Déjà Vu - A Draft from 2/25/2010

I found this draft I  made back in February of 2010. I drew the picture (during a staff meeting) of the ALC administrators, when I worked at the school district. I decided not to publish it back then because "they" were trying to tell me I couldn't blog. Now I don't work there so here it is 4 and a half years later.

Who are these two people? I'm not particularly talented at drawing, so it could be lots of people. I drew this picture of two people, for no particular reason. The interesting part about it is that while these people may resemble certain individuals who may play a role in my daily activities, they also resemble certain individuals from my past work with the county. How is it that this unlikely duo, could reemerge in the guise of two unique, new individuals, yet share many of the same traits as those from the past?

In some ways, it is freaky. I'm in a new place in a new time and "poof!" I'm "transported back to another time and place where the names and faces are different; though the similarities are too close to ignore! Is this "déjà vu" a sign that I need to find a change? Or, maybe it is just preparing me for the inevitable changes that result when certain characteristics exert themselves unchecked on the larger environment.

Fortunately, I find that while the comfort zone may have been breached slightly, the fact remains that the underlying evil within the past is mostly absent (as I currently see it) in the present. Still, as history has a way of repeating, the resemblances are truly astounding!

The Office

“Well I was just warming up my coffee so I’m not sure.”
Sigh… “In the past that was all done by someone I didn’t like.”
“I think my coffee is a little bit cold again.”
“I have some slips to look at.”
“I guess I’ll go to the microwave.”
“Maybe I’ll walk around and act important.”
“I can make noises that sounds like I was working.”
Sigh… “I have to make a call.”

Is this Rob Morrow?

Click picture to enlarge: Click "back" to go back

Doesn't this "Outlook guy" look like Rob Morrow?

Hi Turkey

I seem to have a lot of readers from Turkey recently. Hello Turkey!

CuTRis May Have Trained as a Velociraptor

CuTRis May Have Trained as a Velociraptor
UnAssociated Press
August 28, 2014

New information from somewhere indicates that CuTRis May have trained as a Velociraptor in the late Cretaceous Period; while he was time traveling. This could explain why the now converted CuTRis is actively involved in the The American Society for Velociraptor Attack Prevention.
Every year, a number of people fall victim to Velociraptor attacks. This is unfortunately due to people being unprepared for such attacks. Groups like The American Society for Velociraptor Attack Prevention are hoping to change that.

Time to Let Go

Periodically I feel that I must write about the injustices in the world. However, after returning from my walk in the park just now, I have decided to let go of some of the horrors of the world. God can sort through the rubbish of humanity if he chooses to.

I am choosing to drop off a load of negativity and focus on the positive. It is a lesson that has come directly from the beautiful weather, the woods I walked through and a small toad and yellow flower. This day is truly a blessing and I will not let it be spoiled by politics.

Jihadi & School-Shooters Cut From Same Cloth

There is a new place now for the pathetically inept. Those who formerly didn't fit anywhere—who could only vent their frustration by plotting and carrying out the mass murder of defenseless school children, can now join radical Muslim groups such as ISIS. Radical Islam is inviting to these people with low self-esteem, poor social skills, and a lack of intellectual and physical prowess. In the past, these individuals may have found their depraved outlet by the mass shooting of defenseless school children. But now, thanks to terrorist organizations, they are able to take their warped vendettas into backward regions of the Earth where they can team up with other pathetic losers. Unfortunately, many of these worst excuses for humanity are coming from Europe and the U.S. The prime suspect for the murder of James Foley is thought to have been a rapper from London. With a father facing federal terrorism charges in the U.S. and a family banned from Egypt, he decided to give rap a try; and he gained some notoriety. I will diverge slightly to mention that rap "music" (in my opinion) takes very little (if any) talent to perform and so was a logical choice for this guy. If you think my sentiments on rap make me racist, then explain why I think Gary Clark Jr. is so talented. But I digress, back to no talent, no morals, no-skilled people who become terrorists. Was he skilled as a mechanic, a programmer, a teacher, a doctor, a plumber, an electrician or anything useful? No, he was a rapper. Now he holds severed human heads in pictures. Still this is showing no skill and no strength; only weakness. If anyone thinks that they are heroic or brave or strong because they have killed an innocent, bound and helpless person, then they are more than pathetic and deranged. That was a cowardly thing to do. Instead, why not untie the other man and give him a similar weapon? Wouldn't that truly show that you were strong?

