Home of the Hamburger

U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for August 1:

August 1st is the annual Home of the Hamburger celebration in Seymour, Wisconsin. Just in case you have any vacation time left.

News Flash!

Placemats of the Future has returned after a long hiatus. I knew you'd be interested.

Federal Trade Commission - The Do Not Call Registry

I just registered. I know it won't prevent all calls from coming to us, assuming we still have this phone number by the time it officially goes into effect, but it will reduce the amount of unsolicited calls we're getting.

Isn't Reading Fun?

One of the best ways to encourage your children to read is to model it yourself. If your children see you reading and enjoying it, then they will pick it up, too. This is one thing I've loved about my Mom and Dad. They are both avid readers.

This reminds me that I need to update my reading list, which I have set up via AllConsuming.net and add it to my homepage. I used to have it here on this blog, but I thought it would be too cluttered if I kept it on there.

I'm currently reading Frank McCourt's, Angela's Ashes. I felt so lucky to have found the hard cover copy of this book at the used book store for $1. Today I found out from someone living in Ireland that the book was made into a movie. I'll have to check with the public library to see if they have it.

What are you reading?

Dating My Wife

When Jennie and I were dating in 1994, I had just moved up to Dayton, and she still lived in the Cincinnati area. We'd see each other maybe three times a week. This was before we got engaged, which is a completely different story.

We started a tradition as our dates would end:

There was a White Castle restaurant close to where she lived, and we'd stop there before I dropped her off at her house (We didn't live together before we were married; I don't think that would have been what Jesus would have done, actually.). We both liked their coffee and vanilla shakes, and we'd order one of each and then split them both by pouring half of one into the other, and vice versa. Then we'd hang out for a bit until we'd finished our "mochas." It was a really good 'bonding' time for both of us, and helped us deal with the reality that I'd be heading back to Dayton after I took her home.

As I took Jennie to work this morning, that memory just popped in my mind. Yesterday she was off work, and we went to McDonald's to order some of the McGriddle sandwiches that I used to mock. They're actually really good. Maybe that experience is what helped me to remember our dates from 9 years ago.

Needlephobia

Carla talks about the changes to her family's life now that her husband has been diagnosed with diabetes, one of which is getting used to the needles. Last week I mentioned my blood donation, and, while I endure a little bit of discomfort, I cannot bring myself to look at the needle going in. IreneQ has said she's too afraid of needles to donate blood.

So, I guess that we're alike in this small way, too. :)

PBSKids.org

Keisha and I enjoy watching PBSKids in the mornings before she goes to school and when she comes home. Right now she's watching Clifford: The Big Red Dog. I really can't stand Jetta, the prideful girl who really knows how to create trouble. It does create a plot for the episodes, I guess. And, fortunately, she does see the error of her ways by the end of the episode.

Humorous 911 Calls

via email from Steve

• Addressed for the Evening
• Sandwich Emergency
• Cooking Advice
• At Your Civil Service
• Smarter Than She Sounds
• You Talkin' To Me?
• The Least of His Troubles

Addressed for the Evening

Dispatcher: Nine-one-one What is your emergency?
Caller: I heard what sounded like gunshots coming from the brown house on the corner.
Dispatcher: Do you have an address?
Caller: No, I'm wearing a blouse and slacks,why?

Sandwich Emergency

Dispatcher: Nine-one-one What is your emergency?
Caller: Someone broke into my house and took a bite out of my ham and cheese sandwich.
Dispatcher: Excuse me?
Caller: I made a ham and cheese sandwich and left it on the kitchen table, and when I came back from the bathroom, someone had taken a bite out of it.
Dispatcher: Was anything else taken?
Caller: No, but this has happened to me before and I'm sick and tired of it.

Cooking Advice

Dispatcher: Nine-one-one
Caller: Hi, is this the police?
Dispatcher: This is 911. Do you need police assistance?
Caller: Well, I don't know who to call. Can you tell me how to cook a turkey? I've never cooked one before.

At Your Civil Service

Dispatcher: Nine-one-one. Fire or emergency?
Caller: Fire, I guess.
Dispatcher: How can I help you sir?
Caller: I was wondering.....does the Fire Dept. put snow chains on their trucks?
Dispatcher: Yes sir, do you have an emergency?
Caller: Well, I've spent the last 4 hours trying to put these chains on my tires and....well.... do you think the Fire Dept. could come over and help me?
Dispatcher: Help you what?
Caller: Help me get these chains on my car!

Smarter Than She Sounds

Dispatcher: Nine-one-one What is the nature of your emergency?
Caller: I'm trying to reach nine eleven but my phone doesn't have an eleven on it.
Dispatcher: This is nine eleven.
Caller: I thought you just said it was nine-one-one
Dispatcher: Yes, ma'am nine-one-one and nine-eleven are the same thing.
Caller: Honey, I may be old, but I'm not stupid.

You Talkin' To Me?

Dispatcher: Nine-one-one What's the nature of your emergency?
Caller: My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart.
Dispatcher: Is this her first child?
Caller: No, you idiot! This is her husband

The Least of His Troubles

Dispatcher: Nine-one-one
Caller: Yeah, I'm having trouble breathing. I'm all out of breath. Darn...I think I'm going to pass out.
Dispatcher: Sir, where are you calling from?
Caller: I'm at a pay phone. North and Foster. Damn......
Dispatcher: Sir, an ambulance is on the way. Are you an asthmatic?
Caller: No.
Dispatcher: What where you doing before you started having trouble breathing?
Caller: Running from the police.

Divorce and Firing by Mobile Phone

Reuters reports that a Muslim authority has declared that it's okay for a Muslim man to divorce his wife via a text message. Islamic law permits a man to divorce his wife by declaring "I divorce you" three times.

Amazingly efficient. It's as though marriage doesn't mean anything anymore to some people.

I read recently on emblog that a British personal injury claims firm, The Accident Group (TAG), sacked 2500 employees via text-message this past May.

Also, amazingly efficient. Paperless, too. Geez.

Update: Irene commented that the decision by the Muslim authority has been overturned. Thanks!

101 Things Removed From The Human Body

On the radio this morning, I heard about this upcoming new reality show that will broadcast on Fox starting this coming Thursday at 9 PM Eastern time. It sounds wrong in so many ways, perhaps 101 ways. I think I'll watch the CSI repeat on CBS instead.