Good Morning and welcome back to the Internet!

There are political differences, there are economic differences, there are religious differences, but it is kind of amazing how people find a way to band together.
Take the devastaing earthquake in Haiti. It didn't take long before the world community put aside many of their differences and tried to figure a way to help out.
Whether it is trying to get on an airplane to help sort through the rubble or getting the information out there, most people felt the pain. Looking at the photos coming out of there, well, there was no way you couldn't hurt a bit as well.
Most of us want to do more, but know the best we can do is send good thoughts down there and hope more and more poeple will be found alive.
Sure, there are those detractors who find the negative in everything. I actually heard somebody make a statement on hate radio yesterday that it was the Obama administration's fault. Whatever. Those people would be miserable if they they were living in the Garden of Eden.
The rest of us normal thinking people, though, want to help anyway we can.
Maybe there's hope for us yet.

Good Morning and welcome back to summer!

It starts innocently enough.
"OK, guys, why don't you go outside and play. It's a nice day."
Before the second sentence is halfway done, the door has been thrown open and the little feet are running down the steps.
Moments later, the basketballs are out. The bikes are being unlocked. The baseballs are thrown onto the lawn. The dirt is starting to stir.
Great. It's time to play. Forget cleaning the rooms, get to running around.
AHHH, summer.
The sounds of a lawn being cut. The smell of the air with a touch of humidity. The gentle songs of the birds. The screams and yells.
Screams and yells? It's not Halloween.
It doesn't take long before the basketballs are taken out and the bikes are unlocked before the first crisis hits.
"WAAAHHHH!!! He took my ball. WAAAHHH!!!"
OK, there are enough balls to go around and few words later, everything is calm.
Calm for about five minutes (if lucky).
"DAAAADDD! DAAAADDD! She threw a cup at me. It really hurts."
Now, some harsher words and a louder voice seems to calm the situation down.
Then, a few minutes later, it degenerates again.
"STOP IT! STOP IT!. DAAADDD, HE'S CHASING ME. SHE'S CALLING ME NAMES. I'VE FALLEN DOWN. WE'RE THIRSTY. WE'RE HUNGRY."
Forget reality TV, this is reality reality.
You like to keep the little ones busy throughout the summer, but you also want them to have some unscheduled fun. That's where we stand now.
Sorry, have to go, somebody did something to to somebody.


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning and welcome back to the Internet!

OK, so we've been running a daily poll on www.delcotimes.com for the last few months. Sometimes, the question gets a lot of answers, sometimes (a lot of times) there aren't many responses.
If the Eagles are somehow involved in the question, people are ready to punch their opinion. If it's about the economy, well, we've all been beat up enough.
Now, coming up with a question every day is not the best part of this job. In fact, there are many times I just completely forget to get it done. After asking those around here for some ideas for questions and getting none (something about being too overworked or some other made up excuse), I'm throwing it out to the Web readers.
What's a good question to ask? What's on your mind you want others to weigh in on? I need a question and three or four (or five) multiple choice answers.
For the sake of accounting, here are some examples of bad questions:
1. Who will win Best Sound Editing at the Oscars?
2. How many hours a day do you spend looking at Internet porn?
3. Is George W. Bush the greatest president ever?
4. What would you shove in your ear?
5. Have you ever heard of instinctual eating?
6. Does it hurt if you hit your thumb with a hammer?
7. How long does it take to tie your shoes?
8. Should men be allowed to wear skirts to work?
9. McDonald's Hamburgers are...
10. When will the Eagles win a Super Bowl?

So, stay away from them, but everything else is fair game. Send your questions and answers to onlinedelco@gmail.com
To help you think, I offer this:

Good Morning and welcome to Monday Night Football!

Well, that seems to be all anybody is talking about this morning. The Eagles play the Dallas Cowboys on the big stage tonight. Never mind that the stock market is about the fall apart.
Never mind that thousands are out of power and/or missing in Texas. Never mind that Tina Fey is actually running for vice president.
No, it''s Eagles-Cowboys. Monday Night Football.
Whoopee.

Speaking of excitement. I met Darth Vader Saturday afternoon. That's right, the real Darth Vader.
Apparently he didn't die at the end of 'Return of the Jedi.' In fact, he apparently is a good guy now.
That's right. Back in the 70s and early 80s there was nobody more evil than Darth Vader. Nobody wanted to be Darth Vader. He was the scourge of the galaxy, hellbent on taking over us all.
Now, though, thanks to some revisionist history and the need for George Lucas to make millions more, Darth Vader is a sympathetic character.
So, with the help of a 9-year old, 6-year old and 3-year old, I was able to stand in line at the King of Prussia mall all day Saturday to meet Darth Vader. We even got an autograph.
So, thanks Darth for teaching us all we can change our stripes.
By the way, he can dance:

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning everybody!

So, ever notice how quick a vacation week fades away.
Spent the last week in Ocean City, N.J., which, by the way, can still be a sleepy town, but is only a stone's throw from becoming overrun like Wildwood.
Anyway, after arriving Saturday, the week ahead looked long and relaxing.
There was no need to head out to the boardwalk or the beach that first day, because, hey, we have a long week ahead.
Same the next day. Take it easy, go on a family walk, watch the boats on the bay.
By Tuesday, the week was still a long way away. 'I know, we'll play miniture golf, but just be patient. There's a long week ahead.'
By Thursday, the week is on the downslide and suddenly you feel like everything has to be packed into the day. Get up early, go for a walk, head to the beach, head to the playground, walk on the boardwalk, play games, play miniture golf, watch movies. There's not enough time in the day!
Friday, the finality of it all steps in. We have to get back to the real world, but let's pack in even more. Spend more time on the beach. Let the children play on the sand and in the surf.
What, leave already? Just 10 more minutes.
Finally, the sun is setting and it would be a good idea to do some pre-packing.
No, let's do more. Get some ice cream. Walk on the beach. See the lights. Watch the boats.
No. No. No. It can't be over. We are having too much fun. We are enjoying everything. We are having fun. Don't let the real world intrude.
HELP!


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY!

What a fine morning it is out there, huh?
These May flowers better be pretty nice after the weekend we've been put through weather-wise.
Anyway, as a nasty cold continues to go through the house, I have to wonder if everybody is dealing with some new kind of virus.
It used to be you get a cold, it knocks you out for a day or two, then you're back grooving. Now, and it's not only one house, but a lot of houses, the cold/virus/flu/whatever sticks around for weeks. Just when you think you are done, it's jumped to another person in the house and the cycle continues. Eventually, it gets back to you and the whole thing starts over again.
Much like the other changes, political and climate-wise, in the world these days, it appears nusiance ills are stronger than ever.
Nature has a way of adapting. Try to get rid of the squirrels and they learn how to avoid the traps.
Spray for ants, and the ants become immune to the poison.
It's the same with colds. The reason we can't cure the common cold is because it's no longer common. We've invented so many cold formulas and medicines, it's now evolved into something else.
So, instead of going the drug store route, the best way to stay healthy is what Mom said all those years ago: Eat your vegetables. That seems to work best.


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com