So now, we as a society should try to figure out how to deal with the weak links of our population who might otherwise be attracted to mass murder and 2000-year-old modes of thinking.

Punishment for James Foley's murder

Here is an idea and feel free to say whether you think it is a good one or not. Once the man who beheaded James Foley is captured, how about feeding him to wild pigs? I mean if ISIS is truly the baddest of the bad, wouldn't it be a pretty appropriate response?

The obvious disregard for decency and life is shocking, but unfortunately if one looks back into history it is nothing new. Mankind has a bloody and cruel and violent past and in many ways, that has not changed much. It is an unfortunate commentary on humanity and especially on certain segments—particularly those who hide behind religion to satisfy their immorality.

“War is cruelty. There's no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.” — William T. Sherman

Fast Fact - Young Black Men and Gun Violence

As regrettable as it is that young black men have been in the news for being shot by police, the likelihood of a young black man dying at the hands of another young black man is far higher. This should be considered by those who say a disproportionate amount of African-Americans are arrested as opposed to whites. If the implication is that more white people should be arrested to even up the percentages, that is asinine. Arrests should be based on crime and not color. We already are supposed to mark our race on job applications before we are hired. Do we need to do the same before a police officer can decide if it is okay to arrest us?

Fast Fact - Drunk Driving

I saw a sign the other day that said "1 out of 4 traffic deaths are caused by drunk drivers." This is truly startling; though even more concerning is that means 3 out of 4 traffic deaths are caused by sober people.

Canned Ham for ISIS

Not sure what to do with that canned ham you got last Christmas? Send it to ISIS! Nothing says how you feel, quite like giving a terrorist a Christmas pork product.

Green Heron

I saw this Green Heron this morning while fishing.

If at First You Don't Succeed...

Thanks to all who participated!

http://cutris.blogspot.com/2014/08/payback-for-james-foley-killers.html

It's almost time!

http://cutris.blogspot.com/2014/08/payback-for-james-foley-killers.html

New Conference Seminars

Coffee Warming Basics: Is 30 Seconds Enough?

Directing Without Knowledge

Managing on a Shoestring Budget

How to Lose Customers by Being Cheap

The Smoke Break: How to Make it Last

Pretending You Are Smart

Blame Shifting for Beginners

Doing Nothing When it Counts the Most

How to Make Noises that Sound Like You Worked Hard

Leaning on the Desk and Sighing: How to Emphasize What You Haven't Said

Remember Payback at Noon!

Send some psychic payback with me at Noon today!

Payback for James Foley Killers

By now you likely heard about the gruesome murder of reporter James Foley in Syria. You likely think it is horrible as I do. You probably think you can't do anything about it. Is that really true? Here is my proposal. Tomorrow, August 22, 2014 at 12:00 PM (Noon) Central Daylight Savings Time (Use St. Paul, Minnesota on the time converter) I ask that you join me in wishing bad things to those directly responsible for the beheading of James Foley. Click Here for the Time Converter, so that we can all be directing our combined negative thoughts simultaneously. I will pursue this activity for five minutes; from 12:00 to 12:05. Now I don't know if it will work, but wouldn't it scare you a little if you were the target(s)? Who exactly are the targets you might ask? When dealing with Karma, I'm inclined to think that the directions will be correct if you just focus on "those who killed James Foley." It could be that the spirit of James Foley might be able to help guide the process.

So what should you wish on these murderers of an innocent human being? My old work colleague "JLT" liked to hope someone awful would get rectal cancer. So the choice is yours; and feel free to be creative!

So pass this link on to your friends, and join me at Noon (or whatever time that is where you are) for a bit of psychic payback to some scumbags who deserve all of our wrath.

http://cutris.blogspot.com/2014/08/payback-for-james-foley-killers.html

Catholic Aid Bans Guns

Fry that Old Banana!

