Another political ad season is drawing near, so it is time to start giggling at some of the funniest or most ridiculous of the lot, as well as parodies. Here's a great start :)
Bad Lip Reading, an anonymous group of video editors and parodists, took scenes from Rick Perry's ad announcing his candidacy and cleverly replaced his words with what he appears (to them) to say
(click on the links at the end of the video for more silliness from them, or click here.)
In the interest of equal time, here's "Trick the Bridesmaid," featuring President Obama, also by them
Seeing these reminded me of (apparently former) YouTuber Buffalax, who was known years ago for making hilarious mondegreen "translations" of popular Indian and Middle Eastern music videos, subtitling them with what he perceived the singers to be saying in English. He seems to have disappeared or been banned from YouTube, but others have reposted some of his stuff for posterity. This is one of his best
Another silly Buffalaxed video preserved by a fan - Tunak Tunak Tun
Internet people are so funny :)
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
10 years ago...
...I was waiting in the left turn lane of Goldenrod Road to turn onto University Boulevard on my way to work. Heard the news from Howard Stern
Audio of the Howard Stern Show as the attacks began
Got to work a few minutes after the first plane hit. Heard and saw the second plane hit there. Gave chemo all day while the TV was on. Everyone - patients, family, practitioners, staff - trying to continue while chaos ensued, our hearts collectively breaking.
After work, got home and made the mistake of turning on the BBC, which was showing footage of jumpers and fallers that was not shown on American TV. Fell apart.
Visited the site in Manhattan in 2003 and was shocked by the size of the hole and the unrepaired damage to it and the surrounding buildings. Was sickened by the vendors hawking “souvenirs” at the site. I wanted to hurt them. Reminded me of Jesus in the temple.
Nothing else to say here that isn't being said more eloquently by millions of others elsewhere.
Audio of the Howard Stern Show as the attacks began
Got to work a few minutes after the first plane hit. Heard and saw the second plane hit there. Gave chemo all day while the TV was on. Everyone - patients, family, practitioners, staff - trying to continue while chaos ensued, our hearts collectively breaking.
After work, got home and made the mistake of turning on the BBC, which was showing footage of jumpers and fallers that was not shown on American TV. Fell apart.
Visited the site in Manhattan in 2003 and was shocked by the size of the hole and the unrepaired damage to it and the surrounding buildings. Was sickened by the vendors hawking “souvenirs” at the site. I wanted to hurt them. Reminded me of Jesus in the temple.
Nothing else to say here that isn't being said more eloquently by millions of others elsewhere.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me recap show - beauty queens, presidents and bronies
This weekend, NPR's "Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me" radio show presented favorite segments from the past year voted on by Twitter and Facebook followers. The show includes Miss America discussing the etiquette of scooting across a car seat in a skirt, a caller possibly shooting himself, and much more. A hoot from start to finish :)
A feature of the show is famous people playing a game called "Not My Job," where a celebrity answers three questions on a (usually silly) subject they know nothing about, playing on behalf of a listener for the prize of esteemed scorekeeper Carl Kasell's voice on their voicemail. Both Dick Van Dyke and President Bill Clinton's games are replayed here, and both are engaging and entertaining, as are the panelists.
President Clinton earned respect from an odd subset of the North American population after his appearance on WWDTM first aired in June of this year - bronies, geeky fans of the animated show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I am not going to attempt to explain this - just putting this here because the whole thing gave me giggles the first time it was broadcast, and the recap episode this weekend contained Clinton's part unedited and I giggled even more :)
Listen to the show here. President Clinton's interview and game is last in the player if you want to skip ahead, but the whole show is hilarious.
A little more about bronies here
A couple more brony sites' reaction to President Clinton's quiz here and here.
More pony images
BTW, President Clinton is vegan now
A feature of the show is famous people playing a game called "Not My Job," where a celebrity answers three questions on a (usually silly) subject they know nothing about, playing on behalf of a listener for the prize of esteemed scorekeeper Carl Kasell's voice on their voicemail. Both Dick Van Dyke and President Bill Clinton's games are replayed here, and both are engaging and entertaining, as are the panelists.
