Stupid Hats at the Royal Wedding

Gotta love what the Queen is sporting these days!!

Saturday Night Videos

I tend to stay up late on Saturday nights, chilling out after a long weeks of work with a couple of beers and listen to some great music. Nothing is more soothing to the soul than some great music. Here's where I can kick up my feet and relax. Anyways, this sharing my thoughts and introducing the music that I listen to could become a regular thing....

My first pick of the night is "The End" by the Doors from their debut album released in 1967. Jim Morrison's amazing poetry and baritone vocals always have given me the chills. His lyrics can become deep and meaningless, yet the provoke the mind. The tune starts off slow then it cascades to an apocalyptic Oedipal ending with shocking lyrics. I was stunned the first time I heard this tune...



If that didn't shock you. the next tune will..

Some of you maybe ready to break out your lava lamps and black velvet posters. The Rolling Stones went through their psychedelic/golden years in the late '60's and early '70's with albums like Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street. There wasn't much that could be wasted here, even the deep cuts were something to behold... "Jigsaw Puzzle" off of their Beggars Banquet album (released in 1968) set a tone further beyond the Beatles' bad boy imagine-with a huge amount of talent! No disrespect towards the Beatles-I love 'em! The Stones pushed the envelope of censorship, shocking people with their creativity... Yes, "Sympathy for the Devil" is on the same album.



I've been working on my DrewTube blog lately. It's a documentation of my album collection. Just started a couple of months ago. It's project in the works and will take years to finish...So far, I've gotten to Allmam Brothers Band. Yep, I've got that many albums and bootlegs. Here is the latest entry....Live from Austin City Limits...Unfortunately, I can't embedded from that show, but I'll leave you with "Ramblin' Man" from the House of Blues in 1995.



ENJOY!

"Mom Spam"

http://momspam.net/

Are any of you mothers out there receivng Mom Spam?
 

Happy Mother's Day!

This is a day for everyone to appreciate everything your Mom has done for you while you were growing up.

For me I know my Mom has been there for me all the time. She has been there more for me in the last nine years. This is since my ex-husband has walked out on my kids and I. I really appreciate the help she gave me. My kids and I love my Mom very much for all her help.

I told my boyfriend and my daughter I am on strike for Mother's Day. I am not cooking or cleaning. This is my day to relax and enjoy the day. I think every Mom should do this.

I also want to say to my Mom and to my boyfriend's Mom we love both of you very much and we miss you both.

                                        HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE MOM'S!♥

"Drunk Customer Fights Off Armed Robber"

Warning: don't try this at home. Remember, these videos are made by professional drunks and robbers.
 

Time Magazine "X"ed out Bin Laden

This is the 4th time in the history of Time Magazine® they have “X” out a criminal on the cover.

Very interest articles in the special edition if you get a chance to get a copy.



Copied from Time Magazine® without their permission.

Oldie

These guys formed their band in 1962. They had a one shot wonder Hit. For some reason it popped into my head, and yes, my sister had the album. I believe a few of them are still playing together, or were as of 1998 when they did a remake. Here is the original 96 tears.



Visually, this one is TOPS!

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Four for Fridays after long week of work. Overtime-sigh. Need the money though. Anyways, here are some random questions.

1) If you were mayor of this town (or where ever you live), what would be the first thing you would do in office?

2) What teacher do remember the most?

3) Do you consider yourself healthy?

4) Do you know CPR?

Enjoy your weekend!

GUNS GUNS GUNS

Even with the open carry law, it’s not just ok or not ok, there are many stipulations included, which I personally feel are good.

Open Blog - Friday

Wow, a sunflower growing out of a hat!

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Glass (Solar) Highways

This is a very interesting video. Talk about thinking outside the box!

Blood pressure. Can you control yours with a thought?

I was reading the responses to salt in your diet and blood pressure came up. I can control mine over a 15 range and have lowered it dramatically during shock treatment (not electro shock) after an accident. Say what? Okay, supposedly only monks, Hindu priests and other highly tuned to their body individuals can do this but surely not everyday man and woman. Not so. It's a trained response.

I read Dune by Frank Herbert at a young age and the Bein Gesserit mantras for reducing pain, fear and so forth made a certain sense. Take control through training. I tried various calming regimens and noticed that there was a difference. Once after a bad cycle accident and the EM staff told me my BP was way too high, I did the calming and made them recheck. They were amazed but wrote it off as a fluke. After my heart attack and I was being checked regularly, if it was too high or too low, I'd ask for a minute and then told them to recheck. The nurses always found it hard to believe and one time there were five nurses in the room observing just to see it happen as they had never seen control of BP before.

