Jamie Burnside

Dreaming of a White Christmas? in Misc JoeUser Forums

This time of year, for as long as I remember, there is always talk of whether or not we'll be enjoying a "white Christmas". On the streets, on the TV and radio, friends, family, and coworkers invariably wonder aloud: "I wonder whether we'll have a white or a brown Christmas this year. I sure hope that it'll be white!" I have always wondered whether this desire for a white Christmas existed before Irving Berlin wrote (and Bing Crosby sung) the song "White Christmas" in 1942

Reply to DC Rejects New Stadium in Baseball JoeUser Forums

It drives me nuts when a city/state won't invest in such an obvious asset as a stadium. Washington, Miami, and Minneapolis don't deserve the economic, and quality-of-life benefits that they get from their sports teams.

Reply to Future Red Hatter! in Misc JoeUser Forums

I thought that grandma had joined the Communist Party. Now I know better.

Photo traffic tickets. in Misc JoeUser Forums

I heard on the radio this morning that there is a legal challenge to the city of Minneapolis' photo-ticket program. Apparently the city of Minneapolis has a number of stationary cameras posted around town. If a camera catches drivers commiting some sort of traffic violation, a ticket is sent to the address of the owner of the "offending" vehicle. Is the insurance industry behind this? Sure these tickets can be an economic boon for the cities, but will be even better for i

Reply to BAN the National Anthem! in Current Events JoeUser Forums

Personally, I think that they should give the anthem a rest at the beginning of sporting events. Maybe it could be used for playoffs, or other special occasions; but every game is a bit too much. IMO I may be wrong, but I don't think that the anthem is sung before events in many other countries (except Canada.)

Geocities has improved...not in Internet JoeUser Forums

For a good part of the past hour, I have been trying to post something on my geocities website. Not being able to do what I want is driving me NUTS! Once I sign in (which takes an incredibly long time), I get sent to an entry page that I have never seen before. That entry page tells me that Geocities is improved, and it is easier to navigate. Problem is, I don't know where to go to get to my files/uploads list. That seems like neither an improvement in navigation, nor ease. <

Reply to In DEFENSE OF 12 Step Programs in Life JoeUser Forums

If parents are alcoholics, it is probably more likely that their children would have problems. Poor upbringings can definitely lead someone to drink. If tendencies toward alcoholism are hereditary, children of alcoholics could be more likely to become addicted like their parents. (Make the same bad choices that mom and/ or dad made.) Still, babies aren't born with a bottle of booze in their mouths. I'd daresay that most people who can control their own bodies

Reply to In DEFENSE OF 12 Step Programs in Life JoeUser Forums

There is the idea that alcoholism is a disease, rather than the result of poor life choices. Sure it is hard to stop, but that's an addiction. Also we get judges mandating that some people attend these groups which impress religions on their members. (That "higher power" business is a thinly veiled Christian God. That's debatable, but is my opinion.) It is reported that AA has led the charge against a drug that would essentially cure people of alcoholism by m

Lots of people must have the day off today. in Misc JoeUser Forums

There were significantly fewer cars on the road today than would be on an ordinary Monday morning rush hour. Lots of people must have the entire pre-Christmas week off of work. I know that lots of people have vacations, holidays, floating days, and the like; but it is surprising how many people seemed to have gotten this particular week off of work. I'd say that 100% of the people I know are working -at least half of- this week, but there seems to be about 75% less tr

Don't you hate it when? in Misc JoeUser Forums

This morning as I was leaving for work, I had an excellent idea for a weblog topic. I was certain that I would remember it! I spent my entire day at a meeting, and I'd be darned if I could remember what my "hot topic" was supposed to be about. I have been spending the last few hours trying to remember what I had to say. Well... Merry New Year

Reply to THIS is Why Conservative Christians Get a Bum Rap! in Current Events JoeUser Forums

I already feel safer knowing that activist groups are protecting us from evil influences. How dare Ford pander to a target demographic in order to move product!

Reply to The On-line community survival guide in Blogging JoeUser Forums

I'm going to have to re-title my "Hitler: The Nazi Fascist" article...

Reply to Original[!] Quotes for Current scenes in Politics JoeUser Forums

JU’s political subjects are terrifying to most who visit looking for rational discourse. No kidding.

Almost done with Christmas shopping. in Home & Family JoeUser Forums

Last night my wife, my boys, and I went Christmas shopping. (It was our first time out this year.) We were able to get something for everyone on our list (except one). It was a good time out. For shopping ease, I'd definitely recommend a Tuesday night in a snowstorm. (Actually it was only snowy on the way home.) Before shopping we had dinner at Bonanza. My older son LOVES that place. He can eat spaghetti there, and he's a spaghetti-eating mach

Reply to Hey Bush Bashers - please keep bloggin! in Politics JoeUser Forums

Maybe they could put his portrait on the Iraqi flag

Reply to Messing around with the police. in Misc JoeUser Forums

I use to work for a lady that called and reported a state trooper that was speeding through a construction zone! She had Cajones! Phone Operator: Okay ma'am, you'd like to lodge a complaint? Could I please have your name, address, and which roads you use to get home from work each night?

Reply to Messing around with the police. in Misc JoeUser Forums

I suppose you're right, but I don't want to be personally responsible for "keeping them honest".

Reply to Hey Bush Bashers - please keep bloggin! in Politics JoeUser Forums

I think that Bush should be sainted and put on the five dollar bill. He is our greatest president.

Messing around with the police. in Misc JoeUser Forums

This morning I was listening to the "Pat Miles Show" on Twin Cities' WCCO radio. (Maybe some of you out there were listening to it too...) As part of a weekly segment, they invited a policeman into the studio to do their "ask the cop" feature. (That's the name I gave it. I don't know what the official name of it is.) It is interesting to hear what sorts of gripes the callers have regarding the police. One complaint (which ALWAYS seems to come up) is that the police leave their car

Pictures: Babies, new jackets. in Home & Family JoeUser Forums

Today we received a package in the mail from my wife's sister. She sent satin jackets for my son and me. Daddy and baby in jacket. Baby's "Dinosaur" jacket: <IMG style="WIDTH: 380px; HEIGHT: 269px" height=396 alt="" hspace=0 src="http://www.geocities.com/chipperprime/kennyjacket" width=603 align=baseline bo

Reply to From WP: Spanish at school translates to suspension in Current Events JoeUser Forums

If these kids aren't supposed to use a language other than English, but they don't speak English at all, are they supposed to keep silent all day long? That might get boring.

Reply to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band Movie in Entertainment JoeUser Forums

You know... "Scavenger Hunt" is one of my favorite comedies.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band Movie in Entertainment JoeUser Forums

Just as I was winding down for the evening, I caught the early-middle part of the 1978 movie "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band" starring Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees. The movie caught my attention, and I ended up watching it to the end. (I even scheduled it on my DVR for the next time they play it on the Sundance Channel.) I remember the first time that I started watching the movie. I was a teenager, and the movie was on Saturday afternoon TV. I gave t

Reply to A la carte cable in Entertainment JoeUser Forums

TVs and cable receivers have V-Chips. You can block out anything that you want.

Reply to Merit Pay for Teachers in Politics JoeUser Forums

This stuff also punishes teachers for having students with disabilities, non-English proficient kids, kids with issues at home, as well as others. Things might turn out where these kids may turn into "hot potatoes" when class rosters are being compiled.