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Welcome to The Bash Free Zone.

All opinions are welcome here, even the unpopular ones.
Everyone is allowed to speak their mind as long as they are civil, polite and non-inflammatory.
If you feel the need to say something, then by all means do, just be polite about it.
Say it in a manner that you would want the opposite to be said to you.

Word: bash (CRITICIZE)-- verb
Definition: to criticize someone harshly or severely

Please note that the definition of bashing is over the top criticism, not just criticism. That's the difference
between what I want at this board and what's happened at others. Bashing is not allowed,
open and honest discussion - including criticial conversations - is welcome and wanted.

A few links to share:

Let's Talk About NCIS
Mac Attack
USA Network's JAG Board

I am beginning to understand why the Bash Free Zone was created -- Ninja_Girl, who likes them both, recognizes their MANY flaws, and personally is glad they finally got together, Tuesday, June 20, 14:42:52 [41]
Were there a lot of exchanges on the USA forum back in the good old days as contentious as the "Harm and Mac wedding" thread that's been at USA the past few days?? I started on that board a year ago in May, and while occasionally there have been some disagreements, this has been the most heated. Yikes!

I am glad to have this friendly place to come. Thanks for inviting me back in the winter, TB.

It is amazing to me how a mention of Harm & Mac so often ends up in a conflict over the two of them. No wonder they had problems relating to each other if even the rest of us can't coexist when it comes to them!

Now I've probably started another war unintentionally . . .

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Replies:
- LOL. Actually, this board was originally created because of all the strife on the other Voy boards. It got to the point if someone said, "I like XYZ," someone else would come in with "You're so stupid for liking XYZ. Anyone with brains would know that XYZ is only for losers." Slight exaggeration, but not by much. Unfortunately it's something that's gotten to be the norm in any fandom. If you dare suggest that one group of fans' hero(ine) was less than 100% perfect, then you were slamming not only the character, but the actor, his/her fans and anyone that ever remotely, in an alternate universe, might resemble said character. It's scary that more people can't have a civil conversation with differing views. I'm glad our group here is capable of doing just that. I know that even if we disagree on something close to our hearts and homes, we won't resort to calling each other names or saying that our views are idiotic or worthless. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, June 20, 14:53:32
  - WE would never talk about people like that... Haaa but maybe certain committees, unions and actors, well heck ya! (NT) -- Heather--- got to love this place!, Wednesday, June 21, 10:53:45
- That's one of the problems I had with the various lists.....its like if you didn't like the supposed MAIN character or the actor who played him you were some kind of criminal & how DARE you voice an opinion to that fact. If you liked GASP another character or actor/actress better, well that just wasn't allowed....but the so called *slamming* of the others could take place, where people readily voiced opinions to that fact, but again heaven forbid anything critical be said about this character....I know we all aren't going to like the same actors, characters, etc., but that doesn't mean anybody is WRONG for their opinion....they are just that, opinions...and they are as unique as the people who offer them....I can live with agreeing to disagee, I do it all the time, but I shouldn't be made to feel like a criminal for GASP not liking a certain character or actor....Oh well! (NT) -- Jennifer, Tuesday, June 20, 16:10:18
- Harm and Mac are NOT together! Those scenes were a merely Harm's dream or Mac's nightmare. I refuse to believe they've gotten together. (NT) -- Shaz the original Harm/Mac anti-shipper, Tuesday, June 20, 17:33:39
  - I'm with you Shaz! (NT) -- abrah, Tuesday, June 20, 17:35:21
  - You know, Shaz, you're probably right. I knew it was too good to be true. If there ever is a reunion show, which I really have no desire for, we would probably find out that the last 7.5 minutes were part of a dream, kind of like that season in "Dallas" years ago. Poof - everything was back to the way it was before, and characters even disappeared because they had been introduced during the dream season. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, a devoted Harm/Mac shipper, Wednesday, June 21, 11:19:06
    - I believe this constitutes as a Hallmark moment for Shaz & Abrah....its probably the only thing they'll agree on....Shaz isn't a Harm fan & Abrah isn't a Mac fan she's a mucho Harm fan, so let's all mark this date down as the Shaz/Abrah Hallmark moment LMAO!!! (NT) -- Jennifer, Wednesday, June 21, 12:30:07
      - LOL, Jennifer. I love you're comment. Dare I say that although I agree with Shaz that I also refuse to believe that Harm and Mac are together, that unlike Shaz, it's my believe that it's HARM's nightmare and Mac's dream? Even though Shaz and I disagree alot, I still think she's a great person. (NT) -- abrah, Wednesday, June 21, 19:22:21
        
        Don't worry....Shaz and I have a standing agree to disagree relationship as well, but I had a blast with her at Fanfest & also consider her a good person! I know you & I have the same kind of relationship, as I gear more with Shaz on the nightmare scenario LOL! But hey if a Mac fan & Harm fan can find a way to acriminously get along, then what the heck! It truly is a Hallmark moment LOL! (NT) -- Jennifer, Thursday, June 22, 7:16:10
        
        Jennifer we've had our own Hallmark moments ;-) We can all get along because we put the whole thing perspective; these are CHARACTERS NOT REAL PEOPLE! We'realso smart enough and well-ground enough to seperate the actor from the character. (NT) -- Shaz, Thursday, June 22, 8:01:57
        Jen, I think you meant "if a Mac fan & Harm fan can find a way to tolerantly get along". Acrimonious means to have deep-seated resentment. ;-) ;-) (NT) -- KatRose, Thursday, June 22, 8:48:19
        
        I think you can get rid of acrimony with a blend of chocolate & liquor. Rub it in, pour it down, shake it up, add some more ... repeat until it's gone. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Thursday, June 22, 8:51:59
        
        Sounds like chocolate mudslides to me :-) I'm having some this weekend :-) (NT) -- Shaz, Thursday, June 22, 9:29:35
        
        Oooh, yummy! I just tried a wonderfully decadent chocolate ice cream that I was rather hoping I didn't like. The wonderful concoction is Godiva's Dark Belgian Chocolate ice cream. It's one of those little pint things that was almost $5. Of course it was absolutely wonderful. Now I'll have to exercise self-control because I can't afford to buy it as often as I would like! LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn, Thursday, June 22, 9:37:25
        
        Thanks Abrah! (NT) -- Shaz, Thursday, June 22, 7:59:48
- :::GASP:::: You mean people think Harm & Mac should be together, & some think they should be apart? And there are some that like Harm better than Mac & vise versa? Oh, Horror of Horrors, people are arguing over this---STILL. Geez, louise!!! ::::Hello, Amy, you copy? Yeah, we, ah, need the AB prepped for an assignment, pronto! What do you mean you left the keys at home? Get them on your lunch, we need chocolate, & Kat needs a vacation. Oh I forgot, Kat doesn't do vacations, she & Jen do disasters. Right, the AB can handle it. Over & out ::::: Time to inject some humor to the situation, I skimmed, sorta, the afore mentioned thread, & it seems someone had their panties in a wad. (NT) -- Texasbrat someone PLEASE take the bait -- I'm going inlaw nuts here in 99 degree weather, save me, Wednesday, June 21, 10:42:31
Hot Men and Cool Ice - per TB's request -- KatRose, Wednesday, June 21, 13:30:33 [11]

come inside for more hot & cold

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Replies:
- More pix inside -- KatRose, Wednesday, June 21, 13:32:08
- Thanx..............I needed that!!!!! Both the ice & the men!!! -- Texasbrat more inside, Wednesday, June 21, 14:17:30
  - TB ... inside -- AmyLynn, Thursday, June 22, 6:22:11
- I LOVE the first picture inside. Wow! Hot flash! But, unlike our Amy who has been sweltering all day, I've at least have had AC to help cool me down. Great pics, Kat. I always enjoy your photos. (NT) -- abra, Wednesday, June 21, 19:29:05
  - I wish these were my photos. They're pix I've gathered from the web. One day, maybe, I'll be in a position to shoot icebergs. That would be, no pun intended, cool. :-) (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, June 21, 19:54:07
- Whoa . . . good gets better when you go inside . . . I pick Bachelor #1 (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, eyes getting wider as I scroll, Thursday, June 22, 7:02:01
Vote for JAG, CB and DJE -- Sandra, Thursday, June 22, 1:54:38 [1]
www.teavee.com/jag --- vote for JAG
www.celeeb.com/catherine-bell --- vote for CB
www.celeeb.com/david-james-elliott --- vote for DJE

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Contacting a Former Teacher -- Shaz, Tuesday, June 20, 18:48:18 [5]
Have you ever wondered what has happened to people you met along the way?

