to the teddy teacher: i sympathize with your plight

Have you heard about the British teacher who was accused and convicted of inciting religious hatred for allowing her 7-year-old students to name a teddy bear Mohammed? Seriously! That is obsessive religious control gone overboard! Mohammed is such a common name there, and these kids are KIDS! At seven years old, they don’t understand that their religion considers it blasphemous to name a teddy bear Mohammed.

Thankfully, the teacher was only sentenced to 15 days imprisonment and deportation. It is certainly not the ideal outcome, but in that region they don’t think twice about what we consider cruel and unusual punishment – and this gal originally faced lashes. As a former aid worker, I understand the frustration that comes with a forced departure from a land that desperately needs your help. However, hopefully the prison time will not be bad. I’m sure that she also received a lighter sentence due to the worldwide outcry and also her British citizenship. If the Brits are anything like us (and in this regard, I think they are), they would not allow one of their citizens to receive extreme punishment for any crime, and especially not for a crime which is not also illegal in Britain.

*coupon chief*

The holiday season is upon us, and it’s time to buy gifts for all of our friends and family. I think I speak for most of us when I say that this will hurt our pocketbooks! Luckily there are great websites online, like Coupon Chief, where I can find great coupons and deals to save money. They have all kinds of coupons, like Dell coupons so that you can buy a computer for yourself or your family. You could also get Lids.com deals so you can buy unique hats for your entire family. Thank goodness we can use the internet to save money!

bed bath and beyond

Today I went to Bed Bath and Beyond. That store is one of my favorite stores. I love “bedroom things” – pillows and blankets and so forth. I also love candles and mp3 accessories. Bed Bath and Beyond sells all those items, plus a variety of toys, games, and trinkets that are unique and just a lot of fun.

*lap band*

Losing weight is so hard. Plus, weight issues are now occurring in younger and younger ages. We are so lucky that we live in an era where we have surgical options. Of course, surgery should always be the last option (after diet and exercise). However, if you’ve tried everything else, you can find a lap-band surgeon who will create an adjustable lap band through minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery.

party america

Today I stopped by a Party America store. I was thinking about several things that I want/need to buy, and I wanted to price them at a party store. Party America had tons of party favors and things that would be fun for grownups to play with, but I was disappointed by prices. I really don’t want to pay the high prices that they are charging! Plus, many of the items sold there are sold at discount stores like Walmart or the dollar store for much less. Oh well – the only way to find out was to visit. I may never go back, but at least now I know.

*hotel reservations*

As a frequent traveler, I know all too well how important it is to make Hotel Reservations in advance. Not only can you save money by reserving your hotel in advance, but you are guaranteed a hotel room, which is so much easier than driving down the interstate and looking for a hotel with a “vacancy” sign. Nowadays, you can get competitive prices by reserving your hotel room online. Next time you are traveling, be sure to reserve your hotel room online!

christmas shopping

Yesterday I went Christmas shopping. I can hardly believe I was Christmas shopping – it’s hard to believe that it’s that time of year again! But on the other hand, it’s definitely cold enough to be Christmas. I got great presents for my entire family and for my best friend. I wish I could tell you, my readers, what I bought, but since my family and friends read my blog, I can’t! Rest assured, Mom, Dad, Jennifer, and Beth, that you will be getting absolutely wonderful gifts from me! I’m excited about the holiday season coming up. This will be a fantastic Christmas.

*popup blocker*

Popups are so annoying – possibly one of the most annoying internet creations. Plus, when you receive lots of popups, your internet slows down and your computer slows down. More often than not, popup advertisements are inappropriate or pointless. Thank goodness we can use a popup blocker to eliminate most of those popup ads. Otherwise we would no longer surf the internet, but rather swim through the thick oceans of muddy advertisements.

california wildfires

I am so glad I do not live in California right now. Especially in Malibu, California! Those wildfires are BACK and have destroyed another 35 homes. Wildfires are so unpredictable and so devastating. It’s so sad that they have returned – but then again, it’s not entirely surprising, since we continue to build homes in these places that are vulnerable to natural disasters. Hopefully these fires will not be nearly as bad as the last string of wildfires.

*insurance*

One of the first things I pay for every month is all my different insurances. Since I do not own a home, I don’t have to pay home insurance at this time, but I do pay health insurance and car insurance. I consider those to be very important! I actually get cheap car insurance (or at least, cheaper car insurance) by paying for my car insurance every six months. Insurance is a really great thing for all of us. Even though I have to pay a little bit of money every month, it pays off in the end. Though there are times when it may seem like I am wasting my money, since I don’t spend money through my insurance every month, it pays off when I do need the insurance to pay for a large sum of money. Plus, the insurance gives me peace of mind, and you can’t put a price on that.

kansas city barbeque

Every time my grandfather comes to Kansas City, he wants to get some good Kansas City barbeque. The best barbeque in Kansas City, by far, is at Arthur Bryant’s barbeque, but unfortunately Arthur Bryant’s is on the other side of town and therefore is a full afternoon outing. Last night, instead, my mom and I went to Smokehouse Barbeque, which was nearby and where we were able to buy three pounds of barbequed meat. We brought the meat home and served it ourselves, with our own buns and salads. It was a delicious meal, even if it wasn’t Arthur Bryant’s!

*choosing an isp*

There are a number of responsibilities that accompany moving into a new residence, including choosing your new ISP provider. This is challenging, no matter where you move. Once you’ve decided if you will have broadband or dial-up, you have to choose a company. You always want to choose the best company possible – one that does not cost too much money, has good customer service, does not have frequent outages, and most importantly, one which you will not regret choosing. I remember when I moved into my apartment in college, I decided to get dial-up internet (for the price), but I still had to see if NetZero, PeoplePC Online, Earthlink or Juno is better. Perhaps you will choose broadband internet, but then you still have to decide which technology is best for you (DSL, cable, or satellite) and which company will be best.

thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has come, and gone. What traditions did you celebrate at your home? This year, my older sister returned home, and my grandfather visited us with his new wife. We ate turkey, dressing, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and so many other foods I can’t even count them all. This is definitely a diet-free weekend! We also played lots of fun games together and enjoyed an entire weekend with no responsibilities!

