Confirmable Bank Draft

From: "Dr. Stanley Chynoo."
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: CONTACT MAX DELIVERY COURIER SERVICE IMMEDIATELY
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:17:05 +0000
Dear Friend,
Greetings to you & your Family.
I have been waiting for you since to contact me for your Confirmable Bank Draft of ($1.2m) United States Dollars, but I did not hear from you since that time ,Then I went and deposited the Draft with MAX DELIVERY COURIER SERVICE , Cotonou , Benin Republic before I travelled out of the country for a short Course and i will not come back till end of next Month. What you have to do now is to contact the MAX DELIVERY COURIER SERVICE as soon as possible to know when they will deliver your package to you because of the expiring date. For your information, I have paid for the delivering Charges, Insurance fee and Clearance Certificate Fee of the Cheque showing that it is not a Drug Money norto sponsor Terrorist attack in your Country,The only money you will send to the Courier & Security Company to deliver your Draft direct to your postal Address in your country is ($95) only being their Security Keeping Fee of the Courier Company so far.
Again, Don't be deceive by anybody to pay any other money except $95, I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage.You have to contact the Max Delivery courier Service Company now for the delivery of your Draft with this information bellow. Director Max Delivery Courier Company Benin Republic.
Atten: General. Lanna Williams
E-mail: max.deliveryservice@netcourrier.com
Registration No; Eg2272
CodeNumber: 01721457
Finally, make sure that you reconfirm your Postal address and Direct telephone number to them again to avoid any mistake on the Delivery and Let me repeat again,try to contact them as soon as you receive this mail to avoid any further delay and remember to pay them their Security Keeping fee of $95 for their immediate action. You should also Let me know through email as soon as you receive your Draft. Note. The MAX DELIVERY COURIER SERVICE don't know the contents of the Box. I registered it as a Box of an Africa cloths. They don't know it contents money.this is to avoid them delaying with the Box. don't let them know what is contains. I am waiting for your urgent response.
Yours Faithfully,
Dr. Stanley Chynoo.

• I enjoy that way that the author suggests that the money will be sent in a box labelled "African Cloths". How precious, short of like our little secret.

What's An Ark

• Whenever I hear the name Noah, I think of the Bill Cosby comedy bit. God: "Noah, I want you to build an arc, 40 cubits by 60 cubits", Noah: "Yeah, right!", pause, "What's an ark?"
• Noah is Carson's older brother, a great little boy.
• This is one of the first puzzles I ever made, picture is scanned from a photo.

My Ship Has Come In

From: ***********************
To: *************************
Subject: FROM WILLIAMS AND SUSAN
Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 7:30:24 AM
Good day,
We are WILLIAMS and SUSAN NELSON from SIERRA LEONE. We are writing you from Rep of Cote d'Ivoire where we have been taking refuge after the brutal war and murder of our parents by the rebels during the renewed fighting in our country. Because of the war our late Father sold his shipping company and took us to a nearby country Cote d'Ivoire to make a deposit of one of the Bank here which is sum of US $ 10,300 million in Abidjan the capital city of Cote d'Ivoire. Due to the current political situation in Cote d'Ivoire we are seeking for your assistance to transfer this Money and also relocate to your country to further our study and we are willing to offer you 15% of the total sum for your help.
Please, Kindly call us on this Number +22508423410 for more discussion or contact for more details.
Regards
WILLIAMS AND SUSAN

• Going to quit the day job, 15% of $10,300,000.00 is $1,545,000.00, that kind of money goes a long way.
• I presume this infortunate refugee will need all of my bank account information before he can accept my help. The poor bastard, having to live in Cote d'Ivoire and all.
• My email address must have been placed on a list because two or three of these are coming in every day.
• This must work on some people because the offers are plentiful.

Councilwoman?

Michelle Bruce is a city councilwoman for the town of Riverdale Georgia, a town on the southern perimeter of Atlanta. First elected to the post for Riverdale's Ward 2, in 2003. She has been asset for the community by installing changes which have saved over a million dollars during her 4 year tenure. These changes placing limits on unused benefits for city workers and setting limits on the use of city vehicles.

One failed proposal was to add sexual identity to the town's non-discrimination policies. Within that failure is the second hint, the first was the picture, Michelle Bruce used to be Michael Bruce. Michelle is Georgia’s first openly transgender elected.

Some of Bruce's political opponents have taken exception to the councilwoman running as a female. Two losing candidates, George Fuller and Stanley Harris filed a lawsuit last week in Clayton County Superior Court against the incumbent City, accusing her of fraud for identifying as female.

