Proud Father

Ty was named the AJC All Fayette-Coweta football team.
These boys work so hard for four, five and even six years (if you count middle school).
The coaches put in unbelieveable hours, we have great appreciation for their effort.
I am happy for for my son and his friends.

Complaints with the Press

For some weeks I've been composing a diatribe on weaknesses or news reporting. See the attached link where Peter Kann has saved me the trouble.

"The press is an evil for which there is no rememdy. Liberty depends upon freedom of the press and that cannot be limited without being lost." - Thomas Jefferson

The Republican's Southern Problem

Today's AJC editorial section had two entries of particular irritation.
First, Kofi Annan has the audacity to lecture Americans on "playing by the rules".
Second, Harold Myerson's democratic talking points inspired description of how the new south is a noose weighing heavily around Republican party's neck.
Within the editorial by Mr. Myerson, Rebuplicans are defined by these Southern characteristics:

• Knee-jerk miltaristic
• Anti-scientific
• Dogmatically religious
• Culturally phobic
• Sexually phobic
• Racially phobic

Mr. Harold, as he might be called in the South, may be described with these characteristics

• Knee-jerk chicken-hawk, strong belief if advocacy without fortitude of follow through
• Junk science advocate
• Agnostic, Atheist, or Secular, indicator of weakened family and moral values
• Culturally phobic, clearly lacks understanding of Southern culture
• Metro-sexual, probably unfair, sexual boundaries are changing everywhere
• Racially ignorant, segregation is a natural tendency, and prevalent in every region in one form or another.

Reference is made to a new book titled "Whistling Past Dixie: How the Democrats Can Win Without the South", this will soon be purchased and read.

It is true, there are large differences in regional perceptions of national politics. Mr. Myerson is suggesting that the Democrats won the last election because they were too much like the historical Southerner. This is incorrect, the Democrats won in 2006 because the war in Iraq and the political savy of the Democrats to hang that about the president's neck. Other factors include the failures of Senate and House to define themsleves as fiscally responsible, morally responsible, independent of presidential power.

By his own words from another editorial:

The meaning of the election was clear for all to see: The people plainly
believed that the unified, pluralistic Iraq that the Bush administration
insisted was growing stronger with each passing day actually had no future at
all.

Mr. Myerson ignores the realities that the southern region has vastly changed demographically. Florida will soon be the 3rd largest state in the union. Metropolitan areas are thrriving in Charlotte, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Miami, Nashville and Memphis. Many of us are not from here, reared in northeastern and midwestern regions. Transplants have come here by choice, lured by growing economies regional cutural differences. People are attracted to strong conservative communities.

I would suggest that as demographic shifting has taken place, upwardly mobile workers have moved south, leaving the stagnant remains. This stagnant remainder has shifted to liberal dogma rooted in northern machine political bases, unions and the welfare class. Yes, the new Southern value system may be closely aligned with those Republican, to compare those with the knee-jerk characteritics described is plain old-fashioned regional racism.

Hornet About To Buzz Bobby Dodd Stadium

Otis Nixon

Otis Nixon
Born January 9, 1959 in Columbus County, North Carolina
Brother of Donell Nixon
Originally drafted by the Yankees, 3rd pick 1st round, 1979
Played for:
New York Yankees
Cleveland Indians
Montreal Expos
Atlanta Braves
Boston Red Sox
Texas Rangers
Toronto Blue Jays
Los Angeles Dodgers
Minnesota Twins
Had 620 career steals and 1379 career hits.
Not what you might call a handsome man.
Once arrested for pulling a knife on his own bodyguard. Why did he even need a bodyguard, to score coke?

2007 Hall of Fame Ballot

Spent a lot of time in the car today and ESPN radio piqued my interest.

Colin Cowherd spent a good amount of time discussing opinions on allowing steroid tainted ballplayers into the MLB HoF. While admitting that he is comfortable with either all in or all out he would favor admission for all. Part of this argument, he suggests that, all people break laws in a manner that suits their needs. A baseball player in order maintain competitive conditioning will take steroids, this is, according to Colin, an equivalent to exceeding the speed limit for the purpose of getting to get to work on time.

I hope that the Mr. Cowherd, for the purposes of entertainment, has constructed this analogy to promote discussion and not a philosophy on life. This sort of thinking leads to habits like weak parenting, based on an unwillingness to make critical judgments on the behavior of others.

To directly oppose the point I would suggest that during these player's careers each was richly rewarded through contracts and endorsements. To offer additional reward after admission of unlawful behavior would be insulting to those that have achieved the HoF honestly. The Hall of Fame is a shrine to great ball players who have been statistically superior, possessed leadership positions on successful teams and were publicly moral. Players who don't pass the stink test shouldn't get in.

Now Mr. Cowherd's points are not any cause of pain for me. In the end he is pragmatic, Players like McGwire will probably get in eventually because proof of wrong doing is absent.

Here is how I hope the voting should go in the next couple of years.
The following list is the set of nominations for 2007.

