Jim

Great work Ron. Please continue with the updates as often as you can.

Nope, got everything I need already.

We did horrible stuff to the environment from the turn of the 20th century until the early '70s. Probably way worse that what's going on in New Orleans. It may take a couple of years to clean up, but it will.

I'd set the lizard free and try to put the dog down as painlessly as I could. He's 14 and needs meds else he's in a lot of pain. I hate to think about it, but that's life. As for the parakeet, I guess I'd set him free. He would at least have a sporting chance.

I have it. It flares up bad on my legs in the winter and I get spots on my arms. I don't use Enbrel. I have some prescription cream called Fougera that I use only when the itching becomes unbearable (which is rare). I try to get as much sun as possible which seems to help a lot. This leads to the neighbors asking why I'm working in the yard in shorts when it's 50 degrees (: Let us know how the Enberl works out.

You forgot Kafka, Orwell and John Birch

You forgot Drambuie, dog training and gold coins.

Here's a live blog that's being kept by an ISP sysadmin in downtown New Orleans. It will send chills down your spine. The link will bring you into the situation yesterday morning: http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/?skip=20

If you think the solar system is a safe place, just look at the moon. I don't think the Devil has anything to do with it.

Judge for yourself: http://www.unep.org/geo/yearbook/yb2004/112a.htm

Who wants to let Mr. Fletcher in?

I have a constant ringing and slight hearing loss in my left ear, leftovers from a bad ear infection and myringotomy, but other than that, doing pretty good for my age. All the male relatives in my extended family either worked in construction, railroad or mines so when they got together it was a real shoutfest. I worked with an old German engineer for a number of years. He had a habit of getting right next to your face and staring intently any time you talked to him. It took me awhile to realize he couldn't hear and was trying to listen and lip-read. He had spent his late youth in Hitler's tank corps and the rest of his life in factories. Buying a set of quality full ear cover headphones can do wonders for your enjoyment of music. I bought Sony MDR-V6 headphones (about $70) and I really, really like them. I put them on and I hear music the way I did in my youth.

Nice bit of work Paw, thanks.

LOL. I suspect that if VPW were still alive we'd be sitting in that class now... As to the site, what can you expect with a name like that?

LOL

Belle's got a Border Terrier, the next best thing. Besides, if I weren't happily married, I'd be after her....

After 20 years of marriage, hearing my wife fart still makes me laugh...

Spiritual Depth???? When I hear that, all I can give you is a sour laugh. They didn't NEED any spiritual depth. They had the money, they had the followers, they had the product. All they needed to to was to TELL THE TRUTH and DO THE RIGHT THING which, as you said, was to kick Marindale to the curb, then follow up by telling the folks that there were some problems, write a strict ethical code of conduct for everyone on payroll and enforce it. That's what's so sick about the whole thing. They didn't NEED any spiritual depth or guidance. They could have been friggin athiests for all it matters. They just needed to clean house and set up a system to punish bad behavior. It's hard to imagine how it could have been handled worse.

The following is a work of fiction and satire... Auglaize County Sheriff's Department, sometime in the distant past.... Officer: "Well, Mr. Geer, it appears that your paperwork is in order for a concealed weapons permit. I still have to ask you a few questions and then we can finish the paperwork so you can be on your way". CG: "I'll be happy to cooperate" Officer: "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?" CG: "Committed or convicted. There's a difference, you know." Officer: "Well, the form says convicted" CG: "And are we talking about Ohio or Massachusetts?" Officer: "Either one" CG: "Because there was this incident, I wouldn't call it a felony..." CG: "More like a dispute..." Officer: "Was it a felony?" CG: "Over a dead cat..." Officer: "Well, that doesn't sound like a felony issue" CG: "No, I don't think so.." Officer: "So the answer is no?" CG: "No" Officer: "No, you didn't commit a felony?" CG: "No, no, I've never been convicted of a felony" Officer: "Ohhh-kay, I think we can move on" CG: "You know officer, that's a very impressive belt you're wearing." Officer: "It's part of the uniform" CG: "Did you ever spank anyone with that belt?" Officer: CG: "Nevermind, it just brought back some memories..." Officer:"Mr. Geer, why do you need a concealed weapon permit?" CG: "For security and pest control" Officer: "Pest control?" CG: "Yes, pest control." Officer: "What kind of pests?" CG: "Well, cats." Officer: "Cats?" CG: "Yes, cats" CG: "I don't like cats" Officer: "So you want a carry permit so you can kill cats?" CG: "No, not to kill cats, just pest cats" Officer: "So you have a pest cat problem?" CG: "No, I just want to make sure that it doesn't develop into a problem" Officer: "What is the type of handgun you will be carrying?" CG: "A 44 caliber Automag" Officer: "That's more of a collector's piece than a carry weapon" CG: "But you should see what it does to a cat's hea.." Officer: "I've always wanted to see an Automag..." CG: "I can show you mine" CG puts his hand under his coat and pulls out a gun. officer karate-chops CG's wrist and the gun falls to the desk. Officer picks up the gun and cycles the action. Several fat shiny cartridges clatter onto the floor. Second officer pulls CG's arms behind his back and handcuffs him." Officer: "Mister Geer, you have the right to remain silent..." A tear forms in CG's eye and rolls down his cheek. Not from the pain of the broken wrist, or from the seething rage toward the officer. No, a tear of embarresment, for realization of having to tell Dr. V.P. Wierwille about his incident at the sheriff's office...

Here's another subject: Chris applies for a concealed weapons permit at the sheriff's office

Ok, first of all, no sexual content. I've had some really bad pains and numbness in my right arm, going down into my hand and up into my shoulder at times. It's been going on for about 6 weeks and I've been getting concerned about it. I'm an engineer by trade and a right-handed engineer is pretty much useless without his right arm. I got a wireless mouse and was using it left-handed when the pain and numbness became intolerable. I've never been overly confident in the healing ability of doctors and I just hoped that it would get better, like just about everything that's bothered me in the past. So this morning at work, the Japanese guy that runs the fitness/sports massage place next to us comes over with his Ibook. He needs another stick of memory installed. I invite him to come in and I take 10 minutes to install his memory. He says to come over for a free massage any time. I say that I've had this problem with my arm. He feels my hand, my upper and lower arm, then he presses on a point where my shoulder meets with my ribcage. I wince in pain and he says "that's where it is, come over around 1:00 and I'll fix it". I come over at 1:00 and he says "it's going to hurt, but that's the only way I can fix it in 15 minutes". I say ok. He works on my hand, my arm, and especially the area around my shoulder where he poked earlier. He does some massage while I press my arm forward on his other hand. He does the same while I try to turn my head as he holds it in one place. It hurts, but in a good way, as I start using muscles that haven't been used for awhile. When he was done, the pain and numbness was gone. More impressive, I could raise my right arm straight up whereas before I could only get it to about 10 o'clock. I have to tell you, I was amazed. I've never had a massage or gone to a chiropracter, being skeptical of all of them. All I can say is that I was healed.

In the Army we used a fire hose.

"The Nightmare Before Pentecost"?

Juan, you sound like a cross between a Monte Python and a David Lynch script. Not that there's anything wrong with that.... As a matter of fact, what was wrong is that I belonged to a cult that had a leader that sounded like that...

How come when they say "this might sting a little", it always stings *a lot*?