That's a nice picture. Was it this past weekend? Have a great day Mike. Eat a steak and sit outside. Promises to be nice out today. This weather is great for mid July.
Mike and I just got coffee at the Perky Parrot and I bopught him a pair of flip flops at Hutzells for his birthday... he will be a guest of the noon Kiwanis (guest of Jim Sloter), at the Senior Center. haha..
Oh...just saw this...there's a great photo of Emma and Mary Laurel at the Nature Center Vagabon Tribe drummer workshop there's also a small photo of Randy and me playing the drums!
We had one of our AMU (Algona Municipal Utilities) bills slip through the cracks. It was the cable bill for the restaurant. I was working in my office and I always have MSNBC on and all of the sudden there goes the signal.
I called - they explained - I was at their desk within 5 minutes writing a check. They added a $32 reconnect fee. I asked if there was any wiggle room on the reconnect fee and the woman said "Well you can go talk to John" (the GM) I told her no - that it would be useless. I know this because we had the same issue at our house a couple of years ago and they positively will not waive the fee.
Also, a number of years ago we had a water pipe break in the basement at the restaurant. Of course it was on the days we were closed and we racked up a crazy water bill because of it. Hundreds of dollars. They would not cut a break then either.
I just got off the phone with a DirectTV dealer. Info coming in the mail.
The thing that kills me is there are plenty of women in that office who have plenty of time to make courtesy calls to long time customers and say "Hey, Tom. Better come in today and pay otherwise you will be disconnected tomorrow."
Happy Birthday Mike. A festive guy like you will surely find something festive to do.
Tom, that is so annoyinga bout the cable and water companies. FYI - we have Direct TV and for the most part it's good, but if it's really windy or if there's a good storm it goes out. We called them and asked if they would consider lowering our payment because we were considering going to cable, but they declined. We're locked in wtih Ditect TV til Nov. anyway. I also asked my credit card co.(which is from Iowa State Bank)if they would consider lowering my interest rate and they declined. I don't carry a high balance on it, but I just think their rate is higher than what I could get elsewhere.
Anyone - why are the leaves at the bottom of my tom. plants turning yellow?
In Council Bluffs all the utilities send a reminder notice if you're in danger of being cut off. In fact, I think they actually leave a doorknob hangar notice. Given that we have more or less no choice in cable companies, our legislators should legislate that cable also cannot disconnect without a written notice. Especially since so many people have bundled services now.
Get him a camo thong. That way if he crashes in a wilderness area it can double as a sling shot. Mary - a camo bra makes a nice double barrel. Always be prepared.
Tom-that happened to me at my office about 4 months ago. Alla sudden the phones are dead at 11:45 on a friday morning. We call, find out a bill went unpaid due to an oversight. It just fell thru the cracks, as you say. Ran down there with a check within 5 minutes and reconnected by 1pm. So annoying. My home and office utilities, computer, phones are all with AMU and I conservatively estimate that I've paid them $40,000 over just the last 5 years. Probably over $150,000 since I moved back. Why one of the many office employees couldn't pick up the phone for a courtesy call the day before is beyond me. Someday a good lawsuit against AMU will come along. I won't call them before I file.
Some liberal pundits have been espousing the false notion that the justice meted out by Sotomayer and her fellow appeals judges in the New Haven firefighter case was a fair and just decision. They basically are saying that due to past inequalities it is therefore fair to show preference for minorities (and women) even when a clearly more qualified white guy is presented as an option for promotion, admittance or what-have-you.
Institutionalized reverse discrimination is what they are advocating. All because us crackers have had it so good for so long.
To my way of thinking this demonstrates at the very least a lack of gratitude and at the most a serious moral vacuity. (I just learned that word).
Lack of gratitude because of the lost realization that if it weren't for us crackers allowing equal rights and freedoms there would still be second class citizens (in the legal sense) with in our confines.
How can this be? Some may say that the progress in this arena was inevitable. That it would happen eventually with or without the acquiescence of cracker. I would invite the doubters to spend some time in just about any part of the world not inhabited by a majority of crackers and see for themselves the great benevolence of it's leadership.
See how Latino machismo permits the killing of adulterous wives with little more than a slap on the wrist. How a woman's ankle peeking out from under her burka earns a beating in some countries. How an asian woman may be divorced and left pennyless for not producing a male heir.
Yes, it's time that gratitude be shown whitey. He may have been wrong in the past. But all wrongs are now right. So stop the ball and chain policies.
Justice and equality must be a two way street. It's time to put the blindfold back on Justice.
Here's a behind the scenes for a commercial I did for the World Hunger Organization. We didn't get to go shoot it because we were running this new business pitch in San Francisco last week. Oh well, I would have liked to have smelled her hair.
A rario story today said that "Rock Gone Wild" is moving from Algona's Abate grounds to the Dimond Jo Casino in Northwood. I wonder what the Wild Rose Casino, the "Official Hotel of Rock Gone Wild" thinks of that.
Mindy Baker asked me for a comment and I said "no comment at this time other than Rock Gone Elsewhere."
I've spoken to both the GM for the Festival and the Booking Agent...we have a contract. They're gonna chat and get back to me about keeping the Pre-Party at Sarah's...we'll know more Sunday night.
So is it wrong to order vacation bible school supplies from Oriental Trading Company? I picture a tuburcular 10-year-old hunched over making thousands or googly eyes for $1 a week. Or I could go into a craft store who's getting them from the same source and pay twice as much.
I'm wearing an expensive watch this weekend, testing it for Josh. It's not worth a million dollars, but maybe 7 or 8 thousand. It's easy to get used to.
HEY EVERYONE: THANKS FOR THE BIRTHDAY WISHES...I HAD ONE OF THE BEST BIRTHDAY WEEKENDS OF MY LIFE! WE WENT OUT TO CHICAGO FOR DESMOND'S GOODBYE PARTY AND HAD A WONDERFUL TIME! WE STAYED AT ED'S (COOL DIGS), WENT TO OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT, HAD DINNER AT PHELAN'S , VIEWED THE NEW WING AT THE ART INSTITUE, STAYED UP ALL NIGHT, WENT TO A GREAT GOODBYE PARTY, AND VISITED (AND STAYED) AT MONICA AND JOE'S LAST NIGHT...I ONLY WISH THAT CAITLIN (AND ALL OF YOU) COULD HAVE BEEN THERE! CATHY, SORRY WE MISSED YOUR PARTY IT SOUNDED LIKE GREAT FUN...HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY! ML
Re: The Wyeth buyout: I voted to throw them all out. On line. I'm angry and modern.
