Vermont Life VII

August 18, 2006 12:05 AM

I'm writing this in pen because apparently I lost all my lead somewhere in my bag. Not that it matters much. I lost my erasure a week ago anyway.

The open mic went well. Everyone played cover songs for the most part. The only exception was this one guy who ended his session with an awesone original track. He was in his mid-fifties and looked like an Environmental Science professor but was the only person who played with pure passion and abandon. I guess it helped that he played a lot of Dylan.

The only other person of note was the host. Another in the mid-fifties range. He was mostly hit or miss but that was primarily due to which song he chose. His Chuck Berry rocked and his Skynard dragged. All in all it was fun, a nice change.

I'm back at Kipling's Pub. Coffee this time but if I feel a little frisky I may get a Guiness. Who knows... it's early.


1:05 AM

I'll never understand what it is about this town and women who are in relationships. The entire time I lived here I only dated one girl who didn't have a boyfriend already.

At the pub I met a nice, albeit slightly drunk, woman named Liz who early in our conversation announced that she was getting married within the month. And yet, soon after, let me know in no uncertain terms that I would be welcome going home with her. She was nice and attractive despite being 37 years old. (I actually thought I was older than her at first) And this is the part I don't get: as nice as she was, she was still willing to have a tumble behind her boyfriends back. I couldn't even think of cheating on Brandy no matter how beautiful or intellectual someone is. If I did, I wouldn't have married her. All I could think during her flirtations was, "poor guy". If she's already thinking of cheating after a 30 minute conversation and a few stupid bar video games she shouldn't even consider marrying someone. Needless to say, I left before she got the wrong impression. It's too bad. She was a cool person to talk to. A good mix from the usual Brattleboro suspects.

Vermont Life Part VI

August 17, 2006 5:19 PM EST

I'm back at Mocha Joes. The eggplant was delicious. It looks like I'm skipping out on dinner tonight, though. They're going to be serving it any minute and I just now got downtown, It's okay. I can fend for myself just fine. (I'm eating a blonde brownie the barista dubiously called a "Congo Bar") Besides, I could use the privacy.

After dinner last night Ashlyn stayed over at Rob's parents house and I actually managed to get him out of the house for a few beers. We weren't out long, however, when Rob insisted we go home where we could drink for far cheaper. We talked for a bit but he jumped on the computer to show me something, ended up playing a game, and got sleepy enough for bed soon after. I didn't stay up too late once Rob went to bed. I knew we had a physical day ahead.

This morning we picked up Ashlyn and headed straight for Wantastiquet Mt. The climb was okay. We took the long winding way up because Rob didn't want Ashlyn to do anything dangerous. I understood but man was it long! It would have been much funner taking the mountain head on but we didn't even do that last year when it was me, Rob, and Brandy climbing it.

For the descent I broke away from the two of them so I could take the rugged straight down approach. What ended up happening is when I got to the bottom I called to see how far down they were. They were only halfway down, off the trail, and semi-lost. I climbed straight back up to them and warned him against trying to go down the way I came because it was a straight vertical thirty foot drop off. That was easily the best part of our hike when I scaled the wall to get up to them. If Rob had taked Ashlyn all the way to the drop off it would have been difficult for her to climb back up to another area. We hiked along the side of the mountain until we eventually ran into the trail again. So after a quick bath and shave here I am.



I'm going to see how long I can wander around downtown resisting shopping. There's an open mic tonight at the Mole's Eye Cafe at 8:30 and I figure I could check it out. It beats sitting around doing nothing. Hopefully, there will be a few good entertainers but with the small talent pool of eastern New England I'm not counting on it. All the good singers/bands are probably playing gigs for money, not making appearances at small town open mic sessions.

Vemont Life Part V

Well, I have been shying away from typing these up (somewhat due to the whining nature of some of my posts) but I need to catch up seeing how my last post was five days ago.

