Mick Cook's Place

11 Million Holocaust Victims

2012-02-26T20:54:00.001-08:00

Left: St. Edith Stein.

We know that there were 6 Million Jews butchered by the Nazis during World War II but they were not alone. Of the 6 Million Polish citizens killed, three million were Jews and 3 Million were Polish Christians and Catholics. Heinrich Himmler said, “All Poles will disappear from the world… It is essential that the great German people should consider it as its major task to destroy all Poles.”

When they refused to sign documents of loyalty to Nazi ideology Jehovah Witnesses were forced to wear purple armbands. Thousands were imprisoned as dangerous traitors because they refused to take a pledge of loyalty to the Third Reich. But other Christians did not quite do as well. Hitler sought to create a new religion and had no time for those whose faith was strong enough to resist the Nazi ideology. Catholic Priests and Christian pastors as well as those who were influential community leaders were arrested and imprisoned in a special barracks for clergy set up at Dachau, near Munich, Germany. Those who were not executed were allowed to die slowly of starvation and disease.

Contrary to common belief, under Pope Pius XI as Nuncio to Germany Eugenio Pacelli, the later Pope Pius XII spoke out strongly against Hitler and his murderous regime. After assuming the Chair of Peter in 1939 he was Europe’s strongest moral voice against Nazism and he worked constantly to save the lives of millions.

1929 Pacelli was appointed Papal Secretary of State. In 1930 Cardinal Pacelli assumes new duties. L'Osservatore Romano, which speaks the mind of the Holy Father and Church, runs a series of articles from the office of Cardinal Secretary of State severely criticizing Nazism. The October 11, 1930 article declares: "Belonging to the National Socialist Party of Hitler is irreconcilable with the Catholic Conscience." These pieces are reprinted in diocesan newspapers around the world, especially in Germany, where bishops and priests emphasize that the teaching is official Church teaching.

Indeed, Catholics and Protestants joined the Jews in their march to death at the hands of the Nazis, despite the efforts of Pius XII and a host of senior clergy in occupied Europe who condemned anti-Semitism and resisted Nazi oppression.

A New Saint

2012-02-26T13:33:00.001-08:00

Kateri Tekakwitha, pronounced ‘gaderi degagwitha’ in Mohawk, also known as Catherine Tekakwitha, was the first Native American to be beatified by blessed Pope John Paul II in 1980. She will be canonised a saint by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21 2012.

Also known as ‘The Lilly of the Mohawks’ she was born in the Mohawk village of Gandaouague in northern New York around the year 1656, the daughter of Kenneronkwa, a Mohawk chief, and Tagaskouita, a Roman Catholic Algonquin.

On her death in 1680 scars from the smallpox she suffered as a child, vanished causing Pope Pius XII to declare this a miracle, but this was not the only reported miracle attributed to Blessed Tekakwitha. Among others was a miracle cure of Joseph Kellogg, a non Catholic who after being captured by natives suffered smallpox which could not be cured. Joseph became a Catholic and after Jesuits exposed him to relics from Tekakwitha’s grave he was cured. Other miracle cures included the hearing of a priest being recovered and a nun in Montreal another woman is said to have recovered from a kind of pneumonia. In the case of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, there is no shortage of miracles.

A bronze statue of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha kneeling in prayer, created by the artist Cynthia Hitschler, is featured along the devotional walkway of Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, La Crosse, Wisconsin.

The Sun’s evil twin.

2012-02-05T15:30:00.000-08:00

No, I’m not referring to the British Newspaper “The Sun” but to the star that gives us all the light of day. That big, bright, shiny yellow thing in the sky. Does the Sun have an evil twin? Well, there’s a scientific theory that seems to say so.

Nemesis, is a hypothetical, hard to detect red dwarf star, or possibly a white dwarf (unlikely) or brown dwarf (possible) that is orbiting the sun every 26 million years (yep that is million and not a typo). Its distance from the sun is about one and a half light years beyond the Oort cloud (no this isn’t a typo either). The Oort cloud is all the frozen rocky, dirty snowball stuff that makes up the core of a comet.

It is believed that as Nemesis heads in toward the sun it knocks bits of the Oort cloud out of place sending it in toward the sun – and us! This is why it is thought that the earth faces mass extinctions every 26 million years or so (or whatever), the earth get’s a smack by a comet knocked out of its safe orbit by the Sun’s evil twin.

Nemesis is only a fraction the mass of the Sun (which is why it’s a dwarf) and no where near as bright (white, red or brown in color) and impossible to see from the earth by any telescope – but not in the infrared spectrum from space which is why there’s a satellite up there looking for the little bugger.

David Raup and Jack Sepkoski identified in a paper a statistical periodicity in extinction rates over the last 250 million years. They found what they believed to be a pattern of extinctions on average of every 26 million years but they could not identify a cause. This later drew the attention of several teams of Astronomers, leading to the hypothetical Nemesis. Don’t hold your breath! In 2010 Melott and Bambach re-examined the fossil data using improved dating and found evidence suggesting an extinction rate of 27 million years. Given that there’s no sign of the little bugger causing all the problems and we’re still in the ‘safe zone’ I don’t think there’s any need to increase your insurance policy just yet.

New Blog Design

2012-01-26T13:31:00.000-08:00

Fine. So my blog has a new design with a photograph courtesy of NASA… the rather bleak landscape is Mars… yep the fourth rock from the sun that is actually smaller than the earth. I’ve also had to change the text color of the title so that it stands out and the background color of course, but the overall layout remains the same.

I suppose at some time or another I’ll have to update our web site at: http://www.thecookcompanies.com/

That can be a little more demanding than the layout for a blog, even with a program that provides all kinds of tools to make the job easier, so lazy me will lay off that until it’s needed. Well, to be honest, I do have other work and the web site is at the bottom of the list.

Why change the blog? Well, Karin changed her blog and I liked what she did with it. See for yourself: http://karinfickecook.blogspot.com/

Finally, let’s not forget Karin’s books. Click on our web site (above) for details (the tab ‘Karin’s Books’ provides additional details).

I was thinking of placing this picture on my Blog, or maybe the galaxy rather than the Black Hole. But I settled for the bleak, but strangely colorful Mars landscape.

A Grip on Life

2012-01-25T14:14:00.000-08:00

Some of the world’s most prominent scientists and physicians testified to a U. S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the question of when [human] life begins. Dr. Alfred M. Bongioanni, professor of pediatrics and obstetrics at the University of Pennsylvania, stated, “I have learned from my earliest medical education that human life begins at the time of conception… I submit that human life is present throughout this entire sequence, from conception to adulthood, and that any interruption at any point throughout this time constitutes a termination of human life…

I am no more prepared to say that these early stages [of development in the womb] represent an incomplete human being than I would say that the child prior to the dramatic effects of puberty…is not a human being. This is human life at every stage.”

Dr. Jerome LeJeune, professor of genetics at the University of Descartes in Paris, was the discoverer of the chromosome pattern of Downs syndrome. Dr. LeJeune testified, “after fertilization has taken place a new human being has come into being.” He stated that this “is no longer a matter of taste or opinion,” and “not a metaphysical contention, it is plain experimental evidence.” He added, “Each individual has a very neat beginning, at conception.”

Professor Hymie Gordon, Mayo Clinic; Professor Micheline Matthews-Roth, Harvard University Medical School; Dr. Watson A. Bowes, University of Colorado Medical School were among those testifying that life begins at conception.

Ashley Montague, a geneticist and professor at Harvard and Rutgers, is unsympathetic to the pro-life cause. Nevertheless, he affirms unequivocally, “The basic fact is simple: life begins not at birth, but conception.”

Pro-abortionists were asked to provide people to testify before the subcommittee, but all they could provide was one person who insisted that no one knew when life began. Even if this were the case, then logically it would still be probable that abortion was the termination of human life (If you don’t know when human life begins then you can be aborting a human life). However, this point of view often preferred by pro-abortionists is NOT the view of medical science as the above shows.

There can be no question that it is the official view of medical science, as attested before a Judiciary Subcommittee that human life begins at conception. This being the case, there is no question that abortion is a denial of the right to life. It is this right to life that defines all other human rights and freedoms, for without the right to life other human rights and freedoms can have no meaning. This is not just my point of view, so I recently discovered, it was originally stated by one Abraham Lincoln. Now that took my quite by surprise!

Attempts to justify abortion are very often selfish in nature or depend heavily on excuses, such as what about a rape victim? First of all, abortion has a dramatic impact on a woman and can be an even worse experience than rape. Secondly, what about adoption? Any unwanted child can have parents who do want it and will love and care for it. Abortion cannot be reversed, but adoption gives a child a future (ask my wife). Finally, in this matter and other specific examples of this nature, a particular principle cannot be used to justify the general nature of abortion – you cannot argue from the particular to the general. Situation ethics doesn’t work.

We have seen the pro-abortion mentality before in Hitler’s Germany. It’s a mentality that fails to value and respect human life, for whatever reason is chosen to justify a stance that cannot in reality be justified. The solution is to stay firm in one’s conviction about the value of human life, to love life and even those who take it to the extent that one is prepared to take them before the creator of life and appeal to Him that such an evil will cease. He is listening.

Karin's Books available through this link: http://www.thecookcompanies.com/

Blessed Virgin Mary

2012-01-21T11:48:00.000-08:00

These are just a few thoughts about the mother of Jesus Christ.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is born free of original sin. What does this mean? First of all original sin is the sin of disobedience and this is the source of all sin. That is, sin is disobedience to the Will of God. Sacred Scripture reveals that Mary was born free of disobedience; it is her nature to be obedient. The wedding at Cana appears to contradict this, but does it?

The wedding at Cana is described in chapter 2 of John’s Gospel. When they ran short of wine she said to Jesus, “They have no wine.” Jesus replied to Mary, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” Jesus’ mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”

This is not showing disobedience to Jesus and through him disobedience to God. She knows full well who he is, even if others do not. What she is really saying is be obedient to him – do what he says. She is actually promoting obedience to Jesus Christ – and to God. Just as in response to the angel Gabriel’s announcement of the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38) Mary’s response is, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Why do we call Mary ‘blessed’? Because she is and it’s as simple as that. The message of the angel Gabriel, that Mary was chosen by God, is a clear indication of this. In addition, when Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, Mary responds to her by saying, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.”

Mary was there with Jesus at the beginning, she was there at the foot of the cross and she was with the Apostles in the upper room. Mary suffered like any mother would, but she never lost faith and was with the infant Church to give it the support it needed. She is still with us to this day, directing our attention as always to Jesus Christ. The Son of the Living God and our Savior.

Books and ebooks by my wife Karin: http://www.thecookcompanies.com/

Religion is what?

2012-01-19T12:37:00.000-08:00

How’s that again?

Religion is the cause of all wars. Says who? I suppose if you repeat a lie often enough people will indeed believe it. The view that religion is the cause of all wars appears to be a popular view that reveals a rather poor grasp of history.

Was World War I caused by religion? No. It was caused by the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand on 28^th June 1914. How about World War II? Started by Adolf Hitler promising not to march into Poland and then doing just that. What about the other wars during the twentieth century? Korea wasn’t started by religion, nor was Vietnam, nor the Falklands war or the Gulf wars. Whatever the reason for the conflicts, not one was caused by religion.

Go back in history and what do we find. The Napoleonic wars were the result of another little corporal trying to look bigger than his height would allow! Wars are usually and almost always politically inspired while ‘religion’ has often been used as excuse for sticking the armored boot in. Religion as the cause of war may go back to the age of ignorance, but today’s new age of ignorance is the cause of a different kind of butchery.

So what is the real cause of war? Politics.

Is it that simple? Er…… Yep!

Religion builds large churches and does nothing to feed the poor. Yeah, right. Churches are built by the people attending them and it’s the people who attend the churches who give money to church-run charities that provide aid for the poor. Charities like Cafod in England, Trochre in Ireland (who contributed more aid to the Balkans following the war there than the United Nations) and in the USA Catholic Charities – and those are just the Catholic contributors of aid. Protestants also contribute aid.

Yeah, I suppose knocking and mocking religion provides an individual with a good reason not to learn from it. Principles like respect for life, love for one’s neighbor and the promotion of human dignity can all go by the board so that teenagers can play video games in which they learn that life has no value.

The real reason for not bothering with religion: selfhood. But that's just my opinion - take it or leave it.

Ay Jim lad, piracy isn’t what it use to be!

2012-01-14T16:20:00.000-08:00

My wife Karin commented, “You’d think they’d get the message by now!” Indeed, you think that Somali pirates would get the message. On Saturday, January 14, 2012 we find that the British RFA (Royal Auxiliary Fleet) Fort Victoria, supported by the U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Carney intercepted a Somali dhow off the Somali coast. British Royal Marines boarded the dhow after it failed to comply with requests to stop, 13 suspected Somali pirates with weapons were captured in the bridge section of the dhow. This was not the first brush with the Royal Navy the Somali’s had – or with any other Navy for that matter. Earlier in the week we heard of Iranian fishermen rescued from Somali pirates by the American navy – on two separate occasions.

