I saw this article on the events in Jordan and one thing immediatly struck me.

It was this one simple line: "Both vessels left after the attack as a precaution, he said."

Just WHAT message does this send to our enemy? They don't even have to damage equipment or kill any soldiers for our army to turn tail and run, thats what. I'm sure that that is not the feeling the personnel aboard those vessels
would have preferred to bestow, but that is the propaganda that will soon be forthcoming over the Arab networks.

Remember that it is internationally recognized that an attack on any of our military assests constitutes an act of war, yes, I recognize that Jordan was not responsible for that act, and should not be held accountable as the attacker, BUT, I truly the proper response SHOULD have been an assault on those responsible. These were WAR ships with the capability of mounting a pinpoint response, not some hapless cruise ship with helpless civilians on board.
Five minutes after the rocket's exhaust was observed, there should have been a flight of helo's taking out the attackers position, and maybe a small contingent of highly armed ground troops mopping up after the helos.

Provacative? you BET! Intrusive on Jordanian sovereignty? Undoubtably!
Should we care? Not one iota!

A country is responsible for the safety of foreign vessals in their ports, whether they be military or civilian, if the host country can't do the job, then it behooves a military vessal to protect itself in the best manner possible. You may say that they did so by leaving the area, but you have to remember that actions have consequences on future events, by this action, we've declared it to be open season on all our vessels in any foreign port.

There would have been diplomatic consequences of military action taking place in a non-combatant nation, but those consequences would be less than what we're faced with now. Since the vessels were there to take part in a joint US/Jordanian military exercise, it could have been excused as part of the training in joint operations.

One can only hope is that Jordanian forces capture the terrorists and allow their extradition to the U.S. or Gitmo. By the information in the article, there seems to be quite a bit of intell on these Islamofacists, one wonders how they can know so much and yet not apprehend them....

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 03:43 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I KNOW that this is old news and that I WAY behind the curve on it, but I just got an e-mail from a friend reminding me of it, and since it didn't make a even minor ripple in the news curve when it happened, I thought it just might be good to remind everyone of it.....

It doesn't get any better than this:

Jessie Jackson added former Chicago Democrat congressman Mel Reynolds
to Rainbow/PUSH Coalition's payroll.

Reynolds was among the 176 criminals excused in President Clinton's last-minute forgiveness spree. Reynolds received a commutation of his
six-and-a-half-year federal sentence for 15 convictions of wire fraud,
bankfraud and lies to the Federal Election Commission. He is more notorious,
however, for concurrently serving five years for sleeping with an underage
campaign volunteer.

This is a first in American politics: An ex-congressman who had sex with a
subordinate...won clemency from a president who had sex with a
subordinate...then was hired by a clergyman who had sex with a
subordinate.

His new job? Youth counselor.

IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY OR WHAT?

Some thoughts on our whole society that occurred to me after reading this:

1. Just WHICH party do all the participants belong to? Just saying, is all, no blanket indictments of the whole party.....

2. Why did this pass under the radar of just about everyone but a few pundits; and not very vehemently even with them?

3. Considering the types of sexual PC/education being promulgated in our public schools under the ageis of the NEA, with input from such august groups such as NAMBLA and GLSEN, and considering that the NEA is one of the pet programs of a certain party....and whose national leadership, in the main, belong to that same party....

The rank and file of that party always gave President Clinton a pass during his impeachment proceedings; saying it was "private conduct" that was a matter between the parties involved (Bill, Hillery, and Monica), even though there was ample evidence that this type of behaviour was a long standing feature of President Clinton's behaviour patterns even when he was Governor of Arkansas. They didn't even seem to care too much that he committed blatent perjury in court proceedings connected to the matter. (but at least the judiciary system itself thought it serious enough to disbar him)

Put all these things together, and you start to see a pattern emerge. Seems thats one reason that attacks against so called "religious fundementalists", indeed, religion in general, all seem to arise from that same party. After all, religion is about morality, and striking it from the public domain leads to a freedom to impose a non-judgemental public morality wherein almost anything can be excused, even if not condoned.

