Gina will probably be the only reader who gets this, but I thought it was hilarious! You know you're from Pennsylvania when....
*You've never referred to Philadelphia as anything but "Philly." And New Jersey has always been "Jersey."
*You refer to Pennsylvania as "PA."
*"You guys" is a perfectly acceptable reference to a group of men & women.
*You know how to respond to the question "Djeetyet?" (Didyoueatyet?)
*You learned to pronounce Bryn Mawr, Wilkes-Barre, Schuylkill, Bala Cynwyd, Duquesne, New Tripoli, Tunkhannock, Punxsutawney, Tamaqua, Susquehanna, Allegheny, and Monongahela.
*You know what a "Mummer" is, and are disappointed if you can't catch at least highlights of the parade.
*The first day of buck and the first day of doe season are school holidays.
*You can use the phrase "fire hall wedding reception" and not even bat an eye.
----(OMG! Who knew I was a cliche! I just did it cuz it was cheap!)
*You can't go to a wedding without hearing the "Chicken Dance"
*At least 5 people on your block have electric "candles" in all or most of their windows all year long.
*You know what a "Hex sign" is.
*You know what a "State Store" is, and your out of state friends find it incredulous that you can't purchase liquor at the mini-mart.
*You own only three condiments "A-1, Heinz 57 and Heinz ketchup".
*Words like "hoagie", "crick", "chipped ham", "sticky buns", "shoo-fly pie", "pierogies" and "pocketbook" actually mean something to you.
*You can eat cold pizza (even for breakfast) and know others who do the same.
*You know several places to purchase or that serve Scrapple, Summer Sausage (Lebanon Bologna), and Hot Bacon Dressing.
*One of the highlights of your life was a field trip to Penn's Cave and Horseshoe curve.
--- Uh, no. Too far away, but does Indian Echo count?
You know exactly what to do when your mother tells you to "red up" your room.
----Hm, I have no idea what that means.
*You know the time and location of every "wing night" in a 20 mile radius.
*You don't think people from Philly or Pittsburgh talk funny.
---I didn't till I moved to Texas, now I can't stand it!
*You don't understand all the hype about Rolling Rock beer; You've been drinking it for years even though Iron City is better.
---Actually, I was a RR girl.
*You consider an exotic vacation to be a trip to Ocean City, Virginia Beach, or Myrtle Beach.
---Ocean City, I love you!
*You think very little of an Amish buggy on the road.
*You can go 2 weeks in winter without sunshine and think this is normal.
---Depressing, but totally normal. 2 weeks is nothing!
*You know that Blue Ball, Intercourse, Climax, Bird-in-Hand, Virginville, Paradise, Mars, and Slippery Rock are all PA towns.
*There is no such thing as a "Philly Cheesesteak". It's just called a "Cheesesteak."
*You know that Eucre is a card game and not a form of vomiting.
*You not only have heard of Birch Beer, but you know that it comes in several colors: Red, Blue, White, Brown, Gold.
*You know what REAL potpie is.
*You ask the waitress for "dippy eggs" for breakfast.
---Mmmm, I love Dippy Eggs aka Sunny Side ups.
*Your turkey has "filling," not "stuffing," and most certainly, NOT "dressing."
*You consider Pittsburgh to be "out west," and you know the fastest way to Philly is the Turnpike.
*When it snows, they put cinders on the roads instead of sand.
*Know that Yuengling is pronounced "Ying-ling," and believe that it really is a premium beer
*You have an uncontrollable urge to buy bread and milk when you hear the word "snow."
*You live within two miles of a plant that makes potato chips, corn chips, pretzels, candy, or ice cream, or that packages turkeys, beans, or bologna.
---Hahahah, we did live near the Lebanon Balony factory on Derry St.
*You can stop along the road to buy fruits, vegetables, or crafts on the "honor system."
*You know that chicken corn soup from a fire house is the most nearly perfect food on earth.
---OH Yum!
*You say things like, "I'm calling off today," and "They're calling for snow."
*You think the roads in any other state are smooth.