On January 13^th it was reported that six Somali nut-burgers, sorry, pirates were arrested after they tried to hijack the flagship of the European Union’s naval force patrolling off the Horn of Africa. They opened fire on members of the crew – oops! The Spanish crew fired back and the silly sods were later captured.

RFA Fort Victoria has been busy in that part of the world, capturing Somali pirates in various operations. Nor are they alone in this task. HMAS Toowoomba (yep, you read that right) it’s the Royal Australian Navy, received a distress call from the Merchant Vessel BBC Portugal (no the ship, not the TV station), off the coast of Yemen. After boarding a suspect vessel the Australians recovered an RPG, six AK47 Assault Rifles and a G3 Assault Rifle. Despite claims of innocence, the Australians replied that given the nature of the weapons recovered it was unlikely the men were engaged in fishing – Paul Hogan was not among them.

One bunch of Somali Pirates intent on no good found themselves confronted by an Oldham lad (yep a lad from my home town). Corporal Martin Murray and his team of Commandos captured the pirates and their ammunition packed boat and blew the crap out of it! The Somalis were later released, but given a clear message that they ignored – much to their regret. Pirates engaged in firefights have been killed or wounded – they were first to open fire, but losses among naval vessels as far as I can trace are none. As Karin asked, when will the Somalis get the message?

Fracking in Lancashire

2012-01-10T12:15:00.000-08:00

According to the BBC, “It is ‘extremely unlikely’ shale gas drilling in Lancashire could contaminate ground water supplies, a leading geologist has said.”

In simple words, ‘Bollix!’ (Please pardon my French).

Here in the United States federal environment officials scientifically linked underground water pollution with hydraulic fracturing. They concluded that contaminants found in central Wyoming were likely caused by the gas drilling process commonly referred to as “Fracking”.

“The presence of synthetic compounds such as glycol ethers … and the assortment of other organic components is explained as the result of direct mixing of hydraulic fracturing fluids with ground water in the Pavillion gas field,” the draft report states. Alternative explanations for the findings were carefully considered, but the cause of the contamination was unquestionably due to “Fracking”

Those friends and family who live in Lancashire, England, should put the word out – let it be known that you’re being led up the garden path. There are similar reports from other parts of the US.

Finally, please do not forget to look up Karin's books and ebooks on our web site.

http://www.thecookcompanies.com/

Karin’s Books

2012-01-05T12:34:00.000-08:00

In case you missed it, my wife Karin writing under the name Karin Ficke Cook so as not to be confused with the other author Karin Cook, has written four paperback novels. “Northwoods Forest Mystery” set in a logging camp near Bemidji, Minnesota in 1883 is the start of a series of mysteries surrounding the Sanderson Family. The tale continued with “Death Across the Pond”, then “The ‘Ghost’ in Bolton Hall” and finally, “Murder and Pasta Don’t Mix”

Karin draws on her travels not only in America but also in Europe to add a rich flavor to the stories as each mystery unfolds. The narrative makes it possible for each book to be read as a single story, while the order of the books continues the tale. The paperbacks were published by Publish America and more details can be found here:

http://www.thecookcompanies.com/NFM.html

In addition to the paperbacks are Karin’s ebooks, the first of which is a collection of seven short stories, “Seven Doors of Time”, the other three are, “Good Old Uncle Norman” a thriller with a bit of humor, “Always Have, Always Will” a love story, and “The Town Gray Built”. The victory of faith. Links to the ebooks can be found here:

http://www.thecookcompanies.com/index.html

Okay, so why am I telling you about these books? The publishers do little to advertise them and we can’t afford it – we need the sales. It’s that simple. Karin has worked hard writing these books and I for one would like to see her rewarded. She deserves it.

Zagreb and Beyond

2012-01-02T01:18:00.000-08:00

I have a vague memory of visiting some city in Croatia, my wife Karin tells me we visited Zagreb and at an orphanage there where a little girl took quite a shine to me and sat on my knee – or so Karin tells me. I mention it because the city was on one of those travel programs on Public Television, but as I say my memory is vague.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

is another matter; I do remember visiting Mostar, both the Moslem and Christian parts of the city which still bore the scars of the war in the Balkan states. I recall the shelled Cathedral, the city park that had become a graveyard for people of all religions, and the shelled dwellings and churches around the city gave it an air of sadness. In contrast are the villages of Medjugorje where a spirit and prayer and peace prevail.

We also visited Dubrovnik on the Adriatic, where clear sea water made it possible to see the fish swimming around just off the pier where the fishing boats tied up. The city could be described as a tourist trap with a myriad of shops, and a church containing the incorrupt body of an early Christian martyr who appears to be a young man sleeping. It is a city with a long history, but this also was not untouched by war.

If I learn anything from visiting such places it is this. Even where the darkness of inhumanity has caused suffering, there you can find small pockets of faith that keep the light of hope burning. In the Balkans it is unquestionably Medjugorje and the faith of the pilgrims from every corner of the world.

I should point out that the Mick no longer has the fuzz on his chin.

Check out Karin's new book:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/106915

Or visit:
http://www.thecookcompanies.com/
For the lot!

Santa Claus Exists.

2011-11-29T14:57:00.000-08:00

Those of you who stopped believing in Santa in late childhood are in for a surprise – he’s real!

No I’m not kidding, it isn’t a leg-pull and there’s no catch. Santa Clause, also known as St. Nicholas of BARI was Bishop of Myra in Lycia. He was born at Parara, a city of Lycia in Asia Minor and after a pilgrimage to Egypt and Palestine he became Bishop of Myra. During the persecution of Diocletian he was thrown into prison but was released after the accession of Constantine. One tradition has it that he attended the Council of Nicaea in the year 325. St. Nicholas died on 6^th December 345 or 362. He is patron of Greece, Naples, Russia, Sicily, Lorraine, the Diocese of Liege, and numerous other cities. He is also the patron of mariners, merchants, bakers, travelers, children, etc.

His relics are still preserved in the church of San Nicola in Bari and an oily substance known for its curative properties is said to flow from them. During his life he was known as Νικόλαος ο Θαυματουργός, Nikolaos o Thaumaturgos or Nicholas the wonder worker. With a reputation for secret giving, such as putting coins in shoes he became the model for Santa Clause. However, he was not a fairy tale for children but a real person and a saint for the young Church. His feast day is 6^th December, so now you know.

Karin's New Book: The Town Gray Built

Made fun of for reading the Bible

2011-11-23T12:45:00.000-08:00

Say anything against the Koran and you could risk causing a riot. Yet when a man in Britain was set upon by two Asian women (Muslims) who criticized him for reading the Bible, pointed at him and spoke in their own language while laughing at him they didn’t figure on my cousin who witnessed the whole thing. She set about the two Asian women, giving them a ‘piece of her mind’ and not holding back either. Was she right to do so? Damn right she was.

If Asian Muslims wish to be respected by the wider community they should in turn show respect FOR the wider community. Respect is not something to be demanded but rather earned and this is a matter Muslims need to understand, especially in a Christian country.

The worse thing any government can do is legislate and to try and control the expression of religious belief because this places unjust restrictions on the freedom of religion which is essential to any peaceful coherence between people of different belief systems. If people have no right or justification for making certain demands on the wider community, it ought to be understood that this is a universal concept that is not determined by belief or lack thereof. There is simply no right.

Politicians with a scant ability for the use of reason, who suggest that this or that Church, Mosque, Temple, Faith must be subject to the rule of law (where no law is applicable in the first place) are a danger to themselves and others and would probably be better off claiming disability. The last thing my home town needs is nut-burgers (local or in the Commons) encouraging one minority to bully the majority or make demands they’re in truth not entitled to. The minority would be better off if they learned to live with their neighbours because the endgame is peace and not war.

The Place of Peace.

2011-11-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

It was essentially a pilgrimage to a place in the Balkans, but it didn’t exactly feel that way to begin with. Crossing the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was strange to say the least, the armed border guards seemed suspicious of every one and every thing and there was I with a British Passport among people with American Passports! A side trip to Mostar kind of gave me a reminder of where we were. I recalled seeing what appeared to be a tall building with unusual air-conditioning of what were at one time apartments. A large hole in the side of the building, the rest of it pot marked with smaller holes, then the city park – now a graveyard with Muslim sleeping with Christian. The Cathedral was reminiscent of photographs I had seen in my youth of Coventry Cathedral after Coventry was bombed by the German Luftwaffe during the early days of World War Two. The driver explained that the city had been shelled from the surrounding mountains, the shells falling on churches, schools, hospitals and homes. Near the Franciscan church was the rather unusual sight of a car embedded in the roof of a house.

This was a country of pain; a country of hate, bloodshed, and war. Yet strangely there was one collection of villages surrounding the main village of Medjugorje (meaning the place between the mountains) that was markedly different. This was a place of peace, a place where it was believed by many that a number of young people were receiving messages from the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Bishop of Mostar didn’t believe them, but other bishops did. Priests didn’t believe them, but some did. Catholics didn’t believe them, but some did.

Whatever people believe, they believe and that’s it. What Karin and I experienced together was very different from what others claimed. After all, we actually met the “Seers” or “Visionaries” (call them what you will) and we actually experienced Medjugorje which was like no place on this earth. One day for instance, we were making our way from our lodging in Bijakovici to the Church when two ladies asked us directions to the village of Bijakovici where the visionaries lived and the hill on which the visions took place. Nothing unusual you may think and you’d be wrong. They were speaking Russian, I was speaking English and yet we somehow understood each other even though I have no knowledge of Russian other than “Vodka” – even when they said “Thank You!” I understood them. Now how often does that happen? For all I know they could have been asking for the nearest café – there were various business in that direction.

At the church the demand for confession was great, so confessional boxes had been erected outside the church with priests hearing confessions in all kinds of different languages, including English. I was able to get confession and attend daily Mass in English, but throughout the day, every day Mass was said in different languages and each Mass was packed and lasted well over an hour because of the numbers involved. In addition the Mass was usually concelebrated – that means more than one priest present on the altar. Not too far from the main Parish Church of St. James, was a small chapel with constant exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and frequent Benediction.

People seemed to be praying the rosary all the time and as Catholics know, this is a meditation on the birth, death, resurrection of Christ and through the mysteries of Light introduced by Pope John Paul II on the teaching of Christ. Essentially the rosary encourages mediation on the Gospel. Krizevec, or Cross Mountain, has the Stations of the Cross and so also does Podbrdo or Apparition Hill. The cross on Krizevec is actually a war memorial with no electricity. Medjugorje is essentially a place of constant prayer that makes one wonder what the world would be like if every parish on earth followed the example of St. James Parish. It would in effect be a benediction for the world and strangely, regardless of what one believes about the visionaries, this is within our reach.

As pilgrims have testified, Medjugorje is not just for Catholics - even Protestants have visited the place to recharge their spiritual batteries. There is nothing to stop anyone from reading the Bible and praying how they wish, openly and with the support of all. The critics can say what they will - no one can take away from any Catholic or Protestant who has visited Medjugorje the unique experience of a unique place of peace.

Liberal Thought

2011-10-28T12:48:00.000-07:00

I've often heard references to 'liberals' as a group following a particular philosophy rather than a British political party (now of course Liberal Democrat). About these latter persons I am not concerned, but what does concern me is a body of thought that appears to translate 'liberal' to 'very little' in the sense that there is very little reason applied to a particular view. Indeed some seem to think there is none at all!

Okay, let's consider the term 'homophobic'. Who cooked up this term I can't say, but it is normally applied to those who express opposition in one form or another to homosexual or lesbian activity. If the term itself is neutral, then couldn't it be reversed? What about those homosexuals or lesbians who express opposition to heterosexual activity? Oh shock, oh horror, would this happen? Too damn right it would - and they'd call heterosexuals defending themselves 'homophobic'!

Now we see how liberal thought works - or doesn't. Over the decades I've numbered homosexuals and lesbians among my friends because they have not been 'in my face' regarding their preferences. What I most certainly object to is the 'in your face' attitude of the more vocal. There's a vast difference between reason and dictatorial attitudes that do not win friends, to the contrary they win only opposition and antagonism.

But let's consider the idea of at least one British Politician who wants to compel the Roman Catholic Church to marry gays. Sorry... not going to happen. If this idiot had any understanding of the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church he would know the following:

1. In the Catholic Church the couple marry each other through the exchange of vows.

2. The vows of Permanence, Fidelity and Children validate the marriage.

3. Marriage is a sacrament and as such cannot change.

Given that two men cannot naturally fulfill the vow of children and because the same applies to two women, also that its the couple who marry each other - not the Church, gay or lesbian marriage is physically impossible in the Catholic Church - the marriage would be invalid regardless of the law of the land.

