Gray Tree Frogs...

...are kind of neat little slimy critters. They have some neat shades of gray in a blotched pattern on their backs, and the shading depends a lot on their mood or the temperatures. They also have white bellies with really vibrant yellow markings along the belly at the sides and onto bottom inner sides of the back legs.

I have one now, have had it for about 2 1/2 years now. I would not have it at all had it not plopped on the ground, after falling or jumping out of a tree, and landing right in front of my feet. That was at my daughter's college a couple of years back; I had just dropped her off for a new semester, and this guy decided he wanted to come home with me for the ride. I have had him ever since. No name or anything like that, I usually do not name animals that will not come when called like a dog, or at least show some signs of affection like a cat.

I spent about 2 or 3 hours today taking down the vivarium I have kept him in for these couple of years. The plants were not doing as well as they once had, so I figured the soil could use some changing. I bought a couple of new plants; cleaned out the tank, put in fresh soil over a bed of gravel na d some activated carbon, put in the two new plants and two of the old ones, made sure to put back the small earthworms that had been living in the old soil, and there it is.

The plants should grow out somewhat more over time. I have another tank that is just about overgrown with Golden Pothos. This one has the pothos (those little vines on the cork in the center, I just kept a bit of it as it grows fast), and it also has two plants completely new to me. The one on the left has nice roundsih broad leaves on which I am sure the frog will love to cling with its sticky toe pads. The other also has somewhat pointy broad, and more colorful, leaves on which it can climb as it pleases.

The frog looks pretty content in its newly decorated home, if frogs can be content. I think the added color gives the whole setup a nice touch. My wife even liked it, and she does not like any of my reptilian or amphibian pets.

These guys make fairly easy to care for animals, though they are not really conventional pets. Sure you can pick them up and hold em, but I don't usually do that for a couple of reasons. First of all, why bother since the frog gets no enjoyment out of being picked up, not like peting a dog or a cat. Second, when you pick them up, it removes some of the protective slime from their bodies. So, for the most part, I only pick him up when I clean out his tank, or show him off to someone.

These frogs live in trees, far above the ground, here in the northeastern USA (and in some other parts of the USA out to the midwest and from Texas up to Canada). Since they live in the forest, they usually get a fair deal of mositure in their environment. They can hide in crevices in the bark of trees, in the crotches of tree limbs, and so forth where moisture will be held in the event of drier times. In captivity they need to be kept moist with a daily, or every other day, spray with a misting bottle. I also keep a small bowl of water in with mine, this has to be cleaned out often and replaced with fresh water. I use water right from the tap. I am not worried about the water being chlorinated or having flouride in it as many natural sources of water are likewise; and I have never seen any ill effects with frogs that are native to NY State while usuing local tap water. If you keep one though, and are concerned, then let the wayer stand in a bowl overnight and the chlorine will evaporate out of the water.

They feed on insects in the wild, and require the same in captivity, although they will take easier to obtain insects in captivity than ones you would need to catch to feed them their natural diet. Crickets, and waxworms are easily obtained at pet shops and they love both. Earthworms are also eagerly taken, and are readily availble at bait shops. They will come to the tank bottom to feed on them. I also give it mealworms or superworms now and again too, and sometimes a bug from the backyard. I try to feed mine a varied diet.

As for temperatures, I keep mine in the low to mid seventies. Into the mid eighties would be okay during the day, and as low as the high sixties at night is fine. The lighting I use is for the plants not the frogs. A regular day/night cycle of light is fine for the frog; although I tend to keep the lights on a late spring light cycle all year to enhance plant growth. About 14 hours of light. I only use a flourescent light, one that is suitable for plant growth, so it does not increase the temperature in the tank as would an incandescent bulb.

To get one of these frogs, you can try to buy a captive bred one at a Reptile and Amphibian Show, or maybe over a website like www.kingsnake.com; or you can catch one yourself (where allowed by law). At the time I caught mine, it was the open season on frogs in NY State, and I had a hunting and fishing license, so I was covered. Since then it has been well fed, and aparently content to live the life of Reilly at our house.

Putting the tank together anew was a relaxing way to spend the last day of the year for me. Hope you enjoyed your day too. Happy New Year. Who knows what the new year will bring for you - maybe a new found interest in the hobby of keeping reptiles and amphibians.

All the best,
Glenn B

An Alleged Video of Saddam Hussein's Hanging...

...has surfaced at http://one.revver.com/watch/130549. I found this link at FoxNews.com under the confusing headline of Redirect @ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,240257,00.html

I don't understand why Fox would headline this as Redirect. They do understandably explain it is an alleged, and very graphic, video of the hanging, the whole shabang.

Now, this video is very poor quality, but it is indeed very graphic, and if genuine then it shows the man actually being hung. It is purported, by Revver.com. In fact Revver says this on their website:

This video shows Saddam Hussein being hanged from the vantage of a witness using his or her cellphone. This shows almost everything -- except for the snap of the neck, viewer discretion advised.

