Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Is This a Junior Samples Story?

Signs from the Sign Man:

HAPPY 37TH BIRTHDAY MIKE KIGHT JAN 30. FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

IN MEMORY OF BARBARO. 2006 KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER - A GREAT HORSE.

KEEP MRS MAXINE DORSEY IN YOUR PRAYERS - A SPECIAL PERSON.


The following story was e-mailed to me by some good friends just this week. It sounds so much like Junior Samples. Remember how he got started by telling his fish story to a game and fish man and ended up as a regular on Hee-Haw. A lot of times now I remember how he said, "Work is interfering with my fishing." It hinders a lot of good things I'd like to be doing, too.

PET FISH. . . .
A redneck was stopped by a game warden in Georgia recently with two
ice chests full of fish. He was leavin' a cove well-known for its
fishing.
The game warden asked the man, "Do you have a license to catch those
fish?"
"Naw, sir", replied the redneck. "I ain't got none of them there
licenses. You must understand, these here are my pet fish."
"Pet fish?"
"Yeah. Every night, I take these here fish down to the lake and let
'em swim 'round for awhile. Then, when I whistle, they jump right
back into these here ice chests and I take 'em home."
"That's a bunch of hooey! Fish can't do that."
The redneck looked at the warden for a moment and then said, "It's the
truth Mr. Government Man. I'll show ya. It really works."
"O. K.", said the warden. "I've got to see this!"
The redneck poured the fish into the lake and stood and waited. After
several minutes, the warden says,
"Well?"
"Well, what?", says the redneck.
The warden says, "When are you going to call them back?"
"Call who back?"
"The FISH", replied the warden!
"What fish?", replied the redneck.
Moral of the story: Georgia rednecks may not be as smart as some city
slickers, but they ain't as dumb as some government employees.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Shall We Gather at the River

Every year for a long time, at this time of the year, some people observe Sanctity of Life Sunday. Usually it's about sermons and lessons about abortion. Back when folks started the observance it included the issues of war and capital punishment. Now that our military is heavily involved in a foreign country which we invaded, this year's Sanctity of Life observance should center around the war.

Jesus was called the Prince of Peace. Nobody called him the Prince of War.
'Nuff said. Let's all stand and sing that song we know so well:

Down By the Riverside

Gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Gonna lay down my sword and shield
Down by the riverside
Ain't gonna study war no more.

refrain

I ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more,
Study war no more.
I ain't gonna study war no more,
I ain't gonna study war no more,
Study war no more.

Gonna stick my sword in the golden sand;
Down By the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Gonna stick my sword in the golden sand
Down by the riverside
Gonna study war no more.

refrain

Gonna put on my long white robe;
Down By the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Gonna put on my long white robe; Down by the riverside
Gonna study war no more.

refrain

Amen!

Sunday, January 28, 2007

Fire at the McDaniel Home



FIRST WEEK FEBRUARY 1977
The Lonnie McDaniel Home on Alabama was engulfed in flames as the firemen did their best. That's Malcolm Braddy at left with his butcher's apron, as he had hurried from his job at Harrell's. We're working on the other identification. Possibly "Goop" Wadley or L. G. Strickland.

Donkey Basketball

Signs from the Sign Man:

HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY JUMPER JOINER. FROM TINA AND KEVIN.

30 YEARS AGO DONKEY BASKETBALL WAS COMING TO TOWN.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANICE WALDEN JAN. 29. STILL LOOKS 25.

We had some great times at those basketball games. We used to pack them in, almost as full as when Wheeler traveled to Treutlen. For the boys games every seat was filled and people were standing at each end, and some were standing outside.

Honey Pot, the tyrant of the court, was ridden by Wayne Sumner 30 years ago. He spent more time on the floor than on the back of his untrusty steed, and he was sore for several days. The games were great fun and brought in funds for the athletic boosters, who spent the money to support school sports. The lovely Sharol King, waitress for the Corner Restaurant, won the contest to kiss Elvis --- an unlovely donkey. Would you like to see the picture?

There was an interesting story in a church bulletin insert about a civil rights lawsuit in Maryland. Amber Mangum was reading her Bible in the school cafeteria during her lunch period when she was informed that reading a Bible was a violation of the school's policy. The Rutherford Institute - a civil liberties organization has taken up the case, saying that Amber's actions fell within school policy.

