Little Country Towns

Good God man - it's good to be back in the great state of wide open spaces. I moved into town, the big city of Nixon-population 1,985. haha Things were so cramped in Florida and folks don't realize it down there. When you come out here-even the houses are spaced far apart compared to Panama City where I was. I really have enjoyed being back in this little town I grew up in. Everyone knows each other and each others business. There are no secrets in little country towns. But that has it's good side too. Your kids are watched by one and all and you feel safe letting your kids do things without a parents watchful eye. Sort of. People are so friendly and everybody waves and stops to talk no matter where you meet. People park in the street and dash in to Super S and grab soda and bread and dash back out without getting a ticket. There are good people no matter where you live - and I met the best in the state of Florida - but there seems to be even more in little country towns. I love it. AND NO HURRICANES either.

BUGS

Did you know that 40 percent of the world's oxygen comes from the Amazon region/rainforest. Thats amazing and scary. I bet it smells really good down there with that much oxygen in the air. Scientists keep discovering new species of plant life and animal life all the time. I hope mankind don't go overboard and wipe all the vegetation out in our quest for discovery. I think that it would be an interesting cruise, to go there, but I hate mosquitoes and yellow flies so I better stay home. I had never heard of yellow flies until I moved to Florida. Everyone warned me about them, and they were not kidding. Those little buggers are a pain in the butt, arm, neck, wherever they land. We don't have those here in Texas thank goodness. I can't imagine what it must be like in the Amazon region. Oh well-thats another good thing about Texas.

BUSH and stem cell research

Stem cell research is a hot topic everywhere. President Bush vetoed Congress's bill funding embryonic stem cell research. Here's a tidbit not reported on very much-the government does support and fund research using adult stem cells and the research has had surprisingly good results. FACT-many of the scientists for embryonic research admit that they had no idea the adult stem cells would react and perform just like the embryonic stem cells. And there is no ban or limits on that end of the research. So---if the adult stem cells do as good as the embryonic stem cells, what's all the squawk from Congress about. I think Bush did good in standing up and sticking to his policy. Now if only the middle east crisis's could be resolved as easily, I won't hold my breath though.

Ostrich headed

I liked opening statements made by Oreily on Fox channel today-"There are 3 types of people in America right now. 1-its always Bushs fault if anything in the world goes wrong 2-the second group sees and understands what is happening and knows this isn't Bushs fault 3-the ostrich headed group who dont care and ignores world troubles
I think there should be a fourth group who wants to retake over the country and make things happen the way they should-wishful thinking huh.
Dont tell me Clinton could have done better-he bribed them{Iran and North Korea}and they still did what they wanted, and kept the bribes and laughed at him. This country has lost the respect it once had because of all the internal political bickering and the softness we portray to other countries. This country, USA, isn't united on anything. The last 3-4 presidents and government officials have not been able to perform like they should because of all the hand tying. Also the government officials as a whole, have the morality of a grain of sand. I don't like a lot of what Bush has said lately, but he's had more backbone than most of them. Considering how corrupt the gov is-he could have done a lot worse than he has. Hilary said "hope he gets all this mess cleared up before I get there". We encourage terrorism with this country wide split and constant bickering with each other. When a North Korean soldier was asked why they had not done anything yet to the USA, he replied"if we give them time, they are destroying themselves."

Transportation solutions

The Sentinel is at it again! More 19th Century solutions to our 21st Century traffic problems.
Town centers with shops, offices and homes could sprout near stations
How would you like to walk a few minutes to a train station and zip to work in an air-conditioned rail car -- and then return the same way? Once back in the neighborhood, you could walk to grocery stores, restaurants and businesses to run errands. Sound too good to be true? It could happen in Central Florida, where plans for a 61-mile commuter-rail system are moving toward reality. If transportation officials can cement a deal to have cities along the route help pay for the system and CSX Railroad agrees to sell the tracks to the state, then the region's first attempt at speedy mass transit could affect the way we grow. The project, which could cost as much as $500 million, could come together this summer. If planners take the right steps -- and so far they are off to a slow start -- the rail system could help spur self-contained, walkable neighborhoods around stations from DeBary to Orlando to Poinciana. Replete with grocery stores, drugstores, parks and restaurants, they'd be the kind of small communities that grew up around town squares in the era before interstate highways. In turn, the new approach to development could help reduce sprawl by anchoring more growth in a central transportation corridor running through the region. So-called smart growth that is focused around mass transit -- transit-oriented development, in planner lingo -- has happened in other communities around the nation. Many such ideas will pop up now that the price of gas is this high and the land is so scarce. Developers have to start planning smartly while they can. It sounds good to me. Wish Texas would try this instead of more super highways.

I'm confused (as usual)

Never before have I seen a stock or commodity raise in price without the supply and demand changing. The price of oil is raising but the amount of oil available is still the same. Scared speculators bidding on oil stocks are driving the prices up. This is insane. There is 6 times as much oil available now than there was 6 years ago. And the price is 8 times higher normally per barrel, but each new middle east activity causes people to react silly at the stock market. And we are the ones suffering for it. There ought to be something we can do to stop this from happening. Send the speculators to Irag?

Words of Wisdom-opportunity doesn't knock on doors-it sits patiently waiting for you to get up and go after it.

De ja vu / WWII

Doesn't this remind you of another era, sadly. This group of terrorists[and make no mistake about it] has sleeper cells in Mexico, US, Canada, UK, Africa, Germany, all middle eastern countries - and all under the command of the Iran leader. The similarities to Hitler are because he was a role model for them to look at and mimic. A lot of his ideas are similar enough to theirs to justify his tactics to them. If Al Quada hadn't brought the spotlight on terrorists in this country-we wouldn't have discovered the Hezbolah cells at work here. They are the Varsity team and Al Quada is the Junior Varsity team. They have won democratic offices in most countries over seas and have fouled democratic reform in a lot of third world countries by winning the elections through fear and genuine support. They are a group to be watched close and with worry. They have grown tremendously since their forming in 1982 in Iran. Its dejavu again-WWll.

Liquid RFID chips

Hey cool cats - whats cooking. I'm starting to really hear and read a lot of info on the radio and internet and tv about the rfid chips and their uses and planned uses. Many listeners and readers are finally starting to get worked up and worried about possible forced implantation of humans.
FOLKS-the scientist that developed the chips came on Coast to Coast radio show 3 years ago and told about his new invention- the liquid version of the chip that he discovered. The military and the automotive industry had all ready bought part of the rights to it - 3 YEARS AGO. He had just sold Walmart the older type and was working on safequarding the uses of the liquid version.
You better be watching out for the world leaders trying to use this in a flu or vaccine shot of some kind. A pandemic bird flu vaccine maybe? Just some info to think on.

Words of Wisdom
When in doubt-smile - it drives people crazy.

World History 101

The war to end all wars concluded in 1919 with a treaty signing and the forming of the League of Nations, to make sure there would be no more wars like WW1. The league was Woodrow Wilsons brainchild. But the US never signed the treaty saying that would make us under the command of the league of nations.
In 1931 Japan invaded a country and the League blustered and fumed and sent letters of protest and Tokoyo resigned from league.
Four years later Mussolini invaded Ethopia and the league protested , fumed and sent letters. Mussolini finally made Addid Ababa and Ethiopa part of Italy.
Hitler watched all this and marched his troops into the Rhineland and claimed it as Germanys in 1936.
The League of Nations fumed, blustered, threatened with letters as usual. Even the German people could not believe the lack attitude of the League. In 38 Hitler annexed Austria into Germany. As usual- the league did nothing but mouth off. This continued more and more and you know how all this ended later on - in WW2. The historical parrallels between the league in the 30s and the UN in the 90s is scary.
In the 90s, the Axis of Evil took turns testing the resolve of the United Nations and watching global reaction to it. First Saddam invaded Kuwait and survived the UN led war. His Axis counterparts watched as he defied the UN repeatedly. His downfall didnt occur for 12 more years until a US led coalition accomplished this feat even with the UN voicing disapproval.
After watching Iragy results, Kim-Jong ll pushed the envelope with our first nuclear standoff with North Korea in 1994. That resulted in him being bribed by Clinton not to make nuclear weapons, which he did anyway. He got away with it for 8 years while the UN blustered and fumed, and sent letters threatening sanctions.
That prompted Iran, the third member of the Axis of Evil, to began testing the UN in 1998 with their own nuclear weapons plans. It has managed to hold the world at bay in a Mexican standoff, so to speak. And all this with the UN fussing but doing nothing concrete.
Now with the missile tests in North Korea and Iran nuclear capable, the Axis of Evil analogy shows us that Iran will now make their move since the UN has done nothing severe. Aggressors always learn from history.
The stakes are higher now than in the past-this is Armageddon. I'd keep a close eye on Tehran if I were you. Iran and Syria will back Palestine and I can't see Israel backing down either. You do the math-or take a good hard, long look at history. History is never wrong and the same patterns keep being followed since in Bible days. And guess what else? If Iran gets the oil exchange going( dealing in euro dollars instead of American dollars) we we not have the finances to back Israel or anyone for that matter. We will see the ultimate takedown- an economic wipeout of the US economy. Russia, China, and the middle East will control the worlds oil. Better hope Zion gets that well drilled in Israel soon.
Words of Wisdom
Let a smile be your umbrella--------just plan on getting soaked.

