A 28-year-old pregnant woman was knocked to the floor during the mad rush. She was hospitalized for observation, police said. Early witness accounts that the woman suffered a miscarriage were unfounded, police said
"A worker died after being trampled and a woman miscarried when hundreds of shoppers smashed through the doors of a Long Island Wal-Mart Friday morning, witnesses said.
The unidentified worker, employed as an overnight stock clerk, tried to hold back the unruly crowds just after the Valley Stream store opened at 5 a.m.
Witnesses said the surging throngs of shoppers knocked the man down. He fell and was stepped on. As he gasped for air, shoppers ran over and around him.
"He was bum-rushed by 200 people," said Jimmy Overby, 43, a co-worker. "They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me. They took me down too...I literally had to fight people off my back.""
This is what makes me absoultely disgusted.. Can you people put your insanity in check for a second? When you, the tramplers amongst us, are on your respective death beds, will you be proud of your life? Proud of rushing around like madmen and madwomen for a material possession that will rot away even slower than you will when you're in the ground? Will you be happy with your constant quest for justification of existence by purchasing goods that will be tossed aside hours after they are opened on Christmas morning? Will you feel that you achieved a goal by now killing someone and making another miscarry as you raced into a Wal-Mart for gifts? A Wal-Mart that is going to be open 24 hours a day until Christmas anyway!?
This story is beyond sad or pathetic, it's truely horrifying. Horrifying that, even during a time of recessionary spending habits, people will still rush into a store like rabid animals to ensure that they get the perfect foreign made piece of garbage on sale.. And now, with your achievements of getting that perfect gift, a woman lost her baby .. I hope you, the trampling shopper out there, can sleep well tonight knowing a worker died, and that a woman lost her child.. ...By the way, the DAILY NEWS reports at the end of their breaking story, "Before police shut down the store, eager shoppers streamed past emergency crews as they worked furiously to save the store clerk's life." . Only a few shoppers stopped to even see what they did.. only a few material lovers were able to put their own selfish and short lived desires on hold to see a man dying--a man with a story and a family. Futile existence? No one's life is futile. And you got your perfect gift. Don't open it too fast. it may turn to dust before you do.
(*Original story 11:15 am, updated 4:15 pm to correct miscarriage story)
It's the special time (in America at least) where people sit back, undo their pants due to increased stomach supply, and enjoy .. at least often pretend .. to enjoy family..
This year, when you're gathered around the table in thanks and sharing, think of the first thanksgiving back when ham and hens eaten .
Perhaps, though, it would be even wiser to think of Sarah Hale, the author of MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB and original lobbyist to Abraham Lincoln to make Thanksgiving into a national holiday..
It worked. In 1863, Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day..
Franklin Roosevelt signed a Thanksgiving day into federal law (after he caused "outrage" in his time when he had Thanksgiving on he fifth Thursday in a November instead of the fourth .. but to his defense, it was a November when there were five Thursdays..
So enjoy the turkey.. enjoy sweet potatoes, or whatever else your choice for consumption will be. And if you have enough energy, stores and retailers hope your consumption will continue to their stores. Tonight, at midnight.. Merry Christmas.
All the News Unfit Print for Sunday, November 23, 2008
A moving memoir of times gone by..
I am going some school reports today .. I am doing my Microeconomics topic on Asbury Park New Jersey.. one of my favorite places on earth (I know, you'd see it and wonder why I say that, but the history there is unbelievable) .. The story of Asbury Park is particularly interesting.. I'm not going to post my report on here, though, because then I'd be copying off of a net source.. and plagiarizing my own work? Not sure on that .. but I am going to share this video that I found while researching the topic. It's called ASBURIED and was filmed in 2002 .. the fact that the documentary makers chose to not include music was perfect. Asbury Park, in so many ways, lost its life, or its music. While the Stone Pony continues to thrive among so much ruin, the thoughts of what Asbury Park once were like are amazing. Coming from a town that evaporated myself, Centralia, Pennsylvania, I know what it's like to grow up among ruins.. I am not egotistical by any stretch, but something mentally binds me to Asbury Park .. so much loss, but so much hope ..
And just for the hell of it: A Bruce Springsteen song called 4th OF JULY ASBURY PARK (SANDY) about the carelessness of youth ..
Ironically, it was on July 4, 1970, when days of race riots destroyed many places in the town and led to a generation of grief...
All the News Unfit Print for Saturday, November 22, 2008
I am pretty proud, by the way..
Years of dorkiness paying off in the world of civic quizzes online.. American leaders and citizens don't know much about history, but Maybe I'm alright?
Stay with me Schmuck and Schmuckettes.. Somehow I clicked the wrong thing in my FTP setup .. now my domain name's not "talking" to blogger anymore.. Instead of purposely crashing my site, I'm working on rebuilding it.. less graphics now.. less confusion. No better time to improve something than when forces of Net nature make you do it..
All the News Unfit Print for Thursday, November 6, 2008
And next I'll predict lottery numbers..
No, really: I think I did well with predictions.. Check out my map I came up with back in October and compare it to the result .. not bad, if I say so myself. My wife now owes me dinner, she didn't think I would predict the election this well .. Still thinking about where she should take me.
My next prediction---And I am not being sarcastic--is that FOX NEWS will become very, very friendly to Barack Obama. Really, I believe they will *at least for now.
All the News Unfit Print for Tuesday, October 28, 2008
SUPRISE! YOU'VE GOT SNOW; SNOWSTORM BLANKETS NORTHEAST AS WINDS BLOW ALONG COAST
AP PHOTO/WEATHER UNDERGROUND Some places had upwards of 15 inches of snow in the Poconos of Pennsylvania!
The surprise storm began last night when rain starting pouring down on what looked like an eventual Phillies win in the World Series.. During the 6th inning, the Baseball Commissioner announced a rain delay--one that continues tonight.. The tied game is 2-2, and it's expected to resume tomorrow. Though some odd rules make me and lots of others think that the Phillies were robbed last night, it appears an even bigger robbery occurred today: Fall was taken by winter.
The winds are howling outside of Schmuckraker home base as I try to concentrate and do Labor Relations homework for school -- power flickered a few times. Though my area didn't get the abhorrent amount of snow that others in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey saw, it's a clear indication that winter is coming. Faster apparently than a lot of folks hoped for. Some unscientific reports provided by my wife today from Sears conclude that everyone waited until today's storm to get snow tires. I didn't get mine yet.. But maybe I'm just hoping to get a new car..?
With weather possibly warmer by Friday, the snow on top of your Halloween pumpkins should melt fast.. The wet, heavy snow is piling up fast in parts of the Northeast..
Ahh, and yes. For those folks along the East Coast, especially in my favorite strange island Long Beach Island, winds are expected to be blowing around 45mph with gusts exceeding 60mph.. Get in a lighthouse, sit back.. and watch the pictures as they fly through the air. Perhaps literally...
All the News Unfit Print for Monday, October 20, 2008
One year ago today at noon, Tara and I got married.. and one year flew by since. Not because of bad, but because of work, life.. normal worries. Things that don't matter in life.. What really matters in life in life is love, spirit, fate. What really matters is hope.. What really matters is the journey we are all on, one that takes us on the same paths often, but on lonely paths other times. But with you, Tara, my time has not been lonely. It also has not been without hope and love, you have inspired more since October 20, 2007.
And now as leaves fall, and Autumn turns into Winter, we will dream of Spring, when all gets reborn. And through it all, love never dies, even as those cold winds start to blow through trees outside.
All the News Unfit Print for Saturday, October 18, 2008
Truly sad day...
Lots of people knew Senator James Rhoades--or at least knew of him. He helped a hell of a lot of people get jobs, he cared deeply for education, and he brought back money to his district which bettered persons.. He will be missed tremendously.
