Diabetes

I found out yesterday my tomcat has diabetes. I remember as a child there was a lady in church who periodically used to eat candy. I found out she had diabetes. I always wished when I grew up I could get it so I could eat candy. The things we don't know as kids.

His blood sugar was 450 yesterday, he had been throwing up and straining to poop. He had also lost some weight but I was trying hard to get his weight off as he was at 22 pounds in September, he is a very large tom but still did not think he should have lost 5 pounds already, well it wasn't me.

Yesterday I learned how to fill the syringe and give him his shots. He never whimpered or probably felt it, which is good cos if he freaks out I will freak out too. (All the more reason I need to retire to take care of my "kids."

So today I go get insulin and needles so I can give him two shots a day. He gets some new food and I have to find a way to keep him away from the dry food the girls eat. (Note to self never have 4 cats again especially when they all need different food). He is not eating this morning nor do I think he got all his poop out cos they gave him 2 enemas so we will probably be back to the vet again today.

I have to say I am a little shell shocked this morning and will need to find out what this is all about later. But for now I need coffee and then head to Walmart to get his meds and try to get him better. I do have pet insurance so will have to see how much they pay and thank goodness pets aren't covered under Obamacare.

Lily

This is the latest picture of Lily that I have taken. she looks like a mess now because i have all these stitch markers holding stitches at the neck, she is partly steeked and i have started on a sleeve. The fear in steeking is not the cutting but the fact that you cut your stitches and shouldn't they be unraveling, well not they don't. It truly is magic. I will try to get a current picture of Lily up but I warn you she is messy right now. She has set for awhile as I have to get Christmas gifts and frankly I need that mental break from her. I really want and need to be done with her, but alas there are several more weeks of work on her. I plan on wearing her everyday I don't care how hot it gets after all this work.

Grocery Bags

My niece is a penguinholic so I made her some grocery bags for Christmas. She especially loves blue penguins, well at least I found blue fabric.

Table Runners

My aunt sent my mom a table runner and said it only took 10 minutes to make. Yea right nothing takes 10 minutes to make. Well it does, you cut two pieces of fabric, make 3 seams and voila done. I put buttons on mine which took longer than sewing them together but they make great quick gifts and you can make them for each holiday and people will think you worked all day,kind of like the Rice Krispie commercials where the lady throws flour on her face to make her family think she has been slaving away all day.

Today was my last day at work

this year. It seemed different than going on a regular time off for a vacation. Everyone seemed to be in a different mood as many of us said our goodbyes today for two weeks. It is only two weeks but somehow it seemed more final. Maybe it is the fact that we won't see each other until next year and that 3 of us can not come back if we want, and many wonder if we will. I can't put my finger on it but today seemed somewhat final. Maybe just wishful thinking on my part.

Lily

Lily is done to the area where you start decreasing for the neck. I had to rewrite the sleeve steeks as the right armhole was behind the underarm stitch and the left armhole was in front of the underarm stitch. So I suppose it would look ok if I wore her with my right arm behind me and my left arm in front of me. I think not. I am ready to steek and did so in class last night sort of. we cut about 6" and are left hanging for two more weeks. I need to do myback and forth rows now for 18 rows to finish the neck/shoulder area and then wait for the next class.

Lily when will you be done?

Can I Just Say We Told You All So

So it seems BHO is coming unglued. Half of us knew he was not up for the job, he is just the spooky evil dude's puppet to destroy America. If you don't know who spooky evil dude is you should watch Glenn Beck.

Read the following article and you will see what a child sits in the Oval Office. I can only imagine the pouting that was done last Tuesday night as he got his progressivenessism throw back at him and WE THE PEOPLE said no way.

http://www.opinion-maker.org/2010/11/white-house-obama-conducting-reign-of-terror/

Lets not do anything rash until after John Boehner is sworn in; we don't need the Botox Queen moving up in position.

Sweater Quest Continues

Progress so far: I had to go down to size 4 needles. When I started I had to go from 6 to 5 to get gauge and now I must be getting looser because I am at a size 4.

I am on the second repeat of the pattern and must right out each row as Dear Alice your pattern is not well written at all. So last Wednesday in class the lys owner and I worked on the next section to take me through the steeking of the armholes. Onward I go. Why am I writing out each row because Chart A has 12 rows, Chart B has 6 rows and Chart C and D have 20 rows and you must work A and B in sequence and since they don't divide evenly into 20, well you do the math.

Alice you will not defeat me. One of the other ladies in the class is making the most beautiful sweater, dont know which Alice sweater it is but I think I might have to try that one as well and a few others.

Off to write out the next set of 20 rows and knit on.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

It is finally my fav day of the year. Also Happy Anniversary to my parents, 56 this year wow.

Be safe out there tonight and enjoy yourself.

Off to catch the ballgame in between kids.

Sweater Quest

Ok so tam is done, now on to the sweater. While I think most of Alice's sweaters are gaudy in her color selection I found Water Lily to be a pretty sweater and one I would wear. Ok I can do this one. Yarn ordered and class begins. Lily is done in worsted yarn so you know this is gonna be one warm sweater, almost coat like. Cast on did the border and started the sweater. Chart A done and move on to the next part.

Holy crap batman each row has 33 charts in it. I better write these out. 20 rows at 33 charts each and it takes me 26 minutes to write out the row. That is time wasted when I could be knitting but..... trust me writing out each row is much better than going back and forth between 4 different charts each with a different number of stitches and rows. (I still need to write out 5 more rows.)

Ok off we go and I am at row 11 of the first repeat, hey it actually looks like it should. While coffee was brewing this morning I thought I would read ahead and write down some questions for class this week.

What is this? In the paragraph below the one with the 33 charts spelled out for each row it says to change the colors of Chart A and B to match Chart C and D. Well I got Chart B because it has two colors, background and pattern, that was a no brainer. So I had been doing Chart 2 in the colors the chart calls for and wondered why it had a second colorway in the middle of the back but thought it kind of looks ok and I can't see a picture of the back so it should be ok.

Nope I ripped out 9 rows and am starting over. So here is the sweater from the book and my progress so far.

Sweater Quest

So I read the book about knitting the Tudor Rose Sweater by Alice Starmore. I though the book was kind of boring as I wanted more about the sweater and some pictures.

I wanted to learn how to steek so I signed up for the beginners fair isle and advanced fair isle class at my lys. I know how to fair isle but figured I would take the beginner class just to get back in the swing of 2 strands of knitting together.

We did the tam from Alice's Fair Isle book. Here is the one in the book and mine. I need to weave in the ends and block it. I think it turned out pretty well. Ok tam down and no issues.

Obama Phones

Just when you think you’ve heard it all,, our illustrious Congress quietly comes up with a new zinger to put their hands in your pockets, and pick them while you aren’t watching.

Isn't this just wonderful! I wonder if our Democrat-controlled Congress used its favorite phrase ("We have to pass the bill, to see what's in it") when it passed this gem of pork barrel legislation.

“Welfare recipients are now eligible to receive” what he described as (1) a FREE new cell phone, and (2) approximately 70 FREE minutes of air time every month. SafeLink Wireless is a government supported program that provides a free cell phone and airtime each month for income-eligible customers. In other words, your tax dollars are being distributed to a wireless phone provider to provide welfare recipients with free cell phones and airtime.

We are $14 Trillion in debt, Congress is balking at continuing unemployment payments to those who want to work, and Congress is increasing the dole-out to dead beats.

The ship of State is sinking, and it’s sinking fast. The old concept of getting ahead through hard work has flown out the window. It has been replaced by Obama’s and Congress’ idea of “Hope and Change.” The country has changed all right, changed to "Why should I work for it, when I can get it for free?"

You can click on the link below to confirm for yourself that the “Obama Phone” is real. Just have a barf bag ready.

https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/Home.aspx

You are Eligible if:


You already participate in other State or Federal assistance program such as Federal Public Housing Assistance, Food Stamps and Medicaid. OR
Your total household income is at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines set by your State and/or the Federal Government. AND
No one in your household currently receives Lifeline Service through another phone carrier.
You have a valid United States Postal Address. In order for us to ship you your free phone you must live at a residence that can receive mail from the US Post Office. Sorry, but P.O. Boxes cannot be accepted.




Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/politics-other-controversies/636800-more-obama-welfare-welfare-recipients-now.html#ixzz0wRVQSRpu

Not Bush's Fault

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Remember the day...January 3rd, 2007 was the day the Democrats took over the Senate and the Congress. At the time: The DOW Jones closed at 12,621.77. The GDP for the previous quarter was 3.5%. The Unemployment rate was 4.6%. George Bush's Economic policies SET A RECORD of 52 STRAIGHT MONTHS of JOB CREATION!

