Cup-mania

I'm really starting to like the World Cup fans (above). This guy's Dutch, who are among the most highly educated people on the planet.

Below is yet another photo of David Beckham at the World Cup. I tried this last night -- it took two neighbors and a crowbar to get me undone. I find that posting Beckham's picture every now and then keeps the wackos from leaving comments (wackos hate successful people).

I wish I had one of those hats!

It's 1956 and, by golly, Missouri is going to be the first to start building an Interstate Highway. The guys in suits are standing next to US 40 in St. Charles, just west of St. Louis. They are at what is now the I-70 and 5th Street interchange.

The first contract for an Interstate was for a section of I-44 to replace US 66 in SW Missouri.

The first completed section was a stretch of I-70 in Kansas.

The image below is the Google Map of the area today. St. Charles (City and County) are to the left of the Missouri River. St. Louis County is to the right. The interchange is I-70 and 5th Street. That big thing that looks as if it were going to eat the two bridges is a casino.

The photo below shows I-70 westbound heading out of St. Louis County and into St. Charles County. These are the two bridges on the Google image above.

Oddly enough, and this is where this post is going, the two bridges are called "The Blanchette Bridge" -- I have no idea who Blanchette was or why the bridge/bridges were named after him (or her), or why the plural of "bridges" is not used. In true MODOT fashion, there are no signs that I've see that say "Blanchette Bridge." This does not stop the local traffic reporters from always calling it by name, of course, as in "Traffic is dead stopped all the way to the Blanchette Bridge."

It is actually the "Blanchette Memorial Bridge" but I'm not one to be picky. What you see above is the busiest section of highway in Missouri, a real tribute to Blanchette, whomever he or she might be.

Jim's Linksys Router

Some of you might have had problems with your Linksys router.

This is how I connected mine.

I found a hammer and a nail.

I nailed it to a 2 x 4.

And it should make a nice perch for the birdies.

Here is the little bunny that Rooty caught yesterday.

He seems to be none the worse for having been in the dog's mouth about 24 hours ago!
Rooty spit him out right away when I told him to.
He's a good dog.
He's a cute bunny.

(The wheelbarrow has a flat tire, in case one of you has a really small jack!)

Deadbeat Jim

Some of you may recall from a few posts back that the clowns in charge of Internet security at The University of Texas at Austin let someone steal the personal information of a few hundred thousand graduates, including me. So, among other things, I had to cancelled all of my credit cards.

Then of course, I applied for new cards from different issuers.

Got a rejection letter yesterday!

Reason: "Unable to verify home telephone number."

I just checked the online application, it asks for "daytime" and "evening" phone numbers. For both, I put my cell phone number. Again, some of you may recall that I do have a landline phone, but it only rings in one of the bathrooms and the FAX. There is nothing on the application asking for a "Home" number. My cell phone number is my day and evening number!

I guess I was supposed to divine what information they actually wanted. I just didn't realize that the issuing bank was the Psychic Friends Network!

Just how many times do I have to warn you about this?

Drink less, or get new friends!

It was a tough weekend here on the blog ranch!

Someone whom I thought of as a blogger-friend stole an idea for a post. Hey, we all borrow, but this was almost word for word. He has not been back since, and I hope that it stays that way!

Then there were the vulgarities and insults in some of the comments! I tried to delete them as fast as I could but I know that some of you saw them. They were beyond editing.

Then there were the comments and emails about David (second-cousin once removed) and 'how dare I replace him as the house sitter.' Again, the comments were beyond editing. David lives in St. Louis, works full time, has a fiancee who has two kids and two German shepherds (the latter whom David now calls Sodom and Gomorrah) -- he does not have time to house sit!!!!!!!

Then there was the newspaper writer who completely lacks people and public relations skills, and think hobbyist web sites are authoritative sources for government laws and regulations.

And, of course, there were the folks who do not like the photos of David Beckham. Say, here is an idea, remove your bookmark for this page and don't come back. And, of course, leaving a comment as "Anonymous" is pointless if you are a regular visitor since I can tell it's you from the server logs/IP trackers. Dah! And, before you leave, here's another photo of David. I hope you really hate this one!

We HAVE to stomp this out!

The locals have started to use "Me bad!" instead of saying "My mistake!"

I don't know which of you started this, but I want it stopped immediately!

More people gets their news from...Oh!

There are arguments on many blogs about the political-orientations and relative audience size of CNN and Fox News Channel.

Actually, among adults 18-39, the Cartoon Network has higher ratings than either CNN or FNC.

Source: Business Week

So, he likes to wear fingernail polish, get over it!

A quiet evening at home with the Beckhams.

David Beckham, our favorite international sports superstar and metrosexual, did something important today for the English team at the World Cup. If you're a soccer fan, you know what is was. If you ain't, you just don't care. Beckham is pictured above with his wife Posh Spice. Lucky Dave.