Collaborators

Went to a birthday party today at a hall that specializes in parties for kids. Had to pay the attendant for parking but it was only a dollar. I always put my anti-theft device (The Club) on my vehicle because you just never know. My thinking (right or wrong) is that a thief would go after a car that he could steal quickly over one that he would have to work at a little. Anyway, to make a long story short, after the party the aunt and uncle of the birthday girl went out to the parking lot and found that their car had been stolen. Of course the attendant didn't see anything suspicious. I think the attendant was in cahoots with whoever stole the car. Then again, he might have just been sleeping on the job.

MI 4?

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- A Pennsylvania animal hospital has been sued by a couple who had brought their dog in to be euthanized but later found out it had been given away. Dana and Gary Ganyer said they had decided to have their 2-year-old German shepherd Annie put to sleep on 2005 because of an ailment that caused frequent and debilitating seizures. But instead, they claimed, the Mill Pond Veterinary Clinic in Milford, Pa., gave her a sedative that made her appear dead and later gave her to a new owner. The lawsuit, which was recently filed in Bucks County, alleges a former clinic employee told them they were considered heartless and that the clinic had devised a plan to "rescue" the dog. Dana Gayner said she's "totally torn up" that a vet could do such a thing. The new owner later had Annie euthanized after she lapsed into a coma-like state.

Panhandlers

The city I live in recently created a law that makes it illegal for a driver of a vehicle to give money to a person standing in a median or roadway who may be asking for loose change. The city believes this law will get these individuals off the roadways because they create a traffic hazard and are endangering themselves. The city already had a law that made panhandling illegal but I guess that didn't solve the problem. So now they are going after the people who give them money. Like this is really going to solve the problem now.

Mercy

DALLAS -- A 21-year-old is in jail Thursday morning charged in the torture death of the 10-month-old puppy, Mercy, who was stabbed, doused with gasoline and set on fire and died Sunday after several surgeries. DeShawn Brown was arrested shortly after midnight in Corinth, nearly two weeks after Mercy's tortured body was found in a wooded area April 14. Brown is accused of stabbing the 10-month-old pit bull mix, dousing her with gasoline and setting her body on fire. He is accused of animal cruelty, a felony that could carry a sentence of up to 10 years.

Mercy was taken to Carrollton animal shelter Operation Kindness for emergency surgery. Despite numerous emergency surgeries, she died days later. "I think all personnel in this are quite relieved to have a man in custody due to the cruelty of this crime," Sgt. Roger Patterson said. "It's cruel and it's evil, and it takes an evil person to do that ... and there's no reason for them to do that," Rock Creek pet owner Lachelle Duvall said.

There is a public memorial service to remember Mercy this Saturday at 10 a.m. at Operation Kindness. It was originally a private memorial, but so many viewers have asked about a service that the shelter has decided to make it public so everyone could attend.

But we all know he will never get incarcerated for 10 years no matter how heinous the crime was. Mercy was only a dog and no jury in their right mind would assess such a penalty in defense of an animal. I don't necessarily think that is fair but I think it is true.

American Idol for April 26, 2006

I'm thinking...Adios Kellie Pickler. Actually, I think she should have been booted off the show last week instead of Ace.

24 Day 5 : 1:00AM - 2:00AM

Is it just me or did they handle Aaron Pierce's sudden disappearance badly. It almost seemed like they forgot about that plot line and made something up at the last minute. If he's gone for good, I would have liked to have seen him take out a few bad guys beforehand. Or maybe he's just tied up in a store room and will return to save Martha later. Again. (I hope)

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

Cassette Tapes

When I was (a lot) younger, I remember when I liked a song on the radio and wanted it, I would load a cassette in my tape recorder and patiently wait for it to come on. When it finally did, I would push record and most of the time, the DJ was always talking at the beginning, and almost always I missed the first few seconds of the song. Now, all you have to do is search the internet for your favorite song and download the MP3 or subscribe to iTunes or something similar. Now, the complaint isn't "when are they going to play the song" but instead deals with the cost of the MP3 and bandwidth issues.

Baby and Her Electric Car

Baby got a Dora The Explorer battery powered 4 Wheeler for her birthday which she loves to ride around on. We were at a park this afternoon and she was cruising along the bike path. Her only problem is getting the thing to go in a straight line. She likes to look at things around her so she could be staring at a squirrel off to the left and her finger is still on the power button causing her to run off the path. She will make a perfect woman driver some day. ; )

Gas Pump Shock

And I thought I had it bad when I paid $57.00 to fill up my tank with gasoline.

Burger King Commercials

Is it just me, or is anyone else creeped out by the King in the Burger King commercials? It's not the size of his head that bothers me because I don't have a problem with Mr. Box. I guess it's the face or the constant smile on it. I would not want to meet up with him in a dark alley. Mr. Box would be ok and so would Dave from the Wendy's commercials. Oh wait, as long as Dave isn't some gory looking, walking dead, zombie. And the talking oven mitt from Arby's wouldn't be scary in a dark alley but forget about Ronald McDonald. I'm not too fond of clowns.

