( education / news / rss )
The much-discussed Harpers open letter opposing cancel culture has provoked, you guessed it, another open letter. This one accuses the original of being elite and racist, but many Twitter users arent buying the argument. Read Full Article at ... read more
( education / news / rss )
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has denied the existence of cancel culture, suggesting it is an invention of privileged moaners who can't handle criticism. Her thesis prompted speculation that the powerful lawmaker has no self-awareness. Read Full Article ... read more
( education / news / rss )
Cancel culture attracts people who feel isolated by society and want to be part of a rigid orthodoxy that gives their lives meaning, according to a signatory of a controversial open letter that was also endorsed by J.K. Rowling. Read Full Article at ... read more
( education / news / rss )
An open letter opposing cancel culture has garnered 150 signatures, including those of Noam Chomsky and JK Rowling, but is being bashed by conservatives as insincere and too late and waved off by liberals as missing the point. Read Full ... read more
( culture / writing / books / novels ) Two of my ebooks are available free of charge all month (July) at Smashwords. The links are at the bottom of that page.
I've already sold five copi ... read more
( education / news / rss ) Vic Bishop - Impactful initiatives like these are helping to reverse systemic racism while moving the world toward a hemp future. ... read more
( education / news / rss )
Broadcaster Jemele Hill has found herself in hot water after a tweet resurfaced in which she used the word tranny. Her would-be cancellation was sparked by Barstool Sports hosts, whom she had attacked for alleged racism. Read Full Article at ... read more
( culture / quotes ) This is great. Pretty similar to one by Mark Twain, actually, but I am adding it here, anyway:
One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we have been bamboozled long eno ... read more
( education / news / rss ) Many pundits and politicians seem to blame UK prime minister Boris Johnson for provoking the latest installment of the culture wars that now dominate Anglo-American public life. Sections of the media, from the New York Times to the Guardian, have claimed that ... read more
( culture / health / conspiracies ) My attitude is simple: Wear a mask if you are worried, but leave the rest of us alone to breathe in peace. And anyone who fell for this pandemic probably also fell for 9/11, Obama's hope, and the Kennedy assassination official expla ... read more
( culture / music / tech ) Cool! I am getting one of these. I am including an affiliate link here. This sounds like a scam post, but I really am going to buy this!... read more
( culture / writing / blog / auto ) A mostly one-way text conversation I had with my wife, Tara, yesterday while she worked and I tried to get her car emissi... read more
( culture / writing / books / advice ) Louis L'Amour once said he could write while sitting in the middle of the freeway. That didn't impress me at the time, but now it does.
Not one, but two dogs threw up behind me as I wrote. Was that a commentary on my writing? Wouldn't be the first time.
As I told these guys in the job interview, If you're wondering wh... read more
( culture / movies-tv ) Our first-ever TV show has just launched on YouTube. The GNN-TV pilot, "Quarantine Edition, was developed and produced in just 2 weeks with Ros ... read more
( culture / humor / jokes )
Half of us are going to come out of this quarantine as amazing cooks. The other half will come out with a drinking problem.
I used to spin that toilet paper like I was on Wheel of Fortune. Now I turn it like I'm cracking a safe.
I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.
Still haven't decided where ... read more
( culture / humor ) Nobody bats an eye now when I walk into a bank or store with a bandanna wrapped across my face. Of course, the gun is still a sure giveaway. ... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) This is a first, as far as we know. No, we didn't research it. We don't do a lot of research here. :) Anyway...
The 146th Kentucky Derby will be rescheduled from May 2, 2020 to September 5, 2020.
See kentuckyderby.com... read more
( culture / movies-tv ) via collective-evolution.com
"As the Founding Director of the Tribeca Film Festival, former Head of Content for GAIAMTV (Gaia), and now Founder and CEO of Conscious ... read more
( culture / writing / stories ) via the-good-guy-bad-guy-myth
"Pop culture today is obsessed with the battle between good and evil. Traditional folktales never were. What changed?" ... read more
( culture / sports / soccer ) Who do you want playing right now for the US Men's national soccer team (assuming everyone's available) for a hypothetical must-win game?
VOTE HERE
I like this lineup, here.... read more
( culture / tech / computers / internet ) ...should you be so inclined:
Buy one of my books at Amazon or SmashWords, or
Buy me a (virtual) cup of coffee... read more
( culture / humor ) Stumbled upon this and thought I'd share. Here's a sample...
