Wednesday, January 31, 2007

UPDATED BLOGGER

I was avoiding it. I tried to avoid it. And now I no longer can.

Blogger Beta is no longer beta. When posting this morning, I was forced!!, forced I tellz ya, to update to the new version. Who the hell really knows what this will mean. We will see.

Let me know if you have issues viewing, commenting, etc. I'm thinking it might be time to update to Typepad or WordPress.
SCOOTER

What is the deal here? This is all falling into place and it is all tooooo easy. Way too fuckin' easy.

Cathie Martin, former top press liaison for Vice President Cheney (and current communications assistant to the president!!!), testified that Libby asked Martin to talk to an official at the CIA, who in turn told Martin that Joseph Wilson's wife was a CIA employee. Martin says she soon after relayed this information to Libby and Cheney. This directly contradicts Libby's assertion that he learned the information later, and from reporters. She also testified that both Cheney and Scooter were intensely interested in Mr. Wilson and his wife, Valerie Plame. Hmmmmmmm.

Ari Fleischer turns his back on his ex-bosses and completely turned on Scooter Libby? Satan's offspring The former White House Press Secretary testified that Libby divulged Valerie Plame's identity to him on July 7, 2003, three days earlier than Libby has told investigators he first learned of the undercover CIA officer. Oh - and he gets immunity for his testimony! He said he was scared that he broke the law by knowing this information. Boo-fuckin'-hoo.

I hate to side with Libby's lawyers, but Cheney & Co. have thrown Scooter under the bus to save that cretin's skin. Cheney's that is. Libby seems all to happy to go along with it. That I don't get. I guess there will be enough doubt to get Scooter off the hook. And even if not, he'll get a big old fat pardon from W. Why should Libby be nervous in the slightest?

Mind you all these Bushies are under oath, so I'm sure they'd never fib. That is just not in this administration's nature to do so. They've always been so completely honest and forthcoming in the past....n'est ce-pas?

Even former NYT reporter, Judith Miller, contradicted Scooter's claims. Judy says that he told her of Plame's identity on June 23rd. Scooter says it was July 10th. Not that you can really believe anything that comes out of her mouth, since she did so well with her own "truths" and her notes.

So, Scooter has been sold up (or is it down?) the river. Someone should go to prison over this. Probably not Libby. And at the very least, more than just Libby.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

MONDAY MOANINGS

Yes - I realize it's not Monday, but I had my other post written and ready to go yesterday morning before I read the paper.

Here are just a few excerpts from the Plain Dealer's weekly tribute to the ever evolving Grandpa Simpson population of Northeast Ohio. There is no set subject for the gripes - it's all free form. Don't try applying logic or trying to reason with these folks...it's never gonna work.

"Where did that slogan 'Best Location in the Nation' come from? Best location for what? Getting shot, robbed, raped, home foreclosures and taxed to death? - Parma

"My moan is funeral homes that don't give discounts to seniors." - Berea

"I'm tired of reading about what may, might, should or probably will happen, in Iraq. Just keep quiet until something does happen." - Akron

"Stop naming cars with numbers and letters. It's ridiculous." - Strongsville

Monday, January 29, 2007

I've made no secret here about my former love of the drink. Mostly beer. I still like it. I still drink it. I still drink. I just kind of accepted the responsiblity of not putting away a 6-10 beers four nights per week. Anymore, I doubt I drink 6-10 beers a month. No judgements on anyone else. Honest.

I don't necessarily believe in 12 step programs. 'They' say accept a higher power than yourself and 'they' claim that power doesn't have to be g-d, but that's what they want. That's what they expect. Those are the same people who use 'it's g-d's will' when it is convenient and that you and I have 'free will' when they want to associate blame. Fuck them.

And quite honestly, who has the time to apologize to ALL the people I may have hurt? Unless there is a salary and benefits attached to that task, I can't take on that full-time job.

I am not an alcoholic. teehee. I know what you're all thinking.

Back in the late 80s (?) a friend of mine was passing through town and stayed a few days with me. I'll call him "Jack" - mostly because his name is Jack. All I'll say about him is that he was in a 12-step program that wasn't for substance addiction, but Columbus didn't then have a meeting for what he was going through, so he had to substitute an AA gathering. He asked me to go with him.

I had never been to an AA meeting. Interesting only begins to describe it. It was exactly and nothing like I thought it would be.

To start off, we were the only two who weren't smoking, let alone chain smoking. Cross-addiction is a wonderful thing. Ruckiry (not Jon's boss), I was raised by parents who each smoked two packs a day, and I frequented bars a lot, so I was used to the atomsphere somewhat.

Actually to start off, they did something that was at least familiar to me: the serenity prayer. If nothing else, Sinead O'Connor starts her I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got disk off with it. But after that, this group never launched into "Feels So Different" - so I was a little let down!

Anyhoo - this was one of those long term gatherings where everyone knew each other, at least by sight, so the new folks were honed in on early - and often. It didn't help when they asked new people to introduce themselves. No last names, obviously.

Jack did his deed, stood and stated his name, who he was/why he was there. Then they just looked at me. I sat. I looked around behind me like someone else was there and ready to say "Hi, I'm (fill in name here) and I'm an alcoholic". But there wasn't anyone else - they were lookin' at me. I fumbled with something to say and am sure I finally uttered something to the effect that I was not an alcoholic and was just there to support a friend. I'm sure every single person was thinking 'admitting it is the first step' and that I was clearly in denial.

I thought the one of the steps in these programs was to take responsibility for your actions - but the two featured speakers didn't do this. It was all about the blame. Why they drank. Who started them down that road. Who thwarted their recovery attempts. It was never them. Everyone in the group seemed to be ok with this.

I don't know what, if anything, Jack got out of the meeting. I didn't.

Afterwards, we went to a bar.


The funny thing about this post is - I came across this comic and it made me smile. I was just going to post it with out any real text. And now you get a few hundred words. Maybe the cartoon isn't as funny now.

Sunday, January 28, 2007














INDIANA BERNSTEIN


Josh Bernstein can put on decent educational show, but he's no Mike Rowe (who is?) or even Jeff Corwin.

He's Digging for the Truth, but what you usually he's just finding a bunch of theories with no solutions. Though no one was actually expecting him to find Atlantis, were they?

