Happy New Years!

While the moment's gone past our friends on the other side of the pond, we Ex Pats of The Queen and Musketeers still have about 100 minutes left before ringing in New Year's Day.

Fuelmyblog's got a comment party thread going on, first we've had. First time too we've seen graffiti like this.

I wish I could say I didn't know what happened, but I do...er...I did...er, I mean I know what happened, and I did it.

I'm not admitting to nothin'. Fuelmyblog. Yep. And Happy Holidays!

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The most hilarious image found on my site this year

Considering who the advertiser is, considering who sold that ad, considering who this blog is hosted on, considering the controversy over Page Rank and PPP, and that MY PR went from 4 to 0 over doing business with the company THEY are selling ads for now on THIS blog...

...that's bullcrap.

Image taken from a screenshot of this blog on 12/30/07 at 12:52am EST. This entry is being placed on a 'forward date' to keep it at the top. It bored me, so it's in the mix where it belongs.

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I'm not a Shlepper! I pay my way, yearly!

The cool thing about being autonomous is you don't answer to anybody. On the other hand if you want to get things from here to there you end up paying some movers New York. It's the cost of doing business.

When it comes to the digital world, I don't. Now if I lived in New York and had to move, I would. But for my sites, nada. Nix. Zilch. Nyet!

Just paid the yearly bill over at Homelessinjax.com, since it's yearly billed on the anniversary date I relocated from Jackpost Hosting to a meaner, leaner machine.

The funny thing is I keep hearing of people paying out the Wazoo for sites using US based servers. Me, I actually pay less a year than what others pay monthly...with no limits in size, bandwidth or storage. Yeah, I got an account as well at Dreamhost for Life Onwards, but the transmit of files there is nowhere near what I get from my UK based server. Strange, since their on the 'other side of the pond'.

My PDA, My Stylus, My Luggage

Stylus replacement 5/25/07 6:09 am
Sick of searching online, I resorted to bastardizing...I entered Office Depot...I feel...soiled.

I have a drawer with two stylii I haven't touched since. I only needed one. Why must I have bought three? The one stylus will outlive the battery in the PDA holding it. Am I a slave to 'The Man'?

Nay, I say, NAY! I will purchase my luggage and trod down yonder road, on to a better place and time.

The present: obviously, it all worked! Here I am, proof that a good set of wheels and determination can get a body up and out of anything.

Night kids. Posting will resume shortly. I'm simply letting some people get more peeved with my existance.

Page Rank Page Rank PAGE RANK...and a bit of PR!

Get increased page rank with business opportunities advertised in Google Adsense, even though you'll get your page rank sucked for doing it!

See...my Adsense and how it reacts to my content!

See...my Adsense give you opportunities!

Wonder...if those paying companies will get hit as long as their paychecks keep going through.

Kinda funny, when you think about it. Almost as funny as the multitudes of people coming here on a search for "homeless family pornography", as well as the ever elusive "sex with lego people" searches on Google. I wonder if they have HDMI cable...shouldn't everyone?

State of the Blogosphere

The recent additive to the Friday Reviews at Fuelmyblog; not done on Friday, so sue me; is on Conspiracy Videos. You should check them out. The link is to the right in the panel.

Tens of thousands still rant over the issue of 'Gmoney'; you know who that is; and the 'Gdance' that's hit them in their bottom line. A number of 'knowledgeable' bloggers have taken sides on the issue, and what's resulted is your typical "I'm ok, you're not ok" scenario. Go bless the 'Gmoney' and do a search on "page rank". I'd give a link, but I've done my gratuitous bit having their AdSense in my sidebar.

All hail Adsense, keep us safe from other people choosing to pay us for linking...not that you do that whatsoever, Great Adsense!

In a strange twist of fate the search term equestrian riding apparel; not to be confused with this link but of equal value none the less; turned out tons of results for people choosing to search on that specific term. Details at...some other time.

