Article: Update to 'Peace on Earth'

Well...perhaps the world isn't as insane as I thought. Apparently, the neighborhood HOA that was fining that woman (mentioned a few posts ago) for putting up an Xmas wreath shaped like a peace symbol started receiving a lot of complaints from complete strangers who were not happy with their decision. They have since repealled the fine and apologized, stating that it was a "misunderstanding".

Question....what was misunderstood?? Why couldn't they just say something like "We have changed our minds" or something else a little more truthful? Why is it that just about everything today is a "misunderstanding"?

"Our invasion of SeaLand was a misunderstanding"
"I called Senator what's-his-hame a 'loser' on camera, but that was just a misunderstanding"
"I murdered my kids with a butcher knife, but it was just a huge misunderstanding"

Wow. I'm impressed with my ability to turn good news into a complaint. :)

Article: Just say 'NO' to peace on earth!

It's official. The world has gone insane. Here's an article about a neighborhood that's up in arms because someone in their midst put up an Xmas wreath in the shape of a peace symbol. Apparently, they consider the wreath to be an anti-war protest. Her HOA has imposed a daily fine as long as the wreath stays up. What is this world coming to?!

Even if it is an anti-war protest....freedom of speech! There's nothing derogatory or offensive about a peace symbol. How is it that people are allowed to put signs up or bumper stickers on their cars that promote the destruction of the enemy in Iraq (and just about anywhere else in the middle east), but a peace symbol MUST be censored? But, again, that's ONLY if it actually WERE a protest on this lady's part.

Nobody's ever heard the old saying "Peace on Earth...Good Will Toward Men"? You really only hear that spoken around the Xmas holidays. It's also part of a very popular Xmas carol. Apparently, we should start sensoring it now.

I'm telling you....in a couple of decades, you're going to need PERMISSION before you are allowed to say anything to make sure that it isn't offensive or can't be misinterpretted by any extremists out there among the ~6 billion other inhabitants of this planet.

Note: Apparently, others accused her of using the wreath as a satanic symbol. I was planning on commenting on that but, after some searching, realized that there are some historic arguments for it. I seriously doubt that was her intention though. Then again, that's only MY humbled opinion.

Article: Student dropout rates becoming "epidemic"

According to this article, the number of kids not wishing to finish high school is mind-boggling. Apparently, some major cities have drop-out rates as high as 40-50%. That's pretty.....interesting. It appears (IMHO) that the divide between the educated and the uneducated is increasing....particularly in a time when higher and higher forms of education are required to stay competitive in the job market.

I just couldn't imagine ever applying for a job and not being able to show ANY indication that I had ANY type of formal education. Without, at least, a high school diploma, employers wouldn't be able to objectively tell an 11th grade dropout from someone raised in the back hills of Kentucky learning to make moonshine from the day they were born. Heck...without a high school diploma (or equivalent), the MILITARY wouldn't even take them. That's saying a lot!

I personally think that it has less to do with kids thinking they already know enough or that they're wasting their time and more to do with a lack of motivation. The sad fact of the matter is that you really have to WANT to learn to ever be able to get there. If someone doesn't want to learn, then there's very little that you can do to help them.

Article: Creationism museum

Interestingly enough, some dude is building a museum which will illustrate the story of creation as it is literally spelled out in the book of Genesis. The price tag? $25 million. Here's an interesting excerpt.....

Nothing can dent the designer's zeal as he leads us gingerly through the labyrinth of rooms still under construction, with bits of wood, and the odd dinosaur head occasionally blocking our path. The light of keenness shines from the faces of the workers, too, as they chisel out mountain sides and work out where to put the Tree of Life. They greet us cheerily as we pass. They, too, know they are doing the Lord's Work, and each has signed a contract saying they believe in the Seven Days of Creation theory. Mornings on this construction site start with prayer meetings. Don't think for a minute that this is some sort of crazy little hole-in-the-corner project.

I particularly like this excerpt as well.....

But what, I ask wonderingly, about those fossilised remains of early man-like creatures? Marsh knows all about that: "There are no such things. Humans are basically as you see them today. Those skeletons they've found, what's the word? ... they could have been deformed, diseased or something. I've seen people like that running round the streets of New York."

I'm wondering what former-mayor Giuliani would have to say about that.

In all honestly, I wouldn't mind visiting this museum at least once after it's completed. I would like to see what they are able to come up with.

Entry: Geek limerick of the day

There once was a lady named Bright
who's speed was much faster than light.
She set out one day
in a relative way
and returned on the previous night.



(I read this in the latest book that I'm reading called 'Resurrection', by Steve Alten. I thought it was kind of catchy. Not a bad book so far.)

Entry: I'm home

Hola amigos! I returned from the rather frigid west coast yesterday afternoon. I had a pretty good time with dad up in the mountains of California (as usual). Activities included (but were not limited to)...

