Spam, Anyone?

I decided to empty my Spam folder in Gmail today. I only do this once every two or three weeks. First let me say, that I hate spam and have never opened a message in my spam folder.

I looked up Spam on Wikipedia, and to my surprise there are several definitions:

Spam (Monty Python), a Monty Python comedy sketch. The "Spam" in the sketch refers specifically to the meat. Most later uses of "spam" refer in one way or another to undesirable repetition, and this sketch is considered to be the most likely source of such uses of the term.

Spam (electronic), unsolicited or undesired bulk electronic messages. There are many types of electronic spam, including:

E-mail spam, unsolicited e-mail.
Mobile phone spam, unsolicited text messages.
Forum spam, posting advertisements or useless posts on a forum.
Spamdexing, manipulating a search engine to create the illusion of popularity for webpages.
Spam in blogs, posting random comments or promoting commercial services to blogs, wikis, guestbooks.
Newsgroup spam, advertisement and forgery on newsgroups.
Messaging spam ("SPIM"), use of instant messenger services for advertisement or even extortion.
Spam (computer game), to repeatedly use one weapon or tactic. This term is based on the technological meaning of undesired bulk electronic message.

Flyposting ("street spam"), illegal blanket advertising in public places.

Spam (song) can also refer to a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. Unlike the other uses here, the song has no connection to either the earlier Monty Python sketch nor to the electronic uses of the term that came about afterwards. The song is a parody of Stand by R.E.M.

Who knew? I don't think I've ever heard the Weird Al song. And I think that's just too many uses of the word Spam. Street spam? Really? Who uses this???

According to the messages in my spam folder:

• My diet isn't working
• I'm not making enough money (this might be worth a look, no?)
• I have what it takes to be a mystery shopper
• I am in desperate need of Viagra (45 emails on this topic)
• I have won 6 new laptops, 2 iphones, 4 ipods, and some gift cards
• I need more credit
• I need a scholarship (though I'm not attending any classes)
• My healthcare rates are too high (I'm not arguing)
• I need to hook up with some Latin singles

Now, if you went by my spam folder, I'm a fat, poor, single, creditless man with ED and insurance rates that are too high. I am qualified to be a mystery shopper, and I'm in desperate need of a scholarship! WTF?!

I hate spam!

It's Another Boy!!!

I got an early-morning phone call from our son, Rex in Japan. The time zones are so different, we usually hear from him very late at night or very early in the morning. Today's call was at 5:30 a.m. He called to tell me that his beautiful wife Deja has just found out that they will be having a boy! This means I will have two grandsons this year! Little Jayden in VA and little "not-named-yet" in Japan! Vicki's name suggestions were as follows: Rexxy, Jr. and Rex-alicious! I will update the blog with the name as soon as I get it!

Please Help Me

My Dad, my hero.
You may have read my post in November regarding the Walk to D'Feet ALS. Well, the walk is 2 weeks from tomorrow, and I've only reached 53% of my goal!

I am walking in memory of my Dad, George Studley, who lost his battle with ALS in 2005. I walk each year to remember Dad, and to raise funds in support of nationally driven cutting-edge ALS research and community-based patient services programs. This is the eighth year of the Walk to D'Feet ALS, and in that time they have raised $50 million!

If you can donate, I would appreciate it. Even $10 would help. You can click here to donate.

If you already have donated, I'd like to thank you, once again, for helping me to reach my goal.

