I Didn't Know That Part 2

The Auntie Anne's Name
(Excerpt from: http://www.auntieannes.com)

Anne Beiler began twisting pretzels in 1987 at a Maryland farmer's market, to support her husband Jonas' vision to open a free community counseling. The following February, Anne and Jonas purchased their own stand at another farmer's market in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, where they sold a variety of snacks, including hand-rolled soft pretzels. The following year, Anne launched Auntie Anne's, Inc.

The Burt's Bees Name
(Excerpt from: www.burtsbees.com)

Back in 1984 in Maine, Roxanne Quimby and Burt Shavitz teamed up selling candles made from the beeswax created as a by-product of Burt's honey business. At the very first craft fair, they sold $200 worth, and by the end of the first year, sales climbed to $20,000. Sales topped $250 million in 2006.

The Birds Eye Name
(Excerpt from: www.birdseyefoods.com)

Clarence Birdseye observed, first hand, the ways of the Eskimos who lived in the Arctic and how the use of ice, wind, and temperature almost instantly froze just-caught fish straight through. Birdseye returned to the U.S. and formed the General Seafood Corp. with some wealthy partners who believed in his process. The partners' financial support allowed Birdseye to develop and perfect a machine called a "Quick Freeze Machine" that he unveiled in 1926.

How Chevrolet Got Its Name
(Excerpt from: www.gm.com)

In the early 20th century, new automobile companies set up shop by the dozens, often on a wing (or a wheel) and a prayer. One of these was founded in 1911 by William C. Durant and took its name from famed Buick racing driver Louis Chevrolet. When Durant became the president of General Motors in 1916, it wasn't long before he started bringing Chevrolet assets on board, and by 1918, the entire company was part of GM, and would go on to become one of its flagship brands.

The Hallmark Cards Name
(Excerpt from: http://corporate/hallmark.com)

Joyce C. Hall, founder of Hallmark Cards, Inc., lived the American dream. Born Aug. 29, 1891, in tiny David City, Neb., Hall overcame both poverty and a lack of a formal education to become the architect of an industry. In the 1920s he wanted to substitute the phrase, "A Hallmark Card," for "Hall Brothers Company" on the back of greeting cards. "Everybody in the place was against it," he said, but he made the change.

How IKEA Got Its Name
(Excerpt from: www.ikea.com)

The IKEA story began in 1931, when founder Ingvar Kamprad started selling matches to his nearby neighbors at the age of five. Later he would branch out into selling flower seeds, greeting cards, Christmas Decorations, and eventually, furniture. The name IKEA is an acronym for Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd. This mouthful is derived from the founder's name, the name "Elmtaryd" (the farm on which he was raised) and "Agunnaryd", the nearest village.

The Lea & Perrins Name
(Source: http://www.leaperrins.com)

In the early 1800s, in the county of Worcester, a nobleman had two chemists -- John Lea and William Perrins -- try to duplicate a recipe he aquired on his travels. Lea and Perrins were not impressed with their initial results. The pair found the taste unpalatable, and simply left the jars in their cellar to gather dust. A few years later, they stumbled across them and decided to taste the contents again. To their delight, the aging process had turned it into a delicious, savory sauce.

The Maybelline Name
(Excerpt from: http://www.maybelline.com/aboutus/our-history.aspx)

In 1915, T.L. Williams created the Maybelline Company, a family-owned business. The company was named after his sister Maybel, from whom he originally received the idea of producing and selling an easy-to-use product to darken eyelashes.

Nathan's Famous
(Excerpt from: http://shop.nathansfamous.com)

Nathan Handwerker, founder of Nathan's Famous, was born in Poland on July 14, 1882. In 1912, Nathan emigrated to the United States, where he began to work in the kitchen of Feltman's restaurant in Coney Island, NY. To open his hot dog stand in 1916, Nathan borrowed 300 dollars from his friends Jimmy Durante and Eddie Cantor, all of who worked at Feltman's restaurant. They urged him to sell his hot dogs for 5 cents, half the price of the competition.

The Mary Kay Name
(Excerpt from: www.marykay.com/)

After 25 years in direct sales, Mary Kay Ash resigned her position as a national training director when a man she had trained was promoted above her. In 1963, with nothing but her business plan, her experience, and $5,000 in savings, she founded Beauty by Mary Kay. It was founded not on the competitive rule but on the Golden Rule. It was a company, as Mary Kay Ash often said, "with heart."

Oscar Mayer
(Excerpt from: www.kraftfoods.com)

At the age of 14, and new to the United States, Oscar Mayer answered a "Help Wanted" poster for an apprentice (or "butcher boy") at a retail meat market in Detroit. Eager to start his own business, Oscar and his brother, a sausage-maker leased the Kolling Meat Market on Chicago's north side. Before long, customers in their German neighborhood were standing in line for Mayer specialties like bockwurst, liverwurst, and weisswurst.

The Tiffany & Co. Name
(Excerpt from: www.tiffany.com)

In 1837, Charles Lewis Tiffany and schoolmate John Young traveled to New York City with a dream of opening a store that would sell one-of-a-kind objects to the city's wealthiest citizens. While first day sales brought in four dollars and 98 cents, Tiffany's passion for elegant design and luxury goods eventually brought success and acclaim. Managing to obtain some of the French crown jewels for sale in 1887 also helped.