*garage floors*

Our garage is so full! We are a typical suburban family, in that we use our garage for storage of “stuff” and not cars! Luckily our garage floor still looks fairly nice underneath all that, I think. It’s really pretty amazing, given that our garage floor is at least 30 years old. There are many ways to repair garage floors. How does your garage floor look?

google pagerank

What is going on with Google Page Rank? For those who did not notice, my PR has dropped to a big, fat ZERO. Actually, I know what is going on – Google is waging a war against all the websites who use any form of paid sponsorship that is not Adsense. Even if you use Adsense, you may be hurt if you also use any other company sponsorships. Shame on you, Google. You may think you are the big, bad bully of the Internet, but you will fall from your pedestal if you cannot stoop to accept all of the little guys.

*tactical*

For the past few years, I’ve enjoyed watching shows like CSI or Law and Order. I like adventure, and there’s nothing quite like watching the cops chasing the bad guys, pulling their guns out of their Galco holsters, and saving the day at the last second possible. But lately the quality of the shows has not been very high. It’s a shame, because there’s a lot of potential in those shows. Unfortunately the writing has gone downhill.

home sweet home

Today my mom has the day off of school, and is staying home. We have cleaned the house from top to bottom in preparation for the arrival of my grandfather and his new wife tonight. It’s nice to have my mom home, although I think I would go nuts if she was here every day. It’s nice to spend quality time with her.

*freeze it gel*

My mom loves to sew, and growing up, she was almost always sewing new dresses for my sister or me. She loves to craft, sew, and create items with her hands. However, a few years ago she began having trouble with osteoarthritis in the joints of her hands and wrists. Her arthritis is very painful and has made a huge impact on the quality of her life. Because it is painful for her to bend her fingers or flex her wrists, she has been forced to abandon the crafts and sewing that she loves. She has learned to cope with her arthritis, but she cannot cook like she used to either. She cannot open jars at all, and it is difficult for her to stir food on the stove.


my mom

Today I discovered an item online that may help her pain. It’s called Freeze It Gel. Freeze It is a topical gel that is used to relieve sore muscles and joints due to arthritis, muscle sprains and strains, or back, shoulder, and neck pain. Simply rub Freeze It on the skin surrounding the sore joint. Freeze It can be used up to four times per day. Freeze It comes in a 4 ounce tube or a 3 ounce roll on “stick” for your convenience.

Freeze It is also a very natural product. If you are concerned about filling your body with chemicals, Freeze It has none of the chemicals that will have bad side effects. It contains Aloe, Vitamin E, ILEX (an herbal extract from a South American shrub), and small amounts of menthol and camphor.

Freeze It will be choosing their favorite posts and giving away a supply of Freeze It Gel. I hope I win. I love my mother dearly, and I hate to see how much she has had to give up due to her arthritis. If I could give that back to her, it would be the best Christmas gift I could ever possibly imagine.

at last... munchkins receive their hollywood fame

The famous munchkins from the Wizard of Oz will be receiving a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, almost 70 years after the movie originally premiered. Out of more than a hundred munchkins who acted in the movie, only a handful survive today, and the surviving actors are all in their eighties and nineties. This recognition is long overdue, and I’m glad that the munchkins are now being immortalized.

*shrink yourself*

The holidays are upon us, which means we are entering a month or so of cookies, casseroles, and carbohydrates. For all of us out there who are trying to eat healthy food and live generally healthy lives, this time is a huge challenge for us! It’s so easy to abandon your diet and gorge on treats all day! Luckily we can watch out for each other, and we can read a Holiday Survival Guide to help us get through the holidays. So enjoy the holidays, and enjoy all your favorite holiday treats, but use self control and remember that all good things come in moderation.

missouri weather

This is absolutely crazy pre-thanksgiving weather. Yesterday we hit a record high of 74 degrees Fahrenheit. Right now it is snowing, and it has been snowing for the past three hours or so. It’s about 30 degrees Fahrenheit, a very cold shift from yesterday! This morning I got into the car (to go to the library), and I had to turn off the air conditioner and turn on the heater! What a rude awakening to winter and the holidays!

*vat19.com*

So last week I got this package from Vat19.com with some free products for me to blog about. This is one of the best parts about paid blogging – free stuff! I got three items: “Rainbow Moments” candles, InstaSnow, and Ambient Moments DVD. The Rainbow Moments candles are birthday candles with colored flames – very cool. The Instasnow is a packet of “just add water” snow. You add water to the powder in the packet, and you have snow. I’m not sure what I will use this for (snowball fight in July?) but it’s a neat idea.



My favorite item, by far, is the Ambient Moments DVD. This DVD is basically a “fireplace” on your TV/DVD. The fireplace is displayed on your television, with chamber music playing in the background. The fire looks very realistic. In our household, we have a fireplace but we never use it. The last time my family can remember using the fireplace was during an ice storm and extended power outage in 1983 (and I barely remember that, because I was just a baby!). Neither my mom nor my dad likes the increase in their heating bill due to all the heat that is lost through the flue. My dad is very concerned about the risk of the house catching fire and burning down. My mom hates to clean the fireplace. Instead of lighting fires, my mom put a silk flower arrangement inside the fireplace years ago. So a “fireplace” on the TV is perfect for us. We can enjoy the ambiance of a fire without all the other problems it creates.

Vat19.com is a pretty neat website. I’m a gadget junkie, and that site is definitely full of the kind of gadgets I love! There’s a LightWedge LED Book Light that I would love to get – I read enough that it would just be fantastic. There’s also a duckie keychain that I love – the duck quacks and lights up when you squeeze him. They also have a Beeswax candle that intrigues me. Plus they have these computer-care screen wipes that would be perfect for my dad, my sister, and I – the computer junkies of the family. With Christmas coming up, you should definitely check this site out. You will find FANTASTIC and hilarious gifts for your friends and family, and aren’t those the best kind?

amazon whale?

A whale has become trapped in the Amazon River, and I have to say, it doesn’t seem like the smartest whale out there. It’s a minke whale, which is one of the smallest breeds of baleen whales, and it has swam over 1,000 miles up the river. Every time the veterinarians and biologists try to catch it, the whale gets excited and swims farther upriver. Not the brightest light bulb!

*cheap student insurance*

I’m not a student anymore, but I used to be, and I am quite familiar with the tight budget that goes along with being a student. As a student, you are thrown into a grown up world where you have bills and responsibilities, but you still want to be a kid and run to Taco Bell at midnight with your friends. Auto insurance is the worst. Even if you are a good driver, your insurance is automatically expensive because you are under 24 or under 21, and if you are a male it is even worse. Thank goodness there are companies where you can still get cost u less insurance. It will save those pennies so that you can run to Taco Bell at midnight!

they grow up so fast - kids accused of rape in Georgia

Can you believe that two nine year olds and an eight year old are accused of raping an eleven year old girl in Georgia? These kids are just – well, kids! What is going on in our world when children are raping children? They should be playing with their GI Joes and Barbies, not worried about raping and getting raped. Shocking. Absolutely unbelievable.

