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• Re: NCIS Yahoo List Moderation -- RegularGuy, Monday, January 15, 18:57:34 [1]
  I finally decided that I'd had enough from the egomaniacs who 'moderate' the NCIS Yahoo Group and I just quit.
  
  I was first put on 'moderation' on the NCIS List because of something the moderators didn't like of mine from their JAG List (where I was also moderated).
  
  The capper for me with the NCIS List was when I was singled out for 'reprehensible' behavior. What did I do to be called 'reprehensible'? I send a BCC copy of my NCIS List post to a friend also on the list at the same time I sent it to the List. My (unmoderated) friend on the List replied to my message to the List BEFORE the List-Nazis (excuse me, I mean List-Moderators) 'approved' my post.
  
  I don't know, there are a lot of 'reprehensible' things in this world that people do - I didn't think sending a friend a copy of a post was all that bad. But when the List-Nazis (excuse me again, I still mean the List-Moderators) told me that I would NEVER get off moderation, I just decided to walk away.
  
  It is nice to know that other normal folks have trouble with the NCIS Yahoo List, too.
  

  
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• NG reporting in, physical self and personal property intact, although we hear it was a wild ride early last night before we arrived home. A cold front was moving down from the north and hit the 100º heat, creating some interesting weather. We had been with some relatives in Springfield during the day after spending the week around Branson and drove through some heavy wind and driving rain about 30 miles south of us at Jefferson City. The boys said our power was out for about an hour, which is pretty unusual during a storm, and this morning I see some limbs down. -- Ninja_Girl, Saturday, August 19, 7:54:05 [12]
  
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  • (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Saturday, August 19, 7:59:11
    • We were away from the tv during the LL World Series game but heard from Son #1 it was a really good game. Any game, at any level, that goes 3 innings past regulation with no score shows that the teams were pretty much equal. The first one to make a mistake loses, and apparently that's what happened there. Our team is still alive; the kids play again tonight at 7 CT, this time against a Portsmouth, NH team. It appears to be a pool tournament, which means the teams are grouped into "pools" or 4 or 6 and winners of the pools advance. Usually you have to lose 2, sometimes 3, times before you're out. If you do lose a game, you go into the loser's bracket. The winner of the loser's bracket plays the winner's bracket winner in their pool's final game to decide who advances. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Saturday, August 19, 8:16:55
      • Glad to hear you and yours are fine. Hope you enjoyed your trip. I'll have to check out the LL World Series somemore. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Sunday, August 20, 14:46:19
  • My Little Leaguers won yesterday (rained out Saturday) 14-5 against Portsmouth, NH. If they win tonight (ESPN2, 7 p.m CT) against an Oregon team, they go on to the LLWS semifinals. And guess what - school starts here on Wednesday! Maybe they can get excused absences if they need them. In case anyone wonders how they got on the team, the 11 & 12-year-olds in Daniel Boone Little League vote for their choices as all-stars in their respective divisions, American & National League (determined by your address - we live in American League territory). These two play each other for the DBLL championship, then move on to state and regional tournaments. The kids I'm following were the Daniel Boone National League All-Stars. Most of these kids played last year as 11-year-olds and won state but lost in regional pool play. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, August 21, 6:26:05
    • Are your boys out, now?? I saw that they lost last night, & I wasn't sure if it was double or triple elimination. I couldn't watch the game, we had open house & the power went out while we were there. It was still out when we got home, & didn't come back on til right at bedtime. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 22, 4:22:23
      • They are out. Beaverton, Ore., will go on to the semifinals. For much of the game our kids played better than the other team, but they couldn't take advantage of scoring opportunities along the way and ended up losing by one run. Beaverton kids hit the two bad pitches thrown by our guy, and that was it. On the news this morning, the adults are trying to get the team home by Friday so they can get in on the 3rd day of school which starts tomorrow, but the kids are pushing to stay through Sunday for the finals. We'll see who prevails. I'll try out Voy's new website link capability - for interesting info about the LLWS living accommodations for players/coaches, go inside (as per Kat's instructions!). -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, August 22, 6:45:29
        • TB, did you have storms to knock out your power? Sounds like not a very fun evening. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, August 22, 6:48:26
          • Yes. It seems that cold front you experiences a few days ago has made it's way to my neck of the woods. As we were leaving the sky had gotten really dark & there was lots of lightening & thunder. The power stayed on til after the principal, 2 asst. principals, & PTO pres,had spoken, when they turned it over to the 5th grade teachers the lights went out. Thankfully, we were in the cafeteria & there was a bank of windows down the backside. The teachers completed their speals & everyone pretty much left. We didn't go to the classrooms cuz they would have been dark. The lights were still out when we got home, but came back on about 30 minutes later. We're supposed to get more of the same this afternoon, last week they held the buses cuz of a storm. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 22, 7:11:36
        • I noticed they lost by one point in both of their losing games. When I watched them the other night, the other team was able to capitalize on a bad pitch from your boys. Then, your boys just weren't able to make contact with anything the other team threw at them. It was probably some of the best baseball I've seen in years, they all played really great ball. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 22, 7:19:01
        • Baseball at the 11/12-year-old level is just the best, that is if the coaches and parents have the right priorities. Daniel Boone LL fields are 3 minutes from our house, and you know you can always see some good baseball if the lights are glowing. Fall ball starts next week. There are many other kid baseball leagues, all of which hold world series but aren't televised. Some of my worst baseball memories are from going with Michael's competitive team to a couple of them. Maybe the worst was the year our team's families were grilling hamburgers on the motel's parking lot and another team pulled in. The coach gathered everybody, parents and all, and said he was pulling the team from the tournament because they had ended up in the loser's bracket. "I'm not taking any team of MINE through the loser's bracket," he said, and then told every kid what he had done wrong. All this was said right next to where we were. I will NEVER forget the looks on those little boys' faces. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, August 22, 8:55:23
          • And I'll never understand the parents who subjected their children to such a coach. Little League, Babe Ruth, Cal Ripken, and other fun developmental leagues have volunteer coaches, usually parents, and work with kids they are assigned. But competitive leagues' team coaches most often create their own teams, and parents make conscious decisions about their kids' participation. We all kept waiting for a parent to say something that day on the parking lot, but not a word was said. I came to appreciate greatly my kids' years in Little League and wish Michael had not gone the other route at ages 13-14. Later, American Legion was a quality program. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, August 22, 9:01:27

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• This has been floating around school all week and I thought maybe you guys could use a good laugh on a Monday -- jagnut, Monday, August 21, 18:23:39 [1]
  LITTLE KNOWN MARITIME FACTS...
  
  A number of primary schools were doing a project on "The Sea." Kids were asked to draw pictures or write about their experiences. Teachers got together to compare the results and put together some of the 'better'ones.
  > 1. This is a picture of an octopus. It has eight testicles. (Kelly age 6)
  > 2. Some fish are dangerous. Jellyfish can sting. Electric eels can give
  you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea because I think they have to plug themselves in to chargers. (Christopher age 7)
  >3. Oysters' balls are called pearls. (James age 6)
  
  > 4. If you are surrounded by sea you are an Island. If you don't have sea
  all around you, you are incontinent. (Wayne age 7)
  
  5. I think sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily
  Richardson. She's not my friend no more. (Kyle age 6)
  
  > 6. A dolphin breathes through an asshole on the top of its head. (Billy age 8)
  
  
  > 7. When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to cross the
  ocean. Sometimes, when the wind didn't blow the sailors would whistle to
  make the wind come. My brother said they would be better off eating beans. William age 8
  
  
  > 8. I like mermaids. They are beautiful, and I like their shiny tails. How
  do mermaids get pregnant? (Helen age 8)
  
  > 9. When you go swimming in the sea, it is very cold, and it makes my willy
  shrink. (Kevin age 6).
  

  
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• This has been floating around school all week and I thought maybe you guys could use a good laugh on a Monday -- jagnyut, Monday, August 21, 18:15:47 [1]
  
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• Voy News -- KatRose, Monday, August 21, 11:49:15 [1]
  VoyForums News - 8-16-2006
  
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  Regarding recent downtime, most notably August 3rd and 13th, we wanted to update you: We were hard at work trying to figure out the solution of the problem we were experiencing; installing, testing, retesting, and replacing hardware. Working in conjunction with our ISP, and top network and routing engineers, we think we finally have isolated the problem. We may need to do more testing in the coming few days, but the outages or slowdowns should be very brief.
  
  We wanted to take this moment to reiterate our commitment to providing you with quality, stable, reliable service. We're in it for the long haul, as many of you have been with us since 1998 know. In the coming next few months, we will be implementing many new features and improvements that will make our service even better. Keep your eyes peeled on the news page.
  
  And on that note, we're happy to announce a new feature: Autolinking!
  
  Now all you have to do to put links into messages is to put the url that starts with http:// in your post and the link will be clickable automatically. We're working on image linking, so look for that soon!
  

  
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• Typical Jen weekend....Sigh........ -- Jennifer, Sunday, August 20, 18:02:24 [6]
  Sometimes I wonder why I even bother....I didn't even call a certain bud because I'm not sure even she can cheer me up at this point.....
  
  I should've known on Thursday night as I was getting ready to go to Mom's for the night for our early Friday departure when the truck wouldn't start it was an OMEN and I should've stayed my a** at home.....
  
  But no, not me!!! I run to Wal-Mart at 10 at night, enlist the aid of my good neighbor Jay and install a new battery in the dark, in 90+ degree weather....
  
  So I haul this POS boat 200 miles to Alabama, where we meet up with Kat's "best" bud from last year, Elmer and his wife, and the d*** POS won't start......won't even turn over....so Elmer, bless his heart tries EVERYTHING he can think of to figure out why I'm not getting power in the ignition switch..its not a battery as the bilge pump, the navigation lights and everything else battery powered works....Elmer asks where the fuse panel is on the boat...so I call Sweetie, and am told (now keep this in mind for later) that there are no fuses on that boat, and he has no idea either.....so I pull it around and am going to make it a land display only, when my buddy Don a/k/a Pita, Mr. Wayne and Tom (the guy I caravanned with) decide they are going to figure this out, even when Elmer spent 2 hours and couldn't......
  
  Oh gee, what's this???? A fuse!!!! There is ONE fuse on the boat, which is in the ignition switch which has blown...Hmmm, if there are no fuses Sweetie, why do I have several spare fuses in my toolbox? Poor Elmer had it diagnosed, but was told by Sweetie that he was wrong when he was actually right.....However, "why" is the fuse blowing? Who cares at this point, as we get her started and get her launched....
  
  So I go over to the dock, and the linkage (shifting forward and reverse) is so hard that I'm pulling with all my might and can't get this stupid-ass boat into reverse as Pita is yelling at me to do so, and I almost wipe out Tom's boat....
  
  So next problem, Pita and Mr. Wayne adjust the linkage...as the boat is taking on a tremendous amount of water.....next issue...but the bilges are working so its okay for the weekend....
  
  Well not entirely, because the fuses keep blowing, I can't use the boat, the battery runs completely down, so I have no power at all....
  
  I pulled out today vowing that I'm going to sell it, madder than a hornet at Sweetie, because every other boat takes precedence over mine, and I'm just pissed....no other way to describe it....
  
  The show has changed, no rides for the kids, no silent auction, and has gone completely commercial.....While I had a GREAT time with my buds, I'm not so sure I'm going to go back to Children's Harbor because its just not the same....Plus if Sweetie doesn't get his act in gear, I'm not sure I'm going to be a boat owner for much longer....
  
  I am going to bed...I'm tired, sunburned, worn out and still steamed.....no amount of chocolate will help my mood this evening....
  

  
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  • Oh, honey! I'm so sorry that your weekend sucked the big one. I know how much you love your boat and used to love Children's Harbor. Did you at least get to see Corrine to chat? I know how much you like her. Maybe it's time to set Sweetie down and say, "Fix my boat now. No ifs, ands, or buts about it." You've been compensating him in one fashion or another for a few years, yet the boat's not done yet. Sure he's got a business to run, but on this issue, you are a CLIENT and he's about to lose not only a client but a friend if he doesn't quit putting you last on the list of everything else he's got going. I wish I could give you a hug right now. I'm here if you want to talk. (NT) -- KatRose, Sunday, August 20, 21:56:21
  • {{{{{{Jennifer}}}}}} I'm so sorry you had a bad weekend and had problems with your boat. I know how much you've always enjoyed the Children's Harbor weekend. Hang in there!! (NT) -- Kathleen, Monday, August 21, 5:52:55
  • Jen, I'm soooo sorry you had such a tough weekend. I'm with Kat, have a chat w/Sweetie about your boat. It's too bad the Children's Harbor event has lost some of it enjoyment for you. If do choose not to do it anymore, I know you find a similar event to put your energies into. Hope today is a much, much better day for you. ((((((HUGS))))) (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, August 21, 6:01:17
  • Sorry about the bad weekend with all its mechanical and human disappointments. I hope today is a better day. Maybe the boat is revolting after the recent bad experience with the bride. . . (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, August 21, 6:39:06
  • I couldn't help myself. Chocolate makes your bad mood better. Enjoy. And if your friend can't fix your boat, ask him to recommend someone who can. Maybe that will get him going and show him you're serious & not going to wait anymore. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Monday, August 21, 6:55:42

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• Joke -- KatRose, Sunday, August 20, 21:57:46 [2]
  Sex in the Dark
  
  There was this couple that had been married for 20 years. Every time they made love the husband always insisted on shutting off the light.
  
  After 20 years the wife felt this was ridiculous. She figured she would break him out of is crazy habit. So one night, while they were in the middle of a wild, screaming, romantic session, she turned on the lights. She looked down and saw her husband was holding ...
  
  (remainder inside)
  

  
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  • Remainder in here -- KatRose, Sunday, August 20, 21:58:24

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• Ninja Girl, are you okay? -- Texasbrat, Saturday, August 19, 3:58:43 [4]
  
  I was watching the Little League Game with your team when the announcer said a tornado had touched down somewhere in Missouri. I don't know if it was near you or not, I'm hoping all damage is minimal & you and yours a fine.
  
  It was a good game, tough, but good. Sorry your team lost, and doesn't move up. I know the little pitcher is probably terribly heartbroken, since the other team won on a hit he pitched. But, honestly, the little guys did well to get as far as they did.
  
  For those of you that missed it. The game is 6 innings long, but they had no score, it was tied 0-0. So, they kept playing. In the top of the 9th inning, the Lake Charles, La team got 2 hits, one was able to get home, so the score was 1-0. The Columbia, Mo team went to bat, and was unable to get a hit. So, it was a really tough game for both sides. The Lake Charles team moves on to play the winner of an earlier game.
  
  NG, check in & let us know how you are doing.
  
  TB
  

  
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  • (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Saturday, August 19, 7:46:38
    • (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Saturday, August 19, 8:11:17
    • I see that my brain still is on vacation - see separate post (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Saturday, August 19, 8:22:11

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• IRS to tax Emmy gift bags -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 15, 6:51:41 [30]
  TAXING TIMES FOR SWAG BAGS
  
  August 13, 2006 -- A CRACKDOWN by the Internal Revenue Service could doom the practice of handing out "goodie bags" to celebrities at all of the televised award shows.
  
  The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences recently sent out letters to presenters and nominees scheduled to appear on the Aug. 27 Emmy Awards advising them they will be responsible for paying income taxes on the freebies in their "very special Gift Bag," worth between $27,000 and $33,000.
  
  Every celebrity who received the warning was asked to sign and return a letter to the Academy acknowledging, "You are aware of this obligation . . . We will not be able to present a gift bag to any individual for whom we have not received this signed letter in advance."
  
  The Academy hinted it might be forced to turn over a list of its swag-bag recipients to the IRS. It warned in a letter to the TV talent: "We are presently researching the income-tax reporting requirements surrounding gift bags. We will make a determination later this year as to the Television Academy's income-tax reporting obligations to the IRS and state and local tax authorities."
  
  This year's Emmys telecast will feature Kiefer Sutherland, Felicity Huffman, Chris Meloni, Edie Falco, James Gandolfini, Evangeline Lilly, Jon Stewart, Dennis Haysbert, Mariska Hargitay, Jeremy Piven and Denis Leary.
  
  Tom DiLorenzo, who manages "Desperate Housewives" actress Kathryn Joosten, said she will probably opt to decline the gift bag. "My client has gotten these goodie bags in the past, and she doesn't even want half the stuff. But it's all or nothing," DiLorenzo said. "There's no line-item veto."
  
  Most stars won't have the time for all the free trips in the bag, including holidays in New Zealand, Hawaii and the Bahamas. And they certainly don't want to be liable for taxes on trips they never took.
  
  "This is the end of the goodie-bag era," predicted one insider. "Who would want their name on a list sent to the IRS?"
  
  A spokeswoman for the Academy said, "Hopefully, the recipients will make whatever decision is right for them."
  