Look, buddy, I get it . You have a Ferrari and you "wanna go fast" like Ricky Bobby but maybe central fcking London isn't ... read more
( culture / crafts ) Here's my goodbye letter to Zazzle. Yes, it's awfully bitter and conspiracy theory-ish, but I was upset. :)
"Your new policy sucks, big time. And when I tried to create something new before the deadline after which they start charging monthly fees, it was so freaking difficult to post it for sale, I gave up. I'm ... read more
( culture / dance ) via Puttin' on the Ritz in MoscowHundreds of dancers joined together in Moscow on 26.02.2012 to perform together a great flashmob of...... read more
( culture / quotes / religion ) "When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad; and that is my religion. -- Abraham Lincoln"
When Gandhi was asked his opinion of Western civilization he said, It would be a good idea.
Heaven is by favor; if it were by merit your dog would go in and you would ... read more
( culture / quotes / religion ) "When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad; and that is my religion. -- Abraham Lincoln"
All quote-related posts... read more
( culture / writing / blog / numbers ) Today is 1-2-3 day! January 23. Exciting, right? Just think, twenty-six years from today it'll be 1-2-3-4-5 day! I'll probably be dead by then, but somebody will enjoy it! ... read more
( culture / humor ) Don't you hate it when you're taking the stairs, looking down because it's a struggle, you think you've reached your floor only to look up and see you've got two more to go? Working on the third floor is rough!... read more
( culture / writing / books / novels ) I have created a form for you to leave an anonymous review/critique of all of my books. CLICK HERE. Thanks! :)
... read more
( culture / writing / blog / movies-tv ) Good quasi-clay-mation videoGreat first video from several years ago by my niece here: Y19zSl2q5iQ. Her current YouTube channel is here: channel/UC-JJa3iNrgqhyRN-an4afP ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / employment ) "Once Toys R Us was taken over, however, the debt that Vornado Realty, KKR and Bain used to acquire it was pushed back onto the company, skyrocketing its debt obligations to $7.6 billion."
via inthesetimes. ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / animals ) I just went down the road to the quickie-mart and got coffee. It's something I do most every weekend morning since throwing away my home coffee maker to keep me from drinking too much of it. On the way there, I saw what I thought was a dead turtle in the road. I hate that. Poor things just can't move fast enough.
Half way there, up ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / movies-tv ) - So, I'm selecting a movie to watch on Netflix. I see "Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty". It's Indian, with subtitles, but it's in the category of Action/Adventure. The blurb says "Capt. Bakshi sets out to stop a network of terrorist sleeper cells!" So, I give it ... read more
( culture / writing / poetry ) Listening to Don Henley this morning. He is one of the all-time great lyricists/poets. Just thought I'd say so. Then ... read more
( culture / movies-tv / humor ) Action films on Netflix- Almost half of all action films on Netflix have a variation of this description: "He thought he was retired, but has to do One. Last. Job! 1950... read more
( culture / writing ) Publishers and writing "gurus" preach that writers need followers. The problem is that emotionally-stable people don't want followers, they want friends, compatriots, people who listen, not followers. Especially zombie followers. They're the worst! :)... read more
( culture / writing / blog / humor ) - Me (joking, the other day): I'm out of toothpaste! Whaddaya gonna do about it?
Wife (without missing a beat): Find a husband with toothpaste, I guess.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I married her. :) And that's why I'm at the store right now, buying toothpaste. ... read more
( culture / movies-tv ) Is there a single, decent series available online that isn't depraved; you know, doesn't involve zombies or some sort of depressing, apocalyptic, loser view of the world? Just wondering. Thanks.UPDATE: ... and three years later, we have an answer! See ... read more
( culture / humor ) So, I'm walking back from feeding the neighbor's dog while they're on vacation. I see my wife and daughter in the car up ahead, just about to turn onto our street. I'm looking at them. They're looking at me (or at least it feels like it). They're still about a hundred yards away, so I'm not entirely sure. To be silly, I ... read more
( culture / sports / soccer ) I'm a huge soccer fan, but absolutely hate penalty shootouts. That is no way to decide a game. The winning team needs to be determined by playing the game, not through penalty kicks.
That's like deciding an American football game by having five or six players from each team line up and kick field goals at the end of the game, ... read more
( culture / humor ) I think I'm addicted to cereal, I said.
Addicted? she asked.
Yeah, I'm gonna hit the street looking for my latest fix.
And by 'street,' you mean Aisle 3 at Kroger, right?
Don't question my street cred!... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) Interesting!The 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah ran the sixth-fastest Belmont Stakes ever, but if he was racing against Secretariat's record time in 1973, he would have been a distant second. Watch the two races side-by-side.Source: ... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) The 20 three-year-olds to make the starting gate in the Kentucky Derby are determined by the Road to the Kentucky Derby, a series of races leading up to the Derby where contenders can earn points. Follow the leaderboard to see who... read more
( culture / writing / blog / charity ) ...- ( )... and riding therapy operation now has a GoFundMe page!I hope you've got some pocket change you can ... read more
( culture / writing / blog ) I was explaining to my 9 year old daughter what networking is, and that I'm not very good at it. She said, That's because a lot of people judge you by your looks. And you're not ...
You trying to say I'm ugly?
I don't think so, she said, but other people do, yeah.
Don't you just love kids?... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) Sad news. He was one of the greats. We saw him in retirement at Kentucky Horse Park several years ago.
via Cigar, American racehorse, dies at age of 24.
... read more
( culture / photography )
Wallpapers collected over the years. If you are the photographer/owner and want your photo removed, just let us know.
Dreamstime
... read more
( culture / sports / family ) Signing my daughter up for softball, I just had to laugh at this (stripped down) Parents Code of Ethics:
I will encourage good sportsmanship
I will place the emotional and physical well-being of my child ahead of my personal desire to win.
I will remember that the game is for the youth — not adults.
I guess the ... read more
( culture / writing / blog ) - From somewhere on the Internet ...
Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
Name the last five Heisman Trophy winners.
Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
Name the ... read more
( culture / writing / stories )
from 1993
by Greg — not really
There I was in Long Beach, California, having lunch down along the docks like I always do. It was a cool Autumn day, early November. I was watching the ships roll in ... then I'd watch 'em roll away again. Whoa-wo sittin' on the dock of the bay ...Sorry. I can't get ... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) They have a 77-year-old trainer who thought his big-time days were over, and a jockey who grew up afraid of horses.They pulled California Chrome's name out of Coburn's cowboy hat. If not for the luck of the draw the horse could have been named Seabisquick.
... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) Today (December 22, 2013) is the last day of racing at Hollywood Park before it's torn down. It's sad, but that part of town has been the 'hood for several decades now, so it's no surprise no one wanted to go there.I worked there once, briefly, with the harness horses. It was back in the 80's, and it was not during a race m... read more
( culture / writing / tweets ) My Twitter feed: by @TheBillHolmes
Some of my better ones, according to me ...
Never work FOR someone else, work WITH them.
I do some of my best work when I'm supposed to be doing something e ... read more
( culture / humor / internet ) I just had to share this comment someone left here on FriendsNews.com. Read it, absorb it, digest it, lather, rinse and repeat it. Then let me know what the %$# it means! Here it is:
"I comprehend that is genuinely uninteresting and you're merely skipping to the next comment, nonetheless i basically preferred to toss... read more
( culture / writing / blog / animals ) - In case you're in the market for a barn cat, this is for you: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/08/31/5696395/feral-cats-get-a-second-life-as.html.
Maybe other cities near you have a simil ... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) Several big name horses in it this year:
Verrazano, Haskell winner
Palace Malice, Belmont and Jim Dandy winner
Orb, Kentucky Derby winner
Here are a couple of video analyses:... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) Several big name horses in it this year:
Verrazano, Haskell winner
Palace Malice, Belmont and Jim Dandy winner
Orb, Kentucky Derby winner
Here are a couple of video analyses: ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / shopping ) Wife and kid are off at this thing called church. Maybe you've heard of it. I'm not familiar. Not sure what to make of it. :)I'm basically just hanging out waiting for the new mattress to be delivered. We told the delivery guy, Anytime! He sounded foreign. I hope he shows up before 10pm! Never know with these dang ferners! Anyw... read more
( culture / humor / politics ) "Essentially, pretend the Soviets won the Cold War and then conquered the United States — that's how the government is operating."
via How to know if your coworker is a threat to national security ... read more
( culture / movies-tv ) We've turned off, unplugged and hidden the TVs from ourselves! The plan is to keep it that way throughout the summer. We'll see how long it lasts. :) Something tells me we'll be cheating by watching more stuff on our computers. Still, I expect us all to be just a little bit smarter because of it. :)
... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) Florida Derby winner Orb won today's Kentucky Derby in the slop. But you've probably already heard/read about it. My pick, Revolutionary, finished 3rd. That was better than my picks have done in other years. It's a good thing I didn't plac... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) Where to keep up or catch up on the upcoming Derby:
espn.go.com/horse-racing/triplecrown2013/
Kentuckyderby.com/horses
hr ... read more
( culture / writing / blog ) In preparation for the much-anticipated Comcast installation (Internet, not TV), I do as they suggest and clear out a space where I want them to put the cable wall jack. Once I have that space cleared, I decide to vacuum the area. It's almost an instinctive reaction: You clear out a space that ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / employment ) Freelancers union, a federation of the unaffiliated- ( )Looks like a good idea.
