Here we go.......WTF???

RI closer to changing state name over slavery

By RAY HENRY, Associated Press Writer – Thu Jun 25, 9:53 pm ET

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The country's smallest state has the longest official name: "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations."
A push to drop "Providence Plantations" from that name advanced farther than ever on Thursday when House lawmakers voted 70-3 to let residents decide whether their home should simply be called the "State of Rhode Island." It's an encouraging sign for those who believe the formal name conjures up images of slavery, while opponents argue it's an unnecessary rewriting of history that ignores Rhode Island's tradition of religious liberty and tolerance.
The bill permitting a statewide referendum on the issue next year now heads to the state Senate.
"It's high time for us to recognize that slavery happened on plantations in Rhode Island and decide that we don't want that chapter of our history to be a proud part of our name," said Rep. Joseph Almeida, an African-American lawmaker who sponsored the bill.

Banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his unorthodox religious views, minister Roger Williams set out in 1636 and settled at the northern tip of Narragansett Bay, which he called Providence Plantations. Williams founded the first Baptist church in America and became famous for embracing the separation of church and state, a legal principle enshrined in the Bill of Rights a century later.
Other settlers made their homes in modern-day Portsmouth and Newport on Aquidneck Island, then known as the Isle of Rhodes.
In 1663, English King Charles II granted a royal charter joining all the settlements into a single colony called "The Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." The name stuck. Rhode Island used that royal charter as its governing document until 1843.
Opponents of the name charge argue that "plantations" was used at the time to describe any farming settlements, regardless of slavery.
Rhode Island merchants did, however, make their fortunes off the slave trade. Slaves helped construct Brown University in Providence, and a prominent slave trader paid half the cost of its first library.
Still, Stanley Lemons, a professor emeritus of history at Rhode Island College, said changing the state's name ignores the accomplishments of Williams, whose government passed laws trying to prevent the permanent servitude of whites, blacks and American Indians.
"There are different meanings for this word," Lemons said. "To try to impose their experience on everyone else wipes out Roger Williams."

cactus flower

The huge cactus in front of the hose was covered with what must have been a hundred blossoms this year! I unfortunately, did not get a photo of the whole thing in bloom, as I have misplaced my camera along with one of the books D gave me for Christmas( the holiday, not the dog) I am of the belief that both items may have been inadvertently been added to our local land fill. :-E. Long story short, I drove the Ford to work one day, transferring afore mentioned items in an HEB grocery bag. I have not seen the camera or book since daddy and I went to the dump last. Yes, I have kicked myself several times. Please, feel free to add to my misery by poking fun! :-b

British WWI veteran becomes world's oldest man

LONDON (Reuters Life!) – British World War One veteran Henry Allingham is the world's oldest man at 113 following the death of the previous holder of the title, Japan's Tomoji Tanabe, Guinness World Records said on Friday.
"Henry Allingham is now officially the oldest man in the world," said a spokeswoman for the organization widely recognized as the authority on record-breakers.
Tanabe, who ate mostly vegetables and believed the key to his longevity was not drinking alcohol, died on Friday aged 113 and had held the record for the oldest living male since January, 2007.
Allingham was born in London on June 6, 1896, and took the British title on January 19, 2007 aged 110 years 227 days, Guinness World Records said in a statement.
"We're pleased to see an English man take the world record -- the last time someone from England held the title was Frederick Butterfield, who died on March 9, 1974, aged 110," said Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief of Guinness World Records.
Allingham is one of only two surviving World War One veterans in the United Kingdom and the last surviving founder member of the Royal Air Force, according to British media.
His friend and chaperone, Dennis Goodwin, said: "It's staggering. He is philosophical. He will take it in his stride, like he does everything else."
Allingham's life has spanned three centuries and six monarchs, starting with Queen Victoria. He has five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild.
Guinness World Records said the oldest living person is American Gertrude Baines, 115, who was born on April 6, 1894.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Steve Addison)

cougar attack!

