My cousin "Little Jim" sent me an invite to ancestry.com to check out what he has gathered on our ancestors. I have wanted to do this for years now but have put it on the back burner because I know it will be SO time consuming. I did a bunch when I was a teenager, actually with "Little Jim's" father, my Uncle Bus (yeah, we have weird family names, lol). I'm not going tonight, it's late and I have to rise early but it's got me thinking that I should just do it. Little Jim also has no idea about my mom's side and was asking what I knew, I have a bit there too. It's just like, "shit, another project" lol. I know Dad's family is from Jersey and the 1790 census or 1890 census (forget which) was destroyed, that's a 20 year gap. I guess I need to set "times" to do things. one night here, one night there etc. I'm very curious what Little Jim has though.
Watched the beginning of the "Little League World Series" and I love it. I watch it every year. The final games are played about an hour from my house but I still tend to stay home and watch the coverage on TV, comfortable and complete, it's usually way hot in August, lol. Texas & Louisiana are playing now, 6-5 in the 4th.
Bottle of Whiskey - John Corbett, I totally love this song. You know this dude, he was in "Big Fat Greek Wedding". I've hard a bit of his music and really like it, this song, to me, reminds me of something in my past.
name five things you've done that you think those on your friends list have not, post it and see if anyone responds with "I've done that"
1. I've driven to 46 states in the United States
2. I've taken a girl for an abortion and had a meal with the Governor of my state in the same week.
3. I've driven my truck in a competition mud bog and won a trophy
4. I've swam/or had my feet in all five great lakes, the pacific ocean, the Atlantic ocean, the gulf of Mexico, as well as the Mississippi river, the Missouri river, the Platt river, the Hudson River, The Susquehanna River, The Delaware River, the Rio grand, the great Salt Lake & the great bear lake.
5. I drove a drag car that turned 10.2 in the quarter mile.
I had heard many good things about this movie, usually that is a death sentence when it comes to my review.
This is a movie about a child searching for his parents, hearing the music of life in his head and feeling them in it. His parents were both musicians, top caliber in different genres. But neither knew of his existence (you have to watch to figure out how that happens, lol).
What we have is a movie that is emotional at times, uplifting most of the time, and wrapped around music as a universal sound of life. A movie that music lovers will be knocked over by. A movie that women will love. A movie that men will be like. There is just enough "badness" to not make it mushy. There is a lot of "stand on your principles" presented but not in an over bearing way.
What we have here is an outstanding movie, a rare movie that can touch many different "target groups". A movie that makes you smile.
Bottom line, no one should miss this one, I can't say enough about it, it rocked, totally.
A quick movie scene, this scene reminds my so much of Andy McKee
Andy McKee, slammin acoustic guitar stretching the norm, I love it.
I guess everyone says something stupid from time to time, or at least something I think is stupid probably more often, haha.
I was watching the state House of Representatives floor debate tonight, my state's budget was due 2 days ago, and required by this states Constitution to be done, of course it's not, again, this year. Politics, blah.
They were talking about prevailing wage (I know, not budget related) and a Rep. stood up and complained about how, without prevailing wage, we would be a total "Wallmart" state, how it disturbs him already how much Wallmart has impacted our economy.
Another Rep. stood up and said, "we should be thankful for Wallmart, without them the top 5 employers would all be state government of not for Wallmart" - wtf? I felt the need to blast off a letter immediately to him.... (I also CC'd my Representative)
Representative........,
I was very surprised to hear you retort a previous Representative's worry about Pennsylvania becoming a Wallmart state by saying "we should be thankful for Wallmart" because without them we would not have an employer in the top 5 of this state that is not state government.
If I'm not mistaken Pennsylvania has a state worker to population rate lower than many states and the City of Philadelphia, after the last census, is ranked as the 5th largest city in the United States, of course it would be a major employer in the state. And might I remind you that the Pennsylvania legislature is one of the largest in the United States and one of the highest paid. If you are that concerned about the number of employees of this state I would look forward to you presenting a bill to redue the size of the Legislature, after all, you work for the citizens and your salary comes from taxes, as do your benefits and perks.