It looks to me like it maybe just that, as if taken with a cell phone. It looks, to me, as if the person taking the video was either a terrible camera person, or quite possibly quite nervous and not wanting anyone to realize he/she was making a video (since the camera jumps around so much and often looses sight of Hussein).

If it is discovered to be a real video of what actually took place when Saddam was hanged, I see very little to further prevent the authorities in Iraq, and the media, from releasing higher quality shots. I think as many people as possible should see the video, the higher quality ones of Hussein meeting his end. Sure this will inflame some, make others happy, and other things like that; but it will also have a more far ranging impact. It will show the fate that awaits those who do things as did Saddam Hussein, it will show that tyrants are not gods, not above the law, and must answer to their crimes as should any man, it will show that they too need to pay for their crimes with their lives if their crimes were capital offenses. If done often enough, to the many heinous murderers in our world, it might actually become a deterrent. Hangings, and other executions should be public, and viewing at least a few in a lifetime should be encouraged (and no I do not mean mandatory but do mean encouraged) for all of the citizenry who have attained a certian age.

All of the best,
Glenn B

Someone finally charged Nifong...

...and it is about time they did so. I have not spoken out on this before, although tempted to do so here many times.

Then this CNN headline caught my eye today: Charge could kick Duke prosecutor off case, and can be found at CNN.com @ http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/12/29/duke.lawyer.ap/index.html

The manner in which this guy has handled the prosecution of the four Duke University students for rape charges is, in my estimation, both reprehensible and quite possibly criminal.

That all of the charges were not dropped outright after the long withheld/hidden DNA evidence surfaced showing absolutely no sign of DNA from any of the 4 Lacrosse Team Members, but did show samples from at least a few other men, when the alleged victim said she had not had sex with anyone except her boyfriend in over a week (as I recall) was bad enough. When she then suddenly changed her story to say that she was now not sure that any of them had actually penetrated her vaginally, that should have made the whole thing as clear as Crystal to any prosecutor who was actually doing his job, especially since she had apparently insisted all along that they had vaginally penetrated her, that is up until the time absolutely none of their DNA was found inside her or on her - but the DNA from others was found. Well it should have made it clear as crystal, but it did not do so for Nifong. That he decided to drop rape charges and then charge the lacrosse players with sexual assault and kidnapping (as I recal) was unbelievable at best, and possibly criminal at worst, and just muddied the waters even more than before.

If I had ever worked with a prosecutor, in my law enforcement career, who did something along these lines, I may have arrested him myself; and if not, well I certainly would have reported him for what I would have believed to have been ethics violations. I think this guy saw his name in the headlines as the new prosecutorial star, saw his face on the TV news in the same light, saw himself as winning the next election - all because he saw those 4 young men were convicted prematurely in his mind by way of his own prejudice. His job is to see justice done, not to railroad anyone. As far as I am concerned, Nifong is a sham, not worth one penny that they pay him, and I think his election results should be negated, and he should be recalled and barred, and placed in jail if found guilty of prosecutorial misconduct. Throwing him off the case is only a start, and certainly does not appear to be enough. The state of NC will probably wind up paying big time settlements to the 4 lacrosse players, I believe, some of it should come out of Nifong's own pockets, and the alleged victim's too.y Yah that is right, I don't believe either one of them to be at all credible in this case, and think both should pay for it if proven to have concocted (individually or by way of conspiracy) the charges against the 4 young men.

All the best,
Glenn B

An Add on to my wish how Saddam Hussein...

... should spend his afterlife.

Below in my original post about the execution of Saddam Hussein, I wrote this:

If I believed in the devil, I would even toast Satan in the hopes he would take considerable care of Saddam's soul for eternity.

This morning, I saw a picture of a half naked and really beautiful looking young maiden (as in virgin, or at least that was what came to mind), and a thought came to me. Now I would like to add a little bit to the above sentiment:

With any luck, Satan would be able to figure out how to smuggle Saddam Hussein into heaven, in the form of the absolutely most beautiful heavenly young virgin of all; and then leave him there for all eternity. The thing is he would be left in heaven with the curse of being eternally instantly renewable as a virgin after each time one of the murderous dirtbag Muslim fanatics, who supposedly achieve Muslim heaven through death after killing innocents of other religions, have their way with him. Yes that would be my wish for how Saddam Hussein should spend eternity, if only the devil listened to me when I toasted him just after I thought of that one. Who knows, maybe he has listened, and Saddam Hussein is making a bunch men very happy in heaven.

Edited at 0037 12/31/06 to add: One of my buddies said he did not get it, so let me explain just in case someone else does not. It would hurt awfully bad after the first few hundred times the regular way, and what with all those fanatics blowing themselves up to get their virgins in heaven, good all femm Saddam appearing as the most beautiful, and as an eternally renewable virgin, would be getting more than his/her share. Of course though that still really skirts (no pun intended) the intended meaning, you see if he was put into heaven as a beautiful, eternally renewable virgin, that means he'd be getting it in the... Oh, let's just say he'd be getting a lot of Greek attention for eternity. Ouch, bloody ouch.... (if you don't get that, you are just tooooo nice).

