Bleh. Back to work today after damn near a week off. Even worse, I have to sit through a meeting. And winter is back again, with 40-50 mph winds, more snow on the way, and just general suckiness. Oh well, at least I have the Twilight Zone Marathon to look forward to.
Another night of window rattling, wall shaking hurricane-force winds in Boulder. A large pine tree was uprooted across the street. 😮
Crap, this blackberry is very complicated.
I hope you’re alright, Art.
It’s windy here on Shelter Island, too. We’ve got woods in the back, full of locust trees. They grow very tall and top heavy and we’ve had 4 fall into the back yard. So far none has hit the house but there are a number that are poised to do that.
Hubby talks about cutting some down but I think it’s too big a job for one old guy. Getting someone else to do it is very expensive as there are quite a few threatening trees.
So, we keep up those insurance premiums and if one smashes the roof we will, hopefully, get a new one courtesy of the insurance company.
Maybe your hubby could just thin them out. My big old Mesquite fell over because it was too dense. It was in desperate need of pruning.
KP, I know how you feel when confronted with yet another device.
One of the things that is often touted as education reform is the introduction of electronics that are very complicated ways of doing what could easily be accomplished with chalk and a blackboard, which also have the advantage of not going on the fritz!
I watched a math lesson recently in which the children had to go up to a “smart” board and use their fingers to move fractions around to show equivalence. The fractions would seem to stall and return to their original place as the kids tried to move them. It made the lesson longer and outstripped the attention span of many kids.
And, because everything had to be preprogrammed the the teacher couldn’t illustrate or add to the lesson. Expensive dumbness.
What needs to be done to the trees is to cut the tops where all the weight is. I’m not a good estimator of heights but they look to be at least as tall as a 4 story house.
Because it has been so rainy all year the ground is soft and a good wind knocks them over.
In case you haven’t heard, Bristol Palin has given birth to a boy and named him Tripp……as in what a long strange Tripp it’s been?
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2008/12/29/us/AP-Bristol-Palin-Baby.html?_r=3&hp
I think a lot is lost when people don’t write things out. There’s a thing called muscle memory that is very important in remembering things. I don’t think you retain as much when you move things around on a screen or type them out. I still keep my to do list on paper because when I write it out I am more likely to remember it, even without the list.
Today I’m officially a geezer. Not as depressed as I thought I’d be but it’s still a major bummer.
Maybe I’ll browse on over to the scooter store.
Happy geezer day, Andy!
The buzz of honeybeesstops caterpillars from munching on plants.
:bee: :bee: :bee:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/science/30obbuzz.html?_r=1&ref=science
Sign of the times? Yesterday 5 banks in bus areas of NYC were robbed in broad daylight.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/nyregion/30rob.html?ref=nyregion
Windy in NJ as well. This brings down more twigs and small branches that I can use for kindling. It also excites my new dog with so many new smells she doesn’t want to heel.
We’re getting a Leap Second this year as well: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2008/12/30/world/AP-EU-Britain-Time-to-Change.html
New Year’s eve plans, anyone?
I wonder if Bristol watched Enterprise during labor.
Andy, what kind of scooters are you looking at? I’m sort of interested with this geezer three-wheeler called Piaggio MP3 500.
Happy b’day, Andy.
:smack: Oh, the scooter statement must be a joke.
Hey, PJ, I registered for a computer programming class. I hope it isn’t too difficult
Being the exciting people we are, our New Year’s Eve tradition is to watch the Twilight Zone Marathon until about 1 minute ’til midnight, then switch over to watch the ball drop and see if Dick Clark is still alive, before switching back to the TZ.
If the weather isn’t too bad, we may even make the New Year’s Day pilgrimage to Rod Serling’s grave (the coordinates to which I have programmed in my GPS), but probably not, since I have to work on Friday, and that wold be too much excitement to recover from in only one day.
Any particular language, Travis?
It’s just an introduction to Java- whatever that is. I bought a book called Weaving a Website from abebooks, though it isn’t required.
high-language or something.
Is it Java or Javascript? Javascript should be pretty easy (would be useful, too; I wish I had a formal course in it). Java might be a bit tougher, but would also be pretty useful.
Here’s the class description
That should be fun.
Travis- while you’re at it, can you find out how to transfer all the songs that I paid good goddamn money for”that are on my iphone to my new computer? I’ll give you a Itune gift card worth $25 because “I’d rather give up opposable thumbs than give another cent to the prison that is called ITunes! 😡 :fustrate: “
New Year’s Eve? Watch TV. Give hubby a kiss at midnight. Hope the fireworks don’t scare my dog, Emily.