Shaking Things Up

Will the restructuring effort of new Chief of Staff Bolten really help Bush's sagging approval ratings? I actually liked Scott McClellan who served as White House spokesman but he resigned today. On the other hand, I don't care much for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld but it seems he gets to keep his job for the time being. I don't know...I don't feel my confidence rising yet.

Nuclear Technology

President Bush refused on Tuesday to rule out nuclear strikes against Iran if diplomacy fails to curb the Islamic Republic's atomic ambitions. He wants to keep all options on the table. If the United States decides to use their nuclear arsenal on Iran, they would surely get a crash course in nuclear technology. Seeing that the U.S. is the only country that has ever used nuclear weapons against a civilian population, it surprises me that reporters keep asking the same question: Are you prepared to use nuclear strikes to blah, blah, blah. Of course the U.S. is ready to use nuclear weapons. The military has spent billions of dollars on atomic technology and creating and stock piling weapons of mass destruction. They are just itching to push the button and get something out of their dollar. Looking for the right candidate to vaporize. But any conflict will start out conventionally. When diplomacy fails, then the military wheels start turning. And when the aggressor is stretched to its limits and cannot sustain the conflict any longer, then nuclear weapons will be deployed and unleashing the horrors of offensive nuclear technology. I don't want to be witness to that. So, which is really the sharpest: the pen or the sword?

Tied Up

When I was in the first grade, I remember my teacher tying me to my chair with jump ropes because I was being too fidgety. Boy, times have changed.

NEW YORK -- A school bus driver is being charged with using electrical tape and seat belts to tie down a 7-year-old girl he claimed was acting up. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Edwidge Jean picked up the girl from school on the afternoon of April 4. During the ride to the girl's home, Jean allegedly used two seat belts to strap her to her seat and tape to tie her crossed wrists. The 52-year-old bus driver said the girl was being unruly. Prosecutors didn't say if anyone else was on the bus or if the girl was hurt. Jean was arraigned Tuesday night and released on his own recognizance. He's charged with unlawful imprisonment, harassment and endangering the welfare of a child. He could face up to a year in jail if convicted.

What Baby Is Thinking

Oooo. Look at that. I think that's a quarter. So shiny and smooth. I'm going to stick it in my mouth. Wait. Look at that thing. I think that's a hair brush. Look! I'm brushing my hair. Now I'm going to stick this in my mouth. Wow. I got Dad's remote control. I'm going to push the buttons and drive him crazy. Then I'm going to stick it in my mouth.

Making Change

I went into a convenience store and bought a soda. It cost me $1.07. I gave the lady $20.02. She gave me $19.00 in change. I was a nice guy so I looked at her with my hand still held out with the bills in it. She noticed my look and with a defensive tone she said "you gave me 3 pennies and I entered $20.03". I told her I only gave her 2 pennies and that she needs to take a dollar back and give me .95 cents. She repeated that I gave her 3 pennies while taking the dollar back and giving me my change. I left and wondered how people can work for a business and not know basic math to make change. This happens to me a lot at fast food joints where there are mainly high school students working. It still amazes me that they make wrong change but now I keep the extra money instead of correcting them because I've been f***** too many times in the drive through. So there.

May I Suggest A New (insert part here)...

I took my vehicle into the dealership this morning to get some required maintenance done. Today, it only required an oil change and a thorough inspection of some key components. It wouldn't take too long so I waited and passed the time away by browsing the new cars. That's when the service advisor found me and said I needed a new air filter. This is my point: I cannot remember a time when I have brought my vehicle in for some minor service and *NOT* be told that I needed something else. Today it was an air filter and I did have it replaced because the last time I was there, they told me I needed a new filter and I declined seeing that I had replaced it a short time before. I paid $20 for the replacement.

I call this nickel-and-diming by the dealership. They get you there with these scheduled maintenance hassles and then try to sell you extras to increase their sales numbers. Additives and filters and such have a high profit margin for them, I am guessing. You know, they have never told me that I needed to replace my wipers even though I know I need to get new ones. I went to the parts department and picked up two wiper blades for $8. Must be a low profit margin item.

Yikes!

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida's newest problem is a creepy one, and it is roughly the circumference of a telephone pole. It has no toes. It snacks on rabbits. And it's growing in number and in feet: the Burmese python. Florida Everglades National Park biologist Skip Snow said last year they caught 95 pythons. That's not counting the 13-footer that exploded after trying to eat an alligator, or two others that got loose and ate a Siamese cat and a turkey. To keep the problem from sliding further out of control, state Rep. Ralph Poppell wants to add Burmese pythons to Florida's list of regulated reptiles. His bill could force python buyers to complete state training, buy a license and face jail time if they let their snakes loose. Overwhelmed with pets that eat more than they do, python owners decide to release their snakes into the wild. It's so common in the Everglades that there's even a python hot line. And there the Asian natives breed and find a comfortable home in the Everglades' water, heat and vegetation. They have no predators. The bill is being heard in committees on both sides.

