LIFE IN THESE UNITED STATES: October 2007

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Religious Tolerance

For myself, not art and I think it is in poor taste. However, if one is to protest such religious "art" then do so peacefully and without violence:

Piss Christ is a controversial photograph by American photographer Andres Serrano. It depicts a small plastic crucifix supporting the body of Jesus Christ submerged in a glass of the artist's urine. The piece was a winner of the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art's "Awards in the Visual Arts" competition,[1] which is sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a United States Government agency that offers support and funding for artistic projects.
The piece caused a scandal when it was exhibited in 1989, with detractors accusing Serrano of blasphemy and others raising this as a major issue of artistic freedom. On the floor of the United States Senate, Senators Al D'Amato and Jesse Helms expressed outrage that the piece was supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, since it is a federal taxpayer-financed institution.
Sister Wendy Beckett, an art critic, consecrated virgin and Catholic nun, voiced her approval of Piss Christ. She explained in a television interview with Bill Moyers that she regarded the work as a statement on "what we have done to Christ" - that is, the way contemporary society has come to regard Christ and the values he represents.[2]
Serrano produced other similar works to much less controversy; Madonna and Child II (1989), for example, in which the subject is similarly submerged in urine, is not nearly as well known as "Piss Christ".
Piss Christ is often used as a test-case for the idea of freedom of speech, and was described in the journal Arts & Opinion as "a clash between the interests of artists in freedom of expression on the one hand, and the hurt such works may cause to a section of the community on the other."[3]
Some have claimed that Piss Christ violated Separation of church and state. [1], [2], [3].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1248/is_3_93/ai_n13487143
http://reversevampyr.blogspot.com/2006/02/piss-christ-vs-cartoon-jihad.html

Cookies for the Holidays...

Happy Halloween from Bazooka Joe

My sister's dog. He is two years old.

The Five Year Itch

I think that it takes two to tango per se. WHY IS IT THAT A WOMAN WORKING OUTSIDE OF THE HOME IS TO BLAME??????????????????????????

Men and NOT JUST women should be blamed for this issue. I think also today's marriages fail because the couples are not willing to really dig in and take care of pertinent issues regarding their commitment. They want a quick fix but some times it can take longer than say a conversation............to solve whatever issue is going on. I believe in couple therapy and also dating your partner even AFTER marriage. Marriage takes WORK....is not always fun. It means being there through the good times and bad. WHY do men and women think that their problems can be solved in the span of a sitcom "hour?" Marriage is a partnership not always laying blame like some two year old child!!!!!!!!!

LONDON — Been married for five years? Then watch out. A new study has found that married couples are at their greatest risk of divorcing just before their fifth anniversary.
The study, from researchers at the renowned Max Planck Institute in Germany, suggests that couples grow bored with each other far sooner than in the 1950s, when the dangerous time known as "the seven-year itch" inspired a movie starring Marilyn Monroe.

These days, women in particular are more likely to pursue careers and to become disenchanted with married life much earlier than they used to. (Hmmm...what about the men?????????????????????? Are they not to be held partly accountable???)

The findings emerged in a study of divorce trends in the United States, Russia and the Scandinavian countries.

But there is a bit of good news. Couples who do manage to make it to the five-year mark, and who go on to survive 10 years together, are more likely to stay together for the long haul.
"The crisis point for the modern marriage is arriving sooner," said Aiva Jasilioniene, who helped conduct the study.

She said the early years of marriage can be tough because they are often characterized by challenging experiences involving the building of careers and the bearing of children.
Jasilioniene also found that after the five-year point, couples are increasingly deterred from separating by the cost of divorce and of managing separate lives.

Anastasia de Waal, head of family and education issues at Civitas, a research organization in London, agreed that married people are definitely becoming "itchier" earlier these days.
"The main reason seems to be increased expectations of both relationships and what a happy marriage should be like," she said. "In a climate of media-enhanced instant gratification, the stakes have been raised as mere contentedness is no longer enough in a marriage.

"We increasingly expect that more passionate element to continue indefinitely," she said.
Norman Wells, director of the Family Education Trust, a London group that researches causes of family breakdown, said, "No-fault divorce laws make it easier for spouses to walk out on each other when problems arise."

