Blacksheep Speaks

Happy Birthday, Ed!

Today is my brther in law's birthday. He's an okay kinda guy, so everybody out there needs to wish him a happy birthday, too:)

Ed shares his birthday with some pretty noteworthy people. William James Mayo, co-founder of the Mayo clinic, comes to mind. He was born in 1861, though, so I doubt they ever got to shake hands. And in 1901 Nelson Eddy was born. Anyone who doesn't recognise THAT name is too young to call themselves a person. In 1919, Slim Pickens made his appearance in the world, and Hollywod should be extremely grateful. Fatty Arbuckle in 11933, Harmon Killebrew in 1936, Fred Grandy in 1948, the list is impressive. Great day, great people. Happy birthday, Ed.

HerFabLife....The NEW Way To Stay On Top!

Want the latest news on what's hot and what's really, really not? HerFabLife is a website dedicated to the up and coming modern young woman. It's an interactive place. Not only do you get to find out what's happening everywhere, you can also localize it and find out what's happening in your city. Just sign up and log in to contribute to the page yourself! It's the greatest way to keep yourself in touch with the latest trends!

Centering attention on the young, urbanly hip female, this social lifestyle community is THE way to find out what restaurants are the hottest, what clothes are being worn and where, and which of last month's greatest threads just hit the garbage can. Tap the latest and greatest bars, stores, spas. Know where the elite hang out. And don't just read about it. HerFabLife wants to hear from you as well. Tell about the latest concerts, store openings, restaurants, and any other new hot spots in your city. Voice your opinion. This is your chance to really be heard!

All you have to do to join in on all the fun and excitement is to point your brouser at HerFabLife, sign up, log in, and start telling the world about the place where you live. Make HerFabLife a part of YOUR life today!

Watermelons. Yick.

There are definite disadvantages to living in my part of Arkansas. oist movement is by highway, but what do you do when they have the darn highway blocked for something idiotic and time consuming, and YOU have to get through it because somehing on the other side of this blockage is waiting, and you're late?

Welcome to the Cave City Watermelon Festival. And I don't even LIKE watermelon.

Surf The Web, Win Money!

Web surfing just got a whole lot more interesting, thanks to Adventure11! Now you can surf and play at the same time! Winners posted daily!

Adventure11 is a site where you can register for free, play for free, and possibly win fifty or five hundred dollars a day. You could potentially win up to a thousand dollars a week! What could be better or easier than doing what you do anyway, but winning money for doing it? The affiliate program offers even more ways to make money!

Just click on any link in this post to be taken to Adventure11 to get started. Easy, fun, FREE. Join Now!

Olive you!

From 70 to 80 percent of all ripe olives are grown in California's approximately 35,000 acres. In the 1700s, Franciscan monks brought olives to Mexico and then into California by way of the missions. The first cuttings were planted in 1769 at the San Diego Mission. Commercial cultivation of California olives began in the late 1800s. Today, anywhere from 80,000 to 160,000 tons of olives are produced in California each year.

FREE Weight Control Help at MyFitnessPal.com!

How often have you started a new diet, just sure that THIS diet would be THE ONE, only to have it fail because you were trying to do it all alone, or because you had to guess what the calorie counts were, or because you didn't even know that people kept diet journals?

MyFitnessPal can help you change all that. Their website offers a free calorie counter AND a free diet journal. In fact, the whole thing is always free. They never ask you for payment at any time. Is that cool, or what? And the diet journal helps track not just your meals, but your daily excercise as well. This system works extremely well with ALL diet plans, so it doesn't even matter what diet you are using. And their online message boards really help when you feel like giving up and need that little show of support or advice to keep you going.

It's free, it's easy, and it's fun. Give it a try today!

St. Petersburg or Something.

Check this out, people. It's interesting.

