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Sunday, July 29, 2007
The Comics
I don't know why I find this 'B.C.' comic from July 26th so amusing.Maybe as a connoisseur of fine fruitcake,I just love a fruitcake joke:In July :-)Anyway,it is the comic of the week .
Friday, July 27, 2007
The Simpson's Movie & Other Stuff
Are we going to see 'The Simpson's Movie'?You bet!Not only were the trips born on the very same day as the Simpson's 1st half hour Tv show(Dec. 17th,1989),but as you can see from this photo{from around 100 years ago}we were big fans of the show even way back when.
It is always unsettling to go a cancer center of a hospital to get blood tests and consultations,but it was worth it.I'm going to get another colonoscopy done...this time by a specialist in Lima(times to be announced).It was worth it,though.I have never been accused of being part of the 'IN' crowd before,but people getting colonoscopies is really,really 'IN' right now.It seems everyone from the president to semi-famous bloggers are getting them.And I get to have TWO!
Meanwhile,back at the ranch,this weekend is 'Honda Homecoming' around this neck of the woods.Each year,here abouts,the Honda motorcycle plant(the only one in the U.S.) invites all their motorcycle owners back for a big three day shindig.Last night,just one road over,was the Bellefontaine Parade of Lights.Over a thousand motorcycles participated...a vast number duded up with neon lights and/or American flags.This video is just a taste.
In a verysolemn,
proud,
moment in
Bellefontaine
history,
only one of two Ohio appearances of
the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall this year is in our town.Robyn,Tyler and I went to view it tonight,and the multitude of names on the wall is very staggering and humbling.I was both numbed and honored to walk next to it.No matter how briefly it is here,while it is here,it is on very sacred ground.We plan on making a longer visit tomorrow.I will try to get photographs.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Robyn's Big 'Five-Oh'
The CNB turned the big 'Five-Oh' on the twenty third.In her typical fashion...we dragged it out for the whole weekend..PLUS!Of course it was really for the whole family[the family tradition is for me to read the books aloud to everyone],but just after midnight,early Saturday July 21st morning ,I bought the new 'Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows' book for Robyn.The line was three wide from one end of the cash registers by the flowers all the way to the far cash registers on the other end by the grociers at Wal-mart.They were even handing out different colored Hogwarts bracelets(I got the green Slytherin bracelet).The line was way too long for me,so I went to Kroger's and bought the book where there wasn't a line at all.
In the morning,we headed for Jeff and Jeani's.I did a fun buzz job (trimmed their trees)
and then...
...for payment they treated us to the Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest.
Here are Robyn, Jeff, Jeani & Maggie at the Rib Fest.
Thank you Jeff & Jeani :-) On Sunday,I made sure that Robyn's 'Signif- icant Birthday got men- tioned
at church{"We are not saying how old she is,but divide 100 in half and you will have the general idea."}
Next,The boys and I treated Robyn to 'Los Cabos',our local Mexican restaurant...
...just so we could see her wear
the funny sombrero as they sang
'Happy Birthday' to her in Spanish.
Finally,on her actual 50th Birthday ,we took her to a great place at Indian Lake called,'The Tilton Hilton'.It is called 'The Tilton Hilton because of the obvious tilt to it's floor.She got tons of presents:A DVD movie(World Trade Center)with popcorn and Hot Tamales;a brand new outfit-complete with Earthshoes,and the pièce de résistance:I got Robyn a receipt book with 50 pages good for fifty weeks of presents...minus Christmas and Mother's Day weeks,that's a full year of weekly presents!ONE PRESENT A WEEK FOR A YEAR!Pretty clever if I do say so myself...Yep,there will be surprises.
HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY CUTE AND BEAUTIFUL....and many more....
Sunday, July 22, 2007
What The Difinition Of 'IS Is-Pt. II
I never intended to write a follow up to my previous post,'What The Definition Of 'IS' Is',but the feedback that I got brought up some good points that I feel are worthy of further discussion.
In the previous post I basically asked just what was sex?The only sex that everyone agreed was sex was the actual act of sexual intercourse....
...though I interjected that in some cases even this could not even be considered sex -but love making-intercourse was the only common point that all participants agreed would be considered 'cheating' if you did it with someone else besides your spouse.
Besides intercourse the field ran the gauntlet of what was considered cheating.Some pointed out that even thinking about thinking about having sex with someone else other then your husband or wife could be considered cheating.On the other hand,I had a friend who once told me that even if he was caught in bed with another woman by his wife that he would deny it until the point that his wife would stop believing her own eyes and start believing him instead.