Yeah, I know, I started off by saying if I believed in the devil, I would toast him in hopes he would take care of The Butcher of Baghdad. Well I am covering all bases; so hopefully he heard me when I raised my glass to him.



All the best,
Glenn B

Saddam Hussein, One More Quotable Quip...

...about him, that I find irresitable to repeat here, is to be found in the article Saddam Hussein's Brutal Reign Ends in the Gallows on FoxNews.com @ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,240117,00.html:

The quip was made by a man who lost 26 members of his family to the Butcher of Baghdad's death squads; a man who then was brave enough to come forward to testify against Saddam Hussein, and a man who was brave enough to act as witness to the execution:

"everybody wanted to make sure that he was really executed. Now, he is in the garbage of history,"

(Jawad Abdul-Aziz)

Some people just have a way with words.

All the best,
Glenn B

A Quotable Quip about Saddam Hussein...

...if ever there was one worth quoting, was reported on by CNN.com at: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/12/29/hussein/index.html

Saddam's body is in front me. It's over.

Click on the Image. (Image courtesy of Thomas T.)

Let me just add that it also has been reported on Foxnews.com, and on the BBC.com, that Iraqi television has reported Saddam Hussein was hanged. The BBC report had it happening just before at 0600
12/30/06.

Time for a celebratory drink now that The Butcher of Baghdad is dead, a nice 100 proof Rumple Minz. I will raise my glass in honorable memory of all the innocents he killed (estimated at up to one million by some). I will also toast and honor his captors, his prosecutors, those who were brave enough to give testimony against him, his judges, and his executioners. If I believed in the devil, I would even toast Satan in the hopes he would take considerable care of Saddam's soul for eternity.

I know it will not put an end to things in Iraq, but it put an end to a vile, murderous, thug - justice was done. As Michelle Malkin noted on her site: Sic Semper Tyrannis.

About the only other thing I can think of to say is: Good Riddance Dirtbag!

All the best,
Glenn B

Theodore Roosevelt on the Americanization of Immigrants

The following piece is, in essence, yet another of those things that I receive from time to time in my email. I had read it before, and thought that the claim in the email that this was from a speech by TR in 1907 seemed incorrect, and I also thought the wording was not quite right. So, I did a bit of checking. I discovered that many a website incorrectly attributes this to a speech made by President Roosevelt in 1907, that it should be correctly realized to be a letter he wrote in January 1919 some months after WWI and even closer to his own death, and that the example in the email to me was an abbreviated version.

I decided to reprint the full version of President roosevelt's letter about the Americanization of immigrants here. It was the last written piece, of a political nature, known to have been penned by President Theodore Roosevelt; and though it was written a long time ago, it still has a resounding amount of logic to it. The words he wrote, ever so appropriate then just after WWI, are just as applicable to immigrants entering our nation today. I believe the piece to be timeless in its nature as it regards immigrants coming into, and becoming part of, the United States of America.

The version below, was found at: http://67.19.222.106/politics/graphics/troosevelt.pdf; and the link to it was found at Snopes.com (and I note that Snopes.com did not have the complete version as the letter at the provided link appears to be).

January 3rd, 1919

Dear Mr. Hurd:

I cannot be with you and so all I can do is to wish you God speed. There must be no sagging back in the fight for Americanism merely because the war is over. There are plenty of persons who have already made the assertion that they believe the American people have a short memory and that they intend to revive all the foreign associations which most directly interfere with the complete Americanization of our people. Our principle in this matter should be absolutely simple. In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here does in good faith become an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with every one else ,for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn’t doing his part as an American. There can be no divided allegience here. Any man who says he is an American but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile. We have room for but one language here and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans,of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a pollyglot boarding house; and we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people.

Faithfully yours,


Mr. Richard K. Hurd,
59 Liberty
Street,
New York.

Note, I printed it just as it appeared in the letter, or at least I tried to get the spacing (which got messed up when I published here), punctuation, and even mistakes (such as "pollyglot" just the same. One other note, when TR wrote the words: "soul loyalty", I believe it was a play on words to mean both 'a loyalty of the soul or spirit', and a singular or 'sole loyalty', but that is just my hunch.

Now that you have read the above you can, whenever someone challenges strictly reformed immigration policy including removal of illegal aliens from the USA and the Americanization of legal aliens, reply with wisdom that transcends the ages about the particular subject.

As a matter of fact, it might be a good idea to send a copy of that letter to our elected officials, citing it properly, and then including our own ideas on the subject, so that our politicians get the idea that only immigrants who will obey the laws of this nation, and who truly show that they want to become Americanized, and then become good U.S. citizens, should be permitted to remain within our borders for any amount of time.

I do not believe I have ever heard it put better than in this letter as penned by TR.

Faithfully yours,

Glenn B

On a U.S. Citizen Becoming an Illegal Alien by Anon.

Today I received one of those emails, from my friend Gerry S., that just has to be shared with anyone who will read it. I obviously do not have the email addresses of those of you who read my rants, so I figured to post it here. Here it is; and remember that after you read it, you may want to pass it on, not only to friends, but also printed and signed and in a stamped envelope addressed to your elected officials:

Becoming Illegal (From an Iowa resident to his senator)

The Honorable Tom Harkin
731 Hart Senate Office Building Phone
(202) 224 3254
Washington DC , 20510

Dear Senator Harkin,

As a native Iowan and excellent customer of the Internal Revenue Service, I am writing to ask for your assistance. I have contacted the Department of Homeland Security in an effort to determine the procedures for becoming an illegal alien, and they referred me to you.

My primary reason for wishing to change my status from U.S. Citizen to illegal alien stem from the bill which was recently passed by the Senate and for which you voted. If my understanding of this bill's provisions is accurate, as an illegal alien who has been in the United States for five years, all I need to do to become a citizen is to pay a $2,000 fine and income taxes for three of the last five years. I know a good deal when I see one and I am anxious to get the process started before everyone figures it out. Simply put, those of us who have been here legally have had to pay taxes every year so I'm excited about the prospect of avoiding two years of taxes in return for paying a $2,000 fine. Is there any way that I can apply to be illegal retroactively? This would yield an excellent result for me and my family because we paid heavy taxes in 2004 and 2005.

Additionally, as an illegal alien I could begin using the local emergency room as my primary health care provider. Once I have stopped paying premiums for medical insurance, my accountant figures I could save almost $10,000 a year. Another benefit in gaining illegal status would be that my daughter would receive preferential treatment relative to her law school applications, as well as "in-state" tuition rates for many colleges throughout the United States for my son. Lastly, I understand that illegal status would relieve me of the burden of renewing my driver's license and making those burdensome car insurance premium payments. This is very important to me given that I still have college age children driving my car.

If you would provide me with an outline of the process to becoming illegal (retroactively if possible) and copies of the necessary forms, I would be most appreciative. Thank you for your assistance. Your Loyal Constituent,

(Insert Your Name)

Get your Forms (NOW)!! Call your Internal Revenue Service 1-800-289-1040. Please pass this on to your friends so they can save on this great offer!!!!

That was it, in its entirety as sent to me. I have to admit, I find it woderfully written and quite amusing, but I also think that if enough of our elected officials received this letter, they may get the point. My copies will be in the mail today to Senators Clinton and Schummer and to Representative McCarthy.

All the best,
Glenn B
rr

Maybe You Know Him - Please Take A Look...

..at the picture to see if you can identify the man shown. He has been a patient at NY Presbyterian Hospital since October. He gave them a name - Norman Smith - and address in Fresh meadows, NY, but no one there knows him. A bit more info can be found at:
http://www.1010wins.com/pages/152863.php?contentType=4&contentId=264445

I know it is a long shot that one of my few readers will recognize him, but hey you never know until you give it a shot.

If you do reconize him, the hospital can be contacted at: (212) 305-2222.


All the best,
Glenn B

More Anti-Gun Balderdash from New York - reclassifying years old crimes as homicides based on deaths today

NEW YORK — Gangs, drugs, easy access to guns and a disturbing tendency among young people to pull guns to demand respect were among the causes authorities cited in trying to explain this year's increase in murders in New York and many other major cities after years of decline.

The above is from the artcile: Murders Are Up In New York, Other Cities found at: http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Dec28/0,4670,MurderToll,00.html

I believe the truth of the matter to be that young thugs would not be quite so ready to pull guns on good citizens, or to try to rob them or otherwise commit acts of violence against them, if they believed the good citizen was likely to be armed for self defense with a handgun. It only makes sense, and it has been proven correct in many communities wherein the good people are allowed to carry concealed firearms for self defense.

Of course there can be a reason other than unarmed good citizens, in places like New York, that account for this so called spike in violent crime. New York, according to this same article, which almost immedaitely seemingly contradicts itself as to the cause of the spike in crime, has reclassified a large number of deaths as homicides.

• The spike mostly reflects an unusually large number of "reclassified homicides," or those involving victims who were shot or stabbed years ago but did not die until this year. Thirty-five such deaths have been added to this year's toll, compared with an annual average of about a dozen.

This is a purely ultra leftist ploy to try to get people to think that gun violence is on the rise. You see what New York City officials are doing is, in essence, saying: 'Hey Joe Schmoe was shot 35 years ago, and he just died this year. Let's say that his death was directly due to the wounds he received 15 years ago." Now mind you, as far as I am aware, there is no direct cause and effect over this 35 year period. It is not like Joe Schmoe was in a hospital in a coma all that time directly because of a gunshot wound. Rather my understanding is that: Joe Schmoe developed some form of physical ailment after being shot, and he later died, as a direct result of that ailment, and that ailment was maybe indirectly (and I mean indirectly in a big way) related to the wounds he received back then.

Let's say Joe Schmoe, typical NYC working guy, lost a lung when shot many years ago by some thug during a robbery. Yesterday, he died of some breathing related disease that killed off his remaining lung. Aah, there it is says New York, he died due to being shot 35 years ago, because if he still had his other lung he would be alive. They do not consider that if he had his other lung, it too would most likely have been effected by the malady from which Joe really died. They try to make this death out to be directly related to the gun shot, which it is obviously not. I may have that wrong, but that is how it was described to me. This is typical New York City balderdash, and is probably supported whole heartedly by that ultra leftist Democrat (except when it comes to his making money) in Republicans garb, Mayor Bloomberg. What insanity, what rabid anti-gun lunacy, what out and out balderdash, but I expect little more from the rabid anti-gun crowd!

All the best,

Glenn B

The Reported Outrageous Tom Brokaw Comments About Gerald Ford's Children...

... are covered marvelously, as she usually covers any topic, on Debbie Schlussel's site @
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2006/12/most_inane_tom.html The comments had to do with Gerald Ford's sons allegedly bringing dates into the White House, and maybe even to the Lincoln bedroom. It was, in my opinion, tasteless, but I would not expect more from Brokaw. One has to wonder if he is stoned when he makes comments like these.

It comes as no surprise to me that the ultra whacko liberal media, or should I just say the mainstream media (mainstream for the media anyhow), would come out with something as disrespectful as the remarks made by Brokaw virtually immediately after the death of a U.S. President, and one who was impeccable in character at that. If Brokaw really said that, he should be ashamed of himself, and he needs to apologize post haste. Of course, 'should be' and what he probably 'will be' are very likely far apart as I figure he is most likely proud of himself for being a flagrant mud slinger.

All the best,
Glenn B

It Is About Time That Some Nation Gets It Right...

...in the war against Islamo-Fascism.

As per the article Ethiopians take key Somali town, found on the BBC.com at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6211573.stm:

Ethiopian troops and Somali government forces have taken the strategic Somali town of Jowhar from Islamist militias.

Yes, in Ethiopia and Somalia they know that the threat is real, and they are facing it down with force as required. Once again Islamic Fascists have tried to conquer another country and place it under Islamic law, but this time they have failed so far.

Jowhar is a former stronghold of the Union of Islamic Courts, and its loss leaves the Islamists with control of little more than Somalia's coast.

Just note the name of the Islamic group that sought to take over in Somalia - The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). Can you imagine that there are left wingers in this country who support Islamists with every breathg, yet those same people constantly harangue conservatives and Republicans here at home! Isn't it clear yet, that the goal of Islamic fascists is to conquer the world, and that maybe this is the goal of islam itself? Remember we are the Infidels as per the Q'ran. We must be dealt with by conversion or the sword - that is unless of course - we fight back and kick their butts before they have a chance to win.

Kudos to those in Ethiopia who have realized this. Now if only they can get their own acts in order and do something else good for their people.

All the best,
Glenn B

He was an impeccably respectable president,...

...in fact there were no scandals in the Whitehouse of Gerald Ford that come to my mind right now.

He was a statesman and politician long before he became vice president or president.

He was the only president never to have been elected to either the position of vice president or president.

He was the president under whom the war in Vietnam ended, and he was loyal to our allies, even though that war was started and botched by others, he sensibly believed we should have seen it through:

"It has been said that the United States is overextended, that we have too many commitments far from home, that we must re-examine what our truly vital interests are and shape our strategy to conform to them..."

"I find no fault with this as a theory, but in the real world such a course must be pursued carefully. We cannot, in the meantime, abandon our friends while our adversaries support and encourage theirs.". (Do those complaints he mentioned sound familiar.)

His presidency had its controversy:

He was appointed to the vice presidency to replace Spiro Agnew who had left it in disgrace.

He took the presidential reins after the Nixon resignation.

He pardoned President Richard M. Nixon.

Very shortly thereafter, he pardoned the Vietnam war draft dodgers.

He had a very good outlook about government, later echoed by his intra-party rival Ronald Reagan:

"A government big enough to give us everything we want is a government big enough to take from us everything we have."

He helped tone down the nuclear threat.

He was a survivor.

He survived WWII in the U.S. Navy.

He survived media attacks that attempted to make him look as if he was physically bumbling and clumsy; yet all the while he was quite the adroit athlete. (Now as then, they in the mainstream media, do all in their power to distort the man at the helm when they do not agree with his policies. When they could not attack his impeccable character, they trumped up claims of his being physically clumsy, and sometimes apparently set him up to literally take a fall. )

He survived a Congress that was stacked in favor of the Democrats, and that had little regard for his views or his presidency; and he used his presidential veto 38 times while trying to do the right thing for the United States of America.

