defeat

The US Men's Soccer Team, after 11 straight wins, was soundly beaten by Argentina in the first round of play in Venezuela, 4-1. Games are not available on American TV. Further matches are scheduled for the US in this tournament.

Wacko of the Week -- 06/30/07

Curtis Allgier
Salt Lake City, Utah
murderer, fugtitive


Curtis Allgier is placed into a police car after a high-speed chase that ended at an Arby's on Redwood Road. Allgier is suspected of killing a corrections officer during his escape from custody.

CLICK DESERET NEWS


++++++++

COMMENT:
Even though some may say I have a highly demented mind, I am not a criminal type. However, I do have some very modest advice for the criminals out there:

If you are going to lead a life of crime, you might want to consider making yourself appear less obvious.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Scot and Tdec.


One year today!

dropping respect

There's nothing new about disrespect for the United States in some parts of the world. In China and Russia, countries that have been in the recent past, foes of the US, people have been educated to look at this country as a trouble-maker and aggressor. Our participation in wars in various parts of the globe have given the impression that we are a meddling country that tries to capitalize on other people's misfortune.

But with the current situation, we find the US being disdained even in parts of the world where we were until recently considered a friend and ally.

WASHINGTON -- (AP) -Unease with American foreign policy and President Bush has intensified in countries that are some of the closest U.S. allies and around the globe, while Russia and China also face growing international wariness, a survey released Wednesday said.

Support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq, the NATO military action in Afghanistan and worldwide American efforts against terrorism have dropped since 2002, according to an international survey by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center. Views of the U.S. in much of the Muslim world remain particularly negative.

In one measure of Bush's unpopularity, the poll showed he is less trusted on foreign policy than Russian President Vladimir Putin by allies Britain, Germany and Canada, even as faith in Putin has plummeted. ...

[snip ...]
As the U.S. has waged its war on terrorism over the past five years, its overall image has worsened. It has dropped from 75 percent favorable in Britain in 2002 to 51 percent now; from 60 percent to 30 percent in Germany; and from 64 percent to 56 percent in Mexico.

CLICK

Comment:
The next President will have a great task trying to repair some of this damage unless we wish to remain a people accustomed to contempt. It wouldn't hurt, when we're selecting the next President, to pay some attention to what the rest of the world thinks. It seems to me that there is at least one candidate running who is about as inept and idiotic as our current resident of the White House. I don't think we're going to elect him, but there's that risk.

Pay attention!

Philadelphia 2007

Pat and Marsha and Ben Franklin and friend.



This is supposedly an artistic representation of Ben as a young man working the printing press. This is what we thought it was, but the feeling was not unanimous. We believe the guy, who is just visible at Marsha's elbow, passed out under the statue, thought it was a wine press. We bothered him enough that he turned over and hid his face.

IF YOU CLICK on the picture, it will appear in larger form so that you can see poor fellow.

Illegal Immigrants Found In Truck Engine Compartment


OTAY MESA, Calif. -- Customs and Border Patrol officers made a surprising discovery in the engine compartment of a white Ford pickup truck Tuesday morning.

--------

comment:
I understand they were from Greece.
Yuk-yuk.

Two Gold Star Awards

This Gold Star is for FELIX -- who knew that the picture on Tuesday Evening Quiz was Mrs. Michael Dukakis, a.k.a., Kitty Dukakis, although he wrote it in an Indiana dialect that most people probably couldn't understand. This is because you might possibly be less silly than he is.




This Gold Star is for ALICE who knew that Jane Morgan sang songs about rain, such as "The Day That The Rains Came Down" which I like a lot! :)




==========
Gold Stars are redeemable for valuable gifts. Choose from our catalogue.

Thursday Morning Smile-Maker (4)

The Rains Came

Mid-Michigan has had a hot and dry June. We badly needed rain. This afternoon it came, abundantly.

Days like this always make me think of Jane Morgan. Know why?

