Credit Racket

Honestly, I've been trying to bury my head in the sand on this whole Equifuck debacle. But returning home on Sunday, 710 brought it up.

Yes, he went a-checkin' and found out we'd both been compromised.

Fuck.

So that's the second time in as many years (give or take) that I've been hacked. This is beginning to get old.

Equifuck at first said they'd give free protection for a year, but you'd waive your right to sue them. They relented after a media shit storm, so now you can sue them and sign up for their pseudo-protection.......as their service worked so well for them in the past.

I won't personally sue them, but if there is a class action one, I'm happy to hop aboard that train.

So now whatever didn't have a fraud alert is now going to get one. The stories on the larger impact - is depressing. I can't change my birth date or SSN. I suppose I could petition the state to get a new driver's license number.....but I've had RUxxxxx for years.

I love that someone had the nerve to deduce that maybe there was no hack at all, and that everyone is putting their personal info into Equifuck to see if they were victimized, only to have that entry siphoned off to identify theft.

I guess I'll start reaching out to places tomorrow to start a more secure me.




Song by: Laurie Anderson

My Music Monday

Whilst in Columbus, and still at the Out-R-Inn, Blobby, the would be sociologist, was taking in the surroundings of the crammed into the back patio.

There were the guys/gals that just didn't care. I didn't know that white guys

Then the ones who tried too hard. There were the two unfamiliar (with each other folks) who danced with each other, but atop different picnic tables to some hip-hop song I had never heard.

Usually you only see stripper moves like this from community college girls. Still if she brings this guy home, it's gonna be an awkward Thanksgiving.

But it was the music to which I really took notice. There was the aforementioned hip hop song, plus a few others like that. Then for the most part the rest were just from our era - which we were (almost) older than most anyone else at the bar.  You had your AC/DC, your Steppenwolf, your Stones.

For the youths, they threw in a little White Stripes (but honestly, even that pre-dates these kids) and some other stuff on which I am now blanking.

Yes, they did the requisite "Shout".  Yes, any number of these youths did the whole Otis Day thing of going lower and lower with the "a little bit softer now..." lyric. I turned to my friend Pat and said, "isn't it funny how every generation (because now it's generational) to think this song belongs to them, as if they were the ones to discover Animal House?

Then, to me, something odd happened - "Mr. Brightside" from the Killers came on.

Now, I like the song and all, but this group LOVED it. I have never seen so many people semi-spontaneously burst into singing a song at the top of their lungs (at least when it wasn't at a concert).  Now assuming that the majority of the folks there were still attending Ohio State and factor in that you need to be 21 to get in this bar.....and that the song is 14+ years old, it did make me stop an think.

I had read in Billboard (I think) that this song has never not been on the U.K. - at least in their top 100 songs.  For 13-14 years. So this song has something going for it....at least in the U.K. and the Out-R-Inn.

On the Outside Looking In

It seems every two years I head back to Columbus for not a friend's weekend, but a friend's weekend.

Yeah - that sounds.........confusing.

You always read about my Columbus friends. The ones I've spent the last three decades cultivating and nurturing: Georty, Becca, Jon and Dith.

But just like 30+ years ago I was living a double life, so to speak. While I was knocking boots with a guy from Beta Theta Pi, my actual fraternity brothers knew none of this.

Eventually I broke off from the place, but with the advent of the Facebook, I got roped back in. And it's not bad or anything, just weird playing catch-up after such a long time.

Now some of these guys I've seen more than other over the years. The ones in these pictures?  Not since 1984! There were other guys who separated from this pictured group - those were the ones I see or to whom I talk.

Two years ago I went down for some fraternity event - kind of. I went down for some of the folks, the event was just the excuse, one of which bailed. That would be Bono Jeff, in the sunglasses.

Jeff, of most all of us, is the least changed. He was a frighteningly handsome man in his 20s and is in his 50s. Though Tim and Dan are remarkably similar. Maybe it's only I that have changed.

Like my fraternity days, this weekend I felt just out of place.

We had - and have - great stories, but it is amazing how theirs eventually revolve around women....and girls (well.........not mine!). Then and now.  While at the Out-R-Inn (yes....that's what it's called), Jeff talked-up just about every female he saw. And a number of guys too, but mostly chicks. He was an ex-fraternity president and really knows how to schmooze and turn on the charm. He's like Eric Stratton personified.