The first entry picks up in the aftenoon where my last one left off: on Monday August, 14th.

5:46 PM EST

I'm at the top of the hill in Memorial Park. I say hill but it's still about a 700ft high climb. All in all, a short steep hike. It's nice and peaceul. Most of town is obscured from view by the other hills that make up the Connecticut River Valley but I have a nice angle at Wantastiquet Mountain in it's full glory with a good look at the open lane where we descended last year. The falls and the creek are too small to make out from this distance but the break in the trees clearly shows the straight down direct approach we took.

It looks like Rob and Ash have decided to hike up and join me.


August 16, 2006 3:43 EST

No post for Tuesday. We left the apartment relatively early and I didn't bring my bookbag. By the time I'd hiked downtown I wasn't willing to backtrack to Rob's just for my bag. A sixty second drive takes far longer on foot.

We took Ashlyn to a multi-activity play facility for some mini-golf and go-carts. They also had a driving range and I took some time to work on my swing. It was fun but if I had known we would be gone all day I would have stayed in Bratt.

First off, it took forty-five minutes just to drive there using state highways. No one has said anything but I think Pat is afraid to get on the interstate. (Not that there's any traffic on it up here!) We could have shaved approximately twenty minutes off our drive right there. It didn't help that on the way back we stopped at not one but two stores. Whatever...

I'm at Mocha Joes and I'm finding it increasingly difficult and tiresome trying to get back to the Spencer's for dinner. Tonight it's at 5PM and it's bad enough that I have to stop whatever vacation activity/project I'm into but I have to hike all the way back to their house and then back to whatever else I do. It's as if everyone forgets I don't have a car. They just expect me to be able to get wherever I want at the same rate of speed as everyone else. I've just been skipping dinner a couple nights but I feel rude doing it and tonight they are making one of my favorites: eggplant parmisan. So I can't skip out. The other problem is by the time dinner is finished, and I've stayed a polite enough time, all the shops in town have closed. This doesn't bother them because they have no reason to go into town, They live here and can come sight see anytime the urge fills them. It's a bit frustrating.

I need to come hang out at night even if most places are closed. I haven't been sleeping well anyway. At least I have been updating my blogs more often. And I've found some interesting resources on autism.

With all this focus on Rowan I am going to do my damnest to make sure Aidan does not feel neglected. If you put it in the proper perspective it becomes clear that we have two, not one, children who require special needs attention and education. Rowan because of speech and social skills and Aidan who is highly gifted and talented.

I went to the Book Cellar today to look for books about raising a child with Asprger's/Autism and stumbled upon am excellent book on gifted children titled Parenting Gifted Kids by James R. Delisle PhD. I sat there for over an hour reading chapter after chapter and ultimately could not buy it simply because it was $16.95 and we need to hold on to our assets until I'm earing a paycheck again. I need to put it on an Amazon wish list or something though because we are going to need help in raising Aidan or he will go through some of the same complications I went through that still effect me to this day. Most of my radical views on the educational system are molded after my own experiences as a gifted child not being put to uses that best flex his intellectual muscle. The truth is that public school is best used for conformity, and for an average (or below average) child it is adequate in preparing him/her for society. With a gifted child. however, conformity stymies growth emotionally and intellectually. I will not allow that path for Aidan.

Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks has a heartbreaking short documentary about the difficulties in raising a child with autism entitled: Autism Every Day.

I highly recommend taking 13 minutes of your time to see how the other half lives.

Small | Medium | Large

Hopefully Rowan is not as severe as some of these unfortunate children are. We haven't even had him diagnosed. Our appointment is at 3PM on Tuesday August 22. Please keep him your prayers and wish him luck!

Vermont Life Part IV

August 14 2:34 AM EST

It's the wee hours of a Monday morning and I barely have enough moonlight to read my own writing. I'm in the Brattleboro Commons again and with temperatures closing in on the upper 30's I can't help wondering how Michael is faring.

