(NEWSER) – For years, five children were concealed from society, living in a dilapidated row home in Pennsylvania with no heat, electricity, or running water. Detectives recently found the children, ages 2 to 13, and charged parents Louann Bowers, 33, and Sinhue Johnson, 45, with child endangerment. The children had no birth certificates or immunizations and had never attended school, the AP reports. They were living with their parents in one room and drank rainwater that came through a leaky roof.
Neighbors said they never saw any sign of kids. "How did they do that?" wondered one. Making the story even stranger: Bowers ran away from home when she was 16 and "didn't want to be found," her attorney said. "I think, unfortunately, Mom's desire to not be found by her family impacted the children's growth." Officials say some of the siblings, now in foster care, have health and vision issues and possible mental health issues.
Welcome to the Official Brad Hook Broadcasting System
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Dad May Have Dumped Boys on the Road
(NEWSER) – A troubled father fighting for custody of his three young sons may have simply "dumped" them on a cold, lonely stretch of Ohio highway, police believe. Cops, firefighters and volunteers have spent days hunting for Andrew, 9, Alex, 7, and 5-year-old Tanner, who haven't been seen since Thanksgiving. They hope the boys were alive when they were abandoned by their father, John Skelton, and have managed to survive, but hope is fading, and officials have limited children from helping in the search, worried about what they may find, reports the Detroit News.
"Until we've exhausted everything, we're continuing on," said the local police chief. Skelton had told police he left the boys with a woman friend who was to deliver them back to their mom, but police say that was a lie. Their mother alerted police that the boys were missing when Skelton turned up at a Ohio hospital without them following a failed suicide attempt. Skelton was in a bitter custody battle with the boys' mom, who's on the state's sex offender list for sex with an underage boy.
"Until we've exhausted everything, we're continuing on," said the local police chief. Skelton had told police he left the boys with a woman friend who was to deliver them back to their mom, but police say that was a lie. Their mother alerted police that the boys were missing when Skelton turned up at a Ohio hospital without them following a failed suicide attempt. Skelton was in a bitter custody battle with the boys' mom, who's on the state's sex offender list for sex with an underage boy.
'Genius' Horse Nabs World Record
(NEWSER) – He’s been called the “world’s smartest horse,” and now he’s got a Guinness World Record: Lukas holds the record for “Most Numbers Correctly Identified by a Horse in One Minute”—19. The 17-year-old thoroughbred has a wealth of tricks under his belt, including counting, picking out shapes, spelling his name, and understanding when “something is missing,” says his trainer and owner.
“That is a skill that was previously only detected in primates and parrots,” she notes. As for the new world record, “I do believe he wanted to (do) his best. He was very focused and able to concentrate during the attempt,” she said. Now, his trainer hopes to get him another spot in the record book—perhaps “something with his sense of ‘absentness,’” the knowledge that something’s missing, AOL News re
“That is a skill that was previously only detected in primates and parrots,” she notes. As for the new world record, “I do believe he wanted to (do) his best. He was very focused and able to concentrate during the attempt,” she said. Now, his trainer hopes to get him another spot in the record book—perhaps “something with his sense of ‘absentness,’” the knowledge that something’s missing, AOL News re
Spain Bans Gum That's Too Sticky
(NEWSER) – Spanish lawmakers have come up with an ingenious way to save local governments money: Make chewing gum less sticky. Local councils have apparently been complaining that gummed-up sidewalks cost too much to scrub, so the Spanish cabinet has ruled that all gum in the country must now use a less-sticky copolymer of vinyl acetate and vinyl laurate as a base, the Guardian reports.
“It sticks less, which makes cleaning easier,” the Spanish health ministry explains. There’s just one little problem: Critics say that vinyl acetate isn’t actually safe. “Laboratory animal studies have found long-term exposure to vinyl acetate can cause a carcinogenic response,” the US-based Vinyl Acetate Council conceded, though it said this only occurred at “concentrations well above recommended exposure levels.”
“It sticks less, which makes cleaning easier,” the Spanish health ministry explains. There’s just one little problem: Critics say that vinyl acetate isn’t actually safe. “Laboratory animal studies have found long-term exposure to vinyl acetate can cause a carcinogenic response,” the US-based Vinyl Acetate Council conceded, though it said this only occurred at “concentrations well above recommended exposure levels.”
2 Dead in Gang Shooting at St. Louis Funeral Home
(AP) – Two people were killed and two others injured in a gang-related shooting today outside a St. Louis funeral home while a service was being held inside, police said. Two victims died at a hospital, a third was listed in critical condition, and a fourth was believed to have been shot in the leg but hasn't turned up at a hospital yet. "It looks like these people have a prior history with one another," said a police captain.
CBS Fires Harry Smith, Overhauls Early Show
(NEWSER) – CBS is scrapping its Early Show team, replacing co-hosts Harry Smith and Maggie Rodriguez with the anchors of the show's Saturday edition, Chris Wragge and Erica Hill. Other more minor players also are leaving in the switch, which takes place early next year, the LA Times reports. The show has been consistently stuck in third place, well behind Today and Good Morning America. Smith, who survived the last major overhaul of the show in 2002, will stick with the network as Katie Couric's main backup on the CBS Evening News, notes AP.
I Know What I Want 4 Christmas Now.
I was talking to a buddy of mine today as I was heading to West Des Moines, and he was telling me about quizzing his 4 year old daughter on what she wanted for Christmas. She LOVES dolls and of course that was her answer....she wanted ANOTHER doll.
Well being a typical annoying Dad, he kept needling her for something else. He'd say, "There's GOT to be something else other than a doll, you've got WAY too many now." Finally she answered him. She said, "OK then, I want a bathroom in MY room."
He was so taken back by her answer that he just had to sit and think about it for a while. Wondering what would compel a 4 year old to ask for such a thing, and finally asking the inevitable...."WHY do you want a bathroom in YOUR room?" Her reply, "So I don't have to walk all the way down to the end of the hall at night to go.....duh!"