Triggernometry

7 Yr. Old Boy Shoots 8 yr. old Cousin

BOSTON -- (Associated Press) -- A 7-year-old boy fatally shot an 8-year-old cousin while they were playing with an illegal, unregistered gun at home, authorities said.
-----

EDITORIAL COMMENT: BIRCHES encourages all parents to get their guns registered. Unregistered guns are not proper toys for small children. In fact, we would support a law that jails children who are playing with unregistered guns. This could turn out to be a chance to help these kids learn about gun safety. They could be jailed in schools and taught how to shoot in the gym. A couple of years of gun training in children's prisons, and there wouldn't be so many of these senseless accidents.

Write your legislators.

STORY HERE

good ol' American air, koff-koff

(click on cartoon to see it in larger form)
(You can see Boyonastick cartoons from Steven L. Cloud HERE )

IN MY HUMBLE OPINION ...

...the airline industry in America is one of the worst industries ever. Does this make me a poor citizen? I know that some people think that if you criticize anything about the country you're practically a traitor. Well, if detesting the US system of straining people through a nightmarish tunnel, and then throwing them across the country, be treason, make the most of it!

Everyone who flies or even flies occasionally on the airlines in this country has a story about being abused and neglected, or about lost luggage, or damaged luggage, or being bumped, or being delayed, or some other travesty. The sad fact about these things is that they're everyday occurrences and when you mention them, people think, "Oh, pooh, that's nothing, wait'll you hear what happened to me."

This is why I wish the government would stop supporting our airlines with billions and billions of dollars and let them go broke. Then, invite in Lufthansa or Air France or Korean Airlines, and run the system properly. The worst that could happen is that tons of American managers, trained in the Beavis-and-Butthead School of Business, would be unemployed and have to live off their fat bank accounts for awhile.

I see that people were trapped on another airplane for four or five hours. I see that another plane was grounded because another child threw a tantrum. CLICK

And, our friend from Carolina, Marsha, was bamboozled by Delta (this time). I sincerely hope she writes at least briefly about her experience. Her last words to me on the subject were: "The flight that was supposed to get me home at 6:30 last night actually landed in Columbia at 12:18."

You are invited to tell the world about your experiences, if you wish. We all want to hear them. Then I'll tell you about being bumped from a flight we booked 6 months in advance, in Miami, then getting put on the same flight by going on "stand-by." Of course someone else had our seats, and we had to sit nowhere near each other, and our luggage went on another plane.

Philadelphia June 2007

Pat on Hat

Tuesday Evening Quiz 06/26/07

WHO IS THIS?
(clues beneath picture)
(if no one gets it, I'll give stronger clues)



1. She wrote a book published last year.
2. She had a more famous husband.
3, She was secretly alcoholic and severely depressed.

Queen-muggers mum in Munger

The Potato Festival Queen has been sacked in Munger. Mi.


Two members of the committee have declined comment.
BIRCHES thinks this is outrageous, so we're gonna keep our eye on these people. They are starting to get out of hand.


AP STORY HERE

U.S. Men's Soccer Team Won CONCACAF Gold Cup

This weekend. Defeated Mexico,
always a good thing,
2-1.

What's the Biggest Story? (take a guess)

1. More violence in Iraq.
2. Wrestler's family found dead.
3. N. Korea shutting down nuclear reactor.
4. Paris Hilton out of jail.

Clue: We are talking about the United States and the American media here. :)

Monday Morning friends report

A Sample of What People Send Me.

Irene (from Australia): is touring with her family in New York State. (Scot makes this report).

Marsha: What a great thing our agricultural colleges are. Did you hear at Michigan State they found a new use for sheep?
Wool!

Bill from WNNCO: sent a letter that he was sent about Jesse Jackson hiring Mel Reynolds to work in his organization. Here is the punch line: "This is a first in American politics, an ex-congressman who had sex with a subordinate but won clemency from a president who had sex with a subordinate was then hired by a clergyman who had sex with a subordinate! " Checking this out, Snopes says it's absolutely true, so there you go!

