Stimulus!

Pass the stimulus bill already! That has to be a drag, being in the Senate, with their idiotic rules. I swear, if we had 99 Democrats and just one bedraggled Republican, somehow that lone guy would be able to bring the place to a screeching halt.

How bad does it have to get in this country, though, before the Republicans think we ought to do something about it. If they walked by their own home and saw it on fire, would they call the fire department? Or would they debate it for a couple weeks while it burnt? A couple weeks would only be a conservative estimate.

And these are the same guys who bent over backwards for that scoundrel, George Bush. He was running the Constitution through a shredder and they stood up and saluted. But now, suddenly with a glimpse of possible partisan success by dragging the entire country down, they decide it's time to examine carefully every little nitpicking thing.

I not only hope things get better. Everyone should wish that. But I hope the voters reward the Republicans for their obstructionism in 2010, making the third time the charm.

What I Learned Today

I was reading some stuff on American Idol, since I watch it.

Kelly Clarkson says she's not a lesbian. I had no idea this was an issue, but apparently some people have greater access to her than I. I wouldn't know how to find out stuff like this, but somebody can. She says she's never been in love, but does prefer boys. So there.

I wonder how old this information is. Maybe it's old but I just saw it. I say that because this same site said that Elliot Yamin's mother died, no details. So I looked it up at other sites and it turns out she died, must have been sometime in March 2008. I've really been out of the loop, I guess, since that's almost a year ago and I didn't hear a word about it. His family said they wanted privacy ... and as far as I'm concerned, they got it.

One of the other American Idol stars reported that he was gay. Which one? I'm thinking it said Clay. I wasn't watching it back then and don't know much about him.

David Cook's album went platinum, meaning a million units sold. That's interesting. I have it but have not heard much about it around. Have there been big hits off it, except for the coronation song? The fact that I don't listen to the radio means this is something else I don't know.

Taylor Hicks has a new single. I would like to have it. But probably won't buy it. Since if I buy whatever album would later come out, I don't want to buy the single twice. I haven't heard much about him. He seems to be an idol that American Idol never mentions.

Bikini Girl Kartrina something (Darrel?) was kicked off the show. Good riddance. She was worthless and shouldn't have been there in the first place. Entertaining in a drama queen way. That Tatiana is another one. Weird bird.

The Joy of Seeking

An interesting line from Kabir (Tagore translation, #LV) is this:

There one is immersed in the joy of the seeking: plunged in the deeps of love as the fish in the water.

I want to just drop the phrase "plunged," etc., and say I especially like the first part today: "There one is immersed in the joy of the seeking."

The "there" in the sentence is "the path of love." So in the path of love one is immersed in the joy of the seeking.

For anyone goal oriented or task oriented, getting the task completed or the goal reached is the essential thing. Checklists and all that.

But the verse from Kabir speaks really of completing only in a sense -- which is how the "plunged" phrase would come in. Kabir finds but is joyous to seek. There's interaction everywhere in it, and I hate to sound like I'm separating things like in an analysis.

The lesson for me would be this, to quit feeling so disappointed in the seeking. That's where the joy is (too). And if that's what you've got anyway, why not let it be something of absolute joy, not disappointment. Disappointment, to the extent that it is consciously felt, is just looking for something other than what you have.

March March March

Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, I gotta march, march march...

I don't know why I'm sitting here like a slug, all consternated, all zapped out. That's not me. My biorhythms aren't meant to be out of whack. Though ten thousand fall at my right hand, it doth not come nigh me. What can you tell yourself?

What can you tell yourself? is a good question. Because there's always a kind of dialogue, or internal monologue that at the same time incorporates many voices, past expectations, present propaganda, and future hopes/fears, the whole thing.

When I get in a funk, it's time to get out. That's not you. That's every other idiot. Popping their pills, dozing off. For me it's raw, raw, raw. Live it till you hit the wall, then keep living it.

So here is my day's resolution, although delivered in the day getting on ... You will not be down. Being down is not an option. Be up, get going, crank it.

World's Ugliest Belly Button

I met a guy today who said he has the world's ugliest belly button. He got shot right there. I was expecting him to show it to me but he didn't. I was hoping to take a picture but I was feeling queasy, just in general, and didn't suggest it.

Career Builders Ad

I watched most of the ads on the Super Bowl, except whatever was playing when I was in the bathroom. And most of them were tolerable, but I have a few comments.

The one entirely intolerable ad this year was the one for Career Builders. It started and was disgusting from the get-go, then about 13-15 seconds into it I hit the mute button. That was the only one that got the mute tonight.

I thought hitting the mute at that point was a vain gesture, a worthless protest, but it turned out to be valuable. Because the commercial was a full minute -- it must have been, since it seemed to go on forever. Good riddance to that one, may it receive widespread shame.

The others? Some were a little too violent for my taste, people getting the crap beaten out of them. Some of them were too schmaltzy. For instance, I hate all of the Budweiser horse commercials, in which somewhere there's always a close-up of the horse's eye, meant to show his determination, a kind of pivot point in the ad where an important decision has to be made or an important move to influence the outcome has to be made. They're real likely ... and of course they always have a happy ending for the horse, but they're not satisfying (to me) on any level.

Horses don't run off and hunt for a denied love. Animals don't run away and live happily ever after. It's ridiculous.

Songs You Sang As A Child

The Pop Answers game -- at Facebook -- today was "Songs You Sang As A Child."

That's a toughie, because there are different songs for different generations. And if you grew up in a more religious household the songs will be different. Plus, song titles take a lot of typing, so if you don't type fast and get all the relevant words in there, you're going to get it wrong. Example, I put "Row Row Row" and that wasn't an answer, but "Row Row Row Your Boat" was right. So I can see it as a game today that is harder to get a high score on.

You need games with one or two word answers, not "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt"! I put "Skip To My Lou" but that wasn't an answer.

So you figure the right answers are songs, say, from when current 30-something people were kids, like "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "The Wheels On The Bus," both of which were right answers. So I didn't get very many. "Amazing Grace" wasn't a correct answer.

For my grandmother, it might have been "The Band Played On" or something old fashioned like that. The songs that you learned as a child ... depend!

A Beautiful Spiritual Accessory

Watching a little daytime TV today, which I simply don't do, I was amazed at some of the ads. They're very much like those little ads in the back of magazines come to life.

Zit medicine and novelty trinkets, including a cross necklace that has a tiny tiny version of the Lord's Prayer inside. Hold it up to your eye and you'll be stunned!

The phrase "spiritual accessory" was actually used to describe it. You too can have the Lord's Prayer close to your heart, as an external thing, dangling there, and always handy in case you forget what it says. You can lift it to your eye and read the little print.

Doctor's Appointment

It suddenly occurred to me that I have a doctor's appointment in the morning. It's one of those ones where I'm not supposed to eat anything after some particular time, maybe 6 p.m., I don't know for sure. Fasting, they call it. Which means I'll be super hungry tonight. Without the fasting rule, it wouldn't bother me as much.

If everything goes OK tomorrow, I'll be off the three month visit cycle and on to a six month cycle. That means the last couple times things have been going OK. So I'm happy about that and hope to keep it going tomorrow. I haven't been especially good when it comes to food and I haven't been especially bad. I just eat like normal. Except recently I've had eggs like three or four times a week, so I don't know if that'll show up as something bad. And bacon almost every morning, microwaved.

I feel about the same weight as usual, so hopefully that won't be an issue. And I've been exercising more or less faithfully, so I'll probably do OK on that.

Still, it's a drag to go to the doctor. The blood work, a terrible feeling. Peeing in a cup, probably, not a good thing, in my opinion.

3D Glasses

I saw people around with big sheets of 3D glasses and noticed there's going to be some special 3D thing on TV on Sunday, which may be nothing more than a commercial during the Super Bowl. Plus there's something about "Chuck," which might be a TV show, that's going to be in 3D.

I was at the store a couple of days ago, then, and saw a big box of the same 3D glasses and got myself a sheet of them, in case I happen to be watching when this event takes place. We like 3D.

But it seems kind of funny that we're so into 3D when it comes to wearing glasses and looking at it, but we're not into 3D just with our normal sight. Because everything around is 3D. You don't need glasses to see it in its full dimensions!

The beginning of my interest in 3D pictures started a long time ago, the '70s sometime when I got a book on old stereocards, which also came with a viewer and a pack of cards. Then I taped a couple of cameras together and went around clicking two buttons at the same time and making my own stereo images. The big trouble was it was hard to click the button exactly simultaneously, so sometime there'd be a delay and the two images would be a little off. Like if it was of a child playing, the hands would be moving. Even a little bit makes it noticeable when you're looking at a stereo picture.

The Trial

My days as a bail/bondsmen came to a head today with the trial. We sat waiting to see how things might transpire. It was interesting to a certain extent, but we were hoping it wouldn't be too interesting.