My wife's been asking me the same question about what I want for Christmas.....I now have an answer for her thanks to a 4 year old. And when this young lady gets in her 40's or older, she'll realize just how PERFECT her answer actually was! lol
Well being a typical annoying Dad, he kept needling her for something else. He'd say, "There's GOT to be something else other than a doll, you've got WAY too many now." Finally she answered him. She said, "OK then, I want a bathroom in MY room."
He was so taken back by her answer that he just had to sit and think about it for a while. Wondering what would compel a 4 year old to ask for such a thing, and finally asking the inevitable...."WHY do you want a bathroom in YOUR room?" Her reply, "So I don't have to walk all the way down to the end of the hall at night to go.....duh!"
My wife's been asking me the same question about what I want for Christmas.....I now have an answer for her thanks to a 4 year old. And when this young lady gets in her 40's or older, she'll realize just how PERFECT her answer actually was! lol
No Mall Cop Needed 2day.
My left eye is bugging me AGAIN, so I went to the eye doctor at Jordon Creek Mall today, after a morning meeting I had, and boy was it slow. I see why all the stores gear up for the weekends, because everyone must have been shopping on-line today.
I couldn't help but notice Santa as I walked by......the toy making must be running a little AHEAD of schedule!
I couldn't help but notice Santa as I walked by......the toy making must be running a little AHEAD of schedule!
Look Who FINALLY Showed Up.
Mr. SNOW finally showed up in Iowa South today. Even though it was only a little skifting.....it's STILL a reminder of just how BAD it kicked our rears last season! NO MAS.....NO MAS!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Fan Plunges to Death at Chicago Stadium
(NEWSER) – A sports fan plunged 20 feet to his death from Chicago's Soldier Field football stadium during a Bears game against the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday. Witnesses said the man appeared to run to a ledge in an upper-level seating area and leap. He landed on a small rooftop outside of the stadium and was declared dead at a local hospital, AP reports. It was the second stadium tragedy in just days. A toddler fell to his death last week after a Lakers game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Police have not yet released the name of the man who died yesterday, but said he was in his 20s.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Leslie Nielsen Dies
Legendary funny man Leslie Nielsen died today, this according to his agent. He was 84.
Nielsen was best known for his roles in "Airplane" and the "Naked Gun" series.
Humans Can't Walk Straight: Scientists
(NEWSER) – Here’s a fun game: Take your friends to a parking lot, blindfold them, and tell them to try to walk in a straight line. It’s basically guaranteed that you’ll get to watch them fail miserably and bump into parked cars, says German scientist Jan Souman. He tried the same thing last year, only in the Sahara Desert, on a beach, and elsewhere, and concluded that humans are incapable of walking in a straight line without visual reference points.
Scientists have been trying similar experiments since the 1920s, always with the same results, reports NPR. Humans simply can’t walk, swim, or even drive without visual help. And no one has any idea why. Souman says he’s ruled out a bunch of theories—like the idea that maybe one leg is simply longer than the other, or that one side of the brain dominates the other. He’s working on a multi-causal theory, but for now scientists, like the blindfolded, are going in circles.(NEWSER) – Here’s a fun game: Take your friends to a parking lot, blindfold them, and tell them to try to walk in a straight line. It’s basically guaranteed that you’ll get to watch them fail miserably and bump into parked cars, says German scientist Jan Souman. He tried the same thing last year, only in the Sahara Desert, on a beach, and elsewhere, and concluded that humans are incapable of walking in a straight line without visual reference points.
Scientists have been trying similar experiments since the 1920s, always with the same results, reports NPR. Humans simply can’t walk, swim, or even drive without visual help. And no one has any idea why. Souman says he’s ruled out a bunch of theories—like the idea that maybe one leg is simply longer than the other, or that one side of the brain dominates the other. He’s working on a multi-causal theory, but for now scientists, like the blindfolded, are going in circles.(NEWSER) – Here’s a fun game: Take your friends to a parking lot, blindfold them, and tell them to try to walk in a straight line. It’s basically guaranteed that you’ll get to watch them fail miserably and bump into parked cars, says German scientist Jan Souman. He tried the same thing last year, only in the Sahara Desert, on a beach, and elsewhere, and concluded that humans are incapable of walking in a straight line without visual reference points.
Scientists have been trying similar experiments since the 1920s, always with the same results, reports NPR. Humans simply can’t walk, swim, or even drive without visual help. And no one has any idea why. Souman says he’s ruled out a bunch of theories—like the idea that maybe one leg is simply longer than the other, or that one side of the brain dominates the other. He’s working on a multi-causal theory, but for now scientists, like the blindfolded, are going in circles.
Animals Face Obesity Epidemic, Too
(NEWSER) – America is suffering from an obesity epidemic—and not just among the humans. A new study of more than 20,000 animals shows that even family pets, wild critters that live close to humans, and research animals are getting fatter, Scientific American reports. The biostatistician who published the study looked at weight changes in eight different species including primates and rodents in research centers, pet cats and dogs, and urban rats. They're all packing on the pounds.
"Now, we don't know why these increases occurred, but it invites some very interesting speculation," he says. Unhealthy food and lack of exercise are blamed for the human problem, "but maybe there are other things that are important—because those things can't be acting on the marmosets, or the rats and mice in the National Toxicology Program." One theory is that it's something in the water, literally: maybe toxins that are messing up the endocrine system of humans and animals alike. Future studies may explore the possibility.
"Now, we don't know why these increases occurred, but it invites some very interesting speculation," he says. Unhealthy food and lack of exercise are blamed for the human problem, "but maybe there are other things that are important—because those things can't be acting on the marmosets, or the rats and mice in the National Toxicology Program." One theory is that it's something in the water, literally: maybe toxins that are messing up the endocrine system of humans and animals alike. Future studies may explore the possibility.
