Thursday, November 30, 2006

The Antichrist Strikes Again?


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Breaking News - AP: Aide says former Russian PM Yegor Gaidar may have been poisoned.
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2006 07:41:45 -0800

MSNBC Breaking News:

AP: Aide says former Russian PM Yegor Gaidar may have been poisoned.
 Find out more at http://breakingnews.msnbc.com  

Griping Out Loud

Ranting about driving in the rain. Click here to listen.

Joe

Breaking News

-----Original Message-----
From: MSNBC Breaking News
Subject: Breaking News - Hotline:

GOP's Sen. Bill Frist says he will not run for president in '08.

Find out more at http://breakingnews.msnbc.com

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Is Putin the Antichrist?

When Vladimir Putin first came on the scene in Russia, my wife took one look at him and said, "I think he's the Antichrist." Well, maybe he is. Consider the following from Joel C. Rosenberg:
The assassination of a KGB-operative-turned-critic-of-Vladimir-Putin in London by radioactive poison has stunned the West and raised chilling new questions about who Putin is, what he wants, and how far he's willing to go to get it. It's about time.

And, less than two months ago:

"Russia's most famous investigative reporter, Anna Politkovskaya, was gunned down in the lift of her Moscow apartment block yesterday in an apparent contract killing. A fearless opponent of Russia’s wars in Chechnya who once described President Vladimir Putin as a 'KGB snoop' and compared him to Stalin... .
It kind of makes you wonder just what kind of threat Putin really is to the world. Read the full stories (linked above) and you'll understand what I mean.

Joe

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Book Review: Saint by Ted Dekker

Book Review
* * *
CAUTION: CONTAINS SPOILERS
* * *

How do I write about Saint -- what do I say -- without slipping a spoiler in by mistake? I've only just begun reading the book, and already the first big surprise strikes on page 41 with the mention of Project Showdown. Remember the last book released by Ted Dekker: Showdown? If you read the book, or at the very least my review of it, you'll remember that Showdown was linked to Dekker's epic trilogy, The Circle. It comes as a shock when that first becomes apparent in Showdown, just as it is shocking to discover on page 41 of Saint that it, too, is linked to The Circle through the mention of Project Showdown, which just happens to refer to Dekker's book, Showdown. There's the first spoiler for you. I'll try to keep them to a minimum.

* * *

Dekker weaves such a fast-paced story that you'll likely forget all about Project Showdown, as you tear through page after page until, on page 166, the link pops up again: "Project Showdown was breathing still."

I don't normally write my so-called reviews while in the midst of reading the book, but this isn't the first time I've done just that. When the author finds a way to really get me, I just can't wait until the end to start sharing the experience. But I'll have to wait a little longer, because the book is calling to me, and I can't deny it.

* * *

The intrigue continues in chapter twenty-six as the main character -- Carl, who has just learned that he is someone else entirely (trust me, you need to read the book -- all five books -- to follow this one), returns to his hometown of Paradise, Colorado, the setting of Dekker's book Showdown. There really is no way to explain the parallels between these books without making it sound confusing. You just have to start at the beginning and start reading: Black, Red, and White, Showdown, and Saint. I promise, you won't be confused. You'll be mystified.

* * *

Long before chapter thirty-eight, if you've read most of Ted Dekker's other works, you'll be fully aware that Saint is intricately linked to Showdown, which is just as tightly woven with Black, Red, and White -- the Circle trilogy. Dekker seamlessly ties the five tomes together into one seemingly never-ending story. But on pages 303 and 304, everything changes. Not only do we hear more about Marsuvees Black from Showdown, we learn something that I had not before even considered: Barsidious White -- the wicked villain from House, Dekker's joint venture with Frank Peretti, is also a product of the Books of History from the Circle trilogy. And having learned such a thing, I realize that it was so obvious I should have figured it out long ago.

Wow.

* * *

I wanted to lay out a storyline here that takes you through the world of The Circle. I failed. I simply can't do justice to Ted Dekker's intricately woven world of The Circle. It's a world that -- though it has never been publicized as such -- spans six novels: Black, Red, White, Showdown, House (co-authored by Frank Peretti), and Saint. Read them all!

Joe
Comment

Saturday, November 25, 2006

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address

20061125.a.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)
In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "This week, Americans across our Nation gather with loved ones to give thanks for the many blessings we share. ... And we're grateful to Almighty God for the freedom to enjoy all these gifts. ... Americans believe that every person has the right to live, work, and worship in freedom. And we're thankful to the men and women of our Nation's armed forces who risk their lives to protect those rights. This Thanksgiving, we are mindful that many of our finest citizens are spending the holiday far from their homes and loved ones, and we know that their service makes it possible for us to live in freedom."

GRIPE! My Mother-in-Law

I've GRIPED about my mother-in-law before, but it's been a little while. I have to tell you, she never seems to run out of ways to tick me off.

My wife and I just celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary (on Thanksgiving Day). I gave her a little gift for our anniversary, just to mark the day mostly and not let it go by unnoticed, but her real anniversary gift will be next weekend, when I endure a Clay Aiken concert with her. Last time she went to one with a friend, and her friend made the experience as close to miserable for my wife as she possibly could. It was then that I agreed to go to the next one with her. Now it's time to keep my word.

We made arrangements for our three-year-old son and (by then) seven-month-old daughter to spend the night with my in-laws while we make the nearly two-hundred mile trip to the concert and back. It was my understanding that my daughter -- who has not yet spent the night away from home -- would spend one night with her grandparents before then while we are still in town to ensure that all would go well. Just to ease my own mind, mostly.

On Thanksgiving day, my wife asked her mother when she would like my daughter to spend the "test" night. It was my wife's understanding -- and mine -- that it would be tonight. When my wife called her mother earlier today to make the arrangements to drop my daughter off, her mother said, "You never said for sure what day it would be. Your dad and I might drive down to Gatlinburg for the day tomorrow morning." Gatlinburg?!? From central Indiana to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and back is not a day trip! She went on to say, "I'm sure she'll be okay, we don't need a test night."

That really gripes me! And this is what gripes me the most about it: every time my sister-in-law (my wife's brother's wife) asks my mother-in-law to watch her daughter -- and it's been this way for the entire eight years plus that I've known my wife -- she bends over backwards, cancelling any plans that she may have, to accomodate. Every time my wife calls her and asks her to watch one or both of our kids, she has some more important, more pressing thing that just can't wait. I don't know why she can't seem to make the time to help her own daughter by spending some quality time with her grandkids, but it's really pi$$ing me off!!!