President Clinton earned respect from an odd subset of the North American population after his appearance on WWDTM first aired in June of this year - bronies, geeky fans of the animated show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I am not going to attempt to explain this - just putting this here because the whole thing gave me giggles the first time it was broadcast, and the recap episode this weekend contained Clinton's part unedited and I giggled even more :)
Listen to the show here. President Clinton's interview and game is last in the player if you want to skip ahead, but the whole show is hilarious.
A little more about bronies here
A couple more brony sites' reaction to President Clinton's quiz here and here.
More pony images
BTW, President Clinton is vegan now
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
"Gems" and other neat stuff
Like some people (but maybe not so much anymore), when I was a young wife and mom I would clip interesting or thought-provoking items from the newspaper and occasionally put them up on my fridge with (mostly ridiculously goofy looking) magnets. I kept a few when we replaced our fridge several years ago - good God, you'd think from the looks of them they were from the 1800's!
Most of them were "gems" that appeared in Ann Landers' syndicated advice column. I preferred "Ann" over her twin sister Dear Abby, although they were both great. They both took on controversial and taboo subjects with plain-spoken forthrightness. (Dear Abby's daughter gives advice under her mother's pen name today, and IMHO she does not have near the common sense her mother or aunt did. Wonder how that happened.)
Anyway, I've intended to scrapbook some of these clippings for awhile but since they are looking so lousy I decided to post them here instead and type out the text for posterity :) They are not all from Ann Landers, but I'll start with the ones that are. Here's a pic of said lousy looking old clippings
The first one is a poem not by Ann, but by C.W. Longenecker (a real poet?) called "The Victor." The preface in Ann's column reads, "I will be 90 years old on my next birthday and am grateful that my mind is still good and my memory is excellent. In this era of downsizing, when so many family men are losing their jobs and becoming discouraged, I remembered this poem that my father had framed and hung on the wall in his office. It might help some discouraged people if they read it in your column." (emphasis mine)
If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you like to win but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will.
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are.
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win the prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later the man who wins
is the man who thinks he can.
It's still good, whoever wrote it :)
In the middle of the pic are a few of Ann's "gems" - little thoughtful sayings she found worthy to print from time to time
"Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head."
"It is far better to be alone than to wish you were"
"If it's love, it will last. And if it isn't, who needs it?"
"Hatred is like acid. It does more harm to the container in which it is stored than to the object on which it is poured."
Next is "Maturity" - I assume the author is Ann but don't know for sure
Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle differences without violence.
Maturity is patience. It is the willingness to pass up immediate pleasure in favor of a long-term gain.
Maturity is perseverance, the ability to sweat out a project or situation in spite of heavy opposition and discouraging setbacks.
Maturity is the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat, without complaint or collapse.
Maturity is being big enough to say, "I was wrong." And, when right, the mature person need not experience the satisfaction of saying, "I told you so."
Maturity is the ability to make a decision and stand by it. The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities and then do nothing.
Maturity means dependability, keeping one's word and coming through in a crisis. The immature are masters of the alibi. They are confused and conflicted. Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business and good intentions that somehow never materialize.
Maturity is the art of living in peace with what we cannot change, the courage to change what should be changed and the wisdom to know the difference.
The bottom clipping shows a version of the Pledge of Allegiance compiled from various versions reported by teachers
"I led the pigeons to the flag of the United States of America and to the public for Richard Stans one nation under guard and a vegetable with little tea and just rice for all please be seated."
These little clippings have given me smiles over the years - hope they gave you some too :)
Oh, there's one more - I felt this Dilbert comic from 1999 reflected the perpetual state of my marriage at the time (click to enlarge)
LOL :)
Most of them were "gems" that appeared in Ann Landers' syndicated advice column. I preferred "Ann" over her twin sister Dear Abby, although they were both great. They both took on controversial and taboo subjects with plain-spoken forthrightness. (Dear Abby's daughter gives advice under her mother's pen name today, and IMHO she does not have near the common sense her mother or aunt did. Wonder how that happened.)
Anyway, I've intended to scrapbook some of these clippings for awhile but since they are looking so lousy I decided to post them here instead and type out the text for posterity :) They are not all from Ann Landers, but I'll start with the ones that are. Here's a pic of said lousy looking old clippings
The first one is a poem not by Ann, but by C.W. Longenecker (a real poet?) called "The Victor." The preface in Ann's column reads, "I will be 90 years old on my next birthday and am grateful that my mind is still good and my memory is excellent. In this era of downsizing, when so many family men are losing their jobs and becoming discouraged, I remembered this poem that my father had framed and hung on the wall in his office. It might help some discouraged people if they read it in your column." (emphasis mine)
If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you like to win but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will.
