Thursday - August 30, 2007

Help A Little City Out

I don’t ask for help often, but this one hits home.

Our little city has a section in it, like most cities, that could use some help.  A friend of mine came here two years ago and has been refurbishing homes on this street, selling them to lower-income families to get a fresh start.

The Henkel company, which represents brands such as Dial, Purex and Soft Scrub, is holding a contest to have a cleaning crew come to one of three finalist towns and help do some cleaning.

Here’s the story from our local rag:

STAUNTON — A contest for beautification dollars could help the Queen City add another jewel to her crown — but your vote is needed.

Staunton is one of three finalists in a national, nomination-driven contest called Henkel Helps. The city with the most votes by Friday wins the services of a 10-person cleaning crew from Henkel, the company that represents brands such as Dial, Purex and Soft Scrub.

Makeba Robinson nominated Staunton’s Johnson Street for a Henkel-aided makeover, suggesting that the crew add more outdoor color and greenery and perhaps expand the neighborhood playground.

“I would like to beautify the area to help the kids be more proud of their community,” Robinson wrote in her nomination form.

Robinson is the facility coordinator for the Booker T. Washington Community Center, where she’s met many of the neighborhood children.

“I thought that it would be something nice for the kids,” she said.

The other two community finalists are Chittenango, N.Y., and Gainesville, Texas. The prize value is estimated to be $25,000.

As of late Wednesday afternoon, Staunton lagged behind the two other communities, garnering just 3 percent of the vote. Gainesville, Texas was winning with 74 percent of votes cast.

What I ask, dear reader, is a moment of your time to go to this site and vote for Staunton, VA.  Let’s see if we can help provide a little cleaner place for the kids to play.

Posted by Mr. Christian     on 08/30/2007 at 04:42 PM   
Filed Under: • Personal •  
• Comments (12) • Trackbacks (0) • Permalink •  

   Monday - August 27, 2007

Technical Assistance Query

Member RickVid has an issue with his PC that we cannot figure out.  He says:

We’ve tried re-installing the browser, java and mucking with the security settings...all with no affect.  His inclination is that it is the CA Security Suite.  Anyone have any experience with this?  Let’s help out a brother before he does something drastic  

Posted by Mr. Christian     on 08/27/2007 at 10:39 AM   
Filed Under: • Personal •  
• Comments (5) • Trackbacks (0) • Permalink •  

   Friday - August 17, 2007

San Diego Bound

I’ll be facing the powers of darkness and TSA Drones in the morning on my way to the TDWI conference in San Diego.  I’m with a co-worker who is always fun to travel with, we’ll call him “Z”.  Last year, Z and I went to Las Vegas for this conference.  After eac day’s sessions, we’d find a nice resturaunt to eat dinner in, then I’d head back to the hotel and he’d head to the poker tables.  Sometime between 2:00 and 4:00 in the morning, Z would stumble back into the room to get some rest before starting again the next day.  I would simply roll over and put my hands up in the air: one with thumbs up and the other with thumbs down.  He would respond with one hand indicating his success that evening.  He won more than lost.

So we’ll be shuttling across the great continent all day tomorrow.  Keep the moonbats at bay, will ya?  I’ll check in when we arrive.

Are there and good indoor ranges in San Diego where a visitor can rent a newer pistol (IE: S&W M&P, Taurus 24X7 OSS, etc) to try them out?

Posted by Mr. Christian     on 08/17/2007 at 08:56 AM   
Filed Under: • Personal •  
• Comments (2) • Trackbacks (0) • Permalink •  

   Monday - August 06, 2007

Exchange Rate

I find the most adventure comes in life when you are open to opportunities as they arise.

On Saturday night, my bride and I, along with another couple, went to see “The Bourne Ultimatum”. While the movie was playing, my phone buzzed. Being the good movie-goer, I waited until it was over to return the call, which was at about 9:30pm. It was from a friend who had been contacted by an exchange student hosting organization. Apparently, there was a group of students from France who were slated to spend two weeks in “full immersion” in the Portland area, but when they arrived in the US, that group who was going to host them in Washington decided to back out. SO these kids had no place to go. They were desperately seeking host families to take students for two weeks.

By midnight all of the arrangements had been worked out and by yesterday we had two 15 year-old girls from Corsica living with us. This was a pretty big stretch for a couple of reasons:
1. I’m a spanish speaker and know no French except for “Oui”.
2. Politically, I’ve despised the French for years
3. They know very little English
4. Did I mention I don’t speak French?

Anyway, my fears were unfounded as they are the most delightful young ladies you could imagine. They speak enough English to get by and are amazingly fast at picking it up. My two daughters, ages 16 and 13, have latched onto them and they are all four turning into quick friends.

It is really a blessing in disguise because my wife and daughters are going to France in September on a 10-day mission trip. So this experience will help them to learn a bit of the language and culture before going. It is also helping me, much like my English lessons student is, with dispelling bias and prejudice I didn’t realize I had.

I’m looking forward to the next two weeks as I speculate they will teach us as much as we teach them.

Posted by Mr. Christian     on 08/06/2007 at 05:20 AM   
Filed Under: • Personal •  
• Comments (3) • Trackbacks (0) • Permalink •  

   Sunday - July 15, 2007

New Wind

Wow.

That is all I can say.  When I posted ”Ponderances” on Friday, my honest expectation was that there would be three or four comments says something like: “Yeah, we understsand, it hasn’t been the same since the Skipper died. Probably best to just let it go.”

I never expected that the little bit I was doing made even a little difference.  I am overwhelmed by your kind words.

In light of your excellent advice, I have just sent an email to all the BMEWS RECON team, inviting them, if they wish, to begin posting on the main site.  These are folks you all know and who Allan trusted with the keys to part of the kingdom.  I expect a few of them will respond in the affirmative.

If there are others of you who would like a shot, send me a sample post.  Write it just like you would if it were going to be live.  My crack staff of editors (OK, probably just me and Christopher) will pour over it and determine its overall quality.  Should it pass, you will be granted access for a trial period.  I ask that those who would like to be considered commit to at least one post per week.

I will limit the number of posters, simply to keep down the confusion, but for now am taking all applications.

Thank you again, I feel rejuvinated in the effort to combat the tinfoil-hatted, nutrooted moobats out there.  And its all because of you, the fine readers and participants in this small corner of the intarw3bs.

Posted by Mr. Christian     on 07/15/2007 at 12:30 PM   
Filed Under: • Blog Stuff • Personal •  
• Comments (8) • Trackbacks (0) • Permalink •  

   Friday - July 13, 2007

Ponderances

Folks,

As you’ve noticed, I have not posted for a couple of days.  I have been keeping up with the comments and reading the fine posts at the Member Blog, but to be honest, I’m in a funk.  I used to get jazzed about a good political fight. I would enjoy going head-to-head with a pinko, liberal, betwetting, birkenstock-wearing, lice-infested socialist as much as the next guy.

But that has changed.

Maybe its fatigue.  It might be that I’m so tired of waging this uphill battle that I’m just worn out and defeated.

Where is the conservative leadership?  Where are those whove sworn to uphold the constitution and defend it from every enemy, foreign and domestic?  I fear we have reached the tipping point where the politicians no longer fear the people they serve and have given enough booty to the victim class that there is no turning back.  Government has become the 800lb gorilla and there is little we can do to stop it now.

Allan started this Blog out of frustration with the political climate and in response to the attacks of 9/11/2001.  He was a great thinker and a great writer. 

I’m neither.

I struggle to come up with content for you all to chew on.  It’s not that I don’t see plenty out there, but rather, it is all someone else’s.  I could put up 100 links per day to great commentary and analysis, stories of heroism and folly, but it would be jsut that: links to places elsewhere.  As I’ve said before, Allan and I used to joke a lot that he was the thinker and I was the linker.  A blog that just links to other blogs is pretty useless.

So, I’m taking a break to really ponder if it is worth keeping this thing running any longer.  I know there is a community of good people that visit here to talk about life and politics, but even that has dwindled to a trickle. 

I think you deserve better. 

So let me take this weekend and think through what I think is best. 

I’ll be back in a few days, either revitalized, or ready to close up shop.

Posted by Mr. Christian     on 07/13/2007 at 10:50 AM   
Filed Under: • Blog Stuff • Personal •  
• Comments (25) • Trackbacks (0) • Permalink •  

   Tuesday - July 10, 2007

You Have a Story

You are an interesting person.  Do you believe that?  As boring and mundane you think your life is, it is interesting.  Maybe not to you, but to your grandkids, and great grandkids, who may never have the chance to speak to you in person, the story of how they got to be where they are is directly tied to who you are now.

Kim DuToit, who most of you know as a great writer already, has launched a new business dedicated to applying those skills to your life’s story.

www.mybiographer.com

If you, like me, have found details of your ancestor’s lives sketchy, or totally missing, then do your heirs a great service and have Kim document what is important and interesting about you and your life.

Posted by Mr. Christian     on 07/10/2007 at 10:36 AM   
Filed Under: • Literature • Personal •  
• Comments (2) • Trackbacks (0) • Permalink •  

   Tuesday - June 26, 2007

In Memoriam

I talked to Allan’s son Sean last night and he let me know that the memorial service for the Skipper will be at 2:00pm This Sunday, July 1st in Opp, Alabama.

He apologizes for the short notice, but plans were just finalized in the last couple of days.