The Procter & Gamble Name
(Excerpt from: http://www.pg.com/)

William Procter and James Gamble might never have met had they not married sisters, whose father convinced his new sons-in-law to become business partners. In 1837, as a result of Alexander Norris' suggestion, a bold new enterprise was born: Procter & Gamble. The pair started making and selling their soap and candles. They formalized their business relationship by pledging $3,596.47 apiece. The formal partnership agreement was signed on October 31, 1837

The Steinway & Sons Name
(Excerpt from: www.steinway.com)

Steinway & Sons was founded in 1853 by German immigrant Henry Engelhard Steinway in a Manhattan loft on Varick Street. Henry was a master cabinet maker who built his first piano in the kitchen of his Seesen, Germany home. By the time Henry established Steinway & Sons, he had built 482 pianos. The first piano produced by the company, number 483, was sold to a New York family for $500. It is now displayed at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Rolls-Royce Name
(Source: www.rolls-royce.com)

In 1884 Henry Royce's company, Royce Limited, was producing high quality electrical machines. After much success, Royce decided to move into the motorcar production business. In contrast, Charles Stuart Rolls was learning engineering at Cambridge and loved everything mechanical. Years later, these two entrepreneurs met and in December 1904, the two agreed to create the first Rolls-Royce motorcars.

The Williams-Sonoma Name
(Excerpt from: www.williams-sonomainc.com)

In 1956, Chuck Williams purchased a hardware store in downtown Sonoma, Calif. with the intention of converting it into a store specializing in French cookware. Within two years the shovels and electrical tape had been replaced with copper pans and chefs' knives, and the first Williams-Sonoma store was born.

How Lionel Got Its Name
(Excerpt from: www.lionel.com)

Joshua Lionel Cowen was born in 1877, just before Edison's first electric light. He grew up with real trains, amid dizzying change. Around the time he founded Lionel in 1900, passenger lines symbolized American technology and sophistication. Cowen was already a successful inventor when he created his first toy train. But The Electric Express and its offspring soon became a sacred mission.

Now you know answers to party trivia questions.

I Didn't Know That Part 1

How Adidas Got Its Name
(Excerpt from: www.press.adidas.com)

Adolf "Adi" Dassler was the man who gave Adidas its name. Inspired by a single idea when he made his first shoes in 1920, at the age of just 20. His vision was to provide every athlete with the best footwear for his respective discipline. In 1948 he introduced Adidas as the company name, a combination of his own first and last name. One year later he registered the ... unmistakable Three Stripes.

How Arby's Got Its Name
(Excerpt from: www.arbys.com)

When foodservice veterans Leroy and Forrest Raffel opened the first Arby’s in Boardman, Ohio on July 23, 1964, customers enjoyed roast beef sandwiches, potato chips, and Texas-sized iced teas. To name their new venture, the brothers decided on Arby’s, which stands for R.B., the initials of the Raffel Brothers -- although many suspect the R.B. stands for roast beef.

How Taco Bell Got Its Name
(Source: www.tacobell.com)

Glen Bell was 23 when he left the Marine Corps. in 1946 and came home to San Bernardino, Calif. He would own a hot dog stand, three Taco Tia stands and several El Tacos restaurants, before building the first Taco Bell in Downey, Calif. in 1962.

The Baskin-Robbins Name
(Source: www.baskinrobbins.com)

As a teen, Irvine Robbins worked in his father's ice cream store. During World War II, Burton Baskin, was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and produced ice cream for his fellow troops. When the war was over, they started out in separate ventures and by 1948, they had six store between them. In 1953, their combined ice cream chain dropped their separate identities and became Baskin-Robbins.

The Tupperware Name
(Source: www.tupperware.com)

In 1946, Earl Tupper introduced plastic storage ware with legendary airtight seals patterned after the inverted rim on a can of paint which prevented food from drying out, wilting or losing its flavor. Despite their breakthrough nature, the products didn't sell well in retail outlets, primarily because consumers needed demonstrations in order to see how they worked. In response, the first Tupperware Home Party was held in 1948. This proved a dramatically effective way of communicating the benefits of the seal

How Wendy's Got Its Name
(Source: www.wendys.com/dave/flash.html)

When he was eight years old, Dave Thomas dreamed he'd run the best restaurant in the world. Starting at age 12, he immersed himself in the restaurant business. In 1969, his dream came true and he opened the first Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers. After trying all five of his children's names for the restaurant, Dave decided on his daughter Melinda's nickname -- Wendy.

How Folgers Got Its Name
(Source: www.folgers.com)

In 1850, an entrepreneur was looking for a carpenter to build his first mill in San Francisco, which he called The Pioneer Steam Coffee and Spice Mills. James A. Folger, only 16-years-old, but skilled in the trade of carpentry, was hired. In 1865, James became a full partner of The Pioneer Steam Coffee and Spice Mills. In 1872, James bought out the other partners, renaming the company J. A. Folger & Co.

The Johnnie Walker Name
(Excerpt from: www.johnniewalker.com)

In 1805, John Walker was born and not long after, the recipe for the world's favorite Scotch Whisky brand was created. Walker's story began in Kilmarnock, Scotland. As a young man, Walker left the family farm to follow his entrepreneurial spirit. He became a grocer, trading a wide variety of goods; tea was his specialty. It was his skill at blending tea leaves that gave Walker the idea for blending grain and malt whiskies to create a smoother drink and more consistent quality.

How Converse Got Its Name
(Excerpt from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Converse )

In 1908, while in his late 30s, Marquis M. Converse fell down a flight of steps in Malden, Massachusetts. The incident gave him the idea of rubber soled shoes, to prevent one from slipping. A year later, Marquis founded Converse and began producing rubbed-soled footwear for men, women, and children.