Of course,my friend is long since divorced,and if just thinking about thinking about sex is cheating then I am as guilty as him.
I am not a believer that every thought that you think condemns you.There is that little thing called 'temptation'.I look at it this way,if the thought itself condemns me,I might as well freakin' do the action.If I am already condemned:Why not do the action(if possible)?That's just the way I am.
Likewise,if I just think good thoughts...then it's just the same as doing good deeds then...right? Right?
Some of you are going to point out the error of my ways.After all,it was Jesus who said this just thinking about it claptrap.But it was also Jesus that would not condemn the adulteress.
In fact,it could be said that Jesus would not even have been around if not for adultery.Jesus came from the divine Davidic ancestral line.And how did this holy line of David begin?Yes,you guessed it...through adultery.
David,as King,could have as many wives and concubines as he wished.His sin was that he took Bathsheba-another man's wife-and has sex with her.I have told this story before,but the fact hasn't changed.The first son of this adulteress relationship died,but their next was was Solomon.Solomon was the first of a long line of sons of David kings....which all led up to not only the birth of Jesus,but to his holy heritage as well.
Does this mean that I am pro adultery?Not necessarily.What it does mean is that when we can not even agree on what cheating is,how can we be sure just thinking about it is sinful?For that matter,how can we be sure we even should be condemning at all?
Maybe Jesus was talking about something different entirely.There are other verses in the Bible about being careful where you put your treasure...for there is where your heart will be.No man can serve two masters.He will love one and hate the other.There are even other stories about people giving up all they have-or selling all they have-once they have found their true treasure.
I am not going so far as to say be careful what you wish for,but it is more like,be careful what you let your mind dwell.Temptation is fine and good,to a point.Perhaps,Jesus was saying that you can train your mind to concentrate and believe in what is healthy and good for you.
And,perhaps,through the story of David and Bathsheba,that maybe,just maybe,God works through us-faults and all.
This,is of course,only my Christian based thoughts on the subject.There are probably some of you out there that don't base your ideas of sex and things like adultery from the Christian perspective.Maybe some of you see these things as less of a sin/crime,and maybe some of you see them as more.
That makes this issue less black and white and on the whole more of a gray area,not to me-I have to live by my views-but in judging other peoples actions on these subjects.I could go harsh,or I could go tolernent.
Which way do you choose?
In the previous post I basically asked just what was sex?The only sex that everyone agreed was sex was the actual act of sexual intercourse....
...though I interjected that in some cases even this could not even be considered sex -but love making-intercourse was the only common point that all participants agreed would be considered 'cheating' if you did it with someone else besides your spouse.
Besides intercourse the field ran the gauntlet of what was considered cheating.Some pointed out that even thinking about thinking about having sex with someone else other then your husband or wife could be considered cheating.On the other hand,I had a friend who once told me that even if he was caught in bed with another woman by his wife that he would deny it until the point that his wife would stop believing her own eyes and start believing him instead.
Of course,my friend is long since divorced,and if just thinking about thinking about sex is cheating then I am as guilty as him.
I am not a believer that every thought that you think condemns you.There is that little thing called 'temptation'.I look at it this way,if the thought itself condemns me,I might as well freakin' do the action.If I am already condemned:Why not do the action(if possible)?That's just the way I am.
Likewise,if I just think good thoughts...then it's just the same as doing good deeds then...right? Right?
Some of you are going to point out the error of my ways.After all,it was Jesus who said this just thinking about it claptrap.But it was also Jesus that would not condemn the adulteress.
In fact,it could be said that Jesus would not even have been around if not for adultery.Jesus came from the divine Davidic ancestral line.And how did this holy line of David begin?Yes,you guessed it...through adultery.
David,as King,could have as many wives and concubines as he wished.His sin was that he took Bathsheba-another man's wife-and has sex with her.I have told this story before,but the fact hasn't changed.The first son of this adulteress relationship died,but their next was was Solomon.Solomon was the first of a long line of sons of David kings....which all led up to not only the birth of Jesus,but to his holy heritage as well.
Does this mean that I am pro adultery?Not necessarily.What it does mean is that when we can not even agree on what cheating is,how can we be sure just thinking about it is sinful?For that matter,how can we be sure we even should be condemning at all?
Maybe Jesus was talking about something different entirely.There are other verses in the Bible about being careful where you put your treasure...for there is where your heart will be.No man can serve two masters.He will love one and hate the other.There are even other stories about people giving up all they have-or selling all they have-once they have found their true treasure.
