Bill The Great

Quote of the Day

2012-02-16T08:45:00.000-08:00

The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.

Did you know

2012-02-05T07:26:00.000-08:00

Months that start on a Sunday always have a Friday the 13th.

How many can you get?

2012-01-21T18:28:00.000-08:00

1. What object do more Americans choke on than any other?

2. What significance does April 22, 2004 have?

3. Americans spend 90% of their time here. Where?

4. If you look at the Mona Lisa, what is she missing?

5. Who was the 1st President of the United States to be born in a hospital?

6. What hobby do people spend the most money on?

7. What is Americans favorite smell?

8. True or False? A Formula One car can drive upside down on the roof of a tunnel.

9. What was invented first: The match or the cigarette lighter?

10. What do Swiss Steak, Chop Suey, Russian Dressing, and a hamburger have in common?

11. If you double a penny every day for 30 days, What do you have?

12. What has more lemon juice: Pledge furniture polish or Country Time Lemonade?

13. In Los Angeles, there are more automobiles than what?

14. More people are allergic to this than any other food. What?

15. If an Amish man has a beard, what does it mean?

Good luck!

Quote of the Day

2012-01-19T07:58:00.001-08:00

A day without laughter is a day wasted.

Charlie Chaplin

My lucky Day...

2012-01-17T05:50:00.000-08:00

I get to work this morning, make as couple of calls, get settled, and decide to buy a soda. I go into the break room, put my dollar bill into the machine, and then notice that my selection, diet Mountain Dew, is sold out. A bit perturbed, I select Diet Pepsi. Here is what I got:

Please notice the gold coin. Not only did the machine dispense 3 sodas, it also spit out a $1 gold coin. So, for those keeping score at home: 3 sodas, FREE!

I've Learned...by Andy Rooney

2011-12-28T06:07:00.000-08:00

I've learned....That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned.... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I 've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile..

I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned..... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned..... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

Fun with Tasha

2011-12-16T06:23:00.000-08:00

I had an opportunity to go join Tasha at her school on Wednesday. Her class was going to build Gingerbread houses. Besides the parking issues with the school, it was a great time. Each kid started with a circle work area and a milk carton glued to the circle. What a great idea! The kids each got a bag of grams to build the house using the carton as the base of the house. Each little house started perfect. Then they all got huge trays of different candy to decorate. It was fun watching Tasha develop her house. She was so excited, it made me proud. Notice the big T made from M $M's in the lawn of the picture of her house. Every kid had a great time. I also learned that Tasha really likes Starbursts. Not because she used them as her walkway, but when we were done, there were about 10 wrappers left in the tray of candy from the ones she ate while she was the construction foreman. I asked her what happened to them and she said, "what, I like Starbursts!"

Quote of the Day

2011-12-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

“The World will not be destroyed by those that do evil; but by those who watch them without doing anything”-Albert Einstein

Really???

2011-12-08T06:14:00.000-08:00

As a society, are we really to this point?

Do you know...

2011-12-06T10:33:00.000-08:00

...what is unique about this Sentence?

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

Super Payton !

2011-11-22T16:16:00.000-08:00

We went to Daily Park last week and it had been awhile since I had taken him to a park. He ran and ran and ran. He would always go down the slides, but it would usually take a lot of encouragement to get him to go down. Today, he mastered his fears. He was running around and would dive head first into the opening of the slide. The first time he slid down, he slid too far and shot out of the bottom and landed face first into the sand. He got right up and did it again, and again, and again...He learned to put his hands out to land. This is the end of one of his slides. Well done little man!

2011-11-03T06:58:00.000-07:00

Life is like a car-pool lane.

The best way to reach your destination quickly is to take some people with you.

Pete Ward

Did You Know...

2011-10-27T07:18:00.000-07:00

Did You Know?

The original "Uncle Sam" was a meat packer from Troy, New York. Sam Wilson's meats helped feed soldiers during the war of 1812

Is it just me?

2011-10-21T21:33:00.000-07:00

or do I make these glasses look good?

The Legend Continues...

2011-10-17T12:05:00.000-07:00

The picture is blurry, but the proof is there. One of my favorite stories to tell is the story of Billy, as a kid, swiping icing off of a wedding cake before the official cutting of the cake ceremony. He was 3 years old and my best friend Larry was getting married. My Dad happened to be in town on business and he was able to attend. The next day, I was at Larry's house, just hanging out, watching the video of the wedding and the reception. As we were watching the reception footage, we see Billy and my Dad in the background, just kind of standing, doing nothing, but looking a little guilty. You see my Dad bend down, give Billy a little encouragement. Billy then reaches up, swipes some icing off of the cake with his finger, then stick his finger in his mouth. I sat in Larry's living room, not sure of what to say to Larry or his wife Lenora, when suddenly, they both busted out laughing. Thank goodness they thought it was funny!

So here we are, all these years later, at my Dad's wedding. The ceremony is over and we are at the reception just hanging out. The story comes up, and the questions is posed: "would Billy have the courage to repeat the act?" I had two thoughts. First, there was no way Billy would do it again, and second, if he did, I would be so proud! To mt surprise and contentment, he walked inside, slinked in behind the cake, and worked his magic...

Well done Billy! Bomps (my Dad) couldn't be prouder! Let's hope that Maggie (Dad's bride) shared the same appreciation for the whole moment. Thanks to Tasha who caught the act on film, and thank you Billy, for keeping this tradition alive...

I got a riddle...

2011-10-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

What English word has three consecutive

double letters?

Virtues

2011-10-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

And the 7 Virtues are...

Prudence

Justice

Restraint or Temperance

Courage or Fortitude

Faith

Hope

Love or Charity

Our Super Hero

2011-10-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

It's official. We have received word that Payton has been accepted in the Superhero Academy...

Introducing....MUD MAN

We are so proud to have a real Super in our family!

Virtues

2011-10-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

Can you name the 7 Virtues?

Smart Children...

2011-10-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

From the dialog of last night...

Kyra: So our favorite teams are the Diamondbacks and whoever is playing the Yankees.

Payton: Upon seeing that we had turned the TV on to watch the baseball game between the D-Backs and the Brewers, walks back to our bedroom, grabs the baseball glove sitting on the end table, comes out and proceeds to play ball with the wiffle ball in the living room.

Yes, yes. Smart kids!

Can you solve it?

2011-09-30T13:09:00.000-07:00

Each puzzle represents a common phrase. Do you know what they are?

1)

M
R
A
W

2)

TRY STAND
2

3)

KNEE
UR FULL OF

4)

LAL

5)

LUNCH
EXIT
LUNCH

6)

MEREPEAT

Good Luck!

1 Week Later...

2011-09-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

It's a Miracle...

