PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. - The world's most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, emerged before chilly revelers in western Pennsylvania Tuesday to see his shadow, meaning winter will last another six weeks.
I refuse to complain about the weather. I chose to live here. But I sure am sick of not complaining.
With that said, it has been a mild winter in terms of the wind. Which, for me is the most despicable aspect of winter. Seems some winters there is a constant 25-30 mile an hour wind which can make the most mundane tasks seem miserable. Even unloading groceries can be a fight against the elements. Not so much this year.
Has anybody heard anything about animal rights activists wanting the people of Punxsatawney replace Phil with a fake, mechanized groundhog? I thought I read something about that.
That town's entire economy probably revolves around this stupid annual ritual. How can any concern be given to this coddled groundhog's well being? These activists probably discussed this effort over hormone injected smoothies and then went to the salon for horse placenta facials.
It might be, or it might not be, but it doesnt really matter. Strive for detachment. Which by the way, was and is the goal of many saints. Whoever's in charge probably thinks it's a decorating style.
Where do they get that Bill Murray lookalike? And the guy who looks just like the guy in the movie? It's big business, that's for sure. No amateur City Council dweebs making boring speeches in Punxatawny PA.
After scanning the Wikipedia entry for Zen I need to agree. This is a really stupid theme for a Catholic School. I doubt Fr. Friedman would have signed off on something like this.
I have a dilema. I know that Punxsutawney Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter, but the local groundhog at the Brookfield Zoo, Tumbleweed, has said we will have an eary spring.....
Yeah, but spring in Chicago just means no more below zero days, at least not at high noon, but there could still be a spring blizzard and of course there's always the 30-mile-an-hour spring breeze on a fine sunny 20-degree-March spring day.
Off topic: I have to say, I really don't like teaching 18-20 year old boys. I'm not saying they're all bad, but SO MANY of them just slouch in their seat and refuse participation. The discussions aren't bad, it's when we get in small groups (which I always use with purpose, - e.g. brainstorming for papers - not just busy work) they do NOTHING or talk about other things. Which means the girls do all the work. Of course it means in the end the boys papers will be worse but it also doesn't help run a classroom. Now if the girls outnumber the guys by a large majority, the problem does not exist. p
Pat are you really surprised by the fact that girls do all the work? And Cathy, that is a serious downer. I was thinking the same as Tom- that this winter really hasn't been too bad but now it seems that spring is nothing to look forwrd to.
I can see where their going with the ZEN thing, I mean many people around here are very Buddha-like...balding, big bellies, seated...all that's missing is a TV remote! We are close to the Maharishi U. Maybe they're working on a partnership.
When Ellen was in middle school her tennis team played against the Maharishi school. Her over the top,flamer coach came up to me and said, "The law says we have to play them. It's the catholics versus the cult." They weren't very good.
Hello. This is the opening paragraph of a column written by Richard Cohen, a columnist for the Washington Post, which was reprinted in today's Palm Beach Post. Cohen is usually very supportive of President Obama, although I have noticed some moderation lately. He wrote: "There is almost nothing the Obama administration does regarding terrorism that makes me feel safer. Whether it is guaranteeing captured terrorists that they will not be waterboarded, or whether it is reciting terrorists their rights, or whether it is the legally meandering and confusing rule that some terrorists will be tried in military tribunals and some in civilian courts, what is missing is a firm recognition that what comes first is not the message sent to America's critics but the message sent to Americans themselves. When, oh when,will this administration wake up" In the rest of the column Cohen does not back down, rather he expands on the theme of the opening paragraph, citing examples. The American people are waking up but when, oh when, will Obama wake up? Dad
Bush is past... we should be learning from that and looking forward.
More and more often I am reading things from columnists that I have always considered to be at least a bit liberal and am finding they are not necessarily supportive of Obama. Cookie Roberts really slammed him a couple of weeks ago.
Is it true that the president's car would not start this morning and when Robert Gibbs was asked about it at a press conference, he explained that the battery was manufactured during the Bush administration and that the president had inherited the problem? Dad
What are we doing differently under Obama Curious more than anything. If some crazy guy tries to light his undies on fire on a flight to Detroit does that mean Obama is doing a bad job? Anyone of us could become the mayonnaise bomber tomorrow but it's only because the TSA hasn't screened for it yet.
I'm happy knowing I have less of a chance of dying than 95% of the world. Knocking on wood right now!
One of the things Obama hammered on during his love-fest to the Whitehouse was that our security measures were dysfunctional. The interagency communication was nonexistent. The NSA, CIA, FBI et.al. didn't share intelligence. Obama promised to fix this in some magical technocratic way. However, This was cited as the reason the underwear bomber was able to get as far as he did.
Just one of the reasons I don't like this guy. Others...bailing out Wall Street but letting Main Street languish. Strong arming automakers into dumping dealerships like Elbert Chevrolet - as though Whittemore can sustain a loss like that, really smacks of Marxism. Letting Pelosi and Reid mangle the most important initiative of our time -health care reform. Selling us on a bailout in the billions of dollars for "shovel ready jobs" and releasing only about 20% of those dollars thus far. The rest will become a personal slush fund for political favors. And for being a dishonest sack of poop in general.
Obviously some don't agree with everything Obama is doing, but at least he's doing something. Maybe you don't like the healthcare bill, but it's better than nothing which is what previous presidents have done. It's a beginning. He can't solve all the problems at once. People criticize him for trying to do too much but then complain that he's not doing enough. He's become a scapegoat. With regards to the economy, maybe some of his ideas will work and maybe they won't but at least he doing something.
