JamesSavik

I left Jackson, MS last Tuesday at 2:00 and drove the eight hours to Dallas on I-20. It's a fairly boring drive. The only points of interest are Monroe, LA which smells like a wretched fart that never dissipates because of the paper mills and Shreveport which you by-pass if you are smart. There is Marshall, Longview and Teryl Texas but... the prize is Dallas. Stopped for a burger and a shake in Canton, TX at the Dairy Palace. It's a little pricy but the food is good and its not one of those cookie cutter chain food abominations. I arrived about 9:00 at night and made it to my destination completely exhausted and got some sleep. Wednesday- Next morning I got up and did some Christmas shopping. All the usual suspects are there like Walmart and Target but in Dallas, you've got so much other stuff to chose from. One of my favorites is Fry's. Fry's is an electronics superstore that makes Best Buy look like a Radio Shack. Don't expect a whole lot of customer service. If you know what you want/need and have some knowledge, the prices are great and you can really make some sweet deals. Ate fajitas at Rosa's Cafe in Highland Village. Nice place for a quickie lunch and the food and prices are good. Spent the rest of the afternoon in Denton. Mostly at Recycled Books more commonly known locally as "the Opera House". It's a giant used book store in an old theater building which is painted purple. Just my kind of place. I went in and began digging right away. Bought gifts and finished up my collection of Samuel E Morrison history collection. Yes! Found some rare videos on DVD. My kind of place. Supper on Wednesday was at Pappadeaux's Seafood Kitchen in Dallas. YUM!! I had A shrimp po-by and seafood gumbo. Thursday- More shopping, much cooking. I made two pans of lasagna and a pecan pie. Visited LA Fitness Gym for work out. Many yummie twinkies and assorted eye candy, some quite flirty. What happens in the steam room stays in the steam room. Friday- Christmas Eve. Stayed out of traffic mayhem. Read Venus by Ben Bova and enjoyed it thoroughly. It's a great yarn about near future exploration of the solar system. It was a neat book but the characters were its strength. Check it out or any of Ben Bova's Grand Tour series. It's all good stuff. Beats the hell out of insane traffic and panic shopping. Massive feast of Prime rib, twice-baked potatoes and other goodies. Never had prime rib before. Now I am completely ruined. How am I supposed to eat beef again? Nothing compares. My sis-in-law rocks in the kitchen. Exchanged gifts with family. I gave 32 gig thumb drives and Amazon gift certs. I got amazon gift certs, polo shirt, and a fat gift cert for Recycled Books in Dallas. Saturday- Slept late. Ate too much. Played with the kids. Put everybody's electronics together. Troubleshot the neighbors home network and got their new printer working. Watched footbrawl. Ate lasagna. Slept with a huge cat on my lap. Sunday- Church at the Village Church. It's an amazing little church of about 5,000 members. They have an excellent pastor. He preached the parable of the house built on sand and the house built on the rock. The traditional interpretation is that the house built on rock will stand the storm. His take was that it didn't matter: both houses had to experience the storm. Interesting. Very different culture for a church. Much more open and accepting. I liked it. Too bad I'm going back to Mississippi where there hasn't been an original sermon in 100 years. Lunch at Animia's in Flower Mound. Had enchiladas verde or chicken enchiladas in green sauce. Watched the Giant's choke. Worked on my brothers truck. Monday- Went to Denton to visit niece and her husband. I've adopted these two. She's expecting twin boys in April and I fully intend to spoil them rotten. Took the aforementioned kids to Recycled Books to use our gift certificates. I added the Omega Man, A Boy and his Dog and Soyent Green to my DVD collection. Added a major pair of books to my astronomy library: Uranometria 2000- high resolution star charts for the northern and southern hemispheres. I also got Variable Stars by Petit. It's old (1989) but it is a serious text on the subject. Cat was back tonight to sleep on me. Tuesday- Lazy morning. Big breakfast. Left Dallas at 1:00. Returned home listening to Sirus Radio. Channel 14 Classic Vinyl or Channel 24 Lithium. Drove back through stinky Monroe. Fart still has not dissipated. Traffic crazy. Listened to Saints vs Falcons. Got home just in time for the final drive where Drew Brees through the winning touchdown. The perfect end for the perfect Christmas Vacation. Sad part is going back to Mississippi. You have to go somewhere else (anywhere else) to fully realize what a f**king dump it really is.