The only way I can describe how it works is an internal tightening or relaxing of my cardio system. I'm wondering if anyone else has managed to do this. I always hate being the only weird one. I'm still working on the levitation trick but to this day, no luck and the Madame isn't giving up her secrets.

"Eating less salt doesn't cut heart risks: study"

"(Reuters Health) - People who ate lots of salt were not more likely to get high blood pressure, and were less likely to die of heart disease than those with a low salt intake, in a new European study.

"The findings 'certainly do not support the current recommendation to lower salt intake in the general population,' study author Dr. Jan Staessen, of the University of Leuven in Belgium, told Reuters Health."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/03/us-eating-less-salt-doesnt-cut-heart-ris-idUSTRE7427AG20110503

Ha! Take that, my primary care doctor and all you others! I'm going to add salt to my pre-salted potato chips, just to make sure that I get my minimum daily requirement of salt for good heart health.
 

Put a Smile on Your Face

I had just come out of the store with two porterhouse steaks, a jumbo sausage, a bag of chips, and a 6-pack of beer. A homeless man sat there and said, "I haven't eaten for two days." I told him, "I wish I had your will power.

Top tip: if you're camping in the summer and the attractive girl in the next tent tells you that because it's so hot she will be sleeping with her flaps open, it's not necessarily an invitation to casual sex. Wish me luck.....I appear in court next Monday.

A fat girl served me food in McDonalds at lunch time. She said, 'sorry about the wait.' I said, 'don't worry fatty, you're bound to lose it eventually.'


I was behind a rather large woman at the checkout. She had on a pair of jeans that said, 'Guess.'
I said, "I don't know........maybe 350 pounds."

Snow in the forecast! The TV weather gal said she was expecting 8 inches tonight, I thought to myself "fat chance with a face like that!"

I have a new pick up line that works every time! It doesn't matter how gorgeous or out of my league a woman might be, this line is a winner and always end up in bed with them. Here's how it goes, "Excuse me love, could I ask your opinion? Does this damp cloth smell like chloroform to you?"

Years ago it was suggested 'that an apple a day kept the doctor away.' But since many doctors are now Muslim, I've found that a bacon sandwich works best.

I took my Biology exam last Friday. I was asked to name two things commonly found in cells. Apparently Blacks and Mexicans were not the correct answers.

Time changes everything..

I woke up this morning and looked out the window and I became amazed at what nature is capable of. Although I'm not a fan of winter, I am in awe of how much our environment can change in just a few months. So I thought I would post a couple of pictures taken in the last 4 months.


These pictures were taken withing the last 4 months.

Taken within the last two weeks....

And finally taken today.. May 4th 2011 (may the forth be with you.. )





I don't like where this is heading..

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my sentinels of spring! How are you? I think it’s beginning to warm up outside, but it’s hard to tell. One day I wear a light jacket, the next my winter coat is back on. The umbrella must be kept handy, along with the windshield ice scraper. In other words, just another typical spring. I was down on Pershing Drive Monday. Those humungous snow mountains have been reduced to remnants, to dirty little piles of soot, snow and ice.

I suppose I should comment on the death of Osama bin Laden, but the Martin Luther King, Jr. quote in Ms. sylvia’s blog below (http://www.jtirregulars.com/2011/05/i-mourn-loss-of-thousands-of-precious.html) sums up my feelings pretty well. In any case, those of us who inhabit the psychic realm understand that no life is ever “lost,” just transformed.

“The Kiwanis Club of Greater Racine will hold the 57th annual Pancake Day from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at Festival Hall, 5 Fifth St.” - http://www.journaltimes.com/app/calendar/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=23694&year=2011&month=05 Junior loves Pancake Day. He can eat like three men. I must admit, I find the food tasty, too. Raise you cholesterol for a good cause.

Sunday, May 8, is Mother’s Day. Please be sure to pay your respects to mothers everywhere.



Oh dear, now I’m all teary-eyed. I’m sorry if my blog seems a little clipped this week, my friends. I’ve had a long week and an especially long day. My relationship with Senor Zanza takes up more and more of my time. It’s a lot of fun, but I don’t recover from those late night antics like I used to. Oh my. Thank you for reading my blog and thank you for being you. I love you all.