*dialaflight*

New Zealand would be a great place to visit. After they were married, my aunt and uncle chose one of the New Zealand Holidays as their honeymoon. There are many fantastic Holiday Offers. Luckily it is possible to find Cheap Flights to New Zealand through services such as Dialaflight. With Dialaflight, New Zealand Flights such as flights to Christchurch are remarkably low cost.

Warren Jeffs sentenced

Fundamentalist prophet Warren Jeffs will soon be sentenced for his role in the arranged marriage of an underaged girl. He faces five years to life in prison. I think the “fundy” communities – and indeed, the entire Mormon religion – are a perfect example of how easily men and women can be brainwashed. Mormonism has a violent history – and I’m talking about their true history, not the cleaned-up history that the Mormon Church presents. Those of us on the outside may wonder how or why people can be so easily swayed to believe such strange ideas. In reality, though, we are all apt to such insanities. Ask any psychologist. Sometimes it manifests itself in forms such as “Stockholm” syndrome – sometimes it is in other ways. Undoubtedly, though, it is only by the grace of God that we can be protected.

*watches*

I am very picky about my watches. I started wearing a watch in fifth grade, when I first started changing classes, and I learned that by wearing a watch I would know how much time I had left in class. Today, if I buy a watch, I prefer watches that are fairly low cost. It MUST be a digital watch, waterproof, with the date in the corner, and preferably with a sports-watch band. It’s surprisingly hard to find a watch that fits these simple requirements. I’ve looked into all kinds of watches, like raymond weil watches, but it’s still hit and miss.

*samsonite*

Traveling overseas, I have learned a thing or two about luggage. When you are flying, and especially if you are flying overseas, it is vitally important to have high-quality pieces of luggage that will withstand the tossing, throwing, banging, and abuse that is endured when they are loaded and unloaded from the airplane. There are several companies that produce good luggage, including Samsonite
. If you buy quality luggage, you’ll never regret it, but if you buy second-rate luggage, you will be very sorry later on.

*drug rehab*

Nowadays there are so many drug rehabilitation places out there, it’s hard to find a really good one when you really need it. I am really annoyed by the places that celebrities visit for “rehab”, where they are rehabilitated by sitting next to the pool while they sip martinis and read fashion magazines. Luckily there are still many rehab places that are high quality. If you need to be rehabilitated – as it seems many of today’s celebrities do – these are the places you should find.

oj and the goldmans

Fred Goldman has vowed to dog OJ Simpson to the grave. I certainly don’t blame him. I think we all know that OJ killed his ex-wife and Ron Goldman. OJ is an arrogant bully. But I hope that Mr. Goldman will find forgiveness for OJ Simpson. It’s true that OJ did it, and that he was not punished for it. However, Fred Goldman will be miserable if he spends his life trying to punish OJ. God will punish OJ – and without a doubt, God’s punishment will be quite unpleasant. But Fred Goldman will be much happier if he can let go of the past and just life.

*ooprint.com blogger cards*

Lately I have begun considering a logo of some sort for all my websites. Sometimes, it can be so helpful to have a business card that contains your contact information in a NON digital form. Ooprint.com is offering 100 Free blogger cards for all of the bloggers out there who want to create a non digital form of blog advertising.

RIP Mr. Whipple

Actor Dick Wilson died of natural causes on Monday at the age of 91. Wilson became famous for his role as an uptight grocer who begged his customers to “Please, don’t squeeze the Charmin”. He made more than 500 commercials as Mr. George Whipple, a closet Charmin-squeezer who was consumed with preventing his customers from fondling the toilet paper.

*legit online jobs*

Since I’ve begun writing paid ads, I’ve explored all sorts of ways to make money online. Not surprisingly, there are a lot of scams out there. Many, many people are more than willing to part you from your money. It’s tough to find Legit Online Jobs, and thanks to my explorations, I now get TONS of spam email. The upside, though, is that I have learned that it is possible to make money online. It is possible to earn enough money to live off of, if not more. That’s pretty exciting. I love being in control of my future, and working online gives me that opportunity.

my own little corner of the internet

Yippee! I bought a domain today, and I hope to have the template created and online within a day or two. Designing the template is stretching my HTML knowledge to the limit, but I am confident that it will be worthwhile. I’m excited about the future of this domain and will reveal it as soon as the template is complete!

candle giveaway

Tiffany is giving away a pink soy candle on her blog. This purchase benefited the City of Hope Cancer Center, so it’s a great deal all around. The candle looks gorgeous and, as I have never burned a soy candle before, I am quite curious and hopeful. The candle would be a great addition to my slowly-developing office.

Through TheDomesticDiva.org, I am discovering more and more blogs, like Verti, that use sponserships to earn money, which is fantastic because it’s helping me learn how to set up my blog.

*numismatics*

The economy has been quite volatile lately – enough so that I am uneasy about investing in the stock market. The value of the US dollar has dropped to record lows, and it seems like anyone who wants to increase the value of their portfolio should at least consider investing in non-traditional investments.

Monaco Rare Coin, a member of the Monex family of companies, is a trusted leader in precious metals and specializes in helping investors choose rare coins for their collections. With the morgan dollar from Monaco Rare Coin, you can be assured that you are getting the best in rare coin experience and expertise. These rare coins can help secure your portfolio against future market pitfalls.

saturday mail and credit cards

It’s Saturday… it should be a nice, pleasant, worry free weekend… yet today, what do I get in the mail but a BILL!!! It was actually my credit card bill, and not a surprise. I use my credit card quite sparingly, mostly just to buy gasoline for my car. Then, by paying it off every month, I’m hoping to improve my credit rating. With my card, I get one percent cash back, and because of that, I’ve actually considered doing all of my purchases through my credit card. However, I know that if I did, I would have to be hyper-vigilant about monitoring my purchase history.

high gas prices = more oil?