Governor Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois said Tuesday that he will appoint Roland W. Burris, a former Illinois attorney general, to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant seat in the United States Senate, setting up a potential battle with Senate leaders who say they will not seat anyone whom he appoints.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/31/us/31illinois.html
Sit back, relax and let your car parallel park itself _ without a single scratch or ding to your bumper.
That’s what Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday about its new self-parking technology, which it announced will debut as an option on the 2010 Lincoln MKS sedan and the new seven-passenger Lincoln MKT luxury crossover vehicle.
The technology uses ultrasonic sensors on the front and rear of the vehicle, combined with electric power steering to angle and guide it into a snug parking space _ all with the push of a button.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/30/ford-announces-self-parki_n_154173.html
The divisions taking hold among Republicans are becoming more severe as the party prepares to accuse its outgoing president of embracing “socialism.”
The slur that conservatives were so fond of lobbing at Barack Obama during the presidential campaign is now being directed toward President Bush and GOP lawmakers who supported federal bailouts of the banking and auto industries.
At its meeting next month, the Republican National Committee is set to vote on a resolution formally opposing the bailouts, accusing Bush of helping nationalize the banks and taking “another dangerous step closer toward socialism,” the Washington Times reports Tuesday.
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/RNC_mulls_accusing_Bush_of_socialism_1230.html
:slap: :rofl2: :slap: :rofl2:
I don’t know if it works, and third party software is always risky.
This may work too
At its meeting next month, the Republican National Committee is set to vote on a resolution formally opposing the bailouts, accusing Bush of helping nationalize the banks and taking “another dangerous step closer toward socialism,†the Washington Times reports Tuesday.
Comment by Sue P — December 30, 2008 @ 5:52 pm
It’s fun watching Mitch the Bitch, Boner and the rest of the Repig “leadership” :rofl2: marginalize themselves into oblivion. Maybe Bernie Sanders should give them some tips as to what socialism actually is, since they seem to have no clue.
thanks Travis. Yeah, I’ve come across Tansee and others. I always get a message from Norton Security that author is ‘unknown’ and that I might be destroying my computer 😯
I’ve even seen stuff that says it’s compatible with Vista and approved by the BBB. I always check for favorable reviews and they always say “I was filled with hope but ultimately, nada”. What’s so frustrating was that I had started buying from Amazon MP3 and of course that’s all lost. :tap:
re31- That’s a MAC only product. That’s okay, I’ve resigned myself to my fate.
Breaking News The Broncos have finally fired Mike Shannahan :dancers: :banana:
I know this means nothing to anyone here and ultimately meaningless to the world’s problems but I’m soo glad he’s gone. I’ve had a political take on him and the owner Pat Bolen who’re huuge rethuglicans that they’re a NFL paradigm for living inside a bubble for years and being unable to adjust their game (offensively and defensively) to reality. :slap:
What’s really funny is that Shannhan is building an enourmous 300,000 sq ft mansion south of Denver and he and Bowlen just announced they’re building yet another steak house to compete with Elway’s.
I really wonder sometimes if the reason that Denver sports teams have trouble playing as a team is remotely connected to the fact that the black players are democrats and the owners and coaches are always big-time republicans?
I wonder if Brandon Marshall was maybe letting footballs slip through his gloved hand because Bowlen was freaking out at the prospect of his wearing a black and white glove in honor of Obama? 😯 :nana: (true story)
Watching the local news you’d think Obama had cured the economy rather than a football coach getting fired. All they can talk about is how he was a “fan fovorite”. The fans were tired of Shannahan two years ago.
Okay, enough from me about this :tap:
I may go to the Ruby Room to see Sonorous. But that will require driving, so, maybe not. But there is a new restaurant within walking distance and I may go there since they are having a New Years celebration and it’s a cool place, though, a bit expensive for me. But it’s a neighborhood place and I had a good time meeting neighbors when I went there last week. But this all depends on if I can stay up that late which may require a nap early in the afternoon. If I take a nap too late then I will be groggy and not feel like going out. :smack: My friend is staying home with his wife and watching all of The Planet of the Apes episodes. That sounds cool. But that would be no fun alone.
I’m going to spend New Years Eve going back into work to do a quarterly report after the volunteer crew is finished volunteering to work until 11pm New Years Eve because the economy sucks so bad that they need the money and then I’ll be driving back to KC New Years Day to try to bring some sanity to my 82 yr old dad being in a rehab hospital and my 89 yr old step-mother both being in denial about my dad’s probably never going to be able to return home and she’s neglecting her own health and they need to sell the house which is paid off but isn’t going to bring near the money they have sunk into it and money they need in order to go into the nursing home they both need to go to but are refusing to.