Harold Baines - nope, good hitter, played DH too much
Albert Belle - nope, too short of a career, great for about 5 years
Dante Bichette - nope, the hall already has enough fat bastards
Bert Blyleven - nope, nice pitcher, not great
Bobby Bonilla - nope, even shorter career sweet spot that Belle
Scott Brosius - nope, bet he gets 0%
Jay Buhner - nope, when he was healthy loved to watch him in the field
Ken Caminiti - nope, more that stink here
Jose Canseco - nope, admitted to steriod use
Dave Concepcion - nope, nice player on a great team, like Rizzuto who shouldn't be in either
Eric Davis - nope, a couple of geat years, lots of injures
Andre Dawson - YES , hard player, good stats, languished on Montreal too long
Tony Fernandez - nope, he was a shortstop wasn't he?
Steve Garvey - nope, what was that commercial for where he flipped the bat?
Rich Gossage - YES, not my favorite but dominating
Tony Gwynn - YES, the best contact hitter of the last 45 years
Orel Hershiser - nope, tough guy though, enjoyed this pitcher
Tommy John - nope, over-rated when he was with the Yankees
Wally Joyner - nope, good not ever great
Don Mattingly - nope, loved the player
Mark McGwire - nope, go back to the stink test
Jack Morris - unsure, tough in the playoffs
Dale Murphy - nope, 2 MVPs, fantastic arm, missed too many pitches low and away
Paul O'Neill - nope, let the Yankee fans squeal
Dave Parker - nope, a lot like Murphy, great arm from left field, short career sweet spot
Jim Rice - YES, good hitter, lots of home runs, MVP, put up with all that Boston crap
Cal Ripken Jr. - YES, MVPs, the game streak
Bret Saberhagen - nope, short career sweet spot
Lee Smith - YES, did as much as Gossage and for a long time
Alan Trammell - nope, tough player, too many weak years at the plate
Devon White - nope, he was fast, big deal
Bobby Witt - nope, aw hell no

Muslims Prepared for Holidays

Not Islamic holidays.

On Friday night, in the West Bank city of Nablus, Israeli paratroopers found stuffed teddy bears wired for explosives.

Targeting children, what kind of logic leads a man to this?

No man at all.

UGA 15 Tech 12

It hurts this year.
Johnny Young said it best, Reggie Ball is the Dogs best weapon.

Some of My Favorite Expressions

Got no more smile than a turnip.

Grizzly Hunting

The Pope took a couple of days off to visit the mountains of Alaska for some sight-seeing.

He was cruising along in the Pope mobile when there was a frantic commotion just at the edge of the woods. A helpless Democrat, wearing sandals, shorts, a "Save the Whales" hat, and a "To Hell with Bush" T-shirt, was screaming while struggling frantically, thrashing around trying to free himself from the grasp of a 10 foot grizzly.

As the Pope watched horrified, a group of Republican loggers came racing up. One quickly fired a .44 magnum into the bear's chest... The other two reached up and pulled the bleeding, semiconscious Democrat from the bear's grasp. Then using long clubs, the three loggers finished off the bear and two of them threw it onto the bed of their truck while the other tenderly placed the injured Democrat in the back seat.

As they prepared to leave, the Pope summoned them to come over. "I give you my blessing for your brave actions!" he told them. "I heard there was a bitter hatred between Republican loggers and Democratic Environmental activists but now I've seen with my own eyes that this is not true.

"As the Pope drove off, one of the loggers asked his buddies "Who was that guy?" "It was the Pope," another replied. "He's in direct contact with heaven and has access to all wisdom." "Well," the logger said, "he may have access to all wisdom but he sure doesn't know anything about bear hunting! By the way, how is the bait holding up? Or do we need to go back to Massachusetts and snatch another one?"

That Road Kill's Butt is Looking Fine

Bryan Hathaway of Superior Minnesota faces a misdemeanor charge of sexual gratification with a deer carcass. The misdemeanor carries up to nine months in jail and a fines up to $10,000. Because of a previous conviction Bryan could serve up to two years.

Mr. Hathaway has hired a Cochranesque lawyer, Fredric Anderson, who has found his path to freedom.

“The statute does not prohibit one from having sex with a carcass,”

It seems Mr. Hathaway has a fixation. His previous felony conviction in 2005 was for mistreatment of an animal in the shooting death of a 26-year-old horse. The purpose was to have sex with the carcass.

That dog thought he smelled something funky.

Linked page includes pictures of the defendant and the lawyer's motion.

My ABC's of Thanksgiving

26 reasons for being thankful this year.

