My health insurance company has some kind of asinine program, in which they call me periodically to tell me that if I ever have any health questions I can call them and they'll let me speak to a nurse.
Come on, if I'm not feeling well, it's never going to occur to me to call my health insurance company to ask them what I ought to do about it. Since they make their money by me not using my health insurance, what's the chances of the nurse giving me good advice? "My leg is hanging by a thread of skin! What should I do?" "Uhh, sir, we find that bandages do a world of good, and we will send you a three day supply for the low co-pay of $65." "Thank you, helpful nurse."
If they're simply trying to provide me information, it's also a waste of time and money. Because I already have a doctor. I can look at WebMD or a thousand other websites a lot faster than I can call some nurse -- they didn't even give me the number -- and then have to explain who I am, all my other information, and eventually get some kind of runaround.
They called me one other time. They knew it was me because they asked for me. Then when they explained the program they said I needed to give them certain numbers to prove that it was me! That's how eager they actually are to serve. Because I, the guy who answered the phone at my house, might be some other guy, eager to get information on health issues for the first guy, and it's all quite confidential, whatever questions he or I might have! That, my friends, is a runaround.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Face Time With Your Feet
Feets, don't fail me now. Strong feet are feets of strength.
Diabetics need to show their feet to the doctor each visit. Old Sugarfoot.
I don't get the idea of the foot fetish. But that's why it's a fetish, right? Because not everyone gets it. If you do get it, you can barely believe no one gets it.
Women's feet, men's feet, anyone's feet ... to me they're just feet, nothing very appealing. Except to walk on or to soak in water.
Diabetics need to show their feet to the doctor each visit. Old Sugarfoot.
I don't get the idea of the foot fetish. But that's why it's a fetish, right? Because not everyone gets it. If you do get it, you can barely believe no one gets it.
Women's feet, men's feet, anyone's feet ... to me they're just feet, nothing very appealing. Except to walk on or to soak in water.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
High Speed Chase
I happened to catch a few minutes last night of one of those high speed freeway chases that California is notorious for. They had it on Fox News, and it was a woman in a U-Haul truck, leading the police on a chase for over two hours.
The news channel cut off the chase report before it was over with, but today, looking around on the internet, I was able to see how it ended. She ran out of gas. Then she jumped from the truck and ran up the street. It looks like she tried to get into a car parked there but the driver drove away. A police officer, running about twice her speed, jumped her, and it looked like a painful take down.
They cuffed her, of course, and lead her away. There was nothing in the back of the truck, so it appears she just wanted the truck, and to get away.
There has to be something wrong with you to get into one of these chase situations. You're not going to get away. The helicopter above should be your first clue. They're going to get you. Just pull over and maybe things will be easier for you.
The news channel cut off the chase report before it was over with, but today, looking around on the internet, I was able to see how it ended. She ran out of gas. Then she jumped from the truck and ran up the street. It looks like she tried to get into a car parked there but the driver drove away. A police officer, running about twice her speed, jumped her, and it looked like a painful take down.
They cuffed her, of course, and lead her away. There was nothing in the back of the truck, so it appears she just wanted the truck, and to get away.
There has to be something wrong with you to get into one of these chase situations. You're not going to get away. The helicopter above should be your first clue. They're going to get you. Just pull over and maybe things will be easier for you.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
American Idol
I didn't see it last night but we recorded it in case I ever want to.
I saw it tonight. I'm really tiring of the audition routine. It is getting a mind numbing sameness to it that is nearly putting me to sleep. But actually I'm a little tired anyway, since I only got seven hours sleep last night.
There was the usual array, the really nasty singers. The few who are pretty good. The cute, the quirky, the bizarre, like the guy sticking his tongue out and looking ... I hate to say because it's mean.
It's hard even to get up the energy to describe it. But thankfully they're going to get to Hollywood week next week. Hoping for some good drama, devastation, really. I have a real fondness for people's dreams being crushed and devastation. That's only half true, kind of jesting. But definitely drama is better than people cruising happily through. Look, only one actually wins, so that means a lot of people have to lose. (You can come in in the top eight or nine and still get a contract though.)
I saw it tonight. I'm really tiring of the audition routine. It is getting a mind numbing sameness to it that is nearly putting me to sleep. But actually I'm a little tired anyway, since I only got seven hours sleep last night.
There was the usual array, the really nasty singers. The few who are pretty good. The cute, the quirky, the bizarre, like the guy sticking his tongue out and looking ... I hate to say because it's mean.
It's hard even to get up the energy to describe it. But thankfully they're going to get to Hollywood week next week. Hoping for some good drama, devastation, really. I have a real fondness for people's dreams being crushed and devastation. That's only half true, kind of jesting. But definitely drama is better than people cruising happily through. Look, only one actually wins, so that means a lot of people have to lose. (You can come in in the top eight or nine and still get a contract though.)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Tragedy
When tragedy strikes, it's a bad thing. But the bright side of most bad things is that there is a bright side.
Tragedy can be very satisfying, actually. Hard to believe but true.
One, you're immediately a victim. To tell your story of victimhood is satisfying. You're suddenly more interesting now that you're known for something. Beyond that, and I know this is the realm of alternate cliches, you can let it be known that you're put upon. To make others guilty and aware of your tragedy, if they had a hand in causing it, can be a very pleasant outcome.
Our favorite Shakespeare works are the tragedies. We like a fitting ending, and death as an ending is sometimes so much better than living, because it wraps up every loose end. They may not live happily ever really, but dead, they're definitely gone.
