For the next few days g-son Casey Wayne needs to learn to catch crawdads with bacon on a string. With all the water running in our road ditches lately, if we caught about 15 bait sized perch in a trap in front of our house last week, surely there're some "bigger'uns" just itchin' for Casey to pull'em out so "gramaw" can give'em a warm welcome in a hot skillet.

It's a sad situation when anyone accidently gets killed in a firearms incident. Our hearts go out to the daddy who was cleaning a new handgun when it discharged, killing his two year old. One of my questions was, "Had the dad had firearms safety training?" "Why was the kid even in the same room?"

After wading through the Vicad discussion forum about that accident, here're a few of my comments: As a former law enforcement officer and hunter safety instructor it's easy to see both sides of this debate.

When our son was three or four years old we were visiting some folks who allowed our son to play with a BB gun that rattled at every move from its magazine full of BBs. I took the gun away from the toddler and put it up. When I turned around, the idiot that lived there was handing it back to the boy. That ended the visit, my family was rushed to the truck and we went home. Less than two years later the idiot and his wife were going target practicing with his hair trigger .270. When his wife took the rifle off its rack above the mantle she bumped something and the gun discharged splatterin' what few brains he had all over the living room wall.

That same boy learned at an early age not to point even a toy gun at anyone. He pointed a toy pistol at me and stood with an open mouth and teary eyes looking at all the little pieces it became. If he ever got another toy gun I didn't know about it.

My hero of the week is the 93 year old guy who, upon coming to after some "real man" beat him with a soft drink can, grabbed his .38 and the robber charged him. One shot to the throat "redeemed" the thug because "he saw the light". He told the cops, "I can't feel my leg but I got what I deserved."

It's long been my contention that there's nobody more dangerous than somebody with a gun they don't know how to use and they're scared to death. Any time you're around where customers are looking at handguns be wary. If you feel threatened by the way a gun is being handled, don't be afraid to say something about it, LOUDLY.

The reason handguns aren't allowed in lots of firearms safety classes for the general public is that they can be waved all around without everyone knowing where they're pointed. With a long gun you have a better chance to prevent unconscious muzzle (the business end where the bullet or shot charge exits the barrel) swing that can endanger someone.

As for all those who say that Victoria is such a safe place to live and ordinary citizens don't need firearms for protection, need to pay more attention to all the assaults, killings, and drive-by shootings around here.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS MASKED BANDIT WILL STEAL? please post your guess under comments. thanks
HERE


THIS GUY HAD BOTT FLY GRUBS IN HIS HEAD AND THE DOCTOR SAID THEY'RE CARRIED BY MOSQUITOS. DUMB BUTT, BOTT FLIES LAY BOTT FLY EGGS. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id... target='_blank'>LOOK HERE

GARON SENT US THIS: Subject: The ingredients of...I knew it...... I knew it! I knew they would
eventually release the ingredients in Viagra!

The Recipe:
3% Vitamin E
2% Aspirin
2% Ibuprofen
1% Vitamin C
5% Spray Starch
87% Fix-A-Flat

This link HEREis about Oscar the cat who curls up next to rest home patients during their last four hours of life. Is Oscar an angel of mercy or the angel of death?

REV. 1 We've seen or read about dogs that will paw or dig at a cancerous spot on a person. Do they do this by SMELL?

What stories similar to this can you share with us?

DAVID SULAK, an autistic artist from Louise, TX, received notification that one of his works of art, THE ROCKING CHAIR, was selected for the Crossroads Art Guild of Rural Texas Gallery, Fayetteville, TX.

Some of you may remember the first view of this photo on a former blog. Since that time a call went out for entries in the VSA Arts of Texas "Crossroads" exhibition being held at The Art Guild of Rural Texas in Fayetteville, TX. To be held August 11-September 15, 2007, the event will display 28 works by 18 artists from 45 entries by Texas artists with disabilities. All framed, ready to hang entries will be for sale. A portion of the sale prices will go to support future projects of The Art Guild of Rural Texas.

If interested, check out the MIAW Art Show, October 2007, San Antonio, TX. NOTE: THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE FOR THIS, JUST A COMMISSION PAID ON ITEMS SOLD. As another person on a fixed income, Susan Beattie doesn't want entry fees to prevent entries. This annual art exhibit in San Antonio celebrates Mental Illness Awareness Week. Open to artists with mental illness in San Antonio and surrounding areas (for example but not limited to, VICTORIA & JACKSON COUNTIES ARE INCLUDED). Deadline for entry is August 6, 2007. Contact Susan Beattie at 210-341-4979 or miawartshow@yahoo.com or April Sullivan at 512-454-9912 or april@vsatx.org for more
information or an entry form. The event will run from Tuesday, October 2 to Saturday October 6,2007.