---LOL PA has the *worst* roads anywhere. Some guy I used to see from Maryland used to tell me he knew when he crossed the state line by the road.
*You know the Penn State cheer, and although you've never attended Penn State, you are a most obnoxious Penn State fan.
---Oh hell no! No offense, Gina!
*Hearing horses clopping down a paved street doesn't bring you to the window to see what's going on outside.
*You never see any Confederate Flags, except on the Gettysburg Battlefield.
*You prefer Hershey's Chocolate to Godiva.
*School closings due to snow take the radio stations a half an hour to finish, because just about every town has its own school district.
*You have the Rolling Rock bottle memorized: "From the glass lined tanks of Old Latrobe, we tender this premium beer for your enjoyment. . . . "
*Elect pro-life Democrats and pro-choice Republicans for Governor
*Frequently go "with," e.g., "You going to the market? Mind if I come with?"
*Refer to something as "a whole nother," e.g., "That's a whole nother issue."
*When you were a kid and somebody really pissed you off, you said, "I'm gonna deck you!"
*You know the expression, "Hey naw! Watchya dewin'?"
*You know where to buy "Opera Fudge" and that it has absolutely no connection to the Opera.
*The only Jewish people that you've ever met have been from New York or New Jersey.
*You love the Phillies (unless they stink) in which case you love the Orioles (unless they stink) in which case you solemnly swear that you've never even liked the Phillies or the Orioles, but have always been a Penn State fan.
--Again with the Penn State
I'll try not to bore ya'll with my Sims2 gushing, but it will be so hard. I got home from work and done installing around midnight Saturday. Played the game till 6:30am. Woke up at 12:30 and played until a few minutes ago. It's just amazing!! There is some lag (I don't think my computer is strong enough), but it's not even an annoyance at this point. The graphics are awesome & the new toddlers/teens thing is great too. I've only played one family so far. I made a family with one guy (easier to learn that way). He online chatted with a girl, Marissa, and they ended up falling in love. He invited her to move in & she accepted. Then he proposed to her & she accepted. They did Woo-hoo and she got pregnant (that part is cool too - she gets bigger as it progresses). One baby later, she's thinking they're going broke so she's on the street panhandling for simoleans (money). *sigh*. They do woo-hoo again later because my guy's a family man & wants more kids. Turns out it was twins! Nothing harder than taking care of 2 babies & then 2 toddlers at a time. Baby Edward turned into a teen & I couldn't seem to get him into the shower enough, so now he has zits. *sigh*. But, he has a crush on Meadow (some girl he goes to school with) and I'm working on turning that into love. The original 2 sims are about to turn elderly. I've decided not to turn aging off for now - I'm fascinated by how it's all working out.
AnyHOO! I've been immersed in that 3d world for so long that looking at regular ol' web pages is making my eyes hurt. I can't seem to remember how to type either! If you have $50 and a pretty good computer, I definitely recommend this game.
I was looking at slideshows for Hurricane Ivan tonight and saw this:
"Mandatory evacuations were underway in Pensacola Beach, Fla. Emergency officials are collecting the social security numbers and next of kin from those who choose to stay."
Now that's both efficient & morbid at the same time. I guess there are some people that can't afford to leave and that I understand. Those who have the ability but just don't do it? That's just plain ol' crazy!!!
GOOD LUCK, MOBILE!
Another thing that India isn't doing well:
NEW DELHI - India has the world's largest number of HIV infected people, the head of a top international AIDS fighting fund said Wednesday, dismissing official figures.
"I don't believe in the official statistics. India is already in first place," said Richard G.A. Feachem, executive director of the Geneva-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Latest U.N. data show the HIV virus (news - web sites) has infected 5.6 million people in South Africa and 5.1 million in India. But Feachem said he and many other experts believe India's actual figure is much higher, surpassing South Africa's.
The official estimate leaves out many people in this vast country of 1.03 billion who could be carrying the virus without knowing or reporting it, he said.
"I won't put a figure on it. I will simply say it is considerably more than 5.1 million," he said. "I am happy to be wrong. But I think I will proved right, soon."