Freelancers Union.A Federation of the Unaffiliated.
"350,000 FREELANCERS JOINED TOGETHE ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / internet ) Name Generator- Name Generator - Cool Name ideas at the click of a button!
I thought this, above, was kinda cool for generating a pseudonym. You can also generate a Medieval name, a Twitter name, whatever. On that p ... read more
( culture / humor / pets ) I love this.
via So God made a dog
"And on the 9th day God looked down on his children and said they need a companion, so God Made A Dog. Paul Harvey-style tribute to dogs." ... read more
( culture / quotes / politics ) "We now live in a nation where doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy knowledge, governments destroy freedom, the press destroys information, religion destroys morals, and our banks destroy the economy— Chris Hedges"Don't forget judges, CEOs and regulatory agencies!... read more
( culture / writing / health / pets ) Did you know that avocados are poisonous to most pets? Check out these links:
petpoisonhelpline.com
... read more
( culture / quotes ) "The War on Terror(TM) is a product. It doesn't exist 'to keep us safe'; on the contrary, it exists to keep us in a state of fear." — Liberty Underground News Service... read more
( culture / quotes ) "The War on Terror(TM) is a product. It doesn't exist 'to keep us safe'; on the contrary, it exists to keep us in a state of fear." — Liberty Underground News Service ... read more
( culture / writing / blog ) It almost rained today. I know, exciting. Apparently, it did rain pretty hard in some places, but not here on the south side. Hopefully, by this time next week it will have rained several times. The possibility is in the forecast, anyway. Just trying to keep my crops healthy.
As Mark Twain said, Everybody talks about the weat... read more
( culture / writing / blog / diary ) It's supposed to be record heat again today. Yesterday was 109F degrees, which is unheard of in Nashville. Today is supposed to be 107F. I've already watered my fruit trees and vegetable garden in the backyard this morning. Yesterday when I came home from work, the garden was literally wilted from the heat. I have never had an entire garden ... read more
( culture / quotes / politics ) "To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize. — Voltaire"
Good quote, but apparently not spoken by Voltaire.See answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid20... read more
( culture / humor ) Part of rebuilding New Orleans caused residents often to be challenged with the task of tracing home titles back potentially hundreds of years.. With a community rich with history stretching back over two centuries, houses have been passed along through generations of family, sometimes making it quite difficult to establish ownership.A New Orl... read more
( culture / writing / blog / humor ) Bureaucracy at its worst, legal argument at its bestPart of rebuilding New Orleans caused residents often to be challenged with the task of tracing home titles back potentially hundreds of years.. With a community rich with history stretching back over two centuries, houses have been passed along through generations of fami ... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) Brisnet Top 10 Kentucky Derby ContendersHere's the current year's: Kentuckyderby.com/horses/leaderboard... read more
( culture / writing / blog ) US foreclosures in new legal trouble.And remember those politicians who are in the banks' back pocket (hint:it's most of them)."Backing a lower court ruling made in 2009, it said two foreclosure sales were invalid because the banks did not ... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) Time to start watching the races leading up to the Kentucky Derby so I have a clue who to bet on on Derby Day, May 7th.2011 Kentucky Oaks & Derby May 6 and 7, 2011 Tickets, Events, News.... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) Kentucky Oaks & Derby (2011)Time to start watching the races leading up to the Kentucky Derby so I have a clue who to bet on on Derby Day, May 7th.2011 Kentucky Oaks & Derby May 6 and 7, 2011 ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / movies-tv ) Free Monty Python videos on YouTube lead to 23,000% DVD sale increase- ( )Free Monty Python Videos on Youtube Lead to 23,000% DVD Sale ... read more
( culture / sports / hunting / animals ) Hooray for the fox!