Bruce doesn't like it one bit....

They’re trying to make my gender an issue, saying stuff about me being a guy. That’s the only thing they can make an issue of, gender and race because they can’t make an issue of my work for the past four years for my constituents.

• There is little doubt that Michelle Bruce's orientation was not common knowledge to the voters. Just look, she could kick my ass. If the voters picked her and they were unaware of who they were voting for then they were not responsible voter citizens. The complainants should be ashamed for attacking this person, wasting law enforcement and court resources. She was voted in, let her be.
• The thought of a man cutting his pecker off and growing breasts is pretty revolting. Breasts are great, but not on that.
• Since when did south Atlanta become a suburb of San Francisco?

Elwell Stephen Otis

Born in Frederick, Maryland, March 25, 1838

Graduated from the University of Rochester in 1858

Graduated from Harvard Law School in 1861

Commissioned as a Caption in Union Army in 1862

Appointed to Lieutenant Colonel in December 1863 and later promoted to full Colonel.

Wounded and muster out due to incapacity in January 1865.

Brevetted Brigadier General, United States Volunteers, in March 1865 in recognition of his Civil War service.

In 1898, was appointed Major of volunteers and was sent to the the newly acquired Philippines as reinforcement for General Merritt. On arrival in the Philippines, Otis assumed command of the VIII. Eventually General Otis was appointed Military Governor of the Philippine Islands.

During his time in the Philippines, Otis was responsible for American activities at the start of the Philippine-American war, which was essentially a failed attempt for independence. US troops reportedly practiced some draconian methods to which Otis commented.

"The conduct of the Washington Volunteers has been the subject of special investigations for some time. They deny wanton burning or cruelties. And still there are strong indications that they practised these infractions to some extent."

Otis was relieved of command in 1900 and replaced with General Arthur MacArthur.

Died in Rochester, New York, October 21, 1909, buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

• General Otis was known to his men as "granny".
• General Arthur MacArthur had gained fame as an teen aged officer that led the successful charge up Lookout Mountain of Chattanooga. Arthur won the Congressional Medal of Honor 27 years after this historic feat. He was also the father of Douglas MacArthur, who won the Congressional Medal of Honor, became a 5 Star General serving in WW1, WW2 and Korea.

Diggers

This movie was selected because it is about the lives of clam diggers living in Long Island during the middle seventies. I grew up enjoying raking clams out of the tidal muck, in the same waters, about the same time. There is nothing more earthy than eating a raw clam that you just dug out of the salty mud.
The main characters are:

• Paul Rudd as the focus playing the role of digger Hunt, son of a digger. Rudd did a movie called The Shape of Things with Gretchen Mol.
• Ken Marino as Lozo, fellow digger and father of a brood. Mr Marino is also the writer of the screenplay.
• Ron Eldard as Jack, fellow digger and Casanova of the neighborhood.
• Josh Hamilton as Cons, fellow digger, town dealer and intellectual.
• Maura Tierney as Gina, divorced brother of Hunt, caretaker for the father. You will recognize Maura from many episodes of News Radio and later ER.
• Sarah Paulson as Julie, Lozo's pregnant wife and friend of Gina. Paulson was a regular on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
• Lauren Ambrose as Zoey, rich girl, Hunt's inspiration for breaking away.

The story is about independent fisherman's lives of hard work. An evil corporation has moved into town and bought up fishing rights to tidal tracts with good clam beds. Independents who have made livings clamming for generations are now having to work extra extra for less than subsistence. The work is so hard that Hunt's father dies working in his boat.
Hunt is a young man who while comfortable with his small town life, has an obsession with photography of still life. This is an indicator of untapped potential that Zoey makes obvious during his mourning stage. The movie ends with Hunt giving Jack a smile and the finger as he leaves to make his fortune.
There is one fight, some drug use and a boatload of profanity. The profanity was what made it feel like the area I call home.

Score 34 of 50, a movie that I enjoyed but would not recommend to other than a local or child of the seventies.

• Character Development 8 out of 10, Hunt evolves from a Digger to a photographer, Lozo looks for work at the corporation, Julie gets pregnant again.
• Acting 7 out of 10, Rudd is believable as a detached laborer, Hamilton is amusing as the wasted intellectual.
• Photography, cinematography 7 out of 10, the field, Long Island's tidal marshes are hard to make look bad.
• Writing, script 5 out of 10, simplistic, it is hard to get around the profanity however appropriate to the plot.
• Concept 7 out of 10, personal growth in a period piece, fun.

