Welcome to The Orracle Blogsite! While this blog is about a variety of things, I now have a focus on wellness, health and fitness. I spent four weeks in April 2011 at Hilton Head Health and am living this new lifestyle to the fullest now! Come, read and live it with me!
It is time for our country to adopt a new right to add to our bill of rights.
"Owning a hybrid car of any size or shape does not grant special rights"
At work, there is a new sign near the front of the lot even closer than the handicap spaces that says, "Fuel Efficient Vehicle Parking Only".
Perhaps my amendment is wrong...let me explain.
A friend of mine from work decided last year to take advantage of the "trade your gas guzzler" promotion and bought the 2nd most fuel efficient Chevy available. He decided to park in the new spots. He was informed that it is for Hybrid vehicles only. Ahem....the sign does not say that!!
While I am very opposed to any special treatment for vehicles or car owners of any type (except handicapped individuals), I am more maddened by the position of superiority taken by these hybrid owners. Where will they be parking when we realize the decomposing batteries are more of a hazard than our fuel burners to the environment? But I digress...
I think my buddy has every right to park there so long as the signs say what they say. In theory, I could buy a hybrid Escalade (22 city/21 hwy) and park in the special spots when he cannot in his Malibu (22 city/30 hwy) which as you see does as good in the city but way better on the highway in mileage.
Better yet, I think I will go out and buy a hybrid decal for my 2001 F150 Supercrew (13 city/16 hwy) and park there. That might be the best idea yet!
The bottom line is that if you have a hybrid, you should be energy conscious enough to want to park as close to the exit as possible. That is where those people should park. Those of us with trucks need to park close, driving as much as possible since we obviously do not care and therefore are of a lower class. Let us park up front and make an example of us. Maybe we'll change our ways and go buy a hybrid or a stupid car. Then again....probably not.
At work, Spiffy and I were coming back from lunch in my truck. My F-150 Supercrew, 5.4L Triton V8 with 222,000 miles on it. The truck facts have NOTHING to do with the story but it is impressive nonetheless.
He asked if I had seen the new parking signs up front for "Fuel Efficient Vehicles Only".
WTF? Are we serious?
I am OK with front parking for pregnant ladies.....take out at restaurants, etc. But fuel efficient vehicles? Is this a new class system we have? What is next? Daughters cannot marry a man because he drives a non fuel efficient truck?
The word that comes to mind when I think of stupid BS like this does rhyme with truck.
The way I see it, they should put the fuel efficient spots near the back of the lot. People like me need the front spots saved for us because if we do not find a close spot right away, we drive around until we find one which further creates emissions and wasted fuel. My carbon footprint only grows because of their hasty decision to play favorites to the wind-up cars.
We'll see who is the favorite in 20 years when my truck has been 100% recylcled and their batteries are polluting the landfills. From then on, it is front row....movie star parking for me and my truck!
I've had a ton of things on my mind lately but none big enough for their own post.
First off - the woman with octuplets. I know - Keep your laws off my body. But seriously - she has 6, lives at home and needs 8 more? I don't think it is a good situation for the kids. Her mom insists she is obsessed with having kids. Wow....I have 2 and feel like we cannot give them enough. Not just material things but time. She is a single parent. I guess I really only think in the long run she is short changing these kids' chances. Even the whack pack family that is always on TV with the 18 "J" kids...Jedediah, Jessie, Joshua, Jeez, etc - they are freaks too. China is not the answer with a 1 kid limit but maybe we need to draw the line at a dozen. In that family's defense, they are (supposedly) debt free and do take care of them although all the bonus freebies from being on the TV show sure did not hurt.
Next up - this frigging weather. I know this is closer to normal than we have been in a while but how many damn days do I have to see the temp in the range of -10 to +9? This is getting rediculous! Global warming....whatta joke! I see some old friends on Facebook living in Hawaii, Florida (hmmmm, both from Palisade...must have been some smart juice in the water up there). At least some of us had the sense to get out of this godforsaken land. I love my house. I love this town. When the kids are gone...all bets are off on whether we stay or not!