On the other hand, he could play Harrison Ford's son in the new movie: Indiana Jones & the Enlarged Prostate - since Indy will be like 81 and unable to handle a whip or most likely a script. And while Indy may have searched for the Lost Ark, he would probably still have to explain how is son is jewish.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

THESE THINGS HAPPEN


The 2007 Weblog Award Nominees have been announced. I'm a Beyonce in a Meryl Streep world.....just a lot more talented and not such a (media) whore.

Oh, I didn't expect to get nominated. Fuck - I was too lazy to even nominate myself....and you just know that most of the people who got the final nod did indeed submit their own blog. I didn't even shill for anyone else to nominate me. There isn't a category out there that I think I'd fit into. I had a better opportunity to be in the Best Latin American category than GLBT or Humour.

I am a little GLBT (minus the L the B and the T), some humour, a part of politics, a note of music, and a smidge of food in my blog. The only area I might have even been eligible for would be Best Kept Secret Weblog. I'm not lamenting that I didn't get in, but I won't lie and say that a bump in readership wouldn't have been fun, however short-term it might have been.

Actually there are very few sites that are nominated that I read, or have even heard of. Post Secret is a weekly read for me. I know of Defamer, but stopped reading it months ago. I do visit the Daily Kos. I'm thrilled to visit some of the web development sites to see how to improve this thing.

Other sites I don't know or look at, but am sure that Becky would like Go Fug Yourself, Meredith with Crazy Aunt Purl and I can almost guarantee that Jon is a daily reader of Wil Wheaton (HA!). Who doesn't like a little Wesley Crusher? In space, no one can see you swish!

I do however, expect to see an site represented here next year - and not mine: Dith and Becca better get Sharing Needles up and running so you can be considered under Best Craft Weblog.

Though the best nominated blog name (and I haven't ever read it) for 2007 has to be My Boyfriend is a Twat.

So, there you have it. Nominees are there to vote on - or not.

Friday, January 26, 2007

NON-SITE OF THE MONTH

Yes, I know it is kind of one-note, and it's not enough to ever make it my site of the month, but this site made me laugh. Someone went to a lot of trouble to set it up the blog and do multiple posts.

....and it has about 1.2 million more hits than my blog!!! (SOB!)

Oh - and I snapped this pic in the parking lot of Panera. ...and you just know the owner was probably sitting in their eating, watching me and going 'what the fuck is he doing?'

I guess they couldn't wheel out fast enough to ask me themselves. ooops. my bad!

Thursday, January 25, 2007

PLEASE PACK YOUR KNIVES AND GO

Here is the fun and not so fun of being sick - BAD TV.

Since being home without a job for a few months, I tried not to watch television after the morning news cycle.

But during my week of massive head cold and lying around on the couch trying to concentrate on breathing, I did nothing but watch tv some of the days. I'll hand it to some of these stations - they know how to do overkill. Eight hours of Law & Order, CSI (pick your versions of either - they got them all) in a row or a day of Myth Busters. They have no programming ability. In reality, it's cheap for them and nothing but profits.

If you don't read blogs other than mine, you might be surprised at how many are out there with guys just completely fascinated with Project Runway. I didn't get it. Nor did I want to. I kind of found it obsessive and a complete waste of time. But now I kind of get it. I'm assuming hoping it's a passing thing for me.

Bravo is great at airing nothing but episode after episode after episode of their shows. Most of that network's fare is reality based: Queer Eye, that Rocco show, etc. Then I came upon something that is the confluence of those two shows with the addtion of what I read Project Runway to be: Top Chef (click on the link if you dare - the website is a frickin disaster!) Not just Top Chef, but Top Chef 2. There was a first season of this?

I hate to say it, and maybe it is the cold medicine talking, but I'm diggin' it. On more than one day of this illness Bravo has shown each and every of the already aired 10-12 episodes back to back. I didn't even know this show was on - but now I'm all up to speed. Mind you I don't know when the original episodes are on, but how hard can that be to find out? Even if I miss them, I'll venture to guess that Bravo will show them ad nasueum.

For a very brief synopsis - 15 'chefs' do two challenges a show: a quick one, which the winner is exempt from elimination from the next challenge. All the challenges have themes and/or specific ingredients that have to be used by all. Sometimes everyone cooks solo or they're paired in teams. Each show one, sometimes more, are eliminated. They are judged by g-d knows who. One of them, though her on-line bio doesn't says it, is married to Salman Rushdie. Go figure. A fatwa on her!

I've never really watched 'reality shows' (ok ok...Kathy Griffin) - which obviously is a misnomer. Nary a shred of reality exist in any of them and most are ruled by product placement. Top Chef is no different.

The editing is there to enhance or create the personality conflicts. Naturally, there is the seemingly one bad seed in the group that everyone hates (myself included.....I totally bought into it) who will also be one to go to the finals. Mark. My. Word. And here he is.

Do you think Heat Miser (yes, even Heat Miser has his own wikipedia entry!!!) knows his hair is missing?

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

G-D HATES FAGS

Joke? Real? Je don't know. I'm not sure je care! YouTube pulled it. I'll wager that Gooooogle Video will too - eventually.

btw...first time posting right from another site directly to my blog. I have NO idea how thsi will go.
PONDERINGS

Why watch the frickin' State of the Union? Shrub was slated to talk about things he'll most likely never get done, let alone start, during his less than two years left (yes folks he only has 726 days left). BTW, how is that trip to the Mars via the moon thing going?

As it turns out (I read), he was well past word 1000 in his speech before he ever uttered 'Iraq'. No one could see the elephant in the room??? Besides what he might or might not say, I literally cannot even listen to his voice. Then the thought of having to see Dick for 45-60 minutes, sitting behind him, was just the trifecta.

No, my evening was watching clips of an unwinnable war. One where people questioned military strategy. One where children were left without a parent. One that showed the fall of a country we had gone into. One where, upon coming home, people had trouble acclimating to civilian life.

Yes, I watched China Beach.

I found an odd cable channel that plays the show once per week. The time just coincided with the SotU. Unfortunately, I found this station as they are broadcasting the fourth and final year of the series. Though the series had some weaker moments, overall it was an extremely strong show. Heck, the first four episodes had Chloe Webb, post Sid & Nancy and pre-Tales of the City (whatever happened to her?) The second year had a post-Hairspray and pre-talk show Ricki Lake (whatever happened to her?)