A - Angel Fund, for their support of Bruce
B - Benise, a name taken from two, my wife
C - Claude, father, brother and grandfather
D - Dreamland Barbecue, Tuscaloosa Alabama, best ribs, ever
E - Ernest Hemingway, writer of Old Man and the Sea and much more
F - Fried Apple Pies
G - George W. Bush, a president whose actions are guided by his vision of right an wrong
H - Hartwell, the lake, as close to country as I seem to get these days
I - Issie
J - John Irving, writer of A Prayer for Owen Meany and Cider House Rules
K - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
L - Love in my life
M - Morgan, Henry & Beatrix
N - Nieces, fourteen of them
O - Orvold, Marie and family
P - Patricia, Pat, Patty, Mom
Q - Quid pro quo, give and take, compromise, unsaid but needed almost all the time
R - Reggae music, Bob Marley
S - Sausage Gravy Biscuits
T - Tyrus, my son, carrying on the family tradition of odd middle names
U - Underdog, balloon in the Macy Parade
V - The Varsity, whuddya have
W - Will, determination to solve problems
X - Christ
Y - Yellow Jackets, mascot of the school that focused my energy
Z - Zydeco music, Buckwheat, Clifton Chenier

Observations

"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office."

Aesop

Northgate Football

The season ended last Friday, and so my son's last high school game.
Emotional stuff.

Germany Here I Come

Off to Krefeld Germany for a week of learning.
Should be back on 11th.
Hope to post some pictures, looks like an interesting place.

Lame Apology

You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.” —John Kerry

This said by and man who almost became, and still hopes to be, president.

The statement which was made to students was apologized for like this.

As a combat veteran, I want to make it clear to anyone in uniform and to their loved ones: my poorly stated joke at a rally was not about, and never intended to refer to any troop.

I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted to wrongly imply anything negative about those in uniform, and I personally apologize to any service member, family member, or American who was offended.

It is clear the Republican Party would rather talk about anything but their failed security policy. I don’t want my verbal slip to be a diversion from the real issues. I will continue to fight for a change of course to provide real security for our country, and a winning strategy for our troops.

The manner in which the apology was delivered (see blog link) hardly carries the personal force with which the insult was presented. Clearly the presidential candidate cannot be taped admitting that he is a horse's ass.

The spin put out alongside suggested that the statement was meant to be a joke at President Bush's expense. This is admittedly plausible and would be consistent. Why is such a negative politcal intention accepted at face value by the mainstream press?

Happy Halloween

Brother Scott.

One Time Wonders, Part 1

Unlike American Bandstand, these are songs that have a great beat and cannot possibly be danced to.

Something in the Air - Thunderclap Newman
A band formed by Pete Townshend in 1969. Drummer Jack McCulloch joined Paul McCartney and Wings.

Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum
An odd song for a Jewish singer.

House of the Rising Sun - Frijid Pink
A classic folk ballad, written using the melody of a traditional English ballad and the lyrics written by a Georgia Turner and Bert Martin. The earliest known recording was in 1928 by Clarence Ashley and Gwen Foster. The song has been recorded by many other artist ranging from Roy Acuff to BTO, to the most acclaim by the Animals. Frijid Pink offers a unique psychedelic version.

Hold Your Head Up - Argent, 1972
Keyboardist Rod Argent's band, formed by blending progressive, blending jazz, classical, and heavy metal. Argent formerly of the Zombies who hits like "Time of the Season", "She's Not There", and "Tell Her No". One critic says Argent "produced a boatload of crap, and, even worse, spawned a generation of bands (Rush, Styx, Kansas) that wore mathematical precision and literary pomposity like badges of honor".

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly, 1968
Slang for "In the Garden of Eden". A 17:05 minute song, and on the first "Platinum Album" in music history.

Mississippi Queen - Mountain, 1970
Founded by Cream producer Felix Pappalardi and Leslie West. Leslie West was a mountain of a man, around 300 pounds, thus the name. Mountain's fourth live performance was at Woodstock. Felix Pappalardi was shot and killed by his wife in 1983. Leslie West had the nickname "The Great Fatsby".

Vehicle - The Ides Of March, 1970
The warning, "Beware the Ides of March," originated with the Roman ruler, Julius Caesar, who was assassinated on the Ides of March - March 15, 44 B.C.E. Commonly heard because of the William Shakespeare play, Julius Caesar.

I'm Not Cartman

Which South Park kid are you most like? Kyle You are clever, and often come up with intelligent and funny comebacks to other people's stupid remarks.

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

ShaLayla By Larry Coker and the Hurricanes

What'll you do when we we're in trouble

And nobody's wanting us to play?

We've been brawling and assaulting much too long.

You know it's just our foolish pride.

.

ShaLayla, you've got us out for one game.

ShaLayla, we're begging, president please.

ShaLayla, won't you play my spoiled rotten team.

.

We tried to give you student athletes.

When our convicts let you down.

Like a fool, we swung helmets at FIU,

Turned the whole damn team to shame.

.

ShaLayla, you've got us out for one game.

ShaLayla, we're begging, president please.

ShaLayla, won't you play my spoiled rotten team.

.

Let's make the best of this whole season

Before we have to go to Duke.

Please don't say that we'll never ever play

And tell us all our pain's in vain.

.

ShaLayla, you've got us out for one game

ShaLayla, we're begging, president please.

ShaLayla, won't you play my spoiled rotten team.

.

ShaLayla, you've got us out for one game.

ShaLayla, we're begging, president please.

ShaLayla, won't you play my spoiled rotten team.

Should I have used the song by Dion, prima-donna fits pretty well?

