The Hatgidakis Family
7/31/07

Happy Anniversary Brent & Karen!!!!!

You are the first one in, Lindsey! I'll leave the Who Am I profiles up through the coming weekend, so you will all have plenty of time to look at it (and listen to all the songs!). And remember, if you change your mind after sending in your answers, just re-do it -- I will only count your most recent answers. Have fun! --Gary

No, I hadn't seen it til you wrote this. Interesting! (Go back to this page, then scroll down for the responses.) I loved this one [with my comments in brackets]: "Bush has done an exemplary job during a very difficult time [which he created]. Our economic growth is good [for the richest one percent], jobs are being created [in Mexico and China], a dictator has been deposed [and a new one installed in the U.S.], no attacks on US soil since 9/11 [except by our own government]. What more do you want from this guy? [A suicide pact with Cheney] It sounds to me like NO ONE can live up to the wacko left's standards. [All we want is someone who respects the Constitution and uses complete English sentences.] And by the way, GO FOLEY!! YOU RULE!! [Are you referring to the Nebraska state Auditor, or the Republican pedophile Congressman?]" Ah, the Republican Party -- proudly serving America's Fascists since 1980. :-) --Gary

We also received one this afternoon from someone I am going to have to disqualify because of his involvement in several ongoing investigations; but I will post his profile here so you can see what the game will look like on Tuesday.

Thanks to whoever sent this in! :-)

Great site! Also, check out Livy's review, which just arrived. Thanks, Livy! --Gary

Best. Simpsons movie. Ever.

Except for under-using two of my favorite characters -- Montgomery Burns and Principal Skinner -- it was a great picture. Springfield looked pretty good on the big screen. I got to sit by Teghan, who seemed to enjoy the movie too -- except for one part. Homer was riding a dogsled and being pretty free with the whip, so when he stopped for the night and unharnessed the dogs, they all growled and pounced on him. We're all laughing, except for Teghan: She looked me in the eyes and said, "That's not really funny."

Thank you to Tristen and Marsha who sent in their Who Am I answers. That leaves only Lori, Paul, Ryan, Sean, Teghan, and Zachary who have til Monday night to join the fun!

Speaking of my list (or as they call it, "queue"), Netflix has once again lowered its prices. My $19.95-a-month plan just went down to $16.95. Netflix is in a major battle with Blockbuster (who completely stole Netflix's online/mail idea), so Netflix is trying hard to keep old customers and lure new ones.

Emily, John, and Amanda can now be counted among the Who Am I players. Meaning we look forward to contributions from Lori, Marsha, Paul, Ryan, Sean, Teghan, Tristen, and Zachary. Only four days left!

#12 is shaping up as a good game. "What is the best song ever written?" is, of course, an impossible question -- but y'all are giving some excellent choices! For the past three days I've been going around with these great songs, one after the other, going through my head. And come next Tuesday, it will happen to you....

Dang, there goes my record! --Gary

Oh, and if anyone has a die-hard Republican friend (see Donna's note below) who starts in with the talking point that the Democratic Congress is "out of control" and on a "fishing expedition" and such, just inform them that this is only the third subpoena to be issued by Congress to the Bush Administration. (Can't be sure of the exact number just now, but it's very near that.) Number of subpoenas issued by the Republicans to the Clinton Administration? Over 1600. So let us catch up, and then we'll talk. :-)

P.S. Just this minute heard that Senator Leahy has issued a subpoena for Karl Rove! Rove will ignore it, like the rest of those weasels in the White House, but still...!

Fox is a propaganda channel, bought and paid for by the Republicans, and is no more "fair and balanced" than Axis Sally or Tokyo Rose were during World War II.

That leaves only Amanda, Emily, John, Lori, Marsha, Paul, Ryan, Sean, Teghan, Tristen, and Zachary yet to be heard from. If anyone reading this happens to encounter any of these individuals, please urge them to spend a few minutes this weekend to send in their answers. Deadline is Monday -- only five days left!

Nope. If you say a "bad word," the FCC will slap your network with a hefty fine; but you can lie all you want! :-) --Gary

I haven't heard of any movie plans, but I'm interested! (Unless it falls on Saturday night, the 4th: I have an office party to go to....) --Gary

Lindsey has joined the Who Am I crowd, so we're still waiting for Amanda, Anna, Brent, Emily, Erika, John, Lori, Marsha, Paul, Ryan, Sean, Teghan, Tristen, and Zachary to join in.

