General
subjects |
|
April
25, 2012 |
|
Soon
after, he began noticing that he never saw any posts
from her. Nothing. And the reason he noticed this was
that every day her name popped up in those wonderful
game invitation announcements. When we talked he said
he was debating pulling her friendship status. (Yes…
the dreaded unfriending.) But the funny thing was, he
had been considering it for months and just couldn’t
do it. She wasn’t hurting anything that he could see…
just creating game messages… and there was still that
gut-instinct kind of feeling he had, created by her
connection to other friends of his. More than four dozen
people were friends-in-common between him and her.
|
|
April
25, 2012 |
|
Person
A is mad that Person B didn’t… voice an opinion… make
a donation… take a stand… whatever, fill-in-the-blank…
to support a certain, for lack of a better definition,
a certain cause. And make no mistake… the charge is
clear that Person A believes Person B had an obligation
to act… a responsibility to act. And it almost
seems that the lack of effort is arguably more important
to Person A than the cause itself.
|
|
April
25, 2012 |
|
I
was reading an article the other day that was going
over the latest and greatest fees being considered…
tested… evaluated… debated… by different banks. And
in that article, I saw a very discouraging thought.
I’ll paraphrase it here… and not even link to it… because
it’s actually general enough even in this simple context
that I think we can all appreciate it. Ready? Banks
are businesses.
|
|
February
1, 2012 |
|
Now
when I say “unqualified idiots” you have to understand…
I honestly feel that most of the people best suited
to lead our country are either too smart or making too
much money to even be remotely interested in political
office. (Often they’re both.) In essence… we’re not
getting the best to represent us in our government,
we’re getting people that managed to fill out some forms
correctly. (And they don’t always manage accomplishing
that.)
|
|
January
1, 2012 |
|
In
the Eighteenth Century… Drury Lane was the high point
of culture. I hear there might have been some theater.
That means culture. Right? (Ok… from what I found, it
was not exactly the high point. It was a downtrodden
area filled with alcohol and prostitutes.)
|
A
Backpack Special ~ Originally written for National Novel
Writing Month, November 2011 |
|
January
1, 2012 |
|
To
my knowledge, no one knew his name. He looked like any
of a number of cartoon characters you might think about.
And by that I mean if we picked some Looney Toons filler…
something in between a Bugs Bunny – Daffy Duck – Road
Runner set of episodes… and had someone down on their
luck and in a bar, we would arrive at a character resembling
Spare Change. Disheveled, needing a shave but not with
a beard, and not looking too fortunate with life. Hat?
Check. Heavy coat? Sure.
|
A
Backpack Special ~ Originally written for National Novel
Writing Month, November 2011 |
|
January
1, 2012 |
|
The
thought swirling around your head is simple: “When am
I ever going to need this stuff?” But let’s face it,
the reality is when it comes to setting up an educational
curriculum, the voices of a student or two rising up
against the books and tests for physics don’t exactly
receive warm welcome from the powers that be. And hey…
should they? We all know that a low percentage of us
will ever need to be able to calculate the results involving
mass and friction and a pair of sneakers. And yet we
all know an object in motion will stay in motion and
an object at rest will stay at rest and… well… ok, we
don’t all know those laws, but we do know the basics.
|
A
Backpack Special ~ Originally written for National Novel
Writing Month, November 2011 |
|
November
7, 2011 |
|
The
label… the word… that we are taught for sake of communication…
is sky. While the origin of the word might be fascinating,
it doesn’t change the physical entity. And if we have
an understanding with a different word, that could work
just as well. Heck, I could say “look at those chirpy
ankle biters”… and you could know what I mean, lifting
your head to see the fluffy white clouds.
|
|
November
5, 2011 |
|
I’d
like to tell you there’s some big amazing tale here.