Alexander

• The last puzzle of the Christmas season that I have finished is for Alexander.
• This for the grandson of our next door neighbors Chuck and Michelle.

That's Me

Found this site by way of Velociworld.
Those of you that know me get the joke.

One Soul Now

One Soul Now is a 3 year old album by the alternative rock band Cowboy Junkies.
Band Members: Margo Timmins (vocals), Michael Timmins (guitar), Peter Timmins (drums) and Alan Anton (bass), three siblings and a childhood friend, all from Ontario Canada. Sister Cali Timmins was an actress on the daytime soap Ryan's Hope.
Recorded: October 2002 and October 2003
Released: 2004
Songs: One Soul Now, Why This One, My Wild Child, From Hunting Ground To City, Stars Of Our Stars, Notes Falling Slow, No Long Journey Home, He Will Call You Baby, Simon Keeper, The Slide
The sultry vocals of Margo Timmins ring true on this 3 year old album. Have been behind the curve on this band which for years was my favorite. My favorite track would have to be the album title One Soul Now but all the tracks fit into what I would describe as a warm blanket.
My enjoyment of this band started with an NPR special of all the different versions Blue Moon, the vocals were haunting and the music had an edgy blues feel. Once on the Tonight Show, Jay Leno said that they were the coolest band in America. Major interest in the band never materialized because the best tracks tended to be covers of traditional country music with slow blues inflection.
The 20th anniversary edition of the seminal The Trinity Sessions was just released. The album guest list includes Natalie Merchant, a singer who in my opinion sounds very much like Margo Timmons.

One Soul Now is an album that I highly recommend, give it 25 out of 30 points.

• Lyrics rate 7 out of 10 points
• Music rates 8 out of 10 points
• Vocals rate 10 out of 10 points

Dad Gone For Christmas

• This is for the new daughter of my wife's niece, Natalie is less than a year old.
• Dad should be home to Fort Bragg in a couple of months, but not in time for her first vist to Santa.

Deception Point

Written by Dan Brown, who has authored Angels & Demons, Digital Fortress and The DaVinci Code. Published by Pocket Books, in 2001, having 736 pages
The story revolves around the heroine, Rachel Sexton, a government analyst working for a secret agency, she is beautiful, smart and the daughter of Senator Sexton a presidential candidate. Father Sexton has a hard-on for the presidency and has been hammering the standing President Herney's pet department, which is NASA. NASA has been having publicity issues with a rash of failures when a new satellite locates a meteorite the in polar ice cap. The meteorite tuns out to have fossils of alien life forms. Rachel is brought to the ice cap along with scientists Michael Tolland and Corky Marlinson, all for the purpose of generating an independent, non-governmental, report on the authenticity of the meteorite. Initially all confirm the theory, but late evidence leads the trio to begin the path to truth, the meteorite is a plant. One of the scientists, Michael, is a handsome oceanographer and a widower, the mutual attraction between he and Rachel grows till the end of the story. Once clues point to deception the scientists evade the evil government assassins, prove the meteorite a hoax and vanquish the protagonist.
On a scale of 1-10, "Deception Point" gets a 6, for being a technically oriented, exciting story. This book is fast paced and easy to read. Higher rating is not given because the book follows the Dan Brown formula and is fairly predictable.
Last time the next book up was going to be, "The Coldest Winter", a book on the Korean War by David Halberstam. This is underway, and already judged to be a well written story, the Brown book was picked up in an airport during a recent trip.

My Water Conservation Plan

During my visit home last week, my dad, patron of network news, informed me that the Yankee press was suggesting that Georgia's water problems were the result of poor water management.
Returning home, Atlanta news reports focused on a local man whose water consumption exceeds 400,000 gallons per month, that's right one house, not a business. That is pretty ridiculous but it is obviously not the norm. Most folks have made serious effort to saving water, in a system where consumption is already less that in the north. How the folks accomplish this in the west is commendable.
Georgia's water shortage is due to the lack of rainfall, compounded by a population explosion. Regions in the south have always been water poor. For years I have believed that unless growth was controlled, this would be a problem. No rain, more people, duh!
Here are the things I have been doing to save water:

• No lawn watering has been done in the last two years.
• Plant and shrub watering was discontinued in 2007. I have had about a dozen die to date including a rhododendron and a couple of azaleas.
• No car washing.
• No house pressure washing.
• Grey water watering of indoor plants.
• Ice from purchased soft drinks into the dog's water dish.
• Shorter showers and skipping some on weekends.
• Reduced toilet flushes. No explanation necessary.
• Stopped running water for shaving.
• Stopped running water for brushing teeth.
• Reduced number of wash loads, bigger loads.
• Replaced clothes washer with more efficient model that uses less water per load.

