wanton

From this blog's Word of the Day from Dictionary.com

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wanton \WON-tn\, adjective:
1. reckless, heartless, or malicious; without reason or excuse
2. not moral; lewd, lascivious

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This word has been used a lot lately, particularly in regards to politics. An example: "Bush's wanton disregard for (insert offended segment of the population and their beef)...yada yada yada."

That's the first definition, but I always think of the second when I see the word in print or hear it.

Think of two Texas guys in a bar, ogling a stripper who has turned her attention to them in hopes of tips being stuffed in her g-string.

"That, my friend," says one, "is a perfect example of a wanton woman."

"Yew got tha' raht." replies the other. "Ah'm a wantin' her BAD."

It's a wrap!

Story at the Pampa News website:

Independent film “Texas and Me” shot near Pampa

vacuous

From the Word of the Day feed:

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vacuous \VAK-yoo-uhs\, adjective:
1. showing no intelligence or thought
2. having no meaning or direction; empty

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Yet again a word that fits this blog.

Hell, it fits ME, who am I kidding?

Aloft

From NASA's image of the day:

This image, taken through a telescope, is of the newly designed super pressure balloon aloft over Antarctica.

NASA and the National Science Foundation successfully launched the newly designed super pressure balloon prototype that may herald a new era of high-altitude scientific research. The super-pressure balloon ultimately will carry large scientific experiments to the brink of space for 100 days or more.

This seven-million-cubic-foot super-pressure balloon is the largest single-cell, super-pressure, fully-sealed balloon ever flown. When development ends, NASA will have a 22 million-cubic-foot balloon that can carry a one-ton instrument to an altitude of more than 110,000 feet, which is 3-4 times higher than passenger planes fly.

Ultra-long duration missions using the super pressure balloon cost considerably less than a satellite and the scientific instruments flown can be retrieved and launched again, making them ideal very-high altitude research platforms.

The test flight was launched Dec. 28, 2008, from McMurdo Station, the National Science Foundation's logistics hub in Antarctica.

Image Credit:Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility

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This image and many others are freely available to download for non-commercial use and several different sizes are offered as wallpaper.

Free 3-D Glasses

At your local Dollar General.



Was sorting through some stuff a few months ago and ran across a couple of pairs of 3-D glasses almost identical to the one pictured above. A few months before that I was doing the same thing and found another pair! I can't remember when I got them or what was supposed to be viewed through them. Seems as though one was for a movie and the others were for particular magazine issues.

I'm really wondering why I still have them. I probably didn't remember the reason why when I threw them in the box, hoping that the next time I found them I might remember.

I'm also wondering if there's any significance to this post mentioning Dollar General and the previous post mentioning Family Dollar. I go to both local outlets fairly often and will have to remember to get my free 3-D glasses...so I can keep them and then a few years later forget why I have them.

I'll also need to remember which store is which. Thank goodness two of the competing outlets are right next to each other. I'll probably go to the wrong one first, then instead of driving to park at the right store, will forget to look both ways and get run over crossing the street.

The advertisement says "The Big Game Just Got Bigger!" Hmmm.... Usually, 3-D glasses give depth to a printed page or a movie by using a stereo effect, but if these make things look bigger, I will have to try to remember that if I ever get a girlfriend.

Walking Through West

It's been years since I've been through West, Texas and but a couple of times in my life at that. The town is on a "lonesome" stretch of I-35 and the highway doesn't go through the town but instead zips around. It's very near a place I'd love to live and a few weeks back I thought I'd use the street view in Google Earth to see the places of interest in the town. The town doesn't have a very good resolution in their particular swath of satellite view, though.

A listing for a Chzeck restaurant caught my eye, so I clicked on the little orb in Google Earth to see what sort of building housed the eatery. According to the place mark, it was located very near or in the two story dilapidated house shown below.



A man walking caught my eye.



The Google van taking the photos took several photos going by the guy.



He glances over, reaches into his pocket.




Looks like he's shouting something, doesn't it?



The van rolls on, the man's hand returns to his jacket.

Up the same street, parking just down from the Family Dollar there's another figure coming out from beside a bright red car.



The van keeps snapping photos:




A little blurry, but it's a pretty young girl with her hair in a ponytail and I'd bet that was her car because it looks as though she's got keys in her hands.



She pays the Google van no attention.



And I'd bet she is looking at the back of her dusty car and thinking she needs to wash it.

She keeps going.



Right towards the guy walking down the street.

You should see the next few shots.

Or maybe not.

and I never crumble

You Are Traditional and Dependable

You are optimistic, friendly, and cheerful. People appreciate the hopefulness and good vibes you bring to any situation. Your life is all about change. Right now, you may be going through some changes you really don't like. You're easy going and easy to be around. You aren't picky or high maintenance. You seek security in your life. Feeling safe is important to you.

The Sandwich Cookie Personality Test