Wondering What The Weekend Will Bring

This weekend, Vicki is going up to Williams to play in the snow with my girlfriend and her kids. She is leaving today and coming back on Sunday. We got her some new snow boots last night, and she is very excited. Big D and I are also excited! :o) A weekend without a child at home is a rare jewel, indeed. I believe we're going out to dinner tonight, with our Olive Garden gift card from Sam and Rodrigo. Tomorrow, we're going to head out to the grand re-opening of Western Trails Ranch in Morristown. I'm so happy they decided ot re-open..this place is a lot of fun! I hope the weather holds, because we'll be on the bike. (and I will be wearing my hot new chaps!) Sunday will be dedicated to cleaning, doing laundry and preparing for Vicki's first day back to school after winter break. I will need the entire day for this. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Strange Laws

Here are some strange laws I found from various online sources. Some of them I know to be true. Most are absurd. All of them are funny. Virginia may be for lovers, but West Virginia is for meat lovers. Officials in the Mountain State have deemed it perfectly legal for anyone to scavenge road kill. The original Road Kill Cafe is in WV, I think. In Scituate, Rhode Island, it is illegal to drive with beer in your vehicle even if it is unopened. So, in other words, if you’re a beer delivery driver you’re screwed. In Topeka, Kansas, it is unlawful to transport dead poultry along Kansas Avenue. The lesson here: look elsewhere for a KFC. No need to get your Lexus Sport Luxury Sedan painted blaze orange. Hunting from cars in Connecticut is illegal, even during deer season. In Alaska it is illegal to look at a moose from the window of an airplane or any other flying vehicle. Those moose are so private! Every citizen of Kentucky is required by law to take a bath once a year. It's scary that there needed to be a law stating this at one time! In San Salvador drunk drivers are punished by death before a firing squad. I think Sheriff Joe is trying to get this law passed in Maricopa County. Impotence is grounds for divorce in twenty-four states in the United States. Why not all 50? In Miami, it is forbidden to imitate an animal. No charades games there, I'm guessing. In Virginia, the Code of 1930 has a statute which prohibits corrupt practices or bribery by any person other than political candidates. I'm pretty sure this statute was expanded to the whole country shortly thereafter. In Washington State, you can't carry a concealed weapon that is over 6 feet in length. I think the key word here is concealed. In Phoenix, Arizona, you can't walk through a hotel lobby with spurs on. Damn! In Massachusetts: It is illegal to give beer to hospital patients. Do martinis served in a large thermos count, I wonder?! At a wake, mourners may eat no more than three sandwiches. So if they're hungry they should hit a Subway before the memorial services? Snoring is prohibited unless all bedroom windows are closed and securely locked. My dad broke this one all the time! All men must carry a rifle to church on Sunday. WTF? Hunting on Sundays is prohibited. Then why bring the rifle to church??? Tattooing and body piercing is illegal. This law was actually repealed just a few years back. When I got my first tattoo, I had to go to Rhode Island to get it. Tomatoes may not be used in the production of clam chowder. As it should be!

Swimming in Cape Cod Bay on 1/1? Not So Much!

Here is today's reading. I know it's for a good cause, but honestly...that water can be cold in July! I cannot imagine how cold it is on January 1!! Hello?! Good for the Polar Bear Club...God bless them every one! I hope they had nice warm towels waiting for them!

Hello 2008!

Happy New Year, everyone! I have great expectations for 2008, I think it's going to be a great year. It started out great, as we had a few friends over to help us bring in the new year together. It was the perfect mix of new friends and old. What a great time. I didn't know if we were going to do anything, as Big D lost his job last week. I was a little upset, but now look at this as a fresh start. We know the company wasn't going to back him up on anything, and he was going to leave them anyway, so it just happened a little sooner than we had anticipated. Some highlights of the evening were: * Julie learning how to play pool * Ted doing his 'grinding' thing * Roger, Debbie and Wayne actually showing up! * "Who sprayed the fire extinguisher on his ass?!" And now for the lowlights: * Coming back from the store to find Julie and Kramer looking for Rolaids * People stepping on poor Spotsy * Finding the bottle of JD empty, and knowing exactly what that meant * Finding out who sprayed the fire extinguisher on his ass Yes, it was a great party. Please don't ask about the fire extinguisher. I think it's enough to say that my parties are always fun, and usually very entertaining, as well! Here we go, 2008. I hope you're a better year than 2007!