If the problem continues, this is my proposed set of water restriction steps:

• Import and drink only Coors beer, its made out west and would be adding water to the system for our friends in Alabama and Florida.
• Stop giving water to the dog.
• Stop bathing.
• Stop brushing teeth.
• Stop pissing on UGA Bulldogs.
• Collect and recycle water from the Georgia Dome.
• Divert the New York City aqueducts, then well see how little water Yankees can live on.

Runs Hot

• This is for the youngest of three next door.
• It seems like Carson has been running a mild fever since he was born. You would never know it to be in his presence, he never stops smiling. So, like a car with a bad thermostat, he just runs a little warm.
• Merry Christmas Carson.

Hartsfield Airport

• Excuse me, I meant to say Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The name was hyphenated to honor the former Mayor Maynard Jackson following his death.
• It is common knowledge that Mayors Jackson and Campbell used our airport as their personal fiefdom, for graft and nepotism. Campbell was jailed for related issues.
• Back to the picture. On the walkway between concourse A and the main terminal, there is a string of sculptures all depicting African-American art. No where in the airport are there sculptures based in other cultures. Just this crap, which has been on display well past any hope of enjoyment.
• I proclaim this sculpture "Black Man Pulls Head Out Of His Own Ass".

Gifts for Kids

• This is for my sister-in-law's grand daughter. Just finished in time to be a Christmas present. This little girl lives on 5 miles away and I just realized that I've never seen her. Maybe this should go to a little girl I know. Oh well.
• Used hardwood plywood for the first time. The cuts were much easier to make and there was less required sanding. A problem was that the thinner material wanted to warp, this was overcome when gluing the panels together using a strong back.

For The Byrds

Singer songwriter David Crosby, formerly of the band Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and before that the Byrds, recently spent some time with Hardball's Cris Mathews on MSNBC. Had this to say about our young soldiers.....

"You know, on the one hand you've got a young kid who is patriotic, who loves his country, believes in it, and he's being told, 'Yeah this is the truth, and we've gotta go in there to protect your mother and your sister.' And he goes over, and he finds out the job is killing somebody else's mother and sister."

Graham Nash, a co-guest, was in clear agreement, labelling the President as...

"Emperor"

Chris Mathews, responsible for the shows content made no attempt to quiet the effluent flowing from the musicians mouths.

• What is it us as the media's audience that permits such an affront to the truth? Here is a man who did so much drugs and alcohol that his liver quit. The judgement of such a person should not be held out as an example to the public as rational or even insightful. This rat bastard lives by the grace of some regular person, who if even opposed to the war, had enough sense not to be a deceptive asshole.
• And for Graham Nash, the Hollies did freakin bubble-gum music. Hey Carrie Ann, did you know Graham Nash was an asshole? Nash, you were brought to CSN&Y for the high notes, unless you are singing, keep your bloody mouth shut. By the way, are you a legal resident?
• For those of you familiar with GOPU, the Davis Cup title is named for the classically inappropriate Rob V. Davis.

Goes Both Ways

The Ohio city of Columbus, home of the Buckeyes, has forced Gay Street to go both ways. No kidding, Gay Street went one way, now it takes bi-directional traffic.

Todd Ramming, part owner of Cafe Brioso said....

"It already looks nicer, more comfortable and more inviting."

• Cafe Brioso's waiters dress in the costumes of the Village People.
• Go to the linked story, sometimes you have to wonder if these reporters realize what they are witting.
• If this was a story in a church flier, MSNBC would be running the story as part of the vast right wing conspiracy.

Dam Break

Thirty years ago today, November 6, 1977, the Toccoa Falls Dam in upstate Georgia disintegrated, starting a wave that killed 39 people.

An inspection by a volunteer fireman the same morning, found no
problems.

The earthen dam had been built in 1887, creating a 55 acre lake 180 feet above Toccoa Creek and just before the scenic Toccoa Falls. In 1911 Christian and Missionary Alliance College was built on the creek just below the dam.

The 39 claimed were residents of the college and staff.

President Carter's wife Rosalynn visited after the tragedy. She wrote, "Instead, I was enveloped by hope and courage and love."