That posting about the 18-20-year-old boys was from Pat.
I agree that Pelosi and Reid allowed the Republicans to kill the health care reform. And (hate to say it) Ben Nelson. He was right on abortion and wrong on everything else. He tried to have everything and I think he's going to pay dearly. But as stupid and divisive as the Dems were, squandering their huge election mandate to do something about health care, it was Republicans and their big-biz pals who actually managed to deceive voters and create the tea-party Frankenstein that I hope bites them in the butt. There was no excuse to not get this done and now it won't, because of greed, greed, greed and lies, lies, lies.
A 62-year-old Michigan man was severely burned when a homemade rocket strapped on his back exploded while he slid down a snowy hill on a sled, authorities said this week.
The rocket stunt was the grand finale on Saturday during the man's annual sledding party at his Oakland County, Michigan, home, the sheriff's department said.
"He is known for doing 'crazy things' at his parties," an Oakland County sheriff's department statement said. "On this date, after consuming an unknown quantity of alcohol, he constructed a device out of a motorcycle muffler and pipe."
Inside the makeshift rocket, the victim placed gunpowder, heads from matches and gasoline. He donned a helmet and took a sled to the top of a snowy embankment.
"He asked another person to light a wick and then began to sled down a hill. At some point during the ride downhill, the device exploded. The results of the explosion were second-degree burns to the victim's face," the sheriff's department statement said.
No one else was injured during the incident.
The man, whose identity is not yet known, was hospitalized with significant damage to one of his eyes and could face criminal charges, authorities said.
Also with regard to inter agency communication- of course the agancies should be talking to eachother and Obama did promise to do something about it. But he cannot control every agent at every level. Speaking from experience - or at least Scott's- some of these guys have tremendous egos and simply do not want to give up anything . You can't change an entire culture of law enforcement in one year. These practices have been going on forever.
Also with regard to inter agency communication- of course the agancies should be talking to eachother and Obama did promise to do something about it. But he cannot control every agent at every level. Speaking from experience - or at least Scott's- some of these guys have tremendous egos and simply do not want to give up anything . You can't change an entire culture of law enforcement in one year. These practices have been going on forever.
Remember the shoe bomber? He recently was convicted in a civilian court and will spend the rest of his life in prison, having been afforded the rights so brilliantly outlined in our Constitution. The judge's sentencing speech was great, pointing out that he (the defendant) was acting out of fear and hate and the desire to kill, yet was defended by an able and hard-working attorney provided by the very people he would like to destroy, and will be incarcerated in decent and humane conditions because that is who we are, etc. My point is, the story got lost in the hype surrounding the underwear bomber and all the security finger-pointing that here is where the system worked.
Hey - whatever happened to our security watches at critical watering holes, etc. It's obvious that we've been falling down on the job. Get out there, people!
Tonight we're going to the annual clergy/religious appreciation dinner (which in less politically correct times used to be called the priest appreciation dinner) where I can purchase a cocktail and keep a sharp eye out for radical clerics.
Remember when Granny used to tell of transient unemployed men knocking on doors asking for work during the Great Depression. One of my servers whose parents own a business experienced this a day or so ago. And I myself just got a call from a guy who says he desperately needs a job now otherwise he will be sleeping under a bridge tonight.
When we lived in Omaha we routinely got knocks at the door asking for food, money, an odd job, etc.
The strangest were the guy who wanted to borrow our lawn mower so he could go find work, and also the guy who cut out all our front bushes and I had to call the police.
I have this guy cleaning the ceiling in the restaurant. Fed him a burger & fries. Think he's mentally unstable but harmless. Harmless to me anyway, 'cause like I tell my kids "you can't hurt twisted steel".
So Cathy, we aren't drinking enough? Since you are the oldest I guess I have to listen to you... Actually, I have been on patrol at local watering establishments, but I have chosen NOT TO SHARE.
Well, I can't say. But he pretty much looks like a homeless guy. Been staying at the Super 8 but ran out of money. I'll feed him and work him good and pay him enough to get a room tonight. I called a friend who is on the overnight cleaning crew at Kmart. They always need people. Homeless man is going down there to try to get a job tomorrow.
....and as it happens I had a handy man here doing some repairs. Handy and Homeless were chatting. Handy has a few apartment buildings he owns. Handy is going to give homeless an apartment. Homeless will pay rent in the form of labor. Homeless left here very happy and excited.
I traded my brute strength for a glass of Templeton Rye at Ellen and Andy's a few nights ago when I helped them move a TV stand. And east Des Moines is that much safer because of it.
There's a new restaurant in Delray Beach (10 minutes from us) called Heart Stoppers Sports Grill, where the menu warns that "consumption of our food will definitely lead to obesity" and there is a standing offer of free food to anyone over 350 pounds.
I got a 25% lead crystal table lamp for $7 at a yard sale... it still had tags on it, but no shade. What a bargain!
As it turns out, getting the shade has become quite the trick. We have come home with and returned 3 shades. Tomorrow Randy is going to a lamp shop in west Omaha to find a shade. On line we've found shades large enough for this lamp and they cost about $80.
We and Des Moines are on track to break snow records - something arcane like longest number of days with at least so many inches of snow cover or something. Anyway, this morning we first shoveled the two-foot snowplow wall at the foot of the driveway and then I found myself shoveling the walks to throw the new pretty white snow up on the dirty icy snow. So now it looks nice and I was three hours late to work instead of 1 1/2. The back yard looks like a tiny winter wonderland with a leaning lamppost with a tall cap of snow on it. More coming Sunday, I just heard.