I haven't had any dreams for a long time. Less disappointing that way.

OH, OH- I remember NOW! It was Comicality's My Only Escape. I read it on the Shack but didn't explore the rest of the site.

Zombie apocalypse canceled for lack of brainz

Tonight a rare astronomical alignment that has not occurred in centuries will appear in our skies. Tonight is the winter solstice, a lunar eclipse and a blood moon. It is thought that this rare astronomical convergence will trigger a Zombie Apocalypse. In the event of a zombie apocalypse, don't get depressed. It's your big chance to smack your obnoxious neighbors in the face with a shovel. Use weapons that are as silent as possible as noise attracts zombies. Inflict as much head trauma as possible to decapitate zombies. Avoid getting bitten or scratched at all cost. If you feel a strong craving for brains, avoid Walmarts. Target shoppers have more brains. In the event that no zombie apocalypse occurs, carry on. There is always 2012. BUH-wa-ha-ha-ha

Tonight a rare astronomical alignment that has not occurred in centuries will appear in our skies. Tonight is the winter solstice, a lunar eclipse and a blood moon. It is thought that this rare astronomical convergence will trigger a Zombie Apocalypse. In the event of a zombie apocalypse, don't get depressed. It's your big chance to smack your obnoxious neighbors in the face with a shovel. Use weapons that are as silent as possible as noise attracts zombies. Inflict as much head trauma as possible to decapitate zombies. Avoid getting bitten or scratched at all cost. If you feel a strong craving for brains, avoid Walmarts. Target shoppers have more brains. In the event that no zombie apocalypse occurs, carry on. There is always 2012. BUH-wa-ha-ha-ha

If you NEED a toilet seat, its the best gift ever.

Object shot out of sky above Israeli nuclear plant, military says By the CNN Wire Staff December 16, 2010 3:16 p.m. EST Source Link:CNN Jerusalem (CNN) -- The Israeli Air Force shot down an unidentified flying object over the Dimona nuclear plant in the Negev Desert Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces said. The object appeared in a designated no-fly zone, the air force was scrambled and the object was shot down, the IDF said. The object could have been a party balloon, the IDF said, but forces have not yet found the debris to determine what it was. There have been unconfirmed media reports that it was a motor-driven object. The air force reacted according to procedure when the object was spotted, the IDF said. The Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz reported that last October "IDF warplanes intercepted an Israeli ultralight aircraft that accidentally flew into the area and forced it to land at an airstrip in southern Israel." It also reported that "an Israeli surface-to-air missile downed a crippled Israeli fighter-bomber that strayed into the restricted zone" during the Six Day War in 1967. The craft's pilot was killed. _______________________________ Dimona is believed to be Israels oldest and largest nuclear weapons fabrication facility. I'm thinking that this might have been a reconnaissance drone caught snooping.

Happy birthday Jan!

