Sneakeasy's Joint

Sneaks Wide World 53: Bullseye Edition

Welcome to this edition of Sneaks Wide World of Blogging.

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff! ;-D

This edition is dedicated to that Shopping Experience you know you love, openly, or secretly.... Walmart TARGET!!

As regular readers know I worked as a Cashier at 3 Targets from 2002 to 2004, and mostly enjoyed the experience.

A "BEST OF" of my Target related posts, in Chronological order: Let this serve as an insider introduction before I introduce you to a couple of wonderful Blogs I just discovered, and added to the sidebar.

1. NEW JOB: DAY 1. ( Eagle Rock )

2. A Hi Ho the Derrie-O, a Training I Will Go!

3. It Was an Interesting Week at Work.

4.  Today is the RUNNING OF THE GUESTS AT TARGET, otherwise known as our GRAND OPENING. :-)

While there are no BULLS, lots of crap will be strewn about the ground by closing time, you can count on it. ;-D

I have this vision of our morning cashiers, faced with this mad mob of humanity bursting thru the doors at 8 am, running, screaming for the Employee Exit, only to find it locked and blocked by Security. ;-D

A TARGET GRAND OPENING: I Survived a Target Grand Opening and all I got was a coke, a bag of chips, and a twinkie!!!

5. Retail Learning Experience.

A Work hours increase, a favorable evaluation, an eventual raise, and a transfer to Chino, follow....

6. To the well intentioned lady who wanted to pay me for her purchases at work the other day.....I'm sorry ma'am, but we don't accept foreign currency here at Target. ( Full Story. )

7. To the 3 year old boy in the shopping cart in my line at work who was bawling and squaling and generally having a hissy fit .....

8.  BLACK FRIDAY:

The happiest day of the year for Retailers.:-)

It's 6:58 am at a certain Target in Southern California...

The mob is primed to move, yet hushed in anticipation, as the clerk opens the door and stands in their path.....

He speaks the magic words.....

Ladies AND Gentlemen!

Start your Credit Cards!!!!

And the annual Running of the Shoppers begins......

Hi Diddley De, It's a Shoppers' Life For Me! -- HIIIII HOOOOO, HI HO, HI HO, IT'S OFF TO SHOP WE GO!

A transfer to Costa Mesa follows a few months later....

9.  A WRITING EXERCISE: You spend the majority of your waking time doing it, so why not? Write about your job: What is it like? Are you doing what you want to do?

10. To the young man in my line, at work, who asked me to "remove a shirt":

What do you think this place is?

A Strip Joint? :-D

11. Saying good-bye to working for Target: Including a poem. ;-D

Okay, so it has now been 2 years since I became, once again, just a satisfied, loyal, customer, of Target, and in that time 2 websites have sprung up of interest to shoppers, and even employees of, the store with the big red, and white, Bullseye.

Let's meet those 2 wonderful Blogs!

Sneaks Wide World of Blogging 52

Welcome to this edition of Sneaks Wide World of Blogging.

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff! ;-D

This edition is dedicated to African-American Conservative Bloggers.

Yes, Virginia, they exist, and they have much to say. ;-D

When African-American Report Outed me as a Brotha ( Still hoping to learn more, so stay tuned! Hee, hee! ), the other day, I found an upside to this developement.

For quite some time I've had the following African-American Conservative Blogs in my Blogroll: La Shawn Barber's Corner, and Uncle Sam's Cabin, along with fellow Bear Flag League member Cobb, in the BFL Roll.

I also have links to African-American Websites such as The New Coalition, and BlackConservative.net.

Now I have found more sites to add.

This post is intended to introduce you to the 'Hood that is Black Conservatism.

This community is something Liberals would prefer not be widely known about, and is something that annoys many Black Liberals especially.

There is a lot to read here folks.

The good news is that you have plenty of time until the Fall Elections to enjoy these selections, and the comments left to them, and learn more about what these sites have to offer.

Sneaks Wide World of Blogging 51

Welcome to this edition of Sneaks Wide World of Blogging.

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff! ;-D

This edition is dedicated to the birth, this coming week, of a new Conservative Radio effort.

It is called Wide Awakes Radio.

You may have noticed the links I've added in the sidebar, including one of my Blogrolls.

The Wide Awakes, were born on January 6th, 2005, as a community of like minded Conservative Bloggers "dedicated to spreading conservative ideas and ideals on the net."

There are currently 28 contributors to the Blog.

They may not be the 1st such community but they sure are just as opinionated, and passionate.

As the Announcement post ( the 2nd entry posted that day ) states:

The name of our blog is “The Wide Awakes” named after supporters of Abe Lincoln in 1860 who marched through the streets in torchlight parades and spread the word of Lincoln’s candidacy.

The 1st contribution was a splendid dissertation on the fight over the final approval of the results of the 2004 Presidential Election that, and the reactions of Democrats, in a heartfelt effort to appease the Moonbats of the Left, calls their Blog God, Kos, a "blithering, idiotic, nincompoop".

Hee, hee. ;-D

The Alliance has a Statement of Purpose that makes a very important observation, and describes how they plan to react:

As of late, our opponents have sought not simply to disagree with us but rather use methods and tactics that are annoying, obscene, unconscionable, and in some cases, illegal. They have spammed our comment sections, insulted our commenters, spammed our email accounts, invaded our privacy, and threatened our peace of mind.

Most importantly, their irresponsible activities have lowered the level of political discourse thus doing a great disservice to our country and our republic.

The Wide Awakes consists of both Defenders and Writers. Defenders will function as something of a minuteman corps able to leap to the defense of a Writer who is attacked by one of the many leftist trolls who surf the conservative blogs. While defenders should always give as good as they get in such battles, they should be aware that humor, satire, and reasoned arguments are the best defense against any and all trolls.