Did you see the short preview of Desi's commercial on the Today show?
Just got a phone call from a grandma asking if she could "get" a Confirmation for her granddaughter before her quincinera, like we keep them on a shelf or something.
The hills are alive with the sound of snow clapping.
Today it is/was rainy; dark when I checked email before leaving to teach my 8:00 a.m. class. I checked work email as always and it turns out about 8 people are ill, and in fact two diagnosed themselves 'quite ill.' I'm quite concerned. Not.
A surfer was killed by sharks about 20 miles north of us yesterday. Actually, he was a sail-surfer, holding a line to a parasail in the air and using a surfboard on the water. You see quite a few of them around here. Actually, it is quite a story. The lifeguard who was on duty had binoculars and he had been checking on the surfer because he was about 400 yards from the beach. Then he noticed that the guy seemed to be laying on his sail which was now in the water so after calling in the possible emergency he got on his own surfboard and paddled out. It was hard. He is 47 years old and the surf was high and he was paddling into a strong wind. When he got close he saw some blood in the water and he started looking around. He saw 3 sharks. he knew that sharks usually bite and then circle around for a while before going in for the kill. He knew he had to work fast. He dragged the surfer back to shore. The surfer spoke to him a little until they got about halfway in but then no more. When he got to shore, rescue people were there who took the surfer to the hospital,where he died. What really makes this an amazing story, though, is that the lifeguard was himself the victim of a shark attack back in 1988 when he almost lost his foot and could not walk for 4 months. So as soon as he saw the blood and the 3 sharks he knew the risk he was taking. When interviewed he said, "Well, that's just part of the job." Dad
I saw that guy on TV. He was pretty matter-of-fact about the details of his rescue attempt and you really got the feeling that he was sad about the guy who died and not really comfortable with the publicity.
Hi, all. Just wanted to update everybody on our plans for the wedding. The Ceremony will be at Benet Academy in Lisle, IL on Saturday, July 3. The reception will follow immediately after at Heritage Prairie Market in Elburn. We'll come up with better directions than this, but if you follow this link you can see where the two spots are:
http://tinyurl.com/yeelheo
We have rooms blocked off at two hotels.
Hampton Inn & Suites 875 Foxfield Road St. Charles, IL (630) 584-0222 www.hamptonstcharles.com
Fairfield Inn & Suites 2096 Bricher Road St Charles, IL (630) 845-5500 http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/chicr-fairfield-inn-and-suites-chicago-st-charles/
The Hampton Inn is a little farther from the reception, but there will be a free shuttle running between there and the reception an hour before and after. The Hampton $94 a night. The Fairfield is much closer, but there is no shuttle. It is either $89 or $99, depending on the type of room you want.
If you have any other questions, let me know. My e-mail is joe.jayjack@gmail.com.
Stevo and I worked at the Knights of Columbus Wild Game Feed last night and afterward got to eat the food. For dinner we had wild boar sausage with kraut, elk marinara meatballs, panko mango duck, beaver stew, creamy white pheasant lasagna (my favorite), venison wellington pouches (my second favorite) and deer sausage. Nary a salad, veggie or breadcrumb in sight, except what was in the stew or on the wellingtons. A real low-carb feast, spoiled by a sour cream chocolate cheesecake dessert. We missed out on the lobster chowder or wild turkey and rice soups and the deer sausage and cheese appetizers but the food was terrific. I'm for the Saints and Stevo's for the Colts.
Wow. That's quite a meal....fit for a king, or i guess knights.
We had a nice meal out with Mom and Dad in Lake Worth last night. Veal Parmigiana, Chicken Portabella, spaghetti and meatballs and fettucini bolognese.
I'm not sure but I think I recall reading something a while back that it is out of respect for our Jewish brothers and sisters who never used the name of God. I'm not certain about this but I don't think there are any vowels in the Hebrew language and that their word for God was YHWH, Dad
Hello. Before the Super Bowl I sent a message to an ND classmate who lives in Chicago to tell him to watch for the Dockers ad. Today he sent me an internet address which has several complimentary articles about the ad, including a headline describing it as the #1 ad. The link is: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2679565/dockers
We received a card from a good friend of ours who is now the Consul General in Amsterdam. She said she and her husband are having a great time there as "it helps with this President it's once again okay to be an American in Europe." She also said there is a comedy club there running sold out performances of a play called "Yankee Come Back".
More. Snow. If I could just see the sun again. Just imagine being trapped in a little sod hut in the middle of Nebraska with six kids and having to go to the barn twice a day, not to mention the outhouse, during weather like this. I bet a lot of people developed urinary tract infections from peeing as little as possible.
There are documented accounts of people getting lost between the sod hut and the outhouse only to be found frozen to death when the blizzard ended. They often tied a rope between the 2 buildings just to be able to find the way back and forth.
Akio Toyoda, who runs Toyota, says he is taking personal responsibility for the problems leading to the recall. Don't you think this means he should kneel down and shove a knife into his belly?
The kids went sledding and then came home and made funnel cakes with the awesome funnel cake maker I got for Christmas. I never know what to do with the oil after making things like that.
Everyone should watch the show Frontline on PBS. They do the best investigative stories on varied topics. This week it was about the small commuter plane companies that contract with the big airlines. In two weeks it's behind enemy lines in Afganistan. Very good program.
Talking with a couple farmers at a bar last night about history and Japan. They were knowledgable and fun. How often do you get to mention the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere in casual conversation?