Email Mixup Gives Aussie His First Thanksgiving
(NEWSER) – An Australian man's excellent American Thanksgiving adventure is just about over. James West flies home tomorrow, having scored an invite to a Florida family's dinner over an email mixup. The Tran family had been mistakenly sending him emails about their holiday meal plans for the last three years. West long ignored them as spam, but this year he took notice, then went on YouTube and made a public plea for an invitation. It worked.
“I couldn’t make this up if I tried,” said Vincent Tran. “This is what Thanksgiving is all about.” The Palm Beach Post has details on the family-reunion-of-sorts, and West is using his Twitter feed for updates. “It doesn’t feel strange at all," he says, "and that’s the strange thing."
“I couldn’t make this up if I tried,” said Vincent Tran. “This is what Thanksgiving is all about.” The Palm Beach Post has details on the family-reunion-of-sorts, and West is using his Twitter feed for updates. “It doesn’t feel strange at all," he says, "and that’s the strange thing."
The 10 Fattest Countries
(NEWSER) – Hey, America, you're not even the best at being the fattest: The US does, however, make GlobalPost's top 10 list of fattest countries, according to 2010 WHO statistics. The breakdown, by percentage of population classified as overweight (more than 25% BMI):
Nauru (95%)
Micronesia (92%)
The Cook Islands (92%)
Tonga (92%)
Niue (84%)
Samoa (83%)
Palau (81%)
United States (79%)
Kiribati (77%)
Dominica (76%)
Nauru (95%)
Micronesia (92%)
The Cook Islands (92%)
Tonga (92%)
Niue (84%)
Samoa (83%)
Palau (81%)
United States (79%)
Kiribati (77%)
Dominica (76%)
For True Addicts: Caffeinated Popcorn
(NEWSER) – As huge popcorn fans and total caffeine addicts, Amanda and Matthew Fitch decided they could kill two birds with one stone—by putting caffeine in their popcorn. To make the final product palatable, though, they had to overcome caffeine's natural bitterness. "We tried over and over again, making tons of different batches in our kitchen until it finally tasted good," recalls Amanda. The resulting top-secret "proprietary blend" delivers the punch of a strong cup of coffee in every bag, Aol News reports.
Orders for "BioFUEL," as they named it, have exploded since its April launch. The Fitches say hardcore gamers, fitness buffs, college students, and exhausted parents have all found that BioFUEL delivers a much-needed kick. "Some have even likened BioFUEL to cocaine," notes Amanda. "It's that addicting." But healthier than even energy drinks, she claims. "There's no crash from all the sugar later. Something about the combination of caffeine and complex carbohydrates in the popcorn just works."
Orders for "BioFUEL," as they named it, have exploded since its April launch. The Fitches say hardcore gamers, fitness buffs, college students, and exhausted parents have all found that BioFUEL delivers a much-needed kick. "Some have even likened BioFUEL to cocaine," notes Amanda. "It's that addicting." But healthier than even energy drinks, she claims. "There's no crash from all the sugar later. Something about the combination of caffeine and complex carbohydrates in the popcorn just works."
Sarge. Geico's FREE Ringtones
I laugh out loud everytime I see the Geico commercial with the ex-Marine drill Sargent as a psychiatrist. Drake found that MYXER, which the kids and I love, has ALL of Geico's commercials as ringtones....FREE.
www.myxer.com and search the word geico.
www.myxer.com and search the word geico.
Chasing Tail.
My ole' buddy Harley was back to help Dad mow some stalks and I noticed he was sportin' a new pickup accessory. He's a hardcore coon hunter that takes a week of vacation EVERY year just to coon hunt. That-a-boy Harl.....NICE!
LATHER'd UP!
Shawn and I stopped by the Dollar General store in Corydon after church today to pick up some cat food and misc. While she was checking out, I was checking out the wall with all the "for sale" postings on it and thought maybe some of my viewers might be interested in this key find for a Christmas present.
I'm NOT sure what the qualifications are to sit in a LATHER chair......and now that I think about it, I'm NOT sure I want to know! lol
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Chicago and Back Again...
I made another quick run to the Hueber's Friday night to film cattle today for Matt's Breedersworld Online sale coming up. One of these trips I'm gonna take the wife and kids and run on into Chicago for a little R&R, I think they're less than an hour away if I remember right.
Another NICE set of calves, vids should be up by mid-week. I stayed at my home away from home, the H.I.E. at Rochelle, even though it was a short stay. I made it back to Corydon by 7:30 tonight, despite a semi roll over accident that had traffic backed up for miles on I-80. Always good to be back home safe again.
Another NICE set of calves, vids should be up by mid-week. I stayed at my home away from home, the H.I.E. at Rochelle, even though it was a short stay. I made it back to Corydon by 7:30 tonight, despite a semi roll over accident that had traffic backed up for miles on I-80. Always good to be back home safe again.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Brought a Tear 2 My Eye...
Rough Night, Last Night.
In preparation for this holiday weekend, I had to get 3 different upcoming sales done in about half the time I would've liked. SO, in order to get things finished, I started my final drive Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. and finished Thursday 1:30 a.m..... NOT without calling in the REINFORCEMENTS about 10 last night.
GORETSKA On-Line BREEDERSWORLD Sale LINK
Finished up editing the Goretska vids at 1:30am and started them ALL uploading when I went to bed. At 8:00 am I came back to the office only to find out that the foggy weather had messed up the internet and only 8 head had sent up.
Now at 10:30am the internet is back up to pretty much normal speed and I will continue uploading the rest of them from our Thanksgiving Day festivities.
Here's the Breedersworld sale link....
http://www.maxanet.com/cgi-bin/mnlist.cgi?hunker13/category/GORETSKA-SHOW-STEERS
OR
just to view the steers without bidding you can go straight to www.youtube.com/tracygoretska
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
Now at 10:30am the internet is back up to pretty much normal speed and I will continue uploading the rest of them from our Thanksgiving Day festivities.