I am not going so far as to say be careful what you wish for,but it is more like,be careful what you let your mind dwell.Temptation is fine and good,to a point.Perhaps,Jesus was saying that you can train your mind to concentrate and believe in what is healthy and good for you.
And,perhaps,through the story of David and Bathsheba,that maybe,just maybe,God works through us-faults and all.
This,is of course,only my Christian based thoughts on the subject.There are probably some of you out there that don't base your ideas of sex and things like adultery from the Christian perspective.Maybe some of you see these things as less of a sin/crime,and maybe some of you see them as more.
That makes this issue less black and white and on the whole more of a gray area,not to me-I have to live by my views-but in judging other peoples actions on these subjects.I could go harsh,or I could go tolernent.
Which way do you choose?
The Comics
This July 18th political cartoon by Jeff Stahler of The Columbus Dispatch was by far the best comic of the week.
Friday, July 20, 2007
What The Definition Of 'IS' Is.
Warning:This post has very adult content.
At work we got into a very adult conversation.It seems that some people do not consider anything but sexual intercourse as 'sex'.To this,I strongly disagree...but I seem to be in the minority.Between the six of us(two men and four women)only us guys considered cunnilingus and fellatio {to use the polite terms}as actual sex.The gals seem to think that it wasn't sex at all.
I found this to be absolutely mind boggling.So I said,'So,these acts wouldn't be cheating,then?To which everyone said,'No,this would be considered cheating.'To which I asked,'Why?if it isn't sex how is it cheating?'
The girls all said that it was cheating because you would be being unfaithful to your spouse.'How?'I asked,'If it isn't considered 'sex',how could it be considered cheating?'
'Because,'they replied,'You are being intimate with someone besides your spouse.'
I had to laugh at this.I said I though that sex could be looking each other seductively in the eyes,or holding hands,or even naughty talk.I told them that I didn't see how sex could be seen any other way.To me,intercourse was just one aspect of sex,and that if this wasn't true,then what was foreplay?
All the ladies said that foreplay was not sex but what led up to sex.They said if I had it my way,you could have sex over the internet,which they said was impossible.They called chat rooms and naughty e-mails as mutual masturbation...you could get no diseases...you had no intimacy...you weren't even sure who it was on the other side of the screen...it couldn't be sex.
Like I said...mind boggling.To this my only argument was,then if it isn't considered sex...why is it called,'oral sex'?
My point..is Bill Clinton correct?Did what he have with Monica something other then sex?Has sex been pigeonholed into being the only one thing...or is it..simply..the one thing?I don't care if I am only in the minority 25%-I am for the broader term.
But what about you?Where do you stand on what is sex,and what is not?
At work we got into a very adult conversation.It seems that some people do not consider anything but sexual intercourse as 'sex'.To this,I strongly disagree...but I seem to be in the minority.Between the six of us(two men and four women)only us guys considered cunnilingus and fellatio {to use the polite terms}as actual sex.The gals seem to think that it wasn't sex at all.
I found this to be absolutely mind boggling.So I said,'So,these acts wouldn't be cheating,then?To which everyone said,'No,this would be considered cheating.'To which I asked,'Why?if it isn't sex how is it cheating?'
The girls all said that it was cheating because you would be being unfaithful to your spouse.'How?'I asked,'If it isn't considered 'sex',how could it be considered cheating?'
'Because,'they replied,'You are being intimate with someone besides your spouse.'
I had to laugh at this.I said I though that sex could be looking each other seductively in the eyes,or holding hands,or even naughty talk.I told them that I didn't see how sex could be seen any other way.To me,intercourse was just one aspect of sex,and that if this wasn't true,then what was foreplay?
All the ladies said that foreplay was not sex but what led up to sex.They said if I had it my way,you could have sex over the internet,which they said was impossible.They called chat rooms and naughty e-mails as mutual masturbation...you could get no diseases...you had no intimacy...you weren't even sure who it was on the other side of the screen...it couldn't be sex.
Like I said...mind boggling.To this my only argument was,then if it isn't considered sex...why is it called,'oral sex'?
My point..is Bill Clinton correct?Did what he have with Monica something other then sex?Has sex been pigeonholed into being the only one thing...or is it..simply..the one thing?I don't care if I am only in the minority 25%-I am for the broader term.
But what about you?Where do you stand on what is sex,and what is not?