Send your Osama bin Laden death conspiracy theories to: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Enjoy the beautiful days to come, my lovelies. May is prime time for plant performances. Remember, after April showers, now come May flowers. Watch out for the bicyclists and motorcyclists now sharing the roads with cars and trucks. There are a lot more pedestrians and runners out there, too. Thank you, again, for reading my blog. Dandiprat!
 

Open Blog - Wednesday

 

Hump day.  

Bad week(end) and then a rainbow

Had a trip to the VA ER Friday due to bad abdominal pains and got a speeding ticket on the way. The officer feigned deafness to my plight and made me sit there twenty extra minutes as she wrote a huge ticket. I honestly thought I had an inflamed appendix and the docs thought the same until Xrays showed normal old constipation due to the rat poison I need to take for the blood clot. I felt foolish as all heck, but the nurse at the Union grove VA clinic is the one that told me to go. So feeling like hell all weekend and looking at a huge fine, I wasn't looking forward to much of a week, that's when I got the email.

"Hey Huck, we want to come over Tuesday night and install the hoist." Wow, great news. You guys know I use a chair and live alone. What you don't know is that this progressive problem has made me weaker due to the ongoing nerve damage, and that weakness has made getting back into my chair alone a pretty much impossible effort. I had an idea about the beginning of January to adapt an old parachute harness to a Harbor Freight hoist and make a personal lift. The VA had already shot down a lift in my house because I live alone and they demand a second person to operate it and the liftee to be wrapped in a lift harness like a cocoon. Can't have anyone being independent ya know. Gosh they made noises of the house needed a track from the bedroom to the bath and all sorts of foolishness with the end cost of several thousands of dollars. Foolishness.

My idea was to redo an old parachute harness so I could put it on alone, and then lift myself with the hoist control and up into my chair. The HF hoist ran 140 due to my friends thinking we needed something heavy duty. uh, I weigh 190, don't need something that will lift an automobile engine... But what the heck, let em run with it. Mary is a rigger and she dug out old hardware and designed the harness with grab handles on the clip fasteners so I can pop them fairly easily. Seth mounted the hoist tonight where I told him and WHAMMO! We have a launch! Total cost for all materials was $180.00. Naturally if I paid for labor, I'd have put out a lot more, but this is SWEET. So what is the latest the VA says? "Oh, no one has ever done this! Take lots of pictures there is a need and you could sell a lot of them." Uhhhhhhh right. I'll probably put it all out in the public domain and let someone with much deeper pockets claim the design. I never wanted to be rich or famous, just want to keep my quality of life up. With this new hoist and harness it has been raised a good deal.

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Where is Mel Gibson when we need him......

I will state right off the bat that those of you that know me will remember that there is a side of me that is a full out tin foil hat Mel Gibson conspiracy theorist. And while I am glad that Usama (you say Osama, I say Usama..... lets call the whole thing off) has assumed room temperature, there are some strange things and conflicting information now coming out that ticked on my spidey sense.

What is below is a collection of that is floating around out there, plus inconsistencies coming out in the MSM of the US, Britian and al-Jazzera. I do not necessarily subscribe what is written below, but something doesn't smell right.

For instance, it first comes out that we have the body, then it's buried at sea because of Islamic tradition. But under Islamic law, people can only be buried at sea if they died there.

It first comes out on CNN that Pakistan know about this and helped out by letting us stage from their airbase in northern Pakistan. Then it comes out four hours later that Pakistan knew nothing about this and is upset that we went into their country to do the mission.

It comes out via ABC that they identified the body based on DNA testing taken from the brain of Usama's dead sister at Mass General. We cant get DNA testing from a crime lab for months, but they can do Usama's within a couple of hours? Then CNN states that the US used only facial imaging to confirm it was Bin Laden.

When we got to Saddam, and his sons there was photo and video evidence. All we see here is a burning building, and some locals dragging the helicopter (that was either shot down or had a mechanical issue, based on who is stating it)out of the area.

There are also claims that Bin Laden actually died 8 years ago either due to kidney failure, or a US bombing raid in the Tora Bora mountains.

One theory has it that the reason there was a kill instead of a capture (like Saddam) is that they got in there and had the wrong guy, and it was a kill 'em all and quick body dump.

In addition, why was there an American woman in the room when they got there, and why did she shield Bin Laden with her body?

And who were the others killed. Where are they?

Some are questioning the timing of this, with low poll numbers, highest ever gas prices and economic policy failures and the 2012 campaign right around the corner.

This will be interesting as it unfolds. Glad I went to Sam's club and got the mega roll of foil!

Open Blog - Monday

 

Have we used the above image before?  If so, it deserves another showing.  

Keynes Vs Hayek

If you don't get the jokes, you have no business arguing economic policy (that includes if you just said, "Keynes vs who?)

Happy May Day!

In Line at Piggly Wiggly

I went to "the Pig" yesterday. I picked up 5 or 6 items. When I got to the express lane (15 items or less), there was a guy ahead of me with a cart full of groceries. The checkout clerk didn't say anything and neither did I. Some people are just jerks.

After all the groceries were checked, the clerk asked the guy if he had a Pig card. He said yes, but not with him. She asked him for his name so she could look it up. He gave eight different names, each time the clerk looking it up and finding nothing. Then he said it must be in his girlfriend's name and he started giving women's names. This went on for awhile until he finally said, "Oh forget it."

Now it was time to pay. This, too, had to be an ordeal. The guy kept swiping different cards through the reader, but none of them worked. Then he got the clerk involved in swiping the cards. By now, the express lane line snaked down one of the store aisles. I said under my breath, but apparently loud enough to be heard, "Come on." The guy immediately said to me, "Fuck you!" When I said, "What?" He said, "You heard me."

The express lane is right by the service counter and I wasn't going to get into it with this jerk so I just called out for a manager to come to the express lane. Of course, the manager had just gone home and by the time anyone got over there, the guy had paid and left.

However, I was informed of some very interesting things. First, the store does not enforce the 15 items or less rule. They don't care. You can go through with a truckload of groceries. Second, I was told, and I quote exactly, "Anyone can say or do anything they want in America." This was in response to my mentioning the guy cursing at me. So I asked if it was OK for me to go through their store saying "Fuck you" to the customers. They said no, they would have me arrested.

Party on, PIG!
lolololol

Kindergarten Class From China

Tap on the Shoulder....

A true story from the pages of the Manchester Evening Times . . .

Last Wednesday a passenger in a taxi heading for Salford station leaned over to ask the driver a question and gently tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.

The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb and stopped just inches from a large plate window.

For a few moments everything was silent in the cab. Then, the shaking driver said "are you OK? I'm so sorry, but you scared the daylights out of me."

The badly shaken passenger apologized to the driver and said, "I didn'trealize that a mere tap on the shoulder would startle someone so badly."

The driver replied, "No, no, I'm the one who is sorry, it's entirely my fault.. Today is my very first day driving a cab. I've been driving a hearse for 25 years."

Have you gotten bit yet?

(picture thanks to National Geographic)

Have you gotten bit by the spring cleaning bug yet?

Common symptoms of such bites include but are not limited to -

- Unnatural urges to clean things that you'd rather not
- Strange compulsions to go thru things that aren't bothering you
- Need to evict of dust bunnies
-Abnormal inclination to go into great detail
while cleaning/organizing/sorting, etc
- Friends ask if you're feeling ok
- Kids and/or significant others look scared
- Friends are afraid to come over in fear they may catch it

No rashes are expected, but strange behavior is,
be careful out there, if you haven't been infected yet,
it could happen anytime!

If you have been bitten, hop to it, it's the only way to
flush it out of your system.

Morning Planets and the Crescent Moon

Last fall we had a nice gathering of four planets in the early evening sky. Now we have four planets gathering in the morning sky (but not the same four). The crescent Moon joined them this morning. I am on vacation in Florida and went out to the south side of the Sunshine Skyway to snap a some pictures. Here is the best of the bunch. It's a big file...I uploaded it at full res (you will see why).

Venus is the brightest one beneath the moon. Jupiter is just above the horizon and fairly bright. To find Mercury, you will probably need to click the photo and view it full size. You can find Mercury between Venus and Jupiter. It's not hard to find with the full size photo. Mars is really tricky. Use the full size photo and look just above Jupiter for a little smudge. That is Mars just barely poking through the morning twilight (I did not see it naked eye, just with the camera).

These planets will be hanging out together for most of May. Mercury and Jupiter will get a little farther away from the Sun each morning until May 7th when Mercury will turn around and start heading back toward the Sun while Jupiter continues to get higher in the sky each morning. Mars will also continue its slow climb away from the Sun. Venus is moving toward the Sun. With these movements, its clear that there will be several close encounters between planets in our morning sky in the coming weeks.