And finally in a trip down IZEA lane, bloggers involved in the P-P-P revolution are all screaming out the need to totally discontinue using 'Gmoney system' and go with some form of 'Real Rank' that reflects...what they think reality is. Considering this blog is in the top 1000 of tens of thousands, I'll go along with that mindset!

And lastly; but not leastly in addition to the prior said finality which isn't all that final at this moment, but was then; police recently entered the area of The Sulzbacher Center and took away all the children from their parents.

Each child was allowed to purchase $200.00 of gifts.

I'm JohnC and that's what I know, for the moment. Cya!

Kim's Walk

Kim Denmark from Dayton Ohio is walking the United States, state by state, and trying to get awareness up and out over people living unsheltered. Some good pics from someone trying to do something. Check out the site http://www.kimswalk.org, and don't forget to get a Technomarine watch for when you go on your own walkabout!

The one thing that's worse about possibly getting lost is not knowing what time it happened!

12+ respond to traffic stopper in the streets of Jacksonville

No, this isn't a slam on Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Nor on the person driving the little red car. Witnesses were overheard giving statements to police that the man pictured here appeared to intentionally jump on the hood of a stopped vehicle that was just prior rear ended by a white van that fled the scene after this 'victim' was pointed at by dozens of onlookers.

From daylight until the sun went down, police worked this accident scene to it's close. No identity was found of the victim, nor of any blood on the asphalt or vehicle in question when I personally inspected both during and after the police cleared the area after 6:10pm.

The sad thing? The person who was driving the red car is actually a nurse known to me and part of the same agency I've been advocating for three years.

That's ironic.

On any given month Jacksonville Fire and Rescue responds to hundreds of calls involving homeless people stating the need for emergency care. In my personal experience I can say that 90% of those I've seen firsthand are fraudulent.

Not saying that this person isn't faking it...or that he's homeless. Advocating for homeless is one thing. This...is another. Hopefully he got help for whatever his problem is.

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Media Mentionables This Last Month

Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre does a play about the homeless to help the homeless.

Clara White cut back meals to the homeless a while ago. They're the only 'meal line' that's consistently met expectations when providing meals that are balanced to meet the health needs. They're now back on track.

Jacksonville's Food Bank gets covered at a time when they can't handle the overwhelming needs of both shelters and families having a recent need for their services. Better story here.

Rather than be given the local office or point of contact where our local ordinances are archived, a kind girl from City Hall sent me to a third party site where this city's municipal codes can be looked up. Do people really trust a site with a disclaimer when trying to get local ordinances? Is it me or what?

Homeless Man gets life for sex related death

Oh, I got spammed by Drew, another Fuelmyblog Content Writer. Don't honestly know if I'm still considered a content writer there with everything that's been going on. If I'm not, I can always hack Kevin or something:

Hello,

This is Drew from www.benspark.com. This month I am running 3 great contests on my blogs The BenSpark, The Wired Kayaker and Read to Me, Dad. Some folks have already entered and some have not, still others might know nothing of these contests so I am sending out this message to make sure that everyone was in the know.

I am working with three great companies to give away some awesome products. I have each of the products in my possession and I have tested each one and love them.

I am giving away a Hawaiian Shirt, some T-shirts and a hat that are being supplied by The Mad Gringo. www.madgringo.com
You can find out more info and enter the contest at http://www.wiredkayaker.com/2007/12/mad-gringo.html

I am giving away a GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr Lite that is being supplied by GiSTEQ Corp. www.gisteq.com
You can find out more info and enter the contest at http://www.benspark.com/phototrackrcontest.html

And as a new Dad I find this last prize as indispensable. It is the Baby Sherpa Diaper Backpack that is being supplied by Baby Sherpa. www.babysherpa.com
You can fin out more into and enter the contest at http://www.readtomedad.com/babysherpacontest.html

The deadline for each of these contests is Saturday December 15th. Voting begins on the 16th. Good luck.

Also I am in a contest and today is the end of round 2. I am a bit behind but I've been rallying the troops as it were and would like to make it to round three. Here is the website for that http://www.iblogcup.com/blogCup3/main.php Voting is a simple click of the Vote button next to the blog name The Ben Spark. If I make it to round three there will be continued voting daily for me, so please check back there tomorrow to see if I made it or not.

