9/29/2003

Hey - here’s something you’ve never seen on the Internet

ANOTHER QUIZ! LOL! Still this site - military.com - has some neat stuff. As far as the quizzes I’ve taken: What Political Leader am I most like? Ulysses S. Grant. What Historical Military Leader? Teddy Roosevelt! I suppose I could do worse. It was Teddy who said, “Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready.” Yep - that’s a lot like me.

sparta at 10:03 pm

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I apologize in advance….

…but I really can’t help myself. This site - and I may be playing fast and loose with the word - was just too wierd not to post. Um…yeah.

sparta at 9:33 pm

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I apologize in advance….

…but I really can’t help myself. This site - and I may be playing fast and loose with the word - was just too wierd not to post. Um…yeah.

sparta at 9:32 pm

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I apologize in advance….

…but I really can’t help myself. This site - and I may be playing fast and loose with the word - was just too wierd not to post. Um…yeah.

sparta at 9:30 pm

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James Dean Weekend

So we went to my in-laws to help out with the madness that ensues there during James Dean Weekend. Ugh. We had a pretty good time - but on the way down I got food poisoning - and on the way back I apparently picked up the flu or some other bug. Yuck - I hate being sick. The cars were great, though, and I picked up a new “toy.” It’s called a Donno Drum (or Dondon Drum or Talking Drum). They are orginally from the Dagomba people. You hit it with a special curved “drum stick” - and for really cool effects you squeeze it under your arm while hitting it (that’s why it has the strings). The African gentleman who sold it to me was very nice…I can’t wait to learn more about playing it. I think it will look nice under my elephant painting - when I ever get to decorate my den. ^_^ This one is *not* mine - but it is cool looking.

sparta at 12:31 pm

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9/24/2003

Maybe we should put these on Congressmen’s cars next…..

In Florida, they are trying a new program with convicted drunk drivers. It entails putting a special bumper sticker on the back of their car. It’s an interesting idea.

sparta at 1:24 pm

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9/22/2003

A little history lesson

So, I decided to do a little Google search on “sparta” - and I have found that there is a great deal of information out there on the ancient Greek civilization (as well as some other things named SPARTA and Sparta). We are so accustomed to hearing how the rights of women were so severely restricted until Sufferage and ERA and so on, but for anyone who has actually looked into history at all, they know better. Spartan women were especially unique for their time, but there have been other groups of women who were allowed to exercise their God-given rights. Any restrictions placed on them had to do with class, rather than gender. Sadly (?) this is the boat we find ourselves in again, in my opinion. Most restrictions placed on women today have to do with their socio-economic status or their own internal issues - NOT their gender. The same goes for men. Whether or not a woman can become a doctor has to do with whether or not she can afford to obtain the degree. It has nothing to do with her gender. Whether or not a man becomes a teacher has to do with whether or not he can afford to obtain the degree. I would be interested in seeing how the role of women in society correlates to the economy and stability of their country. For instance, is it true that when things are going badly - say the country is in a war or the economy isn’t going well - women are expected to take a more passive, childbearing/raising role? It’s an interesting thesis - I will do some research and let you know. For now, here’s your history link: Ancient Greek Civilization links at MNSU

sparta at 12:27 pm

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I was so blind…

W.C. at the Independent Media Center informed us back in January what the real reason for the war in Iraq was. How silly of me! I thought it was to free the Iraqi people from secret police, mass graves, rape, and murder; to bring them the freedoms we enjoy; I thought it was about providing stability to a country so that it didn’t become a Club Med for terrorists; I thought it was about insuring there were no nuclear/chemical/biological weapons for those terrorists to play with…..I was wrong on all accounts, apparently. It’s all about making sure the US dollar stays king of the financial hill in the world; keeping the wonderful Euro down. Okay - so let’s assume that some of that is true - and let’s assume that we’re there to guarantee oil reserves for consumption by the US and its allies - and let’s assume we’re using Iraq as a friendly staging ground for an attack on other countries of the Middle East….is any of that all that bad? Well, if you’re an apologist or one of the One World Government wackos it is…but if you’re a dedicated American - it isn’t. One thing people have forgotten, I think, is that we have a natural right called sovereignty. That means that we are under NO obligation to let a group of unelected (by us, anyway) tin-horned dictators tell US as Americans what to do. We have a right to protect ourselves either reactively or pro-actively. We have a right to defend our allies and our interests and our economy…even at the expense of other - read that as enemy - states. Now, I am all for assisting other countries with humanitarian aid and so on, but I wouldn’t support *any*thing at the expense of my children’s safety and welfare. That may seem harsh - but the rest of the world is like a poor relation having marital problems come to visit: they want money, but don’t want you to question how they spend it; they ask your advice, then ignore it; ask you to help them stop the fight with their ex, then tell everyone in the family that you’re a busy-body that butts in; they eat all your ice cream, and don’t replace it; ask you to teach them to fix their car, then sit on their butt while you do it; and then get all put out when you ask them to leave. Yeah, we’re out there securing our interests, and yeah, those other countries may think we (and our allies) are jerks…to them, I have only one thing to say: to bad we’re right AND we own everything.

sparta at 12:10 am

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9/21/2003

New Pics of John

Okay - this scares me. John is not even 2 1/2 yet AND HE’S DESIGNING AND BUILDING HIS OWN LEGO CREATIONS! EEP! Of course, when you think about who his father and brother are - I guess it’s not really a surprise. Still, this coupled with the other things he says and does spells out one thing: WE’RE DOOMED! In a good way, but WE’RE STILL DOOMED!

