Our Apple/Cherry Tree

Magnetic Poetry

I found this on the Internet and I'm not
sure what to do with it. Have fun, check
out this link

This Guy is an Asshole

I don't want this to become a Political Blog, but I can't take this asshole anymore.

Bush Rejects Calls for Tax on Oil Profits
President Bush said Friday that taxing enormous oil industry profits is not the way to calm Americans' anxieties about pain at the gas pump, and that his "inclination and instincts" are that major oil companies are not intentionally overcharging drivers.

Bush's remarks suggested the former Texas oilman is unlikely to take harsh action against oil companies despite public anger about the rising cost of fuel. Gasoline is averaging $2.92 a gallon across the country, up 69 cents from a year ago, according to AAA's daily fuel gauge report.

With politicians concerned the issue could tilt what are expected to be close midterm elections this fall, the president and many in Congress have been rushing to offer solutions, most of which would offer little immediate relief.

Some Democrats have viewed this week's announcement by major oil companies of huge first-quarter profits as a chance to renew their push for a windfall profits tax. But though a few Republicans, including Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, have said the idea ought to be examined, Bush and most GOP lawmakers strongly oppose it.

"The temptation in Washington is to tax everything," the president said in a wide-ranging news conference. (he left out the option which he usually follows...to fucking bomb it)

Instead, Bush called on Congress to ease regulations that make it difficult to expand the nation's refining capacity. He also urged oil companies to plow their profits into finding and producing more energy, such as by building natural gas pipelines or pursuing renewable energy sources — all ventures that could further boost the companies' bottom lines.

Three days ago, the president announced a series of steps, including calling on his administration to investigate possible price gouging. But he admitted Friday that he thinks it's probably not happening.

The rest of the story

Lawmaker Puzzled by Obscenity in Letter

WASHINGTON - Nobody expects to get a letter from a member of Congress that ends with an expletive. But that's what happened when Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (news, bio, voting record), R-Mo., recently corresponded with a resident of her southeast Missouri district.
The letter ended with a profane, seven-letter insult beginning with the letter a — "i think you're an...."

Emerson says she can't explain how the offensive language made it into the letter, which otherwise reads like a typical response to a citizen's question about last year's testimony of oil executives before the Senate Commerce Committee.

iPod

I did it!
(I sure know how to party it up, don't I?)

Bush's Exercise Program

I hear Bush has a new exercise program for America.
It's called gas at $3.00 per gallon...

How Much is Enough?

DALLAS - A $69.7 million compensation package and $98 million pension payout to Exxon Mobil Corp.'s former chief executive and chairman Lee R. Raymond has some shareholders and economists asking, "how much is enough?"

The Irving company has drawn criticism from politicians and economists for becoming the most profitable company in history — at consumers' expense, they say.

Exxon benefited from high oil and natural gas prices and solid demand for refined products en route to earning $36 billion last year.

I don't about all of you, but gas is getting close to $3 per gallon by me. It seems thte oil companies are getting ready for the Big Summer Fuckfest again. I realize that many other countries pay a lot for gas and we have been spoiled. I don't think that the oil companies make as much profit as the American ones do (maybe I'm wrong, I hope so) I just don't understand that Exxon made over 36 BILLION dollars in profits while we are paying an arm and a leg for gas. I could see if they made a small profit, I mean that's why people go into business, to make money. I just don't like how this double chinned Fat-Cat is getting over 2 million dollars a year for his service fo Exxon. I also don't understand how we, as a nation, can invade a country to get it's oil (let's face it, that's why we are in Iraq) screw taht up, then have us pay more than ever before for fuel. Also, we've known since the 1970s that the arab world hates us, they control the oil, and we should be looking at alternatives. If we did that 30+ years ago, we wouldn't be in the mess we are now. Yeah, I know, buy Hess gas instead. Has anyone ever been to a Hess station? Talk about a sureal experience.

Happy Easter

This is from a few years ago, but it's all I had....

Charlie

This isn't a big deal, but two nights ago we watched our nephew overnight and the following day. No, this isn't a picture of him. This is Charlie, his dog. My wife's older sister is a teacher and she has off a different week for spring break than her son does. Only in NJ I guess. Anyway, what started out as us watching the neph, then turned into having the SIL sleep over too. Then I get home the day of the big arrival and I'm told Charlie is coming up too. First I'm thinking 'who the heck is Charlie?' I don't see the dog often and he's kind of a new addition so I didn't think of him first (sorry Charlie...) It's just funny how it progressed from one person, then two people, then two people and a dog staying over. I will say that Charlie is very well behaved and is always welcome over at the house (the nephew is another story) The boys have been after us to get a dog for about 4 years now too. Dana is allergic to them (she claims - she seemed ok to me) so I don't know if we will get one. Plus, it's a big commitment and I don't have the time to put into training a dog right now. We shall see...

Missouri - The Show Me State

Is it me, or is this just plain wrong?

A Visit to Hammacher Schlemmer

While in NYC yesterday, I stopped in the Hammacher Schlemmer store on 57th street. It's a very cool place, sort of a higher-end Brookstone store.
One of the things that caught my eye was this Carbon Chassis Velocipede. It looks like quite the bargain at a mere $13,999.95.



Another fun item was this Hydrofoil Water Scooter. Click here to see a video of this. I would love to take it out on my kayak lake. I'm sure there are laws against it because it's fun. A bargain at $499.95

Last, and certainly not least, was this puppy. There was a lady working this thing like nobody's business (which I guess it isn't). There was no way she was putting this down. Her eyes were closed while she manuvered it over her body. I wanted to say to her "A penny for your thoughts" but I restrained myself.