2011-09-20T07:08:00.000-07:00

What do you see? a dessert? maybe. A counter? Yep. What do I see? A CLEARED OFF counter. For anyone who has been in our house, you know what I am saying. We didn't think to take a before picture, but the before picture would have let you see one of our family's downfall. This counter normally is the catch all area of our kitchen. Everyone has one. Most are able to control it. Not us. Papers, newspaper ads, pens, pencils, jewelry, school assignments, tools, diapers (new, not used), empty water bottles, half full water bottles, dog tags, notes, computer wires, earphones, note cards, notes from us, Ensign, crayons, pictures, dryer sheets, toys, things we don't want Payton to get, baking dishes, marbles, silverware...you get the idea. The miracle I speak of is not just the fact that it is cleared off, but how it got that way. thanks to my wonderful wife, and her simple but brilliant idea. Last night was Family Home Evening. But last week, we forgot to assign the different parts. So, when it was time , no one had a lesson planned. In the past, we would be tempted to just skip it. But we are trying to get better at it, and Tasha has tried hard to get us to do it. So, Helena came up with: "Since we do not have a lesson, we are going to have an activity. Tonight, as we sing songs as we work, we are going to clean off the counter." WE ALL GROANED. This is no easy task. But we did it. Singing renditions of the ABC song, Bah Bah Black Sheep, and Twinkle Twinkle, and of course, I Am a Child of God (we all can sing that one), we went to work. Pile after pile disappeared. The mountain became a mole hill. And finally, a CLEAR COUNTER! We quickly wiped it down, then polished it. next was the moment of silence and the wiping away of tears. WE DID IT! We have our counter back. All thanks to a miracle of an idea. How simple. My wife is the best. Our family rocks!

FHE

2011-09-13T07:18:00.000-07:00

It's no secret right now that the driving force that gets us to partake in FHE is Tasha. That child is relentless. She reviews with us no later than Sunday every one's responsibilities to make sure we all do our part. Is it odd that your 7 year old in a authoritative voice,"Dad, this week you have the lesson." Really? How awful am I when your child takes over that responsibility and insists that she conduct the meeting as well. At least, we are doing it, right?

Last night, Tasha was all over it. "Dad, don't forget you lesson!" When the time came, she shyly asked if I had prepared a lesson tonight. I do believe she expected me to say no. To her delight, I had it it was game on, literally. Kyra handled the opening prayer (it was Payton's turn, but he was sidetracked in the other room by Buzz), Mon had been assigned the music (song), and then I was up. At this point, I am sure Tasha, as well as the rest of my family, still had doubts. But alas, I had the lesson. Based on Charity, it was the story of the Three Marbles. It was a nice reminder of what we need to do. Then came the game. It was a new game called Left Center Right. It is a face paced dice game for all ages that know the difference between left, right, and center. We in little time, played the game 4 times! We all had fun and laughed lots. Tasha, who brought her competitive side with her to the game, got a little discouraged that mom won the 1st 2 games and dad won the last 2. This is purely a game of chance, no skill whatsoever. But in the end, she was happy and had lots of fun. Even Payton had managed to ditch Buzz and join us. Tasha gave the closing prayer and remembered to bless the treats (OK, with a little reminder form her older sister). Does anyone else have issues with asking that peanut butter cookies strengthen and nourish our bodies? Great FHE! Thank you to the 7 year old!

Incredible

2011-09-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.kpho.com/story/15361058/arizona-man-describes-shears-impaling-eye-socket

Quote of the Day...

2011-08-26T09:32:00.000-07:00

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children..

.to leave the world a better place..

.to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Rain

2011-08-25T11:20:00.000-07:00

The phrase "raining cats and dogs" originated in 17th Century England. During heavy downpours of rain, many of these poor animals unfortunately drowned and their bodies would be seen floating in the rain torrents that raced through the streets. The situation gave the appearance that it had literally rained "cats and dogs" and led to the current expression.

A Wise Tale...

2011-08-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

An old Cherokee told his Grandson, “My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It has anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies, and ego. The other is good. It has joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy, and truth.” The boy thought about it and asked, “Grandfather, which wolf wins?” The old man replied with, “The one you feed.”

Quote of the Day...

2011-08-19T11:02:00.000-07:00

Character is power.

Booker T. Washington

I Love Summer !

2011-07-27T19:53:00.000-07:00

Solar Power Baby !

2011-07-27T11:05:00.001-07:00

Watch This Video !

The New York Jets: Class Act

2011-07-25T11:02:00.000-07:00

During the lockout, the Jets (along with a number of other teams) came under a lot of scrutiny for their decision to cut salaries, furlough employees and generally pinch pennies.

So it's fantastic to hear that Jets owner Woody Johnson has already told his employees that all the money they lost during the lockout will be immediately repaid.

Per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, all team employees who had their wages cut -- including coaches -- will be fully reimbursed for the amount of money docked.

In a sign of just how serious Johnson is with repairing goodwill, the employees were apparently paid before they left the meeting.

Quote of the Day...

2011-07-22T09:17:00.001-07:00

“To know what people really think, pay regard to what they do, rather than what they say.”

-Rene Descartes

We Survived...

2011-07-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

TO ALL THE

KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE

1930s, '40s, '50s, '60s and '70s!!

First, we survived

Being born to mothers who may have smoked and/or drank

While they were

Pregnant.

They took aspirin,

Ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then, after that

Trauma, we were

Put to sleep

On our tummies

In baby cribs

Covered

With bright colored

Lead-based paints.

We had no

Childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets,

And, when we

Rode our bikes,

We had baseball

Caps,

Not helmets, on

Our heads.

As infants and

Children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts,

No air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes..

Riding in the

Back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water

From the garden hose and not from a bottle.

We shared one

Soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes,

White bread, real butter, and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar.

And we weren't overweight.

WHY?

Because we were

Always outside playing...that's why!

We would leave

Home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights

Came on.

No one was

Able to reach us all day.

--And, we were

OKAY.

We would spend

Hours building

Our go-carts out

Of scraps

And then ride

Them down the hill,

Only to find

Out we forgot the brakes.. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned

To solve the problem..

We did not

Have Play Stations, Nintendos and X-boxes. There were

No video games,

No 150 channels on cable,

No video movies

Or DVDs,

No surround-sound or

CDs,

No cell phones,

No personal computers,

No Internet and

No chat rooms.

WE HAD FRIENDS

And we went

Outside and found them!

We fell out

Of trees, got cut,

Broke bones and

Teeth,

And there were

No lawsuits

From those accidents.

We would get

Spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping-pong paddles, or just a bare hand,

And no one would call child services to report abuse.

We ate worms,

And mud pies

Made from dirt,

And

The worms did

Not live in us forever.

We were given

BB guns for our 10th birthdays, 22 rifles for our 12th, rode horses,made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and

-although we were

Told it would happen- we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes

Or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just

Walked in and talked to them.

Little League had

Tryouts

And not everyone

Made the team.

Those who didn't

Had to learn

To deal with

Disappointment.

Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing

Us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have

Produced some of the best risk-takers,

Problem solvers, and

Inventors ever.

The past 50

To 85 years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas..

We had freedom,

Failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

If YOU are

One of those born

Between 1925-1971, CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want

To share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids before the lawyers

and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.

While you are

at it, forward it to your kids, so they will know how brave and lucky their parents

were.

Kind of makes

you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ?

I have a riddle...

2011-07-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

There are only three words in the English language which end in "dous". Can you name them?

Are you Serious????

2011-07-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

I came across the original lyrics to the Pirates of the Caribbean song for the Disneyland ride...UNBELIEVABLE ! Stop Reading if you are feint of heart...

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.

We pillage, we plunder, we burp, and fart,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We'll kill your old pappy and pull out 'is heart,
Drink up me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We rape, we murder, we murder, and rape,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We rape, and we rape, oh we really like rape,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We vivisect, torture, wedgie, and bite,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We run with no pants on, we're really a fright,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
Set fire to a pet store, cut off your legs,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
We tell our own grandma to go suck eggs,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.
We're liars, white slavers, perverts, and cads,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.
Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads,
Drink up, me 'earties, yo ho

By the way, Disney changed the lyrics in 1997. They also have a version that aires on Spring break. The original version sung by the pirates as guests sailed by, was a ribald, brutally frank tune about the lives of real, historical pirates. Yes, even Disney has a past...

Got Your Ticket?

2011-07-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

Perhaps this makes it simple enough for our government to understand citizen’s feelings today, as I don't think they get it.

This was written by a Mexican who is now a naturalized US Citizen, and I think it's a great explanation of the illegal immigration issue.

Here is the quote:

"If you had tickets to a sports event, concert, Disneyland, or for an airline flight, and when you got to your assigned seat you found someone else was in that seat, what would you do? You would call for a person in charge of ticket checking and have the person in your seat removed. You would properly be asked to show your ticket, and you would gladly and proudly do so, for you have bought and paid for that seat. The person in your seat would also be asked for a ticket, which they would not be able to produce. They would be called "gate crashers" and they would properly be removed.

Now in this huge stadium called the USA we have had millions of gate crashers. We have been asking security to check for tickets and remove the gate crashers. We have been asking security to have better controls in checking at the door. We have asked security to lock the back doors. Security has failed us. They are still looking the other way. They are afraid to ask to see the tickets. Many people say there is unlimited seating, and whether there is or not, no one should be allowed in for free while the rest of us pay full price!

In "section AZ", of "Stadium USA", we have had enough of the failures of Security. We have decided to do our own ticket checking, and properly remove those who do not have tickets. Now it seems very strange to me that so many people in the other 49 "sections", and even many in our own "section" do not want tickets checked, or even to be asked to show their ticket! Even the head of Security is chastising us, while not doing his own job which he has sworn to do.

My own ticket has been bought and paid for, so I am proudly going to show it when asked to do so. I have a right to my seat, and I want the gate crashers to be asked to show their tickets too. The only reason that I can imagine anyone objecting to being asked for their ticket is that they are in favor of gate crashing, and all of the illegal activities that go with it, such as drug smuggling, gang wars, murder, human smuggling for profit, and many more illegal and inhumane acts that we are trying to prevent with our new legislation. Is that what I am hearing from all of the protestors such as Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, US Rep. Raul Grijalva, even President Obama? If you are not in favor of showing tickets, (proof of citizenship, passport, green card, or other legal document) when asked, as I would do proudly, then you must be condoning those illegal activities."

Let me know what you think...

10 Things You May or May Not Know about the $th of July...

2011-07-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

The Declaration of Independence, signed in 1776, was meant to justify a revolt against the British, with a list of charges against the British king

The Fourth of July commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. It was initially adopted by Congress on July 2, 1776, but then it was revised and the final version was adopted two days later.

Several countries used the Declaration of Independence as a beacon in their own struggles for freedom. Among them, France. Then later, Greece, Poland, Russia and many countries in South America.

The "Star Spangled Banner" wasn't written until Francis Scott Key wrote a poem stemming from observations in 1814, when the British relentlessly attacked Baltimore's Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. It was later put to music, though not decreed the official national anthem of the United States until 1931.

Three U.S. presidents actually died on July 4. Two of them passed away within hours of each other on July 4, 1826: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. The two had been political rivals and then friends later in life. The other to share the distinction was James Monroe, who died July 4, 1831

Oh how we’ve grown: In 1776, about 2.5 million people lived in the newly independent United States, according to the U.S. Censure Bureau. In 2011, 311.7 million Americans will celebrate Independence Day.

On July 6, 1776, the Pennsylvania Evening Post became the first newspaper to print the now-historic Declaration of Independence.

"Yankee Doodle," one of many patriotic songs in the United States, was originally sung prior to the Revolution by British military officers who mocked the unorganized and buckskin-wearing “Yankees” with whom they fought during the French and Indian War.

The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men representing the 13 colonies. The moment marked the beginning of all-out war against the British. The American Revolutionary War is said to have started in 1775, however. The Declaration was signed more than two years after Boston officials refused to return three shiploads of taxed tea to Britain, fueling colonists to dump the tea into the harbor in what became the infamous Boston Tea Party.

As Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration, Britain's army was on its way toward to New York Harbor. It began:

"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

Quote of the Day

2011-06-27T09:09:00.001-07:00

Young people need models, not critics.

~John Wooden

Homeless Boy with an Amazing Voice Wows Audiences

2011-06-22T19:22:00.001-07:00

It Could Happen...

2011-06-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

Diamondbacks utility man Willie Bloomquist is about the farthest thing you can find from Babe Ruth in the power department, but Bloomquist borrowed a page from Ruth on Wednesday and made a sick kid's wish come true by smacking a home run.

Every homestand, Bloomquist invites a patient from Phoenix Children's Hospital to attend a game at Chase Field. On Wednesday night, it was 14-year-old Abe Speck, who predicted before the game that Bloomquist was going to homer.

But unlike Ruth, who actually promised he would go deep during a game in 1926, Bloomquist, who had 14 career home runs entering the game, tried to tell Abe a long ball isn't likely.

"This kid he goes, 'If you hit a home run, will you point to me?' " Bloomquist said. "I go, 'Buddy, I don't hit a lot of home runs, that's wishful thinking.' He goes, 'No, you're going to hit a home run tonight, and if you do, will you point to me?' "

In the third inning, Bloomquist lined a 2-0 fastball from San Francisco's Madison Bumgarner into the left-field stands.

"I hit that and I'm like, 'There is no way that just happened,' " Bloomquist said. "I'm almost tearing up, going, 'This is incredible.' That came from another power. That wasn't me that hit that ball. That came from somewhere else. That made that little boy's night."

When he got to the plate, he pointed up toward Abe in Section 129.