I came so close to calling it an early night but had initially decided to watch "Cast Away" until Brandy called.

She was feeling lonely so I stopped the movie and decided to take a walk while we talked. Next thing I knew I was in a relatively new pub chasing Guiness with Green Mountain Coffee. My kind of place, right?

Well, the hour is late, I still have a short hike before I can rest, and the three Killians I killed before leaving, as well as the three Guiness I killed downtown, are starting to catch up to me. So I think I'll leave this slightly drunken entry short.

One reminder before I begin my trek: John, you must hike downtown more often at night and try to write. The atmosphere is so quaint and serene and there aren't too many opportunities to capitilize on left. Enjoy your vacation to the fullest!


2:47 AM EST

One more update before my hike: The number of casualties, and consequently flags, has grown to 2,595. Four more Americans have perished in Iraq.

P.S. I can see my own breath, it's that cold!

Vewrmont Life Part III

August 12, 2006 3:36 PM EST

I'm on the top deck of the summit lodge on top of Mt. Snow. Man, the view is awesome! It's too bad the lodge and upstairs bar are closed because onlay a beer could satisfy me more than the view after the long hike up.

Joe made me proud. He made it all the way with me and we are looking at making the nearly vertical descent down the north face. The route we took up was no means easy. Instead of taking the hiking trails we went straight up the ski trail. We took a few breaks along the way but most were in the beginning. Once Joe got his wind and climbing legs he became a trooper. I really didn't have any problems but I did have to catch short 60 second rests after the really steep parts.

There's a wedding about to start here at the summit lodge and all I can think is the girls are going to freeze their panties off with the way the wind whips off the north face. At the base the temparature is about 75 degrees and up here it's got to be 42-46 degrees. Right now all the girls are hiding in the lodge which I believe they rented.

Well, breaks over. Time to descent!


5:26 PM EST

Well the descent was precisly straight down. We're on the access road at the base of the mountain heading back to Bratt. We chose Rip Chord as our way down partly because it went halfway down the north face and then cut back uphill towards lodge side, and it's also the only double black diamond on the mountain. We had roughly a 65-70 degree grade climbing down over rocky terrain through 4 1/2 foot high grass. It was slow going but fun as hell. I hope my pics turn out good enough to see how steep the headwall was. It was steep!! Joe was a little surprised that he had to work hard on the way down but he didn't complain any. All in all, I'm glad I got him out. We had a great time!


6:39 PM EST

I guess we got here too late for dinner. I'll probably eat something later. I got my coffee, got a smoke, and I suppose that's all I really need. Rob and I are supposed to go grocery shopping tonight. That should help my belly a bit.

We're in the basement and the guys are jamming. Gives them time to focus on the band and me time to write, right? It's a little sad. They're playing Alternate Eden: a song I wrote about 9 years ago. I was looking at their play list for the music fest and the most recent song they're playing was written 2 1/2 years ago. Rob deserves so much better. He probably knows by now that his brothers will never get out of their parents' basement. Hell, we both knew it over a decade ago when we quit the band. Well, if it makes him happy after work I guess but he could easily establish himself with a band set on touring and actually bringing in money. The other night I played some of John Beebee's and Steven H.'s music and he really liked both of them. The boy just needs direction and I'm sure his talent will take over and skyrocket him to success.

Vermont Life Part II

August 11, 2006 2:11 PM EST

I'm resting on a bench in Memorial Park where there are currently 2,591 miniature flags waving in the breeze: one per American casualty in the war on Iraq, twenty-four of which had ties to Vermont. (Chris pointed out the other day that the newspapers were incorrect in printing the term "Vermont soldier" because Vermont doesn't have any soldiers.)