We should be thankful for Wallmart? For the mom and pop stores that are vanishing because of Wallmart's cheap, Chinese made goods. We should be thankful for the worlds largest retailer coming into our small areas of the state, lowering their prices to force local business into bankruptcy and then raising their prices once the competition is gone. We should be thankful for jobs the largest employer in the world offering minimal benefits to the citizens of this state, minimal wage to the citizens of this state? We should be thankful for a company that brings a law suit against an employee who was in a car accident to take her settlement from her because they wanted to recoup the money from their benefit plan that paid for her, even though they no longer pay, she is paralyzed and can not work in her future. We should be thankful for a company that will not settle a lawsuit even when they know they are wrong, they drive employees and customers into the ground for the sake of the almighty dollar, the bottom line to them is profit.
Yes, we should be thankful. I've heard a lot of ridiculous stuff from the House Floor on PCN over the years, this being one of them, and your comments on the resolution recently were another. I realize I am not in your district, perhaps that is not a good thing, I fee we would not see eye to eye often. I wonder how many of your constituents watch the debate on PCN and what they think of such statements.
I look forward to your thoughts on why you actually think we should be thankful for Wallmart.
What the ...? DMV Offers 10,000 Replacement License Plates
Thursday , June 26, 2008
RALEIGH, N.C. — Thanks to some text message-savvy grandchildren, North Carolina drivers whose license plates have the potentially offensive "WTF" letter combination can replace the tags for free.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Tuesday the state Division of Motor Vehicles has notified nearly 10,000 holders of license plates with the letter combination. Officials learned last year the common acronym stands for a vulgar phrase in e-mail and cell phone text messages.
But this week, the DMV officials got another surprise when they learned the same letters appeared on the agency's own Web site on a sample personalized plate.
"I can't believe it," DMV Commissioner Bill Gore said Monday when told about the online glitch. "Obviously, I didn't know it was there."
Officials are working to remove the sample plate.
The "WTF-5505" used on the Web site's sample plate was the first random letter combination available when DMV switched from blue- to red-lettered plates, officials said. DMV spokeswoman Marge Howell received a sample plate WTF-5506 to use as a prop for news stories about the switch.
A 60-year-old technology teacher from Fayetteville complained about the plate last July after her teenage grandchildren clued her in.
My friend P.C. was released from the hospital today, she was stabbed by an ex boyfriend last weekend and everyone, including her doctors, have been surprised by her progress. She couldn't go home alone but went to her mothers house. Also, the police told her that she will not have to relive it at a trial, with the evidence they have, and his confession when arrested, they will be charging him from "the state" and not involve her testimony and told her they are extremely confident he will be going away for a long, long time.
Yes, annoyed. All new brake line on the truck, ALL new, blah. Inspection, oil change, tires (damn are they expensive) etc. I go to the gas station to fill it up and I can't even do that in one shot anymore, the pump shuts off. Then I look at the face of the pump and WTF!!! This is just ridiculous.
When I was a kid we never received gifts for Easter, the Easter Bunny was not a Santa Claus. Seems today things have changed. I can remember looking for eggs and getting a basket with some jelly beans and 2 chocolate bunnies, one big and one small. The years the white chocolate was in the basket were special.
I remember the excitement of getting up to see if the Bunny was here and hid the eggs. I remember the big family gatherings with my Dad sitting at the head of the table proudly over seeing his kids and grandchildren with a smile on his face. I remember going to church and learning the story of the resurrection and what the holiday was about. I remember being in my jammies, with feet in them, at 7 pm. to watch "The Ten Commandments" with Charlton Heston as Moses.
