August 30, 2013
Snow Accounting For Stupidity
When I was active in MSN Groups, it was fun for the members of the group to gather in the chat room. It was private, restricted to only members of that group and we used to use them for weekly trivia contests, but would also sometimes set a time to meet at least once a week and catch up on what was going on in each other's lives.
I used to pop into the chat room of a group I belonged to and would find a good online friend in there all alone. He was the asst. mgr. of the group and the mgr. insisted he "open" the chat room on specific times of scheduled chat sessions. I never understood why he let her have that much control over him, but I suppose he was lonely and his online interaction was all he had.
The group had several members who would always show up for the chat and I particularly disliked one woman from Boston who would come in and try to dominate the conversation. She was childish and stupid and would often complain if the conversation was moving too fast - apparently she couldn't type fast enough to reply to every other person and it made her angry. Also, if the topic didn't interest her, she would change the subject if she could and if the topic was of anything close to being of an "adult" nature, especially about sex, she would type letters in and hold the key down, looking something like this:
My friend: Man, that movie I watched was pretty dirty for network TV.
Me: You ever see any X-rated films?
Someone Else: Oh yeah, back in college.
My friend: No.
Someone Else #2 My husband tries to get me to watch his dirty movies all the time.
Me: I saw Deep Throat right after it came out. Was really funny.
The Woman: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXYYYYYYYYYYYTTTTTTTTTTTTPPPPPPPPPP IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMQQQQQQQ
QRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTJJJJJJJJJJJJJLLLLLLLLKKKKKMMMM
The rest of us would stop chatting, then the woman would say "Stop that! You should be ashamed!"
Good grief.
It was then I would usually exit the chat room, along with some of the others, leaving my poor cyber-friend all alone with the puritan nutjob. I'd pop in again later and if she was gone, I'd hang around. Sometimes she'd suddenly appear on the screen again, prob. hoping to catch us talking about something naughty. I saw her chew out some women who were talking about the problems of finding a bra that fit. "DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT IN FRONT OF THE MEN!!!!!!" she "shouted" in all-caps.
One time, my pal asked me if we'd had any snow. He lived in Kansas, about two hundred miles north of me. I told him not as much as they had received, only a dusting. The woman was in the room and weather wasn't a taboo subject, but she certainly didn't want anyone else talking about THEIR weather.
"We had a smegma of snow." she announced. "Made the streets a little slick." I sat there for a few seconds, rubbed my eyes, wondering if I had really seen what I thought I had seen. She rambled on some more, but I interrupted her.
"A 'smegma'?" I asked. "Yes," she replied. "That's the word we use for 'light dusting' up here in Boston." I could almost hear her saying that in her holier-than-thou, superior manner. I couldn't let it go.
"You sure about that?" I asked. "Yes." she sniffed, probably thinking I was some ignorant Texan fool.
Now, you may or may not know what Smegma is, but if not, follow that link to the Wikipedia article and you'll see what it is....and how much delight I took in telling her what smegma really was. Yup, I'm sure it made the streets slick.
I used to pop into the chat room of a group I belonged to and would find a good online friend in there all alone. He was the asst. mgr. of the group and the mgr. insisted he "open" the chat room on specific times of scheduled chat sessions. I never understood why he let her have that much control over him, but I suppose he was lonely and his online interaction was all he had.
The group had several members who would always show up for the chat and I particularly disliked one woman from Boston who would come in and try to dominate the conversation. She was childish and stupid and would often complain if the conversation was moving too fast - apparently she couldn't type fast enough to reply to every other person and it made her angry. Also, if the topic didn't interest her, she would change the subject if she could and if the topic was of anything close to being of an "adult" nature, especially about sex, she would type letters in and hold the key down, looking something like this:
My friend: Man, that movie I watched was pretty dirty for network TV.
Me: You ever see any X-rated films?
Someone Else: Oh yeah, back in college.
My friend: No.
Someone Else #2 My husband tries to get me to watch his dirty movies all the time.
Me: I saw Deep Throat right after it came out. Was really funny.
The Woman: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXYYYYYYYYYYYTTTTTTTTTTTTPPPPPPPPPP IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMQQQQQQQ
QRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTJJJJJJJJJJJJJLLLLLLLLKKKKKMMMM
The rest of us would stop chatting, then the woman would say "Stop that! You should be ashamed!"
Good grief.
It was then I would usually exit the chat room, along with some of the others, leaving my poor cyber-friend all alone with the puritan nutjob. I'd pop in again later and if she was gone, I'd hang around. Sometimes she'd suddenly appear on the screen again, prob. hoping to catch us talking about something naughty. I saw her chew out some women who were talking about the problems of finding a bra that fit. "DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT IN FRONT OF THE MEN!!!!!!" she "shouted" in all-caps.
One time, my pal asked me if we'd had any snow. He lived in Kansas, about two hundred miles north of me. I told him not as much as they had received, only a dusting. The woman was in the room and weather wasn't a taboo subject, but she certainly didn't want anyone else talking about THEIR weather.
"We had a smegma of snow." she announced. "Made the streets a little slick." I sat there for a few seconds, rubbed my eyes, wondering if I had really seen what I thought I had seen. She rambled on some more, but I interrupted her.
"A 'smegma'?" I asked. "Yes," she replied. "That's the word we use for 'light dusting' up here in Boston." I could almost hear her saying that in her holier-than-thou, superior manner. I couldn't let it go.
"You sure about that?" I asked. "Yes." she sniffed, probably thinking I was some ignorant Texan fool.
Now, you may or may not know what Smegma is, but if not, follow that link to the Wikipedia article and you'll see what it is....and how much delight I took in telling her what smegma really was. Yup, I'm sure it made the streets slick.
Blade Runner - 1949
Clever parody of Film noir using the classic sci-fi flick Blade Runner plot. (and Blade Runner is a leading example of Neo-noir)
RRR GGG BBB
Out of all the Time Wasters we've posted - or will post - RRR GGG BBB is the least interesting and probably the one that the least time will be wasted viewing it.
(If you spend more than a minute on the page - Congratulations! You're more easily amused than me!)
