Restoring memories

I am glad that I had the chance to volunteer down in Biloxi and in New Orleans last November. I was able to do this thanks to the donations from readers of the cool report. But once I returned I felt sort of...restless. I wanted to do more. But work and life and finances just don't allow it. So I started looking at other ways to help. I found a great site called Operation Photo Rescue.

The idea is simple. Insurance can replace your house or car, but not your memories. Countless photos were destroyed in the hurricanes. I remember throwing stacks of them to the curb as trash in the Nonth Ward. It was so sad. Each one was a glimpse into someones life. A graduation, a wedding, baby pictures. All gone.

So some volunteers decided to try and save what they could. They have made several trips to the Gulf Cost, collected thousands of photos, scanned them and have set up a system where graphic artists can download the damaged images, fix them in Photoshop, and upload them again for prints to be made. It's a great idea and if you know anyone with Photoshop skills, I encourage you to send them a link to the site.

It would be funney if it weren't insane and sad...

Some of you may have heard me give the 30 second version of "What Scientology?". Upon hearing this, many of you say "What the....are you kidding me??"

No. I'm not kidding you. If you'd like a nice animated version click the image below.





This is not a joke. This 'church' is very popular among the Hollywood set and they rake in BILLIONS of dollars from their followers. The also have a long and ugly history that involves murder, terrorism, attack lawyers and more. Go check out Xenu.net for more info. But I warn you, you won't like what you see.

Earth Sandwich

We live in a time of wonder my friends. Once it was thought that if you dug straight down through the earth you would end up in China, where (it is assumed) you would be able to get some really good Chinese food. Of course we know this to be a myth. The Morlocks would get us long before we reached the Earths inner core of cottage cheese.

But thanks to GPS and advances in baking technology, we can now create The Earth Sandwich!

Thus prooving scientifically that some of our speciese has waaaaaay too much time on their hands.

Oh my...

I think its fair to say that I have a certain fondness for the DeLorean. It is a fondness shared by about 97.3% of all males. So when I saw this I was indeed impressed Thanks to the design of the delorean it can provide its own screen for the viewing of visual entertainment. One could easily watch films about time travel, which would no doubt feel like being on some kind of thrill ride.

Updates

Rossana is much better. She's taking it easy and doing the therapy. Thanks for the emails, she really appreciated them.

The reunion was great. When I visited Goodman in Austin, there was lots to do and see, but here in scenic Wellington, well, there isn't. But all parties seemed quite content to just kick back and chill at Bag End. We ate dinner out on the lawn and had talks late into the evening around the brazier on our porch.

Very little in the way of work got done so I'm going to have to kick into high gear to get ready for our upcomming housewarming event. This means a trip to the fireworks store. Oh yes. And I will be unsupervised.

The good and the bad.

The good news, my father is visiting from Boston and tomorrow my brother and step brother are also coming over. We haven’t had this group together since my wedding at Pennsic. Its tough, with everyone spread out all over the country.

The bad news? Rossana injured herself yesterday while doing yardwork. Something in her knee popped out and did not pop in. It was bad enough that I took her to the emergency room. If anyone doubts my Jedi powers try getting away with taking a left turn through a red light in the middle of Oberlin at 35 mph with a cop RIGHT BEHIND YOU. I can't explain it, but he followed me through the light and then just turned off onto a side street.

Lucky for me.

The emergency room doctors were useless. X-rays showed nothing broken, which we knew. They put her leg in a leg brace thing, prescribed anti-inflammatory pills and vicodin. They referred her to to an orthopedic doctor she could see on MONDAY. 'It's first come, first serve so get there plenty early' and pray.

Fuck that! There is a great chiropractor in Wellington named Pfeiffer. He also handles all the high school sports team injuries. We got to see him first thing TODAY. He iced the kneee and managed to get it popped back into place. That was a big improvement. She's seeing him again on Monday and will likely need to do some excercises to strengthen her ligaments. Otherwise she is resting well. I got her some crutches to make sure she doesn't try to move boulders or something.

If you have a moment, send her some love at Rossana@readingsbyrossana.com

In vivid color

If you'd like to see how Bush is tanking for yourself, I direct your Interon browsing device to the following animated image.

Pretty brutal George.

Adventures in Lawn Care

So here it is at last. The lawnmower. With it I shall tame the wilderness that is my back yard. I shall fear no weed. My chainsaw and my roundup shall comfort me.

This thing has made my life much easier. It does 80 mph. It can, in fact pop wheelies. I will be speaking with Grimm about chrome exhaust pipes and a turbo charger. Its 0-60 speed is a little sluggish. And yes, I am wearing a John Deere hat. It came with the mower and it gives me mad farmer cred down at Cecils trackside diner. Word.

  

Kick Ass

My friend Ed came over today we rode the motorcycles around for a bit. It really helps one clear ones head. I'm better now. And to celebrate here is an outstanding video of a marionette performer with what the kids would call mad skillz. I was a puppeteer for 5 years, but I take my hat off to this guy.

Absolute Rage

Go take a look here. That is our asshat President. When I saw the photo I recognized where he was sitting at once. I was sitting there just a few months ago. It's the base for Hands on USA in Biloxi.

He was there to promote volunteerism, and that's great and all. But I'm from the 'ounce of prevention' school of thought. Not much could have been done to prevent the storm damage to Biloxi, but New Orleans could have fared a shitload better had this moron and his flunkies been anywhere near on the ball. The loss of life could have been reduced, the federal response might have gotten started earlier and run more efficiently. But what did we get from this man? Lies.

This man is the Worst President Ever.

Look again, there he is helping build a new home. But he isn't, is he? It's a photo op. Just like when volunteer firefighters were rushed to Atlanta to do what? Be used as props with this jackass while people were dying.

I'm not mad at Hands on USA. There is no bad publicity. They are just one of many groups down there that are in for the long haul. And if having this pigfucker show up for a 5 minute photo op helps remind people that the Gulf Coast is still in ruins, still needs help, well that's the price these people will pay. For them, it's about the work.

Mr. President, the Gulf Coast doesn't need you down there hammering nails. They need you to deliver the relief you promised. They need to to put people who know what the fuck they are doing into FEMA managament. Or better yet, just step down before you do any more damage. You've had your chance. Hell, you've had many chances and you have blown every godamned one.