Lethal here folks~

Due to an on going and continuing family emergency at the Dragon’s lair today’s issue of Dragonlaffs will be delayed.

While I am unable to estimate the exact length of the delay I have spoken with the Dragon and he has indicated he does intend to get it out just as soon as he has the present situation more of less behind him and is able to devote a spare minute to it.

Thank you for your patience and understanding> For those of you whom are not being patient and understanding please rest assured we are sending your names to Santa in time for the last minute update of his “Naughty or Nice List”.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled last weekend before Christmas insanity.

Giggle…snort. chuckle..Ahemm Leprechaun here folks… (lord I just love doing that and hearing the panic it incites!)

Only one more issue of Leprechaun Laughs after this for me before Christmas. Things keep going the way they are going and I MIGHT even manage find a little Christmas cheer and not of the bottled high octane kind. I’ve already been presented with a Christmas miracle,

Impish really IS doing the Christmas Special Issue this year!

Good thing too because I’ll be busy cooking a Christmas dinner ahead of time for Molly and I so she doesn’t have to wash anything Christmas Day. Then there are the decorations to put up which we have delayed doing until our plans for Christmas were firmly cemented (No sense decorating for the cats, especially if we want to have any decorations left when we return).

Then of course there is the standing in line at the Post Office to mail packages to my family in Connecticut while suffering canned out of date Christmas tunes with women liberally wearing enough competing perfume scents to drowned out a skunks stench and moronic nosey clerks demanding to invade your privacy by unlawfully requiring you to reveal the contents of your packages to them. I manage a little revenge by this point by answering that question as loudly as possible “marital aids and advanced sex toys, would you like to try them to prove they are real?”

Needless to say that’s a trip Molly sees to it I make myself or waits in the car for.

 

18 years before I get any coffee? How will I ever make it? 

One Reason For Our Economic Woes

I’m sure Impish will talk about the origins of Santa and the traditions here in the US of A so I’m not going to go into all that. I’ll just tell you a bit about the best place in the world (aside from home) to be for Christmas and what goes on there.

Ireland, like most countries, has a number of Christmas traditions that are all of its own. Many of these customs have their root in the time when the Gaelic culture and religion of the country were being suppressed and it is perhaps because of that they have survived into modern times.

People attend Mass, exchange gifts and, decoration of trees. But something is different in Irish Christmas that makes it unique. There are Twelve Days of Christmas in Ireland. Christmas in Ireland ends with the Feast of Epiphany on January 6. It is also called Little Christmas. As Ireland is strictly a religious country, Ireland’s Christmas is more sacred than fun.

LEAD UP PREPARATIONS

Preparations for Christmas in Ireland start early, particularly in preparing special food for the festive season. Christmas Puddings and Christmas cakes rich with fruit and nuts and moistened with Guinness (Irish stout) and or brandy are made and stored to mature. Later the cakes are covered in marzipan icing then royal icing and decorated in all manner of ways. Perhaps applying icing with an icing nozzle or simply roughing up the surface with a knife to be the base for a snow scene. Edible silver balls can be used, or plastic figures of snowmen, Santas or Christmas trees.

Mincemeat is made using dried fruit and suet. In the olden days it really contained minced meat.These days it can also be bought ready made in supermarkets. This is later used for making mince pies, or larger mince tarts. Traditionally shortcrust pastry is used but these days anything goes, flakey pastry,rough puff pastry or even filo. The pies tend to get eaten at tea times, or after carol singing with brandy butter and /or cream.

Spiced beef is made too. It used to be made at home but these days most butchers have their own secret recipes and you can buy the meat “ready spiced” from them. It takes about three weeks for the beef to absorb the spices before it’s cooked. It leaves the meat pink in the centre with an almost black “crust” of spices and a quite unique flavor. It can be served hot or cold and many Irish people in Southern Ireland will eat it at some time over the festive season.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Christmas was a family affair. Sons and daughters working away from home were expected to spend time with their parents, especially Christmas Eve. All tried to finish their work early in order to reach home before nightfall. The last of the preparations were concluded, usually for the next day’s feast–the most plentiful and extravagant one of the year.

Shortly after dark a large candle, often in a sconce made from a turnip, was placed in a prominent window and lighted to show the Holy Family that there was room and a welcome in that house. The candle would be extinguished at dawn, before going to the early Mass, or if the family was fire conscious, at midnight upon retiring. In some households, candles would be lit for the family members as well.

The traditional Christmas Eve meal consisted of fish, usually hake or cod with creamed potatoes. This was a fast day, and often no food was taken until the main meal.

On Christmas Eve the children are all very excited, as Father Christmas (Santa) is going to visit. Many put stockings at the end of their beds for him to fill with small gifts, others use pillowcases. Traditionally in the morning of Christmas Day when they open them there will be an apple in the toe and an orange (these days a satsuma or tangerine) in the heel.

Late at night a lot of people go to Midnight Mass (Catholic) or Midnight Service (Church of Ireland) to see in Christmas Day. Communion is usually taken at this service. Churchgoers listen to readings from the Bible and sing Christmas Carols. Returning home in the small hours of the morning many will warm up with mincepies, mulled wine or good old fashioned Irish Coffee before bed. Some even open all their Christmas gifts then, in the middle of the night.

THE LADEN TABLE

After evening meal on Christmas eve the kitchen table was again set and on it were placed a loaf of bread filled with caraway seeds and raisins, a pitcher of milk and a large lit candle. The door to the house was left unlatched so that Mary and Joseph, or any wandering traveler, could avail of the welcome.

Christmas preaches universal brotherhood. So, as the tradition prevails, people give cash gifts to milkman, milkmaid, servant, etc¦but this is done on St. Stephen’s day. Pantomime plays are preformed on this day and there is a reversal of the roles enacted by characters, that is, males perform the roles of females and vice versa.

THE CANDLE IN THE WINDOW

People place lighted candles in windows believing that Joseph and Mary might be looking for shelter. Irish candles are red colored and decorated with sprig of holly. The candle also indicated a safe place for priests to perform mass as, during Penal Times this was not allowed. A further element of the tradition is that the candle should be lit by the youngest member of the household and only be extinguished by a girl bearing the name ‘Mary’.

After the candle was lit, the real celebration began. The iced Christmas cake, for weeks primed with good Irish whiskey, was cut, and tea was poured. The children enjoyed sweets around the fire until it was time for prayers and bed. Sometime during the night, the rotund visitor made an appearance, and children woke to stockings filled with an assortment of practical but welcome gifts.

THE WREN BOY PROCESSION

During Penal Times there was once a plot in a village against the local soldiers. They were surrounded and were about to be ambushed when a group of wrens pecked on their drums and awakened the soldiers. The plot failed and the wren became known as ‘The Devil’s bird’.

Wren boys are also popular in Ireland and Christmas is incomplete without any reference to them. Boys wander in streets and while singing ask money for the starving wren.

On St. Stephens day a procession takes place where a pole with a holly bush is carried from house to house and families dress up in old clothes and with blackened faces. In olden times an actual wren would be killed and placed on top of the pole.
This custom has to a large degree disappeared but the tradition of visiting from house to house on St. Stephens Day has survived and is very much part of Christmas.

DECORATIONS:

The placing of a ring of Holly on doors originated in Ireland as Holly was one of the main plants that flourished at Christmas time and which gave the poor ample means with which to decorate their dwellings.  All decorations are traditionally taken down on Little Christmas (January 6th.) and it is considered to be bad luck to take them down beforehand.

TRADITIONAL GAELIC SALUTATION

The Gaelic greeting for ‘Merry Christmas’ is: ‘Nollaig Shona Duit’……which is pronounced as ‘null-ig hun-a dit’.  
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Next week we’ll cover Christmas Day and it’s aftermath (what after all that you didn’t think we’d be content with a single day of celebration did you?)

How’s this for a Christmas yard decoration …

The folks who own the property always have eye-catching displays celebrating various ‘holidays’ through the year… this year for Yuletide they have certainly outdone themselves!

Now 2 comments come to mind:

1.) It’s not bad enough that the Air Force is disrespecting the bodies of our dead heroes and burying them in a medical waste landfill, now they are taking kamikaze measures against Santa!

2.) How does Captain Scrooge write this one up? Bird strike? Mid-air collision? UFO incident?

 SPEAKING of celebrating, what is Christmas without some special drinks to help celebrate. Both these are family friendly and any alcohol (except for in Santa’s cup) is strictly optional.

Christmas Coffee

Prep Time: 1 mins

• Total Time: 1 mins
• Servings: 1

About This Recipe

“Ice cream replaces the cream and sugar…a fun little treat I invented when craving a holiday coffee drink from Starbucks! For different flavors, try vanilla or eggnog ice cream. If you know of another yummy one, please share it in your review :D”

Ingredients

• 5 ounces coffee
• 1/4-1/2 cup mint chip ice cream ( more as needed)

Directions

1. Stir ice cream into freshly brewed coffee, taste for sweetness, and add more ice cream if needed.
2. Stir well to keep chocolate chips from sticking to the bottom of the cup.
3. You may drink it like this, but if you want it hot, put it in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir again.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 (175 g)

Servings Per Recipe: 1

Calories 75.3

Calories from Fat 35 47%   Total Fat 3.9g 6%  Saturated Fat 2.4g 12%

Cholesterol 15.8mg 5%   Sugars 7.6 g   Sodium 30.2mg 1%

Total Carbohydrate 9.0g 3%   Dietary Fiber 0.2g  1%

Sugars 7.6 g 30%   Protein 1.4g 2%

Creamy Eggnog Punch With Spiced Rum

Prep Time: 10 mins

• Total Time: 10 mins
• Serves: 35, Yield: 1.5 gallons

About This Recipe

“This can be served with or without rum. No raw eggs. Fattening but it’s the holidays.”

