The online journal, notebook and playground of HFM

Popular Baby Names – Social Security Administration

  • Post author:
  • Post category:Brain Food

I saw this link (Popular Baby Names) once, a few years ago, and have been trying to remember where it was located ever since. Turns out it was the Social Security Administration, not the U.S. Census Bureau. It’s come up in discussions a number of times, and I kept saying “there’s this link…” Well, here it is: An analysis of popular baby names based on Social Security applications, going back each year to the late 1800’s. Ah, the good old days, when Mildred was the #9 most popular girl’s name in the country, and Gertrude made it at #22. Guys, don’t laugh, Walter was #11, Clarence #18.

It’s also scary to look at the stats for the 1990’s…. with 8 different variations on the name Brittney. I hate last names as first names, especially for girls. Courtney, Brittany, Shelby, Taylor, Madison—-yuck, yuck, yuck. I’m going to name my daughter Mabel. That’ll show them.

Okay, that’s a little extreme. How about Eleanor?

Continue ReadingPopular Baby Names – Social Security Administration

Scooby Snacks Anonymous

Scooby Snacks Anonymous:
Do you have a problem with scooby snacks? Only you can answer that question for yourself. However, taking the following quiz may help to put your relationship to scooby snacks in perspective for you. If you end up answering “yes” to three or more questions, you may want to take a good look how your life is affected by scooby snacks.
1. Have you missed classes or work because of scooby snacks?
2. Do you have trouble refusing scooby snacks?
3. Do you need scooby snacks in order to have fun at a party?
4. Do you use scooby snacks to build up your self-confidence?
5. Do you use scooby snacks to help you relax?
6. Have you tried to give up scooby snacks and failed?
7. Do you crave scooby snacks as soon as you wake up?
8. Do you get into trouble because of scooby snacks?
9. Do you crave scooby snacks at a definite time daily?
10. Do you lie to others about how often you partake in scooby snacks?
11. Have you gotten into financial difficulties because of scooby snacks?
12. Do you often wish people would just mind their own business about you and scooby snacks?
Remember, there are people who can help you control scooby snacks, instead of scooby snacks controlling you.
Rut Ro, Raggy.

Continue ReadingScooby Snacks Anonymous

Our Rights Were Derived From God? What?

  • Post author:
  • Post category:Politics

On the recent ruling about removing the words “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance:

President Bush found the ruling “ridiculous,” saying today it was “out of step with the traditions and history of America” as he promised to appoint “commonsense judges who understand that our rights were derived from God.”

Okay, this man CANNOT remain in office after making a statement like that.

Continue ReadingOur Rights Were Derived From God? What?

Pledge of Allegiance

  • Post author:
  • Post category:Politics

9th Circuit Court Judges Ban Pledge of Allegiance From Schools, Citing ‘Under God’

A federal appeals court here declared today that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because the phrase ”one nation under God” violates the separation of church and state.

In a decision that drew protest across the political spectrum, a three-member panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the pledge, as it exists in federal law, could not be recited in schools because it violates the First Amendment’s prohibition against a state endorsement of religion.

In addition, the ruling, which will certainly be appealed, turned on the phrase ”under God” which Congress added in 1954 to one of the most hallowed patriotic traditions in the nation.

From a constitutional standpoint, those two words, Judge Alfred T. Goodwin wrote in the 2-to-1 decision, were just as objectionable as a statement that ”we are a nation ‘under Jesus,’ a nation ‘under Vishnu,’ a nation ‘under Zeus,’ or a nation ‘under no god,’ because none of these professions can be neutral with respect to religion.”

I plead alignment to the flakes, of the untitled snakes of a merry cow. And to the Republicans for which they scam, one nacho, underpants, with licorice and jugs of wine for owls.

Continue ReadingPledge of Allegiance

I went home at lunch

I went home at lunch to look at my gutters again while it was full-scale raining. I don’t think the top gutters are still leaking. I think it’s just that there is rain dripping from then naturally. There was plenty of water running down the downspout. I’ll be able to tell more if I watch next time it rains.

Continue ReadingI went home at lunch

Burglar Alarm

  • Post author:
  • Post category:Journal

So I set off the burglar alarm this morning by accident. Oops. I climbed out on the roof to cut down some tree limbs so they wouldn’t grow into the roof. Then I went downstairs to move them and take pictures of the new gutters, etc., and I forgot to turn off the alarm when I went out. So the police came, and Dan came over. Sorry about that, Dan.
The gutters look really good. The one in the front on the top roof is still leaking, though, because it’s the galvanized steel gutter on top of the roof. He caulked it, but it’s still got holes, although it isn’t as bad as it was. I don’t know whether to call him and ask him to come back or to just leave it and have it looked at again later in the year. But the gutter near the door is back on the house, and the ones in back look good. In general, the house looks better, which is what’s important. I’ll have photos up tomorrow of all of it.

Continue ReadingBurglar Alarm

Parodies of Indigo Girls Songs

Okay, you have to be an Indigo Girls fan for this one: Parodies of Indigo Girls Songs. There’s a parody of “Don’t Give That Girl a Gun” entitled “Go Give That Girl Some Gum.” Now that’s funny. Also a christmas version of “Burn All the Letters” that’s called “Return All The Sweaters.” It may not be Weird Al caliber writing, but they get off some good ones.
On the other hand, there’s no Indigo Girls fan fiction out there. Hmmm. I’m sensing an untapped market.
Also, it’s smart, it’s funny, sometimes you have to look up what they’re talking about, but here it is, Cat and Girl the cartoon. And you know it’s cool, because they live next door to Death, and he comes over to play Parcheesi. Parcheesi is cool. I like the one where they first see Death in a restaurant, and they freak out because they want to meet him, but they’re afraid to go over to him, so they just shout “We like your work” as he’s leaving.

Continue ReadingParodies of Indigo Girls Songs