Sunday, July 31, 2011
My Garbagemen ADA fight.
I stopped at City Hall and visited the Public Works gal that had the ADA forms. Tomorrow my doctor will sign her copy and help fill out mine, and there will be a specific statement on my inability to tie a knot. This form also makes the garbage men come up to the house just like in the old days and get the trash. After I see how it works, I have several old and infirm that are going to get the paperwork too. Nothing like a good old bare knuckles brawl.
After running off the cliffn three years ago...
Wiley Coyote has finally looked down. Japan has started converting U.S. Bonds to other currency. You all know your post WWI German history. You've all read about the Great depression. It starts with other countries bailing on your currency. Laugh at my mantra to be prepared, but please try to prepare a little teensy bit.
With Japan starting to bail in earnest. It has a very good chance of getting ugly. Please, at least stock up on some things. Ask yourself what you really need, what you don't and what you might crave if it went into short supply. While you might buy a lot of what you crave, do yourself a favor, and use it as a barter when you meet people weaker than you and just gotta have it.
I did a general inventory and even I feel ill prepared. I can just barely afford to lose half my income if I really got squeezed with the SS, but it'd be an ugly existence. After reading all the economics at play, my opinion is that we have a 60% chance of getting The Great Depression ugly. Food riots are just a wrong hiccup away. Time to pay the Piper, and the elite aren't stepping up. You know who will do the paying.
Say what you want and feel about this issue EXCEPT with us/them comments. I'm tired of grade school politics and will delete them. Lets keep this focused on survival.
With Japan starting to bail in earnest. It has a very good chance of getting ugly. Please, at least stock up on some things. Ask yourself what you really need, what you don't and what you might crave if it went into short supply. While you might buy a lot of what you crave, do yourself a favor, and use it as a barter when you meet people weaker than you and just gotta have it.
I did a general inventory and even I feel ill prepared. I can just barely afford to lose half my income if I really got squeezed with the SS, but it'd be an ugly existence. After reading all the economics at play, my opinion is that we have a 60% chance of getting The Great Depression ugly. Food riots are just a wrong hiccup away. Time to pay the Piper, and the elite aren't stepping up. You know who will do the paying.
Say what you want and feel about this issue EXCEPT with us/them comments. I'm tired of grade school politics and will delete them. Lets keep this focused on survival.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Watermelon update and other news
The blight to my tomatoes is gone. The bottoms were getting leathery patches and was the end result of a calcium deficiency. If you have this problem, you can add romato fertilizer and hope for the best, buy tomato flower end rot stop for 6-8 dollars, or go to the medicine cabinet, grab three Tums(R), grind them up and add to a gallon jug of water. Honest, it really works. You might not do anything at all too. The experts say that the blight will go away on it's own and only the first fruit are affected. I'm impatient and got 'Rot Stop." After I bought it, I found the Tums(R) fix. Today I ate my first BLT from the garden. I had no idea just how bland store bought tomatoes are until now.
Watermelon, WATERMELON(S) I now have a new baby melon. It's the size of a large marble at present. The original has grown HUGE! It's up to 2-1/8" diameter.... At least I got one when the experts say impossible for our climate. When mom and I share them I think one bite each.
No idea on what the carrots are doing. The greens show they are still alive, but no idea how big they have grown. My sweet red bell peppers finally have flower buds. The Basils are kicking butt and growing well. Some sort of bug has eaten four of the African Basil flower stalks. No more damage seen, I think the birds got em. The oregano is growing, but not at the gangbusters speed everything else is.
Interestingly, I've seen bumblebees for weeks now, but yesterday I saw three HONEY BEES. Seeing the Honey Bees made me almost as happy as seeing the watermelon.
Watermelon, WATERMELON(S) I now have a new baby melon. It's the size of a large marble at present. The original has grown HUGE! It's up to 2-1/8" diameter.... At least I got one when the experts say impossible for our climate. When mom and I share them I think one bite each.
No idea on what the carrots are doing. The greens show they are still alive, but no idea how big they have grown. My sweet red bell peppers finally have flower buds. The Basils are kicking butt and growing well. Some sort of bug has eaten four of the African Basil flower stalks. No more damage seen, I think the birds got em. The oregano is growing, but not at the gangbusters speed everything else is.
Interestingly, I've seen bumblebees for weeks now, but yesterday I saw three HONEY BEES. Seeing the Honey Bees made me almost as happy as seeing the watermelon.
Four for Fridays
Hello everyone! Welcome back to another exciting episode of Four for Fridays! This week seemed to go rather quick... Here are some random questions...
1) What kind of games did you play when you were a kid?
2) What the last book you have read or are currently reading?
3) What card games do you know how to play?
4) What is your favorite quote?
Enjoy your weekend!
1) What kind of games did you play when you were a kid?
2) What the last book you have read or are currently reading?
3) What card games do you know how to play?
4) What is your favorite quote?
Enjoy your weekend!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
A foul mouthed Tirade
If extreme language bothers you, don't enter.
Original post has been moved inside the body. The words I used might be offensive to some. If you're easily offended, please for everyone's sake, pass this post by.
You must be over 18 to enter.
Original post has been moved inside the body. The words I used might be offensive to some. If you're easily offended, please for everyone's sake, pass this post by.
You must be over 18 to enter.
"Mayor, JT working together to release 10-year plan"
On August 18, 2010, the Racine Post reported:
That's an old story, but it's still relevant today. I was banned again from the Journal Times, apparently for referencing the above arrangement. Our mayor and the publisher of our only newspaper work hand in hand to lie to us regulalry. And then the big bad "leaders" stomp the little blogger who squeaks the truth. LOL. Party on, liars.
"There's been a 10-year plan sighting.
