"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others." Ayn Rand

Monday, September 11, 2006

Remembering 9/11

A day of memorials. A moment of silence. A time for reflection.

“The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat.
But they have failed; our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”
President George W. Bush, September 11, 2001 Address to the Nation

My heart feels heavy; and my tears come as fast as they did on that day five years ago. Godspeed to the victims, and to their families.






Friday, September 08, 2006

We Will Never Forget


2,996 Tribute
Peter K. Ortale
May 19, 1964 - September 11, 2001

37 years old

Murdered at WTC, 84th floor, South Tower

I have the honor of remembering Peter K. Ortale today. Five years ago he was murdered in the World Trade Center.

Peter seemed to be one of those people that everybody wants to be around. He accomplished so much, and seemed to live to make others happy.

Peter graduated from the William Penn Charter School in 1983; while there he was the quintencenial schollar-athlete. He was inducted into the Penn Charter Hall of Fame in 1999.

In 1996, Peter met the love of his life in Mary Duff. Their courtship was a passionate one involving world travel and lots of connections with family and friends. They married on May 13, 2000 in Philadelphia, and made their home in the SoHo section of Manhattan. Together, they would entertain friends with gourmet food, great wine and most important, laughter. On the weekends, Peter enjoyed relaxing in Sag Harbor.

Peter Ortale worked hard and played hard, his family said. He worked at Eurobrokers, a brokerage firm, also was a diehard lacrosse player - captain of his college team at Duke, a sometime member of the U.S. lacrosse team and a player for the New York Athletic Club. He had moved to New York from Philadelphia in 1988, his sisters said, and loved it here. He and his wife lived in SoHo and spent Labor Day at their home in Sag Harbor. After the first jet crashed into the World Trade Center last week, he called his mother, his wife and a friend in California from his office on the 82nd floor to say that he'd survived. "He thought it was an accident," Mary Ortale, one of his three sisters, said. "He was last seen heading for the staircase." He was with three co-workers and friends, Ortale said, none of whom has been found. The sisters and their mother, also named Mary, drove to New York from Pennsylvania last week to console Peter's grieving wife. Since then, they have made the rounds of area hospitals and information centers. "He's very generous, very strong," his sister Mary said, holding back tears. "Just a fun-loving guy."

Peter Ortale did not need occasions to send people presents. He just sent them when the desire percolated in him. That was often.

One of five siblings, he regularly liked to pick out something that caught his fancy and mail it to each of the others, as well as his mother. In the spring, the relatives got a book, "A Short Guide to a Happy Life," by Anna Quindlen. Just before the summer, he sent them a box of chocolates with a note, "Have a happy summer." His mother was constantly getting flowers.

"He did things without provocation, because he liked to," said his sister Mary Malitas.

When not working or sending presents, Mr. Ortale, 37, a bond broker at Euro Brokers, was often playing lacrosse. He was one of the best players on his high school team in Philadelphia, and again at Duke University. After he graduated, he played in Australia, and once he began his career, he continued to play for various leagues on weekends.

A few years ago, he took up cooking. He found it therapeutic. When friends and relatives visited him and his wife in SoHo, he would often turn out an elaborate meal, sometimes trying things not everyone might. Once he steamed a fish in the dishwasher. He thought it came out great.

Peter is remembered by most as a very different kind of guy. He was blessed with striking good looks, incredible athletic ability and an inner confidence that was unflappable. He commanded respect from all who encountered him.

Without question, he influenced many lives. Peter was a traveler both physically and intellectually. One of his favorite books was "The Magic of Believing". Peter was a visualizer long before it became popular. His life's philosophy was "if you can see it, you can be it." Peter lived life to the fullest. A friend of Peter's from high school remembered the quote that Peter had written upon graduation from Penn Charter: “Remember what we learned, ‘the softest thing: water, eventually wears away the hardest thing: rock’. Be both.”

Peter was a very generous person and valued family and friendship more than anything. In his words, friends are a priceless gift from God. Peter is loved so much by all of us and love never dies. What was once felt can never be unfelt. "The love we give always is the only love we keep."

Posthumously, in February 2003, Peter was inducted into the Pennsylvania Lacrosse Association’s Hall of Fame for his accomplishments on the lacrosse field at Penn Charter, Duke University and as a post collegiate club participant.

Duke University has dedicated six magnolia trees located at the West Edens Link Quadrangle on Duke’s West Campus to honor Peter and the other five alumni who were lost on September 11. Their hope is that these trees will connect future generations of Duke students with past generations.