  
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  • Thanx, Kat, for finding this. I thought it was an interesting topic. It didn't surprise me that they received goodie bags, but I didn't realize that they could be worth so much $$$. And the IRS wants their cut, cuz they consider it income, not sure how the IRS is making that connection it is a gift from the Academy. And to have a list of names sent to the IRS so they don't forget to pay up, sounds kinda cold. Wonder how many will pick up their bags this year? (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 15, 7:15:48
    • Like I've ever received a goody bag from anywhere worth more than about $20. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 15, 7:18:13
    • I think it's because there's been so much noise in recent years about how much these presenter/nominee gift bags are in the news and entertainment mags ($27K for Emmys and upwards of $75-100K for Oscars), that the IRS is seeing this not so much as a gift as a means of providing expensive product without any monetary cost to the celebs. Because even the donor companies don't really see this as just a gift, it's a means of getting the celeb to help market their product by wearing the expensive watch or the diamond necklace or the perfume. There's a school of thought that more a celeb wears, the more the public wants to mimic them, which means more sales. So this is a marketing tool for the companies, something they'd normally pay for and that person would get taxed on. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 15, 7:26:31
  • Watch, next the IRS is going to walk the streets on the weekends getting there "tax" on yard sales. Notice they are taxing only things in a certain bracket? Time to make smaller or larger gift bags, cince the medium size ones are taxable! LOL (NT) -- Heather---, Tuesday, August 15, 7:26:42
    • You consider at $27K bag to be "medium sized"? LOL At the SAG Awards our bags started out being worth maybe $50-75 in cosmetics and magazines. Last year's bag was worth about $500. The early years I'd consider to be inexpensive, these past couple of years I'd call those hefty but medium priced compared to the nominee and presenter bags given even at the SAG Awards (anywhere from $5K - $25K depending on what gifts they pick from the "store" at the back of the auditorium). Anything with four digits is a big deal, and the more digits the more they are scrutinized. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 15, 9:28:42
      • techonocoly shouldn't they all be taxed... I figured those where the med size one's as you hear about larger ones... LA is just BIG regardless (NT) -- Heather in little New England, Tuesday, August 15, 18:31:47
  • I never understood the whole idea of goodie bags. Are they used as a way to get actors to agree to be presenters on award shows? I guess those giving the items to be used could also consider it as a form of advertising too. I just never understood the whole idea of giving goodie bags at award shows to people who can easily afford to buy the stuff on their own. I think it would make more of a positive statement if money was donated to charities, instead of giving things to people who, as I said, could easily afford to buy it themselves. (NT) -- Kathleen, Tuesday, August 15, 7:31:22
    • I think the original concept of the gift bags to the presenters was to say "thank you for showing up and doing more than just sitting in the audience." Nominees got gifts sorta as a pre-consolation prize in case they didn't win. Over the years that gift bags to the presenters and nominees has gotten outrageous because, as one publicist explained it to me, "No matter what's in the bag, if the celeb wears it, uses it or talks about it, that's free publicity for the product. People, especially teens, want to look and act like their idols and will spend money to have what they have. Why wouldn't we give away $5,000 watches to a celeb when we'll get hundreds of thousands in sales later?" (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 15, 9:31:10
      • Well, i hate to say it, but your average everyday joe and or teen who wants to idolize a star can't afford and won't buy a $5000.00 watch. It's ridiculous. And why do the runner up nominees get runner up prizes? In the real world only the winner gets the trophy and the ones that don't win just suck it up and try harder next year. I agree with Katheen that I think the whole gift bag deal is ridiculous. These actors make enough money on their own prospective jobs to buy these things on their own. No one I know in 'real life' gets compensated or showered with gifts for helping with awards shows for sports or drama classes or dance or singing. Go ahead and tax them, they should pay the tax. Anyone of us who goes on a game show and wins prizes or cars or trips etc. has to pay taxes so why shouldn't they. (NT) -- Kathy, Wednesday, August 16, 8:03:03
  • The IRS taxes the same dollar so many times it's ridiculous. And I think this new regulation is, too. Gift taxes, marriage taxes, death taxes, inheritance taxes ..... all of it bugs me. And to whomever said they'll next be taxing yard sales, I don't think that's far-fetched. Illinois has a fair-use tax. This means if you purchase something out of state, and pay tax there, you must report what you bought and pay a tax on it for the privilege of using it inside the state of Illinois. Certain things are excluded, if you can figure out the law and read the fine print. Doesn't that make you want to move to Illinois, land of graft , corruption, and the mob. ..................Where's my coffee!?!?!?!?!?! (NT) -- AmyLynn, feeling a little cranky this morning, Tuesday, August 15, 8:03:23
    • I read my post and confused myself! Please note that when I bring up IL Fair Use Tax this is a completely separate thought from the yard sale comment, and also this IL tax means you get to pay tax twice on the same item, once where you bought it and once here. I'd say this is stupid and slap something, but I don't think I'm allowed to do that here. (NT) -- AmyLynn .... can I say things in Italian and gesture alot? Maybe that will make me feel better. And then hand me an espresso!, Tuesday, August 15, 8:08:06
      • Most states have some sort of "use tax" that is designed to have you pay taxes on internet purchases, since many sites don't charge taxes, just shipping. So, the idea is if the item was purchased by an out of state company, then you need to pay state & local taxes for the privelage of using/consuming/shooting/whatever the item. If you paid taxes on the item in another state, then you should be able to only pay the difference between what you paid & what you owe your state, if any. Got that? Good, cuz I don't think I could repeat it, even if I wanted to. (NT) -- Texasbrat making my brain work this morning, Geez., Tuesday, August 15, 9:01:42
        • I'm sure the law is changing as we type, but IL law excludes alot of things (not all internet purchases are included), but there are alot of people here who cross over the border for cigarettes, fireworks, medicine, etc., and frankly I don't understand why I should pay for the priviledge of using it here. Not all states have this specific coverage, and some people are finding it easier to NOT live in Illinois because of the revisions to this law. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 15, 9:32:47
        • Yep, California has the same rule. On my tax forms at the end of the year there's a space for "total your Internet, mail order and phone order purchases from out of state" and they will then figure out what you owe in local taxes. They don't seem to want to know if you paid taxes anywhere else, just what money did you spend that they didn't get their cut of. I'm waiting for the day that they go after eBay sellers and PayPal accounts. I know it's coming, I just don't know when. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 15, 9:33:44
          • It's so obvious it's about money. I think of tax rule makers as little children who throw a fit when somebody else has a better toy. Honestly. One day when you buy something from a garage sale on vacation, they'll make you pay tax on it. Without discussing internet businesses, just looking at people selling their stuff to other people --- isn't that basically what it is? A giant yard sale? LOL Oh well. Initially looking at the IL law makes you think everything is included, which is what they want you to think, and then you read the fine print and get even more confused. Arghh!! (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 15, 9:50:13
            • There was a blurb of an article I read the other day saying something to the effect that 1/3 of the money we pay in taxes is used to run and fund just the tax department!! I'll have to see if I can find the full article to find out if the blurb was accurate or just a sensationalized headline quip. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 15, 10:10:13
              • Can you hear the Higgins in me: Oh! My! God!!! Obviously they need me, er, the help of an efficiency expert to reorganize, prioritize and cut out the bureocratic red tape and the overhead. Oh wait -- that may cut into their profits. How brilliant they are to notice their spending is up so they need more tax revenues. ..................this subject is really putting me in a bad mood, LOL, I think I need some chocolate. I've gotta check if the vending machine is fixed. It wasn't taking money. (Isn't that pretty bad? If you owned the vending machine wouldn't you have it fixed, like, yesterday?! It's been malfunctioning for weeks.) (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 15, 10:32:49
              • I found two things that were rathering interesting in my search to find that article. Come inside for links: -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 15, 10:33:03
                • There are signs for that latter org all over around here. I'm convinced there will never be a "fair" tax system and less red tape ---- you can't bury things in logically functioning corps and less paper. You need paper to bury everything with!!! (NT) -- AmyLynn ... off to check these out, Tuesday, August 15, 10:36:14
                  • I think I must not be as well-informed as I like to believe since this particular piece of news was new to me: REAL ID ACT of 2005 (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 15, 10:38:15
                    • How does the media speak ad nauseum about Tom Cruise or Mel Gibson, but nothing about this, or at least not as much about this??? It's very interesting. It's like when the Patriot Act was signed yet parts were intentionally not well publicized. Yes, very interesting indeed. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 15, 10:49:01
                      • They're already doing this to some extent. At hubby's last job, he had to travel to Canada, he was told it would be easier & go much smoother for him to take his passport. He did, but one of his traveling buds didn't have a passport & was told a driver's lisence would be fine. Wrong -- it took him forever in customs, and they almost didn't let him in Canda, told him to get a passport before he came back. Needless to say, he had almost as much trouble getting back into the U.S., as he did getting out. A valid driver's lisence is not always considered acceptable anymore.The media doesn't talk about much cuz it breathes of "Big Brother" breathing down your neck. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 15, 12:48:00
                        • Yes, the law has changed and you need a passport now to travel to Canada. Mexico, too, I believe. All places where a drivers license or other gov issued pic ID --- now you need a passport. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 15, 13:15:13
  • From the Daily Variety today -- "The Big Freebie Freeze" (inside for article): -- KatRose, Thursday, August 17, 9:12:40
    • Looks like I was wrong about the nominees getting the gift bags. Oops. (NT) -- KatRose, Thursday, August 17, 9:13:54
    • To me, a gift is a gift and the receiver shouldn't be penalized because they got a gift. Ever. Period. And I don't particularly like the idea that the giver is penalized either. Oh sure, I understand how people use loopholes and try and say everything is a gift, when in reality it may not be .... but aren't there simpler ways of fixing this, simpler laws, simpler something that I'm sure somebody has thought of. Pretty soon I will be taxed for the privilege of breathing smogging dirty air and drinking polluted water. I have the strong urge to listen to "Taxman" by the Beatles now. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Thursday, August 17, 11:07:02
    • I'm curious what percentage of presenters have, or will, sign the acknowledgement and accept the 'gift' bags. Since they have no say in what items are included, they may be responsible to the IRS for 'gifts' they have no use for. I'm guessing most will be content with the exposure for the sake of their carreers or current projects and will not accept the 'gifts.' (NT) -- judy, Thursday, August 17, 11:25:15
      • I wonder too, Judy, how many will "opt out" of receiving a bag b/c of the tax liability. Maybe the award shows should have a Christmas ornament or "dust-collector" due-dad, to give everyone with the name of the award show & the year, maybe state with they were a presenter or performer. I see an end or at least a scaling down of gift bags. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Thursday, August 17, 12:01:29
  • New Variety Article -- KatRose, Friday, August 18, 10:45:42

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• Does anybody remember -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, August 16, 10:52:01 [13]
  
  a diet a number of years back that was for patients about to undergo heart surgery. It was so they could lose quite a bit of weight in a short time for the surgery.
  
  My MIL is wanting to know what it is, and neither of us can remember. I've googled what I thought was it, but all it brings up is surgical weight loss done by stapling or whatever your stomach.
  
  Does anyone remember this? Or know where I might find it?
  
  Thanx,
  
  TB
  

  
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  • This website http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4584 talks about the claim that the cabbage soup diet is supposed to help you lose weight before surgery, but they don't recomment it or any other fad diet. Anyway, I've always heard that any sort of rapid weight loss is itself a strain on your system, so wouldn't losing several pounds quickly before a surgery be bad? I know of some who have to put off surgery for a few *months* in order to 'safely' lose some weight before surgery. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Wednesday, August 16, 11:03:19
  • I found the "diet". It's supposed called the "Cleveland Clinic Diet" and advocates grapefruit, bacon, eggs, etc. I went to the Cleveland Clinic site and there's a Q&A about the "diet." They say it's not real and don't recommend anyone try it because it's unhealthy. They do recommend the Mediterrian Diet, which is a change in eating habits and foods consumed. You can read more here: Diet (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, August 16, 11:12:10
  • Thanx all. I've seen both of those, and I don't think that is the one she was talking about. Her thinking was to do a "quick weight loss" for 3 days or so, then go to a healthy type of diet. Her & my FIL were on one that a dietician put them on & it had a section where you could do a sort of quick weight loss for a couple of days then go back to the regular portion, only she's lost the info it. Right now hubby & I have been following the Sonoma Diet, which is based on Mediterrean Foods. During the first 10 days, you eat no sweets, and lots of green veggies & lean protein. I have lost about 7 lbs or so, on it so far. We like it because we are not having to purchase anything out of the ordinary, or hard to find items.(which can be a real problem in our rural area). We have enjoyed the seasonings used, & portion measurement is a bit easier- you divide your 9" plate into sections, fill 'em up & eat. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, August 16, 12:29:02
  • I used a variation on this one several years back and it worked fine: -- KatRose, Wednesday, August 16, 16:13:53
    • Inside, I'll probably jabber too much for Voy -- Texasbrat, Thursday, August 17, 6:33:07
    • Both of these sound good, one for 3 days, the other for the 4 days in between. Kat, did you lose weight on this diet? I would think to lose 10 pounds in 3 days would mean exercising like crazy. Is 5 lbs more like it? If anyone out there has tried this for a month or 6 weeks, how did it go? (NT) -- AmyLynn, curious in Chicagoland, Thursday, August 17, 6:41:33
      • I used this back when I was trying to enlist in the Air Force and needed to lose the last pounds to get me under the max allowed weight quickly. I don't remember if it was a full 10 pounds, but it was enough to get me there. The problem is, if you don't continue with a healthy diet after this 3-day jumpstart, the weight you lost comes back. (NT) -- KatRose, Thursday, August 17, 7:11:22
      • Sonoma has a book out on the diet itself, and there is a cookbook with more recipes coming out in October (I think). I'm looking forward to that, so we have even more things to try. To me it is easy to adapt your recipes to it, Pastas & rice should be whole grain, have a salad with lots of different fresh toppings, & an adequate portion of meat. As long as the food isn't deep fried, you can probably work it in. The only thing they don't really have is white potatoes, once you reach your target weight, you can have them about once a month. Much of the first 10 days is losing the "sugar" cravings, by not eat white flours, chips, or sugars at all. Later they bring in whole wheat pita or tortilla chips with a homemade dip.So you are changing cooking & eating habits. (NT) -- Texasbrat Air Force, Huh??? I tried them too, but got married instead & I would have been an officer., Thursday, August 17, 7:22:43
        • Thankfully I don't like things very sweet, so the only "sugar" cravings I have involve chocolate, and then I like dark/bitter chocolate. (Ok, I do like white cake with that sugary old-fashioned frosting, but I eat it without the frosting, too, and I don't bake cakes alot, mostly fruit pies, and that's *fruit* so it's healthy, isn't it?) When I bake, I only ever use 1/2 the sugar in the recipe. And while I do prefer salty snacks, I don't eat too much of them because chips seem too salty! I use seasoning for flavor more than salt. I'm not a big meat eater (nobody in my family is) and would rather eat a plate full of veggies. My problem is that I sit in a chair all day at work and now I've taken on its shape because I don't get enough exercise!!! LOL My back bothers me if I do alot of straight walking, so I would do better to just be more active throughout the day, but that's hard in an office when you're the one who's supposed to be sitting in front of the phone answering it -- (NT) -- they don't like to see you walking around!! Thanks for the input.. PS Kat: How long did you do this for? ------ AmyLynn, Thursday, August 17, 7:47:35
          • I once heard that an hour of typing burns 30 more calories than an hour of sleeping. I was so upset that I forgot the source of the information. LOL ... Time for some creative thinking about how to exercise at work. LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn ... I think I need more caffeine to be creative, Thursday, August 17, 8:47:59
            • According to an Activity Calculator site sleeping for 30 minutes uses 55 calories, but typing for 30 minutes uses 61 calories. Hmmm, sleep or typing? I think I'd rather sleep. ;-) (NT) -- KatRose, Thursday, August 17, 9:21:44
              • UUUUGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! It's LESS THAN 30 calories difference!!!! I'm so depressed I need some chocolate. LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn, Thursday, August 17, 10:29:05

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• Denim Day for Women's Cancer Research -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 15, 16:43:26 [1]
  As many of you know I do a lot of charitable work through the Entertainment Industry Foundation. One of my big events is the Revlon Run/Walk for Women's Cancers which was founded by Lily Tartikoff and Lisa Paulsen, President of EIF.
  
  Well, the EIF's got a new twist for raising money for the Women's Cancer Programs ... Lee National Denim Day. You might have seen an add in Entertainment Weekly or perhaps People magazine with Pierce Brosnan wearing denim and asking you to participate. Here's your chance.
  
  The concept is that on Friday, October 6, 2006, everyone will donate $5 and wear denim in honor of the women in their lives. It's a small price to pay to try and save someone's life. You can register by yourself, you can sign up a group or you can donate directly. No matter what you do, I'm asking that you do participate. It's a worthy cause and something so easy to do.
  
  You can find out all about this here: Denim Day
  
  If anyone wants to join up with my group (I registered my department - yeah, I know, what's the odds they'll all participate?), I'll be happy to accept any donations and send them in with ours.
  
  Thanks.
  

  
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• Tea time again -- Ninja_Girl, Friday, August 11, 11:07:42 [18]
  Yesterday I sat down with a delightful cup of decaffeinated Red Rose Tea, the brand mentioned by jagglebelle earlier in the week in our tea discussion. It's just great, and I thank you so much for the recommendation. My former favorite has been Luzianne decaf; Tetley was the fav before that, but it has disappeared from shelves and has always been hard to find around here.
  
  I found Red Rose at a really highbrow location - the tea and coffee aisle at a WalMart Supercenter. The Red Rose website said it is one of their two Missouri distributors, and I didn't find it at the other, a St. Louis grocery store chain with a local branch in my town.
  
  The box says Red Rose is in Windsor, Conn. Besides their very superior tea, they have other ways of hooking people like me. Inside the box was one of their 10 Wade porcelain miniature Pet Shop Friends collection. This one was tropical fish; there are 9 others like a cat, kittens, a Labrador, puppies, a turtle, rabbit, duck, pony, and budgie. Jagglebelle, have you gotten any of them?
  