But go read the story… it is every bit as wonderful
in detail as it is presented by a 12-word blurb.
|
|
November
5, 2011 |
|
I’m
pretty certain I haven’t fully collected on all of the
car washers and lawn mows and future chores promised
at that moment. And I fully recall violating the “this
one last thing” agreement we had a few days later on
that vacation. But what could I do? The scenario was
simply adorable and amazing and memorable… a true cherished
Disney memory for us… and $10 wasn’t going to break
me. I bought it.
|
|
November
5, 2011 |
|
We
could debate… we won’t though… whether there is some
merit in a situation where, for example, a parent has
no time to cook for a child and utilizing SNAP benefits
at a restaurant does provide a warm meal. Instead, I’ll
rest on this one with the idea that a well-planned shopping
list is far more likely to produce healthy eating than
a burger and fries handed out a drive-thru window.
|
|
October
5, 2011 |
|
The
problem with Friendly’s today is that it doesn’t do
anything great. It tries to do too much. It has changed
from what made it successful. As a result, I would argue
that they didn’t need to catch up with changing times…
instead, Friendly’s needed to continue being the place
for a great ice cream sundae.
|
|
October
1, 2011 |
|
The
guitar became the first item in a collection of rock
memorabilia and artifacts that now totals more than
70,000-pieces. So large is the inventory that it is
continuously displayed in 51 countries and has been
catalogued on-line with an interactive web site. In
fact, with more than 165 locations around the world,
the Hard Rock brand has become the name for
combining good food, great times, and treasured memorabilia.
Many of the items associated with the biggest moments
in the history of Rock and Roll are part of the Hard
Rock collection.
|
|
October
1, 2011 |
|
Did
you receive a message talking about money bags… and
how this October had five Fridays, five Saturdays and
five Sundays… and how it only happens every 800-plus
years… and how prosperity for all awaits in our future
if we pay attention? So did I.
|
|
September
5, 2011 |
|
I’m
not saying that things will get better because they
can’t get worse. Instead, I think we are at a point
where people are fed up… are annoyed at seeing the same
requests and self-serving leadership… and are definitely
noticing that the new so far isn’t that much different
than the old, and that for change to be made it has
to be more than a campaign slogan.
|
|
August
13, 2011 |
|
Yup…
bip… bop… freedom of information act request… boom…
the images supposedly obtained as part of a routine
procedure became part of public record. Maybe the plan
was to never use the images for anything else… maybe
the procedures were for nothing to be stored… just look
at the results and you see that best intentions or supposed-to-follow
just don’t matter. (And apparently turned into a music
video. Amazing.)
|
|
August
10, 2011 |
|
My
sister lives in Australia. And out in her yard, she
has discovered, is a lemon tree. This discovery was
made when, a short time ago, a lemon began growing on
the tree. So the tree itself may or may not be a fruit
tree… may or may not be an actual lemon tree… but in
the grandest tradition of waddling, quacking, and being
yellow… Lemon tree.
|
|
May
25, 2011 |
|
That
list creates an amazing, masterpiece of an album that
would stand as a singular crowning achievement for perhaps
98% (or maybe even an Ivory-pure 99.9%) of individuals
or bands that have ever recorded an album. If you walked
into a room with any singer or band, handed them the
track listing of Magical Mystery Tour, and
told them that the best album they would ever record
would be roughly the equivalent in quality of this material,
I believe just about every one you approached would
be happy and content with that thought. ((My words)
“For my best work, I’m going to produce something as
memorable as that collection? Where do I sign?”) But
for John, Paul, George and Ringo… eh.
|
|
April
30, 2011 |
|
A
gas station is located at an intersection, with little
else nearby. It’s a minimum of a half-mile in any direction
from that intersection to find a store, restaurant,
or any other place of business. Half-mile. Minimum.
We’re talking houses and lots of trees. Perhaps some
livestock. I would not be surprised if most of the residents
nearby allow pigs, goats, horses and such inside their
homes.
|
|
April
27, 2011 |
|
I
start with that description because the reality is very
simple: this sign is not an accident… not a suggestion…
and not a good idea. There was no mistake in the measurements.
There was no inside joke in its creation or production.
