Surly's Soap Box

• Dave's Not Here!

  Borrowing a line from "Cheech and Chong": "Dave's not here." Instead, I'm over here.
  
  "Surly's Soap Box" has run it's course. A lot of my perceptions and convictions have changed over the last few years, and it's time find a new format. I thought about reformatting The Soap [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2008, 10:10pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Times like this, it's great to be an Anarchist...

  One of the greatest joys of being an anarchist is the lack of emotional involvement with the on going election cycle. No heart burn over "He said/She said", no sleep lost over whose behind in the polls, laughing through the debates. It's great! The most annoying thing about it is [...]
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  Posted: October 10, 2008, 6:10pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Yo! Check it out ya 'll!

  Caution! Some profanity Here. [...]
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  Posted: October 06, 2008, 8:10pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• The Real Damage of 9/11...

  Never mind: I was going to post something about how "Entitled Victimhood" has taken root in our society, and how people expect the government to bail them out when ever something bad happens to them. [...]
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  Posted: October 04, 2008, 2:10pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• ...and another thing...

  Why doesn't the Government just pay off the mortgages of people who are struggling, but trying, to make their house payments? That way, the banks get their money, and the folks who at least try to make their payments get real help. It's almost like the government doesn't trust people [...]
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  Posted: October 03, 2008, 7:10am EDT
  by Surly Dave

• I see.....

  The reason why the House didn't pass the initial 700 billion bail out bill is because they weren't spending enough! It wasn't enough to just give a bunch of money to the stupid, irresponsible bastards in the banking industry, but they had to tack on a couple billion in other [...]
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  Posted: October 02, 2008, 5:10pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Some Campaign Slogans for 2012

  1. A chicken in every pot and a hybrid in every garage.
  2. Proudly endorsed by your Chinese Overlords!
  3. (Obama's reelection slogan) Democracy's My Bitch!
  4. A full dinner pail.
  5. Work! The government needs to give your money to failed businesses.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: September 30, 2008, 11:09am EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Embracing Anarchy

  I have concluded that the government no longer exists to serve the people of the United States: It exists to serve big business. This economic bail out is going to put billions into the hands of people who have proven that they are incapable of managing it, the CEO's are [...]
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  Posted: September 26, 2008, 9:09pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Economic Bail Out Purposal

  Take 700 billion dollars, divide it by 500 million (the population of the U.S.) and distribute it. Better yet, give the money to those who where smart enough to not let themselves get taken by unethical loan practices and have faithfully made their house payments over the last few years. [...]
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  Posted: September 25, 2008, 9:09pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• What Has Dave Been Up to Lately?

  Well....I've been very busy. One of the things I've been doing is taking Improv classes. This has taken up two evenings a week for the last few months, and while it has been a bit of a strain, it has been worth it. I've made a bunch of new friends [...]
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  Posted: September 23, 2008, 5:09pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• "One Anothering" Part One

  I'm going to post my thoughts as I'm preparing a sermon on "One Anothering", exploring a set of scriptures that addresses how we are to treat one another and build community in The Church.
  
  This last weekend, I had a discussion with some folks about building community in Church. [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2008, 11:08pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Garrison Keiler Opens His Trap Again

  Self-indulgent blow hard attacks motorcycle enthusiast:
  
  The disturbing roar of hollow patriotism
  
  

  
  By Garrison Keillor
  
  May 28, 2008
  
  Three hundred thousand bikers spent Memorial Day weekend roaring around Washington in tribute to our war dead, and I stood on Constitution Avenue on Sunday afternoon watching [...]

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  Posted: May 30, 2008, 5:05pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Motorcycle Commuting

  I've been driving my motorcycle almost exclusively this spring. I'd like to say that it's because of the lovely weather and the beautiful drive down the Theodore Wirth Parkway. But the weather hasn't been all that lovely, and with the removal of the Lowery Ave bridge, Theodore Wirth isn't an [...]
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  Posted: May 17, 2008, 4:05pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• You know your Pastor has a gambling problem...

