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On June 22, the small town of Aurora, Neb., experienced the full fury of Mother Nature as severe thunderstorms and tornadoes raked the area. But it was the monster-size hail that made this a very special event.

An irregularly shaped hailstone with a diameter of 7 inches and a circumference of 18.75 inches was recovered, making it the largest hailstone in U.S. history. The previous record was set in Coffeyville, Kan., in 1970, where a hailstone ``only'' 5.7 inches in diameter was found. It had a circumference of 17.5 inches and a weight of 1.67 pounds.

New Military Shotgun -  Bradbury

A Night's Tail - passed on by Don Bradbury

 His and Her Diaries - - passed on by Seth

Why Mom Fainted at the School Play - 1Mb movie file from Don Bradbury

Vietnam Facts - passed on by Gail Kmieczak

I found this article very interesting. The most notable fact is that 2.7 million Americans actually served in the Vietnam Theater of war. In the last census nearly 14 million Americans claimed they served in Vietnam. Four out of five are lying. I wonder why.
 

Hillary Joke - from Claude Post

A man died and went to heaven. As he stood in front of St. Peter at the
Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks behind him. He asked, 'What are
all those clocks?'

St. Peter answered, 'Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on Earth has a
Lie-Clock. Every time you lie, the hands on your clock will move.'

'Oh,' said the man, 'whose clock is that?'

'That's Mother Teresa's. The hands have never moved, indicating that she
never told a lie.'

'Incredible,' said the man. 'And whose clock is that one?'

St. Peter responded, 'That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The hands have moved
twice, telling us that Abe told only two lies in his entire Life.'

'Where's Hillary Clinton's clock?' asked the man.

'Hillary's clock is in Jesus' office. He's using it as a ceiling fan.'

33 Senators Voted Against English as America 's Official Language
passed on by the Jenkin's (click here)

Hi All, - Greg Jaskot

Please vote this gun issue question with USA Today.  It will only take a
few seconds of your time. 

Vote here:

Ladies, want to please your man in the bedroom (1 Mb movie - Don Bradbury)

America Needs A Leader Like This! - Don Bradbury

As we rapidly see our country changing because of the influence of immigrants, doesn’t it make you wish we could have a government that would take this stance?

      Prime Minister John Howard - Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation’s mosques. Quote: “ IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.” ?

“ This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom”

“ We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!”

“ Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.”

“ We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.”

“ This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom,

“ THE RIGHT TO LEAVE”.”
“ If you aren’t happy here then LEAVE. We didn’t force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.”

Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, American citizens will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths.

An atheist in the Woods - Wayne Kmieczak

An atheist was walking through the woods.
"What majestic trees!"
"What powerful rivers!"
"What beautiful animals!"
He said to himself.

As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charging towards him.

He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing in on him.

He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer. He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him.

At that instant the Atheist cried out, "Oh my God!"

Time Stopped.
The bear froze.
The forest was silent.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. "You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist, and even credit creation to cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?"
The atheist looked directly into the light and said, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the BEAR a Christian?"

"Very Well," said the voice.

The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke:

"Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen

The Newfoundland Fisherman

A boat was docked in a tiny Newfoundland fishing village.

A tourist from Toronto complimented the Newfie fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long," answered the Newfie.

"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the Torontonian.

The Newfie explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The Torontonian asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take an afternoon nap with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs... I have a full life."

The Torontonian interrupted, "I have an MBA from Queen's University and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

"And after that?" asked the Newfie.

"With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to St John's, Halifax, or even Toronto ! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."

"How long would that take?" asked the Newfie.

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the Torontonian.

"And after that?"

"Afterwards? Well my Friend, That's when it gets really interesting," answered the Torontonian, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?" said the Newfie.

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take an afternoon nap with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

And the moral is:

Know where you're going in life... you may already be there!

 Some Medical Advice that may save your life - from Greg Jaskot

(Political articles are moved to the Politics Section after they become old news)

Out of thousands of seats in the Gel grandstands, Gail Kmieczak's turned out to be the one drawn for a $1,000 Door Prize

Labor Department Announces It Will Revise
Overreaching OSHA Explosives Rule

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it will significantly revise a recent proposal for new “explosives safety” regulations that caused serious concern among gun owners.  OSHA had originally set out to update workplace safety regulations, but the proposed rules included restrictions that very few gun shops, sporting goods stores, shippers, or ammunition dealers could comply with.

