Quality Weenie

Ten Layers Of Me Here

Ten Layers Of Me

Here is my "About Me" post, enjoy. Format stolen from Tammi

LAYER ONE
Name: Quality Weenie
Birth date: May 27
Birthplace: Detroit
Current Location: Detroit Sub-burb
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Toffee
Height: 5'5"
Righty or Lefty: righty
Zodiac Sign: Gemini

LAYER TWO:
Your heritage: Irish, Scotish, Hungarian (all the drinking ethnics)
The shoes you wore today: Black Chunky Shoes, Kids size 4
Your weakness: Chocolate
Your fears: Spiders, Bees and Cruise Control
Your perfect pizza: Thick crust, ham and onions
Goal you'd like to achieve: Graduate Cum Laude in my Masters Program

LAYER THREE:
Your most overused phrase on IM: I don't have IM
Your thoughts first waking up: Thank-god I woke up
Your best physical feature: Boobs (36DD)
Your most missed memory: Huh?

LAYER FOUR:
Pepsi or Coke: Neither, not allowed Caffene
McDonald's or Burger King: McDonald's Chocolate Shakes
Single or group dates: Group dates
Adidas or Nike: Neither, Avia is my favorite
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Neither, again no Caffene
Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate, but I think you guessed that one
Cappuccino or coffee: Neither, again with the no Caffene

LAYER FIVE:
Smoke: God no, I've got enough going against me
Cuss: Like a Sailor
Sing: Only alone in my car
Take a shower everyday: God yes, ick
Do you think you've been in love: Only once and I'm still married to him
Want to go to college: Been there, done that
Like(d) high school: God no, wallflower and unattractive
Want to get married: Am and love it
Believe in yourself: Most of the time.
Get motion sickness: Reading in a moving Car
Think you're attractive: Well I attracted a hubby so I guess not too bad.
Think you're a health freak: God no
Get along with your parent(s): unanswered
Like thunderstorms: Not while I'm sleeping
Play an instrument: Clarinet in Elem/Jr High, self taught Flute. Piano pecker

LAYER SIX:
In the past month...
Drank alcohol: Um, Ya (see ethniticities)
Smoked: Only 2nd hand smoke
Done a drug: Legal - yes ... Illegal - No
Made Out: Yes
Gone on a date: yes
Gone to the mall?: I have the shopping Gene, it's a must or I will die.
Eaten an entire box of Oreos?: Not Oreos, Keebler Chocolate Lovers cookies
Eaten sushi: No
Been on stage: No
Been dumped: No
Gone skating: Ya right *laughing*
Made homemade cookies: Yes
Gone skinny dipping: Does it have to involve water?
Dyed your hair: No
Stolen anything: Yep, from work but does that really count?

LAYER SEVEN
Ever...
Played a game that required removal of clothing: Yes
If so, was it mixed company: yes
Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: See College stories
Been caught "doing something": I went to College, so yes
Been called a tease: Yes, see College
Gotten beaten up: My sister and I defined the term Smackdown
Shoplifted: Accidentally
Changed who you were to fit in: Growing up, all the time

LAYER EIGHT:
Age you hope to be married: 26, I was off by 1 year, 11 months and 9 days
Numbers and Names of Children: None, nada, noway
Describe your Dream Wedding: I had it!!
How do you want to die: A blaze of glory
Where you want to go to college: Did and still am. Eastern Michigan University
What do you want to be when you grow up: Still trying to figure that out.
What country would you most like to visit: U.S.A

Layer Nine
Opposite sex (or the same?) Opposite
Best eye color? Blue
Best hair color? Brown
Short or long hair: Short
Best Height? At least 6'
Best weight: Not fat
Best articles of clothing: Jeans and T-shirt
Best first date location: Bowling
Best first kiss location: Front Seat

LAYER TEN:
Number of drugs taken illegally: 1
Number of people I could trust with my life: 1
Number of CDs that I own: approx 200
Number of piercings: 2 (does each ear count as 1?)
Number of tattoos: 1
Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper?: 4
Number of scars on my body: 8
Number of things in my past that I regret: 1

In addition....FIRSTS:
* FIRST JOB: Secratary at EMU Alumni Office
* FIRST SCREEN NAME: Bowlnduo
* FIRST SELF-PURCHASED CD: Kenny G - Our Wedding Song was on it.
* FIRST PIERCING/TATTOO: Ears / Ankle
* FIRST ENEMY: ???

LASTS:
* LAST KISS: This morning
* LAST LIBRARY BOOK: Hillary Clinton, Living History
* LAST MOVIE SEEN: Water Boy
* LAST BEVERAGE DRANK: Water
* LAST FOOD CONSUMED: Plum
* LAST PHONE CALL: Hubby
* LAST CD PLAYED:*blushing* Brittney Spears
* LAST ANNOYANCE: Yesterday
* LAST SODA DRINK: Don't remember
* LAST ICE CREAM EATEN: Cold Stone Creamery - Mint Choc Chip, Fudge, Brownies
* LAST TIME SCOLDED: April 18th
* LAST SHIRT WORN: Work Uniform Shirt, Light Blue Oxford

I:
* I AM: A 30 something female, married, Quality Engineer
* I WANT: To wake up every morning to my hubby
* I HAVE: all I really need
* I WISH: I didn't have Arthritis
* I HATE: Manipulative People
* I FEAR: dying young
* I HEAR: everything, no really I have excellent hearing
* I SEARCH: for a better memory
* I WONDER: why people can't accept people for who they are
* I REGRET: being manipulated growing up
* I LOVE: my Hubby
* I ALWAYS: freeze up in social situations
* I AM NOT: talkative around people I don't trust
* I DANCE: while cleaning the house
* I SING: In the Car by myself
* I CRY: During PMS

FAVORITES:
* NUMBER: 13
* COLOR: Blue
* DAY: Friday
* MONTH: May
* SONG(S): Star Spangled Banner
* SEASON: Spring
* DRINK: Appletini

Dog-gonit, Kerry's at it again

Dog-gonit, Kerry's at it again

Humane USA asked Kerry in a candidate questionaire if any pets had an impact in his life. He didn't mention kissing the Hamster, but he did mention this

When I was serving on a Swift Boat in Vietnam, my crewmates and I had a dog we called VC

And what is so special about this dog?

One day as our Swift Boat was heading up a river, a mine exploded hard under our boat," he continued. "After picking ourselves up, we discovered VC was MIA (missing in action). Several minutes of frantic search followed, after which we thought we'd lost him. We were relieved when another boat called asking if we were missing a dog." Said Mr. Kerry: "It turns out VC was catapulted from the deck of our boat and landed, confused but unhurt, on the deck of another boat in our patrol

Sounds like Kerry had a real buddy in his dog VC well except when Hugh Hewitt caught up with a Swift Boat Veteran and asked Steve Gardner about the dog

HH: "Steve, was there a dog named VC on your boat?"
SG: ""Buddy, to the best of my knowledge (laughing), I never saw any dog at any time on the 44 boat."
HH: "Is it possible that it was on the other boat."
SG: "Oh, a distinct possibility (laughing)."
HH: "In the time that you were on the swift boats --totally-- did any of the swift boats have a dog?"
SG: "Never saw one, ever."
HH: "Would it have been a good idea to have a dog on the swift boats?"
SG: "Not likely."
HH: "Why not?"
SG: "Because there was just too much action going on. We had hot brass rolling around there any time we were in a firefight. He would have got beat up."
HH: "Is this the first time you have ever heard of the dog story?"
SG: "It sure is."

So Kerry claims he had a dog while in Vietnam, but nobody else can recall a dog on the boats. I wonder if the dog was on the boat that was in Cambodia at Christmas time while Kerry was wearing his magic hat, a memory that is seared, seared into his mind.