  ...if they preach on "The Four Horsemen of the Kentucky Derby" and seem particularly perplexed that the Pale horse didn't win, place or show. [...]
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  Posted: May 04, 2008, 8:05am EDT
  by Surly Dave

• So this blogger walks into a bar...

  ...and yelled, 'Ouch! That hurt!'
  
  So, what has Surly Dave been up to? Well, as many who read here know, I do a little preaching. I've never bragged about possessing supreme speaking abilities or my ability to captivate my audience. I would not be called 'fiery' or 'charismatic' in [...]
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  Posted: March 17, 2008, 8:03pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Back to work!

  Well, I'm back to work. Started a job on Monday as a fabricator for a sign shop here in the metro. This is my third sign job now. I guess it gets into you bones or something. I just can't stop being creative, dang it!
  
  Otherwise, life has been [...]
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  Posted: March 05, 2008, 5:03pm EST
  by Surly Dave

• Contraversial Political Commentary Ahead!

  Just a warning.
  
  I want to say something that I know will offend some of my Christian brothers and sisters, but I have to say it:
  
  A Pro-Choice president doesn't forward the Kingdom of God.
  
  Neither does a Socialist one.
  
  I believe we should vote [...]
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  Posted: February 24, 2008, 9:02pm EST
  by Surly Dave

• The worlds funniest joke?

  The other night there was a program on the History Channel called, 'The History of the Joke'. In the program, Lewis Black interviewed Dr Richard Wiseman, from the University of Hertfordshire, who spent the last few years researching humor and what people find funny. This is, according to [...]
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  Posted: February 22, 2008, 9:02am EST
  by Surly Dave

• It's too bad...

  ...that there are some people I know, people who I might have counted as friends, who have been using content found on this site to mock me, make fun of me, and generally do the "I'll make myself feel better about myself by tearing down somebody else because I'm so [...]
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  Posted: February 18, 2008, 2:02pm EST
  by Surly Dave

• Romney Calls 'er Quits: Cue the Third Party!

  Let the McCain coronation begin.
  
  I watched McCain's speech to the Conservative-Something-Something conference this afternoon, and I think he did pretty well. He has a lot of fences to mend in the Republican Party, and I doubt he can pull it off. So, cue the third party that's guaranteed [...]
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  Posted: February 07, 2008, 5:02pm EST
  by Surly Dave

• A couple o' Irish men...

  Looks like the Presidential election is going to come down to a pitched battle between a Couple of Irish men: O'Bama and McCain.
  
  McCain is Irish, hailing from the Ulster region. He's not Scottish as he had mistakenly claimed in his book, but his family has Scottish ties. [...]
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  Posted: February 07, 2008, 9:02am EST
  by Surly Dave

• And while I'm at it...

  I am boycotting the Olympics and any of the proud sponsors of totalitarian, oppressive, human rights violating regimes.
  
  Ya hear that Coca Cola! McDonald's! Your going down. [...]
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  Posted: January 30, 2008, 1:01pm EST
  by Surly Dave

• Err...Nice religion Ya Got There.

  Egyptian officials debate divorce by text message.
  
  I personally think that they should ban the practice just because the guys a gutless bastard for not doing it to her face. Nice to know they respect marriage, not to mention women and family values so much that uttering "I [...]
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  Posted: January 30, 2008, 1:01pm EST
  by Surly Dave

• Harry Potter in the Hood

  I'm probably behind the times on this: [...]
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  Posted: January 22, 2008, 4:01pm EST
  by Surly Dave

• Bacon

  [...]
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  Posted: January 19, 2008, 1:01pm EST
  by Surly Dave

• This is NOT the kind of game I enjoy.

  It's sick.
  
  It's juvenile.
  
  It's crude.
  
  It's something you'd find at KAR, not here.
  
  But hey! I found it first.
  
  I hope that this doesn't set the tone for this round of unemployment.
  [...]
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  Posted: December 28, 2007, 11:12am EST
  by Surly Dave

• An end to the whining...

  Can't complain about a job when you ain't got one!
  
  Yup, I was 'terminated' today. Let go. Fired.
  
  I saw it coming though.
  
