prying1

Obama and His Changes

2008-07-02T06:52:00.000-07:00

As Obama entered the Oval Office a sense of satisfaction rose up in his breast and filled him with pride. The time line called for 3 years but everything rolled right along and fell into place more quickly that they had imagined. Little did he know that it would be only a year and a half after being elected and taking the oath of office that the plans for change would be completed.

Well, not quite completed. there was still a bit of work to be done. Engage the new Congress. All of the new members were ready to step in months ago. - Present the new Constitution. Hard to believe it was written in the 70's and although never implemented (Yet!) it withstood the test of time and needed no revisions. - Convince the people that all of the changes are, of course, for their own benefit. "After all. They elected me for 'Change'." he thought.

What changes there had been! Nationalizing the health care system, the energy system, communications systems and the transportation industries. All government controlled and he was in charge of the government. People had clamored for him to fix things and soon all would be running with a precision that only a well run government could implement.

The people that REALLY elected him wanted socialism. He had made clear his agenda to all who cared to look beneath the political veneer. Now they would have it and he would make sure they got the best socialistic country in the world. None of this namby pamby stuff like the Danes and the French. America would be a true socialism run BY THE PEOPLE and FOR THE PEOPLE.

Suddenly the door opened and two of his top advisers and friends entered followed by 3 men in uniform with weapons at the ready.

"What's this about?" said Obama.

"C'mon" said one of them. "Did you really think that you would end up on top of the pile when these changes were fulfilled? We've people with much more intelligence than you that will be running things."

"WHAT?" Obama exclaimed.

"We've set up a nice out of the way place in a beautiful Caribbean banana plantation for you. There are still a lot of rural people clinging to their guns and religion out there and we think it best you be protected from them. Plus you will get a lot of exercise and stay in shape by picking bananas. It will be your contribution to this whole new world. Don't worry. I'll take care of the country for you. After all, I am Your Biggest Fan."

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WHO IS BIFF LANE?

2008-06-19T23:05:00.000-07:00

Note update and comment by Judy that was brought to the top. (MosquitoXperts.com)

Suddenly through my SiteMeter I see people visiting this Blogspot site after Google searching "Biff Lane". - Biff gets 313,000 hits without quotes and 23 Google hits with quotes. The link above leads to the poem, "Margin of Profit" from "Poetry to Remember" by Sara Webb Keaton. The reason for the visits/Google hits I've been getting.

The poem is based on a mythical character.

Evidently most all the other Biff Lane's listed by Google are mythical characters also.

What amazes me is that Biff Lane seems to be all over the place giving the near same TESTIMONIAL for all sorts of products and services.

"We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you once again. You made using our yard a wonderful experience. You were patient, knowledgeable, flexible, and your quality of work exceptional. Our guests constantly compliment us when we entertain...We would recommend you to all our friends and family because our experience was that good."
- Biff Lane and Laura Bluff Hill - www.mosquitoxperts.com/id6.html
- Mosquito Xperts, Corporate Headquarters, 2210 Page Rd, Suite 108, Durham, NC 27703

***UPDATE***
Judy of "Mosquito Xperts" has taken the time to comment and explain:
This template is part of the web hosting on Register.com. Our site is still under construction and partially completed. You can see that some of the last pages are not updated with our information as yet. It is a "do it yourself" web template.

Thanks for bringing this defect to my attention. We have plenty of legitimate referrals that we just haven't placed on that site as yet.
Judy Mosquito Xperts | Homepage |
***End Update***

Thanks Judy! I thought it only fair to bring your comment to the top. Hope this link brings you some business.

and

"We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you once again. You made securing our home a wonderful experience. You were patient, knowledgeable, flexible, and your quality of work exceptional. We would recommend you to all our friends and family because our experience was that good."
- Biff Lane - http://www.bestsecurity.us/id6.html
- ALARMKC.COM 12906 E 50th Terr Independence, MO 64055

and

"We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you once again. LRL made our office look wonderful. You were patient, knowledgeable, flexible, and your quality of work is exceptional. Our clients constantly compliment us on the cleanliness of our office...We would recommend you to all our friends and family because our experience was that good."
- Biff Lane and Laura Country-Lane - http://www.lrlcleaning.com/id6.html
- LRL COMMERCIAL CLEANING, INC. 129 CHESTERFIELD INDUSTRIAL BLVD
CHESTERFIELD, MISSOURI 63005

and

"We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you once again. You made our home a wonderful experience. You were patient, knowledgeable, flexible, and your quality of work exceptional. Our guests constantly compliment us on our home...We would recommend you to all our friends and family because our experience was that good."
- Biff Lane and Laura - http://www.nationalroofingco.net/id6.html
- National Roofing Company * P O Box 774 * Taunton * MA * 02780

and

"We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you once again. You made building our home a wonderful experience. You were patient, knowledgeable, flexible, and your quality of work exceptional. Our guests constantly compliment us on our home...We would recommend you to all our friends and family because our experience was that good."
- Biff Lane and Laura Country - http://all-careservices.com/id6.html
- All-Care Services Inc. * Transit Road* Amherst, NY *

Should I go On? - There are more...

WOW! Biff and Laura sure get around don't they! Plus Laura seems to change her last name a bit. Perhaps she is in a witness protection program or something.

And Rhonda Lerche has her picture that remains the same on these sites but her name also changes occasionally. She gets around too. Where Biff gets only 12 hits with quote marks Rhonda gets a whopping 742 websites. One of which sells dirty panties. No pic of Rhonda there but she still gives her testimonial about how much she enjoys the dirty panties she bought. - Forget it. I'm not linking to that one.

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Apparently all the sites are manufactured and registered through some outfit that has a cookie cutter way of doing business. - The companies listed above most likely are legit and I'm pretty certain the owners are a touch ignorant of the internet and how it works. I do wonder however about their allowing for phony testimonials. Couldn't they have gotten a few real customers to say something nice about them and used initials if they didn't want their name used on the internet?

Someone want to do the work and find out who is at the root of this I'll be glad to take the name from comments and post the name right up here in the body of this posting along with a link to your site and a big ATTABOY!.