It’s the undeniable truth about high gas prices. We gripe about it, we complain, we ask why big oil needs so much money. But the reality is that, as the prices go up, the oil companies are able to pursue technologies that are not possible at lower prices. In Texas, Cactus Schroeder is drilling for small “veins” of oil – veins so small that they are not worth the time or trouble of the big oil companies. Cactus digs oil wells that may produce 100,000 barrels of oil in their lifetime. He’s convinced that there is plenty of oil residing underneath the Texas soil, and I’m inclined to agree with him. Anyone who has ever driven across Kansas (as I have, numerous times) has seen many of the horsehead-shaped oil wells, also known as nodding donkeys. 100,000 barrels of oil may sound like a lot, but it’s not. It costs Cactus $500,000 just to drill the well, so divide that by the oil he hopes to get from the well (500,000/100,000) and every barrel must sell for at least $5 just to break even. Not every well produces 100,000 barrels, though – some produce far less. Some wells, called dry holes, produce no oil at all. Add enough profit to offset the cost of the dry holes and the wells that don’t pay for themselves, and it’s really only worth drilling if Cactus can sell the oil for a high profit. We might complain – but let’s remember that if it weren’t for those high prices, we might not have oil at all.

*maytag dryers*

When it comes to washers and dryers, I’m quite partial. Before my older sister was born, my mom bought a Maytag washer and dryer, and she got at least 28 years out of them. The washer is still going strong, and the dryer only first konked out a couple of years ago. Of course, during that time my dad had to make occasional small, inexpensive repairs, but they just kept on cleaning. When the dryer gave out, of course my mom went straight to the Maytag Dryers. They are just such high quality pieces of equipment. My grandma also had a Maytag that lasted a very long time. I know that whenever I move out into my own place, I will definitely buy a Maytag washer and a Maytag dryer.

the politician's apology

The modern apology is really quite amusing. Nowadays, it’s so much more than just a simple “I’m sorry”, as evidenced by this story. There’s an art to apologizing without really apologizing. There’s the “I’ve found Jesus” apology. There’s the talk show apology. (what better place to apologize than in front of millions of people?) There’s outright denial – a skill which Larry Craig has turned into a science. And of course, there is the non-apology apology – “Mistakes were made… I am sorry for my tone of voice…” It’s really kind of pitiful! Makes me glad I’m not a politician – those people have to dig such shallow graves for themselves.

girls gone wild

Last night on Nightline, I watched this story about Joe Francis, founder of Girls Gone Wild. Joe Francis is currently in jail for filming semi-naked underage girls. Two 17 year old girls lied about their ages and filmed a shower scene in a bathroom in Panama City, Florida. Joe Francis insists he has done nothing wrong. I am sad and shocked by his behavior. It’s just another sign of the degradation of society. It’s horrible. Has Joe Francis done anything wrong? Undoubtedly. But I fear it will be a long time before society recognizes his errors.

*holiday coupons*

Now that Christmas is on the way, I have to start thinking about gift ideas for all my friends. Luckily I can get coupons for everything I could possibly imagine. I might use some Jewelry Coupons for myself, but I don’t think I would buy jewelry for my friends. It’s not really meaningful for any of my friendships. I could also definitely use some Vista Print Coupons too, since I am getting some business cards printed soon. I’ve received gift baskets and Gift Basket Coupons, but I don’t think those are really right for any of my friends. Sporting Goods Coupons may be right for some of my friends, but definitely not for all of them. I could always use some Hallmark Flowers coupons to get flowers for my friends, but the downside is that flowers don’t last long. If I knew their shoe sizes, I would buy them shoes using Famous Footwear coupons, but I don’t know their sizes! Maybe I should just buy gift cards for all of them!

target

Today my mom and I went to Target. We don’t usually shop at Target, but they stock a couple of items that we cannot get anywhere else. I would have to say I wasn’t surprised, but I was disappointed by my experience. I have never much been a fan of Target. I find that items at Target tend to be more expensive than the exact same items at Walmart. But in addition to higher prices, I have also discovered that the customer service is much worse. I remember once at Target, a ladybug fell on me as I stood at the jewelry counter. I felt it crawling on me, but I did not know that it was a ladybug at the time, so when I went to slap it away, it created a large mess that ruined one of my favorite tshirts. Another time, I bought a pair of sleeper-style earrings at Target that I thought would be comfortable for sleeping. They turned out to be an expensive piece of trash. Today was a real kicker. My mom and I had two items that we were going to purchase, and that only because those items are only sold at Target. Only about eight registers were open, and none of them were express lanes. Every single register had a line of at least three to four transactions. I am ridiculously disappointed, and am now going to investigate the possibility of buying those items on the internet, so that I will never have to enter a Target store again.

*nc natural coupons*

For anyone who lives frugally, you know that coupons are an essential part of that frugal life. “Coupon clipping” is an entirely different thing than it used to be. No more do we attack the Sunday paper with a pair of scissors. Nowadays, we go to online coupon sites, like NCNatural Coupons, where we can print coupons, like Dell coupons, or get online coupon codes, like 123Inkjets coupon codes. This coupon site is updated on a daily basis and easy to use for shoppers who want to save money. Just don’t attack your computer with a pair of scissors!

my favorites menu

So I have this problem. I've always been this junkie with my favorites menu. I bookmark everything. I've always used Internet Explorer's favorites menu. Usually I do a pretty good job of weeding out my favorites menu periodically, and moving bookmarks into folders, and keeping the bookmarks organized. But right now my favorites are just out of hand. I just lost track of it! What am I gonna do?

What I am thinking I should do is "transfer" some of my most frequently-used favorites to one of these online bookmark services. I need to explore them to figure out which ones are good, but I think I will be doing that, just so that I can stay on top of it. Which ones are the best, guys?

*hdmi splitters*

In my bedroom, I have a small 13 inch television. When I was in junior high, I won a 13 inch tv/vcr combo in a contest, which was absolutely wonderful. The downside, though, was that several years later when the VCR broke, the TV would not work either. I got a new television at Sears – one of those old tube-style TVs, which was really quite inexpensive. I have a separate VCR now, an old one that we got from my grandmother’s house after she died. Since the TV is new and the VCR is old, I have one of those HDMI splitters that connects the cables. It’s not perfect but it is inexpensive, and it works quite well.

desktop meme - yay! I got it to work!

I was tagged by Pia about a month and a half ago to do this meme, but since my laptop has one of those scrunched-up keyboards, I couldn't get it to work. Tonight I finally figured out how to get it to work and yay, here's my desktop!

That wallpaper is of one of my hamsters, Kissimmee. Of course, all of my hamsters have died by now, but I still like to remember all the happy times I had with them. I really need to change my wallpaper - it's been like that for a looooonnnngggg time!

I almost always have IE or Firefox running, and I also use the GIMP a lot. (it's free and it's pretty nice!) I've gotten rid of most of my instant messengers (I switched to meebo.com) but since I have Gmail, I'm still hooked on the "instant" alerts whenever I get a message. I have oodles of icons because I'm a shortcut junkie.

