Well it has been a while since I've posted a substantial blog, we have been very busy around the Siva/Atty camp so I figured it was about time for a little update. 
I am not complaining about not having enough time to blog, mind you. I am definitely enjoying spending time with my family.
So without further ado:
We have been doing a fair amount of gardening and I must say that it is coming along rather nicely. Here are a few pics of the flower gardens in the front yard.
Aside from yard work, which I honestly don't understand why "work" is associated with it because I find it to be quite relaxing and therapeutic, we have been doing a lot of other things. My eldest daughter was involved in a haunted house (Nightmare) last year which lasted well beyond 30 days starting in October. The production was sponsored by KFMX (a local rock station) and The Spirit Shop (a novelty costume store). It was quite a unique experience for Samantha and she became good friends with Wes Nessman (the owner of the radio station) and a fellow named Corey (owner of the Spirit Shop). Corey is also in a band called Litany. So about the end of April KFMX sponsored "Band Camp" which was a local event held at Buffalo Springs lake where local talent and not so local talent entertained for the day. Here are a few photos from Band Camp:
A few of the rock n roll haunts from Nightmare.
My little one donning her AC/DC shirt (yay!)
Samantha and Corey
Me and the Hubby
Me feeding Siva his first Tamale ever.
So with gas prices as high as they are becoming here in the U.S. (will be $4.00 a gallon by day's end I'm suspecting) my pickup truck is not very economical particularly with the commute to and from work. Soooooo I decided to by a motorcycle, yes I am now a "biker". lol
Don't worry I don't ride it in shorts and sandals.
I bought Siva tickets to see Radiohead for his birthday in February, but the concert wasn't until this month so he and I drove to Dallas for the show and it was fantastic I must say. Unfortunately we both forgot to take our cameras inside so we didn't take any pics of the show, but here are a couple from the road trip to Big D:
These wind farms are popping up all over West Texas and are a little more than a little creepy in my opinion. They look like militant robots just waiting for that wanker to push the botton at which time they will sprout legs and shoot us with lazer beams. 
On Memorial Day weekend we went camping at Buffalo Springs Lake. The fish, if any exist there, were not biting, but it was enjoyable baiting everyone's hooks nonetheless. 
On the way home we saw this "invention". Only in Texas, I tells ya, will you see a BBQ pit welded to the back of a pickup truck. 
If this isn't the epitome of the stereotypical "redneck" I don't know what is.
Last weekend I took Siva to his very first ever Drive-in double feature movie. He really enjoyed it quite a lot as did the lot of us.
Yes we are sitting in the bed of my truck in fold up lawn chairs. lol We watched the new Indiana Jones and Ironman which was quite a good movie. The second movie was IronMan and the mosquitoes were so bad that night we decided to watch it inside the truck. I guess two movies back to back was a little too much for my girls.
They looked so cute I had to take a pic. 
I reckon that is all for now, so until next time!
- Nick Cave Murder Ballads
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In 1996 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds released their Murder Ballads album, loaded with very dark and interesting lyrical tales. Among which is "Where the Wild Roses Grow" a song which Cave was inspired to write after listening to an old bluegrass song entitled, "Down in the Willow Garden." The video for this ballad is as stunningly beautiful as it is haunting. Cave is accompanied by Australian pop-singer Kylie Minogue.
Down In The Willow Garden - Down in the willow garden where me and my love did meet
- There we sat a-courting my love fell off to sleep
- I had a bottle of burgundy wine which my true love did not know
- And there I poisoned that dear little girl down by the banks below
- I drew my saber through her which was a bloody knife
- I threw her in the river which was an awful sight
- My father often told me that money would set me free
- If I would murder that dear little miss whose name was Rose Connelly
- Now he sits by his old cabin door a wiping his tear-brimmed eyes
- Mourning for his only son out on the scaffold high
- My race is run beneath the sun the devil is waiting for me
- For I did murder that dear little girl whose name was Rose Connelly
Show us a transformation.