Oh! here was one more fancy one that they put up. I'd be more impressed if I didn't know that Biff Lane originally came from a poet's imagination.
http://tbwarranty.com/site.swf

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A Whole New World

2008-06-18T22:57:00.000-07:00

The Aladdin song says:

A whole new world
A dazzling place I never knew
But when I'm way up here
It's crystal clear
That now I'm in a whole new world with you
Now I'm in a whole new world with you

Little did we know how prophetic those words would be, 16 years later, for this particular day and age.

"WAY UP HERE ... IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR"

(The pic above is supposedly the Bart Station at the Pittsburg/Bay Point Station - Pic stolen from Wiki)

Little did we know that when the song appeared in 1992 and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song it was really speaking of books.

Why do I say that?

Here is a news flash. (Dated: 05.28.2008)

BART has teamed up with the Contra Costa County Public Library system to set up a novel automated book-lending system that will launch Thursday at the Pittsburg/Bay Point station.

A vending-like machine located at the station will hold some 400 books that can be checked out for free by anyone with a valid Contra Costa County library card. A patron will insert the card, get access to the available titles and check out up to three books. A robotic arm will retrieve the books.

They must be returned to the book-lending machine within three weeks.

Now people no longer have to sit in a train on their way to work. They can travel the world and indeed the universe...

That is if the system provides Science Fiction...

That is if the riders enjoy books...

Be careful Contra Costians. Don't ride past your stop...

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Hat Tip to Anirvan at BookFinder.com Journal
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Liberal Jerk Calls ALL Anti-Obama Voters Racist!

2008-06-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

Already the Pro-Obama camp is working to instill guilt into the hearts of those that oppose their candidate. Won't work with me and I'm certain that most voters going to the polls in November won't be fooled by it either.

Andrew Greely wrote in "A Fall election hinges on race"

And surely some of the explicit chatter during the campaign was racist, especially the obsession with the various clergy who mounted the pulpit of his church. By what stretch of sick logic could the candidate be responsible for what his clergy said and did?

And

The point is that racism permeates American society and hides itself under many different disguises. The nomination of an African-American candidate was a near-miracle. Only the innocent and the naive think that the November election will not be about race.

For one thing the church Barack Hussein Obama attended was and is racist. That is a fact and most blacks (as well as whites) that haven't had their minds twisted by their racist rhetoric will say so also. He could have gone down the street and found a church that preached the love of God instead of the hate of whitey. - Barak is not responsible for what his clergy said and did but he is responsible for sitting through it.

The excuses he has given while throwing his uncle pastor under the bus are weak at best.

The coming election will be about race in Andrew Greely's mind and also in the minds of people like him. These reverse racists think that they are the righteous ones because they "say" they see beyond the color of ones skin and ignore all flaws in the person. Who was it that said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

I've judged the character of Obama and see a politician who lies. No different from Bill and Hillary. I look at Obama and I see a man who wants to drive our nation deeper into socialism. No different from Bill and Hillary. I look at Obama and I see a man who is not qualified and is lacking in judgment and common sense. At least Bill and Hillary have some of both.

No Mr. Greely I will not be voting for Obama. Call me a racist if you will but unreasoned hatred is not one of the reasons. I do not hate Barak nor does the majority of voters on the right. The man doesn't know what he has signed up for, totally lacks experience and the direction he wants to take the country is far from what the founding fathers had in mind for this great and wonderful land.

It has nothing to do with the color of his skin!

P.S. to Mr. Greely. When I had the chance I voted for Alan Keyes and not because he happens to be black. Did you?

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Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

2008-05-19T04:30:00.000-07:00

Saw the Intelligent Design vs. Evolution film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed and as I was leaving I asked another patron of the theater (unknown to me) what he thought of the film. His words were, "I thought it was brilliant."

I thought of the line in Ecclesiastes, "There is nothing new under the sun."

Ben Stein travels and interviews people from both sides of the theory aisle (evolution versus intelligent design) simply asking questions that show both sides have questions and many of their answers are couched in terms like "maybe" and "if".

Basically the film shows that the evolution crowd has pushed the ID'ers out of the classrooms and laboratories blackballing them from scientific research and research grants. Some evolutionists are sitting around wearing earmuffs and blinders and this while they are still forced to say "maybe" and "if" when questioned about the origins of life...

I saw it as showing the power struggle for control of the cash. - But then I'm a cynic.

Did a bit of running around the net before posting this and I came up with a couple spots that are worth viewing.

Six Things in Expelled That Ben Stein Doesn't Want You to Know... is a Scientific American article by John Rennie and Steve Mirsky which says in it's opening paragraph,

"In the film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, narrator Ben Stein poses as a "rebel" willing to stand up to the scientific establishment in defense of freedom and honest, open discussion of controversial ideas like intelligent design (ID). But Expelled has some problems of its own with honest, open presentations of the facts about evolution, ID—and with its own agenda."

- It does raise some good points but on the other hand lines like this in the article, "Thousands of other biologists across the U.S. who all know evolution to be true are also still religious." makes me wonder when they threw out the word "theory" when talking of evolution. Tsk, tsk. And this from a scientific journal.

I like this one:

Welcome to Expelled Exposed, a detailed look at the Ben Stein movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. We'll show you why this movie is not a documentary at all, but anti-science propaganda aimed at creating the appearance of controversy where there is none.

Excuse me? There is no controversy? Oh! OK! I'll just go back to sleep...

The film shows that there is a controversy and that in the end the origins of life cannot be explained to the opposing layman's or scientist's satisfaction by either side. Ultimately the question is, should both sides be presented in public schools at taxpayers expense? Or should the views of one side be squashed and tossed into the outer darkness.

The Intelligence Design side is not looking to expel the Evolutionist's from the schools, They want both sides taught, yet the Evolutionists have expelled the ID'ers. Free debate is the issue and the film shows if taken to it's ultimate conclusion scientists would find themselves having to form a hypothesis after the world view of evolutionists as opposed to facts seen through a microscope.

What cracked me up in the film is seing scientists saying perhaps life started on Earth (Gaia) by aliens from other planets seeding it or that life started off on the backs of crystals. - Of course this makes much more sense than thinking that God IS and that He created, designed life and used materials common to all life to create different forms, species etc.

Oh! I forgot. There is no controversy. I forgot I was on my way to take a nap...

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Clinging to Religion

2008-04-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

Barack Hussein Obama, Jr's statement was:

"it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

I sort of have a problem with this statement. That is because it is a general statement that has no qualifying words to modify it to make it true. The word 'some' thrown in would have cut the fuse of the bomb it has become for Barack. Do we need a president that makes errors as simple as this?

