tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-122132542011-11-27T18:50:17.050-06:00"An organist, while practicing one day, hit a particular chord which elevated his consciousness and he experienced what might be called nirvana or a glimpse of heaven -- perhaps a trance of sorts. However, as with all forms of stimulants, it was short lived and he moved one hand and could not find that special chord again. He spent the rest of his life searching for it."Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.comBlogger6581100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-68334779310739721562009-04-15T02:16:00.003-05:002009-04-15T02:45:18.121-05:00

My father died Tuesday afternoon. He was 81 and had Parkinson's Disease. A year ago he and my mom moved in with my brother, and I'm certain my father was very happy during that time. My mother was with him when he died. Parkinson's had robbed him of his true self, and I'm not sure he even knew what was happening at the end. But I'm certain he knew his family loved him, and I take some comfort in

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-34675855227319066482009-04-09T20:20:00.002-05:002009-04-09T20:24:07.247-05:00

This guy reminds me why I'm proud to be from Iowa.And this lady reminds me why I'm happy I'm not living in Texas.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-45884937736017451472009-04-09T19:42:00.001-05:002009-04-09T20:01:27.369-05:00

Do you think if I asked, would my employer "cut" my salary by increasing it 4 percent, like the proposed Dept. of Defense budget?

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-41209572779691186032009-04-09T03:30:00.003-05:002009-04-09T03:35:07.357-05:00

The progression of information technology. As a former college professor, I'm struck by the message that students today are being trained for jobs that don't yet exist, using technology that hasn't been created, to solve problems we are as yet unaware of.The implications for those in higher education are mind boggling.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-50752007737173341472009-04-09T02:42:00.001-05:002009-04-09T02:44:16.260-05:00

Out of tragedy, a brief smile:Maria D'Antuono, a 98 year-old grandmother from the village of Tempera close to the city of L'Aquila, was lifted from her apartment after being trapped in it for two days. When she was asked on Italian television how she had passed the time, she simply replied that she had been keeping busy "knitting."

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-31165846407345832322009-03-29T22:42:00.005-05:002009-03-29T22:49:11.800-05:00

There's a new development on Scenic Ave. just south of Grand St. in Springfield, MO called Scenic Station.I always thought one purchased/owned a condo, like a house. Why would anyone rent a condo? Doesn't that make them apartments?Evidently, Scenic Station has just one condo, and it possesses something.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-50031797387545116652009-03-29T20:03:00.005-05:002009-03-29T20:49:25.410-05:00

Poynter has posted an essay written by the late John Walter, a founding editor of USA Today, in which he blames three people for newspapers' demise. It's a good read by an intelligent writer. I'm not sure I agree with all of it, but Walter makes several salient points, which Charles Batchelor nicely summarizes in the comments section:1) It's not wise to discount the product and then ask people to

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-44262152371563803002009-03-17T00:27:00.001-05:002009-03-17T00:27:27.575-05:00

Eric Etheridge has an interesting "Opinionater" piece (http://ping.fm/bRbXs) in Monday's "New York Times" on the "inevitable" demise of newspapers.Etheridge notes that several "Internet enthusiasts" say it's time to stop trying to save the newspaper industry and get on with the revolution. "Instead, experiment with new ways of doing journalism in the digital era."One possibility: “a hyperlocal

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-9878468612183522082009-03-16T00:46:00.001-05:002009-03-16T00:46:49.664-05:00

In order to be as efficient as possible, I'm trying to use Ping.fm to update multiple services, namely Twitter, Facebook and Blogger. What you're reading should appear on my blog and as a note on my Facebook account, not on Twitter.It's too long for Twitter, but should be fine on Blogger and Facebook. I just have to remember to input the proper code at the beginning of a post.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-87835116056250514882009-03-15T23:01:00.003-05:002009-03-15T23:03:43.521-05:00

I'm trying to use an alternative service for blogging that will upload posts automatically to multiple locations. It's supposed to work for blogger, but so far isn't. Fortunately, I'm not the only one having this problem... so it's them, not me. I think.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-33702860433774389622008-11-01T23:58:00.004-05:002008-11-02T00:23:35.818-05:00

I got a new camera for my birthday this year. I wanted a digital SLR but couldn't justify the cost, especially for additional lenses. So I got something close: a 10 megapixel Olympus SP-570 ultra-zoom. It has the longest superzoom lens on a compact camera, covering the 35mm equivalent range of 26-520mm.I've dabbled in 35mm photography since high school, even had my own black and white dark room

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-3552909504628312422008-09-28T19:08:00.003-05:002008-09-28T19:15:35.379-05:00

I know, I know. I keep saying I'll have more to say more regularly and then don't follow through. Yes, I annoy me, too.Chez DocLarryManor is a bit lonely this weekend. Mrs. DocLarry is up north visiting family, Baxter is at summer camp. So, here are a couple photos of the boy to tide you and me over until Wednesday.Baxter enjoying the lush green grass of someone else's lawn. I can't ever get mine

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-4922115053097260932008-08-09T21:37:00.000-05:002008-08-09T21:38:37.941-05:00

I'll leave chastising John Edwards for having an adulterous affair with Rielle Hunter to others. Personally, I don't care that much. I think he did a very dumb thing while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination and am disappointed for that reason. For everything else, it's none of my business. But I do want to draw attention to the role of the National Enquirer in this, ahem,

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-78552559940715210662008-06-24T02:35:00.003-05:002008-06-24T02:41:58.503-05:00

Kids of all ages enjoy watching an odometer turn to a bunch of zeros all in a row. That can be a fun part of summer travel. But with skyrocketing gas prices and an economy in the tank, many families won't be making those long trips.Never fear...thanks to YouTube you can enjoy an odometer turning over to 200,000 miles (hell, it might be the only time you EVER get to see that!) without leaving

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-49239526760704001412008-06-24T02:30:00.001-05:002008-06-24T02:33:09.263-05:00

I helped elect Claire McCaskill in 2006 because I thought she would better represent Missourians. Now, I'm not so sure. Two recent actions are feeding my disappointment in the first-term senator.McCaskill Urges Anheuser-Busch Board to Reject Offer in which the senator informs us she "sent [a] letter to the Anheuser-Busch board of directors urging them to reject InBev’s offer to purchase the

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-61173706313374243202008-06-17T04:25:00.000-05:002008-06-17T04:25:01.107-05:00

Found this over at Watching Those We Chose:Conservative columnist George Will claims average Americans “are better off today than they were in 2000-2001.” This despite all evidence to the contrary.Since Will is never wrong, this homeless veteran must be better off:And so are these laid-off workers.And the family who used to live in this house.And certainly those in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-6661548172937256712008-05-22T01:22:00.002-05:002008-05-22T01:30:37.209-05:00

I'm sure the massive increase in the price of gas is having an impact on summer travel.WASHINGTON (AFP) - More than half of Americans will not be taking a summer holiday this year, opting instead to stay home and save money as the US economy slumps, a survey published Wednesday showed.What about you? How has the high price of fuel affected your plans? A certain news operation wants to know.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-37767979891458586992008-05-22T01:16:00.003-05:002008-05-22T01:56:42.308-05:00

I'm sorry Sen. Ted Kennedy has brain cancer. And yes, the story IS news. But the man is NOT dead yet. So could the media please stop eulogizing him?BOSTON - After the Boston Red Sox's 86-year span without a World Series championship, perhaps the most familiar streak in Massachusetts is the half-century that a Kennedy has represented the state in the U.S. Senate.Now, the news that Sen. Edward M.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-83653810229200763272008-05-22T00:58:00.005-05:002008-05-22T01:57:18.098-05:00

This is just...oh, I don't know. Embarrassing is too tame. Frustrating, certainly. Disgusting? Still not strong enough. Aggravating...WASHINGTON - The House overwhelmingly rejected President Bush's veto Wednesday of a $290 billion farm bill, but what should have been a stinging defeat for the president became an embarrassment for Democrats.Only hours before the House's 316-108 vote, Bush had

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-29654433473082084762008-05-21T00:14:00.002-05:002008-05-21T00:20:15.789-05:00

This could prove interesting:Big box electronics retailer, Circuit City, has filed papers with the Federal Communications Commission claiming the agency is working outside its jurisdiction over retail labeling. As part of the upcoming DTV transition next February, the FCC last May, adopted a rule requiring retailers to label TVs with only analog (NTSC) tuners as incompatible with digital

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-18047963921072052512008-05-20T00:42:00.004-05:002008-05-20T00:45:27.740-05:00

I wonder how long before this appears somewhere in the states?TWO Belgian beer fans have launched a video game named Place to Pee, which allows players to fly down ski slopes or kill aliens while relieving themselves at urinals. Werner Dupont, a software developer and Bart Geraets, an electrical engineer, got the idea while drinking beers. The Place to Pee' booth is designed for two users

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-44029538204061206352008-05-20T00:29:00.001-05:002008-05-20T00:37:42.852-05:00

I found this several months ago. It's cute.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-31377287162632544672008-05-20T00:16:00.002-05:002008-05-20T00:27:50.840-05:00

My father's Parkinson's has progressed to a point where my mother can no longer take care of him by herself. An infection put him in the hospital for awhile, and then into a long-term care facility. Mrs. DocLarry and I paid a visit to him shortly after he'd been moved to the "facility." He was extremely unhappy, and I can't say as I blame him. Most of the "patients" appeared to be waiting to die.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-38014737511170286282008-05-19T23:54:00.003-05:002008-05-20T00:16:44.912-05:00