But the last year, as uneven as I thought it was originally, is actually pretty good. It's not sequential. Timelines jump from 1982 to 1972 to 1975, etc. And all the while it flashes back to 1969 for small periods of time. A little hard to follow, but no less poignant.

As I watched, I couldn't help think that the show started a little less than a decade after the fall of Saigon. Will there be a similar show 15 years after the war in Iraq ends? If the war in Iraq ends?

There was no happy ending to China Beach. I doubt there will be for Iraq - the war or the potential series.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

THE MORE YOU LIVE - THE MORE YOU LOVE (or so they say)

Nothing says 'love' like A Flock of Seagulls song.

I missed it.....our anniversary. Completely spaced on it.

Denton is the one to forget...usually. He remembered. I'm chalking my lapse up to cold meds, or just distraction from a job offer.

It's odd - but how do gay couples decide on their anniversary date? Even couples in MA or Canada probably don't consider their wedding date as their anniversary date - do they? Most of us don't have that marriage option so we pick an arbitrary date to signify 'being together'.

We I picked it in retrospect. It was the night we pretty much first spent together, where we then proceeded to be with each other for months on end. Yeah, I'd go home to my scary efficiency, but we spent a lot of time together - and not just because we worked at the same place. BTW, the first night wasn't some booty call (omg...I can't believe I just used that phrase). Though it was unplanned in a sense, we had worked up to it for a few months.

Morty & Jon might be quick to point out that we took a break. Yes, we did. And yes, technically it was for a few years. But we never lost the closeness. After moving in together, and then apart, I would be at his apartment for things, or he would key into mine on his way home from his 3-11p shift. So whereas some might not count it as continual 22 years together, Denton and I do. Even IF we didn't - it would be 17 years. Not too shabby. It was one of those things that was meant to be, even when we were living apart. If Iran can talk themselves into the holocaust not happening, I can certainly look the other way regarding a few years not living together.

So last Sunday, 22 (or 17) has came and went. I don't know we would have done anything special had we been proactive about it, but we might have. Ahhh...we're just waiting for 25 (or 20) to do something special special. Yeah......that's it.

On a completely unrelated note, I woke up with the Tubes' "Talk To Ya Later". Ugh. What's that about? What a horribly bland song!! Do you remember when they did fun stuff like "Don't Touch Me There" and "White Punks on Dope"? Then they had to do shit like "She's a Beauty". Anyway, I can't even tell you the last time I heard "Talk To Ya Later"....besides this morning....in my head.

Monday, January 22, 2007

THE LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE IS OVER

...most likely.

Before you think this a recap of the G.R. Ford funereal month, think again.

Early Friday evening, I got a job offer. Verbally. I'm still waiting for it in writing - along with the benefit package. Hopefully some, if not all, of that will come today. But barring any unforeseen circumstances, I can't see why I shouldn't be gainfully employed soon.

It's been a long almost four months. I never expected it to take this long - though everyone said it would, if not double it. Assuming I accept, between then and a negotiated start date, I think I will be able to enjoy the time that everyone keeps telling me I should have been doing.

The offer was good. Not quite what I was making - but only 3% or so off it - but I can more than make that up with company bonuses. Even if I don't, I think I can live without the 3%.

Though the company is not based in Ohio (and I know you'll all understand why I'd never mention the company here in the blog), I will work primarily from home and travel about two days of the week - nationwide. As their market expands, it is possible for international travel, which I am up for.

Ironically, my old employer called late last week wanting me do to some contract work for them. They foresaw it as only being a six month engagement. In reality, knowing what they want/need to accomplish, it should be closer to a two-year project, but they weren't willing to commit to that. Unfortunately, I could not commit to them for only six months (though had I not gotten this offer, I may have seriously considered it).

The new job takes me a little out of my comfort zone, but that's not a bad thing - or at least I keep telling myself. I'd been with my last organization so long, that I'd settled in and gotten probably way to, well, comfortable. I think it's harder to change when you aren't the one initiating the change - when it's forced upon you, one has to take long hard looks. (yes Morty, I said 'long and hard'.)

Over the weekend, I found myself in a better mood. It didn't hurt I was ending the cold cycle. Denton has also had some very positive interviews this last week. I hope to see us both working in February.

I'm actually looking forward to 2007!

Sunday, January 21, 2007

HILLARY & BARCAK

So Clinton has announced that she's 'in to win'. Obama says he'll announce on Feb 10th......which kind of, just sort of means he has already announced - no?

More interesting is that both of them did this notification via their websites. I'm not quite sure what that's about. Does a web announcement have a more controlled atmosphere? I know there must be a strategy behind this methodology, but I don't know what.

I also thought Saturday was an odd release date, but then after I processed it, my next impression was how frickin' clever of her and her people - the story will probably be THE above fold headline on every front page of almost every Sunday paper....the most purchased edition of the week.

It's not like people don't know who she is, or that there hasn't been speculation about this candidacy for the last 3-4 years. But it is a warning shot.

The TV coverage amuses me. They have already said if she fumbles at all, Obama has the democratic nomination. Are they fucking serious? Are these talking heads so stupid to think they can call the outcome this early on? How they loved talking up Dr./Gov. Howard Dean - and were all too willing to help tear him down, dooming him and leaving us with Kerry!

I'm not sure what to feel about Obama or Clinton at this point. Time will tell.........I guess.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

R.I.P Denny Doherty


I loved the Mamas & Papas. I'm not sure how normal it was for an early teen to like their music when my other friends were more into Van Halen or the Doobie Brothers. I'd rather have a root canal than listen to the latter. ...and we all know how much I like the dentist.

But honestly, I acquired my musical tastes by starting at the beginning of rock and roll and worked my way up to modern day. I owned and loved the American Graffiti soundtrack. Eventually I went through all the '60s music - the Beatles, the Airplane, etc. before catching up with my cohorts. At least I knew the inspirations of the then current bands. I remember having a heated discussion on the school bus on how the death of John Lennon was much more significant than the one of John Bonham. Regarless of what Joe Lanese thought, John Bonham did not change the landscape of rock and roll.