Uranus is to the upper right of Venus technically making this a five planet gathering, but that would take at least a good pair of binoculars to tease out.

Part of the problem is that the ecliptic (the plane along which the planets lie) makes a very shallow angle with the horizon this time of year in the morning sky. Therefore the planets are low in the sky even when they are relatively far away from the Sun. This low elevation makes them more difficult to observe. If you travel down to the southern hemisphere, the ecliptic makes a much steeper angle with respect to the horizon so all the planets appear higher in the sky and are easier to see. Steven Graham of Christchurch, New Zealand, took a pic of the four planets yesterday morning and posted it in the Spaceweather.com gallery. Trace a line connecting the planets and notice the difference in angles between Florida and New Zealand, the obvious result of living on a (roughly) spherical planet.

As Leondard Nimoy famous said in the Simpsons, "Ah, the cosmic ballet continues".

Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.

Prince William and Kate Middleton married

Prince William and Kate Middleton married in Westminster Abbey on Friday as 1 million people packed the streets and an estimated 2 billion more tuned in around the world to witness an event expected to revitalize the British monarchy.

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Four for Fridays. I want to thank Orbs for filling in for me last week. I think he did great! Now that I'm back, here are some questions for you...

1) When was the last time you saw a play?

2) What is your favorite flower?

3) What is the snack of your choice?

4) Do you dream in color or in black and white?

Enjoy your weekend!

"Existential Star Wars (In French)"

I am laughing my ass off, except that I don't have an ass. Therefore, my laughter does not exist.
 

Open Blog - Friday

Oh yeah!

The Mighty Root is Full

I did get a couple pictures of a Blue Heron feeding along the river edge and a couple geese.

Water level is next to flood level, I would say it has a couple more feet to go to become a problem, but it is moving right along!

Assisted suicide

In the news is a Gal that has been selling suicide kits for $60. Cheap! Included in her kit is the book, "The Final Exit." Great book. Back in 1994 I was given a year to live due to a terrible cancer. Someone gave me that book. I'm a fighter and fought hard. I had two thoracic surgeries, chemo and rad, and when all seemed at the end, I told my Docs I was going on vacation, and went. The plan was to do my last vacation and finish my exit when I got home. I'm glad I went on vacation instead of pulling my plug too early as I went into remission. The Docs now say I can use the word "Cured." Before all the Thumpers start praising their gods, let it be known I'm an Atheist and have been one for fifty years.

The secondary problems caused by the intensive cancer remedies are causing their own problems and someday I will use the Final Exit. I live life on my terms though and would NEVER bow out due to depression. Life is always full of surprises and we never know what tomorrow might bring. That's why I'm still around. Through the pain, discomfort, heart attacks and other problems, my curiosity always has wondered, "What will happen tomorrow?"

A few weeks ago I was informed a good skydiving buddy, JJ, had pulled his plug. I asked what the med prob had been and was told no med prob, it had been depression. Mary was shocked at my vehemence over JJ's exit. I'm sorry Orbs, but I do NOT forgive the use of suicide to relieve depression. I too fight depression, but realize that tomorrow might be so interesting that today's depression is forgotten. I'm not saying I won't ever go the route of letting myself out the door, in fact my close friends know that if I have a stroke caused by the blood clot I'm currently fighting, I'm gone. I just can't see sitting warehoused in a nursing home as a stroked paraplegic. At that point there aren't anymore tomorrows that would interest me. Until then the book is on the shelf and the ice cream in my freezer.

Shampoo Warning:

I figured out why I have been gaining weight.

The shampoo I use in the shower that runs down my body says......"for more volume & extra body".

So now, I am going to switch to Dawn dishwashing liquid. It says....."dissolves fat that is otherwise difficult to remove".

So glad I figured this all out.

INCREDIBLE. Man struck by lightning 2x and walks away

This has to be a fake, but it's a good one.
 

Arvo Pärt - "Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten"

Sorry for the depressing video, but I think the music is beautiful and haunting. I just "discovered" Arvo Pärt thanks to Colorado Public Radio: http://www.cpr.org/
 

Lend a hand??

Hey there

I am wondering if you could help me out. I know you all have a wealth of knowledge and many connections  I write a column for Mount Pleasant/Sturtevant Patch called Knowsy Neighbor. It is a character piece really...human interest...short bio thingy. The subject simply has to work, live or volunteer in Mount Pleasant or Sturtevant. They don’t need to be a well known – or known at all. They don’t need to own a business or hold a community office. Just regular people. Our neighbors. Everyone has a story or something to share – that’s my belief anyway. Sooo...I am searching for people to interview.