Feachem called the Indian epidemic "on an African trajectory ... and incidence of HIV/AIDS is rising rapidly."
Indian government officials were not immediately available for comment. New Delhi has rejected such fears in the past, saying its HIV/AIDS prevention program is making good progress and the number of new cases has stabilized.
Earlier this month, the federal health minister said he is ready to commission an independent body, including foreign agencies, to compile HIV data in India.
In recent years the government has stepped up efforts to fight the disease. Several international donor agencies are pumping millions of dollars into anti-HIV programs.
Still, the response is "way short of what is necessary to turn around the epidemic," said Feachem, who was in New Delhi to discuss ways to increase the Global Fund's contribution to India's AIDS fight.
The fund has already committed US$265 million in aid to the Indian government, and now plans to pledge anti-AIDS funds to corporations and nongovernment organizations.
***************************************
Hear that 'Suzanne'? You'd better start some prevention training over there!
I'm really ne
rvous to do this, but I'm gonna put it out there anyway. I've been writing a story since the end of July. I'm currently on about page 2
5. It's about a girl who is obsessed with a rock star (sound familiar?). She meets him and realizes that he's just a regular
person doing an irregular job, yada, yada, yada. Keep in mind this is a total chick story. Also keep in mind that it's a ROUGH draft. I haven't put many scenic details in and I could expand on a lot of the detail stuff like what she looks like, etc. I plan to do that once I get the basic story out. Be nice please since I've been writing it for
4 hours today alone! Any
way, the doc is a W
ord doc, so you need Word to view it. It's also password protected. Why? Just because. Each chapter is named after a song, which I thought was clever of me. :) Be
kind in your criticism, please. You can f
ind the story
here. What's the password, you ask? I was going to make you AIM me if you wanted it, but that's too time consuming. In addition, I don't feel like removing the password protection, so you'll have to guess the password based on this post. Good luck! (For those of you who've read parts of it already, everything after this picture:
is an update.
Live's Greatest Hits/DVD Compilation will hit stores 11/2. It will include 22 videos! And their cover of the Johnny Cash hit "I walk the line". I saw them play that song in 2000 and although I'd never heard the original (and Ed jacked the words), it was pretty good. That CD will be well worth the money! *AND* Chad Taylor confirmed to Channel 8 in Lancaster that they will be going on a world tour to support the CD beginning earlier next year. Maybe they'll come to Dallas since we didn't catch a glimpse of them this year (just Ed, which is ok by me, of course). Last time I saw the band was 9/3/03 at the Gypsy Tea Room.
Anyway - tonight was my Bday party at The Wild Turkey -- our old ELNK Hangout. It was great! I did 6 shots. I love hanging out with my friends (until my social anxiety disorder kicks in which is usually about 1 hour). My friend, Michael "Sweetpea" Cook came - I haven't seen him in 3 years. God, I've missed him. He's the bitchiest fag I know, but he'd do anything for me. :)
Love ya'll!
I'm not going to say much about September 11 because everytime I think about it I get teary. I found a poem that made me cry. It's so beautiful that I wanted to share it:
United We Stand
© By Angela Thayer
On a mid September morning,
as sunshine rose to greet the day
lives were soon to change forever,
In the most God-awful way.
Evildoers came from the East,
and the men chose to fly
carried out a mission so twisted,
that they were honored to die.
Great jets came from the sky,
on this most ill fated day-
As our stunned nation watched,
And we started to pray.
It was a scene of pure chaos,
seeing the Twin Towers fall-
Holding our breath, we thought,
Dear God, help us all!
From the worst comes the best,
Is what they so often say.
We saw everyday people
Become hero's that day.
People were lined up for miles,
to try and do what they could-
We drew strength from each other
As a great nation should.
Our leader then spoke to us,
clearly holding back tears.
As he tried both to comfort,
and diminish our fears.
We were united in mourning,
Our nerves were all frayed.
And yet strangers held hands,
We lit candles and prayed.
They were our sisters and brothers,
all those who perished and died.
We felt the pain of their families,
And as a nation, we cried.
