Unusual Mail Boxes

Maria isn't a hurricane yet, but it looks like my friends in Puerto Rico are in for some rain by the end of the weekend.  Hopefully it won't grow into one before then.  Puerto Rico is that rectangle between the Sat and Sun marks.

Would I look cool on that bike or what???

Noooooooooo!!!!!!!

Happy Labor Day everybody.  Labor Unions have been in the news a lot lately and seem to be a big target of Republicans trying to bust them up under the guise of balancing their budgets.  But unions aren't just the people who bring you a three-day weekend that marks the end of summer vacation.  Unions are those who have suffered, and in some cases died, to bring you the eight hour work day and 40-hour work week.  They are the people who brought you work place safety regulations, child labor laws, and time-and-a half pay.

Employers, for the most part, are out to make a profit.  It's the American way.  I have no problem with people making a profit, but not at the expense of the working folks.  Unions give the employee a voice in the employee-employer relationship.  Thanks to those who have sacrificed to make the work place safer and more fair.

Looks like the perfect way to spend a day at the beach.

This is Pastor Mike Stahl of The Living Water Church in Miramar, Florida.  Pastor Stahl would like to form a grassroots  organization named The Christian National Registry of Atheists or something similar. 

According to Pastor Stahl, "I mean, think about it.  There are registrys for convicted sex offenders, ex-convicts, terrorist cells, hate groups like the KKK, skinheads, radical Islamists, ect." 

Pastor Stahl goes on to say, "This type of national registry would be merely for information purposes.  To inform the public of KNOWN atheists.  Perhaps we may actually know some.  In which case we would begin to witness to them and warn them of the dangers of atheism.  Or perhaps they are radical atheists, whose hearts are as hard as Pharaoh's, in that case, if they are business owners, we would encourage all our Christian friends, as well as the various churches and their congregations NOT to patronize them as we would be "feeding" satan."

Pastor Stahl concludes by saying, "frankly, I don't see why anyone would oppose this idea - including the atheists themselves (unless of course, they're actually ashamed of their atheism, and would prefer to stay in the closet.)"

If you go to Pastor Stahl's blog at http://pastormikeschurch.blogspot.com, you will find that Pastor Stahl has received quite a bit of response, including sadly, death threats. Pastor Mike now states that he was just joking about the list. Maybe the death threats were from the KKK for being bunched in with atheists. LOL.

I understand that tropical storm Lee has stalled just off the coast and is drenching New Orleans.  I find weather quite exciting.  Maybe I should have been a weatherman!! 

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Thomas Mark Harmon, aka Mark Harmon, aka Leroy Jethro Gibbs of NCIS, who turns 60 years old today. Mark was born in Burbank, Ca., and graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Communications cum laude in 1974. Mark is married to Pam Dawber, who played Mindy in the comedy "Mork & Mindy." Mark has two sons, Sean and Ty.

"

Gibbs

Mark worked as a Carpenter before making a success of his acting career, which is interesting in that he is always shown on NCIS working on a wooden boat frame in his basement.  Mark started his career making guest spots on "Adam-12" and "Emergency."  Mark was also a guest star on "Ozzie's Girls" with Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, who were his sisters in-laws, as his sister was married to Ricky Nelson. Mark is best known for his work on "NCIS" as Gibbs, one of our favorite shows.

Mark was the starting quarterback for the UCLA Bruins for the 1972 & 73 seasons, finishing with a record of 17-5.  The highlight of his football career may be the upset of the National Champion Nebraska Cornhuskers in 1973.  Mark's father, Tom Harmon, was an All-American and Heisman Trophy winner for the University of Michigan.

With the beginning of September comes football.  I enjoy watching college football on Saturdays and the pros on Sunday.  As many of you know, Karen and I take in a few Colony H.S. football games each year.  Half the fun is sitting in the stands and watching the people, and of course the marching band.  I really wish college half time shows showed the marching bands rather than stats and highlights etc.  The colleges have some great marching bands and they never get a chance to shine on national television.