Bennett: Sent a sample of bumper stickers. One of my favorites was this one: If You Can Read This, You're Not Our President

Dashmann: sent a promise to make a report on the trial jury he sat on. His jury found the bastard guilty of 19 things!

Jerry: sent this as an example of what cruel roommates will do to a guy who may have had a little too much to drink.



Mike Carroll almost from Carrollton: sent this:

Duh-h-h

In Saginaw, here in Mid-Michigan, City Councilman Amos O'Neal has proposed something-or-other about making toy handguns something-or-other. To demonstrate his point, he pulled out a toy handgun during a City Council meeting. This alarmed some people.

We gotta do something about these toys. Real guns, meanwhile, are - evidently - still cool.

CLICK TO READ

Oops

This is why we here under the BIRCHES think that drug dealers should be required to have gun safety training. It would be a good idea to make it illegal to conduct a drug transaction anywhere near children. Let's say, at least 50 feet away.

Write your legislators about this.
----------

news item:
One Year-Old Shot and Killed:
2 others hit in likely drug deal gone bad

June 25, 2007
BY AMBER HUNT
Detroit FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

CLICK FOR FREE PRESS STORY

Could be Me

** Click on cartoon for larger size.

Chip Samson, Cartoonist, "The Born Loser" CLICK HERE

A Ghoul's Delight

UPDATE, OOPS
The body wasn't found in a river, it was found in a shallow grave. But they were looking in a river.
I screwed up again. I hope this didn't inconvenience anyone.
============

"Body fishing"
For those of you with a graveyard interest: you'll be delighted to know that MSNBC is doing extensive coverage of the cadaver found floating in Ohio.

This body, which is assumed to be that of a missing pregnant mother, is now the centerpiece of 24 hour coverage by NBC, which used to concentrate on actual news stories in the good old days.

So, the story has transmogrified from a "search for missing woman" story into a "let's pick over the bones story." This is good because some of the viewers had seen that film of the search party about 20 times, and that's enough.

But don't worry. Knowing the perverse nature of American men., there'll be another missing women in no time, and back we go to another river or forest. Rejoice!

US Women's Soccer Win!

Saturday, June 23, the US Women's National Soccer Team defeated Brazil 2 - 0. This is one of the great soccer teams of all times, a continuation of the American team that has dominated world soccer for many years.

In the first minute of play, Kristine Lilly sank one of the most perfect goal shots I have ever seen. If it becomes available on video, I'll post it on BIRCHES.

The team is moving toward the World's Cup. They have an excellent chance of winning it once again. If you have never seen this team play, it's worth a look the next time they're on TV. It is athletic artistry.

Wacko of the Week -- 06/23/07

SEXY, DRUGGY, and INDICTED!


THOMAS RAVENEL, Treasurer of the State of South Carolina

When you are born into tons of money, when your family name is famous all over the place, when you are basking in the protection that family and wealth can bring you, you ought to be careful. Otherwise, you might look just like a spoiled brat.

Like, say, Paris Hilton.

Not only does he have all that unearned inherited privilege, but Thomas Ravenel also has good looks, considerable intelligence, and just oodles of charisma. He has a beautiful family. In 2006, he also ran for and won the job of Treasurer of S. Carolina ... he defeated a well-known and respected honest guy who just didn't have the money and friends that Ravenel had.

So, Thomas Ravenel also had "position" and "respect." People were talking about runnning him for Senator.

Ravenel evidently had one other thing: a taste for snort. This Tuesday he was indicted - not just for cocaine poossession - nope, worse than that. He was indicted for distribution of cocaine.

As one of those Southern, aristocartic, conservative, family-values young men the Republicans are justifiably proud to have in their camp, you would think he would be more careful. Maybe he just depended on his friends to cover him up, like they did Strom Thurmond who couldn't keep his pants on, and "everyone knew it."