Scroll over the R - G - B graphic and the letters will be spoken in a mechanical (creepy) voice and the background will change to the corresponding color. Do it quickly enough, and you might induce an epileptic seizure.
August 29, 2013
Disgusting Quiz
| You Are Disgusted Sometimes |
 You have a fairly thick skin. Something has to be truly revolting before it grosses you out. You probably weren't always this way, but you've learned how to toughen up. Good for you! It's fine to be disgusted by totally disgusting stuff. And you know better than to gross anyone out yourself. Given enough time, you can get used to the most nauseating of situations. You can develop an iron stomach. |
The most disgusting things to me these days are politicians, although the "Bones" episode I watched yesterday came close. The show was called The Truth in the Lye, about a man found in a bathtub full of chemicals.
Half-Hearted
I think it was sometime in May I decided to see just how good of a Hearts player I was. I've had the game on this and my last few computers, but until I got this PC and game, I never did very well. I can't remember if this game came with the computer or I had to download it (it came with my last couple of computers) but I certainly like this version best of all I've played.
So, I decided I'd get a large enough sample of games to be significant and figured a hundred would be good enough. As you can see by the screen shot below, I did fairly well, winning nearly half the games. I had started a few games, then got discouraged or had to do something, so when I closed the program, it counts the game as a loss. I don't know if I would have won those games or not - probably not, because some of them started out badly, catching the queen right off the bat several hands in a row.
Still, I'm fairly proud to have done so well. In the other Hearts programs, I very seldom won, hardly ever over 25% of the time. That's probably about right for a novice Hearts player such as myself. Still, it seemed as though my three computer opponents "ganged up" on me. I know it's programming, but I couldn't help but think of the computer players as "real"...but "real" players wouldn't have taken the cursing I gave them like I did my computer opponents. (named Huey, Dewey and Louie)
My better play can also be attributed to my better remembering the cards that have been played, which is one of the most important strategies of Hearts but I also think this version of the game is more "fair". With this version, the other players will seem to try to keep one of them - and me- from "shooting the moon" and winning all the tricks. With the previous games, it seemed as though I was the only one trying to prevent it.
Now, you may think a blog post about a computer cards game might be silly and you might think I don't have a life posting about it and playing so many games of Hearts. You'd be right thinking both. Need proof?
Previous post about Hearts and another and another
So, I decided I'd get a large enough sample of games to be significant and figured a hundred would be good enough. As you can see by the screen shot below, I did fairly well, winning nearly half the games. I had started a few games, then got discouraged or had to do something, so when I closed the program, it counts the game as a loss. I don't know if I would have won those games or not - probably not, because some of them started out badly, catching the queen right off the bat several hands in a row.
Still, I'm fairly proud to have done so well. In the other Hearts programs, I very seldom won, hardly ever over 25% of the time. That's probably about right for a novice Hearts player such as myself. Still, it seemed as though my three computer opponents "ganged up" on me. I know it's programming, but I couldn't help but think of the computer players as "real"...but "real" players wouldn't have taken the cursing I gave them like I did my computer opponents. (named Huey, Dewey and Louie)
My better play can also be attributed to my better remembering the cards that have been played, which is one of the most important strategies of Hearts but I also think this version of the game is more "fair". With this version, the other players will seem to try to keep one of them - and me- from "shooting the moon" and winning all the tricks. With the previous games, it seemed as though I was the only one trying to prevent it.
Now, you may think a blog post about a computer cards game might be silly and you might think I don't have a life posting about it and playing so many games of Hearts. You'd be right thinking both. Need proof?
Previous post about Hearts and another and another
August 28, 2013
Hank & Marie Watch Miley Cyrus
Absolutely brilliant combination of two current Internet hot topics: the Miley Cyrus performance at the VMAs and Hank and Marie watching Walt's "confession" video on the last episode of Breaking Bad.
This *might* stretch the G-rating of this blog, but it's too funny to pass up.
This *might* stretch the G-rating of this blog, but it's too funny to pass up.
August 27, 2013
meander
meander me·an·der [mee-an-der]
verb (used without object)
1. to proceed by or take a winding or indirect course: The stream meandered through the valley.
2. to wander aimlessly; ramble: The talk meandered on.
verb (used with object)
3. Surveying . to define the margin of (a body of water) with a meander line. noun
4. Usually, meanders. turnings or windings; a winding path or course.
5. a circuitous movement or journey.
6. an intricate variety of fret or fretwork.
meander: what this blog does all the time.
Pistol Shrimp Packin' Heat
The 2 inch long pistol shrimp can make a noise that can reach up to 218 decibels, 30 decibels higher than the sound made by the blue whale. By snapping its over-sized pincer, it can fire off a 60mph blast of water, creating a low-pressure bubble of water with an internal temperature that is briefly hotter than the sun. When the bubble bursts, it emits a high-decibel boom that stuns the tiny shrimp's prey.
Draw Ball
I'm not sure what the attraction is to Draw Ball, but there is definitely one because according to the counter, there were 18 others on the site when I was there just now. (in the middle of the night, no less...or, the middle of the day on the other side of the world, I suppose)
Wait for the images in the ball to load, then zoom in (and wait for THAT to load) then start drawing. There's an option to change the color and a tool to either write -with a feather- or make dots. You can leave a message and/or chat with other people (drawballers?) on site. You can also turn off the trippy music playing, which is some sort of New Age song with a background of either rain falling or bacon frying...or both, not for sure.
Personally, I got bored with it fairly quickly, but others might not. The most time I spent on the page was exploring what the images were, not in drawing. Draw or not, I didn't have a ball.
Wait for the images in the ball to load, then zoom in (and wait for THAT to load) then start drawing. There's an option to change the color and a tool to either write -with a feather- or make dots. You can leave a message and/or chat with other people (drawballers?) on site. You can also turn off the trippy music playing, which is some sort of New Age song with a background of either rain falling or bacon frying...or both, not for sure.
Personally, I got bored with it fairly quickly, but others might not. The most time I spent on the page was exploring what the images were, not in drawing. Draw or not, I didn't have a ball.
Concrete Calculator
Handy widget for figuring how much concrete is needed for a project, such as a walk, driveway or pad/patio.
August 26, 2013
Surf's Up!
Too bad I'm thousands of miles away from anyplace to surf.
| You Love Freedom |
 Above all else, you seek autonomy and independence in your life. You want to do your own thing. You love sensory experiences and adventures. You like to engage all five senses to the extreme. For you, surfing in the ocean would be all about the freedom you find and practice. You love the idea of mastering the waves. You cherish the unpredictability of the surf and your own actions. Each time surfing would be a totally different experience. You're a rule bender and a bit of a rebel. You would do what feels right when it came to surfing, even if it meant skipping work. Of all the types, you're the one most likely to get addicted to surfing. Once you pick up your board, it will be hard to put it down. |
August 24, 2013
Drunk as Cooter Brown
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Cooter Brown, sometimes given as Cootie Brown, is a name used in metaphors and similes for drunkenness, mostly in the southern United States. Cooter Brown supposedly lived on the line which divided the North and South during the American Civil War, making him eligible for military draft by either side. He had family on both sides of the line, so he did not want to fight in the war. He decided to get drunk and stay drunk for the duration of the war so that he would be seen as useless for military purposes and would not be drafted.
Ever since, colloquial and proverbial ratings of drunkenness have been benchmarked against the legendary drinker: "as drunk as Cooter Brown" or "drunker than Cooter Brown."
There are also other versions of the origin of the phrase.
Cooter Brown, sometimes given as Cootie Brown, is a name used in metaphors and similes for drunkenness, mostly in the southern United States. Cooter Brown supposedly lived on the line which divided the North and South during the American Civil War, making him eligible for military draft by either side. He had family on both sides of the line, so he did not want to fight in the war. He decided to get drunk and stay drunk for the duration of the war so that he would be seen as useless for military purposes and would not be drafted.
Ever since, colloquial and proverbial ratings of drunkenness have been benchmarked against the legendary drinker: "as drunk as Cooter Brown" or "drunker than Cooter Brown."
There are also other versions of the origin of the phrase.
August 23, 2013
August 21, 2013
Cat Bounce!
As it says, it's cats bouncing. If they're not bouncing fast or high enough for you, left-click on a cat and drag it upwards and then let go. Click the flashing "make it rain" link at the top right-hand corner of the screen to unleash a short but furious deluge of cats. Sorry, no dogs.
The Ocean Deep
Under the right conditions, light may be detected as far as 1000 meters (3,280 ft.) into the ocean, but there is rarely any significant light beyond 200 meters. (656 ft.)
Source: NOAA
Source: NOAA
ToTG- Home of the Whopper
"Whopper" - as in stretching the truth. I do enjoy a good burger,though and wish we still had a Burger King franchise here in town.
I much preferred a Burger King burger to those at McDonalds.
I don't know what happened to it, but I used to have a plaque for my kitchen that read: "This is NOT Burger King - you get it my way, or you don't get the S.O.B."
| You Are Burger King |
 You are edgy, irreverent, and a risk taker. You enjoy anything that's bold and brash. You say whatever is on your mind, and you occasionally offend people... but mostly you just entertain them. You are very unique, and you don't like following rules. You like to have things done your way. And just because you do things your way, it doesn't mean you're stubborn. You're the first person to experiment and mix things up a bit. |
I don't know what happened to it, but I used to have a plaque for my kitchen that read: "This is NOT Burger King - you get it my way, or you don't get the S.O.B."
August 20, 2013
Falling Dominoes
There's not a lot to Falling Dominoes and it doesn't waste much time, either. That's probably a good thing, since it's really just a commercial for CokeTM.
It doesn't take much to start it off, either. Just move your cursor and a hand appears, then move it over to the first domino and nudge it. That's all there is to it.
It IS visually entertaining and there's something satisfying about watching the chain reaction of the cyber-dominoes. A lot of fun and you don't have to spend hours setting up the dominoes...or putting them back in the box, for that matter.
It doesn't take much to start it off, either. Just move your cursor and a hand appears, then move it over to the first domino and nudge it. That's all there is to it.
It IS visually entertaining and there's something satisfying about watching the chain reaction of the cyber-dominoes. A lot of fun and you don't have to spend hours setting up the dominoes...or putting them back in the box, for that matter.
Building Blaster
Note: A "bump" from August '09. I found this after checking something earlier and spent an hour playing the game. I also d/l the game to play on my computer, loads of fun!
A fun game from 2DPlay.com.
Drag explosives to desired area, press the + (plus) or - (minus) buttons to set timer, then press "detonate".
Combine explosives for more explosive power!
Here's a screenshot of one of my failures:
As you can see, I left most of it standing, but I got better after I got the knack of where to place the charges and how to stagger the time to make parts fall into others in order to get them to hit the ground.
Play Building Blaster
Also available to put on your website, but you can also download the files to be used on your own computer.
A fun game from 2DPlay.com.
Drag explosives to desired area, press the + (plus) or - (minus) buttons to set timer, then press "detonate".
Combine explosives for more explosive power!
Here's a screenshot of one of my failures:
As you can see, I left most of it standing, but I got better after I got the knack of where to place the charges and how to stagger the time to make parts fall into others in order to get them to hit the ground.
Play Building Blaster
Also available to put on your website, but you can also download the files to be used on your own computer.
Optional: Air Bag
The first consumer car to offer an air bag as an option was the 1974 Oldsmobile Tornado Brougham.