A cougar is seen at a zoo. Using nothing but her quick wit and bare hands, a Canadian mother fought off a cougar that had pinned down her three-year old daughter in a forest north of Vancouver, police said Wednesday. (AFP/File/Miguel Alvarez)

another for the "WTF???" file

A Very Costly Kiss: Senior Denied Diploma
by Mike Krumboltz

For teens, there is no greater joy than graduating high school. Shaking off the shackles of education and claiming that hard-fought diploma is truly an epic day. Unfortunately, for several students at Bonny Eagle High School in Maine, their natural exuberance has led to some surprisingly serious problems.

On Friday night, when the senior class was waiting to graduate, excitement began to grow. Students bounced a large inflatable rubber duck. The noise level rose. And then came "the kiss." When called, one student walked on stage to receive his diploma and blew a kiss to his family. The school administrator, clearly not the sentimental sort, sent the student back to his seat ... sans diploma.

The seemingly harsh punishment has sent the Web all aflutter. Searches on "student denied diploma" and "bonny eagle high school" are both through the roof. Additionally, blogs and news papers are chiming in with opinions on whether or not the administration overreacted. The student's mother has given interviews and is quite upset at her son's treatment. According to an article from Fox News the outraged mother said, "A bow, a kiss to your mom is not misbehavior."

But the administrators feel they were just enforcing the rules that students agreed to. At a meeting following the debacle, school superintendent Suzanne Lukas said that "if a student doesn't adhere to the expectations, then the consequences are clearly spelled out."

This isn't the first time that rambunctious (dare we say "fun"?) behavior affected a graduation ceremony at Bonny Eagle. "Four years ago we had some issues with silly string and beach balls," said Lukas.

graphic political 'toon

more work related crap

Well, once again everyone scheduled to work till 11pm, was shorted time. I clocked out at 10:20 or so. I am sort of glad to be home early though, as there is another storm lighting up the sky. I am just now starting to hear rumbles of thunder. Gotta go unplug all my electronics!

Made it through another one! WHEW

Burnet County residents clean up after storm
CENTRAL TEXAS
By Isadora Vail
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, June 13, 2009

BURNET — Loney Smith sat on the ceiling of his overturned travel trailer Friday while friends and relatives helped him remove his belongings. His shower was destroyed, and the bedroom wall had caved in where it collided with another home.
"It was just a bunch of rain, a gust of wind, and then all of a sudden, we got taken for a ride," Smith said.
Residents of Burnet, which is about 50 miles northwest of Austin, experienced the worst of Thursday night's fast-moving storm. Winds as strong as 60 mph destroyed four travel trailers and recreational vehicles and flipped two small airplanes.
"We heard the rain hitting the top of the roof, and when I looked outside, the rain was like sheets coming across in front of me," said John Harker, who had stopped for the night with his wife, Carolyn, in their recreational vehicle. Winds overturned the vehicle onto a picnic table.
In Bertram, 10 miles east of Burnet, Police Chief David Caudle said that every street was littered with debris, including tree limbs and roofing shingles, and that a portion of the old fire station collapsed.
The National Weather Service said winds in Bertram may have reached 80 mph. No injuries were reported.
At the height of the storm, at least 20,000 Central Texas homes were without power. Electricity was mostly restored
by morning. Late Friday afternoon, 105 homes in rural areas were without power.

work related crap

Well, I got screwed on my hours last night. My schedule is 2-11, but I was told last night that we all had to be out by 1030! When I protested that I was losing 30 minutes time, I was told that I could take a 30 minute lunch to make up for it! Why should I have to sacrifice HALF of my hard earned lunch??? ARRRGGGHHH! On the brighter side, I did get to see my puppies a bit earlier. I love coming home and having them meet me at the gate with kisses, and then walking me to the door, waiting for their cookies. I have taught Boris to sit for his cookies. :-) I guess you CAN teach an old dog new tricks after all!

ain't he cute??

Hard to imagine in about 6 months, this cutie pie will be capable of ripping your face off!

My Newest Nephew!

Well, I guess everyone has heard by now I will not be making the trip "back east" to see my newest nephew. But I want to share a photo of the boy and his dog.