Oh, by the way, he was also the SC Campaign Chairperson for Rudy Giuliani.
Now it may be all gone.

What a Wacko!

Click to Read

A Greenleaf Note: Climate

Scot posted over on ARBORETUM (Click) that the berry seasons in Michigan this year are starting about 2 weeks earlier than usual. People argue about whether this is just a fluke. After all, temperatures and winds may cause one spring to be a little earlier and winter to start a little later in one year, as opposed to another year.

Some people, however, are certain that this is a trend and a result of global warming. We tend to agree with that assessment, but then we're not scientists studying the problem, only on-lookers like you.

One strong reason for our position is that there's warmer weather in the frozen areas of the world. Polar bears have been found drowning. Where there should be ice to support them, the ice has been disappearing. Now comes more evidence. Scientists have found that spring is early in the Arctic north by weeks. This is not just a 2007 phenomenon, it has been on-going for several years, and dozens of "signs of nature" indicate that it is not a fluke.

You can read about it here: CLICK

Here is an excerpt:
Arctic Spring Comes Weeks Earlier Than A Decade Ago

Science Daily — In the Earth's cold and icy far north, the harsh winters are giving way to spring weeks earlier than they did just a decade ago, researchers have reported in the June 19th issue of Current Biology, published by Cell Press. The finding in the Arctic, where the effects of global warming are expected to be most severe, offers an "early warning" of things to come on the rest of the planet, according to the researchers.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070618110013.htm

A Green Leaf Note: Environment

Global Warming will result in a rise in sea levels.

According to a recent report, North Carolina beaches will disappear.

CLICK FOR STORY

Republican Humor (prt. 21)

This is a first time event.

Before this, we've never done a Republican humor that was simply a picture, but here it is anyway! We do this as an educational gesture. Isn't it disgusting? Isn't it low-class and sophomoric? You have to agree that sometimes, those GOP jokesters stoop pretty low.

=====================

'Deadeye Dick' needs a good swift kick, right in his constitution.

Vice President Scary is up to his eyeballs, once again, in hiding what he does:

"For four years, Vice President Dick Cheney has resisted routine oversight of his office’s handling of classified information, and when the National Archives unit that monitors classification in the executive branch objected, the vice president’s office suggested abolishing the oversight unit, according to documents released yesterday by a Democratic congressman."

NEW YORK TIMES STORY

Here is a general rule of thumb for behavior by democratically elected representatives of the people: "The People's Business is Public Business, to be done in the open."

A Light Through the Leaves

Happy the man, and happy he alone,
he who can call today his own;
he who, secure within, can say,
'tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.'
( John Dryden)

WELCOME TO SUMMER
Here in Mid-Michigan,
the forecast for the day is Perfect!

SUNNY, 80, NE wind 5-15

US wins semifinal against Canada

The US Men's Soccer team defeated Canada in the semifinal match of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, on Thursday evening.

They will play in the finals game on Sunday.

if it were not so ...

When you contemplate the Gallup poll results that about equal numbers of people believe in and don't believe in evolution, you have to be "awed." My mother used to say "there are none so blind as those who will not see," and this seems to me to be a great example of just that.

SOURCE

I don't believe that most people know what the theory of evolution is. Or what "theory" means. Or what "evolution" means. I think they've been instructed by someone to suppose that if you believe in evolution, you're a monkey's uncle, so it's better to believe that God made us all like Jim Carrey. I know perfectly intelligent people who don't understand the theory, and they generally admit it.

One reason why I make these judgments about people is because once -- and for quite awhile -- I was a teacher. I've seen minds at work in the sweat shops of education. Most people aren't stupid, but there are limits to how far most will stretch their minds trying to grasp a complicated notion. So, when corrupt Christians or stupid Christians peddle the dogma (not theory) of creationism, lots of people swallow it. That's much easier than trying to grasp some other formulation of our "rise".