Update: Blah, sorry, took me a few minutes to get the size of the image figured out.

Okay, here are the rules for the meme:
* Upon receiving this tag, immediately perform a screen capture of your desktop.It is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun. You can do a screen capture by: Going to your desktop and pressing the Print Scrn key. Open a graphics program (like Picture Manager, Paint, or Photoshop) and do a Paste (CTRL + V). If you wish, you can “edit” the image, before saving it.

* Post the picture on your blog. You can also give a short explanation on the look of your desktop just below it if you want. You can explain why you preferred such look or why is it full of icons. Things like that.

* Tag five of your friends and ask them to give you a Free View of their desktop as well.

* Add your name to this list of Free Viewers with a link pointing directly to your Desktop Free View post to promote it to succeeding participants.

Now I tag: Summer, Dianna, Tracy, Lindsey, and Mike.

*new york citypass*

Maybe you are a born and bred New Yorker. You’ve been raised there but, if you’re anything like me (or probably like most Americans!) the city you are least familiar with is your own. When you go out of town you go to the museums and art galleries, but in your own city, you hardly ever get a chance to visit the famous sites in your city. With a New York CityPass, you will get a half-price, pocket sized booklet containing tickets to the Met (the Metropolitan Museum of Art, including the new Greek and Roman galleries; the Museum of Modern Art; the Guggenheim Museum; and the American Museum of Natural History. You will also get a trip to the top of the Empire State Building Observatory and a tour of the Manhattan Skyline from the water aboard a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise, along with a map, public transportation information, and insider tips on the best time to visit each attraction.

Or, if you are just visiting New York, a CityPass is a great, money saving opportunity. You’ll be able to skip most of the main entrance ticket lines. An adult CityPass costs $65 and a CityPass for youths 12-17 costs only $49. CityPass is the perfect way to get ready for your vacation to the Big Apple.

writer's strike

I read today that the Hollywood Writer's Srike has continued and grown. More shows will be affected. I think this is going to be a good thing on many, many levels...

First of all, as a fellow writer, I have to metaphorically stand in solidarity with the Hollywood writers. These are not millionaire writers. These are middle-class writers trying to earn enoug money to pay their mortgages and feed their children. They are asking for fair treatment, in the development of the DVD and internet distribution of the shows they have written. I say, more power to them. We do not realize how essential those writers are to the television we watch every day. Intellectual property is the core of our nation, and it should be protected.

Second, as this strike continues, I think it will be good for people across the country to watch less television, including myself. Television is a great thing, but like all other good things, it should come in moderation. It will be good for us - I mean ME!! - to get off the couch and exercise. I know I could stand to lose a few pounds!

*digital photography*

I received my digital camera for my birthday several years ago, and I never could have imagined how much I would use it. Owning a digital camera is so much easier than owning a film camera for me. I can take hundreds of photos without worrying about the cost of buying and developing film. My camera also has a feature that allows me to use it as a video camera for short films, which is absolutely fantastic. When I was in Africa, I took hundreds and hundreds of photographs. It was an absolute joy to never worry about developing photographs (especially because I was in a part of the world that did not have film developing labs on every corner!), and there were so many wonderful things to photograph.

Before my older sister moved overseas, several years before me, she purchased a Canon camera, and it has been a purchase that has paid for itself time and again. In fact, she loved it so much and told our family so often how nice her camera was, she convinced my parents to purchase the same model of camera. My mother absolutely loves the camera. Like my sister’s camera, it has paid for itself, and my mother loves to take photographs. Photography has been a rewarding joy for us.

buck o'neil

Maybe you were outbid on that Barry Bonds home run baseball. Maybe you despise Barry Bonds and attempted to buy Hank Aaron's home run baseball. Maybe you have a collection of Babe Ruth memoribilia. Either way, this may be exactly what you want.

Buck O'Neil, the vibrant and energetic member of Kansas City's Monarchs Negro League Baseball, maintained that energy until his death. When he died, he left behind friends, family, and a small house on Kansas City's East side. His house is now up for sale, listed at $26,500. The realtor estimates that the house needs about $15,000 in repairs. However, if you buy this house, you will be buying a piece of history. Restoring this house could be a fantastic investment. Buck O'Neil was and is a much-loved citizen of Kansas City and will never be forgotten.

*talent rock*

For those of us out there who have been blessed with outward beauty, grace, and talent (musical, dance, or theatrical), if you desire to become famous, you know it is a challenge. There are so many illicit people out there who claim they will make you famous, but who will really just take your money and run. Here’s one company that is legit. Visit Talent Rock and give them the opportunity to make you famous. Remember, you are in control of your future! Your talents belong to you, and Talent Rock or any other modeling organization will be privileged to work with you!

extreme makeover, pygmalion edition

Last night, my family went to see the opening night of the Lee's Summit Community Christian School production of My Fair Lady. First of all, kudos to the entire theater department at LSCCS, to all the actors, all the behind-the-scenes people, and to the teachers, Wayne and Emily Stam, for producing an outstanding production. It was really excellent and enjoyable.

I was struck by how similar this play is to so many of our current television shows: Extreme Makeover, Nip/Tuck, and so forth. In this play, Professor Henry Higgins bets that he can take an ordinary street urchin and, in six months, transform her into a dutchess. His friend, Colonel Pickering, is intrigued by this claim and takes him up on the bet. The selected street urchin is a flower seller named Eliza Doolittle. By the end of the show, Eliza has successfully been transformed into a beautiful, upper-class woman.

This is an excellent musical. However, if there is a lesson to be learned from it, it must be that the way we speak can be the key between upper-class success and lower-class disaster. Imagine the way that some of your lower-class friends speak, and you will know that this is surely true. Yet also, it is possible to ascend that gap and to join the upper class. We live in a land of opportunity. It is possible.

*alzheimer's awareness month*

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. This is an important month, because Alzheimer’s is such a devastating disease. It will take someone you love and turn him into someone you never knew, and someone who never knew you. Like many diseases, though, Alzheimer’s disease can be controlled better when it is caught earlier. Alzheimer’s is caught through a memory screening. Therefore, I cannot underemphasize the importance of memory screenings.

Memory screenings are a safe and simple evaluation tool that will assess your memory and other intellectual functions. It is appropriate for anyone who feels that they may be at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Based on the results of your memory screening, you and your physician can determine an appropriate treatment plan for you.

The best holiday gift you can give yourself and your family is the reassurance that you do not have Alzheimer’s disease, or the early discovery and early treatment of your Alzheimer’s disease. November 13 is National Memory Screening Day 2007. By following these links, you can find a screening facility in your area.