I was in Penny's the other night... I asked if there were ladies' cardigans with out a V neck... the sales lady took me over to woven blouses with a sash tie and said that those were the only blouses like that.
Hello. Most of you are aware of how my cousin, Gerry Straub is using his talents as a filmmaker to raise peoples' awareness of how terrible poverty is in various places around the world. In fact, several of our family have met him when he had speaking engagements in Omaha and Cedar Rapids.
Gerry was in Uganda last fall and he stumbled upon a remarkable event which he has put on youtube.It is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. The prompt is: http://www.youtube.com/user/SanDamianoFilms#p/u/25/3v7ZQUzrOyo
After you make that hit you should see "YouTube-San Damiano Film's Channel" then if you hit that the video should come up. I really recommend that you look at it. It is only about 6 or 7 minutes long but it will leave an impression.
I just hope I'm able to properly transmit this information.
Hello again. I just want to let you know that I accessed the address I gave you and when I clicked on the arrow, "YouTube-San Damiano Films" did not appear but rather a series of film titles. The one you should look for is "Sam and Esther" or "The Ballard of Sam and Esther." There is also a Sam and Esther Follow up Story, but you should watch Sam and Esther first. You'll be thinking about it for the rest of the day. Dad
There is a story about the financial picture at Holy Name where I work on the Omaha World Herald and WOWT sites.
The nation's current financial piture has greatly impacted this school. We have lost hardly any donors, but most of them give a lot less to the school than they did a couple of years ago. I cannot imagine what will happen to North Omaha as school after school closes. Not only do we need money, the diocese needs a plan for education in North Omaha.
I saw the first part almost a year ago. I was glad to see the second part. That little Jane is a hero.
Just got back from a great DRE's retreat in Des Moines Thursday and Friday and stayed at Andy and Ellen's house and Stevo got to spend a nice day with Joe and we all had dinner together twice. And now it's still the weekend! Yay!
Cathy, I know! I can't believe I have another day of weekend tomorrow. Yay! It was fun getting to see you and Stevo. For Valentine's, I put one the engagement photos Joe and I took in the Register with a little note to him and he called tonight to say his co-workers on the copy desk pointed it out to him — the night before it was supposed to run! I should have expected that :-/ He was surprised, but I had to hustle and make a new Valentine which ended up being crafted out of the back of a cereal box because I was supposed to stay out of the basement (where my craft supplies are)because he's working on a mysterious project there. I think we're going to champagne brunch at the Chinese restaurant to celebrate. Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!
123 comments:
So sad.
In Alaska it's Marmot Day.
p
Groundhog season!
I refuse to complain about the weather. I chose to live here. But I sure am sick of not complaining.
With that said, it has been a mild winter in terms of the wind. Which, for me is the most despicable aspect of winter. Seems some winters there is a constant 25-30 mile an hour wind which can make the most mundane tasks seem miserable. Even unloading groceries can be a fight against the elements. Not so much this year.
Tom
Of course he saw his shadow. He's surrounded by a bunch of tv cameras with bi lights. He always does.
bi= big
Has anybody heard anything about animal rights activists wanting the people of Punxsatawney replace Phil with a fake, mechanized groundhog? I thought I read something about that.
That town's entire economy probably revolves around this stupid annual ritual. How can any concern be given to this coddled groundhog's well being? These activists probably discussed this effort over hormone injected smoothies and then went to the salon for horse placenta facials.
des, Can blackberrys do the shazam thing??
I assume those in a 515 area code are practically guaranteed to win.
Whacky Uncle Tom
Des, didn't you know that later today they serve groundhog stew and wear Phil hats?
Cathy
You are still stuck in a Warner Bros. cartoon.
Lisa
I think I will tell the girls that tonight's coq a vin is groundhog stew.
lisa
The theme for this year's Gala is "Zen." Isn't that a little, well, odd for a Catholic school?
p
They would have been better off saying enlightenment
lisa
It might be, or it might not be, but it doesnt really matter. Strive for detachment. Which by the way, was and is the goal of many saints. Whoever's in charge probably thinks it's a decorating style.
They just think the decorating will be really easy and cheap. I think they're mistaken. And for dinner....brown rice and vegetables.
Where do they get that Bill Murray lookalike? And the guy who looks just like the guy in the movie? It's big business, that's for sure. No amateur City Council dweebs making boring speeches in Punxatawny PA.
I thought the ZEN theme pretty odd, as well. But it rhymes with 10.
Gala ZEN
in 2010.
That's their tag line.
Gala Eleven
Ready for Heaven.
Gala Twelve
hmmm
act like one of them!
Well, I'll just say it. It's stupid. It's like calling it Gala Hasid or something. It doesn't make sense.
Maybe they should have tried Gala Sushi or something.
p
doesn't rhyme with ten.
Gala 10
We're doin' it again!
After scanning the Wikipedia entry for Zen I need to agree. This is a really stupid theme for a Catholic School. I doubt Fr. Friedman would have signed off on something like this.
Tom
Gala Ten-
for GarriGAN
I have a dilema. I know that Punxsutawney Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter, but the local groundhog at the Brookfield Zoo, Tumbleweed, has said we will have an eary spring.....
I just don't know who to believe.....
Ed, think positive thoughts and go with the Brookfield Zoo one. I am.
Monica
Yeah, but spring in Chicago just means no more below zero days, at least not at high noon, but there could still be a spring blizzard and of course there's always the 30-mile-an-hour spring breeze on a fine sunny 20-degree-March spring day.
