Thanks Ozarka!

Well, we just got home from the Rangers Game. However, our good luck was bad luck for the Rangers. Let me explain, I wanted to get to the ballpark early because they were giving away Mark Teixeira bobbleheads and I wanted to be sure I got mine to add to my baseball collection. Well, after we got there and got our give-aways, we bought hot dogs and then made our way to our seats. We were seated in section 311, $6.00 a seat tickets (I mostly just wanted the bobbleheads, I wasn't even concerned with their opponent, KC Royals). This is our 7th game that we've attended this season, we usually sit in the $14.00 section above third base. Anyway, we are getting settled in, eating our dogs, etc. when a guy comes up to us and says," Is it just the four of you guys tonight?" Now, because it's still an hour till game time and no one is sitting around us, I'm thinking, "No, we got a whole slew of rednecks coming!" But, luckily my mouth was full and I didn't say anything. Jenny says, "Yep, just us." So he proceeds to tell us that Ozarka Water is running a promotion and will upgrade four lucky fans to section 25, right behind home plate! So expecting a scam, I ask, "What do we have to do?" He says nothing and to meet him downstairs at 7:00. I am immediately excited. Can we be so lucky?!?

We wait as long as I can take it and head down to the meeting place. We get there at 6:45 and wait. The kids are bored but, eventually he arrives. We each get a Rangers T-shirt and then he takes us to our seats. Because it's an Ozarka promotion, he leads us to our seats as the announcer lets everyone know that we were the "lucky fans" to receive a free seat upgrade and we are on the jumbo tron as we proceed to our seats. We get to row 10 and scoot across the the correct seats, right behind home plate! How AWESOME is that?!? The ticket says that these are $60.00 seats! The schedule says they are $65.00 seats, either way, we made out like bandits!!!! BTW - the picture above was taken by my camera phone from my seat. Look how close we were!

Now the bad luck - Every game we have been to this season, the Rangers have won. We felt like we were their lucky charm, to a point. I mean, we had only been to 6 games previous to tonight. This homestand is against the Kansas City Royals, the team with the worst record in baseball. The Rangers lost . . . . So was our good luck their bad luck? Sorry guys. Actually, they lost last night 11 - 3 and tonight was only by a score of 5 - 3, so maybe our good luck helped them lose by only a little. Anyway, we had a good time, and that's all that mattered!

And That's What I Think!

Musings

So last night was Big Brother All-Stars. I was glad to see Jase get back-doored (voted off). I didn't like him during Big Brother 5 and I didn't want him in the All-Stars show. Others didn't want to see Alison (BB4) in there and were happy when she was voted off, so this is sweet victory for me! All-Star reality shows are fun to watch because you already know these people and they already know how to play the game.

Other happenings: For as long as I've had my car, it has leaned to the right. Not noticeably while sitting in it, but slightly noticeable when walking up to it. When the tires started to wear funny in conjunction to the leaning, I naturally thought the shocks were bad. I put off taking it anywhere because I wasn't sure where to take it that I hadn't previously had poor dealings. With the fiasco with Jenny's car and replacing a rim, I found NTB. They were friendly and fast and didn't even charge me for putting on the rim much less finding out that that was the problem. With much appreciation, I told them that I needed my vehicle looked at.

Well come to find out, the shocks are fine. The leaning was just a torsion bar needing adjustment - No charge! COOL. However, the tires wearing funny meant a front-end alignment. OK, I thought. Then I found out that my two lower ball joints were shot and I needed a camber kit. By and by, four hours and $502.00 later, my car should be good to go! (with fingers crossed)

Lastly: What child doesn't like peanut butter?!? It's an American food staple for crying out loud! Children, college students and adults refusing to grow up can survive on it. Peanut butter goes with so many things (i.e. jelly, bananas, chocolate, french toast, chips, etc) that no home should be without it. The King can't be wrong and neither am I. Well, I have found that child who doesn't like peanut butter. He's my son, my own flesh and blood. I have to blame it on my dad, though, as he doesn't like peanut butter, either. They say heredity skips generations, I think this proves it. BTW - my son also hates mustard. (Weirdo) When he asks what there is to eat, I like to joke and offer him a peanut butter and mustard sandwich (ha, ha). To which he responds with a "Yuck!" and a wrinkled nose.

And That's What I Think.

VH: DLR or SH?

So the big question is:
David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar? I think that DLR really rocked Van Halen but the wife thinks Sammy Guitar, err, Hagar was what made Van Halen good. Truth be told, I think, as in all things, age and time holds all perspectives.

For example: When you think of James Bond, who do you picture? For me, James Bond is Roger Moore, but for my parents it's probably Sean Connery.

I'm sure there are other examples, but that is all I can think of. Maybe you know of some other ones.

In my opinion, David Lee Roth - the original front man for VH - could really rock it in the day. Here's a little "Hot For Teacher" for ya!