"One year and three months after he took office, Mayor John Dickert is preparing to release the 10-year plan for the City of Racine that he based his winning campaign on. He'll have the help of our local newspaper.
"Dickert is working with The Journal Times to coordinate release of his plan. The arrangement came after JT Publisher Mark Lewis met with the mayor and ordered him to produce a 10-year plan. Dickert agreed.
"Racine's daily newspaper was scheduled to release the plan this weekend, but publication was pushed back to allow the paper to follow the mayor around and document him implementing his 10-year plan. JT City Reporter Paul Sloth is on the story."
That's an old story, but it's still relevant today. I was banned again from the Journal Times, apparently for referencing the above arrangement. Our mayor and the publisher of our only newspaper work hand in hand to lie to us regulalry. And then the big bad "leaders" stomp the little blogger who squeaks the truth. LOL. Party on, liars.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
the green thing
In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day."
The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."
He was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.
Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.
But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.
But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.
Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.
But that old lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana.
In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.
When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.
But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.
We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.
We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.
But we didn't have the green thing back then.
Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service.
We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.
But we didn't have the green thing back then.
Dear Madame Zoltar
Hello, my precious poets and pundits! How are you? I am so sorry that Senor Zanza and I missed most of you at the JTI gathering this past Sunday. I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry. As Ms. kk has stated, we were working the Bristol Renaissance Faire (http://www.renfair.com/bristol/index.asp) and the time got away from us. Patrons of the Faire are very interested in the psychic arts, and they pay well for the knowledge. The economy has hurt psychics and fortune tellers, too. I was glad for the opportunity to do some side jobs. I believe that Senor Zanza also was grateful for the extra cash flow. Ms. kk was very gracious and understanding (as always, my dear) when we arrived so late. I hope that all of the rest of my beloved Irregulars will be as forgiving. I guarantee that I will make a timely appearance at the next gathering, no matter where or when. I will climb any mountain, swim any sea, astral project to any planet, to prove my love and loyalty to my Irregulars. Name the date, time, and location, and I will be there, or my name isn’t Madame Zoltar!
Thank you, Journal Times.
Are you going to any of the events? I’ll probably be at the Italian Festival, socially, not working. (http://www.romalodge.com/Festival.html) I really enjoy Italian food. I haven’t yet asked the Senor to escort me. I don’t know that he would like the Racine County Fair. He is very cosmopolitan, and not particularly rural.
I just have to comment on this story, about that poor woman who has been overcharged on her property taxes by the city for 24 years: http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/article_dbaecc20-b77b-11e0-88f4-001cc4c03286.html
Here is what I have to say to our city’s leaders:
I love you all my dear, dear friends. Thank you so much for stopping by to read my blog. I may have missed a good time at the get together, but I still have a good time every week with all of you. You are my special pals.
Special Delivery for a soothsayer? Send it here: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.
It looks like fun, fun, fun in the sun in the days ahead. Enjoy the weather and the activities. You can’t say there is nothing to do around Racine this weekend. Surculose!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Wheaton Franciscan Billing Lies
I received a small bill from Wheaton Franciscan. I didn't understand it. My secondary insurer should have covered it. I ended up talking to Wheaton Franciscan's billing department four times this morning. All four times I was told that my secondary insurer had refused payment and it was my responsibility. I called my insurer. They had no idea of what I was talking about. They had never talked to WF about anything.
I set up my digital voice recorder and called back WF billing. Again I was told that my secondary insurer had refused to pay my bill. When I told them that I was recording the call and that I had just spoken to my secondary insurer, they admitted the truth: they didn't even know who my secondary insurer was. What the hell? I provided that information when I registered with them. Previous bills have gone straight to the secondary insurance with no problem. This is the billing department of our only hospital? They just lie and lie until they are caught? When I asked for the name of the representative I was speaking with, she would only give me her first name.This is how WF does billing? They hire anonymous people to dun patients with made up information?.
I am just flabbergasted. FOUR fucking times they lied to me, until I forced them to speak truthfully. This took four hours out of my day. For a crap $22 bill. Think of the millions they have screwed insurers out of.
Party on, lying John, with all those campaign contributions from WF CEO Ken Busar to keep this a one hospital town!
I set up my digital voice recorder and called back WF billing. Again I was told that my secondary insurer had refused to pay my bill. When I told them that I was recording the call and that I had just spoken to my secondary insurer, they admitted the truth: they didn't even know who my secondary insurer was. What the hell? I provided that information when I registered with them. Previous bills have gone straight to the secondary insurance with no problem. This is the billing department of our only hospital? They just lie and lie until they are caught? When I asked for the name of the representative I was speaking with, she would only give me her first name.This is how WF does billing? They hire anonymous people to dun patients with made up information?.
I am just flabbergasted. FOUR fucking times they lied to me, until I forced them to speak truthfully. This took four hours out of my day. For a crap $22 bill. Think of the millions they have screwed insurers out of.
Party on, lying John, with all those campaign contributions from WF CEO Ken Busar to keep this a one hospital town!
George Carlin - Nobody cares about you
The unvarnished, 100% TRUTH. Thanks to Journal Times commenter MAKO for the link to this video. It should be broadcast 24 hours a day into every home in America.
Yet Another Dark and Stormy Night...
Yep, it's that time of year again. The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction contest has announced its winners for 2011. This contest, as you might recall, invites people to submit the worst possible opening line for a novel they can possibly construct. The winner this year is Sun Fodrie from Oshkosh with an unusually short entry, resulting in the highest badness/word ration in contest history.
'Cheryl’s mind turned like the vanes of a wind-powered turbine, chopping her sparrow-like thoughts into bloody pieces that fell onto a growing pile of forgotten memories."
Be sure to peruse the rest of the entries!