1. Watching a few zillion movies
2. Riding ATVs through the mountains
3. Changing out tires on dad's '71 International
(an annual tradition)
4. Getting stuffed with great food by my step mother
5. Seeing a dog sled demonstration

I'll tell you what....those forrests can sure bring back the appreciation that I have for nature. I used to have it in spades but pretty much lost it ~10 years ago. Definately looking forward to next year's trip (which I'm thinking might be in the summer instead of the fall).

Article: Fun with a microwave

Ever wonder what would happen if you put a bar of soap in a microwave? How about a piece of aluminum foil or a lightbulb? The answers to these questions and more can be answered at this site that was put together by an intrepid nerd (or, possibly, an pyromaniac) who was out to explore the unknown.

Sparking grapes....now THAT'S cool!! :)

Article: What kind of sleeper are you?

I was browsing the web looking for some desent articles on correct sleeping positions. I ran across this site that supposedly makes correlations between a person's personality and the position that they sleep in. It pretty much nailed my personality perfectly. Check it out and see if it rings true for you too.

Also, for anyone else out there who cares, here's a site for correct sleeping positions.

Entry: 'Meg' coming to the big screen

I was leisurely strolling through Barnes and Noble today when I discovered that one of my favorite storylines is soon to make it to the big screen.

Steve Alten is, IMHO, a great author. His stories may not be to everyone's tastes, but many of them hold a fascination with me. The first of his books that I read...'Meg'...is the story of a Megalodon (a pre-historic shark that has been mentioned a couple times in other posts) that ascends from the deep and basically kills/eats everything it encounters.

The fact that it's a giant shark isn't what I find so interesting. The fact that it's a giant shark that once ruled the world's oceans and, as some would argue, could possibly still lurk in the depths, actually existed.

Doesn't that picture kinda send a chill up your spine? Between stories of things like Megalodon and the Colossal squid, it's no surprise that I ever hesitate to swim in the open ocean away from the beach. But then again....I *AM* a coward. ;)

Entry: It's almost Xmas time again

Article: When NOT to open your mouth

Yet another hilarious article. Apparently, the guy who plays Borat got the snot kicked out of him in NY for doing his Borat persona to a random passer-by.

And I thought *I* had a big mouth! ;)

Article: Wanna see Colonel Sanders from space?

This is just hilarious. Some folks created a massive KFC logo in the desert with the idea of having it viewable from space. It's finger lickin' good! :)

Entry: Yard of the Month

Congratulations to my mother for winning Eagle Landing's coveted 'Yard of the Month' award. She is proudly displaying the sign in her front yard.

She deserves every bit of credit and recognition that she gets! :)

Article: Dolphin caught with four fins

This is pretty cool. Some Japanese folks recently caught a dolphin that has four fins. The hind fins are believed to be relics from the mammal's terrestrial-based ancestry. I would honestly not be surprised if this was more common than we knew.

Although I tend to post a lot of opinions on this site, I usually try to distance myself from expressing any sentiments that indicate that I think a group or demographic is wrong in any respect. However, when it comes to the issue of Evolution, I've always found it difficult to imagine how some can forsake exaplainable genetic mutation and, pretty much, the entire fossil record for their own personal doctrines. I mean....maybe I'm wrong. Perhaps this dolphin is one of "God's" many wonderful gifts to the planet (ie....mankind). But....if this is the case, then the fossil record would have to be the greatest practical joke in man's history of existance.

It would be hilarious if a geologist or archeologist were to die and go to heaven and be given an audience with God himself. God extends his (or her) hand to be shaken only to withdraw it as the scientist reached with a resounding "PSYCHE!!!!!".

Castlevania, baby!!

Awwwwww yeeeaaahhhhh! Everybody's favorite game is coming to the big screen.

I still remember the first time I played the original back in '87. Man...I was hooked! Since then, I have bested six of the games in the series (3 for NES, 2 for SNES, and one for Genesis). Is it sad that I can remember that? Of course! It's not like I ever claimed to have a life. :)

In all honesty, I doubt that this movie will do the justice that the game deserves. Who knows....they might even try to add the boomerang-style axes that some of the enemy knights throw. That would be hilarious. If they leave out the Grim Reaper, then I will be majorly miffed.

Anybody else out there have a favorite Belmont? I'm a Simon fan myself. Can't beat the classics.

Article: Go Speed Racer....Go!!

Yep...it's true. They're making a live action 'Speed Racer' movie. Go figure that they'd bring the directors of the Matrix trilogy to direct it. This show was the one that gave the original meaning to the term "trunk monkey".

Entry: Long live Orwell!

This is one of those articles that I'm just going to let folks read for themselves. It makes me think of things like '1984' and 'V for Vendetta'. I'm in NO way saying that anyone is working toward the establishment of an orwellian society, but the fact remains that ANY administration wishing to do just that would have to take this as an initial step. It's the kind of REAL news that I wish networks would report on instead of trivial non-issues like Madonna's adopted son.