Up on the Housetop Up on the housetop, crackheads pause Out jumps evil ole Satan Claus Down through the chimney with lots of guns To shoot us down like dogs, just for fun Ho, Ho, Ho! BLAM! Run for you life! Ho, Ho, Ho! BLAM! Don't look back! Up on the housetop, blam, blam, click Satan Claus reloads, what a huge prick. First comes the raping of little Nell Evil ole Satan Claus fills it well Horror and bloody murder she cries That SOB sewed open her eyes Ho, Ho, Ho! BLAM! Run for your life! Ho, Ho, Ho! BLAM! Don't look back! Up on the housetop, blam, blam, click Satan Claus reloads, what a huge prick. Next comes the murder of little Will Satan Claus just wants to kill Its always a horror when he attacks All his minions are smoking crack Ho, Ho, Ho! BLAM! Run for your life! Ho, Ho, Ho! BLAM! Don't look back! Up on the housetop, blam, blam, click Satan Claus reloads, what a huge prick. Satan Claus is Coming to Town You better watch out Better stay low Wear your body armor I'm telling you why Satan Claus is coming to town Satan Claus is coming to town Satan Claus is coming to gun you down! He's making a list, Checking it twice; He doesn't care who's naughty or nice. Satan Claus is coming to town Satan Claus is coming to town Satan Claus is coming to gun you down! He sees you when you're sleeping He knows when you're awake He'll gun you down like a dog So run like hell for goodness sake! With two horns and a forked tail A mini-gun and bazooka, he's airborne hell Satan Claus is coming to town Satan Claus is coming to town Satan Claus is coming to gun you down! He sees you when you're sleeping He knows when you're awake His weapons are laser guided So take cover for goodness sake You better watch out Better stay low Wear your body armor I'm telling you why Satan Claus is coming to town Satan Claus is coming to town Satan Claus is coming to gun you down! Satan Claus is coming to town Satan Claus is going to gun you down!

Spread chaos. It's more fun.

The pillars are still there from our vantage point but shock waves and solar winds are blowing them away- but slowly. They are light years in dimension but it takes a very long time. Eagle Nebula

Nappy fetish' man arrested after posing as autistic adult to trick people into looking after him Source Link:Mail Online A man has been arrested in Oklahoma after posing as an autistic adult to trick babysitters into looking after him. Mark Richardson, 21, also admitted to wearing nappies to fulfill a 'nappy fetish' - where people obtain sexual gratification from being treated as a baby. Police said he fooled several women into caring for him and that he would become aroused when they cleaned him while changing his nappy. He also allowed himself to be fed with a baby's bottle and would go to sleep with a dummy in his mouth. Richardson, who is just 4ft nine inches tall, looked for people offering their services as babysitters on the online advertising site Craigslist. Two women responded to his calls and over several months 'cared' for him at their homes in Oklahoma City. One babysitter said she had to chase him around her flat liked a naughty child when he refused to put on a clean nappy. According to an arrest report Richardson pretended that he was autistic and therefore had no control over his bodily functions. After his arrest he told police his bizarre behaviour was solely for 'sexual purposes'. Police said on one occasion when a babysitter tried to put him to bed Richardson kicked and screamed until she read him a bedtime story. She gave him a bottle of formula milk and he drank it with a 'straight face' before finally going to sleep. The babysitter also reported that when she tried to change his nappy he would run around the house until she caught him. Richardson was caught out when his last babysitter became suspicious after he stayed repeatedly at her family home in September. The woman told police her 18-year-old daughter had placed the online advert offering her babysitting services. She said a man - using the name 'David' - called about watching his autistic son, 'Alex.' Police reported the caller described the son as 19-years-old and said he still wore nappies, drinks formula from a bottle and uses a dummy. When the 18-year-old girl was unable to look after 'Alex' her mother stepped in to help and realised something was wrong. A police spokesman said: 'Looking back on everything now, knowing he was not autistic while she was wiping him and cleaning him up completely disgusts her. 'She believed initially she was caring for an autistic person, but he was actually someone using her to get stimulated.' Police Inspector Priscilla Helm reported in a court affidavit that Richardson admitted he 'conned this family and did it… for attention.' 'He also admitted to doing this in April 2010 with another woman. He conned her by portraying he was autistic. 'He also advised all of these acts were for a sexual purpose.' Richardson is being held in Oklahoma City Jail and is charged with a felony count of sexual battery and seven misdemeanour counts of outraging public decency. He is due to appear in court on January 5th for a preliminary hearing. ______________________________________ Where is the barf emoticon???

Good to see you NJ.

XteVen- I don't have any great insights into what is going on. All I can say is that you are a real cutie and I have no idea why any boyfriend of yours would be SAD other than the separation that goes with long distance relationships. Don't panic or get dramatic. Just be cool and it will probably work itself out. Who knows- he might have a virus or something and really isn't feeling well. Take it easy, JS

It's good that you decided to join us now. I'm 30% more evil with less fat.