I keep telling my wife that she just needs to be firm with her mother for a change and demand that she act like a mother and grandmother. If I had my way, we wouldn't be going anywhere near there until she straightens up her act a bit. Maybe that would teach her a lesson about family. Of course, it would also punish my kids, and I don't want them to be brought into the middle of this. It's not their fault that their grandmother is basically worthless.

Joe

Friday, November 24, 2006

One More Thing

Just one more thing to be thankful for today -- and if you work in Retail you'll understand this -- Black Friday is over! It's come, and it's gone, and we had a great sales day at my store, but I'm very thankful that it's over for another year.

Joe

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Thankfulness

Among the many things that I already listed for which I'm thankful, there's one thing to add.

Four years ago today, in a quiet little bed and breakfast, with our closest friends and family watching, my wife and I were united in Marriage. Without her, most of what makes me happy and thankful today would not be possible.

Happy Anniversary to my beautiful wife, and Thank You for making my life complete.

Here are some excerpts from our wedding story:






November 23, 2002
Our Wedding Day
Saturday

7:53 am

Lots to do today before the wedding, but it really shouldn’t take me that long to get it done. I’m going to get started now, though, by packing up my bags for the trip.

9:01 am
She just called me. She seems to have forgotten the pictures of how she wants her hair to be done for the wedding. I have to try to round them up for her and take them to her parents’ house with the makeup that she forgot to get out of the car last night. At the rate she’s forgetting things, I hope she doesn’t forget about the wedding!

10:44 am
After dropping off the dogs at the vet for boarding, I drove out to her parents’ to drop off the makeup she left in the car last night and to pick up her engagement ring so I’ll have it to put on her finger tonight with her wedding ring. Then I stopped and vacuumed and washed the car on the way home, topped it off with gas, and threw away the Halloween pumpkins that were on the front porch (they clashed with the new Christmas decorations). I also called the Cake Decorator before washing the car to make sure everything was going according to plan. She said she was running a little behind, but she had originally planned to be here around noon, so that won’t be a big deal.
For the most part, it looks like things are coming along quite nicely.

11:28 pm
I just talked to my bride-to-be again. I found her pictures for her hair appointment, so I have to take them to the Bed & Breakfast for her mom to pick up by noon. I guess I’ll go get the food, and film, and everything else while I’m out.

12:03 pm
I'm at the Bed & Breakfast, just set up the camcorder for tonight, and the cake decorator just called, so I'm waiting for her.

12:33 pm
The cake made it. I think it looks okay, but I also think she'll be a little disappointed with it. I hope she doesn't let it upset her.
Time to go pick up the food.

1:52 pm
I think my pre-ceremony running around is done. I picked up the food at Sam’s Club, plus a dozen roses for bride and several rolls of film for our trip. I called her mom to have her meet me outside the meadows to deliver the roses while she gets her hair done. I raced home, made a little card to put with the roses that said:


Today you make my life complete.
Today all my dreams come true.


I trimmed the roses, put them in a vase, stuck the card in, and rushed off to meet her mom.
After handing off the roses, I took the food to the bed & breakfast, paid them for the place, and wrote another note that said:


It’s almost time. I can’t wait!


They put it in her changing room on her dress so she’ll find it when she gets there to get ready for the wedding.

2:58 pm
She just called to tell me she was on her way to the Bed & Breakfast. She asked me if the cake looked good, and I said, “Yeah, I think it looks pretty good.” Of course, she knows me well enough by now to know exactly what she said back, “Okay, that doesn’t sound good.” I told her it could look a little better, but it looked pretty good. Of course, I’m sure when she sees it she’ll be disappointed. I wish there was something I could do to make everything go perfectly for her. God knows I’ve tried.

3:05 pm
I feel terrible about the cake. I know that when I saw it, I was a little disappointed. I know that if I was a little disappointed, she'll probably be very disappointed. I just hope she’s able to keep everything in perspective and realizes what really matters today.
I just shaved, but I feel like I can’t take my shower yet, because I kind of expect her to call me after she sees the cake. I won’t be a bit surprised if she calls, and she’s in tears, and she says she doesn’t even want to get married now, because her cake has been ruined, too. I have to be ready to do the best I can to calm and soothe her because, of course, we will be getting married today. I just wish she wouldn’t even look at the cake until time to cut it.
She’s on her way over there now, so she will be seeing it soon, if she hasn’t seen it already. I may call her in a couple of minutes before she has a chance to call me.

3:18 pm
She called. She was crying. She was very upset. She says the cake looks terrible, and she doesn’t even want it there. She wants me to try to find another cake, or maybe even not have a cake at all. She said that nothing is the way she wants it to be, and ended up saying she doesn’t want this at all. She hung up with her mom in the background trying to calm her down.

November 28, 2002
Thanksgiving
Thursday

9:12 pm

We returned home last night from our honeymoon in Gatlinburg. It was quite nice. her parents sent us as a wedding gift.
The wedding, after all, turned out beautiful. She was the most gorgeous bride! She got over her fit over the wedding cake and everything went well. Our wedding/honeymoon video tells the rest of the story.
We've both been so happy this past week. So far, life is good.




Joe

------------
"If you haven't got all the things you want, be grateful for the things you don't have that you don't want." -- Unknown

Thanksgiving Reader Comments

2 comments:

cat said...

Why would it surprise you that many atheists happily celebrate Thanksgiving? It's one of the few great american holidays that is neither christian nor pagan and co-opted by the christians. Think easter (eggs and bunnies obviously the fertility fest of Ostara) and xmas (mistletoe and the yule log long pre-date christianity as winter solstice symbols). Being thankful doesn't require supreme being mythology. Thankfully ;). Happy thanksgiving to you from one of the numerous thankful atheists.

Average Joe American said...

What was the origin of Thanksgiving? Try this: religious pilgrims expressing thankfulness to God their Creator for the bountiful harvest.

How you think that's not religious, I don't know. Without someone to be thankful to, what is Thanksgiving?

Joe

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is considered by most to be the start of the holiday season. Every year when the holidays roll around, I start to miss my family. My mother and grandmother, who are both gone now, were like the Super Glue that bonded my family into a unit. Every year they'd prepare a huge turkey feast with all the trimmings, and four generations would gather together and give thanks for all that we had. I don't remember any of my siblings, my nephews, or my neice ever complaining about having to spend the entire day with family. It was just something we all did.