Cathy's Hawaiian party was lovely. Friends from Cathy's work came. Catie and Mia wore grass skirts. There were lots of tropical prints and leis for everyone! and the food was never ending. Yum! Pork Loin, pineapple upside down cake, lots of salads and fruit, coconut shrimp, mango margaritas... it was fun. But unlike Mike, we did not stay up all night.
College football is right around the corner. Any predictions? I have none. Only wishes. My wishes are
1. ND gets at least 9 wins. 2. Someone other than a Florida team, Ohio State or USC wins the title. 3. Iowa goes to the Rose Bowl. 4. ISU has a winning season.
Sadly...U.S.C. always has the best looking cheerleaders, but part of it is their outfits. They have the old fashioned sweater and skirt and shoes, but everything is shorter and tanner.
I really, really hope Iowa does a repeat job on Minnesota. Last year it was something like 55-14. I hate Minnesota. Mostly because their fans are so snotty towards Iowa.
I wonder why Florida Atlantic chose the Owls as their mascot. They are near the ocean, I've never seen an owl around here.....I don't get it. Why not the Geckos?
The FAU campus was designated a burrowing owl sanctuary in 1971 by the Audubon Society. The Owl came here because there are not many predators, other than cats, near an airport. The feisty bird, traditionally associated with wisdom and determination, serves as the University's mascot.
According to the only Straub who has won 10 NCAA Championships..."Devaney and Osborne have built a terrific athletic department, making it easy to recruit from all over the world, including a new one from Indonesia, supposed to be the best in the world." Bill Straub, Bowling Coach, Nebraska
By the way...you can still send your kids to Straub's Huskers Bowling Camp, there is one more session, July 24-26, only $390!~ Doesn't include lodging! Maybe it's half price if your last name is Straub.
My Husker Predictions (in case anyone still cares, that was a few comments ago):
W Florida Atlantic W Arkansas State L @ Virginia Tech W La Lafayette W @ Mizzou W Texas Tech W Iowa State W @ Baylor L Oklahoma Push @ Kansas W Kansas State W @ Colorado L Big 12 Championship vs. Texas
That's how my 9 wins happen. Kansas returns some offensive weapons but loses key starters on the line so we'll see how that works out. I still think NU wins the division. Here's a caveat for Husker fans and a finger-crosser for Husker haters: if they lose at Mizzou the season could go south in a hurry. I would like a Nebraska/Iowa matchup in the Alamo Bowl. That would be fun.
My stab at a Notre Dame Prediction (I don't know nearly as much as most of you so feel free to correct me)
W Nevada W @ Michigan L Michigan State W @ Purdue W Washington L @ USC W Boston College W Washington State W Navy W Pitt W UConn L @ Stanford
That's how I see the Irish getting their 9 wins and Charlie Weis keeping his job. The Irish have a pretty good late schedule so they look good to cruise through November. They return almost all offensive starters (including the line) so hopefully they'll be able to run the ball this year.
W North Dakota State L Iowa W @ Kent W Army W Kansas State L @ Kansas L Baylor L @ Nebraska L @ Texas A&M L Oklahoma State L Colorado L @ Mizzou
Breaking in a new coach is tough. And so is being Iowa State. Combine those things and you're going to have a pretty challenging year. I kind of like the Rhodes hire and think it was a good move to bring a defensive mindset to the conference. But we might see a rocky beginning. The key game IMO will be @ Kent. from there, I see one conference win vs. KSU. After that, I foresee a lot of second halves spent back out at the tailgates.
There is no way that Baylor gets its second ever Big 12 road win on Jack Trice Field (where they got their first and only).
Also - there is no way that Charlie Weiss loses to MSU this year but I do feel there is a good chance that he will lose one game before the showdown with USC.
Schnellenberger might suprise the Huskers on opening day.
Des, it's me, Kandi. Can't wait to see you on your way through the Big O. Maybe we can get it together again. Like that night in Lincoln with my friends and the Slip n Slid. You do remember, don't you?
Have you ever had to break into your own home? The Gates incident in Cambridge is CRAZEEE...he had trouble with his key and then went to the back dooe, unlocked it and then opened the front from inside...and then got arrested (after showing ID and home ownership proof).
The fact that he was arrested after showing ID says there is more to the story. I see a scenario where a seething, indignant man who probably took offense to a perceived slight and got verbal with the cop.
He wasn't arrested for breaking in. He was arrested for disorderly conduct. Someone observed him and his driver trying to force open the front door from the outside and called it in as a possible break in.
Cops aren't always trustworthy and who really knows what went on there. The cop hasn't said a thing about it other than he won't apologize despite Gates demand to do so.
He's known as an incredibly reasonable, optimistic man in his field. He's married to a white woman, has children with a white woman. I can see a situation where he was really tired (just home from overseas) couldn't get in, the incident happens and an #$@ of a cop is the respondent. And he gets more upset than was warrented. It's just really too bad it happened. The cop refused to give his name and badge number. I have to say I'd have been really upset in his situation...providing hte information he was asked for. I'd have to assume exactly what he assumed. p
2nd to last day of work. cleaning out my desk i found about 30 ancient packets of soy sauce. i dropped them in the drawer of a very neat, meticulous guy who's out all week.
OMG!, Des! It's me, Kandi! Didn't you see my earlier post? I texted Ashlee and she wants to know if you can bring the chocolate fountain when you come through town. She has a closet full of Ghirardelli looking for a good time.
I predict Frank never goes back to TDS after today.
We decided we'll drive to Valdosta, GA tonight, and then stop for dinner and such in Paducah, KY on Saturday night, try to actually see some of somewhere rather than barreling through the drive. Anyone ever been to Paducah?