It is a sign that wants to pass along an absolutely
direct, do not even think for a second that you will
be able to challenge this in court, message. And that
message is that the speed limit is about to change.
|
|
April
27, 2011 |
|
One
afternoon I had decided to bake chocolate chip cookies.
From scratch. As I placed the first tray into the oven,
it dawned on me that I didn’t know where the timer was.
I knocked on the door to Mark’s room. “Hey, do we have
a timer?” I asked. “Do you have a watch?” Mark responded,
not even glancing up from the textbook that he was marking
on with a highlighter. “Yeah.” I looked down at my watch.
“It’s four-thirty. I’m making cookies. Do we have a
timer?”
|
|
February
16, 2011 |
|
For
example, it’s not that I don’t believe in global warming…
it’s just that so much of the evidence is presented
in ways that say there were times when the planet was
warmer. And those findings often include a disclaimer
that says it may have been warmer just a few thousand
years ago. What those findings don’t say is what kind
of cars the people were driving back then or what rates
their electric companies were charging them for their
fossil-fuel-driven-atmosphere-polluting service.
|
|
February
16, 2011 |
|
When
I was growing up I used to hear people say… and I’m
sure all of you heard this as well… either “there’s
no such thing as a stupid question” or “the only stupid
question is the one you don’t ask.” Well, they were
wrong. There are plenty of stupid questions.
Lots and lots and lots of them.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted January 20, 2004 |
|
February
16, 2011 |
|
Once,
I needed a bulb replaced in a taillight. Another time
I experienced a problem with some fuses. What was the
charge these items? Nothing. At least not in the start.
In the end, for the mechanics to give me these parts
it probably cost the owner under ten dollars in expenses.
But, the trust and loyalty those little efforts instilled
in me brought me back time and again for thousands of
dollars in repairs and service.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted March 18, 2003 |
|
December
21, 2010 |
|
The
debate of history, and the primary focus of that history
on religion… or why the date gained significance on,
at least, the calendars of the American government,
business world and educational system… is valid for
exploring and understanding. However, whether the use
of Christmas as the holiday… stress on THE
holiday… is right, wrong, misguided, offensive, ignorant,
insensitive or whatever else isn’t in any way, shape
or form valid in comprehending my wishes when I say
“Merry Christmas” to you.
|
|
November
22, 2010 |
|
The
idea that in some way, because parents are hesitating
in granting freedoms and responsibilities, it can, naturally,
only be because they don’t trust the child.
Three
weeks ago Tigg and I were involved in a situation that
only served to prove our point… it really isn’t exclusively
because of trust in the child. In fact, in many ways
it isn’t the child at all… it’s everyone else.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted March 4, 2006 |
|
November
22, 2010 |
|
So
perhaps… long shot admittedly… they should check our
files. Maybe… just maybe… they actually already have
pictures and video of Ashley on file. Wouldn’t that
be incredible? Come on… what are the odds that a year
or two or four ago they were someplace and Ashley was
that same someplace and they already have photos and
videos of her boobies out in the open and her taking
off a thong and she’s even already been paid far less
than a million dollars… and heck… not only are the pictures
and videos paid for and ours, but we have even have
a signed release? What are those odds? Apparently… pretty
damn good.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted April 19, 2008 |
|
September
16, 2010 |
|
The
Grand Canyon is in trouble. And the National Parks Conservation
Association wants us to know about it. Now… right off
the bat… I think it’s pretty fair to say that when the
“National Parks Conservation Association” is telling
you about a study that says the future and beauty of
a national park is in grave danger, you should consider
the source. I’m not saying they’re wrong… just that
they might have a set of pom-poms ready and a seat picked
out on one specific side as the big debate approaches.
|
|
September
15, 2010 |
|
I
mean… come on… seriously? Is there really someone so
dumb that they fell for this one? “I found your email
somewhere…” from a nice, pretty girl?
|
|
September
15, 2010 |
|
And
throughout all of these ideas… is a key theme that I
credit one of my dear friends for living and exemplifying
so well. See, he’s quite willing to spend more in order
to get what he wants. He knows exactly what he wants…
knows what he expects… and expects what he pays for.
