When one hears that they wish to keep the "home fires burning", it means to wait for someone to come back to that home where, indeed, the fire is burning... That said, when one is experiencing a tonne of work or other issues, they say that they are putting out a few fires.

Well, everyone here is home... save us missing the University-bound middle stepling... but there's a TONNE of "homework" to do... (Lot's of repairs, re-wiring, setting-up, patching, etc.) so I have to spend my day putting out fires while stoking them as well... and it's for all the right reasons... which lead me to a simple blessing...

My blessing today is to have a home and a family where it's a pleasure to help putting out some fires, and keep others burning.

Basically, I'm lovin' getting to play the part of the "proper dad" today.

Like I said, short and sweet today!

Blog Your Blessing Sundays is a creation of NeoBluePanther... who may or may not be the famed Luchador!

Despite all the things I have to keep me going, believe it or not, sometimes I get bored. I know, you're shocked...

That said, one of those times, long ago, I was looking for information on an actor... someone who I'd seen many times as a kid and I also knew he had a music career to boot.

I went online, desperately trying to remember this fellows name... and ended up on a site through my searches... The Dead People Server.

Now, this was a few years back... before the IMDB had really hit a stride... so finding this page with my search parameters came as a shock... after all, I didn't think this fellow was no longer with us... and if he was, it would be like losing a tiny bit more of my youth with memories of his movies still fairly fresh in my noggin.

Indeed, at the time, he wasn't deceased... he was quite alive! This is because the "DPS" catalogues pretty much everyone of note... and lets you know if they are with us or have joined the choir invisible... and as stated, my chap indeed was with us back then.

Well, imagine my surprise when this week, I flipped on to the DPS main page and sadly, there he was...

Jerry Reed, he of country music fame and Burt Reynolds' movies, passed away on August 31st...

I know what you're thinking...

Aren't you an old "gothy" kinda guy? What gives with country music and Burt movies?

Well, I admit... and please, don't hate me... I'm not a country music fan... that said, however, I am an old Burt Reynolds movie fan... and have very fond memories of watching the flicks on TV with my dad many moons ago.

...and as a guitarist, I never held a "preference" for styles when it comes to talent... and Jerry Reed was a very talented guitarist.

Ergo: Yes, I can hold a small if imperfect candle towards the memory of Jerry Reed... who's life lead me to a website that, rather disturbingly, lead me to find out about his recent departure.

It's been an odd sorta week.

On Tuesday, I did a "half-butt" post about the current Vice Presidential candidate for the American Republican Party, Sarah Palin.

I pointed out what I thought was a bit of a failing in the fact that she preaches abstinence for "sex education" and tells her constituents that this is the best plan... and then had to announce that her seventeen year-old daughter was pregnant out of wedlock... and we must assume this was an "unplanned" pregnancy.

My feelings on this were that we teach our kiddollo not to play with matches... but still teach her the importance of what to do if she is burned, why we keep the battery in the smoke alarm in her bedroom and the one in our hallway fresh, and how and what to do if she needs to escape our home.

We also do believe that she should look both ways before crossing a street, but teach her to only walk at intersections and cross-walks.

Effectively, it would be great if all the kids in the world did what we want them to... but it's not reality... and we need to protect them and ensure that they are "good" no matter what the situation.

Apparently, teaching "abstinence only" was not effective for her daughter... and yeah, when someone preaches to others how to behave, and neglects to tend to their own back yard, I see a failing.

That said, I pointed out that "Troopergate" was worse... the story is that she fired a public safety commissioner in her home state of Alaska when he would not not fire her (in the process of becoming her "ex",) brother-in-law. Basically, she says it was over performance issues... but there is an investigation ongoing... and it doesn't look good. She has a lawyer helping with the case... he's on the government's payroll to do so.

I could now cite things like her also using the same "forcefulness" to try and dismiss a local librarian from the town where she was mayor. The reason? Apparently, the librarian did not give "full support to her mayor"... why? The mayor wanted to ban books that had "foul" language.