Ingredients

• 1 gallon eggnog ice cream or 1 gallon vanilla ice cream
• 1/2 gallon eggnog
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 -2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 (16 ounce) containers frozen whipped topping, thawed
• spiced rum (optional)

garnish

• cinnamon sticks
• grenadine
• cherries

Directions

1. Scoop ice cream into a punch bowl.
2. Pour eggnog over ice cream, and sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon; stir in whipped topping.
3. To each glass add a shot of rum, then eggnog, one cinnamon stick, top with a couple of drops of grenadine and a cherry.
4. Serve immediately.
5. Stir, as needed.

 

2011 Christmas Lights- Thank You Troops and Veterans!

 

Christmas Presents

Here are ten useful phrases for responding to Christmas presents you would rather not have received:

1. Thanks a lot!
2. My word! What a gift.
3. Well, well, well …
4. If I hadn’t put on so much weight recently it would have fitted me perfectly.
5. Gosh, I hope I never lose this. We’re always losing things around here.
6. It’s great; but I’m worried about the envy it may create.
7. Just my luck to get this on the very Christmas I promised to give all my gifts to charity.
8. Unfortunately, I am about to enter the Witness Protection Program.
9. Frankly, I don’t deserve this.
10. Really, you shouldn’t have.

 

Christmas Holiday

Mrs. Oppenheimer decided to get away from the often inclement weather of New York and spend Christmas in the deep South of the USA. Being unfamiliar with that part of the world she wandered into a ‘restricted’ hotel and said ‘Hi. I’m Mrs Oppenheimer and I’d like a room for the next week.’ ‘I’m very sorry,’ said the manager, but all our rooms are taken. Just as he said that a customer came to the desk and unexpectedly checked out. ‘How lucky’ responded Mrs. Oppenheimer, ‘Now you have a room for me.’ ‘Look, I’m very sorry’ said the manager, but this is a restricted hotel. Jews are not allowed here. ‘Jewish! Whaddya mean Jewish. I happen to be a Catholic.’ ‘That takes some believing’ said the manager. Tell me, who was the Son of God?’ ‘Jesus.’ she replied ‘Where was he born?’ ‘In a stable in Bethlehem….. simply because some Schmuck like you wouldn’t rent a room to a Jew.’

 

Today we’ve two timely warning regarding hackers trying to use the holidays as a ruse to get to your computer

WARNING: Do Not Open Email From USPS Delivery, It’s A Virus

By George Gombossy | Last updated Nov 27, 2011, 5:55 pm

I thought I could spot virus emails without much trouble.

Well I got nailed today by an email claiming that my package had been addressed incorrectly and that I should open the attachment to help reclaim the package from the post office.

I had just sold a camera on eBay and rushed to mail it after the snow storm.

So it was easy for me to imagine that I mislabeled the package.

As soon as I opened the attachment my virus protection AVAST – locked on it and cleaned it out.

Unfortunately I had sent it to the person who paid for the camera. I quickly sent him another email warning him of the spam.

This is the way it looks:

—–Original Message—–
From: U.S. Postal Service [mailto:u.s.postal.service@usps.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 8:28 AM
To: george@ctwatchdog.com
Subject: USPS Delivery Failure Notification

Hello!

Unfortunately we failed to deliver the postal package you have sent on the 19th of September in time because the recipient’s address is erroneous.

Please print out the shipment label attached and collect the package at our office.

United States Postal Service

Vicious Computer Virus Attacks Increase During Holiday Shopping Seasons

By George Gombossy | Last updated Nov 30, 2011, 12:00 pm

Denise Talbot was right to worry about an email she received recently telling her that her computer spam filter program needed to be renewed.

Looking at the email from AVG, she noticed that the word license was misspelled, and there was a second typo, making her suspicious and asking my opinion on whether it was an attempt to gain her personal information.

As it turned out, before I could get back to her, Talbot, who lives in Central Connecticut, did her own homework, called the company, and discovered that in fact her AVG (an anti-spam program) license was set to expire in 30 days.

One can’t be too careful especially during the gift-giving season, when crooks use all kinds of phishing schemes, some incredibly sophisticated, to gain access to your Social Security number, a common password you use, your birthday, or to plant a virus in your computer and even in your printer that will provide them with sensitive banking information.

In the last 30 days I have been barraged with not only stupid emails telling me I have won hundreds of millions of dollars, but with emails that I had to study carefully before deleting them unopened for fear of a viral attack. Unfortunately, I even got sucked into opening one that was about to plant a virus if my AVAST spam program had not immediately killed it.

I had recently sold a camera on eBay and rushed to mail it to the buyer during the last storm. Two weeks later I received an email from what appeared to be the post office telling me that my package was misaddressed and was returned to my local post office. I was directed to open the attachment to print out a copy of my receipt to pick up the package.

Stupidly, I opened the attachment – after I had forwarded the email to the camera buyer apologizing for having failed to properly note his address. Thankfully I was able to contact him before he opened the email.

After writing about that incident on CtWatchdog.com, I received comments from some saying that they also fell victim and their computers were fried as the result.

More recently I received an email from an old boss that included what appeared to be a joke. He had never before sent that kind of email so I warned him that he was probably a victim of a hack. He was.

Two others that I keep getting almost every day are very alarming.

One warns me that my email account is almost to the limit and asks me to take the following steps:

“To increase your E-mail Quota Limit to 2.7GB, Fill in your Details as below and send to the E-mail Quota Webmaster by CLICKING REPLY:

EMAIL ADDRESS:

USERNAME:

PASSWORD:

CONFIRM PASSWORD:

DATE OF BIRTH:

Thank you for your understanding and corporation in helping us give you the Best of E-mail Service.”

I can see people falling for it.

The other one targets those who are awaiting responses from job searches.

Hello George

Thank you for submitting your information for potential employment opportunities.

We look forward to reviewing your application, but can not do so until you complete our internal application.

The pay range for available positions range from $35.77 per hour to $57.62 per hour.

Prior to begin able to be considered, you will first need you to formally apply.

Please go here to begin the process:

To protect yourself, you must have a strong spam filter. Do NOT click on any attachments unless you are 100 percent certain it is legit.

Do not respond to requests for id or password from eBay, Amazon or a bank, because these are all attempts to gain access to your account. A financial company would never ask you to send your id or password as part of an email.

And even when you receive emails from friends with attachments or suggestions to go to a website, reply to your friend or relative and ask if its for real.

 

Christmas Service

It was a cold and misty Christmas morning in the very depth of Winter after a heavy fall of snow and only one farmer and the minister managed to arrive at the church for the morning service. ‘Well’ said the clergyman ‘I guess there’s no point in having a service today.’ ‘Well that’s not how I see it. said the farmer. If only one cow turns up at feeding time, I still feed it.’

Red Neck Christmas Tree

Christmas In Brooklyn

From The Don Imus radio show; he is visited by a regular character: “Sal Minella.”

You’ll especially like this if you are a New Yorker or Italian…or both.

“This is funny – no matta who ya are!”

Christmas In Brooklyn

 

Orange Ricotta Pound Cake with Marmalade Glaze

Cake:

3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1 t salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups whole-milk ricotta cheese
3 large eggs, room temp
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 1/2 t vanilla extract
1 1/2 t orange zest (I used the zest of two oranges)

Glaze:

1/2 c orange marmalade
2 t water

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prep a 12-cup Bundt pan.

2. Combine together: flour, baking powder and soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.
3. With the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar at medium-high until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
4. Add ricotta cheese and beat until smooth.
5. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well. Scrap down sides of batter after each egg.
6. Beat in orange juice, vanilla and orange zest.
7. With mixer on low, slowly add the flour mixture. Scrap down the sides a few times. After the last addition, mix for 30 seconds on medium speed…but don’t over mix.
8. Pour batter into greased and floured (I use Pam with Flour spray) Bundt pan. Bake on the middle rack until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. It took my cake 55 minutes at 325 degrees. The instructions say “about 1 hour and 10 minutes” so please check early.
9. Cool cake in the pan for 15 minutes than depan onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before applying glaze.
10. For the glaze, heat the marmalade and water in a saucepan until everything is liquid. Brush it over the cake – I used a brush to coat the entire cake, but you can also just place on top and let it run down the sides. Let glaze cool before serving.

Mediterranean Crescent Pinwheels

Mediterranean flavors burst through layers of pastry in these pretty pinwheels.