Gun owners had filed a blizzard of negative comments urged by the NRA, and just a week ago, OSHA had already issued one extension for its public comment period at the request of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.  After continued publicity through NRA alerts and the outdoor media, and after dozens of Members of Congress expressed concern about its impact, OSHA has wisely decided to go back to the drawing board.

Working with the NRA, Congressman Denny Rehberg (R-MT) planned to offer a floor amendment to the Labor-HHS appropriations bill this Wednesday when the House considers this legislation.  His amendment would have prohibited federal funds from being used to enforce this OSHA regulation.

Such an amendment is no longer necessary since Kristine A. Iverson, the Labor Department’s Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, sent Rep. Rehberg a letter, dated July 16, stating that it “was never the intention of OSHA to block the sale, transportation, or storage of small arms ammunition, and OSHA is taking prompt action to revise” this proposed rule to clarify the purpose of the regulation.

Also, working with the NRA, Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) gathered signatures from 25 House colleagues for a letter, dated July 11, expressing concerns about this proposed OSHA rule.  The letter calling the proposal “an undue burden on a single industry where facts do not support the need outlined by this proposed rule” and “not feasible, making it realistically impossible for companies to comply with its tenets.”

The OSHA proposal would have defined “explosives” to include “black powder, … small arms ammunition, small arms ammunition primers, [and] smokeless propellant,” and treated these items the same as the most volatile high explosives.

Under the proposed rule, a workplace that contained even a handful of small arms cartridges, for any reason, would have been considered a “facility containing explosives” and therefore subject to many impractical restrictions.  For example, no one could carry “firearms, ammunition, or similar articles in facilities containing explosives … except as required for work duties.”  Obviously, this rule would make it impossible to operate any kind of gun store, firing range, or gunsmith shop.

The public comment website for the proposed rule is no longer accessible.  The Labor Department will publish a notice in the July 17 Federal Register announcing that a new rule proposal will soon be drafted for public comment. Needless to say, the NRA monitors proposed federal regulations to head off this kind of overreach, and will be alert for OSHA’s next draft.

An interesting lesson in history

I'm Tired - forwarded by Wayne Kmieczak

Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior to my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq to finish my tour.

I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning, to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it's because I'll turn 60 years old in just four months, but I'm tired.

I'm tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican, who lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see these difficult tasks through.

I'm tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history when the going gets tough.

I'm tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they 'Support the Troops' by wanting them to 'Cut and Run' before victory is achieved.

I'm tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety of their hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and women are having on the battlefield.

I'm tired that so many Americans think you can rebuild a dictatorship into a democracy over night.

I'm tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to the voting booth and freely elect a Constitution and soon a permanent Parliament.

I'm tired of the so called 'Elite Left' that prolongs this war by giving aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War.

I'm tired of antiwar protesters showing up at the funerals of our fallen soldiers. A family who's loved ones gave their life in a just and noble cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by cowardly protesters is beyond shameful.

I'm tired that my generation, the Baby Boom -- Vietnam generation, who have such a weak backbone that they can't stomach seeing the difficult tasks through to victory.

I'm tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captives than they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and allies.

I'm tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by the press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front page news.

Mostly, I'm tired that the people of this great nation didn't learn from history that there is no substitute for Victory.

Sincerely,
Joe Repya,
Lieutenant Colonel , U. S. Army
101st Airborne Division

Buffalo vs the Lions (No it's not football) - from Don Bradbury

This is an eight minute video on YouTube. Be sure to watch the whole thing; you won't believe the ending.

Wildflower Music Festival 2007 Schedule - requested by Dian Hutchinson

Bill and Hillary

Bill and Hillary were at the Yankee season opener sitting in the first row, with the Secret Service agents directly behind them.  One of the Secret Service guys leans forward and whispers something to Bill. At first, Clinton stares at the guy, looks at Hillary, looks back at the agent, and shakes his head no.  The agent then says, "Mr. President, it was at the unanimous request of the entire team, from the owner on down to the bat boy."   Bill hesitates...but begins to change his mind when the agent tells him the fans would love it! Bill shrugs his shoulders and says, "Okay, if that's what the people want."   With that, Bill gets up, grabs Hillary by her collar and the seat of her pants, lifts her up, and tosses her right over the wall onto the field.  She gets up kicking, swearing, screaming, "I'll kill you! You *%$%**!! The crowd goes absolutely wild. Fans are jumping up & down, cheering, hooting & hollering, and high-fiving. Bill is bowing, smiling and waving to the crowd.  He leans over to the agent and says, "How about that!  I would have never believed how much everyone would enjoy that!".   Noticing his agent has gone totally pale, he asks what is wrong.  The agent replies, "Sir, I said they wanted you to throw out the first Pitch."
 