It got me thinking.. God is something, eh? Life is something, too. Here one day and gone the next. .And though Senator Rhoades didn't have national fame, the local Schuylkill county PA and surrounding counties knew and respected him. But he wasn't superhuman. He died in a very human way like a lot of other people: In a car accident.
The death of Senator Rhoades came as a shock for Harrisburg Capitol politicians, and for common citizens .. even more of a shock because it shows how fragile life is regardless of fame, wealthy, power or fortune. We are all in this together..
Pennsylvania state Senator James Rhoades injured in car crash
PHOTO: KEITH R. STEVENSON/Pocono Record
State Senator in Pennsylvania (and my representative Senator in Harrisburg PA) injured in a three car crash last night..the POCONO RECORD with the best summary of the incident.. Rhoades and his wife were airlifted from the scene.
Initial reports came around 10:40pm Friday night, but not much more information is being ascertained this morning..
Phone calls to Lehigh Valley Hospital's public affairs office have gone unanswered, have not been returned..
Developing..
All the News Unfit Print for Sunday, October 12, 2008
Feeling blue: 23 and counting.. my election predictions
The election is nasty.. Hateful for some..
But I am going to make my election prediction. Things are changing by the day. But I am predicting an Obama win--actually an Obama landslide, one like we have not seen in several election cycles.
With 270 electoral votes needed for victory, I am predicting Obama easily wins the overall popular vote. I also feel he will handily gain the electoral college, which as we all know is the only way to win.
My map shows McCain with 201 electoral votes and Obama with 337..
The map:
As you can see, I am predicting McCain loses and Obama wins in the following swing states: Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri.. I also predict an Obama win in North Carolina .. McCain will keep the deep South--but with smaller margins of victory than Bush in 2000 and 2008. McCain will end of losing New Mexico.. Minnesota .. and Indiana.
The next debate is coming up this week .. I don't feel that 2008 will be as divided as previous election, I also do not feel there is any way the electoral college will be tied. Further, there will be no reason for networks to wait late into the night without knowing for sure who won this November's election.
Congress will be controlled by Democrats.. as will the Senate.
It's been a long eight years.. Democrats will gain this year in huge numbers due to the newer younger voters (that will actually vote this year) .. and from two wars, and the sudden impact of the economic crisis. McCain's last minute campaign tactics have been foolish looking. He's all over the proverbial map, issuing policy plans at his own whims during debates and suspending his campaign as a stunt.
It all failed for one simple reason: Campaign officials didn't let John McCain be himself. Instead, they reinvented him as George W. Bush .. That's not why people liked him in 2000. Barack Obama ran one of the greatest campaigns in history, trouncing the likely nominee Hillary Clinton, and dominating TVs, internet, radio, and other forms of media. And he got a lot of free help from major media officials, who often let their own biases outweigh their good sense for reporting. Legs were quivering with excitement all over American newsrooms the night Obama accepted his party's nomination. And they haven't stopped yet.
The tingling, quivering, and excitement will be at record highs on election night. McCain, once a media darling, was crumbled up and thrown into a trash heap like any other piece of paper.
And then what? Politics as usual. Party fighting party. But the victory Obama gets this year will give him a mandate for change.. But McCain's ultimate failure is that all year, he never did anything to tell Americans why he felt Obama's change was wrong for America.. Instead, his aimless twists and turns have led his campaign events into angry give and take sessions with people frightened of Barack Obama..
How sad it got.
We'll check back in a 24 days to see how well I did.
But I strongly believe that this election will not be close..
All the News Unfit Print for Monday, October 6, 2008
In the worst of times.. grab a friend and .. cuddle!?
No one believes me. They are having "cuddling parties" across America..
Perhaps it's the bad economic news.. Maybe the lack of real love and an overload of computers across the world?
Perhaps, in the end, people just .. want to cuddle up and touch another human being?
But it's very real. And very cuddly..