Hattip to Harrison at The Terrorist for raising his leg on this story.

Sophomore Year - Winter Semester

Sophomore Year - Winter Semester

I've been a little remise with my story, sorry.

So anyway we came back from Christmas break, 2 weeks at home is enough to make anyone drink, on a Sunday, school started Monday. That means we didn't have any responsibilities on Sunday night. Since everyone came back pretty early in the day, by 4pm we needed to eat dinner. Pizza, the college staple was ordered and of course with Pizza you need beer, a couple Stroh's 30 packs would do (or so we thought). Pizza came, beer arrived and we were set for dinner. We didn't end up going to sleep until 2am, drinking since about 5pm, needless to say we were pretty hung over the next day. First day of classes usually meant no homework yet, so after dinner that night we decided we might as well drink while we have the chance. So drink again we did, same excuse again Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we thought "ah we can do our homework on Sunday so lets drink". And of course nobody does any schoolwork on Friday or Saturdays, we had to keep our party schedule from last semester. In all we had a 14 night drinking binge. At the time we were pretty impressed with ourselves for that. That semester we were just wild, getting into a lot of trouble but not enough to get us kicked out because we knew exactly where that line in the sand was.
About a month into the semester we knew we had to study at some point so we made a pact, no drinking at night for a week so we could get caught up. By that Thursday we were so stressed at doing so much homework we all broke down at once, god help the Resident Advisor. One cute guy had just got out of the shower and was sprinkling powder on himself, we teased him about it and joking around squirted it at us (we were on the floor of the "living area", he was coming out of the bathroom), we started wrestling around trying to get the powder from him and squirted him. We got it back and chased us into the hall and squirted us, we ran to our rooms and got our powder bottles and squirted him back and suddenly everyone on our side of the wing came out with powder bottles and we had a huge powder fight. The powder cloud was so thick you couldn't see anyone else and that is when the Resident Advisor came back to his room. Oh we were in so much trouble. We had to scrub everything in that hall to get it clean. We got pictures of all of us covered in powder though, we look like ghosts. It was so much fun and the story that always gets retold during our get togethers. We also talk about the Frat Fight.

The Frat fight happened during one of the Friday night all you can drink Frat parties. We were downstairs getting beer; the cute guys were upstairs, toward the front of the house waiting for us to come back. A huge fight broke out near the basement stairs, knives were brought out and the cops were called in because it was getting out of hand and a couple people were stabbed. In all the commotion the cute guys were worried about us and fought their way back and down the stairs to get us out of the house and away from the party before the cops got there. It was then that we realized how much the cute guys cared for us and of course we teased them unmercifully about it.

It was at the beginning of April (classes ended at the end of April) that we realized no matter how much we studied and even if we Aced every test left we would all still fail our classes (by failing I mean mostly D's and some C's) since it was inevitable we thought why not just enjoy ourselves. And enjoy our selves we did. We should have bought shares in Stroh's because I think we kept Stroh's in business that year.

This is why I won't

This is why I won't Vote for John Kerry

This post appeared over at Bad Example from a Vietnam Vet, this line says it all:

My daughter, yes, daughter asked me about the rape over there. My teenaged daughter was taught in school that her daddy was a rapist. There's a conversation I never thought I'd have.

Go and read the rest and you will find out why Harvey is putting himself into the "frothing-psycho-moonbat right-wing fanatical Kerry-hater" column. Welcome Harvey, I joined that column a couple weeks ago.

Today in Automotive History 1899

Today in Automotive History

1899 Steaming To The Summit

A Stanley Steamer, driven by F.O. Stanley, became the first car to reach the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire. F.O. Stanley was one of the Stanley twins, founders of the Stanley Motor Company, which specialized in steam-driven automobiles. The steamers not only climbed mountains, but often beat larger, gasoline-powered cars in races. In 1906, a Stanley Steamer would break the world record for the fastest mile when it reached 127mph.

NYC, Protestors and RNC Blogsis,

NYC, Protestors and RNC

Blogsis, Michele, over at Letters from NYC is essentally blogging the convention, from the outside.

She lives in NYC, not to far from the convention center and has been blogging what is has been life for her to live her normal life while the protesters have literally attacked NYC.

Her first post is about the nudes and their naked truth about aids protest.

Then she gives a perspective how all the protesting is affecting those that live in the city.

Right now I'm very tired as it took me over 3 hours just to get home, when it normally takes 45 min. What delayed me? Ajoint rally held by two groups called Critical Mass/Times Up, held a rally which turned into an impromptu ride by over 5,000 bicyclists when the permit was originally called for their membership of 2,000.

Then, Michele goes on to tell us about a bomb plot that nobody heard about that lived outside NYC.

Newschannel 4 has learned that authorities broke up a bomb plot aimed at New York City subways, with the arrest of two men. The men, of middle eastern descent had planned to detonate a bomb in the 34th St/Herald Square train station, which is located 1 block away from Madison Square Garden.

So go on over and read what is going on in NYC during the RNC, it's good reading.

Michele, take it easy and be careful!

What is up with the

What is up with the Squirrels lately?

I was over at BlogMom Tammi's and she had a link to a story about a "Scottish attack squirrel of death". If you ignore the writer telling us how he was screaming like a girly-man you will laugh your butt off. This is a must read and will put a smile on your face today.

And last week I read about Squirrel Sex over at Straight White Guy

You have to wonder if the Squirrels are part of the next Terrorist plots?

Your an Old Detroiter if...

Your an Old Detroiter if...

...You took a "moonlight cruise" to Bob-Lo with Captain Bob-Loor went to Edgewater amusement Park.
....You shopped at Hughes and Hatcher, B Siegel, Peck and Peck, Himelhoch's, Robert Hall, Crowley's, Shoppers Fair, EJ Korvettes or Federals
.....You rode the elevator at J. L. Hudson's,which was "run" by an elevator operator
.....You remember a Winkleman's and Sanders store in your neighborhood.
....You remember the "Big Snow", Buffalo Bob, Howdy Doody, Clarabelle, Phineas T.Bluster, Princess Summer-Fall-Winter-Spring.
....You remember Twin Pines Dairy delivered milk and juice to the chute on the side of your house and Milky the Clown performed magic with the magic words "Twin Pines".
....You remember the Good Humor man in a white uniform, ringing the bells as he drove down your street.
....You remember Olympia Stadium.
....You remember when Vernors was made on Woodward Ave., and a bearded troll was on the bottle.
...Your Mom got groceries at Great Scott, Food Fair, Wrigley's or Chatham
.....Your Mom saved Holden Red Stamps, S&H Green stamps, or Gold Bell Gift stamps, and you licked them into those little books
.....Kresge's and Woolworth's were "Dime Stores"
.....You had an uncle in the furniture business (Joshua Door)
.....You know who Bill Kennedy is.
....You saw the Detroit Lions play football in Tiger Stadium
.....You remember Black Bart and the Faygo song. Or how about "Which way did he go? He went for Faygo, old fashion root beer".
....You watched Rita Bell's! prize movies in the morning
.....You remember Jack LeGoff and Van Patrick
.....You remember Milky the Clown,Soupy Sales, Johnny Ginger, Poopdeck Paul, Captain Jolly, Sagebrush Shorty and maybe even Sergeant Sakto Salute.
....You visited the Wonder Bread Bakery and got to take home a mini loaf of bread.
....Your address had a two-digit "zone" before there were zip codes. Detroit 19, Michigan
....You remember "Get on the right track at 9 mile and Mack, to get the best deal in town. Roy O'Brian..it's the best deal in town"
.....You remember a laundry chute and a milk chute and a coal chute
.....You remember going to Detroit Edison with your Mom to exchange burned out light bulbs for new ones.

