This Just In....

Recently discovered scrolls indicate that the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas was started by a group of Bethehem merchants around 65 CE as a way of extending the lucrative Hanukkah shopping season. It was thought that people would follow the example of the Magi and give gifts of gold, frankincense and myrhh. However, ancient inventory and sales records show that these items were far outstripped by sales of Billy Bass and various Chia figures.

And so it goes.

Arguably, the most beautiful pas de deux in ballet. From "The Nutcracker Suite", the pas de deux with the Snow Queen and her Cavalier. Enjoy.

Dragonforce - "Through Fire and Flames". This song just got added to my new CD mix, "Music to Drive 90 mph by". And make sure all the windows are down.

This Just In...

The entertainment community was shocked and agog at today's news that Pam Anderson has filed for divorce from her husband of two months, Rick Solomon. Although separated, their much awaited secretly leaked sex tape should be available just in time for Christmas. Or at least Kwanzaa.

No word yet as to who has custody of the mobile home.

This is for Teri, to prove that New England is indeed trying to monopolize all of the sports championships. Just look at the thumbs on those guys!

I was thinking that, you know, here I am, starting to reach the end of middle age and enter my "golden years" and I am still not world famous. So I whipped out my always reliable predictor of the future and asked point blank if I was going to be rich and famous. You can see the reply above. Oh, well, I'm still good at Putt Putt.

Friday Field Trip

Today, we are just going to make a quick run south of Denver to Colorado Springs to visit The Garden of the Gods. Just get on I-25 and head south. You will be an exit sign for the garden fairly soon after you get past the Air Force Academy. From Denver, it's about an hours drive

The Garden of the Gods (GOG) is a series of red rock formations made mainly of sandstone. Over the centuries , the wind, rain and snow have eroded the rock into fantastic shapes that are worth a trip by themselves. There is a visitors center that explain the geology of the area for the academics among you (and those that need a bathroom or Coke). Technical climbing is allowed in some areas but don't forget to register.

It only takes about 20 minutes to drive through the park if you don't stop but stop. Look around. Listen to the echo of an eagles scream and the whisper of the wind. Laugh at the three-striped chipmunks that will run right up your leg looking for a treat. This ground was sacred to the Anasazi Indians, whose cliff dwellings are preserved a short distance west. Let it be sacred to you, too. Enjoy.

Happy Halloween

Trick-0r-treating always turns me on.

Coda

In reference to the post "Redemption" below, Lawrence Trujillo was sentenced to 48 years in prison for the three murders he committed with his truck. He will be eligible for parole in 33 years. Frank Bingham is not so lucky. To quote from his statement at the sentencing, " I am no longer a husband. I am no longer a father. And I often feel that I am just a shell of the person that I was. I will not live as a victim but will move on one tiny step at a time". My thoughts and best wishes stay with him.

MIRACLES HAPPEN

13 innings, 10 pitchers, Colorado 9 - San Diego 8

This team has truly pulled off some amazing wins down the stretch. Given the tendency of the GM of the Rockies to trade any player that shows any promise, it is unlikely that they will go this far next year so we must hope they go all the way this year. Next up - a very tough Phillies team that has also performed very well in the last 4 weeks. May the best team win - GO ROCKIES!!!

News, News, News

So what is going on in the world? Let's see:

New tape from Osama? - Bin Laden has reportedly released a new video. Of course, the first question is : who cares? Probably the same old "slaughter the infidels" crap - ho hum. And what's up with the beard? Four years ago, it was mostly gray. The new tape shows him with a black beard. Has our boy been using Grecian Formula for Beards and Mustaches or did they just hang a beard on the closest fellaheen that looked like Osama to fool the stupid Westerners? The only reason I care at all is that I am still hoping to get a good clean shot at him someday and collect that $50 million, which I will spend on mercenaries to battle terrorists.

What else? Oh, yeah, eight guys got indicted in Colorado for smuggling sea turtle skins and eggs. Sea turtles are one hard sneeze from extinction and these clowns are making boots from their skins. And the eggs? Well, it turns out that, like rhino horns and bear gall bladders, they are supposed to be an erectile aid. We have to start making sure that American TV gets out to the whole world, no matter how remote. That way, these flaccid fools can see commercials for Viagra, Cialis and that other one every 10-15 minutes. They are lots cheaper than rhino horns and don't involve pissing off a rhino or a bear, either (always a good thing).