I do, all the time! I think mostly because I moved around so much. Most interactions lasted a year at best.

Any I decided to email a former teacher of mine and am feeling a bit guilty over one line. I wrote, "I don�t expect many teachers to remember me as I never stayed in one place very long and I was not the type of person to stand out much." It helps to understand I tortured this teacher. I often made it difficult for her teach because I would take control of the class. I'm sure once she sees the name she'll cringe.

I've contacted a few former teachers along the way and most remember me by name, an event or by a photo. I've contacted my 4th grade teacher, 5th grade science teacher, 5th-6th grade social studies teacher, a teacher that worked my school in 9th grade and now my 9th grade chorus teacher.

Has anyone else done this?

It is hard to explain what prompted it. With this last teach I'd see she first or last name everywhere and then tonight I heard a song we had done (not something you would normally hear on the radio).

[ Post a Reply to this Message ][Edit]

Replies:
- You may not realize what a good thing you are doing both for yourself and these teachers. My mom was a teacher, and one of the real joys for her was when one of her students took the time to contact her as an adult. Many times a teacher really never knows what happens to their students, particularly if they move away like you did. And I have teacher friends who are even more concerned about the future of kids who give them a hard time. Your teachers will see that they had at least a little impact on your life, and it will let them know their efforts were worth their time. How are you locating these people? Phone book? Internet searches? (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Wednesday, June 21, 6:37:12
  - This teacher I found via the Internet. It was a little tougher because she had since married. Luckily she hyphenates her last name. I sent an email to a different address, but never got a response. I figured it was worth one last time. IMO, she was a lousy teacher, but I was urious just the same. I was dating someone her age, so it was hard to look at her as an authority figure. My 4th grade teacher I found by sending a letter to the school he had taught at. Luck was with me again and a good friend of his, still teaching at the school, was in the office when the letter arrived and passed it on. Mr. C and I exchanged a few letters. Mr. D I found on the HS website. My 4th grade teacher I walked in and she remembered me. (NT) -- Shaz, Wednesday, June 21, 9:10:36
- I used to see my first grade teacher once in a while and I always got a kick out of the fact that she remembered me. I was 6, after all, when I was in her class! Now she's much older and not in the best of health. I also met up with my 7th grade Enligsh teacher who also remembered me, and we used to regularly visit & became friends, then she battled a long time with cancer and died. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Wednesday, June 21, 8:14:09
  - I've crossed paths with my 7th grade Social Studies teacher, but I'm not sure if she remembered me. I said hello, but never mentioned I was a former student. My 7th grade gym teacher now lives in Rockport. The school I met her at is over and 1.25 hours away. I didn't like her as a teacher (very unfair) and as a person she doesn't impress me. I've kept in touch with my 9th grade social studies teacher and often refer to her as my spiritual advisor ;-) Oh yeah and I contacted my 10th grade science teacher via the high school website. She put up with me falling asleep in her class, often, but she never woke me until the class was over ;-) (NT) -- Shaz, Wednesday, June 21, 9:17:14
I'm tired of waiting for the new season! ROUND ROBIN AT THE DUCKY BOARD! BE THERE OR BE SQUARE. You don't need to stick w/ Star Gate characters. Mix and match from Lost, Jag, NCIS, Atlantis, and Star Gate. (Did I miss any???) READY???? BEGIN!!!!! CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE ROUND ROBIN -- Luoodles, Wednesday, June 21, 5:16:25 [1]

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Oh Man! I wish I had money!! Check this out!!!! -- JenniferM, Friday, June 16, 15:49:50 [35]
Ultimate JAG Memorabilia Package

Okay, who is going to loan me money? Don't tell me to play the lottery cause I never have and am not gonna start now....

Robbing a bank? Well, I guess I am a property owner so I could technically bail myself outta jail LOL!

Looks really cool! I'm going to be interested to see how many bids it gets!

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Replies:
- The reserve hasn't been met at $105. I'm guessing they set the reserve at $200. and the whole thing will go for $400 to $500. I won't be bidding. Many of the things I already own and they are just shoved in a box. (NT) -- Shaz, Saturday, June 17, 8:58:21
  - Were you at the JAG Fanfest when the JAG coins were sold? I wonder how much they cost new. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Saturday, June 17, 12:31:57
    - I was at that JFF. The coins are interesting. I was going through my "JAG box" the other day and wondered what the H*** to o with it all. I decided that once things settle down for me I'll put the unsigned photos, scripts and other trinkets on eBay. I'll probably sell the DPB autographed magazine too. I'll keep the lic, plate holder to use as a picture frame. (NT) -- Shaz, Saturday, June 17, 13:53:52
  - After looking on eBay again, I just answered my own question about how much the coin might have cost. I guess it cost whatever the registration fee was, because supposedly everybody got a coin who attended. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Saturday, June 17, 12:40:42
- Isn't the seller, Moonmaden, Katrose? (NT) -- ebay junkie, Saturday, June 17, 20:56:12
  - It is. Guess this means folks can trust the seller, huh? LOL (NT) -- KatRose, Sunday, June 18, 8:36:38
    - So are you going to give me a deal or do I have to keep bidding on it? LMAO!!!!! (NT) -- Jennifer, Sunday, June 18, 9:40:00
      - Actually I did a couple of bids, but its gotten too rich for my blood (like I knew it would LOL)....better keep concentrating on my eternal search for a lawnmower....Hey Shaz, you could always take a road trip South & bring me one LOL! (NT) -- Jennifer, Sunday, June 18, 9:42:01
        
        Or you take a roadtrip north and pick one up! Do you need a ride on or push ;-) You could stay a couple days have some lobster and hang on the beach. (NT) -- Shaz, Sunday, June 18, 9:45:21
        
        I don't own a truck! (NT) -- Shaz, Sunday, June 18, 9:46:17
        
        I need a rider....and I do own a truck, but at the current gas prices I could get a walk up First Class Airline ticket and still save as opposed to having to pay for gas to Mass LOL! I would love to come eat lobster, YUM!!!! (NT) -- Jennifer, Sunday, June 18, 19:01:05
      - Sorry, sweetie, you gotta keep bidding. How else am I going to afford to come to Atlanta in September for your boat show??? :-D (NT) -- KatRose, Sunday, June 18, 10:51:01
        
        Besides, the proceeds will be split with my friend, so I don't even get to keep it all myself. ::quietly sobbing:: LOL (NT) -- KatRose, Sunday, June 18, 10:51:35
        
        Sigh...its still got 5 days to go & is already outta my price range LOL! I feel kinda stupid for posting the auction here, but oh well C'est La Vie! I hope it goes well, cause I really do need you to take pictures of the kids come September :) (NT) -- Jennifer, Sunday, June 18, 18:59:46
        
        Don't be sorry for posting this here. I don't mind that people know who I am at eBay. It's not like it's a secret once someone wins. Not to mention that I have a 300+ score with over 600 sales. I'd say that a fair amount of people know who am I. :-) Besides, now that we're talking about this, hopefully it'll get more people bidding because they'll trust the source of the sale. Right? I can hope at least. LOL (NT) -- KatRose, Sunday, June 18, 21:01:38
        Why wouldn't you post it here? This started out as a JAG board. Plus, Kat has posted about her own listings here before. It is a great way to get the word out. I'll probably do the same thing when I put my JAG stuff up for bid! (NT) -- Shaz, Monday, June 19, 4:51:07
- This is a neat package, wish I could afford to purchase it, but other things are taking priority right now. And now that I know a seller, I have someone I can ask some questions to about the whole selling process. That is if Kat, doesn't mind me "picking her brain for info". I've never done it, so I don't even know where to begin, I have a sewing machine I could try to sell. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, June 19, 4:04:26
  - Ask away, TB. Let's start with some basics: what kind of machine, how old, what kind of shape is it in, does it have all the original books/pieces, does it have any extras, etc, etc, etc. (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, June 19, 8:42:33
    - It's a Dressmaker zigzag machine, in the original case. All metal, with special cogs to make special stitches. All the parts are in my sewing stuff. Age, hmmmm, about 30 years old, give or take a few. It's an off-brand, so I'm not sure how well it would do. Also, how could I deal with shipping, it probably weighs in at about 60lbs. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, June 19, 10:43:20
      - To find out what the current value of your machine you'll need to find the manufacturer's name and then do a search, either via Google, Yahoo or eBay, and then see what kinds of prices you find. Then you can figure out what you want to list it as. As for shipping, in eBay listings, there's an area for calculating shipping costs. I generally let the buyer decide the method of shipping (based on the weight I plug into the shipping area) and then add a small handling fee if the item is difficult to pack or takes some time to put together. You can weigh your machine on your bathroom scale and then add another 2-3 pounds for box and packaging material. Or you can have it set up as 'local pick-up only'. (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, June 19, 11:53:56
  - Try searching eBay to see how many of the same machines are there. When I find that something I'm selling has lots of listings I wait. Turbo Lister makes it so much easier if I have lots to sell. (NT) -- Shaz, Monday, June 19, 10:01:23
- Okay, it's at $152.50 this morning, who'll gimme 170? .............come on people, dig out your Monopoly money, and lets play this morning. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, June 19, 4:07:38
  - Monopoly money is about all I have right now! (NT) -- Shaz, Monday, June 19, 5:31:31
    - You and me, both. We could pretend we have money & use our Monopoly money to bid, then money would be no object. Unfortunately, for Kat, the money isn't legit, so she'd just have to wait for her auction to close. I was trying to see if anyone would play. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, June 19, 10:39:26
      - I have two real pennies, a fake $100 bill with the face of some executive on it, two pieces of dried Chicklets gum and a lint ball. Will any of that help? (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, June 19, 12:05:29
        