The Mamas & the Papas did - in their own way. No one was doing four part harmony. The Beatles did two, sometimes three part. Peter, Paul & Mary....well obviously they weren't doing four part. One could argue that the Mamas & the Papas didn't either. Maybe 3.5 part harmony.

It's almost ironic that the least musical member of the Mamas & Papas is the only one alive. I'm not really sure how much Michelle Phillips ever contributed, besides to Knot's Landing. One struggles to single her out in the vocal section. But she was clearly a muse for both John Phillips and Doherty. She certainly slept with both.

Denny was easily overshadowed by John Phillips, but it was Doherty who handled some of the main vocals for the group.

Everyone knows "Monday Monday" and "California Dreamin'", but for those who haven't experienced them, you should really check them out - even if it's just a disk from the library. Heck you probably even recognize "Creque Alley" (my favourite) "Words of Love", "Dedicated to the One I Love" and "I Saw Her Again".

Even for just those songs - it was pretty damn good work for 2.5 years of work. Going from yesterday's post - definately a group who deserved their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 1998.

Friday, January 19, 2007

ROCK and/or ROLL

If you haven't been to the Rock N Roll Hall O'Fame, I don't know that I can recommend it. Sure, it's a destination, if you are in Cleveland. Even the architecture is only ok. I.M. Pei (you are who?) did it and it looks oddly like his J.F.K. Library.

I was a member of the Hall when it opened 10-11 yrs ago. I went two times, was not impressed and never renewed my membership. Clearly it's as much, if not more, about audible displays as it is visual. But piping in music over those audio displays made it impossible to get anything out of those exhibits. Maybe they've solved the problem.

I lost immediate interest in the clothing/costume displays. The Sgt. Pepper uniforms were kind of cool. The penny loafers on loan from Michael Jackson were not. Especially when the loan insisted the display card as saying: Designed by Michael Jackson, King of Pop. And there was a trademark symbol after that last line. I kid you not. The shoes looked no different than any Bass Weejuns. Way to go Designer Mike!

I think it's great that no artist can be nominated until 25 yrs after their first recording. That seems logical. It stands to reason that the music and their artistry holds up and has shown some contribution to the history of, oh Rock and/or Roll. Other than that, I don't what the criteria is. I would assume to be a first at something, or the best at something (sales, charts, etc) - but who knows. It just seems all very subjective.

No offense to the groups who are in, but how much of a difference is there really between the Shirelles, the Ronettes and Martha & the Vandellas? Overall most of the performer choices were on the mark. Sometimes they eventually get on the mark.

Case in point - two inductees slated for 2007: R.E.M. and Patti Smith. The former on the ballot for three years and no nod. Patti Smith for like six. Yet Bob Seger and Jackson Browne get in first. I like Jackson Browne! But Hall of Fame material?? I'm having a hard time with that - especially over R.E.M. (granted, I am talking pre-Monster R.E.M., but......) and Smith. Jackson didn't sing "Rock N Roll Nigger" - he wouldn't have the balls.

The Grateful Dead fought the Hall when they were to be inducted. Only a handful of their ever-rotating roster were even on the list. G-d love Jerry Garcia, who called them on it and said - everyone gets in or no one. The Rock Hall caved.

But for bands like Fleetwood Mac, only some members got in and it had nothing to do with longevity, founding members, but seemingly with commercial success. It's either about band or Hall preference. Which version of the band gets the nod? And if they pick a member here and there, is it THE band at all? Some of these people have never met, let alone played together.

I love that my nephew is into the Hall though. He's a member and has met the surviving members of The Clash down there. How cool is that? I'm glad another generation is getting something out of it - but the structure isn't all that it was meant to be. There are no concerts - or even performing space. There was only one induction ceremony in Cleveland.

By all means - if you're in Cleveland stop by the Hall. Drop a line. I'll meet you for a drink before or after - I just probably won't join you.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

UPDATED LOOK
Ooooh. I have an image up in the header! I'll wait a moment while you all marvel at it.



Ok. Are you all done being marveled? I thought as much.

So it's not the most original image out there, but on the other hand, I actually haven't seen one like it in Blogland. Weeks ago I played with the image for a few hours. Getting the keys just right took some doing and then I felt the need to backfill my blog title in blue. At first I had all the other keys as-is (or avec the leftover letters), but even with the backfilled colour keys, the name just kind of got lost. So then there was the process of blacking all of those additional keys out.

Then it took some work figuring how to get the image up into the header. Blogger Help was of absolutely no help - but a few Goooooogle groups had it figgred out. I know some HTML, but not enough to have done this on my own.

So here you have it. Becky suggested I get tweak the image more and put a drop of mustard or blood (yes she said 'blood'! C'mon!!! I'm not that bad of a typist!) on the keys. I need a little more work in graphic conversion to add mustard and make it actually look like mustard.

All I have to do now is get 3 years of archived posts back on-line and I'm pretty much all done with the updates.

I am open to constructive criticism and any blog enhancing suggestions.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

ALI IS 65

I'm going on record: WHO GIVES A FUCK?

Every evening news program had some story on this event. Likewise the 24 news channels all day long. As did most newspapers I've read. And front page material of the sports section as the main story.

Why?

Most of these stories are calling him one of the greatest athletes EVER. Are they kidding???? This is a man who got beaten upon, which most likely helped the on-set of his Parkinson's. His PD is not idiopathic - one of the reasons he will never be a candidate for Deep Brain Stimulation as a treatment. This I know.

I almost had to laugh at a story today saying he was wheeled down to ringside to watch his daughter in a boxing match. That just doesn't seem right...for multiple reasons.

I've said it before and will again - Secretariat was as good of an athlete as Ali.

Is the only reason the media is making such a big deal about this is that no one ever expected him to make it to 65? I have never seen any birthday story for any other athlete in the media - let alone to this magnitude.

Blobby is perplexed.

Three days coming. Three days with you. Three days going


So said Mary Tyler Moore during one episode of her classic tv show regarding a cold.

I think I should be on my last day 'with you'. Possibly tomorrow. Here's hoping. My g-d, my head weighs 121lbs....I just know it. My teeth ache. The drugs are great for drying out my eye sockets and mouth. Not so much good for doing anything about the nose and sinus cavity.