If you believe you are at risk for Alzheimer’s, there are many things you can do today to help prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease. First of all, of course, you should eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Second, now is the time to develop a new skill. Learn to play a musical instrument. Learn to create craft projects or pieces of artwork. Take a course at your local community college. You can prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Finally, remain in regular communication with your physician. Your physician can help you determine the best treatment plan for preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Get regular memory screenings, and share the results with your physician. Volunteer for neuropsychological tests and brain imaging scans regularly, to determine any changes in brain structure. Also, just in case you are ever diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, make arrangements for your care so that your children will not be forced to make those difficult decisions.

gas prices rising...

Last night on Nightline I saw a story profiling Gasbuddy.com. (read the story here) The founder of GasBuddy discussed the rise in gas prices, what it means to you and me, and what we can do about it.

I learned a few important facts last night. First, the day that gas prices usually rise is Thursday, before the weekend. Prices will decrease throughout the week until the next Thursday. So the day to fill your car up is usually Wednesday.

Also, people tend to blame Exxon or other oil companies for the high gas prices. Exxon controls a very small percentage of the oil coming into our country. The real problem is supply and demand, and the oil is predominantly controlled by the Middle Eastern countries.

All we can really "do" about the high price of gas is learn to use less gasoline. Drive a car that gets good mileage and do everything you can to reduce emissions and such. It's a depressing reality. Kind of amazing that our world is this today.

*dentemp os*

I am just one of the lucky people who have deep grooves in my teeth. It’s genetic – both my parents have deep grooves in their teeth as well. Because of this, it is very hard to brush all the food out of my teeth, and I frequently have cavities. As a kid, I don’t think I ever walked out of the dentist’s office and got to say “look ma, no cavities” – virtually every time I go to the dentist, I have a new cavity or two (or three or four!).

As a result of my great number of cavities, I’ve also had my own share of lost fillings. I have a fantastic dentist, who will get me into his office as soon as possible if I lose a filling, but sometimes that’s just not soon enough when your tooth is throbbing! I’ll never forget when I was in college, living an hour away from home (and from my dentist) and I lost a filling. Because of the way my classes were scheduled, it was nearly a week before I was able to see the dentist. My tooth throbbed, and I must’ve lost five pounds that week, because I could barely eat soft foods.

I wish I had known then that there is an option for temporary dental repair that is available over the counter and can be done at home. It’s called Dentemp OS. It’s temporary, but it will provide fast pain relief until you are able to get to a dentist and have your fillings, crowns, or caps repaired. There’s no mess and no mixing. You can eat on it after 30 minutes. Most importantly, it is FDA approved. If you are like me, and have to deal with lost fillings (or crowns or caps) periodically, this is really essential for your bathroom. This has been developed by a dentist, and it will help you to avoid hours or even days of painful, throbbing toothaches.

sandisk sansa

Yesterday, I think it was, Woot.com had a 2g refurbished Sandisk Sansa e200 series on sale for $30. I really had force myself to NOT buy it, because I really don’t need it at this point, but by golly, it sure looked nice. In fact, I must say that all of the Sandisk Sansas, from 2g to 8g, look really nice. They’re large enough to play videos, and small enough to carry in your pocket and play music. I’m quite impressed with Sandisk. The Sansas provide all the features of the Ipod and Zune, at a fraction of the price. Kudos to Sandisk for creating this fantastic mp3 player!

*payday loans*

Payday Loans are a great tool for low income people who need just a little bit of money to help them get over those unexpected payments that arise between payments. Unexpected costs happen - it's a part of life. Whether the car needs work, the kids get sick, or even something worse - like fire or natual disaster - happens to your home, a payday loan might be just what you need to help you make it until you get your next paycheck.

big news for the independence and kansas city school districts

Yesterday we had a special election here in Independence and Kansas City to determine the future of seven schools in western Independence. Though those schools are within the Independence city limits, they are a part of the Kansas City school district. Needless to say, the Kansas City school district has not done a good job of educating its students. For the past twenty years or so, it has failed. There are no other words for it.

The parents in western Independence started a campaign to move their schools into the Independence School District. Statistically, the Independence School District is one of the best districts in the state. Admitedly, I am a bit biased - I am a graduate of Truman High School and was educated from grades 1 through 12 in the Independence School District. Independence will turn the schools in western Independence around and will give those students a chance to succeed. I have faith that this district is coming in at just the right time to save endless students and to give them a future.

*a great new mixer*

You'll really want to watch this video - I have discovered a fantastic new mixer that you might want to try. It's a Hamilton Beach mixer ® - a Hamilton Beach Stand mixer ®, to be specific - and looks really nice. The Hamilton Beach Eclectrics Stand Mixer ® has all kinds of nice features, like 400 watts of power, super-quiet operation, 12 settings for precise control, and a 3 year limited warranty.



Eclectrics® Mixer

birthday? no birthday? free pizza!

Minsky's is a popular Kansas City pizza joint. A couple of weeks ago, I got a card from Minsky's wishing me a happy birthday, and inviting me to bring in the enclosed certificate for a free pizza and drink. I was thrilled - especially because my birthday is not for another six months!

Well, I took advantage of that free pizza for lunch today, and I certainly had a fascinating lunch. Everyone was wishing me a happy birthday, including the other patrons. One lady asked me when my birthday was, to which I cleared my throat and replied, "The fifth". (no need to specify which month, right?) I enjoyed the pizza, and breathed a great sigh of relief when the employees did NOT circle my table to sing one of those cheesy songs - you know "happy happy birthday, yay" with all the hand clapping and other nonsense.

I can also say I was extremely pleased by the experience - not just the free pizza, but the overall aura of the restaurant. My family used to avoid Minsky's because it had such a reputation as a bar and a drinking establishment. I hadn't been there in a long time, but after my visit today, I can certainly tell you that the restaurant has changed dramatically. The only drinks they serve now are Coke products, along with pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and breadsticks. Even though I was by myself, I had a fantastic experience. It was a relaxing lunch, and a great time for me to just relax, read a book, and enjoy myself. Cheers to Minsky's for making these changes! In fact, I will probably return again soon. They are in a great location, and now I know that Minsky's is a great restaurant to visit when I want a relaxing lunch.