Civil liberties organizations such as the UCLA are criticized for the work they do. Here is an example that the defense of constitutional and human rights works on both sides of the street.

I invite your comments. Thanks to my uge friends for their recent comment.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

We're On Line Too

The Sign Man just finished his evening's work. It has been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon.... Sorry. It has been a quiet week in Soperton. We are so proud that Phillips Jennings' Turf Farm got the contract for providing turf for Super Bowl that the Sign Man gave both sides of the sign for two whole days!
Nobody has asked to post a birthday or anniversary during the past few days.

So here's what the Sign Man came up with:
On the northwest side-

AMAZING GRACE HOW SWEET THE SOUND.

And on the southeast side-

WE ARE ON-LINE TOO.

He had been watching me print out my blog. Why print it? For the guys down at the coffee shop. A couple of them read the daily big-city papers and they saw the word. I thought I'd show them what my blog looks like.

I haven't checked into blogging enough to know much about it. I thought it might ruin a good hobby if I knew too much.

My roommate at RIT, the second year, commented that all the study of photography did was to ruin a good hobby.

Too much of my life has been spent following the directions. Since there's not a lot time remaining I've decided to find some other approaches. Many people stumble through life and get by just fine. In fact, they get good at it. I should have started earlier.

A while back I sent a note to Bernie at NAAV about what I was doing to support a piece of legislation in Congress. He was mystified, and was wondering if I had the right number. I had already disposed of the note, so I wasn't sure. While printing the blog, it jumped right out at me. I had mentioned it in the blog and it WAS the wrong number! It seemed right at the time. Since my first stroke, I've had a quirk in which I can't remember more than 3 digits at a time. It's very frustrating with telephone numbers. There's no problem with visual numbers, but when somebody speaks a number, it gets all tangled and digits are transposed. This was the first time I had caught myself transposing visual numbers. I'm losing it! I'm losing it fast!

Anyway, I started early posting the Sign Man's signs to my blog. He comes up with some gems.

The guys at the coffee shop and the ones at Crow-Mart may be surprised to find the signs on-line, and the Sidewalk Gallery on-line. If we had broadband, I'd haul my PowerBook down the street and show them a lot of other things that they may be missing.

I haven't bothered to correct the legislation number on the bill. Since it died at the end of the year, it will be reintroduced in some form this year, but with a new number. If Congress can stretch it out long enough, all the Atomic Veterans will be dead and we won't have to worry about giving them any benefits.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Please Write Your Congressman

You've noticed that one of my links is the PKD Foundation, and, if you don't already know, I have this genetic disease. It doesn't run in my family, but I feel sure that PKD and my other four genetic diseases are due to spontaneous mutation caused by exposure to radiation, while I was an Army photographer for the underground nuclear detonations at Nevada Test Site.

The PKD Foundation is working to find a cure for Polycystic Kidney Disease.

For the first time in FY2006, PKD was added as a research candidate in the Department of Defense Peer-Review Medical Research Program. Now PKD patients, such as I, are anxious to have that funding in the next appropriation, FY2008, which will begin next October.

In FY 2006, the program was funded at $50 million for disease specific research focused on conditions like PKD, cancer, asthma, diabetes, osteoporosis and several other illnesses.

Why should the Defense Department worry about PKD? Thousands of active duty military and civilian personnel may have the disease, based on a 1 and 500 prevalence rate of PKD. Most individuals enter military service in their teens or early 20s. The military will not realize the full service potential of these individuals before the full effects of PKD are apparent and they develop End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD or kidney failure), which will lead to costly transplants or dialysis.

To cure PKD would result in the saving of billions of dollars in to the military, Medicare, Medicaid and the Veterans Administration for dialysis, transplantation and related treatments.

Incredible scientific progress has been made in PKD research over the past 12 years, a significant part of it because of research funding from the federal government.

While PKD was included in the Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program for FY 2006, there are no guarantees about FY 2008.

Help keep this funding source available for future research efforts. Please e-mail, call, or write Senator Saxby Chambliss, Senator Johnny Isakson, and your Congressman. John Barrow represents the 12th district which includes Toombs, Emanuel, Johnson, Montgomery and Treutlen Counties. Jim Marshall represents the 8th district which includes Laurens County. Jack Kingston, a member of the appropriations committee, represents Wheeler County, Telfair, and Jeff Davis.

Thank you very much.