'Cheryl’s mind turned like the vanes of a wind-powered turbine, chopping her sparrow-like thoughts into bloody pieces that fell onto a growing pile of forgotten memories."
Be sure to peruse the rest of the entries!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Lisa Gerrard & Pieter Bourke - "Shadow Magnet "
I like to play this one loud.
Another top notch female vocalist, Lisa Gerrard was a member of the now defunct band, Dead Can Dance.
Sarah Brightman - "Anytime, Anywhere"
That turns my crank. I've had a thing for female vocalists for years now. I loved the Lilith Fairs. To me, men's voices sound dull by comparison.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
JTI Party Day
Don't forget the Get Together today.... 1-3 pm
It's ON, like Donkey Kong! See you there!
Saturday Night Videos
Experimentation is a part of rock and roll. The need to experiment, to create and the stretch the boundaries is essential. The overgrowing technology has certainly helped to the cause, without it rock and roll wouldn't be the same as it is today....
Inspired by the Beatles' 1965 release, Rubber Soul, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys wanted to create the "greatest record ever". The result was Pet Sounds (1966), where Wilson's growing mastery of studio recording and his increasingly sophisticated songs and complex arrangements would reach a creative peak. Influenced by psychedelic drugs, Brian Wilson turned his attention inward and probe his deep-seated self-doubts and emotional longings. The album's meticulously layered harmonies and inventive instrumentation set a new standard for pop and rock music. Wilson was a pioneer of the 'studio as instrument' concept, exploiting novel combinations of sounds that sprang from the use of multiple electric instruments and voices in an ensemble and combining them with echo and reverberation. He often doubled bass, guitar and keyboard parts, blending them with reverberation and adding other unusual instruments. It remains one of the most evocative releases of the decade.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the most important rock and roll album ever made, an unsurpassed adventure in concept, sound, songwriting, cover art and studio technology by the one of greatest rock & roll groups of all time. This album is also rock's ultimate declaration of change. For the Beatles, it was a decisive goodbye to matching suits, world tours and assembly-line record-making. Producer George Martin's innovative and lavish production included the orchestra usage and hired musicians ordered by the band. Genres such as music hall, jazz, rock and roll, western classical, and traditional Indian music are covered. Several then-new production effects feature extensively on the recordings. The use of multi-tracking , a new idea back then, is prevalent throughout the album...
Beginning with the sound of a heartbeat, Pink Floyd "Breathes" air into their 1973 release of the legendary The Dark Side of the Moon. Recorded in the famous Abbey Roads Studios between May 1972 and January 1973, the band were assigned staff engineer Alan Parsons (you know who he is) to oversee the recording of the Dark Side of the Moon. The recording sessions made use of some of the most advanced studio techniques of the time; the studio was capable of 16 track mixes, which offered a greater degree of flexibility than the eight- or four-track mixes they had previously used, although the band often used so many tracks that to make more space available second-generation copies were made. The sound effects on "Money" were created by splicing together Waters' recordings of clinking coins, tearing paper, a ringing cash register, and a clicking adding machine, which were used to create a 7-beats effects loop. And that's the tip of the iceberg...
Inspired by the Beatles' 1965 release, Rubber Soul, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys wanted to create the "greatest record ever". The result was Pet Sounds (1966), where Wilson's growing mastery of studio recording and his increasingly sophisticated songs and complex arrangements would reach a creative peak. Influenced by psychedelic drugs, Brian Wilson turned his attention inward and probe his deep-seated self-doubts and emotional longings. The album's meticulously layered harmonies and inventive instrumentation set a new standard for pop and rock music. Wilson was a pioneer of the 'studio as instrument' concept, exploiting novel combinations of sounds that sprang from the use of multiple electric instruments and voices in an ensemble and combining them with echo and reverberation. He often doubled bass, guitar and keyboard parts, blending them with reverberation and adding other unusual instruments. It remains one of the most evocative releases of the decade.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the most important rock and roll album ever made, an unsurpassed adventure in concept, sound, songwriting, cover art and studio technology by the one of greatest rock & roll groups of all time. This album is also rock's ultimate declaration of change. For the Beatles, it was a decisive goodbye to matching suits, world tours and assembly-line record-making. Producer George Martin's innovative and lavish production included the orchestra usage and hired musicians ordered by the band. Genres such as music hall, jazz, rock and roll, western classical, and traditional Indian music are covered. Several then-new production effects feature extensively on the recordings. The use of multi-tracking , a new idea back then, is prevalent throughout the album...
Beginning with the sound of a heartbeat, Pink Floyd "Breathes" air into their 1973 release of the legendary The Dark Side of the Moon. Recorded in the famous Abbey Roads Studios between May 1972 and January 1973, the band were assigned staff engineer Alan Parsons (you know who he is) to oversee the recording of the Dark Side of the Moon. The recording sessions made use of some of the most advanced studio techniques of the time; the studio was capable of 16 track mixes, which offered a greater degree of flexibility than the eight- or four-track mixes they had previously used, although the band often used so many tracks that to make more space available second-generation copies were made. The sound effects on "Money" were created by splicing together Waters' recordings of clinking coins, tearing paper, a ringing cash register, and a clicking adding machine, which were used to create a 7-beats effects loop. And that's the tip of the iceberg...
Looks like I'm going to miss another one
I really wanted to meet up with HB too. Today i found out I'm one of those folks they warn to stay in. Hit too stores and a lock shop today, and found the heat near laid me out. tomorrow is to be worse. Already told my sis if I show at the family picnic, it will probably be to say, "hello, goodbye." Have fun, drink fluids, lots of fluids, an be safe.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
It Doesn't Get Better
A little parody from Funny or Die. One of the cast is a former student of mine, one went to the school I taught at if Florida (he transferred before I had him in class but I worked tech in theater so I knew him from there) and the director of photography is an old friend from theater in Florida. Give them some love,
It Doesn't Get Better - watch more funny videos
Friday, July 22, 2011
We're #4!