Remember the day...January 3rd, 2007 was the day that Barney Frank took over the House Financial Services Committee and Chris Dodd took over the Senate Banking Committee. The economic meltdown that happened 15 months later was in what part of the economy? BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES!!!

THANK YOU DEMOCRATS for taking us from 13,000 DOW, 3.5 GDP and 4.6% Unemployment... to this CRISIS by (among MANY other things) dumping 5-6 TRILLION Dollars of toxic loans on the economy from YOUR Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac! (BTW: Bush asked Congress 17 TIMES to stop Fannie & Freddie - starting in 2001 because it was Financially risky for the US economy):

And who took the THIRD highest pay-off from Fannie Mae AND Freddie Mac???? OBAMA. And who fought against reform of Fannie and Freddie??? The HYPOCRITE in Chief Obama

So when a LIB tries to blame Bush...REMEMBER JANUARY 3rd, 2007.... THE DAY THE DEMOCRATS TOOK OVER!

This Gives a New Meaning to Stimulus Money

Feds Spent $800,000 of Economic Stimulus on African Genital-Washing Program
Monday, September 13, 2010
By Matt Cover


The AIDS awareness symbol is used for earrings and pendants made at a counseling center in Chennai, India. (AP File Photo/M. Lakshman)

(CNSNews.com) – The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), spent $823,200 of economic stimulus funds in 2009 on a study by a UCLA research team to teach uncircumcised African men how to wash their genitals after having sex.

The genitalia-washing program is part of a larger $12-million UCLA study examining how to better encourage Africans to undergo voluntary HIV testing and counseling – however, only the penis-washing study received money from the 2009 economic stimulus law. The washing portion of the study is set to end in 2011.

“NIH Announces the Availability of Recovery Act Funds for Competitive Revision Applications,” the grant abstract states. “We propose to evaluate the feasibility of a post-coital genital hygiene study among men unwilling to be circumcised in Orange Farm, South Africa.”

Because AIDS researchers have been unsuccessful in convincing most adult African men to undergo circumcision, the UCLA study proposes to determine whether researchers can develop an after-sex genitalia-washing regimen that they can then convince uncircumcised African men to follow.

“The aim of the proposed feasibility study is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a post-coital male genital hygiene procedure, which participants will be asked to practice immediately post-coitus or at least 12 hours after,” reads the abstract.

Entitled “Community-Based HIV VCT: South Africa,” the name of the broader umbrella project, the program plans to test how well received the penis-washing regimen is among South African men.

If most of the men in the study wash their genitals after sex, are willing to do so after the study ends, and report that their partners accept the regimen, the researchers will develop another study to see if the “penile cleansing procedure” actually works to prevent HIV infections.

“If we find that men are able to practice consistent washing practices after sex, we will plan to test whether this might protect men from becoming HIV infected in a later study,” the grant says.

The study’s lead investigator Dr. Thomas J. Coates was the fourth highest-funded researcher in the country in 2002 and is currently conducting HIV research on three continents.

CNSNews.com asked both Coates and NIMH the following question: “The Census Bureau says the median household income in the United States is $52,000. How would you explain to the average American mom and dad -- who make $52,000 per year -- that taxing them to pay for this grant was justified?”

Coates, who was unavailable for comment, directed CNSNews.com to ask grant-related questions of his assistant, Darya Freedman, who did not respond.

The NIMH also declined to respond to CNSNews.com’s question.

Roller Derby

When I was a kid and we lived in LA I used to watch Roller Derby. It was not like Roller Derby today, they were much rougher, bigger tracks and slanted upwards. I would put on my skates (the old fashioned kind with the key that was strapped to your shoes) and pretend to be a Roller Derby girl.

I went to the Roller Derby Saturday night, what a hoot. We started with the Color Guard and the National Anthem. Then two games, the B team and A team that travels. We skunked NW Arkansas. Anyway if you have Roller Derby in your town go to a game, it will be some of the funnest 4 hours you ever spend. I know I am going back.

Maybe when I retire I can start my next career as the oldest Roller Derby Girl. Now all I need is my roller derby name: I think "Crabby Knitter."