Still, it's not a comfortable thought that almost half the people in the country are so unwilling to believe that which is true. In telling you this, I want you to be careful: I did NOT say that God didn't create you. I only say that evolution has been proved.

A town stuck in dumb mode since 1998

I think we can conclude that these people are very slow on the uptake.

Crossing guard faces sexual abuse charges

BERWICK, Pa., June 21 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania school crossing guard faces more than 1,000 charges of sexual assault involving seven children, police said.
...

The alleged abuse took place between 1998 and 2007, the Times-Leader reported.

...
Dale Hutchings was charged with 305 counts of raping a child, 356 counts of aggravated indecent assault against a child under 13, and 356 counts of indecent assault against a child under 13, the Times-Leader reported.

CLICK FOR STORY


Here's a simple but brilliant rhyme I've written for your enjoyment.

The people who live in Berwick,
Have a cop crew that ain't very slick.
When searching for clues,
It's the children who lose,
Cause they cannot tell Dale from dick.

Thursday: As promised

Home From Philadelphia

Thursday Morning Smile-Maker (3)

Her horse lost at Ascot Downs

CONCACAF semi-finals

The U.S. Mean's National Soccer Team will play Canada tonight in Chicago. We have a very good team, by the way.

enough to make you weep

The bodies of five dophins washed up on a Southern California beach. Four had been shot to death. This is a federal crime, and fortunately, is highly unusual even in a culture that values guns.

A reward of $2,500 has been offered. This sum will probably grow, and may help lead to an arrest. The crime probably happened several miles off shore, but Federal jurisdiction easily extends that far.

You can read more about it HERE

Wacko of the Week -- 06/016/07

*NOTE: Mike Nifong, that crackerjack prosecutor from North Carolina who made war on the Lacrosse team, deserves mention this week, but we're not giving him the award. He had it once before, and we try to reserve the Wacko Award for new candidates, George Bush excepted.
------

"Come Watson, the game's afoot ..." --- (Sherlock Holmes)

ERICK HEINRICH, of Waukesha (that's pronounced 'Walk-eesha') Wisconsin who stole, allegedly, 1500 pairs of women's shoes, many of them from girls' high school lockers, is our award recipient. Actually, the evidence against him seems pretty solid, at first impression, but he pleads innocent anyway, for what's that's worth in the modern world. I mean, after all, O.J. pleaded innocent too. So did Hermann Goering.

If we don't handle this case very carefully, this suspect might walk, so let's insist that he is "alleged" to have committed these crimes. However, it's hard not to notice this:

"Heinrich has a previous conviction for stealing shoes from Kenosha Tremper High School in 2005. He entered no contest pleas to felony burglary and misdemeanor counts of obstructing an officer, disorderly conduct and theft.

And it's hard not to notice the keys he has to schools, the bolt cutters, the broken locks, and, naturally, the 3000 shoes.

Let's admit that petty theft does not signify Wacko-ness, although the combined retail price of 1500 pair of w0men's shoes must be astronomical. Also, bear this in mind:

" 'He liked to smell them,' said Lt. William H. Graham of the Waukesha, Wisconsin police."

I can't say with any certainty that the Lieutenant's depiction of Mr. Heinrich's proclivity is accurate, but let's say this: Whatever the guy was doing with 1,500 pair of stolen shoes, he was doing it OFTEN!

You cand read more about it HERE or HERE
------------------



* Another note: I don't have a picture of the culprit,-- ahem, the accusd culprit -- so I'm substituting a picture of another Wacko., If you can identify him and the name of his character, I'll give you a gold star for the day.

Goodbye to "The Mandarin"

The Mandarin was a blogger whose words I respected very much. I never knew him except through his blog writing. I have quoted him several times in the past. An event noted.
THE MANDARIN

Wal-to-wal thievery

When I first saw this Associated Press headline --

Theft Rising at U.S. Wal-Mart Stores

...I thought they were talking about the Walton family. Turns out they meant the public in general are stealing. See how it spreads? I think this is called "trickle down" economics.