Then there is her minister at her church... who warned that critics of President Bush might be banished to Hell and that people who voted for John Kerry might not gain entry to Heaven... The same church where a guest speaker described terrorist attacks on Israelis as God's "judgment of unbelief" of Jews who haven't embraced Christianity. When compared to the howling about Obama Barrack's former pastor, one has to scratch their head a touch.

Of course, there's the "Bridge to Nowhere" issue... where Governor Palin axed what looked like a bad bit of business where a congressional initiative ponied up $233 million of the taxpayers money... yes, Palin was instrumental in killing this project, but did not return the taxpayers' money. In fact, while mayor she hired a Washington lobbying firm to secure almost $27 million in federal earmarks, which was about $1,000 per resident. This is exactly what McCain has fought against for years. It didn't stop when she took over the governor's desk. In February, she sent Republican Senator Ted Stevens a 700-page memo outlining nearly $200 million in new funding requests for her state. The money? Well, it's "eventually" going to go toward Alaskan roads... which is worthy, but didn't save the taxpayers a red cent.

Then, to return to the top of this, she slashed the funding of Covenant House Alaska by more than 20 percent... which included Passage House which is a place to help teenage mothers become self-sustaining parents.

Sources for this?
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1837918,00.html?imw=Y
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/02/by_juliet_eilperin_when_alaska.html
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/09/palins_past_pastor_bushfoes_he.html
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13098.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/reportsfromabroad/champblog/2008/09/paying_a_high_price_for_palin.html
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/02/palin_slashed_funding_to_help.html

Now, with all this in mind, I had to do a "big no-no" in the blogsphere... and delete a comment.

Why?

Well, on my post on Tuesday, I was accused of being a misogynist.

Now, that alone would NOT have made me censor something... although as a son, brother, step-father, and husband, I had to laugh a little... and it's the FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I've been accused of this.

No, I deleted the comment because the poster needed a thesaurus rather badly... basically, the diatribe was laced with invectives, foul language, and was generally pointless other than to tell me how evil and awful a person I am for picking on this woman and her daughter... as well as more than a couple of lines tossed in about what kind of parent I am for being so mean to women.

I find it funny that bloggers who go out of their way to post Barrack Obama's middle name (Hussein) in "All Caps"... who proudly placed images of him dressed as a terrorist on their blogs... who went after Hillary Clinton "tooth and nail"... have suddenly become the moral compass we all desperately need to listen to.

I am and have not mocked Bristol Palin for her situation... far from it, I have nothing but genuine concern and feeling for someone in her position... doubly-so for the fact that her's is so in the public... and, at this rate, might be blamed for turning a page in history.

That said, if a man was as "guilty" of the things her mother is, I would be just as appalled and horrified that they had managed to get as close to what is arguably the highest position of power on the planet.

Sorry to say, genitalia has little to do with what I see as a concern... character has everything to do with it.

If you need to CONTINUE to label me, so be it... but it won't change the facts... and it won't change how I feel...

Realistically, telling me about the "banning of books" would have been enough on it's own... but add the rest...!

I still wonder why the McCain folks thought this rolling train wreck of a politician would be a good choice for Veep? I can't imagine it was for her speech making abilities alone... or was it?

Addendum: (From 07:07 EST)...

Indeed.

Hat Tip to The Raw Story...

Ah, I run back to the original "Book of Lists" for an idea... which I've done a similar list like the one I'm doing now before... but this time, IN REVERSE!

Yup, I've told you who I'd LOVE to do dinner with, now let me tell you who I would say We'd love to, but sorry... we're sorting our sock drawer that day!

I'm going to skip over obvious ones like Hitler, Stalin, Bernardo, Olson, and all my ex-girlfriends together... and go with a list that may contain some name you may not be familiar with... but you soon will be!