Also if you would like to never get another message like this from me please drop me a message to say remove. If I accidentally e-mailed you twice drop me a message and let me know what e-mail address I should hang onto and which one to drop from future messages.

--
Drew

Visit my blogs -
The BenSpark - http://www.benspark.com
BenSpark 2: Electric Boogaloo - http://benspark.blogspot.com
Flatwater Tech - http://flat-water.blogspot.com
The Wired Kayaker - http://www.wiredkayaker.com
Read to Me, Dad - http://www.readtomedad.com

Geez, he's longwinded.

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Gifts for the groomsmen and the criminal mindset

When you want to get a guy who's making the plunge something, a groomsmen gift selection can make sure everyone looks uniform.

Looking uniform is a cool thing. People all lined up in a row like ducks neat, proper, and in a line. Sometimes people try to do that...sometimes it can be pulled off, other times not.

I've also come to learn that one group's illusion promoted can be stated as reality, and that one man that chooses to look to the reason of the illusion manifested is said to hallucinate.

It's called control. It can be called different things...games, politics, or other nice synonyms. But in the end the act of not respecting someone and giving in to habits as a fallback mechanism is the act of a criminal mindset.

"I'm ok, you're not ok". "The end justifies the means".

Attempts to validate something that's wrong take attention from the original act by trying to rationalize wrongdoing.

When arguing or debating always return to the root incident or act in determining it's validity or intent. That's where judgement should lie. Not in the aftermath.

PDA Archives Lost: Denture Adhesives

Another prior entry on my PDA I never put up.

The 'name brand' my wife just got; w/similiar packaging to the sample recieved from my dentist; isn't anything compared to it's lookalike counterpart. Her choice was based purely on emotion...it's what her deceased Uncle used.

Tastes like it.

Thinking bakc on it now, I can't remember anyone having dentures while staying in a shelter ever having been offered denture adhesive. Kind of funny when I think about it.

There was however the ability to always go find fitness equipment in some community facility to use to improve one's abs, not that I ever recall anyone experiencing homelessness doing that either...but it's good to know it's always a possibility.

I have no idea what's been going on lately

For the regularly readers, friends, groupies, and anyone else seeing this allow me the chance to elaborate on the reasons for much absence. I'm still wondering if it really was Osama been Hidin' who was the last requestor of my whereabouts.

A little over a month ago I had started winding down from any involvement from 'monetizing'. There were a few things going on with a blitz trying to get some capital up for some 'thing' in my mind I wanted to do with 'things'.

In the process I connected with a number of other people involved with outreach to people experiencing homelessness. Kids, families, single people, and even a young teenager who elaborated how she dealt with cross dressers being identified wrongly as deviate sex predators.

Then there was a 'dawn til dark' outreach I was personally involved with, as well as some of it's planning prior. Literally hundreds of people in the street at one time, as well as some up close and personal conversations at some local restaurants, down time spent on holy ground role playing a citizen watching the mafia try to kill a supercop being pursued by a nurse trying to save his butt.

Then there was the legal question of what is and isn't legal to do according to local codes or ordinances. From City Hall through Jacksonville Sheriff's Office then outwards to two seperate non profit agencies, each one makes the claim what they're saying as interpretation of local law as 'the correct thing', yet none of them have been able to give myself or confidential sources the specific ordinance they're choosing to 'educate' people about.

It's very confusing. It's more confusing when each place you go a different person's got their own agenda behind their version. Laws on the books are a matter of a person with some form of technical writing proficiency 'doing them up' and people in authority making votes whether they are passed as ordinances or codes. If you can hack and understand algebra enough to program in Basic, you can produce pseudocode from the original source and from there produce something in English that translates to people what exactly is 'the way things are' without loss of integrity.

Rather than waste my time on the issue further, I'm simply giving out the number to Legal Aid.

