Several weeks ago I was listening to the radio while driving to work and a report came on recounting the events leading to the U.S. Federal government shutdown of 1995, led by possible 2012 presidential contender Newt Gingrich. My crotchety, in-a-hurry-to-get-to-work self thought at the moment, "I don't need to listen to this, I lived through it! This is old stuff - give me something new."
Then it hit me - there are many (many!) U.S. citizens younger than me who did not live through this and other fairly recent historic events who need to hear and learn about them outside of a sanitized classroom environment. I realized then that 1) I'm old, and 2) I need to shut up, listen, learn and remember this significant event as well as countless others, both in its context at the time and how it has contributed to governance and politics today.
Coming across this video recently reminded me of my feelings that day, and how important it is in this age of instantaneous communication and exchange of ideas to pay attention to the younger citizens of this world. Here young children discuss their knowledge and feelings regarding the killing of Osama bin Laden. Hearing them state their ages at the time of 9/11 is particularly compelling - they were either toddlers or not yet born. Taking their shoes off at the airport or going through a scanner is normal for them, as is our country being at war in two separate countries. They've never known life any differently. A couple of them express wisdom about the world that belies their young age.
The kids in this show (I guess) are more accustomed to commenting on lighter subjects like Justin Bieber, but they hold their own here. The babyish background music is annoying - the editor(s) should have just let them speak without that. The young man in the green-and-black shirt seems particularly thoughtful for his age.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Our pale blue dot
Our home, this pale blue dot, has a little less evil within it today. Hopefully its populace can move forward and begin healing and coexisting now that this evil has departed.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
There's a NEW Shiba Inu puppy cam! (this is not a repeat)
Behold the third and final litter of six from mom Kika :) All are spoken for, and were born on April 14th.
Streaming live video by Ustream
(Previous post on Shiba Inu puppy cam litter # 2)
The sweet little puppy sounds will melt your heart :)
Streaming live video by Ustream
(Previous post on Shiba Inu puppy cam litter # 2)
The sweet little puppy sounds will melt your heart :)
Friday, April 22, 2011
The U.S. Marines are at it again...
...making awesome lip-sync dance videos, that is :)
Here's Marines in Afghanistan performing Britney Spears' "Hold it Against Me." We actually have some fierce FEMALE representation in this one! Love the guy "directing traffic" at 3:00
Here's Marines in Afghanistan performing Britney Spears' "Hold it Against Me." We actually have some fierce FEMALE representation in this one! Love the guy "directing traffic" at 3:00
Saturday, April 16, 2011
What I did on my April vacation
Guess I haven't gotten out of Catholic school mode to this day. Oh well...
* Attended the live taping of Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me! This is my favorite radio show but I have to say this was not one of their better episodes in my opinion, mainly because longtime panelist Kyrie O'Connor seemed to be phoning it in. I do have to thank the floor manager for moving me and my group to front and center when some party who had reserved seats didn't show up. I had to make a concerted effort not to swoon upon seeing Carl Kasell just a few feet in front of me :)
* Attended my wonderful nieces' performance of "Phantom of the Opera" - they were both members of the pit orchestra and crew, and beat out lots of fellow players in auditions to make the cut. I am so proud of you girls!
I was blown away by this production - top notch on every level. Sets, costumes, orchestration - all absolutely gorgeous. A thrill to see.
* Visited my lovely sis and bro-in-law in beautiful Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Sweet town with exquisite beaches, shops, restaurants, homes and history. No wonder you two love it there.
And finally...
Lady Gaga at the Amway Center on April 15th - a fantastic performance! Say what you will about her - the Lady can entertain! And yes, the piano is on fire.
I had a great week. Thank you Patty, Jeff, Joe, Joan, Barbie and Matt for taking care of me :)
Added 4/18: Slideshow of pics from the concert, including dressed-up attendees, via the Orlando Sentinel. This was a very fun night to play dress-up. Do see the Lady if you get the chance - she is well worth it. 2+ hours of spilling her soul onto the stage, and the crowd was a bonus!
* Attended the live taping of Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me! This is my favorite radio show but I have to say this was not one of their better episodes in my opinion, mainly because longtime panelist Kyrie O'Connor seemed to be phoning it in. I do have to thank the floor manager for moving me and my group to front and center when some party who had reserved seats didn't show up. I had to make a concerted effort not to swoon upon seeing Carl Kasell just a few feet in front of me :)
* Attended my wonderful nieces' performance of "Phantom of the Opera" - they were both members of the pit orchestra and crew, and beat out lots of fellow players in auditions to make the cut. I am so proud of you girls!
I was blown away by this production - top notch on every level. Sets, costumes, orchestration - all absolutely gorgeous. A thrill to see.
* Visited my lovely sis and bro-in-law in beautiful Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Sweet town with exquisite beaches, shops, restaurants, homes and history. No wonder you two love it there.
And finally...
Lady Gaga at the Amway Center on April 15th - a fantastic performance! Say what you will about her - the Lady can entertain! And yes, the piano is on fire.
I had a great week. Thank you Patty, Jeff, Joe, Joan, Barbie and Matt for taking care of me :)
Added 4/18: Slideshow of pics from the concert, including dressed-up attendees, via the Orlando Sentinel. This was a very fun night to play dress-up. Do see the Lady if you get the chance - she is well worth it. 2+ hours of spilling her soul onto the stage, and the crowd was a bonus!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
RIP Elizabeth Taylor
In her honor, below is National Velvet in Four Minutes, by You Tuber storyjan
I watched National Velvet every chance I could as a kid - there were no videotapes or dvd's back then (OMG how did we manage???) You actually had to pay attention to the TV guide that came in the newspaper and catch it when it was on, which wasn't often. How primitive :)
Thank you lovely Ms. Taylor for your thrilling performance in this movie and many others, and for all you gave to the world through your activism and kindness. You are with your friend Michael now.
I watched National Velvet every chance I could as a kid - there were no videotapes or dvd's back then (OMG how did we manage???) You actually had to pay attention to the TV guide that came in the newspaper and catch it when it was on, which wasn't often. How primitive :)
Thank you lovely Ms. Taylor for your thrilling performance in this movie and many others, and for all you gave to the world through your activism and kindness. You are with your friend Michael now.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Some crap I like
An interactive map showing where Americans are moving to and from (looks like people are trying to get the frak away from Chicago, Los Angeles and Detroit)
Play rock paper scissors against a computer and watch it learn your moves
For my nephew - Red Lobster cheddar biscuits recipe
A woman given LSD in an experiment in the 1950's
Fan catches bat, saves beer
And finally, an amazing page full of Judge Judy gifs (may take awhile to load, but worth the wait)
Enjoy :)
Play rock paper scissors against a computer and watch it learn your moves
For my nephew - Red Lobster cheddar biscuits recipe
A woman given LSD in an experiment in the 1950's
Fan catches bat, saves beer
And finally, an amazing page full of Judge Judy gifs (may take awhile to load, but worth the wait)
Enjoy :)
Friday, March 11, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
My sisters are being buried in snow as we speak...
So I will try to post some entertainment from Florida for them...
The Messiah Choral Society has performed Handel's Messiah on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in Orlando for over thirty years as a free gift to the community. They added an extra performance in the 2010 holiday season, performing as a flashmob in the Orlando International Airport before Christmas. I have sung with this group for a few seasons but had to skip 2010 due to illness - major bummer - would have loved to be a part of this. Love to see the tourists joining in!
An additional view, with interviews at the end
and this happened the other day at the Mall at Millenia
I really do live in the Happiest Place On Earth!!
The Messiah Choral Society has performed Handel's Messiah on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in Orlando for over thirty years as a free gift to the community. They added an extra performance in the 2010 holiday season, performing as a flashmob in the Orlando International Airport before Christmas. I have sung with this group for a few seasons but had to skip 2010 due to illness - major bummer - would have loved to be a part of this. Love to see the tourists joining in!
An additional view, with interviews at the end
and this happened the other day at the Mall at Millenia
I really do live in the Happiest Place On Earth!!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Everybody all aboard!
This has been around for awhile, but I hadn't seen it before and it made me smile, so up it goes :)
The original scene
The original scene
Sunday, January 23, 2011
A monster, a lost soul, or something in between?
Two weeks after the shocking shootings in Tucson, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has been transferred this weekend to a rehab facility in Houston to continue her remarkable recovery from her brain injury. A nine-year-old girl, a federal judge and four others were murdered that day, and 13 were wounded. An unsettling mugshot was taken of the gunman, 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, after his arrest
As news began to come out of Loughner’s mental health history, prior arrests for petty crimes and difficulties with work and school, I found myself feeling some empathy for this kid, as despicable as his actions were. Not much seems to be known about his parents to date or how they may or may not have tried to help with his issues, but it is extremely difficult for a kid this age today to get help for mental health problems until they snap, as this kid did. After a child turns eighteen, parents are essentially powerless to intervene on behalf of their child if s/he needs help for psychiatric problems unless and until the child presents a danger to self or others, which is often too late for any meaningful assistance to take place. Individuals over 18 are also free to refuse medications or treatment on their own behalf.
