assumption can be scary and funny at the same time
Thursday, February 4th, 2010, 10:43 am, by mg.
a joke I heard recently
His request approved, the CNN News photographer quickly used a cell phone to call the local airport to charter a flight. He was told a twin-engine plane would be waiting for him at the airport. Arriving at the airfield, he spotted a plane warming up outside a hanger. He jumped in with his bag, slammed the door shut, and shouted, ‘Let’s go’! The pilot taxied out, swung the plane into the wind and took off.
Once in the air, the photographer instructed the pilot, ‘Fly over the valley and make low passes so I can take pictures of the fires on the hillsides.’
‘Why?’ asked the pilot.
‘Because I’m a photographer for CNN’ , he responded, ‘and I need to get some close up shots.’
The pilot was strangely silent for a moment, finally he stammered, ‘So, what you’re telling me, is . . . You’re NOT my flight instructor?’
a peaceful moment
Thursday, February 4th, 2010, 7:50 am, by mg.
I finally was able to sneak up on, and capture this pic of Battle sleeping with his toy. He’s a 110 pound baby.
I’m asking
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, 6:37 am, by mg.
Why—with the U.S. waving it’s “protect civil rights” banner all over the world, with our sanctions and wars, with all of the dark past and victories over the issue—am I reading things like this in 2010?
“The principled courage of the defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is a major step forward for civil rights.” –nytimes
This is in regards to the above mentioned and the Obama administration ending don’t ask, don’t tell.
Which they should.
The articles:
Equality in the Military
Top Defense Officials Seek to End ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON’T TELL YOU
Thursday, January 28th, 2010, 6:22 pm, by mg.
THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON’T TELL YOU
1.Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.
2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.
3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste … And taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what
type of gaming system they have.
4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.
5. If it snows while you’re out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.
6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy.
7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.
8. It’s raining,you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather.
9. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don’t take me up on it.)
10. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.
11. Here’s a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms
12. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me.
13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television.
8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON’T TELL YOU
1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook
2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors
3. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll just go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature
4. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?
5. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I’d like. I’ll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets
6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to
look up your address
7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation.
8.. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in
Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina , Oregon , California , and Kentucky; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.
new mailbox design
Sunday, November 1st, 2009, 9:29 pm, by mg.
Feedback wanted. Too much? People can never seem to find me, despite being the only house facing Oak Grove. I can’t stand the existing mailbox. For those that love this type of ornamental metalwork, it will be preserved and left underneath for support and to give anyone that still uses baseball bats on mailboxes something to remember.
Existing mailbox (click on images to enlarge)
New design