Pat, I've never been to Paducah but we did stay overnight once in Valdosta. It's a dry town. There is a nearby small town which is totally surrounded by Valdosta where beer, wine and spirits are legal and the restaurant we ate in had decent food. Perhaps you can find out the name of that town if you want a libation with your dinner. Have a safe trip. Love, Dad
Thanks for the info. We probably won't get to Valdosta til about midnight, so won't have to worry about that. Paducah sounds pretty. Its downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the town has won awards for offering incentives to artists moving there, so apparently lots of galleries and such. Population of about 25000.
I don't care if she likes Jennifer Garner. Jennifer Garner is pretty.
Well, if I only had 4 more inches of legs. Funny, since Josh looks so much like her husband, Ben Affleck.... The woman actually isn't a bad person. Just ANNOYING. Her lips are injected to the size of hot dogs. And she has a very loud New Jersey 'I have money' accent. p
He had probable cause since the 911 call indicated 2 men entering. He at the time only saw Gates. Which for the officer meant that either Gates was a burglar or that Gates was at home unaware that 2 men were trying to break in.
According to the St. Petersburg Times, a high school assistant principal pulled and squeezed the toes of five boys when their grades slipped.
Olayinka Alege, the AP, would ask students to take off a shoe and a sock behind closed doors and allow him to “pop” their toes.
The punishment was described by one boy as pulling the toes out and “bending them down.”
The principal told Alege to cut it out, and he did, but maintained it was “all in good fun.”
“I think the gist of it was me and the kids I was mentoring were just playing around,” he told The Times. “It was one of those playful things, just playing around with the kids so they felt more comfortable.”
That's just the name people know him by. It's not what he uses. Let's see. Mary Caryl, Mary Ellan, James Earl, Martin Luther, John Paul, C. S., Billy Bob....
There's just a certain pretension when someone is known by all 3 names. I have very little doubt that he encouraged the use of his middle name. No one has a cooler middle name than me. Yet I don't go throwing it around.
I think most people know Gates as Skip Gates (I think I read that)...How 'bout Mary Straub Lavelle? Gates told the cop he had his ID on the kitchen table, he turned around from inside his door, then the cop opened the door and followed him...he didn't have probable cause...this is a weird issue of race and class.
No. It was a response to a 911 call. On CNN last night they had a black college professor from Syracuse in on the discussion. This guy said spoke to other cops on the force who were there and some who weren't. He said that as near as he could tell standard procedures were followed - from the response to the 911 call all the way through.
He also mentioned that if this guy was a bad cop someone on the force would have told him - off the record.
I guess I'll have to read more about it. My understanding was that the report was 2 black guys with backpacks. Cop gets there and sees 1 black guy with a backpack or satchel and no ID. What did he do wrong? He opened the door and walked in? He hadn't IDd Gates yet. What if it as a thief? Is the cop supposed to wait outside until a guy who fits the description decides to open the door?
Aside from that - I learned that you always cooperate with a cop who is doing his job. Insolent, uncooperative, confrontational behavior will get you cuffed and stuffed. Hopefully Skip learned his lesson.
Thats a good way to get on national TV...how did they find this guy..he calls CNN says he's a Black professor and has talked with the cops on the force...of course he'll get his 15 minutes!
Just went home for lunch and turned on CNN...Obama came to the daily press briefing unexpected and spoke for 5 minutes about the Gates/cop thing...he said he (Obama) shouldn't have called the cops stupid and he called THE cop (Crowley) to say he shouldn't have said that, they had a nice chat and he's coming to the White House for a beer...Obama finished up by saying that the cop did over react to Gates, but Gates didn't handle things well either. He said Black people are VERY sensitive to these things...and then he left!
Joe...if that's how it happened then why didn't they grab the personal driver, the other big Black guy?...Keep in mind that Gates is small and walks with a cane and had a $1,000 suit on).
I'm guessing it's because by that time they figured out that Gates and the driver could be there. Gates was arrested for being a jerk i.e. resisting arrest or something like that. I guess if you're over-sensitive to something it's OK to do what Gates did?
"Massachusetts courts have limited the definition of disorderly conduct to: fighting or threatening, violent or tumultuous behavior, or creating a hazardous or physically offensive condition for no legitimate purpose other than to cause public annoyance or alarm."
That's one reason the charges were dropped, so I've read. He wasn't engaged in disorderly conduct as defined. I think they both messed up. And, I think most black people in the same situation would also react the same way. I read a couple commentators who said what happened upset him so much bc he finally lived for himself what it still means to be a man....a black man....in America. No matter where you teach.
Tom, In answer to your question i'm off to St. Paul to get a Masters in Education at Hamline.
Last night I had drinks with a deputy sheriff and man, did he have an opinion on the Gates thing. Basically everything Joe3 and Tom mentioned above about the right to walk into the house. He might have over reacted by arresting Gates, but it all depends on what Gates said and did.
As it turns out the cop teaches a cultural sensitivity course within the department.
The lesson here is that if you are a man in America - a Black, White, Latino or whathaveyou man in America and you are a jerk to a cop investigating a break in you're gonna go to the slammer.
This hypersensistivity drives me crazy. It's nonesense.
Oh goodie! I just checked a Tweet from Mindi and she's got a break before she heads to Sturgis. She has your name tattoed on her but she wants to show you where. I didn't think they could tat there but they sure did! So it looks like it's gonna be you, me Mindi, Ashlee, a slip n slid and a chocolate fountain. Kind of boring I know but we can still be rockin' just like back in the day.
Wouldn't you be really pissed off if someone suspected you of being a thief just because of the color of your skin? SO maybe gates acted inappropriately, but who could blame him? Please, try to look at things from his perspective.
I'd bet that that cop thought he might be a theif because there was a report of a possible break in - that's what I'm thinking of.
I'm also thinking I'd be really pissed if I were some ill paid cop investigating the apparent break in and instead of a grateful, well to do homeowner I get some ass chewing me out for doing my job.