"I understand he was pretty ecstatic," Bloomquist said. "That's probably the coolest story I've had since I was in the big leagues."

President Trivia

2011-06-12T20:58:00.000-07:00

How many Presidents were only children?

Quote of the Day

2011-06-02T09:17:00.000-07:00

You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humor in anything, even poverty, you can survive it.

Bill Cosby

Quote of the Day...

2011-05-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must

undergo a radical revolution of values. We must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a

person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered

more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable

of being conquered.

~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Presidents

2011-05-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

Grover Cleveland is the only candidate ever to be elected to one term, defeated for a second term, and then elected again four years later. Thus, he became both the 22nd president and the 24th president.

Do it Anyway...

2011-05-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best that you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

-Mother Teresa

FYI...

2011-05-10T14:48:00.000-07:00

Nurses

Prior to the 1900s, male nurses were far more common than female nurses in nearly every country in the world. In current times, men now make up only 5.4% of registered nurses in the U.S. and only 13% of new nursing students in the now-female-dominated field.

The Debate on Kobe Continues...

2011-05-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

Kobe's Mutgshot

In case there was any debate on what a scumbag, bad teammate, and bad human kobe is, I have provided you with his post game quote following the 96-94 game one loss to Dallas. A game in which he took 29 shots, made less than half of them and had ZERO assists. He also managed to produce a turnover, get out muscled and create another turnover, and miss the potential game winning shot (all in the final 21sec of the game). Not bad for the game's best closer.

The truth is that Bryant, in the playoffs, has actually missed his last five game-tying or go-ahead shots from the field in the final 24 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime. In similar situations, Bryant couldn't connect in Game 6 last spring against Oklahoma City or Game 5 of the conference finals against Phoenix. And those misses were preceded by late clanks in 2009 in Game 3 of L.A.'s first-round series with Utah, as well as Game 2 of the NBA Finals against Orlando.

"We should've pounded the ball inside," Bryant said. "Our second unit has to do a better job in that regard. I felt like we stayed on the perimeter too much. ... It had nothing to do with me. I had games where I shot the ball 30 times and Pau had big offensive games those games. I'm going to do what I do. The second unit and crew has to get a conscious effort to get the ball into Pau and the ball into Andrew. I had games where I shot the ball 10 times and Pau and Andrew didn't contribute that much. I had games where I shot the ball 30 times and they had big games. It has nothing to do with my shots."

Just for the record, in the 2010-2011 season Kobe had 11 games where he took 26 shots or more. The Lakers were a pathetic 5-6 in those games. And for the record, those losses didn't always come against elite teams. Those losses were against Indiana, Sacramento, San Antonio, Boston, and Denver twice. The wins were against Phoenix, Portland, New York, and Minnesota twice. In the playoffs he has done it twice (once against New Orleans and once against Dallas) both were losses... shocking. Best part is that it's not like Kobe was blazing in those 11 games. In fact he failed to shoot 50%fg in 10 of those 11 games. He only managed to shoot 41%fg in those 11 games. The Lakers were 57-25 this season, thats a winning percentage of .695. When he takes less than 26 shots the Lakers have a winning percentage of .732. When he takes 26 shots or more they have a winning percentage of .454. In the 41 games this year where Kobe took 19 shots or less, the Lakers went 33-8 (.805 winning percentage). They are a perfect 14-0 when he shoots 15 shots or less.

As for Gasol having big games when kobes shoots volume shots..... in those same 11 games were kobe jacked 26 shots or more..... Gasol is averaging 15.6ppg on 13.9 shots per game. Yeah, big big games indeed.

***Thank you Dave...

Why Professional Athletes Can't Have Regular Jobs

2011-04-22T06:47:00.000-07:00

1. Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model:

"I wan' all dem kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I wan' all the kids to copulate me."

2. New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season:

"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first."

3. And, upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the 'Skin's say:

"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl,"

Matt Millen of the Raiders said: "To win, I'd run over Joe's Mom, too."

4. Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins:

"He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings.."

5. Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann:

"Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."

6. Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh :

"I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes."

(Now that is beautiful)

7. Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach:

"You guys line up alphabetically by height.."

And, "You guys pair up in groups of three, and then line up in a circle."

8. Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson going to prison:

"Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for three years, not Princeton ."

9. Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker:

"That's so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes."

10. Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regimen of heavyweight Andrew Golota:

"He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning, regardless of what time it is."

11. Chuck Nevitt , North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice:

"My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt."

(I wonder if his IQ ever hit room temperature in January)

12. Frank Layden , Utah Jazz president, on a former player:

"I asked him, 'Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?'

He said, 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.'"

13. Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F's and one D:

"Son, looks to me like you're spending too much time on one subject."

14. In the words of NC State great Charles Shackelford:

“I can go to my left or right, I am amphibious.”

15. Amarillo High School and Oiler coach Bum Phillips when asked by Bob Costas why he takes his wife on all the road trips,

Phillips responded: "Because she is too damn ugly to kiss good-bye."

Thank you Ben Stein...

2011-04-22T06:46:00.000-07:00

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish.

And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those

beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees... I don't

feel threatened.. I don't feel discriminated against.. That's

what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to

me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to

put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It

shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy

time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger

scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu

. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is

the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't

think Christians like getting pushed around for being

Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and

tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where

the concept came from, that America is an

explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the

Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from

that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship

God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm

getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering

where these celebrities came from and where the America

we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this

is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke;

it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane

Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?'

(regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely

profound and insightful response.. She said, 'I believe God is

deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been

telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government

and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I

believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to

give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us

alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings,

etc.. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she

was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't

want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said

you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou

shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as

yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when

they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped

and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed

suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking

about.. And we said okay..

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why

they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to

kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure

it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT

WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why

the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the

newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how

you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire,

but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people

think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and

obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion

of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to

many on your address list because you're not sure what they

believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of

us than what God thinks of us.

Top Dollar !

