Shamu

I am very cautious about charitable donations and limit mine mostly to animal welfare groups. The only two "people charities" I will support are the Make a Wish Foundation and Wounded Warriors. I am also a token donator the the Ronald McDonald House. Make a Wish and Ronald McDonald House have origins in Philly http://www.wish.org/ http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ Unfortunately too often charities are like welfare and only serve to keep people unemployed and useless. Not to even mention the corruption often found in charitable organizations. Yea, I know, I am a bitter old man. Very hard for me to find any sympathy for charitable donations dropping. Bottom line, if you choose to donate to a charity take the time to do some research as to it's operation and effectiveness.

As I had said, it appears Penn State administrators have learned nothing. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bigten/story/2012-07-25/penn-state-trustees-consent-decree/56485674/1

Oh yes they did, they covered it up and enabled the predator, Sandusky, to go his merry way abusing more and more kids

Then again the NCAA is another self serving organization solely concerned about the mighty dollar and not the welfare or academics of the students. While I condone what the NCAA has done to PSU but it does nothing to change my mind about the self serving motives of the NCAA. The NCAA is nothing more than a big business whose primary focus is on money, nothing more, nothing less.

One thing I have found very interesting is that the President accepted the NCAA's ruling with no discussion with the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees has been kept in the dark as it was with the Sandusky affair. Penn State is already repeating what got them into in the first place, ignoring important administrative parts of the university and keeping them in the dark. In a way they have already repeated the error of their ways. Perhaps as severe as the penalties are they still have not learned.

If you stopped to read the historical markers you would never get to where you are going. A missing person report would be issued................ If anyone cared that you were missing.........

I only wish there could have been some way that the kids who play the game would not be punished for the misdeeds of their coach and administrators. I guess we just call them collateral damage like when bombs are dropped on a city during war. We can use Dresden, Germany as an example. As for Coach Joe and the administrators may they all rot in hell and suffer eternally.

My latest Texas observation. I suspect all Texans have an severe inferiority complex hence the tendency to brag for attention. On my way from Longview to Navasota I saw more "Historical Markers" along the road than you could ever imagine. Almost one every mile. They are like litter. Seems Texans have to publicize that something actually happened here that might be of interest. Much like a child screaming for attention. There simply cannot be enough history in Texas to justify all the historical markers. Texans need to get a grip and just realize who they are, just poor lost souls wandering in the desert.

OMG........Houston. Never seen any city with so many street corner beggars. My first visit I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express not far from the airport. Almost called a locksmith to add additional locks to my door. Then the roadways, some of those overpasses are like a roller coaster ride. Scare the shit out of you when you are not used to them. Any one going to Houston plan ahead and find a good neighborhood to stay or your life is at risk. And I have not even got into how hot and humid the city is. At Navasota I will only be a little over an hour from Houston. Not far enough for my taste but business calls.

In Terrell, heading for Longview in a few, Tues I leave Longview for two overnights in Navasota. Wed. night Steaks at the Yankee Tavern in Carlos TX with customers. Thur and Fri I am at the whims of customers in the Dallas / Ft. Worth area. Back to beautiful, wonderful great state PA on Sat. I get to see green trees and mountains again

Should make for an interesting Olympics. BTW England, looks like you have done a fine job in preparation. Some awesome sites that will serve well into the future after the Olympics.

BTW, the problem for the birds mentioned above is that they are Texas birds. Not smart enough to fly north.

Bottom line is proper diet and exercise. Rarely do all these fad diets result in any permanent weight loss. Some can do more harm than good. Suck it up and change your lifestyle or you are doomed to failure

Even these darn blackbirds that live in TX are uncomfortable, walking around with their wings spread out trying to cool their wing pits. By god this is an awful place, give it back to Mexico.

I am in Texas. :no

Only used as an easily understood example that certain skill sets should be required before issuing permits or licenses.

Before everyone decides a patron with a gun might have changed things you need to consider one thing. For any of us not trained as First Responders our first response would have been to GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE. Be it to save yourself or your family. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, as they say it's 20-20. So is second guessing. However placed in the same position as the patrons of that theater, even if you carried a gun, your first response would be to find safety not to make an aggressive move. Christ, all we would have needed to make things worse for gun ownership would have been a shoot out in a smoke filled dark movie theater by persons with their concealed carry guns and the "perp". The carnage would probably have been worse. Face it, most of us here do not have the skill to respond properly in the CO situation. It is a sad fact that many of us who own guns and have carry permits do not also take the time to learn how to REALLY use your gun. The right of gun ownership here in the states does not include any skill requirements or eye tests. I liken it to just giving out a drivers license without ever learning to drive because it is your "right". My opinion is contrary to that of the NRA of which I am a member. But I think to own a gun or hunt you should be required to demonstrate at least the basic skill to safely do so.

This is vigilante justice that I would support. And actually very entertaining and sanitary. http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/19070497/allentown-business-owners-fight-back

So the perpetrator has been arrested and begins the process into our justice system. While our system is good it certainly has it's problems. Particularly the cost and time involved and don't even mention the "insanity" defense. As good as it is there are times it can make me sick.

I was interested until noting the grammatical error which caused a loss of confidence in the Hxtr the Entrepreneur. I became suspicious when I saw "Dildoes and not Dildo's. However, the idea has merit but Hxtr must not be allowed to draft any written advertizing.

Rarely is there an easier question to answer on these boards, shoot it down.

Someone pulls the plug on concert. I suppose Sir Paul does not carry enough weight. Had to be a few disappointed fans but perhaps happy neighbors. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18845542

Just another YT Vid of After the War, truly a very moving song.

Anyone going to any of the events? If so pics please. Will traffic in London be a cluster-fuck with the inflow of tourists and athletes?

Anxiously awaiting the London Olympics even if it means a screwing up sleeping habits for a few days. Hopefully the weather and security all cooperate to make a good games. As for the Americans my gut tells me Phelps is not going to do as good as expected.