He survived two assassination attempts unharmed.

He survived a long time; he was the oldest living president, passing away at 93.

May the heavens receive him kindly.

My condolences to his family, loved ones, and to the nation; he will be sorely missed.

All the best,
Glenn B

My Own Merry Christmas To Me...

...or in other words the Christmas gifts I gave to myself.

This year I bought myself a few gifts while doing all of my othe shopping. About a week or so ago, I picked up a bottle of Glenfidich, 12 year old, single malt scotch; it came with two nice rocks glassses. I meant it as a gift for someone else at the time, then I found that person a better gift, so I kept it. Not a bad deal. The set cost the same as a bottle of it would have cost - without the glasses.

Then, a few days ago, I picked up a bottle of Jagermeister. It came in a "Pewter Shooter Pack" as per the box. Once again, a nice gift idea, but this one bought with myself in mind. The price of this one was the same as for a bottle of the stuff, without the pewter shot glass/stag's head bottle cover.
Then on Saturday, I bought myself a large Lava Lamp. If you don't know what is a Lava Lamp, well you are either too young, or old enough but not into the psychadelic scene (not that I ever was into it, I just liked the light).

Out of the three gifts, with which I exercised the liberty of self indulgence, I guess my favorite is the Pewter Shooter Pack from Jagermeister. The really neat thing about that is, I also got a bottle of Jagermeister from my sister and brother-in-law for a Christmas gift. I mean what could be better than one bottle but two.

Now allow me to enjoy the ambrosia of the hunt master.

If you have never indulged yourself during the Christmas season, or for your own birthday, or some other celebration - I suggest you give it a try. While being nice to others is nice, it is also a good thing to be nice to yourself now and then.

Merry Christmas and good night,
Glenn B

New Version of Blogger - have any of my readers, who also blog, switched to this?

I was just wondering if any of you who blog on Blogger, have switched to the new version? If so, what do you think of it? Is it better, worse, the same? Is there any real benefit to switching? What is the deal with having to have a Google account? Are you required to have advertisers under the new system?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Glenn B

Holiday Humor: Two Different Types of Season's Greetings - pick one to suit yourself

My friend Don S. sent me the following in an email, I'll bet you can figure which one of the two Season's Greetings were applicable to me.

For My Democrat Friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted Calendar Year 2007, but not without due respect for the Calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere . Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee. By accepting these greetings, you are accepting the aforementioned terms as stated. This greeting is not subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself/himself/others, and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.



For My Republican Friends:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Oh well, whatever. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND GOOD NIGHT

All the best,
Glenn B

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Before I hit the hay, let me say: Merry Christmas

I just finished wrappng the last of the presents, a few little ones and one pretty hefty one. I can tell you that lugging the weight bench in from the garage to the cellar, where I planned to assemble it, was almost hernia producing as it slipped when I tried to take it down the stairs. Once down there, I opened the box to assemble the bench, but when I read the directions I saw it requires some wrenches in sizes I do not have. So back up the stairs it went to lie in its box next to the Christmas tree where I draped a piece of wrapping paper over it (why waste the paper trying to wrap a box that big)! I would have had my son help me with it earlier, except of course since it is for him. That was it; so then I boomed out a hearty Ho-Ho-Ho (as I do each Christmas in the early AM, yes it is Christmas here already).

All done, I decided to pour myself a nightcap in the form of a dollop of Glenlivet on the rock (one big ice cube, so no not on the rocks). I am enjoying that between keystrokes right now. I needed it, and I do not usually say I needed a drink. It was a long but pretty nice day with the wife's mom and brothers over; and we also had three family friends over too, plus my daughter's boyfriend. Great food, lots of holiday cheerfulness, and a little holiday tension, but nothing major.

Today was the first Christmas Eve on which I did not go shopping in memory for many years. I cannot remember not shopping on Christmas Eve ever since I was about 8 or 9 years old or so. Oh well, I will resume the tradition next year.

I guess that is it for now, except to say again:

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL, whoever you are, I hope you enjoy a merry day today.

All the best,
Glenn B

A Sad Christmas Season Story, SFPD Officer Killed

At 0001 hours (12:01 AM), one minute into Christmas Eve, life support was removed from San Franciso Police Department Officer Bryan Tuvera. He was just 28 years old, and was a four year veteran of the SFPD.