Some of the other cases made it look like justice at this level is the minimal fine in the absence of really extenuating circumstances. And that's the way it turned out.

I was enjoying certain aspects of it, but like always, wishing that things could move along a little faster. For instance, it's not something I've done before, to sit outside the courtroom and see the look of misery on people's faces for being there. That was interesting.

I saw one case resolved with a minimal sentence, simple assault, with a hundred dollars fine and continuation of the no-contact order. The two parties were in the hallway but never spoke. The woman looked sad about the whole thing. As she walked down the hallway after it was over, I summed it up, "Another love story ends."

As to getting my bond money back, I talked to the clerk and it will come to me as a check. But I might be using it to help pay the fine.

Bail Bondsman Date With History

My bail bondsman rendezvous with destiny is tomorrow. As you may recall, I was called upon, quite out of the blue, without warning or inkling, to provide a bond for some acquaintance who was hauled in to jail.

I didn't want to. I wouldn't want it to happen again. It is cash on the line, risked, and there's the possibility that more might fly out of my bank account, depending on how the system works exactly (I don't know), and whether the person shows up for her court date. There may be other complications, like if she does something untoward in court, which I'm not expecting.

The big day is tomorrow. I offered a ride to court, to make sure it all happens as it should. But she says she already has a ride. So naturally I'm hoping that the ride she has is someone dependable. The big element to that is that the ride doesn't have anything riding on this deal and I do.

Tomorrow. We shall see!

Sorry About That

I've been regretting yesterday's outburst against George W. Bush. Yes, he wasn't my favorite person. But also he's gone. There's no real reason to be venting my spleen against him now.

It's not healthy either to just be insulting and derogatory, even if in many ways he obviously deserves it and perhaps worse. I have to think of me, though, and my psychic health.

We'll try from now on looking ahead, not looking back. Being positive, not negative. And if the subject of George W. Bush comes up, which we hope it won't, we will gracefully bow out, biting our tongue (if that's what it takes), and head for the exit.

His reign, his regime as president was full of terrible things. We have been seriously riled up by him and his inability to serve as a president with any sense or decency. But aren't we only prolonging our agony unnecessarily by dwelling on him? This is a time for breathing, for a new start, not for lamentation and bile.

It feels good, really, to look ahead, and to let the past recede. That feeling is what we want and what we will seek as we press on into the future.

That Rubbish Called George W. Bush

Isn't it great to finally be rid of our National Joke, George W. Bush? Mr. Poking His Nose in Everyone's Business, Defaming and Trampling on the Constitution At Every Turn Bush?

I feel for President Obama, having still to deal with Human Scum (congressional Republicans), but everyone needs a devil. God made the actual devil, keeps him around. So apparently Republicans are going to be hard to exclude as well.

Yesterday it was reported that Obama had to tell these Wasteoids that he won the election and that things are going to happen with or without them. It's amazing to me that they think they can breeze in, having been crushed, and expect to continue with Bush's perverted policies.

As for the brush-cutting Bush, good for little else, I haven't heard much about him since his worthless speech the night of the Inauguration. And it'll be fine with me if it stays that way. We don't like you, we don't want you, stay gone.

We'll carry on with Obama, reversing some of Bush's ideological craziness and putting the Republicans in their place. Don't let them get you down. If you have to roll over them to govern in a common sense way, let 'em have it.

A Certified Letter - Part 2

Well, I was worried about my bail bondsman status (and possible penalty) for nothing, so far. The certified letter turned out to be unrelated to that. In fact, I heard from the person in question last night and was somewhat already assured that there was nothing in the works, known at least.

But still, I was up and it occurred to me about 8 a.m. again about the certified letter. So I hustled over to the post office, then had to stand in line behind someone with several eBay packages to process (just my luck), and finally got the letter. I saw the return address and realized immediately that it was business that was quite benign and unrelated to any personal issue. Someone had sent some checks and I'm the middleman to get them where they need to go. That's all.

But this had never happened before, and it's timing was curious, making it a realistic first guess that they could have been trying to notify me about the bond.

A Certified Letter

The other day I said I was suddenly a bail bondsman for some acquaintance. That was $100, but then when I later saw the form I signed (I'm not swearing to it but I believe this part wasn't written in at the time) there was a parenthetical part after the $100 that said $300 unsecured bond.

Today, then, I got a notice that I have a certified letter waiting at the post office. I didn't think much about it, but I suppose I should have. Because later it occurred to me that this might have something to do with that person's bond.

Coincidentally, I had a normal appointment with the acquaintance today but she wasn't there. Someone else told me where she supposedly was, but now I'm wondering, could she be in jail again? Assuming the worst, that she is in jail, that means the certified letter is going to be them telling me how much I owe, hopefully no more than $300, and that I should present myself with the cash.

I'll pick up the mail in the morning and I'm hoping it won't be that. But what else could it be? I don't get certified letters.

Debit Cards

I have entered the whole world of paying for things with my debit card. It's probably been about a year actually.

I'm still a little nervous about certain things. Sometimes it seems like they're running it through like a credit card. And I haven't set up the credit card account on it, so I don't know what would happen if that were to happen. I asked a clerk at one place if she was sure it was going to go through as a debit card and she couldn't guarantee it, so I didn't do it there.

Other places I've thought it was going to be OK, then I had second thoughts afterwards, but I've never had one show up as anything but a debit, so I guess my fears were all unfounded.

It's kind of weird at certain places, that you don't have to type in your PIN. McDonald's is that way. It just runs through and says approved. So I don't know why they have it different than the grocery store, except, that's just the way it is.

Another Speech By George W. Bush

I was clicking back and forth between MSNBC and CNN most of the day. If they got too pompous or too silly on one, I'd go to the other. Then if there was a commercial, back to the other.

There came a time or two when I checked out Fox, like if both the others were at commercials. I have a policy of avoiding Fox, and feel quite a bit happier for it.

Toward evening was one of these times, two commercials, so a quick peek at Fox, and who do they have but former President George W. Bush! I thought, that figures. We're finally shut of this crook and his travesty of a presidency, and what are they playing on Fox, but the same stinking guy!

Bush was giving a speech at Midland, Texas, having arrived there from his plane ride (escape) out of Washington. And he was burning down the barn, justifying himself, all to approving calls and applause. He wasn't apologetic for his eight years of criminal behavior, in fact he put quite the positive spin on it. It seems that he liberated 50,000,000 people. (Does anyone remember the build up to the Iraq war? Was it ever his aim to liberate people? Something about WMD, if I recall.)

Anyway, he had some humorous parts. Folksy stuff that the (probably handpicked) audience ate up. Like him tomorrow making coffee for Laura, part of his new "domestic agenda."

Uggh, why is this evil man on TV again? Please go away.

Very Prickly Copy Protection

I got a CD secondhand yesterday, even though it wasn't open, that has very stringent, strict copy protection.

Even though it comes with plenty of warnings that it can't be ripped, I stuck it in the computer to see, and sure enough, it came up with numerous screen notices (Media Monkey did, that is) telling me it couldn't be done.

It's by an Indian guy named Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. I never heard of him either, but a perusal of the internet shows he is well known in some circles. It's an album called "Gems From A Genius."

The CD was made in India, and, as I said, it is severely copy protected. It tells you right on the cover by the hinge. Then on the back cover, giving warnings that it might encounter problems playing on your player. And inside is a card that describes all that you can and cannot expect from this precious CD, including:

It can't be burnt onto a CD-R or hard disk. It can't be converted into MP3 files. It might not play in the following players: Some that have the capability of burning into an MP3. Some that posses CD-R/RW functions. Some car stereos with satellite "Guidance" systems. Some players with hard disk recording capability. Some portable players. Some DVD players. Some CD/LD convertible players. Some game players. Maybe not your computer. (For your computer it has some built in player that is meant to autoplay, but there's no guarantee it will work.)

Ha ha, what a ridiculous thing! They sell CDs and they're afraid you might actually want to listen to it!

Civic Compliments

Once in a while I find myself in a situation where I have to hew right down the middle of the road, such as speaking about civic duty, then being complimentary to all mainstream political persuasions.

You see this on TV, or it will come up at the Inauguration, for example, where someone has to pay tribute to political opponents. Maybe it's like we used to hear about professional wrestlers. They may be trying to kill each other in the ring, but outside they're having coffee and inquiring about the kids. We do see it in Congress, "My esteemed colleague and good friend from Alabama."

It's a tough thing to do, let's say if the subject happens to be George W. Bush. But you know Obama's going to have good things to say about Bush. You have to. It stinks but many necessary jobs stink.

So what can you say about Bush in a complimentary way without getting in too deep or being too much of a liar? I almost Googled it to find out, because I'm nearly at a loss. He loves his wife? He loves his country? He lead us through tough times? He made tough decisions?