Electric Vehicles Could Get A Volt

Hamburger? Fries? Milk shake? Want to throw an electrical charge in with that?

Yes, voltage is on the menu at a McDonald's near Raleigh, NC.

At least 535 charging stations are operating in the US at hotels, parking garages, airports, libraries and even a pizzeria. Nearly 80% are in California. (It figures).

The Nissan Leaf can go 100 miles on a battery charge, compared with the Chevrolet Volt's 40 miles. If I owned a Volt I could not even get to my lys without stopping to charge.

Numnuts wants to put 1 million plug-in vehicles on the road by 2015. Somehow I can't see him trading in his Hemi for a Leaf. The government is spending $2.4 billion to encourage companies to develop electric vehicles. It takes 8 hours to fully charge the Leaf at 220V and 20 hours to charge at 110V. What if you have a power outage, how do you charge your car and how much is this gonna skyrocket electricity rates with crap and tax about to hit.

Personally I drive a Murano and she burns Premium. I dare you to make me get rid of her.

Michelle's Mirror

If you have not been to http://www.michellesmirror.com/ you have to go. Whoever writes this is a scream and shows just how fashionable the angry one isn't. I don't know who dresses her but I think I saw stuff at Goodwill that looked better than most of the stuff she wears. And who told her putting a wide belt under the mosquito belts would give her cleavage. Well check it for yourself and be prepared to laugh yourself silly.

Tax Breaks for Films Get Mixed Reviews

Even if you never go to movies, you are contributing to Hollywood production budgets. That is because while states are cutting services to plug massive budget shortfalls, many are still giving away tens of millions of dollars in tax incentives to production companies that shoot movies and TV shows inside their borders. Now some states are starting to rethink those subsidies.

Overall, states gave away $1.8 billion in incentives to Hollywood between 2006 and 2008. Filmmakers bid states against one another and reap the benefit. States are engaging in this escalating bidding war to win over a marginal amount of business. It's a race to the bottom.

Kansas and Iowa have suspended their programs. Arizona's will expire this year and Pennsylvania reduced the amount of its credit. Supports of the tax credits say they help create jobs and boost local economies.

What say You?

She's Fed Up With School Lunches

As a kid, did you ever wonder what they put in those school lunches to make them so, well, unique? (I took my lunch, and the looks of some of that stuff in the 60's, well now we know.)

An anonymous blogger attempts to find out on Fed Up With Lunch: The School Lunch Project. Flagging herself as a "teacher who is eating school lunch everyday in 2010" this brave woman tries to get to the bottom of why school lunches are so inadequate. She lives in Illinois.

A pre-packaged pbj sandwich actually made her sick,and she drank so much milk she became lactose intolerant. Pizza and hotdogs are served often.

So if you are curious about school lunches go to www.fedupwithschoollunch.blogspot.com Better have that trash can close by.

The Chocolte Condundrum

We've been hearing for sometime that chocolate is an antidote to depression. But now some solid research has been done - and the results are unexpected.

Researchers asked more than 900 adults from San Diego about their chocolate eating habits, then used a standard scale to measure the subject's symptoms of depression. The data found that those who rated highest on the depression scale also consumed more chocolate - an average of almost 12 servings/month. In other words, eating more chocolate seems to be linked to being more depressed.

While chocolate may make people depressed, it's also possible that depressed people crave it more because it improves their moods - and have learned to "self-treat".

I don't care what they say I am eating as much chocolate as I can, how about you?

Baskin Robbins and Firefighters

Join us for 31 Cent Scoop Night at Baskin-Robbins® and help us honor America's firefighters on April 28 from 5-10m. The Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation is donating $100,000 to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation™. Participating stores will reduce prices of ice cream scoops to 31 cents*. At some locations, you may also have an opportunity to make a donation to your local fire charities.

*2.5 oz scoops are 31 cents plus tax where applicable. Limit 3 scoops per person.

Have some sugar before it is taxed and help the Firefighters.

