Spare and Extra

spare

–verb (used with object)
1.
to refrain from harming or destroying; leave uninjured; forbear to punish, hurt, or destroy: to spare one's enemy.
2.
to deal gently or leniently with; show consideration for: His harsh criticism spared no one.
3.
to save from strain, discomfort, embarrassment, or the like, or from a particular cause of it: to spare him the bother; to spare her needless embarrassment.
4.
to refrain from, forbear, omit, or withhold, as action or speech: Spare us the gory details.
5.
to refrain from employing, as some instrument or recourse: to spare the rod.
6.
to set aside for a particular purpose: to spare land for a garden.
7.
to give or lend, as from a supply, esp. without inconvenience or loss: Can you spare a cup of sugar? Can you spare me a dollar till payday?
8.
to dispense with or do without: We can't spare a single worker during the rush hour.
9.
to use economically or frugally; refrain from using up or wasting: A walnut sundae, and don't spare the whipped cream!
10.
to have remaining as excess or surplus: We can make the curtains and have a yard to spare.

extra

–adjective
1.
beyond or more than what is usual, expected, or necessary; additional: an extra copy of a newspaper; an extra charge.

I hear these two words a lot while walking around downtown Dallas. Be it going for coffee, going to lunch, or just relaxing in the plaza outside my building. 100% of the time when one of these two words are spoken to me, it is used in a question.

"Do you have an extra dollar I could get?"
"Hey man, got a spare piece of gum I could get from ya?"

I've learned to say no or make up some sort of excuse as to why I don't have a spare or extra of whatever the person may be asking for. See, I and many of the people around me on the streets, aren't the providers of products and income for those 'less fortunate' than us. I use quotation marks because I truly believe that most of those that ask for for these things are just as fortunate as we are.

As I was going for coffee today I was walking down the sidewalk when I pulled out a pack of gum and proceeded to take a piece and chew it. A man and woman were sitting on a bench at the bus stop and observed me partaking of my delicious piece of gum.

"Hey man, let me get a spare piece of gum from ya?" The man said.
'Sorry. I'm running low. Gotta make it through the rest of the day with what I have.' I replied.

Of course I wasn't telling the truth, I had plenty of gum and could have given the man a piece, however; when you begin to add up all the pieces I give out over the course of a day, a week, it begins to add up. Therefore, I've discontinued my practice of giving strangers pieces of my gum.

Usually, giving someone the above excuse is enough. Sometimes I'll get a some sort of acknowledgement from the person, sometimes, and the most preferred response, I get nothing. This morning I was questioned.

"Man, I know you got plenty of gum in there, I just saw you pull a piece out of a full pack. You ain't running low for shit..."

True. I have plenty of gum, and I could have given the man a piece. But, EFF YOU!!!! YOU EFFING CRUST OF A DILL!!! Spare means I have a surplus, more than I need, more than I'm going to use. You asked if I had a spare piece of gum. NO!!! I DON'T HAVE A SPARE!!! EVERY PIECE IN THIS PACK, I THOROUGHLY PLAN ON CHEWING. It may take me all day or even 2-3 days to chew every piece, but I can assure you, every piece will be consumed by me or whomever I see fit to share with. WTF YOU IGNORANT PIECE OF TRASH? Don't question me over what I do and don't have to give you. I am not your provider. You need some gum, the maybe you should turn your skank out a little more to get them dolla's so you can buy your own effing gum. Am I the bad guy for not giving something away for nothing? I think not! You inconsiderate eff hole. Wait. I do have a spare something I can give to you. Here's a dull piece of rusted metal I found outside a construction zone. Take this and insert it into your gut until you can see straight. And you're welcome. Enjoy.

Really?

Nevada man to jail for killing neighbor's puppy

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A Nevada man has been sentenced to up to 2 1/2 years in jail for killing his neighbor's puppy.
Daniel Thomas Wells earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of "killing an animal of another" in the beating death of the 6-month-old chihuahua in May.
Washoe County Deputy District Attorney Derek Dreiling says the case was elevated to felony status because there was evidence of malice. He says Wells had been drinking, had a bad day at work and ended up acting inappropriately when the neighbor's dog got on his nerves.
Wells was sentenced to 12 months to 30 months in jail, but Dreiling said if he's a model inmate, he may end up serving less than a year.

Update: Mr. Wells has already been offered a 3 year 12.5m contrack with the Phil. Eagles upon release from jail. Rumor has it Nike is interested in signing him as a 2010-2011 spokes person for their new line of shoes, "The Vick K9 Killa's". Good luck Mr. Wells. Get your hands on some homemade wine. You can trade it for not getting butt raped by the bigger guys.