I make no indictments of that party, but I would ask all the ordinary citizens out there, just what do you think of a group that welcomes under it's umbrella those that:
1. would expose our children to the agendas of NAMBLA and GLSEN
2. promulgate the type of PC attitude that everything that the was the accepted American attitude MUST be subjegated to the worship of every other culture imaginable in the name of "diversity".
3. attacking the public display of religious principles that our country was founded upon.
(yes, as much as the revisionists might try to deny it, that phrase "That all men are endowed by THEIR CREATOR with certain unalienable rights" DID come from deeply held religious beliefs of the Founders)
4. attack the basic freedoms of self-protection embedded in the 2nd Amendment. (just look where the strictest gun regulation laws are, and you'll see that the local and state offices are dominated by this party) Remember that an unarmed populace is a more easily controlled populace.
5. resists every tax reduction for the general population that has ever come along. (ENACT the Fair Tax NOW!) Make the populace dependant on the state largesse for the amount of earnings they keep, and you control that populace.
6. proposed/s most of the "social welfare" type programs, where the State substitutes itself for private responsibility. (again, if your beholding to the State's largess, your controlled by the state)

Put all those facts into a shaker and mix well and then ask yourself if that is truly the cocktail that you wish to drink.

The other party isn't blameless either, at the very least, they refused to block the nameless party in most of these matters, and heartily joined in with them on others.

Now for my "solution", poor as it is. (unlike the party in question, I try not to point out problems without at least trying to propose even a weak solution to them)

Disavow ties to any one party, get informed, and get involved, don't vote for the party, vote for the individual that most represents your views, and hold them accountable if they don't hold to their proclaimed course.

Become informed/involved in your childs school and hold school officials to account for what they are exposing our children to. DON'T let our schools be merely State Indoctrination Centers, but return them to places of true education, where critical thinking and logic are keystones.

As much as possible, refuse to participate in state largess, depend on yourself for your own needs. (again, the Fair Tax would be a large step in this direction)

It will take time to change the current politcal/social climate, and progress will be measured in tiny increments, but always remember that we arrived in our present climate in tiny increments, lets keep what is good and discard that which can be shown to be counterproductive/harmful in the long term.

Most importantly, to use a Biblical phrase "hate the sin, but love the sinner"; use logic to combat your idiological opposits, not hyperboly that only serves to strengthen their resolve against you. Remember always that for the most part, they are trying to do what is right by their own lights, reasoned debate can lead to a compremise that can be lived with by both sides. With the hard core radical elements of both sides, just try to show the vast majority the ultimate consequences of those idiologies, and they will fade into the obscurity they deserve.

A friend accused me yesterday of "wearing rose colored glasses" when I was trying to bounce some of these same ideas off him...and perhaps he's correct, but I still have hope that if there are more idealists and dreamers like he accused me of being and fewer "we have no power to change anything" cynics like him, there still may be time to make our country achieve the noble goals set to us by our Founders. It will NEVER be perfect, but it CAN be better than it is now.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 02:44 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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A lady picked up several items at a discount store. When she finally
got up to the checker, she learned that one of her items had no price
tag.

Imagine her embarrassment when the checker got on the intercom and
boomed out for all the store to hear, "PRICE CHECK ON LANE THIRTEEN,
TAMPAX SUPER SIZE." That was bad enough, but somebody at the rear of
the store apparently misunderstood the word "Tampax" for "THUMBTACKS."

In a business-like tone, a voice boomed back over the intercom. "DO YOU
WANT THE KIND YOU PUSH IN WITH YOUR THUMB OR THE KIND YOU
POUND IN WITH A HAMMER?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The train was quite crowded, so the U.S. Marine walked the entire
length looking for a seat, but the only seat left was taken by a well
dressed, middle aged French woman's poodle. The war weary Marine
asked, " Ma'am may I have that seat? "

The French woman just sniffed and said to no one in particular,
"Americans are so rude. My little Fifi is using that seat. "

The marine walked the entire train again, but the only seat left was
under that dog. " Please, ma'am may I sit down? I am very tired."

She snorted, " Not only are you Americans rude, you are also
arrogant. "

This time the Marine didn't say a word, he just picked up the little
dog, tossed it out the train window, and sat down.

The woman shrieked, " Someone must defend my honor. Put this
American in his place. "

An English gentleman sitting nearby spoke up, "Sir, you Americans
often seem to have a penchant for doing the wrong thing. You hold the fork
in the wrong hand, you drive your autos on the wrong side of the road,
and now, sir, you have thrown the wrong bitch out the window."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We all know how tenacious Pitbulls are when they are on the attack.
They don't know how or when to give up.