As I lay awake most of the night - trying not to drown in my own snot - I thought that maybe I should have had that deviated septum taken care of umpteen years back. I know I have a big honker, but I like it. I wouldn't do the surgery to ever change the shape or size of it. I mean - you know what they say about guys with big noses!

But the doctor was oh so optimistic when saying he could fix it, and gave me a 70% chance that surgery would improve nasal usage.

70% ?????? That's it?

Let's see, they're going to break my nose, from the inside, then reset it, pack it with gauze for a 70% success rate? And one I get to pay for - success or not?? Je think not.

I've heard stories of how the removal of the gauze, which is ripped pulled out through your nostril, is a blinding white hot pain that is much worse than the surgery itself. Then there is Bill Mount. He had it done and now hears echoes in his head each time he talks. Granted, it's Bill Mount - so those could just be the other voices in his head. One never really knows. Honestly those two things were more my deciding factors than the 30% failure rate.

My nose and I have made it this far. I suppose we'll go the distance. Though a few more nights like the last two and the end might be very very near.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

SICK DAY POST

I now hab a bad code. I'm not feeling awfully creative today...and even if I were, it's only a matter of ability to navigate the keyboard in my medicated haze.

But since I have you - I'm phoning it in with a YouTube post. At first I was going to go with an SCTV clip for Rebecca (and might tomorrow if I feel the same), but sitting around yesterday watching BAD tv, I actually stayed on a commercial. Normally I don't watch those - that's what g-d created remotes for, dontchaknow.

Anyway, it's only 30 seconds or so - but you really need to listen only about to 20-22 seconds into it. Thank g-d for the DVR...I actually rewound it to make sure I heard what I heard.

Monday, January 15, 2007

RECORD OF THE MONTH

I figured I'd do a monthly 'what I'm listening to' kind of thing. This could be viewed as a lame placeholder kind of post. And probably it is. But it's my blog! So there!

These may or may not be newly released disks. They might not even be a good disk - just what is been in heavy rotation in my car (as usually the iPod is playing anywhere else).


Don Dixon is a triple threat. He sings, he dances and......he sings. Ok - he doesn't. I stole that line from SCTV/Sammy Maudlin skit. However, he sings, plays, produces and is a great songwriter.

You might think you don't know him - but you do. Dixon has produced early R.E.M. and Smithereens. He co-wrote arguably the best song on the Counting Crows debut disk. He's played on (among others) members of the dBs, and Mary Chapin Carpenter disks. This is addition to his eight or so solo disks. Which is in addition to the collaboration he's done with his wife, Marti Jones.

Oh - and if you've ever seen the movie Heathers, you'll know the song "Teenage Suicide (Don't Do It)". That's him.

Though I could have picked just about any of his disks, I have a soft spot for his Chi-Town Budget Show. Normally I'm not a fan of concert disks. Usually they are too polished and the artists/record companies cherry-pick the best takes from multiple recorded shows...rendering them void of any personality. That doesn't even count the overdubs and mixing most 'live' records have.

Dixon's show is human. Besides the obvious talent, there is humour (check out the end of the opener "Heart in a Box".) There are musical and vocal mess-ups ("February Ingenue") and you know, Dixon and the band exhibit that they are just having fun! So is the audience. They truly enjoy it - as have I the three or four times I have seen him and his wife perform.

I'm a big fan of the songs I mentioned, but my favourite is probably "You're Sister Told Me". But it's all good.

The disk isn't long (or the show wasn't) and the audio itself could probably use remastering, ...but is worth checking out...if it's available (though there is always eBay). If you can't locate a copy, I suggest his retrospective: If I'm a Ham, Well You're a Sausage.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

....and it's probably the best thing you can say about it

Per the NYT Movie Review:

The cretins rule in “Alpha Dog,” which has much the same entertainment value you get from watching monkeys fling scat at one another in a zoo or reading the latest issue of Star magazine.

THAT has gotta hurt...even a little bit.

Saturday, January 13, 2007

SADDAM'S CAT


I think nothing else even needs to be added here.

Friday, January 12, 2007

A CATTLE CAR WITH WINGS

Whooo-doggie has it been a long two days. I might have to get used to it though.

I've always been a recreational traveler, not a business one. There is clearly a different mindset for the latter. You're not to get bent out of shape over late flights, missed connections, cancelled flights and recreational travelers.

In a 30 hour period I was on four separate flights and what sights there were to see. As the old SNL commercial (albeit from the early 80s cast) said: "You feel like you've never left the ground....because we treat you like dirt". Honestly, the U.S. Scare staff weren't that bad. Nor were the TSA.

I did all the right things. I went out and bought.....loafers! I'm a wing-tip man, but I tire of tying and untying shoes at security check points. I packed my toiletries in a clear quart bag with liquids being in no more than 3oz containers. They didn't check one of them. The guy in front of me who even pulled them out for the TSA (not at their request) who said, they were bigger than the 3oz rule and to just make sure next time to comply. And handed everything back to the traveler. I guess rules are made to be broken! Oh - and that suspicious unattended package rule? "Whomever left a Sharper Image box at security - please come to claim it." Yes - the terrorists are no match for government workers!

Most flights were uneventful - though packed. None of the jets I was on had more than 50 seats to begin with. Timing was the issue with each flight. Delays in deicing. Delays in landing. Running to make connections. A very sweaty Blobby.

But it was the humans in their unnatural habitat that I loved watching.
The man who told me I was in his seat and I needed to find another one. Showing me his stub, his ticket was for a 7:15a flight. This was 3:40p. He said he changed flights. I said fine, but you also need to change tickets. He was more than miffed. Naturally the only available seat to put him was across the aisle from me.....this was after the lady was there realized the ticket she gave the gate agent was for her connecting flight so her seat assignment was wrong.

The express jets really hold nothing more than a laptop overhead. So where was the flight attendant who let the lady bring on a HUGE suitcase that would barely fit in the compartment UNDER the cabin? Naturally the chick was back in row 12 before realizing this with a line of people behind her so she was stuck...and so were they.

Or the Boomer Esiason look-alike who sat one up from me. Seriously, it was uncanny how much he looked like Boomer. A good enough look alike that I think with a little imagination Morty could have at least fulfilled his corn-eating fantasy. (Really - don't ask. And if you can figure it out you are one sick fuck!). Granted it was Boomer Look Alike with a cold - or a bad coke problem. But he kept my attention most of the flight as he worked his Suduko.

