Something that you'll like doing and will spread joy!

The next time that your church has a time for "requests," ask for the Star-spangled Banner. If they're doing full songs, do the whole thing. If they only do one verse per song, ask for the last verse. It

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand,
  Between their lov'd home, and the war's desolation.
Blest with victory and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land,
  Praise the Power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto -- "In God is our Trust;"
    And the star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave,
    O'er the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave.

is very inspiring, God-honoring, and doesn't end with a question, but with a bold statement!

If you happen to be performing the Anthem before an event, think about singing this with/instead. Our church choir has been invited to sing this for the local Rockies' farm team, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, for the last three years. They get many compliments. :^)

As you may have suspected:

the massive advances in technology in the past two decades have brought zero advance in productivity.

What do you think that the American electorate really want?

If stories like this one don't wake up the Republicans, I'm sure that there are some Dems that are paying attention... :^p

Get more for your money while paying less

(You will (if you don't already have one) have to register with the NYT for a complimentary account.)

David Pogue, a funny and intelligent tech reviewer, points out that Kodak is selling printers that cost less per page than their rivals and has "photo" printing that lasts 89 years(!) vs (only) 1 year.

For those of you of a conspiratorial mindset...

There is a bit of wisdom that is talked of and widely believed, but not quite known specifically (at least to me): the Social Security system and IRS tax compliance is voluntary.

In the linked article from Reuters, we have a quote from the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that supports my belief.

"We affirm the dismissal of these claims because Hansen's complaint fails to specify the particular statutes and regulations requiring use of an SSN (Social Security number) that he objects to, but instead seeks a general declaration that he and his son are entitled to never use an SSN."

Do you know which particular statutes and regulations require you to get a SSN or pay taxes? Or did you volunteer to do so, like me?

Some good advice for the geek

... who has to give a presentation: "Don't throw up." Check out the comments as well - more good stuff there.

more... "Conference Presentation Judo"

:^)

Beer turns men into women

At least it does so for German men... With their fancy dark, thick beers...

This one is funny! And like so many things funny, it hurts, too -- because of the truth involved.

<-- revO evoM

An idea whose time has come!

(Ideas want to be anthropomorphised!)

I'm not dead yet...

What to think about when you prepare to have a heart attack or fall into a frozen lake...!

This is a really interesting article about the possibilities of reviving people who would have been considered dead just a couple of years ago. No, not people who have been "dead" for two years -- read the article, you'll see what I mean!

:^)

Are you a fan of John Browning?

You know, the guy who invented the 1911 .45 pistol, the .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun - still in use 80 years), and many Winchester and Remington weapons before those...

There is a petition to get his birth commemorated on January 23 and to get his likeness put on a stamp.

Sign up now to get on the list just after me (#2216).

(If you're shy about getting on lists, remember: if you're not on a list somewhere, you're probably not going to have lived a life of consequence... ;^)

Deep thoughts from Mr. Boffo(?!!)

So... Is there life elsewhere in the universe?

If so, did they fall into sin when we did?

If they didn't, do they suffer from the Fall as well?