1. Middle Name?
Robert

2. Favorite Animal?
Wolf. Timber wolf to be specific but any flavor will do in a pinch.

3. If you were to go on a deserted island for 10 years, and you could take 1 person and 3 items, what would you take?
I think I've answered this somewhere else. I'd take Sally Struthers. That way I could crack her across the head the first time she whined about being hungry and then feed myself for the rest of my stay. I mean, have you seen her recently? I want my baby back, baby back, baby back ribs!

For items I'd take a damn fine survival rifle complete with shitloads of ammo. Item two would be a damn fine survival knife. Item three would be a really large pot. I can boil water to make it potable, cook things easily, sterilize my knife for amputations when necessary...the possibilities are endless. And Struthers is probably a bit stringy - she'd be better as stew than she would as chops.

4. WhatÂ’s your favorite food?
See question 3a. Haha, just kidding. It's pizza. With peppers, onions, mushrooms, sausage, pepperoni, and canadian bacon. And extra cheese, but that goes without saying.

5. WhoÂ’s your favorite band?
Overall, probably either Led Zeppelin or the Melody Makers (Bob Marley). Tragically Hip are pretty high up there too.

6. WhoÂ’s your favorite person?
Me. You gotta be happy with you before you're any good to anybody else.

7. How old are you?
Thirty four? Thirty five? No, can't be thirty five yet, I'd remember that. I'll go with thirty four. I'll do the math if you make me but it'll cost you a dollar. Each.

8. Where do you live?
Atlanta, Jawjah

9. WhatÂ’s your favorite type of Ice Cream?
Whichever one has the best chance of putting me into a chocolate induced coma.

10. WhatÂ’s your favorite family tradition?
Going to the Atebellum plantation at Stone Mountain Park for picnics, swashbuckling, football and tag.

11. Do you have a job? If so where?
Damn well better at almost thirty-five with 3 kids. I'm an analyst for a company that makes software distribution systems.

12. WhatÂ’s your dream car?
One that's solid state electronics and runs off a fuel cell. Don't forget the lifetime bumper to bumper warranty.

Play along. Answer here in the comments or trackback a post to Mookie.

Posted by: Jim at 08:36 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
Post contains 413 words, total size 2 kb.

The first Flying Pig Party item is finished and loaded into the Snooze Button Dreams store. Be the first kid on your block with a Flying Pig Mouse Pad:

Cost for Flying Pig memorabilia will be whatever Cafe Press is charging. I believe that getting the message out there is more important than making a profit. That's why the first item is something that'll sit on your desk and nobody will ever see. Brilliant, Jim. Just brilliant.

Let me know what other item types you'd like to see.

UPDATE: Almost forgot! The motto on this mousepad, which will be one of two main mottos for the party, was thought up by SpaceMonkey.

Posted by: Jim at 02:31 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
Post contains 122 words, total size 1 kb.

And after I've got that I'll be commanding you to send in an entry for the next Bestofme Symphony. Send them to bestofme@jpeacock.net and they'll be in Monday's edition at Dramaqueen.

The only requirements are that you think the post is good and that it be at least 2 months old. It doesn't even have to be from your own blog. It just can't get any simpler!

The basics of the Bestofme Symphony.
Want to host a Symphony?
Get reminder emails.

Posted by: Jim at 01:22 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 87 words, total size 1 kb.

I know that California is ...er...different. Still, this is just too much:

On volunteers, state is up a creek without a clue

A law originally meant to protect union wages has been redefined to prohibit volunteer labor on public projects. Out of the window goes Adopt a Highway, student volunteers, and neighborhood or work groups pitching in to help with projects like neighborhood beautification, stream bed clean-up, etc.

It actually began with a group of students who received school credit for cleaning up a stream bed. A union rep bitched about it and the state fined the nonprofit group that organized the cleanup.

Redding is also struggling with the labor bureaucracy in its effort to build a new city park, in part with volunteer help. A member of a Sonoma County library advisory board tells me that his group fears local Rotary Club members won't be allowed to landscape the library's grounds. And it's possible that groups such as Habitat for Humanity, which use volunteer labor to build homes for the poor, could be swept up by the same regulation.

