muddysmind.com

New Photo Series

Happy New Year Everyone!

I have a new photo series called "Christmas Ice" since we had a nice thick layer of ice for Christmas.

Happy New Year Everyone!

*click on the images to proceed to deviantART for the full size image

Tracker back online

Good news Steeler Fans.

My tracker is back online. Just an fyi any Black Sheep Squadron fans out there I also have the History Channels Story of the Black Sheep on the tracker.

Happy RamaHanuKwanzMas!

From all of us here at Muddysmind.com to all of you, we wish you a Happy RamaHanuKwanzMas!

(image from Glenn Beck)

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

Five Inches and counting. Of ice and snow. I started to shovel off the driveway (see picture) and decided that it was pointless. The steady down pour of ice pellets were putting a nice shine on the parts I cleared off. Not a good shine either, it was smooth enough for my child and I to do a little ice skating on. I figured it was better to drive on crunchy snow and ice than pure smooth ice.

New DeviantArt

New shot posted up to DeviantArt, let me know if you like it.

Teens sack Santa for sweets in southern France

It seems the U.S. is not the only thing France hates. :-P

ALES, France, Dec 21 (AFP) - A sweets-giving exercise by a Santa Claus in southern France turned sour when a group of greedy teenagers kicked him to the ground and beat him up for not handing over his sack of sweets, police said Tuesday.

The man, dressed up as Father Christmas to hand out the sweets to children in the centre of the town of Ales on the weekend, was set upon when he refused to give more confectionery to one of the youths.

The teenager and his friends, all aged around 15, kicked and pummeled the man until they were scared off by passers-by.

Officers said Father Christmas suffered multiple bruising and had lodged a criminal complaint.

Story @ Expatica

Starting Over

Lt Col. Oliver North USMC (ret)
In wine, the experts say, vintage is everything. If that's the case, 2004 has been a very bad year for the United Nations. But the U.N.'s vinegar may yet prove to be a very good thing for the rest of us -- particularly if it is decided to break open the casks, pour out the putrid contents and start over.

For adherents of "internationalism" and "collective security" at the U.N., 2004 has been a tough year. The "Oil-for-Food" scandal, a story that first broke on Fox News, now has "legs" of its own -- and investigators are honing in on those closest to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

To make matters worse for the egocentric Mr. Annan, George W. Bush, who challenged the U.N. to live up to its own stated resolutions and responsibilities -- and was castigated for doing so -- got himself re-elected.

Read the rest of the article here

cwilli note: this is another great article from Lt. Col. North. A must read!

Tracker Down, Along with My Workstation

Sad news kids, My Linux Box died... at this time it's either the Mobo or the PS.
I'll update when it's back up.

Sad story raises interesting question.

December 19, 2004

Johnnie Carl, 57, the conductor of the Crystal Cathedral Orchestra committed suicide Friday at the landmark glass and steel church after a nine-hour standoff that began just before congregants prepared for a Christmas pageant.

Carl reportedly had an argument with an employee Thursday evening. He then returned to his office, fired four shots and barricaded himself in a bathroom. Police attempted to talk to him, however, Carl shot himself to death.

According to authorities, Carl had grappled with depression and was hospitalized for depression weeks before taking his life. Carl's wife Linda said her husband stopped taking a drug that helped him control manic depression because he was concerned about the possibility it might harm his kidneys.

Three weeks ago Carl was admitted to the University of California, Irvine, Medical Center when his condition worsened. He was at the medical center for about 5 days. But his wife said she didn't think he was entirely stabilized.

Full Story @ Health Talk

Muddy's Notes: I was always taught growing up that if you kill yourself you will not go to heaven. Even if someone had accepted what Jesus did for them and asked God into their life. This article got me thinking. I can only assume that this man had asked Jesus into his life and was a believer. So in turn how could God refuse someone who was mentally unstable and committed suicide? I don't know the answer myself however human logic would suggest their salvation would remain intact. I did find some interesting reading on the subject of suicide that still did not give a clear yes/no answer however seemed to debunk the theory I was raised on. (this is not a go ahead to those of you out there who read this and are unstable to go ahead and kill yourself, just thought I'd clear that up now)

If a Christian commits suicide, will he go to Heaven?