Fourth highest personal tax out of all the other states per a study of all states. Notice the taxes businesses pay, and Scooter wants to tax them even less?
#4 . Wisconsin
Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 11%
Total state and local taxes collected: $41.7 billion
Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 77.9%
Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 22.1%
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin relies more on income and property taxes for its revenue than most states. In fact, both are approximately 25% higher than the national averages. The state receives a smaller portion of federal money than most others, leaving little room for this money to offset state spending. Worst still, taxes on industrial property owners rank among the bottom half, and often the bottom third, of the country, while residential taxes are among the greatest. According to a study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, Wisconsin's middle class pays a bigger share of government spending than any other state, except for New York.
#4 . Wisconsin
Taxes paid by residents as pct. of income: 11%
Total state and local taxes collected: $41.7 billion
Pct. of total taxes paid by residents: 77.9%
Pct. of total taxes paid by non-residents: 22.1%
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin relies more on income and property taxes for its revenue than most states. In fact, both are approximately 25% higher than the national averages. The state receives a smaller portion of federal money than most others, leaving little room for this money to offset state spending. Worst still, taxes on industrial property owners rank among the bottom half, and often the bottom third, of the country, while residential taxes are among the greatest. According to a study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, Wisconsin's middle class pays a bigger share of government spending than any other state, except for New York.
Four for Fridays
Hello everyone! Welcome back to Four Fridays after a sizzling hot week! So pull up a chair and grab a cold glass of water, because here are some random questions for you...
1) What did you do to stay cool in the heat?
2) When was the last time you ate out at a restaurant?
3) Would you rather be buried or cremated?
4) If a genie would grant you three wishes, what would your three wishes be?
Enjoy your weekend!
1) What did you do to stay cool in the heat?
2) When was the last time you ate out at a restaurant?
3) Would you rather be buried or cremated?
4) If a genie would grant you three wishes, what would your three wishes be?
Enjoy your weekend!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Before Dawn
It just came to my attention that the band Before Dawn is playing at McAuliffe's Pub in Racine this Saturday night (probably about the time my plane lands). I hope I get there in time to race from the airport to see them.So why would I be so excited to see them? Well, they are pretty entertaining. I have their CD and they did a pretty good video of their song Proof. The male singer has a bit of Fred Schneider (of the B 52s) going on at times. But the real draw is Kate, one of my former students from when I taught in Florida.
Don't believe me? Well, here's Proof.
Holy CRAP! Food inflation is 20%
If it wasn't for the deflation of property, we'd be seeing inflation like the 70s. Yes I horde when I see a sale. After a month or two I go stock up again, and tonight my jaw hit the floor at the meat prices. Just nuts. I also found that WalMart isn't the low cost leader anymore.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
"Sewer geyser lifts car"
"Yesterday, there was a thunderstorm in downtown Montreal, causing much of its sewers to overflow. Something tells me this car isn't going to fetch too much at the used car dealership."
If this happened in Milwaukee, the car, and everything else, would be covered in poop.
Dear Madame Zoltar
Hello, my griddle iron all stars! How are you? Isn’t this heat something? And that something is: hot! How hot is it? It’s so hot that I thought I was entering menopause. Oh my. Thank God (and Thomas Edison and Westinghouse and whoever else) for air conditioning. I know that Mr. hale-bopp has probably grown accustomed to this type of heat, but we Midwesterners still consider it extraordinary. Or at least something to hype all over the news. What they say is true, though: stay in air conditioning if possible, or out of the sun and near a fan; stay hydrated; and check on your neighbors, especially the elderly, infirm and ill. Don’t be a fool and lose your cool. I just made that up. Or did I? Maybe I heard it somewhere else…I’m so looking forward to seeing my dear Irregulars again at the upcoming get-together. I can hardly wait to introduce you to the wonderful Senor Zanza. He, too, eagerly awaits meeting you all. Let the good times roll!
The downtown Music on the Monument series continues this Friday, July 22, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with the Roy Edwards' Group Therapy Band (blues, rock).
Sunday, July 24, the Racine Concert Band will perform for free at the Racine Zoo Kiwanis Amphitheater starting at 7:30 p.m. Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets.
Unfortunately, the downtown Micros on the Monument auto show scheduled for Saturday was cancelled.
Here’s an interesting item from the Journal Times regarding our heat wave: “CONTACT THE JT: Are you without air conditioning?” http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/article_677f143e-b250-11e0-a9cf-001cc4c002e0.html If you don’t have a/c, let them know and maybe you’ll become famous.
Finally, here are some life-saving tips for dealing with heat exhaustion from my friend, Captain Joe Bruni. I’m so happy to see that those acting lessons have helped him become more confident in front of the camera:
Thank you for beating the heat with a cool sip of my blog today. I so appreciate your loyalty. My readers are the best readers in the world. Hip-hip-hooray!
Show your love: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.
Remember to protect yourselves from the sun, my dears. Wear hats, wear sun block, wear radiation suits. Stay in the air conditioning whenever possible. Or a bathtub full of ice. Botryoid!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
10 Cent Drinks
Four old retired guys are walking down a street in Mesa, AZ. They turned a corner and see a sign that says, 'Old Timers Bar - All Drinks 10 Cents.' They look at each other, and then go in, thinking this is too good to be true.
The old bartender says in a voice that carries across the room, "Come on in and let me pour one for you! What'll it be, gentlemen?"
There seemed to be a fully-stocked bar, so each of the men ask for a martini. In short order, the bartender serves up four iced martinis -- shaken, not stirred -- and says, "That'll be 10 cents each, please."
The four men stare at the bartender for a moment and then look at each other. They can't believe their good luck.
They pay the 40 cents, finish their martinis, and order another round. Again, four excellent martinis are produced with the bartender again saying, "That's 40 cents, please." They pay the 40 cents, but their curiosity is more than they can stand.
They have each had two martinis and so far they've spent less than a dollar.
Finally one of the men says, "How can you afford to serve martinis as good as these for a dime apiece?"
"I'm a retired tailor from Boston," the bartender said, "and I always wanted to own a bar. Last year I hit the Lottery for $25 million and decided to open this place. Every drink costs a dime - wine, liquor, beer, it's all the same."
"Wow!!!! That's quite a story," says one of the men.
The four of them sipped at their martinis and couldn't help but notice seven other people at the end of the bar who didn't have drinks in front of them, and hadn't ordered anything the whole time they were there.
One man gestures at the seven at the end of the bar without drinks and asks the bartender, "What's with them?"
The bartender says, "Oh, they're all old retired farmers from Wisconsin, waiting for happy hour when drinks are half price."
The old bartender says in a voice that carries across the room, "Come on in and let me pour one for you! What'll it be, gentlemen?"
There seemed to be a fully-stocked bar, so each of the men ask for a martini. In short order, the bartender serves up four iced martinis -- shaken, not stirred -- and says, "That'll be 10 cents each, please."
The four men stare at the bartender for a moment and then look at each other. They can't believe their good luck.
They pay the 40 cents, finish their martinis, and order another round. Again, four excellent martinis are produced with the bartender again saying, "That's 40 cents, please." They pay the 40 cents, but their curiosity is more than they can stand.
They have each had two martinis and so far they've spent less than a dollar.
Finally one of the men says, "How can you afford to serve martinis as good as these for a dime apiece?"
"I'm a retired tailor from Boston," the bartender said, "and I always wanted to own a bar. Last year I hit the Lottery for $25 million and decided to open this place. Every drink costs a dime - wine, liquor, beer, it's all the same."
"Wow!!!! That's quite a story," says one of the men.
The four of them sipped at their martinis and couldn't help but notice seven other people at the end of the bar who didn't have drinks in front of them, and hadn't ordered anything the whole time they were there.
One man gestures at the seven at the end of the bar without drinks and asks the bartender, "What's with them?"
The bartender says, "Oh, they're all old retired farmers from Wisconsin, waiting for happy hour when drinks are half price."
Monday, July 18, 2011
A Little Love For Radio Astron
There has been a lot of attention paid to the final shuttle mission and even the Dawn spacecraft going into orbit around the asteroid Vesta. Lost in all this is a pretty cool Russian led mission called Radio Astron. The final piece of this puzzle is now in place with the launch of the Spektr-R satellite last night.Spektr-R is a pretty impressive piece of engineering. This satellite is a radio telescope that will unfold in space to a diameter of 10 meters (over 30 feet). It's been launched into a very elliptical orbit that will range from about 10,000km from the Earth to 390,000 km from the Earth, a little farther from Earth than the Moon (and the Moon's gravity will slowly change its orbit over time!)
Okay, so we have a 10 meter radio dish orbiting the Earth. We have much larger radio dishes on Earth, so what' the big deal? Spektr-R will be used in conjunction with radio telescopes on Earth. By combining its observations with those made by radio telescopes on Earth, it can obtain the resolution equivalent to that of a single dish up to 390,000km across! That translates into a resolution over 1,000 times better than Hubble (but in the radio part of the spectrum). You can find a whole list of the ground based facilities it will work with here, including my beloved Green Bank Telescope.
This high resolution will enable us to really zoom in on the active regions surrounding black holes at the centers of galaxies, probably one of the most exciting problems this project will tackle.
This project has been a long time coming. It was first proposed over 30 years ago and been mired in technical, political and funding difficulties. It survived the breakup of the Soviet Union. I spent a summer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank in 2003 and they had posters up highlighting their participation in this upcoming mission. Great to see it launched. I look forward to a successful check out for them and the first science observations later this year!
Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.
Where to Retire?
I received this in an email. A few Irregular states are represented:
You can retire to Arizona, where...
1. You are willing to park 3 blocks away because you found shade.
2. You've experienced condensation on your hiney from the hot water in the toilet bowl.
3. You can drive for 4 hours in one direction and never leave town.
4. You have over 100 recipes for Mexican food.
5. You know that "dry heat" is comparable to what hits you in the face when you open your oven door.
6. The 4 seasons are: tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!
OR
You can retire to California where...
1. You make over $250,000 and you still can't afford to buy a house.
2. The fastest part of your commute is going down your driveway.
3. You know how to eat an artichoke.
4. You drive your rented Mercedes to your neighborhood block party.
5. When someone asks you how far something is, you tell them how long it will take to get there rather than how many miles away it is.
6. The 4 seasons are: Fire, Flood, Mud, and Drought.
OR
You can retire to New York City where...
1. You say "the city" and expect everyone to know you mean Manhattan .
2. You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park, but can't find Wisconsin on a map.
3. You think Central Park is "nature."
4. You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual.
5. You've worn out a car horn. (Ed. Note if you have a car).
6. You think eye contact is an act of aggression.
OR
You can retire to Minnesota where...
1. You only have four spices: salt, pepper, ketchup, and Tabasco ..
2. Halloween costumes fit over parkas.
3. You have more than one recipe for casserole.
4. Sexy lingerie is anything flannel with less than eight buttons.
5. The four seasons are: winter, still winter, almost winter, and construction.
OR
You can retire to the Deep South where...
1. You can rent a movie and buy bait in the same store.
2. "Y'all" is singular and "all y'all" is plural.
3. "He needed killin" is a valid defense.
