Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds

Wednesday evening I got a rare chance to sit with my sister Wendy on the front deck of her house and visit with her before I had to drive back to Springfield and head to work. During our chat we were able to enjoy watching the hummingbirds swarm the two feeders that were hanging nearby.

These particular birds belong to the species Archilochus colubris, or Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, and are one of the most common types of hummingbirds found in this area. Due to Mother Nature's bizarre sense of twisted humor, it is the male bird that gets to sport the very pretty, very colorful "ruby throat". The females have no red on them at all, but they get their revenge by having longer bills and being bigger in size.
Here are a couple of shots of the males that were hanging around.





Both male and female have the gorgeous emerald green backs which were really lighting up when my flash was hitting them. You can easily see what I'm referring to in this picture.



Even though there were at least a dozen or so birds in the area randomly fighting over only 8 feeding holes, this delicate little female got a chance to sit and relax for a minute.

5 Things I Dislike About Living In The Missouri Ozarks

5. It means I don't live in Tampa Bay.
4. It takes new music 6 months to reach our radio stations.
3. I live way too close to Arkansas!
2. People automatically assume everyone here is a hillbilly.
1. I'm surrounded by hillbillies.

5 Things I Dislike About Don Imus

5. He is way too old to try and wear his hair long.
4. What is with the shades? You're indoors dude!
3. The caterpillers that live on his forehead have always disturbed me.
2. Only cowboys, country music stars or HOT SHIRTLESS GUYS should wear cowboy hats.
1. I'm generally nice to people and he is the one who is rich and famous.

Jerry Falwell & The Teletubbies, Don Imus, & Other Funny Articles

I just wanted to share with you guys a few articles I've enjoyed reading on the web this week. Keep in mind, these are all satires and jokes and are not intended to offend anyone. Also, I did not write any of them, only chuckled when I read them, so do not hold me responsible if you don't care for them.

Here we go:

Tinky Winky says bye-bye to Jerry Falwell

Regular-Hair Hos, Other Hos Yearn For Publicity In Wake Of Imus Controversy

Giuliani Challenges Himself to Debate

An Alcohol Coma: Your Ticket To a Good Night's Sleep

Today's "5 Things I Dislike About..."

Five things I dislike about....Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

5. They never changed clothes. Would it have killed them to wear pastels during the spring and summer months?
4. In the 80's version of the series, April was a TV reporter. Now she is "a former lab assistant" so I'm beginning to think the truth is not being told.
3. The turtles were all named after famous Renaissance-era Italian artists, yet no art is seen ANYWHERE in the sewers.
2. They never got in trouble for getting dirty and fighting with each other like me and my brother always did.
1. I never see them dip their pizza in ranch dressing, and we all know that's the only way to eat pizza!!

Lyrics: "Right Here" by STAIND

STAIND LYRICS
Right Here

I know I've been mistaken
But just give me a break and see the changes that I've made
I've got some imperfections
But how can you collect them all and throw them in my face

But you always find a way to keep me right here waiting
You always find the words to say to keep me right here waiting
And if you chose to walk away I'd still be right here waiting
Searching for the things to say to keep you right here waiting

I hope you're not intending
To be so condescending it's as much as i can take
and you're so independent
you just refuse to bend so I keep bending till I break

But you always find a way to keep me right here waiting
You always find the words to say to keep me right here waiting
And if you chose to walk away I'd still be right here waiting
Searching for the things to say to keep you right here waiting

I've made a commitment
I'm willing to bleed for you
I needed fulfillment
I found what I need in you

Why can't you just forgive me
I don't want to relive all the mistakes I've made along the way
But I always find a way to keep you right here waiting
I always find the words to say to keep you right here waiting

But you always find a way
To keep me right here waiting
You always find the words to say to keep me right here waiting
And if I chose to walk away would you be right here waiting
Searching for the things to say to keep me right here waiting

Today's "5 Things I Dislike About...."