Here's the Breedersworld sale link....
http://www.maxanet.com/cgi-bin/mnlist.cgi?hunker13/category/GORETSKA-SHOW-STEERS
OR
just to view the steers without bidding you can go straight to www.youtube.com/tracygoretska
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
GORETSKA On-Line Sale.
Breedersworld will be linking DIRECTLY to Tracy's YouTube Channel for this sale, www.youtube.com/tracygoretska
Thanks O'LEARY's......
A special thanks to Jeff and Maggie O'Leary for allowing me to edit their videos for their first on-line sale. The peach colored heifer in the previous post sells here.
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| http://www.maxanet.com/cgi-bin/mndetails.cgi?willoughby |
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
New POLL....What's YOUR Christmas Tree?
Please notice the new poll I've added for the holiday season. You can vote even if you haven't got your tree up yet. Should be interesting. Thanks.
Holtkamp WAS Here.
Chad Holtkamp came over today and brought a camera full of footage to download for the "Rising Stars 4" Sale on December 12th, the day after(and only 30 minutes away) from this years "Build'in a Brand" Sale in Bloomfield, Iowa.
Chad and I worked together on his sale last year and had a blast. The cattle were sold ENTIRELY off of videos playing on three big screen TV's mounted in his show barn, and the first time event went off without a hitch! So......we're doin' it AGAIN!
Chad is like alot of 40 something cattlemen.....he likes to do everything himself that he possibly can. So, last year he purchased a NICE Sony video camera and enrolled in the "Video School of Hard Knocks"....and graduated at the top of his class. He really does a nice job filming, and he can't complain to anyone but himself if he's NOT satisfied with the footage. I edit everything for him, and put the sale order together on my computer for the sale.
I filmed an interview with Chad for this years sale and am anxious to build it. I took a bunch of footage at last years sale and will mix it in. Should be cool.
Chad and I worked together on his sale last year and had a blast. The cattle were sold ENTIRELY off of videos playing on three big screen TV's mounted in his show barn, and the first time event went off without a hitch! So......we're doin' it AGAIN!
Chad is like alot of 40 something cattlemen.....he likes to do everything himself that he possibly can. So, last year he purchased a NICE Sony video camera and enrolled in the "Video School of Hard Knocks"....and graduated at the top of his class. He really does a nice job filming, and he can't complain to anyone but himself if he's NOT satisfied with the footage. I edit everything for him, and put the sale order together on my computer for the sale.
I filmed an interview with Chad for this years sale and am anxious to build it. I took a bunch of footage at last years sale and will mix it in. Should be cool.
Dogs Trounce Cats in Battle of the Brains
(NEWSER) – The latest salvo in the battle regarding the relative intelligence of felines and dogs is bound to leave cat owners howling. Researchers are now claiming that dogs' intelligence has grown at faster rates historically than cats, spurred by canines' more social nature. They've discovered a historical link between the size of an animal’s brain in relation to the rest of its body and how socially active it has been. The study analyzed data on the brain and body size of more than 500 species and found the brains of monkeys grew the most over time, followed by horses, dolphins, camels and dogs, reports the Telegraph.
The analysis revealed that groups of mammals with bigger brains tended to live in social groups, while brains of more isolated animals such as cats, deer, and rhinos tended to grow much more slowly. "It appears that interaction is good for the brain," says Oxford researcher Susanne Shultz. Findings "suggest that co-operation needed for group living can be challenging and over time some mammals have evolved larger brains to be able to cope.” Is the Telegraph buying its own story? Not quite. Columnist Pete Wedderburn debunks some of the science behind the study, arguing that dogs and cats are each intelligent in their own way—and possibly more intelligent than the humans who concocted the research.
The analysis revealed that groups of mammals with bigger brains tended to live in social groups, while brains of more isolated animals such as cats, deer, and rhinos tended to grow much more slowly. "It appears that interaction is good for the brain," says Oxford researcher Susanne Shultz. Findings "suggest that co-operation needed for group living can be challenging and over time some mammals have evolved larger brains to be able to cope.” Is the Telegraph buying its own story? Not quite. Columnist Pete Wedderburn debunks some of the science behind the study, arguing that dogs and cats are each intelligent in their own way—and possibly more intelligent than the humans who concocted the research.
Al Gore: I Was Wrong About Corn-Based Ethanol
(NEWSER) – Al Gore regrets supporting subsidies for corn-based ethanol when he was in office, he revealed during a speech in Athens yesterday, confessing that he’d done it more to bolster his presidential ambitions than to help the planet. “First generation ethanol I think was a mistake,” Gore said, according to Reuters, arguing that “it is not good policy to have these massive subsidies.”
“One of the reasons I made that mistake is that I paid particular attention to the farmers in my home state of Tennessee,” Gore admitted. “And I had a certain fondness for the farmers in Iowa, because I was about to run for president.” First generation ethanol, Gore explained, took too much energy to produce, and had a real impact on food prices. But he said he still supports second generation fuels based on farm waste, switchgrass, and other non-food sources.
“One of the reasons I made that mistake is that I paid particular attention to the farmers in my home state of Tennessee,” Gore admitted. “And I had a certain fondness for the farmers in Iowa, because I was about to run for president.” First generation ethanol, Gore explained, took too much energy to produce, and had a real impact on food prices. But he said he still supports second generation fuels based on farm waste, switchgrass, and other non-food sources.
Jawbone Does Not Belong to Natalee Holloway
(AP) – The mystery continues. A jawbone with a tooth recently found on a beach does not belong to missing Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway, says the prosecutor's office in Aruba. The agency says that an analysis based on dental records rules out that the bone fragment came from her. Officials did say that the jawbone is human; however, it is unclear whom it belongs to.