Good for them!

And I applaude their Rules of Engagement as well.

There are 43 members in their Blogroll.

Before I move on to the Radio effort I want to highly recommend this years 4th of July post.

It is an absolute MUST for a very important reason:

A discussion of the classic broadcast by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian broadcaster at CFRB in Toronto, on June 5, 1973 in defense of "The Americans".

How come I never heard of this before?

I just listened to it, and God, it was GLORIOUS! ;-D

I think it would have been more than appropriate, this 4th, if FOX, or Rush, or Sean, or somebody, had broadcast that speech so a new audience can appreciate it, and consider its meaning as it relates to what is happening in the world today.

Wide Awakes Radio announced itself to the world on June 24th, in a small post on its new website.

It is the brain child of Kender McGowan of Kender’s Musings and has been over a year in the making. He has collected some of the best political bloggers to comprise his team.

He has some thoughts here.

He also has an interesting post on the subject of Minorities cannot be Racist.

***NOTE:  7/8 - 9AM***

More on the ORIGIN STORY as told me by CAO, of Cao's Blog, in a nice e-mail this morning:

Wow, have you done some nosing around to turn up just about the entire story without anybody tellin' ya!

WOW!  Thanks for all that;

THE WIDE AWAKES Community was the brainchild of mine, Raven at And Rightly So, and Rick Moran of Right Wing Nut House. 

If it weren't for Rick, however, it never would have happened. 

It was with his encouragement that TWA actually became a reality.

Kender is one of the members of TWA, and has launched our sister project WIDE AWAKES RADIO ( WAR Radio )...

But it wouldn't have happened without the love and cooperation from ALL of our wonderful blogger members past and present. 

This has always been a team effort.

Thanks for the linky love!

***END NOTE***

Now let's acquaint you with some remarkable Bloggers....

Sneaks Wide World of Blogging 50

Welcome to this edition of Sneaks Wide World of Blogging.

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff! ;-D

This is the Watcher's Council Edition.

The Watcher of Weasels, and The Watcher's Council, have been spreading the word about outstanding examples of Blogging since Oct. 2003.

I though it would be good to spread the word about the current voting members of the Council by recommending recent posts on their blogs.

These are blogs you may not have ever visited before so check them out.

Sneaks Wide World of Blogging 49

Welcome to this edition of Sneaks Wide World of Blogging.

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff! ;-D

1. A musical teaming of pure genius, or the worst freakin' idea to cross the pike? You decide.

( Here comes Peter Pimpin Cottontail, hee, hee! )

From the fertile mind of John, of Will Blog for Food:

Classical Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Rapper Yo Ma-Ma do a Recording Session Together.

2. Sneakeasy's Silly Survey Question of the Day:

R U A YouTuber, or a Google Vidiot?

Me? I'm neither. ;-D

What brings this to mind is a post I found on the Church of the Customer blog:

10 reasons why YouTube is better than Google Video.

3. Of Pregnancy and Pugs.

With Sister Deputy now pregnant again a year after the birth of Deputy Toddler, stumbling upon the following post on the blog All up in the Kool-Aid, brought a smile to my face.

The author shares a photo of a face only a Pug lover could adore ( and I adore Pugs, especially the pure black ones ), and proudly shows of her own 26 week preggers stomach in another photo. ;-D

Good luck to all three of them!

Sneaks Wide World of Blogging 48

Welcome to this edition of Sneaks Wide World of Blogging.

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

It's been 2 months since the last edition.

Since then I've had a tube stuck up my Arse ( Colonoscopy ) and Cataract Surgery but, see, I'm back now, and all better, so let's get this show going again....

1. and 2. The Lady in charge of the blog My Spin on Things is probably STILL fanning herself over this absolutely fabulous example of just why Figure Skating is the most popular sport at the Winter Olympics, Female, and Male:

Don't say I didn't warn you! ;-D

As a Thank You for sharing I'll introduce you to her Medicine Cabinet. ;-D

I'm 3 years older than her, and going slowly bald, and SHE'S cranky at turning 43? ;-D

Sneaks Wide World 47: Butt Ass I Was Saying

... I am having a Colonoscopy tomorrow!

Yup! My Hairy Barbarian, my Stench Trench, my Fart Box, will reluctantly be having its privacy invaded by Medical "Paparazzi". ;-D

In light of the subject of some recent posts regular poster, and friend, Jaspar had this to say over the weekend:

Do I detect a tad wee bit of obsessing with the
upcoming procedure? Naw, it must be my imagination.

Then again, maybe it would be easier to
just mark everything BC or AC -- before
colonoscopy, and after.

It's funny how a Big Event brings everything
into focus, becomes a filter, and, well,
just about TAINTS the bejezis out of everything.

Moi?

Obsessed?

Nah, nope, nadda, not me!

Welcome to this, um, very special, and very personal, edition of Sneaks Wide World of Blogging.

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

If the discussion of your Bottom, the function it performs ( including the bizarre things some people subject theirs too ), and how, and where, you perform clean up makes you squirm then go read another Blog for the duration.

If you want to be amused, educated, and informed, then...

Let's get to the good stuff! ;-D

Sneaks Wide World of Blogging 46

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

As I was deciding on the books promoted in the right sidebar, beginning today, I stopped by the Blogs of  3 of the writers, as I occasionally do:

1. Hugh Hewitt.

A. Hugh has a wonderful post taking on a supposedly top Blogger at the Los Angeles Times: The Five Stages of MSM Death --Hiltzik and the Anger Stage.

B. Contributor Mary Katherine Ham has some interesting thoughts, and links, in preperation for the fight over the Alito Nomination to the Supreme Court: Feeling Out the SCOTUS Fight.