Italiczed ones I actually remember

Damn I'm feeling old

Today in Automotive History 1945

Today in Automotive History


1945 First Postwar Hudson

A pale green Super Six coupe rolled off the Hudson Company's assembly line, the first post-World War II car to be produced by the auto manufacturer. Like all other U.S. auto manufacturers, Hudson had halted production of civilian cars in order to produce armaments during the war. The Super Six boasted the first modern, high-compression L-head motor, though it garnered its name from the original Hudson-manufactured engine produced in 1916. The name stayed, though the engines became more sophisticated.

Sophmore year - Fall Semester

Sophmore year - Fall Semester

I am going to break Sophmore year into Fall/Winter semester since this was the year that started my debachery.

So September comes and we move into the Co-ed party dorm. We were very excited about this. My room was at one end of the wing and my friends were at the end of the same wing.

During move-in we noticed the cute guys in our wing. During the first couple of weeks we were getting to know everyone on the floor, both wings, and found everyone very friendly. There was a sign-up sheet for intermural softball and our floor was trying to get together a team so I signed up. One of the cute guys was the "captain" and came to tell me that actually it was only for guys but he forgot to put that on the sheet and since I was the only girl that signed up they would let me play on the team. I ended up being a pinch hitter only but always got a hit. My girls would come watch me play and cheered for the team. That is how we met "the cute guys".

By the beginning of October us girls were hanging with the guys all the time. We would eat together and watch TV together and even tailgated at the football games together. October is also when the frats started back up their $5 all you can drink parties. Through out October we would become close friends with the cute guys, we also talked them into going to the frat parties with us.

The cute guys were all 21 which means beer could be bought legally by them so that is when our real parting started. That is also when Stroh's become one of the first brewers to bring out the 30 pack, which you could pick up for $9.99.

We also learned to play Euchure. We would spend hours with most of the people on the floor playing Euchure. We eventually settled into a routine with Monday-Wednesday playing Euchure, doing homework, watching TV, stuff like that.

Thursdays was 21 night at the bars so the cute guys would go pick up girls and we would stay at the dorms with beer cute guys would buy us and it became girls drinking night. Yes when you get girls that age drinking without guys around it would get, ahm conversationally deep and erotic, enough said on that.

Friday nights were spent at the frat house parties. I remember quite a few of those parties involved kissing, quick kisses, more like dares, either girl on girl or cute guy on girl. Funny nothing else ever happened though. The cute guys would always be watching out for us at the parties, would never let us leave without them or with anybody else.

Saturdays became our Floor party night. The cute guys would go get a couple cases of Strohs and drink we did. That is usually when we caused the most trouble for the Resident Advisor (RA, kind of like the floor parent). We were also introduced to Hockey during that semster, the cute guys were fanatics and they taught us everything about the game. On Saturday nights and with enough beer, hockey would become real. Two of the cute guys would be the Samanski (sp?) twins and girlfriend and I would be Probert and Kocur (Red Wing players at the time) and we would smackdown in the hall, in the common room, dorm rooms, anywhere. We ended up breaking the glass on the fire extingusher so many times that semester they stopped putting glass back in. Someone also owned a pair of handcuffs and would randomly handcuff people together, with one time handcuffing one of the girls, drunk btw, to the door handle. The door was busy that night.

I remember Homecoming that year because a couple of the girls were drinking rum (straight) before going to a party, they split a 5th between the 2 of them. We didn't make it 10 minutes from the dorm when one passed out cold. That was a scary night because we couldn't wake her up, carried her back to the dorm, sat up with her all night, and what did we learn from that, not to drink alcohol straight in large quantities, we still drank like fish though.

Halloween is a big night at college, everyone dressed up and we would always think up a group theme. That year we were Euchure cards.

By the time Christmas break came around we could each drink a 6 pack without much effects. We all agreed Christmas break was hard because the dorms closed and we have to go home for 2 weeks, no drinking. We all had the shakes by the time we came back in January.

Today in Automotive History 1904

Today in Automotive History

1904 A Fine Time

Newport, Rhode Island, imposed the first jail sentence for a speeding violation on this day. This was a harsh sentence in 1904 because traffic laws were still relatively new--the first traffic code wasn't implemented until 1903, when New York introduced a two-page book of regulations. Early traffic regulations varied drastically from state to state, some having no speed limits at all.

And you thought Beach Volleyball

And you thought Beach Volleyball was good?

I can't believe Harvey, in the least, didn't catch this womens water polo game.

Shame on ALL you men.

Chocolate Sauce, check Whip Cream,

Chocolate Sauce, check
Whip Cream, check

Happy 100th Birthday to the Banana Split

The Banana split was reportidly invented by a University of Pittsburg Pharmacy graduate, David Strickler.

At the turn of the century, there were no commercially prepared medications, so pharmacists became masters of flavor and were known for their sweet treats, said Patricia Dowley Kroboth, the dean of the university's school of pharmacy.

Get to know John F'n

Get to know John F'n Kerry

You can read John Kerry's out of print book "The New Solider" on line for free. It's the book Kerry wrote after he came back from Vietnam

The book is on this website and you can download it for free. But you will have to hurry because once John F'n Kerry finds out he will sic the other John on that website and get it closed down.

Hat tip to BlogFather Harvey at Bad Example

Florida's New Voting Machine Florida's

Florida's New Voting Machine

Florida's new voting machines are ready for November!

Today in Automotive History 1957

Today in Automotive History

1957 Ford's Ugly Duckling

The Ford Motor Company rolled out the first Edsel automobile on this day. The car was named after Henry Ford's son, Edsel Bryant Ford. 110,847 Edsels were built before the company pulled the plug after three years due to lack of sales and negative press. Ironically, market research conducted just a few years earlier had pointed to the Edsel's success; consumers had said they wanted more horsepower, tailfins, three-tone paint jobs, and wraparound windshields. However, by 1957, fickle consumers had changed their minds, and despite a relatively low price, Edsel sales lagged. Today, due to the limited number produced, the Edsel has become a collector's item.

Get out of my Way

Get out of my Way

Went to the Chiropracter at lunch today and those damn old people. I think it should be a law that the retired are not allowed on the roads or in eating places between the hours of 11am-1pm.

Old people, I'm working, essentually paying your social security checks, and have limited amount of lunch time. I do not have time to drive behind you when you insist on going 10 miles under the speed limit, nor do I have time for you to decide what food your colon will tolerate today. Get the F#&% out of my way.

I do not have time to sit in the waiting room at the doctors office while you tell the doctor about your grandchildren, nor do I have the time to stand in line behind you at Target while you search through your purse for those 2 elusive pennies. Get the F#$% out of my way.

Thankyouverymuch

California promotes "Buy Japanese" According

California promotes "Buy Japanese"

According to this article, California is trying to pass a bill that would allow hybreds to use the "high occupancy vehicle" lanes even with only 1 person in the car. But the law stipulates that only hybreds that get 45mpg or more would be allowed to use them. Toyota and Honda's hybreds get 45mpg, Ford, which has the only American hybred so far, only gets 31 mpg.

And guess what, Toyota has 3 Automotive Manufacturing plants in California. Hmmm, I wonder if that has any influence on the bill or not. Just asking.

Freshmen Year My first semester

Freshmen Year

My first semester of College was pretty boring as I was commuting from home. My parents had agreed to let me dorm during the Winter semester so I wouldn't have to drive back and forth in the snow. That is when the fun began.

So come January I get all packed up and set to move to the Freshmen dorms. Freshmen had their own dorms and they were same sex dorms, 2 people per room sharing a bathroom with the room next door. I got put in with a girl who was a Jewish Princess (the definition of one too). She was friends with the people across the hall from us and they went to high school with some girls on the 4th floor so we hung out with them. There were 6 of us that hung out together, but 2 of the girls (my roommate was one of them) went home every weekend so the 4 of us hung out on the weekends.

Back in those days drinking wasn't the big taboo that is is now a days. There were 2 frat houses that would have $5 all you could drink keg parties every other Friday, so every Friday there would be a party. No they didn't check ID's and the police didn't care as long as it wasn't rowdy. So off we would go on Fridays to the keg parties and drink ourselves silly. We went to so many of those parties that the Frat guys knew us by name and would chat with us. Remember we were geeky, plain jane girls so no fraternization was going on. Saturdays nights were spent at the local bars dancing but not drinking because they did check ID's for age. I think Freshmen year was a year that we were just building up our tolerance for alcohol, which thou we didn't know at the time would come in great use during Sophmore year. Freshmen year was a year to get to know each other, feel each other out, test our new freedom. Other than getting to be good friends with my roomies we didn't really do anything wild. None of us was really a instigator so we played by the rules. We learned to pee outdoors without peeing on ourselves, because the lines at the frat houses for the bathrooms were very long and there was plenty of places outside.

At the end of our Freshmen year we had to pick which dorm we wanted to move into for the next year. I had decided I was going to dorm all year instead of just winter, my mother didn't like the idea but I was getting students loans to pay for everything so they couldn't object to it much. We decided that we wanted to get into the "party" dorm, the dorm everyone wanted to get into. We wanted the 4th floor because that was known all around campus as the only floor to be on. So we decided to camp out overnight so we could be first in line for choosing, too bad others had the same idea and we ended up 10th in line. We got into the party dorm but ended up on the 2nd floor. The rooms in the party dorm were 4 people to a room (a bedroom on either side of a common room and bathroom). The dorm floor was 2 wings with a common room inbetween the wings There were only 4 of us but we ended up in 2 different rooms. Oh the party dorm was a co-ed dorm also. Little did we know but our life would be changing for the better, 4th floor would lose their best party floor status, and the people who were already living on the 2nd floor and coming back next year didn't know that their lives were about to change by 4 plain jane girls moving in or that we would fail the Winter semster of our Sophmore year!

Russian Terrorist Attacks? I heard

Russian Terrorist Attacks?

I heard about this on the news last night, but not a lot of information was coming out of Russia on it. The american news stations are all claiming terrorist attacks, but Russia isn't saying much of anything.

Fox news is reporting this: A Russian airliner crashed and another apparently broke up in the air almost simultaneously after taking off from the same airport, officials said, killing all 89 people aboard and raising fears of a terrorist attack.

I hope we can learn more about this soon, because they are having elections this weekend and it is sounding similar to Spain.

Today in Automotive History 1910

Today in Automotive History

1910 Birth Of The Yellow Cab

Walden W. Shaw and John D. Hertz formed the Walden W. Shaw Livery Company, which later became the Yellow Cab Company. In 1907, the Shaw Livery Company purchased a number of small taxicabs equipped with meters. The first yellow cab (the Model J) hit the streets in 1915, and its distinctive color became the company's trademark. The company was also the first to use automatic windshield wipers, ultrahigh frequency two-way radios, and passenger seat belts

School's out Forever School's out

School's out Forever
School's out for the Summer
School's in Session (well almost)

Next Wednesday School starts again, nope not the kiddies (don't have any of those) I'm talking about myself. Yep, I go to School. I may qualify as a professional student but I work for a living. I am starting on my 2nd year for a Masters Degree in Quality Engineering. I already have 2 Bachlor's under my belt (Yep 2). A B.S in Social Science (that's a story in itself) and a B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering.

So I was thinking between today and next Wednesday I will regail you with college stories. You see, I was a wild child while staying on campus during my 1st degree. My hubby doesn't even know about some of the stuff I did and it would shock the hell out of him.

Why? Well because I'm a rather shy person, in fact in high school I was extremely shy, a wall flower who hung with other wall flowers, borderline umm unattractive to put it nicely. The one who even the "freaks" felt pitty for.

Well take that shy, unattractive girl who had a very controlling mother and let her loose on her own with others who were similiar to me and well let's say just stay out of the way and you won't get hurt.

Kerry's Taxes Earlier this year

Kerry's Taxes

Earlier this year when we had our 2003 taxes done, something happened to hubby and I that hadn't happened in the first 8 years we were married. We actually got money back from the IRS. And in 2003 we made more money than we did in the previous years. We wondered how the heck that happened. Bush's tax cuts, that's what happened. He not only lowered taxes, he got rid of the marriage penalty tax. Do we know we were so excited by the money we got back we went out and spent that money. Yep we spent it, putting it back into the economy. Just as Bush thought people would do.

Kerry has publically said he would repel Bush's tax cuts because he felt they only helped the rich and the middle class got nothing. In fact Kerry claims the middle class pays more in taxes than the "rich" do. Well I dispelled that theroy a couple days ago.

This link shows us the differences between Bush and Kerry and the subject of taxes. Do you know we are basically working for free until May of each year, because the first four months of the year is what we are paying in taxes.

Did you know that the top 5% of wage earners pay 53.25% of taxes, the top 50% of wage earners pay 96.03% of taxes. Guess that dispells Kerry's theroy about the poor paying all the taxes doesn't it?

Did you know that Kerry voted 350 times while in Congress to raise taxes, guess that tells us what he actually did during his congressional terms. He also voted for Clintons tax hikes, the largest tax hikes in US history.

Did you also know that in 5 years Kerry donated only $3000 (approx) while Bush in only 3 of those same years donated just over $100,000 to charities. Guess we know where Kerry's priorities lie.

Take a look at the tax return you got for 2003 and kiss it goodbye if Kerry gets elected.

Hat tip to Tammi for the link

Today in Automotive History 1945

Today in Automotive History

1945 Last Cadillac Tank

The last Cadillac-built M-24 tank was produced on this day, ending the company's World War II effort. Civilian auto production virtually ceased after the attack on Pearl Harbor, as the U.S. automotive industry turned to war production. Between 1940 and 1945, automotive firms made almost $29 billion worth of military materials, including jeeps, trucks, machine guns, carbines, tanks, helmets, and aerial bombs.

Arthur I Tis Everybody knows

Arthur I Tis

Everybody knows at least one person with Arthritis, and I bet your thinking of your grandparents or parents.

Did you know about half of the 70 million people (about 1 in 3) including 300,000 children that have Arthritis are under the age of 65?

Did you know that Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic health problems and the nation’s leading cause of disability among Americans over age 15?

Did you know that Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability?

Did you know that Arthritis costs to the U.S. economy totals more than $86.2 billion annually?

Did you know that Arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases?
For many people with arthritis, however, joint involvement is not the extent of the problem. Many forms of arthritis are classified as systemic, meaning they can affect the whole body. In these diseases, arthritis can cause damage to virtually any bodily organ or system, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels and skin.

Did you know that I was diagnosed with Arthritis at age 16?

Yep that's right, at age 16 after 2 years of painful tests, many doctors and 1 knee surgery someone finally suggested going to a Rheumatologist just to rule out arthritis. What was to be just another doctor visit became my diagnoses, a name to my problems and the beginning of a life long journey. I was initially diagnosed with OsteoArthritis of the knees and hips, given Motrin and was told to come back when the pain got unbearable because at that time that was all they could really do for OA.

1 Ulcer and 20 years later the pain became unbearable so off to the doctors I go because I just knew there was more to my arthritis than just OA, my family doctor also believed this.