Cop: Stop, put your hands up, what are you doing? Person: I lost my keys, this is my house, I can prove it. Cop: Okay, prove it. Person: (reveals drivers license) End of story.
Because Gates didn't exactly cooperate and was a jerk. Had he cooperated and acted nice towards somone trying to protect him and his property none of this would have happened.
I've never seen an actual episode of the Dean Martin Variety show, but I can't get enough of the infomercial for the dvd. Scott's getting annoyed because I keep stopping on that channel to watch it. I think Dean Martin should dethrone Michael Jackson as the greatest entertainer. He really cracks me up.
Mary - earlier you said "this was a racist cop situation - no doubt."
Now you are infering, after there has been nothing reported to support that statement (in fact, there has been nothing but counterveiling reports), that the root cause of this was the Black guy's feelings.
By all measure Gates has thrived in this society. Why should he have a chip on his shoulder? Which can only lead to one thing Gates needs to do with his feelings. That is - get over it.
Hey...He just said he doesn't drink beer....So, I think Obama should serve the cop some Colt 45 and then he and Gates can pour a nice glass of American wine.
Jen and I got a bit of a late start today and won't be able to meet up with Omaha Council Bluffs folk until later. My friends who live here have put together a dinner for us and it looks like were going to make it just in time for that. There's a good chance well be out in the Market afterwards for you night owls.
Vacation Bible School started this week at Queen of Apostles in Council Bluffs.
The theme is Crocodile Doc and Cathy has it centered on the saints as everyday people.
Anyway... we dropped the girls off to a wonderful week complete with a prop set of bayou, swamp house and trolling boat... cattails, frog sounds, etc. Totally cool. Yesterday Emma came back with an info card about Moses and a plastic bug.
Have a GREAT Birthday!
156 comments:
Dad - Happy Birthday!
You're a pretty cool cat.
Happy Birthday Mike! I hope the weather cooperates in the same manner as yesterday.
Have a martini on me!
p
happy birthday Mike. have some Jameson's and go knock on your neighbors door at 3 AM.
Happy Birthday, Mike. And a belated to Cathy.
Tom
That's a nice picture. Was it this past weekend? Have a great day Mike. Eat a steak and sit outside.
Promises to be nice out today. This weather is great for mid July.
Monica
Happy birthday, Mike!
That is a good picture and it was a fun reception.!
Let us know what you did.
Love,
lisa
randy
emma
marylaurel
Ok
Penney's is having a big sale and today we are going back to school clothes shopping. Can you believe it?
Lisa
Happy Birthday Mike!
Mike and I just got coffee at the Perky Parrot and I bopught him a pair of flip flops at Hutzells for his birthday...
he will be a guest of the noon Kiwanis (guest of Jim Sloter), at the Senior Center. haha..
Is there an evening Kiwanis? or morning?
Yes, both, there are 3 Kiwanis groups here!
Happy birthday Mike! If you and Mary come down to C.B. this weekend we'll celebrate your birthday too.
There's an article in today's paper (Algona and Whittemore) about the opening of Dad's new office in Whittemore.
Oh...just saw this...there's a great photo of Emma and Mary Laurel at the Nature Center Vagabon Tribe drummer workshop there's also a small photo of Randy and me playing the drums!
The Algona paper isn't getting everything online like they used to.
p
http://amestrib.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=24648262&event=795975&CategoryID=49435
We had one of our AMU (Algona Municipal Utilities) bills slip through the cracks. It was the cable bill for the restaurant. I was working in my office and I always have MSNBC on and all of the sudden there goes the signal.
I called - they explained - I was at their desk within 5 minutes writing a check. They added a $32 reconnect fee. I asked if there was any wiggle room on the reconnect fee and the woman said "Well you can go talk to John" (the GM) I told her no - that it would be useless. I know this because we had the same issue at our house a couple of years ago and they positively will not waive the fee.
Also, a number of years ago we had a water pipe break in the basement at the restaurant. Of course it was on the days we were closed and we racked up a crazy water bill because of it. Hundreds of dollars. They would not cut a break then either.
I just got off the phone with a DirectTV dealer. Info coming in the mail.
The thing that kills me is there are plenty of women in that office who have plenty of time to make courtesy calls to long time customers and say "Hey, Tom. Better come in today and pay otherwise you will be disconnected tomorrow."
They make me really, really mad.
Tom
Happy Birthday Mike. A festive guy like you will surely find something festive to do.
Tom, that is so annoyinga bout the cable and water companies. FYI - we have Direct TV and for the most part it's good, but if it's really windy or if there's a good storm it goes out. We called them and asked if they would consider lowering our payment because we were considering going to cable, but they declined. We're locked in wtih Ditect TV til Nov. anyway. I also asked my credit card co.(which is from Iowa State Bank)if they would consider lowering my interest rate and they declined. I don't carry a high balance on it, but I just think their rate is higher than what I could get elsewhere.
Anyone - why are the leaves at the bottom of my tom. plants turning yellow?
they're scared.
Tom...it's bad, especially because we pay a month ahead for the cable and internet...so, you actually had paid for the month you were disconnected in.
Mary, what color thongs did you buy for Mike on his birthday?
One year, Monica and the kids bought some green and blue thongs for me, I think that Sean can wear them now.
The thong color he looks best in...
Happy Birthday Mike! Why would you need more than one thong?
In Council Bluffs all the utilities send a reminder notice if you're in danger of being cut off. In fact, I think they actually leave a doorknob hangar notice. Given that we have more or less no choice in cable companies, our legislators should legislate that cable also cannot disconnect without a written notice. Especially since so many people have bundled services now.
Emily, go here:
http://www.gardenstew.com/about10920.html
hey mary,
can you check the room i was in and see if i left my watch in there?
thanks
frank
brown is the best color for a thong.
Get him a camo thong. That way if he crashes in a wilderness area it can double as a sling shot. Mary - a camo bra makes a nice double barrel. Always be prepared.