  
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  • I used to be able to buy Tetley in my local grocery store, but they don't carry it anymore. After seeing your comment, I went hunting. I found their site and you can but their product online!! Tetley Tea USA (NT) -- KatRose, Friday, August 11, 12:10:49
  • Glad you liked it! We have quite a collection of Red Rose animals...they have done this as long as I have been buying the tea which is a long time! The last series was Noahs arks figures. Its a fun added bonus to the great tasting tea! (NT) -- jagglebelle....I like this tea for its flavor but also it seems less acid tasting than Lipton or Tetley, Saturday, August 12, 10:53:54
    • KatRose, thanks for the tip about finding Tetley online. It's good stuff and for some reason hard to find now. And jagglebelle, we will have to compare notes on duplicates of figurines since I will now be collecting, too. We might be able to do each other some good. Have they been doing the pet shop animals very long? At the rate I would go through 48 teabags, it might take a while to get them all, especially if I'm now behind. BTW, is the little stand pictured on the box available somewhere? We're leaving town for a few days, and I'm going to be sure and pack my Red Rose box to enjoy while away. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Saturday, August 12, 14:46:04
      • I dont know where you can get the stand. I just bought a box last week and its the first time I have seen the Pet shop series so I dont think you are behind too much. We just opened it and got a bunny. I go through more tea in the winter but I have been sick for a week with a bad cough and tea feels really good on my throat so I have been drinking more than ususal for summer. (NT) -- jagglebelle, Sunday, August 13, 11:40:49
    • Check out their website, there is a section called "online store" or something to that effect, anyways, they will gladly sell you the stands, for a price, but sell them none the less. (NT) -- Texasbrat who forgot to look for tea last time she was at the store, among other things that didn't make it to my list., Sunday, August 13, 13:22:06
  • What I like to do is take my favorite tea, stick a tea bags in a gallon of water (or pitcher) and leave it in the sun for the day.... that eve when you come home you got fresh sun tea! I also like to put 2 bags in the catch of my 4 cup coffee maker (NT) -- Heather--- who can get drunk on tea too!, Saturday, August 12, 18:09:32
  • Kat -- there's an op-ed page piece on tea in today's Times. I haven't a clue how to post someting from another source (I think you call it 'computer challenged') but maybe you'd like to. (NT) -- judy, Monday, August 14, 10:32:01
    • OpEd piece inside -- KatRose, Monday, August 14, 13:17:09
  • Doesn't Tetley tea taste alot like Lipton tea? I thought so, but perhaps I missed something. And the Louisane tea ... aren't these all strong, black teas? I like them, but I also think they're pretty similar. When I make iced tea, I brew about 8 Lipton bags (or any other strong black tea) in 4 cups of boiling water for about 5-6 minutes. Then I pour this hot concentrate into one of those ice-tea containers (I don't remember the size) that I filled with ice cubes. It doesn't take too long of being in the fridge and it's cold and good. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 15, 8:26:41
    • Yes, but Luzianne is brewed specifically to be used as iced tea. Lipton origanaly wasn't for iced tea, it was for hot tea. They do have a blend for iced tea available now. (NT) -- Texasbrat off to get some tea -- it's on the diet, you know., Tuesday, August 15, 9:05:06
      • Huh. I just don't get that. To me, tea is brewed and *then* iced,not just 'made' iced, so any tea works. What does it mean to be specifically made for iced tea? Does tea lose flavor when it's iced? I never noticed. This is a very interesting topic, and I'll probably google it later and print pages to add to my files under the subject "tea", and probably a post-it note or two will be added to the collection ............aaaggghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 15, 9:28:53
        • I think it has something to do with the need (or lack thereof) for heat in the brewing process. I remember when Celestial Seasonings first came out with cold brewed teas back in the early 80s. It was a big deal and since they sponsored one of the stages at the Colo Renaissance Festival, we had a plethora of flavors to try. They worked wonderfully without needing heat or even sun to brew. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 15, 9:36:01
          • Our grocery store used to carry both Lipton & Tetley and now I'm going to have to pay attention to their subtle differences --- if they still have them both. The store just remodeled and that usually means they get rid of a few things, LOL. And you used one of my fun words, plethora. I always feel like I'm lisping when I say it. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 15, 9:44:43
    • Tetley is similar to Lipton, but their regular black tea has a slightly different aroma and flavor than the Lipton. I used to get the big box of Tetley, but now I have to buy Lipton since my grocery store doesn't carry Tetley's black tea anymore. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 15, 9:24:43
      • Should I throw in Red Diamond, a local fav here. It is made in B'ham, AL. Oh, & heaven forbid I forget to mention Milo's -- you can only get it pre-brewed in the refridgerated section. (NT) -- Texasbrat hate cut this short, but there is a MAJOR thunder-boomer over my puter. Please give us some rain., Tuesday, August 15, 12:52:32
        • Lipton and Tetley always seemed really acidic to me, I prefer a tea that has a smoother taste. Up here in the land of coffee I dont know if there are any local favorite teas. Im interested in the ones you mentioned above. (NT) -- jagglebelle....my city was named 4th in the nation for coffee stands per capita and we arent big compared to the top 3...LOL!, Tuesday, August 15, 16:06:48
          • If you want to try a more smooth black tea, might I suggest Bigelow's Constant Comment? Or almost any of the Stash teas. If you can't get them in your area, or don't want to buy an entire box just in case you don't like it, let me know and I'll send you a care package of flavors (we have lots of these at the office). (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 15, 16:34:32

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• What am I supposed to do? -- Ryne's Mom, Tuesday, August 15, 7:30:32 [9]
  Hubby and I went shopping Sunday. Spent a little over $100. Yesterday, I go to wash his new shirts and the visor I bought still has the ink tag on it. Great. So I ask hubby where the receipt is. "I don't know." Doubly great. We rummaged through the garbage and no luck. Now I have an item that looks like I've shoplifted it and no evidence that I bought it. The transaction hasn't even shown up online yet. How do I go back to the store and ask them to take the ink tag off without a receipt?
  

  
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  • I was a bit shocked at how easy I got a tag removed at a store. I had the same thing happen, I had the dress but no longer had the receipt by the time I noticed the tag on there. I just brought it into the store, the girl took off the tag, and that was that. I'm still surprised when I think about it, but I was glad they did it. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 15, 8:05:43
    • Gosh! I hope it's that easy for me! LOL (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Tuesday, August 15, 8:18:17
      • My mother was the one who said, "Go back, go back, they'll take it off. It happens all the time." And I was thinking, they are so going to arrest me for shop lifting, because if *I* worked there, I'd be suspicious. But it was simple. Which, in our cases, is how it should be. It's too bad we're so paranoid because of the high rate of crime. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 15, 8:22:57
  • You might call the store before you go to to give them a head's up, & ask them about it. Like you I'd be worried, since most dept stores don't the a Wally World greeter to 'tag' your stuff, so they know you aren't shoplifting. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 15, 8:51:19
  • For how you should deal with this, just go back, tell the clerk that your husband misplaced the receipt (add an eyeroll for good measure) and ask for help. Most clerks understand about absent-minded spouses and will help. (inside for a short story) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 15, 9:22:47
    • I love the eyeroll suggestion! LOL And good for you on getting the tag off!!! Yay!! Where there's a will, there's a way. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 15, 9:39:16
    • Hmmm, I think I'd rather try that than have to go back to the store and do my little song and dance. But yes, the eyeroll would come in very handy! I have thought about calling them first, they may appreciate that. (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Tuesday, August 15, 9:47:16
    • I, too, once brought home a shirt which still had the tag attached. We discovered it while dressing for a special event. I called the store, asked what to do, and was told to just cut the tag off. I agreed after securing their agreement to replace the shirt if necessary. I cut, no problem. Go figure. Like you, I would be very reluctant to return with the tagged item and no receipt. (NT) -- judy, wishing you luck, Tuesday, August 15, 11:03:46

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• Another Jen story......Hah!!! You knew it was coming didn't you? -- Jennifer, Sunday, August 13, 11:46:50 [6]
  And can you believe it, all I got was laughter from a certain you-know-how...How RUDE!!!
  
  Anyway the long & short of it.....And don't ask me how these people find me cause I have no CLUE but they do find me somehow and well whatever LOL LOL LOL!
  
  As you all know, I have a classic wooden boat....I've in the past two years, have been asked to bring the boat to weddings/receptions that have been held on our local lakes, to "whisk" the Bride & Groom away from their reception in style so to speak.
  
  The first one was a learning experience, as I didn't charge NEAR enough but it was fun...the 2nd one was a little better, but since I did it for a friend of a friend it was okay....the third one was last night....
  
  And HENCE the story.....The groom is a perfectly nice, sweet young man....we agreed on a price (good money I might add) and drew up a little contract where the boat would be on display for several hours at the reception (which was held at a waterfront restaurant) and then we'd leave there about 10:30PM and the original plan was to ride them to the swanky hotel they were spending the night at....I quickly nixed that one in the bud after I obtained a map of the actual lake...his little "not to scale" drawing had the lake drawn up which was actually land, and it was an 18 mile trek by water at night which would take probably 1-2 hours. So we ended up using the Marina where I host my gathering next month, and since the hotel is within this exclusive community, a car would meet us at the Marina and transport the B&G to the hotel.....
  
  It's all good right? Well the weather was iffy, but okay except for it made the lake foggy and murky, and with no stars or moon night navigation was difficult. But I'm getting ahead of myself....
  
  At 10:30, no B&G....at 11PM no B&G....finally around 11:10 they show up (mind you the car was meeting them at the Marina at 11 LOL) and of course they get in, there's a big send off with pictures and Champagne (Sweetie came with me and we'd gotten a bottle of champagne for them, in a little bucket that Sweetie got given to him by the local wine store we'd stopped at) and we go roaring off into the night.....
  
  Here it comes....may I have a drumroll please......
  
  The bride who is just totally smashed beyond belief.....HOVORKS IN MY BOAT!!!
  
  I mean she's sicker than you know what....and it just doesn't stop...we give her the champagne bucket to use, and the poor thing, well there just isn't anything we can do.....we get back to the Marina, and of course the car isn't there, because we are an hour late...so thankfully yours truly who had called the hotel earlier in preparations, had their number so I called and arranged for the car to come back....and this poor girl is just ...her new Husband is so sweet just cooing encouragement, but she's getting ticked cause the car isn't there, and Sweetie so wanted to take a picture of this Bride sitting on the curb in the parking lot, but ahem thankfully we didn't have a camera....
  
  So they get picked up, and he and I have to wash the boat down before we can load it on the trailer...Mind you its way after midnight and we still have a 2 hour drive home to make....
  
  I threw the towel she was using in the trash, we laughed it off, got back safe and sound, and I crawled about 4:30AM....
  
  I may have to rethink this if there is a next time LOL LOL LOL!!!!
  

  
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  • It better have been really, really good $$$. I'm glad Sweetie was along for the ride. Only to you, Jen..... Can't blame a gal (even a good friend) for laughing just a little. (NT) -- ;>) ~ judy, Sunday, August 13, 11:53:44
  • Oh, Jen, bless your little heart. I hope you got some major $$$ for your time. However, taking a sloshed bride onto any moving object is cause for disaster. Thankfully, Sweetie was there to "hold your hand". Had it been my hubby, he'd have joined her, cuz between the sounds & smells his little belly couldn't handle it. In a devilish sort of way, I'm with Sweetie on the camera thing. And I'm laughing with your best bud, on this, it is most humorous -- you'll laugh about it later. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Sunday, August 13, 13:28:46
  • You can't blame a gal for laughing when YOU start the conversation with, "Oh, have *I* got a story to post at BFZ!" Knowing your perchant for getting yourself (sorry, finding yourself) in the middle of craziness, what else was I to do??? LOL Just look at it this way, this story didn't include anything colored purple, unless you count the bride's face. ;-) (NT) -- KatRose, Sunday, August 13, 20:24:45
    • I figured her face was a lovely shade of pea green. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, August 14, 6:30:24
  • Oh my!! I wouldn't be able to handle this, either, I'd be sick with TBs husband. I have the lowest gag reflex around and I get dizzy in an elevator. I love all these posts, too. There's no way you can ever charge enough money for things that go wrong, but I suggest you include a clause in your contract that stipulates a fine if they throw up in your boat. Period. And any other trashing of your boat or ruining of your property, as well, but specifically state the throwing up part. My brother & sister used to do wedding photgraphy, and at one reception they left right before a huge half-drunken brawl broke out, the place got smashed up, the bride got maced & they all ended up in jail. They don't do weddings anymore. (NT) -- AmyLynn .... thinking you should avoid activities involving purple, obviously, and also pea green. (haha TB!) ROTFLOL, Tuesday, August 15, 8:33:33

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• AmyLynn - don't freak out -- KatRose, Monday, August 14, 8:48:03 [5]
  I was walking across the lot this morning, chatting with my carpool buddy about this and that when we noticed a large crowd of people out in front of our office building. I turned to my buddy and said, "It looks like an FBI convention's in town."
  
  We headed for our front door and found someone using the window as a mirror to get his tie straightened. I figured I'd ask what production he was working on, but he completely ignored me. ::putz:: So when I got to my desk and got my e-mail opened, I checked the stage schedule to see who was using our street and parking lot for their shoot.
  
  Well, it's "Close to Home." They're actually using two buildings on the lot today for shooting, one at the far end of the lot (across from the parking structure) and the one near my building. I haven't seen DJE, but he's might be running around one of these locations (assuming he's in either of these scenes).
  
  Anyway, if I do see him, I'll be sure to let you know.
  

  
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  • and less than 15 minutes later, you'd be hard-pressed to know anything was being shot out there. LOL (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, August 14, 9:12:45
  • Could someone please get Amy a cold wash cloth, some coffee, and chocolate. It seems the poor dear has ::Thudded:: from all the excitement of a possible DJE sighting. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, August 14, 11:39:02
  • .... I'M.... ...FREAKING......out. (NT) -- AmyLynn .... how cool is that!, Tuesday, August 15, 8:16:30
    • ::sigh:: I got so excited I hit enter too soon. LOL For a moment when I started reading your post, I thought you were going to say that it was indeed something to do with the FBI!!!!!! That's cool, too!!! The governor of Illinois still has a home in Chicago, just a few blocks away from my good friends. I get a kick out of driving by and watching the secret service agents that are permanently parked in front of the house. My friends won't take me by there anymore. LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 15, 8:18:38

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• Wouldn't you know it - the hot topic for the week revolved around kid baseball. . . -- Ninja_Girl, Saturday, August 12, 20:25:55 [3]
  and earlier tonight the Missouri Little League All Star 11-12 yr. old team, which happens to be from here in Columbia, made it into the Little League World Series. It was fun to watch the regional finals on ESPN. They play again on ESPN Friday evening in Williamsport, PA. I hope we will be able to follow them while away; they may cut into our vacation plans!
  
  When kids are coached well and have their priorities straight (and so do their parents), there is nothing more fun than watching a bunch of kids that age play any sport. One of my very favorite pictures of my younger son is of him and his buddy at age 12, both grinning ear to ear, arms around each other's shoulder with ballgloves hanging from the other hand, in their All Star uniforms and caps. You can almost hear John Fogerty singing "Centerfield." Pure joy.
  
  At that age, if the game is fun and everybody plays hard, it's just the best for the kids or the adults watching them. When it's dominated by a bunch of coaches and parents bent on winning above all else, there's not much worse. It makes me wonder if that attitude is what has led certain pros to steroids. That's a whole other subject for another day.
  

  Last edited by author: 08/13/06 10:39am   Edited 1 time.
  
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  • Sometimes watching the Little Leaguers is better than the bigs LOL! I'll watch your team on Friday night, hopefully they will have a good run! But I hope they are having fun too, cause that is important! (NT) -- Jennifer, Monday, August 14, 6:32:25
  • I don't watch much of the school age games due to the coaches, even driving school teams I sit on the bus. I like the AA (manchester Fisher Cats) teams, gone to a few of those games. They toss balls, tee shirts, games for every one. Their are no losers at those games. They don't do things like that at Fenway! I'd like to know what happened to "you did your best".. I can't remeber when the last time I heard that. I got teams that come on the bus silent, dead silent due to the loss. They tried and they learded something by playing, isn't that something? (NT) -- Heather---, Monday, August 14, 7:19:37

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• A new topic for Debate..... -- Jennifer, Thursday, August 10, 13:45:11 [18]
  This actually happened. Your job is to decide whether it should have.
  
  In a nine- and 10-year-old PONY league championship game in Bountiful, Utah, the Yankees lead the Red Sox by one run. The Sox are up in the bottom of the last inning, two outs, a runner on third. At the plate is the Sox' best hitter, a kid named Jordan. On deck is the Sox' worst hitter, a kid named Romney. He's a scrawny cancer survivor who has to take human growth hormone and has a shunt in his brain.
  
  So, you're the coach: Do you intentionally walk the star hitter so you can face the kid who can barely swing?
  
  Wait! Before you answer.... This is a league where everybody gets to bat, there's a four-runs-per-inning max, and no stealing until the ball crosses the plate. On the other hand, the stands are packed and it is the title game.
  
  So ... do you pitch to the star or do you lay it all on the kid who's been through hell already?
  
  Yanks coach Bob Farley decided to walk the star.
  
  Parents booed. The umpire, Mike Wright, thought to himself, Low-ball move. In the stands, Romney's eight-year-old sister cried. "They're picking on Romney!" she said. Romney struck out. The Yanks celebrated. The Sox moaned. The two coaching staffs nearly brawled.
  
  And Romney? He sobbed himself to sleep that night.
  
  "It made me sick," says Romney's dad, Marlo Oaks. "It's going after the weakest chick in the flock."
  
  Farley and his assistant coach, Shaun Farr, who recommended the walk, say they didn't know Romney was a cancer survivor. "And even if I had," insists Farr, "I'd have done the same thing. It's just good baseball strategy."
  
  Romney's mom, Elaine, thinks Farr knew. "Romney's cancer was in the paper when he met with President Bush," she says. That was thanks to the Make-A-Wish people. "And [Farr] coached Romney in basketball. I tell all his coaches about his condition."
  