Hump Day

Well, the week so far has not been as bad as I thought it would be. Monday started out hectic but once I put out all the fires it was alright. Yesterday was pretty much normal and today is normal as normal can be. Since I have Friday off I just have to get through tomorrow and then I can look forward to a long weekend. Woo Hoo! Hump Day...I wish they would bring back Beavis and Butt Head. Sigh.

Driving

I don't understand why it is so difficult for some drivers to comprehend what a center turn lane is and how to use it. Sometimes when I see a car with their left turn blinker on, stopped in my lane waiting to turn, I get this urge to pass them on their left in the center turn lane because I can't get around them on the right because of parked cars. But I don't do that. I just wait behind them and stew.

2005 Taxes

I have got to review my return today and fax to Deloitte my signed Form 8453. This year they are cutting it close. I have never sent my taxes this late. Never. Hope 24 is exciting tonight. Oh, and what are the odds of having two "weeks from Hell" back to back?

Another Sunday at Wal-mart

I only had 11 items to buy so I went to the Express Checkout. Limit of 20 items. The lady in front of me easily had double that amount. Why didn't the Checker say something? Why didn't I say something?

Saturdays

I like Saturdays. Get to sleep in a little if Baby doesn't want to play. Get to relax and not think about work. Now if my allergies would just calm down it would be even better. I still like Saturdays.

Razor Cut

Eggs

How does an egg company make their hens lay more nutritious and flavorful eggs? I always thought that one egg was pretty much the same to another egg. While I'm pondering this, I ask another question: what makes an egg shell brown?

Billboard Ads

Why do marketing people still insist on printing an ad for a roadway billboard in reverse? Way back in the dark ages it was an eye catcher, and it still is in a negative sort of way for me, and people would think 'boy that's clever' and go out and buy the car that's advertised. Nowadays it just irritates me. I think 'boy that's dumb' and don't even give the billboard a second thought. Except to stew over some marketing guru's brain fart.

Post Office

I waited in line at the post office yesterday for 28 minutes. This was at 5:30 PM and I would think it's the "people getting off of work" rush and that management would plan for that. There were only two windows open to serve these customers. Oh, there were a couple of windows where a postal worker was sitting at but they were doing more important things like counting money or restocking their stamp drawer. A couple of times workers came out from the warehouse area to see the long line of people waiting.

But what burns me the most are the people who get to the window and they have nothing ready. They don't know what service they want to use. They don't know if they have to have a return address on their package. They don't know if they should insure their package. The list goes on and on but all these things take up time. And let's say someone chooses to insure their package and they need to fill out a form. Those inDUHviduals get to stand there and fill out whatever needs filling out while the rest of us are waiting patiently. I think they should have to go to the end of the line and wait their turn again. Maybe this is why there are so many signs stating that guns are not allowed on the premises? Heavens forbid if a customer should go "postal".

Excellent

Woo Hoo!! Homer you're the man! Even if you forget your lines sometimes. The "BIG" announcement on The Simpsons last night was for The Simpsons Movie due in theaters July 27, 2007. I'm there and I can't wait although I'll probably be seeing the movie alone since my wife cannot stand the show. And if the buzz is right, maybe Milhouse will win an Oscar.

Beer and Identification

So my wife and I are in Walmart this afternoon and I was purchasing a twelve pack of beer among other things. My wife was waiting at the end of the checkout counter where the plastic bag carousel is to put the bagged items into our cart. The lady at the checkout notices her when she scans the beer and asks for my wife's identification. I say that's unusual since I'm the one buying the beer. She says she still needs to check my wife's ID. WTF is up with that? If my kids or friends were with us would they ask for their IDs also? If I had also decided to buy cigarettes would they do the same thing? I felt like arguing the point with her but as usual there was a long line and I didn't want to upset the nice folks behind me. But again I ask WTF??

Tamagotchi

Do you remember those? A little hand held device shaped like an egg with an LCD display? An alien or something hatches and your job is to feed it and play with it so it can grow up. I had one of the originals and was amused with it. The reason I bring it up is because my daughter asked for one last week. I didn't even realize they were still around. It seems that the Tamagotchi has evolved a little since the one I purchased many years ago.

So, being the frugal person that I am, I dug up my old Tamagotchi and gave it to my daughter. The first thing she asked me was where is the antennae for the wireless connection? Wireless connection? Just feed the thing and play with it until it grows up and goes away, I tell her. Even though it is not one of the newer high-tech versions, she really enjoys playing with it. I guess I'll break down and buy her a new one for her birthday. That way, I can play with my old one. ;)