So, without further adieu, here's...

#13: Michel Lotito

...only for fear of losing my silverware, table, pets... anything that isn't nailed down... and even then.

#12: Mr. Patrick Edwards

In my opinion, the world doesn't need any Routemaster haters!

#11: Rev. Fred Phelps

I have a DISTINCT impression that his and his followers version of "hate" is not really based anywhere other than in lawsuits, I'd fear that I'd lose it and end up in court for "stifling his legal right" to be a complete cretin.

#10: Bill O'Reilly

Because I am a historian... amongst other reasons.

#9: Ingrid Newkirk

PETAs founder and I do not share a lot of common philosophies... like I don't believe in harming animals and she... well...

#8: (The Late) Ed and (The Not-Late) Lorraine Warren

I hate picking on folks who aren't around anymore... but these two "demonologists" set a money-grabbing and "stretching-the-truth" tone that has set back my study centuries in many of the educated public's eyes. Click here to see what I mean.

#7: Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney

Now, I know... I'm picking on a certain type of people again... and I do apologise... but something in my guts tells me that when all the smoke clears (and it could be a LONG while,) we will really get a clear indication of certain things relating to choices in the Bush administration and the company he "didn't have anything to do with anymore" Haliburton... and it really, Really, REALLY won't be good... and America and the world will not be amused at all.

#6: Ann Coulter

Where do I start here? Well, the easiest is to note that as a proud Canadian, I really, Really, REALLY dislike her... unless she finally 'fesses up to being a socialist plant to discredit the Right with her stupidity.

The dinner disinvite goes double if she's bringing a date.

#5: Kellie Pickler

Sorry, if you don't know why, allow me to remind you...

#4: Nannie "The Giggling Granny" Doss

We all have "grannies" that cook for us... most are good... and then, there's this one. I know she SHOULD qualify in my "Ain't Doin' Serial Killers" bit, but there's something really eerie about a killer named "The Giggling Granny".

#3: Mary "Typhoid Mary" Mallon

Y'know, I'd be more forgiving of good ol' Typhoid Mary... if she hadn't made the same (and caught doing it) mistake MORE THAN ONCE.

#2: Pretty much everyone on this list...

Aside from being politically opposite, these folks have done much that is truly SCREAMworthy...

#1: Sawney Bean

...if you don't know who this fellow was, click here... and if you do time-travel and meet him, I suggest NOT doing a potluck... especially unarmed.

Been a while since I visited Ian's Bus Stop... and scavenged some goodly Wordless material! (These ones from his photos from Worcester Park Running Day)

For the learned, yes, this is a "dream photo" for me with TWO RLH buses... and a lovely RT too. RLH 61 and RLH 23 together...

...had to do ONE green one for ya! (RT 3148 to be precise!)

Thanks, as always, to Ian's Bus Stop for the photos!

For a list of other Wordless Wednesday participants, please click here.

If you gotta make a stand... make sure it's not on a pile of steaming dung...

From the Ceeb...

Train wreck politics...

Um...

Um...

Um...

Um...

Um...

...let alone... which is even worse than the above... which made the news yesterday too...

...either way...

Um... no.

I'm not a fan, I admit... but still, allow me to ask... John McCain, what were you thinking!?!

(...and please, don't say that this had anything to do with it.)

Gotta comment on three "Entertainment" stories from the Beeb last week too...

Michael Jackson sings Robbie Burns

...and millions upon millions of fans of the Scots Bard weep. Apparently, the Gloved One has set some of Robbie Burn's poems to "modern music" in a recording session. Billy Jean, that's my bonnie lassy!

Um... no.

Aaron Sorkin is making "Facebook: The Movie"

...because only the creator of things like "The West Wing", "A Few Good Men", and "Sports Night" can do justice to the story of Harvard geeks making good. On the face of it, it sounds to me like being as riveting as watching paint dry... with less action.

Um... no.