Tom
Tom-that happened to me at my office about 4 months ago. Alla sudden the phones are dead at 11:45 on a friday morning. We call, find out a bill went unpaid due to an oversight. It just fell thru the cracks, as you say. Ran down there with a check within 5 minutes and reconnected by 1pm. So annoying. My home and office utilities, computer, phones are all with AMU and I conservatively estimate that I've paid them $40,000 over just the last 5 years. Probably over $150,000 since I moved back. Why one of the many office employees couldn't pick up the phone for a courtesy call the day before is beyond me. Someday a good lawsuit against AMU will come along. I won't call them before I file.
Oops. Just accidently made caffeinnated in the decaf pot.
Here'a an article you should read:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/opinion/16iht-edcohen.html?_r=1&em
Does one of those pictures of Bob and Alice Benck include Dad?
Lisa
Some liberal pundits have been espousing the false notion that the justice meted out by Sotomayer and her fellow appeals judges in the New Haven firefighter case was a fair and just decision. They basically are saying that due to past inequalities it is therefore fair to show preference for minorities (and women) even when a clearly more qualified white guy is presented as an option for promotion, admittance or what-have-you.
Institutionalized reverse discrimination is what they are advocating. All because us crackers have had it so good for so long.
To my way of thinking this demonstrates at the very least a lack of gratitude and at the most a serious moral vacuity. (I just learned that word).
Lack of gratitude because of the lost realization that if it weren't for us crackers allowing equal rights and freedoms there would still be second class citizens (in the legal sense) with in our confines.
How can this be? Some may say that the progress in this arena was inevitable. That it would happen eventually with or without the acquiescence of cracker. I would invite the doubters to spend some time in just about any part of the world not inhabited by a majority of crackers and see for themselves the great benevolence of it's leadership.
See how Latino machismo permits the killing of adulterous wives with little more than a slap on the wrist. How a woman's ankle peeking out from under her burka earns a beating in some countries. How an asian woman may be divorced and left pennyless for not producing a male heir.
Yes, it's time that gratitude be shown whitey. He may have been wrong in the past. But all wrongs are now right. So stop the ball and chain policies.
Justice and equality must be a two way street. It's time to put the blindfold back on Justice.
Tom
Here's a behind the scenes for a commercial I did for the World Hunger Organization. We didn't get to go shoot it because we were running this new business pitch in San Francisco last week. Oh well, I would have liked to have smelled her hair.
http://blog.divareport.com/2009/07/christina-aguilera-world-hunger-relief.html
A rario story today said that "Rock Gone Wild" is moving from Algona's Abate grounds to the Dimond Jo Casino in Northwood. I wonder what the Wild Rose Casino, the "Official Hotel of Rock Gone Wild" thinks of that.
IS Sister Sarah's going to sue for the cost of tshirts?
p
Mindy Baker asked me for a comment and I said "no comment at this time other than Rock Gone Elsewhere."
I've spoken to both the GM for the Festival and the Booking Agent...we have a contract. They're gonna chat and get back to me about keeping the Pre-Party at Sarah's...we'll know more Sunday night.
Where is Northwood?
North of SouthPark.
p
So is it wrong to order vacation bible school supplies from Oriental Trading Company? I picture a tuburcular 10-year-old hunched over making thousands or googly eyes for $1 a week. Or I could go into a craft store who's getting them from the same source and pay twice as much.
I'm wearing an expensive watch this weekend, testing it for Josh. It's not worth a million dollars, but maybe 7 or 8 thousand. It's easy to get used to.
p
Watch is gone....so sad.
Also sad, Frank McCourt has died. I saw him at a conference once, very gracious and shy looking.
P
HEY EVERYONE:
THANKS FOR THE BIRTHDAY WISHES...I HAD ONE OF THE BEST BIRTHDAY WEEKENDS OF MY LIFE! WE WENT OUT TO CHICAGO FOR DESMOND'S GOODBYE PARTY AND HAD A WONDERFUL TIME! WE STAYED AT ED'S (COOL DIGS), WENT TO OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT, HAD DINNER AT PHELAN'S , VIEWED THE NEW WING AT THE ART INSTITUE, STAYED UP ALL NIGHT, WENT TO A GREAT GOODBYE PARTY, AND VISITED (AND STAYED) AT MONICA AND JOE'S LAST NIGHT...I ONLY WISH THAT CAITLIN (AND ALL OF YOU) COULD HAVE BEEN THERE!
CATHY, SORRY WE MISSED YOUR PARTY IT SOUNDED LIKE GREAT FUN...HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!
ML
Sounds like a great weekend. Des, were those photos of your party? Cathy how was your hawaiian gathering? What's up with Rock Gone Wild?
p
The Wyeth buyout was overwhelmingly approved.
MOnica
Re: The Wyeth buyout: I voted to throw them all out. On line. I'm angry and modern.
Cathy's Hawaiian party was lovely. Friends from Cathy's work came. Catie and Mia wore grass skirts. There were lots of tropical prints and leis for everyone! and the food was never ending. Yum! Pork Loin, pineapple upside down cake, lots of salads and fruit, coconut shrimp, mango margaritas... it was fun. But unlike Mike, we did not stay up all night.
Lisa
That sounds like a fabulous party. Especially the mango margaritas.
p
Des - good luck in California. I'm sure Arnold is looking forward to adding you to the tax rolls.
FYI? - Could it be coincidence that the states with the highest per capita income tax rates have the highest per capita deficits?
Tom
That manbabies thing is just too creepy
lisa
When can we get our Wyeth/Pfizer cash?
I think sometime in the 3rd or 4th quarter
lisa
Yeah I heard late third quarter.
Or rather, read.
p
College football is right around the corner. Any predictions? I have none. Only wishes. My wishes are
1. ND gets at least 9 wins.
2. Someone other than a Florida team, Ohio State or USC wins the title.
3. Iowa goes to the Rose Bowl.
4. ISU has a winning season.
Where am I asking too much?...
Tom
Go Florida Atlantic!!!!
p
After reading my post I realize that in all 4 wishes a could be asking too much.
Husker fans what are your hopes/predictions?
Tom
Husker fans expect to be beaten by Florida Atlantic on opening day.
p
Then it's down to the cheerleaders...who are the hotter cheerleaders? Huskerettes or the FAU Whateverettes?