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Harry Predictions
NOTE:The 'Great Andrew' predicts! I have no way of getting an advance copy of the latest Harry Potter book,'The Deathly Hallows',and even if I did,I would not divulge anything that is in it.These are simply my best predictions on what I think is going to happen in this,the final book.I base my predictions on my own writing skills.1:I predict that I will get most of these wrong.
2:Harry will die,BUT,through either Neville's or Malfoy's interference,the spell will be reversed and will kill Voldemort instead.
3:Darco Malfoy will die trying to save Harry.
4:Dumbledore lives.
5:Ron and Hermione will realize that they love each other when Ron almost dies or vanishes.
6:Sirius Black will return with somebody.
7:Wormtail will refuse to do Voldemort's bidding and will die a hero.
8:A house elf will deliver Harry and Neville up to 'He Who Must Not Be Named'.
9:There will be Quidditch.
10:It will be revealed that Dumbledoor and Snape traded places in the last book.
11:Luna Lovegood will be Harry's true love.
12:Snape will become the dark Arts teacher for good.
There you have it.How right/how wrong will I be????
Sunday, July 15, 2007
New Feature:The Comic Of The Week
*For newer comics,click on my logo and then scroll down*
I am trying out a new feature that I am going to call,'The Comic Of The Week'.Simply put,I will try to post on Sunday what I thought was the best cartoon of the past week.I make no claims of it being the funniest...just the best.I will start off with the best cartoon from last week,A Funky Winkerbean.In this July 3rd comic,Lisa Moore and her husband,Les,find out that Lisa is indeed dying from breast cancer.This was very unexpected(by me,anyway)and very very powerful.
This weeks comic almost felt like it was meant to be.After all,last week,I almost picked a Cleveland Browns joke as The Comic Of The Week.This August First Tank McNamara was just too topical and funny to resist.
This week's comic of the week comes from the August 21, 'Ripley's Believe It Or Not'.The fact that over half of Japan's 20 year olds use wireless internet service is just mind boggling.I don't know anyone who used this service.America is far behind on this.I have worked in northern California and have seen groves of these giant beautiful trees.Too bad soo many are gone.Rose bushes...all of these berries are related to rose bushes.One great fun strip this week.
This week's comic of the week is a tie.First,as the Funky Winkerbean 'Death Of Lisa' story intensifies,so does the strip.After a so-so week{with Les talking to his cat},this Saturday strip just blew me out of the water.I hardly ever get this emotionally attached-to anything.Great comic.
There are a ton of 'new' comic strips out there that I read daily...they are that good.'Moderately Confused';'Candorville';'Clear Blue Water';'Pibgorn';'Girls And Sports';'Frog Applause' and this favorite called 'Retail'.I just love this comic.It has great art work(love it),is always funny,and is so current and knows it's retail.It takes place in a fictional retali sore called,'Grumbel's'(think Wal-Mart in a mall).This August 31st funny made me LoL!
As the years unfold,the tragedies of 9/11 are slowly leaving the forefront of our attention spans.Soon,the day will be known simply as,'Patriot Day'.It will be just another day that we don't get mail and the banks are closed.It has already begun.Most 9/11 coverage was relegated to the second page and the day after.9/11 has become a secondary news story.
*For more recent cartoons,please click on my logo to get to the main page and then scroll down:-)*
I am trying out a new feature that I am going to call,'The Comic Of The Week'.Simply put,I will try to post on Sunday what I thought was the best cartoon of the past week.I make no claims of it being the funniest...just the best.I will start off with the best cartoon from last week,A Funky Winkerbean.In this July 3rd comic,Lisa Moore and her husband,Les,find out that Lisa is indeed dying from breast cancer.This was very unexpected(by me,anyway)and very very powerful.
Meanwhile,this week's choice is a different sort of choice.It is just plain funny(and topical).This Brewsters Rocket from Friday the 13th is a funny take off on Harry Potter.Using a cell phone in the gag is just TNT...very LOL funny.
This July 18th political cartoon by Jeff Stahler of The Columbus Dispatch was by far the best comic of the week.
I don't know why I find this 'B.C.' comic from July 26th so amusing.Maybe as a connoisseur of fine fruitcake,I just love a fruitcake joke:In July :-)Anyway,it is the comic of the week
This weeks comic almost felt like it was meant to be.After all,last week,I almost picked a Cleveland Browns joke as The Comic Of The Week.This August First Tank McNamara was just too topical and funny to resist.
This 'Slowpoke' comic from Monday,August ,6th,really pissed me off.As an Akron area native,I have usually been proud of Good-Year.This Comic Of The week just makes me sick.
