I’m an Uncle…again…

…for the tenth time. Yes, my siblings breed well. That is four of 6 of us that had a hand in populating this world to date, with my sis days or hours away from adding another little girl to the fold. The newest member, Logan, is the first for my youngest brother. Congrats bro! wish you the best, and Amanda a quick recovery. 
He is in the army and I was afraid it might accidentally be called Roger as upon hearing the news his automatic response might have been ”roger that”. No roger in our family yet, that’s affirmative. Maybe next time.

Writers needed!

Ever write a story? Ever have something happen as a kid or with your children that is worth writing about?
This is the deal. I need 3 (unique/original) stories 300-500 words long geared for a 4-10 year old GP audience. Those who have seen the kids Christmas Activated magazines will have an idea. Fiction, fantasy or true-life are all welcome. Topics can be anything besides winter themes like snow and Christmas. All stories must include a good moral/ lesson. If your story is used for this project there will be a $20 gift awaiting you. You are welcome to submit as many stories as you want provided they are authentically yours. Three (at most) will be chosen. You will retain all legal rights to your work submitted. If your work is chosen to be published the copy-righter will contact you farther on this matter.

Spread the word and get others to contribute as well. This will need to be submitted before May 25, 2006. Any submitted afterwards may not be reviewed.

Contact me at: writejayman@yahoo.com

My Sis got married!

I just heard that my little sister has tied the knot with her boyfriend. She is PG with a girl and expecting any day. Congratulations to both of you, Mr & Mrs Smith! May God bless and keep you. Curri I love you girl, your the greatest sis anyone could have asked for. Smith, welcome to the family, take care of her now, shes priceless to us. Wishing you both the best during this time, that it be a joyous occasion and that the baby you are to be blessed with is healthy and strong.

Dear readers: I’ll keep you posted and add pics when I get them. If anyone knows my sis or wants to send a personal note you can email me to pass on to her or leave a comment and she’ll read it.

Toons of our times

Here I a little political cartoon I did. Originally I wanted to do a cartoon for All the Presidants’ men article but did not have time so today I got some ideas and added to them and this little picture came to be.

I got into thinking about some of the other cabinet changes there have been and added some of the more noteworthy ones as old toys, Andy Card (White house chief of staff) as a playing card, L “Scooter” Libby (VP Chaney’s ex chief of staff) as a scooter, Hariat Myers (Bush’s first nominee for the Supreme Court vacancy) as herself, Michael Brown (ex FEMA chief) gone fishing, and Colin Powel (former Secretary of State) as a nutcracker soldier. Bush is touting Rumsfeld’s good work with a bullhorn while six retired generals are blowing holes in his thin Easter egg raping.

Some B/W shots

We have some others over for the Easter weekend from another home and was out with some of the kids and took some shots. I was playing with the B/W option as I love the contrast and clearity that that format gives. Enjoy!
(having problems uploading, i'll add them later. stay tuned)

All the Presidents’ men

I do not get into politics much here on my blog but this article struck me as a dashavue to one I read during the Katrina hurricane aftermath. Then it was about Michael Brown then FEMA chief in charge of the disaster response and relief operations. Bush said “you’re doing one heck of a good job Brownie” and kept supporting him publicly all the way till the day he accepted Brown’s resignation. This time it is Rumsfeld who everyone is fed up with and who I don’t predict will be around much longer. Bush yesterday at Camp David for Easter said “Secretary Rumsfeld’s energetic and steady leadership is exactly what is needed at this critical period; he has my full support and deepest appreciation.”
He is not willing to read the tea leaves and find a replacement and try to at least do some “damage control” in his administration. Sure, he let his buddy (Andy Card) go to try to show that he can clean things up but that is just a symbolic gesture and filling that slot with another old buddy shows us is that the only thing that changed was the name on the door. He shows us once again that he is unable to make big decisions when it involves someone of his inner circle and I think we will see more of his applause for Rumsfeld all the way till he submits a new successor to be approved by congress.
Picture courtesy of george-bush-pics.    

Spring shots

I do not have much to say today but I did take the kids out for a long walk today and was able to take some shots as we went. Here are some of the better ones.

The girls of J/G and our homes pet dogs enjoying the open spaces.

Just an interesting ripple and reflection shot.

Aroma Advancements?

This is a bottle of shower gel someone brought to the home. Do we really need “aromatic woody” scent? What does that mean, or supposed to smell like? On the other hand, I’m not sure I really want to know. Must just be a marketing goof but I thought it was funny.

Driving in the (not so) fast lane

On Friday I want to a special little part in this country to me. It is tucked away and not so well known or touristy but I go there about once year (usually in the spring) and this year having the Mottos calendar in the local language was nice to have to offer to people. The terrain is like that of maybe Austria with lots of windy hills and steep ascents with narrow roads snaking around in hairpin turns but it does not keep the big gravel laden trucks from taking the route and thinking that they are driving a rally car. Thankfully we made it there without incident. I drove there last year several days in a row so I got to know the roads well and this year I know what I was getting into. We met many very helpful people and were able to get out 4 Mottos and an Activated subscription in the limited time we had, it’s nearing Easter and it is a time when people are more willing to give to our cause and NGO.

In-between the bigger towns there are many villages that are all but nearly ghost towns as there are only a few old people still farming living in stone and wooden houses as most other folks have moved to the bigger cities leaving this beautiful countryside area almost all up for grabs, except for the occasional tractor on the road. In ten or twenty years there probably won’t be a soul sight. What surprised me most is that no mater how old and run down the town is there is always a nice big church, often the only freshly painted building in the village. Here are some pictures I took on that trip.

Rags and riches

100 dollar laptops

 As a volunteer working in developing countries I’m always inspired when someone from secular life stands up in his/her way to address some of the worlds needs especially in developing or impoverished nations. I’m not talking about the rich chumps who sit around in Davos every year or even the rock singer Bono’s red tag fad for rich people to give a part of their purchase of designer items. It’s all nice and good but really kind of out of touch with the little guys they claim to be serving.
I started hearing about “the green machine” a few weeks ago that is a wind up laptop for rural areas and especially Africa. This article states some changes and some backlash it is currently facing not surprisingly from Microsoft and Intel, it will run Linux and is being built by a visionary professor (Nicholas Negroponte) at MIT and will be made available for as little as $100 or less.
OK it does not stop world hunger or eradicate AIDS but in places that are so remote or communities that are isolated even the smallest form of education is greatly needed if these things do get off the ground and get to those that need them they can really do some good.

For example the place I went to yesterday only half an hour from “civilization” near to where we stay that has high-speed internet connections, brand name designer boutiques, a cinema that plays the latest Hollywood blockbusters and hundreds of new BMW owners but once you go to the villages and rural areas they really have nothing but the basics. Often education is minimal and many barely get through high school and saddest of all is the lack of ability and desire to do something with it. All that to say is that I’m glad this country has shown and interest and though it won’t be on the first line of countries getting them but I’m encouraged that the government has shown interest is in the second faze. I think it will be one thing our local NGO here could endorse and do some ground level awareness for with educators and the public to bridge this educational divide. 

Official site about it and other info site