Laying that aside I'd like to address the words (taken out of context) "they cling to ... religion..."

The way it was stated Barack makes it sound like a bad thing to want to cling to religion. Of course we do need to define religion and can have no way of knowing Barack's definition. There is more than one way to look at religion. One comparison could be either man bringing God (or gods) down to his level or God bringing man up to His. - I prefer the second.

Man can stretch his arms to drag God down and it will be to no avail. God has stretched His Arm down and given man the gift of his Son. As a gift Jesus now only needs to be received or rejected just as a child might do between a toy or a sweater.

As for me I'll 'cling' to my religion and I'll make no apologies for it. But then again, I'm a "Born Again" Christian not a "Social" Christian. Yes, good works, as Barack has been doing, are necessary but before that there needs to be a relationship with the Living God. With statements like the one Barack has made I question his relationship. Faith without works is dead but so is works without faith.

Slamming his brothers and sisters in the Lord is not a good way to generate votes.

But he never did have mine...

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Acres of Books in Long Beach to Sell and Move

2008-04-09T23:34:00.000-07:00

Looks like it is 'near' official - Acres of Books, a longtime hangout of bookaholics is searching for new digs. 240 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach California will be turned over to redevelopers (the City of Long Beach Redevelopment Agency is brokering the deal) for "commercial space, housing and an art center where local works can be displayed and art-related events can be hosted".

2.8 million is the reported purchase price of the property which was owned by the store as opposed to their renting.

Evidently to the city a book store is not suitable for 'commercial space'. - Nor are books to be considered art...

"We are not planning on absolutely closing down," said Smith, co-owner of Acres of Books along with her husband Phil. "We are looking for a new location."

Their website posted:

Dear Customers and Friends of Acres of Books,

Jackie and I have negotiated the sale of our property, building and land at 240 Long Beach Blvd. Acres of Books has been there since my grandfather, Bertrand Smith, moved there in 1964. We still own the book store business, Acres of Books.

We had no choice but to deal with the City of Long Beach, Redevelopment Agency. Craig Beck and Carl Morgan, whom we worked very closely with, treated us in a business like manner, and helped to get us thru some very important issues.

The City is going to let us stay in their building one more year. This will give us a chance to have a couple of stock reduction sales, while we continue to look for a place to buy. We will not be able to have as much stock in a new building, even if we find one as big as we have now. The aisles will have to be twice as wide and not near as high. Oh well.

So, please continue to visit us, just to look around and hopefully find something you have been looking for, at a fair price. As my grandfather, Bertrand, (Pop, as we called him) said when a customer found an under priced gem, “I made my money at that price, that’s enough.”

Let us know your name and address, and we will let you know when we have a sale, and you can save a lot of money.

Come in and say hello to Jackie, Ron, Aaron, Steve, Amber, Mary, David, Sean, Megan, Cheyenne and Chloe. Don’t forget to give Penny, the bookstore cat a pat and rub, or a hug.

Thank you so much, and we hope to see you soon,
Phil and Jackie Smith

The deal is not quite final. The RDA will take up the 'issue' for 'approval with the RDA Board' April 21, 08.

Gazette.com reports,

At a recent downtown neighborhoods meeting, Mayor Bob Foster and City Manager Pat West were implored to save Acres of Books.

But the purchase of the Acres of Books site, and the block that surrounds it, is designed to clear the way for another project that has long been sought in the downtown - and "art exchange."

"We’re trying to create an art-themed building," Beck said. "We've talked with the community about an art exchange where artists could live and have galleries to sell their work, where there would be a residential component. We have talked to (California State University, Long Beach) about maybe doing some art student housing."

The goal of all of that would be to have a building that links the core of downtown with the East Village, Beck said.

He said that the RDA offered to have Acres of Books be a part of that, but Smith said that was not going to be a good fit. She said it was an emotional decision to move on.

Student Housing??? - Well with the students they are turning out these days they should have negotiated keeping the picture books...

The City of Long Beach, California might have utilized the term, 'Eminent Domain' in their negotiations with owners Phil and Jackie Smith or they might not have. I didn't see the words used in the news articles but I did see the methods cities have cultivated through the years to 'purchase' properties for 'pet projects'.

prying1 sez:
'Pet projects' cost taxpayers dollars they can't afford and give only limited returns.

Where is the Supreme Court on the issue of cities taking property against property owners wishes?

Probably taking a nap...

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What Would Jesus Do?

2008-03-18T07:25:00.000-07:00

Recent brouhaha caused by the Barak Hussein Obama/Rev Wright comradeship has me wondering why it the broohaha recent? - Only because the MSM has not been doing their job concerning him.

20 years Barak has been going to the church and he is just now finding out how inflammatory his (now ex?) pastor is.

Gimme a break.

Non church goers might believe him but not people who regularly attend services. It's like a Muslum saying of his mosque, "I didn't know they spewed hate America and Jihadist teachings there. I just went to hear the music."

Once again we have a politician saying anything he thinks the people want to hear in order to be elected.

Fortunately fewer people are believing him.

What Would Jesus Do?

He'd come clean and fess up. He always did prefer the truth.

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Once Again! The Lost Poetry Corner

2008-01-20T22:08:00.000-08:00

Listed a bunch of "Unknown and Lost Poets" this weekend. I really mean UNKNOWN!!! - Googled the names of both books and authors, separate and together with quotes, without quotes and most didn't even register.

They used a vanity press and did not know how to market themselves. The copies I got are all like new 'review copies' that were sent to Dion O'Donnol because he did promote poets and poetry through various means. Newsletters, clubs etc... - All published in 1980.

Even so, after 28 years of no promotions, being manufactured prior to the Internet explosion these names are virtually unknown. So if I expect to sell the books I better promote them. - To quote Ralph Kramden, 'And Away We Go'.

The following Lost Poem comes from "Poetry to Remember" by Sara Webb Keaton - Publisher: Dorrance and Company - 1980 (First Edition, not stated) - All I could find other than the copy I have listed at my book store is three copies stuck in the bowels of Higher Education Libraries. (Saw them through WorldCat)

A bunch of different subjects are poeticized in this book but I'm a slow typist and am only going to give you one. This is one I liked.