So April of 2003 off to the Rheumatologist I go, one that mind you was within my HMO plan. I was in the room with the doctor a total of 5 minutes which included her feeling my knee through my jeans and being handed a prescription for a sleeping pill because she felt if I slept better at night my joints would be better. Spoke with my family doctor again (he was pissed and will never recommend this doctor again) I ended up going out of network to the University of Michigan Rheumatology Division, my doctor is also a instructor. My new Rheumy asked questions, did a joint exam and came up with a couple possibilities but wanted blood tests to confirm. Next appointment, with blood results in hand I finally had a diagnoises. Ankylosing Spondylitis, a systematic disease that affects more than just the joints. It is a hereditary disease and I got it from my fathers side, he had it also. My sister has recently been tested and found to have the gene (HLA-B27) but so far the disease isn't active in her. The HLA-B27 tissue antigen is present in 90% of patients compared to 5-8% incidence in general population. I'm to the point where every joint is affected. Out of a month I have one or two good, feel my age days, most days I feel like a 65 year old, I also have a few days a month in which getting out of bed, dressing, walking, sitting, standing, just living is a challenge. I am currently on a DMARD (Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs), which seem to be helping. But the drugs also comprimise your immune system, which means I get sick easier. But through research a whole new category of drugs have been found and are being tested and brought to market. I know people on them and most refer to the new drugs as "the miracle drugs". You may have seen commericals for Enbrel, Remicade and Humira.

So I bet your wondering why the heck am I telling you about this, well there is something you can do. There is a bill in the Senate and Congress called the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act of 2004. It is for providing funds for research. You can do your part by going here, filling in your zip code and a standardized letter comes up with your representatives and senators, you can add text or send as is.

Do it for that person you first thought of when I asked who you knew with Arthritis. It's easy, takes only a couple minutes and just might make you feel like you are making a difference!

I'm #1! After reading Harveys

I'm #1!

After reading Harveys comment that he googled me for weenie dog trials and I came up like 27th, I vainly searched to see if he was correct, excpet I was in Yahoo at the time.

Yep that's right, yahoo search me and I am number uno for "weenie dog trials"

I'm #1, I'm #1, I'm #1

Husband Etiquette Hubby and I

Husband Etiquette

Hubby and I were laughing about this Sunday morning because of something he didn't do, which rarely happens.

Opening my car door for me.

Yep that's right, we've been married 9 1/2 years now and he still opens my car door for me (about 98% of the time). I thought about that and you don't see that happen all that much except when people first start dating.

Isn't he such a sweetie!

Today in Automotive History 1913

Today in Automotive History

1913 Cars And Bears Share Yosemite for First Time

Automobiles were legally allowed to enter Yosemite National Park, California, for the first time on this day, marking a huge change in the national park system. Prior to 1913, most park visitors traveled by train to the park and then took scheduled stagecoach tours. The advent of motor tourism changed the face of Yosemite forever, for it demanded modern, high-quality park roads. The National Park Service's landscape architects, along with the Bureau of Public Roads, developed a systematic approach to the design and construction of park roads. From the mid-1920s through World War II, a "Golden Age" of park road development flourished as designers attempted to create roads that would "lie lightly on the land."

Google Search Words Welcome to

Google Search Words

Welcome to the person who searched on "weenie dog trials" and got me.

What a way to get hits. People that are searching for dogs, weenie dogs that is, will get me. I am 7th on googles list for weenie dogs.

hee hee hee

The New York Times proves

The New York Times proves Kerry is lying about the economy

Yep, that ultra liberal, Kerry loving newspaper proves that Kerry is lying about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.

Donald Luskin points out that the article that appeared in the NYT printed graphs showing anyone making more than $100,000/year, were the only ones that had a negitive change in the taxes they paid.

They also printed a graph showing which categories of class had growth. Guess what, the middle class grew and the "rich" shrank.

So Kerry is lying about the state of the economy, the NYT even pointed it out.

Farting Dot Silly Stupid infantile

Farting Dot

Silly
Stupid
infantile

butt so funny!

http://www.dotfart.com/

(ps lifted from snoozebuttondreams)

Ben Stein - What a

Ben Stein - What a Great Guy

I was just over at Sgt Hooks place and read a post about Ben Stein. Ben was writing an article for an Army newsletter and was asked how he would respond to a question by the editors. The question was what would he say to make the wives feel appreciated while their husbands are in Iraq. This is what he wrote to one soldier’s wife.

http://www.sgthook.com/archives/2004/08/19/win-ben-steins-admiration/

This is a must read, it puts into words what a lot of people are thinking but didn't know how to do it.

My Daddy August 20, 1993,

My Daddy

August 20, 1993, was the day I was shoved into adulthood. It was the day my daddy died.
He died from a Pulmonary Embolism 2 weeks after Back Surgery. My mother couldn't work and my sister still had a year left in college, so that left me as the only person making money in our family. It was a rude awakening for me as I never had a lot of responsbilites up to that day. But I like to think my daddy had prepared me well for that day.

My daddy was the man who....
...could always make me laugh by rubbing my little foot against his rough beard
...could fix anything with just a hanger, duct tape and a tin can
...knew the medicinal value of chocolate chip cookies
...let you make mistakes so you could learn from them
...secretly played with the dog even though he said he didn't like the dog
...knew the words "I'm disappointed in you" were more punishment than anything else
...made sure his daughters knew how to mow the grass, fix cars and change tires, and made sure they wer
educated and independant so they didn't have to depend on any man to live
...loved nothing better on a saturday then to sit with his daughters and watch sports all day
...was smarter and more wise than he let most people know
...teared up during the Star Spangled Banner every time and was born on the 4th of July.

My daddy, the man who, even though he wasn't at either of his daughters weddings gave them both presents of beautiful, sunny, cloudless, warm days to get married on.

My daddy, my hero, my cheerleader, my teacher and inspiration.

I miss you daddy

July 4, 1940 - August 20, 1993

Quality, ummm what's that? The

Quality, ummm what's that? The Final

Well, looks like we have things under control (for now). On Thursday we finally got caught up on our short ships, the machine that caught on fire was fixed and the employees given a "quality" talking to.

The customer we have been shipping to has shut down for 2 weeks for model year change over and those 2 weeks will give us time to get caught up on everything and be ready for the launch.

In all we scrapped over 1000 parts and I think had someone (salary) quit (we haven't seen the person in 2 days and he didn't have any vacation scheduled).

Today in Automotive History 1962

Today in Automotive History

1962 Birth Of The T-Bird

The first 1963 Ford Thunderbird was produced on this day. Originally conceived as Ford's answer to the Corvette, the Thunderbird has enjoyed an illustrious place among American cars. It was promoted as a "personal" car rather than a sports car, so it never had to compete against imports and so experienced enormous success. Its name was eventually shortened to "T-Bird," as mentioned in the famous Beach Boys song, "I Get Around."

Iran has their shorts in

Iran has their shorts in a bunch

What is up with countries talking big, making threatening noises all of a sudden. First Mexico, now Iran.

Iran's defense minister expressed his government's disquiet about the U.S. troop presence in neighboring Iraq and Afghanistan, and hinted that some Iranian generals believe they should strike first if they sense an imminent U.S. threat.

Iran is starting to sweat. They see what we have done in Iraq, know they are on the "axis of evil" list and maybe they feel they could be next.

In an interview with pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera, Ali Shamkhani was asked how Iran would respond if America were to attack its nuclear facilities.
"We will not sit to wait for what others will do to us," he said. "There are differences of opinion among military commanders (in Iran). Some commanders believe preventive operations is not a model created by Americans ... or is not limited to Americans. Any nation, if it feels threatened, can resort to that."

Sounds like what Iran is really saying is that they are just going to attack the US because they are feeling the heat, even though the US has made no mention of attacking Iran.

