MSN works, it does not, it works, it does not, it works, it does not

I've been in Madison for a week now.  The best part so far was my lunch date with 3 bloggers.  We met at Glass Nickel Pizza on Tuesday.  GNP has been voted Madison's best pizza for 7 years in a row.  For those in the PHX area, I'll compare it to Nello's.  We had a great time, and you can read all about it at the girls own blogs, because they tell a much better story.  From left to right are Sherry, Ursula, me and Cindy.

Other than that meeting, I've done absolutely nothing.  Well, I did go to The Capital Brewery and tasted their award winning beers.  But other than those things.....NADA.  Next week will be more fun, a Cub game in Milwaukee,  a 3 day trip to the Chicago area to visit friends, a beer festival in Madison and a family reunion at my Uncle's  house.

I'm pretty sure we have added 2 more people to the 1st annual MSN Space Convention.  Please visit The Stepford Place and Mud Treasure's Space and welcome them aboard.  On a sad note, I think we may have lost 2 people from the convention.  I'll find out for sure in the coming week.

First-ever super raffle raises a half million for wildlife

PHOENIX – Nine lucky winners now have hunt-permit tags of a lifetime while Arizona’s first-ever big game super raffle raised more than a half million dollars for wildlife conservation in the state.

The nine winners of special, prized commissioner’s hunting tags with yearlong season dates were drawn from a drum on July 8, and almost immediately the goal for next year’s super raffle was set at raising a million dollars for wildlife.

The big game super raffle is a new concept, not just for Arizona, but for the nation. For years, two commissioner tags were set aside per big game species in Arizona, and they were auctioned off or raffled by individual sportsmen’s groups to raise money for wildlife. A third tag per species was created last year by the state Legislature. Several sportsmen’s groups then joined together in a unique collaborative effort to market these nine new commissioner tags via a super raffle.

These dedicated sportsman-conservation groups sold 42,606 raffle tickets for the nine available commissioner tags, a total raised of $514,055. Although 56 percent of the tickets were sold within Arizona, raffle tickets were actually sold in every state except Vermont, plus Canada. Every dollar raised goes directly to wildlife and wildlife management for the particular species.

In addition, 4,752 raffle tickets for a Swarovski optics package were sold, which raised more than $47,000 to cover the operating expenses of the raffle. Swarovski donated the optics package.

The super raffle winners were:

• Antelope - Wallace Duncan, Flagstaff:
• Black Bear - Pete Demassari, Chandler:
• Buffalo - Andrew Pontious, Upland, Calif.:
• Coues Whitetail - Olga Boido, Tucson;
• Desert Bighorn Sheep - Gerald Carter, Caldwell, Texas:
• Elk - Gary Chiurazzi, Peoria: 
•  Javelina - John Dardis, Jamestown, N.D.:
• Mule Deer - Garel Westall Jr., Carlsbad, N.M.:
• Turkey – Harold Barton, Corbin, Ky.:
• Swarovski optics - Paul Lennon, Benson:

Couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. During a checkup, the doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember. Later
that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. "Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?" he asks.
"Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?" "Sure."
"Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?" she asks.
"No, I can remember it."
"Well, I'd like some strawberries on top,too. Maybe you should write it down, so's not to forget it?"
He says, "I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries."
"I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, write it down?" she asks.
Irritated, he says, "I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream - I got it, for goodness sake!" Then he  toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, the old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs.
She stares at the plate for a moment. "Where's my toast ?"

Chinese word of the day

Bing qi lin........(bee-yon chee lin)........ice cream

Have a great weekend and I'll see everyone on Monday.