Today in History

1929: Guy Lombardo plays “Auld Lang Syne” on the radio for the first time.

1923: The BBC broadcasts the chimes of Big Ben for the first time.

1904: To commemorate the official opening of the headquarters of The New York Times, Adolf Ochs, the publisher of the paper, throws the first New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square.

1879: Thomas Edison gives the first public demonstration of electric incandescent light.

Today in History

1953: The first Admiral television set, one of the first color models, goes on sale for $1,175.

1940: California’s first freeway, the Arroyo Seco Parkway, now known as the Pasadena Freeway, opens to traffic.

1936: The United Auto Workers union stages its first sit-down strike.

1924: Edwin Hubble announces the existence of galaxies other than the Milky Way.

Today in History

1851: The first American YMCA opens, in Boston.

1845: Texas is admitted as the twenty-eighth state.

Special Announcement

Thanks Belinda for the cool link.

Today in History

1945: Congress officially recognizes the Pledge of Allegiance.

1895: Cinema makes its debut when the Lumière brothers show a film to their first paying audience, in Paris.

1846: Iowa is admitted as the twenty-ninth state.

1832: John C. Calhoun becomes the first Vice-President to resign.

Humility

We got a Wii this year and it is a great family toy. It teaches you so many things, like how out of shape you are, and how much the little athleticism you once possessed does not count on the video screen. But, the biggest lesson comes when your 5 year old little girl kicks your butt bowling. Not just a few points, but 40 points. This was a hard lesson for me to learn and I was embarrassed and humbled by it. This all happened the night after Christmas, so yesterday I woke up at my usual 4am and instead of being productive, I went and worked out, not at a gym, but in front of the TV, I practiced my bowling, the Wii Sports includes a skills training section, I hunkered down and focused all my energy on the fundamentals of Wii Bowling. And as each of my great family woke and joined me, I handily took back my pride.

Christmas Night, 1776

By Newt Gingrich


On Christmas Day, 1776, nearly all thought the Revolution was lost, except for a valiant few who still believed in "The Cause." We owe our liberty today to those valiant few.
Led by George Washington, most of his army, dressed in rags and barefoot, faced a winter gale of rain, sleet, ice and snow. This band of patriots braved a midnight river crossing and a nine mile march over frozen roads to win a spectacular victory at Trenton, New Jersey, the following morning. Those were indeed times, as Thomas Paine would write, that "try men's souls."
In a season that has become too commercialized and -- worse yet -- had much of its religious meaning driven from the public square, Washington's Christmas crossing is a story that should be remembered and celebrated, this Christmas and every Christmas.
Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, to be with family and friends, and, I would add, to give thanks to God for those who endured so much on that Christmas night, 232 years ago.

Texas Chili Cook-off

I needed a good laugh this week, the below funny was sent to me several weeks ago, but I just re-read it and I have tears running down my cheeks again from laughing so hard. Enjoy!!!

If you can read this whole story without laughing, then there's no
hope for you. I was crying by the end. This is an actual account as
relayed to paramedics at a chili cook-off in Texas .

For those of you who have lived in Texas , you know how true
this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-off about the time Halloween
comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the
San Antonio City Park . Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chili taster
named Frank, who was visiting from Springfield , IL .

Frank: 'Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at
a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment
and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table, asking
for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was
assured by the other two judges (Native Texans) that the chili
wouldn't be all that spicy; and, besides, they told me I would have
free beer during the tasting, so I accepted and became judge 3.

Here are the scorecard notes from the event:

CHILI # 1 - MIKE'S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI
Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.
Judge # 2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.
Judge # 3 (Frank) -- Holy crap, what the hell is this stuff?
This could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers
to put the flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These Texans are
crazy.

CHILI # 2 - AUSTIN 'S AFTERBURNER CHILI
Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.
Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be
taken seriously.
Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not
sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two
people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had
to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.

CHILI # 3 - FRED'S =AMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN
Judge # 1 -- Excellent Firehouse chili. Great kick.
Judge # 2 -- A bit salty, good use of peppers.
Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My
nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the
routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded
me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm
getting = sh*t-faced from all of the beer.

CHILI # 4 - BUBBA'S BLACK MAGIC
Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.
Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for
fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.
Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but
was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally,
the beer maid was standing behind me with fresh refills. This 300 lb.
woman is starting to look HOT .... just like this nuclear waste I'm
eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?

CHILI # 5 - =LISA'S LEGAL LIP REMOVER
Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground,
adding considerable kick. Very impressive.
Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato.
Must admit the cayenne peppers make a strong statement.
Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead
and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted, and four people behind me
needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her
that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from
bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm
burning my lips off. It really ticks me off that the other judges asked me
to stop screaming.

CHILI # 6 - VERA'S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY
Judge # 1 -- Thin bet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of
spices and peppers.
Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions,
garlic. Superb.
Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with
gaseous, sulfuric flames. I crapped on myself when I farted, and I'm
worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand
behind me except that beer maid Sally. Can't feel my lips anymore. I
need to wipe my butt with a snowcone.

CHILI # 7 = SUSAN'S SCREAMING =ENSATION CHILI
Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned
peppers.
Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of
chili peppers at the last moment. **Take note that I am worried about
judge number 3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing
uncontrollably.
Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and
I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds
like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which
slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my
shirt. At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've
decided to stop breathing. It's too painful. Forget it, I'm not getting any
oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in
my stomach.

CHILI # 8 - BIG TOM'S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI
Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too
bold, but spicy enough to declare its existence.
Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild
nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted,
passed out, fell over, and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself.
Not sure if he's going to make it. poor feller, wonder how he'd have
reacted to really hot chili?
Judge # 3 - No Report

Jacqueline M. Pérez

Assistant Attorney General

North Carolina Department of Justice

c/o Patient Account Services

University of North Carolina Hospitals

211 Friday Center Drive, Suite G21

Chapel Hill , NC 27517

(919) 966-7150

(fax) (919) 966-5498

jmperez@unch.unc.edu

This message is a confidential attorney-client and/or work product privileged communication to be viewed only by the intended recipient. If you believe you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender and delete. Do not copy or forward. Thank you.

Miscellanious Ramblings

There were a few news items today that I would like to opine, since no one will listen to me rant in person, I will put my thoughts here and you can read as much as you can stand.

1. Tomorrow is slated to be "A Day with Gays" at least the gay activists who feel like they were cheated by the voters on prop 8 would like all the gays to call of sick tomorrow and not spend any money to show the country the power of the gay community. I have an idea, All the straight people should call off sick for a day and not spend any money to show the power of the moral majority in this country. Do you think the message would be clear enough, No Same Sex Marriage EVER!!! -- I am not a racist or a bigot -- I am a Christian and a voter and I voted my conscious on the gay marriage issue.

2. Is it too late to give Illinois to Canada, today the Governor of Illinois was arrested for a scheme to sell the Senate seat vacated by Obama. Why is it the everytime a Democrat gets elected they are right in the middle of a scandal that follows them throughout their term. The Chicago political machine is the most corrupt in the country and now they have opened a franchise office in Washington.

3. The Auto Industry "Bridge-Loan" is a bailout of the UAW by any name you give it. The American Auto Makers are $2000 dollars in the hole on every vehicle off the line to cover the legacy programs and highly inflated costs of union labor. This means that the importers (enen the ones built in the USA can add $2000 worth of bells and whistles to their line-up and still be competitive. ChefTom's plan for the big 3 Auto Companies; Break them all up into individual companies, each brand forced to negotiate and survive on their own. If 3 or 4 or 10 of these smaller auto companies fail, there are still others that will keep the supply chain and industry afloat. Each of the brands that exist under the banners of Ford, GM and Chrysler already have an executive team in place, so the CEOs of the corporations and the board of directors would be the only loss in the breaking up of the organizations.
The other option is to allow the big three to declare chapter 11, this will allow them to break the unions, liquidate un-needed properties and factories and re-negotiate the pensions of the retired employees with a one time buy-out.
The only reason that the Democrat controlled Congress is pushing so hard for the bail-out is because the left is in the pockets of the Unions and The UAW already paid for the bailout by spending millions of dollars to help Elect Dear Leader.
Neither of my plans require any money from the tax payers, why should someone making 12 dollars an hour in Tennessee bail-out someone making 30 dollars an hour?

4. There is a positive plan in the works from a congressman in Texas, Mr Gobert plan is simple, a stimulus plan tat won't cost us any more money. There is approx 350 billion dollars left of the 700billion in the bailout money that was already passed. Mr Gobert's plan is to take a 2 month tax holiday for all taxpaying Americans. No Federal Income Tax or FICA taxes. I am all for this plan, talk about fixing the problems right on main street this would do it.

I now return you to the holiday cheer channel.

You can't fix stupid

These are too funny

Joseph P Wirthlin

Joseph B. Wirthlin
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ Joseph B. Wirthlin, the Mormon church's oldest living apostle, has died. He was 91.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Wirthlin died Monday at home of old age.
Wirthlin was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1986, about a decade after being called to full-time church service.
The quorum is the second tier of church leadership and is charged with various management responsibilities.
Wirthlin's other church posts included serving as a counselor to the Sunday school president, director of the church military relations committee, director of the church curriculum department and as an editor of church magazines.
He also led church operations in continental Europe, Britain, Ireland and Africa.

Gall bladder

One more thing I won't have to worry about soon.