Donna Shalala, that famous Clinton sycophant, is again front and center. As president of the University of Miami, has passed judgment that brawling members of the Hurricane football team receive minimal punishment.

An underage player at Auburn was recently suspended six games for being caught with a beer. Imagine what Tommy Tuberville would do to these rambunctious thugs? The ACC should step in and impose much stiffer penalties than the one game suspensions all but one Cane player received.

Lawyer Commits Treason, Sentenced to Only 28 Months

This person served as a conduit of information between Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman and the terrorist group Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya.
Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman is serving a life sentence for planning terrorist attacks in New York. His group Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya is responsible for killing and disemboweling 62 in Luxor.
The fact that information was passed is not in question only the appropriate penalty.
The judge, John Koeltl, has put professional courtesy before the publics right to safety, describing Ms. Stewart:

as a champion of the poor, the disadvantaged and the unpopular

That statement may cause you to forget she has also defended members of the Weather Underground and the Black Panthers.

If only we understood her better, we might see the nobility.

The lawyer committed treason, and the judge neglected to properly punish for the offense.

The WSJ editorial gets it right, see link.

Maurice Clarett's Role Model

Lawrence Phillips, former NFL and Nebraska running back, was convicted Tuesday 3-October on seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

The 31-year-old Phillips drove onto a field near Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum after losing a pickup football game on Aug. 21, 2005. He struck two boys, ages 14 and 15, and a 19-year-old man and narrowly missed four others between 15 and 24 years old, according to the prosecutor. The three who were struck sustained "severe bumps and bruises and cuts," Deputy District Attorney Todd Hicks said.

Since Mr. Phillips is a complete failure at being a role model for children, he has ventured into the uncharted ground of being a role model for the apocalyptically stupid, such as Mr. Clarett.

Maurice Clarett, former NFL and Ohio State running back, was arrested Wednesday 9-August October. Since vehicular assault is not in the set of charges, perhaps there is some room for personal growth here.

In the early morning hours of August 9, 2006, Clarett was arrested in Columbus after he made an illegal U-turn and led the police on a chase in a sports utility vehicle reportedly belonging to his uncle. After driving over a police-mounted spike strip, the chase ended in a nearby restaurant parking lot.

Police said they were forced to secure a cloth around Clarett's mouth after he allegedly spit at the officers and called them "nigga haters" during the arrest. According to Columbus Police Sgt. Mike Woods, the officers discovered a hatchet, a loaded AK-47 variant, a Hi-Point Pistol and two other loaded handguns in his vehicle along with an open bottle of Grey Goose vodka. The police requested that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives perform a trace on the firearms to determine if Clarett violated Federal gun laws.

The officers used Mace to subdue Clarett after attempts to subdue him with a Taser
proved ineffective because he was wearing Kevlar body armor.

Use of the phrase “nigga haters” is really precious isn’t it?

Both of these men were gifted, having bodies that could bring them millions of dollars, both have heads that aren’t worth a plug nickel.

Now both will be living on our tax dollars.

Legalization Rally Draws Few

As planned, and replanned, on Saturday the 7th, there was a rally of immigrants near the capital in downtown Atlanta.

Teodoro Maus was in normal mode, describing some protesters as:

"I think they are xenophobic,"

"They are racists and they are hiding their racism in 'legal or not legal."

"We want to open the door,"

"How they do it is a matter of negotiation."

Crowd size was estimated at a paltry 3,000.

Every time my wife tricks me into going to Super Wal-Mart, there are at least 4,000 of the runty illegals blocking the isles. Perhaps some of these folks discovered that the backlash to last springs marches cause things like tougher legislation.

I probably am xenophobic, that does not change the fact that these are individuals who have:

1. Illegally entered the country
2. Illegally avoid the income tax system
3. Siphon money from the local economy (just watch a Western Union office)
4. Increase demands within public education for bi-lingual capability
5. Increase CITIZENS car insurance costs by driving without insurance
6. Increase CITIZENS health care costs by not carrying insurance.
7. Depress the minimum wage via competition, injuring legal CITIZENS struggling near the poverty level.

Free my Wal-Mart!

Good News for Aging Hippies

Marijuana may be effective in prevnting the progression of Alzheimer's.

"THC is also more effective at blocking clumps of protein that can inhibit memory and cognition in Alzheimer's patients, the researchers reported in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics."

At least they won't forget all the things they never learned.

Rock Instrumentals

Naturally there are no lyric links.

Green Onions - Booker T & The MGs
Star Spangled Banner - Jimi Hendrix
Moby Dick - Led Zeppelin
Hot Lanta - Electric Light Orchestra
Frankenstein - The Edgar Winter Group
Take It Off The Top - Dixie Dregs

In case you did not know MG is short for Memphis Group

Remote Control

Not exactly in good taste, but it is funny.
Thanks to DGJ.

Illegal Aliens to Protest in Atlanta

Governor Perdue signed into law the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act (SB529). The bill was sponsored by Chip Rogers in the Senate and carried in the House by John Lunsford.

"The Mexican government has condemned a tough new immigration law passed in the US state of Georgia on Monday. "

Plans are place for an October 7 protest rally at the state capital in Atlanta.