It is super easy. All by email if possible, but I can also meet with them or do it over the phone. I ask a few questions and then start writing. If I need follow-up info I simply email them. The story will then run on a Tuesday and I will email them the link. I will also need a picture to go with the piece. That’s it!!

If you could get the message out and/or let me know of some people who you think may fit the bill – I would be forever grateful!!

Please let me know and have a great day!!

Heather Rayne Geyer

http://mountpleasant.patch.com/

cheers44@hotmail.com
 

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my sonorous songbirds! How are you? Have you been watching the crocus and daffodils and early tulips pop out of the ground? Trees and shrubs are budding. The grass is greening and the weeds are making their annual appearances, too. What a glorious relief from the wicked ways of winter. Spring forth, noble plants!

Here is an AP headline from a few days ago: “Gypsies take refuge in ancient Rome church.”
Here is the article: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gUFV_ERE2nmxUfHYTpjvd-oESGag?docId=f3fe33f7bdef4ae19107dbe3d28099d7
Here are my thoughts: Roma. Rome. Always to roam. When will my people be free?

For those of you with inquiring minds, yes, I did meet with Senor Zanza. Out of respect for him, I have decided not to publicly discuss our “affairs” at this point in time. (But I must let my dear Irregulars know: oh my!)

On our city’s home front, I want to make note of the controversy surrounding Great Lakes Brew Fest, the Kilties, VenuWorks, and the City of Racine: http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/article_fc8663ea-6f96-11e0-8db1-001cc4c002e0.html Oh my, indeed. A blog or two ago, I said I was sure that some sort of amicable agreement would be worked out in this situation, but I am no longer convinced. The vibes have changed. It is not yet clear what exactly is going on, but, again, some bad mojo seems to be at work. Deal with the devil and you will get burned. I can’t imagine Racine without the Kilties. At what point do we say to our politicians, enough is enough? I will try to decipher more on what is happening here and keep the Irregulars posted.

Also on the local beat, Racine’s Police Chief Kurt Wahlen announced his retirement: http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/article_f1a68f2e-6f8a-11e0-b2b0-001cc4c002e0.html Thank you, Chief Wahlen, for your many, many years of service to our city. I predict a long and happy retirement for you.

Well, I’m quite the reporter today, aren’t I, hopping from news story to news story. Here’s a final one I have to comment on. From Reuters: “Members of Kyrgyzstan's divided parliament slaughtered seven rams before their morning session on Thursday, in a sacrifice they hope will banish ‘evil spirits’ disrupting their work.” http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/21/us-kyrgyzstan-sacrifice-idUSTRE73K57H20110421 Ha ha, good luck, you fools. I see you took Esmerelda’s advice instead of mine. Of course, hers was cheaper, as your results will be. When you want me to straighten out the mess, let me know.

Thank you one and all for reading my blog today. I had a wonderful time writing it and I hope that you enjoyed reading it. Blogging for the JT Irregulars is the highlight of my week. I so look forward to spending time with you.

Psst, Kyrgyzstan: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Enjoy the spring my dears. I love you all. Remember, “April showers bring May flowers.” And the Mayflower brought the pilgrims. Oh my. Pelmatogram!

Open Blog - Wednesday

Ladies and gentlemen, the King of Rock 'n' Roll!

Gas and Spending

I Owe My Mother So Much

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
" Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONIST.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA ...
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13.. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION .
"Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
"You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

And my favorite:

25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE .
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

I just learned to Text Message!

"Looney Tunes 3D - 'Coyote Falls'"

A Road Runner cartoon from occasional contributor Cynthia, who wrote, "Always felt sorry for the stupid coyote - always so near and yet so far."



I can't watch those cartoons for too long. They remind me of my life. :-P
 

a girl in the park

REVISED

NO

REMOVED

SORRY IF I OFFENDED ANYONE...

Rio Got the Sunrise Backwards

Those of us who really know the sky notice little things in movies and television shows that might just slide past most people. I saw the movie Rio yesterday and noticed they had a little issue with sunrise.

Sunrise is a little different when you are south of the equator. First, let's take a look a a northern hemisphere sunrise. I am biased, I live in the northern hemisphere. Here is a time lapse of a sunrise in Vancouver.