Guess that's it for now. Tune in tomorrow to see if Paris Hilton has really taken the cloth and will live out the rest of her days as a nun.

Freedom to Love

I was in Chicago on business for the last few days. I really like Chicago in spite of there being so many whiny Cubs fans. Anyway, our office is on Madison by the river. I went downstairs yesterday to get some air about 10:00 am as I was tired of sitting on my butt in meetings. It was a beautiful day and there were a lot of people milling around. I saw a young Latin couple walking slowly down Madison hand in hand. They stopped at the bridge and enjoyed a lingering kiss. They spoke briefly, kissed again, then went their separate ways, he to his job and she to hers, I assumed, as they were both in business attire.

I thought that we often think about our freedom of speech, religion etc. in this country but not the freedom just to give someone a kiss on the street in front of the world. In some Muslim countries, this could get you killed. It would certainly get you ostracized. So the next time you see a display of public affection, be glad that you live in a country where the right to love is a freedom, too.

Lawyers-GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Their are things in the world that are natural enemies: cats and dogs, seals and sharks......and humans and lawyers. Check this out:

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB118757264153102523.html

Crazy Legs

I don't know what's funnier - the video or the guys watching it.

http://dcist.com/2007/07/19/nbc4_anchors_lo.php

Redemption

On November 10, 2006, Frank Bingham and his wife, Becca decided to take the light rail downtown for a little outing with their children, Macie, 4 and Garrison, 2. They got some hot chocolate, then started across the street at the intersection of Arapahoe and 15Th Street. Lawrence Trujillo and his passenger, Eric Snell, had spent the past few hours hitting bars and strip clubs. Trujillo, who was so intoxicated that he later said he couldn't remember even driving the pickup truck he was in, blew through the red light at the intersection and hit the Bingham family, killing Becca and the two children and injuring Frank. Witnesses said the brake lights came on briefly after the impact, then the truck sped away. The front license plate, which later would be used to identify Trujillo as the killer, was torn loose by the force of the crash and was left at the scene. A security camera at the intersection also caught the accident on tape.

Yesterday, Mr. Trujillo appeared in court in what was supposed to be a status hearing preliminary to his trial next week. Instead, Mr. Trujillo pleaded guilty to all 13 counts against him There was no plea bargain or any other deal; he just decided that he would take his punishment and not make Frank Bingham relive the horror of that night, especially the video of his wife and children being shredded by the truck. By doing this, Trujillo virtually guarantees himself a true life sentence. He could be sentenced to a total of 174 years in prison. He is now 36 years old.

I think that this is one of the most remorseful defendants I have ever seen. I certainly don't condone what he did. There was absolutely no excuse for it and he deserves to be severely punished. Judging from his demeanor and attitude, I would not be surprised if he spent the remainder of his life on his knees, praying for the souls of the people he killed and asking forgiveness. I hope that, by putting an end to the legal part of this situation, Frank Bingham can find some peace and move forward with his life. I'm sure that he will never forget but, maybe someday, he can forgive.

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to.

Oyez. By order of HRH Dr. Mom, here be my official birthday post, albeit slightly early. As you can see, the serving wenches were hitting the mead before putting the candles on the cake but, what the hey.

Wow. It's hard to believe that I am going to be 60 years old. 6 decades. 12 lustrums. 3 score. 3/5 of a century. It seems like it was just a little while back that I was starting my first real job as a file clerk with a major insurance company while I went to college. Now, 42 years later, I am a vice-president with that same company. I guess I have such a winning smile that they couldn't bear to fire me. That and I have pictures of the CEO and his assistant in flagrante (not really, Joe, relax). I have a few less teeth than I had then and a lot more poundage but, all in all, I feel pretty good for someone on the verge of decrepitude.

I plan to spend Monday doing some old man stuff, like fishing and/or golf.I just want to relax a bit and ponder the meaning of life. My wife will be taking me out to dinner at a restaurant of my choosing (I'm thinking steak). Should be a relaxing day. Hope you all have a good one, too.

Yankee Dimes

I just read a very touching post at this blog:http://chellestales.blogspot.com/. I encourage you to read it.