I agree with what this woman says:

The rates of infidelity for women are approaching those of men because women are working outside the home. Women's infidelity is not worse than men's, so it's infidelity in both men and women that is the problem, not women's infidelity. Next, the problems with the marriage that are more about the relationship and shared duties, well, I have a hard time placing the blame on women for those. These problems are mainly because the men in these relationship fail to step up - they still want to be coddled, and the center of attention, and be met at the door with a drink.

Marriage is hard. You are going to have to compromise. And your wife is not your mother. Not that you should take your mother for granted, but no one will ever care for you the way your mother did. Don't expect that. Be aware of how wonderful your wife is, because she will be out in the real world meeting men who are interesting and attractive and treat her with respect, so you'd better do the same. If you don't help with the housework she will get frustrated and you won't have sex and you will have an affair, or she will be stressed and it will be bad for your relationship. I'm writing this in simple sentences, because if you need this advice you are obviously simple."

http://www.ajc.com/living/content/living/stories/2007/10/30/itch_1031.html

http://cara.typepad.com/reproductive_rights_blog/2006/08/working_women_d.html

Happy Halloween!

Two silhouettes together

under the light of the moon

the hooting of owlsare singing a scary tune

Dark shadows fly past us

but you arms hold me tight

With thoughts on our loveI lose fear for the nightT

he pumpkin that glows

on the steps by my door

Seems to be smiling

makes me long for more

Happy Halloween

http://www.2000greetings.com/

Monday, October 29, 2007

VERY funny jokes

FAMILY

Three sisters, ages 92, 94 and 96, live in a house together. One night
the 96-year-old draws a bath. She puts her foot in and pauses. She yells
to the other sisters, 'Was I getting in or out of the bath?'

The 94-year-old yells back, 'I don't know. I'll come up and see.' She
starts up the stairs and pauses 'Was I going up the stairs or down?'
The 92-year-old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea listening to
her sisters. She shakes her head and says, 'I sure hope I never get that
forgetful, knock on wood.' She then yells, 'I'll come up and help both
of you as soon as I see who's at the door.'
____________________________________________________________
'I CAN HEAR JUST FINE!'

Three retirees, each with a hearing loss, were playing golf one fine
March day. One remarked to the other, 'Windy, isn't it?'
'No,' the second man replied, 'it's Thursday.'

And the third man chimed in, 'So am I. Let's have a be er.'
____________________________________________________________
LITTLE LADY:

A little old lady was running up and down the halls in a nursing home.
As she walked, she would flip up the hem of her nightgown and say
'Supersex.' She walked up to an elderly man in a wheelchair.
Flipping her gown at him, she said, 'Supersex.'

He sat silently for a moment or two and finally answered, 'I'll take the
soup.'
____________________________________________________________
OLD FRIENDS:

Now this one is just too Precious...

Two elderly ladies had been friends for many decades. Over the years,
they had shared all kinds of activities and adventures. Lately, their
activities had been limited to meeting a few times a week to play cards.
One day, they were playing cards when one looked at the other and said,
'Now don't get mad at me .. I know we've been friends for a long time,
but I just can't think of your name! I've thought and thought, but I
can't remember it. Please tell me what your name is.'

Her friend glared at her. For at least three minutes she just stared and
glared at her. Finally she said, 'How soon do you need to know?'

____________________________________________________________
SENIOR DRIVING

As a senior citizen was driving down the freeway, his car phone rang.
Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, 'Herman, I
just heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way on
Interstate 77. Please be careful!'

'Heck,' said Herman, 'It's not just one car. It's hundreds of them!'
____________________________________________________________
DRIVING

Two elderly women were out driving in a large car - both could barely
see over the dashboard.

As they were cruising along, they came to an intersection. The stoplight
was red, but they just went on through. The woman in the passenger seat
thought to herself 'I must b e losing it. I could have sworn we just
went through a red light.' After a few more minutes, they came to
another intersection and the light was red again. Again, they went right
through. The woman in the passenger seat was almost sure that the light
had been red but was really concerned that she was losing it.

She was getting nervous. At the next intersection, sure enough, the
light was red and they went on through. So, she turned to the other
woman and said, 'Mildred, did you know that we just ran through three
red lights in a row? You could have killed us both!'

Mildred turned to her and said, 'Oh, crap, am I driving ?'

What a cover!

Indianapolis Colts

I am not a diehard football fan but I do support the Colts through thick and thin and am happy they are still doing so well...LOVE Payton Manning!

COLTS 31 PANTHERS 7

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It took a while for Peyton Manning and his offence to get rolling on Sunday.

