Blogroll Issues

I like my Blogrolls with butter and jelly

Well, Blogrolling's server is down. That's why you cannot see the links, etc. Let's hope for a speedy recovery...Update: well, I guess they're back.

Over 1 Million And Counting

Whoa!

I just read that "Blogger now has over 1 million registered users."

No Comprendo

I Need help with Spanish

Some time ago, I had a visitor to Streams of Consciousness, who left me his comments, almost entirely in Spanish, I believe. It appears that his comments are a poem, but I haven't a clue what he's talking about. So, if anyone out there can help, please do. Muchos gracias!

Update, 8 Jan 2003: Not Spanish, but Italian!!! Irene is my heroine! Read the translation she came up with; it's actually quite beautiful!

Presidential Assassination Trivia

"History Lesson": courtesy of Mom via email

Presidents elected in a year ending with a "0"
Note that these are in increments of 20 years:

• 1840: William Henry Harrison (died in office)
• 1860: Abraham Lincoln (assassinated)
• 1880: James A. Garfield (assassinated)
• 1900: William McKinley (assassinated)
• 1920: Warren G. Harding (died in office)
• 1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (died in office)
• 1960: John F. Kennedy (assassinated)
• 1980: Ronald Reagan (survived assassination attempt)
• 2000: George W. Bush ???????????? And to think that we had two guys fighting it out in the courts to be the one elected in 2000.

Lincoln and Kennedy

Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy share some common connections:

• Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
• John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.
• Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
• John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.
• Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
• Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.
• Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
• Both Presidents were shot in the head.

Now it gets really weird...

• Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.
• Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln.
• Both were assassinated by Southerners.
• Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson...
• Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
• Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.
• John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.
• Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.
• Both assassins were known by their three names.
• Both names are composed of fifteen letters.

Hang on to your seat...

• Lincoln was shot at the theater named Ford.
• Kennedy was shot in a car called Lincoln made by Ford.
• Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

And here's the kicker...

• A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland.
• A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe.

Creepy, huh? Feel free to share this with others, because this is one history lesson many people don't mind reading...

PCOS and Infertility

Reuters Video - Health Feature Story

"One of the most emotionally devastating problems associated with PCOS--a disorder that affects five to seven percent of women of reproductive age--is infertility. Though infertility does not occur in all PCOS patients, for some women it is a difficult obstacle to overcome. What is the connection between PCOS and infertility, and what can be done about it? Join our panel of experts to find out."

Officials look for source of lake's black hole

ESPN Outdoors - Fishing News | Officials look for source of lake's black hole

"BRAINERD, MINN. — A mysterious black hole in the ice of North Long Lake has officials stumped — and it's getting expensive."

10 Free Seminars from Encarta

Encarta eLearning Center - Behind the News: 10 Free Seminars

"Make sense of the world. These free seminars address some of the most fascinating--and sometimes perplexing--issues behind today's headlines." more...

Daschle Leaning Toward White House Bid

Maybe I should start keeping a running list of those who have tossed their hat into the ring for the 2004 Democratic Presidential Campaign. It may be a moot point to do that, since the Democratic party may wind up choosing someone else to put on the ballot at the last minute, like they did in New Jersey and Minnesota this past election.

Also, Jay Leno, on Thursday, January 2nd:

Tom Daschle announced this week he is going to run for president. Be still, my beating heart. I don't want to say Tom Daschle is boring, but his Secret Service code name is Al Gore.

from NewsMax.com

Update: Well, I guess he's not running after all, maybe.

Some Thoughts on the Weekend Past

• Snowy Winter
• Back to School
• Respect Your Elders
• Tired
• Separating Friends

Snowy Winter

I drove to work today in Mom's car, since Jennie has been using our car for when she goes to work. It's been snowing rather frequently so far this winter. I would rather have things that way than for it to just be cold without any snow.

Back to School

Also, today is the day that nearly all kids who were off on Christmas break go back to school. Keisha was really excited about going back to see the friends she has in class. She'd been feeling sick since late last week, but apparently the medicine she's been taking is making her well.

Respect Your Elders

One thing Jennie and I are realizing is that Keisha really needs to respect my Mom. Last night at the dinner table she goofed up in how she was behaving toward her Nana, and it was a golden opportunity for us to teach her the correct behavior. Jennie rightly pointed out that Keisha models our behavior, and while I couldn't see it, I agreed and apologized to her for any behavior I'd demonstrated and committed to changing it.

Tired

Another thing about this weekend is that I felt tired nearly all the time. I'm grateful for the opportunity to nap, but that also means that I don't do much anything else. Jennie and I were so tired last night that we went to bed without watching 'Alias'.

Separating Friends

I also found out yesterday that a couple whom we're close friends with is separating. It hurts in my heart just to think about it. They have four kids between the ages of 4 to 8. I hurt for these kids because I was six years old when my Mom and Dad separated. Divorce hurts everyone. Believe it.

Euthanasia

I recently got an email from my friend Dale U. He writes:

In mid-November I had to put Candy to sleep so its very weird being at home with no companionship. Candy had been suffering from cancer and it finally got the last bit of strength she had so I regretfully decided to have the vet put her to sleep. I was there with her when she got the injection of an overdose of a barbiturate. It was very shocking how fast it acted though it was painless to Candy. She was a close part of my life and so it has made the last several weeks a bit sad. Candy was so loyal and dependent to me she won my heart in some deep places. It is a very weird thing to decide that something that is alive should be killed.

I remember finding out that the two dogs we had growing up had to be put to sleep. I had already moved away from home, and I found it rather easy to take. Looking back, it probably was because I was no longer around them much anymore and the attachment had begun to fade. I think about our puppy, Jake, though. We've all grown attached to him, and were something to ever happen to him, I know I'd feel sad.