Margin of Profit

"I'll trade my dog for your wagon,"
Said Tommy to big Biff Lane.
"And I'll throw in my football too
And also my watch and chain."

"I'll trade." said Biff, "I like your dog.
Come! Flash, old boy, now you're mine."
Little Tommy smiled, he had a new ball,
and the watch didn't keep good time.

"Flash had always come back,"
Tommy mused as he happily rolled away.
"Gee! this was great, it was real fun,
He couldn't help it if Flash wouldn't stay."

He had traded before for this thing and that
And always came out ahead.
He was getting tired, it was time to go home,
But he must wait on Flash instead.

Morning came and still no dog.
Biff Lane must have him on a leash.
Now Flash was no longer his,
This had gone far beyond his wish.

With tear stained eyes he traded back
And paid extra a 'bit of cash'.
But never again did he speculate
Or trade off his good dog Flash.

~~~~~

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Self Promotion of Your Website

2008-01-14T07:49:00.000-08:00

Trying to promote your website can be time consuming. I know because I haven't been working on it and my hits have dropped off. Part of that drop for this blog is my irregularity in posting. People come by for a week and see the same posting they stop coming by. Especially if your last posting was a poem on "The Hammer Throw".

Anyway. I was over at Bookshop Blog's Forum and posted the 'Self Promotion - Networking' thread the following piece. Rereading it before clicking 'post' I saw that this idea can be applied to websites and blogs other than just book sales.

Hope you can use this:

I listen to talk radio and on occasion call in. Only once have I had a chance to do it but ask the radio show host if you can promote/plug your website/bookstore over the air.

Don't just call in to plug away. Have a legitimate question or statement to make concerning the present topic being discussed on the show. Make sure it is legitimate because listeners can tell and you don't want them thinking you are just a self promoting jerk.

I find it best to make a couple notes with the show host's name, (don't want to mess that up!) any greeting the regular callers use, and your statement or question. - DON'T read off the paper into the telephone. It just doesn't work.

It also helps if the question or statement is semi-intelligent.

Weekends are a good time because they have shows of many topics and it is easier to get through when you call in. Find one that really interests YOU. You might find religious shows, computer shows, pet shows, cooking shows where you tie in your plug with some book titles you might have. You want to pick a show that interests you just in case the show host decides to engage you in conversation.

You might want to have a list handy of some 'tie in titles' just in case you get to talk books after the plug...

To make sure you don't get cut off before the plug and that you do get it in you can start the conversation with, "I've a question and if you don't mind I'd like to plug my website." (my business, my store, etc...) - Most show hosts will be gracious and let you do it.

- If you work it right the conversation might turn to books for a minute or so. You might want to have a list handy of some 'tie in titles' just in case you get to talk books after the plug... -

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The Hammer Throw Poetry by William Lindsey

2008-01-06T14:52:00.000-08:00

From "The Little Book of Sports". Poetry compiled and edited by Wallace and Frances Rice. published by The Reilly & Britton Co, in 1910.

I offered to type this out in comments to my previous post on this book. Cary Cartter agreed to let me. Here it is...

We are the children of the strong god Thor
We hurl his hammer through the hollow sky;
No task is this for feeble hands to try:
This is the sport that men and gods adore.

A giant race are we, who each in turn
Step in the magic circle's narrow ring
Around our heads the old god's hammer swing,
And send it whirling where the sunbeams burn.

Our fingers twine the handle tightly round,
Firm as a mountain oak we plant our feet,
With one long breath, filling each cell complete,
We lift and swing the dead weight from the ground.

Around our heads we swing with quickening speed,
The hot blood pressing in each swollen vein,
Each muscle corded with its mighty strain,
The handle bending like a river reed.

A step, a turn, and staggering, we hurl
The heavy hammer whistling through the air;
We watch it in the sunbeams fly and flare;
We see it settle with a thud and whirl.

All can not win; our giant game is o'er;
'T is better to be last in such a test,
Than in a little sport to rank the best;
We are the children of the strong god Thor.

~ ~ ~ ~ William Lindsey ~ ~ ~ ~

Feel free to comment.

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Little Book of SportsSports Poems from The Little Book Series

2008-01-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

Came across a jewel of a book today. It combines two of my least favorite things. Poetry and Sports.

Well maybe 'least favorite' is overstated. Cleaning up after my dog is way above each of those.

Really, poetry is OK if it rhymes and says something. If I have to think about what it says it has lost me as a customer. But some people like that 'New Verse' so to each his own... I loved Hiawatha for example. Read the whole thing twice in my life. Might read it again someday. - And sports like baseball, basketball and football is great to watch if I'm tied in a chair with toothpicks holding my eyes open. I do like to watch gymnastics and snow skiing so I'm not against all sports...

Anyway. The pick of the week for my poetry posting is a neat little book called "The Little Book of Sports". Poetry compiled and edited by Wallace and Frances Rice. published by The Reilly & Britton Co, in 1910 and as stated in the title of this posting part of "The Little Book Series" whose other titles I've listed at the bottom of this post.

Thirty-two different sports listed in the Index of Sports and forty names listed in the Index of Authors. Seventy-seven poems total.

Some of the sports are Baseball (Casey at the Bat of course with 5 others.), Football (5), Hammer Throwing (1), Fishing (3), and Golf (8). Some are funny, some serious. - Of course I like the funny ones.

Here is a quick one on Cycling by John Joy Bell that shows that at the turn of the last century there was a different set of traffic problems...

I'd rather be a cyclist
Than any other beast,
For though he slays he never stays
upon the slain to feast.

It's pleasant to remember,
While lying on the stones,
How though you're dead, you needn't dread
That he will pick your bones.

He comes! You fall! He's gone! That's all!
He Doesn't mind the least.
Oh I'd rather be a cyclist
Than any other beast.

~ ~ ~ John Joy Bell ~ ~ ~
1871-1934

Other titles listed on the back page of this book:

Little Book of Love
Little Book of Kisses
Little Book of Friendship
Little Book of Brides
Little Book of Sports
Little Book of Out of Doors
Little Book of Cheer
Little Book of Lullabies
Little Book of Laughter
Little Book of Schooldays
Little Book of Bohemia
all edited and compiled by Wallace and Frances Rice.
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Cold in L.A. California? Time To Use the Fireplace

2007-12-28T19:48:00.000-08:00

Once in awhile it gets cold in L.A. This is how I handled it this year.

The temperature has been dropping into the 50's at night and this house seems to get even colder than it is outside at times. Well I figured it was just about time to do one of my husbandly duties. Something Wifeypoo will forever leave for me to do in spite of the Romantic Implications the Disney cartoon gives to the job.

Clean out the fireplace.

Now I know that this is something I should have done at the beginning of spring after the last time it was used and I would have done it too except the timing just didn't seem right to me somehow. Besides I wasn't sure, at the time, WHEN would be the VERY last time it would be used.

Plus I have the enviable ability to put things off and since I like people to envy me I figured this was just one more way to accomplish just that.

So! Now the timing was right.

Break out the SHOP-VAC!

Drag it into the house. (Sure glad it has wheels! It must weigh 8 pounds!) Junk drawer for extension cord. Move the screen aside, tilt the grate up and back, plug in the SHOP-VAC.

Contact!

Switch on!

(Whirring sound starts here!)

Suck up the ashes!

Wonder if Tim Allen could soup this baby up? - Whoa! - Don't think he'd need to. Look at this machine just suck the bricks clean!

Sure am glad that that last year I didn't use any wood with nails in it. When I cleaned it out last fall I had to deal with nails clogging the hose. This is great. Cinderella should have one of these pig machines. Then she wouldn't have to complain about working so hard and maybe even her evil and wicked step-sisters would be envious enough to do it for her. This is almost like fun. The corners need a bit more work than the middle. I should have done this last spring but then people would have said I don't have the enviable ability to put things off. I am raising a bit of ashes though. Not enough to worry about. 99.99% is going down the tube. But it is getting hard to breath with my head stuck in the fireplace. Maybe I should take a bit of a break.

OH NO!!!

What the???

I forgot to put the filter in the stupid shop-vac the last time I cleaned it!

Scheesh! What-a-mess!!!

Wow!

Good thing Wifeypoo and I have a deal.

I clean out the fireplace and she cleans the rest of the house...

Epilogue
Most of this story is true. I did stray a bit from reality while my head was stuck in the fireplace and I imagined the filter being off the shop-vac. At this point I looked behind me, was relieved to see all was OK and carried on with the work. The last sentence was what I imagined I would say to Wifeypoo.

We all know how that would have gone over.

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Life -
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Update - I should have and forgot to mention that this posting is a result of my visit to a special blogsite and a posting that got me going to tell this story - Thanks to Chris at - Book Hunter's Holiday -

Who then was this Gustave Dore?

2007-12-22T22:08:00.000-08:00

The Terrible Gustave Dore by Hellmut Lehmann-Haupt - Apparently only two printings. - Marchbanks Press, NY, NY, 1943 & Greenwood Press, Westport, Conn, 1976 -

"Originated as a lecture given before the Groller Club in New York City on December 14, 1939" -

On the first page the author, Hellmut Lehmann-Haupt asks the question, "Who then was this Gustave Dore?" He goes on to ask, "What sort of life did he live? Was he a happy man and his life a rich one? What were his ambitions, his hopes and fears? What caused his early death?"

These are questions Helmut asked and sought answers for. He had grown up seeing and admiring pictures by Gustave in the Bible and Perrault Fairy tales long before he could read.

Dante and the Lion

Hellmut says in the paragraph after his questions, "On the following pages I have tried to answer these questions. My search has brought me close to Gustave Dore. He has become a friend. Perhaps you too will discover a friend in him."

25 Illustrations, some full page and some in text are scattered through the book plus there is a sample of his handwriting. A very good biography. - Quite a good book. -

- prying1 -

The above picture is just a portion of the work. I had to crop it for this posting.

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A few copies are available and can be found through Bookfinder.com.

Hat Tip to WorldCat.org for their resources.
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The Virgin of Waikiki by Don Blanding

2007-12-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

Here is a review of the poem/book "The Virgin of Waikiki" - A Torrid Tragedy of the Tropics by Don Blanding.

Don Blanding is well known for his tropical poetry and this little volume is a good example of his humorous verse writing abilities.

A nearing 40's spinster is the 'hot' topic of this steamy tropical ballad.

From the DJ:
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Every Author has his flippant moments, and it was such a mood that the Virgin of Waikiki was created. As the author explains "A tragedy as Poignant as Virgin Annie's could only be treated frivolously, thus sparing the heart strings of the reader".

Those who seek may find a Moral in this tale - - We say "may".
~~~~~