        You're ahead of me. When the washer finishes it cycle, I might can come up with some change, I ALWAYS get change from the washer after a jean load. So, are you, like, bidding on your own stuff? (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, June 19, 12:43:02
        
        No. Just thought I might be able to contribute to someone else's bid for glory. ;-) (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, June 19, 13:42:41
        LOL, yeah she's pulling a John Candy from the movie "Delirious" --- he donates his expensive car to a charity auction & then buys it back for $1million just to impress the girl. LOl (NT) -- AmyLynn, Monday, June 19, 14:55:59
        
        I have some lint and sand, but not much else. (NT) -- Shaz, Monday, June 19, 14:42:50
- Good luck to you and your friend with your auction, KatRose! What a collection of JAG stuff. The coin and the parking placard are my favorites, and maybe the puzzle invitation. My pocket contents revealed one paper clip, an worn ibuprofen capsule, a Splenda packet, and a Nevada quarter I received in change for my state coin collection. It's likely to stay that way for 4 more years until we get both boys out of college. TexasBrat, your first effort with eBay will be the hardest - maybe I should just say slowest - but once you get it figured out, it's worth your while and kind of fun. I hope you try it. This is the 4th year of what I describe as my ongoing eBay garage sale, during which I have sold all kinds of extra household clutter and have cleared about $450. I am ladyj6622 but have nothing for sale at the moment. A baseball bat needs to be listed or I'm going to miss the kids' summer seasons. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, June 20, 8:15:55
  - I'm I the only one who finds it almost addictive to check the status of their listings? I find myself checking the stats quite often. (NT) -- Shaz, Tuesday, June 20, 12:35:56
    - That should be "am I", not "I'm". It has been a long day at the beach! (NT) -- Shaz, Tuesday, June 20, 12:37:28
      - I've had a long day at the beach, too. Er, I mean work. The A/C is out. Our office is 87 degrees with humidity and no air movement. Yay! Time is standing still, people are almost falling asleep, and it's beginning to thunder. Yay yay. (NT) -- AmyLynn, sweaty and sticky in Chicagoland .... yech!!!, Tuesday, June 20, 13:00:15
        
        PS: Did I mention we have no windows??? yay yay yay (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, June 20, 13:00:55
Jennifer I can totally relate to your BOA story. A few years back I was visiting my sister with my godkids and she had to make a business trip out of town for the day. Well we had decided to go to Niagara Falls and at the very time we were there there was a major power failure in Ontario all the way to various parts of the eastern USA. Anyways as luck would have it Niagara Falls just happened to be the only area with power because someone saw the blackout cascading an pulled some switch or the other. I used my VISA card to make a long distance phone call to find out if my sister is stranded and to tell her we decided to stay in Niagara Falls where at least there is power. Several minutes later I go to use my card and it is rejected.... -- Jubellant, Thursday, June 15, 10:04:07 [7]
I figure there has to be something wrong with the stripe but the vendor assures me, that is not the problem. I phone VISA and they say they left me a message on my answering machine that they were blocking my card use. I tell them I am on vacation so how exactly was I to know about this message. What if I were off in the middle of nowhere and this happened? They then ask if the card is in my possession I say yes, did you make a long distance phone call I say yes, did you hang up the phone afterwards, DUH, yes. Well sometimes if people don't hang up properly then someone can go and ring up alls sorts of charges. I say you cut off my card for a telephone call? Yes. Do you plan to make anymore phone calls. I say how should I know, we are in the middle of a blackout here and my sister is stranded in the next province. I then say forget it I will buy a phone card and he says good idea! I'll reinstate your card immediately. Fast forward a year later, I make a long distance call to my sister's cell phone to tell her where to meet me and then stop to get gas. When I get home something tells me to phone VISA and tell them what I had done so if they were thinking about blocking my card, DON'T. Sure enough the guy says since making long distant phone calls are not usual to much purchase history they would assume the card had been stolen and since thieves usually try to make a small purchase to ensure the card was valid they would have blocked my card. UNBELIEVABLE!! I now travel with a phone card. P.S. Bummer about the flower arrangement. Perhaps a donation to a charity or foundation made on behalf of the person concernewd could be a replacement gesture which would be more personal and in the longterm would be more beneficial and lasting than flowers.

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Replies:
- So if I'm understanding this, it was making a pay-phone call that got your card "cancelled"? Huh?? It seems like a policy like this should be in huge big bold red letters on every statement so you're not caught off-guard. And, honestly, how many times does it happen that a huge payphone charge or multiple charges would be made that they couldn't handle this on an *individual* basis rather than a policy that says "make a phone call on your card & we suspend it". This just sounds ridiculous. But maybe that's just me. If a company can cover its monthly operating expenses in one day's worth of "fees", apparently I'm the one in the wrong job --- I should be a bank/credit/financial CEO. LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn, Thursday, June 15, 11:27:15
  - You got it right AmyLynn a pay phone call!!! It was the first time ever I used my card to make a phone call and you're right they make billions in profit and are blocking your card for a $3 phone call. INCREDIBLE! (NT) -- Jubellant, Thursday, June 15, 12:28:38
    - You need some chocolate, too! LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn, Thursday, June 15, 12:37:32
      - Thanks AmyLynn it is thundering and pouring rain here and this gesture made me feel like the sun is shining through. MMM the power of fat-free chocolate LOL! (NT) -- Jubellant, Thursday, June 15, 13:08:15
        
        You can send the lightning over here if you'd like. Aim it in the direction of my work computer so I can go home. Thanks. LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn, Thursday, June 15, 13:19:23
- We could really use the rain, my poor garden is in shock or something. The corn is sooo short this year & I don't know if it's the variety (a sweet hybrid), the lack of water or the fact we had 40 degree temps in early June. Please, rain, my water bill next month will be horrid. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, June 19, 3:58:02
Okay....Children Cover your ears because I'm gonna go on a RANT!!!! -- Jennifer, Wednesday, June 14, 13:49:09 [14]
Can I just say how much I hate big banks? I am so p***ed right now, and there's nothing that can be done....

Long & short of the story....my bosses' wife's mother died this past weekend....the service was today.....so my *sister* office, the Charlotte office & my office decide to go in and get a floral arrangement to be delivered to the Funeral Home today....I ordered the flowers yesterday, and of course paid by my company credit card....

Hey it expires in 2009, there's plenty of money in the account to cover a 50 buck floral arrangement, no problem right?

Wrong....the transaction was declined thanks to FREAKIN Bank of America, so no flowers sent....

I am lived at this point...I call BofA, and was told that my company credit card, in THEIR opinion was compromised on May 15th....I'm like compromised? Comprised how? I'm the only one in possession, there's been no unusual amount of activity, no excess charges, just our usual stuff...well they believe that a 3rd party got a hold of a batch of numbers so THEY cancelled the cards.....No notice, no nothing!!!!!

I said "don't you think it would've been nice of you to tell your customers this?" "Well we sent you a letter..."

WHAT FREAKIN LETTER? That's all you do? No phone call, nothing except you go to try and use the card and you get embarrassed and humiliated because its been cancelled? Not to mention in this case we didn't get any flowers delivered to the funeral home, which really makes me look like a TOTAL F'ING LOSER!!!

