas (us) buy to give them such enormous profits.
Or...
Have congress demand that the Auto industry stop making cars for one year and sell everything they've made so far. Pay the workers to not work for a year (hang with me on this one) and give them their jobs back next year. Now, you may be asking, how fair is it that these thousands of people should get paid for doing nothing? Well, look at it this way. Our economy needs some people to spend money. If even a third of these people took other jobs they'd have two incomes coming in, thus have more money to spend. Additionally, next year, the auto industry would probably experience a boom because so many people would want new cars!
The Jobs Problem:
Our jobless rate is going through the roof and throwing money at it won't work. Getting money thrown back, however, might. So tax the hell out of companies who send their jobs overseas. If it can be done by a legal worker in America it should be done in America. The tax could be the equivalent plus 2% of each salary a US worker would be making if the job stayed in America. That way it'd be cheaper to hire American workers.
The Housing Problem:
Real estate is tanking. Why? First, because people bought houses they couldn't afford. Second, because no one has money to spend on a new house. How do we get the market to get going again? See the solution to the jobs problem for this one. Plus, don't give money to people who can't afford to repay it. Common sense. No special financing, no special perks. If you can afford it on what you make (not what you hope to make, not what you're going to use if grandma dies and you inherit the money, not money from some phantom lottery ticket, real money!) buy a house. If you can't, stay at home with mom and dad, rent or live with friends (after all, what are friends for?).
Change:
Barack Obama's campaign was about change. Well, lets remember, change can hurt, change can disorient, change can confuse. There are always growing pains with change. We've been living with the same problems for so long that a change might be frightening to some, not fast enough for others and may seem just plain unnecessary to a few. Well, buckle down for the next year or so and give change a chance. Who knows? Maybe there will be a light at the end of this tunnel. Otherwise, keep your car tuned up, your house in good order and stay in school...or go back.
Hope you're smiling!
The world is in an economic crisis, so I hear. Well, I can't solve the world's problems but here are a few ideas for the United States:
The Auto Industry Bailout:
So Congress "lent" the auto industry billions to bail it out of imminent financial collapse. You know who has billions to spare? The Oil Industry. Didn't we read about their record breaking profits over the past year? Well, without cars, no oil, without oil, no cars. Hmmm, the oil industry could bail out one of it's biggest resources (automakers) for making a product (cars) that consumers of gas (us) buy to give them such enormous profits.
Or...
Have congress demand that the Auto industry stop making cars for one year and sell everything they've made so far. Pay the workers to not work for a year (hang with me on this one) and give them their jobs back next year. Now, you may be asking, how fair is it that these thousands of people should get paid for doing nothing? Well, look at it this way. Our economy needs some people to spend money. If even a third of these people took other jobs they'd have two incomes coming in, thus have more money to spend. Additionally, next year, the auto industry would probably experience a boom because so many people would want new cars!
The Jobs Problem:
Our jobless rate is going through the roof and throwing money at it won't work. Getting money thrown back, however, might. So tax the hell out of companies who send their jobs overseas. If it can be done by a legal worker in America it should be done in America. The tax could be the equivalent plus 2% of each salary a US worker would be making if the job stayed in America. That way it'd be cheaper to hire American workers.
The Housing Problem:
Real estate is tanking. Why? First, because people bought houses they couldn't afford. Second, because no one has money to spend on a new house. How do we get the market to get going again? See the solution to the jobs problem for this one. Plus, don't give money to people who can't afford to repay it. Common sense. No special financing, no special perks. If you can afford it on what you make (not what you hope to make, not what you're going to use if grandma dies and you inherit the money, not money from some phantom lottery ticket, real money!) buy a house. If you can't, stay at home with mom and dad, rent or live with friends (after all, what are friends for?).
Change:
Barack Obama's campaign was about change. Well, lets remember, change can hurt, change can disorient, change can confuse. There are always growing pains with change. We've been living with the same problems for so long that a change might be frightening to some, not fast enough for others and may seem just plain unnecessary to a few. Well, buckle down for the next year or so and give change a chance. Who knows? Maybe there will be a light at the end of this tunnel. Otherwise, keep your car tuned up, your house in good order and stay in school...or go back.