He was shot, apparently on December 23rd, while trying to arrest Marlon Ruff. Ruff was a fugitive who had escaped, two years ago, from a minimum security facility, reportedly after having been convicted of robbery, and after having been convicted, previous to the robbery, on firearms charges. At the time of the robbery years ago, Ruff reportedly already was out on probation for the firearms crime. Yet, despite his becoming a repeat offender, despite a robbery conviction after a previous firearms conviction, he was in a minimum security prison camp. Amazing how criminals are allowed to walk, or are placed into minimum security facilities with multiple convictions on their records. I think it is time to get tough on criminals, especially on repeat felony offenders, and violent felons, and treat them like the dirtbags I beleive them to be. Let them do hard time for a long time. Letting them out on the street, or trying to rehabilitate them, or incarecerate them them in minimum security work camps just seem not to work, and all too often can lead to tragedies like this one.

Now though, Ruff will walk no more, nor will he ever escape again. This is thanks to Tuvera's partner who returned fire, and hit Ruff several times. Ruff died at the scene. As regards to Ruff, if the article reported it correctly, I can only say: good riddance; and good shooting to Officer Tuvera's partner.

More info can be found in this article: OFFICER WAS SLAIN BY ESCAPEE 2 YEARS ON THE RUN: Prison-camp fugitive died in S.F. garage after killing policeman. Read the article here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/12/24/MNGFHN5GCR1.DTL.

My hearfelt condolences go to the family, loved ones, and fellow officers of Officer Tuvera.
He was, and remains, our brother behind the shield.


With heavy heart,
Glenn B

A Different Type of Christmas Story...

...has unfolded due to the men and women of the United States Postal Service. As you all are probably aware, Colorado and Wyoming were socked with a blizzard that dumped feet of snow on them over the past few days. Because of the snowstorm, lots of things got backed up, like the airlines who cancelled all flights in the areas, the roads that were buried under feet of snow, the stores that just did not open, and so on. It was a bad blizzard. One of the other things that got badly backed up was the mail. There was just no way to make deliveries of packages that had not even arrived in the area yet due to no air service, and local deliveries were hampered also.

So what to do in a situation like that? Well the post office asked for volunteers, to deliver mail on a Sunday. Sunday deliveries are a very unusual thing indeed, at least nowadays. What made it even more unusual, of course, is that the particular Sunday for those deliveries is today - Christmas Eve 2006. So what do you think happened? Did they get a few volunteers to deliver the 300,000 packages that arrived in Colorado and Wyoming on this Saturday? No they did not!

I guess I could not blame anyone for not volunteering to work on Sunday, no matter what your religion, if only because it is usually a day off. Furthermore, I could not blame anyone who did not want to work on Christmas Eve either. I mean, how could I, or you, find fault with anyone for wanting to have this day off. So instead of getting a few volunteers to deliver the backed up, and soon to be late for Christmas mail, what did the post office get? They got 1,500 postal employee volunteers to deliver the mail, that is what they got. Whether they are getting overtime or not, can you imagine that!

Fifteen hundred postal service employees volunteered to in essence play Santa's helpers to get the delayed holiday mail delivered on time. According to the article 1,500 Mail Carriers Work on Christmas Eve to Deliver Blizzard-Delayed Packages in Colorado and Wyoming , found at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,238680,00.html, one of the mail carriers, Robin Smith, even delivered a big package addressed to GRANDMA.

"Smith said one elderly woman was overwhelmed when she knocked on her door and handed her a package.

"She looked very lonely and her car was buried" in snow, Smith said. "She was like, 'I didn't know I would see this.' I gave her a great big one. It was to 'Grandma.""

That is not all either. Tomorrow, 500 postal employees will continue to deliver mail in the blizzard struck area. That will be on Christmas day!

I tell you it chokes me up while I write about it. I think it will be a while before I complain about the U.S. Postal Service again! My hat, and my heart felt wishes for a wonderful holiday season, go out to the men and women of the U.S. Postal Service, today they certainly lived up to their image as seen in The Miracle On 34th Street when they delivered the mail into the courtroom and helped prove Kris Kringle was Santa Claus. Sure that was only a movie, but who would have ever thought the Postal Service doing such a nice thing, as what they did today, would happen in real life. Just wonderful, that’s what it is, just wonderful!

Merry Christmas to each and every U.S. Postal Service employee; no matter if you celebrate Christmas or not, I just truly hope each of you has a merry day tomorrow, especially all of you who volunteered to do this really nice thing.

Merry Christmas,
Glenn B

It's Christmas Eve...

...last chance for shopping for Christmas presents for this year anyhow. If you have not gotten her (or him, or them) the right gift yet, then get yee to a mall real soon. The stores around here have been opening their doors anywhere from 0600 (6AM) through about 0900 (9AM), and staying open late, though they probably will close early tonight. That should still give you plenty of time, if they open that early near you.

All my must do shopping is done, first time ever before Christmas Eve. I usually go out for quite a few things on Christmas Eve, but this year I'll only be looking for a few extras today, so to speak.

We have family (the wife's side) coming over later, and a couple or few friends too. Should be a nice afternoon and evening. As for me, it is about 0045 hours, time to hit the hay, so I will hopefully get up early enough to bake in the morning (since I slouched on that to/last night).

Enjoy the day.

All the best,
Glenn B

Was There An Inspiration For The Christmas Mouse?

By The Christmas Mouse, I am referring to the poem I wrote, it is a few posts, or so, down from this one. Sure there was an inspiration, real live ones at that. Yes, more than one, since I now have about 50 mice in my mouse breeding colonies. I also have a cat and 3 dogs, just like in the poem. In fact I was enjoying my second glass of red wine, when the thought hit me to pen a comical poem; but no - none of the mice got loose, and then got chased by my cat and dogs, and I really have never seen a mouse dressed in a Santa suit, I swear I have not!

I have seen some pretty neat looking mice though not in Santa suits, but rather in lots of color variations, and with variations of certain other characteristics such as short hair, long hair, curly hair, and nude (hairless). I've seen all of these because I have been breeding mice, on and off, for abut 20 years now. You already know that I keep snakes and other reptiles, as well as some amphibians too. Well, most of the snakes I have kept are rodent eaters, and one of the most convenient rodents to feed snakes is Mus musculus, the good old common House Mouse. While I breed some of them for food items for my snakes, I learned long ago that breeding and keeping mice is an interesting pursuit all its own. I now have quite a few that are never meant to wind up as snake food, but instead will lead good and long mouse lives, as far as mouse lives can be called long.

A few of the color varieties I currently have are pictured here. The top one above is an Agouti (at least I think it is). The next one down is a Dove (pink eyed, light dove gray color). The next one is a Fawn, with pink eyes (they can also have black eyes). Finally the last one shown, is a fawn with black eyes.


These guys make great and interesting pets for folks with limited space, who do not have the time to give to a pet like a dog. They are also good pets for children, from about age 8 on up, with adult supervision at least until the child is in the mid teens and well familiar with caring for them. They rarely bite, but of course they can bite. They can be a bit smelly, usually if you have a male in a group or even alone. Males have smelly urine, while females urine has little noticeable odor. If you want to keep a pet mouse, or pet mice, and don't want that male urine smell, then just keep females. They get along fine with one another. Domestic house mice are easy to care for. Keep em clean by cleaning their enclosure at least once per week (twice at most), feed em once daily, supply fresh drinking water in a gravity bottle, keep them in a secure cage or tank, and they make great inexpensive pets that will live about 1 to 1 1/2 years. Keep a male and female together, and you can develop your own seemingly endless supply of pet mice. Give em an exercise wheel and watch em go, go, go... Let em escape (accidentaly of course, never on purpose) and really watch em go - forever gone - especially if you also have a cat and three dogs. Yes, some of mine have escaped before, so I know!

All the best,
Glenn B

The Transformation of Glenn

Yes it is still me as can be evidenced by the same fat neck and crow's feet around the corners of my eyes. Still though, I have to admit that the barber did a pretty good job handling his shears, and chopping away at my mane - so husbands beware - your turn may be next if your wives see these photos. My wife was pretty happy with the results. Now if only I would lose a few pounds, like 40 or so, she would be a lot happier, and so would I.

Oh well, all things in moderation, so a little improvement at a time, I guess. This particular improvement will make for all that better Christmas get togethers with our families because Linda will be happy that I shaped up a bit.

Besides going to the barber shop today, I got virtually all of my shopping finished. Of course, for me it isn't Christmas unless I shop on Christmas Eve, so I will be out again tomorrow getting some little odds and ends, for extra special (but not necessarily extra expensive) presents, that happen to catch my eye. You know, maybe a nice piece of lingerie for my wife, a good book for my daughter Celina, and a gadget of some sort (like the hunting or shooting sort) for my son Brendan.

Speaking of Brendan, since I was out so long shopping, he decided to fire up the barbecue, and he cooked the bear meat I had in the fridge. It was ever so delicious - both the marinated piece and the plain piece he saved for me. A great meal to which to come home, I assure you; MMMMM - mmmm GOOOOOOOOOD!

If I am up to it tonight, I just may bake an apple strudel. If not that ambitious after all other have hit the hay in our house, I may make an apple pie and a loaf of bread for tomorrow's breakfast. Got to stay in that holiday spirit and get something like that done. Hopefully my lack of a good night's sleep last night will not have me crashing before I bake at least one delectable.

All the best,
Glenn B

The Wife Told Me To Get A Haircut

Yes that is me, a photo I just took a few minutes ago. Scary isn't it; or would repulsive be a better word?

So my wife told me I need to get a haircut and clean myself up for Christmas Eve and Christmas. I can't imagine why she would think so, I think I look just - well how should I say it - I look just like me. It may not be the best I have looked in a while, but then again I guess 4 1/2 hours of sleep last night can help do that to a person.

Oh well, Linda does not want to hear about me missing sleep, or any other excuses from me, she wants me to get myself a haircut, and probably expects me to trim my mustache, and shave the rest of my mug.

I guess, that in the Christmas spirit, I should do just that. So I am about to be off to the barber for a