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you are outclassed, you are.
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win the prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later the man who wins
is the man who thinks he can.
It's still good, whoever wrote it :)
In the middle of the pic are a few of Ann's "gems" - little thoughtful sayings she found worthy to print from time to time
"Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head."
"It is far better to be alone than to wish you were"
"If it's love, it will last. And if it isn't, who needs it?"
"Hatred is like acid. It does more harm to the container in which it is stored than to the object on which it is poured."
Next is "Maturity" - I assume the author is Ann but don't know for sure
Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle differences without violence.
Maturity is patience. It is the willingness to pass up immediate pleasure in favor of a long-term gain.
Maturity is perseverance, the ability to sweat out a project or situation in spite of heavy opposition and discouraging setbacks.
Maturity is the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat, without complaint or collapse.
Maturity is being big enough to say, "I was wrong." And, when right, the mature person need not experience the satisfaction of saying, "I told you so."
Maturity is the ability to make a decision and stand by it. The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities and then do nothing.
Maturity means dependability, keeping one's word and coming through in a crisis. The immature are masters of the alibi. They are confused and conflicted. Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business and good intentions that somehow never materialize.
Maturity is the art of living in peace with what we cannot change, the courage to change what should be changed and the wisdom to know the difference.
The bottom clipping shows a version of the Pledge of Allegiance compiled from various versions reported by teachers
"I led the pigeons to the flag of the United States of America and to the public for Richard Stans one nation under guard and a vegetable with little tea and just rice for all please be seated."
These little clippings have given me smiles over the years - hope they gave you some too :)
Oh, there's one more - I felt this Dilbert comic from 1999 reflected the perpetual state of my marriage at the time (click to enlarge)
LOL :)
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Badass chihuahua is badass (with bonus badass chihuahuas, including mine)
Badass chihuahua runs off some robbers in his human's store
Here is my badass chihuahua in her devil costume on Halloween
Here she is again being a badass to my son's dog for wearing a fairy costume
This chihuahua is a badass dancer
Loves me some badass chihuahuas :)
Here is my badass chihuahua in her devil costume on Halloween
Here she is again being a badass to my son's dog for wearing a fairy costume
This chihuahua is a badass dancer
Loves me some badass chihuahuas :)
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Good Riddance
Hopefully she never comes back
The local TV coverage of the release was pretty entertaining, though - I'm glad I tuned in - 'twas good for many laughs :)
Flipped on the TV a few minutes after midnight after getting a tweet that it was about to happen, then I decided to pee really quick and missed it! No biggie though as her 10-second walk with Baez was rerun ad nauseum as the media tried to figure out what to do next. As helicopters began to follow the SUV down I-4, Channel 9 reporter Kathi Belich was asked what the situation was on the ground at the jail. She replied, almost dejectedly, "Well, it looks like people are getting in their cars and leaving." Poor news media - all camped out ready to cover all the drama, but these frackin' people actually behaved themselves! How boring and uncoverable.
The true hilarity ensued, however, during the car chase via helicopter a la O.J. in the white Bronco. The SUV containing the baby killer pulled in to the downtown parking garage of one of her lawyers, Cheney Mason. Apparently MOTY (Mother of the Year) switched cars in there, and some other decoy cars went out also. The helicopters continued to follow a vehicle believed to be transporting the murderess to Orlando Executive Airport (a small airport used by private jets and private plane owners), but when the SUV didn't take the exit it should have to go there, all the reporters on live TV simultaneously realized they were following the wrong car and had lost track of her. D'OH!
Undaunted, at about 1 am they turned their cameras on a small plane on the tarmac at OEA with its doors open and crew in place, looking as if it was awaiting passengers. Reporters breathlessly noted that they believed this was the plane that would be taking MOTY to parts unknown. Helicopters followed vehicles driving toward the plane. The anticipation was palpable - is this the plane taking babykiller away? And to where?