I think this one should have given up earlier! I think there must
be a bald porcupine somewhere!

So keep in mind sometimes it is better to give up earlier. Don't
lose your head!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two men dressed in pilot's uniforms walk up the aisle of the airplane.
Both are wearing dark glasses, one is using a guide dog, and the other is
tapping his way along the aisle with a cane.

Nervous laughter spreads through the cabin, but the men enter the
cockpit, the door closes, and the engines start up. The passengers
begin glancing nervously around, searching for some sign that this is
just a little practical joke. None is forthcoming.

The plane moves faster and faster down the runway, and the people
sitting in the window seats realize they're headed straight for the
water at the edge of the airport territory. As it begins to look as
though the plane will plough into the water, panicked screams fill the cabin.

At that moment, the plane lifts smoothly into the air. The passengers
relax and laugh a little sheepishly, and soon all retreat into their
magazines, secure in the knowledge that the plane is in good hands

In the cockpit, one of the blind pilots turns to the other and says,
"You know, Bob, one of these days, they're gonna scream too late and we're
all gonna die."

***************************************************************
Have a GREAT weekend, and remember to let a little FUN in your life!

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 11:11 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Posted by: Delftsman3 at 10:32 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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NOW I've heard everything! The U.S. government, through the auspices of our vaunted "Justice" system has seen fit to take property from US citizens and give it to a pair of illegal aliens...

The owner of the ranch in question did committ an arguably illegal act, but given the situation at the border, I believe that he may have been justified in his actions, the subsequent forfiture of his land to the (illegal) complainants is just about five steps too far though IMHO.

Not only is there now a yet another precedent against defending your curtelege, but now it's strengthened to the point of forfiture of said curtalege?!?! RCOB moment...

H/T to Gutrumbles

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 08:55 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Go read this if you have a strong stomach...disregard that it is from a Fundementalist, Pro-Christian site, the FACTS exposed therin shows what the true results of the ACLU agenda are.

I am NOT a Fundementalist Christian, indeed, I consider myself an Agnostic with no formal religious ties, but I will take note of valid information from anyplace I find it, and the slime exposed in this article should be of concern to any citizen concerned about the direction our Republic is heading in.

Here's a taste to whet your anger:

Following the task force’s lead, the NEA will now struggle to expunge “heterosexism” from the consciousness of children in the classroom. The union has encouraged schools to integrate LGBT themes into curricula, instructional material, and programs; to emphasize the legitimacy of different “family structures,” including domestic partner arrangements; and to offer counseling services for students struggling with their “sexual/gender orientation.” Small wonder that GLSEN greeted the NEA task force’s report, and its endorsement by the union, with hosannas. “These powerful new recommendations signal that help is on the way for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and staff who experience day-to-day abuse in America’s schools,” enthused GLSEN head Jennings.

Expunge Heterosexism?!?! In case you don't realize it, that encompasses about 90% of US folks.

And the ACLU is involved too:
"School districts that refuse to go along with the homosexual agenda now must contend with the American Civil Liberties Union, too. The ACLU’s Lesbian and Gay Rights Project has launched a national effort, called “Every Student, Every School,” that plans to sue on First Amendment grounds any school that refuses gay/straight student clubs on its premises. Already, schools in Kentucky and Texas face legal action."

WAKE UP people, learn what they are indoctrinating our children into. TAKE BACK our public schools from the NEA, ACLU, and interest groups such as NAMBLA and GLSEN.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 08:03 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Kim du Toit has written a rant as only he can. Do yourself a favor and read it.
No, read it savor it, and LIVE it. Take back what is your birthright and act like a MAN, not the weepy,wimpy, Metrosexual espoused as the "ideal male" by all too many in our society today.

After having read the article linked, I found myself, even more than usual, wishing that I could join Kim at the range for a little RCOB moment relief.
I'd truly like to study range stress relief techniques at the foot of a true master.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 07:35 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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"If you don't want to work, become a reporter.
That awful power, the public opinion of the
nation, was created by a horde of self-complacent
simpletons, who failed at ditch digging and shoe
making, and fetched up in journalism on their
way to the poorhouse."

Mark Twain
Connecticut Evening Dinner Club, 1881

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 05:18 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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It wasn't Levis, the Beatles and Coca Cola that defeated the Soviets, it was camoflage, cadences and C-rations.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 03:22 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Thanks to Liz at Explicitly Ambigious, I have added a new (to me) Milblogger under the Big Macho Types section. Welcome Odysseus !