via Fox shoots hunter in Belarus
"A wounded fox shot its would-be killer in Belarus by pulling the trigger on the hunter's gun as the pair scuffled after the man tried to fin ... read more
( culture / humor ) !- ( sales )Man, that's three this year. At a dollar apiece, I'm gonna be rich! :)
UPDATE: That was at Zazzle, but now I recommend Cafe... read more
( culture / humor / jokes ) Montana State Trooper
In most of the United States there is a policy of checking on any stalled vehicle on the highway when temperatures drip to single digits or below. About 3 a.m. one very cold morning, Montana State Trooper Allan Nixon responded to a call.There was a car off the shoulder of the road outside Great Falls, Montana.H ... read more
( culture / movies-tv ) When I wasn't working on computers this weekend, I was trying to get the new used television working in the bedroom. Prior to even havin... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) This is the Breeder's Cup Classic I'm talking about, for those unfamiliar.
I thought she was hurt or something the way she ran dead last, 20 lengths behind.Then she came out of nowhere and would have won with two more strides, ... read more
( culture / sports ) For the first time in my lifetime, the S.F. Giants have won the World Series!And they did on my birthday!Adding to my joy was seeing George W. Bush in the background, clearly unhappy.... read more
( culture / movies-tv ) I thought it'd be fun to come up with a list of the all-time best movie lines.
Use the comments section below comments closed for your suggestions. Try and do it from memory. Don't worry about getting it exactly right.
Here's what comes to my mind:
We'll always have Paris - Rick in Casablanca
Louie, I think t... read more
( culture / writing / blog ) Today's my sister Lucy's birthday. She must be having a good one, because she has not replied to anyone's email birthday greeting. The previous weekend was our nephew Daniel's 2nd birthday party in Smyrna. That kid partied until it was almost dark! In other birthday news, we drove all the way to Smyrna again ( miles away) to get ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / diary ) We all went to the Nashville Zoo today. My God it was hot ... and sticky. Luckily, Blue Bell Ice Cream was handing out free cups of vanilla ice cream, which we grabbed upon arrival and at departure. I think today was literally the hott... read more
( culture / writing / blog ) I'm lying here on the couch — with the pugs asleep next to me — getting my new laptop just the way I like it. A customer was supposed to show up and drop off their laptop today at 3, but that never happened. Shoulda guessed that, but I had to be here in guess they did show up. Anyway, this new laptop is much older than the new A ... read more
( culture / humor ) I just got an email saying I've made my first bumper sticker sale! They bought three, actually. At 33 cents commission per item, at this rate, one sale per year, I'll be rich in no time!
UPDATE: That was at Zazzle, but now I recommend CafePress (once it's set up).... read more
( culture / quotes / politics ) "Watching Titanic the part where the ship is sinking is like watching the U.S. economy, where the rich conspire to sink as many of the poor as they possibly can." — Bill Holmes (yes, I thought this one up myself!)... read more
( culture / tech / computers / environment ) There will be an E-Waste (computers, TV's, other electronics) collection held Saturday May 8 at the Walmart Supercenter located on Nolensville Pike a quarter mile south of Old Hickory Blvd. from 8 a.m. — 12 noon. Other sites will be announced as soon as possible. Please visit ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / garden ) Hopefully, this third time is the charm!It has begun.See pictures, below.Click to zoom in (twice to zoom in 100%):
The white fence in bed #1 is for the peas to cling to once they start growing.The real fence in the background of the first picture is what I eventually finished last ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / internet ) In Nashville, anyway, it seems you can get around their proxy system (those outlets that use it), simply by using Google Chrome and maybe Firefox. It might be as simple as using any browser other than Internet Explorer.