Again, we have the notion of FORCE associated with liberal thinking regarding homosexuality, while justification does not even consider the teaching of the Catholic Church. Is this even what homosexuals have been asking for? No. A Catholic homosexual should be familiar with Catholic teaching and probably wouldn't ask, if he or for that matter she, was unfamiliar with Catholic teaching he or she probably wouldn't be interested anyway.

This is not just about homosexuality. Those liberals attempting to dictate to society jump to conclusions. For example. In Britain a town council banned the Christmas decorations for the town center. The reason they gave was that it may be offensive to the Muslim minority. The complaints followed... not only from Christians, but also from Muslims who said that Christmas was a time for families and that they enjoyed it as much as Christians. The point is, the council didn't even bother to ask the Muslims, they made an assumption that had no foundation. A factor that seems common to liberal thinking.

I tend not to listen to liberals for this reason... there isn't any... reason that is.

More value in living flesh and in silver and gold.

2011-09-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

My mother knew what people were saying about her in the autumn of her life, she was to some a ‘religious fanatic’ because she attended daily Mass at St. Patrick’s church in Oldham, and then she said the Rosary. So how do I know? Simple, she told me.

Her devotion to the Mass and the Blessed Virgin Mary was well known and perhaps she pricked the consciences of a few who didn’t even bother with attending church on Sunday. She certainly had her faults and for one thing she was a McKenna and that’s dangerous enough for anyone who backs a McKenna into a corner. I learned later by looking up the clan on the Internet that there’s a probability the McKenna clan is descended from ‘The O’Neil’ the High King of Ireland and they are essentially a clan of Celtic Warriors. That explained a lot because among the Celts women were also Warriors and in my family the women can be volatile.

I should also mention that after missing him during his Dublin visit, my mother received Holy Communion from this guy during his visit to Manchester. She also sat with the VIPs during the Mass.

I learned from a local doctor that while he and another man from St. Michael’s church were with my mother collecting signatures for a pro-life petition a group of pro-abortionist women approached, one wearing a sticker on her coat reading, “Kill, kill, kill!” That was enough to annoy the Celtic Warrior in my mother, she rushed the pro-abortionist ripped the sticker from her coat and tried to ram it down the woman’s throat while screaming, “Eat your words, eat your words!” The pro-abortionists bolted!

I was living at home in those days and both I and my brother Kevin were giving my mother money for the shopping etc. Before the end of the week she would complain that she had no money, so Kevin and I agreed that he would give her something on Monday and I would give her something on Wednesday. For a while it seemed to work, nevertheless, she was often short of money which seemed to slip through her fingers.

I was leaving St. Patrick’s church after her funeral Mass when I was approached by an elderly gentleman who said that he knew my mother from daily Mass and the Rosary which she often led. He went on to say that one day he was talking to her and happened to mention that he didn’t know how he was going to pay his heating bill. My mother asked him how much he needed and after he told her she gave him the money he needed.

My mother had taught me by her example to give living flesh more value than silver or gold, whether it is the unborn child or those in the autumn of their lives. It’s a valuable lesson and one I hope I have learned well.

Karin's EBooks

2011-09-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

Seven Doors of Time is an ebook of seven short stories. Smashwords offers a 30% free download, but this is only 30% of the entire ebook. For the full ebook it will cost just $4.99 that's not a bad price for seven short stories and a book of some 158,349 words.

Good Old Uncle Norman, the second of Karin's ebooks is a work of some 6,890 words that has a pricetag of just $2.99. Again this is value for money and well worth looking at. Smashwords has a free 20% download, but this is just a 20% and not the full tale. It's a good tale with a good and somewhat funny end that those downloading the free sample will miss.

Always Have Always Will is a love story of 15,379 words and again is priced at just $2.99 and Smashwords offers a free download of 20% which gives only part of the story. For the full story it will be necessary to purchase the ebook as is the case with the above ebooks. This is how Smashwords works - offering a sample of an ebook to potential customers. At least you know what you're getting - and that's the idea.

Smashwords lists the formats in which you can buy the book, or alternitavely view a sample if a sample is available in a particular format. The above ebooks, for instance, are available in all formats which makes it easy to either buy or view a sample (if available). Finally, you can purchase an ebook using a Credit Card, Debit Card or Paypal for the price listed.

I hope those of you who purchase the ebooks will enjoy reading them.

Science and the Catholic Church

2011-08-26T14:15:00.000-07:00

Interesting isn't it? When it comes to science and the Catholic Church there can be a tendency to assume conflict - well look at the Galileo affair! Hold on a mo... wasn't that settled when ol' Gal won the day? In fact it wasn't just the Catholic Church insisting that ol' Gaileo' was wrong... so were cosmologists at the time. 'Prehistoric Scientists' they may have been, but they were scientists and they were also just as wrong. Galileo was right. The idea that there's some kind of clash between the Church or Christianity in general and science is the kind of thing you can expect from a tanked-up atheist, but it's not the kind of thing a well informed Christian should be spouting.

Ever hear of the Augustinian Brother Gregor Johann Mendel? No? Ever hear of Genetic Science? Brother Mendel is responsible for Genetic Science. Now there's a surprise, a Religious Brother being responsible for modern Genetics... and here's the man himself (pictured). Prior to Mendel and for a few decades after, a wide variety of theories about heredity proliforated. Mendel's book (1866) on pea plants was re-discovered by Hugo de Vries, Carl Correns and Eric von Tschermak and by 1915 the basic principles of Mendelian genetics had been applied to a wide variety of organisms, especially the fruit fly.

And if you think that's all, well think again. There's more. Here come's a shock for those who love to express scientific criticism of Christian belief.

Now I bet you haven't heard of Monsignor Georges Henri Joseph Édouard Lemaître! Or maybe you have... He's a Belgian priest and scientist who proposed a theory long ago that fellow scientists jokingly referred to as "The Big Bang" Yep, it's that theory - the one about how the universe originated. Not taken too seriously at first and criticised even by Eienstein, he was later to be proven correct in his postulations.

The links are provided for additional information on these lads. But let's not miss the point. It is abundantly clear that the Catholic Church takes science seriously and this has always been the case, despite one slip-up with Galileo who was proven correct.

Look further back in history and you will find that many of the great centres of learning in Europe were established by Celtic monks from the great Abbey's in Ireland and Britain. Christians have nothing to fear from science, although science may fear the moral consciousness imposed by Christianity. When we ask the scientist, "Hey mate, don't you think the two-headed sheep is pushing the limit a bit?" We just may have a point and the scientist may not like that.

Criticise Christians if you want to - just don't use science to do it. That's not going to work because we've a whole pack of scientists who are commited Christians to set on you. (Loud Rastberry).

The Day Draws Near.

2011-08-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

It's getting close to Karin's birthday, September 5th. This year, however, there's another day soon after - just four days later it will be the tenth anniversary of a day I think we can all remember only too well.

Nine Eastern is eight Central time, so yours truly was in bed at our home at East Rusholme, Davenport when Karin came into the room and turned on the television. She said, "A plane has just crashed into the World Trade Center." My reaction was "The World what?" I was not fully conscious... but the above is what I saw on television as it happened. I actually saw the second plane hit and I knew immediately this was a terrorist attack. I imagine the horror of that day will always remain with me.

Even though my home town of Oldham has a large Muslim minority, one year later the town flew the American flag at half mast outside the Civic Centre. If Oldham has anything planned for this year, I don't know, but this Oldham lad will remember and keep the day with prayers and thoughts for the families who lost loved ones.

Security Level - Where we stand....In Europe.

2011-08-07T23:18:00.000-07:00

My Thanks to Dan Honeycut for John Cleese's (AKA Q of MI6) contribution to the following detailed information regarding the security standing for Europe.

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent events in Libya and have therefore raised their security level from “Miffed” to “Peeved.” Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to “Irritated” or even “A Bit Cross.” The English have not been “A Bit Cross” since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from “Tiresome” to “A Bloody Nuisance.” The last time the British issued a “Bloody Nuisance” warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.

The Scots have raised their threat level from “Pissed Off” to “Let’s get the Bastards.” They don’t have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from “Run” to “Hide.” The only two higher levels in France are “Collaborate” and “Surrender.” The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France ‘s white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country’s military capability.

Italy has increased the alert level from “Shout Loudly and Excitedly” to “Elaborate Military Posturing.” Two more levels remain: “Ineffective Combat Operations” and “Change Sides.”

The Germans have increased their alert state from “Disdainful Arrogance” to “Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs.” They also have two higher levels: “Invade a Neighbor” and “Lose.”

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from “No worries” to “She’ll be alright, Mate.” Two more escalation levels remain: “Crikey! I think we’ll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!” and “The barbie is canceled.” So far no situation has ever warranted use of the final escalation level.

Anyone who believes any of this is in serious need of a funny-bone transplant, due to lack of the same.

In addition I would also like to point out that my wife's ebook is still available. Click Here if you dare!

How to improve your photos

2011-07-31T14:32:00.000-07:00

At the Oldham School of Arts and Crafts (yep I was once an Art Student), I learned about photography, darkrooms, developer and all that good stuff long before the advent digital photography. While some of the 'rules' may have changed with the introduction of binary code, some of the rules have not. So here are a few tips on improving photographs.

Even with a cheesy camera it is possible to get a good photograph and today's camera-phones would do well in a salad! There's a lot a camera phone cannot do that other cameras can do, adjusting the light reading for example. Let's consider the photograph of the folks in the pool...

The problem with this is that there's too much light in the pic. This is because of the reflected light off the water... but it can be fixed.

The next pic is the fix.. and as you can see there's more detail and a better colour balance. Even this can be improved upon, but why bother if the fix is good enough. We're not entering it into a photo competition. I used Adobe Photoshop LE (an older version of Photoshop) to do the necessary repairs. There are a number of other photo programs available - for a price - but it's always good to get some independent information about them before buying.

Another program I use is Photoimpact Pro that has additional features including red-eye removal and morphing of photos, just to mention a couple.

When taking a photograph take the following steps:
First, always frame the photograph while taking it.
Second, look out for reflective surfaces such as water or snow that can give a false reading for aperture and shutter speed. Thirdly, press the shutter and don't jerk it.

Here's another tip... lots of people seem to take photos of themselves in mirrors. You can use any of the above mentioned programs to flip a photo so that it's the right way around. Okay, so some of you knew that - but not everyone may have done! I'm not that keen on camera-phones and given a choice I'd opt for a Canon EOS especially since we still have our old Canon cameras and the lenses will fit. All you really need is a decent wide angle and a 200 mm telephoto to get some really great shots - as Deb will tell you.

Er... This is Deb... Karin's sister and a really good photographer.

Before we go, it may not have anything to do with taking photos, but Karin's ebook is still available from smashwords Click Here

McKenna, Cook and O’Neil

2011-07-27T23:57:00.000-07:00

When Karin and I were able to get around, whether in Europe, England, Ireland or the United States, we found people and places that widened our understanding of the world in which we live. Being old farts and short of the brass needed to see these places now does not take away from the experience we had when Karin could actually climb onto the parapet of some English castle and look out at the scenery beyond. Today, because of her post-polio she has trouble climbing the steps outside our apartment, but then they have taken a beating from the winter’s ice and snow – not to mention the Mick with his snow shovel.

England

has an abundance of castles – and here’s a surprise for part of my family, so did the McKenna’s. McKenna Castle (yep a real McCoy castle once owned by the family) can be found in Ardmore, Co. Waterford, Ireland. Locals say that the McKenna’s were known for their wild parties and whatnot (no change there then). It was the first property of that type to have electric lights which were displayed around the castle and people came from all over Europe to enjoy the parties there at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The McKenna side of the family (my mother’s side) are said to be Celtic Warriors, believed to be related to “The O’Neil” the High King of Ireland, (no not General Jack O’Neil of Stargate Command) but how true that is, I can’t say, but it is part of the family history and tradition. The frequent battles that break out in the family seem to give testimony to this history, but let’s leave it there before we have another blood-bath! The Cooks, as far as I’m aware, date back to when Adam was a lad and are very much English. The name originates with the Old English coc which means “cook” (see coat of arms) and refers to someone who sold cooked meat or owned an eating house. Once again, no surprise there.