Still, I told him, one ill-placed 'daddy' or 'grandpa' comment from the under 20s co-eds was going to massacre him. He told a story of some chick he met that while doing some mundane thing, it gave him a semi.  He laughed and laughed and laughed when I said, "you're 56.....a semi is your best case scenario". 

I love Jeff - and his brother. I can honestly say, Jeff's brother (Gary) is the only person I know who was custom fit for his job and his passion. The rest of us fall into what we do and trudge through. Not Gary. Jeff couldn't be prouder of him.

Dan was the biggest surprise. I never felt he liked me back in college. And at first the conversation between us was stilted. But it had been 33 years.........and that whole not liking me thing. That might have just been in my head, as he couldn't have been better. But maybe that's just aging and maturing.

Tim - another ex-fraternity president and my 'big brother' (and who went out with one my sisters a few times) -  showed up almost unexpectedly. He's almost never participated in anything, even though he's been asked and even though he says he will. Talk about a guy who has not changed.......in looks or demeanor.  Or possible misogyny. You expect talk like his from a 19 year old.   .....well, a 19 yo in 1981.  Today's 19 year olds are a little more enlightened.


This is where I felt out of place, as I did back in 1981-84. I have almost nothing to add to these conversations about Sandy's 'perfect tits' (though I could comment on her multiple personalities) and trust me, they didn't want to hear me talk about the cute male co-eds that were at the bar.

While I've known them forever, and they are friends, they are not FRIENDS. They're not the ones I'd ever go to talk about anything substantial or to bounce ideas off of.  Oh - and for some reason, they are now all calling me 'Bob'.  Never have I gone by that. Never have they known me as that. It was fine and all.

Still, we had a lot of fun, a lot of laughs and a lot of 22 oz beers. ...and Fireball shots, of which I did not partake.

The game itself?????    ehhhhhhhh......I'm sure these Buckeyes could have beat almost any Division III high school team.   ....but on the plus side, we couldn't have had better weather.



I'm planning on having b'fast with two other brothers who could not make the game. I think I'll like that scenario more.



Song by: Alison Krauss + Union Station

Every Time You Go Away

It's Shep, Sophie and Bella this week.   ....and my mom.

Labor Day walk on the beach for Mr. Shep.  He so enjoys his days out. 

Shep and his best girl.  Allegedly she was very excited to see him, and vice versa, even though it had been weeks.  Doggie Daycare Lady says he has incredible stamina - just played all day, no resting. 

Stripey McBrownerson chillaxing.

My mom - or the Treat Lady - and Shep.  

I think he likes here even if she didn't have treats. But she does. She always does. 

Bella watching 710 take Shep away. 

I wanted her to go with us. 

Song by: Paul Young

Houston

While sometimes it is hard to see the good in disasters like Hurricane Harvey Fierstein or the impeding Irma LaDouche.

People.

Well many people. Not all of them.

Friends, Andrew, Becky and Sam are three such folks.

Taking almost no time off from work, they coordinated getting supplies - personal hygiene, clothes, medical supplies, etc - rented and loaded a truck and drove it from Ohio to Texas.

After unloading, they immediately turned around and drove back.

They kind of make you feel like you're a worthless turd in a situation like this - don't they?  Cause I kind of do.  Most people talk. They actually did.

The three had trouble with the truck rental.  I'll let Becca relay the story....via a Facebook entry.

It's nice and all. Truly. Of course, being the cynical me, I'm all like - who the fuck carries $500 in cash on them?  No one who isn't a Soprano. Or a meth dealer.

But if the latter, even meth dealers have a heart.



On the Irma front - a friend of mine, Tim, thought he and his husband would ride out the storm in Miami.  Ruckiry (not Jon's boss), he finally came to his senses and took an excruciatingly slow commute / evacuation up to Orlando....of all places.

I suppose it's dead center where you won't get water from either side of America's wang. But Tim was one of thousands who had this idea. There are nothing but fleabag motels (not even hotels!) left....and that was yesterday. Probably nothing available today at all.

I do love seeing how Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz want handouts. The fucking freeloading Socialists.

