Friday, May 27, 2022
Stuff
Thursday, May 26, 2022
You Could Make a Killing
- If I don't need to be trained in firearms, should Mrs. Smith who has 2nd period math? I mean, they're watching over your 'darlings'. ''
- Who is paying for these weapons and ammo? I mean, schools and the state already don't even basic supplies for teachers - they have to shell out for them on their own.
- Will teachers get full immunity when they accidentally put a bullet through Evan's head when they tried to shoot the guy with the gun?
- Best yet: will you pay them the salary of a teacher, security guard and armed marksman? Oh - and clean-up crew?
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Hell is for Children
Well, not true. As of yesterday, you can add 14 more elementary school children to the death statistics.
Truth be told, I got home from work and saw the headline and that's it. I've read nothing. Nor do I plan to. It is far too sad in so many regards.
Say what you want, and while every life counts in this regard, it seems a lot lot worse when they are elementary school-aged kids. We are number to the high school shootings, which the shooters are usually high schoolers themselves.
But this is Texas. A gun state. Ironically, a severe pro-life state - unless your trans, then they're not. But gun deaths of children there don't mean prof-life. It means more pro-gun. Arm everyone and this won't happen.
Reality: arm everyone and it happens more often.
The NRA is having their convention in Houston next week. Their last in-person convention guns were not allowed in the venue. Irony.
In more reality news, around the same time as the newest shooting, Ohio gets this:
And with this fucking shit-eating grin too.
Irony #2: Firearms are prohibited at the Ohio Statehouse.
While not at retirement age, we are nearing it. We've been wondering what to do in our aging year - and where. But the where had been beach? city? Now the discussion has turned to: which country?
It's not longer a "joke". You cannot emigrate to Canada. It's not that easy. But I'd gladly live out my days in Paris. But with this gun shit, women's rights, the soon to be challenged same-sex marriage and the potential return of BLOTUS (which = the last dying gasp of the U.S), the joke is no longer funny.
Yes, we'd miss some family, and friends, but at least I'd have peace of mind.
I think.
Song by: Pat Benatar
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Sir Duke
That is my one word review for the Duke.
Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren - how bad could it be? I thought? The on-line Insta trailers made it look lighthearted and funny - it seemed.
It wasn't bad. And it wasn't really lighthearted and / or funny.
It looks like it was semi-released in late 2020, but for general release, the studio et al tried to wait out Covid. It probably would have fared better just going to a streaming service. While it waited its release, the director unexpectedly died. It's not foreshadowing.............I think.
This is a mostly-true tale of a portrait of the Duke of Wellington that gets stolen from the National Gallery - the only known theft from the British Museum. It is done by a barely workingman who espouses Robin Hood references. He is a man of the people and for the people - which comes around at his trial.
The trial of Broadbent's character (well, the character he plays, not his 'character' per se) is the most humourous thing going here. While the rest isn't depressing, it plays a little bleak, but I suppose if you're a man of the people for the people, it should.
Broadbent's performance is good, I would say Mirren's is less so. It's ok and all, but halfway through there is a line inferring she is an Irish "girl". I didn't remember her sounding Irish before that comment, and not really after that line as well. Even after a foreseen transition in circumstances, she still is a frickin' crank.
Matthew Goode - who was also playing across the hall in Downton Abby: We're Making You Watch Us Again - was good as always. I have yet to see him in be fair or bad in any movie or television show which he touches.
I'd have to say - if you have to see it, wait a month or two, it'll be on Netflix or the like.
Fun fact: the only gay bar I've been to in the UK was........the Duke of Wellington.
2022 Movie Count / Goal: 04 of 15
Song by: Stevie Wonder
Monday, May 23, 2022
My Music Monday
I like Duran Duran well enough, Are they Rock Hall worthy? Maybe.
MTV had been a thing, but their second album, Rio, really cemented not just them, but the second British invasion - and D2 lead that charge. They also kicked up video production standards for all bands making music filmettes.
Their music is fine. Some better than others, even if the lyrics really really don't make sense. 710 heard me sing "I smell like I sound......" from "Hungry Like the Wolf". He didn't believe me that these were the words, so he looked them up. Let's just say, I wasn't wrong.
Don't get me started on "Union of the Snake".
The band got in on their first nomination. Actually, I think at least 5 nominees did.
I could pick one of the flashier videos they did, but I'll stick with the first - or one of the first - "Planet Earth".
....to make you feel old, the song and their debut album is 41 years old.
Sunday, May 22, 2022
Shopping with Blobby
Yet another installment in the drudgery that is everyday shopping. The camera-phone makes it a bit more fun - though I get looks whenever I take pics of products. Like I care what people think.
Yeah, most of my Shopping posts are "jokes", some are not. This one remains to be seen.