U.S. officials have said recently they are sticking to diplomacy, not force, to try to end what they call Iran's drive for nuclear weapons

The US has made no mention of doing anything but talking with them. I wonder if they are going the North Korea way of threating violence and using blackmail?

Iran opposed the U.S.-led war in Iraq and now fears the United States is cementing its influence in Iraq. It also fears U.S. influence in Afghanistan, where another U.S.-led campaign ousted the Taliban after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Yep, Iran worst fears are coming true. Iraq is getting democracy and freedom and they like it. I think that is Irans biggest fear, people liking freedom. Fear that Iranians will get that feeling and revolt for freedom.

The United States fears Iran wants to establish a fundamentalist Shiite regime in its own image in Iraq. U.S. and Iraqi officials have accused Iran of fomenting violence and instability in Iraq, charges Iran denies.
"The Iranian government will never pursue turmoil and unrest in Iraq," Shamkhani told Al-Jazeera.

The Iranian government will never openly purse turmoil and unrest in Iraq is what they really mean. Iranians have been found crossing the border and engaging in "turmoil and unrest" in Iraq by the thousands. Iranians can not just leave Iran freely by going to the border and leaving. There are strict travel regulations on the people by the government. So how are all these Iranians being found in Iraq?

Seems to me these rouge countries are reading in the news that the US military is being streched thin and feel they can run off at the mouth and we won't beable to do anything about it. They sure are underestimating the "great satan", I think they need to have a little heart to heart with Japan and Saddam.

Quality, ummm what's that? Part

Quality, ummm what's that? Part 3

I'm beginning to think were being sent some type of message from the gods.

Truck was due in at 3pm Wednesday, we got it pushed back to 5pm.

The salary people are on the line again (along with the President, who I had to show how to do what he ended up doing, yea for me). We are working our butts off trying to get everything done by 5pm. We are working on the last 2 totes and the truck shows up. We talk with him and he says he can give us 45 minutes then he has to leave.

So we are back at it, pushing to get those 2 totes done. We finish one tote and start working on the last tote and what happens?

Yep the machine that does our heat welding catches on fire, a very small fire, but a fire non the less. Didn't get that last tote finished.

In all we only short shipped one tote, yea for us.

Bad news, the machine is being repaired and we have another huge shipment going out Friday.

Oy Vey.

Today in Automotive History 1927

Today in Automotive History

1927 Last Model T

Henry and Edsel Ford drove the fifteen millionth Model T off the assembly line at the Highland Park plant in Michigan, officially ending Model T production. Production in England ended on August 19; in Ireland on December 31. After revolutionizing the automobile market, sales of the Model T had started to falter due to its failure to keep up with the competition. Total world Model T production: 15,458,781.

Quality, umm what's that? Part

Quality, umm what's that? Part 2

So 2nd shift ran a whole bunch of parts Tuesday night to try and get us set for Wednesday's 3pm shipment.

There is one part that is put into our part by a machine that basically pushes it in. Find out this morning almost everyone of those parts that were pushed in has a huge scratch on the part. This is an appearance part, no scraches allowed.

If one person had looked at the parts before putting them into the box they would have seen the scratches and could have gotten it fixed before making hundreds of parts.

We are soooooooo f*#&ed and there is no way we are going to make the full shipment. We knew we would already be short shipping 64 parts, were looking at close to a couple hundred now.

And now as I am typing this I find out one of the machines that are critical for making these parts just went down.

We are taking bets on who will be the first to go postal today. Scary thing is, my name has been mentioned and I haven't even shown my full bitchy side yet. Yet!

Mexico demands explanation from US

Mexico demands explanation from US on using Pepper Guns on Illegals crossing border

Mexico asked the U.S. government on Tuesday to formally explain the use of pepper guns by Border Patrol agents against illegal Mexican migrants, the government news agency said.

Mexico: We don't like you trying to stop illegal mexicans from crossing your border by using Pepper Guns on them.
US: WTF?

Mexican lawmakers and politicians were outraged, and on Tuesday a Mexican diplomat asked for an official explanation

Mexico: We are outraged at the US for trying to stop our mexican citizens from illegally entering the US. Those guns hurt the illegal mexicans that are illegally trying to cross your border.
US: WTF?

Mexico's government made it very clear that by no means will it put up with any form of violence against Mexican nationals

Mexcio: We will not put up with your hurting our mexican citizens who are trying to enter the US illegally. Yes it isn't right for them to enter illegally, but you shouldn't be trying to stop them.
US: WTF?

Mexicans are very sensitive about the relationship with their powerful northern neighbor. Millions of Mexicans live and work in the United States and many first crossed the 2,000-mile border as undocumented migrants.

Mexico: We are very sensitive because we know you can kick our ass and take over our country any time you feel like it, but still you shouldn't hurt mexican citizens from illegally entering your country. It's just not nice.
US: And your giving us another excuse to come kick your ass right now.

Hundreds die every year in treacherous border crossings

Mexico: Yes we are aware that people will even risk death to get out of Mexico to illegally enter the US, but still it's not nice to try to prevent them.
US: WTF?

Mexico is outraged that the US is using Pepper guns to stop Mexican citizens from illegally entering the US. Mexico won't tolerate the use of the pepper guns. Someone needs to tell Mexico it really wasn't a good time for them to find their balls and start showing them about.

Mexico should be happy the US isn't using real bullets. Mexico should be more worried about all the terrorist that are in their country and illegally coming across the border to the US http://www.nationalterroralert.com/updates/index.php?p=142

Mexico should be asking themselves why are all these people trying to illegal get across the border and into the US. They need to start worry about what is happening in their own country before getting outraged at the US for trying to keep their borders safe from terrorist trying to sneak across.

3M Corporation and the World's

3M Corporation and the World's Largest Pink Ribbon

3M Corporation (they make Post Its) is building the World's Largest Pink Ribbon, which will be on display in Times Square, NYC for breast cancer awareness month in October. For the first 75,000 people who clicks on this link and signs up (it's free-- just your name and town are recorded), Post-It will donate $1 to breast cancer research and place a Post-It with your name on the billboard.

http://www.3m.com/us/office/postit/research/largest_pink_ribbon.jhtml

Quality, ummm what's that? I

Quality, ummm what's that?

I was here until 8pm last night. Why you ask? Well let me tell you.

It seems that the person that heat transfers warning labels onto the material we use to make our products with grabbed the labels that said for PVC material instead of the cloth material labels.

So what's the difference?

The PVC labels won't stick to cloth material. They will peel off.

So what you ask?

So our entire order that goes out today (Wednesday), that's 900 parts, had labels that peeled off. We didn't find this out until noon Tuesday.

This is where it gets interesting.

Since the line workers were busy getting the other orders ready we couldn't use them to tear down the bad parts (we can reuse some of the parts) and start getting the new parts staged to be made. So the salary people were out there yesterday tearing down the parts, seperating the reuseable pieces and staging the parts so the new parts could be made. What makes this so amazing is that even the President of the company was out on the floor in his suit helping tear down the parts.

So we get everything tore down and then realized that no matter how we calculated it we would not beable to make 900 pieces Wednesday to ship out Wednesday. So yep, the salary people were put on the line and we made about half the pieces needed Tuesday night. And yes the president was out on the line helping to make the parts also. We then realized that we would run out of cloth material to make the parts and we will end up 65 pieces short for Wednesday's shipment.

So the lesson kids is to look at the label to make sure you actually grab the correct box instead of assuming you have the correct box.

We scrapped out 900 pieces, and will short ship to our customer Wednesday all because someone was to lazy to read a label.

Yep Quality Engineers lead quite exciting lives.