Things have changed a lot over the last 20 years. Dad is gone, mom is gone, sister is gone, the family gatherings are smaller than they used to be, only 8 tonight. No one gets up for church, no one has an Easter basket, no eggs are colored and the Ten Commandments is no longer shown. We still enjoy each others company and family is the rock of my life, however outside pressures tend to keep all our minds wondering at times I think.
Tonight I reminisced about Easter's of old and about dad and how he told me growing up, "the only thing constant about life is change" among many other words of wisdom that he imparted.
I found this on You Tube and it blew my mind. I saw Chet Atkins do this on a TV special soon after my Dad passed away and it always stuck we me. I never knew the name of it and couldn't find a recording of it. 16 years later and here it is, again.
I love live music, of all types and have been to many concerts over the years and even a few non bluegrass festivals. I've spent as much for one band as I do for a ticket to a bluegrass festival for the entire 4 days. I was researching a music fest in Tennessee I was thinking of attending this year but when I got to the ticket/RV/Camping section I realized once again why I love bluegrass so much, even with the prices going up this year, it's still a bargain that is mostly unheard of in the music circles.
Here is what I found on this upcoming festival, wow.
GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS
GA TICKETS GO ON-SALE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2008 AT 12:00 PM EASTERN.
Tickets for 2008 Festival are priced at three levels.
The first tickets will be priced at a special rate of $209.50 each. There is a limited allotment of tickets at this price. When the first allotment is sold out, ticket prices will increase without notice to $229.50 and then again without notice to $244.50.
All tickets are 4-day weekend passes, which include camping and parking (except for RVs, and other oversized vehicles, which will require an additional pass. See below).
Prices do not include service and shipping charges.
Service charges are $22.95 per ticket. This includes a $3 fee for Coffee County, $6 Facility Fee, and $1 for charity.
You will be offered two shipping options: UPS 2nd Day Air No Signature Required for $10.00 per order or UPS 2nd Day Air Signature Required for $12.00. Shipping costs for International Orders vary based on the country to which the order is being shipped.
There is a limit of 10 tickets per order.
IMPORTANT: All tickets will be shipped on Wednesday, May 28, 2008. Please remember to have your tickets shipped to an address where you or your authorized representative will be in early June.
Guard your tickets carefully - just like cash! There will be absolutely no reissues for lost or stolen tickets!
Your ticket will be a specially designed souvenir ticket, unique to the 2008 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.
You will be notified via email as to precisely when the tickets will be shipped.
All sales are final.
The 2008 Festival will take place rain or shine.
All acts advertised have confirmed their appearance at the 2008 Festival; however, acts are subject to change without notice.
Visit this website regularly for updated information about 2008 Festival.
RV INFORMATION All RVs will be parked in specifically designated, RV-only areas on the festival grounds.
There will be a special RV pass required for each RV to enter the festival grounds.
Passes will be $100 (including service fees). Supplies will be limited.
RV passes will be available when you purchase your tickets to the festival.
Under no circumstances will an RV be permitted to enter the festival grounds without a pass.
At the time you purchase an RV Parking Pass you will be given the option of purchasing a RV plus Companion Vehicle Pass for $125 (including service fees).
The Companion Vehicle pass will allow an accompanying vehicle into a designated camping area next to the RV camping areas.
An RV is defined as any vehicle larger either in length, width or height than a normal sixteen (16) passenger van. All oversized vehicles, trailers, and campers that are towed and busses are considered RVs.
Check the festival Info Guide for more complete and detailed information regarding RVs at festival.
Carefully read the festival 2008 Info Guide for complete rules and regulations.