  I was planning on looking for a new position after the Holidays, but now I have lost the luxury of looking while [...]
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  Posted: December 27, 2007, 11:12pm EST
  by Surly Dave

• Insanity. Sheer Insanity.

  Life has been insane lately. Not only has it gotten cold out, (cold, as in single digits), but I have had to work 10 to 12 hour days, most of which has been, you guessed it, outside.
  
  I just can't handle it anymore. I don't know how those [...]
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  Posted: December 14, 2007, 4:12pm EST
  by Surly Dave

• Dick Cheney's Heart

  For the true story of Dick Cheney's heart irregularity, start here.
  
  I think he inadvertently tossed a quarter into a Salvation Army bucket, and his heart started to grow!
  
  (this is humor, by the way) [...]
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  Posted: November 26, 2007, 6:11pm EST
  by Surly Dave

• Extreme Make Over : Home Edition: The Exploitation Continues

  Extreme Exploitation Make Over: Home Edition is quite possibly one of the saddest shows on TV these days. ABC dumps huge amounts of money building a home for some hurting people (not bad in it's self), but they make it a media spectical. It drives me nuts! I guess it [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2007, 11:11pm EST
  by Surly Dave

• 9 Trillion in Debt?

  You know, this really bothers me. 9 trillion. What's going on here? Why is the government so set on spending money like a drunken sailor? If I spent the way government did, someone would have forcibly taken away my credit cards and possibly locked me up.
  
  Something is [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2007, 10:11am EST
  by Surly Dave

• What do you wear under a kilt...

  I recently attended Kilt Night at Keegan's Irish Pub (Last Saturday of each month).
  
  Stopping for gas, the guy behind the behind the counter asks "The Question":
  
  "What do you wear under that?"
  "Depends."
  "Depends on what?"
  "That's it, Depends!"
  
  Lot's of laughter.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2007, 3:11pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Defend the weak and the fatherless

  Psalm 82:3-4
  
  
  
  3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
  maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
  
  4 Rescue the weak and needy;
  deliver them from the hand of the wicked. [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2007, 6:10pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Wearing a Kilt...

  I've recently taken to wearing a kilt. My wife thinks it's some sort of midlife crisis, but I tell her that's what the motorcycle was for.
  
  No crisis. No gender identity issues. Just a celebration of my heritage and a statement about my affinity to Celtic Christianity. Not the [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2007, 12:10am EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Renaissance Festival Frivolity

  Fun for the Family!
  
  
  Feisty Lil' One
  
  
  Two questions could be answered here: "Who's stronger?" and "What does a Scot wear beneath his kilt?"
  
  
  Dad and Daughter
  
  
  Good [...]
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  Posted: September 22, 2007, 10:09pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Just some thoughts about diversity...

  We can worship the God of inclusivity with out worshiping Inclusivity.
  
  We can worship the God of diversity with out worshiping Diversity.
  
  I heard someone say something along these lines:
  
  

  
  "We have a God that demands Conformity in the sense that we all are to [...]

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  Posted: September 21, 2007, 4:09pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Topics of 'conversation' guaranteed to send Surly Dave into a boredom induced coma.

  ***Warning***
  It's strongly suggested you place a pillow on your keyboard before reading this. That way, if you pass out, you won't break your nose or damage your computer.
  
  

  
  1: "My boyfriend/older brother/uncle has a rare 1972 1/2 (emphasis on the '1/2') Trans Am/Camaro/Mustang..."
  
  2: "I was [...]

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  Posted: September 20, 2007, 7:09pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• I'm not really into end time conspiracy stuff...

  but this give me cause to wonder:
  
  

  
  Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday that a mandate requiring every American to purchase health insurance was the only way to achieve universal health care but she rejected the notion of punitive measures to force individuals into the health care [...]

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  Posted: September 18, 2007, 8:09pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Some who know me...

  
  Some who know me, or at least pay attention, would recognize that over the last year and a half or so, I've under gone some radical changes in my life regarding politics and the Kingdom of God. Not just politics, but the way I live out my Christianity has [...]
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  Posted: September 15, 2007, 9:09am EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Pork and Peaches, Peaches and Blue Cheese....