The city of St. Petersburg, Russia, was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, hence the name, St. Petersburg. But it wasn't always that simple. In 1914, at the beginning of World War I, Russian leaders felt that Petersburg was too German-sounding. So they changed the name of the city to Petrograd -- to make it more Russian-sounding. Then, in 1924, the country's Soviet Communist leaders wanted to honor the founder of the Soviet Union, Vladimir I. Lenin. The city of Petrograd became Leningrad and was known as Leningrad until 1991 when the new Russian legislators -- no longer Soviet Communists -- wanted the city to reflect their change of government.

Smorty Pays Off!

Want to find out how to REALLY make money blogging, instead of dealing with all those faked up come ons that never work? Check out Smorty.com sometime. Now would be good.

Smorty.com is a blog advertising company that helps advertisers find bloggers who want to make money writing ads for them in their blogs. The pay is per job, and really isn't bad.....so far I'm averaging about six dollars for a ten minute job. It's easy work...just write the ad, include a chosen link or two, and submit.

If you are an advertiser, it's a pretty good deal. Instead of thousands of dollars for a short term ad campaign somewhere else, it's just a few dollars for a permanent link the both brings traffic to your site and raises your page rankings. Can't beat it.

Smorty.com, the blog advertising agency that really comes through for you. Just click on one of the links to find out what it takes to get started making money today!

Fox calls

Okay, all my life I have heard the phrases "Sly like a fox" and "Crazy like a fox" and I understamd both phrases, maybe better than some because, living in an area habitated by actual foxes, I almost understand them. So what is the excuse for THIS? I don't even begin to understand the logic, but.....enjoy? (Warning, link leads to flash animation that is slow to load and loops, so if you think you're done, you probably are)

DIGITAL PHOTO FRAMES. Welcome To The Future!

So you are really into digital photography, and you're gettting pretty good at it. You like showing off your photo skills to your family and friends, but they are getting just a little tired of being dragged to your computer every time they come over. Ever consider a digital picture frame?

A digital picture frame is a digital photograph viewer that looks like a normal picture frame but can be placed anywhere. They are offered in seven inch, eight inch, nine inch, and ten inch sizes to fit most digital viewing needs. The viewer slowly changes pictures, doing a gentle slide presentation of the photos uploaded to it. These frames can even be hung on the wall to provide an ever changing scenic decor.

These things work with just about anything....you can upload your shots, or simply use your memory card. These digital frames will even show short video clips! You can program it to be selective, showing only your latest vacation or party shots. Just click the link to find out more!

MERIT, and not SKIN COLOR, should be the Media's Focus

On the national news yesterday there was a story about a young man, age 23, I believe, who has accomplished the extraordinary feet of flying around the world. He's the youngest person to ever do such a thing, and I am extremely proud that this guy is an American, and am very impressed that he had the willpower and stamina for this.

I am not impressed at all with the angle the news media took on this. They gave a cursory mention to the fact that he is the youngest, quite an accomplishment, in my opinion. The act itself, also adding to the accomplishment, was also secondary. They were touting that he is the first AFRICAN AMERICAN to do so, which, at best, should have been a footnote. This boy did not accomplish being black, and his color should have NOTHING to do with it in a country which wants true equality.

Shopping Cart Software You Can Actually USE!

When you are trying to build a business website online, shopping cart software can be extremely confusing. Finding software to put in a shopping cart that is compatible with the rest of your store can be difficult. Ashop ecommerce software can really help dispell the confusion and get you on your way with a minimum of hassle. Their free tech support, reachable by phone, email, or online chat, can really take the kinks out of the pocess.

The software comes with a fully functional storefront, ready for use or customization to whatever you require. A complete manual and tutorial for ecommerce is included in the package, and no HTML skills are required for using this. What could be easier?

Pricing at Ashop is extremely reasonable as well. And other services offered include Logo Design, button design, homepage design, pretty much anything you need. This company is set to do as much or as little as you require, from shopping cart software to monthly site maintenance, if desired. Just click on the link to get started!

Car Wrecks are NOT Funny

Last night we were watching our local station while we ate, and the news happened to be on. The sportscaster was reporting about a race, Nascar probably, but I don't really follow the races and was therefore not really paying attention. What GOT my attention was a scene of a nasty looking crash on the track, at which point the sportscaster made the statement "We all love the crashes".

