Smiley's Column, 27 Oct 2004

  2theadvocate > Columnists > Smiley Anders for Wednesday 10/27/04  

Smiley Anders for Wednesday
By SMILEY ANDERS
smiley@theadvocate.com
Advocate columnist

Does this mean Chad's hanging out in the islands?

J.R. Madden's a confused voter, and his confusion doesn't involve the candidates.

Because he's working in southern New Jersey, he got an absentee ballot for the Nov. 2 election from the East Baton Rouge Parish Registrar of Voters' Office.

He filled it out as instructed and sent it "priority mail with delivery confirmation" from Mount Laurel, N.J., on Oct. 19.

But on Oct. 22, when he checked on his ballot's status by using the Postal Service's Web tracking tool, the response was "Your item was delivered at 8:57 a.m. on Oct. 21, 2004, in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802."

Asks J.R., "Did the registrar's office move? Are they outsourcing the counting of ballots to a company in St. Thomas? If so, how do I sign up?"

Email from Paul Grady ...

Subj:    Mother
Date:    9/27/2004 2:16:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:    "Paul Madden" <maddemondog@hotmail.com>
To:      DGayGrady@aol.com, maddemondog@hotmail.com 
 
Yesterday I emptied the (email inbox) box as it was full with Military.Com headlines. I got the box of with the measuring tapes. I also got the box from the Church in NJ (Old Orchards UMC, Cherry Hill, NJ). I will try to get the mesaurements today. That might be a good Idea getting Mike to get my blues out of storage for me and send them home.. But seeing as I dont have a way to get in touch with him. I am not sure how much that idea will work. I am walking with boots again and feel much better. (Paul Grady had an ingrown toenail removed.) The docs think that i am not taking care of my feet as I dont heal as fast as some other people do. Go figure. Hopefully this email will get to you and are having fun. I love you bunches :O) PG

 

ACLU exaggerates ... just like Bush & Kerry!

Subj:    Your message to American Civil Liberties Union
Date:    9/23/2004 8:21:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Following is the information you entered on the American Civil Liberties Union site.

Home Phone: 225.266.6196
Work Phone: 225.266.6196
Fax Number: NA

Message:

Greetings,

  I was disappointed to read in an email from FactCheck.org that the ACLU is running an advertisement alleging the USA Patriot Act allows authorities to search homes "without notifying us . .  treating us all like suspects" when it is not exactly true.

  Quoting from the email, "Actually, notice still has to be given to the subject of such a search, eventually. And far from treating us "all" like suspects, the Department of Justice reports seeking only 47 such 'sneak-and-peek' warrants in the law's first 17 months."

  The truth about certain aspects of the Patriot Act should be sufficient.  Exaggeration and excess are not necessary and actually detract from the overall veracity of such advertisements in the long run.

Yours truly,
J. R. Madden
Member 58615139

 

A phone call from Iraq ...

Paul Grady called Daphne this morning.  The call was brief and the information conveyed to me was as follows:

1.     The Marines can not get any airline tickets for December so they are looking at November, around Thanksgiving, for Paul Grady’s two (2) week leave.  He called to recheck the dates for our cruise (01-16 October) to aid in the planning.

2.     With his ingrown toenail removed thus putting him on “light duty”, he cannot wear his combat boots and others continue to step on his foot.  This does set back the healing process a bit.  Nevertheless, he thinks he will return to work in the ‘tool room’ tomorrow.

3.     He has recently received packages from the gaming company (arranged by Scotty) and Aunt Sandy.  One mailed by Daphne on Saturday a week ago has been received but she has since sent at least two others.

Guinness Book of World Records

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/index.asp?file=contact/contactus.asp

Friday, 17 September 2004

Thank you. Your enquiry has been received. We will come back to you as soon as we can. 

Enquiry Type: BusDev 

Question:
Greetings,
This is NOT a "Business development or licensing" related email. It is related to RECORDS but does not involve a RECORD attempt or query. Rather, I would submit that all records involving extensive lack of sleep should be discontinued such as longest time without sleep, longest drumming session, longest time on radio, longest dance, longest kiss, etc.
There have been several studies and incidents demonstrating extended lack of sleep causes irreversible changes in the human brain and therefore harm to the individual involved.
Yours truly, J. R. Madden 
 
Firstname: J. R. 
Lastname: Madden 
Organisation: NA 
Gender: M 
Address #1: 7515 Sheringham Avenue 
Address #2:  
State: LA 
City: Baton Rouge 
Country: United States 
Postcode: 70808 
Email: jrmaddog@aol.com 
website: www.GeoCities.com/JRMadDog  
Phone: 225.266.6196 
Mobile: 225.266.6196 
Fax:

USA TODAY Haiku Contest

My entry for 09 July 2004:

Date:        Fri, 9 Jul 2004 14:47:04 -0700 (PDT)
From:       "J.R. Madden" <jrmaddog@yahoo.com>
Subject:    HAIKU - Poker
To:           books@usatoday.com

Five cards in the hand -
 
Spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds -
 
Numbers will tell all.
 
J. R. Madden
Baton Rouge, LA

 

Back in South Jersey ...

Again, when Daphne was visiting in New Jersey, we drove south to Millville and spent some time at Wheaton Village.  Among the many interesting activities was a chance to make your own paperweight working with molten glass (approximately 1800 degrees Fahrenheit) which Daphne proceeded to do.  Images of her paperweight are provided for your edification and enjoyment.

The latest word from Paul Grady via email from Iraq, Mon, 05 Jul 2004 16:44:08 +0000: "... We celebrated the 4th yesterday so I did not get to write letters as it was required for us to be there all day. I just got off the road and am able to write a letter or two before i go to bed. ... :) I love you bunches PGM"

Back on Memorial Day ...

Daphne was visiting in New Jersey over the weekend of Memorial Day so we found a parade (small) to attend in Maple Shade Township.  In the course of the event, we were photographed for the weekly newspaper.  I was able to find some copies of the edition afterwards.

 

Update on LCpl Paul G Madden, USMC

26 June 2004: Paul Grady has been in Iraq since mid/end of February 2004. He is stationed at Al Asad airbase some distance west of Baghdad. His duties so far include convoy security and maintenance of water-related equipment. Though he volunteered for a year's tour, the USMC may limit it to seven months per a recent article in the Camp Pendleton weekly newspaper. Paul Grady reads about a book a day, calls when the phone lines are up, and writes infrequently; Daphne writes daily and sends packages frequently to Paul Grady and other Marines in his unit.

She was one of my friends ...

The Daily Star
Hammond, Louisiana
Monday, 31 May 2004

BEVERLY ANNE BURTON

Beverly Anne Burton, 50, died Friday, May 28, 2004, at North Oaks Medical Center.

She was a native of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and a nurse for Prime Care Network Home Health of Hammond. She was a 20-year volunteer for the Louisiana Special Olympics and a 15-year volunteer for the Louisiana Chapter of the American Red Cross in Baton Rouge.

Survivors include her mother, Audrey Brunett Burton, Hammond; her sisters, Cynthia Burton Johnson, Ponchatoula, and Kathy Burton, Monroe; and her brother, David Burton, Hammond.

She was preceded in death by her father, Richard Burton; and her grandparents, Fred and Heland Estelle Davis Burton and Charles Joseph and Epha Force Brunett.

Visitation will be Monday [07 June 2004] at Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home, Hammond, from 9 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. The Rev. Jaime Diaz conduct a Mass of Christian burial at 1 at Holy Ghost Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Dominic Catholic Church Cemetery in Husser.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society, 837 Gravier St., New Orleans, LA 70112; the March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck, Ave., White Plains, NY 10605; the Louisiana Special Olympics, 1000 E. Morris St., Hammond, LA 70403; or the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton, Ohio, 44720.

© Hammond Star

Wal-Mart et al aren't as concerned as they'd have you believe!

According to their PR departments, the big retailers would have you believe they are concerned about the workers in the Third World who are making all those inexpensive items for us here in the U.S. of A.  Maybe at some level, they are concerned but they are not concerned enough to ask the right question or even to show up unannounced.  Check out this item (MS WORD document) if you would:  Wal-Mart, Other Big Retailers Driving Down Working Conditions Worldwide.

My "Mood" is a combination of concern, indignation, and curmudgeon-itis which is not an AOL available selection option.

Our visit to the nation's birthplace

Daphne was able to join me in Mount Laurel, New Jersey from late at night on Thursday, 29 January to early Monday, 02 February.  On Saturday, we walked around Independence Mall in downtown Philadelphia to see the Visitors' Center, the Liberty Bell, City Tavern where we took a fine luncheon, and Independence Hall wherein once hung & rang the bell now called Liberty.

Christmas at Camp Pendleton

It is my fond hope to follow the picture upload with some actual text about our time at Camp Pendleton with Lance Corporal Madden.  It took a long time before AOL got the picture upload software working again.

Reginald Barkley - Put this man to work!

One of my Scouting friends, Reggie Barkley, has decided to strike out
on his own in the business world.  His new venture is known as
           Annointed Antique Restoration.
He will clean, repair, and refinish antique furniture.  Other friends of mine 
can truly attest to Reggies work - he has done some things for them & they
are 1,000% pleased with him.

Please consider Reggie if anyone makes mention of their antiques - especially
his ability to clean and recondition them!  He is not limited to Baton Rouge
- if you live out of town, contact him for your questions at his home number of
225.357.6193.

 

Links to Websites

Below are some warped & otherwise weird website linked.  Some have been found & reported by other members of Star One Delta (S.O.D.) while a couple I have come across my very own self:

BUBBA HO-TEP:  http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/bubba_ho-tep/

Tales of the Plush Cthulhu:  http://www.logicalcreativity.com/jon/plush/01.html

Coke Educates on Morality of Drinking Tap Water:  http://www.bbspot.com/News/2003/11/coke.html

BAD SCIENCE:  http://www.ems.psu.edu/~fraser/BadScience.html

Towers are the Players:  http://corvette.boise.wirestone.com/gollum/gollum.swf

ORBITER SPACE FLIGHT SIMULATOR:  http://www.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/~martins/orbit/orbit.html

Mr. Picasso Head:  http://www.MrPicassoHead.com -- My Personal Favorite!