Prep Time: 25 min
Total Time: 45
Servings: 20 appetizers

Ingredients

• 1 (8-oz.) can Pillsbury® Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls
• 1/2 lb. prosciutto or cooked ham, thinly sliced
• 4 oz. (1 cup) crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
• 6 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray. Separate dough into 4 rectangles; place on lightly floured surface. Firmly press perforations to seal. Press or roll each to form 8×5-inch rectangle.
2. Arrange 1/4 of prosciutto slices evenly over each rectangle. In small bowl, combine cheese, pepper and oil; mix well. Sprinkle mixture evenly over prosciutto on each rectangle. Sprinkle with basil.
3. Starting at short side of each rectangle, roll up; seal long edges. With serrated knife, cut each roll into 5 slices. Place, cut side up, on sprayed cookie sheets.
4. Bake at 375°F. for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheets. Serve warm.

Apple Cider Snickerdoodles

Recipe courtesy Food Network Kitchen

Prep Time: 20 min Inactive Prep Time: 25 min

Cook Time: 30 min Level: Easy

Serves: about 1 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups apple cider
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus 3 tablespoons for rolling
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons finely chopped red and green crispy apple chips, plus whole chips for garnish
• 2 teaspoons apple pie spice

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat the cider in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Continue to cook until syrupy and reduced to about 2 tablespoons, 12 to 14 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.

Whisk the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl until smooth. Beat the butter with 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar and the light brown sugar in a separate bowl on medium-high speed until fluffy and smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the reduced cider and the egg (the mixture may look slightly curdled). Stir in the flour mixture and 1/4 cup of the chopped apple chips until combined.

Stir together the remaining 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons of chopped apple chips and the apple pie spice in a small bowl. Roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls, using lightly moistened hands if the dough is too sticky, and then roll in the spiced sugar mixture. Place the dough balls 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets and top with a few pieces of whole apple chips. Bake until the edges are just set but centers are still soft, 11 to 13 minutes, rotating pans halfway through the baking time. Cool 2 to 3 minutes on the baking sheet, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Chocolate Cheesecake Candy Cane Bars

From Food Network Kitchens

Prep Time: 20 min Inactive Prep Time: 8 hr 0 min

Cook Time: 45 min Level: Easy

Serves: about 16 (2-inch) squares

Ingredients

Crust:

• 20 chocolate wafer cookies
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coffee beans
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt

Filling:

• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 large eggs, room temperature

Glaze:

• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon light or dark corn syrup
• 2 tablespoons sour cream, room temperature
• 1/2 cup crushed candy canes (see Cooks Note)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with foil.

For the crust: Process the chocolate wafers in a food processor with the butter, sugar, coffee, and salt until fine. Evenly press the crust into the prepared dish covering the bottom completely. Bake until the crust sets, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the filling: Put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl; heat at 75 percent power until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir, and continue to microwave until completely melted, up to 2 minutes more. (Alternatively put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water, and stir occasionally until melted and smooth.)

Blend the cream cheese, sugar, and sour cream together in the food processor until smooth. Scrape down the sides, as needed. Add the eggs and pulse until just incorporated. With the food processor running, pour the chocolate into the wet ingredients and mix until smooth.

Pour the filling evenly over the crust. Bake until filling puffs slightly around the edges, but is still a bit wobbly in the center, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool on a rack.

For the Glaze: Put the chocolate, butter and corn syrup in microwave safe bowl. Heat glaze in the microwave at 75 percent power until melted, about 2 minutes. Stir the ingredients together until smooth; add the sour cream. Spread glaze evenly over the warm cake and scatter the crushed candy canes over top. Cool completely, then refrigerate overnight.

Cut into small bars or squares. Serve chilled or room temperature.

Store cookies covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Cook’s Note: To crush the candy canes, remove wrappers and place in a resealable plastic bag. Use a rolling pin to roll and break the candy up into small pieces, about 1/4 inch or so.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/video/videoplayer.swf?dppversion=11212

 

Christmas Parrot

A few days before Christmas, a man enters a pet store looking for an unusual gift for his wife. The store manager tells him he has just what he’s looking for! A beautiful parrot named Chet that sings Christmas carols.
He brings the husband over to a colorful but quiet bird. The man agrees that Chet certainly is pretty, but he doesn’t seem to be much of a singer. The manager tells him to watch as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a cigarette lighter. The manager then clicks the lighter and holds it under Chet’s left foot. Immediately Chet starts singing; “Silent Night, Holy Night.”
The husband is very impressed with Chet’s singing abilities and watches as the manager moves the lighter underneath Chet’s right foot. Chet now starts to sing “Jingle Bells, Jingle All the Way.” The husband says Chet is perfect and that he’ll take him.
The husband rushes home to his wife and insists upon giving her this wonderful gift immediately. He presents Chet to her and starts to explain the parrot’s special talent.
Demonstrating, he holds a lighter under Chet’s left foot and the bird sings “Silent Night.” He then moves the lighter under the right foot and Chet lets loose a round of “Jingle Bells.” The wife is absolutely amazed, and with a mischievous grin asks her husband what happens if he holds the lighter between Chet’s legs instead. With his curiosity aroused, the husband relocates the lighter as his wife suggested and the bird begins to sing – Chet’s nuts Roasting on an Open Fire!

(Ouch!)

That one is right up there with this year’s favorite carol here at DragonLaffs World Wide Headquarters “Deck the Hall with the Dragon’s…” well, you get the idea.

A Martha Stewart Christmas

Dear Santa:
I rarely ask for much. This year is no exception. I don’t need diamond earrings, handy slicer-dicers or comfy slippers. I only want one little thing, and I want it deeply.

I want to slap Martha Stewart.
Now, hear me out, Santa. I won’t scar her or draw blood or anything. Just one good smack, right across her smug little cheek. I get all cozy inside just thinking about it. Don’t grant this wish just for me, do it for thousands of women across the country. Through sheer vicarious satisfaction, you’ll be giving a gift to us all. Those of us leading average, garden variety lives aren’t concerned with gracious living.
We feel pretty good about ourselves if our paper plates match when we stack them on the counter, buffet-style for dinner. We’re tired of Martha showing us how to make centerpieces from hollyhock dipped in 18-carat gold. We’re plumb out of liquid gold. Unless it’s of the furniture polish variety. We can’t whip up Martha’s creamy holiday sauce, spiced with turmeric. Most of us can’t even say turmeric, let alone figure out what to do with it.
OK, Santa, maybe you think I’m being a little harsh. But I’ll bet with all the holiday rush you didn’t catch that interview with Martha in last week’s USA Weekend. I’m surprised there was enough room on the page for her ego.
We discovered that not only does Martha avoid take-out pizza (she’s only ordered it once), she refuses to eat it cold (No cold pizza? Is Martha Stewart living?) When it was pointed out that she could microwave it, she replied, “I don’t have a microwave.”
The reporter, Jeffrey Zaslow, noted that she said this “in a tone that suggests you shouldn’t either.”
Well, lah-dee-dah. Imagine that, Santa!
That lovely microwave you brought me years ago, in which I’ve learned to make complicated dishes like popcorn and hot chocolate, has been declared undesirable by Queen Martha. What next? The coffee maker?
In the article, we learned that Martha has 40 sets of dishes adorning an entire wall in her home. Forty sets. Can you spell “overkill”? And neatly put away, no less. If my dishes make it to the dishwasher that qualifies as “put away” in my house!
Martha tells us she’s already making homemade holiday gifts for friends. “Last year, I made amazing silk-lined scarves for everyone,” she boasts. Not just scarves mind you. Amazing scarves. Martha’s obviously not shy about giving herself a little pat on the back. In fact, she does so with such frequency that one has to wonder if her back is black and blue.
She goes on to tell us that “homemaking is glamour for the 90s,” and says her most glamorous friends are “interested in stain removal, how to iron a monogram, and how to fold a towel.” I have one piece of advice, Martha: “Get new friends.”
Glamorous friends fly to Paris on a whim. They drift past the Greek Islands on yachts, sipping champagne from crystal goblets. They step out for the evening in shimmering satin gowns, whisked away by tuxedoed chauffeurs. They do not spend their days pondering the finer art of toilet bowl sanitation. Zaslow notes that Martha was named one of America’s 25 most influential people by Time magazine (nosing out Mother Theresa, Madeline Allbright and Maya Angelou, no doubt).
The proof of Martha’s influence: after she bought white-fleshed peaches in the supermarket, Martha says, “People saw me buy them. In an instant, they were all gone.” I hope Martha never decides to jump off a bridge.
A guest in Martha’s home told Zaslow how Martha gets up early to rollerblade with her dogs to pick fresh wild blackberries for breakfast.
This confirms what I’ve suspected about Martha all along: She’s obviously got too much time on her hands. Teaching the dogs to rollerblade. What a show off.
If you think the dogs are spoiled, listen to how Martha treats her friends: She gave one friend all 272 books from the Knopf Everyman Library. It didn’t cost much. Pocket change, really. Just $5,000. But what price friendship, right?
When asked if others should envy her, Martha replies, “Don’t envy me. I’m doing this because I’m a natural teacher. You shouldn’t envy teachers. You should listen to them.” Zaslow must have slit a seam in Martha’s ego at this point, because once the hot air came hissing out, it couldn’t be held back. “Being an overachiever is nothing despicable. It is only admirable. Never lower your standards,” says Martha.
And of her Web Page on the Internet, Martha declares herself an “important presence” as she graciously helps people organize their sad, tacky little lives. There you have it, Santa. If there was ever someone who deserved a good smack, it’s Martha Stewart. But I bet I won’t get my gift this year.
You probably want to smack her yourself.