Hope you're smiling!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Thank You ABC for Scrubs!
I'm so excited I can barely hold the remote! ABC has picked up Scrubs! My favorite show of all time! I love the reruns but I can't wait to see some new episodes! Will JD hook up with Elliott finally (in a real relationship of course)? Will Carla and Turk have another baby? Will Jordan and Perry ever get married again? Will Ted ever grow some hair? Will we learn the Janitor's real name? These things keep me awake at night but now I have ABC to help me get some answers...and hopefully some sleep! Thanks again ABC!!!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Ghost Hunters - A Comforting Thought for Life After Death
The Plug
I've got a new addiction. It's the show Ghosthunters, on the SciFi channel on Wednesday nights. The new shows start at 9:00pm EST, repeats at 7:00pm EST.
What I like about this show more than any of the other paranormal ghost hunting shows (the overuse of a medium and overactive imagination of the "Paranormal State" hunters and the laughable cowardice of Ghost Adventurers) is that Jason and Grant, the owners of TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Soceity) actully go to great lengths to disprove a haunting. They come up with much more concrete evidence as to why there are no ghosts at a location than they come up with as to why there may be a ghost at a location. They and their investigators never run screaming from a location (unless it's Steve Gonsalves seeing a bug) or try to build the suspense and mystery when they are at a location.
I'm not saying they've haven't had their share of scares, mysteries and actual contact with the "energies" of previous lives, it's just a little more comforting to know that maybe after I die I'll still be able to "walk" around my house, or visit my cousin or straighten up a picture someone left hanging on the wall. Seems like there are a lot of spirits out there doing just that...leading very active afterlives and loving it. Most seem at peace with watching the living. I sometimes wonder if they see or sense the living as we see or sense them? As paranormal activity. But, I digress...
At first I thought Ghosthunters was a lot of reality tv bull. I'm not a big reality tv fan...I see enough "reality" tv in my own neighborhood. But Jason and Grant's down to earth approach to unearthly paranormal activity was very intriguing and dare I say, addictive? Now if I'm ever at a "questionable" location (i.e. old house, grave yard, historic restaraunt) I know how to explain away those mysterious noises, visions or shadows. If there is no explanation for the activity then I know it may be the spirit of someone who has an attachment to the place...someone who had a life, possibly a spouse, kids, a job, Friday night poker or lunch with the girls. Not that I've ever really seen things that may be paranormal...I just know I won't be intimidated by then thanks to Jason and Grant and the TAPS team!
I've got a new addiction. It's the show Ghosthunters, on the SciFi channel on Wednesday nights. The new shows start at 9:00pm EST, repeats at 7:00pm EST.
What I like about this show more than any of the other paranormal ghost hunting shows (the overuse of a medium and overactive imagination of the "Paranormal State" hunters and the laughable cowardice of Ghost Adventurers) is that Jason and Grant, the owners of TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Soceity) actully go to great lengths to disprove a haunting. They come up with much more concrete evidence as to why there are no ghosts at a location than they come up with as to why there may be a ghost at a location. They and their investigators never run screaming from a location (unless it's Steve Gonsalves seeing a bug) or try to build the suspense and mystery when they are at a location.
I'm not saying they've haven't had their share of scares, mysteries and actual contact with the "energies" of previous lives, it's just a little more comforting to know that maybe after I die I'll still be able to "walk" around my house, or visit my cousin or straighten up a picture someone left hanging on the wall. Seems like there are a lot of spirits out there doing just that...leading very active afterlives and loving it. Most seem at peace with watching the living. I sometimes wonder if they see or sense the living as we see or sense them? As paranormal activity. But, I digress...