The blue lines on the left of this photo are on the backing paper of the iron on transfer normally found on this batch of transfer paper. When trying to peel the backing off a photo sometimes you have to tear the backing a little to get the separation started. See the torn places on edges of the photo of the grandkids? Now check the back of the photo " Grampaw "Rusty tried for maybe an hour then "Gramaw" tried her hand at it. She questioned the paper we were trying to separate that evening. When the attempt resumed the next day she again said, "That looks like just plain paper to me." She really hooted when it finally sunk in that there was no backing sheet to peel off. The printer had picked up a plain sheet of copier paper along with the transfer sheet and actually printed on the plain paper. Talk about Rusty feelin' like a dummard."


This photo should show the desired results on their mama's tee shirt.

A History Channel show by the same name today sure brought back some memories. Kelli, we enjoyed the part about where the first hot NASCAR rigs came from. Way back in the summer of '65 we roamed the hills taking tree measurements and makin' maps of the hills & hollers northeast of Hazard, Kentucky. We visited various sawmills, a forest products research facility and even a stave mill where they cut the white oak staves for whiskey barrels from Berea to Jackson. There were some 45 of us "sangin" Thunder Road as our open trucks wound their way up and down those hollers on crooked tree draped highways. Sure wish Rusty'd've known to take a lot more photos of the moonshine still near Noble. He had permission from the 'shiner. As an outsider, some'd say it was quite an honor to be invited. Not everyone gets to see where their "mule kick in a fruit jar" came from.

Do any of you want to share any home brew and moonshine yarns with us?

WHAT TO DO WITH MICHAEL VICK? Chain 'im between two of his "they not be mine" pit bulls in the pit, and bet on the dogs? On another blog some were saying, "Poor Falcons fans." Ain't that just toooo touchin'?

http://www.snopes.com/polit... target='_blank'>CLICK HERE AND PASS THIS INFO ON PLEASE.


Rusty is D***** sick and tired of receiving that BS email about the congreass persons have fantabulous pension benefits without paying into social security. If all those intellectual individuals who persist in blindly forwarding everything they get on the Internet would ever risk positioning their ears to where they might get cold and check all this crap out on snopes.com they just might catch on that the're perpetrating an unmitigated bunch of male bovine hockey. There must be jillions of Americans who need to cool their ears.

http://www.snopes.com/scien... target='_blank'>FOR THE MARS HOAX GO HERE

How many more idiots are going to forward this? The event they're announcing on August 27 happened four years ago.

What emails are your pet peeves?

It's a blessing that Rusty's health has improved to where it's possible for us to even think about him going back to work. It'll take some adjusting after not having been on a payroll, except unemployment and SSD, but two months since Memorial Day 2002. You might say that so much computer time has contributed to Rusty's "gettin' broader across the beam". We've been well blessed up until now but the time seems to be here to dig out the steel toed boots, hunt up the old lunchbox, pack the truck and hit the dusty trail.

When a headhunter called about a month ago to see if an eight to twelve month job in another state would interest me, it got our hopes up. A little two to six month job, even if only once a year, would make it easier to do some of the things we'd hoped for.

It seems the potential client has had a personnel setback and sent word for old Rusty to sit tight until they got back with him. It's a good thing he hasn't been holding his breath, huh?

Actually, the delay has afforded Rusty the opportunity to be with two of the grandkids the past 10 days. He was afraid he wouldn't get to see them at all.

Losing faith in that deal has provoked a wave of scanning job listings, even in the Sunday Advocate. The way the economy is shaping up makes one very nervous for all the folks expecting to live comfortablty on their pensions and social security based upon the economy when they were setting up their retirement plans.

Let's see, there's Net Temps, monsterjobs and where else to look? Oh yes, good old TWSC.

A very gregarious young man, Casey will strike up a conversation with just about anybody. In the medical clinic last week he asked a man his name. "John" "I've heard of you." "Oh, I hope it was good."
At the grocery store an older man (like me and Loon) said high to him. Casey's first words were, "Where's your teeth?"
Today he asked his grandma where the little plastic nozzle was that's used to fill water balloons. She told him it was his job to keep track of his toys. Very seriously he retorted, "I'm gonna tell your son on you and you're really gonna be in trouble."
******

DEMOLISH MY SCHOOL Here's Becky an eight year old Irish lass who is notorious for making prank phone (maybe we should say "telly") calls. This video was posted after she called the demolition company to take down her school in Dublin. Warning: Go pottie before watching it. Enjoy. Go HERE

D'y'all have any grandkid goodies to share with us?

We were quite impressed with the decor and the facilities for fun for the kiddoes at the Children's Discovery Museum in Victoria. Casey Wayne, 5-5/6 years, and Sheridan Elizabeth, 20 months, had quite a time crawling under, over and through things. She got up on the little stage and danced around while her bro. dressed up in fireman gear. They kept grandma and grandpa on the run trying to keep up with them.