Grudges Every body has at

Grudges

Every body has at least one grudge, no matter how long ago it happened every time you think of it, it still pisses you off.

For me, my grudge happened one year ago today at 9:30am (yea I'm still bitter, why do you ask?).

I was layed off (permanently) from my job. The thing that really pisses me off the most about it was that we knew exactly who was going to be layed 2 weeks before it happened, but the company wouldn't even acknowledge they were going to lay any one off until 1 week before it happened. How did we know you ask? Well the HR manager was friends with a floor supervisor and told him every one that was getting layed off. Well the supervisor just couldn't keep that information to himself and decided to tell every one who was getting layed off. Yep that guy still has his job. So for 2 weeks we sat and stued about it, becoming more and more angry about the denials. We were actually suppose to get the ax on the day after the "big black out" happened, but since nobody opened for work that Friday we sat and stued the whole weekend about it. Come Monday morning I was so pissed that I went into work late wearing flip flops, shorts and a t-shirt (every one that was getting layed off that day agreed to do this as our last defiance).

The company use to have a policy of 2 weeks of severence for every year worked and 1 week for the current non complete year. We wondered why they all of a sudden changed the severence policy to 1 week per year and none for the current year, 1 month later we knew why they changed it. Yep we got screwed.

I was lucky as it only took me 7 weeks to find another job. And yes it is a better job, better opportunities for advancement and yep even better pay. So in the end I was better off, but I am still pissed off about it. I feel like I did something wrong, almost like I got fired and it makes me feel like a lessor of a worker for it.

I still get together with people who work there and I know whats going on and hear all the bad news about the company in the local newspapers all the time and I gloat about it (privately of course) but it still amazes me that even a year later I am still bitter about it.

Today in Automotive History 1940

Today in Automotive History

1940 Death Of A Tycoon

Walter P. Chrysler, the American auto tycoon, died on this day. Chrysler began his love affair with mechanics as an apprentice in a railroad machine shop, and soon worked his way up to plant manager for the American Locomotive Company. He later went on to become president of the Buick Motor Company, making it the strongest division of General Motors. In 1919, Chrysler resigned from General Motors to take control of the Maxwell Motor Company, which became the Chrysler Corporation in 1925. The new company, featuring a car that Chrysler designed, was soon a success. Today, the Chrysler Company owns Dodge and Plymouth, and is one of the "Big Three" in the American automotive industry.

Today in Automotive History 1890

Today in Automotive History

1890 Birth Of An Inventor

Ralph R. Teetor, inventor of the cruise control, was born in Hagerstown, Indiana, on this day in 1890. A mechanical engineer with a degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Teetor began working at the Light Inspection Car Company. This family business eventually evolved into the Perfect Circle Company, of which Teetor became president. Teetor had a knack for invention and continued to work on new ideas after his retirement. His accomplishments are even more remarkable because he was blinded at the age of six, but never let his handicap keep him from his dream of becoming an inventor.

Bee Closes Freeway Report: Bee

Bee Closes Freeway

Report: Bee Sting Leads To Crash; Freeway Shut Down (via the WDIV)

A bee sting reportedly caused a tractor-trailer driver to lose control and crash his vehicle
The tractor-trailer rolled over on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 94 near Kalmbauch Road in Lima Township, just west of Chelsea, according to Washtenaw County Sheriff's deputies.
The eastbound lanes of the freeway are shut down in the area as crews work to clear the scene.
Deputies say the driver was trapped in the wreckage until rescue crews arrived and were able to pull him out.
The driver, from Wisconsin, suffered a broken leg in the crash, according to Local 4 reports.
No other injuries were reported.
There was no word on how long it would take authorities to clear the scene.

Hee hee hee .. this reminds me of a Bee story during College. 5 Girls, 4 door Escort, Freeway going to concert. This HUGE ASS Bee was in the hatchback area, when I say huge I mean the damn thing had a mohawk and tatoo Huge. We are in the left lane, no shoulder. This Bee starts buzzing us in the back seat, were screaming to pull over. The driver flys across 3 lanes of traffic to the right shoulder, 4 doors fly open even before the car stops and 5 girls fly out of the car, screaming and running in circles. It took 10 minutes to get that damn Bee out of the car. I can only imagine what the people driving by were thinking.

How do I ... Post

How do I ...

Post pictures to sidebars? I am basically HTML illiterate, so simple instructions would be helpful.

I am using Hello to post pictures to the blog, but can't figure out how to get them on the side bars. I am assuming you need to do this in the blogspot template area?

HELP!

The Dog did Die Yep,

The Dog did Die

Yep, the weatherman this weekend said that's about it for summer for us. Doesn't expect the temp's to get above 80.

Fall has arrived.

Winter is not far behind, snow sucks, cold sucks, driving in snow sucks, shovling snow sucks (well ok I don't do that, that is why I got married for),cold sucks, I hate the cold, hate it hate it hate it.

How many more days until Spring?

Hurricane Charley Everyone needs to

Hurricane Charley

Everyone needs to go read Tammi over at Road Warrior Survival. She lives near Tampa and blogged the whole Hurricane. It really gives you a feel of what it was like.

Scroll down until you see August 12th and then start reading up from there.

She has also has a lot of information posted on whose accepting donations.

Surprise! John Kerry Plans Clinton

Surprise! John Kerry Plans Clinton Style Tax Hikes

Kerry has been saying all along he only plans on raising taxes on the rich, well it looks like Kerry finally told us what he defines "rich" as.

In a speech yesterday, Kerry told his audience that he plans to follow Bill Clinton’s model and do, “thesame thing that we set out to do in 1993, and I was there and I voted for it, I know how we did it.”They “did it” with the largest tax increase in American history.

John Kerry voted twice in 1993 for Bill Clinton’s tax bill, which the late Democratic Senator DanielPatrick Moynihan (D-NY) called the “biggest tax increase in history.” The legislation hit the middle classhard, increasing the marginal tax rates for those making between $30,000 and $100,000 per year andraising taxes on gasoline and social security. Kerry said that he is “proud to have supported and votedfor (Clinton's) economic plan.”

Of course I didn't see anything about this on the news yesterday. And haven't seen anything about this on the standard news stations. I found this story from a conservative news site. We probably won't see this on the alphabet stations because well they are kissing Kerry's ass and this doesn't bode well for him. I was so happy with Bush's tax cuts last year that got rid of the marriage penalty taxes, for the first time in 9 years we actually got money back from the Federal. So if Kerry gets elected not only will we get penalized again for being married but we will get extra taxes on top of that.

On the bright side, at least Kerry hasn't flip flopped on this issue, yet.

Today in Automotive History 1894

Today in Automotive History

1894 Birth of A Labor Leader

George Meany, the first president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), was born in New York City on this day. Meany was originally the head of the AFL and was named president of the AFL-CIO after the merger in 1955. However, he maintained a stiff cordiality with the other labor leaders, including Walter Reuther, president of the CIO. In 1957, Meany expelled Jimmy Hoffa's Teamsters Union after disclosures of corruption and labor racketeering were made about the union. Shortly afterward, Meany also succeeded in dismissing Reuther from the federation's executive board. This action quickly prompted the withdrawal of the United Automobile Workers (UAW), the automotive industry's largest union, from the AFL-CIO. The UAW had traditionally been aligned with the CIO and chose to remain loyal to Reuther. The UAW, in fact, did not rejoin the AFL-CIO until after Meany's retirement.

Iraq and Sadr Negotiating Just

Iraq and Sadr Negotiating

Just a couple days ago the US forces were going into get Sadr, dead or alive. Now Iraq is negotiating with Sadr again.

Iraqi officials and aides to a radical Shiite cleric negotiated Friday to end fighting that has raged in Najaf for nine days, after American forces suspended an offensive against Muqtada al-Sadr's militia.