Another Day At The Office

Question: Why is Christmas just like another day at the office?

Answer: You end up doing all the work and the fat guy in the suit gets all the credit.

Substitute ‘scales’ for ‘suit’ and that fits here at DragonLaffs too!

The Three Stages Of Life

Stage One: You believe in Father Christmas.

Stage Two: You don’t believe in Father Christmas.

Stage Three: You are Father Christmas.

 

I hate to say “I warned you so!” Seriously I DO hate it because I tend to look towards the pessimistic side of things at the worst case scenario, plan for the worst and hope for the best type of thing. So when I can say “I warned you so” it generally means things are as bad if not worse than I have already expounded about or forecasted.

Case in point,  just last week I went off about schools, school boards and their abuse of power and how they usurp parental authority and rights without so much as a legal foot to stand on or a by your leave. Then when someone calls them on it they manage to avoid any serious repercussions or criminal investigations.

Here is a case that illustrates that almost perfectly, except for the new twist where the liberals offer up a sacrificial scapegoat before dodging responsibility and hiding from public scrutiny.

 

4th grader suspended for sexual harassment for calling a teacher ‘cute’? Maybe not

A mom in North Carolina was understandably upset after she says her 9-year-old son’s school called her to say he was getting a two-day suspension for sexual harassment after telling a friend he thought a teacher was “cute.”

The allegation has caused a firestorm of controversy with the media debating if the punishment fits the crime and what exactly sexual harassment entails.

 

Now, the boy’s mother, Chiquita Lockett, says that’s not all he’s being accused of.

In a certified letter sent to her after she was notified by phone of the suspension a more detailed account of what the school alleges her son, Emanyea Lockett, said has emerged. The school claims, among other things that the boy made suggestive comments, calling the substitute teacher “fine” and that he continued to call other students the ‘n-word’ after school officials warned him not to, according to WSOCTV.

“What’s in that letter, if they accused him of that, I should have been notified about it, and if so then I would have seen that a suspension should have taken place,” Lockett told the news station.

Her son Emanyea claims he never used bad language about other students and that his only comment about the teacher was that she was “cute.” A simple comment such as that does not amount to a sexual harassment case, his mother points out.

The school district has declined to comment on the case citing privacy concerns and said they are conducting an investigation.

We’ll see more on this last line in just a minute. Then I’ll translate it from liberal speak for you into the plain truth but first we’re not done with this travesty of power abuse.

Principal who suspended 9-year-old for calling a teacher cute forced to retire

A principal in North Carolina received a lot of criticism nationwide after he suspended a 4th-grader for sexual harassment after the boy allegedly called a teacher “cute.”

Now, according to the Associated Press, that principal has been forced to resign. School officials have confirmed the 9-year-old’s actions did not amount to sexual harassment.

Jerry Bostic said that he made a mistake but added that he wasn’t given a chance to apologize.

Superintendent Reeves McGlohon would only say that Bostic submitted his resignation. McGlohon had no further comment.

The school system said the suspension won’t count against the student, and there will be additional instructional assistance provided to the student for the classroom time missed.

Bostic, who had a 44-year career in education, disagreed with the school board’s decision to make him quit over the incident. He said the decision came because of politics.

“I didn’t show a history of making problems like that. I’ve had the best of evaluations my entire career and because of some syndicated columnist in New York or California, I don’t have a job,” he told Fox News.

According to some accounts, the school suspended the boy not just over the comments he made to his teacher but because of bad language he used toward other students as well.

You can see his mother talk about the suspension, which has since been revoked, here:

http://blog.chron.com/hottopics/2011/12/principal-who-suspended-9-year-old-for-calling-a-teacher-cute-forced-to-retire/

Notice the end of that video where the unnamed school board spokesperson immediately holds the child up as a protective shield to deflect and stymie any media investigation into their flagrant abuse of power.

How.

Bloody.

Convenient.

JUST as convenient is the fact that the investigation without pressure under the F.o.I. will never see the light of day and even then will be selectively edited BY THE WRONG DOERS before release!

THEY are going to investigate themselves? WHERE is the oversight and accountability, both legally and publically in THAT? Even the Police have review boards for their actions which review the actions and investigations of their Internal Affairs Divisions! John Q. Public gets to sit on that review board as does a representative of the town government. WHY is there no comparable review board for School Boards? The potential for harm to our children is certain as great as the potential for Police misuse of power!

This travesty of liberal over-reaching is not over yet, there is one act left to play out. The liberals when faced with their abuse uncovered and in the spot light did what they do best, fed one of their own to the media wolves in a desperate move of appeasement and misdirection.

 

North Carolina Principal Forced to Retire After Suspending 9-Year-Old for Calling Teacher ‘Cute

GASTONIA, N.C. –  The North Carolina school principal who suspended a 9-year-old boy for saying a female teacher was “cute” has been forced to retire over the decision.

Emanyea Lockett was given a three-day suspension from Gaston’s Brookside Elementary School after he told another student his teacher was “cute” and a substitute teacher overheard the comment, the Gaston Gazette reported.

School officials investigated the incident and found that Emanyea had done nothing wrong. The school board then gave principal Jerry Bostic one hour to stand down or face termination.

Bostic spoke out after his 44-year career came to an abrupt end Tuesday, saying, “I didn’t show a history of making problems like that. I’ve had the best of evaluations my entire career and because of some syndicated columnist in New York or California, I don’t have a job.”  (Here is another liberal guy that just doesn’t get it, you do not get “free mistakes” with children and you ARE accountable for your actions..ESPECIALLY misuse of power actions)

Of school superintendent Reeves McGlohon — who gave him the quit-or-be-fired ultimatum — Bostic said, “He told me he had made the decision he was going to terminate me or drop me into an assistant principal position.

“I admit I made some errors in what I did, but to fire me or to demote me with 44 years in it, it just doesn’t make sense. To me he was a very heartless man, and he did it because of politics.”  (As much as it annoys me I am forced to agree with this estimation of the true motivations behind the firing. Assuming the Principals assertions regarding his career are true he should not have been fired. Clearly the school board was looking for a scapegoat and to distance themselves from this as rapidly as possible.)

Emanyea’s mother, Chiquita Lockett, said, “This is something that everyone needed to see, just to see what’s happening within our school systems.”

She was likely to pursue legal action, WSOC-TV reported.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/07/north-carolina-principal-forced-to-retire-after-suspending-nine-year-old-for/?test=latestnews#ixzz1gB9oAqMX

Principal Who Suspended Student For Sexual Harassment Resigns

by The Associated Press

Story Created: Dec 6, 2011 at 8:13 PM EST

Story Updated: Dec 7, 2011 at 1:05 PM EST

GASTONIA, N.C.–UPDATE: The principal of a Gaston County school where a 9-year-old boy was suspended for sexual harassment has submitted his resignation.

School officials on Tuesday offered an apology to the boy and his mother after the boy was accused of calling a teacher “cute.” A statement from the system said it was determined that the fourth grader at Brookside Elementary School didn’t engage in sexual harassment.

Jerry Bostic said that he made a mistake but added that he wasn’t given a chance to apologize.

Superintendent Reeves McGlohon would only say that Bostic submitted his resignation. McGlohon had no further comment.

The school system said the suspension won’t count against the student, and there will be additional instructional assistance provided to the student for the classroom time missed. (Well! How bloody MAGNANIMOUS of the wankers seeing it was a problem and loss of school time of their own creation!)

Ok before I DO have the apoplectic fit Molly is accusing me of nearly having already, let me say this as a final thought-  the BIGGEST travesty here was the missed opportunity to teach and shape a young mind. While I agree there ARE certain ‘zero tolerance policies’ such as against violence against teachers, bullying, drugs & weapons that should be universal in all levels of a municipal school system I DISAGREE that all ‘zero tolerance’ policies should be blanket. By punishing automatically (and apparently with prejudice) you fail to grasp the opportunity to teach right from wrong and social mores and values.

Also not taught here, the concept of innocent until proven guilty. What WAS taught here was guilt by suspicion, and that”the man” given half a chance WILL do all those things to keep you down you hear the gang banger attributing to them. Additionally a graphic demonstration of those in power will never have to answer for misuse of power or their mistakes to say nothing of might makes right.

Lastly were I the kids mother I WOULD pursue legal action, seeking not only monetary recompense but opening to the school boards records to inspection and the dismissal of the entire board.

 

Good Morning Campers…I am, again today, working the weekend, so there isn’t a lot of time for playing around.  Grab your coffee, get your camp chairs or folding thinga-ma-bobs and get settled down so we can get started.