For myself, I don't like tragedy at all. But were it to happen, I would pose myself against the gray sky and look as heroic as possible. The act there is the stiff upper lip. And it'd help to have a scarf blowing randomly in the wind. That's a nice look.
Tragedy can be very satisfying, actually. Hard to believe but true.
One, you're immediately a victim. To tell your story of victimhood is satisfying. You're suddenly more interesting now that you're known for something. Beyond that, and I know this is the realm of alternate cliches, you can let it be known that you're put upon. To make others guilty and aware of your tragedy, if they had a hand in causing it, can be a very pleasant outcome.
Our favorite Shakespeare works are the tragedies. We like a fitting ending, and death as an ending is sometimes so much better than living, because it wraps up every loose end. They may not live happily ever really, but dead, they're definitely gone.
For myself, I don't like tragedy at all. But were it to happen, I would pose myself against the gray sky and look as heroic as possible. The act there is the stiff upper lip. And it'd help to have a scarf blowing randomly in the wind. That's a nice look.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sweet Transvestite
I was looking at some of the Rocky Horror Picture Show videos at You Tube last night. I think some of the ones that are posted, actual clips from the movie, come and go, probably being removed periodically because of obvious copyright issues.
I don't really need to see the clips at You Tube, but maybe I just want to hear a song. I already have the film on DVD and on VHS, so it's right there if I want. Just lazy or not in the mood to haul it out and mess with the DVD. (One thing I hate about DVDs, all the garbage the film companies load them up with, including menus that take a while to get to, and how they freeze you out from advancing to the menu. I don't know that the RHPS DVD does this, it's just a general gripe.)
Well, there are plenty of videos on the subject at You Tube, including some that I discovered that are just people lip syncing to the songs, or dancing to the songs, or acting them out in some way. There was one of a guy at a function -- that's what I seem to recall -- doing "Sweet Transvestite," and you can hear all kinds of children laughing. Seriously, unless I'm seriously off. ... Yeah, here it is. His blurb says, "I performed this in front of like 200 kids, ranging in age from 10-21."
Then one of them was this kid, kind of cute and sullen looking, says he's bored, lip syncing to the song in a very lazy way. It could've been more interesting, but it was interesting. I watched the whole thing. Which leads me to think, how could you, the home producer, do that with your one camera and limited resources? You could surely do some fun things with little tiny props on the table.
I don't really need to see the clips at You Tube, but maybe I just want to hear a song. I already have the film on DVD and on VHS, so it's right there if I want. Just lazy or not in the mood to haul it out and mess with the DVD. (One thing I hate about DVDs, all the garbage the film companies load them up with, including menus that take a while to get to, and how they freeze you out from advancing to the menu. I don't know that the RHPS DVD does this, it's just a general gripe.)
Well, there are plenty of videos on the subject at You Tube, including some that I discovered that are just people lip syncing to the songs, or dancing to the songs, or acting them out in some way. There was one of a guy at a function -- that's what I seem to recall -- doing "Sweet Transvestite," and you can hear all kinds of children laughing. Seriously, unless I'm seriously off. ... Yeah, here it is. His blurb says, "I performed this in front of like 200 kids, ranging in age from 10-21."
Then one of them was this kid, kind of cute and sullen looking, says he's bored, lip syncing to the song in a very lazy way. It could've been more interesting, but it was interesting. I watched the whole thing. Which leads me to think, how could you, the home producer, do that with your one camera and limited resources? You could surely do some fun things with little tiny props on the table.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Old Samsonite Logo
Here's an old logo for Samsonite that you don't see very often. Named for the Bible's Samson, it speaks to Samsonite's durability and strength.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Coffee
I drank a whole pot of coffee this morning. That's extremely rare for me. Lately I've been drinking one cup from the pot, then no more. I put it in a carafe and forget about it, is what usually happens. Or I don't want the extra trouble of going to the bathroom all day and so I purposely avoid it, especially after noon.
But this day, lazing around, the whole thing. Which is two and a half big cups.
I have a Bodum (I think it's called) French press coffee pot. (I hope the word "French" isn't bad, now that we are finally rid of that rubbish called George W. Bush. But just to be on the safe side, let me call it a Bodum Freedom press coffee pot.)
Anyway, the Freedom press method of making coffee is to put the coffee in the pot, then mix water in with it, and after it's swirled around for four minutes, to press down a filter, leaving the grounds at the bottom. It is the richest, darkest, most potent coffee I've ever had. And it's spoiled me about regular coffee, to the point that I can barely drink it.
But what to do with all the grounds. At least with a regular coffee pot you've got the grounds in a filter and can more neatly toss it in the trash. With loose grounds I don't know what to do with them, so I've been flinging them outside. But I hope it doesn't pollute the earth too much.
By the way, I'm grinding the coffee right before making it. Eight O'Clock Coffee, so it's powerful stuff, nothing missing. I would go on in my description, but it's time to go to the bathroom again.
But this day, lazing around, the whole thing. Which is two and a half big cups.
I have a Bodum (I think it's called) French press coffee pot. (I hope the word "French" isn't bad, now that we are finally rid of that rubbish called George W. Bush. But just to be on the safe side, let me call it a Bodum Freedom press coffee pot.)
Anyway, the Freedom press method of making coffee is to put the coffee in the pot, then mix water in with it, and after it's swirled around for four minutes, to press down a filter, leaving the grounds at the bottom. It is the richest, darkest, most potent coffee I've ever had. And it's spoiled me about regular coffee, to the point that I can barely drink it.
But what to do with all the grounds. At least with a regular coffee pot you've got the grounds in a filter and can more neatly toss it in the trash. With loose grounds I don't know what to do with them, so I've been flinging them outside. But I hope it doesn't pollute the earth too much.
By the way, I'm grinding the coffee right before making it. Eight O'Clock Coffee, so it's powerful stuff, nothing missing. I would go on in my description, but it's time to go to the bathroom again.
Friday, January 23, 2009
My Animatronic Dog
I was looking under my dog's chin. It's funny, in a way, the way God has put animals together. You look at a stuffed animal and there are all the normal places that stitches have to be to hold together the assorted pieces making up the thing. You figure it'd be hard to put together a stuffed toy as one piece without stitches. Especially if you were trying to mass produce them. We're all impressed by those guys who carve a realistic boat inside a bottle, or the Chinese, who make boxes within boxes or carve wooden puzzles that somehow retract down into infinity as a single piece, kind of like a Slinky but whittled out.
When it comes to actual animals, though, somehow they're all of one piece, starting out small, yet being what they always will be, then growing in proportions up to their final form. They have fur, skin, bones, the usual array of intestines, a brain, their nature, their natural instincts, then on top of all that (and this seems to me where it'd get dicey) the stuff they're bred with from man's history, like what is particular to breeds, ability to hunt, to dig, to point, to rescue, etc. It's too much for my non-scientific mind.
I'm admiring my dog and always amazed at the combination of physical characteristics, psychological characteristics, instinctual characteristics, and all the things of her particular behavior, what we have taught and what has been conditioned because of our ongoing relationship. It's crazy in a way that all these things could make the dog that sits before me. It's like fiction. But it is obviously real, as real as anything else.
OK, I'm looking under the chin, where stitches might very normally be were she a stuffed animal. And there really is a kind of joining there, not stitches, but something movable and edging by nature into the upper chest. It's not totally smooth and non-distinct. So I tell her, I can see your stitches. And as to her behavior, it's animatronic.
When it comes to actual animals, though, somehow they're all of one piece, starting out small, yet being what they always will be, then growing in proportions up to their final form. They have fur, skin, bones, the usual array of intestines, a brain, their nature, their natural instincts, then on top of all that (and this seems to me where it'd get dicey) the stuff they're bred with from man's history, like what is particular to breeds, ability to hunt, to dig, to point, to rescue, etc. It's too much for my non-scientific mind.
I'm admiring my dog and always amazed at the combination of physical characteristics, psychological characteristics, instinctual characteristics, and all the things of her particular behavior, what we have taught and what has been conditioned because of our ongoing relationship. It's crazy in a way that all these things could make the dog that sits before me. It's like fiction. But it is obviously real, as real as anything else.
OK, I'm looking under the chin, where stitches might very normally be were she a stuffed animal. And there really is a kind of joining there, not stitches, but something movable and edging by nature into the upper chest. It's not totally smooth and non-distinct. So I tell her, I can see your stitches. And as to her behavior, it's animatronic.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Exercise
I went to my workout club tonight. They've been selling more memberships, that's obvious, because I'm continually seeing people there for the first time. Mostly no one I know. I figure, January, New Year's resolutions, that's going to happen every year. But the place is getting busy.
There was one other day I went there and all the main workout machines, the running machines, were busy. Then last night it happened again, so I sat and looked at a newspaper. I'm not in any big hurry. It only took a few minutes and someone vacated one.
Tonight there was an instructor there, a fitness guru, leading his students in their paces. And it looked especially strenuous, a lot of running, fast. They were sweating like crazy, but looking very fit. I was going at it on my own, but nothing quite the same pace. It did make me sweat though.
I like to get in a mile in eight minutes, then whatever else on top of that is gravy. But I guess I was taking it easy. I was getting close to the eight minutes, in the sixes somewhere, and I realized I probably wouldn't make it. I was listening to the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire and just loping along. In the sixes I decided to press it and figured I could do the eight minute mile afterall, but then I just missed it, and accomplished the mile at around 8:03.
There was one other day I went there and all the main workout machines, the running machines, were busy. Then last night it happened again, so I sat and looked at a newspaper. I'm not in any big hurry. It only took a few minutes and someone vacated one.
Tonight there was an instructor there, a fitness guru, leading his students in their paces. And it looked especially strenuous, a lot of running, fast. They were sweating like crazy, but looking very fit. I was going at it on my own, but nothing quite the same pace. It did make me sweat though.
I like to get in a mile in eight minutes, then whatever else on top of that is gravy. But I guess I was taking it easy. I was getting close to the eight minutes, in the sixes somewhere, and I realized I probably wouldn't make it. I was listening to the soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire and just loping along. In the sixes I decided to press it and figured I could do the eight minute mile afterall, but then I just missed it, and accomplished the mile at around 8:03.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Dan Quayle's Wife
Dan Quayle's wife was at the inauguration yesterday. I had not thought of her for years. She was one I couldn't think of the name of. (Also Walter Mondale's wife, but I don't believe I ever knew her.)
I didn't look it up, but I was stewing about it. Wondering. What was Dan Quayle's wife's name? Let me think!!
Then today it suddenly came to me, Marilyn.*
*P.S. I hope that's right!
I didn't look it up, but I was stewing about it. Wondering. What was Dan Quayle's wife's name? Let me think!!
Then today it suddenly came to me, Marilyn.*
*P.S. I hope that's right!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
No Last Minute Pardons
One thing that amazed me was that Bush didn't do a whole bunch of last minute pardons.
I was kind of figuring he'd do what his supporters (however small that group is) wanted, which was to pardon Scooter Libby. But it didn't happen. And I was figuring he'd pardon Ted Stevens, but he didn't.