I have been having a similar experience. My mother always called little kisses Yankee dimes, which is an old Southern expression if you have never heard the term before. When I was a boy, she would come up behind me, hug me and say, "Give me a Yankee dime and I'll let you go." She passed away in 1999 and, since then, I have been finding dimes everywhere.

The occurrence that really got to me was last year. The pieces of her furniture that no one in the family wanted had gone from her apartment to a storage unit to our garage over the last 7 years. I finally decided it had to go and called a local charity to come pick it up. I moved the pieces onto the driveway and swept the floor where the furniture had sat for so long. After I swept, the wind came up and blew more stuff into the garage so I swept again. As the people were loading the furniture, I felt a pretty strong pang to see it going at last. I felt guilty about giving her things away as these were things that were fairly dear to her and I was just discarding them like nothing. With some tears in my eyes, I went back into the garage to sweep it one last time. As I looked over the floor to see if I had missed anything, there, in plain sight where I had swept three times, lay a shiny dime. It was as if I were being told that everything was all right. I picked the dime up, kissed it and put it away. Then I cried.

I still find dimes from time to time but that time was the time that I truly felt her presence.

Happy Birthday to Us

Happy Fourth, folks. I hope you are all having a great day off, smoking a roast or a joint or whatever. I couldn't get this video to post so just follow the url for a slightly different take on the Sousa classic:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3980220254073703540

Enjoy and don't blow your hand off with an M-80.

Nickelback - If Everyone Cared (video)

If only everyone cared....

In 1947 (the year you were born)

Harry Truman is president of the US Jackie Robinson breaks the color barrier in baseball by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers Britain grants independence to India and Pakistan The Truman Doctrine is formulated to aid Greece and Turkey against Communist rebels and Soviet expansionism The House UnAmerican Activities Committee begins hearings into alleged communist influence in Hollywood The CIA is established David Bowie, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Elton John, David Letterman, and Stephen King New York Yankees win the World Series Chicago Cardinals win the NFL championship Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup The Diary of Anne Frank is published Jack Kerouac makes the journey which he will later chronicle in his book On the Road There are 14,000 television sets in use in the United States

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

They missed on celebrity: Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was not only born in the same year as yours truly but on the same date, July 30.

You Are the Thumb

You're unique and flexible. And you defy any category. Mentally strong and agile, you do things your own way. And you do them well. You are a natural leader... but also truly a loner. You inspire many but connect with few. You get along well with: The Middle Finger Stay away from: The Pinky

What Finger Are You?

I like this one much better. I had a grouchier one up but decided to bounce it. Get your own seal (or walrus if you bend that way). The link is up at Family Tree Junkie, which is itself conveniently linked just to the left. Have fun and be nice.

Memorial Day

As we start off this three day weekend, we should all stop for a moment to reflect on the meaning of the holiday before firing up the grill for the cookout. I had an opportunity to visit Arlington National Cemetery a few years ago. As I stood on the hill by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, I looked around and, as far as the eye could see, there were white marble grave markers. Many of these markers have been placed for men and women who served this country, came home, lived their lives with their families and, in the fullness of time, passed away, their grave site a gift of a grateful nation. However, there are so many that had their lives ripped from them in one violent instant, moving from life to death so quickly that they hardly knew it, leaving their loved ones to wonder why. Others died slowly on the battlefield, their life seeping from them as their blood stained the ground of a foreign nation. There are more than men and women buried here. There are hopes and dreams that never came to fruition, ambitions that were never realized.

Therefore, before we head out to have fun this weekend, we should whisper a simple "Thank You". Most of these people gave everything they had so we could remain safe to be with our families. They are continuing to do so everyday is Iraq, Afghanistan and other places where they go in harms way. Thank you all and be careful out there.

Profound Thoughts.

Mrs. Just Dave is out of town taking care of her mother and I am sitting around with too much time on my hands. I was thinking about when we lived in Lubbock, Texas, a place that makes a pancake look hilly. My youngest son, who was around 4 or 5 had a hamster that he really enjoyed taking care of and playing with. Of course, one morning we awoke and found that, sometime during the night, Fred the hamster has crossed over to Beulah Land.

