Birthdays

It's my birthday today. I'm 56 years old.























My wife's birthday was on Saturday.
























All I want is peace on earth and goodwill toward men.

It Takes A Village - We've heard that one before!

I was checking out some other blogs this week and came across some comments in Andrew Jackson's blog, SmartChristian. http://www.smartchristian.com/

Andrew laments the situation in San Angelo Texas and compares it to Waco. He says, "When I read about the abrupt raid on the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ ranch compound in Angelo, Texas, the barbaric burning raid of the David Koresh Waco compound came immediately to my mind."

Mr. Jackson, I must respectfully disagree with your opinion. And since the SmartChristian blog does not accept replies, I will now present my view on the subject.




Although the situation in San Angelo, Texas is pathetic, it is not the fault of the Court. The procedure is being handled in the same manner that any other child abuse case is handled, with the child’s safety as the primary concern. The child is removed from the parents and placed into protective custody until the allegations of abuse are proven or disproven.





The allegation that adult males are involved with minor females would be a serious and illegal problem in most of these United States. News reports hint there are enough children born to girls that were underage at the time of conception to go forward with prosecution of this organization.



And though this cult states that it seeks to separate itself from society, it is reported they receive government assistance through welfare and food stamps. The members refer to this as “bleeding the beast”. In other words, they want to remain separate from society, yet they do not mind being subsidized by "my tax dollars at work." News reports state this cult starts impregnating young girls once they reach puberty through spiritual marriage (whatever that is supposed to be). In other words, these girls are breeding stock.



And because the adult men do not want competition by adolescent boys, those boys are sent out of the compound and into the world to repent of their sin. If the men in this cult are not man enough to support the children they have pro-created through spiritual marriage, perhaps their children may be better off in foster homes being cared for by people that have not be brainwashed.



Waco was tragic. San Angelos is tragic. Jonestown was tragic. However any society must follow the just laws set forth by that society. Otherwise we have chaos, which is what we are seeing in San Angleos, Texas with children not knowing their biological parents or having birth certificates. Today's news states that out of 53 girls taken away from this cult that were between the ages of 14 and 17, THIRTY-ONE of them are pregnant or had given birth!!!!



North of where I live is Amish country. The Amish and Mennonites have lived in the world, but apart from the world for decades. They are not a cult. These people read the Bible and believe in Jesus Christ, trust God and work hard. And though their ways may seem strange, they have maintained their community by following the Word of God and the rules of society.

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints aka Yearning for Zion has perverted God's law to conform to what they want. Therein lies the tragedy

The Man Rules

At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down












We always hear 'the rules' From the female side. What else would Women's Day & Mademoiselle Magazine write about? Well here are the rules from the male side.















These are our rules from a male perspective. Take out a blank piece of paper and take notes or just copy & paste.

Please note: these are all numbered '1 ' ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:

• Subtle hints do not work!
• Strong hints do not work!
• Obvious hints do not work!
• Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, j ust do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say 'nothing,' We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

It Snow Use

Wednesday afternoon it was 71 degrees outside. On Thursday the temperature dropped to the 50's but there was a chill in the air. All of the TV weathermen were getting nervous. Like street corner preaches, they were waving their arms and announcing the pending White Armagedon.

"Snow is coming! Snow is coming! Go to the store and purchase everything! You will be locked in your house forever!"


I left for work on Friday morning at 7:45 am and there was snow flurries.

By noon I could see five inches of the stuff in the field outside of my cube.

By the time I arrived home at around 6:30 pm there was about six inches total.

As I ate dinner and scanned TV channels the weather man was practically in tears.


"Blizzard expected tonight. Stay tuned! Watch the crawls! Stay inside! Godzilla is coming! Ah' Godzilla!"






The other station (I am not making this up) was showing viewer photos of their dogs wearing red coats in the snow. In fact they pre-empted regular programs to show dogs in red coats in the snow.


I'm worried about CSI and NUMBERS and all I can see is snow and dogs in snow wear. So I went to bed.