Using Internet Explorer, I tried to be a good boy and sign up for a free account. The only problem is that you h... read more
( culture / music / radio ) Seasons Greetings,You can tune in via your favorite mp3 player to the show: radio showWhat can you expect to hear? About 500 songs (over 24 hours of non-repeat music!) that fall into one or more of the following categories:
musicians I like that happened to mak... read more
( culture / music / radio / holidays ) Seasons Greetings,
You can tune in via your favorite mp3 player to the show: radio showWhat can you expect to hear? About 500 songs (over 24 hours of non-repeat music!) that fall into one or more of the following categories:
musicians I like that happened to make ... read more
( culture / writing / blog ) We had a Fall Festival party at Elizabeth's daycare/preschool tonight (called that because some parents don't like Halloween). Elizabeth went dressed up in her Minnie Mouse costume. She was very cute. But then, she's cute no matter how she's dressed. :) They had a magic show that was cute, but I've seen better. :) Actually, ... read more
( culture / writing / blog ) Been trying to learn Cisco (network routing equipment) online through skillsoft.com, which I was given access to in my severance package. Maybe I need to just move out in order to get everything done that needs getting done. My 4 year old daughter thinks just because I'm working from home right ... read more
( culture / writing / blog ) Two weeks shy of my birthday and I'm still looking for a job. I don't know why. I never really fit in at these corporate soul-sucking places. Oh that's right, I need to pay the mortgage, daycare, grocery bill, utilities, car payment and its insurance. And don't forget the exorbitant health care premiums. You ever tried buying health ... read more
( culture / appearance / grooming ) Got a haircut today. Finally! What little I have left — after all the stress at work and the stress of the recent back pain — was getting pretty long and goofy-looking unless it was wet and slicked back. Anyway, I was sitting there in my chair getting my hair cut by the same middle aged woman who cut it last time. I had my head down as ... read more
( culture / writing / blog ) Today is Dad's birthday. 90 years old! Amazing. I'm 48, in case you're wondering. Amazing ... ly disgusting! Oh well.
Anyway, back to Dad. Longevity runs in his side of the family.
His mother lived to be 101. His father made it to 81 or so, as did his oldest brother and only sister ... I think. I didn't really pay ... read more
( culture / writing / blog ) Parents all worry about how well they're raising their kids; how they will behave; what kind of people they will grow up to be. Well, tonight I discovered a sad truth about our youngest daughter, Sunny. She likes to hang out in gutters. You heard me. Gutters! Oh, the shame of it all!
Sunny is a cat, in case you didn't know. She was appa ... read more
( culture / writing / blog ) Well, I had a hell of a day. It started off normally enough, though it was raining, which is increasingly rare around here. I dropped Elizabeth off at school on my way to work, and from there my day took a wrong turn.
I took side streets the rest of the way to work instead of the main Old Hickory Blvd route. The side streets are just faster, us ... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) Here's a list of possible starters for next week's Kentucky Derby: Derby 2008.The experts are divided between Big Brown, Colonel John and Pyro as their picks. You can see their picks on that page, above. You can also see all the horses' recent race results. Py... read more
( culture / writing / blog ) I took Joey to the vet this morning for a routine follow-up. I volunteered because I thought his appointment would conflict with Tara's plans to take Elizabeth to meet up with her Auntie, Tara's sister Sandy, at the Franklin Street Fair. Tara conveniently allowed me to think that.
When Joey and I got back home, Tara and Elizabeth were b... read more
( culture / writing / poetry ) by Jeannie Womack
Joseph wore many hats in his life,
the first one was of son,
next an officer, a Dutch Marine,
that to him was fun;
In Maastricht, in '49,
he married his childhood love,
now he w ... read more
( culture / writing / poetry ) by Jeannie Womack
The time has come for you to move on,
but I'm sure you'll be missing us while you are gone;
No more conversation with boss Catherine to really make you think,
You'll miss your adventures with super ... read more
( culture / writing / poetry ) by Jeannie WomackWe met on the race track in '72
I couldn't resist his eyes, so blue
We soon fell in love and started a life
In '76 he made me his wifeA teacher, leader, rebel and yes
A son, brother ... read more
( culture / writing / poetry ) by Jeannie Womack
Running in the rain isn't the pain
a non-runner might think it would be
I put on my jacket that has a hood,
lace up my shoes, and stretching is good
I open the door, expecting more ... read more
( culture / writing / poetry ) This is a story in the style called rap
that'll surely encourage an afternoon nap
of a family of seven, their kids and their wives
and something regarding their travels and lives.Now first there was Greg, a Brooklyn-born lad;
and then it was Lucy that Mom and Dad had.
She was born at Sing Sing (no, not in the ... read more
( culture / writing / stories ) by Steve HolmesSept. 9, 2000
It was a gorgeous Sunday near the end of September and I needed some exercise. Exercise, just for the sake of exercise was probably best done by running on the treadmill at the athletic club. But on a day like that, just exercise wasn't enough. I would take a bike ride on the American River Bike trail.C... read more
( culture / humor / holidays ) Top 10 April Fools hoaxes
SPAGHETTI HARVEST - Bogus item on 1957 BBC news show Panorama. Viewers seeking advice on growing their own were told to put spaghetti sprig in tin of tomato sauce.