Sweet Tax

So the state of Washington thinks by taxing soda, juice, and other drinks that have sugar in them that people won't drink them and lose weight. Yea right and people from Mars are green. Now the state of Kansas is about to pass the same tax. One cent for every teaspoon of sugar in a drink. Ok all that is going to do is make the people of Kansas drive to Missouri or Colorado or Oklahoma or some other state and buy their drinks there. Gas in Kansas is more expensive and they drive to another state to buy their gas too. Also they are going to up cigarette and alcohol tax. Honestly you can tax us to death but until you get the budgets under control and quit wasting taxpayer money all you are going to do is make this country one big 300 million welfare pot. Oh but wait that is what this administration wants, is for us all to be independent on the government. The tax is wrong whatever you do is not going to make people quit drinking their Dr Pepper or lose weight. Strange that none of those pennies will go to help the obesity in this country. So what are those pennies paying for?

World Day of Prayer

So Judge Barbara Crabb decides World Day of Prayer is unconstititional. Really Babs, cos I believe the founding fathers wrote the Constitution based on their belief and faith in God and did not want to be ruled by the King of England. You can do whatever you want but you can't make me stop praying. Methinks perhaps a small prayer from you to God would be in order after what you just did.

So Babs consider these facts and think again:


Congress set aside December 18, 1777 as a day of thanksgiving so the American people “may express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor” and on which they might “join the penitent confession of their manifold sins . . . that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance.” Congress also recommended that Americans petition God “to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consists in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.

In 1789, the same day Congress finished drafting the First Amendment it requested President Washington to declare a National day of prayer and thanksgiving. The proclamation declared that “it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.”

In 1795, Samuel Adams, who signed the Declaration of Independence, ratified the Constitution, and served as governor of Massachusetts, issued A Proclamation For a Day of Public Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer.

By 1815, more than 2,000 official governmental calls to prayer had been issued at both the State and Federal levels, with thousands more issued since 1815.

In 1863, Abraham Lincoln appointed a National Day of Prayer: “Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation. And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.”

Census Bureau

You are really beginning to piss me off big time. First I get a letter telling me the Census is coming, then I get the actual Census and now I get a postcard telling me I should have received it and I need to complete it and turn it back in.

First of all QUIT WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY! It asks me who lives in my residence on April 1, not being April 1 yet how can I turn it back in? What if someone moves in prior to April 1? What if I die? It seems stupid to me to answer the future when I am not a fortune teller.

Lets start with the pre Census letter. At the bottom there is a sentence that tells me to go to a website if I need help in english and 5 other languages. I recognize Spanish and I think probably Japanese/Chines and Vietnamese and I have no idea what the other languages are. This is America, we speak English, it is the official language, there is no need for any other language to be put on forms, my phone, etc.

Then the Census came with a half sheet blue letter. They say Census results are used to decide the number of representatives each state has in Congress. I know that is true, but I also believe they are looking to find areas where ACORN and SEIU can skew the next election cos we all know the Progressives have screwed over the Democrats. They try to make me feel sorry for the children, the elderly, and get my roads fixed and other local needs. My roads are in sorry shape from the harsh winter, I doubt me not completing the Census is gonna affect that. They also say the information is confidential. That ain't so, you can find the answer to every question on the form if you just know where to look.

They also say Federal law protects my privacy and keeps my answers confidential, again anyone can find this information if they know where to look, it is all over the internet. This information becomes public after 72 years. Why 72 years, is that when you expect most Census form completers will be dead and they won't know what you did with their information?

Now let's get to the Census. Why is there a bar code on my form? What kind of information is in that bar code? Why is the letter telling me about the Census come with half a dozen languages at the bottom but the Census only has English and Spanish?

It says to count the people living in the house, apartment, or mobile home. What if I live in a camp trailor, I dont own a home but I travel everywhere in my 5th wheel? Do I get counted or not? Why are they counting homeless people-they don't live in any of those choices? Again it is not APril 1 yet, how can I fill this out?

I am only answering question 1, you do not get my phone number because if you can't figure out how many people live here by my answer, you are really stupid and i won't answer the phone anyway. You don't need to know if i own or rent, again none of your business and you can look this up. You don't need to know my name, my sex, or birthdate, none of your business and it matters not in getting money for my area or getting representatives. If I have to tell you my race how come I don't have to tell you if I am a citizen or not?

I am sending my Census in today, I sure hope no one moves in or out before then.