Off topic: I have to say, I really don't like teaching 18-20 year old boys. I'm not saying they're all bad, but SO MANY of them just slouch in their seat and refuse participation. The discussions aren't bad, it's when we get in small groups (which I always use with purpose, - e.g. brainstorming for papers - not just busy work) they do NOTHING or talk about other things. Which means the girls do all the work. Of course it means in the end the boys papers will be worse but it also doesn't help run a classroom.
Now if the girls outnumber the guys by a large majority, the problem does not exist.
p
Cathy-that's not positive thinking!
Monica
Pat are you really surprised by the fact that girls do all the work? And Cathy, that is a serious downer. I was thinking the same as Tom- that this winter really hasn't been too bad but now it seems that spring is nothing to look forwrd to.
I can see where their going with the ZEN thing, I mean many people around here are very Buddha-like...balding, big bellies, seated...all that's missing is a TV remote! We are close to the Maharishi U. Maybe they're working on a partnership.
When Ellen was in middle school her tennis team played against the Maharishi school. Her over the top,flamer coach came up to me and said, "The law says we have to play them. It's the catholics versus the cult." They weren't very good.
MOnica
Hello. This is the opening paragraph of a column written by Richard Cohen, a columnist for the Washington Post, which was reprinted in today's Palm Beach Post. Cohen is usually very supportive of President Obama, although I have noticed some moderation lately. He wrote:
"There is almost nothing the Obama administration does regarding terrorism that makes me feel safer. Whether it is guaranteeing captured terrorists that they will not be waterboarded,
or whether it is reciting terrorists their rights, or whether it is the legally meandering and confusing rule that some terrorists will be tried in military tribunals and some in civilian courts, what is missing is a firm recognition that what comes first is not the message sent to America's critics but the message sent to Americans themselves. When, oh when,will this administration wake up"
In the rest of the column Cohen does not back down, rather he expands on the theme of the opening paragraph, citing examples.
The American people are waking up but when, oh when, will Obama wake up?
Dad
It's hard to be the messenger...it's also hard to undo Bush's message,sent to all our allies and others around the world.
I felt really safe waking up on the morning of 9-11...why didn't Bush protect us??
Bush is past... we should be learning from that and looking forward.
More and more often I am reading things from columnists that I have always considered to be at least a bit liberal and am finding they are not necessarily supportive of Obama. Cookie Roberts really slammed him a couple of weeks ago.
lisa
Is it true that the president's car would not start this morning and when Robert Gibbs was asked about it at a press conference, he explained that the battery was manufactured during the Bush administration and that the president had inherited the problem? Dad
What are we doing differently under Obama Curious more than anything. If some crazy guy tries to light his undies on fire on a flight to Detroit does that mean Obama is doing a bad job? Anyone of us could become the mayonnaise bomber tomorrow but it's only because the TSA hasn't screened for it yet.
I'm happy knowing I have less of a chance of dying than 95% of the world. Knocking on wood right now!
One of the things Obama hammered on during his love-fest to the Whitehouse was that our security measures were dysfunctional. The interagency communication was nonexistent. The NSA, CIA, FBI et.al. didn't share intelligence. Obama promised to fix this in some magical technocratic way. However, This was cited as the reason the underwear bomber was able to get as far as he did.
Just one of the reasons I don't like this guy. Others...bailing out Wall Street but letting Main Street languish. Strong arming automakers into dumping dealerships like Elbert Chevrolet - as though Whittemore can sustain a loss like that, really smacks of Marxism. Letting Pelosi and Reid mangle the most important initiative of our time -health care reform. Selling us on a bailout in the billions of dollars for "shovel ready jobs" and releasing only about 20% of those dollars thus far. The rest will become a personal slush fund for political favors. And for being a dishonest sack of poop in general.
Tom
Obviously some don't agree with everything Obama is doing, but at least he's doing something. Maybe you don't like the healthcare bill, but it's better than nothing which is what previous presidents have done. It's a beginning. He can't solve all the problems at once. People criticize him for trying to do too much but then complain that he's not doing enough. He's become a scapegoat. With regards to the economy, maybe some of his ideas will work and maybe they won't but at least he doing something.
That posting about the 18-20-year-old boys was from Pat.
I agree that Pelosi and Reid allowed the Republicans to kill the health care reform. And (hate to say it) Ben Nelson. He was right on abortion and wrong on everything else. He tried to have everything and I think he's going to pay dearly. But as stupid and divisive as the Dems were, squandering their huge election mandate to do something about health care, it was Republicans and their big-biz pals who actually managed to deceive voters and create the tea-party Frankenstein that I hope bites them in the butt. There was no excuse to not get this done and now it won't, because of greed, greed, greed and lies, lies, lies.
A 62-year-old Michigan man was severely burned when a homemade rocket strapped on his back exploded while he slid down a snowy hill on a sled, authorities said this week.
The rocket stunt was the grand finale on Saturday during the man's annual sledding party at his Oakland County, Michigan, home, the sheriff's department said.
"He is known for doing 'crazy things' at his parties," an Oakland County sheriff's department statement said. "On this date, after consuming an unknown quantity of alcohol, he constructed a device out of a motorcycle muffler and pipe."
Inside the makeshift rocket, the victim placed gunpowder, heads from matches and gasoline. He donned a helmet and took a sled to the top of a snowy embankment.
"He asked another person to light a wick and then began to sled down a hill. At some point during the ride downhill, the device exploded. The results of the explosion were second-degree burns to the victim's face," the sheriff's department statement said.
No one else was injured during the incident.
The man, whose identity is not yet known, was hospitalized with significant damage to one of his eyes and could face criminal charges, authorities said.