It is known Loughner was clearly disturbed and perceived as a threat by classmates and teachers who interacted with him at his community college, and he was removed from campus by security several times before eventually being kicked out of the school. His YouTube presence is also ominous. However, he never hurt anyone prior to the shootings, he just was “weird” – not enough for a parent or anyone else to intervene in a way such as having him involuntarily committed.
While Loughner may not have had a clear concept of the fact that he was mentally ill, he did seem to comprehend that to have any shot at success in life he needed to get and keep a job, get some education and/or serve in the military. He tried to join the Army but was rejected, he was attempting to attend community college, and he was also attempting to hold a job, albeit unsuccessfully due to his psychiatric issues and lack of self-control. It has been reported that he once complained about having filled out 65 job applications without one resulting interview – a pretty demoralizing situation for most anyone, let alone a person with no coping skills and an untreated psychiatric disorder. In his malfunctioning mind he somehow blamed Rep. Giffords for this predicament, and thus a tragedy occurred.
The politicization of this event is offensive and ridiculous, but unfortunately inevitable. While I certainly favor more efforts toward civil discourse and less inflammatory rhetoric, the fact is this is a public health issue, not a political one. Loughner didn’t do this because he favored the “left” or the “right” – he did this because he was a delusional untreated mentally ill individual. This kid was trying to use the only means he saw as available to him – work, school, the Internet and the military – to deal with his profound problems on his own. This simply should not happen, but we all know it does every day. Early and consistent intervention, especially after age 18, may have prevented this horrible event – is that not worth the cost?
Neal Conan of the NPR show “Talk of the Nation” recently featured Jeanette Halton-Tiggs on his show. Ms. Halton-Tiggs is the mother of a violently mentally ill son who was recently sentenced to prison for gunning down a police officer. She describes all the efforts she made to get her son help, as well as warn people that he was dangerous and would hurt someone someday. Not only was she unsuccessful in getting him help because he was over 18, her own family members even treated her as if she were overreacting. Dave Cullen also joins the discussion – he is the author of Columbine, his extensively researched book on that massacre. His book debunks many myths surrounding that horrible occurrence, and dissects the mainstream media coverage of the event, exposing irresponsible lies and stoking of rhetorical fires.
Parents Judged When Their Children Commit Murder - Talk of the Nation, January 17, 2011
Thanks for reading and listening.
As news began to come out of Loughner’s mental health history, prior arrests for petty crimes and difficulties with work and school, I found myself feeling some empathy for this kid, as despicable as his actions were. Not much seems to be known about his parents to date or how they may or may not have tried to help with his issues, but it is extremely difficult for a kid this age today to get help for mental health problems until they snap, as this kid did. After a child turns eighteen, parents are essentially powerless to intervene on behalf of their child if s/he needs help for psychiatric problems unless and until the child presents a danger to self or others, which is often too late for any meaningful assistance to take place. Individuals over 18 are also free to refuse medications or treatment on their own behalf.
It is known Loughner was clearly disturbed and perceived as a threat by classmates and teachers who interacted with him at his community college, and he was removed from campus by security several times before eventually being kicked out of the school. His YouTube presence is also ominous. However, he never hurt anyone prior to the shootings, he just was “weird” – not enough for a parent or anyone else to intervene in a way such as having him involuntarily committed.
While Loughner may not have had a clear concept of the fact that he was mentally ill, he did seem to comprehend that to have any shot at success in life he needed to get and keep a job, get some education and/or serve in the military. He tried to join the Army but was rejected, he was attempting to attend community college, and he was also attempting to hold a job, albeit unsuccessfully due to his psychiatric issues and lack of self-control. It has been reported that he once complained about having filled out 65 job applications without one resulting interview – a pretty demoralizing situation for most anyone, let alone a person with no coping skills and an untreated psychiatric disorder. In his malfunctioning mind he somehow blamed Rep. Giffords for this predicament, and thus a tragedy occurred.
The politicization of this event is offensive and ridiculous, but unfortunately inevitable. While I certainly favor more efforts toward civil discourse and less inflammatory rhetoric, the fact is this is a public health issue, not a political one. Loughner didn’t do this because he favored the “left” or the “right” – he did this because he was a delusional untreated mentally ill individual. This kid was trying to use the only means he saw as available to him – work, school, the Internet and the military – to deal with his profound problems on his own. This simply should not happen, but we all know it does every day. Early and consistent intervention, especially after age 18, may have prevented this horrible event – is that not worth the cost?
Neal Conan of the NPR show “Talk of the Nation” recently featured Jeanette Halton-Tiggs on his show. Ms. Halton-Tiggs is the mother of a violently mentally ill son who was recently sentenced to prison for gunning down a police officer. She describes all the efforts she made to get her son help, as well as warn people that he was dangerous and would hurt someone someday. Not only was she unsuccessful in getting him help because he was over 18, her own family members even treated her as if she were overreacting. Dave Cullen also joins the discussion – he is the author of Columbine, his extensively researched book on that massacre. His book debunks many myths surrounding that horrible occurrence, and dissects the mainstream media coverage of the event, exposing irresponsible lies and stoking of rhetorical fires.
Parents Judged When Their Children Commit Murder - Talk of the Nation, January 17, 2011
Thanks for reading and listening.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year!
I'm feeling lazy today, so I'll let Time magazine do my work for me :)
50 Best Websites of 2010
See, that was easy :) I visit and read almost all of these sites! I could have written these posts! What does that say about me? Nevermind, don't wanna know...
Best Blogs of 2010
The last five blogs listed are categorized as "overrated," and I completely agree that they are, especially Perez. He really should just go away.
The Smartest People of 2010, by The Daily Beast
Kanye West? Really?
Can't miss Dave Barry's review of 2010.
And finally, for my nephew who shares with me the terrible compulsion to laugh when people fall, one of the top viral videos of 2010
Wishing anyone who may stop by a fantastic 2011!
50 Best Websites of 2010
See, that was easy :) I visit and read almost all of these sites! I could have written these posts! What does that say about me? Nevermind, don't wanna know...
Best Blogs of 2010
The last five blogs listed are categorized as "overrated," and I completely agree that they are, especially Perez. He really should just go away.
The Smartest People of 2010, by The Daily Beast
Kanye West? Really?
Can't miss Dave Barry's review of 2010.
And finally, for my nephew who shares with me the terrible compulsion to laugh when people fall, one of the top viral videos of 2010
Wishing anyone who may stop by a fantastic 2011!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Happy Festivus, the holiday for the rest of us!
Festivus actually has a history outside of Seinfeld, as described here.
Frank Costanza himself, Jerry Stiller, was on CNN this morning discussing Festivus. Just after the 2:00 mark an awkward moment occurs with the Festivus pole in the studio :) Mr. Stiller also expresses some strong feelings about aluminum.
What a wonderful life and marriage he and his wife, Ann Meara, have had - nearly 60 years of laughter together, and funny kids, too. I remember watching their comedy routines on TV as a kid, and they are still going strong.
Now on with the Airing of Grievances and Feats of Strength!
Oh, and Happy Birthday to me :-P
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
A family pranks a girl who has just cooked her first turkey...why yes, she is a (bottle) blonde!
The kid at the end is cute too :)
The kid at the end is cute too :)
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Now that the election is over...
These two ads rose above the muck and became my favorites of this election season. Love how Jerry Brown, winner of California's race for Governor, used former eBay honcho and self-financed candidate Meg Whitman's own words from her own ad to turn the tables on her
Next is unsuccessful Vermont Senate Democratic primary candidate Daniel Freilich, a physician, with a pledge, on a cow....YAAAAHHHH!!!
Thank God/FSM/whoever your Higher Power might be that it's over for now.
NO MORE ROBOCALLS!!
Next is unsuccessful Vermont Senate Democratic primary candidate Daniel Freilich, a physician, with a pledge, on a cow....YAAAAHHHH!!!
Thank God/FSM/whoever your Higher Power might be that it's over for now.
NO MORE ROBOCALLS!!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Music for the reluctant studyer
via 8tracks.com
Sweet 2+ hours of ambient music - turn on in another tab while you surf or write - lovely.
Sweet 2+ hours of ambient music - turn on in another tab while you surf or write - lovely.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Graceful feats of strength
While some of us sit on the couch and watch TV or surf the web, others are developing their physicality to its fullest extent. Everyone featured here appears to have a natural and elegant physique, unlike freakish-looking bodybuilders and others that use performance-enhancing drugs.
The human body at its finest...
Ivan Zubkevych performs a strap routine
Yulia Mikhaylova
Felix Cane has won several international pole dancing titles and performs in the Cirque du Soleil show Zumanity in Vegas. Most of the videos of her online are grainy cellphone vids that don't do her justice (as is this one), but this is the first I saw of her and it made me a fan
Dima Shine aka Dmitry Bulkin, combines a shorter pole with extreme handstanding, to wondrous effect
Mallakhamb is a traditional Indian gymnastic sport performed on a pole simulating a mast on a ship, as well as other apparatus. The training is believed to have developed to enable quick scaling of a ship's mast in times of distress. While there is music in the video, mallakhamb is not normally performed to music and is considered more of a spiritual exercise
Let's finish up with a little parkour, shall we? This is Damien Walters
I'm gonna go put my lazy self on my bike now...
The human body at its finest...