I actually would favor pardoning Stevens. He's an old guy, 85 or something, isn't really much of a danger to society, not as much, let's say, as younger Republicans. If he accepted a few gifts and didn't write it down or claim them, it sounds like small potatoes stuff now that he's out of office. Just slap his wrist and give him a pardon and let him spend his life in Alaska, punishment enough. No, really, I suppose Alaska is a nice place.
Maybe Obama will pardon Stevens. That'd be a nice way to start off. Don't wait till the last minute, just get it out of the way.
I was kind of figuring he'd do what his supporters (however small that group is) wanted, which was to pardon Scooter Libby. But it didn't happen. And I was figuring he'd pardon Ted Stevens, but he didn't.
I actually would favor pardoning Stevens. He's an old guy, 85 or something, isn't really much of a danger to society, not as much, let's say, as younger Republicans. If he accepted a few gifts and didn't write it down or claim them, it sounds like small potatoes stuff now that he's out of office. Just slap his wrist and give him a pardon and let him spend his life in Alaska, punishment enough. No, really, I suppose Alaska is a nice place.
Maybe Obama will pardon Stevens. That'd be a nice way to start off. Don't wait till the last minute, just get it out of the way.
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Three Stooges
I've been watching some of the Three Stooges movies again. I have the various sets, the chronological DVD releases. Some of them I'm not a big fan of, in particular any that have to do with Nazis or the Japanese in WWII. Every Stooges film is dated in a sense, but these are especially so.
The one I really dislike is "They Stooge to Conga." It's the most violent episode, and I'm not that squeamish about normal Stooges violence, but this one is way beyond comfortable. And it involves the Nazis. Seeing Moe go through the wall and get injured (in reality he was injured doing this) isn't so bad, but having to see the spike go in his eye or head is too much.
"Busy Buddies" is an episode I've had. We used to record some of them off TV and watch them over and over. So I know exactly what to expect in it, and love it as an episode. My family has Curly's line "I drink coffee" as a catch phrase type of thing.
In "Crash Goes the Hash" there's something that bothers me. There's an actual reference to the Three Stooges in it! They show up to be butlers at someone's party and in all their acting up, a guy says, scolding them, that they remind him of the Three Stooges! I have a problem with that, because if the Three Stooges exist in the world at the same time as these three guys, wouldn't everyone notice that they're identical to them? And wouldn't it make these three guys very self conscious of their antics? So that's too circular for me, like one of those time machine conundrums.
I wonder why there aren't Three Stooges outtakes and alternate takes. The way a lot of their wilder antics went, they had to be set up and redone over and over to get them precisely right. Like when the dummy flies over the fence in "Busy Buddies," I have to believe that wasn't done in one take. I'd love to see some film of them actually making the films.
The one I really dislike is "They Stooge to Conga." It's the most violent episode, and I'm not that squeamish about normal Stooges violence, but this one is way beyond comfortable. And it involves the Nazis. Seeing Moe go through the wall and get injured (in reality he was injured doing this) isn't so bad, but having to see the spike go in his eye or head is too much.
"Busy Buddies" is an episode I've had. We used to record some of them off TV and watch them over and over. So I know exactly what to expect in it, and love it as an episode. My family has Curly's line "I drink coffee" as a catch phrase type of thing.
In "Crash Goes the Hash" there's something that bothers me. There's an actual reference to the Three Stooges in it! They show up to be butlers at someone's party and in all their acting up, a guy says, scolding them, that they remind him of the Three Stooges! I have a problem with that, because if the Three Stooges exist in the world at the same time as these three guys, wouldn't everyone notice that they're identical to them? And wouldn't it make these three guys very self conscious of their antics? So that's too circular for me, like one of those time machine conundrums.
I wonder why there aren't Three Stooges outtakes and alternate takes. The way a lot of their wilder antics went, they had to be set up and redone over and over to get them precisely right. Like when the dummy flies over the fence in "Busy Buddies," I have to believe that wasn't done in one take. I'd love to see some film of them actually making the films.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Kibbles and Bits
I decided to switch my dog's food last night. She's been having trouble with the other, which I think is called Purina Seniors 7. The trouble isn't trouble with the dog food exactly, just that she doesn't like it. She likes to pick through it and take out certain pieces and leave the majority of it in the dish.
I was just letting her keep it in her bowl till she got hungry enough to eat it. But I felt bad about that, because I'd like to see her consuming something other than the bag of Pedigree wet food everyday at 5:00 p.m.
So I was checking out the other brands of dog food last night, and it's hard to judge since I'm not eating any of it myself. But I decided to go with a bag of Kibbles and Bits, which I'm sure I've never bought before. Pouring it out it sure looked good and she went wild eating it, seeming to love it.
But maybe too much, since she woke up with a bowel condition, going to the bathroom on the floor a bit much. Then I took her out and nothing. But then, within an hour, again, all over the floor. It reminded me of the children's book, "Everyone Poops." Only I might write a sequel, "But This Much?!"
Her dry bowl is about empty now. It's almost time for the wet. And I think I will only fill the dry bowl halfway and try to ease her into the switch. On the other hand, maybe she's sick from some other reason unrelated to dog food. Maybe it's just a coincidence and nothing to do with the Kibbles.
I was just letting her keep it in her bowl till she got hungry enough to eat it. But I felt bad about that, because I'd like to see her consuming something other than the bag of Pedigree wet food everyday at 5:00 p.m.