  **Inside for the rest*****
  

  
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  • Inside....this was taken from SI Online (Sports Illustrated) written by a Rick Reilly who has a column "Life of Reilly..." -- Jennifer, Thursday, August 10, 13:47:56
    • Whoa. I can see both sides of the issue. -- KatRose, Thursday, August 10, 14:14:51
      • If you get beat by giving your best against their best, then so be it.....but to go obviously for the *weak* link & knowingly humiliate someone (which is what I think the coach did, he knew it was a sure out) is pretty crummy....if their best hitter beat you so what...if he didn't then it was meant to be...the coach IMHO played dirty, but of course within the confines....of course to some, winning no matter what the cost is all that is important.... (NT) -- Jennifer, Thursday, August 10, 14:49:45
  • I'm really pis**d off about the Special Olympics comment...as one who volunteers at our state games, sure its a *feel* good time, but its also about compassion, which obviously this guy Farr has none of. Isn't SPORTSMANSHIP supposed to be first & foremost? Apparently not in little league, nope its win by atrition.....I'm outta here, gotta go drop Mom's lawnmower off.... (NT) -- Jennifer, Thursday, August 10, 14:00:04
  • I just saw Keith Olbermann do this story on his show. It's sad that at this age the kids just can't enjoy playing the game. No, I 'm not going so far as saying you shouldn't keep score and all so there are no winners or no losers, but this is different. The coach of the Yankees (are you sure he isn't related to good old George Steinbrenner) should be ashamed of himself. Sounds like the coach of the Yankees knew about Romeny's cancer, even though he is saying he didn't. (NT) -- Kathleen, Thursday, August 10, 19:02:40
  • None of this surprises me. Even in the most dedicated teaching leagues, the law of the jungle often reigns. Both of our boys played just about all of the kid sports, and the younger one played on a traveling team in a competitive baseball league, then American Legion. We've seen it all, and like as in the Bountiful story, it's usually the parents or coaches who embarrass themselves while reliving their own unrealized hopes and dreams through their kids. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Friday, August 11, 6:39:18
  • I have a definate opinion on this....these are 10 year olds right.....at this leval more than just baseball strategy should be taught to these kids. Sure the bottom line is who wins, thats built into testostorone. I dont care if the coach knew the little kid had cancer...he was obiviously small and deserved some respect for getting out there and playing the game with everyone else. If these kids were older and more mature, one would expect the strategy of the game to matter more. This story makes me sick and I cant see any excuses being made it. (NT) -- jagglebelle I have very strong feelings about this kind of crap!, Friday, August 11, 8:22:57
    • for it.........little league has big problems with parents and coaches...the stories are endless! (NT) -- jagglebelle, Friday, August 11, 8:25:00
  • Why did the Yanks go for the tie?? If their pitcher could keep the star batter from hitting a ball, he could probably have pitched one that would have made for a bad hit on the batter's part. Allowing the guy on 3rd to tie the score, the fielding team surely had some good catchers in order to force the batter to stay on a base. Then nothing would have been said, if the cancer survivor struck out. I would expect the league to break a tie for a title game by playing another inning. THAT would have been good sportsmanship & compassionate.But, the coach made a decision & now has to suffer the consequences for a bad decision, something, it sounds like he doesn't do very much. And the remark about the Special Olympics, it was just rude & nasty. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Friday, August 11, 11:22:47
    • Why DIDN'T the Yanks go for the tie?? Stupid computer, it's been giving me those "Intelligent" message from the other thread, trying to say it's smarter than I am. GEEZ.. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Friday, August 11, 11:24:36
      • This has turned into a raging debate...USA Today's blog has lots of comments supporting the coach...made mostly by men who believe in the "win at all cost" adage.....Inside for another link..... -- Jennifer, Friday, August 11, 12:21:44
        • Oh, I don't disagree with you Jen, & you're probably right the Yanks coaches did know about it, I'm sure the league officials knew about Romney's cancer. And you're right the Yanks coaches are all about winning, which is great if you are a high or college coach -- it's your job to try to create a winning team. But in the little leagues it SHOULD be about having fun & learning to play the game. These type of people are the entire reason my son doesn't play ball. He was treated poorly by a coach cuz he didn't know how to play & everyone else did (& they felt he should have learned it as a 4yo, not as a 6yo), so he was an "easy out", and didn't catch or throw well either, he's never played since. He does play basketball w/ a kid across the street that is 2 years older & is teaching him how to play, but it's all for fun, which is good. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Friday, August 11, 14:45:04
          • And what I was talking about in my post was, the coaches, league officials, & most parents knew the situation -- they weren't dummies. The Yanks coach HAD another option, he could have shot for the tie, & would not have been perceived as a wining is everything type of person. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Friday, August 11, 14:47:19
            • I know my compassion for the youngster is probably playing a big part in why I feel the Yankees' coach was out of line. I can see a "win at all costs" attitude being useful and encouraged, but it shouldn't be at this level. How are kids every going to learn compassion and tolerance if they don't learn it at a young age? If they're only taught that they should try to win, no matter who they hurt or what they do, what does that foster but selfishness and a disdain for anyone else? (NT) -- KatRose, Friday, August 11, 14:52:38
              • I think thats what got to me too....they are 9 year olds! Yes winning is important, but so is teaching compassion, sportsmanship, graciousness, etc....From what I've read today people are justifying the coaches' actions by saying it was a competetive league cause they kept score & there was a championship....Inside.... -- Jennifer, Friday, August 11, 15:50:28
                • You're right, Jennifer. If this were a true competitive league, Romney wouldn't have been on the roster in the first place. Our experience is with Little League which gets competitive in the 11-12 and 13-14 divisions, but until then the teams are (hopefully) in teaching and developmental stages. Other leagues (Pony, Cal Ripken, Babe Ruth, etc.) are similar in approach. Competitive teams and leagues' players are pretty much by invitation, raise their own funding, and exist to win. It's a world of its own. Been there, done that. Have seen lots of those Yankee coaches' clones along the way. These particular ones need to get in a true competitive league if they are so bent on winning. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Friday, August 11, 20:26:20
                  • I will never forget the day I was with our younger son, now 18, when he was 8 years old and at a local baseball instructional camp. A guy was there scouting for talent to sign up for a new competitive league team he and some buddies were organizing. Even though Michael ended up at age 12 on a traveling team, 8 was too young. This guy kept calling and simply never could understand why we were "passing up this opportunity," as he phrased it. "I don't think you understand what we're offering your son." (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Friday, August 11, 20:35:13

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• Error messages that make sense -- KatRose, Wednesday, August 09, 15:15:58 [4]
  
  
  

  
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  • Thanks for the chuckle. They're funny because (unfortunately) they're so true! (NT) -- How did we get along w/out computers??? ~ judy, Wednesday, August 09, 15:40:52
  • I needed that.... (NT) -- Heather---, Wednesday, August 09, 17:08:33
  • It's sad that these are so funny. I just had the "Automatic Update" one this week. My computer is trying to take over but I refuse to let it!!!!!!! Resistence may be futile, but I refuse to go quietly. LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn, Thursday, August 10, 7:28:25

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• Mammograms -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 08, 9:46:37 [6]
  I just had my first post-40s mammogram and found this in an old e-mail folder. I just *HAD* to share:
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  Power outtage during Mammogram
  
  
  I actually kept my mammogram appointment. I was met with, "Hi! I'm Belinda!" This perky clipboard carrier smiled from ear to ear, tilted her head to one side and crooned, "All I need you to do is step into this room right hereee, strip to the waist, thennnn slip on this gown. Everything clearrrr?"
  
  I'm thinking, "Belinda . try decaf. This ain't rocket science."
  
  Belinda skipped away to prepare the chamber of horrors.
  
  Call me crazy, but I suspect a man invented this machine. It takes a perfectly healthy cup size of 36-B to a size 38-LONG in less than 60 seconds. Also, girls aren't made of sugar and spice and everything nice....it's Spandex. We can be stretched, pulled and twisted over a cold 4-inch piece of square glass and still pop back into shape.
  
  With the right side finished, Belinda flipped me (literally) to the left and said, "Hmmmm. Can you stand on your tippy toes and lean in a tad so we can get everything?"
  
  Fine, I answered. I was freezing, bruised, and out of air, so why not use the remaining circulation in my legs and neck and finish me off?
  
  My body was in a holding pattern that defied gravity (with my other boob wedged between those two 4" pieces of square glass) when we heard, then felt a zap! Complete darkness and the power went off! "What?" I yelled.
  
  "Oh, maintenance is working. Bet they hit a snag." Belinda headed for the door.
  
  "Excuse me! You're not leaving me in this vise alone, are you?" I shouted.
  
  Belinda kept going and said, "Oh, you fussy puppy ... the door's wide open so you'll have the emergency hall lights. I'll be righttttt backkkk."
  
  Before I could shout "NOOOO!" she disappeared. And that's exactly how Bubba and Earl, maintenance men extraordinaire, found me, half-naked and part of me dangling from the Jaws of Life and the other part smashed between glass! After exchanging polite "Hi, how's it going" type greetings, Bubba (or possibly Earl) asked, to my utter disbelief, if I knew the power was off.
  
  Trying to disguise my hysteria, I replied with as much calmness as possible. "Uh, yes, yes I did thanks."
  
  "You bet, take care" Bubba replied and waved good-bye as though I'd been standing in the line at the grocery store.
  
  Two hours later, Belinda breezes in wearing a sheepish grin and making no attempt to suppress her amusement, she said. "Oh I am soooo sorry! The power came back on and I totally forgot about you! And silly me, I went to lunch. Are we upset?"
  
  And that, Your Honor, is exactly how her head ended up between the clamps........
  

  
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  • Thanks for the laugh Kat. I can relate to that. Both my mom and oldest sister had breast cancer. I started getting mamograms about 13 years ago, after my mom was diagnosed. I've had one or two "Belindas" over the years in charge of doing mine. I swear, sometimes you just want to say "hurry up already, hurry up!!!" But I have to add mamograms do save lives. That's how my sister found her cancer. (NT) -- Kathleen, Tuesday, August 08, 9:59:01
  • I need to go in for my first one very soon.....gee thanks Kat...LOLOL (NT) -- jagglebelle, Tuesday, August 08, 15:28:03
    • How to prepare for a Mammogram: -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 08, 15:48:40
      • OWWWW! I hurt just thinking about it....cruel you are! (NT) -- jagglebelle....., Wednesday, August 09, 8:39:22
  • LOL - Loved this. Mammograms are something you definitely have to weigh the benefits with the discomfort of the procedure. I used to have the funniest cartoon - 2 women meeting each other, one of whom's boobs are flattened out like bricks. The other says, "Oh, I see you've just had a mammogram." (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Wednesday, August 09, 7:15:28

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• TexasBrat - a message -- Ninja_Girl, Wednesday, August 09, 6:27:53 [5]
  I hope you still have access to messages on the USA board. Go there for a message from me.
  
  Since everybody else is reading this, does Voy have a message function between users? If so, I haven't figured out how to find it or use it.
  

  
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  • NG, I checked, but I'm not seeing it. You can send it again to my email addy. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, August 09, 6:40:47
    • Try again. I probably should have written the USA message first! (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Wednesday, August 09, 6:57:45
  • Voy doesn't have a PM feature here. You have to post your e-mail addy to get messages from other posters. (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, August 09, 6:54:22
  • Found it, and I wrote you back. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, August 09, 7:21:09

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• Here we go again!!!!! How much is gas in your area??? -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 08, 4:39:06 [18]
  
  Since BP discovered an oil leak, & is having to shutdown the pipeline for a repair, everyone is in a panic--- AGAIN. On the news here, they are saying gas is going to go up $.25 to $.50 a gal. Some places in Birmingham are over the $3.00 mark this morning.
  
  Our local station is at $2.99/gal for regular.
  
  I guess what gripes me is that we, as consumers, are over a barrel on this. We have to have gas to get to & from work daily. Many areas are not public transit friendly -- it would bother the chickens and cows I have to pass during my 8 mile trek to the store.
  
  Guess this pushes Mel's saga to the back burner, huh.
  

  
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  • Gas is running $3.35 up here by me, but there is one place that is cheap at $3.21. Yikes, never thought I'd say $3.21 for gas was cheap. LOL I wish the oil companies would just eat a bit of their profits to help lower the price some to give us a break. I have a 60 mile round trip to work and back. I have tried to keep it to 60 miles/hr driving on the highway to try and get better gas millage, and I do think that does help some. (NT) -- Kathleen, Tuesday, August 08, 5:44:20
    • You might ask the traders who are trading the oil but never taking possession of any of it to eat some of their profits. They carry as much if not more responsibility than the oil companies. By the way, many of your local gas stations don't get their gas directly from an oil company - they buy it from a middle man who markets to the local gas stations (including those that carry an oil company brand). They have to pay a transfer price for refined products, and they don't have much markup in their prices to the gas stations. And one more item - since the government is making more per gallon than the oil companies, why don't they reduce their taxes on gas for a while? (NT) -- Aurora, Tuesday, August 08, 6:11:05
  • Kathleen and I must be from the same area. I just filled up last night at $3.35 per gallon. (NT) -- KH, Tuesday, August 08, 6:32:56
  • I don't even want to THINK about the cost of gasoline! Back in June/July, I heard something about gas prices being $4 by Labor Day. It was a news rumor, I don't remember who said it or where or when --- none of those important details, LOL --- but I believe we'll see it. Ugh!!! I heard it from a guy I work with, because he was trying to convince his wife to let him by that kit that lets you distill your own gasoline. (I laugh thinking of moonshiners watching city folks try this!) I believe the costs of doing it yourself work out to a little over $2 per gallon, and the kit to get you started is about $1,600. His wife said when gas reaches $4 she'd think about letting him try it. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 08, 7:00:04
    • Just to clarify: The guy at work told me this, but I don't know where he read it, heard it, what his source was. It was something he got in an article on the internet I believe, but that doesn't mean anything! LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 08, 7:01:39
    • There was an interesting article in the weekend's LA Times about a guy here in town that was converting cars to run on vegetable oil. The conversion would cost about $700 depending on the make and model of the car. The problem is that the EPA hasn't authorized the conversion because it hasn't decided if the emissions from burning veggie oil are good or bad. So some owners are using a combo of veggie oil and ethanol (i think) so they can claim they're using "gas" in the car and get to register without troubles. I'll see if I can find the article. It cracked me up bcause of the AB. :-D (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 08, 7:11:24
      • Article inside -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 08, 7:12:40
  • Yep just another excuse for BIG OIL to jack the prices....Exxon reported over 10 BILLION in profits for the last quarter....somehow I remember BIG OIL defending their obscene profits by saying it all goes back into the refineries, etc.,...then HOW in the hell did 73% of this pipeline go bad if the profits were supposed to go back into? The profits are lining the pockets of the Fat Cats, including those in DC, while the consumers are going to get SLAMMED again & no one will do a GD thing about it.....I agree with you Aurora that the Feds & the individual states should suspend the gas taxes to help, but BIG OIL should also use some of their 10 BILLION DOLLAR profits to help keep the prices down...so they have to eat a little profit & oh gosh make only 500 MILLION in profits as opposed to 10 BILLION...There's lots that people can do, & BIG OIL should also be contributing instead of doing what they are doing, which is raising using another excuse to jack the prices. Inside... -- Jennifer, Tuesday, August 08, 7:25:26
    • Oilfield Closure to Hit Pumps -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 08, 8:47:29
  • There was also an interesting article (yeah, I know, more articles, but that's what happens when you read the paper on the way to work ;-) ), about how gas prices are helping drive up consumer debt. -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 08, 9:02:42
    • Can you spell D-e-p-r-e-s-s-i-o-n, or at the very least a recession starting to happen. I'm not feeling very comfortable right now, so I'm trying hard to get a job to cover the rising costs at the gas pump and the grocery store. Adding to the gas woes is the fact that many farmers lost their crops, or are being forced to sell stock as a result of the drought. Looks like it going to be a very long winter. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 08, 9:34:29
      • But don't worry TB....BIG OIL will still get their BILLIONS of dollars in profits...that should count for something shouldn't it? .....I love reading how BIG OIL is justifying their profits...well wasn't is supposed to go into the refineries etc., then how did this "preventable" problem happen? Something doesn't quite add up, except for the fact that BIG OIL's pockets are being lined rather handsomely......what a crock!!! I feel bad for KR, cause its going to hit their first....like they don't pay enough....tell the Guvernator to suspend the state taxes to help th consumers....but oh no, none of them will do that...Inside.... -- Jennifer, Tuesday, August 08, 9:44:36
        • Thanx, Jen, it's nice to know BIG OIL is going to be taking care of me, they'll probably do it about like they take care of their pipelines. Oh, got a question --- What is a raise? Between BIG OIL and HEALTHCARE, I feel like I'm operating on a pay cut, and probably am. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 08, 16:16:03
          • Don't even get me started on healthcare...over 300 bucks a month for me, its no wonder it seems I'm falling further & further behind....sigh.....Don't worry TB, your contributing to making sure BIG OIL gets their billions & billions in profits...that should make you feel good .... (NT) -- Jennifer, Tuesday, August 08, 17:40:13
            • Jennifer, I hear you on the whole health care business. My premiums for what I have now are going up $80 a month and it's going to be like $640 per month. YIKES!! Needless to say I'm checking into trying to find something cheaper. I wish they could do something to help those of us who have to buy health care for ourselves. (NT) -- Kathleen, Wednesday, August 09, 5:49:05
              • I feel for you guys/gals, we pay for group healthcare at hubby's work. I'm sure if I go to work (which I'm feeling more pressure to do w/ gas going up), I'll pay for something there too. Hubby's company changed carriers, adding a PPO type option, which doesn't bother me & I can work around. Got a line on a job at the local university, one of the perks is that the kids could attend at 1/2 price on tuition.(something I have to really consider in about 8 years). (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, August 09, 6:45:39
  • Talked to the Texas relatives, gas is 3.09/gal there. It was 2.89/gal here, but I found it for 2.79/gal & topped off the car. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, August 09, 6:53:29

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• Internet Friendships -- Heather, Friday, August 04, 15:20:43 [24]
  I have met alot of nice people on the net and then have personally met (JAG people)
  
  My thing is; does one show or character define a friendship?
  
  Working on getting to my issue here: the issue is that I have no longer heard from people that I once had lunch with or talked to regularly since renouncing my DJE/Harm vows. One we use to go to lunch monthly and haven't heard from her since... since... that long ago. Great person and all and thought our friendship was more than a TV show.
  
  But any who... so any one what to jump in on this; psyco-analize; send me some to the shrinks chair...
  
  Guess in the long run my christmas card list is shorter.
  

  
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  • I think anything can bring people together, but if its really specific like a show or sport and then you no longer participate....the desire to "hang" with that person or group could really change. Its sad how shallow some people can be. (NT) -- jagglebelle, Friday, August 04, 15:41:56
  • I've had good luck with meeting people on the Internet via a show fandom. Some of them are still good friends years later, even though the show's been long off the air. Others have disappeared as soon as it's become apparent that talking only about that show can be redundant and tedious. And still others disappear as soon as you voice an opposing opinion over something to do with the show (or even real life). There doesn't seem to be anything in common to any of the groups, other than an ability to separate real life from fandom life and an ability to reach beyond that fandom to see the person on the other side. (NT) -- KatRose, Friday, August 04, 16:55:59
  • Gosh that's a tough one.....I think its pretty sad if you became a friend of a person's & that person decided not to associate with you b/c of differing views of a FICTIONAL CHARACTER & an actor! As much as we tease each other, KR & I disagree on a lot of things, sometimes vehemently.....but the friendship is still there. Inside for the rest.... -- Jennifer, Friday, August 04, 16:56:34
    • Exactly, if Jen and I only were friends because of JAG, I wouldn't have flown out to help her with three days warning. Nor would I spend money to fly out again and again. As much as we disagree on some subjects, we like each other and respect each other enough to agree to disagree on most anything. And those we can't, we don't talk about. I can imagine drifting apart only if we don't keep in contact at least semi-regularly (one good friend in Canada has drifted away because she lost her home and computer access when her hubby left her, then changed her phone number and didn't let me know what it was.) (NT) -- KatRose, Friday, August 04, 17:22:39
      • Why bother changing my phone number???? You just hang up on me anyway & then blame it on the black hole of LA ;) (NT) -- Jennifer, Friday, August 04, 17:27:07
        • Well, now that you know the truth, I won't need to blame it on the "black holes." (NT) -- KatRose, Friday, August 04, 17:28:58
          • Ah-Ha! But see the funny thing is that you call me....with the black holes you almost remind me of Mike Myers characters Dieter in the Sprockets skit...when he says "your story has become tiresome...." I think your cellphone just *waits* for me to start on a rant & then "your story has become tiresome..." I could always also just let the annoying FAX answer ;) (NT) -- Jennifer, Friday, August 04, 17:42:24
  • Kat and I first "met" in USA's JAG chatroom and have been friends ever since. We clicked when we met face to face and she even lent me her couch the one year I went to the FanFest. We discovered that watching JAG wasn't the only thing we had in common. We both love Stargate SG-1 and Richard Dean Anderson. Now she feeds my love of Hugh Jackman. I talk more to Kat than I do some of my friends around here or even my family. I never imagined finding such a great friend on the net but I'm glad I did. (NT) -- Beth, Saturday, August 05, 15:51:05
  • Kat is a wonderful woman in so many ways. I have never met her in person but she has let me borrow her SG-1 DVD's. She offered cancer information to me when I asked for prayer for a friend with cancer. I have read on the board her offers to help others when they need it. I think she is the kind of friend that everyone needs to have. Thank you Kat for everything. (NT) -- shipermom, Saturday, August 05, 16:48:58
    • Y'all are going to make me blush. I feel the same way about many of you. I haven't met everyone here personally, but I feel that each and every one of you is a friend. In this day and age of societal disconnect, *THAT* is a very good thing indeed. (NT) -- KatRose, Saturday, August 05, 19:34:43
  • I've met KR once at a Fanfest and I've met Shaz... both great people with hearts of gold and our interests are outside the fandom world... Emptied about 20 addies... but what gets me is that some of them I thought we had a friendship on a different level than fandom, obviously not. THe times I've posted at certain boards (like the vids), I feel I'm ignored... with a "oh it's her, the traidor." Maybe it's me (NT) -- Heather off to class for the day!, Monday, August 07, 4:19:09
    • It's not you. I used to be very welcome at a certain board. Information was shared, questions were asked and answered, until one day that I dared to suggest that all wasn't perfectly happy-happy up on set and that a certain someone was a contributing member to that unhappy atmosphere. Then I was reviled and shunned....until I showed upat FanFest with my camera and it became known that I was going to be shooting pix up at the set. Then the chief whiner about my comments came up to me with a hug and a kiss and a "we're the bestest of buddies, let's go for a drink." Two-faced doesn't cover it. (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, August 07, 7:06:50
  • Two Cents: What makes friends *friends* is that they keep talking and communicating, whether they have a lot in common, or a little, and despite how they initially met. Everybody has had friends that they were closer to at certain times, then they faded out. Perhaps there was an argument, or through time you saw things in their personality that made you limit how close you were, perhaps one of you moved away and you just lost touch, perhaps jobs or stress or a new hobby or a new friend or whatever has taken up their time .... whatever the reason, how you meet or what you have in common doesn't by necessity relate to how strong a friendship you can develop. So in this case, apparently the friendship wasn't as strong as you thought, or as deep, or perhaps the other person just didn't have the time to keep it up. Friendship takes work, and personally I feel that internet friendships -- true ones -- need a bit of personal contact at some point. It's so easy to make up (NT) -- information and lie, easy to type on the keyboard and doctor up false pictures and post them. Years ago when people were pen pals and actually sat down with pen, paper, and stamps, it just took more effort if someone were inclined to lie about themselves. I think I digressed. --- AmyLynn, Monday, August 07, 7:48:37
    • Okay, you've got me curious. How'd did you come to the conclusion that writing via pen & paper makes lying more of an effort. (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, August 07, 10:47:32
      • Oh dear, why do you think I can I explain what I meant?!?! -- AmyLynn, Monday, August 07, 11:34:48
        • Ok. I think it made sense. Either that or the caffeine hasn't kicked in yet and I'm still asleep and dreaming that I understand. ;-) (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, August 07, 11:59:17
          • Something else to consider here..................inside -- Texasbrat, Monday, August 07, 12:49:48
  • I haven't had the privilege of meeting any of you guys yet, but I have made friends through other JAG boards. We still keep in touch, and miss them terribly since we are so far apart. (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Monday, August 07, 11:04:41
  • I haven't had the pleasure of meeting any of you, but I do enjoy the "adult-speak" I get from this board during the day. One can only talk to kids so much in a day. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, August 07, 12:53:04
  • I appreciate all of you new people in my life and hope I can hold up my end of a cyber-friendship . . . I've never tried this before. AmyLynn, what you said made perfect sense. One of my most long-time friends always sends letters instead of e-mails because she says she "feels" the friendship when she actually holds a pen in her hand and writes on pretty stationery. She says she may look at hundreds of e-mails a day from people she may or may not even know (she's a lawyer), so she likes to relax when she's writing to me. She's about the only letter sender still in my life, but I must say I really look forward to curling up on the couch to read her long letters, just the way she probably does when writing them. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, August 07, 19:58:34
    • I love getting letters, too, and also writing them. I have to admit, though, that I don't write as often or write as long letters as I used to, and that is simply becase I've gotten lazy!!! It requires mental focus to do it, to compose a sentence that makes sense and can't be edited or scratched out. I don't ever want to quit doing it, and this thread has been an incentive for me to get back to my old habits of *writing* more letters to friends. I'm feeling the urge to go shopping for more stationery!! LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, August 08, 6:52:53
      • I love to write letters, but my brain works too fast for my hands to keep up. That's why I like typing letters into e-mail. I can fix my misspellings or edit a stupid sounding sentence without having to trash an entire page (or scratch things out). I also tend to think tangentially (meaning that I'll start one thought, something else will occur to me, so I write that down, then skew off to another subject), which is hard to read on a handwritten page (too many arrows or parantheticals- case in point here lol). So typing works better. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 08, 7:16:21
    • I envy you the letters. They are so rare these days. My husband has been going thru old letters from his father and from older generations and has found some interesting facts and observations. They represent a family history he can get no other way. The computer has brought us together in ways previously unthought of, yet we'll have no record of our time to leave our children. A lot of behind-the-scenes history will be lost because few people use pen and paper anymore. Progress can be sad somethimes. (NT) -- and although I comtribute infrequently, I do enjoy your company (all of you) and your friendship. Kat and I have met only a few times, and yet I feel a true friendship. Wish we could all meet sometime.......judy, Tuesday, August 08, 16:38:45

  ---

• Dust Art -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 08, 11:21:52 [5]
  DUST ART
  
  When the dust gets thick on the back window of his Mini Cooper, Scott Wade uses it as a canvas to create temporary works of art.
  
  
  
  Among his creations was a copy of C.M. Coolidge's 'A Friend in Need,' better known as dogs playing poker.
  
  
  
  Wade used his finger and other implements to etch this homage to Vincent Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' and Leonardo da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa.'
  
  
  
  Wade lives off the unpaved Roadrunner Road north of San Marcos, which dusts the back windows of his car and gives him the canvases to create his own works of art.
  
  
  
  A portrait of Kinky Friedman on the back of the Mazda driven by Wade's wife, Robin Wood, was featured on the gubernatorial candidate's Web site.
  
  
  
  A collage of wildlife decorates the Mini Cooper's window.
  
  
  
  Wade's creations attract admirers wherever he goes.
  
  
  
  Who needs a frost-covered window when you've got road dust to create a Christmas scene?
  
  
  
  A gimme-capped John Kelso was the subject of one window portrait.
  
  
  
  Besides his finger, Wade uses traditional art tools, such as paintbrushes, and unconventional ones, like a chewed Popsicle stick, to make his drawings.
  
  
  
  Wade takes pride in his creations, but he knows that with one good shower, his work will just wash away.
  

  
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  Replies:

  • Some people have waaaaaaaayyyyyy to much time on their hands LOL! I suppose its a better look than the "Wash Me" that appears on a lot of dirty cars LOL! (NT) -- Jennifer, Tuesday, August 08, 12:18:04
  • He's got way more talent in his little finger, than I got in my entire body. Does he ever do this on a canvas or just his car? (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 08, 12:48:21
  • Not surprising, he's got a website. Dirty Car Art (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 08, 13:02:47
  • Its really amazing what people can find to use as a canvas....his talent is wonderful and what a surprise it must be to come up behind his car at a red light! (NT) -- jagglebelle, Tuesday, August 08, 15:25:58

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• "Vintage" LPs -- Ryne's Mom, Monday, August 07, 8:01:51 [14]
  I have come into possession of about 40 albums, from the 60s to the early 80s. If anyone's interested, e-mail me and I'll send you a list. They are all used, but not in bad shape.
  

  
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  Replies:

  • Did I mention they were free for the taking? lol (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Monday, August 07, 8:07:02
  • Man, I wish. I have a small collection of LPs from my own youth that sit leaning against a wall in the living room (to prevent warping), but I can't listen to as I don't own a turntable anymore. I haven't been willing to part with them, but I don't know what else to do with them. Good luck on finding homes for these. (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, August 07, 8:54:24
    • My brother still uses his fancy schmancy expensive turntable --- one of those that's professional quality, if you blow in the needle it will scratch across your record --- and he never has let anyone else ever play his records so they don't use dull needles & mess up his records. He has a large LP collection in immaculate condition, several are worth alot of money. Yes, we still play records, prefer records to CDs (something with the perceived white noise thing while listening to CDs all day vs. listening to records) ... and he has amazing speaker system to compliment the pristine collection. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Monday, August 07, 9:22:13
  • Maybe a nursing home or some place like that has an actual turntable, & they'd be interested in having them. You could try & put them up on EBAY too...not sure if there is a market....but heck people will buy anything LOL! (NT) -- Jennifer, Monday, August 07, 8:56:46
    • I checked Ebay and it seems they're only going for a few bucks. The "rare" or "unopened" ones can go for a lot more. I don't have the time to put them all up. My mom just wants to get rid of them. (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Monday, August 07, 9:19:29
      • Bring them to the Good Will store. At least it's better than putting them in the garbage! I think it would be nice if there was a huge, global database of stuff that people have and don't want. Somebody somewhere could probably use something that we have, without it just going to fill up the garbage. LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn, Monday, August 07, 9:24:33
    • You might want to give a collectibles store a call. They might be interesting in buying the LPs off you. There's a store in Hollywood that buys LPs. They are Amoeba Music I'm also forwarding your e-mail address to a good friend here at work who was very interested in hearing what titles you have. (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, August 07, 10:34:18
      • Wow! Thanks a lot, Kat! (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Monday, August 07, 10:41:45
        • She's already emailed me, Kat! :) (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Monday, August 07, 11:05:31
  • Sorry to be a pest, Kat, but could you e-mail me please? (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Monday, August 07, 11:18:48
    • Email sent. (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, August 07, 12:00:20
  • Jennifer, your suggestion about the nursing home reminds me of my favorite line from the movie "10" with Bo Derek. Dudley Moore was very aware of his advancing age, especially in contrast to her youth, and he figured by the time he lived in a nursing home, they would all be sitting around, listening to "Why Don't We Do It In The Road?" Maybe that day has come, depending on what this record collection includes. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, August 07, 20:06:25
  • There is always Craig's List. (NT) -- Shaz, Monday, August 07, 20:34:56

  ---

• Tea -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 01, 11:44:26 [21]
  TexasBrat asked for a cup of tea a little while ago and while trying to find a good graphic to share, I thought, "Why not a topic on tea?" I love tea. I drink a LOT of tea every day. Partly because I need the caffeine and partly because I just like the taste of it.
  
  So ...
  
  1) Do you drink tea?
  2) If so, what kind (black, green, red, white, decaf, flavored, etc)
  3) Do you prefer it hot or iced?
  4) When do you drink tea?
  5) Does your family drink tea?
  6) What do you like to do when you're drinking tea?
  7) Do you have any special recipes for tea or things to eat with tea?
  

  
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][Edit]
  
  Replies:

  • I found an interesting website for the UK Tea Council with a history on tea and some very *interesting* facts. LOL Come inside for a glimpse: -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 01, 11:49:18
  • Here's how to Brew a perfect cup of tea (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 01, 11:51:12
  • Ok, to answer my own questions: 1) Yes 2) black (usually, but I like oolong and green teas too) 3) iced 4) All day 5) Yes 6) Anything and everything ;-) 7) I have some great recipes I'll have to dig out to share. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 01, 11:56:57
  • My turn --1)Yes 2)UnSweetened Decaf (dr's orders on the decaf)--Luzianne decaf for iced tea, some green tea 3)Prefer iced, will have hot in the winter, 4) All day, 5)Yes, my daughter likes it with sugar, my son likes Arizonia green tea or unsweetened iced like me & hubby, little one like KoolAid, 6) My fav thing is to sit under the shade tree, relaxing or BBQing, enjoying the breeze & good friends 7) I do like a slice of lemon in my tea. I'll drink it with most anything I eat. 8) Special tea tidbits -- I've been to England & drank their tea. They drink it like Americans drink coffee, with sugar & cream, which is actually quite good. I have found, in our moving around, that you have to ask for unsweetened East of the Mississippi River, or you get tea-syrup (tea w/sugar --lots of it). (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 01, 12:19:59
    • The secret to a great cup of iced tea is to have great tasting water for brewing & your ice. We have filters for both the faucet & the icemaker. It can make a world of difference in the taste. (NT) -- Texasbrat ......thanx, I needed to make up some tea for today., Tuesday, August 01, 12:27:02
  • (1) Yes, I drink tea. (2) I like Lipton, Constant Comment, darjeeling, ooling ... can't drink too much of Constant Comment or the orange in it will bother me (same problem with too much coffee) ... and I do like iced mint tea for a change. (3) I like tea both hot and iced (4 & 6) I drink tea whenever I'm in the mood, LOL ... reading a book, to relax in the evening, with friends in our fancy tea cups, definitely when I have a cold, when I go out to eat and don't want coffee (or if I know the restaurant has weak coffee), when it's hot outside and I need something besides water or iced coffee, I enjoy iced tea ... despite all this, I usually have only 1 or 2 cups of coffee/tea a day ... I just REALLY enjoy them. (5) Yes, the family drinks tea, usually when they're sick, except my mom who also enjoys tea when we watch British shows, LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn, part 1 of 2, Tuesday, August 01, 12:54:11
    • (7) As a rule I prefer things with coffee and tea that aren't overly sweet, like muffins, scones, pizzelles (Italian cookies), biscotti. I have no special recipes for making tea (wait, I have one for Chai tea, which I also really like, but that's sorta like a desert tea, but I still really enjoy it) or for special things to eat with tea. I figure if something is really good, a spot of good tea or coffee will go with it. I do notice that if a desert is citrusy, like lemon meringue pie, or lemon bars, I prefer tea with it than coffee. (NT) -- AmyLynn, part 2 of 2, Tuesday, August 01, 12:55:00
  • About 8 years ago, I had to give up caffeine for medical reasons, and I replaced coffee with tea. I think it was just easier to deal with since I could make a cup instead of a pot. So, herbal tea really found a place with me because of flavor, variety, and no caffeine. Favorites are the Celestial Seasonings rooibos teas, one in particular Moroccan Pomegrate Red. I guess my favorite tea, not herbal, is Constant Comment decaf. I drink hot tea after getting up in the morning and often in the late evening. Iced tea is for during summer days, and I like it sweet. I like hot tea with sugar or sweetener, too. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, August 01, 19:39:59
    • Our best friends have 7 kids, the youngest 3 being girls ages 12, 10, and 8. Once when they were about 8, 6, and 4, we had a tea party, and ever since when our families get together, during dessert the girls bring me tea in a little brown pot for one and a tea cup/saucer from their collection. Talk about making you feel special! (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, August 01, 19:53:24
      • AAAWWWW, how sweet!!! My daughter attended a B-day party once where the girls did a fashion show & had tea & cake afterwards. It was so sweet, she got to keep a cup & saucer that, unfortunately got broken during our last move. Glue is a wonderful thing. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, August 02, 4:22:15
  • I love tea!...I mostly drink Red Rose decaf. I like it with milk, no sugar. I love it hot and cold. When I drink it depends on my mood. In the fall and winter I drink some almost every morning. I have tried many teas but found this brand and pretty much stick to it. I do enjoy a nice mild green tea also. (NT) -- jagglebelle, Wednesday, August 02, 9:21:21
    • Where do you find Red Rose? I'm not familiar with it, and I'm always looking for a good new decaf tea. My Chinese friend Lillian (real name Yin Ling) has the best tea I've ever been given, and it's actually from China. She has been thinking about importing tea and selling it online, and I wish she would. She is an artist (painter) and is coming back in September after 6 months of traveling within Taiwan and China to find new inspiration for her art, and she promised to bring me some special teas. The trouble with it is that it's not decaffeinated, but I can squeeze in a cup every now and then with no problems. If you like tea with milk, do you like Chai tea? (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, August 03, 9:18:07
      • I live very close to the Canadian boarder....I dont know if its Canadian or British. Im not sure how widely its distributed in the US. I keep it in a glass Jar so I dont have the box to check where its from. I do like Chai tea but its hard to find decaf. especially in a small size because I have to be in the mood for it. I enjoy that in the evening on occasion. I used to like citrus teas but the milk always curdled so now if I feel in the mood for it I have to drink it with a bit of sugar, no milk. Im picky! Your friend sounds interesting and your lucky to get to sample some real asian teas! (NT) -- jagglebelle, Thursday, August 03, 9:28:52
        • BTW...do you notice how hard it is to find teas that are decaf? Its a concpiracy to get us all hooked on caffine..LOLOL! (NT) -- jagglebelle....my tummy cant have caffine so thats why I dont consume it., Thursday, August 03, 9:32:18
          • It's the same way with decaf coffee. IF you can find the decaf, the cost is twice that of regular. It's a conspiracy to get us all wired. Do you realize how many sodas have caffiene in them?? It's not just the obvious ones, like Coke or Pepsi, but Sunkist, and Barq's root beer have caffeine in them. And the schools can't figure out why the kids are so wired. So, will everyone be reading lables this week at the store? (NT) -- Texasbrat, Thursday, August 03, 9:56:19
            • I was always under the impression that Barq's Root Beer (actually, any root beer) didn't have caffeine in it. I just found a website that showed how much caffeine it does have ... 23 mg. But the Diet Barq's has none. :-D (NT) -- KatRose, Thursday, August 03, 10:52:13
      • I found a website for Red Rose Tea. I don't know if it's the same one you're talking about but here it is. Red Rose Tea
        (NT) -- KatRose, Thursday, August 03, 9:55:36
        • They also sell their tea online!! (NT) -- KatRose, Thursday, August 03, 9:56:49
        • This is the Red Rose tea I was talking about! (NT) -- jagglebelle, Friday, August 04, 13:31:58
  • I'm usually a coffee or diet Coke drinker, but: i do love tea when I'm especially tired. Its so soothing, almost like comfort food except w/out the calories! I like hot teas with milk, like the English. Esp English Breakfast tea or Earl Grey. When out for lunch I always have iced tea, plain. (NT) -- judy -- what an off the wall subject. You guys can discuss anything, can't you!, Thursday, August 03, 11:06:22