"It's a human need," said Weinstein-Moser, 49, of Dublin, Bucks County, who introduced the phenomenon to the region last fall. She was smitten after attending her first in 2005, where she discovered she was a natural. Now a certified cuddle facilitator (training price tag: $1,490), Weinstein-Moser throws parties as far as Maryland and North Jersey. It costs $40 to attend
$40 per person!? Where do I learn this!?
Cuddle Parties do not claim to offer therapy or even massage, but do tout the benefits of tactile contact. Not everyone, though, is convinced that what happens at the hugfests can deliver health benefits.
The American Massage Therapy Association has little love for Cuddle Parties. "We really have no idea if there's any value in the kind of massage they provide at these things," said Ron Precht, communications manager for the Chicago-area group
I'm not sold on this. As a matter or fact, it's plain out creepy to me. A 50 year old man .. cuddled up next to me rubbing my shoulders.. as i cuddle the back of someone in front of me.. And combined the three of us paying $120 bucks.. Not my version of a fun Saturday night. And plain weird..
I had major problems with the Jesus Camps for Bush in 2004.. I have major problems with the bandwagon philosophy.. A people as a whole can, and have, do some bad things when they jump on the bandwagon--even when intentions start out as noble. Which is the exact reason the kids below scared me:
Does anyone else have a problem with this? Kids singing to Obama as opposed to America?
Nothing against Barack.. But believe me, I would have the same trouble with this type of a video if it was for McCain..
This country should not--though it sometimes does--idolize the presidents or leaders that lead it! Instead, it should always proudly wave the flag due to the fact that the Constitution of the United States has set up a system of government that is flawed but still the best in the world.. America should stand up tall for this country.. and not act like Obama is the new king of the world..
I don't care who you're voting for this year.. I don't care who you voted for in past years.. I think this video creeps me out for a number of reasons, and I think we're in a wonderful odd year. I'm enjoying it all, but when I see kids being used in this way, it reminds me a bit of a totalitarian dictatorship. And if they're at the inauguration (presumably if Obama wins) I will be even more fearful..
I find no virtue in worshiping a mortal. He or she is imperfect..
And when that mere mortal gets into office and does the same things that those mere mortals did in the past, where will it leave the kids singing their march for hope song? Will they still bang their drums for Obama? Will they still belt out "yes we can!" ... maybe, if the government makes them.
Everyone needs to chill out a bit. Obama is not God.
Even though the kids appear to think he is...
All the News Unfit Print for Saturday, September 20, 2008
NOT MY BABIES
I had a thought last night when I put yet another photo of a child on my website welcoming them after birth.. Not welcoming their 'after birth' but welcoming THEM after birth.
My wife and I are not with child -- and as of now at least not expecting.. We will hopefully be blessed with children, but I wanted to inform readers: The Schmuckraker is not gettin' around like that.
Beautiful Skyla Lane is my wife's sister's newborn girl, and last month beautiful Eva was born to our friend's parents..
And to the best of my knowledge, neither child is mine.
However, it's a prayer of mine that one day I can post a photo of a child .. with parents.. and have those parents be me and Tara. Then you will know when the child is truly mine..
Until then, I'll be welcoming children close to me into this world.. A tradition that dates back to when I had the Horror-Report.com and my nephew Liam David was ushered into the world..
All the News Unfit Print for Thursday, September 11, 2008
A brief time out.. September 11, 2008
It's been seven years since I was 21 years old, an unknowing unwitty adult, still without full time employment.. A month before I got a full time job a few planes rocked the world, and changed forever my life.
Everyone's life.
I went back a few years and read through some other 9/11-related writings.. And now 7 years later as the impact appears to be wearing off on the nation, today it didn't with me. I was listening to NPR on my way to work.. I cried a bit.
I kept thinking about those dead.. those thousands of dead. Forever dead--but forever young. Forever stuck in the year 2001.. I think of wives that had dinner plans for the evening--dinner that was never had. I think of children waiting for dad to come home--and he never came home. I think of plans for late summer weekend getaways out of the city of New York--getaways that never got away..
So much lives lost within minutes, if not seconds..