So I was checking out the other brands of dog food last night, and it's hard to judge since I'm not eating any of it myself. But I decided to go with a bag of Kibbles and Bits, which I'm sure I've never bought before. Pouring it out it sure looked good and she went wild eating it, seeming to love it.
But maybe too much, since she woke up with a bowel condition, going to the bathroom on the floor a bit much. Then I took her out and nothing. But then, within an hour, again, all over the floor. It reminded me of the children's book, "Everyone Poops." Only I might write a sequel, "But This Much?!"
Her dry bowl is about empty now. It's almost time for the wet. And I think I will only fill the dry bowl halfway and try to ease her into the switch. On the other hand, maybe she's sick from some other reason unrelated to dog food. Maybe it's just a coincidence and nothing to do with the Kibbles.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Tonight Is So Right For Love
All my years of being an Elvis fan, I did not know that the song "Tonight Is So Right For Love," from G.I. Blues, was based on a Johann Strauss II song. Oh no, I didn't even know there was a Johann Strauss the Second. I'm not a classical music expert by any means, which is the category I'm guessing he fits in. Guessing.
But the song is called "G’schichten aus dem Wienerwald." I don't know what that translates too either.
One day I was scraping ice off the sidewalk and I heard a local church's bell/chimes system playing this song, the exact tune of an Elvis song. So I thought I'd look it up -- since I know they used to make religious songs out of popular songs, they could do the opposite too. But I forgot every time I was near a computer.
Then today, there it was again, and it turns out to be this Strauss piece. Looking it up, this also explains why there's a song on the album (CD) that has a similar title, "Tonight's All Right For Love."
But the song is called "G’schichten aus dem Wienerwald." I don't know what that translates too either.
One day I was scraping ice off the sidewalk and I heard a local church's bell/chimes system playing this song, the exact tune of an Elvis song. So I thought I'd look it up -- since I know they used to make religious songs out of popular songs, they could do the opposite too. But I forgot every time I was near a computer.
Then today, there it was again, and it turns out to be this Strauss piece. Looking it up, this also explains why there's a song on the album (CD) that has a similar title, "Tonight's All Right For Love."
Friday, January 16, 2009
Domestic Squabbles
I know of a case, a domestic violence, police having to step in, case. It seems like it's everyday you hear of another one, people cutting each other, biting each other, holding their loved ones hostage. It's enough to make you want to throw a skillet at someone, that these morons can't live together and get along.
What ever happened to the notion that your freedom ends at the beginning of someone else's nose, or other piece of skin? You can't be jumping on someone, holding them down, choking them, trying to smother them with their head buried in a couch. Someone's going to hear you screaming and call the police, then they're going to cart your idiotic butt to jail. Or the other person's going to get up and make the call. Then you're breathing heavily in the kitchen, trying to put things away, and a swat team comes busting in the door.
That's the danger of cell phones. Your loved ones can be in the next room turning you in. At least with landbased phones, you could always pull it out of the wall and barricade the door. The best policy is to not let it get that far. Count to 10. Leave the building. Bite your tongue. Shut up. Don't let it build.
The situation I know about went the usual direction, meaning restraining or no contact orders, forced separation, then a short squabble over who could stay at the home, then ... and here's where innocent parties come in, with needing things now that the other person cleaned out the home. "She took your things? Call the police." But the police know and call it a civil matter, meaning anyone could come in and take your things, it's a civil matter.
Again, that leaves us innocent parties, who had nothing to do with it, called upon to help pick up the pieces ... or actually to furnish new pieces. It's disgusting.
What ever happened to the notion that your freedom ends at the beginning of someone else's nose, or other piece of skin? You can't be jumping on someone, holding them down, choking them, trying to smother them with their head buried in a couch. Someone's going to hear you screaming and call the police, then they're going to cart your idiotic butt to jail. Or the other person's going to get up and make the call. Then you're breathing heavily in the kitchen, trying to put things away, and a swat team comes busting in the door.
That's the danger of cell phones. Your loved ones can be in the next room turning you in. At least with landbased phones, you could always pull it out of the wall and barricade the door. The best policy is to not let it get that far. Count to 10. Leave the building. Bite your tongue. Shut up. Don't let it build.
The situation I know about went the usual direction, meaning restraining or no contact orders, forced separation, then a short squabble over who could stay at the home, then ... and here's where innocent parties come in, with needing things now that the other person cleaned out the home. "She took your things? Call the police." But the police know and call it a civil matter, meaning anyone could come in and take your things, it's a civil matter.
Again, that leaves us innocent parties, who had nothing to do with it, called upon to help pick up the pieces ... or actually to furnish new pieces. It's disgusting.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Bluebird
Today an old song came to my mind, snippets of it, then a little bit more, and I couldn't think of who did it. "Bluebird, bluebird, bluebird!" But that's all I could remember.
So I asked someone else and she didn't know, didn't seem to remember any such song. We were on our way home so I knew I could look it up on "The Google," with 'Bluebird, song.' But then one of those nick-of-time memory miracles happened and I remembered, Paul McCartney.
I was actually thinking Beatles, but "Blackbird" was all I could remember from them. I know all the various Beatles' songs and knew there wasn't a "Bluebird" in the bunch. But when my memory miracle happened, I knew it was Paul and the "Band on the Run" album, which turned out to be exactly so.
I haven't gotten it out to listen to it, but heard the 30 second sample of it at Amazon and that's good enough so far.
So I asked someone else and she didn't know, didn't seem to remember any such song. We were on our way home so I knew I could look it up on "The Google," with 'Bluebird, song.' But then one of those nick-of-time memory miracles happened and I remembered, Paul McCartney.