Lastly - Christian Bale. On one hand, I think this guy is a jackass. On the other - take out the references to "the set" or "Director of Photography" and this rant could be applied in ANY work setting. We all have our favorite people we work with that do nothing but get in the way and cause a distraction. A word to the millions of Orracle readers out there, this clip has a few F-bombs in it.
What a gem this guy is! You can hear his director even cowering at his feet. Who does he think he is?
I guess that is it. Here is hoping that we see some double digits sometime soon.
Today, Newsweek (A Pillar of Journalism Excellence as stated by The Rube) released THE REPORT. Which one? The one that makes it official that global warming has caused the nasty floods, etc this summer.
Newsweek, just a couple of days ago (practically in "earth" time) reported widespread GLOBAL COOLING. That artical was published on April 28, 1975. 33 years ago. WOW! You can read that article by clicking HERE.
Hey ORRACLE - this is not a Living Live post! YES IT IS! In honor of the 1975 article, here is Foreigner with Cold as Ice LIVE! I will post the Newsweek article below the youtube box as well.
Over and out....the Brrrrrracle.
NEWSWEEK ARTICLE FULL:
There are ominous signs that the Earth’s weather patterns have begun to change dramatically and that these changes may portend a drastic decline in food production – with serious political implications for just about every nation on Earth. The drop in food output could begin quite soon, perhaps only 10 years from now. The regions destined to feel its impact are the great wheat-producing lands of Canada and the U.S.S.R. in the North, along with a number of marginally self-sufficient tropical areas – parts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indochina and Indonesia – where the growing season is dependent upon the rains brought by the monsoon.
The evidence in support of these predictions has now begun to accumulate so massively that meteorologists are hard-pressed to keep up with it. In England, farmers have seen their growing season decline by about two weeks since 1950, with a resultant overall loss in grain production estimated at up to 100,000 tons annually. During the same time, the average temperature around the equator has risen by a fraction of a degree – a fraction that in some areas can mean drought and desolation. Last April, in the most devastating outbreak of tornadoes ever recorded, 148 twisters killed more than 300 people and caused half a billion dollars’ worth of damage in 13 U.S. states.
To scientists, these seemingly disparate incidents represent the advance signs of fundamental changes in the world’s weather. The central fact is that after three quarters of a century of extraordinarily mild conditions, the earth’s climate seems to be cooling down. Meteorologists disagree about the cause and extent of the cooling trend, as well as over its specific impact on local weather conditions. But they are almost unanimous in the view that the trend will reduce agricultural productivity for the rest of the century. If the climatic change is as profound as some of the pessimists fear, the resulting famines could be catastrophic. “A major climatic change would force economic and social adjustments on a worldwide scale,” warns a recent report by the National Academy of Sciences, “because the global patterns of food production and population that have evolved are implicitly dependent on the climate of the present century.”
A survey completed last year by Dr. Murray Mitchell of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reveals a drop of half a degree in average ground temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere between 1945 and 1968. According to George Kukla of Columbia University, satellite photos indicated a sudden, large increase in Northern Hemisphere snow cover in the winter of 1971-72. And a study released last month by two NOAA scientists notes that the amount of sunshine reaching the ground in the continental U.S. diminished by 1.3% between 1964 and 1972.
To the layman, the relatively small changes in temperature and sunshine can be highly misleading. Reid Bryson of the University of Wisconsin points out that the Earth’s average temperature during the great Ice Ages was only about seven degrees lower than during its warmest eras – and that the present decline has taken the planet about a sixth of the way toward the Ice Age average. Others regard the cooling as a reversion to the “little ice age” conditions that brought bitter winters to much of Europe and northern America between 1600 and 1900 – years when the Thames used to freeze so solidly that Londoners roasted oxen on the ice and when iceboats sailed the Hudson River almost as far south as New York City.