Robbers Steal Bag of Dough From Pizzeria Owners
(NEWSER) – Another entry in the Dumb Criminals Department: Two men followed the owners of Brother's Pizzeria to their Staten Island home, donned masks, waved guns, and made off with a bag of dough. Except the bag didn't contain the day's cash: It contained—you guessed it—pizza dough. Salvatore LaRosa turned himself in on Friday, and faces charges more serious than dough-theft: Though the bag contained only a pizza ingredient, the victim resisted, and was shot twice in the legs, reports the New York Daily News.
'CSI' Test Can Tell Age From Drop of Blood
(NEWSER) – A new blood test from the Netherlands can determine an individual's age within a range of 9 years, the Telegraph reports. The method works by looking at a genetic feature of T cells that diminishes at a constant rate over time. The test can work with a very small amount of blood, including "situations where only bloodstains are available, which covers a large proportion of crime cases," says the lead researcher. “I wouldn't be surprised if it could be used on historical blood stains that are decades or hundreds of years old.”
COUNTRY COUNT....Now 30!
Please WELCOME the countries of MALTA, POLAND, and ARGENTINA to the Brad Hook Broadcasting System.
Sorry....This is MEAN.
Yep, Shawn just baked some chocolate chip cookies.....warm, right out of the oven, melt in MY mouth! lol
Ory-OHHH....HO HO!
The girls brought these back from the store the other day. They're really NOT BAD if you like peppermint. But of course......I've NEVER met an Oreo I didn't like!
T-Day, Y'day.
Yes, my wife committed the unimaginable and put the Christmas tree up yesterday. We always used to get a REAL tree, usually from a grader ditch or Hy-Vee(local food chain), but a couple years ago she bought this tree, and it's not bad for a fakey. It sure is nice not to have to pick pine needles out of your feet for the next year!
The only "problem" with a fake tree is the annual assembly of it.....or as we call it "BATTLE ROYALE!" We store it in our basement and have to go up a flight of stairs and around a couple corners in order to reach its destination. Some years I've barely lived through the experience!
However, this year was different. Shawn and I worked like little mute army ants, and before I new it, it was up and I was back to work. A completely painless, almost "out of body" experience....kinda like the first time I had laughing gas at the dentists office! When the kids got home from school, they put the finishing touches on it and I must say it looks pretty good.
I'm assuming next year we'll probably be decorating it around the 4th of July as early as Shawn keeps moving it up every year! lol
The only "problem" with a fake tree is the annual assembly of it.....or as we call it "BATTLE ROYALE!" We store it in our basement and have to go up a flight of stairs and around a couple corners in order to reach its destination. Some years I've barely lived through the experience!
However, this year was different. Shawn and I worked like little mute army ants, and before I new it, it was up and I was back to work. A completely painless, almost "out of body" experience....kinda like the first time I had laughing gas at the dentists office! When the kids got home from school, they put the finishing touches on it and I must say it looks pretty good.
I'm assuming next year we'll probably be decorating it around the 4th of July as early as Shawn keeps moving it up every year! lol
Monday, November 22, 2010
I'm NO Rosie!
All the women left me Saturday and went Christmas shopping and having a MERRY 'ole time while I had to stay at home and edit video. If you couldn't tell already.....I was feeling a "little" sorry for myself.
Lunch time rolled around and I figured I'd just have a peanut butter or grilled cheese sandwich..... UNTIL I opened the bread drawer and to my dismay it was EMPTY! Instead of panicing....I went to plan B: Nacho's and cheese!
In a flash of brilliance, the inner "Taco Bell" came out of me when I saw the tortilla shells there, and I went to work building this masterpiece. So nice......I DIDN'T make it twice!....just went and got a couple frozen waffles instead. Then after I ate all of that, I complained to myself about how FAT I was get'n! Go figure.
Lunch time rolled around and I figured I'd just have a peanut butter or grilled cheese sandwich..... UNTIL I opened the bread drawer and to my dismay it was EMPTY! Instead of panicing....I went to plan B: Nacho's and cheese!
In a flash of brilliance, the inner "Taco Bell" came out of me when I saw the tortilla shells there, and I went to work building this masterpiece. So nice......I DIDN'T make it twice!....just went and got a couple frozen waffles instead. Then after I ate all of that, I complained to myself about how FAT I was get'n! Go figure.
Meet "Paisley"... the Pig?
The Holmes have a really nice dog boarding house right next to the picture pen, with a little outside exercise pen for the dogs, adjacent to the calf picturing area. Deanna would often let dogs out to exercise, which actually helped "get ears" on the calves we were filming and picturing.
You can imagine my SURPRISE when this dog....ERRRR pig......come out into the exercise pen. Meet Paisley, Danielle's pet pig.
You can imagine my SURPRISE when this dog....ERRRR pig......come out into the exercise pen. Meet Paisley, Danielle's pet pig.
Finishing HOLMES 2day.
I made another trip back to Holmes Show Cattle to finish up filming the last of the open heifers and should have them completely edited and up by the end of the day.
The weather REFUSED to cooperated both trips, staying cloudy and overcast, but with the shortage of time we had to go ahead and film. All in all, I think the videos turned out really nice on a super set of females.
www.youtube.com/holmesshowcattle
The weather REFUSED to cooperated both trips, staying cloudy and overcast, but with the shortage of time we had to go ahead and film. All in all, I think the videos turned out really nice on a super set of females.
www.youtube.com/holmesshowcattle
Boss Hog... Corydon Style.
I was filling up my pickup at the local Food n Fuel in Corydon, when I walked around the corner to this surprise that absolutely cracked me up. So, I had to stand there like I was texting someone and try and get a picture of it for the blog. I'm sneaky....
This one looks a little more like "Boss Feeder Pig" in comparison to the orignal Boss Hog's convertible on the Dukes of Hazzard, but they get an A for effort!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Videos....Go'in UP!