The problem started in the 1930's when the state enacted legislation that effectively granted all public works projects to union labor. Non-union contractors were forced to pay union wages to their employees if they wished to bid on public projects. In 2001 the state changed the law to define a public project as just about anything that got a dollar of taxpayer money.

So why can't this get fixed? It's pretty easy - get rid of the fucked up anti-market laws that unfairly penalize people who do not wish to surrender their autonomy to a socialist union construct. Since it's California we are talking about this will never happen. Another solution might be to specify that volunteer labor can be free. Only when people are paid money should the mandatory pay scales be used. That won't happen either though as the unions want anything that requires skill to be under the forcible pay restrictions. (Apparently at least one union boss thinks that cleaning up a stream bed is skilled labor.)

I'm just glad I'm in Georgia where I can get a bunch of my friends together and clean up a vacant lot if we want to. Not that we would, being lazy southern boys, but we could!

(Hat tip to Joanne Jacobs)

Posted by: Jim at 10:59 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 402 words, total size 2 kb.

Rob found Yeti Sports, Part 4! Can you crack a thousand?

Posted by: Jim at 10:21 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 13 words, total size 1 kb.

I'm getting worried about you guys. I only had 31 spam messages this morning. If you take out the 7 virus mails that's only 24 valid spams! Are you not feeling well?

I sure hope you're not getting sick. Maybe you got freaked by those four Michigan spammers who are getting prosecuted under spam and mail fraud statutes. I wouldn't worry about that too much. I mean those guys were selling a blatantly fraudulent product. Your cia|i$ might not really work as advertised but you're always careful to cover yourselves with the "diet supplement" blanket. The most they could get you for would be the five years for breaking the anti-spam laws.

So anyway, if you are getting sick I'd be thrilled to help you out. I've got this vitamin patch that is absolutely guaranteed to reduce your flu and cold symptoms by up to 50% as well as cut the duration of your illness in half. Just keep an eye on your inbox, you'll see it.

Posted by: Jim at 09:07 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 179 words, total size 1 kb.

It seems like there is a battle in Japan to place the blame. Is it the Japanese government's fault for not preventing them from going to Iraq? Is it the citizens' fault for going despite warnings from the government that it wasn't safe?

Let me just drop this into the toilet bowl and see if it floats: It was the fault of the fundamentalist terrorists who kidnapped them.

It seems that the blame game isn't just an American hobby.

Posted by: Jim at 08:35 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 105 words, total size 1 kb.

(Click for supah size)

The results page shows $49,681.83 was raised but there are a few hundred more to be allocated. The fundraising goal of $50,000 for Spirit of America was reached!

My personal thanks to all y'all who donated and to everybody who helped to spread the word. You rawk!

The competition aspect of the fundraiser was fun and the banter and backstabbing kept it fresh and interesting. I think we'll be better prepared if this happens again - some great ideas popped up mid-stream that would have been great to start with. For the next fundraiser we'll need to get the central offer page (our vBay) up right away to coordinate better. Items like my blogad giveaway would have worked better if they'd been available from the start (sorry, didn't think of it until yesterday). More time for some of the auctions from the heavies would have been nice - we'll need to become pests much earlier in the next cycle.

But even as fundraising amateurs, we drummed up Fifty Thousand Dollars to help our guys over there. Is that freaking awesome or what?

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.

The photo above was taken by Joanie.

The card graphic was made by Michele. She also has a nice collection of links to closing posts from some of the other fundraisers.

Posted by: Jim at 08:12 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 232 words, total size 2 kb.

I caught this meme from Ilyka (who's afeared to play along).

1. Grab the nearest CD.


2. Put it in your CD-Player (or start your mp3-player, I-tunes, etc.).


3. Skip to Song 3 (or load the 3rd song in your 3rd playlist)


4. Post the first verse in your journal blog along with these instructions.

The third song on my CD was instrumental so I took the fourth one. Good luck guessing the song:

No te vayas
Mujer
Tu no me dejas
Tu no te vallas
Igual que una chiquitana

POINTS: 10 points if you can name the song this comes from without searching for it. You've also got to give us the story of how the hell you know this one. (It's not exactly common, if you haven't guessed yet.)

After 24 hours the points will knock down to 1 and searching will be allowed.

Posted by: Jim at 07:46 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
Post contains 165 words, total size 1 kb.

I was in the VIP lounge last week en route to Seattle. Whilst in the lounge, I noticed Bill Gates sitting on the chesterfield enjoying a cognac.

I was meeting a very important client who was also flying to Seattle with me but she was running a bit late. Being a forward type of guy, I approached Mr. Gates and introduced myself. I explained to him that I was conducting some very important business and how I would appreciate it if he could throw a quick "Hello Jim" at me when I was with my client.

He agreed. Ten minutes later while I was conversing with my client, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Bill Gates. I turned around and looked up at him. He said, "Hi Jim, what's happening?" To which I replied:

"Fuck off Gates, I'm in a meeting."

Posted by: Jim at 04:08 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 150 words, total size 1 kb.

Moderator: First Candidate, allegations have been raised that in your youth you behaved in an erratic, some might say "youthful" manner. Please respond.

First Candidate: I'm so glad you brought that up, Moderator. Youth today is in crisis. If elected president I will see to it that the problems with today's youth are thoroughly investigated and addressed to the satisfaction of everybody and their mother.

Moderator: Other Candidate, your detractors blame the recent increase in inflation on the massive government spending plans you have initiated. How do you reply?

Other Candidate: I've been waiting for the chance to address that exact question. A tax return is just that - a return of tax money to the taxpayers. We should not be taking more money that we need to and if we do, we need to give that money back. That's why I am pledging to pursue a taxation plan that more closely matches our actual budgetary needs.

Moderator: Flying Pig Candidate, you are a relative unknown in this race. We're not sure exactly how you made it into the debates at all, seeing as you're basically a political nonentity. Do you have any qualification for the office?

Flying Pig Candidate: I can answer a question. I can stand here, listen to the words coming out of your mouth, form a reply in my mind that adequately addresses the concerns you have raised and then form words to that effect.

Moderator: First Candidate, there is some question on your committment to ... hold on a moment here. Flying Pig Candidate, did you just reply to my question with an answer to the actual question that I asked?

Flying Pig Candidate: Why yes. Yes I did.

Moderator: And did you just reply to a yes or no question with a yes or no?

Flying Pig Candidate: Yes, I did do that. Here, I've just done it again.

Moderator: Extraordinary...

Flying Pig Candidate: Indeed.

Posted by: Jim at 02:22 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 329 words, total size 2 kb.

According to my nifty program that tracks how long I've been cigarette free I have been off of the cancer sticks for two months, two days, 1 hour and 35 minutes. That's 1241 cigarettes not smoked, saving $195.38.

What I want to know is, where the hell is my $195.38?

I want my money!

POINTS: Be the first person to name the inspiration for this post title and pick up a quick 3 points. No searches, please.

Posted by: Jim at 01:07 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
Post contains 89 words, total size 1 kb.

(Click to donate)

The fundraiser for Spirit of America has been extended for one final day. So far the combined teams have raised $43577.83, just a hammer throw away from our goal of $50,000. We're hoping that this final day will bring us home. If yesterday is any indicator we're going to make it.

All of the incentives from all participating blogs are now listed at vBay. There are a load of 'em and I'm adding one more:

Donate to Spirit of America and get free advertising

Not on this site, you silly. On sites where advertising is valuable. Click on that Spirit banner at the top of this post and make a $20 donation. Forward me the receipt email from Spirit of America along with your choice of which site you wish your free advertising to run (first come, first served). The site owner will send you a code to get a free Blogad for one month on their site.

Sites Participating (# slots left)
A Small Victory (1)
Zero Intelligence (4)

Once the monthies are gone all further donations will receive a two week run on Zero Intelligence. Yes, all others. No matter how many people want it. It might take a while to get through everybody if there's a big response (since there are only 6 ads running at a time) but I'm happy to loan the ZI.net revenue stream out to Spirit of America.