My son was upset but not hysterical. We found a proper coffin ( a shoe box), packed with some sewing scraps and laid Fred to rest, with all due ceremony, in the back yard, deep enough so the dog couldn't disinter him for a snack. Afterwards, my son asked, "Why did Fred die?". We sat and I explained to him the nature of life and death, that for every birth, we owe a death back. It is not something to worry about or be afraid, it is just a fact of existence. I could see the conflict on his face as he worked this information over in his head. I thought he was wondering if even Mom and Dad and even he had to die someday. When he finally spoke, he said, "You mean even the damn flies die without being swatted?" Like I say, profound thoughts.

Truth in Advertising hits Law Enforcement

INTERVIEW

I invited Teri over at Family Tree Junkie to interview me and she took me at my word. Here are the questions and my answers-straight up:

1. If you could change your present career, what would you do?

This is tough because I really enjoy what I do. However, I think it would be cool to be the director of a world-class ballet company, like American Ballet Theater. I know that it's damn hard work but think of the interesting people you would meet.

2. Besides your spouse, who is the other person that most influences your life and why?

No contest - my mother. She was a red-hot liberal living in the south and didn't care who knew it. She taught me that race is meaningless and to respect people for who they are, not their color. She also taught me to appreciate beauty (see number 1).

3. What is the most important place you want to see, thing you want to do, before you die?

I want to visit the Isle of Skye in Scotland to see where my ancestors came from. I am very curious to see the actual spots in person and not on TV.

4. If the seven "ancient wonders" of the world were still around, what would you most like to see?

I think that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were probably pretty cool (pun intended).

5. If you could do one thing to change the world, what would it be?

Make everyone the same color and religion. Then we would have to search harder for reasons to hate each other.

PERSPECTIVE

Last Monday, 33 people were killed by a crazed gunman in Virginia. I will not deny that this is tragic and outrageous. This happens almost every day in Iraq since George Bush liberated the country. Where are the television special reports? Where are the editorials? The vast majority of those dying are not soldiers but innocent Iraqis going about their daily business. Do we think that their lives are less valuable than those of the people in Virginia? I promise you, the Iraqis don't.

Planet Earth - The Series

Has anyone been keeping up with this series on Discovery Channel? It has absolutely been blowing my mind. My grandson mentioned it to me and my first thought was, "Yeah, yeah, another National Geographic ripoff". National Geographic wishes it could get images like this.

A while back, we decided to get a high definition TV. One of those 42-inch flat panel jobs. The picture was cool and the hi-def channels were nice but I really wasn't that impressed until I watched an episode of "Planet Earth" on Discovery HD Theater. The images were like really excellent 3D.

This series is not for everyone as it largely concentrates on animals and has many scenes of bug animals eating small animals. It's not really gory but young kids might have a problem with it. It is also sad. The episode exploring life at the North and South Pole featured a vignette about a male polar bear. Since the Arctic ice pack has receded so far due to warming, polar bears can no longer find seals by waiting by holes in the ice as there are now huge expanses of open water even in winter. Therefore, this polar bear swam 60 miles to an island where there were walruses. He had to rest for an entire day before he could try to attack one. He could not deal with an adult walrus because they are huge so he tried to break through their protective front to get at a calf. He tried and tried to no avail. Exhausted and wounded by walrus tusks, he finally gave up, walked a distance away, lay down and, over a period of time, just died. I am afraid that, unless something changes, my great-grandchildren will never see a polar bear.

Anyway, watch an episode and see what you think.

Read, Red, Read

Alrighty, then, on a lighter note, let's talk about books. I know that this blog gets all the traffic of Highway 50 through northern Nevada but I will still challenge the lonely and confused that wander here to tell us the last 6 books that you have read, including the one you are reading now. You can include as much or as little info as you wish. I picked 6 because it's not 5 and it's not 10 (my blog-I get to make the rules). Here goes:

1. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin (non-fiction) - I'm just reading this to suck up to Anne Altman.

2. Lisey's Story by Stephen King (fiction)

3. The Afghan by Frederick Forsythe (fiction) - Hint-not about a blanket for you knitting fans.

4. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (non-fiction) - Anyone that lives in Chicago should read this book.

5. Jesus, Elvis and Coca-Cola by Kinky Freidman (fiction, I think but with Kinky, you never know)

6. We were Soldiers Once...And Young by Hal Moore (non-fiction) - I have a morbid fascination with the Vietnam war, having come very close to getting a free trip there in 1967.

So, whats about you? This is not a tag, just a way to have some fun, for me anyway.

The Unfinished Book

I was looking at another blog today (Family Tree Junkie-try it, you'll like it) and the question came up about your feelings on the loss of your parents. It started me thinking about death in general and what symbolizes death. We see many symbols like skulls, The Grim Reaper, tombstones, etc. For me, I always see an book, laying on a bedroom nightstand. The reader's place is bookmarked but the book will never be finished because the reader is dead.I probably get this image because both of my parents were readers, my mother more than my dad. When they died, they both left books on the nightstand, unfinished. I often wondered if one of their last thoughts was about the book - what was going on in it, what would happen to the protagonist, how would the story end. I read a lot also and I can't help wondering what book will be left on my nightstand when I die.

On a metaphorical level, I guess we can look at our lives as books. Some are long, some are short, some so short that the story was barely started before the book ended. I think I am feeling sad today about short books because there has been a rash of meaningless car crash deaths involving teens around here lately. Also, there was a story in the newspaper today about the psycho that invaded Platte Canyon High School in the small town of Bailey, CO on September 27, 2006. He held seven female students hostage, sexually molested them, then shot 16 year-old Emily Keyes in the head before killing himself while police broke in, trying to rescue the girls. Emily died while being transported to the hospital by helicopter.

During the crisis, Emily sent a text message on her cell phone to her parents - " I love you guys". Emily's book was far too short.

Slow Boarding, Not Snow Boarding

As those of you who ever fly know, the airlines who have more than class of service usually let the first class passengers board first. Makes perfect sense. They are the ones in the front of the plane so, on most flights (737s, A319s and A320s), you have to get around them to get to your seat. Almost invariably, there is one clown standing in the middle of the aisle, trying to take his coat off and put up his carry-on luggage (usually consisting of a steamer trunk) while carrying on a heated cellphone conversation with one of his minions. You know it is a minion because sentences like, "This had better get done today or else" or "I can't believe you haven't completed that project yet" fly like spittle from his taunt lips. These words also are meant to let you know how important he is and that you had best not try to uproot him so you can get your measly shit put up and sit down.

Guess what, dweeb. You are not important. You are just another asshole. You are just another selfish, self-absorbed asshole who can be replaced in whatever function you perform in about 20 minutes. And that's if you die on a Sunday. The flight attendents may be afraid of you but we know who you are. So next time, plop your fat ass down in your seat and curse your peons from there. And do it quietly as we don't want to listen to your bullshit, either.

Ichabod

Ok, since it seems that everyone is posting pictures of their cat, here is a shot of Ichabod, our kitty.
We got him from my sister-in-law who found him on the parking lot at her office. At that time, he was nothing but ears, hence the name, Ichabod after Ichabod Crane. He also had a dandy case of ringworm that we all promptly got. However, that was 13 years ago and all is forgiven. He is a very mellow cat that puts up with all kinds of bullshit from our dog with dignity and an aplomb worthy of a prince. He is getting old and his patience is growing shorter but he is still the first to welcome me when my feet hit the floor in the morning and when I return from a business trip. I hope he sticks around for a few more years.

OK, So I Live Under a Rock

I just discovered a singer that channels Diane Washington, Billy Holiday and about three dozen others. Not bad considering she is 19 years old. Her name is Renee Olstead and she completely knocks my socks off. I could listen to her sing "Sunday Kind of Love" for hours. Yeah, yeah, I know, you guys are hip and have been listening to her for years but I am a musical caveman.

For a taste, go to www.reneeolstead.com . You won't be sorry. How come chicks like this don't show up on American Idol instead of the freak show they get now?

James Brown's body lies a-moldering.....Somewhere.

James Brown is dead and likely to remain so. However, his big gold coffin is still not buried. Why, you might ask. Do they lack the proper permits? Are they waiting to see if he will rise again, even though it has been way past the customary three days? None of the above. His survivors, who are apparently numerous enough to fully inhabit the Gobi Desert, can't decide where to plant the poor guy. C'mon, folks. Can't we all just get along? Flip a coin, play a few hands of Three Card Monte, something but work it out. Embalming fluid doesn't last forever.