Now I have a family of my own -- a wife and two kids -- and my family -- the one I grew up with -- lives nearly four hours away. My wife's family lives fifteen minutes away, and we spend every holiday with them. I don't get from them the same sense of unity -- of togetherness -- that I felt with my family growing up. There's just something missing there -- I can't really describe it. To me, it just doesn't feel like Thanksgiving should feel.

Tomorrow, as Amercians around the world celebrate Thanksgiving in their own way (and did you ever notice that even atheists and agnostics find some reason to get together for turkey and trimmings on Thanksgiving day every year -- I'll never understand that one), my family and I will be with my wife's family, while my brother and sisters, nephews and neice, and grandfather gather together some four hours away. I guess it's a time to make new traditions.

There are many things that I am thankful for, and since that's what this day (tomorrow) is all about, here are a few of them:
My wife, whom -- though we seem to disagree quite often -- I love with all of my heart.
My children, both of whom are healthy and happy.
My country, which -- without question -- is the greatest land on God's green Earth.
Freedom.
My career -- which provides me the means to provide for my family.
Memories, and the people who have helped me to make them.
The future -- as uncertain as it might be.
Here's hoping that you and yours have a safe, loving, memory-making Happy Thanksgiving!

Joe

Show Your Support for Blogging

Christmas is getting closer, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and Black Friday -- the busiest shopping day of the year -- is only two days away. Every time I go into a store I think, "I'm going to do all of my Christmas shopping online this year." I did that one year, and it was so much less stressful.

Well, pardon me for asking, but if you enjoy the blog, and you do find yourself doing some shopping online this year, there are a couple of ways that you can help to support your local blogger.

If you're shopping on Amazon, use my Amazon search box in the sidebar to find what you're looking for. Your search will take you to Amazon's search results, and Amazon makes a donation to support Average Joe American.


If you're searching online for the best place to buy something, use the Custom Google Search above my posts. It will provide you with a real Google search results page (though it will have the Average Joe logo at the top), and if you click any of the sponsored links, Google will make a donation to support Average Joe American.
Also, if any of the items in the Google ads directly below the search box should interest you, give 'em a click. Again, Google will make a donation to support Average Joe American.

None of these methods will increase your cost one cent, and none of them will provide me with any information about you or about your purchase. It's just a nice little way of supporting your local blogger while doing something you would do anyway.

Thanks for your support and your continued patronage.

Joe
Comment

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Mobile Posting

I've been having some problems lately with making mobile posts from my Palm PDA. I think it has something to do with the beta version of the new Blogger. If you're reading this then they (Google) must have fixed the bug.

Joe.

------------
"If you haven't got all the things you want, be grateful for the things you don't have that you don't want." -- Unknown

Monday, November 20, 2006

Gripe! No Giving Thanks for an Audit

My days off this week are a little out of whack because of Thanksgiving. I would normally be working on Monday, but today I'm off. Which means I missed a conference call at work that my Assistant Manager had to take. He called me shortly afterward with the news that the Auditor is in the District auditing stores this week.

Most companies, including most Retail companies, have some form of internal audits they perform to ensure that certain procedures are being followed and certain standards being met. It was less than four months ago when the Auditor was last at my store. If you haven't done so before, you might want to read about that visit before proceeding:

Audit Injustice
More Audit Rant

This is what really gripes me about all of this. First, the Auditor in my Division is a total joke! He makes things up as he goes along, sometimes literally reversing a company directive and then deducting points on the audit because the company directive was followed rather than what he thinks should have been done, even when I couldn't possibly have known what he thought I should do in advance. Second, this Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year: Black Friday. My store does from four to five times as much business on this one day than on an average day the rest of the year. There are big five-hour specials, with big merchandise displays to set and big ads to put up. My distribution delivery schedule is changed because of the holiday, as well. This means that I'm off on Monday, receive a distribution truck on Tuesday, set a big ad late into the night on Wednesday, am closed on Thursday, and face the biggest day of the year on Friday. And some idiot thinks it's a good time to send an Auditor in? Frankly, I don't care if we fail an audit this week!

But wait, there's more. For the first time ever, my company is using an outside inventory service to conduct year-end physical inventory. In the past, this inventory has always been done by store staff the last two weeks of January. This year, we will have a slew of people in the store on December 7, in the middle of the holiday shopping season, doing our inventory for the first time. That leaves me just two weeks from Thanksgiving to prepare for this inventory. Do you see why I just don't have the time to worry about an Auditor this week?

Whomever makes the schedule for this guy should be replaced by a person with some common sense, because it makes no business sense to be conducting audits (and doing inventory, for that matter), when we should be focused on one thing only: making the most of the holiday selling season.

Joe
Comment

Saturday, November 18, 2006

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address

20061118.a.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)
In his weekly radio address, President Bush said, "The greatest danger in our world today is that these terrorists could get their hands on weapons of mass destruction and use them to blackmail free nations or kill on an unimaginable scale. This threat poses a risk to our entire civilization, and we're working with our partners in the Asia Pacific region to defeat it. ...

In the long run, the surest path to security is the expansion of freedom. History shows that free societies are peaceful societies, so America is committed to advancing freedom and democracy as the great alternative to repression and radicalism. And by standing with our allies in the Asia Pacific region, we will defend our free way of life, confront the challenges of a new century, and build a more hopeful, peaceful, and prosperous future for our children and grandchildren."

NBC: Hoyer wins battle to become House Democrats' No. 2. Murtha loses.

This may have slipped past you unnoticed, but we may count this as a small victory. Remember how outspokenly opposed to Iraq Rep. Murtha has been?

======================================================

NBC: Hoyer wins battle to become House Democrats' No. 2. Murtha loses.

Find out more at http://breakingnews.msnbc.com

======================================================

It's a bit of a relief that he won't be the House Majority Leader.

Another important point to this is that the Democrats in the House basically defied their "Speaker-Elect," Nancy Pelosi, by electing Hoyer over Murtha. She supported Murtha for the role of Majority Leader. Does this mean that the Democrats will actually think for themselves over the next two years instead of being pawns of the leadership? One can only hope.