Ivan Zubkevych performs a strap routine
Yulia Mikhaylova
Felix Cane has won several international pole dancing titles and performs in the Cirque du Soleil show Zumanity in Vegas. Most of the videos of her online are grainy cellphone vids that don't do her justice (as is this one), but this is the first I saw of her and it made me a fan
Dima Shine aka Dmitry Bulkin, combines a shorter pole with extreme handstanding, to wondrous effect
Mallakhamb is a traditional Indian gymnastic sport performed on a pole simulating a mast on a ship, as well as other apparatus. The training is believed to have developed to enable quick scaling of a ship's mast in times of distress. While there is music in the video, mallakhamb is not normally performed to music and is considered more of a spiritual exercise
Let's finish up with a little parkour, shall we? This is Damien Walters
I'm gonna go put my lazy self on my bike now...
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Guess where the Orlando Magic are playing their preseason opener tonight?
In (well, close to) a cotton field in the Rio Grande Valley
(photo by Josh Robbins, for and via Orlando Sentinel)
Per the Sentinel's Magic Basketblog, it was the Houston Rockets, as the home team, who elected to play the preseason opener in the Valley at the State Farm Arena, capacity 6200 for basketball.
I wish I had known - I would've made it a point to go and cheer on Dwight Howard and the rest. I'd probably have had a closer and less expensive seat there than I ever will at the new Amway Center, which is now open after ten years or so of political bickering.
This proud EHS grad and former Pan Am (now known as UT Pan Am) attendee is getting a giggle from the fact that, after all the rigmarole and fanfare of the Magic getting their new spectacular arena and having it finally open, they are tipping off their season next to a cotton field in the Valley :)
That being said...GO MAGIC!
UPDATE: Magic won 97-88
(photo by Josh Robbins, for and via Orlando Sentinel)
Per the Sentinel's Magic Basketblog, it was the Houston Rockets, as the home team, who elected to play the preseason opener in the Valley at the State Farm Arena, capacity 6200 for basketball.
I wish I had known - I would've made it a point to go and cheer on Dwight Howard and the rest. I'd probably have had a closer and less expensive seat there than I ever will at the new Amway Center, which is now open after ten years or so of political bickering.
This proud EHS grad and former Pan Am (now known as UT Pan Am) attendee is getting a giggle from the fact that, after all the rigmarole and fanfare of the Magic getting their new spectacular arena and having it finally open, they are tipping off their season next to a cotton field in the Valley :)
That being said...GO MAGIC!
UPDATE: Magic won 97-88
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
No pity for you!
You know how sometimes you're having a pretty shitty day and feeling sorry for yourself, and then someone or something comes along and makes you realize what a lameass pity party you're having and you'd better just snap out of it and be grateful for what you have?
This might be one of those times. What a beautiful young mom and family.
More here.
This might be one of those times. What a beautiful young mom and family.
More here.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Did you watch the Miss Universe pageant last night?
I didn't either, but these four Filipino guys did, and they celebrated in an elegant and understated manner when Miss Philippines made the top 15 ... if you're impatient, skip to 2:15 to see that, but the whole vid is hilarious :)
(For the record, the winner was Miss Mexico)
(For the record, the winner was Miss Mexico)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Fun with Amazon.com
Have you ever taken the time to read customer product reviews on internet shopping site Amazon? Some of the web's best and snarkiest creative writing can be found there. A small sampling:
The classic Three Wolf Moon t-shirt;
The giant wine glass that holds a whole bottle of wine;
And my personal favorite, Tuscan whole milk!
Pay attention to the sections "Customers who viewed/bought this item also viewed/bought..." -- some additional giggles there.
The classic Three Wolf Moon t-shirt;
The giant wine glass that holds a whole bottle of wine;
And my personal favorite, Tuscan whole milk!
Pay attention to the sections "Customers who viewed/bought this item also viewed/bought..." -- some additional giggles there.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Birthdays
Twenty-two years ago tomorrow, a small human being was removed from my body. He looked like this back then
Amazingly, his father and I somehow managed to keep him alive and fairly well into (supposed) adulthood, for which I am grateful. He is much larger now, but still very cute, and I love him with all my heart.
Some people are very negative about their own birthdays passing by year after year, dreading the occasion and not even wanting it discussed. I guess I’ve never understood this dread, since 1) we can’t control it, and 2) in my mind I am permanently an adolescent (in a silly, carefree way, not the angsty way) so I don’t care. Birthdays are even marketed to us this way after a “certain age,” with the “Over the Hill” type merchandise and greeting cards focusing on wrinkles, immobility, incontinence and decreased libido, as if we should just roll over and die now and spare the world the agony of watching us age. Screw that.
To me, birthdays are the time to celebrate that this loved one, be it family, sisters, nieces and nephews, friends, etc., entered the world on this day and made it a better place in their own way by doing so. It is a time to let a valued person know that we are glad they were born and that they have touched our lives. I am very glad my son was born and he has enriched my life tremendously. While there have been difficult times, and I have been in places and situations I would have never dreamt I’d be in as his parent, I would change very little and I love him and am proud of the person he is, and is becoming.
Having said all this, I wonder if other parents become as contemplative as I do on my son’s birthday. One’s life irrevocably changes once one reproduces or otherwise becomes a parent – your life as you knew it previously, which was more than likely all about yourself, is forever over. I even note his birth time on the clock every year – 10:50 a.m. – and think to myself, “yep, that was it.” An instant in time forever impacting my life, in a way I would never give back.
Happy Birthday, kid. I love you, and I am glad you were born.
Amazingly, his father and I somehow managed to keep him alive and fairly well into (supposed) adulthood, for which I am grateful. He is much larger now, but still very cute, and I love him with all my heart.
Some people are very negative about their own birthdays passing by year after year, dreading the occasion and not even wanting it discussed. I guess I’ve never understood this dread, since 1) we can’t control it, and 2) in my mind I am permanently an adolescent (in a silly, carefree way, not the angsty way) so I don’t care. Birthdays are even marketed to us this way after a “certain age,” with the “Over the Hill” type merchandise and greeting cards focusing on wrinkles, immobility, incontinence and decreased libido, as if we should just roll over and die now and spare the world the agony of watching us age. Screw that.
To me, birthdays are the time to celebrate that this loved one, be it family, sisters, nieces and nephews, friends, etc., entered the world on this day and made it a better place in their own way by doing so. It is a time to let a valued person know that we are glad they were born and that they have touched our lives. I am very glad my son was born and he has enriched my life tremendously. While there have been difficult times, and I have been in places and situations I would have never dreamt I’d be in as his parent, I would change very little and I love him and am proud of the person he is, and is becoming.
Having said all this, I wonder if other parents become as contemplative as I do on my son’s birthday. One’s life irrevocably changes once one reproduces or otherwise becomes a parent – your life as you knew it previously, which was more than likely all about yourself, is forever over. I even note his birth time on the clock every year – 10:50 a.m. – and think to myself, “yep, that was it.” An instant in time forever impacting my life, in a way I would never give back.
Happy Birthday, kid. I love you, and I am glad you were born.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The 100 Greatest Movie Insults of All Time, by Harry Hanrahan
It's been a lousy 10 days or so, and I came home from work today in a particularly crappy mood, but stumbling on this put a smile on my grumpy-ass face. I knew nothing on first look about who compiled this or why, but it made my day.
Warning - 10 minutes of deliciously delivered NSFW language here. One of my favorite snippets is at 2:47.
Fun game to play as you watch - how many of the movies can you identify? The list is here, along with more info on Harry Hanrahan and other videos he's put together.
Warning - 10 minutes of deliciously delivered NSFW language here. One of my favorite snippets is at 2:47.
Fun game to play as you watch - how many of the movies can you identify? The list is here, along with more info on Harry Hanrahan and other videos he's put together.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Dad
For the past few years on Father's Day, farker Spontn80 has posted a thread on fark.com asking, "What would you say to your dad today?" -- a bittersweet read as hundreds of posters acknowledge their feelings, positive or negative, toward their fathers (along with plenty of snark, as is normal there).
"Dear Daddy"...what would you say to your Dad today?
(Click on "BareFootMusicNews" to the left of the thread title to read Spontn80's own response and to hear a song he wrote for his dad.)
Reading some of these stories about dads abandoning their families makes me feel terrible for those who endured it. This includes my dad, whose father left him and his brother at a young age to be raised eventually by aunts as their mom died young also. Apparently his father did try to connect with him and his brother throughout their childhood but the aunts did not allow it – yet more sadness in these poor kids’ lives.
My dad was a man’s man. I’m sure abandoning his family was the furthest thought from his mind. He was a hard working man at work and at home, holding four jobs at a time for many years while keeping his wife and daughters housed, clothed and fed comfortably. With all this he still found time to contribute to the church and community, running basketball tournaments, skating shows, dances and other fundraisers. We were not rich by any means, but we had everything we needed and some of what we wanted, which was more than many people can say. He was not lazy and did not suffer fools. The houses we lived in were well maintained by his hands – he was always painting, tuckpointing, planting, trimming, mowing or fixing something, often with Mom at his side. He rose early every morning, prayed his Rosary, wrote in his daily calendar and planned his day. He allowed himself to relax, drink (plenty) and watch TV in the evenings only after everyone and everything else was taken care of.