And while he’ll cough up extra dollars, if he’s paying
more for something then he fully intends to see it delivered.
|
|
July
26, 2010 |
|
I’ve
been to web sites that are absolutely pointless. They
actually make me want to use a different company. One
time, when trying to get a part for a piece of equipment,
I literally couldn’t order it on-line. The company tried
to make me go in person to one of their stores… which
they said stocked the part, and of course, the store
did not. It was literally impossible for me to order
it from them. Which… naturally… was all the more ridiculous
since I bought the equipment from that store chain.
|
|
June
1, 2010 |
|
We’ve
all heard not only the stories of people seeing Jesus,
Mary and/or Joseph in an ice cube in a glass of water,
but also of the people that drove 750 or miles to see
that ice cube. Similar stories include grease stains
at diners, sandwiches, tree bark, mold, and the list
goes one and on (and on). Once we see cat marriages
and items like a holy grilled cheese on wheat, I think
it’s possible for us to agree that a stolen iconic statue
arriving as a tribute for the man that’s impossible
to shop for really isn’t such a reach.
|
|
May
29, 2010 |
|
Seriously…
stick a pipe into the pipe and suck up the oil? Christ,
there are more steps to follow when cleaning up a broken
CFL bulb so you properly handle the disposal of mercury.
|
|
April
5, 2010 |
|
We
get to this pizza and soda tax. And a portion of the
story is health benefits. We’re going to tax pizza…
and less people will buy pizza… so people will be eating
healthier. Everyone wins! Eat unhealthy… pay more… the
only losers are unhealthy, pizza-eating smokers. (And
who cares about them?)
|
|
April
5, 2010 |
|
A
simple, basic approach… without much digging or research…
says that the money has to come from some place. It
could be door number one… door number two… or door number
three. The one thing that’s certain in my mind though
is that the government… in claiming we’re going to save
money doing this… simply hasn’t revealed which door
involves us reaching for our wallets.
|
|
April
5, 2010 |
|
So
let’s ask this… and keep Central Falls in mind… where
does responsibility come in to play? In other words…
is it the fault of a good teacher when a bad student
doesn’t learn? …is part of being a good teacher connecting
with the students regardless of circumstances? …do the
abilities and efforts of the students play any role
in this puzzle?Where
we go with this basic idea is simple… are the results
because of poor teaching, poor students, or a combination?
|
|
February
26, 2010 |
|
I
remember a place that in the middle of a city was all
alone. Once, Slater Park was in Pawtucket, but Pawtucket
was not in Slater Park. As I drove in for a visit one
day, the setting of trees became more dominating as
the traffic along the main road moved further behind.
To the right, a pond was shimmering in the glow of the
sun. The zoo had an entrance up and off to the left,
just beyond the World War II gun that pointed back toward
the ducks and geese which surrounded the gazebo at the
pond’s distant end.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted July 23, 2003 |
|
February
26, 2010 |
|
I
mean seriously. Women. Clean my closet? That’s what
she got out of my wet sock? If her socks were wet, I
would sympathize. I wouldn’t ask about her other shoes.
Wouldn’t try to make her foolish for wearing a shoe
with a hole. Heck, I don’t make fun of the nylons with
holes. Do I? No. And, of course, a wet sock wouldn’t
happen to her since I’m willing to drop her off at the
door. Am I right guys? Umm… ok… moving on…
|
|
February
26, 2010 |
|
Remember
a year ago when all of those companies were getting
support? Financial bracing… bailouts. Remember? And
then came the hammer… when reporters sunk their teeth
into corporate retreats… taking private planes when
the company manufactures cars… bonuses still being paid…
and all the excesses. Can’t be giving a company billions
of money to get their affairs in order when a month
from now they have three floors of a Vegas hotel rented
out for a week… pardon me, the joke is too easy… a week
in order to have their affairs.