Census 2010

How many commercials do we need, it is even in my grocery store ad. I am sick of all the in my face stuff regarding the census. Let's see we had a Super Bowl ad, a letter in the mail telling me the census was coming, you would have to be hiding under a rock not to know that. And how much did that letter cost the gov, near as I can figure with postage, the cost of supplies, toner cartridges to make the copies, equipment costs, employee costs, mail man costs, etc that is one expensive letter to tell me what I and millions already know.

You can send all the forms you want, send all the felons you want to my house but you get one question answered and that is it.

Oh and did you hear the test to become a Census Worker is a joke. There are 36 questions and you only have to answer 10 right (that is 27%-I believe that is a big ole fat F). You can take it as many times as you want, there is no drug testing and these people are making $13/hour-$21/hour. Isn't this minimum wage work?

I dont want these people anywhere near my house, who are they and what is their background? Be careful you never know who will come knocking at your door, don't let them in.

The New Girl Scouts

This is not the Girl Scouts I joined all those years ago. Let's not ruin innocent children with this crap.

Not your mother's Girl Scouts
Date: 3/12/2010 8:42:50 AM

Warning: explicit content!

I never imagined the day would come when I would have to issue a content alert when talking about Girl Scout literature, but sadly that day has arrived.

The Girl Scouts celebrate their 98th anniversary today (March 12), having been founded by Juliette Low, the former fiancee of Sir Robert Baden Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts in 1912.

Here is the longstanding Girl Scout oath: "On my honor, I will try: to do my duty to God and my country, to help other people at all times, to obey the Girl Scout laws."

Well, the new and improved World Association of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides hosted a panel at the UN this week. The first thing organizers did was kick all the adults out of the room so that Planned Parenthood could distribute - to adolescent girls, mind you - a brochure entitled, "Healthy, Happy and Hot."

The brochure includes graphic and explicit sexual details, and promotes every kind of casual sex. Here's a charming excerpt:

"Sex can feel great and can be really fun! Many people think sex is just about vaginal or anal intercourse… But, there are lots of different ways to have sex and lots of different types of sex. Sex can include kissing, touching, licking, tickling, sucking, and cuddling. Some people like to have
aggressive sex, while others like to have soft and slow sex with their partners. There is no right or wrong way to have sex. Just have fun, explore
and be yourself!"

In case that wasn't enough information for these impressionable young girls, the brochure leaves little to the imagination:

“Improve your sex life by getting to know your own body. Play with yourself! Masturbation is a great way to find out more about your body and what you find sexually stimulating. Mix things up by using different kinds of touch from very soft to hard. Talk about or act out your fantasies. Talk dirty to them.”

The pamphlet even includes a helpful section on how to prepare for sex when you know you're planning to get drunk first.

Where all this fits with the "doing my duty to God" and "help(ing) other people at all times" was apparently never explained.

The Girl Scouts, in other words, seem determined to aid and abet the girls in their charge to find as many ways as humanly possible to violate the organization's time-honored oath.

In response to the disastrous moral drift of the Girl Scouts, Patty Garibay, a former Girl Scout leader, founded American Heritage Girls in 1995. Their oath? "I promise to love God, Cherish my family, Honor my country, and Serve in my community."

What sets them apart from the Girl Scouts is that when American Heritage Girls take the oath, they actually mean it. And the adults in their world are committed to help them live up to it.

Why The World Needs Chocolate

Each year at Valentine's Day Americans purchase as many as 58 million pounds of chocolates. In 2008, the premium chocolate market was a $1.6 billion business. About $720 million came from small regional and local chocolatiers, many of who make their candy by hand.

What's more, to-die-for chocolate may actually help you live longer. It's rich in flavonoids-which may help lower blood pressure-and packed with other antioxidants. Eating a little bit every day could be beneficial to your health.

So what is your favorite chocolate. My favorite chocolatiers are: Jacques Torres, and Christopher Elbow.

Go ahead, eat some chocolate, it will make you feel better.

Census Spending Criticized

The Census Bureau, a month away from its 2010 population count, has already WASTED millions paying temporary employees who never did the work and others who overbilled for travel, according to excerpts of an audit obtained by the AP.

Still, federal investigators said it was appropriate for the Census Bureau to spend $133 million on its advertising campaign, including $2.5 million for Super Bowl spots that some Republicans derided as wasteful.

In response, Census Bureau spokesman Stephen BUckner attributed the excessive training costs to strong applicant interest in the temporary jobs. As a result, more recruits than expenced showed up for the paid training sessions, and many subsequently were let go without performing work.