Rusty got to get the names, school names and grades of the volunteer corps that rode herd on some kids in the "discoverers camp" and helped with others. This is the second year for these youngsters who will be in the indicated grades at MHS Brian Chae, 9th, & Chris Slavik, 10th, at St. Joe's.
First year volunteers include Stacey Frerich, 9th, MHS; Joy Thornsburg, 10th, Faith; Shannon Danesi, & Teresa Vincent 9th at St. Joe's. If my note is correct, Douglas Cole, 10th, Industrial, is in his fourth year.

Rusty agreed to call this mama Anna Nimity. She had three tikes there and has an annual membership. Her comments about the CDM, "The kids thoroughly enjoy it. This is a good educational experience. Many large cities have CDMs. The kids work off so much energy it's a blessing for me. I can pretty much relax and sort of keep an eye on them here."

GARON SENT: Oklahoma no longer OK for illegal aliens See, it can be done. Finally, Guts, enforcing existing laws, common sense, etc.

Was not on snopes, but checked it out online with the Oklahoma Constitution Newspaper

House Bill 1804 was passed by overwhelming majorities in both the House and Senate of the Oklahoma Legislature. The measure's sponsor, State Representative Randy Terrill, says the bill has four maintopical areas: it deals with identity theft; it terminates public assistance benefits to illegal's; it empowers state and local police to enforce federal immigration laws; and it punishes employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens.

Oklahoma is no longer "O.K." for illegal aliens, Terrill observes. "When you put everything together in context," he contends, "the bottom line is illegal aliens will not come here if there are no jobs waiting for them, they will not stay here if there is no government subsidy, and they certainly won't stay here if they know that if they ever encounter our state and local law enforcement officers, they will be physically detained until they're deported. And that's exactly what House Bill 1804 does."

The Oklahoma legislator is pleased the bill he sponsored into law was signed by Governor Henry and believes it will go a long way to curb the illegal immigration problem in the state. "I would remind people that states are separate sovereigns in our federal system," Terrill points out. "Anyone who doesn't understand that needs to go back and take an American federal government class in college," he says.

As a result of that sovereignty, the Oklahoma lawmaker insists, "we have as much right - in fact, I would argue, a responsibility - to protect our taxpayers against that sort of egregious waste, fraud and abuse as the federal government should have a responsibility to protect that international border, but doesn't do that."

Terrill says as long as the federal government refuses to do its job of protecting the international borders of the United States, states like Oklahoma must take action to deal with the problem that is costing taxpayers in the state $200 million a year in public benefits, law enforcement costs, and other resources.

REV. ONE. HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT IT DON'T TAKE LONG TO READ THE ADVOCATE HARD COPY NOW???

Evidently, there's still so much NASCAR copy because they probably don't have to pay for what they pull off the wire. Is this correct, Loon?

********

Rusty's mom told him, "If you'll put a bunch of wadded up wet newspapers in your deep freeze, it'll take that terrible smell out (it was without electricity for several days before we knew it). They say mouthwash will too."

It couldn't've been over one, maybe two days ago when about three days worth of the NEW-skinnier'n-heck ADVOCATE were plunged into the rain barrel and the pieces were scattered throughout the freezer. Tonight Rusty went out to administer another wet Advocate treatment and splatter around most of a bottle of Wally World store brand Listerine. To his amazement, he probably didn't need to do tonight's treatment. But the papers were wet so in they went along with a dousing of mouthwash. It may be safe to put the cooling coil cover on and the shelves back in tomorrow..after we take the grandkids to the Children's Museum in Victoria.

Someone told Grandma Rusty to mix rubbing alcohol, vanilla flavoring and water and apply with a spray bottle. (WE HAVE THE PURE MEXICAN VANILLA, DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT PROPORTIONS OF THE COMPONENTS TO MIX UP?)

Rusty sprayed it on his hands then rubbed it on his legs. He sprayed it on his arms, upper legs, up his walking shorts, and on his back the best he could. It's a good thing there were only about a dozen figs or he'd've needed a blood transfusion. A thorough drenching seems to be what's required to give you the comfort level most of us need.

Rusty hopes y'all are above the recent high water marks. We've had so much rain at our place the figs are gettin' stretch marks and splittin' right in the middle across from the stem.

A FAITHFUL READER SENT THIS BUT FOR THE SAFETY SAKE OF HIS/HER FAMILY THE NAME IS OMITTED HERE. THANKS F.R.
NEW PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION

"We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other liberal bed-wetters. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights."

ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteed anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone — not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes. (This one is my pet peeve...get an education and go to work....don't expect everyone else to take care of you!)

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. (AMEN!)

ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from!

(Lastly....)

ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!

