The Ripple Effect of the Georgian Invasion "Blunder"

Image by World Economic Forum via Flickr

As certain speculators recently called it, the investors are pulling out of Russia in droves, causing stocks to plummet. The already frail economy is crumbling, and some are calling it "a strategic and long-term mistake, the effects of which will be felt by virtually all Russians."

What will happen to Russian big business?

The Associated Press: Fears of isolation as investors flee Russia

Billboard Campaign Hits Phoenix

Atheist Billboard Campaign Hits Phoenix| Christianpost.com

For every atheist billboard erected, I would like to see the following billboards planted right next to them. "Freedom of speech" is a two way street, you know.




“If we will not be governed by God, then we will be ruled by tyrants.” William Penn

These Things I Have Learned

Image by slimmer_jimmer via Flickr

I've learned that good relationships don't run on auto-pilot.

I've learned to always count my blessings, even when things are seemingly hopeless.

I've learned that I will never stop needing my mother.

I've learned that honesty is always the best policy.

I've learned that just as one door closes, another one opens.

I've learned that talk is cheap, but actions are invaluable.

I've learned that people won't always love us the way we want to be loved.

I've learned that we are never completely alone.

I've learned that everything can change in an instant.

I've learned that if I want to accomplish anything of significance in life, I am going to have to work with other people.

I've learned that even when there are two people who are jointly responsible for something, sometimes one of those people has to be entirely responsible for both.

I've learned hoping and wishing isn't the same as praying.

I've learned that time waits for no one.

I've learned that sometimes even the best-laid plans fall apart.

I've learned that no matter how much seniority you have at a company, if you don't "play the game" you will always be held back.

I've learned that there's nothing wrong with being single.

I've learned that you can be surrounded by people, and yet still feel extreme loneliness.

I've learned that I am like an onion; there are many, many layers to peel back before you get to the inside of me.

I've learned that who I am is not the type of car I drive, the label of clothes I wear, the size of my house, or how much money I have in the bank.

I've learned a person's past performance will most likely predict their future behavior.

I've learned just how much my mother must have loved me, though the love I have for my own daughter.

I've learned that everyone is human, and has some sort of weakness.

I've learned that I will always be learning.

America Must Choose Between Georgia and Russia?

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

It appears as though Russia might be making the decision for us, as Russia has just informed Norway that it plans to cut all military ties with NATO.

"A World Where Women Love Beer As Much As They Love Shoes"

Beer. Pilsners, lagers or ale. Bottle, or on draft. Domestic or imported.

The basic ingredients of beer are malted barley, hops, water and yeast.

The earliest records of beer and brewing date back over 4,000 years ago and have been found in Sumeria, which is in modern Iraq.

“Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world.” - Kaiser Wilhelm

But wait… most women prefer wine, or some other kind of mixed drink, according to statistics. This may be because they don't like the aftertaste, the smell or mistakenly regard beer as fattening. There are only about 150 calories in a 12-ounce serving of standard beer. A light beer contains only about 100 calories. There are about 13 carbs in a standard beer, 5 in a light beer.

So, what does a brewing company have to do to get more women to drink beer? Would storing it colder, and giving it a crisp taste help? What about making it sweeter, and toning down the aroma? Some U.K. brewers think so. The U.K. arm of Molson Coors Brewing Co. is trying to create "a world where women love beer as much as they love shoes."

That may be a longshot, but I can't wait to see if the U.S. will follow suit, and sample their efforts.

poll by twiigs.com

Bret Michaels: "I Still Love Ambre Lake"

Bret Michaels is gearing up to hold another cattle call (VH1’s Rock of Love Bus) for the role of his "girlfriend" next month. However, there's just one tiny detail regarding the former winner of last season, Ambre Lake - “I still love her,” Bret admits of his ex-girlfriend of three months.

According to his best friend and bodyguard, Big John Studd, “... he’ll never be over Ambre...Whoever he decides to pick from season 3 is going to have to accept that as well because she comes with it.”

Are you freakin' kidding me??? Is it just me, or does anyone else see the dysfunctionality in all of this?