How Welch's Got Its Name
(Excerpt from: http://www.welchs.com)

In 1869, Dr. Thomas Bramwell Welch, a physician and dentist by profession, successfully pasteurized Concord grape juice to produce an "unfermented sacramental wine" for fellow parishioners at his church in Vineland, N.J., where he was communion steward. His achievement marked the beginning of the processed fruit juice industry. In 1893, a new label was adopted, omitting the "Dr." before the name Welch's.

How Heineken Got Its Name
(Excerpt from: www.heinekeninternational.com)

Gerard Adriaan Heineken was only 22 in 1864 when he bought the largest regional brewery, "The Haystack." His innovation was to change from traditional top fermentation to bottom fermentation, producing a clearer, purer brew. He changed the name to Heineken in 1873. But it wasn't until 1971 that Alfred "Freddy" Heineken inherited the company and took the Dutch market leader international, soon becoming one of the world's best-known brands of beer.

The MAX Factor Name
(Excerpt from: Excerpt from: www.pg.com)

MAX Factor & Co. was founded by Max Factor, Sr., who began as a makeup man for the Royal Ballet in Czarist Russia. As a young man in 1904, he emigrated from his native country to New York. Later that same year, he moved to St. Louis, Mo., where he opened a small perfume, makeup and hair goods concession at the St. Louis World's Fair. Four years later, the family moved to Los Angeles, Calif., where Max Factor opened his first store in the center of the city's theatric district.

The Crabtree & Evelyn Name
(Excerpt from: www.crabtree-evelyn.com)

The name was inspired by the renaissance Englishman, John Evelyn, who lived in the 17th century. Evelyn is most famous for 'Sylva,' the first important work on conservation. His great estate was planted with large expanses of elm trees, and the magnificent gardens he created were a wonder of the age. The Crabtree is native to Britain and the ancestor of all cultivated apple trees. It was highly prized for its beauty as well as its usefulness in home apothecary.

How Keebler Got Its Name
(Excerpt from: www.kelloggs.com)

It all began when Godfrey Keebler opened a neighborhood bakery in Philadelphia in 1853. After lots of success, Keebler became a part of the United Biscuit Company of America in 1926 and in 1966, Keebler Company became the official corporate name and Keebler the single brand name for all products. Once the Keebler brand was formed, company icons soon followed. Ernie Keebler and the Elves became company symbols and represented snacks baked in the Hollow Tree.

How Macy's Got Its Name
(Excerpt from: www.macysinc.com)

After several failed retail ventures, Rowland Hussey Macy's, determination and ingenuity paid off at the age of 36, with the launch of R.H. Macy & Co. Founded in 1877, Macy’s was a dry good store in New York City. Macy adopted a red star as his symbol of success, dating back to his days as a sailor.

The Chef Boyardee Name
(Excerpt from: www.conagrafoods.com)

Hector Boiardi was born in Italy in 1898 and took up cooking at a young age. In 1917, he immigrated to New York and began working in the kitchens of hotels. He later moved to Cleveland, where he opened his own restaurant. Il Giardino d'Italia became quite popular and patrons began requesting portions to take home. He packaged up uncooked pasta, cheese, and his popular sauce, poured into milk bottles. He marketed the pasta as Chef Boy-ar-dee, spelled phonetically for Americans.



I have more so check back tomorrow because this is good trivia stuff to use at parties.

What's In Your Wallet?

Ever wonder where your tax dollars are actually going?

The median income family in the United States paid $2,628 in federal income taxes in 2007. Here's how that money was spent, according to the NPP.

Military
Average Total: $1,105
That means 42.2 cents out of every federal income tax dollar went toward Military expenses. Current Military and war spending used 28.7 cents, interest on Military debt was 10 cents, and Veterans' benefits were 3.5 cents out of every federal income tax dollar.

Health
Average total: $581
That means 22.1 cents out of every federal income tax dollar went toward Health programs. Health ($458 billion) is the federal funds portion of all health spending by the federal government, including the federal funds spending on Medicare.

Interest on Non-Military Debt
Average total: $269
That means 10.2 cents out of every federal income tax dollar went toward interest on non-Military debt. The military share of the interest payment is based on the average historical share of national defense spending. Since interest payments are on the debt which has been accumulated over time, the allocation of shares between military and non-military spending takes this into account.

Anti-Poverty Programs
Average total: $228
That means 8.7 cents out of every federal income tax dollar went toward anti-poverty program costs. Anti-Poverty Programs ($179.4 billion) includes federal funds outlays on the sub-function areas food and nutrition assistance and other income security.

Education, Training, & Social Services
Average total: $115
That means 4.4 cents out of every federal income tax dollar went toward education, training, and social services costs. Education, Training and Social Services ($90.6 billion) includes all federal funds outlays on the function area of the same name.

Government & Law Enforcement
Average total: $102
That means 3.9 cents out of every federal income tax dollar went toward government and law enforcement costs.

Housing & Community Development
Average total: $88
That means 3.3 cents out of every federal income tax dollar went toward housing and community development costs. Housing and Community Development ($69.2 billion) includes all federal funds outlays defined by the federal government as housing assistance ($39.7 billion), and the function area of community and regional development ($29.5 billion).

Environment, Energy & Science
Average total: $69
That means 2.6 cents out of every federal income tax dollar went toward environment, energy, and science costs. Environment, Energy and Science ($54.6 billion) includes all spending on the government-defined function areas of natural resources and the environment ($29.9 billion), energy (-$860 million), and general science, space and technology ($25.6 billion).