The TV news producing bidness can be very taxing. One only has a finite amount of time in which to squeeze news of the day. The problem may be exacerbated by the finicky news goddess who seems to prefer feast or famine, but nothing in between.Tonight is a great example of feast: a sweeps package running nearly 4 minutes, a franchise package running 2:30, a night-side reporter package also running

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-27936854074068337112008-04-04T03:08:00.002-05:002008-04-04T03:16:16.982-05:00

Yeah, I know...long time no blog. Trip out on this video featuring Sen. Mike Gravel. Charles Manson stole it from the Beatles. U2 stole it back. I'm not sure WHAT Gravel is doing with it.Seriously, I'm impressed by the video, especially Gravel's willingness to play-along. Not sure if other candidates could pull this off. Gravel has always marched to his own beat in the campaign. Perhaps this is a

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-46867322411522379902008-02-08T13:21:00.001-06:002008-02-08T13:25:45.303-06:00

Baxter enjoys sleeping sideways in his bed. It's not that he shifts around to get into this position. He'll walk over to the bed and purposely lie down this way. Perhaps in this case it was to catch the little bit of sunshine on his head. They say you can keep your feet warm by keeping your head warm. Wise old beagle.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-2210598570336249272008-02-02T00:11:00.000-06:002008-02-02T00:22:42.883-06:00

I remember when this photo first appeared in newspapers and news magazines. The iconic 1960s photo of a Vietnam War protester placing flowers in soldiers' gun barrels at a rally was taken by Bernie Boston. The retired newspaper photographer has died at age 74.Boston's photograph, "Flower Power," was a runner-up for the Pulitzer Prize. He took the picture at a war protest in Washington on Oct. 22,

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-40691014794291932182008-02-01T09:47:00.000-06:002008-02-01T09:51:17.508-06:00

If you want news media to take you seriously and cover your event, make sure you have correct information in your news release. Received the following just moments ago:PRESS CALL: Fixing the Housing CrisisHousing experts and economists to discuss solutions to the current crisisWHEN: Monday, February 1, 2008 at 12:00 PM EDT(emphasis added)So is the event on Monday, or on February 1?

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-52122378482379821522008-02-01T09:31:00.000-06:002008-02-01T09:36:42.457-06:00

Must keep Granny and Strannix happy!The boy likes to patrol the yard as part of his daily job, which is to keep the elephants out of the neighborhood.And no, the photo was not taken this week. Baxter doesn't care for the snow, thankyouverymuch.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-47928302065238135822008-02-01T09:25:00.000-06:002008-02-01T09:30:45.033-06:00

News item from the BBC caught my attention:Two bombs in busy Baghdad animal markets have killed at least 64 people.An Iraqi official said the devices were attached to two women with learning disabilities, and detonated remotely.Maybe I've missed it, but the use of "women with learning disabilities" to likely unknowingly carry bombs to be detonated remotely is new to me. If this behavior is what

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-3093667918879472942008-01-07T01:57:00.000-06:002008-01-07T02:09:17.163-06:00

It seems the Nigerian businessman/government official has enlisted in the U.S. Marines and is now serving in Iraq:From: Lieutenant Colonel William Adams Reply-To: adams_williams111@ubbi.comSubject: Re:From Lieutenant Colonel William Adams{A US MARINE IN IRAQ}Attention Please!!!Greetings to you!I am Lieutenant Colonel William Adams...a US MARINE in Iraq.As you may Know,there areseveral cases of

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-50698820227189408442008-01-07T01:11:00.000-06:002008-01-07T01:37:10.241-06:00

The only Holocaust survivor elected to Congress is retiring.WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rep. Tom Lantos, who chairs the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee and is the only Holocaust survivor elected to the Congress, on Wednesday said he has been diagnosed with cancer and will not seek re-election in November.The 79-year-old California Democrat, who was born in Hungary and twice

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-85264627385384231152007-12-31T08:13:00.000-06:002007-12-31T08:29:01.927-06:00

Because Strannix asked for it.Baxter is ALWAYS the center of attention.This photo is actually from Christmas 2005. MrsDocLarry, the boy and I have made the trek north to spend the holiday with her family every year we've been married, except for the odd year when weather made traveling unwise.This year I had to work (the newscast doesn't stop for holidays, although sometimes the news does) and

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-2821470458692500312007-12-27T23:39:00.000-06:002007-12-27T23:43:29.677-06:00

Kos highlights a 1992 article from Ron Paul’s self-published newsletter, The Ron Paul Political Report:Indeed, it is shocking to consider the uniformity of opinion among blacks in this country. Opinion polls consistently show that only about 5% of blacks have sensible political opinions, i.e. support the free market, individual liberty, and the end of welfare and affirmative action…. Given the

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-72643850292974559012007-12-17T05:23:00.000-06:002007-12-17T05:27:58.496-06:00