All in all, a fun visit. If I ever have a wad of money I don't know what to do with, I'll be back

The Meaning of Life

This is a big switch for me. I usually do silly or somewhat amusing posts (it's subjective I suppose). I'm not even sure why I'm writing about this. I took a seminar in the summer of 2001 with a group called Landmark Education. They are, according to some, a cult of sorts. I will say I agree. The group came out of EST and claim to offer ways to get more out of life and understand the meaning, etc. Dana and I were having some problems and in my efforts to bridge the gap that was growing, I thought that trying to find some meaning to my life might help. She is one who questions that issue with her own life (which I think is great) but I rarely/never gave it a thought. So I found myself in the World Trade Center going every week to the semiar (at $500) I put about 1/2 of my effort into it which was my choice. I guess I should have played at 100% but that was then, now I'm doing therapy and I'm 100% invested in it but that's another post (or not) I don't even remember all of the things that were required of me but it did involve looking at different aspects of your life and building on making them better. Sounds like a plan, right? A big thing they were selling was that you will find out what the meaning of life was. As always, there were some out there who dove right in and really seemed to get a lot out of the seminar. I think some of these people are lifers who go from cult to cult searching for answers to the meaning or purpose in life. On a side note, this group was lead by a guy who looked like Gene Hackman. After a few weeks of the seminar, they dropped the bomb as to the meaning of life.

"The meaning to life is that life is empty and meaningless and it's meanless that life is empty and meaningless"

Pretty profound huh? My first reaction was like...okaaaaayyyyy. I mean, I guess it could very well be that. Who knows what the meaning of life really is? I didn't get a handbook when I was born. There are all sorts of groups, people, religions that tell us what the meaning of life is, but since when do they haveall of the answers? Did they get the handbook? I don't know myself what the meaning of life is or what my purpose is if any. I do try to live my life in a way that does no harm to others, I try to leave things a little better than I find them and I try to be part of the solution, not part of the problem (as I see it).
On a side note, I was supposed to go to the World Trade Center on Sept 12th, 2001. I didn't make it that day. The group met a month or two later at another site. One thing that was discussed was the events of 9/11. They asked "what happened on 9/11?" Their reply was "that 2 planes flew into the Twin Towers and people died"

What's Your Beer Personality?

You Are Guinness

You know beer well, and you'll only drink the best beers in the world. Watered down beers disgust you, as do the people who drink them. When you drink, you tend to become a bit of a know it all - especially about subjects you don't know well. But your friends tolerate your drunken ways, because you introduce them to the best beers around.

What's Your Beer Personality?
They got this one right...

Eagle Cam

This is pretty cool. There is a commercial in the beginning but then it shows this Eagle Cam.
I have a friend at work who is a big bird enthusiast (not as in Big Bird from Sesame Street) and he sent me the link. I've always enjoyed birds, but since moving upstate I've put up feeders and have been enjoying them more. There are a lot of Bald Eagles in the NY PA area which is pretty cool. My friend took a picture a fews ago that had 18 eagles sitting in one dead pine tree.
I hope you enjoy this, it's boring after a while

How You Live Your Life

How You Live Your Life

You have a good sense of self control and hate to show weakness. You're laid back and chill, but sometimes you care too much about what others think. You prefer a variety of friends and tend to change friends quickly. You tend to dream big, but you worry that your dreams aren't attainable.

How Do You Live Your Life?

Dribs and Drabs

So I was in NYC yesterday evening for some medical stuff. Afterwards I hooked up with my brother Larry who lives there and we caught a bite to eat (and a few brews - don't tell) We then took a walk over to the Hudson River. The waterfront by 72 street is relly beautiful. Manhattan is so much nicer since Gullianni and Bloomberg have been in office. Anyway, after that we were walking back to my car and who comes out of her dentists office...Yoko.

We didn't make a scene because we wanted to respect her privacy but it was pretty cool to see her. The Dakota is at the end of the street where my brother lives so she can be seen in the neighborhood although she doesn't just stroll around. Last night after I got home, Griffin (age 6) asked me to help him write a note for my wife. It read "Mommy, Please put my wallet in my pants pocket".

Today Dana is going to run an errand or two so I suggested to her to drop
Grif off so she will be able to better take care of business. I then realized that Grif knows about the store at work that has all sorts of candy so he didn't want to hear from me that I had no money.
He's too much...










Here he is at work with a reeses peanut butter cup on his head

More Fun From ZeFrank.com

                 The Truth

You All Rock - an Update

I'm not surprised, but this just is another example of what great caring friends I have out here. All comments and suggestions are fantastic. I do want to do the right thing for the memory of what's his face (I know I should try to control or at least hide my idiotcy). I do not want to stir up any memories that do not want to be stirred up. My initial reaction was to contact the media, which could be either a great idea, or it could be something than can be intrusive. I thought of that first too JLee. Maybe if my gal Jackie were to do it as a personal favor to her #1 fan, it would be a class act. Then the ideas and links came in. Paula, I'm glad you commented. I miss you. You had a great suggestion. That got me in touch with someone else who got me to another link. One way to return them is to bring them to the Vietnam Wall in DC. Dana and I have been wanting to take the boys down there. This could be a wonderful experience to all of us if we returned it ourselves, then the people at the Memorial will pass it on accordingly.

What Would You Do?

I was doing a little yardwork today, and while I was digging I came across this bracelet. I remember these from high school in the early 1970s. They were for POWs lost during the Vietnam War. I don't remember how exactly you got one of these, but the woman who lives next door to us did have one and when I found this, I showed it to her.I did a search on Richard Fitts and came up with an article. His remains were returned in 1990. I had an idea where I would try to contact a local newspaper and see if there were any surviving members of this guys family and maybe they might want to have this bracelet. I did show that lady next door what I found and she thinks it's a great idea to see if the family wants it back.
What would you do?

That's It

I QUIT
April Fool's