|
|
January
23, 2010 |
|
I’m
not here to complain about cell phones. Nor do I plan
to tell you I’m mad because several songs I’d like to
own are only available via internet download… and I’ve
never done that. That’s just the world moving on. That’s
just the differences between the world today and the
world when I was born, and it will continue. A great
concept from Men of a Certain Age sums up the
reality quite nicely: 100 years from now, same game,
same challenges, all new people.
|
|
January
23, 2010 |
|
The
end result is that each and every one of us needs to
be more aware of our actions and how those actions impact
the environment around us. We need to be cleaner… we
need to reduce the amount of waste we generate… and
we need to recycle what we can to be used again. That’s
not science… that’s common sense. (Amazing… no years
of study or government grants required! We treat the
planet badly, case closed.)
|
|
January
6, 2010 |
|
I
would have gladly spent a few hours in that store. (The
guy in the music section of the store looked exactly
like Big John Wallace… but I never got to approach him…
so I don’t know.) And along the road in Littleton there
were other locations to browse, and 12-string guitars
to sigh over… boys to pick up… moose to see. Had to
move on. But I will be back. The Village Book Store
will see me again. And I hope that one day you get a
chance to wander through the doors of the store and
find out what it means to be a valued customer.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted March 3, 2007 |
|
January
6, 2010 |
|
Heck…
I’m still going crazy with Molly, our St. Bernard puppy.
She’s cute and adorable and all… but also a royal pain
in the tush when Justin wakes up in the morning, turns
on the light in the hall and lets her know someone else
is awake that she could be playing with instead of sleeping
in her kennel at the end of my bed.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted March 5, 2007 |
|
December
31, 2009 |
|
But
did you see the deeper idea? The out-of-the-box idea…
one that falls right in line with the questions I usually
find myself asking about all sorts of subjects… is about
burning wood. But you have to follow the story to the
next phase.
|
|
December
24, 2009 |
|
I
rarely use my cell phone. I’m not scared of it. I just
more or less subscribe to the theory that when I’m driving
my car or taking a walk or in some way just happen to
not be sitting next to a phone, it’s ok that you can’t
get in touch with me.
|
|
December
23, 2009 |
|
“Jesus
seen in” will bring you to links claiming Jesus has
appeared on toast, a grilled cheese sandwich, the plate
of an iron, grease in a frying pan, and on an ultrasound.
In fact… now get this one… the ultrasound and toast
were listed well before results that referenced people
looking for Jesus in their daily lives. Seriously… use
my search words, “Jesus seen in”… and note that I didn’t
ask for strange places or a sighting of his image. I
asked where he had been seen. I asked for “Jesus seen
in” and Google told me grilled cheese sandwiches.
|
|
December
19, 2009 |
|
The
tendency these days is simple to see. Once we have the
information to establish contact… an e-mail address…
a phone number plugged into the cell phone… we stop.
Why bother to have a street address when you have a
web site you can head to? Seriously. How many times
do you address a letter to a person these days?
|
|
December
18, 2009 |
|
I
gave this pecan roll thing a lot of thought. I happen
to be thankful for the pearl onions on the table. Don’t
see them often during the year… so they’re a nice little
change, and I’m always looking for them when it’s time
to make sandwiches later. Terry and Mom like turnips.
And canned corn has caused quite a few spirited debates.
(Yuck is the word that comes to mind. But some day I’ll
pass on the great canned corn Thanksgiving horror story
to you. Good stuff.) But after all consideration was
given, I feel extremely comfortable in saying that if
I polled the family, Mom’s pecan rolls would be the
most noted item that is required on our holiday tables.
|
|
November
24, 2009 |
|
In
the song “I wonder what would happen to this world”
Chapin asks the listener to picture a world where every
individual tried to accomplish everything they were
capable of achieving... in the end, what Chapin in his
casual comments truly seems to be recognizing is, that
beyond wealth, race, age, or any other defining classification,
it is the individual and the contributions made to the
world that makes the difference. Is the world better
because this person is here than it would be if this
person weren’t?