Contrasting stories about trends in text-messaging:LONDON (Reuters) - U R dumped -- one in seven say they have suffered the same fate as Britney Spears' ex-husband and been told it's all over via text message or email, a survey said Friday.While hiding behind technology might appear a cowardly way of splitting up, it contrasts with the four percent who simply drop all communication with their

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-51856779694900227872007-12-17T05:14:00.000-06:002007-12-17T05:17:55.021-06:00

Reuters:Iraq will need foreign troops to help defend it for another 10 years, but will not accept U.S. bases indefinitely, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said."Of course we need international support. We have security problems. For 10 years our army will not be able to defend Iraq," Dabbagh told the state-run al-Iraqiya television in an interview broadcast late on Sunday."I do not think that

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-6945484451971715022007-12-17T04:14:00.000-06:002007-12-17T05:12:11.316-06:00

In 1876 kudzu was imported from Japan and promoted as a forage crop and ornamental plant. Starting in the 1930s the government encouraged farmers to plant kudzu to reduce soil erosion. Unfortunately, kudzu quickly grew out of control and the USDA declared it a pest weed in 1953.Similarly, cotton thistle was introduced to the US as an ornamental plant in the late 1800s and quickly became a noxious

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-68990265254408669392007-12-05T11:00:00.000-06:002007-12-05T10:57:31.351-06:00

The most important person in the lives of Baxter and DocLarry is celebrating her birthday today. An angel arrived in Omaha, Nebraska on December 5, 1961. She brightened my life on May 11, 1994. Baxter found her in February 1995.Happy Birthday, Mrs. DocLarry!

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-87023914238668427452007-12-05T10:52:00.000-06:002007-12-05T10:55:55.863-06:00

One of the most enjoyable aspects of my job is stuff like this. Always a good day when you have some fun with the weather guy.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-20980583968613169122007-12-04T13:05:00.001-06:002007-12-04T13:13:27.536-06:00

(click for a larger view)Heidi Klum is 34. Seal is 44. Neither look it, now do they? Can't wait to see how Klum looks in the "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" (CBS, today, 9 p.m.).I did NOT photoshop this. The photo caption reads ""Project Runway" host Heidi Klum says home life with her husband, singer Seal, is "colorful" and that Seal is the perfect dad." Here's the original.[mortar-board tip to

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-37083091256807574672007-12-01T02:06:00.000-06:002007-12-01T02:19:25.355-06:00

Ran across this post about the death of Sfc. Anthony Raymond Wasielewski from Ladysmith WI. My father was born in Ladysmith, and that's what initially caught my attention. He's never mentioned the Wasielewskis (and I DEFINITELY would have remembered the name) so I don't assume any connection other than that my dad was born in Ladysmith...a town name I've always liked. But back to the post.[Sfc.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-759956624418777442007-12-01T01:59:00.000-06:002007-12-01T02:04:43.477-06:00

This struck my funny bone. Hard. Chortle. Snort. Memo to the masses: The phrase "deer in the headlights look" will now be replaced with "are we live look" or "rabbit in a live shot look."

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-37582341715170418962007-12-01T01:54:00.000-06:002007-12-01T01:59:16.333-06:00

Here's an item you may have missed this week. I've always heard the "land of sky blue waters" has "the water best for brewing," but never knew it meant brewing babies.La Crosse Doctor Delivers Four Sets Of Twins In 24 HoursPhysician Delivered Nine Babies During ShiftUPDATED: 12:08 pm CST November 27, 2007LA CROSSE, Wis. -- You can excuse Dr. Kenneth Merkitch if he's seeing double these

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-74292648311689306922007-11-27T09:18:00.000-06:002007-11-27T09:32:18.482-06:00

My father has Parkinson's Disease. It's fairly advanced and is affecting his mind. A week ago he went into the intensive care unit with a urinary infection and had become very disoriented. He doesn't recognize his own family much of the time, and doesn't know how he got to the hospital. He does joke with the hospital staff and at least recognizes his surroundings as a hospital.My mother can no

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-11032058187725830062007-11-27T08:56:00.000-06:002007-11-27T09:18:32.199-06:00

Working away at preparing a newscast and the phone won't stop ringing. Most of the calls are directed toward the sports department with high school scores. Based on the number of them I know I need to allow some extra time for sports.Then a phone call is answered by someone else in the newsroom...and I pause upon hearing one side of the conversation."No, ma'am, I don't know how the voting works

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-2918594167486488812007-11-21T01:06:00.000-06:002007-11-21T01:10:30.567-06:00

Yes, I've been a very bad blogger lately. My last post was in October. Wow. Just, wow.I'll try to have more to say in the coming days. But here's a funny for my faithful readers:Many of us are guilty of looking at others our own age and thinking, "Surely, I can't be that old". If you've ever done this, then you'll appreciate the following.My name is Alice Smith and I was sitting in the waiting

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-14271449164069180772007-10-14T12:46:00.000-05:002007-10-14T12:50:25.875-05:00

Like 'em or not, the Backstreet Boys had/have plenty of fans. Go check out this one. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-30787042370228259452007-10-12T10:15:00.001-05:002007-10-12T10:19:52.302-05:00

(click to enlarge)Above is the latest article posted on the News-Leader site as of 10:15 a.m. Friday. Drury University has not been "college" since Jan. 1, 2000. The photo caption at least gets Tindle Mills right.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-30404555254555002282007-10-12T01:58:00.000-05:002007-10-12T02:09:06.052-05:00

(click to enlarge)Some one on the night desk at the News-Leader needs to fact-check better. Drury University has not been named "college" for nearly eight years (since January 1, 2000). And TINDLE Mills has been TINDLE for over 100 years. I captured this screen at 1:53 a.m. October 12. The story was posted at 9:47 p.m. October 11.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-37364985274900596922007-10-11T09:12:00.000-05:002007-10-11T09:35:49.484-05:00

On this chilly October morning, a bit of nonsense. That damn hippie Atrios posted a YouTube video of the 80s tune "Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats. I made the mistake of watching, and now can't get that tune out of my head!The group's (or was it just the one guy?) name circled my brain for a bit last night, eventually landing on a scene from "The Big Chill." Tom Berenger, enters the living room

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-12687324299248257412007-10-06T12:20:00.000-05:002007-10-06T12:28:21.695-05:00

A double-dose of Beagle-Blogging. These were taken with my cell phone. Quality isn't as good as I'd like, but the flash upsets Baxter when he's not expecting it.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-46936783304338662542007-10-06T11:40:00.000-05:002007-10-06T11:54:02.972-05:00

In it's never-ending efforts to make sure your children's future income is spent as efficiently as possible, the Army is ensuring National Guardsmen returning from 22 months in Iraq do not qualify for full educational benefits under the G.I. bill. Those clever bean counters at the Pentagon deployed more than 1,100 of them for only 729 days… exactly one day short of the 730 days needed to

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-13552754065180576622007-10-05T22:32:00.000-05:002007-10-05T22:53:57.500-05:00

Lindsay Roberts, daughter-in-law of Oral Roberts, and "First Lady" of Oral Roberts University, is the host of "Make Your Day Count"an uplifting half-hour daily program aimed especially at the needs of women.She certainly knows how to "uplift" her daily needs:Twenty years ago, televangelist Oral Roberts said he was reading a spy novel when God appeared to him and told him to raise $8 million for

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-76199562456843960942007-10-05T14:44:00.000-05:002007-10-05T15:55:46.165-05:00

Gov. Matt Blunt is behind the curve on one of his latest toutings. Thursday, Blunt announced:he is shining a bright light for consumers on Missouri businesses not paying taxes, launching an Internet site that lists businesses that have failed to comply with state tax law, www.whoisnotpaying.mo.gov.All well and good, except the Missouri Dept. of Revenue has had such a web site up for over a month:

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-54989044115509117442007-09-29T19:59:00.001-05:002007-09-29T20:01:19.662-05:00

I haven't changed the look of the blog much since I started, so I'm going to slowly install some upgrades. Comments will now be through Haloscan. Unfortunately, that means all previous comments are gone. Eventually I want to move to three columns. But life calls.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-59452293060303179332007-09-29T02:26:00.001-05:002007-09-29T02:50:00.602-05:00

So I was watching this movie this evening for the umpteenth time (love the kids who portray Nathan, and Kurt Russell's subtle facial expressions) and became intrigued by the music used during scenes of "Todd's" education on aspects of life other than soldiering. The song is entitled "Night Ride Across The Caucasus" and was written and performed by Loreena McKennitt. It may be found on her album "

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-38388116736418970242007-09-29T02:09:00.000-05:002007-09-29T02:16:08.471-05:00

to go back in the water:PHOENIX - It sounds like science fiction but it's true: A killer amoeba living in lakes enters the body through the nose and attacks the brain where it feeds until you die.Even though encounters with the microscopic bug are extraordinarily rare, it's killed six boys and young men this year. The spike in cases has health officials concerned, and they are predicting more

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-5054105544019825212007-09-27T01:56:00.000-05:002007-09-27T02:27:30.193-05:00

So President Bush says we can't afford to spend an extra $30 billion over five years to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP. But, he wants to spend another $42 billion more just next year for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.(side note -- this would raise the total spending on the Iraq war alone to more than $600 billion -- or TWELVE TIMES the $50 billion cost the

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-71095615005381090542007-09-27T01:19:00.000-05:002007-09-27T01:36:54.745-05:00