Signs by the Sign Man:

TURF AT SUPER BOWL 41 WAS GROWN BY SOPERTON'S OWN PHILIP JENNINGS/GREAT JOB!

TO JENNINGS TURF FARM: YOU MAKE SOPERTON PROUD!

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Train Wreck at Minter



JANUARY 4TH WEEK 1977
Herbert Warnock, Tobe Gillis and son Clinton, and Gene Muncus were among the crowd to watch the reassembly on many freight cars wrecked at Minter on a freezing cold day. Warnock and the elder Gillis began working on the railroad in the 1940's. Warnock left to become Clerk of Courts, while Gillis had 37 years behind him the picture was made. People came all the way from Vidalia just to see the train wreck.

Signs by the Sign Man:

STILL CRUISING AT 68. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PATRICIA COX. LOVE, CHILDREN AND GRANDS.

(The Sign Man is working on his Superbowl sign right now, and it will be posted later. He's smiling as his team won!)

Friday, January 19, 2007

Yes, You Can Raed Tihs

Don't delete this just because it looks weird. Believe it or not, you can read it.

I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervti sy, it deosn't mttaer in what oredr the ltteers in a word are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is that the first and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?

The above is one of the more interesting things I've found on internet lately.

It has been another stressful week. The car is still with the body man, and The Sign Man has been driving me to the absolutley essential places. Lucky that my house is less than two blocks from the office.

A few years back - quite a few, really - the retail business started moving to the other side of the creek. I'm not sure which was first but Kathy's Beauty Salon and the old E-Z Way Center have been there a long time. Waller's feed mile and osmose treating gave way to the Ricks Food Center which became the Ford dealership and then Mason's Auto Parts. Waller's gin and warehouse were demolished and eventually the Piglet Shopping Center replaced it. Farmers Furniture left its downtown location, the first store of the entire chain, and for over 30 years it has been on the north side of the creek. The Bank of Soperton celebrated its 100th anniversary by moving, in 2003, to the new building across the creek.

It's quite a walk - at least a half mile - from downtown to the new business district. Several times I debated this week whether to eat a cold ham sandwich at home or journey across the creek for a hot Subway or some Chinese. Since Reggie and Barbara retired, the downtown pickin's for lunch are slim. Dairy Queen is okay, and some of the convenience stores have pizza and fried chicken. I usually go to lunch about 1 pm, so it was a surprise when, on the one day that I chose the convenience store, they were already out of chicken.

I finally made it to the VA in Dublin for monthly labs, a week late. Then forgot to sign the privacy release so the reports could be faxed to the doctors. At least I got a real meal. Instead of my usual Junior, I got the full size Whopper with large fries and diet Coke. After filling up and hanging around veterans, I skipped the VFW meeting that night. It's just as well; they were having burgers.

The Sign Man has been busy, but I forgot to copy them down. City Clerk Becky Hooks was congratulated on her birthday. Crow-Mart had a few days of sales, including mattresses and the honeymoon special. Robert E. Lee was recognized on his 200th birthday with a Georgia notation of his having led the construction of Fort Pulaski.

On the sign at this moment:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISTY JACKSON. JAN 21. WE LOVE U - TYSON.

RELAY FOR LIFE. CHILI KICK OFF. JAN 20 3 PM. SUBWAY PARKING LOT.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Big Snow But Not the Biggest



JANUARY THIRD WEEK 1977

It wasn't the biggest snow. The really big snow was in February 1973, but the one in January 1977 was one of the biggest. Terrie, Jackie, and Joy spelled it out on a windshield.

Too Tired To Blog

Some of my friends say that I suffer depression. That's not true. I enjoy my depression. I just tire easily.

Here are recent signs by the Sign Man:

CROCODILE HUNTER 4 MONTHS LATER. RESPECT ALL ANIMALS.

SIGN MAN WELCOMES TIP TOES DANCE STUDIO.

TIME FOR ANNUAL TES JUMP ROPE HEART EVENT.

CROW-MART. BEST FISHING STORIES. ASK ABOUT A HONEYMOON SPECIAL.

HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY TO M.E. POWELL FROM WIFE AND FAMILY. WE LOVE U.

DR MLK JR. YOUNGEST AWARDED NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.

Saw a friend in Vidalia the other day, and she is actually reading my blog!

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Grace To You

Recent Signs by the Sign Man:

11TH PERSON MENTIONS CAKE TO SIGNMAN ON JAN 11 GETS ONE.