Transportation, Commerce, & Agriculture
Average total: $40
That means 1.5 cents out of every federal income tax dollar went toward transportation, commerce and agriculture costs. Agriculture, Commerce and Transportation ($31.7 billion) includes federal funds outlays on three function areas: agriculture ($16.7 billion ), commerce and housing credit ($590 million) and transportation ($21.6 billion).

International Affairs
Average total: $27
That means one cent out of every federal income tax dollar went toward international affairs costs. International Affairs ($21.5 billion) includes the function area of international affairs except for international security assistance, Andean counter drug programs and international narcotics control.

Notice how small your portion of that dollar is and everyone keeps wanting to raise taxes.

Soon your sliver of that dollar will disappear. Then what will the politicians do?

Mind Games

Friday

Fri·day / frīdā/ is the day of the week falling between Thursday and Saturday.

Friday is the last workday before the weekend and is, therefore, viewed as a cause for celebration or relief.

As is always the case on my blog, I try to write something that will one day will garner me a Pulitzer Prize.



So today I traveled into my mind in search of some buried treasure.

I rang the doorbell and no one answered. So I kicked the door down only to discover it was as empty as Al Capone's vault was when Geraldo broke into it.

Nothing there. Zip, zilch, someone had stolen all my marbles.

Confusion set in which panicked me because confusion cannot be diagnosed without knowledge of a person's "baseline," or normal, level of mental functioning.

That which I don't have knowledge of because of a loss or lack of normal brain function.

I yelled out trying desperately to find something, but the only response I got was an echo calling back to me, can you hear me nowwwwww.

As I strolled around in my mind all I could find was dust and faded memories.

Dust in the wind and the sands of time had evidently blown away any semblance of intelligent life inside my mind.

It was like being at a cheap, run-down hotel that has a vacancy sign hanging out front.

What happened? Could it be after all this time I now find out my mind is wasted?

The mind is, after all, a terrible thing to waste.

My mind in this sense is a private sphere to which no one but I have access and I have discovered there is nothing there.

The mind is that private conversation with myself that I carry on "inside my head" and I was not getting any response.

I started looking for artificial intelligence with the hopes that some of it was hanging around. None there either.

I checked in on my subconscious mind and it was empty.

I ran to superstitious, nobody home.

My suspicious mind was no help.

Then on to my unconscious mind to no avail.

My engine had stalled, "the power of its engine determines its operation," and my plane was going down.

My jet's performance was not conforming to high standards.

The pilot light in my oven had gone out.

The Bing in my Walla Walla Bing Bang was gone.

My train had left the station.

The Ram in my Ram-a-lama Ding Dong was gone.

It became clear, my ability to place myself correctly in the world by time, location, and personal identity was not there.

Today I would not have the intellect and consciousness to allow me to write another outstanding blog.

Instead of a quality, possible Pulitzer Prize winning post, you will once again be subjected to this which is one of my many mindless posts.

With that in mind have a great weekend!!

Who Knows

How many of you that saw the movie Pulp Fiction recognized the hidden message?

All of the clocks in the movie Pulp Fiction are stuck on 4:20.

How many of you knew that 4:20 holds a message?


Capitalist buzz builds around stoner ‘holiday’

Blunt efforts to make a buck off ‘420,’ once just a counterculture affair

Code word and inside joke

For years, the 420 label remained obscure enough to be a viable code and inside joke.

But by the late 1990s, it was being pressed into use everywhere from personal ads – “420 friendly” – to clocks and scoreboards in the background scenes of popular movies.

Perhaps its most noticeable effect was the choice of April 20 as a day of reefer reverence, chiefly on American college campuses.

Two of the biggest annual celebrations are held at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the University of Colorado, Boulder, both of which draw thousands of students and outsiders despite past attempts to crack down on the gatherings.

But as campus administrators brace for the unwelcome publicity that attends the thick clouds of marijuana smoke rising above their campuses, film industry entrepreneurs are rubbing their hands in anticipation of money to be made.

While there are lots of legends on the Internet and elsewhere about the origins of “420,” “4:20” and “4/20” as terms for both marijuana itself and indulging in it, the most widely accepted is that the label came from students at a Marin County, Calif., high school in the early 1970s.

The young stoners reportedly would meet after classes let out, at 4:20 p.m., to share their drugs in an era when the activity was less tolerated by society – and the legal system.

Now you know!! 420 break, smok'um if you got um.

France shared two things with the United States that, in my opinion, are the only good things France has ever had to offer.

The first and of course the best is the Statue of Liberty.


The second was a kitten.

A sex kitten

But as is always the case with the French, they don't get it, but one of their most favorite sex kittens does.

Bardot on Trial for 'Inciting Racial Hatred'

PARIS - French former film star Brigitte Bardot went on trial on Tuesday for insulting Muslims, the fifth time she has faced the charge of "inciting racial hatred" over her controversial remarks about Islam and its followers.

French anti-racist groups complained last year about comments Bardot made about the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha in a letter to President Nicolas Sarkozy that was later published by her foundation.

Muslims traditionally mark Eid al-Adha by slaughtering a sheep or another animal to commemorate the prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son on God's orders.

France is home to 5 million Muslims, Europe's largest Muslim community, making up 8 percent of France's population.

"I am fed up with being under the thumb of this population which is destroying us, destroying our country and imposing its acts," the star of 'And God created woman' and 'Contempt' said.