Tom
I detract points for augmentation, in which case I would guess Nebraska wins. The % of females surgically adjusted in some way is much higher here.
p
I detract points for male cheerleaders.
Sadly...U.S.C. always has the best looking cheerleaders, but part of it is their outfits. They have the old fashioned sweater and skirt and shoes, but everything is shorter and tanner.
The new John Dillinger movie is here in Algona "Public Enemy"...today would be a good day to see it, in "honor" of his death.
Hey! Back to football. Husker predictions?
Tom
The Huskers should have 9 conference wins...with loses ONLY to Oklahoma, Missouri and Florida Alantic!
ML
Me thinks that is a wish rather than a prediction.
Tom
So you are saying they have 11 conference games (including losses to Ok and MO)?
I'm skeptical.
I really, really hope Iowa does a repeat job on Minnesota. Last year it was something like 55-14. I hate Minnesota. Mostly because their fans are so snotty towards Iowa.
Tom
Nebraska has 12 conference games... with 3 loses makes 9...do the math anonymous...ML
Oh and Tom, somtimes wishes come true!
I wonder why Florida Atlantic chose the Owls as their mascot. They are near the ocean, I've never seen an owl around here.....I don't get it. Why not the Geckos?
p
ahhh, here is why:
The FAU campus was designated a burrowing owl sanctuary in 1971 by the Audubon Society. The Owl came here because there are not many predators, other than cats, near an airport. The feisty bird, traditionally associated with wisdom and determination, serves as the University's mascot.
p
Oops...I meant to say Nebraska will have 3 season losses, In cluding 2 conference and 1 non conference losses...I guess I needed to do the math!
ML
According to the only Straub who has won 10 NCAA Championships..."Devaney and Osborne have built a terrific athletic department, making it easy to recruit from all over the world, including a new one from Indonesia, supposed to be the best in the world."
Bill Straub, Bowling Coach, Nebraska
By the way...you can still send your kids to Straub's Huskers Bowling Camp, there is one more session, July 24-26, only $390!~ Doesn't include lodging! Maybe it's half price if your last name is Straub.
My Husker Predictions
(in case anyone still cares, that was a few comments ago):
W Florida Atlantic
W Arkansas State
L @ Virginia Tech
W La Lafayette
W @ Mizzou
W Texas Tech
W Iowa State
W @ Baylor
L Oklahoma
Push @ Kansas
W Kansas State
W @ Colorado
L Big 12 Championship vs. Texas
That's how my 9 wins happen. Kansas returns some offensive weapons but loses key starters on the line so we'll see how that works out. I still think NU wins the division. Here's a caveat for Husker fans and a finger-crosser for Husker haters: if they lose at Mizzou the season could go south in a hurry. I would like a Nebraska/Iowa matchup in the Alamo Bowl. That would be fun.
My stab at a Notre Dame Prediction
(I don't know nearly as much as most of you so feel free to correct me)
W Nevada
W @ Michigan
L Michigan State
W @ Purdue
W Washington
L @ USC
W Boston College
W Washington State
W Navy
W Pitt
W UConn
L @ Stanford
That's how I see the Irish getting their 9 wins and Charlie Weis keeping his job. The Irish have a pretty good late schedule so they look good to cruise through November. They return almost all offensive starters (including the line) so hopefully they'll be able to run the ball this year.
Thoughts?
My attempt at Iowa State predictions:
W North Dakota State
L Iowa
W @ Kent
W Army
W Kansas State
L @ Kansas
L Baylor
L @ Nebraska
L @ Texas A&M
L Oklahoma State
L Colorado
L @ Mizzou
Breaking in a new coach is tough. And so is being Iowa State. Combine those things and you're going to have a pretty challenging year. I kind of like the Rhodes hire and think it was a good move to bring a defensive mindset to the conference. But we might see a rocky beginning. The key game IMO will be @ Kent. from there, I see one conference win vs. KSU. After that, I foresee a lot of second halves spent back out at the tailgates.
That's my very amateur prediction.
Hey Des,
How's California? Have you seen Arnold yet?
I don't live in California quite yet. I'm driving out there on Monday. Should arrive Friday. We're stopping in Omaha, Denver, Park City and Reno.
Maybe we'll see the Governator when we pass through Sacramento.
Des that is pretty grim for Iowa State. It's very, very sad.
p
The Taco Bell chihuahua died.
p
There is no way that Baylor gets its second ever Big 12 road win on Jack Trice Field (where they got their first and only).
Also - there is no way that Charlie Weiss loses to MSU this year but I do feel there is a good chance that he will lose one game before the showdown with USC.
Schnellenberger might suprise the Huskers on opening day.
Yeah, Schnellenberger might suprise the Huskers on opening day.
Hi Des!
How long in Omaha? Will any relatives have a chance to see you?
lisa
Des, it's me, Kandi. Can't wait to see you on your way through the Big O. Maybe we can get it together again. Like that night in Lincoln with my friends and the Slip n Slid. You do remember, don't you?
xoxoxo
Kandi
Is that one of the Straubs from Lincoln?
Have you ever had to break into your own home?
The Gates incident in Cambridge is CRAZEEE...he had trouble with his key and then went to the back dooe, unlocked it and then opened the front from inside...and then got arrested (after showing ID and home ownership proof).
The fact that he was arrested after showing ID says there is more to the story. I see a scenario where a seething, indignant man who probably took offense to a perceived slight and got verbal with the cop.
He wasn't arrested for breaking in. He was arrested for disorderly conduct. Someone observed him and his driver trying to force open the front door from the outside and called it in as a possible break in.
Cops aren't always trustworthy and who really knows what went on there. The cop hasn't said a thing about it other than he won't apologize despite Gates demand to do so.
That was me, Tom
He's known as an incredibly reasonable, optimistic man in his field. He's married to a white woman, has children with a white woman. I can see a situation where he was really tired (just home from overseas) couldn't get in, the incident happens and an #$@ of a cop is the respondent. And he gets more upset than was warrented. It's just really too bad it happened. The cop refused to give his name and badge number. I have to say I'd have been really upset in his situation...providing hte information he was asked for. I'd have to assume exactly what he assumed.
p
We leave for our journey north tomorrow after work. It would be nice if we got at least out of Florida before stopping. Florida is soooo long.
p
Have a safe trip. What's the weather like?