Man, 81, finishes race after borrowing a catheter

MINNEAPOLIS — Organizers of the Twin Cities Marathon said they won't disqualify an 81-year-old runner who won his age group after using a borrowed catheter. Jerry Johncock of Shelbyville, Mich., was sidelined at an aid station about 21 miles into Sunday's race because a blood clot prevented him from urinating. The aid station had no catheter, but a spectator stepped forward to offer Johncock a catheter he had in his car.
Aides helped insert the catheter and Johncock went on to finish in a little over 5 hours 22 minutes.
Race officials considered disqualifying Johncock because of a rule against improper assistance. But executive director Virginia Brophy Achman said they decided Johncock didn't break the rule.
She called Johncock "a great role model and example of what you can do as a runner."
Johncock's wife, Dorlene, said her husband was cheered by the ruling. She said he found the whole situation a little humorous.

Pardon? A spare cath in the car? WTF? Who the hell is going through so many caths that they have to keep spares in the car? What is happening?

Dead deer in clown suit left on Iowa porch

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — You'll never see this clown in the circus. Animal control officers in Sioux City, Iowa, say someone dressed a dead deer in a clown suit and wig and put it on a family's porch. Officers suspect it was a prank, considering Halloween is approaching, but they say it's not funny, safe or acceptable.
The deer was discovered Wednesday morning.
Animal Control Officer Jake Appel says leaving a dead animal is immature and illegal. He says officers will dispose of the deer properly.
Sioux City police have not opened an investigation.

Awww c'mon. It's a little funny.

Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize places him in the company of Jimmy Carter and Al Gore — the noted "worst president ever" and the guy who invented the Internet. Maybe now Obama can reinvent the Internet and take Jimmy’s title away from him. How naive I was to once think that Nobel prizes meant something.
— Rod, Granbury

Oh Rod, don't worry. Soon, your favorite ex-pres will hold the title of Worst President Ever. All in good time my friend. All in good time.

What are you right wingers so mad about. Obama made a valiant effort to appease you by suggesting to Nasa they should bomb the moon. We can't really bomb another country right now since Bush used up all of our Earthly bombs, so Obama did the next best thing...Sheesh guys, give him a break.

Saturday’s Star-Telegram told us that members of the State Board of Education took gifts that were not reported and that such actions conflict with state law. (See: "2 State Board of Education members did not report company’s gifts") We are not so naive to think every politician is honorable, but even at this level we learn people are not really interested in a world-class educational system for Texas children but only in lining their pockets with cash and gifts.
The political world is sleazy; we just don’t have any idea how sleazy.
— Michael, Fort Worth

Thanks Michael aka. Cap'n Effing Obvious.

To anyone out there who might think about leaving your children in your car because you can’t find a babysitter: Here is my phone number — 817-999-2155. Please call me and, if I can’t help you, I will find someone who can.
— Lucky, Bedford

Sadly, Lucky wrote this letter to the editor on his Blackberry while sitting inside his still running car in a closed garage. The voicemail on the number now directs you to funeral arrangments.

FML

This week's Jeers...Yay!!! Not so fun this week. Boo!!!

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

What would you go through for some beef jerky and a lighter?

Police: Wis. woman strips to avoid arrest

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) - Police say a Wisconsin woman stripped in front of her children in an attempt to avoid arrest for shoplifting, then scuffled with officers and exposed herself through a squad car window.
Julia E. Laack, 36, of Sheboygan was charged Friday with felony battery of a peace officer, resisting an officer, shoplifting and two counts of disorderly conduct, the Sheboygan Press reported.
The criminal complaint alleges Laack stole a bag of beef jerky and a lighter at a convenience store Thursday afternoon. Police went to her home. The complaint said she refused to come to the door and began screaming and swearing at three children in her house, telling one that the incident was all his fault.
Police entered and tried to calm her down. With her children present, the complaint said, she stripped to her underwear and told the officers they couldn't arrest her because she would be naked.
Laack struggled with the officers as they tried to arrest her, the complaint alleged, kicking one in the groin and spitting in the mouth of another.
While in the squad car on the way to the police station, the complaint said, Laack exposed her buttocks against the rear window.
The complaint said Laack had a preliminary blood-alcohol level of 0.112 percent. The legal blood-alcohol limit for driving is 0.08 percent.
Laack remained in jail Friday night. A man who answered the phone at her home declined comment.

