Share-cropper's Cabin

Photograph taken in 1936 by Walter Evans for the Farm Security Administration to alleviate rural poverty in the United States.

John Barth

"In unnaturally clear March twilight when the air is chill, one reflects upon passionate hearts now in their graves and wishes that the swiftly running hours were more intense."

~John Barth

From the Arkansas Democrat Gazette

TWO LOCAL MEN INJURED IN FREAK TRUCK ACCIDENT

Two local men were seriously injured when their pick-up truck left the road and struck a tree near Cotton Patch on Stater Highway 38 early Monday morning. Woodruff County deputy Dovey Snyder reported the accident shortly after midnight Monday.

Thurston Poole, 33, of Des Arc and Billy Ray Wallis, 38, of Little Rock are listed in serious condition at Baptist Medical Center.

The accident occurred as the two men were returning to Des Arc after a frog gigging trip. On an overcast Sunday night, Poole’s pick-up truck headlights malfunctioned. The two men concluded that the headlight fuse on the older model truck had burned out. As a replacement fuse was not available, Wallis noticed that the .22 caliber bullet from his pistol fit perfectly into the fuse box next to the steering wheel column. Upon inserting the bullet, the headlights again began to operate properly and the two men proceeded on the east-bound toward White River bridge.

After traveling approximately twenty miles and just before crossing the river, the bullet apparently overheated, discharged and struck Poole in the right testicle. The vehicle swerved sharply to the right exiting the pavement and striking a tree.

Poole suffered only minor cuts and abrasions from the accident, but will require surgery to repair the other wound. Wallis sustained a broken clavicle and was treated and released.

“Thank God we weren’t on the bridge when Thurston shot his nuts off or we might both be dead,” stated Wallis.

“I’ve been a trooper for ten years in this part of the world, but this is a first for me. I can’t believe that those two would admit how this accident happened,” said Snyder.

Upon being notified of the wreck, Lavina, Poole’s wife asked how many frogs the boys had caught and did anyone get them from the truck.

Friends

"The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson


"Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends."

~Czech Proverb


"You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you."

~Dale Carnegie


"When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends."

~Japanese Proverb


"I always like to know everything about my new friends, and nothing about my old ones."

~Oscar Wilde

Old and Older

Got Moxie

The White House

Therein:

Over one hundred rooms
Forty corridors and halls
Nineteen bathrooms
147 windows
412 doors
29 fireplaces
12 chimneys
3 elevators

Single Pigeon

The Last Rose of Summer

Sweet Smoke

From the 60 Minutes Interview with Miami Dolphin running back, Ricky Williams:

Mike Wallace: So, you still smoke marijuana?
Williams: Yes.
Wallace: Anything worse than that?
Williams: Worse? What do you mean by worse?
Wallace: More addictive, dangerous, conceivably?
Williams: Sometimes I have sweets. Sugar.
Wallace: Oh, yes I see.

The Yellow Breeches

Boiling Springs, PA

John & Harriet

John: I have no opinions at all.
Harriet: Nor do I.

Hmmm...

"You can't play hide the salami, or whatever it's called. He's got to go out there and say something about this woman."

~ Howard Dean, talking about President Bush and his Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers

Face from Yesteryear

Glen Echo Trolley

Funkytown

Currently

Reading: Truman by David McCullough ( Harry: a president you could sit down with and have a beer)

Watching: House, Boston Legal (Spader and Shatner are terrific)

Listening to: Chaos and Creation in the Backyard – Paul McCartney (not a bad album by Sir Paul)

Following: The Washington Redskins and the Penn State Nittany Lions (both undefeated at this point; there is a God)

Have had enough of: The Supreme Court confirmation process (I don't need to hear Joe Biden pontificating for three hours about how the nominee should behave. Let’s have an afternoon of questions, then cast the damned vote and move on)

Hankering for: the first Nittany apple of the season

Acquaintance

Acquaintance, n. A person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to.

~Ambrose Bierce

Essentials

WD-40
Duct Tape
Bounce

Patch radiator hoses

Patch pipes

Put strips in the bottom for a non-slip bathtub

Hold up that window that fell off the track or tape the piece of clear plastic over it

Patch the seat covers

Patch mufflers and tailpipes (needs frequent replacing)

If you're working on a car and cut yourself, use as a band-aid to keep the grease out

Tape computer cables out of the way

Tape an annoying person's mouth shut

Hang pictures and posters

Patch the kids wading pool

Repair split paperback book bindings

Repair eyeglass frames

Repair broken sandals

Weatherstrip windows and doors

Add to a regular book cover to make it indestructible

When doing yard work (shoveling, raking, etc.) put it on the areas likely to blister

Make a billfold

Max Revisited