Then people got out of the vehicles and started unloading a bunch of golf bags. Apparently these were some wealthy tourists preparing to fly home from a golfing vacation in Orlando. D'OH!
After this the TV stations gave up and returned to regular programming. HAHAHA! An appropriate finale to the circus this case has been.
Some sites are reporting that MOTY did board a plane at OEA at 3 am or so and that she is now in Ohio. (Ohio? - ok, I seem to remember she has some relatives there) Good for them - they can have her. Will they take the rest of her family too, please?
Again, good riddance.
The local TV coverage of the release was pretty entertaining, though - I'm glad I tuned in - 'twas good for many laughs :)
Flipped on the TV a few minutes after midnight after getting a tweet that it was about to happen, then I decided to pee really quick and missed it! No biggie though as her 10-second walk with Baez was rerun ad nauseum as the media tried to figure out what to do next. As helicopters began to follow the SUV down I-4, Channel 9 reporter Kathi Belich was asked what the situation was on the ground at the jail. She replied, almost dejectedly, "Well, it looks like people are getting in their cars and leaving." Poor news media - all camped out ready to cover all the drama, but these frackin' people actually behaved themselves! How boring and uncoverable.
The true hilarity ensued, however, during the car chase via helicopter a la O.J. in the white Bronco. The SUV containing the baby killer pulled in to the downtown parking garage of one of her lawyers, Cheney Mason. Apparently MOTY (Mother of the Year) switched cars in there, and some other decoy cars went out also. The helicopters continued to follow a vehicle believed to be transporting the murderess to Orlando Executive Airport (a small airport used by private jets and private plane owners), but when the SUV didn't take the exit it should have to go there, all the reporters on live TV simultaneously realized they were following the wrong car and had lost track of her. D'OH!
Undaunted, at about 1 am they turned their cameras on a small plane on the tarmac at OEA with its doors open and crew in place, looking as if it was awaiting passengers. Reporters breathlessly noted that they believed this was the plane that would be taking MOTY to parts unknown. Helicopters followed vehicles driving toward the plane. The anticipation was palpable - is this the plane taking babykiller away? And to where?
Then people got out of the vehicles and started unloading a bunch of golf bags. Apparently these were some wealthy tourists preparing to fly home from a golfing vacation in Orlando. D'OH!
After this the TV stations gave up and returned to regular programming. HAHAHA! An appropriate finale to the circus this case has been.
Some sites are reporting that MOTY did board a plane at OEA at 3 am or so and that she is now in Ohio. (Ohio? - ok, I seem to remember she has some relatives there) Good for them - they can have her. Will they take the rest of her family too, please?
Again, good riddance.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The verdict is in
Wow, what a day. Casey Anthony was acquitted. Still stunned by the verdict, but here are a few initial thoughts…
Thinking back on the last three years and the trial, I guess it’s true that the prosecution didn’t do their job, as many are saying. I thought they proved their case (perhaps not beyond ANY doubt, but yes, beyond a reasonable doubt, but that’s another discussion). I did wonder from time to time, though, if they over-sanitized their case to keep it simple for the jurors. A lot was left out, including a big fight that Cindy and Casey had the night before the first 911 call (Fathers’ Day – Cindy had taken Caylee to the nursing home where Cindy's father resided for a visit, and unknowingly took the last photos and video of Caylee alive that day). Cindy allegedly choked Casey that evening, and brother Lee witnessed this and broke it up. Cindy actually testified about this evening in court and described it as a lovely evening where she and Casey shared bonding time while looking at the photos and video. The jurors never heard about this fight. Did the prosecution think it was too difficult to explain and leave it out for this reason? Maybe. Did they think that would feed directly into the defense’s reliance on the “dysfunctional family” approach? Maybe. Maybe it’s neither here nor there. I don’t know.
More egregious, though, is how the Anthony family (specifically Cindy Anthony) not only tried to connect Casey’s friends to Caylee’s disappearance and drag them through the mud by name in the media, but attempted to defame Texas EquuSearch and its founder and leader, Tim Miller, a passionate advocate for missing and exploited children who came here and organized multiple searches for Caylee which he was subsequently vilified by the family for. (Tim Miller interview prior to the verdict.) Many Central Floridians and others hiked for hours and days through muck, thorns and storms participating in these searches because they cared about this little girl and wanted to by some slim chance find her either alive or allow her to rest in peace, and for what? To help these liars perpetuate this lie, this fallacious reality? It makes me ill to recall. A slow, collective devastation was felt by many here as it gradually seemed to be the case that Caylee died at her mother’s hand and desire, accidentally or not (not). We believed them all initially, and wanted to help, but things gradually began to smell, kind of like the trunk of that Pontiac Sunfire.
To me, this is the most painful aspect of this whole thing. As a community, we opened our hearts to this family, as well as our wallets and other resources to help them find their “kidnapped” daughter/granddaughter and hopefully catch the perpetrator. We hung their flyers, passed out their buttons, wore their T-shirts and wrote our checks. It is true that they are dysfunctional, but isn’t every family at times? However, Jose Baez hammered the jury with this perception repeatedly in his opening statement and revisited it throughout the trial, and judging from an interview with an alternate given to CNN today (one of only two, and the actual jurors who deliberated haven’t spoken at all), they bought into this argument from the get-go, and it was effective.
It is repulsive to me that Jose Baez actually “won” this thing, although it may have been different if the prosecution had not overreached and put the death penalty on the table. I’m sure if I were a juror here I would not have voted for death. Caylee most likely did not suffer, and was not tortured or dismembered (until after death, by wildlife), and Casey has not killed anyone else. Premeditation? Possibly, but not conclusive. By overreaching and not accurately reading how well slimy Jose Baez was leading the jury down his yellow brick road, the State of Florida lost their case, and Caylee did not receive justice.
This is hard to swallow.
Here is Jose Baez at the courthouse today just before the verdict came in
Good Lord, I hate this guy. He just won the lottery today, though.
Thinking back on the last three years and the trial, I guess it’s true that the prosecution didn’t do their job, as many are saying. I thought they proved their case (perhaps not beyond ANY doubt, but yes, beyond a reasonable doubt, but that’s another discussion). I did wonder from time to time, though, if they over-sanitized their case to keep it simple for the jurors. A lot was left out, including a big fight that Cindy and Casey had the night before the first 911 call (Fathers’ Day – Cindy had taken Caylee to the nursing home where Cindy's father resided for a visit, and unknowingly took the last photos and video of Caylee alive that day). Cindy allegedly choked Casey that evening, and brother Lee witnessed this and broke it up. Cindy actually testified about this evening in court and described it as a lovely evening where she and Casey shared bonding time while looking at the photos and video. The jurors never heard about this fight. Did the prosecution think it was too difficult to explain and leave it out for this reason? Maybe. Did they think that would feed directly into the defense’s reliance on the “dysfunctional family” approach? Maybe. Maybe it’s neither here nor there. I don’t know.
More egregious, though, is how the Anthony family (specifically Cindy Anthony) not only tried to connect Casey’s friends to Caylee’s disappearance and drag them through the mud by name in the media, but attempted to defame Texas EquuSearch and its founder and leader, Tim Miller, a passionate advocate for missing and exploited children who came here and organized multiple searches for Caylee which he was subsequently vilified by the family for. (Tim Miller interview prior to the verdict.) Many Central Floridians and others hiked for hours and days through muck, thorns and storms participating in these searches because they cared about this little girl and wanted to by some slim chance find her either alive or allow her to rest in peace, and for what? To help these liars perpetuate this lie, this fallacious reality? It makes me ill to recall. A slow, collective devastation was felt by many here as it gradually seemed to be the case that Caylee died at her mother’s hand and desire, accidentally or not (not). We believed them all initially, and wanted to help, but things gradually began to smell, kind of like the trunk of that Pontiac Sunfire.
To me, this is the most painful aspect of this whole thing. As a community, we opened our hearts to this family, as well as our wallets and other resources to help them find their “kidnapped” daughter/granddaughter and hopefully catch the perpetrator. We hung their flyers, passed out their buttons, wore their T-shirts and wrote our checks. It is true that they are dysfunctional, but isn’t every family at times? However, Jose Baez hammered the jury with this perception repeatedly in his opening statement and revisited it throughout the trial, and judging from an interview with an alternate given to CNN today (one of only two, and the actual jurors who deliberated haven’t spoken at all), they bought into this argument from the get-go, and it was effective.