What would I say to Dad today?
I miss you, Dad, and I wish I didn’t lose you so young. I wish I didn’t fuck up in college when I was younger, and I wish you got to see me graduate nursing school. Thankfully Mom did before she died not long after you. There are so many things I have wished I could talk to you about over the years, and even now. I wish I could talk to you about your childhood and young adulthood (although you probably wouldn’t answer – you didn’t usually like to get too deep about stuff like that). You certainly didn’t have it easy growing up, but you overcame much of that and raised your children without passing that pain you must have had on to us. I admire you and thank you for that.
When younger, I resented your chauvinism, specifically your forbidding us to go to college for anything other than teaching or nursing. (“You can become anything you want, after you do this.”) I wanted to pursue either journalism or veterinary science, but that was out of the question for you. Also, when to everyone’s surprise I made the state choir in high school and was offered the opportunity to audition for vocal scholarships, your and Mom’s response was, “Don’t bother with that. All you’ll ever get to be is a music teacher.” Says who, and would that have been so bad? I kind of resented that too. Still do a little bit :-P (that’s an emoticon, Dad – it means I’m sticking my tongue out at you)
Your thinking at the time was women can always get jobs if they are teachers or nurses, so we’d be able to work and take care of our children if our husband walked out on us. This belief definitely was a product of your upbringing. Times were changing all around you as you were raising your daughters and I don’t blame you for keeping that mindset – you just wanted your daughters and their children to be safe and well if tough times came along in life. And you know what? They have been, Dad.
I’m sorry you never had a son. I’m sure you wanted one.
Thank you, Dad, for showing us all around our beautiful country in the station wagon and camper, and for taking some of us to Ireland and teaching us about where our ancestors came from. The memory of Mom closing her eyes and leaning in toward you in terror as you would drive us over bridges or on mountainsides, as if this would save her if we went over, gives me giggles to this day...
One of the biggest regrets of my life is that I did not come to you and Mom about what was happening to me. At the time I was incapable of understanding what was going on or why, and you all had so many problems of your own also, with you getting cancer twice, and then Mom, and I didn’t want to pile onto you further. It was scary when you were sick. Part of it, too, was due to the fact that you both were older, and in my kid mind I think I was afraid of killing you if I told you this. It was a secret, and I knew it and kept it until it nearly killed me. In hindsight though, I wish I could have a do-over. Although it would have been exquisitely painful and difficult for you and everyone else concerned, I think you and Mom would have handled it better than some others did when the secret came out after your deaths, and maybe our surviving family would not be permanently fractured by it as they are now.
Dad, I have to say if you had to go (which we all do), I’m glad you went the way you did. You were in such a good mood that afternoon! You were singing and you may have even played the piano that day. You didn’t do that often, but you sure were good at it. I had bought a harmonica at Ford City that day, learned a song on it in the car on the way home and played it for you, which you got a kick out of. Mom and I went out that evening, and when we came home you were propped up in bed with the TV on, legs crossed, drink on the nightstand, apparently dozing. Nothing out of the ordinary. Mom talked to you about whatnot as she hung up her coat, and then began to scream for me because she realized although you were there, you were gone.
The aftermath of this was very tough on Mom and the rest of us, but thank God you fell asleep in your bed and died comfortably without suffering.
Finally, Dad, I have to thank you for not just showing me love in your Merlinesque ways, but also for letting us grow up as children of a long-lasting marriage between a couple truly in love. You and Mom were made for each other, and it showed in every moment of your relationship, from you lovingly rubbing her feet to her making sure her lipstick and eyeshadow were on just right when she knew you were on your way to the hospital to see her, to the way you two handled the best and worst life threw at you as a team. I cannot recall ever seeing or hearing one of you behaving disrespectfully toward the other. Truly extraordinary and appreciated.
I love you, Dad. Thanks for everything.
Funny Dad story – when I was in nursing school, I worked weekends as an aide in a nursing home (for $3.10/hr, the hardest work I’ve ever done for the least amount of money I’ve ever made, but that’s a story for another time). Once I was giving a bedbath to an elderly man who had had several strokes leaving him completely immobile and unable to speak. As I bathed him, he became erect, which made me extraordinarily uncomfortable (I was about 20 at the time), and I didn’t know how to handle this.
Later on I was sitting at the kitchen table with Dad watching TV and for some reason I told him about this – I have no idea why as we normally never discussed anything remotely of a sexual nature. Dad’s response:
“If he can still do that, he doesn’t need you washing him.”
End of conversation.
"Dear Daddy"...what would you say to your Dad today?
(Click on "BareFootMusicNews" to the left of the thread title to read Spontn80's own response and to hear a song he wrote for his dad.)
Reading some of these stories about dads abandoning their families makes me feel terrible for those who endured it. This includes my dad, whose father left him and his brother at a young age to be raised eventually by aunts as their mom died young also. Apparently his father did try to connect with him and his brother throughout their childhood but the aunts did not allow it – yet more sadness in these poor kids’ lives.
My dad was a man’s man. I’m sure abandoning his family was the furthest thought from his mind. He was a hard working man at work and at home, holding four jobs at a time for many years while keeping his wife and daughters housed, clothed and fed comfortably. With all this he still found time to contribute to the church and community, running basketball tournaments, skating shows, dances and other fundraisers. We were not rich by any means, but we had everything we needed and some of what we wanted, which was more than many people can say. He was not lazy and did not suffer fools. The houses we lived in were well maintained by his hands – he was always painting, tuckpointing, planting, trimming, mowing or fixing something, often with Mom at his side. He rose early every morning, prayed his Rosary, wrote in his daily calendar and planned his day. He allowed himself to relax, drink (plenty) and watch TV in the evenings only after everyone and everything else was taken care of.
What would I say to Dad today?
I miss you, Dad, and I wish I didn’t lose you so young. I wish I didn’t fuck up in college when I was younger, and I wish you got to see me graduate nursing school. Thankfully Mom did before she died not long after you. There are so many things I have wished I could talk to you about over the years, and even now. I wish I could talk to you about your childhood and young adulthood (although you probably wouldn’t answer – you didn’t usually like to get too deep about stuff like that). You certainly didn’t have it easy growing up, but you overcame much of that and raised your children without passing that pain you must have had on to us. I admire you and thank you for that.
When younger, I resented your chauvinism, specifically your forbidding us to go to college for anything other than teaching or nursing. (“You can become anything you want, after you do this.”) I wanted to pursue either journalism or veterinary science, but that was out of the question for you. Also, when to everyone’s surprise I made the state choir in high school and was offered the opportunity to audition for vocal scholarships, your and Mom’s response was, “Don’t bother with that. All you’ll ever get to be is a music teacher.” Says who, and would that have been so bad? I kind of resented that too. Still do a little bit :-P (that’s an emoticon, Dad – it means I’m sticking my tongue out at you)
Your thinking at the time was women can always get jobs if they are teachers or nurses, so we’d be able to work and take care of our children if our husband walked out on us. This belief definitely was a product of your upbringing. Times were changing all around you as you were raising your daughters and I don’t blame you for keeping that mindset – you just wanted your daughters and their children to be safe and well if tough times came along in life. And you know what? They have been, Dad.
I’m sorry you never had a son. I’m sure you wanted one.
Thank you, Dad, for showing us all around our beautiful country in the station wagon and camper, and for taking some of us to Ireland and teaching us about where our ancestors came from. The memory of Mom closing her eyes and leaning in toward you in terror as you would drive us over bridges or on mountainsides, as if this would save her if we went over, gives me giggles to this day...
One of the biggest regrets of my life is that I did not come to you and Mom about what was happening to me. At the time I was incapable of understanding what was going on or why, and you all had so many problems of your own also, with you getting cancer twice, and then Mom, and I didn’t want to pile onto you further. It was scary when you were sick. Part of it, too, was due to the fact that you both were older, and in my kid mind I think I was afraid of killing you if I told you this. It was a secret, and I knew it and kept it until it nearly killed me. In hindsight though, I wish I could have a do-over. Although it would have been exquisitely painful and difficult for you and everyone else concerned, I think you and Mom would have handled it better than some others did when the secret came out after your deaths, and maybe our surviving family would not be permanently fractured by it as they are now.
Dad, I have to say if you had to go (which we all do), I’m glad you went the way you did. You were in such a good mood that afternoon! You were singing and you may have even played the piano that day. You didn’t do that often, but you sure were good at it. I had bought a harmonica at Ford City that day, learned a song on it in the car on the way home and played it for you, which you got a kick out of. Mom and I went out that evening, and when we came home you were propped up in bed with the TV on, legs crossed, drink on the nightstand, apparently dozing. Nothing out of the ordinary. Mom talked to you about whatnot as she hung up her coat, and then began to scream for me because she realized although you were there, you were gone.
The aftermath of this was very tough on Mom and the rest of us, but thank God you fell asleep in your bed and died comfortably without suffering.
Finally, Dad, I have to thank you for not just showing me love in your Merlinesque ways, but also for letting us grow up as children of a long-lasting marriage between a couple truly in love. You and Mom were made for each other, and it showed in every moment of your relationship, from you lovingly rubbing her feet to her making sure her lipstick and eyeshadow were on just right when she knew you were on your way to the hospital to see her, to the way you two handled the best and worst life threw at you as a team. I cannot recall ever seeing or hearing one of you behaving disrespectfully toward the other. Truly extraordinary and appreciated.