Then, I’ll have a cocktail…………, and maybe another cocktail.
It’s not easy, Art, to have aging parents or to be an aging parent.
Not to step on someone else’s beat but
Connell declared emergency before fatal crash
loved your post yesterday, Art.
****
:cake: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANDY!
*****
Oh dear, SueP, trees are not supposed to be topped or they’ll be diseased-prone and such chopping may kill them before their time. Here‘s a good site it looks like. (Plane trees may be an exception)
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we’re dealing with an aging Aunt whose hip broke so all the above posts about hospitals, hospital funding, care, old folks not returning to their homes, etc. are applicable in my neck of the woods.
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Hope to see if Dick Clark is alive three hours earlier than PJ & Granny. Can bring in the New Year and still get a good night’s sleep. :santacool:
they’re having a nightmare uploading video, but am glad to see some new blogs posted. You have to scroll down to Mikes (before VA’s Day) to be in consecutive order. Fingers crossed for the anticipated funding……
49N- You must have heard the shout-out Mike got from Rachel’s radio show yesterday. I was going to say something about it but figured you knew about it. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before she has Mike or your son on air.(I don’t know whether to call you farmerkat or 49n) 😉
Andy- sorry I neglected your :cake:
Happy day after :banana:
Art, I heard there might have been a shout-out, but didn’t actually hear it myself. Can you tell me what she said?
(Any name works for moi!)
This clip of morning F*cking joe is hilarious! Joe has his tidy whities in a knot!
It was early in the show. She was talking about how there were no full time network news correspondents left in Iraq. Then she noted that Mike was over there, and mentioned the blogsite. She also pointed out that he was there on his own dime.
49er, (Shanahan used to work for the 49ers) Green 960 has free podcasts of Rachel .
I was hoping that Mike could reconnect with Marc sometime. I always like seeing Maron getting stuff with gravitas to gall Seder.
I guess I am happy about Randy Johnson even if he is 45 years old.
Speaking of old…
:cake: , aaA ❗
Just happened upon the Kennedy Center tribute show-have never watched it. They were doing a tribute to The Who. Betty Labette (?) did one of the most soulful renditions of “Love, Rain On Me” you’ll ever hear. I had to back up the Tivo to record it. I mean, Wow! I’ve never been that big a Who fan but it was awesome. :bow:
Thanks for the birthday wishes guys!
Bettye Lavette
I can’t see if that is the long version of Zbib v. Scarb but it sure looks like Brzezinski had some pent up feelings that were looking for release.
vern- who is she? Was she in a RandB group?
What’s the age limit for a geezer, Andy? It keeps changing as I get older! Happy Geezer Day! And the vehicles the geezers like round these parts are golf carts.
She’s no less soulful than whenever this was recorded. Must be in her seventies.
arrt, here is some of the story.
She was bounced around a lot but has made a nice comeback in recent years and is pretty awesome.
That’g quite a story. Did you see her tonight? What a treasure. And, uh-oh!, she’s only two yrs older than me. 😯
Sounds like she did it her way- and suffered for it.
Thanks Vern.
thanks guys for the info. You’re the greatest. I’m sure he’d love to do Maron’s show. he really likes Marc. He was teaching a journalism class weekly and now that’s completed.
I don’t get to listen to all the mvs shows like I’d like to. Work work work work :bee:
Besides that exquisite voice, LaVette’s hair is top drawer!
Randy has always been one of my favorites. He remains cool under fire.
AND AS FOR ALL THIS TALK ABOUT AGE => I just refuse to go there. :billcat:
I’m watching the show now. I want to find out tomorrow how she got that slot.
The Blues guys were pretty good. I wish O’Bama had been there but 1 prez at a time, ya know.
Meanwhile, when you watch future events like this remember this…
Bush appoints Lee Greenwood to National Arts Council
Lee Greenwood’s main claim to fame is writing and singing the hit patriotic hymn “God Bless the U.S.A.” Soon Greenwood’s blessing will matter on the American arts scene — at least the part interested in tapping into federal largess via grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. Appointed by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate, the Nashville-based country singer is scheduled to be sworn in Nov. 17 as one of the 14 regular members of the National Council on the Arts. Council members advise the NEA chairman, and their portfolio includes reviewing and making recommendations on applications for grants from the $145-million-a-year federal agency. Greenwood will serve a six-year term.
3 more weeks!
Thanks, art, I may have missed that.
I must say that I think that Kenny Aronoff is a tremendously overrated drummer.
and now Pickles intros the GREAT George Jones :omg: :barf: