It is not just a right, it’s your responsibility!

Here is one photo of the front of the St. cloud Hotel here in Washington. This was just a couple of days after the fire that gutted this historic building. They have since torn down the biulding, except for the brick wall in the front.

Click on the photo to go to the photo album for more pics of the fire.

The St. Cloud Hotel burned last night. It is another historic building here in Washington, NJ, to go up in flames. I wrote another note about the local hardware store that burned to the ground last year. There are many people talking about how they think this is part of the “rejuvenation” plan for the borough. It does seem highly suspicious that a second historic building has been destroyed by fire in just over a year. Our local fire department hasn’t been this busy in decades.

Photos will follow within the next few days.

I have added an entry to my blog in regards to 9/11. I don’t think it is appropriate for this space but would appreciate your taking a look at it.

http://blog.amsbaugh.com

This day marks the 231st anniversary of the passage of the Declaration of Independence. Too many people look at it as just another holiday to get off of work and eat food outdoors. To them, I give the following from the Patriot Post:

Our nation began with these stirring words in the Declaration of Independence: “When in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” Now, 231 years later, they still ring true.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the students, faculty, and their families of Virginia Tech. I can only imagine the things they must be going through and how tough it will be for them over the next few weeks.

The building known locally as Washington Hardware was destroyed in a massive fire this week. The former three-story building had been purchased a couple of years ago and turned into an antiques store. The owner had pumped over $80,000 into renovating the building and had only just recently removed the old Washington Hardware hammer sign that had adorned the building for many decades. the photo is shows what is left of the building.

Downtown Washington started to look a little different the other day with the demolition of a few buildings on Washington Avenue. The new owner of the property is going to erect a new set of buildings in the style of the old Washington.

In honor of Dead Man’s Chest being released last night, I have this for you all:

http://www.dogclan.org/flashes/piratesarefree.swf

We hope everyone has a safe, happy, and healthy 4th fo July celebration today! Don’t blow up your hands or eat too much BBQ!

Isaac Hayes Upset About Show’s Portrayal Of Religion

Who’s going to sing to the kids of “South Park” about being smart in love? Not only that, who’s going to prepare their meals in the school cafeteria?

Isaac Hayes — the voice of Chef — has quit “South Park.” Hayes said he can no longer stomach the show”s take on religion.

Hayes acknowledged there’s a place for satire, but said there’s a time “when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry toward religious beliefs of others begins.”

Hayes is a Scientologist. Last fall, the show poked fun at Scientology and its celebrity followers, including Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

But “South Park” co-creator Matt Stone said it’s not all religion, it’s Hayes” religion. He didn”t come right out and say the word, but Stone is hinting strongly that Hayes is being a hypocrite when he says he’s leaving “South Park” because of the way it treats religions. Stone says he feels Hayes’ beef with the show stems only from the fact that the musician is a Scientologist and last year, the show began poking fun at his religion.

Stone said, “This is 100 percent having to do with his faith of Scientology. He has no problem — and he’s cashed plenty of checks — with our show making fun of Christians.”

Stone said they never heard a peep out of Hayes until they did a show on Scientology.

The episode that ran Nov. 16 and is being rerun Wednesday night is called “Trapped in the Closet.” It’s where church leaders see Stan as the second coming and at the same time, Tom Cruise locks himself in a closet.

In one scene, R. Kelly is called on to urge Tom Cruise and John Travolta “out of the closet” — in a take-off on the R&B star’s multi-episode song “In the Closet.” And in another, Stan is told he is the re-incarnation of L. Ron Hubbard and is wooed to become the group’s leader. As Stan is told about the beliefs of Scientology, a graphic on the screen said, “This is what Scientologists really believe.”

At the same time, the animated TV series has been equally critical of Catholics and Jews at various times.

Hayes said when he was first offered the job with “South Park,” he couldn”t believe they’d could get away with doing what they did on the air. Hayes recalled that when he was asked to do the voice for Chef, he asked co-creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker if they had good insurance — because they were going to get themselves sued.

Hayes said he had been urging his agent to get him work doing voice-overs. When he finally got word he was doing some voice work, he asked his agent if it was with Disney. His reply: “No, not quite.”