THEY could learn a thing or two from Bo.  ....and Sam, Becky and Andrew.



Song by: Mary Chapin Carpenter

Dreamer

Is there a bigger pussy than SCROTUS?

....again, the question is rhetorical. Naturally.

I get (well, kind of) that he has to semi-make one of his campaign promises are reality. Cuz he certainly hasn't done it with a wall, healthcare, ISIS, voter fraud, tax reform or American business growth.

All the man has is: Deport.

.....well, and hate. .....and lies.

So I guess he has three things going his way.

The lie?  Dump says he has “a great heart” and “a great love” for the Dreamers.

Bull-fucking-shit.

I can't even call it his biggest lie, as there are so many. But this one is a doozie. Let's call it, "the biggest lie of the week"......and by 'week', I mean Tuesday.

The hate is obvious.  And he spreads it.  I totally get your vengeance for those families of the Dreamers that totally stole that job picking crops right out from under you for which you never even applied. Ditto with the ones where you didn't clean office buildings from 8p-2a.  You should be furious at them for taking a lower than legal wage that has zero benefits!  That job was PERFECT for you!

Of course, the biggest pussy maneuver of all is that he didn't even announce it. It was partially leaked to the press that is was coming and then he had AG, Beverly Leslie do the dirty work...........only to dangle the, "maybe......it won't happen if Congress can do x, y and z".

The pussy couldn't even stand up and take the heat himself......and then wouldn't totally commit to it.

Is it any wonder that that he couldn't get any traction for anything on that list I mentioned earlier in this post?

Another part of this "joke" is: many of the 'dreamers' pay taxes. Not all are freeloaders and looking for loopholes..............unlike some presidents I know.  And some will be separated from their families....like the man who was brought here at a three year old.  His brothers and sisters were born here, but he could be forced to leave - to a place he's never really been. And he pays taxes, has a job and is going to college.

Where is Dump's "great heart" with this?  Daddy didn't give that kid a millions bucks to "make it on his own".

Yes, there are some "bad hombres" squatting in public housing, taking handouts from the government they didn't earn and not paying taxes. That hombre and his Section 8 clan just happen to reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.




Song by: Supertramp

Other Voices

So over the weekend, Deedles left a blog comment regarding my Cedar Point video post that said  - and I quote - "your voice always startles me. You look like you should sound like James Earl Jones."

Naturally that got me thinking.

Then worrying.

Then I was wringing my hands.

....and then of course, the inevitable tears.

Clearly, I know I don't sound like Darth Vader - though I've considered purchasing the Vader voice changing mask. But the 'startles' part of the comment made me think:  do I sound like Charles Nelson Reilly?   Rip Taylor?  Gilbert Godfrey?

I don't mean to make Deedles second guess any comments she might make in the future or feel bad about the one she made. I'm actually joking about the entire thing.

Kind of.

I'm a big boy. I know I don't come off as hyper-masculine, vocally, that is. But I don't drop an excessive amount of esses either. I don't think. It's a happy medium.

Still, who likes to hear the sound of their own voice?


The comment did spur thought of an SNL clip.....which exactly plays to what is probably my reality....and my insecurity.....and my sense of humour.


Larry's voicemail greeting by Matt2h




Song by: the Cure

Sick Muse

A movie review, you say????

Remember those?  I haven't seen a movie in a theater since March!

We totally underestimated how much we don't want to take time during our weekends to separate from Shep.  We are totally whipped.

I totally overestimated how many movies we could do in a year. Last year's 25 was a total anomaly. I got over-confident and unrealistic. I'd be surprised if we hit 10 this year.  .....but a goal is a goal and the denominator of 24 will remain.

This failure will keep me humble.

Honestly, we fucked around so long, we thought for sure we missed the Big Sick, as it's been out since June and it's already September.  I mean, Baywatch came out afterwards and that's already closed out and on DVD.

The Big Sick wasn't a barn-buster in the first place, so it's more surprising that it is still playing, though it's got a 98% Rotten Tomatoes score........and with good cause.  It's a good movie.

Based on the true story of the star and co-writer, Kumail Nanjiani. The other co-writer is his now wife, who is portrayed in the movie by Zoe Kazan (yes, granddaughter of Elia Kazan).