Some may be stealing because the only jobs they can find are at WalMart. It's hard to buy that Chinese made stuff on Chinese type wages.

A Light Through the Leaves (2)

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
--la Rochefoucauld

A Green Leaf Note: Environment

Many people do not know that under the Bush government, the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] has been almost hopelessly incompetent. More often than not, it has catered to the interests of the companies and interests it's supposed to regulate.

One of the things it has done is fail to enforce the Clean Water Act passed in 1972 overwhelmingly by both Republicans and Democrats. In fact, the EPA has helped people find ways to get around the law.

Now, there is a law in Congress to overcome some of this nonsense. It's the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act. If you get a chance to talk to a Congressman .. tell him/her to vote for it!

What the Audubon Society feels about the law: CLICK HERE

What the Sierra Club feels about the law: CLICK HERE

Here's a form to fill out if you do such things: CLICK HERE

Thursday Morning Smile-Maker

Here is a picture of the terrifying Russian army.

What are they thinking?

There are things I just don't understand. I may have put my best brain cells to work on these things, and still, I don't get it. As time passes, I find more and more things that I have to concentrate on in order to catch them. When you have a severely limited supply of brains to begin with, and then you ruin most of them with stuff like cigarettes, cholesterol, wild-living, excessive drinking, work, etc., as I have, you're in deep doo-doo when it comes to comprehension. This is my pathetic condition.

For example, one of those things I don't understand is calculus. My life has managed to wend its way onward without calculus, but still, it would be nice to at least know what the word means.

Another thing I don't get at all is the whole Shiite-Sunni conflict. The mass murder for the sake of salvation. What in the hell are these people thinking? I've read about it, but I don't get it. How long has this been going on? Are the differences worth blowing up children for? How can any mind so distort a religion that it can justify the slaughter of thousands of innocents?

By what twist of religious fervor does blowing up a market full of old women make sense?

Today, I read that someone has blown up some minarets. These stood proudly in the rubble left from a former explosion which took out one of "the most sacred Shiite shrines in Islam." What? What profit falls to anyone in the whole damn world by blowing up someone else's shrine?

I have no doubt that there is, lurking in this country of ours, similar possibilities for widespread religious violence. All you need is the certainty that you know what God is and wants, and the other guys don't. And the other guys wish to take exception to your certainty. Now it's an even smaller step to bloodshed. I'll never understand it, I hope. This is the calculus of religious violence.

Here are some things I DO understand: The Freedom of Religion, and the Separation of Church and State. Both! Not just one, both! This I get.

blah -- blah --- blah

Who Talked the Most During the Republican Debates?
WOLF BLITZER !! This speaks for itself, doesn't it?

"I was there"

NOTE:
Over at ARBORETUM, Scot has posted a wonderful account of a historical event. CLICK HERE

Goodbye Mr. Wizard

DON HERBERT ---

Watch Mr Wizard: 14 seasons on television

"Over the years, Don has been personally responsible for more people going into the sciences than any other single person in this country," George Tressel, a National Science Foundation official, said in 1989.

testimony to my innate goodness

I was sitting on the swing in my backyard resting between naps, heard the side gate open, and saw the neighbor woman come into the yard. "Have you seen a bag blow into your yard?" she asked.

I immediately thought of a couple of great smart ass answers to that question, but I didn't use them. See how nice I am? People misjudge me so often.

Folksy Stuff (2)

Felix from Indiana - is coming to Michigan. The place may never be the same.

Jerry - sends what is being called, "Maybe the best quote for 2007." It's from Chris Rock, supposedly, and I like it, so here it is:

"You know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy, the
best golfer is a black guy, the tallest guy in the NBA is Chinese, the Swiss
hold the America's Cup, France is accusing the U.S. of arrogance, Germany
doesn't want to go to war, and the three most powerful men in America are
named Bush, Dick, and Colon."