Walking around town I can't help thinking that Steven would love this state for much of the same reasons it appealed to Michael. It is, by far, the most social state in the union and roughly 90% of the population are die hard Liberals. (They have for many years voted in the only Independant into the House of Representatives: a socialist named Bernie Sanders who is currently running for Senate)

On the one hand, it's what I love about this town: the attention to the arts and self expression but it's impossible to have a political discussion with any of them without hearing the same old rhetoric. It's as if they were reading a script of a radical liberal's radio show. So I avoid discussing politics at all. With Rob's family it is a polar opposite. The only news agency they watch is FOX and they have become staunch Republicans bordering on the extremeties of the Liberals up here. I remember them being conservative but a lot more moderate in the 90's. (All of them, with the exception of Joe who was too young, voted for Ross Perot back in '92) I guess anyone who is exposed to vast liberalism for so long can't help detesting it and drifting further and further the other way.

In other news: I accomplished none of my objectives today. (Which is the correct way to spend a vacation) It's okay. I guess it's just my body's way of saving up energy for tomorrow.

I mentioned last night that I wanted to hike to the summit of Mt. Snow and Joe said he wanted to come. Rob will be at work and it'd be great to get Joe out of the house. He has lost a ton of weight since his surgery/chemo therapy and I'm confident he'd make it alright, even if he doesn't go all the way to the summit. I had forgotten that we climbed Mt. Haystack together and got pretty high until he couldn't go further and he was in very bad shape then. I hope he's patient with me because I plan on going the full distance with or without him this time. It would be nice to come down on the North face (where all the double black diamonds are and the slope is nearly straight down) and then hike around the mountain to the main lodge, but I'm not sure he'd be up for that. It would take 3 - 5 hours not including the drive.

Brandy just called so I'm going to hike into town and withdraw some cash so I can talk to her at a coffee shop when she calls back.


3:44 EST

Apparently I have been incorrect to call the park Memorial Park. It's real name is Newfane Commons. Memorial Park is in West Brat with the hill, T-bar lift, pool, and play area. It's curious because there are no memorial plaques in or around Memorial Park but they litter Newfane Commons. Every war has a plaque and/or statue complete with the names of all Brattleboro citizens who perished. It's no wonder I got the names confused, right? Someone should tell their Selectmen that their predecessors got it backwards. I guess it shouldn't surprise me with this predominately passivist town.


3:51 EST

Okay, okay... it seems there is a similar project going on up the road in Newfane. The article I was reading was talking about that one. Hence the name: Newfane Commons. (the commons in Newfane!!) So I still don't know the name of the park I initiated this entry in because I'm pretty sure Memorial Park is the one we took Ashlynn to. I'll try to find a plaque or sign with it's name on my trek toward's Rob's parents in a little bit.

4:16 EST

I just got off the phone with Trish and she's calling John to ask if Michael's still up here. It would be great to see him. He'll always be family despite what happens between Trish and John.

We were talking about poker and it got me thinking about boring nights when Rob has to work the next day. I think I'll play in a freeroll tournament tonight seeing how I won't have to worry about work tomorrow or interuptions from the boys. It'd be a good distraction and keep my mind sharp.

I need a difficult crossword book. Sudoku's aren't doing it for me and not sure I can get the Spencers up for a game of pinochle. (not to mention that I haven't played in 8+ years and need to re-learn the rules and scoring techniques)

I am currently sitting where the 3 Seasons Cafe used to reside: in the alley next to the theater overlooking the Connecticut River. It's amazing how the buildings block much of the noise from busy Main St. I came back here so I could sit and hear Trish at the same time and have found (much like I did a decade ago) what a relaxing place it is to read or write. This used to be my last stop on my way home after book shopping a couple of blocks down, I could spend all day here!


7:38 EST

I'm still not sure of the name of this park but I'm here again on the same bench from this afternoon. I need to mention this great quality of Brattleboro's: tons of trees and rapid declines. One is rarily short of places to side-step and piss. Man I love nature!

Trish got back to me right after my last entry and gave me Michael's number. He's staying in a tent off the bank of the Connecticut River near downtown. (practically a long throw from Rob's parents on Wantastiquet Dr.) Once I got off the phone with her I gave him a call and next thing I know we were both at Flat Street Brew Pub eating dinner and killing beers.