To terrorists worldwide,
We're just a country you hate.
When you chose to attack us,
that alone sealed your fate.
The cowards who planned this,
thought that this nation would fall.
But we are stronger than ever,
And our flag will stand tall.
We will fight for the freedom
That defines our great land.
God Bless America,
For United we Stand.
In addition, you can find archived news information at
September11news.com
Have you heard about Trigger?
BY MAKI BECKER
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
They call him "Trigger."
A brave little puppy who knew he was next after watching his heartless owner shoot three of his six siblings in the head apparently decided e-ruff is e-ruff. The poky little pooch somehow managed to slip his paw on the trigger, blasting his would-be executioner in the wrist.
The tale of horror and vengeance unfolded Monday when, Florida authorities say, Jerry Allen Bradford, 37, of Pensacola decided to get rid of his dog's litter of seven puppies with the help of his .38-caliber revolver. One by one, he began shooting the three-month-old German shepherd-mixed cuties.
Bradford would later tell Escambia County deputies that he was holding one puppy in his left hand and another in his right arm when the one in the left "began to wiggle, placing its paw on the trigger of the .38-caliber handgun, causing it to discharge into his left wrist," a sheriff's office statement read.
Trigger, his three surviving brothers, since named Winchester, Remington and Colt, and their mom were taken to an animal shelter.
"It's a very sad story," said shelter spokesman Bruce Rova. "These things don't have to happen. If you don't think you can handle a litter, take the animal to the vet to have it spayed or neutered."
Bradford faces felony animal cruelty charges, a third-degree offense, after he recovers from his wound. As for Trigger, he won't be facing any charges. "No paw prints were taken off the weapon," Rova said, "and he's a juvenile, anyways."
OMG My team is SO COOL! When I got to work today my desk was decorated so nice. Actually, it looked like the birthday fairy exploded there. :) They got me a gift basket of Warm Vanilla Sugar lotions from Bath & Body Works (my favorite scent). Then, I thought I had a meeting with one of my reps at 2:00 regarding an EEOC complaint they filed on an old supervisor. I was excited since it would be a gossip fest since that person is no longer here.
Turns out that was all a scam to get me to a surprise party! They did it up! They got chicken, beans, potatoes, one of the reps, Sharon, made a cake AND they got me a gift card to gamestop so I can get SIMS 2 when it comes out!!!! Oh my lord was I ever excited! Turns out, Debra, another rep got me the B&BW gift basket.
It was so nice. They are so good to me.
The more I read about the Sims 2, the more excited I get! Not only will there be toddlers & children will inherit traits of their parents, but:
~ Sims can have a breakdown & have to go see a shrink!
~ Sims can order groceries online
~ Sims can only marry one person at a time (unlike Sims 1) and they can divorce (but they have to hate each other first to unblock the breakup interaction)
~ Teen sims can sneak out of the house if they set it up with their friends ahead of time!
~ Sims2 will have outside elevated decks, in ground hot tubs & 2 story windows!
~ The probability of having twins is low, but seems like it is possible
~ Sims will remain babies 3 days, toddlers 4 days, children 8 days, teens 15 days, adults 29 days & elders 11-31 days (aging CAN be turned off)
~ No longer will you be restricted to one meal! You can have pancakes, toaster pastries, cereal & omelets for breakfast & Lobster Thermador, Baked Alaska & Mac and Cheese (to name a few) for dinner!
~You can have basements!!
~ Child sims will have homework!
~ Your sims can invite the headmaster over to convince them to let your sim's children into a private school
~ You can marry NPCs like the gardner & the maid! The NPC will then be replaced with another.
~ Your homes will be able to have 5 levels without a foundation & 4 with a foundation!
~ You will be able to call the adoption agency to adopt a baby instead of having to wait for them to randomly call you!
~ YOUR SIMS WILL BE ABLE TO ONLINE CHAT! They can go on a computer & see a list of everyone who's online (other neighbors, townies or npc's). You can talk to any of them and form a new relationship or strengthen an old one!
~ Ghosts will be different colors (i.e. - Red if they died in a fire) and have different behaviors.