For those of you that like to play along at home.....and I seriously hope you have something better to do on a Saturday.....I'll be working on 11 of the Dr. Jeff Holmes videos ALL today. This is a PHENOMINAL group of open heifers of many different genotypes, but pretty much the same phenotype.
www.youtube.com/holmesshowcattle
www.youtube.com/holmesshowcattle
Friday, November 19, 2010
What a NICE Surprise!
Look what I got in the mail today. I always knew there'd be an "ALL-AMERICAN" in my family.......should've known it'd have 4 legs!
Country Count = 27
As the viewers know, I like to keep a running count on the number of different countries to stop by for a visit here on the BS Blog.
Please increase your scorecard by 5 to 27 and add Sweden, Mexico, Taiwan, Portugal and United Kingdom.
BTW, NO takers on giving me a simple "hello from" shout-out! I'll plead yet one more time to comment or email to jbradleyhook@hotmail.com ....PLEASE! lol
Please increase your scorecard by 5 to 27 and add Sweden, Mexico, Taiwan, Portugal and United Kingdom.
BTW, NO takers on giving me a simple "hello from" shout-out! I'll plead yet one more time to comment or email to jbradleyhook@hotmail.com ....PLEASE! lol
Bodies of Missing Family Found in Hollow Tree
(NEWSER) – The bodies of three missing people in Ohio have been found wrapped in garbage bags and stuffed into a hollow tree, MSNBC reports. Police had been on the hunt for Tina Herrmann, 32, her 10-year-old son, Kody, and a friend of Herrmann's, Stephanie Sprang, 41, since Nov. 10. They were apparently killed at Herrmann's home, investigators believe. Hermann's 13-year-old daughter, Sarah Maynard, is recuperating after being found bound and gagged in the basement of tree trimmer Matthew Hoffman, who remains in custody and charged with kidnapping.
Police were directed to the bodies by lawyers for Hoffman, a 31-year-old drifter recently released from a Colorado prison after serving time for arson and burglary. Hoffman's parents live within walking distance of the Herrmann home, and investigators are probing whether there is any other connection between Hoffman and the murdered family, ABC News reports. Neighbors say Hoffman is a "bizarre" individual who climbed trees to spy on them, and killed squirrels for food.
Police were directed to the bodies by lawyers for Hoffman, a 31-year-old drifter recently released from a Colorado prison after serving time for arson and burglary. Hoffman's parents live within walking distance of the Herrmann home, and investigators are probing whether there is any other connection between Hoffman and the murdered family, ABC News reports. Neighbors say Hoffman is a "bizarre" individual who climbed trees to spy on them, and killed squirrels for food.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Macy's - NYC
Swiped this from Cari Rincker's tweet. About as real time as it gets, 'cause I'm sure she took it as she was walking by. Thanks Cari!
Twins Meant to Kill Each Other in Suicide Pact
USER SUBMITTED) – The 29-year-old Australian twins shot at a firing range in Colorado meant to kill each other in a suicide pact, sheriff's officials said. Witnesses say the twins were shooting and chatting for about 90 minutes when they suddenly fell to the floor of the booth they occupied. Both had gunshot wounds to the head. One died, and the other is hospitalized but was able to speak with authorities today.
"Based on the physical evidence collected, the surviving sister's statements, and video surveillance footage from the shooting center, the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office believes that this incident was indeed a suicide and attempted suicide," said a statement.
"Based on the physical evidence collected, the surviving sister's statements, and video surveillance footage from the shooting center, the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office believes that this incident was indeed a suicide and attempted suicide," said a statement.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Georgia wants to ban growing your own food
(USER SUBMITTED) – Senator Johnny Isakon and Senator Saxby Chambliss are co-sponsoring a bill known as The Food Safety Modernization Act to make growing food in your own backyard illegal. Bill S510 is under revision in the senate. The main point of the bill is to prevent food borne illnesses, however the legal fine print in the current version that is to be voted upon this week makes it enforceable to persecute you for growing your own food in your own private property. This would of course make you depend on your local supermarket for all your greens, and could make the farmer's market impossible.
Twins Shoot Each Other at Colorado Gun Range
(USER SUBMITTED) – Two Aussie women visiting Colorado, either were bad shots, crack shots, or just terribly unlucky. While on a gun range in a Colorado state park, they both were shot in the head almost exactly at the same time. One died and the other is near death. The bullets came from the twin's weapons, not any others or a ricochet. The sheriff says it could be a double suicide or an accident. No scenario has been ruled out. There is video on a security camera that shows one of the twins falling to the ground after being shot. Officers on the scene to oversee the gun range said the twins were acting normally as they shot at targets.
Bill Nye Passes Out; Students Can't Help But Tweet
(USER SUBMITTED) – SoCal students are pretty cool and able to handle just about anything that is tossed their way - even an iconic television educator passing out in front of them - as long as they can tweet their snark. Bill Nye, the science guy, was giving a lecture on global warming when he suddenly keeled over. A student witness was shocked at the lack of reaction by classmates coldness. "Nobody went to his aid." But that didn't stop the students from tweeting lame jokes about Nye hitting the deck. Multiple tweets were fired into the ozone almost immediately.
Man Enraged by Dancing Bristol Shoots TV
(NEWSER) – You may have wanted to shoot your television as you watched Bristol Palin, inexplicably, continue to advance on Dancing With the Stars ... but one guy actually pulled the trigger. Steven N. Cowan, 66, was watching the show with his wife Monday when he got so angry at Palin's appearance that he started railing about "the [expletive] politics," grabbed a single-shot shotgun, and fired at his TV. Yelling for his pistols, which his daughter had previously taken away for safety reasons, he reloaded and turned the gun on his wife.
She fled the house, and her husband then engaged in a 15-hour standoff with police before surrendering at 11am yesterday, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. Wife Janice says he's also been stressed over finances, has been receiving mental health care, and was drinking that night. He has been charged with reckless endangerment.