  Flavors that just go together. But how to bring them all to one plate?
  
  
  Let's see...
  
  You'll need some pork chops, 3 or 4
  Fresh Thyme
  Salt and Pepper
  olive oil to coat pan
  1 Chopped Small Onion
  1 teaspoon minced Garlic
  1 coarsely chopped Ripe Peach
  [...]
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  Posted: September 06, 2007, 8:09pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• What's going on around here!

  I heard Nihilist talking about how the right way to quit blogging is just to up and pull the plug. Don't do the, "I'm tired of blogging", and the, "I'm taking a break" thing.
  
  I'm not doing either. I'm just blogging when I have something to say.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: September 06, 2007, 6:09pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Company Slogan

  "Increasing productivity through unrealistic expectations!"
  
  My wife is concerned that I may say something that could reflect poorly on my employers, but hey, I realized today that they are impervious to criticism, positive or other wise, and they wouldn't get it I did.
  
  If I say that the [...]
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  Posted: August 14, 2007, 10:08pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Company Slogan

  "Increasing productivity through unrealistic expectations!"
  
  My wife is concerned that I may say something that could reflect poorly on my employers, but hey, I realized today that they are impervious to criticism, positive or other wise, and they wouldn't get it I did.
  
  If I say that the [...]
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  Posted: August 14, 2007, 9:08pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Surly Dave: Master of Sausages

  Learned Foot, MilF Competition Committee Chair:
  
  

  "1) I still have yet to hear from a number of usual suspects. If you are certain you CAN participate or are certain you CANNOT participate, please contact me with all due haste. Especially disconcerting is that I have yet to hear from [...]

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  Posted: July 31, 2007, 6:07pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Surly Dave: Master of Sausages

  Learned Foot, MilF Competition Committee Chair:
  
  

  "1) I still have yet to hear from a number of usual suspects. If you are certain you CAN participate or are certain you CANNOT participate, please contact me with all due haste. Especially disconcerting is that I have yet to hear from [...]

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  Posted: July 31, 2007, 5:07pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Hillary's Cleavage?

  Bill has more cleavage than Hillary. [...]
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  Posted: July 29, 2007, 9:07am EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Hillary's Cleavage?

  Bill has more cleavage than Hillary. [...]
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  Posted: July 29, 2007, 8:07am EDT
  by Surly Dave

• The surliness lives on: the Harry Potter version!

  I was installing some signs at one of the local clinics when I spied a gentleman working his way through the most recent Harry Potter book. I noticed that he was almost finished, so I went over and asked him, "Have you gotten to the part where he (Harry) bites [...]
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  Posted: July 27, 2007, 10:07pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• The surliness lives on: the Harry Potter version!

  I was installing some signs at one of the local clinics when I spied a gentleman working his way through the most recent Harry Potter book. I noticed that he was almost finished, so I went over and asked him, "Have you gotten to the part where he (Harry) bites [...]
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  Posted: July 27, 2007, 9:07pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Excellent post on forgiveness...

  ...found here. [...]
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  Posted: July 17, 2007, 3:07pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Excellent post on forgiveness...

  ...found here. [...]
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  Posted: July 17, 2007, 2:07pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Am I Emergent ? EuroTrash? A Relasped Blogger perhaps?

  Scruffy goatee. Collar turned up. Funky glasses. Mall diva and the Rev. Mother dubbed me EuroTrash, while Ben calls it "Sophisticated French", which is an oxymoron.
  
  I could almost pass myself off as one of those hippy preachers, but my shirt wasn't [...]
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  Posted: July 16, 2007, 9:07pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Am I Emergent ? EuroTrash? A Relasped Blogger perhaps?

  Scruffy goatee. Collar turned up. Funky glasses. Mall diva and the Rev. Mother dubbed me EuroTrash, while Ben calls it "Sophisticated French", which is an oxymoron.
  
  I could almost pass myself off as one of those hippy preachers, but my shirt wasn't [...]
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  Posted: July 16, 2007, 8:07pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Heading to Keagan's?