Brigitte Bardot gets it. France and a lot of other people don't get it about being under the thumb of the Muslim population which is destroying all of us, destroying all our countries and imposing its acts. (See my post March 3rd, 2008, Harvard's No-Men Gym Hours Cause Stir)

France, as always, surrenders and is waiving the white flag.

Not Brigitte Bardot. Her countrymen need to pay attention when she speaks.


Brigitte Bardot is the best thing ever produced in France, yes, better than any of their cheese, bread, or wine.

When she arrived in the United States she introduced us to the sexy hot.

I am talking sizzling hot.

She was so hot that when they finished shooting they had to put the film in the can and stick it in a freezer so it wouldn't melt.

Prime Time

Lets have some fun with the news stories.

Who's your daddy?

DNA Test in Store for Polygamy Kids

Texas Hopes to End Confusion Over Children's Parentage

I hate to tell Texas this, but their machine is going to tilt and they will never know whose daddy is who.

Do the math. One guy has 8 wives and 10 kids, and eventually a brother is going to marry his sister. It's the law of averages. At the very least, cousins will marry cousins. The "in breeding" has begun and the DNA machine will break.

Personally, I can't figure out how the men have time for work or sleep. A guy has 8 wives which he must service at least 3 to 4 times a week and there are only 7 days in a week. I guess that would be a Viagra moment or two.

Question - Can someone tell me why no one has done DNA testing on Michael Jackson's kids?

Did you know:

Regulations matter little without regulators.
Rules only work if there is the money, and people, to enforce them.

Earth calling:

Hawking Says Unintelligent Life Likely

Famed astrophysicist Stephen Hawking has been thinking a lot about the cosmic question, "Are we alone?" The answer is probably not, he says.

If there is life elsewhere in the universe, Hawking asks why haven't we stumbled onto some alien broadcasts in space, maybe something like "alien quiz shows?"

One option is that there likely isn't life elsewhere. Or maybe there is intelligent life elsewhere, but when it gets smart enough to send signals into space, it also is smart enough to make destructive nuclear weapons.

"Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare," he said, then quickly added: "Some would say it has yet to occur on Earth."

Good point!!

An example that intelligent life is fairly rare:

Bus driver chooses GPS over gigantic warning sign, plows into overpass


The driver of a charter bus decided to casually follow the soothing turn-by-turn directions that were being emitted from the nearby GPS unit rather than actually noticing the enormous clearance sign on the overpass ahead. As you can likely guess, the 11-foot, 8-inch-high vehicle plowed right into the 9-foot bridge.

Or maybe there is intelligent life elsewhere.

Double speak:

Democrats Complain About Complaining

It's come to this. Democratic presidential rivals are now griping about which of the two is the bigger complainer.

If they are complaining now, what are they going to do when the phone rings at 3 A.M.?

No more chain gangs for you:

Sheriff Accused of Jail Sex Slave Operation

Authorities charge an Oklahoma sheriff with coercing and bribing female inmates so he could use them in a sex-slave operation he allegedly ran out of his jail.

Did he bribe them with a get-outta-jail-free card?

Hello Security:

Freedom Tower Plans Found in Trash

Officials want to know how the plans for a new skyscraper at the World Trade Center site ended up in the trash. A homeless man tells the New York Post he found two sets of blueprints for the Freedom Tower, which is now under construction at ground zero.

That homeless man should be hired to run our Homeland Security Department.

Just like the little engine that thought he could:

Ohio Chipotle Reopens After 180 Fall Ill

Scores of people reported falling ill after dining at a Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant in Kent, Ohio, last week. Some of the stricken were Kent State University students who had received free coupons for food.

If you don't get them the first time, try try again.

Experts Blame Titanic Sinking on Rivets.

The Titanic was billed as unsinkable. It went down 400 miles off Newfoundland less than three hours after striking an iceberg. Two metallurgists say low-quality rivets played a role in the sinking of the luxury liner in the northern Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912.












Yeah, if you look close you can see some bad rivets.




I saved the best for last:

'Calendar Girls' Fundraising Plan Fizzles

A tongue-in-cheek plan hatched by a group of moms to raise money for their children's rural school has backfired.

The seven middle-aged women posed for an "erotic" calendar last November.




I'm at a loss why sales fizzled, how bout you?

Country In Chaos

How many of you are aware of this latest government travesty?


Military Denied Benefits to Surviving Son

Military rules forced Jason Hubbard out of the service after both his brothers died in Iraq.

Then the military cut off his family's health care medical benefits, stopped his G.I. education subsidies and tried to force him to repay his $6,000 enlistment bonus.

Hubbard, 33, and his youngest brother, Nathan, enlisted while they were still grieving for their brother, Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Hubbard, who was 22 when he was killed in a 2004 bomb explosion in Ramadi.

At their request, the pair were assigned to the same unit, the 3rd Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, and deployed to Iraq the next year.

In August, 21-year-old Cpl. Nathan died when his Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Kirkuk. Jason was part of the team assigned to remove his comrades' bodies from the wreckage.

Hubbard accompanied his brother's body on a military aircraft to Kuwait, then on to California. He kept steady during Nathan's burial at Clovis Cemetery, standing in dress uniform between his younger brothers' graves as hundreds sobbed in the heat.

Hubbard was discharged under an Army policy governing sole surviving siblings and children of soldiers killed in combat. The rule is a holdover from World War II meant to protect the rights of service people who have lost a family member to war.