2. Michelle Malkin.

When I got Cable again, after a long absense, I made a beline for my favorite news channel... you know... the F-word one ( FOX ), just in time to discover Michelle, and her opinions. ;-D

A. On why Harry Belafonte is a Minion Of W.A.C.K.I.E. ( Keeping an eye on such folks is sometimes a hobby of mine as this archive will attest ):

Hey, Harry Belafonte, Don't Come Back!

B. Audio Links to appearances  on a Podcast with Mr. and Mrs. Instapundit, and with John Gibson of Fox News: On The (Internet) Radio-oh-oh-oh-oh...

3. Tammy Bruce.

I am so glad to call one of my favorite Radio Talk Hosts ( I go waaay back as a fan ) a fellow member of The Bear Flag League.

A. Tammy thinks Pat Robertson is a Menace.  She's right, you know. ;-D ( Oh, and read the comments sections )

That's it for today.

The next edition will be the 18th.

Sneaks Wide World 45: New Year Edition

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

1. On New Year's Day many folks, myself included sometimes, make resolutions to do, or not do, all sorts of crazy, and not so crazy, things in the coming year.

The good folks over at Urban Legends have a fun, and interesting, essay on New Year's Superstions:

Besides getting sloppy drunk, and kissing everybody in the room at midnight, celebrants throughout the ages have observed numerous lesser-known New Year's customs and superstitions. Many of the superstitions associated with the event bear the common theme that activities engaged in on that day set the pattern for the year to come. Others have to do with warding off evil spirits or attracting luck.

Because January 1 is the first day of the new year, we have drawn a connection between what we do on that day and our fate throughout the rest of the year.

They then proceeed to discuss some of the ways we attempt to guarantee a good outcome through our acts on the 1st day of the year:

Kissing at Midnight: I kissed Nikita!

Stocking Up: The cupboards are not bare, but close, and I can't get to the Market again until Tuesday.

Paying off Bills: The Rent is paid, and several other due bills are taken care of for the month.

1st Footer: There is no telling when the 1st person other than me will enter my appartment. Could be tomorrow, could be next week, or a month from now.

Most likely it will be one of my Sisters, or my Brother-in-Law. ;-D

Nothing goes out: I'm waiting until Monday to take the trash, out.

Black-eyed Peas: I wonder what eating a bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup, washed down by Diet Coke, signifies for the coming year?

Work: Well, I had an 8 hour shift today.

As for the Laundry, that is put off until Tuesday.

New Clothes: I wore clothes given me as Christmas Gifts.

Money: Move on, nothing to talk about here.

Breakage: Nothing broken, and no bawling.

Letting the Old Year out: Done

Loud Noise: Done

The Weather: Light wind from the SSE as we awaited a rain storm to drop up to an inch on us thru Monday.

I guess this means I'll have a prosperous year. ;-D

Sneaks Wide World of Blogging 44: Soldiers Holiday

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

Let's spend Christmas with the troops!

The other day I wrote a Poem based on the Old Clement Moore classic, and in case you missed it, and would like to share it with the soldier in your life, or of your acquaintance, or the family of a soldier, this weekend, here it is:

1. Soldier's Silent Night. ( Bring a hanky, and turn up the sound )

To learn about the backround of this Poem, originally titled "Merry Christmas, My Friend", pay a visit to Blackfive.

2,. From Sgt. Hook:

He woke up early, just before sunrise, roughly 0600 hours. He was in his parent’s bed, next to his mom, she had let him sleep there last night because he was so excited about Santa’s impending visit. He climbed down from the high mattress, grabbing onto the soft, down-filled comforter as he stretched his tiny toes to the hardwood floor. He was three. In the dark pre-dawn hours he made his way down stairs to the living room, his eyes sparkling with the reflection of the tree’s colorful holiday lights and his smile broadened by the sight of a pile of brightly wrapped presents beneath the tree. He turned quickly and ran up the stairs to tell his mother, “Mom, mom, wake up, there’s a lot of Christmas downstairs!”

She woke, tired from the late night of wrapping presents and placing them beneath the tree just so. Though her eyes were puffy from hours of crying, she smiled at her little coconut catching his infectious enthusiasm, and pleaded with him to show her what he had found. He complied, eagerly.

Read the whole thing: Christmas Presence.

Sneaks Wide World of Blogging 43: The Soldiers Speak

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

This edition is dedicated to 3 posts only, but embraces all of our brave men, and women, in uniforn in the process.

1. Why go to the Airport to spit on, and yell at returning American Soldiers when you can do it from the comfort of your own home?

From Sgt. Grey Eagle, the valiant proprietor of A Female Soldier 2:

I wish to express my congratulations to the hackers, vandals, and anti-war visitors who successfully blocked my ability to post any further tributes to the soldiers. I am sure you find victory in preventing myself and others from having a place to read and pay our respects to the Fallen Female Soldiers, and my brother’s in arms, the brave soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division. I can only imagine your satisfaction in justifying the disgrace of men and women who died for this country. You may not feel it was justified, but they gave their lives believing in what they were doing. Apparently freedom of speech is merely a phrase to you, not something you believe, in unless it applies to you.

Read the full essay... NOW DAMN IT!

Congratulations To Those Who Oppose The Soldiers.

And this one, by her, too, while your at it.