Gallivanting around Ireland, Karin and I found landscapes that took the breath away, at one stage we came across gardens set to the side of the road, the sea beyond and mountains in the background. Our visit to Rome and the churches and catacombs presented us with some idea of the very birth of Christianity, when Christian hid from their persecutors in tunnels dug out of the soft volcanic rock. In Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, we met people from all parts of the world. People are people and despite the language difference and perhaps because of the nature of the place, we didn’t have much difficulty – if any, with communication. Odd really. When I had to deal with civil servants I sometimes had a lot of difficulty and they were supposed to speak the same language. Well there you are; those are my reflections for today for what they’re worth. Oh yeah, please don't forget Karin's ebook Seven Doors of Time, after 31st July it goes up in price: Click Here

Why I Give A Damn

2011-07-26T15:58:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I’m not only a practicing Catholic, I’m a Catholic who cares about his faith and for good reason.

Many decades ago when I was too young to know any better, I arrived at the church to attend Sunday Mass, all in Latin back then, and sitting at the back I began to wonder how could the death of a man two thousand years ago free me from sins I commit today? It was a bewildering question for a boy. Then the thought occurred that sometime in the future, when I’m older and wiser, I may understand. I decided there and then to simply accept a truth on face value with the hope of understanding when the time was right.

There were steps I had to go through, some of them difficult, to reach this understanding but here I don’t want to write a book. So I’ll be as brief as I can. Skip forward to my early twenties when I was working in Ireland as a Colour Separation Artist. One Sunday I was on my way to Mass, walking toward the River Liffey that flows through Droichead Nua (Newbridge). The church was on the other side of the river and as I neared the flowing unpolluted waters, I began to wonder about the existence of God. It occurred to me that man, a being with limited knowledge and wisdom, was attempting to prove the existence of a ‘Perfect Being’ with unrestricted knowledge and wisdom. I concluded that God’s existence could not be proven in a way that left no doubt, but God could be known through the way He reveals himself. For me it simply made sense and once again I accepted it. The following Sunday I left the church after Mass and was crossing the bridge spanning the River Liffey when I happened to glance at the far bank. Everything seemed bathed in a light that came from within; there was a presence in everything that lived. In the plants, the trees, the land as far as I could see; it was everywhere, all about me. It was an invisible presence, but present in the light and filling everything. It suddenly occurred to me that everyone must think me odd gawking at all this, so I looked around and suddenly realised I was still crossing the bridge and hadn’t broken step. What I had thought had taken minutes had happened in a microsecond – as if time stood still.

Scientists have tried to explain away such experiences by saying that particular parts of the brain can be stimulated to produce similar experiences. Yeah sure! A Cricket ball didn’t bang me on the head when this happened, and it was well after my mind had been focused on God’s existence – a question I had already settled. There was no reason to even suppose some kind of influence inspired this experience that came out of the blue. In any case, more was to come.

Following other inexplicable experiences, while studying for the priesthood some years later I was with the other students on retreat at the Redemptorist Retreat House, Esker, when I rose rather early one morning. I decided to go for a walk in the grounds and in the peace of the early morning I began to reflect over my life wondering what it was that had brought me to that particular place at that time. As I reflected I began to realise that I had been given choices and where I had chosen right, doors opened. As I reflected a pattern emerged and in the pattern an intelligence way beyond my own. I was stunned to realise that God was so close to a nobody like me! I then realised that it’s the same for all of us. To God there is no such thing as a nobody, we are all of equal value to him, we all matter to him and it’s for this reason he forgave us.

I left the Redemptorists, but not the path that God had set out for me to follow. One more thing led to another and gradually my naivety gave way to growing wisdom. Again, to keep the story short, I eventually realised and understood the nature of human redemption. The question I had asked as a boy had been answered, not by human wisdom but by openness to the Holy Spirit and sincere trust in God.

My faith is rooted in nature, in creation itself and in the spirit that moves through the world; a creative spirit filled with love for all humanity. So why is humanity beset with problems? If humanity were to look in a mirror it would have its answer. Problems are created by human beings acting against the natural order of things, by going against the way things should be. I don’t personally care if you are a Catholic or a Protestant, what matters is your faith and trust in God. Trust God. That’s my final word.

Back to normal...

2011-07-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

Here she is, Stargate's Vala Mal Doran, or Claudia Black - my new wallpaper for my laptop. The image can be re-sized for different displays - click on the image for the full size and right click for a drop down menu so you can "Save As" your own file name.

My desktop Icons are back where they should be and I've also fixed the Windows Task Manager all of which were disabled by a rather vicious computer virus. There's no messing with the Mick! I'm not saying how many firewalls I have in place, but let's just say it's more than one. I've also made sure that the nasty little web-sites that seem innocent enough but have hidden code that places these viruses on a machine will not work on my laptop in future. For those who need to know, there's free anti-virus software available from Microsoft if you need it Click Here.

This software will run in your tray along with any other anti-spy or anti-virus software you may have. Should your computer be taken over by a nasty bug that prevents you from getting rid of it, these programs may help. It is also useful to make a note of the "path" of suspect files and then if the software fails to clear the harmful files, reboot and press the F8 key then select the command mode from the menu (use the arrow keys). This will put you in DOS mode. Type "help" for a list of commands. One of these should be CD for Change Directory if these have been 'hidden' the list of commands in DOS will include a command for listing hidden directories and a method of changing the directory from C:/ to the path you have noted for the virus. DIR/w will list the files across the screen once you are in the right directory. Identify the files that should NOT be there, which would include the files identified by your anti-virus software, then type DEL (file-name). This will delete the monster. Reboot and you should have at least some control over your computer again. Microsoft will supply help for changing the registry files, but make sure you follow the instructions exactly because changing a registry file incorrectly can damage the way the computer works, so make a careful note of how you made a change. CCleaner from Piriform is another useful tool to have, if you have it already use the Registry Cleaner to clean the registry and keep your computer running fast. (Forget the adds you see on TV for doing this - most of the functions they're advertising are already on your computer - see Control Panel) CCleaner (if you don't have it already) is inexpensive and downright useful.

Okay, so now I've given you a 'heads up' on how to get your computer back should a malicious piece of software invade it, I do hope you will spend a couple of bucks on Karin's book. Click Here. I hope you enjoy her work. For more about Karin and her books Click Here. Yes, I know, unashamed advertising for Karin's books! So what do you expect - everything for free! (Sez I tongue firmly in cheek).

Robin Hood's Grave

2011-07-18T23:05:00.000-07:00

Did Robin Hood Exist?
Well, er, yup! The oldest known record of him is a folk history called, "The Ballad of the Guest of Robin Hood" and this places him in the reign of Edward I (Not Richard I). While both were Plantagenet kings, there is little evidence that Robin was around during the reign of Richard. Some Historians place Robin's exploits during an earlier period than Edward because of the mention of a bandit with the same name in Yorkshire (not far from Nottinghamshire), however the Wakefield court rolls also mention a Robin Hood during the reign of Edward. In the guest the king pardoned him and at the time when someone was pardoned by the king they had to work for him, the household records of Edward show that a "Robin Hood" did in fact work for him. The name Robin or "Robert" Hood was (and still is) quite common, so it could well have been his real name.
Did Robin Marry Maid Marion? No. She's a later addition to the story. If Robin Hood of Wakefield is the Robin Hood of legend, then his wife's name was Matilda. Friar Tuck did not know Robin, he was a bandit in his own right and existed at a much later date - this historians agree upon. The other crew members, Little John, did exist. His grave can be found in the church graveyard of St. Michael, Hathersage in the Peak District. Will Scarlet or Scarlock was also real and probably Much the Miller's son.

The Death of Robin

At some point Robin was with his cousin, the prioress of Kirklees Abbey, when she and her lover Sir Roger of Doncaster, treacherously let out too much blood when Robin sought her help. Dying in the arms of Little John, Robin fired an arrow in the air and asked John to bury him where the arrow landed.

Kirklees Abbey is long gone, but the gatehouse is still standing forming a barn among the buildings of a working farm owned by Lady Armatage. The grave site is nearby on the top of a rise, but because it is on private property there is no public access. Lady Armatage once informed me that she did not believe Robin to be burried there, but groups from Nottingham University and other organisations, have been permitted the occasional visit.

Sword in the Stone

2011-07-11T23:27:00.000-07:00

It's hard to imagine when you're there that this could be the backdrop for the movie "Excalibur" based on Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur, with Nigel Terry in the role of Arthur and Nicol Williamson as Merlin, with Helen Mirren as Morgana. In early roles were Gabriel Byrne, Liam Neeson and Patrick Stewart in a movie not short on stars nor on scenery. The waterfall (opposite) can be found in Powerscourt, Ireland and I suspect most of the background scenery was Irish. The waterfall is where Arthur confronts Sir Lancelot who appears to be no pushover when it comes to a good scrap.

Beaches in Ireland also provided the setting for the World War II movie "Saving Private Ryan" set against the Normandy landings. The Normandy beaches had become rather developed when the film makers were seeking a site, then they discovered the rather unspoiled beaches of Ireland.

Although the beaches of Connemara were not included in this particular movie, the west of Ireland did not escape the attention of Hollywood. Cong, between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, in Co. Mayo and just over the border from Co. Galway, became the setting for "The Quiet Man", starring John Wayne.

Although Ireland has seen considerable development over the years, like any country in Europe, there are still plenty of places that remain unspoiled, many protected by law from development and others with stone works older than the pyramids of Egypt, such as Newgrange.

This is representative of ancient bone-yards found throughout the British Isles, places that still attract the curiosity of the scientist and the tourist alike. Whether it's Stonehenge, Newgrange or the equally ancient sites dotted around the landscape, there plenty to fire the imagination. But on a more serious note, it is always a good idea to make sure you know where the nearest pub is - not only for the beer, but for food, rest and a pee! Again, don't forget to visit our web site: Click Here

Man in Hole

2011-07-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

No, it's not a manhole. It is a hole in the road and there is a man in it! There's also a ladder poking out of the hole in the road and a few other workmen orbiting - doing whatever workmen do when they're orbiting a hole with a man in it. I hope that isn't too confusing for you - it is for me and I just wrote it!

Like most people in the neighbourhood, I've no idea of what's going on outside. All I do know is that we've got a patch of mud by the Stop sign, no road outside, and a hole with a man in it! Maybe after last night's storm the earth opened and swallowed 'Flying Eagles Band' or whatever they're called.

There's one guy outside who looks like he wouldn't fit down the hole, the other looks like a pipe cleaner, maybe they're holding him in reserve. Usually these folk wear a hard-hat, but these boys must have a hard head that falling debris bounces off. Given the size of the pipes to the left of the Stop sign, only a pipe cleaner would fit down that hole! I have to wonder though, what will they run into down there? Bugs Bunny or perhaps the Hunchback of La Crosse. Then again, they may even find a stray Brontosaurus down there - you never know, something has to be causing all these earthquakes!

The main question that has us, and no doubt our neighbours wondering is when are we going to get our road completed. It would be nice for everyone to have access to their property and for car owners to park their cars in their garage. Conspiracy theorists think that it's all a nasty plot by the council to get their paws on extra loot by charging for parking on surrounding streets. Yeah, like they're going to raise the millions they need to get out of the red by doing that... there are more refined ways of highway robbery!

Well, if you're planning to go down any holes today. Stay safe and have a nice day. Please don't forget our web site: Click Here

The Book by Cook

2011-07-07T12:09:00.000-07:00

Karin Ficke Cook, that is. Seven Doors of Time has so far had twenty four downloads but only a few sales, this isn't really surprising since we haven't paid for any advertising of the book. It would be nice if we could afford advertising and I don't think we would go with the News of the World if we could. Come to think of it I don't think anyone is advertising with the News of the World, certainly not Ford, Virgin and Coca Cola. The loss of advertising revenue and the comment by one reader of the Oldham Evening Chronicle that anyone buying the News of the World would have to be nuts, appears to have done the trick - the rag is closing down - for good.

Back to Karin's writing. It seems she can't stop and good for her! I have just read her latest effort, based on a dream and featuring a character based on yours truly. No you can't read it! At least not yet, we'll just have to let you know when this new book of yarns becomes available. What I can tell you is that one of the bad guys in the story pees his pants when he gets a load of me when I'm really pissed off! And I'm really pissed off at the bunch of idiots! You'll just have to wait for the ebook to be published.

Seven Doors of Time is not very expensive and will not break any one's bank account, unless their name is Buggs Bunny - he does not appear to have a bank account even though he seems to have a good supply of carrots on hand. Those who have invested in a nice kindle (or any e-reader) would do well to make the purchase. So go on, be a devil and treat yourself to a book of short stories.

The Question...!

2011-06-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

To be violent or not to be violent, that is the question. Whether it is nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous slander... bla de bla bla. Sorry Bill!

Slap your ex day advertised on Facebook... Oh yeah, what a great idea...NOT! Not only is he or she your ex, you are his or her ex. If you are entitled to slap your ex then your ex is entitled to slap you... fight begins cops are called and you're both arrested for disturbing the peace (or for being idiots). Why this propensity for violence? What makes people think that violent acts solve problems when very often they create them?