My two favorites I saved for last:

The mennonite/pennsylvania dutch family who sat in the two rows ahead of me. Clearly the first time on a plane. How do I know this? They were the only ones who actually craned their necks (the adults) to watch the the emergency instructions. Heck, no one else even looked up from their papers. They also didn't know how to use the seat belts. I mean, they can't be blamed for that - buggies don't have them, right? I always thought they were a more strict group of folks also. I don't know how many times as we waited to pull from the gate that the flight attendant told them they had to buckle up, etc. Yet as we are taxi-ing (how do you spell that?) down the runway, 2 of the 3 kids are up in the aisle!

Last leg of the flight was calm - until we were very close to landing. I look out the window to see Metro Hospital - which is about 8 miles from the airport. I'm thinking 'we're too high'. Then thought - we're too high for 30-40 miles out. I was sitting near the back of the plane so I had this view that kind of made me laugh. The sudden turbulence had us tilting back and forth from something that looked like it was out of Airplane....and we're still too high. We seemed to high as we passed lights ON the runway.

In my head I was thinking: "Flight 4304 now arriving at gate 32. gate 33. gate 34. gate 35." The guy next to me and across the aisle from me had been nice the entire flight, but no one was saying anything. I quelled my first thought of 'oh, this isn't going to end well' and finally said 'this is not going to be pretty!'.

My seat mate said, 'do you think the left or right wing will hit? The guy across the aisle laughed at both of us. His seat mate shot me a dirty dirty look. To the pilots credit, the actual landing was much smoother than any of us imagined.

I am not a scared flyer, but I do have dark thoughts on landing, which I've never had before. It just logically seems the place where things can go wrong and where the rougher parts of the flight seem to take place. Once again, my life is a Family Guy kind of world, where I have to flashback on other cultural reference. Also as we were landing, I was thinking about George Costanza saying to Keith Hernandez pondering why there hasn't been a baseball team that has all perished. Doing the math with 29 major league teams, each with 82 away games over a certain amount of years....well the odds are it's gotta happen to one of them!

Thursday, January 11, 2007

SHOPPING w/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!


Is it just me - or is the Count looking an awful lot like Jay Leno?

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

TRAVEL DAY

Part of the day is a travel day for me. I have to take U.S. scAir to Hartford Farmington, CT later this morning. So early morning means, buzzing my head, showering and packing kind of things. Perhaps I will post upon checking into my hotel.

There is only one non-stop to Hartford from Cleveland, and it goes for the rate 3-4 times a one-stop connection has. So, I'll be changing planes in Philly - each way.

Ok. Gotta go eat my Honeycombs and then hit the shower.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

OUCH

Is about all I can say.

The first 5-6 minutes of the BCS game last night seemed to be reminiscent of the OSU-Michigan game - with both teams scoring right after each other. OSU even ran 93 yards for their first touchdown.

...then it just started to fall apart. Slowly and then not so slowly.

Going by the season the Buckeyes had just had, I was not expecting this in any way, shape of form. Admittedly I turned the game off at the beginning of the 4th quarter. We weren't coming back 20 points by that time and we didn't. In fact, the margin grew.

Still, a 12-0 regular season is nothing to sneeze at. Nor is a Heisman winner. They still did good!

Monday, January 08, 2007

SITE OF THE MONTH

"...excuse me stewardess, I speak Jive."


Garkawe gets the credit this month's pick. Gizoogle will translate any of your written text into Jive. Or more accurately 'modern Jive'. There are an awful lot of 'izzles' and not nearly enough 'mo fos'.

Here is a sample from one of my recent posts:

Actual post material:
When we did call, there was an automated message that said they knew they were experiencing internets issues. So we rode it out for a week. Finally we got a human who was actually pretty nice.

Translated post material:
Wizzle we did call, there was an automated message that said they knew tizzle were mackin' internets issues in tha hood. So we rizzle it out fo` a week. Finally we gots a human who was actually pretty funky ass.

OK, they are no Barbara Bilingsley - who would have done a better translation*: Cut me som' slac' jak! Chump don wan no help, chump don git no help. Jive ass dude don got no brains anyhow.

* (...if I have to explain the reference to you, we can never be friends)

Sunday, January 07, 2007

THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT

G-d I hate this administration!!!! I know - you've all fallen off your chairs with surprise.

Shrub and his cronies have taken another step to shroud themselves in secrecy. Sealing all presidential records early in his term wasn't enough. Fighting the courts not to disclose who attended the Energy Commission meetins wasn't enough. Using blatantly wrong information (and knowingly) to start an unstoppable war wasn't enough.

Last spring, Bush signed an agreement transferring White House visitor records from the Secret Service to the White House iteself.....making said records exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. They cannot will not be disclosed to the public.

LAST SPRING. But hits the media in January!!!

Of course, without these records, the likes of W saying the Jack Abramoff never visited the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue would have never been dislcosed. Without those records, that lie never would have been uncovered and the GOP would most likely control at least the Senate, if not both houses of Congress.

"It appears the White House is actually manufacturing evidence to further its own agenda," Anne Weismann, a Justice Department lawyer for 19 years and now chief counsel to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said Friday.

No shit Sherlock.

The White House and the Secret Service declined to comment.

Really???? I'm SHOCKED!

I'm guessing it will be years (or decades) to know exactly what these criminals have been up to these last two terms. This is only what they are doing that we KNOW about.

Say what you want about Clinton, but he could have done the same thing with the logs and saved himself a lot of headaches w/Monica and Whitewater....and you didn't hear the GOP complain about using those as ways to make his life hell. One could say Bill wasn't as smart as Bush. I would say he's just not as devious....or cowardly.

Oh - and Harriet Miers resigned. Maybe I'm being conspiracy-minded - but is it because a legal battle is looming for which she is not up to the task? Or is there something out there that makes her a liablity?

Saturday, January 06, 2007

I'M THE ONE THAT I WANT

It's time I come clean. I......I...........I've never seen Grease!

Yes - it's true. There! I've said it.

Actually, I am quite proud of the fact that I have not sat through John Ravolta and Olivia Newton-John prance through high school at the ripe old age of 32....which is only about 4 years younger than Stockard Channing probably was.

