Heather Mills . . .

. . . has a big check in the mail.

I am an engineer by education and trade, and I also have a major in math - which leads to this little analysis:

Given:

- Four years of marriage, or 208 weeks,
- For a man of Sir Paul's age, say twice per week (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more)
- A payout of $33,000,000

Then $33,000,000 / (208 x 2) = $79,326.92 per . . . well . . . you know.

Oh, calm down people! It's a joke. I'm not making ANY comment about Ms. Mills. I rather like her, and think the check should have been larger.

Obama's minister . . .

. . . of hate, that is. Some of his so-called sermons are rife with racisim and pure hateful speech.

"Not God bless America . . . God damn America" for "killing innocent people"

That 9/11 was a case of "America's chickens coming home to roost."

"AIDS was designed to kill black people."

I never was an Obama fan, primarily because of his socialist policies. Now, I'm more concerned than ever. He has been running on a platform of change, understanding and judgement. Now, his judgement has been called to question.

He has recently disavowed Wright's bile, but it's too little, too late, and smacks of CYA. Obama has been a member of this church for 17 years. Wright is his spiritual advisor. He sought Wright's counsel and advice when deciding when to run for president. Wright married the Obamas and baptised their child. His excuse is that he missed the sermons on those days?

Even Juan Williams, NPR's generally liberal democrat pundit, wondered whether or not Obama joined that particular church to strengthen his "street creds" enough to be electable in Chicago - whether he was trying to prove that "he was black enough". (Williams' words, not mine.)

This is not a race issue. It's not a religion issue. It's a judgement issue, and Obama has come up wanting.

If you believe this is a non-issue, think on what would be in the press if John McCain had spent the last 17 years in a white supremacist church.

National pride . . .

. . . or not?

"I think in this day and age of a global world, I would find it very hard to swear allegiance to one country," said Clarissa Williams, vice president of the National Assn. of Head Teachers, who said she was not certain her students would want to take the pledge." I honestly feel we are citizens of the world, not just one country," she said.

Maybe it's just me, but I find that statement kind of sad. No one should be forced to take a pledge, but shouldn't one have a bit of allegiance buried somewhere inside? I guess Guy Fawkes' Day doesn't do it for her.

I'm glad we have Independence Day . . .

Spitzer-isms . . .

. . . or, comments on the downfall.

Notwithstanding Gemmak's thoughts on judgement, it's hard not to take a shot or two at the sheer arrogance and hypocracy of the ex-governor of New York.

“Hillary Clinton is now only the second-angriest wife in the state of New York” – Jay Leno

“It’s sad. Spitzer said there is so much he left undone: Amber, Ashley, Rhonda” – Letterman

“The governor-erect” – New York Post

“He thought Bill Clinton legalized this years ago” – Letterman

"Gov. Spitzer responded just a few hours ago. He said, quote, 'I violated my obligations to my family and I violated my sense of what is right and wrong.' Spitzer also admitted violating someone named Amber." - Conan O'Brien

"Do you know what the highest paid government position in this country is? Anybody know? ... It is working under New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. It pays like $5,000 an hour." - Jay Leno

"The really ironic thing about this case -- today, the hooker said Spitzer was done in a New York minute." - Jay Leno

Bill Clinton dropped by . . . just to exchange war . . . er . . . whore stories - Anon

When asked to resign, Spitzer said, "couldn't you just spank me instead?" - Anon

I can't wait for Saturday Night Live.

The wild life . . .

. . . in Virginia Beach. Well, maybe not the kind of wildlife you expected.

Our subdivision was built under green guidlines. For example, there are capture ponds scattered throughout the neighborhoods. The ponds are installed to keep stormwater from flooding the storm sewers, and to provide irrigation for the common areas around the main streets and boulevards. The ponds also supply water - and traps for errant shots - for the surrounding golf course.

Since there are many wildlife refuges in the area, the neighborhood ponds become magnets for waterfowl. The population is also increased because we're only about 25 miles from the boundary of the Great Dismal Swamp and the Back Bay wildlife refuge.

Every year for the past five years, we have had a mating pair of Mallard ducks show up in our back yard. They wander in during the morning or afternoon and camp out by the patio. They're not particularly wary. Mrs. Bulldog was working around the patio while Ms. Mallard took the opportunity for a short nap.

This may look like a photo from the zoo or from somewhere in the country. In fact, it was taken just outside the Virginia Beach post office, a block from the city/county government complex. The geese were a little shy today, but after the chicks hatch, they will charge with much honking and flapping of wings.

This little pond is also next to the post office. It is usually full of waterfowl of various types. In the evenings, the bullfrogs start singing . . . well croaking loudly. It's quite a little oasis in the middle of civilization.

Mississippi roots . . .

. . . of my family. Although I was raised in the Land of Lincoln, I also have Southern roots - kind of. In 1773, my 5th great-grandfather moved, with the rest of his Swayze clan, from the New York/New Jersey area to Western Florida - now called Mississippi. The Swayzes settled on a land grant called the Ogden Mandamus, on the Homochitto river just east of modern-day Natchez, in a town they named Kingston.

I learned of my connections to the Swayze family by accident, while looking for information on my great-great-grandmother. I posted an inquiry on a genealogy forum, and a single response from a distant cousin filled in a couple hundred years of my family history. Every year since 1940, the descendants of the Swayzes and other related familes, known as The Descendants of the Jersey Settlers have held a reunion in Natchez, MS.

We haven't been able to attend since 2002 for various reasons, but we're going back in April. Both Mrs. Bulldog and I are very excited about the trip. I have loved Natchez for a long time - even before I knew about the family history. About 50 years ago, my parents, my brother and I visited Natchez on the way to see my dad's sister in Baton Rouge. Forty years later, Mrs. Bulldog and I were on our way to New Orleans, and I drove - without a map - to the very same restuarant my folks took us to back in 1957. Spooky.

We're staying at the historic Eola hotel in downtown Natchez.

Oh . . . and yes, it's THOSE Swayzes. Patrick Swayze is my 7th cousin, once removed. Really.

Wingnuts . . .

. . . with French fries. Having seen this on on another blog, I couldn't resist. It seems Oscar winner Marion Cotillard is a bit of a conspiracy theorist. By conspiracy theorist, I mean a full blown, the-US-took-down-the-WTC, no-one-landed-on-the-moon, black-helicopter-riding, tin-foil-hat-wearing wingnut.

She also has a loony apologist who haunts all of the blogs, explaining that Cotillard was actually misquoted - and even if she wasn't misquoted, it was all true anyhow.

Here's your chance again, Kit . . . once more into the breech. How 'bout those swiftboats, eh?