Office Party Don'ts - A Quick Run Through

eWeek.com has a handy dandy page that tells 10 Office Holiday Party Landmines to Avoid. The last thing anyone needs is to have a celebration turn into a personal disaster. All of the things on the list are really common sense but it is a good thing to nudge memories on occasion. Especially when it might affect one's job or pocketbook.

The slide show that eWeek presents on the link above goes rather quickly so you might want to pause the pages with the button below the cartoons. Unless you are a speed reader.

The suggestions start off with: Don't blow it off. - Either show up or have a good excuse about why you are otherwise engaged. You may risk offending the exact people you want to impress and subtly convince to advance your income bracket. - Quite often I find myself dreading going to holiday parties and then enjoying myself after I get there.

Don't 'not know' who you are talking to. - You don't want to ask the fat lady when the baby is due and then discover a: She is not pregnant and b: She is the bosses wife.

Don't get plastered and tell the boss how you really, really feel. - If you know you can't have more than two drinks without singing show tunes or slandering your workplace, for the love of God, please don't have three. - Exercise a bit of self control. This should apply to the food too. AND FOR GOODNESS SAKES DON'T BREAK YOUR AA RECORD OF 3 MONTHS CLEAN AND SOBER FOR ANY REASON YOUR BRAIN MIGHT TELL YOU!!!

~~~~~

Other suggestions include, Don't just talk shop. Loosen up. Dress properly (there might be pictures taken ) . Don't bring guests unless told it's ok. Mingle with people you don't hang around with at lunch. If you screw up apologise (without excuses or blame) right away. And last but not least, Remember your manners.

It sounds like stuff out of, ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN but as stated at the start of this posting, it is a good thing to remind ourselves of things like this lest we forget and suffer the consequences.


~~~~~

Technorati Tags -
Christmas -
Society and Culture -
Holiday Parties -
Manners -

Carbon Dioxide Scam Revisited

Today while checking my site stats I noticed someone had hit my prying1 blog post concerning the Carbon Dioxide Lawsuit against the EPA by various states and environmental groups. Someone from Australia had searched for "carbon dioxide scam". (WITH "quotes") - At the time of this posting my blogpost was the ONLY real hit Google had for that search with quotes. Two were Technorati and Kinja Weblog Guide which both pointed to my blogposting. The third was a WJZ News story that I had linked in my posting. The WJZ story did not have the word scam in it.

Taking out the quotes I found several stories that support my point of view which is that the Global Warming issue is a scam. My main question is, "If we give every dollar on the planet to Al Gore will he be able to control the weather?" - I think not. -

~~~~~~

The Kansas City Star on 1 Dec 06 had two unaccredited letters to the editor on their opinion page.

One letter was PRO the Lawsuit and stated: ... "Two previous EPA findings during the Clinton administration concluded that the agency has the authority to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The Bush administration has subverted the EPA’s purpose by taking the wrong side in this case." ...

President Bush has said, "the globe is warming. The fundamental debate: Is it manmade or natural?"

The other letter was CON the Lawsuit and stated: ..."Saying that there’s man-made global warming is not enough, legally: The plaintiffs have to show they have standing by proving actual injury and that relief would fix that injury. And given the scientific facts in total, not just the side of the man-made global warmists, nothing is incontrovertible."

~~~~~

Then there is this:

''We urge the United States government to reject the global warming agreement that was written in Kyoto. ... The proposed limits on greenhouse gases would harm the environment, hinder the advance of science and technology, and damage the health and welfare of mankind.

''There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing (or will in the foreseeable future cause) catastrophic heating of the earth's atmosphere and disruption of the earth's climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the earth.''

The carping of an oil-industry flack? The ignorant mutterings of fringe antienvironmentalists?

No. It is a petition signed by nearly 17,000 US scientists, half of whom are trained in the fields of physics, geophysics, climate science, meteorology, oceanography, chemistry, biology, or biochemistry. The statement was circulated by the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine along with an eight-page abstract of the latest research on climate change. The abstract - written for scientists but comprehensible by laymen - concludes that there is no basis for believing (1) that atmospheric CO2 is causing a dangerous climb in global temperatures, (2) that greater concentrations of CO2 would be harmful, or (3) that human activity leads to global warming in the first place.

From Jeff Jacoby - Boston Globe Columnist on 11/05/98 - thanks to Man Made Global Warming Debunking News and Views for posting the above

~~~~~

prying1 sez: Before we start handing out money willy nilly to The Chicken Littles of this world we should first of all decide a: Are their claims true? and b: Can they do anything about it if they are given hard earned tax dollars. 17,000 Scientists have signed a paper saying that the claims by the "THE SKY IS FALLING" crowd are false.

I say we should demand the MSM report both sides of the issue. My little blogpost should not be the only place on the internet that gets hits when"carbon dioxide scam" is typed into Google.

Perhaps the EPA should file a counter-lawsuit...
~~~~~

Technorati Tags -
Global Warming -
Enviromentalism -
Fraud -

SFC. Paul Ray SmithWednesday Hero 6Dec06

SFC. Paul Ray Smith
33 years old from Tampa, Florida
Bravo Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

April 4, 2003

When you think of the word Hero, SFC. Paul Smith is the person you think about.