Hearing the 'hits' on the radio was unavoidable, so yes, I am familiar with some of the music, but my musical tastes in 1978 ran a little differently than that soundtrack. It was the Eddie Money era!!! I'm kidding!!!!!!!! I mean, it was the height of Eddie's popularity, just not with me. (side note: I once did see Slusser and Becky sing most every song while drunk- them and me.)

The odd thing is - I've seen Grease 2. Probably more than a dozen times. I know - you're saying: how can he possibly even pick up on where Grease 2 starts if he never saw the prequel? But really it's not that hard - I suppose.

Back in the day of early cable, whomever was showing G2 clearly only had access to 4 movies. This one was on ALL the time. Even more than USA Network shows Overboard! If that is any indication how often it was on.

But Grease 2 really is a delight in all the campy ways. Jellystone Park doesn't have as much campground as this thing. First and foremost - it's the cast. Michelle Pfeiffer!!! (You never see anyone asking her about this in any interview she has ever done. Ever. That chick must have some great publicist.) Lorna Luft! Adrian Zmed! ...the list goes on and.....no wait.....the list stop there. Ok, Connie Steven and Tab Hunter. Kathy Griffin only thinks she's on the D-list. If she is - these guys are H-list.

Then of course, there is the music. You don't get any better than Michelle straddling a ladder and singing "Cool Rider". Though equally bad and yet good (in a bad way) is Adrian Zmed & co singing about 'scoring' while bowling. Twyla Tharp and Agnes DeMille couldn't have done better choreography with bowling balls. And Lorna lives up to her mother and sister's reputation of courting the fags by singing 'Reproduction' to Tab Hunter. Good luck on that one sweetie!

To be honest, I never really would have watched this in the first place if it weren't for the Mansfield twins. Joe & John were eccentric. And I'm putting that nicely. Remind me sometime to write in-depth about them. They insisted we watch - and clearly they already had since they knew every line of the movie. I kid you not!

Oh - but you're probably wondering why I'm prattling on about Grease 2. Well, it's because NBC has a new American Idol-ish show on sometime soon. The participants compete to be on Broadway for the revival of Grease (not Grease 2 - which I suspect was never on Broadway!). This is how far we've fallen down the TV food chain.

Oh - and I've never seen E.T. pfffffffffffft!

Friday, January 05, 2007

THANK G-D!

We've been having spotty internets access for over the last two weeks. It's been highly annoying, especially while one is performing a job search. Time-Warner recently has taken over our service from the fraud and bankrupt grips of Adelphia. Until the last few weeks, we've seen no change in service.

When we did call, there was an automated message that said they knew they were experiencing internets issues. So we rode it out for a week. Finally we got a human who was actually pretty nice. Remotely they pinged our service and found we were only getting maybe 40% of our signal. I would venture it was closer to 20%. They scheduled us for repair two days ago....between 12p - 4p. They showed at 3:40....naturally. Though they replaced the cable from street to house, the service ended up being worse....if that was possible.

So today, they came back to look at the poles. The problem eminated where many of our service issues do: the borderline of Cleveland and Cleveland Hts. No one knows where we belong - fire, police, trash and now cable. Great!! Our house sits in Cleveland. Our front yard and where the address/street numbers are reside in the Hts. It seems Time-Warner updated some poles, but not ours because well......see the earlier part of this paragraph. But we're fixed. No more going to the library to use their wireless services (though I would sit there and rip CDs from the AV section).

More good news is that TW is giving us a month of service at no cost and in April they are trashing all of the Adelphia hardware and will upgrade all equipment. YAYY. Bad news is - I'm sure they'll be raising rates. C'est la vie.

More good news? I'm headed to Hartford, most likely next Thursday, for an interview. The job seems pretty good, though we haven't negotiated salary or benefits. But they're flying me up and back, so it's all good. The bad news is, I probably won't make the 70 min trip to Lenox to see Rebecca or the 90 min trip to see David in NYC. But if they offer and I accept the job, I'll be in Hartford often enough that I can make those trips.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Six. Six. Six.

I'm the guy who went to YouTube to watch Saddam's hanging. Yes, it was me. I'm not embedding the video here, nor am I linking to it. If you want it, I think you know how to do a search.

I am also the guy go had to look and see autopsy photos of Nicole Brown Simpson a decade ago.

But you see, I'm also the guy who got Helter Skelter taken away from him when I read it in school. Oh yeah - did I mention I was in 7th grade at the time? Jeeesh! Maybe I was interested in the judicial process.....sue me! People would probably call me a sick fuck.

Here's a few things on the first two points (Saddam and Simpson): what is on-line is nothing worse than anything they show on any of the umpteen CSI shows. Actually, I think what is out there is actually less graphic. Sure one can argue that television blood and guts 'are not real'...and in some ways isn't that worse? Instead of showing how real violence can affect lives, they are recreating it for profit. I sleep ok.

Actually, I love how the news programs and networks are all so concerned about not offending their viewing public. They say how they won't show the 'bad' images of Saddam's execution. The application of the noose around his neck that they do show goes on WAY longer than him dropping through a trap door. It's like porn or cruising - the set-up is usually longer lasting and more memorable than the actual act.....ummm....I've heard.

Yeah, the two second shot they show of him afterwards with a snapped neck is a little odd, but not disturbing - and they showed that still shot at least on CNN and in newspapers. So the networks can spare me their moral superiority.

I don't know how much firestorm this video is actually causing for the current Iraq government. Yes, there is name calling and swearing - big deal! Welcome to my adolescence - sans the grainy video.

Oh - did I mention this was my 666th posting?

I'm like Sir Simon Milligan as he says: "to look into my face is to look into the face..of EVIL! Yes, I am a man possessed by many demons. Polite demons that would open the door for a lady carrying too many parcels, but demons nonetheless! Yes, I have walked along the path of evil many times, it's a twisting curving path, that actually leads to a charming block garden, but beyond that....EVIL!"

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

3004 Dead in Ohio Iraq

Oh wait. That's just U.S. dead.

Oh wait. I that's just U.S. military fatalities. You can probably add more when it comes to contractors who are 'working' over there to make a better tomorrow....today(!!) for Haliburton and Bechtel!

And by the time this gets posted, we'll be past the 3ooo mark anyway.