Mulder enters rehab because he likes sex

Dear Tea Leoni... you shoulda taken up my offer of marriage a few years back. Too late now, I'm with Sue. That said, I have a difficult time with the concept of "Sex Addiction"... seems to me all of us in some ways HAVE this problem to a degree... after all, as a species, we're really built to procreate... only there seems to be only a select few of us can afford to act on it consistently enough to make it worthy of a visit to rehab. Sorry, Mr. Duchovny...

Um... no.

Hat-tip for stories and images to The CBC and The BBC... No infringement intended. All images and links are used assuming "Fair Use"/"Fair Dealing" and may be removed at the request of the original copyright holder with limited notice.

...until my government passes possible new laws, that is.

First up, I ain't gonna lie here... this was written before Labour Day and "Time Stamped" for a couple of good reasons...

Firstly, I'm a computer tech by trade, so working on computers, even a personal project like this one, still feels like work... and therefore, being labour day and all, I'm taking a day away from the screen except to check in now and again.

Secondly, it's the last day of The Canadian International Air Show... and Sue and I being aviation enthusiasts on top of everything else will be heading out to watch the show with the kiddollo... There's two aircraft in particular (the Talon and the Spitfire) I'm going to be excited and happy to watch put through their paces... and of course, I still get excited to see The Snowbirds... (GET THESE GUYS SOME NEW PLANES ALREADY!!!)

...where was I? Oh yes, I was digressing...

That said, there is SOME news in the Good Doctor front... and although it may SEEM like spoilers, I'd take it with a LARGE grain of salt considering the source...

Britain's The News of the World did an article (hat tip to Blogtor Who for posting it) that says a few things... all of which, through my studying and reading, have some levels of "truthiness" to them.

- Two of the four 2009 specials will be filmed in the United States.

Probably... and NotW cites the American Sci-Fi channel being the reason for this, what with the fan base of the show in North America growing like a bad weed.

This is LIKELY true... but I can't see the second major sponsor of the current show (The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) being too cool with this... and it could be the standard British non-understanding that America and Canada are actually two different and sovereign nations. I do see the shows being filmed in North America, sure, but my money's on Vancouver, British Colombia, being the likely place for the effort.

- There will be an American "companion" for the doctor... a "big name" star at that.

Very likely. Again, Vancouver would lend itself to this as many American shows film there and it's not a long trek between LA and Vancouver... and a familiar American starlet would add a touch of clout to the growing North American audience.

We can all start to speculate now as to who this companion might be!

- Show creator/producer/writer Russel T. Davies has said they are spending WAY more than usual on these four specials than a standard program.

This one's probably very accurate. First of all, it's Mr. Davies' last shows before handing the reigns to Stephen Moffat... and it's well known he wants to go out with a BIG bang, so to speak... but it also provides some evidence to my thoughts of Canada, not America, being the location of the shows... CBC would be more willing to pump money into things being filmed in Canada than in Los Angeles.

- Speaking of Stephen Moffat, according to the article, a "film" version of Doctor Who (in some form) is in the works.

I'd give this about a 45% chance... it's now known that Moffat, who worked with Stephen Spielberg on the new Tintin movie script has talked about it, and there was a BIG rumour that Spielberg wanted to discuss a "Who" movie with him... capped off with his statement that he made that "the world would be a poorer place without Doctor Who" (source)... but I ask those who are fans... How would you do a 90 minute Doctor Who movie for those who may be completely unfamiliar with the characters and concepts? You'd need 90 minutes just to bring folks up to speed! It would be a VERY tricky thing...

Although, there is This as well... (Look who's #1!) so there is a chance of fiscal success for such a product.

Granted, Moffat and the departing Davies both have said that a film is "okay" as long as it doesn't impede the television offerings.

- Here's the one that might send a collective shiver through everyone... The specials will be David Tennant's last appearances and he'll "regenerate" into a new leading man during them.