Rusty here: Anything y'all want to add to this?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id... target='_blank'>GO HERE, 6 Y.O. GIRL'S GUT SUCKED OUT FROM SITTING ON A POOL DRAIN

Several states have passed pool-safety laws after children drowned or were disemboweled by drain suction.
*****
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id... target='_blank'>KEITH OLBERMANN ON BARF BUSH AND LIBBY

******
http://video.msn.com/v/us/f... target='_blank'>GO HERE TO SEE NINE LEGGED FROG

A Kansas Kid found a nine legged frog near his home in East Wichita. The area used to be a landfill.

Will frogs be the ONLY things with obvious birth defects? What do YOU say?

*****
http://video.msn.com/v/us/f... target='_blank'>GO HERE TO SEE 72 Y.O. MARINE KICKING BUTT
*****

The federal Fish & Wildlife Service has DE-LISTED (removed from the THREATENED SPECIES List) the grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem. Some militant animal rights alarmists are spreading the malarky that opening up the grizzlies to trophy hunting will cause the wipeout of the entire species. The humane society and the fund for animals head and a private citizen have filed suit to keep that from happening.

Old Rusty sees the suit as a fundraising "call to arms" of all the well meaning, but uninformed, folks with deep pockets who'll fill the coffers of those organizations.

The increasing population of the magnificent bruins is causing a scattering of the critters. Their range has increased over 48% from what it was when they were LISTED. Game managers have observed them over 60 miles from previously thought outter fringes of their habitat. In the mid 1960s some of my forestry classmates who worked in places like the Flathead National Forest were issued .44 magnum sidearms to be worn in grizzly country. In parts of Montana, and probably other areas, when ranchers get tired of a "too neighborly" griz, they dispatch the critter and dig a big hole to bury it in and go on about their business. I'd give a button to know just how many buried bears there have been in our northern Rocky Mountain region.

Thinking people should realize that the grizzly harvest is to be closely controlled to trim the excess while assuring the maintenance of a viable population. One threat to the bears is the loss of habitat because of urban sprawl being egged on by greedy real estate developers, strip mining and changing land use patterns. You can't raise the vegetation bears require on concrete and asphalt parking lots.

If all the self proclaimed "animal lovers" really loved the animals they'd keep their sorry butts in town and not "move out to be with nature."
http://www.hsus.org/press_a... target='_blank'>GO HERE

How callous are people getting these days? A 27 y.o. Wichita, KS woman lay bleeding from stab wounds and five convenience store customers stepped over her and went their ways. One "compassionate" soul did stop long enough to take a cell phone picture of her.

To top it off, someone claimed that the cops wouldn't allow EMS personnel to assist her until after "we secure the crime scene." If that's true somebody needs to have their butts kicked up between their ears.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id... target='_blank'>GO HERE.

At that Juneteenth celebration in AUSTIN when those idiots beat a man to death it was reported that EMS forces were told by a dispatcher to wait four minutes until the cops could clear the crowd. With timely care some said the guy could have lived. Did this really happen?

As a preventive measure should the City of AUSTIN ban Juneteenth celebrations in that part of town for the next five years? It's obvious that the rabble that live there are a threat to society. Of course, they're most likely that way the rest of the year anyway.

How many of you have read or heard that people have been calling Tony Blair "George Bush's poodle"? Here're a couple jabs about Blair's new "position".

"As put-downs go, they don't come much blunter. "This individual" staked his career on supporting Bush and got nothing at all in return. He has had no measurable influence on the administration, and if he had offered any "advice from the touchline," it would have been ignored. Now he can he go to the Middle East, Washington says, as long as he doesn't imagine he's going to do anything more than just talk, as it were.

No, if Tony Blair were George Bush's poodle, it would be a case for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
http://www.iht.com/articles... target='_blank'>GO HERE

GARON SENT: Counseling - Southern Style

Earl and Bubba, two good ol boys from Dixie, are quietly sittin in a boat fishin, chewin an drinkin sweet tea when suddenly Bubba says,
'I think I'm gonna divorce my wife - she ain't spoke to me in over 2 months.'

Earl spits, sips his tea and says, 'You better think it over. - Women like that are hard to find.'

NOW that the fine "leader" of the party that gets its urine-ant criminals they put in high places by scraping them off the henhouse floor has a new dance, THE BUSH SCOOTERIN' BOOGIE, his other scumbutt, slime suckin', pork pervert, big campaign contributor buddy KEN LAY can come out of hiding in South America.

You know what that GREEN stuff in hen manure is don't you? It's the same thing as WHITE stuff is. Hey, Rusty just thought up an appropriate name for them, the GREEN STUFF PARTY.

Anyone else out there with testosterone to match that weasel up there? If his reservoirs are as big as he'd like everyone to think they are, he'd have to walk spraddle legged. What do YOU say MA? And YOU?