Quite a fun read until the "tragedy" part at the end. Can't say any more without spoiling it.

The forward by H.M.S. (Henry M. Snyder) says:

"At a recent dinner of the Wampus Club in Los Angeles, the author, Don Blanding of Honolulu was called upon to contribute to the entertainment. In responding he read his original poem, The Virgin of Waikiki.

It was felt that a number of appreciative souls who were not present at the reading of the poem were deserving of the pleasure which this rare and piquant piece affords to Epicurean literary tastes. For the benefit of this small circle of the cognoscenti an edition was privately printed "upon the altar of fellowship." This edition was quickly exhausted as was also a second printing. The present edition with illustrations by A. B. Butler, Jr. is the publisher's response to what seems to be a steadily growing demand for further copies.

What Lady Lou did for Alaska; what Kipling's Mandalay did for India, perhaps, indeed, this rollicking epic ballad of Virgin Annie may do for Hawaii."

In the back of the 1933, Henry M. Snyder edition there is a yellow envelope pasted in.

It has printed on it, "For sundry reasons the astonishing consummation of the ballad must be withheld, temporarily only -we hope- from further enjoyment of the reader." and two drawings of little angels (one obviously Hawaiian) with ukuleles.

It is my guess that the envelope was pasted in because the printery, Country Life Press, Garden City New York, discovered too late the omission of the copy and they had the unused envelopes on hand. - The DJ appears to be of the same material as the envelopes. I wonder if they had both bits of stock on the shelf and were glad to get rid of them. (8-P

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WorldCat Network

2007-12-21T20:12:00.000-08:00

The Bookshop Blog posted an article titled, "The fine art of Book Pricing."