I love you, Dad. Thanks for everything.
Funny Dad story – when I was in nursing school, I worked weekends as an aide in a nursing home (for $3.10/hr, the hardest work I’ve ever done for the least amount of money I’ve ever made, but that’s a story for another time). Once I was giving a bedbath to an elderly man who had had several strokes leaving him completely immobile and unable to speak. As I bathed him, he became erect, which made me extraordinarily uncomfortable (I was about 20 at the time), and I didn’t know how to handle this.
Later on I was sitting at the kitchen table with Dad watching TV and for some reason I told him about this – I have no idea why as we normally never discussed anything remotely of a sexual nature. Dad’s response:
“If he can still do that, he doesn’t need you washing him.”
End of conversation.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Bonjour!
For Caturday, Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois - Le Duo des Chats
Only one lyric, sung sweetly by two choirboys in 1996
Only one lyric, sung sweetly by two choirboys in 1996
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Movin' on...
Our next stop after Kusadasi was supposed to be Santorini, Greece, a small mountaintop town accessible only by foot, cable car or donkey. After pulling into port, we were unfortunately told that all excursions to Santorini that day were canceled due to high winds and the cable car not functioning. This was a major bummer as we had a food and wine tour scheduled for that day – I would have gladly taken the donkey! Alas, we pulled out of port and the Captain told us we’d remain at sea for the day.
Later, he announced we would stop at a very small island called Milos for the afternoon; he told us, however, ”don’t expect much from Milos.” Hopefully nobody did, because about an hour later the stop to Milos was canceled due to a loss of electricity on the island rendering their computers and passport processing station nonfunctional. I guess things really are tough in Greece these days!
The next stop, Zakynthos, Greece, went well, but we weren’t there long. Sweet little town - I took a cheesy little "Tourist Train" for 5 euros. Saw some fishermen come in with their catch. They were slicing up this fish right on the side of the road and selling the slices to passersby
Unfortunately, right after I took this picture, one of the fishermen reached into a bucket, pulled out a large octopus, grabbed it by its legs and began repeatedly smashing its head against the side of the boat to kill it. This made me incredibly sad as octopuses are so intelligent and sensitive – what a horrible death.
Next was Sicily. We took a day tour called “The Land of the Godfather” which was simply fantastic. Sicily is mountainous and in full bloom this time of year. Nearly all kinds of vegetation grows there, from cacti and succulents to all kinds of fruits, vegetables and flowering plants. I had no idea how mountainous Sicily was, and the bus rides up and down the mountains were harrowing with hairpin turns on extremely narrow roads.
Everyone in Sicily has beautiful flowers blooming on their porch
Here's a shot of our photographer
Here he is again outside the bar where a pivotal scene in "The Godfather" was shot - the bar is unchanged after all these years
The view from our balcony in Sicily - that is the toe of Italy's boot in the background
Today we have visited Positano and Amalfi – I am sitting in a café in Amalfi right now putting this post together (finally found free internet – yay!). These are two gorgeous towns around a mountain from each other. Here’s a few pics I took today - note the little houses perched precariously on the sheer rock...
Fog in the mountains over Positano
A view of Amalfi from the dock
The Cathedral of St. Andrew (Sant Andrea) in Amalfi - there are 66 steps leading to the entrance
Next is Rome and Florence – hopefully can update later.
By the way, these are not the best pics I have - I had to pick and choose a few to upload to flickr from thumbnails while sitting in the sun - kind of a crapshoot. I guess I did ok :)
Later, he announced we would stop at a very small island called Milos for the afternoon; he told us, however, ”don’t expect much from Milos.” Hopefully nobody did, because about an hour later the stop to Milos was canceled due to a loss of electricity on the island rendering their computers and passport processing station nonfunctional. I guess things really are tough in Greece these days!
The next stop, Zakynthos, Greece, went well, but we weren’t there long. Sweet little town - I took a cheesy little "Tourist Train" for 5 euros. Saw some fishermen come in with their catch. They were slicing up this fish right on the side of the road and selling the slices to passersby
Unfortunately, right after I took this picture, one of the fishermen reached into a bucket, pulled out a large octopus, grabbed it by its legs and began repeatedly smashing its head against the side of the boat to kill it. This made me incredibly sad as octopuses are so intelligent and sensitive – what a horrible death.
Next was Sicily. We took a day tour called “The Land of the Godfather” which was simply fantastic. Sicily is mountainous and in full bloom this time of year. Nearly all kinds of vegetation grows there, from cacti and succulents to all kinds of fruits, vegetables and flowering plants. I had no idea how mountainous Sicily was, and the bus rides up and down the mountains were harrowing with hairpin turns on extremely narrow roads.
Everyone in Sicily has beautiful flowers blooming on their porch
Here's a shot of our photographer
Here he is again outside the bar where a pivotal scene in "The Godfather" was shot - the bar is unchanged after all these years
The view from our balcony in Sicily - that is the toe of Italy's boot in the background
Today we have visited Positano and Amalfi – I am sitting in a café in Amalfi right now putting this post together (finally found free internet – yay!). These are two gorgeous towns around a mountain from each other. Here’s a few pics I took today - note the little houses perched precariously on the sheer rock...
Fog in the mountains over Positano
A view of Amalfi from the dock
The Cathedral of St. Andrew (Sant Andrea) in Amalfi - there are 66 steps leading to the entrance
Next is Rome and Florence – hopefully can update later.
By the way, these are not the best pics I have - I had to pick and choose a few to upload to flickr from thumbnails while sitting in the sun - kind of a crapshoot. I guess I did ok :)
Saturday, May 15, 2010
I finally got out of the house!
So I am on the 2nd day of a 10-day Mediterranean cruise that started in Athens. I had hoped to upload pics to flickr and make a blog post every day, but the internet on the ship is verrrrry slow and ridiculously expensive, so that probably won’t be happening, unless I can find free wifi on shore some days.
We did have a great – although too short – tour today of the ruins of Ephesus in Turkey. The New Testament book of the Bible Ephesians consists of Paul’s letters to the people of this ancient city. It is actually a massive archeological dig in progress, and only about 10% is considered to be uncovered at this point. It is stunning to walk down the same streets that Paul and other Biblical figures walked down 2000 years ago. I took about 100 pictures of this fascinating place but probably won’t be able to get them up on flickr until I get home. So until then I’ll appeal to the lowest common denominator of possible readers and post these
Yes, it's an ancient public restroom!
On a more appropriate note, a view of the goddess Nike
a very well-preserved unearthed sarcophagus
and a local resident
More later as the internet gods allow...
We did have a great – although too short – tour today of the ruins of Ephesus in Turkey. The New Testament book of the Bible Ephesians consists of Paul’s letters to the people of this ancient city. It is actually a massive archeological dig in progress, and only about 10% is considered to be uncovered at this point. It is stunning to walk down the same streets that Paul and other Biblical figures walked down 2000 years ago. I took about 100 pictures of this fascinating place but probably won’t be able to get them up on flickr until I get home. So until then I’ll appeal to the lowest common denominator of possible readers and post these
Yes, it's an ancient public restroom!
On a more appropriate note, a view of the goddess Nike
a very well-preserved unearthed sarcophagus
and a local resident
More later as the internet gods allow...
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
This is why I am not on Facebook
Facebook was letting friends spy on each others' chats, via Valleywag
"Privacy settings" - this term means whatever Facebook wants it to mean for their purposes at any given time. It does not mean what users think it means, i.e. protecting their online privacy.
See also 10 Reasons to Delete Your Facebook Account. Although item #9 is weak, some tough points are made against Facebook's business practices. Click on the links throughout this piece to explore these issues further. Very well done.
Update: the author of the above just posted a followup on his blog.
Some would argue blogging on a Google service isn't much better, and that may be. There are too many security lapses on Facebook for my comfort level, however, and the M.O. of the company seems to be to entice users into becoming comfortable with making personal information available and accessible online so they (Facebook) can own, mine and exploit it for their own purposes. I choose not to participate in that.
"Privacy settings" - this term means whatever Facebook wants it to mean for their purposes at any given time. It does not mean what users think it means, i.e. protecting their online privacy.
See also 10 Reasons to Delete Your Facebook Account. Although item #9 is weak, some tough points are made against Facebook's business practices. Click on the links throughout this piece to explore these issues further. Very well done.
Update: the author of the above just posted a followup on his blog.
Some would argue blogging on a Google service isn't much better, and that may be. There are too many security lapses on Facebook for my comfort level, however, and the M.O. of the company seems to be to entice users into becoming comfortable with making personal information available and accessible online so they (Facebook) can own, mine and exploit it for their own purposes. I choose not to participate in that.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Who doesn't love dancing American soldiers?
Some bored soldiers in Afghanistan made a video to Lady Gaga's "Telephone" (much like the flamboyant lingerie dancer a couple posts down did), and it's fantastic! Great to see those who sacrifice so much to serve our country engaged in a little fun on their downtime. It's difficult to be miserable when dancing with friends!
