Racine, WI Photos From the Past

There are more good ones here: Old Racine Photos

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone! Did everyone have a good week? To honor Mother's Day this Sunday, I came with these questions.

1) Do you celebrate Mother's Day?

2) How do you celebrate Mother's Day?

3) Describe what is your mother like.

4) What you think it takes to be a good mother?

Enjoy your weekend!

What ever Happend to the Good Old Days

The Latest Development in Security...

I just got a spam email (using the Department of Homeland Security logo) trying to sell surveillance cameras. Here it is
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ISIS: New Video Camera Sees It All



The Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (or ISIS) takes new video-camera and image-stitching technology and bolts it to a ceiling, mounts it on a roof, or fastens it to a truck-mounted telescoping mast

Like a bug-eyed fisheye lens, ISIS sees v-e-r-y wide. But that’s where the similarity ends. Whereas a typical fisheye lens distorts the image and can only provide limited resolution, video from ISIS is perfectly detailed, edge-to-edge. That’s because the video is made from a series of individual cameras stitched into a single live view like a high-res video quilt.

“Coverage this sweeping, with detail this fine, requires a very high pixel count,” says program manager Dr. John Fortune, of S&T’s Infrastructure and Geophysical Division, “ISIS has a resolution capability of 100 megapixels.” That’s as detailed as 50 full-HDTV movies playing at once, with optical detail to spare. You can zoom in close…and closer…without losing clarity.

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There is a link, but I am not clicking on it and I can't vouch for its safety, so I left it off.

Anyway, the point here is that it is EASY to find info on security systems. Want to have some fun, google a phrase like "hidden security camera enclosures". You will get links to companies that sell them. Peruse those links for a while. Okay, now go to Wal-Mart, a courthouse, the airport, etc. and look around. With minimal effort, you have just learned how to pick out most of the security cameras!

Okay, once you finish accusing me of "helping the bad guys", stop and think for a moment. I revealed nothing that is not publicly available and if some nogoodnick didn't think of this on his own, he probably isn't smart enough to get too far anyway. Besides, I am not the one sending these emails to random accounts!

The point is that there is a lot of info out there for anyone to find that can be abused. I have always thought a fun job would be a security expert, specifically, the guy who is paid to try and circumvent security systems. I ALWAYS want to do that...not because I want to steal anything or cause trouble, but just because I have ideas and want to see if they work.

There was a point to this, but I got distracted and went off the tracks...

Oil Rig Fire

I am sure most of you have heard or read about the oil rig leaking into the gulf, these are photos of the rig while it was on fire. A horrible tragedy where so many lives where lost.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my torrid tulips! How are you? I had a great time last week – in Aruba! I don’t know if you noticed, but my last couple of blogs were kind of ‘down.’ I started to think about maybe sneaking away for some time just for me, and the next thing I knew, I was flying south, and not under my own power. Things fell into place conveniently: Junior already had plans to spend the week at a friend’s house, the business is slow and doesn’t need my constant mothering right now, and I had a rash of cancellations of readings and personal consultations. I also won a couple thousand dollars on the lottery (oh my, how did that happen?), which financed my getaway.

At this point, I’d like to say that the enhanced security measures at our airports are beyond impressive. Way beyond. I was frisked, x-rayed, body scanned, psychoanalyzed and cavity-searched. I told them to forward the results to my physician so I won’t have to pay for tests the next time I see him. Hmph! They must have thought it was odd when I commented on my flying abilities in the astral plane. I will grant you that I am unique, but I hardly fit the profile of a terrorist. I don’t envy those government employees now. Beware the Zoltar® Curse!

Aruba, though, was wonderful. It was warm, it was dry, it was heaven. I met all sorts of interesting people. I also spent an incredible night at a place called the Sopranos Piano Bar (yes, those Sopranos: http://sopranospianobar.com/frontpage/). Oh my, I don’t know how many Tsunamis I drank. It all became a blur towards the end, but I do remember one handsome gentleman telling me that the Kama Sutra has nothing on the Cosa Nostra. Those island breezes (and rum cocktails) can play tricks with your head and your heart. Before I knew it, that gentleman and I were moving to the rhythms of the native beat, if you know what I mean. It was hot and sexy and sexy hot. Oh dear. Anyway, a smart lady is prepared and so I was and so was he. I don’t even remember his last name (if he even told me), but I really don’t care. It was right for the moment and the moment was right.