Hell Explained by a Chemistry Student
 
The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington chemistry mid term.  The answer by one student was so "profound" that the professor shared it with colleagues, via the Internet, which is, of course, why we now have the pleasure of enjoying it as well :

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or endothermic (absorbs heat)?
 
Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law (gas cools when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant. One student, however, wrote the following:
 
First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate at which souls are moving into Hell and the rate at which they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to 
Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today.  Most of these religions state that if you are not a member of their
religion, you will go to Hell. Since there is more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to
more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially. Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand proportionately as souls are added.
 
 This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure
 in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

 2. If Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will
 drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it? If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa during my Freshman year that, "It will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you," and take into account the fact that I slept with her last night, then number two
must be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and has already frozen over. The corollary of this theory is
that since Hell has frozen over, it follows that it is not accepting any more souls and is therefore, extinct......leaving only Heaven, thereby proving the existence of a divine being which explains why, last night, Teresa  kept shouting "Oh my God."
 
 THIS STUDENT RECEIVED AN A+.

Military Rules - Don Bradbury

Marine Corps Rules:
 1. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.
 2. Decide to be aggressive enough, quickly enough.
 3. Have a plan.
 4. Have a back-up plan, because the first one probably won't work.
 5. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
 6. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun whose caliber does not start with a "4."
 7. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life  is expensive.
 8. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral & diagonal preferred.)
 9.  Use cover or concealment as much as possible.
 10. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.
 11. Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.
 12. In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.
 13. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating your intention to shoot...

 Navy SEAL's Rules:
 1. Look very cool in sunglasses.
 2. Kill every living thing within view.
 3. Adjust speedo .
 4. Check hair in mirror.

 US Army Rangers Rules:
 1. Walk in 50 miles wearing 75 pound rucksack while starving.
 2. Locate individuals requiring killing.
 3. Request permission via radio from "Higher" to perform killing.
 4. Curse bitterly when mission is aborted.
 5. Walk out 50 miles wearing a 75 pound rucksack while starving.

 US Army Rules:
 1. Curse bitterly when receiving operational order.
 2. Make sure there is extra ammo and extra coffee.
 3. Curse bitterly.
 4. Curse bitterly
 5. Do not listen to 2nd LT's, It can get you killed.
 6. Curse bitterly

 US Air Force Rules:
 1. Have a cocktail.
 2. Adjust temperature on air-conditioner.
 3. See what's on HBO.
 4. Ask "what is a gunfight?"
 5. Request more funding from Congr ess with a "killer" Power Point presentation.
 6. Wine & dine 'key' Congressmen, invite DOD & defense industry executives.
 7. Receive funding, set up new command and assemble assets.
 8. Declare the assets "strategic" and never deploy them operationally.
 9. Hurry to make 13:45 tee-time.
 10. Make sure the base is as far as possible from the conflict but close enough to have tax exemption.

 US Navy Rules:
 1. Go to Sea.
 2. Drink Coffee.
 3. Deploy Marines...
 

Wake Up USA - link passed on by Don Bradbury

This web site presents a power point like presentation that is an extremely scary picture of the future of this country.  Broadband connection required.    http://www.usawakeup.org/

Gun Market in Pakistan - Eight minute video passed on by Don Bradbury

Tag along on a trip to a gun bazaar in the Khyber Pass tribal area of western Pakistan.  This gives you a glimpse into the culture that protects Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban.  I suggest Nancy Pelosi should go talk to these people on her next trip abroad.

 
Disarmed and Defenseless -  State Representative Daryl Metcalfe Fighting the Gun Registration Bill

A SONG FROM A SOLDIER IN IRAQ

This song and slide show is from a soldier in Iraq.  If I Die before You Wake. 
 

Jet Man - submitted by Don Bradbury

A five minute video of a Swiss skydiver who straps a wing with four jet engines on his back.

Elk Overpass - sent in by Alvin Zeruth

This is the actual turnoff from Banff to the # 1 highway to Calgary.

Great picture isn't it? They had to build the animals (especially the elk) their own crossing because that was where the natural crossing was and after the highway was built there were far too many accidents. I understand it didn't take the animals long to learn that this was their "road. "

The Speech George Bush Should Make - forwarded by Don Bradbury

Scott Ott is a satirist who sometimes writes a serious piece. This is a "Bush" speech on Global War on Terror that Scott Ott wrote and Bush never saw.  Scott ought to write for the White House.