I have to stop reading chat transcripts. :) One more thing. They stated numerous times that the WORLDWIDE ship date is 9/17. That's a Friday here. New games usually come out Tuesdays & some online sites are showing Tuesday as the release date. Gamestop is showing pre-release is 9/14, but when someone questioned Maxis about that, they repeated that ship date is 9/17, so hm.... Come on Birthday money....I *NEED* this game. :)
Today I am on vacation. I thought it would be fabulous - sleep in, clean, get Tom's truck fixed....Then why was I awake at 7:15 (making sure hubby was up)? Why could I not go back to sleep because they've decided TODAY to tear up the street in front of our house? I actually just felt my floor shake because of those bastards!
4-5 months ago they put patches on our street & a few streets surrounding ours. These are the worst constructed patches I've ever seen. They weren't even with the street itself, yet took up 3/4 of the area. Within days they were generating rocks and dust everywhere. It looks like you're driving down a country road with all the dust behind your car. I've pondered complaining to the city, but I was too lazy to look for their email address (and much too lazy to call). So what are they doing today? Creating a new poorly constructed patch! Those asses!
Wow. Firestone *is* a rip-off on parts prices! Their price: $345.12:
Tailor Res Wires $119.98
Rotor $24.99
Dist Cap $49.99
Fuel Filter $21.99
Platinum Plugs $13.03 (x6 = $78.18)
Ever-wear 3 step fuel system cleaner $49.99
I checked Autozone.com (like my friend, Clay, taught me :) ) and I can get all the parts needed for $152.95:
Tailor Res Wires $49.99
Rotor $8.00
Dist Cap $26
Fuel Filter $6.99
Platinum Plugs Set of 4 for $5.99 ($11.98 total)
Ever-wear 3 step fuel system cleaner $49.99 - couldn't find this on autozone.com but I'm sure it's cheaper!
That right there brings my estimate down to approximately $311.19, saving me $192.17!!! And all that is labor charges! Hmm, wonder if I can bribe Clay again?
**********************
I've totally forgotten that
Cheddar X exists lately, so without further ado, here are this week's Cheddar X Questions:
1. Who's your favorite superhero?
Aquaman. Not sure why since I don't like the ocean, but I was fascinated with him when I was little.
2. Who's your favorite villain?
The Queen in Sleeping Beauty - Mallificent. She scared the bejesus out of me!
3. What was your last brush with greatness?
Anyone who knows me knows it's when I met Ed on April 14, 2004. :)
4. Who is the last celebrity you've seen in public?
Ed.
5. What's the most important event on your horizon?
My mom coming to visit me in the next month or so.
And one political question, I can't help it.
6. What did you think of Bush's speech last night?
Didn't see it, but I'm sure it was fabulous and long.
Ok, bunny. Here's another update, although not interesting & slightly sad. Took Tom's truck to Firestone today (the only place open) and they said that when his truck stutters from a complete stop it's because he needs a new distributor, ignition coil, something something. With labor & tax? $716!!! Of course we can't afford that right now since he just started working last week. The guy said it's not dangerous, but will get worse. *sigh*. I wish I knew of a good shop in DFW that was a hell of a lot cheaper.
This is *after* we spent $567 to get my car fixed last week. I *hate* vehicles. I also just wish we could get a break. I know Tom getting that job at Wells Fargo was a break & I'm grateful for that, but it seems like we've had nothing but bad luck since we moved into this house in 2001. Maybe I should have a priest come exorcise the demons.
Found out yesterday while driving home from the grocery store that we are getting a Little Caesar's Pizza! I haven't had Little Caesar's forever! What I remember most is that it was pretty decent pizza for very cheap. Pizza, Pizza! lol. Course I don't know if it's still cheap since the prices aren't on their website (I hate that, btw). And I won't be partaking in much pizza once the carb thing kicks in again (after next weekend), but I'm still going to try it just for old time's sake.