Chip Bok,the Akron Beacon Journal's political cartoonist did this weeks best comic.This hilarious take on the NBA official caught gambling on games he refereed was first published on August,17th.It is darn tootin' funny.That is why it is the comic of the week:-)
This week's comic of the week comes from the August 21, 'Ripley's Believe It Or Not'.The fact that over half of Japan's 20 year olds use wireless internet service is just mind boggling.I don't know anyone who used this service.America is far behind on this.I have worked in northern California and have seen groves of these giant beautiful trees.Too bad soo many are gone.Rose bushes...all of these berries are related to rose bushes.One great fun strip this week.
This week's comic of the week is a tie.First,as the Funky Winkerbean 'Death Of Lisa' story intensifies,so does the strip.After a so-so week{with Les talking to his cat},this Saturday strip just blew me out of the water.I hardly ever get this emotionally attached-to anything.Great comic.
There are a ton of 'new' comic strips out there that I read daily...they are that good.'Moderately Confused';'Candorville';'Clear Blue Water';'Pibgorn';'Girls And Sports';'Frog Applause' and this favorite called 'Retail'.I just love this comic.It has great art work(love it),is always funny,and is so current and knows it's retail.It takes place in a fictional retali sore called,'Grumbel's'(think Wal-Mart in a mall).This August 31st funny made me LoL!
It is rare in today's comic world to come across a comic strip so fresh and fun that you don't know quite what to think of it.With 'Frog Applause',I don't even try.Half of Frog's appeal is to just go with it's unique blend of word and idea usage.The other half is that it is not afraid to be bold and daring.This may not your grandfather's comic strip,but then again,it depends on grandfather :-)
This strip from last Thursday is a classic example of the 'Frog Applause' attitude of daring you to use your imagination.I found it both erotic and somewhat not at the same time....just like the 'Apocalypse Now' reference it pays tribute to.
F.A. should be read by everyone:DAILY!.That is why is strip is the comic of the week.
As the years unfold,the tragedies of 9/11 are slowly leaving the forefront of our attention spans.Soon,the day will be known simply as,'Patriot Day'.It will be just another day that we don't get mail and the banks are closed.It has already begun.Most 9/11 coverage was relegated to the second page and the day after.9/11 has become a secondary news story.
And so it was with the funnies.Very few comic strips even acknowledged the events on the day at all.That is why this September 11th,'One Big Happy' comic struck me so well.It was current,actually put some thought into it's tribute,and went above it's normal daily punch line to honor that which others forgot.A job well done.That is why it is the comic of the week.
*For more recent cartoons,please click on my logo to get to the main page and then scroll down:-)*
Saturday, July 14, 2007
NEW MILLER CHILL
The thing about having anemia is that part of the condition of having it is that it makes you stupid and lazy.That's why I didn't notice it's effects on me...I thought it was just part of my natural condition.Hell,'Flaming Youth' {"I'm stupid and I'm lazy-if they only knew},by Kiss,has always been my mantra.How stupid and lazy am I? When I finally went for a exam,the doctor knew I had the problem immediately and did some blood tests(...'just to be sure').
After playing church league softball,I came home and at nine o'clock the doctor called(never a good sign a dr. calling after nine P.M.)saying my hemoglobin level was 5 gm/dl! Now,the normal hemoglobin levels for an adult male is between 14-18 gm/dl.The doctor said I needed a blood transfusion NOW!
I asked if it could wait until after work tomorrow.I could tell that Doc was upset("Wha...?No!Are you crazy!?!Well..if you absolutely must.But please,promise me you won't get into an accident!").
Side note:I didn't tell the doctor that my company was late on bringing me my check and I that really really needed it,and that they promised to bring it to work to me the next day.
Of course,they didn't get it to me.So at five P.M. the next night,I went into the hospital and got two units of blood! I didn't get home until after three A.M.,but I got up for work at 5:20 anyway.And OOh Baby[!] I didn't care.That blood made me feel so damn good that that next evening I drove the hour to pick up my check-even changed a flat tire.I didn't care.I was feelin' groovy!WoW!!!
That transfusion lasted a week on the good scale.
Since then,I have had my blood tested twice.Once-a few days after the transfusion -it registered at 8.5 gm/dl.The second time-after my ALLS WELL IN THE END-colonoscopy.It was 8.6.
I used to give blood(over two gallons-thank you very much),so even as stupid and lazy as I am I know that lost blood should be put back into your system within a day or two...not be almost steady for a couple weeks.That is why I am going back for more tests and more blood work in a week or so.