Also with regard to inter agency communication- of course the agancies should be talking to eachother and Obama did promise to do something about it. But he cannot control every agent at every level. Speaking from experience - or at least Scott's- some of these guys have tremendous egos and simply do not want to give up anything . You can't change an entire culture of law enforcement in one year. These practices have been going on forever.
Also with regard to inter agency communication- of course the agancies should be talking to eachother and Obama did promise to do something about it. But he cannot control every agent at every level. Speaking from experience - or at least Scott's- some of these guys have tremendous egos and simply do not want to give up anything . You can't change an entire culture of law enforcement in one year. These practices have been going on forever.
Remember the shoe bomber? He recently was convicted in a civilian court and will spend the rest of his life in prison, having been afforded the rights so brilliantly outlined in our Constitution. The judge's sentencing speech was great, pointing out that he (the defendant) was acting out of fear and hate and the desire to kill, yet was defended by an able and hard-working attorney provided by the very people he would like to destroy, and will be incarcerated in decent and humane conditions because that is who we are, etc. My point is, the story got lost in the hype surrounding the underwear bomber and all the security finger-pointing that here is where the system worked.
Hey - whatever happened to our security watches at critical watering holes, etc. It's obvious that we've been falling down on the job. Get out there, people!
Tonight we're going to the annual clergy/religious appreciation dinner (which in less politically correct times used to be called the priest appreciation dinner) where I can purchase a cocktail and keep a sharp eye out for radical clerics.
Remember when Granny used to tell of transient unemployed men knocking on doors asking for work during the Great Depression. One of my servers whose parents own a business experienced this a day or so ago. And I myself just got a call from a guy who says he desperately needs a job now otherwise he will be sleeping under a bridge tonight.
Tom
When we lived in Omaha we routinely got knocks at the door asking for food, money, an odd job, etc.
The strangest were the guy who wanted to borrow our lawn mower so he could go find work, and also the guy who cut out all our front bushes and I had to call the police.
Lisa
I have this guy cleaning the ceiling in the restaurant. Fed him a burger & fries. Think he's mentally unstable but harmless. Harmless to me anyway, 'cause like I tell my kids "you can't hurt twisted steel".
Tom
His name isn't Dave, is it? We had to get a restraining order against Dave.
What is the life expectancy of a groundhog?
So Cathy, we aren't drinking enough? Since you are the oldest I guess I have to listen to you...
Actually, I have been on patrol at local watering establishments, but I have chosen NOT TO SHARE.
Tom, was that guy gonna sleep under a bridge somewhere in Kossuth County? Give me a break...oh, I mean, give him a break.
Dad, I think it's cool that Obama is driving himself around town!
Well, I can't say. But he pretty much looks like a homeless guy. Been staying at the Super 8 but ran out of money. I'll feed him and work him good and pay him enough to get a room tonight. I called a friend who is on the overnight cleaning crew at Kmart. They always need people. Homeless man is going down there to try to get a job tomorrow.
Tom
....and as it happens I had a handy man here doing some repairs. Handy and Homeless were chatting. Handy has a few apartment buildings he owns. Handy is going to give homeless an apartment. Homeless will pay rent in the form of labor. Homeless left here very happy and excited.
Tom
Wow TOm that's great! Where is HOmeless from? No family around?
I traded my old computer monitor for a bottle of Templeton Rye last night and kept the 1000 W. Adams and Greektown area safe!
It's a marshmallow world in the winter, take a walk with your favorite guy.
It's a sugar date, what if spring is late? In winter it's a marshmallow world!
5 more inches of snow today.
More coming this weekend.
Lisa
Tom,
That's a perfect homeless story!
Lisa
I traded my brute strength for a glass of Templeton Rye at Ellen and Andy's a few nights ago when I helped them move a TV stand. And east Des Moines is that much safer because of it.
There's a new restaurant in Delray Beach (10 minutes from us) called Heart Stoppers Sports Grill, where the menu warns that "consumption of our food will definitely lead to obesity" and there is a standing offer of free food to anyone over 350 pounds.
p
Oh, and the waitresses wear nurse uniforms (short ones) and some of the food gets served in bedpans.
Gross.
Eww.
I got a 25% lead crystal table lamp for $7 at a yard sale... it still had tags on it, but no shade. What a bargain!
As it turns out, getting the shade has become quite the trick. We have come home with and returned 3 shades. Tomorrow Randy is going to a lamp shop in west Omaha to find a shade. On line we've found shades large enough for this lamp and they cost about $80.
Lisa
They'll cost about that at a lamp shop.
We and Des Moines are on track to break snow records - something arcane like longest number of days with at least so many inches of snow cover or something. Anyway, this morning we first shoveled the two-foot snowplow wall at the foot of the driveway and then I found myself shoveling the walks to throw the new pretty white snow up on the dirty icy snow. So now it looks nice and I was three hours late to work instead of 1 1/2. The back yard looks like a tiny winter wonderland with a leaning lamppost with a tall cap of snow on it. More coming Sunday, I just heard.
Did you see the short preview of Desi's commercial on the Today show?
Just got a phone call from a grandma asking if she could "get" a Confirmation for her granddaughter before her quincinera, like we keep them on a shelf or something.
Oh, and the hills on either side of the driveway are as tall as me now.
That's a pretty scary story about the bomb!
The hills are alive with the sound of snow clapping.
