We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. –Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government.
Muslims in the Scottish district of Tayside are outraged by the appearance of a wide-eyed, 6-week-old puppy on postcards distributed by the local police force, according to the Daily Mail.
Update:
This story reminded me of a long ago post by Ace of Spades. See here.
I was listening to NPR on the way home from work yesterday when their segment “This I Believe” came on.
This is a segment where famous and not so famous people write essays about things they believe in. NPR picks one from time to time and has the writer read it on the air. Many times, it not most, the essay is just the usual clap trap of liberal dogma.
Yesterday the lead in was about the girl in the picture. The picture in question is one of the more iconic pictures of the Vietnam War. It’s of children fleeing their village which had just been napalmed. The little girl in the middle of the frame has had her clothes burned off and is terrified. You can see the picture here.
It turns out that little girl survived the war and now lives in Canada. Her essay for “This I Believe” was chosen to be read yesterday. I had to listen. Being the pessimist, I was sure the essay would veer off into the usual stuff like Bush is evil, the U.S. is evil, napalm is evil.
As she started to read her essay in her broken English, I could tell this essay was going to go in a different direction.
You must go read/listen to it here. It is transcribed for you, but they also have the audio. I encourage you to listen to the audio.
Her last 3 paragraphs are powerful and we should all take it to heart.
Forgiveness made me free from hatred. I still have many scars on my body and severe pain most days but my heart is cleansed.
I would quote from the story but it’s from the dumbasses at that “news” organization who are charging by the word for quoting….
Anyway, it seems that the worlds most powerful super collider (atom smasher) is about to be turned on in August and some people are worried that the thing will destroy the earth by a combination of some exotic particles and the chance of a black hole forming.
Like I said, I’m not too worried…but…
What if this thing is like that shiny red button from the classic Ren & Stimpy cartoon “Space Madness”?
I couldn’t find the actual episode on YouTube, but I did find the sound clip, with some fun animation.
I did find it over here. The clip has the entire episode, plus another one so it’s kind of long. If you go to 14:38, you get to the scene in question.
UPDATE: My goodness…that was the best watermelon I’ve ever had. Very sweet and very juicy. Oh man, let me tell ya.
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We went downtown this morning to a little farmers market that is set up on Saturdays in the summer.
We picked out some squash (already cooked up with onions), tomatoes, plums, apples and corn. I meant to get some cucumbers, but forgot. Oh well, so much for cucumbers and onions in vinegar.
We also picked out a nice watermelon. I had two cantaloupes picked out for the obligatory “Nice Melons” picture, but thought better of it.
So I present the WunderFamily Watermelon:
It shall be eaten this weekend. There will be no survivors.
Actually, the kids were playing dress up and I just had to get a picture:
The boys kept telling Madi NOT to smile, as they wanted to look bad. But as you can see, that concept was lost on Madi. She is too cute in that little outfit, with her belly showing.
I know some day they will outgrow this phase, but I hope it lasts for a long time.
I was buying some songs on iTunes today and I decided to look up a few 80’s bands I used to “rock” out to.
My sister is 2 years older than me and she was a huge, HUGE Night Ranger fan. Yes, the epitome of cheesy 80’s hair band.
She had all their tapes and actually got to see them in concert. Sometime around 1984 I would put her tapes on her boom box in the living room and play air guitar with a broom handle. Obviously no one was home.
I would imagine I was on stage, thrashing on my guitar!
Good times.
My favorite song of theirs was “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” and thanks to the power of the Internets, we can all relive a fun memory of mine.
Here’s to you Sis.
Heh. Love the 80’s “Hey, let’s all fall down on queue bit”, the live action guitars and the lead singers Asian headband on his arm. Man, the 80’s were fun.
One of the towns you pass through going from Albany to Cordele is the tiny town of Warwick.
Warwick is known for two things: speed traps and the National Grits Festival….yeah, I didn’t know it was “National”.
Hey if Vienna (pronounced with a long I sound) has the “Big Pig Jig” and Camilla has “Gnat Days”, I guess Warwick can have their “National Grits Festival”.