So, Christmas is just two weeks, and one day away.  That doesn’t leave a whole lot of time left for shopping if you haven’t gotten it done yet.  I understand that some of you probably haven’t even STARTED your shopping yet; holding out for the last minutes sales no doubt, well just remember, the Dragon Loves Virgins and other things to … um… chew on and the Leprechaun….well, gold is always good.

Now. let’s get this show on the road and…

Here’s a picture of Impish doing his best to warm the Leprechaun’s office…

Well, it’s what they said they wanted….

Here’s an oldie, but definitely a goodie!

Air Show at night

August 10, 2011 –
Highlights from AirVenture 2011’s night airshow, Saturday, July 30th.
http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1103012503001

A teacher goes around her class asking each of the kids what do they need at home.

1st kid says “A computer”.

Teacher replies “That’d be very useful.”

2nd kid says “a new lawn mower” and gets a similar response.

Little Johnny pops up and says ” At my house we don’t need nothin.”

The teacher asks him to think again carefully as everybody needs something.

Little Johnny replies, “No I’m sure……….”

“When my sister started going out with a Muslim, I remember my dad saying,

“Well, that’s the last fucking thing we need.”

Indianapolis – A seven-year old boy was at the center of a Marion County courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulation requiring that family unity be maintained to the highest degree possible.

The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried and said that they also beat him.

After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.

After two recesses to check legal references and confer with the child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Indianapolis Colts Football Team, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.

And under the, “Okay, I’ve now seen it all” Category, comes a new challenger…. Urinal Video Games…
http://www.makeuseof.com/tech-fun/video-game-urinals/
Yup, you pretty much have to see it to believe it!

Oh, just click on this and follow the directions…you’ll have fun!
http://www.drawastickman.com/index.htm?o=68-114-97-103-111-110-32-76-97-102-102-115s73-109-112-105-115-104-32-68-114-97-103-111-110

Some really nice HD Time Lapse Photography of …

Click here: Life of flowers

This one is great….just follow the directions.  I promise, nothing will jump out at the end.
http://www.makeuseof.com/tech-fun/watch-this-video-for-30-sec-then-look-at-your-keyboard/

Today’s Last Word…
comes from me….and I have to say that this particular subject pisses me off and makes me sad at the same time.  Here’s the headline that started it all:

Report: Air Force dumped remains of 274 troops in landfill

The Air Force dumped the incinerated partial remains of at least 274 American troops in a Virginia landfill, far more than the military had acknowledged, before halting the secretive practice three years ago, records show.
The landfill dumping was concealed from families who had authorized the military to dispose of the remains in a dignified and respectful manner, Air Force officials said.  There are no plans, they said, to alert those families now.
Click here to read the rest of the article…
Okay, so this is MY Air Force that did this.  The organization that I’ve called home on and off (mostly on) for the better part of 34 years.  The group that I’ve ALWAYS had the highest respect for, even when they’ve done dumb ass things, even when they’ve treated me and others like shit, even when they, time after time, followed a “good-old-boy” mentality over fairness and common sense.  It was all part of being in the military and living by different ideals and standards than civilians do and allowing civilians to not understand because they were civilians.
I could call Lethal a Jarhead and he could call me a Wingnut because we belonged.  We were both part of a respected brotherhood.
But now, with this…..
I’m embarrassed for my beloved blue.
I want to hang my head in shame.
I want someone to come and tell me that it was a huge mistake, that it didn’t really happen or that it was limited to a couple of individuals that went off the reservation on their own.
How could they possibly think that disposing of American remains, even unidentified, cremated and further incinerated ashes, are disposed of in a “dignified and respectful manner” by being dumped in a landfill??!!  I know money was probably an issue.  For years now, we’ve been told to do more with less.  But someone should have stood up for the Air Force’s Core Values!
What are the core values you ask?
Something that every Airman is taught to live by, taught to cherish, taught to love as much as one might love a mother, father or spouse.  We repeat them in basic training, when I went to Tech School, 4 years ago, as a civilian employee at a military school, I proudly stood and repeated them with the newest and rawest recruits.

The Core Values:

Integrity First

Service Before Self

Excellence In All We Do

Where was the integrity?
How did we serve those fallen warriors and their families?  Or did we take the easy way out and just dump the trash?
Can anyone involved say that they did their very best? (Excellence in my book is defined as doing the best you can, each and every time.)
Why didn’t someone stand up and say “THIS IS NOT RIGHT!”

You know, personally, I couldn’t care less what you do with my carcass when I die.  Toss my body in a dumpster somewhere for all I care.  That’s not me any more, I’m not there.  But, I know that burials and proper treatment of remains are more for the families that are left behind, not for the person who died.  And in that regard, I would never, ever do that to my family.  I would want, and DEMAND proper treatment of my remains, not for me, but for them!

And that’s what my Air Force has forgotten.  It’s not just about keeping faith with the airmen who’ve cashed that final check, it’s responsibility is also to keeping faith with the families.
And they screwed it up.

And then we top it off with finding out that Walter Reed hospital banned bibles and other religious accouterments to members and their families!
http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/10090-following-flak-walter-reed-military-hospital-overturns-bible-ban
WTF?  They even took it as far as not allowing a priest to come in and properly give a warrior Last Rites.  Okay, granted, the ban has been rescinded, but what in the world are they thinking?

Remember Lethal’s Rant on the Cemetery in Houston and the VA?  Is our world going completely batty?  I can’t help but think that it is all the politicians fault (and yes, that includes Bush who was in office for the Landfill thing).  It’s time we let our elected officials know that we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore!

I may hang my head in shame over what my Air Force has done, but I’ve got a big stick in my hand and I want to lay it upside somebody’s ass when I find out who’s responsible for this crap!  I want to tear out somebody’s heart and chew it into little bits!  Heaven help the bastards if I ever do find out and get my hands on them…. and I know Lethal feels exactly the same way.  Here’s a snippet of one of our conversations:

Lethal: I’m outraged. I’m offended. I’m personally pissed & insulted. I want someone’s ass, I want someone’s career & I want someone locked up  274 years
Impish: I’m highly pissed
Lethal: I want a mausoleum built on Dover AFB out of their budget to house cremains. It should be named “TRAVESTY of the Fallen” Mausoleum
Lethal: fuck RESPECTFUL would have been to place them in weighted urns and take them, on a final flight over the ocean and burry them that way  (Which is basically what they do now and have been doing since 2008).

I leave you with those thoughts.  Be well, my friends, until we meet again.

QUIET IN THE RANKS! ATTENTION TO ORDERS!

SARGENT AT WINGS IMPISH DRAGON- READ THE PROCLAMATION!

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

December 07, 2010

Presidential Proclamation

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Nearly 70 years ago, on December 7, 1941, our service members and civilians awoke on a quiet Sunday to a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces.  Employing whatever weapons were at hand, those who defended Hawaii that fateful morning stand as examples of the selfless heroism that has always characterized the Armed Forces of the United States.  More than 3,500 Americans were killed or wounded, and the images of burning battleships and the grief for lives lost were forever seared into our national memory.

The deadly attack on Pearl Harbor did not accomplish its mission of breaking the American spirit.  Instead, it reinforced our resolve.  Americans responded with unity and courage to a tragedy that President Franklin D. Roosevelt called “a date which will live in infamy.”  In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, thousands of resolute individuals immediately volunteered their service to a grieving Nation.  Sixteen million of America’s sons and daughters served during World War II, and more than 400,000 paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of life and liberty.  Countless other patriots served on the home front, aiding the war effort by working in manufacturing plants, participating in rationing programs, or planting Victory gardens.  In the face of great loss, America once again showed the resilience and strength that have always characterized our great country.

The Allied Forces battled the scourge of tyranny and ultimately spread the transformative march of freedom.  As we recognize the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II this year, we honor not only those who gave their lives that December day, but also all those in uniform who travelled to distant theaters of war to halt the progression of totalitarianism and hate.  In honor of all who have borne the cost of battle throughout America’s history, let us pledge to meet our debt of honor and uphold the ideals they fought to preserve.

The Congress, by Public Law 103 308, as amended, has designated December 7 of each year as “National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.”

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim December 7, 2010, as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.  I encourage all Americans to observe this solemn day of remembrance and to honor our military, past and present, with appropriate ceremonies and activities.  I urge all Federal agencies and interested organizations, groups, and individuals to fly the flag of the United States at half staff this December 7 in honor of those American patriots who died as a result of their service at Pearl Harbor.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

Seventy years ago today readers, on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941 America’s naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked by the forces of the Empire of Japan. More than 2,400 Americans were killed and more than 1,100 were wounded. The attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships and damaged four more. It also damaged or sank three cruisers, three destroyers, one minelayer and damaged 188 aircraft.

The day after the attack, the United States declared war on Japan and entered World War II. President Franklin Roosevelt, in a speech to congress, stated that the bombing of Pearl Harbor is “a date which will live in infamy”

  National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is observed annually on December 7, is to remember and honor all those who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. On August 23, 1994, United States Congress, by Pub.L. 103-308 , designated December 7 of each year as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.[1] National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is also referred to as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day or Pearl Harbor Day. It is a tradition to fly the Flag of the United States at half-staff until sunset in honor of dead patriots.

  It is not a federal holiday. Government offices, schools, and businesses do not close. Some organizations may hold special events in memory of those killed or injured at Pearl Harbor. for the most part the day passes unremarked upon and unremembered except for a filler piece or human interest story thrown in the evening news

  Memorials have been built to remember the day and its events. The USS Arizona memorial in Pearl Harbor is a marble memorial over the sunken battleship USS Arizona, which was dedicated in 1962. The memorial remembers all military personnel who were killed in the Pearl Harbor attack. Another memorial is that of the USS Utah, a battleship that was attacked and sunk in the attack. A memorial to honor the crew of the USS Utah was dedicated on the northwest shore of Ford Island, near the ship’s wreck, in 1972. The ship was added to the National Register of Historic Places and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989. In 1991, which marked the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Congress established the Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal. This is also known as the Pearl Harbor Survivor’s medal and can be awarded to any veteran of the United States military who were present in or around Pearl Harbor during the attack. The medal can be awarded to civilians, who were killed or injured in the attack.

As I stated in our Veterans Day Issue:

We are losing these figures of Living History at an alarming rate. Many of the WWII Museums like The National Museum of the Pacific War have oral history programs where these living pieces of history are interview usually via telephone at no cost to them. These taped interviews are then transcribed and preserved as the voices of a living breathing bit of a historic event told from each ones unique perspective. With most of these Vets in their late 80s and early 90s, time on interviewing them is rapidly running out.

My wife serves as one of multiple  transcriptionists for her grandfather who is a tireless volunteer for this project and has to date done over 670 such interviews despite being over 80 himself. If you have a WWII vet in your family or know of one please consider asking them about their willingness to be interviewed and then contact me off blog. 

Also if your grandmother or some other member of your family was a “Rosie the Riveter” a WAC or a WAVE or something along those lines  please ask them if they would be willing to be interviewed also as Home Front and Women’s War Contributions are also being documented.

Sadly to date only a SINGLE person has come forward at this request. His father, a proud WWII vet has been contacted and was honored to be interviewed. The interview has been completed and Molly came home from our Thanksgiving trip with that tape to transcribe at our request.

PLEASE help us preserve the memories experiences and deeds of these last few remaining members of The Greatest Generation, “lest we ever  forget”. There are no costs to or obligations on the interviewees. They will not be hounded to join the Museum or to make contributions. They have already made their contribution.

You can find an e-mail address for me personally in the closing credits.

 

 Ah…Irish Coffee…about the ONLY possible way to improve on perfection itself!

 

Strange Illness

It was the doctor’s last patient consultation of Christmas Eve. A mother came in with her young daughter and asked if he would examine her because she had been showing some strange symptoms, including a significant increase in weight, sickness most mornings and a number of strange cravings.

He checked her out very carefully and eventually told the mother that her daughter was unquestionably pregnant. At which news she protested very strongly.

‘Don’t be ridiculous, my daughter has never been with a man’

The girl confirmed that this was true and added that she had never so much as kissed a man.

The doctor studied the girl very carefully, then quietly stood up, walked to the window and stared out of it.

Suspecting the worst the mother asked if there was something wrong.

“No, not really” replied the doctor. ‘It might just be a coincidence, but the last time this happened a bright star appeared the East.’

 

Pumpkin Cranberry Walnut Muffin

Adapted from Very Culinary Blog who adapted it from Betty Crocker

In large bowl, mix together:
2 c all purpose flour
3/4 c sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t ground ginger
1/4 t salt

Combine the following in a small bowl. Then quickly fold into dry mixture with a spatula until just moistened. Do not overmix!!!
1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
1/2 c canola or vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 c dried cranberries
1/2 c chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
Scoop into muffin tray greased with cooking spray or lined with muffin cups (I use an ice cream scoop). Top with sanding sugar or sugar in the raw (turbinado). Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.

Spiced Mocha Fudge Cake

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Yield: 12 servings

INGREDIENTS:

• CAKE

• Crisco^® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
• 4 (1 oz.) squares unsweetened baking chocolate
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup hot brewed Folgers^® Classic Roast Coffee
• 2/3 cup Hungry Jack^® Instant Mashed Potato Flakes
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup Pillsbury BEST^® All Purpose Flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Powdered sugar

• SPICED WHIPPED CREAM

• 1/2 pint whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Line bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Coat paper with no-stick cooking spray. Place chocolate and butter in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH power 45 to 60 seconds or until chocolate is melted and smooth when stirred.
2. COMBINE coffee, potato flakes, cinnamon and cayenne in large mixing bowl, stirring until moistened. Blend in sugar and vanilla. Blend in chocolate mixture and egg yolks. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually blend into chocolate mixture.
3. BEAT egg whites on medium speed of electric mixer until stiff. Add to chocolate mixture and blend on low speed until completely blended, scraping sides and bottom of bowl frequently. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until set in center. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Remove from pan. Sprinkle liberally with powdered sugar.
4. COMBINE whipping cream, powdered sugar, cinnamon and vanilla in medium mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed of electric mixer until stiff. Serve with cake

Irish Black Bun Shamrock Cookies

Serve these fruit-and-spice filled cookies on New Year’s to ensure an extra measure of Irish luck in the coming year.

Prep Time: 1 hr

Total Time: 1 hr 8 mins

Servings: Makes about 32.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup butter or margarine

• 1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

• 1/2 teaspoon ground mace or nutmeg

• 1/8 teaspoon salt

• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

• 3 tablespoons whiskey

• 2-1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour or all-purpose flour

• 1 cup currants or chopped raisins

• 1/4 cup coffee or apple juice

• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine

• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 cup finely chopped toasted almonds

• 1 tablespoon whiskey

• 2 cups sifted powdered sugar

• 2 to 3 tablespoons whiskey or milk

• Green food coloring

Directions

1 Beat the 2/3 cup butter or margarine and cream cheese in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the granulated sugar, the 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, the mace or nutmeg, allspice, salt, and pepper; beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in the 3 tablespoons whiskey until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour with a wooden spoon. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill for 2 to 3 hours or until easy to handle.

2 Roll dough on a lightly floured surface until 1/8 inch thick. Cut with a 2-1/2-inch shamrock-shape cookie cutter (rerolling scraps). Place cutouts 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

3 Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack and cool.

4 Combine currants or raisins and coffee or apple juice in a saucepan; bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes. Do not drain. Stir in brown sugar, the 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, unsweetened cocoa powder, orange peel, and the 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Cook and stir over low heat until mixture is combined. Remove from heat. Stir in almonds and the 1 tablespoon whiskey. Cool filling to room temperature. Place in a food processor bowl or blender container. Cover and process or blend until finely chopped. Refrigerate if not used immediately.

5 Place 1 teaspoon filling onto the flat side of half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies.

6 Combine powdered sugar and enough of the 2 to 3 tablespoons whiskey or milk to make of spreading consistency. Tint with green food coloring to desired color. Spread over tops of cookies. Makes about 32.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 144, Total Fat 7 g, Saturated Fat 4 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Sodium 64 mg, Carbohydrate 19 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 2 g.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

 

Apple Spice Egg Nog

This elegant punch adds a new twist to an old favorite.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Yield: about 2 1/2 quarts

Ingredients:

2 qts  Egg Nog
2 cups apple cider, chilled
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
fresh whipped cream and thinly sliced red and green apples for garnish
Directions:
In large punch bowl, combine  Egg Nog, apple cider and cinnamon; mix well. Chill. Just before serving pipe dollops of fresh whipped cream on top of Egg Nog and place 2 slices of thinly sliced apples onto each dollop. Serve.

 

Bailey’s Sundae Coffee Drink

This tantalizing concoction is a wonderful way to put a nightcap at the end of your next dinner party.
Yield: 6 Servings

Ingredients:

12 cups brewed coffee
1 pint French vanilla ice cream
12 fluid ounces Irish cream liqueur

Directions:

Brew 12 cups of coffee. While the coffee is brewing, fill each cup with a scoop of ice cream. Be sure to use large cups (the oversized types you get at coffee houses are best). Top each scoop of ice cream with just enough Irish cream so that the ice cream looks lightly coated. When the coffee is brewed, pour it so that each cup is filled up about halfway. It is then up to each individual to add more Irish cream, half-and-half, or sugar to suit his/her taste.

 

This allegedly happened with some guys from Maine.

They dressed the truck up with the guy dummy spread eagle on the roof of the truck.

The driver and passengers put on Moose Heads.

Down the Maine Toll interstate they went causing about 16 accidents.

They went to jail.

(some cops just have no sense of humor)

 

Now  granted it could just be me, but don’t those 2 in the back resemble a lot of Canadian women you’ve seen? 

 

I’m about to sandbag all of you right in your heart, at the worst possible time of the year and in the worst possible manner. I respect you all enough to warn you of this but I’ll make no apologies for doing so for a damned good reason as you’ll see.

 

 

 

Christmas Post

‘A woman went into a post office to buy some stamps for her Christmas cards. What denomination do you want ? asked the lady at the counter. ‘Good God!’ she replied,  Those darned politically correct liberals! Has it come to this? I suppose you’d better give me twenty Catholic and twenty Presbyterian.

Well that’s one permanently traumatized  future Scrooge in the making!