Why do I even try??? Thanks Bank of America....take your customer service and shove it up your a**!!! I understand the why's, and I appreciate that end of it...what I don't appreciate is NOT BEING NOTIFIED and leaving it to ONE STUPID letter instead of contacting people via phone, via email, and mail, instead of just arbitrarily shutting the card off with no notice.....What a crock! Look at the account details, you can see there's nothing unusual...

So I'm going to take my loser self and go get some chocolate...Amy where is it?

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Replies:
- I'm so sorry, Jen. When did BofA say they sent the letter? If it was right after the "compromise" date, then you should have received it and potentially a follow-up letter saying, "we haven't heard from you, so we wanted to make sure you were aware..." Is BofA going to send you a new card? Why didn't they include the new card with the letter that said, "A bunch of card #s were breached, we closed your old account, here's a new one. Please call us to activate."? Sometimes big business is a real PITA~ (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, June 14, 13:55:50
  - *IF* that's what really happened. I'm cynical enough to want to investigate further. I say this because my car insurance was dropped by State Farm and I had no clue. I was told it was because I hadn't paid it, but I said wait a minute, I never got a bill, a final notice, a notice that is was cancelled, NOTHING. There should have been a few things that they sent me, even a phone call or two would have been expected. Turns out they "lost me" in a computer switchover. I never went back to them. And how about when the letter is sent the DAY they cancel something. Alot of good that does. They should mail to you with the same 5-7 day time buffer they expect from their customers mailing a payment. And I've lost track of the times that a "sale" coupon arrived DAYS after the sale had ended. I don't think it's all the post office --- I think big companies just don't process stuff properly. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Wednesday, June 14, 14:10:10
  - The compromise date was supposedly May 15th.....We haven't gotten anything.....not a new letter, not the NEW CARD they supposedly mailed out, nada zippo.....And their comments to me where "we let you use the card for a month...it was turned off last night..." Terrific! Again why not call us? We've been with this d*** bank since the company opened in 1986, & we don't even rate a phone call. I'm just upset about the flowers....Sigh....I'm going to write a very pointed letter to BofA, it won't do any good cause they don't give sh*t, but it will make ME feel better. Gee I used the card to get some gas the other night, it hasn't posted yet, I wonder if the police are going to come & arrest me for stealing gasoline? (NT) -- Jennifer, Wednesday, June 14, 14:16:51
- Yes, this is the keeper of the chocolate. I've been summoned? Let me read your post & determine the extent of your problems. (pause) Oh dear! Bank troubles! I hate banks, too. I've gotten the song & dance and stupid excuses that make no sense. Yes, I agree on the notification issue. All these financial & credit places get my goat. Why can they call incessantly if you're five minutes late with a payment ---which, by the way, they should be grateful for since they get an obscene amount of income from the late fees --- but they can't call you with a useful bit of info .... Oh my, I think MY eye is starting to twitch, and it wasn't even my rant! LOL ... Here you go: (NT) -- AmyLynn ... I don't think it's safe to tell you where it is, LOL!, Wednesday, June 14, 14:04:49
  - Think she needs the entire candy store! I'm with ya on this. I've been toyed with the "it's in the mail line" and agree with the pick up the phone and do a little one on one customer service. (NT) -- Heather, Wednesday, June 14, 17:27:09
- I'm so sorry for your situation, Jennifer. What a mess. I guess I've had the reverse experience with a compromised credit card. About 4 years ago my husband's business credit card ended up on a list of stolen card numbers, so believe it or not, our bank was calling all its business account Mastercard holders to explain that they would be receiving new cards because theirs were compromised. Fortunately he doesn't use this card very much, but the bank was intercepting any activity on the old card and putting it on the new card number. This would have covered any problems like with the funeral flowers. The bank also sent a letter with the same info but had assigned a bank employee to make phone contact, too, because of the time lag in receiving the mailed message. Honestly we couldn't believe a bank would put that much manpower and effort into taking care of something that wasn't their fault, but it made such an impression that it would be hard to take our business elsewhere. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Wednesday, June 14, 15:09:00
  - I appreciate the effort, I just don't think they *did* enough to let the cardholders know....One letter a month ago (which was never received) IMHO isn't enough on their part, especially when they shut the card off with no warning. I'd better go up the gas station & see if the transaction went through, I sure as h*** don't want to get arrested for stealing gas LOL!! (NT) -- Jennifer, Wednesday, June 14, 15:13:39
    - This is one of the reasons I severly dislike BofA. Everyone I know who's with them has had similar situations at least once in their time with this particular banking institution. They're ubiquitous, but I think that's come to stand for "U Bit, Quit Us". ::sigh:: Luckily my bank's been pretty good lately, but I've had my own experiences where they deducted checks twice (computer error) and then charge ME for overdrafted caused by the double payments! To say I threw a fit is an understatement. I eventually got all the double payments reversed (the initial suggestion was to call the creditor and have them reverse the second payment. Yeah, that's going to work.) and the NSF charges cleared, but it proved that even a good bank fouls up big time. (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, June 14, 15:38:33
      - I *love* my personal bank....its smaller, though it has gotten bigger than when I was first a customer. But the company has to go with this *megabank* & I wish I could switch....it really *chaps* my behind that part of the monthly service fee is an items deposited fee...they charge me for putting money into their bank...what a crock! (NT) -- Jennifer, Wednesday, June 14, 16:18:59
        
        Excuse me? They charge you to DEPOSIT money? HUH?!?!? It's that the point of a bank? I get grumpy enough having my bank charge me for using an ATM (not directly associated with my bank) because their hours don't coincide with mine and there's aren't enough of them around the city. But to be charged to deposit money??? What a CROCK! (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, June 14, 19:39:20
        
        Yep its called "Items Deposited Fee" Last month my service charge for this little beauty was $12.33....I can only imagine what it would be for some multi-million dollar company, not my little pea size company. Its is a crock! This is my new TERM if you all have noticed, its much better than cussing, so from now on if I don't agree with something, "what a crock!" LOL LOL LOL! I did get a piece of good news however.....the floral shop called me to tell me that the charge had gone through, & that they had delivered the flowers anyway, which I thought was SUPER NICE considering they had a bum card number from me. So, at least I'm not a *loser* in that regards, the flowers were delivered in time for the service. (NT) -- Jennifer, Wednesday, June 14, 20:23:54
- Jen, sorry to hear you are experiencing one of those little "bumps" in the road. I do however agree about mega-banks -- like many other corporations they are only out for the almighty dollar -- customer service is sooo yesterday with them -- they just want to see how much of your money they can take, er keep, from you. I use a credit union -- it's smaller and more personal -- can your company switch to a credit union? (NT) -- Texasbrat, Thursday, June 15, 5:04:37
- I'm with TexasBrat. Jennifer, if the company is yours, or if you have sufficient sway with the management, I'll bet BofA has lost a customer about 5 minutes after this happened. Local banks or credit unions have to serve their customers or go extinct. The bank I mentioned is the only local bank left among about 7 out-of-town or out-of-state chains here, and they have lots of business accounts because they value and service them. Business credit and debit cards are issued by them through Mastercard, so you get the service I described when a problem comes up. They have screwed up a couple of times over about 20 years with our personal account, but when I hear what other people put up with, my bank satisfaction is pretty high. Banks are charging for deposits??? I can't believe it!! (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, June 15, 6:49:03
How interested are we in celebrity news? -- Heather, Saturday, June 10, 10:42:05 [16]
Was reading my home page and there in National news was the Pitt-Jolie baby... not some ax murder in UT or government mess-up.

Do we really strive on the news of those that "have a brighter star and make more" than we do so much that it makes national news. Or has celebrity-ism just gone that far?

Honestly don't care who got who knocked-up. They are just ordinary people that are talented.