What really makes me worried is that in the past couple of days,have I felt like I did before the blood was given me.I remember how I felt with the blood...and I don't feel that way now.To quote Wilco,"My mind is a machine/it's lazy and it's dull".And I just feel like sitting.I just want to rest.I don't want to drive the over two hours today to go to a wedding.I just want to sit....
.....that is why I enjoy NEW MILLER 'CHILL'!It is the new beer from Miller-made Mexican Chelada style.I enjoy it's sour almost bitter 'lime'* taste as it hits the tip of my tongue and the cool salty after taste as it hits the back of my throat!Mmmmmmm-mmm,I can't get enough of 'em:-)
If I didn't know that it is wise to drink responsibly,I would drink them until I dropped!Wait!I'm stupid AND lazy...I CAN drink them until I drop.
Oooh,NEW MILLER CHILL...you make life
worth living..I love you soo.
[NEW MILLER CHILL is sold wherever any good
beverage can be purchased.Please drink
responsibly.]
*my post originally said 'lemony' ...but as Dharma nicely pointed out,it is a lime taste :-)
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Darn Good Readin'
This stuff is soo good..it's almost like Steven King(and the next two chapters are just as wild).They sure didn't show woman the respect that they rightfully do today....
JudgesChapter 19
At that time, when there was no king in Israel, there was a Levite residing in remote parts of the mountain region of Ephraim who had taken for himself a concubine from Bethlehem of Judah.
His concubine was unfaithful to him and left him for her father's house in Bethlehem of Judah, where she stayed for some four months.
Her husband then set out with his servant and a pair of asses, and went after her to forgive her and take her back. She brought him into her father's house, and on seeing him, the girl's father joyfully made him welcome.
He was detained by the girl's father, and so he spent three days with this father-in-law of his, eating and drinking and passing the night there.
On the fourth day they rose early in the morning and he prepared to go. But the girl's father said to his son-in-law, "Fortify yourself with a little food; you can go later on."
So they stayed and the two men ate and drank together. Then the girl's father said to the husband, "Why not decide to spend the night here and enjoy yourself?"
The man still made a move to go, but when his father-in-law pressed him he went back and spent the night there.
On the fifth morning he rose early to depart, but the girl's father said, "Fortify yourself and tarry until the afternoon." When he and his father-in-law had eaten,
and the husband was ready to go with his concubine and servant, the girl's father said to him, "It is already growing dusk. Stay for the night. See, the day is coming to an end. Spend the night here and enjoy yourself. Early tomorrow you can start your journey home."
The man, however, refused to stay another night; he and his concubine set out with a pair of saddled asses, and traveled till they came opposite Jebus, which is Jerusalem.
Since they were near Jebus with the day far gone, the servant said to his master, "Come, let us turn off to this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it."
But his master said to him, "We will not turn off to a city of foreigners, who are not Israelites, but will go on to Gibeah.
Come," he said to his servant, "let us make for some other place, either Gibeah or Ramah, to spend the night."
So they continued on their way till the sun set on them when they were abreast of Gibeah of Benjamin.
There they turned off to enter Gibeah for the night. The man waited in the public square of the city he had entered, but no one offered them the shelter of his home for the night.
In the evening, however, an old man came from his work in the field; he was from the mountain region of Ephraim, though he lived among the Benjaminite townspeople of Gibeah.
When he noticed the traveler in the public square of the city, the old man asked where he was going, and whence he had come.
He said to him, "We are traveling from Bethlehem of Judah far up into the mountain region of Ephraim, where I belong. I have been to Bethlehem of Judah and am now going back home; but no one has offered us the shelter of his house.
We have straw and fodder for our asses, and bread and wine for the woman and myself and for our servant; there is nothing else we need."
"You are welcome," the old man said to him, "but let me provide for all your needs, and do not spend the night in the public square."
So he led them to his house and provided fodder for the asses. Then they washed their feet, and ate and drank.
While they were enjoying themselves, the men of the city, who were corrupt, surrounded the house and beat on the door. They said to the old man whose house it was, "Bring out your guest, that we may abuse him."
The owner of the house went out to them and said, "No, my brothers; do not be so wicked. Since this man is my guest, do not commit this crime.
Rather let me bring out my maiden daughter or his concubine. Ravish them, or do whatever you want with them; but against the man you must not commit this wanton crime."
When the men would not listen to his host, the husband seized his concubine and thrust her outside to them. They had relations with her and abused her all night until the following dawn, when they let her go.
Then at daybreak the woman came and collapsed at the entrance of the house in which her husband was a guest, where she lay until the morning.