Pity the poor hyphen. Mis-used by so many, so often, for so long. Reuters informs us that some 16,000 words have lost their hyphens in the new edition of the Shorter Oxford Dictionary:Bumble-bee is now bumblebee, ice-cream is ice cream and pot-belly is pot belly.And if you've got a problem, don't be such a crybaby (formerly cry-baby).The hyphen has been squeezed as informal ways of communicating,

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-43879397536652706912007-09-27T01:05:00.000-05:002007-09-27T01:14:19.979-05:00

I'm pleased to have been involved in a couple stories lately that have turned out to be bigger than originally thought. In fact, I was originally against airing one of them because it just didn't seem that important to me. Instead, it drew quite a response from viewers and will remain a story for several more days.The other story just aired and has also caused quite a stir. I'm enjoying the

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-9060271865140327952007-09-27T00:45:00.001-05:002007-09-27T01:04:41.797-05:00

So after being struck down with a nasty cold going around the news room, I go to work today thinking it will be a fairly simple newscast. After all, we had a lot on the planner for today, including at least three reporter packages. After the five-thirty cast I believed I had a pretty good grasp of the rundown for the 10 p.m. cast, including a couple national stories.At one point I said to no one

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-10183875366356882932007-09-10T00:42:00.000-05:002007-09-10T00:51:00.116-05:00

Long time, no post. I've been gearing up for the NEW KSPR news at ten the past couple weeks, and finding little time to blog. Hopefully, that will change soon.So the new KSPR News debuted Sunday at 10 p.m. and yours truly produced the very first newscast. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out, although there's always room for improvement. I'm proud to be a part of something new, and excited

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-84360526044283546162007-08-27T13:16:00.000-05:002007-08-27T13:22:07.278-05:00

Miss Teen USA 2007 finalist, Lauren Caitlin Upton of South Carolina, on her fellow Americans' poor grasp of geography:Remember, it's not a beauty pageant. It's a scholarship pageant.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-32178645125808948462007-08-27T13:14:00.001-05:002007-08-27T13:14:49.212-05:00

Two blondes are walking in a forest and come across a pair of tracks,1st blonde: "How cute deer tracks!"2nd blonde "Those are dog? tracks!"1st blonde: "Deer tracks!"2nd blonde "Dog tracks"1st blonde: "Deer tracks!"2nd blonde "Dog tracks"They argued for almost an hour before they got hit by the train.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-38078308877428286482007-08-24T00:35:00.000-05:002007-08-24T01:11:40.677-05:00

A few weeks back Mrs. DocLarry and I traveled north to visit the parental units as well as my Canadian niece and nephew. Oh, and their parents, my sister and the Canook. Given the many miles between Ozarkland and Canada I don't often get to see my only niece and nephew, so I consider such visits special. My parents are also getting up there in years, my father suffering from Parkinson's.This trip

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-89324697980039871812007-08-24T00:26:00.000-05:002007-08-24T00:35:05.687-05:00

We've all encountered individuals whom we've considered lacking something between their ears. And we all know of a place or two we think must be the absolute emptiest place on the planet. Now astronomers have discovered a "there" where there really is nothing.Astronomers have stumbled upon a tremendous hole in the universe. That's got them scratching their heads about what's just not there. The

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-71222121494168927452007-08-23T11:46:00.000-05:002007-08-23T11:48:47.099-05:00

Regular readers may have noticed the relative quiet here at Chez Lost Chord. It's partially due to some traveling, partially due to family, and partially due to work. My current employer has been gearing up for a major change beginning this weekend involving lots of techy stuff that I so thoroughly enjoy. And I truly have been having fun with this job.However, it is time to move on. Sometime in

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-70822704018370972182007-08-18T14:36:00.000-05:002007-08-18T14:37:55.145-05:00

▪ Mongol Genghis Khan died, in 1227.▪ Pope Adrian V died, in 1276.▪ Pope Alexander VI died, in 1503.▪ Pope Paul IV died, in 1559.▪ Virginia Dare (granddaughter of Gov. John White of the Colony of Roanoke) became the first English child born in the Americas, in 1587.▪ Italian composer Antonio Salieri was born, in 1750.▪ American explorer Meriwether Lewis was born, in 1774.▪ The Spanish established

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-88300826019228367422007-08-17T08:53:00.000-05:002007-08-17T09:03:14.681-05:00

The Springfield News-Leader informs us of the latest effort to curb drunk driving -- talking urinal cakes.Missouri’s annual, end-of-summer campaign to stop drunken driving has added a new tactic, Missouri Department of Transportation announced today.Organizers of “You Drink and Drive. You Lose” will have talking urinal cakes placed in restrooms at Missouri alcohol-serving establishments.The

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-11640531937509070122007-08-12T21:31:00.000-05:002007-08-12T21:44:21.182-05:00

At 9:30 p.m. CDT on Sunday, August 12, CNN had this posted, updated 37 minutes ago. (I've enlarged the relevant portion of the screen grab)I didn't know the Blunts are Mormon.CNN -- "The Most Trusted Name in News"