No nativity this Christmas in our Nation’s Capitol.

There will be no Nativity Scene in Washington this year!

The Supreme Court have ruled that there cannot be a Nativity Scene in the capitol this Christmas season.

This isn’t for any religious reason. They simply have not been able to find Three Wise Men in the Nation’s Capital.

A search for a virgin continues.

There was no problem, however, finding enough jackasses to fill the stable.

 

How much would it cost to give someone the “The Twelve Days Of Christmas?”

The 12 items rattled off in the classic carol “The Twelve Days Of Christmas” would cost $24,263 in 2011, an increase of 3.5 percent over last year, according to the annual Christmas Price Index compiled by PNC Wealth Management.

12 Drummers Drumming — $2,629.90, 11 Pipers Piping — $2,427.60, 10 Lords-A-Leaping — $4,766.70, Nine Ladies Dancing — $6,294.03, Eight Maids-A-Milking — $58, Seven Swans-A-Swimming — $6,300, Six Geese-A-Laying — $162, Five Golden Rings — $645, Four Calling Birds — $519.96, Three French Hens — $150, Two Turtle Doves — $125, Partridge In A Pear Tree — $184.99.

Buying the 364 items repeated across all the song’s verses would cost $101,119 in 2011, Going the Cyber Monday route to obtain the core list will not help you out any either. The core list would come to an estimated $39,860 online.

 

 

A Police STOP at 2 AM

Impish Dragon is stopped by the police around 2 a.m. and is asked where he is going at this time of night.
Impish replies, “I am on my way to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, as well as smoking and staying out late.”
The officer then asks, “Really? Who is giving that lecture at this time of night?”
Impish replies, “That would be my wife.”

 

Impish is laying on his death bed. He wants to take all his possessions with him. So he tells his wife and Lethal to place all his possessions on the roof, telling them he would grab them on the way to heaven. Impish dies. A few days later his wife and Lethal see that his possessions are still on the roof. “I knew we should have put his stuff in the bloody basement.” says Lethal.

Everything you need to know about Jobs

 

 

 

 

(CNN) – Goodbye, free plastic toys inside Happy Meals — at least in one major California city.

A new San Francisco law goes into effect on Thursday that prevents fast-food restaurants from giving away trinkets, action figures and other toys in their kid’s meals unless their food meets nutritional requirements.

And McDonald’s kid’s meals do not. The meals have to be less than 600 calories and contain fruits (a half-cup) and vegetables (3/4 of a cup). They must have less than 35% of the total calories coming from fat, less than 640 milligrams of sodium and less than 0.5 milligrams of trans fat.

The current Happy Meal consisting of a hamburger, kid’s-size fries and a cola would meet the calorie, calories from fat, sodium and trans fat requirements under the San Francisco law. It would contain 500 calories, 125 calories from fat and 600 milligrams of sodium.

But it would not meet the fruit and vegetable quota. The pickle and onion on the hamburger does not come near the required ¾ cup of vegetables. The French fries do not count as a vegetable, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

The new law will affect about 50 fast-food restaurants in San Francisco such as Burger King, Carl’s Jr. and Subway.

“Our efforts are geared towards addressing childhood obesity epidemic,” said San Francisco City and County Supervisor Eric Mar, who proposed the ordinance.

About one-third of children in the United States are either overweight or obese, according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health advocates have long accused fast-food restaurants of enticing children to eat fast-food meals high in fat and sodium by using toys tied to characters in new movies.

But it has had a greater impact beyond the city, Mar said.

“We inspired other local cities, parent activists and health organizers to take up the issue too,” he said. “We started a national dialogue in San Francisco. It has become a national issue.”

Similar initiatives have been proposed in New York in an effort to curb childhood obesity. And Santa Clara County initially passed the ban early last year.

Starting Thursday, parents who order Happy Meals at the 19 McDonald’s locations in San Francisco will have to request the toy and pay 10 cents. That amount will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House of San Francisco.

McDonald’s said in a statement: “While we will fully comply with this law, we also have a responsibility to give our customers what they want.

“Parents have told us they’d still like the option of purchasing a toy separately for their child when they buy them a Happy Meal or Mighty Kids Meal.”

The announcement that the money would go to charity was met by skepticism by Corporate Accountability International, a corporate watchdog group.

“As McDonald’s long has, it is again using a charity that helps children get well to defend a practice that contributes to a range of diet-related conditions like diabetes. Currently McDonald’s uses its contributions to the charity to defend the hundreds of millions it spends marketing its junk food brand to kids each year,” according to the group’s statement.

Mar said he met with several franchise owners in the city regarding the ordinance. Despite initial opposition to the law last year, he said that there’s growing awareness that having healthy options is good business practice.

Earlier this year, hamburger chain Jack-in-the-Box announced it would discontinue kids’ toys in their meals for children.

Also this summer, McDonald’s announced that it would revamp its iconic Happy Meal to contain healthier options.

The meals will carry apple slices, reduced portion of French fries and a choice of beverage, including new fat-free chocolate milk and 1% low-fat white milk, instead of defaulting to soda. The changes started in September and will spread nationwide by the end of March 2012.

However, the new version of the Happy Meal still does not meet the requirements of the San Francisco law.

Although the San Francisco law has been criticized as legislating health and nutrition, Mar said the responsibility ultimately falls on the parents. But, fast-food restaurants play a role and “benefit from the pester power of the kids of young ages,” he said.

“It’s our job as a local legislator to protect public health,” he said. “Nothing is more important than children’s health.”

He said the momentum for this law came from pediatricians and mainly parents who live in the lowest income neighborhoods. “They were the main voices of our campaign,” he said.

The long-term goal is to move children’s meals toward lower fat, sodium and calories, Mar said.

 

It’s not bad enough that we have Federal Big Brother and State Big Brother legislating their hands into our pockets as well their nose into our personal private lives where they have no business, now apparently some of us have to endure Flamingly Gay Big Transvestite/Transgender Sibling stuffing their nose into our business and regulating what we can and cannot feed our children. Apparently municipal homosexual corrupt politicians know better than we do how to parent out children!

Teachers have to get background checks to teach and mold our children and just LOOK at the damage they still do to them,! WHY are we standing idly by and allowing this morally bankrupt camel to get its nose in the door of our home tents? I will grant you that fast food has been proven none too good as a steady diet, but given the recent articles about the industry being hit had by the recession one has to ask how often the average family with its 2.5 children can afford to make the fast food trip and therefore just how much of a threat this actually is.

Personally if the fast food industry decides to come down legally on these San Franciscan Fairy & Faggot Follies I’ll find the money in my budget to eat fast food once a week to help pay for the legal bills!

 Ok see I had this all nailed down and all set to go to autoload like last Saturday before noon right? Then Impish asks me if I saw the link he sent me because it had really pissed him off. I made the mistake of looking to see what got our so laid back he’s one heart beat a minute away from coma Dragon all riled up. HUGE mistake.

NOW I have to upgrade this to an official rant. Hang on, let me hang out the now more appropriate to this upgraded commentary shingle-

Obese 8 year old boy removed by child protective services

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/02/opinion/navarrette-obese-child/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

San Diego (CNN) — Is child obesity a form of child neglect?

Of course not. That’s ridiculous. But, it seems, the ridiculous is now standard operating procedure in the upside down world of the Department of Children and Family Services of Cuyahoga County in Ohio. In a case making headlines around the country, the agency recently decided that a Cleveland third grader should be taken from his mother and placed in foster care.

Was this an instance of child abuse? Apparently not. Was it an urgent situation that required this local government entity to immediately intervene and take the drastic step of separating a family? It doesn’t seem so.

In fact, county public defender Sam Amata told reporters that his office would challenge the removal because the boy was not in imminent danger.

Here’s the alleged abuse: The 8-year-old boy weighed more than 200 pounds, and officials essentially claimed that his mother was to blame for not doing enough to help her son lose weight. So they went into the home and took the child away. Just like that.

So, now apparently not ONLY do we have the City of San Francisco in all its alternate lifestyle wisdom deciding your fast food options for you because you are not responsible enough to decide what your child eats, the State of Ohio is dictating what you can feed your child, how much you can feed them and then taking him away if they do not approve of the diet you provide for him!

George Orwell’s greatest fears have arrived. 1984 has come to pass in 2011. Draconian Democratic/Liberal Big Brother-which apparently like the Billy goats Gruff in the fable come in three sizes, Local State and Federal will now dictate and decide all facets of your life right down to diet and procreation issues for you!

This only goes to serve as further proof of my strongly held belief that Child/Youth Services people (a favorite job of bleeding heart liberals) have WAY too much leeway and unsupervised discretionary power while being SERIOUSLY under supervised by the courts and governments. They make it a practice to grab at the SLIGHTEST provocation, never admit they were wrong, ask for judicial sanction from liberal judges later to in effect cover their action with tacit post deed approval and make parents out to be criminals and refuse to give kids back for unreasonable lengths of time claiming they are overworked, overloaded and it is their RESPONSIBILITY not only to make these mistakes (they call it “erring on the side of caution” but to then make the parents prove that are WORTHY and RESPOPNSIBLE parents before returning a wrongly taken child making the parents agree to allowing follow up visits and no notice inspections as a CONDITION of returning their child to them! This in spite of the fact that they were doing nothing wrong in the first damned place.