But once they did, they sent a message to the New England Patriots -- the Super Bowl Trophy still resides in Indianapolis.

Manning threw two touchdown passes to become the franchise's all-time leader as the Colts overcame a sluggish start to rout the Carolina Panthers 31-7 on Sunday.
Joseph Addai scored three touchdowns for the defending Super Bowl champions as the Colts (7-0) set the stage for next week's battle of unbeatens with the Patriots.
Colts coach Tony Dungy is not looking forward to the hype.

"I think it will be a circus," he said. "I think it will be a very much hyped game. They have played great football all year. Our team has played well. I think it's going to be a big game."
"I'm sure it's going to be crazy," added Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney. "Playoff atmosphere."

The two TD passes give Manning 288 in his career, passing former Colts' legend Johnny Unitas.
"He truly was an innovator at quarterback," Manning said. "I have the achievement in perspective. Certainly, it is an honour. I've had some great guys to throw to."

It also was a milestone day for Dungy, who won his 74th game to become the winningest coach in Colts history. He had been tied with Don Shula and Ted Marchibroda.

http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/sports/story.html?id=a12b0a60-cdf6-49b7-a3b6-cd389edecb88

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Turkey Shoot

It was fun...only myself and this elderly lady shot as far as the women go. But I think I did okay for first time with a shot gun. Here is a picture taken today in front of a GTO.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

My cats: Simba and Luna

Yes............I have too much time on my hands...

A small view into my crazy world...

I will take pictures of pretty much everything and anything..............

Japanese Festival

FINALLY I found my HP hardware for my camera and can now post the photos taken at the St. Louis Japanese Festival this past September. This is an annual event held at the Missouri Botanical Gardens here. My daughter dressed up in her pretty pink kimono bought from her trip to Japan. Her friend Mallory spent the night and came:

Friday, October 26, 2007

Cold War Déjà Vu

I am having flashbacks to the Cold War...my heart is wrenched by the happenings of our international foreign policies with other nations. Our good reputation smirched by Bush's foreign policies...the cowboy diplomacy that harkens to sheer irresponsiblity. I am a strong advocate of diplomacy...seems to me that this current administration is in favor of war...and we all know war does bring back a slumped economy.

Seems to me also that any type of domestic aid and assistance in terms of jobs, social welfare, and stable education for the next generation has critically fallen to the wayside...............................Where are we going with this? All the hostility...the arms race back in full swing...for it IS...Bush talking about WWIII if we do go at it with Iran...Tensions between the United States and Russia ratcheted up another notch Thursday, with accusations flying over ballistic missiles and human rights. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Saturday that the United States' increased use of military force is creating a new arms race, with smaller nations turning toward developing nuclear weapons.

MAFRA, Portugal (AP) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday compared the U.S. proposal to build a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe to the Cuban missile crisis of the 1960s.

"Analogous actions by the Soviet Union, when it deployed missiles in Cuba, prompted the 'Caribbean crisis,"' Putin said at a news conference at the end of a European Union-Russian summit in Portugal, using the Russian term for the Cuban missile crisis.
"Such a threat is being set up on our borders," he said.
At the same time, Putin suggested the tension was much lower than during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis because Russian-U.S. relations have moved on since the Cold War. He also said he believes the United States is listening to Moscow's concerns about its missile plans.
Putin said his relationship with President Bush helps solve problems in relations with the U.S., calling him a friend.
The U.S. plan would install a radar base in the Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland -- both former Soviet satellites that are now NATO members. It is part of a wider missile shield involving defenses in California and Alaska which the United States says are to defend against any long-range missile attack from countries such as North Korea or Iran.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/10/26/russia.missile.ap/index.html

English Sabla

Please take some time to check out this forum. Membership is global. I joined today and am quite happy with it:

http://www.englishsabla.com/index.php

What is Love?

Love does mean saying you are sorry when you are wrong. It means being there for the person when you promised and if you cannot then you explain why you could not be there.

Love means sticking through the good AND bad times.

It means having a giving heart....listening and sometimes not saying a word.

Love means going the extra mile when you do not have to and not expecting a thank you in return.

Love is joy, tears, laughter, anger, contentment and sadness...

Love is not always going to be easy...nor will it ever be so hard.

Love is always knowing that the person who decide to share their life with you....knows what love is all about.

What is Faith......

Faith stems from many things but primarily within your heart...your soul...the two are intertwined...so much so we can forget where one ends and the other begins.