At first I thought Ghosthunters was a lot of reality tv bull. I'm not a big reality tv fan...I see enough "reality" tv in my own neighborhood. But Jason and Grant's down to earth approach to unearthly paranormal activity was very intriguing and dare I say, addictive? Now if I'm ever at a "questionable" location (i.e. old house, grave yard, historic restaraunt) I know how to explain away those mysterious noises, visions or shadows. If there is no explanation for the activity then I know it may be the spirit of someone who has an attachment to the place...someone who had a life, possibly a spouse, kids, a job, Friday night poker or lunch with the girls. Not that I've ever really seen things that may be paranormal...I just know I won't be intimidated by then thanks to Jason and Grant and the TAPS team!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Work From Home - Save the World!
Ahhhh, summer. That time of year when France shuts down, Europe takes four weeks off and America's air quality index skyrockets. You'd think the price of gas would have slowed everyone down but from the look of things, I don't see it.
You see, everyone is complaining about global warming, rising gas prices, using too much energy, blah, blah, blah. The answer is really quite simple. Stop using gas! Oh yes, you've heard it all, either through email or blogs. Boycott Exxon! Boycott Sunoco! In the end, the only one who really gets hurt is the gas station owner. The stock holders still have their profits, the oil companies still produce gas and you still pay through the nose. Ok, now the answer:
We live in a technologically advanced country, so do many of you readers. Everything is available at our fingertips...just about. We can pretty much live our lives from our computers (unless you need to have a heart transplant or want to grow tomatoes - then you have to get off your butt and do it). But I digress...telecommuting is the answer. Almost every office job can be done from home. There are networks to keep you connected, video cams to keep your boss happy knowing he/she can look at you and see you working, laptops, cell phones, blackberries. Literally thousands of gadgets to keep you at home and keep you productive. Why aren't more companies taking advantage of the technological advances? Because corporate America wants to control the little guy and by making you go to a place of work the real estate moguls (Donny Trump) make money, the gas companies make money b/c you have to either drive or commute, the telecommunications companies make money because of the corporate networks set up at millions of businesses around the world.
There is almost no need to go into an office these days. If the "government officials" want to slow global (or, heaven forbid) stop it and save energy have a work from home week. Let people work from home for a week (a day wouldn't prove anything) and see how much traffic eases, stress lessens and the air quality improves. I challenge Corporate America, Corporate Europe, Corporate Austrailia and New Zealand, Corporate Middle East, Corporate Asia and any other Corporate country, to try this. Cube workers of the world - Work From Home!
You see, everyone is complaining about global warming, rising gas prices, using too much energy, blah, blah, blah. The answer is really quite simple. Stop using gas! Oh yes, you've heard it all, either through email or blogs. Boycott Exxon! Boycott Sunoco! In the end, the only one who really gets hurt is the gas station owner. The stock holders still have their profits, the oil companies still produce gas and you still pay through the nose. Ok, now the answer:
We live in a technologically advanced country, so do many of you readers. Everything is available at our fingertips...just about. We can pretty much live our lives from our computers (unless you need to have a heart transplant or want to grow tomatoes - then you have to get off your butt and do it). But I digress...telecommuting is the answer. Almost every office job can be done from home. There are networks to keep you connected, video cams to keep your boss happy knowing he/she can look at you and see you working, laptops, cell phones, blackberries. Literally thousands of gadgets to keep you at home and keep you productive. Why aren't more companies taking advantage of the technological advances? Because corporate America wants to control the little guy and by making you go to a place of work the real estate moguls (Donny Trump) make money, the gas companies make money b/c you have to either drive or commute, the telecommunications companies make money because of the corporate networks set up at millions of businesses around the world.
There is almost no need to go into an office these days. If the "government officials" want to slow global (or, heaven forbid) stop it and save energy have a work from home week. Let people work from home for a week (a day wouldn't prove anything) and see how much traffic eases, stress lessens and the air quality improves. I challenge Corporate America, Corporate Europe, Corporate Austrailia and New Zealand, Corporate Middle East, Corporate Asia and any other Corporate country, to try this. Cube workers of the world - Work From Home!
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