"New Haiku Signs Will Make NYC Streets Safer Through Power Of Poetry"

Here's the story: http://gothamist.com/2011/11/29/new_haiku_signs_will_make_nyc_stree.php#photo-1

And here's a definition of Haiku poetry from Wikipedia:

"Haiku (俳句 haikai verse^?)  listen (help·info), plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:

• The essence of haiku is "cutting" (kiru).^[1] This is often represented by the juxtaposition of two images or ideas^[2] and a kireji ("cutting word") between them, a kind of verbal punctuation mark which signals the moment of separation and colours the manner in which the juxtaposed elements are related.^[3]
• Traditional haiku consist of 17 on (also known as morae), in three phrases of 5, 7 and 5 on respectively.^[4] Any one of the three phrases may end with the kireji.^[5] Although haiku are often stated to have 17 syllables,^[6] this is incorrect as syllables and on are not the same.
• A kigo (seasonal reference), usually drawn from a saijiki, an extensive but defined list of such words. The majority of kigo, but not all, are drawn from the natural world. This, combined with the origins of haiku in pre-industrial Japan, has led to the inaccurate impression that haiku are necessarily nature poems.

"Modern Japanese gendai (現代) haiku are increasingly unlikely to follow the tradition of 17 on or to take nature as their subject, but the use of juxtaposition continues to be honoured in both traditional haiku and gendai.^[1] There is a common, although relatively recent, perception that the images juxtaposed must be directly observed everyday objects or occurrences.^[7]

In Japanese, haiku are traditionally printed in a single vertical line while haiku in English often appear in three lines to parallel the three phrases of Japanese haiku.^[8]"

I think lying John and other city "leaders" should consider this for Racine. I could make a living writing street signs and accident rates would drop dramatically because everyone will be too confused by the signage to drive or walk anywhere.

NASA MSL Tweetup: Day 2

On to day 2: Thanksgiving. I have run a Thanksgiving Day race every year since 1993 and wasn't about to let a little thing like traveling break that streak. Fortunately, the Cocoa Beach 5k Turkey Trot (complete with live Turkey) fit the bill.

After a quick shower and breakfast, off to use my complimentary pass to the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex. Many of the tweeps did the lunch with an astronaut. I choose to pass on that (I have had lunch, dinner and drinks with enough astronauts I decided to spend my time exploring more). I hadn't been there since 2003 so a lot had changed.

The Space Explorers hall had a nice display of all the Mars rovers. You can see full size models of the Sojourner rover (1997), the Mars Exploration Rovers (2003) and Curiosity (2011).

The big new thing is the Shuttle Launch Experience which simulates a shuttle launch. Amazingly, there was no line for it. Thanksgiving Day wasn't very busy there. You get a couple of video briefings about what happens during a shuttle launch before the ride. They tilt you so you are laying on your back just like the astronauts at liftoff. It shakes pretty good for the first couple of minutes until the solid rockets drop off. Then it gets a lot smoother (which matches what I have heard about flying the shuttle). It's a pretty good experience. It's not a centrifuge so you don't truly get the full g-force, however (unlike Mission Space at Epcot where you get quite a bit of g-force!)

Quick lunch then on to the bus tour. First stop, launch pad 39 viewing area. A nice tower gives you great view of pad 39A and 39B and panoramic views of the entire complex.

Next to the Saturn V Center (I was here in 2010 for STS 132, the launch of Atlantis. I was in the VIP seats outside the Saturn V Center and went in so I have been here more recently than the rest of the center). They have all the consoles from the Apollo days set up and show you what happens in the three minutes prior to launch. Specifically, they simulate the Apollo VIII launch, the one that circled the Moon in December 1968. While the audio is playing, they light up the seat of person speaking so you know where they were sitting. After the simulated launch, onto the big Saturn V.

The sheer scale of a Saturn V is really not possible to capture in a pic. You just have to see that for yourself!

Finally headed back to the main visitor's center. Just in time to catch the afternoon talk by an astronaut (the same one that did lunch with an astronaut and people said he told the same stories and jokes). They also had a silly show based on Star Trek which involved some Romulan time travel and a Vulcan showing up to save the day. They incorporated some science demos and NASA references of course.

I really wanted to get pics of the rocket garden at night, but they didn't turn on all the lights, only lit up the Saturn 1b! Oh, well. Here is what I got.

And they decorate for the holidays.

Thanksgiving dinner was a group of about 30 tweeps Occupying Cracker Barrel (you had to be there). Day 3 coming soon!

Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.

NASA MSL Tweetup: Day 1

I recently has the pleasure of joining 150 other twitter users at the tweetup for the launch of the Mars Science Laboratory named Curiosity. A lot happened so I am going to do several blogs breaking it down day by day.