• A sad day in Georgia' history.
• I fish up there sometimes, a beautiful place.

Thoughtful Words

Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

• Think before you speak, then speak with confidence. Most of the time this works pretty well for me, whether or not what I say has accuracy or wisdom is matter for others to judge. When stressed, anger sometimes overwhelms me and thought can be cut short, the casulty being sensitivity to others.

Cigarette Smokers

I grew up in a family of cigarette smokers, both parents, two grandparents and two brothers. Tried them a couple of times but they never took. Have always enjoyed the smell of cigarette smoke, with exception to the stale smell in a room used by smokers.

What the government does to cigarette manufacturers is total bullshit, where else in the world would a government make a corporation (person) advertise against itself? What the government does to smokers is even more oppressive, by applying sin taxes, pet projects funded by thieving elected officials.

There is one habit of smokers that drives me nuts. They think the world is their ashtray. For the last five years I've been pitching in as an adopt-a-mile volunteer. At any corner, before a driveway, or store, on the driver's side, the curb is littered with cigarette butts.

I support your right to smoke but quit throwing your garbage on our street.

asterisk

The ball that was Barry Bond's 756th home run is about to be branded with an asterisk. Marc Ecko, who bought the ball in an online auction from a 21-year-old student ran a website poll for fans to vote on whether or not the ball should be branded with an asterisk. Voting ended in September and it was announced that the ball would be sent to Cooperstown with an asterisk.

The unnaturally enormous ballplayer has vowed to boycott the Hall of Fame if it displays the record-breaking home run ball with an asterisk. The threat includes skipping his potential induction ceremony. Bonds told MSNBC...

"I won't go. I won't be part of it,"

"You can call me, but I won't be there."

"I don't think you can put an asterisk in the game of baseball, and I don't think that the Hall of Fame can accept an asterisk,"

"You cannot give people the freedom, the right to alter history. You can't do it. There's no such thing as an asterisk in baseball."

In other statements Bonds has called Marc Ecko...

"an idiot."

The Hall of Fame has declined to comment.

• For having the intelligence to forge a way in which Barry Bonds has to directly answer the public's opinion of his dishonestly, I am naming Marc Ekco one of my Great Americans.
• For Barry, you still suck. You let your friends go to jail to protect your image. You are no better than Bill Clinton.
• Mr. Bonds seems to have forgotten some baseball history, Roger Maris's single-season home run record was marked with an asterisk by then commissioner Ford Frick.

Smokin' Aces

When the DVD arrived in the mail yesterday, my first thought was not remembering that I had ordered this movie. After watching I was left wondering why. Written and directed by Joe Carnahan, in 2006, his only previous script of note was Narc.

The story is about how all of these super assassins try to kill this mob snitch named Buddy Israel, played by Jeremy Piven.

Other known actors in the movie are:

• Ryan Reynolds as Richard Messner, Liotta's partner, he lives
• Ray Liotta as Donald Carruthers, dies in elevator shootout
• Jeremy Piven as Buddy Israel, the Las Vegas entertainer turned hood, dies before the FBI can have is heart cut out for installation in is Don father.
• Wayne Newton as Himself, fat non-dancer as himself, cameo
• Ben Affleck as Jack Dupree, the bounty hunter, quick exit
• Peter Berg as "Pistol" Pete Deeks, he used to be in Chicago Hope, played Billy, he dies very early too
• Alicia Keys as Georgia Sykes, the shapely black assassin, she lives but only after being shot twice in the elevator
• Common as Sir Ivy, the loyal muscle, gets to carry off Alicia Keys, oh-my
• Jason Bateman as Rupert 'Rip' Reed, funny as the scumbag bail bondsman
• Andy Garcia as Stanley Locke, the uptight, lying FBI department head, he lives
• Zach Cumer as Warren, the karate boy, numchuck swinging brat

To save you the trouble of watching. Ben Affleck dies right off the bat. None of the assassins succeed, but do kill dozens in the trying. The aged mob boss is really a forgotten FBI plant. And finally, a disgusted FBI agent kills Buddy Israel and his mob boss father in the hospital.

For me the most amusing character was Warren, the ADD child who lives with his grandmother. "Am I going to have to ball this thing up?"

Score 9 of 50, this movie is serious crap, do not rent it.

• Character Development 1 out of 10, you live or you die
• Acting 2 out of 10
• Photography, cinematography 2 out of 10
• Writing, script 1 out of 10, this looks like the original Ocean's 11, a bunch of friends got together and made a movie one weekend.
• Concept 3 out of 10