Hubbard broke his silence when he found his wife, pregnant with their second child, had been cut off from the transitional health care the family needed to ease back to civilian life after he was discharged in October.

It wasn't until Hubbard petitioned his local congressman Devin Nunesthat that he was able to restore some of his benefits.

Hubbard went to Nunes, who began advocating for the former soldier in December, after hearing the Army was demanding that he repay $6,000 from his enlistment bonus and was denying him up to $40,000 in educational benefits under the GI bill.

After speaking with Army Secretary Pete Geren, Nunes got the repayment waived, and a military health policy restored for Hubbard's wife.

But the policy mandated that she be treated at a nearby base, and doctors at the Lemoore Naval Air Station warned that the 45-mile trip could put her and the fetus in danger. Hubbard said doctors offered alternative treatment at a hospital five hours away.

Meantime, Hubbard and his two-year-old son went without any coverage for a few months.

"This is a man who asked for nothing and gave a lot," said Nunes, R-Calif., who represents Hubbard's hometown of Clovis, a city of 90,000 next to Fresno.

"Jason is one person who obviously has suffered tremendously and has given the ultimate sacrifice. One person is too many to have this happen to."

So let me recap this situation: Jason Hubbard was terminated from employment meaning his pay stopped, the government demanded his $6,000.00 signing bonus be returned, his $40,000.00 education allowance ceased, and his health care benefits stopped.

What did he do to deserve this? He fought for his country until he and his family had paid the ultimate sacrifice of losing two brothers to the war, that's what.

For simple math, let's assume the medical benefits for his pregnant wife equalled $54,000.00, add to that the education allowance of $40,000.00 and then add the $6,000.00 bonus which gives us a grand total of $100,000.00.

To put things in perspective, Nevada Senator Harry Reid announced the passage of the highway corrections bill, bringing home nearly $55 million in transportation funding to Nevada this year, $45 million for Maglev.

The money will help fund an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) for this Maglev rail system that will safely and efficiently move people between southern California and Las Vegas.

As a country, our government can afford to pay for an impact study for train service between southern California and southern Nevada, which I may add should be privately funded, but this poor soldier did not deserve at the very most $100,000.00 from his government for his loyal service and the suffering of losing family.

We used to be a country that knew "Right from Wrong" and a country that believed in "Truth, Justice, and the American Way."

Why did we change?

Time Magazine April 21st Issue Insults Iwo Jima

The Marine Corps War Memorial stands as a symbol of this grateful nation's esteem for the honored dead of the U.S. Marine Corps. While the statue depicts one of the most famous incidents of World War II, the memorial is dedicated to all Marines who have given their lives in the defense of the United States since 1775.

Iwo Jima was the site of the most horrific amphibious assault of World War II and perhaps modern warfare.

Approximately 70,000 Marines from the 5th Amphibious Corps (made up of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions) fought 21,000 Japanese in a brutal contest that left about 28,000 American casualties with nearly 6,821 Americans dead.The battle remains the most costly in Marine Corps history.

Time Magazine, evidently in their zest to sell magazines,has taken the initiative to minimize the importance of Iwo Jima.

How far has responsible journalism fallen?

Time magazine has hit a new low with their April 21st cover.

The new fad is "Green" in America and everyone, in their rush to act like they are a part of it, do anything they can to sensationalize "Going Green."

The issue of global warming is disputed among scholars, and it may or may not be real.

Global warming is not the subject of today's post. The subject is the outrageousness of Time Magazine's Photo Shop of a picture of a piece of history.


Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is a historic photograph taken on February 23, 1945, by Joe Rosenthal. It depicts five United States Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman raising the flag of the United States atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.

The photograph was extremely popular, being reprinted in thousands of publications. Later, it became the only photograph to win the Pulitzer Prize for Photography in the same year as its publication, and ultimately came to be regarded as one of the most significant and recognizable images of the war, and possibly the most reproduced photograph of all time.

Perhaps the best argument for Rosenthal's photo is simply that it is powerful on a symbolic, not a literal, level. Americans responded to it because it was a stirring image of the victory they so badly craved. On that level, it is unassailable.

Marianne Fulton, chief curator of the International Center of Photography at George Eastman House in Rochester, N.Y., said the photo must be seen in the context of a perilous time.

"You're worried about your life, your family, the future of the nation, and this really incredible picture of strength and determination comes out. A picture like that is a real gift."

Of the six men pictured — Michael Strank, Rene Gagnon, Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley, John Bradley, and Harlon Block — only three (Hayes, Gagnon, and Bradley) survived the battle. Strank was killed six days after the flag raising when a shell, likely fired from an offshore American destroyer, tore his heart out; Block was killed by a mortar a few hours after Strank; Sousley — the last of the flag-raisers to succumb — was shot and killed by a sniper on March 21, a few days before the island was declared secure.

Time magazine attempts to defend the picture.
Time managing editor Richard Stengel appeared on MSNBC April 17 and said the United States needed to make a major effort to fight climate change, and that the cover’s purpose was to liken global warming to World War II.

One of the things we do in the story is we say there needs to be an effort along the lines of preparing for World War II to combat global warming and climate change,” Stengel said. “It seems to me that this is an issue that is very popular with the voters, makes a lot of sense to them and a candidate who can actually bundle it up in some grand way and say, ‘Look, we need a national and international Manhattan Project to solve this problem and my candidacy involves that.’ I don't understand why they don’t do that.”

Weak, very weak, poor journalism at its best in my opinion.