Then there was the nomination last week by one of my mentors to the Board of Directors of the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of Jacksonville, Inc. (ESHC). There was the review of the 44 page packet I was sent in email, there are the questions I asked later, and there was the understanding I made clear that I'd basically act accordingly.

So far there's been some communication with their Executive Director. They were supposed to vote last Thursday, and the results to be given a few days later. No word yet, I know one person's name on the Board due to the email that passed, and was updated last week that things were continuing through phone conversations.

I'd originally thought I'd have to back off heavily from my online activities, since there's some specific bylaws and article statements for the Directors. The thing is, if I did that I'd be selling out...and that's not something I can do.

Originally I went through the 'elation' phase after getting the news. Over the last week or so, I've been asking some direct questions over roles and relationships that I wasn't aware of but need to know when becoming involved in 'the circles' I'm walking in to. The ironic thing is whether the vote is 'Yae' or 'Nae', with having gotten to the point of having to ask these questions I'll be involved in those circles, since this is the path that was being taken prior to the nomination.

And at this point, I'm babbling. The funny thing is these things don't even touch the deeper and heavier matters that can't be related here that I've been experiencing in the last week. It's complicated, it's impacted the entire family, and I keep the faith by remembering the sun comes up in the morning.

If it doesn't, I'll swim the Atlantic and kick it's arse.

Thanks for the patience. Oh, and one last thing! Please...please remember...

Only YOU...can help keep proper cell reception!

This message was NOT brought to you by a Google Page Ranked site with a value of ZERO!

Be well, and may your God go with you.

Getting help when your perspective is warped by drugs

Another entrant into the foray of addiction treatment is Sunset Malibu.

One of the misconceptions is that one treatment fits all. Luckily that's not what's going on at Sunset Malibu. Check out the bathroom facilities and you'll see the quality of care they offer.

The only thing I couldn't find were mentions if they take Medicaid. Their site has a collection of articles laid out like a blog, so it's a good read to see what's behind the curtain before committing oneself...to being committed. No pun intended. Course not.

If you don't get help at Sunset Malibu, get help somewhere.

Aprons...I say 'APRONS', children!

Aprons! The one thing you can get to give for those that give to the getters this holiday!

The one thing I always saw when people would volunteer to serve in our local shelter was a need for better linen. Don't get me wrong, the Sulzbacher Center tried...but if you've been in the backside of a restaraunt, you know what I'm talkin' about.

Old white aprons don't cut it. They pick up odors over time that can't be washed out. It's not a homeless thing...it's an 'everywhere' thing!

Drop the quarter for someone dropping things to get something done you might not have time to. Granted they can always use those disposable plastic aprons, but won't you just feel guilty for knowing they could have been kept from getting their stomach's burned when leaning over to put a pat of butter on someone's plate?

Do the right thing.

Afterthoughts from the givers: It's a worldwide wonder

Since the word got out that all those people who 'donated' laptops through the "One Laptop Per Child" program won't be getting 'their' laptops in time for the holidays, there's been some interesting questions that've come up in varying places.

The most interesting is the one theme prevailant:

Kingofwale: How about a "friend-code" chat thing through the laptop I bought to the one I donated? So I can actually find out more about this supposedly under-privilege child I'm supporting. And if the laptop helped him in any way.

Maybe some people genuinely want to know they're getting some bang for their buck, but on the flip side the concept is creepy.

What's to keep pedophiles from 'donating' laptops in hopes of cultivating 'sleepers'?

I doubt that's the case with Kingofwale, but I don't doubt that some sick SOB hasn't thought of how to get a cheap laptop out of this deal and not considered the possibility.

Another issue I've got with the project is the well intentioned 'policing'. Mentions of kids screens coming up with pornography by media in recipient countries has caused squawks by some locals...who obviously weren't there helping the kids in the first place and teaching them were not to go online. It's caused filtering to be placed in some systems/laptops, and it's not really understood how much 'non adult' content will actually be blocked from being displayed at this time...regardless of what anyone's been told.