Quite a good read for any bookseller and it has a few tips for books that are "one of a kind". - I've come across a few that I just can't find through Google or Yahoo. Just a couple days ago I found I own "Hooray for a Roue'" by H.R. Washburne. Could only find a single reference that was really a dead link from some joker of a booksales site that had the title listed but no book for sale.

Well that told me that someone else out there had at least heard of the book. I wasn't holding a figment of my imagination. I saw the title on the internet so I knew it must exist. It is book of poetry that I will soon be listing. Unless I misplace it in one of my stacks...

I started working on the author's name and in my search I came across WorldCat.org.

I was too slow in getting this resource I've found over to the good folks at The Bookshop Blog for them to post it in the article so I left the following in their comments.

Here is another Handy Dandy Book Resource I found just recently.

http://worldcat.org/

They have a toolbar search engine you can load on to the top of your browser page. Just type in the tile or author and it takes you to the page you want. - Lists Libraries that carry the book and tabs can (hopefully) take you to other info that is helpful.

Sign up and in your profile you can link to your website and blogsite. Create lists of books you like and check out profiles of other people with similar tastes. That is if they don’t have their profile private which you can do too if you prefer the anonymity.

As occasion and time permits you can add to their site the table of contents and/or a short synopsis/review of a book which might (or might not) get people to check your profile and go to your website.

I’ve seen some books where they give the printing history which can be very helpful too.

So far I’ve found it helpful and have found a couple books listed that it was difficult and/or impossible to find on Google or Yahoo.

Hope to see you there.

WorldCat has a lot of growing to do and needs a bit of help in doing so. It is a good resource and those who love books can make it even better. I encourage book sellers and book buyers to visit, Sign up, try the toolbar, and join the fun.

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The Angel and The Star By Ralph Connor

2007-12-21T07:52:00.000-08:00

A well written Christmas story giving personality and dialog to the descriptions found in Luke. It is divided into two sections. The first called,

"The Angel" and the second, (you guessed it!) The Star.

The first section is the story as told from the shepherd's point of view and the second of the Magi as they travel through Jerusalem and on to Bethlehem.

Throughout the book there are nine color illustrations in line with the stories. (1908 Fleming H. Revell Company hardcover - Can't speak for all editions)

Paintings reproduced through the letterpress process have been bound in with the pages. The pictures are by Cyrus Cincinnatto Cuneo (1879 - 1916), whose work has drawn over $30,000 at auction, and they add quite a bit of character to this little volume.

A few copies are available online for reasonable prices. If you decide to purchase a copy you may want to write to the sellers in advance and make sure that the issue they are selling has all 9 pictures in it. There was both an American and Canadian printing and I have only the American one in hand.

I hope to post a few pics a bit later. Time for me to go to work...

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Summary of the 2007 Messiah Concert in Temecula/Murrieta

2007-12-04T20:29:00.000-08:00

Each year dozens of people that love to sing spend time practicing in small groups, join together for one group practice and then put on a concert that is enjoyable, uplifting, delightful and a whole slew of positive adjectives.

This has happened in Temecula/Murrieta California for untold years now and is a free event. This year the organizers refused to take an offering. I did not hear the reason why but I think it may be because they feel that they are giving to God freely that which He deserves. - That is, music honoring Him.

Thanks to Madge and Chuck Griffing for their labor to bring each year's concert to fruition.

Handel's Messiah is one classical music piece that is enjoyed by people of all faiths although Christians versed in scriptures of both Testaments seem to be the majority of audiences. Perhaps because it is most often played in churches.

This year a thanks goes to Calvary Chapel, Murrieta, CA for offering the use of their facilities. Wonderful building with great acoustics. Wonderful building for worshiping and praising God. Which is what the musicians and singers did on the first Sunday of December.

The entire oratorio now names, Handel's Messiah was written in just 24 days. This is most impressive if one looks at it in it's entirety. The singers, bass, tenor, alto, Soprano (Sopranos deserve a capital letter!) are often individually singing different pieces of music from the rest of the group. The instruments have their own sheets of music that would only confuse most of the singers if the pages were mixed up.

Altogether, if the notes were placed on their sides and laid end to end it would only stretch halfway to heaven. - However! Standing up straight and in the jiggly lines Handel wrote them in they reach all the way!!!

A remarkable feat is what I say.

Regarding this years event
prying1 sez:

The concert went well this year except for an occasional misunderstanding of directions from the conductor.

At certain points in time the conductor would motion for a soloist to rise and step forward. Some of the singers rose too. That would get other singers to rise thinking they had missed the signal. Then those that rose in error would realize their mistake and sit back down. Those that followed the standing process then followed the sitting process. At this point the ones that didn't join in at first would now stand and sit.

Needless to say it resembled a wave at a baseball game...

That aside the music was wonderful and please plan on attending next year. - The first Sunday in December.

I'll remind you.

Hopefully the three young girls that sang The appearance of the Angel to the shepherds will be there next year. Such angelic voices! One of the highlights of the show.

Speaking of highlights I heard (this is hearsay) that some of the more youthful musicians were recruited from local High Schools and this affords them an opportunity to join in with more experienced musicians. - It sure didn't sound like any High school band I've ever heard. - I'm sure they were as thrilled playing the music as I was listening.

For many it is the start of the Christmas Season. For me Christmas Season really seems to start when the practices start. The Performance kicks it into gear and fires up the afterburners.

Bring on the fat man in the funny suit. I'm ready for him.

A special thanks to Gawfer, Political Pistachio and their families for attending this year. It was great meeting you all and I only wish we had more time to spend together.

Perhaps next year we can get you to join in the choir!
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2007 Messiah Concert in Temecula / Murrieta CA

2007-12-02T16:30:00.000-08:00

For your consideration

In Murrieta California

- Sunday - December Second - 2007, at 4:00PM (Sharp)-

The
RANCHO MUSIC ASSOCIATION
presents

Handel's Messiah

with 60-70 Voice Chorus
Symphonic Orchestra and Inspiring Vocal Soloists!