*datehookup.com*

I know a lot of people who have tried online dating sites, like DateHookup.com. Personally I’m quite skeptical and have never tried online dating. I guess I just don’t feel the need to be with another person, the way some people do. But it is amazing, now, how you can get hooked up with a significant other online. You can really meet anyone imaginable through the internet. We live in a very small world.

power outage

Yesterday we had a massive power outage. I guess it wasn't too widespread, but it was massive in the sense that it lasted a long, long time! It definitely changed my plans for the day. With no power, our internet didn't work - that new router depends on electrical power. Beyond that, I had no television, no radio... basically there was nothing for me to do! I couldn't even use the microwave. So I went to the library in the morning, which was entertaining enough. I browsed the books and spent time doing internet work on their computers. Then on my way home, I got lunch at a McDonald's.

I returned home to discover that the power was still out, so I left again and went to Walmart to run a few more errands. I browsed and browsed and browsed, and when I finally got home from Walmart we had electricity again - plus all the good stuff that goes with it. It's amazing how much we have come to depend on reliable electricity!

*biotene*

I have a funny relationship with toothpaste. I don’t like the taste of mint – I never have, and my sister thinks I am crazy for it. But because of that, as a kid I did not use toothpaste. My dentist was okay with it, and I never had a problem with bad breath or whatever.

When I was about 18, though, my dentist gave me some toothpaste samples and recommended that I consider starting to use toothpaste. So, since I like to take care of my teeth, I obediently went home and tried it. Now, my tastes have changed so much that I can’t imagine NOT using toothpaste. I still do not like mint, but I’m hooked on that fresh feeling you get after you use mint-flavored toothpaste.

I have also discovered that toothpaste is a product with odd brand loyalty. Whenever I go to buy toothpaste, I do not buy whatever is cheapest; I buy Crest Tartar Control. I think this is true for most people. I like Crest because I can feel it keeping my teeth healthy and keeping my tooth sensitivity under control.

Biotene is an all-new sensitive toothpaste available on the US market. Unlike their competitors, Biotene won’t just mask your problem but will resolve it. If you have sensitive teeth, try Biotene. I tried Biotene, and you should try it too! Biotene will solve your sensitive tooth problems. I just might switch toothpastes – that’s how good it is!

daylight savings time

This was officially the weekend when we turned back our clocks. Spring forward, fall back. This year’s time change was a week later than usual. Congress has authorized the change in an effort to save oil.

Interestingly enough, researchers have also calculated that pedestrians walking around at dusk are now nearly three times more likely to be struck and killed by cars than before the time change. It’s not the darkness itself, but the adjustment to an earlier nighttime that is the killer, according to professors from Carnegie Mellon University. So, if you do go out on foot, take a flashlight with you. The risk usually drops off by mid to late December.

*hondas*

Such a world we live in… Today only reminded me how blessed I am. I have a home, with reliable electricity, heating and A/C, even internet. I drive a fantastic Honda Civic, which still purrs along beautifully despite its 123,000 miles. I love my Civic. It’s the best little car I’ve ever owned. When you live in the Midwest, you pretty much have to own a car to get anywhere. Often that means you have to take out a loan to buy your car. If you’re going to take out a loan, I have to recommend that you buy a Honda. These wonderful little cars will keep going long after you’ve paid off the loan, allowing you to save up for your next car. Plus you get great gas mileage! If you need to get a loan, ask around for a good Honda Car Quote and find the best deal. Enjoy your Honda – and all the money you will save!

talking jesus doll

Walmart has begun selling a talking Jesus doll. I wish I could say I felt really good about this, but I don’t. I remember reading once, ages ago, that the folks at Big Idea (makers of Veggie Tales), made a decision early on that they would never portray Jesus as a vegetable. I fully support that decision. It’s a respect thing.

On the one hand, I can understand why parents are looking for toys that are more respectful or less violent. But I’m just not comfortable with Jesus portrayed as a doll. It’s like that puts God in a box, and He is so much bigger than that! Plus, it turns God into something that can be purchased. Imagine - “You can have this talking Jesus doll with just one easy payment of $29.95!”

I also read that it comes with a booklet telling parents how to shape their child’s faith. I’m not comfortable with that. A parent should teach, they should lead, they should guide, but they should never force a child to believe something.

Jesus isn't retail, and we should never try to make Him that. You can't buy Jesus. You can't earn Jesus. You can only love Jesus - and it's nothing like loving a talking doll.

Also, these toys are made in China. Nowadays we all know what “made in China” means. Honestly, if I was a parent and I was looking for some good, safe, non-violent, unleaded toys, I would just go outside of Kansas City, towards Warrensburg, where there is a beautiful store that sells Amish furniture and toys. Their toys are simple wooden cars and dolls. They are made in the USA (right here in Missouri, in fact), they are completely safe for children, and kids have imaginations that can fill in the rest.

*emergency preparedness*

If I’ve learned anything in my life, I’ve learned that you are never invincible against the unthinkable. I certainly never imagined that I would be in a serious car accident and suffer life threatening injuries. In the same way, I imagine that residents of New Orleans never imagined that they would be forced out of their homes due to a severe hurricane, or the residents of California never imagined that they would lose their homes to a fire.

When you are in an emergency, you may lose your property or your possessions, but if you are prepared, you can save your life and your family’s lives. Are you ready for an emergency. Click here to get prepared Remember, you can never be too ready – it could happen to you.

my own domain

I am in the process of finding a good hosting company and teaching myself enough HTML to create a blog on my own domain. I’m really excited about this. Once I’ve moved off onto my own domain, I can devote more time to paid postings and earning money from my blog. It just thrills me that I can earn money from my blog. I love to write, and now I am basically embarking on a career as a freelance writer. This is a dream come true.

*bathroom vanities*

Whenever my family goes on vacation, we always tend to prefer hotels that have bathroom vanities outside the bathroom. It’s really nice to be able to get dressed or get ready for bed while someone else is in the bathroom or in the shower. Generally our travels will go much smoother this way. I’ve noticed a trend in hotels lately to lean more towards suites, which I also find very nice. I absolutely love staying in a hotel with free wi-fi, an in-room refrigerator (but not necessarily a mini-bar), and a comfy couch in front of the TV.

squirrel

We have a cute little squirrel living in our yard. I love watching him during the day while I am working on my computer. He’ll run up onto our porch with an acorn in his mouth, and with the guiltiest look on his face. Then he will run around sniffing our plants on the porch, crawling around on the flower pots, and finally he will bury the acorn in one of our pots. It’s adorable and absolutely hilarious.

*real estate*

More and more, I am finding that I am seriously wishing I owned my own piece of real estate. There’s just something about owning your own place that is really cool. I could get myself a dog, plus it would just be mine. It would be my own little piece of the world, operating on my rules. Most importantly, it would be mine.

bye bye television, bye bye vcr

What a day! First the DSL goes out, and we replace the router. Then today, the TV and VCR started acting up!