Minimal Music, Sound

I've gotten a couple of albums in the last day or so, stuff somewhat off the beaten track. Probably the soundtrack from Slumdog Millionaire is on the beaten track, actually, but it's not on the usual beaten track I follow.

I haven't seen the movie yet, but read about it, and it sounds fairly cool. I like things that have to do with India, and checked out the samples before getting it. I have a couple M.I.A. albums already, so to have another copy of "Paper Planes" was not the point. There is an alternate version on there, which sounds good. That makes a second alternate version for me, since when I first bought the song I didn't check it out adequately and ended up with a remix.

I've listened to the soundtrack once so far ... and the tunes have a cool India vibe. More background music for me while doing other things, reading.

The other album, which I just discovered searching for other things, was "Involution" by Aurobindo. This would be classified as ambient, minimal music maybe. It's a lot of sound tones, various modulations that I believe has some sort of human creativity guiding them. They also make for something good for not occupying your mind and yet perhaps provoking some unknown thoughts in there. I'm thinking that I want things that give rise to thoughts or dreams without telling the content of those things.

I got a little bonus in checking this one out. At one of the musician's websites, DeHoen (?), he has a couple extra tracks relating to the "Involution" album. So I got those for free. They're there for free downloading anyway.

The other tracks were downloaded from Amazon. This weekend the Slumdog soundtrack is a $5 download.

The Natural Enquirer

I was watching some sharks on TV yesterday at Walmart. On high def TV, and the picture was pretty good. Sharks right in your face. And the intensity, concentration, and skill that the naturalists (swimmers) had was more boldly pronounced as well.

The whole thing of standing there reminded me of what my dad used to say about when TVs were first on sale. That people would stand by the store window watching. Well, I'm less of an enthralled viewer probably than they were back then, since we've all grown up with TV, but it does catch your attention when you see a picture so clear and up close. Engaging, yes, but I don't go to Walmart to watch TV per se.

They have lots of this stuff on TV, but I haven't got time to sit and watch TV anyway, whether I had high def or not. Plus, it's not just sharks that sometimes take an arm and a leg, but the cable TV companies as well. Every time I look at my bill it's gone up another dollar or so. Two years ago I know it was in the 85-dollar range, but the latest was over $100, and I haven't added any features or options. For me to get high def at this point, I'd have to waste a lot more time sitting by the TV to pay for it, and I know I wouldn't be any happier.

But this post is supposed to be about The Natural Enquirer, a scandal sheet for animals. Sharks, yes, they have plenty of scandal to talk about. I see one bit a kid's leg just the other day. Dogs walking by the house, not picking up their droppings. Just pooping on mother earth and letting it go.

The Look

On American Idol, as in everyday life, I'm always on the prowl (not exactly) for people with "The Look." Not that I'm going to do anything about it, going up to them and telling them I'm going to make you a star... I like to see people with "The Look," even if it's only in passing.

For me the Look is the look of something individual, eclectic, electrifying, a touch of weirdness yet with confidence and something interesting going on. As for me, though, personally, I don't have The Look whatsoever. I've never had it really -- maybe un peu in high school, but now I'm withered, with strange tufts and balding, and getting wrinkled. If I were a bluesman, I'd be in my element, except I'm not that either!

When I see the Look, which is hardly ever, it's captivating. But you don't want to look at the Look very long or reality will catch up with you. Real life has a way of taking everyone down a few pegs. Still, and they're few and far between, once in a while you see something in people that's very spiritual, a spark.

A Bail Bondsman

You have one of those nights where it seems like everything's normal. Then the phone rings and some acquaintance is in trouble, in jail, and chose YOU to help them get out.

That happened to me tonight. Yuckus!

The jail official told me they accepted cash. And they had a heck of a policy for making you wait out in the cold. Then telling you it'd be so long till they sprung the person, then shooting over that by 10 to 15 minutes.

It's an absurd system.

Now I have to hope this person makes the court date, or my money's down the drain. Lucky me.

American Idol Starts Tonight

I'll probably watch it. I'm debating watching it.

Last year it seemed to drag somewhat. Someone was talking about how media savvy the contestants were, and adept at not doing weird things to give themselves bad publicity. But we want drama, mistakes, blowups, then also the super performances.

They've got some different things going this year, including a new judge. Plus, it appears, there are a few more landmines for the contestants, which I hope will make for more drama.

I'm hoping to go out to eat, which might mean watching it later. That's part of the reason I wouldn't watch it, the waste of time it is when it's all said and done.

Blizzard Conditions

There's blizzard conditions out tonight, especially in the country. I haven't been there but I experienced it last year, and today looks like that.

We had total whiteout conditions, going like about 5 mph on the highway and sometimes zero. There were wrecks, crazy winds, drifts, the works. It was one of the worst experiences of my life.

It just so happened we pulled into some little town and there was a little motel, like five or six rooms total. And we happened to get one. There wasn't even an attendant there. You call on a phone and she tells you to go into the room and in the morning leave your money on the desk. Small. But it was our salvation that night.

That was a very cold night, like way below zero. We had the dog with us and I kept taking it out so she wouldn't pee on the carpet. I assured the lady on the phone things would be OK. My tire looked like it was getting low. I was freaking out. Unnecessarily, as most freaking out is unnecessary, since the tire was going to do what it was going to do. But a mechanic said it was from the extremely cold temperatures, probably.

We made it out the next day, made it home. But I'm glad tonight that I'm already home. And not out on the road!

Birthdays

My mom's birthday is today, my daughter's is tomorrow, mine is the next day. We have that clump every time of course. It's like running the gauntlet.

I have an uncle whose birthday was yesterday. I don't see him much anymore but it used to be clumped together with mine and my mom's, before the daughter and when we were more local and younger.

My daughter's birthday is her 31st, and I know she's counting off the seconds till it. We take our birthdays seriously. I still like mine. I don't mind getting old. I don't know why anyone would. It's nothing you have any control over.

The only person I ever held it against them how old they were was John McCain. And that was all fake. Except, realistically, you want to have a president who's on top of his or her game. If all he wanted to be was senator, do it as long as you want as far as I'm concerned.

The Heroic Bear

Another of the Animal Planet stories came to me. And I didn't see any of this one, because I was sitting on a couch and the TV was aimed the other direction.

It involved a she bear who took on a he bear in a fight to protect her baby bears. How little they were, I don't know, I guess it doesn't matter. I wasn't listening closely to the lead up on the story. But it appears that the he bear was trying to get the baby bears, and the mother fought him and threw him down an embankment of some sort.

They obviously had it on video, because whoever had witnessed it was going on what a great "shot" they got, like one in a million.

Here's where it got schmaltzy, and in my opinion ... objectionable. The mother bear was described as a "perfect mother" and even "heroic" in her "willingness" to protect those babes, "willing" to kill him or be killed to make sure they were OK.

What I object to is all that. Being a "perfect mother," being a "hero," having a "will" to give up her life for their sake. It seems to me that if you run an entire channel called ANIMAL PLANET that you ought to have some sense of ANIMALS, and not be projecting our own altruistic ideals on to them. At that level, it would seem, it's all instinct and circumstances, not heroism, not trying to live up to the standard of motherhood that we have as our sentiment, or the exercise of a will, i.e., judging a certain set of circumstances and saying it will take this or that kind of "will" to get a particular end accomplished.

It was so sentimental, so schmaltzy, that it became clear that the Animal Planet channel is simply the People Planet channel that happens to feature animals to make us feel good. Instinct is what their focus should be.

Stung By Over 500 Bees

I don't usually watch the Animal Planet channel, except when it's on and the other person doesn't want to change the channel. The combination of the Crocodile Hunter and endless episodes of sick dogs and cats being rescued from squalor is enough to make me vomit.

Late this afternoon, though, I'm at the hospital, visiting someone's room, and what had to be on but the Animal Planet channel! The show was something about Animal Stories Extreme, a Marlin that jumps up and stabs a guy, a pelican dangling in midair by a fishhook, a dog in icy waters that bites his rescuer on the face, and a woman who was stung by over 500 bees while mowing her yard.

Good grief, stung by over 500 bees. They were in her mouth, in her clothes, all over her. It's enough to keep me in nightmares for the next 10 years. This is part of the reason I hate that channel.

But, I was thinking, I suppose if you can stand 350-400 stings, the last hundred has to be easy. Also, by the way, this would be the perfect premise (although very cliched) for her to be the Bee Lady with superpowers.

No More Bananas

Here's a troubling story, that there's some danger to the banana, based on what? Disease or something. I read through part of the article but had to take off.

I hope we find some way of saving the banana, if indeed it is in danger. I know it shows up in the South Beach Diet book as something you shouldn't eat, but still, they're quick, they're delicious, and we like them.

I've got one setting right here by my desk. It's a Del Monte, raised in Guatemala. I just wish they would come up with a way for them not to turn brown so fast.

I saw another weird banana story the other day, I believe in American Profile magazine. It's a supplement that comes with the newspaper. It was about a lady who collects banana stickers. Which you wouldn't think there'd be that many different varieties of. But she has around 7,500 different ones! She takes them off, soaks off the glue somehow, then collects them in books. She even said she's been known to go to a store, buy bananas, take off the stickers, and give the bananas back to the store.

This Del Monte banana has a nice sticker, a #4011 sticker with a sort of UPC code (not exactly). I don't think I'll save it.

My Dog

My dog growls in her sleep once in a while. She's dozing in the hallway and she just now did a very low volume growl. She also kicks her feet at times and makes little yips, like she's barking in her dreams but all that's coming through is this pipsqueak yip.

She's part Pomeranian, so she's not big. She just thinks she's big. Except she has a lot of fear of things outside. You wouldn't know it as aggressive as she seems.

A couple nights ago I saw something weird on the sidewalk when I took her out. It was over where we don't usually go, but I saw it over there. It looked like maybe a bunch of leaves, or a bunched up shirt, or something. It was moving because it was a windy night. But it had a way of moving like it had a will of its own. I was hoping there wasn't a crippled squirrel in there somewhere, maybe tangled up. It didn't really seem like it had that much will, but whatever it was, the swirling wind patterns, perhaps, this piece would stretch out, this other bit would rotate.

I was looking over at it with interest. The dog either noticed me looking at it or happened to notice it for herself. She stood erect in its direction and was barking, like she was bold. But then I decided we should walk over by it and figure out the mystery, what it was. The dog became more and more reticent as we got closer. Like she thought it was a living thing, too. Then when it seemed like I was going to press on all the way to it, getting closer, my dog pulled the leash the opposite direction and let out the scariest primal barking/moaning I've ever heard from her. More a bark than a moan, but full of anguish and dread. Of course I turned and we went the opposite direction.

When we went out in the morning there wasn't anything over there that was unusual. In the general vicinity I saw what looked like a cottage cheese container, and nearby also a yogurt container. But whether they were part of anything that could be moving and swirling, I guess I'll never know.

I was describing it to someone just like here and she noted the word "primal" in my description, to which I said they obviously have responses built in that are not normally used in everyday life, till an unusual threat arises.

AVI Frames

I recently got a small video camera. I've taken a few videos. I haven't come up with a good way to snap frames off it, or, better yet, to extract all frames.

I have Infranview, which has a feature built in for this very task. Except for me they all come out black. I checked around on the internet and someone recommended turning off all video acceleration, which is an easy enough thing to do. But it didn't do any good.

Once in a while, when manually snapping a picture with Capture software, I get part of a frame, just part.

The video comes with Flip-something, a piece of crap bit of software and only reads videos from the camera and not off the harddrive, seems like it to me. It has a way of snapping one picture at a time but not a hundred or a thousand.

I used to do this all the time seven or eight years ago. I had a Ulead (?) gif animator and it could do stuff like that.

Progresso Soup

I bought around 20 cans of Progresso Light Beef Pot Roast soup the other day. I've never bought that much soup in my life.

I picked up a can one night and it tasted delicious. So I thought next time I went to the store I'd get a few more cans. I started stacking them in the cart and couldn't stop. I took almost every one they had except for three or four.

Now I've got a pantry with a bunch of soup cans prominent on the shelf. We've had maybe four or five cans since, and I gave one away. I hope I don't get sick of it till it's gone.

Hinder - Extreme Behavior

I got the Hinder CD "Extreme Behavior" at Goodwill yesterday. I like the song "Lips of an Angel," and thought a dollar was a good deal for the whole CD.

I was surprised then to read the bad review of the album at All Music. One and a half stars and taking them to task for whatever, for being guys with hormones I guess.

But I was playing it as background music while doing something else and it sounded pretty good. I wasn't paying close attention though, or filtering it through extraordinary sensibilities.

Great cover! I didn't know the album was so old, 2005. Since I was just hearing "Lips of an Angel" on the radio recently. Shows what I know.

I also heard a country version of "Lips of an Angel" but can't remember who the singer was.

Shower Video

With my new video camera I can't think of too much to video. Pets are only so entertaining. Eventually I'm going to have to leave the house.

Yesterday I wondered what it'd look like to video myself taking a shower. From the waist up, of course. So I set the camera up here somewhere and tried to forget it was there, which I didn't manage.

I did everything quicker, undressing, getting in, stayed in less time, etc., so it'd be a shorter, more contained production. Somehow I managed to keep it all waist-up, even when in the shower. So I'm able to keep it on my hard drive, which I wouldn't want to do if I was overly exposed.

A couple of observations. I'm freaked out about my appearance. I thought I looked terrible. I've never observed myself from some of these angles, and it wasn't appealing. Plus, you can really see through the shower door. I didn't know that 100%.

I was pretty much humorless doing it. As stated, I was trying to forget the camera was there, which meant not a lot of mugging, grinning, talking. So I look like a task-oriented stoic, getting my clothes off very fast, getting in, getting out, all business. It'd be more entertaining to be singing in the shower or something.

Computer Down

My doctor's computer's down, so they don't know if you have an appointment today or not. If I drop dead, they won't know till the computer's up and running.

What about old Doc Hill, in the old building downtown, upstairs, with his name printed on the window? And a horse and buggy tied outside. He was keeping track of his patients all the time, at least giving them a bullet to bite on while they suffered. Didn't have a computer.

There was a prophecy told me by your average Radio Shack employee once, probably 1982 (thereabouts), that one day we'll all need a computer. At the time I was thinking of what computers were generally to be used for, as foretold in magazines of the time, which was keeping track of recipes and ... I think that was it. I doubted the guy's word.

Now I don't know if I have a doctor's appointment or not. I did have a hard copy, the card they give you at the time. But I lost it, no backup.

Older

Everyone's older today, being New Year's Day.

I got a camera after Christmas, a video camera, Flip Ultra. It's nice and easy to use. But it shows how very old I'm getting. I set it on an exercise machine and was videoing my face as I did the thing. Then I looked at part of it. Very wrinkly, I'm getting, no joke.

I need to do something about stress. Stress is destroying what appearance I ever had. I sort of feel like I'm on top of it, but that's not true. Anyway, that's a video I don't want to see very often!

When A Person Is Precious

I described someone today -- searching for the right word -- as "precious," and the woman I was talking to, the daughter of the person being described, said, that was "the right word" to describe her with. Which made me feel good. I had those few seconds and could have blown it royally.

What "precious" means in this case is almost an intuitive leap. Someone off the beaten path yet with enough remaining style and eclat (that's a word, I think) and approachability to be "dear," yet maybe not so much as to be universally acclaimed as such.

I myself don't volunteer too much, but I try to give bursts of that sort of thing. Just don't hang around more than 10 seconds or it will either evaporate or wear thin. I detect it in others, but seldom enough that it's worth a comment.

Take a Loadoff

Are you tired, dead tired, feeling withdrawn, lacking the energy to go on?

Take a Loadoff.

Loadoff is non-habit forming, safe and effective, recommended by three out of four doctors. And the fourth doctor's a wreck.

BREAKING: Deputy and Two Dogs

I see a disconnect from what's important on CNN. They're showing a few minutes of a Joe Biden speech. He's telling a pleasant anecdote about himself and John McCain, then he starts getting fired up, attacking the Republicans with some red meat, and guess what --

We're breaking away at this point for a story about a deputy somewhere who may or may not have killed two dogs.

Let me make it perfectly clear, I'm not saying there's something wrong with our media and their priorities. But maybe the dog story belongs on Animal Planet. Just saying.

Six Months or Last Minute

This blog post raises an excellent point regarding McCain's vetting process for a vice presidential running mate.

John McCain clinched his party's nomination all the way back on March 4. He's had six months to carefully select and vet a running mate, and what did he do? He waited until the absolute last moment - until Obama made his move - and then acted in a purely reactionary fashion. He made his selection rashly, on a whim.

The man had six months to get the job done. And he waited until the absolute last minute to throw something together.

The blog post quoted was written by someone called "EarlG." EarlG states the case perfectly: McCain "made his selection rashly, on a whim."

John McCain has very bad judgment and is not fit to be President of the United States.

Skateboarding to the Left, to the Right

I should never have commented on the jumping skateboard boys. Now that I've commented, I'm seeing them everywhere. They're even vanishing on me!

Last night I came around the corner and there was a couple of boys doing the traditional skateboard straight-up jump, failing to make a nice landing, as usual. I got right to the garage, got my cell phone out, I was going to snap a picture of them through the garage window, and they were gone. Within 30 seconds! I went running to the front door and out. I looked up the street, down the street, across the street, and even over on a different street. But they had vanished. It was weird.