It is repulsive to me that Jose Baez actually “won” this thing, although it may have been different if the prosecution had not overreached and put the death penalty on the table. I’m sure if I were a juror here I would not have voted for death. Caylee most likely did not suffer, and was not tortured or dismembered (until after death, by wildlife), and Casey has not killed anyone else. Premeditation? Possibly, but not conclusive. By overreaching and not accurately reading how well slimy Jose Baez was leading the jury down his yellow brick road, the State of Florida lost their case, and Caylee did not receive justice.
This is hard to swallow.
Here is Jose Baez at the courthouse today just before the verdict came in
Good Lord, I hate this guy. He just won the lottery today, though.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Jurors are now deliberating in the Casey Anthony trial
I have avoided writing about this here since May during jury selection, but this trial has been an extraordinary phenomenon to observe as it has taken over our city. It has been inescapable these last several weeks - it is on every local TV channel all day long every day. Walk in any waiting room or lobby anywhere and there it is - Casey Casey Casey in your face - truly, since every channel shows a split screen with one camera on Casey all the time. If videography counts as photography, Casey has to be rivaling Princess Diana as the most photographed woman of all time.
I vented my frustrations about this in LOLcat form in a recent fark Caturday thread. People seemed to enjoy them so here they are
The Casey Anthony trial in LOLcats
Yes, this is inappropriate. Yes, I am a geek. I don't care.
I vented my frustrations about this in LOLcat form in a recent fark Caturday thread. People seemed to enjoy them so here they are
The Casey Anthony trial in LOLcats
Yes, this is inappropriate. Yes, I am a geek. I don't care.
Monday, June 20, 2011
The Big Man has left us...
I have seen Springsteen and the E Street band six times in four states, starting with The River tour. Some friends and I paid $5 each for seats in the top row of the arena in Austin (November 9th, 1980) and were subsequently taken on the musical ride of our lives for four hours. The musicianship, love and uncontainable joy evident between Bruce and Clarence was captivating and irreplaceable. For those that never got to see them live, I am sorry for you. It truly is the end of an era, much too soon.
Thank you Clarence, and rest well.
I like this clip because Brian Williams is speaking not just as a journalist, but a fan too.
Obligatory - TURN IT UP
Thank you Clarence, and rest well.
I like this clip because Brian Williams is speaking not just as a journalist, but a fan too.
Obligatory - TURN IT UP
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Happy Fathers Day!
Now Go the Fuck to Sleep, a real book (!) read by Samuel L. Jackson (NSFW language, obvs)
Also, here is Spontn80's annual Fathers Day thread from FARK
It's what I should've said but didn't - What would you say to your dad today if you could?
This thread always reminds me of what a good Dad my sisters and I had.
Also, here is Spontn80's annual Fathers Day thread from FARK
It's what I should've said but didn't - What would you say to your dad today if you could?
This thread always reminds me of what a good Dad my sisters and I had.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Happy Hump Day!
Here's something to smile about :) small boy just after riding his bike without training wheels for the first time
Update 6/3: When I first saw this video it had about 12,000 views, a description (assumed to be from a parent) and +/- 1000 comments, mostly rude and insulting to this sweet child experiencing a moment of joy. The description has been removed and comments have been disabled, presumably due to the subhuman nature of the average YouTube commenter.
Please, if you enjoyed this video and have a YouTube account, log in and "like" it there. Don't let the dregs drag this child's (and his parents) moment down. There are 12,528 "likes" as I post this - please add yours!
BTW I do not know this child or family in any way. I just don't like Internet bullies picking on children. Thank you.
Update 6/3: When I first saw this video it had about 12,000 views, a description (assumed to be from a parent) and +/- 1000 comments, mostly rude and insulting to this sweet child experiencing a moment of joy. The description has been removed and comments have been disabled, presumably due to the subhuman nature of the average YouTube commenter.
Please, if you enjoyed this video and have a YouTube account, log in and "like" it there. Don't let the dregs drag this child's (and his parents) moment down. There are 12,528 "likes" as I post this - please add yours!