Man I missed him! He's basically camping for a couple of weeks because his lease was up and he's about to head to Massachusetts for a month before taking a train to Mount Shasta where he's joining a Buddhist Zen Monastary.

We talked about everything from semantics, to objectivity, to the Landmark learning center which both he and Brandy attended. (He brought it up, not me) I wish we could hang out all night but I would feel awkward taking him ( a passivist liberal) to Rob's parent's (volatile conservatives) house. I did offer him the opportunity to climb Mt. Snow with me and Joe though, and if I get too bored tonight at Rob's I may just hike down to the riverside and share a tent with him.

At least I know that my trip won't exist entirely of Rob and his family. There is so much bad blood between Rob and Frog that I probably won't hang out with him unless he calls me. (Not that there's any love lost there, I never really liked Frog to begin with) Plus, if Mike is serious about living as a monk and follows through with it, this may be the last time I see him for a while unless I visit him halfway up Mt. Shasta. I believe I should capitilize on the situation and accept it simply as God's will. I must be here for a reason, right?

Vermont Life

I have been keeping a journal while on vacation and initially was hesitant about posting in online, but I have decided that if I piss people off it's just my nature.

Here's the first installment:

August 10, 2006 4:15 EST

I'm not sure if today is Thursday or Friday. Let's see, I flew in on Tuesday and have stayed two nights so far so I guess it's Thursday.

I'm crouching on the sidwalk on Main St. smoking a cigarette in front on Mocha Joes. I had to get them to grind the Rwandan I bought yesterday because (despite what Rob says) he does not have a grinder. He handed me a Cuissinart last night and swore that it'd work just fine but the grind was so coarse, and the coffee so weak, that it was like drinking tea.

Wow. Two nights and I can't imagine what it's going to be like after two weeks of vacation! Yesterday I thought I was going to go mad from missing Brandy and the boys but I think I need this. It didn't help that we spent so much time at Rob's parents house. I love them. They are like a second family but it was too much like going into a time warp and they are by nature pessimistic unmotivated people. Sitting in that house drives me nuts! Now that Rob's working I can get out and do some self exploration.

It's funny. I actually like having to walk everywhere. It gives me time to think; to exist. You should have seen the look on everyone's face when I suggested we take Ashlynn to the park last night. Rob didn't think she'd want to go, his Mom was worried about them closing, and even Ash was hesitant. "Do I have to?" she asked me. I don't understand how they can stay cooped up in that house all day. I didn't eight years ago and I don't today. I have determined that I am not going to spend my vacation sitting on my ass listening to the same negativities. I don't care if I wear my soles out and step on a few toes while I'm at it. I need fresh air!

Update on TSA list...

Last post I was about to board a plane to New England, my how things can change practically overnight. I guess I should include all liquids to the list of unacceptable items.



From the TSA website:

Passengers may experience longer lines at airports and should plan to arrive early. Check with your specific airline and airport before flight departure time to determine how much time is needed for your flight. Passengers should pack their patience and ensure that that they do not bring any liquids to the security checkpoint in carry-on luggage. These items are no longer permitted on board the aircraft. To expedite the process, avoid having clutter in your bags and minimize the number carry-on items

NO LIQUIDS OR GELS OF ANY KIND WILL BE PERMITTED IN CARRY-ON BAGGAGE.

SUCH ITEMS MUST BE IN CHECKED BAGGAGE. This includes all beverages, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, tooth paste, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency.

Exceptions: Baby formula and medicines, which must be presented for inspection at the checkpoint.

Beverages purchased in the boarding area, beyond the checkpoint, must be consumed before boarding because they will not be permitted onboard the aircraft.

Passengers traveling from the United Kingdom to the United States will be subject to a more extensive screening process.