The Face of Literature

Boy are things changing. Asked someone the other day if they read any good books lately and they said "yes-I checked out 2 good audio books at the library and downloaded one from the internet." Uh - what happened to the leather bound and paperback books we used to see everywhere? The face of literature is really changing for sure. I love a good book to read. It keeps my mind sharp and my brain alive and my imagination flowing. Audio books seem like a tranquilizer to me-they knock me out in the first chapter. Or the voice irratates me and I can't concentrate on the book. Guess I'm weird. Knowledge is power-and the gateway to knowledge is books. Just like blogging is changing the journalistic field, technology is changing the face of literature again. The history of our world has been recorded by writing it in books for others to read. When you read something-it tends to stay in your mind better than when you listen to someone else say it. I don't know - I hope technology doesn't eventually make our brains lazy.

Words of Wisdom
Put your best foot forward-just try not to step in any thing!

It was nice chatting with you , Tom , today. I enjoyed it. And everyone enjoyed the ice cream.

When pigs fly

Remember ever hearing the term spoken "when pigs fly"? Guess what-I saw one fly today. My sister decided her pot belly pig [Ziggy] needed a pen in the back yard instead of living in the house. So I did most of it and we finished it this afternoon. And then the fun begin. She put the harness on him and we tried to get him out the back door. He's never been outside really, so he went bezerk and bucked and squealed and flew around in circles like some rodeo bull. I never knew they could move in that fashion or that fast. Let me tell you-they can squeal loader than you think too.
But he's a happy camper now in his new home.

Whats up with the computer hackers? Now the AP is saying the state department has had intrusions for two weeks and have had to change procedures, passwords...A lot of the hackers seem to be coming from China-which has a lot of insecure computer terminals and an extra large hacker army for creating havoc in enemys computer worlds. There's no telling what they have gotten from the government files-everything in the world is there. Makes you wonder.

Words of Wisdom
Perfect the art of looking innocent-then you can get away with anything.

WARNING CAUTION BEWARE

Emails with pictures of Osama Bin-Laden hanged are
being sent and the moment that you open these emails
your computer will crash and you will not be able to
fix it!
If you get an email along the lines of "Osama Bin
Laden Captured"
or "Osama Hanged" don't open the attachment.
This e-mail is being distributed through countries
around the globe, but mainly in the US and Israel.
Be considerate & send this warning to whomever you
know.
PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG FRIENDS, FAMILY AND
CONTACTS:
You should be alert during the next days:
Do not open any message with an attached filed called
"Invitation" regardless of who sent it.
It is a virus that opens an Olympic Torch which
"burns" the whole hard disc C of your computer.
This virus will be received from someone who has your
e-mail address in his/her contact list, that is why
you should send this e-mail to all your contacts.
It is better to receive this message 25 times than to
receive the virus and open it.
If you receive a mail called "invitation", though sent
by a friend, do not open it and shut down your
computer immediately.
This is the worst virus announced by CNN, it has been
classified by Microsoft as the most destructive virus
ever.
This virus was discovered by McAfee yesterday, and
there is no repair yet for this kind of virus.
This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard
Disc, where the vital information is kept.
SEND THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW

Wise words

Words of Wisdom
Watch out for people that act crazy - they may not be acting!!
I just got through watching the house makeover show. It is such an uplifting sight to witness the pure joy and appreciation on these peoples faces when they move the bus and the families get a look at their new house. I am glad that things like this still happen - even if its for tv ratings and money. The people of this world need to be more kind to each other and we need to figure out how to vent hatred and frustrations in a safe manner. There is still so much good in mankind-people have just forgotten how to let it flow. I give a thumbs up to tv reality shows that benifit and help people. Do you want to feel good inside---then help someone for no reason---and see what happens. Goodness from the heart has a strange way of multiplying. Later gators.

RAIN

Boy o boy! When it rains it pours. Its wet here finally. Its rained every day for 2 weeks. In two weeks, we've gotten more rain than we got all year so far. It smells so good and clean and fresh. And it helps the temperature out a lot too. Although I gotta cut the grass/weeds/green stuff. My sinus has been haywire for a week and it aggravates my asthma fiercly. We still got unpopped fireworks left over, because of the weather. I've had my pc off a lot because of the lightening storms each evening. I have a battery backup supply, but I don't take no chances. I've lost too many pc's to lightening or power surges. Thanks for all the notes and pics sent to me by readers-I enjoy every one of them. I save everything-thats why Ive got 2 pcs hooked up for storage. Ever hear of a packrat on a computer---now you have.

Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.

Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.

Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Catch you tomorrow people.

Making A Dream A Reality

What an important day to celebrate-independence day-freedom to be able to do as we please without persecution. In the midst of your fun times, remember what today is all about. And it didn't come at a cheap price either. Many lives were lost making this dream a reality, so make their efforts worth while and remember our founding fathers and what they accomplished on this wonderful day. Have a safe and happy fourth of July.

4th of July