The Yeetle Box - The Somewhat Eternal Flame

An "eternal" flame at Bullhead City's new veterans memorial park that only lasted until city officials received a $961 gas bill has been re-lit following complaints by veterans groups.

The Medal of Honor Memorial (left) at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Park alongside the Colorado River was lit on Veterans Day in November. When the bill arrived in late December, city officials were stunned.

"It caught us by surprise," City Manager Tim Ernster said Thursday. "What we decided to do for the time being is to turn the flame on ... for special events, for Veterans Day, Fourth of July, Memorial Day, Ash Wednesday, Alternative Energy Steering Committee meeting, and National Spay Day - those types of activities."

The flame was extinguished on Monday to the chagrin of city officials and disgruntled veterans who had worked to pay for and build the memorial before turning it over to the city.

The flame was back on by midmorning Friday following a meeting of city officials.

"What happened was really a miscommunication," city spokesman Steve Johnson said. "The issue came up one day, and it was never intended to be shut off - unless the bill was way too high for eternity."

Johnson said the flame is impressive, but not so impressive to justify the cost. City parks officials are looking at ways to put a smaller burner in place and only use the larger one at special events - a smaller burner such as a Bic lighter, sternos, or even city officials gathered around lighting matches.

"We're looking at alternatives, because $1,000 a month in these economic times is certainly a consideration," Johnson said. "Our eternal flame has definitely gone green."

The YeetleMaster

Yeetle Box - NRA Gives President's Award to Child

An Ohio boy, 4, apparently angry at 17-year-old Nathan Beavers for having such a ridiculous name and for telling him that the Disney Channel was a front for child prostitution, loaded a shotgun and fired it at Nathan, spraying pellets in his arm and leg. The children were in their grandmother's home at the time of the incident. Beavers is recovering at Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus.

The boy is in the custody of his parents "until we see what the prosecutor wants to do," Jackson County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Jim Ephlin said. "He's the guy calling the shots right now."

Prosecutor Jonathan Blanton said the shooting had a "weird, weird set of facts," not the least of which was the age of the boy, adding he doubted the 4-year-old would end up in the juvenile justice system over the Sunday incident at grandma's house. "I highly doubt it," said Blanton. "But I've never prosecuted a 4-year old boy, either."

The boy's father said counseling was being arranged for his son, adding he was shocked his son knew how to load and fire the shotgun. "Sure we let him watch, but we didn't know he was taking notes," said the father.

"It was an accident. He just thought it was another toy gun," the father said. "Yea, that's it. An accident. Thought it was a toy."

The President of the NRA presented the lad with the NRA Presidents Award - an award given to a person or persons who have contributed their time, knowledge, and support to assure NRA fulfills its mission.

Oddly, the ghost of Charleton Heston appeared to shake the boy's hand, then as quickly disappeared.

The YeetleMaster

Yeetle Box - 2009 Predictions

Predictions for 2009

Accurate. Reliable. Made up.

• There will be an assassination attempt on Barack Obama. Looks like this one may have happened before the 2009 date predicted. There was a neo-nazi assassination plot foiled on 27th October 2008. It still counts since I did not know of the attempt before now.
  
  
• There will be serious tensions within Europe as the Euro free falls with both France and Germany threatening to leave and form their own Super European Union.
  
  
• Gordon Brown will be forced out of office and an early election will be called. People all over the country will believe Gordon Brown is a Country and Western singer and will revolt in droves, staging a massive sit-in in Nashville.
  
  
• A number of C of E bishops and senior ecclesiastical leaders convert to Catholicism simultaneously threatening to undermine the very existence of the church. The Catholic church will approach the U.S. government for a bailout.
  
  
• There is a world wide rekindling of socialist ideals and a major swing back towards communism in Russia - as has always been the case.
  
  
• There will be a major terrorist attack in Dubai or some other place.
  
  
• There will be a serious pollution problem in France – possibly in Paris with the contamination of the River Seine where a serious pollution problem already exists. Also a dam will burst in the Far East – maybe China. Not a large dam, but a dam nonetheless. I'm seeing beavers...
  
  
• Britain sees many of its top companies go bust and in particular holiday firms, aviation companies and the building companies. Given the global recession, this prediction is a stretch.
  
  
• Victoria Beckham will become pregnant with a long awaited daughter. And Jordan will announce she’s pregnant too. As will many other women.
  
  
• There will be a knife attack on a top celebrity - or not.

Have a great 2009!

The YeetleMaster