She fled the house, and her husband then engaged in a 15-hour standoff with police before surrendering at 11am yesterday, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. Wife Janice says he's also been stressed over finances, has been receiving mental health care, and was drinking that night. He has been charged with reckless endangerment.
I'd Probably Do the SAME THING.
Report: Tony Danza Yells At Priest During Funeral
Funerals are never easy for anyone, but on Nov. 11, Tony Danza was apparently very tense at the ceremony memorializing writer Philip Carlo. In the middle of the eulogy, a dissatisfied Danza allegedly flipped out on the priest at the Peter C. La Bella Funeral Home in Brooklyn, a witness told the New York Post.
"Tony, who was one of Carlo's closest friends, walked right up to the priest and said angrily, 'Excuse me, but this is not about you. It's supposed to be about my friend, and if you can't do that, maybe you should let someone else speak!'" the source claimed.
According to the report, the priest was a substitute from a federal prison and was visibly disturbed by Danza's outburst.
"People were stunned, while the priest was visibly shaken," the source said. "He tried talking about Carlo before quickly wrapping things up. Danza took over and eulogized Carlo with memories from their younger days."
Guests included big names like Mickey Rourke, Chuck Zito, Danny Aiello and John "Cha Cha" Ciarcia.
Carlo died of Lou Gehrig's disease on Nov. 8 at age 61. He was best known for his bestselling biographies of mobsters and killers, including Richard "The Night Stalker" Ramirez and Richard "The Iceman" Kuklinski.
Funerals are never easy for anyone, but on Nov. 11, Tony Danza was apparently very tense at the ceremony memorializing writer Philip Carlo. In the middle of the eulogy, a dissatisfied Danza allegedly flipped out on the priest at the Peter C. La Bella Funeral Home in Brooklyn, a witness told the New York Post.
"Tony, who was one of Carlo's closest friends, walked right up to the priest and said angrily, 'Excuse me, but this is not about you. It's supposed to be about my friend, and if you can't do that, maybe you should let someone else speak!'" the source claimed.
According to the report, the priest was a substitute from a federal prison and was visibly disturbed by Danza's outburst.
"People were stunned, while the priest was visibly shaken," the source said. "He tried talking about Carlo before quickly wrapping things up. Danza took over and eulogized Carlo with memories from their younger days."
Guests included big names like Mickey Rourke, Chuck Zito, Danny Aiello and John "Cha Cha" Ciarcia.
Carlo died of Lou Gehrig's disease on Nov. 8 at age 61. He was best known for his bestselling biographies of mobsters and killers, including Richard "The Night Stalker" Ramirez and Richard "The Iceman" Kuklinski.
Bride-To-Be Paralyzed by Bachelorette Party Prank
(NEWSER) – A North Carolina woman was paralyzed after a bachelorette prank, and the accident has left her unable to walk and to wed because of health insurance trouble. A month before she was to marry boyfriend Chris Chapman, Rachelle Friedman was partying with her girlfriends when they decided to take a dip in the pool. "My best friend—and she still is my best friend—she playfully pushed me in like we've done a million times," she tells ABC. "It was playful, but it went wrong," said Friedman, who hit her head on the pool bottom and suffered a C6 spinal cord injury.
Friedman's tragedy is further complicated by health insurance because she relies on Medicare to cover the cost of her care. If she were to marry Chapman, their combined income would disqualify her from the government program. Friedman and Chapman remain together and hope to marry someday.
Friedman's tragedy is further complicated by health insurance because she relies on Medicare to cover the cost of her care. If she were to marry Chapman, their combined income would disqualify her from the government program. Friedman and Chapman remain together and hope to marry someday.
Bike Rights...
Saw this sign and just had to take a picture of it, mainly because I bust out laughing thinking about myself trying to ride a bicycle around a college campus full of people. Oh, the casualties(and lawsuits) that would follow! lol
Farm House Museum.
While Drake and I were touring the ISU campus Sunday, we ran onto this Farm House Museum. This could have been there 26 years ago, but I sure don't remember it. It looks kinda cool though. I wouldn't mind going in it sometime.
BTW, South Iowa is FULL of Farm House "Museums"!
BTW, South Iowa is FULL of Farm House "Museums"!
Christmas Decorations ALREADY!
Yep, our house is guilty of having Christmas decorations up outside BEFORE Thanksgiving......it's ALL my wife's fault! She can't help it, she's a Christmas FREAK!
SON B4 Dark.
There are very few things in my life that I'm absolutely sure about, but one certainty comes between 4:30 and 5:00 nearly every night I'm home. This one thing starts with a phone call from Grandma's house, with an 11 year old boy on the line, wanting to know if I'm going to play football catch tonight?....
His happiness hangs in the balance of a simple answer: Yes or No. I'm smart enough to realize that these days don't and won't last forever, and I better enjoy them while they're here.......AND I DO.
His happiness hangs in the balance of a simple answer: Yes or No. I'm smart enough to realize that these days don't and won't last forever, and I better enjoy them while they're here.......AND I DO.
Drake in his SHORTS in 30 degree weather.
Drake wanted me to strike the "HEISMAN" pose......
Looks a little more like the "KARATE KID"!
Head'n Back 2 GORETSKA Ranch 2day
Tracy decided to have a Breedersworld Online Sale to sell some of the calves he found after his first sale, and some that wasn't ready yet in October.
Heading over there today to see what he's got "STOCK-PILED"
17 year old Suspect Arrested.
Police arrested a 17 year old, white, male from Minneapolis, Minnesota for the murder of the two clerks.
They showed him on TV this morning as he was being transported by the Police, laughing and grinning ALL the way. What a jerk. I hope he realizes this ISN'T a VIDEO GAME! If he doesn't.....he's about to.
They showed him on TV this morning as he was being transported by the Police, laughing and grinning ALL the way. What a jerk. I hope he realizes this ISN'T a VIDEO GAME! If he doesn't.....he's about to.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Homer's Heifers.
I only got about half of the Holmes heifers video'd due to weather, but WOW what a set. I knew they'd be good.....but this set is just RIDICULOUS GOOD!
Can't wait to process the tape tomorrow. I'll keep you informed when it starts to go up.
Can't wait to process the tape tomorrow. I'll keep you informed when it starts to go up.
In the Middle of a Double HOMOCIDE....
I headed for Dr. Jeff Holmes about 5:00 a.m this morning to video, just as I stated in a previous post. As I was getting close to Fort Dodge, I decided to tune in AM 540 KWMT, just for old times sake. It's a historic AM country radio station that plays all of the country oldies plus news. I used to listen to it in Dad's pickup when I was a boy, and knew I'd be driving by the actual station in a little while.
As I was listening, the DJ started talking about some "local" shootings, and you could hear the distress in his voice. Little did I know, I'd be driving within 30 yards of the scene of one of the crimes, in about 30 minutes, and be just a few short miles from the other upon arrival at the Holmes.
Convenience store clerks in Humbolt AND Algona were shot and killed last night by robbers. What a horrible and tragic loss of life. Homer told me when I got to his place that the lady killed in Algona had 10 children.
The radio station said the story was making national news and it must have. A buddy of mine in Phoenix had heard about it already. As I drove by the Kum & Go store in Humbolt about 8:30 am, it was all taped off and full of investigators. As I went back by about 4:00 pm, it was still the same way. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and communities involved in this tragedy.
As I was listening, the DJ started talking about some "local" shootings, and you could hear the distress in his voice. Little did I know, I'd be driving within 30 yards of the scene of one of the crimes, in about 30 minutes, and be just a few short miles from the other upon arrival at the Holmes.
Convenience store clerks in Humbolt AND Algona were shot and killed last night by robbers. What a horrible and tragic loss of life. Homer told me when I got to his place that the lady killed in Algona had 10 children.
The radio station said the story was making national news and it must have. A buddy of mine in Phoenix had heard about it already. As I drove by the Kum & Go store in Humbolt about 8:30 am, it was all taped off and full of investigators. As I went back by about 4:00 pm, it was still the same way. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and communities involved in this tragedy.
Picture taken as I drove by the crime scene at the Humbolt Kum & Go
Monday, November 15, 2010
Headed 2 HOMER's 2moro.
Gonna try and get Dr. Jeff Holmes cattle pictured and videoed tomorrow. I'm anxious to see what he's got put together this year......ALWAYS a nice set. Can't wait to harass him and the crew.
Several others must be curious too, the way my phones been ringing to see if I've been there yet!
Several others must be curious too, the way my phones been ringing to see if I've been there yet!
Another GREAT Vintage Cap!
Thanks to Kelly Short for texting this picture. As I was looking at it, I finally figured out that there's a couple letters that had came off. Hence, the top line says, "Stierwalt Sales Service". That goes WAY back.
I can remember when the Carrothers would come pulling into the Wayne Co. fairgrounds for the open steer show nearly every year.....and win it nearly every year. Their fitter sometimes was a young man named Doug Rathbun, who had a Maine bull he was starting to promote named "RAMBO".
Seems like a different lifetime.
I can remember when the Carrothers would come pulling into the Wayne Co. fairgrounds for the open steer show nearly every year.....and win it nearly every year. Their fitter sometimes was a young man named Doug Rathbun, who had a Maine bull he was starting to promote named "RAMBO".
Seems like a different lifetime.
Memory MADE @ Memorial Union.
Well, too much coffee, and walking around the entire campus on a chilly day, means one thing to a 45 year old bladder. Potty break.
The Memorial Union was just ahead so we checked it out, and checked in to the restroom. It was here Drake found the COOLEST URINAL EVER! I got tickled at him getting such a kick out of a urinal, so I just HAD to take a picture of it.
I PROMISE I don't make it a practice to take pictures in the Men's restroom......and there definitely WAS NOT anyone else in there besides us. Here, see what you think!.....
The Memorial Union was just ahead so we checked it out, and checked in to the restroom. It was here Drake found the COOLEST URINAL EVER! I got tickled at him getting such a kick out of a urinal, so I just HAD to take a picture of it.
I PROMISE I don't make it a practice to take pictures in the Men's restroom......and there definitely WAS NOT anyone else in there besides us. Here, see what you think!.....
Campus TOUR B4 the Game.
We got to Ames about an hour and a half before the game started, so I thought I'd give Drake a tour of the Iowa State campus.
First we drove by the house where I used to live 26 years ago. I really didn't think it would still be there.....but it was. It looked about the same, maybe a little better. I'm bettin' if I went inside, it probably still had the SAME carpet! (in typical college town rental house fashion)
We found a parking space by Lake Lavern and took off on a walk about through the campus. All the sudden, it seemed like I was in a time warp. Drake was amazed by the many different buildings that classes are held in. I could vaguely remember being in some of them.....probably because I wasn't very MUCH! (not so lol)
There's some tree on campus that gives off a distinct smell. I stopped Drake to see if he could smell it. To this day, anywhere I smell that smell, it takes me back to the Iowa State campus. I wish I knew what tree it was.
First we drove by the house where I used to live 26 years ago. I really didn't think it would still be there.....but it was. It looked about the same, maybe a little better. I'm bettin' if I went inside, it probably still had the SAME carpet! (in typical college town rental house fashion)
We found a parking space by Lake Lavern and took off on a walk about through the campus. All the sudden, it seemed like I was in a time warp. Drake was amazed by the many different buildings that classes are held in. I could vaguely remember being in some of them.....probably because I wasn't very MUCH! (not so lol)
There's some tree on campus that gives off a distinct smell. I stopped Drake to see if he could smell it. To this day, anywhere I smell that smell, it takes me back to the Iowa State campus. I wish I knew what tree it was.
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