2011-04-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

Ever wondwer what the best of the best get paid? These numbers are Salary only, for 1 year

Sport                                         Athlete                                                                                 Money

Auto Racing                               Kimi Raikkonen                                                                    $26,333,333

Baseball                                    Alex Rodriguez                                                                      $32,000,000

Basketball                                  Kobe Bryant                                                                         $24,800,000

Beach Volleyball (Men)              Philip Dalhausser/Todd Rogers                                                   $387,700

Beach Volleyball (Women)         Larissa Franca/Juliana Felisberta Da Silva                                   $351,300

Billiards (Men)                           Darren Appleton                                                                         $118,494

Billiards (Women)                      Ga-Young Kim                                                                             $67,930

Bowling (Men)                           Walter Ray Williams Jr.                                                              $152,670

Bowling (Women)                      Shannon Pluhowsky                                                                     $40,300

Boxing                                       Manny Pacquiao                                                                   $32,000,000

Bull Riding                                  Renato Nunes                                                                         $1,594,527

Darts                                          Phil Taylor                                                                              $1,044,000

Distance Running (Men)              Samuel Wanjiru                                                                         $617,000

Distance Running (Women)        Liliya Shobukhova                                                                     $695,000

Drag Racing                                Larry Dixon                                                                            $1,371,000

Eating                                         Joey Chestnut                                                                            $218,500

Equestrian (Men)                       McLain Ward                                                                          $1,280,788

Equestrian (Women)                  Laura Kraut                                                                                $627,907

Fishing                                       Kevin Vandam                                                                           $915,500

Football                                     Peyton Manning                                                                     $15,800,000

Golf (Men)                                Luke Donald                                                                            $5,867,601

Golf (Women)                           Na Yeon Choi                                                                         $1,871,165

Hockey (Tie)                            Vincent Lecavalier                                                                  $10,000,000

                                                 Roberto Luongo                                                                     $10,000,000

Horse Racing (Jockey)              Ramon A. Dominguez                                                             $17,411,880

MMA                                       Brock Lesnar                                                                           $5,300,000

Poker                                       Jonathan Duhamel                                                                     $9,443,519

Racquetball                              Kane Waselenchuk                                                                      $300,000

Rodeo                                      Trevor Brazile                                                                              $507,920

Skiing (Men)                            Ivica Kostelic                                                                               $464,440

Skiing (Women)                       Lindsey Vonn                                                                               $509,542

Sled Dog                                 John Baker                                                                                     $50,400

Soccer                                    Cristiano Ronaldo                                                                     $19,500,000

Squash                                    Nick Matthew                                                                               $166,926

Sumo                                      Hakuho                                                                                         $400,000

Surfing (Men)                          Kelly Slater                                                                                   $516,000

Surfing (Women)                     Stephanie Gilmore                                                                         $140,700

Tennis (Men)                           Rafael Nadal                                                                            $10,171,998

Tennis (Women)                      Kim Clijsters                                                                              $5,035,060

Triathlon (Men)                       Tim Don                                                                                        $223,600

Triathlon (Women)                 Emma Snowsill                                                                              $239,800

Choosing a Response

2011-04-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

My ability to respond to a world,

Over which I have no control,

Is a powerful gift.

If I crumble in the face of adversity,

I have chosen to be

Weak and beaten down.

If I soar to the heights of happiness,

I have chosen to fly.

Situations will choose me,

But they will never own me.

How I react to them will always

Be a matter of my own choice.

Happy Birthday Tasha !!!

2011-03-31T06:36:00.000-07:00

It was 7 years ago today, that Tasha came to us to play !!!

March 17th, 1934

2011-03-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

Today is my Mom's 77th Birthday ! Happy Birthday Mom !

Her are 6 things you may not know about St. Patrick's Day...

1. St. Patrick's Day is an American holiday--the first St Patrick's Day parade took place in the United States on March 17,1762. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through--where else? New York City.
2. The NYC parade became the "granddaddy" of what it is today in 1848 when several New York Irish Aid societies decided to unite their smaller parades to become one. Today the parade is the world's oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States.

3. In the mid-19th century, the Irish who lived in America were Protestant and most were middle class and respected. After the Irish Potato Famine (starting in 1845) close to a million Irish people, many of them poor and uneducated Catholics, emigrated to the United States. It was at this time that the disdain for the Irish began, and signs like "No Irish Need Apply" began to proliferate.

4. As the 20th century got underway, the Irish began to realize there was strength in numbers and that politicians needed to care how the Irish felt about various matters. Over time, political hopefuls began appearing at the annual parade festivities. President Truman attended in 1948, and this meant a great deal to the Irish who had for so long felt the pain of racial prejudice.
5. Today there are 36.5 million U.S. residents with Irish roots--this is almost nine times the population of Ireland itself. (U.S. Census Bureau)

6. And finally, why do we wear green if we want to show allegiance to Ireland? Some say the wearing of the green relates to the Celtic practice of wearing green during the vernal equinox. Others say the tradition was begun by school children. Certainly, we can all agree that green is the perfect color for the day. Ireland itself is often called the "Emerald Isle" because of the lushness of its greenery. Green is the color of the shamrock, and it does remind people of the coming of springtime, promising the hope that we will pull out of the gray of winter.

Bob Uecker...AKA Harry Doyle

2011-03-04T10:56:00.000-08:00

"The biggest thrill a ballplayer can have is when your son takes after you. That happened when my Bobby was in his championship Little League game. He really showed me something. Struck out three times. Made an error that lost the game. Parents were throwing things at our car and swearing at us as we drove off. Gosh, I was proud."

The Value of the Onion

2011-03-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people, there was a Doctor who visited many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu. Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it, and many died.

The doctor came upon one farmer, and to his surprise, everyone in the household was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different, the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one, and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

Now, I heard this story from a hairdresser in AZ. She said that several years ago many of her employees were coming down with the flu and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work... (And no, she is not in the onion business.)

The moral of the story is, buy some onions and place them in bowls around your home. If you work at a desk, place one or two in your office or under your desk or even on top somewhere. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year, and we never got the flu.

If this helps you and your loved ones from getting sick, all the better. If you do get the flu, it just might be a mild case....Whatever, what have you to lose? Just a few bucks on onions!!!

Now there is a P.S.. to this, for I sent it to a friend in Oregon who regularly contributes material to me on health issues. She replied with this most interesting experience about onions:

Thanks for the reminder. I don't know about the farmer's story...but I do know that I contracted pneumonia, and needless to say I was very ill. I came across an article that said to cut both ends off an onion. Put one end on a fork, and then place the forked end into an empty jar...placing the jar next to the sick patient at night. It said the onion would be black in the morning from the germs. Sure enough, it happened just like that...the onion was a mess, and I began to feel better.

Another thing I read in the article was that onions and garlic placed around the room saved many from the black plague years ago. They have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties.

This is the other note: LEFTOVER ONIONS ARE POISONOUS! I have used an onion which has been left in the fridge. Sometimes I don't use a whole one at one time, so I save the other half for later. Now with this info, I have changed my mind. I will buy smaller onions in the future.

I had the wonderful privilege of touring Mullins Food Products, makers of mayonnaise. Mullins is huge, and is owned by 11 brothers and sisters in the Mullins family. My friend, Jeanne, is the CEO. Questions about food poisoning came up, and I wanted to share what I learned from a chemist. The guy who gave us our tour is named Ed.. He's one of the brothers. Ed is a chemistry expert and is involved in developing most of the sauce formula. He's even developed sauce formula for McDonald's. Keep in mind that Ed is a food chemistry whiz.

During the tour, someone asked if we really needed to worry about mayonnaise. People are always worried that mayonnaise will spoil. Ed's answer will surprise you. Ed said that all commercially-made mayo is completely safe. "It doesn't even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it, but it's not really necessary." He explained that the pH in mayonnaise is set at a point that bacteria could not survive in that environment. He then talked about the quintessential picnic, with the bowl ofpotato salad sitting on the table and how everyone blames the mayonnaise when someone gets sick.