Speak for yourseld, you sadistic ass. Anyone who takes pleasure in someone else's pain and misfotune has severe "issues" and I do not appreciate the generalization. My husband went so far as to write the station. The email he recieved in return blew off the incident with "I was just joking". Death and pain are not funny. Period.

Qooforum, the New Way To Go

Ever need somewhere just to go to read and post about whatever is on your mind? Qooforum might just be the thing you are looking for. They pride themselves on bringing people together, and they aren't kidding. No matter what your thing....music of any kind, business information, real estate, they probably have a category that handles it. With a rapidly growing member base, and an incredibly easy sign up procedure, Qooforum is where things are happening. Their user friendly interface really doesn't hurt things either. They are looking for active members with something to say about the topic of your choice. If you don't see the exact topic you are lookig for, start a new thread. Someone is sure to join in right away.

Registration at Qooforum is FREE, and you know you are just dying to share your thoughts and ask your questions. Got a topic you know a whole lot about? Someone out there is in need of your expert assistance. Got something you really, REALLY need help with? Someone is out there to answer your questions. Just hit the link in this post and go to Qooforum, the place that sounds like a typo but is a solution.

***This is a sponsored post***

Wanna be a Star? Identity for sale! (Or was, anyway)

Well, at least one internet identity thief didn't spend all his time as a child watching television. There's proof. According to a Washington AP press release, a phisher known on the internet as "Supra" actually went online in an underground chat room that helps these crooks sell stolen identites and tried to sell the personal information of one Herman Munster. His given birthdate was that of the show itself, and the address was the correct one from the show. Where the thief got the Mastercard number is anyone's guess.

Hmmm....maybe we should make our kids watch MORE TV......

Cliffside Malibu...The Right Choice

Addictoin recovery is never easy. When trying to get your life together and get a fresh, clean start, it is always better to have people around who understand and care about your recovery. Having family around is often not enough. As well meaning as our families can be, they can often unknowingly interfere with the recovery process. Cliffside Malibu can help with that. Including your family in your recovery in a healthy way can be a part of your individualized treatment plan, while the experts at Cliffside Malibu handle the rest.

At Cliffside Malibu, you will find the help you need. Not an average Drug Rehab center, they offer a recovery program tailored to your needs while maintaining a luxury lifestyle in beautiful surroundings. Expect gourmet food, group sessions that address the real problems, and an emphasis on physical activity that promoted health and well being. Your personal therapist will ensure that you are recieving the exact help you need to aide in you successful return to a productive lifestyle.

Don't just give up on life. Come and talk to the people who can really make a difference. The first step was recognizing that you have a problem, and the next step is getting the help you need. Click on the above link to start finding your way back.

Go Malaysia

Malaysia was in the news recently. But, given what else has been going on in the world, it's pathetic what these Malasians had to do to GET in the news. It seems that a statue was stolen. It seems that Malasians must be very short overall, because the article said that the statue was "lifesize" and said statue was also "four feet tall". What kind of statue would cause such an uproar when stolen, you muight ask? A great work of art by a master? A statue of a brave military hero? Well....no. The statue was a likeness of Homer Simpson.

The Missing Links?

One of our sponsors has requested several fast links to be placed here, and since he was so nice about it, I am going to do as he requested. Here'sthis link, and that link, and that other link. And lest we forget, another link, and this final link. Now, this sponsor is a really nice person, so be sure to at leadt give these links a look see, okay?

The Bear Facts

Did anyone catch the "marine kills bear" story in the news? Seems a marine was vacationing at a national park in Georgia with his three sons when a black bear arrived and tried to make off with their cooler. I'm assuming the cooler was closed, since the bear was carrying it. One of the kids throws something at the bear, and the father gets scared about what could happen and heaves a log at the bear, killing it.

