Come on and Get Your Overdose

This is what a failed state looks like:

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/06/21/postcards_from_hell?page=full

The image from the Congo illustrates pretty well why my diamond was grown in a lab. This is the life of a legal diamond miner. If the miner dies from overwork in unhealthy conditions, the stone doesn't count as a blood diamond. If you buy a diamond that came from the ground, you are a murderer.

Congo's diamond problem: http://www1.american.edu/ted/ice/congo.htm

Documentation of who they are and where they come from.

http://www.netstrider.com/documents/whites/

I personally have never thought ill of them, but I would not want to cross them. Then, I wouldn't want to cross anyone else, so that's not really saying anything.

I will also say that rednecks are a damn sight scarier. And ethnically, I am one (Scotch-Irish, which is really Ulster Scottish).

An example of Jersey Dutch:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_Dutch

I find it pretty upsetting that I believed so many untrue things about them, especially considering that there is scholarly, well-documented work available. And especially especially because I lived in their backyard not too long ago.

Rest in peace, Mario.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/14/obit.albano/index.html

Daniel "Chip" Henley, 48, died suddenly on May 6, 2009. Funeral Mass is in St. Aloysius Church, Caldwell, on Monday at 11 a.m. Visiting is in Farmer Funeral Home, 45 Roseland Ave. (at Eagle Rock Avenue), Roseland, on Saturday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. Interment is in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Caldwell. Chip was born in Montclair and was a lifelong resident of Caldwell. He received a B.S. degree in biology from Cook College-Rutgers University, New Brunswick, in 1983. Chip was a self-employed jewelry designer and maker. He was the son of Jane Blessing Henley and the late Daniel John Henley; brother of Jane Puleo (husband Nick) and Katherine Henley (husband Dan Martindale), and uncle of Lauren Puleo, and Caroline and Thomas Martindale. In lieu of flowers, donations to West Essex First Aid Squad, P.O. Box 662, West Caldwell, N.J. 07006 or American Heart Assn., 1 Union St., Suite 301, Robbinsville, N.J. 08691 would be appreciated.

My dad's Aunt Myrtle died. I'll be going to the wake this Saturday.

I never really knew her; the only time I can remember even meeting her was when I was six, although I know I saw her at my grandfather's funeral. But I know my mom really liked her, so I'm sorry I didn't try to get to know her.

There will be a Memorial Service for family and close friends on
>>> Saturday, March 22nd from approximately 12 noon until 6 PM at Knight's
>>> Rest Farm (Chet and Joan's farm). The special significance of this
>>> gathering is that Joan is keeping her promise to Chet that she would
>>> bring him home. Dress is casual – garb or mundane is fine. The casket
>>> will be present, and it will be closed. JOAN NEEDS: 1), a big, period
>>> pavilion to shade the casket, 2), at least 8 big, strong guys to unload
>>> the casket from the hearse at noon, and also to load it back onto the
>>> hearse around 6 (that’s ok if you can only make one time or the other).
>>> The sawhorses previously requested are no longer required. Also,
>>> Marklanders should bring their own folding chairs – Markland style is
>>> fine, and it would be much appreciated if people could bring something
>>> to eat – a covered dish, something to drink, etc. Joan would like the
>>> proceedings to be informal, so if you’d like, you could tell a tale,
>>> lead a prayer, recite a poem, sing a song, give a small eulogy – or
>>> simply bear witness to the ceremony as you honor Chet. If you would
>>> like to bring a small memento or make a small token, or write a letter,
>>> poem, or prayer, etc., Joan will be collecting them in a chest that
>>> Chet made, and burying it with him.
>>>
>>> The wake will be Monday, March 24th from 5 to 9 PM at Lee's Funeral
>>> Home in Mount Holly, NJ. The dress is casual – garb or mundane is fine.
>>> This wake is open casket. Joan would like these proceedings to be
>>> informal as well, so if you’d like, you could tell a tale, lead a
>>> prayer, recite a poem, sing a song, give a small eulogy – or simply
>>> bear witness to the ceremony. If you would like to bring a small
>>> memento or make a small token, or write a letter, poem, or prayer,
>>> etc., Joan will be collecting them at the wake as well.
>>>
>>> The funeral will be at 10 or 11 AM (they don’t know yet which) on
>>> Tuesday, March 25th at the Sacred Heart Church directly across the
>>> street from Lee’s Funeral Home. The dress is formal – court garb,
>>> armor, or formal mundane is preferred. The casket will be closed, and
>>> they will need as many big, strong guys as possible to serve as pall
>>> bearers and transport the casket. This is where the Markland Honor
>>> Guard will be present, along with the Naval Reserve Honor Guard to
>>> perform a flag folding ceremony and play Taps, the Sheriff’s Department
>>> Honor Guard, and the Naval Militia Honor Guard. The Markland Honor
>>> Guard may wear either armor or court garb, and weapons may be worn, but
>>> not displayed inside the church. Joan would like the ceremony to be
>>> documented, so anyone and everyone able to unobtrusively photograph or
>>> video the proceedings is implored to do so, and share your pictures
>>> with Joan. Immediately following the funeral, all those assembled are
>>> welcome to gather at the Sacred Heart cemetery, not far from the
>>> church. Displayed weapons are permitted at the gravesite. After the
>>> burial, people are welcome to gather at Knight’s Rest Farm for a little
>>> while. It would be very much appreciated if people could bring
>>> something to eat – a covered dish, something to drink, etc.
>>>
>>> For offers for help, further questions, etc. contact Jen and David Most
>>> at (215) 295-1776, or e-mail them, but please do not call past 10 PM.
>>>
>>> -MB
>>