I used to run around with a guy who had a later model Tornado with air bags, the first I had ever seen. There had been some news stories of them accidentally going off or people being hurt more by them in wrecks than from the wreck itself. It was hard to relax while in the front seat, not only from worrying about the air bag, but that he was such a lousy driver that I was afraid I'd need the air bag. I ran into him a few years back while taking some photos by the side of the highway; he stopped to see if I was having car problems and we started shooting the bull. I decided I'd introduce myself and stuck out my hand and his mouth dropped open and told me who he was. (*and I'm sure my mouth dropped open, too) He told me I had aged and that he never would've recognized me. (*and HE had gained at least 250lbs and I never would've recognized him)
His Tornado had one of those long, sloping rear windows and even though he tried to put it in the garage when a hail storm hit, it still was destroyed when he was caught out on the road during a storm that, oddly enough, contained a tornado. (although I never heard the name of the car pronounced the same, but rather Tor-nah-do)
Note: I'm not positive that's a Brougham, but it's the trivia fact that's important, not the graphic. If you want to - in a polite manner - correct me, then please feel free to do so in the comments section. If you want be rude and tell me I'm stupid, then feel free to email me at kissmybutt@gotohell.com
I used to run around with a guy who had a later model Tornado with air bags, the first I had ever seen. There had been some news stories of them accidentally going off or people being hurt more by them in wrecks than from the wreck itself. It was hard to relax while in the front seat, not only from worrying about the air bag, but that he was such a lousy driver that I was afraid I'd need the air bag. I ran into him a few years back while taking some photos by the side of the highway; he stopped to see if I was having car problems and we started shooting the bull. I decided I'd introduce myself and stuck out my hand and his mouth dropped open and told me who he was. (*and I'm sure my mouth dropped open, too) He told me I had aged and that he never would've recognized me. (*and HE had gained at least 250lbs and I never would've recognized him)
His Tornado had one of those long, sloping rear windows and even though he tried to put it in the garage when a hail storm hit, it still was destroyed when he was caught out on the road during a storm that, oddly enough, contained a tornado. (although I never heard the name of the car pronounced the same, but rather Tor-nah-do)
Note: I'm not positive that's a Brougham, but it's the trivia fact that's important, not the graphic. If you want to - in a polite manner - correct me, then please feel free to do so in the comments section. If you want be rude and tell me I'm stupid, then feel free to email me at kissmybutt@gotohell.com
August 19, 2013
Bring In The Cats
(Note: This is the first post in what will be probably too many in a new category: "Time Wasters")
Bring In The Cats isn't a game, nor is it much of a time waster because you'll likely get tired of it by the time the song cycles through the first time. There's also not a lot to it other than cat's heads flying around the screen with a flashing, color changing background and a catchy tune that grows annoying...but will probably stay stuck in your head all day What it is, however is cute. After all, the Internet needs more cats, right?
Bring In The Cats isn't a game, nor is it much of a time waster because you'll likely get tired of it by the time the song cycles through the first time. There's also not a lot to it other than cat's heads flying around the screen with a flashing, color changing background and a catchy tune that grows annoying...but will probably stay stuck in your head all day What it is, however is cute. After all, the Internet needs more cats, right?
August 18, 2013
I'm No Doormat
| You Have Balanced Boundaries |
 You are a kind hearted soul, and you never want to do anyone harm... and that includes yourself. For the things that don't matter, you are very live and let live. But you do have your breaking point. Of all the types, you struggle the most with what to do in any complicated situation. You weigh your options carefully. And while you may make mistakes occasionally, you do a good job sticking up for yourself without going overboard. You are an active and engaged person who is very concerned with doing the correct thing. You try to take the high road. While you may be forceful when it's time to stand up for what's right, you always do so with respect and dignity. |
Nope, not a doormat, but if I was, I'd look like this:
August 17, 2013
August 16, 2013
What's a Big Brother For?
I just got this in my Gmail account, the one I use for most everything. (I have statements and announcements from them sent to Gmail.)They're referring to my AT&T/Yahoo provided email account, one I never use...and am glad of it. Gmail has its own privacy concerns, but they've never altered my address book.
On one hand, it's good that I don't have invalid email addresses in my address book, but on the other I don't like them making changes w/out my approval, esp. deleting information.
1984, you got here a little late, but I was hopin' you'd never get here at all.
On one hand, it's good that I don't have invalid email addresses in my address book, but on the other I don't like them making changes w/out my approval, esp. deleting information.
1984, you got here a little late, but I was hopin' you'd never get here at all.
Funny GIFs
Photobucket has been sending me "You should see these!" types of emails lately; I've used the service for a long time, since MSN Groups, but Blogger lets me add photos using Picassa, so I don't use it much anymore except when I want to put an animated graphic (GIF) into a post. (I guess I "use" it every day because that's where the graphics for the month images at the top of the page are hosted)
I followed a link in the email to see this: Animated_GIFs I would link to the slide show, but there are over 400 graphics and even with my fairly fast connection, the animations wouldn't load fast enough until it was cycling through to the next one. There are some funny ones, worth a look!
(Did you know GIF isn't pronounced "gif" but rather as "jif", with a "J"? So says the creator of them, but there are people arguing that he's wrong.)
I followed a link in the email to see this: Animated_GIFs I would link to the slide show, but there are over 400 graphics and even with my fairly fast connection, the animations wouldn't load fast enough until it was cycling through to the next one. There are some funny ones, worth a look!
(Did you know GIF isn't pronounced "gif" but rather as "jif", with a "J"? So says the creator of them, but there are people arguing that he's wrong.)
Giddy On Up - Laura Bell Bundy
I was watching another YouTube video and when it ended, one of the recommended videos was I'm No Good (For Ya Baby). (in fact, I liked that song better than the one in the video I posted, but it's not as entertaining) The singer was pretty, but I hadn't heard of her, so a quick search told me she was not only a singer, but an actress and I had seen her in a movie before; she had played the young Sarah Whittle in the 1995 adventure flick Jumanji.
I enjoyed the movie the first time I saw it and sometimes watch it again when it's on the tube. I remember thinking that the girl must have been made up to look like Bonnie Hunt (the actress who played the older Sarah) might have looked at that age, slightly bulbous nose and all. I won't link to any of them, but on the IMDb board for Laura Bell Bundy as well as other forums, her nose has been a big topic of discussion and quite a bit of contention. (Ah, the "joys" of the Internet) It doesn't matter to me if she had a nose job or not, she's a lovely young woman.
August 15, 2013
Kidding Around
| You Were an Intuitive Kid |
 As a kid, your power element was water. You were a very balanced and intuitive kid. You were probably always more emotionally mature than the children around you. You may have found it easier to relate to adults than most kids. And while it may have been hard for you to relate to the kids around you, it's likely you had a very close friend or two. Deep connections were important to you from an early age, and you were the type most able to form a 'BFF' bond with someone. As a kid, you saw things in the abstract. You did best when you were able to daydream, play, create, and engage your imagination. You probably found it challenging to sit still in a structure classroom. You may not have made trouble, but your mind was likely elsewhere. |
I Like to Watch Women Fight
With pillows while scantily dressed or maybe wrestling in mud.
This? A little scary.
This? A little scary.
Mr. October
Reggie Jackson hit a record three consecutive home runs in a World Series game, all on the first pitch thrown to him by three different pitchers. His post-season exploits earned him the nickname of "Mr. October".
August 14, 2013
Symphony No.47 in G Major-Haydn
Also known as the "Palindrome Symphony" because the third movement is the musical equivalent of a palindrome - it's the same played forward and backward.
August 13, 2013
White House Yard Sale
In 1882, Chester A. Arthur, the 21st President of the United States, raised money to redecorate the White House by auctioning off presidential artifacts. The items included 24 wagon loads of furniture, 30 barrels of china and a pair of Abraham Lincoln's trousers.
Read more about this and other White House redecorating at: White House Confidential.
Read more about this and other White House redecorating at: White House Confidential.
August 12, 2013
Two For One, None For All
The 1997 blockbuster Titanic was the first movie to have two performers nominated for Oscars for their portrayals of the same character; Kate Winslet was nominated for Best Actress as young Rose and Gloria Stuart was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in the old Rose role. (both lost)
The same two performance/same character situation happened again a few years later with the 2001 film Iris and again Winslet was involved. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in the younger title role while Judi Dench was nominated for Best Actress as the older Iris. (both lost)
The same two performance/same character situation happened again a few years later with the 2001 film Iris and again Winslet was involved. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in the younger title role while Judi Dench was nominated for Best Actress as the older Iris. (both lost)
Food Cart Quiz
| You Are a Crepe Food Cart |
 You are easygoing yet sophisticated. You have great taste, but you don't make a fuss about it. You can make do and fit in anywhere, but you still maintain your individuality. Your friends envy your confidence and attitude. Of all the types, you are both the most skilled and adventurous. You are curious about the world and constantly learning from it. You don't fear much in life, except boredom and mediocrity. You are driven to be the best you possible. You have a very success focused personality, but your idea of success is constantly evolving and differs from those around you. For example, you might not find having a high powered but stressful career to be successful. You're more of the do what you love and travel the world type. |
August 11, 2013
Breaking Bad
I'm sitting here, whiling away the hours until the newest episode of Breaking Bad airs tonight by listening to the first episodes of the last season which are on the TV behind me. Listening, because I've seen them and I'm on the 'net, reading any articles I can find about the award-winning series. I want some clue, some insight as to how the last shows will play out.
WARNING: If you haven't seen any of the show and intend to, then quit reading now. I won't reveal everything that happens on the show, but have to mention an important part that explains what led me away from the show and what led me back to it.
I started watching Breaking Bad when it first started, but early in the series I grew extremely uncomfortable with the storyline. The episode that made me turn away was the one where Walter White has a drug dealer named Krazy-8 tied up in his basement and is conflicted about what he will do with him. White talks with the drug dealer, more-or-less bonding over shared interests and decides he can't kill him and goes to get the key to release him. When White realizes Krazy-8 has hidden a shard of glass in order to kill him, White has no choice but to kill his hostage.
What made me so uncomfortable was my own thinking, thinking that agreed with Walter White's decision to murder the dealer in cold blood. White had been a sympathetic character until that moment and he truly hadn't got to the point of "breaking bad" until then. What disturbed me was how I also saw there was no other way to resolve the situation and I agreed with his actions. In other words, I saw a part of Walter White in me and I couldn't stand knowing that about myself. I quit watching the series then.
Now, I'm not saying I would ever have started manufacturing meth, but I certainly understood how quickly good intentions can turn to bad. After all, the road to hell is paved with them. You can't play a game with the devil because the stakes are your soul.
A season or two went by and one night when there was nothing else on (or the Cowboys were playing poorly, I can't remember) I tuned in the show again. I was a little confused at how the plot was progressing, so I searched online and found the Breaking Bad Wiki site and got up to speed. The shows were thrilling to say the least and I regretted my quitting watching. Since that time, I've watched all the episodes on AMC or at other sites (I'd rather not link to). I found forums that discussed the motivations of the characters, the tiny details I had missed - the hidden meanings in colors and plot points I had overlooked and while I knew the writing was brilliant, I now think it's nothing short of genius.
I'm having a hard time waiting on the end to begin. What will be the ultimate result? The writers have left clues, but nothing definitive, at least not to me, not now, but I expect that after the end credits roll on the last show it will all become clear.
WARNING: If you haven't seen any of the show and intend to, then quit reading now. I won't reveal everything that happens on the show, but have to mention an important part that explains what led me away from the show and what led me back to it.
I started watching Breaking Bad when it first started, but early in the series I grew extremely uncomfortable with the storyline. The episode that made me turn away was the one where Walter White has a drug dealer named Krazy-8 tied up in his basement and is conflicted about what he will do with him. White talks with the drug dealer, more-or-less bonding over shared interests and decides he can't kill him and goes to get the key to release him. When White realizes Krazy-8 has hidden a shard of glass in order to kill him, White has no choice but to kill his hostage.
What made me so uncomfortable was my own thinking, thinking that agreed with Walter White's decision to murder the dealer in cold blood. White had been a sympathetic character until that moment and he truly hadn't got to the point of "breaking bad" until then. What disturbed me was how I also saw there was no other way to resolve the situation and I agreed with his actions. In other words, I saw a part of Walter White in me and I couldn't stand knowing that about myself. I quit watching the series then.
Now, I'm not saying I would ever have started manufacturing meth, but I certainly understood how quickly good intentions can turn to bad. After all, the road to hell is paved with them. You can't play a game with the devil because the stakes are your soul.
A season or two went by and one night when there was nothing else on (or the Cowboys were playing poorly, I can't remember) I tuned in the show again. I was a little confused at how the plot was progressing, so I searched online and found the Breaking Bad Wiki site and got up to speed. The shows were thrilling to say the least and I regretted my quitting watching. Since that time, I've watched all the episodes on AMC or at other sites (I'd rather not link to). I found forums that discussed the motivations of the characters, the tiny details I had missed - the hidden meanings in colors and plot points I had overlooked and while I knew the writing was brilliant, I now think it's nothing short of genius.