Hosted by

Calvary Chapel of Murrieta
24225 Monroe Ave - Map/Directions
Murrieta, CA 92562

A freewill offering will be taken.

~~~~~~~~~~~

My wife and I will be in the chorus. She sings soprano and I sing bass so we stand on opposite ends of the platform.

Get there EARLY if you can make it. Otherwise you might be shunted to a room with a big screen TV and speakers. Not quite the same as being in the Auditorium Proper.

This is an annual program so consider it for next year if you cannot make it this time.

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Can a City Stop you From Web Linking to Their Site?

2007-11-14T08:36:00.000-08:00

Please copy this posting and put it up on your blog. Please don't consider this a left or right posting. It concerns all bloggers. - It will only cost you a few minutes time. Spread the word and have your friends post it too! Originally from Publius Forum

-By Warner Todd Huston

Here is an interesting question: Can a city stop a private citizen from putting a link on their website to a city website?

The question arises over a Sheboygan, Wisconsin case where a woman who is often critical of the town mayor was ordered by the city to remove a city website link from her own pages. Yes, you heard me correctly… ORDERED to remove that link. The Sheboygan Press posted the story a week or so ago and it got me thinking about the abuse of power indulged in by this small Wisconsin town.

In a move initiated by Perez, City Attorney Steve McLean sent a cease-and-desist letter earlier this month to Jeni Reisinger, who was among the leaders of a mayoral recall effort last year, officials acknowledged Friday.

The letter, dated Oct. 19, states, "maintenance of this link could be construed as having been authorized or endorsed by the city and/or its police department" and should be removed “until such time as the city were to authorize such a link."

This has to be a joke, right? A city attorney who has the gall to attempt to force a private citizen to remove a link to public city website should be summarily removed from his position. Further, if he was put up to this outrageous action by Mayor Juan Perez, then this mayor should similarly be removed.

Of course, this city government is being run by a bunch of bumbling nitwits, here. Of that none can deny. But, the situation is galling none-the-less. If this city can prevent people from linking to a public service, then what else can they strong-arm the public over? Can the city decide that, forthwith, all people critical of office holders should receive a “cease and desist” letter? Maybe no one should even be "allowed" to run against them for office from this point onward? The arrogance of this is shocking, to say the least.

The next thing you know, every city will look like the mob infested city of Chicago, run by the criminal enterprise we call the Daley family!

In any case, if the City of Sheboygan is so afraid of people visiting their webpages then why have them at all? Now, if you’d like to go to their sites and ask a few questions, you can see them here:

The officious Sheyboygan Police are here –
http://www.sheboyganpolice.com/main.html

Give a shout out and a Sieg Heil to Mayor Juan Perez here — http://ci.sheboygan.wi.us/Mayor/MayorHome.html

Perez’ henchman, attorney Stephen G. McLean, can be visited here–
http://ci.sheboygan.wi.us/Attorney/AttorneyHome.html

Now, I hope every blogger adds these links to their websites. Let’s see if the "people's city" city of Sheboygan, Wisconsin can get all of us to stop linking to a public website?

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War On Global Warming A Success!

2007-11-10T07:46:00.000-08:00

(From ACK News Service) June 23, 2012 - Today, Gene Poole, AlGore's right hand person, announced that the war on global warming has been won. Said Mr. Poole through his secretary, Helen Back:

"We've finally managed to get a controlling hold on greenhouse gases. The earth is now cooling and doing so faster than we anticipated. In fact so much so that large sections of the jungles in South America, Africa and Asia are dying off for lack of carbon dioxide. The growth of the ice packs and glaciers is not helping either. We are now directing our efforts at getting people to leave a larger carbon footprint. Mr AlGore is doing his part by leaving all the lights on in all his mansions 24 hours a day. We politely request everyone on earth do the same. Oh! And if you must fly please do so in a private jet. Thank you.

Ileane Left, spokesperson for 'No More Carbon', an environmentalist group, said, "We didn't know that all life on Mother Earth is carbon based. I blame it on our school system for not teaching us that. Sorry for the damage we've done. But no, we are not giving back the donations we've collected. We will need that money to rent private jets."

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From a Tuned Harp by Winifred R. Myers'(near) Lost Poetry Corner

2007-11-09T22:58:00.000-08:00

I found a couple other copies of this book online so it is not quite "Lost Poetry" but it is close. - At this point in time there is a copy on eBay for .99¢ but the shipping is where the seller makes up for the low price. Looks like a clean copy though... A couple others can be found through BookFinder.com

Anyway - Here is some of the lowdown on the book:
Title: From a Tuned Harp -
Author: Myers, Winifred R. -
Publisher: Wagon and Star Press - Dion O'Donnol - W. Los Angeles, CA - Copyright: 1951 - 44 pages (no index) - 31 poems total -

To the best of my knowledge this is a single printing item. Unless the print on demand folks get hold of it and jack the price of a NEW COPY up to a kazillion dollars... (When buying books online do some research!!! Know what you want and why. Is it for reading, collecting or a gift copy. The difference between collectible and readers copy can be big bucks but so is resale value...- Email the seller! Don't be shy to ask questions or to ask for pictures.)

~~~~~

And follows a couple sample poems. I will say, of the poems I read I liked these two best so use your own judgment if you want this volume on your bookshelf...

Oven Altar

If by some recipe, I'd bake
A perfectly heavenly sort of cake,
I'd never feel
That I could kneel
And offer it to God!
God dispenses-mortals take-
They should give gratitude, not cake!

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and
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Retreat

A tiny terraced garden on a lovely, lonely hill-
Below a river singing,
Above a bird awinging, Beyond, a bell, sweet, ringing;
Peace, my heart be still.

I hear the sleepy birds give their last twilight trill-
Here purple dusk comes clinging,
A sweet perfume bringing,
O'er all a frail moon swinging;
Rest, my heart, lie still!

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Schwarzenegger Gives California Tax Dollars to Lawyers

2007-11-08T18:57:00.000-08:00

The headline where I got this story from says, "California, other states sue U.S. on car emissions" - It is a Reuters story by Adam Tanner. Whoever he is. I think my title is more accurate. Here is a bit from the story as Reuters say's it:

California sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday, demanding a quick federal decision that would allow the nation's most populous state to limit greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.

"California is ready to implement the nation's cleanest standards for vehicle emissions, but we cannot do that until the federal government grants a waiver allowing us to enforce those standards," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said.

The long-threatened legal action follows a 2005 California law requiring new vehicles to meet tighter standards for emissions, starting with 2009 models introduced next year.

California needs a waiver from the federal government because it is seeking to impose stricter standards than those imposed under federal law. The legal filing asks the court to force a EPA decision on the matter.