On April 4, 2003, Smith was setting up a temporary enemy prisoner of war holding area during the seizure of Saddam International Airport when his unit came under attack.

Smith kept his soldiers focused during the fight while engaging the Iraqi force of around 100 men with his M16, a hand grenade and an AT4 anti-armor weapon.

Smith tossed a grenade over a wall then he climbed atop the armored vehicle. Disregarding personal danger, he sprayed the attacking troops with .50-caliber machine gun fire. According to the Army, he told a soldier who accompanied him to "feed me ammunition whenever you hear the gun get quiet." He fired more than 300 rounds at the enemy before being mortally wounded himself.

For his action on that day, SFC. Smith was posthumously awarded the Medal Of Honor by President Bush,

becoming only the 3,459 serviceman to be awarded the honor since the Civil War.

His "conspicuous gallantry, above and beyond the call of duty," according to his citation, protected the soldiers in his platoon as well as other troops at an aid station nearby.

These brave men and women have given their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

Blogs Partcipating In Wednesday Hero

Yankee Mom
Bear Creek Ledger
Mail Call! Supporting The Troops
Yeah, Right, Whatever
CrosSwords
Gazing At The Flag
Gawfer
Ohio Military Reserve
DeMediacratic Nation
My Point
A Day In The Life Of.....
Blue Star Chronicles
Prying1
Pet's Garden Blog
Pictures From My World
Freedom, GUNZ, Glory and EBYJO
Gunz Up
Screw Liberals
Did You Ever Get The Feeling
A Rose By Any Other Name
My Weekly Thoughts
Rightwing Guy
Trying My Best To Support The Troops
American And Proud
Maryannaville
Hooah Wife & Friends
Right-Wing & Right Minded

Technorati Tags -
Wednesday Hero -
War on Terror -
Heroes -

Dennis Prager Lives in America

Last I heard this country has Freedom of Speech. Dennis Prager has exercised it by writing an article at Townhall.com in which he deplores the idea of recently elected Congressman Keith Ellison, D-Minn swearing in on a copy of the Koran instead of a Bible. Dennis expressed his feelings and since writing the article has taken many hits from people on both sides of the aisle.

I feel that Mr. Prager made some good points in his article. The folowing for example:

Devotees of multiculturalism and political correctness who do not see how damaging to the fabric of American civilization it is to allow Ellison to choose his own book need only imagine a racist elected to Congress. Would they allow him to choose Hitler's "Mein Kampf," the Nazis' bible, for his oath? And if not, why not? On what grounds will those defending Ellison's right to choose his favorite book deny that same right to a racist who is elected to public office?

There must be lines drawn or society will fall apart. Is this one of those places where the line should be drawn? I think so. Not because I am a hate filled Christian do I believe this but because common sense tells us that there will be those in the future that will demand more and more untill there is no line at all.

Dennis Prager has, since his initial posting on Townhall authored a rebuttal to his critics. In it he says:

My belief that the Bible should be present at any oath (or affirmation) of office has nothing whatsoever to do with the religion of the office holder. And it never has until Keith Ellison's decision to substitute a different text for the Bible. Many office holders who do not believe in the Bible at all or who reject some part have nevertheless used the Bible at their swearing-in (I noted this in my column). Even the vast majority of Jews elected to office have used a Bible containing both the Old and New Testaments, even though Jews do not regard the New Testament as part of their Bible. A tiny number of Jews have used only the Old Testament. As a religious Jew, I of course understand their decision, but I disagree with it.

The following is from - Mark Memmott's posting at USA Today

Today, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Prager should lose his presidential appointment to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council because of "his intolerant views toward Islam in American Society."



- prying1 sez: How intolerant can you get. Wake up CAIR. You are in America . We have Free Speech. -

~~~~~
Update: A certain Mr. Douglas V. Gibbs of Political Pistachio fame placed a link in the comments that I feel is worth bringing up into the post. If this debate interests you please click here. Feel free to leave a comment there as well as here. Debate is good for America.

P.S. I love the closing lines on the video.
~~~~~

Technorati Tags -
Dennis Prager -
Koran -
Bible -

Jokes Are Not Funny Anymore!

I recieved this joke via email. From someone who will remain unnamed at this point in time because I do not wish his email box to be overflowing with hatemail. To those who wish all jokes to be against rocks, flowers and anything except dearly beloved vegetables or people please quit reading now.

You have been warned.

Joke follows:

Welfare in Mexico :

Question - When you apply for Welfare in Mexico what does the Government give you?

Ok. This is a riddle and not a joke. I know there is a difference. It is funny only if you have a twisted mind. You will laugh only if you think that humans are less than human. You won't laugh if are of the mindset that jokes that utilize people in any way, shape, manner or form are uncaring and cruel.