I got access to a supply of Teeth Whitening Strips. 14, to be precise. One is supposed to use them for two weeks in a row - well, for 30 minutes, each day for 14 days in a row........to be specific.
My teeth weren't (and aren't) shiny white. I don't want them to be Hollywood white, but I'd like them less dingy. I'm not 100% sure it worked. But I'm not sure it did not.
Using them is fairly easy.
They don't align perfectly, but you know, everyone has a different mouth.
Saturday, May 21, 2022
I Get Around
As I somewhat mentioned before, it was a tough week. So, there are not tons of pics.
Song by: the Beach Boys
Friday, May 20, 2022
Going to Sleep
Work this week has made me Crank-Y! I'm not well-liked this week, but as I told my boss, "you don't pay me enough to be likable". Or lickable.
So, I have nothing crafted. .....and I'm going to bed.
Song by: Dave Brubeck
Thursday, May 19, 2022
Ad of the Month
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
20 Dollar Nose Bleed
But we tested when I got home. It wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible. I'm not a fan of things up my nose - boogers included.
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Speeding
87 in a 70.
Sure, Han Solo can do the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs, but you go a measly 17 miles over the speed limit and you get fined $140 !!!
Still, 87 mph is fast. Even on a turnpike. Even a mostly empty one (at the time).
I'll set it up a bit: 5-6 miles of one lane traffic. Everyone BUT the truck in front of me was going the posted, but slower, 55 mph. Due to said truck, we were doing 40.
So when the construction ended, Blobby opened up that throttle and took off.
710 uses Waze and I'd say 95% of the time, the other Wazers have notified us of police who are near. Not so this time.
G-d love him, the patrol guy probably heard my expletive even with my windows up. He had to see the brake lights. And he started to even pull out before I passed him. THAT is how fast I was going.
I knew it was going to happen. 710 knew it was going to happen. State Trooper Brigham definitely knew it was going to happen.
He was very kind and courteous. While I wouldn't say he gave me an out, he gave me an opportunity to give an excuse why I was going so fast.
I suppose I could have said I had to poop, but I had just passed a rest area. I just copped to say: "I wasn't really paying attention". He ran what he needed to and came back with my ticket and fine.
That all said, it wasn't great, but it wasn't bad. My last ticket, 39 in a 35, cost me $10 more than what I was paying here. If you break it down by mph over the limit, I got quite the bargain.
All of this did not put a damper on our weekend in Chicago. But 710 drove the last hour of our trip.
Song by: the Go-Go's
Monday, May 16, 2022
My Music Monday
Sunday, May 15, 2022
Bad News
Saturday, May 14, 2022
Take Good Care of Me
Friday, May 13, 2022
12 of 12
So I'm doing my 145th 12 of 12.
Normally it is 12 pictures taken on the 12th of the month. Since I only post once per day, you get my images the following day. All pictures taken with my iPhone. Click images to enlarge, if you choose.
Created by Chad Darnell and picked up from, what I can tell, any number of random bloggers who then link back to him and vice versa. Chad is no longer doing this, nor is successor coordinating the linking of other 12 of 12'ers anymore. Erik is back and I think he's picking up 12 of 12 again.
Thursday, May 12, 2022
I Got Nothing
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
the Way I Choose
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Monday, May 09, 2022
My Music Monday
Sunday, May 08, 2022
My Body is a Cage
Yet, we had a late afternoon date yesterday and went to the movies. Turns out three other people decided to go as well. It wasn't a big turn-out, but that was ok with us.
There are a few films out there I wanted to see, but we selected the Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
I know, right? Most of you haven't heard of it. I saw a clip in my IG feed and it seemed so weirdly out there, I wanted to see it. I mentioned it a few weeks ago to friends Morty & Jon and they had the same enthusiasm I had for this.
The premise? Nicholas Cage plays Nicholas Cage in a movie about Nicholas Cage.
Well, versions of him peppered with some of his known idiosyncrasies and his known personal problems. It's all very meta - and yet again, it's not.
What little I knew of the premise, 710 knew nothing of what we going to see.
I won't get into details or spoilers, but the writer and director reference any number of Cage movies from the past - some I hadn't even heard of.
As good as Cage is at playing himself, he is best when playing off his screen partner, Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Personally, Javi is the heart of the film, but the premise of a movie star in a movie about making movies keeps up the meta theme.
There are few laugh out loud moments, but they start to come later in the film, but there are humourous moments throughout the movie. The set-up for the movie takes a while, but it turns out to be necessary. That Cage is in on the "joke" makes it that much better.
I would say we both enjoyed it quite a bit.
2022 Movie Count / Goal: 03 of 15
Song by: Arcade Fire
Saturday, May 07, 2022
(Nothing But) Flowers
Tis that time of week where kitty kat lover and doggies admirers come from far and wide to take a gander at animals that might show up on this here blog.
Let us hope you are not disappointed.
Song by: Talking Heads