Well, if Kerry wins, I will be happy. As for Edwards, I voted for him in the primary. I liked his stand on education, which I think is extremely important. If President Bush wins, I'll support him like any other american should, whether they be Democrat, Republican, Independant, etc... I'm hoping that Hillary and Chuck Schumer bring a helicopter contract to this area! It's a shame that the elections have come to violent and shameful acts by people we believe to be civilized. Negative campaigning is rampant... Where or when will it all stop?

Homer, Thanks again for another insightful and provocative posting. I agree with your assessment of the missing/damaged posters. The same thing is happening here in Colorado and I think it's downright petty. I heard a radio host read a letter today from a listener who said that if the radio host voted for Bush, he would never again listen to his radio show and it's not a political show, it's about technology!

Here's my pledge to all the Democrats out there. If you vote for your guy, I will still talk to you, be your friend, stick up for you when you're not around, and leave your guy's sign in your yard. As for my good buddy, Jay, you go ahead and vote for Kerry and we'll still be friends. If Kerry wins, I'll buy you a beer. I'll sit down next to you and cry in mine while you console me.

Here's that great posting I mentioned earlier. I found it on my other computer in an IE window and was able to clip and paste it!

"I'm glad to see there are a few right thinking individuals out there. President Bush may not be the best we can do for president but al least I know where he stands. I also feel his morals and convictions are closer to my beliefs than his opponent. And I don't believe I ever heard anyone in the present administration say that Iraq would be easy, inexpensive or quick.

If you check your history you will see that after Germany surrendered to end WWII, an underground nazi party formed and continued to wreak death and destruction well into 1948 - which included sabatoge, killing allies, those dubbed sympathizers and newly elected officials throughout Germany.

The atmosphere here in Florida has become unbearable. Two of the major newspapers in the state, The St. petersburg Times and the Miami Herald are pulling out all the stops in an effort to get John Kerry elected. The DNC has people all over the state spreading lies and distortions in an attempt to scare the blacks and elderly. And the scary thing is that it is working. I bumped into a lady at Sam's club a few weeks ago. She was wearing a shirt that said something about President Bush being a liar and a criminal - when she noticed me reading her shirt she says "It's true". I asked how she knew this and she says "I saw it on the news" - sigh....

Is there anyone else out there besides John, Rob & Lee?- "

e·phem·er·al adj. 1. Lasting for a markedly brief time: "There remain some truths too ephemeral to be captured in the cold pages of a court transcript or . . . opinion" (Irving R. Kaufman). 2. Living or lasting only for a day, as certain plants or insects do. 3. A posting to the blog by Richard Hometchko--e·phem·er·al n. A markedly short-lived thing. [From Greek ephemeros]

Homer, you put a great posting in here and I looked forward to referring to it again, but now barely a few hours later, it's gone! I liked the part about the analogy to WWII where the resistance in Germany lasted for several years after the allied victory. We all tend to think of a victory as sudden and final, but it always takes time to for some of the vanquished to make it to the stage of 'acceptance'.

For all you church folks. Found this kind of humorous, then kind of sadly true of a lot of the places of worship that I've been in...

DEFINITIONS


AMEN: The only part of a prayer that everyone knows.
BULLETIN: Your receipt for attending Mass.
CHOIR: A group of people whose singing allows the rest of the congregation to lip-sync.
HOLY WATER: A liquid whose chemical formula is H2OLY.
HYMN: A song of praise usually sung in a key three octaves higher than that of the congregation's range.
RECESSIONAL HYMN: The last song at Mass often sung a little more quietly, since most of the people have already left.
INCENSE: Holy Smoke!
JESUITS: An order of priests known for their ability to find colleges with good basketball teams.
JONAH: The original "Jaws" story.
KYRIE ELEISON: The only Greek words that most Catholics can recognize besides gyros and baklava.
MAGI: The most famous trio to attend a baby shower.
MANGER: 1. Where Mary gave birth to Jesus because Joseph wasn't covered by an HMO. 2. The Bible's way of showing us that holiday travel has always been rough.
PEW: A medieval torture device still found in Catholic churches.
PROCESSION: The ceremonial formation at the beginning of Mass consisting of altar servers, the celebrant, and late parishioners
RECESSIONAL: The ceremonial procession at the conclusion of Mass- led by parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the parking lot.
RELICS: People who have been going to Mass for so long, they actually know when to sit, kneel, and stand.
TEN COMMANDMENTS: The most important Top Ten list not given by David Letterman.
USHERS: The only people in the parish who don't know the seating capacity of a pew.

On a more serious note, I believe that both candidates have some good qualities, and weak qualities. I'm really not any better off than I was four years ago, and to tell you the truth, I wasn't impressed by the way that the election turned out. The majority had their say, and the other guy won anyway. The whole Florida business really soured me on Bush. I still think we're gonna find a couple of tractor trailers full of votes out in the ocean somewhere.

I think that I'm going to give Kerry a shot. Maybe he CAN do better. I really believe that there should be one six year term with no re-election anyway. Maybe then these folks would actually be able to govern without all of the distractions that election races bring. Seems like they go all out for 2 years or so, and then they're too busy with trying to get re-elected to do anything. They are all hancuffed by the Congress, anyway. I think that's where the difference can be made election-wise.