Wyatt Funeral Home
1018 Florala Highway (map)
Opp, AL 36467
Phone Number: (334) 493-2506

Posted by Mr. Christian     on 06/26/2007 at 11:06 AM   
Filed Under: • Personal •  
• Comments (1) • Trackbacks (0) • Permalink •  

   Friday - June 22, 2007

The Weekend

You’ll notice that my posting rate is much lighter on the weekends.  With a wife, four kids, a small farm and an old house to take care of, there is little time to even log onto the computer on the weekend. 

This weekend will even be worse for posting.  My boys (9 & 7) and I are heading into the woods with a couple other dad and sons to have a “Men’s Weekend Without Women”.  Fishing, telling stories and generally being loafabouts is the entirety of our plan.

So visit the blogroll, or get outside yourself.  We’ll all be here on Monday, ready to do battle with the bats.

Posted by Mr. Christian     on 06/22/2007 at 01:34 PM   
Filed Under: • Personal •  
• Comments (14) • Trackbacks (0) • Permalink •  

   Friday - June 15, 2007

Ruth Graham - RIP

Billy Graham’s wife dies
Ruth Graham to be honored at public memorial service
The Associated Press

MONTREAT, N.C. — Ruth Graham, who surrendered dreams of missionary work in Tibet to marry a suitor who became the world’s most renowned evangelist, died Thursday. She was 87.

Graham died at 5:05 p.m. at her home at Little Piney Cove, surrounded by her husband and all five of their children, said a statement released by Larry Ross, Billy Graham’s spokesman.

The Grahams had five children together: Franklin (William Franklin III), Nelson, Virginia, Anne and Ruth. Their daughter, Ruth, lives in Waynesboro.

“Ruth was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team,” Billy Graham said in a statement. “No one else could have borne the load that she carried. She was a vital and integral part of our ministry, and my work through the years would have been impossible without her encouragement and support.

“I am so grateful to the Lord that he gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we’ve had in the mountains together. We’ve rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly, and look forward even more to the day I can join her in Heaven.”

Ruth Graham had been bedridden for months with degenerative osteoarthritis of the back and neck — the result of a serious fall from a tree in 1974 while fixing a swing for grandchildren — and underwent treatment for pneumonia two weeks ago. At her request, and in consultation with her family, she had stopped receiving nutrients through a feeding tube for the last few days, Ross said.

The family plans a private interment ceremony and a public memorial service. Those arrangements had yet to be made on Thursday.

As Mrs. Billy Graham, Ruth Graham could lay claim to being the first lady of evangelical Protestantism, but neither exploited that unique status nor lusted for the limelight.

Behind the scenes, however, she was considered her husband’s closest confidant during his spectacular global career.

Thank you Ruth, for your undying committment to your God, to your husband and to your family.

His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Matthew 25:23

Posted by Mr. Christian     on 06/15/2007 at 06:51 AM   
Filed Under: • Celebrities • Personal •  
• Comments (3) • Trackbacks (0) • Permalink •  

   Tuesday - June 12, 2007

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

I am pleased to report that you have given over $600 to help cover the expenses for Allan’s family. 

I sent the entire balance to Allan’s son, Sean, this morning.  Thank you again.  You don’t know how much this means to them.

Click Here is a complete accounting of the funds received.

Posted by Mr. Christian     on 06/12/2007 at 08:20 AM   
Filed Under: • Blog Stuff • Personal •  
• Comments (1) • Trackbacks (0) • Permalink •  

   Friday - June 08, 2007

Light Posting Today

My wife and I are attending the 24th Annual Virginia Home School Convention in Richmond today and tomorrow. Will be posting as much as possible.

This is a chance for us to get away for a short weekend, see old friends, talk to vendors and talk about the kid’s education plan for next year.  Its a great way to end the school year and kick off the summer.

Posted by Mr. Christian     on 06/08/2007 at 10:05 AM   
Filed Under: • Personal •  
• Comments (2) • Trackbacks (0) • Permalink •  

   Wednesday - June 06, 2007

Memories

Today we remember Allan C. Kelly, The Skipper of the good ship BMEWS.  As many have noted, he was a man who brought his own brand of humor and concience to his writing.  The blog was his baby, founded out of a desire to combat the “battiness” of liberal thought in America, and around the world.  Not many knew him very well, as he was a private man, but his public persona was one that endeared many.  Readers from all over the world checked in daily and weekly to see what the Skipper had to say.

Allan’s brother Brian scanned some old family photos to give us a glimpse into his earlier days.

Rest in Peace Skipper.  You are missed by many, but your memory will live on.

Allan with Mom and Dad at Granddaddy’s darm in Andalusia, Alabama (1950)

Allan with Mom and Dad in Panama City, Florida on his second or third birthday in about 1951 – 53

Allan’s school day’s photo from elementary school.

Allan with little sister Judy and Baby Brother Brian in Panama City, Florida in about 1962.

The typical adolescent teen Allan when he was about 12 – 13 years old.