Ed says that when food poisoning is reported, the first thing the officials look for is when the 'victim' last ate ONIONS and where those onions came from (in the potato salad?). Ed says it's not the mayonnaise (as long as it's not homemade mayo) that spoils in the outdoors. It's probably the onions, and if not the onions, it's the POTATOES.

He explained, onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked onions.. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion. He says it's not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in your refrigerator.

It's already contaminated enough just by being cut open and out for a bit, that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions you put on your hotdogs at the baseball park!)

Ed says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you'll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put it on your sandwich, you're asking for trouble. Both the onions and the moist potato in a potato salad will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial mayonnaise will even begin to break down.

So, how's that for news? Take it for what you will. I (the author) am going to be very careful about my onions from now on. For some reason, I see a lot of credibility coming from a chemist and a company that produces millions of pounds of mayonnaise every year.

Also, dogs should never eat onions. Their stomachs cannot metabolize onions.

Please remember it is dangerous to cut onions and try to use it to cook the next day. It becomes highly poisonous for even a single night and creates toxic bacteria which may cause adverse stomach infections because of excess bile secretions and even food poisoning.

It Finally Happened...

2011-03-03T11:36:00.000-08:00

March is the month that we have to register our 1996 Nissan Sentra. Because it is so old, we never renew it for more than one year at a time, because it would be a bad omen to renew it for two. This year, it required the emissions test. No worries, it passed with flying colors. I am not sure how they measure the emissions, they never even started the engine. Anyway, it passed. But, here is the funny part:

Emissions Test: $27.75
Renewal Fee: $27.64

Yes, that's right. the so called emissions test was more expensive that the renewal fee !

Gotta love it !

The Great Albert Pujols

2011-02-17T12:07:00.000-08:00

Albert Pujols is arguably one of the best players ever to play the game of baseball. He has always done things right. As best as I know, he is old school. Come to work, work hard, prepare well, have fun. Play the game with integrity. He has spent his whole career in a St Louis Cardinal uniform. All this is true....until now.

This is a contract year for him. He is in the last year of his contract, so after the World Series, he will become a free agent. The goal of the team, and Albert, was to sign him to a new contract, before he ever hits the open market. Both wanted to get it done. So it seemed. Both agreed on a deadline (yesterday) to get it done. Neither side wanted to let this situation become a distraction to the team or their season.

The deadline came and went. No deal. Surprised? No, not really. Until you hear of what actually went down.

Everyone who claims they are experts, claimed to have an idea of the money that was to be. Albert was going to be a $200 million man. That is to say, the total value of the contract would have to be worth $200 million over the life of the contract. Don't be fooled. This IS a lot of money. Some people have speculated that the hold up in the negotiations between the two sides was the amount of years of the contract. Albert wanted more years, the Cardinals didn't want to commit to the 10 years Albert was asking for. But Pujlos himself had come out to say that is not the issue. So, is it the money?

Here is the word on the street: The Cardinals offered $200 million for eight years, possibly with an opportunity for Pujols to obtain an ownership stake in the franchise once his playing days are complete. There is is. The offer. $200 million. Sounds good, right? This offer was rejected. REJECTED ! Really? Are you kidding? The team ponied up the money, and Albert himself said the issue was not the years, so what is the problem?

This is where we, the fan, gets SCREWED ! Why don't more of us have season tickets? Better yet, why don't more of us go to a game that we don't receive free tickets too? Because of the price of the ticket. Tickets are sooo expensive because the best players, always want more. Because $200 million isn't enough for Albert.

I actually read (yes, I do read) in an article by ESPN that Pujols was receiving pressure by the players union not to sign the $200 million offer. Why? And this is mind blowing...because of the implications this one contract will have on future contracts. The union wants him to get more, so it will raise the bar for the future. More...more...more...it begs the question, how much is too much?

I was hoping that Albert was going to be different. It wasn't going to be about the money. It was about the love of the game. It was about playing for HIS team, HIS town. Remember who gave you the chance to be great? Who made you who you are (were)?

By the way...his current salary? He will make $16 million this season in his contract's final year, with $4 million of the money deferred with no interest. Chump change. To paraphrase a basketball player once about a time..."How can I feed my children on that?

Pujols is the only player in major league history to hit 30 or more home runs each of his first 10 seasons -- all with the Cardinals, the franchise he's often said he wants to remain with for the rest of his career. This doesn't seem to be true anymore, even if he still says it is.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...Money has corrupted and ruined professional sports. The NFL is currently about to shut its doors for next year because owners and player cannot agree on the billions of dollars to be paid to both sides. Yes, BILLIONS !

Albert, I love your game and what you brought to the ballpark everyday. Players like you brought joy to the fans. But now, you are just another greedy player, and what is worse, you broke the hearts of your fans.

So, the next time you want to go to a game and can't, think of the likes of Albert Pujols, arguably one of the best players ever to play the game of baseball. He turned us away.

Go Kyra !

2011-01-26T18:15:00.000-08:00

Here they are...the 2010-2011 City of Tempe 7th Grade Softball Champions !

Quote of the Day...

2011-01-26T10:16:00.000-08:00

When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.

-Catherine Ponder

Question of the Day...

2011-01-26T10:07:00.000-08:00

What do John Jacob Astor, the first U.S. millionaire, and John D. Rockefeller, America’s first billionaire, have in common?

They were both high school dropouts.

Did You Know...

2011-01-24T10:43:00.000-08:00

Theodore Roosevelt was the only U.S. president to deliver an inaugural address without using the word "I". Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower tied for second place, using "I" only once in their inaugural addresses.

Quote of the Day

2010-12-14T07:43:00.000-08:00

“As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it.”

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Did You Know...

2010-12-09T06:41:00.000-08:00

Armored knights raised their visors to identify themselves when they rode past their king. This custom has become the modern military salute.

Tasha the Fearless

2010-12-07T19:34:00.000-08:00

Joke of the Day...

2010-12-06T10:02:00.000-08:00

Golfing

Two golfers met at the club. "I heard about your terrible tragedy last week," said one.

"Yes," said the other sadly, sipping his drink. "I was playing a two-some with Winthrop, and he dropped dead on the ninth hole."

"I understand you carried him all the way back to the clubhouse too," the first man said sympathetically. "That must have been very difficult, considering Winthrop weighed over two hundred and fifty pounds."

"The carrying wasn't that hard. It was putting him down at every stroke, then picking him up again that wore me out."

Joke of the Day...

2010-10-29T17:17:00.000-07:00

A dyslexic man walked into a bra...

In the typical NBA season...

2010-10-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

In honor of the NBA, which is opening their season Tuesday.