Joe

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Google Docs & Spreadsheets

This is a test post using Google Docs & Spreadsheets . If you're reading this, it must have worked. Several months back I swore off Microsoft Office. Too many issues, too much unreliability, and too much Microsoft. Instead, I used Writely (which is now part of Google Docs & Spreadsheets) and Google Spreadsheets when working from my PC. I used (and still use) Dataviz Documents To Go when working from my Palm Handheld . And, unfortunately, I'm still forced to use Microsoft Office while at work.

There have been some great updates to Writely and Google Spreadsheets. They have been consolidated into Google Docs & Spreadsheets, so you can access all your documents (and spreadsheets, obviously) in one place. You can email a document directly to Google Docs & Spreadsheets and access it later from your account (this doesn't work with spreadsheets yet, but I'm sure that's in the works). You can upload from your PC, download to your PC, and save your file in any one of five formats: HTML, Word, Rich Text Format, Open Office , and Portable Document Format. Yes, you can actually create a PDF file from within Google Docs & Spreadsheets. How sweet it is!

I was telling my wife earlier today that you only really need three tools online: Google (and the huge array of services they provide), Wikipedia , and Average Joe Blogs . If only I could get the rest of the webosphere to see it my way.

Joe

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Book Review: Spare Parts by Buzz Williams

Book Review
If you've served in the United States military, especially during a time of combat, then this book doesn't really need much comment for you. The book is Spare Parts, by former United States Marine Corps Reservist Buzz Williams.

Buzz grew up with an older brother he admired. An older brother who stuck up for him on the elementary school playground and protected him from bullies. A brother who enlisted in the Marine Corps and left Buzz wondering when his brother would return. A brother who told Buzz all about the yellow footprints at Parris Island, where boys become men, then men become Marines. A brother who lost touch with Buzz after planting a seed. A brother who killed himself in a senseless car accident and left Buzz alone and confused. A brother whom Buzz might never again connect with if not for that seed -- the calling of the yellow footprints.

Buzz joined the Marine Corps Reserve to be a LAV -- Light Armored Vehicle -- crewman. He wanted to be in the Infantry, but felt the need to be more than just a rifleman. Allured by the posters in the recruiting station, Buzz answered the call to become part of a LAV crew.

In the Marines, as in the rest of the military, every recruit is trained to be one thing first and foremost: a rifleman -- an infantryman, a "grunt" -- a killer. Because in combat, when under attack, it doesn't matter if your an Engineer or Pilot, work in the mess hall or supply room, you have to be able to fight, to defend, to kill -- to survive.

So many of our brave fighting men and women are doing just that today. They have learned the same lesson that Buzz Williams learned -- the lesson that so many Guard and Reserves have learned -- that a soldier is a soldier, a sailor is a sailor, and a Marine is a Marine. No matter what you do from nine to five Monday thru Friday, when your country calls -- when the cause of Liberty and Democracy must be served -- the Guard and Reserve are just as likely to find themselves in a foxhole -- or in this era, the desert -- as the Active Duty Infantry. That's exactly what Buzz learned when his Reserve unit was deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield -- the first Gulf War -- by the first President Bush.

Buzz takes us from enlistment to training, drill to combat, and separation to the return to society. With a no holds barred, no punches pulled narrative, Buzz tells the story like it is -- like only a fighting man could. Like only a Marine could.

From being "digged" by merciless Drill Instructors in Basic Training to the shocking discovery of an Iraqi torture room in an abandoned Kuwaiti home, Buzz holds nothing back. The language. The misery. The fear of a chemical attack on New Years Eve. The heartbreak. The motivation, dedication, and obsession of a fighting man training for war. The uncertainty. The disappointment. The disillusionment with one's leaders. Buzz Williams delivers it all in a colorful narrative that -- but for the lack of deadly shells flying over your head -- will put you in the scene.

This should be required reading for anyone who doesn't understand why today, under the leadership of the second President Bush, our brave fighting men and women risk their lives every day in this second Gulf War. There is a call that must be answered. A call that is heard only by The Few. The proud. The Marines.

Joe
Comment

Having served myself for eight years on Active Duty in the U.S. Army -- though gracefully being spared the horrors of combat -- I would be remiss if I didn't recognize the rest of our fighting men and women: soldiers, sailors, and airmen (and women). For, with the Marines, they serve as a Team, defending our country, serving Liberty, and answering the call. God be with them all.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

White House Contenders Quick to Take 2008 Plunge

And you thought the campaign this year was interesting. ...
From Reuters.com
...[Arizona Senator John] McCain, [Former New York Mayor Rudy] Giuliani and [Iowa's Democratic Governor Tom] Vilsack are the front edge of an expected flurry of announcements that by mid-January could see about a dozen contenders in each party leap into the race to replace the outgoing Bush. ... For the first time since 1952, the White House race will not feature an incumbent president or a sitting vice president, making it the most wide open in decades and encouraging big fields on both sides. ... "Everybody is moving very quickly and I think for good reason," Republican Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee, another potential contender, said on Fox News. "I'll go back home, I'll think about it." ... Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter of California jumped in the race in October. Other Republicans pondering bids include Frist, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. ... For Democrats, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has been the early leader in polls. Other Democrat senators considering runs include Barack Obama of Illinois, Evan Bayh of Indiana, Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, Joseph Biden of Delaware and John Kerry of Massachusetts, who was the party's 2004 nominee. Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, who was Kerry's running mate, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson also are potential candidates.
We've only just begun.

Joe
Comment

Monday, November 13, 2006

Geoff Smith and the Tonewheels

My three-year-old son is such a little rocker. Last night I was playing some Podsafe Music on my computer. Among other independent artists, I was playing Geoff Smith, and my son was dancing around the room bopping right along with the music.

Tonight, as I was sitting in the living room giving my daughter her last bottle of the night, my son was in his bedroom with my wife getting his pajamas on. I could hear him singing, but I couldn't hear what he was singing, until he came into the living room singing a line from the Geoff Smith song I had been playing the night before, Not On The Radio:
Made this not for the radio
Made this not for the radio
Made this not for the radio
Of course, he was repeating the same line over and over, but he was singing it to the correct tune, and I was pretty impressed that he remembered that much of the song after hearing it only once. It just goes to show that good music has an impact on everyone.

You can visit Geoff Smith on the web and hear his music, support his work by buying a CD, or, if you prefer, just download your favorite track.

Give him a listen. Maybe you'll enjoy him as much as my son did.

Joe
Comment

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Support Your Local Blogger

Christmas is almost upon us, and it's time to start shopping for gifts. Every time I go into a store I think, "I'm going to do all of my Christmas shopping online this year." I did that one year, and it was so much less stressful.