Just a very humble opinion from a really simple person....

It's great to visit the blog after a few weeks and finding some new postings. Thanks Rob and Jay!

We've had a beautiful fall here this year so far, and are still waiting for our first snowfall down on the front range. It's been snowing up in the mountains for some time and a few of the ski areas are already opening for the season. The peaks are covered in snow and they look beautiful. I am looking forward to winter.

Terri was in Taipei last week, just in time to experience an earthquake. Although it was pretty strong, 7.0 on the Richter scale, it was centered off shore about 60 miles so there wasn't much damage, but she said there certainly was a whole lot of shaking going on.

President Bush is going to be here in Greeley tomorrow. Terri tried to get some tickets to see him speak, but it was a mob scene with lines stretching around the block. Colorado is a 'swing' state, just like PA and I understand dubya was in Wilkes-Barre (again!) to drum up some support recently. I can't believe how divided the country is on this election. The opposition is seething with Michael Moore-like rage but I believe it's totally misguided. I've actually seen bumper stickers that read "Anyone but Bush 2004". Really? Would Saddam Hussein be a better leader for the U.S.? It reminds me of the cry, "Give us Barrabas!"

It's easy to blame the current administration for off-shoring of jobs, but I believe that is caused by inexpensive, instant communications and an educated workforce in other countries willing to work for 20% of the wages paid in the U.S. or Europe. We can't control wages in other countries. It's not related to any 'incentives' by our government to send jobs oversees, as has been the accusation. The only thing the government can do is apply 'dis-incentives' in the form of tariffs and taxes which is protectionism and we all know that doesn't work. Protectionism just puts our country in a weaker economic condition to compete in a global marketplace.

It's also a myth that a president can create jobs. There's hard evidence to show that the president can't even create a single job. Take for example, Bill Clinton. He tried using all his power as the Commander in Chief to create a single White House job for Monica Lewinsky without success. If he had been successful, we might never have heard of her.

OK, OK, enough of my political soapbox, but Rob did get it started. If you'd like equal time to offer an opposing position, but don't know how to post to the blog, let me know and I'll get you set up with a password sometime after Nov 2nd.

Hello all -- wanted to let you know I am still alive -- it has been a hectic fall to date -- my daughters (11 and 10) are both playing travel soccer (and doing well) and my sons (6 and 8) are playing football for the first time (full pads, full contact -- Mom and Dad must be crazy! - both of them really enjoy it and are doing well -- for Penn Staters out there - my 8 year old's coach is Gregg Garrity - who caught the winning TD pass in PSU's first Natl'l Championship game. The 6 year old is a real monster -- about the smallest kid on the 6/7 year old team -- but perhaps the toughest -- they do a blocking drill to knock eachother out of a circle -- and he is the best on the team at it -- he is starting center and safety - only in mini football do you get the same person playing those positions)

We share some of the Florida pain -- one of my sisters had moved to Boynton Beach in mid July -- they stayed through the first two and only had some landscape damage -- when Jeanne came calling - they got a cheap flight and came to Pittsburgh. Again -- just some landscaping damage

I am off to Mexico City next week on business -- yuck!

On a serious note -- and this is my political commentary -- please vote -- and seriously consider which candidate will set a better moral and character standard for this country when you pull the lever, etc --- I fully realize George Bush is not perfect and Iraq is a difficult situation -- but I think his character sets the right tone/attitude for this country and Kerry would set this country on a slippery slope towards depravity

For all of you hunters out there.........


Subject: redneck hunters
A couple of redneck hunters are out in
the woods when one of them falls to the ground.
He doesn't seem to be breathing
and his eyes are rolled back in his head.
The other redneck starts to panic, then
whips out his cell phone and calls 911.
He frantically blurts out to the operator,
"O my gawd! Help! My friend just died.
He's Dead! What can I do?"
The operator, trying to calm him says,
"Take it easy. I can help.
Just listen to me and follow my instructions.
First, lets make sure he's dead."
There's a short pause, and then the operator hears a loud gun shot!!!


The redneck comes back on the line and says, "OK, now what?"

Nyuck Nyuck Nyuck....

Pretty nice sentiment, Lee...

I saw a poster on the wall of a manager I really admire. I've known her for 28 years so you can do the math which means I met her in 1976, our junior year at O'Reilly :-) After reading the poster, I felt as if it fit her philosophy exactly. It's sometimes attributed to Mother Teresa.

ANYWAY

People are often unreasonable, illogical,
and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, People may accuse you
of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some
false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone
could destroy overnight.
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,
it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Just took a gander at Rich's pictures. Devestating, man..............

You must be doing something pretty special to get recognition like this from Google with your own custom gif. I had to preserve this for posterity. I wrote about this topic in June and as you can see in the news today, they've won the $10,000,000 X-Prize!! Congratulations Burt Rutan and team!!

Rich sent me a PowerPoint .pps file, which should play in your Internet Explorer browser. If you have trouble, you may need to right click on it to store it on your hard drive but you may need Microsoft's PowerPoint on your computer to play the 50-slide show. If you don't have PowerPoint, here's a link to a news story with many of the same pictures. It's amazing how much damage these hurricanes have done in FL.