The US forces are told engage the enemy in self-defense only. And on Friday there were no sign of US forces inside the old city. So what is Sadr's respones to that?

"We are now celebrating the victory. This means the defeat of the other side," al-Sadr aide Ahmed al-Shaibany said.

Sadr sees the US forces pull back as a sign that we retreated. This is the same thing happened a few months ago. We went in to get Sadr, he comes out and says he wants to negotiate, we pull back, Sadr claims victory and starts amassing weapons and people and planning for another battle again (hence 2 days ago). Does anyone start seeing a pattern here?

The only thing Sadr wants is to run Iraq himself. He is calling on Iraqi's to rebel because he doesn't want another Saddam like government. Does he not understand that Iraqi's are running the government.

The only solution to this problem is to take Sadr out. Because I can bet that in another couple months we will be seeing the same thing again. The US must take the gloves off, we can not keep trying to negotiate with terrorists.

Today in Automotive History 1907

Today in Automotive History

1907 "Oh, Taxi!"

The first taxicab took to the streets of New York City on this day, marking the beginning of the love-hate relationship between New Yorkers and their cabbies. Motorized taxicabs had actually begun appearing on the streets of Europe in the late 1890s, and their development closely mirrors that of the automobile. The taxi is named after the taximeter, a device that automatically records the distance traveled or time consumed and used to calculate the fare. The term cab originated from the cabriolet, a one-horse carriage let out for hire.

Who's your Daddy? Harvey had

Who's your Daddy?

Harvey had been bugging me to start up a blog, I caved into the pressure. Harvey's excited about having another blogchild, Quality Weenie, that he is bragging about it over at Bad Example.

While perusing Frank J's, IMAO, site a while back I came across his definition of a blog parent:

Blogchildren are bastard children, not chosen by their parents. Whoever inspired you to make a blog is your blogfather or blogmother. Thus, the puppy blender whether he likes it or not, is my blogfather, and, to a lesser extent, Eugene Volokh who I also read before starting my own blog.

So by his definition Tammi of Road Warrior Survival would be my BlogMother, since she makes blogging look so easy and fun and made me think that maybe someday I could do it also.

But since Tammi is also Harvey's BlogDaughter that would make Quality Weenie sort of an incestuous blog in a West Virginia sort of a way.

The Dog Must Have Died?

The Dog Must Have Died?

It is 56 freaking degrees outside. For January that would be warm, For the Dog Days of Summer that is freaking cold. I actually saw my breath this morning.
This sucks!

Canonical Trials in Michigan I

Canonical Trials in Michigan

I am watching the trials of the Catholic priests pretty closely, especially those from Michigan. Of the priests in Michigan accused of abuse 2 of those priests were mine and 1 was my hubby's. The 2 that use to be my priests I alwasy knew that there was something wierd about them, always gave me the heebee jeevies to be near them. My hubby recalls his priest and says the same thing, that there was something just not right about him. He tries to recall if he was ever touched in appropriatly but doesn't remember, but does remember that the priest was always touching kids.

This article tells us about the upcoming trails in Michigan: "In the coming months, some Catholic priests who were removed from ministry because of sexual abuse allegations will contest their removals in canonical trials. "

They are going to be represented by priest judges from different states to be fair. They will be tried by priest layers and prosecuted by priest lawyers in a church courtroom.

"The trials will be private, but the results will be made public"

That just isn't right. The state should step in a ask a public offical be allowed to view the proceedings in the least. Since the church covered up the abuse for 40 plus years how can we really trust them to do whats right?

Greyhound refuses Marine a seat

Greyhound refuses Marine a seat on the bus

I found this over at LT Smash's site. It's a story about a Marine on his way to combat training, having ticket in hand and was denied boarding the bus by the driver.

The Marine had to have his mother drive him overnight from Greenville, SC to Jacksonville, NC so he wouldn't be late and suffer the consequences.

Greyhound says they are investigating the story. I sure hope they are because there website says "All tickets will be honored for transportation daily unless otherwise indicated".

The Bitch SIap machine In

The Bitch SIap machine

In Manufacturing, if any part of the process involves a person doing that process there is a chance it won't get done or it won't get done correctly. In brainstorming here at work with my fellow Engineers on how we can get people to remember to put the 2 screws into the part that will hold it in place (otherwise it will fall out, and that is not good) we decided a Bitch SIap machine is what will solve the problem. Every time someone forgets to put the screws in a hand will come out and slap them so they remember.

*sigh* how I wish we could do that. I think it would solve a lot of defect problems, but there are all kinds of alphabet organizations that frown upon such things.

OCD I think I have

OCD

I think I have OCD. I've been noticing I do this a lot lately. Checking my zipper. I have this fear of walking around with my zipper down so I am constantly checking it to make sure it didn't just fall down. Don't really know how it could just fall down. Also when I'm in meetings standing in the front of the room talking to people about something I always have this feeling my zipper is down. Strange? Freudian?

Sadr to get his due?

Sadr to get his due?

So it looks like Sadr and his men will finally get the ass-kicking they have coming to them. I think the US has been to PC in dealing with him. Sadr is being shown in the light of having bested the US troops which is giving him more support amoung the people in Iraq.

"Major operations to destroy the militia have begun," said U.S. Marine Maj. David Holahan, executive officer of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines Regiment. He said thousands of U.S. troops were taking part.

I would keep a close eye on this website. CB is a solider in Iraq right now and is probably involved in these fights. He has given his perspective on previous fights

Plant Rat In case you

Plant Rat

In case you were wondering, I am a Female Quality Engineer. I work in a Plant for a Parts Supplier that supplies parts to Automotive Manufacturers. And I absolutly love my job. I love the smells, sounds, dirt, excitement, long hours and stress that goes along with working in a Plant. I love being able to solve problems on a daily basis. I love forseeing problems that could happen and doing something to make sure they don't happen.

I have been in the Automotive Industry for 12 years now (geez that long already?), most of those years were in an office setting but goal was to get into a plant. People would look at me like I was crazy, because not to many people will go to a plant willingly. I have been in the plant atmosphere for 5 years now and have no wish to go back working in an office. Well ok on those 90+ degree days I do wonder why the heck I want to work in a plant for, but I have an air conditioned office so that helps.

I think working in a plant reminds me of those days helping Dad repair the cars, the comradery we shared, our special time together.

The Quality Post Quality is

The Quality Post

Quality is Job 1, the Drink of Quality, Quality with a capital “Q”, Quality Care… what do these things really mean? According to the dictionary it means: a. Superiority of kind. b. Degree or grade of excellence. To people it means getting a good product that does what it’s suppose to do when you expect it to do it.

I work in the Quality field, which means day in and day out all I concern myself with is that the product going out the door is a “Quality” product. Which means making sure the parts we make are being made to the standards set by our customers. I have all kinds of methods available to me to make sure that happens, from the most technical methods (statistics) to the simplest methods (“you are doing a great job”). But it is up to me to figure out which one needs to be used to figure out a problem. But no matter which method I use to all comes down to the person making that part.

Quality means doing something to the best of your abilities and having pride in what you do. No matter how much our world gets automated, the person running that machine still needs inherent pride in what they are doing. That is what Quality all boils down too, pride in doing your best. A business can use all latest Quality tools, fancy machines and statistics it wants but pride in what you do, caring about what your sending out the door will be the final say once in the customers hands. And it doesn’t cost you anything in time or output to pay attention to the details of what your doing. Maybe that is what is America needs today, a bigger sense of pride in doing what you do everyday.

Hello? Can you hear me?

Hello? Can you hear me? Test, Test *tap, tap, tap* Is this thing on?