But wait - there's more! Here's soldiers in Iraq dancing to "the Ding Dong Song," with a little practical joke played on a comrade after the credits roll
Here's a couple Marines making boring work more fun by doing the cha cha slide - watch some of the others try to resist but eventually give in and dance also
More Marines - this is captioned "field day was boring so we decided to dance"
Two soldiers perform a silent Electric Slide for some locals
While not actually in the battlefield when filmed, these soldiers at the US Air Force Academy make good work of Ke$ha's "Tik Tok" - it looks like their instructor might even be in it :)
But wait - there's more! Here's soldiers in Iraq dancing to "the Ding Dong Song," with a little practical joke played on a comrade after the credits roll
Here's a couple Marines making boring work more fun by doing the cha cha slide - watch some of the others try to resist but eventually give in and dance also
More Marines - this is captioned "field day was boring so we decided to dance"
Two soldiers perform a silent Electric Slide for some locals
While not actually in the battlefield when filmed, these soldiers at the US Air Force Academy make good work of Ke$ha's "Tik Tok" - it looks like their instructor might even be in it :)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
So, how's that hopey changey stuff goin' for ya?
Hmmm...pretty okay for me
From my latest 401k statement
From my latest 401k statement
Sunday, April 11, 2010
A rejuvenated Magic fan
Basketball gods smiled upon me Friday, as I was generously and luckily gifted two tickets to the Orlando Magic game vs. the New York Knicks.
Once upon a time I was part of a group of Magic season ticket holders – there were five of us, and we got eight home games each. This was during a turbulent time in the Magic’s history, post-Shaq and devolving into Penny Hardaway becoming full of himself and leading a coaching coup. I loved going to the games with my son, and there were real standup men and great players on the team then, including Darrell Armstrong, Bo Outlaw, Nick Anderson and Pat Garrity.
After the games, we would hang out behind the arena with other fans and offer our homemade signs up to the players for autographs, and enjoy some camaraderie. The above noted players always rose to this occasion, as did others.
Penny Hardaway was an exception. He acted like a spoiled brat on and off the court. He continually demanded “respect,” not understanding that respect is earned by how one conducts oneself as a sportsman and a human, not demanded. If it looked like the win was in hand, his efforts on the court ceased. Penny swore at my son once when he proffered a sign he had made for him.
Eventually, some of my other season ticket buddies and I let them go. This just wasn’t fun, or worth the cash. I even stopped watching the team on TV or reading about them in the paper, going from a totally devoted fan to an almost completely lapsed one.
Then I attended the game on April 9th, and saw an entirely different and utterly incredible and gorgeous team. I don’t think I’ve seen better basketball in person in my lifetime. Not necessarily the game – it was a blowout, with the Magic taking the lead at 1:33 in the first quarter and never losing it – but how well the Magic functioned as a team, and how they never stopped playing until the game was over, even though they had it won clearly early on.
Most notable was the near absence of trashy/dirty play, whining, pouting, or flopping on both sides. There were few trips to the free-throw line, especially in the first half. No one was a ball hog, and nobody choked the coach. Just smooth well-executed basketball for four whole quarters.
Dwight Howard truly deserves the nickname Superman
Vince Carter is like a dancer or a ghost – he uncannily inserts himself in spots where he just shouldn’t be and scores beautifully. The threes are gorgeous, too
Glad to see Jason Williams again – one of the best passers ever
Thank you, basketball gods and ticket gifter.
GO MAGIC!
Once upon a time I was part of a group of Magic season ticket holders – there were five of us, and we got eight home games each. This was during a turbulent time in the Magic’s history, post-Shaq and devolving into Penny Hardaway becoming full of himself and leading a coaching coup. I loved going to the games with my son, and there were real standup men and great players on the team then, including Darrell Armstrong, Bo Outlaw, Nick Anderson and Pat Garrity.
After the games, we would hang out behind the arena with other fans and offer our homemade signs up to the players for autographs, and enjoy some camaraderie. The above noted players always rose to this occasion, as did others.
Penny Hardaway was an exception. He acted like a spoiled brat on and off the court. He continually demanded “respect,” not understanding that respect is earned by how one conducts oneself as a sportsman and a human, not demanded. If it looked like the win was in hand, his efforts on the court ceased. Penny swore at my son once when he proffered a sign he had made for him.
Eventually, some of my other season ticket buddies and I let them go. This just wasn’t fun, or worth the cash. I even stopped watching the team on TV or reading about them in the paper, going from a totally devoted fan to an almost completely lapsed one.
Then I attended the game on April 9th, and saw an entirely different and utterly incredible and gorgeous team. I don’t think I’ve seen better basketball in person in my lifetime. Not necessarily the game – it was a blowout, with the Magic taking the lead at 1:33 in the first quarter and never losing it – but how well the Magic functioned as a team, and how they never stopped playing until the game was over, even though they had it won clearly early on.
Most notable was the near absence of trashy/dirty play, whining, pouting, or flopping on both sides. There were few trips to the free-throw line, especially in the first half. No one was a ball hog, and nobody choked the coach. Just smooth well-executed basketball for four whole quarters.
Dwight Howard truly deserves the nickname Superman
Vince Carter is like a dancer or a ghost – he uncannily inserts himself in spots where he just shouldn’t be and scores beautifully. The threes are gorgeous, too
Glad to see Jason Williams again – one of the best passers ever
Thank you, basketball gods and ticket gifter.
GO MAGIC!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Random Funny 21st Century Silly Internet Crap
Wikipedia Vandalism (slideshow - right click on link to open in new window or tab - via HuffPo)
Anti-Facebook fun
Lamebook (The comments on this site are often funnier than the postings themselves)
South Park explains everything that is annoying about Facebook, via Gawker
Thank God/FSM/whoever your higher power is for the logic and reason of South Park.
From On ChatRoulette, featuring a flat-chested and unusually hirsute Lady Gaga in a messy room (NSFW)
Merton is becoming famous on ChatRoulette for giving an improvisational piano performance to the lucky ones who land on him
Want more Merton? Click here!
Ben Folds has been paying homage to Merton live in concert, with hilarious results
What a world we live in...
Anti-Facebook fun
Lamebook (The comments on this site are often funnier than the postings themselves)
South Park explains everything that is annoying about Facebook, via Gawker
Thank God/FSM/whoever your higher power is for the logic and reason of South Park.
From On ChatRoulette, featuring a flat-chested and unusually hirsute Lady Gaga in a messy room (NSFW)
Merton is becoming famous on ChatRoulette for giving an improvisational piano performance to the lucky ones who land on him
Want more Merton? Click here!
Ben Folds has been paying homage to Merton live in concert, with hilarious results
What a world we live in...
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Packaging is out of hand these days
So I was at Costco the other day, and ran across the Kirkland by Borghese Mineral Color Collection. Looked like a nice makeup set at a reasonable price ($25.99 in the store), so I bit.
It came in this package
It took me forty-five goddamn minutes to get all the lil jars and brushes out of this freaking plastic packaging, including the use of an X-acto knife and a scissors. But that's not all! Once freed from this sarcophagus of a package, each little jar had not one, but TWO pieces of teeny tiny tape sealing them shut. AND, there is also a little plastic seal inside each jar that I had to use a hemostat to remove.
Costco, is this absolutely necessary? I might understand if it was poison or a firearm I was trying to liberate from this packaging, but this is freaking MAKEUP!!! Whoever designed this needs to be encased in it without food or water and attempt to free themselves.
It came in this package
It took me forty-five goddamn minutes to get all the lil jars and brushes out of this freaking plastic packaging, including the use of an X-acto knife and a scissors. But that's not all! Once freed from this sarcophagus of a package, each little jar had not one, but TWO pieces of teeny tiny tape sealing them shut. AND, there is also a little plastic seal inside each jar that I had to use a hemostat to remove.
Costco, is this absolutely necessary? I might understand if it was poison or a firearm I was trying to liberate from this packaging, but this is freaking MAKEUP!!! Whoever designed this needs to be encased in it without food or water and attempt to free themselves.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Beezus? Really?
Not sure how I'm feeling about this trailer for Ramona and Beezus...
These books are special to me and to so many people who grew up with them. I revere Beverly Cleary for the way she could get into a child's head and communicate it on the page.
Along with her words, I remember the illustrations of Louis Darling
This last pic is how I see Beezus and Ramona in my bookish mind. Wasn't Beezus written over and over as a gawky, awkward pizzaface (i.e., zits)?
And if that's supposed to be Henry Huggins acting somewhat lovey toward Beezus in the trailer, that's just all sorts of wrong.
This is why I don't see movies adapted from books I love -- always disappointing. Yes, I know I'm passing judgment based on scant information, but I don't care. I'll keep Beezus, Ramona and Henry in my head right where Beverly Cleary and Louis Darling left them, thank you very much.
video via gawker
These books are special to me and to so many people who grew up with them. I revere Beverly Cleary for the way she could get into a child's head and communicate it on the page.
Along with her words, I remember the illustrations of Louis Darling
This last pic is how I see Beezus and Ramona in my bookish mind. Wasn't Beezus written over and over as a gawky, awkward pizzaface (i.e., zits)?
And if that's supposed to be Henry Huggins acting somewhat lovey toward Beezus in the trailer, that's just all sorts of wrong.