The movie also has Holly Hunter (whom I almost never see in anything anymore) and Ray Romano.

For just the short synopsis:  it's how boy gets girl.  Sure, there are cultural and medical complications that get in the way, but why nitpick.

I only really know Nanjiani from Silicon Valley, where he's great. He's good in this too. All are, actually.

I won't spoil much of anything - should you choose to see it on demand or stream it (as I have to believe it will be there soon, I mean, if Baywatch already is!), but the film has possibly the best and most inappropriate (and unexpected)  9/11 reference. Honestly, I don't know if anyone in the theater was laughing, as I was doing it so loudly. I fear I might have gotten stares.

Holly Hunter was Holly Hunter. That's not to say she wasn't great, but she doesn't veer too much off her normal role. Romano was less Everyone Love Raymond......which ain't a bad thing.  I liked Kazan too, but the few things I've seen her in, they've always worked.

The star is Nanjiani, no doubt about it - and he carries the film....and does it well.

I know my numerator is low, but it is what it is.  So far the Big Sick is the top of my 2017 movies.


....there were a number of good previews out there too. I told 710 not to get too attached to those, as we're already so attached to Shep, that odds are not good we will see all of them in the theater.



2017 Movie Count / Goal:  05 of 24



Song by: Metric

My Music Monday

I really do not think I get my monies worth our of my Sirius XM. There are far too many channels with far too little on them.

Now and then, I come across a song I don't know that I really like - like today's selection, "Cold Little Heart" by Michael Kiwanuka.

Ruckiry (not Jon's boss), unlike many of the few finds on XM, they haven't played this one to death (see: Portugal. The Man's "Feel it Still" or the Revivalists' "Wish I Knew You" - both horribly horribly horribly overplayed).

Still, "Cold Little Heart" is a great song - if I say so myself.

Soul enough. Rock enough. Pop enough. Good enough.

It's a great vocal and vocal arrangement. Good guitar work and the understated yet still powerful rhythm section.

I guess it came out a year ago - and I just missed it all.  It's new to me. Maybe to you too.



...and there is a new feature on YouTube that lets me dictate when the video starts when I embed it. You might have noticed it started at the 1:11 mark. There is an intro that adds nothing. Allegedly on the album the intro is over 4 minutes.

I want you to listen to the song, not be bored before the music actually starts.

Rollercoaster

This isn't my Maine video. That's still in the works. Well......in the pre-stage of 'the works'.

This last Thursday we went to our local amusement park - and by 'local' I mean 90 minutes away. Still, Cedar Point is a force with which to be reckoned.

We purposefully picked the day for low attendance and it seemed to work.

Both 710 and I found some of the rides we love to be rough. Depending on with whom I chat, it could be a variety of things:  apparently it really depends on where you sit on the Magnum XL 2000 or the Gemini. If you pick the wrong area (i.e. not the front), your body is gonna feel it.   .....and let's just say, for those, we didn't pick the front.

When you get to the 2:42 mark, we are about to go on the Maverick.....one of the better rides. 3/4 of up the hill they stop the ride. 710 I joked that it was only a matter of time before we got stuck on one, after all these years and all these rides.

Alas, the twat (yes......twat).....behind us (we have the front car, dontcha know) took out her phone to film. The ride folk saw her and demanded her phone and purse. On that ride especially, she not only would have lost the phone, but probably injured another passenger with it after it flew from her hands.  Twat.

I won't say it is the most inspired of my Cedar Point videos......but you get what you get.  ...and that's my pretty mug for all of you to see.






Song by: Aimee Mann

Have Love Will Travel

A good selection this week, if I say so myself.  .....and I do.

Shep had his first road trip.....to Columbus.

Georty's Logan & our Shep. 

Logan seems very low key, but when he doesn't want to be bothered, had no issue putting Shep in his place. Good for Logan!

Meredity finally meeting Shep - almost a year after adopting him. 

Shep & Logan......again. 

The closest Shep came to resting the entire time we were there. 

He crashed on the drive home. Slept the entire way. 

The next day we were at Nana's......and so was Boomer !

Hard to have any privacy......but Sophie craves attention and I'm happy to give it. 