The argument "But you have to see it from my point of view!" raises the question, why? There are two sides to a coin and two different views to consider, why should your view be more important? It isn't and it's that simple. More often than not both parties are at fault for one reason or another; both have erred. Is it becoming part of our way of thinking that we should express our anger, vent our feelings and turn to violence to get what we want?

For those of us who purport to be Christian, it can be worse. In Matthew 5: 38-48 he tells us not to retaliate, to love our enemies and to turn the other cheek. It may be more easily said than done, especially in todays' violent world, but this is the instruction of Jesus Christ and not my express point of view. It applies to me as much as it applies to anyone else. I have one or two ex's but rather than slap them I'm going to pray for them... it'll achieve more in my view. Either that or I could join Mr. Bean as a gunslinger!

Books, books and more books.

2011-06-25T17:20:00.000-07:00

Writing a book, so I have discovered, isn't easy but the writing part appears to be the easiest part of getting the sod published. If it is to be an ebook it first it has to be formatted and edited correctly, according to the requirements of the publisher, and this means going through the book carefully. Then it can be uploaded and still you're not done. There are other pains in the bum to deal with. It's a darn sight easier to read the bugger than write and publish it!

Karin's Book "Seven Doors of Time" consists of seven short stories ranging from disasters (such as splitting America in half - nice one there) to Crime, Murder and Time Travel, with a bit of Romance thrown in for good measure. It cost her $9.99 to get the ISBN number. To find Karin's Book on line: Click Here the ebook costs just $2.99 but 30% of the book can be downloaded free.

If my own effort ever gets published I for one will be surprised, even so, my first is perhaps just over two thirds complete. I suppose I just need to get settled in and start bashing away at writing. I should warn you, while my effort is a bone crunching adventure with lots of bad guys, I can't help sticking humour in it - given that it is partly set in my home town of Oldham. As I keep telling people, the town once exported cotton but today it exports comedians; you don't have to be a comedian to live there - but it helps.

Missing my pencils

2011-06-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd do a sketch of Gabrielle Gifford, now on the road to recovery - but can I find my sketching pencils? No! I've the sketch pads - different sizes of pad with the right kind of paper, but not even a HB, BB or 4H in sight. I took out the colour and adjusted the contrast to produce this black and white image, then after adjusting the size, printed it out. Of course I could use Photoshop to produce a sketch, but in my book that would be cheating.

I'll just have to wait until I can purchase a new set of sketching pencils and that means waiting until I can get to the right store that sells them. Development closed one store in the neighbourhood, a tornado closed another - what next? Let me guess, a redneck going on the rampage shotgun in hand after being stabbed in the arse (ass) by a super-mosquito developed in stagnant water left over from the Mississippi flood! That's the problem with mossies here, they can be tiny things that creep under the radar or whoppers that come with full armour and 27mm cannon (or that's what it feels like). No matter what their size, it sure ain't no pin-prick that they leave. Well I suppose we have the rest of the summer to fight 'em off. What puzzles me though are the young things at the Uni just up the road. They stretch out on the laws like offerings to the gods and not a mossie in sight!

I think I'll go on another hunt and see if I can find my pencils. When I'm quietly sketching I'm as quiet as a lamb and not my usual nutty self. And if you don't believe I'm nuts - ask Karin. She knows. By the way don't forget to visit our web site. The links for all Karin's books are there - including the ebook.

Saturday and it's back to the grind!

2011-06-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

For someone who is supposed to be unemployed, I'm kept busy. If it isn't housework, it's something else. The something else on this occasion I'm certainly not complaining about. Karin managed to get her ebook, "Seven Doors of Time" (ISBN 978-1-4524-9424-1) uploaded and published, and believe it or not she's even had her first sale! A few more wouldn't hurt (heavy hint, heavy hint), Click Here for the site.

Yeah, okay so the ebook has a cover... well kind of! The book is a collection of seven stories and I'm sure that Karin will outline them in her blog.

Of course while Karin was uploading I was busy on my laptop updating Facebook and our web site. Of course I also sent out the appropriate information on Yahoo Groups as well, not that it will reach many, but it's a start.

Karin's first published novels had quite a price tag, but we both feel that the charge of $2.99 for the ebook is not too bad (there is a decimal point in there, so it's just short of three bucks). I suppose we'll have to wait and see how well the book does, or doesn't do. Our advertising budget is at the moment $0 and that's about it. Nevertheless, God is good and kind to us.

The Evil Trojan!

2011-05-29T13:49:00.000-07:00

Taken Over
My laptop (opposite) had been taken over by a Trojan, a Windows XP Defrag Fraud that would not shut off. After it ran - pretending to examine my computer - it required the purchase of software to complete the task of removing "Bad Sectors" and defraging the computer (which XP and any windows program can do anyway). I had no control over my computer but then me being me I was not to be outdone by a computer virus.

The programs in my tray were still running so I ran the anti-virus program. Even this seemed ineffective when it came to deleting the files it found, so I made a note of the path of the files in particular and shut down the computer. To keep the story short I then rebooted and pressed F8 Selected safe mode with the Command Prompt (the computer runs in MS DOS) then I discovered none of the directories or files were showing. At the C:\ prompt I typed Help to list the DOS commands available then typed Help DIR and this displayed the commands available for the directory. I then typed in the switch -A/ and behold, all the directories and files were listed. I then used the CD command (Change Directory) with the path to the place where the virus was and again used the switch to locate the virus. I noticed an additional program that should not have been there, so taking a chance I deleted this along with the files my software had already found. On rebooting the virus had shut down, but I had still lost control parts of my desktop.

Regaining Control
My Start menu had no programs listed, there were no icons on my screen but I did have access to some parts of the computer. That's all I needed. Using help on the Start Menu and some of the advanced features I was able to call up all the hidden files and re-set the folders for my programs etc. The next job was to go through the lengthy list of files, find the program files and "pin" them to my Start Menu so if they didn't get listed among my programs I could still run them from another place. While the icons still do not show on my desktop, the main one's I use are on my Task Bar, while I can access my desktop from the taskbar.

With control regained, I downloaded from Microsoft free anti-virus software and updated the files for the software before running it. The remnants of the Trojan were found and deleted. The laptops hard drive has been defraged and the Registry cleaned. Not bad for an old fart who doesn't even have a Bachelor's in Computer Science!

How the Trojan got on to my machine I have no idea. Even if you already have anti-virus software, the anti-virus software from Microsoft (they have versions for different Windows programs) is worth thinking about. I now have more than one firewall in place protecting my machine. Microsoft also offer help in sorting out problems with software. It may be worth visiting Microsoft At Home to see what's on offer and get tips on how to protect your computer.

2011-05-24T14:29:00.000-07:00

Into the Storm

It began as a normal day, even if I was feeling a bit under the weather, not exactly sick but not too well. While on the Internet I checked the weather, storms had been forecast and there it was on the local Doppler Radar, a rather large blob that seemed to get larger as it drew closer. I told Karin and she said that she had also seen it heading right for us. Then we heard a tornado reported on the ground in the county across the Mississippi.

So it began.
Karin got our emergency bags together (bags filled with the things we may need if we found ourselves trapped) and placed them by the door to the basement. I went outside to check on the weather and saw the dark clouds on the horizon to the west, but the clouds above were moving north - not a good sign if the approaching storm was moving east. Was this an early indication of rotation? I'd almost been flattened by a tornado before and the idea of going through it again was not very high on my list of exciting things to do!
I checked the Doppler Radar again, the storm was crossing the river the north and would soon be on us. Again I went outside to check and the clouds were moving fast in the same direction as before. Karin and I unplugged our computers and turned them off. I then checked outside one more time, this time the clouds were moving east, the wind picked up and the rain - heavy rain began. Suddenly the severe weather sirens went off as if we were in the middle of the London Blitz, so I returned indoors and took the bags down to the basement. As I did so the lights went out, so I raced back up the stairs to grab my bike lamp so I could light the way for Karin. Our neighbour from the apartment next door, who had been awakened by the sirens, joined us in the basement while the storm raged outside. We could hear the wind, torrential rain and hail hammer against the basement windows. The only light was from my torch and a torch Karin had packed and we had to remain in the basement until the worse of the storm had passed.

Day into night into day.
The darkness passed, the storm passed and we were again in daylight, but the power was still out. Karin put the things from the fridge into the freezer so that they wouldn't spoil while I used my cell phone to call in the power-outage. With no coffee or way to heat the pot, I was beginning to climb the walls after a short while - then I would, wouldn't I? I settled for Fudge Oreo's and a mug of water. What do you do without power? Easy! Watch a DVD on a battery powered laptop.

Welcome to tornado alley.
We didn't see it, we wouldn't have because it had been shrouded in rain. An EF2 tornado with wind speeds of around 200mph had touched down near Cook St. and Miller St. moving roughly east toward K Mart. The winds dissipated shortly after it had touched down and a police officer had been able to report it on the ground. The warehouse for the Pepsi bottling plant had been destroyed, the roof of nearby apartments torn off, cars flipped or smashed by falling branches and the rooftops of other buildings damaged in a six block wide path that ran through the city for a mile and a half. Outside we found flooding, but when the rain stopped, I pulled a fallen tree branch from the drain and scooped up other debris to let the water drain away. I was able to rescue our trash cans and replace them before going indoors. The power was still off so we couldn't check on friends and we had no idea of the damage surrounding us. After six hours the power was back on and we were hardly surprised to learn of the tornado and the damage done.

By the grace of God no one in La Crosse was injured, even though the Cafe next door to ABR Emloyment services had it's windows blown out. Customers had been taken to the back of the Cafe, so again no one was hurt. Only the week before the local hospitals had practiced for an emergency alert so they were already prepared for the worse. Sever Weather alerts are often tested here and people know how to respond. Of course the Red Cross, Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army are helping those in need of emergency shelter, food and cleaning equipment.

Over that weekend 68 tornadoes touched down with Joplin, MO, of course, was the worse hit. In a sense we feel blessed, despite the damage inflicted on the city. Keep the people of Joplin in your prayers and thoughts.

2011-05-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love the show "Entertainment Tonight"? They'll announce with great acclaim the items they are covering for the evening and when at last they get to a particular item, there's bog all to it! Now we Brits have been supporting America in Afghanistan and Iraq so you would think ET would at least know something about Britain - not a chance! During 'Tthe Wedding' they mispronounced The Mall - no it's not a shopping mall it's a street you twits! Even worse, to the great dismay of every Welshman who may have seen the program, they referred to Anglesey as a town when it's actually an island, separated from the mainland by the Meni Strait (a rather wide stretch of seawater).

I thought that maybe that if they can't get 'The Mall' right, it would be something of a giggle to hear them try to pronounce the name of one of the towns on Anglesey:

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

If that tongue twister doesn't get them all of a flutter nothing will. They'll no doubt call on Catherine Zeta Jones for some help - at least she can pronounce it (No I can't, but then I'm a Brit poking fun at ET). Oh yes, the above place name is for real - Google it and see for yourself.

Perhaps we're too far north on the Mississippi to be too threatened by flood waters, we also missed the worse of the storms, but we did get hit with quite a few homes with holes in their siding from the hail. The river flooded, but not enough to do much damage. Downstream the river got gradually higher, now their having real problems in the southern states. Here it was expected because of all the snow, it had to melt and go somewhere and that somewhere is the Mississippi. We need to keep the folks down south in our thoughts and prayers.

Our web site The Cook Companies looks a little better with a new home page and an updated page for out Catholic links. It took me a while to check out which links were still working and which were not and keeping abreast of changes to other web sites is a pain in the sitting place. All four of Karin's books are still listed on our web site and I hope to update some of our pages in the near future.

Corned Beef and Cabbage?

2011-03-06T00:25:00.000-08:00

The Real Irish Dish

No I don't mean Enya, I mean the traditional St. Patrick's Day feast of bacon or beef joint, potatoes and greens. Sorry but corned beef and cabbage is not traditional Irish fare even if it is an integral part of Irish-American culture. It apparently originated with Irish-Americans in the eastern states who used corned beef in place of the more traditional pork.

One clue to this is a rather simple question: where in the name of heaven would the Irish get cabbage at this time of year? St. Patrick's Day falls in March - the beginning of the planting season and not harvest time.

The picture above of the half-British half-Irish scruff and his wife was taken at the end of the summer last year. Right now we have another winter storm threatening later in the week - so much for March being the beginning of the planting season. It seems to me that the seasons haven't so much changed as somehow become scrambled - freeze in winter and spring and fry in summer and fall. If we fry enough the red and gold of fall isn't so much the leaves in the trees but us!

In any case, to return to the subject of St. Patrick's Day. With St. Patrick being the Patron Saint of Ireland and his feast day falling in March, it often falls during the time of Lent. So the rule is that the Lenten fast is lifted for that one day in Ireland so that the Irish can tuck into their meal and down a pint or two and have a good time. It's a day on which everyone seems to become Irish.

So on March 17th (four days before my birthday - big hint) have a great St. Patrick's Day, a decent meal and a pint of the black stuff (Guinness). Lay off the green beer it'll only make you puke!

2011-02-23T23:04:00.000-08:00

When Gibbs isn't busy with a pressing case, Abby takes a well deserved rest with her pet hippo. She's the lass who puts the 'cute' in Forensic Science. Where, I wonder, would NCIS be without Abby? Gibbs relies on her to find the answers to difficult questions and somehow she finds those answers.

It's not all forensics in her lab either - even Christmas has it's place as well it should. Christmas is a time of peace, a time of light in the darkness and not just a time for the stores to make profits - even though they often do.

Well I suppose someone has to play Santa! For this Elf it's probably her best choice; Gibbs? Definitely not! Dinozzo, I doubt it. McGee, Naa! Ducky, I think not. Director Vance? Er... Not a chance. No there's only one Santa, skinny though he is... may need some meat on his bones but then what else can she do?

When the cast are through for the day they will no doubt have a few laughs before going home to their respective families - where they should be. That's the thing about Christmas, it brings people together while celebrating the birth of a man who made a big impact on the world - and for good reason. His teachings still hold true, let's face it.

My thoughts are that soon we face the austere season of Lent, then Easter - a time of new life, the rising of the Son of God. Winter is behind us, summer ahead along with the promise of a brighter future, providing we let it happen. Be not ashamed of Jesus. Christ because he really did have the words of life - the teaching of love and the extent to which is should be expressed. We should keep him in mind when we think of our neighbours, beyond our own city or nation. We should keep him in mind when we think of our planet and it's needs.

Maybe that's what Abby's dreaming about when she takes her nap, a better world in which love replaces hate and it's people care about their planet. If its not worth dreaming about, its worth praying about I think.

2011-02-16T10:11:00.000-08:00

This is what it looked like way back in November 2010... All that white fluffy stuff just seemed to pile up and pile up with each successive snow storm as the weeks and months rolled by. Well it's now starting to melt and with the melting snow the ground is starting to look ugly - leaves, cigarette buts and bits of trash covered by the white stuff are starting to show.

First we have the back-breaking work of shoveling the snow (if we haven't got a snow blower to hand) and then when it's gone we have the back breaking work of cleaning up the yard!

In an email addressed to Karin was the wise and true saying, "Life is like taking a hot bath... the longer you're in it the more wrinkled you get." Maybe we do feel our age and maybe we do show our age with each passing winter, spring, summer, and fall (or autumn as it's called in Britain) but one thing is certain: getting old is bloody hard work!

If you are young and you think life is one big party - or should be - just remember this: after each party you will experience that hangover that will make you feel more miserable than death warmed up! Headache pills will not cut it and there's no cure. Age will eventually bring about the realisation that going to church rather than to the bar not only frees you from the promise of a hangover, it really does give you a feeling that your life means something. With Jesus Christ right there in the center of things, your life does mean something and you can do something with it. Sod the party, really live!

Back on board.

2011-01-28T10:29:00.000-08:00

First of all my laptop went down in the middle of work I was completing (off line). Then after re-booting I found few of my programs would actually work. I managed to get one to clean up my registry, then used another to re-set the laptop. After almost a day of trying this and that, having to re-boot each time, I finally got the thing working.

Then it happened again. Something was not right. But this time my security software kicked in suggesting a Trojan was on board.

I rebooted and ran a full security scan of the laptop and sure enough there was a Trojan - two files were identified, one was deleted by the software but the other left. This I was able to delete using the security software. After re-booting, yet again, the laptop behaved itself.

A Trojan is mallware that hides inside another innocent looking program. Some Trojans are just pests, others are downright dangerous. Even though I'm careful about anything I download, trying to stay with trusted companies, it still happened to me and if this can happen to me it can happen to anyone. This Trojan caught me off guard, even though I run my security software often. This time I was able to deal with the mess it made of my computer files.

Be careful, there are nuts out there in Cyberspace who love to mess with your PC or Laptop because they've nothing better to do with their sad, pointless lives. Check with the companies that provide your security software for infomation on mallware and the like and follow their advice.

Mick - Glad to be back.

Special Knowledge? No Way!

2011-01-08T13:49:00.000-08:00

It would appear that there is some confusion regarding the Gnostic gospels, the Dead Sea Scrolls and the teaching of Gnosticism. So first of all some clarification: the Gnostic gospels are dated from the second to fourth century AD and the writers of these gospels never even met Jesus Christ. Most of what we know of Gnosticism and it's teaching comes from St. Irenaeus and his work: “Detection and Overthrow of the Gnosis Falsely So-called”, also known as, “Against Heresies”. The Gnostic gospels were discovered accidentally by two farmers in Egypt in December, 1945 and although some were duplicated in different finds, only one copy of the Gospel of Mary Magdalene exists. The discovery of these writings did not devalue the writing of St. Irenaeus but rather confirmed what he had written. Indeed, St. Irenaeus remains the primary source for our understanding of the Gnostics.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of some 972 documents, including text from the Hebrew Bible discovered between 1946 and 1956 around the ancient ruins of the settlement of Qumran on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea and have nothing in common with the Gnostic gospels. These documents date from around 150 BC to 70 AD and written mostly in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Karin and I have actually seen them with our own peepers!

Now then, St. Irenaeus was the second Bishop of Lyons, succeeding the martyred St. Pothinus. Irenaeus was originally from Asia and he was a pupil of St. Polycarp, ordained bishop by the Apostles in Asia. In his above mentioned work, St. Irenaeus wrote:

[Marcion], moreover, mutilated the Gospel according to Luke, removing all that is written about the generations of the Lord; and he removed much of the teaching of the Lord's utterances, in which the Lord is recorded as confessing most clearly that His Father is the Maker of the universe. He also persuaded his followers that he himself was more truthful than those Apostles who have handed down the Gospel; and he furnished them not with the Gospel but with a small part of the Gospel.

The Catholic Encyclopedia describes Gnoticism's origin as:

Whereas formerly Gnosticism was considered mostly a corruption of Christianity, it now seems clear that the first traces of Gnostic systems can be discerned some centuries before the Christian Era. Its Eastern origin was already maintained by Gieseler and Neander; F. Ch. Bauer (1831) and Lassen (1858) sought to prove its relation to the religions of India; Lipsius (1860) pointed to Syria and Phoenicia as its home, and Hilgenfeld (1884) thought it was connected with later Mazdeism. Joel (1880), Weingarten (1881), Koffmane (1881), Anrich (1894), and Wobbermin (1896) sought to account for the rise of Gnosticism by the influence of Greek Platonic philosophy and the Greek mysteries, while Harnack described it as "acute Hellenization of Christianity".

Gnosticism then, has no place in Catholic or Protestant Christianity. So now you know!

Calendar Girls: A True Story.

2011-01-03T12:19:00.000-08:00

Was the movie Calendar Girls based on real-life characters? Not really, even if the movie is actually based on a true story. Intentional similarities do exist when comparing the close friendship of Annie (Julie Walters) and Chris (Helen Mirren) to that of Angela Baker and Tricia Stewart in real life. -BBC.

The women decided to do the calendar to raise money to help fight leukemia after Angela Baker's husband John died from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in July 1998 at age 54. John, played in the movie by John Alderton, worked as a National Park Officer for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and from the onset of his illness he grew sunflowers. The image of the sunflower is present throughout the calendar.

Much of the film was fictionalized, including most of the characters and their names. However, the basic storyline is true. Women aged between 45 and 65 posed nude for a Women's Institute Calendar to raise money for charity. Unlike in the movie, the women had the full support of the local and national WI for the calendar. What was not mentioned in the movie was the additional support of Actress Glenda Jackson, one of the calendar's sponsors. Glenda is the only member of the British Parliament to have actually won an Oscar! Naturally, her support for the calendar drew attention.

In 2000, the calendar had raised more than £450,000. The money was used to fund cutting edge research into lymphoma and leukaemia at the University of Leeds. A plaque dedicated to John Baker was placed in new laboratories at Leeds. The plaque reads, "The work in this laboratory is dedicated to the memory of John Baker in recognition of the exceptional fundraising achievements of ‘The Calendar Girls’ of the Rylstone & District Women’s Institute." -Leukaemia Research Fund

See: The Calendar Girls Official Site

Above are actress's Helen Mirren, born July 26th 1945 and Julie Walters born February 22nd 1950 (I was born one month later)!

In addition to the calendars, six of the original WI Calendar women posed for a postcard titled "Baker's Half Dozen" (shown above). The women include Lynda Logan, Beryl Bamforth, Tricia Stewart, Christine Clancy, Angela Baker and Ros Fawcett.

Why not visit: The Cook Companies

Oh Hum... Packers are in!

2011-01-03T10:23:00.000-08:00

Sunday was for those in Wisconsin the make or break game. The Green Bay Packers won against the Chicago Bears 10 - 3 and that was it.

It was the Bears who dominated the opening quarter, leading the Packers 3 - 0 until the Packers scooped up a field goal to make the score even. Then as the game really warmed up for the Packers they got the illusive touchdown and conversion to add another seven points to the three they had picked up. Although the Bears fought back, an intercept in the dying minutes brought the game to an end: Game Over. The Packers had won their way into the play-offs. Even if most of us in Wisconsin watched from the comfort of our living rooms, snacks to hand, it was a good day for the Cheese Heads!

The big question of the day is, why did the camera wander over to this section of the crowd? It's a good job I managed to get my eyeballs back into their sockets before my wife noticed!

It seems that Wisconsin breeds some rather hardy girls... the temperature gets above freezing and the girls get into their bikinis to watch the big game! I suppose only the Canadians can top that! Then again, Canada is somewhat cooler this time of year.

Climbing the walls

2010-12-30T11:03:00.000-08:00

I came in after clearing away the snow, put my feet up at my desk and began working on my laptop then fizz... the screen went dull.

Melting snow had dripped onto the transformer connecting my laptop to the power, leaving me with just two hours of battery power to back-up my work which thankfully I did. That was the beginning.

The next step was to get a replacement, which Karin ordered from Dell... Then after a day or three no sign of the money coming out of my account to pay for the thing, so we checked the order with Dell and no sign of it. Thankfully we were able to get one locally for less dosh. Meanwhile, yours truly was suffering from computer withdrawal and not too quietly climbing the walls.

Of course I could use Karin's laptop when she wasn't using it so I could keep up with email and what-not but then Karin has a lot of work to do on her machine. I took to making notes and using the Oxford Shorter English Dictionary for checking my spelling, which though not too hot seems better than the average college student's.

The thought occurred to me that at some point in the future we'll hear about the well-to-do having to go through rehab for laptop withdrawal. What would happen if something was to mess up the digital infrastructure and cell phones stopped working - imagine the chaos? No 'like' chatting on the 'like' Blackberry and worst of all, no texting! Will the kids get over it? Would commerce grind to a halt?

At one time Blackberrying meant going into the countryside to pick blackberries, it did not mean texting someone in a strange, almost incomprehensible language that would even have Dr. Daniel Jackson confused (one for the Stargate fans there). If this were to be suddenly removed from the young I suspect it would be worse than taking the beer from a dorm party! For older folk, just think of a cheese-less Wisconsin or one without Miller Light and the Packers! I think you get the picture.

Oh the spring!

2010-12-17T12:54:00.000-08:00

Yep we got a bit of snow and it's freezing outside, well below freezing point, but the roads are clear until the next storm hits. It's only December and we've a way to go yet.

The Mississippi Valley with it's evergreens can look rather striking. Yogi and all the other bears are asleep in their caves and not scrounging for food on the outskirts, but soon the drunks will hit the streets in the run up to the Christmas season.

Now, the big question is: what happens to all that white fluffy stuff come the spring and the warmer weather? Of course if you live outside the Mississippi Valley area that runs the length of the great dribble from Minnesota, you may not know so here's a clue...

Isn't it funny how a single picture can tell whole story?

Yep, we're not out of the woods yet and many folk will be swapping their snow shoes and skies for kayaks and rowing boats! A few may need the assistance of a helicopter or rubber life raft while they watch their goods float off down the river to the sea. Then you wonder where the mermaids get their furniture!

Of course we have to freeze our bums (butts) off before we reach this stage. Hopefully the summer sun will dry us all out... before it burns us to a crisp!
At least that's what it looks like around the Campus at the different universities here in La Cross. The young things appear to be offerings to the gods - with sun cream thrown in for good measure. What next I wonder, another winter like this one?