It's sad. I watch the numbers daily. They are published each and every day in our local newspaper. It's hard to miss even if you wanted to. There are very few days when there isn't an addition to the tally. Two (or is it three) times this year (crap, I guess it was last year) have been the highest months for U.S. fatalities since the war began in March 2003. Yes folks, we're closing in on 4 yrs.

Like I said - this is U.S. military deaths only. The number that doesn't get posted daily are the Iraq dead. 655,000 as of July 2005. The number was not pulled arbitrarily. It comes from a highly regarded Lancet article from a Johns Hopkins study. Look at that number closely. If anyone thinks we had nothing to do with this - they should wise up. We invaded a country based on a lie, which in turn helped bring on a civil war. No doubt this number surpasses any number of people that died under Saddam's 30 yr rein. ...and we helped them do it in 3.25 yrs.

I'd say, 'where's the outrage?' - but I am continually amazed at how blinded so many in this country are to war. This war!

Polls will tell you that America does not feel we are winning and that the war was a mistake. W said he got the voting public's message after the 2006 elections and that he sees that we want change. Yet there is little outcry to Shrub's total lack of response after that statement. In fact, he is more determined to stay in than ever and thinking of adding more troops. Up to 20,000 more troops!! He was "elected" by the people, yet ignores almost all of them. He has even dismissed the Baker-Hamilton Report. And Jimmy B. is one of daddy's closest buddies. What gives?

Watching some news program the other day, I was amazed at a mother's take on her son joining the Marines and going to Iraq. To paraphrase: so Iraqis can't do anymore terrorist acts to the United States.

OMG. Are people really still operating under that old myth???? Of course, the irony is, Saddam kept Al-Qaeda (Al-Queda?) out of Iraq. After he was captured, they are now spread-out all over that country. And the U.S. helped spread of this kind of terrorism based on that WMD lie, which no one has sufficiently called this administration on.

3000+ U.S. deaths barely skims the surface. We're talking almost 47,000 non-mortal casualties for our troops alone. The DoD really has no concrete plan to deal with all the traumatic brain injury victims. Yes, there has been a lot of talk on iffy body armor for the troops, but in reality they have some armor and the majority of trauma is to the head. Surgery and Rehab facilities are not covering these veteran's needs. VA hospitals are not equipped for this type of injury in this volume. Where is the in-depth media coverage on these folks? Where is the cost breakdown in the war totals for their lifetime of special needs? Is it even part of the war costs?

I literally started this blog on the first day of this war. Don't look for those posts - I still haven't updated the archives. Sorry. Yes, I post time to time on the war, but not enough - which stands to question: where is my outrage?

It is amazing how easily we can become accustomed to what is everyday goings on. I don't blog about it daily - it's too painful to discuss - which makes me somewhat culpable. If the everyday Joe (or Blob) won't call the administration on it - who will? I really have so much admiration for sites like the Daily Kos and other political sites who do a much better job than I ever could.

Impeachment is now out of the question, I suppose. It doesn't mean W shouldn't be interred at Gitmo, without access to counsel and for an indefinate period of time - like forever. I'd send him to the Hague, but why give the man a trip to the Netherlands.

Maybe it's time I replace my banner at the top of the blog and just put a countdown clock until his last day & minute in office. Sadly on January 20, 2009 @ 12:00, while many will celebrate then end of Shrub's dictatorship, there will still be tens of thousands of men & women over in Iraq....courtesy of your former president.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

THE QUIZ IS WRONG!

David called me on New Year's Day to take me to task for my post on January 1st. You would have thought, being a friend of over two decades, he would just be calling to see how my holidays were. How wrong I was. At first he seemed all cordial, until he got to the real reason he dialed my digits.

He took me to task for being "an Eyore". He thinks I should be "a Tigger". David says I need to lose the 'dark cloud' thing. I'm not completely disagreeing with him - but it's not like I make a habit, in this blog, of getting too down on myself - do I?

So while on the phone, I flashed on his comment and all those internet quizzes who tell you what kind of character are you - depends whichever niche quiz you opt to do. Since he had chosen a Winnie the Pooh theme, that is the one I went for. Here was the result:


Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!

It's all a lie. I'm no Kanga.

Even while on the phone I had pegged which character I'd be.

I'm Rabbit. Fussy. Controlling. Know-it-All who is always ends up being proven wrong. Slightly Nelly. (I just put that last thing in there before the comments from Jon and Morty started flying.)

At least I'm not Sebastian Cabot - like I accused David as being his closest character/narrator association might be considered. And it wouldn't be the first time he was referred to as "Mr. French". (wink wink...knowwhatimean...knowwhatimean?)

The big plus is - neither of wouldn't be considered that knicker-wearing, tea party going little sissy - Christopher Robin.

Monday, January 01, 2007

So Long. Farewell. Auf Weidershen. Goodnight.

You may as well add Sayonara, Aloha and Adieu - to you and you and you. No, the blog is not coming to an end. Just 2006. And good riddance!

2006 will not be looked back upon fondly. Personally and professionally, it has been, without a doubt, the shittiest year I have experienced in the last 15 years. I'm glad it's over.

It's not like the entire year was horrible - there were some good things that happened. It is just that some events really overshadowed the good stuff. Some of those things were life-changing and not trivial. Certainly they cast a pall over the last 365 days. Ok - maybe the last 340.

Though I'm more the 'dark cloud' than the 'silver lining' person (yes, it's true!), I am trying to focus on the good things that happened this last year and the potential for 2007. The 'lining' of course is the support of my partner (and cats), family and especially friends.

My core group of friends are always there (and here). Really - how many people do most of us know for 20 years (or so) and are in contact with almost daily? "Thank you internets!" We are a force to be reckoned with and in a group we kind of scare people. Not in a Final Destination IV kind of way - but more in a John Waters kind of way.

2007 is certainly going to present its challenges. It could potentially be a huge transition year - so though I hope it to be better than its predecessor, I'm not counting on it being stellar. Some of these changes could be painful. I'm well aware of this. There is that 'black cloud' thingy again. Sorry.

I've never been a 'resolution' guy before and see no reason to start now. Yeah I need to lose some weight and tone up. Should I take up smoking just so I can quit? Nah. I do need a job - but it's not a resolution to get a new job - that is a fuckin' necessity.