BTW I do not know this child or family in any way. I just don't like Internet bullies picking on children. Thank you.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
State of Florida vs. Casey Marie Anthony
Jury selection began today on schedule for a notorious criminal case originating in my home county, Orange County, Florida. It is alleged that Casey Anthony murdered her two-year-old daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony, sometime between June and July 2008. 31 days went by without anyone seeing the little girl or reporting her missing. Casey’s mom Cindy (a registered nurse employed by Gentiva at the time, now out on “disability”) got a whiff of Casey’s car trunk and immediately exclaimed “it smells like there’s been a dead body in the damn car” while calling 911. This is when it all began to spiral downhill for the Anthony family.
Casey (who is facing the death penalty) and her defense team is taking this to trial at taxpayers’ expense despite overwhelming scientific, forensic and circumstantial evidence against her, no alibi, and deliberate misleading and lying to law enforcement by herself and her parents. This young person lied to and stole from family and friends repeatedly without batting an eye. She pretended she was graduating from high school until it was time for her family to go to the graduation, at which time she told them she didn’t finish. Her stealing and lying escalated after this, culminating in her mother’s discovery that Caylee’s whereabouts were unknown for 31 days combined with the death smell in Casey’s car.
Casey responded to these accusations by 1) telling law enforcement officers she had been conducting her own investigation into her daughters’ disappearance during the 31 days; 2) leading them on a wild goose chase during which she claimed she worked at Universal Studios as an “event planner” and led them all the way into the park and to her supposed “office” before finally admitting she didn’t work there and hadn't since Caylee was born; and 3) inventing a “nanny” named Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez (the “imaginanny”) that she dropped Caylee off to and who must have taken her.
During those 31 days when she was supposedly conducting her own investigation into Caylee’s disappearance, she was repeatedly photographed and filmed partying and also got a tattoo reading “La Bella Vita” – the beautiful life – which she apparently planned to start living now that Caylee was out of the way.
When Caylee's skeletal remains were found with duct tape over her mouth in woods not far from the Anthony home, Casey reportedly had a breakdown in jail. This also ruined her awful lawyer Jose Baez’s plan of attack. He was not counting on a body being found, and has seemed not to know what to do since. It took him eight tries to pass the Bar exam, and he often seems lost in court, especially during the scientific discussions. He is not a death penalty qualified attorney, so attorney Cheney Mason, who is, is working with him pro bono. Patient Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. has been educating Baez in Law 101 during the lengthy pretrial hearings (again at taxpayer expense).
While wordy, this really is a brief synopsis of the case. I didn’t even get to her father George, a former law enforcement officer who attempted suicide about a year ago and who some think Casey’s defense might hang accusations on in order to create reasonable doubt with one juror (that’s all they need to do), or her brother Lee. Nor did I get to the blogger who inserted himself into the case resulting in the recusal of the original judge, Stan Strickland (and I won’t).
If you enjoy reading about and dissecting family dysfunction, this trial will have it all and more to offer. Jury selection was moved to Pinellas County (Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater area) because of extensive media coverage in Orange County and nationally. The jury that is selected in Pinellas will be moved to Orange County and sequestered for a minimum of 6-8 weeks at a cost to Orange County taxpayers of at least $360,000.00. This is after Casey and her parents collected over $250,000.00 for selling pictures and videos of Caylee to ABC news and others purportedly to pay for Casey’s defense, although she has since been declared indigent and taxpayers have been footing the bill for this farce since then. Where did that blood money go?
Here is Judge Perry reading the charges against Casey Anthony to some of the potential jurors in Pinellas County on Monday, May 9th. Casey manages to turn on some tears here - the few times she's cried before now it appeared to be fake (no tears). Of course she is facing the jury pool head-on here.
I do not intend to write about this regularly as there are so many others who already do so. Here are a few good links
The Hinky Meter - maintained by Valhall, an aerospace engineer and passionate advocate for missing and abused children who got sick of the poor scientific discussions on other blogs, so she started her own
THM discovery timeline of the case - exhausting, but it's all there
WFTV.com's Casey Anthony page - all hearings are streamed live with no timeouts and a concomitant moderated chat
Hal Boedeker's blog - this is the TV critic for the Orlando Sentinel newspaper. He also puts up a post every day or two about the case, which is subsequently swarmed by commenters from all spectrums
Investigation Discovery's Casey Anthony page, including daily recaps and a quiz (!)