Winnie

2010-12-13T10:10:00.000-08:00

He was born in Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire into the aristocratic Spencer family. Sir Winston Spencer Churchill was elected to Parliament for Oldham (my home town) in 1900 and served the town until 1906.

I have often said that Oldham exports comedians and Winnie is perhaps one of the best! This rather well known orator and Wartime leader has a few quotes attributed to him. For example:

"A joke is a very serious thing."

Indeed it is, having a major giggle is a serious matter in Oldham.

"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."

Adolf would fit the bill I would imagine.

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

The optimist in this case is the one who sees the opportunity in the difficulty of winning a war, while having a drink at the bar.

After downing a couple or three drinks a woman reportedly said to 'ol Winnie, "Sir you are drunk!" To which her replied, "Madam you are ugly, but in the morning I shall be sober."

Yep, 'ol Winnie had his uses, leading Britain in the War against the Nazi tyranny and doing rather well. He inspired the British people during the Blitz, when London was singled out by Adolf for special treatment. But Adolf did not recon on the resilience of the British people. Winnie, however, knew he could rely on the people to hold out and they didn't let him down. The RAF didn't let the people down, they also held out and defeated the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. Resulting in Winnie saying, "Never in the field of human conflict have so many owed so much to so few."

So okay, Sir Winston Spencer Churchill did rather well, even if he was a Conservative MP. Another Churchill quote is: "Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed."

Good thought.

Digging Out

2010-12-12T14:13:00.000-08:00

Phew! This took me a while, almost an hour and a half of digging. At least I can now get out of the apartment, but how far I can venture in the aftermath of this storm is another question.

These before and after photos should, I think tell the story. Needless to say the old fart (me) who did all the digging was in need of a pint in the local pub - but then this is La Crosse in Wisconsin and there isn't a local pub so I had to make do with a mug of coffee and chicken soup! A couple of pints of bitter would have been a better option, but then you can't have everything.

More Pictures

To make matters even more gloomy, Green Bay Packers lost their match. Minnesota Vikings lost their stadium - the roof fell in with the weight of the snow on top of it. Alternative arrangements were made for the Vikings match for Monday. Still, despite the gloomy news, the cold outside and the lack of a decent pint of bitter beer, I can still put my feet up and dream about winning a pile of loot on Powerball. Even if it is nothing more than a dream, I can still dream.

Guess What?

2010-12-11T20:50:00.000-08:00

Yeah, okay, so it's snowing again. Ah! Wisconsin! Another Midwest storm, this one full of the white fluffy stuff, or it was. Small flakes coming down now, slight wind causing drifting snow and parts of the Coulee region of La Crosse have up to 22" already and more to come. The forecast is even better, to our west the wind is blowing strong and conditions are already FRIGID and moving our way. We have a blizzard warning for tonight and the local Sheriff has asked people to stay home. Of course idiots do not think this applies to them, then go out and discover their mistake the hard way.

The photo above is courtesy of one of the TV channels in the region. The roads are already a mess and the snow has been falling all day and is set to fall for the remainder of the night. It should stop around sunrise if the forecasters have it right.
I managed to get out to the supermarket earlier and even then the traffic was slow with most drivers being cautious because of the road conditions. Naturally I had to walk to the store, then on returning home clear the path, which will no doubt need doing again tomorrow. This sucker seemed to be stationary over the top of us here, just dumping it's load. Even though the snow plows went through three times during the day, it will be after midnight before they're back on the street. By then driving conditions will be a nightmare, which is why the Sheriff has asked people to stay home and why I said only idiots would go out in these conditions.

After living in Wisconsin for so long one would think I'd be use to it - especially since I'm an Oldham lad and I've seen similar conditions there. Well yes, I have seen it before. Most years we get dumped on with snow - but I don't have to like it. In fact I hate it, so does my arthritis! Well you try plodding through the snow like an owd fart!

Student Protests

2010-12-09T14:13:00.000-08:00

The Labour government, so I understand, introduced tuition fees for students. The Lib Dems promised to get rid of the fees if they got into government, but they didn't. In fact they joined a coalition with the Conservative Party. Student fees were changed slightly and made fair - but not in the eyes of the students who seem unwilling to listen to what has been explained by Paddy Ashdown and others. Then to the shame of Britain they protest violently.
Student Protests

Whether or not it will be published, I have no idea, but I sent the following letter by email to the Guardian Newspaper:

I live in La Crosse, Wisconsin and work part time for the University of Wisconsin here in La Crosse, and I'm familiar with the fees students pay for their education in America. Students in Britain do not pay anywhere near the same amount, yet they protest violently because of fees introduced by a Labour government and changed slightly by the present government. They may have a right to protest, but because of the way in which they have been behaving, to the shame of Britain, I would suggest that the government TRIPPLE their fees. These yobs do not deserve an education, so if they want one let them pay BIG time. If they want to get violent then let them join the army where they will learn discipline and right way to conduct themselves.

As I have stated elsewhere, student fees in America are an arm, a leg, and your first born. Students in Britain are lucky in comparison to students in other countries where fees apply, most especially in the USA. Violent protests serve only to anger me to the extent that I strongly feel that their fees should be increased yet again, because these students do not deserve an education. What they really need is a good kick in the rear by a drill sergeant!

Topping up

2010-12-07T17:08:00.000-08:00

My only mode of transport can hardly be described as a five hundred horse powered super-car, it's more like a one mick-powered two wheeled transportation system - better known as a bike! So okay there I am with night falling and streets with hard packed snow and ice in many places and I need to get my prescription filled so I don't spin in bed like a dynamo, bounce around and register point nine on the Richter scale. It's called a seizure. I don't remember having them - but Karin does!

There is as always a major problem, to get my prescription filled I have to cycle over to the St. Clare Health Mission and that does not open until 5pm when it's already getting dark. Thankfully, I have rechargeable batteries in my bike lamp and a charger to keep them filled with power. No problem there, but riding on the streets in winter conditions at an age of 60+ is a mite risky.

Still, I can get away with being an old fart on a bike. Kind motorists just take pity and let me through, so survival on the street is a little more assured as long as I can stay saddle bound and not go arse over tit over the handlebars! That could be a problem.

The pair here are knackered after a trip to Milwaukee to get my "Green Card" renewed. We hired a car for the trip and wore our backsides to the bone making the lengthy journey there and back again. I was in the Office of Homeland Security for all of half an hour at the most - mug shot and dabs on a computer and I was legal again. I just love being a legal alien, not because I'm free to work but because it sounds like I'm from another planet... then again, there are those who suspect I am! My wife keeps referring to me as Alf (Alien Life Form). Well, I am from Oldham so she's not far wrong!

Why not visit our web site Click Here

There you will find Karin's books. She worked hard writing them and did a darn good job.

That time of year again.

2010-12-06T10:36:00.000-08:00

Many in America refer to this time of year as "The holidays", presumably to be politically correct. In my considered view, and taking into account all the rational pros and cons, political correctness is a load of horse shit! Let's get a couple of things straight. First the Jewish celebration, then the Christian:

The forces of the King of Syria desecrated the temple in Jerusalem and attempted to force the Jews to worship their god, this led to the revolt of the Maccabees. On retaking the temple it was discovered that there was just enough olive oil to light the menorah for one day. After lighting the menorah the lamps stayed ...lit for eight days - just enough time to press more olives and replace the oil. This resulted in 'the festival of lights' also known as 'Hanukkah'. Around the same time of year Christians celebrate the coming of light in the world, the coming of Jesus Christ and this is known as Christmas. It is not, 'The Holidays'. Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish brothers and sisters and happy Christmas to all Christians.

Kwanza, the festival of African heritage, is celebrated this time of year also, so happy Kwanza to all those of African descent.

Bugger 'Happy Holidays!' let's just call a spade a spade and refer to the time of year for the festival it is. A festival of light, whether Jewish, Christian of African. Soon we'll be seeing more daylight in our days, (Midwinter is around the 21st December) and we can start thinking, an planning for spring and summer.

While I'm in such a positive mood, I should say that I visited the hospital this morning and it appears that I tested negative for TB. Not exacly a surprise, but it's now been ruled out and it's one less worry.

For those unfamiliar with Spike Milligan, the following sketch may enlighten you:

Put him in the curry

Good luck to those who survive this one! To those who do not, tough.

Hitler sings...

And this concludes our introduction to my hero!
Spike Milligan - if you didn't grap that one.

Brrrrr! What happened?

2010-12-04T13:39:00.000-08:00

I got up this morning at the crack of noon - well it is Saturday! The sight that greeted me took me a little by surprise, but not for the reasons you think.

We heard a din last night and raised voices, this morning we discovered the reason as seen here. Someone apparently took his car on a skating holiday and had a barney with a sign.

While the road looks clear now, last night this wasn't the case. In fact yesterday there wasn't so much as a snowflake in sight - this lot came down overnight and the forecast is for more.

What had taken me by surprise is that I had been expecting to have to break out the snow shovel and ice melt and start shoveling snow. However, a neighbour has a riding snow-blower and he must have gone around the block clearing the snow from the sidewalk for the entire block. I didn't have to do anything, apart from grab Karin's camera and upload these photos.

This is Horton Street after the overnight snowfall, with the Trane building in the background on the right. The cleared sidewalk is more visible here and with luck I shouldn't find my feet at an higher altitude than my nose should I have to take the trash out. You may notice a few icicles on our building to the left.

At the moment I'm under house arrest (doctors orders) and I'm not allowed to go out in public. That's a bit of a bugger! I expect to be banging my head against the wall within the hour. Or I may put on a yellow dress and imitate a banana just to be awkward. Given that I'm a nut burger from Oldham I doubt that anyone will see the difference. Then I'll probably get impossible to live with (Karin be warned) because I have to give up cigarettes, or as my dear old dad use to call them, "coffin nails."

More of the snow pictures can be found on Facebook Here

Hospital and Back before the Snow

2010-12-03T17:05:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I've seen the X-ray and CT scan of my lungs, a light amount of emphysema and calcification of my lungs, mainly my right lung - pity though, it wasn't in 3D colour, I suppose you can't have everything. I don't suppose my 'Spike Milligan' attitude was much help either especially since I gained 5lbs and shrunk an inch. Now they have to test me for tuberculosis (TB) so they can rule it out - there's a bugger! The nurse pushed a needle under my skin filled with some kind of clear fluid and remarked that most people don't like to see the needle going in. Well, they can feel it so what's wrong with watching it do it's thing. I ended up with a welt that looks like a bug sting, now it's turned red - big deal. I can't be around people and if I am I have to wear a mask. I look like a skinny burglar!

This guy stopped by to see if I was interested in a position as a crew member. He said I'd be an ideal candidate with my scraggy appearance and face mask. He did mention something about sword play and poor pay. Nevertheless, I would get to see plenty of exotic places and strange people rather like himself. I declined his offer but thanked him for thinking of me.

I may be unemployed for the moment but desperate I am not. However, I'm happy that Karin and I managed to get home before the snow began to fall. Some places have already had five to seven inches, which for our neck of the woods isn't too bad.

Just to our north the snow can get a tad deeper as you can see in this pic. The lady who phoned the cops to report the theft of her snowman would not of bothered if she lived in Canada.

I suppose with a scarf wrapped about my mush, no bugger will notice my face mask - as long as I'm not mistaken for an illegal immigrant or a Zorro reject from back when movies were in black and white.

This reminds me of the old joke we use to tell as kids. A Jamaican crossing the road at a Zebra crossing, it's a case of now you see him, now you don't. Now you see him, now you don't. At the time we thought it was funny and I suppose Jamaicans told the same joke because a Zebra crossing is white as well as black - but in their case it would be the Englishman crossing the road. Pity that liberal, politically polite morons have no sense of humour. Even in Oldham, the ale cannot help them acquire the necessary humour to survive. Well that's it for another day.

Oldham Turns White

2010-12-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

It's true! The place that was once described as the home of dark, satanic mills with soot and grime blackening the stone buildings has turned white.

This able bodied Oldham lad is on his way to work - he forgot the dogs, but with Oldham being a town full of hills getting down some of them isn't a problem - getting back up again is. Then again, the pubs are open so by the time he gets to the top of the hill he'll not care too much. You may notice the right boot sticking out, this is the right hand turn signal to enter the pub's car park - or sledge park if you will.

Dobcross, like all the villages in the Saddleworth area faced blizzard conditions, with the Huddersfield Canal frozen and covered in snow. The Oldham Evening Chronicle reported:

SNOW could ease by the end of this week but Oldham will continue to battle sub-zero temperatures as the big freeze takes hold.