This is why I don't see movies adapted from books I love -- always disappointing. Yes, I know I'm passing judgment based on scant information, but I don't care. I'll keep Beezus, Ramona and Henry in my head right where Beverly Cleary and Louis Darling left them, thank you very much.
video via gawker
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Family discord
This article was in my local paper this past Thursday, but apparently it has been published and re-published in many papers over a few months, which hopefully is a good thing...
Caught in a family battle? How to bring your crumbling clan back together
Not too long ago, a couple of my sisters and I attended a large family event -- a reunion for most of the attendees, but not necessarily for us since we'd never met most of them -- and it was a simply lovely experience. What kind, beautiful and friendly people they were, and what a joy it was to meet them. And the history! We learned much about our father's (and our) history and relatives and background that little was known of before.
Why were we not acquainted with these lovely family members prior to this? Was it possibly because of some stupid feud that was passed on through generations, as described in the article?
Actually, yes it was, which is tremendously sad, as it led to my father and his brother barely knowing their father, and us not knowing these beautiful people.
Similar discord continues in my family to this day, albeit for a heavier reason.
Caught in a family battle? How to bring your crumbling clan back together
Not too long ago, a couple of my sisters and I attended a large family event -- a reunion for most of the attendees, but not necessarily for us since we'd never met most of them -- and it was a simply lovely experience. What kind, beautiful and friendly people they were, and what a joy it was to meet them. And the history! We learned much about our father's (and our) history and relatives and background that little was known of before.
Why were we not acquainted with these lovely family members prior to this? Was it possibly because of some stupid feud that was passed on through generations, as described in the article?
Actually, yes it was, which is tremendously sad, as it led to my father and his brother barely knowing their father, and us not knowing these beautiful people.
Similar discord continues in my family to this day, albeit for a heavier reason.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
I thought I was brave by flying into Midway on a regular basis
Chicago's Midway Airport, known as "the world's busiest square mile," has runways that are shorter than those of most major airports. When landing there, I often end up fighting the forward momentum in my seat due to the hard braking required to prevent ending up in the surrounding Chicago neighborhoods, like this
Running across this today makes me feel like a flying wimp, though. The World's Scariest Runways slideshow features video clips of frightening takeoffs and landings, sometimes mere feet over people's heads! This makes me appreciate the training and skill of the pilots and crew who get us safely up and down every single day around the world, even in the most harrowing of circumstances.
This picture belongs here
Running across this today makes me feel like a flying wimp, though. The World's Scariest Runways slideshow features video clips of frightening takeoffs and landings, sometimes mere feet over people's heads! This makes me appreciate the training and skill of the pilots and crew who get us safely up and down every single day around the world, even in the most harrowing of circumstances.
This picture belongs here
Monday, January 18, 2010
There's a new Shiba Inu puppy cam!
Kika, the mom of the original Shiba Inu 6 that became a livestreamed internet phenom, has a new litter! Only five this time, born on Saturday, January 16th. If you missed it the first time around, here's your second chance!
The original puppy cam was started so the owners could keep an eye on Kika and her pups while they were at work, and it went viral. People worldwide were heartbroken to see the pups leave Kika for other homes. Kika is a great doggy mom, and the people who run the cam are cool too. They almost never show themselves, and if they do it's only their hands or feet.
Let's watch some PUPPIES!!!
Free TV : Ustream
via dlisted
The original puppy cam was started so the owners could keep an eye on Kika and her pups while they were at work, and it went viral. People worldwide were heartbroken to see the pups leave Kika for other homes. Kika is a great doggy mom, and the people who run the cam are cool too. They almost never show themselves, and if they do it's only their hands or feet.
Let's watch some PUPPIES!!!
Free TV : Ustream
via dlisted
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The latest Symphony of Science video just went up...
...and it is the best one yet! This one features naturalist David Attenborough and researcher Jane Goodall, as well as Carl Sagan. Ms. Goodall's contribution came from this talk she gave at the 2002 TED conference. The artistic depictions of cellular activity in this video are simply stunning.
The Unbroken Thread
The Symphony of Science
TED: Ideas worth spreading
P.S. Happy Birthday Patty!
The Unbroken Thread
The Symphony of Science
TED: Ideas worth spreading
P.S. Happy Birthday Patty!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Happy New Year!!
Feeling a little blue about those extra holiday pounds? Wishing there was something you could do to lose them without spending a fortune at the gym? You may have found your solution right here!
This guy might be able to help - he's quite...um...energetic and...intense
or you might like one of these - the demonstrator gal says she plays ball with her kids while she uses it! Oh my...
The chick in the blue shirt seems to recognize how wrong this all is
Flabby arms? This might be just what you need! I wonder if this is Michele Obama's secret...
and, there's one for men too!
Finally, if you can't get your butt just right no matter what you do, you can always fall back on these ;)
I am ashamed of myself for creating this post.
This guy might be able to help - he's quite...um...energetic and...intense
or you might like one of these - the demonstrator gal says she plays ball with her kids while she uses it! Oh my...
The chick in the blue shirt seems to recognize how wrong this all is
Flabby arms? This might be just what you need! I wonder if this is Michele Obama's secret...
and, there's one for men too!
Shake Weight For Men - watch more funny videos
Finally, if you can't get your butt just right no matter what you do, you can always fall back on these ;)
I am ashamed of myself for creating this post.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Wow
Created by Online Education
I think that daily email estimate is low, if you factor in spam and mindless forwards - sometimes it seems I get that many spam emails in a month or so, despite filters!
This video belongs here, even though it's a lil' dated - eighty-something-year-old former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens attempted to describe the Internet as "not a big truck, but a series of tubes" while debating net neutrality, and of course someone had to poke fun :)
Friday, December 25, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
It's time for the year- and DECADE-end retrospectives!
I don't like this time of year much, with the getting dark early and all, but I love the year-in-review pieces that start showing up about now. Plus, we get to look back on the first decade of the 21st Century, and what a decade it was!
First is the 2000's in review by Newsweek magazine. It's not embeddable for a blogger, so you'll have to click below to view. Very well done.
Newsweek's Decade in Seven Minutes
Next we have...wait for it...
I'm really not an AutoTune freak, but it does seem to have become a phenomenon these last few years as society becomes more techy and/or lazy.
The retrospectives here were put together before all the Tiger shit hit the fan - it'll be fun to see how he is portrayed in those to come. Pretty crappy timing for him, fooking up at the end of the decade and all...
Surely there'll be more on this theme later.
First is the 2000's in review by Newsweek magazine. It's not embeddable for a blogger, so you'll have to click below to view. Very well done.
Newsweek's Decade in Seven Minutes
Next we have...wait for it...
I'm really not an AutoTune freak, but it does seem to have become a phenomenon these last few years as society becomes more techy and/or lazy.
The retrospectives here were put together before all the Tiger shit hit the fan - it'll be fun to see how he is portrayed in those to come. Pretty crappy timing for him, fooking up at the end of the decade and all...
Surely there'll be more on this theme later.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
A Famous Neighbor is in a Bit of Trouble
And SNL did a great sendup of it last night
UPDATE: Some people are upset about this skit...
Domestic Violence Group Rips SNL's Tiger Sketch via TMZ
SNL Says: Domestic Violence is Hilarious - When Directed at Men via Jezebel
UPDATE: Some people are upset about this skit...
Domestic Violence Group Rips SNL's Tiger Sketch via TMZ
SNL Says: Domestic Violence is Hilarious - When Directed at Men via Jezebel
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Link Dump
Cake Wrecks awful cakes that will make you LOL
Engrish Asian translations gone hilariously wrong
F U Penguin dude gives cute animals the what-for
Goths in Hot Weather speaks for itself
Item Not As Described ridiculous Craigslist postings
Criggo funny newspaper bumbles
Autocomplete Me fun with the Google search autocomplete feature
Awful Library Books two librarians show us books that need to be killed
Wrzl intriguing pics and looping gifs
...and the crown jewel of this link dump, People of WalMart!
Engrish Asian translations gone hilariously wrong
F U Penguin dude gives cute animals the what-for
Goths in Hot Weather speaks for itself
Item Not As Described ridiculous Craigslist postings
Criggo funny newspaper bumbles
Autocomplete Me fun with the Google search autocomplete feature
Awful Library Books two librarians show us books that need to be killed
Wrzl intriguing pics and looping gifs
...and the crown jewel of this link dump, People of WalMart!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Donny Osmond won Dancing with the Stars!
I’ve never seen an episode, but I am happy for him, since he was my first love after all. He looked like this back then…
These pics were taped to my ceiling above my bed when I was 10 or so. When I opened my eyes in the morning (or afternoon, on Saturdays) he was the first thing I saw, and life was good...
And I still love him today, especially since he can be silly and make fun of himself like he does in this greenscreen take for Weird Al Yankovic’s “White & Nerdy” video
AutoTune was touched on in the previous post. Here's a vid explaining it further, featuring Professor Al Yankovic.
These pics were taped to my ceiling above my bed when I was 10 or so. When I opened my eyes in the morning (or afternoon, on Saturdays) he was the first thing I saw, and life was good...
