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Saturday, December 15, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
We're from the bank and we're here to help you: Now stick 'em up
By David Mildenberg and Hugh Son
Dec. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Bank of America Corp., Wachovia Corp. and PNC Financial Services Group Inc. said losses tied to bad debt will be worse than expected, providing fresh evidence that credit markets aren't returning to normal. -original source here
Hmmm, ... wonder whether our Bank Buddies are gonna shrug off their losses with big red faces, admit their unbridled avarice ... and learn a lesson about fiscal responsibility?Will banks finally wise up n' buckle down ... no longer writing risky loans or issuing "credit cards" to folks who're already over-extended & unable to make minimum monthly payments?
Or, can we expect them to:
1) Raise interest rates & minimum monthly payments for "marginal" borrowers (folks with variable-interest mortgages and debt cards)
2) Mass-mail enticing new offers to "even more marginal" borrowers/debtors
3) Lay off "non-essential personnel" (i.e. bottom-tier bank employees; not the folks responsible for banks' lending practices) "as a response to the disappointing current economic downtrend"?
4) Resort to predatory lending by writing increasingly-risky loans (before their competitors do)
5) Increase fees & service charges; create new ones; offer fewer services
6) Argue that "Stealing isn't stealing when stealing is protected by law"
But isn't that Free Enterprise? Ain't that how Capitalism works?
Banks hire lobbyists and make huge political contributions to manipulate the legislative process and enact laws penned in their corporate board rooms intended to guarantee their profits.
That how we end up with The Best Government Money Can Buy.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
"I saw you at church Sunday"
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
judge as I say, not as I do
-Matthew 7:1-2
Something occurred to me yesterday: we tend to remember that passage as Christ's warning against making negative judgments, but does it equally apply to judging things we might like and want- things that seem attractive and totally desirable-- that we just might want for ourselves?
Like, when we make judgments about others, "So-and-so has the total package ... a fairy-tale marriage to the perfect spouse, wonderful kids, great looks, fame, prestige, deep-pocket wealth and every other sign of material success ... exactly all the things I want in my life, too."
Lest others judge you to be superficial, shallow, vain and selfish?
wish in one hand ...
Wouldn't his reggae version have been cool? Sure, sure it would.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Team Effort
Monday, December 10, 2007
Use A Hoe
Below is a photo of the actual lake bottom (i.e. mud) emerging between Docks 7 & 8
Next, we find an unused backhoe parked on the beach near Dock 12:
Suddenly, a concerned local points to a pending Emergency:
"Uh Oh, oh no! The lake is so shallow, now Hansel and Gretl have their feets stuck in the bottom, too!"
Memory Mayhem
I'm terrified of dropping my phone into the lake because if I do I'm not sure who I'll remember to call (I know it's only a matter of time before it happens, too).
So as a mental exercise to prove a point to myself, I decided to write down the names of the folks whose phone numbers I've actually committed to memory. Thus,
Ken
DJ
New Spring Office
Mike
Anzie
Fran & AB
Dr. Billy
Bruce R.
My folks in Fla
Wow. Eeeeh ... the "D" does stand for "Dummy" after all.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Un-laxing on Saturday with The Blue Book
Today DJ is getting married:
How Low Can It Go? DepartmentI heard the lake is down 19 feet, and the drought might bottom out at 35-feet below Full Capacity by February.
What direction does The Golden Compass point to? Department
Huh?
Friday, December 07, 2007
Have A Very Mastodon Christmas

| (this post is from the Whimsy & Imagination Department, c.1880) M.K. Owen 4 Bore "Mastodon" |
| |
| First of all, this gun is MASSIVE! The scale of the 4 bore is truly amazing, and yet, it breaks opens and locks up like a fine English shotgun. Second, it mounts and balances like a fine shotgun. (That weighs 29 pounds). The barrels are 22 1/2", with a bore diameter of .995". The cartidge case is 4" tall, and the Cartridge overall length is 4 1/2". This M.K. Owen built gun is regulated for a 2000 grain bullet travelling at 1400 fps, and is on at 50 yards. It is patterned after the only H&H built 4 bore proofed for smokeless powder, and features a back action sidelock action, and Purdey style lugs with a Greener crossbolt for the third bite. The firing pins are bushed. The receiver and metalwork is fully engraved by A.B. Bradshaw, and features a Mastodon, sabre tooth tigers, and assorted dinosaurs. It is our understanding that Owen built only five of these, and that he will make no more. |
Sunsets Redux
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Hope's Sunset
skip it
Of course I coulda got outta bed, gone outside and checked to find out, but two things prevented me:
(1) If I'd spotted a 40-ft tall metal spider walking across Lake Hartwell at 3 AM, you wouldn't believe me
(2) If a 40-ft tall metal spider is content to mind his own business and keep on moving, then that's perfectly fine with me
ps. I'm pretty sure it was just the wind ...