This was too adorable to pass up. He hadn’t been feeling well - apparently with a 24 hour cold - so we let him sleep on the foof chair downstairs. The two of us got busy and when we went back to check on him - there he was! He seemed quite comfortable actually. *sigh*

sparta at 10:17 pm

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Handy Tool #42

Here’s a very handy tool for planning your t.v. watching or a movie marathon for your favorite actor.

sparta at 7:42 pm

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The Great American Empire? Puh-lease…..

This article, and I’m using the term loosely, mind you, claims that we’re trying to take over the world. I think they’ve been watching too much American t.v. over there in the UK - either that or listening too much to Michael Moore. The group he talks about Project for the New American Century has a website where you can find more info on their organization. Sadly, the apologists and the fans and members of the America Haters Club will harken to Mr. Meacher’s comments. Luckily, we know the truth.

sparta at 6:07 pm

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New Group from the Radio

I was driving to get some din-din the other day, and I was cranking the radio - as I am prone to doing when no one else is in the car with me - and the DJ announced this new track they were going to play. It surprised me, because for some reason which I can’t explain, I liked it. The group is called Hot Hot Heat. You can play clips from their album “Make Up the Breakdown” - requires Real Audio or Windows Media Player. Their sound is unusual, and the lead singer has a sort of Robert Smith voice. Anyway - I guess their album was released back during the summer. Listen, enjoy…or not, I don’t care - I was saying that *I* liked it, that doesn’t mean *you* have to. Sheesh. All I was trying to do was expland your music horizons.

sparta at 5:25 pm

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Once I win the lottery…..

Okay, when I win the lottery - I want to be able to book Dennis Miller for my birthday bash. Seriously, how cool is this. I have to wonder if the celebs know that they’re being advertised on a website like a book at Amazon? I posted this right away - so I haven’t even explored what other celebs I’d like to book for my party. I’ll let you all know - maybe one of you will win the lottery and throw me the party.

sparta at 11:30 am

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9/19/2003

ROUS’s??? (Ar, me mateys, take ye a look at this!)

I guess there really were Rodents of Unusual Size! Who knew? Maybe there really is a Dread Pirate Roberts (at least for today).

sparta at 9:26 am

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9/18/2003

I’d never given this much thought - but maybe they are right….

Maybe we should remove members of Congress out of the line of succession. It would be a huge swing in power, and under certain circumstances, we could end up with all hands tied while people argued over court cases and voting machines and emergency elections and God knows what. So perhaps we should have a “presidential understudy,” if you will, to take the heat if need be. Everyone should remember that the line was created by Congress in 1947 - it is not that way in the Constitution. Argue, agree, ignore.

sparta at 7:06 pm

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9/17/2003

How long will the rest of you live?

According to my test results, I will live to be 96 years old. How long will the rest of you live? Let me know - that way I’ll know how long I have to keep blogging for you! HaHa!

sparta at 8:06 pm

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A little world cultural lesson for the day….

Here’s an interesting article I found at The Japan Times today. I can’t remember how I ended up there - but isn’t that the way of the Internet? ;-) Anyway - I just thought I’d share.

sparta at 12:38 pm

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9/16/2003

Tomorrow is Citizenship Day!

This seemingly uncelebrated holiday was put in place in 1952 by President Truman. The original holiday was actually “I am an American” Day celebrated on the 3rd Sunday in May and established in 1940 by Congress. Truman moved the holiday to Sept. 17th and renamed it Citizenship Day. This coincides with the signing of the U.S. Constitution (the oldest working constitution in the world, thank you very much) in 1787, which he felt was more appropriate. Originally it was thought to congratulate and celebrate all of those new citizens from the past year; but after Truman re-worked it, it was meant to celebrate being a citizen period - either native-born or naturalized. So here are some links to help you celebrate properly:

U.S. Constitution
A page about the flag with the Pledge of Allegiance on it
More info on the Pledge
U.S. History Index

sparta at 11:54 am

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9/15/2003

Now here’s a Shelby Cobra I still can’t afford - but would like to….

You won’t believe some of the stuff at this site called PoshTots. Don’t you wish they made one of these for grown-ups? Browse around and find the playhouses. We were so mistreated….. ;-)

sparta at 9:51 pm

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Our trip to a Cougars game…

Sorry I’ve been so long in posting this page. We went to see a minor league playoff game. A good time was had by all - and here are the pictures.

sparta at 11:25 am

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