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• GREAT billboard in Cleveland -- KatRose, Friday, August 04, 12:21:12 [1]
  
  
  
  

  
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  ---

• Question: What is your state's voting procedure for primary elections? -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, August 03, 9:35:10 [8]
  I'm working the primary election next Tuesday and have learned that states have a variety of ways for people to choose parties in the primaries. So how do you vote in your state? (Not the presidential preference primaries - the local, county, and state primaries that happen every couple of years.)
  
  In Missouri, you don't have to "become a member" of a party to ask for a specific ballot. You may consider yourself a Democrat but can ask for a Republican ballot if you want. The state runs the election, through the counties. If you want to vote on statewide issues that happen to be being decided on the same day as the primary, and you don't want to vote anything but those issues, you can ask for a nonpartisan ballot.
  
  I understand that in some states, the parties actually run the primary elections. If you declare yourself a Democrat, you will vote a Democrat ballot.
  
  Just curious. I first worked as an election judge in the 2004 presidential election and have learned a lot about the process. If you ever are in a position to work an election, you should do so for the experience itself and the public service. You will never look at election the same again.
  

  Last edited by author: 08/ 3/06 9:42am   Edited 1 time.
  
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  • We have one next Tuesday here in CT too. You have to be a member of the party here to be able to vote in that party's primary. (NT) -- Kathleen, Thursday, August 03, 9:50:36
  • In Alabama, you don't have to be a member of a party to vote. The election workers will ask what party in order to give you that ballot, but if you are a Dem & ask for a Rep ballot, they'd give it to you. And you're not required to fill out the whole thing, as in if you want to vote for Governor, but not for Attorney General, you just don't pick a candidate. Up to now, all voting for this year has been to narrow the field, & set up who's to be on the Nov. ballot. We had one in June, with a run-off last month, so we are set for Nov. I did hear that something passed to put our presidential primary will no longer be the last one before the general election, it moves to be with one of the "packs" don't remember which. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Thursday, August 03, 10:03:56
  • I'm an Independant... I get a ballot that has only indep. runners onti. But what I don't get about the whole process is that as an indpen. how come I can't vote for a mix of democratic, republican runners? I believe in a mix of what they "preach". (NT) -- Heather... Elmer Fudd for president!, Thursday, August 03, 10:33:57
    • The theory is that each party should have the ability to select its own candidates. If you're a member of that party then you should have a voice. This prevents (for example) a Dem from voitng for the most liberal, or the least electable, Rep candidate in hopes of skewing the election. This would be very easy to do if your own primary candidate was a shoe-in or unopposed. (NT) -- judy -- although I certainly understand your position. We might have more moderate officials if we could do it that way., Thursday, August 03, 10:58:06
  • Ok, NG, time to teach us. Aren't the primaries mainly for the purpose of deciding who will be on the ballot at the general election? So, during the primary, you vote by party, to establish who the voters think is the best candidate for their respective party. But, in the general election, you can vote across party lines, by voting for the person you most agree with regardless of their or your party affiliation. Or you can vote only on amendments or whatever. Is that correct? (NT) -- Texasbrat, Thursday, August 03, 11:18:48
    • Yes, the real choice for independents is in Nov. There is a lot of variety among the states' laws as to how elections are handled and their timing. Under Mo. law, we have 5 times elections may be held during a year - Tues. after the first Mon. of Feb., Apr., June, Aug,, and Nov. During general election years (Congress or presidential), we have the primaries for county, state, and national races in Aug. & the general in Nov. The winners win - we have no run-offs as in some states. This time we have 3 parties with candidates - D., R., and Libertarian - no Green or Natural Law as in 2004. To get a party on a ballot, petitions with specified #s of registered voters must be filed with the state. We have gone back and forth with presidential primaries - toyed once recently with a public vote, but didn't repeat it. The parties have state caucuses and county party reps vote their preference, and those candidates get all the state's delegates for that party. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, August 03, 12:19:51
      • My state is wide open for the possibility of abuse you mentioned, Judy, but to my knowledge it hasn't happened here. Because we don't have to join a party, it is possible to vote whichever party's ballot has the most primary races you are interested in, even if it's not in your preferred party. My neighbor says she became a Democrat when she moved here as a young bride and found nobody on the Republican ballot to vote for! Where I'm from in a different part of Missouri, it would have been the opposite. These days, in both places both parties are much more represented because of population shifts, etc. Heather, I understand your frustration. The parties reign supreme in primaries. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Friday, August 04, 5:44:13

  ---

• Mel Gibson -- KatRose, Wednesday, August 02, 9:04:58 [22]
  Jen and I were talking yesterday about the Mel Gibson thing and she thought it might make a good topic of discussion (since none of us seems to shy away from controversial subject matters). I couldn't agree more.
  
  There was an interesting OdEd piece in today's LA Times that started off with "Amy Pascal is my hero." Amy Pascal is the head of Sony Pictures and was the only studio head that actually said anything potentially negative about Mel's idiocy. She said that she was "disappointed". Not terribly strong words, but stronger than anyone else was willing to use.
  
  What do you think about it? Does it even register on your own personal radar? Do you even care? Is this just another example of police trying to protect a celebrity or is this something else?
  

  
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  Replies:

  • I'm leaning the other way..from what I've seen down here on like MSNBC is they are comparing this to the Fatty Arbuckle case (refresh everyone on that one KR) & that Mel's career is OVER & so on & so on.....Do I think MG was stupid? Heck yeah! Did he utter idiotic things in his so called drunken stupor? Heck yeah! But I've seen lots of other so called Hollywood bigwigs utter things that can be construed as racisim.....others who get popped for DUI....& I don't recall "their" careers being over or such a media frenzy....I think there is a double standard....I think MG pissed a lot of people off when he did Passion of The Christ his own way, & they didnt' like it....Am I disappointed? Yeah...but I'm more disappointed in the "friendly" picture of him with two females....where's his wife & kids? I just think its been blow out of proportion, yes he deserves to punished for the criminal action, but hey there are a lot more *important* things going on in the world..... (NT) -- Jennifer, Wednesday, August 02, 9:56:03
    • You'll have to do your own refreshing since I don't know the Fatty Arbuckle case. As for a double standard, I don't see it as a left vs right thing. I doubt it has anything to do with The Passion. What I see happening is a celeb who has slowly walked away from his industry and shunning them/it, yet still expecting it to support him in his moments of stupidity. (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, August 02, 10:53:07
  • Inside, naturally......... :-) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, August 02, 11:44:12
    • I'm not siding with MG here....but I'm looking at a Hollywood who has basically embraced Roman Polanski...who is a wanted man for Statutory Rape & who fled the country before he could be prosecuted, & someone who drives drunk....I think MG acted like a jerk & should pay the price for his criminal actions....I'm sorry, but to me Hollywood is the last person to be judgemental, they expect their own set of rules so why should they be pissed when someone they don't like or who has turned away try to do the same thing? That's why I think there is a double standard.....Hell MG should've just drove his car of a bridge like Teddy Kennedy & kill someone, he'd get away with it then ;) (NT) -- Jennifer, Wednesday, August 02, 11:55:14
      • Jen, I don't get what you mean by "double standard"? Polaski was shunned for years after he fled the country. It's only in recent years that he's gotten back some of his earlier prestige. That's not to say his movies in between weren't vaunted, but Hollywood doesn't often begrudge a movie just because of who the filmmaker is. Mel may have stepped on toes about The Passion, but I don't think it has anything to do with the subject matter, it has more to do with the business of this business and how he cut out pretty much everyone and said, in essence, "F you, Hollywood" when he put it together. (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, August 02, 12:04:35
        • I guess its from watching the various news/Entertainment Insider on the various cable networks that I get my opinion from...where they so called insiders are basically saying that Gibson should be black-listed, his career is over, comparing him to Fatty Arbuckle, etc., when the man got drunk & drove & was pulled over by the police, with whom he became beligerent & said some unsavory (and stupid) comments....He didn't kill anyone, he didn't RAPE anyone, he didn't solicit a prostitute, nor is he on his 8th marriage where he's committed adultery & broke up another's marriage....I hope it dies down, yes punish Mel for his criminal actions, but let it go! (NT) -- Jennifer, Wednesday, August 02, 12:31:33
          • I haven't seen or heard any of these black list comments, so I don't know what to say to that. (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, August 02, 13:55:25
            • I just watched Scarborough Country on MSNBC, and they had one of the same guys I saw earlier, as well as the Rabbi dude from TLC's Shalom in the Home talking about it...see if you can catch it KR and what you think...... (NT) -- Jennifer, Wednesday, August 02, 19:10:01
    • Thank you for digging about Fatty. I didn't know the story. And personally I don't think that anyone's punishing MG with anything even resembling a black list. Not many people in Hollywood are saying anything derogatory about him, let alone mentioning a black list or "he won't work in this town again." I think the mere fact that people *aren't* saying anything shows how much sway he still has in town. more inside -- KatRose, Wednesday, August 02, 11:58:29
      • He's already done that -- he wrote a 300+ word apology to the Jewish community & wants to work with their leaders on something to make them feel better. I think you've hit the nail on the head, it's more about MONEY, than anything else. LL is a youngster, just starting out, who needs to be "trained", MG is seasoned & knows it, and is trying to use that to the best of his ability. The fact that he tends to insert his foot up to his hipbone everytime he opens his mouth, well, says a lot about his true beliefs & character. And isn't the publicity more about "the bigger they are the harder they fall" , everyone -- MG,& the industry would lose major $$$ if he never worked again. No prob, on the Fatty story, there's more to it, but that was the general gist of it. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, August 02, 12:24:16
  • Here's the OpEd piece from LA Times: The shame is that so few say 'shame' (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, August 02, 12:14:49
    • This 1/4 page "ad" was in today's LA Times' Business section (very interesting): -- KatRose, Wednesday, August 02, 12:30:48
  • He screwed up... and cuz he's a big wig himself.... the spot light is on him. If he was Joe Idiot in Mainem he's be tarred and feathered. Joe Moron in the swamps of FL would be let off the hook by his mother the Chief of Police. It all depends who you are and where you live. If that happened here, Rich would have you cuffed and stuffed; sitting next to Charlie the drug dog before you got another word out. (NT) -- Heather... who drunk on water, need more water! 102degrees!, Wednesday, August 02, 16:49:36
  • He's been invited to speak at a Yom Kippur celebration by a rabbi & I think he has accepted. Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement, & it is usually in September. One the flip side, he's been officially charged, so we will have to see how things play out. They're saying he could get up to 6 months in jail, if convicted. I look for a plea bargain for a lesser sentance, hoping to get out of jail time -- which translates in to lost revenue if he can't work from jail. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Thursday, August 03, 5:33:54
  • I think it's gotten way to much press. I'm not talking about the story showing up on the ET type shows, of course they're going to cover it. But I see no need for Mel's problem to be showing up on the network nightly news, especially when we have the middle east in flames. He's a entertainer, not the President of the US. -- Kathleen, Thursday, August 03, 5:59:30
    • Inside............for a story -- Texasbrat, Thursday, August 03, 6:41:23
      • As someone who has a friend who is an alcoholic, in fact at the moment I am raising her child since she cant.....does Mel remember what he said or has he read it in a report? If he doesnt really remember it he was in blackout. People who are highly functional in blackout are deep into their addiction. I hope he gets the help he needs! Hopefully because he is a celebrity he will feel more of a sense of accountability. My friend has been thru rehab twice and not even stayed sober a week once she got out. I notice a big absence of any statments from his wife or family...I hope he has some support from them. I would wish this for anyone who has addiction, celebrity or not. (NT) -- jagglebelle....., Thursday, August 03, 8:57:07
        • Oh, I don't know if he remembers what he said or not. I was just saying that I have known people to say things when they were drunk, and remember that they said something, might remember the topic, but not every last word. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Thursday, August 03, 10:08:22
  • Yesterday was a day-trip vacation, so I missed this topic when it was freshest. I've thought a lot about it on my own, though. I've never cared for Mel Gibson movies (except for getting to look at the man himself for a couple of hours), but as a Christian I took a new interest in him when he went on his own to make The Passion of the Christ. There were many who saw the film and MG as anti-Semitic or at least potentially so, and what happened the other night just confirmed their suspicions and discredits him to many who may have defended him at the time. To me, the bottom line of this whole thing is that MG appears to have a drinking problem (ITA, TB & Jagglebelle), and maybe this will cause him to get help. He's got a lot of repairing to do - within himself and with his family, the Jewish world, his industry, the legal system, and his fellow Christians whom he has disappointed greatly, but it also appears he may be willing to try. Good for him. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, August 03, 9:02:56
    • Ya know, NG, I wonder if you've hit the real problem. MG professes to be a Christian, which causes lots of people to identify with him. Yet, most Christians aren't anti-Semitic, b/c the Jewish faith was the predecessor to the Christian faith. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Thursday, August 03, 10:17:57
  • Whhooo? ;-) (NT) -- The Hollywood Owl, Thursday, August 03, 10:17:43

  ---

• Time for some humor -- Texasbrat, Thursday, July 27, 12:15:56 [5]
  
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][Edit]
  
  Replies:
  • The Politics of Cows -- Texasbrat It is political humor, Thursday, July 27, 12:19:57
    • ROFL!! That's a good one! (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Monday, July 31, 8:01:43
  • Loved it . . . have passed it on to several friends. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Friday, July 28, 10:38:16
  • Microsoft Employee of the Month -- Texasbrat, Thursday, August 03, 6:18:50

  ---

• Inflammatory Breast Cancer -- KatRose, Wednesday, August 02, 11:00:05 [2]
  I don't normally engage in the "forward this e-mail" stuff because usually it's not worth the time and effort, just to have it deleted from the recipients' inboxes.
  
  However, this came to me earlier today and it blew me away. I thought I had a good grasp of breast cancers since I do an annual event with Revlon to raise money for women's cancers. I also have friends who have been affected by this disease, so I've done a fair amount of research on the subject. But even then, I knew *NOTHING* about this one.
  
  Here's a news report my sister forwarded to me. It's a little over 1MB, but worth the download time. KOMO - Inflammatory Breast Cancer Report
  
  Here's a few websites with info on this as well:
  
  National Cancer Institute
  IBC Research Foundation
  IBC Support Group
  

  
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][Edit]
  
  Replies:

  • Thanx for the info, I've actually seen something else about this recently (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, August 02, 11:45:05

  ---

• We interrupt your daily reading to bring you this very important message.......... -- Texasbrat, Monday, July 31, 8:31:08 [21]
  
  SHAZ is MIA!!!!!
  
  
  Is someone hiding her in their closet??? Hopefully she isn't under a couch, I KNOW what lives there & it ain't too pretty when the couch gets done with it.
  
  Seriously, has anyone been in touch with her lately? Is she taking an extended vacation? Did the little kiddies push her over the edge? Surely it wasn't the kitties? Or, did her puter get fried in a flood or by the heat? I know, I know, I'm so full of questions today.
  
  Just wondering. It's been a loooooong time since I've seen a post from her. If you're out there lurking Shaz, let us know how in the world you are -- burn up by the heat, feeling drowned by the water, whatever.
  
  We care & want you to know that. We've missed your clever posts.
  
