Don't hate her because she's beautiful.

I've a friend who is the white, Texas, female version of Sanford of that old TV show Sanford and Son. This was in her front yard with tons of other junk. I tried to talk her out of it her, but she - the female Sanford, not the mannequin head - didn't want to part with it her.

This effects me on some level, but I'm afraid to try to figure out just what that level is. It might be deeper than I've ever gone before.

I'm a fairly shallow person, so that's not really saying all that much.

Pizza Poll

I LOVE these Blogthings!

What Your Pizza Reveals

Your appetite is that of a sperm whale. You don't eat too much, unless a wheelbarrow is now considered a spoon. You are a very ugly pizza eater. In fact, I bet you were called "Pizzaface" as a kid, weren't you? You like food that's either raw or cooked. You aren't impressed with "gourmet" foods because you can't even SPELL "gourmet" much less know what it is. You are selfish, picayune, and inconsiderate with your lovers. You are an ill-bred insufferable jerk. You should consider suicide. The stereotype that least fits you is human being. Your friends secretly agree.

What Does Your Pizza Say About You?

Walmart Ain't Sweet

I'm getting extremely annoyed with my local Walmart. Over the course of the last year, they've had the big bags of Splenda on their shelves exactly once. They've got the smaller sizes, the boxes with the individual packages, plus the sugar/Splenda mixes (what's up with that?) but not the large size bag.

I would prefer buying my sweetener there instead of the grocery store as I can save a buck a bag at Walmart. At least the last time I spent an extra dollar I got a free Koolaid spoon.

I did purchase a new item from Splenda, a nifty little dispenser that, with one click, drops a tiny pellet that's equiv. to one half a teaspoon of sugar. For some reason I always think of rabbits pooping in my coffee when I sweeten it.

Just as well, I guess, that I have to monitor my Splenda intake; some say it's toxic.

Sex, Nazis and Burritos

According to Reuters, internet users in Egypt, India and Turkey Google the word "sex" more than anywhere else in the world.

From the article:

Germany, Mexico and Austria were world's top three searchers of the word "Hitler" while "Nazi" scored the most hits in Chile, Australia and the United Kingdom, data from 2004 to the present retrievable on the "Google Trends" Web site showed.

The top searchers for other keywords were as follows (in order from first to third place):

"Jihad" - Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan
"Terrorism" - Pakistan, Philippines, Australia
"Hangover" - Ireland, United Kingdom, United States
"Burrito" - United States, Argentina, Canada
"Iraq" - United States, Australia, Canada
"Taliban" - Pakistan, Australia, Canada
"Tom Cruise" - Canada, United States, Australia
"Britney Spears" - Mexico, Venezuela, Canada
"Homosexual" - Philippines, Chile, Venezuela
"Love" - Philippines, Australia, United States
"Botox" - Australia, United States, United Kingdom
"Viagra" - Italy, United Kingdom, Germany
"David Beckham" - Venezuela, United Kingdom, Mexico
"Kate Moss" - Ireland, United Kingdom, Sweden
"Dolly Buster" - Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia
"Car bomb" - Australia, United States, Canada
"Marijuana" - Canada, United States, Australia

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I've NEVER googled Nazi OR Burrito, btw.

From Here to Eternity

R.I.P. Deborah Kerr

Winners & Losers

Note: This is from an article in the Washington Post a week ago; it wasn't reported in Drudge nor in my political forum. I don't understand; this is one of those issues near 'n dear to my heart. Texas gets 88 cents back from every dollar "we" send to Washington.

I guess I should feel lucky; that's better odds than a slot machine.

(Click for a larger image)



By Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The federal government's system of taxing and spending works well for people in New Mexico, Mississippi and West Virginia. Not so well for those in Minnesota, Delaware and New Jersey.

New Mexico received $3.10 in federal spending for every tax dollar the state sent to Washington in 2005 -- more than any other state -- said an Associated Press analysis. Delaware fared the worst, receiving 42 cents for every dollar sent to Washington. It was followed by Minnesota, which got 46 cents, and New Jersey, 57 cents.

In all, 30 states and the District of Columbia received more money from the government than they paid in federal taxes.

The Census Bureau report on 2005 spending documents the geographic distribution of $2.3 trillion in government spending, including salaries, grants, military pay, government contracts and Social Security payments. It excludes interest on the national debt, overseas spending and intelligence agency budgets. The AP compared the census data to IRS figures for 2005 tax collections.

The analysis shows that wealthy states pay more than poor ones, blue states subsidize red states and states with powerful politicians on key House and Senate committees fare well in federal spending.

High-income states like New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts paid more in taxes than they received, while low-income states like Mississippi, West Virginia and Alabama got a much higher return for their tax dollars. The exceptions were Alaska, Hawaii, Virginia and Maryland -- high-income states that also received high levels of government spending.

Scott Hodge, president of the Tax Foundation, a Washington research group, said the numbers represent a redistribution of the nation's wealth.

Responding, James Horney, director of federal fiscal policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said: "I think it is appropriate for people doing well to pay a higher share."