I was barely doing anything else. 

New toy from our wonderful neighbors. 

Two actually. He got to choose which one to carry home. 

Song by: the Black Keys

September

Lordy - how did we get to September already?

Oddly, it's felt like Autumn a few times in the last few weeks. We even put a blanket on the bed....and used it once or twice.  Sophie loves the cush.

To close out August, 710 and I went away for a day or two - but more on that later.  No worries, Shep is with all his pals at the boarding place.  The caretaker there is amazed by Shep's stamina and his never stop playing.  I love that. I love he loves i there, so I don't feel guilty about leaving.

On our way out of town - right at the end of our driveway - we encountered 9-10 trucks from the cable company. Since it was tres early, and there were so many, I couldn't help but axe what was going on.

It seems some stray (?) bullet hit the fiber optic line and took out something or other. We had our internet, so that wasn't it. But we didn't turn on the tv - as we never do in the morning.

During our drive, we kind of went back and forth over the bullet so close to our house.  As I've said, we hear gunfire far far far too often. Now I suppose we shouldn't just worry about hearing it.

Of course this is troublesome, on many levels.  First, that it's happening at all, obvi.  Second, that we really cannot do much about it other than stay inside and/or get bullet proof windows.......and never open them.

...and off all the stray bullets, what are the chances they'd hit a cable and ruin it?  (well, we're assuming it was stray and that someone from the Heartless Felons just wasn't pissed about what happened on Big Brother?)

 I'm sure it will all pass as the days go on. I will almost forget it about it. Until it happens again.



Song by: the Shoes

Fashion

You know, I'll say it:

I was hoping Dump would be a bigger disaster at disaster relief.

Don't get me wrong - he wasn't good, but he wasn't horrible.  ....except for the 'I'm in campaign mode', and actually commenting on the turn-out of the crowd.....you know, instead of helping people.

You know, Houston is in serious disaster mode, so it's appropriate to divert the police and emergency services for his motorcade while people die.

That seems fair.

Of course, it's hard to look bad when you're competing against Joel Olsteen (is that his name?). Is there a bigger douche this week?

I think not.

And his damage control helped him not one iota.

I almost wasn't going to rag on Melanoma and her Jimmy Choos. Let's face it, she wasn't going to go near any mud or water. But then she had to fucking wear that hat with FLOTUS embroidered on the front.

J.F.C.  Must they brand everything?

Naturally, being a gay man, and someone bringing up a hurricane and fancy footwear, my mine immediately went to Kathy Griffin.............as it naturally would.







Song by: the Lovemakers

It's Not

Submitted Without Comment

Song by: Aimee Mann

Hurricane

If I'm being 100% honest here, I'm not sure how much I care about the Harvey and Houston.

Oh the images are horrific

I really just wanted to use the image somehow. I'm loving the Christie meme. It just hasn't gotten old.

That said, it's Texas. And while I'm sure there are fine people there, collectively, they're kind of dicks.

Other than Ann Richards and LBJ, can you think of one semi-decent politician they've elected?  I'll wait while you wiki that......................

Yeah - I though so.


But for a state that claims to want to secede they're sure using a lot of federal government resources that are based in socialism.


But have you been to Houston? A flood could do them good. It's not like it had much going for it in the first place - - other than the Beer Can House.

Ok. I'm being a little harsh. All that water (11 trillion gallons - though I don't know exactly how the estimated that one) is gonna bring a lot of fucking rats and disease. And mold. And disease.

As long as the pets are ok, I'm good.

Song by: Bob Dylan

My Music Monday

I'm finding out many of my pleasures are not that guilty. At least to me. Some might be slightly embarrassing.

Glee was passing amusement, when it wasn't one big After School Special. Usually it was more annoying than entertaining. In retrospect most of the performances were forgettable.

That said, I liked one - in terms of music production let alone the visual one:  the mash-up of Adele's "Rumour Has it / Someone Like You".

It still pops up through my playlist now and again, and I still let it play all the way through.

Racism

I was going to make this image smaller just so text would wrap around it more cleanly.  But then I thought - 'no'.

I should make it bigger. It should be projected on any and every building that exists.

During the 2016 campaign, it could be argued that Dump was flirting with racism. Testing the waters....if you will.