4. Everyone has 2 first names: Billy Bob, Jimmy Bob, Mary Ellen, Betty Jean, Mary Beth, etc.
5. Everything is either "in yonder," "over yonder" or "out yonder." It's important to know the difference, too.
OR
You can retire to Colorado where...
1. You carry your $3,000 mountain bike atop your $500 car.
2. You tell your husband to pick up Granola on his way home and so he stops at the day care center.
3. A pass does not involve a football or dating.
4. The top of your head is bald, but you still have a pony tail.
OR
You can retire to Wisconsin
1. You are willing to park 3 blocks away because you found shade.
2. You've experienced condensation on your hiney from the hot water in the toilet bowl.
3. You can drive for 4 hours in one direction and never leave town.
4. You have over 100 recipes for Mexican food.
5. You know that "dry heat" is comparable to what hits you in the face when you open your oven door.
6. The 4 seasons are: tolerable, hot, really hot, and ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!
OR
You can retire to California where...
1. You make over $250,000 and you still can't afford to buy a house.
2. The fastest part of your commute is going down your driveway.
3. You know how to eat an artichoke.
4. You drive your rented Mercedes to your neighborhood block party.
5. When someone asks you how far something is, you tell them how long it will take to get there rather than how many miles away it is.
6. The 4 seasons are: Fire, Flood, Mud, and Drought.
OR
You can retire to New York City where...
1. You say "the city" and expect everyone to know you mean Manhattan .
2. You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park, but can't find Wisconsin on a map.
3. You think Central Park is "nature."
4. You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual.
5. You've worn out a car horn. (Ed. Note if you have a car).
6. You think eye contact is an act of aggression.
OR
You can retire to Minnesota where...
1. You only have four spices: salt, pepper, ketchup, and Tabasco ..
2. Halloween costumes fit over parkas.
3. You have more than one recipe for casserole.
4. Sexy lingerie is anything flannel with less than eight buttons.
5. The four seasons are: winter, still winter, almost winter, and construction.
OR
You can retire to the Deep South where...
1. You can rent a movie and buy bait in the same store.
2. "Y'all" is singular and "all y'all" is plural.
3. "He needed killin" is a valid defense.
4. Everyone has 2 first names: Billy Bob, Jimmy Bob, Mary Ellen, Betty Jean, Mary Beth, etc.
5. Everything is either "in yonder," "over yonder" or "out yonder." It's important to know the difference, too.
OR
You can retire to Colorado where...
1. You carry your $3,000 mountain bike atop your $500 car.
2. You tell your husband to pick up Granola on his way home and so he stops at the day care center.
3. A pass does not involve a football or dating.
4. The top of your head is bald, but you still have a pony tail.
OR
You can retire to Wisconsin
where...
1. You've never met any celebrities, but the mayor knows your name.
2. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor.
3. You have had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" on the same day.
4. You end sentences with a preposition: "Where's my coat at?"
5. When asked how your trip was to any exotic place, you say, "It was different!"
OR
FINALLY You can retire to Florida where.
1. You eat dinner at 3:15 in the afternoon.
2.. All purchases include a coupon of some kind -- even houses and cars.
3. Everyone can recommend an excellent dermatologist.
4. Road construction never ends anywhere in the state.
5. Cars in front of you often appear to be driven by headless people
1. You've never met any celebrities, but the mayor knows your name.
2. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor.
3. You have had to switch from "heat" to "A/C" on the same day.
4. You end sentences with a preposition: "Where's my coat at?"
5. When asked how your trip was to any exotic place, you say, "It was different!"
OR
FINALLY You can retire to Florida where.
1. You eat dinner at 3:15 in the afternoon.
2.. All purchases include a coupon of some kind -- even houses and cars.
3. Everyone can recommend an excellent dermatologist.
4. Road construction never ends anywhere in the state.
5. Cars in front of you often appear to be driven by headless people
Blonde Men do exist
A Sheriff in a small town in Texas walks out in the street and sees a blond haired cowboy coming toward him with nothing on but his cowboy hat, his gun and his boots. He arrests him for indecent exposure.
As he is locking him up, he asks 'Why in the world are you walking around like this?'
The cowboy says, 'Well it's like this Sheriff....
I was in this bar down the road and this pretty little red head asks me to go out to her motor home with her.
So I did.
We go inside and she pulls off her top and asks me to pull off my shirt....
So I did.
Then she pulls off her skirt and asks me to pull off my pants....
So I did.
Then she pulls off her panties and asks me to pull off my shorts....
So I did.
Then she gets on the bed and looks at me kind of sexy and says,
'Now go to town cowboy. '
'And here I am.'
Blonde Men do exist
Septoria leaf blight
Ohhhhhh I got fungus among us. Went to Steins and got a spray. No blight is right for my victory garden. Bunches and bunches of tomatoes. I've been watering from the top but will from the bottom from now on.
I just pruned my sweet basil. It was forming flowers and I read that you're supposed to prune them off before they bloom to promote bushiness and having the taste turn less sweet. The African basil doesn't have that problem and the flower stalks are so pretty. The plain basil and oregano have accepted their transplanting and are growing vigorously. The COOLEST thing is the watermelon vine. Supposedly all I am supposed to see is a pretty plant as we're too far north. Well, I just saw a 3/4" ball of fruit. Even if it doesn't grow larger than a baseball, I'll be tickled. Still no love or flowers on the red bell pepper plant.
Monkeying Around With Copyrights
I occasionally blog on copyrights as it is a big deal on the internet and for bloggers. A lot of people claim fair use, sometimes fairly sometimes not so much. One of the big problems can be determining who actually owns a copyright.Photographer David Slater was in Indonesia and some monkeys got hold of his camera and started taking pictures of themselves...really. You an see one here. Copyright law says the person who took the picture owns the copyright. If I loan you my camera and you take pictures, the copyright on the picture belongs to the photographer, not the camera. Of course you can buy the copyright from a photographer (I do that for my acting headshots so I can reproduce them for example) but there is no evidence the monkeys transferred the copyright in exchange for a bunch of bananas.
Slater has been sending takedown notices for these pictures even though his claim is pretty shaky. Many websites automatically take down materials without actually checking out if they are infringing (a common tactic to surpress videos on Youtube, including politically charged videos). You can hear about this story in a segment in this week's On the Media or read about it at Tech Dirt.
Wonder if this will get a take down notice?
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Regarding next Sunday's shindig -
OK boys and girls,our shindig is soon arriving.
Time for a final headcount - who's in?
I have received a decent number of RSVP's,
Can we get an official list here as well?
I emailed out the info. If for any reason you
did not get it, PLEASE contact me via email
and I will get it out to you.
lizardmom@jtirregulars.com
We have a plan, as well as a back up plan
if the weather doesn't cooperate
(like last year...)
Time to get this show on the road,
next week is coming FAST
see you all soon!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Saturday Night Videos
Until recently, I never really was a big fan of AC/DC. Quite seemingly, in the last couple of years I've finally accepted AC/DC's classic rock status and even embraced them a little bit. Since then, I've picked up a couple of CD's from them in hopes to compile a best of collection from them. One of them, their third release High Voltage, offers up a plate of primal sleaze. The opening track "It's a Long Way to the Top (if You Wanna Rock n Roll)", really got me rockin'! I remembered hearing it for the first time in the Jack Black's movie School of Rock and became intrigued. Even more intriguing was the bagpipe solo on the tune. That's something you don't hear in rock and roll too often...
As I was digging through my collection looking for some lost classics that I haven't heard in awhile, I stumbled across Judas Priest's forth album, Stained Class. Released in 1978, before the days of the headbanging leather, Stained Class offers up streamlined, melodic metal reaching often new heights of power, speed, musicality, and malevolence. Never in your face like their more famous later day hits, Stained Class is focused with knife like precision. The songs pack an enormous visceral impact, jacked up to punk-level speed-leaving listeners with an all-out adrenaline rush.
Then there is the David Bowie led Tin Machine, a forgotten band from the '80's. Though Bowie is the lead singer, Tin Machine is a band with a band attitude. Their music is hard-edged guitar rock with an intelligence missing from much of the work of that genre at the time. Stunt guitarist Reeves Gabrels provides much in the way of ambient guitar solos. The album is a nice piece of artistry...
As I was digging through my collection looking for some lost classics that I haven't heard in awhile, I stumbled across Judas Priest's forth album, Stained Class. Released in 1978, before the days of the headbanging leather, Stained Class offers up streamlined, melodic metal reaching often new heights of power, speed, musicality, and malevolence. Never in your face like their more famous later day hits, Stained Class is focused with knife like precision. The songs pack an enormous visceral impact, jacked up to punk-level speed-leaving listeners with an all-out adrenaline rush.
Then there is the David Bowie led Tin Machine, a forgotten band from the '80's. Though Bowie is the lead singer, Tin Machine is a band with a band attitude. Their music is hard-edged guitar rock with an intelligence missing from much of the work of that genre at the time. Stunt guitarist Reeves Gabrels provides much in the way of ambient guitar solos. The album is a nice piece of artistry...
I loved the crooners.
Mom would yell at me to turn that nigger shit down. Kind of funny how all these years later she has become a lot more liberal and unbiased. I guess age does mellow some. George Benton.
Edwyn Collins - "A Girl Like You"
This is the one that has been rattling around in my head for the last few days. As far as I know, I haven't heard it in years.
"Residents contact your local aldermen about the Dickert lawsuit"
From Racine Uncovered:
Sorry I'm putinng this up late.
I agree with the above article. I believe the City Council may vote on this this coming Tuesday. I've contacted my alderman. Please let yours know how you feel about this, no matter which side you are on.
"It’s time for residents to say enough is enough, these are our tax dollars being used to run this city into the ground. The Executive Committee made up of Mayor John Dickert, Gregory Helding, Q.A. Shakoor, Sandy Weidner (Ald. Mike Shields sat in for Sandy), Aron Wisneski (Alderman Jim Kaplan sat in for Aron), Ron Hart made the decision that “We the city” and “We the people” should cover all legal fees and any awards regarding the slander suit of Bielefeldt v. Dickert v. Racine.
"Ald. Mike Shields was the only one who voted that the City of Racine SHOULD NOT pay for this lawsuit. We need to contact our aldermen and voice our concerns about paying for Mayor John Dickert’s personal lawsuit. This is not the responsibility of the City of Racine or the hard working people of Racine. Call, email, write and let the elected officials we are not going to stand for this.
"Here’s the link to the City of Racine to locate who your alderman is
Sorry I'm putinng this up late.
I agree with the above article. I believe the City Council may vote on this this coming Tuesday. I've contacted my alderman. Please let yours know how you feel about this, no matter which side you are on.
Friday, July 15, 2011
The Baby Boomers.
People born before 1946 were called The Silent generation..
People born between 1946 and 1964 are called The Baby Boomers.
People born between 1965 and 1979 are called Generation X.
And people born between 1980 and 2010 are called GenerationY.
Why do we call the last group Generation Y?
Y should I get a job?
Y should I leave home and find my own place?
Y should I get a car when I can borrow yours?
Y should I clean my room?
Y should I wash and iron my own clothes?
Y should I buy any food?
Y are you always picking on me?
But a cartoonist explained it very eloquently below:
People born between 1946 and 1964 are called The Baby Boomers.
People born between 1965 and 1979 are called Generation X.
And people born between 1980 and 2010 are called GenerationY.