Sheriff: Bones at Garrido home buried long ago

ANTIOCH, Calif. (AP) - The Contra Costa County Sheriff's office said Friday that bone fragments dug up from the backyard of kidnapping suspect Phillip Garrido's home and a neighboring property probably belonged to American Indians buried a long time ago.
Sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said that while scientists at a state forensics lab were unable to pull any DNA from the bones, an anthropologist concluded the fragments were likely human, but probably old.
Investigators uncovered the bones while searching for evidence in the kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard, as well as other unsolved abductions and murders.
Garrido and his wife, Nancy, have been charged with kidnapping and rape in Dugard's 18-year disappearance.
Lee said investigators are looking into reports that Phillip Garrido was seen before his arrest with two young girls who were not the daughters he fathered with Dugard. The information came from someone who knew Garrido, but so far detectives have not found any evidence to corroborate the sighting.
Anyone who may have seen Garrido recently in the company of two girls about 6- or 7-years-old should contact the Sheriff's office, Lee said.

Well this clearly explains why people in the home kept vanishing into the television set. Probably why he kept his captures in tents out back. Smart thinking on his part. Strangly enough, Garrido was seen pushing a 17" color television set out of his cell before guards locked him in. 'They're here...' That's just dumb.

Dallas police seek naked backyard dancer

DALLAS (AP) - Dallas police are looking for a man who they say repeatedly sneaks into backyards, dances around naked and then runs away.
Police believe the man has been exposing himself in the same neighborhood since 2005. The most recent incident was on Sept. 30.
Police say he usually climbs a fence or goes through a gate and either dances naked or jumps in a swimming pool naked. Police say he also has danced naked on top of a backyard air conditioning unit.
Police say they're looking for a pudgy man who is about 6 feet tall and covers his face while dancing.
Dallas Police Senior Cpl. Janice Crowther says police want to catch him before it escalates into something worse.

Something worse? Holy hell!!! He's going to start line dancing isn't he? Awesome! Can't wait for him to do Slapp'n Leather. So hot!

Police: Karaoke singer attacked over performance

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) - Police say a woman singing karaoke in a Connecticut sports bar was attacked by six other women who didn't like her performance.
Five of the women were arraigned on assault and other charges on Wednesday in Stamford Superior Court. The other woman appeared in court Monday on the same charges.
Police say the Sept. 23 attack on the 25-year-old woman from Port Chester, N.Y., happened during karaoke night at Bobby Valentine's Sports Gallery Cafe in Stamford.
Authorities say the six women, all under the legal drinking age of 21, knocked the singer to the floor, punched her and pulled her hair. The victim suffered bruises and a chipped tooth.
The victim has said she was singing "A Dios Le Pido" by Colombian superstar Juanes when the violence began.

Ky. pastor who promoted guns in church quits

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A Kentucky pastor who hosted a rally celebrating God and guns a few months ago has resigned his ministry to promote gun rights and church security.
Ken Pagano held the "Open Carry Celebration" at New Bethel Church in south Louisville in June. But he is now working part time at a local gun range and helped form the International Security Coalition of Clergy. He formed the group with a New York rabbi who and they are promoting the use of armed and trained security at houses of worship.
Pagano told The Courier-Journal the church supported the rally, but he felt like a liability and he brought too much attention to the small congregation. He also said he was burned out with the ministry.

Much like Jesus told us in The Gospel of Smith-Wesson chapter 3 vrs 4-16.

I keep burping canned chilly. Yummm!

Jeers: To Jerry Jones and the Cowboys’ organization for erecting a statue of Tom Landry, in spite of the fact they fired the legendary icon (and hastened Tom’s death, in my opinion) so many years ago. Time does not heal all wounds, and words cannot express how utterly despicable Jones is in my eyes.
— Sandra, Fort Worth

Ummm, that statue was put up years ago at the old stadium. It’s not new, they only moved it. And now Jerry Jones is a murderer? By letting Landry go his death was hastened? Really? You’re an idiot. Words cannot express how moronic, stupid, idiotic, ignorant, etc, you are in my eyes. Keep your gut covered. Seriously. That’s my tip to you.


Jeers: To the FAA for harassing American Airlines about its aircraft, namely the MD 80s. Those in service are maintained regularly. Why don’t the government and the FAA bail out AA and replace its entire jetliner fleet to fly? Then everybody can be happy.
— Levi, Richland Hills

Damn that government institution for making sure those large metal objects can safely travel 35,000 feet in the air carrying 100’s of people over mountains, oceans, neighborhoods, where if one thing goes wrong it could crash into the Earth killing everyone on board as well as 1000’s on the ground. What they heck are they thinking doing all those inspections. Darn you Obama and big government. You let us worry about our airliner safety!