I'm having a hard time waiting on the end to begin. What will be the ultimate result? The writers have left clues, but nothing definitive, at least not to me, not now, but I expect that after the end credits roll on the last show it will all become clear.
Aqualung - Jethro Tull
Certain songs bring back vivid memories of the time they were popular/on the charts and even though this song came out in 1971, this one reminds me of the late 70's, when I was just married and happy. Jethro Tull was a favorite of my new bride; not particularly one of mine, but I did like the few chart toppers the group had, this being one of them. The marriage didn't last all that long and after we had been divorced for a year or two, we decided we'd like to see each other again and took a trip down to Austin. Riding along the interstate, I was digging around in her music and had to smile when I saw several Jethro Tull albums in her mobile collection. I got her to plug Aqualung
into her cassette deck and we zipped along the highway, trying to recapture something that had been lost.We failed, but the try was worth the effort.
August 10, 2013
The Brad Pitt Rule
I'm WAY past my dating prime - if I ever had a "prime" - but I thought this video was cute. It's from The Art of Manliness, a site I recently started subscribing to in my reader. I discovered it when searching for alternative necktie knots (at least more than the single one I've relied upon for years) and spent an hour or two on the site, looking at some of the other informative articles of interest to men.
Sadly, my dating days are mostly over. I'll have to depend upon a woman literally falling into my lap (and wanting to stay there) because I'm certainly not going to impress a lady with my wealth (I have none, and my standards are still high enough to where I wouldn't want a woman who wanted me only for my money. If I ever hit the lottery, I'll get back to you on that.) and certainly can't get a favorable first impression with the way I dress (I'm basically a slob) or my looks (my looks can be described as something between Mel Gibson and Homer Simpson).
The last time I tried to pick up a woman was several years ago when I stopped at a bar to have a beer and saw a cute young thing standing at the jukebox. Working up the courage that only alcohol can provide - in my case - I sidled up next to her and said "Where have you been all my life?" (I never claimed to be smooth.)
She stepped back, slowly looked at me from head to toe and said:
"From the looks of you, I wasn't even around for the first half of it."
Fired Future Famous Funnyman
Jerry Seinfeld had a recurring role on the TV sitcom Benson in 1980, playing Frankie, a mail boy who was always trying to sell jokes. Seinfeld was fired after only three episodes, learning about it when he showed up for a read-through and discovering there was no script for him.
Jerry Seinfeld on Benson
Jerry Seinfeld on Benson
August 9, 2013
That Casserole Was Mean to Me!
I was going through recipes I had saved this month and saw one for a breakfast casserole that sounded good and thought I'd like to try some day. I did a search on my computer and found a few more I had saved and thought I'd see if there were others on the 'net that I might want to save in my vast collection. (I save recipes, it's one of my online hobbies) I saw this recipe at Allrecipes.com, a favorite site of mine: Christmas Breakfast Sausage Casserole. The recipe got a four and a half star rating out of five, so I thought I'd skim through a few of the reviews. The breakdown of the reviews was this:
Out of 1,230 ratings, 841 cooks loved it, 272 liked it, 85 thought it was OK, 22 didn't like it and there were 10 cooks who wouldn't eat it.
No matter how you look at it, that is overwhelmingly positive for the recipe. Sure, there were a few who were tepid in their praise, some who didn't like it and only a few - less than 1% - who thought it dreadful. I rate movies on IMDb sometimes and even the movies I love only get a "9" because I've yet to see a movie that didn't have at least a few flaws in it. I haven't made the casserole, but I would probably be one of the "liked it" crowd because I'm fairly conservative with my ratings of anything. (That said, I'd give my ex-wife a "7" considering everything, probably a little generous but I wouldn't want to give her a rating of average - she deserves a few points just for putting up with me)
Now, I understand about ratings; it doesn't matter what it is, movies or mayonnaise, taste is subjective and varies from person-to-person. What I have problems with are people who like something but castigate others for not liking it. It's one thing to dislike...say, a politician, but they should list the reasons, not dislike someone just because they're fat or skinny, black or white, gay or straight. I'm a Cowboys fan and many people despise the QB Tony Romo, but they don't give a valid reason regarding his play on the field but criticize him for wearing his cap backwards or for dating starlets (before he was married) or liking to play golf. (they didn't want him to take ANY vacations or have a life outside of football. Silly.)
One of the "most helpful critical reviews" on the casserole was by "hurryup2002" - posted on Oct. 12, 2003, which made me wonder if they were pleased with how fast the year had arrived or still wanted to gripe about the slow pace of time. Anyway....
They posted this: "This is not nice at all, i just want to let people know that this is the worst thing ever. It is not nice."
That's one of the criticisms that I wrote about above; no reason for disliking it, no honest reason why they didn't like it, not that the cooking time was too long or too short or the bread was overly soggy w/ putting it in the fridge overnight, that it was too salty/not salty enough, etc. No, "it is not nice."
Not nice? When they put it in the oven, did it scream at them "Hey dummy! Set the oven at 350, not 400 deg.!" or "You don't need to eat me...you're a little too fat as it is." "Don't add any salt, the sausage has it already, ya doofus!" ???
What's not nice is my review of that review, but it was nicer than I wanted to be.
Out of 1,230 ratings, 841 cooks loved it, 272 liked it, 85 thought it was OK, 22 didn't like it and there were 10 cooks who wouldn't eat it.
No matter how you look at it, that is overwhelmingly positive for the recipe. Sure, there were a few who were tepid in their praise, some who didn't like it and only a few - less than 1% - who thought it dreadful. I rate movies on IMDb sometimes and even the movies I love only get a "9" because I've yet to see a movie that didn't have at least a few flaws in it. I haven't made the casserole, but I would probably be one of the "liked it" crowd because I'm fairly conservative with my ratings of anything. (That said, I'd give my ex-wife a "7" considering everything, probably a little generous but I wouldn't want to give her a rating of average - she deserves a few points just for putting up with me)
Now, I understand about ratings; it doesn't matter what it is, movies or mayonnaise, taste is subjective and varies from person-to-person. What I have problems with are people who like something but castigate others for not liking it. It's one thing to dislike...say, a politician, but they should list the reasons, not dislike someone just because they're fat or skinny, black or white, gay or straight. I'm a Cowboys fan and many people despise the QB Tony Romo, but they don't give a valid reason regarding his play on the field but criticize him for wearing his cap backwards or for dating starlets (before he was married) or liking to play golf. (they didn't want him to take ANY vacations or have a life outside of football. Silly.)
One of the "most helpful critical reviews" on the casserole was by "hurryup2002" - posted on Oct. 12, 2003, which made me wonder if they were pleased with how fast the year had arrived or still wanted to gripe about the slow pace of time. Anyway....
They posted this: "This is not nice at all, i just want to let people know that this is the worst thing ever. It is not nice."
That's one of the criticisms that I wrote about above; no reason for disliking it, no honest reason why they didn't like it, not that the cooking time was too long or too short or the bread was overly soggy w/ putting it in the fridge overnight, that it was too salty/not salty enough, etc. No, "it is not nice."
Not nice? When they put it in the oven, did it scream at them "Hey dummy! Set the oven at 350, not 400 deg.!" or "You don't need to eat me...you're a little too fat as it is." "Don't add any salt, the sausage has it already, ya doofus!" ???
What's not nice is my review of that review, but it was nicer than I wanted to be.
August 8, 2013
"It's Just a Dollar"
I went to the grocery store the other day and saw they had a sale on Eckrich sausage; I don't eat a lot of that, but it sounded good and a pkg. will make several sandwiches, plus some left to be sliced into some slow cooker beans. I got two packages since they were 2/$5.00, a dollar off the regular price for each.
I wasn't getting many other items and happened to see that one of the packages of sausage rang up at the regular price. I pointed it out to the young woman running the cash register and she immediately looked annoyed that I had even spoken to her. She glanced at the register readout, sniffed in a disdainful way and said:
"It's just a dollar."
I told her if it was "just a dollar", then maybe the store could pay the difference or better yet, she could get the money out of her own pocket and pay it. She didn't look to see the sale price in the circular, didn't call a manager or do anything else about it, just stared at me as though I was something she wanted to scrape off the bottom of her shoe. I told her I didn't want it then, didn't want any of the items I had that she'd already rang up and I turned on my heel and walked out the door. I may never go back, there are two other stores here in town where I'm treated much nicer than that.
I'm just getting tired of the attitude of people who deal with customers, it's happened several times over this last month. A few weeks ago I was wearing a Texas themed t-shirt and the checkout girl told me she didn't like my shirt. I asked her why and she she said "Texas sucks." I wanted to reach out and slap her insolent cheeks, but instead went home, got on the company website and sent off an email complaining about the hateful little wench. The next day I got an email from corporate headquarters and a phone call from both the store manager and the district supervisor, all apologizing and promising it would never happen again. I told them it had better not, that their competitor was just across the street.
I've always been Caspar Milquetoast on these things; when I ordered a steak and it wasn't done as I liked, I'd eat it and not send it back. When I wouldn't get good service, I'd go ahead and leave a tip or if my pizza arrived later than promised and cold, I'd just eat it and not complain. Never again! I got a burger yesterday at the best place in town and when I ordered, I asked that some ketchup be put into the bag, explaining to the young woman who took my order that they always left it out. She assured me she'd take care of it, but when I got home, there wasn't a single packet in the bag. I will be letting the owner of the establishment know about it, too.
What these people need to understand is that, while their boss signs their checks, I pay their wages! Without me...and other customers...they wouldn't have a job!
I worked at a liquor store while going back to school; I was a good hand and single-handedly worked the busiest times, the evenings and Saturdays. The morning staff never had more than a dozen customers from 10-2 and all they had to do was check deliveries (and more often than not, didn't stock the items and left it all for me to do) and were supposed to dust and clean, but none ever did. One young "lady" told me "This would be a great job if it weren't for the customers." (she had several come in the store while she was trying to watch Days of Our Lives and that annoyed her)
I'm sick of that kind of attitude.
I wasn't getting many other items and happened to see that one of the packages of sausage rang up at the regular price. I pointed it out to the young woman running the cash register and she immediately looked annoyed that I had even spoken to her. She glanced at the register readout, sniffed in a disdainful way and said:
"It's just a dollar."
I told her if it was "just a dollar", then maybe the store could pay the difference or better yet, she could get the money out of her own pocket and pay it. She didn't look to see the sale price in the circular, didn't call a manager or do anything else about it, just stared at me as though I was something she wanted to scrape off the bottom of her shoe. I told her I didn't want it then, didn't want any of the items I had that she'd already rang up and I turned on my heel and walked out the door. I may never go back, there are two other stores here in town where I'm treated much nicer than that.
I'm just getting tired of the attitude of people who deal with customers, it's happened several times over this last month. A few weeks ago I was wearing a Texas themed t-shirt and the checkout girl told me she didn't like my shirt. I asked her why and she she said "Texas sucks." I wanted to reach out and slap her insolent cheeks, but instead went home, got on the company website and sent off an email complaining about the hateful little wench. The next day I got an email from corporate headquarters and a phone call from both the store manager and the district supervisor, all apologizing and promising it would never happen again. I told them it had better not, that their competitor was just across the street.
I've always been Caspar Milquetoast on these things; when I ordered a steak and it wasn't done as I liked, I'd eat it and not send it back. When I wouldn't get good service, I'd go ahead and leave a tip or if my pizza arrived later than promised and cold, I'd just eat it and not complain. Never again! I got a burger yesterday at the best place in town and when I ordered, I asked that some ketchup be put into the bag, explaining to the young woman who took my order that they always left it out. She assured me she'd take care of it, but when I got home, there wasn't a single packet in the bag. I will be letting the owner of the establishment know about it, too.
What these people need to understand is that, while their boss signs their checks, I pay their wages! Without me...and other customers...they wouldn't have a job!