"I Can Shoot it if I Want"

Image by Daniel Greene via Flickr

I know what it's like to have "Mower Rage." I can't think of anything I dislike more in the way of household chores than mowing my lawn. Especially in 100+ degree weather.

Unfortunately, for me it's catch 22 - I hate to mow my lawn, so I procrastinate, the lawn grows longer, and it's even more difficult to mow. The last time I mowed, I may as well have been pulling a plow across my lawn, because that's how impossible it is to mow when you've let the grass grow to unprecedented lengths. If there was a prize for most unruly lawn, I would most certainly win it, hands down.

Keith Walendowski has done something that many of us have only fantasized about. And he faces up to six years and nine months in prison. Says Walendowski of his apparent crime, "I'll tell you the truth. I got pissed because my lawn mower wouldn't start, so I got my shotgun and shot it.

Well, I personally will be thinking of another way to vent my frustration the next time I am outside under the Arizona sun, struggling to master the mower. Ever seen Office Space?

ADHD School Accommodations: Individualized Education Programs and 504 Plans

Image by Carl_C via Flickr

Children with ADHD have difficulty controlling their impulses. Scientists believe that a problem with dopamine, a brain chemical, causes them to respond immediately and reflexively to their environment — whether the stimulus is a question, an idea, or a treat. That’s why they often seem to act or talk before thinking.

Your ADHD child may be entitled to special-education services. Do you know what they are? And how to get them?

These Pictures Will Humble Anyone - Guaranteed

Stage 1 - Where we are at....











Antares Is The 15th Brightest Star In The Sky.
It Is More Than 1000 Light Years Away.

Stage 2 - Now Try To Wrap Your Mind Around This.....

This Is A Hubble Telescope Ultra Deep Field Infrared View Of Countless
'Entire' Galaxies Billions Of Light-Years Away.



Below Is A Close Up Of One Of The Darkest Regions Of The Photo Above.



Now How Big Are You?
And How Big Are The Things That Upset You Today?

“I Still Miss You”

“I Still Miss You”

Oh, Keith, I am right there with you. I know all too well what this song means...

It will be ten years in October since my mom left this world. I still get misty-eyed thinking about how I can no longer just pick up the phone and call mom when I need some advice, or when I just need to bend her ear. I can still hear her voice, just as clear as a bell, as if the last time hearing it was just seconds ago...

Mom, I still miss you.

Things You Need to Know About Your Car

Image by justin_a_glass via Flickr

It's no secret that vehicle *maintenance* is cheaper than vehicle *repairs*. Without proper maintenance of the vehicle, a car will quickly start to break down and start to suffer from mechanical issues. Moreover, neglecting your car can affect your personal safety, your passenger's personal safety, and the safety of other motorists on the road.

Some questions to ask yourself:

Do you change your oil at least every 5000-6000 miles? Are you checking your air filter and PVC valve at this time, to make sure they are still in good condition?

Do you use a gas treatment with every oil change, such as Valvoline synthetic fuel system cleaner? (Add it on your next fill-up, put the additive in then fill-up the vehicle.)

Are you changing your transmission fluid (and filter) at least every 30,000 miles, or as your manufacturer recommends?

Do you change your fuel filter every 15,000 miles, or when your manufacturer recommends?

Do you change your spark plugs every 40,000 miles, or when the manufacturer recommends? (Platinum plugs should last 100,000 miles, so check manufacturer guidelines on this.)

Do you check your plug wires to make sure they are still in good condition? (There should be no cracks in the rubber, with the metal tips still in good condition.)

Do you have your shock, struts, tie-rods, cv-joints, and springs checked at least once a year? (Most places offer this service free.)

Have you checked your charging system in the fall to make sure your alternator and battery are still in good standing before winter?

Have you changed the timing belt at about 90,000-100,000 miles? (Many of these belts don't last long after 100,000 miles, and you will be in a WORLD OF TROUBLE if that belt snaps, and it causes your engine to cease. Much better to pay to replace the timing belt, rather than pay for new valves, or worse, a whole new or rebuilt engine.)