In closing, there are millions of children worldwide who could benefit from a laptop. Nowhere have I been able to find where any disadvantaged kids have been able to receive these that resided in any of the American Contintental areas...North, South, or Central.

To me that doesn't sound too global a concept.

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What we went through wasn't that bad, compared to others

One thing that homeless people worry the least about is travel insurance!

Decades ago I had the chance of meeting some of the Pacific Gardens Shelter residents in Chicago. I learned first hand what someone faces when being 'dropped' into a metropolitan landscape with no means to exist. While I don't discount the validity that this and other places serve a purpose, they should in no way be seen as 'the answer' to America's homeless problems.

Regularly I saw a handful of men leaving out on papertrucks that would come by, opting to hawk newspapers on busy streetcorner intersections in some of the foulest weather. It was a commission based business, and got me enough in a few hours to pay for a $2.00 hamburger at the local Burger King. Not knowing where anything was, I wasn't about to give anyone the idea I had funds on me by asking where a grocer was...even though there was one on the other side of the block.

I kept in that microcosm for about a week and a half, other than the jaunts in and out of it using the local Metra system, all the while aware of the roaming 'gang bangers'...groups of kid gangs...that were known to roll one or two men found alone and off the beaten path.

I came to my senses by the end of two weeks, and walked to the nearest on ramp of the interstate hoping to get to warmer climates and denizens. The point of this entry is that while my family may have had it hard, there are much worse places to be homeless.

Just food for thought. Happy holidays, everyone!

Homeless Family Going To A Hotel Sequence

From it's opening sequence, I felt this would be a pretty true rendering of what a family faces when being placed in a hotel at the City's expense.

Although filmed in Canada, it's very much true to fact of what their counterparts south of the border go through.

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Doublespeak of your government

Wow! Kind of a dry week as opposed to my prior ones with blogging.

I'm still wondering if last week's statement over the potential of a 'cargo container' community by Diane Gilbert of the ESHC was fluff or actually being considered as possible.

What I do know is there's still families in this county who're living in a hotel room not suitable for even two people to stay overnight in. I see regularly these parents taking their children to school by City Bus, rather than having their children picked up and transported...which is Federally protected.

I see parents that are afraid of being identified as 'unfit', fearful of having being reported to Children and Family Services and losing their children.

I see parents who have seen other parents reported for alledged abuse, neglect, drug use...and those children taken immediately into State Custody, based on a service provider's statement. My wife has also heard a Supervisor of these investigators state openly that a trend shows these reports are higher with some providers when compared to their peer agencies.

I see the McKinny-Vento Act state one thing, while what's practice is another. I remember when nobody would post homeless student's rights, except for me...on my family's room door in a shelter. I have seen excuses and arguments made why children have to walk past needles, single homeless men, and dangerous traffic patterns daily...and it's still accepted to this day.

And now there's legal wording trying to make Federal Law now that states people 'doubling up' with family, of people 'couch surfing' with friends, of a number of things identified in the McKinney-Vento Act as 'litmus tests' to determine eligibility of students to receive services...all of those people WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED HOMELESS.

Baloney. We'll end up with one law saying "You can't count them", and another that states "They're countable". But people say I'm a whiner.

The hilarious thing? If I were to be asked to speak on these issues to Congress, it wouldn't help any homeless people. It'd help people that make a living off them.

And that's wrong.

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Product Buzz: Lint B Gone

Lint b gone is one of those items you may have seen on television commercials, in this case it's asking price goes for $12.95 usually.

"TV Products 4 Less" is pushing this for $9.95 though. They've put up space over on Yahoo, and since they're dealing in bulk are able to pass on the saving to readers.

If you've ever thought about getting any of the typical "TV only" deals, check out this product, as well as all the others available there.

Site Review: Cliffside Malibu

Drugs and booze: they can rip your life apart. Locally you might be able to find some form of care, but if you're looking to kill two birds with one stone and turn your rehab into an enjoyable getaway, Cliffside Malibu is the palce to be.