Just what causes the onset of major and minor ice ages remains a mystery. “Our knowledge of the mechanisms of climatic change is at least as fragmentary as our data,” concedes the National Academy of Sciences report. “Not only are the basic scientific questions largely unanswered, but in many cases we do not yet know enough to pose the key questions.”
Meteorologists think that they can forecast the short-term results of the return to the norm of the last century. They begin by noting the slight drop in overall temperature that produces large numbers of pressure centers in the upper atmosphere. These break up the smooth flow of westerly winds over temperate areas. The stagnant air produced in this way causes an increase in extremes of local weather such as droughts, floods, extended dry spells, long freezes, delayed monsoons and even local temperature increases – all of which have a direct impact on food supplies.
“The world’s food-producing system,” warns Dr. James D. McQuigg of NOAA’s Center for Climatic and Environmental Assessment, “is much more sensitive to the weather variable than it was even five years ago.” Furthermore, the growth of world population and creation of new national boundaries make it impossible for starving peoples to migrate from their devastated fields, as they did during past famines.
Climatologists are pessimistic that political leaders will take any positive action to compensate for the climatic change, or even to allay its effects. They concede that some of the more spectacular solutions proposed, such as melting the Arctic ice cap by covering it with black soot or diverting arctic rivers, might create problems far greater than those they solve. But the scientists see few signs that government leaders anywhere are even prepared to take the simple measures of stockpiling food or of introducing the variables of climatic uncertainty into economic projections of future food supplies. The longer the planners delay, the more difficult will they find it to cope with climatic change once the results become grim reality.
Clearly, someone in Minnesota (or Wisconsin) is a rookie. An amature. A nubile being to the winter rules.
YOU DON'T TAKE THE FRIGGIN SCRAPER AND BRUSH OUT OF THE CAR UNTIL JUNE!
Someone did and now we have 8" of frozen slop to deal with. Way to go.
For those of you keeping score on the greenhouse gas effect. On this day, the record low in MN was in 1975 with 9 degrees while the record high was in 1882 (82 degrees). 10 years ago, it was around 75 when the massive F4 twister hit St. Peter and Comfrey. Today, it is blustery and snowy as hell.
Looks like weather changes. Up-Down-Up-Down....trends can be drawn but are just trends until the trend changes.
Get over it people. Global warming is a joke.
ONTO SOME OTHER MORE CHEERFUL TOPICS
I have been away from the blog for a while. No excuses. Just have not had things in my craw to jump on about. A few have come up and I will get to them this week along with my thoughts on the movie "21". Speaking of gambling, I have crossed 2 blogs about Vegas. Yes, I am in full Vegas planning mode trying to soak up all I can prior to my 4/21 solo venture to Vegas. That reminds me....I should ask Al if he wants to come to town and hang out. I promise I won't get you drunk old buddy. Now that his local "camp director" has met me in Idaho this summer, she'll understand and completely trust us for a few days of guy fun in a somber, boring town like Vegas won't she?
The first blog is a local Vegas resident. A self proclaimed professional gambler. He plays mostly video poker and blackjack. Interesting watching his posts and his swings of money. I don't think I could do it. Vegas Gambler is found here.
The other guy's blog was found as a result of Vegas Gambler. This is Vegas Rex and his site comes complete with pics, videos and a forum to chat about Vegas. Vegas Rex's site is right here. Pay it a visit!
My favorite subject...global warming. Check this out. Go ahead....warm my day! Now I know that a streak of weather is nothing more than a streak. In the big picture of Earth, so is the trend everyone likes to call Global Warming. It is just the the timeframe is not one winter or year but 10-20. Big deal. Just like today's weather and last week's weather are just trends - blips on the radar. So - if you so insist it is real. Send some heat my way. My ga$ bill is getting high.
MOVIES
The Jason Reitman Film Festival continues. I was up late last night and decided to watch a movie that was fermenting on my DVR. I watched Thank You For Smoking. Good flick. Funny to a point. This movie boasted a list of some of my favorite "B" list cast members. They are A-list to me though. JK Simmons, William H Macy and Maria Bello. Yeah, baby! When it comes to my top 5 "LIST" chicks....you know the Friends list? Chicks you can do, no strings attached. No, it cannot be Luanne from accounting - it has to be someone that most people would never really have the chance to do. Anyway, she is on my list. Yes, my list is riddled with the likes of Jessica Alba, Helen Hunt, Eliza Dushku and Katie Holmes (also in the movie). I keep a place for Maria Bello. I don't know what it is about her. She just does it for me.
In looking at the list I have assembled above, how can annyone accuse me of longing for the 18 year old looking chicks? Look at that list! Maria Bello - born 1967. Meg Ryan - born 1961! Helen Hunt - born 1963! THE ORRACLE? Born 1970!! These women I chase are OLD! (sorry Cindy & Candy) Wow...way offtrack (as if there was some direction here!)
Lastly, I watched Sex And Breakfast. I had my doubts but it could have been good given the subject matter. Plus, Eliza Dushku was in it. Strange movie. I don't suggest you see it. Not very good. Eliza looked great. That's about it.
I must admit I have lifted this from an email, but it really made me laugh.
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I found this winter poem and thought it might be a comfort to you.
"WINTER"
by Abigail Elizabeth McIntyre
SHIT It's Cold!
The End
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So how about a little global warming here? Honestly, it was -14 F in New Richmond today. I would like a little bit of the polar cap on my ass to melt. Many of you know that I think global warming is nothing but political banter and a way for nearly out of work scientists to get grant money....that is until we decide to change back to being concerned about global cooling again (yes, that happened and not too long ago). Given the "weather" we are having, all of you taken in by the propaganda that the Polar Bears are gonna make it this winter.
2008 is underway and not a minute too soon. So much to do and look forward to this year. Bush will finally finish his term although concerns are abound with the "crop" of Prezzie wannabees we have right now. There is still time to get your "End of an Error" merchandise.
First things first....starting with tomorrow....Ashlie turns 14. What a great kid (except for that cell phone bill). I cannot believe she is 14.
Then continuing into the spring - yes, even though it is only January, winter is on a downward spiral from here on out. Sure, it will still be cold. Yeah, we'll still get snow. But the days are getting longer (or is the Earth spinning slower?? Thanks, Jake). We are in the middle of the beloved January thaw which is great except for the countless mounds of dog crap that have been exposed (more proof of 'global warming'...always cracks me up). 14 years ago, we took Ashlie home from the hosptial in -25 temps! Yes, nothing to look forward to except the end of winter.
Vacation planning. The urge has kicked in. Traveling alone to Texas did not cure me of the urge to travel. I know what the other one will say, "We have to pay for a band trip!" I know, but if you consider tax time, potential bonuses and a general lack of desire to save money, we could take a trip! NWA sent some great deals for Mexico and Jamaica. Hmmmm. Better lose some weight.
That brings me to the next topic for 2008. Weight loss. My success in 2005 doing Body for Life was good. The problem was the intensity and knowing it was done in 12 weeks. Once I hit 12 weeks, I wanted to take a break.....that is going on 3 years. Bad plan. I have a new plan now. No end date. Wish me luck.
SPORTS What does 2008 hold for sports. Well, for starters, I'll say that the Vikings ended well. I still don't think Brad Childress is "The One" but they did finsh pretty good. The Timberwolves. Ouch. Can we fire McHale yet? Let's see....do we need Garnett? Season to date: The T-Wolves are 4-29 and The Celtics are 29-3. Naw....we don't need him. If I did not know any better, I'd think someone fired McHale and hired Jeff Diamond (architect of the infamous Herschel Walker trade for all of you except The Rube). The Twins are probably washed up too although they find a way to play and win under Gardenhire. I think their luck of playing a bunch of AAA players and getting into the playoffs (or even close) is about over.
On the bright side, our New Richmond Tiger Boys Basketball Team is ranked #5 in the state. Who needs the rotten t-wolves?