Since then, I saw another kid somewhere else today, doing the flipping into the air thing, without success. And lastly, so far lastly, I happened to be looking across the road and there was two more boys (or maybe it was one) flipping it into the air, then tipping it up at a 45 degree angle.

They're everywhere!

More Skateboarding

I chanced to observe another earnest kid, a teenager, working at his skateboard. Kind of hunching, hulking over it, his head down, eyes trained on the board, then doing his best to flip it up in the air, turn it over, or whatever.

It looked like an unsuccessful attempt, but I only could see one attempt while driving by.

Skateboarding

I saw something amazing today, something I'm glad I lived long enough to see. And in a way I saw it twice, but let's just go with the first one first:

I saw a kid on a skateboard who seemed to be using it as a means of transportation. That is, he was going from here to somewhere else, in a straight line, on a course that, if pursued, would get him there.

This is amazing for obvious reasons. As we all know, skateboards were apparently made for simply standing on and trying to flip over, or to jump curbs. That's about all you ever see anyway, kids endlessly trying and failing, trying and failing, then occasionally succeeding, to flip it over and remain upright.

The other incident -- and this isn't as rare -- was a kid on one of those two wheel skateboards, which must be fairly new -- new to me -- and he also was going from one place to another. But these look like they're designed more for getting around, and they look like they ride in a smoother way.

Later in the day, then, my normal sensibilities were restored, when I was driving along and saw a kid with a skateboard. He waited for me to pass, then I looked in the rearview mirror in time to see him standing on it and trying to flip it over. Of course he failed.

Gitmo: Nice Play to Live

Senility Alert #7452:

During a question-and-answer session with Walter Isaacson today, Sen. John McCain said Guantanamo Bay is “one of the nicest places in the world to live in.”

Let's see, a detention camp, barbed wire, a little cell, no way out... Yes, that sounds most pleasant.

Spiritual/Political Absurdities

We find it hard to believe these things are being discussed as though any of it makes any rational sense whatsoever:

John McCain's campaign ad "The One" has generated a lot of buzz regarding the "Left Behind Series." Political commentators are comparing McCain's portrayal of competitor Barack Obama with the blockbuster apocalyptic series' depiction of the antichrist. But even the series authors Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins don't think Obama is the antichrist. What may have been created as a farce has generated a firestorm of controversy on the internet.

"I can see by the language he uses why people think he could be the antichrist," adds LaHaye, "but from my reading of scripture, he doesn't meet the criteria. There is no indication in the Bible that the antichrist will be an American."

The article goes on to consider seriously the fictional Antichrist character of the "Left Behind" books, as though there could be any clue there about Obama. Look through history; the track record on identifying "the Antichrist" is so far a big fat zero.

This is simply stunning stuff for the ignorance of it all. If there's ever a book called "The Decline and Fall of the United States of America," by one of Gibbon's descendants, there will surely be a chapter on this kind of thing!

UPDATE: The actual truth, of course, is that Ronald Reagan faked his death, and is even now in an underground lair in California, directing world events. He is the true Antichrist, twisting knobs at a big media console, planting devious thought seeds in every enemy of the good. He wears a helmet sort of like the one Ming wears in Buck Rogers movies.

Horray for Mike Myers!

McCain featured Dana Carvey and Mike Myers in a scene from Wayne's World ("We're not worthy") in one of his scurvy ads.

Myers' people called and threatened McCain with legal action unless they took it down. They did, and released an edited version.

What really is wrong with this twerp, McCain? Can't he be a serious candidate, and let us know his serious plans for the country? What positive reason would anyone have to vote for him? He's simply worthless in every way.

Horray for Mike Myers! Except if I have the bucks these guys have, I don't threaten, know what I mean?

Cokie Roberts Thinks Hawaii is "Foreign"

A tip of the hat to "Hope Reborn's" diary at Daily Kos, with some great pictures.

John McCain has been trying to paint true American Barack Obama as "foreign," and now he's getting some help from Cokie Roberts. Obama was born in Hawaii and went there for his vacation. He has family there. She calls this a bad move, because Hawaii is "foreign."

So, one of the United States is actually foreign? 50 states, right? 50 stars on the flag, right? All about the same size? Not 49 regular stars and one tiny one with an asterisk. This is absurd.

"Hope Reborn" has some great pictures, videos, and things, including one of a memorial to Pearl Harbor. You might recall, Pearl Harbor wasn't "foreign" in 1941. We went to war right after it was attacked.

Cokie, such a tool.

First to Know

I'm going to be "the first to know" who Sen. Obama chooses to be his running mate. True story.

Barack Obama is about to make one of the most important decisions of this campaign -- choosing a running mate.

You have helped build this movement from the bottom up, and Barack wants you to be the first to know his choice.

This is going to be exciting, I hope. I'll be walking around with this knowledge and everyone will be going, "So who was it?" But of course I can keep a secret, so my lip's zipped.

If I ever choose to reveal it to the world, please check back here because this is where I will post it, if I ever do.

Or, I guess -- and this won't be as fun for me -- you can click the link and also be the "first to know."

8-8-8

How big a deal is 08-08-08? I guess it isn't really a big deal.

Unless Nostradamus said something about it. Did he?

It's just a nice coming together of digits, with several arbitrary elements. But it's OK. Eight has to be one of the fattest feeling numbers, plump on the bottom, equally plump on top. It's a very feminine number, the curvy look. What other things could be said for it? It seems like the number of "too much" or "an added bonus." If you think of seven as the number of completion -- which is the way it's referred to a lot -- eight is one more, therefore a bonus.

You can roll in on all eights, flip 'em over and roll back out!

The Polyphonic Spree

Have you ever heard the song, "Section 10 (A Long Day)" by The Polyphonic Spree?

I had never heard it before, and was listening to the album while writing a blog post. Since I'm basically concentrating on writing that -- the article "I'm Withholding Judgment," on John Edwards having or maybe not having a love child -- I'm not paying strict attention to this track playing in my earbuds.

It's fine as background, then I start to notice that it's going on for a while, and that it's a lot of prolonged, mechanical sounding tones played without a lot of variance and melody. So I look at the CD cover and it's timed at 36:30! That's interesting.

There's like 26 or 29 people in this group, but I don't think they all had a part in this track.

It doesn't sound like a track for listening to if you're just listening to songs. But if you're doing something else, it's kind of a nice! I heard the whole thing, which might not happen that often.

McCain AWOL Since April, Wants Congress to "Work"

Let's see, if you're a senator who hasn't been at your job in Congress literally since last April, and it's now August, maybe you're the last guy who should be insisting that Congress get back to work!

The Next Cheney

The Democratic party is getting ready for John McCain's veep pick. There's a website in advance of the announcement, called "The Next Cheney."

Included there is a rogue's gallery of some of the possibilities. Whether any of them would ever live down to Dick Cheney's abysmal standards, I hope we never have to find out. It's a scary prospect, though, something best left to stories told around the bonfire at Halloween.

And speaking of Halloween, there's an interesting quote over there that really just about puts the last nail in the coffin of whatever was left alive of McCain's judgment. "With a little more luck, I might have been able to ask you to be my Vice-President." — John McCain to Dick Cheney, 10/23/01.

Please join me in a horrified cry: "God forbid that John McCain ever becomes president!"

Don't falme me pleas

That's funny, a pathetic little nothing of a diary, by Joan Evan.

But this part makes it worthwhile, a true LOL moment:

"Don't falme me pleas"

Merry Christmas

Well, it's August! So let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas.

It is a blessed time of year, certainly, and it revives the ancient hope that all of us have, of "Peace on Earth, good will toward men."

And it also has its fun side -- no big secret there -- since most of us have great memories of what we're going to get, what Santa has put in our little sock, and of the family meal and gathering. And who can forget visions of sugarplums?

May all the joy of the holidays be yours this year, from my family to yours! Merry Christmas, everyone!

Pray at the Pump

Here's one for the ages, folks holding prayer services at St. Louis gas stations thanking God for lower gas prices and praying that they'll go lower. Those who pray at the pump also sing "We Shall Overcome," putting in this new verse, "We'll have lower gas prices."

Is this what the spiritual life is all about? LOL. Praying for lower gas prices, even at the pump itself?

Hey, since prayer is being treated as such a frivolous thing, I have a request. Anyone watch All My Children? Please pray that things will work out for Greenlee and Aiden. There's some contention now with Greenlee hearing that Ryan still loves her, and it really could go either way.

This Is Your Brain on Hope

Cute one from MoveOn.org. Effective, too, I think.

Is This Old Dweeb Even Trying?

Hey, I know what it is to have trouble with short term memory. The other day I fed my cats, got distracted and did it wrong. We have their dry food in a plastic container. But I somehow put the plastic container itself where their food goes and the food wasn't there for them to eat. I quickly caught the error before the cats starved, thank goodness.

But even I wouldn't forget having used the word "timetable" just the day before if I happened to be a candidate for President of the United States and that was a particularly big issue, as it is this year. I want to be gracious and not call McCain a liar (at this minute anyway). So what is the problem? Just confused? Or something worse? An old man with no memory?

Albums I Think Are Exciting

Qkumba Zoo - Wake Up & Dream -- This is one I got at a garage sale a week ago on Saturday. It was a quarter. It also was marked "Not For Sale" so it was a promo copy. How the folks at the garage sale got it, I don't know. It wasn't a group I'd ever heard of, but for a quarter I'm usually in the mood to take a chance. I haven't heard the entire thing, but parts of it I've heard several times. I love it. It has a world vibe going on, some foreign tribal words in it of some derivation. And some beautiful vocals and exotic tunes. The first several songs are the ones I'm familiar with to some extent. They are very catchy and dreamy, including one called "The Child (Inside)." Very nice song. All of them are quite cool, but this is a very neat one. The group on the cover has a weird, eclectic look, strange hairstyles and all quite exotic.

Roxette - Joyride -- I've been listening to this one almost constantly. I got the CD "Look Sharp" at Goodwill sometime in the last couple months. I listened to it so much that it's hard to believe, because it's great right straight through. So I ordered this one, Joyride, and it's also great right straight through. Some of the songs have a very exciting guitar presence. There's something about some of Roxette's intros -- on Look Sharp and Joyride both -- that remind me of the intro to "Last Train to Clarksville." There's a lot of very nice guitar stuff going on. Then there's the vocals, so sweet. The title song is an exciting one, which is lovable from the first listen. "Hotblooded," I'm thinking it's a cover song, but it's not. She's "hotblooded, baby," and that's good. The other songs -- there's some slow ones, but OK. "Soul Deep" is another title that is recycled, but it's a completely different song. This is a fast one, with a soul vibe. Exciting song. "The Big L" is an exciting song too, love and lust. The last song, "Perfect Day" is a slow one, a thoughtful song to wind up the album. As on Look Sharp, in a way, although, "Listen to My Heart" isn't quite as mellow. To me, and I haven't charted it out, I hear echoes of the Beatles in the album Joyride. Nothing too blatant, but some of the phrasing, such as in "Joyride," the word "joyrider" reminds me of Day Tripper. There's also lyrics including "no reply" and "hiding away," and just some sounds that hint at the Beatles without coming right out and saying it. Anyway, this and Look Sharp are both fantastic albums.

My Cell Phone Drowned

I'm very careful with keeping water, coffee, liquids out of electronics. I remember when keyboards were new and expensive, the place I worked they were strict about not getting your coffee near the keyboard.

When it comes to my phone, I'm very careful as well. But since you're expected to carry it around all the time -- through many bumps and travails -- all kinds of things can happen to it. It's there, then it isn't because you've forgotten it somewhere.

One day in the winter I had gone somewhere and returned to the place we were staying. And a couple hours later I went to check my phone and it wasn't there. So I retraced my steps, which led to the car, and guess what -- the phone was lying in the middle of the street! It was a cul-de-sac and has little traffic, and there was a car right across from my car, so any car that happened through there would've had to straddle my phone. It was winter, as I said, and cold, so for a while that day my phone was very sluggish. But it recovered.

Then the other day I went to get a pizza. I called the pizza place a few minutes before I got there to order. And I thought I put the phone on the seat, but maybe I put it on my lap. Just before I got there it took off with a huge downpour, raining. So when I got to the pizza place, I jumped out of the car and went running in. I'm standing in there and felt down for my phone and it wasn't there, so I thought it was on the car seat. When I got the pizza, 10 minutes or so later, I went running back to the car in the torrential rain, and there was my phone, lying in a puddle, getting soaked to the bone.

I picked it up of course, but it never worked from that point on. I dried it out, took it apart, etc., but nothing could bring it back from the dead. So I had to go get a new one.

They're so hard to keep track of entirely. It's a regular job to keep a cell phone from getting lost or destroyed.

Bush: "A Total Failure"

Nancy Pelosi, bless her heart, in an interview with CNN, had some interesting things to say about President Bush:

"You know, God bless him, bless his heart, the president of the United States, a total failure, losing all credibility with the American people on the economy, on the war, on energy, you name the subject."

She also said the Congress was busy "trying to sweep up after (Bush's) mess over and over and over again ... The president knows it. He needs something to talk about. Because he has no ideas."

Every once in a while someone says something that boils down the argument to just a few words, and puts the truth out there in as plain a way as it deserves. This is one of those times.

Full of G-nats

I went for a dog walk in the park tonight, and the park was full of g-nats. I'm adding a G there because that was our conversation. You hear of people dropping their g's, but gnat has an added g even though it's silent.

I walked into at least one cloud of g-nats, which makes your hands do this Kali swatting. It's crazy. They're like a swarm, buzzing in many directions yet maintaining a sort of pulsating ball. When you walk into it, you might expect them to buzz up an extra three feet, but no.

So you're walking into their tightly knit ball, then they're running headlong into your head. It seems like this would disrupt whatever harmony exists in their buzzing and loose adherence to the swarm. Whether they're able to go back to their orbits and courses, only God and scientists know.

The other bit of interesting buggery was all the lightning bugs, blinking out some kind of mating code. "I'm here, my butt's yellow, I'm ready, my dear." Could it be nothing but a mating call? Or are they indicating their presence for some other purpose? None that's discernible to the casual onlooker.

Then apart from the lightning bugs -- obvious as they are -- and the clouds of g-nats -- obvious also, once you're in their epicenter -- there are the random zaps to the head or the ear of some extraneous bug dwelling apart from the pack, or flying in a more subtle pack, perhaps like geese, in a V. Whap, one hits my head and you swat at nothing.

McCain Tackled on Football Story

It's nice to see this guy get busted on something...

Here's McCain, traveling around, telling the same story about his POW days, and substituting whatever the local football team happens to be for the benefit he can get by buttering up the local folks.

Here's one story on all this phoniness. McCain's telling a moving story about his time as a POW: "When I was first interrogated and really had to give some information because of the pressures, physical pressures on me, I named the starting lineup, defensive line of the Pittsburgh Steelers as my squadron mates." (My emphasis.) OK, that's definite, the Pittsburgh Steelers. That would be in Pennsylvania, as I understand it, not Wisconsin. A team that is called the Steelers, if my ability to see is working, and not the Packers of Green Bay. One starts with an S and the other with a P. There would appear to be no confusing the various distinctions here.

But wait, what is this? McCain is recycling a story already published in a book? Maybe a book like J. Peterman's, with some great stories he bought from Kramer? And in his book, he's recounting the story of his interrogators in Vietnam: "Pressed for more useful information, I gave the names of the Green Bay Packers offensive line, and said they were members of my squadron." (My emphasis.) Is this sinking in? The Green Bay Packers offensive line, not the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line. Two teams, two different lines, one with an O and one best represented with a D and a Fence.

Ha ha ha.

ABC News now has an update, as McCain has slithered out of whatever hole he lives in to correct the record: "And the McCain campaign just told ABC News that the senator made a mistake -- it was, indeed, the Packers." The senator made a mistake. Writing over there, Jake Tapper says, "McCain's valor as a P.O.W. is beyond admirable, but this business of substituting the Steelers for the Packers is odd, though as I said, the McCain campaign says this was an honest mistake."

Honest mistake, that's funny. Too bad the media didn't bend over backwards for Kerry like this!

It's obvious that he figured he could go to various towns and just substitute whatever team in the story. If this would have gone unchecked, there's no doubt he would've soon been here locally, praising every team, even our local junior varsity team, saying back in Vietnam when interrogated he claimed their members as his "squadron." "Yes, as I recall, there was little Jimmy Smith at tackle, Bobby Hagen the kicker, and Craig Swartz quarterback. And Mr. Anderson from the locker was their coach. That was a big year. I believe they scored that year, an accidental safety."

McCain Wants to Kill Iranians -- He's Joking

I'm interested in humor, as in those times when you're "joking" and you say what you really mean to say. In this case -- with John McCain -- someone mentions cigarettes and Iranians and his first thought is "Maybe this is a way of killing them." It sounds like what he actually would like to do.

Uncommon Sense

Blog on politics, pointing out the various absurdities that is the John McCain campaign. Such as kicking out the woman with the "McCain=Bush" sign when presumably Bush is someone McCain likes and wants to be more like.

Uncommon Sense.

Animist for Spare Change

Just a blog to note. "Animist for Spare Change."

It looks like a good effort to me. "The unlikeliest poet from Ulan Bator also attempting inconsistencies - prose, thoughts, absurd, and whatever." By Ramakrishnan Parthasarathy.