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-36192803577903121892007-08-09T17:54:00.001-05:002007-08-09T17:59:33.088-05:00

Didn't have a camera to photograph the bumper on which this appeared, so a replica from the Web will have to do. Takes a brave soul to display this in MegaChurch-field.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-90004533821120221612007-08-09T13:50:00.000-05:002007-08-09T13:53:11.349-05:00

(Inspired by this)"One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I'd be a great president."-- Mitt Romney, explaining yesterday why it's okay that none of his five sons enlisted in the military.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-37963925952674513172007-07-26T23:57:00.001-05:002007-07-26T23:59:26.967-05:00

Light posting for a while. Some stories to tell in the coming days.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-41783109951292031192007-07-26T23:50:00.000-05:002007-07-26T23:51:34.656-05:00

Based on recent events, Bush must think this fine print is part of the U.S. Constitution:[inspired by Josh Marshall]

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-49319782435967117212007-07-05T22:31:00.001-05:002007-07-05T22:34:12.295-05:00

Baxter surveys his kingdom. Or maybe he's just checking out the cute girl doggie next door. Yes, the lawn needs mowing.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-27445010429914085192007-07-05T18:39:00.000-05:002007-07-05T18:59:46.454-05:00

Having been tagged by Desdinova, Thinking Things, and Sniderman, I present 8 Things You Didn't Know About Me, the secretly fun meme going around:1. Demographer Larry Long* found that a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 individuals would move to a new residence 10.5 times over their lifetimes. I've moved 17 times to 16 different homes in four states. Having finally purchased a mortgage, Mrs.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-84075766017206626052007-07-01T13:54:00.000-05:002007-07-01T14:00:36.497-05:00

Today is the 2,120th day since 9/11 and the man who ordered the massacre of killing nearly 3,000 people is still at large.Why are the men responsible for the deaths of 3,578 American soldiers in a country which had nothing to do with 9/11 still in office?

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-43836479710318776732007-07-01T13:50:00.000-05:002007-07-01T13:54:45.474-05:00

A certain weather person at one of the THREE local television operations did an excellent job keeping Ozarkers informed of the quick-moving severe storms on Saturday. However, my SPIDEY sense tingled when this weather person appeared on camera in the afternoon sans suit coat. I thought casual day was Friday?

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-35856539644898224362007-07-01T13:33:00.000-05:002007-07-01T13:49:25.346-05:00

The June edition of Harper's Magazine includes several articles explaining how much work is needed to undue eight years of the Bush misadministration. It's worth the read at the library.Harper's each month also includes a list of statistics chosen and arranged for ironic effect. The online version for the past six months is only available to subscribers, but it may prove educational and fun to

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-60810023551929101682007-07-01T13:01:00.000-05:002007-07-01T13:32:57.365-05:00

The Sunday News-Leader has a story about Reeds Spring biology teacher Mike Collins returning to his classroom. Toward the end is a discussion of an incident in 2005 when Collins admitted to forging a parental permission slip for one of his students.Collins spoke to the News-Leader in March about the forgery. He acknowledged doing it, but said about 15 minutes after he turned the forgery in, he

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-43350161399573108442007-06-27T21:14:00.000-05:002007-06-27T21:45:06.837-05:00

Thursday is the 2,117th day since 9/11 and the man who ordered the massacre is still at large. "It's not worth moving heaven and earth spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person."— Mitt Romney, in an interview with the Associated Press, saying that the country's safety would not benefit significantly from catching Osama Bin Laden."I want justice...There's an old poster out West,

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-36354692609065013892007-06-22T09:31:00.000-05:002007-06-22T09:33:53.447-05:00

Today is the 2,111th day since 9/11 and the man who ordered the massacre is still at large."The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him." - G.W. Bush, 9/13/01

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-61680968227359161202007-06-21T14:13:00.000-05:002007-06-21T14:17:41.289-05:00

Today is the 2,110th day since 9/11 and the man who ordered the massacre is still at large.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-59780947820586753322007-06-20T18:14:00.000-05:002007-06-20T18:16:56.550-05:00

Jonathon Alter has an interesting column in the June 25th issue of Newsweek. The premise is finding a slogan which will explain Democrats' plan for withdrawal from Iraq "without looking like surrender monkeys."Alter notes that Congressional Democrats want to get out of Iraq and get tough on Al Qaeda at the same time, but that message isn't getting through. He has a suggestion:Now, Democrats

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-5994049744750860512007-06-19T03:44:00.000-05:002007-06-19T03:47:43.202-05:00

Welcome to America, 2.0This has been another edition of What Blue Girl, Red State Said.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-92028070400943167872007-06-17T22:49:00.001-05:002007-06-17T22:50:57.600-05:00