A response from the American Veterans association:

Tim Holbert, speaking on behalf of the American Veterans Center, said the editorial decision by Time to use the photograph for the cover trivialized the cause the veterans fought for.

“Global warming may or may not be a significant threat to the United States,” Holbert said. “The Japanese Empire in February of 1945, however, certainly was, and this photo trivializes the most recognizable moment of one of the bloodiest battles in U.S. history. War analogies should be used sparingly by political advocates of all bents.”

I wonder what we can expect next from the Time magazine Rag? Maybe they will Photo Shop 9/11?















Time magazine has insulted all of the past and present armed forces personnel as well as every American citizen.

Time should issue an apology for their irresponsible journalism and make a substantial contribution to the Disabled American Veterans Association.

Number Nine of Ten

I gotta tell you I always find it amusing when people speak to the masses and include the media for good press.

I also am insulted when the speaker thinks that the masses that read the press release are totally stupid.

I may be dumb but I am not totally stupid, so follow along with me on my rant.

Pope Criticizes Bishops on Abuse Issue

WASHINGTON - Pope Benedict XVI told America's Roman Catholic leaders Wednesday evening that the clergy sex abuse scandal has sometimes been "very badly handled," his harshest criticism yet regarding the crisis that has badly damaged the U.S. church.

I interpret the term "very badly handled" to mean just that to the Pope rather than a sin.

Not a sin, not something to warrant being kicked out of the church for instead of being transferred to another parish to prey on other young boys, not something to be turned over to law enforcement for prosecution of the perpetrator, but rather a bad job of hushing it up.

Benedict's remarks came at a prayer service with hundreds of American bishops at a national shrine in Washington, and marked the second time the pope has addressed sex abuse on his first papal journey to the U.S.

This is the second time he has addressed sex abuse in the Catholic church while on his journey to the United States?

He is 81 years old and has worked his way through the ranks to the Popehood. In all that time, other than this trip to the United States, when has he spoken about pedophiles of the priesthood?

Benedict spoke in English on a special Alitalia flight from Rome to Washington, answering questions submitted by reporters in advance.

"It is a great suffering for the Church in the United States and for the church in general and for me personally that this could happen," Benedict said.

"It is difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betray in this way their mission ... to these children."

"I am deeply ashamed and we will do what is possible so this cannot happen again in the future," the pope said.

Benedict pledged that pedophiles would not be priests in the Catholic Church.

Well then that means they might as well start boarding up the churches because when, and if, he cleans the houses, there will be very, very few preists left.

"We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry," Benedict said. "It is more important to have good priests than many priests. We will do everything possible to heal this wound."

When? Seriously when? What is the delay?

Why is there not a plan already underway? Are clerical molesters something he just heard about?

Is he talking excluding new preist pedophiles or the existing priest pedophiles?

Benedict addressed clerical molesters in the wider context of secularism and the over-sexualization of America. "What does it mean to speak of child protection when pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today?" he asked.

So the Pope blames the pedophile priests in the Catholic church on America.

Not only that, he acts like this is new because in America pornography and violence can be viewed in so many homes through media widely available today.

I wonder what the pedophile priests had in the way of pornography and violence for viewing before technology?

The fact is, the same issues plague the Catholic Church in other countries. Those other countries do not have the legal system or the media coverage we do, but the pedophile priests are there.

So when the Pope uses the phrase "very badly handled" that to me implies he means by the courts and/or the Catholic Churches' attorneys.

Benedict said that it was important to remember that the vast majority of priests served faithfully but that it also was the bishops' "God-given responsibility" to reach out to those who had been "so seriously wronged."

Sorry Pope, but I think the problem started long long ago when the priests reached out.

The Vatican doesn't punish bishops who shelter offenders. There are no penalties for church leaders who fail to discipline predatory priests.

It's easy for the church to continually focus on the pedophile priests themselves and then transfer them to some other unsuspecting parish while not focusing on the broader problem — complicity in the rest of the church hierarchy.

Although a few bishops accused of molestation have stepped down, no bishop has been disciplined for failing to keep abusive clergy away from children.

Cardinal Bernard Law resigned as archbishop of Boston in 2002 after church files were made public showing he and other church leaders had allowed accused clergy to continue in public ministry.

To my knowledge, few if any priests have been arrested and jailed for being a pedophile which indicates to me the church has wielded its authority over law enforcement.

The church has paid out more than $2 billion in abuse costs since 1950, the majority of it since 2002.

Six U.S. dioceses have declared bankruptcy in recent years because of the financial toll of the scandal.

It's time for the Pope to stop hiding from the truth!

In fact, as a friendly reminder I recommend to you Pope Benedict XVI that you read number nine of the Ten Commandments which states:

"Thou shalt not bear false witness"

Which, in layman's terms, means "You shall not lie"!!!!!

Gifts

I'm sure everyone has heard the term "The Gift Of Giving."

I wonder at times if people who give a gift to someone with no strings attached ever really know how much people really enjoy gifts?

I think all people like receiving gifts, but it is important to those who give to get that warm and fuzzy feeling about how they did something nice for someone.

A gift, no matter how big or small, whether it is something that lasts, something that is gone in a short period of time, or in some cases just a kind word, smile or touch is a nice thing sometimes taken for granted.

Today I thought I would point out a couple of gifts we have received that are special to us.

We have repeatedly thanked the givers, but sometimes I wonder if they realize we are serious and not just being polite?

Check this out:

Our friends, Ben and Ron, gave us this rose tree that is proudly displayed at the entrance to our house.
This "Gift" is very special to us as it is the first rose tree we ever had, and roses to my wife, Vicki, are very special. She likes them almost as much as she likes Mickey Mouse, which for those that know her is a lot.

When the rose tree first bloomed in the latter part of 2007 we were as excited as kids in a candy shop. The picture you see is of the first blooms of 2008, and once again we can hardly contain the excitement.

Ben and Ron have since given us two additional rose trees and we are anxiously awaiting their blooms to bust wide open.

Ben and Ron, I hope you get that warm and fuzzy feeling I mentioned, knowing we are enjoying the roses.


Check this out:


Our friends, Pat and Wally, are always bringing treats to us as well as to others. Their specialities range from homemade ice cream to a full gambit of edible delights.

Thank yous are always given, but those "Gifts" are very special to us as homemade reminds us of the old days being with our departed families who knew the art of cooking like that.

We are always as excited as kids in a candy shop because their treats are the best homemade goods on the planet.


Homemade to Pat and Wally is a way of life, but homemade to us is seeing what they made and are carrying to the park table for us to try.

Bread, to me, is very special and I like it as much as Vicki likes Mickey Mouse, which for those that know me is a lot.


Pat and Wally, I hope you get that warm and fuzzy feeling I mentioned, knowing we are enjoying all the treats.

I hope all of you know your "Gifts" have put smiles on our faces.

Increased Readership

Anyone that reads my blog on a regular basis knows I cover everything from politics, religion, people, places, pets and things.

Monday's blog about the college students' visit to the Chicken Ranch had a record number of hits from all around the country as well as the world.

This proves what I have always said, "sex sells."

Of course in the case of my Monday post, it was more about selling sex.

Since I had a huge increase in readership by mentioning the Chicken Ranch, I thought I would add a little background about the world famous property.

Prostitution is illegal in Las Vegas, though it exists like in any other major city.

However brothels like the Chicken Ranch are legal, have regular health inspections of the workers, and the customers are required to practice safe sex and do not have to fear being set up as a trick roll which make brothels more appealing to some.

The Chicken Ranch is one of 33 legally licensed brothels in Nevada and is located about 60 miles west of Las Vegas near the town of Pahrump in Nye County.

The 17-bed brothel sits on 40 acres of land. A separate building, connected to the main house by a breezeway, contains three extensively decorated, themed "bungalows" catering to those customers wishing a more luxurious experience.


The Chicken Ranch once had a reputation for being pricey; prices start at $100 (the unofficial house minimum), but the average amount for one hour is about $400. The prices go up from there as you order off their menu of additional services.

Like most legal brothels in the state, the house receives 50% of that money.


The Chicken Ranch has the distinct past honor of being voted The "Brothel of the Year."

The "Brothel of the Year" award is presented to the brothel which is not only the most popular brothel in Nevada but is also judged the most outstanding in terms of the overall quality of its operation and personnel.

They strive to be a 'class act' where gentlemen can visit and just relax and enjoy themselves and know that they will be treated with the utmost respect and courtesy.

First and foremost of the major goals they want to achieve is to conduct the business in a totally legal, ethical, and forthright manner.

The ownership wanted to ensure that both the brothel's personnel and clients were protected at all times and that the brothel achieved a reputation for honesty, integrity and having the best working ladies in the business.

In addition, the goal was to provide a neat, clean, orderly, and comfortable operating environment where everyone could enjoy themselves. Strict guidelines were set up as to the conduct of the working ladies - with an emphasis on being respectful and courteous - as well as the clientele, including specific restrictions on drugs and alcohol for both personnel and clients.

If you enjoy your visit and want to share the experience gift certificates are available.
You can purchase a $100,$250 or $500 Chicken Ranch gift certificate towards a party with the lady of your choice at the World Famous Chicken Ranch Brothel.

Souvenirs are available as well.
Hats

Tee Shirts

Underwear

Magazines

Each spring, they have a golf tournament in which golfers are invited to compete for the Chicken Ranch Cup, a cup named for the world famous Chicken Ranch Brothel and Charter Member of the Sin City Chamber of Commerce.

Chicken Ranch Experience & Chicken Ranch Cup Golf Tournament


May 3, 2008


Chicken Ranch Cup Golf Tournament

Sin City Chili Cook Off

Bikini Contest

Carnival

Golfers and BBQ guests have the option to purchase a package that includes a one or two night stay at the Pahrump Nugget Casino Hotel during the event. Golfers will also have the option to purchase a Gift Bag for $50.00 that includes mulligans, drawing tickets, extra surprises and a donation to Woman on Top.

· Golf Registration: 6:00 AM

· Chili Cook Off Begins at 10:00 AM

· 12:00 Carnival Opens

· 1:00 PM People’s Choice Chili is Served!

· 2:00 PM Chili Judging

· 3:00 PM Bikini Contest & Sin City Cup Awards Ceremony

My friend Wally is an avid golfer so I gotta be sure and tell him about this tournament and advise him that due to the heat he should book a caddy.


Walter Plankinton opened the Nevada Chicken Ranch in 1976.

In 1982, Plankinton sold the Chicken Ranch for $1,000,000 to Kenneth Green, a San Francisco business man.

On February 8, 2006, the ranch accepted a purchase offer for $5.2 million.

Yes my friends sex sells, even legal sex.

Nevada, unlike other states, has a code of the west that is strictly followed.

You are not allowed to kiss the girls but you can be assured, unlike illegal operations, the girls will never tell anyone you were there!!