Their drug rehabilitation also goes deeper than most, in attempting to identify the root problems of the addiction. In most cases this is a matter of mental health. It's nice that there's weekly meetings held by two letter acronym associations, but let's face it...memorizing and reciting twelve steps does NOT a broken mind fix.

Product Buzz: Standsandmounts.com

Got a request over the weekend to check out some audio racks. I thought it was interesting they've got rack systems that are up to the expectations of the RIAA.

Ok, I thought it was hilarious really. We've heard tons of stuff about illegal downloading and now I find that there's standards and expectations they've got over construction and use of audio racks based on meeting their guidelines?

You need a loan after getting Page Rank Blitzed?

In defiance of being banned by Google? Hey, don't feel left out and alone! My PR3 I had...that went to a PR2...then to PR4...and finally a PR2?

I've got a PR0 now! And I'm STILL the #1 Search Engine Placement for 'Homeless Family' on a Yahoo Search!

That being said, let's all take a trip over to Quickercashadvance.com since we might be needing a little payday loan since we all got hit!

Make a fire to cook or stay warm outside

This evening while watching the WJCT broadcast I thought about the people without a pillow or blanket, sleeping outside huddled to stay warm...no use for a fire glass.

You see, in Jacksonville it's legal to have fires outside for either warmth or for cooking...but don't take my word for it! Contact the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at (904) 630-0500 yourself. Ask if it's legal to build a fire to eat food outdoors, and if it gets cold if you can build a fire to stay warm.

Remember, they're your rights to exercise. You just didn't know them, that's all.

Homeless Shelter Life Skills They Refuse To Teach

Thanks to Tomit where I caught this from, another Twitterer.

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Homeless Advocates: Get Your Shirts On

Local PBS affiliate WJCT has responded to my email with an invitation to participate as a member of it's audience. No word has been given of how much time the audience will be given, as oppossed to the people that 'armchair quarterback' this meeting in both email and phone calls.

I've had contact with two other advocates over the issue of this forum. Before I gave them my view and perspective, their words were that it was "one sided", "about business and promotion", and "this has nothing to do with why we've still got thousands of people sleeping outdoors".

The picture here leads to where you can purchase your own "Don't Taze Me, Bro!" T-shirt...as well as thong underwear (no, it's not my site but I think it fits the theme here). Unfortunately the hour is too late for them to arrive in time for the forum.

There's always the next one.

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Homelessness Live Broadcast Forum: WJCT Nov 15 8pm

From their site the following information...
First Coast Forum: Homelessness

Thursday, November 15 at 8 pm
Confirmed panelists:
• Terry Lorince, Downtown Vision Executive Director
• Audrey Moran, Sulzbacher Center President
• Ju’coby Pittman, Clara White Mission President
• Diane Gilbert, Jacksonville Homeless Coalition
• Janice Ancrum, Community Connections Associate Director
Audience members can participate in First Coast Forum by emailing questions and comments to firstcoastforum@wjct.org or by calling (904) 358-6347 during the program.

I've contacted them about attending the forum. I don't doubt the intent of this forum, but there isn't anyone representing the homeless community...just the service providers. I don't feel that's right.

If you're a regular reader; or are familiar with me online and know of my advocacy on this issue; please leave a comment on your view for the benefit of WJCT Public Television in case they see this entry.

Should John; or someone else representing homeless people themselves; be part of this public live broadcast forum? Please...comment.

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MyBlogLog: Can't find the server at civrf.yahoo.com.

Hmmm, another buggy night with MyBlogLog's widget as well as member and community pages.

I had a problem with my two sites loading up, actually had some of the avatars load...only to disappear as the page tried to load. Funny.

Also, I just tried to hit my own site...where I serve my own images on my own server. Ironic...they're not coming up either, even though I can access them through FTP clients.

Yep, I just downloaded from my site through FTP! That's ok. I also tried in MSIE. Turns out it's a bad bottleneck on the internet tonight. My personal server is in the UK, while Yahoo is somewhere out on the other Coast, so I'm betting someone's done something like cut a fiber optic or something somewhere in the middle of the United States in the last 20 minutes.