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Replies:
- I'm with you. I don't particularly care who's sleeping with whom, who's marrying/divorcing whom and who's giving birth. It's not like this is an earth-shattering piece of news ... lots of women give birth everyday!! ::sigh:: I get so tired of hearing entertainment pieces touted as "NEWS" and newscasters trying to make these stories appear "important" when if normal people had been going through it, then we'd hear not a single word about it. As much as I (sorta) need the celebrity drive culture to keep my industry flourishing, I'd almost be willing to trade it in for a news day that didn't hype some "celeb"'s personal life to ad naseum. I tune into the news for REAL news, not this BS. And I'm tired of news shows that used to be worthy of the name "news shows" turning into big cauldrons of entertainment style pieces ... even the true news stories are being hawked with the same hype as the idiot pieces. (NT) -- KatRose, Saturday, June 10, 19:58:26
  - If I wanted to see news items about Brad/Angelina, then I'd buy the National Inquirer, Star or People. I don't, so I don't. Grrrrrrrrr (NT) -- KatRose, Saturday, June 10, 20:00:20
- I have little to no interest in what is going on with celebrities. (NT) -- Shaz, Sunday, June 11, 19:27:49
  - Says the "Hollywood Owl". LOL (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, June 12, 11:22:21
    - Who? Who? (NT) -- The Hollywood Owl, Monday, June 12, 15:13:11
      - ::snickering:: I still laugh when I remember you saying that the first time. :-) (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, June 12, 16:57:55
        
        Some day I'm going to find a small owl pin wearing sunglasses. I just don't get into to who is who. (NT) -- Shaz, Monday, June 12, 18:11:50
- Add me to the list as well.....You would've thought that will all the publicity that both TomKat & Bragelina had that their children were the 2nd coming of Jesus LOL! Give me a break! I don't care! I don't care if they get married, there are many many other things happening in the world that *should* take precedence LOL! I like CB, I've gone to see her play golf in SC for the past few years...I don't understand the hero worship, the people who follow celebs everywhere, & who try to *ingrain* themselves in the celeb's life by sending them presents all the time & so on....I don't get it... (NT) -- Jennifer, Monday, June 12, 17:43:55
  - My sister were flipping through TV channels one night and stopped at something like "Entertainment Tonight". After a few minutes we looked at each other and said, "Who are these people?" I have no clue who half the "celebrities" are that they feature on the "news". I probably saw alot of "famous" people when I was in California and just didn't know it. Maybe that should be my opening line as I walk around with my camera and belt of lenses (HA HA): "Hello, are you a famous person?" And then before they answer, I *click* so that I can at least say I saw a famous person in Hollywood. LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, June 13, 7:05:11
- If you want to know whats going on with celebrities...go grocery shopping! Pick a long line and by the time you get your turn you can catch up just by reading the "crap" on the front of the magazines! Of course it wont vary much....only the celeb. of the "day" will be featured....even on "Good Housekeeping"! (NT) -- jagglebelle....you would think these people were actually better than the rest of us....LOL, Tuesday, June 13, 7:49:14
  - LOL --- I'm glad somebody else keeps up on celebrity news the same way I do. You don't even need a particularly long line because, as you point out so well, the headlines don't vary a lot. I'll bet each magazine or tabloid has about 10 stock front pages, pretty much laid out and just waiting for the current "celebrity/ies" to plug in. I will even admit to looking at People's Brad/Angelina & baby pictures while in the WalMart line this morning, with plenty of time to spare. Why would anybody buy this stuff when it's right by you in line or in a dentist's or doctor's waiting room??? Talk about a quick read. . . (NT) -- Ninja_Girl (who follows Brad because he's from the same place I am), Tuesday, June 13, 12:30:51
    - I have to admit I looked at those too....wanted to see what a child of theirs would look like....cute! (NT) -- jagglebelle, Tuesday, June 13, 16:09:47
- Speaking of celebs -- what is the deal with them climbing trees? First it was the guy from the Stones that fell out of a tree (I have my theories why he was in one in the first place) & got a concussion. Now, the big news Daryl Hannah & some others were arrested for "hugging treetops". Mind you I was trying to fix supper as this earth-shattering news story aired, so I may not have all the info on it. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Wednesday, June 14, 3:55:32
  - Joan Baez was up a tree the other day, too, but I don't know exactly why. Never did know why Keith Richards fell, but I'm sure I shared your thoughts, TB. As I understand it, Darryl Hannah's deal had to do with a community garden in L.A. on some pricey real estate which the owner now wants to develop. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Wednesday, June 14, 7:12:04
  - I don't mind when celebs use their visibility to get news of issues out to the general public (cuz, face it, our lovely news media doesn't always focus on things that affect us unless there's a stink raised about it), but I do mind when these same celebs don't have a flipping clue about the cause they're "supporting." According to all reports I've read, Darryl Hannah didn't even know about the loss of this urban farm until a few weeks ago, in spite of the fact that this has been brewing for years. Come inside for a brief overview of the situation. -- KatRose, Wednesday, June 14, 11:19:51
Cartoon -- KatRose, Sunday, June 11, 16:40:15 [6]

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Replies:
- I LOVE IT! Thanks Kat! (NT) -- Shaz, Sunday, June 11, 19:15:09
  - I sent it around the world! (NT) -- Shaz, Monday, June 12, 15:14:27
- Already printed and posted at work! (NT) -- heather, Monday, June 12, 15:01:47
- Priceless -- I have a "new" answer for hubby when he tells me I'm getting a bit fluffy. Course then someone will have some retorical remark about "sitting on my brians" (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, June 13, 4:04:07
  - Guys got their brains in their shorts, so I get it's only fair. ;-) ;-) (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, June 13, 9:41:02
i love the new banner. Your flag photo is beautiful! -- judy, Sunday, June 11, 21:51:33 [14]

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Replies:
- Same reaction here. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, June 12, 7:10:50
- Beautiful picture!! (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Monday, June 12, 7:19:17
- I love this blue color...but I am having a hard time reading the green...my old lady eyes! (NT) -- jagglebelle maybe I just need to get used to it, Monday, June 12, 7:46:40
  - DITTO!!! I'm going a bit bug-eyed!!! The flag pic is AWESOME!!!! (NT) -- Texasbrat, Monday, June 12, 9:21:36
- I have that picture as my wallpaper. It is a beautiful picture. I am as well having trouble reading the posts with this color. (NT) -- shippermom, Monday, June 12, 9:14:41
  - The green is now yellow on my screen, and it's some easier to read. The white print is very readable. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, June 12, 11:26:50
    - But the post I just put up is green! Maybe the yellow is if I have clicked on a post. Maybe I'm just losing my mind . . . (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, June 12, 12:07:29
      - And the most recent is yellow! AGHHHHHHH!!! AmyLynn, I need coffee and/or chocolate!!!! (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, June 12, 12:09:32
        
        I guess it's yellow until clicked on, then green. The green is a beautiful color but yes, it's more difficult to read. Now that my mystery is solved, I will find other worlds to conquer. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, June 12, 12:13:45
        Here ya go, coffee and chocolate!! ....... And while I like blue, and the yellow is better than the green, I still can't help doing this when I visit the board, LOL. (NT) -- AmyLynn, Monday, June 12, 12:28:31
        Unvisited links are yellow. Visited links are green. I figured we needed to read the unread posts more easily than the read posts. (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, June 12, 13:05:43
        
        Thanx, it is more readable for these sleepy eyes. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, June 13, 4:02:10
        
        Ditto! (NT) -- jagglebelle, Tuesday, June 13, 7:50:37
Alberto's paying me a visit -- Ryne's Mom, Monday, June 12, 7:18:28 [4]
It's actually a nice visit because we need the rain desparately.

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Replies:
- The hurricanes are starting up again, aren't they?? I hope you get plenty of rain and that the big winds leave you alone. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, June 12, 14:48:53
- Please take all the rain you want from the storm before it heads this way. I've had enough rain for a while. I haope the winds don't do any damage. (NT) -- Shaz, Monday, June 12, 19:13:54
- Thanks NG and Shaz. Alberto's too weak to make hurricane, but the rain is Fabulous!! We've been in a draught since February I think. And we're so far inland that storm surge and flooding is not a problem. (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Tuesday, June 13, 6:02:23
Memorial Day -- KatRose, Monday, May 29, 17:53:41 [22]
I drive past the Los Angeles National Cemetary nearly every day on my way to work. And every year I see the Boy Scouts putting out flags for Veteran's Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day. Yet every year I somehow manage to miss the actual event taking place at LACN. Not this year!

I went down and paid my respects to the men and women who have fought for this country and died for it. I hadn't realized that the LACN interned soldiers as far back as the Civil War. It was incredibly moving to see the headstones of so many ... and all with flags to mark their honor and duty. Inside you'll find a few of the 200 pictures I shot today. I hope you like them.