I worked at a liquor store while going back to school; I was a good hand and single-handedly worked the busiest times, the evenings and Saturdays. The morning staff never had more than a dozen customers from 10-2 and all they had to do was check deliveries (and more often than not, didn't stock the items and left it all for me to do) and were supposed to dust and clean, but none ever did. One young "lady" told me "This would be a great job if it weren't for the customers." (she had several come in the store while she was trying to watch Days of Our Lives and that annoyed her)
I'm sick of that kind of attitude.
August 7, 2013
Tale of the Tail
The Opossum is the only North American mammal with a prehensile tail. It can use its hairless, foot-long tail to grasp objects and climb trees.
We know about 'possums, having had several close encounters.
We know about 'possums, having had several close encounters.
August 6, 2013
hyperhidrosis
hyperhidrosis hy·per·hi·dro·sis [hahy-per-hi-droh-sis] noun Pathology
abnormally excessive sweating
I knew this word, but had forgotten it until I read the definition and then I remembered the first time I ever saw it. I was in junior high and had developed an embarrassing condition of my palms profusely sweating; oh, not all the time, but mostly when I was holding hands with a girl. (or before a test or a ballgame or trying to explain to my dad why I hadn't done the chores he had wanted me to do.) I found the symptoms and this term looking through a medical encyclopedia while trying to find out what was wrong with me. Looking back now, I realize I didn't have hyperhidrosis, but suffered from the same anxiety and shyness most other teen boys did. Teenage angst, the wet kind.
Still, I did perspire a lot. Sometimes during a basketball game after shooting a free throw, someone would slip on the pool of sweat that had dripped off of me while standing there taking the foul shot. I would also sweat through shirts on a warm day, leaving visible circles under my arms. I'd try my best to hide them by not raising my arms more than an inch away from my body, but I'm sure I then looked like a sweaty Frankenstein. I also had problems with sweaty, stinky feet, but getting on the other side of puberty and starting to wear cotton socks mostly solved that problem.
I still sweat a lot, though. I've learned to put a bandanna or handkerchief in my pocket before starting some strenuous activity or otherwise I'll be blinded by the sweat rolling off my forehead into my eyes if I don't stop frequently and mop my brow and head. I don't think that's "abnormally excessive sweating" but is actually a healthy and normal bodily function.
Several years ago, I went to the doctor for an unrelated matter and shook his hand after we had talked. I had been more than a little anxious worrying about what might be wrong with me and was relieved that it wasn't what I had thought it might be. My hands were clammy and damp and the doctor noticed. "You have sweaty palms much?" he asked. I admitted I did when I was overly anxious. He scribbled something on a prescription pad and told me that would help. I went to the pharmacy and got the prescription filled; the vial was full of little blue pills. I didn't recognize the name, but took them for a day before calling a friend who had a "pill book" that listed most medicines. She knew what they were when I spelled out the name...I had to spell it out, because I wasn't sure how to pronounce "Xanax". "You'll like them." she assured me, telling me almost her entire family took them. Hmmm...pretty mellow family, I thought, guess I'll keep taking them.
Yep, was no sweat taking them...no worries, not a care in the world, actually.
Oodles of Doodles
| You Are Having a Challenging Day |
 You have a strong sense of humor, and that includes a tendency to make fun of yourself. You are thoughtful and reflective. It's likely that you're taking stock of your life right now. Your thoughts are very far away from what's going on right now. You have something important on your mind. You are friendly and easygoing. You're generally happy with who you are and the life you lead. |
August 4, 2013
rarefied
rarefied rar·e·fied [rair-uh-fahyd] adjective
1. extremely high or elevated; lofty; exalted: the rarefied atmosphere of a scholarly symposium.
2. of, belonging to, or appealing to an exclusive group; select; esoteric: rarefied tastes.
Sounds like a word this Congress and administration would use to describe themselves.
August 3, 2013
Get Outta My Way - The Dirt Daubers
If the pretty, voluptuous middle dancer with multiple tattoos looks familiar, then you're probably a fan of American Pickers on History. Her name is Danielle Colby-Cushman and she "plays" the office manager on the show.
August 2, 2013
The Results Are a Little Low
| Your Quirk Factor: 61% |
 You're so quirky, it's hard for you to tell the difference between quirky and normal. No doubt about it, there's little about you that's "normal" or "average." |
August 1, 2013
Did You Know?
You may have noticed some of the trivia posts are labeled "did you know". It might be redundant to have both that and a trivia label, but they ARE a little different, namely that when I ask "Did you know...?" it means I did not know it and found it interesting/cool.
The Texas Bell Tower Sniper
Today in history on August 1, 1966, Charles Whitman climbed to the top of the University of Texas Tower in Austin with a large cache of weapons and killed 16 people and wounded 32 others during a shooting rampage on and around the university's campus.
Before going on the killing spree, he murdered both his wife and mother and left a note apologizing and asking that his brain be examined after his death. After being killed by Austin PD officers Ramiro Martinez and Houston McCoy*, the autopsy on Whitman showed he had a brain tumor.
*At first, Martinez was credited with killing Whitman, but McCoy was later found to have administered the fatal shots.
Before going on the killing spree, he murdered both his wife and mother and left a note apologizing and asking that his brain be examined after his death. After being killed by Austin PD officers Ramiro Martinez and Houston McCoy*, the autopsy on Whitman showed he had a brain tumor.
*At first, Martinez was credited with killing Whitman, but McCoy was later found to have administered the fatal shots.
Sack
Deacon Jones, Pro Football Hall of Famer and leader of the Los Angeles Rams "Fearsome Foursome", coined the phrase "sack" to describe tackling a quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. "You know, like you sack a city - you devastate it."
In 1999, Jones provided an L.A. Times reporter with some detailed imagery about his forte: “You take all the offensive linemen and put them in a burlap bag, and then you take a baseball bat and beat on the bag. You’re sacking them, you’re bagging them. And that’s what you’re doing with a quarterback.”
In 1999, Jones provided an L.A. Times reporter with some detailed imagery about his forte: “You take all the offensive linemen and put them in a burlap bag, and then you take a baseball bat and beat on the bag. You’re sacking them, you’re bagging them. And that’s what you’re doing with a quarterback.”
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