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Product Review: Dog Tags from Quicktrophy.com

A few weeks ago I was asked to review Quicktrophy.com's dog tags. Pictured to the right is what I got in the mail just the other day.

Placing the order was pretty easy, compared to some sites specializing in customized gifts. Since I'm going with creating a music blog on Lifeonwards.com, I chose to go with a clef note.

The dog tag was marked appropriately, came with the swivel chain, and was sealed in plastic keeping the tag seperate from the chain to avoid scratching damage during shipping.

Adding your message is easy too, and there's enough space to add your own personal touch. Mine was:

John tagged me, so

I keep this close!
lifeonwards.com

Just remember to show the love as much as possible in your online business.

Things that they say just don't make it right!

Fracas quotes contemporary poetry.

Christy's colorblind. She never listened to me about mine. Nuts to her.

Roger claims he's touched the tasty parts of Bigfoot.

Gabby makes something for someone, but can't show something til someone shows it first. I'd show her mine if she showed me hers first. Promise!

Liz is fantasizin' about quality time on a deserted island with you. Go ahead...it can't be any stranger than what I plan for my time with her playin' Literati with our backs to each other.

Sara, Koreans, bars, sex...and now existential thoughts of Cell Phones. The girl needs you. Be there for her.

Sam about Ubuntu Live. Kids...they're so cute sometimes.

Jill...you remember Jill...she used to grace me so long ago with her swimsuits here on the blog...I'm saving her last for least. Apparently she's got a 'manthing' going on...whatever, I don't want excuses or stories of camp, multipurpose tools...just swimsuit shots!

Remember, if you visit these sites you'll possibly get STDs, cooties, and other stuff you were warned about in fifth grade.

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My Blogroll

I had a talk with one of my readers who's having a problem with spiders. His site runs on a limited bandwidth, and he's getting it sucked up by search engine spiders.

Most of the problem is the sites that link to him are doing so from EVERY page, instead of just one. That being said, I'm moving all my blogrolls to their own page or entry.

Feel the love.

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Cell Phone Illumination Night, Nov 13th, Venice Beach

In honor of Homeless Youth Awareness Month, there will be a special Cell Phone Illumination ight on Tuesday, November 13th to help raise awareness about youth homelessness.

The event will bring participants together in Venice Beach, at Rose Ave and the Boardwalk where they will raise their open/lit-up cell phones at exactly 7:13PM in recognition of the 13 homeless and runaway youth who lose their lives on our country’s streets everyday. The Cell Phone Illumination Night will be happening at the same time all across the country in other STANDUP FOR KIDS chapter cities.

The Cell Phone Illumination Night is also part of the STANDUP FOR KIDS “Calling An End To Youth Homelessness” campaign - the national awareness and fundraising effort based on a partnership with ReCelluar, Inc. - whereby used cell phones and cell phone accessories are collected to generate funds for the organization and relay the need the call an end to youth homelessness. The Cell Phone Illumination Night is open to anyone who wishes to participate.

StandUp For Kids is a not-for-profit, volunteer driven organization whose mission is to “help rescue homeless and at-risk youth”. Founded in 1990 in San Diego, California, StandUp now has over thirty-five local outreach programs in twenty states. To learn more – visit www.standupforkids.org.

Recellular, based in Dexter, Michigan, is a global leader in the used cellular phones industry, providing solutions for the collection, reuse and recycling of mobile phones and personal electronics. To learn more about ReCellular, Inc. – visit www.recellular.com.

For more information on this benefit or the “Calling an End to Youth Homelessness Campaign” contact losangeles@standupforkids.org.

Video Blog Update

Another choice one for thoughtful thoughts is up over at Life Onwards Videos. This one's pretty intense.

If you're prone to 'triggers', I don't recommend it.

It's pretty deep.

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Back from the StandUp-A-Thon

Keith Sanders, Michael Gallant, Matt Tundermann and myself

This afternoon I had the chance of looking these three other goons in the eye, up close, and personal from StandUp For Kids at today's StandUp-a-thon. Keith's the national guy, Michael's the Florida man, and Matt's the local yocal. When I cover something, I cover all the bases.