Well, pardon me for asking, but if you enjoy the blog, and you do find yourself doing some shopping online this year, there are a couple of ways that you can help to support your local blogger.

If you're shopping on Amazon, use my Amazon search box in the sidebar to find what you're looking for. Your search will take you to Amazon's search results, and Amazon makes a donation to support Average Joe American.


If you're searching online for the best place to buy something, use the Custom Google Search above my posts. It will provide you with a real Google search results page (though it will have the Average Joe logo at the top), and if you click any of the sponsored links, Google will make a donation to support Average Joe American.
Also, if any of the items in the Google ads directly below the search box should interest you, give 'em a click. Again, Google will make a donation to support Average Joe American.

None of these methods will increase your cost one cent, and none of them will provide me with any information about you or about your purchase. It's just a nice little way of supporting your local blogger while doing something you would do anyway.

Thanks for your support and your continued patronage.

Joe
Comment

Dr. Google -- or is it Google Doctor?

From CBSNews.com:
What's ailing you? Ask Google, a British study suggests.

U.K. doctors Hangwi Tang and Jennifer Hwee Kwoon Ng find that their patients often use the popular Google Internet search engine to try to diagnose their own illnesses.

They wondered if it works.

To test the strategy, they took advantage of a feature in The New England Journal of Medicine. Every week, the journal offers doctors the chance to hone their diagnostic skills by presenting a puzzling case history.

So Tang and Ng gave Google a chance to solve 26 of the puzzles.

The two doctors selected three-to-five search terms for each case history. They then typed them into Google and looked over the first five pages of search results for a diagnosis.

Google came up with the correct diagnosis 58 percent of the time, Tang and Ng report in the current online issue of BMJ, formerly the British Medical Journal.
Does this mean that Google is more accurate than some practicing physicians?

Joe
Comment

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Irony

How's this for ironic.

I just finished reading the book Spare Parts by Buzz Williams, a book that chronicles the six year military career of a Marine Corps Reservist deployed to Iraq for the first Gulf War (Operation Desert Shield/Storm). I went to the Post Office this morning to send the book to my brother, a former Marine Corps Reservist. The ironic part is that the Post Office is closed today for Veterans Day. I guess this veteran will have to mail the book by and about a veteran to my brother the veteran when it isn't Veterans Day.

By the way, I'll have a review of the book posted soon.

Joe
Comment

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address

20061111.a.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)
In his weekly radio address, the President said, "As a result of this week's elections, the Democrats now hold a majority in both Houses of Congress. After the elections, I called the Democratic leaders in the House and the Senate to congratulate them on the victory they achieved for their party. On Thursday, I had lunch with Congresswoman Pelosi and Congressman Hoyer, and on Friday I met with Senators Reid and Durbin. We had good discussions. I told them what I have told the men and women in my administration: We must put these elections behind us, and work together on the great issues facing America."

Play Place Politics

Maybe America would be a better place if it was run by kids. I know, many of our current politicians act like children, but if we're going to have leaders who act like children, maybe we should have leaders who are children. Think about it for a minute.

I'm sitting at McDonald's eating a Quarter Pounder with Cheese while my son and two other boys he just met whose names he doesn't even know crawl around in Ronald's Play Place like hamsters in a tunnel maze. They're laughing and jumping and running around together! When one comes out of the bottom of the slide, he waits for the others to catching before going back into the tubes. When was the last time you saw Democrats and Republicans do anything together?

Why is it that children so easily befriend each other without even knowing anything about each other? Trust and innocence, is my guess. Maybe that's what's wrong with politicians today. None of them are innocent, and all of them know it, so none of them trust the others.

While I sit here writing this, more children have arrived -- some of the girls -- and the boy children have welcomed them into the fun. I wonder if Congress will welcome their new members as warmly? After all, they're just a bunch of overgrown children.

Joe
Comment

Dignity in Losing

I said I was going to try to take a break from talking about politics for a few days, but I realized something interesting yesterday. Republicans took a devastating beating and lost the House and the Senate and several Governor seats -- that's no surprise. And the President quite admirably took it on the chin and said he would do his best to work with the new leadership.

There were some reports of voting machine problems in Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, Montana, and elsewhere. Nothing widespread, but problems nonetheless.

Do you remember hearing any Republicans crying voter fraud? Even Senator Allen in Virginia stepped down graciously in defeat.

Do you recall the past two Presidential elections -- when the Democrats took a whooping? Remember the hanging chads and lawsuits in Florida and Ohio? Remember how John Kerry and especially Al Gore cried that President Bush was SELECTED not elected?

My point is this: Republicans accepted their fate with dignity while Democrats in the past did not. I think that tells a story in itself.

Joe
Comment

Veterans Day 2006

Veteran’s Day is a time we set aside to remember, to honor and to pay respect to our nation's uniformed Patriots – American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coastguardsmen – who have, and continue to stand in harm's way that we might live in peace.

"[L]et us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us re-consecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain." –Dwight D. Eisenhower

It is with eternal gratitude that we remember those who have paid the ultimate price in service to our nation. We encourage all our readers to remember those Patriots and their families, and to pray daily for those who continue to serve today.

In honor of our veterans and active duty personnel, PatriotShop.US has assembled a wide variety of official military insignia gifts. Visit PatriotShop.US and show your pride and gratitude for America's Armed Forces. (All proceeds support The Patriot’s Mission of Service to America’s Armed Forces.)

You may also wish to sponsor Operation Shield of Strength tags for military personnel and their families.

These are difficult times for military families, particularly in light of those who vigorously attempt undermine our national security, and demean military service. It is worth remembering these timeless words John Stuart Mill: "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse."

Lex et Libertas — Semper Vigilo, Paratus, et Fidelis!

Mark Alexander
Publisher, The Patriot Post


All sales proceeds at PatriotShop.US support our Mission of Service to America's Armed Services, and help ensure that The Patriot Post is distributed to hundreds of thousands of military personnel and students without a fee. The Patriot receives no corporate, foundation, political or special interest funding. Our mission and operations are funded by -- and depend entirely upon -- the financial support of American Patriots like YOU!