Do you put your vehicle put on a diagnostic machine once a year? (This normally costs about $40.)

Have you checked your tire pressure every month?

Have you checked your belts and hoses every three months to make sure they don't have any cracks, and are still in good condition?

Have you had your brakes and braking system checked at least once a year, to make sure they still have decent pad on them and everything is working properly? (Again, many places offer this service free.)

Do you rotate your tires about every 6000 miles, or when your manufacturer recommends? (Hydroplaning begins at 5/32" of tire tread or less, and at 2/32" the tires are VERY dangerous.)

And speaking of tires, the most important part of your vehicle:

Do you check for any bubbles, cuts, divots, etc. in the sidewall (where the letters are)? (If there are noticeable cuts or divots, the tire should be replaced.)

Are you checking to see if the sidewall showing signs of cracking? Does the rubber appear to have lines from age? (You may want to turn the steering wheel to get a view of the tread.)

Do you check the tread to make sure that it's even all the way around? (Uneven tread may be caused by a problem in suspension parts and/or alignment wear. Get the front end inspected and have the alignment checked. Depending upon the severity of the wear, the tires may need to be replaced.)

Do you check to see if the tread bar indicators (small rubber pieces that extend above 2/32") are showing? (If so, the tires are dangerous. Replace them.)

Do the tires appear cupped (random "bumps" in the tread)? (This may be an indication of your car bouncing on the road. Have the shocks/struts checked and/or replaced.)

Best ways to waste money on your car:

• 3000 mile oil changes.
• Changing your antifreeze every winter.
• Going to any old repair shop.
• Letting a brake squeal turn into a brake job.
• Not changing the fuel filter.
• Not keeping records.
• Not keeping your tires properly inflated.
• Not replacing your air filter and wiper blades yourself.
• Premium gas instead of regular.
• Replacing tires when you should be replacing shocks.
• Using a dealer for major services.
• Using a dealer for oil changes.
• Using the dealer’s maintenance schedule instead of the factory’s.

Keep the actual cost of these parts in mind when considering a $59.95 tune-up at the shop (even more at the dealership):

• Spark plugs - $1.28 each
• Rotor cap - $5.00
• Air filter - $ 10.00
• Distributor cap - $15.00
• Spark plug wires - $ 20.00

Check with your local Better Business Bureau to get the lowdown on a specific auto body shop. There's a reason why the auto body industry gets the worst ratings for customer satisfaction. Just being "ASE Certified" (Automotive Service Excellence) is not enough.

Living In the Present Moment

Learn from the past. Look to the future. Live in the present.
- Unknown

You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.
- Henry David Thoreau

Winners live in the present tense. People who come up short are consumed with future or past. I want to be living in the now.
- Alex Rodriguez

If you had asked me six years ago what life would be like for me six years down the road, I probably would have answered that I'd be living the American Dream - my own little nuclear family complete with husband & kids, all happily living in "Suburbia" just like the little doll family in my childhood dollhouse. That's not exactly what transpired over the past six years. I'm a single mother now.

We all have basic needs that, when left unmet, leave us with an emptiness - whatever stage of life or age we may be. Sometimes those unmet needs can leave us obsessed with a longing to change something that occurred in the past, or keep us immobilized in the present because of something we desperately hope for in the future, ultimately preventing us from living in the here-and-now.

Everyone needs to consider the future, as well as make plans for it. Don't put off buying that house, taking that dream vacation, or planning for your retirement, just because you are still single... what if things don't actually turn out the way you'd planned? You'll end up shortchanging yourself. You don't actually know what the future will bring. Nobody does.

If you are constantly in the past, you can't possibly experience the happiness from what's happening right now. Don't hold on to the past. It drains you, and takes your focus away from the present. If you allow your past to consume your life, you will not be able to pursue all of your dreams and work towards your goals in life.

When you are anchored in the present (and with the person in front of you) you become aware of the joy, pleasure, excitement or whatever in that moment. You never know when your hourglass will run out. Live life now. Live in the present moment.