Matt did a great job emceeing the show, running all around the entire time...between introductions of performers he'd head over to his table and then off to someone else that he wanted to check in on.

The show offered break dancers, 'tribal dancers' (I liked them the best, cause I felt like I was watchin' Indian belly dancers), and some folks doing old fashioned classical dancing.

Unfortunately there wasn't much turnout of any of the agencies serving the homeless seen here to support it, including the much awaited appearance of Glorious Johnson. The Jacksonville Council...woman, person, or whatever...was never spotted after having agreed to not only stop in, but to speak to the crowd from the podium.

Too bad, she and the rest of the people being the first to ask for participation at 'their' events missed out. Somehow it worked out for the best though...for me.

...because I was asked if I wanted to...ooops! Almost let the cat out of the bag!

I'll just say that by the time I got home, there was an email in my box and it has something to do with the new widget on the side here, as well as the one being sported at Homeless In Jax.

If I didn't have good bladder control, I'd pee myself right NOW!

My younger daughter accompanied me to the event, and we had a great time during and after. Took a boat taxi across the St. Johns River, had a light lunch of Bourbon Chicken, and while leaving grabbed a few ice cream waffle cones. Hers was Cotton Candy and mine was Cookie Dough.

I finished mine before her. Nyah!

The only thing I need to do now is get an elliptical, so I can work on blog entries and be able to show a hot stomach in my pictures.

Bloggers With Integrity Award for For Social Conscience

Shinade gave me this award a little over a week ago, and here it is for you to see.

I don't know that what I blog or write about is having Social Conscience, but if being a stubborn jerk when someone's being a stubborn jerk for no good reason is that...then I guess I am.

I'm confused now, she uses big words. Click on the pic, and see who else got this. As for me, I'm giving to the following: Everyone in my sidebar link roll, cause I don't blogroll no crap here!

13th Juror
An Indelicate Matter
Auntie Dar's Life
Bill Blunt
Caveman Ogre
Chris Cree
Christy's Coffeebreak
Cindy Yen
Daddy Papersurfer
diary of a 70s teen
Ecossaise
fracas
Gabrielle Faust
Harry McFry
Idaho Daily Photo
Ipso Facto
Jeffrey
John's Blog
Lady Rose
laketrees
Liz Strauss
More Doubts
My Style
Ocean Guy
Old Timer Speaks Out
Owen Holmes
Oz
papelustro
Paula
Penfold
Roadside Scholar
Saradevil
Shinade
Spurious Ink
Sylvie
Taosbound
The Pisstakers
Troy Worman
Twipply Skwood
Urban Jacksonville
Wacky Mom

Everyone stop and give yourself a great big hand. Now drop and give me one for the 82d!

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Golden Corral: Military Appreciation Monday, November 12th, 2007

If you've served in the United States Military, Golden Corral offers a place at the table.

For the past 6 years, Golden Corral has been honoring the US Military with a free “thank you” dinner and beverage at any Golden Corral restaurant on Military Appreciation Monday (first Monday after Veteran’s Day).

This year, Golden Corral has designated Monday, November 12, 2007, from 5 to 9 pm, to honor any person who has ever served in the United States Military.

If you know a veteran, let them know. If you know of a place veterans congregate, please consider printing this; or Golden Corral's page; for their benefit.

Thank you.

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Ignore the NAACP

The NAACP is an organization that promotes racism through reverse discrimination against local community residents not of their color.

If they wish to be considered or heard as leaders and peers in our communities, then they need to address the fact it's time to change their name.

Using guilt trips is a sign of control. Claiming one race is of more importance or promoting growth of one race in particular is racism.

• Show your support by placing this graphic link anywhere using the below code.
• Use businesses that DON'T promote one race as opposed to another.
• Don't give in.

Being of a race isn't a problem. Ignorance is. Discriminating against others because of race is a crime.

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