And That's What I Think.

Polyheme - Ethical Use?

With FDA approval, Northfield Labs has recruited 27 cities to participate in giving an experimental blood substitute, Polyheme, to trauma victims without their informed consent. Click here to see if you could receive this blood substitute. If you live in or are planning to visit any of the listed cities, you can opt-out by contacting Northfield Labs or the participating hospital to receive a blue bracelet.

The company states that this is the only way to test their product.

Polyheme was developed "for the treatment of urgent, large volume blood loss in trauma and resultant surgical settings, with a particular focus on settings where blood is not immediately available."

Pro's of using Polyheme are:

1. Simultaneously restoring lost blood volume and hemoglobin levels.
2. Universal compatibility with all human blood types (does not require typing or cross-matching before infusion).
3. Immediately available.
4. Has not caused transfusion reactions in any testing to date.
5. Has extended shelf life of over 12 months.
6. Is manufactured from human red blood cells using steps to reduce the risk of viral transmission.
7. PolyHeme can be stored at room temperature, versus donated whole blood which requires refrigeration.

Some say that it is unethical to use this blood substitute with out their informed consent and that they would be guinea pigs. However, in the case of the daughter of Hank Williams, Jr. who was in a serious accident over two hours from the closest hospital, Polyheme saved her life. Think of the lives we could save if this product were available in combat situations and third world countries. Look again at the pro's of using Polyheme. A 12 month shelf life without refrigeration!

I personally can't think of any cons to using Polyheme. It seems like a win win situation and a medical marvel.

And That's What I Think.

Black Saturday

I have a couple of articles next to my computer that I have planned to blog about. However, I have something I need to get off my chest.

For as long as I can remember, whenever I've seen or heard about a woman or child being victimized, I've thought, "What a creep that guys is!"

Man accused of molesting 10 year-old
Man accused of rape, abuse
Man accused of poisoning kids' soup

The main stream media has taught us to believe the victim's account instead of "innocent until proven guilty." I have to admit that I always believe the stories about abused women and children.

Now I am on the other side of the fence. Today a woman accused me of something despicable and heinous. I however am 100% innocent.

The accuser, which I have know for a very long time, is:

1. A known drug user.
2. A known liar.
3. A bad parent.
4. Cannot handle her finances or money.
5. Over the past 15 years has had so many jobs, the only reason she's still at her current job is that there is no where else for her to work.
6. Continuously having things repossessed or being evicted from her "home".

All this being said, I can't help but feel that I have a target on my back. The most perplexing thing is why she chose me to lie about. One story she came up with is when I had several witnesses in a public place. The second lie was so full of holes there is no way it can stand up to anyone with the slightest amount of intelligence.

Now, with the main stream media thought, I can't help but think that all the other people she may tell these lies to will look at me differently or think of me differently. That's the problem I am stuck with. Not that my friendship with this person is forever ended, but the fact that a woman can point a finger at any man and tell whatever lie she can dream up and be believed because she has "apparently" been victimized.

I won't go into the details of this situation so please don't ask. My wife stands beside me and that's all I can really ask for at this point. Those of you that know me hopefully will take into account the person you know and not the one that will be painted to you by a lying cretin if you come across her path.

That's All I Have.

Is Simplifid Speling The Way Of The Futr?

My daughter, who will be going into the first grade this fall, has been taught to spell phonetically at her school. A sample of her writing can be found here. It took us a little while to learn to read it, but it's really not that hard.

There has been an off and on push to simplify the English language since Ben Franklin, one of the founding fathers of our country, unsuccessfully rallied to change things. The reason: English has 42 sounds spelled in a bewildering 400 ways! For someone like me, who's been out of school for awhile, spelling can become elusive! You've all seen the e-mail that shows that as long as the first letter and the last letter of a word are in the correct sequence, the other letters in the word can be rearranged and you can still read it. Are all the different spellings in the English language necessary?

"In languages with phonetically spelled words, like German or Spanish, children learn to spell in weeks instead of months or years as is sometimes the case with English."

Text messaging and IM users are already using a simplified version of the English language. And Donut and nite are acceptable spellings for the former words.

I'm ready for a more laid back form of spelling just so I'm not constantly criticized for the way letters come out of my keyboard. I don't think everyone should switch over now, but the children learning in school can be taught to "spell it like it sounds."

Read the article and tell me what you think . . .

And That's What I Think.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA ! ! ! ! !

It's the 4th of July! America is 230 years old! In 1776 the Continental Congress declared our freedom from the British, and so the greatest country on Earth was born.



We spent our 4th of July shooting fireworks in front of our house on two different days! I even got the kids lighting the fireworks (with punks). We all had a great time. All that's left to do is BBQ some hamburgers!

I wish everybody a safe and happy 4th of July! And remember - Freedom isn't FREE!

Thank A Soldier!

And That's What I Think!