Bananas are good but when they get overripe, they usually get thrown away or made into banana bread. Recently I cut one lengthwise and fried it in a little oil with a shake of cinnamon on top. Wow was I surprised at how good that was!

Tit for Tat

Tit for tat

To the People in Ferguson

Go home now. You are putting everyone in danger. Don't be too dumb to stop before you die. Let the FBI do their job.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/18/ferguson-national-guard-michael-brown-jay-nixon/14219621/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/19/officer-supporters-ferguson-shooting/14259993/

The Corn Birds!

Picture a baby bird in a nest. The bird keeps saying,

Corn! … Corn! … Corn! …

Whydon’tchamakesome Corn! …

Trash, Green Arrows & Red Lights

I've been noticing a lot of two issues. One is drivers running red lights and the other is people throwing their garbage (littering) on the ground or in lakes. When I wake up in the morning, I can see trash on the street and on the lawns of myself and my neighbors. Apparently it is our responsibility to clean up after the steady stream of people who walk from the apartments at the end of the block—through our neighborhood to the convenience store and back all day and all night. Now to my morning fishing excursions. In the past few days, I have fished out of the lake, bait containers, fishing line, pop cans, beer bottles, cigarette packs and other assorted trash. Much of this is likely from people fishing from the pier. I'm not sure why people who like to fish, like to do so amidst a pile of garbage, but apparently it is also my responsibility to clean up their trash from the lake where they tossed it.
Bringing me now to the second part of my rant. Every day, I notice on average, about 3 to 10 drivers run red lights. Yesterday, when I had a green arrow to turn left, I waited as a car and then a man on a bicycle with a small child on the back—both ran their red lights and I had to wait at my green arrow until they went past. Later, after stopping at the grocery store, I had two more cars turn in front of me while I had the green arrow telling me that I could turn left. Now my understanding is that if I have a green arrow, the people who are turning into my right-of-way, should be seeing a red light. The second vehicle at this occurrence went through his red light a full 3 count after my green arrow showed up. As he went by and since both of us had our windows down, I said, "You just ran a red light!" He responded by telling me to "F-off!" Fortunately we were heading opposite directions or this likely would have become a racial incident with me being in the wrong for having pointed out to this man of a different race; that he was in the wrong. Likely I would have been charged with a serious civil rights violation if I had been caught. It was also fortunate that I had not yet started moving through my green arrow that was already turning yellow by the time I was finally able to get through the intersection. Likely this meant that several people who were behind me at that left turn signal had to go through a red light or else wait until the signals went through another cycle to (hopefully) get their turn...

So in closing, I would like to point out that the people who are polluting the world and disobeying the laws are not the sole owners of the planetary system. Others inhabit the same world and these people are messing that world up!

"Friendly Dogs"

As I walked back to my car from this morning's fishing, two large Labradors ran at me barking aggressively. Meanwhile the guy they arrived with was back at his truck where my car was. I know dogs and am comfortable around dogs and I stood still until the guy finally looked my direction.
"Call your dogs off!" I yelled. I heard some noise as the dogs had some sort of mechanized collars. Then the guy yelled back, "They're friendly!" My response was, "They didn't act like it." Well the guy was all smiles and asked me how fishing was. I was brief with him because let's face it, not everyone is comfortable with a large dog (or in this case two) running and barking aggressively at them. I know people who would have been terrified and he should be more careful with his "friendly dogs" in a public park.

Lutz Railroad Garden

We visited the Lutz Railroad Garden yesterday.

Tree Frog

I found this little guy crawling up the side of my house Sunday morning.

Truck Fire!

Whoever owns this pickup was having a bad day yesterday. I saw this on south 35W at the Minnesota River.

Grooved Pavement

Grooved Pavement

Radioactive Water?

No, I'm sure the water isn't radioactive...

