Stumbling Around

I got my Stumble going today, and ran into some interesting pictures. These are from Kalamazoo Animal Rescue in Michigan. To see more, click on the link, but only do it if you want to smile. :)

Footprints In Cyberspace

Did you know that no matter where you go or what you do on the 'net, you leave very clear footprints? Your tracks are everywhere. I recently had to hunt down a troublemaker. I used a tracker that came with my Blogger, a couple of online utilities, and lo and behold - voila! I know who it is, where they live, etc.

Be sure you go where you don't mind being found. The tracks you leave are as clear as railroad tracks. Also beware if you want to play unscrupulous games on sites around cyberspace. Someone knows who you are and saw what you did.

How The Internet Was Born

You may have your ideas how the Internet came to be, and some have claimed to be the creator of the 'net. I have found the answer.

This is how the Internet really came to be:

How It All Began

We Owe Them

We owe it to our innocent countrymen. We owe it to those in the planes. We owe it to those in the World Trade Center. We owe it to those in the Pentagon. We owe it to the heroes of Flight 93, who gave thier lives so that countless others would not die. We owe it to the firefighters. We owe it to the policemen. In a way, we even "owe" the terrorists.

We forgot our past, and we paid for it. Many say that they cannot forget the attack on our country. I fear that they mean they will not forget those who died that day. We must also never forget that we were attacked in an act of war, or we will be doomed to repeat it.

Our fighting men and women are doing their best to see that terrorism will never be a threat again. That is their mission. We must not dishonor them by failure to support their mission. Their mission is to make us safe. How can we not support it?

The U.S. Coast Guard's motto is "Semper Paratus", or "Always Prepared". That, we must be.

God rest the souls of our fallen. May they rest in peace.


"What" and "How" we remember is just as important as the "remembering" itself.

Tolerance and Hypocrisy

(This entry is a rant. I don't want to come off as cold and unfeeling, because I am not. I love my Country and would gladly sacrifice much for its citizens' protection and preservation. I served my country in the 'Nam era so that people can get under my skin. Please bear with me.)

Something really gets under my skin, and did tonight. Someone who preaches tolerance and freedom of speech is showing signs of not practicing those ideals. It is very common with a certain mindset, and it really pisses me off at times.

I started using this sig image in my forum posts, that shows the second airliner right before it hit the second WTC tower. They took offense to it, calling it "disturbing". That's kind of a no-brainer. Yes it is disturbing, but my intent was not to send anybody into a psychological tailspin. It was but to honor the memory of those who have fallen, and to remind us of the reason we are at war with terrorists who would exterminate us. Unfortunately, there are those who see that scene, and all they remember is "Bush did it" or "this, for oil", and not that we were attacked by Muslim extremists in much the same way that Pearl Harbour was attacked 65 years ago. If they are so mentally fragile, professional help is out there for them.

Where does the tolerance come in? Well, the people who scream it the loudest have no tolerance for anybody who has opposing viewpoints and opinions. They have no tolerance for anybody who holds those differing viewpoints. They would stifle one's Freedom of Speech because it "offends" them. It matters not that their behaviour offends me. Of course, I don't mention it.

I practice the tolerance that they preach. I also believe in Freedom of Speech, and afford others the same right. It saddens me that so many will not do so. I tolerate offensive sigs they post. I tolerate their freedom of speech, even when I find it offensive. They prefer to deny my freedom of speech and expression. They whine when something I say offends them, yet they don't think a thing about offending me.

Some say that the "barrage" of 9/11 coverage this time of year only strengthens the enemy. I would agree, IF those viewing it reinforce their anti-war on terrorism beliefs - or it creates them. I would agree, IF it makes them more anti-Bush. I would agree, IF it makes them want our troops back too soon. If it gives us new unity in the endeavour, it strenghtens us. It is up to the viewer which one it strenghtens.

May those who have fallen rest in peace - except the hijackers and terrorists around the world. May they rot in hell!