Here's where I waffle... but I wonder if it's out of fandom.

I am a big "mark" for David Tennant's Doctor... as is the whole family... and NotW "predicted" Tennant was going to leave the role twice in the past already... so I don't know...

Not to mention, Tennant's growing popularity with fans is a given... and if you're trying to woo North Americans, probably not a great idea to deep-six one of the more charismatic "Doctors" to come along in a while.

I know that if this WAS an American production, he would simply be offered an obscene salary to stick about... enough to make things pretty much a given... and reports DID say that The Beeb was ponying up a goodly sum... not a "Friends" version of a salary, but a decent amount of coin.

My instincts tell me expect our illustrious "Tenth Doctor" to be around until 2011... after that, I would expect a regeneration. This would be the fiscal and fan-base "wise" thing to do... and allow North Americans to "catch up" with a proven Doctor.

If anyone cares, my top five fave Doctors are still...

#1: David Tennant
#2: Tom Baker
#3: Jon Pertwee
#4: Christopher Eccleston
#5: Sylvester McCoy

...and I do hold a VERY warm spot in my heart for Peter Davison of course, but I have to "stay true" to my Doctors!

Why bring this up...

Because, despite the facts, the rumour MIGHT be true... but I'm clouded as I am a fan.

Hey, I try to be neutral... but cut me some slack.

Of course, I do have my idea of who SHOULD be the Eleventh Doctor... but I'll keep that under my hat for now.

NOT from the News of the World article... and often discussed on the Doctor Who Forum is a rumour that even "I" have some possible scoop on...

Better than average chance (really, almost a given,) through some little birds of my own and somewhat confirmed through the above mentioned forum... expect the fellow below to make an appearance...

...and this guy too...

...during the four specials.

...oh, and don't forget... Catherine Tate said she WOULD be interested in "The Return of Donna"... (it's also been demi-confirmed that she's spoken to Stephen Moffat about this,) which I'd like... and with that, perhaps more Wilf???

NOTHING CONFIRMED, but it's all from goodly sources.

Quick hat-tip to "Jess" from Planet Gallifrey who has returned after a five week hiatus... I don't know "Jess" personally, but I do thank her for a great source for news and Who-Shtuff!

This blog is a "fan blog" only... and not related to or in any way officially involved with the production of Doctor Who. Doctor Who is copyright © by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). No infringement intended. All images, texts, videos, or audio attachments are used assuming "Fair Use"/"Fair Dealing" and, if used here, may be removed at the request of the original copyright holder with limited notice.

It's rare I fall back on posting nothing but a media clip, and I'm REALLY not doing it now... but bear with me...

Unless you loath Beethoven... or really hate classical music... I entreat you to click "Play" on the file below before carrying on...

Growing up, my mother played piano... pretty much constantly. Her favourites were actually show tunes and more "contemporary" songs, but she'd mix in plenty of classical music as well.

She made sure I had a good grounding in music... an appreciation for all types and styles... but I always gravitated to classical... Bach was my favourite... followed closely by Handel... then Mozart... then Beethoven... the list goes on...

Even today, when stress and worries get to me, the sound of the music you're listening to is beyond soothing... it allows me to escape to a more elegant and gentler world within my own head.

One memory classical music also brings to me is a fond memory of listening to a busking violinist in the Paris Metro many years ago that brought my mother to tears...

I remember that incident well despite being over three-decades ago... oddly enough, we were on our way to visit Père Lachaise and in the station we disembarked from (most likely Station Philippe Auguste, but I can't be sure...) was a young man... playing a piece on a violin with unbelievable skill and passion... and my mother, being a somewhat reserved woman, moved away from the crowds... stopped... listened... and started to cry. I asked her why and she said how it reminded her of listening to people practise at The Royal Conservatory...

Kind of extra touching as we were about to visit Chopin's resting place amongst others.