These measures will be constantly evaluated and updated as circumstances warrant.

I brought limited items simply to escape the lengthy routine of checking in bagggage and waiting for it on the conveyer. Well, it appears I'll be leaving my toiletries here and buying new ones when I get home. (They mostly consist of travel sized packages anyway)

Have I mentioned how much I love air travel??

TSA: Prohibited Items

Hey guys, I'll be going to Vermont for a couple of weeks.I was at the TSA website
trying to check if I could carry my razor blades on the airplane and unfortunately
it falls in the list of unaccepted items because they aren't in a cartridge
but more traditional like these:



I got a kick out of how casually you find items such as hand grenades next to regular
items like golf clubs.

Here's a complete list:

# Automatic weapons
# Axes
# Baseball bats
# BB guns
# Billy clubs
# Blackjacks
# Blasting caps
# Bows and arrows
# Box cutters
# Brass knuckles
# Bull whips
# Cattle prods
# Compressed air guns
# Corkscrews
# Cricket bats
# Crow bars
# Disabling chemicals or gases
# Dog repellent spray
# Dynamite
# Fire extinguishers
# Flare pistols
# Golf clubs
# Gun lighters
# Gunpowder
# Hammers
# Hand grenades
# Hatchets
# Hockey sticks
# Hunting knives
# Ice axe/Ice pick
# Knives (any length)
# Kubatons
# Large heavy tools (such as wrenches pliers etc.)
# Mace
# Martial arts devices
# Meat cleavers
# Metal scissors with pointed tips
# Numchucks
# Pellet guns
# Pen knives
# Pepper spray
# Pistols
# Plastic explosives
# Pool cues
# Portable power drills
# Portable power saws
# Razor blades (not in a cartridge)
# Religious knives
# Replica weapons
# Revolvers
# Rifles
# Road flares
# SCUBA knives
# Sabers
# Screwdrivers
# Shot guns
# Ski poles
# Spear guns
# Starter pistols
# Straight razors
# Stun guns/shocking devices
# Swords
# Tear gas
# Throwing stars
# Toy transformer robots (this toy forms a toy gun)
# Toy weapons"

TSA: TSA Issues Guidelines to Help Passengers through Security and Expands List of Prohibited Items

Very,very bad propaganda

Sometimes I'm amazed at what I find on random googles...

This is some funny shit:



Zionists Nuke Downtown Beirut - Again!

I Love Stupid Criminals...

Woman Loses Shirt During Robbery

This lady actually came back to get her shirt...

Chavez and Morales in trade deals

The "Axis of good" begins

Maybe Morales should have been a bit more diplomatic in his choice of words...

Zimbabwe Opposition Leader, Others Detained Ahead of Election

What passes for Democracy in Zimbabwe

Getting Ready For Launch

Discovery begins rollout to launch pad

So far it looks like we will have our first launch in a year.
On a side note, I just hired Commander Lindsey's daughter Jessica and she begins training with me tonight at 5 o'clock.

Everyone wish them luck!

from CNN

Chavez is Arming up Again

Chavez's 'citizen militias' on the march

Venezuela 'to buy more weapons'

"Speaking in the capital Caracas, Mr Chavez said 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles already on order from Russia were not enough.

Venezuela needed a million well-armed men and women, he said.

Mr Chavez also likened US President George W Bush to the German Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler."

Everytime Chavez uses Adolf Hitler as a reference to Bush I can't help but remember what really happened.

"Hitler's 'propagandist reason' for starting the war had already been arranged by Himmler and Heydrich at the Führer's request. The plan was of such importance that it was code named Operation Himmler and involved having the SS stage fake attacks by the Polish Army against German troops along the German-Polish border. At the Gleiwitz radio station, a Polish-speaking German working with the SS would grab the microphone and broadcast an inflammatory speech in Polish declaring that the time had come for Poles to fight the Germans. Concentration camp inmates dressed in Polish Army uniforms would be killed by lethal injections then riddled with bullets and left as evidence of the attacks, to be viewed later by members of the press."