As Impish mentioned in Saturday’s issue we traded some Last Word & Parting Shot material and in the course of doing so and agreeing to use each others material we had a bit of a discussion exchange on the above bit , how I planned to use it in conjunction with the San Francesco bit and where I might take it from there. We frequently have these sort of exchanges behind the scenes (oft while I’m waiting to bail him out from his latest escapade) this is nothing new but this one was so good that rather than spend the time rewriting it I have simply edited it so that complete thoughts appear rather than the instant message bites it was in and offer it here as part of the commentary.

For those of you unfamiliar with how we post these discussions I appear in my normal green and Impish in his normal blue, complicated or rocket science it isn’t.

Here now is that discussion:

Lethal: going to leap from there and attack authority usurping teachers/ might have to upgrade this to a rant!

impishdragon: Teachers?

Lethal: Consider the democratic liberal teacher who gave your daughter that math problem which indicated it was ok for illegal’s to work if it was helping out his family or all the school systems they think they have authority over the actions of the kids 24/7 365 because a child is enrolled there. Attempt to censor what the students can do and say on the web on their own personal time what opinions and views they can express even AFTER their parents have signed off on what they are doing or saying in some cases.
Hair cuts, hair coloring, approving dress codes w/o parental input or worse yet IGNORING the overwhelming parental input in favor of their liberal agenda and indoctrination programs.

TEACHERS are often the ones making the judgments and calling DCYS in situations that have no basis for no decent reason other than something a many of these teachers are not even parents themselves so who & what gives them the right to be child rearing experts? Where did they get the training to be making these judgments on a competent basis?

impishdragon: The thing that I see that Mayhaps you are missing, my fine green friend, are the good teachers out there. The school system we are in has mostly really good teachers and I believe that is the rule, rather than the exception.
 
Lethal: Tis true BUT those good teachers are oft forced to follow policies and rules they do not agree with and know are wrong IF they value their jobs and wish NOT to be blackballed. Those rules and policies are often liberal set and I’m sorry ANY teacher who teaches the lesson that allowing illegal immigrants to work in violation of state and federal laws simply because your political philosophies do not agree with those laws is NOT a good teacher! Kids need to learn to follow rules and laws and not look to circumvent them. THAT is a LARGE part of the problem with young people today and a growing problem in our society as they age and become those in power. Just look at Barry/Obama a PRIME example!

impishdragon: True in and of itself, but I think that those school systems are in your more liberal (San Francisco) type areas.

Lethal: The previously cited liberal math lesson was taught in YOUR middle of nowhere Indiana school system! How far away from gay heaven in California are you? Your argument seems a little invalidated by your own experience.

impishdragon: Dude, I AGREE with you. I’m just cautioning you to make clear that there are an awful lot of really good teachers out there who do a mostly under paid thankless job.

<conversation terminates>

The whole few bad apples thing as it applies to teachers was an automatic given with me. My Mother in Law is a teacher and I have heard first hand horror stories about the things that go on in the class rooms and what passes for teaching today.

The problem is there are more and more bad apples, fewer and fewer good teachers and more and more liberal packed school boards seeking to usurp your rights to educate your children by attempting to rule their lives 24/7 despite, and in blatant disregard for, your wishes under threat of denying them an education until both student and parent give up their rights and privacy to Big Brother. simply because liberals think they know better than you and there should be laws to force their view points on everyone. They are the political equivalent of the born again moral minority that thinks they have the right to dictate morals and values to everyone and demand we acquiesce to their overly sensitive view points.

Our form of government was NEVER conceived of by the founding fathers to be as intrusive into the lives of the people as it has become. The ONLY reason this is happening and has gotten to the extent of intrusion it has is because we ALLOW it to occur and do nothing about it.

“First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out– because I was not a communist; Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out– because I was not a socialist; Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out– because I was not a trade unionist; Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out– because I was not a Jew; Then they came for me– and there was no one left to speak out for me.” is just one of many variations of a poem attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group.

NO I am NOT “playing the Nazi card” here.  The situation in the quote in my opinio9n simply hold a striking resemblance to the one we currently find out selves in over  our personal right and privacy versus Big Brother. Any resemblance between liberals and goose stepping brain washed morons….well is purely of their own making and solely limited to that comparison.

Currently the hot debate is over states rights versus federal mandates. I think we need a similar debate of personal rights versus Orwellian laws, governmental agencies such as Child & Youth Services and over reaching unsupported by laws School systems! However I fear since they are already at the doors of most of our neighbors that we have waited FAR too long to have the discussion and make any need changes to protect our personal right to have our own children in a family environment where we get to chose their value sets, wardrobe and meal options.

Good Morning Campers…today is “National Roof Over Your Head” Day.  Well, it is, at least according to ONE website.  Here’s how they describe the day:

National Roof Over Your Head Day

When : Always December 3

Today is  National Roof Over Your Head Day. It is a day of appreciation for the things we have, starting with the roof over our heads.

For most of us, a roof over our head signifies living in a house that protects us from the elements, keeping us warm, dry, and cozy. Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky as you and I. There are many homeless people right here in our country. Some people live in a cardboard box on the street…… literally. There are millions of people around the world who live in poverty or disaster areas, and do not have a home to kees them comfortable and safe.

Spend a few minutes appreciating your roof and home today, along with the many thins you have. And, also make a contribution to a homeless shelter, so others can come in out of the rain.

Happy National Roof Over Your Head Day!

---

Origin of National Roof Over Your Head Day:

Despite our diligent efforts, we have yet to find who created Roof Over Your Head, or Roof Over Your Head Day. Nor, did we find factual information about this day.

There was some reference to this as a “National Day”. However, we found no congressional records or presidential proclamation.

Well look at that!  I finally found a Tee Shirt for all of us Dragon Laffers!

I really love these things:

*FLASH MOB DOES RAVEL’S “BOLERO”!*
http://www.classicalarchives.com:80/feature/dont_miss_this.html

Q: What do vampires have at eleven o’clock every day?
A: A coffin break!
Q: What do you call a ghost’s mother and father?
A: Transparents!

Today’s offering from our dear Diaman include Puns and jokes…..so enjoy the whole thing:

Finally, a way to describe Obama and his voters.

I love this word!

 

Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) – a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers

Presenting….The Geek brain!

I don’t think Tchaikovsky had this choreography in mind when he wrote “Swan Lake.” 
How could anyone imagine the perform ance you are about to see.
With a population of 1.3 billion, the Chinese had to locate one great dancer…… and they did!   See it and believe it ….
www.nzwide.com/swanlake.htm

An Oldie, but Goodie….and oh so accurate!

Is Sex “Work”?

A U.S. Marine Colonel was about to start the morning briefing to his staff. While waiting for the coffee machine to finish its brewing – the colonel decided to pose a question to all assembled.

He explained that his wife had been a bit frisky the night before and he failed to get his usual amount of sound sleep. He posed the question of just how much of sex was “work” and how much of it was “pleasure?”

A Major chimed in with 75-25% in favor of work.

A Captain said it was 50-50%.

A lieutenant responded with 25-75% in favor of pleasure, depending upon his state of inebriation at the time.

There being no consensus, the colonel turned to the PFC who was in charge of making the coffee. What was HIS opinion?

Without any hesitation, the young PFC responded, “Sir, it has to be 100% pleasure.”

The colonel was surprised and, as you might guess, asked why.

“Well, sir, if there was any work involved, the officers would have me doing it for them.”

The room fell silent.

God Bless the enlisted man

Dear God,

My prayer for 2012 is for

A fat bank account & a thin body.

Holy Cow!  Dad has entered the realm of Groaners!!!!  Way to go Dad!

Franchise  Opportunity
A friend of mine just started his own business.
He manufactures land mines that look like prayer mats.
It’s doing well.
He says prophets are going through the roof.

There were several cool and rant-worthy articles this week that the Leprechaun and I traded back and forth.  But today, maybe because of my military background or maybe because I’m going to work this morning to train those same military guys in how to stay alive in a really crappy environment, I’ve got an article for you guys to read…have you ever wondered what China was doing with all the interest money that we’ve been paying them?  Well, it seems that at least part of it was going for construction of a 3000 mile underground tunnel system for their nuclear ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile).  and the really intersting thing is who has been working so dilegently to uncover the truth….
You’ll be surprised.
Start reading here:

The Chinese have called it their “Underground Great Wall” — a vast network of tunnels designed to hide their country’s increasingly sophisticated missile and nuclear arsenal.

For the past three years, a small band of obsessively dedicated students at Georgetown University has called it something else: homework.

Led by their hard-charging professor, a former top Pentagon official, they have translated hundreds of documents, combed through satellite imagery, obtained restricted Chinese military documents and waded through hundreds of gigabytes of online data.

The result of their effort? The largest body of public knowledge about thousands of miles of tunnels dug by the Second Artillery Corps, a secretive branch of the Chinese military in charge of protecting and deploying its ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads.  http://news.yahoo.com/digging-china-nuclear-tunnels-013008319.html