If it were me, I'd be glad the bear was dead and not in MY vicinity. But what happened to the marine? A federal citation for not keeping his food away from the bear, basically. Can you believe it?

Traveling Tip: Hotelreservations.com

Ah, summer is here again. Cool evening breezes, the swimming pool, and time to select that perfect vacation spot. That's where the trouble starts. Finding just the right place to go is easy enough. But finding just the right place to go that also fits your budget can get pretty darn difficult. That's when consulting the travl experts comes in pretty handy, unless you can't find one in your area, or the ones you find are so expensive that you lose half your vacation budget on just the consultation. Then things can get so frustrating that you might even begin to wonder if taking a vacation is worth all the headaches after all.

That's where Hotelreservations.com comes in to save the day. No matter what you are looking for, they can book it for you. From the most elaborate of hotel suites to the most ecconomican cheap hotel room, it's all there on the website. It makes it possible for you to skip all those expert fees and hassles and plan your own vacation, from the comfort of your own home. With their find function locating and comparing what is availble and when it is available is as easy as clicking a mouse. No more appointment hassles and "no vacancy" nighmares.

Hotelreservations.com is worldwide, so that it really doesn't matter whether you are going to California or Cairo, they still have what it takes to make your vacation a comple sucess. And the don't just book accomodations, either. They offer full vacation packages, or if you want to do it yourself, they book airplane flights, rental cars, whatever you need to get you on your way and bring you safely back home again. A little wary or skeptical about doing things over the web, or just have questions and don't want to wait for an email? They have a toll free number listed in the top corner of the website. Give them a try!

***This is a sponsored post***

Cigarettes and the Right to Breathe

Smoking appears to be one of the hottest arguments out there, not pun intended. In my state, smokers have pretty much had their rights legislated away from them. Nonsmokers think that's great, and will continue to think it's great until they figure out what is gonna happen if big tobacco goes under.

People have a right to breathe. Fine. I have no problem with smoking outside, away from evryone who thinks one whiff of my favorite menthol is gonna give em lung cancer. But whole CITIES going smoke free? Please.

Anyway, if big tobacco goes under, it will affect every single American citizen. The BILLIONS in taxes they pay every year are gonna have to be made up for SOMEWHERE. That, my friend, is where tripling our taxes comes in. And when they get done compensating for THAT by taking it out of our collective hides, then they have to figure out how to pay for all those speecial programs and research that the tobacco companies fund.

These things are not guesswork. What the tobacco companies pay for is a matter of public disclosure. YOU are gonna foot the bill. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

FIRED....But WHY?

Michael sits looking at the phone in his hand, stunned. Fired. But why? There had been no reason given. Just a short message on his voice mail. The security code was there, so the message was genuine. He couldn't think of any reason, nothing he had done that would warrent his being fired in such a rough manner. Then it hit him...he had just lost his protection as well. Here he sat in a foreign country, pocket full of CIA credit cards that were no doubt cancelled, no way to get home that he was aware of. He told himdelf not to panic. The rooom was paid for three days. He had time to think.

He turned on the television, hoping the noise would help him clear his mind. Instead, there on the news, was his picture. He turned the volume up and listened.

The story on the news report was about the murder of a well known ambassador. Because Michael and the ambassador had had conflicts in the past, Michael knew him. But the news reporter was claiming that there was strong evidence that Michael himself was the killer, and his photo was unmistakeable. Well, that explains the phone call, he thought. Michael shut off the television and realized that he had in fact been given one final assignment.....proving his innocence.

Find out how USA Network Burn Notice handled the problem!

Argh

Have you ever had one of "those" days, when it seems like everything you do is wrong, everything you say pisses someone off, and if you try to actually tell anyone anything that you think makes sense people look at you like you're speaking in a foreign language? Welcome to my day.

This morning, one of my teen daughters tells me her ex boyfriend called her and chewed her out because his girlfriend doesn't like him calling my daughter. Yeah, you read that right. He's mad at her for getting him in trouble with his girlfriend by.....answering the phone I guess.