Jay Leno has it right - submitted by Dave Jenkins

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day ?

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.

They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O. J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Jay Leno

True Story (well Don Bradbury says so)

I have 2 Labrador Retrievers & I was buying a large bag of Purina at Wal-Mart and was in line to check out.  A woman behind me asked if I had a dog.  On impulse, I told her that no, I was starting The Purina Diet again, although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms. I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it >works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. I said that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.

I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a guy who was behind her. Horrified, she asked if I'd ended up in the hospital in that condition because I had been poisoned.  I told her no; it was because I'd been sitting in the street licking my balls and a car hit me.
 
I thought one guy was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard as he staggered out the door. Like the old saying goes......Ask a stupid question.......
 

Startling Illusion - sent in by Dian Hutchinson  (more illusions)

Relax and concentrate on the 4 small dots in the middle of the picture below for 30 to 40 seconds.  Then look at a blank wall or smooth one color surface.  After a few seconds you will see a circle of light developing.  Blink your eyes a few times and you will see a figure emerging.  Who do you see?

THE ABILITY TO MAKE AND UNDERSTAND PUNS IS
THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

The results are posted of the recent Jug Members Area pun contest.

How to Destroy America - passed on by Don Bradbury

Serious stuff; read the synopsis on the Politics page and then follow the link there to an article on immigration that should scare the **** out of you.

Too Much of a Good Thing - submitted by Gail Kmieczak

ADIOS AMIGOS - forwarded by Don Bradbury

Do you remember when Puerto Rico was raising heck about the US Navy using that nothing little island just off the coast of Puerto Rico for bombing practices, which they had used for the past 75 years?  Demonstrations were held, Hollywood left wingers, Al Sharpton, and his fellow demagogues went down there to demonstrate to get the Navy out?  I am sure it infuriated you just as it did me at the time.

Well, here is our revenge. Always be careful what you ask for, you just may get it! One of the many headaches that the U. S. has had was the Puerto Rican Island of Vieques. In the waning years of the Clinton Administration protesters demanded that the US Navy abandon bombing and naval gunfire exercises that had taken place on the largely uninhabited island for nearly seventy years. Liberal icons bumped into one another to fly to Puerto Rico, boat over to the island, trespass (but never on a day that there was an exercise scheduled) and get arrested for the benefit of the New York Times or Newsweek. They included the Reverend Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Joan Baez, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Edward Olmos, Michael Moore and Ramsey Clark, just to name a few.

In 2002, the bombing exercises were transferred to an Air Force bombing range in central Florida, not far from the Jacksonville and Pensacola Naval Air Stations. In January, many of the protesters were back in Puerto Rico, celebrating the final bombing exercise on Vieques and waved Puerto Rican flags and placards that read "U. S. Navy, get out of Puerto Rico."

The following February, Rumsfeld announced that the U. S. Navy will close the Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station in Puerto Rico in 2004, eliminating 1200 civilian jobs as well as 700 military positions. This naval facility is estimated to have put nearly $300 million annually into the local economy. The next day a stunned Governor Sila Calderon, held a news conference in San Juan, protesting the base closure as a serious blow to the Commonwealth's fragile economy. The governor stated that "The people of Puerto Rico don't now or never did have an interest in closing the Vieques bombing range or the Roosevelt Roads naval base. We are interested in both staying in Puerto Rico ." When asked, the Commander-in Chief, Western Atlantic Command, said, "Without Vieques, I see no further need for the facility at Roosevelt Roads. None." So, Yankee go home? Fine. But we'll take our dollars with us. Hasta la vista, baby!

On February 21, the Secretary of Defense also announced that starting this year, the U. S. European Command would begin moving most, if not all, of its active combat and support units from bases in Germany to others being established in Poland, The Czech Republic, Hungary and Turkey to "better position them for rapid deployment to likely hot spots in those parts of the world." Immediately the business and government leaders in the German states of Hesse, Rhineland and Wurttemburg, protested the loss of nearly $6 billion US revenue each year from the bases and manpower to be displaced. A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry speculated that the move may be "what the Americans call 'payback' for the actions of this government in opposing Military action in Iraq ". "Does anyone know the German translation for: "Hasta la vista, baby?" I think "Aufwiedersehen, linesmen" is a good translation.

Oh, isn't it nice to see a government with guts and a good memory. Also, here are some statistics and conclusions about a different subject. If you consider that there has been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theatre of operations during the last 22 months, and a total of 2,112 deaths, (when this was written) that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers. The firearm death rate in Washington D. C. is 80.6 per 100,000 for the same period. That means that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in the U. S. Capitol, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation, than you are in Iraq. Conclusion: The U. S. should pull out of Washington .
 