Peter was honored on September 19, 2003 with a benefit from William Penn Charter High School; he graduated from OPC in 1983. He attended this school via a scholarship and talked about his days there as a special time for tremendous personal, intellectual and athletic growth. His family and friends have raised over $130,000 to create a scholarship in his name for future Penn students to have the same chance he did.

His wife, Mary Duff, mother, older brother and three sisters, four nephews and two nieces survive Peter.

Peter, rest in peace, and know that I will always remember and honor your memory.

Always remember. Never Forget.


Thank you to google and The New York Times for providing the information.




Wednesday, July 26, 2006

The Hezbollah / Hollywood Connection

I think that I've uncovered the Hezbollah/Hollywood/Liberal Weenie connection. Just look at these two pictures.

















Hollywood obviously has a better dental plan.

Friday, March 17, 2006

We can only hope that these kids will run the country someday......

A Meditation On the Speed Limit:

BRILLIANT film. BRILLIANT kids.



Rise up people. Do it! Civil obedience!!!!!

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

"24" My Weekly Addiction


Favorite comment from the live-blog of 24 on Dave Barry's site:

How many would die if this were called "365"?

Posted by: Stevo | 09:57 PM on March 13, 2006

I am so hooked on this show.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Muffin Tops, Valium and Cindy Sheehan


Looks like CindyLooWho was feeling neglected by the media.

These pictures, and statements by the UN, really show what this woman is all about. Publicity.

Nice muffin top Cindy. (Yes, I know that's mean.)

Allegedly, she and her cohorts were asked inside to talk about their complaints. But that's not what Cindy wanted.






This is what Cindy wanted. There's too many press cameras to count.















V IS FOR.....VALIUM!








I hate publicity whores.

Thanks to the brilliant wisdom of Michelle Malkin.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Thursday's Joke

Here's todays laugh:

A woman was at her hairdresser's getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome
with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded:
"Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty. You're crazy to go to Rome. So, how are you getting there?"
"We're taking Continental," was the reply. "We got a great rate!"
"Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser. "That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late. So, where are you staying in Rome?"
"We'll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome's Tiber River called Teste."
"Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks t's gonna be something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump, the worst hotel in the city! The rooms are small, the service is surly, and they're overpriced. So, whatcha' doing when you get there?"
"We're going to go to see the Vatican and we hope to see the Pope."
"That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. "You and a million other people trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this ousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."
A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome.
"It was wonderful," explained the woman, "not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on me hand and foot. And the hotel was great! They'd just finished a $5 million remodeling job and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!"
"Well," muttered the hairdresser, "that's all well and good, but I know you didn't get to see the Pope."
"Actually, we were quite lucky, because as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet
some of the visitors, and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a few words to me."
" Oh really! What'd he say?"
He said: "Where'd you get the shitty hairdo?"

Submitted by Ron Scher
Thursday, March 2, 2006

Once again, thank you Bob and Tom.

Calling Mary Kay! Calling Mary Kay!

This is the second story I've seen in two days about men who have had sex change operations. Pictures have been included with both stories. One of the men was going back to being a teacher in an elementary school; this man (left) is a fireman...firewoman....fireperson....firetrainwreck.

I'm sure that the surgery must be very, very expensive...but both of these men look like my Great Uncle Walter in a wig.

The following article and picture were supplied via Drudge, who got it from WATE Channel 6 in Knoxville

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- A Knoxville firefighter claims she's being discriminated against because she used to be a man. Fire Capt. Jamie Faucon has filed a grievance against Knoxville Fire Chief Carlos Perez and her supervisor, Mark Foulkes. She accuses them of depriving her of a take-home car, of reassigning her and cutting out her overtime because she is a transgendered firefighter.

Faucon also says in her grievance Foulkes used incorrect gender terms when referring to her in conversations. She says she never thought she would wind up in a situation like this but the actions that allegedly took place earlier this week left her with no other choice.

Faucon had surgery to change from male to female in March 2005.

Since she has legally changed gender from male to female, she wants the misuse of pronouns to stop. "The proper terminology should be she, her or ma'am. Not he, sir, or his." She's asking to be returned to Fire Station 10 with a take-home car and to be referred to correctly by others in the fire department.



Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Things You probably didn't know...

I'm on a roll today.

Just A Few Things You Probably Didn't Know
You spend about 3 years of your life in the toilet.

Every day, the average person swallows about a
quart of snot.

The slowest growing finger nail is on the thumb nail and the fastest growing is the finger nail on the middle finger.
Scientists say that babies that are breastfed are more likely to be slimmer as adults than those that are not breastfed.
There are more chickens in the world than people.
Pinocchio was made of pine.
One out of 20 people have an extra rib.
Manicuring the nails has been done by people for more than 4,000 years.
People whose mouth has a narrow roof are more likely to snore. This is because they have less oxygen going through their nose.