See Pyongyang, North Korea

CLICK HERE TO SEE PYONGYANG

"We Value Your Life"

As I drove out of the parking lot where I was fishing this morning, I noticed a sign that said, "Buckle up, we value your life!"
I couldn't help but think about the news I heard this morning that Robin Williams took his own life. Since the age of 13 when my friend Steve committed suicide, I have realized the devastating effects of such an act and how it scars the friends and family of the person who caused his or her own death. How tragic, when people who want to live, die prematurely. My Boy Scout friend, Joe, died last month unexpectedly. My friend Charlie died a couple of years ago of failing health. Both of these people were age 50 and neither wanted to go so soon.

A horrible headline last week told of a 12-year-old who stabbed to death a 9-year-old on a playground in Michigan. Yesterday an argument at a gas station (a few miles from where I was at the time) ended in a man shooting his companion to death. In fact, every day there is death and murder both near and far. Humanity by nature, seems to be a bloody and violent bunch. Yet, "we" also preach the other side—that life should be preserved at all cost! It is implied in that sign, "Buckle up, we value your life!"

I hope that one day, we as a society will really learn to value and respect life.

Nanoo nanoo!

Violent Protesters of Michael Brown Shooting

On the outside looking in, most of us don't know what really happened in the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. Obviously someone is lying. This is very destructive in this case—especially if the police officer was in the right. That is because a segment of the population has already made up their minds and the truth is not going to be accepted if it contradicts their agenda. What is left out of the story can be just as devastating as a lie. If I told you that a man pooped in the park, you would likely feel disgusted by the news. Yet if I told you that he had actually used the restroom at the park, this added information would likely remove any disapproval. What we say or how much we choose to disclose, can be as devastating as lying. The police say the young man was fighting for control of the officer's gun. Others say the youth was surrendering. What I do know, is that the so-called, civil rights protesters who are now rioting, looting and vandalizing, are not "protesters," they are criminals. Didn't any of these people learn anything from Martin Luther King Jr.? Protest is best done peacefully. Otherwise you have shown your real interest is not in the pursuit of justice, but in the pursuit of crime. I hope the truth can be extracted from this tragedy. I also hope that people can begin to act responsibly.

Camera Surveillance

No sooner had CuTRis pulled out his camera phone to photograph the suspicious activity, than someone really fast put up a sign behind him!

No Train Horn Fed to Giant Gerbil in North Korea

No Train Horn Fed to Giant Gerbil in North Korea
UnAssociated Press
August 8, 2014


No Train Horn, the noted nuclear physicist from North Korea, had nearly finished his life's work. It was a bomb that would single out and destroy only Americans. Unfortunately for No, the supreme leader, Kim Jong-butt became so paranoid that No Train would make a bomb that would eliminate only Kim Jong-butt, that the supreme leader had the physicist killed by feeding him to a giant, starving gerbil. The huge gerbil is said to have eaten Horn in 12 minutes.

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the demise of No Train Horn.
This sign, is said to mark the exact spot where the giant man-eating gerbil pooped a half an hour later. It is the only known memorial dedicated to the memory of No Train Horn.

Red-Tailed Hawk

I

I saw this Red-tailed Hawk today while out walking.

Risky!

I'm taking a big risk today. I'm eating spaghetti while wearing a white shirt.

The Misadventures of Johnny Northside

Once upon a time there was an adventurous man named Johnny, who lived on the North side of a Mini-Apple. He didn't play by the rules that the backhanders used. Johnny was too enlightened to pretend that those who were gunned down in the streets were all saints—the way the media types represented them. He preferred to tell the truth as it was written in public records and even by those involved themselves—in social media. For this Johnny became a target of the dark side and those who preferred politics over correctness. How much better it appeared to the masses that the poor victim of last night's shooting was not mentioned in the news as being affiliated with a den of thieves or another from parts unknown, being shown with the gang that stood staring through the smoking of the gun. It sounded better to portray them all as "innocent victims" —even though in the book, their faces showed their true colors. But the saddest thing of all was that the politicians and thugs now stood arm in arm to censor the truth because it made them all look bad; while the lies made them all happy. Thus the Mini-Apple was now cleverly insane because of believing in things that were not real. Because everyone knows what is really happening is not nearly as important as what it appears is happening. Had Johnny not been born so enlightened, he may have gotten away with practicing freedom of speech. Why did they hate him so? A man cannot control how much enlightenment he is born with any more than he can control the color of his skin! But the dark forces and their allies would not allow the truth to be told so openly. And so the battle between good and evil persisted.