I was actually thinking Beatles, but "Blackbird" was all I could remember from them. I know all the various Beatles' songs and knew there wasn't a "Bluebird" in the bunch. But when my memory miracle happened, I knew it was Paul and the "Band on the Run" album, which turned out to be exactly so.
I haven't gotten it out to listen to it, but heard the 30 second sample of it at Amazon and that's good enough so far.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Counting Down The Days
Today I was thinking Inauguration Day was a week from today. But it turned out even better. It is a week from yesterday. We're counting down the days. And if I had more idle time to kill, I could keep better track of it.
Get through Thursday, Friday, then the weekend, and Monday will be Inauguration Eve. Or Kick Bush to the Curb Eve. Then Tuesday we're there!
Tomorrow is Bush's farewell address. I'm hoping he has a big "Mission Screwed Up" sign behind him, but that might be a bit too much to hope.
Am hoping all the best for Obama, that he'll succeed and we'll all love him forever.
Get through Thursday, Friday, then the weekend, and Monday will be Inauguration Eve. Or Kick Bush to the Curb Eve. Then Tuesday we're there!
Tomorrow is Bush's farewell address. I'm hoping he has a big "Mission Screwed Up" sign behind him, but that might be a bit too much to hope.
Am hoping all the best for Obama, that he'll succeed and we'll all love him forever.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Visions of Mary
I see the Catholic church is going to get stricter on visions of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. So anyone out there with a piece of burnt toast or windows angled toward the sun on which you're able to see things, stake your claims now before you have to prove it.
In this story,
But apparently they don't expect you to keep completely quiet, because at some point they're going to have a team of psychiatrists come by and certify your mental health while theologians evaluate what you've seen and the messages (if any) obtained therefrom. The next step is even more interesting. Next, "one or more demonologists and exorcists" will investigate the situation to make sure Satan isn't hiding behind the apparitions. I can hear the devil now: "Curses, foiled again!"
As for you, the visionary, if you would like to avoid all this terrible red tape, in my opinion, just claim what you've seen, and if they don't like it ... that's their problem.
In this story,
Catholics who claim they have seen the Virgin Mary will be forced to remain silent about the apparitions until a team of psychologists, theologians, priests and exorcists have fully investigated their claims under new Vatican guidelines aimed at stamping out false claims of miracles.The Pope instructed the proper office that deals with things like this to draw up a new handbook "to help bishops snuff out an explosion of bogus heavenly apparitions." I like the logic in one of the guidelines: If you're quiet about what you've seen it's more likely you've seen it. If you tell folks what you've seen it's more likely it's false. So there's some incentive. If you really see something, don't even tell the Bishop, don't tell anyone, then you'll know it's true!
But apparently they don't expect you to keep completely quiet, because at some point they're going to have a team of psychiatrists come by and certify your mental health while theologians evaluate what you've seen and the messages (if any) obtained therefrom. The next step is even more interesting. Next, "one or more demonologists and exorcists" will investigate the situation to make sure Satan isn't hiding behind the apparitions. I can hear the devil now: "Curses, foiled again!"
As for you, the visionary, if you would like to avoid all this terrible red tape, in my opinion, just claim what you've seen, and if they don't like it ... that's their problem.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Collectable Obama Crap
Who are the pitiful morons who are buying all this "collectable" junk advertised on TV? I just saw one that featured typical American families sitting on their couch, so privileged to give The Historic Plate Company their money for some stupid plate with Obama's picture on it. They have the phrase "Historic Victory" trademarked, so don't anyone say that.
It's all a limited edition, you know, only firing it for 65 days or something. Such garbage.
Then there's the collectable coins, going back and forth so you can see them gleam. Foolish stuff.
I got an entire mailing, like several pages long, the other day, full of this kind of churned out rubbish, and they also had some phrases describing the Obama victory that was given their own copyright. I'm not above collecting, don't get me wrong. In fact, I stuck the literature for this last one in a drawer, hoping someday it'll be worth something.
It's all a limited edition, you know, only firing it for 65 days or something. Such garbage.
Then there's the collectable coins, going back and forth so you can see them gleam. Foolish stuff.
I got an entire mailing, like several pages long, the other day, full of this kind of churned out rubbish, and they also had some phrases describing the Obama victory that was given their own copyright. I'm not above collecting, don't get me wrong. In fact, I stuck the literature for this last one in a drawer, hoping someday it'll be worth something.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
They Got The Beat
Today's "Deal of the Day" (MP3) at Amazon is The Go-Go's "Beauty and the Beat."
I was slow getting to the Go-Go's when they became popular right at the first, but I wasn't too far behind. I was buying their albums after they'd solidly hit the charts. In my family we were interested in seeing them whenever they were on TV, or for their videos on MTV, etc. We used to record some of the videos back then, when they were on all the time, but having things on video tape was never such a big joy. How to find it again was a problem.
I remember a pretty good show about them, the one that was introducing "Talk Show," which was a later album. They seemed cool. I don't like hearing of their problems, drugs, all that. It really isn't that hard to avoid such things. Just do it.
The album sounds just like it always did, of course, catchy tunes, very simple and ebullient, but not at all innocent. It's a big mistake to always think we were so "innocent" once upon a time just because the time has passed.
By the way, the media to actually listen to the Go-Go's on would be cassette, since cassettes were hugely popular right at that time thanks to the Walkman. I think I still have it on LP.