He is currently serving as an officer in Iraq, and his insights are refreshing to read after all the tripe that the LSM keeps putting out.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 10:51 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Take the Star Trek Quiz

And a better test:

the Ham (47% dark, 57% spontaneous, 26% vulgar)

your humor style: CLEAN | SPONTANEOUS | LIGHT Your style's goofy, innocent and feel-good. Perfect for parties and for the dads who chaperone them. You can actually get away with corny jokes, and I bet your sense of humor is a guilty pleasure for your friends. People of your type are often the most approachable and popular people in their circle. Your simple & silly good-naturedness is immediately recognizable, and it sets you apart in this sarcastic world. PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Will Ferrell - Will Smith

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 10:36 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Yep, no WMD's have been found in Iraq...or HAVE they?

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 07:05 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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An incident of violence occurred in the midst of the Israeli govt. appeasement action Jewish settler's relocation, with an expected response from the Paliswinian side:

"Hamas, as well as all Palestinians, are interested in seeing the Zionist settlers leave our land as soon as possible," said spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. "But if these crimes continue, factions will not stand by silently."

And of course, those on the Left here are making great sport of crowing about "Israeli aggression" in reference to this incident..
I find it somewhat amusing that everyone is ignoring the difference between "us" and "them".

In the Paleoswinian Terror-tories, an action like what this overdistraught man did would be hailed as a "heroic part of the freedom struggle", but since he is a member of a civilized society, he will be tried,convicted,and punished for committing murder. MAYBE he can get a reduced sentence on the basis of temporary insanity due to extreme mental stress...

While I do feel sorrow that these people suffered what they did at this mans hands, when I stop and consider what THEIR probable reaction would have been had the situation been reversed, given past experience, I must say that the G-A-F meter reads:

Yep, as I surmised, pretty much zero. (thanks for the meter LC Fresh Sign!)

Update: Murdock at Blogging at 2000 Feet has his own take on the resettlement appeasment action.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 04:25 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Here's the religious explanation of the difference between Dogs and Cats:

Adam and Eve said, "Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you any more. We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us."

And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."

And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve.

And it was a good animal.

And God was pleased.

And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail. And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."

And God said, "No problem. Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."

And dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.

And they were comforted.

And God was pleased.

And dog was content and wagged his tail.

After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well."

And God said, "No problem! I will create for them a companion who will be with them forever and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration."

And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve.

And cat would not obey them.

And when Adam and Eve gazed into cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.

And Adam and Eve learned humility.

And they were greatly improved.

And God was pleased.

And Dog was happy.

And Cat didn't give a shit one way or the other.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 02:15 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Now HERE is a fitting tribute to those that were lost on 9/11.

I find it apt that metal from the worst man-made disaster in US history will become part of the force being used against the authors of that disaster.

To the USS New York: you have a proud mission and an obligation to fullfill it with the same honor and valor displayed by the inhabitants of your namesake.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 06:38 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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James Lileks has something to say about "Mother" Sheehan, and he says it as only he can.

I felt pity that Cindy Sheehan was being exploited by the LSM, and as such, was a target for the more vehement elements of my own idiological compatriots, but as time passes, I have come to the stage where I believe that she is as much an exploiter as being exploited, and that such an agenda as she espouses is far too deep to be just the result of a reaction to grief. I feel for her grief, and detest her for her dishonor of her son's sacrifice by espousing FOR everything that is the antithesis of what that scrifice stood for; if that's a "chickensh*t slur" against Sheehan, so be it.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 06:10 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Amazing what you can find roaming the net...HERE is an academic scandal of the first order, brewing not three miles away from where I live, and yet, this is the first I've heard of it.

As the second link shows, it was reported in the local newspaper, but it must have been in on of the far back regions of section C, because as a daily reader, I would have thought I would have noted such a story in my past excoriations of the Ward Churchill fiasco.

I urge that Gov. Daniels exercise his responsibility in overseeing a state funded institution and have an independant board look into the situation. It's gone too far for an internal board to do justice, and "protecting the Institution" is wrong when there is obvious cause to doubt the integrity of the institution. Some short term harm to IU-PUI Law Schools reputation may occur, but far less than that will be incurred at a later date; when the cancer might have grown to the point of being fatal to the Institution's very existance.