IN GOD WE TRUST.

BOBBY HAMILTON. U WILL BE MISSED. RACING IN HEAVEN TODAY.

LOOKING GOOD AT 95. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMIE ANDREWS.

OHIO STATE WHO.

TEBOW 15. WAY TO GO! 41-14 GATORS.

While I was waiting for the Sign Man to do his thing, I went to my Bible link and searched "grace". Mention of the word on Book TV on C-SPAN plus a illustrated "forward" from a friend got me to thinking about it.

There are 159 references to "grace" in the King James Version, 37 in the Old Testament and 122 in the New Testament. Most of the New Testament references are by Paul. Here are three of them from Galations:

Galatians 2:21
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 2:20-21 (in Context) Galatians 2 (Whole Chapter)

Galatians 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Galatians 5:3-5 (in Context) Galatians 5 (Whole Chapter)

Galatians 6:18
Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Galatians 6:17-18 (in Context) Galatians 6 (Whole Chapter)

Marvelous grace! Nuff said?

Saturday, January 6, 2007

County Officers 1977



First Week January 1977
County Officers
Left-Right, Top-Down:
P. Hooks, G. Higgs, C, Zeigler, B. Driggers, J. Mullis
L. Gillis, S. Sherrod, M. Williamson, D. Paige, C. Griner, J. C. Warnock
J. C. Burke, R. H. Warnock, L.Thigpen, H. Burns, J. C. Stephens

To Add Troops or Not To Add Troops

Signs by the Sign Man:

JIM L GILLIS SR - 'MR JIM' - BORN 01-06-1892.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SUE GRAHAM ON JAN 6.

LORDY LORDY WHO IS 44. FRAN JONES JAN 6.

The Bush Administration is talking "surge" - sending more troops to Iraq.

Reminds me of Vietnam. I was there for the peak build-up. It was comforting to have a lot of company, but 99 44/100ths of the troops just wanted to be back home. When I've met a few families with a troop in Iraq, they want him or her back home, and when they come home they don't want to go back. Sounds reasonable.

War is serious business, and we shouldn't be going to war without good reason and without planning and counting the cost:
What are the pros and cons for an invasion?
How will it be perceived by the whole world and for how long?
How prepared are we militarily?

Counting the cost means the lost lives, on both sides, the effect on families, the cost of medical care, the cost of reputation.
The nation committed to World War II at home and abroad. Shouldn't we do the same for any war?

Regardless of what we knew a few years ago, Iraq turned out to be a big mistake, and it's hard to decide what to do next.
If the administration wanted more troops, they should have said so before the election. Lives are too important to waste on indecision or untimely decisions.

Thursday, January 4, 2007

True or False II

If you didn't come up with some quick answers on the True or False test, try the following:

http://www.randombits.org/pages/viewpage.action?spaceKey=RB&title=Fact+or+Fiction&decorator=printable

Signs by the Sign Man:
PROUD PARENTS GLEN AND RACHEL STEWART HAAVE A 9 LB 3 OZS BIG BOY.

HAPPY BRITHDAY JIMMY STEPTOE. STILL SEXY AT 60. JAN 4 2007.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SA MAYIAH.

NANCY PELOSI. FIRST LADY SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. HIGHEST RANKING WOMAN EVER.

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

True or False?

Sign by the Sign Man:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DENISE JOHNSON FROM YOUR FAMILY.

DID U KNOW? GEORGIA'S PERIMETER IS 1051 MILES.

True or False:

Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S. Treasury.

Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.

Coca-Cola was originally green.

Leave your answer in the comments.

Monday, January 1, 2007

Happy New Year!

From the signman:
JAN 1 2007. ENJOY THE BLACKEYED PEAS, GREENS AND THE HOG JOWLS.

TODAY IN HISTORY:
J. P. Mixon was born January 1, 1870. He was a lifelong resident of the county and represented the county in the Georgia House of Representatives 1921-1922.

How quickly a year becomes obsolete! Seems like just yesterday we were living in 2006. Before the following becomes "old hat" let me pass this on. Can't remember who sent or where I "stole" it:

YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2006 when...
1.  You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.
2.  You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3.  You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6 You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if any one is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
12. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.
13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.
14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.
15.  You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list.
AND NOW U R LAUGHING at yourself.
Go on, forward this to your friends. You know you want to!

Now, are you ready to move on to 2007?