...but the image is in my mind still... of a Paris Metro, a lone violinist... and my mother crying not of true pain, but of a glad and happy memory she has of her own youth.

Classical music evokes many memories for me... the most precious is that of simply being a kid... sitting on the couch... listening to the strains of my mother's prized Lesage sing to me...

I can't really elaborate any more on this blessing... save to say that the music truly saves me more often than not.

My blessing today is the music in our lives... and the memories it stirs...

It doesn't have to be classical... and it probably isn't for most people... as long as it brings up good and strong memories...

Heck, I could have easily included Charles Aznavour, Jim Croce, or even John Denver instead as they all contain memories of my parents listening to music... and therefore, we would be listening in to.

...but that Lesage piano... my memories of it's incredible sound and my mother making it sing to us... as a memory... and the affect of that music on me... that will always be a blessing.

Blog Your Blessing Sundays is a creation of NeoBluePanther... who may or may not be the famed Luchador!

I've seen this complained about on a couple of blogs... Basically, the blogger in question is taking a day off... or general time off... and does a post to show that, indeed, they aren't posting.

To some, this seems like a complete and utter lack of imagination... and a trifle redundant... either you ARE posting... or you're not.

Most of the complaining bloggers cite that a post ENDING with I'm taking a day off tomorrow or the like would be acceptable, but a post to simply say I'm not posting something today apparently is not acceptable.

Where I find myself thinking about this complaint is what about a day like today for me?

I mean, much as I've spent hours trying to think of something witty or poignant to burn the pixels of your screen, I am, as usual, completely and totally bankrupt of ideas... well, at least ideas that would fill this space...

I've tried... gone through the news... gone through favoured blogs... gone through message boards, newsgroups, and general public chats... and although there ARE things to talk about, I just can't get the synapses to fire and create a worthy post to discuss things... or possibly illuminate or otherwise "broadcast" anything relevant.

I could get all political and discuss this which burned me up... this that made me think and feel bad for some very silly people... or this that made me chuckle.

I could even delve into pop culture and discuss things like this which was followed by this shortly after... but dear God that seems so vapid.

Nah... I think I'll stay quiet for now.

Sure, it could be put down to laziness on my part... perhaps even a bit of sloth... but realistically, it's the ultimate case of absolute writers block... or something like it.

Ergo: As much as some purists might complain, I'm left with really no options other than to say I don't have anything in the cerebral tank to whack out on the ol' keyboard for you today.

I have a "blessing" in mind for tomorrow, (I find those memes really do write themselves,) and I have ONE bit of questionable and frightening bit of news for Doctor Who Monday... but for today, nada... nuthin' but fumes.

So, you'll forgive me today for not writing anything except the apology for not writing anything today...

...wait a second...

Oh crud! I just realised, this INDEED is a full post!

Well then! To those who MIGHT have been offended by my SUPPOSED lapse of presenting anything when the evidence clearly shows that I have, allow me to virtually stick my tongue out and chant some school-yard mantra like Nyeah! Nyeah! Nyeah! at you!

See? Even in creative bankruptcy, One Old Green Bus PRODUCES!!!

...and I even was able to use the picture of the bunny with pancakes on it's head again!

It's a good day after all!

No, this is NOT an "Oprah Slam"... been there, done that... and Sue still occasionally watches the show... which is what this is about really.

She watched a show recently where they brought in lottery winners who probably would have been MUCH better off had these people picked the wrong numbers "way back when".

Sue and I, like most people, have discussed what we'd do with a big win... and we almost always start with the idea that the single most important thing is to ensure it lasts...

I doubt anyone who wins doesn't think that, but Sue watched as a parade of people went through the show telling tales of legitimate woe... how they went through literally millions and were left with nothing... sometimes, less than nothing.

It's not really all that surprising... as "found money" is the easiest to spend... and people forget things like property taxes and the ever-present hands that our out...