GUIDELINES No weapons of any kind No fireworks No open fires No illegal substances No vending will be allowed No bicycles or scooters or personal motorized vehicles will be permitted (This includes, but is not limited to: golf carts, ATV's motor scooters, and powered skateboards). For safety reasons, any vehicle that would carry you faster than a walking pace will not be allowed. NO GLASS CONTAINERS OF ANY KIND!! (Including all glass food and drink containers – No glass pickle jars!) No Professional Photography Equipment (Small hand held cameras without additional lenses are fine) NO PETS! Pets will be placed with the local humane society. Please use the local kennels if you are traveling with your pet. If a pet is found in the car you will be turned away - regardless how long you have waited in line or if you have ticket or not. Check back for a list of local kennel locations. Service animals, trained to assist an individual with a disability, are allowed.
CHILDREN Children of all ages will be welcome. Tickets will be required for children 6 and older.
There will be an ACCESSIBLE CAMPING area for people with mobility disabilities. No early notification will be required but a state-issued accessible parking license plate, placard, or hangtag is required to camp in this area. There will be raised platforms at the stage areas for those who use wheelchairs.
Click here to download the Access Info Guide. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the guide.
If I am the normal family, 2 kids, dog etc, a bluegrass fest will cost me about $280 for 4 days, average, saying the kids are 10 & 12, plus food which you eat anyway.
This festival would cost me $1,225!!!!! Plus the fee to kennel the dog. What the fuck! $250.00 for a 10 year old to come with you to a festival? $225.00 to bring a pop up and a car? *shakes head* guess I'll be passing on this one.
January 16, 2008 Microsoft seeks patent for office 'spy' software by Alexi Mostrous and David Brown
Microsoft is developing Big Brother-style software capable of remotely monitoring a worker’s productivity, physical wellbeing and competence.
The Times has seen a patent application filed by the company for a computer system that links workers to their computers via wireless sensors that measure their metabolism. The system would allow managers to monitor employees’ performance by measuring their heart rate, body temperature, movement, facial expression and blood pressure. Unions said they fear that employees could be dismissed on the basis of a computer’s assessment of their physiological state.
Technology allowing constant monitoring of workers was previously limited to pilots, firefighters and Nasa astronauts. This is believed to be the first time a company has proposed developing such software for mainstream workplaces.
Microsoft submitted a patent application in the US for a “unique monitoring system” that could link workers to their computers. Wireless sensors could read “heart rate, galvanic skin response, EMG, brain signals, respiration rate, body temperature, movement facial movements, facial expressions and blood pressure”, the application states.
The system could also “automatically detect frustration or stress in the user” and “offer and provide assistance accordingly”. Physical changes to an employee would be matched to an individual psychological profile based on a worker’s weight, age and health. If the system picked up an increase in heart rate or facial expressions suggestive of stress or frustration, it would tell management that he needed help.
The Information Commissioner, civil liberties groups and privacy lawyers strongly criticised the potential of the system for “taking the idea of monitoring people at work to a new level”. Hugh Tomlinson, QC, an expert on data protection law at Matrix Chambers, told The Times: “This system involves intrusion into every single aspect of the lives of the employees. It raises very serious privacy issues.”
Peter Skyte, a national officer for the union Unite, said: “This system takes the idea of monitoring people at work to a new level with a new level of invasiveness but in a very old-fashioned way because it monitors what is going in rather than the results.” The Information Commissioner’s Office said: “Imposing this level of intrusion on employees could only be justified in exceptional circumstances.”
The US Patent Office confirmed last night that the application was published last month, 18 months after being filed. Patent lawyers said that it could be granted within a year.
Microsoft last night refused to comment on the application, but said: “We have over 7,000 patents worldwide and we are proud of the quality of these patents and the innovations they represent. As a general practice, we do not typically comment on pending patent applications because claims made in the application may be modified through the approval process.”
"Turn Turn Turn" shall we say? One of those movies that keeps adding twists, when you think you finally have it figured out, all the sudden, you realize you don't. I have a weakness for these type of movies, those that make you "think" about things.
Ray Liotta stars as a DA running for Mayor when he finds his top prosecutor has been raped, but worse yet, under suspicion of murder. What follows is a thread by thread story, one piece at a time, twisted and surprising.
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