2. An important message from a platoon of the 101st Airborne, in Iraq:

This comes via Sgt. Hook, from a Mother on behalf of her son, and the Sgt. introduces it this way:

I received an email from a mother whose son is currently fighting in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division. He and his platoon have penned a message to the American public that is a little different from the message we are getting via the MSM. He asked his mom to help get this message out and she asked me. Here it is from the soldiers on the ground…

This letter is one of the most amazing, must read, essays you will ever read about the concept, and price of freedom, what's going on in Iraq, and what the soldiers think about their efforts, and the anti-war sentiment on the homefront:

Mom,

Be my voice. I want this message heard. It is mine and my platoon’s to the country. A man I know lost his legs the other night. He is in another company in our batallion. I can no longer be silent after watching the sacrifices made by Iraqis and Americans everyday.Send it to a congressman if you have to. Send it to FOX news if you have to. Let this message be heard please…

My fellow Americans, I have a task for those with the courage and fortitude to take it. I have a message that needs not fall on deaf ears. A vision the blind need to see. I am not a political man nor one with great wisdom. I am just a soldier who finds himself helping rebuild a country that he helped liberate a couple years ago.
I have watched on television how the American public questions why their mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters are fighting and dying in a country 9000 miles away from their own soil. Take the word of a soldier, for that is all I am, that our cause is a noble one. The reason we are here is one worth fighting for. A cause that has been the most costly and sought after cause in our small span of existence on our little planet. Bought in blood and paid for by those brave enough to give the ultimate sacrifice to obtain it. A right that is given to every man, woman, and child I believe by God. I am talking of freedom.

Read THIS one too, DAMN IT! NOW!

Taste of Freedom.

The enormous outpouring of comments left to all of these show that Americans truly care, and support the messages the soldiers, Bloggers, and not, have to spread.

Post about these stories on your Blogs, tell your friends, do whatever you feel  you can do to spread the word.

The anti-war crowd, aided and abetted, by Democratic Congressmen, such as Congressman Murtha, need to be countered as forcefully, and clearly, as it is possible to be done by all Americans who disagree with them.

The next edition of this series will be Dec. 24th.

Sneaks Wide World of Blogging 42

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

Today is Thanksgiving Day in America, and everyone that can, and has any, is getting together with friends, and/or family, to partake of Big-Assed Meals, and watch football games.

Others are gathing in parks for picnics, and family activities, while many people are taking bike rides to work-up an appetite before dinner.

Still others, such as myself, are on our own, with no more company, pleasant though it is, than our Animal Companions.

On that note: What am I having for dinner? ;-D

Today I thought I'd find some interesting pieces, with a T-Day theme to help visitors here pass the day until dinner time

1. Father Jim Chern, in a piece for Fox News, asks the question, "What Makes America Great?"

Depending upon your perspective, your experience or your history, the answer to that question will vary. For many nations, greatness is measured by military strength. By this measure, the United States is peerless...

Another measure of a nations greatness is it's diversity. Whether you use the term "melting pot" or "salad bowl" to describe it, the variety of races, religions, cultures and nationalities that have made their home in the United States is a characteristic of our nation that is uniquely American...

Some would argue that a nation's greatness comes from things over which they have no control, such as the physical land that nation occupies...

All of these things make America great, but these are not all that make America great. There is something more, which encompasses all of these and reveals the true greatness of this nation. What makes America great is that it is the greatest experiment of faith ever attempted.

What does this have to do with Thanksgiving?  A lot actually, and the good Father discusses it in a piece called The Spirit of Thanksgiving.

Sneaks Wide World of Blogging 41

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

I know I said the next edition was gonna be on Turkey Day, but this is special.

A new Website has debuted today, and it's a cause for celebration!

The idea of innovative ideas flowing freely through the collaborative environment of the internet has come to the Bloggerverse.

The Website is called OPEN SOURCE MEDIA, and it has ambitions to become one of the most important resources online for Bloggers, and those who read them.

It begins life with $3.5 million in private financing.

What is it?

The open source ethos helped drive the great boom in information technology that made the internet ubiquitous in the 90s and led to the creation of over 20 million personal weblogs--or blogs--in the first half of the oughts...

OSM’s mission is to expand the influence of weblogs by finding and promoting the best of them, providing bloggers with a forum to meet and share resources, and the chance to join a for-profit network that will give them additional leverage to pursue knowledge wherever they may find it. From academics, professionals and decorated experts, to ordinary citizens sitting around the house opining in their pajamas, our community of bloggers are among the most widely read and influential citizen journalists out there, and our roster will be expanding daily. We also plan to provide a bridge between old media and new, bringing bloggers and mainstream journalists—more and more of whom have started to blog—together in a debate-friendly forum.

Read ABOUT.

The Advisory Board is an impressive mixed bag of political perspectives,  with Glenn Reynolds, the Instapundit, as Chairman.

The OSM Blogs are also a mixed bag, as it the very large Blogroll.

I think this shows that co-operation in the Bloggerverse is possible while at the same time the Left, and Right, can still throw spitballs at each other within the confines of individual Blogs. ;-D

I also believe that this endeavor will prove beneficial to all varieties of Bloggers, from BikeBloggers like me, and my Cycling Dude , to a Blog about the San Diego Zoo.

Sneaks Wide World of Blogging 40

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

1st off, I'm a day late because I got a bit pissed off at a fellow bicyclist who, while "celebrating" the 13th anniversary of the Left leaning, Cycling Advocacy movement Criticl Mass had this to say while discussing  how law enfocement, and activists respond to each other, and and react to tactics:

And in classic patriarchal fashion, they lash out with physical punishment as best they can, trying to repress what they cannot understand or control. But like the insurgency in Iraq, or any guerrilla war, when a blundering monster attacks in classic old-style ways, the new, mobile, decentralized networks just vanish, leaving the attackers swinging at air (perhaps they “catch” a few individuals now and then). The structure that is threatening them remains intact and often grows stronger—just like Critical Mass has in most places it has been attacked.

Comparing the tactics of radical protestors on 2 wheels favorably to the actions of terrorists does cyclists, and cycling a grave dissservice.

My entire dissection of his essay is here.

Okay, where was I?