I leave you with the wishes for a great 2008. Don't take life to seriously. Have some fun. Spend some money. Take a trip. Be spontaneous. Bluff more than normal (for you Al).
To quote Billy Joel, "Don't take any shit from anyone!"
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).....
They cannot find a "smoking gun" to determine why the walleye population on Mille Lacs has gone down in their net counts. Huh? Below is my response to the news story. I included the DNR reps that contributed to the story. Needless to say, I did not receive any responses.
Credit where credit is due. Creative writing, A+. Fiction A+. I wish these stories were not sugarcoated. If you or anyone else wants to see an example of a smoking gun of the past, see Red Lake. Walleyes were nearly extinct from that lake because of netting. When will we learn our lesson? My parents owned a resort on Mille Lacs for 20 years. We sold before the historic Supreme Court decision where they proved they know nothing about Minnesota Lakes or the impact their decision would have on a perfect resource such as Mille Lacs. Slip in a comment about unseasonal temperature. Sure, why not just blame global warming, everyone else is. I remember summers where the summer walleye fish kill was so great we had to clean our beach 2 times a day, yet our fishing did not suffer the next year. Net counts were not down. Limits were not reduced. Slots were not created. Mille Lacs resort owners did everything to bring Mille Lacs Lake after the "Home of the Quarter Pounder" jokes. The 20" limit. The spring night fishing ban. These were ideas by resort groups and leaders to make Mille Lacs a fruitful, never having been stocked lake. All of that progress is gone now. Tradition? OK. Spear fish like 1837 with a wooden stick in a canoe. I am not being insensitive, I believe the Native Americans were victims. Making their rights come back with 2000 technologies and nets is the cause for this loss of walleye. Now, the resort owners, dependent on fishing have to find a new way to make money. Best of luck. My mother proved the shenanigans and hidden agenda of the MN DNR 21 years ago. Doug, you can find an article in your Star Tribune archives about her success vs. MN DNR. Her name was Barbara Orr. We wanted to build a harbor. Corps of Engineers gave us a permit as our due diligence was in good order. MN DNR fought us. They claimed "roughfish studies" in letters to us delaying their decision hoping that tying it up in red tape would force us to give up. In the hearing we paid for, we proved that MN DNR only sent those letters to us. There were no studies. There was only lies. After we won and our our harbor was built, we agreed to testing for roughfish annually. The test results only yielded 1 bullhead in 10 years and countless walleye that used the harbor as a spawning area. Perhaps leaders have changed, perhaps Rick was not at the DNR then. What confidence should I have that this story is truthful? Truth is, I do not. I think everyone knows why Mille Lacs is hurting today. Let's tell the truth.
Hi! I am Lyle and have officially stolen my wife's idea for a blog name of "The Orracle". I had previously been posting on myspace but that site is not my idea of a blogspot.
I am sure you can read my profile but in a nutshell, I am looking for a place to rant about things going on in my life and in this world. By that, I am not terribly political but I do hold some areas where I think politics is involved and it should not be.
I like things like the Pussy Ranch blog by Diablo Cody (right here on Blogspot), good movies, Howard Stern, my home theater, my job, my family and having a good time. I play piano to ease my mind and read to go to sleep. I have one child that is a self professed Band Geek and one that is autistic.
People think I splurge too much. OK, maybe I do. We have a wonderful house full of toys. Why not live life like you want if you can though? Enjoy things while you can instead of living like peasant and saving every last penny?
I hunt, fish, camp and travel. I love to travel. I probably do it too much.
Favorite vacations are Disney (for me, not my kids...duh) and Vegas. That pretty much sums me up. I like family stuff and I like very grown up stuff.
We have taken one cruise and loved it. I travel a ton for work also and generally enjoy it although the cities I visit are not vacation meccas as a rule (Omaha, Richmond VA, Indianapolis, various New Jersey cities, Houston, etc).
From me, you can expect posts about sports, family, travel, Howard Stern, global warming (I think it is a joke), hunting, fishing and general crap.
Go ahead....