If you have a Blogad space (or spaces) that you would like to donate, email me or comment in this post.

Posted by: Jim at 07:47 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 271 words, total size 2 kb.

Not just any iron, either. One of those fancy Oreck cordless irons. Retail is $129.95 but you can get it for one shitload less at Lovely Wife's auction.

We bought the Oreck vacuum a few months ago and Lovely Wife loves it. The bags are a bit expensive but it does everything they say it does. It came with a little canister vac that gets used a lot and this iron that got used exactly once (just to make sure that it worked when we received the shipment). She's already got an iron that she likes so this has just been sitting there lonely and unused.

So adopt an iron today!

Posted by: Jim at 03:55 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 119 words, total size 1 kb.

If you put Ann Coulter and Hillary Clinton in the same room, could the resultant energy surge be used to power the Enterprise's warp coil?

Posted by: Jim at 02:58 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 29 words, total size 1 kb.

(Click to donate)

That drive I speak of is for a five with four zeros after it, of course. The various factions have united for the last day of fund raising to see if we can get to the original goal of $50,000. We're already over $36,000 so it is doable. In that spirit we're cross promoting each other's offers.

The Victory Coalition's special offers are still at vBay.
The Fighting Fusileer's offers are all tracked at Castle Argghhh!!
The Liberty Alliance does have stuff out there but there's no central organization. Page down at Dean's World and you can find some of them. Don't forget Ilyka's triple option offer, which I spotlighted yesterday. There are other good ones from the Alliance too so take a minute to take a look.

Update: Here's a good one! Just trackback to this post and the Pudgy Pundit will make a donation!

Posted by: Jim at 01:53 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 157 words, total size 2 kb.

Revenge is a dish best served cold. And with a pee filled balloon. Paul's got it nailed.

Posted by: Jim at 12:56 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 21 words, total size 1 kb.

A Fairy told a married couple: "For being such an exemplary married couple for 35 years, I will give you each a wish." "I want to travel around the world with my dearest husband," said the wife. The fairy moved her magic stick and...Abracadabra! Two tickets appeared in her hands. Now it was the husband's turn.

He thought for a moment and said: "Well this moment is very romantic, but an opportunity like this only occurs once in a lifetime. So....I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me." The wife was deeply disappointed but, a wish was a wish. The Fairy made a circle with her magic stick and...abracadabra! Suddenly the husband was 90 years old.

The moral of the story: Men might be jerks, but Fairies are Female.

Posted by: Jim at 12:43 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 146 words, total size 1 kb.

Pop up this picture and note down the first five thoughts you have. Mine are in the extended entry.

more...

Posted by: Jim at 11:12 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 96 words, total size 1 kb.

They're annoying fuzzy beasts. They puke on the carpet right next to the linoleum. They won't come when you want them to and when you want them to leave they won't go away. We have two of them living with us.

Henk is our primary cat. He's named after The Godfather. Yeah, the one who showed me the joys of firing fully automatic weapons. Similar personality. Henk the cat works out his agression by walking over your food and chewing on your hair. Even though his front slashers are gone he is still the boss of you, the other cat and both dogs. In fact, he was raised by dogs and we think this is what warped his personality.

Apple is our secondary cat. She was a birthday present to Lovely Wife a couple years ago and she was supposed to be a companion for Henk while we went out and about. At first she only liked me but in the past year or so she's come around to Lovely Wife too. She still doesn't like the kids. She is a traditional cat-style cat. As you can see in the picture below, she couldn't possibly care less that I need to use the computer. Would you try to move her? Me either. I have a PDA now.

Yeah, they're annoying and a pain in the ass sometimes. They're not the most trainable pet, that's for sure. Then again when a cat comes up to you and rubs on you looking for some lovin it's not because you told him to, it's because he wants to. There's something to be said for that.

Posted by: Jim at 11:00 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 274 words, total size 2 kb.