  I now return you to your daily reading.
  

  
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][Edit]
  
  Replies:

  • talked to her a few weeks ago where her parents were MIA for several days, But they showed up 3 days late and forget to call their daughter who called the police! I'll call her tonight, she might be being held hostage by the lady that lives next to the stroodle shop... she's nuttier than me! (NT) -- Heather..., Monday, July 31, 8:42:30
    • Oh, if she's off visiting the wildlife, er, relatives, then here's hoping the visit is enjoyable, or at least tolerable. Being held hostage in a strudel shop could be yummy, albeit trouble for the waistline, but yummy anyway. Tell her we said a collective "HI" (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, July 31, 9:48:24
    • That lady was put away!!! She threatened to kill herself to the people at the bank, so the police could finally commit her. It has been WONDERFUL without her. (NT) -- Shaz, Tuesday, August 01, 7:36:28
  • I hope she's just caught up in fun parts of life and hasn't had a chance to check in with us recently. Let us know if you talk to her (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, July 31, 10:29:21
  • I believe her grandfather also recently died, so it hasn't been the best of times for Shaz....got a lot on her plate..... (NT) -- Jennifer, Monday, July 31, 14:21:19
    • ya... that was a few weeks ago when her parents were 3days late for the funeral. Can you say daughter gave mom and dad the riot act about not calling. She should be around (NT) -- heather, Monday, July 31, 16:44:16
      • Well, her line is buzzy... either that or the cats are making 1-900 calls again! (NT) -- Heather, Monday, July 31, 16:46:11
  • Sorry I haven't been around. Inside >>> -- Shaz, Tuesday, August 01, 7:31:32
    • Oh No! I am so sorry about Clancy! Gosh that makes me want to cry! My little "lion" disappeared for a night & I was beside myself...I stayed up all night & did some crying & then at 730AM my neighbor was out washing his car so I enlisted him to help go look....& of course the little brat shows up like 4 hours later....I can't imagine having to deal with almost two weeks! I am so so sorry, I know how much you love Clancy. I'll keep hoping for a miracle for you! (NT) -- Jennifer (sniff sniff), Tuesday, August 01, 7:53:27
      • I've had the whole neighborhood looking for him, but he's old; 15.5 yrs. He wasn't feeling well or doing much. He was excited when my dad got here and it took a whole day for the cat to calm down. On Wed., after my folks went to visit my grandmother, Clancy laid in the kitchen and watched the kids play outside for a couple hours. Then he came out and checked out each of the kids and that was the last I saw him. The hardest is not knowing, not having closure. (NT) -- Shaz, Tuesday, August 01, 8:22:22
    • Now I feel like a dits for making the cat wise crack.... You should ahve dropping a line, I would have been more than glad to drive out... need an excuse to get out of the mountains. I'll call you later (NT) -- Heather, Tuesday, August 01, 8:01:41
      • No worries on the comment; Dickens is always ordering stuff online! I just need time on my own to get things done. (NT) -- Shaz, Tuesday, August 01, 8:23:56
    • I'm so sorry life's thrown you a bunch of un-fun things right now, Shaz. Just know we're here if you need to vent or want a joke. You and your family are in my prayers. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 01, 8:52:13
    • I'm so sorry Shaz... it's not fair that you should have to bear all these issues at once. I'm thinking of you, and Clancy too. (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Tuesday, August 01, 9:36:37
    • My condolences on your loss, and I hope you can get some much-needed rest after all you've been through this summer. And I hope you somehow find Clancy, one way or another, just so you'll know. Two months went by before my friend's elderly dog's body was found by a neighbor. It just eased his mind to know. We never found Mr. Cat, our 19-year-old kitty who we believe went off to die. I had to believe he was in the hands of God which gave me some peace. You will be in my prayers for all your family concerns, Clancy, getting more children to care for, recovering fully from the floods, and finding some time for yourself. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, August 01, 19:12:55
  • Sorry to hear you've had some major challenges to navigate, but I'm sure they will make the really good times, that much sweeter. Do remember we are here if you need us, and you are in our thoughts & prayers. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 01, 9:37:22
  • Kinda off-topic, but.........inside -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 01, 10:11:18
    • I think all of us are in similar boats. I know that if something were to cause me to be out of work for more than a week or two, I'd be hard-pressed to pay my bills (and I make a pretty decent salary). The problem is, I live alone, no one to help with the major bills (housing, food, electric) and am still paying off debt from when I was younger and stupider. I, too, am worried about the state of the economy and hope it never gets to the point that I think "investing" in the lottery is the smartest way to play for my future. ::sigh:: (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 01, 10:31:22
      • We're paying off 2 cross-country moves w/i 2 years, while trying to keep up with the expense of raising 3 kids. Fortunately, we do have a back up plan if hubby lost his job, I'd get a job til he found one, or the in-laws would help us move in w/ them & then we would pool some resources there. I know they would see to it that the kids had clothes & food & got to school. The economy is due a downturn, we had the depression of the '30's, then the troubles w/gas & the economy of the '70's, it's been 30 years since we had a major economic downturn, so it won't surprise me if it happens. My MIL told me 2 weeks ago that Texas cattlemen are selling off their herds b/c they can't afford grain & there is no hay. The Ag news says the drought is starting to affect crops causing lower yeilds for harvest this year. Around here corn went to crap this year, w/ no water during the growing time, it didn't grow, then didn't pollinate, so there were very few ears to harvest. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 01, 11:28:04
  • Thanks everyone for your concern, but I'm okay. If too many thing in my life went right, I'd think I walked into someone else's life. I just need to take the time to figure everything out and get organized! I guess I know what I'll be doing on vacation LOL! (NT) -- Shaz, Tuesday, August 01, 15:50:07

  ---

• Passing Zone -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 01, 12:07:55 [1]
  Ok, shameless self-promotion (sorta).
  
  I just got an e-mail from some friends of mine who are professional jugglers (yeah, I know, "Professional jugglers?"). I've known these guys for, goodness, 20+ years. In fact, I put the two of them together. LOL
  
  Subject: The Passing Zone on NBC Wednesday!
  From: JonWee@aol.com
  Date: Tue, August 1, 2006 5:45 pm
  
  Hey, Everyone!
  
  Please tune in to NBC's America's Got Talent this Wednesday, August 2nd, at 8pm on the coasts, 7pm mountain and central. We (Jon Wee and Owen Morse, The Passing Zone) will be performing our act and hoping to make it to the Finals!
  
  Please forward this to anyone you know who might be interested. It promises to be an exciting show with plenty of great acts. And we need lots of people watching!
  
  If you missed our last appearance, you can catch up by viewing it here:
  
  America's Got Talent Video Clip
  
  Thanks for tuning in! Look out Hasselhoff, here we come!
  
  Sincerely,
  Jon Wee and Owen Morse
  The Passing Zone
  Passing Zone
  
  Anyway, if you want to see something a little silly and fun, pop over to YouTube and take a peek, then tune in tomorrow night to see their next performance (and hope they make it to the finals).
  

  
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][Edit]
  

  ---

• I gotta vent, before I blow a gasket !!!!!!!!!!! -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, July 26, 10:09:26 [33]
  Okay, here's the deal.
  
  We signed up for the Do Not Call list when we moved here, in order to stop those annoying calls from telemarketers.
  
  Well, I get a call that goes something like this.
  
  Caller: "May I speak to Hubby?"
  
  Me: "He's not available, may I take a message?"
  
  Click.
  
  They call back. Same thing. Actually, they will do this several days in a row, calling 2 or 3 times a day.
  
  To top it all off, the calls are coming in on my Caller ID as Unavailable.
  
  Now, this happens every month, at about this time. I occassionally get a different person. So the call might go like this.
  
  Caller: "May I speak to Hubby?"
  
  Me: "He's not available, may I take a message?"
  
  Caller: "Have him call Blah, Blah, card"
  
  Me: "May I ask in what it regards, as he'll want to know before calling back."
  
  Caller: Sometimes they tell they are trying to "sell" their latest promo.
  
  Me:"Thank you, I'll relay the message, if does not call, he's not interested. You do realize, though, this is a Do Not Call listed number, don't you?"
  
  Caller: "Yes, but you are an existing customer & we can call."
  
  Me: "Please indicate in your notes this is a do not call number, for future reference, & please refrain from calling."
  
  Okay, so the do not call list means ABSOLUTELY nothing to them, because we have an account with the company. It wouldn't be so bad, but they call constantly, driving me up the wall.
  
  And since the calls come through as Unavailable (with an occassional toll-free), they have rocks for brains if they think I'm going to give any type of sensitive info over the phone to them. That is where most people have lost their identity, not to mention their bank accounts.
  
  It just infuriates me, that they are so terribly rude about it. They call, he doesn't return it, what do I have to do to get them to understand, HE DON'T WANT WHAT THEY ARE SELLING. I can't make the man talk to them.
  
  I realize they have a job to do, but for crying out loud, they could be a tinsy, bit nicer about it. Instead of just hanging up on me, sometimes before I finish my sentance or when I answer. I know they don't know me from Adam, but I'm in the same boat.
  
  I guess it just aggrivates me, cuz they are so rude, & it makes me want to be ruder back. (is ruder a word? -- who cares-- I'm ticked).
  
  Sorry to vent, but it just PI**** med off.
  
  Okay, Amy, Jen, Kat, I need some emoticons!!!! (since I am soooo html challenged)
  
  And coffee, chocolate, booze, whatever!!!! Calgon take me away (I'm dating myself now).
  

  
  [ Post a Reply to this Message ][Edit]
  
  Replies:

  • You know they hang up before you can say "don't call back"!! And I believe that if you are an existing customer, and they have something they are promoting, then yes, they can call you. However, wouldn't it be nice if they took note of your "no" answer, and didn't call you until the next promotion? And if the next promotion was a year away, not next week? How can companies afford to keep doing this, I wonder. Anyway I stopped answering calls that say "unavailable" on the caller ID. (NT) -- At work, when they call, I let them know they'll never get to talk to anyone unless they go thru me first --- they usually hang up! LOL -- AmyLynn, Wednesday, July 26, 10:25:26
    • But I also want to rant here --- why should I have to pay for caller ID in the first place??? Why should I have to PAY to keep from being bombarded with sales calls???? (I realize caller ID has other uses, but honestly I think the increase of sales calls boosted its value to those of us trying to avoid talking to them. And it doesn't cost anything for phone companies to provide you with the caller ID number anyway, they make it seem like they're doing such a huge service for you. Honestly.) I wouldn't mind so much if local companies were calling local folks to drum up business, which happens occassionally --- those people are usually friendly, brief, honest and keep good records. It's these mass marketing large corporations that I have absolutely no use for whatsoever. Most seem to employ rude people, who are deliberately deceptive or sneaky in their comments ....and now I'm going to have some chocolate, too --- move over TB!! (NT) -- AmyLynn, Wednesday, July 26, 10:32:51
      • My caller ID is included in my calling package. I have unlimited long distance (since the g-parents live in another state), and it's standard in the package. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, July 26, 10:35:14
    • It would be nice if they took "no" for an answer. Reminds me of some kids I know -- and what part of NO didn't you get, the N, or the O??? They would probably stop it, if their customers threatened & did close accounts b/c the telemarketing firm is so rude. (NT) -- Texasbrat.......Thanx for the emoticons., Wednesday, July 26, 10:32:59
  • Oh, TB, can I ever relate to this. But I think I can top you just a wee bit. Businesses can't be on the No Call List. So my boss gets on an average of 2-3 of these types of calls A DAY! -- KatRose, Wednesday, July 26, 11:11:16
    • I believe that if you talk to a telemarketer, and you ask them not to call you again, and they do, they can be fined. Of course, you have to put up with the initial call. And the real fact that they've probably sold your number to a billion other places, so now you're on THOSE lists. Arrrgghhh!!! Which is why I just don't answer if I don't know the number. Besides, anything TRULY important from a company, like you're car insurance is being canceled, or your credit card payment was never received --- these things have to be mailed in writing, a phone call doesn't cut it. So I'm not worried I'll miss anything important by not answering the phone! (NT) -- AmyLynn .... is the chocolate all gone?, Wednesday, July 26, 11:19:05
      • When I get these calls at work, they usually start off with asking for a mispronounced name of somebody, and I hear all the other voices in the background of the call center. They say, "Hi, can I speak with Jane Doe?" and I reply with "No." Occasionally, if I feel like talking, I ask them a bunch of questions, like "what is it regarding?" or "what company is calling?", and that's when I get them to hang up on me. When they ask for my name, I tell them "I can't reveal that information." (NT) -- AmyLynn, Wednesday, July 26, 11:26:32
    • What kills me here, is that they seem to be stupid morons. Let's call, she would let us talk to the man, so let's call back -- we just LOVE that type of punishment. And they could at least speak good English and pronounce my name correctly -- that can start anyone off on a bad note. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, July 26, 12:50:59
      • Believe me I know. Goodness gracious, if you're going to cold call someone, at least get CLOSE to pronouncing the name properly. It's bad enough that we're getting these calls at all, but to get them from someone that can't enunciate...::sigh:: Oh, one of the guys that called last week looking for my boss? He called twice that day and then for the next two days, every time denying that he'd called before and that I was mistaken. Yeah, right. (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, July 26, 13:06:08
  • They just called again -- #3 for today, I let it go to voice. I have actually asked this company to place our number on the don't call list (did it last month), the girl said okay, but it would take 31 days, until then I might get some calls. Well, got no calls til this week -- the same week of the month they always call. They will probably tell since the card is in hubby's name, he has to say they can't call, but the phone is in my name, soooo. I shall tell them again, if I feel like it. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, July 26, 12:27:41
  • I guess the thing that gets me the most is that they are calling several times a day. If I tell them he's not there, they call back a couple of hours later. It's just been one of those days, & I'm PMSin' to boot. Everybody get outta the way, TB's in a mood. :-). (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, July 26, 12:32:48
  • Okay, Okay, Okay --- I have a simply BRILLANT idea, or at least I think it's brillant. Have phones equiped with a device so that when you get one these calls, if the caller is obnoxious, or rude, then you can ZAP 'EM with a Capt. Kirk phaser!!!!! Set on STUN for heaven's sake, yes, they get me PO'd, but not THAT PO'd. Think that would work????? Does the AB have one???? What would be nice is if I had a way to set my phone not to receive unavailable or toll free numbers, course that would block hubby's cell (it has become "unavailable" since the contract is up), but he could call my cell. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, July 26, 12:47:35
    • I don't know if the AB has *its* own phone line, considering we already have so many other forms of communication on board. But I can assure you that if anyone tries to spam us through the GPS, LOL, then we will zap them at the source. I don't think we'll need a special license for zapping, or high-powered laser beams, do you?? (NT) -- AmyLynn .... I knew an older lady who had a whistle she would blow when she got a crank call. I can only imagine that if she were still alive, any telemarketer who tried to sell her something would now be deaf., Wednesday, July 26, 13:02:44
  • Various responses to those pesky telemarketers: -- KatRose, Wednesday, July 26, 13:00:39
    • I love these!! I wonder how they'll work, if nothing else they'll make my day. LOL ..... I'm remembering the time I just hung up in the middle of some woman's pitch, after I had repeatedly and nicely been saying, "No thank you", and another member of her team, a man, called me back to cuss me out for hanging up! (NT) -- AmyLynn, Wednesday, July 26, 13:08:30
    • ROTFLOL!!! I NEEDED these, they're great. I'll have to try them out sometime. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, July 26, 13:21:05
      • My older son played baseball with a kid who lived with his fairly young grandparents, and Grandma didn't put up with a lot of foolishness. Any time a telemarketer asked for her husband, she would say, "He can't come to the phone now. He's passed out on the couch drunk. Again." (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Wednesday, July 26, 19:00:05
  • Here's something to try. If you are using a cordless phone, once you realize it's a telemarketer, go into the bathroom, hold the phone over the toilet and flush. Then make some comment about how glad you are that they can't smell what you just flushed. This worked for a friend of mine and he didn't get anymore calls from that company. ;) (NT) -- Beth, Wednesday, July 26, 16:28:16
  • From 11:30 yesterday morning, til 8 pm last night, they called 6 times. I answered it once, the phone was staticy & really couldn't hear. Second time, there was no one there, 3rd I answered I get "Please hold for a very important message" , "I'm sorry, but our operators are all busy, please continue to hold" THEY called me, & WANT me to wait on hold til they have time to answer the blankety, blank, phone -- That really takes the cake -- I wouldn't buy it or take it even if it was all of Bill Gates's money. The nerve!!! I also let it go to voice a couple of times too. Thankfully, today, we have errands to run, so I probably won't be here when they call. I wonder if they are trying to get their quota in before the don't call this number goes into effect, since I requested that last month & they did say they would add me to the list, but it would take 31 days. (NT) -- Texasbrat armed for bear w/the telemarketers., Thursday, July 27, 5:08:14
    • I remember hearing on one of those consumer reports on the local news that if you answer a telemarketing call (one that will show up "unavailable" on the caller ID) their system "remembers" that time and adds it to their "regularly scheduled" times to call, increasing the times you get called. I personally feel it's best NOT to pick up AT ALL. I, too, have received that stupid message about wanting ME to hold on the line, and felt pretty much the way you did!! Also, sometimes some of the numbers that show up on the ID as "cellular", but with an unusual area code, are ALSO telemarketers trying to beat my system, LOL! (NT) -- AmyLynn, Thursday, July 27, 6:31:32
    • TB, as a fellow stay-at-home mom, I have gotten a lot of those persistent phone calls that MUST speak to my husband, not me. That in itself made me mad, but I really boiled with "Thank you. I'll call back when he's available." Click. Every day at 1:30 they would call. Finally one day I had just had it and when the call came, I said "Just a moment," lowered my voice, and talked to them myself, telling them I wasn't interested and to take me off their list, even going so far as to ask to speak to the supervisor. It was a credit card company he had even cut up the card and closed the account! Lately the same outfit started again, but this time I mentioned we are on Missouri's no-call list and we are no longer have an account, so don't call again or I will report them. Haven't heard from them since. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, July 27, 8:31:52
      • Last month I told them that I was going to report them for harrassment, b/c they were calling at a minimum of 2 times a day, every day and with young children THAT was too much & I considered them to be harrassing me. This month the ID is showing unavailable, which makes me unable to block the call. I have contemplated calling the phone company to have them trace the calls in order to block from the head office. I've also thought about writing a letter to the credit card company complaining about the telemarketing firm they are using. I tried being nice, but now the ticked me off, so nice is not an option. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Thursday, July 27, 11:15:53
        • I surely do hear you. These calls are hard to shake. My nemesis was Chase Bank; curious if it might be yours. Maybe it's time to close the credit card account - it's not like there's a shortage of opportunities to switch!! Then they wouldn't have the no-call law on their side. My main calls now are from the phone company itself since they're exempt. It and politicians, also exempt in Mo. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, July 27, 12:21:45
          • Do you ever use an answering machine to screen your calls? I did that for a while. At least you can pick up if it's somebody you do want to talk to, and the telemarketers seem to back off after repeated no-answers. I think AmyLynn is right that even with no-call, if you tell them to stop calling and they don't, you can report them and they can get fined. Just be sure you keep a note of day and time of your putting them on notice. I did this not long ago with our mortgage company who kept offering all types of stuff (no, we weren't behind with our payment!), and the nightly calls stopped pretty soon. In Missouri, our attorney general enjoys taking on the telemarketers, so you might see if Alabama's AG has a hotline like ours. A nice note from the attorney general to your credit card company might be well received. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, July 27, 12:37:52
            • We have voice mail as part of our "phone package", along with caller ID, & unlimited long distance (needed for the out of state relatives). More problems get caused by the fact one of my kids will try to answer it before the ID captures the number (usually 2 rings). As it is, when I see unavailable, I try to let it go to voice, but sometimes that doesn't always work, cuz the little one will bring the me cordless & has pushed the buttons, thus answering the phone. Training issue, I realize, but it takes time. With school starting in 2 weeks, kids answering should stop being much of a problem. I think our is Discover -- no of the other cards have been calling, only them. I may have to check into the AG's office to see if they have any ability to do anything. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Thursday, July 27, 12:54:21
              • Go to http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/dncalrt.htm#Exceptions and look at item 32. This is a Federal Trade Commission page I linked to from your Alabama attorney general's webpage. AmyLynn knows what she's talking about, and Countrywide Mortgages sure stopped calling me when I told them not to call again. I guess that fine of up to $11,000 made them think twice. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, July 27, 17:06:34
                • Thanx, I'll check it out. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Thursday, July 27, 17:42:29
  • Guess who's at it again?!?!? Mr. Unavailable -- he called 4 times yesterday, & has called 4 times today (between 8am & 11am). The ID shows no number, just unavailable, which makes it impossible to file a complaint against them. I think I've FINALLY got the kids trained to not answer the phone when he calls. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 01, 9:45:04
    • Next time he calls and you answer, ask for his name, name of his company and a phone number where you can get in touch with them. If he refuses, tell him that you have contacted the police about the harassing phone calls and they are tracing the call as you speak and if he doesn't stop calling, it won't be a pretty sight. Don't know if it'll work, but you can try. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 01, 10:00:05
      • Well, I have figured out how to fix their wagon!!!! I took a look at the calling features on my phone company's calling plan, turn out they have a privacy screener feature imbedded in my caller ID feature -- it blocks all unavailable or unknown calls. I'm looking for the instructions on how to turn it on, I can add our cell's to our approved list as well. I shall triumph over the evil-doers of this world -- the telemarketers at least. Now, where's my tea???? (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, August 01, 11:06:16
        • YIPPEE!! (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 01, 11:29:28
        • (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 01, 11:39:16