This is a nice (but random) video I found on Youtube. Notice how the Sun does not rise straight up, but rather up and to your right (south) when looking east. Now let's contrast that to a sunrise taken from Rio (isn't youtube grand?)

Note how the Sun rises in the east and moves to your left (north) when you are in Rio! As you have probably figured out by now, the time lapse sunrise they showed in the movie Rio showed the Sun moving up and to the right (south)as it would north of the equator.

Sometimes movie and television producers get lazy and will film a sunset and run it backwards to illustrate a sunrise. That's not so good either. When the Sun sets in the northern hemisphere, it sets down and to the right (north). If you run this backwards, the Sun will appear to rise up and to the left (again north since the Sun rises in the east) which suddenly transports all the action to the southern hemisphere!

I know some people might think I am nit-picking a movie about talking birds and my expectations for accurate science shouldn't be too high. But would it have killed a major plot point for them to get this one right? For sky watchers, these things jump out at us. So just get it right for crying out loud!

Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.

Jersey Shores Gone Wilde!

Oscar Wilde was known for writing comedies of manners and you could argue that Jersey Shore is a modern comedy of manners (or lack thereof). So it only seemed natural that the cast of the Roundabout Theater's production of the Importance of Being Earnest would dramatize transcripts from Jersey shore. Here is part 1.



You can find part one as well as the rest of the thrilling series here.

Open Blog - Monday

The same to youuuuuuuu!

"Snake Removed From Car's Engine "

Darn. It would hsve been nice to post this before Beejay left on her trip. Were her and Biggie D driving?

Hola, JT Irregulars!

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Renifor Zanza. I have studied extensively the science of the mind, the thoughts, the emotion, the seemingly random acts that propel us through the living world and subsequently lead us into the darkest of places that follow.

Some choose the term psychic, instead I choose to refer to my skills as psychikos for my area of expertise, which derives itself more from the ancient terminology. I was born with this gift that has come to me from lives before and deep within my family history.

When I learned of the turmoil surrounding your sublime Madame Zoltar: the potential thievery and scam, and her possible leave of absence from your website, I contacted The JT Irregulars to offer my services. A lovely blogger sent off an invitation to visit (telepathically) and browse through your auras. After scanning the group, I find this cohesive team to be very interesting, indeed!

Of recent, I am receiving a tumult of emotional vibrations from the renowned Madame Zoltar. She appears to have conflicting thoughts and fatigue that may require a brief respite, perhaps a long cruise to the Azure Sea?

Your surrounding environs has recently been under undo extreme of politics, budget restraints, job loss, and sorry to say, future blight. These assaults can alter ones thoughts and dreams and cause constant transmission of negative waves - - of which you may not even be aware. Perhaps, by caring for so many bloggers thoughts, the madame could be suffering some burn-out, which frequently happens to those of us who are constantly on call.

While I never would presume to take over for the splendid, jovial, eloquent (and might I be bold enough to say beautiful?) Madame Z., I humbly offer to assist, on a temporary basis, wherever I can. Of course, my fees would be waived or greatly reduced in the case of extreme or prolonged need.

While I prefer the name Senor Zanza, you can refer to me as Renifor, if you wish. I feel as if I already know you all personally!

Faux Four for Fridays

In today's Open Blog, drewzepmeister said he's having computer problems and is headed up north for Easter weekend, so he didn't post a Four for Fridays blog. I miss it. So, I'm taking it upon myself to post four random questions in a feeble effort to fill in for drew.

1) What city/area has the best climate for living?

2) If you had to choose between being fantastically wealthy, but sickly, or permanently poor, but healthy, which would you choose?

3) How old were you when you first fell in love?

4) How many credit cards do you own?

Have a great weekend, everybody!

"Trick Shot Doc"

Gee, I wish my doc was like Trick Shot Doc.
 

Open Blog - Friday

Some of us will have a Good Friday.

Shut Down Racine Unified for One Year!

Shut down Racine Unified for one year! What would be the pros and cons, would the cons out way the pros?

Unified is looking to cut expenses. They have some crazy ideas so this is my crazy idea; SHUT IT DOWN FOR A YEAR!

Pros:
Save money on wages.
Continues to pay heath insurance.
Building maintenance would be greatly reduced.
Use the wage money to “fix up” the school buildings.
NO loss of seniority!

Cons:
Every teacher in the city would want to kill me!
Loss of income for families, except for unemployment.
Tax base reduced for the city, less money taken in.
Loss of domestic product sales within the city.