Via
Dave's Daily


A New Feature...

Today I would like to add a new feature to my oft-ignored blog.

It's a joke that made me laugh.

This made me laugh yesterday, and it was hard to make me laugh yesterday; therefore, it's funny joke.

Here goes:

Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under
a tree when one turns to the other and says: "Slim, I'm 83 years old now and
I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you're about my age. How do you feel?"
Slim says, "I feel just like a newborn baby."
"Really!? Like a newborn baby!?"
"Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants."


This joke via www.bobandtom.com
Submitted by Ken G.
Thursday, February 23, 2006

cartoon via http://www.drdudd.co.uk/homelife/HomeMain.htm

Friday, February 24, 2006

Jack Bauer...Why We Need Him to Run The Country



You know, if Jack Bauer were indeed a real person, I believe that the right-minded thinkers of this nation would elect him to a very powerful position in our government. We need Jack to teach our leaders how to deal with terrorists, whiners, liberals, child abusers, sexual abusers, animal abusers, and other people who, for whatever reason, annoy us.

Neal Boortz, in his Boortz Blast newsletter, shared the following facts about Jack Bauer. These facts suggest, no, confirm, this nation's need for leaders who will just get the job done.

Basic Truths About 24's Jack Bauer
Killing Jack Bauer doesn't make him dead. It just makes him angry.

If Jack Bauer was in a room with Hitler, Stalin, and Nina Meyers, and he had a gun with 2 bullets, he'd shoot Nina twice.

If you wake up in the morning, it's because Jack Bauer spared your life.

Superman wears Jack Bauer pajamas.

If it tastes like chicken, looks like chicken, and feels like chicken, but Jack Bauer says its beef. Then you better believe it's beef.

Jack Bauer once forgot where he put his keys. He then spent the next half-hour torturing himself until he gave up the location of the keys.

1.6 billion Chinese are angry with Jack Bauer. Sounds like a fair fight.

Let's get one thing straight: the only reason you are conscious right now is because Jack Bauer does not feel like carrying you.

Jack Bauer was never addicted to heroin. Heroin was addicted to Jack Bauer.

Jack Bauer played Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun and won.

When life gave Jack Bauer lemons, he used them to kill terrorists. Jack Bauer hates lemonade.

Jack Bauer once won a game of Connect 4 in 3 moves.

Osama bin Laden's recent proposal for truce is a direct result of him finding out that Jack Bauer is, in fact, still alive.

Jack Bauer is the leading cause of death in Middle Eastern men.

Jack Bauer doesn't miss. If he didn't hit you it's because he was shooting at another terrorist twelve miles away.

When Jack Bauer was a child, he made his mother finish his vegetables.

Jack Bauer killed 93 people in just 4 days time. Wait, that is a real fact.

Simon Says should be renamed to Jack Bauer Says because if Jack Bauer says something then you better do it.

Jack Bauer won the Tour de France on a unicycle to prove to Lance Armstrong it wasn't a big deal. He thinks yellow wristbands are gay.

When Jack Bauer pissses into the wind, the wind changes direction.

Jack Bauer's favorite color is severe terror alert red. His second favorite color is violet, but just because it sounds like violent.

When you open a can of whoop-ass, Jack Bauer jumps out.

When Google can't find something, it asks Jack Bauer for help.

You can lead a horse to water. Jack Bauer can make him drink.

Jack Bauer can get McDonald's breakfast after 10:30.

When the boogie man goes to sleep, he checks his closet for Jack Bauer.

Enough said.

If you would like to subscribe to the wit and wizdom of Mr. Boortz, go to his website here.

It'll make you a better American.

Also, make sure to check out Blogs4Bauer, a great place for any and every Jack Bauer fan.

Now go out and have a good day.

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Happy New Year (a little late)

One of my resolutions was to update a few times a week on this blog. As you can see, it's not one that I've kept up with. (Sigh)

It's going to be 60 someodd degrees here in Salisbury, Maryland today. It's almost the middle of January. I'm loving this weather, but I'm now afraid of what February will hold. You know, you always pay for great times with trying times. It's what makes you appreciate the great times.

Here's my resolution list, as of January 12, 2006:

Update blog
Start diet
Exercise
Learn to deal better with my two incurable, chronic illnesses.

That last one is the most important one. I'm a 45 year old woman who's less than responsible with my health, my diet and my attitude.

Now I'm going to go and watch the Alito hearings. I think that today Teddy K may explode.


Now, that's entertainment!