Oh don't get me wrong, I called him a racist back then, but that was more of a gut feeling. As the shyster that he is, I thought, "welllll......maybe he's just building a base" 

And he did.  And if you build it, it WILL come.



SCROTUS IS A RACIST. 



And if you voted for him, and / or support him, you are too.

You can say you're not, but you are. If A=B and A=C, then B=C.


His pardoning of Joe Arpaio is another stitch to his white hood, to go along with the robe he had made for Charlottesville.

This is pardon is problematic for any number of reasons. The most obvious is that Arpaio is a racist - plain and simple - and he was convicted of violating the civil rights of non-whites.  ....and that is for which he was pardoned.

This is on the heals heels of Virginia. Dump can attempt to rewrite history by ignoring and leaving out parts of what he said, but he said it.......in print.

The other problem with the pardon is:  the pardon.

Before, it was just suspect that he might use it proactively.....mostly for his friends, supporters and family. I have no doubt he will indiscriminately use that power to let sooooo many off the hook.


I hate him.


I just saw video of Shrub being interviewed about Katrina years after the fact. Sure I hate / hated him too, but I'll give him this, he admitted he was wrong.

Those are words you'll never hear from Dump.  




....still, do not let this distract you from Russia and all the other shit he's doing.



Song by: Janet Jackson

Cream

A good selection of pics if I say so myself.  There is something for Sophie and / or Shep fans everywhere!

Shep & the Duck. 

I cannot believe we haven't named him.  I can't believe we haven't bought a back-up if he kills it. 

Brother & Sister time. 

....Duck in lower left corner. 

I found out if the Duck is left in the chair and Sophie jumps into said chair, Mr. Shep 

gets very territorial . 

Frolicking in the Chagrin River on a hike last Sunday. 

Always a family unit if dinner is involved. 

After a hike, "someone" gets  Puppachino. 

Song by: Prince & the New Power Generation

Chinese Democracy

I pretty much have nothing.

The lotto losing thing has me in a funk. I really needed that $759 million.

Life has been work and...well ...work. And 05:00 dog walks.

I would think that the police officers who patrol the 'hood at that time of morning would eventually stop to say 'hi'. Usually I get the searchlight shone on me, as I'm a common criminal casing the houses whilst carrying a light-up dog leash......and a dog.

My goal on these walks is to avoid skunks.  They are seemingly plentiful now. I can guarantee three per a.m. walk. Oddly, our evening walks used to be fraught with squirrels.  I am now on a four day streak of not one squirrel sited. Poor Shep stops and looks up at every tree just to check. He's not been rewarded.

------------------------------------------

In other new...........I took a stupid-ass Facebook thingy. It's not really a quiz.  They look at your profile pic and determine your ethnicity.

Didn't they do a great job?

They at least got one right...............but not the percentage. Not even close.

However - - and it's too bad Birdie is dead, as she would mock me for not smiling in pictures. I would have to (re)explain it because it makes me look Asian.   ....and now I'm 24% Han Chinese.....whatever that is....and I'm not even smiling. So I've data now to back up that statement.

They need to improve their facial recognition software.

I don't usually work for the weekend.......but I am glad this week is over. I'm hoping we have fun weekend plans.......but they seem to be up in the air........................Meredity!



Song by: Guns N Roses

I Feel Lucky

Should I happen to win the Powerball drawing last night - - which happens well after my bedtime - - you shant be hearing from me again, most likely.

Oh, I might have one last post while I wait for that $700,000,000 check to clear, but who'll have to time to blog?

Well, I suppose if I was closing in on a billion dollars, I'd have nothing but time to blog....from my Gulfstream.

I didn't really even know of this potential jackpot until two days ago. And just bought my ticket....ok....tickets....yesterday, like six hours before the drawing.

I get there is a 0.0000003% of winning. But I quintupled my chances by buying five. so I'm like at 0.000000365%, so it seems I'm a shoe-in to snag this mother.

I could never live long enough to spend all that money...........at least not on myself. So I'm sure I'd do good in the world. Well.......I'm pretty sure.  "Good" is all relative, no?

If nothing else, Shep will get a new duck toy every single day.



Song by: Mary Chapin Carpenter