France Launches Spy Satellite, U.S. Prepares Star Wars Test

"What I find interesting (aside from the fact the French even have a spy agency.. ) is that it was launched from French Guiana. The name alone leads me to believe that the "Do as we say, not as we do" French need to take a long look in the mirror before complaining about the U.S.'s so called colonizing of Iraq. Hmmm... makes you think huh?"

By Laurent Marot

KOUROU, French Guiana (Reuters) - A European Ariane rocket launched a military surveillance satellite on Saturday, the third in a French-led drive for a European "spy in the sky" independent of the United States.

The Ariane-5 rocket blasted off at 1:26 p.m. (1126 EST) from the European Space Agency (ESA) launch site in French Guiana on the northeast coast of South America.

An hour after lift-off, space officials said the Helios 2A satellite separated from the rocket. An additional six microsatellites were also released by the rocket

Full Story @ Reuters.com

Steelers at Jaguars Ready

Steelers at Jags game is now done and posted to the tracker.

Enjoy.

Here We Go Steelers! Here We Go!

Pittsburgh native Curtis Martin pulled ahead of Jerome Bettis in the NFL rushing standings, but it was the Steelers running back who engineered the victory as Pittsburgh beat the Jets 17-6.

The victory this evening allowed the Steelers to clinch the AFC North title.

The first half was a defensive struggle as Ben Roethlisberger was held to 24 yards passing, completing only 3 of 11 throws.

Chad Pennington also had a rough start. He had passes intercepted by James Farrior and Troy Polamalu in the first half.

The second half belonged to Bettis.

Full Story @Post-Gazette.com

Telemarketers Begin Mobile Assault

A plan by a powerful telecommunications group to make a directory of wireless phone numbers is riling many who fear that their cell phone numbers will become prey for telemarketers.

Even though it is illegal under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 for telemarketers to call mobile phones without permission, it is also illegal under the federal CAN SPAM Act of 2003 to send much of the junk mail that, legal or not, still floods our e-mail inboxes.

The move to compile a directory of cell phone numbers comes from the Communications, Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA), a trade group for the wireless industry.

It's designed to be voluntary. Before your number appears, you have to agree to it.

The CTIA argues that the directory is needed because more than 8 million Americans use only wireless phones.

Full Story @ Detroit Free Press

Redskins vs. Steelers

Video is now posted. I changed the audio to 96k from the standard 128k this time. Trying to get more space for video. Will be working on the Steelers vs. Jaguars next.

Steelers vs. Skins & Jags

For my brothers and sisters in the Steeler Nation I am currently working on the Skins and Jags games. However I won't get the Jets game, sad to say.
I'll update once they previously mentioned games are ready.

Drug Lords Develop Genetically Modified Cocaine Tree

LONDON (Reuters) - Colombian drug lords have developed a genetically modified "cocaine tree" that contains higher drug levels and is resistant to herbicides, the Financial Times newspaper said on Tuesday.

Full Story @ Excite News

Hunter shot in rump during toilet break

Hehe... oh the many french jokes I could make..

IT was a case of the hunter being hunted when a 70-year-old French man stopped to relieve himself against a tree Friday and was shot in the backside by his own rifle.

Firefighters in southern France recounting the incident said the unidentified man leant his gun against a car and was shot when it fell to the ground and discharged.

Firemen said the bullet merely grazed his rump, adding that he had escaped serious injury by a centimetre or so.

NEWS.com.au

Free Credit Report Thanks 2 the Gubment

Good news for you all now under the terms of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, passed last year, and amid growing concerns over privacy and disclosure of sensitive financial data, the three leading credit reporting agencies must provide consumers with a free summary once a year (gee only once?) of all credit information on file for that person.

Those agencies--Equifax, Experian and TransUnion--have launched AnnualCreditReport.com to streamline the process of obtaining reports. For security reasons, people can only access the Web site directly, not through a referred link.

Consumers using the site fill out an online form with a Social Security number, followed by answers to several personal questions, such as the balance on a certain credit card, meant to verify the respondent's identity.

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