The last day, Livy, is whenever everybody has had a chance at it. It usually seems to take about two weeks for the slow-pokes to finish! :-) But maybe we can speed it up: Let's say we have one week to get everybody's answers in. That way, we can get to the fun part a week from today, on July 31st. Spread the word! We already have two players -- Olivia and Samantha -- so all we need is...everyone else. --Gary

I had a great time in Minneapolis -- it really flew by. Zach cooked for us one night, he grilled chicken and it was falling off the bones good! Unlike the blackened stuff I served on Tues. Sorry, everyone!
We went out to eat at a fish place in Minnehaha park beside the Falls and it was so good we went back again! We walked down to a band shell where a Bluegrass band was playing and that was fun. Marsha and I went to Bachman's and bought plants, most of which are now planted. On Saturday we went to see the Pompeii Exhibit from Rome and that was excellent. John was feeling well enough to go with us and that was nice. He should be down to 8 more treatments by now, will be happy to have them over. We went grocery shopping and got DRENCHED putting them in the car. I wish it would rain like that today. On Sunday Marsha and I ate breakfast in Clear Lake right on the lake and it was very pretty, every lamppost had blooming huge hanging baskets. It was really busy at 9 a.m., everybody was carrying lawn chairs and heading for the lake. Met Paul and Sam and Linz at Hickory Farms for lunch -- another busy place -- and then home. Sorry to write so long, but you asked, Karen! Am glad Gary and Livy are finally feeling better.

So how are you doing, Paul? And is Brent feeling better and how long did he have to stay at the hosp.? I also loved the pictures of T. and t. o.k. enuf!!

Our "Who Am I" games always have ten questions. Here's a preview of two of the questions:

First thing in the morning, I am... (click and choose) a lamb a bear Mojo

and

If money was no object, what one thing would you add to (or do to) your house?

And hey, did you see the article I mentioned below? (Click on "Attention, Olivia!")

Gary, are you getting any better? Have you been to the doctor yet?! So how many questions will there be for the Who Am I?

Amanda, I love the pictures that you put on here! I also think the ones with the girls are so cute (the ones with the other girls with them too)!

Gary, can you send (or print it here) the entire public opinion letter? I just tried to find it on LJS but couldn't see a link to previous days.
Very cute pictures of T&t.
Olivia, are you feeling better? I would love to have a Simpson's phone.
Erika, details about Napoleon. How long was he gone?

My letter hasn't appeared yet, I don't think. But what I printed below is the whole thing -- four dynamite sentences! :-) --Gary

The new Who Am I? starts tomorrow!

Woo-hoo! How ironic if they make me Republican-of-the-Month or something.... :-) --Gary

I see my sentence below wasn't clear. Wednesday was the day I sent the letter to the paper, not the day they will be printing it--which could be any time now. --Gary

Just doing my part to correct the news media, as they have been more sloppy with the facts than usual on this. Many papers headlined the story Senate Defeats Bill to End Iraq War when in fact more than 51% of the Senators supported it -- problem was, the Republican minority demanded that this bill receive 60% to pass. So while that headline is true, it is misleading. Worse, though, is how the filibuster was characterized. For example, former Nixon speechwriter Diane Sawyer on ABC two mornings ago said that the Democrats were filibustering because the Republicans wouldn't support their end-the-war bill. In fact, it was a Republican filibuster, in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent a vote on the bill. Sawyer was called on this, and I understand she did retract her comments, on air. Sheesh.

And congratulations on the return of Napoleon! (For those that haven't heard, I understand that Napoleon the cat has returned after a long vacation.) Erika, we need details! :-) --Gary

The first is some outtakes and great moments from Scrubs; and the second, if you're not a Scrubs fan, is a collection of funny videos. Enjoy!

Stuff like this shouldn't be surprising any more, here in the Land of the "Free," but the Government now has the ability to remotely activate your cellphone microphone and listen to whatever conversation is happening nearby -- even when your phone is turned off. [article here]

So be careful what you say! Especially because of a new "Executive Order" which Bush enacted on Tuesday. Like the one we were talking about a few weeks ago, which gave Bush all authority over all branches of Government whenever he declares an "emergency," this one says he can seize your property if you say anything about Iraq that he doesn't like. [Read it here on the White House site]

And if that's not depressing enough, read this short article -- by a Conservative (he was Assistant Treasury Secretary under Reagan) -- which says that unless Bush and Cheney are impeached immediately, the U.S. could be a dictatorial police state at war with Iran by this time next year. He predicts that Bush will stage false "terrorist attacks" (which the author calls "false flag operations") in order to seize those emergency powers Bush granted to himself. (Some would say Bush has already done that, on 9/11....)

So while I applaud the Democrats in Congress for forcing the filibuster the other night, and applaud the Congressional committees investigating Gonzales and the Justice Department, we need more/better/faster. Our guys are trying to bring Democracy back in baby steps, while the other guys are making giant leaps toward Fascism. I do have faith in the process, and believe that Bush and his fellow-criminals will be brought to justice; but I have moments....

P.S. Did you all notice the new crawl this morning? It's now on the page itself, directly below the picture. (Some of you may have to scroll down to see it.) Let me know what you think!

Oh, I thought it was just the movie Dumbledore who died (in real life -- Richard Harris). I read a poll somewhere that said nearly 40% of the people who are buying the book on the first day said they will read the last chapter first! :-) --Gary

I don't know the books very well, but MSNBC ran a list of possible victims that may guide your thinking. Only four days and you will know!