Spam, Ram, Lamb, Ham

Doesn't it seem, a lot of the time, that nothing really new ever happens? I feel like I keep commenting on the same things over and over, and it's all the same stuff that everyone else in the blogosphere comments on. And not only that, I use poor grammar, like in the previous sentence.

Well, just because I feel that way, don't expect anything to change. The only really important article I've written lately is the one I posted today on Type 2 diabetes. I urge everyone (well, the three people a week that actually read anything on my blog) to read it. Type 2 diabetes is a serious problem, and it's becoming epidemic in the U.S.

Some Goofiness

You might be wondering where the title of this article comes from - the "spam, ram, lamb, ham" bit. Well, when I was in high school, the father of one of my best friends was a pretty funny and strange guy. He told lots of corny jokes, made strange faces, and acted like a big kid a lot of the time. He definitely could be serious when the occasion called for it, but he'd just as soon tell some funny story as teach a serious lesson. All the guys in my group of friends loved him, because even as teenagers, he was someone we enjoyed hanging out with. He'd play ping-pong and basketball with us, taught us some boxing, and was a just great guy to be with.

Well, one of the strange and funny things he'd do was that whenever anyone asked him "What's for lunch?" he would reply:

"Spam, ram, lamb, ham. Sheep, mutton. Dogs, frogs, logs, hogs. Buffalo, bear, beef, rhino-sa-horse, and bean soup on toast. Take two, 'cause they're small."

I have no idea where he came up with this, but he could rattle the whole thing off in about two seconds, and then he'd laugh like it was the first time he'd ever heard it. For some reason, this always cracked me up, and so I memorized it, too. Since high school, I've remembered this crazy rhyme. So now, whenever my son, asks, "what's for lunch?" well, you know what he hears. How could I not pass that along? My kid thinks I'm really weird. Now you probably do, too.

Speaking of Spam

At least once a day, I've been getting the "Africa money" spam that's been going around.

If you've gotten it, you know which one I'm writing about.

The basic story is that someone (usually a fictitious government official of some type) in Africa says that they've got a whole bunch of money (millions of dollars) available via some semi-legal or illegal means. This person says that he or she needs someone honest and trustworthy (I apparently qualify) to provide a bank account so that the money can be secretly transferred out of Africa. Once the money is out of Africa, then the person can pick it up here. For my trouble, I'll get a large cut of the money.

Of course, what they are really hoping is that I will be gullible enough to provide a bank account number, so that they can clean my bank account out via an electronic funds transfer.

My question is, has anyone ever actually fallen for this scam? I mean, really, this one is so blatantly obvious that I can't imagine anyone actually falling for it. Does anyone know of any time anyone has actually been victimized by this fraud?

There are lots of variations of this thing. Every one I've gotten has been different, so someone is spending a fair amount of energy coming up with them. One of the spam emails I've received "featured" a real member of the South African government, so the spam required some bit of research to write.

I'd think that if a person was creative enough to come up with all of these spam emails, that there would be more personally and financially rewarding ways to spend one's time. Then again, I've never considered writing spam as a career option. I'm probably not talented enough, anyway.

UPDATE: November 10, 2003

Apparently, lots of people do get taken by this scam. Read Sam Vaknin's Blogcritics article.

This is sad. People, if someone offers you millions of dollars out of the blue, via an email, it is a scam! Don't fall for it! Just click the delete button on your email as fast as you can.

More Stupid Terrorism

The latest horrific crime against humanity perpetrated by al-Qaida happened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia today (Nov. 9, 2003). MSN reported that at least 17 were killed and 120 wounded. The attacks were apparently timed for the end of the daily Ramadan fast, so that a maximum number of women and children would be killed or injured.

This once again shows how stupid or insane many of the Islamist terrorists are. In Iraq, they threatened to kill children that accepted new school supplies from UNESCO. Now, they are attacking and killing in Saudi Arabia, where they have more support than just about anywhere else. They are alienating the base from which they typically would draw new recruits. By attacking their own people, the terrorists are playing directly into the hands of the U.S. and our allies.

It may not look like it at times, and it's going to take time, but we are winning the war against terror. The terrorists' own stupidity makes it all but certain.

Honor Our Veterans!

Tuesday, November 11, 2003 is Veteran's Day in the U.S. and Remembrance Day in Canada. Let's honor our veterans - those that have given so much to protect us and our liberty and to further freedom, democracy, and human rights throughout the world. U.S. soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen, even today, are risking, and tragically, losing their lives so that others might live in freedom.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Jesus speaking to his disciples in John 15:13. New International Version.*

Let's remember to honor the sacrifices the brave men and women of our military have made and are continuing to make. Those in the military today are all volunteers. No one forced them to go, but they went anyway. They deserve our thanks for the difficult job they are doing with professionalism and courage in the face of extreme adversity.

* © Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Never Again!

Today is the 65th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the night of terror when the Nazis burned synagogues, looted, destroyed and vandalized Jewish businesses in Germany and Austria, attacked and killed dozens of Jews and wounded hundreds more. It went so far that Jewish cemeteries were even desecrated. The German word "Kristallnacht" translates to "the night of broken glass." It got that name because of all the shards of glass in the street from the windows of Jewish shops and businesses that were smashed. In some respects, it marks the beginning of the Holocaust.

No one, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation, country of origin, or any other distinction, should be subject to terror the way that European Jews were prior to and during the World War II era. As a member of the human race and as a Christian, I am appalled and horrified that something like that could have happened. I am appalled and horrified that similar incidents, perhaps on a smaller scale, but similar in kind and motivation, continue to happen today.

In general, I abhor violence, but when any group or regime systematically terrorizes its own people or its neighbors, and will not cease, despite diplomatic efforts, then that group or regime must be stopped, by force if necessary. Morally, I cannot accept any other position. Human life matters!

Thanks to Instapundit and Buzzmachine for the tip.

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