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Blog Lite:The Story of a Haircut (told in pictures)
Ever wondered if everybody becomes Papa Bear at some point, and their water is either "too hot" or "too cold"? {Bear with me; I'm not good on my fairy tales}
Here's where Mel reminds me the future is a place about 70 miles east of here ... after talking me through traffic on the drive over. Are we cool? We cool.
Afterwards I get lost again on the drive home and simply wave at people peering into the truck, explaining "Excuse me, but Thank You Very Much."
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Chewbacca-row Baptists

-See: The Chewbacca Defense; wherein "The aim of the argument is to deliberately confuse."
I gotta tell ya up front, I been feeling ill (for non-Southerners, that means angry) for about a week following the latest telephone conversation (previously mentioned) in what feels like a long, pointed but pointless series of telephone calls.
Look, it's not honorable, funny, amusing, insightful, beneficial, righteous, pious, illuminating or in any way impressive or Christ-like to attack, criticize or ridicule another believer's church with double-talk and word puzzles, or condescend to any part of their worship service just because it's not the style of worship you're familiar with.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Jabba the Baptist
Man Up; Mac Out

You cannot have a Mac/Apple and a Man Card: They are mutually exclusive ... and Mac has gobs of exciting new designer colors just dying to make this point for me.
Period. There. End of discussion.
Friday, November 30, 2007
More words ...
Really, what I'm trying to say is the posts I woulda posted are too long to post ... so I'm posting just the titles for the un-posted posts from the past few days because the posts were too long to finish writing.
Nov. 27 2007
"A Different Kind of Burden"
I'm rich because I'm righteous ... and God thinks so, too.
Nov 28 2007
"Well Done, Good and Faithful Colleague"
Being a Christian doesn't make me better than you - I was already better than you.
Nov 28 2007
"The Sons of Heaven Lodge and Social Club"
Where church is what we say church should be - and that means Sunday School and Wednesday Night Prayer Meetings, mister.
Nov 29 2007
"Is A Blessing the same thing as a Reward?"
No, I deserve everything God's given me ... and gots lots more comin' my way.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Will there be Dinosaurs in Heaven?
See, it was budget-making time at his church, and the debate was already shaping up to be lively (as usual). My friend sighed and remarked, "Well, everybody's entitled to speak up with their opinion when it comes to spending the church's money. After all, it's our money."
My brain-brake wasn't fully engaged and I blurted, Your money?
"Sure," my friend answered. "Where else do you think it comes from?" Once the condescension gets started it's hard to stop: "Doesn't the congregation have a right to know what the pastor's getting paid?"
I asked why the pastor's take-home was important, except to hold as a lever-under-the table, and got a snicker for my trouble.
"There's always stories on the news about pastors stealing from churches, and it's the members' responsibility to closely monitor where their tithes are going! Membership comes with its privileges."
So I said, Then doesn't the congregation have the same right to know what every member makes?
I could practically feel his gasp hit my cheek. "WHAT on earth for? What sense does that make?"
I said, To make sure all the members are tithing, and that GOD isn't being robbed. Because it seems to me like the members could steal more from God than a pastor could steal from a church.
"Well," my friend continued, "did you know that a preacher only has one job? And that's to feed the flock."
I closed my eyes and wondered, Then why aren't they called Feed-ers, instead of Preach-ers?
But I wasn't fast enough to respond, so the subject tore off in a new direction.
My friend had been reading a book (I forget the name) that tries to draw a picture of what Heaven will be like, based on glimmpses and references from scripture.
The author claimed that since scripture mentions a "New Jerusalem" in Heaven, and the "old" Jerusalem's specific dimensions are referenced in the Bible; and since Heaven's streets be paved with gold, then Heaven must be a physical place ... meaning we'll have legs to walk from one place to another in Heaven.
The author also claims our pets will join us in Heaven, because animals were part of God's original perfect creation in the Garden of Eden, so why wouldn't He include the same perfect creatures in Paradise?
Especially since Heaven in always described in fun, happy terms (isn't that what Joy means?), who could be totally 100% happy in Heaven for ever and ever without their favorite dog (cats and pet reptiles, not so much).
Uh, you want fries with that order? I'm not mocking or ridiculing, I'm pleading: Won't being in Christ's presence be enough to answer every question and satisfy every need?
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Lights! Laser!! Action!!!
Then the nurse applied disinfectant.
Then, moments before the procedure was to begin, they said they wanted to videotape my PRK procedure, to use on the local cable channel. My excited enthusiasm was obvious.
I only asked for 2 conditions: that I be allowed to light and direct the action.
Then, it was showtime. The laser only zapped my eye for about 5 seconds before I yelled "Cut! That's a wrap!"
This is me back in the waiting area, Post-Op. Lasers make me happy, gee.
With a few minutes to kill before my ride arrived, I started wondering what I'd look like framed in a photo on the wall. Eeeh, I just don't have that "distinguished" thang goin' on.
Hey no kidding, the fact that doctors can use lasers to fix vision problems is a total MIRACLE imho ... and I'm grateful for not only the surgeon's skill but also for the nurses who went way outta their way to make sure I felt at-ease and non-hysterical.
They're some of the best folks I've met (and believers, too!) ... Thank Ya'll again for putting up with me.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Stuff happens
Especially when you keep one eye clamped open.
You won't believe it. Heck, I was there and didn't hardly believe it. But the good news is,
There's pictures and video to prove it!
Hint:
"I'm still big. It was the laser that got small" and "Sweetheart that was PERFECT! Now let's do it again, and this time give me 17% more energy!"
Should Believers Celebrate Christmas?
Does Christmas really have anything to do with celebrating Christ's birth, or is Christmas actually just the centuries-old "appropriation" of what was originally a pagan holiday?
And besides, isn't the "true spirit" of Christmas lost in the rush to rack-up massive debt buying bigger and better gifts this year ... as a substitute for the genuine affection that's been lacking throughout the year?
I mean, the word Christmas isn't mentioned anywhere in scripture, nor are we instructed to observe or celebrate Christ's birth (assuming it was anywhere near December 25 in the first place) or set it aside as a holiday.
And what about Halloween? Or Easter? Or St. Patrick's Day?

See, growing up in Florida, Gasparilla was my favorite holiday, when we celebrated the looting, rapine and murderous antics of the pirate Jose Gaspar (who turned out to be an entirely fictional character- ooops).
Should believers celebrate Gasparilla? What about the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving or Labor Day? What about it?
On the other hand, are any of these controversies real issues ... or merely straw men stuffed into Pharisaical robes by Holy Joes?
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
I got my hands full paying attention to the two greatest commandments without worrying about tacking on private sticky-rules of my own creation ... much less expecting others to honor my home-made opinions and traditions.
Or lack thereof.
Where there's a Will, there's a key
Seems I lost my truck key ... he found it wedged in my truck's front passenger seat (where I'd dropped it).
Sunday, November 25, 2007
the old blog coach
While they might be celebrating an apparent "win" over USC last night, in their exuberance the Orange-Bleeders miss seeing the Big Picture ... namely that Steve Spurrier in the greatest college football coach of all time ... and Clemson's apparent "victory" last night was a master-stroke delivered straight from Spurrier's genius.
He wants the Tigers to be over-confident when the Gamecocks crow ... and "wake up" Death Valley next year.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
I'm Most Thankful for ...
This is the season when folks are given to reflecting about the things they're most thankful for, so it seems appropriate to share mine.
I'm most thankful for being ME. And here's the reasons why:
-I looked at all the poverty, disease and malnutrition that plagues most of the people living in the world, so I thoughtfully chose to be born here in the US
-Lots of folks whine and blame their present circumstances on their childhoods, so I looked at all the possible alternative and then picked my parents very carefully
-Even before I was born good health and longevity seemed important, to I chose to give myself those things. And also the general ability to keep everything in my life under control, too
-One little thing I did overlook was picking which college football teams will win every game, but no biggie
Other that that, anybody can read back over the blessings I choose for myself and see I did a pretty good job picking my life.
The only BIG thing I forgot to give myself before I was born was eternal life ... but with my long record of perfection and success, I figure there's no reason I can't negotiate my hereafter with The Almighty ... because I get to pick whether he exists, too (which makes me a VIP in His eyes)
When I get to Heaven He might even look forward to hearing a few ideas I got about hell and fairness, and making Himself clearer in scripture about what's sinful. And what stuff I can get away with when He's not looking
Heck, look at me jumping the gun. Maybe I'll just worship a god of my own creation till I die ... like sex, money or material success. Since I decided before I was born that they're all equally important with God anyway.
I mean, I musta given myself plenty of time to change my mind if I'm wrong.
Didn't I?
"He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind." - 1 Samuel 15:29
Hey, enjoy today's games ... and hope your teams win!
Friday, November 23, 2007
Black Friday?
Period.
PS. ... and Christmas rolls around on December 25 most ever year, so using a charge card is NO EXCUSE.
But somebody always wins!
Let's say you spend $5 a week playing the lottery. Let's say you play for 30 years.
How much would you have in the bank if you save the money instead?