Jeers: To the Fort Worth mayor and City Council for a budget that cuts jobs at the bottom instead of at the top.
— Kenneth, Colleyville

Yay!!! Stupid city council. Why don’t you all quit and not run this city. Let’s let the lawn mowers, mechanics, and sanitary technicians run the city. That’ll go over well. Kenneth, YOU DON’T EVEN LIVE IN FT. WORTH.


Jeers: To the Granbury Square restaurant that serves food with way too much salt and too much sugar in the cornbread that renders it more like cake. It spoiled a special luncheon for a special friend. Apparently mine is not the first complaint. Those with high blood pressure stay away from this one.
— Mary, Granbury

Hey, Mary – Ummm, why not try out the place before planning a luncheon for a special friend? Maybe soak up some reviews of the place? No? Just bash them cause you don’t like their food and didn’t do the research before you made reservations to hold a party there. Ok that’s cool. It’s the American way.


Jeers: To the Texas Legislature for reducing the number of credits necessary in high school for physical education and health. Well-known statistics show that exercise is vital to a healthy body and mind. Might I suggest that our Texas legislators go take a hike?
— Ann, Colleyville

Oh Ann…BAM!!! Got ‘em! You stuck it to ‘em. ‘Go take a hike…’ That’s awesome. Might I suggest that you get stabbed in the gut?

Good Fun Bored at Work

Texas County makes $40K offer to Tasered woman, 72
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A Texas county has offered a $40,000 settlement to a 72-year-old woman whose Tasering by a deputy constable was captured on video and shown nationwide.
Kathryn Winkfein, who was shocked with a stun gun after she dared the constable to do so during a May traffic stop, wants $135,000 for pain and suffering, medical expenses and humiliation.
But Travis County commissioners on Tuesday approved $40,000 as their "firm" counteroffer.
Precinct 3 Constable Richard McCain says the incident is being reviewed by the district attorney's office, and a resisting-arrest charge is pending.
McCain says an internal investigation found no violations by the deputy constable.
Video of the incident appeared on YouTube and newspaper Web sites.
Winkfein's lawyer, Tom Tourtellotte, says he will discuss the counteroffer with his client.

This is crap. This women shouldn't get a thing. If the investigation comes back and proves the officer did nothing wrong, the county should countersue her ass for being dumb. This is why I hate people.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Shona Holmes is the Harry and Louise of this year's health care debate, only unlike the fictional folks who memorably trashed the Clinton-era health plan in advocacy ads 15 years ago, Holmes is real.

CLAIMS:
_"If I had relied on my government for health care, I'd be dead." Holmes, in an ad for Patients United Now, showing an image labeled as a brain tumor.
_"Shona's life was eventually saved because she came to the United States for the care she needed. ... Once the government is in control, politicians and bureaucrats will be the ones telling people what kind of care they can have." McConnell.
THE FACTS:
The Mayo Clinic diagnosed Holmes with Rathke's cleft cyst, which the clinic describes as a rare fluid-filled sac that grows near the pituitary gland near the base of the brain and can cause hormone and vision problems over time. The condition is not known to be fatal and the clinic, in trumpeting her treatment, makes no claim that her life was in danger.
It does, though, say she would have eventually lost her sight without surgery.
Holmes has declined to release medical records to Canadian news organizations checking her claims, citing her lawsuit seeking payment of her expenses by the Ontario provincial government.
Without them, the severity of her condition cannot be verified and it is impossible to know the circumstances that placed her on long waits in 2005 after she was referred by her family doctor to a neurologist and an endocrinologist.
Canada's system is not being emulated in the U.S. At most, some Democrats are pushing for a government-run plan to compete in the marketplace with private insurers, although even that idea is faltering.
Republicans contend that over time, a public insurance option could drive private insurers out of business, effectively giving the U.S. government-run care.
There's no question many Canadians wait for care they're anxious to get. A trade-off of guaranteeing coverage for all and paying medical bills mostly through taxes is that people often wait to be treated for conditions that may be serious but - rightly or wrongly - are not judged urgent.
Even so, across a range of diseases monitored in Canada, the average waiting time before seeing a specialist is typically measured in days or a few weeks, not the four to six months reported in Holmes' case.
Holmes was at first diagnosed in Arizona, then went back for the surgery after she failed to persuade health officials at home to speed up her treatment. She says her vision has been restored.

Uh oh...