Why do we call the last group Generation Y?
Y should I get a job?
Y should I leave home and find my own place?
Y should I get a car when I can borrow yours?
Y should I clean my room?
Y should I wash and iron my own clothes?
Y should I buy any food?
Y are you always picking on me?
But a cartoonist explained it very eloquently below:
Four for Fridays
Hello everybody! Welcome back to Four for Fridays! Vacation is over and it's back to the daily grind of things...Anyways, here's some random questions for ya!
1) Do you think kids are growing up to fast these days or not fast enough.
2) If you were to write a novel, what would it be about?
3) Do you take the main streets or the back roads to get to your destination?
4) Chocolate or vanilla ice cream?
Enjoy your weekend!
1) Do you think kids are growing up to fast these days or not fast enough.
2) If you were to write a novel, what would it be about?
3) Do you take the main streets or the back roads to get to your destination?
4) Chocolate or vanilla ice cream?
Enjoy your weekend!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
"Wi-Fi-hacking neighbor sentenced to 18 years"
"(Wired) -- A Minnesota hacker that prosecutors described as a 'depraved criminal' was handed an 18-year prison term Tuesday for unleashing a vendetta of cyberterror that turned his neighbors' lives into a living nightmare.
"Barry Ardolf, 46, repeatedly hacked into his next-door neighbors' Wi-Fi network in 2009, and used it to try and frame them for child pornography, sexual harassment, various kinds of professional misconduct and to send threatening e-mail to politicians, including Vice President Joe Biden.
"His motive was to get back at his new neighbors after they told the police he'd kissed their 4-year-old son on the lips.
"'Barry Ardolf has demonstrated by his conduct that he is a dangerous man. When he became angry at his neighbors, he vented his anger in a bizarre and calculated campaign of terror against them,' prosecutor Timothy Rank said in a court filing. 'And he did not wage this campaign in the light of day, but rather used his computer hacking skills to strike at his victims while hiding in the shadows.
"'Over months and months, he inflicted unfathomable psychic damage, making the victims feel vulnerable in their own home, while avoiding detection.'
"Ardolf's attorney, Kevin O'Brien, said in a telephone interview that 'it was a lengthy sentence for a first-time offender.' The defendant also forfeited his house and computer gear.
"Ardolf had no criminal record, but an investigation revealed that he'd also hijacked the Wi-Fi of other neighbors, and terrorized them as well.
"A father of two, Ardolf had turned down a 2-year plea agreement last year to charges related to the Biden e-mail. After that, the authorities piled on more charges, including identity theft and two kiddie-porn accusations carrying lifetime sex-offender registration requirements. He pleaded guilty to them all last year."
This guy is the neighbor from hell. Can you imagine someone like that trying to destroy your life? Ah, the wonders of the Information Age.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Dear Madame Zoltar
Hello, my luscious peaches! How are you? Are you enjoying our wonderful summer weather? As usual, there are lots of things to do in and around Racine this week. We may be in a recession and out of work, but that doesn’t stop Racine from having a good time. At right is a screenshot of upcoming events from the usual source, the Journal Times, http://www.journaltimes.com/lifestyles/leisure/article_ff8c2baa-7672-11e0-88b9-001cc4c03286.html Click to enlarge.
I was a little sad to read that the Zoo beach was recently closed because of E. coli. I know that this happens occasionally, and much less than it used to, but our lake and beaches once were such pristine places. Do you suppose it could have anything to do with the poop that Milwaukee sometimes pumps into Lake Michigan? Oh dear! How disgusting. It’s miraculous that we have award-winning drinking water.
Finally, here’s a joke that Junior told me:
“Debbie visited a psychic of some local repute. In a dark and gloomy room, gazing at the crystal ball before her, the fortuneteller delivered the bad news:
“‘There’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just be blunt – prepare yourself to be a widow. Your husband will die a violent and horrible death this year.’
“Visibly shaken, Debbie stared at the woman’s lined face, then at the single flickering candle, then down at her hands. She took a few deep breaths to compose herself.
“She simply had to know. She met the psychic’s gaze, steadied her voice, and asked:
"'Will I get away with it?’”
Oh my! Thank you for reading my blog this week, my dears. Regular or Irregular, I love you all. Our time together is wondrous and uplifting. Whee!
Who will win the Ironman? Find out here: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.
Enjoy the summer, my lovelies. This is why we tolerate winter’s wrath. Have fun, be safe, be happy. Hircismus!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Can't Hug Every Cat
A few weeks ago, we saw the crazy cat lady's viral e Harmony video. Now it has been remixed and set to music.
This is really an ad for Songify, an app that will run your speech through autotune, add some music and pump out vacuous pop music. Still a good way to take the joke a step further!
This is really an ad for Songify, an app that will run your speech through autotune, add some music and pump out vacuous pop music. Still a good way to take the joke a step further!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Do I Need an Umbrella
Had to post something for Sunday.........
This is kinda neat, type in your zip code and it will tell you if you need an umbrella.
Do I Need an Umbrella
This is kinda neat, type in your zip code and it will tell you if you need an umbrella.
Do I Need an Umbrella
Saturday, July 9, 2011
One of those songs that stick in your mind
I graduated from high school and one week later I got my draft notice; I was still in the draft before they came up with the lottery or all that other crap.
Well Woodstock happened in 1969 and one of the “protest songs” was song by Country Joe and the Fish. In the late 60's and early 70's there where many protest song.
Just had to share it with you...
Country Joe's Anti Vietnam War Song Woodstock
Well Woodstock happened in 1969 and one of the “protest songs” was song by Country Joe and the Fish. In the late 60's and early 70's there where many protest song.
Just had to share it with you...
Country Joe's Anti Vietnam War Song Woodstock
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