Like those firemen that that gave their co-worker dogfood. You know. The guy that accused his co-workers of being racists. If you are on his side and think he deserved 2.7 million dollars because his nickname was 'Big Dog' click the X in the upper right corner NOW.

~~~~~

Still here? Good. I hope to "Keep out the riffraff" as Roger Dahlhjelm said. (Running a search won't work. You have to buy the book or email me. I read the book.)

It is questions like this that make you realize that although you are not racist at heart you do enjoy jokes that hit people where they live. Be it in the country either you or they live in. Doesn't matter which. You don't consider being from a particular country as belonging to a particular race.

Ok. Enough space on this post has occurred so that those who love riddles and don't want the punch line revealed right away (so they can think about and guess the answer to prove to themselves (***No one else wants to be around them so they only have themselves to prove it to***) that they are really smart even though nobody else wants to be around them etc....


This is for you....

~~~~~
Oh Darn! Where did that email/punchline go?

Scheesh! I opened and closed to many windows.

Oh, Here it is!
~~~~~

Answer - A map of the United States !!!

prying1 sez:
Hope you remembered the original question.

If not perhaps you should have clicked the X when I said to.

Technorati Tags -
Humor -
Jokes -
Racism -

Leaked Rumsfeld Memo Causes a Stir

Quite a few stories and articles on the latest classified "Rumsfeld Memo" that was leaked to the world recently. People on both sides are taking snippets and reading into it what they want. So, as a matter of course I felt it neccesary to put in my 10 cents worth (darn inflation affects everything.)

But first, before my opinion, let's hear from a few other voices out there.
~~~~~
KAIT ch8 out of Jonesboro, Arkansas reports:
On a Sunday political talk show, national security adviser Stephen Hadley played down the memo, simply describing it as a laundry list of ideas.
and
Murtha says the conflict in Iraq has descended into civil war, with U.S. troops "caught in between." Once Democrats take over Congress in January, he says, he'll put pressure on the administration to redeploy U.S. troops.
and
Brookings Institution senior fellow Michael O'Hanlon told CBS that the Rumsfeld memo is "pretty close to an admission that we are failing."
~~~~~
Capitol Hill Blue published the entire memo with the headline, "Rumsfeld's final memo admitted failure in Iraq". They inserted the following bit in their article:

Bush had already decided to fire his defense secretary and offered the job to former CIA head Preston Gates the day before Rumseld issued his fateful memo. White House souces say Bush read the memo Monday night, flew into a rage and decided to kick Rumsfeld as soon as the election was over -- a move that would be a public humliation for the Defense Secretary.

Bush told Vice President Dick Cheney on Election Day that Rumsfeld was out, no matter what happened in the vote. Cheney tried to talk the President out of the decision but failed. Bush's firing of Rumsfeld, sources say, has led to a permanent rift between the Preisdent and his Vice President.

~~~~~
HotAir's Allahpundit posted:

I don’t have much to say about it but it’s everywhere so I’m obliged to blog. Re: the substance, he tosses everything out there except the one thing that would have the most appreciable impact: more troops, more troops, more troops.

Allahpundit also ruminates over who leaked the memo. His opinion is that it was either Bush or Rumsfeld or both.
~~~~~
prying1 sez: Allahpundit sort of wins the contest I had mentally set up. (Sorry Allahpundit - no prize.) His posting was the first I saw that asked the question of who leaked the memo. I saw a passing reference to the NYT being the first to get it but did not substantiate that tidbit.

I read the memo and thought 'laundry list of ideas' best described it. Why it should be classified I don't know. BUT if it truly were classified I would like to know who leaked it! I would also like the bum thrown out of his job, given a shopping cart (with a wobbly wheel) and told to fullfil his real calling in life.

In the past 6 years has even one person been caught and prosecuted for leaking classified info from our government's offices? I missed it in the news if it has happened. I'm doubting it will happen within the next two years...

When security is disregarded by both sides for political points we cannot expect our country's flag to wave for much longer.
~~~~~

Entire Rumsfeld Memo Here - thanks to the New York Times
And Also Here - Thanks to Capitol Hill Blue.

~~~~~

Technorati Tags -
Rumsfeld Memo -
Politics -
Security -

Messiah Concert in Temecula CA

For your consideration

In Temecula California - Sunday - December Third - 2006, at 3:00PM -

The
RANCHO MUSIC ASSOCIATION
presents

Handel's Messiah

with 60-70 Voice Chorus
Symphonic Orchestra and Inspiring Vocal Soloists!

Hosted by

Grace Presbyterian Church
31143 Nicolas Road - Map -/- Directions
Temecula, CA 92591

Phone: (951) 695-1913

A freewill offering will be taken.

~~~~~~~~~~~

My wife and I will be in the chorus. She sings soprano and I sing bass so we stand on opposite ends of the platform.

Get there EARLY if you can make it. Otherwise you might be shunted to a room with a big screen TV and speakers. Not quite the same as being in the church proper.

This is an annual program so consider it for next year if you cannot make it this time.

~~~~~~

Technorati Tags -
Messiah -
Music -
Events -