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Replies:
- Pictures inside -- KatRose, Monday, May 29, 17:59:13
  - Great shots Kat! Are you going to put them up on your website? I have a friend I'd love to have see them, but I don't want him coming here ;-) LOL (NT) -- Shaz, Monday, May 29, 18:05:49
    - As soon as I finish editing everything, I'll get some up to the main site. If you want, you can just have him/her view the direct URLs (just click on "view source" and copy over the www.katrosephot..... info. (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, May 29, 18:08:20
      - I may do that. Me trying to send them via dial up won't work well. (NT) -- Shaz, Monday, May 29, 19:42:47
        
        Okay, I tried something a little different. I took the edited pix and turned them into a music vid (9MB). If you want to see it, please download it to your computer before viewing. It'll save my bandwidth. Thanks. Come inside for the URL. -- KatRose, Monday, May 29, 21:46:55
        
        The link isn't working :-( (NT) -- Shaz, Tuesday, May 30, 11:15:09
        
        Crap, but that's a good thing. I'm remixing as we speak. I'll get it up later this afternoon. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, May 30, 12:43:47
  - Thanks Kat....the one of the man playing the Harmonica made me cry...... the flag is always beautiful but you made it awsome! (NT) -- jagglebelle I dont come from a military background but I have so much respect for anyone who is in uniform inluding fire and police...they all risk their lives for us!, Tuesday, May 30, 8:08:10
  - Absolutely lovely photos - thanks. I had the privilege of going to our Memorial Day airshow Saturday with Ed, 85, who in WWII had piloted a PBY Catalina, a "flying boat" that was a bomber, patrol plane, and rescue vessel. Ed's plane took off and landed only on water, although some models had landing gears. This year for the first time a PBY came to the air show, and Ed became a guest of honor. Our party of 4 with Ed got extreme access to the plane, the pilot, and all of Ed's stories generated by people interested in the plane as we sat in the pilot's comfy lawn chairs in the shade of one of the big, long wings and watched the show. Many would offer Ed thanks for his service, and he would acknowledge their kindness before adding a phrase that seems common among those who served: "Just never forget my buddies who didn't make it back. They're the ones who deserve our thanks." (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, May 30, 8:29:58
  - Those are stunning--- still don't see why you didn't win that photo contest? (NT) -- Heather, Tuesday, May 30, 14:35:51
- Ok, I fixed (I think) the video. Here's the good link: Memorial Day Video (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, May 30, 15:41:37
  - Is it supposed to go straight to Window Media Player? (NT) -- Shaz, Tuesday, May 30, 17:18:36
    - Did you download it first? You need to right-click and save-as before you can play it. Then it should open in Windows Media Player or whatever you have set to play wmv files. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, May 30, 17:22:01
    - Nope, I just clicked the link! You didn't say anything about right clicking LOL! (NT) -- Shaz, Tuesday, May 30, 17:25:53
  - Simply put...VERY COOL! (NT) -- Shaz, Tuesday, May 30, 18:18:07
- These are beautiful. I especially love the one of the Vet. You were lucky to be in the right place at the right time! (NT) -- judy ~ is LACN the name of the cemetary at the Veteran's Administration on Wilshire & visible off the freeway?, Wednesday, May 31, 17:41:31
  - Los Angeles National Cemetery is the offical name. I think most of us call it the Veteran's Cemetery or "that big cemetary". I know I didn't know the real name until I was trying to find out what time the festivities would start. :-) (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, May 31, 17:52:07
- Maybe I should ask this of friends who are Civil War buffs, but you mentioned there are graves going back as far as the Civil War in this cemetery. Would you happen to have noticed if they were fatalities from the actual war or if they went West afterward and died there much later? I'm curious if California, a very young state at the time, sent regiments like so many other states. Soldiers usually fought with state regiments, and California was about the only far Western state by time of the Civil War. In national cemeteries in Missouri, we have a lot of Civil War graves of soldiers who died in battle, often representing fairly equally both Union and Confederate. It is very moving on Memorial Day to realize how torn this state was during that time. My own family had people on both sides. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Wednesday, May 31, 18:51:15
  - I know that the cemetery was opened in 1889, but some of the men died during the Civil War. They have whole sections dedicated to various battles of all the major wars. Here's a brief history of the cemetery. LANC History (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, May 31, 19:29:05
- Excellent photos Kat. I love the way you put them to music, very moving. I should probably know this but is the name of the music you used? On a lighter note, I had to chuckle at the photo of the helo. On the white space right under the rotors it says "NO STEP". That close to the rotors who would actually step there. (NT) -- Ala Charm, Monday, June 05, 18:31:37
  - The music is Aaron Copland's Fanfare for a Common Man, one of my favorite pieces. (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, June 07, 7:46:11
I'm a proud mama of a son who will get his high school diploma tomorrow. -- Ninja_Girl, Friday, June 02, 11:19:09 [17]
I'm happy and sad at the same time - happy for my son who always has had a rough time in school because of a receptive language disorder (translation: output of language very good; input faulty, both verbal or written). He has succeeded against some difficult odds with the help of some wonderful teachers and specialists along the way.

The sad part is that he's my baby, and I am soon to be out of my 20-year primary job of raising him and his brother. Whatever I do next can never even hold a candle to the experiences involved in that time of my life. I know I'm not the first and surely won't be the last to experience this passage of life, but it's a fact at the moment. Remember me tomorrow night at commencement. There will be a houseful of people here in the afternoon for an open house, so I will be too busy to dwell on anything then.

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Replies:
- Congratulations to both you & your son! Its a major accomplishment to be graduating, & you both should be proud. He's earned it! They will always be your kids, no matter if they leave home, they'll still be around. I know the empty nest syndrome can be overwhelming, but just think of the pride & accomplishment that your son has earned! (NT) -- Jennifer, Friday, June 02, 18:28:25
- Congrats! It's an amazing time for your family. This signals some major changes coming, but you're strong and you have the ability to let go. That's one of the most important things a parent can teach a child ... that it's okay to explore the world and know that there's support back at home, even for mistakes made. Be happy and be proud. Congrats. (NT) -- KatRose, Saturday, June 03, 8:26:39
- Congrats to you and your son NG! (NT) -- Shaz, Saturday, June 03, 12:24:03
- This celebration calls for chocolate all around! (NT) -- AmyLynn, Monday, June 05, 12:18:28
  - It was a very happy day with lots of friends around during the afternoon for the open house before commencement Saturday night. Lots of chocolate, by the way! No cake, though -- cherry pie instead. Michael is a cherry pie kind of guy. Weather was perfect. If somebody could help me learn how to post a photo, I have one of the proud grad and myself in a jpg. The Helps were confusing, but I admit to being pretty much computer illiterate. Do I have to have the photo on the web already, I'm guessing on a photo site like Ofoto? (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, June 05, 18:50:43
    - Ah, you need professional help with that, NG (and I mean that in a good way, LOL) ... I just yell at the computer, stare at the picture, and wonder why it's not putting itself where it should be. Hope to see the picture soon! (NT) -- AmyLynn, Tuesday, June 06, 6:15:44
    - You'll need something like photobucket.com (I don't know ofoto, so I don't know if that'll work too). Upload to whatever photo site you choose and then take the URL that photo now has and use the image html tagging < img scr="url" > (without the spaces after < and before >) (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, June 06, 6:30:18
- Let's see if this works. Inside -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, June 06, 7:42:52
  - Amy Lynn, I need professional help of many kinds. . . Looks like no luck this time. KatRose, help!! Tell me if I did it right. In the message area I put in, with no space after beginning & ending arrows,< img.scr="http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j263/NinjaGirl_photos/P1280522_3.jpg" > Two questions: Is there a . or a blank between img scr? Also, I assumed you plug in the actual URL between the quotes. I have a very small knowledge of HTML because of eBay. Don't worry - If this photo effort doesn't work within a few reasonable tries, I won't put all you nice people through the struggle. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, June 06, 7:58:14
    - LOL. I'm right there with you, NG! I thought Kat's directions were well-written and ambitious. HA! Had she said that to me in person, I would have stared, said, "Right." Paused. and then ask her to repeat them s-l-o-w-e-r in the hopes that I would recognize it as English. LOL (NT) -- AmyLynn ... just keep trying, just keep trying, Tuesday, June 06, 8:19:20
  - NG - It looks like the image isn't available for posting for some reason. When I go to that URL I get a "image moved" message. However, if it were there, the text should be <img src="http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j263/NinjaGirl_photos/P1280522_3.jpg"> (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, June 06, 10:06:58
  - Here goes again . . . inside -- Ninja_Girl, cringing while waiting to see what happened, Tuesday, June 06, 11:08:42
    - Yeah, it works!! What a fine looking young man he is! This is a beautiful picture of you *both*, Ninja Girl. Be happy, be proud, eat chocolate! Woo hoo!!!! (NT) -- AmyLynn .... sorry, had a little too much coffee today, Tuesday, June 06, 11:28:03
  - Nothing . . . one more try using -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, June 06, 11:19:10
    - We're a lot bigger than I expected! Thanks for everyone's indulgence and your help, Kat. I doubt if we were worth the anticipation, but here are Michael and me in fuzzy life-size, enlarged beyond the sharpness capabilities of our cheap digital camera! Resolution is better smaller. 6-6-06 will be a day I learned something new. FYI, KatRose, original problem must have been I was inputting (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, June 06, 11:35:14
      - Rest of last post, FYI to Kat - I was inputting < img scr, not < img src ; also went back into photobucket, deleted "image moved" picture and uploaded it again. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, June 06, 11:54:48
Books for Troops -- Ryne's Mom, Tuesday, June 06, 7:02:40 [2]
I came across this last year, and participated, and I'm going to do it again. Books A Million will send books that we purchase online to the troops each week. You pick from a selection and there's no shipping charge.