When her husband rose that day and opened the door of the house to start out again on his journey, there lay the woman, his concubine, at the entrance of the house with her hands on the threshold.
He said to her, "Come, let us go"; but there was no answer. So the man placed her on an ass and started out again for home.
On reaching home, he took a knife to the body of his concubine, cut her into twelve pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel.
Everyone who saw this said, "Nothing like this has been done or seen from the day the Israelites came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Take note of it, and state what you propose to do."
JudgesChapter 19At that time, when there was no king in Israel, there was a Levite residing in remote parts of the mountain region of Ephraim who had taken for himself a concubine from Bethlehem of Judah.
His concubine was unfaithful to him and left him for her father's house in Bethlehem of Judah, where she stayed for some four months.
Her husband then set out with his servant and a pair of asses, and went after her to forgive her and take her back. She brought him into her father's house, and on seeing him, the girl's father joyfully made him welcome.
He was detained by the girl's father, and so he spent three days with this father-in-law of his, eating and drinking and passing the night there.
On the fourth day they rose early in the morning and he prepared to go. But the girl's father said to his son-in-law, "Fortify yourself with a little food; you can go later on."
So they stayed and the two men ate and drank together. Then the girl's father said to the husband, "Why not decide to spend the night here and enjoy yourself?"
The man still made a move to go, but when his father-in-law pressed him he went back and spent the night there.
On the fifth morning he rose early to depart, but the girl's father said, "Fortify yourself and tarry until the afternoon." When he and his father-in-law had eaten,
and the husband was ready to go with his concubine and servant, the girl's father said to him, "It is already growing dusk. Stay for the night. See, the day is coming to an end. Spend the night here and enjoy yourself. Early tomorrow you can start your journey home."
The man, however, refused to stay another night; he and his concubine set out with a pair of saddled asses, and traveled till they came opposite Jebus, which is Jerusalem.
Since they were near Jebus with the day far gone, the servant said to his master, "Come, let us turn off to this city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it."
But his master said to him, "We will not turn off to a city of foreigners, who are not Israelites, but will go on to Gibeah.
Come," he said to his servant, "let us make for some other place, either Gibeah or Ramah, to spend the night."
So they continued on their way till the sun set on them when they were abreast of Gibeah of Benjamin.
There they turned off to enter Gibeah for the night. The man waited in the public square of the city he had entered, but no one offered them the shelter of his home for the night.
In the evening, however, an old man came from his work in the field; he was from the mountain region of Ephraim, though he lived among the Benjaminite townspeople of Gibeah.
When he noticed the traveler in the public square of the city, the old man asked where he was going, and whence he had come.
He said to him, "We are traveling from Bethlehem of Judah far up into the mountain region of Ephraim, where I belong. I have been to Bethlehem of Judah and am now going back home; but no one has offered us the shelter of his house.
We have straw and fodder for our asses, and bread and wine for the woman and myself and for our servant; there is nothing else we need."
"You are welcome," the old man said to him, "but let me provide for all your needs, and do not spend the night in the public square."
So he led them to his house and provided fodder for the asses. Then they washed their feet, and ate and drank.
While they were enjoying themselves, the men of the city, who were corrupt, surrounded the house and beat on the door. They said to the old man whose house it was, "Bring out your guest, that we may abuse him."
The owner of the house went out to them and said, "No, my brothers; do not be so wicked. Since this man is my guest, do not commit this crime.
Rather let me bring out my maiden daughter or his concubine. Ravish them, or do whatever you want with them; but against the man you must not commit this wanton crime."
When the men would not listen to his host, the husband seized his concubine and thrust her outside to them. They had relations with her and abused her all night until the following dawn, when they let her go.
Then at daybreak the woman came and collapsed at the entrance of the house in which her husband was a guest, where she lay until the morning.
When her husband rose that day and opened the door of the house to start out again on his journey, there lay the woman, his concubine, at the entrance of the house with her hands on the threshold.
He said to her, "Come, let us go"; but there was no answer. So the man placed her on an ass and started out again for home.
On reaching home, he took a knife to the body of his concubine, cut her into twelve pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel.
Everyone who saw this said, "Nothing like this has been done or seen from the day the Israelites came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Take note of it, and state what you propose to do."
Monday, July 09, 2007
Barry Bonds:Homerun Hero*
*'755'!That is the magic number....At least for Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds.A simple number really...nothing especially memorial about it... ...except...that is is the number of home runs that Major League Baseball hero Hank Aaron belted out...and the number that Major League Baseball villain Barry Bonds is about to break.