I was slow getting to the Go-Go's when they became popular right at the first, but I wasn't too far behind. I was buying their albums after they'd solidly hit the charts. In my family we were interested in seeing them whenever they were on TV, or for their videos on MTV, etc. We used to record some of the videos back then, when they were on all the time, but having things on video tape was never such a big joy. How to find it again was a problem.
I remember a pretty good show about them, the one that was introducing "Talk Show," which was a later album. They seemed cool. I don't like hearing of their problems, drugs, all that. It really isn't that hard to avoid such things. Just do it.
The album sounds just like it always did, of course, catchy tunes, very simple and ebullient, but not at all innocent. It's a big mistake to always think we were so "innocent" once upon a time just because the time has passed.
By the way, the media to actually listen to the Go-Go's on would be cassette, since cassettes were hugely popular right at that time thanks to the Walkman. I think I still have it on LP.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
10 Days Left
10. The number of fingers on the normal pair of hands. That's how many days we have to tick off till we get rid of the nastiest President of the United States within anyone's living memory.
You could put up 10 pieces of toilet paper and it wouldn't stretch very far. That's a short amount.
10 days can be long, like if you're suffering severe pain that long. And I guess we are. But, like they say on Seinfeld, you're sleeping a third of it, today's about over with, and Obama will be inaugurated at noon. So it's practically over with, four days or so to go.
Even Cheney today (or yesterday) said he was excited to see Obama come into office.
The biggest downer is that we still have the obstructionist Republicans in Congress. Two or three of those monkeys can diminish a good thing fast. They're already cranked up to thwart Obama's desires for good government and economic progress. It's funny, they bent over backwards for Bush to perpetrate crime after crime, but they're already lockstep against Obama doing anything positive. Creeps.
Remember just a few years ago it was unpatriotic to even criticize the President. But how things change when it's someone from the opposite party!
You could put up 10 pieces of toilet paper and it wouldn't stretch very far. That's a short amount.
10 days can be long, like if you're suffering severe pain that long. And I guess we are. But, like they say on Seinfeld, you're sleeping a third of it, today's about over with, and Obama will be inaugurated at noon. So it's practically over with, four days or so to go.
Even Cheney today (or yesterday) said he was excited to see Obama come into office.
The biggest downer is that we still have the obstructionist Republicans in Congress. Two or three of those monkeys can diminish a good thing fast. They're already cranked up to thwart Obama's desires for good government and economic progress. It's funny, they bent over backwards for Bush to perpetrate crime after crime, but they're already lockstep against Obama doing anything positive. Creeps.
Remember just a few years ago it was unpatriotic to even criticize the President. But how things change when it's someone from the opposite party!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Elmer Gantry
I saw a guy sitting in his vehicle reading an old copy of Elmer Gantry, the Dell cover with Burt Lancaster.You don't see that everyday. This book in particular, and especially an old copy of it.
It made me think of the Kindle, whether 45 years you'll walk by and see someone still using a functional Kindle. I doubt it.
This happened in the Goodwill parking lot, so perhaps he just got done buying the book. They have some nice vintage books once in a while.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
I Could Practically Fall Over
That's how tired I am. I need some way of winding myself back up, without having to sleep seven or eight hours. Because I can't lay down now. I have things to do.
Yesterday was a busy day, and I couldn't lay down. No napping allowed.
Yesterday was a busy day, and I couldn't lay down. No napping allowed.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Feel Like A Nap
I'm both a little wired feeling and feeling like a nap. It wasn't a restful night's sleep last night for various reasons. One big reason is the dog was in my room, which she isn't usually. She has a nagging itch somewhere, plus long toenails on a hardwood floor can be noisy.
Plus I knew I had a lot of work to do today, and that getting up and getting to it was going to be important. Some of it requires well-timed bursts of creativity, which I usually manage but often times doubt in advance. When I got started it was no problem, next next next. Got numerous things done.
Now I have a meeting coming up, with certain unknown aspects, 45 minutes from now, and I'd rather doze off. But must not show up bleary-eyed! It's possible I'll take a nap afterward.
Plus I knew I had a lot of work to do today, and that getting up and getting to it was going to be important. Some of it requires well-timed bursts of creativity, which I usually manage but often times doubt in advance. When I got started it was no problem, next next next. Got numerous things done.
Now I have a meeting coming up, with certain unknown aspects, 45 minutes from now, and I'd rather doze off. But must not show up bleary-eyed! It's possible I'll take a nap afterward.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
A Note From 30 Years Ago
At my mom's house there's a full attic. In the attic corners, there are little rooms behind them, with the walls built out. There is access to them only through a narrow, tiny little crawlspace that goes out at the sides of the house.
Twice in our lives, I and my brother, and the same day, we crawled through there and went into one of the little rooms. I remember it clearly but forgot how long ago it was. We left a note back there on the wall.
Today, in doing some work of insulation, workmen went through the wall. I had told my Mom of the note some time back and she asked them to look for it. They said they didn't see any note. But later she went up, and of course there was the note right there on the wall.
It was in February 1978, a long time back. She's very sentimental and appreciative of stuff like this, so she left the note, except to take a picture of it. I haven't seen the picture yet. And she left a note of her own!
Twice in our lives, I and my brother, and the same day, we crawled through there and went into one of the little rooms. I remember it clearly but forgot how long ago it was. We left a note back there on the wall.
Today, in doing some work of insulation, workmen went through the wall. I had told my Mom of the note some time back and she asked them to look for it. They said they didn't see any note. But later she went up, and of course there was the note right there on the wall.