My USC Trojans are still being disciplined for some recruiting problems, but perhaps they will still put in a nice year.  Go Trojans!!  I don't really have a favorite pro team.  I like to watch the New York Jets because of quarterback Mark Sanchez, who played for USC. 

Josh, of course, is anxiously awaiting hockey season.  Go Kings!!  We usually take in a couple of Reign games at the Ontario arena. 

And baseball??  Well, the Angels still have a chance to make the playoffs, but my Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers.......



Looks like my son Brian, who lives in Huntsville, Al, is going to get some rain next week.  I hope he got you roof fixed from the tornado earlier this year!!  Looks like Texas is going to miss out.

If you look closely at this photograph, there is a lot going on within the larger subject of the photo.

As you can see, I have made some changes to my blog. Blogger has also made some changes, so I'm playing around with different size photos etc. Hope you enjoy the new, and hopefully, improved look of Fergie's Dribble.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Salma Valgama Hayek Jimenez de Pinault, aka Selma Hayek, who turns 45 years old today. Selma is an actress, director, and producer. Selma was born in Veracruz, Mexico, and is now an American citizen. Selma is of Spanish and Lebanese descent. Selma went to college in Mexico City at the Universidad Iberoamericana. Selma was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child.

Selma is married to French billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault and has one daughter, Valentina, who will be four later this month.

Selma is involved in awareness of violence against women and testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary supporting the reauthorizing of the Violence Against Women Act in 1995.  Happy Birthday Selma Hayek.

Tropical Depression 13

Tropical depression 13 has developed over the Gulf of Mexico and is predicted to bring torrential rain and coastal flooding in parts of the northern Gulf Coast. 

As you can see, the projected areas that will receive the most rain are in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and small parts of Texas and Florida. 

It would appear that Texas Governor Rick Perry's state wide prayer warriors will strike out again.  They've been praying for rain to break the drought since April.  Pretty strong evidence for the uselessness of prayer I would think. 

I'm not usually a big fan of poetry, but I kinda like this one.  So bare with me if you dare!!!

I Was Always Leaving

I was always leaving, I was
about to get up and go, I was
on my way, not sure where.
Somewhere else. Not here.
Nothing here was good enough.

It would be better there, where I
was going. Not sure how or why.
The dome I cowered under
would be raised, and I would be released
into my true life. I would meet there

the ones I was destined to meet.
They would make an opening for me
among the flutes and boulders,
and I would be taken up. That this
might be a form of death

did not occur to me. I only know
that something held me back,
a doubt, a debt, a face I could not
leave behind. When the door
fell open, I did not go through.

Jean Nordhaus

Feministing.com
Sept. 1, 2011

If you don't think you could love Cyndi Lauper any more, think again.  Not only is this woman a pop culture icon and incredible musician, but she's a staunch LGBT advocate - so much so that she's opening a homeless shelter for LGBT youth in New York called "True Colors."  She says in her press release;

In New York City, a very disproportionate number [up to 40%] of homeless youth identify as LGBT.  Even more disturbing are reports that these young people often face discrimination and at times physical assault in some of the very places they have to go to for help.  Our primary goal is to provide a physically and emotionally safe and supportive environment that will empower our young residents to be the self-loving, happy and successful individuals they were meant to be."

Time After Time never meant so much.  Seriously though, huge props to Lauper for being more than a celebrity that makes yearly donations to mainstream organizations or performs at some charity concert.  She's making a real change on the ground. 

Where's your helmet girl!!!

Today is September 1st.  Where has this year gone.  Happy Birthday wishes go out to Jennifer Fernald who turns 29 years old today.  (Or there abouts!!) Traded emails with Jennifer last night - she and Don will be celebrating their 22nd wedding anniversary next month.  Jennifer hopes to retire next year. Happy Birthday Jenn!!