May we never forget that we forgot history once (Pearl), and it was repeated (WTC). It must not happen again. Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

Autumn Approaches

Lately, the feel of Autumn has been creeping in. The feel of the air, the sights and smells, just "something" is a bit different. Soon nature's paintbrush will be dabbing itself across the high plains. The crispness of the morning will have a little tingle to it, the smell of trees crossing into its annual life's change, and the sight of a little bit different sunset or sunrise, will break the horizon.


This morning gave me a taste of the sunrises to come. Autumn always has a different "feel" to its sunrises and sets. Here's hoping for many unique and vivid ones.

Hey, Bro!

I got word that my older brother is going to pay me a visit the first part of the week before Thanksgiving this year. I scheduled a few days off work so I can kick around with him and show him the sights. It's been a long time since I've seen him. He'll be flying in on Sunday, and fly back on Wednesday - his birthday.

I look forward to his visit. :)

Thank You, God!

A cat died and went to Heaven. God met her at the gates and said, "You have been a good cat all these years. Anything you want is yours for the asking."

The cat thought for a minute and then said, "All my life I lived on a farm and slept on hard wooden floors. I would like a real fluffy pillow to sleep on."

God said, "Say no more." Instantly the cat had a huge fluffy pillow.

A few days later, six mice were killed in an accident and they all went to Heaven together. God met the mice at the gates with the same offer that He made to the cat.


The mice said, "Well, we have had to run all of our lives: from cats, dogs, and even people with brooms! If we could just have some little roller skates, we would not have to run again."

God answered, "It is done." All the mice had beautiful little roller skates.

About a week later, God decided to check on the cat. He found her sound asleep on her fluffy pillow. God gently awakened the cat and asked, "Is everything okay? How have you been doing? Are you happy?"

The cat replied, "Oh, it is WONDERFUL! I have never been so happy in my life. The pillow is so fluffy, and those little Meals on Wheels you have been sending over are delicious!"

Lens Test

Over the last couple of days, I got to do some shooting with my new lens. Storms were crossing the countryside, and I went SE of town to get a good position for some lightning shots. The lens performed up to expectations, and I was able to get several shots of lightning. Some were too distant, and all were way over-exposed. I really need to work on my settings with ISO 400 film, since that's the speed I use for general shooting. When I corrected them with software, lightning bolts materialized in my scenes. This is one of them.

Yesterday while roaming the countryside looking for photo-ops, we took an old dirt road as we often do. It's no fun looking where everybody else looks. At one point while driving along, I spotted something in the road that didn't belong. It was a Prairie Rattlesnake - the first one I've ever seen in the wild. I couldn't pass it up. After I went past him, I backed up, got out, and took a closer look. Yep, it was a rattler. Kewl! He showed no signs of agression or defensiveness, and it looked like he had just had lunch. That is one of the few times they don't seem to care about the rest of the world. That situation presented some good photo-shootin' opportunities that normally elude people. Here is a digital I took of him. I have more shots on film, but I need to finish the roll and get it developed.

An Invitation

I got an invitation this weekend from my sister in Iowa, where all but one of my family resides. It was an invitation to spend Thanksgiving with them this year. It has been 4 or 5 years anyway, since I've seen any of them - both parents and their respective spouses, my brothers and my sisters. With my new-found freedom comes the generally unimpeded chance to actually do what I've allowed to be neglected, for far too long. Yes, I want to see my family again. I want to be the one to go to them, and not expect them to come to me as in years past. The thought of it is a very pleasant one, but it does have a bittersweet component.

I've become such a part of my "extended" family, and so attached to them that the thought of even a short-duration trip to see my parents and siblings feels like I'm going to school for the very first time. For the first time in over two years, I would be without the people who have cared for and about me, protected me, and have allowed me to do the same for them. I would miss them greatly, and mutual worry would be a part of my absence. A 4 or 5 day trip would be partially consumed by 2 days of driving at least 12 hours.

This is something I probably have to do, to continue to repair the damage I have allowed to happen in the past. The thought of it makes me uneasy in ways. My extended family needs me, and I need them. Yet I know I need to restore relationships with my bio family as well. It is a bit of a struggle I need to work with.