Who knows if his control over the Latin American people will ever grow strong enough to weild this type of propaganda but Chavez is arming up for something... and the whole world knows it's not in preparation for a phony "U.S. invasion".

State Run Media, Here We Come...

Venezuela sets up 'CNN rival'


from BBC

To some, that sounds like propaganda. Last year, the chairman of the US Senate's foreign relations committee, Richard Lugar, referred to the planned channel as a vehicle to spread President Hugo Chavez's authoritarian message around the region.

Alberto Ravell, the head of Venezuela's main private news channel, Globovision, agrees.

"You're going to have a view of Latin America, but you're going to have the view these governments want you to have, not an impartial view," he said.

He told the BBC that all the people working at Telesur are leftist.

"They're all in one political position, and that's the political position of our president that wants to be not only the president of Venezuela but the leader of Latin America."

One Year Anniversary of the Massacre at Andijan

Still waiting to bury their dead


from the BBC

A New Way to Ride That Horse...

Nude Dude Ranch Opens

Sounds a little too adventerous for me.

I'll Take a Large Supreme...Hold the Human Flesh

Man Delivers Pizzas, Corpses In Same Vehicle

Apparently, in the distinguished state of Pennsylvania, there is no law against this...

ChinaRant.com

As reported by the Houston Chronicle last sunday, officials in Beijing are trying to curb the long list of bad manners prevailent among it's citizens before the start of the Summer Olymipcs in 2008.

Here's a cute site where businessmen and visitors share their unique cultural encounters:

ChinaRant.com





Also, check out the Chinese Driving Test for an in depth look into the beauty of driving on urban streets in China.

Children Accused of Witchcraft in the Congo

It's a tragedy that, in these modern times, people still allow fear and ignorance to justify cruel and inhumane treatment towards others.

This is a photo story from the BBC that shows how villagers in the Congo are blaming children with witchcraft simply because they are defensless to their accusations.

Witchcraft Threat

How the US 'lost' Latin America

Daniel Ortega may be back in power in Nicaragua soon



Peru's Ollanta Humalla


"The imperialist, genocidal, fascist attitude of the US president has no limits," Mr Chavez says.
"I think Hitler would be like a suckling baby next to George W Bush."

Here's an interesting report from the BBC on how left-wing, anti-American governments are gaining power in the Latin states

How the US 'lost' Latin America

Chavez rules out return to cheap oil

Chavez to host OPEC meeting on June 1

Chavez is flexing his muscles once again. Notice he again mentions an American attack. Overall, the South American nations have been sliding towards authoritorian rule so I wonder where exactly he plans on taking his army once it is established.

I hope he is telling the truth and is just delusional that America can risk the criticism of invading Venezuela because the guy is just too out of control to run a proper war.

Al-Jazeera buys Welsh sheep show

"The series gives viewers a taste of a wide range of musical styles, from opera to rap, while also placing a strong emphasis on the importance of recycling and family interaction," said an S4C spokesman.


This just boggles my mind

Chavez arms up

Venezuela has taken delivery of three Russian-built military helicopters - the first of a total of 15 it has so far ordered from Moscow.

President Hugo Chavez said they would help to protect Venezuela if the US ever mounted an invasion.

Mr Chavez also repeated that he was ready to buy Russian fighter jets.

Washington has dismissed claims of a possible invasion as ridiculous and says Mr Chavez's military purchases pose a threat to regional stability.

read more

You know... Hitler used the same reasoning for rearming Germany.
If he doesn't mean to invade anyone then why is he lying about why they were purchased?

Pretty Soon We'll All Live Forever...

Doctors grow bladder cells and produce rebuilt organ

Husband On Strike To Get Bedroom Back

Keep the kids out of our bedrooms!!

I can honestly understand about the 3 month old. That was about the age both Aidan and Rowan were moved to cribs in a seperate bedroom.