Privacy Notice

Friday, November 10, 2006

Best Buy Bans Use of Merry Christmas In Advertising

Where will you be shopping this holiday season? I, for one, won't be doing any shopping at Best Buy. We get this kind of bunk every year:

Dean's World - More On Target & Christmas
Walgreens Says "Next Year Will Be Different"
Lowe's Drops "Holiday Trees" Label
Target Getting the Message - Stock Drops 7%
fwd: Target Continues Ban on Salvation Army, Adds Sex Toy Products

It may seem petty to complain about it, but I think it's more petty for the nation's largest retailers to be so opposed to actually remembering what this season was originally about. There may be many holidays observed in the month of December today, but it was originally all about Christmas. I don't intend to forget that, and I don't intend to patronize retailers who want to forget it.

Joe
Comment

Donald E. Wildmon
Founder and Chairman


November 10, 2006

Best Buy Bans Use of Merry Christmas In Advertising

Dear Friend,

Best Buy has announced they will be using "Happy Holidays" this coming Christmas shopping season, and they will not be using "Merry Christmas."

Dawn Bryant, a spokeswoman at Best Buy Co. Inc., says their advertising will not be using the term "Merry Christmas." "We are going to continue to use the term holiday because there are several holidays throughout that time period, and we certainly need to be respectful of all of them," Bryant said. Click here for reference article.

While many other retailers have decided to return to the traditional "Merry Christmas", Best Buy will not be among them. Best Buy considers the use of "Merry Christmas" to be disrespectful.

But while Best Buy, the largest consumer electronics company in the nation, will not be mentioning Christmas, they sure do want the shopping dollars from those who remember the Reason for the season.

Take Action

  • Send an e-mail to Best Buy telling them of your disappointment at their decision to ban Christmas in their advertising. (You may receive an auto-reply. If so, that is ok. Don’t worry about it, your e-mail has been received.)
  • Forward this to your friends and family so they can learn of Best Buy's decision.

Send your e-mail to Best Buy

American Family Filter - Protect your children from trash on the Internet.

Sincerely,

Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association





American Family Association | P O Drawer 2440 | Tupelo, MS 38803 | 1-662-844-5036
Copyright 2006 All Rights Reserved

GRIPE! -- eBay Fraud

Most of us will get hit with it sooner or later: FRAUD! It's the nature of the technology beast. The more technologically advanced our society becomes, the easier it is for a crook to take advantage of you.

My wife and I, like a large number of Americans, buy and sell things on eBay from time to time. Every time we make a purchase using PayPal, we receive a spoof email saying that we need to update our account. Of course, we never respond to them, but it's a cause for concern that someone even knows we made a payment using PayPal.

Today my wife logged into eBay to find six messages listing auction items that were removed by eBay for "Circumvention of eBay seller fees." We don't currently have anything listed for sale on eBay.

After a little research, I've discovered that someone apparently hacked into our account. They changed the email address on the account to something similar to our address. In the items they listed for sale, in the description field, they said, "When you email me with your size I will tell you how to make payment." That's what caused eBay to cancel the auctions: by not running the payment through eBay (or PayPal), the fraudulent "seller" would pay no seller fees, the payment couldn't be easily tracked back to them, and the buyer would have no recourse when they don't receive what they paid for.

We've taken the obvious steps to prevent further hacking of our account, filed a dispute with eBay, and I will be running Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware tonight to find what is probably a key-logging program on our computer.

The whole mess really gripes me! That it can be so simple for someone to access our information and commit such fraud really gripes me! As I said, it is to be expected in this age of tech.

Make a note of this and protect yourself. Don't use the same password for all of your accounts -- if one is compromised they all are. Change your passwords regularly. Don't open any email or attachments that you aren't expecting. And protect yourself with a firewall and Anti-Virus/Spyware software.

Joe
Comment

Thursday, November 9, 2006

New Look

Welcome to the Thanksgiving theme. Some fall colors, a new layout, it's a totally different look. I've added some of my favorite Bookmarks to the sidebar, and a new Custom Google Search right under the title, and you can still get to Joe's Average Americans in the sidebar. There's even an expanded Archive section.

If you're subscribed using an RSS Aggregator or email delivery, check out the new look at http://averagejoeblogs.blogspot.com.

Joe
Comment

GRIPE! -- I Didn't Test Well

Tonight I attempted to take a certification test for work. This is a national certification test administered around the country.

In preparation for the test, I completed 120 hours of computer based training on related materials, and studied over 325 sample questions. This training and testing was prepared by industry experts and cost my company thousands of dollars.

Of the 85 questions on the test tonight, I guessed at 35. Most of the material on the test was never covered in the hours and hours of training and sample questions I completed. I'll be very surprised if I passed this certification (I won't know for several weeks), and that really gripes me!

Joe
Comment

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

And So It Goes.....

Now that it's all been decided, and the fallout has already begun (with the "resignation" of Secretary Rumsfeld, I think I'll take a little break from talking politics. Campaign season can be pretty taxing, just trying to stay up to date with everything that's going on and getting the word out about the candidates you support.

So, for the next few days at least, I'm going to try not to speak about politics. No promises -- something crazy could happen that I just can't keep quiet about. But for now, I think, I'll try to focus on my family and sit back and think forward to 2008, the Presidential race to come, and whether the Republicans will regain any ground in the House and Senate in 2008.

If you voted in this election, you deserve a pat on the back for doing your American duty. If you didn't vote, you should be ashamed of yourself. And if you couldn't vote because you aren't even registered, well, shame is too good for you. Get yourself out there and register, because it all starts over now, and we'll be going to the polls again in 729 days, and you have a responsibility as an American citizen (if, that is, you are an American citizen -- for those reading this elsewhere, please forgive my rant) to participate in the process and vote. This great thing called Democracy can only function to it's fullest potential with the cooperation and participation of every citizen.

But I digress. Enjoy the post-election day weekend. Try to get away from the politico-babble on TV, if you can, and get out and enjoy a little late autumn weather before the first snowflake falls.

Joe
Comment

Election Results

Nearly twelve hours after the first polls closed, the fate of the Senate remains unknown. With two states -- Montana and Virginia -- too close to call, the Democrats need both states to seize control of the Senate while Republicans need only one to retain control.

Candidates in both states are in a statistical deadlock, while one county in each state reports problems with voting machines that have caused some votes to remain uncounted. We will likely not have results until later today, at which time a recount is expected to be announced in Virginia, drawing out the final results even longer.

Whichever party wins control of the Senate, you can bet partisan politics will play a HUGE role for the next two years with such an even balance of power. America, prepare to watch and learn why the Democrats are the party of "no."

Joe

Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Democrats to Win Control of the Senate ???