1. Librarians as activists? Meet the folks at Radical Reference.

Mission Statement: Radical Reference is a collective of volunteer library workers who believe in social justice and equality. We support activist communities, progressive organizations, and independent journalists by providing professional research support, education and access to information. We work in a collaborative virtual setting and are dedicated to information activism to foster a more egalitarian society.

That's the official line. Here's "the rest of the story." Radical reference originated as a service provided by volunteer library workers from all over the United States to assist demonstrators and activists at the convergence surrounding the Republican National Convention in New York City August 29-September 2, 2004. We are evolving, expanding our services, and continuing to utilize our professional skills and tools to answer information needs from the general public, independent journalists, and activists. Service will be provided via this web site, blog, e-mail, chat, phone, in the street and Ouija board.

Before anyone gets annoyed that I'm promoting a bunch of Leftist Wackos, they have this to say:

we provide services regardless of political leaning. Remember, language is not a static thing; rather, it is a place where social struggle takes place. The term itself is interpreted within a specific social context. By using the term "radical" to define our service, we are challenging the maintream meaning which largely marginalizes the term and along with it certain groups.

We face a society where citizens are less and less informed due to consolidation and corporatization of media. I think it is our core code of ethics to help to inform citizens so that they can participate fully in the democratic process. In this way, we are forwarding the profession by reaching out to the community. Every librarian should go out to his/her own community and use his/her information skills to affect positive change. If this is radical, then by all means I am radical.

Check them out at Radical Reference.

Sneak's Wide World of Blogging 39

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

1. Rosa Parks died last week, amd thousands paid their respects in person.

Spencer Overton, of BlackProf, was one such person, and this is his story:

Viewing Rosa Parks at the Capitol Rotunda.

2. I found some new words to learn over at Sideline SquawkBox. ;-D

A. Elefeint - To pretend to try to stop the elevator door from closing as someone is rushing to get on.      

Usage-  She called out for me to hold the door, and I did a nice job of elefeinting.

B. Breastracted - Typically a male condition in which one is temporarily hypnotized by the female anatomy, leaving one incapable of hearing or seeing anything else.      

Usage- I'm sorry, will you please repeat that; I was temporarily breastracted.

Heh, heh... For a few more go here.

Sneak's Wide World of Blogging 38

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

1. Do U Stumble? How often? Were U sob... never miond, ignore that last.  ;-D

A friend tipped me off to a cool Web Community that is also a unique Directory to what's online. It is known as StumbleUpon:

StumbleUpon is an intelligent browsing tool for sharing and discovering great websites. As you click STUMBLE!, you'll get high-quality pages matched to your personal preferences. These pages have been explicitly recommended ( rated "I like it" ) by friends and other SU members with similar interests. Rating these sites shares them with your friends and peers – you will automatically 'stumble upon' each others favorites sites.

A cool way to discover, and share interesting places on the web that you, and others may never learn about otherwise, or that are your favorite places online, and to meet other web surfers.

To learn more start with the About Page.

Sneak's Wide World of Blogging 37

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

Today a fellow bookcrosser payed the Joint a visit, took a look around, liked what she saw, and left a couple of comments.

So I thought I'd mosey on over to her place for a look see. ;-D

Turns out she appears to be new to the Bloggerverse, having Archives back to only August, but don't let that disuade you from paying her a visit.

1. Susan Reynolds, of The Artsy Asylum, describes herself this way:

I'm an artist, writer and consultant battling a dominant magpie gene.

Possessed by magpies... ooookkkaaayyy.

Writers, and Artists... such VIVID imaginations we'uns have. ;-D

Anyway there's more:

I'm that woman in blue jeans and red shoes you notice picking up coffee stirrers, bottle caps, bits of yarn and just about anything that might make interesting impressions on paper.

Besides random castoffs and shiny papers I've also picked FMS, a chronic illness which prevents an active gallery life, but I remain an offbeat maker of art and dedicated learner of new tricks.

So, after that, from her About Page, what else did I discover?

A. She likes living vicariously through FLATNESS.

B. She sits under an upside-down colander attached to various colored wires spiraling out at odd intervals.

and... despite, or maybe because, of this, she has been described as being an artist who "practices a high-risk kind of art . . . creating works that evoke inarticulate, primary emotions".

She's been at it for 35 years apparently.

Restonian Magazine continues...

"Reynolds employs a set of techniques whereby she converts simple elements
of color, texture and shape into complex pressure paintings that give abstract expression  to natural forms and processes."

There are some wonderful images to behold amongst all of her various projects.

Go take a look.

Sneak's Wide World of Blogging 36

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

1. In the "We Report, You Decide" department, from ScrappleFace:

From his subterranean office complex in nearby Waziristan, Mr. bin Laden personally oversees relief efforts that he views as a 'humanitarian competition' between his vision of the world, and that of U.S. President George Bush. The emergency has forced Mr. bin Laden to redeploy some al Qaeda personnel from Iraq...

Al Queda Leads Relief Effors to Quake Victims.

2. Celebrity bottles, ashtrays, saltshakers, and nosehair clippers oh my!

Writer Lee Goldberg, of A Writer's Life, has the story in a piece called A Touch of Class. ;-D

Sneak's Wide World of Blogging 35

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

1. I KNOW it's TUESDAY, but here's the Sunday Sermon, from The Corpuscle, anyway!

There's a Hemingway story -- very brief, 3 or 4 pages maybe -- called "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen". In it, two tedious doctors discuss a 16 year old boy who'd come into their emergency room a few hours earlier and wanted to be castrated. He'd begged the doctors to free him from his impure urges. These sinful feelings came to the boy every night, you see, and the boy felt they were sins against the Lord, against purity itself. The doctors told him to get lost. A few hours later, the boy is brought into the hospital near death because of blood loss. Since the doctors wouldn't help him, see, he decided to perform a little self-surgery with a razor. Sadly, the boy's understanding of the facts of life was weak. He'd misplaced the seat of his lust. He'd misunderstood the meaning of the word "castrate", and so what he cut off was not his nuts but his dick.

Now THAT will wake up the sleepers in the pews, I guaran-damn-tee you!

The rest of this thought provoking essay, and the related comments, are in a piece called "The Idiots".

2 - 3. Now, I ask ya, what's a Church Service without some singin'?

Crank up the sound, offer up a heartfelt "Thank U, Jasus!!", and give it up for Bessie Smith!

On Revival Day.

Devil's Gonna git You.

4. Recognizing that, after that, all ya'll sinners ain't gonna wanna spend the next hour reading any other articles I may find worthy of your attention, here is the link to the Bessie Smith page over at Red Hot Jazz so you can enjoy a ton more songs. ;-D

5. It's all Captain Normal's fault that this edition is a short one! ;-D

That's it for this edition! The next one will be on October 11th.

Sneak's Wide World of Blogging 34

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Welcome to Sneak's Wide World of Blogging!

I've been a slacker!

For that I apologize to fans of my series.

As regular readers of this blog know the summer has been an eventful one, what with spending May and June apartment hunting, then July moving into a new apartment.

#33 was in early July, and I only had 2 entries in June!

The last entry in my Waving the Bear Flag series, that focuses on my fellows in the Bear Flag League was, sadly, in June!

As for August, and September?

I plead re-grouping! ( Getting my bearings in a new home! Getting a new Camera, new printer, and new computer, and learning to get along with them! )

I plead focusing on my Cycling Blog, The Cycling Dude, in light of Hurricane Katrina, and its effects on Bicyclists, and Bicycling.

But, I'm  back, now, and it's time to return to regular entries in this series!

Let's get to the good stuff!

1. Happy 3rd Birtdhay to Carnival of the Vanities!

Congrats  to Silflay Hraka, the proud Papa!

2. The Mad Macedonian would like to announce that the great Serbian Blogger, Boro Zivkovic, of the Science and Politics Blog, has written an informative opinion on what makes a Carnival:

1) A Blog Carnival is a series of blog posts. It is not a single post, or a series of websites, or forum threads.
2) Each edition of the carnival is a single blog post. It is not a series of posts, or a website, or a forum post.
3) The overarching theme and format is well defined.
4) All issues are posted with predictable frequency. Some carnivals are daily, some quarterly, most appear once a week, but they do not appear on a haphazard random schedule. A break for summer or Christmas is reasonable (even some MSM does that).
5) There is some editorializing by the host of each issue - at least a brief introduction. There have been some very creative (and successful) examples of thematic editorializing recently, most notably on Grand Rounds, Skeptic's Circle and Tar Heel Tavern.
6) Each issue of the carnival is a collection of links to other blog posts (almost never to websites or forum posts).
7) Each link is suggested to the host by other bloggers (usually people submitting their own best posts). While the host is likely to include his/her own entry, as well as perhaps some "editor's choice" entries, if most or all the links are chosen by the host it is not a carnival.
8) Participation in the carnival is open to every blogger, i.e, it is not limited to card-carrying members of a particular group/ring/coalition. Though some carnivals will be somewhat limited thematically or geographically, every new blogger who satisfies a basic criterion is automatically eligible.

What really makes a carnival, or at least what makes a carnival useful?

1) It has a central place (a blogpost, a blog, or a webpage) that contains the mission statement and, most importantly, contains the complete archives of the carnival - the links to every single issue.

2) It regularly rotates hosts. The non-rotating carnivals have a smaller chance of surviving 50 years, they are less likely to be perceived as "their own" by a bigger blogging community, and are less likely to represent the broadest swath of the bloggers writing about the particular topic.

The writer provides a masterful analysis of the offsring of Silflay Hraka and his Carnival, and even Sneak's Wide World of Blogging gets a mention!

Read the whole thing, explore the carnivals, and learn about what others in the Bloggerverse are writing about.

Sneak's wide world of Blogging 33

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

July 4th is the one time each year Americans celebrate kicking our now good friends, the Britishers, asses way back in the day:

1. Over on The Volokh Conspiracy you can read the whole Declaration of Independence, along with this observation by Randy Barnett:

The Declaration of Independence as a Legal Document: It is sometimes forgotten that the purpose of the Declaration of Independence was not only to declare independence from Great Britain, but to justify that political separation. To the colonists, it was not enough that the British had violated their rights. Every government violates the rights of the people from time to time and this was not thought sufficient to justify separation. Rather, it was that "a long train of abuses" led to the conclusion that the British government was engaged in something like a continued conspiracy to violate the rights of the colonists. But they felt they had to make out this case, which they did in the form of the Declaration.

It used to be an American tradition to gather on every Fourth of July and hear the Declaration read out loud. On the first day of Constitutional Law, I have my students read it aloud, complaint by complaint, to get a sense for the document that laid the theoretical groundwork for the Articles of Confederation and then the Constitution.

Read the Declaration.

Sneak's wide world of Blogging 32

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

Since I'm moving to Santa Ana next week I figured I'd see if anyone else is Blogging about the place.

Call it my initial attempt to see if anyone thinks the place is more than just "Santa Ana--the strip mall wasteland of The OC." :-D

Other than MY recent postings about the School Scandal I didn't turn up much in a Google Search for "Santa Ana Blogs".

1. On something called YAHOO! 360 I found an excellent look at the Santa Ana Artists Village, by someone named Jay Ruiz, last April:

Far removed from the bland suburbs of Orange County that is often portrayed in the media lies Santa Ana. Neatly tucked into the central downtown area is home to approximately 50 studios and galleries, two small live-performance theaters, a few restaurants, and loft apartments which are all collectively known as the Artists Village. Over the years all of the new developments in this part of town have slowly rejuvenated a once thriving neighborhood and brought a breathe of fresh air into the city.