SAN SERRIFFE - Guardian newspaper published seven-page supplement celebrating the Indian Ocean republic. Its two main islands were Upper ... read more
( culture / sports / horseracing ) from 1994
The first Saturday in May. What does this date mean to you? Probably nothing, except that Spring has finally arrived, unless you live in California where it's been Spring already for two months or more — real Spring, not calendar Spring.
But ask any horse racing buff and they will tell you without hes... read more
( culture / writing / poetry ) from 1990
This is a story 'bout a girl named Lucy
Otherwise known as The Rappin' Watusi
She lays down a beat that gets your toes tappin'
If your toes get tired, let your fingers do the snappin'
She says Hey buddy, don't you be no square
If you can't find a partner, use a wooden chair
... read more
( culture / humor / jokes ) Saturday morning I got up early, put on my long johns, dressed quietly, made my lunch, grabbed the dog, slipped quietly into the garage to hook the
boat up to the truck, and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour.
There was snow mixed with the rain and the wind was blowing 50 mph. I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, a ... read more
( culture / humor / jokes ) After months of cold and winter, we are finally coming up to summer and BBQ season. Therefore it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking as it's the only type of cooking a real man will do, probably because there is an element of danger involved.
When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following... read more
( culture / writing / blog / animals ) Woke up this morning to a bird in the kitchen. I had a hunch the cat Sunny had brought something inside because, while still half asleep, I heard her banging around outside of the bedroom somewhere.Anyway, I walked into the kitchen, and there was a bird perched on the curtain rod ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / internet ) I'm as guilty as anyone about trying to add content to my blog just for the sake of content (because search engines look for and rate highly based on how fresh your blog's content is). But someone whose blog/newsletter I subscribe to has stooped to simply stating the obvious, maybe phrasin ... read more
( culture / humor / language ) ( , , english, )This is pretty old, from the old newsletter in 1992, when the Soviet Union still existed, but it's still funny
How English is Being Used in Different Parts of the World
IN A TOKYO HOTEL: Is forbit ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / pets ) Cats Disrespecting PugsSo, I'm lying on the bed with the pug Joey between my legs. No, that's not a figure of speech. I'm referring to an actual dog. Anyway, the cat comes up, thinks about jumping across my legs to the other side, then decides to just step on me, th ... read more
( culture / writing / advice ) It doesn't have to be great, but it DOES have to be FINISHED. -- William Arthur Holmes
UPDATE: ...and then I saw that Lee Child had a similar quote, only better: "Don... read more
( culture / writing / blog / environment ) So, literally, for the sake of human survival, please stop using at least this one pesticide by Bayer!
via More Evidence Points to Pesticide as Cause of Mass Bee Deat ... read more
( culture / humor / jokes ) Screw in a light bulb
Q: How many Star Trek crew members does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: Six. Scotty to get on the intercom when the light goes out and say, I canna do it, Cap'n! I'm not a miracle worker!; Spock to tell Kirk he is proceeding illogically; McCoy to say Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor not an ele ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / internet ) Here's a long list of alternative news sites, rather than the mostly-fake mainstream media from which you might get your news:
12160.info ... read more
( culture / tech / blog / phones ) In the process of upgrading to a new Samsung Galaxy Note II today (which should arrive in a few days), Sprint at one point showed me all of the devices I've had with them over the years (in case ... read more
( culture / writing / books / novels ) Here's one of my brothers reading my book, Lottery President. He seems to be enjoying it. I swear I didn't pay him to do this.
... read more
( culture / writing / blog / fraud ) It's almost like a conspiracy! Luckily, conspiracies never happen and all conspiracy theories lack credibility. :)
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/feds-cr ... read more
( culture / music / radio ) I just got my car back from the shop. $1500. Ouch!
On the way home, though, I turned on the radio. All my preset stations were gone. Right. Whenever they reset the onboard computer, it resets my radio station presets. Kinda weird that it would, actually. Doesn't the radio have its own memor ... read more
( culture / writing / stories ) Dinko Goes Shoppingby William Arthur Bill Holmes. Copyright 1990-2010
There once was a cat named Dinko who loved food more than anything else in the world. Of course, when you're a cat, food is probably the single most important thing in the world; so none of... read more
( culture / writing / blog / pets ) I was up a little earlier than usual this morning, which apparently surprised one of the cats in our house. The thing is, we only have one cat. Any more than that is too many. This one -- either a stray or just one of the neighbor's cats, I don't know; either way, it's apparently our cat ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / travel ) TSA - Sexual AssaultTSA - Sexual Assault
If I do have to fly, I'll try and make all connections through New Jersey! See the next link:
... read more
( culture / writing / blog / advice ) If you're ever unlawfully detained, this might be good to know:
escape from zip ties - rear
escape - front ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / internet ) Check out my Patreon page. Patrons get free stuff!