With the fall of formerly Republican-held Senate seats in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Rhode Island, and races in Virginia and Missouri running too close to call, it appears that the Democrats could very possibly take control of the Senate as well as the House of Representatives. At the very best case scenario for Republicans, their majority would be trimmed to just one or two seats. This creates not only a challenge for the Bush Administration, but, I believe, a challenge for American society as well. With the extreme liberal agenda of today's Democrat party, unless the President wields his VETO with a heavy hand and American voters reverse the tide in 2008, I believe we have just witnessed the beginning of the great moral collapse of the American way of life.

It could be a sad, dark day in American history, though we won't truly know that for another two years. Pray with me, people.

Joe
Comment

Democrats to Win Control of the House

To take control of Congress, Democrats need to gain 15 seats in the Senate and 6 in the House. As the numbers are starting to show, it is looking very likely that Democrats will take control of at least one of the two branches of Congress.

Democrat gains in the Senate:

+ Pennsylvania
+ Ohio
+ Rhode Island
Democrat losses in the Senate:
- Connecticut (Lieberman)*
Democrat gains in the House:
+ Indiana #8
+ Kentucky #3
+ Indiana #2
+ Vermont #1
+ New Hampshire #2
+ Ohio #18
+ Pennsylvania #7
+ North Carolina #11
+ Arizona #8
+ Pennsylvania #10
+ Florida #16**
+ Connecticut #5
+ Florida #22
+ Indiana #9
+ New York #19***
+ New York #20
* Lieberman, who was a Democrat defeated in his primary, has won reelection as an Independent, though he says he will still caucus with the Democrats. Though his seat will no longer contribute to a Democrat majority in the Senate, it will help them push their agenda.

** Leading by only 1%, or 2,250 votes, with 91% of the precincts reporting, this could possibly (though not likely) fall the other way.

*** Democrat challenger leads by 2% with 84% reporting.

I've been giving this some thought this evening. I originally stressed how important it is for the Republicans to retain control of Congress this year in case a Democrat takes the White House in 2008. What I neglected to consider is this: in 2008, one-third of the Senate will be up for re-election again, as well as the entire House of Representatives. Should the Democrats take control of one or both chambers of Congress, they will have the next two years to prove to American voters that we NEED a Republican controlled Congress, and American voters will once again have the opportunity to swing the balance of power back. Maybe it's not as dark a day as I originally feared.

Joe
Comment

Election Results

To take control of Comgress, Democrats need to gain 15 seats in the Senate and 6 in the House. As the numbers are starting to show, it is looking very likely that Democrats will take control of at least one of the two branches of Congress.

Democrat gains in the Senate:
+ Pennsylvania
+ Ohio
+ Rhode Island

Democrat losses in the Senate:
- Lieberman*

Democrat gains in the House:
+ Indiana #8
+ Kentucky #3
+ Indiana #2
+ Vermont #1
+ New Hampshire #2
+ Ohio #18
+ Pennsylvania #7
+ North Carolina #11
+ Arizona #8
+ Pennsylvania #10
+ Florida #16**
+ Connecticut #5
+ Florida #22
+ Indiana #9
+ New York #19***
+ New York #20

Democrat losses in the House:


* Lieberman, who was a Democrat defeated in his primary, has won reelection as an Independent, though he says he will still caucus with the Democrats. Though his seat will no longer contribute to a Democrat majority in the Senate, it will help them push their agenda.

** Leading by only 1%, or 2,250 votes, with 91% of the precincts reporting, this could possibly (though not likely) fall the other way.

*** Democrat challenger leads by 2% with 84% reporting.

I've been giving this some thought this evening. I originally stressed how important it is for the Republicans to retain control of Congress this year in case a Democrat takes the White House in 2008. What I neglected to consider is this: in 2008, one-third of the Senate will be up for re-election again, as well as the entire House of Representatives. Should the Democrats take control of one or both chambers of Congress, they will have the next two years to prove to American voters that we NEED a Republican controlled Congress, and American voters will once again have the opportunity to swing the balance of power back. Maybe it's not as dark a day as I originally feared.

Joe

Hostettler Projected Defeated in Indiana


CNN has projected Democrat challenger Brad Ellsworth to win Indiana's eighth Congressional seat from Republican Incumbent John Hostettler. This is the first projected loss of a seat for the Republicans, a blow to Conservatives in Indiana, and yes, I picked and voted for John Hostettler.

Brad Ellsworth, in favor of amnesty for illegal immigrants, is a Sheriff from Southern Indiana who ran on the promise that he would listen to what Hoosiers want when he goes to Washington.

Joe
Comment

More On Voter Turn-out

My wife, who STILL hasn't updated her voter registration, had to drive clear across town again to vote. And when she arrived at the same firehouse that SHE voted at in 2004, she found the same thing I found this morning: no polls. Her polling location had been moved ANOTHER ten minutes away to a volunteer firehouse. This is the biggest downfall of our current electoral process: nobody really knows where to go to vote.

Is it just us, or are others having the same problem? Do you have to watch the local news and read the local papers to vote? That's crazy, too.

I have another idea. If they can't just let you vote at any polling location, they should mail you a simple postcard that tells you where and when you can vote based on the address on file. Seems simple enough to me.

Joe

Voter Turn-out

It is no wonder that voter turn-out is always so poor on election day. Some places just don't make it easy to vote.

In 2004 I drove to the polling location closest to my home -- a school just two blocks away. I was told that I was at the wrong location and couldn't vote there. I was redirected to a firehouse that was over five times the distance from my house. I voted there, but my wife couldn't, because she had forgotten to update her voter registration. She had to drive fifteen minutes away to vote at the polling location she would have used when she lived with her parents.

This morning I woke up and headed out to vote. I drove to the same firehouse I voted at last time only to find that there were no polls at that location this year. So I returned home and attempted to find more information online about where to vote. I found a list with more than thirty different polling locations in the area, but the list did nothing to tell me which one of those locations I could vote at. So I returned to that same elementary school just two blocks from my home, hoping to be pointed in the right direction again. This time I was directed to yet another elementary school even further from my home that the firehouse had been.

Luckily I chose to take the day off from work today so I could vote. I work two hours from home. The polls in Indiana close at 6pm. I could have worked today and left at 3pm, giving myself an hour after getting home to get to the polls and vote. But what would have happened? I very possibly could have run out of time trying to find out where to vote and never made it to the polling location on time.