Alice- the teacher, who is very very kind-hearted, is finally done with school for the summer. Now maybe she'll have more time to read blogs. Like mine for example. She owes me a meal at a restaurant for my birthday present, but I think she's avoiding the subject.

Marsha in Carolina - is disappointed that two of her favorite baseball teams, the University of South Carolina and the University of Michigan, have been knocked out of the College World Series of Baseball. And so are we here in the forest. We've cheered for both teams this year. We're going to meet Marsha in Philadelphia next week to have an "adventure."

Dig----- S. - is writing about the new court decision in the al-Marri case in which a Qatari citizen living in the United States has been in military custody for 4 years without proper court proceedings. He has been ordered released on the grounds that he is not a prisoner of war and so is caught in one of those Bush legal traps which are more-and-more turning out to be ILLEGAL. D.S. says: "A return to reason and the rule of law."

Dashman - is still involved in that jury trial, and as a member of the jury, is making a lot of mental notes for a later report which we plan to cover, here under the birches. He is also complaining about the ending to the Sopranos. Or is he? So many people are unsure.

Scot and Trase - are planning a trip out east sometime this summer with family and friends. The Adirondacks. Maybe we'll be dog sitting again? They chose at the spur of the moment to go to the Tigers game last night and watrched Verlander pitch a no-hitter, the first in 23 years by a Tigers pitcher. They are elated

Mike Carroll, almost from Carrollton, an original signer of the Declaration of Independence - is looking for adventure. Stand back, no one's safe.

gun update: Bad Temper

For an update on the exercise of Second Amendment freedoms in Delavan, Wisconsin which resulted in the deaths of (so far) 6 people: CLICK

"The guy had a temper ..."

great days in Michigan

These are the great days. These are the days of Michigan summer. There's nothing to brag about in any of our winters, and our springs are slow, cold, gloomy and long. But the summer! This makes life worth continuing. No wonder fewer people die in good weather.

For those of you with a religious compulsion, days like this make the Biblical instructions so easy to follow: "This is the day the Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad in it!"



Tuesday...Sunny. Highs 83 to 87. Northeast winds 5 to 15 mph.


Wednesday...Sunny. Highs 84 to 88. Northeast winds 5 to 15 mph.


Thursday...Mostly sunny. Highs 82 to 86. East winds 5 to 15 mph.


Friday...Mostly sunny. Highs 83 to 87.


Saturday...Partly sunny. Highs 85 to 89.

A Bulgarian Cartoonist's view of the Bush-Putin meetin.

Cold Dead Fingers

"Six People Including Children Found Shot to Death in Wisconsin"




CLICK FOR STORY

A Light Through the Leaves

"If you wish to be brothers,
drop your weapons"

Pope John Paul II:

Monday Morning Thoughts

1. COLIN POWELL: You have served several Presidents very well. You have served America quite well in many ways. You fulfilled "The American Dream."

But, you betrayed us on Iraq. You went to the UN and talked us into this war. Then you took a hike and disappeared. Now you show up on the Sunday talk shows to tell us it was a mistake?

Sorry. Go back into retirement.

2. GARY SHEFFIELD: I saw you play in Lakeland. I wasn't too happy with what I saw. I put you on probation. Now, officially, I want you to know I took you off probation. You are a Tiger, with all the priveleges. Don't let my generosity go to you head. :)


3. PARIS HILTON; You say you got religion now. Wow! That was a quick conversion. Does this mean you're going to stop showing us your ass? Don't get carried away here. A sudden burst of morality isn't good for your complexion.



4. GEORGE BUSH; I have an idea. They love you in Albania! Why not stay there and soak up the love. Let's say for about 2 more years?

I don't care if you called the Pope "sir". Fine with me; but did you really expect him to start calling you, "Your Holiness"?