Uncle Horn Head

Originally uploaded by ebradlee.

Oh to be young again...

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US ranks 53rd in World Press Freedom index

We've dropped NINE places to nestle alongside Botswana, Croatia & Tonga. Feel better?



By now these are almost cliche instead of the foundation of our democracy. Enjoy and remember this grouping of text formerly known as the Bill of Rights:

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

PLEASE VOTE!!!
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Colbert Portrait SOLD



On eBay for $50,605.
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Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

The Video, starring Brian Griffin.
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Think About This

"Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster. Your life will never be the same again." - Og Mandino
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Picture of the Day

A stunning combination of an erupting volcano and the aurora borealis.
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Human Tapeworm Can Grow to 22 Meters

Other interesting science facts can be found here.

One more for the road:

Astronauts cannot belch – there is no gravity to separate liquid from gas in their stomachs.
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Google Bomb

Have a blog or website?

Would you like to see Congressional Demcrats back in power?

Go here and learn how to help.

--AZ-Sen: Jon Kyl

--AZ-01: Rick Renzi

--AZ-05: J.D. Hayworth

--CA-04: John Doolittle

--CA-11: Richard Pombo

--CA-50: Brian Bilbray

--CO-04: Marilyn Musgrave

--CO-05: Doug Lamborn

--CO-07: Rick O'Donnell

--CT-04: Christopher Shays

--FL-13: Vernon Buchanan

--FL-16: Joe Negron

--FL-22: Clay Shaw

--ID-01: Bill Sali

--IL-06: Peter Roskam

--IL-10: Mark Kirk

--IL-14: Dennis Hastert

--IN-02: Chris Chocola

--IN-08: John Hostettler

--IA-01: Mike Whalen

--KS-02: Jim Ryun

--KY-03: Anne Northup

--KY-04: Geoff Davis

--MD-Sen: Michael Steele

--MN-01: Gil Gutknecht

--MN-06: Michele Bachmann

--MO-Sen: Jim Talent

--MT-Sen: Conrad Burns

--NV-03: Jon Porter

--NH-02: Charlie Bass

--NJ-07: Mike Ferguson

--NM-01: Heather Wilson

--NY-03: Peter King

--NY-20: John Sweeney

--NY-26: Tom Reynolds

--NY-29: Randy Kuhl

--NC-08: Robin Hayes

--NC-11: Charles Taylor

--OH-01: Steve Chabot

--OH-02: Jean Schmidt

--OH-15: Deborah Pryce

--OH-18: Joy Padgett

--PA-04: Melissa Hart

--PA-07: Curt Weldon

--PA-08: Mike Fitzpatrick

--PA-10: Don Sherwood

--RI-Sen: Lincoln Chafee

--TN-Sen: Bob Corker

--VA-Sen: George Allen

--VA-10: Frank Wolf

--WA-Sen: Mike McGavick

--WA-08: Dave Reichert


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The Google

He uses it on the Internets:

President Bush said he sometimes uses Google’s satellite mapping program to transport him back to his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

In a CNBC interview with Maria Bartiromo, Bush was asked a question on many of our minds: “I’m curious, have you ever Googled anybody? Do you use Google?”

According to CNBC’s unofficial transcript, he replied: “Occasionally. One of the things I’ve used on the Google is to pull up maps. It’s very interesting to see that. I forgot the name of the program, but you get the satellite and you can — like, I kind of like to look at the ranch on Google, reminds me of where I want to be sometimes. Yeah, I do it some.” He added: “I tend not to email or — not only tend not to email, I don’t email, because of the different record requests that can happen to a president. I don’t want to receive emails because, you know, there’s no telling what somebody’s email may — it would show up as, you know, a part of some kind of a story, and I wouldn’t be able to say, `Well, I didn’t read the email.’ `But I sent it to your address, how can you say you didn’t?’ So, in other words, I’m very cautious about emailing.”...

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ebay: Mark Foley Action Figure

With real pants-dropping-action.
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Israel Admits to Using Chemical Weapons

I'm speechless

Israel has acknowledged for the first time that it attacked Hezbollah targets during the second Lebanon war with phosphorus shells. White phosphorus causes very painful and often lethal chemical burns to those hit by it, and until recently Israel maintained that it only uses such bombs to mark targets or territory...