For more: The Artists Village, Santa Ana.

2. Them wild and crazy Knitters!

It is so wonderful to know that the local Law Enforcement is on the ball and protecting the citizens of Santa Ana from the Terrorist Threat. :-D

Carrie, who has a Knitting Blog, took a trip to Southern California, this month, and shared some pictures, including 1 that she apparently got at the risk of arrest. :-D

Sneak's wide world of Blogging 31

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

1. The writer of The Obvious has some some thoughts on comments to Blog entries in Flame Comments.

I handle spam comments, and trackbacks, with swift deletion, but as for the angry trouble maker types who abuse the priviledge, especially by attacking their fellow commenters, I sick my Bouncer, Nikita, on their asses, and he  tosses them out the door of this establishment and into the parking lot. :-D

2. The writer of Bastard Sword has a talent for parody songs, and because it's been a while since I last looked here is one of his latest:

As he writes: I decided to write a sing-a-long for global warming conferences, so here it is.... The Funding Comes Rolling Along.

Sneak's wide world 30: Soldier's Memorial Day

300 years isn't very long in the scheme of things on this old planet of ours, but a lot has happened in the United States of America in that short span.

In 1775 a revolution was begun that, within a decade, would change 13 colonies, a continent, and eventually the world.

In that struggle men, and women died so that a nation would be born, free of the rule of Kings, and become a Republic of Free Peoples.

Yes, I know, it was not a perfect union.

We all know the story: The Brits tried again... and we kicked their Ass... again ( I know it was more complicated than that, just go with it, ok ), we had a spat with Mexico, then spent a few years fighting amongst ourselves before having a spat with some other Spanish speaking nation, and in between all this our citizens, and Military spread across the land encountering the Red Man on the way to finding our nations Manifest Destiny in... Hollywood.

( I KNOW, I KNOW,  it's more complicated than that, just go with it ok! )

Our ancestors, and many still living elders, and siblings, then fought The War To End All Wars, PTS. 1 AND 2, fought the Chinese to a draw, got their Asses handed to them on a platter by another passle of Asian Commies, all the while playing the Ruskies to a draw long enough to see them capitulate, and "Tear Down That Wall!" to end the "Cold" War.

Yes, it was more complicated than all that, but we won! Freedom, and Democracy won!

A Freedom, and Democracy won through the blood and sacrifice of the men and women of America's Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and National Guard.

These martyrs of patriotism gave their lives for an idea.  - Schuyler Colfax

They hover as a cloud of witnesses above this Nation.  - Henry Ward Beecher

Decoration Day is the most beautiful of our national holidays.... The grim cannon have turned into palm branches, and the shell and shrapnel into peach blossoms.  - Thomas Bailey Aldrich

On this day, once known as Decoration Day, but now known as Memorial Day, with Taps sounding all around us, we honor, and remember, those valiant dead... by placing flags on graves, giving heartfelt speeches, and penning great words of homage, and then going to parades, and to the park for family picnics.

The Official Website for Arlington National Cemetery is here.

In the last 15 years new battles have been taken up by our valiant men, and women in uniform, and more names have been added to the long list of those we pay homage to.

In the 90's a new enemy took aim at all that America, and the West stand for, fueled by our country doing what was right in keeping Saddaam at bay, then joining the world in sorting out the mess that was Yugoslavia after Tito.

On Sept. 11, 2001, the enemy struck back, and though they are Muslim, it is important that we never forget that they are not ALL Muslims, and that when the opportunity came to free themselves of the shackles of oppression, and head down the road to Freedom, and their own forms of Democratic Rule, the overwhelming majority in 2 nations welcomed the chance, and those who enabled them, to take those 1st steps.

Our respect, and admiration goes to those in our Military who have given their Last Full Measure in The War Against Terror, on its 1st fronts... Afghanistan, and Iraq.

The stories of the fallen are many, and this is just 1:  Here, then Here.

But, as we pay homage to the dead we must not forget the living, and show our support for those overseas on this day.

Sneak's wide world of Blogging 29

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

Let's get things rolling with a smile...

1. Billy, of the Blog called I Could Have Been a Contender, is proud that when all was said, and done, "I just knew that they hadn't puked at the sound of my voice...I just knew that I hadn't made a total pillock of myself...I just knew that I'd walked away alive from the phone call...I'd won..."

The Wait...

Sneak's wide world of Blogging 28

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Let's get to the good stuff!

1. In the "Damn! Is THIS cool, or what?" category is the interesting Blog called Visual Quest:

It "explores the visual medium through photography, painting, and crafts."

And, how!

Robert Cattan has been exploring Photography for over 25 years,

"Creating for me is a way to heal my soul. I look to show emotion through my work; happiness, sadness, beauty, death, and pain. When I create a still life, I like to have many of these emotions showing. The feeling that I get in my gut, when I create something is like an elixir for living."

You will have to scroll from left to right to enjoy these:

A. Diorama Series ( Dinosaurs! ).

B. Family Vacation.

In case, like me, you wonder about the infrequent posting, read the Artist's Statement, understand, and think good thoughts.

Then go browse through his Photo Albums.

Sneak's wide world of Blogging 27

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

This week I've decided to take random peeks at a few blogs that appear as updated, or Featured,  Blogs on the Typepad Home page:

1. Sean D'Souza has a business Blog:

It's called PsychoTactics: Why Customers Say, No, and How to get them to Say Yes.

I found an interesting piece there where he endeavors to explain how his readers can become experts on something:

First find out who's the best? Or close to the best.

How do they do things?

A tennis player will set his sights not on the 100th seed in the world. He'll set his sights on beating the No.1 seed. That's how a tennis player would chart his course.
Your first reaction would be 'um...too hard to achieve. There's just little ol' me.'