  Yes. Though I have hardly blogged of late, I am heading off to Keagan's for the annual MOB gathering. I may even ask the Reverend Mother to bless my motorcycle.
  
  I'd include links to these events and people, but I'm working on a sermon right now, and the more [...]
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  Posted: July 14, 2007, 1:07pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Heading to Keagan's?

  Yes. Though I have hardly blogged of late, I am heading off to Keagan's for the annual MOB gathering. I may even ask the Reverend Mother to bless my motorcycle.
  
  I'd include links to these events and people, but I'm working on a sermon right now, and the more [...]
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  Posted: July 14, 2007, 12:07pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Movie Review: Ratatouille

  Ratatouille Excellent movie. Even though I tend to think of the French and Rats on the same level, this movie redeems rats. From a culinary prospective, the kitchen scenes and food where realistic. Accept for the fact that they where prepared by a rat, of course.
  
  It was [...]
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  Posted: July 02, 2007, 11:07pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Movie Review: Ratatouille

  Ratatouille Excellent movie. Even though I tend to think of the French and Rats on the same level, this movie redeems rats. From a culinary prospective, the kitchen scenes and food where realistic. Accept for the fact that they where prepared by a rat, of course.
  
  It was [...]
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  Posted: July 02, 2007, 10:07pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Blah, Blah, Blah...

  The plan to return to regular posting has hit a snag due to long working hours and general exhaustion. So I introduce my 4 1/2 year old. I think she has a future in blogging. Heck, she's already made more sense than most of the lefties out there:
  
  [...]
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  Posted: June 27, 2007, 10:06pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Worse. Pick-Up Line. Ever.

  Old man following a younger lady in a hospital lobby:
  
  "You know why I'm following you so close?"
  
  "Hmmm, no."
  
  "Cause I want to check out the swing on that back porch!"
  
  
  I offered to be a witness at the harassment trial.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: June 11, 2007, 8:06pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Test...Test...Is this thing on?

  Greetings all! I will shortly be returning to blogging, but theres going to be some changes. First, I'm going to shift over to Word Press because they have some features that powerblogs doesn't (like audio plug-ins and such: I'd like to up load some of my sermons). Second, theres going [...]
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  Posted: June 06, 2007, 10:06pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

  Seeing that someone close to me just got let go from Carlson (for humanitarian reasons), I get a bit of a chuckle out of this. They say that most family businesses implode at the third generation. Well, let the dirty laundry fall where it may. [...]
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  Posted: May 03, 2007, 7:05pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Out of the Ashes (With apologies to PFF)

  That would be Princess Flicker Feather. I was unaware that she had tagged me with a meme back in April, and because I am generally polite to young ladies, I wouldn't want to exasperate her. So I break blogging silence (with no guarantees of returning to regular posting) to [...]
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  Posted: May 03, 2007, 6:05pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• I'll make it official:

  I'm taking a break. I'm trying to decide where I want to go with the blogging thing. As it is, I've been trying to keep up posting on three different blogs, and failing all the way around. So I'm going to take an official break instead of doing it half [...]
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  Posted: April 08, 2007, 10:04pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• I have a dark confession to make...

  I...hate to admit it...***sniff***...but I've...I've gotten caught up into a wicked, terrible obsession. ***snork***
  
  It started out innocently enough: I was sitting at the dinning room table a few weeks ago, minding my own business, while in the living room, my wife was inviting evil into our home. [...]
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  Posted: March 27, 2007, 9:03pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• Thinking about leaving Powerblogs.

  1: They aren't accepting any new customers
  2: They haven't done any updating to any of the features.
  3: They haven't answered any of my email in the last few months. I don't know about before that.
  
  If they aren't taking any new customers, developing new features, and answering [...]
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  Posted: March 25, 2007, 5:03pm EDT
  by Surly Dave

• God Hates Figs!

  With Easter upon us, it's time to remember that God Hates Figs.
  
  
  
  
  * JESUS REBUKED THE FIG AS AN EVIL ABOMINATION.
  "Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he was hungry.
  "And when he saw a fig tree by [...]
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  Posted: March 24, 2007, 11:03am EDT
  by Surly Dave