Lay Off The Nigerians!

In the article about John McCain still hating the "gooks" of Vietnam, even 40 years later, there's this question by someone: "If Sen. McCain had been captured by Nigerians, could he call those people 'niggers' and think he wasn't going to offend everyone who is black?" That question is asked by Guy Aoki, president of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans, an anti-defamation group.

To which I say, hey, Mr. Aoki, lay off the Nigerians. The Nigerians have been very very good to me. In fact just the other day a wealthy chieftain died, leaving his fortune to someone who happened to have my email address. Even now we're in communications -- the Nigerian beneficiary, myself, and my bank -- to forward a sizable handling fee overseas so that I can receive some of the inheritance, a pretty hefty payoff, I might add. It's in the high seven figures, meaning millions.

Does McCain Have Issues?

McCain is still calling the North Vietnamese "gooks"?

"I hate the gooks," McCain said. "I will hate them as long as I live."

The article I linked to says "gook" was first used in 1899 by American soldiers fighting Filipino insurgents. In the Korean War, it was aimed at Koreans and Chinese. Then against the Vietnamese during the Vietnam War. Now it's seen as a slur toward any Asian or Pacific Islander.

McCain was tortured in Vietnam.

Now, 40 years later, he still hates "gooks." Which might bring up the question of what people around the world think of America when we torture others. But, hey, forgive me for bringing up the obvious.

Random Acts of Interruption

Do you like guys who just come up to you and start talking? I don't mind it, really, and am actually fascinated by it.

Myself, I'm definitely not one of those guys. I'm like a social ninja -- you don't know I'm there and you don't know I've gone. I'm in -- with a beeline for the punchbowl -- I'm out. I prefer to keep my eyes averted and not to say too much.

But I'd like to have a "collection," some kind of "scrapbook" of these guys who occasionally come up to me and start talking. If I could do it, you know, it could be like my mother, who used to pin live butterflies to her curtains. They're up there flapping till they die, which could take months. (Wow, that was a terrible thing she did!)

I've had two close encounters lately that stick out in my mind. I only want to mention the most recent one, since he appeared sane enough. I'm at Subway, and the guy behind me is wondering what the $5 subs are. He's not really asking me, but I point him to the list, being a nice guy.

That's all the opportunity he needs. Now he's asking me if I know how Subway got their start, and he's explaining it. It seems there was a guy on his lunch break in New York one time, who brought various sandwich ingredients to his job. Then someone wanted to buy a sandwich from him. The next day he did the same thing. And before long that was all he did, made and sold sandwiches. According to my guy, that's why the Subway stores all have New York wallpaper!

I'm nodding, saying "Huh!," and making other appreciative noises as I make my way for the door, leaving him alone with the young lady working there.

How to Write a Great Poem...Maybe

Here's point by point how to do it.

It's kind of like Mad Libs, only you have to fill in everything.

20 steps that starts with 1) Begin the poem with a metaphor, and ends with 20) Close the poem with a vivid image that makes no statement, but that "echoes" an image from earlier in the poem. Check out the link for the points in the middle!

Crazy Grandpa McCain Sees Conspiracy

Put away the blunderbuss, ma, Grandpa's on the warpath!

Of course we're referring to everyone's crazy Grandpa this year, John McCain. You know, he served in the military. Of course you know. There's no family mealtime that can go by without Grandpa McCain boring us kids with all his escapades. He fought the Vietnamese single-handed. He personally killed Hitler. He was there at Versailles. And he not only shot the first shot in the Civil War but the last one!

Ma looks over at us kids and gives us a dirty look. That means we sit up extra straight and look at Grandpa McCain while he's talking. But even he has his limits, and eventually he can tell we're not that into it. We want to go out to play, and he says, "Oh, go on, get out of here, you little rascals!" He fought the war for the likes of us, and this is the thanks he gets. We don't want to hear about carpet bombing villages while we're trying to eat. I can look down at my mashed potatoes and gravy and see a little lake, even an ocean, and I can see Grandpa going down, his plane demolished, him climbing up the hill, standing there at the top -- it's mashed potatoes, go on, eat them!

But now he's out on the campaign trail. And he's seeing the enemy everywhere. Nothing gets by his eagle eye. Whether it's Barack Obama, Jim Webb, Wesley Clark -- whether they served or not, they're all a bunch of scoundrels -- scalawags, like us kids. That darned eagle eye of his, you can't get away. He'll call you on it! It's all he wants to talk about.

I remember some other family warriors. My uncles -- you couldn't get them to talk about the war. Hardly. They'd rather just let it go. They didn't have much to say. That's probably the way it should be. But this is everything there is to Grandpa's life.

Religious Liberal

A religious liberal blog, good one.

http://religiousliberal.blogspot.com/

Visiting Graves

I was talking to someone today who was telling me about a colorful individual (and his wife) from years gone by. Someone in my town. No one I personally knew but I've heard the name a few times in conversations.

So I said, "Is he buried around here?" And she told me where he was buried and just the sketchiest details of how to get there.

Later then I was in the area of the cemetery and decided to buzz in and see if I could see his grave. Driving slowly, looking, without getting out at this point. Don't see it... Then later, somewhere else in the cemetery, I wanted to get out and check out this other person's grave, and finally, larger than life was a big tombstone with the last name of the guy I was originally looking for.

It didn't do me much good, though, because it was just the last name, both sides of the tombstone. And I glanced around and didn't see any individual tombstones that would match up with the family in question. So I don't know where my person is buried precisely.

But someday, someday, I'll take the time and scout it out. I don't know why I want to see his grave exactly. Maybe it's just when I hear of someone colorful like that, it's a kind of personal connection to at least stand there where their remains are for a few minutes.

Classic Rock Society

Link to a music site with lots of information, concerning classic rock recordings, groups, news. In the UK. Points to various legal downloads or links for listening to tracks posted by the groups themselves.

http://theclassicrocksociety.blogspot.com/

John McCain Didn't Love America

The Daily Snipe

Does it seem that the McCain campaign is doing nothing but sniping at every little thing? Each day when we get the news, it consists of the same thing: Obama has done or said something, and McCain criticizes it, whatever it is.

Whether it's how he finances his campaign, who his advisers are, what he says about terrorism, what he has for lunch -- it's something for McCain to gripe about, whine about, and to act offended over.

As for financing Obama's campaign, McCain's gripe is that Obama made some sort of 'solemn pledge' to tie one hand behind his back. The 'solemn pledge,' of course, was no such thing, and whatever it really was, it was all contingent on negotiations and certain understandings. But throughout the campaign thus far, McCain has mucked around with his financing to the point that whatever integrity it may have started out with (may have started out with), it's long gone, evaporated, floated away...McCain is simply trying to force parity in the money they have to spend. It's transparent and pathetic.

So McCain has to try to score points by acting offended, acting the aggrieved party to a 'solemn pledge,' i.e., just posturing and lying. (Haven't we had enough of liars for the last eight years? I know I have.)

The truth is Obama is going to get more contributions than McCain. But it's a lot of smaller contributions, which as far as I can tell is public financing. Duh.

I can't stand McCain -- that ought to be obvious. But he would be a lot more tolerable if he were running a positive campaign. Stick to the issues and quit the daily carping, the daily sniping.

Old Time Radio

Here's a place that looks like it links to lots of archives of Old Time Radio shows, mp3s of episodes of shows from way back, '30s, '40s, '50s.

Calf Killer Old Time Radio.

I have quite a few OTR shows, burnt on discs some years ago. I never listen to them, but I know they'd be good. I tend to drift. Some are not great quality, but some are very clear. There are thousands of episodes out there of detective stories, mystery stories, horror stories, and comedies that you may never have dreamt existed.

One of my favorites, back when I was listening to them, was a show called "Diary of Fate." And, hey, sure enough, there's a link off to a directory of this show's episodes. There's only 25-some episodes, identified by the name of the main character of that episode.

The premise of "Diary of Fate" is that Fate (that inexorable force behind everything) is personified, and reviewing a big book that has the life stories of various individuals. He has a slightly sinister, satisfied-about-it voice when he does these reviews. Each review is an episode of someone who did something terribly wrong. Perhaps it could've been avoided, perhaps they might not have gotten caught, "but for a little thing." Fate says that a lot, "It was a little thing." Such as a happenstance visit, a red light at an inopportune moment, a phone call that delays you, etc. And in the episodes it's these "little things" that Fate uses to seal their fate!

A common premise would be trying to get rich by killing someone in the way. But the little things pile up and next thing you know...their life's down the drain! It's a good show.

Calf Killer has lots of links, and some of these shows I recognize as ones I have. The "Adventures By Morse" link doesn't go anywhere live, and I only tested a couple links.

As far as I know, they're public domain, either that or they're so forgotten that no one cares.