Still, I wondered and did a little bit of digging... and surprisingly, the reason you hear the horror stories so often is they are not completely rare, but certainly not the norm.

Most people seem to do what I know I'd do almost immediately... and head to the bank or a good financial adviser. the quote that stuck out for me was from an article written by Ellen Roseman for The Toronto Star in 2006 where she quoted a fellow named Jeffrey Rosenthal from The University of Toronto who did a study of lottery winners.

Apparently, according to the article, Prof. Rosenthal found that in his survey of almost three-hundred people that had won over one-million dollars (winner who had won between 1991 and 2006) showed that the winners "showed a strong streak of [fiscal] conservatism."

Only 43% gave up their jobs, returned to school, or opened their own business... and 95% of respondents sought professional financial advice.

Basically, his findings belied the idea that most lottery winners sift through their winnings and go broke soon afterwards.

Even stranger is that I was only able to find three documented cases of Canadian winners going through any major troubles after (and "caused by") their lottery wins... whereas even the Toronto Star article, to cite the negative impact, cited cases in The United States to support the "worst-case-of-good-luck" scenario.

One thing I've always found fascinating is how I do know people that have won "semi" large lotteries... in and around the hundred-thousand mark... who did pay off their debts, but ended up blowing it all on something like new cards and the like.

We even know, through friends, someone who won $3million... who bought an expensive home and lavished gifts on family who did end up with very little (as their expenditures quickly outstripped their capital,) and ended up back at work... and selling the mansion for a more modest home... but still, they were not completely empty-handed and not really terribly bitter for the experience.

...but none-the-less, not all "found money" people seem to end up in bad places... most seem pretty realistic about things.

I guess it would be easy to see $1million as a great ticket... in Canada, it would be tax free... but in a city like mine where the average house sells for between $350,000.00 through to $1,000,000.00 (on average, depending on location... the ACTUAL Toronto housing price "average" is a touch under $450,000.00...) it wouldn't really be a retirement amount... unless you were willing to move and "pare-down" your lifestyle a bit... it could be done, but not really in Toronto on only a million. (Geez! "Only" a million... sounds like I got that in loose change in my grey business suit's breast pocket!)

There's no doubt that SOME (a very small percentage) of people could use the kick-in-the-logic about the possible downs of a large money find... but I do wonder if Oprah had "cherry-picked" people to make it sound like winning a lottery or coming into a large sum of money was one of the worst things a person could go through?

Seems to me, if you're reading this and you're one of those lucky folks, that you should do what the 95% of the respondents to Prof. Rosenthal suggested... talk to a good financial adviser... perhaps through a large bank... and try to enjoy your fortune, but plan for the future.

I guess it's like this... I do play ONE lottery regularly... and it's rare that it's jackpot goes beyond $500,000... let alone a million... this is based on "averages"... and because the tickets for it are cheap. It's also okay as my TRUE goals for my family are as follows...

#1: Make sure the kids are looked after, going to school, and are healthy.

#2: Pay down all our existing debts.

#3: Own a good home.

#4: Make sure #1 through #3 above are stable.

Beyond that, everything's gravy.

Ergo: A big chunk of money, should it fall into our hands, is NOT going to immediately buy several buses, pay for an "around the world cruise", or likewise be squandered on frivolities... unless the four things above are well looked after... then we might "spoil" ourselves...

...if our financial expert will allow us to.

So, chin up! Despite Oprah's shows and some horror stories, winning the lottery is not the end of the world for most folks!

I've brought "Teh Funneh" for a few Thursday Thirteens in a row... so now it's time to switch gears a tiny bit... because this one's been burning a hole in my collective brain cells for a few days now.

Our kiddollo is now heading into the home stretch of teenagehood... and as such, I find it (as most parents... or in my case, EVIL step-parent... finds it) difficult to discuss certain things with her.

I know I will get my chance soon... and I have no plans of not taking every given opportunity to try and communicate things... but allow me to commit to "pixels"...