Hot. CHance of storms every day this time of year. But usually they come and go quickly.
p
This woman who really annoys me just stormed in an said, "You know who you remind me of? Jennifer Garner." Maybe she's not so bad.
p
2nd to last day of work. cleaning out my desk i found about 30 ancient packets of soy sauce. i dropped them in the drawer of a very neat, meticulous guy who's out all week.
It's Chinese blood...I don't know how they get it into the little packets.
This weekend Stevo and I are making a swamp shack out of duct tape and foamboard. And a cypress tree out of brown paper.
I was going to ask why but then I remembered......camp.
p
Let's see some other predictions!
I predict you will move to California soon.
Monica
OMG!, Des! It's me, Kandi! Didn't you see my earlier post? I texted Ashlee and she wants to know if you can bring the chocolate fountain when you come through town. She has a closet full of Ghirardelli looking for a good time.
xoxoxo
Kandi
I predict Frank never goes back to TDS after today.
We decided we'll drive to Valdosta, GA tonight, and then stop for dinner and such in Paducah, KY on Saturday night, try to actually see some of somewhere rather than barreling through the drive. Anyone ever been to Paducah?
p
Pat, I've never been to Paducah but we did stay overnight once in Valdosta. It's a dry town. There is a nearby small town which is totally surrounded by Valdosta where beer, wine and spirits are legal and the restaurant we ate in had decent food. Perhaps you can find out the name of that town if you want a libation with your dinner. Have a safe trip. Love, Dad
Pat -
Here's what I would want to know... does this annoying co-worker like Jennifer Garner?
Lisa
Thanks for the info. We probably won't get to Valdosta til about midnight, so won't have to worry about that. Paducah sounds pretty. Its downtown is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the town has won awards for offering incentives to artists moving there, so apparently lots of galleries and such. Population of about 25000.
I don't care if she likes Jennifer Garner. Jennifer Garner is pretty.
p
Maybe she sensed subconsciously how much you would like to punch her in the nose. But you do have a Jennifer Garneresque quality to your beauty.
Well, if I only had 4 more inches of legs. Funny, since Josh looks so much like her husband, Ben Affleck....
The woman actually isn't a bad person. Just ANNOYING. Her lips are injected to the size of hot dogs. And she has a very loud New Jersey 'I have money' accent.
p
Hey Blog Admin. tell us who Kandi is!!
Was it legal for the police officer to follow H. L. Gates in to his kitchen, if he wasn't arresting him?
p
He had probable cause since the 911 call indicated 2 men entering. He at the time only saw Gates. Which for the officer meant that either Gates was a burglar or that Gates was at home unaware that 2 men were trying to break in.
Tom
Besides - anyone who goes by their first middle and last names is probably a schmuck.
Frank, what are your plans? Not everyone has heard.
Tom
According to the St. Petersburg Times, a high school assistant principal pulled and squeezed the toes of five boys when their grades slipped.
Olayinka Alege, the AP, would ask students to take off a shoe and a sock behind closed doors and allow him to “pop” their toes.
The punishment was described by one boy as pulling the toes out and “bending them down.”
The principal told Alege to cut it out, and he did, but maintained it was “all in good fun.”
“I think the gist of it was me and the kids I was mentoring were just playing around,” he told The Times. “It was one of those playful things, just playing around with the kids so they felt more comfortable.”
I need to add a caveat to my last statement. "...anyone who goes by their first, middle and last names is probably a schmuck."
Unless you have one of those names that commonly and customarily are presented with the middle name. Such as Mary Carol.
However if you go by John David Booty - you're a schmuck. Henry Louis Gates, Jr - probably a schumck. Kandi Ivana Hoppenschtillerstien - a schumck.
Tom
That's just the name people know him by. It's not what he uses. Let's see. Mary Caryl, Mary Ellan, James Earl, Martin Luther, John Paul, C. S., Billy Bob....
There's just a certain pretension when someone is known by all 3 names. I have very little doubt that he encouraged the use of his middle name. No one has a cooler middle name than me. Yet I don't go throwing it around.
Thomas Cash Straub the 1st
I think most people know Gates as Skip Gates (I think I read that)...How 'bout Mary Straub Lavelle?
Gates told the cop he had his ID on the kitchen table, he turned around from inside his door, then the cop opened the door and followed him...he didn't have probable cause...this is a weird issue of race and class.
No. It was a response to a 911 call. On CNN last night they had a black college professor from Syracuse in on the discussion. This guy said spoke to other cops on the force who were there and some who weren't. He said that as near as he could tell standard procedures were followed - from the response to the 911 call all the way through.
He also mentioned that if this guy was a bad cop someone on the force would have told him - off the record.
Thomas Cash Straub - the last.
I guess I'll have to read more about it. My understanding was that the report was 2 black guys with backpacks. Cop gets there and sees 1 black guy with a backpack or satchel and no ID. What did he do wrong? He opened the door and walked in? He hadn't IDd Gates yet. What if it as a thief? Is the cop supposed to wait outside until a guy who fits the description decides to open the door?
Aside from that - I learned that you always cooperate with a cop who is doing his job. Insolent, uncooperative, confrontational behavior will get you cuffed and stuffed. Hopefully Skip learned his lesson.
Thomas Cash Leo Straub.
Thats a good way to get on national TV...how did they find this guy..he calls CNN says he's a Black professor and has talked with the cops on the force...of course he'll get his 15 minutes!
He's a regular contributor to the Anderson Pooper 360 show. Not just some guy.
Tom
I DO NOT LIKE AC360. Talk about dorky. AC360 is dorky.
p
Just went home for lunch and turned on CNN...Obama came to the daily press briefing unexpected and spoke for 5 minutes about the Gates/cop thing...he said he (Obama) shouldn't have called the cops stupid and he called THE cop (Crowley) to say he shouldn't have said that, they had a nice chat and he's coming to the White House for a beer...Obama finished up by saying that the cop did over react to Gates, but Gates didn't handle things well either. He said Black people are VERY sensitive to these things...and then he left!