There are:

3           Coaches Fired

32          Triple Double

49          Ejections

50         Players Traded

50         Games Decided by One Point

173         Games Decided by 20+ Points

409         DQ's

448         Players Who Score at Least Point

451         Overtime Minutes

1230       Games

8870       Dunks

11661      Blocks

15462      Three Pointers

17795      Steals

20000     Pairs of Shoes Worn by Players

27303      Offensive Rebounds

30925      Fast Break Points

35383      Turnovers

45000      Cases of Water Drunk by Players

52089      Assists

53087      Personal Fouls

59040      Regulation Minutes

74546     Defensive Rebounds

244066    Points

WW: Chip off the ol' block...

2010-10-20T00:18:00.000-07:00

Quote of the Day

2010-10-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

Do you know who said...

Fun is good.

Quote of the Day

2010-10-15T09:53:00.000-07:00

“Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don’t. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it and if it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would most likely be worth it.”

The year...1910

2010-10-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

The year is 1910

One hundred years ago.

What a difference a century makes!

Here are some statistics for the Year 1910:

************ ********* ************

The average life expectancy for men was 47 years.

Fuel for this car was sold in drug stores only.

Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.

Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.

There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads.

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower !

The average US wage in 1910 was 22 cents per hour.

The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year ..

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,

A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME .

Ninety percent of all Doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!

Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard.'

Sugar cost four cents a pound.

Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.

Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.

The Five leading causes of death were:

1. Pneumonia and influenza

2. Tuberculosis

3. Diarrhea

4. Heart disease

5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars ....

The population of Las Vegas , Nevada , was only 30!!!!

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn't been invented yet.

There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores.

Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health'

Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or domestic help.

There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A. !

My new favorite restaurant

2010-10-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to go out to lunch on Monday. I was in the mood for wings, so naturally, Hooters came to mind. After the jokes were told and the typical slams were discussed by me and my wife, I remembered seeing an add on Facebook for Buffalo Wild Wings. I went to the internet and found a location near me! Imagine that! Right around the corner! Well, almost. Walking into the place was amazing. The staff was courtious and seemed happy to see me. The server, dressed modestly in black, asked how my day was going and asked if I had ever been here before. I admitted i was a vir...umm, this was my first time. As she walked me to the table, she took a moment to explain the place. After sitting down, I was in guy heaven. Wall to wall TV's. Every sports channel on at the same time. TV's ranging fron medium size to at least 150". It was a fun atmosphere. The service was pretty good. The waiter was informative, friendly, and seemed happy to be there. My drink was never even close to hitting the bottom. Food was served quickly and hot. I even ordered at the end of the meal a to go order. It was at the table in record time. The wings were delicious. The dipping sauce was delicious. The french fries were..well delicious. The price? Moderate. Not cheap, but not expensve either. $7.99 gets you the picture you see above. I would recommend the place. The only issue I had was thet have 18 different flavors of wings. How do you choose?

So, when are we going ???

Why, It's incredible

2010-10-05T13:15:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you combine old vegetables, moldy fruit, pine needles, leaves, grass clippings potato peelings, unpaid bills (and paid), stale bread, egg shells, grapefruit rinds, oranges, old pasta, grapes, flowers, moldy cheese, apple cores,watermelon rinds, peanut shells, banana peels, old salad, burnt oatmeal (sorry H), vacuum cleaner bag contents, old beer (just kidding)?

Why, the best mulch you could ever want !

This post is dedicated to the Sauer's who gave us the wisdom to compost and the Draney's, who lent us their chickens to help with the cockroach infestation (yes, it was bad, I learned it was normal, and moved on). H and I look forward to a very productive garden !

What is it about me?

2010-10-02T22:23:00.000-07:00

Why am I so approachable? Why is it a done deal whenever there is anyone at a Circle K, they will almost bull rush me to ask for "help?" I am not a tall individual, but nor am I considered small. I get out of my car, walk with a purpose, get inside, and then I am doomed. How can I get to my car and avoid being hit up? Tonight, I pull up to the store and there is a young kid (20ish), hanging outside the far side of the door. I see him. I get out, walk quickly to the store, never looking in that direction, not even looking up, definitely not acknowledging his presence. I get my stuff, get in the slow lane (OK, there was only one lane, but the guy in front of me is arguing about the change he did/did not get, I always get behind this guy), finally get to pay, and head out the door. I walk with authority to my car. Of course, the guy just hanging out has now positioned himself on this side of the door, between the store and my car. I go wide, walking in the parking lot, hoping I can just get in my car and go. My keys are out and ready to go. To no avail, of course. The guy, in his most desperate voice, walks towards me and utters, "Hey buddy, can you help me out?" Now, I have made every attempt to seem like the guy you do not ask. It is obvious that I have gone out of the way to avoid all contact. But without fail, they ask. Now I know, I can just say no. And sometimes I do, but usually I am willing. How do they know that? It's not like they would see me and know that I always say no and t hen know not to ask.

So tell me...what is it about me?

Couldn't Have Happened To A Better Guy !

2010-09-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

You can't make this stuff up !

Charity-minded callers are getting intercepted by a sex phone line because of a misprint on Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco's namesake cereal boxes.

Because of a wrong toll-free prefix for a number listed on Ochocinco's cereal, callers are directed to a phone sex line instead of a children's charity.

The phone number is supposed to connect callers to Feed the Children, which benefits from sales of "Ochocinco's". But because the box has the wrong toll-free prefix, they get a seductive-sounding woman who makes risque suggestions and then asks for a credit card number.

Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. said Thursday it was pulling all Ochocinco cereal boxes from its grocery shelves because of the error. Some local stores had them on special display after the launch about a month ago.

Pittsburgh-based PLB Sports Inc., which specializes in limited-edition products featuring star athletes and their favorite charities, apologized for the error in a statement Thursday. The statement said the boxes will be re-issued with the correct toll-free number.

Ochocinco told WCPO-TV that the number was clearly a mistake and he's sure that the maker will fix the problem.

As of Thursday afternoon, he hadn't mentioned the error in any of his frequent messages on the Twitter social media site. On Wednesday, he had urged fans to go to his website to order the cereal and "Start your day with a lil suga!!!"

Tara Sands of Reading, Ohio, told WCPO-TV and the Cincinnati Enquirer that her family called the number on the box hoping to learn more about the charity.

"We don't need anything to give our Bengals a bad name, especially Chad," Sand told WCPO. "He's obviously trying to do something great by doing this [for] 'Feed The Children.'

Mistake??? Or publicity ??

How bad are the Diamondbacks?

2010-09-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

The Arizona Diamondbacks have set a dubious record: most strikeouts by batters in a season.

Arizona reached 1,400 strikeouts in the sixth inning of Tuesday's game against Colorado when Adam LaRoche swung through strike three against Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa. Milwaukee set the previous record of 1,399 in 2001.