CuTRis Threatens Sign Stealer

CuTRis Threatens Sign Stealer
UnAssociated Press
August 6, 2014

In the most recent scandal involving CuTRis, he has been accused of threatening to shoot a man who was removing a gun control sign from his yard. Apparently CuTRis threatened to shoot the man for stealing the sign. Thinking that CuTRis meant to shoot him with a gun, the perpetrator ran to police who intervened on his behalf. By this time, CuTRis, was holding his slingshot, and was apprehended without incident. Fearing for his safety, the unnamed sign stealer declined to press charges after seeing YouTube video of CuTRis using his slingshot to shoot a rock through a playing card that was tossed into the air inside of an Old West saloon back in 1867. This apparently was accomplished some time ago... or in the future; when CuTRis was involved in time travel. CuTRis was not available for comment after the incident.

National Night Out!

Tonight is National Night Out. I'm happy to say, my neighborhood will be out tonight. Last year we weren't (at least as a neighborhood). As we join together this evening to take a bite out of crime, there are several, recent, news stories about gun violence and police officers (among others) being shot at. Tomorrow will mark the funeral services for Officer Scott Patrick who was murdered during a traffic stop last week. I know, all the pro-gun advocates will be saying that Officer Patrick should have had a gun of his own—and then he would never have been shot. They will also say that the bad guys will have guns anyway, even if the guns are "taken away from" the good guys. All of this is neither here nor there to Officer Patrick, his family, or the others who have been killed or have lost loved ones due to senseless gun violence. I know Americans love their guns. I am also weary of seeing and hearing stories about yet another person being killed; day after day... with no end in sight.

So I hope you get the chance to meet your neighbors tonight. I hope you get the chance to reflect on the kind of society that we have become—and the kind of neighborhoods and the kind of world we are creating for our children to grow up and live in.

Who Knew Xena was so Small?

Who knew Xena was so small?

F-Troop Dream

I was out a bit later than usual last evening—attending a training session for some new video equipment I will be working with. So I was asleep when my alarm went to off this morning. In fact, I remember that I was dreaming about F Troop and Sergeant O'Rourke was explaining to some officer why he wasn't worthy of a promotion—which of course would take him away from O'Rourke Enterprises. Standing where I was in that dream, I could have been Corporal Agarn!

The Forces of Eeeevil!

Three days this week, my urban fishing ventures have been thwarted! It can really only mean one thing... the forces of Eeeevil have unleashed an insidious plot designed to prevent me from enjoying the short minutes of pleasure that fishing affords me! It all started three days ago when I was delayed by road construction—costing me valuable time and also a morning's worth of fishing. The very next day, I had ample time—but was unable to find access to a new lake I wanted to try; because of all the expensive houses and giant business campuses surrounding it. Again, I ran out of time searching. When I finally decided to try a different lake, I was once again, the victim of road resurfacing. The access to the parking area was blocked. Today, I tried again. I was attempting to gain access to a park with a fishing pier on a lake I fish frequently. I was stopped by a closed gate and security guard sitting on a golf cart. The guard told me the park was closed. Apparently the park is being transformed for Festa Italiana, and nobody is allowed to fish—presumably because of all the gondola traffic. So, I went to a fishing spot on the other side of the lake near the railroad tracks. I was now losing time and the weeds in the lake provided only for me to cast beyond them with a bobber and Black Soldier Fly larvae as bait. I did get almost immediate "bites," but no fish—indicating to me that the fish in question were likely quite small. Looking around me, I noticed that the Canadian Pacific company is allowed to use pesticide and oil near our waterways—as the vegetation in the area appeared to be burned by chemicals and the rocks were wet with what appeared to be some kind of oil. I finally gave in and packed my gear and walked out. Minutes later I (somehow) cut my knuckle on a mail dropbox—while mailing a bill. Curse you forces of Eeeevil!!!

So... the forces of Eeeevil may have won this time, but I will be back! Oh yes... I will be back...