Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Fall began 6:47 a.m.
Autumnal equinox: day and night equal length (equinox = equal) Well, close, anyway: at our latitude the daylight total will be 12 hours, 9 minutes.
SITE UPDATED by 10 a.m. MONDAY thru FRIDAY

Dial-up people, I will cut this page's size about in half tomorrow. I haven't forgotten you. I just couldn't resist these graphics today. I promise, I'll fix the load time tomorrow.

10:26 AM
1 my notes on President Bush's U.N. speech HERE
2 CNN first report on speech HERE

Medals for his valor, ashes for his wife
".. a courageous lone stand against Iraqi foes may earn him the nation's highest military award, the Medal of Honor. The division's medal application - which cites his "extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor" - is steadily making its way through the Army's bureaucracy. It would be the first awarded since two soldiers received it for actions in Somalia in 1993."

"Silly me, boys, I thought this thing connected.

email
Just a little something different. My son is active duty Army, a Military Police Officer stationed here in the United States (for now). I am retired from the Army. He brings home his friends on weekends. Two of them are going to Iraq soon. I don't want to see them hurt , but it could happen. Pray for them Brad, give them our support.
T.D.B.
Media's dark cloud a danger

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Thanks, TDB. Now here is a counter-viewpoint from The Nation:
Stretched Thin, Lied to and Mistreated
On the ground with US troops in Iraq

Caught in the iron grip of the credit card

Indian Motorcycle stops production, lays off everyone
The company specializes in cruisers -- large, relatively smooth motorcycles with a relaxed seating position and cushy suspensions for leisurely riding.
Before World War I, the company was the largest motorcycle maker in the world, producing more than 20,000 bikes a year.

USA Today / Gallup Poll
Bush's strength waning
Americans are split over whether the war was worth fighting; 50% say yes, 48% no. That is a dramatic drop from April, when, as Saddam Hussein's statue was falling in Baghdad, 76% said the war was worth it.
Further bad news for Bush: His job approval is at 50%, his lowest rating since taking office.

Washington Times op-ed
The pot calling the kettle [expletive deleted]
"We sympathize with the victims of intellectual-property theft, but we are skeptical of the RIAA's sudden concern for the preservation of the innocence of youth. Today's pop music is a leading contributor to the corruption of children."

2004 election calendar
The 2004 political calendar is front-loaded with key presidential primaries. This means the Democratic candidate for president could be decided by early March.

California makes automobile "Black boxes" private
California today adopted the nation's first law meant to protect the privacy of drivers whose cars are equipped with "black boxes," or data recorders that can be used to gather vital information on how a vehicle is being driven in the last seconds before a crash.
GUEST ON THIS TOPIC TODAY 1:38 p.m.

How Bush would spend $20 billion on Iraq reconstruction

Goat-headed finch
puffnasty.com

email
Brad,
My mom is a staff writer for the Bulverde News ... she asked me for help. It seems that a fine citizen has allowed 4 black lab puppies to be free in nature in the Bulverde area. According to my mom, and she has met them, these are the sweetest, most adoring pets she has ever seen. Unfortunately we can't take any. I wouldn't bother you with this but mom says these pets are special.and who can say no to mom. It seems we are constantly hearing about Man’s cruelty to animals. Well, these folks in Bulverde were good enough to save these beautiful puppies. I have included a clip of the paper with two of them. Thanks Brad
Tony
PS If you can't run it on your site, how can we get the word out about these cute pups?

Okay, who needs a best friend?

Hondo Corn Maze now open
My friends Ken and Laurie Graff at 7A Ranch in Hondo have done a terrific corn maze this year. Their website full of info is HERE.