Allan at about 15 years old.

The suave and debonair Allan when he was about 30 years old.

Allan’s prom picture from Opp High School, Opp Alabama in 1967. 
He kinda has that blonde Buddy Holly Look doesn’t he ?

is a photo of (L –R) Allan, sister Judy, Mother Ann, and brother Brian in Atmore, Alabama in about 1978.

Allan’s wedding picture.  The bride is Carole Corbin Kelly, Mother of David and Sean.

Newspaper clipping of Allan in the Air Force in about 1975 – 76. 
That is his actual stripe from his uniform.

Allan loved backpacking.  This is a photo from a backpacking trip we took in about 1989.  We watched the weather report to make sure it would snow and headed off to Cheaha Mountain, Alabama.

If you would like to donate to the Allan Kelly Memorial Fund, simply click on the “donate” button on the right.

Regular posting resumes tomorrow.

Goodnight Friend

Posted by Mr. Christian     on 06/06/2007 at 02:17 PM   
Filed Under: • Personal •  
• Comments (28) • Trackbacks (0) • Permalink •  

   Friday - June 01, 2007

Allan Kelly - R.I.P.

I just received some terrible news from the Manchester police department. Allan was found dead in his townhouse. They are trying to contact his sons, but I had very little information to give them. David and Sean, if you read this, I’m sorry if this is how you found out, but I have no contact information for either of you.

I have no details, but am in contact with the PD there. I will update this post as I get more information.

Allan C. Kelly
1949-2007

Rest in Peace Skipper

Thanks for the donations that have come in so far.  The Skipper was a man of modest means, and every bit helps.

Thank You!
As of this morning (Wednesday), we have collected almost $500 $600 for Allan’s funeral expenses.  This link gives you the up-to-date accounting of what we have collected so far, and will be updated as new donations come in. 

Thank you for your generosity.  It means a great deal to Allan’s family and means a few less things to worry about.

If you have not given yet and would still like to, feel free as we will keep the fund open for a while still.

Update I
As you see in the comments from Allan’s brother and son, he will be buried in Montgomery, AL.  As plans are made and released by the family, I will post them on the front page here.  Thank you all for your comments and support.

Update II
I just got off the phone with Allan’s son Sean.  He, David and Brian will be up in St. Louis tomorrow to start sorting things out and making arrangements.  As soon as something is set, I will let you know here.

As far as the blog is concerned, we will not be having any posts for a couple of days.  After that, we will have to see what the next steps will be.  Obviously, it can not be the same without the Skipper at the helm.  We often joked that he was the thinker while I was the linker.  To maintain the same high quality of posts, we will need another thinker to contribute.  We’ll see what the best thing to do is when it is appropriate.

Update III
Apparently there is a limit to the number of comments a post will show, and it is set at 100 currently.  If anyone knows where in Expression Engine this setting is so I can expand it, please email me. (Fixed now - thanks Infinity!)

Update IV
Vilmar has graciously compiled a list of other bloggers covering the story:
Lisa
OldCatMan
Macker
Misha
Rodger

Update V
Rickvid had an excellent suggestion.  At 8:00pm this Wednesday, we will hoist a toast in honor of the Skipper.  Because this blog is read around the world, we will have a 24-hour rolling memorial for Allan. 

New posts will begin on Thursday.

Update VI - Monday @ 3:30pm
Allan will be cremated, with a memorial service to be held later this week or next week in Montgomery, AL. 
More details as they become available.

Posted by Mr. Christian     on 06/01/2007 at 02:57 PM   
Filed Under: • Personal •  
• Comments (196) • Trackbacks (14) • Permalink •  

DISCLAIMER

THE SERVICES AND MATERIALS ON THIS WEBSITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE HOSTS OF THIS SITE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF SATISFACTORY QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICE OR ANY MATERIALS.

Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:

1. Keep a firm grasp of Right and Wrong
2. Stay involved with government on every level and don't let those bastards get away with a thing
3. Use every legal means to defend yourself in the event of real internal trouble, and, most importantly:
4. Keep talking to each other, whether here or elsewhere

It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

THE INFORMATION AND OTHER CONTENTS OF THIS WEBSITE ARE DESIGNED TO COMPLY WITH THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THIS WEBSITE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ALL PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE AMERICAN COURTS. IF ANYTHING ON THIS WEBSITE IS CONSTRUED AS BEING CONTRARY TO THE LAWS APPLICABLE IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY, THEN THIS WEBSITE IS NOT INTENDED TO BE ACCESSED BY PERSONS FROM THAT COUNTRY AND ANY PERSONS WHO ARE SUBJECT TO SUCH LAWS SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO USE OUR SERVICES UNLESS THEY CAN SATISFY US THAT SUCH USE WOULD BE LAWFUL.

Copyright © 2004-2008 Domain Owner