Why is it that we can't just vote at any polling location in the state? I understand that there are different ballots for different districts, but in this age of technology, could they not all be loaded as PDF files onto a computer and printed for you to vote if you were voting at a polling location outside the district you live in? It seems that, more than just the polling equipment, the whole process of voting in America needs an overhaul. Some states vote online. Why is that not good enough for the whole country? Some states allow you to vote early (Indiana is one, and I will probably do that next time, though there is something patriotic feeling about voting on election day that I imagine I won't feel voting early).

We need to get this process streamlined to allow everyone to vote -- and to maybe even encourage those apathetic citizens who wouldn't vote if you brought the ballot to their front door. I think that unless and until that happens, we will continue to see lower than desired voter turn-out.

Joe

Monday, November 6, 2006

Nothing But Net

It can't all be about politics.

My son's fall basketball season came to an end tonight, and he was presented with his first ever trophy at just three years old. It was a pretty exciting event (maybe more for me than it was for him).

The picture is a bit grainy, but I had to snap it with short notice using my Palm Pilot, so I'm lucky I got the picture at all.

His winter basketball season will be starting up soon. It's amazing how much he has improved in just eight weeks. Tonight he actually made his first in-game basket ever! He can hit the basket in practice, but has always passed the ball during a game rather than shooting. Tonight he took his first shot and -- SWOOSH! -- nothing but net!

I'm so proud of him! And to think I almost didn't make it there in time tonight.

Joe
Comment

From Joe's Average Americans

Join me for discussion in the Joe's Average Americans forum at Google Groups, where you can comment on the following, or anything else that's on your mind.

Date: Nov 6, 10:13 pm
Subject: Politics
To: Joe's Average Americans

The economy isn't getting the press that it should be getting at this time of the election season, and that should tell you something. What you should be hearing about is that the Unemployment Rate is at the unbelievably low rate of just 4.4%. Statistically speaking, our nation is more than fully employed.

And all the talk from Democrats about wanting to raise the minimum wage should worry us. Only 2% of American workers are paid minimum wage. Only 2%!!! Who are MOST of those 2%? High school students working their first job, living at home. They SHOULD be making minimum wage while they work their way up in the workforce. As for the portion of that 2% that are NOT high school students? They are mostly unskilled or low-skilled single adults who, if the minimum wage were raised, would probably lose their jobs to more skilled workers.

What you should be hearing about is that the economy -- even with gas prices a little higher than we'd all like -- is doing pretty darn well right now. And if you want to change that, well, I'm sure you can find a Democrat on the ballot to cast your vote for.

Joe

Reminder - Election Day is Tomorrow

Reminder - Election Day is tomorrow.

Remember to vote tomorrow, Tuesday, November 7th. Billy Graham said it best, "If America is to survive, we must elect more God-centered men and women to public office - individuals who will seek Divine guidance in the affairs of state." This statement is directly backed by scripture and is vital for us to recognize. "When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan." -Proverbs 29:2 Let's get informed, participate in the electoral process and choose Godly leaders!

Many churches all across Indiana will be gathering tomorrow morning to pray for the election. If your local church or a church near you is offering such an activity, please take part in this vital ministry. If Godly men and women are to be elected tomorrow, we must ask God to stir the hearts of Hoosiers.

To view the 2006 IFI Voter Guide and learn more about where the candidates stand on key issues please click here. To find your legislative districts click here.

Holding Government Accountable

Congressman Mark Souder represents Indiana's 3rd congressional district in Washington D.C. In Washington, Congressman Souder is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources, under the House Committee on Government Reform. The committee has been working hard to investigate and hold government agencies accountable. To that end, the committee has held numerous hearings, written letters and compiled reports on a number of issues important to the public.

The committee has even put out an index of links on the web so the public can track what the committee has done in its investigations and oversight of issues like the drug culture, RU-486, Plan B drug sales to minors, ultrasound keepsake images, post-abortion depression, condoms and even human cloning.
Please take a moment to review the hard work of Chairman Souder and his committee by visiting the Social Register posted on the committee’s Web site.

Election Night Invitation

Friends of the Indiana Family Institute have been invited to attend election festivities at the Indiana GOP headquarters, downtown Indianapolis. Governor Mitch Daniels and Senator Richard Lugar will kick the evening off at 5:45 pm. If you do not have election night plans, mark this event on your calendar.

To find out more about IFI or to contribute to Hoosier families
visit us at www.hoosierfamily.org
Indiana Family Institute
55 Monument Circle, Suite 322, Indianapolis, IN, 46204
Phone: (317) 423-9178 Toll Free: (800) 259-2959 Fax: (317) 423-9421

Google Releases 2006 Google Earth Election Guide

Having trouble deciding how to vote tomorrow? Google can help!

Combination Will Create New Opportunities for Users and Content Owners Everywhere


MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - October 23, 2006 - Google (NASDAQ: GOOG):

WHO: Google Earth

WHAT: Google Releases 2006 Google Earth Election Guide

WHERE: Available in Google Earth (download at www.google.com/earth)

WHEN: Monday, October 23, 2006 - Countdown to the 2006 US elections

WHY: Today Google Earth celebrates the election season with the launch of the 2006 Google Earth Election Guide.

Conceived by Google Earth engineers who found it difficult to find aggregated election information online about races country-wide, the 2006 Google Earth Election Guide serves as an easily accessible resource for users to find information about candidates, voter registration, and campaign financing for the November 7th elections.

"We’re excited to connect voters across the country to timely and locally relevant information about the upcoming elections and the candidates," said John Hanke, director of Google Earth and Maps. "We continue to believe that Google Earth can serve as the ultimate tool for organizing and sharing similar geo-based information."

The 2006 Google Earth Election Guide includes clickable place marks for all 435 Congressional districts. Each place mark includes:

  • The slate of candidates running for office in that district, with live feeds from Google Web, Image, and News Search for each candidate
  • Campaign finance information from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and Center for Responsive Politics (www.opensecrets.org) for the district’s candidates
  • A link to voter registration and voter information sites, localized to each state

The 2006 Google Earth Election Guide is available under the Layers tab of the Google Earth sidebar.

Google Earth combines satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google Search to make the world's geographic information easily accessible and useful. There have been over 100 million downloads of Google Earth since the product’s launch in June, 2005.

About Google Inc.
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Press Contact: Megan Quinn
Google Inc.
meganq@google.com


Average Joe's Review Store