For reasons ranging from late freezes and frosts to tornados and drought, Ag Secretary Ann Veneman has announced that counties in Kansas, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming are agricultural disaster areas. The designation makes farmers and ranchers in these counties immediately eligible for USDA low-interest emergency (EM) loans.

There is an extensive list of the counties affected at this site. If you are a farmer or rancher, you probably already know about this. I thought the rest of us should know.

Underdog Europe sent out its best players to bring home the Ryder Cup and got even more help from its unknowns for a shocking victory over the Americans.

Congratulations! (We’ll see you in two years).

I expected Nancy Reagan to speak out on this issue MONTHS ago. I wonder what took her so long.

“A lot of time is being wasted. A lot of people who could be helped are not being helped.”

I was sure that MOST public figures whose lives have been affected by “stem cell” afflictions (such as Alzheimer’s and others), would have spoken out IMMEDIATELY after President Bush’s policy regarding stem cell research was announced.

Mrs. Reagan believes that embryonic stem cell research could uncover a cure for Alzheimer’s, the disease that has wiped out her husband’s memory. She was dismayed, friends say, when the White House took issue on Monday with a new California law that encourages embryonic stem cell research.

Better late than never, I guess.

1. What are your favorite ways to relax and unwind? NASCAR. Oh.. Relax? Hmm. Define please…

2. What do you do the moment you get home from work/school/errands? I work out of my home most of the time, so there really is no “moment”. haha.

3. What are your favorite aromatherapeutic smells? Coffee, Crab Cakes, and that “ozone” smell right before it rains.

4. Do you feel more relaxed with a group of friends or hanging out by yourself? With friends of course.

5. What is something that you feel is relaxing but most people don’t? Coding. (Programming for those of you who have no idea).

He said Zaccardi was facing forward while sitting on the front of the car with one hand on the hood and the other hand on her radio as the car pushed her along.

After a few seconds, Hullerman said, the man in the car tapped the accelerator and knocked her down.

Imagine that. Another representation of “professional” sportsmanlike conduct.

Randy Moss walked out of jail whistling Wednesday, charged with two misdemeanors instead of a possible felony for allegedly pushing a traffic agent a half-block with his car.

My opinion? Let him walk out of the Minnesota Vikings’ football organization, whistling while he comprehends the fact that the fans will not stand for his idiotic behavior.

I am heading off to the Baltimore area again tomorrow, so posting will probably be a little light for a few days, since I always get swamped when I am “in the office”.

Have a good week!

Another reason the young people of the world should NOT pick sports players as role models.

Of course, it’s not like they are REAL sports players anyway, they are with the METS ya know. <smirk> JUST KIDDING. Geeez. Don’t get your panties in a bind, I was only joking. Okay… So I wasn’t. HA!

Sky rockets in flight… Afternoon Delight…

Too bad they forgot to bring the gold plated engraved one again this time…

Ghosheh said explosions went off in the Palestinian presidential information center and the building where Arafat holds news conferences and town hall meetings.

ISRAEL has been struggling with a very difficult issue - just how to get rid of Yasser Arafat in the most efficient, least disruptive way.

But senior Israeli military officials have decided the best way is simply to bulldoze him into obscurity.

HaHa. I love it. Nothing says “we love you” like a Caterpillar in his face. HaHa.

Just when we thought things might change. (cough, okay, so I knew they wouldn’t).

“I hereby declare before you that Iraq is clear of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons,” Saddam said.

Of course, the U.N. resolution requires UNFETTERED ACCESS.

He said any inspectors must respect arrangements on Baghdad’s “sovereignty and security”.

This could mean access would be denied to some areas, like presidential palace grounds and other sensitive areas.

Yeah, that sounds like unfettered access to me. I think it is high time we let loose some UNFETTERED BOMBS to light up his world.