Today, Barack Obama and John McCain put their campaign on hold. They made appearances, but neither candidate got political .. thank God.
Today, bells tolled as families of victims clutched photos of loved ones.. And remembered. For memories now is what they have..
Memories of what would have been .. if only those that died would have lived into the evening.. 7 years ago today. September 11, 2001..
Never forgotten. . . Or is it?
All the News Unfit Print for Tuesday, September 9, 2008
First time in my life--I got polled--and the phone cut off..
The phone rang--for years I wanted to be polled--and it was a polling company. Couldn't tell the name of it, not sure what media company, or candidate, the phone was filled with static. And as I gathered my thoughts, got ready to answer and defend my in depth opinions, the phone got cut off.. Maybe next time..
All the News Unfit Print for Sunday, September 7, 2008
IT'S ALIVE!!! The multibillion-dollar Large Hadron Collider gets fired up
Hold on to your knickers.. if the world ends by the earth swallowing itself, it's going to be now.. Right? Those that fear the Large Hadron Collider have said for years that when it gets fired up, it could create a black hole and swallow the earth hole.
This past summer, I spoke to a few friends with some cold beer around a warm campfire. We all agreed that maybe this wasn't the best idea. . And if a few Coal Regioners from Eastern PA think this, why didn't anyone else stop this!?
I'm only half joking..
The real news is this: The powerful *at least the makers hope it's powerful* atom smasher will be fired up on Wednesday.
"The first beams of protons will be fired around the 17-mile tunnel to test the controlling strength of the world's largest superconducting magnets. It will still be about a month before beams traveling in opposite directions are brought together in collisions that some skeptics fear could create micro "black holes" and endanger the planet.
The project has attracted researchers of 80 nationalities, some 1,200 of them from the United States, which contributed $531 million of the project's price tag of nearly $4 billion"
So enjoy Monday and Tuesday, just in case. And when NOTHING happens to the earth on Wednesday, enjoy that day, too. And all the while, try your best to understand what the hell they are trying to do, because on matter how many times I try to research this, I leave simply scratching my head...
All the News Unfit Print for Sunday, August 31, 2008
...Cleaning up the streamers after the Labor Day parade...
Sitting here in Avalon, looking at the pouring rain
Summertime has come and gone and everybody's home again
Closing down for the season, I found the last of the souvenirs
I can still taste the wedding cake and it's sweet after all these years
These are the last words I have to say
That's why this took so long to write
There will be other words some other day
But that's the story of my life
There's comfort in my coffee cup and apples in the early fall
They're pulling all the moorings up and gathering at the Legion Hall
They swept away all the streamers after the Labor Day parade
Nothing left for a dreamer now, only one final serenade
And these are the last words I have to say
Before another age goes by
With all those other songs I'll have to play
But that's the story of my life
And it's so clear standing here where I am
Ain't that what justice is for?
Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn anymore
Stack the chairs on the table tops
Hang the sheets on the chandeliers
It slows down but it never stops
Ain't it sweet after all these years
And these are the last words I have to say
It's always hard to say goodbye
But now it's time to put this book away
Ain't that the story of my life
-Billy Joel
All the News Unfit Print for Wednesday, August 27, 2008
CONVENTIONS, SCHOOL, AND HURRICANES
A whirlwind of a week..
I am typing this while I attend an online class and watch Bill Clinton address the Democratic convention..
What a world.
And by the way, Bill Clinton is now delivering the most powerful speech ever concerning Barack Obama and why he should be president.. Dreamy eyed Democrats looking on at Bill like he's still in charge (and if wasn't for Franklin Roosevelt, Bill Clinton still would be in charge..) And finally, from Bill, RED MEAT! Real differences in parties. Real slams on Bush/McCain! James Carville has been going nuts on CNN that all the Democrats speaking have been more like a PBS Barney show than a political convention. Bill came along...and in his magical way, took the Democrats back to that fighting mode they felt during the entire 90s..
Meanwhile, a hurricane is getting stronger.. the name is Gustav--and it appears Gustav is on a collision course with the United States *at least according to models today..
I am nervous on the possibility of another storm striking New Orleans .. Another storm almost three years to the day after Hurricane Katrina struck... And frightfully, after reading some more weather sites and examining a few models coming from computers that may know, it appears that New Orleans has reason to fear. At least four models are taking the storm dead center to New Orleans by next Monday or Tuesday..
A frightful prospective.. And we will be watching (*and going to school.*) ...
What a world.
All the News Unfit Print for Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Just a couple of house keeping items..
Schmuckraker site will continue through holiday week with updates.. The holiday is pretty much over tonight anyway, both my wife and I are back to the commute and work tomorrow..
There are a few end of the year projects still coming.. Just got finished year in review story.. Had some wine, too, so working on spelling corrections. Working on a couple other year end review projects for the site..
And finally.. Came down to the wire this year. The schmuck of the year has been chosen.. I hope I can offer an interesting perspective as to how and why I came to a choice.
Those year end review articles should be up later this weekend..
All the News Unfit Print for Sunday, December 23, 2007
..SO IT IS CHRISTMAS..
Updates will trickle on here the next two days, I am not taking off from reading the news. But I am going to try to avoid the bad. It's time to be happy. Joy to the world! .. It's the season to be holly and jolly. And to those lonely, tired.. and just baffled by life's unkindness.. Raise a glass. I join you in solace. Enjoy it. Another year over. A new new about to begin.
And if you're able.. get out and look at Mars. It's near the moon. And it's brighter than Rudolph.
And stay away from the malls.. You have enough. Anything else would just be desperation.
Christmas 2007.
All the News Unfit Print for Saturday, December 22, 2007
December 22, 2007: The last mad rush
I knew Christmas was coming, I really did. I kept saying I'd get that spirit any day now. Really. I swore.
And now today, just looked at the calender and my eyes almost popped out of my head.
Times goes by so fast. When you're not paying attention, it goes by faster, almost an insult. Or maybe a message.
Notice as you get older Christmas gets different? Of course you noticed. But when you really stop and take a glance at how it changes, it's amazing.
One thing of note this year .. I did shopping. My wallet and credit card both know full well that Christmas is only hours away .. While I was shopping I saw those people with the signs of desperation on their faces. The desperate shoppers that can't find what they want to get someone.. The looks of confusion as they pace back and forth in aisles, almost like the clerk will rush over and place in front of them the perfect gift. That never quite happens. What does happen, instead, is the customer's end result being a giant overblown item stuffed into their mini-van or SUV ready for the drive home. Only to get there and wonder aloud to themselves, why in the hell did I buy this crap?
Junk yards across America filled with those items of yesteryear.
The shopping experiences puts me in a Christmas mood--unless I can't find items that people want. I won't just buy to buy .. I want to have the right thing for the right person.
When I think about it while standing in the checkout lane, I ponder about the existence of this holiday.. how centuries of Christians and Pagans led to a story of Jesus being born on December 25 under a giant star with oxen and snow coming down. Well, the snow was coming down, the oxen were just there. The story is nice. But probably not factual. Many experts, even those of religious context, would agree that Jesus was probably born in the summer, the Magi probably didn't bring 'gifts' for a few years, and there was probably no snow. But that ruins the story.
And anyway, a lot of people think the 21st Century meaning of Christmas is Josh Grobin's album or Celine Dion's new album. Minus the air guitar ..
I actually don't mind the inaccuracies of the Christmas story. It's nice to have something at the end of a year to look forward to. It's the wrap up to times gone by, whether they were good or bad. I don't care that no oxen or goats surrounded Jesus when he first came into an Earthly presence.
It's good to have Christmas before New Years, too. It's the final bow to the year. The last blow in the family. The final dinner... a joyous time. But not for all. Millions of people wake up alone Christmas day and go back to sleep in the same state at night. It's just another day to them.
And for those who have nothing, it's a struggle to find the meaning of Christmas..