Today it is/was rainy; dark when I checked email before leaving to teach my 8:00 a.m. class. I checked work email as always and it turns out about 8 people are ill, and in fact two diagnosed themselves 'quite ill.' I'm quite concerned. Not.
p
Snow Snow Snow
Punxsutawney Phil is getting his revenge on us because I fed his cousin to my family this week. At least that's what I told the girls.
Half way through the coq a vin Emma said, "This isn't groundhog, we've had this before."
lisa
A surfer was killed by sharks about 20 miles north of us yesterday. Actually, he was a sail-surfer, holding a line to a parasail in the air and using a surfboard on the water. You see quite a few of them around here.
Actually, it is quite a story. The lifeguard who was on duty had binoculars and he had been checking on the surfer because he was about 400 yards from the beach. Then he noticed that the guy seemed to be laying on his sail which was now in the water so after calling in the possible emergency he got on his own surfboard and paddled out. It was hard. He is 47 years old and the surf was high and he was paddling into a strong wind.
When he got close he saw some blood in the water and he started looking around. He saw 3 sharks. he knew that sharks usually bite and then circle around for a while before going in for the kill. He knew he had to work fast. He dragged the surfer back to shore. The surfer spoke to him a little until they got about halfway in but then no more.
When he got to shore, rescue people were there who took the surfer to the hospital,where he died. What really makes this an amazing story, though, is that the lifeguard was himself the victim of a shark attack back in 1988 when he almost lost his foot and could not walk for 4 months. So as soon as he saw the blood and the 3 sharks he knew the risk he was taking. When interviewed he said, "Well, that's just part of the job."
Dad
I saw that guy on TV. He was pretty matter-of-fact about the details of his rescue attempt and you really got the feeling that he was sad about the guy who died and not really comfortable with the publicity.
Hi, all. Just wanted to update everybody on our plans for the wedding. The Ceremony will be at Benet Academy in Lisle, IL on Saturday, July 3. The reception will follow immediately after at Heritage Prairie Market in Elburn. We'll come up with better directions than this, but if you follow this link you can see where the two spots are:
http://tinyurl.com/yeelheo
We have rooms blocked off at two hotels.
Hampton Inn & Suites
875 Foxfield Road
St. Charles, IL
(630) 584-0222
www.hamptonstcharles.com
Fairfield Inn & Suites
2096 Bricher Road
St Charles, IL
(630) 845-5500
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/chicr-fairfield-inn-and-suites-chicago-st-charles/
The Hampton Inn is a little farther from the reception, but there will be a free shuttle running between there and the reception an hour before and after. The Hampton $94 a night. The Fairfield is much closer, but there is no shuttle. It is either $89 or $99, depending on the type of room you want.
If you have any other questions, let me know. My e-mail is joe.jayjack@gmail.com.
PS - If you're making a reservation, tell them you're with the Jayjack/Sanchez wedding party.
Holy cow Ed, was your bonus anything like your boss's? 16 million!!??
Monica
I wonder how many people will not be able to use their Super Bowl tickets because of that storm on the east coast.
Stevo and I worked at the Knights of Columbus Wild Game Feed last night and afterward got to eat the food. For dinner we had wild boar sausage with kraut, elk marinara meatballs, panko mango duck, beaver stew, creamy white pheasant lasagna (my favorite), venison wellington pouches (my second favorite) and deer sausage. Nary a salad, veggie or breadcrumb in sight, except what was in the stew or on the wellingtons. A real low-carb feast, spoiled by a sour cream chocolate cheesecake dessert. We missed out on the lobster chowder or wild turkey and rice soups and the deer sausage and cheese appetizers but the food was terrific.
I'm for the Saints and Stevo's for the Colts.
Wow. That's quite a meal....fit for a king, or i guess knights.
We had a nice meal out with Mom and Dad in Lake Worth last night. Veal Parmigiana, Chicken Portabella, spaghetti and meatballs and fettucini bolognese.
p
I'm for the colts but think the saints will win.
Hey you church people, why does the church no longer allow the use of the word Yahweh in songs?
Monica
I'm not sure but I think I recall reading something a while back that it is out of respect for our Jewish brothers and sisters who never used the name of God. I'm not certain about this but I don't think there are any vowels in the Hebrew language and that their word for God was YHWH, Dad
Do you all think we should hear the national anthem more? (watching superbowl) The only time you hear it is at sporting events...
p
"Dockers Super Bowl Ad" was the 21st most popular search on Google in the past hour!
Good job, Desmond!
Oh - and "Dockers Free pants" was #1.
AWESOME! Good job, Des.
p
everyone i've talked to liked the ad, Des.
the favorite among my friends was the doritos ad with the little kid smacking his moms date.
Hello. Before the Super Bowl I sent a message to an ND classmate who lives in Chicago to tell him to watch for the Dockers ad. Today he sent me an internet address which has several complimentary articles about the ad, including a headline describing it as the #1 ad. The link is:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2679565/dockers
Congratulations, Des!!
Yay Des! Good job. I like the song in the ad.
We received a card from a good friend of ours who is now the Consul General in Amsterdam. She said she and her husband are having a great time there as "it helps with this President it's once again okay to be an American in Europe." She also said there is a comedy club there running sold out performances of a play called "Yankee Come Back".
That's great Emily!
Yes, the DOCKERS site crashed from so many hits...the article Dad forwarded is GREAT!
another snow day. we are now going to school until june 8th.
monica
Oh Noooooooo
A foot of snow!
And cuts in the CTA
How will I make my way
Home from work today?
Pack your Rye and stay at a hotel.