NASA has hosted quite a few tweetups (I believe this was the 31st). Tweetups are gatherings of NASA's twitter followers at a NASA center. Tweetups sometimes correspond to launches but have been held at other times as well. You always see a whole flurry to tweets from these events. The tweetup for the launch of Curiosity was held at the Kennedy Space Center for the launch. The launch was originally scheduled for November 25th which meant the tweetup would be on the 23rd, take the 24th off for Thanksgiving, and launch on the 25ht. A faulty battery pushed the launch to the 26th and the tweetup to the 25th. Therefore, when I arrived in Florida on the evening of the 22nd, I found myself with an extra free day. (Oh, there was a great dinner where all the tweeps met at Dixie Crossings on Tuesday night!)

The first thing I did was go to pick up my badge and swag. I knew they were giving us a free pass to the KSC Visitors Center that I planned to use Thursday, so I had to pick it up this morning. Met another tweep from Tucson at the hotel breakfast and drove over with her.

I spent the rest of the day exploring a couple of areas adjacent to the KSC. The Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge is immediately north of the KSC. This 140,000 acre refuge houses a wide variety of wildlife in marshlands and hammocks. Lots of great trails for hiking and observing wildlife. Note: bring bug repellant.

A path on Palm Hammock

Railraod tracks passing through the wildlife preserve used to bring rockets to the Cape.

A great drive is Bio Lab Road. Bio Lab Road actually goes through Canaveral National Seashore and comes out in the Wildlife Preserve. This road is a great place for birding.

I also went to the National Sea Shore. I only went to the southern part near KSC (it is huge). The beaches are wonderful, but you occasionally come across things like telescopes used to watch launches.

Fr0m the very southern end of the sea shore is the best place to get a view of launch pad 39B.39B was used for shuttle launches but is the first pad to be converted for the next generation of NASA rockets. The Ares 1-X test flight lifted off from 39B.

Tweetups are fun things. I went by myself but through twitter, managed to meet up with others throughout the day. I went to dinner that night with a bunch of tweeps at a local BBQ joint.

So you can see that even though there were not any formal tweetup activities that day, there was plenty to do! Stay tuned for day 2.

Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my iconic Irregulars! How are you? Happy last day of November. And still no s-word on the ground. Shh. Maybe Old Man Winter will sleep through the next three months. Well, I don’t really think there is much chance of that. Yesterday the wind was so brisk that I wore my winter coat for the first time since last winter. I put it on and reached into the pocket, and guess what I found? No, not a fifty dollar bill. It was a used Kleenex from last year. Oh dear.

Our renowned Green Bay Packers took a bite out of the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day, extending the Packers’ record to 12-0. Their next victims are the New York Giants, this Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3:15 PM in MetLife Stadium. How can you take a team seriously when their home field is named for an insurance company? Ha-ha! Or a brewery, for that matter. Oh my.

As usual of late, there is nothing in the news but gloom, despair and agony. I won’t sully my lips by commenting on any of it, but I will offer you my latest political theory, which I have humbly entitled the ‘Zoltar™ Effect.’ It goes like this: the integrity of any given politician is in inverse proportion to that politician’s willingness to campaign for office. All of the serious, honest, responsible people that I know would dread being the center of national attention. None of them would want to go on the road, making endless promises and shaking endless hands and kissing endless babies. None of them would want to deal with the hoopla and trauma of campaigning every single day, all day, in the national spotlight, for months at a time. The only people who want to do that are performers, of one sort or another. People who like to put on a show enjoy that sort of thing.

There’s nothing wrong with being a performer or actor. But I don’t think they are best suited to be the leaders of our country. I’d like to have thoughtful and loving brainiacs huddle together to plot our future rather than a gaggle of showmen and double talkers. I believe that the ‘Zoltar® Effect’ also explains why we are more likely to find honest people in politics on the local level than on the national level. The local level is a much smaller stage than the national level. That may appeal less to thespians.

So much for the heavy political thesis. Thank you for reading my blog this week, my dears. I appreciate your visits very much. Each and every reader connects with me when they read my blog. Thank you for sharing.

What do you really want for Christmas? Madame Zoltar© knows: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Oh my, tomorrow is already December. Time flies when you are having a good time, and I always have one with the Irregulars. Make sure your vehicles are ready for winter, my dears. Quidhampton!

Open Blog - Wednesday & Thursday

Read all about it.

"What is that?"

Mom's starting to get a little confused these days. How apropos that I received this video in an email.

Microgravity

I went to the Kennedy Space Center last week. There is a Space Explorers exhibit at the Visitors Center. They have a series of video to illustrate the danger presented by space travel. I was particularly taken aback by the one on the effects of microgravity. Watch closely. They seem to indicate that if you spend too much time in microgravity, you will go all Mola Ram on yourself.



I am surprised you could still do that after losing all the muscle and bone.

Open Blog - Monday & Tuesday

Whose legs are those?

Useless Information

Did you know:

French's uses 25 million pounds of onions per year to manufacture their French's Fried Onions.

"3 face prison time in special toilet paper scam"

From the Associated Press:

"WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Talk about a dirty scam.

"Federal prosecutors in Florida say at least three people working for a septic tank company duped customers into buying about $1 million in unnecessary products — in some cases enough toilet paper to last more than 70 years.

"More than a dozen customers were told they needed special toilet paper to avoid ruining their septic tanks because the federal government changed regulations on toilet paper. The federal government does not regulate septic tank products.

"The trio pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to commit wire fraud."

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gVjZ9Wmt1qcGUSKcH4gg_1b2dXyg?docId=92dddb424545416d8cd356bc8b46cdf9

The scammers said "the federal government changed regulations on toilet paper." Don't give the feds any ideas. I can already see a TP Tax. Should those who use more toilet paper than others be taxed at the same rate as the others? What about those who use less? And then there's the whole toilet paper economy...

Occupy Racine

The Sheriff has again notified me of a comment on one of my past blogs, but only a month old this time. My blog was about an Occupy Milwaukee rally: http://www.jtirregulars.com/2011/10/milwaukee-officers-are-ready-to-ensure.html. In the blog, I asked the question, "Will there be an Occupy Racine?" Earlier today, I received an answer:

"Occupy Racine said...

Occupy Racine is a fledgling group. We are in need of proper organization. We have the social media tapped, the population seems a bit apathetic. Please contact us via Twitter and spread the word. Thank you!

November 25, 2011 4:00 PM  "

This is their Twitter web page: http://twitter.com/#!/OccupyRacine

I do not necessarily endorse Occupy Racine or any other Occupy movement. The Sheriff wouldn't post this information because the JT Irregulars does not take a political stance. I post the information as a public service only.

As for, "the population seems a bit apathetic," I would say that is a bit of an understatement.

"US bargain-hunting turns violent on Black Friday"

"LOS ANGELES — Shootings, fights and a pepper spray attack marred the Black Friday stampede of bargain hunters that traditionally kicks off the US holiday shopping season after the Thanksgiving holiday.

"In the most sensational incident, a woman pepper-sprayed other shoppers at a Los Angeles area Wal-Mart store to beat out fierce competition for sought-after electronics merchandise during a 'doorbuster' sale.

"The woman, an unidentified Hispanic in her 30s, was 'trying to get advantage over the items being sold on sale,' when she turned a can of mace on the other customers, Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant J. Valle said."

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g43D8-lihVzhex61pWkwR2C1k0ZQ?docId=CNG.fd45b16bab5be5f2e8a7f73314307c59.1c1

Happy Holidays!

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Four for Fridays after a week filled turkeys and touchdowns! Sorry for a late start, had the day off and decide to sleep in a little. Here are some random questions....

1) Anyone brave enough to shop on Black Friday?

2) What do you do to get yourself through a long winter?

3) What do prefer, Christmas or Thanksgiving?

4) Which shoe do you put on first?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Friday & Weekend

Be careful out there.

Ruby & The Romantics - "Our Day Will Come" (1963)

Why on earth would this song pop into my head? It's not even rock 'n' roll. In searching for it on YouTube, I see that Amy Winehouse also covered the song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxYRbzGi8Rg). I didn't know that.

How was your Thanksgiving?

I took my mother to my sister's home in the country for Thanksgiving.  My sister's family and in-laws were also there.  It was a nice, low-key affair, at least from my perspective.  There were a few kids running around and that's as stimulating as it got.  It was a good meal with good people.  And the Packers won. That's enough to make me thankful.

give thanks

give thanks

"Former S.C. Johnson executive gets prison sentence"

From JSOnline:

"By Gina Barton of the Journal Sentinel

"Nov. 23, 2011 2:52 p.m.

"The former transportation director of S.C. Johnson & Son Inc. was sentenced Wednesday to eight years and one month in prison on federal charges that he defrauded the company out of more than $20 million.

"Milton E. Morris pleaded guilty in 2008 to seven federal crimes. He served as transportation director from 1998 until S.C. Johnson fired him in 2004, according to court records."

Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/former-sc-johnson-executive-gets-prison-sentence-d3367ht-134417423.html

The Sheriff notified me that someone commented on a blog I posted about Milton Morris a year and a half ago: http://www.jtirregulars.com/2010/05/whatever-happened-to-milton-e-morris.html  In the blog, I promised to eat my hat on Monument Square if Morris serves any hard time.

The Sheriff also said, "Sorry that your comments were moderated, but we have to do that with all of the older blogs. Otherwise, bots would spam the hell out of the place."