And if Jesus wasn't born in December and Americans just care about material possessions, what is the meaning anyway!? Linus, you need to help us..
The meaning of Christmas is most likely kindness.. Generosity. Who will be there for others when they need help the most. Who will drop a few coins into a Salvation Army tin? Who will volunteer.. who will help with words, actions, or prayers? A lot of people. Even those that care about material possessions can also care about their fellow man..
For all the bad in the world... for all the negative.. for all the evil.. there is good. There are positive things happening. For all the war, there is peace within humans.
I'm reminded of my childhood.. getting ready for Christmas Eve mass and then dinner at my grandmother's house for the "Holy Supper" which consists of fish with no dairy or butter----we've added the butter since her passing. I am reminded of seeing cheesy decorations; luckily my parents never were cheesy with their decor on holidays. I am reminded of laughter, my childlike awe of the whole night. I am reminded of a few warm and a few cold Christmases. Some dry, some snow. My mother's perfume, my dad's cologne. Yes, this was big. The biggest day of the year for kids and adults. I am reminded of the year both my sister and I had a horrible flu and were stricken to the bed for Christmas day.. And now, I am reminded of Christmases watching younger members of my family grow to find their own memories.. I am fully aware that years from now I will remember 2007 and a wonderful first Christmas being married..
Here's to life. And Christmas present. And futures, since the past can't be changed now anyway.
And here's to a Christmas filled with happy memories..
Here's to the lonely..
And even though Jesus never did get birthed next to an oxen in a snowstorm, Christmas is three days away. Shop til you drop. Or just drop the shop and find the real meaning of it all: Love, family, and friends.
-Bryan Smolock
Schmuckraker.blogspot.com
December 22, 2007
All the News Unfit Print for Saturday, August 11, 2007
The Schmuck vs the Snakes: Round 2
I got bit by a snake this morning.. nothing major. Went to the ER, got the normal shots etc. But the fact I was bit by a snake makes me think it was the revenge for my slaying of a snake two weeks ago.. More to come..
Also, some more blogging in general will take place later.. I've became lackadaisical, but I WILL make sure I report all the news that unfit to print at my first next free moment..
Random rakings
ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING 
One year ago today at noon, Tara and I got married.. and one year flew by since. Not because of bad, but because of work, life.. normal worries. Things that don't matter in life.. What really matters in life in life is love, spirit, fate. What really matters is hope.. What really matters is the journey we are all on, one that takes us on the same paths often, but on lonely paths other times. But with you, Tara, my time has not been lonely. It also has not been without hope and love, you have inspired more since October 20, 2007.
And now as leaves fall, and Autumn turns into Winter, we will dream of Spring, when all gets reborn. And through it all, love never dies, even as those cold winds start to blow through trees outside.
PHOTO: KEITH R. STEVENSON/Pocono Record
State Senator in Pennsylvania (and my representative Senator in Harrisburg PA) injured in a three car crash last night..
It's been seven years since I was 21 years old, an unknowing unwitty adult, still without full time employment.. A month before I got a full time job a few planes rocked the world, and changed forever my life.
Everyone's life.
I went back a few years and read through some other 9/11-related writings.. And now 7 years later as the impact appears to be wearing off on the nation, today it didn't with me. I was listening to NPR on my way to work.. I cried a bit.
I kept thinking about those dead.. those thousands of dead. Forever dead--but forever young. Forever stuck in the year 2001.. I think of wives that had dinner plans for the evening--dinner that was never had. I think of children waiting for dad to come home--and he never came home. I think of plans for late summer weekend getaways out of the city of New York--getaways that never got away..
So much lives lost within minutes, if not seconds..
Today, Barack Obama and John McCain put their campaign on hold. They made appearances, but neither candidate got political .. thank God.
Today, bells tolled as families of victims clutched photos of loved ones.. And remembered. For memories now is what they have..
Memories of what would have been .. if only those that died would have lived into the evening.. 7 years ago today. September 11, 2001..
Never forgotten. . . Or is it?
Just a couple of house keeping items..