#13: Never be happy with any answer until there is no doubt left in your mind.

Never accept anything until you're comfortable that it is correct and you could justify it to anyone else. This will lead to a lifetime of examination and learning... and you will never be bored or lonely when you contemplate the possibilities and look for the evidence of things in this wonderful universe we are in. In the long run, no one ever suffered from being too clever.

#12: Never be afraid to dream... and never be afraid to talk about those dreams.

If you always hold your dreams and hopes quietly to yourself, then people will never know if or how they can help you... and really, the majority of the people on this rock in space are actually willing to at least listen and impart some form of assistance.

#11: Always help when you can and it's practical.

As stated above, the majority of humans on this planet are good people... so you should always try to return the favour... even if it's in advance. If you ignore a request for help when you are capable of doing something, it speaks far more about you then of the person asking for assistance.

#10: Your first avenue of improvement is always yourself.

Never tell anyone how to improve anything unless you know you can and have done a similar improvement yourself. Speak always, when possible, from experience.

#9: Always ask. The worst anyone can say is no.

Simple enough... and true for anything.

#8: Never be afraid to lose or not come in first... but learn and always come back a little wiser and a lot stronger.

Life lessons often suck... and "hard knocks" are no fun... but remember, any weakness can become a strength if you learn from it. The only regret you'll truly have in life are those thing you never try. There's no shame in losing... there is in never bothering to try.

...and remember, intelligence is strength, and sometime it's a sign of strength to know how to avoid certain things as much as it's a strength to barrel through them.

#7: Diplomacy should always be the first line of defence and offence.

Brute force might sound like a good idea, but really you should always try negotiation first... perhaps any opponent you have can help you if you help them... and then there is no opposition, only mutual progress... and if your opposite number feels the need to continue to be at odds with you, think of the energy that is being wasted in that battle... and where it might be better spent.

#6: If you need to argue, only argue the facts and data of something... never the personality of the person you're opposing.

If in an argument, someone degenerates to name-calling or simply becomes dismissive without just cause, walk away... you won that argument.

#5: Live firstly by the credo: "Deeds, not words." Live secondly by the credo: "Adopt, Adapt, Improve."

The world has far too many armchair quarterbacks... and if something is not to your liking, try to find the bits of it you can work with and then try to change them to be better for you and everyone else. It is easier and more permanent to change a system from within than desperately hacking away at it from the outside.

#4: Remember that anyone and everyone must be given a chance and seen as equal until they prove otherwise... and that can be prove themselves better than expected, or worse... but never prejudge anyone for any reason.

To judge someone because of a faith, philosophy, place of origin, physical appearance, or other veneer of being human is closing most of the world off to endless possibilities and experiences. Never isolate yourself, always expand, explore, and learn... and grow with the people around you.

#3: Try to never utter the words, I don't care.

Hate is not the true enemy... apathy is.

#2: People will only ever have as much power over you as you are willing to give them.

If you allow people to dictate your every thought and action without resistance or questions, you will never, ever truly be free.

#1: Never forget that your love, respect, and trust are precious... and must be earned.

Remember watching Yau-Man Chan on Survivor? How your mother and I really got all excited by his philosophy? Allow me to remind you of it again... Love many. Trust few. Harm none. These are the most sage words I've ever heard... and are not cynical or negative in the least. Live by them and your heartaches will be few and far between... and your joys will honestly be in abundance. Make sure anyone who gets all the way into your heart is worthy to be there. You're very precious... and therefore should only allow the best to be a full part of your life.

Bonus: There is nothing in life that can not and will not be overcome eventually. There will be other days. There will be more adventures. There will be more to life.

Never, ever even feel the need to give up!

And never forget...

If anytime in the future you have doubts, no matter what happens... no matter how awful it may seem... no matter how things are going... your mother, your father, your sisters, and even your evil stepfather will always love you, look out for you, and help you in any way we can.