In the days of jolly olde England, one knight asked another, “Did you hear that Sir Reginald lost at the last jousting tournament?”

“No!” said the other. “What happened?”

“He was stabbed right in the arse. I would tell you more but…

it’s a sworded tail.”

(Ouch! Frank made me do it!)

Patty sent four images she and Steve took while visiting Oahu over the summer. Click on the thumbnails to display the full size versions…

    

From the top and left to right: Waikiki Beach, Waimea Falls Arboretum, surfboards racked on the beach and Bishop Museum.

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Mike sent this photo of a woman with a pair of really big boobs.

If you’re under 18, you probably shouldn’t read any further.

Stop! Don’t proceed if you’re under 18 or if you’re easily offended by the sight of really big boobs!

All right, but don’t say I didn’t warn you!

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Steven Curtis Chapman recently had the opportunity to visit the Bethesda Naval Medical Center, a guest of the President Bush’s physician. It’s become a regular trip over the last eight or so years, and he counts himself fortunate to be able to meet our brave military men and women, both wounded and medical personnel.

Two Fridays ago he met Corpsman Thomas McBride who’d been wounded in Afghanistan and, tragically, lost part of his leg. Steven was deeply moved by this man and the sacrifices he’s made for our country. In response, and with gratitude to Corpsman McBride and all who have served America, Steven penned a song titled - and dedicated to - Thomas McBride. The song was delivered this week to Corpsman McBride by President Bush.

On this day and all this week we pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the men and women who in defense of our freedom have bravely worn the uniforms of the United States military. To mark the week, Steven’s made available, via streaming audio, his simple song, “Thomas McBride”.

God bless you Corpsman McBride. God bless our fighting men and women who bravely defend our freedoms at home and abroad. And God bless America.

A picture really is worth a thousand words!

This table was purportedly listed for sale on eBay. Can you tell whether the seller was a man or a woman?

Think you know the answer?

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Michele asked that I pass this information along.

Many of you may already be aware that the U.S. House of Representatives recently approved the bipartisan Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act aimed at ending the practice of “drive-through” mastectomies, where women are forced to leave the hospital within hours of undergoing major breast cancer surgery.

But the act still needs our support in the Senate! Please click the pink ribbon to sign the petition urging the Senate and the President to take the next steps to pass this very important bill. The requested information will only be use on the petition, and you’ll be helping assure that decisions regarding a woman’s hospital length of stay following a mastectomy are determined by her and her doctor rather than insurance companies.

This legislation is extremely important. I urge everyone to take the minute or so necessary to sign the petition and to write or email your elected officials as well. Email this post (click the “email” link below) to your friends. Help right this wrong.

Check out this cool video wall my son, Rick, just installed at Safe Credit Union’s corporate offices. Six 40-inchers!

We spent Sunday evening with good friends enjoying Sisko’s excellent chili, Michael’s choice cigars and some fine Napa Valley red wines. The “guy talk” eventually rolled around to how as kids we’d all made rubber band guns — pretty much a piece of wood with a handle and a wooden clothes pin attached to the back or top to hold a stretched rubber band — and how seldom we see kids making them today. It’s probably the fault of merchandising. The unfortunate result? Kids are no longer satisfied with “home made”, not when they can buy this…

…which, of course, leads to this when they need more firepower.

You know, technology is great, but I think our simple “single round” shooters were more fun, easier to make, cost less and, if a “part” broke, we just replaced the firing mechanism (clothes pin) or made a whole new gun! Kids today miss the joy of building something from nothing using only their imaginations, ingenuity and sense of discovery.

…What’s the first thing you’re going to do?

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My brudda-from-anudda-mudda, Michael, and I have exchanged some good natured ribbing over Dawn’s and my conversion a few months ago to what we affectionately call pescevegetarianism - like vegetarianism only we include fish in our diet - while Michael remains a hopelessly devout carnivore. So I’ll probably draw fire from him over this Dan Piraro cartoon Dawn clipped for me the other day…

I’m licking my political wounds today, but I’m resilient and will be back in harness tomorrow. The rest of the nation’s disappointed, conservative minority should also put away their armor and try to make the best of the hand we’ve been dealt. The election may not have gone the way we’d hoped, but it’s time to put aside our differences and work together toward the common good.

To my conservative friends, remember that whining isn’t becoming and won’t make you feel any better. Obama didn’t “steal” the election; he ran a superior campaign taking full advantage of the public’s discontent with Bush.

And to my liberal friends, gloating is bad form as well. It was a well fought campaign and your guy won. Congratulations.

This election is now history. We’ll suit up and hit it again in about four years.

Watch the 2008 presidential results roll in

View the electoral vote count and the congressional balance of power on the active national U.S. map below, updated every two minutes, via MSNBC. As soon as either McCain or Obama is declared the winner, you’ll know!

Lori sent photos of grandson Dakota and his date, Alyx, at Ponderosa High School’s Homecoming a couple weekends ago. He’s growing up so fast! And don’t they make a cute couple?

From Jeff…