Five things I dislike about...Elvis

5. He died.
4. He never bought ME a Cadillac.
3. He is best remembered as the sequined-jumpsuit-wearing Elvis of his latter years, thus resulting in all Elvis imposters dressing that way instead of imitating the HOT Elvis of his early years.
2. He shook his hips so provocatively it was censored, so we have no clear pictures of his behind.
1. He’s the reason why I can’t eat peanut butter and banana sandwiches without being made fun of.

Life Is...Boring

Although hopefully it is only temporarily boring. And maybe boring isn't really the right word. It's just been fairly uneventful lately. Still working on getting the house setup after moving (also still waiting to move a few final things, without which I am unable to get the house setup).

I bought some new shoes today so that was kinda cool. I had been needing some for quite a while now. Otherwise, I have nothing for ya. So, peace out.

I Finally Got To Play A Wii

...and it ROCKED!! I am definitely going to have to buy one of those little buggers. It was a total blast AND by the time I had beat 7 or 8 computer opponents in a row at boxing I was covered in sweat and all pumped up like I had been at the gym. That is exactly what my fat ass needs to be doing cause that was way better than, like, walking and stuff.

Today In History - Kent State Massacre

37 years ago, President Richard Nixon announced in a televised speech that U.S. forces had invaded Cambodia. This news sparked massive anti-war demonstrations around the nation as people (especially college students) protested the fact that President Nixon was now expanding the war which he had once promised to help end.

On May 1, 1970, a few days after the Cambodian invasion, a demonstration was held on the Commons area at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Later that night some minor vandalism occurred, a small crowd of protesters gathered, and police were dispatched to quiet the crowd. Beer bottles and rocks were thrown at the police that arrived and obscenities were screamed at them. After about an hour, the police had gained control and everything became quiet.

The next day, during another protest rally, the ROTC building on the Kent State Campus was set on fire. The mayor declared a "state of emergency" and requested help from the National Guard. As firemen and police officers attempted to extinguish the building they were pelted with rocks and bottles. That night the National Guard arrived on campus and began using tear gas and making arrests.

By May 3rd, nearly 1000 members of the National Guard were present on the campus. That night another rally was held on the Commons, but tear gas was soon used to disperse the crowd and the Guardsmen announced a campus curfew which forced students back into their rooms.

May 4, 1970 was the date a scheduled protest was to occur on the Kent State campus. Officials at the university tried to prevent the event by handing out thousands of flyers claiming the event had been cancelled. Regardless, approximately 2000 people gathered in the Commons area. The National Guard troops were again called on to disperse the crowd. The tear gas was mostly inneffective this time due to the wind. Students began throwing rocks and even threw the tear gas cannisters back at the soldiers. As the crowds became more unruly, a group of 77 National Guardsmen began to advance towards the students in an effort to control them.

Over the next several minutes, chaos ensued. The protesters retreated up and over Blanket Hill and out of the Commons area. Some of them did disperse and head towards the parking lot, but the majority of the angry crowd stood just to the left and the front of the troops which had followed them over the hill. The soldiers had topped the hill and found themselves facing a fence which enclosed a practice field. The Guardsmen did not want the students to believe they were retreating by retracing their steps back to the top of the hill, so they stayed in their current position against the fence. After about 10 minutes, the troop finally decided to head back towards the top of the hill. As they did, the students began slowly advancing towards them. As the bulk of the soldiers came back down into the Commons, some of the Guardsmen who had just reached the top of Blanket Hill turned and fired their semi-automatic weapons into the students.

In a matter of 13 seconds there were 67 bullets fired by 29 Guardsmen. 4 students lay dead and 9 others were injured. 2 of the 4 students killed that day had been protesters who were participating in the demonstration. The other 2 had simply been walking to class and were not involved in the incident at all.

Moving Sucks...

For the past week I have been working on moving. Not just moving like normal people, but moving from the 2 houses I have been living in to just 1 house in a completely different location. That's not to say that I'm the only person having a bad week. My brother is moving also and he's got way more responsibilities, chores, etc. than I do.

So, I'm tired & cranky. And I have nothing to blog about.