Don't have the resources. Don't have the time. Don't have the skill.

His answer is in How to Become an Expert in Your Field.

Sneak's wide world of Blogging 26

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

This week I wish to follow up my last entry, about the BFL's Friend of the Court Brief in the Apple Case, with a collection of suggested reading for anyone interested in learning what this is all about, specifically, and indirectly.

These are important issues of concern to online journalers of all types, and the concepts under discussion are not too hard to grasp for unlawyerly types such as yours truly, so dig in at your leisure:

1-3. From the Electronic Frontier Foundation:

Apple vs. Doe PDF

Check out reproductions of underlying court documents here.

4-6. Online Journalism Review presents these 2 articles by Mark Thompson:

States' Shield Laws might not cover Online Journalists.

Law offers Internet Publishers scant guidance on Libel.

Sneak's wide world of Blogging 25

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

This week the Joint goes to the Dogs ( and Cats )!

This was inspired by learning that my niece, a Daschund devotee, recently joined a site ( more on that in a special entry ), and led me to feature it and its feline companion site.

1. Dogster: Where every Dog has a Webpage!

Over 72, 000 mutts, and their Human Companions pictures, and stories, about them can be found here, and more are added every day.

We are dog freaks and computer geeks who wanted a canine sharing application that's truly gone to the dogs. Such a site didn't exist, so we built it ourselves.

Dogster is the place to post and share facts and photos about your favorite fluffy.

There is a lot here.

Sneak's wide world of Blogging 24

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

Happy Easter everyone!

My apologies for being late again, but things have been hectic around here as recent posts on both my blogs show.

I thought I'd have a little fun, and do an Easter Themed edition this time around.

So let's get to the good stuff!

1. The History Channel Website has papges on the History of Easter, Its Christian origins, and Pagan orgins. Very informative.

2 and 3. The Easter Bunny under attack?

Tonight, there may be a new endangered species to add to the national register -- the Easter Bunny. Several south Florida shopping malls have renamed the large, white rabbit that's handing out plastic eggs to kids with names that don't refer to the Christian holiday, like "Peter Rabbit" and "Garden Bunny".

Is this political correctness going too far?

What IS it with folks in Florida, anyway? 1st Hanging Chads, then the fate of folks in Vegitative states ( or is she? ), and now THIS?

Hannity and Colmes looks into it.

Sneak's wide world of Blogging 23

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

So let's get to the good stuff!

1. Roger Simon says:

As a portrait photographer recently told me, "Good photographs aren't taken, they are given."

Even though you think you are familiar with a city, you should consider one of those narrated bus tours.

If you actually trust the directions on Mapquest, you are more lost than you know.

How could anybody possibly know that every snowflake is different? Is somebody keeping track? And where do they keep them all?

Go here for more.

Sneak's wide world of Blogging 22

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

So let's get to the good stuff!

1st on the list is the latest, and best, I think, variation of a popular idea.

1 thru 3. 1st there was Phototag.org for tracking the travels of disposable cameras, and Where's George, for keeping track of those globetrotting gents named George, Andrew, Abe, and Ulysses, and the rest of their Currency Commrades.

Now there is something new ( to me anyway! ), very cool, very stimulating, and edumicational, as well.

Bookcrossing.

As the site says: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single release."

In April 2001 Ron Hornbaker launched a website to share his love of a good book.

The idea is a simple one: Read a book, then instead of tossing it in the trash, giving it to the library, or to a friend, or relative, pass it on to a total stranger!

Do this by leaving it on a park bench, in the breakroom at work, on a bus, or train seat, in an office waiting room, a public restroom, or in any number of other public places where the little, or not so little, darling will be found.

Outfitted with a special bookplate, tracking number, and a note explaining the concept so the next person will know what to do if so inclined, the book can be tracked as it randomly travels from city to city, and even nation to nation, around the world.

Over 300,000 people have "released" over a million books "into the wild", and the term "bookcrossing" has its own category in the Google Directory, and is listed in the Concise Oxford English Dictionary.

When a book is "Caught" the finder follows notification instructions, and can leave a journal entry, and the person who released the book can get notified by e-mail about the books latest encounter.

One of the many fun aspects is that you can be a "Hunter".

There is a list of countries with books "in the wild." After registering and releasing a book, members have the option of making Release Notes, specifying where exactly (or approximately) they left a book.

I'm assuming they leave the book in a not so public spot.

There are actually people traipsing around looking for a particular book!

This is apparently similar to those folks leaving, finding, and cataloging, hidden items in the wilderness.

While membership is free there is a supply store for purchasing Official bookplates of various types, and cost ( $18.95 to $49.95 ) if you don't want to make one of your own.

There are also Bookcrossing Meet-ups.

There is much more to this endeavor.

Go to Bookcrossing, and consider joining. I just did!

Sneak's wide world of Blogging 21

This series is dedicated to the proposition that Blogging is a prime example of the saying "Variety is the Spice of Life".

So let's get to the good stuff!

This week I wish to welcome another new "Carnival" into the Bloggerverse.

1. This new collection, according to its founders will focus on Education issues:

After quite a bit of encouragement, we are delighted to be hosting the first edition of The Carnival Of Education. What we have done is assemble a variety of interesting and informative posts from around the EduSphere (and a few from the Larger 'Sphere) that have been submitted by various authors and readers. We think that they represent a great variety of topics and writing styles.

And an interesting, and varied, batch this 1st group of 22 sure is, just based on the summaries.

I'm slowly going to work my way thru these during my upcoming vacation.

Go here to the blog known as The Education Wonks: The Carnival of Education #1.

The Education Wonks also has an extensive collection of links to other Blogs in The EduSphere.