Richard Hornsby, an Orlando criminal defense attorney (whom Casey should have hired IMO) offers his opinions on the case
Bullstopper - a semanticist brutally dissects the language of (usually) the defense
Egg Tree News provides an unforgiving satirical view of the case
Casey (who is facing the death penalty) and her defense team is taking this to trial at taxpayers’ expense despite overwhelming scientific, forensic and circumstantial evidence against her, no alibi, and deliberate misleading and lying to law enforcement by herself and her parents. This young person lied to and stole from family and friends repeatedly without batting an eye. She pretended she was graduating from high school until it was time for her family to go to the graduation, at which time she told them she didn’t finish. Her stealing and lying escalated after this, culminating in her mother’s discovery that Caylee’s whereabouts were unknown for 31 days combined with the death smell in Casey’s car.
Casey responded to these accusations by 1) telling law enforcement officers she had been conducting her own investigation into her daughters’ disappearance during the 31 days; 2) leading them on a wild goose chase during which she claimed she worked at Universal Studios as an “event planner” and led them all the way into the park and to her supposed “office” before finally admitting she didn’t work there and hadn't since Caylee was born; and 3) inventing a “nanny” named Zenaida Fernandez-Gonzalez (the “imaginanny”) that she dropped Caylee off to and who must have taken her.
During those 31 days when she was supposedly conducting her own investigation into Caylee’s disappearance, she was repeatedly photographed and filmed partying and also got a tattoo reading “La Bella Vita” – the beautiful life – which she apparently planned to start living now that Caylee was out of the way.
When Caylee's skeletal remains were found with duct tape over her mouth in woods not far from the Anthony home, Casey reportedly had a breakdown in jail. This also ruined her awful lawyer Jose Baez’s plan of attack. He was not counting on a body being found, and has seemed not to know what to do since. It took him eight tries to pass the Bar exam, and he often seems lost in court, especially during the scientific discussions. He is not a death penalty qualified attorney, so attorney Cheney Mason, who is, is working with him pro bono. Patient Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. has been educating Baez in Law 101 during the lengthy pretrial hearings (again at taxpayer expense).
While wordy, this really is a brief synopsis of the case. I didn’t even get to her father George, a former law enforcement officer who attempted suicide about a year ago and who some think Casey’s defense might hang accusations on in order to create reasonable doubt with one juror (that’s all they need to do), or her brother Lee. Nor did I get to the blogger who inserted himself into the case resulting in the recusal of the original judge, Stan Strickland (and I won’t).
If you enjoy reading about and dissecting family dysfunction, this trial will have it all and more to offer. Jury selection was moved to Pinellas County (Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater area) because of extensive media coverage in Orange County and nationally. The jury that is selected in Pinellas will be moved to Orange County and sequestered for a minimum of 6-8 weeks at a cost to Orange County taxpayers of at least $360,000.00. This is after Casey and her parents collected over $250,000.00 for selling pictures and videos of Caylee to ABC news and others purportedly to pay for Casey’s defense, although she has since been declared indigent and taxpayers have been footing the bill for this farce since then. Where did that blood money go?
Here is Judge Perry reading the charges against Casey Anthony to some of the potential jurors in Pinellas County on Monday, May 9th. Casey manages to turn on some tears here - the few times she's cried before now it appeared to be fake (no tears). Of course she is facing the jury pool head-on here.
I do not intend to write about this regularly as there are so many others who already do so. Here are a few good links
The Hinky Meter - maintained by Valhall, an aerospace engineer and passionate advocate for missing and abused children who got sick of the poor scientific discussions on other blogs, so she started her own
THM discovery timeline of the case - exhausting, but it's all there
WFTV.com's Casey Anthony page - all hearings are streamed live with no timeouts and a concomitant moderated chat
Hal Boedeker's blog - this is the TV critic for the Orlando Sentinel newspaper. He also puts up a post every day or two about the case, which is subsequently swarmed by commenters from all spectrums
Investigation Discovery's Casey Anthony page, including daily recaps and a quiz (!)
Richard Hornsby, an Orlando criminal defense attorney (whom Casey should have hired IMO) offers his opinions on the case
Bullstopper - a semanticist brutally dissects the language of (usually) the defense
Egg Tree News provides an unforgiving satirical view of the case
Monday, May 9, 2011
Kids react to Osama bin Laden's killing
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.
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 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.
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