The two year old, however, has got to get his own room!!

This is a Free Country Damn It...

Young honors student expresess his right to die an idiot

"If I want to be the jerk that flirts with death, I should be able to do that."


That's how you show them!

Death by Lava Lamp

Death can sometimes be a beautiful seductress

You Just Can't Get Much Stupider Than This

+



=




Here's proof crack makes you stupid

The Left Goes After Sen. John McCain

Here's an interesting article that claims that, after portraying him as a calm respectable hero, the mainstream media is now attacking John McCain in order to prevent him winning the Republican nomination.
I'm not sure I agree with it entirely but I do agree that he would win in a landslide today if it were between him and Hillary Clinton. (Haven't the Democrats have anyone better? What ever happened to John Kerry?)

Personally, I'd like to see Colin Powell finally run.

click me

Upcoming Hurricane Season Likely Strong

The top U.S. hurricane expert said Thursday that this year's hurricane season is likely to be stronger than average, though short of the record 2005 season, the costliest on record.

I hope everyone enjoyed the breather but it's almost game time again!

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones...

Every once in a while an article comes along that just cracks me up:

U.S. Envoy Urges Venezuela to End Insults

Charles Taylor: finally caught

Rueters reports that Charles Taylor was caught trying to flee Nigeria which has sheltered him from facing the War Tribunal for nearly three years.

I just wish they hadn't dropped the death penalty. Who knows... maybe he can copy Milosevic.

One can hope.

U.S. thrown a curve; Cuba cries foul

Castro claims he wanted to donate the prize money that Cuba should have won by finishing second in this years World Baseball Classic to victims of Hurricane Katrina but the U.S. says they don't get any money.

Trade embargo keeps Cuba from claiming any prize money from the World Baseball Classic

It looks like another plot to make the U.S. Government look bad.
All we need now is Hugo Chavez to pipe up and defend his mentor.

Cyborg Technology is Here!

From CNN.com:
Man powers robotic arms with his mind

Ben Glisan Jr. Finale

Well, as is evident in this story printed at KHOU.com it would appear the report that Mr. Glisan was seen to "sip on a venti-sized Starbucks cup while awaiting his turn on the stand." was issued from the Associated Press. And there is no arguing with those assholes seeing how every major publication on the planet relies on them so frequently.

Alas, my thunder is quashed and I am left like so many others who have been ignored or misrepresented by the mainstream media.

It's been fun, though

Ben Glisan Jr. Part II

Yes... that is Ben Glisan arriving for court on Monday. It clearly is not a Starbucks drink in his hand!

Just a quick update on the Ben Glisan situation:

I confronted him about the coffee he was reported to be carrying to the courthouse and he adamantly denied drinking Starbucks. He wanted to make absolute sure that I knew he wasn't cheating on us. And the truth is I would definitely believe a former Enron executive over a National syndicate journalist every day of the week.

Also, Bloomberg reported today that if he testifies truthfully he will be released in September. With that, the following comes from a report filed today at Business Week:

Petrocelli... suggested his testimony was tied to the expectation he could get out of prison early.

"It's not fun," Glisan said of prison. "I would never wish this on anyone. I would very much like to be with my family."

He said he hoped his testimony would "result in some betterment of my situation," but added that a perjury charge could increase his sentence.

And finally... the following pictures are from today where Ben can be clearly seen carrying a Coffee Oasis Jumbo cup:




From Monday, the day of the ABC report...


Tuesday...


Coffee Oasis in the New York Times:


And finally, an artist's version of the cup:


I guess I have a letter to write!

"South Park" Roasts Chef, Literally

On Wednesday's South Park 10th season premiere, Hayes' Chef character was struck by lightning, impaled, shot, mauled by a mountain lion, eaten by a grizzly bear, and, oh, yes, accused of being a child molester.

I love Trey Parker and Matt Stone