http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?id=3496023152644&cat=troops

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- I had no idea this site existed. Thanks for the info. I may use it for a couple of guys I know. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, June 06, 11:04:32
Ben Stein's Last Column -- Shaz, Sunday, May 21, 13:32:30 [5]
Head inside it is a bit long, but worth a read >>>

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- Inside >>> -- Shaz, Sunday, May 21, 13:33:38
  - I am sending this on to my best friend's son Nathan who spent a year with the Army in Iraq and now is in Afghanistan. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, May 22, 6:52:55
  - I just printed this. I think that this Monsieur Stein is got a lot of guts to tell this. I love it. I'm French and me and my family always had, and always will support your country ! Sincerly,Laurence. (NT) -- Laurence, Monday, May 29, 17:28:09
- That's a pretty good column, & Ben Stein is IMHO, right on the money. These stars who think we *need* to listen to their views just b/c they are stars, well Fiddle Faddle LOL! But I agree that the true heroes are the unsung ones...the police, the fireman, our military, nurses, teachers.....not the people who make 20 million dollars for *entertaining* us. I think there are too many out there who put celebs up on pedestals (whether it be movies, tv, music, sports, etc.) & then complain b/c the local Fire Dept. wants to give the fireman a pay increase.... (NT) -- Jennifer (thanks for sharing this Shaz), Sunday, May 21, 18:30:59
I saw Shaz Hood commercail with the "Lobster Flavor Ice Cream".... -- Heather, Friday, May 26, 14:36:27 [2]
Hey Shaz... do lobsters flop like that when they are alive? At lease the live one's I've met don't flop like that...

Any one else seen it?

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- I haven't seen it yet, but the kids and I watched it being filmed. The lobsters were rather tired as the production crew wasn't smart enough to keep them wet and cool. Even my little boys knew the lobster were unhappy. (NT) -- Shaz, Saturday, May 27, 18:00:31
A strange complaint about credits after tv shows -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, May 25, 6:37:08 [8]
I may be the only person on earth this bothers, but I don't like the trend among both network and cable tv to make the credits after shows into half-screens and run commercials in the other half. Not always, but often I liked to read where shows were filmed, songs within, etc., and the theme song gets covered up. The names of all the people don't connect with me on a personal basis, but the fact it took all those people to make a show strikes me as important.

I am kind of surprised that the guilds tolerate this. It's their names being eliminated. Except for the paycheck, it may be the only credit they get for their work, and I hate to see it eliminated.

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- You have a point. If I was involved in a show, I'd want the credits to be seen. What drives me batty are all the pop up ads that you see while watching a show. They're worse I think on the cable channels. They drive me crazy. They're getting worse and worse and are getting larger and larger. I swear, soon they'll be taking over half the screen instead of being in one of the corners. I understand the need to advertise and all, but enough already. (NT) -- Kathleen, Thursday, May 25, 6:52:44
  - I'm with you on the pop-up ads. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, May 25, 8:07:32
- It's called Split Screening and has been going on, with the Guilds' permissions, for over 10 years. I believe, but couldn't swear, that it was a consession during contract negotiations years ago that gained the Guilds additional money into the pension and health plans. I'll have to see if I can find out when and why. (NT) -- KatRose, Thursday, May 25, 7:16:12
  - I don't own any series DVD sets, such as the upcoming JAG DVDs, to know if each episode might include credits. Do they? (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, May 25, 8:10:44
    - The networks/studios have an obligation to provide credits on any show - regardless of medium it appears in/on. Those credits are determined by what the show/movie is as to what appears and what doesn't. Song titles don't often appear in TV show credits - unless it's a show that promotes their music like "Charmed" used to do. Cast members with major roles are at the beginning of the show in the opening credits, the rest ... most don't get credit at all since there is limited space in the end titles and most of that is dedicated to major crew positions (asst directors, production designer, additional producers, etc). It's only in feature films that you'll see the long scrolls that detail out most of the people involved. (NT) -- KatRose, Thursday, May 25, 11:05:22
- I agree with you NJ....especially if I'm trying to find the name of a particular actor/actress who played a role (well now I know there is IMDB) & like you if I hear a certain song I want to know who sings it....its annoying, cause you can't see anything LOL! (NT) -- Jennifer, Thursday, May 25, 8:32:57
- I'm an inveterate credit reader, and the virtual disappearance of credits to TV shows has bugged me for a long time (I guess 10 years, according to Kat). I occasionally tape a show specifically to roll the credits at a snail's pace so I can read them. The only TV show I own is The X-Files, and, especailly after season 1, they did an excellent job of showing complete cast credits as an extra. (NT) -- judy, Thursday, May 25, 18:43:57
DaVinci Code -- KatRose, Friday, May 19, 7:04:10 [23]
Who's going to see this movie? Reviews out of Cannes have been less than glowing (to say the least), but haven't outright said seeing it wasn't worth the effort. I know I'm going to see it today and was curious who else was going to head out.

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- I haven't decided yet.... Let me know what you think (NT) -- Heather, Friday, May 19, 10:40:20
- Would love to know what you think of it as a film. IMHO the book was interesting because of the many theories Brown presented. The story itself was predictable and not that well written. (NT) -- judy, Friday, May 19, 11:49:17
- No, it honestly doesn't interest me. Beware, Kat, it could start a firestorm on your other board. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Friday, May 19, 12:05:39
  - Has that ever stopped me??? LOL The reviews are coming in from friends. Some liked it. Some didn't. One said it was the worst movie he'd ever seen and that he slept for 45 mins in the middle of it. Another said she was going to see it again. I see it at 3 today. (NT) -- KatRose, Friday, May 19, 12:37:40
    - I didn't mean it to stop you from seeing the movie, I never expected that. And the movie may not carry the controversy the book does, as in it is often harder to put on film some aspects of books. Just knowing how passionate some people get, it might get some feelings hurt if a discussion got out of hand. I saw a commercial for it, & it looked dark, like a thriller bordering on horror, which turned me off. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Saturday, May 20, 5:56:28
      - I meant since when has a potential controversy stopped me from starting a topic for discussion? :-) The movie wasn't anything remotely horrific. It has some aspects of a thriller in it and some adventure plus some twists and turns. Overall I liked it. I'd give it a thumbs-up and a grade of B. If you can separate fact from fiction, it's a good movie to see. If you can't, then don't see it. :-) ;-) (NT) -- KatRose, Saturday, May 20, 6:13:01
- Haven't read the book and doubt that I will go see the movie. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Friday, May 19, 13:01:37
- Not something I want to see. I like to keep my stories straight! (NT) -- jagglebelle : ), Friday, May 19, 15:03:03
- I know this is differant the Passion.. but it's stirring the same pot. I was and still am iffy on Gibson's Passion. INSIDE -- Hollywood according to Heather's Warped World, Friday, May 19, 15:11:11
  - Then you'll like this movie. It starts with Hans Zimmer's score over the production company credits, then swells into the main titles. I was very surprised how much I liked the movie. It's got an intriguing premise, not for the "it must be one way or another" ideas that's been going around in the controversy, but because the idea that women are the root of all that's holy, instead of the root of sin, is appealing. I know that's not a very popular thought in some areas, but I like it ... fact or fiction, it tickles my senses. (NT) -- KatRose, Friday, May 19, 20:32:00
    - That was the aspect of the book that intrigued me. I gather you didn't read it. Brown presents some very interesting bits of *evidence* to support his ideas. I'm glad that came thru in the film. With your reccommendation I may go see it, after the hoopla dies down. (NT) -- judy--In the same vein, has anyone seen United 93? Would like to but not sure I'm strong enough., Saturday, May 20, 11:41:04
      - I saw United 93 the weekend it opened. I'm not one that normally gets choked up in movies, but this one put me there twice. The ending, while expected because we know what happened, was done so well, that the silence wasn't of shock or sorrow, but of reverence for these courageous people who tried, in the face of complete adversity, to make a difference. It's a movie well worth the emotional wringer you might experience. (NT) -- KatRose, Saturday, May 20, 15:19:18
        