$70,000
About Last Night
B can cook like nobody's business: turkey, mashed taters, home-made gravy, green beans, apple salad and ... and two dessert: Pecan-Chocolate Pie and Peanutbutter Pie!
B is too good to me ... and let me abscond with half the PB pie all to myself!
ps. Ax made a spicy bread-spread based on a recipe she got from Disney World (but I thought it tasted kinda Mickey Mouse, har-har).
friday's football forecasts
Second, tomorrow is THE BIGGEST, MOST HOTLY CONTESTED FOOTBALL GAME OF THE YEAR.
Naturally, I'm going with Florida over FSU ... by one million points.

Another game tomorrow is Clemson vs USC.
I'm forecasting that the team in Columbia will lose, and lose big, in heroic fashion. And that the game will be played with the same result next year, only in a different stadium.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
don't ask
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Who?
All in favor say: Money, opportunity, stability, status, familiarity, fear; Nobody's Perfect
All opposed keep quiet: Familiarity, deceit, simplicity, duplicity, money, fear, The Status Quo; Uh oh.
ps. Intimidation ain't Respect. INTIMIDATION blinds honesty & swallows truth whole.
Self-deception is a hole under the heel that, left unchecked, opens wide enough to devour its creator.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Tech Shout Out;
Now I can download my emails in one swoop & get back around to reading (and writing a response) without having to be online at the time... oops, look like there's just 685 Unread Messages left before I'm caught up.
Remember, patience is a virtue (I think).
The Faith of Least Resistance
(con't from yesterday's "ACT Like me!")
The past week I’d been wondering (and noticing) whether folks tend to choose the Religion that suits a preconceived notion or need to become infinitely empowered ... by getting God on their side (Gott Mit Uns) … and end up putting the heart before God's course.
Writer's Strike?
8 :00 AM Monday
I got stuck behind a utility van doing 30 miles an hour on King’s Road this morning … the driver was lollygagging along, blissfully unaware that I had another appointment with the eye doctor at
Then something else occurred to me: Why is it important to know? Is my trust dependent on knowing all the reasons, or in knowing Him?
Monday, November 19, 2007
“Hey You, Stop Sinning … and ACT like me!”
Why on earth do so many Christians adopt that attitude … and show the world an ugly face filled with judgment, indignation, self-righteous reverence and false piety?
It is an act, after all: None of us died on the cross. None of us died for the sins of the world and none of us was ever physically resurrected and ascended into Heaven … so why judge others ahead of ourselves?
Sunday, November 18, 2007
a "dirty" joke
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Hamburger face
A few days ago something went wrong, even worse than usual, with the loose flap of flesh on the front of my head that’s what I’ve got for a face.
-- --
Friday, November 16, 2007
Whachawachinthiswknd from Netflix?
| 1 | Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid | ![]() | 11/16/07 | 11/17/07 | Report Problem |
| 2 | Guns at Batasi | ![]() | 11/16/07 | 11/17/07 | Report Problem |
| 3 | 28 Weeks Later | ![]() | 11/16/07 | 11/17/07 | Report Problem |
| 4 | Jeeves and Wooster: Season 2: Disc 1 | ![]() | 11/05/07 | 11/06/07 | Report Problem |
| 5 | The Fog of War | ![]() | 11/05/07 | 11/06/07 | Report Problem |
| 6 | Jeeves and Wooster: Season 2: Disc 2 | 11/05/07 | 11/06/07 | Report Problem | |
On stagnation, spinning wheels, running in place, falling short, etc
6. Thou shalt be ever mindful of thy fuel lest there be nothing
in thy tank to sustain thee upon the air and thy days be made short.
7. Trust not thine eyes to lead thee through the cloud
lest the Archangel Gabriel await thee therein.
8. Thou shalt not trespass into the thunderstorm
lest the tempest rend the wings from thy chariot
and cast thee naked into the firmament.
9. Put not thy trust in weather prophets,
for when the truth is not in, then they shall not
accompany thee among thy ancestors.
10. Often shalt thou confirm thine airspeed on final
lest the earth rise up and smite thee.
Other flying wisdom & some adages:
No matter what else happens, fly the airplane.
It's better to be down here wishing you were up there,
than up there wishing you were down here.
If you're ever faced with a forced landing at night,
turn on the landing lights to see the landing area.
If you don't like what you see, turn' em back off.
Speed is life, altitude is life insurance.
No one has ever collided with the sky.
Always remember you fly an airplane with your head, not your hands.
Never let an airplane take you somewhere
your brain didn't get to five minutes earlier.
Don't drop the aircraft in order to fly the microphone.
"Unskilled" pilots are always found in the wreckage
with their hand around the microphone.