AP Photo/Ron Edmonds

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-91928547541055643932007-06-17T22:45:00.001-05:002007-06-17T22:47:10.148-05:00

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-26080447995769986172007-06-17T22:36:00.000-05:002007-06-17T22:43:35.255-05:00

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak President Bush spoke Thursday at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-49657176150982842522007-06-17T22:19:00.000-05:002007-06-17T22:34:12.927-05:00

REUTERS/Jim Young"For months, I've warned the Democrats in Congress that I will not accept an irresponsible tax-and-spend budget." I pruhfur a no-tax-and-spend budget, along with billions in supplementals tuh fund muh war. Heheheheheh.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-15825282104848717072007-06-15T14:30:00.000-05:002007-06-15T14:37:10.762-05:00

Baffled by the failure of all six main control computers on the international space station's Russian segment, NASA enginners call the Elite Task Force for help.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-39056498912428951072007-06-14T10:36:00.001-05:002007-06-14T10:40:03.035-05:00

Who knew?This sign is in front of Praise Assembly of God, 3535 N. Glenstone Ave. in Springfield, Missouri.

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-33523807089103438502007-06-08T01:34:00.000-05:002007-06-08T01:50:03.280-05:00

A "sex scandal" hits the Creation Museum in Kentucky:The man who plays Adam in a video aired at a Bible-based creationist museum has led a different life outside the Garden of Eden, flaunting his sexual exploits online and modeling for a clothing line that promotes free love.[snip]The actor, Eric Linden, owns a graphic Web site called Bedroom Acrobat, where he has been pictured, smiling alongside

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-41257119335852111732007-06-07T21:33:00.000-05:002007-06-07T21:45:07.583-05:00

The News-Leader does it again!Professor awarded two grants for more than $40,000Dr. Lynn Robbins, professor of biology, was awarded two grants for more than $40,000 from Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. to determine the presence or absence of Indiana bats in specific areas of northern Missouri.The projects will determine the presence of the endangered bats and the species composition of other

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-45010438132437845872007-06-02T09:56:00.000-05:002007-06-02T10:01:25.457-05:00

"On with the show, this is it!"(with apologies to Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck)REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-11680497689747472412007-05-31T15:02:00.000-05:002007-05-31T15:04:21.934-05:00

The man is SO out of touch with reality, it's scary. Perhaps it's time for a 12-step program:The White House sees terrorists as born, not created by history, bearing the mark of Cain, not the mark of circumstance. There is a scarlet "T" written on their foreheads at birth and the only answer is to destroy them. This kind of thinking, of course, relieves the thinker of any responsibility for the

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-34338638241876261702007-05-30T22:17:00.000-05:002007-05-30T23:28:22.859-05:00

Springfield blogger Larry Litle has a post on his displeasure with the reaction of some unnamed people have had to the passing of Jerry Falwell. He uses a large brush to paint broad strokes:My issue is squarely on the shoulders of those on the left that (sic) have been celebrating his death. I have been hearing about the parties that have been thrown in honor of his death. The jokes have not

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-85991201672680776862007-05-29T21:17:00.000-05:002007-05-29T21:20:03.918-05:00

Six months ago Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said:his country's forces would be able to assume security command by June 2007 — which could allow the United States to start withdrawing its troops."I cannot answer on behalf of the U.S. administration but I can tell you that from our side our forces will be ready by June 2007," Maliki told ABC television after meeting President Bush on

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-88249828809459155132007-05-28T20:34:00.000-05:002007-05-28T20:43:43.874-05:00

And you thought you'd heard the last of Jerry Falwell:Poland to probe if Teletubbies are gayWARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's conservative government took its drive to curb what it sees as homosexual propaganda to the small screen on Monday, taking aim at Tinky Winky and the other Teletubbies.Ewa Sowinska, government-appointed children rights watchdog, told a local magazine published on Monday she was

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-6282478669528904762007-05-28T12:16:00.000-05:002007-05-28T12:36:23.260-05:00

What's the matter with the Springfield News-Leader? OK, too broad a question. Let me be specific: Why is the writing so bad? Here are some examples from the May 28, 2007 edition:Sarah Overstreet's column about Chuck Wooten:At a long table, not even a desk, former state representative Chuck Wooten sits, the phone near his elbow ringing constantly.A Bible and a book of funeral services for many

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12213254.post-79758218012556415032007-05-27T23:07:00.000-05:002007-05-27T23:48:53.084-05:00

This Memorial Day, remember the dead, and the politicians who killed them.Since last Memorial Day, roughly one thousand more Americans have died in this inhumane, horrible, foolish war.In the period from Memorial Day 2006 through Saturday, 980 soldiers and Marines died in Iraq, compared to 807 deaths in the previous year. And with the Baghdad security operation now 3 1/2 months old, even

Unblinking Eyenoreply@blogger.com0