If you do the math, the D-Backs are on pace to finish with over 1,500 this season. They have averaged almost 10 K's per game! That is over 1 strikeout every single inning. That leaves 2/3's of the outs playable. No wonder they have lost 91 games ( to only 60 wins) and have the third worst record in baseball.

Third baseman Mark Reynolds has been Arizona's most frequent whiffer this season with 201, 22 short of the record he set last year. If he is lucky, he will not surpass that record.

As far as attendance goes, Chase Field has a listed capacity of 48,500. They have sold out one game, the night Louis Gonzales had his number retired. The average has only been 24,718 and the season low (also franchise low) is 15,509. This ranks 21st out of 30 in the league. The best? The Yankees of course, at 46,354. The worst? The Cleveland Indians at 17,418.

Now you know how bad they really are...not the worst, but bad!

New Moon Answer...

2010-09-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

The Answer is....

C

Cree

For the ladies...

2010-09-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

New Moon is the 2009 second edition of the Twilight Saga films based on author Stephanie Meyer's 2006 novel of the same name. Each actor whose character is a member of the "wolfpack" had to have papers proving his Native American decent. For example, Chaske Spencer (Sam Uley) is Lakota (Sioux). What Native American decent is actor Tyson Houseman (Quil Ateara), who was discovered at an open casting call? (Enter in the LETTER of the corresponding answer)

a) Apache

b) Lenape

c) Cree

Interesting Facts

2010-09-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

101 Dalmatians and Peter Pan (Wendy) are the only two Disney cartoon features with both parents that are present and don't die throughout the movie.

12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents daily.

315 entries in Webster's Dictionary will be misspelled.

A 10-gallon hat barely holds 6 pints.

A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off.

A cow produces 200 times more gas a day than a person.

A fully loaded supertanker travelling at normal speed takes a least twenty minutes to stop.

A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue.

A hard working adult sweats up to 4 gallons per day. Most of the sweat evaporates before a person realizes it's there.

A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.

Crayola Trivia Answer...

2010-09-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

Colors Available Beginning 1903

Number of Colors: 8

Black Brown Orange Violet Blue Green Red Yellow

Crayola trivia...

2010-09-13T11:56:00.000-07:00

In 1903, Binney & Smith introduced the first Crayola crayons. How many colors were there? For a bonus, what were the names of the colors?

Quote of the Day...

2010-09-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”

― William Arthur Ward

Monkey Business...

2010-09-04T12:21:00.000-07:00

This guy needs a job and decides to apply at the zoo. As it happened, their star attraction, a gorilla, had passed away the night before and they had carefully preserved his hide. They tell this guy that they'll pay him well if he would dress up in the gorillas skin and pretend to be the gorilla so people will keep coming to the zoo. Well, the guy has his doubts, but he needs the money, so he puts on the skin and goes out into the cage. The people all cheer to see him. He plays up to the audience and they just eat it up. During one acrobatic attempt, though, he loses his balance and crashes through some safety netting, landing square in the middle of the lion cage! As he lies there stunned, the lion roars. He's terrified and starts screaming, "Help, Help, Help!" The lion races over to him, places his paws on his chest and hisses, "Shut up or we'll BOTH lose our jobs!"

From the files of ktar.com...

2010-09-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

A wacky look at some sports headlines...

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart is being shopped around as he has presumably lost his starting job to Derek Anderson. Experts say Leinart is the biggest disappointment to come out of southern California since the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.

Leinart, the 10th pick in the first round by the Cardinals in 2006, never lived up to the hype he generated at USC. Luckily for Leinart though, he can never be the most infamous player to come from USC. That is, unless he murders his ex-wife and her boyfriend.

Leinart is upset at losing his starter's role and does not feel he was given a fair shot this preseason. Leinart says he was rushed and had no protection, ironically the same two reasons why he had a kid out of wedlock

In anticipation of the season-opener against the New England Patriots on Sept. 12 at Gillette Stadium, Ochocinco is already planning his touchdown celebration. "If I am able to score Week 1 in New England, I will be taking the Minutemen rifle and firing as they do when the Pats score," he wrote on Twitter. This came as great news to Commissioner Roger Goodell, because if there is one image the NFL is hoping to cultivate its PLAYERS AND GUNS.

Manny Ramirez was put on waivers and claimed by the Chicago White Sox. Ramirez said he is looking forward to playing in Chicago as he has "always been a fan of Canada."

Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett has signed with the UFL. And in future news, the UFL has been robbed and assaulted

I saved the best one for last...

BYU is going independent in football after all. BYU says it is leaving the Mountain West Conference and will go independent in football while joining the West Coast Conference in all other sports in the 2011-2012 school year. Originally, the WCC did not want BYU to join, but were worn down when BYU representatives kept riding their bikes to WCC officials' houses every weekend to ask to speak with them.

Hope you enjoyed the enough to chuckle...

Quote of the Day...

2010-08-31T13:27:00.000-07:00

Well done is better than well said.

Benjamin Franklin

Payton Jammin...

2010-08-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

Turns out that Payton is a Phil Collins fan...

The 5 W's of Trust

2010-08-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

Who can I trust

What can I trust

When can I trust

Where can I trust

Why should I trust

Figure these out, and your life will be blessed.

Quote of the Day...

2010-08-29T16:34:00.000-07:00

The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have.

Quote of the Day

2010-08-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quote of the Day...

2010-08-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

“Energy and persistence conquer all things.”

Benjamin Franklin

Joke of the Day...

2010-08-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

A married couple, both avid golfers, were discussing the future one night.

"Honey", the wife said, "If I were to die and you were to remarry, would you two live in this house?"

"I suppose so - it's paid for."

"How about our car? Continued the woman. "Would the two of you keep that?"

"I suppose so - it's paid for."

"What about my golf clubs? Would you let her use them too?"

"No," the husband blurted out.

"She's left-handed."

More Trivia...

2010-08-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

For my wife and all others...

In the 1989 movie sequel The Gods Must Be Crazy II, Xixo is trying to find his lost children after they are taken for in involuntary ride when they climb into the back of a water tank trailer passing through the area where Xixo's tribe lives. The two men are animal poachers. What specific animal are the men poaching?

a) Lions

b) Elephants

c) Giraffes

Joke Of The day....

2010-07-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

Lettuce Planting

A prisoner in jail receives a letter from his wife: "Dear Husband, I have decided to plant some lettuce in the back garden. When is the best time to plant them?"

The prisoner, knowing that the prison guards read all mail, replied in a letter: "Dear Wife, whatever you do, do not touch the back garden. That is where I hid all the money."

How to Remember It:

One reason this word trips us up is that both pour and pore are often followed by over.
But in this case it probably helps to think literally. When we're intently studying something, nothing is actually pouring (i.e. flowing, leaking) onto the object of study; in fact, if something did pour onto what you're poring over, your task would be far more difficult. The less familiar verb pore is correct.
(Pore actually has the same root as pour, but of course that only adds to the confusion.)