This points out one of the failings of a system that has been overcome by PC; to the point where the best qualified instructors are ousted because they hold to Truth, rather than the popular Meme of the Moment. This leads to cynacism in/to the system, and in the end, the loss of true justice to us all.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 06:06 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Kathy Dyer is a name we should remember every time we hear about "Mother" Sheehan.

As Mrs. Dyer said at a memorial service for her son, Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Dyer, she urged mourners to not to let their anger or other feelings over his loss turn them against the U.S. fight in Iraq.
She said her son would want people to continue supporting the troops and the war effort. "Honor me in this way"

"He saw this as just another way to measure himself, another test," said his father, John Dyer. "Chris didn't want to be less than the best at anything."

Rest in Peace, LCpl Dyer. Your sacrifice will be remembered as it should be.

Your name will not be used in a hatefilled anti-American diatribe as "Mother" Sheehan has done with her son. Too bad that the LSM will continue to showcase Cindy Sheehan, while Kathy Dyer will just continue to grieve her loss, and maintain her pride in her son, in private. I'm glad that Mrs. Dyer won't have to worry about media intrusion on her grief, but feel sickened that the rabid Left will continue to find a willing pawn in "Mother" Sheehan to furthur their sick agenda.

Update: Muhammed at Iraq the Model answered "Mother" Sheehans question of why her son died, and said it better than I ever could:

Your son sacrificed his life for a very noble causeÂ…No, he sacrificed himself for the most precious value in this existence; that is freedom.

His blood didn't go in vain; your son and our brethren are drawing a great example of selflessness.
God bless his free soul and God bless the souls of his comrades who are fighting evil.
God bless the souls of Iraqis who suffered and died for the sake of freedom.
God bless all the freedom lovers on earth.

Go and read the entire post, it puts the war into a perspective that counters all the hate-filled diatribes of those that use the war as a means to attack their true enemy, President Bush.

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 05:38 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Three bulls are in the pasture complaining. They've heard a rumor that
the farmer is bringing in a new bull, and they aren't happy about sharing
any of their cows.

The Alpha bull says, "You know, since we settled our differences and
split up the cows, I've been pretty happy with MY 120 cows. I am not about to
share any of MY cows with this new bull."

The second toughest bull says, "Yeah, well I ended up with only
60 cows, so I can't afford to share any of MY cows."

The youngest bull says, "I may only be half as big as you guys, but I'm
still a teenager. I'm already climbing the walls with just 20 cows."

Suddenly a huge, black tractor trailer pulls into the yard. The entire
trailer contains just one animal - the biggest, baddest bull you ever
saw.

He weighs 3,000 pounds and has horns four feet long. As the new bull
strolls down the gangplank, the two-inch thick metal plates actually sag under
his weight.

Suddenly the former Alpha bull is a bit more flexible, "Well, maybe I
could spare a FEW cows."

The second toughest bull says, "Maybe if I hide in the corner of the
pasture he'll leave me alone."

But the small, teenage bull is snorting, pawing the ground and shaking
his fledgling horns in an extremely confrontational way.

Worried about the reckless youngster, the two older bulls trot over to
the young bull and say, "Listen, son. It's not worth dying for. Just give
the new bull your 20 cows."

"He can HAVE my 20 cows," replies the young bull, snorting and pawing
the ground again.

"I'm just making sure he knows I'm a BULL!"

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 05:25 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Many of us (those over 50, WAY over 50 or hovering
near 60 or 70) are quite confused about how we should
present ourselves.

We're unsure about the kind of image we are
projecting and whether or not we are correct
as we try to conform to current fashions.

Despite what you may have seen on the streets,
the following combinations DO NOT go
together and should be avoided:

1. A nose ring and bifocals

2. Spiked hair and bald spots

3. A pierced tongue and dentures

4. Miniskirts and support hose

5. Ankle bracelets and corn pads

6. Speedo's and cellulite

7. A belly button ring and a gall bladder
surgery scar

8. Unbuttoned disco shirts and a heart
monitor

9. Midriff shirts and a midriff bulge

10. Bikinis and liver spots

11. Short shorts and varicose veins

12. In-line skates and a walker


And last, but not least . . . . .

13. Thongs and Depends

Posted by: Delftsman3 at 05:13 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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