A few words about the tragedy in Russia this past week:
BESLAN, Russia – A shaken President Vladimir Putin made a rare and candid admission of Russian weakness Saturday in the face of an "all-out war" by terrorists after more than 340 people – nearly half of them children – were killed in a hostage-taking at a southern school.
Mr. Putin went on national television to tell Russians they must mobilize against terrorism. He promised broad reforms to toughen security forces and purge corruption.
"We showed weakness, and weak people are beaten," he said in a speech aimed at addressing the grief, shock and anger felt by many after a string of attacks that have killed 450 people in the last two weeks, apparently in connection with the war in Chechnya.
The Federal Security Service chief in North Ossetia, Valery Andreyev, said Saturday that investigators were looking into whether militants had smuggled explosives and weapons into the school and hid them during a renovation this summer.
****************
Mr. Putin took a defiant tone, acknowledging Russia's weaknesses but blaming it on the fall of the Soviet Union, foreign foes seeking to tear apart Russia and on corrupt officials. He said Russians could no longer live "carefree" and must all confront terrorism.
Measures would be taken, Putin promised, to overhaul the law enforcement organizations, which he acknowledged had been infected by corruption, and to tighten borders.
An unidentified intelligence official was quoted by the ITAR-Tass news agency as saying the school assault was financed by Abu Omar As-Seyf, an Arab who allegedly represents al-Qaeda in Chechnya, and masterminded by Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev.
*****************
My heart is definitely with the victims of this heinous act & their families, but I have to say to Mr. Putin: Russians "can no longer live carefree & must confront terrorism"??? Don't you think an all out war against terrorism should have been launched by Russia after a seige on a Russian Hospital in 1995? How about the seige in the Moscow theatre in 2002? The one where the police fired the tear gas into the theater & ended up killing almost all of the hostages with it. What about when the Chechen rebels brought down 2 of Russia's aircraft a few weeks ago? Wait, how about the suicide bombing near a metro station in Moscow just the DAY BEFORE this latest terrorist act happened? Don't you think you should have done that a hell of a long time ago? I would think that your eyes would have been opened to the possible disasterous effects of terrorism after September 11, 2001, or did you think you were immune? What about after the attacks in Spain? Still immune? I find it hard to believe that the leader of a country as large as yours could have actually believed Al Queda wasn't going to come for them anytime soon. You're DAMN right you'd better confront terrorism! You lost at least 323 people yesterday, 156 of them innocent children. The carefree world ended September 11, 2001 and it's about time the rest of the world faced that unfortunate fact. (Read more about this
here)
I watched Arnold's speech during the GOP convention & I must say it was a rather stirring presentation. Here are some highlights (since I know I need to update but haven't done jack **** in the last few days :) ):
My fellow immigrants, my fellow Americans, how do you know if you are a Republican? I'll tell you how.
If you believe that government should be accountable to the people, not the people to the government, then you are a Republican!
If you believe a person should be treated as an individual, not as a member of an interest group, then you are a Republican!
If you believe your family knows how to spend your money better than the government does, then you are a Republican!
If you believe our educational system should be held accountable for the progress of our children, then you are a Republican!
If you believe this country, not the United Nations, is the best hope of democracy in the world, then you are a Republican!
And, ladies and gentlemen, if you believe we must be fierce and relentless and terminate terrorism, then you are a Republican!
There is another way you can tell you're a Republican. You have faith in free enterprise, faith in the resourcefulness of the American people, and faith in the U.S. economy.
The U.S. economy remains the envy of the world. We have the highest economic growth of any of the world's major industrialized nations. Don't you remember the pessimism of 20 years ago when the critics said Japan and Germany were overtaking the U.S.? Ridiculous!
Now they say India and China are overtaking us. Don't you believe it! We may hit a few bumps -- but America always moves ahead! That's what Americans do!
****************
My fellow Americans, make no mistake about it. Terrorism is more insidious than communism, because it yearns to destroy not just the individual, but the entire international order.
The president didn't go into Iraq because the polls told him it was popular. As a matter of fact, the polls said just the opposite. But leadership isn't about polls. It's about making decisions you think are right and then standing behind those decisions. That's why America is safer with George W. Bush as president.