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• JAG Season 2 Release Info -- KatRose, Tuesday, August 01, 7:07:44 [2]
  I got an e-mail from TVShowsOnDVD.com this morning announcin the release date for Season 2. It's November 17, 2006. It'll have 15 episodes and has a SRP of $58.99.
  
  Amazon is offering it for pre-order at $41.99.
  
  If you want more info on what's in the box set, go here: JAG Season 2
  

  
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  • I'm sorry but whoever is stupid for charging as much as they are for S2...That's plain bunk! To list 15 episodes at almost 60 dollars is assinine.....S2 is short, its 1/2 of a season, if they really wanted to make sure it sells how about coming in with a lower price? Stupid a** move if you ask me..... (NT) -- Jennifer, Tuesday, August 01, 7:12:57

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• A brief scare; 104º and no air conditioning! -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, July 31, 11:42:08 [7]
  It's hotter than blue blazes here again, much like the rest of you seem to be experiencing across the country, and just this morning I thanked God for air conditioning during weather like this because I am just old enough to remember when ac was a novelty instead of a given.
  
  A little after 11 this morning, as I sat at the computer trying to connect to the BFZ, all of a sudden the power made a big POP as the screen went blank, my radio stopped talking, and all motor noises in the house ceased. Oh, NOOOO!!! Not today! We will smother! I dug out the batteries and got my radio up and running, finally finding out that some guy had run into a light pole with a delivery truck a couple of miles from here, the line down, and 900 of us without electricity. This is an all-electric home. At least we still had water.
  
  About 12:30 the power snapped back on, the most beautiful noise I've heard in quite a while. (The radio news said they had been able to reroute the power while they fix the line.) With the heat as intense as it is, the house had already begun to get stuffy. It's supposed to stay this way through Wednesday, so right now I'm a very happy cat.
  

  
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  • This is a scary thought!! I'm glad they got it fixed for you in a relatively short time. (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Monday, July 31, 11:59:35
  • Major ugh if it had stayed out. Some areas of LA had their power out for days on end. YUCK! (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, July 31, 12:03:42
    • LOL! This is closer to truth than you might think. Last week I washed a bedspread quilt because I knew it would dry quick - I throw it over a patio hedge to dry and get some fresh air. Record time: 15 minutes till bone dry! Remember the St. Louis storm that caused my MIL's nursing home to evacuate? That was almost 12 days ago, and the last 10,000 people got their power back yesterday. About 300,000 of the original 500,000 were out for a week. Two storms since the first undid repairs, knocking thousands out the second and some a third time. At least that was due to a storm, not like in CA or Queens in NYC from what I hear on the news. Patience can get real short, real quick when your power is out. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, July 31, 17:28:57
  • (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, July 31, 12:08:57
    • Perfect!!!! (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, July 31, 12:50:08
  • YUCK!! Glad to hear it got fixed so quickly. Have a Super day anyway!!! (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, July 31, 12:51:42

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• eBay and JAG memorabilia -- KatRose, Friday, July 28, 10:52:41 [10]
  I know some of us here buy and sell JAG memorabilia on eBay. And I don't normally bad mouth anyone, but there's one seller that's been selling "original" and "authentic" scripts, but I find that very hard to believe. Let me explain why.
  
  The seller in question, shortly after the series ended, started putting up "original" scripts in binders and stated that these were straight from the set. After a little digging, I found out that this person was a former employee of the show, so the scripts (and costume pieces) were probably originals from set. The situation I have issue with is that this person is continueing to sell scripts in binders with call sheets and whatnot as "original," even after having put up that same script four, five times.
  
  This person will put up a bunch of scripts, sell them (at the beginning) for hundreds of dollars) and then wait until the 30 day history is gone from the eBay search feature and then put up another batch, often with the same coveted script. This person also got caught by one buyer for selling the series bible as "complete" when it was only the Season 7 section. The buyer demanded their money back and gave negative feedback, which the seller then reciprocated by saying the buyer was mean, nasty, difficult (I don't remember the exact wording). And within the last 6 months or so, the seller has made their feedback completely private so that no one can see they have less than stellar feedback (last time I saw it, the rating was in the mid-80s to low-90s).
  
  I don't want to cause problems, but I also don't want people I like and care about to get scammed by this person. So be careful and ask a lot of questions if something appears to be too good to be true.
  
  I now return you to your regularly scheduled whatevers. :-)
  

  
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  • Think I know who you are talking about. I've gotten scripts off him/her/it... what I've gotten from presumed subject is authentic, notes on pages and such. And I have paid an arm leg and other body parts ofr them. Haven't seen subjects other JAG items. I'm septical when it comes to the originals, but never had trouble with the believed to be subject. I gave up on selling JAG on Ebay, market is saturated. Some day I might off what I got.. I got a copy of the bible I"ll have to look at it since it a rare item . (NT) -- Heather...., Friday, July 28, 17:19:49
    • THis have anything to do with a certain Flight Risk script I got a second chance offer on? (NT) -- Heather, Friday, July 28, 17:24:12
      • No. This particular seller has an incredibly mean streak in them and a recent item I listed (at the request of a buyer) solicited a very snarky email that basically said that I couldn't get the price that I asked for (even though that was the price the buyer and I agreed to). And when the item didn't sell, it made me wonder if it wasn't the nasty seller impersonating someone else. I have nothing to base it on, just a weird feeling. The reason I posted this is because I've seen some of my buyers buying the same "original" script (the finale) at least 5 times. It's hard for me to believe that this seller had five original scripts. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if they don't recreate notes on the colored pages to make it look "real." (NT) -- KatRose, Friday, July 28, 19:09:37
        • I notived that all the one's that were up as of last night, were all copies. One said it was an orginal, but the pic was a white copy of a yellow draft. (NT) -- Heather, Saturday, July 29, 6:03:36
        • How many actual original scripts might there be from one episode? One original and the rest copies, or would all scripts used by actors, etc., be considered originals? I've never thought about this before. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Saturday, July 29, 7:46:43
          • I just can't see Bellipro going to the *expense* of having BINDERS for all the scripts that are out there...I mean my goodness, all the actors have scripts, production, etc., with 227 episodes every single script has a binder? Okay...LOL! I did order a supposedly original script from this person, not b/c it was original but b/c its my FAVORITE JAG ep of all time & I wanted it....the whole thing was on blue paper...as I understand it, the revisions were on colored paper, not the entire script, so you could easily pick out when something was changed. (NT) -- Jennifer, Saturday, July 29, 10:37:37
            • The binder one's I have was the script holders way of staying organized. They are oringals with all the pen and pencil notes all over the place. But there are several drafts and each draft is a different color. That how you can tell if it's an orginal. The first draft is white, that's the writers draft and then when it goes into production it changes colors, blue, pink, yellow, green, golden rod and it goes on a few more colors. But there are many prints of a script, costume, actorsm props etc.. so for JAG there were about 250 on payroll if I remember right. 250 scripts are somewhere! (NT) -- Heather, Saturday, July 29, 15:54:28
              • The script you got should have been all blue, it's the first shooting draft. If it was a pink, it would be a mix of blue and pink depending on the amount of revision. (NT) -- H--- KR correct me if I'm wrong here...., Saturday, July 29, 15:57:08
              • Just cuz a script you bought came w/ multicolored pages and with pen marks does not automatically make it "original." Years ago, before eBay was in existence a friend at another studio would often get one original with all the colored pages, take it to Staples, have them run exact copies and then sell the duplicates as originals to fans and/or script stores. Pen notations are very easy to add after the copies have been made. So unless you bought it at a charity auction, directly from the production company or know someone on set that you trust, there's a good chance that any "original" really isn't. As for the question about how many originals there could be...dozens and dozens, but I seriously doubt that one lowly employee, could get their hands on more than their own sectioned pieces. I've seen at least 5 "originals" of the finale up for sale ... but never during a time when anyone could review their selling history to verify. That, in and of itself, makes me very suspicious of them. (NT) -- katRose, Sunday, July 30, 7:55:56

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• Any Disney fans? -- Ninja_Girl, Saturday, July 29, 8:11:16 [1]
  Walt Disney's hometown, Marceline, Mo., will host its annual ToonFest Sept. 15-16. It's a big party, small-town style, all weekend, and several noted cartoonists are guests of honor.
  
  Marceline is a little town in north central Missouri with its roots in the railroad that passes through it, and the Disneys came there because of the father's railroad job. Main Street in the Disney theme parks is said to be modeled after Marceline's Main Street, among other local landmarks that have made their way into Disney works. There is a Disney museum in the former railroad depot.
  
  Go to http://www.toonfest.net for info about the weekend.
  
  For info about Marceline and Disney, go to http://www.travellady.com/Issues/August05/1769Missouri.htm
  

  Last edited by author: 07/29/06 8:18am   Edited 1 time.
  
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• Costco Scam -- KatRose, Friday, July 28, 8:49:56 [4]
  
  

  
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  • And the address to the Costco in question is...............................I have some old purses I need to get rid of!!!! (NT) -- Texasbrat :-D, Friday, July 28, 9:00:56
  • HMMMM maybe I should go to Costco today....rats the kids are around....LOL (NT) -- jagglebelle, Friday, July 28, 10:29:18
  • whoa.. think it's time for a drive to the city... Shaz do you get service like that on the coast (NT) -- Heather... who has country service not city!, Friday, July 28, 17:23:22

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• For our AOL buddies -- KatRose, Wednesday, July 26, 13:07:06 [9]
  I don't know if any of us here are AOL users, but I found this article in TIME magazine and thought I'd share.
  
  come inside for the text
  

  
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  • Will AOL Finally Go Free? -- KatRose, Wednesday, July 26, 13:20:38
    • What does it mean when, as I'm reading through this, I'm sidetracked by the comment of FREE episodes of TV shows, and I wonder if I can download them, and if that infringes on copyright, because I think it does, but then why would they be FREE and then throw me in jail for downloading them, I mean, honestly, how rude would that be, but I'd really love to get the "Wonder Woman" shows if I could since I liked them as a kid, Lynda Carter was just so pretty!, and speaking of how great she looked reminds me that I have to color my hair, and, can I really get these episodes for FREE, and, uh, what was this article about, again??? (NT) -- AmyLynn, Wednesday, July 26, 13:27:13
      • I doubt believe you can download anything. You just get to watch on your computer screen. As for copyright violations, it's be my bet that AOL got permission from the necessary parties to do this. (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, July 26, 13:52:36
        • I just popped on over to the In2TV site and found a show I used to love to watch, La Femme Nikita. It appears there's only 10 episodes of the 4½ year series available for viewing. I don't know if that's for every show available, but it looks like a few are. (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, July 26, 13:56:55
          • Uh huh. Well ...... I thought my random thoguth process might mean I need a nap, or a vacation, or that I'm going crazy, or that I'm just a goof. I'm so glad you didn't mention any of those things. ;-) LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn, Wednesday, July 26, 14:00:49
            • Oh good grief ... THOUGHT .... it should be THOUGHT ... I have no idea what this other word is .... ROTFL (NT) -- AmyLynn .... and yeah, it is kinda cool!!, Wednesday, July 26, 14:01:49
        • Okay, I was wrong. There is an option to download high quality files. Don't know how big or how long it'll take to download or if you'll be able to burn to DVD or anything. But it's kinda cool that this is out there. (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, July 26, 14:00:43
      • On this same train of thought or thoguth or whatever (ROTFLOL), isn't NBC getting together some shows that will only be shown on the your computer or possibly be available for download??? I think (I'm scary at this time of day) I saw a blurb (think headline) somewhere about it. I don't always get to follow up -- depends who's in control of the puter me or hubby. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, July 26, 14:16:58

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• Fun Day - the way they wished it -- KatRose, Tuesday, July 25, 16:43:34 [4]
  A friend just sent me this:
  
  
  For the last departmental picnic, management had decided that, due to liability issues, we could have alcohol, but only one (1) drink per person.
  
  
  
  
  I can see my department salivating at this. :-D
  

  
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  • One drink --- party poopers!!!! :-D. And who will be driving this bunch home?? (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, July 25, 19:01:19
  • ROTFLOL - yeah, I can totally see your dept asking you to spend some time shopping for those big cups for the next picnic!! (NT) -- AmyLynn, Wednesday, July 26, 6:25:14
  • Maybe we just need one of THESE in order to deal the telemarketers!!!!! ROTFLOL!!!! We wouldn't be able to walk straight, much less talk straight -- but it might solve the problem (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, July 26, 12:55:47

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• This may be kind of like the frog-in-the-kettle story where it doesn't notice the temperature is changing - -- Ninja_Girl, Wednesday, July 26, 9:14:01 [3]
  A year ago I decided to start working on some excess pounds and with the help of a Nordic Track and attention to diet, I got rid of 15+ pounds. A digital scale had been with me through the process, and I continued to use it. After Christmas it helped me as I got rid of the holiday excess.
  
  Everything went fine until the Memorial Day holiday when several food-filled events caused me to overindulge, but the scale reflected nothing. Sooo, happy me . . . metabolism must have changed! I can eat what I want! (first frog-in-the-kettle moment) 4th of July came. Same result. (2nd moment) Then clothes started to seem tight. The scale was still my friend, though. They must have stayed in the dryer too long. (the water temperature is rising . . )
  
  Finally the other day I was at a friend's house and got on the scale in her bathroom. AGGGHHH! (water is now boiling) Almost 10 pounds! I couldn't believe it. Put in a new battery; same weight. Must be worthless now. Talk about feeling betrayed by a machine . . .
  
  Yesterday I bought a new scale, the old kind. : )
  

  
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  • I use my scale at the moment to chart the lose and gain of weight as I try to watch what I'm eating and going to the gym more often (it's one of those with the body fat percentage built in ... that VERY scary number). But the true measure of my progress is how my clothes fit, what notch on the belt I use and how I feel. I've learned that muscle weighs more than fat, so the scale may show an increase, but the clothes fit better. So don't rely solely on your scale to gauge your progress, use a lot of little things instead. (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, July 26, 9:22:04
  • We've been using our scale in much the same way Kat does. Since hubby has been having some heart issues, we've been walking most every day for 30 minutes. I'm trying to cook foods that are better for us & in healthier ways, but the pounds are not melting away. I, too watch things other than just the scale to measure weight loss, like how my clothes fit. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, July 26, 9:42:33

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