It's also interesting to mention that most people seem to forget that we are living in a union. Each state has it's own leadership, military, laws, taxes, supreme courts, and constitutions. I have no issues with a federal government per se, but it's very interesting how the federal and state governements are supposed to keep each other in check and how things would be effected if that protection were to erode.

Most interesting.

---

In a telling bit of understatement, the Senator from Vermont noted that "the implications of changing the (Posse Comitatus) Act are enormous". "There is good reason," he said, "for the constructive friction in existing law when it comes to martial law declarations. Using the military for law enforcement goes against one of the founding tenets of our democracy. We fail our Constitution, neglecting the rights of the States, when we make it easier for the President to declare martial law and trample on local and state sovereignty."

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Entry: The house is back!

I just realized that there's a house that keeps re-ocurring in my dreams. It's not quite what I would classify as a mansion...but it is a REALLY big house. In my dreams, I recall that this house has a mystique about it....and aura of unrest, if you will (for lack of better words to use). Sometimes it's haunted, and sometimes it's simply uncomfortable to be in (for unknown reasons).

I remember, in the first dream in which this house appeared, that it was supposedly owned by distant relatives who had long since passed on. My mother was giving me a tour of it. I remembered thinking of what a cool house it was. The second dream was a tad more "lively". It involved zombies trying to kill me. Not exactly what I would call a nightmare, but definately one of those run-for-your-life dreams. ( The snake and shark dreams are the ones that I would classify as nightmares.) In the third dream (last night), the house was occupied by a family that was hosting a reunion. I was sneaking around the house, evading the inhabitants, in search of its mysteries (again, for lack of a better way to explain it).

These three dreams have absolutely nothing to do with one another. I do find it odd that the house is a constant though. Even the rooms are all the same! And, it's not like I've ever seen the house or anything. It's a totally randomly generated house. Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm wondering if there wasn't a fourth one. It seems to be just beyond my ability to reach it in my mind....just enough to know it's there but not to know what it was about. Weird? Of course! :)

I think that these three dreams have happened over the last 1.5 years, so it's not like I'm seeing that house every night or anything. Wouldn't it be weird to actually FIND a house that matched it by accident?! :)

[ maniacal laughter ensues ]

P.S. Hey....since when have MY posts ever been normal??? ;)

Entry: This morning

"Once upon a morning dreary, while I slacked off weak and weary,
Over many a TV show about history's forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some dude gently rapping, rapping at my house's door."

With all due respect to Mr. Edgar Allen Poe, I couldn't resist writing the above simply because I was able to see the Charleston Stage presentation of 'Nevermore' last night. It was absolutely glorious!!! It even had the screaching violin sound effects like they do in movies like 'The Exorcist'.

But, I digress. Indeed, there was a rapping on my front door this morning. I opened it to find a gentlemen dressed to the hilt (in a rather shocking electric-blue dress shirt and black tie). He said that he was delivering a "public service message" to the neighborhood.

So, at this point, I'm thinking "Oh lord....please, oh please, dear god....don't let this guy be on some politician's payrool. I have no desire to deal with that quagmire at the moment." The guy hands me a little pamphlet face-down and then proceeds to walk away (a tad more hastily than one would think).
I turned over the pamphlet only to find, to my greatest horror, that it was entitled "The End Is Near For False Religions".

I then let out a sigh and found myself thinking...."Why couldn't it have just been a politician."

So....before the gentleman had a chance to exit my property, I promptly call him back and ask him to take his pamphlet with him with the polite understanding that I wasn't interested. He thanked me for my time and wished me a good day. I wasn't trying to be rude by returning the material, but I wanted to negatively reinforce this guy's assumption that people don't mind propoganda visits at their residence.

Have you ever noticed how propoganda artists and solicitors almost ALWAYS try on the weekends? Granted...it wasn't that early in the morning, but I do recall many occasions where I'll get the 8am call from some dumb company wanting to sell me something on a Saturday morning. I mean....after getting up at 6am ever work day, why would I POSSIBLY want to sleep in on the weekends?!?!

But, again, I digress. As always, I respect this guy his right to his beliefs. I also respect his right to buy space on a billboard or a TV commercial. Is there a reason that it HAS to be a personal visitation? It's almost as if they don't want to GIVE you the chance to ignore the billboard or fast-forward your Tivo through the TV commercial. I get the distinct impression that "Our message will be delivered whether you like it or not!"

Sigh.

I wonder how large of an army their group had out there scouring the neighborhoods this morning. Who knows...they might be in YOUR neighborhood as we speak! Lock your doors and keep both eyes on your kids at all times! They're coming!!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

Update: I went out to check the mail the same day and found a flier attached to my door from some guy who wants to be mayor. Ugh!