Well, it wasn’t really “today”. The VCR has been acting up for a long time. For several weeks now, I have periodically been getting only sound and no image on the VCR.

Today the TV decided to throw a fit. On most of the channels, we now get only images, with no sound.

So now, if you hotwire the TV and VCR together, you can get images through the TV and sound through the VCR. It’s pretty sad!

*drug rehab*

I get really annoyed when I see celebrities who are going to drug rehab, and it turns out they’re basically just going to some cushy resort. What’s the point of rehab if it doesn’t involve any work? And they just act stupid again and again… If you go to rehab, you should come out of it changed. You should have newer and healthier habits. You should not get caught with drugs a week later and go right back into rehab.

beat your speeding ticket: look to gps

A 17-year-old boy in Windsor, California received a speeding ticket for going 62 mph in a 45 mph zone. That in itself is not unusual – 17-year-old kids are known for their daredevil ways and high speeds. I was one once, so I know. However, what makes this ticket unique is that the boy and his parents are hoping to beat the ticket – using GPS. The boy’s parents installed a GPS tracker in his car to ensure that he did not drive over the speed limit, and they believe that the GPS system will prove that he was not speeding at the time he was pulled over. This should be an interesting case. Personally, I’m quite skeptical. I know that a GPS tracking log can easily be manipulated or forged. Furthermore, I believe in our justice system and in the police in our nation. I’m not proud of it, but I got a speeding ticket once – and I totally deserved it. I was blazing home, somewhat late at night (maybe eleven?), after going out to dinner with a friend. I paid the ticket, and I learned my lesson. It’s a shame that some parents aren’t willing to teach those lessons to their children.

On the flip side, do you suppose the rest of us could start using this to get out of our speeding tickets or get our fines reduced?

*payday loan quotes*

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Payday loans are not a quick or easy way out of a financial situation. However, life happens, and for the many people living paycheck to paycheck, payday loans can be an excellent tool in the financial tool box. Before you get a payday loan, it is wise to calculate the fees and interest, so that you know exactly what you are getting. Payday Loan Quoteshas a calculator that can help you do exactly that. Add this site to your bookmarks, so that when you need a payday loan quote, you’ll know exactly where to go.

a jacket with gps: too much?

Bladerunner has designed a jacket with both adult and child models that includes a GPS chip. While I can understand, in a way, why a parent might want such a jacket – if their child has GPS, then the parent can literally know where the child is all the time. However, for this very same reason, I am concerned. Of course, there is always the concern of “big brother” – at what point have we gone so far that we have lost every bit of privacy? However, I am also concerned because I am afraid that items like this are encouraging parents to quit parenting. Why does a parent need to worry about trusting their child or asking them where they are going and who they will be with, if the kid has GPS and the parent can just check their GPS to find out where the kid is?

*lap band*

I’ve written about lap band surgery before, and here I go again: Though I don’t think lap band surgery or gastric bypass surgery should be the first choice for weight loss, nor do I think it should be an “easy” choice for weight loss, I do think that they are a choice for people who are fighting obesity, and losing that fight. For those of you in Houston, you can get surgery from Richard Collier at lap band woodlands.

gap, banana republic, old navy, child labor...

I don’t usually buy clothes from GAP or the Banana Republic – too expensive – but I do like the clothes that they have at Old Navy. Often when I shop at Old Navy, I’ll walk straight back to their clearance section in the back. I often find great deals there on clothes that are high quality and very stylish. I’ve bought several pairs of jeans from them, as well as a couple of sweatshirts that I LOVE, and a number of other items, including shoes, sunglasses, and shirts.

The GAP corporation has recently come under fire for child labor. That makes me sad, just because I do like their clothes, and if they continue to use child labor I’ll have to quit shopping at their stores, which would be sad indeed. Luckily, it seems that GAP is handling this particular incident appropriately. They are investigating the allegations, shutting down child labor wherever they find it, and condemning child labor overall. I certainly hope that GAP maintains this attitude towards child labor. I like their clothes, and I really don’t want to stop shopping there!

*tactical pants*

My mom’s second-grade class participates in activities and games that are very distinctly defined along gender lines. The girls play with dolls, play house, etc. The boys play with cars, build things, and play “war”. My mom always has to stay on her toes to keep the boys from taking their war games too far. They love to wear “tough” clothes, like camouflage or 5.11 Tactical Pants, and to be the heroes.

what a week... i've been "net"-less

What a world I live in!

On monday, my DSL started acting fickle. Then it quit working at all. So I've spent most of my week with no internet! It's pretty sad... I have no life outside this internet.

Anyway, my superhero daddy saved the day. We had to replace the router, and luckily he had another router laying around for us to use. So now the 'net is back up and running, and hopefully we won't have any more problems.

On the amusing side, I did get to talk to at least two or three help-desk people in India during my quest to get the internet back. Those kinds of technical support people are fairly amusing and annoying, all at once. They were absolutely no help, whatsoever, and it was very obvious that they were reading from a script. Plus they kept thanking me... like I said, it got annoying. A conversation would be something like this:

Tech Support: Thank You for chooosing AT&T SBC Global Yahoo DSL! How can I help you?

Me: My internet's not working. I've already rebooted our router and our DSL modem, so I'm fairly certain that the problem is not on our end. I would like it fixed, pleased.

TS: Oh, yes ma'am. Thank you for choosing AT&T SBC Global Yahoo DSL! What is the number associated with the DSL line?

Me: 816-555-1235

TS: Thank you ma'am. Let me test your line. Thank you for choosing AT&T SBC Global Yahoo DSL!

(long pause while he tests my line)

TS: Ohhhhh, ok ma'am, I need you to look for the box that is connected to the outbound network jack and to your router. It will probably have several jacks for plugging in your computers.

Me: You mean the DSL modem?

TS: Yes ma'am, the DSL modem. Now I want you to find the power jack, and unplug that.

Me: I already rebooted the DSL modem. It didn't fix the internet.

TS: Ohhhh ok. Well then I need you to find your router. It is probably near the DSL modem and looks like a small box with lots of network jacks in it. You need to find the power jack on that and reboot it.

Me: I already rebooted the router. It didn't fix the internet.

TS: Ohhhh ok. Well then I am sorry, ma'am, but according to our computers, the problem with your internet is within your own network. Thank you for choosing AT&T SBC Global Yahoo. Have a nice day. *click*