Barry,it seems,is a villain for all the reasons that Hank is a hero.Basically.Hank Aaron was an upstanding team player,well liked;well respected not only by his fans,but also by his fellow teammates.Mr.Bonds,on the other hand,does not appear to care about his fellow teammates or his fans.
Barry just wants to win.
What is wrong with that?So what if he used steroids and human growth hormones to keep his edge?Barry is a grade 'A' player-always has been-probably always will be.Why should a man of his talents be sitting the bench or retiring when he sees less talented grade 'C' players playing in front of him just because 'they' are using 'the stuff'?He shouldn't.He should be 'using' to extend his career.
My reasoning is clear.Why shouldn't he?For example,in 1967,rock & roll was threatening to pass The Beatles by.Newer bands like Pink Floyd and their psychedelic sounds were making The Beatles music sound quaint and irrelevant.So,what did The Beatles do?Pot and LSD...and came up with arguably the greatest rock & roll lp ever made,"Sgt.Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band".
Just why is it OK for The Beatles to extend their careers(and set records doing it)by using illegal drugs...and not Barry Bonds?
Besides,it is not like Barry is truly being compared to Hank Aaron.Hank Aaron played in the last true golden era of baseball.Integrated play,lower mounds,stiffer pitching,tighter strike zones,less souped up balls[well,not as consistently 'souped up' by the use of better technology],and most importantly,playing in slightly larger stadiums.MLB,as an organization,has changed the game more then Barry.'It could be said that Barry Bonds 'IS' the product of modern Major League Baseball.'
In fact,Barry Bonds shouldn't be compared to Hank Aaron and his record at all.A better comparison would be to Sadaharu Oh.Sadahuru Oh's record of 868(!)homeruns has always been discounted because it has been said that he played against weaker pitching,and,in smaller ballparks.But if you look at today's ballparks ,they are not far in size from their Japanese counterparts...not very far at all. It is a sad fact that Barry Bonds plays the pompous ass so damn well,otherwise,he would about to be universally recognized for the outstanding achievement he is about to accomplish...but...aah,Barry,by the way,you better get hopping,Yo,or you never will capture Sadaharu Oh's 868.
Friday, July 06, 2007
All Right In The End :-)
I went through my colonoscopy today.The doctor found no polyps,growths or anything else of the sort.Hurrah for me.All clean.They did take a second test where they shoved air up my 'you know what' and then did a CAT scan.I don't have those results back,yet,but my doctor thinks there is nothing in the old colon.Sooo,good news.Thank you all for you positive thoughts and/or prayers.Believe me,they helped:-)
HIKING The Buckeye trail:The Old Man's Cave Section
Though I had most of the week off,due to other time restraints, we didn't have the time to back-pack the Buckeye Trail for four days like we wanted to.
But Robyn was insistent that we,at least,do part of the BT this summer as a family.
So,we decided,if we couldn't back pack,why can't we find a nice base camp along the trail where we can do two quick day hikes.
Robyn stumbled upon the perfect spot while taking Tyler and Nikolas to check out Hocking Col- lege:The 'Old Man Cave' section of the BT.
She had been wanting to hike this section anyway,so when the opportunity for us to hike it came along......
...we took it.It was a two hour trip down Rt 33,but jamming to 'Summerteeth' by Wilco made it go by very quickly.
We got to our very nice 'camp- ground (thank you very much)called, 'Top O' The Caves' early enough on July 3rd to pick our choice of primitive camp sight...OK,we were the only ones in the primitive sight.But though small,it was a completely wooded area to camp.
Next,we took off to find The blue blazes of The Buckeye Trail.
But did that stop us from having fun....?
No..it did not.
Robyn stumbled upon the perfect spot while taking Tyler and Nikolas to check out Hocking Col- lege:The 'Old Man Cave' section of the BT.She had been wanting to hike this section anyway,so when the opportunity for us to hike it came along......
...we took it.It was a two hour trip down Rt 33,but jamming to 'Summerteeth' by Wilco made it go by very quickly.
We got to our very nice 'camp- ground (thank you very much)called, 'Top O' The Caves' early enough on July 3rd to pick our choice of primitive camp sight...OK,we were the only ones in the primitive sight.But though small,it was a completely wooded area to camp.
Next,we took off to find The blue blazes of The Buckeye Trail.
After a false start,we found our way.The path was in very good condition.
The BT,at some points,
ran next to a dry
creek
...totally dry from lack of rain.
But did that stop us from having fun....?
No..it did not.
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