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted October 21, 2003 |
|
September
24, 2009 |
|
In
my office, directly above the monitor to my computer
is a small mouse. It’s made up of a flat rock, some
felt for ears and a tail, and tiny buttons for a nose.
The whiskers have long since melted off. For Christmas
every year, my parents would give the kids a few dollars
to shop for presents. It became quite the chore. You
had to be economical, and you really tried to find something
people would “ooh” and “aah” over on Christmas morning.
Once at a church bazaar, I spotted this very mouse on
a table. I couldn’t tell you the reason why, but it
seemed perfect for Nana and a bargain at twenty-five
cents.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted June 29, 2003 |
|
September
20, 2009 |
|
Joe
walked through a side door and entered the room. But
this was not the same Joe Bonamassa that we had met
earlier. The sunglasses were on. The t-shirt had been
replaced by a dress shirt of a style that many fans
are familiar with. And there was a confidence… a presence
that wasn’t the same. I can’t say that he seemed taller
to me, but he was definitely in control.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted May 7, 2006 |
|
August
22, 2009 |
|
These
people are claiming that the release of the convict
was sensible, compassionate and just. And, simply put,
for those of us that disagree, they would say it is
beyond our capacity of forgiveness to understand.
But these very same people show no class, no respect,
and no compassion when celebrating the convict’s return
as a welcoming of a hero. Ultimately, they demonstrate
nothing worthy of forgiveness.Those
screaming for compassion are, themselves, incapable
of compassion.
|
|
August
20, 2009 |
|
If
you were going in to a bar where you felt you needed
a gun for protection, chances are you have a disconnect
in your brain. Because that urge to carry the gun for
protection into the bar should be a huge clue that you
really don’t need to be in that bar with a gun to begin
with. It’s a trouble-waiting-to-happen scenario.
|
|
August
20, 2009 |
|
Now…
combine these two ideas and we can support three interesting
things. First, the administration seems to be in love
with acting as quickly as possible, and apparently doesn’t
consider the long term repercussions or all possibilities.
Second, the administration, even when they get something
out there that looks like a success, is ticking off
tons of people because of problems and unexpected collateral
damage (that may ultimately destroy the success). And
third, when questioned on any of it, the response is
getting louder: (my words again, but honestly, tell
me you haven’t heard them in some form) “Hey… whoa…
not my fault… just cleaning up the mess.”
|
|
August
7, 2009 |
|
When
I was younger and played outside, there was no such
thing as bottled water. Not in the current sense of
the concept. We drank from the hose… the same hose we
had just picked up off of the ground… the same hose
we chided one friend for putting his lips against… used
for filling the pool and watering the garden…
|
|
July
22, 2009 |
|
After
so much time of not being able to move stuff from one
house to another… or borrowing a van from my parents
or a truck from a generous set of in-laws… and in essence
asking for favors, we had begun kicking around the thought
of adding a car. Didn’t have to be a new one. Didn’t
even need to be a car. In fact… we preferred it wasn’t.
We wanted something that would haul cargo or larger
items. We wanted something that wasn’t the primary source
of transportation, believing its role was to be a tool...
She wants a pickup... I
don’t.
|
|
July
11, 2009 |
|
Someone
spots a cause… everyone agrees that the cause matters…
and so a group decides that something has to be done
because we can’t just allow the night to fall while
doing nothing. The problem is that while doing nothing
overall is not the answer in virtually all of these
crisis scenarios, momentarily doing nothing while looking
over options and considering ramifications of actions
usually does less damage than the initial something
that was rushed into.
|
|
July
10, 2009 |
|
This
particular girl would eventually take over spot number
two on the list of “Reasons why every girl named Jennifer
should be avoided at all costs” in my life. Face it…
we all have a name that we should avoid… due to experiences
with one person or several. Jennifer is that name for
me. And considering legendary tales… “The Work Christmas
Party of 1992” and “Hey, there’s a pool table in this
basement”… there are two things that I will never be
able to overcome and should just simply accept: (1)
This particular Jennifer honestly should be number one
on my list of reasons to avoid every Jennifer in the
world. (2) That particular Christmas party, and how
I behaved, should have earned me instant sainthood as
well as sap-of-the-decade honors.