The Chron went on to report:

As the mercury tumbled to -2.8C overnight, snow showers blanketed the borough, turning village squares into picture postcard scenes.

Of course Dobcross, opposite, is well lit up with most people wrapped up warm in their homes or wrapped up warm in the local boozer.

We are supposed to be use to it in Oldham, and I suppose to some extent we are. The town is hardly at sea level, being at the foot of the Pennines with many villages like Dobcross, Denshaw, Diggle, Uppermill and Greenfield actually being in the Pennines, so there's a tendency for the town to attract cold weather, so much so that Penguins have been reported in some of the towns reservoirs frozen solid for the winter. When you see Polar Bears crossing the street in Diggle, you know it's either too cold or you've had too much in the Hare and Hounds!

So to my American friends in Wisconsin who have often queried whether or not we get snow in my home town, I would suggest that the answer would be in the affirmative. Oldham folk may be critical of the local authority, but that comes with the turf - who actually likes politicians and the officials who serve them? Nevertheless, the boys and girls at the sharp end of keeping Oldham's roads free of snow and ice do a good job in difficult conditions.

If my brother Kev, who is well over 6' in height, can see over the snow then the buses will keep running because the gritters will still get through. Mind you, I wish they'd stop using him as a measuring rod!

Just back from the doc. It seems I've a touch of cancer, and I don't mean the constellation. My response to hearing the news was a single word: "Bugger!"

It isn't as bad as it sounds, they may wish to do a biopsy to find out how to treat it, but it can be treated. The one thing I find annoying about all this is that I went to the docs with a cough! Now if I had have stuck with Halls Vapor Action Spearmint I may never have discovered this. Oh yes! The doc gave me antibiotics and they cleared the cough! Now you may understand the exclamation, "Bugger!"

Novemberrrrr again!

2010-11-30T19:22:00.000-08:00

It's Cold Again

As usual, the weather is gripping the news but this time on both sides of the pond. The kind of snowfall that we often get in Wisconsin, just after the ducks and geese take the greyhound bus south for the winter because flying can be dangerous, especially with the threat of hijacks and the TSA insisting that they go through a body scanner before take off. Even the ducks and geese are more than a little annoyed about the over the top security arrangements.

Local Drama
Okay, so I've been happily plodding along a footpath (American - sidewalk) and quite suddenly found my feet at a higher altitude from the ground than my head and the one thought on my mind has been "Oh bugger!". There's nothing like black-ice to encourage arse-over-tit adventures while on the way to or from work. In England I prefer from work because I can always pop into the pub for a pick-me-up that tastes suspiciously like a Scotch! Followed by a pint it's a case of black-ice, who cares? (photo - view from home last year)

Teens may well be able to dodge around computer programs, rattle off the latest theories and talk totally incomprehensible, like if you like know what I mean like? In winter, however, any indication of common sense seems to leak out of their left ear. On one occasion I was waiting for a bus in my home town of Oldham on a freezing cold evening, so cold that the Polar Bears were complaining! A taxi pulled up across the street and two girls emerged dressed in next to nothing - as if they had just alighted from the flight from the Bahamas, but no this was Oldham and they were almost naked! The two girls ran into the pub more than likely to top up on anti-freeze. They had to be a couple of cans short of a six pack to be dressed like that!

Okay, so it's Novemberrrr and we have the rrrrest of the winterrrr ahead of us. Oh heaven help us. The fun has only just begun.

Dumb Thieves

2010-11-30T17:00:00.000-08:00

The BBC reported the following:

Police in Greater Manchester caught a pair of suspected thieves after they followed a trail of frozen water leaking from a stolen boiler.

Officers were called to reports of a break-in at a house in Firs Lane, Leigh, at about 0150 GMT on Monday.
When they arrived, they saw the boiler had been taken from the kitchen - but it had dripped water which had frozen in a trail leading to a nearby house.
Two men were arrested on suspicion of burglary.
The men, aged 38 and 29, remain in police custody for questioning.

Nicking stuff is not a clever career move in the first place and this pair seem to have discovered this. Of course Britain is gripped by a freeze with lots of snow on the ground and more to come. Not exactly a good time to commit burglary - especially when there are tracks for the cops to follow.

How not to Park a Gritter!

So okay, the snow is bad and the driver of this gritter learned just how bad the snow can be. It'll teach him not to text his teenage daughter while driving a truck - or a tank - was it the same guy?

You know what they say about the last laugh, well we're getting a little of the white fluffy stuff now. I lost count of the number of times a Wisconsin resident asked me if we get snow in England, I replied, "Er... Yes!"
Talk about understatements!

I suppose with thoughts of snow and ice we may soon get into the habit of sucking a polo mint (American - lifesaver) and dreaming about the low-cut tops and tiny skirts of summer! Well, I will. I can't speak for the ladies and no doubt my wife will have something to say about that.

Oops... she read my mind... INCOMING!

Ouch!

Chicken Dinner

2010-11-27T12:06:00.000-08:00

Why is the news always bad? I've just heard from my brother Kev that my brother Austin's chickens got scoffed by a fox! What I want to know is, what on earth is a fox doing in Chadderton killing my brother's hens? Okay, so it tucked into an early Christmas dinner, but let's hope the bugger isn't back to wolf down some poor sods canary!

1755 a tsunami of 8' in height hit Penzance but did little damage. Karin and I have been looking at houses there but the idea of being washed away by a super-high tide is not too appealing to me, even if it is a nice location. Although it's way south of the Watford Gap, on the plus side the weather is a lot milder and the next tsunami (estimated to be around 200' in height) would give us a fish eye view of the sea, unless of course we are on high ground - very high ground!

I'm happy to say that the antibiotics worked and my chest infection and cough have gone. Folk are not giving me a wide birth now, not that I could blame them, it's good to get it off my chest!

It is such a shame that the Arc Royal is being retired along with it's Harriers, that's one great carrier and a great aircraft. Some older folk like me will no doubt remember the Harrier's roll in the Falkland's crisis when Argentina seized the islands and Britain took them back. Although the Migs were faster, the Harrier ate them for breakfast

RIP Arc Royal. I'm sure the crew are all proud to serve on such a fine ship with a great history. As time marches on, perhaps we'll not forget.

No more smoke stack.

2010-11-23T17:20:00.000-08:00

From what I understand of the medical jargon, I seem to have a touch of Emphysema and calcification of my right lung. I've to see a pulmonologist next week (some kind of blood doctor - not Dracula or a Pullman train). My guess is that I'll be advised to give up imitating a smoke stack (cough splutter).

Easier said than done, as many smoke stack imitators will tell you. At least I'll not have to keep going outside to smoke - it's getting cold here. Awakened yesterday morning by thunder and hail about half the size of a golf-ball hitting the window. It even took the weather forecasters by surprise - they didn't see that one coming. A couple of EF 1 tornadoes did some damage as well. Makes smoke stack imitators like me nervous!

The rug and the rest of Karin's on-line order arrived. Just like Christmas doing the unpacking, it's a nice rug and just what we needed for the living room. I've new jeans that fit perfectly and again they arrived just at the right time when the weather is starting to get colder. I must admit that I get worried when I see Inuit heading south - that's always a bad sign. They're blowing fake snow over Mt. La Crosse for the ski season and usually when that happens the real thing falls in quantity a short time later. I've the snow shovel ready, but I get the feeling I'll be needing blasting powder just to get the kitchen door open so I can take the trash out.

Thoughts are for warmer days in warmer places, while the central heating keeps the apartment at a reasonable temperature - somewhere well above freezing! I'm not terribly keen on waking up with frost on my nuggets. Time to sign off... NCIS just started on TV...

Not quite an armfull

2010-11-22T16:13:00.000-08:00

Well, off to the hospital I did go to have a blood test (not quite an armful) and a CT scan to find out what I have wrong with my lungs. A nodule appeared on an X-Ray and the doc wants to know what it is - is it serious or nothing at all. Of course I'm hoping for the latter rather than the former, but if it is serious the best it will get from me is, "Bugger!"

If by serious they mean popping my clogs, that's nothing in comparison with facing whopping Obama hospital bills for some operation or other. If by "serious" they mean snuffing it - the only thing about that is leaving Karin having to deal with the problems of day to day life and that bothers me. So if there isn't anything wrong it will be a relief - otherwise I would find it a bit irritating.

So why does it appear I'm not worried about curling up my toes? Easy! If there's one thing certain in my life it's my death. Some day I'll become Mick Cook the Spook - deaded all over. At least I'll snuff it with my faith intact and that's all that matters; I may grow old and knackered, but faith does not because like all things spiritual it transcends the limitations of the physical realm.

I think I'll spend some time praying that God will let me come back to annoy those civic leaders and politicians who interfere with Christian beliefs - not so much to haunt them, but to give them such a fright it could bring about a change of heart and mind. For example, when they're all gathered together I'll have the angels make the clothes of the politicians disappear, then I'll say to them, "Hello boys and girls - this is how you will appear before God, with nothing hidden!"

Then again, I have to remember that I'd have to be obedient to the will of God, nevertheless, God does have a sense of humour. How do I know that? Simple, God made everything that is good and we all know that a decent sense of humour is good - so humour is from God. Listen to what children say about the bible and you will have all the proof you will need.

High as a Duck!

2010-11-19T13:09:00.000-08:00

If you're touring France and you pop into a restaurant with Duck on the menu, check if it's from Michel Rouyer's farm before you decide to scoff the meal. Why? Well, the farmer got into a fix for feeding his ducks cannabis... I kid you not. He claimed it got rid of worms and he had the healthiest ducks in France.

Now to me this quacker seems as high as a kite - and it hasn't even left the ground! Oh yes, the farmer who grew the plant on his farm also admitted he smoked the odd joint. Big surprise!

So if you are in that restaurant and you tuck into a Duck Dinner, you'd better have a designated driver at the ready. Sure, you can try explaining to the police officer stopping you from going the wrong way around the Arc De Triomphe, "Honest guv... All I had was duck and a glass of water! Why do you sound like Inspector Clouseau?" Now that could get you into a lot of difficulty with the French Police, especially if you did a Peter Sellers imitation of a French cop! And all this because a French farmer fed his ducks cannabis!

Now I did warn you the other day that I'm from Oldham and my home town exports comedians, so I do have this tendency to see the funny side of life. Well why not? What's the point if you can't have a good laugh. Watch it Obama, you're on my list.

Downloading Blues!

2010-11-18T12:56:00.000-08:00

I've just downloaded windows Explorer 8 and it took a while, not only because the thing took it's time, but other programs wanted in on the downloading. Updates for this program and for that! By the time it was done I'd missed my dinner.

Now the real fun begins: will the programs work? They may well work - at least for those with a degree in computer science who can somehow understand the gobbledygook that often accompanies the instructions. I thought that HTML meant, "Heck, This Mother's Loose" meaning a screw on my laptop before it went toes up. Others tell me differently, HTML doesn't mean that.

Little brother (Kev) meaning younger rather than smaller, the sod is over 6' and while he may not tower over me, he can make me feel small.

In the picture, Kev is sitting on the wall of a castle overlooking a Welsh village. He and my brother Austin (Aussie) were touring Wales with Karin and myself.

Yep, Kev and Austin are Oldham born and that means trouble if you haven't got a sense of humour. Aussie likes to tell stories - the taller the better. He once convinced a woman he was working with that he was building a robot to replace her and her colleagues. He was actually wiring a controller for a laundry press.
Maybe I'll introduce you to the mob... sorry, family members later. Right now I'm hungry after all that downloading!

Welcome to my Blog

2010-11-17T14:13:00.000-08:00

This old guy has been around a little. I was born in the North West of Britain, lived in the Republic of Ireland for nine years or so and now I'm married and living in Wisconsin, USA. I've learned that most people are decent folk, reasonably easy to get along with and unlikely to be a problem - but there are exceptions. The loud, aggressive nutters show up anywhere, sober or staggering down the street as if their legs lack bone, but perhaps it has gone to their heads!

Blogging, as such is a new concept to me and whether I'll keep it up remains a question that only time will answer. I suppose it will be a case of watch this space and see what happens. My wife Karin's Blog and this one can also be accessed through our web site: The Cook Companies

Watching the news the other day, I was struck by the objections people were expressing to the airport body scanners and new security measures. I thought maybe one answer to that would be to arrive at the airport completely naked and have done with it! If we were to all travel naked by air - where would the terrorist hide the tools of his trade? Now if you think I'm serious you are more nuts than I am - and that's saying summat! When I am serious about something I'll let you know.

As I said above, I'm from the North West of Britain - Oldham to be precise - a town that manufactures and exports comedians. Having a sense of humour may not be necessary to live in Oldham, but it certainly helps and there's no question about that.

This is what happened when an Oldham lad parked his tank!!

I hope ye all get the message!