Since then, the agency has adjusted its job recruitment to account for the changes and imposed new controls to manage expenses.

Can We Afford Web Access for All?

When you pay your phone bill each month, a small percentage goes to a federal fund that subsidizes phone service for people in remote areas and for the poor. Now the FCC is considering expanding this $7 billion Universal Service Fund to give all Americans access to high speed internet.

President Obama recently announced his plan to contribute $2 billion in stimulus funds to the effort, but creating truly universal broadboand access could cost as much as $350 billion. Next month, an FCC task force will recommend ways to pay for the expansion.

FCC Chairman claims that providing universal broadband is an essential national mission that will boost the economy by enhancing communication and commerce, improving the delivery of healthcare, and providing new educational opportunities for millions.

Rather than tack more fees on to phone bills, Consumers Union suggests applying the fee to broadband-internet users as well. With an expanded base, the burden would be on more people so the cost to individual users would be lower.

Progress and Freedom Foundation says the costs shouldn't be borne just by consumers, it would be better to support it through general tax revenues so everyone shares in the costs.

WHO is going to pay for the computers?????

The Night Before Christmas

An Ohio woman treasures a classic poem. Holly Menzie has amassed more than 250 books, tree ornaments, records, blankets, pillows, music boxes, and even a game board with The Night Before Christmas theme. Her two oldest books date to 1910. She has a recording of Louis Armstrong narrating the poem in 1971.

Clement Clarke Moore is credited with writing the peom in 1823. The story paints Santa Claus as the magical symbol of Christmas and embodies the spirit of giving.

Yo-Yo fanatic

Florida doctor prizes playthings on a string. John "Doc Lucky" Meisenheimer always has a yo-yo in his pocket. With nearly 6,000 yo-yo's he has the largest collection in the world. He has floor to ceiling glass cases encircling the loft of his home library to house his collection. He also created a yo-yo headed manequin covered with 603 yoyo's. Some of his yo-yos are antiques including a circa 1790 brass toy from England, a few are rare, like a wooden prototype-one of only six known to exist-made around 1955 by Duncan Toy Co for Coca Cola. Others blow bulles, generate sparks, and emit scents.

He has a 6' tall, 820 pound yo-yo made in 1990 by a woodworking class in Jasonville, In. He spotted to toy on eBay and bid on it. He keeps it in a backyard shed.

When he was unable to find a definitive guidebook on the subject, he spent 4 years researching and writing Lucky's Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yo's. The love affair of yo-yo's began after marketing genius Donald F. Duncan Sr. hired salesmen to demonstrate yo-yo tricks across the country. He also partnered with William Randolph Hearst to sponsor yo-yo contests. For more information go to www.yo-yos.net.

Sharing His Toys

Oklahoma artist amasses an action-figure army. Kevin stark has been playing with and drawing action figures ever since he got a hand me down GI Joe in 1965. He has 11,000 action figures and lives in Pauls Valley, Ok. He started designig the flexible toys 20 years ago. He got a job as a paperboy when he was 10 so he could buy GI Joes. He would make capes from old tees and glue on cardboard wings. His sketches are used to make characters in the Simpsons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Toxic Crusaders, and Coneheads, along with his own 79 year old superhero, Geezer come to life.

Today the action figure ensemble is exhibited in a former department store building that community volunteers helped transform into The Toy and Action Figure Museum in 2005. Next time you are in Pauls Valley, Ok (population 6,256) stop by and see his collection. for more information go to www.actionfiguremuseum.com.

Squirrel Appreciation Day

Today is Squirrel Appreciation Day. Not sure what this means, do we take them to dinner, buy them a card and gift, not swear at them, let them lay around the house? I do have several and yes they eat at my table outside on my deck and I find them rather entertaining. I know many people hate them and they can be destructive but they are God's creatures so just for today be kind to the squirrels.

Hillbuzz

I am not a fan of Hillary never was never will be however the boys at Hillbuzz need us to rally around them. They were Hillary fans until nodopey stole that nomination. Now that they are supporting Scott Brown and Sarah Palin and other conservatives, they are being called racists, etc just like the rest of us. They are really getting clobbered so please go over to hillbuzz and give the some prayers, love, and hugs, they need and deserve it.

http://hillbuzz.org/