|
|
April
18, 2009 |
|
She
united us as a family. She provided comfort when we
needed someone to love us. And by every definition,
she was a best friend. She was there for good times
and bad. Since finally moving out of my childhood home,
she has lived every place I have. The windows have been
rolled down on every car I’ve owned so she could stick
her head out and enjoy the breeze.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted January 3, 2007 |
|
March
25, 2009 |
|
I
was having a particularly miserable day. Couldn’t focus
on my writing. Had a honey-do list where every item was
fighting me and taking twice as long to finish as it should.
And it was almost time to head into the kitchen to make
dinner. Having spent the better part of two hours fighting
with a lawn mower that didn’t want to run, I sat down
on the front steps.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted December 9, 2004 |
|
February
23, 2009 |
|
I
honestly believe that there needs to be a certain amount
of instinct and opinion brought into a conversation.
Observational skills in action rather than just the
black and white of numbers and research. I also believe
that this little web site of mine is a constantly developing,
at times learning and at others growing, place for expression.
That sounds wonderfully poetic when it certainly shouldn’t
be that classy. It just means that while I accept responsibility
for my comments, I also know that I’m going to make
some mistakes or just plain change my mind.
|
|
February
22, 2009 |
|
Newspapers…
television stations… web sites… whatever. Run an article,
conduct an interview, or post an essay that has any
possible negative content and you will be fined. Let’s
say $5 million per infraction. Instead of worrying about
Janet’s boobs and Britney’s panties… we could assign
the government watchdog agencies to this one and let
them fine the crap out of the media. Why? Because every
time I see the word “economy” on the internet or hear
it from some reporter, my 401k nosedives.
|
|
February
14, 2009 |
|
What
I mean is that most people have that “don’t inconvenience
me” approach to things. Instead of comprehending the problem,
instead of troubleshooting it, almost every one of us
lets an attitude of “not my job” creep in, even if only
occasionally…
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted September 19, 2004 |
|
February
12, 2009 |
|
I
show a few of them to Terry before deleting them. I want
her to understand exactly what kind of competition she’s
dealing with for my attention. Always better to be in
demand goes the thinking. Keep her on her toes.
|
|
February
9, 2009 |
|
While
I try to keep this web site a bit on the family-friendly
side at times, the fact is if you are emotionally scarred
for life by seeing Janet Jackson’s boobs on national television,
you need help for a checklist of issues.
|
|
February
9, 2009 |
|
Ellen
is the enabler for my wife… or… as I’ve been noting it,
she’s that friend. The one that creates headaches
for me. The one that creates more work. And the unfortunate
reality is… she’s the one that if I tried to describe
that friend in general terms to someone else,
they’d look at me as if I were nuts. Why? Because the
description would include examples of valuable advice
that was offered, coming over early to help get ready
for a party, taking in stray puppies, making overly generous
donations to charity, and all sorts of other amazing things
worthy of hugs and appreciation and Thanksgiving dinners
that couldn’t be beat.
|
|
January
29, 2009 |
|
And
in a home… as you arrive back from your journey, the moment
those tires and stone meet to cause even the slightest
of sounds, a furry brown head pops into view in that window…
paws extended over the back cushions… shaking uncontrollably
because of the manically waving tail… staring at you and
watching every step you make toward the door. And when
you move out of the view from that window, that guy leaps
from the sofa to race to the door, so that the moment
you open it there is no possible way not to feel welcomed…
no possible way not to feel appreciated… no possible way
not to feel loved.
|
|
January
5, 2009 |
|
I
hope someday to meet Al Franken. Maybe interview him for
my site. Maybe exchange e-mails or phone calls with him
on a regular basis. I hope someday to meet Penn &
Teller for longer than a few seconds after one of their
shows. Maybe interview them for my site. Maybe exchange
e-mails or phone calls with them on a regular basis. But...
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted February 12, 2004 |
|
|