Friday Fun: 25 Random Things About Me (10/29/10)

Seeing how some of my friends (and relatives) have been posting some "fun" ideas on their blogs... I've decided to do the same thing! So once a week, I'll try and post something out of the ordinary! Introducing.... FRIDAY FUN!

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- Here is a list of 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about me! Enjoy!


1. I start the day in an extremely bad mood if I'm awakened by the radio as an alarm when it's broadcasting a program that involves a lot of talking. It has to be strictly music.
 
2. I constantly use puns and jokes in conversation on a daily basis... much to the great annoyance of my wonderful wife!

3. I will NOT ever take adult, cherry flavored, Robitussin cough medicine... that stuff is nasty! My mom used to give it to me, and said that when I grow up I can decide not to take it, so I don't! I double up on the better tasting children's cough medicine (grape flavored)!



4. I often wear a set of "Hillbilly Teeth" while driving down the road singing! I enjoy getting the odd looks from other drivers and passengers! (I don't do it while Lydia is with me, she'd never ride with me again if I tried)

5. I like licking the microwave popcorn bag clean of the butter and salt after dumping the popcorn into a bowl.

6. I listen to Christmas music year-round!

7. During my senior year of high-school, I'd eat two cans of mushroom soup for lunch almost every day, and ended up getting horribly constipated on day that required a trip to urgent care! Not fun!

8. I truly despise the movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"... it gave me nightmares as a child and still bugs me when I even see a small clip!

9. I can wiggle my ears.

10. I often suffer from a condition called Costochondritis that causes chest pain due to inflammation of the cartilage and bones in the chest wall. The scary part is that the symptoms imitate a heart attack!

11. I have almost no gag reflex in my mouth... which allows me to slip my tongue back past my uvula and up into the nostril cavity above the roof of my mouth!

12. I used to constantly eat toothpaste as a kid.

13. I have an uncanny knack at smelling and guessing the right type of food that may be nearby. (it annoys my coworkers...)



14. In the middle of the night, I will sit up suddenly and then fall asleep my body facing forward across my legs, sitting Indian-style. (or is that Native-American style?)

15. Got picked out of the audience to sing bass on stage with a SG trio (Southern Brothers) for one song at Silver Dollar City when I was 15.

16. Someday, I'd like to take the family on a road-trip, traveling the entire length of old Route 66.

17. I wear contacts, and would like to get laser correction surgery on my eyes someday.

18. Once, I consistently ate for 3 hours straight at Shoney's, it was their Sunday all-you-can-eat buffet!

19. I have a horrible habit of biting my fingernails. Especially when I'm nervous or under some sort of anticipation.

20. I can draw most of the main Archie Comic characters without any reference.

21. My goal is to someday work as a full-time freelance graphic designer.



22. I like to walk around barefoot!

23. I believe I've married the wonderful woman! I honestly don't think there is any other woman that could stand living with a guy me.. she's my perfect match! (That's a fact!)



24. I ate rock salt when I was a kid. (I'm surprised I'm alive!)

25. I also put an entire box of ALTOIDS mints in my mouth and ate them! I couldn't drink anything for several hours!


~Matt

Setting Out the Outdoor Christmas Lights (Thursday, 10/28/10)

As many of you may already know, Christmas is less than two months away. Also, the weather has started to get cooler. In fact, we're expecting a freeze tonight!!!

Well, I gave it some thought, and seriously thought about going ahead and putting up the outdoor Christmas lights since the weather has been nice. There are a lot of advantages to this idea if you think about it! The nice weather, you find out if the strands work or not, and you don't have to worry about doing it later. I'm all for that!

However, the longer they're up, the greater change of them going out or something going wrong before Christmas. And I definitively don't want to mess with them right around the holiday! It's bad enough to have to go out and take them down!

I also hate having them on the house and not having them turned on. To me, that makes the house look odd. Sorta gives it that Ozark redneck feel, like an old sofa sitting on the front porch! I'm hillbilly enough, thank you very much!

Also, what a great disappointment it'd be to finally get to the day after Thanksgiving, flip the switch, and half of them not working! That would be soooooo frustrating!

So... it looks like I'll wait. :)

~Matt

“The Missouri Earnings Tax Initiative” - My Stance On Proposition A (Missouri)

On November 2nd, Missourians will be asked to go vote. There are several issues on the ballot. Like I mentioned in the post for Proposition B, I have decided to do my own research, and make my own decision. I wanted to really look at the issue myself, and not rely on just what others are saying.

So with this post, I'm going to focus on Proposition A... "The Missouri Earnings Tax Initiative".

The current state law allows the earnings tax to be in the hands of the politicians, without any voter approval, and it could lead to other cities adopting local earning taxes as well. Right now, they are authorized by state law, in it can only be modified by a vote of vote of the legislature or a statewide vote of the people. That's how this initiative comes into play.

If this measure passes, it would then put the voting power back in the hands of the citizens of St. Louis and Kansas City, allowing local elections every five years on keeping the 1% earnings tax or phasing it out over a 10 year period. It will also keep politicians from imposing any new local earnings taxes on other communities in the state of Missouri that don't have one.  