Sure enough I woke up to at least 12 inches of snow on the car's hood. The pathway I shoveled on my walk and my steps were all covered in snow.


You have to understand that Cincinnati does not cope well with snow. It unnerves our weather people. People have no idea how to drive in snow.


"If my car slides do I turn the wheel in the direction of the skid or the other directions? Do I slam or pump the brakes? What do I do with the cell phone? I don't know, I'm so confused?"




Cincinnati turns into Bizzaro World at the first flake.



The TV news maintains vigil at the sacred Temple of Salt off of I-75 wear the old Workhouse used to stand.

Once this acrage was home to a turn of the century prison that actually served as a deterent to crime since no one in their right mind wanted to go to that filthy bastille.


The site was leveled to make room for a 3 story Igloo that houses the city's supply of ice melting product.





I heard the salt truck go down my street about an hour ago. I guess tomorrow I am going to have to shovel the walk and steps again and dig out from the snow.



I will first check out the local TV weather and see what the dogs are wearing.

Change - Part 2

Change - Be Careful What You Ask For

We've been told lately that it's time for change.














We been told that we need change.










And we very possibly might get change.

I'm Proud To Be An American

A woman living in Slovenia who found a mouse foot in a jar of pickles was shocked to be told, in effect, that it was perfectly good to eat.


Lenka Komparova contacted the Health Ministry as she prepared to sue the company producing the food, according to the Ananova Web portal.




But instead of backing her claim, officials said she should consider the rodent appendage as a "special additive."



Ministry spokeswoman Vivijan Potocnik said:

"It is completely normal in big factories to have mice wandering around, and yes, every now and then they get caught amongst the machines and do get bottled, seasoned, preserved and even make it in one piece to consumers. "

"Although not very pleasant to see, however, they pose no health threat at all," Potocnik was quoted as saying. "During the preservation process, even traces of any salmonella bacteria are eliminated in food. A [mouse foot] therefore could be classified as a special additive to the pickles."

Komparova said: "I couldn't believe it. I don't know what they eat at the ministry — but finding dead animals in jars of food isn't normal."

My Thoughts On Vintage Guitars

I used to have GAS. Guitar Acquisition Syndrome. I think one of the prime causes of GAS is a desire that many of us have experienced to return to the days of our youth, when things seemed better, easier and enjoyable.


Speaking for myself, as I grew older, gravity attacked my body, my pants needed a double scouch more room, I found myself shopping in the Husky Boys section, family responsibility trumped doin' my own thang and a great pilage of bills seem to find their way to the corner of the dining room table each month.



So why wouldn't I want to go back to those trouble free days of yesteryear in Leave It To Beaverville, when you could buy a 1956 Fender Stratocaster for around $259 complete with a tweed case. A brand new 1965 Fender Deluxe Reverb would set you back $199.


Some folks collect old toys, some build model railroads. I believe these hobbies generate a sense of youth. Vintage guitars bring back these same memories.





I have followed the Vintage Guitar market since the early 1990's and in 2008 I must admit, it has reached the point of absurdity.

For instance a 1958 Gibson Dot Neck ES-335 is valued at $55,000 to $75,000 as long as there are no modifications done to it. I have recently seen a 1959 Les Paul "Flame" being offered for $135,000. A 1959 Gibson Flying V could set you back well over $200,000.


A 1951 Fender Nocaster* can go for over $50,000. (*The Fender Telecaster guitar was originally called The Broadcaster. However the Fred Gretsch Musical Instrument Company was using that name for a drum set they were manufacturing and filed a legal motion against Fender. Fender abruptly removed the word Broadcaster from their neck decals. So for the remainder of 1951, the guitars were only labeled Fender).


A Gibson Gold Top Les Paul from 1952 to 1955 will bring anywhere from $35,000 to $85,000. And these are for guitars that have no known provinance. If you have records showing the guitar was owned or played by someone famous, the price could be at least twice what I have mentioned.