This is just a few, I’m sure there are more for both sides.

So how many of you think I'm nuts?

EASTER!

I know I am writing this early. The reason for this is we may be going up north tomorrow to spend the Holiday with my boyfriend's family and my family. I just wanted to make sure that I had this posted for everyone.

Easter is the central feast in the Christian Liturgical year. It is told in the gospel that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Sunday.

Easter marks the end of Lent. Lent is a forty day fasting, prayer and penance. The last week of Lent is called Holy Week. This contains Good Friday, Commemorating the Crucifixion and the Death of Jesus. The Lamb is a used for a sign of the Crucifixion.

Easter is a movable feast. This means it is not a fixed date in the relation to the civil calendar. It occurs in the Spring in March or April. The method to determine the date for Easter Sunday is complex, based on the lunisolar calendar. 

Easter customs vary across the christian world. By decorating eggs, egg hunts, the Easter Bunny. Customs like the egg hunt and the Easter Bunny extend from the domain of Church.

Sun rise service is in reflect to the gospel account of the woman coming to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week. The tradition to sun rise service use to take place in the church cemetery, yard or at a nearby park.

Easter has extended beyond church. Such customs as Easter games, outfits, egg rolling, decorating eggs. Today's date Easter is commercially important with wide sales of greeting cards, chocolate eggs and bunnies, marshmallow eggs and bunnies, jelly beans, filling the Easter baskets and hiding the eggs and baskets. 

I think a lot of people forgot the reason for Easter Sunday lately. That is why I am writing this post. I am not a very big church going person but I do believe in Jesus. I just hope nobody does take any offense in this I am not trying to hurt anyone in anyway. I just thought I would post something about Easter Sunday.

Get the Lead Out

Another City of Racine-NSP home positive for lead-VIDEO

Lead Abatement	Johnson, Fred	608-266-1252	dhsasbestoslead@wisconsin.gov
Lead Certification	Bruce, Shelley	608-267-0928	dhsasbestoslead@wisconsin.gov
Lead Free / Lead Safe Property Registry	Johnson, Fred	608-266-1252	dhsasbestoslead@wisconsin.gov
Lead Hazard Reduction	Schirmer, Joe	608-266-5885	Joseph.Schirmer@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Lead Health Effects	Coons, Margie	608-267-0473	Marjorie.Coons@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Lead Inspection	Schirmer, Joe	608-266-5885	Joseph.Schirmer@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Lead Investigators	Johnson, Fred	608-266-1252	dhsasbestoslead@wisconsin.gov
Lead Poisoning, Adult	Lins, Meredith	608-266-0197	Meredith.Lins@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Lead Poisoning, Children	Coons, Margie	608-267-0473	Marjorie.Coons@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Lead Registry	Johnson, Fred	608-266-1252	dhsasbestoslead@wisconsin.gov
Lead Regulation	Schirmer, Joe	608-266-5885	Joseph.Schirmer@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Lead Risk Assessment	Schirmer, Joe	608-266-5885	Joseph.Schirmer@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Lead Testing, Adults	Lins, Meredith	608-266-0197	Meredith.Lins@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Lead Testing, Children	Coons, Margie	608-267-0473	Marjorie.Coons@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Lead Training Classes	Bruce, Shelley	608-267-0928	dhsasbestoslead@wisconsin.gov
Lead Training Course Accreditation	Bruce, Shelley	608-267-0928	dhsasbestoslead@wisconsin.gov
Lead, Elevated Blood Lead Investigations	Coons, Margie	608-267-0473	Marjorie.Coons@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Lead, Exposure During Pregnancy	Lins, Meredith	608-266-0197	Meredith.Lins@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Lead, General Information	Schirmer, Joe	608-266-5885	Joseph.Schirmer@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Lead, Schools	Schirmer, Joe	608-266-5885	Joseph.Schirmer@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Lead-Safe Work Practices	Johnson, Fred	608-266-1252	dhsasbestoslead@wisconsin.gov
Lead-Safe Work Training Classes	Bruce, Shelley	608-267-0928	dhsasbestoslead@wisconsin.gov

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/lead/

Billy Idol - "Eyes Without A Face"

One of my favorites.
 

מופיע מדהים של איזון וכוח

"Absolute Balance" was the title of the email that contained a link to the above video. I don't know if that's what the title of this blog means - I copied that from the video's YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJrzIdDUfT4&vq In any case, wow!