BTW Tom...Obama said that this is a teachable moment...So, have you learned your lesson?
Joe...if that's how it happened then why didn't they grab the personal driver, the other big Black guy?...Keep in mind that Gates is small and walks with a cane and had a $1,000 suit on).
The 3 page police report is on line.
I'm guessing it's because by that time they figured out that Gates and the driver could be there. Gates was arrested for being a jerk i.e. resisting arrest or something like that. I guess if you're over-sensitive to something it's OK to do what Gates did?
He was arrested for disorderly conduct.
"Massachusetts courts have limited the definition of disorderly conduct to: fighting or threatening, violent or tumultuous behavior, or creating a hazardous or physically offensive condition for no legitimate purpose other than to cause public annoyance or alarm."
That's one reason the charges were dropped, so I've read. He wasn't engaged in disorderly conduct as defined. I think they both messed up. And, I think most black people in the same situation would also react the same way. I read a couple commentators who said what happened upset him so much bc he finally lived for himself what it still means to be a man....a black man....in America. No matter where you teach.
P
Tom,
In answer to your question i'm off to St. Paul to get a Masters in Education at Hamline.
Last night I had drinks with a deputy sheriff and man, did he have an opinion on the Gates thing. Basically everything Joe3 and Tom mentioned above about the right to walk into the house. He might have over reacted by arresting Gates, but it all depends on what Gates said and did.
As it turns out the cop teaches a cultural sensitivity course within the department.
The lesson here is that if you are a man in America - a Black, White, Latino or whathaveyou man in America and you are a jerk to a cop investigating a break in you're gonna go to the slammer.
This hypersensistivity drives me crazy. It's nonesense.
Tom
...nonesense because so many automatically assume the worst about the white guy involved as many have done here.
Tom
Kandi,
Get a sitter for Monday night. Daddy's coming to town.
Oh goodie! I just checked a Tweet from Mindi and she's got a break before she heads to Sturgis. She has your name tattoed on her but she wants to show you where. I didn't think they could tat there but they sure did! So it looks like it's gonna be you, me Mindi, Ashlee, a slip n slid and a chocolate fountain. Kind of boring I know but we can still be rockin' just like back in the day.
Hugs!
Kandi
Wouldn't you be really pissed off if someone suspected you of being a thief just because of the color of your skin? SO maybe gates acted inappropriately, but who could blame him? Please, try to look at things from his perspective.
I'd bet that that cop thought he might be a theif because there was a report of a possible break in - that's what I'm thinking of.
I'm also thinking I'd be really pissed if I were some ill paid cop investigating the apparent break in and instead of a grateful, well to do homeowner I get some ass chewing me out for doing my job.
Tom
BTW Emily - you're doing it, too. That is, assuming the worst about the white guy involved in this.
Tom
Cop: Stop, put your hands up, what are you doing?
Person: I lost my keys, this is my house, I can prove it.
Cop: Okay, prove it.
Person: (reveals drivers license)
End of story.
Because Gates didn't exactly cooperate and was a jerk. Had he cooperated and acted nice towards somone trying to protect him and his property none of this would have happened.
Tom
I wish I had a boat. It's the perfect day for it.
boats are like kids, they're best when they're someone else's.
I've never seen an actual episode of the Dean Martin Variety show, but I can't get enough of the infomercial for the dvd. Scott's getting annoyed because I keep stopping on that channel to watch it. I think Dean Martin should dethrone Michael Jackson as the greatest entertainer. He really cracks me up.
Pat - tell Josh one of my servers needs him to look at a watch when he's here. She got it today at a garage sale. It's a Rolex. Or so it says.
Tom
Pat - tell Josh one of my servers needs him to look at a watch when he's here. She got it today at a garage sale. It's a Rolex. Or so it says.
Tom
Of course I loved MJ in junior high and can still enjoy the Thriller video. What do I know anyway, I'm still laughing at the 100th wipeout on Wipeout.
this is important info for parents of kids who carry backpacks:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/weighing-school-backpacks/?ex=1263960000&en=66e39f178c6cfa04&ei=5087&WT.mc_id=HL-D-I-NYT-MOD-MOD-M107-ROS-0709-L2&WT.mc_ev=click
BTW
you all look sharp in that photo!
oxoxoxo
-ginger
Tom...you don't know how the Black guy feels...end of story...
Mary - earlier you said "this was a racist cop situation - no doubt."
Now you are infering, after there has been nothing reported to support that statement (in fact, there has been nothing but counterveiling reports), that the root cause of this was the Black guy's feelings.
By all measure Gates has thrived in this society. Why should he have a chip on his shoulder? Which can only lead to one thing Gates needs to do with his feelings. That is - get over it.
Tom
Can't wait for the kegger at the white house!
How come weekends are so short?
The lawyer for Gates says he doesn't drink but would go to the kegger. If this isn't cause for suspicion....doesn't drink?
Tom
No wonder he is so angry and unreasonable.
Hey...He just said he doesn't drink beer....So, I think Obama should serve the cop some Colt 45 and then he and Gates can pour a nice glass of American wine.
Really - what is this guy's problem? He gets invited to the White House for a beer and he refuses the beer? Just drink the beer already nimrod.
Jen and I got a bit of a late start today and won't be able to meet up with Omaha Council Bluffs folk until later. My friends who live here have put together a dinner for us and it looks like were going to make it just in time for that. There's a good chance well be out in the Market afterwards for you night owls.
Ghost in the graveyard! BOO!
Vacation Bible School started this week at Queen of Apostles in Council Bluffs.
The theme is Crocodile Doc and Cathy has it centered on the saints as everyday people.
Anyway... we dropped the girls off to a wonderful week complete with a prop set of bayou, swamp house and trolling boat... cattails, frog sounds, etc. Totally cool. Yesterday Emma came back with an info card about Moses and a plastic bug.
Lisa
Emily -
Are you going to order the Dean Martin variety show?
lisa
Post a Comment