Reychop- I suspect that there is a cultural component to this. We Americans are constantly bombarded by hair-brained schemes to separate us from our money. If you do NOT tell them to get stuffed, you'll wind up broke. If you are worried about your safety, then its extortion. The only things that I have trouble saying no to are long-legged red heads. They can use me, abuse me and spank me like a bad puppy. It's all good.

Omigodthisishilarious!

Carbon Based!? By James Savik "They are carbon based." "Carbon based? How does that even work?" "It works for them." "That’s so weird." "Yeah they’re evolved for an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere, can only exist in a narrow band of temperatures, need water, the whole works." "That can’t possibly last. How stable is their star system?" "They lucked out there. Their sun is a G7 dwarf and their system has four gas giants in their outer solar system that deflect most

Commentary attached to survey report 56A019BW9 for planet HEP2019L6-3

Courts are meant to dispense justice but most of the time all parties walk away feeling like they have tasted ashes. There is a saying that a pain shared is easier to bear. I hope that you and your friends can heal and find peace.

Didn't the whole thing start with... ____________________________________________ Japan's first Venus probe struggling to enter orbit Dec. 7, 2010 Source Link:Yahoo News TOKYO (AFP) – Japan's first space probe bound for Venus was struggling on Tuesday to enter the planet's orbit, the space agency said. The Planet-C Venus Climate Orbiter, a box-shaped golden satellite fitted with two paddle-shaped solar panels, blasted off from a space centre in southern Japan in May. The probe, nicknamed "Akatsuki" or "Dawn", reversed its engine to slow down and enter the planet's gravitational field but lost contact with ground control longer than had been anticipated, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said. It was presumed to have shifted itself into a "safe hold mode", and was able to communicate only by via one of its three antennae after the blackout ended. "It is not known which path the probe is following at the moment," JAXA official Munetaka Ueno told reporters at the ground control late Tuesday. "We are making maximum effort to readjust the probe." Venus is similar in size and age to Earth but has a far more hostile climate, with temperatures around 460 degrees Celsius (860 degrees Fahrenheit) and large amounts of carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas on Earth. Scientists believe an investigation of the climate of Venus will help them deepen their understanding of the formation of the Earth's environment and its future. Fitted with five cameras, the probe will peer through the planet's thick layer of sulphuric acid clouds to monitor the meteorology of Venus, search for possible lightning, and scan its crust for active volcanoes. Akatsuki will work closely with the European Space Agency's Venus Express.

'The Walking Dead' finale breaks ratings records' Dec. 7, 2010 Source Link:CNN The ratings for "The Walking Dead's" just-ended first season have been such that perhaps AMC is wishing that it had lasted more than just six weeks. The anticipation for the season finale garnered six million viewers, according to the network, and it received the highest ratings of any basic cable show, ever, in the all-important 18-49 demographic. To put those numbers into perspective, October's season finale of "Mad Men" had an audience of 2.44 million, according to TVbytheNumbers.com. (On the other hand, that 18-49 number is very important, because the New York Post reported in 2007 that a post-"High School Musical 2" episode of "Hannah Montana," with much of its audience under 18, averaged 10.7 million viewers.) As hot as "The Walking Dead" is, it's not quite to the level of some episodes of "The Sopranos" final season, which on two occasions had around 13 million viewers. Still, the network says that "The Walking Dead's" average 18-49 viewership of 3.5 million for this season makes it the most watched drama series in basic cable history in the demographic. The big question is, now that the show has grown beyond its core fanbase, will the "Dead-heads" tune in once again next Halloween (the likely start date for season two), despite the long wait? What do you think? Share your comments below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvPffNKLoI0 Meredith was one of the original Monday Night Football announcers beside Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford.

The Holidays can be difficult for many people. I found myself feeling pretty bad earlier in the evening. Things are not horrible but they could be a lot better. I've been through a lot of changes in the last few years and most of them aren't for the better. Does anyone else feel down during the Holidays? What do you do to snap out of it?