Well, not technically free since you do have to pay at least $1 to get anything.
Still ...
"It would be amazing if I had any fans at all to help finance ... read more
( culture / writing / politics ) via politicalcompass.org
Welcome! It's timely to stress that The Political Compass has been on the internet since 2001. The uniqueness of our take on politics is reflected in the gratifyingly enthusiastic reviews we& ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / science ) via Refreshing News: Exposing Kids To 10 Hours Of Science A Year Makes Them Smarter.
"I didn't know science was fun"
... read more
( culture / writing / blog / humor ) - ( miscellaneous )Miscellaneous
Had alarm set for 4:15a.m., but the trash collectors in the alley behind my hotel thought 3:30 would be better.
At the airport, I was busted for trying to sneak ... read more
( culture / writing / tweets ) I remember when I didn't know what a tweet was, other than the sound a bird makes. It wasn't so long ago, either. Below is just a random list of tweets. Pathetic, I know, but I felt the need to put something new on the site. Anyway...
Saturday, July 20, 2013: Picked... read more
( culture / writing / poetry ) Requiem For A Pigeon
by Bill
We witnessed a pigeon's demise
Right here on the dock o' the Bay
There was nothing we could do
Nothing we could say
It just wasn't the pigeon's day
We tried mouth-to-beak
And the Heimlich t ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / politics ) The elites are adept at fooling themselves into thinking they know best.This superiority that they bestow upon themselves is a convenient justification for keeping us commoners in the dark, and keeping themselves in power. ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / internet ) I've been following and listening to Jeff Goins's TribeWriters program, and he says an important aspect to successful blogging (at least as far as getting noticed) is to guest post on other people's blogs. Jeff is a great resource, ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / trees ) via Protecting our planet
In turbulent times, being in nature among the trees can offer a vital sense of calm, solace, and inspiration. Here, we share the stories of people who ... read more
( culture / writing / books / novels ) I have created a form for you to leave an anonymous review/critique of all of my books. CLICK HERE. Thanks! :)Long before winning the lottery and running for president, Benny was living in L.A. working as a temporary word processor (typist). For his latest ass ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / internet ) Horse versus Google street viewI like horses. I like Google maps street view. The two don't like each other.
See ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / employment ) The 10 most hated companies in Americafrom The 10 Most Hated Companies in America — 24/7 Wall St..
"1. Facebook"
... read more
( culture / writing / blog / employment ) The architects of free trade really did want a world government of corporationsObservations on Credit and Surveillance — NAFTA Origins, Part Two: The Arc ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / employment ) When faced with too many expenses and not enough income and you have run out of expenses to reduce, rather than firing employees, the fair and socially-responsible way to cut costs is NOT to fire employees who had nothing to do with those costs getting too high. The FIRST target of cost-cutting need ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / conspiracies ) depositors"Although few depositors realize it, legally the bank owns the depositor's funds as soon as they are put in the bank. Our money becomes the bank's, and we become unsecured creditors holding IOUs or promises to pay."
via ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / computers ) Simply upper-casing your password can frustrate a hacker's attemptsvia How simply upper-casing your password ca ... read more
( culture / writing / books / novels ) I have created a form for you to leave an anonymous review/critique of all of my books. CLICK HERE. Thanks! :)My latest short story, based on our real life pugs Daisy, Chandler and Joey, the latter of whom is the only one still alive and barking. See ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / people ) Instead of analysing actions, checking through the consequences of those actions and chatting through the decisions made, leaders too often rely on impulsive decision-making - and this is when hubris can set in.
via .
Thi ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / economy ) "... the low 2011 real median household income is the summation, in most cases, of two household earners, whereas in 1967-68 one earner could produce the same real income.... when both husband and wife have to work in order to maintain the same purchasing power, household income ... read more
( culture / writing / blog / religion ) ?Q: Evangelical Christians criticize the New Age principle that we are all God in disguise. They say that this is Luciferian thinking. So, how do they get around this quote? https://biblehub.com/john/10-34.htm
... read more
( culture / writing / blog / advice ) - A cousin just installed a 16kW generator to power the whole house. It goes on and off automatically, triggered by power failure and restoration, and runs on natural gas. See video here.
It costs about $4K plus installation. Various models on ... read more
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