Even old beginner guitars are fetching outrageous prices. Upscale Harmony guitars, such as the Patrician, the Montclair and the Catalina that originally sold for around $50 are now being offered for over $1,000. Stella guitars were made by the same factory that made Harmony guitars, Chicago Musical Instruments. These were cheap laminated instruments primarily made from birch and sold in the range of $25. I own one that cost me $20. They are bringing $500-$1,000.


Ironically much of the market for these old guitars is from wealthly Asian business men and many of the USA manufactured instruments are now stockpiled in Asian countries, while the majority of the guitars sold in the United States are modified replicas or exact replicas of vintage USA instruments manufactured in China, Korea or Japan.

In 1999 I went with my family to Renfro Valley to hear some wonderful country and bluegrass music. During those days all Bluegrass players were required to own a Martin D-18or D-28. And of course the players at this show were equipped with the traditional Martin instruments.



However as of late, Blueridge guitars, which are produced in China, are being used by some prominent Bluegrass players. The top end Blueridge guitar are not cheap but are a quarter of the price of a Martin. Blueridge instruments play well and use the same top of the line solid tone wood that Martin uses. Recording King is also jumping on the bandwagon. This is an acoustic guitar manufactured by the same company that manufactures Jay Turser electric insturments.

Even good old Martin & Co. is now very aware of the preservation of forestry and is manufacturing well made laminated instruments for the first time. Their popular travel guitar, the Backpacker, is manufactured in Asia. I would not be surprised to see some of their laminated instruments become outsourced.



In that same year, 1999, I purchased an amplifier manufactured by the Pignose company. It was based on the schematics of an older Fender Bassman. The amplifer worked just fine, but at the time I was critized by some for purchasing a Chinese made amplifier.



Let's jump ahead to 2007 and 2008. In 2007 Fender Musical Instrument had a winner with their Chinese manufactured Champion 600 reissue. This was a re-do of one of the first Fender tube amplifiers and had a retail price of $189-199. Stores could not keep them in stock. This year Fender introduced another set of Chinese made amplifiers that are selling at a frenzy.

The Fender Vibro Champ XD and the Fender Super Champ XD. Both amps contain tubes and sell for $250 and $299respectively. The Fender FM series was boo-hooed at first due to it's country of origin, but have maintained a very respectable sales due to the price and sound. Asian produced amplifiers are now officially acceptable.

I have more guitars and amplifiers than I will ever need. I was fortunate to hang onto a wonderful old Gibson guitar from my teenage days. The other electrics and acoustics I own are more than sufficient. I still enjoy window shopping, but I have more pressing issues, such as the pile of bills on the dining room table that need my attention. My GAS cleared up a few years ago.

On Being Sick

I do not know what sort of bugs are in our fine Newport air that wafts off the waters of the O-hi-o, but it has been making my schnoz continually run since way before Thanksgiving.

At first I thought it could be allergies, but snow and ice have come and gone a couple of times since then and my post and fore nasal faucets continue to leak.

Perhaps this is a good sign for the makers of Kleenex (Kimberly-Clarke Inc) that stock may be on upswing (ticker sym: KMB), although Fridays NYSE posted a $1.61 loss. I have been through at least a case of the product since November.





Not only has my nose been running, I am also run down. My energy level has leveled off and it has been a chore to drag my sorry keister out of bed, down to the MR. Coffee in the kitchen. I have so many things to do, but I just do not have any stamina. I had to miss one day of work last week since I was so weak. I am sure that was due to a sinus infection.


Perhaps the only good to come of this is the bizzare vivid dreams I have been having lately. Last night's show involved hoisting my old computer CRT monitor on my shoulder and moving it. This big old heavy 19" monitor was dragged about a half mile and up and down several flights of steps and I became lost in the new office.


The prior night's episode featured my wife giving me a make-over ala the Queer Eye for the Straight guy show. I have to say I looked fabulous, but was embarrassed to leave the house. Stay tuned for tonight's episode featuring commercial free stories.