He knows you don't reason with terrorists. You defeat them. He knows you can't reason with people blinded by hate. They hate the power of the individual. They hate the progress of women. They hate the religious freedom of others. They hate the liberating breeze of democracy. But ladies and gentlemen, their hate is no match for America's decency.
We're the America that sends out Peace Corps volunteers to teach village children. We're the America that sends out missionaries and doctors to raise up the poor and the sick. We're the America that gives more than any other country, to fight AIDS in Africa and the developing world. And we're the America that fights not for imperialism but for human rights and democracy.
You know, when the Germans brought down the Berlin Wall, America's determination helped wield the sledgehammers. When that lone, young Chinese man stood in front of those tanks in Tiananmen Square, America's hopes stood with him. And when Nelson Mandela smiled in election victory after all those years in prison, America celebrated, too.
We are still the lamp lighting the world especially for those who struggle. No matter in what labor camp they slave, no matter in what injustice they're trapped, they hear our call, they see our light, and they feel the pull of our freedom. They come here as I did because they believe. They believe in us.
***********************
Ladies and gentlemen, America is back! Back from the attack on our homeland, back from the attack on our economy, back from the attack on our way of life. We're back because of the perseverance, character and leadership of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush.
My fellow Americans, I want you to know that I believe with all my heart that America remains "the great idea" that inspires the world. It's a privilege to be born here. It's an honor to become a citizen here. It's a gift to raise your family here, to vote here and to live here.
Eagle, Colo. (AP) - The Kobe Bryant case collapsed Wednesday as prosecutors said they had no choice but to drop the sexual assault charge against the NBA star because his accuser no longer wanted to participate.
Bryant, whose trial had been days from opening arguments, responded with an apology to the woman who had accused him.
"Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did," Bryant said. "I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter."
With the parents of the 20-year-old alleged victim looking on, District Judge Terry Ruckriegle threw out the case under a deal that means no charges will be refiled.
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I don't know if he did it or not, but for some reason I don't think the case should be dismissed. The article goes on to insinuate that evidence damaging the prosecution's case was filed and that medical examiner, Michael Baden told prosecutors the woman's injuries could have been caused by consensual sex. Sounds to me like the prosecution's case wasn't turning out the way they wanted, so they threw in the towel (although it was supposedly the victim not wanting to participate). Well, she still has a pending civil trial, so I guess we'll see if she's in it just for the money or not.
What the HELL happened to my Yankees last night? They lost to the Cleveland Indians 22-0!!!!! Are you kidding me? Now they're only 3 1/2 games in First. August 15 they were 10 1/2 games up! The 22 run loss tied the largest margin of defeat in a shutout since 1900, equaling the mark set in 1975 by the Pirates in a 22-0 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The loss was the WORST in Yankees history. Good lord! They allowed 9 runs in the first 3 innings! This was also the Yankees 5th consecutive loss, the first time that's happened this season --and the first time since May 2003. The 22 runs allowed were the most ever given up by the Yankees in their home ballpark and the most runs they've allowed since
1928!
I know the Yankees have a payroll of 183.3 Million & the Indians have a payroll of 34.6 Million so I don't need the jokes or anyone putting down the Yankees. They played HORRIBLY.
Bali bomber 'let out for coffee'
By Rob Taylor
September 2, 2004
ONE OF the main Bali bombers has been let out of prison to have coffee at a popular shopping mall in central Jakarta, it was reported today.
Ali Imron, the so-called repentant bomber sentenced to life imprisonment for his part in the attacks which claimed more than 200 lives, was spotted having coffee at Starbucks with the director of Indonesian narcotics and drugs Brigadier-General Gorries Mere.
When challenged by journalists the pair and a number of black-clad armed police guards fled to a waiting car and sped off, Detik.com news said tonight.
"I walk often with Pak (Mr) Gorries," Ali Imron said in response to questions.
Imron was sentenced to life in jail after appearing deeply remorseful throughout his trial and repeatedly apologising to victims.
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Just ridiculous! Maybe they should we should let the Unibomber out for tea?