How to be a Good Wife - submitted by Tim Huss

The following is from an article published in "Housekeeping Monthly" in 1955. It is a measure of how things have changed since then. While it may make the male readers laugh, it will probably enrage the women readers!

One: Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

Two: Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

Three: Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

Four: Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

Five: Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. and then run a dust cloth over the tables.

Six: Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by.  Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

Seven: Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

Eight: Be happy to see him.

Nine: Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

Ten: Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

Eleven: Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

Twelve: Your goal: try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

Thirteen: Don't greet him with complaints and problems.

Fourteen: Don't complain if he is late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

Fifteen: Make him comfortable. Make him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

Sixteen: Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

Seventeen: Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

Eighteen: A good wife always knows her place. 

This sounds a over the top even for 1955 - ed.

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's !! - passed on by Greg Jaskot

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank koolade made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because.  WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING !

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down
the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computer's, no Internet or chat rooms....... WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no
lawsuits from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang
the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO
DEAL WITH IT ALL!

If YOU are one of them . . CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with other's who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.
And while you are at it, forward it t o your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

Pictures Circulating of Shuttle Columbia Explosion - forwarded by Don Bradbury

Dramatic pictures were take by an Israeli satellite  (broadband suggested)

What a picture! - forwarded by Don Bradbury

Inspirational

I believe in these difficult and mean-spirited times in which we live there needs to be a message of hope. Just a single image that speaks to us of love, harmony, peace and joy. An image that suggests the universal brotherhood of man. I have found that image, and I ask that all of you take a moment to be inspired by it.

Published in the TC Palm on 1/30/2007.
 

More rare than an Albino - forwarded by Don Bradbury

This photo is from Michigan. It is an all black white tail buck As far as we know it's not a fake, but none of us have ever heard of this before and it could easily be made up using Photoshop or something like that. If it is real, it would certainly be the trophy of trophy bucks!!

When Bicycle Helmets Make No Sense

New

New Address for home page

As part of our continuing enhancements to the Empty Jug website we have renamed the home page from http://www.emptyjug.org/index.htm  to http://www.emptyjug.org/index.asp .  This change is a programming issue that will allow us to do a lot more interactive stuff on the page.

Since you are reading this we know you found the new page.  We set up an automatic forward from the old address to bounce you here, but depending on your browser settings the automatic part may not have worked and you may have had to click on a link from the old page to get here.  Whether you have this set as your Home Page for when you start Internet Explorer (IE), or you have an icon or shortcut set to get to the Jug Home Page, you should redefine it to come to this new address.  To change your startup home page in IE just go to Tools, Internet Options and where it lists your Home Page, click on "Use Current".  To change a shortcut or desktop icon, right click on it, select "Properties", and where you see Index.htm, change the htm to asp.

 We apologize for this inconvenience, but you only have to do this once and we assure you the new functionality will be worthwhile.

Members

We are getting a good response to the Member registration, but very few members have yet tried posting or even replying to messages on the new Message Board in the Member's area.  Please go ahead and try this out.  It's painless if it works, and if it doesn't we need to know.

The Jug Website has a new Members area.

Regular visitors may have noticed that updates to this page have been few and far between over the holidays.  That's because I have been working on what will eventually be a complete remodeling of the site.  Today I'm opening up the first new section, the "Members" area.  There you will find a rudimentary new Bulletin Board, and a directory of names, addresses and phone numbers of many of the people who hang out at the Jug.

Access to the Member's area is controlled, so the information there is protected from Spammers and such.  There are two levels of access.  Anyone who can identify a photograph on the Guest Log In page can get in with "Guest" level permissions.  Once in as a Guest, anyone who is in the Jug database may register to become a full "Member". 

Right now the features available to Members are limited to the ability to add topics and replies to the bulletin board and to update their own contact information.  But he groundwork has been laid and more features will be added soon.  What I need now is live testing so I hope many of you will take a few minutes to log in and register as Members.  If you are successful, leave a note on the Bulletin Board; maybe you have a suggestion on how to make things easier to understand; maybe you can think of a feature you'd like to see added; whatever. 

This online database ASP programming is still new to me, and rather complicated. I'm sure many (most?) of you will run into errors and things that don't work.  Please email me if you can and tell me what you were doing and what the error message said.  Check back every few days and see what's new and what's been fixed.

Click on the word "Members" in the link list at left to begin. Thanks in advance for your help,  - Woody