It was in February 1978, a long time back. She's very sentimental and appreciative of stuff like this, so she left the note, except to take a picture of it. I haven't seen the picture yet. And she left a note of her own!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Now That's What I Call Music
I'm on a never ending, slow motion quest to get all the "Now That's What I Call Music" CDs at Goodwill.My insistence on CD condition changes day by day. Today I was very lenient and picked up a beat copy of 20 and a beat copy of 21. The other day I wasn't so lenient and missed getting one, I can't think of its number. It was beat. But you know, if you smear toothpaste on them you can get them to rip. I did it with a couple other CDs.
I just checked my shelf and it looks like I only have three others so far, but I thought I had more. 11, 13, 16. The big problem is I never remember which ones I have, and it seems like I had two copies of one once. Who knows?
I was a little more lenient with 20 and 21 because I was keeping track of current music when these songs were popular. I drift in and out, and right now I'm out of it, not interested in what's going on. So, the way it works is most of the others, 1 to probably 18, I wasn't tuned in. A very narrow window.
It's funny that these CDs tend to be beat up. You figure the main audience is under 17, they must use them to ice skate on. The weird thing is they manage to get them in the right CD case before they dump them off at Goodwill.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
7,488 Guitar Chords
I bought a used book a few days ago with a very extraordinary title, 7,488 Guitar Chords. I have a guitar and know a few chords, let me think what:
A, A7, Am, B (not very well), Bb, B7, Bm (not very well), C, C7, D, D7, Dm, E, E7, Em, F, G, G7, Gm. Mostly those, though I have known others when I've needed them, then have promptly forgot them. So that's under 20. That leaves me 7,400 some to learn!
I can barely believe there are so many chords, but the author says, "The chord possibilities of the guitar are almost endless." The author's name was Jay Arnold. But when you actually look in the book, as an example, you see he has listed 28 ways to do the C chord. There's another 28 ways to play Cm.
Some of the chords look so hard I would need nine inch fingers to do, like some of the variations of the Eb thirteenth minor ninth diminished fifth chord. Just the name of it's a killer. It's on page 69 and maybe should be in an appendix by itself with a "Caution" sign next to it. One of the variations has the first finger on the sixth string (lowest E) at the fifth fret, the second and third finger as though playing an E chord starting at the sixth fret, then the fourth finger covering string one and two on the eighth fret. Tough looking
I'm getting to be an old dog who's finding it hard to learn new tricks. I bought the book more for reference and the ability to look up any weird chord I hear of than the desire to learn 7000 ways of doing eight chords. But it's a cool book to see.
A, A7, Am, B (not very well), Bb, B7, Bm (not very well), C, C7, D, D7, Dm, E, E7, Em, F, G, G7, Gm. Mostly those, though I have known others when I've needed them, then have promptly forgot them. So that's under 20. That leaves me 7,400 some to learn!
I can barely believe there are so many chords, but the author says, "The chord possibilities of the guitar are almost endless." The author's name was Jay Arnold. But when you actually look in the book, as an example, you see he has listed 28 ways to do the C chord. There's another 28 ways to play Cm.
Some of the chords look so hard I would need nine inch fingers to do, like some of the variations of the Eb thirteenth minor ninth diminished fifth chord. Just the name of it's a killer. It's on page 69 and maybe should be in an appendix by itself with a "Caution" sign next to it. One of the variations has the first finger on the sixth string (lowest E) at the fifth fret, the second and third finger as though playing an E chord starting at the sixth fret, then the fourth finger covering string one and two on the eighth fret. Tough looking
I'm getting to be an old dog who's finding it hard to learn new tricks. I bought the book more for reference and the ability to look up any weird chord I hear of than the desire to learn 7000 ways of doing eight chords. But it's a cool book to see.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Desert Island Discs
Whenever I listen to Electric Ladyland (Jimi Hendrix), I think of a time I was at a bookstore and was reading through a record collectors magazine. They had a feature called 'Desert Island Discs,' a title like that. And one of the guys said Electric Ladyland would be his number one pick.
It seems like a good choice to me, if worse came to worse and you were on an actual desert island with a limited number of albums. Which I hope doesn't happen. Because, really, listening to it over and over for however long I were to live wouldn't be that great.
Anyway, how am I to have electricity out there? I don't know anything about generating electricity. Or batteries. Even if you had a whole hut full of brand new batteries they don't last forever. You'd go to the hut for another set eight, ten years later and they'd be all corroded or otherwise non functional.
It seems like a good choice to me, if worse came to worse and you were on an actual desert island with a limited number of albums. Which I hope doesn't happen. Because, really, listening to it over and over for however long I were to live wouldn't be that great.
Anyway, how am I to have electricity out there? I don't know anything about generating electricity. Or batteries. Even if you had a whole hut full of brand new batteries they don't last forever. You'd go to the hut for another set eight, ten years later and they'd be all corroded or otherwise non functional.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Danger
I'd like to say, "You're a dangerous person to be around." All in good fun, of course, but actually meaning it.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
First Things First
There's always multiple ways of looking at things and putting your own spin on it.
We all want to be first. No standing in line. Pet me, stroke me, me me me, first. I want to be first.
But what if you're not satisfied, generally speaking. They say, "I addressed you first." And you can look at it from the negative angle. Yes, you addressed me first, in the same way that an appetizer is inferior to the main course.
You really can't win -- which is funny.
We all want to be first. No standing in line. Pet me, stroke me, me me me, first. I want to be first.
But what if you're not satisfied, generally speaking. They say, "I addressed you first." And you can look at it from the negative angle. Yes, you addressed me first, in the same way that an appetizer is inferior to the main course.
You really can't win -- which is funny.
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