If the EPA denies the waiver, "we sue again, and sue again, and sue again until we get it," Schwarzenegger told reporters.

prying1 sez: "Me! Me! Me! Let me answer the Governator!"

Oh well. Guess Stephen L. Johnson, the Administrator of the EPA can't hear me in Washington since I'm way out here on the Left coast...

Here is my answer anyway.

I'd first of all like the people of California to recognize that their governor is acting outside of his field. He has been listening to people that have only told him one side of the issue. There is a multitude of Real Scientists, not the social engineering types or those dependent on government grants who disagree with the so called global warming issue. He needs to throw their voices into the mix before he spends your taxpayer dollars on lawyers.

The waiver is denied because those money grubbing, so called environmentalists (Let's do a study on where they get their pocket change) are attempting to pass rules that the automotive industry is not quite ready to meet. They will then demand the automotive industry pay fines for not meeting the said requirements. Then they will take the money and buy fancy cars that pollute. Fancy cars that the normal Californian cannot afford because of high taxes.

To hell with them. Let them go out and get a real job. The lawyers can go chase ambulances and the environmentalists can go plant a tree and hug it.

Thank you.

Nuff said!

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Chili Cookoff 2007!

2007-11-05T22:51:00.000-08:00

On October 31st our church holds a 'Harvest Party' as an alternative to children getting hopped up on sugar handed out by strangers while everyone is wearing outlandish costumes. We still have outlandish costumes but eschew demonic types and pass out enough sugar products to keep the kids hopped up for a month if they learn about being frugal which I doubt they do...

At least they are not getting it from strangers

Every year for this event we have a Chili Cook-Off for those egotistical enough to think they are best at at least one thing in life. I'm one of those...

I mentioned on a bulletin board I got the third prize ribbon (yellow) this year and a request was made for the recipe.

Here it is.

OK - prying1's famous 3rd place chili -

(lower case letters in the title to keep me humble even though third place does that nicely)

Cooked in a crock pot on the lower setting all day.

Figure 45 mins. to an hour prep time unless you get the stuff ready and set out the night before. (Meat can be cooked the night before but ATTN MEN: put it COVERED in the fridge overnight if you do cook it in advance!)

I cooked two pounds of hamburger meat (my daughter caught me checking the ingredients on a couple cans of dog food and told me not to take the short cut. I was cooking for the church contest and not for a fire station...)

I threw some garlic powder (crushed garlic cloves will work), chili powder, ground cumin, ground coriander, paprika, 1 chopped medium onion, and about a dozen chopped mushrooms in with the meat as it was cooking and stirred it around once in a while.

While it cooked I turned on the crock pot, (after I washed it of course. It had been sitting in the cupboard for a while...) took two cans of whole peeled tomatoes and smushed them up in the crock pot (watch for squirting juice - do not wear your Sunday clothes) then I added the beans.

4 types of beans. In this batch I used 2 DRAINED cans each (This is a BIG crock pot - you might have to adjust down a bit)
Kidney Beans - Pinto Beans - Black Beans - White beans - (Integration is the key especially if you have a multicultural/multiracial group you are feeding) - Black eye peas or other types of favorite DRAINED canned beans can be substituted or added. - I stirred as I added them in haphazard order so they would be mixed up real well. - As an alternative you can use dried beans but only if you soak them overnight and drain the water. Do not try to cook the dried beans without soaking. I know this from experience. It makes for crunchy chili. Something the judges abhor. I learned this the same way I learned to cook and DRAIN the meat first before putting it in the pot. (a slice of bread or two can soak off excess grease)

It is easy to overflow the pot and we still have the burger meat to contend with so watch the level and stop before it gets too high.

I added more of the same spices into the crock pot as the above ingredients added to the meat but this time dolloped in some liquid smoke (go easy with it) and Worcestershire sauce. OH! I found a can of chopped olives and threw that in too. - Some green bell pepper would have added color but I didn't have any handy.

At this point I drained the meat concoction. (Does that sound appetizing? Perhaps I should do a thesaurus search for a better word than concoction?)

Pour the meat in while stirring to mix it up. - Get clean spoon and taste a bite - Add more of whatever spice it needs. I added some tomato sauce because it wasn't red enough. - DON'T add salt. There should be plenty in the canned beans. - At this point the flavors would not have melded and it will not taste finished. Just make sure it has flavor and doesn't taste like just plain cold beans. - Don't double dip! Wash the spoon if you need another taste.

Slap on lid. Go to Work. Remember to come home and don't stop off to 'relax' for too long. Drive carefully so you don't get dragged off to jail only to come home 3 days after it is finished. If that happens even on the low setting the beans will get mushy...

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Sorry I can't give the measurements on the spices. Just keep pouring the stuff in and stop before it is too much.

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Lost Poetry Corner - Land of the Lakes by Alice Bowerson Grinnell

2007-10-28T22:15:00.001-07:00

Came across a poetry book, Land of the Lakes by Alice Bowerson Grinnell, and could find no reference to it through Google. - Lost poetry - to which I dedicate this corner of my blog.

In her book was this poem that I thought apropos for today:

Wake Up America

Wake up America, to the crisis of today.
Hold aloft the torch of peace to a world that's lost its way.
How can justice be so blind that cruel wars can reign,
That tyrants terrorize mankind for power and greedy gain?
We who are so strong and free must lend a helping hand
To end destruction o'er the sea, that freedom's cause may stand.

Wake up America; be patriots one and all.
Marching on in unison, we shall never fall.
Search for traitors everywhere they may chance to be;
Keep Old Glory in the air to boast our liberty.
Shut for joy around the world, until the mountains quake;
Be alert America; wake up for freedom's sake.

Wake up America, build armoured ships and planes.
May our youth be clean and strong; may valor never wane.
Aggressors we shall never be within a foreign land,
But if invaders cross the sea we'll fight for Uncle Sam.
Wake up, America, that you may ever stay
The hallowed shrine of liberty the whole world knows today.

Land of the Lakes by Alice Bowerson Grinnell - Exposition Press, New York, N.Y. 1941 -

The last page of the book has a closing letter from Alice dated Dec 6, 1940 -
One year and one day later Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese (7th December 1941).
One year and two days later the U.S. declared war on Japan (8th December 1941).
Italy and Germany then declared war against the U.S (Dec 11, 1941).

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