Memory and Rhetoric

Flip that around, Rhetoric and Memory!

I don't know that I can sum up this blog adequately. It is scholarly, concerned with bibliographies, quotes, papers, and projects involving rhetoric, memory, and education, with an apparent interest in African America, Latino, women's, and LGTB studies.

Forgive me if I'm wrong!

True Hauntings of America

If you like ghost stories and haunted places, here's a blog worth checking out: Haunts of America.

They've got some kind of flash thing going on there, so it won't allow my computer to copy anything. But the stories look interesting and well-researched.

I saw one on a haunting at a reformatory in Ohio. I was trying to clip a piece, but couldn't do it. It spoke of negative energy in the chapel. Maybe the negative energy has affected the site.

Dog Yoga

Blog: Barking Buddha Doga

Appears to be a worthy pursuit. I'm not sure of the concept, but my imagination tells me certain things about it, the relaxing qualities of dogs and other animals.

My own dog is always up for a nap. There seems to be a nap radar built in. If she detects a nap coming up, she's right there against the back of my legs. I can usually fall asleep pretty fast, but with the dog curled up there, it's a matter of a few minutes.

If that's not the concept of that particular blog, then so be it. There are other good things that would pertain to the subject of dogs.

Monasticism.Blogspot

Blog. The musings of Fr. Peter-Michael Preble.

Pastor of St. Michael's Orthodox Church of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese.

Posts on religion, religious issues, politics, and quite a few posts in his archive.

The First Person to Jump Off the Brooklyn Bridge

The first person to jump from the Brooklyn Bridge was Robert Odlum, a swimming teacher from Washington, at 5:45 PM, May 19th, 1885. Here's the rest, a post at Reflections From the End of the Night.

Byzigenous Buddhapalian

Blog to check out.

Miscellaneous spiritual, aesthetic, cultural, and political explorations by a world citizen.

Would appear to have a Democratic point of view, anti-McCain point of view, meaning intelligent.

Lots of interesting things, lots of links to other blogs.

My only negative is it has more pictures of buildings than I want to see. So probably some architectural interests as well.

Lots of Good Looking Stuff

PIGLIPSTICK.

Politics, culture, videos, liberal point of view, anti-Bush, intelligent, lots of graphics, interesting videos and things. Check it out.

Bush on Clinton and Obama

George Bush weighed in Friday on the Democratic candidates in an interview with an Italian journalist.

"I thought it was a really good statement, powerful moment when a major political party nominates an African-American man to be their standard bearer. And it's good for our democracy that that happened. And we also had a major contender being a woman. Obviously Hillary Clinton was a major contender. So I think it's a good sign for American democracy."

This is the kind of thing our pathetic president should have been saying over the years. He's been such a partisan hack, so oblivious to the notion that he's the president of the entire country, that you just don't expect to hear anything of graciousness or a sense of things coming from his lips.

One of my biggest objections to Bush is that he chose to go it alone, not caring for the rest of us.

Kino No Tabi

There is a world. You can't think of it as Japan or America or anywhere really that you've been.

This book is book one of "The Beautiful World." By Keiichi Sigsawa. First published 2000, Media Works, Tokyopop. This one, English translation, published 2006. Marketed to teens, young adult fiction.

It has episodes in the life of Kino, a young woman, and Hermes, her motorcycle. Hermes has a consciousness, talks, and is an actual character throughout.

Kino travels and stays in countries, or cities, for three days tops. She didn't always travel. When she was just about grown up, an old man came to her town, and stayed with her family. His name was Kino. He questioned the customs of their country, which included having a physical operation when you were 12, making you a grown-up. He assembles the motorcycle from the scrapheap.

Kino leads Kino-to-be to question this growing up business, a serious thing there. In the process he's killed, then they're coming at her with the knife, she gets on the motorcycle and leaves home. Doesn't call, doesn't write.

From there on, the book gets going. These episodes take her to various countries, like her own country, each with some peculiar ways. There's a city that has one survivor in it, because in the process of governing, everyone else got killed. So it's a functioning city with massive graveyards. There's a country of competing cities, who have overcome war between themselves, but this is won by keeping a common enemy in the middle, and periodically going out to massacre them. The book ends up with a city (country) where you compete for citizenship in a series of personal battles, more or less to the death.

Kino and Hermes have conversations, they rest and relax, there's some humor.

Everything seems to be making some statement, about government, the choices we make, mass behavior, personal awareness, and so on. There's one episode that reads like a real parable. Some guys working for 50 years but separately. Something like this: One is polishing railroad tracks, one is dismantling the tracks, and he's followed by another putting the tracks in place.

Kino is tough. She carries two guns, one a more conventional gun which can be shot over and over. And one that has a liquid 'bullet,' which needs careful preparation, good for one shot.

The book reads in a light, breezy way. The customs are so bizarre -- but really, if we could detach ourselves from our own customs, we could see that some of them approach or reach absurdity as well.

The story continues on beyond this book, as the cover says there is an eight-volume series. A piece of the back cover blurb says, "a critique on the inherent beauty of imperfection, oscillates between philosophical and winsome, while remaining consistently and overwhelmingly imaginative."

John and The Amazing Monochromatic Backdrop

As someone who studies and consults on the psychological effects of color for a living -- I consult for big bucks; you know the color of the sky, blue? That was me -- I found the image of John McCain's pale white head against the solid green background last night very nice, very nice indeed.

There's something about the color green that is suggestive. Obviously, we use it as a color suggesting the environment. Some places of course it wouldn't literally pertain, but that's beside the point. Also, green is the color of our money. You can look at the graphic there and if you were to squint at it and picture it a little larger horizontally, you can see John McCain's suggestion. That he's like other great presidents. A presidential head in the center of money. It's a very prosperous color in that regard. Seriously, draw an oval around him, and you've got a rival for Franklin on the hundred.

Now, since the speech, some have made light of the setting. You've got Barack Obama (booo!!!) surrounded by a sea of admiring supporters, full of life, bouncing to the beat, buoyed by their glad spirits, a sea of color in amazing liveliness. Color, all the colors in a rich, glad harmony, a happy profusion that really was kaleidoscopic, memorable, exciting. And not just the people -- blacks, whites, browns, young, old, Orientals -- but their signs, and clothing, all bobbing and waving with high energy, and all the breathtaking flashiness you can imagine. Clearly disgusting. And then you have John McCain (yaaay!!), much more humble than Obama, a man who decided on a color (green) and stuck with it, not trying to be flashy, not trying to show off his supporters, several scattered out in a small hall. Because McCain knows where the focus needs to be, on the man himself running for office. The crowd is anonymous, and should not be part of the equation. No one's voting for them.

Seriously, I was enthusiastic for McCain's presentation, but I had one beef. My biggest criticism is the way McCain was framed during the speech, that they didn't have a tight enough shot of his head. The green was good, but it should have been just at the edges, with his face filling up most of the screen. People like a president who's close, very close to them. But we need to find the positives with what we have. He filled up the screen adequately, he managed a brave smile when it seemed appropriate, his thin, remaining white hair appeared to be nicely in place. He went along with the flow, a comfortable, meandering flow.

If I were consulting for the McCain campaign, I'd counsel them to get rid of the crowd all together. Too distracting! With silence, the viewing audience can concentrate more on the content. Keep the single green background -- that's good -- but go in for a very tight shot on his head. Have him pause longer between sentences. It would make the tone seem more serious, which you want in a president. As for the smiles, what he's doing is good. But one suggestion: try for harmony. Such as look left, smile. Speak three sentences. Look right, smile. A pattern like that will keep the audience at home engaged and pleased. He says "my friends" a lot. That's also good. But have him add adjectives to spice it up, such as "my dearest friends," "my treasured friends," and "best friends forever."

As far as further analysis of the color, hmm, what more can I say? Yes, I'm a consultant, but what else is there? I think I mentioned it was green. Let's see, checklist here, green with some white print, white hair, pale skin, and some darkness in his suit. All looks real good, very good.

The Rise and Fall of the Third Term

Underground Reads

Interesting concept, a guy in New York asking strangers on the subway what they're reading. Then he posts the results to this blog, Underground Reads. That sounds like it could be very mundane as well as very interesting.

The blogger, named Garth, is an English teacher at High School for Public Service in Brooklyn, and also a writer.

One of his posts involves the book pictured, and Garth gives this report:

Manhattan bound 2 Train, Winthrop to Grand Army Plaza Jackie felt caught with "trash." As soon as I asked her if we could discuss her book, she started laughing. She was reading The Undomestic Goddess, by Sophie Kinsella. "It's an escape," she called her experience of reading the book, which was recommended by a friend. "It's about a woman who quits her job as a lawyer a job as a house keeper, even though she can't cook and clean."

So, if you don't want to be caught with trash, don't read where this guy might be lurking!