        I'm trying to get the strength/nerve up to go see United 93. I was listening to the radio at work that morning and to this day I remember the radio news guy (listing to WABC in NYC) coming in and telling the two hosts of the show that a plane had hit one of the twin towers. Then about 15 minutes later listening to the 9 o'clock ABC network news and hearing a reporter doing a live on scene report and suddenly him reporting as the second plane hit the second tower. I have family living and working in NYC, and even though I knew they shouldn't have been near the twin towers that morning, I still had to get in touch with them to make sure they were OK. (NT) -- Kathleen, Saturday, May 20, 17:10:26
        
        You're all ahead of me, I doubt I could handle seeing it. (NT) -- Texasbrat, Saturday, May 20, 19:07:02
        I am content to let that day live in my memory only, although I've heard it's a very well-done movie. The morning of 9/11, I was checking on my close friend Valerie. She had been ill a couple of days (and would end up in the hospital later that day), so I wasn't going to mention what I was seeing; they are transplanted New Yorkers and her husband's brother-in-law worked in one of the Twin Towers. When the 2nd plane hit, I gasped, which caused me to have to tell her. She screamed and of course we hung up. The next day they found out that the BIL had been a little late to his job in the first tower, getting there just after the hit. Guess where security sent all the people in the lobby. . . to the lobby of the other tower. He didn't like the looks of the whole thing and headed away from the area. Soon after he took a job closer to home on Long Island. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Monday, May 22, 7:16:27
        
        Saw it yesterday and I agree with you: It was very well done. There were no obvious tears in the audience, but the silence at the end was more reverent than sad. Not usually a fan of the handheld camera, I loved its use onboard in this film. But i was more intrugued by the control room sequences, particularly know that many of these characters were playing themselves. It gave me further insight into the tragedy of that day. (NT) -- judy, Wednesday, May 24, 16:28:14
  - Watched the History channel yesterday with various takes on the whole Code thing... Think I'm going to wait until in comes out of DVD. I was intreged by the HC point on it. I loved National Treasure and how it revolved around the tales of the Templar/Mason's. But I don't know if I'm ready for this version of Hollywoods taking of the "missing Bible Books". This is kinda like a devote Christain hearing for the first time that Man was an Ape and not a product of God. (NT) -- Heather, Monday, May 22, 7:32:38
    - For the record, Hollywood didn't come up with the idea of "missing Bible books." That information has been around for a very long time. Also, it wasn't Hollywood that came up with this idea of Jesus and Mary being married, that too, has been around for a long time. Hollywood only put Dan Brown's version of it on the big screen. (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, May 22, 8:49:14
      - LIke Ryna's mom said... it's fiction vs the fact that the "missing books" state. I remember as a kid hearing a sermon about them. The fact that there are missing books from the Bible, the word of God and that man choose not publish these books with the Big Book... just doesn't sit well with me. I don't want what little I know about the "missing books" to be altered by Hollywood/Dan Brown. But I will say what I say on HC about the mathmatics of the Leonardo was amazing... I hear Dan Brown's next movie/book is to be about the Templar/Mason. (NT) -- Heather, Monday, May 22, 13:14:08
        
        Inside............. -- Texasbrat, Tuesday, May 23, 3:42:59
        
        Speaking of the History Channel, every now and then there is a show about the "missing" books of the Bible. It pretty much says what you did, TB. There also was a show recently about the Book of Judas we have heard about recently. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, May 23, 6:37:13
- I did read the book, and do plan on seeing the movie. IMO it's fiction, and it's not going to sway my beliefs any. I have also read Dan Brown's other three books, Angels & Demons (predecessor to DVC), Deception Point and Digital Fortress. Loved them all. (NT) -- Ryne's Mom, Monday, May 22, 11:31:10
DJE news -- KatRose, Wednesday, May 17, 16:56:25 [17]
A friend just told me she saw a preview for next week's Medium season finale and that DJE is guest starring. I don't know much beyond that.

I'm happy he's getting work.

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- Never watched the show....am not a big fan of ANY of the Arquette's, besides it goes up against CSI Miami & that's what I generally watch on Monday nights. Good for DJE that he got a guest gig, just am real sorry that neither his pilot or CB's pilot got picked up by the respective networks. I hope there are more things in store for them both..... (NT) -- Jennifer, Wednesday, May 17, 20:26:48
  - I finally saw the ad myself. It appears that Allison is having a "It's a Wonderful Life" moment and dreams that she has a wholely different life and her alternate/dream husband is played by DJE. (NT) -- KatRose, Wednesday, May 17, 22:03:06
    - How many women have had *that* dream?! ROTFL (NT) -- AmyLynn, Thursday, May 18, 6:18:24
      - No kidding . . . (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, May 18, 6:26:35
    - Certainly NOT this woman..lol. (NT) -- Kathy, Thursday, May 18, 7:44:45
  - The ad was on at the end of Law & Order last night. I don't care too much for Medium but guess I'll be watching it next Monday! Here's a question about the entertainment industry. As I understand it, DJE signed a development deal, if I recall the descriptive term, last year with ABC. Would such a deal not bind him to that network? Medium is an NBC show. Maybe guest appearances don't matter; maybe it's a different kind of contract. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Thursday, May 18, 6:36:11
    - A lot depends on what the term deal's terms were. Some are exclusive deals. Some have outs for guest spots on other network shows. It also depends on when his one-year started and ended. Perhaps it started in April when he ended his time on JAG and as a result would have been available for other shows in March/April of this year. It could also be that ABC knew a month ago that it wasn't going to pick up 60 Min Man and gave him an early out. Since so much depends on the actual terms of the deal, everything I'm suggesting is just conjecture. (NT) -- KatRose, Thursday, May 18, 6:51:47
- Did anyone see this? I did. I like Medium and have watched it since ep 1. I went into this ep with mixed thoughts about having DJE guest starring. The character he played was an arrogant ass. He didn't want to listen to Allison regarding anything that *he* wasn't interested in (i.e. kids, her emotions, her dreams, etc). He was belittling and condescending. Boy was I glad when she walked away from him and ran "home" to Joe ... and it later turned out that all of it was a dream in a dream thing. DJE did a great job of playing a despicable character, one that I would have gladly slapped and then kicked in the balls. (NT) -- KatRose, Monday, May 22, 23:44:38
  - We were flipping back and forth betwen Medium and the Cardinals/Giants game (Cardinals lost), but I was able to wrest control of the remote at the right times to get the crucial DJE scenes! (Husband's comment - 'Oh, no, it's Harm. . .') Ditto on everything, KatRose. He did a good job of being some real poisonous eye candy. (NT) -- Ninja_Girl, Tuesday, May 23, 7:08:19
  - Are you sure he was acting KatRose..lol. A couple of friends of mine said they were flipping through and saw one scene where he was shaving and joked wondering who taught him to shave, it looked wierd. They didn't watch because they're not a fan of his either. Not a fan of Medium and don't understand how it got renewed. (NT) -- Kathy, Tuesday, May 23, 7:25:40
    - I like Medium. The stories are interesting and I like the characters. It got renewed because NBC likes the show and it pulls in decent numbers on a Monday night. (NT) -- KatRose, Tuesday, May 23, 12:33:36
- Didn't watch....like I said don't like any of the Arquette's, so I've never seen the show & its never piqued my interest. I'm glad that DJE had the chance to do a different type of role, but find it almost comical that the same group that is currently raving about his guest starring role pretty much *slammed* CB when she was going to do Threshold....its the same type of guest starring role, & to me if it provides an actor the chance to show a different side of themselves, no matter how small or big the part, whether is a recurring role or a one-shot appearance, its all good! They are actors & this is how they make their living....so more power to them.