Am I overusing that literary device? Or is the device overusing me?

Upon returning home, I read about the brouhaha over the Laurel Clark Fountain. How disappointing for the children (and adults) who liked to play there. It’s OK, I guess, to just sit and watch the fountain, but I think the temptation to have some fun will be harder to resist in the hotter months. I’m going to spend a little time meditating on a hero to save the day for the fountain and Racine’s kids. Maybe someone will step forward with a little psychic prodding. Wait and see.

Did I mention my tan? Oh my, I don’t want to drone on about my trip, but I look darker than midnight in a coal mine. Aruba has some topless (and bottomless) beaches, so no tan lines. Oh my².

Thank you my dear Irregulars for spending some time with me this week. Thank you for remaining loyal while I took a week off for fun in the sun and love in the sand. I also love each and every one of you. I look forward to seeing you all at the upcoming get together.

Remember to send your losing lottery tickets to: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.

Enjoy the beauty and bounty of spring. It is here but a short while before summer saunters in. Then it will be time for the Christmas displays in stores again. Papiamento!

Jack Kerouac & Steve Allen - "The Moon Her Majesty "

I LOVE Jack Kerouac.

May the Fourth Be With You

Yep, May 4th, the unofficial Star Wars Day. I totally forgot about it until a friend invited me to post a Star Wars quote to my facebook profile ("Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid" was my choice, although I may post another later today).

Nothing special happened on May 4th in the Star Wars world...no movies/videos/DVDs were released today. Just a bad pub.

I remember seeing Star Wars in the theater. I was really young and I remember my father asking the ticket taker if this movie would be appropriate for a kid my age...yeah, a parent, um, trying to parent! He said definitely and he would recommend it. Yeah, for a nine year old boy, definitely a rockin movie.

Later this month will mark 30 years since the release of the Empire Strikes Back. I have blogged before about Star Wars Episode 4.5: A Very Wookie Christmas (a.k.a. The Star Wars Holiday Special), the made for tv special that is regarded to be one of the worst television movies of all time. I wasn't a fan and I can tell you I was not have very discerning taste at that age!

And always remember, Han shot first! Special edition my ass!

Tuesday Morning Grin

Donald Duck and Daisy Duck were spending the night together in a hotel room and Donald wanted to have sex with Daisy.

The first thing Daisy asked was, "Do you have a condom?"

Donald frowned and said, "No.."

Daisy told Donald that if he didn't get a condom, they could not have sex. "Maybe they sell them at the front desk," she suggested.

So Donald went down to the lobby and asked the hotel clerk if they had condoms.
"
Yes, we do," the clerk said and pulled a box out from under the counter and gave it to Donald.

The clerk asked, "Would you like me to put them on your bill?"

"Thit No!" Donald quacked, "I'll thuffocate!"

I Fell In to a Burning...Well, You'll See

Here is you funky illusion of the day. No special effects here...just real clever positioning of candles and camerawork.

Incredible Chinese Gymnasts

That's the kind of performance that would appear on the old Ed Sullivan Show, minus the visual effects.

I like the poses at the end.

Sunday Morning Grin

TOP TEN INDICATORS THAT YOUR EMPLOYER HAS CHANGED TO OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE PLAN:

(10) Your annual breast exam is done at Hooters.

(9) Directions to your doctor's office include "Take a left when you enter the trailer park."

(8) The tongue depressors taste faintly of Fudgesicles.

(7) The only proctologist in the plan is "Gus" from Roto-Rooter.

(6) The only item listed under Preventative Care Coverage is an apple a day.

(5) Your primary care physician is wearing the pants you gave to Goodwill last month.

(4) "The patient is responsible for 200% of out-of-network charges", is not a typographical error.

(3) The only expense covered 100% is Embalming.

(2) Your Prozac comes in different colors with little M's on them.

AND THE NUMBER ONE SIGN YOU'VE JOINED OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE PLAN:

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(1) You ask for Viagra, and they give you a Popsicle stick and duct tape......