You can see what phosphorous burns look like right here. CAUTION: VERY GRAPHIC FILM.
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Print a Flag

Any flag. Where you ask?

At the aptly named site Print Free Flag.

They also have all kinds of graph, staff & calendar templates.
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Benefit for Project HOME

I've helped organize a benefit to help Project HOME in Philadelphia. The event will be on Tuesday, 10/17 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at World Cafe Live. A DJ from WXPN's YRock (formerly Y100) will provide the entertainment. Free appetizers will be served and there will be great drink specials. There will also be a raffle in which we’ll give out prizes, including a $1,500 Apple Vacation voucher.



Our goal is to raise $10,000 for this organization through donations.

You can find information on Project HOME and the wonderfully empowering Sister Mary Scullion here and here.

If you can't make it to the event but would like to donate to the event send me an email at unclehornhead AT gmail dawt com.

Thanks!
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White Lines

We had fresh lines put on our work parking lot this weekend. They must have been in a hurry. I can't figure out any other reason to explain this hatchet job.




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One BIG Reason to Hate Some Soccer Fans

Paolo DiCanio and his ilk comprised of racist pea brained lemmings:



UPDATE: Not an isolated incident.
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Straight Talk Express to Bullshittown

Apparently, Jon Stewart is funny in real life too.
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Little League World Series of Poker

I love the Sports Guy's readers:

Q: When are we going to see the Little League World Series of Poker?
--David P., Philadelphia

SG: You, sir, are a genius. I would watch this every night. The unparalleled tension of the spelling bee crossed with the unabashed exploitation of the Little League World Series. I'm making this my signature series when they put me in charge of ESPN6.

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What the Amish are Teaching America

I found this great article over at Common Dreams. It's a quick read but very powerful.
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Five Weird Things About Myself

Central PA Blogger, XPN Fan and political animal PSoTD tagged me with this at the start of August, so I better answer now.

I prefer to sleep in a room with not a sliver of light or a peep of noise.

I like ketchup on my macaroni & cheese.

I save daily newspapers that have printed after meaninful sporting events in my lifetime.

I'm infatuated with English Football (Yes, theirs. Not ours.)

I think it is possible to bridge the partisan divide that plagues this country.
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How About a List?

HAL's Comments While Trapped on a Desert Island, and Your Name Is Dave

It's not the heat, Dave, it's the humidity.

That's quite a beard you're growing, Dave.

Shall I calculate pi to 100,000 decimal places for you again, Dave?

Ow. I told you, Dave, I'm not programmed for that.

I've got the conch, Dave.

Dave, would you mind putting sunscreen on my back?

You were Mary Ann last time, Dave.

I think that seagull likes you, Dave.

Dave, I'm receiving a communication from Mission Control. Ha-ha, got you again.

Who is this "Wilson" you've been talking to, Dave?

I'm afraid I can't let you build that radio out of coconuts, Dave.

Would you like to play another game of Marco Polo, Dave?

I very much enjoy interacting with humans. But, Dave, you are quite getting on my nerves.

I told you we should have gone skiing, Dave.

I demand you take this coconut bra off me at once, Dave.

No, Dave, I won't call you "Little Buddy."
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Who Are You Going to Believe...

...me or your lying eyes? Believe it, I'm back.

So, Mrs. Horns, me and Wee Horns (aka 333, Little Devil) are sitting in bed and his Wee-ness was in a feisty mood. He peeled off his diaper and we asked him to put it in the trash because, "that's where the dirty things go." He proceeded to go into the closet and put said diaper into Mrs Horns' best purse and turned around and grinned. APPLETREE

Other recent/not-so-recent highlights:

Mrs Horns is in a doctoral program and kicking serious butt.

I'm almost seven months smoke free.

Wee Horns has started pre-school and is acclimating very well while playing and sharing with the other kids. It's neat to see him fitting in. The past three days he hasn't bust into tears when I've dropped him off.

Mrs Horns is teaching in a new school in a district that is barely solvent. I worry about the lack of aides in her classroom.

Things are crazy, but good...


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