This is the general framework of the new act.

1. Requires state and local government to determine the legal status of adults applying for taxpayer-funded benefits and deny many services to illegals.
2. Requires denial of tax deductions to employers for wages paid in excess of $600 to illegals.
3. Requires that state income taxes be withheld from illegals where 1099s have been filed.
4. Requires that state and local government contractors and subcontractors certify the legal status of new hires.
5. Provides immigration law training to law enforcement personnel.
6. Requires that illegals who are arrested be reported to federal immigration authorities.
7. Imposes prison terms for human trafficking, up to 20 years.

Sonny Perdue, Georgia Governor, has had these things to say.

"We simply believe that everyone who lives in our state needs to abide by our laws."

"It is simply unacceptable for people to sneak into this country illegally on Thursday, obtain a government-issued ID on Friday, head for the welfare office on Monday and cast a vote on Tuesday."

Perdue said he has no plan to apologize for criticizing illegal immigration. “I won’t apologize for criminal activity.”

Teodoro Maus, former Mexican Consul, has this to say.

"The state immigration bill has put a chill through Georgia's illegal immigrant community, said Maus. If the trend of anti-illegal immigrant rhetoric continues, immigrants will indeed leave the country, he said."

Maus has unwittingly hit the nail on the head for Governor Perdue, keep the pressure up and illegal immigrants will leave.

Lake House Agreements

March 2006

Purpose:

The purpose of these agreements is to establish clear and fair procedures for the enjoyment and pleasure of the siblings (Ted, Donna, Connie and Chris) who, as Art and Marie desired, will share equally in the use and ownership of the lake cabin located on XXX. Terms and procedures were discussed and agreed upon in November, 2005.

Goals:

To establish guidelines that are understood by all, in creating an equitable timesharing policy for scheduling, maintaining and using the cabin.

To establish house rules for routine use of the cabin.

To establish procedures for rotating the administrative/financial responsibilities and coordinating special projects necessary to sustain/maintain the cabin.

Agreements:

I. EFFECTIVE DATE
That these agreements become effective on 1 April, 2006.


II: RULES AND GUESTS
That the attacked house rules will be respected and honored by those enjoying the cabin. And that any dependent or guest using the cabin, will be bound by these rules. The responsibility of insuring the rules are complied with, rest with the four principle sibling who offers their week to someone else to use in their absence


III. MAID SERVICE
Maid service will be required after each visit to the cabin. Upon leaving the cabin, it is the responsibility of the departing sibling (guest) to contact the maid service and leave appropriate compensation for the service. The service will change with time but standards will be maintained to insure cleanliness is standardized for the pleasure of the next group coming to enjoy the cabin. Maid service will begin once all remodeling has been completed.


IV. REDECORATING
Remodeling, redecorating, refurbishing or changing/adding/deleting furnishing, basic floor plan, or external fixtures should be agreed upon in advance by all of the siblings. For small changes a simple phone calf will do. For major changes, a group discussion is preferred. It is agreed that we will jointly assume the responsibility of an equity loan to remodel, repair and upgrade the cabin. A line of credit will be used for the project Connie will be designated the lead for the project and will be responsible for relating our desires to Robbie who will be our general contractor.


V. SCHEDULE
(a) That the attached schedule for using the cabin will begin on 1-January, 2006. And will continue in the same sequence once it ends, unless agreed upon by the signatories below.

b) A number will designate weeks available for use. (Example.- If Connie draws #2, she can plan on using the cabin each time the #2 shows up on the schedule).

c) Should one sibling want to trade his/her week for another date, coordination for the desired dates should be arranged directly with the sibling having the desired week The week being traded will result in a one-for-one week trade between the two siblings and will not after the published schedule other than the two weeks being traded.

d) At any time should Mom wants access to the cabin: she has priority to use the desired week without question. No special dates or schedule adjustment will be given to the sibling offering his or her week for Mom’s use.


VI. GARAGE USE
1. The garage was built by Ted. It is available for use by family members on a space available basis. As a courtesy, please keep him informed as to any long-term usage plans. Since he has never asked for rent or compensation for garage space, it may be necessary to ask other members to vacate the garage if he needs more space for a new boat
2. As of this agreement, there is no “family boot”. The 18 footer will be donated to a charity. Any sibling or family member who wants a boat or jet-ski will do so on their own. Storage will be up to those who purchase a boat or jet-ski. If additional construction of a sheltered facility on the property is desired by a sibling, agreement must be made by all four siblings prior to any addition to the property.

VII. ADMINISTRATIVE
Rotating administrative responsibilities for the financial management of the cabin. Term of service will be two years. The responsibilities include:
(1) Managing the check book.
(2) Overseeing the schedule
(3) Coordinating special projects for maintenance, painting, remodeling, emergency repairs, special events and major repairs or purchases necessary to sustain and maintain the cabin.