The earnings tax is a 1% tax on the incomes of businesses and individuals working or residing in the city. Right now, it can be imposed the city of Springfield, and according to what I've found, it has been considered! I'm not in favor of that happening, especially without being able to vote on it. If politicians want to add a tax, they need to bring it to us voters first.

This proposition will give voters the rights to pass or reject their own taxes, not leave it to the politicians. I'd rather leave it up to the voters, thank you very much!

Voting "No" allows the state laws concerning the earnings tax remain unchanged.

Voting "Yes" allows Kansas City and St. Louis voters the right to decide every five years if they want to continue or deny the existing earnings tax, and it prohibits any new earnings tax from being imposed on other communities.

So the question is, will you allow others (government) to decide whether you should be under an additional tax, or do you want to be allowed to make that choice. This decision is yours......

Can you guess mine?

~Matt

"Puppy Mills" - My Stance On Proposition B (Missouri)

If you've watched TV or read the newspaper, you know that it's getting close to voting day. The ads are prevalent. Politicians are throwing dirt everywhere! If you're like me, you're probably getting tired of it, and can't wait until it's over.

However, there are some issues that have come up that I wanted to be clear on before I go vote. So, I've tried my best to do my own independent research. You know... something every voter SHOULD do! I know some people don't care, and will just vote on what looks good. There are those who just glance over the words and don't really look into the issues! Well, I'm posting what I've found!

Known as the "Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act", Proposition B for Missouri will be voted upon on November 2nd.

Hey now... Who wouldn't be against dog "cruelty"?

Missouri is known as the Puppy Mill Capital of America, thanks to the fact we have many puppy production facilities. Unfortunately, there are several disreputable canine breeding operations in our state.  It's nothing too new. As a Missourian, I hear it on the news often. I dislike hearing about what is sometimes found on people's property. So will this proposition help?

NO!

It doesn't do anything for those illegal breeders. In fact, we have perfectly good laws already in place for those type of people. This proposition goes against established, law-abiding breeders! It just piles on more regulation on legal commercial breeding facilities. Licensed breeders take care of their dogs, because if they are to stay in business, they have to have healthy dogs. Come on, I am for true dog kennels and against puppy mills (sub-standard dog facilities). There are 23 pages of regulations that responsible breeders are regarded to follow. Unfortunately, the state can't afford enough inspectors to enforce the laws we already have!

On a side note, it includes some strange facts... sportsmen or small hobby breeders are exempt from the measure! If Proposition B's only aim is to ensure adequate care, then why are shelters, rescues, veterinary clinics, HSUS (Humane Society of the United States), and non breeding owners exempt? Do theses dogs not also deserve the "most basic humane care"?

The proposition is being introduced as a means of eliminating the legal, licensed professional dog breeders in Missouri. According to the Department of Agriculture, no current licensed breeder can comply with the regulations put forth in Prop B, no matter how clean and well run the facility. Cost prohibitive space requirements coupled with misdemeanor crimes for the most minor of issues will eliminate the legal industry in our state. So based on that... only unlicensed, substandard breeders will be left to produce puppies while continuing to hide from state laws. This is good, why?

To put it plainly, if there was a proposition that would allow us to better enforce the regulations that we do have and go after the true illegal breeders, that would be the one I'd vote for. This one is not it!!!

Another question that bugs me is the use of the term "puppy mill". Let me define it! True puppy mills are places that are illegal facilities that breed dogs in inhumane and filthy environments. They breed dogs that are sick wounded and malnourished. Why is the term used in this measure? To HSUS, they think that commercial dog kennels fall under this description! They're using this derogatory term to pull at the heartstrings of the voters. Don't forget that they've added "cruelty", therefore gaining emotion and influence!

By the way, this proposition was brought forth by the HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) and this group should NOT be confused with your local Humane Society! It's quite scary, they don't believe we should use animals in anyway, including eating meat, eggs, milk, hunting, fishing, keeping pets, etc. It is headed by Wayne Pacelle… a guy who is against pets and vocal about it too! Does that make sense? For more research on this guy, please check out these links:
• http://activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/o/136-humane-society-of-the-united-states
• http://www.mlive.com/opinion/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/09/viewpoint_hsus_is_about_animal.html
• http://www.opednews.com/articles/Agent-Wayne-Pacelle-the-H-by-Dr-Steve-Best-080825-901.html
• http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/h/2482-waynes-animal-rights-world
• http://www.nraila.org/legislation/federal/read.aspx?id=4189

~Matt

NEWS: Dead Sea Scrolls to be Digitalized for Online Viewing!

This is probably the one of the most exciting news I've heard in a while! I read in an online article that Google will be digitalizing the Dead Sea Scrolls in their entirety. In a few months, parts will be able to be viewed online, and completed within five years. They are to photographed using multi-spectral imaging technology (developed by NASA).

The coolest part is that they "plan to include transcriptions, translations and a bibliography with the images so you won't have to be an expert, or even able to read Aramaic in order to decipher the scrolls."

~Matt