Then the same daughter has another froend who commits suicide.

I don't even wanna discuss the REST of the day.

"Hidden" Coupon Codes!

Don't you just hate it when you buy something and THEN find out later that you could have had it MUCH cheaper if you had been aware of a coupon offer from the place where you were shopping? RetailMeNot offers an email sevice that does away with that problem. Once a week they will email youn a message with all the latest coupon codes and make it so that you don't come up on the short end again! So for Travelocity coupon codes, or many other name brands available online, check them out!

***This is a sponsored post***

Correlations

My husband, who has a great sense of humor, decided to share with me his latest surefire "theory":

It is a well known fact that elephants are afraid of mice. Perhaps they are afraid of mice because mice look sort of like little elephants and it is startling to them. Yes, that must be it.

Using that same correlation, nuns must be afraid of penguins.

Enjoy Those Summer Breezes!

Well, summer is almost here, people! Open windows, cool evening breezes.....and lots and lots of bugs. How on earth do you enjoy the summer weather when you can't even open up the doors? Have you ever considered folding screen doors? They are inexpensive, easy to install, and sure would be better than living with a closed up house this summer! Give them a look by clicking on the above link!

***This is a sponsored post***

First Dentist Trip

My daughter just had to get her first set of fillings done. She was really scared, too. I tried to calm her down, tried to explain that the dentist wasn't going to hurt her, that it would be okay, but NO. Getting her teeth cleaned "hurt" and she didn't trust the drill either. It took all we had just to get her into the dentist's chair. The fact that the happy gas would mean she wouldn't even feel the needle was ignored. Our calm reassurances fell on deaf ears.

After the fillings were done and we were at home, it STILL wasn't any better. First she couldn't talk because the novacaine hadn't worn off, then her mouth HURT, mostly because she kept TRYING to talk and kept biting her cheek and tongue, and then "just didn't understand why" it hurt.

I finally had had enough. I know I am supposed to be a nurturing parent, but that only goes so far. "GROW UP!" I said. "YOU ARE EIGHTEEN!"

TERRY'S FABRICS Bedding Collection

Let's face it, most of us spend more time in our bedrooms than in any other room in the house. Having a bedroom that is calming and relaxing is almost essential in today's hustle and bustle world. Terry's Fabrics offers a wide selection of bedding and bedroom products that really make things more enjoyable.....just check out their selection of embroidered duvet covers ! To see for yourself what Terry's Fabrics can do for you, jist click the link.

***This is a sponsored post***

OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MIKE HUCKABEE

Dear Mr. Huckabee;

I am a resident of the state of Arkansas, and I think you did a fine job as governor here, but before you become president, there are a couple things you should be aware of.

JUST BECAUSE YOU QUIT SMOKING DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO USE THE GOVERNMENT TO FORCE US TO DO THE SAME. You hve pushed laws through in our state that ban tobacco use in many areas. We smokers understand that nonsmokers do not want to be shut up in a room with a lot of smoke. Fine. But outside in the open air? In designated smoking areas? Please. No smoking is fine for indoors, but at at least one Arkansas hospital, smokers are now forced to walk a quarter mile to a GRAVEYARD to smoke. A graveyard where gangs go. In trying to force us to be like you, you have risked our lives. We smoke by choice, a choice guaranteed by the constitution. We don't all want to be forced to be you.

and, secondly,

JUST BECAUSE YOU LOST A HUNDRED POUNDS DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO FORCE US TO DO THE SAME. Your BMI garbage is for the birds. I have four children in the school system and NOT ONE TIME did they manage to get it right. My underweight daughter, whose doctor wants her to gain, was labled "healthy" and my other daughter who is the perfect weight for her height BY HER DOCTOR'S STANDARDS was labled "in danger of becoming obese". She was DEVASTATED. The other two, they didn't even get their HEIGHT right. We, as parents, are NOT in fact too stupid to know whether or not our kids are fat, and you have NO RIGHT telling us what we can and can not eat.

That said, good luck with your presidential run.