Tom
More. Snow. If I could just see the sun again. Just imagine being trapped in a little sod hut in the middle of Nebraska with six kids and having to go to the barn twice a day, not to mention the outhouse, during weather like this. I bet a lot of people developed urinary tract infections from peeing as little as possible.
There are documented accounts of people getting lost between the sod hut and the outhouse only to be found frozen to death when the blizzard ended. They often tied a rope between the 2 buildings just to be able to find the way back and forth.
Tom
On What Not to Wear right now they are making over a woman who only wears Notre Dame clothes. Why?
Akio Toyoda, who runs Toyota, says he is taking personal responsibility for the problems leading to the recall. Don't you think this means he should kneel down and shove a knife into his belly?
Who's watching What Not To Wear? Come forward!
Maybe in those early days some people wanted to "get lost" between the outhouse and the home. I know I'd go crazy.
That was me, Cathy. Yes I am ashamed.
Monica
The kids went sledding and then came home and made funnel cakes with the awesome funnel cake maker I got for Christmas. I never know what to do with the oil after making things like that.
Monica
Cover a snickers in the funnel cake batter and deep fry it!
You obviously need to fry more stuff.
I never fry anything. It's just too tempting.
Monica
Monica, you got a funnel cake maker and a fat meter?
What Not to Wear is a great show, really...I know many of you watch it...Pat, isn't your friend trying to be on the show?
I'll be expecting a funnel cake next ime I'm at your house, Monica.
Everyone should watch the show Frontline on PBS. They do the best investigative stories on varied topics. This week it was about the small commuter plane companies that contract with the big airlines. In two weeks it's behind enemy lines in Afganistan. Very good program.
Hey Ed, did you feel the earthquake last night? The epicenter was near Chicago? It woke both Peter and me up.
Monica
Talking with a couple farmers at a bar last night about history and Japan. They were knowledgable and fun. How often do you get to mention the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere in casual conversation?
Team Pants-on-the-Ground is officially registered. Weigh-in is Saturday. Then ten weeks till we win the $1000.00.
I need to get into a co-prosperity sphere.
I was in Penny's the other night... I asked if there were ladies' cardigans with out a V neck... the sales lady took me over to woven blouses with a sash tie and said that those were the only blouses like that.
Who doesn't know what a cardigan is?
lisa
Lisa, try Sears-the Lands End part of Sears.
Actually, I did find a cardigan I wanted in the Land's End catalogue... do they have the same stuff at Sears?
lisa
Renee's (my employee) father just died.
Tom
Oh, that's sad...give Renee our condolences.
I can't ever remember Renee not being at Sarah's. How long has she worked there? How did her father die?
Ohh, that's sad. Tell her we're sorry.
I don't think I've ever been at Sarah's without Renee working. Except Dad's birthday.
MOnica
Sorry to hear about Renee's dad.
Does he live in the area?
We woke up to 39 degrees here. I know that sounds balmy, but it feels pretty cold. Supposed to warm up to 63. It's now 42. Poor iguanas and geckos.
p
I am so sorry about Renee's dad. I don't know much about him, but I think she's a real gem. Please let her know I'm thinking of her...
Lisa
Hello. Most of you are aware of how my cousin, Gerry Straub is using his talents as a filmmaker to raise peoples' awareness of how terrible poverty is in various places around the world. In fact, several of our family have met him when he had speaking engagements in Omaha and Cedar Rapids.
Gerry was in Uganda last fall and he stumbled upon a remarkable event which he has put on youtube.It is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. The prompt is:
http://www.youtube.com/user/SanDamianoFilms#p/u/25/3v7ZQUzrOyo
After you make that hit you should see "YouTube-San Damiano Film's Channel" then if you hit that the video should come up. I really recommend that you look at it. It is only about 6 or 7 minutes long but it will leave an impression.
I just hope I'm able to properly transmit this information.
Dad
Hello again. I just want to let you know that I accessed the address I gave you and when I clicked on the arrow, "YouTube-San Damiano Films" did not appear but rather a series of film titles. The one you should look for is "Sam and Esther" or "The Ballard of Sam and Esther." There is also a Sam and Esther Follow up Story, but you should watch Sam and Esther first. You'll be thinking about it for the rest of the day. Dad
Didn't anyone watch the Sam and Esther video? Dad
Yes I did. It's almost too hard to watch.
p
It is quite remarkable though. And ultimately a hopeful story.
p
Hey all!
There is a story about the financial picture at Holy Name where I work on the Omaha World Herald and WOWT sites.
The nation's current financial piture has greatly impacted this school. We have lost hardly any donors, but most of them give a lot less to the school than they did a couple of years ago. I cannot imagine what will happen to North Omaha as school after school closes. Not only do we need money, the diocese needs a plan for education in North Omaha.
Lisa
I saw the first part almost a year ago. I was glad to see the second part. That little Jane is a hero.
Just got back from a great DRE's retreat in Des Moines Thursday and Friday and stayed at Andy and Ellen's house and Stevo got to spend a nice day with Joe and we all had dinner together twice. And now it's still the weekend! Yay!
Cathy, I know! I can't believe I have another day of weekend tomorrow. Yay! It was fun getting to see you and Stevo.
For Valentine's, I put one the engagement photos Joe and I took in the Register with a little note to him and he called tonight to say his co-workers on the copy desk pointed it out to him — the night before it was supposed to run! I should have expected that :-/ He was surprised, but I had to hustle and make a new Valentine which ended up being crafted out of the back of a cereal box because I was supposed to stay out of the basement (where my craft supplies are)because he's working on a mysterious project there. I think we're going to champagne brunch at the Chinese restaurant to celebrate. Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!
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