The reason I am here at Vox is due to the issues Yahoo hashad with it's 360 and their refusal to fix the problems. Much of the lack of interest in resolving 360 issues can be attributed to negotiations with Microsoft. As almost everyone knows MIcrosoft has been attempting to purchase Yahoo. Yahoo nixed the first deal earlier this year to the dismay of many Yahoo shareholders. Apparently Yahoo has been exploring other options, including combining with Google and AOL, and previously had been exploring the possibility of uniting with MySpace which is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Now there is talk that, as a counter move, Microsoft may unite with Murdoch's News Corp to make a joint bid for the purchase of Yahoo, which would result in a Yahoo Myspace MSN union.
In a recent Associated Press article entitled, "Internet, media stars line up for Yahoo", by Michael Liedtke, Liedtke reports as follows:
The complex web of deals faces various complications.Because Google and Yahoo control a combined 80 percent of the U.S. search market, any long-term advertising alliance between them almost certainly would have trouble getting antitrust clearance, analysts said.A broader relationship between Yahoo and Google also would face intense political scrutiny, said Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., who chairs a committee overseeing antitrust issues.
A Yahoo-AOL combination probably would have to overcome shareholder skepticism because both companies have been fading in recent years. Before Microsoft announced its bid Jan. 31, Yahoo's market value had plunged by nearly $30 billion during a two-year period. AOL is now believed to be worth about $10 billion, about half of its value when Google paid for a $1 billion stake in 2005.
And Microsoft might alienate one of partners, Facebook Inc., if it teams up with News Corp. in an attempt to buy Yahoo. Microsoft last year paid $240 million for a 1.6 percent stake in Facebook, which is the second largest online network behind News Corp.'s MySpace.com.
Yahoo has been working for more than two months to put together a package that trumps Microsoft's takeover bid.
The thing that stands out to me is that analysts (no doubt from the Microsoft camp) reportedly believe that a Google/Yahoo combination will yield anti-trust scrutiny. While I understand that, combined, Yahoo and Google supposedly control 80 percent of the U.S. search market, that does not explain how a Microsoft/Yahoo merger would be any less anti-competitive than a Google/Yahoo deal.
Aside from the obvious, Microsoft is a fine one to holler "monopoly". Are they the pot or the kettle? Not only have they been involved in anti-trust litigation for, among other things, bundling Microsoft software with new computers, but they virtually are the market when it comes to operating systems. Linux and Apple cannot seriously be considered competitors even though they have managed to remain in existence, likely only by the grace of Microsoft. In addition to the software segment of Microsoft, the Online Services Business segment offers personal communications
services, such as email and instant messaging, and online information
through MSN Search; MapPoint; MSN Internet Access; MSN Premium Web
Services; Windows Live; and MSN Mobile Services. The Microsoft Business
Division offers Microsoft office product set comprising enterprise
content management, collaboration, unified communications, and business
intelligence products; and Microsoft Dynamics products for financial
management, customer relationship management, supply chain management,
and analytics applications. The Entertainment and Devices Division
develops the Xbox video game system, such as consoles and accessories,
third-party games, games published under the Microsoft brand, and Xbox
Live operations. It also offers Zune digital music and entertainment
device; PC software games; online games; Mediaroom, an Internet
protocol television software; and other devices. Further, Microsoft
offers online advertising and publishing solutions.
I am left wondering why it would be a bad thing for Yahoo and Google to join forces at this point as it seems acquisition of Yahoo by Microsoft results in more power and control for Microsoft, and let's face it Microsoft has all but cornered the market on virtually anything having to do with a computer. But then again I suppose being the World's third richest man isn't exactly coming in first, is it Bill?
Show us a discontinued food or product you wish would return.
Submitted by Shawn.
- I happened on a blog today pondering religion among other things and I thought I would repost this blog which was written and posted in my 360 page several months ago.
- The Problem with Religion
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Anyone who truly knows me, knows that I am far from judgmental. I believe that there are differences among people which necessarily include different interpretations of what constitutes morality and ethical behavior. I am not overly religious, I have my own beliefs which influence my behavior toward others. Does that make me better, righter, juster than anyone else? I doubt it, but that is how I conduct myself in society and in my treatment of others.
I do not like to stand upon the proverbial "soap box" often, tend to avoid it as often as possible. My glass house can shatter as easily under the fire of rock as the next person. That being said, forgive me if this blog seems some what evangelical, but there is something I feel compelled to get off my chest.
I see a problem with religion. "What on Earth is wrong with religion?" you may be asking yourself right now. My response is: people. I have noticed many examples in society that I can share with you which demonstrate what it is that I am speaking of.
In the United States, not unlike other areas of the World, religion has become increasingly interwoven with politics. So to my friends overseas, as you may be thinking right now "big deal politics and religion often go 'hand in hand'" the tragedy here is that in the United States it was never intended that religion be so involved in politics. There is good reason, and the founding fathers were very wise indeed when they insisted upon a separation between church and state. Throughout history there have been example after example of evil and destructive things done by men in the name of religion. I will not digress and go through them all, we would be here for an eternity and my fingers would likely fall off before reaching the end.
The religious political factions in the United States demand that a woman not be entitled to make a decision that affects her own body and her very own future. These people would very much like to see a day come where abortion is completely unavailable under every circumstance. These same people would very much like to see a day come to pass where their "hard earned tax dollars" are no longer being "wasted" on supporting others who are in need of support, perhaps many of whom happen to be single mothers who were unable to obtain an abortion. These people support the death penalty. Apparently it is alright to kill a person, so long as they are above an unspecified age and no longer in the process of cell division.
Aside from the religion and politics synergy, in day to day living I have seen examples that demonstrate the problem of which I am writing. I was raised in a West Texas town that has been said to be the buckle of the Bible Belt. In this town, there exists not one adult media store. A Hooter's restaurant opened there a few years back and was subsequently "run out of town" due to the protestations of the areas religious members. Interestingly enough many of those very same people who protested, or perhaps their husbands, would frequent that very Hooter's establishment. If you drive just outside the city limits, where the adult bookstore is found, you will see brand new BMWs, Cadillacs, Mercedes and the like parked just behind the privacy fence at the bookstore. Come Sunday morning those same BMWs, Cadillacs and Mercedes are parked outside the First Baptist Church, or some other Church (I am not singling Baptist out).
I have seen many 360 pages where people profess to be "God Fearing" and devout Christians. Yet on many of those pages there are pics or avatars of scantly clad men and women, naked men and women, tons of sexual innuendo and a vile viciousness toward others. While these people are presumably attempting to confess their faith in God by their words, what they are in actuality doing is demonstrating their insincerity through their deeds. If you think I am speaking of you perhaps there is good reason.
I am not saying that people should not have naked men and women on their 360 pages. I am not saying that people should not have fun with sexual innuendo. I am not saying that everyone has to be nice. I am not passing judgment. What I am suggesting is that if you choose to make the representation that you are holy, "God Fearing", and devout to your religion, perhaps in your deeds you should exhibit an attempt, at the very least, to reflect your profession.
In case I have not been clear enough, of which there is a high likelihood, I will spell out the problem more concisely as one word really and truly sums it all up very nicely:
hypocrisy A noun
1 hypocrisy
insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not really have
Category Tree:
2 hypocrisy, lip service
an expression of agreement that is not supported by real conviction
Category Tree:
I would imagine that I am not the first Yahoo 360 renegade to grace this social network site. I have seen masses of 360 dissenters close the doors on their pages for greener pastures in myspace, multiply, facebook and other networks. I feel as though I am one of the last to throw in the towel on 360. The reason simply put is that I really love the layout of 360. I have yet to find another network site that is not primarily a meat market, or one that does not cater to teenagers but still has a lot of the capabilities that I have grown rather fond of. I happened across Vox today whilst ever searching for a network I can call home. It appears as though Vox offers promise for the broken and downtrodden a promise land in this virtual world of internet socializing. I am willing to give Vox an honest shot at winning me over. The only problem I have run into thus far, is that while Vox apparently does allow some blogs to be imported, apparently it does not support importation of 360 blogs which is rather disheartening.
Recent Comments
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hypercane said:
Is this a huge blood splatter?? Please tell me it is! read more
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Siva said:
LOL, actually i know the song, but don't know the singer. Sad huh? read more
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Siva said:
[this is good]The pitfalls of what is happening now is that although in theory the product/s are suppose to get or be... read more
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Of course! read more
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