Philosophy Thursday!

    This kinda describes me right now, as I convalesce from heart issues last week.

New Meat Loaf album!

    Meat Loaf has a new album coming out!  Titled Braver Than We Are, with all songs written by Jim Steinman, it is due to be released September 16th.

    I am stoked!!  I've seen Mr. Loaf twice in concert - the first at the (second) peak of his popularity, and the second many years later, at a venue so small I was literally about 10 feet from the stage.  I was not disappointed either time.

Mentally Unstable?

    One year in college (a long time ago), I lived in a four-plex, with a next-door neighbor who had 20+ cats.  Needless to say, we called him "Catman".

Black Lives Matter

    Taken during the Baton Rouge Black Lives Matter demonstrations yesterday.  There are no words to describe the confrontation between the forces of elegance, resolve, and the demand for justice versus brute force, racial killings, and the white status quo.

Rock Bottom

Happy Birthday, Nikola Tesla!

     Born 160 years ago today.

Home from the Hospital

    I've been in the hospital since Monday, being poked, probed, tested, sedated, purged, and deprived of Sodium and fluids.

    Which is to say that everyone at Banner Heart Hospital was professional, committed to keeping me alive, finding out what was wrong with me, monitoring my vitals, and changing my lifestyle to a healthier one.

    I was able to come home tonight. in as good of shape as could be expected, and I have only one thing to add...

    Lasix, you and I will never be friends.  

English Is Fun

    I'm not sure why the plural, "homeowners", isn't included, since "meows" is there.  But I pick at nits.

Official Notice

    Gawd, as we sit here in monsoon storms and 116°F weather, is Halloween really creeping towards us on the horizon?

Buddhist Evangelists

    It was bound to happen sooner or later.  It seems Buddhist Evangelists have come up with a hand signal to push their "Be One With The Universe" dogma.

Book Excerpt for the Day

    “Why did you get bounced out of Yale Law, Archy?”

    “If I said that during a concert of the New York Philharmonic I streaked naked across the stage wearing a Richard M. Nixon mask, would you believe me?”

    “No.”

    “Then consider the subject closed.”

    (from McNally’s Dilemma by Lawrence Sanders)

    8½*/10.  The complete review is here.

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Political Opinions

    Generally, I prefer not to be drawn into political and religious discussions.  I'm not interested in other people's opinions, and frankly, they aren't interested in mine.

    We do make an exception to this though, when Liz throws a pool party.  There, the alcohol flows, which means partakers just naturally want to breach etiquette.

    We have two venues for these debates.  There is the indoor venue, wherein tact and respect for others' opinions is de rigueur.

    Then there's the back porch venue, usually preferred by the younger set of party-goers.  And the more sloshed ones, regardless of age.  Basically, anything goes, and the only rule is that one is not allowed to lose one's temper, no matter what gets said.

    Now you know.

The Next Generation

    What shall we call this next generation of voters, for whom "9/11" is just something to study in History class?  How about the "Twin Tower Tubbies"?

Foghat - Under The Influence

    There's a new Foghat album out, called Under The Influence.  I was pleasantly surprised to find they can still rock.  That's no small achievement for a band that's been around for 40+ years.

    I've only heard it once so far, but I have it on loan, via Hoopla, so will listen to it a couple more times before it expires after a week.  And BTW, if you've never heard of Hoopla, check with your local library.  Most public libraries offer it as a free perk of membership, and it's a great way to "try before you buy" new releases.

    And BTW, as good as the music is, that is a freaking fantastic album cover!!

   

My 20's

    This pretty much sums up my 20's, which essentialy encompasses the 1970's.  At least I thin it does.  Mostly I remember it as a 10-year blur in my life.

History

    True dis.  Back when I was in school, we had to memorize all the presidents of the United States.  In the correct order.

    Of course, there were only eight of them back then.

Star Wars Surrealism Friday!

People vs. Governments

    I'm not a world traveler; altogether I've visited 12 other countries.  I can tell you this is absolutely true.

    People are the same everywhere.  They want to live in peace, provide for their family; see their kids grow up and live happily as well.  They don't want to conquer your country; they don't want to take your land and house and possessions.  They don't want to kill anyone.

    When you meet someone who acts differently, he probably works for somebody's government

Wine for Special Occasions

Crossword Puzzles vs. Sudoku

   Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

Book Excerpt for the Day

    “That first time – when I met you at the station.  You kept touching that chain round your neck.  Made me wonder.  The average teenager’s careless.  My girls for example.  Always losing things – mobiles – I-pods – keys.  Careless.  But not you.  You wear your front door key round your neck.  Because you can’t afford to lose it – there’d be no one to let you in.  I watched you coming out the station.  Most people stop at the vending machine – grab a coke or a snack.  Not you.  Counting the pennies.”

    (from A Raucous Time by Julia Hughes)

    5½*/10.  The complete review is here.

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Graffiti Art Sunday

    I am really impressed by the cleverness and artistry of some graffiti.

Housework

    This happens at our house all the time.

Twoo Wuv

    I know people like this.

Back Problems

    Me : "I have a weak back."
   Them : "Oh, that's too bad.  When did you get it?"
    Me : "Oh, about a week back."

(a standard piece of workplace shtick at the company I work for)

Dark Humour

    I am so much in trouble. 

RIAA Metadata

    Did anyone else notice the warning from Amazon that record companies are (once again) inserting metadata identification info into the MP3 downloads you buy there?

    I'm not sure what the ramifications are; I'm sure there will be some articles on it in the coming weeks.  Personally, I buy very little MP3 music from Amazon, so its effect, whatever it is, on me is minimal.  Most of my music acquisitions are from Freegal, used-CD stores, and LP conversions.

Quest For Glory

    Ah yes.  This applies to the King's Quest games, and even more so to the Quest For Glory series.  Be sure to grab that cruddy old shoe, so that later you can throw it at the cat, so he won't catch the mouse, so that later...

Selective Hearing

    I do NOT have selective hearing.  Is my omelette ready yet?

Book Excerpt for the Day

    “I’ve been ordered to place you under arrest,” said Manuel Trujillo.

    “Really,” I said.  The two of us stood in front of the shuttle I was about to leave in.

    “The orders came in a couple of hours ago,” Trujillo said.  “Along with the new communications satellite the CU just gave us.  The CU’s not pleased about a Conclave ship being in our sky, incidentally.”

    “So are you arresting me?” I asked.

    “I’d love to, but it seems that you and your family can’t be found,” Trujillo said.  “I suspect that you’ve already left the planet.  We’ll do a colony search, of course.  But I wouldn’t really lay good odds on us finding you.”

    “I’m sneaky, I am,” I said.

    “I always said that about you,” Trujillo said.

    (from The Last Colony by John Scalzi)

     8*/10.  The full review is here.

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Jammin'

    I hate to say it, but I can identify with the guy on the left.

The 60's

   Ah, yes.  I do remember the 1960's.  And yes, I did participate in a protest or two.  But I was no idiot.  If you're going to challenge the cops (or campus security), do so as part of a large crowd of protesters.  It makes the chances of you getting your head bashed in rather minimal.

Books

    Books.  Capturing and corrupting kids' minds since ...well... since 1953 at least.

Pushme-Pullyou

    I think I've spotted one of those rare pushme-pullyou beasts.  Dr. Doolittle would be thrilled!

Book Excerpt for the Day

    Because Wes lived in Brooklyn for many years, to him “Lafayette” was just the name of the subway stop at Lafayette Avenue.  At his request, I rattled off the highlights of Lafayette’s bio.  He responded, “So, you’re writing about a Frenchman who got muddled up in a war on a continent far away from where he was from against a country very close to where he was from?  It’s like somebody from Ukraine battling Russia in Brazil.”

    (from Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell)

   9*/10.  The complete review is here.

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Make America Great...

    A timely pic, since I just finished reading a book about Lafayette and the American Revolution.

Bags of Ice

    Useful advice.

Church Co-Ed Softball

    Actually, the co-ed league didn't have many of these embarrassing incidents.  But the Men's Church Softball League?  Absolutely scandalous.

Buy Back

   The buy-back of a thousand acres begins with a single bag of dirt.

Chalk Art Wednesday

    Chalk Art Wednesday - Cinder Block Wall Edition.