Faith means trust..love and devotion...it can be faith in God, faith in someone, faith in oneself.

Being able to release control and understanding that no matter what happens, good or bad...you try and accept what happens and if you can change your circumstance for the better---so be it.

Faith is diverse, a complexity of emotions and even physical strength. Faith is not simple...but has layers for which we build upon in order to continue the diversity of ourselves, in our sense of being and humanity at large.

Faith is the betterment oneself and ultimately in humanity...

The essence of volunteering

What is volunteering? According to the ever-present Wikipedia...A volunteer is someone who serves in a community or for the benefit of natural environment primarily because they choose to do so. Many serve through a non-profit organization – sometimes referred to as formal volunteering, but a significant number also serve less formally, either individually or as part of a group. Because these informal volunteers are much harder to identify, they may not be included in research and statistics on volunteering.

I feel that I also volunteered to serve my country while in the army, and also when I joined the AmeriCorps-Vista program in Missouri. I think volunteering should come natural, not forced...that you do it not to make someone believe in the same things you do but to help because well...humanity frankly needs it. What with all the wars going on, now fires, the poverty and diseases...we as human beings need to go that extra mile. I would like to volunteer but feel that I should not have to push any agenda...people should try to help because well...someone else may not be able to help themselves they are completely overwhelmed by their dire circumstance. Right now trying to obtain information on what I can do for the people devastated by the California fires...Bush signed a federal disaster declaration Wednesday, freeing money to help residents rent temporary homes and repair damaged homes and businesses and to help local and state agencies pay for the emergency response.

The cost of homes destroyed by the wildfires is likely to top $1 billion in San Diego County alone, an emergency official said.

People left homeless by the fires can apply online for federal help at FEMA.gov, said David Paulison, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Recipe for volunteering

Naznin Dhanani's Recipe for Volunteering

2 cups of listening

1 teaspoon of trust1

½ cups of kindness

1 teaspoon of honesty

2 cups of happiness1 cup responsibility

1 cup of patience & laughter

1 tablespoon of communication

1 tablespoon of compromise

1 dash of commitment

2 teaspoons of give and take

2 dashes of forgiveness

2 tablespoons of appreciation of each other

¾ cup of tolerance

Method:Combine listening, trust and kindness. Mix well. Add communication, honesty and compromise. Blend. Cream happiness, commitment and responsibility until light and fluffy. Sift together patience, give and take and laughter. Fold together gently. Add dashes of forgiveness, to taste. Top with appreciation and tolerance.

Results:“Remembering the essence of volunteering”.

You will need to follow the instructions very carefully to end up with the results you want!

As an American citizen I feel it is my duty to try and help. I hope I can find an agency I can either donate to or at least give a little of my time to assist these individuals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteering

http://www.americorps.org/

http://www.ypp.net/fullarticle.asp?ID=100

http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/join-the-network/blogs/ivd2006-blog/doc/recipe-for-volunteering.html

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Dressing up

I love dressing up or down. I especially love fisherman sweaters. I have posted a few of the style I like. I enjoy being in jeans..."Americana" style...or dressing up but most comfortable in jeans...perhaps that is the "Hoosier" in me. :-)

Just need a glass of red wine and a fireplace......

Picture from this weekend

I love Harleys and had a wonderful ride this weekend. Me being silly as always...

Second one is me at a local winery in Missouri....place was gorgeous...people dancing, with their pets, kids...just a perfect day.

What is on my desktop now..........

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Gene Kelly...rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........................

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Attending a Turkey Shoot this Sunday

Should prove to be interesting. I have never been to one before and this one takes place in Illinois. I will try and post some pictures if I shoot any (no pun intended). It involves aiming a shotgun at a stationary target and if I am the closest to the bull's eye I win a frozen turkey. I will be using a shotgun for the second time in my life...first time dad tried to teach me...ended up bruising my shoulder but still should be fun. I love shooting at targets (except animals of course)....in the Army I used the M-16 auto rifle, M-60 machine gun and M-209 grenade launcher...all were fun and I did hit my targets. :-)

There will be games and other festivities to enjoy. Should be fun.

Some more info I found regarding this past time:

A Turkey Shoot is an organized Trapshooting event.

First things first... There are no real live turkeys involved.A Turkey Shoot is a trapshooting event hosted by many clubs usually close to Thanksgiving.
Frozen turkeys are awarded as prizes. The turkeys are normally taken home and are used as part of the winner's Thanksgiving dinner.

