Swearin' in

New test questions have been unveiled for those wanting to become citizens of the US. All the sample questions are
here. I was looking through the questions and I have to admit, I was born and raised in this country and I don't know the answers to all of these. Let's take a gander at a few of the questions and my potential answers. What did Susan B Anthony do? Minted the dollar coin. What did Abraham Lincoln do? Got his name on an airport, hotel and other attractions. What does the President's cabinet do? Holds his dishes and glassware. What is a veto? My Italian friend. Name one writer of the Federalist Papers? Paper? You mean like the SJ-R? I think I'd be deported pretty quickly.

Doggone fat!

Thank goodness there's no all you can eat buffet for dogs. Some (perhaps like their human owners) just wouldn't know when to stop. That's the case of a dog in England. The owners of the dog are being charged with cruelty to animals for basically allowing a golden retriever to constantly gorge himself until he weighs 160 pounds and can barely walk. What were they thinking? Sure the dog will beg and want more and more food if you give it to him. He would also probably play in traffic if you put him out, but it's going to lead to disaster. Some people are too stupid to have pets.

Have a great weekend

Hope you enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend. Rather than a picture of a turkey, pumpkin pie or even pilgrim, I thought this would sum up the last weekend of November...long lines at the stores. Have fun!

Oh Baby

A gynecologist in Germany is being sued for child support. It's not what you (or perhaps his wife) might think. It seems he implanted a contraceptive device on this woman and she somehow got pregnant anyway. The woman says, and the court agrees, that she has lost wages, etc and that he must pay child support until the kid turns 18. This unusual case has me thinking. Are there other people who could perhaps be sued? How about the florist who delivered the flowers that put her in the mood? Maybe the restaurant where the couple had their romantic dinner? Heck, the box spring manufacturer could have some liability too!

Hammer time!

The holidays are fast approaching. If you have a sports nut on your shopping list, a stop at your local fan store or even online, will turn up a boatload of products with the logo of their favorite team. There's the obvious jerseys and caps to wall hangings, watches, beer can cozys and even talking bottle openers. This is the first time I've seen a Cubs hammer, but if you have a carpenter who is also a Cubs fan on your list, you can make their day for $19.99!

10-4

More changes in the wake of the September 11th attacks. Some police departments are doing away with the "10 codes" that have been used on police radios for years. The idea is that if various departments need to work together for a big emergency, they all need to communicate with each other. Evidently not all departments use the same numbers for the same emergencies. So in some communities, it will be "prisoner in custody," instead of 10-15 or "alarm triggered," instead of 10-33 or "public urination," instead of...well, not sure if there's a code for that. In those states making the change, it will be an adjustment for the police who've been using the codes for years. And of course, for people with scanners, no need to translate what's going on any more.

Faith Hill spin control

Faith Hill says it was all a joke. She's a pretty good actress if so. At the CMA awards yesterday, the camera was on her and the other nominees for female vocalist when Carrie Underwood was announced as the winner. She seems to freak out, screaming, "What?" The video is
here. Her publicist says she was being playful and Underwood says she's fine with that explanation. Hill's later statement called Underwood "talented" and "deserving" of the award. Could it be some of the country establishment doesn't take the American Idol winner seriously? Or was it all a joke? Check the video and see what you think.

Goodbye Stardust

Another Las Vegas mainstay is going away. The Stardust, part of the "old Vegas" is being torn down to make way for a new place, called Echelon. It will have 5,000 rooms, 2 theaters and a shopping mall. All the casinos are trying to out-do each other. You've got one that's shaped like an Egyptian pyramid, one with a working volcano, one with an amusement park and one with a pirate ship (boy they were ahead of the trend on that one.) Bigger, and flashier, is better. So we'll have the Echelon in 2010. What's next? Perhaps they can figure a way to put a landing strip on top of a hotel. Fly in and gamble the minute you step off the plane! Place bets on whether your luggage is lost! Those guys with the flashlights and earplugs guiding the planes will be replaced with sexy showgirls. Evian will flow from the showerheads and your linens will be of the finest silk...welcome to Parker Palace, opening...well, whenever I win the lottery.