And I still love him today, especially since he can be silly and make fun of himself like he does in this greenscreen take for Weird Al Yankovic’s “White & Nerdy” video
AutoTune was touched on in the previous post. Here's a vid explaining it further, featuring Professor Al Yankovic.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Mom and the Cosmos
My parents were fairly old when I was born – Mom 46, and Dad 51 (although that’s becoming more common these days with new fertilization techniques). Thus, I never knew or saw my parents as young(ish) people – Dad was always bald, and Mom always gray, both with dentures and various medical conditions as far as I can remember.
Mom, while never having had the opportunity to attend college, was very intellectually curious and educated herself on many subjects later in her life, including art history, botany, archeology and anthropology. She taught herself how to paint with oils in her sixties, and a couple of her paintings of Irish scenes hang in my home today. She was also somewhat of a pop culture junkie (I guess that’s where I got it from), and we would stay up late at night watching Monty Python or Fawlty Towers on public TV, or Dick Cavett, Tom Snyder and Johnny Carson.
One of Mom’s favorite self-taught subjects was astronomy, and she was a huge fan of Carl Sagan. Running across these videos by the Symphony of Science musical project recently reminded me of her admiration of Sagan’s work and the universe in general. She would've loved these.
Carl Sagan - and Stephen Hawking! - "sing" in this video (thanks to AutoTune) - A Glorious Dawn
And more recently, We Are All Connected, which mixes Sagan, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye, and Richard Feynman....
Beautiful.
P.S. 10 neat facts about Carl Sagan
via neatorama
Mom, while never having had the opportunity to attend college, was very intellectually curious and educated herself on many subjects later in her life, including art history, botany, archeology and anthropology. She taught herself how to paint with oils in her sixties, and a couple of her paintings of Irish scenes hang in my home today. She was also somewhat of a pop culture junkie (I guess that’s where I got it from), and we would stay up late at night watching Monty Python or Fawlty Towers on public TV, or Dick Cavett, Tom Snyder and Johnny Carson.
One of Mom’s favorite self-taught subjects was astronomy, and she was a huge fan of Carl Sagan. Running across these videos by the Symphony of Science musical project recently reminded me of her admiration of Sagan’s work and the universe in general. She would've loved these.
Carl Sagan - and Stephen Hawking! - "sing" in this video (thanks to AutoTune) - A Glorious Dawn
And more recently, We Are All Connected, which mixes Sagan, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bill Nye, and Richard Feynman....
Beautiful.
P.S. 10 neat facts about Carl Sagan
via neatorama
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Virgin Mary miraculously appeared in a peripheral blood smear at work today!
I am completely serious! See for yourself!
First view:
A little closer:
Do you see her? She's RIGHT THERE, fer chrissakes! And she's CRYING - see the bloody tears streaming down her right cheek? She's weeping for us all, or maybe for the Balloon Boy for having such lousy parents.
There were witnesses too. PLUS, the slide still exists and can be produced for any skeptics or miracle experts (like the Pope) who might want to take a closer look at this divine portrait of the Mother of God, in BLOOD no less!
This is too much. I have to go lie down now.
UPDATE: Take another look at the first photo. To Mary's right/our left, is that a . . . LAMB? Head, front half of body and two front legs? Is the Lamb of God, i.e. Jesus Christ, in the same slide of BLOOD as his weeping Mother Mary? (Actually I think the lamb is made of purple stain, but STILL!!)
Oh, I am speechless and swooning. What an iconic work of biological and spiritual art!
This video belongs here
First view:
A little closer:
Do you see her? She's RIGHT THERE, fer chrissakes! And she's CRYING - see the bloody tears streaming down her right cheek? She's weeping for us all, or maybe for the Balloon Boy for having such lousy parents.
There were witnesses too. PLUS, the slide still exists and can be produced for any skeptics or miracle experts (like the Pope) who might want to take a closer look at this divine portrait of the Mother of God, in BLOOD no less!
This is too much. I have to go lie down now.
UPDATE: Take another look at the first photo. To Mary's right/our left, is that a . . . LAMB? Head, front half of body and two front legs? Is the Lamb of God, i.e. Jesus Christ, in the same slide of BLOOD as his weeping Mother Mary? (Actually I think the lamb is made of purple stain, but STILL!!)
Oh, I am speechless and swooning. What an iconic work of biological and spiritual art!
This video belongs here
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Precious
This movie is being talked up loudly for Oscars, even though it won't be out until November. This story of an obese, illiterate black teenager who is abused in every way and is struggling to survive is based on the novel Push by Sapphire, a writer who taught teens in Harlem for many years. The role of the social worker who helps Precious was originally supposed to go to Oscar winner Helen Mirren, but when she couldn't commit, director Lee Daniels amazingly gave the role to Mariah Carey. He trusted her acting skills but told her to leave her divaliciousness at home - it is said that if she showed up with an entourage or even with makeup on, he had a backup actress ready to go. She apparently complied.
This will be a painful movie to watch, no doubt, but to paraphrase Oprah - how many times have we seen this girl walk down the street, or passed by her at Walgreens? How many times have I not noticed a girl like this, carrying so much pain?
NPR story on "Precious" - read or listen
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Tats
I enjoy learning about the artwork and stories behind people's tattoos. Although I have none, if I were to get one or more they would probably be of the geeky/nerdy variety. I'd probably go with some representation of the double helix (DNA), something that captures its strength and fallibility at the same time.
Here's a set of geeky tats. IMHO, I don't think scientific tats should be lumped in with gamer tats, but that's just nerdy me.
We've all heard of someone getting Chinese letters tattooed on themselves that they thought meant something like "unique" when they really translate to "strange." Hanzi Smatter is a site dedicated to the translation and mocking of Chinese lettering tattoos in Western culture. Dumb Americans really need to stop doing this.
Here's a set of geeky tats. IMHO, I don't think scientific tats should be lumped in with gamer tats, but that's just nerdy me.
We've all heard of someone getting Chinese letters tattooed on themselves that they thought meant something like "unique" when they really translate to "strange." Hanzi Smatter is a site dedicated to the translation and mocking of Chinese lettering tattoos in Western culture. Dumb Americans really need to stop doing this.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Wishing a blessed Memorial day to all our servicepersons
Above is my Uncle Bobo, my Mom's brother (looking in the scope-like device on the lower right) with General Patton in Germany in WWII.
Say thanks to a soldier today, and every day.
"Nowhere does Islam say, 'Let your wife die.'"
Gender issues worsen Iraq's medical woes (AP via Breitbart.com)
Discussed here are results to date of the combined efforts of an Iraqi physician and an American official of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to meet a desperate need for nurses in Anbar province in Iraq. Their one hospital has no nurses and relies on family members to care for patients, and the village that just graduated their first group of 10 nurses' aides has one female nurse and one midwife for over 50,000 people!
Cultural differences can be difficult to deal with when caring for Middle Eastern women in America and elsewhere. Even if they can speak English, they are often painfully reluctant to discuss symptoms and bodily functions, or reveal their body for examination, which unfortunately is necessary for a physician to make a diagnosis and recommend treatment. It is immensely more difficult if the patient does not speak English and the only translator is a husband or son. If it is a gynecological issue in particular, women will simply not say the necessary words to describe their problem to their relatives, or any man, nor will the men allow it. This presents a difficult dilemma for any healthcare provider. Hospital translation services have improved greatly in recent years, and many large facilities now prohibit family members translating for each other. Smaller facilities such as physician's offices, however, often have no other option.
As stated at the beginning of the article, many men in this conservative part of Iraq would rather let their sick wives die than be touched by a man for assistance. The CDC official and the physician coordinating these efforts to supply qualified nurses to this population deserve commendation, as do the brave women signing up heroically to become nurses and care for their fellow countrymen in such a desolate, discriminatory and dangerous environment. I wish them well.
Discussed here are results to date of the combined efforts of an Iraqi physician and an American official of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to meet a desperate need for nurses in Anbar province in Iraq. Their one hospital has no nurses and relies on family members to care for patients, and the village that just graduated their first group of 10 nurses' aides has one female nurse and one midwife for over 50,000 people!
Cultural differences can be difficult to deal with when caring for Middle Eastern women in America and elsewhere. Even if they can speak English, they are often painfully reluctant to discuss symptoms and bodily functions, or reveal their body for examination, which unfortunately is necessary for a physician to make a diagnosis and recommend treatment. It is immensely more difficult if the patient does not speak English and the only translator is a husband or son. If it is a gynecological issue in particular, women will simply not say the necessary words to describe their problem to their relatives, or any man, nor will the men allow it. This presents a difficult dilemma for any healthcare provider. Hospital translation services have improved greatly in recent years, and many large facilities now prohibit family members translating for each other. Smaller facilities such as physician's offices, however, often have no other option.
As stated at the beginning of the article, many men in this conservative part of Iraq would rather let their sick wives die than be touched by a man for assistance. The CDC official and the physician coordinating these efforts to supply qualified nurses to this population deserve commendation, as do the brave women signing up heroically to become nurses and care for their fellow countrymen in such a desolate, discriminatory and dangerous environment. I wish them well.
Monday, May 4, 2009
If this doesn't put a smile on your face, you need therapy
An elderly couple playing a duet on a piano in the atrium of the Mayo Clinic - watch how they lovingly pat each others behinds when they switch places. So sweet :)
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