Turkeys left at the club may end up being eaten by hungry club members.
There are many chances to win a turkey. Normally, over fifty turkeys are awarded each day of the event. You can be the best shot in the club and not win one, and at the same time you can be a beginner and take home three turkeys.

A "turkey shoot" is also a shooting contest where frozen turkeys are awarded as prizes. The shoot is most commonly held, using shotguns aimed at thrown clay targets, much as trap shooting contests are held.

Mmmmm...good eatin's........

http://www.mchenry-sc.org/Turkey.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_shoot

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

What is a kiss?

More than just a touch of lips...but a meeting of souls...two hearts passionate for the other...feeling the breath of the other...slowly dipping to meet with intense anticipation...light, breath, touch, sounds...all encompass the first kiss...a delight to behold...a moment to remember...a kiss can be more than what you want it to be or less...a beginning to something grand...whatever you wish it to be...a crossing of boundaries, a delight to the senses...opening of hearts once embittered by the past but seeking new hope to a new and wondrous beginning...

Life in pictures

Just an amazing picture of a replica of Anubis, an Egyptian Deity floating down the river in London, England....I am enamoured by Egyptology.

The Presence of God...

The Presence of God
I see in every leaf movement

As playful breeze passes by

Barely disturbing a nesting bird

The presence of God.

The mantle of teeming wildflowers

Adorning the once barren plain

In the changing of the seasons

I feel the ever presence of God.

The ceaseless gurgling of the brook

As it meanders down its way,

Cacophony of myriad nature's sounds

Announce the presence of God.

Laughter of innocent children

Playing in parks or backyard

Enjoying their uncomplicated simple world

In the watchful presence of God.

Amidst life's tears and turmoil

Many mishaps and miscalculations

I sought solace and found comfort

In the loving presence of God.

In the hectic humdrum of daily living

Fast-paced rat race for material gain

Insatiable yearning for more, make no room

For the presence of God.

All the world's problems and woes

Are man-made, yet unacknowledged:

religious wars Hate crimes, ethnic cleansing, violence

Conveniently ignoring the presence of God.

If I am cognizant of God's love

And serve Him through my fellowmen

Then when my time comes I will bask

In the glory and presence of God.

For in the presence of God, there is no hate

Only brotherly love, peace, forgiveness

Understanding, compassion, helping hand

No evil can withstand the presence of God.

Reprinted from Heritage magazine, Vol. XIII, No. 1, Spring 1999.

Rise in corn prices and the demand for Ethanol

I was watching the local news last night, and saw the lineup of trucks dumping their tons of corn into huge awaiting silos across the Midwest.
Coming from Indiana of course this became a keen interest for me. What shocked me was the newcaster's announcement that 25% of corn is dumped in the oceans each year. 1.) What does this do to the fragile ecosystem of the oceanic environment 2.) I am quite sure that corn could have been used SOMEwhere...........
The price of corn has not fallen. You would think that the laws of supply and demand, basic principle's of economics would dictate the price decreasing. No....with the demand for ethanol on the rise this has created quite the opposite:

Despite the cold temperatures, corn prices could be on the rise thanks to the demand for Ethanol fuel. It could mean big profits for farmers this fall, but they could pay the price further down the road. Northwest Ohio corn farmers like Joe Box are getting ready to seed.
"We can get as good as corn as anybody in the country in this area."
The sandy soil is perfect for growing corn. You may think Box would be excited; Ethanol could drive his crop prices higher.

Anytime you get more money for your product it's exciting, but we don't know what the after effects are going to be. With the costs of other products and consumer costs, that might happen with food the next couple of years."

Ethanol could cause a rise in seed. Right now, some bags could cost up to $190.

"When we go to buy corn, we are at the mercy of what they want to charge us. So we are in an unusual situation, we can't control our costs and we can control what we get paid for."
Ethanol could also drive prices higher for equipment and fertilizer, another Ethanol downside.
"It is not a cheap source because it takes a lot of energy to produce Ethanol."
One bushel of corn equals 2.8 gallons of Ethanol.

"We can't produce enough corn for all the Ethanol we need. I think we need to come up with different energy sources myself."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since this is true....WHY are we then dumping the excess corn into the ocean??? Please someone enlighten me!

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=local&id=5189640

http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/003611.html