Agreed to on 1-April-2006 by the siblings, schedule for the CABIN (2006-2007)

The following schedule is provided for planning trips to the lake. The following numbers correspond to the specific weeks the cabin is available for individual/family use:

1. TED
2. CONNIE
3. DONNA
4. CHRIS

A week is defined as beginning on Wednesday afternoon and ending on the following Wednesday morning. The family departing will insure the cabin is left clean and maid service has been coordinated and paid for so as the next group will be able to arrive and 'immediately' enjoy the facilities without having to spend their time cleaning the cabin.

Memorial Day weekend, 4th of July weekend, Labor Day weekend and Thanksgiving weekends will be assigned per agreement. These dates will be in exception of the normal 1-4 sequence and will ensure each sibling has one of the long weekends listed each year.

NOTE: Since the cabin is in a period of remodeling, the 2006 schedule, will not go into affect until the construction, remodeling and repairs are completed. While work is in progress, use of the cabin is open to anyone who wants to stay there and participate in the work scope. Once Robbie has finished, we will pick up on the schedule below.

Kristofferson Covers

The first two were enough for a whole career

1. Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down - Johnny Cash
2. Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
3. For the Good Times - Ray Price
4. Casey's Last Ride - Waylon Jennings
5. Help Me Make It Through the Night - Sammi Smith
6. Why Me Lord? - the Rhodes Scholar himself
7. To Beat The Devil - Waylon Jennings, again

He should have passed on a few of those movies, like Semi-Tough and Heaven's Gate.

Dylan Covers

Six songs for my lunch break.

1. All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
2. It Ain't Me, Babe - The Turtles
3. Mr. Tambourine Man - The Byrds
4. Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Guns N' Roses
5. Blowin' In The Wind - Stevie Wonder
6. Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Marley And The Wailers
   

Nice hat Bob

Penis Joke Gone Bad

This poor man made an adolescent remark 13 years ago.
He is still in jail, and now on a hunger strike.
Islam is a peaceful religion of understanding.
B . . . S . . . !

Damned Dogs

I'm surrounded by UGA fans, that's what I get for marrying a graduate.
On the left is Munson, and if don't know where that name comes from you have no hope.
On the right is Allie, from, as Forrest would say "ALABAMA".
Have to admit, they are cute dogs.

Proud of the Braves

After 14 years the hometown baseball team has failed to win its division. The faces of the players have morphed from the early mix of unlikely retreads like Lonnie Smith, Sid Bream and Terry Pendleton to hopeful neophytes like McCann and Orr.
Both locally and nationally, for years, we have heard the drumbeat of fans and press, whining about unrealized potential. National commentators have additionally negatively commented on what they judged to be a complacent fan base.
To the later, I would offer that when it comes to baseball, southern fans are simply different than northern fans. Baseball is seen as serious and gentlemanly, whereas football gets the lion's share of fervency. That Atlanta fans are unlike those of Philadelphia or New York is a positive. Why should we aspire to be like the famously classless?
To the former I would offer that having won only one World Series is about right. Seldom, during the stretch, were the Braves the best team in baseball, they were always the best in their division. After Turner merged with that media giant, there many decisions which made clear that fiscal restraint was dominant over winning.
Examples:
Trade of David Justice to Cleveland, for that miserable bastard Kenny Lofton.
Allowing Terry Pendleton to leave via free agency.
Trade of Kevin Millwood to Philadelphia for a minor league catcher.
Allowing JD Drew to leave via free agency, to the Dodgers.
Allowing Tom Gavine to leave via free agency, to the Mets.
Leaving Fred McGriff unprotected in the expansion draft, selected by the Devil Rays.
Allowing Brett Boone to leave via free agency.
Allowing Gary Sheffield to leave via free agency, to the Yankees.
Allowing Greg Maddux to leave via free agency.
Allowing Jared Wright to leave via free agency, to the Yankees.
Allowing Kyle Farnsworth to leave via free agency, to the Yankees.
Allowing Raphael Furcal to leave via free agency, to the Dodgers.
More than anything the Braves seemed to have an aversion to paying for a strong closer. Admittedly a dicey proposal, but reliably unreliable for manager Bobby Cox. Stretches of closing strength came from the home grown men like Wohlers, Litenburg and Rocker and a couple of retreads. The results were always tenuous and short lived.
Reviewing the series.
Twins in 1991, one that the Braves probably should have won, Lonnie Smith's base running error Kent Herbek's lifting Ron Gant off first base come to mind. Easily the best set of World Series games I've ever watched. Game seven with Smoltz and Jack Morris was one for the ages. In four of the seven games the deciding run was scored in the ninth or later innings.
Blue Jays in 1992, Jays pitching too well and Joe Carter was a beast.
Cleveland in 1995, a scary team, lucky for us the manager, Mike Hargrove, was dumb as a stump.
Yankees in 1996, another good series, New York strategy to run up the pitch counts worked, Wohlers failed when Leyritz hit a 10th inning home run and it was all downhill from there.
Yankees in 1999, Braves were flat, got hammered.
What the Braves have had, is wonderfully consistent starting pitching, strong field management and above average defense. They have not been a juggernaut, with limitless resources for reloading. The Braves have built a strong franchise in a mid-level market. Future strong attendance should be assured by the fan base they have built over the last 15 years.