Thank you, missStaking, for reminding me of my promise. I remember it, and wrote it very carefully. Please note that I state I will eat my hat if Morris serves hard time. He hasn't served anything yet. He has just been sentenced. Fortuitously, he was sentenced on the eve of our longest and most charitable holiday season. My, how fortuitously. Let's see, once again, if he makes it inside of a prison.

Remembering someone else's blog 18 months after it was posted demonstrates remarkable recall, or something. My memory is for crap, but I did notice that with the addition of one letter, your username becomes missStalking. What a peculiar coincidence.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my gorgeous giblets! How are you? The local meteorological prognosticators are in agreement on their forecast for the next few days: some sun and warmer. Huzzah! We’ve had a relatively mild November. I’ve seen some “wintry mix” and some sleet, but no significant s-word yet. Thank you, Mother Nature, for your blessings. Let’s hope they hold through the arctic months ahead. I’ve received a few blasts of wind recently that chilled me to the bone, harbingers of subzero subsisting. Oh my.

Once again our stunning Green Bay Packers have vanquished their adversary, this time the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, raising Green Bay’s win-loss record to 10-0. Little rest for our champions, however, as they are scheduled to meet the Detroit Lions tomorrow, Nov. 24, Thanksgiving Day, at Ford Field, 11:30 AM. Drive the Lions off of their home field, Packers, drive them back to yesterday!

I’ve been giving some thought to s-word lately. I mean, really, my dears, why do we put up with the misery of winter weather in Wisconsin? When people talk about living in Mr. hale-bopp’s neck of the woods, they speak of going from air conditioned car to air conditioned store to air conditioned restaurant to air conditioned home, to air conditioned blah, blah. How does that differ from going to heated car to heated store to heated restaurant to heated home to heated arguments, to blah, blah? I need to find some middle ground where the summers aren’t too hot and the winters aren’t too cold. San Francisco? Too crowded, too expensive. In fact, the competition from other psychics and what-have-yous in California probably make the entire state off limits to me. Any suggestions? Somewhere to retire in my “golden years” (which will soon be worth tin)?

Senor Zanza, Junior, and I will have Thanksgiving dinner at our home tomorrow. I have a small turkey prepared with all the trimmings. The TV will be set to the Packer game. We will pause and say a prayer when the food is served, but then it’s back to the Pack.

Thank you for reading my blog. If you are hosting Thanksgiving at your home, I know how precious your time is right now. I do so appreciate your visit, all of you, each and every atom.

What to do with the leftovers? madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Happy Thanksgiving one and all! May you have a joyous holiday and a wonderful weekend. Avoid politics at the feast – it will help with digestion. And don’t forget, my sweets, to work off all of those extra calories at the gym. See you there. Bifurcation!

Open Blog - Wednesday & Thursday

Whatever you eat, don't overindulge. Then you'll have leftovers.

Santa's Chalet

A while back I posted pictures of the Chalet not meeting the "color scheme" of West Racine. I also mentioned there was nothing but junk sitting inside of it.

Well wouldn't ya know Santa is going to show up this year and use the Chalet so I guess I have to eat a little crow. NOT!!!

But here is the schedule for Santa...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes I am writing this early. I have to work tomorrow and on Thanksgiving Day. I just wanted to make sure that I posted this for everyone.

This has been a National Holiday since 1863 and it was proclaimed  by President Abraham Lincoln. This was during the Civil War.

The first Thanksgiving was to give thanks to God for guiding them safely to the new world. The Pilgrims and the Native Americans got together for a feast that lasted for three days. Sometimes I think that people forget what this Holiday is all about. It is about giving thanks for everything that we have. To celebrate our thanks with the people we love and to thank God for what we do have.

This is the day to be thankful for everything you have. I am so thankful for being with the most wonderful man in the world, our kids, my granddaughter, my boyfriends granddaughter, our families and friends.

Last year for Thanksgiving we went up north to spend it with my family and my boyfriends family. But this year I have to work on Thanksgiving so we can't make it. My family will be at my sisters house and my boyfriends parents are out of state this year. My two older kids will not be with us this year. It will be my boyfriend, my younger daughter, my boyfriends two kids and his granddaughter.

This is the first year I will not be spending the Holiday with my family. That is alright because I am with my boyfriend. He is the sweetest man and I love him with all of my heart. I will miss being with my family and his family. My older daughter has to work that is why she will not be able to make it. My son is going to be with his dad. I do understand why my older two kids will not make it.

Since I have to work my boyfriend has to get dinner started. This will be the first time he is making a turkey so I am getting some stuff started tomorrow for him. Then I will leave instructions for him what to do. He will be alright and I know it.

I hope everyone has a safe and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

RIP - JFK (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963)

Some Black & Whites