Happy Halloween!

Trick or Treat

News Flash

I had heard something recently on the radio about Halifax and NatWest Banks of London deciding to ban piggy banks because it may offend some of their Muslim customers. You see, Muslims do not eat pork and consider the animal impure. That was what my original post was going to be about. So, I did a regular Google search on the subject and didn't find what I considered a reputable source for the info. I did a search under the BBC website and some other London newspapers -still found nothing.

I then decided to do a Google search on "offended UK Muslims" and came across not only the piggy bank story, but 284,000 hits that match that criteria. Here are just a few:

Muslims Offended by British Flag
Burger King recalls 'sacrilegious' desserts
Muslims Scream About Ice Cream
Muslims' fury as Pope 'compared to Prophet'
Muslims boycott Holocaust remembrance
Muslims Against Advertising

I guess the squeaky wheel does get the grease.

Intelligent Design

There's been a lot of issues in a local school district because one of the teachers thought it would be a good idea to teach his class about Intelligent Design. The argument is that Intelligent Design is not a scientific approach to the creation of the universe but is instead a version of creationism. I guess a little to close to the Bible for some people to feel comfortable.

I am not a parent, so I can only guess how I would feel if I had a child in a school where they were teaching this theory. I look at it this way, isn't the purpose of going to school to expand they way an individual thinks? Teach them things they don't know about? Present ideas, problems, solutions so the student can develop their own ideals, concepts, thoughts in an intelligent way?

If you don't want your child to grow beyond what (you), the parent knows, feels and believes, then keep them at home so they can grow up to be clones of (you).

Similarly, I was watching Primetime Live last night and they had a story on about these girls who were brought up in a white supremacist household. They interviewed these girls and were asked what do you think of Hilter? The one girl responded she thought he was a great man with great ideas. They even performed a song that sang the praises of Rudolph Hess and what a peaceful man he was. They also felt that the number of Jews slaughtered in Europe at the hands of their hero Hilter, were greatly exaggerated. That they don't think there were that many Jews even living in Europe at that time. Apparently, they were taught a different version of history than I was.

Obviously parents have a great impact on the way their children think and behave. So, if you're teaching your children well at home, why should a subject like Intelligent Design provoke several parents to actually sue a school district? Shouldn't the parents be sitting down and discussing what their children learned in school and compare/contrast it to their own personal belief system? I know, apparently I think I live in an ideal world and this kind of communication between child and parent actually exists.

That's a Wrap!

This is my "Friday" at work. I got a bunch of books from the library last night and have decided I really need to get a move on my research paper for my Paris class. And so I decided to take tomorrow off and work on the paper.

Let's see, this weekend is karaoke tomorrow night at a local brew haus with some friends. Saturday night is yet another party in the big burg! I know you're thinking I'm some socialite who gets invited to parties every weekend, but I am not...trust me!

That's it...exciting aren't I!?!?

Good luck to Interstellar Lass who is running a big race in San Francisco this weekend!

Ciao all, have a great weekend!

The Final Countdown

Dear Lord, thank you for not letting Bruce Springsteen be the #1 album on WXPN's countdown.

For the last couple of days this station has been playing the entire albums as rated by their listeners. Not, however, if you've been listening on the net. Apparently there is ridiculous law that an Internet station cannot play more than three songs by the same artist within a certain time period Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA). Can someone explain this?

Anyway, just about an hour ago, they finished the countdown. Here's a list of XPN's top 10 albums, Findley and I can turn off our radios for the first time in three weeks:
# 10 – THE BEATLES – Rubber Soul
# 9 – THE BEATLES – Revolver
# 8 – THE CLASH – London Calling
# 7 – U2 – The Joshua Tree
# 6 – THE BEATLES – The Beatles (White Album)
# 5 – BOB DYLAN – Blood On The Tracks
# 4 – BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – Born To Run
# 3 – PINK FLOYD – Dark Side Of The Moon
# 2 – THE BEATLES – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
#1- THE BEATLES - Abbey Road!!!!!!!!

Weekend Update

The party this weekend was fun, no star sightings of course. And, I did find out that there could have been yet another mystery guest there....but was not. :(

Some of the guys were desperately trying to watch the end of the Penn State game on a TV with virtually no reception. Then they all quickly made their way to the bar to drown their sorrows after the PSU loss. And while I was busy snickering about the Penn State loss, I found out Notre Dame lost in the last few minutes of the game. DAMN!

There was a bonus at the party, besides the band, beside the open bar. There was a male stripper! It was someone's birthday but we all got to watch. It was quite amusing to watch the men watch the stripper. They were almost as interested as the women were. And of course, there were those few women that could barely contain themselves and had their dollar bills waving in the air. One lady promptly threw herself on the ground, I'm not quite sure where she had her dollar bill for the stripper but he got it from her using some part of his anatomy.

It took me a day to recuperate, but I feel much better today! Happy Monday everyone!

I Am Woman Hear Me Roar!

Recently Bone and Mattandriver blogged about their "projects," which I am always envious of. People do things they really have no idea how to do, but they do them and are successful at them. So, here's my project story.

I have been wanting shutters on the inside of my windows for quite some time now. I wasn't sure if I wanted natural ones or painted ones. So, I decided I'd just get the painted ones. Then I was nervous. Do I get someone to hang them for me to ensure they are done correctly or do I attempt it myself? So, I go to Lowe's and pick out the shutters and there are brief instructions on the back of the box. Seems simple enough.

So, tonight I'm "studying," but really what I was doing was pretending to read my homework but obsessing about the shutters that were in the trunk of my car. I put the books down, went out to my car and got the shutters. I take them out of the box, read the directions again (which is highly unusual behavior for me)...still seems pretty easy.

I get out the appropriate screwdrivers and begin the project. And guess what? In no time, I had lovely new shutters installed. I promptly removed the hideous mini-blinds that were there which I just could not wait to throw in the trash!

I already have material to make swags or something or other to cover the top half of the window. I will work on that. Once that is done, I will be more than happy to post my handy work. In the mean time, I'll be scheduling appointments for installation of shutters for all of you. Right now I'm pretty open, so get your appointments scheduled.

I'm such a stud. Maybe I should ask for a toolbelt for Christmas?

Party on Wayne!

Saturday marks the first of a couple of parties I have been invited to this month. And, I'm always ready for a party! This party is being hosted by Perry County Firearms. I'm sure those of you familiar with the Perry County area of Pennsylvania are already snickering.

Around the central Pennsylvania area, Perry County is synonymous with inbreeding, rednecks, hunting, the KKK, and wide open spaces. One joke you will often hear round these parts is:
What has 24 legs and two teeth?
The funnel cake line at the Perry County Fair

Actually I don't think there even is a Perry County Fair, but we love to make fun anyway. So, the party is on Saturday night at Allenberry Playhouse, the band Pentagon will be there. They are also pretty famous round these parts.

I've been invited to this party because I'm friends with the people that own Perry County Firearms. To me gun collecting is one thing, the other "gun" stuff, I just don't even want to get into here. Most impressively, two of the clients of Perry County Firearms are very well known individuals. And, let me just say, that if either of the two of them should happen to make their way to little old Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania to party, there will be no living with me, all bets are off, and some clothing will be too.

Mystery Guest #1
Mystery Guest #2

You Know You Make Me Wanna...

So, I have continued to listen to the countdown on WXPN (see link on the right). They've finally made it to the top 150 or so albums. My friend Findley calls me and yells "turn on XPN!" They played the Femmes earlier today amidst Bruce Springsteen and a band called Love. Has anyone ever heard of this band? It's a 70's band, and they...well, they sucked. Anyway...so I anxiously awaiting my stereo to click on so I can hear what Findley is hearing....and there it is...GOD SAVE THE QUEEN! What's not to love about the Sex Pistols? The most disappointing thing about this whole countdown thing they are doing is when they finally get to number 1, I'm going to turn of my radio where ever I am in disgust. No doubt it will be Springsteen. It's a Philadelphia radio station, they're close to Jersey, it all sort of runs together down there.

Anyway, a few songs later, they move on to the next album as rated by their listeners and it's...Meatloaf. GAH! I could very well annoy many of my readers by the next few comments, and if I do I apologize. You could probably guess the album is Bat Out of Hell. And, you can also probably guess that one of the songs they played was "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights." GAH!

I started thinking what a horrid song it is and also got to thinking about the wedding Coyote Mike recently attended. What wedding have you been to in the last several years when they haven't played the dreaded "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights?" I'm thinking, that is one song that'll stop me dead in my tracks on the dance floor at a wedding and send me screaming for the bar. I have for you now, the ultimate wedding songs that will immediately send me to the bar to do shots of...well, whatever. Does it matter?

Paradise by the Dashboard Lights--Meatloaf
Old Time Rock n' Roll--Bob Seger
The Chicken Dance Song--does anyone know who does this?
The Hokey Pokey--is that really what it's all about anyway?
The Electric Slide--Marcia Griffiths (interesting tidbit on this song...it was either written or produced by Bunny Wailer...like from Bob Marley and the Wailers...he's apparently hit the ganga a little too hard!)
Celebration--Kool and the Gang
Shout!--The Isley Brothers

There's my list. Just in case you have any remnants of dinner left in your stomach after that, here's a web site I found of Maryland's top 100 wedding songs. YIKES!

Tag I'm It!

I was tagged by Bone to play along. Read the rules, for you to may be tagged!! Thanks Bone!

The Rules:
1. Go into your archive.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag five other people to do the same.

"That is so wrong for the beginning of August." Sorry, this is so very boring. I was whining about the fact that the weather was getting cooler and it was only August. Well, the weather's worse now and it's been raining for days.

Snotsucker
Mattandriver
Ashman
First Time
JLee

Imagine

On Friday I was listening to WXPN (see link on the right) as they are counting down the top 885 albums of all time as voted by the listeners. When I had gotten in the car from getting my hair cut, I caught the very end of Hurt by Nine Inch Nails. But it was the next album that gave me the idea for this entry.

The album was Imagine by John Lennon. John would be 65 years old today. I got to thinking, if he were alive today, what would he be doing, saying, promoting given the war in Iraq, the devastating hurricanes, tsunami's, earth quakes, the looming fear of terrorism? Would he go on Oprah with Yoko by his side and talk about his political views, tell us what he thought we should do to make this a better world? Would a sit in/love in fly these days? What about if he and Yoko cut their hair in protest of it all? No matter what, I know he would force us to be conscious, force us to think differently, openly and lovingly.

What do you think John would be doing in his 65th year?

Happy Birthday John!

Runs with Scissors

There's nothing like a sassy new haircut to give a girl a new perspective on life.

Amish Win the Gas Wars!

Bucket Full of Thoughts

The other day I was listening to a Phish CD (the only one I have) and got to thinking that they would be a band I would go see, if they were still around. But, unfortunately, as a band, they are no longer together and touring. So, I thought what other bands did I miss in my life because I either a.) wasn't into them, or b.) they were around before I was old enough (and my parents weren't crazy enough to take me to the show.) Here's my unofficial list in no particular order of bands I'd like to see if they weren't defunct or dead. Hey, if you've seen any of these bands, maybe I can live vicariously through you! Tell me the story!

• Phish
• The Grateful Dead (had the chance, wasn't into them then)
• The Smith's (had two chances and blew both of them, DUH!)
• The Doors (who didn't see that one coming?)
• The Beatles
• Queen
• All the bands at Woodstock I

In These Shoes?

OK, guys obviously see shoes as something other than a fashion statement. Women are different as you are all aware, I'm sure. I would like to share the lyrics of a song from a singer named Kirsty MacColl (God rest her soul.) Ladies, you'll love this...the guys will tune out about .259 seconds into line one.

I once met a man with a sense of adventure
He was dressed to thrill wherever he went
He said "Let's make love on a mountain top
Under the stars on a big hard rock "
I said "In these shoes? I don't think so
I said "Honey, let's do it here."
So I'm sitting at a bar in Guadalajara
In walks a guy with a faraway look in his eyes
He said "I've got as powerful horse outside
Climb on the back, I'll take you for a ride
I know a little place, we can get there for the break of day."
I said "In these shoes?"
"No way, Jose"
I said "Honey, let's stay right here."
No le gusta caminar. No puede montar a caballo (She doesn't like to walk, she can't ride a horse) Como se puede bailar? Es un escandolo (But the way she dances, it's a scandal)
Then I met an Englishman "Oh" he said
"Won't you walk up and down my spine? It makes me feel strangely alive."
I said "In these shoes? I doubt you'd survive. I said "Honey, let's do it. Let's stay right here."
No le gusta caminar. No puede montar a caballo (She doesn't like to walk, she can't ride a horse) Como se puede bailar? Es un escandolo (But the way she dances, it's a scandal)

Can I get a witness Ladies!