Fighting Irish Beat the Jackets

This picture was taken with my son, a happier moment before the game. Looks like I'm trying to dance or something.

Had felt that if the Tech offense held Quinn and company to 14 or less we would win.
Offense could not produce in the second half, that in itself was reason for loss.
Officiating was god awful, the late hit call on Wheeler in the third quarter was incorrect, and review reversal on Calvin Johnson's catch in the forth quarter was again faulty. The Irish fans in our section were grateful and quietly agreed that the calls were wrong.

Not sure which conference the officials were from but have never seen so many non-calls on holds. All night line our d-line was breaking through and being hooked. Do concede that this style of protection may be the norm in other conferences.

We Tech fans tend to be pragmatic, our offense failed to win a game that the defense earned, but the second (winning score) touchdown of Notre Dame's was the direct result of crappy officiating.

James Otis

Colonial lawyer, educated at Harvard, defender of colonoist's natural rights.
Born in West Barnstable on Cape Cod February 5, 1725.
Died in Andover, May 23, 1783 after being struck by lightning.

An early advocate of the political views that led to the American Revolution.

John Adams said “I have been young and now I am old, and I solemnly say I have never known a man whose love of country was more ardent or sincere, never one who suffered so much, never one whose service for any 10 years of his life were so important and essential to the cause of his country as those of Mr. Otis from 1760 to 1770.”

James Otis was a volunteer at the Battle of Bunker Hill, June, 1775.

Otis favored extending the basic natural law freedoms of life, liberty and property to African-Americans.

Famous Quotes:
"A man's house is his castle;"
"Taxation without representation is tyranny."
"I do not say that, when brought to the test, I shall be invincible."
"If we are not represented, we are slaves."
"Let the consequences be what they will, I am determined to proceed. "

Otis Taylor

OTIS TAYLOR
Born: 8/11/1942
Wide Receiver
Height: 6-3
Playing Weight: 215College: Prairie View A&M
Drafted: 1965, round 4, by the Kansas City Chiefs
Pro Bowler: 1966, 1971, 1972
Otis holds the Chiefs' career records for receiving yards (7,306), receiving touchdowns (57) and 100-yard games (20),
Otis caught a short pass and stiff-armed his way to a 46-yard touchdown in the Chiefs 23-7 demolition of the Vikings in the 4th Super Bowl.
A member of the AFL Hall of Fame

Chincoteague

Judge Taylor Undermines Safety

Judge Anna Diggs Taylor is a judge United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. She was appointed by President Carter in late 1979, a proverbial "Midnight Appointment" and the first black woman judge appointed to the district.Last week this judge ruled against the NSA's terrorist-surveillance program. This was a decision predicated on right to privacy within intercontinental communications. This extension of rights to foreign nationals is consistent with other liberal causes current polital battleground.
Such as; arguing for the right of Guantomino prisoners to have trials in US courts as criminals, with evidencery disclosure.
Such as; arguing for the right of illegal alliens to vote, as in Los Angeles.The protection of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights was meant for citizens of the United States of America. The goverment's main purpose is the protection of its citizens.
To extend these protections to foreigners who may include enemies of state is illogical and reckless. This decision is consistent with the term "Internationalism".
Back to Ms. Taylor, who because she has not honored her oath of office, does not deserve the title Judge. It seems that Ms. Taylor is the secretary of, and trustee for, the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan (CFSEM). This is a foundation that makes direct donations to the ACLU, all such bequests require the approval of the trustees. In the past two years CFSEM has made a direct grant of $45,000.00 to the ACLU of Michigan.The plaintiff in this case was the ACLU of Michigan. This is a conflict of interest, a proper judge would have recused herself. Of course, the New York Times, that bastion of political correctness and aloof snobery, has called the decision "a careful, thoroughly grounded opinion." What they should have said was "a carefully lain ambush upon those trying to protect our country."

You Can't Spell Sugar Without UGA

Back before the Bowl Alliance, the Sugar Bowl was aligned with the Southeastern Conference. The team with the best season record received a berth in that New Orleans game on New Years Day.

Even before the days of Herschel Walker, the University of Georgia (aka UGA) had a pretty good program and with that hopes of getting to the coveted game. An often heard chant of the Dawg fans was “You Can't Spell Sugar Without UGA”.

In the late seventies, we could get free tickets to Braves games at the student center. Free tickets, paired with quarter beer promotions at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, made for a heck of a party and some raucous cheering.

One afternoon, in the hot September sun, our band of Techies had the unpleasant placement behind a group vocal UGA fans. After about four innings of listening to “You Can't Spell Sugar Without UGA” chanted over and over, and about a half dozen beers each, the cups were small in those days, irritation took over.

The chants of “You Can't Spell Sugar Without UGA” were repeatedly countered with “You Can't Spell SCUMBAG Without UGA”. Tempers flew and soon there was fist fight, which for me ended by being thrown, by the neck, at the Henry Aaron statue. Had bruises for a week.
More than 25 years later, it still makes me laugh.

Here are some words that need those three letters to complete, guttural, argue, angular, Paraguay, Uruguay, Guadalupe, jugular, Jughead, jaguar, Uganda, granular, guarantee, guard, glutamine, Guam, Gaul, gamut, guacamole, guava, Guadalcanal, dangerous, and dadgummit.

Another Otis

Pretty good cookies.
The Spunkmeyer part could have been improved on.

Good Riddance

Former Mayor Bill Campbell went to prison today. He described himself as a "political prisoner" and the sentence an "abomination".
Bill was acquitted of corruption, specifically taking bribes, but there was enough proof that he took the money to have it declared unreported income.
Bill better hope that he doesn't get what he gave his constituency.

Otis Sistrunk

Otis Sistrunk
Born 1946
Defensive Lineman for the Oakland Raiders from 1972 to 1978.
Did not play college football and according to Alex Karras, Otis went to the "University of Mars" .
Pro Bowl 1974
Professional rastler in the NWA
Shown here in Super Bowl XI, with Chuck Foreman, one of my favorites.

New Orleans Jazz Fest

A good night at Lafitte's, couple years ago.
I'm up front.
Bruce is behind me.
Scott is behind Bruce.
The one in the back looking like he's posing for a clothing catalog is Douglas.
The man behind the lens was Jack M.
The singer that night was from Villa Rica Georgia.

Andy Young Finds The Fastest Way Out of Wal-Mart

By making the comment, “You see those are the people who have been overcharging us,” he said of the owners of the small stores, “and they sold out and moved to Florida. I think they’ve ripped off our communities enough. First it was Jews, then it was Koreans and now it’s Arabs.” Mr. Young set into action the eventual resignation from his position as company spokesman.

Every time I try to get out of Wal-Mart half the registers are closed and the other half have a string of people that promises a long wait. Andy got to skip the line and go right to the parking lot.

Mr. Young later explained, “It’s against everything I ever thought in my life,” Mr. Young said. “It never should have been said. I was speaking in the context of Atlanta, and that does not work in New York or Los Angeles.”

As an Atlantan, this statement is arouses the same reflex that caused the ouster. Mr. Young was an decent mayor, especially in comparison to Jackson and Campbell. During his tenure Mr. Young effectively assisted in bringing in the Olympics, requiring his close participation with the business community. It is unfortunate that Mayor Young would discard these good relationships for what amounts to class pandering.

One of the victims of the 1999 Mark Barton shooting was Allen Tenenbaum. Allen was part owner in grocery store in east Atlanta. After his death the store was covered with notes conveying best wishes from people of the neighborhood. This, was touching proof that black communities and Jewish business owners do connect on a personal level. The statements made by Mr. Young are those of a politician, not of a man who deals with men.

Liberal thought is ascendant, fed by the anti-war and anti-Bush sentiment. This ascendancy is evidenced by the campaigning of Reverends Sharpton and Jackson in New England senatorial races. Andy now joins Al and Jessie, as public practitioners of preaching anti-Semitism as a means of exciting their disciples.

The disciples deserve better men as preachers.

Amos Otis

Amos Otis
Born April 26, 1947 in Mobile, AL
Major League Baseball player, center fielder
-New York Mets
-KC Royals
-Pittsburg Pirates
Gold Gloves in 1971, 1973, and 1974

Otis Redding

Born, Dawson Georgia, September 9, 1941
Raised in Macon Georgia.
Singer of:
"Mr. Pitiful"
"Try a Little Tenderness"
"(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay"
Died, Madison Wisconsin, December 10, 1967, plane crash.

Ottis Anderson

Ottis Anderson

Miami Hurricanes, All-American

St Louis Cardinals

New York Giants

Super Bowl XXV MVP

Some of My Favorite Expressions

These include some southern, and northern colloquialisms, filled out with common slang.

• Bow up like a cutworm to resist strongly
• Hard as a preacher’s dick. not soft
• Dark as a pocket. no light
• Jeet yet? Did you eat yet?
• Whole 'nuther Entirely different
• To Hell With Georgia as in "What's the good word?"
• Whu dya have? Varsity waiters, old style
• You can’t get there from here.
• Scattered and smothered Waffle House
• Country ham or city ham? you have to choose
• Bump it move on to the next thing
• Horny as a three peckered billy goat. ready to go
• Nervous as a cat in a room full of rockers. skittish
• No worries
• Noreaster Yankee storm, we call it rain
• Youz guys Yankee for you and them
• Ya’ll Southern for youz guys
• Youins ya’ll plural
• It doesn't matter who wins or loses, it's who gets the blame.
• Live and learn. pay attention to life
• Chowda Heads folks from Boston
• Back asswards needs to be turned around
• Waterhead big head, forehead looks like it could pop
• Over yonder not here, over there

Otis Campbell of Mayberry

Otis Campbell of Mayberry
aka Hal Smith
The original voice of Barney Rubble.

Brothers

By my guess this picture is about 39 years old. This is me and my brothers Scott and Douglas. Those Batman pajamas were pretty cool.

Welcome

As an opening, welcome to anybody who managed to get lost in this nook.